Hello,
The title was hard to type.
The game was hard to watch.
Manchester City has put themselves in position to end their 35year trophy drought and, to the delight of their fans, at the expense of city rivals Manchester United. United dominated possession in the first 25-30 minutes and could have easily put the game to bed but Dimitar Berbatov could not finish the job: one perhaps great save from Hart but the other, an open net which flew over the bar.
After about 30 minutes, City started controlling the game and besides a cross-bar-slash-save from Hart off a Nani free-kick, United had little offence. Yaya Toure was City's second-half match-winner, seizing on another epic blunder by Michael Carrick before finishing. That is two back-to-back cup blunders for Carrick if anyone is counting. Later, Scholes was given his marching orders for a thigh-high challenge on Pablo Zabaleta.
I have decided to challenge our readers on what went wrong in this match. Pick one from the following.
1 – Berba inability to finishing
2 – Hernandez not starting
3 – Michael Carrick
4 – Scholes’ red card
5 – No Giggs on the bench
6 – Rooney big mouth/suspension
7 – City just better
I am picking none of those. I am picking another. Confidence. I have talked about body language before here. As a counsellor in real-life, I am trained to watch for it. I watched the game again, trying to figure out what went wrong after 30 minutes, especially in the mid-field. City moved Silva over to the right with Johnson but that was so obvious, I team like United should have adapted. I do not think that was the problem. I think of the problem was confidence. I think the players, after about 30 minutes and the missed Berba chances all were saying this in their minds:
"Who is going to score. No Giggs on the bench for the spark. No Rooney to help spark the team and help set-up Herndendez even if he comes on."
I also say this because of body language. If you watch the body language of Berba (easy one) but also Rio, Vidic, Scholes and especially Evra. Twice Evra stormed into the left side of the City box late in the game and shot. Very unlike him. He usually passes. If you look at his body language after 30 minutes and in the box after the shot it says: "I have to do it myself because no one else will".
Confidence.
Ben also mentioned something smart on the podcast: Berba cannot turn his game around. When he is playing well, watch out. When he is off at the beginning, it is a LONG game. He pointed out his trademark take down to the left of the City goal. The ball is coming in and usually he takes it out of the air with such ease that we as United fans are used to it. This time, his foot brought it down but it hit his knee and went out. As Ben said, he cannot turn his game around and at least Rooney, even having a bad day, runs around and works hard to contribute in other ways. Berba does not.
His days are numbers baring any financial things behind the scenes. If United can sell and replace him (ie: funds are available), he is gone.
City played better and deserved the win after 30 minutes.
I am now a huge STOKE fan.
Derek
Monday, April 18, 2011
Monkey Off Back? United Neat Chelsea To Advance in CL (04.12.11)
Hello,
Sorry about the late post again.
Up 1-0, Manchester United came home to face rivals Chelsea in the second leg of the Champions League. While a week earlier, I was nervous, those feeling were not there this week. United played well at Stamford Bridge and got their first victory at Chelsea since 2002. I also felt, as I posted below, that not only did Chelsea throw everything (or 95%) of their attacking and defensive formations at us, they did it with multiple players as well. United saw Torres/Anelka and then Torres/Drogba and even Essien in a defensive position after he was playing clean-up as well as attacking. This, to me, gave United an advantage.
The soon-to-be-gone Chelsea manager Carlos Ancelotti made two mistakes: the first was starting Torres. Over the last five years, the Drogba/Anelka duo has dominated United. Anelka, in my opinion, also allows Lampard to move around for freely. Lampard, to me, is the key player on the team. If he is playing well, watch out as the goals are coming. Not necessarily from him by the goals are coming. This brings me to the second mistake: not finding a way to get Lampard in the game. Lampard was completely out of both games. United controlled (I would not say dominated) the mid-field and Frank was out of the game. He did have two good chances across both games but could not finish. Now, in the second game, Anelka did start but the circumstances were different. Away and down a goal.
As for United, they played well again save the defensive shut-down which led to Drogba's goal. Park was, for most, the man of the match. While I disagree with some pundits who say he "scores goals in big games" (check the numbers, he has never scored against European opposition, only Arsenal and Liverpool), what he does is play a role. He runs for 70 minutes, tires out a man or tracks a threatening player. In this game, he played the whole 90 minutes because he scored. Nine of ten times, he will be substituted around the 70th minute after tiring his opponent out or forcing teams to change tactics after marking a threatening player. He did his job. I do not think he should start every game and I am very vocal about this.
Hernendez had another great game for what he is good at. He cannot seem to hold up the ball nor set much up but he is brilliant as the poacher and striker, playing off the shoulders of defenders. He has great speed and a nose for goal. I do not think he would be as effective without another man. He goes by the name of Wayne Rooney. Rooney ran and worked for 90 minutes. He was everywhere. Some people worry about replacing Scholes when you might just have to look across the dressing room and there he is. While Wayne was technically the guy who coughed up the ball before the Drobga goal (people do not seem to realize this), he movement off the ball is unreal and he broke up so many Chelsea attacks. His vision for attack and cross-balls are unreal. He also showed in today's game that he came run down the line and cross.
Overall, a great effort and is the monkey that is Chelsea off their backs?
We shall see in May in the Premier League.
Derek
Sorry about the late post again.
Up 1-0, Manchester United came home to face rivals Chelsea in the second leg of the Champions League. While a week earlier, I was nervous, those feeling were not there this week. United played well at Stamford Bridge and got their first victory at Chelsea since 2002. I also felt, as I posted below, that not only did Chelsea throw everything (or 95%) of their attacking and defensive formations at us, they did it with multiple players as well. United saw Torres/Anelka and then Torres/Drogba and even Essien in a defensive position after he was playing clean-up as well as attacking. This, to me, gave United an advantage.
The soon-to-be-gone Chelsea manager Carlos Ancelotti made two mistakes: the first was starting Torres. Over the last five years, the Drogba/Anelka duo has dominated United. Anelka, in my opinion, also allows Lampard to move around for freely. Lampard, to me, is the key player on the team. If he is playing well, watch out as the goals are coming. Not necessarily from him by the goals are coming. This brings me to the second mistake: not finding a way to get Lampard in the game. Lampard was completely out of both games. United controlled (I would not say dominated) the mid-field and Frank was out of the game. He did have two good chances across both games but could not finish. Now, in the second game, Anelka did start but the circumstances were different. Away and down a goal.
As for United, they played well again save the defensive shut-down which led to Drogba's goal. Park was, for most, the man of the match. While I disagree with some pundits who say he "scores goals in big games" (check the numbers, he has never scored against European opposition, only Arsenal and Liverpool), what he does is play a role. He runs for 70 minutes, tires out a man or tracks a threatening player. In this game, he played the whole 90 minutes because he scored. Nine of ten times, he will be substituted around the 70th minute after tiring his opponent out or forcing teams to change tactics after marking a threatening player. He did his job. I do not think he should start every game and I am very vocal about this.
Hernendez had another great game for what he is good at. He cannot seem to hold up the ball nor set much up but he is brilliant as the poacher and striker, playing off the shoulders of defenders. He has great speed and a nose for goal. I do not think he would be as effective without another man. He goes by the name of Wayne Rooney. Rooney ran and worked for 90 minutes. He was everywhere. Some people worry about replacing Scholes when you might just have to look across the dressing room and there he is. While Wayne was technically the guy who coughed up the ball before the Drobga goal (people do not seem to realize this), he movement off the ball is unreal and he broke up so many Chelsea attacks. His vision for attack and cross-balls are unreal. He also showed in today's game that he came run down the line and cross.
Overall, a great effort and is the monkey that is Chelsea off their backs?
We shall see in May in the Premier League.
Derek
Friday, April 8, 2011
United beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (04.06.11)
Hello,
Wednesday was probably the most nervous I have been going into a match in a long time. Saturday, I arrived 8 minutes before the end of the first half against West Ham, saw the score (2-0 WH) but was not nervous. I was angry but not fearful that United could not come back. Against Chelsea, at the Bridge, I was nervous.
This game has everything a fan and a neutral would want: a heated rivalry, a league lost to the other last season, one team that lifted the European trophy thrice – the other, never. Controversy in the last three meetings between the clubs. Finally, a famous slip in the final that handed the Champions League trophy to the other team. This one has it all.
On paper, besides Barcelona, United fans might not have wanted to see Chelsea’s name on the drawn piece of paper. As we discussed in previous episodes, United has the worst record against Chelsea than any other of the so-called top four clubs in the Premier League. In the last five years, United has five losses with only three wins and three draws against Chelsea.
United’s record at Stamford Bridge does not bold well for the red devils either. You have to back to April of 2002 to find the last time United won at the Bridge. Since the year 2000, United have played 13 matches at the Bridge and have lost 5, drawn 4 and, as mentioned, won only one match.
That said, their overall cup record against Chelsea is much better. United have 7 wins, 3 draws and 4 loses in the last 14 cup matches.
You could see why I was nervous.
United came out with a curious mid-field. Three wingers and no Scholes. Rio was back and while this is a boost, I was still nervous because I was not sure what to expect from him. When healthy, Rio provides the speed in the back and the vision to begin counter-attacks quickly. Having him back there allows players like Rooney and Hernandez to get in the heads of the opponent's back-line. Make them think about it more. For me, getting in the heads of the defenders is so important, especially against teams like Chelsea. Big teams do not tire as easily and can run for a full 90 minutes with losing too much. Psychology is so important and with United's mid-field issues, I am glad to see Rio back. Smalling has done very well but we need Rio against the big clubs in big games.
Facing an FA ban decision, Wayne Rooney scored to give Manchester United their first victory at Stamford Bridge since April of 2002. Lots of controversy again as Chelsea had many shady tackles in the first half. Two in particular on Rooney from Essien and one from Ramires.
While United looked good in the first half, Chelsea's best effort of the game came shortly before half-time when Torres hit the far post and Frank Lampard's weak shot on the rebound was cleared off the line by Patrice Evra.
Chelsea was also denied a penalty deep into added time, when Evra failed to get the ball as he brought down Ramires - and just moments later Torres was booked after tumbling under a challenge from Antonio Valencia.
All in all, I feel this is a big advantage for United and I am not speaking of the score-line. I feel like Chelsea threw almost everything at United both in an attacking and defensive sense. They attacked with every player and combination of players they would field at Old Trafford (Drogba-Torres, Anekla-Torres) and they also showed us a different defensive posture with moving Essien back after he Mikel substitution. They showed us a lot which is advantageous for United going back to Old Trafford where Chelsea's record is not as strong as at home.
Great result.
Derek
Wednesday was probably the most nervous I have been going into a match in a long time. Saturday, I arrived 8 minutes before the end of the first half against West Ham, saw the score (2-0 WH) but was not nervous. I was angry but not fearful that United could not come back. Against Chelsea, at the Bridge, I was nervous.
This game has everything a fan and a neutral would want: a heated rivalry, a league lost to the other last season, one team that lifted the European trophy thrice – the other, never. Controversy in the last three meetings between the clubs. Finally, a famous slip in the final that handed the Champions League trophy to the other team. This one has it all.
On paper, besides Barcelona, United fans might not have wanted to see Chelsea’s name on the drawn piece of paper. As we discussed in previous episodes, United has the worst record against Chelsea than any other of the so-called top four clubs in the Premier League. In the last five years, United has five losses with only three wins and three draws against Chelsea.
United’s record at Stamford Bridge does not bold well for the red devils either. You have to back to April of 2002 to find the last time United won at the Bridge. Since the year 2000, United have played 13 matches at the Bridge and have lost 5, drawn 4 and, as mentioned, won only one match.
That said, their overall cup record against Chelsea is much better. United have 7 wins, 3 draws and 4 loses in the last 14 cup matches.
You could see why I was nervous.
United came out with a curious mid-field. Three wingers and no Scholes. Rio was back and while this is a boost, I was still nervous because I was not sure what to expect from him. When healthy, Rio provides the speed in the back and the vision to begin counter-attacks quickly. Having him back there allows players like Rooney and Hernandez to get in the heads of the opponent's back-line. Make them think about it more. For me, getting in the heads of the defenders is so important, especially against teams like Chelsea. Big teams do not tire as easily and can run for a full 90 minutes with losing too much. Psychology is so important and with United's mid-field issues, I am glad to see Rio back. Smalling has done very well but we need Rio against the big clubs in big games.
Facing an FA ban decision, Wayne Rooney scored to give Manchester United their first victory at Stamford Bridge since April of 2002. Lots of controversy again as Chelsea had many shady tackles in the first half. Two in particular on Rooney from Essien and one from Ramires.
While United looked good in the first half, Chelsea's best effort of the game came shortly before half-time when Torres hit the far post and Frank Lampard's weak shot on the rebound was cleared off the line by Patrice Evra.
Chelsea was also denied a penalty deep into added time, when Evra failed to get the ball as he brought down Ramires - and just moments later Torres was booked after tumbling under a challenge from Antonio Valencia.
All in all, I feel this is a big advantage for United and I am not speaking of the score-line. I feel like Chelsea threw almost everything at United both in an attacking and defensive sense. They attacked with every player and combination of players they would field at Old Trafford (Drogba-Torres, Anekla-Torres) and they also showed us a different defensive posture with moving Essien back after he Mikel substitution. They showed us a lot which is advantageous for United going back to Old Trafford where Chelsea's record is not as strong as at home.
Great result.
Derek
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