Newsgroup: it.sport.calcio.estero
Titolo: Aston Villa 0-1 United

Grande Giggs.
Non la migliore partita da noi disputata,ma perfetta in ogni reparto.
Tranne l'attacco che si e' visto veramente poco.
Commento (in inglese):
Welsh Wizard Conjures Villa Park Victory
Ryan Giggs turned on the style to give United a narrow victory over Aston 
Villa at Villa Park on Tuesday night.
The Welsh Wizard must like the air in this part of the world for it wasn't 
his first sparkling display on this ground.
He took on Villa almost single-handedly during the first half and was 
unlucky on two occasions before finally cracking the winner past Thomas 
Sorensen in the 41st minute.
United enjoyed the upper hand in the first half, but Villa rallied well 
after the break to give United some nervy moments.
The win took United into third place in the Premiership table above Everton, 
who'd earlier gone down 2-0 at Charlton Athletic.
Sir Alex Ferguson named precisely the same sixteen-man squad which was on 
duty against Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, but it wasn't 
the same starting eleven that lined-up against Sam Allardyce's side. Phil 
Neville was listed in place of skipper Roy Keane whilst Paul Scholes, who 
was a substitute against Bolton, was in from the start in place of Cristiano 
Ronaldo. Rio Ferdinand skippered United in Keane's absence.
Aston Villa were looking for their first three-pointer against United since 
August 1995 when they defeated the Reds 3-1 at Villa Park with goals from 
Ian Taylor, Mark Draper and Dwight Yorke (penalty). David Beckham, one of 
the 'kids', (20 years of age at the time), came off the bench to grab United's 
consolation six minutes from time.
Villa's only success against Sir Alex Ferguson's team in the intervening 
years was a 3-0 home win in the League Cup in 1999.
It was a crisp and clear night in Birmingham as the game got under way with 
United attacking the goal in front of the giant Holte End stand.
United, wearing a change strip of white shirts and black shorts, were almost 
immediately bearing down on Thomas Sorensen's goal. One attack broke down 
when Villa's defence managed to clear the ball, but United kept the home 
side hemmed in with Wayne Rooney hitting a low shot which Sorensen gathered 
without too much hassle.
Villa, with only one home defeat so far this season (against neighbours 
Birmingham City) also started in lively fashion with Lee Hendrie testing Roy 
Carroll with a low shot in the 11th minute. Nolberto Solano provided the 
ball from the right and Hendrie struck a fine shot that Carroll could only 
shepherd away for a corner.
The home fans were roaring for a penalty in the 12th minute when Solano 
appeared to go down in the area under a challenge from Rooney. Referee 
Graham Poll was up with the action and he took no notice whatsoever of the 
appeals and indicated that play should continue.
Ryan Giggs sped clear of a group of players in the 18th minute before 
hitting a shot, which almost dipped over Sorensen's outstretched arms. The 
Reds' winger had the Villa defence retreating as he closed in on goal and he 
may had more luck had his shot not taken a deflection of defender Ulises De 
La Cruz.
Giggs was frightening the Villa defence again a few minutes later when he 
made one of those trade mark sprints downfield. Paul Scholes was almost the 
recipient of a forward pass, but it was just too long.
The Welshman was having a blistering early spell and he could easily have 
celebrated with a goal in the 22nd minute after collecting Darren Fletcher's 
ball on the right. Gareth Barry slipped at the vital moment, which allowed 
Giggs to get in a fierce drive. It looked all over a goal, but Sorensen made 
a magnificent save to push the ball over.
Scholes almost added to his recent tally of goals on half-hour with a 
cracking shot, which looked to on its way until it struck defender Liam 
Ridgewell and spun away for a corner.
United were having a fine spell, monopolising possession of the ball, making 
some good openings and always looking on the brink of opening their account.
Ridgewell very nearly gave Villa the lead in the 39th minute with a 
point-blank header from Solano's left-wing cross. The chance stemmed from 
Carroll's poorly directed clearance, which struck Carlton Cole's back before 
dropping to Solano. The cross was spot-on, as was Ridgewell's header, but 
Carroll did brilliantly to make a vital save.
Giggs had been in terrific form throughout the first half, certainly looking 
the most likely to find the net, and four minutes before the interval that's 
just what he did. Accepting the ball on the right he advanced before hitting 
a shot that entered the net between Sorensen at the post.
United, and Giggs in particular, had been threatening throughout the first 
half so it was no surprise when the Welshman opened the scoring.
Rooney required treatment, from Reds' physio Robert Swire, to a thigh 
abrasion in the opening moments of the second half after a collision with 
defender Ridgewell.
United defence was almost pierced in the 54th minute when former Newcastle 
United star Solano threaded through a fantastic ball to Cole. The equaliser 
looked certain, but the Villa frontman let the ball run from his control and 
the chance was lost.
That was the start of Villa's best spell of the match. The Holte End 
supporters roared in delight as their side won a series of corners. Nothing 
came of the pressure, but it certainly warmed the Villa faithful.
Sir Alex Ferguson must have been a little concerned the way the second half 
was unfolding for with the space of two minutes both Keane and Ronaldo were 
sent in the fray. John O'Shea and Rooney were the players to make way.
Gabriel Heinze became United's third player (Ferdinand and O'Shea being the 
others) to receive a yellow card in the 76th minute after clashing with 
Villa substitute Luke Moore.
Villa were certainly proving to be tougher proposition in the second half, 
enjoying a much bigger share of the attacking action than they had earlier 
and looking increasingly more dangerous offensively.
United should have doubled their advantage in the dying moments of the game 
when Keane crossed to Smith in the middle. The United striker was perfectly 
placed but he somehow hit his shot against the bar with Sorensen helpless.
ASTON VILLA: Sorensen; De La Cruz, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Barry; Berson (Moore 
S, 87), Hendrie (Whittingham, 67), Davis, Solano; Cole (Moore L., 55), Angel
Substitutes: Postma, Drobny.
MANCHESTER UNITED: Carroll; O'Shea (Keane, 60), Ferdinand, Silvestre, 
Heinze; Rooney (Ronaldo, 62), Fletcher, Neville P., Scholes; Giggs; Smith.
Substitutes: Howard, Bellion, Miller.
Attendance: 42,593
http://www.manutd.com/footballnow/matchreport.sps?reportid=6221&iEventID=15015&compid=
Commento:Siamo li,e non molliamo. 

 Tranne l'attacco che si e' visto veramente poco.
Smith veramente impresentabile e non solo per il gol più clamoroso che ho 
visto sbagliare nella storia del calcio! peccato, a me sta simpatico, ma è 
davvero irritante... vi conviene sperare che RVN torni al più presto perchè 
lì davanti siete messi mael... io richiamerei Forlan ;-)
-- 
SkydAnc3R
NY KNICKS ITALIA: 
www.knicks.tk
SkydAnc3R on line: 
http://skydancer.altervista.org
"Anni di tifo NY logorerebbero chiunque" 

 lì davanti siete messi mael...
Mah, non concordo.
Smith non è un goleador ed il problema è che nel Man Utd non ne esiste un
altro. Ci sarebbe Saha ma ha un rendimento un po' anomalo.
Smith è un'ottima seconda punta, è fortissimo se deve lottare, recuperare
palloni, sputare sangue e buttarla dentro una volta ogni tanto.
Ma il suo ruolo non è quello del goleador.
Ad inizio stagione comunque giocò molto bene e segnò pure vari goal.
-- 
Fabio5 [ICQ 175236943] - Hattrick: Saints Regia (235798) in VI.374 Italia
Co-mod di it.sport.calcio.inter e fondatore di it.sport.calcio.estero
Totti parla dello sputo degli Europei: "Io ancora nego. Dopo tre giorni,
all'Europeo, continuavo a ripetere che era un fotomontaggio"

 Ad inizio stagione comunque giocò molto bene e segnò pure vari goal.
Ed invece concordi :-) perchè è vero quello che hai detto, ma Smith ha fatto 
davvero male l'altra sera... vuoi perchè mancava Ruud, vuoi perchè si è pure 
fatto male Rooney, ma è stato impalpabile. Che poi sia una seconda punta 
validissima non era quello di cui parlavo: per carità, verissimo, e come ho 
detto piace pure a me, ma l'altra sera...
-- 
SkydAnc3R
NEW YORK KNICKS ITALIA: 
www.knicks.tk