Manchester United avenged the FA Cup loss they suffered in January 2010 by strolling to a 3-0 win over a very poor Leeds side. A brace from Michael Owen and Ryan Giggs’ eleventh League Cup goal for United ensured safe progress in to the fourth round. The Reds barely had to get out of second gear and had the luxury of finishing the game with ten men after debutant Ezekiel Fryers had to leave the game early with what looked like a calf injury.
When the teams were released few could have predicted the match would have been so easy. The starting line up comprised of four strikers, four midfielders and two defenders. It was something akin to a game of Football Manager. However, we should know by now that more often than not Sir Alex gets it right and tonight he was spot on. He was able to completely rest our only fit first choice defenders ahead of Stoke on Saturday. This meant a debut for Zeki Fryers who partnered Michael Carrick in central defence with Ben Amos getting the nod ahead of Lindegaard between the sticks. Owen, Diouf and Macheda all made their first appearances of the season in an extremely attacking front six.
Fears that this team could be exploited by a Leeds side who would surely be up for the occasion were soon dispelled when Owen gave United a 14th minute lead. After good inter play from Giggs, Berbatov and Park, the latter fed Owen in the box who wrong footed the defender before slotting home. In truth, Leeds were unlucky not to take the lead before this as they seen shots blocked three times in quick succession. It was the only occasion they threatened in the first half before Ferguson’s men, led by a supreme Giggs cameo, asserted their authority on the game. Owen doubled the lead with a sweet strike after good work from Diouf down the right hand side. Valencia was unlucky not to make it three when he slid a shot past the post after being played in by Owen before Giggs did make it three on the stroke of half time and all but ended the game as a contest. He played a short corner to Park and when he got the return pass, he squared up his man, nutmegged him, sped past him like he was still 21 then hit a shot with the outside of his left boot which took a deflection before ending up in the back of the net.
It was a sublime first half performance from United and the 3-0 scoreline did not flatter the visitors. The Reds seen out an uneventful second half and gave debuts to Paul Pogba and Larnell Cole in the process. All in all it was a successful night with many positives and few negatives. Sir Alex will be happy to see his side get through to the fourth round unscathed and put Leeds in their place in the process. The draw for the fourth round will be made on Saturday afternoon.
Post Match Debate
Debut boys: Fryers, Pogba and Cole
All the pre match talk was about the imminent debut of Paul Pogba. Many felt he would start the game but as I pointed out in my preview, I thought he would start on the bench. He duly did and a surprise debut was handed to Ezekiel Fryers. Maybe it should have been less as a surprise given our defensive situation but it was pleasing to see Sir Alex put faith in the 19 year old. To be fair to Zeki it was just rewards for his impressive pre season form. He has been excellent at the heart of the reserves defence at a time when his defensive colleagues were dropping like flies through injury. He continued this form in to this game and was excellent from the first whistle until he had to depart 10 minutes early through injury. Although rarely tested by a toothless Leeds front line, he coped with everything that came his way. He won almost all his aerial duels, read the play well, showed excellent pace and his distribution was spot on. The only time I think he misplaced a pass was when he tried an ambitious 60 yard cross field ball. He should be pleased with his first team bow and expect further opportunities in the Carling Cup and possibly other competitions this season if he keeps up his current form.
Paul Pogba entered the fray at the start of the second half, coming on for the mercurial Giggs. The first thing to say is Pogba is one for the future, not the present. All those calling for his inclusion in the first team right now need to calm down. He isn’t ready just yet and tonight proved it. That’s not to say he had a bad game but it was clear he still has a lot to learn at this level, something which has got to be expected. Without showing flashes of his undoubted talent, he played sensibly most of the time which was more pleasing to see. He kept the balling moving and moved with it, always looking to receive it from whoever was in possession. He was caught a couple of times and played some poor passes but he always held his hands up and acknowledged his mistakes. He is a man amongst boys in youth football but he is still a boy amongst men at this level. We should be happy and content at these brief cameos for now.
Larnell Cole was the third debutant of the night, getting a run out ahead of Tom Thorpe, Michael Keane and Reece Brown who would have all been looking to get some minutes too. No doubt one of them would have had Cole not been brought on before Fryers succumbed to his injury. Nevertheless, Cole buzzed about the pitch in his brief time on it. He wasn’t that involved but had the audacity to backheel the ball to Valencia with a Leeds player in close proximity. He is another for the future and could benefit from United’s progress in this competition.
Kiko Macheda: Where art thou?
Kiko, Kiko, Kiko. The memories of you turning on a sixpence and curling in to the far corner are getting more and more distant with every passing performance. Of course it doesn’t help when he is shunted out wide. He isn’t a winger, you can’t even get away with playing him out there like you can with Welbeck and Diouf. However, this does not excuse his ineptitude at carrying out the basics. His passing was awful, he couldn’t make a simple 10 yard pass inside to Giggs. He took too many touches on the ball when a simple pass was on. His decision making was poor and his link up play was non-existent. His all round offensive game was terrible. If I could pick out one positive it was his work rate, he got up and down the left flank most of the night and helped out Fabio at left back but you’d struggle to find another positive. You can’t question his desire or his thirst to be a United player but he needs to start performing and taking these kinds of opportunities or he could find himself surplus to requirements.
The curious case of Ryan Giggs
Once again the Welsh Wizard turned back the clock and put in a performance that belies his advancing years. You wouldn’t think he was approaching 38 years of age and in (all probability) the final season of his career. He continues to make his opponents look foolish with his quick change of direction and burst of pace over 5 yards. His performance was a master class and the youngsters on the bench should have been paying close attention to a player who has won it all in club football. His goal capped off a superb first half cameo before he made way at the interval. It was disappointing he went off and was probably the main reason we didn’t score in the second half as every move in the first 45 minutes went through the Welshmen. It is performances like this we need to savour as the curtain comes down on his glittering career. Appreciate what we still have as it won’t be round for much longer.
Player Ratings:
Amos 7, Valencia 7, Carrick 7, Fryers 8, Fabio 7, Diouf 6, Park 7, Giggs 8, Macheda 5, Owen 7, Berbatov 6. Subs: Pogba 6, Welbeck 5, Cole 5By Mick Higgins (Follow Mick on Twitter)
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