Jul 31
Audi Cup: The Escapist’s Roundup
Hello there, I’m in the middle of moving house, hence there will be some minimal blogging today. I will probably be more detailed when I am well settled in my new abode — internet connectivity permitting. In the meantime, hopefully, Stephen Darwin might fill in, or even — who knows — I might swoop in when I find an idle computer with internet connection like a starved dog on a juicy bone and pen some, mostly inconsequential, words.
I had the chance to watch the Boca Juniors game but only the first half of the Bayern one. In the spirit of the underlying theme of this post I’ll go with something vacuous: I found some parts of the game encouraging and some discouraging. (I know, I told you today wasn’t the day)
Moving on, I will point you out to some of the coverage of the Audi Cup elsewhere:
1. United Rant looks at Antonio Valencia’s debut and gives their first impressions.
2. Scott at RoM was in Munich, and has done a terrific job covering the Audi Cup. You can read his coverage (including his visit to Busby Babes Memorial)
3. Tim Rich on the Guardian wonders where United’s goals will come from.
4. A Kick in the Grass looks at the way the side is shaping up after the Boca Juniors win.
5. Unsurprisingly, another journo wonders where United’s goals are going to come from — this time Mark Ogden of the Telegraph
That’s about it from me for now. I am a terrible packer and mover — this is my nightmare. So wish me luck.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Giggs and Brown to Remain Reds | Ex-Reds Clash | Wenger Threat | Takeovers And Other Such Nonsense
- Possebon Loan ‘Cancelled’; Returns to United?
- The Red Hot Roundup: Scholes, Eggy, FIFA, Evra
- Slow Monday Roundup
- Short Thursday Roundup
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (89)
Craig Mc (26)
Ian (18)
@NicoQB: No argument here!!
Berbatov and Rooney would benefit greatly from a stronger CMF, they both have the touch and skill to score a bundle between them. It would also put them in a much more natural and comfortable playing position.
Until then, I say do whatever we can to win games and if that means taking an odd role for the sake of the team, so be it!
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One thing I will say about Berbatov is that he has handled the adversity of his situation well!
He did have the rep of sulking and moaning when he was at Spurs, but he’s handled things very maturely and professionally here!
There, I can say good things about the lad!!
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@Redrich: Then again he knew he had something of a reputation, so jhe wouldn’t want to start sulking in his first season!
Anyway, I was looking for highlights of the milk cup finals, but the link on the bbc restricts access to britons…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/milkcup/
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@NicoQB: Ah I wan’t done typing my cooment there.
So…
But check out the top goals video, and wait for the last one – needless to say we scored the most beautiful one! The kids have done Fergie proud!
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@Grognard: And with all of this we are still odds on with the bookies for the Premier League next season. I’ve never seen a poor bookie…..
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@Traverse: How much did you put down???
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Liverpool lost 3-0 to Espanyol today…
Cocks out?
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@Redrich: £50 myself!
Told you I was optimistic…
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@Footy4Eddy: 50 quid is hardly a vote of confidence, mate!
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@Redrich: Im not made of money mate!
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Footy4Eddy: Fuck mate, you should sell everything you own, max out the CC, even pimp your own sister (OMG cant believe I said that!!) and stake the whole damn thing on United to win the quadruple.
It’s a sure thing, believe me.
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@Redrich:
Dont have a sister, but funny nontheless!
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@Footy4Eddy: Then pimp out your friends sister!!
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@Footy4Eddy: Do you have a mother??
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@Redrich: Dont you dare talk about my mother!
Then Id have to go to you and kill you Stevie Gerrard(aka Joey Barton 2k) style! 
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@Redrich: Believe me, Ive already done that.
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@Footy4Eddy: I’d deserve it as well! Hope you know I’m just playing, mate?
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@Redrich:
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As per Telegraph (is it more reliable than rags like mirror/sun?) Wesley Snijder cud be off to Inter for 15m!!!! WTF!!!???
Why cant we have him for 15m?????? Direct like-for-like scholsey replacement isint it?
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@jos: even tho i have stated that if we didnt buy anyone else that we would be ok as i think we are strong enough.
however i have been wondering why we having scooped for one of the dutch duo of van da varrt or sneijder??
if we bought sneijder for 15mil and silva ffor 20-25mil, that would be great business and we,d walk pretty much anyone!
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sky sports say we have handed a trial to Swedish 15-year-old star Linus Sjoberg who is currently on the books of Vasteras.? Who is this young lad? is he any good?
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I do not think Real will sell to us. After all we are potential rivals in the Champions League.
Our midfield does need to be sorted out but where I think we will improve is we will get more service from the flanks with Nani and Valencia. After all we did pretty well with Keane and Ince in the middle neither of whom can be considered creative. But then our current strikers are not really suited to getting on the end of crosses…as we do not have a single striker who can head the ball!
That is why I think we should take a serious look at David Silva. We need a playmaker to free up Berbatov and Rooney to score goals.
A defensive midfield would be nice too if Hargreaves is out. But i think in Fletcher and Anderson we have players who can do the dirty work in midfield. What we really need is someone who can help us keep possession, chip in some goals, dictate the game just like Scholes used to back in the day.
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Off-topic I know but there was an interesting read in the times assessing the main European teams in terms of quality and balance. We got a 15/20 which put us in 4th place behind Real, Barca, and Chelsea. 7/10 for quality and 8/10 for Balance.
Admittedly it was done on the basis of each team’s first XI and we should get extra points for the depth of our squad. I also do not think we compare too badly with our rivals on the wings. While we have this tradition of amazing wingers, it is not that important to our current style of play as we do not really play an old fashioned 4-4-2 anymore. Besides Valencia and Nani both have the potential to turn into very good players given games.
But I do feel that we need one world class player to give an added something to our attack. Ideally an attacking central midfielder, but to be honest id take a forward or a winger. Because outside of our defence Rooney is the only world class player we have and for a club of this stature that is not enough.
Yes we have a good balance to the side now and lots of team players. But you need a player who gives you that extra spark of creativity or cutting edge to turn a game and we are missing that. Rooney could be our saviour but im not convinced…he is too much of a team player these days and has lost some of his magic. Im also not convinced that Berbatov can turn it on in the very big games. Yes he can outskill everyday Premiership teams but can he produce the same magic on the biggest stage? Im not convinced.
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@Footy4Eddy: Valid and well thought out but I wouldn’t give Fletcher that much credit for those games we win. He’s a good player and his work ethic counts for something but are we that much better with him on the pitch than without? I seriously doubt it. Then again, maybe.
As for lineups. Lineups are something one can never forecast too far ahead because of fatigue, form and injuries. I’m sure Fergie has his own ideas but he will alter them according to the schedule, and those above factors. All I know is that we have to put up with another season of Park and the Skinned Sausage and for me that is not good. Our back 3 is good even if we have to ad Skinned Sausage to make it an official back 4. He is useless and a major liability and the sooner Fergie decides to blood Fabio more, the better off we all will be.
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@owen: I don’t blindly praise anyone mate. They have to earn it the old fashioned way. They need to go out there and consistently prove to me that they are as god or even better. Until then, I will go with what the logical facts tell me.
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@Will: I’ll moan to my heart’s content mate. It’s my right as a fan.
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@Traverse: Then I guess you’ll put your money where your mouth is. I wouldn’t put a plug nickel on them myself and I might put 20 quid on them finishing in the top 4.
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