United's Carling Cup Adventure Ends

Manchester United 1 - Crystal Palace 2
Scorers
Manchester United: Macheda (pen 69)
Crystal Palace: Ambrose (65), Murray (98)


Team: Amos, Smalling, Evans, Rafael (Progba 64), Fabio (Fryers 37), Gibson, Park, Valencia, Diouf, Berbatov (Morrison 46), Macheda

We never really got into the game and Palace deserved the victory. A little more disconcerting for me were the injuries to the twins Fabio and Rafael. They never seem to get a break and were both replaced.

All in all, the youngsters didn't convince at all. There was too much glory hunting today. Everyone seemed to want to get their names on the scoresheet. There wasn't enough movement off the ball, and the attacks were very one dimensional, right down the middle of the park, making it extremely easy to defend. None of the reserve team players stood out.

Instead it was the Palace youngster, Zaha, who looked like a real winner. He's first half performance was really one to behold. He twisted and turned Fabio, and when Fabio was being replaced, I almost detected form rising from the mouth. He couldn't keep up the same level in the second half but it was enough to leave a deep deep impression from the 19yr old.

On our side, possibly the only player who was really outstanding was Smalling. He had a wildly impressive game, but was let down by his teammates on the other end. Macheda probably had the worst game I've seen since he's entered the scene against Villa a couple of years back, despite winning and scoring the second half penalty. I'm beginning to feel that he just might not make the cut on the big stage. Poor first touch, a seemingly bad attitude on the pitch and way too selfish. Then again, based on what Berbatov did today, the same can be said of him too.

Well, most of the players on show today probably wouldn't see action again this season with the first team unless something drastic happens. It really doesn't bold well for the team on the whole, especially in midfield where we so sorely need reinforcements. Still, heartiest congratulations to Palace and hopefully they go on to make more noisy in the competition.