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| Champions League | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 23 2007, 11:32 AM (2,292 Views) | |
| Simon | Apr 24 2007, 02:12 PM Post #121 |
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Tremendous game of football. The surprise before the game was that Patrice Evra was able to play, against expectations. On the plus side, this meant that Fletcher could move into midfield where he was absolutely excellent. On the debit side, it meant Heinze playing at centre-back. I'm aware that he plays there for Argentina but on the few occasions he's played there for United he hasn't done too well. I posted concerns earlier about our makeshift defence and how they'd deal with Kaka, and sure enough we conceded two soft goals. On the first, Kaka blew past Heinze in a way he'd have been unlikely to have done against Rio Ferdinand. Their second goal was horrible, it was just a punt forward and there were three United defenders on hand to deal with Kaka. The bounce of the ball allowed Kaka to squeeze past Brown but Heinze could have had him covered had Evra not charged in and taken Heinze out of it, allowing Kaka an easy one-on-one. I shouldn't take too much away from the brilliant Kaka who took his chances well, but from a fan's perspective I can't help but think that with Rio, Vidic and Neville we could have had a 3-1 or even 3-0 lead to take out to Italy. Still, a lot of United's attacking play was fantastic and I'm quietly confident that we can score in the San Siro. Milan struggled against crosses, just as they had against Bayern Munich in the first 20 mins of their last game. Again, we missed Vidic who has a knack of getting his head to every cross from a set piece - could he have scored tonight? Ronaldo did from a good early header and he played really well tonight. Milan dealt well with him on the whole, but he was always involved and was tying up Milan defenders and creating space for others. I thought Giggs was superb throughout and we had a good threat from both flanks. We did okay in an even first half but I thought our second half display was magnificent. We penned them back and even prevented them making anything on the break. Scholes and Carrick were excellent, Scholes bust open the Milan defence with an ingenious scoop of the ball over their heads for Rooney's equaliser. Rooney was great, the winner was a fantastic goal as well. I'm sure Dida will be unhappy with it but I think the key to it was that he hit it first time and neither Nesta or Dida could react. Rooney has that priceless ability to hit a football first time, hard and accurate and with very little back-lift. Another one of those in Italy would be useful! I think the best way of approaching the second leg is the Manchester United way - go there looking to attack, score goals and win. We're far more comfortable playing our natural game. Great game tonight, unfortunately I'm expecting a bit of a yawnathon tomorrow between Chelsea and Liverpool. Hope I'm wrong... |
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| kevin | Apr 24 2007, 02:58 PM Post #122 |
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Not much to add to Simon's excellent post, but I've got to say something about that game!!! Let's just say that I don't recall the last time I saw a game's momentum have such pronounced shifts. United were strong early and deserved the goal and probably another. It would be unfair to say that Milan's goal was against the run of play but it certainly led to a meltdown that could have been epic. After the 2nd in rather quick succession, I was fearing a 3rd. I was actually thinking that United might simply break down and abandon quality soccer in favor of hit and hope when the sublime movement of the 2nd goal occurred. And just like that, it was all United again, to the point where I'd have been rather surprised if a 3rd goal didn't come -- even in extra time, I just figured it would happen. I can sit here and tell you I'm worried about injuries compounded with suspensions to Scholes and Evra for next week, but the fact is that the onus is on Milan to product at home now, so I'll just enjoy it for a week. I'm on record as saying that I'd prefer an EPL title to the Champion's League, but if the worst were to happen in the league, getting to Athens (and winning there) would lessen the sting! |
| 'Tis better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. | |
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| siralfred | Apr 24 2007, 03:14 PM Post #123 |
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Forza Zlatan!
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Nothing much to add, except "Thank God!" for Dida's blunders, but have you all noticed Ronaldo's new move: a sort of step-over with the left that knocks the ball back to his right heel and off as a pass or just a move forward to himself. The ball quickly changes direction twice and sets defenders off the wrong way. He did it a couple of times against Bolton and executed a half successful nutmeg on Gattuso tonight in that the ball went through Rino's legs, but he didn't get past the player. Got the foul, though. |
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| Martin | Apr 24 2007, 03:24 PM Post #124 |
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It was an entertaining game to watch and I can understand the Manchester United fans joy at their comeback but Dida's play wasn't anything near what you'd expect in a Champions League semifinal. Simon is right about Rooney, I've always admired his shooting ability and how quickly he can get a shot off. I thought Manchester United took control of the 2nd half for several reasons, one certainly was the absence of Maldini and Gattuso as Milan did feel their departures, another reason was United started playing better collectively moving the ball about with one and two touch passing like they did against Roma and Ronaldo in particular wasn't trying to beat Milan's defense on his own like he was in the first half and finally the third reason was, as rosarino pointed out, Milan deciding to sit on their 2-1 lead despite their previous bad experiences against English teams doing that. Sure the injury to Gattuso contributed to Milan sitting back more and Manchester United were looking to go forward but you'd think Milan would show more initiative especially as they showed in the first half they could break United's defense down. But I guess Ancelotti is like an old dog who you can't teach new tricks to! As a neutral it was a fun game to watch and I look forward to the 2nd leg. |
| Club Sportivo Desamparados | |
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| cafetero | Apr 24 2007, 06:59 PM Post #125 |
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What mistakes by Dida! Ok he did come up with a couple of nice saves but on all 3 goals but particularly the first and third ones, he should have stopped those shots. Manchester United, as Martin pointed out, in the 2nd half changed their play and went with more one and two touch passing and that was more effective for them but Milan had them on the ropes and didn't go for the knockout blow before then. Instead they decided to try and absorb pressure and that is a recipe for trouble. |
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| garbaggio | Apr 24 2007, 07:15 PM Post #126 |
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Don't have a lot to add to others comments about this great game. Except, unlike Kevin, I thought both teams were settling for a draw at the end. Until an old Welshman decided otherwise. The counter that led to Rooney's winner was all due to Giggs stealing a throw-in off a Milan players foot and racing about 60 yards towards goal. Too bad Dida had bad gaffes at the beginning and the end of the game which will overshadow the nice saves he made. Not that either gaffe was any worse than the awesome block Evra laid on Heinze. Unlike Kevin and Simon I'm glad Man U's defense was so depleted as I think it encouraged AC Milan to attack a lot more and made for a supremely entertaining game. |
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| valenciano | Apr 24 2007, 07:49 PM Post #127 |
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What I was going to say has pretty much already been noted here, I'll just add I enjoyed the game and the end to end play. I also will add that I agree that Manchester United's quick play in the 2nd half is what was effective and I thought it wore Milan down as they didn't have much legs at the end. That is also what enabled Giggs to make his long run and set up Rooney for the game winner. Looking forward to tomorrow's game and next week's deciders. |
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| Merengue | Apr 24 2007, 08:53 PM Post #128 |
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Definitely an entertaining game. As a neutral I didn't have a horse in this race so was able to enjoy the attacking play from both teams. I thought the injuries to Maldini and especially to Gattuso really effected Milan as they lacked what we say in Spanish as "personality" on the field. I really don't know of an exact English translation but I guess you could say presence or maybe even leadership but really there isn't an exact translation for that in English. But without those two players Milan was missing something. I agree that Milan played a brilliant first half but in the second they were troubled by Manchester United's one and two touch passing and the team's overall speed. But football is a 90 minute game and Milan seemed content with the draw and lost concentration at the end, losing the ball in midfield and getting caught off guard on the break by Rooney's injury time goal. Like others here I also feel Dida was at the very least partially to blame for all 3 of Manchester United's goals but this game is all about exploiting your opponent's weakness and Man U could also say Milan's 2nd goal was due to a mistake too. But not the first, that was just a great piece of skill and acceleration by Kaka. Anyway it was an enjoyable game to watch and sets up a good 2nd leg. 2 away goals will definitely help Milan but Manchester United's speed on the counter will be very dangerous at San Siro. Hopefully tomorrow's game can match this one. But I don't think tomorrow's match will have the excitement of today's. Liverpool and Chelsea know one another too well and will neutralize each other. A mistake should be the difference between the two teams. |
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| Gunners | Apr 25 2007, 07:51 AM Post #129 |
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Enjoyable match, though not particularly well-played. I think it's a little misleading to say that it could have been 3-1 or 3-0 for United if the English club had had its regular defense. Similarly, had Dida played his normal match and had Gattuso not gone off injured, it might have been 3-1 or 3-0 for the Italians! In the end, I think either a draw or a one-goal win for United was probably appropriate. |
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| enganche | Apr 25 2007, 09:44 AM Post #130 |
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I'm with Gunners you can't really play the "what if..." game as both teams had opportunities. But while we are at it I'm surprised there haven't been any comments on Rooney's handball on Manchester United's 2nd goal? On ESPN Internacional they commented on how he controlled Scholes pass with his arm but nowhere else have I read any comments on that. Curious as it did look like a handball to me. But as I said before that is all part of the "what if.." of this or any other match. Overall a good game to watch as a fan and it sets up some interesting possibilities for the 2nd leg. |
| Prefiero morir de pie que vivir arrodillado | |
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| Winslow | Apr 25 2007, 12:53 PM Post #131 |
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Wednesday's first leg... . . . . . . . 1-0 Chelsea, on a Joe Cole goal just before the half-hour. It was surprisingly direct; Carvalho dribbled for several yards before his long ball released Drogba down the right wing, where he checked back on the right edge of the area before hitting a low cross that Cole steered in. The Blues had many more chances, and could regret not converting on them. I can't agree with enganche that Rooney handled the pass from Scholes, but only because I didn't see it and Rae and Smyth didn't mention it. Maybe it did happen. |
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| Merengue | Apr 25 2007, 01:11 PM Post #132 |
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It was a nice goal by Chelsea but for me that was one of the few highlights of an otherwise dreary game. The teams know each other too well and how best to neutralize one another. At times this looked more like a hockey game with quick rushes forward followed by a loss of possession. The score gives both teams a chance in leg 2 but I think Liverpool will have trouble breaking down Chelsea's defense. I'm with Winslow, I don't think there was a handball by Rooney, if, and that's questionable as there never was a good camera angle on the play, he did handle the ball it was with his arms by his side and it wasn't intentional. |
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| Simon | Apr 25 2007, 01:43 PM Post #133 |
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Hey, I'm a football fan - I reserve the right to play at 'what if'! I just hope and expect that United go out to the San Siro on the attack and look to score goals. That's what United have always been about anyway, we should live or die by that and see how it goes.Predictably dreadful game tonight. Merengue, I think you're being mild in calling it 'dreary'. There were barely any decent passages of coherent play and just a constant morass of stoppages and losses of possession. It was extremely scrappy and difficult to watch. I think you make a good point about how well the teams know each other but it should also be remembered that neither team is exactly renowned for entertainment. Good goal by Chelsea and they could have had a couple more - there were two good Reina saves from drives by Lampard and one time when Drogba was through with the chance to square to Cole and put him in 1-on-1, but fluffed his pass straight to Reina. For Liverpool, Gerrard's left-foot volley was well saved by Cech. And that was about it! |
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| Pepe | Apr 25 2007, 04:47 PM Post #134 |
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I'll add to what Simon and Merengue said, Liverpool-Chelsea was an awful game. No style or rhythm to the game at all. Contrast that with yesterday's game where you had Milan's patient and highly technical buildup with Manchester United's quick, and equally technical, one touch attack and you had a very entertaining game. I really like how Manchester United attacks their opponents and it is very difficult for any team to defend against such quick passing and movement. |
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| Manzanares | Apr 30 2007, 09:52 AM Post #135 |
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Back to the second leg semifinal games. Tuesday it is Liverpool hosting Chelsea. Carvalho, who I think has played very well this season, will miss the game for Chelsea after getting injured over the weekend. Considering Chelsea's central defensive depth problems this could be troublesome for them. Looks like Crouch will get the start for Liverpool so the centerbacks for Chelsea will be tested in the air in this game. Let's all hope leg 2 proves more interesting than leg 1 was. |
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I just hope and expect that United go out to the San Siro on the attack and look to score goals. That's what United have always been about anyway, we should live or die by that and see how it goes.
5:04 PM Jul 10