The Manchester derby

Yes...I was at the Manchester derby this past weekend.

What an amazing game, and Wayne Rooney's bicycle kick goal not only proved to be the game-winner, but he scored the greatest goal I have ever seen live. My brother and I talked later that day about watching Paul Ince score on a bicycle kick in the 1994 Charity Shield between United and Blackburn at Old Wembley (look it up on You Tube), but this goal was greater - it was in a critically important match in regards to the title race, and the timing of the goal made it epic!

Here are my general thoughts about the match:

* Manchester United looked very flat a the start of the match. Coming out in a 4-5-1 allowed them to match up in midfield, but it also gave them little support for Rooney. The level of passing was off early on in the game, especially out of the back (without Ferdinand) and Ryan Giggs.

* Nani's goal was a brilliant combination that was the by-product of a perfectly weighted through ball from Giggs and outstanding movement off the ball, technique and commitment from Nani. He was outstanding in his ability to control the ball as it was played to him, and his finish was clinical.

* There was a significant difference between United playing their traditional 4-4-2/4-2-4 versus playing a 4-3-3. I definitely can understand why Sir Alex wanted to match up with City in midfield, but Roon is not nearly effective on his own, and they didn't really link up with him at all- they leaned heavily on Nani in that alignment.

* Both teams changed to a 4-4-2 at different stages of the second half, which really opened up the match. Central forwards entering the game allowed for both Rooney and Tevez to operate as second strikers, which is where they are most comfortable (more freely).

* Smalling played really well in Ferdinand's absence, but Vidic is United's most important player. He breaks so much up and is a rock back there- he has to be at his very best for United to be successful (which he was today).

* It is easier to have your outside backs bomb forward off the ball when you play with 2 central midfielders sitting in front of your back four like United did today with Scholes and Fletcher. Because those two come back so deep, it gives better cover on both sides of the ball, and allows the freedom for players like Evra to get forward. O'Shea is a more reliable defender than Rafael at this stage of his career, but his inability to get involved in the attack stifled United at times.

* Berbatov's influence was clearly on display when he came on, and it would be hard to question how significant his role is. He is a traditional center forward, and he gives Roon the freedom to roam and create- without him out there, Roon gets very static, predictable and ineffective.

Questions going forward down the home stretch here for United will be- Rio's health (Smalling certainly has potential- which will be reached by playing in more matches like this- but without Rio, it puts too much pressure on Vidic); can they get by without relying on Scholsie and Giggsy (Valencia's return from injury and Park's return from the Asian Cup are critical; Carrick needs to be consistent enough to rotate in with Fletch and Anderson; neither Scholsie or Giggsy have the legs to play significant minutes regularly).

If United's depth at center back and central midfield hold up, Rafael earns a regular place in the team at right back, and Roon can continue this return to form (3 goals in the last 3 games, and vs the likes of City and Villa), they will be very hard to catch at this stage- both in the league and in Europe.