Today I think I was proved right and wrong. Right about the state of the current Man Utd team, wrong about a certain Mr Torres. I still don't think Torres is a "great" player, but I have not seen him perform better in a red grey shirt. I didn't think he was capable of upsetting both Ferdinand and Vidic like he did, but he really was magnificent, especially in the first half. His finish was clinical, and his pass to Gerrard which led to the penalty was quality. In the big games that I've seen him in before he has often left me underwhelmed -- even when he has scored -- but against United he was outstanding. Andy Gray even went as far as to call him "the best striker in the world". From what I've seen of David Villa I might disagree, and Drogba on his day is probably more lethal, but Torres is there or thereabouts. More of these kinds of displays in the latter stages of the Champions League and he may well prove to be the most valuable hitman in the business.
Liverpool as a team were far superior to United, which makes Fergie's claims that his side had the better of it laughable. Carragher and Aurelio were rarely troubled by the industrious but limited Park and the lethargic, unwilling-to-take-on-opponents Ronaldo. The latter was particularly abject, seemingly content to prance about on the wings and hope for something to come his way rather than fight for it. The game just seemed to pass United's front three by, along with their central midfield.
I've never been a fan of Carrick's, or Anderson's for that matter. Carrick is simply not good enough to be the creative spark in a midfield, and Anderson is yet to really contribute anything of note in this first two seasons at Old Trafford (and yet for some reason people rate him really highly?). If I'm not mistaken the two played at the Emirates together earlier in the season and were less than convincing, especially when United were two behind and crying out for them to make something happen. Carrick is grand when you're 2-0 up and the opposition give you space, but his slowness of thought, average close control, and fragility in possession make him a liability when faced against someone of Mascherano's defensive calibre. As I've said before -- perhaps twice -- this is not a good Manchester United midfield. They're decent, but I would take an Alonso/Mascherano, Lampard/Essien, Fabregas/Song over it without a doubt. And when you look at Barcelona's midfield -- Xavi and Iniesta -- well, you begin to wonder about the Red Devil's Champions League credentials. They're unbreachable defense has made them favourites thus far, but now that some chinks have appeared in the armour perhaps some opinions need to be reconsidered.
Of course this could easily be, and most certiainly is, a blip. The wobbly showing at Newcastle, Wednesday's dodgy display and today's disaster don't exactly undo a season of outstanding defensive work. I expect a backlash over the next few games, so watch out Fulham etc. The quadruple is still a realistic possibility, and despite today's setback the league is stil very much theirs to throw away. However, this season, trophies might not tell the whole truth. Can you really win four major competitions and not be a great team? That sounds absolutely absurd, but in my opinion it may just be the case. If this United side were playing the one with Keane, Scholes, Beckham, Giggs et al, for me there would only be one winner, and it wouldn't be the team that has the official best player in the world.
Liverpool as a team were far superior to United, which makes Fergie's claims that his side had the better of it laughable. Carragher and Aurelio were rarely troubled by the industrious but limited Park and the lethargic, unwilling-to-take-on-opponents Ronaldo. The latter was particularly abject, seemingly content to prance about on the wings and hope for something to come his way rather than fight for it. The game just seemed to pass United's front three by, along with their central midfield.
I've never been a fan of Carrick's, or Anderson's for that matter. Carrick is simply not good enough to be the creative spark in a midfield, and Anderson is yet to really contribute anything of note in this first two seasons at Old Trafford (and yet for some reason people rate him really highly?). If I'm not mistaken the two played at the Emirates together earlier in the season and were less than convincing, especially when United were two behind and crying out for them to make something happen. Carrick is grand when you're 2-0 up and the opposition give you space, but his slowness of thought, average close control, and fragility in possession make him a liability when faced against someone of Mascherano's defensive calibre. As I've said before -- perhaps twice -- this is not a good Manchester United midfield. They're decent, but I would take an Alonso/Mascherano, Lampard/Essien, Fabregas/Song over it without a doubt. And when you look at Barcelona's midfield -- Xavi and Iniesta -- well, you begin to wonder about the Red Devil's Champions League credentials. They're unbreachable defense has made them favourites thus far, but now that some chinks have appeared in the armour perhaps some opinions need to be reconsidered.
Of course this could easily be, and most certiainly is, a blip. The wobbly showing at Newcastle, Wednesday's dodgy display and today's disaster don't exactly undo a season of outstanding defensive work. I expect a backlash over the next few games, so watch out Fulham etc. The quadruple is still a realistic possibility, and despite today's setback the league is stil very much theirs to throw away. However, this season, trophies might not tell the whole truth. Can you really win four major competitions and not be a great team? That sounds absolutely absurd, but in my opinion it may just be the case. If this United side were playing the one with Keane, Scholes, Beckham, Giggs et al, for me there would only be one winner, and it wouldn't be the team that has the official best player in the world.
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