Apr 25
A disgruntled fan’s views on the Barca game
Being a Manchester United fan comes with some responsibility: you just have to taunt every single Liverpool fan you come across and if you attend games, make the atmosphere incendiary – it would really help players. In return, you are the fan of a club who has a divine right to domestic success and your team plays some of the nicest football out there. Or not.
There was huge anticipation ahead of the Barcelona – Man Utd game in the Champions League semi-final. Many bloggers or journalists or drunk ‘experts’ (call them what you will) made everyone believe that this would be the game of the season. In all fairness, the game wasn’t all bad. Messi was outstanding, Xavi and Iniesta had some blinding moments and even Thierry Henry looked on form. The only problem is that these were all Barcelona players.
It was a bit exciting to watch Barcelona play like they used to when Ronaldinho was in his prime, but what was less than exciting was the way Manchester United played for the nil-nil draw. With that I am not happy. In fact, I would have been happier had United lost but had a go at Barcelona than play the way they played. You can argue all you like, but that is the way I feel.
The issue that I am raising here has been debated for ages. Would you rather have your team play well and with not-so-good results, or would it be better if they defended like Italians? Normally a team like Chelsea can afford to defend since it has some the best defensive midfielders in the world and a mind-boggling back four while they lack attacking versatility. Manchester United — on the other hand — is mostly top-heavy and they should be able to take on just about everyone.
Last year’s semi-final was much worse than this from our point of view. The team had run out of energy by that stage of the season and they were steam-rolled by a very well rested Milan team. When we left the competition last year, our heads were not held high. We had been outclassed. If we lose this year, we will be able to say that it was a dog-fight which might have gone either way.
We would have gained the respect of our Catalan opponents by trying to hold them off. Had we challenged them and lost, everything would have gone out the window. No praise from the fans and even less from everybody else.
Fans have to remember that football is entertainment first and foremost. If your team wins something, you win nothing, but if your team plays football the way it was meant to be played, the way you try to play on the playground with your friends, you are entertained. Right now football is held hostage by some greedy fuckers who want to get as much money out of the game as possible and are willing to sacrifice everything to get there.
As much as I hate to admit it, I was hoping for a late Barcelona goal at the Nou Camp on Wednesday simply because I thought they had outplayed us and outclassed us and because Rijkaard had done away with everything Ferguson had ever built, in my eyes. I will always be a Manchester United fan but that performance was something which I hated and which I never want to see again!
Hopefully Ferguson can make it up to us next week.
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Tags: Opinions/Columns
April 25th, 2008 at 10:18
i agree to the above. i also hated “our” game. but i can not deceide whether it was “clever” or just plain inability to confront big teams….
April 25th, 2008 at 12:00
Fergie’s first responsibility is the club, and the club’s first responsibility is to win trophies. Everything else comes afterwards.
Ideally you’d win by playing pretty, and considering how United have played all season, I think they’ve done more than enough to ward off the comparisons with Chelsea.
This whole ‘we would rather play beautiful and lose’ smacks of an Arsenal-like obsession with being the best looking team in the world. Truth is – when we’re good enough, we won’t need to defend. We’re NOT the best in terms of talent (shock! horror!) and at least in midfield and up front not ahead of Barcelona (leaving current form aside for a moment).
Perhaps starting with Anderson would have made a difference, but i think Fergie kept him back for the next 2 games and those are equally vital as well. Other than that, we lack a target man up front and we needed Hargo at right-back because there was no one else fit and experienced to take that role (no O’Shea if you noticed – Fergie took this quite seriously).
United played the game according to circumstances. In an ideal situation this team would have attacked more – then again, if it was ideal for Barca they’d have everyone fit and raring to go as well and we’d have had to face a fit Ronny instead of Henry
April 25th, 2008 at 12:01
You would rather us loose than play like that??!!
Comments like that are disgraceful, United are all about winning games of football. Yes I agree the performance was poor and the tactics were negative, but saying things like that make you sound like Arsenal, “we don’t mind loosing but we play great football”, rubbish.
We will play better at OT and hopefully go thru but if we go thru and play like that I will equally be happy.
April 25th, 2008 at 12:05
I’m sorry, but you can’t be a “real” fan if you actually wanted Barcelona to score at any point during the game!!!
April 25th, 2008 at 12:23
I witnessed two many heroic defeats to be grateful if we go through with a dogged but unspectacular performance.
April 25th, 2008 at 12:35
I must say you make a lot of sense. Winning is all that matters today. Which is not good for the game.
April 25th, 2008 at 12:37
I can sympathise with your views as my initial reaction was the same as yours.
We are Manchester United. We die for our cause. We attack and we slay!
But what I think is important here is that we didn’t lose. I don’t care who you are. A true red would never want United to concede any goals at all!
We can either have 2 extremes. Including an ultra efficient Chelsea team or beautiful flowing Arsenal.
In Barcelona we played like Chelsea. I am upset we didn’t keep the ball better and yes we aren’t the best in Europe but we should have made a good account of ourselves!
We yet again offered the opposition too much respect and let them play us. They have grown in confidence and I am very wary of the game at Old Trafford as I don’t believe Barcelona will defend like United did. They will be hunting for the away goal.
I am angry, upset, and frustrated. But if ya can’t win then don’t lose.
Ronaldo learnt something in Barcelona. Don’t believe your own hype. He looked a determined figure at the post match interview.
So don’t despair. Fergie has taken us this far. Let him take us a few steps further.
April 25th, 2008 at 12:53
I find it sad when people agree with someone saying ” I was hoping for a late Barelona goal, becauase they deserved it”
If we were outplayed by the dippers in the final, if we get there would you think the same?
We should just care about us, not the so called beautiful game. all I care about is whats in the cabinate at the end of the season.
April 25th, 2008 at 13:03
There was a time when someone from real madrid said we dont buy destroyers “read Defenders” and we will keep buying big name playmakers and attackers etc and i thought there will be days when even if u put 11 forwards on the pitch and u cant win coz if its not your day its not as simple as that
But anyways i understand ur mentality of losing with pride and playing beautifully but seriously if we have to play like shit and get results of 1-0 and nick the trophy i’m up for it its about time we start dominating europe and fucking throw the dippers off the u know what
Its the “Name of the trophy”(something i have heard of a lot when watching 99 final highlights) is what i want and if we play like a diff team in europe to get so be it
We are creatively too good at the premeirship and if this arsenal type arrogance is what you have we’ll be left saying like wenger that trophys will come .
I want us to dominate europe and thats it shady tactics or negative play call it whatever u want
UTD vs Looserfools at moscow and we kill them is all i want
and yeah chealsea’s home dominance needs to be broken tomorrow too so beaing a bit greedy here
i have a lil blind faith in fergie and his tactics i’ll admit that coz i’m not that good at understanding startegies as a many of the members here as a reason i dont post much but spend hours just reading the comments on the preview pages after the games
but yes it was acknowledge by fergie as well that maybe too many players were not playing where they were suppossed to but i guess we went there with a reason to keep a clean sheet and we achieved it and yes it was painfull to see us losing posseion like that but the end result is we win at Ot and we go to the final and thats something i would have taken without skipping a hearbeat at the start of the season so my dear friend Andrei look at the bigger picture here and leave this crazy attitude of rather losing than winning with flair as u always lose gold u never win silver
cheers
April 25th, 2008 at 13:17
I think SAF hates playing that way too…I think this is the year he finally worked out how his team should play in Europe (three in the middle) but…he doesn’t quite have the right squad to pull it off convincingly yet
April 25th, 2008 at 13:56
I can understand being disappointed in our failure to attack but to wish for a Barcelona goal? How could you? Having missed out on the chance to take a 1-0 lead out of Camp Nou is bad enough for the team to deal with; conceding a late goal would have crushed them. With the Chelsea match coming up, I’d rather not have the team spirit in tatters, thank you very much.
April 25th, 2008 at 14:46
well for the first time ever i was so disaapointed with the fucking attitude and idea of this blog writer, how can u fucking wish that we conceed a goal at the last minutes even though we have been outpayed, what difference wil it make to u that we never qualify for the final in moscow, well if u think u dont have anything to do then maybe u stop writing on this blog and just forget u have a job to do by posting rubbish comment
April 25th, 2008 at 14:54
I have yet again read Ronaldo pimping himself in Spain saying one day he would like to play in Spain.
This is not the behaviour of a Man Utd player and he needs to put a sock in it.
Fergie have a word. Cos he needs to get his priorities right.
Ronaldo tried to be clever against Barcelona and crumbled under the pressure. Now before you all get upset.
What happened to his bob and weave on his run up? What happenened to puttin his laces through the ball? He bottled it and tried to be clever on the biggest stage of them all.
Why is he striking free kicks from 40 yards? He should be crossing the ball in from that range and creating chances. He is a factor in why we didn’t keep the pressure off the defence by doing this.
April 25th, 2008 at 14:58
citizens, RR didn’t write this…
April 25th, 2008 at 15:21
When I saw the lineup, I was thrilled to see Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez in the starting 11. The intention there was definitely not to play defensively. The idea was to get an away goal on the counter attack. Credit to the Barca midfield for pushing us back throughout. We looked defensive because we were over cautitious. The formation was similar to the one that was fielded against Roma away. Even then, the focus was not to let them score and wait for the counter attack. Rooney and Park kept tracking back in the Roma game too. Fergie was only hoping for a repeat. That unfortunately, did not happen.
It will be cruel to lose playing attacking football after coming so close to the trophy. It makes great sense to play defensively away from home and wait for the onslaught at OT. Atleast, against quality oppositions. We are just a match away from the final where we can play all-out attacking football and thrash the dippers. Playing a few matches defensively is definitely Ok with me if it is to become the Champions of Europe.
April 25th, 2008 at 15:22
Err – if Andrei feels in his opinion Barcelona deserved a goal the way they played, SO WHAT??? He is entitled to state his opinion without all the flak. If United had played like Barca did and not scored, we would be saying they deserved a goal for their great play on the night. I think that is all that Andrei meant. I am sure as a true red fan, he said that tongue in cheek, and is glad they didn’t score against us really.
Steve – All you care about is silverware in the cabinet at the end of the season, me TOO. But would you feel that way if United dished up that style of football every week?. Because I can assure you, our ground would be half empty if they did!!!. I want trophies as much as you, but our play in Barcelona took the term winning UGLY to an entirely new level. If we don’t turn this around on Tuesday, (which I hope we do by the way,) then we will have made ourselves the fools of Europe for producing nothing worth a shout in the first leg. I hate the way we have been crowing all season about how Chelsea and L’fool are boring, and then we embarass ourselves on the world stage with a performance like that.
Well, the next two games will make or break our season, and I hope with every fibre of my united mad being, that they go in our favour. Come on you Reds.
April 25th, 2008 at 15:45
They will beat Barca at Old Trafford 2-1 and all will be well again in the RED WORLD. SAF is playing a 180 minute game NOT two 90’s. Keep that in mind.
Plus he has 2 BIG games in 4 days. He has to manage this as well.
April 25th, 2008 at 15:55
Hey guys. I think you should back from the writer. I ma sure in his heart he really didn’t wnat us to conside. He is just more frustrated then most of us and he chose the wrong way to say it. It’s just many of us will feel like we were betrayedn shit need to go to class now, but I will post more
April 25th, 2008 at 16:01
We drew 0-0 and now all we need to do is win at Old Trafford. I fancy our chances. Home advantage still counts for a lot. AC Milan beat us in the semis even though they LOST the first leg. I agree our tactics were negative and defensive but how many times have we got destroyed away from home in the past in the Champions League? Way too many times!
We can out-attack most teams in Europe but not Barcelona. Therefore it makes sense to play more defensively so we are not exposed on the counter attack which would have happened if we had gone with our usual approach of throwing everything at the opposition on the attack. Instead we soaked up pressure and rarely looked in any real danger.
On the return leg I think the difference will be Rooney. If we have him up top supporting Ronaldo our attacks will be more effective. Tevez was abysmal.
April 25th, 2008 at 16:17
I dont care about the style,however we do play In style in the premiership but in Europe its a different ball
game.However We did not play as expected Apart from the brilliant Defending of our defenders\
all the others went missing Cmon u GUYS AC milan 0-0 Arsenal!!Does it ring a BElll!!!Hmm seems like
United have the advantage but guys i need to remind you we have lost so many times before whe we drew
Away to the opposition:JUst have a sneaky feeling we’ll lose coz after the chelsea game we will be exhausted
So i’m really sorry i thimk we will win the league but the UCL????????
April 25th, 2008 at 16:18
I totally agree with the post.How many believe that Porto and Greece deserved 2 win the CL and the European Borefest Championship respectively in 2004?We played 200% worse football and from henceforth we shouldn’t brag that we are an attacking team.Disgraceful “performance”.
April 25th, 2008 at 16:21
I hope those of you criticising Utd and praising Barca are aware that the roles will be completely reversed at OT.
It’s how latter stage Champions League matches are played. Home team barrages, away team defends like hell and hopes for a cheeky away goal. It’s been proven, as much as I hate to admit it, by Liverpool (and to an extent Chelsea) to be an effective tactic to reach the final. And as it’s been mentioned, when we get to Moscow, we will see the attacking football we all love to watch, whoever might be lining up in the other half of the pitch.
I must say that it’s sad that this is how two legged cup competitions like the Champions League are won these days, but I will be much happier at the end of this season, if we’ve won the PL and the CL, than I was last season with just the PL. We must look forward, this is 2008, not 1999. To win the CL we must do what needs must!
The main point to concentrate on here (and the one Fergie is concentrating on I am sure) is that the Utd defense is strong enough to go to Camp Nou and come away with a clean sheet. That is a very positive thing, do you think that the Barca defense can achieve this at OT? Now, at the Theatre of Dreams, we concentrate on tearing them a new one, the way they tried and failed to do to us. To the pessimists; you just wait and see.
April 25th, 2008 at 16:34
what planet are you on you wanted barcelona to get a late winner you are not a real united fan, barcelona had all the ball but did not have the legs to stretch united, real madrid 5 years ago outplayed us, why dont you spoiled brats get behind the boys stop grilling them, I was dissapointed with united but lets move on and lets hope in the next two games united put has massive smiles on our faces.
April 25th, 2008 at 16:36
Jay:I can guarantee u that the roles will not be reversed.Barca never compromise in much the same way as Arsenal and Real Madrid.Barca has been my 2nd team over 12 years and they are not called “more than a club”4 nothing.They never abandon their style no matter the occasion unlike us.We attack the likes of Fulham, Bolton,Toons etc but when push comes 2 shove we play 10-0-0. And since 1999 the following won or reached the final whilst playing attacking football:Real Madrid(twice),Barca,Arsenal.No Manchester United 4 all our clever football.We only got there playing our game.
April 25th, 2008 at 16:56
Hi all. I have read this board for a long time and never posted, but I feel obliged to now. I just don’t get the big deal about the Barca game. SAF has said, rightly in my opinion, that a team such as Utd. should have more European trophies. I presume that to resolve this he and his staff have tried to figure out why Utd. don’t do better in Europe.
Well, why don’t they do better in Europe? Because they typically get slaughtered away from home by good teams. How do you fix this? Play well enough away that you’re not behind after the away fixture and then win at home. What did Utd do? They went to the Camp Nou and drew one of the best teams in Europe (albeit a team that’s in the midst of a dodgy spell). So all that remains is to win at home, which should be expected of any great team, and progress to Moscow. Mission accomplished.
I do think however that Barca might have been there for the taking. If we had pressed at all we might have gotten more out of the game and if Ronny had scored things would have been different. But SAF’s European tactics are what they are. Just think, a draw instead of the mauling at the San Siro last year and Utd. would have gone through (I know, I know – the injuries).
Don’t get me wrong, I love beautiful football. I, for example, disagree with Grognard (and others) about the type of striker SAF should buy. Utd. need a Torres and not a Huntelaar (apologies Grognard from a fellow Canuck if all you’ve ever really meant is that we need some one more clinical than Rooney or Tevez). BUT if we need to trade that beatiful football ONLY for European away games to win the CL again (and more often), then so be it.
p.s. Sorry, I see that I few people have posted something similar while I was typing and thinking things through.
April 25th, 2008 at 17:04
In conclusion (and just before I go back 2 hiding from my Chelsea and Liverpool friends whom I’ve ridiculed 4 supporting drab teams),I’d like 2 say a few things.ManUtd and Brazil have sold themselves over the years 2 the arch-enemy of football-NEGATIVE TACTICS their once sworn enemies.Secondly,football is full hypocrites and ignorance.We scorn the likes of Arsenal 4 playing great and winning nothing and then brag about how we play the best footie but defend Saf 4 boring 300million fans around the world at the Spanish Theatre of Dreams to comatose levels.Arsenal are the sole unconditional proponent of beautiful game in the UK like it or not.It is an insult 2 Italian football 2 make comparisons with our away style.Italians actually counter-attack rather than survive 4 92min
April 25th, 2008 at 17:11
What we have here is a bunch of supporters that are spoilt rotten and who have have developed inside them an over inflated arrogance about what United represents and what kind of style they demand they play. Trust me, Fergie does not like having to play like that either. But what he has realized after 20 years of CL clashes is that there is a way to play at home and another way to play on the road, especially in the late stages of this very competitive and very prestigious tournament to highly skilled teams who are incredibly solid at home. We are talking about every European league’s champions or top 3 or four finishers in only a few of the top nation leagues. This means elite competition every round and the reality that you are probably playing a team that has an unblemished or almost unblemished home record. These teams never got to the big dance because they are used to clubs waltzing in to their park and handing them not only a loss but an attractive butt kicking.
A big dose of Reality elixir is needed here for the author as well as the posters that will not get off Fergie and United’s back. How many times Fergie stubbornly traveled to a continental city on a cool European night only to have United lose or have their asses handed to them by a home side that was offensively prepared and with the cheers and support of thousands in the stands? Too many by my count. Our record in Italy and Spain is terrible over the years. At some point you weigh your options and you have to stick your ego into your pocket and do what is best for the club. Getting a 1-0 or 0-0 win was what the doctor ordered. Set up shop in our own third and defend like hell to keep a very good team from scoring.
Why is it that we have so much praise for the defenders in major historical conflicts that were siege like in nature like Masada, Borodino Waterloo, the Alamo etc? Yet we feel that in football our warriors have to go on the road and get out from behind their fortifications and fight until they are destroyed by the other team that outnumbers them by at least 50,000 souls. Never take for granted the added adrenalin that flows in the body of a home team thanks to the energy, noise and atmosphere generated by the home supporters. Also, this is not Derby or Plymouth Argyle they are playing.
United’s performance on Wednesday night was heroic and a master class in defensive football under extremely hostile conditions. For all the pundits that say Barcelona showed up and played well. I say RUBBISH to that nonsense. They never got one fantastic crack at goal all night and they scored zero in the process. United played so well in their own end that this game should be used as a blueprint for all teams to copy any time they play in the Catalan capital again or if they are to visit Madrid, Milan, Munich etc. No it was not pretty but neither was Stalingrad, or the the Battle of the Bulge. Some times you just have to dig in fight or play against your nature in order to succeed. If history has taught us anything it is that the aggressor doesn’t always win against a well organized and fortified defense. Especially away from home.
Lets give credit to Fergie and the lads for a job well done and hope they can now turn it around a bit and show their supporters and the world that they are not Chelsea and that they are now on the offensive after a long winter siege. Sorry for the military analogies but what better way to bring home my point and make some of you realize that playing on the road against great teams is like facing an army that outnumbers you and that is hostile in it’s intent and has an advantage with terrain. Now it is for us to turn the tables on Barcelona and blitzkrieg them into submission. I would expect nothing less from Fergie and the boys. Lets see if Barca have the mental strength and talent to withstand a blitzkrieg United style. I have a feeling they don’t and that at the end of the day Manchester United will be booking their plane tickets for Moscow. 2-0 United.
April 25th, 2008 at 17:25
With all due respect mate, Fuck Off. Capital F, capital O. You are talking out of your ass.
Groggy my boy, I would go to hell and back seconding your comment. I would really like to see Zambrotta and his thugs take the pressure from a packed OT and defend when all could clearly see how Barca panicked everytime United got 3 men into their half and went into a by-hook-or-by-crook mode with regard to challenges.
April 25th, 2008 at 17:30
i suggest u change and support le arse. they always entertain.
April 25th, 2008 at 17:34
I second that, Crognard you are spot on.
When Liverpool in the 80’s were playing awful football and winning the league that was terrible, I think we have been spoilt over the years and some people are getting a little carried away.
I remember us in 94 trying to play free following football against Barca and loosing 4 nil.
April 25th, 2008 at 17:38
Watching the game on wednesday night gave me very mixed emotions coz there was positives and negatives to be taken from it, Ill start with the positives.
To start with we defended brilliantly and despite what the Barca players and supporters have been saying. apart from maybe 2 or 3 occasions they never looked like breaching us and it was the most comfortable that I have personally felt wathing us in a CL semi final.
Some of the Barca individual performances have been blew completely out of proportion considering the lack of penetration in their play.
Considering a semi final is 180 mins long and the remaining 90 is at our ground, a nil nil draw gives us at least a good fighting chance of qualifying for the moscow final.
Now for the negatives and unfortunately there are a few.
Listening to SAFs and some of our players interviews after it was clear that the intention was to keep the game tight defensively with the hope of being able to hit them on the counter attack when we could which is not negative away from home, its sensible tactics considering there is still 90 mins to play at OT. But the worrying thing for me was that if this was our game plan then SAF got the player selections and their starting positions completely wrong which is why our attack never got going all night long.
Ronaldo has scored a lot of goals this season, but he has scored them when he has started wide and has been allowed to drift in field at different points during the match, making him hard to tie down and giving us a flexability that opposing teams find hard to combat, why change it now and make him easier to mark by playing him up front were the defenders can keep a close eye on him, especially when you have a natural forward in Wayne Rooney playing in Ronaldos position, meaning your failing to utlise the attacking talents of both players. Play them in their natural positions and let them influence the game to the best of their abilties. Watching Rooney play on weds was like watching someone playing with shackles on and I for one felt sorry for the kid.
Also the selection of Park baffled me coz he offers very little on the counter attack and defensively he is ok, but no more than ok, Nani or Giggs would be more than a match for his defensive capabilities and 10 times more of a threat on the counter attack.
Barcelona played an extra man in midfield against us and pressed the ball quickly whenever our midfielders had it and this totally neutralized any momentum we sought to establish, to beat them on tues night we must do the same to them, not outside our own 18 yard box but closer to the half way line and then hopefully we can get a grip of the game and allow our creative players to do their thing. The inclusion of Anderson in the middle is simply a must for me coz he can dominate in there with his energy, speed and strength,[eg. The Emirates and Anfield]
To finish on a positive note, we definately have the players to hurt Barca who were less than impressive at the back on the few occasions that we attacked them and if we can get at their back four for sustained periods then I think we will win. So come Sir Aex, set the team up right and let them make history
April 25th, 2008 at 17:47
Touche, Grognard, touche…
I have had mixed feelings about the result. If Barcelona just score 1 at OT, then we have to score 2 and we just cant score 1 and sit back coz if they score 1 blah blah blahhhhh
Rooney at rightwing was a total absentee. I think it would have given the Barca defense more challenge if he had been playing more of a center forward role.
The defending obviously, was IMMENSE. Each and everyone in the 11 was a beast of a defender on Wednesday (well except Ronaldo probably, him playing center forward) and people forget that the game is not all about attack attack attack. Sometimes you need to get off ur high horse, play the “UGLY” game to win trophies. And 50 years later, thats what people will remember. WINNERS.
April 25th, 2008 at 18:01
well.all of us are disappointed but then it was part of fergie plan.just trust fergie.he knows what to do at old trafford..the game is a pass now..let us move on..we should focus our attention and discussion on the next 2 games that will make or break our season..
but just my 2 cents here..i was disappointed with united 2 days ago but now when i think about it again, i think we played well in term of defensive display..
i am sure the lads will improve their game at old trafford as right now they have the idea on how barca play..
April 25th, 2008 at 18:07
GROGS SIR
take a bow! what a reply! wooh!
I totally concur. It was really foolish of some people here to underestimate a team that has the likes of Messi, Etoo, Henry, Iniesta, Xavi and others. Fergie was spot on with his tactics of containing them and the team produced a great performance to his script. They had no decent chance on the goal despite all the possession and shots. That itself tells that while eye catching, they were wasteful and must be utterly disappointed that they couldnt score even on home turf and playing at their best! How much confidence would they carry in the theatre of dreams (or nightmares for some!!).
April 25th, 2008 at 18:39
Looking forward! That is what we have to do now. The first leg of the Barca game is gone, lets wait and see what will happen at Old Trafford. I think United will win. BUt now we need to look to tomorrow. Chelsea away, no team has won at Stamford Bridge in 4 years. If United win, they will be Champions. If they draw and win agaisnt West Ham, we are champions. If we lose, we still lead. I really do believe that United will win tomorrow. Since we have played a little worse than we can these last couple of weeks I think tomorrow will be the game that makes United hit top form! I believe that United will win 2-0 with Rooney and Ronaldo scoring. Will be a close game, and since this game can win the title for United I think they will give everything to win. Cant wait for tomorrow!
And Grognard- I couldnt agree more! You wrote what I have been thinking when people say that Barca outplayed us. Except for the military stuff, but still an amazing comment! Take a bow.
April 25th, 2008 at 19:01
If u call people idiots u will be quite rightly given the boot from this blog.However what merits the statement that I should support Arsenal a team I totally detest because I mentioned an undisputable fact.I also hate it when so called true fans stand on their pedestal and tell the rest of us the “spoilt bunch” how 2 support my team.We obviously support 4 different reasons.I want 2 be entertained and to win at the same time.Others want 2 be entertained sometimes and others want 2 win at all costs.It is not an obviously secure path 2 glory 2 play defensively Grognard.Both Barca and Arsenal reached the final as recently as 24 months ago playing their game.Before that Real did it twice and we also did the same in 99.So the argument of the more negative the tactics the higher the chances of success will remain a theory and should be applied by cowards like Mourinho and Benitez.
April 25th, 2008 at 19:09
What no one seem to have mention is how impossible it is to perform 100% with three tough games in a week esp at the end of the season. Wednesday performance was ugly, but got us the desired result. More importantly I though that the way we played was quite economical, hardly pressing them beyond our final third.
April 25th, 2008 at 19:16
Jaywire, you are entitled to your opinion and I also like to see the beautiful game being played by my team and most of the time they dont dissapoint, but I dont think its as simple as being entertaining OR defensive coz if your team can play both ways then surely they have a greater chance of success and if playing that way in the Nou Camp ultimately leads us to Moscow I for one wont be complaining
April 25th, 2008 at 19:22
And by the way please take off your ManUtd contact lenses when u want 2 make objective comments and analyses.When was the last time that a 0-0 away with the next game at home a good result.Its advantage Barca,because they can score once and go thru and they would have rested key players.The whole world is ridiculing us and all we do is support Saf unconditionally.No team has ever come 2 the Nou Camp and played as much rubbish bar United and Celtic.Not even Chelsea or Liverpool but I guess I should be supporting those two according 2 the “True Fans Society” since it is taboo 2 point out blatanly obvious negatives of United’s away games.
April 25th, 2008 at 19:28
Guys, you have to remember that Barcelona can’t possibly play much better than they did at Nou Camp, while SAF can present a totally different United at Old Trafford.
April 25th, 2008 at 19:39
Jaywire, if your comments are being directed at me please read my above post[no 31] were I did criticize SAFs team selection and how it affected our attacking play coz I dont believe he meant it to be as negative as it turned out, it just turned out that way because of the team he picked.
I agree that nil nil is not a brilliant result but its not a bad one and gives us more than a fighting chance of progressing
April 25th, 2008 at 19:41
Fred the Red-Its all very well 2 play a primarily defensive game and hope 2 get an away goal.It is considered by some 2 be smart.However,putting 11 behind the ball 95% of the game and generally showing zero intention 2 go forward is ridiculous and disgraceful.Even Italians don’t do that.Even they are ridiculing us after former AC Milan coach Sacchi has blasted us.Im not just implying entertainment,I’m also talking about common sense.Can anyone tell me if a team has ever come 2 OT in CL and played like we did or if u’ve ever seen such a negative “gameplan” by an away team besides Barca vs Celtic and Villareal vs Everton.In fact we were arguably worse than the 2 British teams
April 25th, 2008 at 19:48
Fred I was not referring 2 u but its just the timing of posting.I think i posted late and u posted earlier otherwise not at all referring to u
April 25th, 2008 at 19:59
grognard,
for once i agree with you.
April 25th, 2008 at 20:02
Jaywire, you are entitled to your opinion my freind and its not compulsory for you to agree with me but as I stated above I dont think it was SAFs intention to get 10 men behind the ball for 90 mins, it just turned out that way because of his questionable team selection.
You might argue that he had the chance to change it during the game, but we looked comfortable in the match so to change it then could have backfired and in a two legged tie is it not better to address the problem between the two matches when you have time to fix it properly. Im sympathetic to your position but sometimes things dont go according to plan and a decision to hold what you have is a sensible one.
April 25th, 2008 at 20:09
James f-Whilst Barca played well,it was because they were constanly being gifted with possession 4 unknown reasons.And they are masters of ball retention home or away.I know that having supported them 4 over 12 years behind United of course.They play very patiently and will crack open any defence home or away when on song
April 25th, 2008 at 20:24
Jaywire, I too have had to fend off the atacks of Liverpool and Chelsea fans for the way we played on wednesday, but there comes a point when you have to forget about it and move on, theres a match to be played on tuesday and as a 25 year United supporter who has seen us fall too many times at the last hurdle I hope you can forgive me for putting the result in front of the performance just this once.
Lets get to Moscow first, and if we can do it the beautiful way on tuesday night, even better
April 25th, 2008 at 20:26
Fred mate, u are right.Agree to disagree.Wish others could be more sensible though.As soon as u criticise Saf the Chief Justices of Manchester United FC pass ridiculous judgements and promptly sentence u to become an Arsenal fan.Anyway I’ll keep supporting my team even if they come up with such rubbish as they did on Wednesday.They are the only reason why i watch the extremelly overrated EPL with severely limited quality
April 25th, 2008 at 20:31
I believe the way tha match ended and the way we played wasnt intended to be like that, SAF wanted to defend and play the counter-attack ofcourse he made the mistake of playing Ronaldo and Rooney out of position but thats that and in my opinion we got the better result, we will win at OT I have a good feeling about that match.
And I cant believe any United fan would want us to concede a goal, thats just inexcusable. We play at least 40 games a season and more than 90% of them we play our very entertaining style that I can forgive them when they dont, I remember my uncle once tell me a true champion is the team that gets the result with or without being the better team I dont agree with him a 100% because thank god we play probably the most entertaining football in europe but if we occasinally need to play the way we played wednesday than its ok with me.
April 25th, 2008 at 20:49
Jaywire, Im not a Fergie basher for the sake of it coz I think he has been brilliant for United and if you supported United during our 26 year wait for the title then you will appreciate everthing he has done for the club and the style in which his teams have done it. But his one flaw as I see it is his failure to devise a system of play that utilizes our attacking players against the big teams in europe and it frustrates me even more this year coz we currently have a squad of players to match anybody.
Lets hope he does on tuesday night, where its a quality game with us coming out as victors
April 25th, 2008 at 21:01
Grognard-Im replying late because i just recently logged on.But u imply that Saf realised after 20+ years of European experience that there are certain ways 2 play an away game.Well he decided in 2001 not 2007 that it was being defensive and since that transition we reached the finals a grand total of zero times.What about even semis?In fact how many away games did we win since that masterclass discovery or even get meaningful results.Anyway,I guess being a la liga and Super Liga fan,where coaches are fired and put under pressure 4 playing negatively even if they get results,makes it difficult 2 understand football from a perspective which discards entertainment.Ask Fabio Capello and Sir Bobby Robson about coaching in Spain
April 25th, 2008 at 21:10
For progress sake,I hope we go through and play our game on Tuesday.Of equal importance I hope we beat Chelsea tomorrow without overstretching ourselves.And then go on to annahilate them in Moscow.That’s of course if they manage 2 overcome the mandatory referee assists that Liverpool have enjoyed over the years
April 25th, 2008 at 21:38
Okay, I was silent till now about the Barcelona game because, thanks to work commitments, I managed to watch it only in spurts. Now that I have seen it in its entirety here’s what I think:
I didn’t have a problem with our defensive performance. The defenders did an outstanding job without doubt.
What I was really alarmed about was our inability to make any attempt whatsoever to string a few passes and try to move the ball forward. Every time we got the ball we seemed content giving it back after a couple of short passes and the odd hopeful long ball and gave it back to them
The defence did an excellent job of soaking up the pressure, but the mentality was worrying. True, we may have been rattled by a penalty miss early on in the game and I could excuse the team for the first half. I expected us to show some drive moving forward in the second half, now that the players had a feel for the pace of the game.
It is one thing defending well. It is entirely another thing when you can’t seem to transition from attack to defence.
When you listen to Fergie’s post match comment you will notice what I am trying to say. He praised the defensive performance but expressed alarm at our inability to transform defence into attack.
Conceding 70% of the possession against a team that has been woeful till date, is not something you would expect from our team. Never have we done so against Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal this season — all top sides, despite our biases.
I appreciate the team’s ability to dig in, but I was positively alarmed at our lack of ambition. And that is why I am worried for the side prior to Chelsea; the players did a lot of running around and have one day less to prepare and recuperate against Chelsea. I just hope we beat them easily somehow, and manage to rest players ahead of the home game. Because, the likes of Messi and Deco will play the full 90 minutes and they will have a half decent centre half in Puyol.
I can see why some people might have liked the performance, considering what happened last year at Milan. I also appreciate United’s ability to dig in and eke out wins or redeem itself when it’s not playing well. We’ve shown the ability to switch between doggedness and flair according to the situation, but what I saw on Wednesday was strange to say the least.
April 25th, 2008 at 21:46
And Barcelona Update:
“Frank Rijkaard has decided to rest Xavi, Messi and Eto’o for tomorrow night’s game at Deportivo and they have been left out of the squad along with Iniesta and Milito who are both suspended.”
From FCBNews.com
Clearly they’ll be fresher than us. Let’s see what our boys are made of.
April 25th, 2008 at 21:51
Yes, we did concede 70% possession but not to woefull team it was against Barcelona, last years AC Milan champions league win was when they played like shit in the italian league.
Having seen Barcelona play this season I can safely say we can win, they have a really good home record of one defeat and one loss (just like ours) but they have a worse away record than ours so I think we will win and it wont be that hard.
And about Chelsea we should play ATTACK from the start, worst case scenario would be us losing and will have to win against Westham and Wigan which are doable and best case scenario would be winning the premier league.
April 25th, 2008 at 21:56
Just read that Lahm is close to a deal with Barcelona, now how did that happen so fast?
April 25th, 2008 at 22:02
[saudi]
And Barcelona aren’t particularly playing like world beaters in their league. Rijkaard has rested key players, which means they’ve conceded hope in their league. Oh well, thankfully we’re playing at OT.
About Lahm, there aren’t any quotes that confirm the deal. So wait till you hear anything from Bayern or Lahm.
April 25th, 2008 at 22:10
Talking about transfers I noticed that most of our list of possible targets will play in the euros, so I had a thought, wouldnt it be better if we got a player who isnt? and if he played in the premier league already that would be a plus, like Affonso Alves or Santa Cruz or Berbatov??
April 25th, 2008 at 23:01
I fully concur with your game analysis RR. Regardless of how good the opposition is a side the calibre of United should never be so comprehensively dominated in terms of territory and possession. Another thing that disappointed me was the lack of tactical changes/flexibility during the game. Was there any need to persist with Rooney as an auxiliary full back when virtually everything Barca had was coming down their right flank? Similarly when Messi left the field I was hoping for a tactical reshape, Anderson and Nani to enter the fray and an effort to take the game to Barcelona to come. Needless to say there was no sign of it.
Once again I will say that I have no problem with a defensive strategy in the Nou Camp. But I am not a fan of a plan which shows virtually no attacking intent and I find it hard to believe that SAF would deploy a strategy on a par with the one Reading utilised at OT. That leads me to believe that what we saw on Wednesday night was a counter attacking strategy that was so badly implemented and executed that it beggars belief. I am aware stats do not tell the whole story and that they can be warped but the match centre on the Telegraph website makes truly disturbing reading in virtually every respect.
We should just be thankful we were not playing Barcelona circa 2005/06. If that side had got the same amount of the ball as the current Barcelona incarnation, I am almost certain we would have gotten a good hiding.
All that said this game will only be judged in light of the second leg result. Win and SAF will be lauded as a genius for his strategy to contain Barcelona in their own fortress. Lose and the post mortem will no doubt hammer him for his failure to push for an away goal in the first leg. It may be unfair but such is the way of things.
April 25th, 2008 at 23:04
Red Ranter, you spotted what Ive been trying to say all night, SAF never intended in being so negative against Barca, it was his crap team selection that led to us being unable to turn defence into attack and I hate to have to say it but as a supporter of United for over 25 years I have almost come to expect it now.
Rooney and Ronaldo playing out of position, a central midfeild pairing that is to pedestrian and does not provide the necessary energy and bite in these games to take the game away from the opposition for long enough periods for us to get a foothold in the game and starting Squad members who are 100 percent committed but lack the quality to seriously impact a game of that magnitude leaves me dreading what our line up will be on tuesday.
Yes we defended like Trojans and never really looked like conceding but if SAF picks a similar team on tuesday I think we are in trouble.
Check my previous posts, Im not a Fergie basher and I respect and appreciate what SAF has done for the club, but lets call a spade a spade here, some of his team selections in Europe are shocking
April 25th, 2008 at 23:21
Jay wire; Cowards like Mourinho and Benitez have won the CL in the past 5 years. Look the bottom line is I personally hate the way they approached and played the game. Nothing would give me more joy than to see them turn on the style and clobber Barca 3-0 or 4-0 at the Nou Camp. But that isn’t being optimistic, it’s being delusional. It was n ever going to happen and I was positive the game was going to end 0-0, 1-1 or best case scenario 1-0. Yes they put up a fortification and defended but had they scored from Ronaldo’s penalty, I think Barca would have been forced to open up even more which would have opened up our counter attack game even more. In that scenario we might have beat them 2-0 or 3-1. It wasn’t pretty and for the purist it was a disgrace but none of you out there can argue about the fact that they did the job. Mission accomplished.
I’ll tell you when I get pissed off. It’s when they struggle to beat losers like Derby and Bolton etc. At times like that I am very unreasonable because I cannot excuse their lack of finish or polish in games against far inferior opposition who should be destroyed every time out. And yet that’s just not the way the game is over a long season. I was the loudest and most venomous critic of their start to the season. They were play shit sides and scoring no goals. Patience brought back the quality and the team took off. We can’t be happy all the time and if we expect 4-0 wins in Barcelona I suggest buying FIFA 08 or Pro Evolution and knock yourselves out. In the highly competitive real world the best team in Europe is never guaranteed anything against a competitor with the pedigree of the mighty Barcelona.
Now having said all this, I will be disappointed if we march into Stamford Bridge and play a defensive game against a complete useless and overrated group of misfits that have been getting points all season despite themselves. Riijkard is very good manager and he needed to be respected by Fergie. AV Grant deserves no respect for his lack of managerial ability and finesse. He is a total Wanker and if we cannot end Chelsea’s unbeaten streak at the Bridge when so much is at state, then do we really deserve to be called champions? I find it absolutely amazing that a group of overpaid and lazy superstars like them can have gone the entire season with only 3 league defeats. They never impress and never do more than what is just needed to win or draw. How have we with all our class and style lost two more game than them and only maintained a three point lead on them? It’s truly a mind boggling mystery. Look at the goal difference.
Nope, we should go to the Bridge and kick their asses because I don’t think they really have a clue on the attacking side of the game. Just press their defenders all game and I think they will crack. In past years that game would have terrified me but this is the time and they are ripe for the picking. Anything short of an extraordinary offensive effort will be looked upon by all of us a major let down and will bring up a lot of questions and concerns that only started to sprout after the Barca clash. Lets hope Fergie finds the brass balls to “cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. Kick Chelski ass and take no prisoners.
April 25th, 2008 at 23:21
where can I find the game online
April 25th, 2008 at 23:27
Jb, you are right in every thing that you say apart from one thing, if we lose on tuesday night SAF WILL deserve all the critism that comes his way.
Im trying to stay loyal but his team selections in big CL games toatally astounds me.
April 25th, 2008 at 23:31
Grognard, since you are so much into military history, for every spectacular defence such as Therompolye [read Herodotus, not Hollywood], there is an Alexander. In other words, you can never say that defences are most honoured – the opposite is more likely. You rarely hear “the great Leonidas”, do you? But Alexander the Great is a household name. Similarly, you have William the Conqueror, but no “Henry the defender” and then there is also Charlemagne and I will stop here.
Going back to football now. Surely most of us have heard about the great Real Madird team with Di Stefano, Puskas and company and we are all aware of their achievements. Similarly we all know (I hope) of the achievements of Cruijff who has built a name for himself, the Dutch national team and Ajax Amsetrdam based on the most beautiful football played on this planet. Yet I doubt that any of you know who Ducadam is.
This is going back to the comment that in 50 years, the team that won, not the style of play will be remebered. Do we all know that Holland was playing beautiful football in 1976 and still lost? Most of us do. Do we all know who won the World Cup in 1950? I don’t.
To defend my post, I think that the way in which we play football is far more important that how many wins we have. After all, there seems to be a direct relationship between entertaining teams and success. Look at Barcelona two years ago and at the current Argentina team. Then look at England’s national team…
Some fans said that I am “not a true fan” or that I should be “supporting Arsenal” [read above]. I will return the favor. I see now that some of you are not real Manchester United fans who stand for what this team represents. Beautiful football is the reason I became a fan (that and the fact that they tend to be cleaner than most other top teams) and I want it in return for paying 100$ for a platic t-shirt which would have cost me 10$ had there not been “Manchester United” written on it. I think that most of you are here only because Manchester United’s success. I think you are only a declared supporter of this team because you want to say “Ronaldo/Beckham/Robson is on my team” or “we are the champions! na na na na na.”
By that I do not mean to say that I do not accept a reasonably defensive performance from United when they are clearly not on their game and have no other solution than to try an hold on to what they have (similar to the Liverpool performance in December). But to defend at all costs from t0 for me is unacceptable.
Finally, I think that had United taken the game to Barcelona we wold have had a chance to win. And I think I was a bit rash in “hoping” for a Barca goal, but I certainly would not have been too upset had it happened.
April 25th, 2008 at 23:32
Primachenko; “For once you agree with me”. Now I can go to sleep in peace and contentment. In fact I’m so elated I’m going to go to the pub and get royally pissed.
Jaywire; Even if Fergie learned his lesson in 2001, there is never a guarantee late in the tournament of success because you usually go up against Spanish or Italian giants. But consider the mid 90’s when we were getting knocked out very early due to tactical naiveties. I think we have come a long way, even if it hasn’t always been pretty.
April 25th, 2008 at 23:33
Fred: Sorry I didn’t mean it was unfair to criticise SAF. What I was saying was that it is somewhat unfair that the perception/judgement of the first leg performance will be based on the result of the tie rather than on its own merit.
April 25th, 2008 at 23:58
Andrej; I fully understand what you are saying and in my heart of hearts I totally agree but I do think that too much is being made off one performance that didn’t turn out the way United outcomes should. Man, Fergie never got blasted like this when Newcastle beat them 5-1 several years back or when we laid down and got thumped last year against Milan and decided to play kick around with Chelski in the dullest FA Cup ever played.. I honestly do not believe that it was Fergie’s intention to shut up shop and defend 100% of the time in the match. Where I will agree with a lot of you is that he did a horrible job of team selection. The selection of Rooney was a mistake but to place him in a role similar to that of a fullback was just a disgrace and there were certainly other players on the bench who could have carried that role out with more confidence an creativity. Use him late as a reserve.
JB wrote about the fact the team showed no positive offensive intent. I think they tried but were found miserably lacking because of the lineup chosen which was slow footed and not tactically aligned to enhance players potential. What in Gods name can you expect from a forward like Rooney when he is positioned virtually at RWB and with Park doing the same on the other side. They were flat footed and slow because he was injured and because as hard as they played, Scholes and Carrick were playing too deep and are not fast enough and pacey enough to dribble out and start a counter. Tevez was totally confused by his role and thus disappeared without a peep. Ronaldo was lonelier than Rooeny ever has been up front. The tactics were alright but the squad selection was all wrong. I have no problem with Hargo at RB but we do have Brown and I feel Pique and or O’Shea could have covered at CB. Hargo would have been a savior at RMF had we used him like that.
With all that negatosis, we still played a heroic game and defended beautifully. This is not an epidemic that has hit the club. It was just a freaky but necessary game time decision that ended up working to our favor. Lets stop making a mountain out of molehill. Save your venom for after Wednesday’s game if we get knocked out. But I honestly don’t think that will happen and I’m generally the pessimist in this group of bloggers.
April 26th, 2008 at 1:06
Grognard is right, its time to take the positives and learn from the negatives of wednesday nights game and move on. We defended brilliantly but attacked woefully due to the team selection.
I would personally like to see us matching their midfeild 5 by using Hargreaves as the holder with Scholes and Anderson just in front and Nani and Ronaldo completing the 5 as our 2 wide men and finally Rooney up top. This would more than give us an edge in the middle where they only have Toure to provide steel. And if we pressed them higher up the pitch instead of on our own 18 yard box the four in front of Hargreaves would have less yardage to travel to Support Rooney.
Allied to this is the ability of our wide men to influence the attack by either supporting Rooney quickly or breaking from deep with pace would allow us to retain the ball better and give Barca a lot nore to think about especially if Scholes and Anderson were given license to join in as hargreaves patrols just in front of the back four.
Come on Sir Alex, cut them loose.
April 26th, 2008 at 1:27
Fred the Red; I think the reason they didn’t mark them closely up the field more is because that would have made us weaker against the long through ball or long ball to their wide guys; most notably Messi. I also think the fear of Messi and to a lesser extent Iniesta made him play Rooney and Park so far back that it was impossible to start any kind of counter. Jeez, that kind of over respect of the opposition better not happen at OT. It’s easy to say cut them loose but I honestly think fatigue and a weakness of depth of front has hurt us late in the year. An injured Rooney is also a major sticking point.
April 26th, 2008 at 1:40
Granted, the team selection was mind boggling. But to be completely honest, i couldnt care less about our ’style’ for this game, the chelsea game AND the next barca game. At this stage of the season, ALL that matters (not a little bit, not mostly, ALL) is the result. Like people have said, i would’ve loved to see them slaughter Barca 4-0, but we’re not playing Pro Evo. If this helps us beat barca over the 2 legs (and i definitely think it does), then perfect. I would be FAR FAR FAR more depressed if we played our brand of football and lost.
I’d even go so far as to say i would have NO problem if they played dour, boring, liverpool-esque football in the next 2 big games, as long as we WIN. Over the course of the season we’ve earnt our tag as entertainers, but if we end up with no trophies, we’d be nothing more than arsenal (now there’s a depressing thought). I can understand people being disappointed with the way we played. But I think that at this stage of the season, all that matters is the result. When we’re lifting the trophy in Moscow, you won’t be thinking about the ‘anti utd’ football we played at the Nou Camp will you?
Well thats just my opinion anyway =P
April 26th, 2008 at 1:56
Grognard, I have said it and I will say it again that I have nothing against one defensive performance which is the result of some other bad decision, but I do not want the team to play defensively with intent. If, as Fergie says, the intent was to counter attack as they did int Roma – fair enough. That was entertaining to some extend and got the result.
However to go out an defend from the start without any intetion of doing anything else bugs me and it tells me that Barcelona is a better team that Man Utd. It also takes away the tag of entertainers because you no longer entertain. It would be like the Harlem Globetrotters having a bad game. Nobody will look at them again…
April 26th, 2008 at 2:31
Couldnt agree more with you. ITs awful but I was hoping for a late barcelona goal. We played like a championship team, it was painful to see.
April 26th, 2008 at 2:40
Andrej; The score was 0-0, not 0-4 for Barcelona. Good grief! Get some perspective. If Barcelona is such good team how come they couldn’t break us down and even get one excellent scoring chance? We on the other hand got a penalty call, should have had a second handed to us and Carrick missed setting up two open guys in the 6 yard box for another. We easily could have won that game 2-0 or 3-0 without playing a good game offensively. Other than an Eto half chance, I cannot remember a great chance for Barca. The intention was to get a positive result. Mission accomplished. Some times you have to win ugly. Although that was not a victory, it went a long way to helping us take the tie and going to Moscow.
Look I too want them to play offensive football but I much more prefer them to with the Champions league. Would you rather be a Chelsea supporter and watch rubbish every frakken game? It was just one game. It’s not the end of the world for God’s sake. Sometimes there are United fans (me included) who act liked spoilt children who are having sugar fits from too much candy. We occasionally need a dose of humility to let us know that it is hard to get to the top and to stay there because somebody is always trying to knock you off. Barcelona may be having a poor season by their high standards but never think for a second that they are not a quality side with many game breakers.
If we carelessly came out to attack them, we would have fallen in to a trap that may have had us going home behind 2-0 or 3-1 on aggregate.
But instead the ball is in our court and we have total control of our destiny.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:05
for a change, i agree with grognard, we did not score but neither did they, the pressure is on them not us, barca are having a horrid season, and their last chance of glory is them beating us at old trafford. i really didnt see the hype about messi in the game, evra had him on lock-down. they only had one chance. at old trafford, we will play our best team(or possibly second best) in
vds
brown
rio
vidic
evra
hargreaves
carrick
anderson
ronny
rooney
nani
that team will be an all out attack, or we could play 4-4-2, with hargreaves at rwb(so he can send those crosses in) and andy carrick in the centre, regular 2 upfront.
any of those formations and i’ll be happy.
in other news, the first big name(kinda) signing of the summer has come forth in luka modric, who will be signing for spurs subject to a medical. Dunno, i love clubs signing players.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:14
I don’t know what horrified some of you more, United’s lack of offensive punch or that many of you have had to agree with my comments on this subject? Gee, I never thought my contributions were so disagreeable and hard to stomach. Are my thoughts and theories on the game so foreign to all of you that you have to poke fun at the times when you actually agree with me? Not a problem but it is a little disheartening to know that many of you think I’m full of shit most of the time. Especially when I feel I know a lot about the game and I take the game as well as all things United so seriously.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:18
So all you have to do is write something this outrageous, and you’ll get your post on the site… I don’t get it. Is outrageouness enough these days, or should you actually have something meaningful to say… I’d prefer the latter. To me, there’s a serious problem calling yourself a fan, when you wish for the opposition to score a late goal and possibly trash our season. Maybe this post should have been on as an outsider’s view?
Never have I read something this rediculous. The only thing that matters is the number of trophees as a result of the season, and I bet you’ll feel the same way and celebrate like a maniac, if we end up with both of them. And at that point, this article will be nothing short of hypocritic.
Playing like we did at Camp Nou. Well, we sure were poor on the ball and in attack, but that’s all a result of result-based tactics that SAF has aquired over the last 5 years. He’s simply learned that it doesn’t pay off playing attacking football away at the big arenas. When he plays attacking football and looses, he’s accused of being naive and not tactically clever enough. Now that he pulls off a major tactical strategy, he’s accused of not playing entertaining enough. I simply don’t get this spoiled attitude, I’m sorry.
To me, the game plan was masterfully carried out, since it was what we came for. Park and Rooney on the wings… our two most running players, are you kidding me. Of course they were played there to defend and not to attack like crazy. I’m confident, SAF would have preferred a goal, and we actually should have had one (or maybe even 2). What that tells me is the opportunity for us to move to the final. We nullified them at home and could easily have won despite not being in possession. I’m sure we’ll win at OT.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:24
Grognard – I actually think you make a very valid point about Barcelona’s strength. How good can they really be, when they weren’t able to pose a threat through an entire game. Credit to us for keeping them at bay.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:29
You know I really will be disappointed if united don’t come out and attack the living Hell out Chelski tomorrow. I am sick and tired of listening to the bullshit coming out of the mouth of Bela Lugosi’s (AV Grant) mouth of late. He honestly thinks he has a better team an that we are ripe for the picking. So help me I will jump off a bridge if AV Grant defeats SAF in a must win game. I could and should never happen because Fergie is a master tactician (despite Wednesday) and Grant is a master bater. My God, if that bunch of underachieving misfits with bad attitudes beat Manchester United, I will really have to reconsider my love for the great game. I will then know that the game has really gone to the dogs. Chelski may have a lot of talent but they are not a team. Therefore they should not do well against a lot of talent that plays like a “united” team. Anything worse would be an injustice to the game. If I’ve been very fair to them against a great team in Barcelona, just watch how my wrath will come down on them if they lose at the Bridge. Losing to Grant the Muppet will be 100% unacceptable. Manchester United wins 2-0 at the Bridge.
April 26th, 2008 at 9:23
has Darren Fletcher recovered frm injury? I sw he was very vocal in the build up to the match… ifso I think he’s are winner today!
April 26th, 2008 at 10:09
[Tomas]
So all you have to do is write something this outrageous, and you’ll get your post on the site… I don’t get it.
You serious? Or was it meant purely as a wind up? If not, do let me know of other posts that have been posted here just for the sake of outrageousness. I think too much is being read into Andrei wanting Barca score. Fine I don’t agree with that attitude, but he felt frustrated at the way we played — and it’s his opinion. This has ended up as a rant but that’s what this site is all about. It is, of course, your problem that you are not able to see another person’s opinion whether you agree with it or not.
I find it rather appalling that some fans reserve the right to judge who’s a real fan just because their opinion of looking at the club differs from another. It just sounds so self righteous!
April 26th, 2008 at 10:31
Can too much be read into someone saying he wishes the opposition scores? Not in my world.
Of course I can see it’s his opinion, what else should it be. My post is just my opinion, and I guess that’s as valid as his, right? Everything in here is opinion, and it’s my opinion that stating, you wish the opposition would score, makes you less of a fan.
I don’t meen to disrepect you or anyone else, I was just appalled by what I read and had to write, what I thought of it. Yes maybe it’s self righteous, but self righteousness comes in many forms, and in its own way, the article is too.
April 26th, 2008 at 11:33
Stating opinions is okay. Scoffing at his opinion is a whole different issue. I didn’t take issue with what your opinion was. Saying someone is not a fan is an insult to the person for the effort he put into the article. Surely he is a Manchester United fan.
Even if you don’t agree with his opinion, you could justify it. But more than that, purely based on the article you insulted the site by saying anyone can post bullshit on here. That’s not an opinion based on sound logic, but a random statement without much of a basis of thought. Even that is agreeable because criticism of the site I can take. Because it helps improve this site.
However, you are not allowed to pass opinions on fellow commenters, and I’ve made this clear several times over.
April 26th, 2008 at 11:48
If a more attacking approach is to be employed next leg we need fresh players. I hope we rest some players against Chelsea (especially Rooney who looks a bit injured, Hargreaves…who can go down with an injury at any minute, Vidic as he is coming back from a virus, and Nani as he is also coming back from an injury. We still have the squad quality to beat them. Something like:
EVDS
Brown Rio Pique Evra
Anderson Carrick Scholes
Ronaldo Tevez Giggs/Park
Rooney and Nani can be given a run around in the last twenty