His ridiculousness has put a question mark on this club.
If not for Federico Macheda, Gabriel Obertan, Nemanja Vidic, Nani, and Darren Fletcher, United would have lost their first match of the season today at Villa Park.
In the first half, United pressed well and like clockwork, just shot wide or had shots blocked. We can't keep doing this if we want to make a run for the title. I haven't been a Berbatov basher because I think he plays good football, which in its muted nature can seem lazy to others. But after his brilliant hat-trick eons ago, he hasn't scored since. With Scholes out today after too many yellows, Hernandez didn't have many chances to score.
Villa went ahead after Wes Brown was called for a penalty. Villa went up 1-0...but then shortly after that scored from open play with an end to end attack. 2-0.
But United weren't done. Just when it looked like Villa would score four or five, Kiko Macheda unleashed a screamer after Darren Fletcher cunningly backheeled a feed to him. Macheda put it in the top of the net... 2-1. The momentum had swung United's way after SAF subbed on Obertan and Macheda. The latter's goal came in the 81'. Would it be too late to salvage a point? No. Just four minutes later, Nani put a cross to the back post and Vidic dove in to head home the equalizer. It was just unlucky that United didn't get the full three points, when Brad Freidel (Villa's keeper) blocked a sure winner by Gabriel Obertan.
Our injury issues are piling up just like last year, with Giggs, Owen, Valencia,, et al sidelined by various niggles. Since Valencia is out until after the New Year, we are missing the spark that he provided so many times last year. I can't express how much I miss seeing him on the pitch. He doesn't get pushed off the ball, and his crosses are superb.
But we have many matches before his return, so what is it going to be?
Maybe SAF should put in the Reserves for a match. Someone is going to have to step up and take charge because we have other sides nipping at our heels.
Sir Alex wasn't pleased that we went down 2-0 and had to fight back, but he was happy with the team's response:
“Today was a different type of match than the previous ones [we’ve drawn]. We’re worried about the nature of how we lost those early points. But when you’re 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go and you get a point you have to be pleased.”
The players observed a moment of silence for Remembrance Day (tomorrow). You can see the poppies on their kits.
United's traveling fans kept the away end lively
Kiko Macheda gave the Reds some life with his screamer after a backheel feed by Darren Fletcher
Then Captain Nemanja Vidic put his head on a superb Nani cross that levelled for the Reds...
...and took the wind out of the sails for Villa. Brown, and Macheda celebrae with Vidic
Kiko, Wes, and Nemanja...check out the Villa fans in the back. Yep...you blew it.
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