Well, for starters I thought that ball should never have come in. Evra needed to do a lot better there. Then if I saw it right it also got a slight deflection off De Gea. Don't think there was much Jonny could do there, it was simply unlucky.
Our central trio, Wayne, Giggs and Carrick need to step up a little more. They were not poor, but they certainly were not as good as they've been either. Also, Valencia needs to get the ball a little more. They need to get it to him. But even then, it seems like a right footed LB may be his kyrptonite.
He has been terrorizing Ivanovic every single time he comes up against him. He'd have done more. Especially considering Ashley Young has been 1 v 1 with his most times when he received the ball.
Pretty good half, we just need to shoot more. Plenty of chances to do that and we opt for a pass rather than a 20 yard or so shot.
It's disappointing that the only player on Chelsea who looks to be able to hurt us did just that. Naturally, it came on Evra's side. I haven't read through the thread so I'm not sure if it's been explained why Ferdinand is playing on Evra's side instead of Evans. Very interesting. I don't think there's anything wrong with the squad that's out there. We have enough pace and movement to get at Chelsea. We let them get a foothold by giving the ball away too easily and even then it took a freak goal to put them in front. For the second half I hope we try to increase the pace a bit. We can't score by walking it up and putting balls in the box. (It may be a good plan for them, though.) If we are crossing then it needs to be at the end of a counter. This is not a Chelsea team that it going to impose its will. I think we will make some small adjustments and then take it to them in the second half.
It is all about angles. If you position yourself correctly in relation to the ball and goal then you minimise the chance of it being deflected towards goal. If you do not you increase the chance. Evans did the latter. Watch the replay, look at his positioning and recall some high school mathematics. Before anyone whines consider it from an attacking perspective and reverse the situation. Evans did everything correctly to deflect the ball towards goal. As for De Gea his only job in that situation is to cover his near post. The second he desperately tries to flick his leg out is when he adds a lot of unpredictability to the proceedings and leaves himself stranded. If he had simply covered his near post he would been in a position to stop the deflection.
That's because we make then tough, the respect we have for them especially at their home is a fcuking embarrassment. We go there hoping to win and looking for a draw but when they come to our home they come looking for a win. The mentality we have towards them is that of the bottom feeding teams when they come to Old Trafford. Disagree with me all you want but that's how it seems to me
Ferdinand has been on the lcb side since October now. Regardless of his partner. It's baffled me all season.
Their goal was all on Evra, can't allow a player round the outside there, especially as Rio had the inside covered. Amateur defending. Keano called it last week, Evra does make mistakes in big games - more so as he gets older. Think considering our record at the Bridge, we were OK first half and unlucky. Should have had a free kick and penalty too. Webb is bottling it as so many refs have against us against Chelsea. Time for the comeback.
I dont know what you guys are going at Teso for, he's right. If he was running back to stop something, then yeah, I can understand his body shape. But iirc, he's stood still squared up to our own goal. Before that though he was magnificent.
If Rooney had played to the whistle instead of instantly trying to whine to the referee he would have got that loose ball on the break.
Our shape was terrible for that. Neither Young or Evra out wide enough to pressure Torres. Rio drifted Left, forcing Rafael had to tuck-in, which left Mata unmarked. Terrible defending.