Roeder: "I Got It Right"

Last updated : 02 October 2006 By Footy Mad - Editor



Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the two goals that gave the home side a 2-0 win.

Roeder: "I still believe that what we tried to do was the correct thing to do. Arsenal came here and did exactly the same thing with a five man midfield and a lone striker and, with the quality they had, they won 1-0.

"We got within four minutes of the break at 0-0 and the system had worked perfectly but goals change the face of games. Once they went 1-0 up we were always going to struggle to get anything on the counter attack. It was a bad goal to concede.

"With the midfield players they have, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Wayne Rooney dropping deep, we felt it was too much for Scott Parker and Emre to deal with on their own so we brought Nicky Butt in there. It didn't come off but we are not the only team in the Premiership to struggle to contain Ronaldo and Rooney. They are two of the finest young players in the world, let alone this country, and they haven't peaked yet."

"Although my players never gave up it is difficult for me to pick out any positive performances, although Steve Harper made a couple of excellent saves and that will have done wonders for his confidence. I'm disappointed going into the international break with only seven points. We have dropped points at home. We should never have lost to Fulham and we dropped two points against Everton as well.

"We needed Shola's physical presence up front, which is why he played instead of Obafemi Martins. But we also have Giuseppe Rossi and we have been very impressed with him as a player and a person. He hasn't been able to play in Europe and he couldn't play against Manchester United because of Premier League rules but he will start games soon. I don't see any reason why he cannot play up alongside Martins. He is a clever player and aware of what is going on around him. He is capable of finding Martins' runs and slotting him in."