COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY
From my seat: Man Utd (a)
Comments (14) : The game started in staccatto fashion with the ref taking centre stage producing early yellow cards for Rooney and Evra then Cahill and Hibbert, all within the first quarter of an hour. The game then settled into United pressure being well dealt with by our rearguard as we looked for the quick breaks.
On the 20-minute mark we were forcing them to play square in front of us with no obvious way through when Ronaldo cut inside past Carsley and struck a screamer left-footed past Howard. Not much you can do with strikes like that.
Five minutes later, our spirit in not letting a goal against deflate us saw more good build-up down the left by Lescott and Pienaar and the latter get half a yard and put in a superb cross which Cahill met in trademark fashion: 1 -1.
We continued the half with counter-attacks down our left being the most productive ? so much so that, during the break, United introduced the experienced O'Shea for the rookie Simpson.
United had much the better of the second half but came up against a rock-like defence which didn't look like being breached until Pienaar for some unknown reason tripped Giggs in the box when he was heading for the corner flag with defenders to keep him company.
Ronaldo despatched the penalty with aplomb. I felt gutted and our record was gone.
In that second half I was more than puzzled why the manager chose to take off the Yak for Gravesen as when the board went up I was convinced it would be Neville who wasn't having much of a game but the Yak was at least ensuring they kept defenders back.
It was from that moment that the most sustained pressure was put on our ever deeper and deeper defence who I have to say coped well. Yobo was immense and Jags had his best game yet; Hibbert and Lescott gave them nothing; and the excellent Carsley covered miles in giving added protection. Cahill manfully tried to do two jobs in supporting the attack and then chasing back to help Carsley out. On his departure he looked drained.
Overall, although we put on a good hard-working spirited display (and it certainly didn't look like men against boys as it has on other occasions against this team) I thought our lack of depth in midfield did for us at this level. With Arteta and Osman out we replaced them with a right back and central striker which also caused us to play to a different system than the one that has brought us the success of late. I hope something can be done in January if not then it should be a priority for the summer.
I must commend the travelling Blue hordes who sang and chanted the whole game and I have never seen so many dotted all around the ground.
My man of the match today was Yobo although it could have been any one of the back five plus Cahill and Carsley. Bolton next, I hope this game is put behind us and three points bagged.
I wish all of the ToffeeWeb family all the very best for Christmas and the New Year. UP THE BLUES!!!
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Best wishes to you Ken and of course to all fellow Blues.
I know some people subscribe to the theory that if it wasn’t for Moyes’ fuck-ups we’d be in the top four every year; I don’t subscribe to that theory. My belief is that significant money needs to be spent to add depth to the squad to compete with the Big Spending Four. Otherwise, although not impossible I think its a huge ask.
My recollection of the off-season was that only Reading in the Premier League had spent less
money than Everton. Coincidently in late August at the time of the Kirby vote money became available to buy the Yak and to come a close second on Manny. I do applaud the signings the team has made but feel more is necessary to seriously compete with the Big Spending Four.
Kraft, unlike Glazer and Hicks has owned a pro-soccer team since 1995. Fisher is huge fan and an owner. Hey I’d like the descendants of John Moores to buy the team but I’m not
xenophobic to whine about foreign investment.
COYB!
Also, it is becoming more and more clear that Fernandes will not be featuring for Valencia and could be available. I’m not saying we go get Fernandes, just stating that it looks like he will be available. Another player is Vogel, who it was reported had is now free to join whichever club he chooses in January, on a free. See this link: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11671_2963844,00.html
Then there are the possibilities of loan signings that could be available. We just need one or two midfielders to provide more cover.
Look back to where it starts from - a throw-in from Hibbert to Neville on the right, midway in United’s half. No fewer then seven players are involved, clean, crisp passing, working the opening across the park via Hibbert-Neville-Cahill-AJ-Yak-Lescott-Peanut, lovely drag back from with wee man to create the space for an instinctive cross into an area he just knows Timmy will be attacking. And what a cracking header from our Aussie magician...
Top quality goal - again!
One other thing that people have not mentioend is that more and more of our goals are coming from open play.
On this showing against United, we are not top 4 material yet. Top six definetly, and next year? who knows.
and who would we put in instead ov neiville in midfield considering the injuries...? i dont really rate him but we went there to hasstle n close them down and if it wasnt for a silly challange moyes wud have got it spot in. lets play graveson instead eh! he?l close them down like he did in the build up for the pen. great call.
i think the game went aswel as expected with the players we had missin and sent a hell of a message out - our run wasnt a fluke. lets hope we prove it right in the remaining crimbo fixtures
Neville? Decent full back but please keep him out of midfield. A class central midfielder in the Jan transfer window and 65-68 points would be realistic targets this season - top 4 for sure next.
We’ve got to use Faddy in a deal to prize away Scot Brown
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1 Posted 24/12/2007 at 20:58:00
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