Whoever writes these Man U v Tottenham scripts needs a holiday. I mean come on, where’s the originality? We’re not asking for Murakami, but honestly, this is like watching the last 10 years of Adam Sandler’s career. Or one of those dreadful talent shows where they pedal out all the freaks early on, a horribly and unnecessarily long bit where nothing really happens, followed by a bargain bin bound Mum-pleaser pay-off at the end. Except there’s never any hits for Tottenham, and Mum pleasing was at a minimum. And there was quite a lot to mull over in that middle bit. I’ve overstretched here.
Positives first. Dawson and Kaboul look like a reasonably solid centre back pairing, and BAE seems to have picked up where he left off as being really quite an excellent full back. As much as I love Gomes and his eccentric genius, Big Bad Brad showed us what we’ve been missing for some time by catching footballs, making saves that he’s expected to, and all manner of other boring, professional flim flam. Bale also looked decent in flashes.
Believe me Rafa, I was just as frustrated at Aaron for not pulling that ball back to you as you were. I sympathised and even got into your head a bit. ‘Who are these clowns I’m playing with?!’. Yes, I said that too. On your behalf. I then sat myself back down, hoped we’d make another couple of those openings, but feared ‘that was probably our big chance’. You didn’t have that luxury of course, but chose to disappear for the final half hour anyway. Unfortunately, you weren’t alone, and once that first goal went in, everyone disappeared. We all saw what happened next. 3 goals was harsh on the balance of the whole game, but it was just punishment for switching off on dangerous ground.
The substitutions were too little and about 15 minutes too late. Regular readers will know I’m no Harry basher, but his inability to change our game plan or personnel in a pro-active rather than reactive way wasn’t pleasant viewing.
Having said all that, I'll say again; we won’t be playing them every week. Travelling without your first choice midfield pairing and any sort of decent forward to OT is about as tough as it gets, and our season doesn’t start and end with this one result. I mean it DID start there, but it’s not ended there, you know? Let’s give it at least 3 games before the knives come out. Anyone who thought we'd be going up to Manchester having conducted minimal business over the summer, to take on a side who've strengthened markedly after finishing last term as Champions, probably needs a bit of a reality check. That's not defeatest, it's how the football world works.
There are 2, maybe 3 teams which are almost certainly, definitely going to finish above us, and we’ve just lost away to the best of them. There are 2, maybe 3 others who, over a whole season, we’ll be competing with for a top 4 spot. I saw 2 of them play on Saturday lunchtime and there was absolutely nothing there for us to be overly worried about. This result doesn’t change any of my expectations for this season.
good point well made.
ReplyDeleteI have never been on this blog before but I will be again!
I'd only slightly disagree with the Kranjcar point, I thought he was not brilliant by any means but I didn't think he struggled I thought he was quite assured and dictated the play a fair bit - I actually thought we got worse when he came off.
For me not having decent enough strikers was the key issue.
I would have had more sympathy with VdV's frustration over Lennon if he (VdV) hadn't given the ball away about a zillion times with casual passes.
ReplyDeleteSpurs were fine in the first half but but had trouble coping in the second and obviously there is a mental problem too, once the first goal had gone in they didn't look like they thought they could win.
Decent, realistic article that, well done. makes a change from the moronic branch of our support who expect us to challenge for the title, nutters.
ReplyDeleteIve never looked at this blog before eiether but its a really good one. I agree with everything you said, didnt realise Walker had that so fair play to him for giving it a go especially at Old Trafford. Yeah we definately need another stirker lets hope we can wrap up the Adebayeor signing as soon as!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid the substitutions killed the game for us. VDV and Huddlestone in central midfield!!??!! Really? I'm a 44 year old chap who used to be quick in his day. I've got a belly now but I reckon I'm still quicker than both of them. We had absolutely no midfield once Livermore and Kranjcar came off. I thought Spurs showed Man Ure up a bit in the first half with our passing and movement, without creating too much.At the end of the day we were missing the spine of our team with Gallas, Sandro & Modric out. Had these player been there, I truly believe we would have got something from the game.I thought Kranjcar was class in the first half, but he did fade in the second. I would have preferred to see Townsend come on and provide a bit of pace and determination the the middle of the park instead of Huddlestone, who quite frankly looked fat and even slower than normal. There's talk of Chelski giving us loads of money and Benayoun with possibly Sturridge on loan for Modric. Take it, please, very quickly and let's get Diarra, Adebayor and Cahill. Get shot of the deadwood and we are sorted!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry to piss on your parade but I thought we were pathetic. Running around chasing shadows, almost always second to the ball, and hardly ever passing forward. Contrast united - swift, sure passing, dangerous on every attack and made us chase our tails. What a shambles! Hudd is a tank, kranjcar can't run, livermore wasn't there, don't even get me started on our - wht's it called?? oh yes attack (ha ha)- thank god for brad or it would have been a cricket score. What do spurs do in training? Does HR have a plan?
ReplyDeleteDread citee on sunday. More of the same????
I feel our back four is adequate although King or Gallas would be better playing behind Dawson or Kaboul. Dawson and Kaboul are both ball winners and are better at that role. As a team we have worked at changing to a 4-5-1 formation. Now we are getting used to it we struggle with ideas if Crouch is not there to hit. I hope we get Diarra as he is a natural holding midfield player and will give our defence some protection without wandering off. I thing Sandro is a more natural replacement for Modric and will become a better premiership player. He is quick, can tackle and wants to break into the box. Bale needs to waken up and add some defensive urgency to his game. Adebayor would suit us perfectly and would make the biggest single improvement to the team. VDV's touch and vision is fantastic but I fear we now have a Robbie Keene the second who drops to deep playing towards our own goal and upsets the balance of the team slowing down our ability to break quickly. We are so close to being a really good side unfortunately I don't think Harry has the tactical know how to get us there. Starting with two wingers and Defoe on his own was never going to work and his substitutions last night were madness!
ReplyDeleteGerry...mate...please cheer up. We had some great players missing and we were pretty good in the first half. We were in the game until ol' twitchy decided that Hudd and VDV were a match for Man Ure in midfield! Seriously I am quicker than both of them and I'm a 44 year old with middle aged spread!!
ReplyDeleteLet's not despair yet though, because with our top players back and the additons being muted at the moment, we are tantalisingly close to having a side to compete with anyone in the PL. We can only hope and pray that it all comes together very quickly to give us the best chance of being genuine challengers this season.
I don't agree on Dawson and Kaboul. They are both decent players but they need someone like a Ledley to read the play and organise things better. Our biggest problem is the lack of balance and a clear playing style. That means when someone is not around (and in this case no Modric, Sandro and Palacios) our system fell apart. We also have not figured out if we want 4-4-2 or 4-5-1. The biggest disappointment though was Lennon. A few years ago he was an equal of Young. he is has not improved and his workrate was not great. I would have given him to Liverpool and got Nzogbia
ReplyDeleteAfternoon, great to see so many comments on here. I'm welling up I tells ya.
ReplyDeleteI feel the frustration Gerry, but I wouldn't say we were pathetic. We didn't just live with MU in the 1st half, we moved it about nicely and gave them something to think about. We were back on top at the start of the 2nd half as well, when we probably should have made a change. Agree with Anon (10:36) that Townsend would have been a good replacement, perhaps for the ineffective Lennon.
The collapse after the goal made for horrible viewing, but there weren't many options on the bench for us to call upon. If 'them 2' finally do come in, we'll be in a far healthier position, like 10:36 also said, we could have got something with those chaps in there.
Am looking forward to City on Sunday and think we'll beat them.
Anon 10:31, it's a shame we didn't get to play Everton in the opener to give everyone a sense of perspective!