Rio for Manchester United captain and Edwin van der Sar looks very tired
Criticism of Edwin van der Sar based on his two (or three) recent gaffs is warranted, but over the top statements such as EVDS not being fit to make the Chelsea bench are uncalled for and reflect a myopic and vindictive approach to football.
Yes, van der Sar repeated a rookie mistake when he popped the ball out against Portsmouth for the first goal (as he had against Roma). You either catch it or punch it out of your box – EVDS palmed it out aiming for a defender, but both times an opposition player got to it first and scored.
The second time he did it was more galling – I wonder how Ferguson will be dealing with this, and hopefully we’ll see EVDS not making the same mistake again. You can rest assured that Roma players will want to test van der Sar from long range and hope for more gifts on Tuesday.
The own goal was a result of miscommunication, and it’s the second time Ferdinand has scored an own goal after passing the ball back to EVDS.
I was quite happy to see Rio wearing the captain’s armband and I think he should be United’s next captain but one of the things him and van der Sar will have to work on his communication. Both of them are leaders and if they give conflicting calls during crunch situations misunderstandings will happen.
In both cases (this time and last time) it was Ferdinand’s call to make, and the same rushing out qualities that make EVDS so good at commanding his box have also lead to these own goals.
United will cope with it, no doubt.
However, EVDS has looked old to me this season. He looks to be running on willpower more than strength, and I’m hoping that United blood Foster early and prepare a successor next season.
Manchester United face Roma on Tuesday and it is unarguably Manchester United’s biggest game of the season. The Champions League is as important as the Premiership, and with Saha reportedly fit and ready to come off the bench against Roma, you can only hope that Rio and van der Sar keep us safe.
Because if they can keep a clean sheet, Manchester United are through to the semis.
Topics: Manchester United
Football News 24/7
Van der Sar made three same mistake in the matter of two games. Two lead to goals and all could be avoided if he punched it away. But the same has been said about Kahn and you know he is a giant still among goalies. VDS will come good like when he did for Ajax and come Tuesday we will have conquered Roma. What I’m more worried of is the injuries that have really piled on. The real blow was Vidic, Neville and to some extent Park. However, the biggest blow was still Saha’s injury. Hope he can come back and finish strongly in our most vital time of the season. We missed his upfield presense and more importantly his goals. Can’t wait til Neville get back and shore up the defense.
April 9th, 2007 @ 15:03To me park is a big miss, more importantly when scholes is out.if we play giggs in centre which we will , and ronaldo on either of wings, we loose on wing attack from one side.
Typically if we play rooney on the other wing, we get width , but then saha must not miss chances…But he has no match practice.
I have a feeling that Smith is ready for the big game, he looked sharp in the last game and Sir Alex might take a chance with him
April 9th, 2007 @ 20:04now since saha is out injured, i guess we 2Olegend will have to produce a masterclass of his own…
April 9th, 2007 @ 23:40we are not looking confortable for the Roma clash, seems like the whole first team is out.
Hopefully with the crowd support, we will do it.