Work, Work, Work (Pub, Club, Sleep)

(Image from here)

There's a pretty good summing up of last night's match against Wolves in The Guardian by Daniel Taylor. Sir Alex's remark that "discipline got us through" is accurate, and Taylor continues:

Ferguson had not included a single player from the team that started Sunday's Manchester derby, although it would be stretching the point to say it was a significantly weakened side. Even in a competition Ferguson regards as a chance to give his B-side a run-out, the personnel still included eight full internationals, four of them English.

The problem when there are so many changes is that it can have a detrimental effect on a side's fluency. This was the first time, for example, that Owen had played with either Welbeck or Federico Macheda and there were times when cohesion was conspicuously missing.

The goal, indeed, almost came as a surprise, capping a move with enough style and panache to appear out of keeping with the rest of the match. Michael Carrick fed the ball into Welbeck, who moved it on quickly to Owen and darted into the penalty area for the return. It was all about the slickness of United's passing and the classy one-two sliced straight through the centre of the visitors' defence. Welbeck's finish was clinical, right-footed into the bottom corner.

Ditto the Manchester Evening News:

It was hard to tell that Wolves had a one-man advantage such was United’s ability to cover up for the loss of Fabio and their domination.

Frustratingly for the fans United’s superiority was never truly transformed into a procession of goal opportunities.

The game had all the hallmarks of a stalemate destined for another turgid half hour of extra time and penalties so Welbeck’s 66th minute winner was greeted with a huge roar of relief that not only would the holders progress but everybody could get to bed early.

It was the one true moment of quality of the whole event.

The Mirror point out the stupidity of "it's only the Carling Cup arguments":

The Carling Cup may be the last trophy on United's list of priorities, but the current holders seem to be driven by an obligation to defend it with as much zeal as they can muster.

That much was evident last night as a reshuffled United side played for more than an hour with 10 men following Da Silva's 30th minute red card and still had too much for Wolves.

Perhaps if they wrote more like this and less articles belittling the cup, more people would feel inclined to attend Carling Cup games...
The Times puts the point quite humorously:

Manchester United showed that not only are they capable of making progress in the competition now sponsored by Carling with weakened sides, they can even do so with a player fewer than the opposition.

Henry Winter praises Owen:

While Capello was checking up on Joe Cole, who is sure to head to the World Cup, 200 miles to the north Owen was presenting a legitimate case for his inclusion. As in Sunday’s Derby, Owen again excelled.

Even though he did not repeat his last-gasp fireworks that so frustrated Manchester City, Owen impressed the Stretford End with the way he lost his Wolves markers to create a glimpse of goal. When Owen makes those little darting runs one can detect the little grey cells at work.

Industry was seen as well as invention. Similarly noteworthy was the hungry running Owen put in between the boxes, even dropping back to left-back to collect possession at one point.

But it was his first touch that had Old Trafford smiling, the adhesive way he controlled a firm pass from Gary Neville in the opening period and particularly the manner in which he created Welbeck’s winner in the 66th minute.

United had been playing for 37 minutes with only 10 men, following the deserved expulsion of Fabio for a rugby-style tackle on Michael Kightly, when Owen produced his moment of magic.

Here was United at their fast-moving, quick-thinking best, a tribute to the imagination and technique in their ranks. Collecting possession off Darron Gibson, Michael Carrick drilled the ball low and hard to Welbeck, who immediately laid it off to Owen.

As Welbeck dashed into the area, Owen found him with a magnificent reverse pass. ...

Welbeck’s finish matched the quality of the build-up, the young striker sweeping it from right to left past Marcus Hahnemann.

Onto the quotes. Sir Alex:

“It was a fantastic goal, a magnificent one-two with Michael Owen and a marvellous finish.”

The United boss reckons Welbeck could do a lot worse than watch how Owen goes about things.

Fergie said: “He’s earned his plaudits tonight. Michael’s pass for the goal was terrific. The angle he gave Danny made it that bit easier for him.

And on the draw for the next round:

“Let’s have Peterborough at home. All the family would be happy with that one!”

Gary Neville:

“We fought hard. The players did really well and we were always a threat going forward, particularly from wide positions with Danny and Nani, and then when Antonio Valencia came on.

“Old Trafford is a big pitch and, even if we are down to 10 men, it can be sapping on opponents.”

A few quotes on other things - Sir Alex on Sunday's game and time-keeping:

"I don't think we have to apologise for winning," said Fergie. "City had the better of the first-half but after the break we battered them.

"The big issue centred on the time added on by the ref, with nearly seven minutes on top of normal play.

"I can understand the frustration of Mark Hughes as the manager on the receiving end of a very late winning goal.

"I've given up trying to understand how the fourth official and referee work out added time, except to say I'm sure there is a method in their madness.

"However infuriating it is when it goes against you, we managers just have to get on with it."

Gary Neville talking sense on the money footballers earn:

"Others earn billions selling rights and 75,000 come to watch us every week.

"There's a product there that people love. Fans are crucial but without the player you have nothing."

Many fans question a player's loyalty when they quit a club for more cash. But Neville questions why top-flight stars should be different to those who try to earn as much as they can during careers.

He said: "Architects leave their business, caterers move restaurants - this is life. People want a better wage. Is there too much money in other businesses, like banking?"

Hargreaves back at the training ground:

MANCHESTER United midfielder Owen Hargreaves took another step towards recovery from his knee surgery when he returned to the Reds' Carrington training complex on Wednesday morning.

While concerns over Rio are reported:

Manchester United are becoming deeply concerned about Rio Ferdinand’s persistent injury problems, fears shared by England before the World Cup finals next summer. ...

Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, hinted at their mounting concerns last week when he said that Ferdinand has “one game back and picks up another injury when he really needs games”. The club are increasingly worried that the problems appear to be more frequent and pronounced as the player gets older. ...

Ferdinand has missed 23 of United’s past 43 games in all competitions, only one of which he was rested for. He has rarely been absent for long periods, but United’s concern centres on the Ferdinand-Vidic axis, the foundation for success over the past three seasons, being routinely broken up by niggling issues. Similarly, Fabio Capello is anxious about the disruption being caused to his first-choice defensive pairing of Ferdinand and John Terry with the World Cup finals in South Africa less than nine months away.