adminMANCHESTER – Strutting, strolling and never in any danger, Manchester City issued a painful reminder that, after 10 short months, the balance of Mancunian power has swung inexorably. After Edin Dzeko’s double, Yaya Toure’s last-minute strike was a final measure of their crushing dominance in a 3-0 victory.
Manuel Pellegrini’s men pinned back United in a fashion that only top European opposition used to manage at Old Trafford. At best, it served as practice for Bayern Munich next week, but this was civic pride surrendered meekly, cluelessly and, even worse than that, just as expected. City did not have to reach for anywhere near their best form.
“I’m very delighted because I think we played very well,” said Pellegrini afterward. “We were very compact and very aggressive.”
The last time City came to Old Trafford more than 10 points ahead of United was during 1977-78, when an unpopular manager – Dave Sexton – had succeeded a Glaswegian who was an icon among the fans. Tommy Docherty was no Sir Alex Ferguson, but won friends with an attacking brand of football.
David Moyes is shyly shrinking into a Sexton-like shell. A woeful home record hardly helps his cause; United’s support has seen only 18 goals scored at Old Trafford and the same number conceded.
If the plan was to contain City, it collapsed within 42 seconds. Dzeko’s first goal was the irresistible outcome of an attack that tore United to shreds right from kickoff. Samir Nasri’s shot off a post provided the assist after there had already been a last-ditch tackle from Rafael to prevent David Silva scoring.
“I just think we never came out of the blocks,” said Moyes. “We prepare the players, we warm them up, we do all the things but we never started. It gave them a real lift to get that early goal,”
When the Bosnian scored his second in the 56th minute, it was the result of similar sustained pressure. Moyes’ refined tactical plan, which included the half-time withdrawal of Tom Cleverley for Shinji Kagawa, was as impotent as before. City wrenched the pressure gauge up and it was released only once Dzeko hooked in Silva’s corner having escaped Rio Ferdinand’s attentions.
The other United player in the vicinity was Marouane Fellaini, whose foibles were again symbolic of a dreadful derby defeat; he was equally as hopeless Tuesday as he had been in September’s fixture. He was eventually subbed to a standing ovation – from City fans.
Perhaps he was lucky to be on the pitch at all. Fellaini’s greatest achievement was to evade a first-half dismissal for an elbow on Pablo Zabaleta. Maybe referee Mike Oliver wished the game to remain competitive or City players appealed for clemency, hoping the bungling Belgian could continue.
When it comes to opposition below ninth in the table, Moyes has achieved a modicum of mastery. Of the teams above that, only Arsenal have lost to United. Amid a season of bad results, Arsene Wenger may now consider that November afternoon among his worst.
“I thought it would be a tough year for us but I hoped we would be much more competitive and closer to the top of the league,” Moyes said.
“You don’t just suddenly change things around. A lot of other clubs have had to change and look at the time it has taken them to do that. Hopefully it won’t take us as long.”
Apart from the odd breakaway skirmish that usually broke down because of a lack of a target man – Moyes had replaced Robin van Persie with what looked like three “false nines” in Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata – there was little in the way of a home threat.
United’s last home victory over their city rivals was on a February 2011 lunchtime when Rooney scored his famous overhead kick. If these inadequacies continue like this, the wait for the next could be lengthy.
“I take responsibility for the team, I always will,” said Moyes. “We came up against a good side, we came into the game in pretty good form but conceding early put us on the back foot a little bit.”
“Worst champions we’ve ever seen,” mocked fans of the boys in blue. United are now in line to be the worst since 1995-96, when Blackburn Rovers followed their solitary Premier League title with 51 points and seventh place, the exact position and points in which, and on which, United now languish.
They never played with sufficient belief to halt City’s surges, which were mounted at will. Worse, United’s best chance fell to the aforementioned Fellaini. Few fancied him to score, least of all himself, judging by his panicked body language. His single strike this season came at Stevenage. For Everton.
Not that Mata looks any more prolific. He was a regular scorer with Chelsea, augmenting that tally by leading the assists table, but the Spaniard has not done that at United either. He runs with purpose, but only into areas that present little danger. His passing radar is wonky, too. Moyes’ two expensive signings remain estranged from the rest of a malfunctioning team.
The home side’s initial 4-3-3 approach had omitted a right-hand side of midfield; the closest United had to a first-half presence there was Antonio Valencia, making shuttle runs in his substitute’s bib. Cleverley, Manchester’s most maligned man behind Moyes, was supposed to keep watch while Mata sallied off on his missions. Instead, great gulfs appeared.
This was previewed as a night Mata got to play the No. 10 role, but he was completely outshone by Silva, playing off Dzeko, and whose use of space and linkage with teammates was exemplary throughout. “I thought Mata played really well,” said Moyes in defence of his expensive January signing.
Cleverley’s merciful withdrawal raised further confusion. Kagawa on the right gave even less protection to already overworked Rafael.
Moyes’ aim might have been to ape the fluidity of his opponents but, where City were coherent, United were jumbled, disjointed.
Silva & Co. flourish because they are used to the tactics employed and each other, while their opponents brimmed with the discomfort of unfamiliarity.
While City briskly marched onto the shoulders of Chelsea, with two games in hand, United’s players performed as if they cannot wait for season’s end. Bayern can only be expected to finish it for them. —Soccernet
Online Reporter