Five Things We Learned – Benfica vs. United

4) Ryan Giggs can still produce when it matters

He may be the oldest player in the side, he may not have much time left before retirement beckons and he may not quite have the pace he once did, but whatever anyone’s opinion on the Welsh winger, it is indisputable that he can still produce game changing moments when it matters. This was displayed by his superb individual effort to equalise before half time, firing home from just outside the box into the top right corner. He might have found himself on the scoresheet again when he somehow found his way past a couple of defenders in the second half but found his effort saved low. In a game where United struggled to create, he looked more likely than any other to find a way through.

5) Returning players give much to be positive about

With the likes of Darren Fletcher, Valencia and Fabio getting minutes under their belts, there would have been a fair bit to be happy about, particularly when those returning from injury were tasked with a tough game to bring back their match fitness. One case is Antonio Valencia, taken off late in the second half we saw someone just getting back to their usual self, although clearly not fully match fit, it will have been encouraging to see him take on a large portion of the match and produce some dangerous runs down the right wing as well. With Darren Fletcher having had so much time out, his return may well feel like a new signing who hopefully will provide the added depth to the squad that many feel is necessary to compete for the whole of the season. Although by no means a stellar performance, especially in light of recent showings, but to come away with a point from difficult opponents away from home with a much changed side will no doubt be a positive sign for times to come, highlighting squad depth with decent replacements as and when they are needed.

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9 responses to “Five Things We Learned – Benfica vs. United”

  1. Bob deacon says:

    Carrick was terrible.. Negative play, frustrating to watch a man take so little responsibility and show so little desire to influence the game.. A disgrace.. One decent pass all game..fletcher and carrick should never both be playing in my opinion,the midfield lacked any source of creativity…Carrick should simply never play..

  2. John Tring says:

    Sorry, you missed a more serious set of stark realities: J Evans is not even an average player, he’s just plain rubbish; Park is way over the hill ( he was never a good player to begin with); Carrick is history.Utd’s midfield is well and truly awful. SAF should stop kidding himself.

    • lamar says:

      i agree with evertyhing except the park comment

    • Zayd says:

      That may be your opinion, but if that were the case then its hardly something to take from the game, if it were I’d be essentially writing that very same statement every time they played and would look like a bit of a waste.

  3. Ez says:

    I really feel sorry for Berba. He should have been sold last summer than be on the bench all these five games! It’s just unfair for a player of his class.

  4. Anneeq Anwar says:

    I dont even know what berbs is doing there, people who say he hasnt been given a good run of games, thats rubbish. When he was bought he was given many a chance, he was in the first team for most of the season, but he failled. Against the Blackburns he scores 5 goals, but against the Chelseas or the evertons or whatever he’s pretty anonymous. I mean just look at chicharito, i can bet u a lot of money Sir Alex was not banking on him being this good, and im very sure he didnt think he’d play this many games, but hes forced himself on the first team by scoring, Berbs hasnt.

    Lindergaard to me was pretty decent. I saw more quality in Lindergaard than i did in de gea. He looks much more confident, he has a better grasp of the english language and he has a bit of arrogance about him, the good sort i mean lols. He wants to win, u can tell hes desperate to play. De Gea has got some very stiff opposition!

  5. Anneeq Anwar says:

    * competition not opposition

  6. Peter says:

    Wow, some real genuine fans commenting here. I’m sick of these muppets absolutely slating our players. Please fuck off and support somebody else. Wankers.