This was a game Man Utd was predicted to win, and again, try as they might, they yet again managed only a draw.
The game was similar to the one at the weekend in that Man Utd again had 20plus shots at goal, but different in that the opposition, Portsmouth, actually turned up to play football.
My favourite player, Carlos Tevez (other than Giggs and Vidic) made his full debut and he had a lively outing despite being deployed as a lone forward. The starting XI were as predicted but there was something wrong with the formation nevertheless.
As a whole, Man Utd have an excellent and stable defence, probably minus Wes Brown, though he did his part as a right back. However, a good defence can only do so much and needs the offence to score. The way Portsmouth scored came from a player (Benjani) who rushed in from deep, so it's hard to fault the Man Utd defence for not picking him up.
Scholes and Carrick are the best players right now in the central midfield (we have yet to see Hargreaves). They also are, as fans might know, very good at unlocking defence, and I felt they were under-utilised in the game.
This was mostly due to the (presumed) fact that Nani had the ball more often than most of the Man Utd players combined. As a result, we see him hogging the left wing more often than we see Ronaldo on the right. It was only in the last half hour that Ronaldo proved effective as he played more centrally despite this being foreseen in the first half. Nani is Ronaldo in Ronaldo's first year; tricky but not effective. Thus, I am surprised Ronaldo didn't exert his usual influence.
Giggs played a competent game as the 2nd striker but he marked this game with a few uncharacteristic awry passes.
Tevez was unfortunate to come up with 2 very excellent (tall) Portsmouth defenders. Yet, he managed to give me (and others) a glimpse of his undoubted talent with a great knee-down control before volleying over in the 2nd half. He also played a part in Man Utd's 1st goal of the season.
I wonder what would have happen if the two strikers had switched roles. Giggs is not really the tallest player, but at least, he is much taller than Tevez.
The unfortunate part is that Man Utd lacked a tall player who can dominate the aerial attack and they play normally on the ground. The occasional occasions when they play the high ball is normally from clearances from the defence and also from the wings. In set-pieces e.g. corners and free-kicks, they have at least Vidic to rely on.
Speaking of corners, Man Utd should really take advantage because this is where they can have Vidic in offence and when playing against stubborn defence. The corners are woefully awful and Giggs gave me the impression he is not interested at all in taking corners. In fact, it was the same against Reading too.
I wonder what will happen if Man Utd had played with a taller striker, or at least if Giggs and Tevez had swapped roles. The sub, John O' Shea, could have been utilised in the role too, as he possess such the necessary build in question.
Whatever happens, Man Utd have got to have a plan B, and that is mainly to make use of the dead ball situations.
Ronaldo was sent off, so he will miss the next 3 games. Despite this, Man Utd still have some good players to replace. Maybe Hargreaves or Anderson will get their chance.
I will like to compliment Martin Crainie who was making his debut because of injury to Sol Campbell. He really shut down Man Utd's offence more often than I will have like.
The game was similar to the one at the weekend in that Man Utd again had 20plus shots at goal, but different in that the opposition, Portsmouth, actually turned up to play football.
My favourite player, Carlos Tevez (other than Giggs and Vidic) made his full debut and he had a lively outing despite being deployed as a lone forward. The starting XI were as predicted but there was something wrong with the formation nevertheless.
As a whole, Man Utd have an excellent and stable defence, probably minus Wes Brown, though he did his part as a right back. However, a good defence can only do so much and needs the offence to score. The way Portsmouth scored came from a player (Benjani) who rushed in from deep, so it's hard to fault the Man Utd defence for not picking him up.
Scholes and Carrick are the best players right now in the central midfield (we have yet to see Hargreaves). They also are, as fans might know, very good at unlocking defence, and I felt they were under-utilised in the game.
This was mostly due to the (presumed) fact that Nani had the ball more often than most of the Man Utd players combined. As a result, we see him hogging the left wing more often than we see Ronaldo on the right. It was only in the last half hour that Ronaldo proved effective as he played more centrally despite this being foreseen in the first half. Nani is Ronaldo in Ronaldo's first year; tricky but not effective. Thus, I am surprised Ronaldo didn't exert his usual influence.
Giggs played a competent game as the 2nd striker but he marked this game with a few uncharacteristic awry passes.
Tevez was unfortunate to come up with 2 very excellent (tall) Portsmouth defenders. Yet, he managed to give me (and others) a glimpse of his undoubted talent with a great knee-down control before volleying over in the 2nd half. He also played a part in Man Utd's 1st goal of the season.
I wonder what would have happen if the two strikers had switched roles. Giggs is not really the tallest player, but at least, he is much taller than Tevez.
The unfortunate part is that Man Utd lacked a tall player who can dominate the aerial attack and they play normally on the ground. The occasional occasions when they play the high ball is normally from clearances from the defence and also from the wings. In set-pieces e.g. corners and free-kicks, they have at least Vidic to rely on.
Speaking of corners, Man Utd should really take advantage because this is where they can have Vidic in offence and when playing against stubborn defence. The corners are woefully awful and Giggs gave me the impression he is not interested at all in taking corners. In fact, it was the same against Reading too.
I wonder what will happen if Man Utd had played with a taller striker, or at least if Giggs and Tevez had swapped roles. The sub, John O' Shea, could have been utilised in the role too, as he possess such the necessary build in question.
Whatever happens, Man Utd have got to have a plan B, and that is mainly to make use of the dead ball situations.
Ronaldo was sent off, so he will miss the next 3 games. Despite this, Man Utd still have some good players to replace. Maybe Hargreaves or Anderson will get their chance.
I will like to compliment Martin Crainie who was making his debut because of injury to Sol Campbell. He really shut down Man Utd's offence more often than I will have like.
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