Sep 21
Chelsea v Man Utd: Preview
The magnitude of the situation has been spelled out by pundits and fans alike. SAF recognises the importance of not falling nine points behind Chelsea. Win today and we’ll be three points behind with a game in hand. Lose and we’ll be — you guessed it — nine points behind; not a situation one might want to be in so early.
In the run up to the game, there is good reason for a lot of fans to feel less optimistic about our chances today, but there have been positive indications that we may do alright. Defeat, however, will be harder to take despite all that’s being made about Chelsea’s imposing home record.
The game will be won or lost in midfield and Chelsea have shown superiority over us in their ability to impose themselves in midfield in recent times. Last season’s encounter is an example in this regard.
In team news, Fergie has pretty much a fully fit side to choose from, barring Carrick and Vidic. I think he is faced with big decisions and his man management skills will be tested to the full.
I hope he doesn’t fall to the temptation of playing all four upfront. The Portugueezers must play on the wings and either Rooney or Tevez must partner Berbatov. We’ll have to wait to see how that unfolds.
About predictions, well I’m at my most optimistic when I say 2-1 to United. I can’t really preview anything more that’s not already talked about.
Cheers, and come on you reds!!!
Related items from Red Rants:- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Rooney Out For A Month
- Man Utd v Barcelona: Preview
- Sporting Lisbon vs Man Utd - Preview
- Derby County v Man Utd: Preview
Tags: Game Preview
September 21st, 2008 at 10:45
I would not be happy with a draw. Why? Because Liverpool made me feel sick last weekend, Villareal got a draw from us at our place and lets face it- Chelski not losing a game at the Bridge for over 4 years is embarrasing and an absolute shocker for me. The last game we lost at Old Trafford was in February. Liverpools last loss at Anfield was against us in December 2007 and Arsenal havent lost since April 2007 either. But Chelski being unbeaten at their own ground for over 4 years? Its impossible really, this is football, such things cannot stand! Someone has got to beat them sometime, why cant it be us? We are the record breakers anyway! And after the weeks(s) we have had, it is time for Manchester United to show what they are made of! Our results this season: 0-0 vs Pompey, 1-1 vs Newcastle, 1-0 vs Pompey again, 2-1 loss to both Zenit and Liverpool and then a 0-0 draw against Zenit. Stats: 1 win, 3 draws and 2 losses. I mean, COME ON!!! We are not Derby, even though we have faced some tough sides, that record is terrible. Its better than last season, but if we dont lose today it will be the worst start we have had since 1972! We are Premiership and European champions, the top scorers of both competitions last season. Player vs Player, we have the best ones. I would choose Berba over Drogba, Rio over Terry, Evra over Cole, Rooney over Anelka, Carrick over Lampard, Anderson over Deco and certanly Ronaldo over all their wingers packed together- Cole, Malouda, Kalou…. Nani, Ronaldo and Park are better than all of them! We want to win the most, we are the better team, we are the champions and we have the ebst manager in football history. All they have is a comedian who looks like Pinocio! Feck `em! They have been unbeaten for such a looong time its inbarable and annoying. The only team deserving such a home record is Manchester United FC. So lets crush them!
When you are playing against players like Drogba, Cole and Lampard that simply isnt good enough. A right back as a Centre back, a midfielder as a right back and a lousy Cb as a Lb. We lost that game because of a penalty that never should have been either. So I think if we put our strongest team up today, we can/will win. team prediction:
Now, United havent put a really strong squad up at Stamford Bridge since 2002, and thats the last time we beat them. Last season we played with Silvestre, Roooney, Fletcher and Nani. Ronaldo on the bench, Tevez on the bench and Evra on the bench. Vidic got injured early so our back line most of the game was : Hargo-Rio-Brown-Silvestre. ???
VDS
Brown Rio Evans Evra
Ronaldo Fletcher Scholes Nani
Tevez Berbatov
result: United win, I dont wanna predict how much or what result, I just know we will win. Its time for the Champs to step up and show what they are made of.
COME ON YOU REDS!!! Lets give the blues the blues!
September 21st, 2008 at 10:59
Okey, some mistakes in my last comment. 1st: 0-0 draw was against Villareal and not Zenit. 2nd: “Its better than last season, but if we dont lose(!) today it will be the worst start we have had since 1972!” That was meant to be: “Its better than last season, but if we dont win(!) today it will be the worst start we have had since 1972!” I ama little chunky today. Dunno why…
September 21st, 2008 at 11:45
@RedDevilEddy:
kudos with not playing all our strikers together. i wouldn’t mind any of the 3 pairing options up front: roovez, berba/roo or berba/tevez. but then again, this is on paper, we havent seen the last two pairings in action yet. i do hope ronaldo starts, he looked fired up in midweek and seemed to be in the form of his life, yet again!
i doubt Evans will be given a start though. I don’t mind the young lad being thrown on the big stage (like Pique last 2 seasons). But I think Sir Alex will go with more experienced blood…maybe O’shea or Neville on the right with Brown at CB. I do hope Brown bucks up..he was walked over by Reira last weekend. And neville’s crossing is sucking bigtime.
September 21st, 2008 at 12:02
im sorry……………but……………….manu will win 3-0!!!!
rooney will score a volley and chip while ronaldo will send in a cracker of a 30 yard freekick!!!!!!
go on manu
September 21st, 2008 at 12:09
@RedAllTheWay: Thats what I dreamt last night, but I dont think(but I hope) anything like that will happen. But, I have a good omen to share with you.
Last time Liverpool beat us at Anfield in the League(before last weekned): 2001/02 season.
Last time United beat Chelski at Stamford Bridge: 2001/02 season.
September 21st, 2008 at 12:16
things are looking up at last
September 21st, 2008 at 12:16
@RedDevilEddy: i admire your optimism! go reds! oh and btw, terry is a cunt..
September 21st, 2008 at 12:50
Well I would not go as far as say it is a must-win but we cannot afford to lose. A draw would be sufficient because if we win our game in hand we will only be three behind Chelsea and that can be corrected by winning at home against Chelsea which we really should be able to do if we are to be worthy of the Premier League.
For me the reasaon we have to win is psychological. It hurt Chelsea a lot losing to us in the Champions League. Now if we could also beat them on their home ground, they would really start thinking they were inferior to us. They are over-confidennt this season with a new boss, a good start and Deco. We need to knock the wind out of their sails.
September 21st, 2008 at 12:53
team news?
September 21st, 2008 at 13:00
@dan(u-ol): Not yet Dan, maybe in 15 minutes.
September 21st, 2008 at 13:02
berba and rooney starts-sky sports.
September 21st, 2008 at 13:07
Fergie no Scholes and Giggs plss…
September 21st, 2008 at 13:11
nani, giggs tevez and ronaldo on the bench, why play fletcher on the wing when we have nani, madness.
September 21st, 2008 at 13:11
can someone pls give the full team news..??
September 21st, 2008 at 13:12
Ok Sidharth, here it is:
VDS
Neville
Rio
Evans
Evra
Scholes
Hargreaves
Park
Fletcher
Rooney
Berbatov
September 21st, 2008 at 13:13
vds
neville
rio
evans
evra
fletcher
hargo
scholes
park
rooney
berbatov
subs
PIG
brown
oshea
tevez
nani
giggs
ronaldo
September 21st, 2008 at 13:15
we’re gonna be destroyed from the right and we have practically no creativity on the left, excellent fergie, you want a midfield battle, oh wait, we are playing chelsea. what was saf smoking when he picked this side.
September 21st, 2008 at 13:16
why the fuck is not Brown starting i hope Neville doesn’t get exposed…apart from that i don’t mind that line up although i would have liked to see Nani start in place of Fletcher
September 21st, 2008 at 13:17
GK: VDS
RB: Neville
CB: Rio
CB: Evans
LB: Evra
RM: Hargreaves
CM: Fletcher
CM: Scholes
LM: Park
CF: Rooney
ST: Berbatov
September 21st, 2008 at 13:17
@dan(u-ol): U sure? Horror Midfield! I mean no width! Should have played atleast EITHER Nani or Ronaldo.
September 21st, 2008 at 13:19
Interesting team selection by Sir Alex, quite defensive but with a draw at half time we have great attacking options to change the game around (I think Chelsea will run the game the first 45, just hope they will not score). We could discuss if the gaffer has too much respect for Chelsea but I trust him on knowing this best =)
However, I would have preferred Brown to Neville. Wonder why he is suddenly finding himself out of the team when Gary made little to justify his inclusion…
September 21st, 2008 at 13:19
GK: VDS
RB: Neville
CB: Rio
CB: Evans
LB: Evra
RM: Hargreaves
CM: Fletcher
CM: Scholes
LM: Park
CF: Rooney
ST: Berbatov
subs: TK, Oshea, Brown, Giggs, Nani, Ronaldo, Tevez. Where the feck is Anderson?
September 21st, 2008 at 13:20
@RedDevilEddy: that make sense, putting hargo on the right, but now the midfield is extremely weak.
September 21st, 2008 at 13:22
one thing i’ll admit, if we are still in the game in the 60th minute, we have options to bring on to try and change it.
September 21st, 2008 at 13:23
Scholes???
In my whole goddamn life, I will never understand team selection logic.
Why Brown is on bench?
Is fergie still under impression that Brown scored that OG against LooserFool…
September 21st, 2008 at 13:24
Listen, I have some reasons to play that midfield. Fletcher: Works hard in big games, runs very much and always puts in a great game against Chelsea. Scholes: Like Deco, weak and cant tackle, but a really good passer. With Fletcher next to him we will have a hard worker and a playmaker. Hargreaves: Amazing crosser, and with Berba up front we need those crosses. And if needed, he can join the CM and work. When United defend, he will be CM, when we attack, he will be RM. Park: Works hard, can tackle as a winger and not such a bad crosser. He is really unpredictable, and against Chelski that is needed. K?
September 21st, 2008 at 13:27
I have no problem with the team selection at all. The key is to not go into half-time a goal or two down. As long as we’re level then, we can change the game anytime when needed and win it.
September 21st, 2008 at 13:28
whats the line up for the rentboys??
September 21st, 2008 at 13:29
Manchester United Football Club will win against Chelsea Football Club today.
September 21st, 2008 at 13:41
Where on earth is Brown in the starting 11? Someone explain to me why he isn’t ahead of either Neville, who has started in the league since March, or Evans who is still young and inexperienced. Also I’m a bit disappointed Anderson didn’t make the bench.
Utd to win 2-1, Berbatov to score both
September 21st, 2008 at 13:44
My prediction for the match: 2-2.
United come from behind to equalize both times.
September 21st, 2008 at 13:52
Just last words before the match!
This IS the chance Wayne Rooney can get!
Today he has no excuses! Playing as a second striker behind Bervatov! No Today its either make or break for him!
I am going for a 2-1 to MUFC!
Berba to score and then Rooney to win the 3 points!
Cheerio
September 21st, 2008 at 13:52
deco injured
September 21st, 2008 at 13:55
Yeah, Deco out, Ballack in.
September 21st, 2008 at 13:55
@dan(u-ol): that tones down their midfield quite a bit. though ballack has a nasty habit of doing well against us
September 21st, 2008 at 13:57
@abood89: exactly, i would imagine ballack being worst…
September 21st, 2008 at 13:59
No surprises on the team selection except Nani not starting ahead of Fletcher and no place for Brown. I am relishing seeing Rooney and Berbatov combining and the prospect of bringing Tevez and Ronaldo on later to turn the game.
I guess the idea is that Park and Fletcher offer a lot defensively and will peg back Chelsea’s right backs. Or maybe Fletcher is playing narrow in midfield and Park will drift to the left and Rooney will drift to the right so it will interchange between 4-4-2 and 4-3-3.
September 21st, 2008 at 14:02
any links guys?
September 21st, 2008 at 14:08
sorry to ask, but im out sick today, and i cant go to my usual haunt to watch the match, any chance someone can help me with a link to how to watch the match online?
September 21st, 2008 at 14:21
PARK PARK PARK
FANTASTIC
1-0 UNITED
September 21st, 2008 at 14:23
WOoohhoo!!!…PArk you’re so the man!!
September 21st, 2008 at 14:26
That’s a lesson to all of us. Whatever we do, we shouldn’t lose faith to Sir Alex. He’s the man!
September 21st, 2008 at 14:56
we need to take scholes off i get the feeling of a red card here… ronny on for hargreaves and then wait for a little while and put tevez for berba he doesn’t look too sharp at the moment.
September 21st, 2008 at 14:56
link to the game
http://www.justin.tv/andrelink
September 21st, 2008 at 14:57
The difference from last week? We look more HUNGRIER today.
September 21st, 2008 at 14:57
yea i wouldnt mind seeing hargo move to middle and put on ronny or nanni
September 21st, 2008 at 14:58
Berbatov made a huge mistake in that 3 on three counter attack….he should have passed the ball better to Park…… 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0
September 21st, 2008 at 14:59
I just love it when goals come from from the midfielders…
Ronaldo should replace Scholes before he gets second yellow… Hargreaves could play in the center then…
September 21st, 2008 at 15:00
We are giving a lot of position a way with every ball we just clear. We gotta continue to try and build through mid-field. Does Scholsey need to come out? Big game, has a yellow, could move Hargro and Fletcher in the middle and bring in Ronaldo?
September 21st, 2008 at 15:00
Wow my words exactly Andy
September 21st, 2008 at 15:01
for scholes cuz the ref has it out for him
September 21st, 2008 at 15:02
Have to say, good game so far. Entertaining. United disappeared after scoring but were clearly the better team before.
Berbatov is doing so-so, so is Rooney and yet again our best player is Evra!!
Evra - better than Ronaldo
September 21st, 2008 at 15:02
September 21st, 2008 at 15:06
just seen the new fifa advert. rooney an united feature heavily. come on united, stick it to chelski.
September 21st, 2008 at 15:08
That weak Berbatov pass to Park was very unfortunate. 0-2 there and goodbye Chelski. I hope we won’t regret it in the end.
September 21st, 2008 at 15:30
neville has lost it, he is past it!! berba is showing his laziness, and united are begging to get the score levelled..
and rooney has been really good…
September 21st, 2008 at 15:51
That was a huge mistake by Berbatov I told you……..O ‘Shea my boy what the fack are you doing there???? Is it the first time you see a ball in the air????? Boy oh boy you re so stupid
September 21st, 2008 at 15:56
twice in a week we blew a lead
September 21st, 2008 at 15:59
fuck this chicken head lookin ref what a prat
September 21st, 2008 at 16:01
last game for neville there, was it?
September 21st, 2008 at 16:02
Ah it was touch and go for we we played well but that goal was another putter. Same sort of start as last season. But we should really get firing on all cylinders soon. This showed grit and determination in this side. I think we can progress from here. We need a good run and Chelsea need to be head two more times and we are with them!
September 21st, 2008 at 16:02
Fergie Blew it with the last substitution. He should have taken off Fletcher or Berbatov, we were effectively without any wingers after Park went off due to Ronaldo playing so central
September 21st, 2008 at 16:03
Finally Rooney’s brainless antics costed us…
September 21st, 2008 at 16:04
Scratch that…the defense’s lapse in concentration cost us.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:05
Can we talk about how poor the officiating was today? He completely favored Chelsea throughout the match. Identitcal challenges got different punishments. Cole can come in late but Rooney and Scholes can’t. Kalou can dive in with two feet and doesn’t get a warning and when Ronaldo shows he is upset, he gets booked. I think it was 6 - 1 in yellow cards, absolutely ridiculous! Not only that but any 50/50 call went to Chelsea. I am not one to complain to much about the ref as he didn’t end up costing us the game.
Rooney once again lets his temper decide his actions and NOW it has cost us. It cost us three points. He needs to get it together and until he shouldn’t be in the team.
Fergie made some mistakes to me, Chelsea got a lot more dangerous with the introduction of Ronaldo. He should have left Park on, take Berba off for O’Shea, and play Fletch and O’Shea in the middle, Hargo and Park outwide. Those two did fantastic against the wide play of Chelsea. Chelsea created chances but not where they got behind our wide backs and got easy crosses in.
All in all, a fair result. Chelsea came forward well, as did we. Ronaldo, Berba, and Rooney didn’t look great today and need more time to get fresh, fit, and learn to play together. I was upset not to see Tevez, his work effort just wins us games sometime. Can’t complain beside the officiating which I thought was nearly horrendous. We stayed with in touching distance and we need to just pick up good results at home against the pool and Chelski!
September 21st, 2008 at 16:11
Van der Saar 7.0: Good game unfortunate
:) 
Stupid passes sometimes , +stupid shots , but he deserves the 8
So not moving
for your class you were a disgrace
Gary Neville 5.5: Let it go my friend … just let it go . You can’t play footy any more and that’s a pitty
Rio 7.5 : Good game no mistake . Ooops ! RED CARD ? What was that?
Evans 7.0 : Nice game , he is better than Pique and very concentrated .
Evra 7.5 : Average defensive play , nothing to mention in attack but he was there in the goal!
Scholes 6.5 : A Scholesy appearance … Sometimes he was sooooo calming down …. When he was replaced we just dropped down down deep down.
Fletcher 6.5 : Good play !
Hargreaves 6.0 : Sorry, but he is out of ofrm
Park Ji Sung 8.0 :
Rooney 6.0 : Just calm down … For your class you were very average my friend especially when you had that crucial first pass to make.Anyway nice passes up front nice dribbles but CALM THE FACK DOWN
Berbatov 6.0 :
Ronaldo 5.0 :
O’Shea 3.0 : My oh my ! Just … just fack off
Kuszack 7.5 : Nice move there ! I mean he stopped that Joe Cole shot . Should he stop that freekick that lead to the goal? Hell,no Big John’s mistake.
Fergie 5.5 : Why ? Why ? Why? Garry Neville ?????? O’ Shea ? WHY ? WHY? WHY ? WHY? WHY? Ronaldo was not ready it’s not his fault . Rooney got mad without reason …. AGAIN ….. fringe him just for one or two games …..
P.S. O ‘Shea you are going to have nightmares tonight
September 21st, 2008 at 16:13
nobody marked kalou, there was no body on him, and PIG just watched the damn header straight to our net. fuck we couldve won it. we couldv ended their streak right there. but what a goal by park! we couldv been 2 nil up. but we couldv lost it also, chelsea were making alot of chances.. well i could live up with the draw.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:16
@NiKOS: yes i’ll have nightmares.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:16
I am really tired of conceding lazy ass goals like this. Our deffence is the shadow of the last year, don’t want to talk. A loose would have been worse, but conceding goal like that, from Rooney’s idiocracy. He misses the chance and then screwes up. he sdould really be benched to learn a lesson
September 21st, 2008 at 16:17
we could have won it, but it slip away from us… but not everything comes in favor on our way right?…
September 21st, 2008 at 16:18
Berbatov for me is not justifying his value. His passes were poor and really did not do much. At least Tevez offers something defensively and works hard for the team. He hasn’t had a pre-season, hasn’t trained much with the team and Tevez was the form player.
We should have subbed Ronaldo for Berbatov and kept our shape.
Rooney was hugely impressive. Involved in every move and doing a lot defensively. In the big games we need that.
Defensively we were sloppy. EVDS does not inspire me with confidence and Kuz blundered for the goal. Ultimately we should be able to keep a 1-0 lead but we have failed to do that twice in two weeks. It is hard to believe we were the tightest defence in the league last season
In the end 1-1 is not a disaster. We are only six points behind and with a game in hand. We should win at Old Trafford which will put us level and we are only going to get better as we always do as the season progresses.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:18
and tevez should have played also..
September 21st, 2008 at 16:22
the fact is we failed to maintain our lead (parky, 18′).
next game is vs boro right?.. maybe that’ll help berba kick start his game..
September 21st, 2008 at 16:26
Mike Riley was kind of nice today, he is handing out cards..
he is so generous and so kind… 
hahaha lol.. sarcasm. 
September 21st, 2008 at 16:28
Berbatov is not yet match fit…he was really huffing and puffing after the first 20…the guy should be a min 60 sub at this point in the season…he needs to start buying into the united way…our defense start from the forwards….Neville I agree is just not better than the other right back options we have. For experience we have Scholes, Rio, Evra, Hargo…we don’t need Gaz…its unfortunate but its time to move him on…I have issues with Hargo…his technique just seems off for me…maybe beacuse he is being played out of position…apart for some nice crosses he was very average…I think Fergie got the tactics right except for the Gary neville decision…you could see chelski were trying to exploit him in the 2nd half…unfortunate..i really believe if we had played a bit smarter we could have gotten a result…we needed solid defense and hard workrate today and with the lineup I think we got that…
September 21st, 2008 at 16:32
Oh my God… won’t you Rooney bashers stop even now?
He was one of our top two players today, and was involved in everything creative we did. Fine, one bad tackle and they got a goal from the resulting free-kick but you fault the goal to Rooney?? Kuszack’s Blundered there! It was 6yds out and he just stood there. Perhaps I should also point out that if it wasn’t for Rooney, we could have gone 2-1 down, he tracked back and just got a touch on the cross else Drogba would have scored.
To summarize, a draw is a fine result for us. Maybe not being able to break the unbeaten run is disappointing but that will eventually get broken some day. What’s more important is that we’ve got a point off them at their home game.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:34
@john freakin’ o’shea: That’s a Carling Cup match though, we ain’t gonna see Berba play that day. Manucho though!
September 21st, 2008 at 16:34
is it just me, or is berba living up to his reputation of being LAZY. he hardly defends and always just seems to mope around?!
September 21st, 2008 at 16:36
@antsBoy: oh i see, its a goodthing then, i could finally see manucho play.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:38
we were forced to change shape bc of 7 fucking yellows ridiculous without them we could have seen teves come in on the wing
colver yea berba was sleepwalking up front ronny should have brought him off but scholes had the yellow.
ref blew the game for us but we should have expected it after Fergi was so critical earlier this week. but it is now there for all to see the bias against mufc calls, rescinded red, scheduling, what the fuck eltse can they do to keep us from a 3peat we may end up conceding the league at some point in favor of another cl trophy for SAF.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:41
Where to start?
Most of us will feel relieved we snagged a point at the Bridge but I for one am disgusted by the performance and by the referee.
We played like a bottom feeder who works hard but shows very little imagination or creativity in the attacking zone. Where has our beautiful football gone? Where is our pace, our overlapping play and strong passing. And can anyone on this team deliver a decent cross? We had our chances to go up 2-0 but we never really had the positive feel to do so. Berbatov I am afraid to say looked pathetic out there. Lets be fair, he is coming off a knee injury and he looked like he was favoring it a bit. He looked slow and lets be honest, the service to him was horrible. Rooney had his moments but as usual, there were more than enough moments where he did his chicken with it’s head cut off imitation. Never more so than when he picked up his yellow card and helped Chelsea score their goal. Why was Tevez not out there? Why was O’Shea brought on for Park who was our best player and who gave us speed, desire and width? Although Neville never cost us a goal, he played poorly at times showing inability to run with players and lashing out with reckless tackles. Why was he chosen over Wes Brown? How many times have we given up goals on crosses into the box this early in the season?
This game showed me that that something very serious is wrong with our team. We’re good but we’ve lost our quality, our mojo, our world class brashness and attitude. There seems to be a serious lack of pace, confidence and zip in our game. Quite often we stroke the ball around and when it comes time to make that final telling pass or shot, we hesitate and make a meal out of it. We are too static once we get into the opposing third. Players stand around and wait for the player with the ball to do something. Crosses are made that are way off but I see no player heading for the goal or for the near or back posts. There are no give and go’s and successful one on one matchups. I realize that Ronaldo is not match fit but it was sad seeing him easily lose the ball at his feet in one on one scenarios. As for Berbatov, he isn’t in sync with hi teammates yet. This will take some time so lets be a little patient in that regards. Rooney, same old sad story. Fergie has destroyed this player and I for one am sick and tired of seeing it. Evra, has become to offensive minded and has been caught up field far too much for my liking.
And when will any of our keepers make a game saving stop. They hardly get that much work but sometimes you need that one stop to save a game. In fairness, Pig had no chance on the Kalou goal but perhaps he should have come out for the ball. Is it just me but did Darren Fletcher look like the best distributor of the ball in the Chelsea half? I say play the lad more. Hargo looked alright but not aggressive enough on the defensive side. And above all, the whole team is not jelling together and there seems to be know form or shape to our offensive style of play. Defensively we are in bad shape too. Chelsea had plenty of good chances in this game and if not for their poor finishing, they could have won easily. Anelka is an absolute joke of striker. Remember all the rumors linking him with us last year? Thank God for small miracles he didn’t come to play for us.
Finally, there is something wrong with a referee who gives out so many yellow cards for ridiculously small infractions. When all I saw all day was Chelsea pushing, shoving and grabbing all game. I mean what the fuck!
Lets be fair for crying out loud. United deserved 3 yellows in that game and I would have given Chelsea 3 or 4 too. And I still don’t know what happened at the end of the game with Rio? Was he sent off or not? Another example of awful reffing. You don’t blow the whistle at a moment like that to end a game.
I really am hating what I am seeing so far this year. This team really is sucking wind and I am not sure how we will fix things. Ronaldo needs to find his fitness fast and his form faster. I can see why he never started today. Berbatov needs to get more into the game and needs to get better service. Rooney needs to be given a strict role and he needs to grow up. Tevez should not be benched for a big game like this based on the fact he has been our best player this season. Neville needs to be sat down, permanently. And what is to be done with Anderson and Nani. Sophomore jinx? I don’t know but they certainly don’t seem to be part of Fergie’s plans right now. Sorry for the doom and gloom but this game was there for us to win before the kickoff. After halftime we should have won this game. And yet, we blew it and let Chelsea off the hook yet again. Lack of discipline, and lack of quality in certain areas and at key times in a game. I’m totally pissed off and disappointed right now. As I see it right now, this club is incapable of scoring more than one goal a game. No imagination, creativity, desire, discipline and quality when it counts.
The only positive that can come out of this is we never fell further behind the leaders and the fact that we should and probably will get better. Sooner than later I hope.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:41
city is hammering harry redknap’s sqaud…
September 21st, 2008 at 16:43
You are all too harsh on Berbatov… Our attack played well until we scored. Berbatov and rooney were linking up.
EVDS did not seem confident even before his injury (with Foster out too we are not doing to well!)
Neville is a great tackler but is lacking speed which causes Hargo to have to come to cover which weakens our midfield and counter attacking play! But let him come back to form — I will give him to December.
Evans did a GREAT job covering for Vidic and I believe Fergie made the right choice in selling Pique.
We have had tough games this season so far and Berbatov has yet to really play with the team (Away at liverpool and chelsea is not an easy start… even if you cost 30 billion).
Rooney needs a benching… he needs to collect himself and have the pressure come off his shoulders… Tevez is a perfect substitute!
Disappointed with Fergie’s tactics… WAY TOO DEFENSIVE! Taking out scholes without carrick meant we had no possession in midfield which caused us to be over-run. That is what caused rooney to be under pressure, which led to their goal (which was crap!)
I think we will start getting better VERY soon. Ronaldo is back, Berbatov getting acquainted, Vidic coming back, Hargo getting fit. We should be rollin challenging/leading before Xmas.
Just my two cents!
September 21st, 2008 at 16:43
@Jonboi: He’s doing his job up front but he’s not getting any service. All old school strikers look lazy when they aren’t getting the ball. Blame it on the poor service and I think his knee was bothering him a bit as I noticed a bit of a limp.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:45
Why the hell are you bashing Berbatov. This is his second game. Do you expect him to come in like Superman? No. SAF needs to work better at integrating him into our offense. Berbatov can only work w/ what he’s given and that hasn’t been much to speak of.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:48
i listened to the match on the radio… and dispite the cunt who does the comentary who just hates united despite claiming to be neutral.. two things annoyed me today, wait three… wait no, four… ok there were plenty of things… but first the positives… we were up for this game, now weather that has to do with SAF hairdrying them all after l’fool, or just cos it was chelski.. either way we were a differnt team from the rest of the season so far, that and Park we’re the only positives i could take out of this….
now to my rant… this season the defence has been.. im gonna say it… piss poor (in comparison to last season) ok, so we were missing vidic but he’s not been great so far… trying to do more than he should.. evans played well tbh… but J’oshea.. im gonna have to verify this on viewing MOTD but he sounds like he fucked up.. why was he even playing… ronaldo by the sounds of it shouldn’t have come on. but my biggest gripe about today was that Rooney was being a total cunt. every opportunity he had he went to the ref… now i’ve not seen any of the decisions.. just heard them, so i don’t know if the ref gave him a reason to.. but still calm yourself down you twat.. i thought he would have been sent off and his dickheadedness gave them the equaliser.. why (had all subs been used?) did fergie not pull him off and put tevez, he shows passion in the right way.. not by being a mouthy scouse cunt.. but by running his heart out… something which berba could take note of… personally i would bench rooney for a few games… he’s too used to starting.. berba and tevez worked like a dream for the 3 mins against the scouse.
finally, garry your an example in how to be a captain and ( in the past) a right-back… but you’re gonna have to dig deep and regain that long lost form if your gonna play any longer.. that said.. i still would trust you more with most things than wes brown..
good result considering our form and niggiling injuries, but we need to get cracking now… big games are over for a while.. and we should be taking 3 points in every match until we meet chelsea again.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:50
@Don: Spare me mate with the defense starts with our forwards crap. If you enjoy watching Rooney and Tevez play every position on the field except that one called forward, then all the power to you. I for one want to see a forward stay up front and be in position for counters and direct balls fed into him. If we cannot stop the opposition with the rest of the players in the park then we are truly pathetic. Christ I hate that blue collar mentality where a player has to run his socks off and do mundane defensive things in order to be appreciated. Tell that to Eric Cantona. Don’t mess with artists and gifted players by asking them to contribute in unnatural ways. Ronaldo and Berbatov are not defensive players and thus, should not be expected to track all the way back all the time. They are there to score and create goals, not prevent them.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:53
dont hate rooney, he set up plays on our attack, god he even set rio for an almost goal!
September 21st, 2008 at 16:55
IDK what you all are saying about Ronaldo not playing good. We had our best chances in the second half because of him. Were it not for him, we probably wouldn’t have gotten out of our own half.
September 21st, 2008 at 16:56
@antsBoy: All it takes is one bad boneheaded tackle in our zone to change the outcome of a game mate. He blew it and it cost us. If he would learn to contain his anger and frustration and stop twisting off like a stupid 4 year old who suffers from hypoglycemia, then we all would be better off. And really, all his positives amounted to what exactly? Over the years I have been one of the loudest pro Rooney advocates on this site and others. But even i get frustrated and reach a boiling point when it comes to his continual stupidity and stubbornness which never seems to improve. The boy needs to grow up and focus better. He needs to start thinking and stop acting so selfishly. He cost us this game with a stupid foul just because he didn’t get his way from the ref 30 seconds before. If I’m Fergie I bench him for the next two games because of that. If you don’t see it the way many of us do, you never will.
September 21st, 2008 at 17:05
@colver:
Your own comments pretty well explain why Berbatov has been slow to impress. So I guess one can only justify his value if he defeats lack of fitness and familiarity with teammates and style of play in two games?
Perhaps you are being a bit unfair and are jumping the gun a bit. Lets examine things after ten games to see if you are right or wrong.
September 21st, 2008 at 17:08
@MUFC Fan in America: Well put about Berbatov mate. The rest of the team needs to integrate him into our offense better. Actually making good passes and crosses to him would help. He received piss poor pathetic service today. This forced him to play deeper than he usually does.
September 21st, 2008 at 17:11
Wayne Rooney has forgotten how to score goals and he is wayyy off the pace..Giving the ball away umpteen times..
He needs to be benched in favour of Tevez for a few games..
Anyone seen our schedule this year? We play away to top teams every weekend after a UCL game. Its almost like the powers to be are conspiring against a United league win this season?
Which was the last big team in a big league (EPL, la Liga, Italy) to win the league the season after winning the European cup?
Its just too hard..
September 21st, 2008 at 17:12
@Will: OK, I just finished putting Rooney down but when you make a comment like
Are you serious man? Tevez has received 2 red cards for Argentina in his last three outings for them for retaliating physically. He is no fucking angel either.
September 21st, 2008 at 17:13
Last season (9 pts):
Won - Portsmouth away
Won - Newcastle home
Won - Liverpool away
Lost - Chelsea away
This season (5 pts):
Draw - Newcastle
Lost - Liverpool
Win - Portsmouth
Draw - Chelsea
Last season we started DDLW which is just 4 pts… I think we are fine… though we need to win games regularly from now on. And liverpool and chelsea are overrated while Arsenal have already lost one game.
We are fine.
At least that is what I am telling myself until next week
September 21st, 2008 at 17:18
@Grognard: I agree with the fact that it was a senseless tackle and in an almost-danger-zone area. And it’s not as if they didn’t get any other freekicks around the box, they just kept on getting them. My point is this - they got that goal because of a goalkeeping error, nothing else. I would agree if Lampard or Drogba fired in an unstoppable freekick. Then it would 100% be Rooney’s fault. But can’t you see that we could have avoided this goal EVEN though we gave away the freekick? That’s why I think Rooney should not be completely blamed for the goal. It’s almost similar to slating a defender who puts the ball out for a corner when he could have avoided it, and then a goal comes out of the corner due to the goalkeeper flapping and missing it. Whom do you blame here? The defender or the goalie?
September 21st, 2008 at 17:27
tevez and andy shud had played or at least brought in for lazy berba who didnt mark and scholes!