I was at OT yesterday to see United put four past Wigan Athletic. The free-flowing football didn’t really start until the second half but the flair and speed of the goals was just what we have been waiting for since August. Last year United were blowing teams away with attacking verve and style but this season so far they have had huge amounts of possession but created far fewer chances. Most fans haven’t worried too much as they have still managed to win but reds expect to watch stylish attacking football not narrow utilitarian 1-0 victories.
The most pleasing thing about yesterday’s win was the fact that some of the new boys began to look really good. Gerard Pique and Danny Simpson had really impressive games and Carlos Tevez opened the scoring with a tremendous individual goal. The pick of the bunch, however, was the young Brazilian Anderson who looked like an old-style midfield maestro. Early sightings this season suggested to me that he was being pushed into the first team too early and the Coventry debacle in the Carling Cup made you wonder whether he would ever be a £17m player. For now at least he has shown us a glimpse of what he could become.
Mike Riley the referee from Leeds had his characteristically poor game.
United are back (I hope)
October 8, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Patrick,
Why is it important that Mike Riley is from Leeds? Surely your not suggesting that he is anti-man utd because of his place of birth? It is churlish to criticise a ref in a game where you’ve won so comprehensively.
During my lifetime refs have consistently favoured man utd and liverpool. Any thoughts on Wes Browns disallowed own goal at elland road?
October 8, 2007 at 9:35 pm
I’m not sure why he is anti-man u but I’m glad that you accept that he is. The coming from Leeds bit may a coincidence but i don’t know anything else about him that would explain it. I’m happy to believe that these decision even out over the year but if the barge into Ronaldo and the holding on Evra weren’t penalties then Im a member of Respect
October 24, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Presumably no compaints about the referee last night though, dodgy freekick, rooney offside for the second and a penalty of the sort that only usually gets given in the last few minutes at anfield.
October 24, 2007 at 9:10 pm
I didn’t see the first half because of a public sector pay meeting but when I got in the car to go home it was 3-1 and the radio commentary just kept saying how dominant Utd had been and how it could have been more. I did see the penalty and there didn’t seem to be any controversy about it at all. Which bit of the decision was wrong? It was clearly a handball- he lifted his elbow up to stop the cross- and it was inside the box. Handball is a foul and a foul inside the box is, er, a penalty.
So no I don’t have any complaints but neither did Kiev by the look of it.
Anyway the standard of refereeing in the Champions League is usually a lot higher then in the PL (though a bit over strict on tackling I think) and certainly way above Mr Riley’s level.
October 25, 2007 at 8:17 pm
whatever you say mr wenger