Following two disastrous consecutive losses, United faced league leaders and rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup third round, looking to avoid a hat trick of defeats, a record United have preserved since 2001. Having succumbed to a humiliating 6-1 reverse scoreline at Old Trafford earlier in the season, the reds were keen to make amends and set the record straight, albeit whilst in their worst run of form of the campaign. United welcomed back Chris Smalling to the defence alongside Rio Ferdinand, with Phil Jones occupying a right back slot after enduring a difficult evening against Demba Ba in midweek. Wayne Rooney was looking to score his 12th derby goal for United, and assure the fans he was committed to club following reports that he is looking to move on in the near future, as he partnered Danny Welbeck in an attacking United line up. Pre match chatter however was diverted towards the shock inclusion of United legend Paul Scholes amongst the substitutes, with news that Scholesy is taking up a playing role with the club for the remainder of the season to avert the current injury crisis. It was to be the first twist in what was a bizarre afternoon of football.
A crackling atmosphere encouraged the home side to a strong start, controlling large amounts of possession and keeping United pinned back into their half for the opening 10 minutes. It was the red half of Manchester that struck the first blow however, when on 10 minutes, the much scrutinised Rooney bravely met Antonio Valencia’s cross to head United into the lead, triggering a match altering 5 minutes. Minutes after taking the lead, United were handed yet another boost, as City skipper Vincent Kompany was dismissed for a two footed lunge on Nani handing the reds a man advantage for the remaining 70 minutes of the tie. United asserted their dominance on the half hour mark, as they doubled their lead through Danny Welbeck, who pounced upon a loose ball in the City penalty area to volley home into the bottom corner. A dream half was complete for United when 5 minutes before the break, Ryan Giggs’s reverse pass to Danny Welbeck saw the England striker chopped down by a rash challenge from Alexsander Kolarov, handing the reds the chance to take a 3 goal lead from the spot. Stand in City keeper Pantilimon saved Rooney’s spot kick, but couldn’t prevent him from nodding home the rebound for his second of the game, sending the 6000 reds into a delirious celebratory Poznan! (More …)
Craig are discussing. 
LAWRENCE and 
Kashere2011 are discussing. 
Leela Prasad are discussing. 
Danny Mason, 
Mark, and 
rick are discussing. 
I think Kim has made some very good points here. Kim has indentifed that at right back we definately have ‘strength in depth’. However I summise from the information that we should be very worried, and not positive as the article suggests.
My theory is based on the following: Injuries, loss of form and other reasons have meant that Vidic, Ferdinand and Evans have been absent. Jones has been used in midfield, Carrick has been centre back, Valencia has been right back. This rings alarm bells for me. With the departures of O Shea and Brown we are actually short of future talent with no experienced back-up players. If you partner this issue with no real sufficent cover for an ever-ageing, increasingly inconsistent Patrice Evra we have further defensive issues. Zak Fryers is emerging as a quality replacement, but is a few years off being adequate cover for Evra.
I think this is a problem systemic in the United squad. In midfield we have recalled Scholes out of retirement. Whilst I believe that a 50 year old Paul Scholes would still be better than most midfielders currently playing in the Premier League I fear that continued speculation that our future stars are dpearting, we are going to be frightenly short of a midfield to support our plethora of strikers.
In summary, for a team that is supposedly in decline we are sitting pretty in the league. But lets not think that everything is rosey!