09/12/06: United 3 City 1Updated: October 3rd, 2007
A team that cost £120million to assemble beat the team that cost £18million at a library near Manchester on Saturday.
But Clive Tyldesley, writing in the Daily Telegraph, summed up what really divides the two teams on derby day:
Old Firm games may harbour more bad blood and bigotry, local rivalries run every bit as deep by the Tyne and Wear and Mersey, annual pockets of hatred break out in the most unlikely corners of the British football map. But United and City fans are just different. You don’t need to see their colours in order to segregate them on derby day. One lot have a prerequisite sense of superiority, the other lot have an inbred sense of humour. They don’t mix. Noel Gallagher supports one, Eamonn Holmes the other.
Enough has already been said about the game, but I think Pearce’s criticism of Corradi afterwards is worth commenting on.
The jury is still out on whether Pearce will be a successful manager, but one area I believe he falls down on is the public criticism of his players.
First there was the outburst following the defeat at home to Boro in April where he accused the team of having “a lack of moral courage” (full transcript here). True, that was a very poor performance, but you wonder what part the public condemnation played in our dismal run that followed.
Stephen Jordan has twice been on the receiving end of public criticism, first in February (link) and again after the Sheff Utd game. The following game at Wigan, Jordan put in his worst ever performance in a City shirt and looked like a player whose confidence had been shot to pieces. Pearce also criticised Weaver’s positioning after his first game back against Chelsea, and has now put Corradi into the firing line.
I can’t think of a successful manager in the modern game who has been so publicly critical of his players. One manager from the past - Brian Clough - does spring to mind though. It’s likely that Pearce is following the example set by his former boss, but I do wonder whether this is a character trait that only the great man himself was capable of getting away with.
~ Pearce’s post-match interview
~ Getty Images photos
~ Latest Premiership table.
The theatre of wet dreams
The other week I posted a link to BBC story from 2005 about a group of electricians who had pulled some plugs out of the neon sign at Old Trafford to spell a four-letter word.
I couldn’t find a picture of it at the time, but then I received an email from Chris Williamson who was sent a photo of it by a friend of his last year. And here it is:
I thought today might be a good day to show it.
Match stats
The accuracy of the crossing is the stat which stands out from Saturday, with United delivering seven crosses that found a player to our one.
The stats (below) are compiled from the live commentary and differ slightly from Sky’s stats:
Match reports
I know derbies divide but this one even split the press down the middle, with some papers (most notably The Observer’s Paul Wilson) describing an easy United victory, while others saw it as a game we could have snatched something from.
Lippi is in town to see United benefit from a little local charity (Guardian)
Such a narrow scoreline was mainly down to United’s wastefulness. A two-goal cushion by half time barely reflected the chasm in quality between these neighbours offensively.
City make a song and dance … and not much else (Observer)
Instead of raising their game for a derby, City followed the limp example set by Spurs at Arsenal last week and looked as if they would have preferred to have been somewhere else.
Scholes raises the bar for Chelsea (Independent)
City’s most promising moments tended to come from set-pieces or crosses into the penalty area and winning the second ball, often headed away without as much conviction as Ferguson would have wanted.
Corradi heads for classroom (Daily Telegraph)
For a side who Pearce believes are passing a football more smoothly than Arsenal, United produced an uneven, sometimes stuttering display. In the dozen minutes between Hatem Trabelsi’s shot cannoning into the net from Edwin van der Sar’s crossbar and Cristiano Ronaldo’s emphatic finish, there was a danger Manchester United might be held to a third successive derby draw at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo rises to the occasion (Sunday Telegraph)
This was, at least, one of the more competitive derbies in this stadium, even though it promised to be another one-sided affair when some appalling City defending, plus some Rooney quick thinking, set up Louis Saha for his 12th goal of the season right on half-time.
Bold United stand firm (Sunday Times)
City were never quite out of it until Cristiano Ronaldo burnished another match-winning performance with his team’s third goal, six minutes from time. Casualness and carelesness by United, especially in the box, was partly to blame but City’s spirit had to be acknowledged. Joey Barton and, surprisingly, Darius Vassell ensured their team always competed spikily, and home bums were squeaky for a time following Hatem Trabelsi’s gorgeous goal.
Manchester United 3 Manchester City 1 (Sunday Mirror)
Stuart Pearce’s men travelled back across town claiming the result would have been very different had they taken their own chances. In truth, the hosts were panicstricken in the period between Hatem Trabelsi halving City’s deficit in the 72nd minute and Ronaldo delivering the coup de grace with United’s third goal six minutes from time.
Season-on-season table
City drop one point but remain in 17th in the season-on-season table, which compares results to the corresponding fixtures from last year.
(Results against last season’s relegated clubs - Sunderland, West Brom and Birmingham - are compared to Sheff Utd, Watford and Reading respectively)
Here are the next three fixtures with the results from last season:
(H) Sun Dec 17: Tottenham (lost 2-0)
(H) Sat Dec 23: Bolton (lost 1-0)
(A) Tues Dec 26: Sheff Utd (won 2-1)
Player ratings
For the record, he’s a breakdown of how much Saturday’s starting line-ups cost.
City: Weaver, Richards, Dunne (£3.0m), Distin (£4.0m), Thatcher (£0.1m), Trabelsi, Reyna (£2.5m), Barton, Vassell (£2.0m), Corradi (£1.1m), Samaras (£5.2m)
Total: £17.9m
United: Van der Sar (£2.0m), Neville, Ferdinand (£30m), Vidic (£7.0m), Heinze (£6.9m), Ronaldo (£12.2m), Carrick (£18.6m), Scholes, Giggs, Rooney (£31m), Saha (£12.8m)
Total: £120.5m
Ratings come from (in order): Grob, french_tony (Mancityfans) ReverendJeff, FleetwoodBlue, rM (Wookie’s Lair), MEN, Sunday Times, Sunday Mirror, Sky, Sky Your Rating
Weaver (Isaksson 45): 7, 6, 6, 7, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 5.2 (av: 6.1)
Had made two decent saves and done precious little wrong when he received dead leg in melee for Reds’ second goal. (MEN)
Had no chance with the goals and was doing well until injury. (Grob)
Pulled off some great saves but arguably could have done better for their second goal. Hope he gets better soon but will he be able to get back in team? (french_tony)
Didn’t do anything wrong but nothing spectacular either. (ReverendJeff)
Beaten to easily on his near post for the first goal. Should of at least got near it. (rM)
Richards (Beasley 76): 7, 7, 7.5, 7, 6, 7, 6, 7, 8, 6.0 (av: 6.9)
Won some vital headers in United box and was unlucky not to score before his first derby ended with a another dead leg. (MEN)
A threat in their box, solid defending against a world class player in Giggs. Played well. (Grob)
Great game and unlucky not to have scored a couple. Got forward and defended very well. (french_tony)
A real danger going forward, could’ve been stronger at the back. (ReverendJeff)
Looked a bit clueless at times as if he wasn’t sure what position he was supposed to be in, looks a real treat when he gets in the box though. (rM)
Dunne: 7, 5.5, 7.5, 5, 4, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4.7 (av: 5.6 )
Skipper won some important challenges and headers but, as seems his lot in derbies, was unlucky for goals one and three. (MEN)
Should have dealt with the ball from Rooney better for the 3rd goal, but considering the quality of the forwards he was up against, he did well. (Grob)
Worst game of the season. Made a few good tackles but no excuse for some of his shabby defending. (french_tony)
A bit off the pace early doors but strong as the game went on. (ReverendJeff)
Once again, a liability away from home. (FleetwoodBlue)
Oh dear. (rM)
Distin: 7, 5.5, 6.5, 6, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4.8 (av: 5.4)
Early miskick from Ronaldo’s low centre was a bad error and gifted United the lead. Thereafter seldom seemed comfortable. (MEN)
Similar to Dunne, bad error for the first goal but after that he did well. Kept Saha quiet for the most part. (Grob)
Like Dunne, was off today. (french_tony)
Didn’t notice him too much, not sure if that’s good or bad. (ReverendJeff)
Had a role in at least 2 of their goals but on other occasions made timely intervention. (rM)
Thatcher: 7, 7, 8, 4, 5, 6, 5, 5, 7, 5.3 (av: 5.9)
Quite why he was booked for the fifth time this season is a mystery but otherwise did as well as he could against Ronaldo. (MEN)
Considering he was up against Ronaldo, who is playing magnificently at the moment, he can come away from the game with a lot of credit. (Grob)
Solid game. Again doesn’t offer anything in their half and is awful at crossing. (french_tony)
Really strong. His best game for us. (ReverendJeff)
Embarrasing (FleetwoodBlue)
Didn’t do much wrong compared to the glaring mistakes of others. (rM)
Trabelsi: 7, 7, 7, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7, 5.4 (av: 6.2)
Marked his derby debut with stunning goal but was sometimes guilty of giving ball away cheaply as second goal showed. (MEN)
Telling contributions on the right for the most part. Good crossing and provided an outlet. Looked fantastic when he moved to full back. At fault for the second goal but should have had more help when he was backed into a corner. And what a strike. (Grob)
At fault for 2nd goal IF IN DOUBT TWAT IT OUT. Great goal though and played better second half. (french_tony)
Tidy enough but no real penetration for long periods. Great goal. Improved. (ReverendJeff)
Reyna (Ireland 45): 5, 6, 8, 6, 5, 5, 6, 4, 6, 5.0 (av: 5.6)
He too limped out of the fray at the interval with a tight hamstring. Had enjoyed a decent battle with Carrick and Scholes. (MEN)
Poor display. Couldn’t get into the game and I cant recall a single decent contribution he made to the match. Ireland outshone him tenfold. He needs to come out of the side. (Grob)
Better than last week but still quite anonymous at times. Was he injured? (french_tony)
Really good first half. Nice tidy passing. (Dons tin hat) (ReverendJeff)
By-passed. (rM)
Barton: 6, 7, 8.5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 6, 7, 5.6 (av: 6.6)
Early challenge on Ronaldo suggested fiery afternoon but he was disciplined and determined at the heart of the midfield. (MEN)
Was Ok up against 2 of the best midfielders in England. Passing was patchy and dead ball delivery was hit and miss but he worked very hard, got a foot in, and always looked to drive the team forward. (Grob)
Usual self, ran the show with Ireland second half and played a brilliant cross field ball to Vassell. (french_tony)
Our best player. Controlled large amounts of the game. (ReverendJeff)
Vassell: 6, 6, 5, 5, 5, 5, 7, 5, 5, 4.8 (av: 5.4)
Never given the opportunity to test Neville’s sore calf on the outside but was certainly not short of effort for the cause. (MEN)
Should have closed down Ronaldo quicker on the first goal for the rags. Got no change out of Neville. Not a left winger in the slightest. Helped stretch the game when he went upfront. Needs to be given a run in that position. (Grob)
Still runs like a headless chicken but offers pace to our static front line. Takes too many touches. (french_tony)
Thought he was awful first half despite looking bright initially. Lost the ball and gave up chase several times. (ReverendJeff)
Corradi: 5, 5, 7, 6, 3, 5, 6, 4, 5, 4.5 (av: 5.1)
City looked lightweight in attack and it didn’t help when he dived in an attempt to win a penalty. Pearce was not amused. (MEN)
Below average performance. Couldn’t trap a bag of cement and was dealt with easily by Vidic. Nowhere near the calibre of the players he went up against. And a poor effort at cheating at the end. (Grob)
Awful game and he loses more point for his dive. Is totally unnessesary. Slow and anonymous, don’t think he had a chance on goal? (french_tony)
Not poor, not great. Dropped deep well at times to link up play. Shocking dive. (ReverendJeff)
Well done to the ref for sending him off. Cheats should never prosper. Ashamed of him. (FleetwoodBlue)
Ashamed of him. (rM)
Samaras: 5.5, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 6, 4, 6, 5.1 (av: 5.6)
Not really his day against solid Reds defence. Spent an awful lot of time outside danger area and got in way of Richards header. (MEN)
Shows glimpses of quality, like the volley, but for the most part was ineffective. Desperately needs a goal. Looked quite good when moved out wide right! (Grob)
Good game by George considering he played in 3 diferent positions. Still a bit to greedy at times but was involved all game and took on the United defense. Great volley. (french_tony)
A few nice touches but weak on the ball and off-colour. (ReverendJeff)
Subs:
Isaksson (Weaver 45): 8, 8, 7.5, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 5.9 (av: 7.1)
Made a couple of excellent saves on his debut setting up a battle for the keeper’s jersey. (MEN)
Kept us in the game with a string of brilliant saves. Looks money well spent. The save from Rooney was one of the best I’ve seen in ages. (Grob)
MOM. Brilliant debut. Pulled off some incredible saves and looked assured. That save from Rooney is save of the season for me. (french_tony)
Did nothing wrong. One world-class save. Promising. (ReverendJeff)
Ireland (Reyna 45): 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 5, 7, 5.4 (av: 6.7)
If he can maintain this level of performance he will be hard to shift. (MEN)
Moved the ball around well and looked great going forward. Had a great effort at goal too. Got a foot in here and there but still looks very lightweight. Partnership with Barton will never work. Both follow the ball too much. (Grob)
Great game from Stevie. Midfield looks so much better when we have some creativity in it. Must play from now on. Great set-up for the goal. (french_tony)
Made a real difference. Unlucky not to score. Looked good alongside Barton. (ReverendJeff)
Beasley (Richards 76): 6, 6, 7, - , - , 5, 6, 5, 6, 5.1 (av: 5.8)
Not much time to attune to the pace of the game. (MEN)
Looked bright on the left and I hope he gets a run in the side in that position from here on in. (Grob)
Didn’t get much of the ball. Is a bit too lightweight for the premiership. Did some nice touches and had a good attempt at end. (french_tony)
Looked sharp. Good pass and move play and a bit of pace. (ReverendJeff)
Subs not used:
Dickov, Onuoha