Well one thing that the first match that this blog reports on can’t be accused of was being boring as Sir Alex fielded 2 midfielders in a very un-orthodox back 3 in a seriously patched up team. With pretty much a full first team out of action it was down to Fletcher and Carrick to step in at the back alongside stand in captain Patrice Evra and the back three were often found wanting in the height department and it is a wonder that Wolfsburg didn’t score at least 3 headers to add to their headed goal.
The first half was a patchy affair with very little quality on show on what was a very heavy pitch by champions league standards. Wolfsburg had plenty of chances and Danny Welbeck had a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside although we shouldn’t have been complaining too much as Carrick was lucky to get away with a penalty decision earlier in the half aided only by the direction the ball happened to go.
Nani was his usual woeful self and it can only be a matter of time before he is shown the door. This was way below what he can normally produce and it really looks as if he is very short on confidence. Every time he got the ball he looked to run at defenders but his final ball was really poor and I lost count of the amount of times he gave it away when under no pressure at all. Having spent the first half slagging him off it was inevitable that he produced a delightful cross on the stroke of half time that Micheal Owen could simply flick home for the opener. A simple and well taken goal that reminded us all what Owen could do.
Wolfsburg came out in the second half and played like a team who’s champions league participation was on the line and they soon got their goal when our lack of height at the back was exposed. At this stage the game was turning and we were under the cosh with our three at the back system clearly not working and Sir Alex produced a masterstroke by bringing on Obertan and Valencia and losing the useless and lightweight Nani. The game changed and our shape was much better with a traditional 4-4-2. We would have settled for the draw that would have ensured top spot in the group but Obertan produced a moment of sheer brilliance in the box to lose 3 defenders and provide Owen with a tap in for his second goal of the night. Obertan is clearly a huge talent and all of his appearances have been impressive and it could soon be time to give him a couple of starts in bigger games.
A wonderful away day was completed in the last minute when Owen raced clear and chipped the keeper with a delightful finish for his third. Ferguson said after the game that Owen had been looking really sharp in training and there is no doubt that he took all his goals really well. Owen has always been a form player and when he does go on runs he will score goals for fun so fingers crossed he keeps this up during the busy Christmas season. He has to be a decent bet to start against Villa and if can nab one there the confidence will really be flying and who knows what he can do for us.
All in all a good way to wrap up the year in Europe and hopefully a step towards getting some of the back four back in place because we were lucky enough not to concede more goals on the night and I wouldn’t like to see what Aston Villa could do to our defense in it’s current state.
