Five Things We Learned – Champions League United at Schalke
4) Has Ferguson found his preferred line up?
On such big occasions, the last thing United need is for defensive frailties to be exposed, or for a lack of attacking creativity to hinder their goal-scoring opportunities. On Tuesday night, one may argue that the line up the United manager sent out was exactly the one he would prefer to have available for such times. For example, Valencia and Park were deployed on the wings and in terms of their role as wingers, they are far more traditional, in the sense they tend to stick to either flank instead of roaming around with relative freedom.
This means that both Evra and Fabio behind them could be more assured that neither would be caught out on either side, particularly given Park’s and Valencia’s tendency to fall back to cover, allowing for a far more secure set up than using Nani would allow, given his tendency to cut inside and take up a “Ronaldo-type” position. It also meant that both full backs could get forward and get involved with attacking play. Of course this was helped by the fact United were rarely troubled defensively, meaning they could go forward at will without suffering any consequences, but one could not help but feel that the set up made for a far more stable unit.
Also, up front we saw more evidence of Hernandez and Rooney’s partnership continuing to blossom, each showing good link up play with the other. The young Mexican forwards energy and positioning seems to give defenders an extra worry, leaving Rooney with far more creative freedom in a central role, and was rewarded with a well timed short through ball from Hernandez to Rooney for a simple finish sealed the victory in the 69th minute. The celebration that followed showed how much they enjoy partnering up front.
5) Were United brilliant, or Schalke poor?
Simply put: a bit of both. Certainly, the German side’s midfield and defense were areas of weakness that allowed for United to take complete control in the middle of the park and for Carrick to direct play as he pleased. Schalke always seemed to be caught out by the pace at which United played the game, unable to keep up and limited there chances going forward, failing to provide much of a threat, despite the potential threat of Farfan.
The evidence of the ease of play for United is shown by the 66% possession and the 18 attempted shots as opposed to Schalke’s 8. Of course, the poor performance of Schalke would not have been exposed so much had United not made the effort. However, fans were treated to an efficient performance full of energy that showed attacking promise, and were it not for the aforementioned heroics of Neuer, it may well have been more. Such was the comfort that United were in that players could be rested early, with Park, Hernandez and Rooney all able to come off with an eye to Sunday’s clash with Arsenal. Such a luxury is a rarity in a Champion’s League clash, but was made possible by the commanding 2 goal lead that Ferguson’s men can take back to Manchester.
So with a 2 goal advantage to defend at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson will be keen to avoid any complacency within his squad, knowing full well that their place at Wembley has not been booked yet, although United certainly managed to make their chances of progress appear far more likely with their away victory. Will we see an improved performance next week? That remains to be seen, but it will be felt that this set of crucial games has had the ideal start fans will have wanted, and an eagerly awaited trip to the Emirates Stadium is next on the schedule.
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Good play we did yesterday mates.
I’m very impressed with the Da Silva way of play. I have read everything available about them and watch them closely even in reserve games. Mates we got ourselves two great players.
My wary is they both use right legs. Meaning they will be fighting for the same right back position. Fabio is NOT a left back contrary to popular belief. And if we remember when they were bought Alex was going for Fabio, but had to buy both ‘cos they were young twins. Fact that Fabio is more attacking minded of the two, I would like to see him once in a while playing as a winger in the presence of Rafael on the right back.
Aren’t these boys much, by miles, better than O’shea?
Agreed, both possess superb talent. The right wing/right back combo of them would be an idea worth looking at in future. I’m a fan of both in truth.
6. Giggsy is relishing his new found midfield role 🙂
Can I add… 6. United are actualy better than people are giving them credit for?
You might think this strange coming from a Blue but I’m so tired of hearing about ‘the worst Premier League since its inception’. It isn’t. Okay, there might not be that one stand out team that dominates against lesser opposition and steamrolls title rivals but so what? The Premier League isn’t just the sum of the top four clubs.
Having watched United quite a bit this season I’ll admit there have been a few suspect performances but United will finish top of a league that, I’m sorry, hosts some fairly impressive teams. City and Spurs are the best either side has been in the past twenty years, Arsenal are only two great players away from being a genuine force and Chelsea barring a disastrous mid-season blip have actually been quite impressive.
United don’t have Ronaldo, Chelsea are ageing, and Arsenal have defensive frailties but show me a season when the top three didn’t have weaknesses.
United will win the league comfortably and who can argue after 38 games? They’re obviously doing something right. Berbatov will get a handsome goals tally, Vidic has been a man mountain, Van der Sar has had a superb year by anybodys standards, and Ryan Giggs has, in my opinion, had a much better season than the one for which he was named PFA Player of the Year. There is much to admire about United, as much as it pains me to say it.
People might instead point to the likes of Blackburn, Wigan and Blackpool but the Premier League has always had poor teams propping it up. Are they any worse than usual? It could be argued that West Ham, currently bottom, have a better first eleven than any team that has ever found itself in that position going into May.
Sorry for the rant, but credit where credit is due. Slating the standard of this year’s Premier League has become the fashionable thing to do, even amongst United fans, but all’s you can do is win and United, more often than not, do exactly that.
In all honesty the league is the most competitive it’s been for a long time. Either the top teams have got weaker or the lower ones have got stronger, either way for the neutral it has probably made for great viewing this season, rather than the dominance of one or two teams that other leagues seem to be in the midst of right now.
I totally agree with the da Silva twins both plying and plundering the right flank at the same time. We’ve seen them play in advanced positions this season (v. Arsenal) and they were both simply magnificent. I just hope the backroom staff can work on their physique, getting them more flesh and also working on their body strength and stamina. Great lads!