Scholes makes it 4.
Southampton VS Manchester United 12/03/05
- Thread starter Wizard Keyaz
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
SSSSCCCCHHHHHOOOOLLLLEEESSS !!!! 4-0 and counting....
Scholesy !!!
lovely build up from Ruud !
lovely build up from Ruud !
Awesome! Ruud, Ruud, Ruud! Hope get's one also
FT: Oh well it's arse in the semis then. 
Scholesy MOM for me, brilliant performance.
Semi final here we come !
DefinitelyRed Panda said:
Red Panda said:
goals from tonights match ?
just wait till tomorrow
Fergie: Win was vital
SIR Alex Ferguson admitted anything other than an FA Cup win over Southampton at St Mary's would have been 'unthinkable' for Manchester United.
Coming just four days after their Champions League exit in Milan, the Red Devils knew their season would be over if they fell over Harry Redknapp's battlers.
But another cup exit never looked likely after Roy Keane had put the visitors in front after just 87 seconds. Cristiano Ronaldo added another just before half-time and Paul Scholes netted a second-half double as United romped into the semi-finals for the 25th time with a 4-0 win.
It means United follow old foes Arsenal into the last four and at least for a while dispels the memory of the midweek disappointment, which Ferguson insists will prove the prelude to better things for his team.
"It was unthinkable that we didn't get a win tonight," said the United chief.
"We had a setback on Tuesday but we have recovered from that and got ourselves into another semi-final.
"It would be very easy to look upon Tuesday as a disappointment that takes us no further.
"You could look at it as putting us up against a brick wall but I believe it will only lead to better things.
"I think what happened in Milan will prove to be the start of a long road to future success in Europe.
"We are not far away now and I firmly believe this team will get that success in the future."
With goals at the start and end of both halves, Ferguson admitted United could not have hit Southampton at any better time. And it was the two efforts from Ronaldo and Scholes either side of the break that proved pivotal in the visitors' win.
"Those two goals really helped us," said Ferguson, whose side have yet to concede a goal in the competition.
"We are just one win away from another FA Cup Final and I find that quite exciting.
"I actually love the FA Cup and you could see from the support we received tonight how much it means to the fans."
SIR Alex Ferguson admitted anything other than an FA Cup win over Southampton at St Mary's would have been 'unthinkable' for Manchester United.
Coming just four days after their Champions League exit in Milan, the Red Devils knew their season would be over if they fell over Harry Redknapp's battlers.
But another cup exit never looked likely after Roy Keane had put the visitors in front after just 87 seconds. Cristiano Ronaldo added another just before half-time and Paul Scholes netted a second-half double as United romped into the semi-finals for the 25th time with a 4-0 win.
It means United follow old foes Arsenal into the last four and at least for a while dispels the memory of the midweek disappointment, which Ferguson insists will prove the prelude to better things for his team.
"It was unthinkable that we didn't get a win tonight," said the United chief.
"We had a setback on Tuesday but we have recovered from that and got ourselves into another semi-final.
"It would be very easy to look upon Tuesday as a disappointment that takes us no further.
"You could look at it as putting us up against a brick wall but I believe it will only lead to better things.
"I think what happened in Milan will prove to be the start of a long road to future success in Europe.
"We are not far away now and I firmly believe this team will get that success in the future."
With goals at the start and end of both halves, Ferguson admitted United could not have hit Southampton at any better time. And it was the two efforts from Ronaldo and Scholes either side of the break that proved pivotal in the visitors' win.
"Those two goals really helped us," said Ferguson, whose side have yet to concede a goal in the competition.
"We are just one win away from another FA Cup Final and I find that quite exciting.
"I actually love the FA Cup and you could see from the support we received tonight how much it means to the fans."
Southampton 0 Manchester United 4
MANCHESTER United may be relying on the FA Cup to salvage their season for the second year running but Sir Alex Ferguson's side moved closer to a place in the history books with a sixth round stroll at Southampton.
Never in their illustrious past have the Red Devils successfully defended the world's oldest domestic cup competition despite winning it a record 11 times.
They are just two Millennium Stadium victories away from completing that feat now, but Sir Alex Ferguson will know that no matter who his team meet in next month's semi-final, they will surely pose a greater threat than the sorry Saints did at St Mary's.
Behind to Roy Keane's opener after just 87 seconds, Southampton provided just the type of cannon fodder United must have prayed for as their looked to banish the memory of another failed Champions League campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo also got on the scoresheet before half-time, with Paul Scholes netting at the start and end of the second period in a one-sided romp, although the real star of the United show was Wayne Rooney.
At just 19, the £27million striker was the youngest player in the visitors starting line-up but he assumed total dominance of the contest, dropping deep when required, linking superbly with Ruud van Nistelrooy and even keeping his notoriously fragile temper under control.
The only reason he failed to cap his immense personal contribution with a goal was the heroics of Southampton own brilliant youngster, keeper Paul Smith, who came closest to edging Rooney out of man of the match honours.
It was about the only plus point on a sorry evening for Harry Redknapp's men, who now resume their relegation fight, fearful of a return visit from the Red Devils on the final day of the Premiership season.
For United, it kept alive their hopes of landing silverware, although their victory has now ensured their eagerly-awaited clash with Chelsea must now be postponed, presumably to a time when it may have no effect on the title's destination whatsoever.
Coming so soon after they had forlornly chased AC Milan shadows at the San Siro, United might have been vulnerable. Instead, from the opening seconds, the visitors emphasised the massive gap in quality between the top end of Europe and the lower end of the Premiership.
True, Keane's early hammer blow may have sucked some of the desire out of Southampton legs but there seemed to be no lack of effort among the red and white shirts, just that they spent the majority of the opening period on retreat.
World-class
Smith justified his selection over fit-again Antti Niemi with two world-class saves, denying Rooney twice, on both occasions with the aid of the woodwork.
The form of Southampton's young keeper could yet have a knock-on effect for Saturday's opponents, who are likely to be in the hunt for yet another replacement for Peter Schmeichel in the summer, with Niemi, seated close to Ferguson's vantage point on the home bench, a strong tip to find himself at Old Trafford.
It certainly was not Smith's fault that Southampton's challenge had been totally snuffed out within three minutes of the re-start.
Any chance the Saints keeper had of keeping out Keane's second minute effort, after the Irishman had been allowed enough time to complete a complete 180 degree turn inside the home box, was lost when it flicked off Peter Crouch and flew into the roof of his goal.
Smith's heroics seemed to be pointing towards a Southampton sucker punch at some point, but Rooney, desperate to end his first season at United with a winners' medal, was in determined mood.
Even so, England's teenage striker should not have been allowed to muscle his way down the by-line in first-half stoppage time, then provided van Nistelrooy with the cut-back he touched on to Ronaldo, who rasped his shot home.
A master of motivation, Redknapp would have been sorely tested to inspire any hope in the home ranks as they discussed their bleak position at the break.
Whatever pearls of wisdom the Saints boss did impart were quickly rendered worthless as more Smith heroics earned only bad luck for the hosts as his save from van Nistelrooy triggered a succession of rebounds that ended with Scholes being presented with an open goal.
Scholes converted a similarly easy effort near the end, nodding home van Nistelrooy's cross, although by then total superiority had long been established.
MANCHESTER United may be relying on the FA Cup to salvage their season for the second year running but Sir Alex Ferguson's side moved closer to a place in the history books with a sixth round stroll at Southampton.
Never in their illustrious past have the Red Devils successfully defended the world's oldest domestic cup competition despite winning it a record 11 times.
They are just two Millennium Stadium victories away from completing that feat now, but Sir Alex Ferguson will know that no matter who his team meet in next month's semi-final, they will surely pose a greater threat than the sorry Saints did at St Mary's.
Behind to Roy Keane's opener after just 87 seconds, Southampton provided just the type of cannon fodder United must have prayed for as their looked to banish the memory of another failed Champions League campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo also got on the scoresheet before half-time, with Paul Scholes netting at the start and end of the second period in a one-sided romp, although the real star of the United show was Wayne Rooney.
At just 19, the £27million striker was the youngest player in the visitors starting line-up but he assumed total dominance of the contest, dropping deep when required, linking superbly with Ruud van Nistelrooy and even keeping his notoriously fragile temper under control.
The only reason he failed to cap his immense personal contribution with a goal was the heroics of Southampton own brilliant youngster, keeper Paul Smith, who came closest to edging Rooney out of man of the match honours.
It was about the only plus point on a sorry evening for Harry Redknapp's men, who now resume their relegation fight, fearful of a return visit from the Red Devils on the final day of the Premiership season.
For United, it kept alive their hopes of landing silverware, although their victory has now ensured their eagerly-awaited clash with Chelsea must now be postponed, presumably to a time when it may have no effect on the title's destination whatsoever.
Coming so soon after they had forlornly chased AC Milan shadows at the San Siro, United might have been vulnerable. Instead, from the opening seconds, the visitors emphasised the massive gap in quality between the top end of Europe and the lower end of the Premiership.
True, Keane's early hammer blow may have sucked some of the desire out of Southampton legs but there seemed to be no lack of effort among the red and white shirts, just that they spent the majority of the opening period on retreat.
World-class
Smith justified his selection over fit-again Antti Niemi with two world-class saves, denying Rooney twice, on both occasions with the aid of the woodwork.
The form of Southampton's young keeper could yet have a knock-on effect for Saturday's opponents, who are likely to be in the hunt for yet another replacement for Peter Schmeichel in the summer, with Niemi, seated close to Ferguson's vantage point on the home bench, a strong tip to find himself at Old Trafford.
It certainly was not Smith's fault that Southampton's challenge had been totally snuffed out within three minutes of the re-start.
Any chance the Saints keeper had of keeping out Keane's second minute effort, after the Irishman had been allowed enough time to complete a complete 180 degree turn inside the home box, was lost when it flicked off Peter Crouch and flew into the roof of his goal.
Smith's heroics seemed to be pointing towards a Southampton sucker punch at some point, but Rooney, desperate to end his first season at United with a winners' medal, was in determined mood.
Even so, England's teenage striker should not have been allowed to muscle his way down the by-line in first-half stoppage time, then provided van Nistelrooy with the cut-back he touched on to Ronaldo, who rasped his shot home.
A master of motivation, Redknapp would have been sorely tested to inspire any hope in the home ranks as they discussed their bleak position at the break.
Whatever pearls of wisdom the Saints boss did impart were quickly rendered worthless as more Smith heroics earned only bad luck for the hosts as his save from van Nistelrooy triggered a succession of rebounds that ended with Scholes being presented with an open goal.
Scholes converted a similarly easy effort near the end, nodding home van Nistelrooy's cross, although by then total superiority had long been established.
Nistelrooy10 said:
didn't watch the game, did Brown or Howard get close to a screw up
good win by reds, but lets not forget its only Southempton...
Tonights game has lifted my spirits up a bit as I am just getting over the Milan game.
The boy wonder at his best - a genuine watershed moment
Jason Burt at St Mary's
13 March 2005
Last week a head teacher warned that children shouldn't be allowed to watch footballers like Wayne Rooney on television before the 9pm watershed. Last night Rooney offered his own tea-time lesson as to why they should. The 19-year-old was a threat in all the right ways. Not to the moral fabric of today's youth - he appeared barely to utter a single word, never mind an expletive, all evening - but to the morale fabric of Premiership defences. He was, in all ways, a player to aspire to. Never mind foul language. There wasn't even a foul.
"He had the sort of match that some people would dream about having," player-turned-pundit Alan Hansen purred afterwards. Indeed he did. Even when he was injured, hobbling after turning his ankle near the end, he argued to stay on. No Harry Kewell self-substitution here even if that other Harry, the Southampton manager Redknapp, had jokingly beetled over to Sir Alex Ferguson on the touchline urging him to take Rooney off.
It was, in every way, an immaculate performance. Granted this was Southampton and a makeshift Southampton at that. But they were utterly terrorised by Rooney's football, rather than Rooney the petulant man-child who had so provoked the anger of Dr Chris Howard, the complaining head, after his expletive-fuelled displays against Arsenal and Crystal Palace when the f-off-ometer suffered meltdown. Referees, of course, have been told to tighten up on swearing after those incidents. There was never cause for yesterday's official, Howard Webb, to worry. Not once, it appeared, did he even speak to Rooney.
Instead Rooney was at his belligerent, fearless, inventive best and allied this to an unrelenting appetite. Twice in the first half he struck the woodwork. The first time it was with a fierce side-footed shot that goalkeeper Paul Smith pushed up on to the crossbar only for Rooney somehow to head the rebound wide. He could be forgiven that. Then, on half-time, he brilliantly swerved away from a challenge, bore down on goal and curled a shot which Smith diverted on to a post. Uefa has already commissioned analysis into Rooney's shooting, how he decelerates before striking the ball, how he uses space. This match provided more material for the boffins in Nyon.
Take the goals. After Roy Keane had given Manchester United the lead, Rooney took over. Before this encounter there wasn't a hint that he and Ruud van Nistelrooy could work together - except for the belief that it must be impossible for such forces not to gel. Before they had looked like £46m worth of misfiring, misguided talent. But what they needed were matches and throwing them together against Milan, after Van Nistelrooy's injuries, was one thing. Then they had Cafu and Paolo Maldini. Last night Southampton had Daniel Higginbotham and Martin Crainie, a youth team player hurried in through necessity.
Rooney smelt blood. And that's dangerous when confronted with someone possessing such a fierce killer instinct. He barrelled through two challenges, claiming the ball by sheer desire and slipped a pass to Van Nistelrooy who teed up Cristiano Ronaldo. Then he flighted a pass to the Dutchman who teed up Paul Scholes. And, for the final strike, the combination was repeated. Again it started with a brilliantly weighted pass from Rooney. He was there to set Van Nistelrooy away, charge into the area, and guide a header which Smith did well to parry. "Rooney did what he does best," said Southampton's Graeme Le Saux admiringly. He was probably relieved to be injured for this one.
Rooney's performance was all the more impressive because he was deployed on the flanks. He started on the left and switched, continually and cleverly, with Ronaldo. The two teenage tyros were irrepressible. Their work-rates were unrelenting, their understanding of their allotted roles complete. The goal evaded Rooney and it evaded Van Nistelrooy, despite the assists. But it mattered little. Nothing could ruffle Rooney.
Even a late offside flag saw him simply turn and trot back without a murmur. He was speechless. And that's how his performance left viewers - both at St Mary's and in their armchairs. And probably even Dr Howard.
Jason Burt at St Mary's
13 March 2005
Last week a head teacher warned that children shouldn't be allowed to watch footballers like Wayne Rooney on television before the 9pm watershed. Last night Rooney offered his own tea-time lesson as to why they should. The 19-year-old was a threat in all the right ways. Not to the moral fabric of today's youth - he appeared barely to utter a single word, never mind an expletive, all evening - but to the morale fabric of Premiership defences. He was, in all ways, a player to aspire to. Never mind foul language. There wasn't even a foul.
"He had the sort of match that some people would dream about having," player-turned-pundit Alan Hansen purred afterwards. Indeed he did. Even when he was injured, hobbling after turning his ankle near the end, he argued to stay on. No Harry Kewell self-substitution here even if that other Harry, the Southampton manager Redknapp, had jokingly beetled over to Sir Alex Ferguson on the touchline urging him to take Rooney off.
It was, in every way, an immaculate performance. Granted this was Southampton and a makeshift Southampton at that. But they were utterly terrorised by Rooney's football, rather than Rooney the petulant man-child who had so provoked the anger of Dr Chris Howard, the complaining head, after his expletive-fuelled displays against Arsenal and Crystal Palace when the f-off-ometer suffered meltdown. Referees, of course, have been told to tighten up on swearing after those incidents. There was never cause for yesterday's official, Howard Webb, to worry. Not once, it appeared, did he even speak to Rooney.
Instead Rooney was at his belligerent, fearless, inventive best and allied this to an unrelenting appetite. Twice in the first half he struck the woodwork. The first time it was with a fierce side-footed shot that goalkeeper Paul Smith pushed up on to the crossbar only for Rooney somehow to head the rebound wide. He could be forgiven that. Then, on half-time, he brilliantly swerved away from a challenge, bore down on goal and curled a shot which Smith diverted on to a post. Uefa has already commissioned analysis into Rooney's shooting, how he decelerates before striking the ball, how he uses space. This match provided more material for the boffins in Nyon.
Take the goals. After Roy Keane had given Manchester United the lead, Rooney took over. Before this encounter there wasn't a hint that he and Ruud van Nistelrooy could work together - except for the belief that it must be impossible for such forces not to gel. Before they had looked like £46m worth of misfiring, misguided talent. But what they needed were matches and throwing them together against Milan, after Van Nistelrooy's injuries, was one thing. Then they had Cafu and Paolo Maldini. Last night Southampton had Daniel Higginbotham and Martin Crainie, a youth team player hurried in through necessity.
Rooney smelt blood. And that's dangerous when confronted with someone possessing such a fierce killer instinct. He barrelled through two challenges, claiming the ball by sheer desire and slipped a pass to Van Nistelrooy who teed up Cristiano Ronaldo. Then he flighted a pass to the Dutchman who teed up Paul Scholes. And, for the final strike, the combination was repeated. Again it started with a brilliantly weighted pass from Rooney. He was there to set Van Nistelrooy away, charge into the area, and guide a header which Smith did well to parry. "Rooney did what he does best," said Southampton's Graeme Le Saux admiringly. He was probably relieved to be injured for this one.
Rooney's performance was all the more impressive because he was deployed on the flanks. He started on the left and switched, continually and cleverly, with Ronaldo. The two teenage tyros were irrepressible. Their work-rates were unrelenting, their understanding of their allotted roles complete. The goal evaded Rooney and it evaded Van Nistelrooy, despite the assists. But it mattered little. Nothing could ruffle Rooney.
Even a late offside flag saw him simply turn and trot back without a murmur. He was speechless. And that's how his performance left viewers - both at St Mary's and in their armchairs. And probably even Dr Howard.
SAF:
"It was unthinkable that we didn't get a win. We had a setback on Tuesday but we have recovered from that and got ourselves into another semi-final.
"It would be very easy to look upon Tuesday as a disappointment that takes us no further.
"You could look at it as putting us up against a brick wall but I believe it will only lead to better things.
"I think what happened in Milan will prove to be the start of a long road to future success in Europe.
"We are not far away now and I firmly believe this team will get that success in the future.
"Those two goals really helped us.
"We are just one win away from another FA Cup final and I find that quite exciting.
"I actually love the FA Cup and you could see from the support we received how much it means to the fans."
Purple Lips:
"That's how strange football is, it changes overnight.
"People write players off but we know we have good enough players and a good enough squad to be capable of winning any game.
"It is a big competition and one we would like to win," he said.
"Being realistic, we are probably looking at it as the trophy we have a good opportunity of lifting. Chelsea are out, which gives everyone a lift.
Ferdinand:
"Getting the early goal always makes it a lot easier to deal with things
"We said before the game 'let's try and get an early goal to settle us down' and it did that.
"This result was very important to us because we wanted to rectify what happened against Milan. I'd be lying if I said the lads weren't down after that defeat, but it was a very professional performance from us today.
"Our midfield and forward play was quite good, we kept the ball reasonably well and got the goals at good times.
"Rooney and Ronaldo and the other lads upfront are doing very well at the moment, while Ruud's getting fitter with every game. Once he gets that first goal, he'll be even more confident.
"We want to win every competition we play in. It wasn't meant to be in other competitions this season, but we don't want to go a season without winning a trophy and this is a competition that we feel we're capable of winning."
Alan Hansen gives Rooney some praise:
"He had the sort of match that some people would dream about having."
Harry Redknapp:
"I don't make excuses. But it is impossible to play against Manchester United with six players missing.
"To be honest, the main thought in my mind when I came to the ground tonight was hoping my team would not get smashed up.
"Manchester United are a top side but even they would struggle if they lost five or six key men, including an entire midfield.
"We fell behind so early too. After that, we could only hope to reach half-time without conceding another and then hope to nick one.
"We were treating the FA Cup seriously and we hoped for a good draw at home. But even with a full team, you have to acknowledge Manchester United would win this fixture 90 times out of 100 and the only thing that concerns me now is survival."
"It was unthinkable that we didn't get a win. We had a setback on Tuesday but we have recovered from that and got ourselves into another semi-final.
"It would be very easy to look upon Tuesday as a disappointment that takes us no further.
"You could look at it as putting us up against a brick wall but I believe it will only lead to better things.
"I think what happened in Milan will prove to be the start of a long road to future success in Europe.
"We are not far away now and I firmly believe this team will get that success in the future.
"Those two goals really helped us.
"We are just one win away from another FA Cup final and I find that quite exciting.
"I actually love the FA Cup and you could see from the support we received how much it means to the fans."
Purple Lips:
"That's how strange football is, it changes overnight.
"People write players off but we know we have good enough players and a good enough squad to be capable of winning any game.
"It is a big competition and one we would like to win," he said.
"Being realistic, we are probably looking at it as the trophy we have a good opportunity of lifting. Chelsea are out, which gives everyone a lift.
Ferdinand:
"Getting the early goal always makes it a lot easier to deal with things
"We said before the game 'let's try and get an early goal to settle us down' and it did that.
"This result was very important to us because we wanted to rectify what happened against Milan. I'd be lying if I said the lads weren't down after that defeat, but it was a very professional performance from us today.
"Our midfield and forward play was quite good, we kept the ball reasonably well and got the goals at good times.
"Rooney and Ronaldo and the other lads upfront are doing very well at the moment, while Ruud's getting fitter with every game. Once he gets that first goal, he'll be even more confident.
"We want to win every competition we play in. It wasn't meant to be in other competitions this season, but we don't want to go a season without winning a trophy and this is a competition that we feel we're capable of winning."
Alan Hansen gives Rooney some praise:
"He had the sort of match that some people would dream about having."
Harry Redknapp:
"I don't make excuses. But it is impossible to play against Manchester United with six players missing.
"To be honest, the main thought in my mind when I came to the ground tonight was hoping my team would not get smashed up.
"Manchester United are a top side but even they would struggle if they lost five or six key men, including an entire midfield.
"We fell behind so early too. After that, we could only hope to reach half-time without conceding another and then hope to nick one.
"We were treating the FA Cup seriously and we hoped for a good draw at home. But even with a full team, you have to acknowledge Manchester United would win this fixture 90 times out of 100 and the only thing that concerns me now is survival."