Another erratic performance today from United against a poor Bolton side that hopefully, will go down at the end of this season and take their three eyed, six fingured inbred fans with them back to where they belong. Before last weekend, I watched United play poorly against Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United and I genuinely feared of what could’ve happened against City. United were outstanding in the first half at City and brilliantly weathered a predictable storm in the second half from a City side playing kamikaze football. If United had played the same way against City last weekend as they did against Bolton today, United would’ve lost. It’s a given that United fans have difficulty bothering to engage in the inane banter for matches against opposition who have followers as risible as Bolton Wanderers. The more worrying thing is that United players appear to have a similar approach. Last week proved that United are more organised, disciplined and motivated in a bigger game than they are against the poor calibre of opposition that they played today. Blackburn exposed this on NewYears eve and Newcastle made it worse a couple of days later.
After a blatant trip on Danny Wellbeck by Zat Knight on 21 minutes, Wayne Rooney forced a great save from Bolton Hungarian goalkeeper, Ádám Bogdán from the resulting penalty. This was Rooneys second penalty miss in a week and this was just symbolic of the day he had. Wayne Rooney had a one of them days where he couldn’t do anything right. Flicks and passes weren’t coming off and his first touch was wayward. As bad a game as Rooney had the great thing is that he never once went missing. Always available, always harrying and always chasing the ball, it was just one of them days. In first half injury time, the other half of United’s home guard, Paul Scholes, scored his first goal for United since a scorcher at Craven Cottage in August 2010. This goal was a more like a goal Javier Hernandez would score than Paul Scholes. It actually reminded me of a goal he scored against the same opposition in September 1995. I saw Scholes make three top class tackles today. There’s been all kinds of things said about his tackling, I’ve winced and squinted myself once or twice when he’s gone for 50/50 ball over the years. It’s as if in retirement, he’s somehow learned to tackle. Whether he could/can tackle or not, Paul Scholes is one of the best footballers I’ve ever seen, if he could have tackled like Roy Keane, Bryan Robson or Remi Moses, he would’ve been the best player I ever saw. There’s been a lot of moaning about Scholes coming out of retirement and I like the circumstances of him coming back as much as anybody else does. The fact is, desperation or not, Tom Cleverley is too inexperienced to take on his mantle at the moment and Scholes, whether he’s 27, 37 or 47 is by some distance, United’s best player on the ball.
The final score of 3-0 made it look at more comfortable for United than it was. There were a few anxious moments in the second half, standout moment being Rafael’s goalline clearance from a Petrov header five minutes before Danny Wellbeck put everybody’s mind to rest on 74 minutes with an excellent finish from a pass from Rooney. The move to the goal managed to temporarily injure both Rooney and Wellbeck. A clumsy challenge from Adam Ricketts injured Danny Wellbeck and he was down for a couple of minutes before Javier Hernandez replaced him five minutes later. Ten minutes later, Michael Carrick seized on a fantastic pass from Ryan Giggs to casually pass the ball into the Bolton net for his first goal at Old Trafford since February 2010. Carrick is a confidence player, I don’t think he’s been the same since United were well beaten by Barcelona in Rome, May 2009. With two excellent goals in the last four weeks and with United’s wafer thin resources, this would be a good time for him to start playing well again.
I think, fergie needs to give more chance for Paul Pogba, I think he is a good player, he needs more experience to feel the atmosphere of premier league…
GGMan UtD
I’ve not seen the match Tony but as bias as you may be, you’re not blind and say what you see, even if its something you don’t like. I thought bringing Scholes back last week was Fergie either grasping at straws or a morale booster but what do i know ? Its up to City now, United have proved time and again if you can play well under pressure you will get there. I just hope city can step up to the plate, i would prefer to City and United fighting it out at the end of the season, but that remains to be seen
Aroy,
A lot of people are saying what a great player Pogba’s going to be. I heard one mate of mine last week compare him to a young Patrick Viera but whenever I’ve seen him, I’ve wondered what all the fuss is about. I could be wrong here, but we might be seeing Pogba get a proper chance sooner rather than later, with United’s squad now down to the bare bones due to there being “no value in the market” (sic).
Vic
I agree entirely with what you say about Scholes return, most United fans of my aquaintance do but he’s here now, so it’s a case of hopefully enjoying the encore. As for clutching at straws, one thing I’m clinging to is City’s lack of experience in being in a title race, could be their undoing come the spring. I’m marvelling and baffled at the fact that at the time of writing, a pretty average United side are level on points with a City side that have been rampant most of the season.
A good friend of mine’s step daughter has been “dating” Pogba over the past couple of weeks… He’s a blue, so the thought of her going out with a united player rankles a little – but likewise she can be a suitably annoying angst ridden teenager – so the thought of her disapearing off to the continent with him is quite tempting… silver linings and all that!!!
A good read as ever Tony.