Monday 23 September 2013

Not the start Moyes would have wanted

Manchester City stunned Manchester United yesterday afternoon with a 4-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium. The games won (and lost) in five minutes either side of half-time, those goals being scored by Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri.

Apart from that Manchester United must have felt they had reasonable control of the game. But what use is having greater passing success (86.2% to 80.5% in United's favour) or territorial advantage (56.3 % to 43.7% in United's favour) if you're one, two, three, four goals down? None at all.

Wayne Rooney scored a sublime free-kick after 87 minutes, but it was merely a consolation.

It cannot be the start that new manager David Moyes had envisaged. He did bemoan the fixture list when it was published and he won't have changed his mind now. Chelsea (home, 0-0), Liverpool (away, 0-1) and Manchester City have been three extremely tough opponents in the first five league games - too tough for the current Manchester United team.

What must David Moyes do?

He was unlucky yesterday with the late withdrawal of Robin Van Persie, but it was the inability to stop City's rampaging attacks that let him down yesterday. Fellaini must settle in quickly and the wide men (yesterday it was Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia) need to ensure that the full backs have better protection. He also needs more attacking thrust through the centre of midfield.

There are options, and no need for Moyes to panic yet.

Thursday 19 September 2013

At last football turns to technology

It's been a while. I've been busy.

What significant things have happened in the world of football?

Perhaps the best thing is the implementation of goal-line technology in the Premier League. Although things have been rather quite on the disputed goals front, I'm sure the referees are enjoying the 'buzz' they must be getting every time a goal is scored.

Plus One (at last) for a step into the 21st Century for football and technology.

Perhaps we could implement the same technology for the ball in and out of play as it seems to me that assistant referees are over-zealous when calling the ball out of play when it gets anywhere near the touchline. Not quite as important as a goal or not, of course, but do they really think the whole of the ball has crossed the line when it touches the white stuff?

A short re-start, but I'll be back again soon.