Spirit of the Red Devils
First and foremost, I would say ManUtd did not deserve to win yesterday...but Liverpool did not deserve to win either. However, with lots of injuries, ManUtd were left to play with a crap of a midfield, but showed immense grit and spirit to overcome Liverpool in a not-so-exciting match.
When I first had a look at the team-sheet, I thought ManUtd would be lucky to get away with a point and I was even more convinced as I saw one of their most lacklustre displays in recent times, especially in the midfield. Xabi, Sissoko and Gerrard were ruling the midfield but weren't creating enough chances for their forwards. On the other hand, the ManUtd midfield, for all their injury problems, did not know what was happening. Meanwhile, Rooney decided to take matters into his own hands and put up some good displays but he needs better control of the ball just before he takes his shot.
ManUtd, though lacking in creativity, showed much more hunger and throwed themselves at every ball and made crucial blocks. Rio changed the course of the game when he made a great goal-line clearance. Cisse turned villain when he missed a sitter, he had an open goal and he somehow skyed it over the post. With Crouch substituted due to injury, and Pongolle coming in for the abysmal Cisse, the heat was on in the final minutes. Giggs, played a good match in the midfield, and continued his sizzling runs even after 80 minutes.
Rio continued his good form this season in front of the goal by powering in a great header from a Giggs free-kick. That goal was enough and ManUtd players celebrated the win with full fervor and I guess they valued it more than the win against Chelsea. Producing a spirited display with a crappy team, I cannot imagine how they will not retain their top form and reputation as one of European best if they make some good buys in the midfield this summer.
Rio's Winning Header
posted by Lucas @ 7:33 PM
6 Comments:
Liverpool were on a run. But they played in such encounters where they were hardly made to break a sweat. Only against Spurs, a week before we could see some old snags coming to the surface. Their forwards are not good enough. I would like to single out Cisse. He may be pacy, but without any direction and just running into a defender like a bullock does not help. That miss of his would have been made a goal by a defender.
With the feeding provided by Gerrard, any other top team would have got atleast two goals. Some Desperate defending from United also did Liverpool in.
ultimately, the verdict is: Liverpool forwards did not grab the chances and ManU latched on to a rare one to produce another famous win over Liverpool.
Morientes has been a big disappointment. Rafa has to sign some other striker and offload cisse.
The bottom line is that Manu , liverpool and Arsenal are not consistent enought to trouble Roman s mob.
The problem is no club has the resources to mount a serious threat to Chelsea. Teams like ManUtd and Arsenal struggle when a few players get injured whereas Chelsea just goes on to buy a new one to replace the guy who is out for a month due to injury!
Unless a salary cap is introduced, we cannot expect Roman's mob to be troubled by the rest of the clubs.
Cisse has been terrible but I am a huge admirer of Morientes and his abilities. I guess he struggles 'cos teams get too physical with him in EPL. He has a great scoring record at every club he has been with and it's a pity he's unlike the player he was a couple of years back.
Moro is one of my favourite poachers. Spaniards usually find it tough in EPL. and I haven't heard stories of Spanish forwards trouncing defences in EPL. Even Fernando Torres might struggle if he comes to England. He was at his best for Monaco. He shud have adjusted by now. Crespo also took time. But he has reasonably adjusted now. Else he could consider returning to Spain or France.
Moro would do well at a club like Deportivo or Villareal.
If he doesnt do well then his place in the national team will also be under threat.Torres might get the nod with Raul.Though i dont know if Raul deserves to play either.But then he is Mr. Spain and Mr. Madrid. ...
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