UnitedViews

Well that was an odd experience. Managed to catch United’s game against Lyon last night at the One Tun pub in Goodge Street, which seems to be a fairly safe bet if you want to see a Manchester United game in the centre of London (even when the Gooners are also live on TV). Great company (JW), good seats with a good view of the giant Plasma screen, nice pub. Just the small problem that there was a pub quiz happening at the same time, meaning no sound on the TV and a lot of deeply irritating questions about comic book heroes and 19th Century art. The net effect was that any big match atmosphere that might have been present at Old Trafford on the night, failed to be communicated to us.

Still, we are through to the last 8, which is bloody marvellous. It was no vintage performance but we defended with customary maturity (forgetting about the derby). Fletcher did a good job in his burgeoning Phil Neville impersonation, harrying the opposition midfield and robbing them of time to make decisions. (He seems to like playing against French teams - Lyon, Arsenal…). Carrick played well with some typically incisive passes. Of the central midfield 3, only Anderson looked a bit off his game, but for a 19 year-old who has already moved mountains this season and looks like he could be a long-term fixture in the engine room I think we can cut him some slack.

It was in the final third that United let themselves down. Sir Alex Ferguson has singled Wayne Rooney out as his man of the match, which is a sure sign that he feels Rooney needs a boost to his morale. In truth, it was a typically dogged and hard working perfromance from Rooney in the lone striker role, but it was far from his most effective. His passing and positioning in receiving the ball were not up to his high standards. JW reckons that, while goalscorer Ronaldo is pretty much the fully developed article, Rooney has some way to go yet (Any chance you could set this argument down in print for us some time, Mate?).

Nice goal from Ronaldo squeezed in from a tight angle, when I was sure the shot would only trouble the side netting. As I say we’re wonderfully through to the last 8. What’s more we did it with with a record equalling 10th consecutive European victory at home. Old Trafford is taking on the look of a citadel once more.

Quiz night apart, there was only one sour note… Arsenal’s progress. I cannot pretend to be anything other than childish and churlish in my desire to see all other English clubs fail in the Champion’s League. Ironically I don’t think I was this churlish when I was a child. Still, fair play to Arsenal. Wenger’s team have recently acquired what Ferguson’s has had for more than a decade - the ability to score late important goals, as evidenced not only by last night’s events at the San Siro but also by last minute equalisers against United and Villa at the Emirates . The only thing that would trouble me if I was a Arsenal fan would be the readiness of the team to celebrate two draws at home like they’d won the league. Last night, however, they had every reason to celebrate.

I’ll be doing a short post on the implications for United of Arsenal’s progress some time in the near future.