A win on Boxing Day (vs Sunderland)

With our much-anticipated clash against Chelsea being called off due to inclement weather, fans and players alike must have been itching to see league play resume on Boxing Day. That eagerness and (seemingly) pent up energy were fully unleashed and on display within the first 20 minutes of the game.

United came out with a spring in their step while Sunderland attacked by playing high up the pitch and closing down our players anytime they got the ball. This led to a rather frantic opening few minutes for United which is rare whenever playing at home. We eventually did settle down and our nerves were calmed no doubt by an early goal from our Bulgarian maestro. Giggs made a deep run from midfield and completely ignored/missed Berba streaking into the space down his left. Instead, he picked out Rooney on the right who had noticed Berba in acres of space inside the box. A delicate chip found the 5 goal hero and he nodded in at the far post with Gordons attempt insufficient to keep the ball out. Barely 5 minutes had passed on the clock and he was already reminding us of what we had missed in the game against Arsenal.

It is common sense that most player benefit from rest days even if it is due to the postponement of games. It is however, the golden oldies who stand to gain the most with their bodies no longer able to recuperate at the same pace of their younger comrades. Giggs for one looked like he was 10 years younger today making runs into space and taking on defenders at will. He was once again involved in the 9th minute with a move that ended with Rooney attempting to chip the keeper from just outside the box. It was a glimpse of his footballing mind and skill to have even conjured up the attempt and it was agonizing to see it go inches wide off the left post. The man is tru! ly comin g back into form and the league has every reason to be fearful.

Berba and Ando who have both been culpable this season of finishing poorly when placed in good goal scoring positions were denied goals within minutes of each other as one hit the inside post while the other cracked the cross bar. We could and probably should have put the game beyond Sunderlands reach by the 20 minute mark. Berba for one could easy have had a hattrick by that point in the game. However, that wasnt to be with Gordon in fine form and doing his very best to keep his side in the contest.

In reality however, Sunderland struggled to get going in the final third and VDS barely had anything to do aside from clearing the ball anytime it got passed back to him. Even then, it was rarely under any form of duress from Bent or Gyan. For all the hype surrounding Henderson and our potential interest in him, he cut a relatively quiet figure throughout and failed to assert himself.

One thing worth noting is that Sunderland never attempted to just sit deep and defend. They came out looking to take the game unlike many teams that come into OT. Of course, we are at our sparkling best when teams come at us because of the space it affords us when we do get the ball back. A majority of our forgettable performances this season have been against teams intent on escaping with a point. It is those moments that remind us how much we still rely on the creativity and genius of Scholes and how pressing our need is to replace him sooner rather than later.

In Parks final game with us for a while, he was allocated a spot out on the right wing. Unlike Nani, his contribution from that position didnt come in the form of whipped crosses into the middle. Instead, he did what he always does best link up play and ensure continuity in our movement of the ball. His Energizer Bunny like engine allows him to be the perfect teammate as he drops into space and makes himself available for a pass so that the team is able to retain possession and no! t just k nock it aimlessly back to the other team when under pressure. The intangibles are his greatest contribution and while he isnt as celebrated as most of our starting 11, the system in which we play will miss him for the month he is away.

The second half started out in a similar fashion to the first one with Sunderland harrying our players at every opportunity. Just as with the first half, we did eventually settle down and yet again, found a goal to further calm our nerves. Berbas strike from the right side of the box took a wicked deflection off the younger Ferdinand brother and wrong-footed Gordon completely. It was down to luck much more than it was to skill although in fairness, Berba did look like he was trying to curve it into the far post with the outside of his boot.

2-0 up against a Sunderland side that had yet to really threaten seemed like a very safe position to be in. Our Christmas-like generosity at the back that marked our play early on in the season seems like such a distant memory now. SAF must have felt the same way as he brought on Gibson and Macheda for Giggs and Anderson.
The remainder of the game was relatively uneventful with Sunderland finally testing VDS. Zenden had a go from outside the box and Bent had an acrobatic attempt fly way over. Aside from that, Vidic and Rio were once again brilliant in protecting the Dutchman and his goal. We understandably dropped our level of intensity and allowed some sloppiness to creep in toward the end. The substitutions, while necessary to maintain freshness, also ensured that we didnt create anything truly threatening in the final 15 minutes.

In a nice moment, Berba and SAF managed to share a good little chat and chuckle together on the bench after he was substituted. It was a refreshing change from the ever-increasing player petulance that has been on display when seemingly big name players get take! n off. < /p>

Top of the table, 5 points ahead of Arsenal and 6 points ahead of Chelsea with all 3 teams having played 17 games. Given our awful start to the season and the naysayers who were sharpening their knives then, this is a pretty good spot that we find ourselves in.

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