Man Utd vs FC Porto

We miss Owen Hargreaves so much at times like this. I actually think I would sacrifice Ronaldo for the next 8 games if it meant having a fully fit Hargreaves.

Evra and Carrick have suffered a massive drop in form, though I guess in Evra's situation his season has been disrupted by injury. More worryingly, Vidic looked far from assured tonight. I'd hoped he'd come back fresh after his ban and with the Liverpool match behind him. We really need a clean sheet this weekend against Sunderland, just to restore some confidence in the defence.

No one should take away from Porto though, they played very well tonight and are a better team than they have been given credit for.

When is Anderson expected back?

Another pool fan here not here to cause trouble.

Was seriously shocked at how good Porto were. I know that you don't get to the 1/4 finals of the CL and meet an easy team but still. I thought their ball control was brilliant especially when I saw some players being given wayward passes and yet holding onto it comfortably.
First goal was well taken. Terrible error by Evans but WHY doesn't Ronaldo feel any urgency to retrieve the ball when he has given it away in his own half? Rooney showed today that he truly wears his heart on his sleeve when playing for United. He showed so much desire and determination to win back a ball and I'd imagine it kills him a little when his display doesn't inspire the likes of Ronaldo who consistantly throws his arms in the air or whatever whilst play is continuing. Fletcher played well and I feel he deserves a mention.

So what do Utd do to stop the rot. I know PHB has mentioned that Rio would settle things right down but I honestly don't believe this is the case. I'd agree that with his experience and talent he'd better Evans but he's looked as lost as the rest of the defence since things have started going wrong. Rio and Vidic depend on one another. I believe if confidence has been lost in one, i imagine it would automatically pull the other out of position to cover, (if only slightly), and these movements leave holes which is what we are seeing being exposed. Porto's second goal showed the team in 6's and 7's.

I still expect Man U to win the league but not the CL. After that performance not a hope because what I feel is wrong with the team takes more than an inspiring speech in the dressing room. It takes a couple of convincing wins to regain confidence and that confidence I feel will not be restored to the team before the second leg which is where United would be lucky to win.

Rio, although he may be playing shakily this season, would have used his leadership skills last night. That's what Man Utd need more than anything, the skill is there, so is the desire, it's just at times much too disjointed. A leader to constantly marshall and shout at players during a match is all that's missing imo.

why were people surprised at how good Porto were?they are unbeaten in 24 lost 2 cup games and won ten drew one away and put out athletico

No need for panic in my opinion, Porto were a very, very good side and deserved exactly what they got. In fact, that may have deserved more.

I was very impressed by some of their players, particular Hulk with his direct running and Lisandro is a real handful. Cissocko [sp?] at full back got forward well and also tracked back superbly, he looks a top player with fantastic physical quality.

All United will want now is for the Sunderland game to arrive so that they can get playing again, I think there are plenty more twists and turns in this season so I am not about to jump on the "we are doomed" bandwagon nor am I going to say that we are fine. We were crap last night but the great thing about the final few months in football is that each game can be treated as a single entity.

whatawaster wrote: »

But did Rio not play against Inter, Fulham and Liverpool. I think it's gonna take more than him coming back. The squad as a whole needs to pull together.

Ferdinand coming back will do a couple of things. First off, it will keep Neville out of the squad. He has been directly, directly, at fault for a goal in the past 2 games he has played.
Second, it will give somebody in the squad to bollock at people. We were bad vs. Liverpool, we were fairly solid vs. Inter as much as you can be, and we were piss against Fulham.
There's only so much he can do when he's getting little to no protection from midfield, but he would have made a big difference, especially in terms of defensive organisation at corners.

raven136 wrote: »

why were people surprised at how good Porto were?they are unbeaten in 24 lost 2 cup games and won ten drew one away and put out athletico

I didn't know their run of form before I read it here but still, if I had read it here before the game started I'd have just thought, 'Portuguese League, means nothing when compared to the Premier league'. sure look what happened to Sporting Lisbon against Bayern and it's not as if Athletico Madrid were trounced. Wasn't too long ago when real madrid were on an amazing run before and then they played an English team only to be shown up for the cracks they have in their team.
I feel people here will have a new found repect for Porto!

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

It started with Evra. Evra was caught out of position. Vidic moved across to deal with the threat from the player with the ball. O'Shea moved across to mark who Vidic should have had, Neville moved across to deal with who O'Shea would have had. Nobody was watching who Neville should have had. Due to

A) Evra being out of position in the first place
b) Flecther being too central and therefore not seeing or at least not reacting to who was coming from the right. Not really Fletchers fault as I think he was playing CM a that stage.

This is true, but also the fact that our right winger doesn't track back doesn't help either. That said, I think Nevilles days are over despite what a great servant he's been. Sunday proved against Villa that he wasn't big enough to deal with Carew nor fast enough to deal with Young/Agbonlahor. With Brown and Rafael returning from injury I can't see him getting a look in.

Disappointed with result and performance last night. Rooney looked to be buzzing and it's a pity a few more weren't like him.

The negatives from last night/last few games:
- Scholesy was giving everything back to Porto by trying to optimistic (to say the least) passes around the middle of the park. I counted at least 6 times in the first half alone when he gave away possession from a pass. needs to simplify it a bit more.

- Our defensive problems are stemming from our midfield. We've been missing something in midfield all season - both creatively and defensively. Look back on the Liverpool, Fulham and Villa games. Pretty much everything that was created by the opposition was coming through the middle, which forced our defenders to retreat from the man on the ball to mark their own men. It comes down to lack of concentration but also the fact that there's so little competition in the middle at the minute with Anderson and Hargreaves both out. I remember saying it last August, Hargreaves is a massive loss come the business stage of the season and right now we could do with someone with his drive in the middle of the park. Compare our midfield with that of Liverpool's or Chelsea's at the minute (Scholes, Carrick and Fletcher vs. Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso or Essien, Lampard, Ballack)

Positives:
- We're still in the tie despite playing poorly and Porto having plenty of chances.
- Despite our recent loss of form, we're weathered it pretty well considering. We could have bottled the league, gone out of CL. Instead we're still forging ahead in the league and still in the CL.
- We've got big players returning from injury in the near future.