adminUnited’s dominance this season has been underwritten by a formidable four-strong forward line, which has seen the Old Trafford residents comfortably outscore their nearest Premier League rivals.
The best strike partners have an almost telepathic understanding of each other’s movement — anticipating where to put the ball to break down any defensive line.
So, here’s one way to put that to the test. Manchester United’s official digital betting and gaming partner, bwin, decided to put the two sets of strikers head-to-head in a unique test of telepathic understanding.
The deadly duo of Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole met the ‘threatening threesome’ of Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez at United’s Carrington training ground to deliver a master class in striking partnerships. And Rooney even decided to recreate his famous overhead kick against Manchester City in February 2011 — with limited success.
Wearing blindfolds to underline the power of their partnership, Yorke and Cole showcased their ability to pick each other out, on instinct and understanding alone. With the ball regularly hitting the net, it was clear the unique mental cohesion that saw Yorke and Cole contribute 53 goals 1998-99 season had not faded.
With the standard set, it was then up to the current strikers to take on the challenge. After initially being put in the shade by their more experienced counterparts, the video shows Rooney, Welbeck and Hernandez demonstrating their own lethal link-up play that has driven United’s title chasing form.
Rooney said: ‘‘We enjoyed going head to head, especially as Cheech (Chicarito) is a very similar player to Andy and I’m a little bit better than Yorke and Robin van Persie wants to finish his career at Manchester United.”
The Dutchman moved to Old Trafford from Arsenal last summer after eight years in north London.
Van Persie, who was speaking in this week’s Voetbal International, enjoyed an explosive start at United, scoring 23 goals in his first 31 appearances to help his new side into a seemingly unassailable lead in the Barclays Premier League.
The 29-year-old’s form has dipped in his last seven club games, but he hit the goal trail over the recent international break, plundering three goals in two games and surpassing legend Johan Cruyff in the all-time scoring charts for Holland.
And fresh from a double against Romania, he told Voetbal of his admiration for United and how the change has reinvigorated a career which up until that point had yielded just one FA Cup. ‘‘The coming years it’s Manchester United. And maybe longer. United would be my last club,’’ Van Persie said.
‘‘You have a number of clubs in Europe where older players can find it good, where they are valued. You used to have that at Juventus and AC Milan, Manchester United today is a good example. So who knows how long I stay at the club. I have every day at United a new challenge. My development is an ongoing process. That gets an extra boost when you are surrounded by new coaches and team-mates, all with their own ideas, in a totally new environment.’’
Van Persie’s current United contract will end when he is 33 but using 39-year-old Giggs and Scholes, 38, as inspirations, the striker may be tempted to extend his time. — Mailonline.
Online Reporter