Akinfeev's form was flawless today and saved many many goals and ROCKETS with never being nervous or showing signs of panic.  Showed leadership and strenght in terms of mental confidence and ability.  He would be a great player to succeed VDS.

 Also, Obertan is a gamer...he has played extremely well with flawless passing, accuracy, and constant movement in a positive way keeping attacks alive unlike Nani.  Obertan gets passed a defender with a simple cross over only one move required where as Nani stands, does step over step over step dance over dance and then loses possession.  One point Scholes threw his hands up then out of fustration stood on top of the box with his hands on his side watchign Nani hold hte ball dancing with 4 defenders then losing it.  Nani is a BUZZ KILL.

 Also think that Macheda had a great game and missed out on three potential brilliant goals.

The turn around kick was a rocket that the goalie did a great job at securing.  Then the first one which jsut missed the post by half a yard, then the header i thinkit was that hit the post and bounced away.  Played great in terms of showing he is a FINISHER somethign this team lacks at hte moment.

 PS: another game where we dominate possession, took over 20 plus shots and only got minimal results.  The score shoudl have easily been around 7 to 3.  Caught some tough breaks but also noticed when Nani plays there are more dead attacks then active ones.

 Valencia is also showing more comfort and cosntant improvement and playing at a much slower pace (mental meaning) finally now that he has started to settle in and his goals are coming deflection or not its a goal and its been 3-4 times the past few games (hit hte top of hte post last weeks game).  He seems to be more affective at times while playing through the middle like he did on that goal he scored to tie the game today.  Obertan wonders more from left to the middle which has built many effective attacks and I think valencia shoudl do the same considering he has a rocket for a leg on out of hte box attempts.

Budden11:

Match Scoreline: (Manchester United (Owen, Scholes, Valencia) 3-3 CSKA Moscow)

Well at least we have qualified from this group although a win would have set us up nicely to win the group and now we could be facing a group-winner clash with Woflsburg, should both us and Wolfsburg win our next matches. But a relief to say the least, I didn't see us scoring and I thought it wasn't going to be our night when we didn't get the penalty but thankfully we did our Old Trafford trick and dug out a result against an opposition clearly overlooked, and a few defensive mistakes.

First Half Review:

We got off fairly well, but out of nowhere a good link up play between the 2 strikers allowed the player to keep running, and what a finish he produced at the end, and there we were losing a game we thought would be 3 points. Owen and Macheda had 2 glorious chances to score but the kepper saved Owen's and Macheda just went wide. But we replied to their goal and Owen pouned and reacted to score his 4th for United and I thought from this point we would thrash them. But out of nowhere again more link up play allowed their player through and round Van Der Sar to make it 2-1. Thier keeper Akinfeev was pulling some saves off and is definitely a decent keeper. But we didn't find a way through and went in at half time 2-1 down.

Second Half Review:

I really thought we would come at them but a cheap free kick and poor marking allowed the player to come through the back and put CSKA in dreamland. And from this point we didn't have many shots until the Fletcher incident, and it was a penalty and I don't know how we didn't get it, but one thing that got me was why Fletcher didn't leave it for Nani at the back all on his own or why he didn't shoot himself before taking a touch, from this point I didn't think it would be our night. Next we are hitting the post from Macheda great header and their keeper was pulling more saves off and getting a bit of luck. On comes Rooney and Evra and with 10 minutes remaining a free kick for us after great pressure and thier poor ability to defend headers and P[aul Scholes great leap got us back within a goal. And Valencia will not be credited that goal as it was going wide from the start, but the luck we needed put the ball in the net for us and our unbeaten home streak has continued. And another great Old Trafford comeback.

Full Time Review:

All the chances we had to score, we should have been ahead before they scored thier first, but their keeper was brilliant, and to be honest we should have strolled past this team as they couldn't defend any crosses we put in, but we settled for just the 3 goals tonight. Our defending was very poor for all their goals, although to be fair their first 2 goals were good link up play. At least we have qualified and have a chance to win the group by beating Besiktas and hoping CSKA draw or beat Wolfsburg, or else we will have to avoid defeat in Germany to win the group. Many positives from players tonight, I thought Neville was quality with all his crosses and Valencia was always troubling their players with his pace. Scholes and Fletcher were quality in the centre and kept us going when we were 3-1 down. Macheda was unlucky not to score and Owen again was unlucky not to have a hat trick, but thankfully he got one goal. I thought Nani did alright to be honest, but Sir Alex didn't agree. Unlucky not win tonight though, but our defending must improve at home this season. 10+ goals we have conceded already, must get better.

Player Ratings:

1. Van Der Sar - 6

2. G. Neville (c) - 7
6. Brown - 6.5
23. Evans - 6.5
20. Fabio - 6 (3. Evra - 6.5)

25. Valencia - 7
18. Scholes - 8
24. Fletcher - 7.5
17. Nani - 6 (10. Rooney - 6.5)

7. Owen - 7
27. Macheda - 7 (26. Obertan - 6.5)

Next Opponent: Chelsea (A)

We all know what our next match is, back to the Premier League and if Arsenal win their match we could be 3rd ahead of our game with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. We haven't won there since 2002 and Arsenal and Liverpool both won thier last season, and we should of as well. Chelsea are on fire this season despite their 2 defeats where like us they just weren't good enough on the day and deserved to lose. We always match Chelsea when we play them and I have a feeling our performance will be this Sunday and we could come away with 3 points, but right now I would settle for a draw, we can't afford to lose and be 5 points behind. Giggs should be back, and Vidic perhaps, also Berbatov to come back in, as well as recalls for Carrick and Anderson, these will be able to go at Chelsea and as long as the strikers are on song, we could give their defence a lot of problems. We were great in the first half of the Community Shield in August. Our defence needs to sharpen up and with Anelka and Drogba coming at us, i'm sure Evans will look back at his last 2 games against Chelsea where he was fantastic. One thing for sure is it's going to be a great game, I just have a feeling. But as far as the Champions League is concerned resting players again against Besiktas and hoping for a Wolfsburg slip up and a United win to top the group, or it's down to the last game in Germany. But unlucky tonight lads, congratulations on qualifying.

i have to say mate, ive been reading some of your matchday threads and like purefootball, you point out some nice things. i wont say your analysis is as good as purefootball but it's refreshing to have someone make a good post and put the time in to express their thoughts. you've expressed your thoughts well and i too hope taht we turn up at the bridge. everyone wants us to lose but i think we can do it.

 Great match, sloppy defending to concede the goals, very soft ones, but United did very well to make a comeback and earn the point. I thought United movement/attack late in the 2nd half was the best time that United have played this season, it was great to watch. 

The CSKA keeper made a few fantastic saves to keep United out and keep the scoreline low. Scholes was excellent in the middle and so does Gary & Valencia in the wings. United had a few solid penalties claim turned down; One on the foul by fletcher and the other handball by One of the cSkA players in the box, not sure what his name but it was late in the 2nd half. 

Jared Lindolent:

red irish:

I noticed Akinfeev was very friendly towards our players, maybe he was trying to smooth the way for a potential move !

 

Lol I noticed that too...well we can't go wrong by signing that guy his reflexes are out of this world. 

- Last two season's finalists ensures qualification to the knock out stage with two games to spare by sharing points with the visitors in a six goal thriller.

- ManUnited, thus remain unbeaten in group stages of Champions League for the 17^th game.

- Despite going behind twice and conceding a two goal lead immediately after half time, we finally ran out of time and could manage only a draw. With the way the game was being played in the end, a few more seconds before the final whistle would have produced a winner

- The visitor's first goal was just plain class, their second was a collective lapse of concentration at the back and their third was due to sloppy defending at the far post from a set piece.

- CSKA has done well to earn a draw at Old Trafford considering their lacklustre display at the Luzhniki and a Managerial change just days before this game.

- In Igor Akeneev, CSKA has a world class keeper, how many double/triple saves can a keeper make in one game?

- ManUnited started with 4-4-2, (1-3) made a tactical change to 4-3-3 with Rooney's introduction (2-3) and reverted to 4-4-2 with Obertan coming in for Macheda (3-3)

- Fletcher got his legs swept off the pitch by a CSKA defender in the 50^th minute, inside the box and got booked for simulation! A classic case for the introduction of technology in decision making.

- Michael Owen has a european goal after a break of five years, Valencia does a double on CSKA by scoring in both the matches against CSKA.

- Paul Scholes completed 90 minutes with out a scond yellow, scored a goal and had a good game. Obertan will offer stiff competition for Nani and Michael Owen certainly can start and complete a tough game, does not have to live his life at OT as an impact sub.

Before i start i would like to say that i'm fairly intoxicated, just got back from watching the game and these comments are coming whilst tempers are high, so i'll pop back tommorow and let you know if i still believe what i say when i'm sober and calm.

This season we seem to be lacking something (NO! I'm not talking about Ronaldo or Tevez!) in the way we play! We seem to give the oppisition alot more time/space on the ball, which never seems to work! Against Arsenal, Wolfsberg, Man City, CSKA Moscow, Burnley (obviously) and Liverpool.... I wouldnt feel hard done by if we lost, or when we did lose. I think we are lacking the simple essentials to win a game in the Premier League, im sorry if this offends anyone but players such as: Anderson, Nani, Brown, Owen and some young players just seem to lack the simple decision making. The young ones are excusable, but Owen, Nani, Anderson and Brown, there's no excuse! Since the age of 12 you're shouted at by your manager, "Easy Ball" or something along them lines... Yet some of our players seem to lack the ability to access common sense and pick a ball that won't lose possesion, we give the ball away too much, let the oppisition have the ball too long and have poor link up play between midfield and the forwards.

I'm not going to suggest signing Aguero, Messi and other stupid names that 12 year old boys dream of on their fifa team, I think our players are perfectly capable, they just need to start showing it.

Now, for the reason i posted in the first place... Has anyone else noticed the problems i have pointed out or is it just me? And please, if you have any problems with what i've posted, share! Because as it is, i don't think we'll win the Premiership playing like this.

I agree, it was a shabby 1st half... but let's give credit to their keeper, the guy was amazing. Fergie didn't get it worng, as much as he was trying to minimise using some players in preparation for the match against Chelski. Also, it isn't the first time United seemingly waits until the 2nd half, to get their you-know together.  

tonight wasnt nesacarily an eaxple of this. it was the liverpool game that porved it is sometimes.

why does everyone hate anderson, he is a brilliant player. if scholes or carrick start over anderson, our midfield will be trampled on.

but scholes is still class, just suited for breaking smaller teams down who park the bus.

 Usual hannibal lecter (OP)

Was very impressed by Akinveev, he looks quality.

Obertan is looking impressive, and looks to be a steal at £3m. Nani seriously has to up his game, cause atm, I would say Obertan is ahead of him.

red irish:

I noticed Akinfeev was very friendly towards our players, maybe he was trying to smooth the way for a potential move !

Lol I noticed that too...well we can't go wrong by signing that guy his reflexes are out of this world. 

 Dont think he got it wrong , We just defended Very badly in the first half, and the first few minutes of the second half too !

The team he sent out should of been enough to beat Moscow !    

Match Scoreline: (Manchester United (Owen, Scholes, Valencia) 3-3 CSKA Moscow)

Well at least we have qualified from this group although a win would have set us up nicely to win the group and now we could be facing a group-winner clash with Woflsburg, should both us and Wolfsburg win our next matches. But a relief to say the least, I didn't see us scoring and I thought it wasn't going to be our night when we didn't get the penalty but thankfully we did our Old Trafford trick and dug out a result against an opposition clearly overlooked, and a few defensive mistakes.

First Half Review:

We got off fairly well, but out of nowhere a good link up play between the 2 strikers allowed the player to keep running, and what a finish he produced at the end, and there we were losing a game we thought would be 3 points. Owen and Macheda had 2 glorious chances to score but the kepper saved Owen's and Macheda just went wide. But we replied to their goal and Owen pouned and reacted to score his 4th for United and I thought from this point we would thrash them. But out of nowhere again more link up play allowed their player through and round Van Der Sar to make it 2-1. Thier keeper Akinfeev was pulling some saves off and is definitely a decent keeper. But we didn't find a way through and went in at half time 2-1 down.

Second Half Review:

I really thought we would come at them but a cheap free kick and poor marking allowed the player to come through the back and put CSKA in dreamland. And from this point we didn't have many shots until the Fletcher incident, and it was a penalty and I don't know how we didn't get it, but one thing that got me was why Fletcher didn't leave it for Nani at the back all on his own or why he didn't shoot himself before taking a touch, from this point I didn't think it would be our night. Next we are hitting the post from Macheda great header and their keeper was pulling more saves off and getting a bit of luck. On comes Rooney and Evra and with 10 minutes remaining a free kick for us after great pressure and thier poor ability to defend headers and P[aul Scholes great leap got us back within a goal. And Valencia will not be credited that goal as it was going wide from the start, but the luck we needed put the ball in the net for us and our unbeaten home streak has continued. And another great Old Trafford comeback.

Full Time Review:

All the chances we had to score, we should have been ahead before they scored thier first, but their keeper was brilliant, and to be honest we should have strolled past this team as they couldn't defend any crosses we put in, but we settled for just the 3 goals tonight. Our defending was very poor for all their goals, although to be fair their first 2 goals were good link up play. At least we have qualified and have a chance to win the group by beating Besiktas and hoping CSKA draw or beat Wolfsburg, or else we will have to avoid defeat in Germany to win the group. Many positives from players tonight, I thought Neville was quality with all his crosses and Valencia was always troubling their players with his pace. Scholes and Fletcher were quality in the centre and kept us going when we were 3-1 down. Macheda was unlucky not to score and Owen again was unlucky not to have a hat trick, but thankfully he got one goal. I thought Nani did alright to be honest, but Sir Alex didn't agree. Unlucky not win tonight though, but our defending must improve at home this season. 10+ goals we have conceded already, must get better.

Player Ratings:

1. Van Der Sar - 6

2. G. Neville (c) - 7
6. Brown - 6.5
23. Evans - 6.5
20. Fabio - 6 (3. Evra - 6.5)

25. Valencia - 7
18. Scholes - 8
24. Fletcher - 7.5
17. Nani - 6 (10. Rooney - 6.5)

7. Owen - 7
27. Macheda - 7 (26. Obertan - 6.5)

Next Opponent: Chelsea (A)

We all know what our next match is, back to the Premier League and if Arsenal win their match we could be 3rd ahead of our game with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. We haven't won there since 2002 and Arsenal and Liverpool both won thier last season, and we should of as well. Chelsea are on fire this season despite their 2 defeats where like us they just weren't good enough on the day and deserved to lose. We always match Chelsea when we play them and I have a feeling our performance will be this Sunday and we could come away with 3 points, but right now I would settle for a draw, we can't afford to lose and be 5 points behind. Giggs should be back, and Vidic perhaps, also Berbatov to come back in, as well as recalls for Carrick and Anderson, these will be able to go at Chelsea and as long as the strikers are on song, we could give their defence a lot of problems. We were great in the first half of the Community Shield in August. Our defence needs to sharpen up and with Anelka and Drogba coming at us, i'm sure Evans will look back at his last 2 games against Chelsea where he was fantastic. One thing for sure is it's going to be a great game, I just have a feeling. But as far as the Champions League is concerned resting players again against Besiktas and hoping for a Wolfsburg slip up and a United win to top the group, or it's down to the last game in Germany. But unlucky tonight lads, congratulations on qualifying.

 I think that the writing is clearly on the wall for Nani, I cannot see that SAF has any great hopes for him, being subbed and Macheda ( a player far down the pecking order) being shifted into his position, that after the previous subbing.... it doesn't look positive, imo... which is a shame he was really bright for the first 20-25 minutes but after that he seemed to disappear, same old story.

Afkinev is fantastic, we should definately get him if we can, far better than Foster or Kuzy, maybe offer Kuzy as part ex, being that they have very poor options within their squad. Can you imagine him behind quality defenders, welcome back Mr Schmeichel!

Positives, thought Owen and Macheda both had good periods and moments, Fletcher seems fully fit, and Obertan looking more and more impressive game by game, I would like to see him on Sunday, but probably Giggs will be pushed back onto the wing, with the return of Fletcher, and will probably be joined by Valencia. Would love to see him testing the pace of their fullbacks though!

red irish:

I noticed Akinfeev was very friendly towards our players, maybe he was trying to smooth the way for a potential move !

I also noticed when we equalised in the last minute that he was just sitting there, looking around at our croud m(obviously disappointed aswell), with the face composure shaped as if " I want to experience this"

Lol I'm trying my luck but it looked like that to me.