Manchester United rolled over a Spurs team that now has much to reflect on. There was even time for some fun to be had. After a nasty knock to Van der Saar, John O’Shea went in goal much to the amusement of everyone not supporting Spurs. Thankfully, United were already four nil up when Rio Ferdinand decided to play one of his pranks by under-hitting a back pass into the path of Robbie Keane. To everyone’s amusement – including Fergie – John O’Shea tackled his international teammate to a chorus of cheers.
This was Manchester United’s day. Much had been made of this fixture as a potential banana skin. To be fair, until United got the breakthrough it was actually relatively close. As predicted, Spurs lacked fight but had enough quality upfront to pose a threat with Berbatov once again impressive. Lennon was strangely out of sorts - perhaps sensing for once his pace would not be enough when confronted by Evra. Both Giggs and Ronaldo have been schooled by Fergie and as a result were tireless in tracking back, something Malbranque and Lennon did not do, which left Huddlestone and Zakora more exposed. And as predicted this combination were no match for the guile and experience of Scholes and Carrick and were left further confused by Rooney dropping back to receive the ball.
Gardener was continuously turned inside out by the movement of Larsson. His defensive frailties were further exposed when Larsson once again got ahead of him to receive the ball. Gardener decided to lunge across him in a desperate attempt to get the ball. It was a clear penalty but was amazingly waved away by the referee. United players rightly protested at the absurdity of the decision. Something that should not be encouraged but something that surely played a part in the referee’s next decision. Ronaldo received the ball on the outside of the area. He burst past Lee Young Pyo at pace and went down under the challenge of Malbranque, who clearly left a foot in on the winger. Lets face it, when it happened everyone saw it as a penalty. The referee, like us, saw the leg go in and saw Ronaldo go down. He blew his whistle. It was not until half-time when the Spurs technicians decided to replay the incident from every conceivable angle on the big screens in the ground that talk of a dive was encouraged. The truth is we don’t know. If it was a dive, it was art compared to the work of Zakora a few months ago. What is clear is that the referee felt there was contact or intention of contact that resulted in Ronaldo going over.
Despite continuing protestations from the Spurs support, the game was shortly over. The Spurs fans were still booing Ronaldo when they conceded again. Robinson’s goal was attacked incessantly from the start of the second half. Spurs were helpless. Carrick supplied a precise corner onto the head of Vidic and the ball whistled past Robinson.
Spurs had moments. One provided by our own Gary Neville, who decided it would be okay to manhandle Chimbonda inside the penalty area in clear view of everyone. The amusing thing was it was okay, as the referee once again went against all common sense by waving play on. You win some; you Spurs some.
The game got more painful for the home fans when Cristiano produced one step-over at speed to once again outwit Lee Young Pyo and get to the by-line where he sent in a wicked low cross that Robinson failed miserably to deal with and Scholes had time to control the ball between his legs on the ground and slot it home and smile. This really was shaping up to be one of those days for United. The cherry was firmly put on the cake came when Saha – on for Rooney – picked up the ball and under a challenge, span his marker and ran at the Spurs defence. Looking up he provided a perfectly weighted pass to the feet of the unrushing Giggs, who subsequently lifted his shot over Robinson for United’s fourth.
The major difference between Spurs and United was fight, belief and ability. If the only fight Spurs possess is Zakora then they really have problems. A poor man’s Makelele is no answer at this level. Huddlestone was more boulder than builder, when it came to influencing the game. Gardener is so inept he rivals Titus Bramble as the countries worst central defender. And the belief of Paul Robinson had been cut to size by the young guns of Arsenal and has now been truly shredded by the visit of Manchester United.
Player ratings: Van der Saar 8; Neville 7; Ferdinand 7; Vidic 8, Evra 6; Ronaldo 7; Scholes 7; Carrick 7; Giggs 7; Rooney 7; Larsson 7
Man of the match: Vidic
This was Manchester United’s day. Much had been made of this fixture as a potential banana skin. To be fair, until United got the breakthrough it was actually relatively close. As predicted, Spurs lacked fight but had enough quality upfront to pose a threat with Berbatov once again impressive. Lennon was strangely out of sorts - perhaps sensing for once his pace would not be enough when confronted by Evra. Both Giggs and Ronaldo have been schooled by Fergie and as a result were tireless in tracking back, something Malbranque and Lennon did not do, which left Huddlestone and Zakora more exposed. And as predicted this combination were no match for the guile and experience of Scholes and Carrick and were left further confused by Rooney dropping back to receive the ball.
Gardener was continuously turned inside out by the movement of Larsson. His defensive frailties were further exposed when Larsson once again got ahead of him to receive the ball. Gardener decided to lunge across him in a desperate attempt to get the ball. It was a clear penalty but was amazingly waved away by the referee. United players rightly protested at the absurdity of the decision. Something that should not be encouraged but something that surely played a part in the referee’s next decision. Ronaldo received the ball on the outside of the area. He burst past Lee Young Pyo at pace and went down under the challenge of Malbranque, who clearly left a foot in on the winger. Lets face it, when it happened everyone saw it as a penalty. The referee, like us, saw the leg go in and saw Ronaldo go down. He blew his whistle. It was not until half-time when the Spurs technicians decided to replay the incident from every conceivable angle on the big screens in the ground that talk of a dive was encouraged. The truth is we don’t know. If it was a dive, it was art compared to the work of Zakora a few months ago. What is clear is that the referee felt there was contact or intention of contact that resulted in Ronaldo going over.
Despite continuing protestations from the Spurs support, the game was shortly over. The Spurs fans were still booing Ronaldo when they conceded again. Robinson’s goal was attacked incessantly from the start of the second half. Spurs were helpless. Carrick supplied a precise corner onto the head of Vidic and the ball whistled past Robinson.
Spurs had moments. One provided by our own Gary Neville, who decided it would be okay to manhandle Chimbonda inside the penalty area in clear view of everyone. The amusing thing was it was okay, as the referee once again went against all common sense by waving play on. You win some; you Spurs some.
The game got more painful for the home fans when Cristiano produced one step-over at speed to once again outwit Lee Young Pyo and get to the by-line where he sent in a wicked low cross that Robinson failed miserably to deal with and Scholes had time to control the ball between his legs on the ground and slot it home and smile. This really was shaping up to be one of those days for United. The cherry was firmly put on the cake came when Saha – on for Rooney – picked up the ball and under a challenge, span his marker and ran at the Spurs defence. Looking up he provided a perfectly weighted pass to the feet of the unrushing Giggs, who subsequently lifted his shot over Robinson for United’s fourth.
The major difference between Spurs and United was fight, belief and ability. If the only fight Spurs possess is Zakora then they really have problems. A poor man’s Makelele is no answer at this level. Huddlestone was more boulder than builder, when it came to influencing the game. Gardener is so inept he rivals Titus Bramble as the countries worst central defender. And the belief of Paul Robinson had been cut to size by the young guns of Arsenal and has now been truly shredded by the visit of Manchester United.
Player ratings: Van der Saar 8; Neville 7; Ferdinand 7; Vidic 8, Evra 6; Ronaldo 7; Scholes 7; Carrick 7; Giggs 7; Rooney 7; Larsson 7
Man of the match: Vidic
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