After all that controversy around nani's red card, the big talking point before the game has been forgotten. Leaving Rooney out was a big gamble but I think it worked. The team played very well and was leading until the red which completely changed the game and of course the tactics being used. Many of you were writing the game off pre k.o. for giggs starting and rooney on the bench but I think Fergie got his tactics spot on again. Ronaldo was nullified for the vast majority of the game and especially before the red. We looked dangerous on the attack and defended fairly solidly. Ultimately it was a fantastic game and occasion ruined by a rash ref decision. Every player put in a big shift and heads held high in this defeat.
sure .. who can doubt the decisions of the best manager in the world agree was great game and we created chances to win the game even with 10 men down .. shame ref spoiled a great afternoon but that is football now let us take the 20th title
Also all this talk of Rooney leaving just because he didn't start one game? Coral offering odds of 2/1 he leaves in the summer! Just ridiculous if you ask me.
Good post Proud of the boys today!! A lot of rival fans were hoping we would get smashed by Real's couter attacking threat but the Giggs/Rafael partnership was a stroke of genius. Shame it took a "harsh" decision to change the game, but this will no doubt go un-noticed by rivals who will point to another Euro campaign a point out Fergies failure to succeed on the highest stage.
Though UTD did quite well although very surprised you conceded two goals, even with 10 men. Given Nani's poor defending ability when he is on the pitch, I didn't expect his absence to be so crucial. I would guess that both Rooney and Nani will be gone this summer. Although you might not blame Nani for tonight (depending on which opinion you have of the incident) its the kind of thing that always seems to happen with him. He is a matchwinner but too much hassle for UTD. Fergie's been giving the signs about Rooney for a while, talking about the best players in the world and at utd and not mentioning him. I think RVP is a more reliable base to build a team around. You need to put Welbeck through some kind of psychological conditioning this summer- he could be class but he lacks drive and lethal instinct- there are times when he running toward goal where its almost like he's thinking '****- I'm almost at the goal at old trafford, I can't do this can I' and loses that second of pace or looks for another man. If he had put his chances away last night then you would have won. I know he is young and learning, but he is playing at utd in the champions league, you have to score. Overall it was bit unlucky, maybe it should have been a yellow but I'm not really going to give much sympathy to Nani- he dives about a fair bit, live and die by the sword and all that. It does look like he pushes through, almost raking across the other guy, after initial contact and when he is facing.
as a neutral, i thought fergie tactices were spot on.. he outdone the special one played them at ther own game of counter attacking .and at the same time played with energy and closed down big players in alot of areas last night brillantly. cant take out away from the tactics
