You beauty: Darron Gibson curls in United's exquisite
second goal
Sir Alex Ferguson said recently that he is finding it
increasingly difficult to keep young Darron Gibson happy. It will
be considerably more difficult from now on.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder has impressed his manager so
often on the training field in recent weeks that Ferguson has
become a little uncomfortable that he can not offer him much
Premier League football.
After seeing the 22-year-old score two sumptuous goals from
distance to ease United into the last four of the Carling Cup,
Ferguson now has reason to be grateful, especially after the
question marks that were left hanging over his young players in the
wake of last week's home defeat to Besiktas.
He also has more reason to try - somehow - to keep
Gibson satisfied. How he does it is hard to say. Last night's
match-winner has five internationals ahead of him in the pecking
order.
Shifting Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes,
Anderson and Owen Hargreaves from their place in the queue already
looks an impossible task.
Get in: Gibson celebrates his excellent strike
Nevertheless, the contribution from a central midfielder
who has a habit of scoring spectacular goals won this game
for United.
Gibson played reasonably well for an hour or so against Besiktas
last week before fading rapidly. His work in the first half against
Tottenham
was certainly very effective.
United had actually been on the back foot for the opening part
of the game as a strong Spurs team endeavoured to notch their first
victory at Old Trafford since 1989. But a moment of pure quality
from Gibson swung the game United's way and it turned out to be a
definitive change of direction.
United's Brazilian midfielder Anderson did well to keep
possession down the left-hand side and then he funnelled the ball
infield to Gibson, who drove a perfect shot along the ground and
away from Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes into the far
corner.
Gibson is 6ft 2in and powerfully built, something that manifests
itself in his shooting. He delivered a telling strike in an FA Cup
tie against Southampton last season and another goal from outside
the penalty area to decide the final game of United's league season
at Hull - the only Premier League match he has started for his
club.
His second goal last night was perhaps the pick of his early
career at Old Trafford. This time it was 19-year-old centre forward
Danny Welbeck who provided the set-up with a lay-off on the edge of
the area. Once again Gibson used his right instep and the ball
curled away from Gomes high into the goal.
Master blaster: Gibson (right) smashes in the first
goal of the quarter-final
Ferguson said: 'I thought Gibson and Anderson were the
stars of the show. Gibson is now one of the players who can really
shoot from outside the area. His second goal in particular was
excellent.
'I actually thought we were a little fortunate in the first
half. I thought Tottenham were the better team before we
scored.'
Ferguson's assessment was correct. Tottenham looked strong on
paper and started purposefully, with Gareth Bale worrying Gary
Neville with his advances from left back and Jermain Defoe and
Robbie Keane looking the quick-thinking footballers they are.
They did find chances hard to come by, however. The 21-year-old
Belgian defender, Ritchie de Laet, blocked one Defoe shot after
Bale found the England striker with a terrific cross to the far
post and then central defender Nemanja Vidic showed how valuable he
is to Ferguson's team by shepherding Keane away from goal when
Defoe found his strike partner with a pass from deep.
Grappling: Federico Macheda battles for the ball
with David Bentley
Much of Tottenham's football was ambitious and
progressive but many of their attacks tended to break down when
they reached the penalty box. Indeed, not until Bale found David
Bentley 12 yards out on the hour-mark did Tomasz Kuszczak have to
make a save of note. He did on that occasion with both
hands.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp professed to be disappointed
and suggested that his players did not rise to the occasion. 'It
was like a practice match,' he said. 'There was no atmosphere in
the stadium or in the game. There were no tackles and we never
seemed to get going.
'This was a cup quarter-final and I expected it to be an
occasion but it wasn't. I don't really know what to say. I'm very
disappointed.'
For Tottenham, a route towards Wembley - where they lost
last season's final to United - has been blocked and Redknapp must
work on a way to beat the bigger teams. They have lost to United
(twice), Chelsea and Arsenal this season.
United, meanwhile, are again dangerously close to the final of a
competition they don't take too seriously. Ferguson will continue
to field his young players in the last four, even if they are drawn
against neighbours Manchester City, who host Arsenal tonight.
Last night Gibson, Welbeck, De Laet and Co proved themselves
more than capable. And if Ferguson cares to examine last week's
newspapers closely he will find that precious few people actually
suggested they were not in the first place.
