Monday, January 14, 2013

Fergie gets big calls right as Rodgers and Howard Webb get it horribly wrong..

The story of United's 2-1 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday can be summarised as follows: Van Persie, Vidic and Sturridge grab goal headlines, while Ferguson's big calls pay dividends as Howard Webb and Brendan Rodgers get it horribly wrong.

The game passed without too much controversy, that is it did, apart from the part played by Howard Webb and Liverpool's Glen Johnson, more on those two later.

The win over Liverpool ensured Manchester United maintained their seven lead over neighbours Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League. With justification, this fixture has been described as the most fierce in English football - to state there is no love between the two clubs and their respective supporters would be an understatement. Ahead of Sunday's clash, the media's attention rightly focused on Robin Van Persie and Luis Suárez, both have lit up the Premier League with spectacular goals aplenty and in the case of Liverpool's Uruguayan striker, controversy by the bucket load. As things turned out, the leading players didn't exactly follow the script. Suárez was kept in check by a well organised United defence, one that had Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at the heart of it.

While Suárez was largely anonymous, at the other end, Van Persie scored his 17th league goal of the season with another exquisite finish, one that gave Pepe Reina no chance on 19 minutes. A succession of neat passes on the left led to United opening up what had hitherto been a well drilled Liverpool defence for the brilliant Dutch master to apply another trademark finish.

United's goal-mouth pressure eventually paid off on 54 minutes when unmarked Patrice Evra got on the end of a curling Van Persie free-kick, his header was glanced on by Vidic who nodded home from close range.

Sturridge brought Liverpool back into the game with a goal on 57 minutes following a Steven Gerrard interception, to make it a much more even contest. But United had completely dominated the goal mouth action for the first hour and could easily have scored four or five.

STORY OF THE GAME...

Wary of Liverpool flooding midfield, Ferguson elected to start with Danny Welbeck instead of Hernandez. It was a wise decision, as Welbeck's mobility gave United's attacking play another dimension - one that included dropping back into midfield when required.

To the surprise of many, Shinji Kagawa started on the left, while Ashley Young was selected on the right at the expense of AtonioValencia whose form has been indifferent, to the puzzlement of many. While Kagawa and Young were out of their respective comfort zones - their presence gave United balance, both went on to make reasonably satisfactory contributions. Ashley Young was replaced at half-time due to injury with Valencia coming on as a more than adequate replacement.

In terms of goal-mouth incidents, it was a case of one way traffic with Liverpool riding their luck in a first-half that saw Tom Cleverley go close with a left-footed half volley. Van Persie and Welbeck failed to convert good goal scoring opportunities to extend United's lead. TV replays confirmed that United could and perhaps should have been awarded a penalty when Kagawa was brought down inside the Liverpool penalty area -  quite how the ball didn't end up in the back of the net during that passage of play beggared belief. Howard Webb and his officials clearly missed the foul on United's Japanese star - given the pace of the frenetic play it was a mistake that was more easily forgiven compared to other mistakes in this game.

For their part Liverpool while enjoying a fair amount of first-half possession, were toothless up front (no jokes about Suárez). Rodgers decision to play with just Suárez up front turned out to be a huge error of judgement. Sterling and Downing were equally as anonymous as Liverpool's lone striker. As a result it was far too easy for Vidic and & Co. to mop up the visitors unproductive attacks.

In truth, the game should have been all over as a serious contest at half time - the fact that it wasn't was down to a combination of poor finishing and Liverpool riding their luck. Rodgers made amends for his mistakes by sending on new signing Daniel Sturridge as a replacement for Lucas - who'd just been booked before the interval and on another day could quite easily have been sent off for a succession of professional fouls.

The additional striker gave United something to think about and as the second-half went on, the league leaders started to make silly mistakes with Carrick gifting the ball back to the visitors on several occasions.
Carrick and Cleverley were near faultless in the first-half, but for the last thirty minutes, they lost their grip on midfield as Liverpool fought back strongly.

Just three minutes after Vidic had doubled United's advantage, Liverpool hit back following a passage of sloppy passing when Steven Gerrard intercepted an attempted short pass between Cleverley and Carrick. It was classic Gerrard - the Liverpool skipper won the ball just outside the United box, he pressed forward and fired hard and low to De Gea's right, the Spaniard could only parry the ball into the path of Sturridge with Rafael left rooted on his heels, the former Chelsea striker made no mistake from close range and brought Liverpool right back into the game. From that point on, it was Liverpool who looked the more dangerous.

No doubt wary of what happened last season at home to Everton when United squandered a lead at Old Trafford, Ferguson attempted to combat Liverpool's midfield domination by sending on Phil Jones for Kagawa - a ploy that only worked partially.

Worryingly for United fans, Vidic was also replaced by Chris Smalling due to what looked like a knee injury. Having played all of his subs, Ferguson couldn't bring on another striker and while most of his decisions came off, United ended the game hanging on. It was a very nervy ending, but it could have been oh so different if Ferguson's strikers had taken their chances in the first-half.

CONTROVERSY - HOWARD WEBB HAS GAME TO FORGET...

This game didn't pass without controversy, but for once Suárez wasn't the villain on the piece - that role was taken by Howard Webb who needs to have a long hard look at himself in the mirror and maybe he needs to re-read the rulebook too.

Webb had a far less than perfect game. In fact, uncharacteristically, for Webb there was a catalogue of mistakes. He missed Vidic head the ball out for what should clearly have been a corner to Liverpool. He allowed Lucas to commit several professional fouls before eventually booking him on 45 minutes. He missed the foul on Kagawa that should have led to a penalty. Worst of all, and having already booked Glen Johnson on 75 minutes, he should have sent him off for a two armed rugby style take down on Valencia.

Fans understand the referee who shows leniency, especially in such big games - no one really wants to see a player getting his marching orders early on in the game, but rules are rules and inconsistency drives fans, managers and players to the edge of despair.

In the day's other big game in North London, City easily beat Arsenal - the two-nil final score somewhat flattered the Gunners' - it was a walk in the park. But the task was made all the easier on just 10 minutes when Mike Read sent off Laurent Koscielny for yet another rugby style take down on Dzeko. We can argue about the merits of that straight red card - but there can be no doubt that Johnson deserved a second yellow card for his challenge on Valencia at Old Trafford.

Liverpool fans might well argue that Vidic's goal was offside - but offside is often so contentious, it is a rule that is open to interpretation - some decisions are far easier to give and far more obvious, such as who touched the ball last before it went out of play and of course those rugby style challenges.
Howard Webb is without doubt our leading referee, but he let himself down on Sunday when he failed to apply the rules.


11 comments:

  1. Vidic was offside, nothing contentious about it! However Liverpool's frst half display was that bad they didn't deserve anything from the game.

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    Replies
    1. Not according to some experts (Lineker). Like I say, it is open to interpretation. Liverpool were lucky not to be panned any true LFC fan will admit that.

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    2. Sorry I meant any honest Liverpool fan.

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  2. An interesting perspective James and clearly biased towards United as you would expect.

    Taking disputed incidents in order:

    Kagawa penalty - could have been given, but defo not a cert. Even pundits could not agree so what choice has the ref got.

    'Horror' Young tackle on Agger. Studs up and ridiculously late, yet ignored by ref, probably coz Young was rolling round in pain as he injured himself. The expression 'comeuppence' springs to mind. Much worse challenge than the Kompany sending off yesterday. Watch it again...should have been a straight red card.

    Uniteds second goal... not debatable...it was a yard offside and that is a fact. It should have been disallowed.

    Vidic's header out for a corner. Great leap and header out by Vidic, yet ref gives a goal kick and Vidic cant contain himself chuckling away. Last weekend all that was heard was people vilifying Suarez for him not telling the ref the ball hit his hand, yet he didnt chuckle unlike Vidic.
    Personally, I dont think that Vidic should have corrected the ref, but fans cant have it both ways!

    Glen Johnson rugby tackle - It was a great rugby tackle by Glen and should in theory have been a 2nd yellow card. The only downside in that argument is that the first foul / rugby tackle was actually committed by Valencia on Johnson, who hauled him back initially, which was probabaly the reason Johnson pulled down Valencia coz he was expecting an obvious free kick in his favour.

    I think you would probably argue I am totally biased towards Liverpool and and am anti-Webb, which of course I am, however in a nutshell to say Webb got decisions wrong and came down in favour of Liverpool, is complete nonsense, and of course Howard Webbs sons Wayne, Ryan and Christiano totally agree!!!

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    Replies
    1. Sid,

      Young's tackle on Agger looked worse than it was. Not sure he meant any harm to be honest. Kompany is a serial offender where the two footed off the deck scissor challenge is concerned - but his sending off yesterday was a bit harsh even though two feet left the ground briefly.

      IMO, Webb bottled it when it came to the second yellow for Johnson - why I don't know but he did - I don't agree with your reasoning.

      My views are written from a United perspective but I'm surprised more LFC fans haven't agreed with ref to Rodgers getting his starting selection all wrong. Hey ho.

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  3. 'Howard Webb is without doubt our leading referee' SAF could not have put it better himself. You seem a little critical of HW.... Was he not the ususal one sided barrage of decisions the Old Trafford faith have come to expect?

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    Replies
    1. Some of the decisions that Webb got completely wrong were elementary - hence the criticism. I think he's a decent ref and pretty fair too.

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  4. Interesting to get a Man Utd perspective on the game - one clearly as biased as my Liverpool perspective. Your overall take on the game is pretty similar to mine - I think Liverpool could have claimed something from the game had Sturridge put away his chance near the end but the result was fair given Liverpool's first half non-performance. I think your take on Webb's leniency toward Johnson ignores the handfull of Johnsons shirt Valencia clearly had & the "clear penalty" on Kagawa was nothing of the sort - I seem to remember Rio "using his strength" to ease Torres off the ball in similar fashion not too long ago. Food for thought - your attacking options are strong, your defence is ageing but maybe Smalling & Jones will make the grade - but your midfield is still a major weakness & not of the class of Barca, Real or Bayern (or even City for that matter) - maybe Cleverly will step up too - he looks a prospect but you have no-one close to a Gerrard (Scholes is still the nearest!) RVP was a good signing because you couldn't let City get him or you would be 7 points behind now - he will probably just edge you the title this season (much as it pains me to say that!) However Europe will be another disappointment......

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  5. Being honest ref the foul on Kagawa I thought something had happened but I wasn't 100% sure. Souness picked up on it though - for him to say it was a penalty...

    I don't see how anyone can say Webb was right when clearly he wasn't ref Johnson. Sky's experts agreed it was a yellow card offence.

    Our midfield and back four have been an obvious issue and are likely to continue to be so. Gerrard is ok, but he's never been *that* consistent - he appears to pick and choose his games, but yes I take your points on board and I broadly agree.

    I doubt we will win the CL, but being honest I doubted we'd run City close so I have been pleasantly surprised so far.

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