I was happy with the line-up. Whilst I wasn’t expecting Anderson and Carlos Tevez in the starting eleven, I appreciated the senitments behind it. We needed a bit of fight in us against Arsenal and those two are more than happy to do that.
Starting where we left off against Tottenham Hotspur, United were easily the better team from the off, totally dominating Arsenal. Before our goal on 17 minutes, Rooney saw his looping header kept out by a fully-stretched Almunia, Ronaldo had got a shot away, and the keeper had to make a brilliant save to stop Tevez. Arsenal on the other hand had maybe ventured in to our half once or twice.
Watching the first half was just thrilling. I’d hoped our second half performance at the weekend wasn’t a one off and we were shown it wasn’t. All season I’ve been waiting for these kind of performances and as time was running out, us still in a great position, I was wondering if they would ever come. In reality, these types of displays couldn’t have come at a better time.
In the second half Arsenal had a bit more of the ball although didn’t do anything with it. The only save Van der Sar had to make all game was for a tame shot from Cesc Fabregas in the first half. They threatened our penalty area more as the game went on but didn’t really ever look like scoring. In contrast to United.
Our best attempt of the second half fell to Ronaldo twenty minutes from time, with his 30-yard-strike rattling the crossbar. Almunia was nowhere so an inch or two lower and it would have been his second sensational goal in two games in Europe.
All in all, I was happier with the performance than I was with the result. Walking in to the ground my general thoughts were in agreement with Ferguson, that I’d take a 1-0, but after that performance, we really should have scored a goal or two more. That would make the Emirates a lot less nerve wracking. As it is, we have to travel there with the target of scoring just one goal and to keep tight enough at the back. I certainly fancy us to do it and history shows we always score there but it’s a funny old game, isn’t it?
Whilst I won’t go in to too much detail, Ronaldo had a period of ten minutes or so in the second half where he reverted back to his old hateful ways, much to the annoyance of the home fans. I can only assume this stuff doesn’t get shown on the telly for United fans to be so quick to defend his petulance. After not being awarded a free-kick yesterday, Ronaldo again watched the opposition charge in to our half. He sulkily and slowly walked back towards the halfway line when the ball was played back towards an Arsenal player ten yards or so away from him. He made no effort to run for the ball, continuing with his sulk. It’s a sad state of affairs when you hear fans yelling “This is a fucking European Cup semi-final, Ronnie!! Go to the ball!” and “Who the fuck do you think you are?! GO ON!!”. I’ve never seen anything like it. For him to be so consumed with his own feelings of injustice to get on with playing football for us is a massive worry. I can’t get my head around the fans who think that sort of behaviour is acceptable. We’re on a knife edge at the moment, so close to repeating the remarkable achievements of last season, and we need everyone on board to do so. We can’t afford the time for a player to have a sulk whilst the game is going on around him when we need 100% from everyone. Good performance from him otherwise though, so come on Ronnie lad, book up your ideas again!
Darren Fletcher was brilliant again. I find it odd to think how much I didn’t rate him before. I’d groan every time I saw him in the starting line-up whilst now I’m actually relieved to see him there. His workrate is absolutely fantastic and most of the time he pulls it off. He will usually either win the ball or put the player under enough pressure that they are forced in to a mistake which wins us possession. He’ll never be the most gifted player but he is certainly one of our most useful ones at the moment.
Aside from the goal, I think John O’Shea was pretty solid too. I think Samir Nasri would have been a much bigger test for our Irishman but thankfully Wenger, in all his wisdom, opted to play the man who scored two goals against us from the left in our last meeting in a holding midfield role. Genius. Whilst being good defensively he also put in a couple of decent crosses and could have got himself an assist for a Ronaldo header early on had Almunia not decided to play like a half decent keeper!
Wayne Rooney didn’t have his best game so I’m hoping he’s saving that for the Emirates, as he often does pretty well against that lot. It was his decision making more than his ability that let him down. He played some beautiful long range passes but too often at a crucial moment he fluffed it. He wanted to do the special thing rather than the sensible thing, which can be applauded when we’re 3-0 up, but let’s just stick to basics until then!
Tevez was his usual hardworking self but I’m a bit tired of the martyr routine. We get it Tevez, you’re not happy. You tell the press every chance you get. But don’t go shaking your head when you’re subbed off after playing 70 minutes in a European Cup semi-final. Maybe I’m being harsh and maybe my expectations of our players are too high, but I’d rather they save that stuff for behind the scenes. If you’re not happy, by all means, express that to the manager, but don’t do it for the World to see. What purpose is it serving? The fans know how much you want to play, so keep playing your heart out (and if possible, start getting a few more shots away. You are a striker after all!) and save the rest of it for when the cameras are switched off.
Evra looked better but maybe because Walcott posed nowhere near the threat Lennon did. He just hasn’t really seemed the same player since coming back from his ban and injury. I’d put him in our top three performers, easily, for the first half of the season, but he’s just dropped off since then. Come on Patrice, show us what you’re capable of again!
All in all though, it was a very pleasing performance, which gives me more confidence ahead of our trip to Middlesbrough. You just never seem to know how United are going to play at the moment but I hope, if our last two games are anything to go by, that we’ve turned a corner. It feels incredible to be so close to such great success but like this time last season, there are still the pangs of anxiety. It could all get taken away from us still and the thought of it being Liverpool/Arsenal/Chelsea who deny us another league and European Cup double is sickening.
My expectations at the beginning of the season were never to repeat what we just had done, regardless of what the players and manager were saying about their hunger for more success. A league title would have been more than enough for me. But we’re just seven matches away from doing it again. God, I love this team!
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It’s this stage of the season when i can’t enjoy watching a signel utd game, cos i’m just too nervous. It’s only if they’re about 8-0 up in 15 minutes that i can relax, and that will never happen!
single not signel
I also think we have turned a corner.
Bit harsh on Ron….yes you are right he did have that 15 min period where he did sulk and was in self pity mode.
But this scrutinising Ronaldo with a fine microscope has gone mad.
Your comments are correct…however with that you should have put the other side. Namely how the fuckin REF must have had a meeting with all the ABU brigade. And how he didnt give Ron 1 free kick…when blatantly fouled 3 to 4 times. And he disdainly looked at ron as to say..im the daddy and you aint getting shit. That didnt help.
Also after the 15 min sulk period…i thought ron did harry and chase and get back. Watch the last 20….he tracks back 3 times to hold thier player up. And near the final whistle….when arsenal reverted to putting some long balls in to get a precious away goal….Ron did mark his man and chase and pressed their players..infact he does it twice in injury time.
unitedgirl….join the club.
Im wearing 10 sets of pants and have got an oxygen mask and an ambulance at the door. Toooo nervy
No news on Rio yet?
Suhayl – if my comments are correct, then I don’t see the problem? I’m just saying it as I see it. Like I’ve said previously, Ronaldo giving his all could make the difference for us this season. His work rate has improved since Sunderland. He certainly tried harder for most of the match against Arsenal than he did against Villa, for example. But Ronaldo’s performances and attitude are a MASSIVE factor in whether we’re going to do the Double or not again this year, so it does need to be addressed.
There wont be any news today costas..never is 1 day after a game. they’ll have got the results this morning or late last night. Then will assess what needs to be done….diagnosis prognosis etc etc etc. See how Rio feels etc.
And THEN and only then will SAF mention it in his pre match press conference tmrw.
Anyway a stat for you…i know Rio is the best defender on the planet and he is vital to our cause and success…and we really need his cool head and leadership. However with rio in the team….we have won 63% of games…and conceded a few. Without rio…9 games 9 wins…100% win ratio and only 3 goals conceded. Funny huh!
off topic: can anyone give me the link to tonight’s reserve match ?
I agree with you Scott…his attitude is vital to our cause….as he is so or THE most instrumental player. And yes it needs to be addressed and mentioned. However he is soooooooo much better than a few games ago. And it would have been good if you had put a sentence or two after what you wrote..to mention he did improve and did buck his ideas up in the latter part of the game…not to mention the fuckin ref. Not making excuses for ron…but to his bad sulk period last night…there was a very good hardworking period too.
Pros and cons to everything mate. Even though i was angry with that sulky period mid game….i was happy he started tracking and working chasing the last 20.
Miracles dont happen overnight…leapords dont change their spots overnight either. Little by little..step by step. Thats how it will be with Ron
Personally i was very contented how he ended the game
I said to my girlfriend last night,Is it me, or is it that every time we score a goal now, I make more noise than the previous goal? Could it be because I don’t know if/when they’ll be another? Nah, I think it’s just the realisation of how important goals at this time of the season are.
BTW I screamed the house down when Johnny scored yesterday, I was watching with my girlfriend and her dad, who supports Arsenal. Her mum support Tottenham, she’s still getting it from Saturday haha
Suhayl those stats i presume are from League games?I am not too worried about the Riverside if SAF fields a strong first XI.Yes, we might find out tomorrow for good and this anxiety will kill me.
Suhayl – Been watching Sky Sports News as well have we? haha
me too mate…im a nervous sick wreck.
boro game does worry me….but those comments for tmrw after we hear from SAF. For now….im going for my tea and some darts..
catch you tmrw mate
yep i mr santos..only watch it for millie or natalie ha ha….phawrrrrrr
Carlos Vela has swine flu.
Not forgetting Georgie Thompson are we Suhayl?
See you suhayl! Actually our official webtite changed their tune.Originally they said that they would post any update about Rio on Thursday.Now,they are saying that they will post it as soon as Fergie announces it at tomorrow’s press conference. I don’t know if this change is a good sign or not.
We will just have to wait until tmrw costas…fingers crossed and a little prayer to night. Brace yourself for the worst…..hence that way we are prepared.
Mr Santos…georgie used to flaot my boat …..no more tho. Millie and natalie are the top 2 by a mile…..lol
And really has vela got swine flu???? hope it spreads to the rest of the team lol
Vela doesn’t but you know, I reckon he gave it to Almunia & Toure, look how they played last night compared to the rest of the players who were playing normally.
lol.
right it is really time for my tea and darts
I thought that you were a bit harsh on Tevez. That head shake is nothing new about him, that’s him being hard on himself after not scoring. He’s done that through out his carrer, even when he used to play for Boca here in Arg. Maybe you’re right, but we can’t really know, can we?
Really didnt like the head shake. Is he looking for sympathy? Wtf? Like scott said, shoot the ball ffs
Tevez shakes his head and immediately applauds the crowd as if to say, “i have them in my corner”.Maybe i am becoming a bit paranoid.I think he could have told SAF in private.In a Ch.League semi,even Pele has to be sibstituted if it is for the greater good.
Don’t over-analyze Carlitos’ body language; no top-flight player likes to be taken off in the middle of a big game. He’s a fighter, he wants to see the job done and he believes that he’s the man to do it. I admire that in him. He showed that incredible determination for Boca Juniors, for West Ham, for UTD, and, of course, for Argentina. Like I said, he’s a fighter. His first-touch ain’t great but he offers so much more that I was very happy to see him given the start ahead of Berbatov (although I really wanted to see the FabFour playing together, with Fletcherinho and Anderson behind them).
This is not the time to be critical of Carlos or Cristiano.
This is a time of unity where we do our best with who we are and trust Fergie to sort them out both in private.
Besides Ronaldo has much improved his attitude and Tevez is a threat again. We have Boro to beat and we need to get stuck into them hard.
After we scored i was saying to my pal “keep pressing them” but we just dropped the rhythm and allowed Arsenal to have some share of possession.
I was quite sure that we would score in the second half but after the 75th minute i was starting to get very nervous about the whole thing.
After the game was over i was trying to cool myself down sayung to myself that 1-0 is better than 2-1 and it’s not the worst result but we should have decided the tie yesterday and really hoped to have Rio for the game in Rome.
I don’t want to disscuss Ronaldo. You watch the game from the stands and you know more than i do. But i think he is like he is. He will improve but yes, i agree, this will happen step by step if he stays with us.
Tevez is just running and running. Endless running. I can not get the point of what does it bring to our play. He loses the ball, he doesn’t shoot enough, he doesn’t score enough. I’m still not sure what to make of it.
On Rooney. I think he was the best player in the yesterday’s game. He is God. Yes, he is. And he has reputation of scoring at the Emirates.
The future is bright and thank gos we have him. There is no other Rooney.
Sorry but slightly off topic ……… (again) I fuckin despise Glenn Hoddle. According to him Arsenal are now favourite to go through. What the fuck? Not just him but why is every ABU saying “all four teams are equally poised/balanced”? I could have sworn that United are the only team to actually score. Beggars belief.
isn’t it better to be outsider ? )
sweet talking. empty words doesn’t decide the outcome of games.
Hated and adored, but never ignored (с)
Lol i had to get wipes at OT becuase i get so much presure on me self that i start barbecuing my face!I’m not going to london at the emirates..So i have the sink! haha …I know i am being greedy for arsenal but i wonder how it will feel in the final…i forgot how it was in moscow.
This is what i tell my old man
Me:Dad?
Dad:what
Me:i’m scared…ON And on till the final whistle
as souness said,”if hoddle was made of chocalate he would eat himself”. he is a weird cunt and a shit manager to boot.
on the game, i think the performance was good, full of energy…
i reckon we will score in the 2nd leg, it will be tough but if rio is fit it will be a big boost.. we need his leadership…
same trio in midfield with maybe giggs instead of tevez?
any thoughts??
“a weird cunt” – spot on.
Yes definately the same midfield trio, I would like to see these 3 together alot more often but then obviously you have to factor Scholsey in and next season Hargreaves. From looking like a shite midfield a few weeks ago it was superb last night and completely ran the show. You have Fletch who has been excellent this season, biting at ankles and running box to box. Then you have Carrick with his creativity and passing who breaks play up by nipping in for loose balls then you have Ando who is a mixture of the two and more besides. Fuckin quality last night. I know you won’t agree KeanesMH but if not Giggsy then I would like to see Berba start. We will prove too strong for the soft cockneys and we WILL get an away goal or two.
For me, the big difference / improvement in United’s recent performances is the energy in our midfield… taking this point, of course Rio would be missed if he has cracked a rib, but as long as Fergie plays Anderson, Fletch and Carrick in the middle, we should be alright… these three – and Fletch / Anderson in particular – are providing a good defensive shield that allows our holy trinity (Roo, Ron and Tevez) to stay further up the pitch… I’m sure Fergie will change it for the Boro game (play Giggs in the middle with Scholes maybe?), but I reckon the same team as yesterday for the return leg will not only see us through, but will probably win the game as well…
Slightly off topic, I’ve seen that Wes is close to a recall – Fergie reportedly reckons that he will play some part against Boro – which is great news… Get him on against Boro to get him back into the swing of things, then play him at the Emirates?
Sorry King Eric – our posts crossed in cyberspace! Completely agree!
Whiteside10 you mean play Wes next to Vida if Rio doesn’t make it?Or at right back?Because i think that Fergie will go with O’Shea as RB in the big games.The reserves were playing today.Brown(i think Wes and not his brother) completed 90 minutes but Fabio limped off after 56.They have to take a look at this boy’s physique and see what’s wrong.It will be a shame if he doesn’t make it because he is just as good as Rafael.
Costa – sorry for the delay.. I’ve just read on the wires here that Ferdinand should be OK for next week… the results of the x-Ray reveals ‘only’ severe bruising, but not a cracked rib… Here’s a link to the news story…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/30/rio-ferdinand-manchester-united-champions-league
Yes there is a topic for it Whiteside.Great news!
Good result on Wednesday, sick of hearing how we will have to hold out for the first twenty minutes next week and then we’ll have a chance! Get after them from the get go like on Wednesday and they’ll be far more open and susceptible on their own patch. As for Saturday, the timing is ridiculous, Boro have always been tough on their own patch, but so are Pompey and West Ham and we won those this season. Trust in Fergie…Come on UNITED!!!
we were just the better team! Just face it you gooners!
what i found funny about rons performance is that after his little hissy fit he started to play better. he started to charge down players and chase as many balls as possible, after the 10 minutes he got much better which was good to see.
pity about the linesman not flagging anderson onside it would’ve been a great chance.
im really worried about going to a boro, a team who are fighting for their lives and the possibility of playing a reserve team like the one against everton.
if we win this game tomorrow its a MASSIVE step towards that 18th title, but if we draw or lose its nothing short of a disaster IMO.
doncobaino – I really don’t think Sir Alex will put a team out like the cup semi final. Maybe rest one or two but I am sure it will be strong.
Yeah too right Eric,
The fa cup was a one off! He could live with not getting to the final, but Benitez has got under his skin and there is no way he would live with Liverpool Lifting the league!
I expect most or some of our big guns to play! I potentialy see us loosing points in the league to Man City & Arsenal!… Its just a feeling!
So we cant afford to loose any to teams we should be beating!
I will be happier come saturday at the end of the whistle with 3 points int he bag!
“He could live with not getting to the final, but Benitez has got under his skin and there is no way he would live with Liverpool Lifting the league!”
Spot on Trevor.
the 2nd half comeback and this first half domination had one thing in common. tevez.
It was actually Tevez who nearly assisted Ronaldo with that cross, not O’Shea.
Combine that with his blistering first half performance where he was easily the best player on the pitch, you can understand his frustration at not being let to play for longer.
For me, he’s done all he can to earn his place in the side. Fergie’s just not being fair.