Manchester United sauntered to a 3-0 win against Aldershotat The Recreation Ground to advance to the quarter finals of the Carling Cupand remain on course for a third final appearance in four years.  The scoreline was the same as the previousround and the game overall bore similarities too. We played a team in white attheir place, controlled the first half, scored the goals to make it comfortableand played out the second half without much incident.  Michael Owen was once again on thescoresheet, making it three goals in two Carling Cup appearances this season.His goal was sandwiched between a Dimitar Berbatov strike and an AntonioValencia thunderbolt.

The Reds fielded a second string XI, making three changes fromthe game against Leeds. In came Vidic, Cleverley and Jones with Giggs, Carrickand Macheda dropping out.  It meant asecond start for Zeki Fryers who was deployed at left back with Fabio switchingto right back and Valencia moving further up the field.  Paul Pogba had to make do with a place on thebench along with his fellow Reserve team mates. He did enter the fray on the hour mark to make his second appearance forUnited.  Ravel Morrison, a 70^thminute substitute, also made his second senior appearance almost a year to theday after he made his first against Wolves in the Carling Cup last season.  Michael Keane’s introduction along withMorrison made him the fourth United debutant in this year’s competition.

While it was pleasing to see the younger lads get theiropportunity, this game was all about giving squad players minutes on thepitch.  As Sir Alex stated before thematch, with the games starting to come thick and fast as we enter the wintermonths, it is imperative everyone is match fit and ready to go when calledupon.  It is for that reason it wasessential for Berbatov, Owen, Valencia, Park and Vidic to get 90 minutes.  Most pleasing of all though was the return ofTom Cleverley from injury.  He managed 60minutes before being replaced by Pogba and will have played his way in tocontention for a starting spot against Everton on Saturday.  He was involved heavily in the move which ledto the first goal and also teed up Valencia to make it three just after halftime.  He has become a greater player inhis absence in many supporters’ eyes which places a heavy burden on the boy’sshoulders but we have missed his spark in midfield. Ferguson will see hisreturn as a welcome boost after Sunday’s shambolic display and will be pleasedoverall at the result and the performance of the team. 

Aldershot were far from disgraced in this match and can holdtheir heads up high but they will be disappointed at the manner in which theylost the goals.  The first came in thefifteenth minute and it was like someone had rewound the tape back to the startof the season. Park played the ball in to Cleverley and continued his run in tothe box before being found with a neat pass from the latter. The South Koreanthen slid the ball to Berbatov who took a touch before slotting home in to thefar corner. The passing and movement in and around the box was excellent towatch. It’s exactly what has been missing from the Reds play since the Chelseamatch and it was no coincidence that Cleverley was at the forefront of themove.  It does have to be taken in tocontext though, it was against a League Two defence but it was still pleasingto see that type of goal return to our play.

Picture courtesy of The Guardian

There wasn’t much the Shots could have done about the first goalto be fair but they will be desperately disappointed by the second goal whichcame five minutes before half time.  Owendropped off to in to midfield to collect the ball, he turned and sent a raking50 yard pass in behind the defence to Berbatov who ambled his way in to thebox. He laid the ball on a plate to Owen who timed his run to perfection andmade no mistake with the finish.  Owen’srun wasn’t picked up and the keeper could have done better with the shot butfull credit to the ex-Liverpool man who started the move and showed the desireto get in the box and finish it.

The third goal came two minutes after the half time andkilled off any faint hope Aldershot had of staging a miraculous comeback.  Cleverley collected the ball 25 yards fromgoal and spotted Valencia in acres of room to his right hand side. He laid theball in to his path before the Ecuadorian took a touch and drilled anunstoppable shot past the helpless Warner. The ball curled, swerved and dipped leaving the ‘keeper no chance.  It was a surprise to see Valencia take theshot on but it does show what he is capable of. 

The enigmatic Bulgarian made only his third start of theseason, his sixth appearance overall, and comfortably his best.  The sight of last season’s top scorer and aman who has more skill in his big toe than most have in their whole bodyappearing at The Recreation Ground against a mid table League Two side is akinto Mario Balotelli fronting a fireworks safety campaign – total madness… ohwait…right, anyway, never mind.  It’stestament to the man’s character that he didn’t grumble or moan but simply goton with the game and helped his team to victory.  Against Leeds he might as well have not beenon the pitch but on Tuesday night he was involved in everything.  Touch, composure, vision, skill is what youcome to expect from Berbatov and this game was no different.  But there was also a passion, a fightingspirit that saw him race back to win the ball or help out the midfield.  In truth it was just good to see him back outthere.

He has kicked his heels on the bench for weeks as we haveput in poor performance after poor performance but now might be the time forhim to step up to the plate.  Hismovement, hold up play and intricate passing has been missing from the gameswere we have been below par.  Many feelthe problem lies solely in central midfield but the front players have beensubstandard too and it might be time for something different.  He brings others in to the game and allowsthe midfield to get forward before building an attack. Yes, he sometimes slowsthe play down but we haven’t been playing the high tempo football we did at thestart. It’s not clicking just now and a change is needed.  He was comfortably man of the match againstAldershot, and although it’s only Aldershot, it should give Ferguson somethingto think about. His only Premier League start came after the Leeds game and itmay be that his second league starts comes against Everton this weekend. Hecan’t be ignored for much longer.

As highlighted previously, Morrison and Pogba both madetheir second senior appearances for United tonight; the only disappointmentbeing they were both off the bench rather than from the start.  In their brief cameos they showed glimpses ofthe undoubted potential they possess and why they are the future of ManchesterUnited.  However, with the centralmidfield position being heavily criticised, the question remains are they readynow? The simple answer, and the correct one, is no. They still have a long wayto go and people need to settle down and lower their expectations. Withoutraining on the parade or being too downbeat, they haven’t “made it” yet.Realism is needed.  Nevertheless, it wouldbe unjust not to discuss the positives of both their cameos though andhighlight the obvious potential that is there. 

Pogba once again showed he is a boy in a man’s body as hestrolled around the pitch with ease but he also showed a maturity on the ballthat belied his tender years.  He used itefficiently and kept it moving from one side of the pitch to the other.  He always made himself available for the balland didn’t shirk responsibility in tight situations.  This, more than any other quality, is whatmakes him stand out.  Wanting the ball isthe most important thing for a young kid when he comes in to the team and healways wants it.  There is no fear andthat’s the way it should be.  He didn’ttry many outlandish passes but switched the ball once beautifully out toValencia, showcasing his passing repertoire. He was also defensively disciplined, shielding the back four and notgetting caught too high up the pitch. This maturity is why he is closer to thefirst team than others were at his age.

While Pogba was efficient and mature on the ball, Morrisonhad a spark about his game.  There was aswagger about his game, showcased with some showboating and a little back flickto Berbatov on the edge of the box which nearly resulted in him getting in ongoal.  What makes him so special thoughis as well as being a match winner, he is equally adept at playing the gamesimple.  Time and again he got the ball,passed it on and kept moving. He rarely stops moving when he is on the pitchwhich is excellent to see. Sometimes he can stop moving when he has to trackback but against Aldershot he showed a willingness to help out Fabio in defenceand bust a gut to chase back his man 50 yards. If there was one thing that did let him down, it was his positional play.He was brought on for Diouf who was playing wide left but you’d be lucky ifMorrison occupied that position for more than two minutes.

This can be viewed asboth a good thing and a bad thing.  Hewanted to be involved in the game which is why he drifted inside and more orless played central midfield for the 20 minutes he was on.  He wanted to get on the ball and to make thingshappen.  He thrives playing where he decidedto play on Tuesday night so it was refreshing to see a young man take it uponhimself to involve himself in the game. It was also a stark contrast to his first appearance against Wolves whenhe was also brought on at left midfield and barely moved off thetouchline.  However, Ferguson may nothave been enamoured by his positional indiscipline.  Although there was rarely a threat fromAldershot down that side, it may not have pleased the boss to see that flank soexposed at times.  Berbatov and Owen bothcovered him but the latter did gesture to Ravel to get wide and shut down theright back.  It is not a major thingespecially against that sort of opposition but left midfield may be where hisopportunities come in the future and he will need to show more discipline toimpress the boss. 

Overall, they were two exciting cameos from two very promisingplayers and lit up a somewhat dreary night. They should have cemented their place in the squad for the next roundbut that may depend on the opposition. The draw will be made on Saturday at noon with Arsenal, Crystal Palaceand Cardiff in the hat along with ourselves. Another four Premier League teams will join after Wednesday night’smatches.  The quarter final ties will beplayed on the week commencing 28^th November.

Ratings: Amos 7,Fabio 6, Jones 6, Vidic 6, Fryers 6, Valencia 6, Cleverley 7, Park 7, Diouf 5,Owen 6, Berbatov 8

Subs: Pogba 7, Morrison 7, Keane 5

By Mick Higgins (Follow me on Twitter)

What were your thoughts on the game at Aldershot? Were you impressed by the likes of Pogba and Morrison. Please leave your comments below.