United v Stoke: Random Halftime Thoughts

By: Taylor Rockwell | November 15th, 2008

- Maybe we don’t need to backheel every through ball? How many times did we try to put an attacker through via a heel flick? Can’t just play simple/have a crack?

- Does anyone know what to make of Park? Some days he looks like the worst player on the pitch. Poor first touch. Poor finishing. A distinct lack of pace. Other days he seems full of endeavor, trickery, and attacking fore site. Pretty much every time I mock him, he does something positive. So, I suppose I should just mock him at all times.

- Told you Slave would get his 100th for United today. It was good of Thomas Sorensen to read my picks article yesterday and allow #7 to validate my decisions.

- People should probably stop letting Carrick shoot from distance. How about that rocket? Every once in a while, it seems like Carrick remembers he can launch the ball with a bit of authority, and subsequently unleashes a screamer into the back of the net. Good way to end the half.

- Did you ever think you would enjoy Darren Fletcher on the pitch as much as you have this season? He’s come on leaps and bounds in the past two years.

- This is more like it. A United squad that looks eager to push forward, with a lot of players looking determined to get their name on the score sheet. Decent attempts from O’Shea, Slave, Berba, Park, Tevez, and Carrick will pay dividends in the second half. Just you wait.

- For all the debate about our defense at the beginning of the season, who would have thought that our youth system (and not overpaying for Sergio Ramos) would have solved several problems. Evans and Rafael have been terrific this season. Here’s hoping Fabio proves to be just as good. Speaking of which, if Ricardo Fuller clips Evans again, I will mobilize to Manchester and have a word with him myself. How dare he pick on a 13 year old!

- I don’t know if you know or not, but apparently the Old Trafford faithful would like you to know that, apparently, “He plays on the left, He plays on the riiiiii-iiiight. That boy Ronaldo makes England look shite.”

- Looking forward to a good second half. I would like to see a few more goals, but more than that, I’d like to see us keep playing aggressive, attacking soccer. I hate when we go defensive and play for a win against lower opposition (see: Hull). Let’s have it in the next 45 minutes. COME ON YOU REDS!!!!!