“I’ll Take That!” – One’s a Piece, and a Hard Game Under the Rug!
Article by Ben MummeryClick here to follow e-Sunderland on Twitter!
“Manchester United” – The appearance alone of the club’s name in the fixture list brings nothing but anxiety to even the most die-hard Sunderland fan. To avoid depression, we’ll not bother looking at specific stats, but suffice to say that until last season’s league and cup victory on penalties against the red half of Manchester, the Black Cat’s record against the Red Devils has been little short of appalling.
With regime and structural changes ringing at Old Trafford, and following a tempestuous season under the un-fruitful tenure of David Moyes, many perceive United to be a shadow of their former selves, the un-beatable giants of European, and world football – rest assured, we Sunderland fans know better than to trust such temperate drops in form, as you can bet your life that if a team like Manchester United are going to pick a game to re-discover their world beating aura, it’ll be guaranteed to be at the Stadium of Light!
Last week’s away trip to West Brom gave us a glimpse of Poyet’s new look side, which many fans would consider to be at current, incomplete However it was fair to say that a 2-2 draw was a fair result, and there were many positives to take away from the performance. Home form had been a serious concern for us last term, and as the first home tie of the season loomed large, the importance of a solid home start was there for all to see. Solid it was indeed! Poyet’s starting eleven took on a striking resemblance to last week’s team, with Valentine Roberge making way for loanee Santiago Vergini at right back, and new signing Will Buckley replacing Adam Johnson, who was ruled out through illness.
Buckley would line up against the little known Tyler Blacket, who Louis Van Gaal chose to start in the left back position, among a Man Utd stating eleven that featured super stars such as Juan Mata, Robin van Persie, and Wayne Rooney. Ashley Young was also preferred in the wide left position, while Darren Fletcher and Tom Cleverly started centrally.
The opening exchanges of the match undoubtedly belonged to Sunderland, with the home side moving fluidly, and making Van Gaal’s team look out of sorts in all areas to the point that the Dutchman looked ready to make a change after the fifteen minute mark!
However when Antonio Valencia’s low cross was whipped in from right of the attacking team’s by-line, the home side’s backline was caught napping as Spaniard Juan Mata was on hand to poke home from inside 6 yards.
In spite of taking the early lead, and far be it from a humble Sunderland fan to rant and rave about their recent loss of identity, United looked a ghost of their former selves. It is almost sad to say, but the factors relating to a Manchester United team of the last ten years were just not visible in any of their play.
When you played against a Ferguson Man Utd side, you knew certain things would happen. His side would move with pace, and precision. Passing would be deliberate, almost cruel at times, incisive and meaningful. His back four would fear no man, and his midfield would surrender possession dearly, if at all. You knew full well that all over the pitch, there would be leaders, from front to back, throwing grenades at players who gave away the ball, missed a tackle, or at wide men who didn’t track back. The likes of Roy Kean, Gary Neville, Giggs, Scholes, or more recently Vidic, Evra and the likes, would grab the game by the scruff of the neck and take responsibility for making sure they ground out a goal, a point, a win – anything!
This simply was not evident on Sunday. Their pace was little more than pedestrian at some points. Passing was sideways, backwards, at times, where the Red Devils of old would have looked to dissect teams with killer balls and scything runs. Lee Cattermole did in all fairness, have yet another fantastic performance in the center of the pitch, and is going some distance to prove wrong any of his doubters, but one can’t help but think that in days gone by, an opposition midfield wouldn’t have got close to Paul Scholes, or stripped one ball from Roy Kean. Sunderland were able to feed Will Buckley throughout the first half with relative ease, and to the new boy’s credit, he looked an exciting prospect, if lacking a full ninety minutes’s fitness.
The former Brighton man looked to make meaningful runs, rather than simply head for the corners. He took on Tyler Blackett with purpose, and looked to hit space, and cross the by-line - one hopes for big things from this young man!
When Sunderland’s equaliser came, it was again, in a way that you just couldn’t imagine your team scoring against Manchester United – a free header from a corner!
Antonio Valencia, charged with the marking of 6’1 new boy Jack Rodwell, tracked his man to about the 6 yard line, then simply left him unattended to rise up un-marked and head home. Not to take anything away from Rodwell’s finish, and it was pleasing to see him notch a good goal on his home debut, but against Man. United? A free header? From a corner?.............. REALLY?
Manchester’s red half looked positively mortal, beatable, even referee Martin Atkinson ruled against them on more than one occasion that would in the past have been dismissed without a second thought, ‘United have certainly lost their indestructible sheen!
Not surprisingly, Sky Pundit Gary Neville was scathing in his post-match assessment, however it has to be said that all things considered, a draw was indeed a fair result. Sunderland created chances in both periods of the game, through Larsson, Buckley, and Wickham, who looked a threat deployed in his secondary role on the wide left. The five goal star of last season’s “miracle” created one particularly exciting chance when he rolled his man twenty yards from goal, opened his body for a shot, only to fire tamely at the ‘keeper.
Buckley continued to probe toward the ‘United goal down the right flank, and mention must be made to both Van Aanholt and Virgini, who partially thanks to Man U’s formation, were able to look at getting forward into the opposition half on more than one occasion, and used the width of the pitch to good effect. Seb Larsson, deployed centrally, produced another commendable display, and threatened to score from a fine curling free kick, only to see his effort sail a few inched wide of De Gea’s near post.
United had their share of opportunities to grab a winner later in the second half, with the pick of the talking points coming from a van Persie surge into the penalty area, only to be stopped by the lunging Virgini, who took a real risk going off his feet, but managed to get enough of the ball to convince Mr.
Atkinson that no foul had been committed (another one you’d think that under Fergie, would have seen the ref. point straight to the spot?).
From the resulting play, Wes Brown committed to clear the ball while still inside the box in a fifty/fifty challenge with the on-rushing Ashley Young, only to pull clear at the last possible second, the defender having to stand and watch as the wide man performed a perfect swan dive, arms akimbo, the Former ‘United man’s heart in his mouth. Martin Atkinson however was having none of it, and produced a yellow card for Young, who’s disgraceful conduct in many a penalty area seems to show no sign of relent.
United continued to press for the winner late into the second half and resulting five minutes of injury time with the lion’s share of possession, however Sunderland’s organised and fluid defense held firm, substitute Jozy Altidore did well to hold up the ball in the opposition half – a clear instruction from Poyet to blunt any Manchester United attack. A point seemed like the right result with sufficient chances for each side, and sloppy defending on both parts for each other’s goals.
Most importantly, the first home game of the season is now under the belt without defeat, and Manchester United, with their new coach, new system, and potential for dramatic resurgence, are now out of the way. There is still work to be done in the final week of the transfer window, which has been a constant source of frustration for Sunderland fans all summer, however it is fair to say that those that have been brought in, are beginning to look the part.
In summary, after two matches, Sunderland now have twice the points haul we had after eight last season! A potential away game banana skin, and a home tie against the dreaded Man U have seen a pair of decent, scoring performances – three goals, two points, and a zero goal difference. Not bad, all things considered!
Take care to follow @e_footnall, and @e_sunderland on twitter, for our final week’s transfer activity, and all things Sunderland.
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