10 things we learned from watching the Carling Cup semi-final

By Dan Silver in Football Banter

Published 22:15 27/01/10

• 

A late, late Wayne Rooney goal sealed Manchester United's 3-1 victory over local rivals City in the League Cup semi-final second leg and ended the Blues' dreams of a first trophy for 34 years.

But what did we learn from the match?

1) The burden of expectation is always too much to bear. Given the excess of column inches devoted to its frankly ludicrous build-up, the main event was always going to be something of an anti-climax. But that's enough about Apple's iPad - this Manchester derby was a cracker.

2) Fergie is still very much the grumpy old guv'nor. The fantastically short shrift he afforded the hapless Sky Sports lackey who had the temerity to inquire as to why Gary Neville wasn't even on the bench - "Because I pick the team" - was classic curmudgeonry.

3) And Paul Scholes still can't tackle. We accept that it's unrealistic to expect him to change his ways so late into an admittedly otherwise exemplary career, but wouldn't it be great if the ginger generalissimo connected with the ball and nothing but the ball just once before he hangs up his boots?

4) Either Rio Ferdinand has got a new gig as Gary Neville's capo, or he just doesn't get the 'no elbowing people in the face' rule. Talking of which, for a man who so proudly wears the scars of his childhood trauma on his neck, Carlos Tevez didn't half go down like a sack of the proverbial when the defender's forearm was wafted in his general direction.

5) The referee is the sole man in charge, so we're told. But there were clearly
60-odd thousand men in black at Old Trafford when Tevez found himself staring at Howard Webb's yellow card for a perfectly good tackle on Rafael.

6) Judging by the way he squared up to Michah Richards in the second half, Darren Fletcher is a lot harder than he looks. Well, either that, or he was expecting to turn around and find Shaun Wright-Phillips.

7) The abuse - and miscellaneous missiles - aimed at Craig Bellamy was deplorable, but at least the local constabulary looking for the culprit can rule the Glazers out of the running. As we now know, they haven't go two pennies to rub together, let alone lob at the opposition.

8) Carlos Tevez' second half goal could be one of the greenest in history. The steam it would surely have caused to come out of the watching Gary Neville's ears could power his ridiculous eco-house for the next three months. 

9) Wayne Rooney might have credited Capello with his return to goal-scoring prowess , but is that just because he's too polite/scared of Fergie to admit the bleeding obvious: he's scored more goals this season because he's no longer stuck out on the wing making Cristiano Ronaldo look good? The less said about that sitter he missed earlier on before his last-gasp glory header the better, though.

10) Roberto Mancini quoted Oasis and the band's singer Liam Gallagher had a pop at Fergie int he build-up , but Some Might Say   'the bin man' had the last laugh as Wembley still seems Half The World Away for City fans. Whatever ...

What did you learn from the game? Let us know by leaving a comment below...

Don't miss: Never mind the result at Old Trafford, Manchester rivalries are well and truly renewed - Oliver Holt's big match reaction

Plus: Ten things we learned from watching Manchester City v United, round one

Fancy winning £3,000 for FREE this month? Play Mirror Football Streak for your chance to win cash prizes! Start predicting now!