| By Sam Fox,
on 12-11-2009 19:43
|
Views : 2431 |
Favoured : 35 |
Sriam's new article analy  ses the aftermath of the Chelsea match.
Highlighting how much heart the team played with and the effect the
youth products of this club have.
On
Saturday night at Stamford Bridge, it seemed to the neutral that, in
an European climate dominated not by the history of a club but its present
bankroll, it seemed forbidden that Chelsea will emerge on top of United.
The Blues had two things going for them: One, their superfluous and
tantalizingly insurmountable four man diamond in midfield with about
200 million pounds of the best two legged creatures that can run, shoot,
pass and finish with deadly effect galloping on the London turf. The
other, a master tactician in Carlo Ancelotti who can match Sir Alex
pound for pound for every piece of silverware he has collected in a
scintillating career as player and manager. So as the match panned out
and the blame was placed, not unusually on the referee, it emerged to
every Manchester United supporter that they are now in a very tricky
but interesting period of the club’s history.
As it turned out, United took
the world class quartet of Deco, Essien, Lampard and Ballack and ran
them ragged. Not only that, the incomparable Wayne wonder gave Messrs.
JT and co. a run for their money for the total 90 minutes on his own.
He shaked and swaggered, shot and battered and almost came close with
a curling effort that left Petr Cech rooted to the ground.
Getting
back to the midfield, one man stood tall. A tireless Scot with a mighty
heart, whom we all used to overlook. It puzzled me to find that in all
of United’s finest performances this season, we chiefly heap praise
on the attack alone. But what Fletcher brings is a bulldog tenacity
that is so misplaced in his calm and mild-mannered demeanor. It was
a superhuman effort from young Fletch and the way he closed down Lampard
and Essien and then had the nerve to venture forth and take a few shots
of his own showed that Owen Hargreaves will find it hard to fit back
into the holding role. If only the silken-skilled Carrick was more attack-minded,
he would add more goals than assists to his arsenal. And even Darren
Gibson-another Darren- showed us earlier that he is no mean shot either.
To think that United’s midfield that day was fuelled chiefly by Fletcher,
a home-grown talent was very refreshing indeed and this makes supporters
to put more faith in our Youth Academy. And the inexplicable choice
of Anderson as an attacking midfielder backfired terribly. The Brazilian
disappointed as has become his custom and even missed an easy header
set up by Ryan Giggs who couldn’t believe that his well executed chip
didn’t even interest Anderson to get bulky and get a header in. And
in most situations, Anderson repeatedly refused to track back and sweat
it out, instead choosing to stand loose-limbed in the center-circle
like he were on a stroll on a park. The next Paul Scholes ??? Not likely,
with heartless performances like this. A few of his good performances
against Fabregas or Viera come to mind but his weak right foot, poor
heading and awful goal scoring record overshadow his undoubted talent.
Many versatile and hard-working talented attacking midfielders come
to mind when one thinks of it and they all seems yards better than Anderson.
Move him on, Fergie
And when it comes to the defence,
I rest my case.
Wes Brown and Jonny Evans showed
us all what heart is. Up against the mercurial Nicolas Anelka who was
all over the final third, they stood tall and strong. And Evans as we
all noted, hacked the mighty Drogba to the ground and left him there.
Good on yer, Jonny. Quick off the mark, and first to the ball, Brown
and Evans, two Youth products, made it an even more positive night for
all of us who were watching for signs that this team is now held together
not by a few pounds or a dollar bill but by stalwart young blood and
an exceedingly unshakeable power of will.
In all, any neutral would have
told you that United dominated from start to finish and it seems likely
that if the lead is 5 by Christmas, then it will be tough to catch the
Blues. No matter, Huzzah for the Champions !!!!
Last update : 12-11-2009 19:43
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