Reds ready for a Turkey shoot

stuart mathieson

November 23, 2009

Michael Carrick celebrates the second goal against Everton

UNITED warmed up for a turkey shoot against Besiktas on Wednesday after rediscovering their killer instinct against Everton.

The Reds' 3-0 success was the first time they had enjoyed such a clear victory at Old Trafford all season.

Prior to the win United had conceded 11 times at home in nine matches and had failed to kill off sides.

But Wednesday's Champions League visitors from Istanbul have conceded six goals in their four Group B matches and have only one point.

With the Reds having already qualified for the knockout stages it is an opportunity to sharpen their goal-scoring claws.

"It has been a tad frustrating in that we haven't killed teams off. We have been creating chances but they have not been going in for us," said Michael Carrick.

"It was nice to kill the game off this time. We haven't been scoring an awful lot of goals at home to kill teams off so to see the second and third go in was nice and we could relax and play a bit of football.

"It was also very important we bounced back after the Chelsea defeat.

"We took a lot of positives out of the Chelsea game and we showed it didn't knock us out of our stride. We know what we can do and we believe we can still be up there when it counts."

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Ben'sDad, WA4 (23/11/2009 at 09:56)

We've been saying for a while that our midfielders need to score regularly if we are to replace Ronaldo's goals, so the victory on Saturday was encouraging. But now, of course, the fact that all three goals came from midfield only highlights the fact that our forwards aren't scoring enough. Even when he's not playing particularly well, Rooney is always dangerous, so he can be forgiven. But Owen, despite finding space in the penalty area, has not discovered his touch. I simply don't expect him to convert chances. Seeing the Spurs demolition made me pine for Defoe...

Rozza, London (23/11/2009 at 10:17)

Utd still lack that killer instinct and Owen is far from being the answer, he's missing far too many chances for me. Granted he's movement in and around the box is good but he's finishing leaves alot to be desired. Good to see Fletcher coming good, I must admit in the past I was one of he's strongest detractors.

edinburgh red, edinburgh (23/11/2009 at 10:45)

Dont think we have the killer instinct yet, we dominated everton but still only had as many shots on target as they did,rooney has only scored once in 7 games,owen looks poor and berba hardly ever scores.
Defoe and lennon could have been picked up for 8 million,spurs could have scored about 20 against wigan if kirkland didnt have a good game,and I would say that them along with chelsea and arsenal have better attacking options and more goal scorers than us.

Gerry, Glastonbury (23/11/2009 at 11:11)

Christ, Michelle intends to go goal crazy! I expect a six timer at least from him - eat your heart out Defoe!

Monkey tennis?, yes please (23/11/2009 at 11:12)

If Owen has the opportunity to think about shooting he fluffs it, but if it's a split second decision he seems to do so much better.

I don't think he adds enough to a starting 11, and agree that one of the whipper snappers deserves a run out in front of him...

United 18, Huddersfield Town 3, City 2 (League Titles), Wilmslow (23/11/2009 at 11:52)

Gerry, Glastonbury
23/11/2009 at 11:11

Can you get me tickets for the Glasto Festival next year mate ??

Monkey tennis?, yes please (23/11/2009 at 11:52)

Ed red - i didn't see the spurs game but poor chris kirkland - had a good game yet conceded 9! did wigan really beat chelski or was it another of my weird dreams! You'll be telling me citeh are the wealthiest club in the world next!

Elb Owdeep (23/11/2009 at 12:14)

edinburgh red, edinburgh
23/11/2009 at 10:45 - Great comment. Were you there at OT? Thought not

Duncan, London (23/11/2009 at 12:22)

I will be really interested to see the line up for this match. I wonder if Obertan will be a starter and maybe Kiko or Welbeck plus De Laet. It will be a good chance to see how some of the young players will step up. I don't necessarily see a goal fest but if it does with these youngsters playing it would be really great to see.

As for Spurs - I can't see Owen taking Defoe's place in the England squad any more. Any faint opportunity has just been extinguished unless Capello extends the striker count to five and even then he would need to up his goal output a few notches.

wholeoftheroon, Northern Ireland (23/11/2009 at 12:23)

Hopefully a ton of goals but keeping the unbeaten record is also important.

Manchester united fan forever based in OldTrafford, Old Trafford (23/11/2009 at 12:23)

It's a joke all this owen for the world cup stuff he is not good enough. we should have sign defoe or bent last year end of.

Khalad Mahmood, Silet, Bangladesh (23/11/2009 at 12:59)

Turkey shoot? The only turkey at Old Trafford at the moment is Michael Owen. Defoe is like Owen was 10 years ago, fast, sharp and clinical. Owens finishing is appalling and his pace has totally gone. He was once a finisher to be feared, but not now. He is not United class at this stage of his career, not even close

Alias Smith, over the moon (23/11/2009 at 13:26)

edinburgh red, so we have a rubbish midfield and now we are at best fourth strongest in the league in terms of our strikers as well? Blimey, you'd wonder how we manage to win any games at all, let alone silverware!

MASSIVE clubs r us, salford (23/11/2009 at 13:34)

lacking killer instinct ,come on, because were not banging 5s & 6s past every team we meet . 2nd in the league ,through to next stage c.league i know a certain club not to far away that would already think they had won something being in that position, uniteds season hasnt even clicked yet....get owen in the reserves to sharpen him up he would still get better chances than at newcastle

jump, norway (23/11/2009 at 14:00)

owen has played 314 minutes, scored 2 goals and 1 assist in this time. do you really think this is bad guys? had he played as much as defoe (825 minutes, 11 goals, 2 assists) he would have scored as much!
defoe have a goal each 75 minutes (before yesterday one each 123 minutes), owen one each 157 minutes, but is not a regular as defoe is.

palomablanca, manchester (23/11/2009 at 14:14)

With Edwin VS maybe out injured, Kuszczak should get a game,I want to see Nani,Obertan & Anderson involved,Fergie has a squad of around 35 players to choose from,Spoilt for choice for a change. 3-0

Duncan, London (23/11/2009 at 14:24)

"I would say that them along with chelsea and arsenal have better attacking options and more goal scorers than us. "

Edinburgh red, yet we beat Spurs 3-1 at WHL, beat Arsenal (albeit a little lucky) and lost a referee assisted 1-0 to Chelsea. Something's not right...

mjw, New York (23/11/2009 at 14:25)

Reds ready for a turkey shoot? I didn't know they celebrated Thanksgiving in Manchester. Oh, and the headline quoting Fergie saying "Foster is not going anywhere" is correct. He is not going anywhere. By which I mean, he will never be England's goalkeeper.

edinburgh red, edinburgh (23/11/2009 at 14:56)

Alias Smith, lets be honest we dont have the most creative midfield in the league and our midfielders bar the last couple of years barring ronaldo has struggled to score more than 3 goals each a season, as for our strikers berba scores 1 every 5 games, owen is well of the pace and rooney goes through lean spells. Face facts drogba,anelka and torres will outscore our top forward, and even spurs have forwards who know where the goal is with keane,crouch and defoe, if berba actually put in a spurs performance once in a while it would be ok, but bar nice touches he never occupies the defence, shoots often or scores much.
Arsenals midfield of rosisky,fabregras and arshavin will out score our midfielders,gerrard and benayoun will outscore our midfielders and fat frank,essien will out score our midfielders.

Gilly, Belgium (23/11/2009 at 15:45)

Well done united ! played well and scored !! thats all we need is goals

Alias Smith, over the moon (23/11/2009 at 15:45)

edinburgh red, it sounds like you expect us to finish fifth behind Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs.

Duncan, London (23/11/2009 at 15:59)

And who scored the best goal Gilly?

edinburgh red, edinburgh (23/11/2009 at 16:07)

Alias Smith, we are blessed with an excellent defence and an equally hardworking if not creative midfield which is always a help.

mark jones (23/11/2009 at 16:18)

GILLY BELGIUM-so thats how you win then? scoring goals ill tell you what theres no kidding you is there, bright as a button.

mark jones (23/11/2009 at 16:18)

GILLY BELGIUM-so thats how you win then? scoring goals ill tell you what theres no kidding you is there, bright as a button.

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