We were defending most of the 2nd half...
Anderson
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We were defending most of the 2nd half...
We sat back a bit in the last third of the game and soaked up the pressure. It was inevitable in a tight game really.
He was excellent before that. What did he do well? He tackled well, he shrugged off their players like flies, he used his pace to start attacks, showed good ball control he passed it nicely and generally played very well. The reason we won yesterday was because the game was essentially a midfield scrap in which we came out on top and actually looked like scoring. We came out on top in that scrap. Anderson played a huge part in that because he's physically our most intimidating midfielder. In addition to that, unlike Fletcher and Carrick, he was actually good on the ball yesterday.
He put in a decent defensive shift for an hour and that's about it.
One excellent moment where he robbed Wilshere at the edge of our box and launched a counter-attack but other than that contributed very little going forwards.
Definitely not one of his best games and I agree the praise he got for it has been well over the top. Was much better in his previous 3 games IMO. Carrick was the pick of our midfield yesterday but, as always, is getting over-looked by most on here.
Considering he completed just under 2/3 of his passes and they completed around 3/4 of theirs that's just not true, is it?
All well and good talking about Anderson playing further forward but it's not as though the passes he did complete were creating chances. I can't think of a single pass from him that opened Arsenal up. Can you?
It is true. Pass completion isn't the only thing that makes someone good on the ball. Fletcher's passing statistics seem pretty good but he was pretty poor on the ball. His first touch was unusually poor.
Anderson was playing in a position in which he had to play riskier passes, totally understandable. And given the kind of game it was, both teams had a tough time finding their front man and getting him into a decent positions.
Yes, I can, the pass that set up Nani's chance. Besides, yesterday wasn't a game of a great deal of creativity from anyone. That was just the type of match it was. It was a scrap. And given the kind of game it was, he did fantastically IMO.
Fletcher and Carrick both had 3 times the amount of passes in the same period.
Basically, Fletcher and Carrick made a quarter of their overall passes in the last third, which fits in with the fact that we defended more in the second half (otherwise it would've been a third of their overall passes).
Anderson made an 8th of his passes in the last third, proportionally half as many. Partly because he's playing further forward, partly because he tired.
That was a routine pass but the run that set it up was impressive, as I said.
At the end of the day, it's ok for a creative player to only complete 60 odd percent of his passes if the passes he does complete cause problems for the opposition. Last night that didn't happen for Anderson (apart from that single incident discussed above)
He just didn't pass the ball very well, especially compared to his last few games where his passing was excellent. His performance was decent but nothing more. I dunno why you find this so hard to accept. He doesn't have to be outstanding every single game.
Passing isn't one of his main attributes, to be fair. By this I mean he can be a bit hit and miss. But I think he's looked good in a more advanced role, a role which has given him more chances to make runs into the box...and he's generally shown more energy...despite looking like a clapped out Lada around the 70mins mark. But based on what I've seen, I think he can become a player, this is coming from one of his biggest critics.
When someone doesn't agree with you he's being stubborn.
I'm not saying he was as good as he was against Blackburn. But relative to the game he played I thought he was excellent. It was a total scrap yesterday. From a neutral perspective it was probably one of the most ugly United-Arsenal encounters in awhile. So a different type of performance becomes relevant in that type of match.
Barring the goal, had Park put in yesterdays display against Blackburn, it wouldn't have meant much but yesterday the boundless energy he gave us was priceless. His harrying and carrying of the ball was something that mattered.
Similarly Anderson's passing was obviously not as creative as it's been largely due to the kind of game it was. But he contributed in others ways greatly IMO. Anyways he was my man of the match in what I felt was the most important game of the seasons so far, that's just my opinion.
It does have the potential to be though. Some of his passing before this game where we as a unit have played better has been terrific. But yes he can improve on it and I think he will.
You didn't see him as a big talent, Spoony?
He was 7/10. Him taking the free-kick at the end of the first half and how it turned out so anti-climax in the end made me chuckled a fair bit. I like how he can integrate nicely into our midfield, he gives us that capable option of running with the ball at defenders which compliment passers like Carrick and Scholes. And obviously a master at shielding of the ball i've ever seen 
havent read all of this pass completion stuff but its not an accurate comparison. anderson played further up the field than fletcher and carrick. the further up fiels you play the more difficult pass completion is. due to the fact its generally the final ball. which is why centre backs and holding midfielders will generally have high a very high pass completion as they have more time / space on the ball with more options available
What he has done is worked his way back to being the player we saw 2/3 seasons ago and were so excited about. If you told me that the player he is today is as good as he is going to get he'd be a fairly average midfield player.
Its still largely potential with him, but what a player he can become if he wants to.
Its still largely potential with him, but what a player he can become if he wants to.
Very promising again yesterday. The fact that he has managed to string four good performances in a row is a very encouraging sign. I think he is a dead cert to play against Chelsea now.
anderson sees passes like scholes can,he just cant quite actually pass it like scholes yet.
Well, I thought he had potential when I first saw him...but I suspect that was more to do with the fact he cost the equivalent of 20 Ferraris and a Brazilian nationality. I thought his game was all about strength and less to do with technique and ability on the ball, not that my opinion has changed that much in terms of his ability...but he's got the potential to drive a game like Essien. What I'm saying is that his game is still about power....but his touch and passing is much better than what I'd seen previously.
very true but scholes didnt pass the ball like he does now at 22. scholes infact played no where near the amount of games in central midfield as anderson at the same age
Ah, alright. If you ever were in need of any proof you just had to watch his performance against Arsenal in the league cup early on in his career. He absolutely ripped them apart. Still think that's probably the best I've seen him play. He just looked like a complete natural. Someone who everything came as a second nature too. And now we're beginning to see that again terms of getting out of tight spaces and linking up and general decision making.
still doesn't mean he was outstanding last night, because i dont think anyone was particularly outstanding last night
True. But he ran his bollocks off last night and was as good as anyone out there. He was very tired at the end
I prefer him when he's playing a bit deeper, with more ground infront of him to run into and more options for a pass ahead of him. Not convinced by him 'in the hole' at all.
I thought Anderson was decent last night, done enough to edge my MOTM ahead of Rafael and was our best midfielder easily.. Carrick and Fletchers passing was very average considering they weren't even hitting progressive passes most of the time.
That said their defensive work was top notch especially Carrick, but against tougher teams than Arsenal.. likes of Carrick and Fletch really need to step up possession wise.
Anderson in the hole is a decent ploy but I can't help but feel the lad doesn't move off the ball enough in the final third and as a result Rooney can be quite isolated or easily contained in general.
I wish we could just play Barcelona right now and judge the team properly.
That said their defensive work was top notch especially Carrick, but against tougher teams than Arsenal.. likes of Carrick and Fletch really need to step up possession wise.
Anderson in the hole is a decent ploy but I can't help but feel the lad doesn't move off the ball enough in the final third and as a result Rooney can be quite isolated or easily contained in general.
I wish we could just play Barcelona right now and judge the team properly.
This, i think one of his strengths is moving into space at pace from deep
True, not questioning his work rate at all. Just wondering where these opinions of "outstanding" are coming from? United, collectively and as individuals weren't great, they just happened to be better than Arsenal who were very poor
Disagree with that. Collectively we were very good. In terms of individual performances, Rafael was excellent. Nobody let themselves down though.
Collectively they were good, not great.
He's been very good recently.
Still a little bit of a concern that he habitually looks dead on his feet after 75 mins or so, but he does work hard before that point.
Still a little bit of a concern that he habitually looks dead on his feet after 75 mins or so, but he does work hard before that point.
If he keeps on playing like that I honestly don't care how long he will last during a match.
Nah, he needs to sort that out - there's no excuse for it.
Agree with that. I meant outstanding (or excellent, whatever I actually said) relative to the overall performance, it should be noted.
Why would that be a good thing? Barca are a settled side, in peak form, as evidenced by their absolute belting of the 2nd best side in their league. Where as we are trying to work, out talisman back into form, along with 2 central midfielders who have been in prolonged slumps.
That's not an excuse, just that on current form, we really can't be judged to see 'where the team is properly'
Long may this run continue, he gives us something different.
Why does he side-boot all his shots?? One thing i have noticed a lot.. He doesnt hammer it .. tries to place it.. maybe thats why keepers save his shots
Anderson and Fletcher showed great energy yesterday and you can tell that Carrick has improved lately and is trying to lose his shell..... their refusal to let Arsenal settle into any rythm was key to our success last night
the real positive is Anderson, he has hit the ground running and gave a magnificent display......regardless of the stats above, I thought he was our man of the match.
as for his chance in the second half, I don't criticise him for that, I give credit to their goalie ( Sczezny ? ) for coming out real fast and big.....
the real positive is Anderson, he has hit the ground running and gave a magnificent display......regardless of the stats above, I thought he was our man of the match.
as for his chance in the second half, I don't criticise him for that, I give credit to their goalie ( Sczezny ? ) for coming out real fast and big.....
I think people need to remember who we were playing. It's difficult to dominate the 90mins and he didn't 'automatically tire' but the game changes. When you have a goal to protect and you've not taken your chances, you have to be more cautious and they try to step up a gear because you get nothing for losing..
He's a good young player and he will get better but at 22 and having had the injuries he's had, it will take awhile. His plays been so fragmented over the last two years but you can see the confidence and energy returning
He's a good young player and he will get better but at 22 and having had the injuries he's had, it will take awhile. His plays been so fragmented over the last two years but you can see the confidence and energy returning
He still tires easily but at least he's working hard and doing better than in the previous couple of seasons. Here's hoping it continues.
He seems to have found his touch again and is so much better with the ball at his feet. It's hard not to get excited when you watch him run with the ball and drive at opponents. Some of his dribbling and ball control and ofcourse his shielding in tight spaces is brilliant as well.
He's tried lacing it before too, wasn't pretty.
He did tire, but I can't remember the last time he played at least 80 minutes of 4 straight games, only recently having returned from injury as well. He was certainly one of our better players, ran their midfielders to the ground and used his strength very well in tight areas to keep the ball. Wasn't a passing masterclass by any means, but this game wasn't full of those anyway. A solid lungbusting performance with flair and the promise of a lot more to come.
Can't we have detailed videos of Anderson in his last 4-5 games? Remember seeing some Nani videos from some games in Jan where every single pass, dive, shot was in the video. Would love to see a similar compilation of Anderson's over the last few games.
Fergie was being interviewed by Stewart Gardner for MUTV after the valencia, before the Arsenal game and was talking about Ando.
Gardner said 'If Ando could score more goals, he would be even better' and Ferige laughed and said 'Now lets not look for miracles'
Gardner said 'If Ando could score more goals, he would be even better' and Ferige laughed and said 'Now lets not look for miracles'
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