Concede eight goals in four halves of football. England. Dominate possession and lose to United yet again. England. What must we do to get a break? England.
You get the picture.
The Tottenham defense looked as distracted as the man most likely to lead Inger-Land into the European Championships. Spurs are in real trouble.
Ah, but must we focus so much attention on the side from North London, when the Red Devils dispatched Spurs with the customary aplomb.
These massive three points were overshadowed by events elsewhere this weekend, with a resurgent Arsenal, Andre Villas-Boas sacked, and a possible return of the Special One to the Premiership.
Thus, here’s a Cliff’s Notes analysis of United’s performance before moving on to the misery at Chelsea.
Solid job all around for United’s back five, especially Jonny Evans, who played flawlessly all afternoon and is a worthy MOTM candidate. Rio was massive as well.
Both Scholes and Giggs looked their age and United’s midfield being outplayed much of this match, while failing to keep possession comfortably until being up 3-0.
De Gea made some excellent saves early on to keep the score line nil-nil.
Rooney looked out-of-form, yet put United into the lead just before half time thanks to a pacy, pernicious corner from Ashley Young, our Man of the Match, who netted two himself, including a Goal of the Week postage stamp to emphatically kill off this match.
Young took up Valencia’s mantle just in time and on his own terms, mostly through his whipped service and ability to drift into pockets of space versus continuing to press the edge like Antonio.
The timing of Young’s excellence couldn’t be better for Sir Alex leading into the two months and change in the season.
Elsewhere in England, much focus is on the downward spiral of Chelsea, as AVB becomes the fifth manager sacked since the departure of the Special One.
And, who didn’t see this one coming million miles away?
When Andre Villas-Boas said he didn’t need the support of the locker room, as long as he had the owner’s backing, everybody knew his days were numbered, which culminated in a club statement that tried fruitlessly to thank the now-former manager:
“Andre Villas-Boas has parted company (kicked out) with Chelsea FC today. The Board would like to record our gratitude (hurl, barf, choke) for his work (crazy, highline football with an old squad) and express our disappointment (cha-ching) that the relationship has ended so early…
“Unfortunately the results and the performances of the team have not been good enough (5th place) and were showing no signs of improving at a key time (lost Champions League) in the season.”
Chelsea age gracelessly much to Red Devil delight.
C’mon, can you ever imagine Terry and Lampard accepting similar roles to those of Giggs or Scholes? (I know, I know – let’s just assume their bodies would hold up.)
Never.
Both players’ massive egos, if anything, appear to inflate over time, which doesn’t match their diminishing pace and production on the pitch.
Which speaks to everything that’s wrong with Stamford Bridge outfit the moment.
Chelsea’s dressing room has a habit of getting managers fired prematurely, as Ferguson hath reminded us on many an occasion, no one player – eh, Beckham – can get bigger than the manager nor the club. Never. All is lost otherwise.
Indeed, another title campaign’s gone, and quite possibly, a Champions League spot may be lost on an expensive, aging side with the advent of financial fair play just around the corner – the precise moment Chelsea can least afford to take a hit to revenue. Oh, the deliciously irony.
As we witness the predictable implosion of a billionaire owner’s plaything, thanks to his own meddling nonetheless, we appreciate newly the meaning of “schadenfreude.”
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