Manchester United back on top - a very late review plus quality pics
I was away for the weekend, so excuse the late, late review of the game.
Apart from the obvious (Chelsea drew and Manchester United won so we’re back on the top of the Premiership table), there are 2 or 3 talking points from the game that I’d like to address.
Mainly, the form of Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney.
Nemanja Vidic
Its great to see Vidic playing for Manchester United again - there’s no doubt that him and Ferdinand form an excellent first-choice central defensive pairing - Ferdinand has played better since Vidic’s return (not to mention Heinze’s) and the team has been more solid as a result.
One great thing about Vidic is his ability to take the hard knocks, get back up, dust himself off and start playing again without any fuss. He was kicked by Shola Ameobi while on the ground and got up without complaining too much, even though this was worse than Ballack’s ’stamp’ on Sissoko, which got the German a straight red. He’s also willing to go forward (although Newcastle invited us forward really) and he went close to scoring twice against them. He’s getting better and better with each game and if him and Heinze can stay fit United have a very good chance of holding off the other top teams from scoring.
Plus you rarely see Vidic make the sort of defensive errors that Wes Brown and Mikael Silvestre have made in the past.
Michael Carrick
A lot of people have criticised Carrick’s performances for Manchester United since he’s joined the club. They’re right, he hasn’t performed well, but I also think that most people don’t understand what Carrick’s role is in the team and the reasons behind his relatively poor form (I’m not defending him, but before lambasting him you need to know the backstory).
For starters, Carrick wasn’t supposed to be the solution to Keano’s absence. That solution was (and still is) Owen Hargreaves. Michael Carrick is a creative midfielder drafted in as part of a long term solution to rebuilding Manchester United’s midfield. The objective was to get a holding midfielder alongside Carrick and play them together after Scholes had retired. It is one solution to United’s midfield problem, not the ultimate one and not necessarily the best one.
Secondly, Carrick is not a hard tackler - something we knew before he was signed. He’s slow on the ball, so you’ll have to expect him to take some time to readjust to playing for Manchester United where he’s offered less protection than he was at Tottenham.
What Carrick is good at, and something I that I felt was important for United in signing him, is his passing. He’s shown it in glimpses in his short stay at United, and he will undoubtedly get better.
Third, and this is a bit of a cop-out, Carrick had no pre-season to speak of. He was hardly used at the World Cup, and he got injured early in Manchester United’s pre-season and was injured till September. He’s had few games to get himself back in shape.
There are a lot of expectations attached to Carrick brought upon by his price-tag and his position as the solitary midfield recruit. Please don’t be hasty in judging Carrick. Look at Fletcher - he’s finally turning into a decent squad player! Maybe Carrick will prove himself in the coming months - I’m sure of it.
Wayne Rooney
The kid needs more games, so lay off him 
Match Pics
Fantastic pics from the Manchester United v Newcastle game - I’ve put up two here:
Rooney’s season needs to improve, but then again he just might be missing Giggs and Saha.
How long will Ronaldo ‘carry’ Manchester United?
All the latest football headlines.
If carrick is not the keano’s replacement why did ManU sign him? playing hergaves and carrick will lead to compermise of a winger or AM(scholes, or his replacement). given carrick doesnt have a great eye for goal do u realy want this?
I don’t think Wayne needs more games. I think he need to be rested for a while. Tooooo much pressure on him. United need to learn to play without him.
The following comment have nothing to do with Rooney…
What I don’t like about SAF is:
Some players don’t perform, and they get booted. Don’t get much second chances at OT. Others don’t perform and they get extended runs. He always had his favourites. Not fair on the others. If they’re not worth the extended runs, why then sign them in the first place? Is that then not a waste of Our money?
All managers appear to have favourites and it is naive to believe otherwise. Look at some of the quality players who have been left out at Arsenal (most of them happen to be english), whilst Mr Cygan was once assured a spot on the bench.
However, what none of us commentators see is the work-ethic at training, the attitude, the respect for the coach that each player has in varying quantities. We make our judgements based on 90 mins of football a week, when there is a lot more to factor in.
@karl
every person has the right to have favourites.. but what is the key that u are missin out is that the people he booted were the people gettin old and coming towards the fading years of their carrier who have already given a ajor part of their best to the club and the people whu get xtended runs are those who still have the potential to do the same… u will be the smae person critizing him if he boots rooney and a year later rooney top scores for another club sayin that SAF doesnt have the patience to groom talent…. so back off and give the man whu gave the club so much a rest
Hugo, Anirudh, you both make perfect sense. Especially the training ethic thing. Though its an ‘obvious’ point, must admit that when you mentioned it, it hit home.
I agree with the following statement, but have a question regarding the exceptions:
“the people he booted were the people gettin old and coming towards the fading years of their carrier who have already given a ajor part of their best to the club and the people whu get xtended runs are those who still have the potential to do the same…”
Please explain Veron, Forlan, Cruyf (these are just what came to mind immediately, but, there are quite a few others). I guess this is where the ethic/relationship with the manager comes in.
I suppose football is exactly like work - I guess it IS the footballers’ day-time work - where you not only have to be good, but be a good ass-kisser as well.
I agree with everything you’ve said. However about Carrick I will add this. His lack of a pre-season is not a cop out. Look at Rooney. His pre-season preps were ruined by that 3 game ban, look how poor he has been as a result. As forCarrick he was injured throughout pre-season. It will take him a few months to settl in. He was bought to be what Vreron failed to be for United for he is the exact same player with the exception of free kicks.