Scholes and Spurs - a report

[boxbat]

Well a United supported mate had a spare ticket to Old Trafford tonight for Paul Scholes' testimonial so I agreed to tag along as I live in the area. The current united squad faced off against a raggle-taggle band of players under the banner 'New York Cosmos', and I was interested to find out two of our own current squad lining up for them - both, I believe, playing 90 minutes. Thought I'd share what I saw.

First, Brad Friedel. What to say, what to say? Well, he let in 6 goals. Most not his fault, to be fair, though at least one shot from a one-on-one seemed to go straight through him. Made a good save from a header, another from a low drive and another from a scramble - though only after flapping at a cross to present the chance in the first place. Definitely still looks like a Premiership keeper but didn't scream 'top four finishers' number one choice'. I mean, he let in 6 goals.

Robbie Keane played as a fairly wide right striker. Didn't get too much service, when he did he would look to run at the defence a bit before ultimately turning back and playing a short pass. Made the odd run in behind but unsurprisingly his temporary team mates weren't usually on the same wavelength. Didn't do anything wrong, per se, but didn't add too many millions to the ol' price tag either.

In conclusion: this night taught us nothing we didn't already know, really.

 

[chrissivad]

I think VDV was lined up for that match before his injury.

 

[stevenurse]

he was due for the van der sar testimonial, not sure about this one

 

[Partizan]

Friedel actually let in 2 goals (both unstoppable) as he was replaced in the second half by Cosmos sub keeper Chad Calderone who looks like him at a distance as he's bald aswell.

 

[nailsy]

Did Keane get fed-up and start flapping his arms?

 

[bomberH]

First, Brad Friedel. What to say, what to say? Well, he let in 6 goals. Definitely still looks like a Premiership keeper but didn't scream 'top four finishers' number one choice'. I mean, he let in 6 goals.

Friedel actually let in 2 goals (both unstoppable) as he was replaced in the second half by Cosmos sub keeper Chad Calderone who looks like him at a distance as he's bald aswell.

:lol:

Thanks for the summary boxbat, but don't go looking for a job as a match reporter just yet... (Mind you, you'll get one at SSN at that rate).

 

[nailsy]

Fancy a job as Arsenal's new chief scout Boxbat?

Just to make you feel better I've done a similar thing myself - except I was watching us. I couldn't work out how Sandro was getting around the pitch so quickly, until I realized that Pienaar had come on at some point and I'd thought Sandro was both of them. To be fair it was a pretty rubbish stream I was watching.

 

[padgateyids]

Boxbat, blind as a bat more like, so ny one understand why they played for the cosmos?

 

[striebs]

Robbie has been knocking them in for the ROI recently . He at least knows where the goal is .

That is quite an achievement given everything that has happened to dent his confidence over the last 2 years . I think his turning back smacks of lack of confidence .



Are you saying that his team-mates in the testimonial were basically not of the required standard or that Robbie was off on a tangent ?

He's the only one of the 4 who has ever been a great player and that demands and warrants an intelligent strike partner .

Exactly the same problem would occur if you could persuade Diego Forlan or any other intelligent striker to join . Can you imagine their frustration with Defcrouchenko ?

Anybody who was expecting Robbie to be effective alongside a muppet like Defoe or to a lesser extent a mediocre player like Crouch was being unfair to him .

I would rather see Keane and Pav starting together than any combination of two of Crouch , Pav and Defoe .

 

[whatsappnin]

Well a United supported mate had a spare ticket to Old Trafford tonight for Paul Scholes' testimonial so I agreed to tag along as I live in the area. The current united squad faced off against a raggle-taggle band of players under the banner 'New York Cosmos', and I was interested to find out two of our own current squad lining up for them - both, I believe, playing 90 minutes. Thought I'd share what I saw.

First, Brad Friedel. What to say, what to say? Well, he let in 6 goals. Most not his fault, to be fair, though at least one shot from a one-on-one seemed to go straight through him. Made a good save from a header, another from a low drive and another from a scramble - though only after flapping at a cross to present the chance in the first place. Definitely still looks like a Premiership keeper but didn't scream 'top four finishers' number one choice'. I mean, he let in 6 goals.

Robbie Keane played as a fairly wide right striker. Didn't get too much service, when he did he would look to run at the defence a bit before ultimately turning back and playing a short pass. Made the odd run in behind but unsurprisingly his temporary team mates weren't usually on the same wavelength. Didn't do anything wrong, per se, but didn't add too many millions to the ol' price tag either.

In conclusion: this night taught us nothing we didn't already know, really.

In conclusion: you need to go to specsavers!

 

[cusop]

Paddy Crerand said in the commentary that Spurs might actually win against United because the guy has had so many outstanding games

Keane played his socks off in the wrong position

 

[boxbat]

Haha! What an absolute disaster of a report. In my defence, we were behind one goal so the Cosmos keeper in the second half was far away, and we didn't have a programme and I couldn't hear the announcer mention the substitution (though he probably did).

So, scrap four of those goals! You can also scrap a couple of the best saves, they must've been the other guy too. So I guess I learnt nothing about Friedel full stop - apart from that other keepers have clearly been copying his style.

As for Keano: striebs, I wouldn't say he was off on a tangent, no. He looked to be making decent runs from time to time, but it's hardly surprising that the makeshift NY team didn't gel - whether its his team mates' fault or simple lack of team cohesion I'm not sure. He did put the effort in but never really attempted shot or killer final ball himself (please don't quote me on this...) I agree confidence could be the reason.

Don't know why these players were selected, to be honest. Viera was there, recieving hearty boos for every touch, and Pires and Sol Campbell were meant to be there - on the same team as the Nicky Butts and Gary Nevilles of this world.

In conclusion: I am a muppet.

 

[Stono]

and Pires and Sol Campbell were meant to be there

Pires was there. Played towards the end. :hello:

 

[boxbat]

Pires was there. Played towards the end. :hello:

I cleverly avoided adding 'but they weren't' to that sentence as I suspected someone might contradict me :wink:

Really makes you wonder what I was looking at for the whole game doesn't it? Oh well, Sol definitely didn't appear.

 

[nailsy]

In conclusion: I am a muppet.

You're going to fit in well here!

 

[Blockbuster]

Lucky Gomes has a tan or Freidel will be getting blamed for everything.

 

[DJS]

You're going to fit in well here!

:hello: