Though it is pre-season for Man Utd at the Audi Cup, Sir Alex sure doesn't expect the boys to take it any lightly. No matter which tournament Man Utd plays in, the gaffer wants to win it. And it is the same mentality throughout the club, from the manager to the kit man...Despite a 2-1 victory over Argentina giants Boca Juniors, Sir Alex expressed his disappointment with the overall team performance, stressing that the team has got to improve from their pre-season performances in the Far East. Classic Alex Ferguson isn't it, he ups the tempo and the standards expected once the boys think they might have done enough. That keeps everyone on their toes in the club and explains the driving force behind that insatiable desire to win at the club.
Despite the honest assessment by Sir Alex, there were more than a few bright spots in the team's performance. Again, Man Utd showed why they have the best youth system in football today by slotting in Craig Cathcart and Fabio Da Silva into the starting defensive backline. The players impressed, just like how many before them did when they first stepped into the first team. The depth of the team is truly impeccable in my opinion. When you can slot anyone from the Reserves into the first eleven and have them feel comfortable playing at their best straightaway, there must be something special at the club that makes everyone click. A lot of this is credit to Man Utd's youth policy and training methods. The mantra is the same from the youth academy players to the first team; everyone knows what it takes to be a Manchester United player.
Anderson scored his first goal for Man Utd. That is always something I wished I could have mentioned in the past two years of Anderson's career at the club but it finally came today. A sublime free kick markes the end of Anderson's goal drought and hopefully the start of many more to come in bigger games than this. His immense talent certainly befits more goals from him.
The most impressive debut I have seen in a Reds shirt for a while now has gone to Man Utd's summer signing Antonio Valencia. He is already showing obvious signs as to why Sir Alex picked him to be Ronaldo's successor on the right wing. Lightning quick, energetic and packed with an amazing shot, Valencia have already started proving Sir Alex's astute eye for talent yet again. Add to that a team mentality and a hardworking attribute to track back and defend and you've got a new star in the making at Man Utd. Plus, he scored a goal on his debut, the second signing to do so since Michael Owen. Now thats the best way to announce your arrival at a club like Man Utd.
16 million pounds is now looking like a shrewd investment for someone who is definitely more than able to make up for a 80 million Ronaldo. He is looking like a very exciting prospect for Man Utd fans this season.
Though its early days yet, Man Utd fans can start looking forward to the days ahead without a certain CR7...
No comments:
Post a Comment