Mar 15
Derby County v Man Utd: Preview
A bad cold (or is it flu? I can’t tell) has not allowed me to move around freely. Since I need to keep a thread active here, I’ll put up a short preview.
Right, where do we start? Ben Foster looks certain to make his debut, forced into action due to EVDS’s injury and Kuszczak’s suspension. So that’s something worth looking forward to as Derby aren’t exactly the team that would threaten most defences.
While Derby are quite easily one of the worst of the teams that have played in the Premier League, the team must realise that there cannot be any easy games from now on, to use a cliche. So we need to keep focus and do a job and, if it motivates the players enough, we are in a position where wins from now would keep us in front till the end.
Fergie will surely rotate the team. And with the kind of opposition it’s hard to guess the formation. Although, if fit, Saha should start.
Our prediction: 3-0 to United.
Meanwhile, a word on the Champions’ League, we got Roma, again. I don’t feel easy about this considering we face Barca in the semis. I’d have preferred Barca now rather than the semis, because we could have taken advantage of their poor form and the absence of Messi. But that’s what we have now, and we hope we beat them, and we hope our fans are well protected this time.
That would be all. Now to snuggle back into my bed before I wake up for the match.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Rooney Out For A Month
- Derby Man Utd: Live!
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd vs Derby County: Preview
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
Tags: Manchester United News
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Alrighty then; time to spew some venom. Actually it’s not that bad folks. I’ve had over 24 hours to cool down. The team actually worked hard and no one can say they were going through the motions because they were creating chances. Big problem was that they were weak at the back because Derby could have had 2 or 3 goals if it weren’t for some outstanding reflex and diving saves from good old Ben Foster. He really impressed me with his diving and reflexes which were sharp after such a long layoff. I’ve been one of EVDS critics this season and last when it comes to making saves of that nature. His reaction time is slower with his advancing age, especially with long shots.
Anyway, back to the game. Why? Why! Why did we not destroy these cheap EPL pretender wannabe’s with the kind precision attack we are capable of? In one word FATIGUE. Fatigue can come in many forms but I honestly feel that the long season has payed an ugly toll on teams like ManU, Arsenal and Chelski. Too many games have caused many of the stars to lose a little edge in their game and the first thing to go is concentration and focus. Contrary to what many may think it’s not the physical aspects of the body, it’s the mental. This is what has been hurting Ronaldo’s play for a month now. Even if he scores the odd goal, his touch and concentration has not been as fine tuned as when he was playing his best. He’s mentally tired people, bottom line. It’s showing with others too but Ronaldo is our go too guy and he’s been absent mentally on some of his attempts. Will he get it back? Yes of course, but only with some rest. How do you rest him now when every game is do or die? Also, I have no problem with his selfishness because if he doesn’t take shots God knows Tevez, Rooney and Saha combined won’t take as many shots in a game as him. At least he smells the goal and wants to score. I’m surprised in his early days in Portugal that a coach never tried to turn him into the next Cruyff-like or Pele-like CF.
As for Rooney, I’m sorry to all Rooney supporters but I’m fed up with his lack of goal scoring opportunities and of course his poor finishing. Fortunately he can still make a play and set up others but give him a crack at goal and he will make a meal out of it 9 out of 10 times. I have said in past posts what should be done so I won’t repeat it here but I am in tears watching this guy’s play especially after I placed his first game ever for United in the dvd player. He scored a hat trick that night and looked like the greatest player on the planet. He also looked like a striker and a natural goal scorer with a hunger for the box. Somewhere down the line something happened. I personally think it was a combination of injuries, DARE IS SAY POOR COACHING and the goal scoring emergence of one Cristiano Ronaldo. They may be friends but deep down in Rooney’s mind memories of Germany and the incident against Portugal still nag at his heart. I think he has a personal deep competition in his head with CR and this has caused undo pressure on him to perform above his skill set. This is why you see him losing the ball making stupid back passes and flicks that were never apart of his game before. His was a simple direct approach, now he’s trying to be too cute and he is hesitating. His first touch has eluded him because of injuries but I think he is also trying to do too much with his first touch and his indecisiveness when shooting has cause his aim to suffer too. This all started when Ronaldo became a selfish goal scoring machine. These are only my theories and so I am not asking any of you to believe them or buy in to them. I’m just sharing my gut feelings on the subject so please refrain from the typical insults and replies questioning my allegiance, loyalty and mental competence. I do have the right to my beliefs and I do take the time to share them if only to spark debate, not abuse.
I read today that Fergie is concerned with our lack of finishing. NO SHIT SHERLOCK! Well spend less time at the track Fergie and four hours a day on the training ground practicing shooting and first touch drills. Also, sit Rooney down for the game against Bolton. He needs to wake up and sometimes tough love is needed. I cannot believe there isn’t a coach on the biggest team in the world who knows how to get inside his head and to force him to alter and simplify his style. And please stop selecting Paul Scholes and Anderson over Carrick and Hargreaves. I am losing my patience with Anderson and his lack of vision and ability to alter pace and flow of a game. Sometimes he reminds me of a chicken with his head cut off. He’s like a crazed terrier running at full speed for no apparent purpose. At least Scholes knows how to change the pace and tempo of a game and look up to pass. Teach Anderson to keep his head up and add a little finesse into his overall game. He’s young, with a bright future but right now I would put him 5th on the CMF’s that I want to see.
As for the future, I suppose it’s comforting to know that Arsenal are sucking more than we are and that Chelsea can only beat up on bad teams at Stamford Bridge. As for Roma, be scared. Be very scared. To quote Han Solo, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this”.
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grognard, a little harsh on anderson don’t you think, everyone knows the andy-scholes partnership hasn’t worked and most likely never will, and aside from yesterdays match, in his recent performances he has been playing in the kaka role which yes, that’s what he was bought for, but now its obvious that he is a MUCH better CM than a CAM.
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Hmmm, it appears there might be a bit of youthful inconsistency in Anderson’s game at the minute and he is a bit of an unpolished diamond. Funny, I remember getting the head chewed off me for daring to suggest such a thing earlier in the season
Now on Rooney, I seriously wonder how some people analyse a game. I watched him closely yesterday and his movement was GOOD. The chances weren’t falling for him today and there is nothing he can do about that. He had one difficult chance that he had to set up by himself. Did you notice him make a couple of brilliant runs when Giggs and Ronaldo failed to pick him out? Or the counter attack when Ronaldo completely fluffed the through ball to allow Carroll to clear?
P.S. Ronaldo started off as a striker in Portugal.
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JB, I do now remember 2 counter attacks where Rooney could have been through on goal if Ronaldo hadn’t muffed up passes.
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JB yea i think fergi is using ronny as a striker and putting park/nani on the right and calling it a rest for ronaldo he can just chill in the attacking third and take crosses and threw balls it is not his strongest position but he is not a bad option for a third striker no. and i could see him in this role more and more as he ages down the road a few years when his pace slows. as you age your speed goes but you retain your power for long into your 30′s
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i think theres a lot of over-reaction from lot of ppl over here. this is the time of the year when lot of teams (esp the 5-6th types and the lowest in the tables ones) start playing out of their skin as they are playing for something. games like these become too tough. I think we ought to give some respect to other clubs as well even if they are the likes of Derby and Bolton. Derby had a lot to play for (fight to avoid being branded worst team in history of premiership).
This is the part of the season when points rather than performances are the main thing. we will have a game almost every 3-4 days from now on. players will get tired, htere will be surprises and there cud be injuries as well. the man who knows how to cope best with this is already at the helm of things so instead of being critical about everything lets just enjoy (we are at top now with a game in hand) and give our support. we r still fighting for 2 major trophies.
those of you attacking ronaldo seem to be forgetting he was played s a striker today! he responded with a goal (the winner) that is surely more than enough. i seem to remember he did create one outstanding chance for saha (cross across the goal) but that paperman had no guts to at least slide and try to go for it! this season so many times rooney and other strikers have fluffed that prob ronaldo now longer trusts them and prob because of his own form in front of the goal leads him to believe its better he takes them! In any case I think I would trust ronaldo more than any other striker to score given a chance!
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JOS; This is the time of the season when the big teams are spent on energy and they literally have to gut out wins. Sometimes they catch a second wind but right now they are all sucking wind. Lets face it the season is far too long. It really may hurt our chances in the CL although the good news is that all the other teams in the CL except Schalke are jut as tired. German teams have that long break and their seasons are only 34 games long. This gives them an advantage when it comes to fitness and energy.
JB; As far as Anderson is concerned I think many jumped on the bandwagon early in the season. He has great potential but I think he is just too young and inexperienced and that’s catching up to to him. Give him time and he may work out well for us. Nevertheless, I just have a personal feeling that he won’t be what we are all hoping he will be.
As for Rooney, the problem is not that he wasn’t getting the ball, its that he was never in a good position to get the ball with a goal scoring chance. I hate it when I see him with the all in midfield or on the bylines. And yes the boys did miss finding him a few times when he did make good runs. This also happened against Pompey. I’m telling you this is all mental fatigue. The message from the brain to the foot is delaying a split second and people are missing their shots and their passes. I hope they can get it all together for all our sakes or the season could go down the drain.
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The fatigue thing is absolutely correct. It’s getting harder and harder to play on more horses; to challenge for more than one trophy per year. We just have to remember that most other teams in the cl are also in some form of struggle in their leagues. Chelsea, Arsenal and ourselves fight it out for the title, and Liverpool still have work to do to secure their 4th spot – even though it’s a clear advantage for them compared to the energy we have to put in. Barcelona still have a shot at the domestic title, allthough they look further and further from it these days. The rest of the teams are not good enough to win the CL. Of the 5 potential challengers, I’d say that Liverpool and Barcelona will put the most into the CL, since that’s their best chance of a title this season (Barcelona are also still in Copa del Rey and have to use energy on that, even though it’s not as prestigious as the CL obviously). Liverpool will be a real threat in the CL, even though we all know, our squad is miles better than their’s… it’s just a matter of our players playing a lot more vital games (every game from now on for us, pretty much only the CL for Liverpool, because they’ll probably get the 4th spot even if they don’t perform at their best in the league). I’d be devastated, if Liverpool win it once again, because their team is clearly not good enough for more than one trophy. Actually their team is only good enough to challenge for the CL, because it pays to be able to draw away from home in that competition. It doesn’t in the PL, where their strict tactics fail to beat opponents over and over again.
To me Liverpool are the most threatening, and it’s all because our players are getting mind-tired. I just hope that the tendency we’ve seen this season will continue. We’ve so far been able to grind out a lot of results, and it’s all due to the increased experience in the squad imo. The experience from last season will do us a world of good these coming weeks, and I think we’ll see us beat strong teams with little margin over and over again. Everytime we do, we’ll be nervous in here, because we don’t look as convincing, as we’d like to, but that’s all it comes down to in the business end of the season: Which team is better at winning? And I think we’re miles ahead of the others on that front. Here’s to 2 trophies for us this season.
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Well said Tomas.
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