He is so neutral he’s changed his name to Mr.Neutral!
So that’s the title pretty much done and dusted. I tuned in hoping that Sir Alex’s side might stutter and make the final weeks of the Premier League season a little more exciting, but fat chance of that happening now.
Mark Hughes opted for a tactical idea straight out of the bad tactic handbook. He decided that it would be wise to play with two deep lying midfielders supporting the back four and that seemed to encourage Micah Richards to attempt to play as a winger with little or no success. Robinho was spending most of the game trying to find out where he should position himself on the pitch. Elano needed at least three touches before he was confident enough to make a killer pass and all in all City never got going.
Man United were not exactly purring but they were easily good enough to beat their neighbours at a canter. Cristiano Ronaldo had already tested Shay Given with a long range shot and then he hit a stinging free kick that the keeper had covered until it cannoned off De Jong and it was 1-0. Tevez hit the woodwork and then on the break he was fed expertly by Berbatov and it was 2-0 and pretty much game over.
The second half came and went, Cristiano pulled a tantrum because he was subbed, which was a) embarrasing and b) pointless as he was just being rested and not in anyway taken off as a reflection of his performance.
Late on Hughes made the change he should have made before the ref even began the game by pulling off a defensive midfielder and putting on a proven winger to challenge young Rafael. Martin Petrov did as much in his 17 minute spell as anyone in the Man City shirt and really should have started the game.
As a neutral, and believe me i am, it was a flat game and for a derby it really lacked any bite or passion and that is the least the Eastlands outfit should have brought to the table.
Man of the Match: Carlos Tevez.