I don't know whether to be bashful of our wasted chances, or salute our excellent display, and what to make of Shalke's poorest display in the competition yet. It wasn't the game I was expecting but I'm happy that we came out on top. Hell, we could've finished higher than 'on top'. I think the whole world would have been left surprised after ten minutes into the game after realizing that we were up only against their Keeper, Manuel Neuer. It was that simple, wasn't it?
Sadly, Shalke proved to be a shadow of the team that their recent form would otherwise suggest. Thrashing an Inter Milan side in Italy under a month ago would seem to put the fear in anyone's any underworld mob. They were on an dream run and I think that they woke up from it just before kick off. Manchester United, like me, like millions of other viewers, realized that we were being humbly shown the door to Wembley. Maybe United were geared up to play on the counter-attacks but were taken by utter surprised when they saw Shalke's enormous respect bordering on fear for our team. And on seeing a vast change in the tactics that Shalke deployed, we started to dictate the pace and flow of the game. Shalke were too hospitable and showed perhaps too much of respect for their visitors, something that is not known amongst the German teams; while United on the other hand took 67 minutes to register their disbelief with two quick goals from the ageless, agile legs of Ryan Giggs and a resurgent Rooney to make it an almost no-brainer second leg back in England in a week's time.
I had said before in my earlier post that this would be a great game to watch. I really meant that. I didn't think it would be only the United fans enjoying it selfishly. I thought it would be a marvelous game of a first-timer up for it, against an organized and experienced side in Europe. Many pinned their hopes on Carrick being the villain behind a suicidal back pass or an Chicharito sniffer of a goal. But it was too open a game. For us it was anyway.
We ( United! ) finally made it count and we got what we came for. We might have got a lot more than what we bargained for initially, but we got the job done.
A few things to notice about last night's game: The pitch was wide and Shalke played with a high defensive line; meaning that it was really very easy for us to get in behind them with long balls looped up and over their defense. Yes, it was frustrating as a supporter to witness guilt edged chances being wasted but I knew we'd take one eventually; while in the mean time hoping that Shalke would not punish our criminal efforts in front of goal. United's defense was only threatened after we scored our two goals in the last twenty minutes of the game but otherwise, they was rarely made to work.
Another strange tactic to comprehend is perhaps that Shalke played with a high defensive line, a compact midfield and a retreating forward line ( given our possession football ); thus crowding the middle of the ground. But it really didn't look like that. We played a quick passing game - to the sidelines, down the middle and over their defense. At times, I thought that we were playing against nine players wearing blue. Was it that simple???
Without disrespecting Barcelona and Ream Madrid who play in tonight's game, Shalke made United look like they were Champions of Europe already. The German team defended with fear, broke forward with hesitation and made United's task really simple. It made our recent ragged performances against Everton, Newcastle and Manchester City look very distant; not like the team that had performed so badly in the last ten days. Or maybe United are a different team when you put them on the European stage.
Having said that, I saw how wonderfully we played as a team last night. I cannot take a lot away from our displays even if Shalke weren't a shade of their earlier selves. Fabio was fabiolous and Park was full of energy as usual. Something of boon to us to have him back fit again. Valencia's return has brought some hunger and appetite into our forward line and no doubt will that inspire our strikers to get more goals. His contribution has been vital and priceless. Speechless too. Carrick seems to have found composure against top opposition when it matters and he is as vital for us as water is to fish. Rooney is still the inspiration in the team and the ever so brilliant Ryan Giggs show us how much he drives this team. Watching Chicharito ( Javier Hernandez ) play as our main striker has started to reassure me that we will find space in every area of the pitch. He looks like a forward that will keep a defense of their toes. In his first season, he's done so well. He's like a little stick of dynamite. He'll explode into life and you cannot ignore his contribution even if he doesn't score in a game. He makes his presence felt. That's important too.
We can and should take this form to the Emirates even though I feel that our European form has been quite different from how we play in the League. It's like we're on reserves in a league match and use our tank to full capacity outside England. Whatever it is, Fergi has rotated his squad really well and it seems to be working. We have our own team out there; quite different from the Barcelonas and Madrids and I wouldn't trade a player for anything. After a season of uncertain beginnings, the team's shrewd performances have got everyone in and around Old Trafford believing.
Sadly, Shalke proved to be a shadow of the team that their recent form would otherwise suggest. Thrashing an Inter Milan side in Italy under a month ago would seem to put the fear in anyone's any underworld mob. They were on an dream run and I think that they woke up from it just before kick off. Manchester United, like me, like millions of other viewers, realized that we were being humbly shown the door to Wembley. Maybe United were geared up to play on the counter-attacks but were taken by utter surprised when they saw Shalke's enormous respect bordering on fear for our team. And on seeing a vast change in the tactics that Shalke deployed, we started to dictate the pace and flow of the game. Shalke were too hospitable and showed perhaps too much of respect for their visitors, something that is not known amongst the German teams; while United on the other hand took 67 minutes to register their disbelief with two quick goals from the ageless, agile legs of Ryan Giggs and a resurgent Rooney to make it an almost no-brainer second leg back in England in a week's time.
I had said before in my earlier post that this would be a great game to watch. I really meant that. I didn't think it would be only the United fans enjoying it selfishly. I thought it would be a marvelous game of a first-timer up for it, against an organized and experienced side in Europe. Many pinned their hopes on Carrick being the villain behind a suicidal back pass or an Chicharito sniffer of a goal. But it was too open a game. For us it was anyway.
We ( United! ) finally made it count and we got what we came for. We might have got a lot more than what we bargained for initially, but we got the job done.
A few things to notice about last night's game: The pitch was wide and Shalke played with a high defensive line; meaning that it was really very easy for us to get in behind them with long balls looped up and over their defense. Yes, it was frustrating as a supporter to witness guilt edged chances being wasted but I knew we'd take one eventually; while in the mean time hoping that Shalke would not punish our criminal efforts in front of goal. United's defense was only threatened after we scored our two goals in the last twenty minutes of the game but otherwise, they was rarely made to work.
Another strange tactic to comprehend is perhaps that Shalke played with a high defensive line, a compact midfield and a retreating forward line ( given our possession football ); thus crowding the middle of the ground. But it really didn't look like that. We played a quick passing game - to the sidelines, down the middle and over their defense. At times, I thought that we were playing against nine players wearing blue. Was it that simple???
Without disrespecting Barcelona and Ream Madrid who play in tonight's game, Shalke made United look like they were Champions of Europe already. The German team defended with fear, broke forward with hesitation and made United's task really simple. It made our recent ragged performances against Everton, Newcastle and Manchester City look very distant; not like the team that had performed so badly in the last ten days. Or maybe United are a different team when you put them on the European stage.
Having said that, I saw how wonderfully we played as a team last night. I cannot take a lot away from our displays even if Shalke weren't a shade of their earlier selves. Fabio was fabiolous and Park was full of energy as usual. Something of boon to us to have him back fit again. Valencia's return has brought some hunger and appetite into our forward line and no doubt will that inspire our strikers to get more goals. His contribution has been vital and priceless. Speechless too. Carrick seems to have found composure against top opposition when it matters and he is as vital for us as water is to fish. Rooney is still the inspiration in the team and the ever so brilliant Ryan Giggs show us how much he drives this team. Watching Chicharito ( Javier Hernandez ) play as our main striker has started to reassure me that we will find space in every area of the pitch. He looks like a forward that will keep a defense of their toes. In his first season, he's done so well. He's like a little stick of dynamite. He'll explode into life and you cannot ignore his contribution even if he doesn't score in a game. He makes his presence felt. That's important too.
We can and should take this form to the Emirates even though I feel that our European form has been quite different from how we play in the League. It's like we're on reserves in a league match and use our tank to full capacity outside England. Whatever it is, Fergi has rotated his squad really well and it seems to be working. We have our own team out there; quite different from the Barcelonas and Madrids and I wouldn't trade a player for anything. After a season of uncertain beginnings, the team's shrewd performances have got everyone in and around Old Trafford believing.
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