Analysis of the Rooney Goal
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 11:24 am
Given Save
Just before the goal, Boyata completely lost Fletcher who brought a great save from Given. Fletcher was just standing at the near post where no body picked him up.
BUT LOOK IN THE MIDDLE. Rooney completely unmarked in the six yard box. You cannot say we were not warned! Richards and Zabaleta were caught on the wrong side completely. Ireland is marking nobody and Kompany was in a bad position afer as he was beaten as the near post blocker.
Corner Positions
This is the starting positions for the corner kick. Loads around Rooney, three left unmarked but the team very much defending the 6 yard line. One on the back post and two as near post blockers. Zabaleta, Ireland and Richards look like they are to look afer the loose United players.
I can't see anything wrong myself in this zonal set up for the corner kick.
Coming out Positions
Now the corner has been played short and the players are re-positioning as they run out. We have 5 defenders picking up the penalty spot. De Jong on the back post races out right past Rooney and continues a few yards ahead of him.
As Giggs swings a very good ball into the box, United players from deep start running at speed into the 6 yard box. City defenders stay static where they were looking to do a standing jump but the ball has too much swerve on it and goes deeper into the penalty area.
Final Position
Now the City and United players are in equal numbers on the six yard line. Boyata is challenging the United player (Fletcher again) to win the header, both miss it.
Barry, De jong and Kompany are all caught in the same position ahead of Boyata and effectively out of the game completely. Only Barry needed to be there as the near post blocker. De jong and Kompany are at fault here. Richards has stayed out to mark a United player as he didn't run in.
Zabaleta didn't run back to the far post, only Ireland tracked back but he was caught napping too and ended up the wrong side. If rooney had missed it the other United player would have scored at the far post.
In conclusion..
The Given Decision
There's debate about whether Given should have come for the ball as it was only 7 yards out. There are good reasons for both trains of thought. Personally I think the ball was too good and quickly whipped in for him to make a call to come. Also look at how quickly the balls dips from this screenshot. Given would have needed to take out Boyata and Fletcher with a punch which would have been just as risky as staying on the line.
Just before the goal, Boyata completely lost Fletcher who brought a great save from Given. Fletcher was just standing at the near post where no body picked him up.
BUT LOOK IN THE MIDDLE. Rooney completely unmarked in the six yard box. You cannot say we were not warned! Richards and Zabaleta were caught on the wrong side completely. Ireland is marking nobody and Kompany was in a bad position afer as he was beaten as the near post blocker.
Corner Positions
This is the starting positions for the corner kick. Loads around Rooney, three left unmarked but the team very much defending the 6 yard line. One on the back post and two as near post blockers. Zabaleta, Ireland and Richards look like they are to look afer the loose United players.
I can't see anything wrong myself in this zonal set up for the corner kick.
Coming out Positions
Now the corner has been played short and the players are re-positioning as they run out. We have 5 defenders picking up the penalty spot. De Jong on the back post races out right past Rooney and continues a few yards ahead of him.
As Giggs swings a very good ball into the box, United players from deep start running at speed into the 6 yard box. City defenders stay static where they were looking to do a standing jump but the ball has too much swerve on it and goes deeper into the penalty area.
Final Position
Now the City and United players are in equal numbers on the six yard line. Boyata is challenging the United player (Fletcher again) to win the header, both miss it.
Barry, De jong and Kompany are all caught in the same position ahead of Boyata and effectively out of the game completely. Only Barry needed to be there as the near post blocker. De jong and Kompany are at fault here. Richards has stayed out to mark a United player as he didn't run in.
Zabaleta didn't run back to the far post, only Ireland tracked back but he was caught napping too and ended up the wrong side. If rooney had missed it the other United player would have scored at the far post.
In conclusion..
- Boyata did his job, just missed the ball,
- Ireland got caught napping slightly
- Richards did his job
- Zabaleta didn't bother moving
- De Jong ran right past Rooney and out of the game and is at fault
- Barry did his job as near post blocker
- Kompany was no where near anybody and is my main culprit
The Given Decision
There's debate about whether Given should have come for the ball as it was only 7 yards out. There are good reasons for both trains of thought. Personally I think the ball was too good and quickly whipped in for him to make a call to come. Also look at how quickly the balls dips from this screenshot. Given would have needed to take out Boyata and Fletcher with a punch which would have been just as risky as staying on the line.