Today was a big improvement on our previous home league games, especially the second half performance. We started the first half brightly, Phil Neville getting around the back of the Spur’s defence and unselfishly pulled the ball back for RVN bur the ball was cleared. Then Giggs flicked a ball on for Solksjaer to volley towards the top corner, unfortunately the goalie made a tremendous save. Barthez pushed a long-range shot around the post. We had other good positions but the final ball was missing. We could have scored 3 goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half, RVN, Solksjaer and Giggs all going very close. However Spurs had arguably the best chance, bur Barthez made a great save from an unmarked Spurs player six yards out. Barthez also played centre half with a great tackle outside the box when Ferdinand made a mistake. It looked like we should have had a penalty when Beckham played RVN through. He only had the goalie to beat but when down under a challenge from their centre half. The referee looked at the linesman but amazingly didn’t give a penalty. To me it looked a definite penalty (which means it probably wasn’t). However justice was done when in the next minute Solksjaer was tripped in the box. RVN sent the goalie the wrong way. Soon after Giggs slipped the ball into Solksjaer but the goalie saved with his legs. Then Solksjaer hit the ball with the outside of his foot around his marker, ran onto the ball, played the ball down the line to RVN who played the ball into the box. Unfortunately Veron instead of hitting the back of the net, nearly hit the second tier of the Stretford End. Try & watch it on the box – it’s a great piece of skill by Solksjaer.
Best players for us were Butt & all the defence. I thought Solksjaer was OK, but RVN and Giggs were once again disappointing. RVN looks a shadow of his self from last season, but at least he is our best penalty taker since Cantona.
One final thing, our crowd, especially in the second half were superb.
Best players for us were Butt & all the defence. I thought Solksjaer was OK, but RVN and Giggs were once again disappointing. RVN looks a shadow of his self from last season, but at least he is our best penalty taker since Cantona.
One final thing, our crowd, especially in the second half were superb.