Impressions from St Mary’s (vs Southampton)

By: Shaun | January 29th, 2011

Owen Impressions (some are more rants):

1. How much more time do we give Gibson before completely writing him off? I’ve been saying (to myself as much as to anyone else) that we should temper our frustration at the younger players with an understanding that they need to mature into their positions and understanding of the game. But today, it looked like a lot of the very fundamental aspects of being a good footballer were missing in his game. Did not think it was possible, but it looks like his first touch has actually gotten worse. Do we hang on and hope that Gibson blossoms eventually like Fletcher? Or do we just cut our losses and just release him in the summer? Or (the best case scenario IMO) is to include him as part exchange together with a fee for Henderson over the summer. You never know, playing for Sunderland seems to bring out the best in players who can’t quite cut it at OT.

2. If fringe players like Gibson and Obertan are going to be as bad as they were tonight, we would be better of playing the likes of Pogba and getting the youngsters with real potential the chance to acclimate themselves with the first team. After all, I don’t think Pogba could have had a worse game than Gibson did today.

3. SAF’s decision to start Lindegaard over Kuszczak could not have gone down well with the Pole. He may have spent his night at St Mary’s ruing over his decision to turn down the loan move to Leicester.

ando 4. Gibson’s poor performance aside, he wasn’t helped by an equally hapless Anderson. The young Brazilian has been like Nani from last season – absolutely brilliant and unstoppable in some games. Completely atrocious and wasteful in others. Today’s performance was unfortunately, the latter.

5. Obertan cannot possible have that much time left to impress. He attempted numerous flicks with noone around and instantly presented the ball back to the home team. Between him and Gibson, I wasn’t sure who the more frustrating player to watch was.

6. Giggs came in and instantly brought a calm to our midfield. Suddenly, we could make a pass again and for the first time, we actually had Southampton on the back foot. Nani created more chances for us in his 32 minutes of play than we would have created had we stayed with the same lineup and played on for another 180 minutes.

7. SAF talked about our slow start to this match being a byproduct of his tinkering with the formation and attempting to try out a midfield diamond. It also doesn’t help when the players playing the diamond aren’t able to connect on simple passes. At least he’s willing to take some of the blame and attempt to remove some of the heat off his players.

chichagoal 8. Chicharito saving the day is becoming a recurring theme for us this season. Guess you can add this winning goal to his growing list of game winning/point earning goals. Just as impressive is his ability to score even when it looks like his body isn’t positioned correctly (remember the header against Stoke?). In today’s game, it looked like he had stumbled or overrun the ball, yet he squeezed it under the keeper right into the corner. Brilliant.

9. We did a good job on the next Theo Walcott. Oxlade Chamberlain didn’t do anything to put us in too much of a bother. Maybe he was just trying to ensure he stays healthy before the January window closes. Those transfer physicals can be tricky sometimes…

2 come from behind wins in 4 days doesn’t quite make us comeback kings just yet. However, the ability to turn around our dismal away form and have the character to not just come back from a deficit to earn a draw, but to press on for a win must help the psyche in the dressing room. Now, how about we learn to score first and stay ahead instead of only showing up for the 2nd half of games?

Some Related Man United Posts:

Category: Chicharito, FA Cup, Manchester United, Ryan Giggs

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Swapnil

my problem with the likes of gibson,obertan is that whenever they play i never once feel like they want to prove themselves.there is no desire no urgency in their play.lack of talent,quality is a different thing but surely that doesn't stop you from giving your 100% on the pitch!!!
ahmad_h

you can't expect obertan to play well with a lousy midfield on his side, he doesn't have that quality in him, but whenever the midfield plays good he grows confident, still young, so i'd give him another chance or two.
as for gibson, where do i start...... i don't want to seem harsh but he never showed me a good game ever :/, usually u can see bits and pieces of talents from young players that would make you want to expect more of them, but in gibson's case, i haven't so far seen a damn thing, there's no sign of improvement what so ever :/
anderson has evolved immensely, simply today was a bad game .... wouldn't bother me a bit
giggs will not retire.... over my dead body :@:@:@:@
i like our new GK, looks solid
GGMU, undefeated all the way :)
David 2 Beard

Very bias view.your players werent aloud to play due to the closing down in midfield.
As for oxo he run you guys ragged and if it wasn't for more composure/quality in saints attacking third the game would have been out of sight by half time.
RedScot

As is normal,some lads just appear, post their comment, which is fine, and dissappear.
I fight my corner.Its a Scots trait. lol
Goodnight.
Kingshott1967

As a saints fan i have to say that we played very well and stopped your c team as they have been called from playing a good game. We too were in a diamond formation for the 1st time and considering our whole squad cost less that 5 million many people are taking away the fact that we actually played really well.

We never imagined to win against the mighty UTD but we enjoyed our day.
I was there in 76 btw and i enjoyed that too although i was only 8 then.
Good luck in the league and leave our youngsters alone they are not for sale.

Mark in Austria (expat)
Shaun

Credit to your team for coming out aggressively and dominating us for a good part of an hour.
Giggs really turned things around in midfield for us once he came on and that shifted the momentum in our favor.

Best of luck and hope to see you guys back in the PL at some point.
RedScot

Hi Mate, yes I would leave Oxlade Chamberlain over priced at £10 million for "potential", as for Theo Walcott, he has hardly set the World alight has he at the Arsenal?.We missed a trick with Bale from Southampton.He took a while to progress at the Spuds though? If I recall two seasons of nothing?.Now regarded as a world beater in some quarters, mainly bye, ABU's.
We have as many youngsters ready to hit the stage at United.Hope you get into the Championship.
RedScot

Good evening Sir. 19 year old United fan,My normal name on United Forums,RedScot.Just to introduce myself, and a wee bit of detail.
.
Point One. I can sort of agree regards Gibson, his touch is woefull, and ability to find a player non existent.I tuely believe a player like Darron Gibson is a squad player, all team's need these.Sir Alex will be like all United fanatics, watching Gibson.The team selected for St Marys was a second eleven, with the Villa and Wolves game's on the horizon, on Tuesday and Saturday.Darren Fletcher came good, although totally of form, this season.I think stick with Gibson also,you are not going to get like for like for Peanut's.
He would be welcome as you say, at the likes of the Black Cats, Potters.We need a squad.
.
Point. Two.I am a huge fan of the youngsters at United and you highlight one name in that point, its a bit early for Pogba. Gabriel Obertan stands head and shoulders, above most players in the Reserves , in my opinion, he has lightening speed, just poor decision making, sloppy nochalant passing.Time is Oberetan's side.The market United are in regards transfers now are the youth's, discovering talent with a potential sell on value.Its called the Glazer, Rooney effect.
.
Point Three.My thoughts exactly, to be so casually Ignored, for no glaring errors he has made.A real blow to Tomasz Kuszcak. It will be interesting the managers choice not only of first choice keeper for the Villa game, but which keeper sits on the bench.I see the Pole leaving in the Summer.That said lets see how Ben Amos, does at Oldham.
.
Point Four.Anderson is a mirage, he again could not pass to a Black shirt.I dont like him ,I know he is young, to me an attacking midfielder, is meant to present a goal threat.when is this goal threat going to appear, with this player.I think 3 goals in all his United carreer.
A hefty price tag, for his contribution! Anyone for a Rafael van Der Vaart?Ohhh I know we cant pay his huge wage demands, because he is class, a proven World class player,and Goal scorer.
.
Point Six. You and I know as do all, United supporters the introduction of United class in Giggs, immediately brought width to the play.In conjuction with Nani, got some crosses in and more danger at their wingbacks.
.
I feel I am writing too much now, so I wont respond to the rest of the points.
.
My main point I want to convey, the youth is the only way at Manchester United, in the immediate future.Mr Wayne Rooney and his vile agent, Paul Stretford, have effectively screwed United's wage control.Any player of United class, that we would be intersted in, would be demanding, a not disimilar wage to Rooney.Think about it!
The players we have, are the best, we are going to get !
LUHG.
Believe.
Shaun

I agree that we need squad players. In fact, that's why we have the likes of Park and O Shea in our team. However, they play intelligently and do what's asked of them without being flashy or dominating the headlines. They perform at a standard that is sufficient for a United squad player. Gibson on the other hand hasn't quite shown that he has what it takes to even fulfill that role. Like I said earlier, I'm just wondering how many more chances we give him or at what point do we draw the line and say that his "audition" is done.

Don't even get me started on Stretford...
Simon

I think you are way off about Anderson. Whilst he has not added goalscoring to his game yet, he is still only 22 and his overall play has come on leaps and bounds since coming to OT. He didn't have a good game today but we have seen him have great games this season already. Against Blackburn he completed 91 of 94 passes and was involved in 5 of the goals. He is the only midfielder we have who can drive forward with the ball at his feet. There is a reason the club just tied him to a new long term contract. He's coming good. It just takes time. Look at Nani. As the author rightly said, i think Ando is where Nani was at the start of last season.
Andrew_Gresham

Agree Gibsons days are numbered (hopefully!) but bit unfair on Obertan. Thought he looked much better when played on the wing in a 4-4-2. He did set up our first goal!
Shaun

I had that in the back of my mind when writing the impressions. However, it wasn't until he was playing alongside a much more dominant midfield that he was able to take on defenders with some measure of success. With his skill/talent, the hope is that he is able to lift the team and provide some moments of genius when lining up alongside the fringe players. I just feel like Obertan with all his talent needs to be able to perform on a more consistent basis and not just when the rest of the team is stacked and he has more time and space to work. A great talent can elevate the play of his teammates. Maybe that's not a fair expectation of Obertan?
Clivecooper

I agree about Gibson. It's time to let him go.
Kingshott1967

As a saints fan i have to say that we played very well and stopped your c team as they have been called from playing a good game. We too were in a diamond formation for the 1st time and considering our whole squad cost less that 5 million many people are taking away the fact that we actually played really well.

We never imagined to win against the mighty UTD but we enjoyed our day.
I was there in 76 btw and i enjoyed that too although i was only 8 then.
Good luck in the league and leave our youngsters alone they are not for sale.

Mark in Austria (expat)