The biggest disappointment was not the loss but the number of unforced changes to the team that predictably lead to it. Saha, Giggs and Neville were already out due to injury so with the chance of qualification against the weakest team in the group, you'd still expect a strong team selection.
However, on top of Brown replacing Neville, both Silvestre and Heinze were drafted in, both returning from injury and neither fit or in form as the game against Crewe showed. Ferdinand, the cement in the back four was rested, leaving the normally solid Vidic struggling next to an unfit and often careless Silvestre. This was highlighted in Copenhagen's winner, with mistakes from Heinze and Silvestre leading to the goal.
Fletcher rightly got a start, given his ever improving, strong performances this season. More puzzling was the inclusion of O'Shea over Scholes. Carrick, still learning his role in the United midfield, was hindered by O'Shea, often trying to cover the same areas of the pitch and getting in each others way. O'Shea struggled to find United's players with his passing and even managed to miss an open goal. In a game where little midfield steel was needed, O'Shea's inclusion was unnecessary and stifled any creativity more than the Dane's midfield could.
With all the changes, there was an inevitability about the result and United looked like a team playing for a draw. Also disappointing was seeing Ole limping off with a hamstring injury. He'll be out for a few weeks now.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
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