The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Sir Alex said it best in his post-match comments, “There was a wounded-animal aspect to the game and it was something we did not overcome.” Liverpool fully deserved the victory, as they simply wanted it more than United on the day. No argument here.

And Fernando Torres continues to ooze sublime finishing in this fixture, with his superb goal today, much like the European Championship winner for Spain, makes a strong case that he’s THE best striker on the planet now, bar none. Thank God Liverpool has no other real options up front.

Which leads me to my analysis of today’s derby, where we the plot to find Premiership gold between competing gunslingers, with all the drama, turmoil, and exaggerated violence you could expect from the third and final story in the Facts trilogy following A Fistful of Facts and For a Few Facts More.

THE GOOD
Yes, there were some bright spots amid all the derby-day-disappointment, including Berbatov’s exquisite touch and building chemistry with other forwards, Owen’s knack for getting behind defenders, and Valencia’s ability to draw double- and triple-teams today.

Granted, the next step in the lad’s development involves making better decisions when faced with such focused pressure, learning how to mix things up by hitting the early ball, curling inside occasionally, and picking the right moments to run at defenders.

Still, if Valencia’s shot off the crossbar goes in, you’d find the media falling over themselves with praise for three crucial goals in three games in a row. To me, he’s shown more signs of learning to play the United way than Nani to date.

And finally, there’s van der Sar-Superstar, with his brilliant save on an early free-kick as well as his overall clarity and confidence he brings to his backline partners. What a complete and utter relief to see his name on the team sheet each week.

THE BAD
Amongst the “il brutto” camp, what stood out the most today was not another critical goal via Rio Ferdinand’s defense, as time will tell if his sharpness and/or pace are missing, but rather, the poor refereeing during the game’s most crucial hour.

First, whenever these teams meet, referees are placed under tremendous pressure and scrutiny. With that said, I’ll even concede that the home team here typically gets the majority of the favorable calls, such as Lucas walking off the pitch somehow without a yellow card today or Macherano getting a second yellow for arguing at Old Trafford. Point conceded.

But what the hell is Andre Marriner thinking when Michael Own is pulled down by Carragher?! A yellow?! Surely, he was in perfect position to see Jamie the Red is the last man back. Surely, nobody would even try to say Owen could have continued on his feet toward goal. Surely, you jest.

Dear Mr. Marriner, you missed an easy and hugely-influential call today – you totally blew it and will be embarrassed while watching on tape.

THE UGLY
Oh, so many to choose from here, whether it’s the non-sending-off of Carragher or Vidic’s arm-tackle of Kuyt, or Macherano once again demonstrating he’s no mensa candidate with a ridiculous, studs-up lunge at van der Sar late-on.

No, the ugliest thing about the match, from the United perspective, is that the result quickly boosts Liverpools’s fragile campaign. A loss would have left Pool in shambles, with the dysfunctional ownership group, rumors of a possible sacking, pressure from a possible early exit from the Champions League, and worst of all, the knowledge they’ll go yet another season without a Premiership trophy.

United had the opportunity to place their arch-rivals into a prison camp of their own hemorrhaging expectations. Queue up Ennio Morricone’s famous film score as Liverpool are back in the title race. How ugly indeed.
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Back at you after the hoof-it laddie, I mean, Blackburn match. Cheers.

Needlessly Nervy

Much, much better attacking play from our beloved Red Devils, as there’s nothing subdued about this performance, yet the defense look remarkably uncertain and even panicky late on.

What should have been a comfortable 3- or 4-nil walk-in-the park, one that allowed Macheda and Wellbeck significant minutes, turned tense in the final moments.

As much as I’ve enjoyed watching Bolton push around other teams, especially Arsenal, the shoe doesn’t feel so good on the other foot now, does it.

Each hoof-job into the box seemed to take forever in flight until some form of conclusion, whether it became a clearance or a corner. Bolton grew in confidence as the minutes waned and the addition of a second striker playing forward instead of the park-the-bus 4-5-1. (I can’t understand why mid-table clubs come to Old Trafford, especially with the nervy defense of late, and not have a go at United. They really don’t expect points. So, why not go for it?!)

But, let’s not allow the final minutes to overshadow the three points taken, shall we.

As if on queue from my last blog entry, Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia turned in immense performances from the front and right respectively, while Ryan Giggs provided great control and verve from the left. Lou Macari said today that Giggs might play until he’s forty, and with games like these, that statement isn’t the least bit absurd for the future knight.

This leads me to highlight two lovely and one troublesome development from today’s match.

First, the Owen-Berbatov partnership showed real promise today, as Owen’s superb running off the ball matched Berba’s guile-filled, short passes and touches. United need a poacher with Owen’s quick brain and feet to change the alchemy up front, otherwise the Red Devil attack can become too predictable and plodding, especially with inconsistent wing play written about here ad nausea. I owe an apology to you, Mr. Owen, for suggesting Fergie look elsewhere during the January transfer window. You’ve already proved your value to the club when healthy. Fingers crossed on that account.

Second, Valencia played his best match in a United shirt, as he constantly looked a threat going forward as well as tracking back in a Park-like fashion to break up Bolton attacks in the defensive-third.

Getting the goal should do wonders for the lad, as he’s broken his duck in a game that matters. Just think: speed, strength, and stamina – a lovely combination indeed. Better watch out, Nani. Someone else is quicky endearing himself to SAF and earning more minutes on your wing. Undoubtedly, with performances such as today, a Giggs-Valencia wing partnership will take top billing on the team sheet.

Third, who stole Rio Ferdinand? No seriously, who did?!

Awhile back several of us United supporters joked around that when we observed that Cashley Cole and Rio funded a movie together, when combined with an owl delivering the wedding rings to Rio and bride this past Summer, were two signs of end-times, a defensive apocalypse for United. Not so funny anymore. Be careful what you say out loud. Even in jest.

Rio plays like a man without confidence in a position that’s arguably more about the c-word than any other position outside keeper. Sure, strikers need confidence, but when it’s lost across the back, its impact is more immediate and painful. Only time will tell if Rio’s form signals a struggle to become truly sharp after multiple injuries or a permanent loss of pace and subsequent confidence. Fergie can’t be happy with his music and movie producing 31-year old now; thank God almighty for the rapid development of Jonny Evans.

But, who are we, United supporters, to complain?! The view from the top of the table is as sweet as ever. What a fantastic set of results in Week 9.

We now turn our eyes towards the future, with Champions League mid-week and the opportunity to end Liverpool’s angst-filled title aspirations at Anfield in October. Can’t wait.

Back at you after the CSK Moscow and Pool matches. Cheers.

Subdued

Two games and two very uneven performances from United this past week, complete with lackluster first halves and the almost cliché ability to fall behind, wake up, and apply immense pressure afterwards.

Unlike against Wolfsburg, it caught up with United on Saturday, as Sunderland fully deserved a point and probably felt somewhat hard-done not to snatch the full three points. This unevenness now appears to be a significant and possible longer-term trend.

When the season began, anticipation brewed to see who within the current squad would emerge to become the next great player, albeit within a more disciplined 4-4-2. United possess loads of talent which can come at opponents with amazing force when everything’s clicking. But that’s precisely the problem this year: if and when everything’s clicking.

Inconsistent and poor decision-making in the final third of the pitch can become contagious with this club. Sure, we applaud the ability to come back and get points against Sunderland, City and Arsenal, but United have already played too many get-out-of-jail-free cards in the form of late, defense-splitting balls from Giggs and opposition own-goals.

This leads me to three solutions to the current mess.

First, beg, borrow, or steal some consistent wing play from somebody. With both Valencia and Nani learning “how to” become a United winger, SAF can only afford to play one inexperienced winger at a time until consistency returns to form with the squad. That means Park, Giggs or even Fletcher to anchor down one side and provide a development opportunity on the other, which leads me to my commentary about Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha’s recent form.

As we’ve seen all too often, Nani kills off attacks with wrong decisions that can lead both strikers to a self-fulfilling, downward cycle where frustration begets more frustration. All-too-inferior defenders can play Nani straight up as they stay goal-side and wait for him to inevitably show too much ball or hit an absurd cross. Right now, his play seems to infect the entire attack.

Second, United need a forward with pace to mix in with Rooney and Berbatov. This will take some pressure off the wing-play and create those lovely pockets of space that both players capitalize on brilliantly. Michael Owen supposedly filled this need, but Fergie needs to look elsewhere during the January transfer window or start rotating in Wellbeck some at forward.

And finally, as a last resort, United could hire a hypnotist to perform a group trance and convince the lads that they’re really down 1-0 at kickoff. Subdued turned sublime all from the power of suggestion. After Saturday’s performance, it couldn’t hurt.
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Back at you after the Bolton match. Cheers.