Manchester United v Manchester City: My verdict

Jon1983uk · Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 4423

THE UNBIASED VERDICT. - Jonathan Daniels, sexy and single. :)

Manchester United 0 Manchester City 0

Well, saw the match this afternoon and I have to say I'm in 2 minds about it as an actual match. :)

The pace was strained at times, but there was some good counter-attack tactics on display In fact, the whole game was virtually based on counter-attack play.. :)

Both teams had 10 men behind the ball when defending; United dominated a heck of alot in midfield, which culminated in them getting a lot more chances than City though. Sadly for them, they were unable to covert any.

The United fans I've spoken to seem to count an average of 77 penalties that should have been awarded during the game, but guess how many I'm gonna say there should've been? That's right, none.. :)

Overall I felt, despite some tense moments, both teams underplayed rather alot. Better luck for them both next game. :)

PLAYER RATINGS

UNITED:

GK - Carroll - Didn't have an awful lot to do in the United goal. 6
LB - Heinze (or 'enchay' as the Sky commentatory kept calling him for some odd reason :D) - Commited a solid, physical display in defence and at times up front. 7
CB - Silvestre - Unusually subdued showing from the Frenchman, didn't have to do much at the back, but was out marked every time when coming forward 6
CB - Ferdinand - A very good performance in defence and executed some great through-passes. 8
RB - Neville - A pretty solid defensive performance pushed a bit further by some good forward runs 7

MIDFIELD:

LM - Christiano Ronaldo - All the step overs in the world couldn't save him from delivering some sloppy passes and set pieces, had a hard task against McManaman and Jordan at times. When will his electric form return? - 7
CM - Roy Keane - Many United fans were calling for his head after the game and I can see why. Crab passing (always sideways, never forwards) and a dramatic slowdown in pace since his hay-days mean Keane could soon be on the way out if the rumours are true. - 6
CM - Paul Scholes - Another player victimised by United fans for transfer with immdiate effect. :) He wasn't the imposing, creative force he usually is today. - 6
RM - Liam Miller (aka. Fergie's senile tactical blunder #565865 :D) - Another lacklustre performance from a man who's only natural position is the center of the park. - 6

ATTACK:

CF - Alan Smith (Sent off) - Getting two yellow cards was the highlight of his match. So as you can guess, not a very good day at all for the Leeds man. - 6
CF - Louis Saha - Proved to be a great Nistelrooy stand-in, showing determination and work-rate throughout. I hope for United's sake he starts their next game. - 9 (my United Man Of The Match)

SUBS:
Wayne Rooney (on for Smith) - After a feiry hat-trick start, it seems someone has thrown a bucket of water on England's wonderkid as his form continues to diminish along with his first team starting chances. Came on after 79 minutes and barely got a touch. Seemed unfit and unwilling, entirely unlike the Rooney of old, perhaps he wasn't well; either way, from what little was seen of him, it was poor. To think Fergie could've bought Ronaldinhio for less.. - 5

CITY:

GK - David James - Had his moments certainly, some good, most bad. His eccentricity and handling make him an ocassional danger to his own defence I have to admit. - 6
LB - Stephen Jordan - Replacing the injured Lee Thatcher. Despite reminding me at first of someone in the crod at an Evenscence concert, I was soon shown the 22 year old lad could kick a ball. :D Recieved a cut to his forehead within the first 5 minutes of what was only his 2nd Premiership match of his career. That pretty much summed him up, tough and brave as hell, he went into challenges with the youthful vigor needed in the City lineup.

A few mistakes (mainly down to inexperience) meant he wasn't quite as inpackful as the rest of the back 4, but never the less he convinced me he could be one to watch. - 7
CB - Sylvin Distan - Virtually everything he did was right in the match. I often see him as a bit of a wimp in challenges, but today he was as tough-tackling as the rest of the back 4 and took command of the defence with a show by example approach of excellent headind and those tough tackles. - 9 (My City Man Of The Match)
CB - Richard Dunne - yet another fine display from the ever-improving young, big Irishman. Showed a lot of pace for a big man and for the most part did well in the Ronaldo psychke-out game going on on the right. - 8
RB - Danny Mills - started out completely on fire with decent tackles and forward runs aplenty. His impact in the game seemed to fade during the second half though. Never the less yet another integral piece of the magnicificent City defence. - 8

MIDFIELD
LM - Steve McManaman - Shrugged off the boos by a few prejudice United fans throughout the game with some decent (ableit, slow :)) dribbling and passing work. It seemed the more he was booed, the more he retained the ball, so much so that by the end of the game the boos ceased. Perhaps they just got tired? :) - 7
LCM - Antoine Sibierski - despite a rickety start, the Franchman is still on a gradual improvement of his game. His ever-stunning headers saved City from near-constant pressure and he seemed to be one of the few attack-minded players that City needed to have. - 7
RCM - Paul Bosvelt - His work rate seems to diminish more each game right now. While his experience and knowledge of the game is always appreciated, his on-pitch performances have mis-fired as of late. This was one of them. I'm praying for the safe return of Joey Barton and Claudio Reyna ASAP. - 6
RM - Willo (William) Flood - Another fairly decent outing for the youngster, but a dip in form from his excellent recent performances still. I felt he was slightly out of his depth against United, as he was largely hounded out of much of the game by some tough challenges, yet he gave as good as he got late on. Both he and Jordan have a lot of determination and stamina and gave it their all until the end. Another lad to look out for, though is nowhere near the skill bracket of the man whos right wing position he has taken ('SWP'). - 6

ATTACK
AM (or Support Man) - Shaun Wright-Phillips[/b] - Played yet again woefully out of position (it's right wing or bust for me), I just hope 'Double K' gets his act together soon. Flood is good, but SWP is better on the wing. I know it's painful to even think it, but perhaps it would indeed be best to play John Macken/Robbie Fowler again. :)

Just like United's Ronaldo, a dissapointing below-usual-standard performance today. He never really got the ball (thanks largely to City rather inept passing and pressure), but did impress when he finally did in the last 5 or so minutes. -7

CF - Nicolas Anelka - Started off with his usual high-speed, no-nonsence approach of swarming around the opposition keeper, but soon died a quiet death upfront with little to do. - 6

Macs34 · Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 3467 Location: Kenya

Well put Jon,

Though I still feel that Man City would have destroyed Man U 3-1 respectively. Now that ManU fans are grambling over missed penalties (77), they now feel the pain we felt as Ruud took the undeserved penalty on us (Arsenals). (WHoever said payment is after death!!!!!!! :lol: ).

Macs

ukevents.net · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 2439

This is awesome Jon... nice one !

louaze · Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 501 Location: manchester

not 77 penalties...2!! someone has a bit of a bias view really!! the second penalty shout was more credible than th first i reckon but fair enough we didnt get them becoz of th agro that moaning whiney ARSEnal players made becoz they lost a match. wel boo frickin hoo take a leaf out of city's book and lose with dignity! alan smith made two tackles all match and he got sent off for them. abs ridiculous in my opinion and no not becoz i like him...every one iv spoken to, red or blue, hav said it was harsh and a simple "calm down" wud hav been fair. ARSEnal fans dont count becoz they r bitter that we beat them. i reckon a draw was a fair enuf score but only becoz of the effort and quality of football shown by city's back 4...without that they wud hav been slaughtered...its not like we didnt hav th chances. that jordan is gonna be one hell of a player for ya...shame he chose blue instead of red!
love louaze
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Jon1983uk · Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 4423

*bows* thank ya peeps. Look out for another review next time City are on Sky. :D

Ahhh, you an Aresenal fan then Macs? You get UK footie over there then and we don't get a ounce of African footie over here! :P We do get Dutch, Italian, Spanish and a few others though..suppose I shouldn't complain that much... :D

Hehe, my bro counted 5 pens, I counted 0. Referee agreed with me. :D

I don't think what Wenger said about 'RVN' in the press was on (basically that Nistelrooy is a born cheater), I didn't see the guy cheat once in that game to be honest.

Eeek, don't come down here Louise, all the United fans in my local wanted to genuinely kill Smith after this game! :lol: To be fair it's not his usual self though, it's certainly not that he's usually poor. Same can be said for Ronaldo and 'SWP', both weren't their attacking best.

And now ya gotta face 'arse' again in the cup. I predict bloodshed. :D

reddevilleanne · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 13228 Location: Nottingham

our young uns can whip arsenals asses :D :wink:

louaze · Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 501 Location: manchester

Jon1983uk wrote: *bows* thank ya peeps. Look out for another review next time City are on Sky. :D

Ahhh, you an Aresenal fan then Macs? You get UK footie over there then and we don't get a ounce of African footie over here! :P We do get Dutch, Italian, Spanish and a few others though..suppose I shouldn't complain that much... :D

Hehe, my bro counted 5 pens, I counted 0. Referee agreed with me. :D

I don't think what Wenger said about 'RVN' in the press was on (basically that Nistelrooy is a born cheater), I didn't see the guy cheat once in that game to be honest.

Eeek, don't come down here Louise, all the United fans in my local wanted to genuinely kill Smith after this game! :lol: To be fair it's not his usual self though, it's certainly not that he's usually poor. Same can be said for Ronaldo and 'SWP', both weren't their attacking best.

And now ya gotta face 'arse' again in the cup. I predict bloodshed. :D

what whinger i mean wenger said about ruud was well out of order...abs no need at all. anyway they stil got beat even after th penalty for th superb link up between smith and rooney so they cant complain that its th only reason we won. in smiths defence...he is a very passionate player and gives himself 110% in every game. it jus so happened that no he is not perfect EVERY time but he got penalised for his two tackles of the match. hopefully we can do th same to ARSEnal in carling cup but i reckon they wil come out steamin to try to make up for their loss!! praying we beat them again tho!! that wil be pure joy!!
love louaze
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Jon1983uk · Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 4423

Hehe, one things for sure, that game will be about as pleasant as a Jade Goody and Vanessa Feltz nude mud wrestling match. :lol:

louaze · Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 501 Location: manchester

*shudder*
love louaze
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