By Myles Palmer
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WOLVES beat Man United 1- 0 in the 12.30 kick-off, which I’ve just seen on PPV.
When the game started, United were brisk, purposeful, passing very fast, very accurately.
Rio Ferdinand was marvellous, looking a much more accomplished defender than Terry or Woodgate.
His tackling was very sure-footed.
I was thinking : Riogate has improved Rio, made him concentrate more.
BUT AS THE GAME WENT ON, I began to realise that Man United’s technique was 10% below their tempo.
They didn’t quite have the skill to play at that pace.
Scholes was scuffing shots, Ruud headed over from one yard because the ball came at him far too fast.
It was pressure without accuracy.
If they had slowed down by 10% they would have beeen 2-0 up in no time.
Their urgency, their appetite, their fierce desire, was their downfall.
Fergie’s United, like his Aberdeen, are a 4-4-2 momentum team who hit good crosses.
Unfortunately for United, Rio was injured and Wes Brown replaced him just after half-time
By 63 minutes it was pressure, pressure, pressure – but there was no final ball.
Bellion came on for Fletcher when he should have come on for Cristiano Ronaldo – Fletcher was doing OK.
After 66, Kenny Miller scored the only goal of the game.
Wes Brown slipped, he went in one-on-one, good shot, Tim Howard got a hand to it, could have saved it, shot went in, 1-0.
Alex Rae had a storming game in midfield.
Michael Oakes made an amazing save from Bellion on 74 and Wolves held on for the biggest shock of the Premiership season so far.
THIS UPSET GIVES ARSENAL A BIG CHANCE AT ASTON VILLA.
They can go two points clear after 22 games.
The boys have been playing well recently. And they have been playing within themselves a lot of the time.
They know they are better than Villa, just as Man United know they are better than Wolves.
BUT ARSENAL also know they have let leads slip in their last three away games.
It’s an interesting one.
Hope it’s not another draw.
17th January 2004