Sep 22
Chelsea 1-1 Man Utd: One Point Won, But Two Points Lost
I had a draft of the game ready but somehow lost it. I will rewrite the match report during the day, hopefully. Till then feel free to continue your discussion.
In short, I’ll say this: it’s a point earned at the Bridge, but it’s also a case of what might have been had we held on for a win. Not quite vintage United yet — if you don’t count our fondness for slow starts — but certain players stood out for me, some of whom wouldn’t have figured had we made a list of our picks for top players of our season so far.
More on that, among other things, in a post as soon as I find that draft or find time to re-write one myself.
Related items from Red Rants:- Chelsea v Man Utd: Preview
- The need for a right-back and a forward | Title race blown open
- Porto it is then…
- Man Utd v Middlesbrough: Preview
- Rooney Out For A Month
Tags: Match Reports
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:38
we where so damn close, berba should of passed it properly in the first half, and then rooney should of scored that practically open goal! we could of won that 3-1! Lads, although we feel hard done, this was a good point, we got a draw out of chelsea at stamford bridge, with hardly a first team selection, it was a good draw for us, bring on the next match.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:31
The whole RESPECT campaign is really giving me the shits,u cant even wave ur finger from 20 yards away!!!it really is ridiculous.Otherwise we were undisciplined yesterday and it couldve cost us way more than the 7 yellows we copped.And i feel so sick seeing city win 6-0!!!WHATS WRONG WITH THE WORLD!!???
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:37
I think Fergie sh’ld stop blaming the players on this & admit he also made a mistake going defensive in the last minutes. We had such a good bench & U bring on Oshea from that good bench ?????? Why not bring on TEVEZ so we can keep the pressure on them instead of defending & bringing the pressure to ourselves????
Fergie …….. U sh’ld think abt ur best attacking options & stop guesssing
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:48
@dan(u-ol): Thank god, given the comments on the other thread I could have sworn we lost three nil and had half a dozen players hand in transfer requests!
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:51
@dan(u-ol): “Then Rooney should have scored that practically OPEN goal” -
, Bro wishful thinking, Rooney, nor any of our other strikers could score anything at the moment 
, but somebody needs too, AND SOON 
. As for us winning it 3-1 mate, Chelski could have walloped us 5-1 grrrr, cos they missed sitter after sitter. Lucky for us they had a goalscoring off day. United don’t seem to be able to play possession football anymore. Rio was feckin losing it big time out there yesterday, and who can blame him, with a load of dithering daisies of players around him - except for Evra and Evans of course 
.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:54
@JB: Would you like me to name the players for you who should hand in transfer requests ?.
.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:58
i think am pleased with the a point,though we have the chance to win the macth but that is football,now that we have played all our difficult away game,pompey,scouser,chelski then we can go on and on to get some point on our table.
welldone berba,though look tired may bcos of match fitness,kudos to ji he has been fantastic for us,ron lack match fitness hope to be back fully,weldone johnny,he did a fabulous work wit rio at the back…what will i say about rooney,he is exceptional on the field and i think he is our best player on sunday,more to come from him when the lads started playing thier normal game,thanks god we are not behind with nine point,now we need to win more and more,kudos to the lads,kudos to SAF and bring on the next match.
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:01
Comme on guyes !! do u think SB is an easy place to go and get a draw ? first half we outplayed them second half they deserved a goal !! draw is a good result !! now let me see which other team can go and get a draw / Win there !!!
coming to the match, i am happy with the performance ..we showed we can score,we can play,we can pass even with out ronaldo ..which is good!!! Surprised when Evans was at CB ahead of Brown…had it been Brown we wud have won…but again PIG equally has to be blamed for teh goal.. with one game in hand , we are just 6 points behind…so roll on Boro adn Bolton
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:19
@Craig Mc: Well by my count over the past couple days we have the following by various people: Rooney, Berbatov, Park, O’Shea, Anderson, Nani, Neville, Giggs, Scholes and Fletcher.
Ohh and I almost forgot VDS, PIG, and of course everybodies new fav scapegoat Mike Phelan!
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:20
Why do we we against the bigger teams whwn we go a goal up we just sit back and invite them onto us?! It is so frustrating, we were playing well until the goal, then we sat back and the inevitable equaliser came.
Rooney was his usual poor self and how Fergie can justify dropping Tevez for him @ the moment is baffaling to say the least. Evans looked good G Nev was a liability and should have playing Brown or even brought him on, but a point is a point.
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:22
I can’t believe the doom and gloom on the other thread.I was (and still am)pretty satisfied with the result. We went, to a fortress and got a well earned point. The guys fought hard on a hot, sweltering day and they should be praised.
I cant understand the criticism for Rooney as well, he might have mouthed off but so did a lot of the other players but yet its him who gets all the flak. The goal if anyone has to be blamed was PIG’S fault. He should have come out and collected. Considering the area where Rooney gave the free kick you can hardly call it a danger area.
Yesterday, we had certain things who stood out for me-
1) Park was really good but if you would notice that all of our attacks had one constant and that was Rooney. He was kind of our talisman and defenitely one of our best players on the pitch.
2)Evra was our best player, he was fucking awesome.
3)Evans and Rio were immense.
4)We need Carrick back!!!…The lack of forward going impetus in the centre of midfield is for all to see.
5) Gary Neville was too far off the pace and should be given a squad role for the rest of the year.
I genuinely think this result will kick start our season and mark my words when we all look back, this could be a crucial result that will help us win the league.
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:26
Also Fletcher and Hargreaves: big shout out for them, they toiled all day and performed like soldiers in the heat of battle.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:01
All the highlights from BBC match of the day:
http://www.recontragolazo.com/?cat=26
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:19
@JB: NANI?
. As for the rest, sounds like almost the whole team then 
.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:21
@Sidharth: Wouldn’t expect anything else from Hargo though would we Bro?. He is a warrior!.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:23
@Sidharth: Believe it Bro, because there are some things to be ‘Doom and Gloom’ about
.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:31
@Stephen: Stephen my old buddy, where the feck you been mate
?. Agree about the Roon, but the Sidarth’s, JB’s, Gabriels and Liam’s etc of this world will spear you for saying it. Get ready to be stabbed 
. Oh, and wear your doom and gloom hat Bro 
. Grog, Red Diablo, you, me, and a few others, are rocking the blog boat with our ‘Doom and Gloom’ cargo overload. 
, fucking loving it!.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:40
@Craig Mc: Well Grognard reckoned he and Anderson would be off to Spain pretty sharpish
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:41
@Craig Mc: I have been in LA matey!!
i just think we should be taking the game to other teams rather than cetering our team around others, playing Park and Hargo who were good, but why not Tevez and attack! But missed you all!!
It is a bit doom and gloom isn’t it
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:42
phelan popped a stray balloon and fergie was like.. “what the?!”..
as for the game, yeah, a point is what we deserve coz we could not hang on really, chelsea are bound to score coz we keep giving them possesion, and the generous bitch of a referee handing out cards after cards, what a fool he is, he is always stoping the play, slowing things down to chelsea’s favor. next is bolton at OT, we’ll have a stormer against them. i expect no less than a 3 nil win against them.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:44
should we sign a competent keeper in replacment for vds? i think PIG is just cut out for a sub..
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:50
@john freakin’ o’shea:
, expect nothing mate, then you won’t be disappointed 
, or on the otherhand you might be pleasantly surprised 
. If we manage to score 3, I will be deliriously surprised 
.
JB -
, I know, Mr Grog has got all the latins on the next flight to Spain, because of them being mistreated and all. Watch out JB, Grog premonitions may just come true mate 
.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:55
@john freakin’ o’shea: VDS does look a little shaky mate must say, but Andy Fuckin Gray all he talks about is how poor VDS is, he did throughout the Cl final, I watched the Scouser game on Sky plus (as was at that sack of shit) and he was having a dig at him throughout that game(he was also talking constantly about how much he loved Gerrard, wanker) and again yesterday.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:16
@Craig Mc:
you really enjoy the doom and gloom mongering, don’t you? Btw, brilliant poem on the last post, the ending, a tad brusque, but well placed (yeah, I do reviews, in case you were wondering 
)
I prefer to be optimistic and still say our present form, or lack of, can be treated with a little extra mental an physical fitness training. We’ll get back to top gear soon. However, our midfield has been shown up to be quite average and that bothers me. Without Carrick, our midfield lacks any genuine creativity going forward. What do you reckon, give Rodrigo a chance, seeing the rest have failed to step up to the plate?
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:17
Did anyone watch Sky sports news yesterday they had Tony (I am an Irishman really) Cascarino on and he was saying that Fergie made a mistake in the summer because he did not buy Emile Heskey!!!!! I couls not stop laughing, how do people get paid for saying that sort of rubbish.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:22
Player Ratings
EVDS - 2 - his confidence looks totally shot, and I find myself wincing whenever the ball goes near him. He currently looks like an accident waiting to happen.
Kuscszak - 4 - decent enough most of the time, but split one shot in front of him and was at fault for the goal. The best keepers view any ball coming into their area as theirs unless there’s a good reason that it’s not - he’d prefer to stay on his line unless there is no choice. Nothing I’ve seen changes my mind that he’s a very good shot-stopper and a decent reserve, but without the presence or consistency of judgement to be our no. 1 in the long term. Let’s hope Foster gets fit soon…
Evra - 8 - very good game, both defensively and going forward. In particular, he made the goal with his sheer desire to get on the end of Rooney’s through-ball, and cleared up a couple of times at the back too.
Evans - 7 - solid game from the young lad in a presure-cooker scenario. Looked a bit nervy to start with, and I’m yet to be convinced about his ability to compete aerially with big centre-forwards, but it was an encouraging display.
Rio - 8 - a rock amongst the madness, and even had the drive to get into the Chelski area for his chance just before the goal.
Neville - 6 - fine for the most part, but had a twenty minute spell of misery where he could easily have got himself sent off. Offered nothing going forward, and I’m baffled as to why Brown was omitted.
Park - 8 - great display from the little man, up and down the flank all afternoon, took up great positions and had the energy to follow Berba’s shot in just in case. Deserved to be our scorer and deserves a run in the team on his past two performances.
Fletcher - 8 - worked tirelessly, his work-rate really is amazing this season. He has been our most consistent midfielder, and should be one of the first names on the teamsheet at the moment. Closed down, harried, linked, and offered a threat at the other end - and barely committed a foul in a game where you only had to breath on an opponent to give away a free-kick.
Scholes - 7 - quiet but effective, was always there as an outlet and was integral to our fast start. It is obvious, though, that he can’t maintain his performance level over a whole game now and I don’t know how often he’ll start when Carrick is fit again.
Hargreaves - 7 - worked well on the right, and was fine in the centre for a while, but tired badly towards the end. I remain worried that he’ll never be fit for long enough to really get his match fitness up to scratch.
Rooney - 5 - did some very good things (like the through-ball for the goal and setting up Rio) and some bad things (a hospital back-pass to Rio, giving away the free kick for their goal). You can feel his frustration with himself at the moment, and it’s going to take all Fergie’s powers to get him back on track. He needs to remember that, first and foremost, he is a genius in the opponent’s half. Some signs of life in the partnership with Berba.
Berbatov - 6 - was reasonably influential until our goal, then faded as we lost control of the ball and so provided him with next to no service. Doesn’t seem entirely match-fit and doesn’t seem on everyone else’s wavelength yet, but it’s too early to make the sort of judgments some people want to.
Ronaldo (sub) - 6.5 - got involved a lot and engineered a few breaks which could have been devastating if any of our attackers were even remotely in form. Didn’t have time to influence the game much - looking forward to seeing him start again, as he surely well next game.
FERGIE - 8 - making the best of a bad lot. I like the continued reversion to 4-4-2, which is much easier for the players when you’re having to chop and change your line-up constantly. He got the flair/fight balance right in the midfield and attack.
I approved of the Ronaldo substitution, because it acknowledged that to hold out we were going to have to either (a) nick another on the break or (b) stir things up and get the ball back for a while - Ronaldo was the most effective way of doing that. Fergie could desperately have done with that third sub that he had to expend on EVDS/TK, either to replace Neville with Brown or Berba with Tevez - both of those had faded miserably with 20 mins to go, but Fergie could do nothing about it.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:25
Fergies mistakes cost us the game. Bringing on JOS instead of Tevez with 10 mins left and 1 nil up means defending. Suprise Suprise Chelski score. We took Park off and had no attacking potency. Berbatov showed glimpses of his skill but is lacking match fitness and PIG should have claimed the deep chip for their goal.
I don’t know about anyone else, but it felt like a defeat.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:30
@Penguin: I agree with your ratings mate spot on. Scholes does look a red card waiting to happen at the moment but still a top player. I to was amazed with the exclusion of Brown?! why not play him at CB or at RB?! very odd.
Anderson is a bit of a worry, what I have seen of him this season he looks a bit lost, and for Fergie to put O’Shea on in CM sayes a lot about his reservations, I hope he gets his game back because he could be a top, top player.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:38
@Penguin:Agree with most of your ratings and observations but how the hell can you give Rooney a 5 and Ronaldo a 6.5. While Rooney worked tirelessly and was involved with everything that was good about us going forward. For me deserves at least a 6.5 - 7. I know a lot of people say he should stay in the opponent’s near his position but what about his defensive header in the penalty area towards the end of the game without which Drogba would surely have scored.
Whereas Ronaldo for me didn’t bring much to the game and if anything him coming on made us lose our shape since he wasn’t tracking back and helping out in defence. So for me his rating of 6.5 is not justified. I’d rather give him a 5 for yesterday’s performance.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:51
i’ll give rooney a six, he is kind of the nucleus of our attack whenever we attack.. berba a 5.5, and john o’shea a 10.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:52
was i the only one who thought that Ronaldo was way off form, and that Tevez would have been a better option?
there was a play a few minutes after Ronaldo came on in where all he needed to do was get the ball to a streaking berbatov on the left and it was a clear goal scoring chance, but he passed it straight at the defender. i felt that he was missing his touch today.
Rooney bashers and lovers. . he was pretty decent today. I’ve noticed he’s got a new pet move for when he’s on the right wing (where he pulls the ball back towards himself and the bursts forward once the defender has committed himself), but beyond that. . we didn’t play the ball up through the middle today. we needed to, and we didnt. getting the ball, on the ground to berbatov would have allowed us to break on either side. (providing we had someone on the pitch who could break on either side of him. . .O’shea for Park was a fucking joke. . Nani at the very least, Tevez would have been a much better option.
I don’t think we should have played ronaldo today. the whole reason we were successful in the first half was that we had Park and Fletcher on the wings pressing forward AND tracking back. taking off Scholes and putting Ronaldo on the wing meant either A Cole or Bosingwa was able to get forward without being impeded. then O’Shea for Park meant that both of Chelsea’s wingbacks could get up without worrying about defending.
IMO Nani should have come on for Scholes, and Tevez should have come on for Park.
we didn’t do that, and Chelsea ineveitably scored. . (looked to be Berbatov’s fault for not picking up kalou. . although PIG could have come out to claim it)
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:53
@Traverse: That was the only mistake i think he made and i ask myself…WHY???????
Anyway, i was gonna post this on the previous thread, but here it goes: I don’t get all the fuss about CQ, sure when he was here, he probably put in some tactical advice which helped Fergie, but its not as if when he left, Fergie suddenly forgot all Queiroz has been doing during his stay here, so why can’t Fergie just apply the same tactics Quieroz was using when he was here, its not as if when he left, Fergie decided to dump all the ideas he had put in. I just think most people here are having a knee-jerk reaction to our performance as of late, since we aren’t playing good, lets look for someone to blame, Oh yeah, Quieroz…so who were you all blaming when we had a worse start last year with even EASIER schedules???? The players themselves have been inept on the field, and I’m not sure thats part of Fergie tactics, Fergie doesn’t exactly tell the players to go on the field and be mediocre does he??
To everyone brining up the issue of finances, what does that have to do with whatever is happening right now??? Its not as if we need a player on the pitch yesterday that could have helped us, but we couldn’t get him because we don’t have enough money. Be doom and gloom all you want, but considering most people were predicting a loss for us, but we still went out, got a draw and yet no one’s happy. I’m quite pleased, thank you very much, and nothing I’ve seen as of late tells me if Queiroz were here things would be different, Fergie is his own man, if Fergie decides the tactics to use and the players to field, then it stands. Even if Quieroz were here and Fergie decides not to take his advice, its not gonna be different, is it?
@Penguin: Best ratings I’ve seen so far. Fergie could have been a 9 if not for the strange sub he made brining on O’Shea.
@Gabriel: I’ve been thinking about this for weeks now, he’s(Possebon) not even been on the bench as of late. He should really get some playing time against Midddlesbrough tomorrow.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:59
@jonny: I was more disgusted by his diving which no one seems to have noticed, i mean Lampard barely touched him and he went down like he’d been shot, honestly he’s freakin’ 23 when will he grow up past all the diving and sitting on his ar$e flapping his hands at the ref? Nani didn’t play and that was a real shocker.
The weird thing about PIG is that people often complain he’s too eager to lunge out of the net, but the one time where he should have done it, he decides not to
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:08
I agree Ronaldo’s dive was very embarrassing, and so was Rooney’s lunge at AHole, Ok he is a cock but when will Rooney grow up?
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:11
@Sidharth: The reason for giving Rooney a 5, as I mentioned in my original post, is that he did some things really well but others REALLY badly. He saw a lot of the ball, and gave it away too much in dangerous areas. To me, the good things he did were cancelled out by the bad, henec a rating halfway down the scale.
Ronaldo I gave 6.5 to because he did the job he was told to do to an average standard. Comparing his workrate to Rooney’s is irrelevant - it’s like comparing apples and pears. He wasn’t brought on for his workrate, so why factor it into his score. That would be like criticising Evans for not getting forward enough.
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:30
@Penguin: Fair ratings there mate… Like I said earlier, i reckon with extra fitness training (both mental and physical), we will be hitting top gear in no time. The thing that worries me tho, is the toothlesness of our midfield in attack. Without Carrick and his defence splitiing passes, we have no credible attacking threat from midfield!! Yesterday, Rooney had to play very deep - almost as an AMF - so as to create chances and playmake thru the middle.
I’ve been asking for a while now, but what can we do to address this situation? In the prem, players are not given space and the onus is to attack, attack, attack unlike in Europe, where it is about possession - scholes’ services will be more suited here. As per domestic competitions, we need one of our present midfielders to step up and assert themselves as the dominant attacking threat, and I don’t see anyone doing that at the mo!!
That leads me to beleiving that with Ronnie back, Fergie will just play it safe and revert to last season’s 4-2-4, where we had 2 CMF’s and leave the attacking and playmaking to the top four. That would be a real shame, cuz these last few games have really exposed that lack of attacking flair our midfield possesses. What do you reckon, can Ando do it, or should Rodrigo be given a chance in our Carling cup game?
btw, Gary’s inclusion surprised me, but I reckon Fergie intended it as a confidence booster for OUR Captain. He is fit, and as Captain, these are the kind of matches he should be leading the side out for, so it was both a matter of principle and morale/confidence.
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:46
A point is no bad thing from that match. It is dissappointing to see how we played after the goal but to come away with a point is good work.
GNev is no longer good enough to start im afraid, brown should have played. Evans did great and was pleased to see him perform.
I notice that nobody has really been mentioning the performance of Dimitar. I know I am his biggest critic, and I know many of you think i revel in coming on here and calling him Berbacrap, but yet again he was a wasted player on our team. I cant be arsed trying to put up a case against him but his performance speaks for itself. Im sure all the berba fans will claim lack of match fitness/new to the system/had a knock/bad service etc….yawn. im still waiting for a performance that justifies his selection.
@bond: i disagree, jonny evans was great and its unfair to say we would have won if brown was playing, unless you mean him playing instead of GNev who is clearly past it.
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:53
@jstar7: He is unfit and has played aginst the two best defenses on the league bar ours! So calling him Berbacrap is appalling, give him a break.
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:56
@Gabriel: I agree that our midfield isn’t right at the moment, but don’t underrate how good Fletcher has been so far this season. He doesn’t provide the same incisiveness as Scholes or Carrick, but he has carried a threat.
I can see Scholes and Fletcher starting the next few games, with Scholes regularly being withdrawn after 60 mins for Hargo or Anderson, depending on the match situation.
I think Anderson needs a break to recharge his batteries, and I wouldn’t expect to see more than the odd cameo and some Carling Cup appearances for Possebon. As I’ve said a few times, most of the time the Devil you don’t know is worse, so change for changes sake should be avoided.
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:57
mate who is PIG? and what is IMO?
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:58
@jstar7: We’re all still waiting for a performance which justifies his fee and his selection - but unlike you, I and many others expect that performance to arrive sooner rather than later.
Until he’s got more games under his belt, you’re just going to sound a bit like a broken record.
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:59
@wayneboy….: PIG = Pole In Goal, an affectionate nickname for Tomas Kuscszak.
IMO = “in my opinion”.
September 22nd, 2008 at 13:04
@penguin……….thanks so much
September 22nd, 2008 at 13:05
berba give me some goals, god damn it i bought a berba kit now gimme some goals.!
September 22nd, 2008 at 13:08
Berbatov is not taking Tevez’s place Rooney is and needs to be dropped he has been really poor for too long now.
September 22nd, 2008 at 13:18
@Stephen: you mean the last 6 games this season…out of which you’ll notice that slowly but he is improving and i am pretty sure you guys will be changing your tune in few weeks time.
As far as Tevez is concerned, i love the guy, i really do, but for all his trickery and industry he is not as good as Rooney when it comes to providing that final killer pass or in his decision making. Way too many times i have seen him taken a couple extra touches and by that time he gets closed down and can’t provided the correct pass or make the right decision.
I would rather see Fergie start with Rooney unless he is in piss poor form (yea its not the best right now but give it a couple of weeks) and depending on the opponents pick either Berbatov or Tevez. Like yesterday i would rather have seen Tevez and Rooney up front and not Berbatov because quite simply he barely figured in the second half at all.
September 22nd, 2008 at 13:26
My thoughts on a match we were fortunate not to lose:
I was very disappointed by our midfield play today, especially in the center of the park. We could never possess the ball once we grabbed the lead, and I’m also worried about the play of Scholes. He is playing so deep nowadays that he almost has become a defensive midfielder. With his tackling troubles I feel that is not the best role for him but it is all he can play with his lack of pace. Once Ronaldo came on, we were very poor, and I thought Chelsea had a goal coming for quite some time. Fortunately for us Anelka and Joe Cole had matches to forget and Drogba never had a close effort. Onto the player ratings then.
VAN DER SAR (5): Only got through a bit of the match with an apparent leg injury. One tentative cross attempt before the injury and one loss of the ball after. Rio seemed to gesturing to VDS to sit down if he was truly hurt and luckily they didn’t concede a goal because of the injury. Hopefully he will be fit soon as Foster is also hurt.
EVRA (7): I thought Patrice got stuck in well and was a big part of Park’s goal. Didn’t deserve the yellow card and I thought he did a decent job getting back after making forward runs. One of our more dangerous players on the day.
EVANS (7): Pleasing performance from the big Northern Irishman. Didn’t set a foot wrong although he wasn’t challenged too much. Made us not miss Vidic too much, which is a credit to him. This is why United sold Pique.
FERDINAND (7): Solid performance with some subtle positioning to clear Chelsea threats. He gave some strikers a little too much space at times and Anelka got free for a couple of golden chances. Also had a great chance to score saved by Cech, although he struck it well.
NEVILLE (6): Why do I always feel the captain is a liability these days? I missed Brown out there although Neville didn’t do much wrong besides overzealous tackling. I just think his best days are beyond him but he may go and prove me wrong.
PARK (7): Tireless effort as usual from the Korean, and he took the goal cleanly. He always gets in great position and I wish had a bit more quality to match his effort. Berbatov’s pass was just behind the lad in the first half, although with Park’s finishing ability from distance who knows if he would have scored? Regardless he was our best player when out there.
FLETCHER (7): I thought Darren did very well today and didn’t get out of position. I loved his run to draw the defender away from the shot on goal to allow Park to come in for the finish. I also liked how Fletcher was able to not make unnecessary passes and keep the ball for a bit instead of giving it away. One of United’s most improved players.
HARGREAVES (5): Not impressed at all by Owen’s work today. Never made the right wing is own and often out of position. Looks a bit slow and not comfortable on the ball. Thought he should have taken the free kick instead of Ronaldo in the second half, as it is more in his range. Looked shaky and unfit out there.
SCHOLES (5): Completely overrun in the midfield. Not a defensive midfielder as he is too slow and too small to win balls. When he does win the ball it is often a foul. No offensive presence either. I’d rather see Anderson out there in the John Obi Mikel role than Scholes due to his superior athleticism. Scholes’s role in the team is dwindling fast for me. He’s not much of a late substitution player as he doesn’t often change a match anymore but that shouldn’t mean he should be always starting. I knew Fergie was going to start him today and I thought he was out of place.
ROONEY (5): It is a real shame to see what Rooney has become playing for Manchester United. Where is the danger he used to have on the ball? Where is the long-range shooting to test the keeper? His cheeky flick when Cech was out of goal was well done but the rest of his game was awful. If you watch, he keeps trying to play these “superstar” passes all day. Whether he does these flicks that players don’t respond to our making Beckham-like long passes across the pitch to lose possession, Rooney is a possession-losing machine out there. I gave him a 5 because of his work rate and ability to get in good position, but come on folks this is a shadow of the player we bought five years ago. Why is a talent like this relegated to workman status? He is playing the role of a junk player that works hard. Had a couple of bad misses, including a shot he should have buried off a Ronaldo cross. That should have been crushed into the net and instead he side-footed it meekly into the side netting. The announcers made small mention of it but to me it was a horrible miss. He was able to beat players one-on-one with nice touches but to often he lost the ball to often. Tevez should have been out there. The temper thing well, what else is new?
BERBATOV (6): Decent at best. I love the way he controls the long balls with his foot, but we seem to adopt a too-direct approach with him out there. Also, he got screwed over by the referee with those tussles with Mikel on the long balls. He was called for a foul every time for winning the ball, and therefore couldn’t impose himself. Looks a bit short of fitness and never a real threat to score. I need to watch him play more before I know how to properly rate the lad.
SUBS
KUSZCZAK (6): A lot steadier than VDS when shots come in but where was he for the goal? Not totally his fault though and I thought he played pretty well back there for coming on in such a big match. At least no penalty/red card drama this time!
RONALDO (5): Looked lost out there and when he came on for Scholes he essentially didn’t defend and spent all of his time losing the ball, falling over, or complaining to the ref or to his teammates. Had a few shots on goal but I’m not sure why he was brought on at that point. We needed someone to hold the ball and keep possession and he just wanted to counter-attack. Still we need him back on top form and soon.
O’SHEA (5): No real time to rate him and did alright for me.
So overall we deserved to lose or draw this match. A win would have felt like highway robbery. Where had the possession and coolness on the ball gone? Once we scored we wanted to get out of there as soon as possible and we lost our impetus. I liked our spirit and effort but too many loose chances today. Fortunate for a draw.
September 22nd, 2008 at 13:26
@Sidharth: He has mate but he doesn’t score enough, I love the lad don’t get me wrong but for all his tracking back and endevers, he needs to score.
Tevez has not had a run in the side so he can’t get a rhythm going, we must be honest to ourselves and admit Rooney is not playing well, improvement is one thing but if he is keeping out a player like Tevez who is in form then surely that is not right?
Dropping Rooney might do him the world of good, and will give Carlito at least a run up top, which will be good as we will see how hw can develop with Berbatov to.
September 22nd, 2008 at 13:32
@PO13: 5 for Hargo, bit harsh mate.
September 22nd, 2008 at 13:35
I don’t think the excuse that many give of Berbatov being unfit holds. If he was, SAF would not have played him in such a high-profile game (and replacing him with Tevez who is currently our star player). By the same measure that Berbatov is unfit, then SAF is an idiot. I think it is more a matter of a) he could not cope under pressure, and b) he still needs to build up an understanding with his teammates.
Why anyone would give his performance on Sunday a higher rating over Rooney’s performance is way beyond my comprehension. (In fact, I agree that he was more responsible for the goal - poor marking and poor positioning during the free-kick).
Other than his performance, I don’t think we played badly. What I do feel is that SAF made some tactical errors. He had it spot on until the 2nd half. When big Phil gave up the wing-play and sent everything through the middle, SAF had no answer. Actually, that’s a lie. his answer was…drop Park for O’Shea. Fuck! (nothing against O’Shea, just that that was a very bad move, considering how we struggled with counter-attacking).
And, please don’t compare this to our start of last season. It is nothing like last season. Last season, we did not play badly. We just could not score. This season, there is no fluidity in our play. In no way does it seem like we’re English and European champions.
WE were actually the lucky ones on Sunday. Chelsea could have easily annihilated us - after we scored our goal.
September 22nd, 2008 at 13:57
@Penguin: Mate, I have rated fletch for quite some time now, he was never as bad as some people made him out to be. The thing is, he is a CMF, and a box-to-box one, just like Lampard(without the shots). He has no discerning dribbling or playmaking skills, neither does he have defence-splitting passes but he has the ability to sneak in the the opposing team’s penalty box and is clean on the tackle. That’s ok, but when we can’t rely on our top four to playmake and create chances (like so far this season), we need an AMF like Deco, who can dribble, playmake, produce a defence spliting pass and just take control of the game for us. This is where he falls short and also everyother midfielder in our squad. (btw, excuse the chelsea player comparisons)
Maybe with our holy trinity back in full swing, I see Fergie reverting to our 2 CMF pairing and just rely on the forwards to do the attacking, which will be shameful. I just hope this is a lesson to Fergie. I reckon from now on, we should try and find a balance of attack minded players and defensive ones, so as to get Anderson back to his preferred position of AMF. If he is the future of our midfield, then he should be sticking to what he knows best. We’ve been tinkering with a lot of players’ positions and it doesn’t help them or the club (Ando, Smith, rooney etc).
September 22nd, 2008 at 13:58
The tempo was lost wen van der sar walked out……..
September 22nd, 2008 at 13:59
@Gabriel: “we need an AMF like Deco, who can dribble, playmake, produce a defence spliting pass and just take control of the game for us” Anderson?
September 22nd, 2008 at 14:22
@Stephen: im sorry, but how can you make a case to drop rooney and keep berb in the side!!?? surely even with rooney’s drop in form, he contributes more to the side than berba. i agree with Sidharth and think that we should play ronaldo, rooney and tevez/berba depending on opponents.
September 22nd, 2008 at 14:24
@Stephen: i do agree with this one tho. Anderson could be that player, but just feel like hes not quite there yet. maybe a goal would help with that.
September 22nd, 2008 at 14:24
I missed the game yesterday due to work. But reading the rants you’ld think we’d lost. Lads, time to take a chill pill or whatever tends to relax you! Its early days yet, and there’s plenty of football left in this season.
I know that our start has been shaky, but its not fuckin Towering Inferno or some other disaster movie. This is addressed to the doom and gloom mongers out there, you know who you are! Sell Rooney, ect! What the fuck? Is this comedy? Very droll if it is. I agree with many concerns that other ranters have about our midfield,attack, subs, ect. Bottom line is we’re still within touching distance and we haven’t even got out of 2nd gear.
Lets have a bit of faith in Fergie and start believing again. F F S get a grip lads.
September 22nd, 2008 at 14:26
@Stephen: my point exactly!! He hasn’t done that for us for some time now, because he has been continually adopted in a CMF position and he’s gettin used to it. Even in the Brazil squad, he now plays a deep-lying role whereas before we got him, at Porto, he was always upfront, attacking.
For the last two seasons, we have been playing two CMF’s and because Carrick had those defence splitting passes and the destructive attack from our forwards, we were almost oblivious to the fact that our midfielders were not providing much when it came to attack. So far this season, with Carrick out and the holy trinity not in swing, we have seen the lack of attack focused playmaking from our midfield.
If we begin to deploy one AMF and one DMF and let them play that way, maybe Ando can get back to his best. The thing is we have too many CMF’s in our team, Hargo, Fletch, Scholes, Carick. That’s why I’m at a loss as to what Fergie will do? Revert back to our old 4-2-4 system and keep on playing two CMF’s or start playing with one designated CMF/DMF and one designated AMF, so as to establish some sort of versatility in our attack. Then we can be better prepared for whatever comes our way, injuries, opposing formations etc
September 22nd, 2008 at 14:29
@jstar7: So you give Berba only two games to settle in, them being against Liverpool and Chelsea?
We defended leads in both games, and he was instrumental in both of the goals. Rooney hasn’t scored this season and has played in all the games and has been poor pretty poor in them all.
Berbatov is a creative player and when we just sit and defend a lead you can’t really judge him.
September 22nd, 2008 at 14:39
@Stephen: so i cant judge him until he has settled in and we are not playing a difficult match? i disagree that rooney has been pretty poor in all our matches, and berbatov hasnt scored either.
September 22nd, 2008 at 14:55
@jstar7: Yes? He have to let a player settle, and Berbatov has not scored for 2 games for us, Rooney hasn’t scored in, well a long time.
September 22nd, 2008 at 14:57
@Stephen: Rooney just needs an extended run in his preferred position which is the number 10 position. I’d say Rooney will be more influential to our game than Berbatov. Berba is the kind of guy who can drift in and out of the game. Even at Spurs he tended to do that, on the other hand Rooney will defenitely improve as the season progresses and he gives everything for the cause of the team and even if he isn’t playing his best he is always involved in most of our attacks through the middle, how can you dispute his productivity..because if you guys are making a case for Berbatov’s lack of match fitness then what about Wayne who missed pre-season thanks to that virus.
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:00
Even if Berba is not scoring, atleast he is not setting up goals for opposition…
And it was Berbatov’s shot that rebound…
Had it been Rooney, he wouldn’t have shot only…
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:01
BOOO!!
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:02
@AndyCR7: Berbas contibution in the two games he has played: 2 assists! And when 50% fit, what moer can you ask for?!
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:03
still optimistic bout our chances of winning the treble this season, last evenings game at st to me was a point earned rather than two lost, man utd players havent really got there footing back, the team is still a bit off but kudos to them for working hard yesterday and getting the point.
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:04
@Sidharth: I agree he is a number 10 and should play there more. I am not attacking Rooney because i love him, but he doesn’t score enough, and that is probably due to being played here, there and everywhere. He picks up far to many stupid yellow cards, needless hacks at players when he looses the ball.
To say Berbatov is rubbish because he hasn’t set the world on fire in two really tough games is just plain unfair, give him a break he is settling with us an vice versa.
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:05
@RedDevilEddy: I think I was talking in favor of Berba…
what u thought Eddy?
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:07
@AndyCR7: dude..lets be honest it was goal keeping error by cech so you can’t give Berbatov credit as for Rooney, that was not a dangerous free kick. It was Berbatov who was assigned to mark Kalou and he let him slip but i’d put more of the blame on PIG for their goal. You’d be really immature to give Berba any sort of credit for our goal.
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:07
@AndyCR7: It is pretty easy to pick holes like that:
It was Rooney’s through ball that let Evra get free to set up Berbatov. It was also Rooney who set up Ferdinand for our other clear cut chance in the match.
And it was Berbatov’s weak and poorly positioned shot that Cech should have comfortably dealt with.
And it was Berbatov who ambled about yesterday like he was barely interested for most of the match.
And it was Berbatov who was standing about like a pot plant in the six yard box when the goal was scored. But I suppose we can blame the moron for that
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:09
@AndyCR7: I think you talked against Berba, its just that there were so many people bashing Berba while you were the only one to defend him, so when I said you I meant you like everybody. Sorry about the misuderstanding.
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:11
@JB: And it is BERBATOV that is not match fit.
It is BERBATOV that has just joined our team. I dont remember Tevez beginnig like the star he was either last season.
And it was BERBATOV that Fergie wanted, so he is gold. Just give him time like Tevez needed.
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:12
@Stephen: No where have i categorically called Berba rubbish, all i am saying is that for me Rooney would be placed in starting line up before him that’s all. I also believe that Berbatov will get us 20 goals in competitions this season. In any case i have always been a fan of the Bulgarian and i hope to see him help us win something this season.
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:16
@RedDevilEddy: You think he’s match fit yet Fergie thinks he fit for the full 90 minutes 2 games in a row. I don’t think Fergie is stupid enough to put a player lacking match fitness into 2 of the biggest games of our season….do you??
He will come good eventually but i still believe he shouldn’t have started instead Fergie should have stuck with Roovez for the 2 games instead and brought the guy on in the second half to make an impact.
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:18
@Sidharth: If Rooney starts week in week out where does Tevez play, or do we drop Berbatov, I am not being facetious just getting opinions.
My concern is that we change the lin up and formation far too often. We play players suited to counteract other sides, and not let them worry about us. We play 4-2-4 or 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, depending on who we are playing, surely we should have one system and change the personel depending on fitness and form?
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:18
@Man Utd Jaluo: mate, thank you for that. It seems like a game of ‘whose fault is it?’ on here… Berba this, Rooney this, Neville that. Get a grip ppl!! As an out of form side, we had to work our socks off to hold off an in-form Chelsea at the bridge.
We had two Central midfielders with no significant threat going forward, so Rooney was given the task of playing AMF/deep SS so as to playmake and create. Berbatov was then left up top to hold up play with Rooney having to juggle attack and playmaking at the sametime. Rooney should even be given extra credit for his work-rate yesterday; everything went thru him and he was vital to our goal. The one time he got slack, Fergie screamed at him and that inevitably led to the challenge for Mikel’s free kick - in a position that should have posed ittle threat to United!!
People that don’t realise yesterday’s tactics and the fact that VDS’s injury hampered our game plan of attacking in the second half are IMO being a bit naive. Our stand out performers yesterday were Rio, Park, Evra, Rooney, Fletcher, Hargreaves. Take emotions/bias out of the equation, have a look at the game or the highlights and you will notice that.
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:28
@Stephen: I think until Carrick comes back we should stick with the 4-4-2. I’d like to see Hargo, and Scholes/Fletch in the centre with Nani/Tevez on the left. Ronaldo is obviously a must on the right. Upfront i would always keep Rooney in the number 10 position unless Fergie wants to give him a rest or he’s injured. Up top I’d like to see Tevez/Berba depending on who Fergie prefers for the particular opposition. Tevez when he played in South American used to play as a front striker and i would think thats good enough a system for the next few weeks for Fergie to employ.
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:29
@Sidharth: Dude, I never said it was Berba’s assist… I said it was rebound…
I’m just trying to say, lets not write off Berba as yet who is involved in our last 2 goals (intentionally or unintentionally)
It was Berbatov who was assigned to mark Kalou and he let him slip
really???
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:29
@Gabriel: Good point mate, and we got a good point to.
My worry is that we do sit back after going a goal up, we did it in the cl final at anfield last week and again yesterday, we look so much better when we attack, attack, attack!!!
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:30
@Sidharth: That you are right. But we all know that Berba is not match fit, maybe Fegrie just had a plan. I would bet that if VDS didnt had to be taken off, Tevez would have come in for Berba. And same with the Liverpool game, had we not been under 2-1 with so little time left and with only Berba as our real striker, he might not have played 90 minutes then either. I think United followed Fergies plan in both game, score an early goal and then just focus on not conceding. But we didnt manage that in neither game because of problems with injuries and cards(Scholes).
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:31
@RedDevilEddy: I agree completely with all those points and I am giving Berbatov the time he needs because of that. I was just illustrating how easy it is to pick holes in a player’s performance. But that is what people are like these days, there is no such thing as patience. You can’t give the team time to settle down and find it’s form, there must be someone to blame now.
Lately it has seemed like most of the people on here aren’t happy unless they have someone to blame all of our problems on. If it isn’t Rooney as a scapegoat it might be Giggs, Scholes, O’Shea or Phelan etc.
An interesting thing I noted before and after the match (not just on Redrants) was the reaction to Park. Some were fuming about his selection when the team came out, arguing it was defensive, he provided no width, wasn’t good enough or strong enough to deal with Chelsea’s physical; approach etc. He then is one of our best performers in the game and the same people turn round and give off about him being subbed. It seems like there is a severe lack of patience and perspective these days.
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:32
@Sidharth: The reason Kalous scored was not because of Berba, but becuase he pushed Rio. The goal should have been disallowed!
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:50
@Stephen: We do sit back, don’t we? I reckon it’s because we don’t have players that can regain and retain possession. When you score a first goal against a top team, you tighten up because you expect a backlash from them and then you try to take control of the game. At this point, the onus is to retain possession and regain it when the opposing team has it. We don’t do that well, they atack and bcos of our weakness in that aspect, we just clear the ball everytime, the opposing team then starts to dominate and it becomes a vicious circle.
We always fall into that trap against the big teams bcos we have more respect for them. Once you get that first goal and fail to control the game, the opposing team then usually dictates most of the play from thereon, or at least until the next goal or when you snap out of it.
If we had a proper DMF playing in that anchor position, I reckon we could easily solve this issue, but alas, we always deploy interchangeing CMF’s there, so they can’t do that.
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:57
to all berba haters, who has set up our last 2 goals?
September 22nd, 2008 at 15:59
@Gabriel: We should have bough Senna when we had the chance!!
We also did it against Arsenal, we are so niave at that sort of football, which I suppose is to our credit. If and when!! we win our next game we will only be three points off Chelsea, who I feel are our main title contenders, so not all bad, as the press have been waxing lyrical about them.
But I do wish we would attack big teams when we are ahead, and with the momemtum is with us, we probably could have killed the game off.
September 22nd, 2008 at 16:01
@Gabriel:
“… bcos we have more respect for them…”
I think this is the point that frustrates me. Why should we show big teams all that respect. They should show us that respect.
I don’t care what people say about doom-and-gloom. I have a right to feel upset and gloomy bceause I EXPECTED a good result after our Humilitation at Anfield. When my team lose, my family suffers because of my depressing mood. This site, I have found is the best place to vent my depression and anger.
Therefore, for those trying to criticise, I would suggest to then rather stay away from this site after such a poor performance.
September 22nd, 2008 at 16:03
@Gabriel: o’shea is that DMF, well sort of..
September 22nd, 2008 at 16:16
@Stephen: yeah, Senna was alrite, but it was either him or Carrick and given our lack of creative midfielders at the time and even now, Carrick was and is definitely the better option. Besides, that is why we bought Hargo, but he has rarely played in that position for consecutive games for us (notice that when he did play there with Ando as his offensive counterpart, everyone was raving about both of them?)This is why i’m always complaining about the constant shuffling of players in midfield, out wide and upfront. They never get time to settle and get comfortable in a position for the team.
September 22nd, 2008 at 16:17
@dan(u-ol): THANK YOU!!!
September 22nd, 2008 at 16:21
@Karl: Of course we show them respect, as they do us. I don’t mean fear, but recognition of their ability and star players. They respect us too, that’s why they also play cautiosly at the beginning and we pounce on that to get our early goals. It’s the aftermath of that early goal that needs sorting out, they obviously will be more attack-driven and we need to hold possession more or if we can’t, just risk attacking more. At least, that’ll even out the possession and balance the control of the game.
September 22nd, 2008 at 16:24
@john freakin’ o’shea:
don’t make me laugh…. ok full-back, yes; manageable Centre-half, maybe; but competent DMF, no feckin way!!
September 22nd, 2008 at 16:43
@Gabriel: We do need to settle with A, a sydtem which we stick to and the players get comfortable with, and B, a more srttled side.
September 22nd, 2008 at 16:50
how anyone can look at that game and tell me that Berbatov was better than Rooney is beyond me. Rooney was our creative force whereas Berbatov looked like he was out on a Sunday stroll. Also Rooney being at fault for the goal is the most laughable thing I’ve heard this year. I can think of 2 or 3 times that we gave away frees in that area. If anything it was Berbatov and PIG’s ball watching that cost us.
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:03
@Karl: Yeah man, you do have every right to feel depressed when you feel the team aren’t performing
.
Your family suffering though because you feel frustrated, not good Bro!.
Come on here and have a rant, and ignore the sanctimonious on the blog, who complain about doom and feckin gloom
. That way, our loved ones will never cop it, because we can vent our spleen at the cause of our frustration - players who give up the minute they score a goal. Or who take half a feckin season to hit form .
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:04
One point is good from Chelsea home, but dissappointing
for me to see how we rushed in 2nd half. i think we must play a lot ball possesion on 3/4 field, like against Rome & Barca in Champions.
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:06
@Liam: well liam, if rooney never gave away the free kick, they wouldnt of scored, which would mean today, we would be gloating about defeating chelsea at SB not arguing about whos at fault. Quite simple really, no free kick, no goal…
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:06
I take it my comments awaiting moderation because I changed my name -
.
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:08
@dan(u-ol): You got that right Dan(u)ol
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:13
@Liam: Exactly Liam! I’ve been arguing since yesterday that Rooney cannot be blamed for the goal, but it seems Rooney is like the MVS (Most Valuable Scapegoat) these days!
To Grognard: Mate, I just read in the previous post’s comments that you think it’s best to sell Rooney?????
How..Why..When…Whhaaaat?!?!?!
Alright, let me say this then - everytime Rooney contributes via a goal/assist this season, I’m gonna remind you of what you just said. Watch out!
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:16
@JB: JB, explain patience please?. All of pre season, and first 4 games of this season not long enough patience for you then?. As for Park, love the lad, always have, he is a little terrier. Shame he has so many injuries isn’t it?.
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:21
Gabriel: I have to agree on that mate our midfielders are being schuffled constantly and hence none of them are able to settle in a single position.Anderson looked promising last year looks like he has taken a step back since then and also hargreaves has played in different positions and looks out of sorts lately….
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:23
@dan(u-ol): Oh dan honestly
tut tut tut i know you dislike rooney but to go as far as to say that he was at fault for the goal and therefore the win is too far
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:39
@AndyCR7: No forward is given the responsibility of marking a forward in their own box so get off that soap box in terms of blaming Berbatov. So many of you are obsessed with creating a forward line that plays like Rooney when I for one would love to see Rooney go to another team. I’ll take raw skill, finesse and aggressive offensive play over this boring and laughable blue collar work ethic so many of you cling too. If Rooney spent most of his time raising havoc in the opponents box instead of tracking back and gassing himself as well as raising his dander to the point of forcing referees to yellow card him, then this team would be far better off. I’ll take Eric Cantona and RVN up front over a thousand Rooney’s because at the end of the day it’s all about goals. Rooney doesn’t score them and in the end we are giving up too many of them. Bottom line on the Kalou goal is that was Rio’s man and in fairness to Rio, he was pushed by Kalou and the foul was not called by that cunt buzzard lookalike Riley.
Rooney for me has worn out his welcome. His inability to conform to what everyone wants and expects of him either speaks of arrogance, stubbornness or just stupid inability to change one’s bad habits. Yes Fergie has to take much of the blame over creating this monster who plays every position on the field except the one he is being paid for. And while all this has happened the lad has lost his confidence in front of goal and has also lost his scoring touch and much of his first touch skills to boot. Just a few months back I was trying to be upbeat and optimistic about him and I even favored him as a starter over Carlos Tevez. I do not anymore. Tevez does not score enough for my liking but his style of play, determination and heart is a real problem for defenders. Rooney other than the occasional glimpse of greatness and the odd good pass wastes too much time doing the job of others and not concentrating on his own job. And at the end of the day he is still and idiot who loses his composure and temper far too easily and commits bad fouls and mouths off at the referee. And Fergie lets him constantly get away with it.
I am at a loss to figure both of them out.
Finally, I agree with you regarding the unfair and seriously flawed criticism placed on Berbatov. For those of you who don’t get it, he is match unfit but Fergie also knows that to get a player match fit you need to play him, but not for 90 minutes. He is also coming off a game where he hurt his knee. Some of you should watch the game again and you will see that there were times where I noticed him favoring a slight limp. So some of you need to please get off his back. He is new to the team at a time when the whole team is playing like Wanker FC. He is receiving piss poor service and he has got no clue what some of his teammates will do when they are on the ball. RedDevilEddy was right in comparing his situation to Tevez beginning last year. This team does not play a simple game. We are a complex outfit with players who have varied skills, attributes and tendencies. Asking a traditional striker to fit in immediately and be completely in sync with the rest is incredibly unfair and ridiculously narrow minded. Lets explore the Berbatov transfer after a dozen games and we’ll see if some of you anti-Berbatov feel the same way. I’ll go out on a limb now and say no.
And finally, this team needs to sell Rooney and use the money to buy a world class attacking midfielder. And to those of you who don’t agree I offer my rendition of the Royal Raspberries.
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:50
@Grognard: i agree, i think we should buy messi and play him as an AM. But we can only get him, if we sell rooney. tevez can play of berbatov up front, then we could have ronaldo and nani on the wings, with messi and carrick/andy in the centre. Messi is literally a 100x better then carrick, we would get a better passer of the ball, and a magician. the andy is better playing deep, carrick can play deep, but andy is better.
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:58
@JB: At the risk of causing you more Grognard Fatigue I think it’s important to remind you that this is a rant site and that not all supporters of this club like to analyze the game like a wise old professor who worships hindsight and positive thinking. Many of us are passionate and emotional about our allegiance and it’s not necessary to always think with your head as it is with your heart in matter pertaining to your favorite football team. I for one don’t mind criticism but I don’t like to be told or hinted to that my criticism is not welcome or not needed. Rants can be positive and they can be negative. If I and others choose to see the game as a glass half empty as opposed to your half full philosophy, they should be allowed and above all, you should respect them for it. Sorry for laying this on you mate but you seem to have scolding father complex which I for one don’t particularly care for and I don’t appreciate. None of us need to feel like we are walking on broken glass if we dare criticize or offer as you put it “doom and gloom” on occasion. We all see things in our own way and we should be left to our own devices. I for one am more than capable of being positive when the moment serves itself up.
Yesterday was nothing to be positive about. We had Chelsea where we wanted them. Many of their best players were injured and or on the bench and they were never more ready to lose at the Bridge, especially after losing Carvalho early in the game. So we come out like gang busters and get the early lead and then we do our best Reading and Birmingham imitation and place ten men behind the ball and defend like our lives depend on it. That is not the United I have become accustomed to and it certainly isn’t the team I recall that has one two straight EPL’s and are defending European champions. They are all unfit, lacking desire and focus and there is no movement off the ball or any sense of style or direction in their game. So tell me then why I should not be all doom and gloom and why I should be all positive about my team’s near future? Perhaps I am negative but at times like this, I don’t think negativity towards this sad bunch should be censored nor should it be criticized. United deserve mine and others wrath in spades.
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:59
@dan(u-ol): No disagreement here Dan but I think our chances of getting Messi are slim and none.
September 22nd, 2008 at 17:59
@Grognard: well groggy, have to disagree with your view regarding Rooney there matey… the rest, spot on as usual. If Ando or Rodrigo don’t step up this season, we should be in the hunt for a world class AMF come nxt summer. The need for one has been evident so far this season. As per Berba, let the critics say all they want, he will definitely come good with time spent with the team.
Your reaction to a player who only lost form at the back end of last season (due to injuries) and is still regaining it (again, due to more injuries) is a bit Harsh!! Sell him?? C’mon!! I’ll put that one to your frustration over his performances of late, which to be fair, have been above decent.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:00
@Grognard: To say Rooney has out stayed his welcome is a little unfair mate, he is still only 22. He does need to sort himself out, but I believe he will.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:07
@Grognard: I sure as hell don’t agree with that load of trash you’ve just written….for all your words Grognard i seriously doubt your knowledge of the game when you say that Rooney should be sold. I mean except for you and a hand full of other morons, i think there would be a riot at Old Trafford if that were to happen.
You’re saying he isn’t effective and yet his play is the second most productive in premier league the last 2 seasons running (just add up goals scored and assists). Just because the guy where’s his heart on his sleave you’re saying he should be not only dropped, but sold!!
…..give me a fucking break!!
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:12
@Grognard: we can do it, we can, we just need to believe and dont give up, i know that sounds like a cliche, but its true. dont you think, £30 million plus wayne rooney might make them at least think about, thinking about the deal lol.
i know its basically cradle snatching, nut why didnt any scouts take messi out of barca, united scouts MUST of seen him play in the barca youth, where they drinking team or taking a crap everytime he had the ball. seriously, its pisses me of to the max, that we didnt get him in the youth.
i bet, that in the barca youth system, there is a player even better then him, and barca is keeping it quiet so clubs dont take him.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:14
@dan(u-ol): Like Fabregas?
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:15
@Sidharth: please fuck off, idiots like you, just love to start an argument. So, us “morons” arnt allowed to have an opinion about rooney because you dont like it, or better yet, you dont like the truth. the truth is, rooney is shite, there are far better players in the world, and dont give me, he’s a creative player crap, he’s not, only about a 1/3rd of his assists where actually on purpose.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:16
@Grognard: I may not always agree with you, but I’m pleased to see you contributing again.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:22
@dan(u-ol): How interesting that you think that you are right and i’m wrong, and i can’t think the other way around. Get this straight, if you think Rooney’s shite how the hell is it that more often than not when asked prior to CL fixtures who do they fear the most in our team if the answer ain’t Ronaldo its Rooney that most of our opponents fear….i’m pretty sure they’re opinions carry more weight than yours dan..or you think you’re more knowledgeable than them.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:28
@dan(u-ol): Well then..I should rephrase my sentence. Everytime Rooney contributes via a goal/assist this season, I’m gonna remind Groggy AND you of what you both have just said. Watch out!
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:28
@dan(u-ol): also if he’s all that crap…name 3 players better than him in his position
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:31
@Gabriel: It’s been a long time coming mate. Rooney has been off form for three years now. It’s been getting worse and worse. Look how long it had been between goals for England. Yes I am frustrated but please know this, I have always been a huge Rooney fan. With that said, I am a far great United fan and I think both United and Rooney need a fresh start away from each other. Rooney needs a new manager to redirect his energy and style and he needs to be on a team where he is top banana and not looking over his shoulder at Tevez, Berbatov and especially Ronaldo. With that said, if he would play for us like he did in his last game for England then I would shut the Hell up and show him real love all over again. But for now, he is in my doghouse.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:34
@Sidharth: excuse me, you can think the other way if you want, i dont care. what i dont like is you calling us morons because we dont agree, that is what pisses me of, its nothing to do with being right or wrong, its about having a debate with different opinions, but your pea size brain does not understand the concept for that does it. And by the way, if you think teams are more afraid of rooney HA you need to learn to talk to different fans and not assume what your they’re thinking, i speak to a wide variety of fans, and to say they are afraid of rooney is an insult to them, and the chances are, they would laugh in your face, followed by, the fat jokes, the granny shagging jokes, the shrek jokes and how he is over rated, which he is.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:36
@antsBoy: and every time rooney plays a poor ball, muiscontrols, doesn’t score a one on one, does a Hollywood chip, is playing with the defence etc. i remind YOU, so on ratio, it will probably 100:1 to me.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:37
@Stephen: We’ve been waiting for him to sort himself out for three years. I’ll say this, half of the problem when it comes to Rooney can be blamed on Fergie. He has misused the boy and had him play too many roles that asked too many different and unnatural things of him. This has caused him to lose his edge, his focus and his first touch and his finishing touch. Above all, the lad expends too much energy and is always on the boil which brings out his temper and his stupidity. This has to stop and I for one am a bit fed up with it.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:37
Rooney is a team player and still young, I don’t want him sold as he is only 22 and is still maturing and developing. To call him crap is unfair, but he is off form and should be dropped.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:39
@Grognard: i like the way you didnt see @Sidharth: comment
you mighht not want to argue, but i sure as hell will.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:39
@Grognard:I respect your anyone’s opinions but i do disagree with yours…you’re saying the last 3 seasons he’s not performed..well lets look at the last 3 seasons.
05/06- he was our second highest scorer after RVN with 19 goals and won our player of the year award and england’s young player of the award.
06/07-joint top scorer for us with 23 goals and the only reason didn’t received the credit he deserved was because of a certain someone named Ronaldo.
07/08- missed a third of the season with injury and still 3rd highest scorer one behind tevez with 18 goals along with having highest number of assists by a United player.
Now you people have been making the case for Berbatov’s lack of match fitness but what about Rooney??….he missed pre season thanks to that virus and has been slowly but surely getting back to full fitness. Yes he hasn’t done the business but give him a little bit of time. If he doesn’t continue to do the job in 2 months time then get on his back don’t jump on the boy’s back from the get go.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:40
@Sidharth: Mate, I don’t write trash and I am no idiot so please keep your disagreement or your criticism civil and polite. I do not appreciate the rudeness of your remarks and therefore I won’t even bother defending myself to you. You clearly aren’t worth the effort. Grow up and learn some manners. Disagree all you like but keep it civil. I can take criticism but I cannot take insults
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:41
@Grognard: You often quote freedom of speech when you are commentating, am I not entitled to try and provide a more optimistic slant/argument to the rest of the commentators? Is Redrants the sole domain of emotional reaction rather than cold hearted analysis? I am not telling people what they can or cannot think I am merely arguing and debating with them, mixed with my own sporadic ranting on pessimists.
And you comment about a scolding father complex is approaching personal remark territory. I’m sure you were asked, as I was, to refrain from such comments. If you feel this is a genuine issue that is causing you some personal distress, raise it with Red Ranter and he can deal with it as he sees fit. We have been asked to keep personal matters with other contributors out of the comments section.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:42
@dan(u-ol): Ok since you’re questioning my intelligence you immature twat i was talking about opponent players you oaf!!…eg totti and benzema…
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:43
I know I’m really late with these comments but I saw a few things I wasn’t happy about.
The midfield couldn’t hold on to the ball so on a few occasions I saw us punt the ball forward in the hope of finding Berbatov. This reminded me of the Van Nistelrooy days. For God’s sake we have a very good midfield who should be able to hold on to the ball. Use them!
This contributed to the pressure put on our defense. The best form of defense is attack and we should have kept the pressure on so they wouldn’t throw that many men forward!
United lack clinical finishers and although it’s early days I just don’t thikn Berbatov is the answer to that. Admittedly I’d rather have him than nobody though.
Also I am glad this was not another defeat. If you can’t win then don’t lose. It’s a simple as that and yes were oh so close to victory with 10 mins to go but in the end we cracked under the pressure. Sitting back on a one nil is a Chelase style of play and we just can’t do it. Yes against Barcelona we lucked out playing for a one nil just isn’t our game. We have got the difficult games out of the way now. Time to get some consistancy and get those 3 points in the bag game after game.
My one fear was we wouldn’t be in touching distance of the top by Christmas and I still hold that fear.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:44
@dan(u-ol): You should go and pull up his combined goal/assist statistics for the last two years before you make bold claims like that
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:44
@dan(u-ol): Perhaps but it also has a lot to do with whether Messi wants to come and play for us. The rumors I have heard is that relatives are trying to convince him to go play for Inter in Italy. In my humble opinion, if Messi ever leaves Barca, it will be for Italy. With that said, I would be over the moon if we got him. But I think Chelsea and Man City may now have something to say about any big target we seriously look at. Here’s hoping that the Dubai group are serious about buying United.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:45
@Grognard: Grog says “Because At the end of the day, it’s all about goals.” Grog I feckin love ya Bro.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:46
Is it Just me? Or was Ronaldo Looking like an arrogant little Brat? I mean he was showing all of his ego and all according to me! And one more thing! About this Rooney issue. I am sick of it. I agree with Groggy and all that Fergie has destroyed the player. But seriously. Why not give Rooney atleast 2-3 weeks? I mean we play lesser teams like Bolton, Middlesborough etc etc. If Rooney gels with Berbatov then FUCKING Good! But if not then we will have tevez!
So why not start Rooney behind Berba and not on the right for 2-3 weeks and THEN lets have a final say? What say you?
Oh and everyone has got up in this Rooney chant. I would like all of us to Focus our Energies on a 20 yr old CB named Jonny Evans! I mean that boy was superb! Seriously wow! I think that he IS the next CB who will come up in the first team! I mean he kept out the Chelski defence! That does deserve SOME recognition!
Oh and one more thing! I would like Nani to play on the wing please! Because with Hargo and Ronaldo he is the ONLY one who can give a superb cross!
To cap it all up! It should have been Tevez on instead of O’Shea. And tevez should have played on the right! Cause it was Gary N who wanted some help, DEFINITELY not EVRA!
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:46
@Penguin: Thanks Penguin. It’s not about agreeing or disagreeing, it’s about sharing thoughts, ideas and our passion for United. Cheers.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:47
@Grognard:
I agree with your second paragraph here.
United are lacking all those things. Sadly it reminds me of the year after 1999. Roy Keane was right then and you I believe are right now.
Where is the hunger and the drive and the passion and the will to win at all costs? Where is the effort? Nowhere!
Liverpool wanted it more last week and Chelsea wanted it more this week.
Simple as!
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:48
@Sidharth: Nobody called you right or wrong. Simply put, you only stated your opinion of my personality and my right to voice my opinions. As for your thoughts on any subject, I have no idea what you think and at this point, do I really give a rats ass. Rudeness will not make you any friend on this blog mate.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:48
@Grognard: okay mate if i was coming on a bit too strong..fair enough i’ll tone it down..no hard feelings mate
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:50
@Sidharth: I could name a dozen but clearly you aren’t worth the effort or the time.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:50
@AlphaRS: Its easy to blame the players but the manager picks the team,tactics and should motivate them.
Liverpool did want it more, but we only lost due to inforced errors and the haven’t beaten us for 300 years.
chelsea were also the home team and should take the game to us, to say Rio did not care or the other 6 bookings didn’t care is lame.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:51
@Grognard: Yup Trust me SIDHARTH you dont wanna say that to Grognard! The Prince of Fucking DARKNESS is gonna get ya!
I’ve been there, done that and CERTAINLY dont wanna be there again!
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:51
@dan(u-ol): I saw it mate and I commented on it.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:53
@JB: Why are people with concerns called pessimists though?. When my girlfriend got sick, I was very concerned, does that make me a pessimist. When I feel my soccer team are looking sick, I get the same concern. Think about it
.
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:54
Excuse me AlphaRS! Youres saying that Rio didnt care? If there is one thing that I have learnt, it is that whatever happens, Rio was the only player who looked all fucked up to win! That said! He SHOULD become the CAPTAIN! He IS the driving force of the team now!not giggs, not neville!
And two words for the reason of all our problems! Carlos Querioz!
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:58
@Stephen: Did someone actually say Rio didn’t care? If they did they need strung up
September 22nd, 2008 at 18:59
@Grognard: if you could name a dozen why dont you take a crack at it!!…
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:00
@Stephen:
@Red Diablo:
Fair point about Rio Ferdinand from both of you.
And Red Diablo I do believe Carlos Queiroz is a reason for our problems.
But you guys know that at Anfield and Chelsea we got battered. I mean look at the amount of pressure put on United. Why couldn’t we cope with that? They aren’t better than us so what is it?
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:02
@Sidharth: please shut up, the only twat here is you.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:02
@JB: You comment on others negativity in manner that talks down to them from a big brother perspective. Sorry mate but I just see it that way. I am not trying to be insulting or argumentative. An I’m not the one who returned after a long hiatus and blamed it on Grognard fatigue. Yes, I read that and it hurt me greatly so stop thinking you are an innocent party here. You have always had problems with my views and especially with my negative ones. Your snide remarks towards me like the many times you have harped on our infamous Riquleme debate are proof positive of my claims ans I think you need to get off your high horse here. I have no problem with you offering a positive twist on everything. I have a problem with you snidely degrading the negative comments of contributors like myself. I have no issue with you positivity or your views in general. In fact, I may surprise you by saying I have a great deal of respect for your views and your football mind. I just wish you felt the same way about me or at least respected my right to be the opposite side of your record on some things. So if too much is being made out of nothing here, I apologize. But I felt it necessary to clarify some things and I was honestly hoping for a more positive response. If you feel my comments are a bit personal, I can quote numerous comments you have made in the past which were very personal. So I wouldn’t be so quick to throw stones. Truthfully I’d love peace with you but not as long as you look down on my way of thinking and my right to voice it, there will be none. I left this site because of an individual who had given me too much stress and fatigue. If caused you to do so, I sincerely apologize. It was certainly never my intention to get under your skin so easily and so often. Think about it for a bit before you reply.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:03
@AlphaRS: Dude it were our tactics! Whatever happens Fergie is and will never be a master tactician like Rafa! Thats why we needed CQ! If he had been there there was no way that our midfield would have been weak enough albeit all the pressure on our defence! AND Anderson went missing in the L’pool game if you remember! CQ was the one who kept our foreign contingent happy! If he had been there I dont think that Anderson would have been like that!
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:04
@dan(u-ol): if i have a fucking pea sized brain why the hell can’t i call you a twat…..i have every right to defend myself…..
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:05
@Grognard: Hows your Christmas wish list coming along?
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:06
@Grognard:
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:07
@dan(u-ol): I say take JB’s advice!
Now Dan, I know you’re pro-Tevez and that’ll make you NOT support Rooney even more, but I guess you know the saying “form is temporary, class is permanent”.
Right now, Tevez’s form > Rooney’s form. Agreed…
However, Rooney’s class >> Tevez’s class, mate.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:08
@Sidharth: as do i, you started this by saying that everyone who doesnt agree with you is a moron, when in fact, its moronic to even say that.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:08
Dont sell Rooney. He is awsome. I still believe that he will be our best player this season, just watch him kick off his season against Bolton on Saturday!
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:09
@antsBoy: bullshit, when was the last time rooney produced “class” in a united shirt? liam fuller has been more class then him…
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:10
@Grognard: Without getting into too much detail on the subject, I don’t give a rat’s ass. If you have a problem take it up with RR because I couldn’t care less.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:12
@dan(u-ol): i just said the idea of selling Rooney is moronic if you didn’t get that i dont know what to say..
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:12
@JB:
cant you two amigos get along.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:13
Ok I know that this might sound stupid! But Trust me This is worth a lot to a sixteen year old! Here it goes!
)
I just bought new shoes!
And I bought two after collecting for 5 months!
1. A pair of T90 Lasers! (I play football for my school
2. A pair of Nike Running shoes!
And now i prepare for my 3 GCSE’s in OCT
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:13
Our next games in the PL: Bolton(h), Blackburn(a), West Bromvich(h), Everton(a), West Ham(h), Hull(h). And somewhere in that mix there is the home game against Fulham. After the Hull game we face Arsenal at the Emirates. But seriously! Do any of you guys see us draw or lose any of the next games? Blackburn suck really bad at the moment, Everton are hopeless so far and it looks like Hull is the most difficult opponent, and that says something!!! Dont worry, we will be fine.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:13
Wat the frack is goin on here lads???
This has become a war zone 
Where’s Craigy when you need him, woulda loved this, he would!! 
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:13
@Sidharth: Mate Rooney played the pre season matches in S Africa etc. So he wasn’t entirely pre seasonless. His biggest problem was he DISrespectfully returned post summer break looking like a beached whale. He was carrying at least 1 stone and a half extra weight. He has spent a summer smoking, drinking and partying. Please don’t use his marriage as an excuse, because other footballers get wed in the summer, and don’t come back looking like he did. Non of the other players came back for training like that either. Ronaldo was supposedly partying for the very few weeks he had, following surgery, but different mentality and respect for his body brought him back looking immaculate. I don’t respect Rooney for that, and I know what a few others of United faithful who feel the same. United don’t deserve their latin players, Ronnie, Tev, Nani and Andie stay behind after training and work their bollocks off. They deserve more than Rooney does right now.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:14
@Grognard: Grog, dude u misunderstood me…
I didn’t say this…
“It was Berbatov who was assigned to mark Kalou and he let him slip”
I was just replying to Sidharth’s comment… @Sidharth:
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:14
@Sidharth: Do you want to get Red Ranter all over your ass pal? If so, please continue calling people names on this blog. Go ahead, by all means knock yourself out.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:15
@Sidharth:
clearly you said nothing about the idea of selling rooney.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:16
@AndyCR7: Sorry about that mate. Sometimes I read these comments so fast as to catch up that i can get a little careless.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:18
@Gabriel: Gabriel, open your eyes Bro, I gotta name change, not an EVICTION
. All my posts are under moderation, because I changed my name to Craig King gloom and doom 
. But the content is not moderate at all 
.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:18
oh come on! I make 5 comments! And not one Reply?
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:19
@Red Diablo: happy now matey
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:19
@dan(u-ol): To be perfectly honest, probably not. Thats why I wasn’t getting into any debates with him. I’m sure RR has better things to do, because based on preivous behaviour we can’t be trusted to moderate ourselves.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:20
@dan(u-ol):
The last time Rooney produced class was his Champions LEague debut where he scored a hat trick.
He has shown glimpses of magic since and has scored some important games.
Anyone remember his performance in “50 games your having a laugh”
Also he had a high amount of assists last 2 seasons for Ronaldo.
Other than that he is an extremely hard working individual and like it or not the Old Trafford faithful love that.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:21
@Gabriel: OK! Thank you! I officially have one reply!
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:21
@JB: fair enough, would you say its just a clash of personalities?
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:23
@Red Diablo: nice, have fun.
@RedDevilEddy: I agree..however, if we don’t do well, we know we DO have problems, and it’s not just a dark cloud.
@dan(u-ol): Well, if you have “selective blindness” to think only certain players are class, I can’t help you, and no one else can either.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:23
@Sidharth: Now why can’t youy debate and argue like that without getting personal and insulting. You made your case and I can see where you are coming from. Calling Dan and myself names and questioning our intelligence is not the way to go about. Defeat us with proof and facts, not bullshit.
Rooney has gone steadily downhill for a while. When he first showed up for us and for England I saw a player who should be scoring 30 goals a season. Instead he has become far too comfortable playing out of position and performing duties that are not in his job description. At a time when we our boys are sucking wind and finding it impossible to score goals, I think he should be concentrating on scoring goals or setting them up. He needs to concern himself and concentrate on the opposing third of the pitch. If he starts to do that I and others will get off his back. If he doesn’t I for one prefer another player playing his position. 19 and 23 goals in just the EPL are fine but that is in all competitions. For me, that’s not good enough. Especially when a winger scores 42.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:24
@RedDevilEddy: Eddy says, “Do any of you guys see us loosing or drawing any of our next 6 games?.” Yes mate I do, unless we start to put the ball more frequently in the back of the net. I look for somebody to make a name for thereself though
.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:24
@antsBoy: Ha, ok…
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:25
@Grognard: well if RR thinks i’m being such a big asshole then he can very well chuck me out…but as far as i’m concerned i’ll voice my opinions as and when i see fit…
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:26
@JB: About the maturity and respectful reply I expected. Well done mate. Hide behind Red Ranter if you like. It’s about what I expected from the likes of you. Grognard fatigue is a real bitch isn’t it? A real show of class too.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:27
@Red Diablo: no worries mate!
maybe you should curse at someone or better yet, say something controversial like ‘Tevez is shite, he should be sold’… that seems to get a rise outta folks… 
Disclaimer: Gabriel will not be held responsble for any actions by Red Diablo which may/may not be as a result of this comment
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:28
@Red Diablo: It’s already on page ten mate. And they are all females as well as FIFA 09 of course.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:28
ronaldo has set the standard for united forwards, if rooney cant live up to it, then its been nice having you but dont let busby hit you on your way out…
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:28
@Red Diablo: You got one more now pal.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:29
@Grognard: if you think i am getting personal then i cant help you there…but you’re talking about a winger who happens to be a freak who can do absolutely anything with the ball at his feet..i’m talking about the lesser mortals…if you think you can find me 3 players who are better than rooney in his position today tell me i really want to know.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:30
@RedDevilEddy: Don’t you think his greatness would have been less in doubt if he had kicked off the season against worthy competition like Liverpool or Chelsea?
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:30
@Sidharth: i like the way you havent replied, guilt perhaps?
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:30
@Gabriel: HAHA! All right! Here it goes!
I want to chuck Mike Phelan out and want CQ BACK!
Controversial enough?
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:31
@AlphaRS: So he needs to score a hat trick for recognition now? Bit of a absurdly high standard isn’t it? He was frequently the one bright spark when we were struggling in 2004 and 2005 and his late run of form in 2006-07 probably kept our campaign on track when Ronaldo’s form dipped. And what does it matter if his assists are to Ronaldo, is that a bad thing? The two have a terrific relationship.
@dan(u-ol): Quite possibly.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:33
@dan(u-ol):
love the busby bit at the end, had me in stitches… anyway, based on your comments, no striker will be good enough for United, as no one in the world came close to that incredible haul of Ronaldo’s (league strength and competition considered)!! 
I reckon you should look at it more objectively mate….
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:34
@Grognard: HAHa! Best of luck! I have two!
1. To get my Xbox 360 fixed! DVD drive problem! I’ll get FIFA 09 for 1 Pound only in Pakistan! PIRACY ROCKS!
2. Probably an ipod nano ir a Nokia 5320.
@ALL: Why dont you give me an actual reply about my comments? Instead of just replying me for the sake of replying?
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:34
Feck me, I changed my name on the blog for a while to Craig King gloom/doom Mc. So many posts but I guess you lot are not seeing them on your screens. Waste of bloody effort. Where’s RR when you need him
.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:35
@dan(u-ol): if you think i’m really that guilty then go fuck yourself…if you want me to reply every minute i’m sorry i cannot do that…if you want to have a football centric debate then i am up or else fuck off…
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:35
@AlphaRS: What’s really hard to stomach about the Liverpool game is that they have been just utter shite all season and they still beat us. And there top two players started the game on the bench. Add to that that Chelsea had no Deco, Essien, and lost Carvalho early and had unfit Ballack and Drogba play when they should have been sitting. And we still couldn’t beat them and in the second half we played in fear of them by placing ten men behind the ball. We obviously learned nothing from the previous week. I’m frustrated and totally exasperated.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:36
@Grognard: “For me, that’s not good enough. Especially when a winger scores 42″.
Yeah, I think that’s the root of all our problems. We’re comparing our players to Ronaldo who undoubtedly had an INCREDIBLE season last year and who probably won’t repeat it ever again. Suddenly all our players do seem weak and poor in comparison, don’t they?
Ronaldo topped Europe last year and now you want all our players to follow suit? That’s asking a lil too much me thinks.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:36
@JB: a shame that.
@Gabriel:
, but really, its not JUST about the goal tally, its the way he played, he played like a forward, a world class forward, who is always a treat and a threat, where as rooney is shrek come to life and is at the laughter of rival fans.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:38
@JB:
Read my post again. It’s a balanced point of view.
Rooney showed glimses of his class and scored some important goals.
But he isn’t the same Rooney we once had and has quite honestly failed to live up to expectations (for whatever the reason I might add).
The name on the back of my United shirt says Rooney.
So to say those things pain me.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:38
@Grognard: Sticks and stones will break my bones
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:38
@Red Diablo: i wouldnt risk it mate, microsoft, i really heavy with crackdowns, and if you get caught, thats your xbox live life gone, or you could move lol.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:39
@Grognard: Well, yeah. But he has worked hard, would have scored a goal or two had it not been for superman-Given(Newcastle) and a blind linesman(Pompey). He had a hard time against Newcastle, he just came back from the African illness, played with Frazier Campell for the first time and played against a keeper that played for his life! Against Pompey he scored a goal, but was wrongly ruled out for offside. Now, Zenit game- did anybody really play at least decent. When you dont get service or other players around you dont move of cource he has a hard time! Liverpool- he played on the RIGHT WING for crying out loud! Villareal- Park, Hargreaves, Nani, Neville and Ronaldo all needin match fitness, he could have scored but was unselfish and passed to Tevez whos shot got cleared off the line. On Sunday he played his heart out next to a Berbatov being tired and confused where he was supposed to be, Ronaldo wanting to showboat and have his own glory rather than helping the team win(no big news), made the goal, fought hard and was our MOTM. Now we finally dont have to meet any of the big-guns for a while!
He will show his form and talent and score lots-and make more- goals for us.
And who knows? Maybe the reason he hasnt played so “well” for us the last couple of games might just be because he has done what Fergie has told him to do. We dunno, we will see.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:41
@Grognard:
Don’t forget to add they drew against Stoke this weekend!
I am just lost for words. Where is the work ethic gone and the drive and will to suceed?!
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:42
@Sidharth: Then your life expectancy on this blog will be short. Why not watch your language and check your attitude a bit and stick around and share your opinions with us without getting mean spirited? I certainly don’t want you to be kicked off and I would welcome further debate with you, Just stop being rude and you won’t have a problem with me. We all have a right to agree and disagree. That’s the whole point of this blog. Why shoot yourself in the foot for no reason at all?
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:44
@AlphaRS: Well class is a very subjective term. I would say he has produced plenty of it in his time with us but not as consistently as we had hoped. The way the first comment read was that Rooney had only showed moments here and there. There have been plenty of times since he has been here when he has dominated games or went on extremely good runs of form for 10/12 games.
I’ll not argue with you though, he has not lived up to expectations but thats not to say he won’t in the future. There just seems to be an increasing willingness to throw him on the scrap heap now.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:44
@Grognard: We did do that, but like I said earlier, we do fall into that vicious cycle with big teams cause of the mutual respect we have for them. We are not capable of retaining or regaining possession at the mo and when we go up against these teams, they obviously step up a gear and get revved up to attack. At this point, we should be trying to control the game and slow the tempo with midfield possession but since we can’t do that, we just cower and start clearing the ball instead of attacking!!
Besides, this was almost a make-or-break game for us - more phsycologically, and Fergie, after we went one up and failed to contain them in midfield, decided to close up shop with O’shea. We obviously need to sort this out, but in this game, our defensive midfield was poor and we had no other choice but to try and contain.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:45
@dan(u-ol): I can’t argue with that but then that’s pretty high standards for anyone to live up to.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:45
@Grognard: “I certainly don’t want you to be kicked off” yep, i have to disagree with you there
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:46
@Red Diablo: I’ll second that emotion mate.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:46
@dan(u-ol): Hey! For the info! I have never gone on Live my entire life! I got a huge network of friends and we mostly have a game each day! And i would prefer a game at one pound whereas you guys pay what is it 60 pounds?
rather than Xbox Live!
And seriously I could have bought a new 360 with the money i spent on the repair!
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:48
@Grognard: YESSS! Another Reply!
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:50
@Red Diablo: £35 a year. and if they catch you, say goodbye to those games with your mates lol. you haven’t experienced the xbox until you go in live mate, trust me, like the song, its simply the best.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:51
@Red Diablo: See, ur already gettin replies with that comment - read comment 194. Now tone it up a bit, something like ‘Fergie doesn’t know what he’s doing, he should retire’…
Disclaimer: Gabriel will not be held responsble for any actions by Red Diablo which may/may not be as a result of this comment
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:51
@Red Diablo: Hell I have gone through XBOX 360’s. The infamous red ring of death. The first generation versions were made like crap. I just bought a second generation system a couple of weeks ago and I am hoping this one survives a few years. What really pisses me off is I only average about 7 or 8 hours a week on the system. To go through so many systems when you hardly play it in comparison to hard core gamers is very frustrating indeed.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:54
@antsBoy: The problem is that a striker on the world’s best club needs to be scoring around 30 goals in all competition. Look, I’m not so unrealistic as to compare Rooney to Ronaldo but one has to notice that Ronny is a winger who more than created enough scoring chances for himself and cashed in 42 times. Clearly he had a nose and hunger for the goal which Rooney does not. And I want him to have that hunger because the rest of his game doesn’t interest me in the least. He’s not paid to be a defender.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:55
@Grognard: im a hard core gamer, so is my brother, so your looking at 48hours plus a week lol, got the 360 last christmas, and is surprisingly still going, but lately its been freezing like an ice age…hope its not a sign… time to go relieve myself on the toilet.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:57
@JB: I can only wish.
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:58
@dan(u-ol): Really don’t need that last bit of info Dan
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:59
@Gabriel: Oh Gabriel! I become your Padwan! Teach me in with the Dark Side Of Blogging!
@Grognard: Yeah! What i would wants is to buy another 360! But sadly a sixteen year old doesnt had that much resources!
Me father is busy with the new house which we are going to move in Nov! And all the furniture etc etc really does dry up your resources! So yeah! A sixteen year old doesnt have those much resources!
September 22nd, 2008 at 19:59
@dan(u-ol): I got my 360 Ferbuary 2007 and its working like I got it yesterday. I cant wait for FIFA 09, I just ordered it! Ive tried out the demo, but it just aint the same without United…
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:03
@JB:
@RedDevilEddy: i know what you mean
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:08
Viva United…
Viva United…
We gonna beat them all
scoring goal after goal
Viva United…
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:10
I just realised we have gone more than 35 comments since the last one that wasnt a reply to anyone!
Dan(171)-RedDevilEddy(207)
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:12
@Red Diablo: hhmmm.. The Force is strong with this one… teach you in the dark ways, I shall..
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:13
@RedDevil: HOLY SHIT!!!
I AM PSYCHIC!!! 
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:19
@RedDevil:
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:19
@Gabriel: MY Master! Obey You I SHALL! :LOL:
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:21
@Red Diablo: Tell your dad that a 360 is a form of electronic furniture. Also, have you considered contacting Microsoft and making arrangements for you to send your system to them and have them exchange it for a new one. They do have a 3 year warranty on all systems and I know people who sent in their fried system and received brand new second generation systems back. It’s worth a try. Go to Microsoft’s XBOX site and read on how to get this done. It’s worth your while.
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:26
@Gabriel: Only the Prince of Fucking Darkness can truly make that judgment. Now do you want to be my Sith apprentice? If so, you must learn my teachings of doom, gloom and the ways of the dark arts. Lesson one. All glasses are half empty and never half full. Then you grab them and shatter them against someone’s head. Only then can you totally understand the power of the dark side. There is no compromise, there is only your way or the highway.
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:28
@Grognard: Ok I one sad thing! There is no registration of 360’s in Pakistan! So Microsoft do not OFFER their services in Pakistan!
So the warranty and everything is useless.
About the electronic furniture thing. Yeah thats a go. Anyway that would happen in Nov after i give my 3 O Level GCSE’s which are in Oct.
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:28
@Grognard: ………you are starting to scare me…..
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:30
@Grognard: HAHAHA! OK My other Master!
I got an Idea! Why dont you and Gabriel fight for the HONOUR of becoming my master?
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:31
@Red Diablo: by any chance, are you pakistani?
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:31
@Gabriel: The force may be strong with you and with Red Diablo……..but you are not a doom and gloom Jedi yetttttttt. Join with me and together we shall destroy all the happy and positive panzi asses who love the fact we stole a point at Stamford Bridge. Together we can make their lives a living Hell until they have no choice but to join with us and adopt our evil ways and realize that United are in a world of shite.
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:34
@RedDevilEddy: Sometimes my evil is so great that I scare myself. In fact, just this week I was in hospital for 6 days for a suspected heart condition until they realized I didn’t have a heart. Now that’s evil mate.
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:34
Have you guys seen this? Its feckin brilliant!
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:35
@dan(u-ol): Umm! YUP! Live in Lahore
And Pround to be a One!
@Grognard: My master I accept! But first you must defeat Gabriel in outright battle!
Let us take over the world and when the time is right i shall throw you off your throne and become the TRUE sith Lord!
Buahahahahahaha!
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:36
@Grognard: WOOOOOOW! coool
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:42
@RedDevilEddy: If Rooney Could just Shoot and finish like that in the ACTUAL world!
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:47
@dan(u-ol): What? Are you a Pakistani too?
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:50
@Red Diablo: no…
September 22nd, 2008 at 20:51
@Grognard: When you left this blog earlier, I was but the learner, now I am the master…. Only a master of evil
muahahaha (<- that was meant to come across evil)
September 22nd, 2008 at 21:07
OK Guys! I’d better go to bed now!
!
See you all tommorow!
Cheerio!
Hope by then Gabriel and Grognard would have fought for the honour of becoming my master
And also Coleen would have given Rooney a sex ban or something till he gets his form up!
That should start his brain!
September 22nd, 2008 at 21:13
@Red Diablo:
September 22nd, 2008 at 21:17
Pele-Maradona-Zidane-Ronaldinho-Ronaldo-?
Can anyone finish that line for me?
September 22nd, 2008 at 21:30
@RedDevilEddy: Bramble
September 22nd, 2008 at 21:56
PS 3 > Xbox 360 any day of the week
… Just opinion though…
September 22nd, 2008 at 22:11
@Red Diablo: Strong words MimiMe. I like that and I would expect nothing less from a true apprentice in the dark arts. Your evil potential is great and very satisfying.
September 22nd, 2008 at 22:14
@dan(u-ol):
Im sure when I said you had a football brain the size of a pea it was bang out of order, but its okay for you to do it to this fella?
Not wanting an argument, just made me laugh really!
Im not gonna touch too much onto this Rooney business but to say he should be sold is well over the top, and I think its a desperate attempt to try and show just how much you dislike him. We have a good array of strikers at the club now and whatever pair Fergie decides to play i’ll always be confident they will do the business on the pitch. Looks like Wellbeck is playing tomorrow, should be good to see how he plays with some more experienced players in a game that counts.
Now on another note in the fantasy premier league. The bonus points for best players in the Chelsea/United game were as follows -
Berbatov - 3 points
Neville - 2 points
Alex - 1 point
I do wonder who decides these sometimes…..!
September 22nd, 2008 at 22:15
@RedDevilEddy: Cool add. One thing is for sure when I play FIFA 09. Rooney plays the way I want him to play and his true position and United won’t suck. Now if only real life was that easy.
September 22nd, 2008 at 22:22
@Gabriel: Often imitated but never duplicated my young Padewan. However, I like your ambition. If you never try to destroy me I would consider you a failure and a pretender so doom and gloom away young Jedi. Just remember one thing. All those lies that have been told to you, discard them. The truth is………I am your father Gabriel. Search your dark soul, you know it to be true. Now join me and together we will destroy all the positive thinking boring a sin United fans who see nothing broken until they clinch 5th spot and are knocked out of the Champions League and FA Cup. Together we will bring order to the Republic of Mancunia and all the rest of the do gooders who dare question our dark order. Join me son and we will rule the Mancunian galaxy. BWWUHAHAHAHAH!
September 22nd, 2008 at 22:23
@Red Diablo: Thats exactly what I was thinking. Christ he would have to try some of those shots 100 times in real life in order hit the net once.
September 22nd, 2008 at 22:41
@Grognard:
-
NNOOOOOOOOO!!!!! 
You have me mistaken Grognard, I’m a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to save Mancunia from the doom and gloom.
You are part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor. I find your lack of faith disturbing!
btw, (in voice of Seamus from family guy) these star wars jokes doing anything for you?
September 22nd, 2008 at 23:21
So is the blame game over yet????
September 23rd, 2008 at 0:14
@Gabriel: I find the fact you are stealing my lines……….Disturbing. Remember I am your father and you also have……………………….a brother. Yes, brother Red Diablo.
Now make peace with your brother and lets rule Mancunia with strength and menacing determination as a truly evil family bent on doom and gloom. 
September 23rd, 2008 at 0:29
@Grognard: Fergie and the players better put out a good game and quick, I’m beginning to worry for some of you
jk.
September 23rd, 2008 at 0:43
@Grognard: Me and you have had our words about Rooney, so not only was I shocked to see you change your stance on Rooney but I was completely speechless when you said what I was scared to say.
Sell Rooney.
Sorry for all you loyal Rooney fans, but the grogs is not crazy for suggesting it.Rooney is easily the most overrated english player right now. Lamps is overrates and Gerrard is slightly overrated, but no one touches Rooney. It is like people took a snapshot years ago of rooneys debut for united and that is the only picture you see. Rooney has had every conceivable chance to become a world class striker and it just hasnt happened yet.
I predicted that this would be a make or break year for rooney, I have noticed that more and more people are starting to question his contributions where this time last year I was being strung up for questioning the white pele.
But Rooney is only 22! yeah and Ronaldo is the defending premier league player of the year and not to mentioon the likely Fifa world player of the year… how old is Ronaldo again? How old is Messi? I think you get my point here, his age isnt something to hide behind. he has been a starter for 5 years now, it is put up or shut up time.
@Sidharth: you want people who are better than rooney? How about Messi,Torres, Villa, Kun, Eto, Drogba, Ibrahimovic, Benzema.
DO you think liverpool would swap Torres for Rooney? If so I would be over the moon.
September 23rd, 2008 at 0:57
@Grognard: As for the Red ring of death, I expeirenced that last month. I was very fortunate to have a first generation system last over 2 years but as they say all good things come to and end. Last month while playing Fifa Euro 2008(Ironically while I ws talking to the Xbox customer support) the Red Rings claimed yet another victim… Me.
No I cant speak for outside the US, But Microsoft fixed my system for free and even paid for the shipping, it was disturbingly simple. I kept thinking “this is to easy and good to be true”. Excluding the Pain of not having your system for 2 weeks, The red ring of death isnt that bad of a expeirence in the States.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:23
@johnsom33:
yeah because selling the second most productive player in the league is so smart. It would be comparable to selling Rio IMO. Torres has only scored 1 this season. How many Liverpool fans have you heard complaining about lack of goals? We are 4 games in and you’d swear we were in the relegation zone on the last day of the season
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:32
@Liam: Explain to me how you figure selling Rooney is comparable to selling Rio, cause you lost me somewhere.
Reread my post, at what point am I judging rooney for the past 4 games? I never said he was rubbish, I just said he was over rated. At this point I think his monetary value is worth more than his actual worth to the team. United would get any where from 30-35 million for him at least, and for that kind of money we could actually get a top goal scorer. We wouldnt even need to replace him because we already have Tevez. I dont care what any one says either, Tevez can do everything Rooney does plus he has a knack of crucial late goals.
As for Liverpool fans complaining about Torres. I wouldnt know cause i dont talk to scousers. I have serious doubts about them complaining about a striker who just eclipsed RVN first year scoring record. Imagine how many more goals Torres would have scored if he played for us?
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:54
@johnsom33: Here’s the thing about Rooney, I have always been a fan of the lad. But there comes a time where one has to put his personal feelings and bias aside and think about what is best for the team and for the player. Rooney is going backwards in his career with United. I blame that partly on his immaturity and stubbornness but mostly I blame Fergie for having messed with a super talent so much so, that he fucked up the boys inner programming. It’s time for a change. United need to learn to play in a manner that does not require Rooney’s chicken with his head cut off style and with forwards who understand the definition of the word attack.
Don’t get me wrong, if Rooney all of a sudden did a 180 and became the player he once was with all the potential, first touch and clinical finishing intact, then I’d say forget my comments. But I don’t see that happening. Certainly not under Ferguson’s reign. He’s a great manager who has made many players great. I doubt if Ronaldo would have attained the greatness he is experiencing right now if not for Fergie. But with Rooney he has abused and misused the lad so much so that it’s a crying shame seeing this player and comparing him with the boy who scored three goals on his United debut. I still think Wayne can regain the ability he was born with, but not with us. He now stands in the way of a player who does more positive and constructive things for us in Carlos Tevez. If we sell him now we will get a lot of money for him because he is still marketable. How much better would we be if we took that money and spent it on a world class attacking midfielder? It just makes more sense and after all, it’s really about making the team better. No player is immune to being sold. Ask Beckham, Keane, RVN etc. Perhaps it’s Wayne’s turn unless he has a massive turnaround in form and attitude very very soon.
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:18
@Grognard: I agree with virtually everything you said. The only thing I have reservation about is blaming Fergie. I tend to think it is up to the player to improve his game if said player is given the chance be the manager. Sometimes players just arent giving a a fair chance to settle and are constantly rotated.
The question I ask myself is, how in 3-4 years has Ronaldo gone from being an equal if not inferior player to Rooney to leaving him in the dust? I will be the first to admit that I dont know the answer, but if I had to guess I would say Ronaldos drive to be the best is the reason.
Ronaldo has been blessed with both strength and absoluting electric pace. He has all the tools to be a good player, but he also has that inner drive to never rest on his laurals. He is always pushing and always looking for ways to improve his games.
Does Rooney share the same drive? I cant say for sure one way or the other cause I dont have the luxury of seeing him practice day in and day out. Is Fergie the blame for his development? again I have no way of knowing one way or the other.
Suprisingly enough I am a fan of Rooney, I just find him very very frustrating. I have seen this happen to other players in other sports. Lamar Odom who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers(NBA) is a prime example. Unquestioned talent and has a pretty good career, but for whatever reason he has never been able to bridge that gap from “Potential Great” talent to an All-time great player.
Sorry for the long rant(and for the non footie reference
).
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:25
@johnsom33: Fergie has to take some of the blame for having consistently played him out of position and also for allowing him to continually get away with his temper tantrums and stupidly unnecessary expenditures of energy doing other player’s jobs. You used the word frustrating and it goes for both Rooney and Fergie. Both of them are stubborn and reluctant to change their ways. And I doubt seriously if Ronaldo has Rooney career shortening smoking habit as well.
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:46
@Sidharth:
I sure as hell don’t agree with that load of trash you’ve just written….for all your words Grognard i seriously doubt your knowledge of the game when you say that Rooney should be sold. I mean except for you and a hand full of other morons, i think there would be a riot at Old Trafford if that were to happen.
You started it. You’ve got no case to defend yourself. What were you smoking? You lost it at that point.
Others,
There are two personalities on this thread (you know who you are) that are better served never confronting each other. There are plenty other people you can talk to. So my advice is to stay off each other, and if you don’t realise after your famous confrontations in the past that you are so not made for each other then it’s sad. You don’t have to bother offering olive branches to each other you are going to waste energy getting into another long winded argument.
I’ve made my point here. That is all.
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:21
i have to agree with Emmakash. Tevez should be on the field instead of Oshea. The idea of defending is not good enuff. If we start thinking to defend, might as well we take out Berbatov. At least Tevez can run over the pitch to pressure chelsea.
I like Johnny Evans since his loan spell at Sunderland in Championship. But at this time, not having a good point and playing away from Old Trafford, IMO, it is wiser to use someone with experience. Gary Neville inclusion for me is OK, but not Johnny Evans.
To accommodate Tevez-Rooney-Berbatov at the same time, I personally think that we can opt to use Tevez as AML or FL. Just the same way Argentina is using Tevez. Or Liverpool use Kuyt, or Arsenal use Walcott or Chelsea sometimes use Kalou. We should try this!!!
And Berbatov should play behind Rooney. The idea of having Berbatov at front is not working. Berbatov passing is very very good. He should be playing behind the striker. 4411 can work.. when attacking, the two wingers (assuming Tevez and Ronaldo) run forward, and at this stage, Berbatov has 3 options to pass the ball.. just imagine and enjoyy
September 23rd, 2008 at 6:25
@Grognard: Well grogs, if you cud go back in time and search older posts (from the summer) you’ll find I had identified AM as one concern area and how lack of goals from midfield is a huge problem for us! I wanted VDV (who went to Real for only 8m towards the end of the window!!!) and a good striker like Huntelaar (could have been with us for nearer to 20m+ type sum) and probably it could have been much better summer work than acquisition of Berbatov. I am not suggesting berba is bad but I think we have overlooked midfield seriously. Scholsey is past it and others are either too inexperienced (fletch,andy, fletch as he rarely gets time to play at the top) or not really top class (carrick is not a gerrard! and Hargo is always injured!!!) We seriously needed a creative midfielder and should have got either VDV or Diego.
I think at that time most people here totally disagreed with me!!!
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:13
@jos: I wasn’t one of them mate. I was the loudest activist for Huntelaar and I also would have loved VDV as well. I like Berbatov but I still believe that Huntelaar would have been the better buy. My worst fears have been realized so far so it just makes me wonder two things. 1. I must be a true genius 2. Fergie has to be a complete pickle head not to realize that his central midfield was a joke. It certainly was clear to me and I am being proven right. Some may still feel I am wrong but they are more hard pressed to defend their position now. I on the other hand smell like a bouquet of roses. Priceless!
Excuse me as I get on my high horse now and ride into the sunset.