Photo: EPA
The Manchester derbies are always billed as two of the biggest games of the season and the first of the 2013/14 season was no different. The Etihad was the stage for two teams with new managers, in Manuel Pellegrini and David Moyes, to go out and prove who has the upper-hand in this early stage of the season.
With Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney in amongst the goals in recent games it seemed obvious who two of the first names on the United team sheet would be. It came as a shock, therefore, when an hour before kick off the news drifted in that Van Persie was out of the game with a groin strain and the line would be led by Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney instead. United fans complained, heads went down and there was an air of pessimism surrounding the United performance before the players had even kicked a ball.
Seconds after the game began it seemed maybe the doubters would be proved wrong as Welbeck jumped on a mistake from Kompany who has just returned from injury, but the striker couldn't keep the ball under control well enough to get a shot away. However, after the first five minutes the gulf in class began to show, particularly in midfield as Yaya Toure and Fernandinho outplayed Carrick and Fellaini with every move they made, pushing them further back all the time. The City midfield partnership worked perfectly with Fernandinho allowing Toure to get forward whilst he shielded the defence.
It was in contrast to the United midfield two who couldn't seem to decide who should help the attack and who was meant to defend as United set up so deep that when the ball was theirs to counter-attack with it was quickly won back with ease by City. This wasn't helped by a distinct lack of support from Young and Valencia out wide who were shown up by Nasri and Navas on the City wings, who caused countless problems for the United full-backs. It was down the left that City began the move for the first of their goals, Kolarov and Nasri linking up well down the left and exploiting the lack of understanding between Smalling and Valencia as the Ecuadorian let his man go far too easily allowing Nasri to get his cross away. It was met by United nemesis Aguero in the box who volleyed it in effortlessly, a superb finish that will surely make the shortlist for Goal of the Season in May.
Surprisingly the goal triggered no fight back from United who spent the rest of the 45 rarely making it out of their own half as City attacked with purpose. The team in blue were rewarded too right before half time when Toure lost his marker Fellaini and was found by Negredo's flick on off Nasri's corner. The Ivorian was somehow left unmarked and allowed to put the ball in easily with his knee. It was a devastating blow for United who would have relished the opportunity to re-group at half time having only been a goal down.
Somewhat strangely David Moyes opted to make no changes at half time and with a bench that included the likes of Kagawa, Nani and Hernandez it seemed odd not to make use of three of their most attacking players when United were struggling for a goal.
As the second half kicked off you'd have been forgiven for thinking it was City that were 2-0 down and desperate for a goal as they scored two more within five minutes. It was hard to tell whether the contributing factor was more that City were remarkable on the attack or that United were woeful in defence. Either way, United were being embarrassed and it was looking like another repeat of the 6-1 scoreline two years ago at Old Trafford, except this time no-one had been sent off.
City's third came from a Nasri through ball to Negredo which was controlled well in the box despite the presence of Vidic and crossed over to Aguero on the back post who side footed it in on the volley for his second of the afternoon. The fourth was the result of a misplaced Ashley Young pass deep in City's half as United desperately tried to attack. Kompany won the ball back which left Evra miles out of position and gave Navas the chance to showcase his blistering pace down the right. The Spaniard left everybody for dead as Fellaini desperately tried to make up ground but it was in vain as the wide man's cross flew across the face of goal to find Nasri at the far post who calmly volleyed it past De Gea to further add to United's misery.
This finally prompted a United substitution but it was the central midfielder Tom Cleverley who replaced the woeful Ashley Young rather than one of United's attacking outlets. It seemed Moyes was more anxious for United not to concede any more than to see them score any themselves. However, this move did seem to aid the midfield and Cleverley's input helped the game become more even and United began to pass the ball around better. They even managed to create some chances, first Rooney shooting over the bar before Fellaini finally showed some ability on 68 minutes with a long-range shot that caused Joe Hart to save with his fingertips.
United's day was summed up during this small period of dominance late on when an Evra header struck the post rather than going in. The silver lining for United will be that they still have Wayne Rooney in a red shirt. Rooney, arguably the only United player worthy of a decent match rating, gave United the smallest of consolations with a wonderful free kick that flew into the right hand corner and left Joe Hart with no chance. Rooney is now the highest scorer in Manchester derbies with 11 goals and continues an impressive goal-scoring run but his goal will have done little to ease the pain for United fans turning up to work on Monday morning.
United need to move on starting with Wednesday's visit of Liverpool at Old Trafford in the Capital One Cup. No doubt the team will be relishing the opportunity to prove that yesterday's defeat was just a blip but it has to be said that the difference in class between City and United was alarming. United will have to make use of their talented youngsters such as Wilfried Zaha who impressed on the pre-season tour alongside Adnan Januzaj, a fearless 18 year old that has the ability to make a difference at such a young age as Wayne Rooney did at 16 scoring on his Everton debut against Arsenal. United will also be looking forward to re-calling Jesse Lingard from his one-month loan as the youngster impressed with 4 stunning goals on his Birmingham debut.
As regards to the League, United now face a much easier period of fixtures starting with a home game against West Brom where they will be boosted by the returns of Robin Van Persie and Rafael Da Silva. There will also be chance for players like Nani, Kagawa and Hernandez to prove to Moyes that they have the abilities to help United win in these big games. Although City won emphatically it is important to remember that a win is only 3 points no matter what the scoreline is. There are plenty more points to be won and an interesting January transfer window that lie between now and the more crucial of the two Manchester derbies, hosted at Old Trafford in March.
No comments:
Post a Comment