A stroll in the park for Manchester United

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 26: Javier Hernandez of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford

After the replayed third round, where United scraped through by virtue of a solitary Wayne Rooney goal at Old Trafford against West Ham, United were expected to be handed a stern examination by another Premier League team – Fulham – this time. However, in what was one of only two all Premier League clashes of the fourth round, the current leaders of the Barclays Premier League had what can only be mildly described as little more than a training exercise.

United had the best possible start with Aaron Hughes adjudged to have handled the ball within the first four minutes and Ryan Giggs routinely dispatching the ensuing penalty. The goalkeeper did guess the right way but the power on the shot was just about enough to take it past him. One nil to United. The rest of the first half was a routine affair with United sitting back and egging Fulham on to attack them so as to catch them on the counter. Fulham did have decent spells of possession but could do nothing meaningful with it. United went into the break one nil ahead but the scoreline only flattered to deceive; there was only one team really that looked anything like winning.

The start to the second half was even better than the first. After some very initial attacking intent shown by Fulham, United quickly settled into a rhythm and before they knew it, Fulham were two, three and then four down. Anderson’s through ball was latched onto by Rooney who neatly cut in on his left foot to slot it past Schwarzer. Soon, Chicharito scored United’s third with a swivel on the half volley after some good work down the right from Nani. Soon, he was celebrating a fourth when he cut in onto his right and shot. The shot took a wicked deflection off the legs of a Fulham defender before agonizingly and painfully – from Fulham’s standpoint – nestling into the net. Fulham did pull a goal back – a header from a corner – but any hopes of a revival were effectively quashed with United being clinical in possession and easily seeing out the game.

What this game did, essentially, was to make sure that a couple of objectives were achieved. One, some United players that needed game time – Anderson, Jones, Smalling and Nani – got the game time. Two, with another match coming up in three days time, and with United’s lead at the top likely to be reduced to two points prior to kick off, the game turned into not much more than a glorified training exercise; exactly what Sir Alex would’ve wanted it to be. A few feathers, if any at all, were ruffled, and United came through unscathed.

A couple of things happened in the second half that were interesting though. One, Paul Scholes. He came on in place of Anderson in the second half and the performance was an absolutely atypical Paul Scholes performance. He gave the ball away way too often – at least six times that I counted myself – and more staggeringly made two stellar interceptions and tackles. Most unlike Paul Scholes, it must be said. The lack of recent game time shown quite clearly and perhaps he might be thinking that it is time to go. With Sir Alex making it clear that he will indeed want to retain Scholes’ services for a year more at least, it will be a tough call that Scholesey will have to take in the summer.

Shinji Kagawa: Still finding his place in the team?

Two, Kagawa came on in the second half and played in the center along with Scholes. He was, as usual, full of little give-n-gos and generally buzzing but somehow he does not seem to yet know his place in the team. Too often, he seems to be confused about his role in the team and, as a result, is not quite able to capture that form that saw United pay big money for him. Sir Alex does not yet seem to know what his best XI is or perhaps he thinks that he can afford to have more than one best XI. After all, championship winning sides need a great squad, not just a great team. Whatever that best XI is, though, Kagawa is more certainly a part of it and the sooner that United settle down to a stable XI, the better for him.

In conclusion, United had a Saturday night stroll in the park – a good warm up for the Southampton game on Wednesday. They beat Fulham convincingly, gave a few players a good run out and are now into the fifth round of the FA cup.