United start the season on a winning note:
What a game that was! Showing the never-say-die spirit United is known and claiming the Manchester’s bragging rights as a bonus.
Although the game is a glorified friendly game, nothing hurts if you win all your warm up matches ahead of a new season. Clearly United have done that and impressed greatly while doing that, winning games with verve and style.
The community shield, though a friendly game, has a trophy attached to it and every team wants to win another trophy up for grabs. The team started in a 4-4-1-1 with De Gea in goal, Smalling at right back and Welbeck in goal. Nani and Ashley Young manned the wings. United started the brighter of the two sides and controlled the flow of the game. City scored, against the run of play, from a Lescott header after Silva floated in a free-kick from the right hand side of Manchester City. A couple of minutes before half time, Edin Dzeko made it two with a shot from outside the area. De Gea, clearly, could have done better. United were two goals down after dominating the match and went into the break with a two goal deficit.
The second half started as the first half had begun, with United doing most of the play and City content with defending. A free-kick on the United left saw Ashley Young put in a beautiful cross for Smalling to score from and half the deficit. United kept on pushing and duly got the equalizer after a superb team move involving Nani, Welbeck and Cleverley and Nani went past Joe Hart and slotted in the equalizer. It was, still, all United after that and although it took some time in coming, the third goal came through Nani; as he charged down a loose ball and rounded Joe Hart to give United the victory over City. A well deserved victory.
Although, he didn’t play a part in any of the goals, a special mention goes out to Anderson. He was immense in midfield and, but for Nani’s brace, should have been the man of the match.
Tom Cleverley was impressive too when he came on. The future’s bright for United.
Some brief thoughts on the players today:
David De Gea: Could have done better for the first goal, should have done better for the second. Other than those, he was decent.
Chris Smalling: Mighty impressive at right back. He might be the reason Sir Alex is going out to get back up for Rafael da Silva.
Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic: Good game, weren’t really troubled although they could have given Joleon Lescott more to think about for the first goal and closed Dzeko down for the second.
Patrice Evra: Usual verve and attacking play. Good job from him.
Michael Carrick: A bit laid back today, considering he had a knock prior to the game, he can be forgiven. Kept possession well and worked well with Anderson.
Anderson: One word: extraordinary.
Nani: Nani was excellent today and took his two goals like a striker.
Ashley Young: Fitting in well with the team and seems to be impressing each time he plays. Good assist for Smalling’s goal.
Wayne Rooney: Played well today in the attacking midfield role that he now occupies, could have scored with a free-kick.
Danny Welbeck: Worked hard, played with the team and was impressive although he tailed off towards the end. Will be hoping to get a run of games in the team to continue improving and hold down his England spot.
Tom Cleverley: He was exceptional today and he played with energy and was dynamic and inventive. Although I have my doubts with him playing as one of the central two in a 4-4-2, he’s really impressed and he could really stake a claim this season.
Phil Jones and Johnny Evans: Both players were calm and adequately protected De Gea, not afraid to step forward with the ball. Phil Jones is striking a good partnership with Smalling and Evans, bodes well for the future.
Dimitar Berbatov did come on but there was little time to make an impact.
The new season is here. Let’s enjoy it
