1. Nasri finally shows why City spent £25million on him
The French international looked set to become one of the Premier League’s best players after a series of scintillating performances prompted Manchester City to spend £25million in order to prise him away from Arsenal.
Nonetheless, continual disappointment followed, and indeed, Nasri was singled out by some critics last season, as his inadequate displays were one of the reasons why City gave up their title so meekly.
However, against Manchester United today, there is no doubt that the Frenchman was the best player on the field.
The midfielder controlled the game, as City dominated both in terms of possession and territory. More impressively still, he also scored one and was involved in the other three of City’s goals to cap off the perfect performance.
2. Moyes needs time to stamp his influence on the club
It was no surprise following today’s result that certain fans had no problem laying into the United boss David Moyes.
However, while the Scottish manager arguably picked the wrong team and was perhaps tactically outfought by Manuel Pellegrini to boot, the situation needs to be looked at in context. After all, Alex Ferguson had an inauspicious start to life at Manchester United too.
Moyes, therefore, needs to be supported and given the chance to build his own team — the club undoubtedly slipped up in the transfer market this summer, but that is not entirely his fault.
Consequently, any calls for drastic measures at this stage are vastly premature.
3. If ever there was a day that United needed Paul Scholes…
YouTube credit: chukeism
If United had played as they did in that first half against City last season, the solution would have been obvious — bring on Paul Scholes.
David Moyes’ side simply couldn’t keep hold of the ball in the first half and indeed, for much of the second.
Consequently, their attack was patently lacklustre, and never acquired any real momentum.
Scholes, even in his later years, was a master when it came dictating the play and instigating the type of free-flowing football that United favour.
Today however, that element of their game was conspicuous by its absence.
4. Is Arsene Wenger the best manager in the Premier League?
The Arsenal boss has a unique propensity to recover, no matter how many of his side’s best players abscond.Moreover, the Frenchman’s ability to spot young players better than anyone else also arguably remains undimmed.
Last season, Wales international Aaron Ramsey was written off by many after a couple of inept displays.
Yet his start to this season, which included another well-taken goal against Stoke today, suggests he is about to come good and Wenger is onto another winner,
The Gunners’ fans often complain about the fact that they haven’t won a trophy for so long, but in reality, it’s difficult to imagine this Arsenal side doing considerably better under any another manager.
5. Tottenham looking very un-Tottenham-like
For years, Spurs mastered a very specific art that probably reached its zenith around the Glenn Hoddle years — the art of playing very well and still somehow not winning.
Nevertheless, this year, the opposite has almost been the case.
They today recorded their third 1-0 win of the season against Cardiff — a curious stat, given how Andre Villas-Boas is often praised for supposedly placing an emphasis on attacking football — and none of the three victories in question have been particularly convincing.
Accordingly, in attack, they will surely need to improve, having only scored in stoppage time this afternoon following countless attempts on goal.
Cardiff won’t be the only side who will look to shut up shop against them, so it’s imperative that the likes of Roberto Soldado start paying back the vast sums, which were spent in order to acquire their services, in the form of goals.
Di Canio has been sacked
And bring in who? They have had several managers over the last few years, all had money to spend but still always end up in a relegation scrap every season.
Nasri was the best player on the pitch?…….Rooney,Toure,Kompany were all better……he did play well though
Do you know the way Liverpool fans talk about how great they were back in the day?well that’s how united fans are going to start sounding like cos they’ll be living in the past,cos they ain’t winning sh!t anymore
Could not agree more, think he was watchin a different game!
@Nelly how did you work that out. Early, early days yet. Fergie had many bad starts and crap results. Remember the 6-1 in old Trafford.
United did,nt win the league that season,
Do not forget those 2 Barcelona games.
Yes fergie had bad starts.moyes isn’t fergie.managers don’t get the same time that fergie got back in the day
I have had enough with the remember when fergie took over – when fergie took over we were a shambles- he was given time because there were no expectations – with united now there are a heap of expectations – he is tactically poor – he left Kagawa on the bench- wellbeck on the field when he was useless – wellbeck would struggle to get into any of the other top four squads – chicharito on the bench is far better than wellbeck – Ferdinand is to slow now , Valencia is a one trick pony – Utd were terrible in the transfer window – ozil should be wearing Utd red how that didn’t happen is a disgrace- Subtic is another that needs to come in- Moyes will not be given the time fergie got- nani should have been sold- zaha and janzai should be starting couldn’t be worse than young and nani
The future is poor for Utd – thank god for Rooney and RVP we need serious investment in January but nobody sells decent players in January so I don’t know what way the future will go- we should have signed erkisson for 12m instead of spurs
Eriksen wouldn’t go to united. He seen the revolution starting at spurs and the sinking ship of man utd isn’t as appealing as it used to be. Utd are simply not up to scratch and the sooner ye realise it the better.
Poor crater.
United paid 15 million for zaha a player that was out scored and consistently out performed by tom ince in the championship last season. Now your calling for him to be a saviour, last week they were all raving about how valencia has his mojo back. Zaha is English and is quite obviously overrated just like tom ince, cleverly Henderson, walker Danny rose. All the same
Hmm, never noticed it before, but there seems to be some sort of mild dispute between Liverpool and United fans. Get over it! Liverpool went downhill 4 seasons ago and United are just turning that point now I feel. I think its bonkers that people are arguing the demerits of the opposition rather than the strenghts of their own team. What good is a crap Utd defence to Liverpool or a thin Pool midfield to United? It won’t matter much longer once the Swansea revolution takes over! #SwansForEurope
I’d say all united fans switched to the dublin game at half time . We did in this house !
I’d say all Dublin fans switched to united game at half-time!! At least they got something or joe Duffy would be inundated tomorrow
Unconvincing is a bit unfair on spurs.. The Cardiff keeper had one of those games of a lifetime!
The piece about Spurs is crap,not attacking enough? 25 shots on goal today ffs.
As a united supporter , I’m really concerned . I know he needs time , but it’s the same team that won the EPL last year . And now we are 8th … Between a terrible transfer window & today’s display , I’m really Hoping they pick it up . Spurs are looking great with the way they have re-invented the team with a load of new signings . United need to do the same . I’m afraid Zaha , Varela & Fellani are not enough ..
Nasri wasn’t close to being the best player on the pitch. Yaya was incredible, with Kompany and Aguero not far behind.
What’s happening to united now is they’ve been found out. Fergie got the best out of some average squads over the years. That’s why he was the best manager in the world. Moyes will not get the consistency out of this squad like Fergie did time and again. The likes of Özil going to Arsenal over United is because players would sooner sign for Wenger than Moyes who has yet to prove himself in the big league
Loving Moyes now, loving him… Go on the Moyes. SFA in the stands, fantazimo, like having Matt back in the stands picking the team. Love it.
Fergie didnt inherit the champions… why do people insist on making that comparison!? Moyes selection is questionable… against Liverpool, Chelsea & City, they lacked real creativity, highlighted moreso today with RVP’s absence. He needs to man up.
Five games gone and they are talking about the sinking ship at united… They lost games that even in fergie’s time they would have expected to lose.. You’d swear every other team had played Liverpool Chelsea and man city all ready and had come out with a decent return of points… Liverpool always raise themselves at home to united, and for that they usually come out on top, and united on paper don’t have a better squad then city, so while yesterday’s loss was humiliating, it’s hardly a surprise either, ah but sure 5 games is enough time to tell what sort of state united are in. Typical ABU’s!!!
Its not losing the games, its the manner your losing them and the performances. Even the blindest united fan can see that Moyes is a negative coach. In the three big games, united have not scored a goal from open play even with van persie for two of them. Since Swansea their three goals have been a penalty and two free kicks. Players wouldnt sign for them in the summer because they are waiting to see how Moyes pans out. You can all bang on about Fergie and his three years before he won anything that was in 1986 to 1989. Football wasnt all about money then. Now you can come on here and say Im talking rubbish, but you know Im not. Moyes wont get three years and who he played at the start wont matter. His mentality doesnt allow him to go for it in the big games way too pragmatic.
This should be on the daily edge! :)