The DVR malfunctioned this morning, and failed to record the Sunderland v United match. Thus, I picked up the game live at half time. Guess I didn't miss much.
Blame it on a Champions League hangover, a flooded dressing room (you can't make that up, btw), or a lack of minutes for many of the starting eleven, but United played sleepy and uninspired football. It pains me to admit this, but the scouser, Steve McManaman, said it best, “United looked like they'd rather be at home with their wives.”
How quickly we've gone from conceding late goals to picking up clean sheets without creating much. Two weeks ago all we wanted was concentration and composure along the backline. Now all we want is that cutting-edge to return in attack.
Regardless, the road result remained the same.
We may just be becoming aware of how much United will miss Valencia's play on the wing, given the Nani's unpredictable nature and Park's recent run of form. Width is suddenly lacking.
Valencia's consistency allows United more freedom to tolerate Nani's inconsistencies within matches. Just watch the other player's reactions to Nani's goals if you want to understand how his diving and unpredictable decision-making frustrate others, as the reactions are subdued to say the least with the lone exception of Rio jumping on goal-scorer's shoulders akin to Beckam's need for media attention. Ah, but, I digress.
Couple Valencia's loss with Giggs' injury and width becomes a real problem for United, as you've just lost critical pace and craft. What's left behind with Nani, Park and a grab-bag pick – whether Fletcher, a forward, or newbee like Bebe – is a serious drop in class and consistency.
Football can be an unpredictable temptress, as goals can come and go like the wind. If, and that's a big “if” anyone scored today, you knew it'd be game, set and match. But unlike midweek, no world-class finishes from Chicarito can hide the poor performance.
Our concerns move from a now strong backline to the end product derived from attacking vigor from the wings. Godspeeed to you, Giggsy and Valencia - from the suddenly-sleepless in Sunderland.
Back at you after the international break. Cheers.
1 comment:
completely disagree with you agreeing with a blinded, ignorant Scouse that we were waiting to get home to our wives.
a lot of people are failing to recognize one thing from yesterday's match ... the balance of the midfield was not there.
We had three center midfielders and a right winger, and maybe Owen or Macheda filling in on the left wing. did we get owen to play as a winger? come on.
the reason why sunderland had so much possession is because they attacked down that exposed wing with John O'Shea to beat. They doubled up on him Ahmed Al Muhammadi and the advancing right-back Nedum Onuoha. Simple math tells you that two v one never equals itself.
the question is why he didnt bring on evra to fill in that side of the midfield - he loves to get forward and can help cope with them down that wing. look at vidic - he showed his skills on the left wing by winning a free-kick and a corner by beating Onuoha.
Poor shape, rather than slow heads cost us two points. We made Sunderland look good with the lack of balance of the formation.
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