Manchester United v Everton - FA Cup Semi-Final - 19th April '09 [R]

[Republic of Mancunia]

Inquest time.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

:rolleyes:

Played arguably the two most important players in the squad (Vidic and Ferdinand) 120 minutes each today against a battering ram squad with Fellani and Cahill. Its something that is likely to be consistently overlooked in the post-mortum of this match, but if getting players a rest and fitness was the goal here, job certainly not done.

Keepers and central defenders generally play the most games because their respective position take less out of them than playing elsewhere. When you are fielding so many younger players you need to create a platform for them to perform on and include experience in some part of the side. The easiest way to do so is by having your regular central defensive partnership. Our players did need rest and the line-up we used ensured we were able to give rest to the most players but still field a competitive side.

I'm in danger of repeating myself from when the teams were announced, but I feel that Everton are better than Portsmouth and that if resting players was to come into it, that Wednesday would have been the day when we have home advantage. There was more rest days between Porto and today than there is between now and Pompey, Pompey and Spurs - seem(s)ed more necessary to rest in other games than today. Lose today and we're out of a comp, lose to Pompey and we're not. I like the FA Cup :(. Rio and Anderson both played, arguably two of those who perhaps needed rest the most after not having much football lately.

Not expressing my thoughts well, but I wish we'd have prioritised this one if we had to prioritise one of the two.

We were in three competitions. The PL, CL and FA Cup. If you had to take a risk in one then the FA Cup was always going to be the competition that came in third place. The key was not rest days but exertion in the last match against Porto. As I said previously our line-up was the best available to enable us to rest the most key players while also fielding a competitive side.

[SirManchester]

Positives from this?

Less pressure on the lads now. More focus for the other two competitions.

Negatives - Well, again the inability to raise our collective games when it matters. Fatigue and then having to play a group of kids in an important match and then bottle it in a crapshoot penalty shootout.

Also, we're slipping in a competition we have very good history in. Reaching the semi final is good but the way we went out against Chelsea a few years ago and the last two years going out the way we did, it's certainly taking a toll and shows just how our focus on Europe has affected our ability to perform in this competition.

[michael24710]

Funny how a bad penalty decision has knocked us out of the cup two years running! I would of been less bothered by this if it was in the third round but being so close to another final makes itannoying.... especially by penaltys.

Lets hope we win won of the other two otherwise a very promising season will end up a big failure!

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Positives?

The side we fielded was easily a match for Everton and, with a bit of luck and a few key decisions, should have won. We were also able to rest most of our key players.

[Dark Savante]

This is ridiculous and it's blown way out of proportion.

There were several things to blame for today, including a sub par starting eleven, a series of wrong and mistimed substitutions and a crappy penalty selection. For example, Rio should probably not even have taken one. It's a shootout, anyone who takes them MUST convert. Rio is no different than Berbatov.
Nope, not having that.

You'll definitely see the backlash, starting with the media tonight, I bet.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

He never said he would not happen. What he did say was it would be incorrect. I agree.

[SirManchester]

Nope, not having that.

You'll definitely see the backlash, starting with the media tonight, I bet.

which will be rubbish and based on nothing tangible.

[Diego Maradona]

This link about Berbatov says it all

http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1660941498

[SyedZada]

Positives?

The side we fielded was easily a match for Everton and, with a bit of luck and a few key decisions, should have won. We were also able to rest most of our key players.
Welbeck and Macheda have a very good understanding, and played well as a partnership (almost) against a pretty good team.

[pgr17]

Less pressure on the lads now. More focus for the other two competitions.

well, with the final being on May 30th, it wasn't something we would have to focus on until the very last day of the season. but i know what you're saying.

the Manager will definitely spin this right for the younger players as great experience but our senior members really need to have a long look at themselves based on this performance. particularly Park, Berbatov (in his limited time), Anderson (who did OK), and Evra. it is too bad that Fabio got injured because i think that we may have seen Nani at some point for Welbeck.

:( i hate losing games like this.

http://i41.tinypic.com/33bdeyx.jpg

sums it up quite well...

[Dark Savante]

I wouldn't write Everton off in winning the final.

If Chelsea get to the CL final, they could well be knackered for the game 3days later.

But they will have to drastically improve.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

This link about Berbatov says it all

http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1660941498

Tommy Docherty is a moron. So is anyone who gives credence to what he said.

[Republic of Mancunia]

We were in three competitions. The PL, CL and FA Cup. If you had to take a risk in one then the FA Cup was always going to be the competition that came in third place. The key was not rest days but exertion in the last match against Porto. As I said previously our line-up was the best available to enable us to rest the most key players while also fielding a competitive side.

I'd rather take the risk in the competition where we're playing the inferior team at home. I know it's really old school but I always hark back to the "it's a short career" way of thinking, and that "you never know what's going to happen tomorrow". Not sure how relevant it is, but I always think of what would happen if you "rest" a player, only for him to have his career ended in a freak training ground accident the next day. Alright, maybe that's even too overdramatic for me, but a player could well pick up an injury and miss the next macth in any case.

Is that short-sighted? Probably very much so, but I ain't changing my mind.:mad:

:p

[SyedZada]

I doubt that DS, there is no imagination in Everton's game, the whole of Chelsea team is built up for these games, that is probably why Vidic outshoned Rio today, it was his type of game.

Is this the final nail in Tevez's coffin ?

[Dark Savante]

which will be rubbish and based on nothing tangible.

Well, we're definitely not going to agree on this one.

That penalty HAD to go in or not be attempted, it's going to be held against him for definite.

The only way he's going to redeem himself from it is to be key in us winning the PL or CL - or both.

But he'll definitely be in the doghouse for some time.

People aren't convinced with him as is, and such a nonchalant penalty is only going to be even more reason for people to doubt him.

[Amdrag]

which will be rubbish and based on nothing tangible.

Agree. But it will still happen.

[Holy__Joe]

If we get rid of Tevez but Keep Berbatov i'll be well annoyed.

[pgr17]

That penalty HAD to go in or not be attempted, it's going to be held against him for definite.

People aren't convinced with him as is, and such a nonchalant penalty is only going to be even more reason for people to doubt him.

100% true sadly. he needs to redeem himself ten-fold. not just for today but for most of the latter half of this season.

---

this game sure had to be excruciating for Rooney to watch.

[Amdrag]

I wouldn't write Everton off in winning the final.

If Chelsea get to the CL final, they could well be knackered for the game 3days later.

But they will have to drastically improve.

Everton beat Boro. They have to lose in the final. ;)