Team Performance

Thought Mancini set the team up perfectly tonight, got the subs spot on at the right time and overall, his game-plan was excellent.

Hart - 7 had little to do other than an excellent save in the first half (one we expect of such a top class keeper)

Richards 6 - let Hulk do him a few times on the outside, but did enough to force him out on the left wing in the second half....and got in some good positions on occasions.

Kompany 7 - a few good interceptions and headers, but was invariably untested for most of the night.

Lescott - 8 thought it was one of his best games all season. Dominant in the air and in the way he forced their forwards into backwards passes was excellent.

Clichy - 8 completely kept Hulk quiet for most of the second half and consistently got the vital toe in to tackles when needed.

NDJ - 7 started a little slow picking up players in the first half, but dominated them in the second half, breaking up play and setting us on our way from deep.

Yaya - 7 tired towards the end, but always kept their MF's on their toes with his runs forward. Great pass for Sergio's goal, but was a little careless with his tackles in areas that were not necessary, giving away silly free-kicks and getting a yellow card which forces him out of the next away leg. Glad to have him back though.

Nasri - 6 started well, but after his injury, looked lost in the game. Would like to see him play behind the CF as he sometimes doesn't track the MF bombing through the middle.

Barry - 4 didn't do anything all game. Looked like he was 60% fit - so why play him? Off the pace, miss-timed tackles and passes...very unlike him so hope he is OK for Saturday.

Silva - 7 did some great things and some so-so things. Always looked a threat when in possession and timed his run perfectly for his goal. Wish he could strike a ball better at goal though.

Aguero - 9 the guy in simply brilliant. His control, runs, work rate and vision is immense. 100% performer....100% effort at all times. Tevez? Do we need him with this kid? So unlucky when he chipped their defender which would have been right up there for goal of the season. Brilliant, simply brilliant.

Dzeko - 7 for his goal, 3 for his terrible pass to put Silva away as soon as he came on. Always looks like he wants to give it everything - so will always give him time for the effort he puts in.

Pizzaro - 8 a goal and an assist in 12 minutes...not bad work for somebody who last played a full match 3 months ago. Looks the same build as Aguero and has a nice touch - so maybe he could be the secret weapon in the coming months.....shrewd by Mancini?

Milner - 6 didn't have to do a great deal when he came on.....will play a much bigger part in things to come over the next 2 months.

Mancini - 9 great tactical set-up. Allow them possession knowing they were awful up front...hit on the break and made the right subs at the right time.

Crowd - 10+.......38,000+ for a kick-off midweek at 5pm...in the pissing down rain? Brilliant.

Great result, great boost for confidence knocking the holders out - next leg looks easier ( )...let's hope its a great week by getting all 3 points on Saturday.

Well done boys.

Agree with your post blue, although i'd give Clichy a 7 due to him being a tad sluggish in the 1st half. He allowed their winger too much time and space, which in turn allowed him a free run at him..........much better 2nd half though. Aguero is sheer class, i can't add anything else.

Just about dried off now, jeez that fine rain doesn't half piss you through .

MOM was a tie between Aguerro and Lescott.Possibly Lescotts best game for us so far,and what can be said about Aguerro?As one commentator put it,he cost 45 mil. Euros and seems like a bargain buy.Eat your heart out Tevez!!

Largely agree with you, Blue, but I'd not give Dzeko as much as 7 for what was a simple goal where Aguero had done the hard work. He did look like he was putting more effort in, but his first touch is still poor.

And how good does Pizzaro look? I watched him do that deft little flick in the 18 yard box to recover a ball that had come in behind him, and then push through for the goal... utter joy to watch and he took the tie from won to comfortably won within five minutes of coming on. I'd really like to see him play again if he can keep that up.

How shit is Hulk, he looks like a fat bodybuilder......£84m get out clause my arse.

How poor were Porto? I don't know if we just snuffed them out over the 2 ties, but as a team thats gone so many games without being beaten, Europa champions etc.. we made them look distinctly average.
Hopefully, this is a sign that we are over the "blip" and are going to push on for the title, let's hope so!!!

I don't think Porto were poor as such. They did have a lot of possession and the chunky, unstable Brazilian did flash two or three balls across the face of goal which, on another day, would no doubt have been poked home by one of his team mates.

That said, I did see shades of how we picked off United. We let them come to us, defended our area and kept them to speculative distance efforts. Then, as they became tired and frustrated, they opened up their play and let us hit them on the counter-attack. A policy which worked even better thanks to Yaya picking up a slack pass and putting an inch-perfect ball for Aguero to bang home before I even got the chance to put my cup of coffee down.

No, they weren't poor. We just managed to outclass them at a canter. Very encouraging and I'll bet Steve Kean is shitting himself at the prospect of being on the wrong end of a cricket score on Saturday.

Has anyone read the MEN performance ratings for last night?
They are ridiculous, Aguerro faded after his attempt hit the crossbar,who pays this blokes wages?He should be sent back to finishing school,every other report on the game make Sergio the star.Oh! but wait a minute it is the MUEN
[Manchester United Evening News] that explains it!!

I've not read the MEN yet. Normally they are pretty sensible, with the only occasion I was narked when they ranked all of our players as 10 when we did the sick swan. I thought they were blowing smoke up our arse a bit.

But Aguero went downhill after the crossbar hit, really? Could've sworn it was his efforts that got Dzeko's goal a good half an hour or more after that. In fact, he played about as well as I've seen him this season.