Our XI was the same as the first half, but Utd's wasn't, Notso. They changed personnel and formation and some of our players were clearly feeling the effects of the first half's hard work, especially the likes of Dempsey, who didn't have a pre-season and played 75 minutes in the week. We couldn't use the same system and style, as it would've allowed Rooney too much freedom between our midfield and defence.
We were running on empty, we're in the middle of an extremely tough schedule with a heavily depleted squad, to perform as well as we did was fantastic. It's Utd's first league defeat at OT of the calendar year, I reckon it'll probably be the only one of 2012. They'd won 6 in a row, it was all set up for them, but somehow we got one of the greatest results in our Prem history. Phenomenal, and all credit to AVB and the team. JV just might be our new Gary Mabbutt, he might even be better than that. And knock me down with a tickling stick, JD is actually playing the lone striker role at a level way in advance of what I ever thought he could manage.
Don't agree, had we stuck to our game, it wouldn't have mattered where Rooney was, he would have been chasing us instead of the other way round. Another 10 minutes or so is all I've suggested, enough to take the sting out, and if you feel Demps wasn't up to another 10mins, well he was fit enough to breakout and score in that period and why did AVB wait till 70 odd minutes to change him. Sorry, but imo, none of what you've said holds much water there. Fulham weren't battered 2nd half.
Absolutely, Smalling and Vidic are the only good CB's they have. But Smalling is inexperienced. I personally think Man U have at least 6/7 more losses in them. It's 2 now and we've only just seen out September. Rio is absolutely inept, anybody that thinks he is good enough for England IMO needs to see an opitician.
Fulham were chasing the game in the 2nd half and hadn't put as much graft into the first 45 minutes, plus they'd had a week between fixtures, which a number of our players hadn't. Man Utd took their foot off the gas, something which they definitely couldn't be accused of against us, and it nearly cost them. Scholes didn't play any part in that match, either. Totally different games.
Not sure I'd write Rio off, he just needs a better defender than Evans alongside him, and a decent DM in front. Getting at their CB's is easier than it used to be, even Vidic has been left with desperate situations to deal with, having to commit fouls.
I tend to agree more with PNP on this one. Fulham never took the game to United first half and were woeful by the admission of their own manager. United really ought to have been out of site. As PNP said the energy levels of the two teams would have been different. At 1-0 a game is never lost, you don't have to go hammer and tong to rescue the game, at 2-0 it's a different story, Fulham never led by 2 goals, certainly in the 2nd half, the pressure from United was relentless, although IMO they played far better against Fulham. Goals dictate games at the end of the day. Spurs had something to protect whereas Fulham didn't. In the 2nd half it was always going to be backs to the wall. AVB got it right tactically but he wouldn't have anticipated United would pull one back so early. Had Spurs not conceded in the first 15 mins of the 2nd half, we'd most likely be talking about a 0-3, 1-3 comfy victory.
Good for you, I still don't agree. Sitting on a 2-0 lead for an entire half is not Spurs at all, its not something I'm used too, and not what I want to see too often.
I would agree with Notso's analysis. Whilst I don't want to put too much of a damper on what was a great result, he's right. The second half was very disturbing in the way we played. If we had been brave enough to push up further, we could have relieved at least some of the pressure. Instead, the ball just kept going back to Utd players, and the pressure never let up on us. The second half statistics of something like 82% Utd possession tell their own story. We got away with the tactics on Saturday, we may not be so lucky next time.
I think Geordie Shearer is right in all that though. Utd could easily lose to Newcastle but as for winning the title.???????????????????????????????. I don't want to say Chelsea or City.
I thought AVB did stick a man marker...but on Rooney not Scholes....Sandro was shadowing Rooney...we were only going to stick one man marker on...and I'd rather have let Scholes be free than Rooney who would have caused much more chaos in and around our box if he was free. Scholes was free to ping his passes but there was still much work to be done for the receiver...if Rooney was free he would have tested Friedel much more.
I think it was a fantastic performance during the middle of an intense period of games, it was no surprise we ran out of steam against one of the top 3 clubs in the country, the attacking talent they had to call on was awesome. Rooney Scholes Carrick Van Persie Welbeck Kagawa Hernandes, that's an incredible array of talent. They couldn't even find room for Cleverley, that's how much they had to throw at us. As I say, I bet we're the only team that win there in the league during the whole of 2012, and to do so with our injuries, run of fixtures and completely remodelled team just learning to play together, awesome. Caulker's full league debut for us? Dempsey and Dembele just settling in, ditto Siggy.
From Fergie at yesterday's press conference 'Fortunately, you saw the real Manchester United in the second half against Spurs, and that 45 minutes was probably our best performance of the season.'
Ah yes SAF's opinion, must be right coming from him eh!...the same bloke saying foreigners are worst for diving...maybe its dementia thats caused him to forget Young and Welbeck under his own tutelage. Best performance my arse...in a game he lost!
Another bumlicker! agree with PNP all you like, he's only been able to pull me up on mentioning a Fulham throwaway comment. The early 2nd half tactic was wrong, you do not in my book defend for 45 in that manner, coming out strong for 10mins and an early goal for us, and it would have been entirely different, deflated them, and who knows another City style rout, as it was we could have ended up on a goon result! so as a Chelsea fan happy to see his team defend for 90mins (CL!) I would expect little else from you!
i don't think we will do that to much,but when you play big team's on the own patch sometimes you have to do that,plus Bale and Gallas not being fully fit did'nt help us.Did'nt agree with AVB as manager but so far he's done well,still giving it to christmas though,but i'm pleased for him this week.
Totally agree tots, of course going away to top teams you won't have it your way, you must expect pressure, inviting it for 45 as I said above could have had us on the end of a Arsenal style 8-2er! One question to all, were we or were we not carved through like butter 8 times?
Notso, you seem to be going further and further downhill in your pessimism. We all know that Saturday had some luck about it, although first half was as good as we have been for a long while (pre Harry for England ), but can't we just enjoy the win and hope that it kick starts our season so that the first half is our standard performance. With Ade, Kaboul and Parker to come back, we will improve! Lets accentuate the positive!
SD - mmm! probably right there, like I said at the top, I didn't want to detract from a stunning result, and what's been debated since does look like that, but was not the intention, just something that needed to be talked about in a sensible way.
