No amount of consoling words can possibly comfort City, particularly with the Stretford End crowing long and loud, but they should take pride in defeat. Carlos Tevez never stopped running, never stopped worrying Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans. Micah Richards never stopped seeking to break down the right, even bringing an unbelievable save from Edwin van der Sar.Sam Wallace, The Independent
It was a monumental effort from City to haul themselves back into the game from two goals behind to take it to the brink of extra time. There were impressive performances from Craig Bellamy and Tevez; there were equally important contributions from Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher but in the end there was Rooney and only Rooney who really mattered.
Oliver Kay, The Times
Kevin McCarra, The GuardianOn balance, United deserved it. They had been in control for long periods of the first leg last week, when two goals from Tévez gave Roberto Mancini’s side a 2-1 win, but last night, after an uncertain first half, they turned the screw.
Scholes, Carrick and the excellent Darren Fletcher took a grip of midfield and, as the pressure increased on City’s makeshift defence, there was a familiar air of inevitability about the outcome, even after Tévez had made the aggregate scoreline 3-3.
The chance had been laid on by Bellamy, who ought to be a candidate for the footballer of the year award. His side was also vigorous and, before the interval, neither team had been in command for long. Mancini has had an early impact at the club by instilling a touch of rigour into the defence. This has occurred despite the current need to put a youngster such as Dedryck Boyata at the core of the back four while Joleon Lescott recovers from surgery.
5 comments:
The game last night was crying out for a creative midfielder. With Robinho officially going out loan lets hope we can bring in a creative replacement. I for one would welcome Cassano. If we do not sign a creative MF then Mancini should consider Adebayor in the attacking midfield position.
PJDEMERS are you off your bloody rocker? Adebayor, attacking mid? Play Stephen Ireland there for christ's sake, It's where he plays best and it's where he became our player of the season last year. Adebayor is a very good out-and-out striker - nothing else. Give me strength....
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@Dominic
Ireland is a fantastic player but he is not a classic attacking midfielder. He's at his best making well timed runs into the box or playing quick, clever one touch passes in tight areas around the box. In short Ireland would be the biggest beneficary of an old school attacking midfielder.
Adebayor is my suggestion ONLY if we do not sign an attacking midfielder. A gamble, yes and a huge one but worth a try. He has the skill to beat players in the middle of the park and the more he sees of the ball the better he plays.
Of course this would not be necessary if we acquired a proper midfield play-maker to replace the void left by Elano and now Robinho.
I'm with Pete on this one. Stephen Ireland is a player who works best with a passer of the ball rather than being the player responsible for making the pass - Ireland's in game awareness (and running) is some of the best in the Premier League.
The idea of putting Adebayor in an AMC role, say in a 4-2-3-1 is actually quite interesting. He has always struck me as a player who could pass the ball well if given that opportunity and if a Bellamy/Petrov was on one wing and SWP/Ireland on the other would cause match up issues arriving late in the box to get delivery from the wing.
Not saying it would work, would be fascinating to see it tried.
And yes, we need a play maker. Team has no one who thinks pass first and can then make the play.
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