As JamesT always so eloquently pointed out yesterday, we’re that closer to having meaningful football of the highest quality back. The Community shield are the most serious friendlies in pre-season. Especially with the Manchester Derby stirring up the hyperbole for the rest of the season. The story lines that were writing themselves – the grizzled gaffer, versus the cool continental with a dapper scarf; the grinders versus the flash; the free spenders versus last years free spenders. The day ended up with the first almost-real F-U brace of the season.
The match started off sluggish for United – they attacked and probed, but they were loopy and slow on the counters, and by half they were down 2-0. Though this is United, and down 2-0 at half is actually not a great spot for Citeh to be – they can keep up letting United attack and keep on countering, or they attempt to clog the middle and stymie them. It didn’t seem to matter when United came up finding their spots.
But it was the first Nani goal which was the most impressive. It was one of those beautiful goals of short passes in traffic, and the simplest attack – in this case the give-and-go – is the most effective. You can watch this on the video (if you need to remind yourself) of Nani and Rooney passing the ball back and forth, until Nani was ready and started the give-and-go to Rooney, who so deftly used Thom Cleverly to side foot the ball right into the space where Nani could cooly plonk it over Joe Hart’s pretty little head.
At that point it would of been a small miracle for City to hold on. When they looked poised to either squeak out a win, or hold United back, their corner kick was cleared to the man whose name we will hear often this year. Remember, this was still a friendly, and while Mancini wanted to win to get some solid footing under that squad, they are still juggling the pieces to find the right fit. Meanwhile, United adds pieces slowly and deliberately, and Ferguson knows exactly what each player is going to do – whether it’s De Gea or Cheverly or even Phil Jones. They shut up, they follow the plan, and they win.
God, what a pretty goal.
What terrifies me is Cleverly was equally as influential as either Rooney or Nani in the build up. His decision to immediately attack the space between a flat Toure and De Jong makes the whole thing happen. I f*cking hate United.
Love you, Berg. Gonna be a fun year.
I predicted cleverly’s emergence last week, after seeing Tom control the midfield against Thiago and Iniesta. De Gea was also incredible in that match, so I think the kid will be just fine for united.
I love this goal.