How refreshing. After the first fifteen minutes the Mancs weren't in the game. Don't get me wrong, as a Brit I started the game cheering them on, but by half time I had accepted the inevitable; Barcelona were much the better team.
It was interesting how rigid Ferguson and the Mancs were in their tactics. Why didn't Rooney and Ronaldo swap positions? Why was Rooney never once moved inside? Barcelona controlled the midfield and Giggs looked past his best. The alternative, Scholes, looked no better. Is this the first crack in the temple? Carrick sprayed a few good passes but he was the only creative hub in the Manc's midfield.
O'Shea? Ordinary and offered nothing going forward. Vidic? Not world class on this showing. Why were Messi and Iniesta allowed so much space in midfield? Is Fletcher THAT important now? Chelsea suffocated Barcelona; Ferguson's tactics gave them the freedom of the park!
Hubris is a killer. Ferguson and the Mancs were too cocky tonight and got their come uppence. Well done Barca! A team in Claret and Blue are Champions of Europe! One day...one day!
14 comments:
After the first ten minutes the Mancs were played off the pitch.
Yep.
I thought it was a drubbing really. I felt sorry for Rooney stuck out on the wing. Ronaldo started well but faded and spat out his dummy. I thought the midfield was the problem. Rooney apart, they were way off. Giggs is a long way over the hill for that level of football, Park is a good long-distance runner but no match for Iniesta and Xavi, Carrick only wants to 'play quarterback', passes over 50yds only and Anderson is no Fletcher. I wonder what would have happened if Fletcher had played instead of Giggs. I couldn't help feel that it was a sentimental choice to play Giggs - Sir Al goin soft in his old age? I thought Carrick and Rio played like they did when they first broke into our team. In todays paper they were talking about this Man Utd side being their best ever, for me they are a long way off and if they lost Tevez AND Ronaldo they won't win the league next season. They are ageing fast in key areas and aren't better than their side of 99' or even the Hughes/Kanchelskis/Bruce side of 93-95.
Yeah Den, I was calling the selection of Giggs sentimental at kick off. I just wonder how much it matters? Tonight felt like a Charity Shield game, it didn't seem as if it mattered that much to the Mancs. I can't remember Rooney putting in a single petulant tackle! Love your description of Carrick but how many options did he have? United never played as a unit, they were so stretched from front to back all game; thus the space afforded to Messi and co. Cup Final at the weekend and I don't think I will even watch it. This Premiership is killing the game season by season, competition by competition. And for what? As I said on another post, only 4 teams surprised us with their final positions. Sad.
Maybe I was harsh on Carrick, to be honest I was really disappointed with Park. He looked very sluggish and we saw very little of his usually awesome workrate. Anderson looked like a rabbit in the headlights - I think they look weak in midfield and must strenthen in that area and they would be utterly mad not to sign Tevez, 25mil or not. Its quite odd the way they just sort of gave up. Its like a weird end of season fog has decended over football. Newcastle, Hull, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Man Utd and Sheffield United have all sleep-walked through MASSIVE matches these past few days with little more fight than a shrug of their collective shoulders. 'Am I bovvered?' seems to be the order of the day lately!
Spot on Den. The money is in the bank for United. In the case of Hull, Newcastle, Boro and Sunderland, they weren't good enough and the end result isn't important to the players anyway. Keep the club up and, as a mediocre player, you are probably out of work. Better player and you go down? So what, you just move to a Premiership club. Tuncay may be off to Liverpool; is it any wonder his commitment to saving Boro was less than total? Makes you appreciate Tevez's efforts in our Great Escape - and Reo-Coker's to be fair!
Man Utd were robbed in not being able to field Howard Webb
I demand a rematch.
Very good!
I have to agree with Denbighammer's assesment of the last few weeks of the season, the teams that got relegated went out with a whimper.
Great to see the arrogant Mancs get their come-uppance tonight though - the most one-sided final for years.
i say to say, i was torn between watching the match and talking to my girlfriend. I opted for the prior, until half-time when i realised how boring and unlike a CL final it was. Good to hear some girly confessions though!
I watched the apprentice. Quality, better than that gay footie shite
Man Utd have played 66 games so far this season, is that not a good enough excuse? They also underestimated Barca like they did Benfica when they crashed out to them. Good to see you still read the mordant org, like the bit about the Claret & Blue. Man Utd will be awesome again next season they need to make a few changes to their playing staff (they are very aware of that, don’t you think?) but they have a wealth of young talent coming through to replace the likes of Vander Sar/Giggs/Scholes etc etc. They are also so good they can even afford to carry Park for the overseas money in Asia; the bar in first class club football is being raised; a double is going to be where the standard is at and teams like Arsenal will not be able to compete for one trophy let alone two majors unless they toughen up their approach to the overall game, sexy football on it’s own is not good enough anymore, Henry was woeful. There is no team in the world to touch Man U for the type of all round game they play. They were tired last night, they looked at the Chelsea/Barca game and thought their arrogance would carry them through (especially Rocket Ronnie) they came unstuck. Remember the balls up they made in the Lyon year everybody was writing them off then too – don’t be so hasty they are THEE STANDARD and will finish top of the stack again next year minimum, mark well these well founded words of wisdom
Gordon Zola
Some valid points GZ. I put it down to hubris, not incompetence. But what if Ronaldo ups and leaves? Giggs and Scholes are nearing retirement. Maybe there is a crack or two appearing. And how much longer will Ferguson be there?
Thank christ for that! A sensible, interesting debate.
I've gone for the night, only to come back to two threads on here where men in pointy white hats are burning crosses in your front garden HF.
Totally right Denbig, in fact loads of very valid comment from all on this one.
I couldn't believe the way they just rolled over after going one down. Were they tired after a long season?? I thought most of the MU lot hadn't played for 11 days(?).
Methinks Barca were just the better team on the night.
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