So two games into the new season and we’ve already dropped points, SHOCK & HORROR!
Yesterday was bad, somethings were reiterated from last season that had not changed but the reactions I saw was a bit OTT and although the positives were few they too should be celebrated as much as the bad are highlighted.
Paul Scholes again, I said as long as he produces I would fawn over him and yesterday he scored his 150th United goal so I will continue to praise a man who in no uncertain terms is a genius. The goal moves him to 9th in all time top scorers level with another of my favourite players, Ruud an Nistelrooy and 6 more and he catches up with Ryan Giggs.
I’m sure when people named that batch of players a golden generation they didn’t realise the spell of dominance would last this long!
Edwin van der Sarr looks like he wants one more best goalkeeper accolade before he retires and is doing his chances no harm, that double save that saw him arm extend like Dhalsim from Street fighter was a joy to watch and when best goal keepers are being discussed it’s a must his name is mentioned.
I feel we were dominant for the opening spell and the fashion in which we created chances inspires confidence as some felt we lack creativity, now we just have to work on actually putting the ball into the net
Yet for the good there were a few bad points that must be touched on.
After scoring yesterday it appears we went into cruise control, we didn’t press the advantage and allowed Fulham back into the game. It’s something we saw last season too and although it may not have meant we dropped points we made life harder for ourselves. This isn’t to say everytime you score a team will lie down and you should win but we could have done more to put the game beyond them and in not doing so we let them get back into the game.
Part of the reason Chelsea are running up these cricket scores is because they are a bit more ruthless (as well as playing substandard teams who look defeated before even kicking a ball) they can be 2-0 up and will still press to get a third, fourth and fifth goal.
I would put this higher in a list of reasons we dropped points than a penalty miss.
Speaking of penalties, Nani’s pen was poor and like everyone I would have preferred if Giggs had taken it (would love to know why he didn’t) but these things balance out. Fulham should have had a peno down the other end when Vidic tried to swap shirts with Dembele a touch too early. Even the decision to award us a penalty was a touch harsh as I feel the handball was unintentional.
Nani’s miss was crucial and would have put the game to bed but it didn’t automatically allow for Hageland to go down the other end and score.
Defensively we were shaky. Zamora harassed Jonny Evans and it will be a good learning experience for him coming up against a player like that. Zamora isn’t the best striker but his physicality makes him a handful and Evans will have to learn to use his own size (he isn’t small himself) to help combat more physical defenders.
An uncharacteristic mistake from Evra allowed them to get their first and then Vidic who is normally imperial in the air was beaten by Hageland for their second. Sloppy mistakes at the back were costly it’s been acknowledged by Vida and I hope we won’t be discussing this again.
How many times have we been the team to strike late to snatch the point/points and yesterday it happened to us. We were the authors of our own downfall but with 36 more games to go I have no doubts we will make this ground up.
There were a few who disappointed yesterday, and perhaps most of all was Valencia, which suprised me given his normal consistency and that the opposition was only so so. Park wasn’t great either and to have both of wings being shut down is what really took away our momentum. O’Shea was really lacking in offensive capabilities and gave it away to often and Evans reminded us that though he is promising, there remains a bit of work to be done. I would’ve preferred Nani and Rafael started in place of Park and O’Shea respectively.
There were positives though, namely Berba and Scholes continued great play. I trust our strength will build as the season goes on as normal, though let’s hope we don’t drop too many more points at this stage.
Valencia was very very quiet, similar to against Newcastle. Park was ok but offered nothing offensively and I feel we should have started with Nani.
JOS is a solid but unspectacular player so I agree with Rafael being afforded a starting place.
need to have nani as a starter. yes he missed penalty (shouldnt have been the one to take it) but is our best creative winger… start him. not starting him against chelsea in the 2nd match last year was a critical error by SAF