Oct 26
United Let Everton off the Hook
It was built up to be Rooney’s day. It didn’t quite turn out that way. The former Blue was booed as usual, and the baiting worked to an extent, as he got quite worked up in the process. But the more important talking points will be of how United allowed Everton to claw their way back into a game when they were so rampant to begin with.
It is ever so tempting to revisit the Dr Jekyll and Hyde performances that’s been a feature of this United side — something I’ve been mentioning in the past match reports on how the team switches on and off almost suddenly, and inexplicably. Yesterday, we stomped all over Everton in the first half and it’s amazing how we went in at half time with only one goal to show.
Fletcher had a dream first half, Giggs was sublime, Berbatov was very much at the centre of all that was good. But all this was in the first half.
In the second, Everton suddenly sprung back to life and looked more the battlers of the past few seasons than the pedestrian outfit of the season so far and, to their credit, deserved the goal due to the pressure they exerted on the defence.
Rio Ferdinand had a game to forget, and tactics employed by Ferguson were questionable. The only good thing that could come of yesterday’s result would be a draw today when Chelsea and Liverpool clash. That should keep both table toppers at touching distance.
I felt taking off Rooney was a bad decision despite him having an off game. I thought Nani ought to have started instead of Park. If we are to get more out of Tevez, we need him to be playing more often. Clearly we can’t have him influence the game if he’s not starting. And while that’s difficult considering our striker pair’s form, he could have at least started the Celtic game in midweek.
I thought too much was being made of Phil Neville’s challenge on Ronaldo — who, for me, is still struggling. I am also not impressed by his exaggerated rolling and general whining when things don’t go his way.
All that said, it was a game we should have comfortably won — but we didn’t. Regardless of the position we were in, we should have won. I can’t say anything more because I am disappointed with the result. And that’s especially because of the manner in which we somehow threw away a glorious opportunity to come closer to at least one of the league leaders.
Credit to Everton for picking themselves up after a woeful first half. Sadly, the same couldn’t be said of United after an excellent first half. All it is now is just a case of what could have been…
Related items from Red Rants:
- Will United Leave It Late against Everton Again?
- Everton will not roll over for United
- Everton vs Reds: Appalling But Three Points
- The International Break Will Help United Significantly
- Manchester United did not break Premier League rules in Howard “deal”
Tags: Match Reports
Opti (542)
Stephen (500)
RedDevilEddy (463)
Craig Mc (349)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@Conor: Oh and if sany of you think that is difficult to do in the arena, try it out in a match! That is a challange for ya. With the goalie and the defenders racing towards you that is nearly an impossible task.
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@Conor: Actally Ronaldo has 3 goals(Bolton, Boro and WBA) and 4 assists(Bolton, Aalborg, Blackburn and Celtic). For a player that has just come back from a serious injury and is yet to find his form, that is some slick stats.
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@JB: Its also really amazing and wow worthy with some comments on here after a bad result(I’m not saying no one has the right to be pissed), its like anytime something goes wrong this season, fans WANT to blame someone: CQ departing, Fergie losing the plot, Berbatov being too slow, Ronaldo not doing enough, Fergie not giving the players a kick up the ar$e and on and on and on…
@Grognard: So realistically, who do you think would make a good manager after Fergie?
@WhiteY: The last I heard, Fergie said he should be back for Wednesdays game, he already trained with the Squad for the Everton game, but Fergie didn’t want to risk him.
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@Conor: Not a damn thing has gone over my head, pal. Maybe the fact that coming back early from injury doesn’t win the team any points has gone over yours…..
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@Drew Vader: You’re right, coming back from injury early and scoring a match winning goal, entirely created on your own, against Bolton really doesn’t give your team any points.
Ronaldo’s an absolute wanker for doing that in all honesty, he should’ve just fucked off to Madrid.
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@Rd: Rd, this is a discussion board, based on people’s opinions, so what’s the problem if their opinions differ from yours?. Some people on here think they are so superior to others with their sanctimonious answers. Leave people to have their own opinions, even if you don’t agree with them. That’s life mate.
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@Drew Vader: Ronaldo has started six games this season, with our record reading as follows:
Six wins, one draw, 18 goals scored, two conceded. Ronaldo has scored three goals and got himself 4 assists in that period.
It does indeed appear that we are carrying him while he returns to full match fitness……….
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@Conor: Conor mi man, come on mate. No bigger Ronnie supporter than me after the summer fiasco, but I believe he should just get parts of games whilst not fully fit and performing to full potential yet
. I do know he scored brilliant goal against Bolton though 
.
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@Craig Mc: I’ll presume that is a dig aimed at me
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@Drew Vader: Vader, Lampard played mate
.
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@Craig Mc: He scored a penalty! What do you mean with “a brilliant goal”?
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@JB: JB, was it you I made the post too, but IF you think the cap fits
. You post some good and valid points, but you also bitch at others who feel pissed about their perception of things. None of our opinions are sacrosanct bro 
. But No, I was referring to quite a few on the board who bitch when anybody quotes even the slightest NEGATIVE about a player. Some people might see legitimate things that they feel are needing change. But then again, that is just my opinion 
.
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I think we should have adjusted to Everton’s roughshod play by bringing on Ando and Tevez earlier. Then we could replied with a bit of our own and maybe seized back control of the game. These are the sort of in-game tactics that has cost us points recently, we just tend to assume that our quality will shine through, however, it doesn’t always, you need to adapt sometimes.
I seriously hope Fergie goes into our future games with a plan around this roughshod strategy teams utilise against us when they have their backs pinned to the wall with our quality play… because West ham and Hull will definitely employ it.
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@RedDevilEddy: Eddy a penalty that was good mate, considering the total sitter he missed on saturday
. Like I said, I have been Ronnie’s biggest supporter, but he has his imperfections. I think he should just be playing an hour each game, until he gets his form fully back. That is what was happening initially. It should have continued, and keep continuing until he is up to his outstanding performance level.
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@Gabriel: My sentiments exactly mate, as you will see in my posts further up the page
. With regards to tactical nous, I have been going on about the need for this for ages now 
.
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@Craig Mc: Nah, it was a good pen but Ive seen him score better. The ones vs Arsenal and Wigan last season were much better. His goal against WBA is prbably his best so far this season.
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@Craig Mc: No but your post was directed to a response Rd made to my comment, it is hardly a huge jump from there is it?
I don’t have an issue with anyone voicing negaitive views on a player, as long as they seem fairly constructive and not just someone bitching and whining. Sure I layed into Anderson in the next comment. And no doubt Ronnie will score a few goals and he will be the best thing since sliced bread again in a couple of months.
There is just no patience anymore
The one that got me was the comment about missing Carrick above. I remember arguing with virtually every man and his dog this time a year ago that Carrick was not a useless, boring, overpriced, waste of space. And now we will be greatly improved by his return! Or Wes Brown who got untold grief at stages last season due to his limited attacking input but now people go mad when he isn’t in the starting line up. People seem to change their opinions on players more often than they change their underwear 
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@Craig Mc:
Fergie really does believe in our squad, that’s the crux of it. He believes so much that he doesn’t see us being dominated or being rode roughshod over as a serious problem, because ‘we have the quality to shine through’. You could see him smiling when all this was happening on Saturday, he genuinely believed we were gonna pull through it. Well, I hope this is a wake up call!! Our squad is talented and has definitely improved in quality this year – as is evident when we decide to step out of first gear – but we need that extra push and direction in order to always be at our best. Fergie should trust the players less and direct them more, that’s what I feel.
About that performance, I reckon the whole team was suffering from a hangover, there was something not just right. I mean, Rio had a bad game
something was definitely wrong!!!
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@JB: I remember those Carrick days well, you proved us wrong big time about that. It is amazing how he turned it around from being a useless flop to our most important midfielder.
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@RedDevilEddy: And I thought I had too much time on my hands.
Mate, take it from em, go outside and get some sunshine and a bite to eat. FIFA 09 is a great game, not a way of life.
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@JB: When was Carrick’s importance ever doubted
Good thing I wasn’t here, cuz I woulda gone nuts!!! I love Carrick mate, the most composed player in our 1st eleven. Hardly ever puts a foot wrong, Elegant, effective and productive. It’s like having a Rio in midfield 
People talk about having a midfield general, but you don’t need a Keane when you have a Carrick, who goes about controlling and dictating play without much fuss or hassle. I can’t wait for him to get back mate, what’s that saying again… You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone…
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Check the official fifpro best lineup- good to see Rio getting some credit:
http://www.fifpro.org/
Kaka the odd man there, me thinks, perhaps Sneider should have figured…
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@Grognard:
– never a truer word spoken Bro.
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@NicoQB: So very, very chuffed for Rio mate. Thoroughly deserved. How the feck did Gerrard get in there though
.
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@Gabriel: Amen to that Bro. But that kind of supposition from Fergie has thus far cost us some points. I think he feels so loyal to all the players, and is trying to fit them all in, that he just chucks on a subs whoever he feels needs a bit of time on the pitch. I seriously often feel no rhymm or reason to his subs at all. At home we can get away with it mostly, but in the away games we can get caught out.
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@Rd: A great manager is not necessarily a great technical or tactical coach. Fergie’s greatest asset other than experience is his man management. I want a manager all the players will respect, fear and look up to. But above all, they need a manager who will constantly put the team and the reputation of the club above selfish demands. Ferguson is second to none in this area. Who would I want? Truthfully, I want a man who loves and cares about Manchester United first but who will get the respect of the players. Who fits that bill? Martin O’Neill, Mark Hughes (???? maybe), Roy Keane and Carlos Queiroz are the best of the bunch. If this was FIFA 09 and not real life my manager would be King Cantona. Too bad he has no experience or any coaching credentials because he would get the attention and the respect of the players with his personality and attitude, not to mention his temper and pride. Queiroz for me is the ideal candidate because of the mix of players we have and the direction in which the team has gone towards signing and developing players. We have gone Latino and our mix of Portuguese, Brazilian and other Latin or Portuguese speaking players is highly evident and therefore it seems to make sense to hire a man who will get these player’s respect and attention, while still having a strong relationship and ability to connect and communicate with the English speaking brigade. I don’t put too much stock in what has been happening with the Portuguese national side. Every time you make a change at the top there will be transitional problems and the team needs time to gel and get used to his way of doing things. That plus the fact that Ronaldo has struggled to find his form has not helped CQ.
O’Neill is a good candidate but I question his ability to communicate with the foreign brigade as well as his ability to tactically prepare the team for Europe. I think he would do well within the EPL but his history in Europe has not been great and his tactics at times can be rather pedestrian. I like him as man manager and a man who commands loyalty and respect. Mark Hughes is really getting his chance to prepare for the United job right now with the money and opportunity that Man City have to become a contender. Lets see over the next two seasons what he does with that opportunity. If he succeeds he is an obvious choice. While at Blackburn he wasn’t. I want to see how he does in Europe and how he manages ego’s and foreign super talent. The jury is still out on him.
Keane has done as well as could be expected I guess. He has so many of the qualities in terms of man management but I am not sure about his tactics and technical game thinking. You see, managing a team like Sunderland requires completely different tactics and a highly cautious approach to games. Can he then take on a team of superstars, get them all on the same page and then play fast free flowing attacking football? I kind of doubt it. Still, I’d hate to doubt Keano. The man is intelligent and has a big heart and a desire to win. That is more than half the battle right there.
Do I want Mourinho? Not really but after Fergie retires if he is hired it’s not like I am going to start a boycott if he is. He is an exceptional manager and a great motivator with an excellent grasp of tactics and the more intricate technical subtleties of the game. He is a great character and would be the media darling of England and especially Manchester and he would get respect from his players. But, I seriously would doubt his dedication and loyalty to stay with United for more than 3 or 4 years and I still believe that he is by nature a defensive and cautious man and it shows in the way his teams play. United have too much great offensive talent to have shackles put on them by a manager whose ego and stubbornness far outweighs his common sense to let the attackers lose on the opposition.
Honestly, I am hoping and praying that the new influx of great young talent like the Twins, Jonny Evans, Possebon, Manucho, Welbeck, Gibson and all the proven greats like Ronny, Berba, Rooney, Rio and the rest make Fergie reconsider once again the notion of retiring. Hell, when you are having fun you should keep it going. This team is built for speed and built to last a while and Fergie should go on for at least 3 or 4 more years. He knows it will kill him to leave. Man Utd keeps him young and alive. He is the only manager we need. If he does retire, hopefully it will be at a time when his successor will be someone we all want and look forward to. Not some wanker we can’t stand or barely have any knowledge of. Today I read the name of Ruud Gullit and almost crapped myself.
We’ll have to do quite a bit better than that dutch tosser. 
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@JB: So if people change their minds quicker than their underwear, why get into a stew about it JB?. You may feel they have no constructive logic, but that is what RANTING is mate
. Trouble with that whole we must have constructive debate, is that some posters start to go on about other posters being sensationalists, or over emotional. We are going to get that though, because some people are PASSIONATE types, and profuse debaters, where others like yourself, are stoics, in control and matter of fact . It takes all types, but for me, hotheaded, mouthy posters are not a problem. I love a good verbal boxing match. I can appreciate those like you though Jb, who are logical and controlled commenters. I think that my logic makes sense to me, even if it doesn’t to others. Yet I wouldn’t want to deliberately offend somebody else just for bloody mindedness. As I said to RR at one point, how bloody boring would it be on here, if EVERY POST WAS SANITISED 
. I don’t appreciate the disinfectors of debating 
.
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@Craig Mc: True, true, bro.
Those awards things very often take heed of player reputation instead of actual performance.
Oh well at least now, Ronnie and Rio are getting recognised by their peers.
Mark my words, next year its going to be Rooney!
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hey guys,
i’ve been a reader for a while, first time posting and all that blah blah…
anyway, on this stuff about a successor, someone tell me otherwise if so,
but any thoughts on Guus Hiddink? I mean he’s well accomplished on the international stage, but didn’t have as much luck when he was at Madrid a while back,
but any thoughts?
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@Conor: Created entirely on his own?? hahaha so the ref played no part in that one huh? Give me a break man
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Fletcher a young paul scholes, you having a laugh Grog?
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@SHANNON: No I wasn’t having a laugh. He played great and he reminded me of a young Scholes. That’s not saying he is one. One game does not make him a Scholes but I don’t think comparing him for his performance on the day was out of line. I don’t appreciate the mockery their mate. If you found my comparison too funny, then keep it to yourself because I don’t like being made to look like an idiot with comments like that. I’m not fucking Ricky Gervais OK.
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@Grognard: I like Ricky Gervais.
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Guys, stop whatever you’re doing and read this http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article5026752.ece
Very interesting SAF interview!
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@Grognard: Sunshine? Have yoy been in Norway lately? Dude, its practically a storm here! My footy training have been cancelled for two weeks now. I know FIFA aint a way of life, but when youve got nothin else to do then its a good thing to spend you time with. The boys and girls here are pussies, they are afraid of going out if its raining.
I wanna have fun, but its difficult to do it alone. 
So, FIFA and homework it is! 
When the sun comes out things will have a different tone. What did you think about the goal, btw?
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@Grognard: Fletch is a little like Scholes, he just doesnt have that power shot.
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@Drew Vader: Is the referee in our team?
Fact is we wouldn’t have won that match without Ronaldo’s goal, which he created himself.
You can’t turn the blame on him, no matter how much you want to.
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@Red Ranter: I like Ricky Gervais too. It’s just that I’m not Ricky Gervais.
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@RedDevilEddy: Sunshine was a figure of speech mate. I live in Vancouver. Far less sunshine than Norway, believe me. Rain is a way of life here. Right now is the beginning of the monsoon season and I will be seeing very little sun until April or May. Still, I try to do some other things other than FIFA 09. You have your homework, I watch dvd’s, read books and fiddle on my computer but I also go out and visit with friends etc. FIFA 09 is great but like the old saying goes “too much of a great thing makes RedDevilEddy a dull boy”.
Oh and the goal was very sweet. The other day I scored two bending beauties with Hargo. I have no luck with Ronaldo in FK’s.
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@Grognard: Neither does he!!
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