City Beat United - Out of the FA Cup (at Wembley, 04.16.11)

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