United crushed Wigan at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Rafael Da Silva, Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia. The win leaves United just two points behind leaders Chelsea going into the new year, and if anything the margin of victory could have been greater with Rooney twice hitting the woodwork. It is the second time United have beaten Wigan 5-0 this season after their August clash at the DW Stadium.
Kuszczak 6.5: Not hus fault that wigan is not attacking much.
Rafael 7.5: Much better defensive display and a good goal.
Vidic 6.5: Played decently.
Brown 7: Played well defensively and join attack occasionally.
Evra 6: An off-night or a night off?
Valencia 8: A good goal and some assists, some crossess were a bit deep though.
Carrick 7: Nice goal and good midfield display.
Fletcher 7: Back to his natural position.
Park 6.5: Showed energy and played better than the past few games.
Berbatov 7.5: Sublime touches and a nice goal.
Rooney 7.5: Blew hot and cold over 90 mins!
Subs:
Anderson (sub Vidic 67, 5.5) OK.
Welbeck (sub Berbatov 67, 5.5) Nothing to show
Fabio (sub Evra 67, 5.5) Enjoyed the game.
31 December 2009
29 December 2009
Hull 1 Man United 3
UNITED closed the gap at the top of the Premier League to just two points with a hard-fought victory at the KC Stadium.
Wayne Rooney scored in first half time injury time and despite a Craig Fagan equaliser from the spot, the Reds secured a vital three points with an Andy Dawson own goal and a Dimitar Berbatov tap-in.
Wayne Rooney scored in first half time injury time and despite a Craig Fagan equaliser from the spot, the Reds secured a vital three points with an Andy Dawson own goal and a Dimitar Berbatov tap-in.
Fulham 3 United 0
Lacking in imagination and confidence, United's crippling injury list has clearly caught up with them as they missed the chance to draw level with Chelsea at the top of the table and suffered a fifth loss of the season. Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff were all on target for the home side as the Reds' patched up defence finally crumbled.
Kuszczak (5.5): Made one early superb save, should have done better for 1st goal.
Fletcher (5.5): Unable to get into his role.
Carrick (5.5): Not physical enough to match Zamora.
De Laet (5.5): Still learning and tough for him to partner 2 midfielders in defence.
Evra (5.5): One of his worst games.
Valencia (5.5): Did not receive much support and cannot break Fulham's defence.
Scholes (4.5): Bad game, gave away ball for first goal. Bad tackles and misplaced passess.
Gibson (5): His shooting was off and he is nothing without the shooting.
Anderson (4.5): Is it time to sell him? Only played well in a few games each season.
Rooney (5.5): Effort was there, but could not do much.
Owen (5): A bad game.
Subs:
Berbatov (sub Gibson 57, 5) Little impact.
Fabio (sub De Laet 57, 5.5) Attacked well.
Welbeck (sub Owen 72, 5) Couldn't get into it.
Kuszczak (5.5): Made one early superb save, should have done better for 1st goal.
Fletcher (5.5): Unable to get into his role.
Carrick (5.5): Not physical enough to match Zamora.
De Laet (5.5): Still learning and tough for him to partner 2 midfielders in defence.
Evra (5.5): One of his worst games.
Valencia (5.5): Did not receive much support and cannot break Fulham's defence.
Scholes (4.5): Bad game, gave away ball for first goal. Bad tackles and misplaced passess.
Gibson (5): His shooting was off and he is nothing without the shooting.
Anderson (4.5): Is it time to sell him? Only played well in a few games each season.
Rooney (5.5): Effort was there, but could not do much.
Owen (5): A bad game.
Subs:
Berbatov (sub Gibson 57, 5) Little impact.
Fabio (sub De Laet 57, 5.5) Attacked well.
Welbeck (sub Owen 72, 5) Couldn't get into it.
17 December 2009
Man United 3 Wolves 0
It had been an opening of uninspiring fare and United seemed to struggle to raise their game. United were in need of some outside help to make their dominance pay and they got it when Ronaldo Zubar inexplicably handled a Darron Gibson corner. The French Under 21 international had Vidic in close proximity but his offence was puzzling. Rooney won the battle with Hahnemann with a powerful penalty.
Gibson proved he has set piece accuracy to match his thunderbolt shooting when he sent over a second corner bang in the path of Vidic’s run and though Hahnemann got a hand to the Serb’s powerful header he could only help it over the line.
Both Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia had been disappointing peripheral figures against opposition they could have destroyed if they’d really got their teeth into it. They showed how easy they could have done it when the Bulgarian hooked a delicate pass over his right hand shoulder and the Ecuadorian thrashed in a cracker.
Gibson proved he has set piece accuracy to match his thunderbolt shooting when he sent over a second corner bang in the path of Vidic’s run and though Hahnemann got a hand to the Serb’s powerful header he could only help it over the line.
Both Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia had been disappointing peripheral figures against opposition they could have destroyed if they’d really got their teeth into it. They showed how easy they could have done it when the Bulgarian hooked a delicate pass over his right hand shoulder and the Ecuadorian thrashed in a cracker.
Man United 0 Aston Villa 1
LACKLUSTRE Manchester United suffered their first Premier League home defeat of the season at the hands of Aston Villa. Gabriel Agbonlahor headed home Ashley Young's cross to put the visitors ahead after 21 minutes. The closest United came to an equaliser was Wayne Rooney's first-half effort that bounced away off the underside of the bar.
The Reds are now three points behind Chelsea after the league leaders drew with Everton earlier on. Agbonlahor had scored in the past three seasons against the Reds, so he was completing a rather impressive four-timer when he nodded home Young’s right-wing cross.
Kuszczak (6): Not that much to do
Fletcher (6): Inexperience in right back showed against better wingers
Brown (5.5): Caught off-guard for Villa winner
Vidic (6): Form had dipped this season
Evra (6.5): Lively display, but no end products
Valencia (6): Need to run at the defenders more
Carrick (6.5): One of the better players on the field
Anderson (5): Disappointing game, no impact
Park (5.5): Lost the ball too often
Giggs (5.5): Crosses and passes seldom reach intended targets
Rooney (6.5): Limited support from other players, played his heart out and nearly scored
Subs:
Owen (sub Giggs 45, 5.5) At least offered a partner for Rooney
Berbatov (sub Park 62, 6) Got into good positions, one miskick and another effort saved
Gibson (sub Anderson 68, 5.5) Not much extra offered after replacing Anderson
The Reds are now three points behind Chelsea after the league leaders drew with Everton earlier on. Agbonlahor had scored in the past three seasons against the Reds, so he was completing a rather impressive four-timer when he nodded home Young’s right-wing cross.
Kuszczak (6): Not that much to do
Fletcher (6): Inexperience in right back showed against better wingers
Brown (5.5): Caught off-guard for Villa winner
Vidic (6): Form had dipped this season
Evra (6.5): Lively display, but no end products
Valencia (6): Need to run at the defenders more
Carrick (6.5): One of the better players on the field
Anderson (5): Disappointing game, no impact
Park (5.5): Lost the ball too often
Giggs (5.5): Crosses and passes seldom reach intended targets
Rooney (6.5): Limited support from other players, played his heart out and nearly scored
Subs:
Owen (sub Giggs 45, 5.5) At least offered a partner for Rooney
Berbatov (sub Park 62, 6) Got into good positions, one miskick and another effort saved
Gibson (sub Anderson 68, 5.5) Not much extra offered after replacing Anderson
Wolfsburg 1 United 3
A PATCHED up Manchester United finished top of their Champions League group thanks to Michael Owen's hat-trick against Wolfsburg.
The Reds took the lead when Owen headed home Nani's cross just before half time only for rumoured United target Edin Dzeko to equalise with a powerful header.
Substitute Gabriel Obertan's superb turn and cross created an easy tap in for Owen to put the Reds back in front, before the striker's smart chip sealed the win late on.
The victory was all the more impressive given United were missing 12 players through injury, Ryan Giggs was suspended and Ritchie De Laet ineligible.
The Reds took the lead when Owen headed home Nani's cross just before half time only for rumoured United target Edin Dzeko to equalise with a powerful header.
Substitute Gabriel Obertan's superb turn and cross created an easy tap in for Owen to put the Reds back in front, before the striker's smart chip sealed the win late on.
The victory was all the more impressive given United were missing 12 players through injury, Ryan Giggs was suspended and Ritchie De Laet ineligible.
07 December 2009
West Ham 0 Man United 4
United crushed the Hammers at Upton Park to keep up the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea. The only worries for United were injuries picked up by defensive pair Gary Neville and Wes Brown.
Paul Scholes scored the first with a trademark strike, albeit with his left foot, in injury time in the first-half. In the second-half Darron Gibson extended the lead with an even sweeter effort after a surging run by Giggs. At which point the West Ham door swung clean open with Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney supplying tap-ins after the Hammers defence had been swept aside.
Kuszczak (6.5): A marvellous save from Diamanti free kick and a poor kick from a simple backpass.
Fletcher (7): Good enough to be starting at right-back even when the regulars are back.
Neville (5.5): Nothing much to do, until he got injured.
Brown (7): Competent defending, led the make-shift back 4.
Evra (7): Again, attack well, defensively out of position occasionally.
Valencia (7): Good speed and strength and a goal too.
Gibson (6.5): A great goal, average otehrwise.
Scholes (7.5): Cracking goal and bossed the mid-field. A stupid yellow though.
Anderson (6.5): Lazy, not forward running, did not run to open space, slightly better in the last 30 min.
Giggs (7): Good game, make some good passes.
Rooney (6.5): Lack of service, but a nice run for the tap-in.
Subs:
Carrick (sub Neville 34, 7) Played well in unfamiliar position.
Berbatov (sub Gibson 67, 6.5) Neat touches.
Owen (sub Rooney 73, 5.5) did not do much.
Paul Scholes scored the first with a trademark strike, albeit with his left foot, in injury time in the first-half. In the second-half Darron Gibson extended the lead with an even sweeter effort after a surging run by Giggs. At which point the West Ham door swung clean open with Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney supplying tap-ins after the Hammers defence had been swept aside.
Kuszczak (6.5): A marvellous save from Diamanti free kick and a poor kick from a simple backpass.
Fletcher (7): Good enough to be starting at right-back even when the regulars are back.
Neville (5.5): Nothing much to do, until he got injured.
Brown (7): Competent defending, led the make-shift back 4.
Evra (7): Again, attack well, defensively out of position occasionally.
Valencia (7): Good speed and strength and a goal too.
Gibson (6.5): A great goal, average otehrwise.
Scholes (7.5): Cracking goal and bossed the mid-field. A stupid yellow though.
Anderson (6.5): Lazy, not forward running, did not run to open space, slightly better in the last 30 min.
Giggs (7): Good game, make some good passes.
Rooney (6.5): Lack of service, but a nice run for the tap-in.
Subs:
Carrick (sub Neville 34, 7) Played well in unfamiliar position.
Berbatov (sub Gibson 67, 6.5) Neat touches.
Owen (sub Rooney 73, 5.5) did not do much.
04 December 2009
Man United 2 Tottenham 0
2 cracking strikes from Darron Gibson sent Manchester United through to the Carling Cup semi-finals at the expense of Tottenham. The Reds were put under pressure early on by a lively Spurs side, but Gibson struck after 16 and 38 minutes to put Sir Alex Ferguson's men in command.
United will play City in the 2-legged semi.
United will play City in the 2-legged semi.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
