8 Chris Smalling: Playing out of position on the right of defence, he showed a versatility that will be much-needed after the departures of John O’Shea and Wes Brown this summer. Height was useful at set pieces, while he supported Nani on the right when he could. His goal shortly after half time got United back in the match.
5 Rio Ferdinand: Barely had anything to do in the first half as United dominated the majority of it. But he would have expected to do better when Lescott evaded his attentions to head City in front after Silva’s cross.
5 Nemanja Vidic: Like Ferdinand, was a spectator for much of the first half as City offered little up front. United’s captain, but like his central defensive partner, may find himself under pressure from Jones, Smalling and Evans this season.
6 Patrice Evra: Struggled to find consistency last season and will be hoping for much better in the coming campaign. An attacking threat as ever and solid at the back. His experience will be vital with so many youngsters in Ferguson’s squad.
9 Nani: When one hero goes, another comes along. That’s the Manchester United way – and few are better placed than Nani to take up the reins from the retired Paul Scholes. United’s players’ Player of the Year last season, he scored twice with two coolly-taken goals to break Ferguson’s Wembley hoodoo and give the reds the first bragging rights. Outstanding.
6 Michael Carrick: Ferguson said he wouldn’t play. He did and for the first half was one of the main reasons why United dominated possession. Slick passing and movement allowed the Premier League champions to dictate much of the play – that was until two quick fire goals from City turned the game on its head.
8 Anderson: Ran Nani close for man of the match. A bundle of energy, the Brazilian looks a renewed player. Constantly passing and probing and never giving City’s defence a moment’s rest. If he can find the consistency to go with his undoubted talent than United have a midfield general on their hands.
7 Ashley Young: Impressive debut and offers Untied the attacking threat on the left they have lacked since Ryan Giggs was switched inside. Ferguson will expect much more but this was an encouraging start. Able to beat a player on either side, he was a constant outlet for the attack.
8 Wayne Rooney: One of the older statesmen of the team, Rooney seemed to enjoy pulling the strings around him. He also enjoyed having so many attacking options to lay the ball off to. Didn’t get on the score sheet, but was at the heart of most of what United did well.
7 Danny Welbeck: A surprise inclusion ahead of Dimitar Berbatov, Welbeck looked at home, showing some good touches and pace. It ensured City’s defender were frequently on the back foot and couldn’t afford to give him an inch of space to attack.
7 Tom Cleverley (for Carrick 45): One of the men hoping to take over from Scholes, Cleverley’s passing ensured United’s dominated possession and played a crucial role in
Nani’s first.
7 Phil Jones (for Ferdinand 45): The more you see of him, the more impressed you are. Classy, composed, powerful, he has it all and is set to be a star.
7 Jonny Evans (for Vidic 45): Part of the best pool of central defenders in Europe, Evans will have to fight to get opportunities in the new season, but he did his chances no harm at Wembley.
6 Rafael (for Evra 71): When he came on, the average age of United’s team was 22. A frightening prospect for their rivals.
Dimitar Berbatov (for Welbeck 89): Too late to mark. Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
I like several of United's youngsters and some of the more seasoned players will be pushed hard to remain automatic choices.Overall an excellent all round performance especially in the second half when several of the hungry youngsters came on.The lad Cleverly is a star in the making.
One must not get carried away just yet...but Cleverley impressed the hell out of me, much more at ease watching him than Michelle Carrick, Cleverley is tougher than Michelle too, but make no mistake people....Wesley would be a great addition to ManUtd....Anderson, Welbeck and Jones (solid and composed) done well too.....in fact it was a Great Team Performance by all the boys (and Rooney too haha).......oh special mention for Smalling too...have we found a new right back....Lol...took his goal well too
Thanks for the runout, normal service resumed.
Oh by the way keep the noise down!
Surely now SAF must now realise M Carrick is not good enough for our midfield ,although i cannot believe how we went in at half time,2 nil downin the second half the ball was moved up to the forward line much quicker.as for Carrick when he was on the pitch the build up was slow and monotonous he allows the opposition to regroup and the chances are gone .And i would like to add that it was the best football we have played for a long while ,well done lads
I need a new TV, I thought Carrick would have been show up today by a three legged dog! I agree with most of the rest.
6 David de Gea: Not too worried, his first game. Saw enough of him for Atletico last year and in the Euro's this summer to suggest this was perhaps just nerves.
8 Chris Smalling: Fantastic both offensively and defensivley. Classy finish, solid in the tackle and threatening going forward. Continues to grow.
5 Rio Ferdinand: Not good enough when called upon. Will have to better with the emerging Jones & Smalling breathing down his neck.
5 Nemanja Vidic: Like Ferdinand. Poor Defending for both goals.
6 Patrice Evra: His foul for the first goal was costly and was petulant due to being unhappy A threat going forward.
8 Nani: Great determination and great finishes in the 2nd half. Marks down for some of his final balls particularly in the first half.
4 Michael Carrick: Once again the going get tough and Carrick goes hiding. Never got in CIty's face when they had that spell before half time and once again the typical passing back when in advances positions taking the sting out of so many attacks.
8 Anderson: Looked much better with Cleverly beside him in the second half. Big season for him and off to a good start.
7 Ashley Young: Great energy and eagerness to get involved. Great ball in for the first goal. However, when 1 on 1 a few times he seemed out of ideas and too many balls given away. Again, nerves might have played it's part but can be happy enough with his contribution.
8 Wayne Rooney: Always a threat and
8 Danny Welbeck: A great start to the season for him. Never overawed and linked well with Rooney. Very encouraging. .
9 Tom Cleverley (for Carrick 45): My man of the match despite Nani's heroics. He really changed the game in the second half and always had his head for the quick pass and moved brilliantly. Defensively he was terrier like and never let City settle on the ball. Was worried about his prospects after struggling in the U21s but pre-season he has definitely shown he may just be a United star in the making
8 Phil Jones (for Ferdinand 45): Don't often agree with that lemon Redknapp. But a serious player and future captain material. He was imperious at the back and already looking like a bargain. Uncle Malc must love those words.
6 Jonny Evans (for Vidic 45):Some typical Evans-esque distribution, but defensively he was better than his usual calamitous self.
6 Rafael (for Evra 71): Solid enough without being spectacular. Did what was required.
1. ------ The girl who sung the National Anthem and to think,they could have hired me for free!
Michael Carrick passed the ball backward. It was Evra and Smalling who sent the ball forward.
Anderson made him look very very ordinary.
dea gea 5
samlling 8
rio 6
vidic 6
evra 6
jones 7
evans7
rafael 6
young 6
carrick 4
andersen 8
cleverley 8
nani 7
wellbeck 8
rooney 7
berbs 6
sir alex 10 what a nerve
5 - De Gea - badly at fault for the second
7 - Evra - solid game
6 - Rio and Vidic - solid but sloppy first goal
8 - Smalling - he was immense going forward
7 - Young - decent but lacked ability to go round players today, it will come of course
9 - Anderson- brilliant, all over the place and split the defence with so many great passes
8 - Carrick - solid first half
9 - Nani - brilliant, he has real fizz in his boots these days - I saw him in NY and he was the same that day. This will be his season - esp, if played on the Right
8 - Rooney - very good performance - knits it all together
8 - Wellbeck - looks great
SUBS
8.5 - Cleverley - looks brilliant, fights for everything and quick minded. He will be a United legend mark my words
8.5 Jones - brilliant - will be the complete player
8 - Evans - solid game Jonny
Great performance from Cleverly. He really impressed me. Not our best performer but its was good to see him slot in.
Yet again Rio cocks up as soon as he and Carrick went off the game changed the kids are proving better and Qicker than the older players Rooney is robbing the fans on the wage he is on.
Smalling was brilliant,as I said Lindgeard will probably end up in goals although De Gea will also turn out to be a top keeper.
We all know who keeps letting us down its time for Smalling and Jones to take on the premiership and leave Rio ang Giggs to their outside interests.Berbatov played a great two minutes.
time to move Carrick Rio and Giggs on they could run a home for wayward girls.
Cleverley showed exactly what we miss when Carrick's on the pitch. Nani was terrific, Smalling excellent, Ashley did good but Evra? I'm afraid to say he is definitely on the downward slope. Too soon for any absolutes but was mightily impressed today.
So the Witslow 1 continues his mindless rants just to provoke a response, the team take another trophy, the England manager sees yet another UTD player as the future while retaining the experienced players.
Everyone is out of step except the one in bed 3 on the looney ward
BELIEVE
Has Smalling ever had a bad game for us? De Gea apart all our young players looked superb today. Schmeicel had a shaky start at the beginning of his career here, so De Gea got plenty time to put it right, probably nerves. Looking good for the season!
Numbers are only numbers. Anderson was the man of the match!
An excellent rating,nani is definitely the man of d match
Well done to all !
omg Cleverly!! Am in Love again. Carrick who?
mmm... got lucky in the end, but Nani deserved it, excellent from the start. cleverley was also great. Jones should be a starter based on today and Rio play in Carling cup games.
what i did not like: Young. could not get around the defender, numerous blocked passes and many bad passes. the foul was the only only good pass. looks very much like an Obertan.
wellbeck lost the ball more than 10 times, good effort running and moving, maybe just a bad day.
Slightly off the subject. Does anyone know if City got the number of the car that ran over Balotelli's head. Shouldn't be too hard pretty distinctive tread! Sort of explains him somewhat.
Great to see almost no-one at Wembley wearing that sickly yellow and envious green! MUST must feel sick and envious we won. Great also to see some REDS at Wembley asking the few yellow and greens to wear RED! Keep at 'em this year - we MUST get rid of must - so we can solely focus on enjoyment of winning the EPL again! And again! And again!
6 David de Gea: At fault for the second goal but otherwise sound.
8 Chris Smalling: A future star.
6 Rio Ferdinand: Not really in the game
5 Nemanja Vidic: Looked sluggish in pre-season and no better here.
5 Patrice Evra: Like Vidic needs to up his game by several hundred percent.
8 Nani: Can still infuriate by not passing when the perfect pass is on but he is a match winner.
7 Michael Carrick: Composed in the first half while we dominated the much vaunted City midfield.
8 Anderson: Looks the part but can he last a season?
8 Ashley Young: A United player already. Will create a lot of goals.
8 Wayne Rooney: As good a player as there's been in English football.
8 Danny Welbeck: At home and the key ingrediant to playing through defences. Ahead of Berbatov now.
8 Tom Cleverley: Good performance. Did what was asked and moved the ball quickly. Needs a bit more composure in front of goal.
8 Phil Jones: A future star.
7 Jonny Evans: marked down from an 8 for one bad lapse. Otherwise he's maintaining his pre-season form.
7 Rafael: Did well when he came on and he and his brother should get more games at left back.