Nov 22
Aston Villa v Man Utd: Preview
It’s nice to be back. Being able to blog again — hopefully, regularly — gives you a feeling that’s difficult to describe; one of blogginess. Or perhaps, should I not be too happy to be blogging when I really ought to be having a life? Who knows!
On to the preview…
We visit Villa Park today, with an excellent record against Aston Villa. Despite all their excellent form under Martin O’Neill last season, they were at the hands of 4-0 drubbings. Last year at Villa Park was witness to some excellent one-two between Rooney and Tevez for a goal. And with the forced exit of Berbatov due to injury, we might see last season’s first choice duo reunite.
Meanwhile — taking a brief detour from the preview to catch up on some of the United news of the past few days — the Daily Mail reports that we’ve signed Zoran Tosic pending work permit. But it’s the Daily Mail, which is why we’re better served waiting for official confirmation. He’s a Serbian winger, who’s a left footer and a free kick specialist apparently. EDIT: The Mirror reckons we’ve signed Tosic as well as Adam Ljajic for £9m subject to work permit. Hmm…
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to befuddle with his media comments. Sometimes, saying funny things to the media can be fun. But there comes a time when it ceases to be so. Take this case where Ronaldo claimed himself to be the first, second and third greatest player in the world, only for those words to come back to bite his shapely arse 24 hours later as Brazil nullified his influence in the game with a drubbing.
True, Portugal have been lacklustre lately, but that doesn’t excuse the complete lack of influence he had in the game. Well, even that is not a problem, as long as he doesn’t shoot his mouth trying to big himself up. Yes Cristiano, we can see that you are an excellent player. But you don’t have to tell that to us — even if you think you are trying to be funny. It’s not, and all it does is makes you look like a fool when things don’t go your way. Scott’s given a fair assessment of his quotes.
Getting back to today’s game, Villa beat Arsenal at the Emirates. And with the Gunners stuttering, they look like worthy candidates for the fourth place spot. We are missing important players — Rio Ferdinand, Berbatov, Brown — to injury. Ronaldo, Anderson and Nani return jet lagged from Brazil. Heading to away games immediately after an international is always going to be a challenge, and it has been so several times this season for us.
Villa continue to improve and impress, and the pace of Agbonlahor and Young will be a challenge to the likes of Vidic and Evans. I think Evans will have to put his ability to read the game to better use to tackle the pace of said Villa forwards.
Ferguson had some kind words for Martin O’Neill.
“Martin has done a fantastic job. He is one of the best managers in the game, no question about that. The only way you can judge managers is how they have proved themselves over a long period and when you look at the job Martin did at Leicester, at Celtic and now at Villa, he is obviously a top manager.”
In team lineups, I hope Fergie goes for Rafael at right back if not O’Shea. I really don’t feel comfortable having Neville at right back anymore. Oh, how I miss Brown, now! EVDS should be between the sticks with Evans partnering Vidic in the centre — Evra at left back. Michael Carrick is a sure starter following his stellar showing for England in midweek and, depending on Anderson’s physical state, he might play in midfield. (If Fletcher is fit, he’ll surely partner Carrick). On the wings, Ronaldo will somehow talk his way into the side, and he’ll choose to bench Nani — because he may not want three members of the people that visited Brazil to start at once — over Park or Giggs. (And I hope he doesn’t start Giggs on the wing.)
Up front we’ll get to see Rooney partner Tevez, but if Rooney is actually down with chest infection, then we might get to see Manucho/Welbeck.
Prediction: If we are on a roll I think we should be able to beat them 2-0. Of course, with us this season, it’s always a case of which United shows up.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Manchester United v Aston Villa Preview – Tougher than it looks
- Aston Villa 0-2 Manchester United: Ronaldo and Rooney complete a late win
- Aston Villa vs Man United: Preview
- Aston Villa 0-0 Man Utd: United Escape With Draw
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
Tags: Game Preview
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:19
could be a tough, tough match. i would expect rooney and giggs to start upfront, anderson and carrick in the centre and the (porta)geezers on the wings.
2-1 united.
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:38
Nice to read a post from you.its been quite a while. Anywayz we face a tricky trip to villa which has been sort of home away from home. I think the deciding factor in this match from united point of view will be our defense and especially the RB position.whoever is placed the should make sure Young doesnt run rings round us because it will spell doom but if we keep it tight i see us winning by a two goal margin. As grog said seems rooney’s okay so we will hopefully see the partnership that was devastating last season. Pressure will be on us to win since poodles, pensioners and the deflated gooners will all have played their matches. About the transfers, i do hope they are true. Frankly, i dont think theres enough competition on the wings and their additions to the squad will definately give the incumbents something to think about. Peas out
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:47
Sky say Rooney passed fit. Looking forward to the game. As for the jet lag, I might be wrong but isn’t jet lag just adjusting your sleep schedule to a new time zone? Surely they weren’t there for long enough for that to effect them? Although Nani, Ronnie and Anderson alone with the Brazilian nightlife doesn’t inspire confidence
. What’s with all the O’Shea hate? I thought he was pretty good at Stoke. Maybe it didn’t show up so much on the tv cameras but he was in acres of space for the whole match and had some good passing plays around the box. Rafael wouldn’t instill too much confidence up against villa’s 2nd best player and biggest threat from the wings. I could see him getting booked early and either letting Young run rings around him or getting sent off. I’m not overly confident about this game but I hope the team step up and prove me wrong
Prediction: 1-1 in my mind, 3-0 in my heart
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:15
Boy, talk about lack of faith!!!
All i’ve been reading everywhere is how we’ll get a draw or how we’ll be lucky to win etc. WTF!!! On paper, we are way better than them. As a team playing on the pitch, we are better than them, so I don’t see where all the pessimism is coming from!! I don’t mean to be condacending or critical of anyone’s views, but we are talking about Manchester United here. Ze Champions of Europe and consecutive League champs, we’ll destroy Villa. 
(I’m in a chirpy mood today, hopefully, it doesn’t come back to bite me 
)
Today, I hope for this line-up:
————— VDS
O’Shea — Vidic — Evans — Evra
—– Carrick —– Fletch —–
Park———————– Nani
—— Tevez —— Rooney —–
Subs: Foster, Rafael, Anderson, Gibson, Giggs, Ronaldo, Welbeck
Ronaldo has been playing a lot of consecutive 90-minutes and after such a long trip (where he played 90) he might be best coming off the bench for Park. Maybe Giggs or Ando come on for one of the midfielders or Nani, depending on how the match is going.
Score prediction: 2-0 to United
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:40
ok,
dont really know how to call this! would hope for a narrow win, dont care about our impressive record against Villa, its current form i’d be more worried about! Villa has ambitions, they are going to be so up for this game, my main worry is which United side is going to show up? I’m not exactly talking about personnel here! @Liam: yeah i’m getting fuckin fed up with it too bro! some cunts wouldn’t know a good thing if it came up and bit them on the arse, 3 words Football Fucking Manager!
2-1 to us please
So come on John O Shea, prove these doubters wrong, defend like a demon, attack positively, score a goal and still get berated by a bunch of armchair football posters
We dont care! “when Johnny goes marchin down the wing, O Shea O Shea
When Johnny goes marchin down the wing, O Shea, O Shea,
The Stretford End will stand and sing
Johnnys’ gonna score a goal”
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:52
Match preview on the official website says Neville has a strain so he is ruled out
November 22nd, 2008 at 13:01
Was Ronnie captaining Portugal….whaal! But hey, after all is said and done, we should be able to beat Villa 2-0 Ronaldo and Manucho.
November 22nd, 2008 at 13:10
And Nihat kaveci has also recovered. Guess the next three games we will be facing some firepower and tricky wingers but we should be able to cope. No doom and gloom intended.just emphasizing the test we are up against in the week
November 22nd, 2008 at 13:36
should be an interesting encounter. We’ll have to really contain Gabby Agbanlohor. He’s in the best form of his life. I think it’s just a matter of time before one of the big four come knocking on his door. So Evans really has a big game this evening. Tevez has been trying diligently to prove that he belongs on the pitch instead of Berba, as well as show everyone he’s worth the 30 odd million protracted contract with the Club. On our excellent record at Villa Park, I just think that this might work for us psycologically today. Hunch: narrow one nil win for us with Tevez to score. I honestly don’t think he can go so long without scoring.
On another note, who of you really think the Arse can finish fourth this season? The internal problems that they have makes the credit crunch look tame! Honestly!
November 22nd, 2008 at 13:50
I don’t want Nani picked for this game. I don’t want people to pummel him for United’s SHIT form AWAY from home, when/IF things once again go wrong. Same goes for Johnny boy O’Shea.
November 22nd, 2008 at 14:04
@Craig Mc: Seems people need a fall guy these days when their fantasy team doesn’t perform
i’d love to see Nani play Bro, its been said before but the lad needs a decent run of games. Evra and Nani on the left, O Shea and Ronnie on the right, I’ve a feeling that our wing backs will be under more pressure to defend due to Villas’ threat on the wings. Today will be a stern test for our defence, i’m confident of Evans being up to the task, but its the unit as a whole i’ve doubts about.
November 22nd, 2008 at 14:10
On current form i dont think le arse will make it. January will be a deciding factor for them. They need a DMF, a leader who aint a cry baby and last wenger should see the light and stop being stubborn and arrogant of their predicament. As a man u fan i do hope they continue there current form. Dont know why people see them as giant when for me they are already a mid table status team and should also loose first seeding status. I mean they use the qualifiers/backdoor to get to the UCL
November 22nd, 2008 at 14:40
Why shouldn’t he play? If he’s plays as he should, surely he won’t be criticised!!
Besides, he needs games like u always say. About our ‘SHIT’ form away from home, it’s not as bad as you might think. Out of our six away league games, we’ve won two, drawn two and lost two. The draws against chelsea and Everton (two tough matches) and the losses against Arsenal and Liverpoll (two more tough matches). keep the faith bro, our fixture schedule has been very harsh this side of the season and i’m glad we’re still close to the top. 
November 22nd, 2008 at 15:06
and goal.com says Tevez is off Real MADrid next season, with Fergie recalling Rossi…..I am torn
November 22nd, 2008 at 15:13
Hey guys ive just read fergie is tempted to buy back rossi but personally i think it wont happen.we have a lot of attacking options and rossi wants 1st team action.its good though to read fergie’s comment on that matter. Its on goal.com referenced from the telegraph. I am using my phone so its impossible to post link. Any team news?
November 22nd, 2008 at 15:41
@Nelson: Its still 3 hours left to kick off. Patience will be the key tonight. For United that is. Hopefully we can win this game, it will be tough.
Im reading news that Benzema is on his way to Old Trafford in 2009, while Tevez may be on his way out. I like Benzema, he is a great player in my eyes and he would become a great player here. But at the expence of losing Tevez to Real, I dont know. Its a difficult choice! I really dont care right noe because we are going to face a stubborn Villa side today. Hopefully Roovez works well together, and Ronaldo contiues his scoring run vs Villa(7 goals in all competitions since 2004).
November 22nd, 2008 at 16:10
do you really expect anyone to beat berbatov and rooney for starting spots?
unless they are injured i dont think it will happen
November 22nd, 2008 at 16:13
ok can someone please tell me what the premierleague’s website is banging on about this morning, it reads that theyve become annoyed by the behaviour of betfair and its ‘celebration PR stunts’, I cant find news of this anywere else and i was hoping someone had heard something useful. I might have missed some mega news of this weeks ago due to me being a piss poor student without a tv but surely this has something to do with betfair attempting to reward players for dedicating goals to them via specific celebrations? Anyone?
November 22nd, 2008 at 16:33
Team News??
November 22nd, 2008 at 16:34
@RedDevilEddy: Losing Tevez and getting Benzema, you call that a difficult choice? With Lyon not creating nothing in a game in which thehy were totally outplayed Benzema recently scored. Once again he is Ligue 1’s top scorer.
Don’t see what’s difficult in the choice in there..
November 22nd, 2008 at 16:37
@elsammio99: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/bookmaker-offers-pound10000-for-goal-celebration-14071521.html
November 22nd, 2008 at 16:39
happy Saturday Chaps and Chapettes, love it when it comes to United playing – although today could be a very tough one; it should be if both teams turn up. Perfect chance for Tevez to do some damage today too! Fingers crossed.
Peas out for now.
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:07
Aston Villa 1-3 Man Utd
Barry
Rooney
Tevez
Ronaldo
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:22
Apparentely there is a work permit issue with Tosic as he has only played 6 of the last 14 games for the Serbs. I’ve never heard of the guy but there is a lot of talent in Eastern Europe and he could be another gem.
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:24
Anyone watching ‘Pool play pass the ball to Torres? No Stevie to save the day so maybe they will be held. (Torres 90th minute will obviously happen though
) with Arsenal losing and Chelsea drawing it could be our day
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:24
ATM Man City 2-0 Arsenal
Am I happy, Am I not……really I dont know
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:27
The Gooners are 0-2 down….LMAO…Theyll be lucky to finish 10th this season…Wenger started Song in the midfield. No Ramsey today. And Gavin Hoyte in defence. LOL.
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:27
@colver: reports seem to suggest that the other guy (not even going to bother with his name) is the better of the 2 (on redcafe anyway)
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:31
We signed a left winger….United sign Tosic
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:31
@Liam: Who?
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:38
@RedDevil: Ljajic or whatever his name is. Apparently he can play all across the midfield but is best at AM
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:43
bye bye nani
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:55
wow. city 3 arsenal 0.
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:55
Gunners gunned down
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:56
Draw haha both games! Now with our game in hand we can get within 3 points. Let’s hammer villa now!
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:56
top 2 drop 2
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:57
team news?
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:58
Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle
Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
Man City 3-0 Arsenal
What more can I ask for
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:58
yesssssss
November 22nd, 2008 at 17:59
Great chance to closer the gap. Didn’t see Chelsea dropping points at home to Newcastle.
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:00
Rio starts!
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:00
vds
o’shea
vidic
rio
evra
ronaldo
carrick
giggs
park
tevez
rooney
im not happy, at all…
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:02
Im seriously losing it with Setanta I was convinced the game would be on Sky Sports and now Im warm in my house and the nearest pub with Setanta is ages away. Any live streams anyone?
Liverpool and Chelsea home draws so we have the chance to narrow the gap to three points which would be a huge morale booster! Arsenal rolled over to Manchester City. It pisses me off they only bothered to show up against us this season
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:03
RooVez, Com’on you Reds
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:03
I wouldnt gloat too much until after our game. The lineup does not inspire too much confidence
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:06
If todays results dont fire our boys up, then they just dont want it this year. The plate is set for us to gain ground ont liverpool and chelsea and too put distance between us and villa/arsenal.
Does anyone know anything about this new winger we brought in? and what does that spell for nani? is his time done here?
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:08
there has to be some reason why fergie is preferring Park over nani.
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:11
@colver: channel 6029 on sopcast..
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:15
OK today we have been given a major reprieve. Chelsea and Liverpool have opened the door wide for us to crash through and start to take the championship seriously again. Both draw and Arsenal fold like a tent. If United can win today at Villa Park, they can prove me wrong and prove to all of us that they are still in this and that they want it badly enough.
Good luck to them and it’s time to take the League by the scruff of the neck and start squeezing.
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:17
@dan(u-ol): I guess we have no choice but to start O’Shea but why we are starting Park on the left and Giggs in the middle disturbs me greatly. Park tells me we will be concentrating on defense more than attacking.
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:19
@colver: hows that setantas fault?
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:20
@colver: Sky Sports is rubbish. It costs about twice as much as Setanta and only show the top 4 once a month. Setanta also gives Scottish and German football and Sky sports’ only advantage is La Liga and NFL as far as I’m concerned
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:21
@Grognard: rafael?
why isnt andy playing? he relishes these types of games.
not looking forward to rooney and tevez upfront.
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:21
Life stream from this match: LINK
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:22
@Liam: precisely
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:32
I also forgot to mention NASN which is a decent channel. Being rebranded in Febuary to ESPN Europe I think so will probably become better
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:32
@dan(u-ol): Oh I don’t think I would play Rafael against Villa at Villa Park. They have great speed and offensive skill and he may get caught up field a little bit more than we would be able to afford. But Anderson not playing is a surprise. Hope CW Roovez plays well.
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:34
park has next to no ability…
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:35
Well Aston Villa Manchester United is the type of big game that Sky used to broadcast. Im going to have to buy Setanta-in a pub by the time Ive bought a few drinks, paid the entrance fee etc it is more than 10 pounds anyway!
For me Ferguson just doesn’t trust Nani preferring to use him as an impact sub or in home games and games where the opposition has no attacking threat. Nani does give the ball away more than he should but he is not the reason why our side has been leaking goals this season. He needs games to come good and when he does he’ll provide assists and goals. Based on this latest exclusion it seems likely we will be buying this Serbian left winger as a 17 million benchwarmer who is already 22 isn’t exactly value for money.
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:55
fuck me get tevez off
November 22nd, 2008 at 18:58
wow tevez get out
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:03
why the heck is ronnie’s first touch on the ball a trick? which mostly doesnt work
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:05
park caught ballwatching atleast 3 times.. tevez has been awful.. giggs doing nothing in midfield
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:07
whoa whoa…both teams are playing shite….why tevez n park alone…whats other done??
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:08
united need a lesson from the russians, they dont seem to be able to put a decent attack together.
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:09
who’s on the subs bench?
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:11
park has absolutely no ability what so ever! clean through, only the keeper to beat and he gets tackled from behind like a korean prostitute
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:11
park has been awful take him off. Park is taking Nani’s spot as far as I am concerned. nobody on the bench is better than tevez.
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:12
great tackle by Young, first real chance. Ronaldo and Tevez need to start supporting Rooney
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:12
rooney has been class, if only someone was pulling the strings for him, or he had someone decent up there with him… bring on welbeck!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:13
atleast he is getting into better positions…i give him that…giggs in middle against villa is a bad bad choice..
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:13
ronaldo would’ve put both of parks chances in. the difference between a great player and a workhorse
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:14
@dan(u-ol): Park has been our brightest player up front but then again he could score a hattrick and people would criticize him for not assisting more
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:16
@Liam:
ohhh, your watching a replay of a match last season, switch over to setanta and see the pile of crap he really is 
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:18
we need someone to attack thru middle from midfield…we are trying to break thru wings and villa is double teaming wingers out…we need to play little more direct football..
carrick need a better midfield pair to exert himself in the midfield
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:19
@ dan : i am happy that park is atleast getting his sniffs at goal…who in both teams have got that until now??..i give him that…
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:20
we need to bring on a winger, striker and a CM. nani, welbeck and andy is fine for me.
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:21
I don’t think Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo passed to each other once in that whole half-rubbish
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:22
@Shyam: i dont give a shit about missed chances, missed chances doesn’t win you the premier league ffs!
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:26
@Dan : I dint see any other chances there at all..just becoz he missed 2 chances doesnt make him the worst player on the field…If missed chances are not yours then wait up till we score…
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:26
Boy oh boy, Tevez has to have some kind of second half to survive my savaging review today. Just a terrible first half by Carlos. Total rubbish with or without the ball. Park has worked very hard but he could have had two goals and set up a goal had he had any skill or legs that weren’t so bloody short and stubby. Honestly the chance he had in the box where he never pulled the trigger and got tackled off the ball is proof positive that this player as hard as he works, is just not United caliber.
Both Rooney and Tevez are playing to far apart and too far out wide. Ronaldo has been working hard but has been clumsy and Giggs is just slow.
The team needs an infusion of energy. Bring in Anderson for Giggs and around minute 60 I would take off Tevez and bring on Welbeck. And pick up the pace. Holding on to the ball all half is nice but when you create very few chances and even worse, when you don’t pull the trigger on the ones you get, then changes need to be made. Look for John Carew to change the ways Villa plays in the second half. At this stage I will be elated with a 1-0 win. Villa will attack more in the second half and now will be the time to bring in Anderson and kick started the counter attack. Villa may feel happy being 0-0 at half time, but I think they know the longer they play this way, something bad will happen. I think Villa will fly bodies forward and and United can catch them on the break.
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:28
@dan(u-ol): Leave Nani out of this, he doesn’t need to be involved in this lot
. Tev and Rooney, feckin crap – o rama so far this half, and Tev is particularly feckin abysmal. We have the bite of gnats in the final third so far 
. The defence have played so well, ALL OF THEM. Park, Park, always on his arse 
, but midfield holding their own so far. We have had all the bloody possession, but once again toothless in the final third. Lets hope it improves for our strikers in the 2nd half. Villa mean feckin business though.
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:28
@Shyam: thats not what makes him the worst player on the field, its his ability that makes him the worst player on the field…
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:29
Roovez has been poor up to now.
Rooney looks a bit tired, not seen much if him, perhaps he hasnt got the legs after his lay off.
Tevez, well what can i say?
The reason I ‘ve been known to be the no.1 Tevez basher on this site is not because of his poor finishig but because of his dreadful decision making. The boy can’t pass, simple as that. As for finishing…
We really need something else up front. Campbell would have been great with his pace and eye for goal. I’ll settle for Welbeck.
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:30
I agree Groggy, Rooney and Tevez are playing far apart and we need someone in the middle who can bring the ball through middle…that might bring the attacking players towards the center…i agree we need Anderson into the mix for Giggs..giggs doesnt have the legs to match the young Villan midfielders..
I would still persist with rooney-tevez coz i see them are making Villan defenders uncomfortable and are able to stretch them too..we need one decent play to get that passing game going..
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:34
@Shyam: Have ta agree. Park we know is not the most talented, but he got into good positions and tried. Had he managed to take his shot we might have been singing another song. Still, I would have preferred Nani.
Also, I’m not seeing many runs and crosses from Young, maybe SAF should start to consider bringing on Rafael.
To all: Is Fletch injured?
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:44
this match is going nowhere…if anything, villa seem to be more dominant..we are just giving away balls on our attack… players running 20 yards and straight into villa players… SAF needs to change the tactic…get ando and welbeck on..
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:47
wheres the passsing gone???United players are not even making a pass and when they are they are not completing it..
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:48
Vidic is the best defender in the world
(but that was lucky)
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:50
damn, our players have been ass all day. bring on anderson.
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:51
what was lucky in that??that was gr8 defending….i say we should absorb some Villa attacks now and then try for counter attack…that works with the squad we have now..
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:51
giggs off for anderson, nani for park
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:52
@t_reason: bring on ando soon, we need some injection of life and determination into this piss poor midfield of ours, and take of park for heavens sake put on nani, the boy is heading for spain at this rate
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:52
Bloody brilliant Vidic. Whoever says that was a penalty deserves a fucking beating
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:52
rooney couldnt hit a barn door when he’s 2 metres away…
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:52
roooneyy….that was unforgiveable!!!!….
dan…waht do u say now?
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:53
what a miss, this 100th goal is really getting to him
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:53
it’s not our day afterall
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:53
Aww Fuck!
Come On Rooney!
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:54
when is rooney gonna learn placement over power?
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:54
@Shyam: exacly what ive been saying for the last hour now, you dont get it do you?
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:56
dan…no serious buddy…just kidding..
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:56
or leave on park and put on raphael
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:58
nevermind
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:58
guys…no subs now…it would be worse than for better….game is at a good pace right now..if i was manager i would wait for 5 more mts..
November 22nd, 2008 at 19:59
no seriously…this aint funny anymore…if we guys can see that for 66 mins, our players havent got anything out of this, why cant SAF see it and make a positive fucking change…i mean, how long
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:00
there you go…as u wish…but i still think its not the right time…pray i will be proved wrong
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:02
about fucking time SAF. shoulda made that move 10 or 15 ago.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:02
Nani coming on.. for Tevez? what the fuck?! That must mean ronaldo upfront with roo
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:02
oh god why is park still on the pitch, tevez off, i know hes been poor, but what formation we playing now?
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:06
It’s Nani’s fault we’re not winning. (just kidding Craig
)
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:10
this is pathetic.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:12
Come On Anderson!!! Show those Villa Dicks how its done!
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:16
Fergie have this game tactfully wrong!!!…i’ll be happy if we win this playing like shit today..
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:18
stupid substitutions! Why bring on Anderson? And why the fuck doesn’t Nani pass to Rooney?!
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:19
the only explanation to this display is that ‘the team never met after last week’s game’.. they were thrown straight on the pitch after that…no chemistry what so ever
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:21
Anderson should have been brought in earlier and welbeck should have been in for Ronaldo…
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:21
We look like Liverpool out there! Why are we afraid to attack!?
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:24
sell them all , change the whole team
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:26
No comments about the game….Plain toothless…and wrong subs and tactics…me heading for my game!!hope i put in some goals in today..
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:26
I realy dont understand fergie. We play Arsenal, and he decides to go for the jugular. We get cut open fair enough. but against Villa, a game that we must win, and he puts on a defensive looking squad. Any time Park plays you nkow its gonna be a tight game.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:26
fuck the linesman he is a bitch ass hater.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:27
we lacked an x-factor today…
i hope this ends the bera-tev debate for you non-believers.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:28
@johnsom33: When he gets some composure Johnsom, and with Rooney that is feckin NEVER.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:30
@rooneeyy : I wont say that…Players dint do anything wrong!!…Tactics for the game was wrong or should i say was outdone by Villa tactics…Tevez was poor and i should admit it, but i have to say his subsitution came at the wrong time..we were starting to exert any pressure and lost the momentum for some time after that substitution..
Tevez was poor but he was helping others find space…as i said then, that sub came at the wrong time…
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:30
That match illustrated why United will not win the title this year. Not the players, not the fact that Chelsea are stronger, but the total tactical ineptitude of Fergie. How Giggs and Park finished that match and how Rafael and Welbeck did not come on will remain a mystery to me. Starting O’Shea and Park instead of Nani and Rafael sent out a message – that he was being cautious. I have no idea what formation we ended the match in – something like 4-6-0. It was sad to see Tevez march off-it is probably certain he’s off in Jan.
This was a great chance for us to close the gap and send out a strong message – and Fergie bottled it. Fot MOTM, I would pick Vidic, who atleast got us a point, ’cause I thought Villa deserved to win today, purely for the fact that they shoed more intent and wanted it more in the second half
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:31
Wow, how much did the Sentanta crew want United to lose? That was some seriously crap commentry on there, plus they brought up the ‘penalty incident’ 23 times since it happened. It’s all they talked about. Respect my ass.
We were sh*t, but Villa were worse. Home team with big 4 aspirations my ass, they looked scared to move past the half way line. I’ve alwaysl ike the Martin O’Neil plays pretty decent football, but today it was appalling. Absolutely gorgeous pass from Carrick, all Rooney had to do was put it on target and we’d of won, IMO. To be fair he wasn’t far off, but still.
Btw, for all those moaning, Tevez was crap. I want him to start doing well and hope we keep him, but he was accompilshing nothing at all. Though, I would have taken Park, Tevez and Giggs off to replace with Ando, Wellbeck and Nani much much earlier.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:31
@ dan : I dont think berbatov would have helped with that kind of midfield..!!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:32
We were playing for the draw. You could see it from the substitutions…Tevez off, Ronaldo off….. Thank god we were solid defensively but Villa looked comfortable for all our posssession.
There is no way I want us paying 20 million for Tevez in January. He can go to Real and we can use the saved money to buy a winger and use Ronaldo as our third striker when Berba or Rooney is out similar to last season.
There is talk of bringing Campbell back on loan but I reckon he needs a full season at Tottenham because he needs games and with Berba and Rooney here he won’t get them.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:35
Don’t blame anybody on the pitch today but out feckin so called strikers. As I have said all along, when Ronnie is kicked to feckin death, and clobbered by brutal opposing defenders, we have nobody else who can open the scoring. I don’t know what Tev was complaining about shaking his head coming off, because he has been shite all season, and he was shite with a capital S today. Rooney should have gone off with him, because he was Tev partner in doing feck all. Rooney doesn’t look FIT, he was miles off the pace. Thank God for our defnders, they alone are world class.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:35
@Shyam:
Is it technically a midfield when u have one footballer, a 90 year old arthritic and a Labrador?
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:35
@ colver : i think he is already on his way to madrid..
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:49
I just can’t wait until I hear the reviews from the positive cream and sugar clan on this blog because today’s performance was just total rubbish. If anybody thinks this team has got the means to win the Prem after today please please please explain yourselves or forever shut the fuck up.. Aston Villa played a crappy unimaginative and uninspiring game. They were playing not to lose. Hell after 11 straight losses a draw at home against us is like winning the FA Cup for them. And we let them off the hook and were lucky not to lose due to what I feel was a penalty that should have been awarded to Aston Villa due to Vidic bring down Agbonalhour. How in Gods name did Rooney miss even getting that ball on net? I said it after he scored number 99 that 100 would cause him a lot of grief. I’ve seen that kind of thing so many times before.
Bottom line is the lineup was all wrong once again. No positive and intimidating menace to cause Villa any worries. Playing Park and Giggs was a mistake although Park to his credit worked his ass off and if he had some luck and even more so, skill, he could have scored a couple. United’s biggest reason for losing was the uninspired play by our boys up front and the constant nagging need for both Tevez and Rooney to play so far apart from each other and so far away from the middle of the pitch. We created a circle out there where all the balls and players were wide and nobody was playing or trying to funnel the ball into the middle. Anderson comes in and that changed a bit but by then Ronaldo is gone and Tevez is gone and at no time did Fergie have the common sense to throw in Welbeck in there. As if he would have been the reason for us losing the game. You don’t take Tevez off for Nani. You take Giggs or Park off for Nani and leave Ronaldo where he is. You bring in Anderson for Giggs and Welbeck in for the limping Ronaldo and give him 10 to 15 minutes to find a ball in the box to play with.
Fergie has proven to me tonight that I can tactically out manage him. Sure he may be a great man manager but even that is suspect right now because he didn’t seem to get the ear of lads tonight after the other big three blew their games tonight. Where was the hunger, the killer instinct, the class, the finesse and the composure in the box to make something happen? This team is just not good enough. And yet, Chelsea and Liverpool continue to tickle and tease us with their own ineptness at times to make us all believe that we have a chance. Today we looked static, slow, lacked the craft and finesse to make the difference.
Tevez was an absolute joke and both he and Rooney wanted nothing to do with each other as they played so far apart. How on Earth to you expect to break down a team when your forwards are too far apart and not willing to work quick 1,2 passes with each other and overlaps that can break the opponent down. We are terrified to let loose and attack. What are we afraid of and have we forgotten who we are? We are Manchester United and we are the defending Double champions. We are supposedly the best team in the world and yet, we fear our opponents and show them far too much respect. Last season they even scored first but we came back with hunger and vengence and put a thumping on them. At not time in this game did I really feel we were going to break through and score. When we did have chances they came from moments of surprise and not expectation. We were total shite and Fergie has yet again failed to put out a squad that could take the game by the collar and make up valuable ground on the top two. We lost a major opportunity today to take this league by the scruff. And I blame a manager who plays not to lose rather than plays to win. My God what kind of patience this man must have.
The season is a marathon and it’s far from over but you need to make up points when the front runners offer you an opportunity to do so. This game was tailor made for us after we knew the earlier results. I am extremely disappointed not by the lack of effort as we played well defensively, but by the lack of ambition, imagination and hunger to go for the jugular. We have no killer instinct this season. TOTAL RUBBISH!
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:51
@Shyam: Tht sounds like grabbing at straws to me.
Fact is that Tevez was just as poor today as he has been most of the time from the start of the season. The only reason some of you couldn’t see it was because of the Berba factor. Berba is the exact opposite of Tevez – subtance instead of wasteful energy.
About your argument of Tevez creating space for others, well it does not hold water as 1) the Villa defence was very tight today – it was the midfielders job to spread the game; 2) Tevez’s passing has always been poor so if he drifts away from the 18 yard box (as he’s been doing recently) and receives the ball, the chances are that the possession will end in a dead end.
30 million anybody???
Cambell, Welbeck, or even Manucho I’m sure would have brought something to the game.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:52
Thats the title over from my point of view, we havent looked up 4 it since the season started. Now i know im not an expert but from my point of view its clear to see the problems and what needs to be sorted.
1. The following players need to be released or sold.
O’Shea- how he gets in the squad i will never know
Giggs- sorry but he is now past it
Nev- Again past it
VDS- Needs to be fazed out this year
Park- I used to defend him when people said we shud sell him but he really is at best average, i mean cud u ever see him playing for chelsea?
These players need to be replaced and for me not by new signings but by players already at the club. Oshea needs to be replaced by fabio, giggs by any number of the centre mids we have, nev by rafael and brown, foster in for 1st choice gk, and a new left mid probably being the only player that needs to be brought in. For me aswell i love tevez but i just feel for his own sake he shud move on. Hes too good for the subs bench and shud go where he is played every week. Wellbeck and especially frazier campbell shud be his replacements.
2. Get rid of that stupid idiot phelan. Man he has to be the crappest assistant there is in the league. The first 3 letters of his title sum him up. He is an absolute ass.
3. Our tactics- they r imbarrassing. Why take off tevez for nani. I dont care if wellbeck is young and inexperienced, dont u take off a striker for a striker if u actually want to win the game. I put this all down to phelan not being up to the task, its well known that the tactics in years gone by were all down to carlos q and its obvious phelan is crap compared to carlos.
The way i see us now is like barca last year we need a small overhaul. As said above those 5 players need to leave and the youngsters need promoting as well as a new assistant who is actually up to the job. The only players i wud like bringing in are a second choice left and right winger to compete for places and they cud be these serbian pair we r linked with today. Out with the old and in with the new. But for me season over this year so lets start for next year with easing them oldies out.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:52
I cannot see Real Madrid wanting Tev on his performances this season. I know they want Ronnie and Nani though. My biggest feckin fear is the roasting the Shitty bedouins will want to inflict upon us next week. They will be playing like gladiators wanting to spear the feck out of us. And it looks like Ronnie may not be fit for that one perhaps
. Fergie makes me laugh telling Wenger that they will lose their plaice in the top four. Better look at your own team Fergie, people in glass houses etc.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:53
Couldn’t agree more Craig. Ferguson should give up on this idea of turning Rooney into a 30 goal a season striker.
Personally I think we should go with 4-3-3 letting Ronaldo play as a forward and buying an attacking midfielder/winger. Yeah you have to play Rooney slightly out of position but 4-4-2 with two forwards who cannot score to save their life isn’t my idea of a winning team.
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:55
@Matthew: the title over? we are in exactly the same position as we were before the weekend the only difference is that we have played a tough team away from home
November 22nd, 2008 at 20:58
Well, that was poor. Thanks Fergie, for bottling a perfect opportunity to close the gap on our rivals.
Seriously, what I witnessed today was atrocious and I blame Fergie and his band of dimwits he calls the coaching staff. Right form the starting formation to the subs and to the players, everything was shite and I’m not gonna blame the int break because we should have been preparing for this match despite that. We are chasing the leading pack and can’t afford to be letting glorious opportunities pass us by.
GRRR!!!
What a horrible performance by the whole team. Fergie is naive if he thinks that our grip on any of our titles isn’t slipping with every poor performance we put out. Even if we were gonna draw, play well and create chances or hit the target. This might sound over-the-top, but I think we have actually regressed this year as a team and I don’t think it’s solely on the players’ shoulders. Never did we see such a string of poor performances from United during the last two years, esp at this stage of the season. *Sigh* 
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:00
@Craig Mc: Too true mate, too true. Without Ronaldo we are truly screwed. We have no midfielder in the middle that can bring the players more into the middle of the park. We play too much on the outskirts and too far from each other to make a mark offensively. So you bring Nani in, so what? What’s he supposed to do when nobody is in the box for him to deliver a cross? Just a joke. I’m seriously questioning if we are even top 4 material right now. Fortunately Arsenal who beat us, are total shit this season. But trust me, that won’t remain.
I know hat I would do but I’m not in charge. Rooooney’s idea of selling the whole team may have merit.
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:00
@Vivek: Would have been funnier if we had won…
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:02
OllieY, yes i know that but if u look at our performances this whole season they have been crap. The only game i can remember this year where we have dominated the game and fully deserved it apart from last week was against blackburn at their place. Mate, lets face it were not up 2 it this year and if not now then definitely next week it will be over.
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:02
Grognard : You summed up my review very well…
..I will see a lot of bashing comments today about Tevez and Park and Rooney…but for me from picking that starting eleven Fergie never sent the message that he was trying to win…
His subs made that message little more clear…in the end players tried for the win but never had the right men
@Nico QB: I still dont think Tevez is good for nothing player…He was not sharp today and he tried to do what he always does…make space for everyone and try to get into the game everytime…I still wont cry that he is in our squad…i will cry that our attacking tactics is mere ordinary now a days.!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:06
Oh and what about Ronnie’s bitching as he left for the changing room?
“No.1! You hear!? No.1!!!”
Pathetic.
We all know he’s a cnut, and yet he seems to do everything to show it to the whole world. Wouldn’t srprise me if some journos voted for Messi just to shut his big mouth off…
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:08
Oh come on, it wasn’t that bad. I’m not sugaring it up, but Aston Villa away is a tougher proposition than it has been in the past, with some of our players not even in the country til about 24 hours before the match.
And mroe importantly, Villa didn’t want to win. They were playing like a terrified away team. I would be embarassed if I were them, unless they do want to just settle for outside the top 4. I’ve said a million times on here, it’s not not easy for any team, no matter how good, to break down a team with 10 defending. It’s just not. Simple as. Last season when we palyed them they left us loads of space and didn’t close us down, so we were able to cut them apart. They learned and we didn’t manage it.
As for the substitutions, awful, but that’s what I’m coming to expect from Fergie. I have no idea what the hell is going through his head.
Oh and Ronaldo, f*ck off. If you don’t want to pay, sacrifice your £120k to charity and take the night off. Premadonna. Had no desire whatsoever. Dove, feigned injury – useless. Fergie doesn’t have balls anymore. He would never of let him carry on like that 10 years ago. Our team lacks drive.
Fair play to the defense and Carrick, who I thought was excellent. And no one should have reason to knock VDS on tonight’s performance, he was top class.
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:14
@Beachryan: I think you are being a little hard on Ronaldo mate. I think he worked hard to night but he was always being laid on his ass. It’s frustrating because he was getting zero support from Rooney or Tevez. What was even more frustrating is referee Foy’s continuously poor setup of the wall on free kicks. I swear every one of them the wall was only 7 yards away. Completely unfair. And as for his gestures to Villa fans, whose side are you on anyway? He’s our boy and he is #1, so what’s your beef with him?
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:16
@Shyam: Tevez will rarely play well if the opposition put eleven players behind the ball and defend with their guts.
By the way, our tactics have indeed been very often suspect, but we can barely accomodate Tevez against such oppositon.
I agree with most of the comments about the wrong substitutions exxcept that Welbeck should have been brought on. Heck, in 20 min he came on as a substitute, he created a penalty and scored on. Which is more than the apache did all season.
Its sad, but I would be willing to forgive him if at least he could create for others or get into dangerous positions (Rooney does both btw). But he does neither.
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:19
I have said for time now that i feel messi is 10 times the player ronaldo is. Ronaldo is great against the stokes and west hams and the average teams of this world but how come he cant score when the going gets tough and against the truly great team. Now yes i know hes a great player and yes last year he bailed us out many times but messi wud have absolutely killed villa today. I mean he overshadowed ronaldo in both games last year and was only half fit. Sometimes i look at him and just wish he wud piss off, he doesnt wanna play for us so he can just piss off.
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:22
we lacked a killer instinct and it showed. What the fuck was Rooney doing! Place it! Every goal isnt blasted in like a rocket from a Javelin!
Again, tactically poor. Somethings going on, and it doesnt bode well, especially with the champs league and Shitty next week. I can only try to keep my head up.
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:25
a lot of Ronaldo hate here…he was getting a lot of boos and he replied in fashion…call it arrogance but he played ok but he had no help from midfield aka Giggs and none from Tevez and Rooney as well…i think our tactical culpability have been showcased in the last few games…CQ please come back
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:28
I’ll try my hand at the match ratings…
EVDS – 8 – One of his most assured performances recently. Dealt well with the crosses.
O’Shea – 7 – Just the usual from jos.
Rio – 7.5 – Still not the Rio from last season.
Vidic – 8.5 – Right now definelty better than Rio. About the penalty incidnet, I think from the replays, that if fault there was, it should have been outside the box for holding the player. But what a tackle! MOTM.
Evra – 7 – Still not the Evra of last season. Fruitless runs.
Park – 7 – Good movement and energy and got in a few good positions, but oh, no end product. Now why doesn’t that surprise me.
Giggs – 6 – In and out of the game. Mostly out.
Carrick – 8 – Best midfielder today. He tried to set up exchanges, but hi team mates let him down by not making anything out of his ideas.
Ronaldo – 7.5 – A thorn in the side of Reo Coker. Perhaps he shoud have drifted more to the centre to get better shooting positions…
Tevez – 5 – Read my other comments about him..
Rooney – 6 – Lacked fitness. Probably we’ll have to wait 10 more games befroe he breaks his duck…
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:29
@Matthew: How is the title over now when it wasn’t over this time last week where we were in the same exact position and have another tough away fixture to cross out of our list?
@dan(u-ol): Nah, he runs his heart out unlike Berbatov, surely that must be good enough for United.
@Grognard: Put me down as one of the sugar and cream clan then cus i still think we CAN win the league.
@colver: How was taking Ronaldo off playing for a draw??? He signalled to the bench that his knee wasn’t feeling good then Fergie took him off. However the Tevez for Nani subbing(2nd time he’s done it this season) baffles me too.
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:29
Ronaldo wasn’t at fault today. He used the ball intelligently and tried to bring the ball from midfield to attack but got cut down by Villa defenders before he got anywhere. Really he was having to do another man’s job. Giggs did nothing, Carrick did good defensively but he plays too deep.
Our midfield is adequate defensively…wins the ball and keeps possession….but offers nothing going forward. That is why Berbatov and today Ronaldo are having to double as attacking midfielders…when they play much better in their natural positions.
Any penetration we get on the wings is useless as we have no-one in the box to get on the end of any crosses and no-one who can cross (except Nani on a good day).
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:33
Rd, yes but 2day was a great oppurtunity to make up ground on the leaders, how can we do that when we pass up the opportunity. We have played shit away from home all this season so why r we just gonna pick up against man shitty and spurs. Similar performances i am betting so more dropped points, so yes it looks like the title is gone.
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:38
What Grognard is saying about rooney is right, this hundreth goal is so much pressure on his back which will be lifted as soon as he gets it but god knows how long that will take! Get a pen and let Rooney take it get a free-kick on the edge of the box let Rooney take it. The team should do what ever it can to get rooney to score. The title far from over, forget Le Arse they are out, forget Pool they will eventually fall off the pace. Its between us and Chelski, Cristmas is our best period in the season and all we need is to just get the form up a bit and get back to our good, attacking ways of last season’s Prem and Champions League winners.
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:41
@Rd: Here here
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:42
@Gabriel: Gabriel, horrible performance by the whole team ????? – are you serious bro
. Our defenders were majestic today, they played like Titans, they WANTED this game, it was the absence of any kind of strike force that ler us down.
Somebody here mentioned in their post that Tev and Park put in frenzid workrate performances, but isn’t that what all the teams well below us in the league do?. When did United decide that hard endeavour was a substitute for class and style, for panche and outstanding world class ability to make the ball do the work for us. We need pace yes, but we need COMPOSURE on the ball, and an END PRODUCT. All this “Oh well they worked so hard for the team”, sympathy vote doesn’t do it for me. We seem to have lost the ability to take charge and slow down and boss a game with accurate, penetrative passing, and defence splitting passes. We should be able to take the pace out of the opposition when they start to frenzedly come at us, and that quietents their crowd, and takes the sting out of their play. Does any of this make sense to anybody else?.
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:42
@Grognard: You aint talking about me, are ya?
It was a terrible performance, I wonder WTF Fergie was thinking of. I am pissed off, but its dissapeared a little because of my Xbox live win(6-0) vs Inter. Opposition player wants to remain anonym. 
I am worried about Tevez. He is terrible.I think Rooney had an okey game, not great but okey. Tevez….I just want to hit you in the head with the biggest hammer in the world. Or shoot an RPG into that so called brain of yours! 
He is not the player he once was, he needs to sort it out. On current form, there is no doubt I would welcome Benzema. Tevez needs to sort it out or find his money for the plain ticket to Spain or wherever. 
I love the fella, but this is not the fella I love. This is like watching Djembax2 in diguise!
Remember,it could have been worse. But let ourselves get fooles over my “positive” view, I am truly worried about this team. And you know that if I am worried about something, it is bad!
Still, I will look at today as a positive day. Its not like Chelski or Liverpool won. And Arsenal got their 5th loss of the season!
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:50
@RedDevil: Tevez: Djemba x2 on polyjuice potion
November 22nd, 2008 at 21:58
@RMJ: I agree with you fully RMJ, he is in fact the best player in the world, and the treatment he gets from the opposition haters, is downright filth. What Ronaldo did is how I would react when taunted. I certainly wouldn’t do what Drogba did, throw back coins, or hit other players, or try to do hurt to other players like Rooney does when the red mist rises – which lets face it is fairly often. For Ronnie to go off as he did, to a baying crowd telling him he was shit all round the stands, a one finger salute reminding them he is No 1 in the world, shows an arrogance of a player who knows he is bloody good. And all you nay-sayers, lets see how our team does if Ronnie does make the next few games, because of the butchering he was subjected to today
.
November 22nd, 2008 at 22:02
@Matthew: We’ve played shit away from home, but could you go review those shit away games and the teams we’ve played against, then compare them to our previous records before, out of all the “shit” away games we’ve had, the only team we’ve had a good record against was Villa and we were bound to drop points there sometime. Blackburn, Portsmouth, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton, Villa. Those are the away games so far and out of all those teams, the only one we have a “good” record against is Villa, so I can’t understand what all the fuss about our away form SO FAR this season is all about.
November 22nd, 2008 at 22:03
@Craig Mc: Ok perhaps I was a bit harsh on the moment. I can accept that he gets upset or frustrated by the boos. Its even normal.
But his reaction to the opposition crowd taunting was more akin to that of a child arguing… Reminds me of that other brat Antonio Cassano…
November 22nd, 2008 at 22:06
Mmm…. I was disappointed that we couldnt capitalize on the results of chelsea and liverpool. We lack the killer instinct of the past two seasons and the subs are appaling. We dont look like champions.we are too scared of loosing and thus become cautious and for fucking sake rooney, your 100th goal doesnt have to be spectacular. Instead of spending 30 mil£ on tevez, we should use some of it to acquire a new tactician and get rid of phelan. Tommorow i heard fergie will be taking questions from the fans. I hope someone will have the balls and tell him to wake up and smell the coffee coz it seems that he doesnt see problems with the team.
November 22nd, 2008 at 22:08
This was a lost opportunity, but we didn’t play that bad. The tactics were wrong. The attack was inept, with both Rooney and Tevez having really bad games. I do think though Villa played too defensively. Wasn’t a good game and I just hope SAF will find a way to turn it around.
November 22nd, 2008 at 22:08
@Beachryan: Beachy you must have been watching a different game to me if you thought Ronnie had no desire
. He was our only forward who wanted to score, but villa players sourrounded him like bees round a honey pot whenever he was on a run, or had the ball. Invariably they flattened him. I would like to see you running at full speed Beachy, and being continually chopped down, and then get up again over and over again – Ronnie is fearless mate.
November 22nd, 2008 at 22:12
@Nelson: Nelson Bro, if anyone did bring that kind of questioning to Fergie, the question wouldn’t be aired mate. The mutv punters commenting on games, are shit scared of saying anything out of place. Nobody is allowed to criticise Fergie or anything else. You are okay if your stroke his ego though
.
November 22nd, 2008 at 22:34
@NicoQB:
I think Crab or Goyle would do better up front than Tevez. At least they would stay up front! 
November 22nd, 2008 at 22:42
I really think Tevez should be shipped. His play last season was amazing, Ive never seen anything like it. But this season…I dunno. He really must be Djemba-Djemba in disguise! I dont think we need to spend another £30 million for a bench striker, and right now Tevez is not £15 million. Alan Smith would do a better job!
I think Fergie should use Welbeck or Fraizer(when he returns) instead of Carlito if he cant find himself. I love Carlito, it all looked so promising with his bright start and the goal at Anfield. But now Berba and Rooney are 4 times as good as him. The shake of the head when he was taken off says pretty much. He doesnt believe in himself anymore, and that is a big problem for a striker. You may remember how Saha played for us when he was full of confidence. And how he played when he didnt. 
At the start of Smiths career, he was one of our best strikers(Ruud, Rooney, Smith, Saha and Bellion( 
)). He either needs to change his game, or find some way to get his confidence back. If he doesnt, he is not worth a place in the United team. 
November 22nd, 2008 at 22:45
Wishful thinkimg on my part craig. I would like to see fergie’s face when groggy presents the WOG awards to him
November 22nd, 2008 at 22:45
Some old, funny scouse jokes to lift the mood:
Scouser walks into the D.S.S. and says :-
“I’ve just been offered a Blow Job, If I take it will it affect my benefit claim?”
What’s the difference between a scouser funeral and a scouser wedding?
One less drunk!
What do you say to a scouser in a uniform?
“Big Mac and fries please!”
What do you call a scouser with a job?
A liar!
Why do little scouse girls put fish in their knickers?
So that they can smell like big scouse girls
One night in a local Liverpool pub, a huge scouser was sitting at the bar slowly getting pissed. He was 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighed at least 400 pounds.
A little later a short, skinny, obviously gay man walks in and sits next to the huge guy. After having a few drinks the gay man sidled over to the huge scouser and whispered in his ear, “Do you want a blow job?”
At this, the giant Merseysider jumped off his chair, punched the guy in the face breaking his nose, grabbed him by the feet and threw him out into the car park where he finished him off with bone crunching kicks to the head. He then left the faggot laying on the floor and went back into the bar.
Amazed, the bartender brought the huge scouser a beer and said, “I have never seen you like that before. You are normally such a gentle man. Just what did he say to you anyway?”
“I’m not sure,” replied the scouser, “It was something about a job!”
November 22nd, 2008 at 23:41
i’m amazed at how little Rooney bashing there is going on.
he was shit all game and missed a cake of an opportunity. not what you’d expect from the white pele.
November 22nd, 2008 at 23:50
some people will go to great lengths to bash Rooney, Park and O’Shea but once anyone criticises Ronaldo it’s unfair because he’s one of us
He was as bad as anyone out there but because he’s not on the fans list of scapegoats he is immune to criticism. I say fuck that! When Rio was acting like an asshole about his contract he was criticised, so why is the pretty boy who wants an increase on the highest wages on the team and has asked to leave the team so immune? This team can live without Ronaldo. He just sucks up the ball like RVN mark 2. He was right when he said that he’ll be loved after he scores goals 
November 23rd, 2008 at 0:00
@Liam: Errrr I’d say because he feckin won us the PL and CL singlehandedly last season would be a good place to start. Also if he is the best player in the world, or close to it, then he deserves to be paid what the worlds best get payed, and he isn’t even what some of the lesser lights at United have been on. I would double his pay to keep him at United, because lets face it, we have little strike force without him.
November 23rd, 2008 at 0:13
i see a lot of people bashing the team especially Tevez but save some wayward shots and passes he didn’t do a lot wrong…our team was piss poorly balanced and it prompted Anderson arrival in the last 10 minutes for us to put up consistent pressure which was lacking all through out the game..why didn’t Fergie take out Giggs? Why wait so long? Why remove Tevez when there are others who are playing much worse..our tactical or lack of tactical prowess is becoming highlighted more and more this season and leaving some people with a lot of frustration
November 23rd, 2008 at 0:32
@RMJ: RMJ, to be honest mate, I don’t think anyone could play worse than Tev did today. You say he didn’t do much wrong, but the problem is, he didn’t do much at all that was of any use to the team.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:05
Ill keep it simple. United need to sort these things out to win the Prem.
1. Get the hunger that the team has had for so many seasons back. If we lack anything, it not class, skills or tecnique. Its the hunger! No-one seems to care anymore, and Fergie needs to do something.
2. Get a balanced formation and team. We played with Roovez up front today. Still, on counter attacks our furthest player was either Park or even Evra sometimes. And when Berba plays, he isnt usually the one to stay in the opposition box. Our midfield is all over tha place and the RB spot is being played by 3 players during 1 week. Crazy!
3. Find a tactic. At the moment we are putting crappy crosses into midgets(Giggs, Rooney and Tevez). We play with a winger that cant cross(Park), one winger that never crosses(Ronny) and the player that puts in the most crosses is our LB(Evra). And usually they are either too high, too hard or not enough players in the box. United dont know when to speed the tempo up and when to slow it down.
4. Our defensive play is brilliant again, thankfully. Rio, Evra, Vidic and VDS have rediscovered their last-season communication and work. Kudos! But our attacking play is terrible. Last week we were lucky to score 5 vs Stoke. We scored 2 free-kicks, one long range scorcher and 2 soft goals that only relegation threatened teams would concede. I think we played well in the game and created lots of chances, but when we face teams like Villa, Everton0, Arsenal and City we will get trouble. We have 9 points of a possible 21 on away games so far, and that may cost us the title. I want CQ back as soon as possible. He is the Steve McClaren of Portugal. Brilliant at teams- Terrible with nations. I WANT OUR TACTICAL GENIUS BACK!
5. Give Ronaldo a hooker, more money, a fancy car, new televison, a sandwich… I dont care. Just find out what is wrong with him. He went from torturing teh opposition with skills(Stoke) to torturing the opposition with strangling(Brasil) and telling the crowd the shut the fuck up(Villa). He is not his usual self. Last season he got some important away goals for us(Roma, Sporting, Brum, Dynamo Kiev…) but this season his away form sucks! No goals from 8 games is it? Still is shite. It looks like the crowd is really influencing his play now, something that is worrying. If he keeps playing like this away from home, then United should start with the old 4-5-1 away from home again! Ronny on the bench, Anderson, Carrick and Scholes in the middle, Nani and Rooney on the wings and Berba up front.
Fergie is clever, he will sort it out. Its just a matter of when… Time is running out, and I am getting more worried about this as the seconds tick away…. tick, tack, tick, tack, tick, tack, tick, tack….
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:53
Rooney I imagine wasn’t matchfit and was being rushed back from his illness. As for his composure….well Ive given up on him. He is more likely to score from 20 yards than 2 yards. Which is precisely why he should be playing in the hole rather than upfront. He is never going to be a world class striker so long as his finishing is so woeful.
Anderson coming on showed us what we were missing….a link between midfield and attack. Carrick holds things together in the middle and is good defensively but just sits on the halfway line. Giggs was woeful…for me the worst player on the pitch: at least Park showed attacking ambition.
Anderson unfortunately cannot score to save his life and we often need him to help out with defensive duties as he is a great ball winner.
So this January I really think an attacking midfielder who is worth a dozen goals would be great. Arshavin springs to mind although he is overpriced.
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:04
@Craig Mc: oh yeah I must have forgot that he was the only person on the team and had absolutely no help at all. I suppose when you think about all that work he has to do for his salary. He makes more in a week than I’ll make in the next 7 or 8 years of my life and that’s if I’m lucky! If I threw little tantrums like that at work I would probably be arrested never mind fired and I have annoying pensioners annoying me for my whole day. He is getting paid that much he should be producing greatness week in week out considering he’s ‘the 1st 2nd and 3rd best player in the world’
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:09
@Liam: Without Ronnie and his goals last year we would have won fuck all. Everybody who is not biased knows and admits this. Look how Rooney, Tev and most United players were crying when they were playing shite pre and into this season, “we need Ronnie back.” All footballers are paid too much, so we live with it.
You need to lay off those pensioners Liam, poor sods, your frustrations are not down to them
.
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:41
@Matthew: Please tell me when Messi has ever scored in the clutch? Please? Has Barcelona ever won anything solely on the ability of Messi? I don’t think so. He doesn’t score half the goals Ronaldo scores and rarely ever takes a free kick because frankly, he sucks at it. The bottom line is that Ronaldo’s personalty gets on your nerves and because of that you look for reasons to dislike him or unfavorably compare him to others. Fact is he is a diver and a whiner but he is the best player in the world. But no player can win a game by himself unless his name is Maradona.
I wish many of you Ronaldo bashers would get off his case. It was one thing to let him have it when he was choosing Madrid over us but now he is a Manchester United player and our best player by far. He is the premier talent on the planet like him or hate him. I think it’s time we all supported him or we should shut the hell up when he decides staying at OT is not worth it if half the club’s supporter don’t support him. He made a mistake this off season and he is still paying for it because some people live for carrying a grudge. Life is too short to be so petty. Get over it already or support a team that doesn’t have Ronaldo. He is a Manchester United player and I for one am very thankful and feel fortunate for that luxury.
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:42
@RMJ: Well said mate.
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:45
@NicoQB: Why do you rate Tevez a five? He would have to have been on the pitch to rate that. Oh wait, he was on the pitch. I just found out that that really was Tevez out there and not a terrible impersonator. I wouldn’t give him 2/10. He was shite and totally worthless. Get rid of him and defintely definitely don’t pay a plug nickel for his future services. If Madrid really do want him, let them have him. It would be more sweet revenge against them.
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:49
@Rd: Good for you mate. You be optimistic if that gets you through the day. You have that right but please forgive me if I laugh a bit at that faith. Hell, you may eventually come back and have the last laugh at me and that would be your right. But I severely doubt it. Not this team. This team is broken and Chelsea and Liverpool would have to do some serious choking to let us in the door. Today they opened the door wide for us and we slammed in our own faces. No heart, no imagination, no desire and killer instinct. They didn’t give a damn because they are drunk by their own success and Fergie’s cowardice to let them loose instead of playing pussy football. We are more afraid losing then we are ambitious over winning Not the proper formula to fuel this race car first over the finish line I’m afraid.
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:54
@RedDevil: Benzema, Hell another overrated waste of time and space. I’ll gladly take Campbell, Welbeck or Manucho over Tevez right now. Spend the money for a replacement for Giggs and get a CMF who knows how to move forwards and has a target mind for the goal. Benzema we don’t need. If we must buy a forward buy one that will score goals for us but also accept the role of 3rd striker. Ibisivic, Vucinic, Pogrebnyak, etc.
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:01
@MUFC Fan in America: What really bothers me is not why there isn’t as much Rooney bashing but why some have the unmitigated nerve to bash Ronaldo for playing a decent game and for sticking up for himself as he was being battered silly in the game by Villa players and then Villa supporters. I have seen mothers in the animal world turn on their own but United fans turning on our savior and best player is just bollocks. Yet their are those that think Tevez is worth more than either Rooney or Berbatov. God give him strength.
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:04
@Liam: No he wasn’t mate. He played hard and at full speed while everybody else other than Evra and Park were totally static. He was fouled at every turn and he never got any breaks from the ref. So bad was the ref that he three free kicks where he had to go over a wall that was no farther than 7 bloody yards away. That was complete bullshit and I am more incensed by that than anything else. Why the Hell a referee cannot measure out the proper yards that wall has to be from a kicker is beyond me. Ronaldo gave a great effort today but he could sue his teammates for non support. And actually, that has been a problem ever since his return.
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:07
@RMJ: Mate go back to your recorder a watch that game because you must be having a laugh with us. Are you kidding me. he did everything wrong. He was total disgrace and a joke out there. I seriously hate to get personal here but I think you are showing a certain pro Tevez bias here. Either that or your tv has a poor resolution.
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:52
@Grognard: Regarding your call for people to stop bashing Ronaldo, I think there’s no point doing it. If they feel he’s not upto the mark they have as much right to bash him as you have to bash Tevez. You think he is outstanding, some of the people don’t agree. So there’s no point telling people how to think about Ronaldo. Because it makes you look like the same people you railed against for telling others what to think.
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:36
another poor game by united,and here are my observations.
tean selection has conyinued to be so poor.i have a feeling fergie did not favour the purchase of nani and anderson.or manucho for that matter.he has to reward the likes of park and oshea.
the nidfield has been so poor this term fletcher has been our best player.he did not jump from mediocre to world beater though.the teams perfomance dropped to his level.
the strikers,there is a disclaimer.they are not fed by the midfield.okay,but they have been too poor.i wont blame tevez,he hasnt played much.but rooney?a top 4 striker who plays 90 minutes every game has only 3 goals to his name?do you realise he has been in this league 7 years?
when ronaldo wins us games,he makes the whole team look good.when he does not?we have blamed people on the bench,tevez,but what do t5he people on the field bring?workrate?a striker needs goals,workrate is an extra.
last few years people blamed fergie for playing rooney out of position,atleast there he showed up in matches with runs.it is now embarrasing to look at his fat figure that cant even beat a man,cant finish,only tries to hurt players whenever he loses the ball.
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:46
@Grognard: ya i might have some Tevez bias but i feel its unfair to blame him for today’s game…it seems whenever he plays Fergie sets him up in half arsed formation (featuring primarily Giggs in the middle)..one of the biggest complaints from last season was the fact that Rooney and Tevez played from very deep and this season they seem to be stuck there..our injuries to midfield haven’t helped but regular tactical errors haven’t either..personally I think the guy deserves a break, u rarely find a team(aside from Chelsea maybe) that features three strikers of their caliber willing to stay as he has said before and compete for a place ..of course there is also the usual English media bias as well
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:01
@Red Ranter: I’m not being insulting to anyone RR and you are overreacting and acting like Deputy Dog. I just voiced my opinion which does not agree with theirs. They can bash all they want but I for one don’t have to sit here and take it without offering my 2 cents worth. And they can do the same when it comes to me bashing Tevez. Bottom line is that disagreeing with people is part of this business for lack of a better word. Telling people you don’t agree with them is fine, provided you are not insulting. I don’t think I was. What I was is a little disappointed in some who seem to never find anything good about the world’s best player. They can think what they want but then so can I and I think they are wrong. Stop policing things that don’t need policing. No harm was done to anyone here RR. You are overreacting over a debate. For crying out loud, if we can’t voice our disagreements on this blog, what the Hell good is it? Sometimes I think Craig is right about you cramming too much PC down our throats. I’m getting along splendidly with everyone on this blog and I have even repaired poor relationships with people from the past. Give me a break man. Disagreeing with me has never been a problem. Being rude and getting personal is. I did none of that other than question what I thought was a bias and also admitting that I too have had my biased opinions. Sorry but I don’t agree with you here. Gee you are silent for so long and you come out of the closet to flag me down for nothing? I honestly don’t get it, nor do I want to.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:07
@RMJ: I appreciate you admitting to some bias mate because we all have it. I certainly have it when it comes to Berbatov and Ronaldo. As for Tevez, I don’t think his poor play is entirely his own fault. I think he is another case of Fergie misusing players and then by doing this, playing with their heads and ruining their form and confidence. For all his greatness and success, Fergie does occasionally fuck things up for some players pretty badly. Tevez is a far better player than he has shown this season. But I do think that he may never find his true form and confidence while on this club. He needs to go to a club that will let him be himself on the pitch and not play a role a suck one up for the good of the team. Too often Fergie has asked stars like Tevez, Rooney, Beckham, Giggs, Veron and others to play out of position and to do what is necessary for the team to succeed. And they have at personal risk to their form and their careers. It’s not fair because it’s not really vital that he ask them to do these things. Why doesn’t he let them do what comes natural to them? Sometimes he just tinkers and meddles too much with players and I think it is harmful. And I think he has really harmed Tevez greatly.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:35
@Grognard: Yes, you said that their slating of Ronaldo was wrong. But you also called them insane for thinking that way (not today, but in the past) — which doesn’t come across as mildly disagreeing.
All I was doing was pointing that out before you turned this into a worldwide conspiracy against Grognard.
And just because I had intentionally forced myself to concentrate my energies on more pressing matters in life, don’t attempt to put me down for me “coming out of the closet” to knock you down like I was on the prowl looking for your misstep. As sad/dramatic as that may sound, I had time for nothing of that sort.
I have been reading the comments section all the time I’ve been away, but that doesn’t mean I approved of everything that went on in the comments section. You were well behaved, but there have been times where I looked the other way and not just for you, for the others too. So I did give you a break, and because I thought you deserved it. My only mistake was I didn’t spell it out explicitly and let you know that you did infact have a “break”. You can turn this into a conspiracy, or accuse me of being PC, but do realise that this blog will have been a lot less PC if some people didn’t over react too easily in the first place. From where I sit, I need to anticipate what might seem out of place. So forgive me for deciding what needs policing and what doesn’t need policing on my blog. If it hurts my blog, then it’s my loss. And I’d rather learn from experience of my mistake, if any, than be told by someone else on what I have to police.
It’s even funny that we’re having this conversation because, as a matter of fact, I share your opinion of Ronaldo, the player — regardless of what I may think of his attitude.
November 23rd, 2008 at 13:43
Match report’s up.
November 23rd, 2008 at 19:58
@Red Ranter: You are ridiculously overreacting my friend. I was turning nothing into a conspiracy. I think you have been hearing too much JFK stuff down where you live. I was simply sticking up for Ronaldo as one of the few voices that felt like supporting him against an unfair an unjustified firestorm of hate and stupidity. And I’m sorry that I see it that way but that is exactly what it is. I have been extremely well behaved and I don’t recall getting into an argument with anyone over these comments yesterday. Had I offended anyone, then I think I would understand what you were saying more. But even you said I never called them insane yesterday, so what then was the point of your wrapping of my knuckles?
Like I said before, I have no problem with anyone disagreeing with what I say or just disagreeing with what I believe. But I will stick up for my position and debate it. My God the two Presidential candidates did a Hell of a lot more attacking of each other than I have here. I just questioned people’s judgment and bias towards the world’s best player and why I feel this attitude will eventually cause Ronaldo to move from OT. He’s only human and he needs our support. He doesn’t need the crap fans at games have been feeding him and even though he doesn’t read this blog, being unfair to him when he is busting his ass and in most cases giving more of himself than others on the team is blatantly wrong and unfair. And yes those people have a right to feel the way they want, but they are going to be taken to task for those feelings just like I am often taken to task for my views on Tevez, Neville, Scholes and Anderson. We all need to use a little more logic and less emotion when we communicate but the sport has the impact of causing us to use the illogical emotional aspects of our personalities more.
Forgive me for this long rant but I really feel you are barking up the wrong tree this time and I for one will defend my position on what I said because I truly feel I have done nothing wrong or out of order. I’m truly sorry you feel I do because I feel I have been very respectful of everyone who disagrees with me.