Dec 06
Evra’s Ban Smacks of Inconsistency | Sunderland Preview
I am aware of our game against Sunderland today, but the Evra ban had me seething. It’s not that I’m a fan of conspiracy theories (for the record, I am not), but a four match ban for the player was very confusing to say the least. Let my first quote the FA’s statement from the website: [you could read the whole statement -- including the reasons for slapping the ban on Evra -- but I'll quote the part of most interest]
The Commission considered this was an incident of violent behaviour by Mr Evra which was therefore punished by a suspension for four first team matches as from Monday 22 December 2008 and imposed a fine of £15,000 on Mr Evra.The Regulatory Commission found two charges against Chelsea FC both proved. On the first charge the Commission found that during the course of the same incidents connected with the warm down by Manchester United FC players, Chelsea FC’s employee, Mr Sam Bethell, had conducted himself in a disorderly fashion and that his conduct and language had been abusive and provocative.
An allegation that Mr Bethell had engaged in racist conduct or language was not proved. Accordingly, so far as the charge against Chelsea FC was based on its alleged responsibility for such racist conduct and language by Mr Bethell, the charge against the club was not proved.
Now quite how the FA could prove that Bethell acted in an abusive manner that was not racist in nature is beyond me. If they could prove for sure that his manner and language was abusive, then they would surely know what the contents of his abusive remarks might have been. And if so, then it would have been fairly straightforward to conclusively determine if said abusive remarks were racist or not. However, they could determine that Bethell abused Evra but weren’t sure if the abuse constituted anything racist.
I don’t buy it.
And a four game ban? Just when an entire club (Liverpool), fans and players are showing solidarity towards Mark Shields, a Liverpool fan, who is currently in an English prison after being convicted by Bulgarian courts for cracking a Bulgarian waiter’s skull. He is awaiting trial after having appealed, and he may for all purposes be innocent — reports indicate that he may be. But when Tim Cahill showed solidarity to his imprisoned brother he was forced to apologise. I can rattle off other instances of inconsistency but I wouldn’t want to waste my time, and Scott has done a better job of it anyway.
Right. Back to the small matter of a game today. Sunderland at home, it is. It’s likely that Scholes will sit out this one and it could likely mean the form midfielders — Carrick and Fletcher — will be paired in midfield. At least that’s what I would do. But with Fergie these days, you never know. Up front is more interesting, but I think Berbatov will start, leaving either of Rooney or Tevez to partner him. Ronaldo and Nani would be on the wings. With Evra’s suspension O’Shea would get a run out in left back. EDIT: Evra should play because the ban takes effect from 22nd December. Familiar faces, in EVDS, Rio and Vida will be in front of goal, while right back will be a toss up. I’d want Rafael with it being a home game against a seemingly rudderless Sunderland. But, as I said, with Fergie these days…
The Evra suspension has still got me agitated, so I’ll keep the preview short. Predictions: 2-0 to United.
Related items from Red Rants:
- FA charge Ferguson over conduct
- John Terry, AIG and Fergie’s Rant on Hackett
- Worry over Rooney and Vida | Evra’s Abuse | Curbs Plans Weak Squad
- Preview: Reds vs FC Ireland (a.k.a Roy Keane’s Sunderland)
- Sunderland Preview
Tags: Daily Roundup · Game Preview
December 6th, 2008 at 11:14
evras 4 match ban starts on thte 22nd, evras 5 yellow card ban starts at spurs, so evra should play today.
this evra business has really ruffled my feathers. The groundsman MUST of said something to warrant evra beating the shit out of him!
December 6th, 2008 at 12:30
can u imagine, 4 games!!? from an incident after a gamE!?
What kind of evidence are they looking for to prove racial abuse, gary Neville and a couple of boys were there stating what they heard.
You cant go searching for definate, hard evidenc3e of racial abuse as 99% of the time it is merely verbal. said one minute, forgotten the next. unless you are serious bout tackling these issues its too easy to presume it didnt actually take place!stupid cunts
RR- i too am rilled to say the least bout the outcome, outragous
soue it will be ok but im slightly wary of sunderland today for some reason, hope im wrong
VDS
RAFA RIO VIDIC EVRA
CARRICK FLETCHER
ANDERSON
bERBA ROON TEVEZ
i really want nani t get a run of games but it just seems hard to find space for him at the mo?
gd luck lads
December 6th, 2008 at 12:37
Regarding Evra I have believe and hope that the ban will be reduced after the appeal.
My prediction? An early goal would provide us with the platform to run riot and a comfortable 4-0 win against this dispirited side. However, without that early goal it will be as always, the lesser team parks the bus and works their socks off.
So here’s to an early goal, go Reds!
December 6th, 2008 at 12:40
I cant believe it! The FA should be called the ABUFA. Fook them! No-consistency, just a buncho of Shitty, Rent-boys, gooners and scousers in there.
I just wanna smack their head of piss on it on world television. Screw them. 
And Evra will lose the game against Stoke, Boro, Soton and the first CC semi final. And he will lose the game against Spurs in two weeks time because of the 5 yellow cards, 7 day rule. Screw them!
Well Ronaldo is back. Good news. Tevez played brilliantly on Wednesday, as did Anderson. I hope they both start this game and show that they are willing to fight for the first-11 spot. All the best wishes to you. EVDS should be back in goal after Foster played the last game, Neville should hopefully not be back in the starting team as his performance was horrible against Rovers. Adn since he came back from inury, they havent been up to standard they either… I wish Rafael will play another game, Rio, Vidic and Evra in defense. Solid back 4 for me! Fletcher has problems with a hamstring so if I was Fergie I wouldnt risk him. With Japan, FA cup and the Christmas period coming up, I would like to have Fletch as an option. So Carrick should play, with Ronaldo, Anderson and hopefully Nani next to him. Tevez deserves another game after his heroics against Blackburn, and Rooney deserves andother game after hitting form against Shitty last weekend, so theose two up front. Still, I am pretty sure Berba will play there. But who knows?
My team:
VDS
Rafael Rio Vidic Evra
Ronaldo Carrick Anderson Nani
Rooney Tevez
predicion: 5-0 to United. Ronaldo(2), Carrick, Rooney and Tevez to score. I know this may be brutal, but our last games at Old Traffor in perspective(5-0 vs Stoke, 5-3 vs Blacburn) and Sunderlands poor form and no motivation after Keano left them, Unintes should win this confortably.
COME ON YOU REDS!!!
December 6th, 2008 at 13:08
Eddy Im guessing it is an FA ban so he won’t miss the Champions League Semis. But still four league games is a big deal especially as O’Shea is the only cover we have on the left and Evra is so integral to our attacking play.
Actually I believe I heard somewhere Evans can play on the left. Does anyone know if this is correct?
Sunderland will put up a fight because of the whole “just lost our boss” effect. But I think we will be strong enough to win convincingly.
If SAF does not start Tevez then Im going to be seriously pissed off. I’ve always had this suspicion that SAF indulges in favouritism. Let’s look at the big picture. Right now our struggle is scoring goals. Tevez just scored four against a Premier League side. You can blame the Carling cup but we had a weakened team and Blackburn were almost full strength.
If Tevez can use the Blackburn game to go on a scoring spree…as confidence players often do….we should give him some games to see if that will happen.
I know everyone is in love with Berbatov and I also admire his creativity and intelligent link up play. But the Berb isn’t scoring in the EPL despite playing almost every match. You could say the same about Rooney but he had a stormer against City. It is time to reward form. If Tevez plays crap first half we can drag him off and put Berba on. But I think to keep Tevez sweet he deserves to start based on midweek
December 6th, 2008 at 13:16
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1707/inter/2008/12/06/998832/andersons-ferguson-bombshell-i-want-to-play-for-mourinho-at-inte
say what~
December 6th, 2008 at 13:48
We’ve got Derby in the semis of the Carling Cup, so Spurs or Burnley in the final!!
December 6th, 2008 at 13:54
http://thechelseablog.wordpress.com/
Even the Chelsea supporters seem to think that this decision was biased. FA – Cunts. Cant nobody do anything about it?
December 6th, 2008 at 14:08
@realred: wat bout ronnie?
December 6th, 2008 at 14:11
@colver: “Eddy Im guessing it is an FA ban so he won’t miss the Champions League Semis.” i think he ment carling cup, not champions league?
December 6th, 2008 at 14:23
Just when I thought I couldn’t hold the FA with anymore disregard, they go ahead and drop this bombshell!!!
What a freakin joke!! 
I’m inclined to say there might be corruption and bribery going on behind closed doors. We all know Chelsea is the FA’s favorite club, but on this situation where the outcome to every neutral was so obvious, they have found a way to favor Chelski. This reaks of manipulation and subornation and it might not surprise me if it’s the truth (no pun intended)
December 6th, 2008 at 15:06
@ROOOONEY: i would not read to much into this, a lot of players say they would like to go here and there all the time and never do in the end, even fabregas and torres said they would like to play in the seria A recently, plus goal.com have a history of bad journalism, so take everything they say with a pinch of salt
December 6th, 2008 at 15:35
Seems to me that our Latin players are soft sods. The minute they are not playing, suddenly they want to rock the boat and make proclamations about moving to Spain or Italy. Non of them are feckin irreplaceable to be honest, and only Ronnie has made a really supreme contribution to our play and trophy winning. Latin’s are truly proper little Mama’s boys, don’t believe in fighting for their place. Feck them.
December 6th, 2008 at 15:41
@Craig Mc: wow, all this comin from Nani’s biggest fan??
December 6th, 2008 at 15:49
@antsBoy: Yeah it is ironic isn’t it Ants boy
. I love Nani, but I couldn’t put my hand on heart and say he has made a massive contribution as Ronnie, but he did do ok last season, with assists and few good goals. This season he hasn’t really had a run of games to show either way. However Ants boy, I am sick and tired of reading now in the paps the Latin players saying they want to play elsewhere. My patience wears thin 
.
December 6th, 2008 at 15:54
@Craig Mc: lets hope he plays today, i swear to god if i see park start over nani today i will be pissed
December 6th, 2008 at 15:59
@Craig Mc: Finally somebody hits the nail on the head. They are old enough to take care of themselves. I don’t know why we buy these players because there are nations in eastern Europe and some places in South America where teams see United as the pinnacle of the sport. I don’t know if that picture of Rafael and Fabio wearing united jerseys was taken before they signed for us or not but I know Tevez once showed up to a press conference for Boca. These are the Latin players that should be signed, not Portuguese players who have been poisoned by Real Madrid and Barcelona. That said it’s probably bullshit about Anderson. Maybe he just wants Mourinho to be our next manager. Disjointed rant over
December 6th, 2008 at 16:03
That was meant to be Tevez showed up to a Boca press conference in a United jersey
December 6th, 2008 at 16:06
@Mr.Muhozi: Have to be honest Mr Muhozi mate, and say Park had a fantastic game for us against Shitty bedouins. He ran his arse off, and was onto Shitties players every time they got the ball. Very good hassling from him that match. I think he is so much better at defending than Little Man Nani, but I would like to see Nani today, I don’t think he will be playing though. I have a feeling Fergie is going to try playing Berba, Tev and Rooney together again
.
December 6th, 2008 at 16:10
@Liam: Don’t you think the latin players have been doing too much whining to the paps over most of this pre and now season?. Ronnie bringing up Italy and Arsenal, Nani English weather is too cold and it hurts my play – wants to play in Spain, and Tev mentioning his dream to play for Real, and now Anderson. I’m feckin becoming tired of it, and no smoke without fire Liam mate eh?
December 6th, 2008 at 16:16
what time is kick off b y the way?
December 6th, 2008 at 16:21
@Craig Mc: I reckon Fergie should stick with the Roovez and give Berba a full game in the CL against Aalborg on wednesday. Stikers thrive on form and our two in-form strikers are Roonay and Tevez, if Fergie drops one of them, especially Tevez, then I’ll have to question his man-management skills as that will only knock Tevez five-steps back after taking four steps forward(pun intended).
December 6th, 2008 at 16:27
@Gabriel: but berbatov is better for the team.
December 6th, 2008 at 16:34
@realred:
Kick off is at 17:30 GMT.
BTW:
Man Utd vs. Sunderland – Live stream
December 6th, 2008 at 17:16
@dan(u-ol): maybe… but we are playing at home and I believe the Roovez have the capable fire-power to threaten Sunderland or didn’t they have it last year? Are these not the same players that demolished teams last year? I’m not advocating that one striker is better than the other, but merely saying that Strikers perform on confidence and that comes from goals and the strikers which are high on that are Rooney and Tevez. Maybe Berbatov can make the team gel better, but the Roovez would definitely not make it worse, so why not play ‘em?
December 6th, 2008 at 17:27
Gabriel I completely agree. Roovez united. It costs very little to give Tevez a game ahead of Berbatov as regardless of our forward pairing I think we’ll win. But giving Tevez that vote of confidence will give him the right message: that if he takes his limited first team chances this season he will be rewarded with first team starts. That will give him the motivation to keep pushing for a first team place and stay committed to our cause. Otherwise he’ll just rot on the bench like he’d been doing before the Blackburn game.
December 6th, 2008 at 17:32
i know dunno how to take andersons comments, can only hope his “playing under Mourinho” statement is merely media hype.
December 6th, 2008 at 17:37
@ROOOONEY: I cant believe that!
Read it, but I cant believe that. Anybody knows what place that interview came from. I think(hope, ehh) that that was only some shit made up from Italy. If Im not wrong, this week many of our players have been linked to Inter. I heard Ronaldo was being chased by Inter, only for JOse to come out and say he wasnt interested in him. The Tevez only 12 hours after his Rovers heroics. Then Berbatov. Now Anderson? They have either gone mad or its just made up. This is gonna be a loooooong year! 
Started off with Ronaldo to Real, then that CRAZY transfer deadline-day with Berba and Robinho, then Ronnys work from the press(celebrating, sulking, winning) Rooneys unbelieveable October, loss to Arse weekend before they lost to Villa, Chelski lose 2 home games in 6, w win Manchester derby and chasing Liverpool(?!). WTF is going on this season? 
I think its gonna be great, but can my heart take it? 
I hope so… As long as its worth it. 
December 6th, 2008 at 17:39
@Craig Mc: didn’t evra and vida also complained in papers before
the papers never show you the WHOLE interview just the juiciest bits of it, plus they have the ability to skew everything, for example in the anderson interview it does not state what was asked, maybe anderson was asked what team would you like to play for other than united or something similar and same with manager unless it is a live interview or the whole interview i rarely believe news papers
on park, yes the little bugger can hassle players but i still do not believe nani should play under him, maybe park as a DMC would be a viable option for park because he can hassle well, but hes so light he gets barged of the ball so easily
December 6th, 2008 at 17:45
@Gabriel: I hope Roovez starts today. It will be important for Tevez to know that Fergie still believes in him and that he is willing to play Tevez when he plays well. If not, I will feel incredibly sorry for Carlito.
He is great and deserves more chances.
For the record, if Im not wrong Sunderland have played two of the top 4(Chelski and Liverpool) away from home, with a total of 9-0 in goal difference against them. Anybody wanna bet against me making it 14-0?
Team news? JB?
December 6th, 2008 at 17:47
So, Chelski lead 2-0 with 10 minutes left.
Arsenal are winning 1-0 against Wigan, but are having problems.
Liverpool are leading 2-1 at Eewood, hopefully Rovers can score another 2 in th last 10 as they did at Old Trafford.
Dunno if anybody has said this yet, but we face Derby County in the CC(Carling Cup, Colver. Not CL.) semis. That is the last game Evra is gonna sit out. Fabio anyone?
December 6th, 2008 at 17:50
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Park, Fletcher, Carrick, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Rooney
Subs: Kuszczak, Neville, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Evans, Tevez
December 6th, 2008 at 17:52
GK: Van der Sar
RB: Rafael
CB: Rio
CB: Vidic
LB: Evra
RM: Ronaldo
)
CM: Carrick
CM: Fletcher
LM: Park(???? no Nani????
ST: Rooney
ST: Bebratov
subs: Kuszczak, Neville, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Evans, Tevez(I feel sorry for him
)
United to win 5-0, Ronaldo(2), Carrick, Rooney and Berba to score.
COME ON YOU REDS!!!
December 6th, 2008 at 17:53
And Liverpool lead 3-1.
December 6th, 2008 at 17:57
@RedDevilEddy: i feel really sorry for tevez too.
December 6th, 2008 at 18:03
Tevez????
December 6th, 2008 at 18:12
Links please
December 6th, 2008 at 18:12
Tevez on the bench is a bit of a slap in the face… VERY wierd. For those of you wanting to watch this via sopcast, its on star sports, with english commentary.. number 6029
December 6th, 2008 at 18:13
Oh man no tevez, why not play all 4 of ronaldo, rooney, berbs and tevez. Come on fergie its against a sunderland side who have been playing piss poor, lost their manager and are just gonna park the bus in front of the goal. Man, this could make tevez loose his confidence again. Come on lets try out the fantastic 4 at least once. If we had all 4 on i think we could be scoring into double figures today lol. I still predict a win obviously, but this game could have just been perfect for the four to start. Oh well, lets score a couple of goals 2day none the less.
December 6th, 2008 at 18:13
errrgh hate the squad i feel sorry for tevez andy and nani especially carlitos
rafa in there is encouraging though
December 6th, 2008 at 18:19
Ferdinand vs Ferdinand IV BRING IT ON
December 6th, 2008 at 18:21
I think it’s the best and most fit squad (considering some players had played midweek). United would be stupid to take Sunderland lightly and “showboat” our fantastic four…I bet Fergie’s thinkin – get a 3-0 first half lead and then bring on Tevez and Nani for the fun to begin! Makes sense to me too.
Feel sorry for Tevez, but you can’t help it..this is a large squad, you can’t make everyone happy. Now if Fergie DOES NOT even bring on Carlitos as a sub, then i would be pissed!
December 6th, 2008 at 18:24
ronaldo vs bardsley
rafael vs bardsley, this has comedy all over it!
December 6th, 2008 at 18:27
http://atdhe.net/live-tv-1170.html
Setanta coverage. Works fine for me.
December 6th, 2008 at 18:31
Feel sorry 4 Tevez, Put him on Fergie!!
Radzio’s link is quite good btw
December 6th, 2008 at 19:11
this has been crap. Do Ronaldo and Berbatov have to lose the ball everytime they get it? This is a team that needs to be stretched and Tevez Rooney and Ronaldo showed last season that they are great at it. That said we should score soon no matter what because we are completely in control
December 6th, 2008 at 19:17
cant be4lieve we scored 5 midweek, whatever happened between then and now?
December 6th, 2008 at 19:18
Sunderland are playing like cowards!
December 6th, 2008 at 19:20
damn sund sucks
December 6th, 2008 at 19:23
This is a truly pathetic performance by the lads. If we cant score against these bunch of pansies, then we dont deserve to be champions. A lot of the blame must go to Fergie. why does he play a defensive 4-4- 2 at home to Sunderland? Why couldnt he have gone with the Fab 4?Ronnie has been crap so has Berba.
Fergie needs to put his ego aside and return to the formation of last season, even if it means benching berba
December 6th, 2008 at 19:25
What a joke
At least get out of your own half feckin blunderland!
December 6th, 2008 at 19:25
BREAKING NEWS
if your looking for the wear-side impact coach service, look no further then the old traford pitch. sunderland have rented a team coach and parked it infront of their goal. An insider said “they only way united will score if if they a, break the windows or b, we move it”
united are said to be fuming by this decision.
December 6th, 2008 at 19:27
The highlight of the first half:
Patrice “Kerlon” Evra…
That’s about it really
Even I, the no.1 Tevez critic, felt sad for him today. With Rooney and Berba not looking very sharp, perhaps we can put Tevez on and pull Rooney back in place of Fletch…
Ando too would fit well with his passing and dribbling..
December 6th, 2008 at 19:27
@Vivek: how is a 4-4-2 defensive? do you even know what your talking about? are you even watching the match?
the 4-4-2 is the most attacking line up you can get thats not beyond reason…
December 6th, 2008 at 19:29
Only caught the last twenty minutes of the first half, was the rest equally boring? As expected Sunderland are parking the bus, but we didn’t look very threatening. Slow movement up front, slow passing and very little creativity. Please tell me their GK was forced to make at least a couple of saves during the first 25 mins..
December 6th, 2008 at 19:29
@Man-U-cho: Three things:
Berba and Ronaldo have been terrible, but we all know they are players that can change a game in a flash. And we all know neither Park or Fletch can do that.
Berba > Tevez
Fletch > Anderson
Park > Nani
Thats whats happend. Park and Fletcher have been crap. Hell, even my 62 year old teacher could do a better job!
If I was Fergie I would keep it simple: Anderson on for Fletcher, who has dissapointen me higely, and Tevez on for Park, who was… well Parkish! Play a 4-2-4. Sunderland are playing 9-1-0! We need pace and attacking to breack them down. Park? Playing from the start at Old Trafford against Sunderland? Somebody please explain!
I still think we can win 5-0. We just need to replace Park with either Tevez or Anderson.
December 6th, 2008 at 19:29
I don’t think we are playing that bad. Even with such a defensive team we still created some good chances. We just need to keep the pressure up and do the right subs when the time is right. Tevez, Nani and Anderson for Fletcher, Park and one of the defenders after 60,70 and 80 min. Hopefully it will be over before then.
December 6th, 2008 at 19:31
@dan(u-ol): Agreed. Why is Park ahead of Nani? It isn’t as if we need his work ethic to stop wave after wave of sunderland attack
December 6th, 2008 at 19:33
@RDJ: was park playing, didnt even notice.
December 6th, 2008 at 19:34
0-0 at HT. This is the reason why you play all 4. Sunderland havent even gone past the 1/2 way line, so why not play all ur attacking players that will destroy them. Tevez deserves a game. Come on lets get the win.
December 6th, 2008 at 19:37
@dan(u-ol):
Hey mate, I know 4-4-2, but playing Park is not an offensive 4-4-2. For all our so called brilliant attacking play, how many clear cut opportunities? We are a lot more fluid when we play last years formation
December 6th, 2008 at 19:40
@Vivek: A 4-6-0 ? Oh god not that!!! Anything but that!
December 6th, 2008 at 19:40
So does anyone still feel that Tevez is going to stick around and take this kind of snub and BS from the Boss. I guess he may have started had he scored 6 the other day. And why is Anderson not starting?
Anyway after the first half all I can say is United are clueless and Sunderland should taken out back and shot for their tactics and lack of adventure. Disgusting and evidence first hand of why the EPL sucks supremely. After the quality game I watched yesterday from Germany, I am forced to watch this low level crap.
December 6th, 2008 at 19:41
We’ll score when Sunderland decide to try playing the ball in our own half for a change.
December 6th, 2008 at 19:52
Berbatov must be over his shot limit
December 6th, 2008 at 19:57
Ronaldo is a pussy.
December 6th, 2008 at 19:59
But not as big of one as Chimbonda
December 6th, 2008 at 20:01
ah for fuck sake giggs? really? is he going to take people on down the wing? score from 30 yeards? IS HE FUCK.
December 6th, 2008 at 20:05
giggs is making park look good…
December 6th, 2008 at 20:08
@dan(u-ol): Berbatov is making Park look like Jesus Christ
December 6th, 2008 at 20:08
this is a JOKE
December 6th, 2008 at 20:13
another chance wasted COME ON YOU REDS
December 6th, 2008 at 20:14
FUCK what a block
December 6th, 2008 at 20:18
what a shit side sund for the drop
December 6th, 2008 at 20:22
i’m looking forward to todays W.O.G’s
December 6th, 2008 at 20:22
VIDIC YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS
December 6th, 2008 at 20:23
UNITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2008 at 20:23
Fuck Yeah!!!
Vidic eats you alive!
December 6th, 2008 at 20:24
VIIIIIIIIDA VIIIIIIIIIIIIIDA
December 6th, 2008 at 20:25
@Mr.Muhozi: Todays W.O.G’s are Sunderland’s back 11….. There isn’t much more United could have done other than bring on Nani instead of Giggs..
December 6th, 2008 at 20:26
NEMANJA OOOOOOOOH
HES COMES FROM SERBIA
HE’LL FUCKING MURDER YA
December 6th, 2008 at 20:26
Yesssss, finally, Vidic the poacher
December 6th, 2008 at 20:27
@Traverse: i suppose so, but still giggs instead of nani
December 6th, 2008 at 20:28
What a relief. That was close one. We need to get our act together. I think justice has been served. Nobody should be aloud to get anything from playing so negatively.
December 6th, 2008 at 20:28
Thank you god for creating Vida
But hopefully this will be Fergie’s wake up call. Ryan f******g Giggs???? Gimme a f*****g break Fergie
December 6th, 2008 at 20:28
wooooow
December 6th, 2008 at 20:29
fucking hell. what a relief.
And what a fucking terrible waste of 30m in this cunt berbawhore!!! What is he supposed to be bought for if not scoring??? he cant fucking head from 6 yards, he doesnt bother to chase anything, he doesnt score… what the fuck he does on the pitch??????????????????
December 6th, 2008 at 20:30
@Vivek: and fergi called it down at the last second and switched from nani
December 6th, 2008 at 20:30
What the fuck is Fergie doing bring Giggs on. The guy is horrendous.
December 6th, 2008 at 20:33
@jos:
Absolutely right. Not only is he a waste of space, he has also effectively ruined what was one of the world’s best attacking force in Rooney, tevez and Ronaldo.I mean, can anyone tell me what formation we ended the game in??? with the holy trinity, we had good movement on and off the pitch and more importantly, it suited Ronaldo, who is whether you like it or not, our best player (not today, he sucked the place up). I blame Fergie for trying to fix what wasnt broken in the first place
December 6th, 2008 at 20:34
@Vivek:
I meant to say good movement on and off the ball
December 6th, 2008 at 20:35
VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDDDDDDDIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2008 at 20:36
You see this is why i think the english league is not the best league in the world. Only in england would you see such an average side get every man back and sweat blood for a point. When i watch games like this it makes me see no reason why i cant be a premiership footballer. Get the ball kick it as far away as you can, an opposition player runs towards you, oh fine kick him down. Man is that all you need to be a premiership footballer. Man i watch the spanish league alot and you see getafe getting 3 goals at the bernabeau. Getafe are the equivalent of a middlesbrough, would you ever see them coming to old trafford and scoring 3 goals. No they barely leave their area. I know the defense is probably worse over there, but watch a game and see how its end to end over there. Apart from the top 4 over here, the rest of the league is piss poor. How come we see the need for average clubs to be bought by billionaires to be turned into top teams. Villareal are a top team and have had hardly any finance. The reason why they got to where they are is because they have the right attitude, they go to places like the nou camp and want to score which is different than over here. It games like this that really piss me off and make the english league look dull.
December 6th, 2008 at 20:37
Phew..accept it – we were lucky to get the goal…a Carrick shot gets deflected and hits the inside of the post to fall straight into the path of Vidic…I can see our rivals fuming at that!
But honestly, we have problems in attack..major ones…I know it’s not easy when a team comes and parks the bus, but we looked out of ideas most of the time. And all our 3 strikers, Berba, Rooney and even Tevez when he came out look shite. Seriously I didn’t see that goal coming….oh, and Anderson won’t hit a goal even if our opposition players decided to let him run through free with the goalie on the floor…
December 6th, 2008 at 20:38
My god, Sunderland were a disgrace. Teams like that kill football
December 6th, 2008 at 20:40
@RDJ:
But they played the same way at Stamford bridge, look what happened. They got crushed 5-0.
December 6th, 2008 at 20:45
I nearly blew out my vocal cords when Vidic scored. That was one of the most crazily lopsided matches I’ll ever witness and to get the winner from Vidic was sublime. Games like today’s are why football is my favorite sport. There are no easy matches. To score, regardless of the talent on the pitch, is an extraordinarily difficult task. Edge of the seat for the entire match. A sense of elation like the one I felt following that goal lingers for hours. Loved every second of it.
P.S. Our inability to score is hugely troubling. Excluding the Carling Cup, 2 goals in four matches and late ones at that.
December 6th, 2008 at 20:48
@Vivek: So the point is parking the bus in front of the goal gets you absolutely nothing. I’d give much credit to teams like Hull who goes down fighting. They scored 3 goals against us and put on one hell of a show. Whereas sunderland did fuck all and gave us a snore fest. Discounting Vida’s last gasp winner, the game was forgettable as hell.
December 6th, 2008 at 20:49
@Vivek: Did you watch the game at Stamford Bridge???? It was nowhere near as defensive as this.
December 6th, 2008 at 20:51
@antsBoy: Our goal looked like a chelsea goal…
deflected shot from fat frank for EBJT to poach in…
I hate to say it but maybe, just maybe we screwed up big tkime (at least fergie did) when he went for Berbatov instead of Huntelaar. Still i’m reserving my judgement.
December 6th, 2008 at 20:51
@RDJ
The point I was trying to make is that even though Sunderland parked the bus against Chelski, they broke them down and crushed them and we couldnt…….As champions we must expect every non big-4 team to play like this. We must have a strategy against these teams
December 6th, 2008 at 20:52
You cannot call Sunderland shit considering we scraped three points. Can you blame them for playing for a draw away against the EPL and Champions League holders? The fact is we just lack the creativity and the finishing ability to break down a team set out to defend. Being amazing on the break is all well and good but not much use against a team who keeps men behind the ball. We are just a bit one dimensional and getting found out.
Snubbing Tevez was unforgivable. He needs time on the pitch to make an impact. There are not many strikers Solkjaer excepted who can come off the bench and make an impact. He should have started and I would not have betted against him scoring.
Berbatov has way too many quiet games. OK he can produce some moments of genius and create some chances. But he isn’t scoring which is what we really need right now….aside from the Blackburn goal fest we haven’t scored that many goals.
December 6th, 2008 at 20:53
@Rd:
Mate that was because Chelski got an early goal…..
December 6th, 2008 at 20:57
@Matthew: i could not agree more, i mean there are days i turn on sky sports news i see madrid or barca being beaten 4-2 4-3 by some mid tabler even relegation fighting teams, and think “this would never happen in the premier league” the disparity between clubs is contributing to this new generation of 6-4-0 formation and it is pissing me off, have some ambition in your game, i applaud a team like hull who at least give it ago and they came close with by losing 4-3 when they could have easily decided to have lost 1-0 or try nick a point.
its a shame the premier league is becoming like this, i wish the FA would try administer a system like in rugby were teams get rewarded for scoring points but that shall never happen as long as the FA keep having their trousers around their ankles whilst being anally fed chelskis minerals, it is a joke
December 6th, 2008 at 20:58
Okey, Im delighted that we won. This goal may be our most important one this season! Three points on a really hard day is what makes Champions right? BULLSHIT!!! Its not that Sunderland made it hard for us! We made it hard for ourselves. Park starting, and the worst of all: we played a bloody 4-6-0 until Tevez came on! Berba was playmaker, Rooney LW, Ronaldo I dont know what was, Carrick, Fletcher and Park moving all over the park. Ive realised that Berba can come up with moments of brilliance, make our team fluid and give us much needed calmness in these situations. But is that what United are about? Keeping a ball for 2 minutes after 85 minutes and then to just give it away when you finally decide to pass? United are about quick movement, bullet passing and deadly crossing- wether low or high. But can anybody please tell me what Park, Evra and Ronaldo are doing? When they are in acres of space in a crossing position, with players in the box, they decide to run at the defense instead of crossing the bloody ball. Rafael and Rooney: Magic. But as wingers. I dont understand why Fergie decides to play Park on the left instead of Rooney. His crossing is brilliant, and he, unlike others, dont need an invitation to put the ball in the box. No etra tricks, no hopeless running, no short backpass. Just cross. Rafael is brilliant, my MOTM. I dont want Neville again, Rafael is the future and, most importantly, the present. Fuck Gaz and Oshea!
Rafael is tha bis. 
Now, onto other problems. Anderson must start. Maybe not against teams like Barca, Chelsea or Inter, where you need to have patience to get the ball. But his energy and rawness is what this team need right now. Credit to Fletch, he tried. But we all know he is not United quality. At least not a starter! Anderson and Carrick must always start against teams like Sunderland, Newcastle, Spurs. You know, mid-table clubs. Andersons cameo was what changed the game for us. He won the ball back, got into the box(he is never gonna score is he?) and run at the Sunderland defense when he should. And he passed when he should. Unlike players like Fletcher, Park and Carrick who kept the ball for waaaaaay to long. Carrick was lucky with his deflected shot, if it hadnt we would have been ibehind Chelski, Arse and Liverpool now and look on a 0-0 draw. Happy he is confident to take shots, but could have messed that one up big time!
December 6th, 2008 at 20:59
@Vivek: Chelski are a much bigger and stronger team than us. They are quite capable of employing the route 1 strategy efficiently. Whereas we play the ball through the ground. We need space to work the ball and create chances. So putting eleven men in the penalty area will make our life a little bit harder and makes one hell of a snooze fest
December 6th, 2008 at 21:04
@colver: Stoke and West Brom came to defend and they were beaten well. This was simply 11 players behind the ball. When was the last game that you saw that one of the teams had 0 shots? Sunderland knew what they were doing and nearly did it. As Craig Burley said, it’s great for football that United scored. Nobody wants to see a game like that.
December 6th, 2008 at 21:04
@RDJ:
So you are saying Manchester United, the English and European Champions, have no Plan B. Whose fault is that??? Why didnt fergie use his money wisely by buying someone like Santa Cruz who would have allowed us to go for route 1 when required instead of a 30 mill ballerina??
December 6th, 2008 at 21:12
Mr.Muhozi completely agree with your response in comment 103. I only have respect for teams like hull who come and have a go at us, that is like how the spanish league is every week. I would have praised hull like hell if they would have gotten it back to 4-4, not cos i wanted them to get anything but to come to our place and get 4 goals is very special. The other teams should take a leaf out of hulls book, if they can get 3 goals then why cant sunderland or stoke or bolton, boro etc. If i was manager of a smaller team i would tell my team to play like hull, they dont expect anything so just go out and play entertaining. I dont watch german footie but if the league is as grognard said, it sounds better than ours. The more of these teams i see the more disinterested i am getting in this league. I hope it changes but i doubt it will.
December 6th, 2008 at 21:12
You need to see this:
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_4597230,00.html
Vidic Saves “Lucky” ManU
The English media is what encourages such cowardly teams
December 6th, 2008 at 21:13
Part two of my critisicm.
He doesnt get on the end of crosses, and when he does he doesnt go for goal. Oh no, he decides to put a header from 4 yards out back into the 18-yard box instead of going for what should have been an easy goal. I think Fergie has messed this one up big time! Tevez, Rooney, Ronaldo… RING ANY BELLS? 
Guess not. 
Berbatov has messed this team up big time. Why, oh why? He cant bench him because he was bought for £30.75 million. He cant use him in midfield because we already have Scholes, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Possebon, Gibson and soon Hargreaves too competing over a spot there. So where is he yet to play? As “striker”. There is only one solution to fix this. Like I said, Berba is a playmaker, not a goalscorer. Play two in CM, Rooney and Ronaldo on the wings, Berbatov and another striker up front. Rooney must be switched to a winger if Berba is to play in this team. Either Manucho, Campbell or Tevez. Any of those would be better to play up front than Berba and Rooney. I hate Berbatov right nwo, because he has ruined this magical team. 
We have no solution to our problems. We are going on a downside slide. Phelan is our assistant manager. We use Park as our first winger. And who is to replace him? Giggs. We use Neville instead of Rafael in some games. Berba trouble as I said. And Ronny is not the one he was last season. He is sulky, his touch is not great. He doesnt seem toget in the positions he usually does. He doesnt seem to head the ball at all. His decisionmakng is worse than Nanis right now. And dont get me started on his free-kicks. 
Berbatov now. Brilliant player, no doubt. Playmaker like no-one else. Moments of brilliance that shows the difference between bad and good players. But he is not a striker! Simple fact. When was he when Carricks shot deflected off the post? I dont remember, but Im quite sure he wasnt in the box. He has ruined our team.
Im worried.
December 6th, 2008 at 21:14
@Vivek: Hopefully match of the day will redress this balance tonight, but I’m sure hansen will be too busy having sex with any tv playing the liverpool highlights to comment…
December 6th, 2008 at 21:16
@RedDevilEddy:
Excellent analysis mate, couldnt have put it better myself. Fully agree with your views.
December 6th, 2008 at 21:20
How come berba is playing behind the striker and rooney leads the line, i thought it was meant to be the other way round. It wouldnt surprise me if that is how they are told to play due to some of the crazy tactics deployed this year. Just play where ur meant to. Berba leading the line and rooney behind its not rocket science. Good example, anelka last year looked crap for chelsea becos he was being played out of position on the left. This season he switches to his favoured position and is top goalscorer in the league. If we actually play berba and rooney where they are meant to they will do fine. As i said i dunno if they have been told to play in the wrong positions by the staff or if they just decide to play there themselves but whatever the reason they need to swap around and then and only then they will start to click.
December 6th, 2008 at 21:24
its funny how peoples tunes change. last season when rooney was pure shit, it was “rooney creates goals, not score them” this season, berbatov has 8 in about 18, and was leading the premier league assists table before his injury.
its pathetic that players like park and rooney are shite 9 games out of 10, but never get any criticisms, and players that are effective 9 games out of 10 cant do anything to please anyone.
heading from 6 yards? at least he can get his bloody head high enough to head the ball, something rooney and tevez cant do. 4 goals in the mickey mouse cup does NOT warrant a start in the premier league, it was blackburn for fuck sake. our bloody reserves made them look like league 1 side, get over it!
December 6th, 2008 at 21:33
@colver: Ummm, remind me what the point of football is again??? Winning, what kinda team comes into a game without any winning mentality whatsoever??? Its a different ball game if they defended for moments in the game then try to attack like Hull did, but today they had no will to attack whatsoever, so yes Sunderland were SHIT.
@Vivek: The same Santa Cruz whose injury records are marginally better than Saha’s??? Sure that would be spending money wisely indeed
Thank heavens you’re not in charge of transfers.
December 6th, 2008 at 21:36
Berbatov is no doubt the right player to buy its just where he is being played thats the problem. Behind rooney instead of in front of him.
December 6th, 2008 at 21:38
Well hear it comes……The Wrath of Grognard.
In my lifetime I may have watched tens of thousands of games and I have to say with all honesty and with some thought that todays performance was the second most disgusting, embarrassing and repulsive performance I have ever had the displeasure of witnessing. Oh I’m not talking about United. No, Sunderland for me showed no class, no ambition, and all the cowardice and lack of footballing skill that one would expect from such a pedestrian and totally unworthy Premier League side. The only other performance I rate as more disgusting and repulsive was Argentina’s performance in the 1990 World Cup Final against Germany. On that Summer eveneing Maradona and company were just happy to place ten men behind the ball and defend for a 0-0 game and hope to steal it with penalty kicks. Their only shot at goal that day was an attempt to lob over the keeper from 50 yards. They hacked and fouled themselves to a 1-0 loss and acted like babies and poor sports after losing. It was a pathetic embarrassment to the game.
Well today Sunderland went one further. They fouled their way to a 1-0 loss in which they never even mustered a sot at goal. The humiliation for Sunderland fans must be complete. If I was a Sunderland supporter I would be headed to the Stadium of Light right now demanding a refund for my season tickets.
Today I honestly feel like I never want to watch another Premier League game as long as I live. And if I had to sit through another two or three more of these debacles, I think my life expectancy would be very low. Honestly, the FA should feel shame over the crap product that they produce. Too many cowards running football teams with only one thing in mind. That is financial survival. The business ambitions of the game has taken over the competitive on field ambitions. Too many teams are far to comfortable playing for 0-0 results or draws and only a handful of teams even have a mind set that promotes attack first and defend second.
Yesterday I watched a Bundesliga match and saw how the game should be played. Two teams fighting for first place but lets not forget that one of them is a minnow from a town of 3000 people. They could easily have done the very same thing as Sunderland when they stepped onto the pitch at the Alliance Arena. Place 10 men behind the ball and play a very defensive 10-0-0 formation and hold on for a draw. Instead Hoffenheim instead did what they have done all season. They came out and ran and ran and passed their way into a second half lead and were very unlucky not to have won the game. Bayern’s two goals were freaky luck plays and Hoffenheim has no reason to hang their heads in shame. They lost the game but they won the respect of Bayern and millions of Germans and other football fans that saw a team with confidence, pace and ambition exceed even their own wildest ambitions. They are the “Little Engine that Could”, and they certainly can and have done so.
So what kind of message did Sunderland send to the millions of English football fans today? That financial survival is much more important than competitive play. That disgracing yourself by not playing the game in the way it was intended but instead, setting up a flat back ten and playing like sniveling cowards and hacks. I was so pissed off and disgusted that if I was there I’d make my way to the pitch and choke the life out of that pratt they call an interim coach. Why should no team in England hire English coaches? You saw the reason why. Because they are unimaginative, uninspired and completely cowardly wankers that have destroyed the game.
What are they protecting themselves from? Do they think that getting a 0-0 result at OT or Stamford Bridge or the Emirates is some kind of accomplishment? It’s not Yes it’s apoint but it’s also a message loudly sent to their squads and to their supporters that all they are is temporary pretenders in a league that they do not belong in. Too many bottom feeders are in the business of doing just one thing and that’s playing only to survive financially and not playing to win a game of football. The FA has created this monster by having too many teams in the Premier League and by creating a financial climate that has so much disparity and unfairness that teams have to disgrace themselves in order to survive in a league that doesn’t want them.
I feel sorry for United supporters who pay their hard earned money to go to OT and have to watch a team play ten men behind the ball and basically turn the game into a depressingly difficult castle siege. This is not football, this fucking garbage. Why this kind of football is tolerated and why it is actually encouraged is beyond me. Some may say that there is nothing the FA can do about it. I say bollocks to that. Penalize teams and fine them for playing that way. In pro basketball teams are penalized for playing a zone defense. How many times today did I catch Sunderland with literally 11 men inside their own 18 yard box. The fact United created as many chances as they did speaks of their skill (albeit hopeless finishing). No other team in the world would have had any more luck breaking down this wall today. And then the Sunderland manager says he was disappointed with the result today because he thought the team played well. Niall Quinn should sack him immediately for creating such shame to his side’s reputation. Honestly, I love Manchester United but can I honestly sit hours and hours watching this kind of shit? I don’t really know. Perhaps I am overreacting and my rage will eventually leave, but right now I honestly never want to see another EPL game ever. For those of you who feel the Prem League is superior and the most attractive football in the world, go get your heads examined. Until the league is shrunk to 12 to 14 teams 5 or 6 games a week will look like this. Because there are far too many League 1 team presently residing in the Prem that have no business there. The aspect and aim of the game is to out score your opponent. Perhaps the league needs to outlaw draws. Force team to play for a win At the end of a game when the score is tied, don’t give extra time or penalties. No, just give teams zero points. Only that will force teams to attack and forget about this crap that is being played now.
The game is about goals but most of all, it is about winning and it also should be about entertaining. Lets not forget that thousands of supporters are paying their hard earned money for that entertainment. Somewhere down the line Sunderland forgot who and what they were playing for. I say hang them at dawn.
December 6th, 2008 at 21:38
Part three. This is not meant as critisicm, just a proposal to a solution. We either dont cross the ball or do it bad. When we do get it right, we have Berba, Park, Rooney and Fletch on the box. None of the pose a threat. Berba should, butb Ive noticed in his time at Untied that he doesnt. Rafael is our best crosser. He for me is an ultimate RWB. He will become huge! But we need a striker. I dont say we need to buy one, I just think we need another striker than Rooney, Berbatov or Tevez in the box. We should take back Campbell. He is what we need. In every inch, he is the player which United crave for. Fuck everyone else. I dont want Benzema, Aguero, Moa or Henry. These player are the answer to all our problems: Frazier Campbell, Santa Cruz, Carlitos Tevez as a starter, Wayne Rooney as a winger/starter with Tevez, Ashley Young, Anderson and Hargreaves. Why? Here:
), but Hargreaves is a brilliant DM. Great aggresion, good passer and nive shot. Fast too. That is the midfield combination that Manchester UNited should use for 2/3s of the season. I know that may be bad for Carrick, Scholes, Fletch and such, but winning is most important.
Frazier Campbell: Times his runs to perfection, not afraid to get stuck in, doesnt always wonder around the pitch looking for the ball, fast as a rocket and exemplary finisher.
Santa Cruz: Player Ive always wanted at United. Was delighted when Berba joined, but I was gutted that Santa didnt join us. He is tall, great balance, fast, very well times runs and a great finisher. The exemplary striker.
Carlos Tevez: He, even though shorter than a hobbit, is a great header. His movement is fantastic, he is a great finisher, wants to score all the time and is fast. Great skills and balance, and the perfect CF. Doesnt always stay in the box, but he does what is wanted from him.
Wayne Rooney: If he should play as a striker, its not with Berbatov. Either change Berbatovs role, or make Rooney a winger. He crosses the ball very well and is quite good at taking corners. Moves into scoring positions as well, even though a winger. Proof? Rovers away.
Ashley Young: Pretty obvious, isnt it? I like wingers that cross without needing an invitiation. Young is one of these. He is a good finisher too and realy fast. Knows when to us skills, and equally good with both feet. Ultimate winger.
Anderson and Hargreaves: Perfect midfielder pair. I liked thr era of one DM and one AM. They switched roles often too. Anderson can play as both(just need to work on his finishing
Somebody need to fix this team. And if there is anybody that can, its Fergie. Just need to realise it quickly. Hopefully his view from the terraces is gonna help him with that.
December 6th, 2008 at 21:40
@Matthew:
Fergie is obssessed with Rooney playing closer to the box as possible for quite some time now.
And that is not entirely unfair considering Rooney’s goal droughts and habitual misfiring.. The truth is both Rooney and Berba should be near the box and we have some attacking midfielder who can actually produce some masterful passes .. Something Anderson was brought for ..
December 6th, 2008 at 21:57
Ronaldo kicking the ball out and then walking off was a disgrace and embarrassing, sums up what sort of character he is.
And now apparently Anderson has stated his desire to play in Italy, all these little things like Nani and Ronaldo ignoring the fans and picking out thier own people in the stands is starting to make me uneasy about the direction United are going in. I could be wrong, but to me there appears to be a certain level of discontentment in these boys, some of it is SAFs fault for not playing them enough, and some of it is just down to them having an attitude problem.
December 6th, 2008 at 21:57
To all Berba bashers. Can I just say that he was by far out best attacker on the day. He wasn’t amazing but we had our best chances from him. He forced 2 good saves and missed a header by a little. The rest didn’t do even that. If I am not mistaken there were no saves from either Rooney, Tevez or Ronaldo. In regards the idea that he destroyed out fluidity. It’s just wrong. Our game is bad due to Ronaldo’s not so great form. Even though Ronney and Tevez weren’t that great last year it was covered by Ronaldo’s great form, but he can’t do it all the time. Stop bashing the guy, because the whole team had a bad game and let’s not forget how pathetic were Sunderland.
December 6th, 2008 at 21:57
@Grognard: Damn, Grog I luv ya. All those points. Make all of us open our minds!
But honestly, today made United look like a Champions side. Creating 16 chances against a team playing 11 men in their own 18-yard bow in 90+ minutes is really an achivement. But what makes a Champions team? Luck. And will. We had both today. We played with 10 players in their half in the second half, 7 of those in their last 3rd. We wanted to break them down. We created chance after chance after chance. And even though we missed some sitters(again! 
) we didnt get down. We still tried. And in the end we got what make a winning side: luck. A deflected shot hit the post, and our CB( 
!) was there to poach. Champions, truly Champions. In the words of Fergie: “1-0 wins like today win championships.” And in the words of Jesus Christ: “Those who truly try to win for the better mind, will eventually win”
” Honestly, I love Manchester United but can I honestly sit hours and hours watching this kind of shit? I don’t really know.”
Couldnt agree more. I think Sunderland were a disgrace to football. I think there is only one things FA should do: Give every team playing a 0-0 draw £100,000 in fine. Im honest! I still think English football is the most beautiful in the world. NOt the England team, but you get me. But really, people watching todays game as their first PL match would probably be afraid to turn the telly on when it is Premier League game.time. It was a real horror! This display by Sunderland made Saw III look like a sheep-love-babytalk movie. Its a disgrace!
December 6th, 2008 at 21:59
@Rd:
By Santa Cruz I meant someone like him. Huntelaar would have worked just fine, he would have come cheaper as well. We did not and do not need a striker-playmaker. We were the most fluid attacking team without berba last season. What we needed was a plan b, someone who would allow us to go route 1 when required. berba is clearly not that. And for all those who point out his assists, his job is to bloody score not provide assists. Assists and clever touches should be a bonus not the main trade of a 30m striker
December 6th, 2008 at 22:00
@Orez: Rafael was our best player today!
And to be honest, the best of our attackers. Damn, we did play a 2-2-6 today.
CB: Rio
CB: Vidic
CM: Carrick
CM: Anderson
LW: Evra
LF: Ryan Giggs
ST: Berbatov
ST: Tevez
ST: Rooney
RW: Rafael
Sunderland:
CB: WHOLE FOOKING TEAM!!!
December 6th, 2008 at 22:02
@RedDevilEddy: Rooney on the wing is the last thing we need
December 6th, 2008 at 22:05
How bloody blind can papers be?
What the fuck can you expect when you play 11-0-0 in 90 minutes? 
I want to kick them all in the face. And Im wearing my footy boots… 
“Sunderlands heroics…”
“The hard work by Sunderland…”
“Nemanje Vidic broke Sunderlands hearts…”
They didnt do shit?
December 6th, 2008 at 22:06
@Liam: I would take Wayne on the wing rather than Park, Giggs or Nani right now.
I dotn want him to be permanently there, but our LM is terrible now. I cross my fingers Tosic proves to be the steal of the century. 
December 6th, 2008 at 22:06
@Orez:
Mate Ronaldo’s not so great form is partly as a result of the way he is employed now.. Last season, he had a free role, he could play as Cf with Rooney and tevez working the channels. This season, he has been asked to go back to a winger role to accomodate Berba. Nut berba is not the typical CF. I’m not saying he’s a bad striker, just not the right type for us. And as for today him being the best attacker, he cant head a ball 6 yards??where the hell was he when carrick’s shot deflected off the post??? There were several good crosses into the box, did he get on the end of even one???
December 6th, 2008 at 22:12
@Vivek: Yeah, he headed it over from 5 yards.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:14
Rooney will miss next weekends game against Spurs. He, along with Evra, will miss the game because of 5 yellow cards this season.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:15
@RedDevil
Good point in regards Rafael. In any way I agree that naming that pathetic display as “heroics” and “hard work” is just a pathetic journalism. VDS should pay for a ticket. I am sure this was already stated but Nani should have been in for Giggs. I don’t blame Giggs anymore for his shity game. I blame SAF for choosing him. Rooney is banned from Spurs game, so I guess Tevez will be playing. Not sure what else to say. Ronaldo needs to get his for back and Berba needs to start scoring that headers and half chances.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:15
Now a small review of United’s role in this disgusting game. I honestly can’t blame them too muvh because they did all they could. They played positive football and attacked relentlessly. Sure they had no luck and they often screwed up their few clear cut chances but other than finish, they di all they could.
Which brings me to the big problem. This team has become woefully inept at putting away their chances. I love Berbatov but even he has to take some blame today. The reason we got him in the first place was because of teams playing like this against us and because he had a better presence in the box and in the air. Well he missed three excellent chances and looked rather tentative all afternoon. He needs to find some aggressiveness in his game. Rafael delivered a dozen quality crosses into the box today and there was never anyone on the end of them or in a good scoring position. On the few times there was, it was the wrong man, either Park or Rooney. What’s with that?
Rooney stunk today and so did Park, Fletcher and Ronaldo. Carrick was decent and Rafael was magnificent once again. So please explain to me why Tevez and Anderson were both snubbed by Fergie today? Sure they cam on as subs and were the best players on the pitch, but why did they not start. What kind of message do you send your squad Fergie when you don’t reward outstanding achievements? Does Tevez have to score 6 in a game to get respect. I somehow believe we would have broken down Sunderland sooner had Anderson started and had Nani started over Park. Why exactly was Park out there? What was Fergie so fearful of? The only reason to start Park is against a team that has speed and width and that attacks. Sunderland rarely if ever got over the halfway line. So why wasn’t Nani out there? Instead, he takes Park of and then later he bring Giggs on. Why? Giggs was completely useless in the game. What really gets me about Giggs poor form this season is not his loss of pace or his poor finishing, it’s the fact that his crossing and his passing has also left him.
Anyway, this team needs to work on their composure in the box and they also need to start sooting more from outside the box. Our goal came from a shot outside. Constantly trying to break down a team the Arsenal way can become a futile and forlorn hope. Sometimes you just need to shoot from distance, hope for a deflection, bad pounce a break or cross from wide. More people need to start positioning themselves in good heading position instead of the near post and far post. 90% of the keepers in this league don’t know how to handle good crosses so why not try more of them. Thank God for Rafael. He loves to overlap and he loves to deliver a cross. Too bad nobody has the courage to be on the end of those crosses.
Now about Ronaldo. I don’t know what to say. I have never seen such low intestinal fortitude in my life. To just give up on a play in an attacking area like that just mystifies me. I don’t love the player like I used but I have defended him over and over all season. He is trying very hard to alienate himself and piss off everyone that supports him as well as his enemies. Yes he was hurt but he should have sucked it up unitl the whistle blew or the ball went out of play. He showed no courage or that he possesses any kind of pain threshold. There is a reason why North American’s think football is a sport for puffters. No US football player would have done that and I can guarantee that no hockey player of Canadian heritage would even contemplate it. Just a joke to say the least.
Finally, thanks to Vidic for his opportunistic goal. He saved our bacon today. And now I will sit and contemplate having to put up with the next time a shit side comes to OT and does the very same thing. This league is total rubbish.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:18
Players definately missing the game against Spurs:
Rooney, Evra, Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Brown and Fabio.
5 of those are as good as definite starters in most games. That means this team:
VDS
Neville/Rafael Rio Vidic Oshea/Rafael
Carrick Scholes
Tevez Anderson Nani
Berbatov
………
December 6th, 2008 at 22:19
@Vivek: Okay I actually agree with this, I was for Huntelaar- type poaching striker too and not Berbatov, but others said he’d slow us down and bla bla bla.
@Fred The Red: Not again, why must everything he does be scrutinized by fans and the media??? I’m not a fan of Ronaldo(even before the summer antics), but what did he do wrong by leaving the field?? He already signaled he wanted to be subbed and if you noticed, Fergie got on his phone and spoke to Phelan. What would him staying on the field and slowing the game down have achieved??? Anderson’s comments that he wanted to play in Italy are no different from Tevez saying he would like to play again in Argentina in the future. Its not like he said he’s gonna leave the next chance he gets, all he said was that he’d like to play in Italy one day.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:22
@Vivek
As far as I could see Ronaldo still could go anywhere he wanted, but he decided not to due to the fact that the center was clothed. I am one of the biggest supporter of Ronaldo, so if we are to win, we need him to perform. I know Berba missed the header, but he was close and he tried. you can’t expect to score every time he has a header. Many great crosses? Couple of good crosses is more likely. Our crossing was abysmal as always. In regards Vidic’s goal I have to agree. Berba should have been there, but he wasn’t. I am not saying he is great and does everything, but he is unlucky. I am saying that even though he doesn’t play that good, the for of the rest of out attackers is much worse.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:22
@RedDevilEddy: Ronaldo isn’t a definite yet, Fergie said they’re still assessing it. Any word on Brown and when he’ll be back??? Shows how good of a job Rafael is doing when no one really misses Brown.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:24
@Orez: Nobody on this blog has been a greater or louder supporter for Berba than me. However, he needs to make his opportunities count and he needs to be less tentative and more aggressive. There are times he needs to be more selfish as well. He’s a class act but he is feeling pressure to perform and it’s affecting his game and his split second decision making.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:24
@Vivek: no, berba should play upfront with rooney behind. blame fergie not berba.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:27
“The Reds boss praised Sunderland’s stubborn resistance as his United side threw absolutely everything at the Premier League strugglers, but he said there was only ever going to be one winner in the match.”
How can Fergie praise those cowards?
December 6th, 2008 at 22:28
@RedDevilEddy: Excellent points mate and I like the idea of financially punishing sides who play 0-0 games. Why not? They can fine players for unseen infractions after the fact. Why then not punish a team for showing no intention of attacking or trying to score a goal. Send a message that this kind of football is not tolerated by the FA as the Premier League is in business to entertain, not bore people to death.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:32
@Grognard: true, more often then not ive seen him in positions where he would normally shoot, but now he instead passes to accuracy personified I.E rooney.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:35
@Grognard: the FA is very pro-chelsea, so dont expect the FA to enjoy good football.
i fear that the FA is trying to make this league a replica of serie a, hence chelski being the FAs most loved team, and fabio cappello in charge of england.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:40
@Grognard: Ive never played against a team coming out to a game trying to get a 0-0 draw. For me, its always one minute in the opposition box to me going in on a sliding tackle a minute later. Its fun!
Ive only once exprienced playing a team defending with 11 men behind the ball. They led 1-0 at their place. What I noticed was that because they were busy not giving away room in the box, they didnt go further than 20 yards out of their goal. They give lots of space and time around there and its easy winning free-kicks because when they decide to run for the ball they go in at such speed that its difficult stopping. Its easy winning free-kicks and taking long shots. Carrick saw that and too one shot that we scored from. Deflection, of cource, but we won the game becayse of that.
Thank you, thank you! Im getting embarrased by all the applauses. Enough, enough. Thanks you all for this. Erh, what just happend. Sorry… 
Hi-hi 
BTW, we won that game 2-1. I scored the winning goal, free-kick I won myself. 22 yards, top corner with my left foot.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:45
@dan(u-ol): True. But for the sake of football, they should fine teams that draw 0-0.
Or, the better: give points for goals. Like, If United win 4-0, they should get 4 points. 0-1 loss, 0 points. 1-2 loss, 1 point. 7-1 win, 7 points. That would make this League attracting again.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:46
@Rd: Ive been a United fan for a long time mate and Im not used to players openly stating thier desires to someday leave OT, Im not used to it and I dont like it, maybe Im just old fashioned, and Ronaldo should have stayed on until we were ready to make the change. by walking off he left us with 10 men for over 3 minutes. I wouldnt fancy having Ronaldo in the trenches beside me during a war,
December 6th, 2008 at 22:49
One more comment about Rooney’s unnecessary yellow card. FUCKING SCOUSER!!!!
What were you thinking mate? Check that, I forgot, you’re from Liverpool. Thinking is outlawed in those parts. Fucking a-hole committing a stupid foul like that and being forced out of the Spurs game. That’s fine as it gives Carlito a chance to play. Sit in the stands and veg out you stupid fucking clown. 
December 6th, 2008 at 22:51
WOW, is this what the English game has become? This was a league where the emphasis on attacking football was so much, people actually said it was our weakness. Now all I can see is middle to bottom table teams employing these useless 9-1-0 formations
What actually makes it worse is I’m reading headlines like ‘Sunderland Heroics’; ‘Sunderland Bravery’; ‘Lucky United’ etc WTF? Is this what the media want to promote? I guess it’s because it’s against United, they’ll rather make it look like we didn’t deserve to win 
Seriously, how can we claim the PL as the best league in the world when a team displays such cowardice? How do the players even feel when they play as such? How do the fans feel after their teams adopt such unadventurous and mostly futile tactics? No wonder they resort to kicking and vilifying the superstars, it’s that resentment from knowing that they are better than you and you can’t pick up the courage to challenge them.
I seriously hope the rags tmz and Monday put to shame this Sunderland performance, all it does is make our league look like a joke. Maybe if they start giving 0 points for draws, we won’t have to put up with such bore-fests we’ve witnessed from some of these teams.
Mind you, it’s a bit ironic, but we employed almost similar tactics against Barca
The difference is, we at least attacked, won the game and the fans were not happy about the negating tactics; now if only the bottom feeders can learn to do the same….
December 6th, 2008 at 22:52
@dan(u-ol): No they are pro Bullshit. They are just fucking idiots who don’t know what is best for the game and for their league. And as long as fans pay their money to support such garbage, nothing will change. Here’s hoping the economic crunch really hurts the game in order to perhaps move individuals to save it. Man how I prefer the Bundesliga. And they call that a lesser league. Players don’t make a league, attitude and positive thinking do.
December 6th, 2008 at 22:57
Check out this idiotic article.
Link
The author feels sorry that “solid” Sunderland couldn’t get anything and then he proves that he actually hasn’t seen the game by claiming that “Giggs at 35, presents a strong case for a more regular place in the United starting 11″ What a moron
December 6th, 2008 at 22:58
@Gabriel: Against Barca, we waited for counter attacks. We defended, like every top team does away in Europe. But we waited for counter attacks, when we got them we attacked with 5 players. Sunderland? Only the ball. Sunderlands counter attacks were fast though. They were as fast as the ball is when it is kicked in full power up the pitch.
Ended when it hit a United defender. Look at Barca away. We had a penalty, should have had 2 more. 3 shots off targets, 5 on target. At home? We scored one, Park shot just a little outside the post, Nani headed just wide, Tevez just scored from a cross, Tevez shot right at the keeper from 12 yards, and Nani blazed it over on a counter attack. Compare that to Sunderlands 0 shots, 1 goal attempt(which?) and 1 corner. A disgrace. 
December 6th, 2008 at 23:03
@Orez: People like that doesnt deserve to be paid for writing. All of us here, even me, could do a better job. I bet those who write such articles just look at goals scored and when. They see: United 1-0 Sunderland. Vidic `90. “Oh, they were lucky. Didnt manage to score for 90 minutes, then scoring with a CB. Well, credit to Sunderland. They defended well.”
MUST. KILL. IDIOTS. LIKE. THAT. AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
December 6th, 2008 at 23:03
Bonus points wouldn’t actually be a bad idea. I dunno if you win by 2 goals or more you get an extra point. Or for every 50 shots a team takes they get an extra point. Something like that just not thought up in 2 seconds like mine were
December 6th, 2008 at 23:06
@Orez: typical example of what I was saying in my post… If that hack watched the game and that is what he came up with then he shouldn’t be a football writer. But like I said, as far as it’s against United, most journo’s would prefer to make it look like we were lucky or undeserving.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:09
@Gabriel: The greatest are always hated!
December 6th, 2008 at 23:10
Here are some ratings I really agree with, picked ‘em up from the United forums:
Player Ratings:
Van der Sar: [6] Didn’t have to do anything. What rating do you give a player who doesn’t have to do anything? Six.
Rafael [7]: Played with great energy; wasn’t perfect, but another 90 quality minutes under the belt of our future right-back.
Ferdinand: [7.5] Orchestrated our movement into midfield after constantly quelling weak Sunderland attacks.
Vidic: [9] Dominated a quicker Cisse, using positioning and strength imperiously. Inexplicably made a hugely ambitious run, plundering with Serbian single-mindedness, saving three precious points that United hugely deserved.
Evra: [7] Patty did little wrong today, but has enjoyed more attacking success against other teams. One of our most consistent players.
Ji-Sung: [7.5] Showed some skills in addition to his expected doggedness. Unsung Ji-Sung as usual.
Carrick: [8] Getting forward much more than last year. Currently enjoying a run of form stretching over several weeks. Shooting from range with his left-foot, effectively, gives great evidence to his newfound confidence.
Fletcher: [7.5] It’s easy to argue how competitive Sunderland’s midfield is, but against it, Fletcher looked quite dominating.
Ronaldo: [6.5] Ronaldo’s runs last only into the opponent’s third where last year, with a healthy ankle, he’d get a good shot off or reach the byline. Ronaldo was frustrated throughout, despite some good play, and eventually just walked off the pitch, his second rather inscrutable act in as many EPL matches.
Rooney [8] Passed and ran well; very mature display. Appears to have Ronaldo’s ear, and the winger could use the advice. Rooney is in good form despite lacking goals.
Berbatov [7.5] Berbatov is the classiest player on most pitches he plays on; however, his lack of aggression and sometimes questionably passive decision-making means a lack of overall effect. The class inherent in his balance, touches and reading of the game will be lost in history without the tangible results to support it.
What y’all reckon, I think he’s spot on… I didn’t see the need to rate Sunderland; cowardly displays like that do not deserve my analysis.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:15
I am watching Barca VS Valencia right now and the game is mostly at Valencia’s half, with difference being is that Barca is 3:0 up. Barca is the team to beat this year and I think they are going to massacre Real next week. Our game left a bad taste in my mouth, so Inter and Barca are helping me to get reed of it
December 6th, 2008 at 23:15
Some posts here beg the question – were most of you watching the same game as me?. I don’t give a feck that they played 11 men, a cat and a dog in front of out goal for the whole match, cos we had chance after chance, after feckin chance, and our atrocious performing strikers would never had scored if we stayed there all feckin night. Sorry but we were utterly useless in front of goal yet again. Rooney the winger, I mean what the feck is all that about?. His first touch when put thru on goal several times, AMATEURISH to say the least. Berba, Tev, Anderson, Carrick and always pass the ball backwards, when in a position to shoot Fletcher – so inept it makes you weep. I don’t blame Sunderland for not coming out, it was up to our team to break them down, score and make them come out. I am afraid I agree with all those people throughout the nation, who have said we are NOTHING without Ronnie. Opposition teams know this, and all of them are hacking him to fecking death this season, and this highlights our other strikers and how indifferent their games are where consistency levels are concerned. To say I am NOT enjoying this season so far, would be an understatement. Sorry folks! Surely Fergie should start docking these highly paid inefficient strikers £1000 for every missed chance. Charity funds would skyrocket from our strikers.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:22
@Gabriel: Why don’t we do a hunger rating Bro – 10 out of 10 VIDIC. 0 out of o – all the rest, may as well have not turned up. I was bored feckin stiff on the terraces. They are pissing me off big time, I am going to take peanuts to throw next time I go, just for something to do
.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:23
@RedDevilEddy: They weren’t the greatest today Eddy mi man – they were shite in the final third of the pitch – yet again
.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:25
Grognard, i think rooney’s tackle was a smart move by him. After getting the very very hard fought lead in injury time he didn’t want sunderland to get a goal against the run of play and to stop them he actually sacrificed himself, much like carrick against man shitty last weekend….
December 6th, 2008 at 23:27
@Fred The Red: I\agree wholeheartedly Fred
.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:29
@vikas: He should learn to tackle then vikas, and he could take the ball without nobbling somebody
.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:33
@RedDevilEddy: Eddy, Fergie has to praise the opposition stubborness, because otherwise he would have to admit his millionaire strikers are more often thsan not SHIT.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:35
@Craig Mc: mate, I’ve come to the realisation that our team just doesn’t excel at close-quarters, possession, draw-out opposition type of game. We suck at it and have for quite some time. We attack with pace and when that is taking away from us, we are almost inept. For that, I don’t blame the players as they have been trained developed and told to play a certain way, the counter attacking, pacy, free-flowing way.
I said it before, that opposition know this closed, slowed down game is the best way to stop us and although it is a sad reflection on our league, they would use it everytime if given the chance. Look at even Aston Villa, a team hoping to challenge for a top-four spot, what do they do at their OWN stadium? Pack men behind the ball, just pathetic.
Who I’m actually peed of with is our management staff for not finding a playing style to overcome this. We have talented players who can play like the Barca’s and the Arsenal’s, I mean, Chelsea have done it this season!!! The players can only do as much as they are told or what they practice everyday in training which in our case is play a pacy, free-flowing attacking game. In relation to that and to Sunderland’s woeful performance, I feel the players did very well.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:38
@Craig Mc: Good idea! Our players are terrible finishers. People are baching Andersons shooting. To be honest, Waynes or Berbas finishing isnt much better. They get more chances than Andy, but still miss 9/10.
And the ever so prolific Ronaldo… Where has he gone? What reason, really? Berbatov? Injury? Best player award? United not playing well. I wish United went for a winger soon. I dont care if Ahsley Young is worth £16 million. He is worth it. Now that Ronny is injured, who will replace him? Nani, the inconsistent Mikky J lookalike? Oldie Giggs or Park, who runs all over the Park without any reason? Tosic will hopefully become a great player, but I would like Ashley Young. Wake up Fergie? Buy Young and get Campbell back! I know it sounds childish to say “buy him, and do this”. But Ive thought this through for some time and we really need a winger. Tevez is probably the best finisher we have right now. He should start most games until Berba finds his feet.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:42
@Craig Mc:
rooney’s tackling ability is arguably better than many of players in our team i think. and if it is needed to nobble someone to get the ball in the situation he was in today, then so be it.
I think going in for the tackle was the right thing to do.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:46
We have the players to break down opponents. Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov, Anderson, Tevez, Carrick. But who does it in the end? Vidic! SuperSerb!
He`ll fucking murder ya! Honestly. Finishing is a problem for us. We have players that are so brilliant at build up play, Rooney, Berbatov, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Anderson. But who is there to finish? No-one! Reason? None of our strikers really have that hunger to score goals! Only Tevez. And he doesnt start any games. Berbatov seems to love assists more than goals, and Rooney seems to like playing like winger more than striker. Look what Tevez can do when he starts games and gets good service from players like Anderson. 4 goals! I repeat, 4 goals! Rooney was top of our assist chart last season. Now Berba is. Is thought it was wingers and midfielders that were supposed to get the most assists, not strikers! That is what we lack. I got it! Hunger in the final third. Carrick had more shots than Rooney today. Berba showed lots of times that passing is more strong than his finishin. When Tevez came on, he ran at the defene looking for shots. Got into positions to score. He and Frazier Campbell. Up front. Two strikers that are on the field to score. Finally we have two players that get it! 
Ronaldo is hungry to score, but it seems Fergie doesnt want him to do that anymore. He just runs to frustrate opponents and therby himself in some incidents.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:48
@RedDevilEddy: If we want someone who can just score goals and is a natural finisher, Owen is available for £2million in January…
December 6th, 2008 at 23:48
@Gabriel: Gaby HOW SO mate?. How do you explain that even in our fast pacey games, we do get thru on goal, (so breaking down 11 man oppo), yet blaze the ball over, shoot at GK, or miss the posts. Its not we dont get thru, its that we are feckin useless at scoring when we do. The strikers need their arses kicking, for their half arsed performances. I mean do any of them have a brain at all?. They are not using it this year if they have.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:50
@Traverse: And Zaki is available for small money too, his loan is up in the summer. Chelsea are well after him already.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:52
Why are strikers on the pitch? To score goals.
Why are Berba and Rooney on the pitch? To get assists.
Why is Ronaldo on the field? To dribble himself to frustration.
Why is Anderson on the field? Because he wants to win.
Why is Tevez on the pitch? Because he wants to score goals.
Why is Park playing football? To help the defense when opponents attack.
Why is Rafael playing for United? Because he wants to win.
Why is Carrick on the field? Because he can see openings.
Why dont we buy a new winger? We have Park, Martin and Nani.
Why is Phelan our assistant manager? Because Fergie wants stability.
Why is Manchester United Manchester United? Because we are the best.
December 6th, 2008 at 23:53
@vikas: Yes, that’s why he gets the collections of yellow cards. And when was it OK to nobble somebody, its never ok to hurt another player vikas – sorry!
December 6th, 2008 at 23:56
@Traverse: Zaki, Owen, Ashton, Santa Cruz, Defoe, Miller(West Brom). All of them are strikers I would like to see at United. They are all deadly finishers, good in the air, and strong. Maybe not Defoe, but he is incredibly good. Cant believe he plays at Pompey!
December 7th, 2008 at 0:01
@RedDevilEddy: Zaki’s owners want £15million, and we are unlikely to get Santa Cru z for any less (also City will buy him). Ashton and Miller are not United players. Defoe is pretty good, but too small. I’d go for Agbonlahor from Villa. Tall, Pacy and can score with either feet and his head.
December 7th, 2008 at 0:08
VIVA LA VIDA!
December 7th, 2008 at 0:09
Thats what i just cant understand, why the fuck doEs Fergie feel he has to play park at home to a bottom 3 side?
As someone mentioned above, we would have definately been a more potent attacking threat with Nani playin instead of park OR Anderson for Fletcher.
I could understand if it was a tough away fixture but we were at OT vs a rudderless ship!!I swear Park is the most defensive winger in World football, its fuckin infuriating. Works hard but my god he is pathetic, no attacking flair at all in his frail body.
He shud only be playe din away fixtures where we may need him to cover a certain area of the pitch. I mean its real obvious shit, its clear to see. Im sure this has been part of our problem of late with park playin all the time. all the focus is put squarely on ronaldo, which only feeds his horrific ego. More importantly he constantly finds himelf surrounded by 2 men. I know he’s looked ropey past few games (NEEDS MORE GAME TIME) but Nani with his speed alone would give opposition far more to think about. creating more space for everyone! Were so fucking predictable just now. im staggered watching us play this season. Our entire style of play has deteriorated drasticly since CQ left the set up. What is this constant lumping it into the box theyr making me watch every week? Do we have many ariel threats in the box, no. So why do we insist on whippin in high crosses when rOONEYS all alone in there!?? WHY ARENT WE PLAYING TO OUR STRENTHS??!!
Im seriously questioning the impact Phelans had on this squad. Why are we playing such a bland, basic, obvious brand of football!?
Ronaldo shpowed his true colours today… you know i really feel us the fans have forgotten way too easily/ quickly the way he was disrespecting our great club in the world media all fuckin summer. tried to make us look like a mere stepping stone when we just won the Champions League!! tasteless cunt.
What makes things worse for me is Fergies SHEER DETERMINATION to play him every minute of every game. it stinks of desperacy. And again its only feeding to his ever growing disgusting attitude problem!
Ronaldo was having a stinker today, so why was Fergie so reluctant to take him off when he was crying n bitching for bout 5 mins? take the prick off, wrap him up in cotton wool n throw on Tevez for fuck sake……….And how much agony does he want to put Tevez through, why is he being punished like this? like he’s the one whos got to prove himself WHEN REALLY ITS DIMITAR WHO SHOULD BE?!
This season in all its breifness has been riddled with a catalogue of management errors. wether its been team selections or substitutions. How could Fergie have put Giggs on ahead of Nani tonight. Giggs is only any use to the team these days when we have a healthy lead over weak opposition. Giggs simply cant maintain a decent level of football. hes slow, weak, indicicive and he cant keep hold of the ball for more than 4seconds! He achieved all he could have ever wished for last season, its surely time for him to gracefully step down real soon. Hes a true legend but hes taking up much needed space in the squad!
By far my strangest ever reaction to a victory before…. Dont get me wrong iv ever gratefull for the 3 points but im deeply concerned with what im seeing, the team is loosing its slickness, we look clumbsy & clueless out there….?
Maaybe im over reacting but i know wht iv been seing this season, it hasnt been great at all. Thank god we have quality players coz we havnt been playing gd football.
I personally worry slightly for Fergie himself however i know what he brings to the club is invalauble. With Phelans introduction however iv seen a drastic drop in our standards. we look demotivated out there half the time? As far as i can see he’s brought nothing positive so should be releived of his duties. Im sure part of the reason for the “samba boys” complaining more this season is coz their middle man, friendly face & translator is no longer around! In our new coach we need someone who is multilingual. I mean can you imagin Fergie and Phelan trying to communicate to Anderson n Nani!!??
Bit dark i know, sorry. Funny thing is despite all the above still think were on for the title this yr. Just hope we dont fuck it for ourselves.
peace
December 7th, 2008 at 0:14
Honestly, all I see is another situation where Fergie is exploiting a player’s versatility. Berbatov was bought to be our most forward attacker, right? Then why is Fergie having him drop deep to playmake? Because he’s good at it. When Berba first arrived at United, I remember him being the furthest up the pitch, a typical No.9 but as soon as he began showing those touches and assists, Fergie literally had an orgasm and decided he would be better in a deeper role
Well, we are back to square one. What use is Berba to Rooney and Tevez if he plays in their position? He was bought because those two players are not perfectly suited for that No.9 position. Rooney is a great assist and play maker who attacks from deeper positions, so why have Berba play a similar position when you could keep him upfront scoring the goals we know Rooney and Tevez can’t? 
I understand we had no creativity from midfield at some period in the season, but we have eliminated that problem now, so why is Berbatov still playing deep? The annoying thing is that he is also a bit lethargic at times too and will never sprint into the box after coming so deep to spray the ball.
I’m not blaming Berba, this are obvious things that point to the management of these players. If we are going to change our winning style of play, at least do it properly so we can maintain that winning standard. 
December 7th, 2008 at 0:16
@Traverse: Zaki isnt anything special. Owen cant guarantee to be fit any time. Neither can Ashton or Santa Cruz. But Miller is young and I believe he is a great talent. But still, Defoe is the best strikker of those. But I dont want them at United. I think United should look into the future and change their style of play. I really dont like the 4-5-1 or 4-6-0.
Neuer
Rafael Vidic Rio Evra
Ronaldo Hargreaves Anderson Young
Tevez Campbell
subs: Foster, Fabio, Brown, Carrick, Tosic, Rooney, Berbatov
For home games, that would be great. Tevez and Campbell are our best attacking strikers, Young and Ronaldo are brilliant wingers, Rafael and Evra are good at defending and attacking and the CM can do both they too.
December 7th, 2008 at 0:23
@Craig Mc: Harsh words Bro but deserved to be sure. They are a total joke who are gun shy and when they do shoot, it’s rarely near the goal or right at the keeper. I blame the coaches for not working more on basic shooting and passing fundamentals in training sessions. This club is far too concerned about technical and tactical issues that they have forgotten to allow players to train and work on their precision and accuracy in front of goal. Work on shooting, volleying, heading for the corners, heading down, turning and shooting etc. They are awful at the most important aspects of the game which is crunch time in the box. I too am disgusted by this season and I am bored stiff, not only by United but by the entire league in general. Complete boring mediocrity and a disgrace to world football. I’m very close to having had enough. I can’t take much more of this dull and slow torture.
December 7th, 2008 at 0:25
@Grognard: Please dont leave us Groggy.
December 7th, 2008 at 0:26
@vikas: We are talking about a play at midfield against a team that was completely and totally worthless. It was a foolish and unnecessary tackle which cost more than had Sunderland equalized. I like our chances at Spurs far less without Rooney than I did with him. I doubt he saved us two points with that bonehead tackle and he may have cost us 3 points at White Hart Lane because whether you like him or not, he often is the catalyst for our offensive ambitions. Especially on the road.
December 7th, 2008 at 0:30
@RedDevilEddy: Look whether you or the rest want to believe it, theproblem with Ronaldo is the boy is bruised and bettered. He has taken an awful beating this year and his dives have increased as more of a defense mechanism to protect himself from further harm because God knows the referees and the league don’t give a damn. I have watched him limp and labor for the past 3 weeks. He isn’t tired or in poor form. He’s hurting and today just added to that list of knocks he has received from the league. Cop him a break because despite his attitude, he has been target number one for all teams that face us. Our goal has been target number two.
December 7th, 2008 at 0:39
@RedDevilEddy:
Why are strikers on the pitch? To make money and blow chances.
Why are Berba and Rooney on the pitch? Berba is there to set up Rooney and Rooney is there to get a yellow card.
Why is Ronaldo on the field? To dribble himself on to a stretcher and straight to hospital.
Why is Anderson on the field? Because sitting on the bench is giving him slivers.
Why is Tevez on the pitch? Because listening to Anderson on the bench is giving him headaches
Why is Park playing football? I have no answer for that one. I really don’t know why.
Why is Rafael playing for United? Because he has mega talent and is a gift from Brazil.
Why is Carrick on the field? Because he can see openings and slow foot himself into great positions only to make a back pass and play it safely.
Why don’t we buy a new winger? Because we have Giggs, Park and absolutely no cash.
Why is Phelan our assistant manager? Because Fergie is showing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and he must owe Phelan money for gambling on the nags.
Why is Manchester United Manchester United? They are not. They are an Italian side using a poor disguise. Happy Halloween.
December 7th, 2008 at 0:44
@Gabriel: Great point about Berbatov. Fergie has him playing a role that looks like and AMF. Hell he even made some great defensive plays today because he was far back enough to get involved in that area. That is very unBerbatov. Fergie is showing himself to have shiot for brains lately. There I said. I’ll go one further than that. Sack Fergie and hire Grognard. Never knock one’s nerve when it comes to confidence and ambition.
December 7th, 2008 at 0:45
@RedDevilEddy: Zaki? What the Hell is a Zaki. What has he done in the last 5 or 6 games? Nothing. He got off to great start because nobody gave him the time of day on the pitch. Now he has defenders marking him and he has disappeared. Just another Johnny come lately I’m afraid.
December 7th, 2008 at 0:50
@Craig Mc: Tell me if you think Im wrong mate coz Im getting this gut feeling that somethings just not right at OT this season, there is a staleness and lack of spark to our game and it appears to me that one or two of our young foriegners are not as settled as they should be and a large part of the blame falls at fegies door.
In my opinion, Nani, Anderson and Tevez all have grounds for complaining about thier treatment this season, causing a little discontentment amongst them. add to this Ronaldos erratic behaviour, constantly starting a hard working but non dangerous JS Park, his over playing of some of our senior players and his failure to bench certain players leads me to think that SAF is slightly losing his grip on things at the minute.
What must Nani be thinking when Park is running around like a headless chicken and is then replaced by the 35 year old Ryan Giggs instead of him, like him or not, the kid deserves 6 or 7 games on the bounce to see if he can get his game going and the same goes for Anderson and Tevez who I thought ran the show against Blackburn only to be sitting on the bench the next match, its not right and will eventually turn sour.
December 7th, 2008 at 0:50
@RedDevilEddy: I’m not going anywhere but I ask myself why I am putting up with the misery of watching United play crap football in a totally crap league. Sometimes I think I would find more pleasure on a Bayern Munich or Bundesliga blog in English because at least then I could talk about exciting, attacking and highly entertaining football. Not the rubbish that is being served up week after week in the Prem. I must really love United to put myself through this kind of shit because I have left big busted women who were great in bed over far less grief than what my team and this league is putting me through. If the Prem was a woman I’d need Viagra and a bottle of whiskey to perform.
December 7th, 2008 at 0:53
@Fred The Red: What if I was to add to your feelings by saying that perhaps the team needs a complete overhaul in personnel? Perhaps the current mis of players we have and the distinct personalities and cultures are just not mixing well anymore. I don’t know, I’m just throwing that out.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:06
@Grognard: sorry mate, have to disagree with you about Berbatov mate, I think he is a wonderful player but he isnt and never was an out and out striker and I always had a nagging feeling that he was too similar in his positional play to the forwards that we already had to improve us and I think SAF has some major rethinking to do concerning thier roles or even futures at the club coz Rooney is becoming so streaky that Im starting to wonder if he will ever fulfill his talent on a consistant basis, Im a bit concerned at the minute with our progress.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:11
@Fred The Red: I love Berbatov too but they are not using him properly and lets face it, the player is lacking confidence right now because he is playing higher up and he seems very tentative.
Having said that, as much as I love the Count I am still mad as Hell and crying over the fact that Fergie was deaf dumb and stupid when it cam to Klaas Jan Huntelaar. With the Hunter in the box today I have to believe that two of Rafael’s crosses would have met his head and gone in the goal. All he does is look for space to score goals. This team is loaded with to many forwards who want to be play makers and not goal scorers. Huntelaar for me will always be the big fish that got away.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:14
@Grognard: You could be right mate but I dont think it needs a complete overhaul, just a couple of big decisions from SAF and the retirement of our senior pros coz the problem with the mix is some of the ingredients are too similar and some of them are too old.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:21
@Grognard: As much as I love Berbatov as a player, Huntelaar was probably the one that would have been the type that we needed but in my fantasy world I would loved to have seen them together, The Hunter up top with Berba just behind, oh the goosebumps.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:25
@Fred The Red: Yes but that would have forced Fergie to bench his boy Rooney and you can see by today’s lineup, even four goals in one game is not good enough to force Rooney to the bench. I think the big problem here is Fergie. I think he has lost some of his tactical charm this season. Sometimes even a great manager reaches a time in his career where all the past magic just doesn’t work anymore. Where old fashioned notions and loyalty to old warriors jeopardizes the good of the team. He has some explaining to do over the decisions he has made this year.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:30
It appears we have another potential Judas playing for us. And after reading this at Sky Sports, I’m literally sick to the stomach.
“Manchester United ace Anderson has risked incurring the wrath of boss Sir Alex Ferguson by admitting that he wants to play for Jose Mourinho and Inter Milan.
The 20-year-old midfielder signed for United in 2007 in an €18million(£15.6million) switch from Porto, although it appears the Brazilian could be waving goodbye to Old Trafford when his contract expires in four years time.
“I am thinking about playing in Italy,” Anderson told Tuttosport.
“Italian football is the best in the world and the most intelligent. Every player wants to play in Serie A, because Italians are the masters of football.
Desire
“I really like Inter. I have always liked them from when Ronaldo played there. [Massimo] Moratti has always assembled great teams and Inter can win anything with the players they have.
“I will not hide myself and in future I would love to play for Mourinho at Inter.
“My dream is to be coached by Mourinho.”
Anderson’s words are unlikely to be well received by Ferguson given the rivalry he shared with Mourinho, during the Portuguese tactician’s time with Chelsea.”
Well wasn’t that just what the doctor ordered. I am bloody sick and tired of players being bought by us who clearly do not have the future of Manchester United on their minds and in their hearts.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:35
@Grognard: without getting into a fully fledged debate over a brillint manager all I will say is this, if United can find the right man to replace him, then I think SAF retiring might not be a bad thing.
I apoligise in advance to red rants traffic police for even thinking such things about SAF.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:40
@Fred The Red: Fred, your thinking is right mate, but the hardest things is IF a Fergie replacement can be found. That will be a hard task. However, I would love to see whoever they have in mind, come in now and be with Fergie for a couple of years, for a smooth transition to take place.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:41
@Grognard: that song: there may be trouble ahead| keeps playing in my mind.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:45
@Grognard: And just to make you even sicker Grog, the shitty Bedouins are buying Frank Ribery in January. Why the heck is Fergie not in for this guy?. I know you love him, and so do I.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:52
@Craig Mc: They aren’t getting Ribery in January and bloody well guarantee it. Bayern aren’t some sad sack minnow who are forced into selling their players in the middle of a campaign. Yhey are tied for first in the Bundesliga and one of the top 4 or 5 teams in the CL. They would be daft to do that. Having said that, UNinted should try to get him in the Summer because Ribery just hinted that he believes Bayern should spend more money on some more quality players. That could be a sign that his time at Bayern is short because he wants to play for a team loaded to the brim with talent. Problem is that Bayern are. I don’t know what he’s complaining about? I think Bayern’s lineup is bloody awesome.. Still, Ribery would have figured a way through that wall put up by Sunderland today. I’m sure of it. Imagine him on theleft side instead of Giggs or Park. Problem is, his arrival would probably m,ark the departure of your boy Nani too. Could you live with that Bro?
December 7th, 2008 at 1:52
@Craig Mc: where did u see this?
December 7th, 2008 at 1:54
@Grognard: And Ribery is not leaving United for fucking Man City. That would be like throwing diamonds away for Cubic Zirconium. While Bayern could fill a few weak spots, Man City ahas to overhaul 2/3 of their entire roster. They are shite personified.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:57
@Fred The Red: Fred, your not wrong mate. I think there seems to be a lot of contention brewing amongst out latin players. I mean when Nani scored, he ignored turning to the crowd like he normally does, and ran to celebrate with some friends in the crowd. He hardly seemed to acknowledge his team mates. It is a bit wierd, but I believe it all started with Ronnie, and that the latins feel like they are not getting a good deal since CQ left. Who knows, but something is not right. Latins don’t take well to not getting playing time, and it doesn’t take a genious to realise that they are perhaps not feeling a part of things anymore. Ronnie is becoming more and more flippant and dismissive of referees and all authority to be honest. I don’t think our latinos are settled at all. But then I will probably get a load of argument from those who love to play things down. So we wait and see Fred. It doesn’t inspire the other players to keep hearing the latins talking about moving to Spain or Italy does it?. A player going public about wanting to move from United, or even wanting a move at all, was once a totally unheard of thing at Old Trafford. Fergie seems to have no control over the latinos and their press talking, does he?.
December 7th, 2008 at 2:00
@Gabriel: Its in tomorrows paps mate – NOTW, etc.
December 7th, 2008 at 2:03
a Shame anderson would never be able to play under mourinho. recently mourinho said after his contract is up in 4 years he wants to come back to england. personaly i would love to see fergie start to take a hard line and drop anderson into the reservs so he can be bored to pieces…
…. give him a heads up of what italys like.
December 7th, 2008 at 2:04
@Grognard: News in the press is that they are getting Ribery, and also 52 million David Villa. But then, City are mentioned with every player going, but this report seems to suggest they have got these players signed for Jan.
December 7th, 2008 at 2:23
@Craig Mc: Did you just say NOTW? Doesn’t sound like the beacon of credible journalism to me. We might as well cook up something here — I suppose they sniff around a lot of blogs and forums themselves for rumours like this.
December 7th, 2008 at 2:29
@Craig Mc: Ur right mate, there seems to be a divide happening with the squad and it seems to be with the unappreciated and mainly latin players. It all relates to CQ’s departure, Fergie was never that close and Phelan before his promotion was just a trainer. The onus then falls on Ronnie as they look to him and as you can see with recent comments from Nani and Ando, they are picking up his bad traits.
Fergie is in a world of confusion right now, the workload has really piled up. It is well known that CQ did a lot of the day-to-day ground work but now Fergie has to do these things, interact with the players, watch ‘em train, pick the sides; all things that he hasn’t done solo for ages. Phelan for sure isn’t up to it and I don’t believe Fergie even trusts him to do it. Did u see Phelan today, he cut the figure of someone that is out of his depth. Look at how Ronnie walked off the pitch, WTF?
Fergie’s even going soft now and that’s just not good, especially for a character like Ronnie who needs to be on a tight leash; he is getting more irresponsible with every match and Fergie is just defending him like he does Rooney and the rest of his golden boys. The problem is when Nani and Ando act like Ronnie, they don’t get the same leniency, hence they feel under appreciated.
The club is rudderless at the mo in terms of player guidance/mentoring. There is no one that can sit these players and talk sense into them, even a captain can do that, but alas, we have one that I’m sure is not looked up to. CQ was known to have that calming effect on not just the latinos but with every player, and that’s all we need, cuz Fergie def doesn’t have time for those not in his golden boy club. His formations and line-ups are testament to that.
December 7th, 2008 at 2:32
@Red Ranter: They usually do RR, but sometimes they do get it right
. The wording of this seemed to indicate it was done deal. It didn’t seem like City have made an offer, more like the got it sowed up. I am not saying its right, but it wouldn’t surprise me, cos I know Mark Hughes is a big fan of Ribery.
December 7th, 2008 at 2:43
@Gabriel: To be honest though Gabriel, the latinos seem to be a law unto themselves don’t they?. I don’t know what if going down with Ronnie, but he feels at liberty to do and say what he likes. He seems to be getting more irritated with referees, but then he is being hacked to death. I wonder if many of the fans would care if the latinos did leave?. Would we miss them, I dont think we would. Well Ronnie perhaps, but the last few games he has hardly played with a smile on his face. I worry a bit about the effect the 1st team latinos will have on Rafael and Fabio, also on Possebon. Maybe I worry unduly, but something is going on with them, and it is not nice tasting Gabriel. I think Fergie will do what he has too though, if things are as bad as I think they might be. Aaaaaah who would want to be a football manager eh?. I don’t envy Fergie, he has a lot to put up with
.
December 7th, 2008 at 3:40
@Craig Mc: maybe SAF has seen it, hence the move for the two serbian kids and the rumoured move for the Belguin kid Axel Witsel.
We have spoken many times about Ronaldo Craig and I respect your opinion, but after so blatantly seeking a move in the summer I think it could be a massive mistake to have forced him to stay, hes clearly a different person to the one that played previously and I cant see it getting any better, and the negative ripples could now be starting to spread and if it is then SAF must act swiftly coz no matter how good a player he is, the club must always be put first.
Only Andy of the three looks content to me at the minute but I do worry about his lack of game time, especially when other players who he is clearly better than are playing more games than him coz of the three players that we are mentioning here, he is the one that I would least like to leave, I know some people dont rate him, but I think he has the potential to be superstar and we should be building our midfield around him, hes that good.
Ronaldo on the other hand is at a stage were opposing teams are starting to single him out for special attention, its only to be be expected and is quite normal, so for him to have as big an impact as he has been doing requires him to raise the bar again which only truly special players can do. Players like Rivaldo, fat Ronaldo, Zidane and Figo are recent examples of this and if Im honest with you mate Im not convinced that Ronny has both the mental and football ability take it to the next level., plus the fact that his ego is on steroids at the minute to the extent that he could become a dangerous presence to have in our team.
I hope SAF knows what hes doing but something tells me he doesnt.
December 7th, 2008 at 5:28
@Craig Mc: Total rubbish mate. Don’t believe that kind of crap. Besides, name me major deals that have gone down in January’s past? They don’t happen. Just small fix its happen. Man City is the last place most good players want to go. It’s not about the money, it’s about winning and frankly, they have no pedigree. Perhaps if they can slowly build themselves up into a contender, then maybe big names will want to sign there. But right now, only a few are stupid enough or most cases desperate enough to go there. Robinho’s move was out of desperation.
December 7th, 2008 at 5:57
Regarding the Ribery rumors.
From Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (incidentally, my all time favorite player) he says in quotes
“The name of Franck Ribéry will never feature in transfer talks while the player is under contract to Munich. “We know what we’ve got in Franck Ribéry, so let me reassure any worried fans: there’s no sum of money in the world which would tempt us for even a second. None whatsoever! The board is unanimous: Franck Ribéry has a contract until at least 2011 – he’s not for sale.“ The Frenchman himself addressed the subject a few days ago: “The way I see it, I’ll be at Bayern until 2011.“
Enough said. When Bayern said that Hargreaves was not for sale, it took Charlton’s friendship with Beckenbauer that finally made the deal happen a year later. Now what kind of card other than money does Shitty have to play?
December 7th, 2008 at 10:16
who wants to make a bet with, huntelaar is gonna be a flop?
December 7th, 2008 at 10:30
@dan(u-ol): I do. Never fancied him and never will until he can prove himself at a big club, Real Madrid for example. He has been very bad this season in the Eredivise and I wouldnt be surprised if he truns out to be a flop.
December 7th, 2008 at 10:38
Well, well. Some of our latin boys are proving to be a nail in the coffin. Ronaldo I frankly dont want to see him at United anymore. He is a marvellous talent, and the best player we have, but we have become to over reliant on him. And for his own good, if he doesnt leave, he will retire at age of 24 with a broken skull!
Its too much for him. Nani has not said anything to the press, but his body language says it all really. Neither does he wants to play for us, and because of PARK, he has to sit on the bench. He doesnt deserve that kind of punishment. Agree with Grog. Fergie must have gotten Alcheimerz or sumthing! Phelan? Bloody Phelan? Give me a break! Papers says Anderson wants to move to Inter. Now, you all know Anderson is my favorite player and it would break my heart of he said such things. Iv etalked to my Grandpa, who is a massive Inter fan, and he says that its only made up. Tuttosport is the Italian version of Sun. Apparantly Anderson was voted best young talent in Europe and was interviewed by Tutto. They asked him if he liked the Italian League. He answered: “Yes, it is an entertaining league with lots of good players.” Then they asked him which club he thought was the best there. “Inter Milan have got a great chance of winning the league this season because they have a really talented squad and now have one of the best managers in the world there.” Made up stuff from Italy… Typical stuff from papers, isnt it? 
December 7th, 2008 at 10:45
Now, Nani and Ronaldo doesnt want to be here. For their own good. But Anderson and Tevez cleary say that they want to play for us. They are always exited, want to win and such things. They should play more games. Fletch was brilliant at the start of the season, but lately he has had a dip of form. Anderson, in contrast, have hit top form with a confidence boost against Rovers and now giving United the edge against Sunderland. He should start more often. And I know Fergie loves Rooney and Berba, but when a player scores 4 goals in a game, they deserve to start another one dont they? Shit, that is terrible. I think Fergie proves a weak point in his side now. He did it in the CL final too. Heart over brain. He plays Fletch because of the Scottish heritage(
), Berba because he is too stubborn to bench a £30 million striker, Rooney because he doesnt want to lose him, Giggs because of heart, Park becuase of punishment and doesnt rest Ronaldo once even though he is one game away from being cut in half. Afraid he is gonna turn on him. 
I dont think he should retire, but he should look into his mind and see that its turing bad right now.
December 7th, 2008 at 10:48
What first springs to mind when I think about teams coming to Old Trafford parking the bus:
Sunderland. 2006, 0-0.
Reading. 2007, 0-0.
Pompey. 2008, 0-1.
Sunderland. 2008, 1-0.
Shows improvement, right?
December 7th, 2008 at 11:04
@Grognard: Grog, MONEY MONEY MONEY – is like one of those big busted, gorgeous blonde babes you were talking about, when it comes to luring NO BRAINED footballers
. Apart from the fact rumour has it that Robinho thought he was signing for Manchester United when he said yes to shitty 
, the arab money lured him like fly to shit. Why else would he turn down Chelsea?. I don’t believe all that guffaw about Real wouldn’t let him move there in the end – it was all about MONEY. The arabians will offer footballers the world to get them to City, and we know that every player to clubs have their PRICE. 
.
December 7th, 2008 at 11:09
Is not the Latinos problems but Fergie’s. His decisions yesterday were diabolical and seemed almost made to antagonize some players. How could he play Park ahead of Nani against a defensive team I cannot understand. Park could be a choice when we play counter attack but he is useless against defensive teams. Ditto leaving Tevez and Anderson after the way they played on Wednesday. Anderson offered more in 20 minutes that Fletcher in 70. Berbatov was really poor yesterday and he is playing on the reputation of his transfer fee. On the positive side I thought that Carrick was awesome yesterday MOM. And Rooney had a good game too.
December 7th, 2008 at 11:19
I bloody love Nemanja, the celebration after his late goal, was like a lunatic
. He wants another title so bad, doesn’t he?.
With regards to Berba, everyone needs to ask themselves one thing. Why when he was scoring 23 goals a season at Spurs, is he suddenly shot shy at United?. We need Fergie to work that out, and then maybe he can become the player for us that Fergie bought him to be. We need to look at the system we are using perhaps, because it is not working, or do any of you think it is?. If Fergie is determined to persevere with Berba, then he has to look at why he isn’t firing, because Fergie can begin to look like he doesn’t know how to buy someone that improves and strengthens the team, which I don’t feel he has done, yet it appears that way. So find out why Berba is not providing solutions in the striker department, like he has at spurs
. See what disturbs me a little bit, is that Fergie says that he sits there doodling with his notepad, trying to see where he can FIT all these players in. Surely that should not be our priority to fit players in. Rather we should be looking for systems of play that will truly work and bring out the best in all the players we have?. This finding a place for players doesn’t sit well with me. If we find a system that truly works, then I don’t care if certain players have to be left out, until they understand, and can substitute for others BY fitting into the system. Am I going mad here or what people 
. We can’t just say a footballer like Berba is no good suddenly, when he was 23 goal a season player or best goal provider for others at Spurs.
December 7th, 2008 at 11:27
@frankie: I agree that Anderson offered more than Fletcher when he came on, because we were completely going forward throughout the game, and Anderson has 3 times the pace Fletcher has. Also Fletcher kept slowing us down, by backpassing when in front of the box, instead of shooting, or side passing which is now becoming an irritating part of Fletchers game.
December 7th, 2008 at 11:30
@RedDevilEddy: No Eddy mi man, shows LACK of improvement in our teams ability to find ways thru tightly packed defences, or to take their chances when they do
.
December 7th, 2008 at 11:43
@Fred The Red:
– Ronnie , Ego on steroids, made me laugh a lot mate. I know where you are coming from with Ronnie. The other latin players do love him, and if they start copying his behaviour and temperament of late, it will not be good for the club. But I can’t help but love Ronnie as the footballer we all know he is Fred. He was a genious for us last season, and something has happened to him, because he just used to brush everything off last year, but this season he is doing the Rooney retaliations, and dissentings, which I don’t like. From Fergie’s press meetings on MUTV, he seems to tell Fergie whether he is playing or not. Fergie wanted to rest him for the Villareal game, but said Roanaldo insisted on playing. INSISTED?, well since when did any player ever insist anything to Fergie. Yet that is what Fergie himself said 
. I wonder how we will get on at Spurs, because it will be Berba and Tev, the pairing we had at L’fool, and I thought we were unlucky not to draw that game. Park and Nani may play to give us width, but I will do my nut if Giggs is in alongside Berba up front.
December 7th, 2008 at 12:14
@Craig Mc: He wasn’t really scoring that many, well he was but a chunk of them were in cup competitions. I think he averaged about 15 goals a season in the PL in an attack that revolved around him. I did say a fair while ago that he is the wrong player for us. He only has one way of playing and it has nothing to do with how Fergie is using him. He averages 1 or 2 shots a game, he is just not worth 30m, not in this life and not in the next. Compare these games to the ones last year. We were winning games like this 4-0 by blitzing the other team. Berbatov has significantly slowed down our attack
December 7th, 2008 at 12:15
@Fred The Red: Good point there mate… The team have a lot of similar players and oldies holding the young ones back. It hurts me to say this but I see no reason why Giggs, Neville, VDS or even Scholesy should start over most of the younger generation. At most times, they bring little or nothing into the game and in some cases, make the situation worse. Fergie has now managed to destroy the authority these legends have in the dressing room. How are the young ones supposed to listen, respect and do what these oldies tell ‘em when they are busy cacking up the team and sucking royally on the pitch? Not to mention that these oldies are the ones holding back the young ones 1st team chances.
Fergie loves his old boys, we all know that, but if he can’t see he’s doing more harm than good to their confidence and authority in the team, then maybe he needs to go to specsavers or better yet, sack that ass clown Phelan(he’s just an easy target, isn’t he?
). These old boys don’t need to play, they can still participate in training and act as mentors to the younger lads, maybe appearing as subs in random games. Honestly, the team has no leadership and respect at the mo, the recent comments and behaviour from the likes of Ronnie, Nani and co are testament to that. There’s no senior player that has the gonads to even address these issues. Gary Neville sure doesn’t, what leg will he stand on after his string of abysmal performances?
A great team like United needs a consistently performing, vocal captain that everyone looks up to and one that can inspire, mentor and lead these young ones on the right path. I want Rio and Vida to share the captaincy. Rio simply because he’s english and will be more coherent in the language and hence represent the club better. Vida because the guys’ a hard nut, a JT character, no nonsense type and I have the suspect feeling some of the lads are afraid of him.
The direction our team is heading in is not a good one and like u said, Fergie needs to make those big decisions and at the moment he seems to be using his heart rather than using his brains and being pragmatic about things.
December 7th, 2008 at 12:32
I guess to be really honest, nobody really knows what Fergie is thinking or doing behind the scenes. Fergie is never a one to damn or criticise players or staff publically. We may be wrongly thinking he isn’t seeing, or declaring what we think needs to be done to rectify our teams below par performances, but Fergie HATES losing probably more than any of us. So although I may not agree with teams or substitutes sometimes, Fergie has and still is the best Manager and has given to us success after success. I decided I want to focus on that thought for now, and lok back on all the great times, football and trophy collections
, so in Fergies own words “I love you all, I come to spread peace” 
.
Liam – I hear you mate. I believe Berba has his qualities Bro, but only time will tell whether he will be for us all that Fergie saw him to be, and expects him to be. Fergie certainly seems to have a lot of faith in him. He doesn’t have lightning quick reflexes though, does he
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December 7th, 2008 at 13:48
@Craig Mc:: Let me try to make a case for Berbatov. The main problem with our new signings is our timing during the transfer window sucks big time.Let’s look at the 06/07 season when we hit the ground running.We kicked that season off with a 5 nil thrashing of Fulham and our early season form was terrific. In fact I think it was that form that won us the title as we seemed to be more inconsistent as that season progressed. That season we had a single addition to our squad,in the form of Carrick, who was signed relatively early. There was a good fluidity about our game and clearly from the off everyone knew their roles and everyone knew everyone else’s role. That was probably because CQ was around but also Carrick being the single addition,was brought in early and found enough time to gel in with the squad. Now look @ the succeeding seasons. Nani and Anderson were brought in early I admit and had a reasonable pre-season. However,Tevez and Hargreaves took forever to sign,which was ironic since Nani and Anderson had been bought for the future and were brought in early whilst Tevez and Hargreaves were supposed to play and fit in immediately,yet we acquired them @ the 11th hour.
Tevez struggled to fit in and he couldn’t score to save his life. His teammates didn’t know whether he was a winger or a centre forward.He had no pre-season to talk about and we all yelled “FLOP”.But he got into his groove and he didn’t turn out bad. Now the same thing has happened to Berbatov. Epic transfer,with literally last minute signatures,no pre-season,even with his old club,his teammates clearly don’t know how to play with him (with the surprising exception of the Slave) as demonstrated by the idiotic high balls Vidic was providing vs Liverpool. All I’m saying is the man has not had ample time and beneficial circumstances to allow him to flourish in the squad.
Oh and about his lightning quick reflexes ,I think his two goals in the Champions League are testament to his reflexes. And did you see how he diverted Rooney’s wide shot goalwards when Ronaldo set up Rooney for the freekick .That’s lightning quick in my opinion.
December 7th, 2008 at 14:11
@Craig Mc:
craig i didn’t mean to say that i want our players to injure other players. i apologize if i sounded like that..
Can you tell me one thing? How many players have actually missed any game because they were tackled by rooney and got injured? i don’t remember any.
the thing is you will always criticize rooney no matter what he does, hadn’t he made that tackle and sunderland had equalized, you would have criticized him of letting the player away.
Now on the game, i think carrick,rooney and VIDA were the best players on pitch for us along with rafael. Sunderland defended with 11 men in box, we needed width in our play to open them up and only rooney and rafael were able to provide that yesterday.
December 7th, 2008 at 14:39
fergie has made up his mind about nani. nani will be sold in the summer, and he is not playing him enough to save the money because nani’s transfer fee actually depends upon the number of appearances etc.
same thing can be said about tevez, fergie is trying to bring down the transfer fee that is being talked about. united have spent more than what they had on berba, and this is how the money is being recovered.
you can call me crazy but this definitely is a possibility…i cant think of any other reason why nani and tevez are not getting enough games. mike phelan was about to bring on nani but fergie called him and sent giggs in instead
December 7th, 2008 at 15:12
@Gabriel: The scary thing is that there is talk of Giggs and Scholes getting new one year contracts next season which is absolutely crazy.
We spent 30 million on two kids last summer who should be an integral part of our starting 11 by now, in stead Andy is at the same level and Nani appears to be going backwards, its bad management plain and simple, and I fear for them long term.
Does SAF seriously expect 2 young talented players to committ to the club for 3 years whenever they play in one match and then sit on the bench for the next 3, no chance, and to make matters worse, the players that are playing are clearly inferior to them, especially in Nanis case were Giggs and Park have done absolutely nothing offensively all year long.
Add to this SAFs mind boggling notion that Giggs can play in the middle better than Anderson, Giggs never had the quality or class to play in there, his main assett was his pace, and its now gone,
All these things confirm what I always believed about SAF, and I mean always, which is that he has a good eye for talent, has a good footballing ethos, instills a winning mentality in his teams and in most areas is a great manager, but that he has always been tactically naive when it comes to organising and really fine tuning his teams.
He has a tendency to play world class players out of position and has damaged many a square peg as he shoves it into a round hole as the round pegs sit on the bench and scratch thier heads, world class players usually only excell in thier favourite positions, play them somewhere else and they become ordinary.
December 7th, 2008 at 15:59
Think about the EPL from a financial perspective. For teams in the relegation zone the difference between heading home to the Championship with a £30 million loss, and staying up and enjoying another season in the EPl with all the financial bonuses can be just one point. So can you blame teams like Sunderland for playing for a draw away against the Champions of Europe? Of course not!
If we had actually scored before the 91st minute we’d have forced them to attack a bit. But with Ronaldo obviously struggling with injury and out of sorts we did not have any players who were likely candidates to score.
Teams play like that against us because they know it works. Against us attack is not the best form of defence because the one thing we can do well is rip teams apart on the counter-attack. The best way for a vastly inferior team to get a result against us to park men behind the ball knowing that we do not have a single player who is good in the air (Ronaldo excepted), Berbatov plays too deep to do any damage, and Rooney despite his goal against City has not emerged from his scoring drought.
You cannot expect teams to play gung-ho attacking football in a league with financial disparities as vast as the EPL where commercial pressures make staying up imperative. If you have lost as many games as Sunderland this season you can understand their priority is to avoid losing rather than to win.
Again we failed to break them down and where we did create chances we failed to convert them. If we had scored in the first half Sunderland would have had to attack us and it would have been a more open game.
Berbatov is a potential great but I do not think we have found the best way to utilise him. I hear Dan’s comment about how many assists he has made but Rooney is usually top of the assists table and two strikers who are better at creating chances than scoring them does not seem like a recipe for winning games.
If Ronaldo leaves I like the idea of a 4-3-2-1 formation with Rooney and Berbatov behind an old fashioned target man (Roque Santa Cruz for example) and Anderson Carrick and Hargreaves in the middle.
Ronaldo I think has been affected by the injury problems and we cannot expect as many goals from him last season. Other players are going to have to pick up the slack. Rooney is never going to be a regular goalscorer. But Berbatov has shown in his career that he can produce a healthy goal total. So we need to start playing him in advanced positions and encourage him to actually take some shots. He had chances on Saturday but considering he’d hardly taken any shots all season you can understand why he was a bit rusty.
Tevez we should have started no question. We want all our strikers to be fresh and high in confidence. But SAF is destroying Tevez’s confidence. What more does Tevez have to do to get a chance to start? The guy destroyed Blackburn midweek and was unplayable. How can you expect him to come off the bench feeling down about being snubbed yet again and produce magic?
Against Sunderland it would have cost nothing to play Tevez. Putting him on the bench was very poor man management.
I think SAF has favourites and his favourite team at the moment looks like this:
EVDS, Rafael, Vidic, Rio, Evra, Park, Fletcher, Carrick, Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov
Because of this players like Anderson, Tevez and Nani who need games are limited to crappy substitute appearances where they feel under pressure to make an impact but do not have enough time and after stewing on the bench are lacking in confidence.
December 7th, 2008 at 16:04
@Liam: the king averaged 17 premier league goals a season, and yet he was still the king, you know why, because he could turn a game on its head.
couple of stats for you
berba be fore he became a red
323 apps 173 goal
thats better than 2 apps for every goal, better by 23 goals to be exact.
berba while hes been at united
14 apps
6 goals.
and i havent even included assists.
December 7th, 2008 at 16:12
@colver: italy! iataly! italy!
December 7th, 2008 at 16:45
Lets all laugh at Arsenal!
December 7th, 2008 at 17:25
Wait a second, I know there are many in here that would like to see the back of Mike Phelan, but let us give credit where it is due: It seems it was Phelan who sent Vidic to play like an alternative forward with Rio let alone behind one-on-one against Jones. This was evident by the way Vidic celebrated by running straight to Phelan….
Atleast the man is not a complete duffer like many over here like to think!
December 7th, 2008 at 17:59
@antsBoy: This wasn’t the first time Vidic was was sent forward to play as a stiker. I remember last season when Queiroz was on charge, the same thing happened. I can’t remember which game, but Vidic was sent up front for some aerial presence as we were going route 1 in the dying moments of the match. O’Shea has also been used for this same purpose by Queiroz/Fergie.
December 7th, 2008 at 18:08
is it just me? or is berbatov starting to look like a real mistake buy. we needed someone to stick the ball in the back of the net from anywhere inside the box; what we got, a lathargic lanky so and so who likes to flick the ball about too much, and not run about if rooney hadn’t recieved that 5th yellow i would be pushing for berba to be dropped… michael owen would have been a better buy on performances so far, as well as being at the fraction of the cost… hell for that money i bet we would have even tempted aguero from athletico.. after all it cost less to get TORRES! that just shows how much over the odds we spent.. and in my book.. an utter waste… i really want berbatov to show that im wrong. but his entire lazy attitude stinks… id bare it if he was sticking the ball in the next when he’s suppose to.. but he isn’t
p.s. the FA are having a fucking laugh with Evras ban… wouldn’t be surprised if chelski were paying out more backhanders.. after all Johnny Twat has managed to get that red card resinded over technicallalitys.
December 7th, 2008 at 18:13
@Craig Mc: Money talkjs mate but it’s not the deciding factor. Robinho wanted out of Madrid badly and City made it happen while Chelsea were dickering with Madrid. It had nothing to do with the money they were offering Robinho. Although money can persuade many players, many are still ruled by the need to be ensured a starting role and by winning silverware. That last reason is going to be the main reason why many big names do not choose Shitty. Fact is they have won nothing and will take a whole lot more great players before they do.
December 7th, 2008 at 18:21
@Craig Mc: They all have a bad habit for back passing and I must say that is one of the parts of Anderson’s game that I love. The fact that he likes to probe forward and make probing passes. Carrick will do it but is far more selective. If Anderson continues to play like he has the last two games, then our search for that AMF is over and I will stand corrected and eat humble pie. Hell, he’s had more scoring opportunities in the box than our strikers. Eventually they will start going in too. I’m telling you, I am getting very fed up with Fergie and his lineups. I do not want to see Giggs, Neville and Park again and I only want to see Fletcher and Scholes once in a while. Play Anderson and Carrick in the middle and Ronaldo and Nani out wide. As for Tevez, rotate him with Rooney buy having him play 1 out of every three games and with Berba where he plays 1 out of 4. That’s two starts in every seven games and subbing him in earlier in every game. If he really responds well, increase the times he starts. Just play the poor fellow. And Rafael should now become a fixture at RB. Sorry Wes, but it’s got to be. The lad adds a dimension to our game we have lacked for a long time. And he has yet to really show me great defensive liabilities because his speed and enthusiasm seems to cover up his mistakes before they happen.
December 7th, 2008 at 18:36
dan….italy italy italy?
Berbatov obviously has a good scoring record before he came to United. But in the EPL he has only scored two goals. Four of those goals were in Europe against Aalborg and Celtic at home….both of whom decided to roll over. Even in the EPL his goals were against West Brom and I forget the other team. When we needed goals in difficult games he wasn’t providing them.
The King got away with his modest goal total because Kanchelskis was the equivalent of Ronaldo for us in terms of goal scoring, McClair was contributing goals from midfield, and Hughes was a lot more prolific than Rooney. Also in those days the league was less competitive and we were a lesser side than we are today.
December 7th, 2008 at 18:41
After spending the past 30 minutes reading every word uttered on this post I am completely confused. I’m pretty sure that every player in the midfield and attack has been rubbished by someone. Is no one on our club of United quality? Virtually the same exact club that won the double last year–add Berbatov.
Seems like some pretty reactionary stuff to me. The problems we have are the same that we had last year, with the difference being that Ronaldo isn’t scoring 2 goals a game to make everything look rosy. That is the difference. We were the beneficiaries of one of the most brilliant footballing seasons in history, making all of our glaring weaknesses less noticeable.
It is my contention that it is not that something wrong with our attack, but something wrong with our midfield. They have been completely unable to provide proper service for the past two seasons. Aside from Ronny and Scholes, there is hardly a midfield player on our side capable of providing adequate service to our strikers. Carrick is a wonder on the ball, but he plays too far back to be a consistent provider given the pace of our build up. What this team is lacking is a solid CAM, which we haven’t had since Scholes began his decline. A player with poise on the ball, good vision, and the ability to score–or at least hit the target–from outside the 18-yard box. All of our attacking yesterday was through the middle of the pitch, yet that link between the midfield and attack is entirely absent. Who is supposed to be providing these balls to Berba and Rooney? Fletch? Carrick from just inside the midfield circle? Park? Ronaldo was doing it all last season, but to expect the same from him this season is unreasonable. I don’t know if that reflects him moving on from United psychologically, or just a natural regression from a season blessed by the gods.
I think that when Scholes returns we will see a return to form. He is the master of short, incisive passes and always adds that extra dimension to our attack. Whenever we have these prolonged scoring droughts, it usually correlates with a time in which Scholes was absent from the side–see the past 3 seasons. But without question he is getting older and his time is waning. He is not as effective as he once was and we will be lucky if he returns to last seasons form. We do not need another attacker, we need a provider. We need wingers who love to cross, and midfielders who can distribute and score.
Considering that we produce about zero goals from central mid these days, I think our scoring record is actually quite remarkable. To request that one of our central midfielders score at least eight goals, hopefully 10, is not unreasonable. Last season there was a four way tie for CM scoring leader, all tied at TWO! This year we have a combined five goals from CM, three of which scored by Darren “we all know he isn’t united quality” Fletcher. All of you that swear by Anderson will have to explain to me how the lad can truly be the answer to United’s need at CM if he has NEVER SCORED. Just putting him on the pitch makes our attack weaker.
Anyway, we can’t score because teams pack the box and we have approximately three players capable of playing a deft ball in traffic. We pretty much just keep banging the ball into space and praying. Considering that our team is short and those that aren’t short can’t jump, we might want to revise that strategy. I just hope that Hargreaves returns to form at sometime this decade, so that we can move Carrick closer to the box to provide some service.
December 7th, 2008 at 18:52
@Patrick: If Hargreaves comes back that does not mean that Carricke will move up more. The team has played a 4-2-2 or 4-2-3-1 for two and one half years now and that requires both Hargo and his partner, whether it be Carrick, Scholes, Anderson or Fletcher to play back as a tandem of DMF’s. We depend on our wingers to be the creative ones and occasionally allow a central midfielder to move up or to send longer passes up field. But lets face it, they are there to thwart attacks, and create them only through taking the ball of opponents and sending the ball to a winger on a counter. Their role is not to finish off an attack. It’s an Italian system that has been used with great success for years now by the two Milans. Fergie has been seduced by this Italian style of play because he remembers how it had humbled him a few years back. This is why he loves Ronaldo so much and why he tolerates all his shit. Because frankly without him, we are shit offensively. He is our engine room and Rooney is our steering wheel. Everything else is a bonus.
December 7th, 2008 at 18:55
@Patrick: Also, we don’t score when teams pack the box with ten men because we have no players who have the finesse to play accurate 1,2’s or a midfielder or forward other than Berba whop can make a finesse touch pass or lob over a defender to a teammate. And even when we do that, the passes are usually either not accurate enough, or the player receiving the pass makes a wrong turn or like in Rooney’s case, is betrayed by his horrible first touch.
December 7th, 2008 at 18:55
Man i dont get this about berbatov. People are complaining that he doesnt get back to win the ball enough, well i thought that wasnt his job. He is meant to be a lead the line striker who stays forward at most times and doesnt move much from the box. The only time he should be back further is when we are on the break and we need him to link up our forwards whilst on the move. Watching him however he isnt playing as the furthest man forward, more behind rooney so shouldnt the roles be reversed, rooney behind berbs in front? I dunno if he is told to play there or whether he just playes there cos thats where he likes to play. Im guessing that he has been told to play there. Watch his 1st few games for us, he never came back he just stayed up field (anfield debut especially), maybe fergie has told him to link up more with the midfield thus dropping further back. If so, i hope he reverts back to the main striker cos if he plays there every game he will get 20 goals easy. So just to sum up, every1 who complains about his work ethic, just think what was he brought in for, to score goals, we already have tev and roon so we dont need him to have a good work rate because that isnt his job so please no 1 else critise him for this because he is not doing anything wrong.
December 7th, 2008 at 19:05
@Grognard: I’d agree with both of your points. My only contention is that while that may be the reasoning behind his formations, it is not shown out in the play. The majority of our attack yesterday was through the center of the pitch. If we want to play a 4-2-2, with our wingers playing as wide attackers, that’s fine. But that should be the focus of our attack. That and we should probably come to the realization that we don’t have the wingers to provide the quality of service required. Park is woefully inadequate in crossing and Nani is a black hole. Perhaps a 4-2-2 is a reasonable strategy against top clubs, but against sides like Sunderland, who employ the 9-0-1 formation, we could be so wild as to play a 4-2-3-1, or a 4-2-1-3.
December 7th, 2008 at 19:07
@Grognard: Rooney is our steering wheel?? – well he aint doing a very good job of it.
December 7th, 2008 at 19:11
@Patrick: Nani is not a black hole mate if he is played regularly
. Last season he was 2nd in assists with good balls in from the wing. And NO I am not giving up on reminded everybody about his assists last season, because people don’t give him credit where credit was due, and I feel he would be just as good this year if Fergie gave him CONSISTENT games.
December 7th, 2008 at 19:16
@Craig Mc: Perhaps that is true, but he has been an utter disaster this season and has given no reason to provide him with consistent games. I don’t really know why you need consistent play to realize that you don’t have five seconds on the ball every time you receive it. He is the consummate ball-stopper. Perhaps it is because he has so few chances that he feels he needs to make a play every time he receives a touch, but if he just attempted to blend in and take the chances when they presented themselves he’d be better off.
December 7th, 2008 at 19:19
Craig Mc, agree im a big fan of nani and i cant understand why fergie persists with park every game. Park is an excellent squad player and provides good cover and is excellent in games where you need a defensive player to cover the full backs in the games where the teams have a go at you (barca last year comes to mind). I have no problems with him playing in those games and infact would prefer to see park against spurs than nani cos of his good work rate, but why the hell yesterday at home, against a relegation team who had no manager and no intention of even having an attack did we not play nani. Whatever people say about nani he is the best left sided midfielder we have and his crosses can be excellent but yes he is a bit on and off. However with maturity comes consistency and why oh why fergie did not play nani from the start and then even bring him on as a sub i will never know. I hope we see more of nani in the coming months tho cos i dont think he is the kind of guy who will stick around if hes not getting selected.
December 7th, 2008 at 19:21
@Patrick: Mmmmm – your preaching to the converted mate about our problems in midfield. If you had read some of our threads from the beginning of this season, you will see that several of us have been beating the need for improved midfield drum. But I don’t agree with our inadequaces in attack been down to midfield alone. Take yesterdays game, the strikers had chance, after chance, after chance, and NONE taken. I mean, our strikers have had chances and been inept at putting them away for most of this season. So let the blame lie where it should – with the inept strike force. And yes like you say, it would have been the same last season without Ronnie, and the opposition have worked that fact out, and this season have 2-3 man marked him, or kicked the feck out of him every time he has the ball. The other strikers need to get some kind of form mate, and Rooney needs to get a decent first touch – end of.
December 7th, 2008 at 19:23
@Matthew: I agree totally
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December 7th, 2008 at 19:26
@Patrick: Like I said Patrick, he got the games last season, and proved his worth with 2nd highest assists. Probably gets anxious when he is playing now, because he feels he has to be trying to prove himself all the time.
December 7th, 2008 at 19:31
@Grognard: Grog, could never agree with you about Wes mate. Wait until Rafael plays against speedy wingers, his defensive qualities or lack of them – whichever one will become evident. He is not permanent 1st team over Wes for me yet
.
December 7th, 2008 at 19:36
@Will: Will, if we had gone in for Torres, trust me we would have been quoted twice the price L’fool got him for. We always have to pay double the worth of any player. Its not Berba’s fault. If United had not played russian roulette with spurs, we wouldn’t have been pressured to pay that much to meet a deadline.
December 7th, 2008 at 19:44
@colver: Great post Colver, and very factual, and I agree with your thoughts. Do you fancy applying for the Managers job, because you would make a good one
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December 7th, 2008 at 19:49
@Fred The Red: Fred mi man, you and Colver should definately be on the Man United management team. Both of you two’s posts make sense
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December 7th, 2008 at 19:58
@vikas: Vikas, what are you my psychiatrist now mate?. I always criticise Rooney no matter what???. So you haven’t noticed my recent posts that have commended Rooney where credit was due?. NO thought not. Look mate I call it as I see it from watching on the terraces. I am not going to foam at the mouth about Rooney or any other player, when they are obviously not playing up to par. I don’t just criticise Rooney, you probably think that because you are a Rooney lover. I criticise any player when he is not doing the business over a good length of time. With regards to Rooney not hurting anybody, that doesn’t mean anything, because some of Rooney’s manic chasing after and jumping into tackles when his pride is hurt are lengendary, and tho he hasn’t hurt anybody yet, doesn’t mean he wont with some of his tackling. Sorry mate but that is my thinking, you don’t have to agree.
December 7th, 2008 at 20:36
See, taht is why I want Young at United! He si the best left winger in the country and I am obsessed about him joining us. Chnge of speed, shooting, crossing… He is a complete winger! Just lacks heading or leap, but whatever. I would sign him right away if I was Fergie, Gill, Phelan, Berbatov…
December 7th, 2008 at 20:43
@Grognard: Ive told you Andy is the AMF youve been looking for.
Hopefully he can play like that on a more consistent basis from now on. Consistensy comes with experience, and he is getting better and better by the minute. Now that he has gotten a rest from the Olympics, he will be vital for us. I just hope he gets more games…
December 7th, 2008 at 20:45
I just thought of one thing. We all know Rafael is our rigth back of the future, and hopefully present as things have turned out. He is brilliant at crossing too, a part I didnt know so much about. But I always hear that Fabio is the talented brother.
Is it only me or are you people drooling over that thought too? 
Fabio on the left, Rafael on the right. Evra is gonna have competition. 
Finally! I dont call Oshea or Silvestre competition for the record.
December 7th, 2008 at 21:09
@Grognard: grognard i was watching a game of german football and it was your team playing i don’t know when this game was nor who they were playing i just know it was bayern there was this kid called kross and blimey he was impressive, what are you’re thoughts on him and you think he could be the solution to the united playmaker conundrum
December 7th, 2008 at 21:49
@Mr.Muhozi: dont gget groogy started, he’s a player(kroos) groggy has mentioned in the past.
December 7th, 2008 at 22:15
@Craig Mc: No he isn’t but then he will get into one of his hot streaks and everyone will be claiming he is the best player in the world, won’t they?
Fickle fans
December 7th, 2008 at 22:18
@Craig Mc: He is for me because he his quickness is great his recovery speed and ability will save his bacon more often then not. Besides, I don’t think our biggest concern is defense, it’s offense. I’ll sacrifice a goal a game if Rafael’s presence helps us. God knows he is better offensively than Wes and right now, that is the most important thing.
December 7th, 2008 at 22:21
@RedDevilEddy: He’ll never gain that consistency until Fergie wakes up and starts him all the time. I like Fletcher but he should never be starting over Anderson. I was saying this even when I wasn’t big on the lad. The boy has a great game and he and Tevez sit on the bench the next. Fergie has me completely confused. If it was a lesser manager people would be calling for him to be sacked.
December 7th, 2008 at 22:25
@Craig Mc: Its nothing to do with the personnel in midfield, it’s the way they are being used. Carrick is good at going forward. He has a good shot with both feet and can pick out a pass. You could see yesterday that whenever he got forward it added a new dimension to our attack. It culminated in his shot producing the goal. He had another hood shot and it was his cross that set up Berbatov for his miss. It’s just that he spends to much time staying back which is something Fletcher can do
December 7th, 2008 at 22:28
@Mr.Muhozi: I have commented on Toni Kroos many times on this blog before mate. I love him and along with Marko Marin, he is the future of German football and already is knocking on the door of world class. The reason Bayern will even consider selling Schweinsteiger this Summer is because it’s time for Kroos to get the full time status he deserves. Capable of playing AMF LMF OR RMF he is an excellent passer crosser of the ball, exceptional set piece taker and has a good long range shot. He has finesse and imagination and will only improve with time and experience. His only real weakness is his lack of a defensive awareness and he isn’t very fast.
I love Kroos but the boy to really watch is Marko Marin. Just as young as Kroos and already on the national team. Fast, quick, tremendous on set pieces, crosses, corners and can score nice goals. Deft passing and lightning pace from a static to running. Kroos was the big name last year until Marin showed up. Now he is taking a second seat to the young Serbian born German.
December 7th, 2008 at 22:30
@Liam: Ilike Carrick but the problem with him going forward is his slow reaction and slow footedness. He just is a lead foot. Great skills but all in slow motion. Quite often his shots are blocked because it takes him so long to set his shot up. He is actually better from a deeper position sending long balls and through balls forward.
December 7th, 2008 at 22:43
@antsBoy: Actually some guys who were at the match said it was Fergie who called Phelan(since he’s banned from the touchline)
@RedDevilEddy: I’m confused at the last point, how does Fergie not want Ronald do score anymore???
And whats the deal with all the fuss over Anderson’s comments?? He said he’d like to play in Italy in the future, how’s that different from Tevez who said he’d like to return to Argentina before he ends his career?
December 7th, 2008 at 22:57
@Grognard: seems like the boy has a good future ahead of him, same with marko, shame fergie has it in for german players as the country has some great players, but then again being of german descent i have a bit of a bias
p.s im starting to bake a nice gorgeous anderson humble pie just for you, i told you the boy will come through, all we need now is fergie to wake up and smell the brasilian coffee
December 7th, 2008 at 23:24
@Mr.Muhozi: WO WO WO!!! Hold on mate. I have been very happy with Anderson’s last two games. I’m not yet ready to proclaim him the Messiah. Far from it. If he continues to play like this and finds some consistency, then yes get that pie ready. Until then we must have some patience. What I also like about his last two games is the number of good scoring chances he’s had. No he hasn’t scored but his instincts and positioning are getting better.
As for Marin in Kroos, super talents but Fergie is a complete block head when it comes to German talent. What really gets me is that Marin is twice the player Tosic is and he is also Serbian born. Why not go for the better player who is playing for a bad team. I honestly don’t think he’d cost more than 10 to 12 million. A much better buy than Tosic, and that’s not putting Tosic down. It’s just that Marin is that good but he is surrounded by mediocrity at BMG.
December 7th, 2008 at 23:33
@Grognard: eh sorry if this is insulting but have you seen Tosic play?
December 7th, 2008 at 23:59
There seems to be a good lot of talent coming through the likes of russia and especially serbia in the last few years. Arshavin, pavlyuchenko, zhirkov, bojan, vidic, the 2 lads possibly joining us erm tosic and llajac (cant spell it), and as grognard says marin too. Thats some goos talent, maybe they are gonna start producing there again cos its been a while.
December 8th, 2008 at 0:11
@colver: funny that the three that you mentioned being left out are more than likely to have ben purchased by CQ.. bring him back!
and your totally right about berbatov…i berated his performance.. cos it was poor… but what really annoys me if you actually look at the goal scored by vidic… he is ahead of berbatov… a proper striker wouldn’t be stood still whilst his CB stuck the ball away… he really needs to up his game if he is to impress me.
December 8th, 2008 at 0:17
@Craig Mc: Football is not rocket science mate, United are huffing and puffing this season and when this happens its time to get back to basics.
The basics, as I see it are this, choose your most effective and productive 15 players, from them pick your strongest 11 whenever possible, and play them every week until they find thier rythym again.
Do not play prople out of position and do not make unnecessary changes.
Our two most effective wide men are Nani and Ronaldo so they should start, any two from Anderson, Carrick and Fletcher in the middle, and Rooney and Berbatov up front.
Three of our back four are no brainers with the only decision to be made over young Raphael or Brown at right back, I like young Raphael myself although he doesnt defend as well as Brown yet, but that will come.
That would be my starting 11, with Carrick and Anderson getting the nod over Fletcher, and the bench would comprise of Foster, Brown, Oshea, Giggs,Fletcher and Tevez, give these players 7 or 8 matches together and allow them to get to know each other again, only making changes when neccessary like Rooneys suspension next week when Tevez comes in, and if Tevez comes in and does the buisness then he stays in and Rooney sits on the bench.
Its all about continuity when your struggling for form, but SAF has consistantly torn up what he has planted this season, meaning that to many of our players have not got properly bedded in making us play as strangers at times this season,
IF one or two of your first choice 11 are below par, then change it after 6 or 7 matches. Do not do what SAF has done this season and benched players that have played well in thier previous game coz this will lead from some players performing well, to no one performing well.
Ive said it before and I will say it again, SAF tends to make better decisions when he has fewer options, whenever he has a fully fit squad anything is possible.
December 8th, 2008 at 0:21
@RedDevilEddy: all’s you have to do, is wait for fergie to retire… then we get in Martin O’Neil (my personal choice) who then brings his best player (young) to his new team… he did it with petrov and im pretty sure he’ll do it if we get him
December 8th, 2008 at 0:32
@Mr.Muhozi: Ive been saying for a long time that Anderson is class, he plays the position that I used to play myself and I can tell you in all sincerity that the kid is pure gold, my biggest concern about him is Im not sure if he will ever reach his potential under SAF, and I dont like to say it, it might be better for him to move to a team that wont mess him about, I mean, Fletcher and Giggs playing before him in some matches, SAFs having a laugh mate, but the problem is, its not very funny.
The same goes for Park over Nani, give me a break Sir Alex.
December 8th, 2008 at 0:36
@Will: Not a bad choice mate. Guus Hiddink would be my number one, I also said during the summer that we should have sold Ronaldo and replaced him with Ashley Young.
December 8th, 2008 at 0:42
@Fred The Red: What has Anderson done so far this season to deserve a starting place ahead of Fletcher??? In case you didn’t notice, Fletcher was(and is probably still is) our most in-form player this season. Everyone has been complaining about why Tevez was suddenly dropped when he was in from at the beginning of the season, so why should Fletcher get dropped for Anderson? You said it yourself, your most “effective” players, so what has Anderson done in the few times he’s played to show that he’s more effective than Fletcher and should get dropped?
December 8th, 2008 at 0:54
@Rd: Its a fair point to make mate which is why I included Fletcher as a possible starter, the reason I would pick Anderson is because I think he is a better player than Fletcher and if he was being handled better by SAF he has the potential to improve us as a team. but your right, Fletcher has played well this season but if I was in charge, I would make it a priority to get the best out of Andy coz I think he has way more potential than Fletcher.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:07
@Fred The Red: That’s so obvious a fact Fred
, in the 20 minutes Anderson was on, he got into the box more than Fletcher did in the whole match.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:09
@Rd: If you don’t know the answer to your question in this post, I am amazed
.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:17
@Craig Mc: The way I see it is, Fletcher is an average player performing well and Anderson is a potentially great player who SAF is not getting the best out of, and potential greatness should always be encouraged.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:19
My hope is that when Fergie retires we have Mourinho for a few seasons before he gets bored by which time O’Neill will have got Villa into the top 4 and have had a few seasons of Champions League football.
Anderson is a player I can never quite make my mind up about. For every marauding midfield performance there are games where he seems subdued and lost. Fletcher is a limited player but he gets stuck in, handles his defensive responsibilities with gusto and even chips in with the occasional goal. Oh and he is Scottish.
I have the feeling that Fergie is unconvinced about Anderson’s defensive qualities as he has a habit of putting him on around the sixty minute mark when we need goals.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:23
@Fred The Red: Fred, I like what you are saying, but the number of games we play in a season now, I don’t think it is physically possible to play the same eleven twice weekly and then some. As Fergie says we should freshen up, but the substitutions he sends on do not tie up with the players he brings off. It is seldom like for like. And the number of changes to our team each game should be 2 or 3, not 5 or so that Fergie does. What I would love to see Fred, is each player should play every other game. Anderson, Nani, Tev, Evans, Foster, etc should get a game in every two. Instead of waiting up to 4 games, and then sometimes only coming on as subs. Fergie talks about using the whole squad, but he has his faves who hw always plays no matter what. It seems very unfair to me.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:38
@Craig Mc: I agree with most of your points mate, but my thoughts in the above post were not a season long plan, only a formula to get us going consistently again, after we are up and running players could be rested and replaced as needed coz it is easier to come into a team that is playing well rather than one one thats scratching for form. Also the 15 or so players that I picked in my opinion are our best players, so they should play in most games, but obviously not all the games, but they should defo play, if possible in our important ones.
And dont get me started about SAFs substitutions.
December 8th, 2008 at 2:05
@Liam: Yes I have and he is impressive. But he’s not nearly as good as Marin. Which begs the question have you seen Marin play?
December 8th, 2008 at 2:07
@Matthew: They are producing now and we need to take advantage of that instead of swimming in the same pool as every Portuguese, Spanish and Italian does when it comes to looking for talent.
December 8th, 2008 at 2:14
@Fred The Red: Honestly, I believe we would see more balance and chemistry in the second half of the season; with the young ‘uns coming more into the fore. We have had a very harsh first-half schedule and with key injuries at crucial times, we have been left a bit dis-jointed. Fergie, I believe has opted to trust in his battle-worthy old horses; those that have experienced enough ’squeaky-bum’ time to pull us through this torrid first-half of the season.
Once the Japan tourny is out of the way and our hectic xmas schedule is done, we would begin to see a lot of these young ‘uns get their chance. We would have more home games and hence a more comfortable atmosphere to let them do their thing. Besides, I believe the World club cup is meant for the youngsters; they would make up most of our squad.
With all our hectic and tough away games gone and the schedule a bit more relaxed, I believe Fergie would begin to play a regular, age appropriate side
with few changes with each passing game. Then we can carry a winning momentum till the end of the season. 
December 8th, 2008 at 2:54
@Grognard: Sorry I thought you might have made a snap judgement-my bad
and tbh I haven’t seen either of them but I think considering our style now we could do with more of a stick on the wing and cross winger i.e. Like a consistent Nani with better judgement and who passes more. Marin sounds more like a flair player but I’m inclined to believe you if you say he’s the better due to your superior knowledge of the 2
December 8th, 2008 at 5:29
@ RedDevilEddy
I really dont have more to add as most of your comments are almost a replica of how i feel. But, so what if Sunderland packed the bus? No excuses we were supposed to break em down and show our superiority and swag. Then again, i guess we did.
About Anderson and his alledged interview, it’s either the press as usual are up to their shite journalism and He was miscontrued, or, his advisers are just trying to piss Fergie the fuck off for starting Fletch over him even after a wonder display against Blackburn.
About Berbatov, I love him still and wanted Him at United, but…..
. Why the heck is Tevez, the only united player who knows that his fucking job is to score goals not starting every game is beyond me. Aside is annoying attitude of unneccessarily hogging the ball every time, he is the best man in the box for us. So, as long as the Gaffer feels shy to bench his 30.75 million purchase, He should at least start a Tevez who we know to be goal hungry and save us another Sunderlandic experience. He should start Tevez, at least for a run of games even if it means playing his Godson the Wazza on the bloody wings. Really United’s major problems this season are on the flanks. Park is semi shite on most occasions, hell I’d prefer Hargreaves on the wing, Nani can decide whether to fuck or stay a virgin, Evra, for all his runs in to the final third, and square the fecking ball in to the 6 yard and make a decent cross, Raphael is a god in the making but is too feather weight IMO. As for Ronnie, I have to not say anything 
. Can anybody tell me who the fuck Mike Phelan is?
The Count needs to understand that he is playing for a super team known for supersonic team know for it superfast counter attacking. Fergie is erring big time by employing him in the play maker role. Why do we even need another playmaker is a begging question. With Carrick and Anderson coming through the middle, and fucking Rooney playing the ” Bloody Famed” hole, Berbatov and Fergie have to realise that Berbatov should flank the last opposing CB and get us some bloody scrappy goals
December 8th, 2008 at 5:38
@colver: And i thought Manchester United as we now are at our boring peak. Have we ever been this unimaginative and swaggerless? And now you mention Mourinho?
December 8th, 2008 at 6:45
Ronaldo wants to stay
December 8th, 2008 at 8:17
Another game that I missed watching.. Another game I don’t regret missing going by what I read everywhere.
A few things i construed (out of the posts of me fellow ranters) that I think have been the prime constituents of our poor results this season:
- Berbatov is playing where Looney should be – behind the striker (and he isn’t doing what he should be doing in that position either).
- Looney is playing where Berbatov should be – The striker’s position.
- Park is being played in the wrong games (he can create a nuisance for attacking teams, but he can’t crack open a 10 man defence).
- Giggs is still being played when he should be paid off his contract value and sent home (or to the academy).
- Tevez is not being played (yes he’s being subbed-in.. but that hardly makes a diff these days).
- Hargreaves cannot be played (heard he’ll have another surgery in the new year).
- Ronaldo now has been restricted to only playing on the flanks and taking free-kicks. His ‘licence to roam’ and ‘license to shoot’ also seem to have beeen confiscated.
- Nani is expected to warm the benches in the harsh cold weather.
Football.. bloody hell!
December 8th, 2008 at 8:35
@RDJ: Don’t be sure of it yet,.. we hear such things from players all the time.
December 8th, 2008 at 8:41
did anyone see borucs howler?
December 8th, 2008 at 8:56
@dan(u-ol): No but I’ve seen plenty in the past, they are quite common
December 8th, 2008 at 9:01
@dan(u-ol): NO,.. how was it?? Better than David James’ howler???
December 8th, 2008 at 9:17
@Rahul: Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m pretty sure that Madrid will be back next summer to make our lives a wee bit more difficult
December 8th, 2008 at 9:33
@RDJ: They way they’re lying low at the moment, i think they might be back earlier – In January!
December 8th, 2008 at 10:46
Suitably late player ratings:
EVDS – 7.5 – They say that being a goalkeeper at a top team is all about one thing: concentration. Had absolutely nought to do for about 75 minutes, but stopped a dangerous cross with his legs. Also had pretty good distribution, which is nice to see as it had been erratic.
Vidic – 9.0 – He would have got the 8.5 along with Rio, but his goal gets him over the barrier. Say what you want about Sunderland’s lack of ambition, but it was our middle two that kept the traffic going one way. Fitting both Cisse and Jones into your pocket in one game must be tough, but the man has big pockets.
Rio – 8.5 – As with Vida, utterly dominant. Cisse is a pretty handy player, and fast as hell, but you wouldn’t know it from Saturday.
Evra – 7.0 – Wasn’t quite up to his usual attacking best, and won’t get any points from me defensively, as I’m pretty sure not a single attack came down his side. He’s good when he has space and time on the ball, but gets flustered when closed down. As you’d expect from a full back.
Rafael – 7.0 – Provided good energy and some decent balls into the box, but also got skinned by Diouf a couple of times, in fact probably the only times the Sunderland attacker ran at him. Worries me defensively.
Fletcher – 7.5 – Did his job very well. People calling for him to shoot from distance play too many videogames. The vast majority of the time that he got the ball at his feet he was closed down before he could take the two steps necessary to ping a ball in from 30/35 yards. There are very few players in the world who can shoot from there with no run up. He controlled the pace and we had almost 75% possession. Why do you think that was?
Carrick – 8.5 – Gets my MOM despite Vidic’s higher rating. First time I’ve seen the Geordie try and grab the game by the throat, he really picked up his game. Yes he does look like he’s doing things in slow motion, but he gets away with it because that slow motion tends to be just faster than the opposition. Kept our pace up and kept possession well.
Ronaldo – 5.5 – For all those berating Park based on his inability to create and score, at least he was trying. Ronaldo’s role seemed to be show up, bring the ball to the final third, then pass it square. He wasn’t badly fouled all match, but you’d of thought he’d been through Normandy. Didn’t pass the ball well, in fact gave it away enough times that had he been someone else, (say Park) he’d be lambasted on here by all and sundry. He then substituted himself. I know he had to get his hair in shape for the presentation of his trophy, but you get off the pitch when the coach tells you. Even if you’re just standing still, forcing someone to mark you. You don’t make your team play with 10 men voluntarily.
Park – 6.5 – Ineffective, but I can understand why you play him after our showing against City last week was so good. Will never be a scoring machine, and will never be a great winger. But in a game that has a danger of being flat, he can at least provide some urgency.
Berbatov – 6.5 – I’m sorry, all the nice touches and vision are great, but he’s still a striker, and he needs to start playing like one. His header from Carrick’s cross should have been a goal, and if he’d shown a bit more urgency and willingness to just hit the damn ball we could have been a lot more comfortable. A striker doesn’t pull back his pass to Ronaldo (when Ronnie got hurt), he shoots across goal. I love watching Berba play, but Fergie needs to sort out where to play him. At his age, you don’t get a whole season to settle in.
Rooney – 7.5 – Looked our most dangerous attacking force, and looked lively, but never the man you want in situations where the box is packed. He’s just not precise enough. Still, should have created a goal or two. I want to know what happened to his desire to shoot from distance. Did he just wake up one day and decide he wasn’t very good at it?
Subs
Tevez – 7.0 – No idea what position he was playing (maybe CF, maybe RWF, LWF?) but had good control and some head down determidness to his game. Which is what we needed. Still isn’t as lethal as people are trying to make him out to be.
Giggs – 6.0 – I’ve no idea whatsoever why it was that he strolled onto the pitch over Nani. No idea whatsoever. All I can think of is that Nani isn’t pulling his weight in training, and is being benched for attitude problems. From a lovely Rooney ball in from the right, which pulled the keeper right out of position (partly cause Tevez missed the ball completely) Giggs had about a 4 gap of open goal, from about 3 yards. And chose to square it back into traffic. Why?
Anderson – 7.0 – Good energy, great enthusiasm, limited end product. It’s always going to be tough to pick a pass with 10 men behind the ball, so hard to judge him. For all those decrying he get games based on two performances, all I can say is watch some of the other performances. He is inconsistent and over-ambitious. No doubt he’ll be a great player one day, but give him time.
Fergie – 6.0 – Well we won, so that’s good. All this pessimism pisses me off, there are no teams on Earth that wouldn’t struggle to break down a team as unambitious and committed as Sunderland were on Saturday. It’s depressing but it’s something we’re going to face and we’re going to struggle with. Sunderland are better player for player than Celtic, and look how hard that was. There are some things I have sympathy with – the young players are still bedding in and they’re still very young, don’t forget that. Others I don’t – Park shouldn’t have stayed the 90, and Giggsy probably wasn’t the right choice.
Look, our goal was to be within 3-5 points at the turn of the year, and we’re still on track. We have 2 carling cup matches, an FA Cup, at least 3 more CL games, Japan and the prem to be battling it out. Our whole squad is going to be involved, and hopefully we’ll be able to balance it out. All I know is that I wouldn’t trust anyone else to handle that kind of schedule and pressure. He’s not perfect, but he’s the best there is, so get over his mistakes.
–
December 8th, 2008 at 10:53
What is the problem with Ronaldo?, he is the best player in the World no doubt, but he really is annoying the hell out of me.
He subs himself, gets a stupid red card against City, gets kicked from pillor to post against Villareal agreed, but he playing like a spoilt brat, trying to referee games constantly moaning and jesticulating to the officals, it is getting really annoying in my eyes.
This is not an anti Ronnie post but he is playing like he did when he first arrived, self very indulgent, does he really want to play for us? Are all the awards he is getting (and quite rightly so) going to his head? who knows but I want the Ronaldo of the last two seasons back and soon, because was a wonderful player.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:13
@Beachryan: No team on earth that wouldn’t struggle to break down a team like Sunderland, with packed 11 man defence????? Mate that wasn’t our problem, we broke thru several times, but once again the ineptitude of our strikers let us down
.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:17
@Rahul:
, your post made me laugh so much, and that is good on FREEZING COLD monday mornings.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:20
@Stephen: There could be two things mate..
First, he thinks he’s paid just about enough to hand around in Cheshire.. not enough to be bound by rules for mere mortal players.
Second, he dislikes having most of his roaming freedom taken away and given to Berbatov. Running flanks only and taking free kicks won’t get him those many goals, and probably would cool off Real Madrid’s interest, which he would obviously not want. And on top of that he sees Rooney & Berbatov not score the chances that would have been dead cert converted for him.
Third (I know i didn’t warn of a third one).. he clearly knows Fergie’s got a soft corner for his talents.. and some of it has got into his head.. Alas!
December 8th, 2008 at 11:30
@Craig Mc: Glad to help bro! I thought Grog’s take on Eddie’s ‘wonderings’ was hilarious though!!
December 8th, 2008 at 11:35
@WhiteY: Nothing unimagine-less or swaggerless about our DEFENDERS mate, they are playing like TITANS, and ravenous for the win
. It is our strike force that is letting us down big time, and besides one more really GREAT midfielder who can dictate play, we also need to get TOP CLASS strikers who can challenge properly challenge the ones we have at the moment, so they are not automatic choices and really do have to play for their places. If I wasn’t doing my job, I would be unemployed, and so I suspect would you. We seem to have nobody when Ronnie isn’t firing that we can be sure of getting us the goals we need CONSISTENTLY. At least IF we have, the right blend and formation for us to take the prizes again is yet to be found this season. Rooney is not a feckin winger, and its an insult to wingers we have to play him out there. And for feck sake, how patently bloody obvious does it need to be, to realise that we need somebody who can at least compete with oppo defenders in the heading department 
. And by the way, if Ronnie is not doing it, he should be dropped. Yet who do we replace him with?. Am I wrong, or is our strike force SHIT this year without Ronnie’s prolific goal count?.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:40
@Stephen: Cant agree more…what is he thinking ????
is this the way to play at united ? offlate Fergie ahs been so lenient to players…added to that he has got a soft corner towards ronnie ..am starting to get worried.. Nani wud have atleast put in some crosses to the box…and why is Mannuco not even on bench ? he can atleast give some aerial presence in the box in these type of matches 
another interesting point : Phelan’s record at united as a manager
played : 2
Won : 2
GF : 6
GA : 3
phelan to replace fergie
December 8th, 2008 at 11:41
@ Craig MC – I’m sure we were both watching the same match, screaming at the tv, so I’m not sure how you can say we had loads of great chances, but lacked the strikers to pull them off. Off the top of my head I remember Berbatov’s header, which he should have got on target but was never easy, and Giggsy failing to shoot when he should have.
Park got played through and got a shot off under pressure, Berbatov got a shot off at the keeper, Fletcher turned well in traffic but couldn’t keep it on target and that was about it.
Just because we were camped on their 18 yard line doesn’t mean we actually created that many good goal scoring opportunities. For me that’s indicative of how hard it is to operate with such little space.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:43
We are not scoring enough goals simple, I feel for Carlos that after scoring four he doesn’t get a start.
I am not sure if the forwards are not scoring, or the midfielders are not creating. I do not see why we started Park at home against Sunderland? Also I was freezing my arse off on Sat, and Fletcher was really poor, he has to play well every week to get into th eside because he is not a top midfielder and if he doesn’t then his limited ability shows. Would Park and Fletcher get into the Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool ot even Villa team, I know the awnser to that question and it is a no.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:24
@Stephen: I too have been frustrated as hell by Ronaldo. IMO, what made him a great player was not his wonderful goal-scoring feat(great as it were, we have to admit that he had double the amount of shots of all the other players last year), nor his bag of tricks (Nani has the same trick sets), but the way he chose to rise to the occasion when the going got tough. When everybody was against him (including united supporters), he decided to show his ability where it mattered…on the pitch. For me, that is the real reason why he deserved the award, and why he should have recieved it last year.
This season, his confidence has turned to arrogance. Plain and simple. He no longer sees the need to prove his ability on the pitch, instead, he’ll entertain sqibbles with fans in the stands about who is no.1. He is now so self-obsessed, it is just sickening. Even more sickening is his take that “once I score a couple of goals, everyone will forget about this and again love[adore] me”.
I got shrugged off when I warned during the off-season that the aquisition of a focal striker will affect Ronaldo’s goal-scoring and overall performance. Well, it happened. Not only because of his ‘new role’, but also because of his attitude.
It is going to be tough for SAF to reign Ronaldo in, becuase it is he who gave him free reign in the first place.
What’s worse is, his performance and attitude is also affecting his price. As much as I love(d) the guy, I think he should fuck off to City in January before his price really plummet. Perhaps then SAF can start playing team-football (with Berba as the playmaker) as apposed to a bunch of individualistic disjointed performances.
One things for sure though…our team is sick and SAF needs to address it.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:24
@Beachryan: Beachy mate, watch the replay, Looney was put through with a great slide pass, and he should have buried the chance, but as usual his first touch poor and the let the ball roll from him. Fletcher and Carrick on edge of box and had clear space to shhot, but side passed it. Tev failed to connect with an easy opportunity with nobody around him, but his rapid reflex reaction took place before the ball got to him, and he missed his chance. Anderson was given good opportunity when thru, and he just didn’t hit the ball quickly enough. Sorry Bro, but we must have been seeing the game thru different pair of eyes
.
Stephen – Tell me about it mate
. No doubt everybodies NUTS were so numb and probably blue with the cold 
. Feels even colder when there’s nothing to jump up and down about 
.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:27
@bond: i think Phelan is being used as a bit of a scapegoat to be honest, the team aren’t playing well and it is easy to blame him, but really can we blame an assistant manager for our poor performances, surely not?
He has the personality of a dead sloth no doubt, and in my view he has a “job for the boys”, but surely our lack of goals and low level performaces are down to the players and the manager, simple.
If we were playing like this and Ole was our number two would he get the stick that Phelan is getting, probably not because Ole was a legend and Phelan well, was shit.
We lack creativity and the tempo of last season is apparent, but we are doing quite well this season, but the performances mask the level of our game, Fergie I am sure will get it right and soon hopefully and we need to get on a decent run.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:32
@Craig Mc: I thought Rooney played well on Saturday, but I did have about five pints before KO these 5.30 kick offs are a nighmare!!
@Karl: You make some really good points there, Fergie seems to let him do what he wants and never gets stuck into him, his behaviour has been that of a spoilt brat and its getting embarrassing.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:51
Yeah, I’m utterly disgusted with Ronaldo lately. Celtic away he looked determined and brave, but since has been a spoiled brat. No one cares if you don’t score 3 goals Ronnie, but we expect you to be honest and put in a shift. And stop being so premadonna about every little foul. You’re very good so you’re going to get hit sometimes. As you proved in rome last year, you can take it, so stop moaning at every chance and get on with it.
Watched Hibs v Celtic yesterday, and it was eye-opening. Like the prem before the prem. Proper challenges coming in, felling players, and they each of them helping the other up. No rolling around, not screaming at the ref. Just playing the game. Oh and a wonder-blunder from Boric. Hilarious.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:56
@stephen hey i was not at all blaming phelan..poor guy
! he is very limited… i still think its bcoz Fergie is very lenient on players… when Nani was ready to come , fergie called him and asked him to send Giggs instead…just cant understand the reason… ok if we were at a point where we need to keep the possesion giggs wud have been teh right chance..BUt when we must score how come giggs ahead of nani ? may be he wud have thot Giggs can get that intelligent tru balls 
…. but still am worried….we need a major restructring..bench ronnie for couple of games… Bring andy and tevez back … lets play 4-3-3 …with full backs bombing on wings we shud have enough width… 
oh shit evra is banned for 4 games
fabio anyone
December 8th, 2008 at 13:01
@bond: Fergie is only lenient on one player.
December 8th, 2008 at 13:29
@Rahul: i doubt Real will be back. they just shelled out for the Hunter (why oh why did we buy berba instead?)
December 8th, 2008 at 13:31
@Will: Because he is class?
December 8th, 2008 at 13:56
@Stephen: Rooney played well – perhaps, but NOT in the areas he should have played well Bro
.
December 8th, 2008 at 14:07
I have a predicament…
My son (5year old) always wask me after a game “Did Ronaldo win?”
On Saturday when asking similiar questions and bragging about his Ronaldo kit, I just glared at him (for obvious reasons), but afterwards felt sad in my heart… How do I explain to this innocent sould that his ultimate hero is turning into a spoilt, arrogant, primadonna M******F****r. What’s worse is, the main reason he started supporting this hero is because he wanted to seek favour from daddy.
I think this is why I’m most upset with CR7.
December 8th, 2008 at 14:10
@Stephen: yea cos it takes a class player to score two goals in the premiership… owen scored two in one game.
December 8th, 2008 at 14:14
@Karl: Buy him a 15 Vida shirt instead!
@Will: So he isn’t class then? He has scored 46 goals in the previous two seasons mate, he does need to score more no doubt, but give him a break it will come.
December 8th, 2008 at 14:24
@Stephen: oright i will. perhaps with Tevez starting upfront with him against spurs he will have more luck. but i couldnt care how many he scored for spurs.. its United i want him to score for.
December 8th, 2008 at 15:04
@Karl: Awwww – don’t glare at your little lad Karl. It’s okay for him to love Ronnie still, kids are pretty faithful, so won’t understand any changes of mind. Anyway mate, I am sure if Ronnie stays, he will come good again for us. Fergie will only take so much, no matter how big the player is
.
December 8th, 2008 at 15:22
Thanks Craig. I just wish we can get back the Ronny that proved the doubters on the pitch and can take it on the chin. I don’t care if he don’t score goals. His game was always a lot more than that.
December 8th, 2008 at 15:58
HEy guys did you get the news about Benzema Looks like united are seriously considering a move for him…..WTF is goin on…..why,why do we need him…then we will have to offload berba i guess????
December 8th, 2008 at 16:25
@ Karl – Totally with you. I’m almost embarassed watching Ronnie sometimes this season, especially when watching with friends who aren’t United fans. The worst bit is that he has gotten a lot worse than last season, which was a market improvement over the season before. Last year even his harshest critics were admiring his achievements, and his bravery. This year, they’re laughing at him. Because he is become a characture, a mockery of himsel