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We Covered This In 16 Conclusions, But...
This probably won't make it , but here is an explanation of the 6 minutes of added time:
From re-winding the Match, Craig Bellamy scored City's 3rd on 89:55. The game does not restart until 91:01. One minute and six seconds have been wasted and will be added onto the original four minutes of added time, taking it to at least 95:06. Michael Carrick was brought on to replace Anderson. All substitutions add 30 seconds onto added time, taking it to 95: 36
Owen scored the winner on 95:28, meaning the game was still 8 seconds within added time.
Mannan (don't know how the brackets work) Kohli
..Before the deluge of emails about the amount of time added on at the end of the Manchester derby, I'd like to point out that BOTH teams have to play those minutes, not just the home side.
Padraig Fox, Dublin
Some People Prefer The Conspiracy Alternative
Does the clock only stop at Old Trafford when Man Utd have won the match? I give up.
Derek, Galway
...As an experiment, in a game where they're not winning after 90 minutes, I think ManYoo should try just knocking the ball around endlessly in midfield and see if the gutless, craven, sycophantic referee will meet the widely held suspicion and simply keep playing on until the end of the day, week, month, year or even time itself until the Salford chancers decide to put the ball in the net.
Welcome to Manchester: the land where time stood still.
Bob, Birmingham
...Forget who shot Kennedy, can someone tell me where those extra 6 minutes came from?
Gareth Jones
Summing Up
A few points, in list format.
- Craig Bellamy didn't deserve being on the losing side.
- United, as well as being individually gifted players, play like a team
- City's players may not even know each others names.
- 40 million doesn't buy much in the way of centre-halves these days. City could've bought 6 Richards Dunnes for that.
- Ben Foster contributed nothing and didn't deserve to win.
- I think I saw Gareth Barry angrily snarling at the ref. He didn't do that at Villa.
- Mark Hughes has much to learn as a tactician.
- Bringing on Carrick right at the end could only have been a ploy to extend the game by 30 seconds.
- It's very rare that I'm glad to see Utd win, this was one such occasion.
Kev Prunty, Dublin
...A couple of conclusions form the United City game.
First off, while City arguably have a squad talented enough to challenge for honours this season, they do not have the mentality. I say this after seeing them play 45 minutes of football where they barely made an attempt to get of their own half. You may say United pegged them back etc but in reality they never wanted to push on and try to win the game. Shay Given delaying picking up the ball to waste time at 2-2 after only 52 minutes played. Would any of the other big four have settled for a draw this early against a big four rival home or away? Doubt it. City clearly are still in the mindset that they are inferior and must try to hang on in games where they should be looking for more.
Secondly, is anyone else feeling like they've given Berbatov enough time to settle in and find form. He didn't have to acclimatise to a new league. He should be old enough and mature enough to not feel the pressure of a big money move, after all it is what he craved. He is playing alongside Rooney, one of the best players in the game at bringing whoever is alongside him into the game. He has run out of excuses and I'm sick of pleading his case. Maybe he's just not good enough.
Third, where did that 6 minutes injury time come outta? Good on ya Mike Owen
Ryan Glynn, United Fan
Wow, Simply Wow
I wasn't following the EPL in the mid-nineties when Liverpool and Newcastle played out those 4-3 classics, here in Australia it wasn't really that easy for a 7 or 8 year old to watch English... Well, anything. That, for me, was the single greatest game of football the English Premier League has ever seen. What a stunning match... I'm absolutely shocked, completely speechless.
All that he has ever done in the red of Liverpool is immaterial. Michael Owen could never score for Manchester United again, but he'll always be remembered for the time he ghosted in off the back of the box and drilled the odd goal in 7 vs Manchester City in the 96th minute. That is precisely the reason he, for the princely sum of $0, was a worthwhile get. No one on the field but Ryan Giggs saw him slip off the back of the pack, and before you knew it was the Michael Owen of old putting the ball in the back of the net with the perfect piece of opportunism.
I honestly cannot get over what I've just seen...People will say it's typical of a United fan, but honestly, before Bellamy scored everyone in blue was bleating about Foster's time wasting, Carrick was subbed on, the free kick was awarded and set up... There was stoppage time on top of stoppage time... Yeah it was shameless time wasting at the time but it's all time City fans and officials would have wanted accounted for if they were still chasing the game.
But all that aside, Rooney's start, Foster and Ferdinand conspiring (with help from a familiar face) to give City the leveller, Fletcher rising highest in the box, Bellamy firing an absolute missile past Foster, Fletcher at the double, Given's three saves to keep an under siege City in the contest, the rebirth of wide play at it's most famous modern home with Giggs/Evra and Valencia patrolling the wings, Ferdinand's second brain snap followed by Bellamy's storming run and deft finish... Then, the kings of the late, late show produce another classic from an old enemy turned new cult hero. All that for me equals the greatest Manchester derby of all time.
The second half, in terms of chances and possession, was an absolute procession with all roads leading towards the Stretford End. But, that's taking nothing away from City (who attacked three times for the whole half for two goals), who played very, very well and really ground out what would have been a truly vital point for them mentally.
Yeah City were missing a couple players, but even City fans will admit two of their goals came from absolute howlers (if you're counting on that to happen every week, even against lowly opposition, you'll be sorely disappointed)... Besides, I honestly don't know if any of those outs would have changed the result. The ball wasn't going in high on account of Adebayor not being there, and most attacks and chances were created by the fleet footed brigade of Tevez, Bellamy and Wright-Phillips. So others being there would have changed that up completely... Not to mention you barely had the ball in the second half.
The balance of power remains with the Reds. But not before an almighty fight.
OK, OK... I hope I've been as gracious as I set out to be, I'm not sure if I have, but I'm sure we can all agree...
How good was that?!
Wow, it's 1:07am... I'm going to have a hard time getting to sleep after that. I wonder if Carlo's boys will put on a show like that?
Sean Peter-Budge, Melbourne, Australia
Good Point
"Neither Kolo Toure nor Joleon Lescott possess the commanding authority of the traditional big man centre-halve and Giggs ruthlessly exploited their aerial deficiencies."
How much did city miss Richard Dunne's head today?
Barry In Galway
The Writing Of Jubilation
I don't care what anyone says, as far as I'm concerned even if Michael Owen can spend the rest of his United contract on the treatment table, he'll still have justified Sir Alex signing him on a free. A winning strike in the 95th minute in a seven-goal derby match. Instant legend.
Forget Newcastle v Liverpool, this was the greatest game in Premiership history.
And just in case anyone missed it, take note of the 35 year old Ryan Giggs' midfield masterclass- 3 assists (and also serving up a goal on a plate for the disappointing Berbatov) not to mention slicing open the City defence for Owen to grab the glory. Marvellous
Robert Vard
Well It's Always Fun When Your Side Wins
One of the most entertaining Manchester derbies for years. Bet the bitters don't agree though
Dave B
...I imagine this game will be analysed in full by millions in the next couple of days so I'll leave it at his: the best thing about the derby save the three points is that it means something again, and my God how great it was to win it. Bring on Eastlands! Scott (Rio better get down on his hands and knees and "bow down" to Michael Owen) Lloyd, Manchester
And Finally...
I think Mr Ferdinand owes Mr Owen a drink.
Angus (and I thought Terry was slow)
