This thread is abit OTT for me, at least some of the statements in it.
Firstly, I can't believe anyone has yesterday down as our worst performance at anfield. Anyone catch the 4-0 in 90, or the 3-1 or 2-0 in 2001. The defensive performance alone put it above plenty of other performances we have put in there recently IMO. Christ, I reckon O'Shea's last minute winner was a poorer performance than yesterday.
I also think LFC, as poor as they may look in the league table, are being hugely under-estimated on here. Not only is this their biggest game of the season, it also comes after the 23 year long Hillsborough campaign has just concluded and their crowd and the occasion would have galvanised them. Personally I only think they were the better side UNTIL the sending off and to be honest, I don't find that highly surprising given the occasion, our recent record there and them having everything to prove. After the sending off I never thought we were in danger of losing the match and was highly confident we would win. Other than Gerrard's goal in the second half I can't recall any notable incident they created. Their also the best side we have played so far this season and will show that by the end of the year.
Now, I was against playing Giggs over Cleverley yesterday but after Scholes played two in two games, he was always going to be rested for the game at Anfield and our track record with Scholes at Anfield has not been good for years. Anderson had very little game time, so it was a straight choice between Clev and Giggs, and Giggs got the selection.
Furthermore, the entire team did not play well yesterday(other than the back four) and the wingers and the attack deserve as much scrutiny as the centre midfield. THe problem at the moment is not just with the central players, it's collectively as a whole, the entire team is not playing well. If anything, the solidity and individual performance of the back four yesterday was progress and a step towards a solid base, which we need.
I'm also not sure after effectively the majority of the forum wanting United to sign and play an attacking midfielder like Kagawa, plenty wanting this over the inclusion of Rooney, why this is generating so much criticism. Kagawa's now analysed as a support striker when, for me, he's playing as the attacking midfielder as part of a midfield three that plenty wanted. For me, he is part of our central midfield options and part of Carrick and Giggs. He's playing the role different to Rooney and Welbeck did for most of last season, that's evident to see.
Kagawa's going take some time to fit in with our style of play, brand of football and individual players. This is something which is struggling at the moment and has not been helped by Valencia and Nani being seriously out of form for the most part. Valencia barely had an impact yesterday(pen aside) and after defending Nani for his Gala performance, he was incredibily frustrating and wasteful yesterday. All of this combined is not giving RVP much to work with and also the lack of cohesion is effecting the entire team. You can't place all of this on the centre of the park every time.
This side is going to need a good 15-20 games to be properly judged. There's too things that need to be settle to expect instant success. We have a host of players returning from injury and fitness in defence and midfield, we are playing a slightly different type of play and we have new players familiarising themselves in attack. Yesterday was the first time all season our back four looked collectively strong lead by Rio and it's only a matter of time before the attack starts to click more effectively, the talent is to good for that. If this is the case and the midfield is the problem, then fine, but it's way to premature to go down that road already and some of the opinions reflect this. People writing off Clev and Carrick as a pairing when they have to my memory played once together is lunacy. Anderson and Carrick have always looked a reasonably balanced pairing to me as well.
The likes of Clev and Anderson have hardly had a chance and Fletcher not even had a proper run of games yet. On top of Vidic slowly feeling his way back in, RVP and Kagawa getting used to the club, Rooney injured early season and a host of defenders slowly coming back from minor injuries, it's not surprising we are hardly firing on all cyclinders, is it?
All ready we have two of our toughest away games out of the way and having managed to win five consecutive games, clawed ahead of City early on(which is key) and now have a basis to go on and improve. Personally I reckon we will be fine and soon will look strong in all areas. Most confident I have been in the side since 08/09. Only thing I can't get my head round, is the keeper rotation after DDG's form last season.
