Sep 10
Benitez Smokescreen Over Duo | United’s Champions’ League Squad Announced
Rafa Benitez is still hopeful over his star duo — Gerrard and Torres — returning for our trip to Anfield. This comes in the face of Gerrard ruling himself out and Torres being out with a hamstring injury. I would think a hamstring injury takes about two to four weeks to heal and even if he does make it, I’d suspect he will be partly fit. But I do trust Rio and Vida to tackle the El Nino threat. Rio would be clearing up space in his back pocket in preparation for Anfield.
The centre back has been laid low with a stiff neck, although it looks like he might play in today’s snoozefest friendly world cup qualifier against a good looking Croatia.
Some of our other lads are also expected to represent their respective countries. Here’s hoping for an injury free outing for them.
Also, the club has announced the Champions’ League squad:
Goalkeepers
No. Name
1 Edwin van der Sar
12 Ben Foster
29 Tomasz Kuszczak
38 Ron-Robert Zieler *
40 Ben Amos *
Defenders
No. Name
2 Gary Neville
3 Patrice Evra
5 Rio Ferdinand
6 Wes Brown
15 Nemanja Vidi?
20 Fabio Da Silva
21 Rafael Da Silva
22 John O’Shea
23 Jonny Evans *
36 David Gray *
39 James Chester *
42 Richard Eckersley *
Midfielders
No. Name
4 Owen Hargreaves
8 Anderson
11 Ryan Giggs
13 Ji-Sung Park
16 Michael Carrick
17 Nani
18 Paul Scholes
19 Daniel Welbeck *
24 Darren Fletcher
28 Darron Gibson *
33 Sam Hewson *
34 Rodrigo Possebon
35 Thomas Cleverley *
Forwards
No. Name
7 Cristiano Ronaldo
9 Dimitar Berbatov
10 Wayne Rooney
26 Manucho
32 Carlos Tévez
[source: UEFA.com]
Some of the names make interesting reading. Observe the number of goal keepers, and Danny Welbeck as midfielder (of course, I believe that must be a mistake).
There is some Berbatov story, if you’re interested — on him never swearing and always carrying a copy of the Bible. I don’t know whether to get excited at this or yawn. But he says that he’s learned to behave himself and change from being the petulant man he was during his younger days. We shall have to wait to see it on the pitch, but I already see a desire in his eyes when I saw his first interview to MUTV. I hope I’m proven right and he turns out to be a smashing player for us.
Other than that, it’s another dry day of international friendlies. If you find them interesting though, then the day won’t be quite as dry as it promises to be for me.
*Yawn*
Related items from Red Rants:
- Manchester United’s Munich tribute on 6 Feb 2008
- MUFC US Tour – Squad Announced
- Manchester United 07/08 Squad Numbers released
- United’s Tongue Twisting Duo and What they Mean
- Red Rants’ Paper round-up
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (487)
RedDevilEddy (461)
Craig Mc (348)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@Gabriel: And Cantona.
Like?
0 
0
@R: hhaha never thought of that before. sure looks like it tho!!
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: lets leave the cantona comparisons for a while. it feels wrong to do that when he hasnt even played for us yet.
Like?
0 
0
@jstar7: I wasn’t mate, but would you call him lazy?
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: ya know ive been thinking about that and i think i would. i know it wont go down well but i think he was. but his genius and contribution was outstanding and so it was no problem. i dont think berba can match him on that front tho, but we’ll see. hopefully he can!
Like?
0 
0
@jstar7: well, if these players you label as ‘lazy’ can score and assist just as much as the other ‘hard-working’ strikers, i think the ‘lazy’ tag is a bit misconstrued. Just cause a player prefers to read the game, position himself in threatening positions and conserve his energy for the final third of the pitch does not mean they are lazy!!
Like?
0 
0
@Gabriel: Well said!
Fact is I just thought this comment of his (Berba) were funny if one compares them with Roovez!
Like?
0 
0
@Nico QB: true, true.. the press could use that as propaganda, can just imagine the headlines: ‘Berbatov claims to be more clever than Current United duo, Rooney and Tevez’. I wouldn’t put it past those snakes in the media, they just disgust me…
Like?
0 
0
@Gabriel: thats all well and good when we are on top and dominating but what about the rest of the time? what about when we are losing? will it be ok to “read the game”, “position himself” well, and “conserve his energy for the final third” then? or would it not be good to get stuck in and do some work for the team? I spose he wont need to tho, cos everyone else will be busting their balls to try to get something from the game whilst he conserves his energy.
Like?
0 
0
@Gabriel: @Nico QB: would you blame the press for jumping on this?? “Real quality doesn’t need to show effort.”
Like?
0 
0
@jstar7: yes, because he will be in a better position to score!! besides, the way you put it, one would think he doesn’t run at all, just strolling thru the match!! That ‘lazy’ tag IMO is wrong and unjustified, as these sort of players still bust their balls, but usually in the final third, where their contribution is of more importance and relevance.
Like?
0 
0
@Gabriel: Ronaldo does the same actually, you don’t see him busting his balls in defence? we have 8 or 9 other players to do that and if he joined in, who would be in attack? his last season’s tally showed you don’t need to be running all over the pitch to be most effective.
Like?
0 
0
@Gabriel: fine, we will wait and see. but when we are under pressure i just want to see him do his bit, thats all.
Like?
0 
0
@jstar7: of course he will, every professional player does. It’s just that the media and some haters have misinterpreted his elegance as laziness and some fans are picking on it without actually considering his style of play.
Like?
0 
0
just heard on a internet radio show “world soccer daily” that the mancity new owners may be pulling out!!! hahah hope this is true. you can listen to the show on worldsoccerdaily.com
Like?
0 
0
ive been nervous about this match for three weeks now.
just a horrilbe feeling about them scoring first,dont think my heart would take that!! gonna get sick!!!!
2-1 united
we’ll never die
Like?
0 
0
New post up folks. And this one’s got a few clips of Fergie and Berba speaking to the media. Watch it before someone in youtube takes it down.
Like?
0 
0