Manchester United Left to Rue Poor Tactics After 1-0 Loss to Rivals City

Published: 1st May 12 3:11 am
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by Alan Dymock
Alan Dymock
Manchester United Left to Rue Poor Tactics After 1-0 Loss to Rivals City
Courtesy of talksport.co.uk

For all the bluster and build up the Manchester Derby was a game where Manchester United sat in and played some limp soccer. Never before had the champions looked so disinterested in a string of games leading to the English Premier League’s climax. Indeed, as Sir Alex Ferguson watched his team play 95 minutes without hitting one shot on target he would not be best pleased with the banner unfurled in the stands.

“The noisy neighbors are getting louder, Alex”.

It is an undeniable statement. Manchester City have skipped over their blip and they have taking the full brunt of Ferguson’s wit and they have deflected it. Everyone knew that Mancini did not believe Manchester United to be clear favorites, but as a mantra it was a nice distraction for his players.

In this game the City team were anything but distracted, though. At the back Lescott and Kompany operated in tandem, one pulling forward with the other just behind whilst in possession, and both tying themselves to relevant threats and moving simultaneously without the ball. Wayne Rooney looked lost in their midst.

Much has been said about the role Michael Carrick plays for United, putting along sideways passes and relying on full-backs to undertake him a lot of the time. However, it must be said that in terms of any midfield battle, Mancini got more out of a midfield trio than Sir Alex did.

Faced with his biggest challenge of the season Ferguson opted for a triumvirate of Ji-Sung Park, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. In Blue there were Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry and Samir Nasri.

United were left with Giggs making few adventurous runs and Park was easily dealt with by Barry, who took much momentum out of the game when needed and was able to hit David Silva or Yaya Toure whenever he felt that the direct approach was needed. Scholes, mawkishly praised for much of the season, seemed unable to deal with City’s midfield and looks every day his age. He gave away a number of fouls.

As Toure made raids towards United’s box he had ample support from Samir Nasri, who was deft and alert but in the end the opening was only presented from a corner. Captain Kompany rose above Chris Smalling at the stroke of half time and nodded the ball past a helpless David De Gea.

Of course other chances were created, and Sir Alex Ferguson will be most upset with the regularity with which United’s left flank was exposed.

So 1-0 it ended. United looked poor in attack and only in the second half did the Red Devils throw on support for Rooney in the guise of Danny Welbeck, but then Mancini brought in Nigel De Jong and Micah Richards to replace City attackers. One would have expected the Italian manager to sit back sooner and Ferguson to plough forward, but it never materialized.

The only trace of United fight shown was when Ferguson and Mancini clashed on the touchline, following a De Jong challenge on Welbeck with looked like a clip before the ball was touched. Ferguson’s frustration showed, but it was telling that Mancini never backed down.

It is not over yet, but with two games to go for each and City in first place, ahead on goal difference, Sir Alex may need to purchase some sound cancelling headphones…

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