Originally posted by HafizulKMS:
I have the same thought like you. Benfica is not anything, they are not doing any good even in their own league. So, a win for Man U should be like peanut.
Roy Kean is just one of the reason. The other reason is, this bunch of arrogant jokers are too confident.
Rooley? Roladoor? Fletjar? Van Dar Sucks? Paul Srews? Fardinuts? Fukerson? ALL SUCKS!
Hafizul, ur comments abt the red devils are obviously biased as all forumers know.. but i do agree w u on the over confidence part..
The truth is.. i have watched the entire 90minutes of the match.. and i see a lack of 'fire' in a lot of players, even those experienced players who have been through the glory days and had always played like warriors laying their life down for the team when on the field.. but not anymore.
There are too many players playing below par. Are they too arrogant and over-confident that Benfica are 'sure-eat' opponents? Or are they simply not good enough to play on the big stage? I guess "Sir" alex fergie dont have much time left in the club to answer these questions... he himself seem to have lost the drive, even during the game last night, when he seemed so calm (or helpless??) even when his team is 2-1 down and desperately need to move up a gear or 2 to produce the goals they need to qualify. The substitutions he made, with the exception of perhaps Richardson for O'Shea, proved to be futile (Saha looked like a clown, trying to perform overhead kicks at inappropriate situations; Park JS failed to provide the spark required to re-ignite a dying side)
The following is the ratings i would like to give the Man United players for that match.
Van der Sar 6 (conceded 2 goals but cant be blamed for either of them)
G.Neville 6 (provided assist to scholes, but besides that, did not venture up the wings as much as he used to do)
Ferdinand 6 (distributed play from the back instead of making rash clearances like his defensive partners)
Silvestre 5 (poor marking resulting in 1st goal from Geovanni; too many indecisive passes in United's own backyard that puts his teammates in trouble)
O'Shea 5 (Poor defensive ability cruelly exposed by the tricky wingers of Benfica; poor defending led to 1st goal being crossed through his legs)
C.Ronaldo 5 (Cant tell which position was he playing at, as he was everywhere on the pitch.. did SAF gave him a free role to roam abt? i dont think so.. And at times he seem more interested in showing off his footy skills rather than providing the passes that his team desperately need; a poor return to his homeland)
Scholes 7 (The only bright spark in midfield, constantly asking for the ball and dictating play; His opening goal look like singapore sch boys playing street soccer standard though

)
Smith 6 (Solid in the middle, but as usual, lack the penatrative passes to his teammates up front, and also dont have ability to distribute cross field passes like Scholes)
Giggs 5 (Can only say one thing.. i think his engine rusty liao, dont even run at defenders anymore when the ball is at his feet and down the wing)
RVN 6 (Very helpless and lack of proper service)
Rooney 7 (The only player who gave his all and fought for every ball for the entire 90minutes)
Subs:
Park JS 5 (he did nothing)
Saha 4 (clown, a waste of time and money)
Richardson 6 (did rather well but SAF only gave him 5 pathetic minutes to rescue the team)