Introduction
The Premiership is back with a bang baby, for the first time in 3/4 years I can hand on heart say I’m obsessed with the game again. Why? Because the big hitters in England are taking their fingers out and realising that new blood is needed in order to restore the English game to a high level of excellence. United have been excelling in Europe over the past few years but its been turgid, dour football not really the United way and at home the lack of any domestic challenge has contributed to that malaise.
This year, a much improved City have finally put themselves forward as genuine contenders even though I still think defensively they are shocking and Chelsea under AVB, proved today that if they don’t pander to ego’s and surround Torres with flair and pace, they’ll be a package to fear in the CL and domestically too.
As for the game today, fantastic, breakneck speed but quality football. Precision, flair, speed, vision; it was all on show today and whilst the defending from both teams wasn’t the best, going forwards it really was top notch stuff.
Anyway 5 Things I Noticed…
1. Nani – The Complete Right-Winger
I never thought I’d see a better winger than a young Cristiano Ronaldo. He seemed to have everything you’d want in a wideman but then he was fashioned more into a forward and his game changed into that of a goalscoring machine, to the extent where if you watch him these days in wide positions, he gets tackled quite frequently whenever he runs at players allowing him to be shackled quite easily. There’s also the issue of Ronaldo refusing to track back and rarely crossing the ball, factors which demonstrate that he is probably best served playing as a wide striker of sorts.
Nani on the other hand is such a great winger on the right, an absolute delight who has taken elements of that young Ronaldo package merged it with some of the new goalscoring elements of Ronaldo and yet put it all together with a natural flair that Ronaldo can only dream of. Ronaldo’s tricks even at his best were mechanical and he couldn’t beat players with simple body feints and close control, Nani can do the Messi-esque close control, but he also possesses plenty of skill and dazzle in his locker, not to mention ever-improving upper body strength – the demonstration of which left Ray Wilkins in need of tissues.
He can run down the right and put in quality whipped in crosses, hit first time balls, or he can cut in and unleash powerful shots of either foot or thread through naughty disguised passes. On the left hand side, he is more predictable as his crossing off his left foot isn’t the best but on the right he just plays on sheer instinct and is uninhibited. There’s not many players who can claim to have destroyed Ashley Cole, but Nani can say he did. Flawless.
2. Andre Villa-Boas…
Chelsea were very good to watch in that game and from a neutral perspective, you could argue they were unlucky not to win that match as they enjoyed the lions share of possession even if United were exceptional on the counter-attack. Anyway, there has been a lot of media attention on AVB and whether he had the nous and experience to bring Chelsea back to the level that we associated them with back in Jose’s heyday. That question was a step closer to being answered today after that performance and in particular, the decision to take off Lampard at half-time.
Since Jose, the dressing room at Chelsea has had more influence than the managers and it has allowed a boy’s own club to form and the same clique playing week in week out, regardless of current form or age etc. I think it is one of the main factors why Torres has failed to settle, as he realised a lot of his team-mates are not up to it and felt his strengths weren’t being played to.
Under previous regimes, you wouldn’t have seen Sturridge start today or Lampard come off at half-time, even if he was injured. It was a massive step forward and I think there are major hints that AVB is a very smart guy who doesn’t pander to anyone. He is his own man, has a vision of the game and if he feels certain players are hindering his grand plan, he will not hesitate to dispatch with them if need be. I personally think if Chelsea are to thrive, Lampard needs to go and if a Modric-esque figure can be brought into the midfield, they will really be serious competition. Another issue in their team is that they’re arguably some young legs short at the back. Luiz’s reading of the game isn’t the best and he continues to make reckless challenges, an issue they need to address also. Nonetheless, a step in the right direction for the Blues.
3. United Midfield is vulnerable
As we saw today the backup players in United’s midfield do not allow us to play in that signature United style that we’ve been spoiled with these past few weeks. Fletcher and Carrick, great servants that they are … are industrious but not mercurial, and lack the technique and the finesse to up United’s level of performance. If Anderson has an off-day, as he did today, we look woefully short in the midfield and are vulnerable to being overrun and outplayed. If he gets injured, then say goodbye to winning games by big margins and say hello to games such as we witnessed in midweek v Benfica, a tough grind but moments of magic by the forwards winning us games.
It is not a phase of the season I’m particularly looking forward to, but it is definitely going to happen as Anderson has never lasted an entire season and someone like Cleverley with his high energy approach will take knocks. We just need to pray that when the big games come rolling, the optimal pairing are fit and raring to go. I think we’re one quality midfielder short and lack cover for Anderson.
4. Lightweight Hernandez
After a blinding debut season it was inevitable that defences would get to grips with Chicharito and therefore he’d have to up his game. We were told that he was taking his game to a new level during the summer, working on his technique but I think that knock to the head has shaken his confidence a tad, as he just isn’t making his presence felt at the minute.
The danger of playing with a poacher like Hernandez is that at times, especially when under siege like we were on occasion today, its like playing with 10 men. Whereas Rooney was in the thick of the action, Hernandez was not even providing us with a consistent outlet on the counter-attack. Welbeck when he was fit, could play poacher and also go wide, as well as playing in the hole; it made United’s movement completely unpredictable as Danny could at any stage, switch with Young, Rooney and Nani. With Hernandez, these options are limited as he is only useful on the shoulder of the last defender. Not a major issue by any means, but its a debate that will come to fruition I feel later in the season when we’re looking for our perfect first XI.
5. Opposition One 2 Watch: Juan Mata
Sublime player and anyone that watched Valencia CF closely wouldn’t be surprised to see how effective he is in locating space in midfield areas and finding a killer pass. He’s reminiscent of David Silva and has that spanish tendency of just making the right decision on the ball, time after time. I can’t remember seeing him tackled, he was just sheer class and every time he had the ball, I felt like a woman with no knickers… vulnerable.
He will be the first of a wave of technical talent coming through at Chelsea under AVB, surround him with like-minded players and he will thrive. Mancini has done that at City, with Nasri/Aguero combining with Silva and I think AVB will look to do that in the coming years.
Written by
Raees (follow me on www.twitter.com/redrae7mufc)
I think we need to give Jones a run out in midfield. he would add the dynamism and defensive mindness we are clearly lacking. Chelsea cut through us like we had no midfield. We can not compete with Barcelona/Real with the current combos
True Jones would do that but as we say its just papering over cracks. Do you really think jones would play in mid in the long term?? Fergie bought him as a defender Need a destroyer + great passer which we already have the budding pogba but we need a stop gap player just long enough until pogba matures and also a creator . If you notice our best midfeild combos have been destroyer/creator just look at the partnership of anderson/cleverley or late last season carrick/giggs. the 08 midfeild which won us the champs league was fletcher/scholes or even our best EVER partnership of keane/scholes. The stop gap player is up for debate but I think that we should get götze, truly amazing player and not just because of a few youtube clips better than morrison and is also seen as being better than ozil when he was the same age by the german 1st team coach
Although some words are true, the Ando and Cleverley pair of midfielders isn’t the destroyer/creator type. They are both box-to-box midfielder that attack and hold the defensive duties together. This too been helped with the role of Rooney who often drop deep. Together they protect each other and play as a team.
Great review!!!
Probably cuz i agree:) Fletcher and Carrick will not get the United-machine going, but they’re superb squad-players. If you look at Fletcher it’s like he’s dreading every pass going forward. He might get better though, but he is not the man to carry our midfield.
I would love to se Phil Jones playing on the midfield and I’m extremely surprised (positively) by his contribution.
Evans didn’t have the best of games so I’ll be happy having Rio and/or Vida back.
Chicharito really is invisible in some matches and this match was very similar to ch.lge final vs. Barcelona. We can’t play with 10 men in games like that.
an amazing article, and i do agree with CP but keep Jones starting as a CB and we could have ourselves a new Gerrad Pique, his reading of the game and bursting into attack is wonder at his age, he should be starting along with our captain when he comes back
I think switching Nani to the right wing has been the making of him. He never looked 100% playing on the left, but it was the position we had hoped he would fill. We can see that the right wing is his real position and where he does his best work. He is becoming the most dangerous winger in the Premier League. The attacking play with him and Young is great to watch. I am one of those who thought Alexis Sanchez should have been signed, but I deserve a slap on the face now.
I agree that Hernandez needs to improve his all round game, but he is an incredible player. He plays on the last man and scored goals. I wouldn’t read too much into one game against Chelsea. Last season he played well and scored against Chelsea twice. He is a selfish goalscorer and that is what you need. He is a great finisher.
Lastly, the midfield has some issues. Its not working 100% when we don’t have all the possession. The reality is that Chelsea were unlucky yesterday and could have easily drawn or won the game. I never thought Merson would be right, but we are too open and easy to pass through. I though Fletcher would stop that, but he didn’t make the difference.
This is not a job for Sneijder before some fans think we should have signed him. Anderson has started the season in great form but he will have off days being only 23. His passing was off and he rushed his work. He needed more composure and calm on the ball, but it will come. His energy is brilliant and keeps the tempo of our play up. However we are lacking a destroyer in midfield. I’m hoping Paul Pogba might be the man for the job, starting against Leeds tomorrow.
I think ferguson needs 2 buy another midfielder who has quality while attacking bcos if anything shld happen to either cleverly or anderson then we will be in trouble,bcos carribk and fletcher would jst be giving balls away and dat is bad for our new style of play.4rm nigeria.
Great article although I have to disagree about Hernandez.
It was only his 2nd start of the season yesterday and to be fair he wasnt getting much service.
The week previous he was getting into great positions to score and of course hit a brace.
True Jones would do that but as we say its just papering over cracks. Do you really think jones would play in mid in the long term?? Fergie bought hism as a defender Need a destroyer + great passer which we already have the budding pogba but we need a stop gap player just long enough until pogba matures and also a creator . If you notice our best midfeild combos have been destroyer/creator just look at the partnership of anderson/cleverley or late last season carrick/giggs. the 08 midfeild which won us the champs league was fletcher/scholes or even our best EVER partnership of keane/scholes. The stop gap player is to debate but I think that we should götze, truly amazing player and not just because of a few youtube clips better than morrison and is also seen as being better than ozil when he was the same age by the german coach.
I like Mario Goetze, but I don’t think we need him. We have Anderson and Cleverley and they will both get better as the season progresses and the more games they play. Long-term I think both of them will develop into top players for Manchester United. They are young and hungry midfielder’s with very good technique and speed.
We need a midfield enforcer that can break down attacks and protect the back four better. Phil Jones could do that job but I think he is doing very well at centre back. I see him and Vidic playing together at centre back, and Smalling at right back, for most of this season now. We haven’t had a defensive midfielder since Hargreaves and that lasted only one season. We need that type of player again. An all round type player that can tackle and close down the space between defence and midfield.
I think Ferguson might be thinking that Paul Pogba and Ryan Turncliffe can occupy that role. They both are stand out players from the youth team. Pogba big chance will come tomorrow against Leeds away, which will be a good test for him. If he dominates and stands out then he will do his chances the world of good. I like the idea of Anderson, Cleverley, Pogba, Turncliffe and Fletcher battling it out next season.
Great Review:
Hernandez is quite good when he’s fed with defence splitting passes(through balls),and that pays divident in games where our opposition is slow at their back line,but in highly-midfield concetrated games,the little Pea is hardly seen and his ball control isnt clinical.
Hence,I opine Welbeck will offer a more dynamic and sharp attacking partnership with wayne,nonetheless,if Danny fails to build on his brilliant start to the season,then Berbatov will lead the Red Army.
good article. our midfield looks vulnerable when we dont have the ball even against the average teams, for example, WBA. still think that Anderson will be the key man in central mid just needs to understand the opposition midfield a little better.
For some reason,i think united will concede many goals this season but will score even more.