kabulblueI believe that Ferguson should have made two substitutions: O'Shea on for Gibson and Macheda for Rooney. This would have meant that Utd reverted to a 4-4-1 but would have kept the pace and danger of Valencia and Nani focused down the wings, which would have meant that Robben and Ribery would have had something to worry about defensively as they did in the first half. This team selection would also have meant that Carrick and Fletcher were able to go man on with van Bommel and Schweinsteiger who would not have been able to dominate possession as they did. With Macheda in upfront Utd would also have posed a threat with both pace and power and goalscoring ability: the time most certainly was not suited to Berbatov.
As the game wore on I would have also considered bringing on Giggs for Valencia and switching Nani to play behind Macheda and make Giggs, Fletcher and Carrick play tight as a central three...with the purpose of trying to keep possession and not allow Bayern to dictate the tempo of the match. Making the changes as he did Ferguson created, as David Pleat argues, "a backs-to-the-wall mentality", which invited Bayern onto them. It was not Ferguson's gamble that failed but his conservatism.
08.04.2010
kabulblueFor further argument check out my blog: http://darrenatkinson.blogspot.com/
08.04.2010
GeorgieWasTheBestIt's good to know that I am not the only one who thinks Macheda is much more suited to lone striker role than Berbatov. SAF does not seem to have confidence in the boy.
08.04.2010
kabulbluemy blog is now: http://kabulblue.blogspot.com/
09.04.2010
