Where do you start after this performance?
Surly for the neutral observer, the match was well worth the
time invested. Fast. Hard-fought. Intense. And, that’s just in the Gwladys
Street Stand stand.
[Queue rim shot]
Ah, but serious folks, this blog, like you dear reader, are
a United fan, eager as ever to start the season with a new, fresh start to the
looonng campaign.
New faces couple new expectations. It’s been waaaay too
long. Game on.
So, why does this loss feel like last April or early May?
Maybe it’s because Red Devils lacked sharpness around goal.
Maybe it’s because key central halves were injured and defense creaked. Maybe
it’s because United carry a big target on their back at every away ground, as
fans delight in Red’s misery.
At first blush, the match wouldn’t seem like a groundhog day
remake, with United’s 4-3-3 formation provided some cover for the Carrick-Valencia
partnership along the right defense, as it allowed Scholes and Cleverly to take
turns pushing forward, play compact in front of the back four, and allow the
wingers to fall back, as needed, should United loose possession.
The starting eleven correctly matched the weaknesses as well
as strengths of the situation, plus the added delight of watching Kagawa,
Cleverly, and Scholes play combinations together.
So, why do we get sooo much prancing around the top of the
box and such predictable wing play?
Yes, you’ve simply got to love the technical skill of
Rooney, Nani, Kagawa, Cleverly, and Scholes playing short, one-touch possession
football. Yes, United did get players wide for crossing. Yes, there were some
chances.
However, the fullback overlaps and overall team crossing
were hugely ineffective, as United sorely missed the in-form Valencia tormenting
opponents down the right wing, with both starters, Welbeck and Nani playing
poorly.
Couple these factors with a slow, heavy-touch Rooney and
it’s abundantly clear how the Toffees won the match. One match report noted
that United fans, not Blues, booed the number ten for his wastefulness as the
match wore on. Imagine that at Goodison Park.
Oh, but the worst player of the match goes to Nani.
Nani was Nani, a player that can be unstoppable, but the
operative word there is “can”.
When Nani’s off, he’s way off, as viewed by his petulance toward the
linesman in the 2nd minute and soon-to-follow yellow card. He seems
to compound his errors until Fergie has no choice but to sub him. Seriously,
how can you take that many bad corners for the love of all things United? (The
MOTM, btw, was Kagawa. Bright. Creative. Sure in possession. Brilliant runs off
the ball.)
Ah, but I digress. These are the earliest of days.
The tone of this post would be entirely different, had the
Reds simply put two chances away. But they didn’t.
Now comes the short bus ride home for Fergie’s men knowing
that they did indeed create some nice combination play and made few
opportunities, but yet deep down inside, they were outplayed, as Everton simply
wanted the match more.
In the US, the American “Monday Night Football” used to
start with Hank Williams, Jr. shouting at the camera, “Are you ready for some
football?!!” before breaking into rowdy song.
Ready?
Yes, indeed.
Are you ready for this?
No, not really. But, then again, I’m never ready to watch two midfielders
play across the backline.
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