http://soccerlens.com/forum/ Soccerlens Forum Topic: Are Man Utd missing too many chances? en Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:19:28 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/forum/topic/are-man-utd-missing-too-many-chances#post-3483 Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:04:38 +0000 frankie 3483@http://soccerlens.com/forum/ <p>What is the matter with Wayne Rooney? Once again in the beating of Liverpool 3-0 he was easily the most creative talent on the pitch, made several chances and was pivotal in the excellent goal scored by Nani. But what has happened to him in front of goal? On at least 3 occasions 1-on-1 with the keeper, Rooney contrived to miss. He has had similar chances over the past month or so, game after game, and keeps on missing. Why?</p> <p>Well, he wasn't alone in the Liverpool game. The habit seemed to be catching with even Cristiano Ronaldo when 1-on-1 with the keeper also failing to convert on two occasions. Alex Ferguson was pulling his hair out, and commented on the missed chances (in non-complimentary fashion) afterwards. While United keep winning, fine. No one is going to lose any sleep over it. But what troubles you is the sort of game they had against Portsmouth, when they missed chance, after chance after chance and then got knocked out by a classic sucker punch. Could the same thing happen against Roma or Barcelona/Schalke in the CL?</p> <p>Fergie: get the forwards in for extra shooting practice and beating the keeper 1-on-1. Wayne: do us a favour - don't worry about scoring the classic goal just convert the damn thing.</p> <p>Anderson has many talents, but as he showed yet again in the Liverpool game, shooting is not one of them. His shooting is just about the worst I've ever seen in a top flight player, particularly one who in just about every other part of his game is pretty exceptional. He needs shooting practice. Lots of it. </p> <p>United are a fine side, and have the potential to be a great one. To fulfil their potential, they may just have to convert their chances at a higher rate than they are currently doing. Not every side they have left to play this season is going to have an idiot in their ranks like Mascherano, who seemed determined to antagonise the ref into sending him off. </p> http://soccerlens.com/forum/topic/are-man-utd-missing-too-many-chances#post-3432 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:43:41 +0000 frankie 3432@http://soccerlens.com/forum/ <p>I don't think Chelsea's problem is missing too many chances. It's conceding too many goals at the other end. Two 4:4s in one season (Villa and Spurs), the 4 points thrown away in those games could cost you the title. </p> <p>Incidentally, when did Chelsea last concede four goals in the league in any season - much less twice in the same season? </p> http://soccerlens.com/forum/topic/are-man-utd-missing-too-many-chances#post-3420 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:14:33 +0000 XerxesK 3420@http://soccerlens.com/forum/ <p>nope,.... Chelsea are missing too many chances. </p> http://soccerlens.com/forum/topic/are-man-utd-missing-too-many-chances#post-3401 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:52:31 +0000 puffy5000 3401@http://soccerlens.com/forum/ <p>ok I love this forum. I think u stated the teams very fairly and I am happy about that cause some people are like, manchester united is so much better than all the other teams. I am glad u stated about the injuries for chelsea cause i am personally a chelsea fan!! Thanks!! </p> http://soccerlens.com/forum/topic/are-man-utd-missing-too-many-chances#post-3394 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:11:19 +0000 fatehsmann 3394@http://soccerlens.com/forum/ <p>the actual reason 4 manu's strikers scoring less then ronaldo is actually that after tevez's inclusion...man united doesnt have a cross-header-goal game...because rooney n tevez r not that gud in the air...and are not classic penalty-box strikers like RVN was...ronaldo is better in the air and a better finisher...so hes given the license 2 cum central and thus score more goals... rooney and tevez jus play off the box...as thats were their greatest strengths lie... and yes BDCONDELL ur rite fergie uses a cautious midfield..and allows the full-backs 2 go 4wd...evra 4 me is a fantastic player and 1 of the best full-backs in europe...<br /> i think wen neville is fit itl b a fantastic combo...ronaldo goin ahead...conc on attack and wen hes sorrounded he jus passes the ball back 2 neville hu has enough space 2 make the cross..something which he is very very gud at.... and on the other side giggs...hu doesnt have that pace nemore...releasing evra and staying back 2 cover...<br /> and jus 2 reitrate the point...a goal which manutd scored this season...is a perfect description of their play which shows y ronaldo has been scoring so often</p> <p>from the center(midfieldersP 2 the wing...4m the wing to the center..say rooney...rooney lays it off 2 tevez who releases a ball 4 ronaldo who has made a brilliant run and is now 1-on-1 wid d keeper and he finishes off the move 2 score..<br /> this intricate passing and movement...coupled with skill and deft touches...are wats made manutd so lethal </p> http://soccerlens.com/forum/topic/are-man-utd-missing-too-many-chances#post-3390 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:02:53 +0000 Ahmed Bilal 3390@http://soccerlens.com/forum/ <p>we are as reliant on Ronaldo this season as we were last season, but hopefully Rooney can get going for the next couple of months </p> http://soccerlens.com/forum/topic/are-man-utd-missing-too-many-chances#post-3389 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:42:17 +0000 Anonymous 3389@http://soccerlens.com/forum/ <p>Good analysis Frankie.</p> <p>I don't think 3 games makes a trend but is there cause for concern?</p> <p>Ronaldo is billed as a winger but he has such licence to come central that he is effectively a striker for much of the time. So if we look at the contribution from the 'front' players:</p> <p>Ronaldo: 31<br /> Tevez: 15<br /> Rooney: 15<br /> Saha: 4<br /> Giggs/Nani: 6</p> <p>Total: 71 goals.</p> <p>Yes, there are fewer goals from midfield but remember that Tevez wasn't there last year and with Saha frequently injured, the likes of Scholes and Giggs were given more central attacking roles.</p> <p>I think Fergie is more cautious of the central midfield two covering back, while Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez and Nani are let off the leash. </p> <p>That said, Rooney seems to go through patches where he can't buy a goal and then scores 8 in 8 games. Utd need Rooney and Tevez to up their goal rate as the season closes out. Along with Ronaldo's ongoing contribution and the odd goal from elsewhere this should be sufficient.</p> <p>There will always be games where the chances just won't go in but over the past 7 games Utd have scored 15.</p> <p>No cause for concern in my view. </p> http://soccerlens.com/forum/topic/are-man-utd-missing-too-many-chances#post-3387 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:14:29 +0000 ARSENALFC 3387@http://soccerlens.com/forum/ <p>Haha frankie, love the report card "a talented student" <img src='http://soccerlens.com/forum/bb-images/smilies/icon_lol.gif' alt=':lol:' class='wp-smiley' /> </p> http://soccerlens.com/forum/topic/are-man-utd-missing-too-many-chances#post-3377 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:34:48 +0000 frankie 3377@http://soccerlens.com/forum/ <p><strong>March 2007</strong></p> <p>(played-won-drawn-lost-goals for/against---points)</p> <p>1. Man Utd 29-23-3-3-66:19---72<br /> 2. Chelsea 29-20-6-3-51:19---66<br /> 3. Arsenal 29-16-7-6-51:24---55<br /> 4. L'pool 29-16-5-8-44:20---53</p> <p>(After 30 games Arsenal had 55 points and Liverpool 54).</p> <p><strong>March 2008</strong></p> <p>1. Man Utd 29-21-4-59:15---67<br /> 2. Arsenal 30-19-10-1-58:22---67<br /> 3. Chelsea 29-19-7-3-49:18---64<br /> 4. L'pool 30-16-13-55:21---59</p> <p>Makes an interesting comparison. Last year <strong>United</strong> had scored 7 more goals but had also conceded 4 more goals, but were 5 points better off than they are now. United are still the top scorers in this year's league and have the meanest defence. Don't think there's too much to worry about.</p> <p>But some other points. <strong>Chelsea</strong> are doing almost exactly as well under the oft criticised Avram Grant as they were under the fabled Mourinho. They have had more injuries this season, more disruption (loss of players to the ACN), managerial upheaval but are still much closer to the top of the table than last year. <strong>Arsenal</strong> are dramatically better than last year;and are in with a real shout in a three-way contest. <strong>Liverpool </strong>are doing better than last year and have scored a lot more goals. After 30 games in 2007 they were 21 points off the top; this year it will not be more than 11 points after United play their 30th game against Bolton.</p> <p><strong>So late term report:</strong><br /> <em>United</em> - another strong performance this term. Apt to get a little frustrated at times, but remains an outstanding student.<br /> <em>Arsenal</em> - the most improved student in the class, pushing for scholarships all round. Has worked very hard and earlier in the year produced some spectacular work. Recently has showed signs of flagging. Must keep chin up, retain concentration and press on. A talented student.<br /> <em>Chelsea</em> - has quietly got on with things at school after his parents' messy divorce, but is performing well again this year. A steady and hardworking student who will get his just deserts. Honours a real prospect.<br /> <em>Liverpool</em> - had a dip in the autum term when lost concentration (some domestic difficulties) but is showing renewed interest and promises to finish the year strongly. Could do better, if cut out some of the rest periods and kept his hand on the tiller throughout the year. Revision should be done continuously and not all left for the end of the year. Better organisation of his rest/work periods could take this student to the top of the class. </p> http://soccerlens.com/forum/topic/are-man-utd-missing-too-many-chances#post-3369 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:56:57 +0000 Ahmed Bilal 3369@http://soccerlens.com/forum/ <p>How do we stand compared to goals scored by this stage of last season? </p> http://soccerlens.com/forum/topic/are-man-utd-missing-too-many-chances#post-3368 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:54:29 +0000 frankie 3368@http://soccerlens.com/forum/ <p>Earlier in the season, United couldn't stop winning 1-0 in the league. Then they went on a run when they seemed to win every game 4-0. Rooney was in fine form. Then Rooney's second major injury of the season and United struggled now and again for goals. Then United hit a purple patch after the City defeat, beating Arsenal 4-0, Newcastle 1-5, Fulham 0-3. </p> <p>But the last few games seem to be causing SAF some concern: 1-0 against Lyon, 0-1 against Portsmouth and 1-0 against Derby. It's the old early season 1-0 routine again, although this time not all the results are going United's way. </p> <p>The statistics over the last 2 games make for pretty depressing reading for United's strikers: 34 strikes at goal, 16 on target and only 1 goal (against Derby) to show for it. Is this the result of being a front man short, or the unreliable Saha, or should Wayne Rooney stop trying to score the artistically perfect goal or is SAF simply over-reacting? </p> <p>Over a season, surely United will play games where they just can't convert their chances. Isn't that the way it goes sometimes? Or should United supporters now share SAF's expressed concerns (and Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool rejoice) that United's proflicacy in front of goal will ultimately de-rail their title ambitions and CL prospects? Ronaldo apart, why have so few goals come other United midfielders like Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, Anderson and Nani? </p> <p>The defeat by Portsmouth still clearly rankles with SAF, the FA Cup was there for the taking, but is this all SAF kidology to get his players psyched up or is there a real problem?</p> <p>for SAF's views see: <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3571991.ece" rel="nofollow">http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3571991.ece</a> </p>