With ten minutes gone at the San Siro, I started to wonder whether my confidence in the team had been totally misplaced. Rafael da Silva was getting murdered by Ronaldinho, who kept cutting in to our box with ease. He may have needed a deflection to open the scoring but we were left with the terrifying prospect of what might occur over the remaining 88 minutes.
Sir Alex Ferguson has since revealed that the atmosphere gave him and our players a big shock and unnerved them. Our manager has been to every big ground in Europe with our players so if he was startled, imagine how the likes of Rafael and Jonny Evans were feeling! Well, it showed. We were all over the place defensively and somehow managed to hold our ground to prevent any more going in.
We then started to show some signs of ability, with Paul Scholes shooting wide under pressure from David Beckham, before Nani delivered a brilliant cross which sadly nobody chose to attack. Then Wayne Rooney had our best chance of the game, shooting from outside the box and the ball going narrowly wide of the post. We didn’t look entirely convincing but at least we were starting to take the game to Milan, rather than freezing like rabbits in the headlights in our own half.
Huntelaar should have made it 2-0, after skipping through our defence and leaving Van der Sar a vision of fury, before United were down the other end equalising.
Darren Fletcher played in a great ball to Paul Scholes who was waiting unmarked. He swung a leg at it and the ball crept in at Dida’s far post. You weren’t entirely sure how he had struck the ball but you didn’t care. Replays show he totally missed the ball as he went to hit it with his right foot, only for it to bounce off his left shin. So no, it doesn’t go up there with the cracker he scored against Barcelona the season before last, but in terms of goals he will remember when his career is over, scoring the equalising goal at the San Siro has to go up there with some of his greatest achievements with the club.
Michael Carrick then had an effort go wide of the post before David Beckham delivered a high and wide freekick. The playing field had levelled somewhat and we went in 1-1 at half time knowing we could have been dead and buried, but now had everything to play for.
Sadly, we started the second half on the back foot again, with Pato sending his free header over the bar before Van der Sar pulled off the save of the match from a Pirlo freekick.
Then with half an hour to go, Rooney came to life. First he embarked on a 20 yard sprint which resulted in a powerful shot and corner for United. Five minutes later he was on the scoresheet, with substitute Antonio Valencia pulling off what Nani had been attempting all match. He beat his man then delivered a perfect cross in to the box for Rooney to head over Dida and in to the back of the net. He was a good foot higher than his marker and again showed what a versatile goalscorer he can be.
With less than 20 minutes to go, Beckham was subbed off for Clarence Seedorf and met with warm cheers from our fans. Since his early freekick which lead to the goal, Becks had a very quiet night, making little to no impact on the game. With Carrick having a less than impressive match, our midfield was there for the taking, but Beckham, who Ferguson believes was played out of position in the centre, couldn’t get a hold of it.
Two minutes later, we were 3-1 up and could barely believe our eyes. Darren “anti-football” Fletcher got his second assist of the night, playing in a perfect ball to the unmarked Rooney, who drifted between the two centre backs to drill his free header in to the back of the net. Unbelievable. Let’s be honest, a score draw would have done us, so to be winning with three away goals was incredible.
Just to make sure there was some anticipation over the home leg, Ronaldinho got behind our defence again, as he had done all night, to deliver the ball to Seedorf. Without doubt the goal of the game as he flicked the ball behind him in to Van der Sar’s net. I prefer Sharpey’s against Barcelona but after four Champions League titles with three different clubs, you may expect such brilliance from Seedorf, even if he is almost 34-years-old.
We’d be in a pretty much untouchable position if we had had kept the scoreline at 3-1, whilst now we’re comfortable but still with some way to go. Do we go for the kill at Old Trafford or do we play the defensive game? It’s impossible to know which approach the manager will opt for but those three away goals are very precious and we should do all we can to protect them.
But thoughts of that game need to be pushed to the back of our minds with an important trip to Goodison Park on the way. The blues have been very hit and miss, after losing to the ten men of Liverpool before beating Chelsea 2-1. But if there’s any team that wants to put a stop to Rooney’s brilliant goalscoring form, it is Everton. Yet, if there’s any team Rooney wants to continue his form against, it is Everton, so we should be in for a good one.
Valencia will be pleased with his impact at the San Siro and will certainly start on the right with Nani suspended. Scholes might be given a rest after his full 90 minutes, which begs the question will we see the return of Anderson who turned out for the Reserves this week? Stranger things have happened.
Everton don’t have a great home record, winning just six of the thirteen games they’ve played, but Mikel Arteta is back, Landon Donovan is doing well, and Louis Saha has found the back of the net against the likes of Chelsea and City in recent weeks. They’ll be no pushovers and will be looking to spoil our run of great results. We’ve won six of our last eight in all competitions, scoring 23 goals, beating AC Milan, Arsenal and City in the semi-final, and are looking good. We certainly seemed to have turned a corner now that we are getting something resembling our strongest team playing every week but it’s games like the ones on Saturday away that decide your season as much as beating the likes of Arsenal and Milan away.
Man Utd News 24/7
Vidic is back. I hope for real:
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BB4CEE8FA%2D9A47%2D47BC%2DB069%2D3F7A2F35DB70%7D&newsid=6646570
I think he and Ando will be on the bench and will probably start next Tuesday’s game. So close to the VDS-Rio-Vidic reunion!
Good reflection on the game. Everton away is always tough; Saha especially will be a threat and I do hope Vidic does play so he can handle him.
Old Trafford is 100 years old today, happy 100th birthday to the Theatre Of Dreams!
Good one Scott. Yeah i thoughtit strange that the lads looked nervous having travelled to worse places. I don’t think the early goal helped to settle nerves. That is the loudest I have the San Siro actually.
Everton will be tough but we have a great record there and you just know Rooney will net. Either that or lose his head!
Off topic – May be jumping the gun but I really do think we may have a gem in Diouf.
Costas – Fantastic new about Vida. Get our back five sorted and we will muder teams.
You can tell I am in a rush today, my spelling is hideous. “Murder” and “news”.
I thought Carrick had a decent game again to be fair Scott.
Anyone else share my hunch that Rooney might just be rested against Everton?
He’s played an awful lot of football recently, and it’s certainly not wise to play him every game for the rest of the season. Plus the hostile atmosphere at Goodison may just wind him up a little, and you can just see him having a relapse to the old days and lashing out at someone.
Add to that the fact that Everton’s defence isn’t spectacular, and the obvious element of surprise, I can just see Fergie putting out Owen and Berba on Saturday.
Anyone agree with me in the slightest?
We could and should have killed the tie at the San Siro. After we went 3:1 up, we were all over them and could have easily scored more. In the second leg we should attack, attack and attack. I would not want for us to sit back and see what happens. Scoring first would put us in a great position. They would then have to take a gamble, leaving more space at the back for us to hurt them even more.
Everton can be a tricky one. Having beaten the rent boys recently they will be hyped up . But if our players don’t do silly things by giving the ball away cheaply in dangerous positions (like they did in Milan), I believe we have enough quality to see Everton’s challenge off.
kanchelskis – Err NO mate to be honest. I know what you are saying but he needs playing in this form especially against them. I reckon he will be rested on Tuesday night for the hammers. Nevermind Owen and Berba Diouf is gonna be banging on the door soon.
@King Eric
I hope Vida doesn’t need a lot of time to settle down again as Rio did on Tuesday. I would still go with Wes and Evans tomorrow…
Carrick had a funny game. I think our best spells in the Milan game where when he was raising his game.
Costas – Yeah I too would go with Jonny and Wes. Don’t know how true it is but a few papers are reporting it but there have been “dressing room bust ups at Citeh due to Mankini’s training ground methods”. Fucking priceless. Bellamy surprise surprise has had a do with him . Also do you reckon the Judas will ever return from Argentina?!!
@ King Eric, I think Diouf is gonna be what we have been missing since Ruud
All the vids I have seen of him & his performances in reserves & prem have been direct, powerful & energetic in the box. He’s a proppa striker!! :O)
Still can’t believe we are where we are in the league after having seen the VDS-Vida-Rio-Trio only 3-4times the whole season!! Ta, SAF
Everton will be hard but I fancy Rooney for the winner 1-2, or 0-2 if Vida is actually BACK!! :O)
can’t wait!!
@King Eric
I heard about Bellamy. Reportedly Mancini told him that he doesn’t want to see him for the next 3 months? Tevez went to Argentina? For what? I must have lost an episode. Nah he will be back. He must be missing the family like atmosphere at City, illustrated by the Mancini-Bellamy situation!
in the milan game, i think the only threat is ronaldinho… all of their attacking moves and goals involved him. I’m not saying other milan players are harmless, just look at the line up with seedorf, pirlo, pato, huntelaar etc… but i think in the 2nd leg, somebody should be given the task to mark him… and why is nobody mention how brilliant Park Ji-Sung is? he rarely make silly mistakes and i think he did really well on the left!!!
lol @ shitty!
imho I don’t fancy a Wes/Evans pairing vs Saha…
they pumped quality balls to him & he made Terry look like someone had spun him dizzy while the ball was in the air… Johnny wasn’t doing too well with clearing high balls either & that pinball aspect has to fucking go! don’t think my heart can take it anymore!! Saha ain’t no Torress so even if Vida’s 80% he would get my nod! :O)
vds brown vidic evans evra,valencia carrick fletch ando, diouf rooney
that would be my line up, without giggs and nani. team reads right to left!
any1` think a decent idea if nani comes bak decent keep him right where hes more affective and try valencia left as he could do a lot of cutting inside to shoot coz a lot of utd fans sayin whip the ball in all the time to rooney who is small( in height that is!) i like a ball fizzed in on the deck but throw diouf in there and hes a beast with his head, very high hopes for him, obertan decent for reserves last nite, only seen first half like.
hope a copy of result 0 2 would be nice. was thinkin 1 3 with rooney brace and valencia!!!! utd all the way.
Everton are usually up for it at Goodison. Fellaini’s miss could be a boost for us. I think we are going to struggle tomorrow. Everton love to pump in crosses and i am not too confident about the ability of Evans and Brown to deal with them. The fact that it is an early game after the Milan trip dosent make things easier.
Will be tricky. I go for a 1-1 draw
@AIG
Hey mate. We can credit my compatriot Kyrgiakos for getting rid of Fellaini! One aerial threat less. And after seeing Rio’s first game back, I wouldn’t risk Vida in a game like this. Brown and Rio(along with anchor man Carrick) will hopefully keep them at bay.
Here’s my predicted line up:
VDS – Rafael, Brown, Evans, Evra – Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Park – Rooney.
I would start with Berbatov instead of Scholes, but I don’t see it happening.
Predicted scoreline: United to win 2-1. Shocking hey?
I just can’t see us not winning at Goodison 2 years in a row.
@King Eric, I agree that Rooney will more likely be rested for the home game against West Ham but to be honest I think he’ll play both games.
Here I was scratching my head thinking *why the hell are people calling for Rio to be dropped in favour of Wes?*
Then I remembered that Rio merked himself. D’oh!
@Costas
Hi mate.
Felliani has been immense this season for them. Everton have a good defence and a very physical game. Vidic shouldnt play but Brown isnt too good either so Vidic may be a risk worth taking due to the number of crosses everton make in a match.
Surprising that you are going for united win. I stick with a draw.
Agree with the team
I’m glad you mentioned the effect the atmosphere had on the players. The crowd noise at the bginning of this match was awesome. I hope we have that at OT as opposed to empty seats….
“Our whole back four were going to get it, but he’s unfortunate he was the nearest defender to me. They had to compose themselves, that was the most important thing. After that, they settled and got very composed and got back to their normal game.
“The result was very different because of that.”
Scott: “the question will we see the return of Anderson who turned out for the Reserves this week? Stranger things have happened.”
From reports I’ve read, Anderson ran the game in the reserves on Wednesday night.
King Eric: “Off topic – May be jumping the gun but I really do think we may have a gem in Diouf.”
My reports suggest that he was excellent in the reserves again; scored the first goal after receiving a long “slide rule” pass from Anderson and coolly slotting the ball into the left corner.
yeah great goal, well taken and a good assist from ando. left footed finish from diouf aswell, im really excited bout him and further future obertan.
long may the dominance continue, utd for ever
denton – Yeah it was a real strikers finish from Mame and a superb ball from Ando. The first teamers so to speak stood out a mile. Ando, Diouf and Obertan was fantastic. Its not just Dioufs finishing though that is excellent but his all round game. Hustles defenders , gets into great positions and is lightening quick. Really excited about him actually.
aig – Hello mate. Another prediction from you and not a win. Keep it up though as everytime you predict us to drop points we tend to win!
Gibson might make the team sheet against Everton. Bench perhaps ?
King eric
hi mate.
I seriously feel its gonna be a draw.hope i am wrong though.the atmosphere is going to be really hostile and with brown and evans at the back against louis i am not too confident.i think rooney will have a quiet tomorrow.hope he dosent lose his calm if things dont go his way.
I don’t think Rooney will be thrilled not starting any game from now! I would rather see both Berba and Rooney up front in a 4-4-2 .
Cahill is injured so I think Everton will probably start Yakubu upfront with Saha, which means we should probably start as a 4-4-2 with Berbatov starting.
aig – Hello. We have a fantastic record at Everton and am fully confident we can get the three points. Although they are in good form so are we. As for the atmosphere I think having played at the San Siro on Tuesday tomorrow’s atmosphere will be like a library in comparison. It won’t faze them. Normally I would also think Rooney would have a quiet game but the form he is in I can see him destroying them. He has matured considerably of late and I think he will thrive on it tomorrow.
Brown and Evans will be fine. Aside from tuesday for Jonny they have done pretty well of late. They will handle Louis.
Is Cahill definately out? They are gonna miss him and Fellaini. Is Pienaar available?
He’s Back Kids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CKbQU447dY
I think that Anderson’s form will be crucial and if he plays like he did in the reserves then he’ll have a good game against Everton. Scholes wont play as his legs wont be able to handle two big games in less than 5 days. So I think it will be Carrick, Fletcherinho and Anderson operating midfield. With Valencia on the right and Rooney + Berbatov up front. Think Rafeael will play along with Evans and Brown at the centre. The Fantastic Mr Evra of course will be captain @ LB.
It’s a game that we need to win, plus Fellaini is not there, we should have more than enough to beat Everton.
Rooney is now mature enough to handle the Gooderson atmosphere, and
after the San Siro United players will not be affected by the Everton fans noise.
the lads need to be composed, controlled and clinical to win the game.
am i correct, but i think the Milan game was the first time this season that we’ve come back to win after being a goal down. all the other times we’ve drawn or lost. show’s courage and character and belief.
@King Eric
Alright mate, about the atmosphere at the San Siro. Haven’t United come through a similar kind of atmosphere in Turkey? I can’t remember who we were playing against but I remember Scott praising the Turkish home support as it is wasn’t often the United away support was out sung throughout the game.
I actually think SAF will play 4-4-2 and put Rooney on the bench.
If Rooney got injured United would be fcuked.
kvn @ 19:43: “It’s a game that we need to win, plus Fellaini is not there, we should have more than enough to beat Everton.”
They’re missing more than Fellaini – also Jagielka, Yobo, and Cahill. Arteta is just getting back into match-fitness, too.
Yeah, this is a game that UTD must win if the pressure on the RentBoyz is to be maintained. Last weekend’s Everton win against Chel$ki was a real bonus and I’d hate to see that momentum squandered.
SO, go for the jugular. I’m not sure that having Berbatov will do that – nor am I sure that 4-4-2 is the way to get the best out of WayneRooney who is – no question about it – the key to UTD’s season’s success.
That said, I’d like to see ThreeLungPark given a role in central midfield where he has always played for Korea and used to star for PSV (along with Carrick and Fletcherinho) with Anderson given the nominal role wide-left (I say “nominal role wide-left” because we all know that Patrice Evra is the real left-wing attacker and the guy playing ahead of him will really be more of an “inside left” than a winger.)
If TheLads can get ahead by two – wishful thinking ? – then I’d like to see Mame Biram Diouf get a run-out as the lead-striker. My patience with Dimmy is pretty-much shot.
i havent read all comments as i slept alot today but has anyone wished paddy crerand and or old trafford a happy birthday today
let me wish bout
heres a nice read
http://www.strettyender.com/de-jong-exposes-deluded-fans
AlphaRS – Hello mate. Was it the Besiktas game?
As I said before I don’t think at the minute you CAN bench Wazza. He will be desperate to play tomorrow. He will be rested for the hammers on Tuesday if anything.
denton – I know you ain’t a “fan” of Berbatov but isn’t it a bit unfair to say that? You can’t do fuck all if you ain’t playing. With you on Diouf though mate.
Berbatov wont and should not start tomorrow. SAF prefers 4-5-1 in the away games especially against the tricky teams. The plan is to keep the game tight,keep posession and try and play on the break,something that Berbatovs game isnt tuned with.
He hasnt been able to live up to expectations at united. Dosent mean he isnt a good player. Some players just cant settle at a club. Our style of play in games like Everton and Villa dosent exactly suit Berba so no point playing him. Play him against mid table and lower teams, not against Everton and Villa.
Sad to see him struggle but we have diouf who looks promising and (i hope) someone to come in the summer to take the pressure of rooney
aig – Diuof will be the one to take the pressure of Rooney next season.
king eric
i hope you are right mate but i still feel we need someone. SAF usually likes to have 3-4 top strikers at his disposal .Berba and owen are struggling so even if Diouf and Rooney do well we still need at least someone else. Welbeck will need 2-3 years,as will kiko.
@AIG
how is berbatov struggling or a flop as others have said, the guy is injuried and needs an op that will take him out of the rest of the season
or he could take one for the team stay in pain and sit on the bench (which somehow makes him a flop) till he gets a shout to help rooney out or the replacement for an overworked(by himself) Rooney. berbatov is a world class striker whos injuried and i think he should be respected for that alone never mind the guys out and out amazing football skill .
for 2-3 months berbatov is getting ripped apart on this for not been ronaldo or cantona or rooney but if those guys wheres a dime a dozen they would be the examples they’d be numbers yet noone wants to just say fair fucks to dimi the pain the guy has everday on the part of his body he must keep fit to feed his family is been put aside so Rooney can do his thing take a rest or pressure off his shoulders when the manager sees fit so that Manchester united can win THE Title in may . THe 4th in a row The 19th title all that history could happen due to a team game and Berbatov is a hardcore team player in my book
I have said this before, but I really do think we are not using Berba properly. Play him at the top of midfield and he will flourish; his vision, hold up play and creativity will be welcomed from the middle. He is a striker but he will never have the same form he had back at Spurs, because of many aspects, so I don’t see why Fergie can’t convert him to an AM.
Many people say he is a brilliant player but not for United. For all I know, any player who possesses Berbatov’s skills, touches and class is fit for United. A lot of his critics claim he will never fit into our system but he can if we change our formation next season and know how to use his qualities. I know he hasn’t been exactly the cream of the crop recently but personally I don’t want to see this chap leave as we still haven’t seen the best of the 30 million signing after 2 seasons.
For the first time this season Rooney has been playing in his favoured and mos effective position consistently; thanks to Capello. Fergie has just admitted that he was not using Rooney right previously. So I hope they do change Berba’s position next season, possibly experiment with different tactics and formations in pre-season as they can’t afford to do that now at this stage where games are coming thick and fast.
@ghtt
i am not saying he is a flop.I am saying that he dosent fi into the formation when it comes to these big games or tricky away games because we usually like to play on the break. hence you wont find SAF starting him in games like tomorrow.Rooney has combined well at times with him against Burnley and the lower teams but at Anfield we saw they struggled.I know he has scored 4 goals in 4 games but those have been against Burnley,Wigan and such teams.Of course every goal is vital but i want to see make an impact in the big games rather than chewing gum on the bench.
The injury maybe holding him back but i feel he needs to do better if he wants to play week in week out.
Whatever it is, as long as he is at United i will back him and hope he keep on improving
Fuck sake get behind the players
I think I heard a while back that Valencia used to be deployed as a CM when he was younger? Why don’t we try that against West Ham? I think this could be very effective since he loves to run at defenders and has a decent strike on the ball. Obviously this wouldn’t be ideal since 2 of our 1st choice wingers are unavailable for that game (I think? Nani and Giggsy?). But I think it could be something to be taken into consideration to be able to use both Nani and Valencia in the same team, and still have them BOTH be effective. I’m thinking a 4-2-3-1: VDS – Wes Vida Jonny Evra – Carrick Fletcher – Nani Valencia Giggsy/Park? – Rooney. With Valencia with an Attacking CM role, almost playing off of Rooney, and Nani and whoevers on the left being wingers. Park would probably have to be used to compensate for the extra midfielder being thrown forward, for his defensive capabilities. And obviously that exact lineup wouldn’t be able to be used on Tuesday since Nani is unavailable. But I think Fergie should definitely think about using something like that in the future!!
@sir fergie
i can see that happen if nani and valencia both start as an experiment against a “lesser” team
@ghtt
i am.wont see me slagging players.all berba needs to know is time is running out for him.at spurs he was a major force in the big games,why not at united?
@emily jane
Thats why I thought we could try it against West Ham. But then I realized we would probably need Valencia on the right since Nani and Giggs are out. Unless SAF wants to give Park and Obertan a go, but I would doubt it.
I really do believe that Berbatov will make a difference for United at some point this season. You can say they aren’t top teams but he has scored four in his last 4 league starts. I agree with Fze123 and would like to see him as an attacking midfielder which at home this season he has been to some extent. Oozes class and ability in abudance just need to use him properly.
He needs a proper run in the team then he may have some impact in the bigger games. That isn’t going to happen anytime soon though with the formation Fergie uses away from home and the form of Wayne.
Berbatov is a quality player and he doesn’t deserve to be played. Lots of people ask why he is never in the ‘big’ games. When he was fully fit last season he had played well in the big games and did pretty well. I also think he played best when he was playing with Ronaldo, and largely because of Berbatov’s incredible through balls often released him so well. Berbatov thrives with players with a lot of pace, I think in no small part he has been playing well recently because we’ve had the two fastest wingers on the pitch (Nani, Valencia). He should have more assists but Valencia has squandered a fair few. When we play Giggs, Scholes in the team, he doesn’t link up as well, because through balls are a big part of his game.
Secondly, when Sir Alex choses his team in the big games, he likes to play a five man midfield, now last year Berbatov was the spear head of this formation, but Rooney has really improved and become a centre forward this season and is a much better fit.
I think 4-4-2 is definitely a viable formation if the big games, but it relies on two of Fletcher/Carrick/Anderson to be outstanding, but Sir Alex has not taken this risk (with good reason) and plays the safer of option of hoping that Rooney plays very well which has happened all so often.
doesn’t deserve to be sold*********. Not doesn’t deserve to be played
chrispiano – Spot on. I must admit I was a bit puzzled at first when you said he is a quality player but doesn’t deserves to be “played”. Then I saw your next post.
For a long while, I thought Berbatov should be the target man and Rooney playing behind him. Unfortunately, Rooney’s form over the last 2 months proves that his best position now is as a centre forward. So there isn’t anything we can do. As long as 4-5-1 works away from home, Berbatov won’t start. But the guy is still class and has a part to play. In home matches for example. Personally, I would play him tomorrow too. 4-5-1 is good, but not every opponent deserves so much respect from us. Besides, when Park is playing, he can become a third CM. Besides, we played 4-4-2 at Goodison last year and we drew because we were wasteful. Not because Berbatov and Rooney weren’t clicking together.
I have to learn new words. How many times am I going to say “besides”?
how good was evertons keeper last night
hope he doesnt start tomorrow
I have full respect for the soccer that Everton are playing at the moment. They’re a really likeable team.
That being said, it’s Devil’s all the way at Goodison.
3-2
@GHTT
Was it Tim? I always rated him higher than Carroll. It’s just that he was suffering from a loss of confidence.
I think when the defence is fully fit and on form we’ll see the return of 4-4-2 in some European and other big games. At times last season we were pretty much playing with 4 strikers, Tevez, Berbatov upfront, Rooney and Ronaldo on the wings (Tottenham 5-2?). I think we were only allowed to do that because of the solidity of our defence and midfield. Obviously that was perhaps too extreme but Sir Alex is obviously still wary that our defence is more vulnerable than it previously was, hence his desire to control midfield.
@King Eric
I know it would seem crazy no to play Rooney but it’s a delicate balance for SAF to get right. Putting out a team who can beat Everton, keeping Rooney fit and fresh, keeping Berbatov and Owen interested.
Berbatov and Owen can’t even get a look in.
What would be funny though is if United take the lead against AC Milan at home and put Diouf on for Rooney!
I am not a fan of Berbatov but I too think he will make some sort of difference at some point in the season when he gets a chance to play. With our striking options at the moment I’d rather have him in the squad than not. I was hoping Kiko and Welbeck would kick on after last season.
@Costas
Ji Sung Park is one of the most hard working players in the United team. I think he was one of our best players against AC Milan in that first half.
@chrispiano
Good point. I was thinking about it recently. Ever since Rio and Vidic played together for the last time(at Anfield), Berbatov has started just one away game. At Hull. And that was the only time we played 4-4-2 away from home in that period. All the other times, it’s either 4-5-1 or 3-5-2 on the road.
@AlphaRS
Sure was. It was a game made for him. So is tomorrow’s game.
FZE @ 22:37: “I really do think we are not using Berba properly. Play him at the top of midfield and he will flourish; his vision, hold up play and creativity will be welcomed from the middle”
I don’t think so. He was signed to be a striker – and that’s where he’s played most of his career at other clubs. The real issue is that Dimmy has been eclipsed by the meteoric rise of WayneRooney this season – well, maybe not a “meteoric rise” but, rather, his coming-of-age. This, in fact, means that Dimmy is surplus-to-requirements because he slows down play – and so on. Also, it seems that getting the best out of WayneRooney means that the team is likely to become more – not less – committed – to a 4-5-1 (or 4-3-3). For whatever reason, it seems that BOTH Nani and Valencia play to their strengths in this formation while neither performs as well in a 4-4-2.
I would expect that Berbatov (and maybe Vidic) will be sold at the end of this season. “Replacing” Dimmy won’t be necessary since Diouf (!) and Macheda and Welbeck are all first-rate back-ups and none is going to expect to dislodge WayneRooney from the point-of-the-attack in the preferred formation.
The next, major signing will be a left-footed forward – and another central defender if VIdic is sold. You can call him a “winger” if that makes you feel comfortable but the reality is that Patrice Evra is the real left-outside player while the two “support forwards” will be expected to move into the inside-left and -right channels because with Evra and the Da Silva twins, width is going to come from the full=backs.
This is much like the way that Dunga has Brazil playing and, indeed, that’s how Brazil played before Dunga when Roberto Carlos and Cafu provided the width. This attacking system requires three midfielders – two of whom will be “defensive”: just look at the way Gilberto SIlva and Kleberson (Kleberson, ffs !) play in the Brazil team. It works really well IF you have fantastic, speedy full-backs – UTD have that in Evra and the Da SIlva twins.
So, my reckoning is that for SAF the 4-4-2 is pretty much a faded memory, not the formation of choice. I hate to say “I told you so” but you can look it up ! I wrote about this – the key to the season getting the best out of WayneRooney after the departure of CR7 – before this season started and then when I began to get pissed with Berbatov’s “performances” I began to harp on it again. Now it looks like it’s happening.