"You can't beat experience", or so they say. Just ask Liverpool after Manchester United's two most experienced players gifted them a Premier League victory at Anfield this lunchtime.
Rafael Benitez' side fully deserved the three points they took in front of their home fans, after a 2-1 victory over their biggest of rivals from Old Trafford, but they could, and probably should, have lost.
Manchester United flew out of the traps and £30million signing Dimitar Berbatov cut the ball back for an unmarked Carlos Tevez to fire Sir Alex Ferguson's team in front on just three minutes.
However, 37-year-old United stopper Edwin Van Der Sar seemed intent on looking as frail and brittle as possible. By the time he slapped the ball into the legs of a helpless Wes Brown to gift Liverpool an equaliser, he had already dropped a simple cross only for Dirk Kuyt to waste the present.
Up to that point it had been the visitors that were in control, but as the infamous 'Kop' became more involved, the more the Liverpool players asserted themselves.
Benitez's men were overrunning and overpowering their opponents, so Ferguson called for United's record appearance holder, Ryan Giggs. Unfortunately for the Red Devils, it was Giggs who 'dallied' in possession when under pressure in the penalty area before being robbed by Mascherano who then set up Babel for the winner.
Scouring the club's message boards' there is a split opinion on both Giggs and Van Der Sar with regard to whether they merit their places.
Ben Foster is rumoured to be back to full fitness and it will be interesting to see whether he is able to displace the newly internationally retired Van Der Sar between the sticks at Old Trafford.
While the position of Giggs looks increasingly insecure, especially when you consider that Cristiano Ronaldo is expected back in midweek. With Anderson already ahead of the Welshman in the pecking order, alongside the likes of Carrick, Scholes and Hargreaves, possibly even a fully fit Park Ji-Sung and Nani too. Could it be that Giggs' United days are over?
Whatever the ramifications for United after this defeat you can be sure the manager will not bow to sentiment and if he feels they are no longer up to the job they will find themselves out of the squad as quickly as they entered it.
Saturday 13 September 2008
Thursday 11 September 2008
GREAT RESULT BUT HIDDEN PROBLEMS EMERGE
Last night England produced the type of dominating performance the nation has been waiting for since the 5-1 in Munich. However, in beating Croatia 4-1 in Zagreb there were worrying signs that Fabio Capello must be aware of.
So you will have to excuse me for having a moan, it is something I have become used to after England international fixtures, because I am delighted as anybody.
Anyway, that's enough praise for the players who only a day ago we were all criticising like there was no tomorrow....let's get underway.
Firstly, John Terry. Captain Marvel. An inspiration. Hard-working. Brave. Give me strength! I have never been a big fan of the Chelsea and England skipper, I believe him to be slow and clumsy, although I was willing to give him brave - until last night anyway.
Terry was at fault when Croatia grabbed a late consolation. With a loose ball bouncing around on the halfway line 'Mr. Chelsea' went with his head but the Croatian player's boot beat him to the ball. Admittedly, it should have been a free-kick for a dangerously high-foot, but that does not excuse the England captain rolling around on the floor like Drogba and Ronaldo while Rio Ferdinand and David James were left to deal with the onrushing Luka Modric.
He should have been chasing back but he preferred to feign injury by clutching his untouched forehead. If it had been a Croation player we would be up in arms at the play-acting but because it was 'our' Captain - which I maintain he should not be - we don't bat an eyelid. John Terry is not brave, all his fans just like to think he is.
The second cause for concern was the predictability of, what is affectionately known as, the David James moment. At 1-0, James flapped at a corner, the ball dropped straight to a Croatian attacker and the Portsmouth keeper was relieved to see it rebound off one of five England defenders in his six-yard box.
Then, with the game over as a contest (I did not think I would be saying that when I turned Setanta on last night), James raced from his penalty area only to bundle into Mladen Petric and was again relieved as Ivan Rakitic looped over the bar.
On another night these incidents could have been costly, but Capello knows you take the rough with the smooth with James and he is just as likely to make five or six world class saves.
Finally, there are still concerns about the midfield and while Frank Lampard delivered a professional performance (his best for England for some time) his partner, Gareth Barry, always concerns me. I have never seen a player so one-footed. Barry certainly does a job but there are better-equipped players, and although neither was available last night, hopefully Capello will allow them to show it as England move forward.
On numerous occasions last night Barry tried to turn onto his left foot and found himself losing possession as the opposition knew exactly what was happening. Unlike Barry, Manchester United duo Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick have the ability to turn both ways and both are more positionally and tactically aware in the defensive midfield role than the Aston Villa man.
Personally I would like to see Hargreaves or Carrick alongside Lampard or Gerrard in the middle by the time Kasakhstan visit Wembley next month, however I cannot see this happening. Barry seems to be the man of the moment. I'm not sure why, but he is.
On a night when England emerged from the shadows to give the nation a team they can be proud of there were stand-out performers such as hat-trick hero Theo Walcott and Wayne Rooney - who finally showed what he is capable of. Also, it was the first time I have seen Wes Brown perform in an England shirt.
However, we must not be blinkered by the result, we must move on and build on this result. Croatia are good, not great just good, and that was exposed last night but against the creme-de-la-creme of world football the mistakes of Zagreb might well be punished.
But that should not dampen our spirits, finally England played like everyone knows they can and finally there are reasons for optimism, yet another thing I cannot believe I have the opportunity to write...
So you will have to excuse me for having a moan, it is something I have become used to after England international fixtures, because I am delighted as anybody.
Anyway, that's enough praise for the players who only a day ago we were all criticising like there was no tomorrow....let's get underway.
Firstly, John Terry. Captain Marvel. An inspiration. Hard-working. Brave. Give me strength! I have never been a big fan of the Chelsea and England skipper, I believe him to be slow and clumsy, although I was willing to give him brave - until last night anyway.
Terry was at fault when Croatia grabbed a late consolation. With a loose ball bouncing around on the halfway line 'Mr. Chelsea' went with his head but the Croatian player's boot beat him to the ball. Admittedly, it should have been a free-kick for a dangerously high-foot, but that does not excuse the England captain rolling around on the floor like Drogba and Ronaldo while Rio Ferdinand and David James were left to deal with the onrushing Luka Modric.
He should have been chasing back but he preferred to feign injury by clutching his untouched forehead. If it had been a Croation player we would be up in arms at the play-acting but because it was 'our' Captain - which I maintain he should not be - we don't bat an eyelid. John Terry is not brave, all his fans just like to think he is.
The second cause for concern was the predictability of, what is affectionately known as, the David James moment. At 1-0, James flapped at a corner, the ball dropped straight to a Croatian attacker and the Portsmouth keeper was relieved to see it rebound off one of five England defenders in his six-yard box.
Then, with the game over as a contest (I did not think I would be saying that when I turned Setanta on last night), James raced from his penalty area only to bundle into Mladen Petric and was again relieved as Ivan Rakitic looped over the bar.
On another night these incidents could have been costly, but Capello knows you take the rough with the smooth with James and he is just as likely to make five or six world class saves.
Finally, there are still concerns about the midfield and while Frank Lampard delivered a professional performance (his best for England for some time) his partner, Gareth Barry, always concerns me. I have never seen a player so one-footed. Barry certainly does a job but there are better-equipped players, and although neither was available last night, hopefully Capello will allow them to show it as England move forward.
On numerous occasions last night Barry tried to turn onto his left foot and found himself losing possession as the opposition knew exactly what was happening. Unlike Barry, Manchester United duo Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick have the ability to turn both ways and both are more positionally and tactically aware in the defensive midfield role than the Aston Villa man.
Personally I would like to see Hargreaves or Carrick alongside Lampard or Gerrard in the middle by the time Kasakhstan visit Wembley next month, however I cannot see this happening. Barry seems to be the man of the moment. I'm not sure why, but he is.
On a night when England emerged from the shadows to give the nation a team they can be proud of there were stand-out performers such as hat-trick hero Theo Walcott and Wayne Rooney - who finally showed what he is capable of. Also, it was the first time I have seen Wes Brown perform in an England shirt.
However, we must not be blinkered by the result, we must move on and build on this result. Croatia are good, not great just good, and that was exposed last night but against the creme-de-la-creme of world football the mistakes of Zagreb might well be punished.
But that should not dampen our spirits, finally England played like everyone knows they can and finally there are reasons for optimism, yet another thing I cannot believe I have the opportunity to write...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
