capetownred
United Youth Teamer
plg%%Mark Hughes%%
Posts: 203
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Post by capetownred on Nov 4, 2007 7:00:09 GMT
Am really looking forward to the Carrick Hargo combo in midfield. Just seemed more incisive when Carrick came on. Fair enuf Anderson is a talent but he is nowhere near the finished article and if anyone knows how utds midfield ticks then that person is Carrick. What happened to Brown that he got subbed? Was he injured? Felt that we missed the chance of giving Nani a go in place of Giggs. Now for a win against Kiev and qualification into the next round.
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Post by missunited on Nov 4, 2007 9:48:41 GMT
We were rubbish most of the time, Anderson was standing out as not just rubbish but stupid, needs a slap for his diving, bad tackle and holding the "card up" on a less lucky day he would have been sent off, and rightfully so. We played much better when Carrick and Saha came on and Anderson and Tevez went off, we played much much better.
2-2 is a more than respectable result to take away from the emirates, the way Arsenal were playing in the first half we're lucky we didn't concede more than we did. We make stupid mistakes defensively still and are just lucky they don't lead to owt. More than happy with a draw and those who think we should have won, must either not have watched the match or just be incredibly delusional
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Post by Scott on Nov 4, 2007 12:08:50 GMT
From The Times:
United trooped away wearily, their bowed heads weighed down by the sense of having blown it. Arsenal’s young gunners gathered in a huddle near the halfway line and patted each other on the back. From the jaws of defeat, the home team had plucked a draw and kept their place at the top of the Premier League.
The respective moods were epitomised in the demeanours of the managers. Arsène Wenger was quietly but decidedly pleased. When a team is in its infancy, you worry about the reaction to adversity. Arsenal were twice behind and on each occasion, their young team showed character. “There is something special in the side that you don’t see at first,” said Wenger.
He was referring to a spirit and the fact that when a team is so technically accomplished, you sometimes don’t notice other qualities. It is undeniable that Wenger’s young side plays with a never-say-die spirit. Neither should anybody be surprised that the manager was chuffed by that spirit because it saved the team yesterday. Sir Alex Ferguson cut an altogether different figure. He talked of how his team had blown it and blamed poor defensive play for the concession of two goals.
So, from this draw, who was the winner? Did Wenger sleep better than his Glaswegian rival last night? Perhaps not. For what does it tell us when United leave the Emirates Stadium dissatisfied with a draw? On the other hand, Arsenal’s joy at having got a late reprieve carried just a hint that they felt they had taken something from their betters.
Consider, too, that United didn’t do that much, always seemed to play within themselves and yet they left the arena believing they should have won. Indeed, they could have but Arsenal’s greater energy meant the result was fair. Equally, United’s frustration was understandable. When you take the lead with 12 minutes remaining, including stoppage time, as United did, you don’t bargain for a share of the points.
It was no surprise the visitors got themselves in that position. In a generous tribute to United, Wenger highlighted the “clinical” nature of United’s football and reminded us that when it comes to the English language, his choice of words is as precise as Cesc Fabregas’s passing. And though Arsenal’s passing was as accurate as ever, it was fight and not skill that saved them.
Much of the credit will be given to William Gallas for the finely controlled volley that levelled the match in the dying minutes, but most of the praise should be reserved for Gael Clichy. The left-back won possession on halfway and immediately surged forward. He seemed to have overrun the ball but desperation saved him. After getting the ball back under control, he played a murderous ball across the United goal. Emmanuel Adebayor almost got to it, defenders went for it but dared not touch it, Edwin van der Sar didn’t know whether to come or stay and when Theo Walcott turned the ball back across goal from the far post, Gallas finished from the toughest of angles.
Ferguson thought his defenders “lost their bearings” but the confusion was testimony to the quality of Clichy’s cross. Van der Sar blocked Gallas’s volley and not many in the crowd knew the ball had crossed the line, but assistant referee Darren Cann signalled a goal. It was an outstanding call as the official’s view would not have been helped by the number of bodies around his line of sight. Van der Sar chased the referee, and continued his protests after the game. We tell young footballers the officials are right, even if they are wrong. Van der Sar tells them they are wrong when they are right and he probably wonders why we occasionally despair about standards of behaviour. One would like to think he got home in time for Match of the Day and watched his over-played and unjustified protests. In an ideal world, he would apologise to Cann.
Somebody asked Wenger if he didn’t feel some gratitude for the sharpness of the official. “You can congratulate him,” said Wenger, “but not thank him. He was doing his job.”
Neither was Ferguson thanking his defence. It has been excellent this season but, alas, not yesterday. Even when one allows for Arsenal’s ability to slice open the best defences. Ferguson was entitled to be upset at the concession of what he described as “two scrappy goals”.
For the first, Van der Sar did well to block Adebayor’s effort and Patrice Evra should have cleared the danger, but instead allowed Bacary Sagna to get to the ball first and turn it back for Fabregas to score. “Same as here last season,” said Ferguson. “I can’t believe it. We have thrown it away.”
That was certainly how the United players felt at the end of the match. Still, it tells you something about the game and the teams. Although they had less possession, United had marginally more control. They created a number of good chances from their limited attacks and were more penetrative than Arsenal. The moment when Louis Saha split the Arsenal defence to play a delightful ball through to Evra in the lead up to the team’s second goal defined the difference between the teams.
When Evra crossed, Cristiano Ronaldo finished but if he hadn’t, Michael Carrick was also alone and unmarked. When the dust settles and United wake up to the fact that they won’t lose the league because of an away draw at Arsenal, they will feel better about yesterday’s game. They just had that bit extra and though they didn’t deserve any more than they got from the game, one sensed that Ferguson’s men are going to get a lot better before this season reaches its climax.
Arsenal’s young team is full of spirit and plays with Wenger-like precision but it will get harder for them. Fighting spirit is necessary and admirable and it got the team a wonderfully and utterly deserved draw. But over a long season, that spirit and that energy will be hard to sustain.
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Post by tomo on Nov 4, 2007 12:15:29 GMT
I was at the game, and it was truly heartbreaking at the time. I thought we were going to hold on to win - devastating. I felt awful the whole of yesterday (I couldn't even bring myself to read this thread lol) , but I know have accepted that a draw away to Arsenal is a good result, and I would definetly have taken a draw before the game started.
I thought we deserved to win the game just about, Arsenal didn't really look that great. Things looked so much better when Carrick and Saha came on - maybe they were just fresh legs, but I thought they both looked very sharp.
I didn't really notice Anderson's antics 'cos I was too far away, but I saw him rolling about after Fabregas challenged him, and I was pretty embarassed by it. He did it at Villa as well when Reo-Coker got sent off. I hate players asking the ref to book someone, and apparently Anderson did this. He wasn't the only one being ridiculously theatrical yesterday though, that greasy bastard Hleb was rolling around on the floor whenever he could.
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David Gill
United Bench Warmer
Modric next stop...plg%%Vidic%%
Posts: 710
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Post by David Gill on Nov 4, 2007 12:34:54 GMT
I saw quite alot of long balls played by our defenders. Something we often do in tough matches. I cringe when that happens, play the bloody ball through the middle. We lost the ball too often in the first half. One thing i fear is holding the lead which is something we can't do for some reason. And what was Giggs doing on the pitch for the whole match. Nani should have been inroduced.
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Post by Scott on Nov 4, 2007 16:11:11 GMT
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Post by Busby Boy on Nov 4, 2007 16:11:46 GMT
Why do Arsenal, even last season, when they draw or win a game at the Emirates act like they've won the league. The players and the fans? OK, a last gasp draw with United may feel like a victory but even against Sunderland they did the same.
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Post by moxdevil on Nov 4, 2007 16:25:21 GMT
I wish we could close a game out against them.
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Buliwyf
United Bench Warmer
fear has never helped a man
Posts: 513
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Post by Buliwyf on Nov 4, 2007 18:19:24 GMT
Very intense game! Two good goals out of the game for us! Arsenal were very lucky with the first goal!
As for Anderson: I don't like divers in our side either and him and Nani had their fair share of it! But that tackle from Fabregas was a clear nasty hit into the supporting leg and after the foul he was mouthing to the ref and to Anderson as though it was the worst dive ever! Fabregas is a fucking cunt! But a good footballer!
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Post by Supatrice> on Nov 5, 2007 3:26:29 GMT
I was bitterly dissapointed with that performance. We set up to contain Arsenal again playing Rooney down the left and giving him the job of chasing Sagna. That was as frustrating as having to watch Arsenal pass around us like we weren't there, and us reacting by giving the ball away and failing to string 2 passes together. I thought Ronaldo was missing for most of the game, Tevez was invisible, Hargreaves and Anderson had good games defensively but failed to provide any service and Hargreaves passing impartcular was poor.
Aparantly over 1 billion fans watched the game all over the world, what a shame that we set up to stop Arsenal and let them play they're passing game while we were left chasing shadows.
We only looked ourselves when Saha came on. I wish he wasn't so injury prone the lad just has something about him where, he can perform to his best even in the biggest games, he is juts unaffected by the pressure. I'm glad he's back, we'll need him to win the league.
Hopefully, when Arsenal come to OT we'll go out and have the belief that we can play better than them and win. The last 3 times we've played them we have failed to do that so somethings onviously not working, ROONEY ON THE LEFT!
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Post by Supatrice> on Nov 5, 2007 3:39:13 GMT
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Post by Rais.n.Hell on Nov 5, 2007 5:36:04 GMT
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Post by RedArmy20 on Nov 5, 2007 5:46:54 GMT
Very intense game! Two good goals out of the game for us! Arsenal were very lucky with the first goal! As for Anderson: I don't like divers in our side either and him and Nani had their fair share of it! But that tackle from Fabregas was a clear nasty hit into the supporting leg and after the foul he was mouthing to the ref and to Anderson as though it was the worst dive ever! Fabregas is a fucking cunt! But a good footballer! dive? it wasnt a dive he overreacted thats for sure, but that isnt called diving. and i am not happy with him waving the imaginary card and overreacting. but i think we wont see that anymore, after all we have fergie as a manager. and everyone saying that arsenal are celebrating like they have won the league. for god sakes of course you gonna celebrate like a donkey when u draw a game in the last seconds against a team like united.
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Post by kokka78 on Nov 5, 2007 10:57:03 GMT
Owen Hargreaves has challenged the authenticity of Arsenal's status as the Premier League's most attractive side to watch.
United could, and according to Sir Alex Ferguson should, have taken all three points at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. But Hargreaves believes the tactical nous of the Reds’ first half display and the counter-attacking threat after the break constituted an excellent performance in the 2-2 draw.
There is no doubt Arsene Wenger's side play an entertaining, attacking style. But Hargreaves may have a point, and Arsenal certainly have one still to prove after failing to beat two of their main rivals in consecutive weekends.
"Arsenal kept the ball and had a lot of possession, but they were never really threatening," said the Reds midfielder, who once again impressed in central midfield, this time alongside Anderson.
"Defensively, we did a good job and tried to control their so-called beautiful football. Both of our goals were from really beautiful pieces of play and theirs were a bit scrappy.
"Football is about scoring goals and winning games and I don’t think they had a clear-cut chance in the first half, apart from the header by Gallas, and that was a set piece.
"They keep the ball and try to play that way, but when a team is as good defensively as ours, you can keep them at bay because we played very tight together."
Manutd.com
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robnob
United Bench Warmer
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Post by robnob on Nov 5, 2007 13:59:09 GMT
Hargo's right, though. ARSE-N-AL, PASS-THE-BALL. All they did and even then, they didn't do it as well as they do against other sides. They had no clear cut chances and their goals were from poor defending, in contrast t oours which were both quality goals, even if one was deflected in and the other a nice hit, but not exactly the hardest to put in.
We did our job well, in terms of breaking up Arsenal's play. Anderson played alright. Pat was our man of the match, I feel. I was heart-broken at the game. All of us singing 'WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED' and then that happens and it's the worst feeling (last minute goal to equalise or lose you the game and when your chant means nothing anymore. It means the other team get the upper hand on and off the pitch, as Le Arse soon started singing what we were).
What pisses me off is that we drew to them in their own backyard, yet they're happy with the way it ended. If you think you;re title challengers, then this attitude is poor.
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