The following news article was added to www.red11.org/news on Sat Jan 18 @ 15:47:28 GMT
MAN UTD V CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS MANCHESTER UNITED FABIEN BARTHEZ - Distribution and handling at crosses was at best erratic, and he committed himself very early on Gudjohnsen's goal. Made one excellent save low down to deny the Icelander in the second half. 6/10 GARY NEVILLE - Committed display featuring some solid tackling, although did not get forward to such good effect as he has the potential to. 7/10 WES BROWN - Worked well in tandem with Ferdinand although along with Phil Neville could be criticised on Chelsea's goal for not tracking Gudjohnsen's run. 7/10 RIO FERDINAND - Important defensive headers early on, one denying Desailly a headed goal from a corner. 7/10 MIKAEL SILVESTRE - Defended adequately and supported United's attacks down the left but made no pivotal impact on the game. Substituted late on for Veron. 6/10 DAVID BECKHAM - Supplied a host of his trademark crosses; for Scholes' goal and almost got another two assists when Solskjaer hit the post and van Nistelrooy's header was saved by Cudicini. 8/10 ROY KEANE - Held the United midfield together but his touch was not always as sure as you would expect of a player of his calibre. 7/10 PHIL NEVILLE - Made some hard but fair challenges and his passing was excellent, although it did appear that he lost Gudjohnsen's run on the goal. Substituted at half-time. 6/10 OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER - Proved a headache for Chelsea as he switched from the left flank to the right and back again. Moved into a central position and was unlucky when his second-half shot on the turn hit the post. 8/10 PAUL SCHOLES - Excellent header for United's equaliser when once again he arrived from deep to score. 8/10 RUUD VAN NISTELROOY - An average performance by his standards. Denied a goal by a wonderful stop by Cudicini and left the field seconds later. 7/10 SUBSTITUTES RYAN GIGGS (on for PHIL NEVILLE 45) - Responded to his critics by doing what he does best - running at defenders with his searing pace. No particular end product, but he could not be faulted for effort. 7/10 DIEGO FORLAN (on for VAN NISTELROOY 71) - Came close with a low shot just wide within five minutes of coming on andthen netted the injury-time matchwinner with an excellent finish. 8/10 JUAN SEBASTIAN VERON (on for SILVESTRE 85) - The Argentinian only had about eight minutes to make an impact, including injury-time, and his pass to Forlan for the winner was typical. 8/10 CHELSEA CARLO CUDICINI - His dreadful clearance straight to Beckham led to United's equaliser. He had nothing to do prior to that mistake, which might explain why his kick lacked confidence. Atoned for his error with a superb stop, stretching full length to tip a van Nistelrooy header around the post. 7/10 MARIO MELCHIOT - Solid performance but his forward forays were curtailed by Giggs' second-half arrival. 6/10 WILLIAM GALLAS - Failed to deal with aerial threat of van Nistelrooy, fortunately for him Cudicini dealt with the Dutchman's header. 5/10 MARCEL DESAILLY - An assured performance, time and again coming off best in the air and on the deck although he was caught out at the death by Forlan. 7/10 CELESTINE BABAYARO - The Nigerian had a good first half and passed the ball well but he failed to cut off the threat of Beckham, who was a constant danger. 6/10 JESPER GRONKJAER - Very quiet as most of Chelsea's attacks stemmed from the left, but he did throw himself in the way of a Scholes shot to prevent United going ahead. Substituted in the 56th minute. 6/10 FRANK LAMPARD - Rarely gave the ball away in a Chelsea midfield which generally passed and moved well. 7/10 EMMANUEL PETIT - Provided the Blues' midfield with his usual mix of style and steel, supplied a glorious pass for Gudjohnsen to score. 8/10 GRAEME LE SAUX - Put in a lively performance down the left, although he had to help out at the defensive end in the second half as the home side turned up the heat. 6/10 JIMMY FLOYD HASSELBAINK - Kept quiet by the United defence in what could be his final game for the club, suffered an ankle injury and lasted just a quarter of the match. 6/10 EIDUR GUDJOHNSEN - Made some excellent first-half runs through the centre and was rewarded when he lifted the ball over Barthez for a neat first goal. Showed his close control when beating two United players before his shot was parried by Barthez. 8/10 SUBSTITUTES GIANFRANCO ZOLA (on for HASSELBAINK 16) - The Italian looked good when he gained possession but such occasions were too few and far between and he did not manage an effort at goal. 5/10 ENRIQUE DE LUCAS (on for GRONKJAER 56) - Made little impact and his only effort at goal very nearly went out for a throw-in. 5/10 www.sportinglife.com http://www.red11.org/news Subscription info WWW http://red11.org/list Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] = subscribe to the list. [EMAIL PROTECTED] = unsubscribe from the list. Post message [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
