United took on 11th place Blackburn this weekend, in what was a must win to stay in the title race and the line-up consisted of Evra on the bench, Giggs and Scholes at center mids, Macheda and Berbatov up top? This is not a lineup that is going to win you the Premier League! O’Shea is terrible at getting up the field. With all due respect to the United legends, Giggs and Scholes are too old to play side by side in the center of midfield.Up top, Berbatov and Macheda don’t know how to play a 4-4-2

It was Blackburn who would create a real threat first in the 8th minute when Samba received a great ball but didn’t hit how he would’ve liked.

Uniteds problem became clear in their first decent effort, if you could call it that. Berbatov was checking back too far for the ball all game. Notice in this particular play (min 24:37) both Berbatov and Macheda are on the right side of the pitch linking passes together for Valencia to get through! One of them needed to be in front of goal to provide Valencia with another option, other than shoot at goal with absolutely no angle. That is the job of the center mids, but where are Scholes and Giggs?

Just before the half 42 minutes in, Berbatov played a great ball in for Valencia, but lets be honest anyone could have seen and hit that pass, what was the Blackburn defender thinking giving Valencia the inside lane like that. But Valencia would make a huge mistake and try to hit the ball across the goal when he could have clearly tucked it away easily to the keepers left!

Manchester United had some other half chances in the second half, but they lacked creativity, No penetrating runs or dangerous balls down the flank.

In the 80th minute Berbatov would have another chance 15 yards out, but unlike a Wayne Rooney, or Fernando Torres, Berbatov waits for the ball to come to him and when he does have a strike its weak and right to the keeper. A world class striker would have pounced on that ball and would not have waited for that ball to come to them.

So what if Blackburn was playing with 11 defenders, United needed to get this result; the Champions League was over and done with and the premier league was all they had to play for and now that has gotten away from them as well.

It was a gamble to bring in Michael Owen, It was a gamble not to buy in the January transfer window, and it was a gamble to play Wayne Rooney in the Champions League semi-final. Has Sir Alex’s luck finally run out? It certainly has for this season.

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Blackburns most dangerous forward is Santa Cruz.

Early on Carlos Tevez was unlucky and called for a handball after a great switch from Ronaldo.
Tevez would have been straight trough.

In the 10th minute Rooney put a great ball from the flank to Tevez, but he fails to connect. It was a great chance for United

In the 21st minute, Blackburn took a quick throw and the United defense were caught asleep, both Rio and Vidic were marking Roberts and there was a horrible mix up between the three players. The ball then fell right into the path of Santa Cruz, of all players. And from 6 yards out Santa Cruz made it 1-0

This would be a true test for United.

Ronaldo gets fouled in the 28th minute outside the 18 and of to the right. An ideal position for a left footed shot or a right footed center. Ronaldo went with option “C” take the shot, unfortunately it was low and right to Friedel

In the 38th Rooney carried the ball just inside the 18 near the goal line, before the ball could go out Rooney cut back and was caught by Samba. Unfortunately Rooney reacted a tad late and it looked like a flop. Referee Styles did not give it to him and Rooney was infuriated

Rio and the rest of Uniteds defense was just clearing the ball, with no sense of direction.

Rooney took out his frustration on Samba in the 40th minute, with a thigh high tackle to bring down the Blackburn defender and with out a doubt Rooney goes into the book.

Uniteds back line looked horrible

Great run and great ball by Rooney who fed Carrick on the opposite side of the field, Carrick gota corner out of it

Ronaldo lost his man as Giggs centered the ball, Ronaldo connected well but was denied by Friedel after a brilliant header

Sir Alex calls everyone up for a free kick from the left flank, Rio and Vidic both ready for a center, but again Ronaldo attempted a shot, a poor poor ball from Ronaldo, If Sir Alex called up all the big guys for a free kick you gotta put the ball in the air, instead Ronaldo attempted a shot on goal!

A poor performance by United all around. The defense was horrible, the midfielders are nowhere to be found. United defenders were stabbing at the ball and getting beat left and right. They were panicing with the ball at their feet, they couldn’t get out of their own half unless it was a long ball.

1-0 at half time

Nani for Giggs to start the second half, good choice! Giggs didn’t do anything, unfortunately Anderson is not available for Scholes, who was also struggling.

Ronaldo lost the ball again in the 49th minute. Ronaldo needed to start passing the ball!

Nani is fouled just outside the 18, But his kind of explosiveness and determination is what United was missing in the 1st half
Ronaldo took the shot drilled it right at the wall. Ronlado didn’t look comfortable today, noting is going his way today

Blackburn was playing United strong. They were playing relentlessly and if they continued to do that, it was going to be very difficult for United to get into this game

Blackburn was applying pressure to every ball and hustling to every ball. That is why they were up.

United are not playing like a team, Rooney in the 60th minute had 4 options and decided to take it himself. He then ran into 3 Blackburn players, and lost the ball

Nani tried one in the 62nd minute and it goes way over the bar. United were playing very selfishly!

Finally some promise from Ronaldo in the 65th minute as he took an awesome left footed volley but it was off the right post! What a shot, Friedel might have gotten a hand on it!

Another United mistake in the back nearly costs them another goal. As Brown swung at a ball and missed

It was clear Rooney was hurt when he had a chance to challenge a ball and he walked out of the way.

United players were walking, while Blackburn players were still going 100% in the final 15 minutes
Pure determination put Blackburn up and kept them ahead

Great ball from Scholes in the 80th minute to Rooney, Rooney then played it to Ronaldo
Ronaldo tried to shoot but it looked like he was clipped, Then the ball landed for Tevez who poked it past Friedel but the ball took a weird spin and it stops on the line.

It took Ronaldo 80 minutes to wake up as he took the ball down the line, beat his defender and put it into the middle for Tevez who couldn’t get to it.

Blackburn got away with a hand ball in the box! It was a clear hand ball but no call!

Rooney got a great chance as Nani fed him a through ball brilliantly and Friedel the American has yet another great save!

Another brilliant save by Friedel after a free kick!!!

GOOOOOOAAAAAAAL for United!!!!!!!! CARLITOS TEVEZ !!!!!!!
Tevez salvages one very crucial point for United. As Tevez heads one past Friedel. It felt like United were never going to score.

And United get 1 very important point as the Ref blows the final whistle

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Vidic is a very crucial player and to have him back is a huge relief.

Nani is also set to return after suffering a minor leg injury that kept him out of his countries international friendly against Greece back in March.

Anderson and Hargreaves on the other hand, might miss Saturdays clash at Ewood Park.

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