Oct 31
Manchester United vs Blackburn Rovers: Preview
After the effective, if not inspiring, performance of the second string in the Carling Cup earlier in the week, normal service resumes this weekend as United face Blackburn in the Premier League.
Rovers enjoyed a relatively safe passage into the quarter finals of that competition that none of the big guns tend to take very seriously the League Cup themselves on Tuesday night although Saturday should prove a much tougher hurdle for Sam Allardyce and his swine flu-hit charges to negotiate.
With Ferguson guaranteed to reshuffle the pack following the victory over Barnsley, expect atleast eight or nine changes from the team that started at Oakwell. Edwin van der Sar will certainly replace Ben Foster in goal and you would expect that John O’Shea and Patrice Evra will slot back in to the two full-back positions.
Having served his one-match suspension in the Carling Cup, Nemanja Vidic could return to the side although a calf problem renders him a doubt. The much maligned Rio Ferdinand is also struggling with a calf injury so don’t be surprised to see either Jonny Evans or Wes Brown featuring from the start.
In midfield Owen Hargreaves, Park Ji-Sung and Darren Fletcher remain on the sidelines while Ryan Giggs is reportedly struggling with a knee injury. That could see both Nani and Antonio Valencia starting on either flank with Anderson and Michael Carrick forming a central midfield partnership. Gabriel Obertan gave a good account of himself against Mark Robins’ Tykes on Tuesday although a place on the bench looks like the most he can hope for at this very early stage of his United career.
Up top, one would anticipate that Ferguson will opt for the familiar partnership of Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney although Michael Owen will also be in with a shout having took his goal superbly well the other night and generally looked sharp in the limited cameo role he played against Liverpool.
Speaking to the media, Ferguson explained that he is anticipating a difficult encounter with Blackburn, praising the role of Allardyce in picking up the pieces when Mark Hughes departed Ewood Park back in June 2008.
“I saw them recently against Burnley and they played really well in that game,” he said.
“They have always been difficult to beat at Blackburn and I think Sam has built a different team from Mark Hughes’ Blackburn.
“Quite a few decent players have left like David Bentley and Stephen Warnock and Sam has had to pick up the thread of what was left and replacing players of that quality was not easy.”
Blackburn are likely to be without Christopher Samba and Jason Roberts who are both suffering from the effects of swine flu and Ferguson moved to insist that United have so far been unaffected by the pandemic.
“It’s an interesting thing. Flu does happen. Whatever you call it, you had Asian flu a couple of years ago with players missing games,” he added.
“Fortunately so far we have been okay.”
Sir Alex may have called for caution ahead of Saturday’s meeting at Old Trafford although anything but a resounding three points would surely fan the flames of the critics even further.
While Sunderland recently caused something of a stir when they deservedly left the Theatre of Dreams with a point, Rovers have only won once in the Premier League at the home of the champions, back in September 2005.
You would hope that the lads will be ready to prove a point following events at Anfield last weekend and with Blackburn’s dismal recent away record in England’s top flight (nine away defeats on the trot), United should be looking to dominate this one from the off.
Prediction: 2-0 United
Related items from Red Rants:
- Diouf heads out on loan
- Blackburn v Manchester United – Preview
- Title-Chasing United to Pass Tough Ewood Park Test?
- Will United Run Riot against Rovers Again to Take Top Spot?
- Blackburn v Man Utd: Preview
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
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@WhiteY: He likes “her footballers”. Ben Foster is a major pussy and he’s Dan’s fave.
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@Red Ranter: Let’s compromise. Instead of constructive criticism, let’s at least have reasoning. Rather than:
“BERBATOV IZ A DOGSHIT LOL GET RID OV HIM AHAHA”
we could have:
“Berbatov is no where near as athletic as I’d expect a United player to be, I enjoy his fancy passing and his brilliant first touch but the industry and athleticism of a player like Kun Aguero could be so much more effective than fancy feet alone”
That would be brilliant !
I, of course really like Berbatov. Sir Alex should just sign me I’ll come on a free transfer from Stockport College.
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@Grognard: I’ll give it another watch, mate. But I thought he was effective in the role that he was playing (and that of one conceding a predominately creative role to Ando).
You know my thinking, generally, about the CMF and yesterdays game in no way influenced it.
The difference in the scoreline for us and Chelsea, yesterday, was that they buried their ops and we squandered most of ours!!
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@Ober-fan: To be honest, if you read my comment policy any comments that are written in full caps and are in text messaging language (sms) are typically deleted without question. Writing in caps is one of my pet peeves on the internet. I think you are new here which is why you may have not noticed.
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ALSO has anyone seen this 8 year old (or something) wonderkid United have signed. They should give him a curly wig, stick him at right back and claim him for Rafael.
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@Ober-fan: You also need to respond to individual comments so that we could…
FIND OWT WAT THE FUC YA TACKING BOUT!!
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@Grognard: You are the only one who thinks there are battles here. Go ahead, fight all you want. I am sure you will win.
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@Redrich: I think I agree with Grognard on this. I thought Carrick was invisible, and he hasn’t done much to change my view that he has regressed this season. I think if I were to give him credit, it would be that he at least held on to the ball when he had it and didn’t step on anyone’s legs — generally stayed out of trouble and gaffes.
Anderson had a very good game. The sad thing is he’s not able to replicate this on a consistent basis through the season.
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: Mate, don’t escalate things further. You asked for unnecessary trouble here by calling someone a hypocrite; everyone is a hypocrite on some level so let’s not get into that. Someone has to stop this or this will continue in a cringe worthy fashion.
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@Ober-fan: I find it a bit repulsive that United (and other clubs, for that matter) sign/acquire young kids less than 16. I know they have excellent facilities but for this kid, the probability that he makes into the squad 8-12 years from now is astronomically low – despite his current abilities. Training this kid is a waste of time for this club and kids should be playing in small local clubs to avoid pursuing impossible dreams of playing for United. Maybe, I am not aware of how the system is, but 8 year-olds are too young for anything but having fun.
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@Red Ranter: “I thought Carrick was invisible, and he hasn’t done much to change my view that he has regressed this season.”
I think you’re right about Carrick but he’s sorting himself out recently and definitely being more than just a pair of legs on the pitch. He can still keep the ball well and we can rely on him not to lose it where lesser players might. But I don’t think he’ll be around much longer with Hargreaves almost ready to return. I prefer Fletcher to Carrick anyway, but what happens when Fletcher hits a lull ? Every player does it, we can’t just get rid of players for losing a bit of form. If we turned players over like that we’d be in Merseyside, possible nicking nintendos.
Dey do dough, don’t dey dough?
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@Red Ranter: I think generally the quality of our opposition gave me pause to comment on the game.
While pleased that we won, and delighted at how both Berbatov and Rooney took their goals (Berbatov’s was amazingly RVN like!) we should have put pay to that heap of crap long, long before we did.
Carrick was not on my radar yesterday, and so I’ll give it another peek. What I did notice of him though, was that he was playing closer to his comfort zone than I’ve seen in a while!!
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@Red Ranter: I did not call him a hypocrite — he tells me how upset he is by being called a “fear-monger” but “dark lord” is OK???? Then he insists that only logic is valid and I dare to suggest the he is being hypocritical
RR: I am done now.
(Note: Being hypocritical is not the same as being a hypocrite. A hypocrite indulges in hypocrisy, whereas a single statement can be hypocritical but the person making that statement may not be a hypocrite.)
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@Redrich: Quality of finishing is one thing but it’s not so much that Chelsea are burying their opportunities. They just create way more chances and so more goals will come from that. We had five or six good chances to score in the Blackburn game where Chelsea had a at least ten good chances that I counted for them to score four. That’s what I miss the most, is the pace and the creation of more chances. And I too will watch the game again to see if I was wrong about Carrick.
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@Ober-fan: would you be so against letting go of carrick if it meant a david or two from valincia(club not player).
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: That is clearly the most ridiculous and idiotic thing I have ever heard. Utterly amazing.
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@Red Ranter: “any comments that are written in full caps and are in text messaging language (sms) are typically deleted without question.”
Oh I realise that, it was just hyperbole of an uneducated and unjustified opinion
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@Grognard: maby i should look at the lad again as well perhaps ando was just so eager to please and was on a roll that he just didnt leave room for carrick in the middle but carrick is a quality player and an asset to the team right now but needs to step up and have a good run while we have injuries to keep his place as even a squad player.
speaking of which where the fek has park gone?
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@gator: Haha of course not! But Villa and Silva will be cup tied won’t they? Does the Europa Cup count in cup tying situations?
Nonetheless I think we do need one more world class striker, but not another winger. I think Villa is likely to come in January. I’ve heard he wants a move and he’s apparently fired his agent for not getting him a move to a big club.
The one question that remains, what will he make of the sodden, grey clouds covering the Manchester sky?
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@Grognard: Agreed to a point, but it would have been 5-0 for us if Berbatov’s header, Obertans open goal and Owens aimed shot wide would have been buried.
All of those should have been goals, in any league in the world, but if you have players that cannot perform to a high level of concentration and proficiency, you must move on.
There’s little margin (or allowance) for error at the very top of your profession!
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@gator: Park came back from Korea with a swollen knee and I don’t think they know what’s wrong with him yet he should be back in a couple of weeks at the most, but I really wouldn’t be amazingly surprised if it was something a bit worse than we know. It reminds me of a certain Canadian Englishman we’re all eagerly awaiting the return of…
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@Grognard: I’ve not said a personal thing to anyone on this blog.
I understand being a football fan isn’t all sunshine and daisies, I’ve already explained that. And I’m not saying everything that’s said about United has to be positive, I think there just needs to be a reason behind every opinion that should be voiced whether it is positive or negative.
The difference between the two is that a negative comment on a website full of United supporters will ruffle people’s feathers unless there’s a reason given.
And to your comment about the way the team is playing at the minute. United, unfortunately, has left the era where they will run away in the league with no real challengers. It has to be accepted.
What amazes me is that United can go and play a premier league team like Blackburn (who, yes we should beat, all day long) and completely and utterly control the game, score two top class goals, create a score of other good chances, show promise in a new young star and yet people STILL find something to complain about!
I really couldn’t care less if any fans find THEIR team utterly controlling the game boring. I’d rather that then have games similar to the Derby week in week out, because you won’t always come on top in games that have to be chased. Moreover it nackers the team out having to chase the more exciting games and with a busy schedule that is not what we want as United fans.
So you can either dream (like most of us) that the domination of the reds will return again, or start currently appreciating the team you support.
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@Ober-fan:
And that’s your problem, so far.
Before you introduce yourself, by attacking each and sundry, why don’t you offer some insight and thoughtful commentary about our team and not how you think things should be run around here?
I’m not sure you’re sober, mate, and if not, quit it now and come back when you have something of substance to say!!
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Benitez is hanging on by his last thread. On why they are not performing:
“The problem that we have now with injuries you cannot play without Gerrard, without Torres, without Johnson, without Riera and without a lot of players in too many games”
Excuses, excuses, excuses…
Benitez to get the sack come May!
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@Dan: You and I both know it was a dig directed at me because you are holding a grudge against me of over the whole Foster thing. Give it a rest mate, I have.
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@gator: Park’s been injured thank God.
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@Redrich: Agreed. They need to make their opportunities, especially when they are complete sitters.
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@Ober-fan: I never accused you of attacking any person specifically mate. But you are questioning the rights of individuals to express their opinions whether or not they agree with yours. You bring up very valid points and I respect you for them but understand that many of us expect and demand much more from our team. Fact is and I personally admit to having been spoilt rotten for the last 20 years. I expect attacking fast paced champagne football. Hell no, I demand it. This is the biggest and richest club in the world and having to settle for the shite they have been serving for over a year now is not my cup of tea. It’s got so much more to do with than just the result. So what if we won 2-0. We played a club that didn’t even show up to have a go at us and we did nothing for the first 35 minutes. At the end we scored two goals and created only five quality chances against a useless bunch of muppets like Blackburn. Now honestly, if this was the 94 or 99 versions of United what do you think the score would have ben in this kind of a mismatch? I suggest 6-0 or 7-0 for sure. So just call me demanding, not unrealistic.
We have the resources to be a lot better but we are not using them. We had money from the Ronaldo sale to buy three or four quality players and we never spent it. Instead we spent the 20 million that had already been allocated to us before the sale. United has a lot to answer for, especially to fans who have been around for all of Fergie’s tenure. We have expectation that are high, not delusional. Right now we are not meeting any of them. So as much as i am a hard core fan, I am far from naive but I am also far from pleased. Consider me perpetually disgruntled until I see a concerted effort by management to improve this club by changing tactics and buying players. Until then, they must get used to me unleashing Hell on them every week, unless they play well.
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: Yes they are excuses but they are valid ones. How well do you think we would do without Rooney, Rio, Vidic and Giggs? I bet you we would lose nearly every game. They don’t just have injuries, it’s their very best players and their engine room that is out. I don’t sympathize one bit but I wouldn’t exactly blame Rafa for the results under those circumstances as I wouldn’t blame Fergie if our main core players were all out.
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@Grognard: I think there is a difference here. You are removing the heart of our defence and two of our better attacking players. Any team would suffer if you removed 4 key players (that said we did win without our central defensive pair & Giggs against Blackburn)But Benitez cannot be giving such excuses because he’s typically bought badly. Torres, Mascherano, Alonso were among his better buys, and he treated Alonso like crap.
I think if Benitez has champions aspirations he should have built a squad that could somehow find a way to win against the lesser sides and he’s failed to motivate his players for that. So his excuses will fall flatter than other managers.
Whatever we may say about Ferguson’s questionable tactics, he somehow finds a way to keep us up in the table however the situation we might be in. Rafa is on borrowed time, but I hope the owners keep him in his job for our own good.
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@Grognard: Last year and this year in game against CSKA we had our injury crisis. Against CSKA we were without Rooney, Giggs, and Fletcher and Ferdinand played injured and got subbed. We did not peter out. Last year with every possible combinations of our back four (due to injury and suspensions), we set the EPL record in clean sheets. Sure, we have more depth than them, but we did not lose games like they are doing now – even without our stars, we grind out results. That is the main difference between us and them I feel.
I say it is an excuse because Liverpool have dropped the ball all this season – not just now, not just without Gerrard and Torres. They’ve lost many games to mediocre opposition (Aston Villa, Fiorentina, Fulham for example) over the entire of the current season even with Gerrard and Torres and X, Y, and Z in their lineup.
This season they have lost 8 out of 16 competitive games… I am just happy not to be a scouser
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@Red Ranter: OK, second look and I still think that he was OK in this game.
Still missing is his super long probing passes, and his shots on goal, but his passing accuracy seemed good, and tackling was firm and foul-free.
If you pressed the point, I would prefer someone else, but to me he’s not the crux of our problems!!
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@Red Ranter: The real key thing here is even if we lost those four, we have always had more than enough quality if not spectacular depth to cover us in times of peril. Rafa has a very thin squad but lets face it, without his core players, he is royally screwed. Honestly, if it was Wenger or Ancelotti I’d have an ounce of sympathy because those men although adversaries, are men to be respected and even admired. But the fat waiter just stinks as a human being and deserves nothing but locusts coming down on him and his water supply turn to blood (obviously a biblical reference) for his many sins, and disgusting comments he has thrown at our manager over the last couple of years. Still, I’d be shocked if they gave him the sack because he is loved by the fans and the fans absolutely hate the owners. His sacking would create a worse fire storm than the one that hit Chelsea when Mourinho left. Why, because as bad a s Londoners can be, Scousers are that much worse.
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: What’s got lost in translation here, is that we all want the very best for our team.
Your intricacy of Grognards observations doesn’t put you any closer to the truth than anybody else, and certainly not just because you don’t loose your head!!
I find his observations eccentric, provocactive, and based largely in reality. He has an elevated view of our passion, and weather you understand or not, it will always come from the heart!!
In my early days here, I too had my differences with him and in the end, my interpretation of it all was that we just didn’t understand our common views. I now regard him as my best friend here!
You’ve been here a while now too and you should be over this!!
If we can’t give one another some lateral slack, especially after we’ve grown to know all (or some) of our strengths and weaknesses, it can only be viewed as mean spirited!!
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: True and as I mentioned to RR, we do have considerably more and better quality depth to draw upon during time os injury. Rafa has only rabble to call upon if his main players get hurt.
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@Redrich: If you are referring to Carrick it’s true, he never made any mistakes and played his position but he never did anything to impose himself in regards to the team’s attack. He seems very tentative and almost afraid to get involved for fear of screwing up. I hope he snaps out of it because when he is in form, he’s a player I enjoy watching.
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@Redrich: Thanks for that Red. As always, you understand me fully. And for the record, you and RR are my best friends on this blog. But let it be known that I like almost everyone on here and even some of those that tick me off like my buddy Dan. Sure I can overreact and i can get hot under the collar but I am passionate about what I believe in and what I write and all i ask is that people respect it. They don’t have to agree with me, but like someone said earlier people need to disagree or agree and give a valid concrete reason. Just disagreeing or putting someone’s opinion down is not right and rather rude. We must make our case and express our honest but polite intentions. Otherwise this becomes just another one of many unruly blogs. No matter what many might think of me or my views, I do come prepared and my arguments are always backed up with evidence or valid points. So disagreeing with me is fine, but give a reason why and try not to make it personal. Honestly folks, I am not a bad guy, I’m just overly sensitive. Again Red, thanks as always for the support and the words of real wisdom.
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@Grognard: Mate there are very few that impose themselves on the game these days, but OK he wasn’t Mr. Dynamo, but certainly not a player that I would point out for the reason why we struggled!!
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@Grognard: I know it’s hard for you, but you have to bite your lip, mate!!
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@Redrich: I know mate, I know. It’s hard but I will try. If only I can repress the stubborn and proud Greek in me.
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http://www.imscouting.com/global_news_item.aspx?id=3499
we need a villa but i think we need silva more.
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@Grognard: Utter bullshit and you know it. Yet more hypocrisy from you. We all know that no one can be as good as a german
@Grognard: A grudge? You really think i have the time to hold an e-grudge? Wow…
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@WhiteY: What? When im protecting british football(like anyone would) when grognards always going on about changing it to an american system? Thats what anyone would do.
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@Dan: But don’t you see we need a system with no relegation so only a chosen few of the 92 professional teams and 100′s of other teams can never be involved. We need a system where move your team to a different city and change its name because your BRAND could make you more money in a different MARKET.
Don’t you want to support THE LONDONCHESTER RED DEVILS.
GO SOCCER.
*caps indicates American accent…
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@Traverse:
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Rooney not at training. Looks like he’s becoming a dad!
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I have noticed a pretty merry go round on this site, When we loose, even the so called optimists are out spewing venom and calling for berba’s head, the realists are more level headed and call the game as it was, thats when you here stuff like something or someone is needed in the midfield. Then we win and all is forgotten for a couple of days, and if anyone dareth talk bad or voice a concerning issue, you are castigated for “expecting united to fail”.
In my personal opinion the defense wasn’t really tested and when they were, they let one in, Yep, blackburn scored a fair goal and were denied by the linesman, and this reminds me of the bolton game, If blackburn would have scored it would have been a very tense final minutes.Yeah this united is struggling to put the ball in the back of the net, especially on a team that has fallen 5 to chelsea and 6 to arse. You all can try to sugar coat is as much as you want but the fact of the matter is, its boring and frustrating football and only berba makes me sit through united’s performances these days.
Anderson played well, very well indeed considering he wasn’t pressured for the ball, so that is one area worth noting, ando’s passing is very good when there’s little pressure, but all round ando is a decent player because he runs and hustles for the ball in midfield even when under pressure he rarely looses possesion, but the same can’t be said of carrick i dont think carrick can cope against top opposition the likes of chelsea, he needs too much time on the ball.
For those asking us not to point fingers at the obvious, let me say, scholes was a very good performer for united, but the key word here is WAS. He isn’t up to the gruelling task anymore, and it shows. He will have one good performance the stink up the joint for the next five game’s,Giggs still has it at 36, and that is saying alot, I mean the best attacking medfielder for united is a 35 yr old player, I think that itself shows that there a couple of players who need to be shipped out.
But not to worry, all we nay-sayers, I can see the storm coming, and in a weeks time we will all be gathered ranting about united and how their performance sucked, like I said I’m noticing a trend on this blog.
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Good game, took too long to really get into gear but, when we did, we played some good football. Just didn’t put away our chances.
I certainly noticed Carrick yesterday, he stood out for playing the type of game he is often criticised for not playing, that is getting stuck into tackles and breaking things up. He laid off everything to Anderson to create and sat quit deep covering the middle of the park. Even when he got deeper in, Anderson came to get the ball off of him (and gave it away in a dangerous place), which to me tells me that Carrick was instructed to sit back – so that is very good discipline. He certainly wasn’t great with his passing though. Still it was encouraging for me to see him play with grit.
Rooney – fantastic goal but, for a while now I think he’s just lost something as well. Maybe it’s the impending birth coming up. He can’t seem to receive ball to feet and tends to misplace passes though Saturday was better.
Evra made some really dangerous give aways and hopefully those will be cut out for next weekend.
Nani – I think he was kicked to no end but, atleast he got up and played on. He was also the player that got us several free kicks in dangerous areas. Something easily ignored.
Freekicks – if I was another team, I’d foul us to no end. We have no threat it seems on freekicks, not even close. Giggs takes finesse ones, our power ones seem to be no where near good. Not sure why Nani didn’t get a pop at least 1. I think he was probably removed for the kicks he was getting down the left and that Giggs will not be available for CSKA.
Obertan – I think people are just desperate for something other than Nani on the left. He saw glory and could have laid it off to Valencia (some are saying Rooney but, Valencia was even better placed) and missed a sitter. He’s tall so that is good since we lack height for freekicks/corners. Hopefully he’ll continue to develop and get chances. He does look like we may have found a gem but, it is still early.
Lets get the 3 points against CSKA and then really be up for it against Chelski. We need to bring the energy for that one or we do risk being overpowered.
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@Dan: I thought the “Dan supports Brits to death” thing was a fair assessment. Even I thought that to be true.
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Anyone know anything about Luis Suarez of Ajax? I admit a guilty pleasure of mine is reading goal.com reports even though it is very speculative they link him to us.
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