Confidence Restored

If you ever needed a demonstration how United need to attack, simply re-watch today’s 5-0 thrashing of Fulham.

Fluid movement seemed effortless for the Reds, as United ended up employing four wing players much of the match, with Valencia at right back and Giggs in the center of midfield.

So effective were the flanks that it seemed as if the Cottagers played the morning after a wild Christmas party – looking tired, hung-over and bewildered.

Party on indeed.

Where do you start, with so much to relish? Let’s keep it to the customary five reactions to the match.

First, Carrick and Giggs controlled the match – that is control with a capital “C”.

Both players maintained possession and distributed the ball wonderfully to the wings, which Fulham couldn’t deal with, so they dropped off the ball even further. This provided the dynamic duo even more time over the ball… you get the picture.

As Warren Barton teased, Giggs could have played today with a cigar in one hand, a brandy in another – he simply did what he wanted with grace and ease. Fittingly, Giggs netted the third goal for United just before half off a deflection that brought to the fore that amused-and-delighted grin to the number eleven’s face, that priceless picture we’ve witnessed on so many occasions. All Reds should name their first-born son Ryan, seriously.

Second, the Rooney and Welbeck combination regained their early season mojo, as both strikers netted a goal a piece. Rooney’s 30+-yard strike that kissed off the post was reminiscent of an audacious Ronaldo long-range effort circa 2008 and a definite goal-of-the-week candidate.

This combination works when Welbeck’s touch is “on”, and Dany didn’t disappoint. He maintained possession as well as provided the effort, pace, and length to pressure the ball effectively. Often, Fulham started deep with the long number nineteen and Rooney narrowing as well as directing the possible escape routes out of their defensive half, which led to turnovers and a lop-sided possession statistic in favor of United. Brilliant job, lads.

Third, this match, like so many others, came with injuries – this time to Jones and Young. Jones’ head injury – thanks to an intentional elbow, I’d argue, from Clint Dempsy – merited a yellow, if not a red card from Mark Halsey.

I simply can’t understand how no card was given, as in real time you clearly saw Dempsey leading with and holding his elbow out above his headline upon connection with United’s number four. The only explanation lies in the referee being reluctant to show colors so early in the match. It’s a stone-cold yellow, in my book.

Jones’ injury could be a huge blow because concussions hold their own peculiar and unpredictable spell over their victims. Let us hope that Jones will be back soon, as the Red Devils sorely needs his versatility during the crowded holiday fixture list.

Fourth, Nani’s blistering form continued today, as he tormented Fulham from wide positions, often with either Evra or Valencia overlapping him. You cannot underestimate the importance of Nani’s full-length run down the left flank that created United’s first goal.

Once burned, twice shy became the rule, as Fulham’s fullbacks never recovered from watching the obvious ease with which the Portuguese rounded the defense to provide Welbeck with a side-footer from ten yards out.

Fifth and finally, the past two months have witnessed United pressing too much in the final third of the pitch leading to uncomfortable 1-0 victories and the infamous penalty decision to Newcastle at home.

Reds really needed a match where the goals came easily and freely. This was the match. The score line should restore the player’s confidence in the wide attacking play that was so effective in the early days of the season. When Ferguson’s men get it going down the wing, they’re extremely difficult to stop.

Admittedly, United cannot afford to be so expansive against the highest quality opposition, but you suspect both matches in West London brought back that swagger we’ve all come to expect from a Sir Alex Ferguson side. Just consider Rooney’s superb long-range laser or Berbatov’s delicious back-heal-redirect just in side the far post. Both strikes simply exude class and assurance.

Goals can be contagious with this side, as this match reminds the Reds to relax, play your game, and trust each other. The goals do come, and quite often, in bunches.

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Back at you after the Wigan match. Cheers.

Five Reactions To The Victory Over Wolves

Playing Wolverhamton at home after the massive disappointment midweek provided the perfect tonic for what ails United, with a comfortable 4-1 victory.

Normal service resumed around goal with Rooney and Nani netting two goals apiece, and in truth, it could have been much more lopsided, as Mick McCarthy’s side left too many delicious pockets of space for the Red Devils to exploit.

Here are my five immediate reactions to this victory.

First, United are clearly a club in transition at the moment. All illusions of a seamless evolution from one generation to another disappeared with Red’s Champions League exit this past week.

Simply look at the age and form of the squad at the moment.

You have extreme youth with the de Silvas, De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Welbeck, Cleverly, and Macheda, coupled with aging veterans still playing in Berbatov, Giggs, Owen and Rio, as well as the recently departed Brown, Neville, O’Shea, Scholes, and van der Sar.

With youthful defenders, we’ve witnessed more errors and shots on goal than you’d expect from a Ferguson side thus far this year.

Today’s culprit was Chris Smalling, who repeatedly let Matt Jarvis get around the edge with the same move, which led to the cross that provided Wolves’ only goal.

It’s not so much that he got beat, which happens, it’s that he didn’t adjust to the threat against him.

Reviewing tape, Smalling will be embarrassed by witnessing himself beat repeatedly with so much help provided by the hardworking Valencia. He’ll learn, without question, but his error provided Wolves a huge lifeline early in the second half. Against a different side on a different day, United would not be so lucky.

Second, United desperately need an in-form Nani with the current injury list and lack of execution around goal. Thankfully, the number seventeen hath obliged.

Everyone knows the Portuguese winger created the most goals last term, as he can beat anyone – sometimes two or even three – off the dribble. His ability to get around the outside edge, nutmeg defenders, or cut inside causes defenders nightmares.

In Basel, Nani looked the most likely to score, as he toyed with anyone attempting to cover him, albeit his crosses left teammates wanting.

Today, he opened the Red Devils account with a brilliant jaunt across the top of the box before slotting home his shot just inside the post. This goal loosened up United’s play with Rooney, not coincidentally, netting the second soon afterwards.

Third, welcome back, Rio Ferdinand, as his elegant anticipation and timing returns precisely when United need it most.

We all have questions about his durability and fitness, but with what we’ve seen during the Newcastle, Basel, and Wolves matches, Sir Alex must be greatly encouraged. United need veteran leadership to help cover for and develop the youngsters. Rio is providing that quality at the moment.

Fourth, Phil Jones is a stud. Period.

Certainly, he’s still learning his craft, especially at center half, but just look at the nineteen year old: he’s our preferred central midfield option at the moment, which speaks to his talent and versatility as well as United’s lack of consistency and depth in the center of the park.

Where would the Red Devils be without this lad? I shudder the thought, as he’s filled a gaping whole in the middle of the formation.

Fifth, and most important, this victory restores some confidence around goal, particularly for Rooney, and applies much-needed pressure on City, especially after being knocked out of Champions League.

A loss to Chelsea would summon up anxiety on the Blue Moon, as they have yet to deal with adversity this campaign outside of an unnamed player’s soap opera. Until City win the Premier League, the inevitable questions will surface upon each slip-up.

We may all look back at this very week, where United fell out of European glory, as the turning point for this season and this squad of players.

The price paid for being complacent and having concentration lapses on defensive leave sharp bitterness in Red Devil mouths.

Have the youngsters learned that simply donning the red shirt doesn’t guarantee anything and that you must earn everything against everybody at this level of football?

Have the youth been taught how hard you must work to develop and maintain that elusive form that saw opponents battered early in the season?

We shall all find out soon enough, as today was one baby-step in the right direction.

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Won’t have a write-up after the QPR match, but will be back at you after Fulham at Craven Cottage. Cheers.

Villa Park Dominance Continues

United extend the unbeaten string at Villa Park to twenty-one matches after a 1-0 victory in a disjointed affair that saw three different players stretchered off the pitch.

Based on this causality list, you’d imagine a tight, no-holds-bar match, but it was quite the contrary.

Seemingly a supernatural curse befell the unfortunate three, as they all went down on at their own accord out of the blue, and you can’t blame the famously immaculate surface at Aston Villa. Sun rises. Sun sets. Villa Park is a velvety carpet. It’s that predictable.

Last match, the Red Devils were simply profligate in front of goal with their many chances.

Today, United bossed possession, yet failed to create as many opportunities in front of goal against a largely uninspired side.

So poor were the Villains, in fact, that they allowed Jones and Carrick to dictate matters to Villa’s three central midfielders. Nobody bothered to track Jones on his forays forward, which led to the game’s only goal in the 20th minute – a brilliant, top-shelf volley off a Nani cross from six yards.

Such was the delight on Jones’ and the managerial staff’s faces, with the number four pointing to his manager immediately after the strike, that you figured the player had a personal wager with the Scot. Smiles all around. United seemed in pole position to pile on the goals.

But again, it was not to be.

United played out their recent script, as the Reds simply oozed control over the match, yet found concentration, execution, or ideas lacking at THE critical moment in attack.

We’ve seen this Groundhog Day adventure before.

Nani dribbling away possession. Valencia getting his crosses blocked. Young looking a shadow of his early season form. Players standing over the ball too long. Rooney frustrated by the inability to pick him out crashing goal-side when someone gets around the edge. Somebody hitting a gilt-edged opportunity wide.

Against Newcastle and now Villa, we’ve witnessed poor focus cost the Reds two goals. Each time, the forward needlessly strayed a yard offside while drooling for the juicy final pass. Today’s culprit was Danny Welbeck.

You know that in the end, the goals will come – it’s inevitable given the quality of the side. In the big picture, the Reds continue to pick up points while not playing their best football. No large worries here.

But in the short-term, let’s hope the final third form doesn’t cost us all too much away at Basel.

Sir Alex’s men put themselves in a position of needing a result on the last day of group play in a weak group. As we’ve seen before, all it takes is one unlucky break for the Red Devils to pay a hefty price.

Let’s hope that Wednesday provides a much-needed cathartic release around goal. As we all know United are way overdue for one.

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Back at you hopefully after THE match midweek. Cheers to you and yours.

Wasteful or Unlucky?

All Geordies should run to the local corner store and play the lottery immediately. Oh wait, on second thought, they’ve already maxed out their luck today. Never mind.

Of course, the initial reactions will focus on the linesman’s gift penalty from a textbook-perfect tackle, poor finishing, and game-of-the-season keeping from the Krul Dutchman.

A closer look, however, reveals something else entirely.

Yes, I agree, Sir Alex, that the match’s outcome was a travesty. However, during the previous run of successive one-nil victories, United rode lady luck both in poor finishing, wasteful possession, and the odd defensive lapse.

Midweek and today we’ve witnessed the extreme cost for being profligate.

Against Benfica, the Reds gifted the Portuguese side an own-goal along with a horrible clearance from De Gea, right after you felt the lad had turned a corner with this type of game-changing error. Either time, had the player simply held his mettle, the pressure at Old Trafford dissipates measurably.

Today, we find the linesman in a giving mood to the barcodes, who hardly deserved a point in the second half, albeit Newcastle did attack when the opportunity presented itself in the first half and for that reason you give them a modicum of credit.

But United blew countless chances, only to score the lone goal from a crazy deflected clearance off Chicharito’s backside. Clinical finishing hath become elusive, as United do not sustain concentration long enough to put inferior sides away by two-plus goals, with something like 10 goals in the last 8 or 9 matches.

That’s simply not good enough. And Fergie knows it.

The inevitable pressure does come, but the lack of end-product leads to bad habits, including players pressing, standing over the ball too long, or trying difficult-if-not impossible balls way too often.

Players seem to lack belief the goals will come. Frustration begets more aggravation in this cycle, such as Nani dribbling through the entire defense only to over-hit his shot or cross, take you pick. Brilliance suddenly leads to a building collective annoyance.

United play best when up-tempo balls to space force defenses to keep up with rapid-fire decision-making, as pace and movement lead to the gaps the Reds exploit, often with tap-ins from lovely passing. Everybody knows this.

Yet, the Red Devils seem to have lost control over this gear, at times, which isn’t characteristic of a Sir Alex Ferguson side. Form and function become elusive at the most inopportune of moments for about nine game running now.

Thus, we find the season on edge, with United needing a result at Basel to advance from an easy Champions League group and the possibility of falling seven points behind City by tomorrow evening.

Sure, United feel rightfully aggrieved to have conceded an unjust penalty, but such a turn hath been brewing for a while. Just add up the number of minutes with a narrow one-goal lead, which is way too long to avoid lady luck’s pendulum swinging the wrong direction. Thus, we find Sir Alex’s tirade to deflect attention from profligacy in front of goal.

United need to rekindle their ruthlessness right quick, otherwise, prospects in Europe and England could evaporate all too quickly. And luck would have absolutely nothing to do with it.

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Back at you after the Villa match. Cheers.

Another Clean Sheet

My last post was “One-nil to the United” poking fun at the score in a boring-boring-Arsenal kind of way.

But, today’s match was no prank whatsoever, with three clean sheets on the trot in the Premier League.

Sir Alex’s men largely controlled this match, with a stern focus on defensive shape before over-committing anything bombing forward. A professional three road points gained ahead of fixtures against Benfica and Newcastle this week, a job well done – thank you very much.

Here are five thoughts about this match.

First, all props to the Swansea supporters, who were fantastic throughout the match, including of course, their acknowledgement when Giggs was substituted off late on. Certainly, TV audio didn’t do justice to the volumes coming from the Swans faithful, who relished their first glamour Premiership match of the season with full voice.

Second, in honor of the ubiquitous 11-11-11 homage-to-Spinal Tap image floating around Facebook earlier this month, it’s fitting that the Welsh number eleven would take a wasteful Swansea turnover, nutmeg the defender with his assist to Chicharito for the only goal of the match in the eleventh minute. After all, when you need that little extra something, you know, to push it over the top – always turn to number eleven, that’s our motto.

Third, our goal-scoring-hero Chicharito continues to provide the pace and poaching instincts needed along Ferguson’s front line, as he’s especially money away from home this campaign. With his customary aplomb, the Little Pea’s poach was made to look easy, despite the pass hit with pace tight to his body. Away form demons be gone, the little Mexican declares with each match-winning goal.

Fourth, how good does De Gea look now in his United kit?

The lad’s been brilliant over the last six weeks. He did everything asked of him today, including difficult punch-clears off crosses that caused so many problems early on. Often, the United keeper wouldn’t even come for them, but now, he looks much, much more assured.

You always knew De Gea had God-given, shot-stopping ability – that was without question. The biggest problem was he had no presence in his area, especially in the air. His play today demonstrates his improved presence in the box, with the back line much, much more comfortable with him.

Fifth and most important, United rediscovered their commitment to defense after the shellacking against City. Impressively, the Red Devils haven’t conceded a goal since that match, which comes down to overall shape, solid keeping, and Nemanja Vidic.

Outside of an occasional error, such as Jones ball watching on Sinclair’s horrible miss, Sir Alex’s men kept an excellent defensive shape today, with everybody seamlessly covering for each and pressuring the ball appropriately – no flying in late, leaving a huge gap, if beaten.

The composure, positional awareness, and opportune counter-attacking speak to a resurgent build-from-the-back mentality, especially away from home, which suites this squad’s strengths – the front and back lines.

Don’t get me wrong, the wing play and overall quality in the midfield are quite good, but thus far, we’ve watched a lack of health, depth, and form plague United’s midfield.

To compete with Barcelona, I still contend, United lack a rare, world-class midfielder. The Red’s issues in the midfield come when the central players fail to dictated match, then tend to fall back too far off the ball too close to goal, which helps explain the lop-sided shots-conceded stats thus far.

Ah, but I digress, as the midfield today, especially Carrick, were as cool as the sheet beneath your pillow. All you Carrick-haters, just watch the game again and focus on his undoubted influence over proceedings. He’s my co-MOTM tied with a certain Nemanja Vidic.

The old cliché that the captains need to “lead by example” holds true in spades for our beloved defender. Nobody, I repeat, nobody demonstrates more consistent and contagious commitment than the number fifteen. His brave header just ahead of a Swan forward’s boot exemplifies his all-in mentality at a critical moment.

Seriously, as a Red Devil, how could you look Vidic in the eye without matching that effort? Not a chance. There’s an aura building around this captain that you’d better not let him down, a bit Keane-like, without the ever-obvious scowling. It’s more like a half-crazed look of intensity, one from someone not to be crossed.

Thus we have another clean sheet brought to you from he who comes from Serbia. After all, you know what he’ll do to ya. Cheers.

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Back at you hopefully after the Benfica tilt, but surely after the Newcastle match. Btw, I’m for Kinnear.

One-nil to the United

Is this the dawn of a new era at Old Trafford? One-nil victories and shut up shop football?

Hardly.

On this, the twenty-fifth anniversary of Sir Alex’s reign, you wonder if naming the North Stand after gaffer himself pulled at the superstitious strings within the player ranks, a sign of his eventual retirement.

You’d think so, or more likely, the ghosts of matches-past crept into the Red Devil psyche. Starting with a 4-3-3 and Rooney in a central midfield role for a second straight Premiership match, you could bet Sir Alex wanted stern shape in defense with the top three pushing play forward.

It didn’t happen.

United without two central strikers were too easily defended, as the pocket of space in the backwash of Chicharito’s runs was largely wasted in the formation with Sunderland’s disciplined defense.

Welbeck and Nani didn’t do enough to get around the outside edge of their defenders, leaving the Reds to stand around and hit slow, predictable passes amongst themselves – too often moving laterally or even backwards – and constantly looking for someone else to make decisive runs off the ball.

United became stagnant and disjointed, playing right into Sunderland’s desired tempo. An occasional diagonal ball from Rooney switched play and showed promise only to have the player involved give up possession cheaply.

One suspects this side feels lingering effects from the drubbing, as players so known for their skill and ability to play fast football collectively look uncertain of themselves, and at times, their teammates.

Simply said: the mojo’s gone missing at the moment.

With that said, the Reds nabbed all three points, which at season’s end, will equal the tally from the 8-2 drubbing of Arsenal. Points are points, oh Zen-master – let us never forget that fact.

Thus, let us look at three positives moving forward in the campaign.

First, Rooney played three different positions today and handled all of them with his customary aplomb. The match commentators kept repeating that Wazza’s skills were wasted playing so far removed from the top line. I completely disagree, given the state of the midfield at the moment.

True, Rooney’s best position is in the hole just behind the striker, especially a speedy one such as Chicharito or Welbeck. Given time, the lad is lethal.

However, United’s midfield possess too many injuries or central players out-of-form at the moment, with Carrick and Cleverley coming back from injury and Anderson wildly inconsistent, leaving Fletcher, who himself is gaining form from a long-term spell out, as THE viable option at the moment.

Sure, you can play Park central and utilize his industry, but his slight build can be exploited in the box. Plus, he’s dangerous out wide, where his lovely turn-and-counter attack on left flank proved today.

Sure, you can play Giggs central as well, but admittedly, he doesn’t cover enough ground as one of only two central midfielders.

Thus, until either Carrick or Cleverley return, Ferguson’s completely justified in bringing a measure of composure and creativity to the midfield with Wayne Rooney. This shows the gaffer’s ability to adapt, one to be appreciated not criticized at the moment.

Second, the international break couldn’t come at a better moment for United, buying time for the aforementioned central midfielders to heal, train, and return to form, as well as the other injuries to Rafael, Smalling, and company to mend.

On August 1st, had you known that United would have 26 points from 11 matches and sit second on November 5th, you’d feel the Reds were positioned for the traditional surge in the second half of the season.

After today’s admittedly lack-luster result, United will sit second through the break, as you can always trust a SAF side to gain momentum as the season progresses. No serious worries here.

Last, the much-maligned Michael Carrick’s value should become crystal clear for anyone with remotely high football intelligence. Without him, United lack something.

Yes, I know, when Carrick makes a blunder, such as the costly turnover that led to City’s goal in last season’s FA Cup, that he looks horrible. Yes, he’s not your traditional hard man to shield the back four. Yes, we all remember him – and the rest of the squad for the matter –chasing the game in the Champions League Final.

Yet, upon reflection and to be fair, he possesses incredibly quick and accurate passing ability, the same skill that led to inch-perfect switch to Giggs, who found Rooney for the decisive goal at Stamford Bridge in the Champion’s League last season. Point. Counter-point.

Carrick’s value is in solid positioning and quick distribution from the back, which helps United’s tempo immensely. If you don’t believe me, simply research his passing efficiency against Anderson, for example. The results are shocking.

Without either Cleverly or Carrick, United’s central midfield’s passing lacks an edge.

With both players, it allows Rooney to play in the hole and for rapid transitions to attacking from the wing, a United trademark. Thus, United’s central midfield fortunes are tied to both players improving fitness, which improve by the day now, another good sign.

Thus, on this the twenty-fifth anniversary of Fergie’s reign at United, we honor our favorite Glaswegian, one who’s brought immeasurable joy to our hearts from his glorious attacking football.

We’ll never be found singing “One-nil to the United”, and for that, we can count ourselves blessed.

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Back at you after the trip to Swansea City. Cheers.

Ship Steadied

United defended a 1-0 lead away at Everton for three HUGE points to right the Red Devil ship after the loss last week. No coincidence, then, that the man at the helm was none other than Nemanja Vidic.

United played a 4-5-1 with Cleverley, Fletcher, Park, Rooney, and Welbeck moving to the midfield and with Chicharito as the lone striker, who bagged his fourth of the season in the 19th minute. Backline included Jones, Evans and Evra partnering the number fifteen.

You felt that United, once up and after customarily going for the jugular for a 5-10 minute spell, would play compact, counter-attacking football to prove – almost to a fault – that they could staunchly hold this margin of victory in the second half.

Inevitably, at some point, Everton would open up in the quest for the equalizer, and indeed, a couple of breaks fell for the Reds. Yet, United proved wasteful with their limited chances, leaving Ferguson to take off the goal-scoring-but-possession-challenged Hernandez for the holding and heading ability of Berba in the 67th minute.

What’s striking about this game was the sheer concentration and communication among Ferguson’s men in the defensive half, in contrast to events of the past several months.

A late non-penalty call by Mark Halsey seemed spot-on upon further review as Magaye Gueye lost his footing in a 50-50 clash with Evra. Had Everton leveled at this point, much of the talk would be about United’s possible demise, and admittedly, my focus would be on lack of United possession in the second half.

Regardless, you can’t take anything away from the Man of the Match performance by Vidic. Rock solid. Clear communication. Never putting in a head or foot in wrong. The Red Devils look a different side with their true captain back in the fold.

Beyond the beloved captain, however, Cleverley demonstrated yet again that his tight one-touch passing improves United’s tempo and led to the ample space for Evra’s cross to Chicharito’s decisive goal.

Without the number twenty-three, or Rooney dropping back to a central role for that matter, United’s midfield seems too similar, with great wide players with some defensive frailties and too many utilitarian runners manning the center of the park.

Cleverley’s ample energy and rhythmic-and-intricate passing wrong foots defenders and improves the quality of United’s runs off the ball, given the mismatches it creates. Quite simply, he becomes the heartbeat in the center sorely missed the last few months.

Thus, his health yet again becomes a great concern, as let’s hope his substitution in the 57th minute proves to be more cautionary than signal another significant injury blow. The Reds can’t afford it at the moment.

Overall, surly, United can and will get better as the year progresses, but don’t be surprised to see more 4-5-1 formations in tricky fixtures, especially away.

After last week’s effort left the Reds clamoring for someone to take charge of the play on the pitch, the man from Serbia heeded the call.

Well done, Nemanja. You’re THE Captain United ever so richly deserve.

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Back at you after the midweek Champions League tilt.