Nov 03
Fergie’s Wind Up Act, Levy and Not Much Else
It will be a quiet couple of days before we pay a visit to Celtic Park for a Champions’ League fixture. The weekend’s given us much to cheer about: if you are a United fan, which you’ll invariably be if you are reading this, you’ll be happy about the results at Stoke and White Hart Lane. If you take a more than passing interest in cricket (and delight in England’s failings) then you’d be chuffed about the way England were humiliated in an abomination of a Twenty20 outing. Of course, Man City stay true to their comedic type, this time against lowly Bolton.
There are reports in the media that Fergie has asked Gill to offer Ronaldo an improved contract approaching £150,000 a week. [My personal opinion is the figure is insane, but when have my personal opinions mattered anyway?] Of course, I don’t see quotes directly mentioning that, but I think Ronaldo might stay beyond this season. Or as long as Fergie stays here.
On a related note, it’s worth talking about Fergie’s comments to the media over the past week that I haven’t got the time to bring up on here. At first, I felt it was crass to be speaking about players who no longer play for our club (Heinze), however, at the end of the whole series of comments emanating from Fergie and the reaction from the Spanish capital, I think his intent is clear for all to see. He’s still mightily pissed at Real Madrid’s shameless pursuit of Ronaldo all summer and, in a pre-emptive measure, he wants to say stuff that serves to wind Calderon and his cronies up so bad that they may have to rethink their moves on Ronaldo.
Ferguson is alive to their tactics now, and seems infinitely more in control of Ronaldo than he seemed in the summer. And whether Ronaldo goes this summer or not, it will be on Fergie’s terms. Based on Ronaldo’s recent comments in the media, Ferguson’s noises and my own humble hunches I think Ronaldo will stay beyond next summer.
Also, can someone put a sock in Daniel Levy’s mouth? He’s been finding time to shift the blame on his manager, scout, sporting director, players, pencil sharpeners for his team’s dismal start to the season. But more importantly he’s found enough time to blame Berbatov the most. And if he said that Berba wanted a move for over a year, it made little sense to keep him in the first place, no? And, if he knew that Berba wanted a move for over a year, it made sense to move him on at least early in the summer, thus having the money to buy a striker who could gel with the team, yes?
So what the fuck is he on about Berbatov being the cause of world hunger? Daniel Levy, please, shut up. Just. Stop. Talking. Make love to your wife. If that doesn’t help, then see if the 4-4 draw against Arsenal gives you an orgasm. Do anything you want, but leave Berba alone. On current evidence, he already seems too good for your little club. This may seem cocky, but you, sir, are certainly not likable by any stretch of the imagination. So fuck off, please. Warm regards.
And other than this I have little else to talk about. Will be back tomorrow, hopefully. Till then, feel free to vent your spleen in the comments.
Over and out.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Some More BerbaTalk
- Spurs, Levy, Ferguson and Berbatov
- Fergie’s Cleverley About-Face
- Don’t Hate Daniel Levy
- Easter Island Head’s NYC Visit | Ronaldo Goes Top | Fergie’s Double/Treble Aim
Tags: Manchester United News
Craig Mc (195)
RedDevilEddy (170)
Opti (135)
Moscow is my heaven (96)
Ian (95)
@Craig Mc: name calling, really Craig? If you can’t realise those comments were in jest and good nature then it’s regrettable. Why you even have to resort to calling me a ‘sadist’ is so sad it’s ironic. But, if that’s how you feel man, it’s a free world.
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@ Craig MC: I’m not denying that it’s painful, I’m sure it is. I’ve battled with tennis elbow back when I was training, and I was under the impression it was a similar thing. For me it was an ache the next day and being unable to properly use the muscles (couldn’t close my hand etc). I figured hte knee would be similar, sorry if it’s not.
What I was trying to stress is that sitting around not getting surgery isn’t doing any good, and neither is not playing, so, erm, pick a solution and get on with it. I love Hargo, he’d be my first choice CMF in almost any match. But that doesn’t disguise the fact that an non-playing world-class player is just as useful as a fit Djemba Djemba. I think Saha is a quality CF but he couldn’t stay fit long enought to help us. I don’t want to see Owen go the same way.
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@Beachryan: I agree Bro
. Hargo does need to consider surgery, but as someone already said, there is a big chance surgery will not work, and could make matters worse. It is a big decision having surgery in these kinds of options. Alan Shearer had a similar problem, he had the surgery, and could play on, but its not the same for everybody, the luck of the draw I guess Bro.
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@Stephen: Stephen, we don’t know that Fergie bought him knowing he had a knee problem. In fact we don’t know if he had a history of tendinitis while at Bayern at all. I know hw broke his leg, and had hamstring strains etc, but perhaps he only developed the tendon problem in the summer he signed for us. Like you said, he passed a medical, and doctor’s know how long term a disability tendinitis can be. So I cannot imagine if he had a history of it, it would not have delayed his transfer to us. Perhaps Grog will know better whether he had this tendonitis at Bayern. He has been a follower of German football, and knows most histories of their players
.
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@Craig Mc: I was just speculating mate.
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@Stephen: I guessed that Stephen, but I would like the answer to that myself, and hope that Grog or somebody in the know can enlighten me
. Will you be on the Celtic terraces then Bro. I think this is going to be a really fierce and enjoyable game. Course the Celtic fans will be giving us some stick, after what we dished out to them at OT. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get chanted at with “Are you Man City in disguise” after our Rangers rattling 
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@Craig Mc: I won’t mate unfortunatly wish I was, will be at the Emirates on Saturday and looking forward to it, hopefully a win will spring board our season.
It will be a superb game on Wednesday, and to be honest we should win quite comfortably, but if we only play for 45 mins, they could turn us over, like last time.
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@ Beachryan.: I agree with what you said “But that doesn’t disguise the fact that an non-playing world-class player is just as useful as a fit Djemba Djemba” There’s no denying Hargro’s a world class player with bundles of experience at top level. The odd games he did play for us last season he was excellent, very versatile and fitted in to our style of play very quickly. But we need him playing regular games. Now we can either rest him often, but the problem will still be there, or he can have the surgery and hopefully have him come back a rejuvenated player with 3-5 good seasons left in him. This is of course if the surgery is a success. SAF and hargo need to make up their minds and come with an answer pronto. By the way it was great to see carrick back in the team we missed him big time. Don’t get me wrong I think fletcher is great for cover and can pop up with a few goals but IMO carrick is a better player with better vision and link up play. And what he lacks in work rate he makes up for in excellent positioning. I only wish a fully fit hargo was able to partner him. Although Carrick and anderson do complement each other very well. What do you guys think??
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@Aron84: @Beachryan: Is he really world class?
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@Stephen: I think it’s subjective mate.
Does he have the attributes to be considered world-class in his area of play? Maybe
Can he walk into any team in the world that accomodates his style? Maybe
So maybe he is world class, but he hasn’t really diplayed world class ability for an extended period so it’s hard to say he is. He definitely has the attributes to be, but when he doesn’t display them consistently, it’s really overstating it to say he is world class.
Others might have their own views as everyone looks for different attributes with which they use to label players as world class, so, like I said, it’s all subjective.
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@ Stephen – at his position yes, I think he once was. He was a starter from a young age in a very good Bayern team, and is up there with the Sennas and Makeleles at the holding role. But I haven’t seen him play there in a long while, so I don’t know anymore.
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@Stephen. I think so mate. I mean the guy was excellent for bayern on the domestic and european front. Bayern IMO had a stronger side during hargo’s reign there. And let’s not forget after a lot of criticism for England initially, he was our best player in 2006 world cup and if I can remember correctly he scooped England’s player of the year as a result. He is world class providing he is fit.
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Our best central midfield combo is Carrick Hargreaves. Hargreaves lets nothing past him, Carrick could kick a tennis ball into your coat pocket from 70 yards with his eyes closed. That why Fergie spent £30 million on them. Anderson is one for the future, and Scholes is one from the past. Yes they are both brilliant, and on different ends of the career curve. From the bench to add a bit off something different they are perfect.
Throw into that Fletcher who is developing into a top class premiership player and with everyone fit midfield is the last of our worries.
The Hargreaves injuries prove to me that we push our players too hard in training, and if there is anything wrong with them it exacerbates it. Look at Saha! Fine at Fulham.. can’t string 5 matches together at United.. seemingly fine at Everton. Hargreaves (as far as I know, he was always available for England when called on) didn’t have these problems at Bayern. Solskjaer was plagued with injuries. When Berbatov came United stated there was a difference between Premiership fit and United fit. It works well enough for players who have no major problems, which is why Scholes and Giggs have lasted so long at the top, but Nevilles return kept getting hampered with niggles, and I put it down to our training regime…
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Totally agree Scholes is still a world class central midfielder but you have to play him with someone like Carrick who is willing to sit back as otherwise Scholes is too much of a defensive liability. Scholes and Carrick is still a great partnership but we need to look at other partnerships as Scholes can only play so many minutes before age gets the better of him.
Anderson is not the next Ronaldinho. He could be the next Edgar Davids but he can be anonymous and while he has bossed a few games, other times he can look completely out of his depth. The consistency will come with time.
Hargreaves should just have the bloody operation. We can get through this season without him and then next season we’ll see if he is world class or not. Regardless a fit Hargreaves would be useful to have for European competition as Anderson just doesn’t have the head for it yet.
Fletcher needs to keep getting game time. I think he has come good this season because he is getting to play almost every game. For me it is between Fletcher and Anderson for the spot next to Carrick in midfield. If Scholes is fit he should get however minutes he can cope with alongside Carrick before being hauled off for Ando/Fletcher.
Giggs is a liability in central midfield. He can play the odd defence splitting pass but loses possession too easily.
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@Traverse: lol.. well Berba thought he escaped Ramos’s crazy training regime and came to one even tougher. Apparently, Ramos was starving the players, putting them on diets and workin them extra hard, prob’ly why Berba refused to practice or play
With regards to our training regime, i’m not on the inside, so I don’t know, but if that was the case and injury prone players were suffering as a result of it, then i’m sure the staff would have found a way around it. I mean, what’s the point of pushing the players that much if they are gonna get injured at the end?
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The doom and gloom birds are out in full force today.
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@Beachryan: Excellent post. But, what do you think about a CM partnership of Fletcher and Carrick. I think this would allow for a system where they both have clearly defined roles. Carrick would sit deeper ala Pirlo and could pick up the ball from the back four and start attacks, or just operate as you said switching play to opposite wings, or just generally providing the constant outlet to let us keep possession. Then, Fletch could be there as the all action energizer bunny running around like a mad man. I think this could allow Fletch to make more of those well times runs from deep into the box, like a Scholes of old. Scholes in his hay day knew he could gamble on taking more of his runs into the box because he knew without a doubt that Keano was behind him to pick up the pieces. I think the same could happen with Fletch and Carrick.
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OK. Guys Gears Of Wars 2 Is officially THE BOMB! I mean this really is DO or DIE! I just killed a hot load of locust! Nothing better than killing some Locust! And this time, The boss is just Pure SCARY!
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@Beachryan: OK so Chelsea have Lampard and Ballack in the middle but their wings are not as strong as ours Ronaldo, Nani and either Giggs or Park beats Cole and Malouda any day, so it evens things out. They attack through the middle and we use more width.
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@RedDevilEddy: Fletch was far from horrible mate. In fact when he came back from his injury you could see a massive improvement in his game which has carried through to this season. Quicker, more confident on the ball, better first touch, vision, better passing, imagination and above all, ability to finish. Lets be fair. Anderson is just runs and protects the ball well. Other than that i have yet to see a really definable asset to his game. I like him but I am not in love with his style or lack of offensive diversity. He couldn’t score a goal if his life depended on it. When was the last time he actually found himself in a good scoring position with the ball at his feet inside the box? Try never. I think he shows great energy and really knows how to use his body to shield the ball and occasionally makes a good long through ball but other than that he leaves me cold. Fletcher does not have the pace or the dribbling skill but he is as good a passer and his vision and skill in shooting, heading and creative passing has surpassed Andy in my opinion. And it appears that I am correct because Fergie has chosen him consistently this season over Anderson. Now that Carrick is back I doubt Fletch will play as much because we can’t afford two slow footed players in central midfield so this Anderson’s time to wake up and finally make a statement of intent. Based on his first half last week, I think he is getting there.
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@Gabriel: It’s just words mate. Big deal. Ronaldo said he was happy at United a week before he told everyone he wanted to go to Real Madrid. Honestly though, what do you expect Nani to say? “I’m unhappy and Fergie is tosser”. Of course not. The lad wants to play and the way to do that is by making a statement on the pitch. Words of happiness to the press aren’t going to sway Fergie but as long as they aren’t negative, they can only help.
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@Stephen: The fault is not his but United’s handling of him. He should have gone under the knife as soon as it was determined that this problem was chronic and the only possible solution would be surgery. Instead they have dragged out this problem for 18 months when he would have been recovered from his surgery by now and there would have been at least a 50/50 chance he would be 100% today. I also think that they misdiagnosed Saha and other too. They are far too conservative in their treatment methods and even Saha has come out and said that he was questioning their methods. I just don’t know.
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@Gabriel: Great point and very accurate to.
It appears with some out there that bias and favoritism takes the drivers seat while fairness is in the trunk.
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@Stephen: They need to stop looking at the glass as half full and look at it as half empty. Patience and physio has not worked. Surgery is no guarantee either but it’s the only one United and Hargo have in regards to saving the lad’s career. The problem is optimistic greed. They hope the inflammation goes away so they can benefit from him this season like he helped towards the end of last season. It’s selfish, greedy and wrong. Operate on the lad and see if you can benefit from him at 100% next season. Or find out once and for all if he is the answer or if United need to look towards another for that role. Enough procrastinating already.
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@Craig Mc: There are different forms of tendinitis. Most are treatable with rest, some need surgery. The problem with tendinitis is that the more you play with it while it is even partially inflamed, the worse it gets and the more chronic and long term it becomes. Hargo played with this problem for a few years now while at 60% to 70%. Yes he was still outstanding but he was doing more damage to the tendon through the playing. Now he is paying for it and all the rest in the world won’t correct it if it has reached it’s apex in chronic mass.
Bottom line is surgery may not even correct it, but at least there is a 50% chance that he could play again at 100%. Both he and the team have dropped the ball on this problem. This should have been dealt with when he was bought. I love the player too much to say he shouldn’t have been bought, but perhaps that would have been the wisest thing knowing what we know now about the problem. It’s sad and incredibly frustrating for Hargo, United, Fergie and for us fans.
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@Gabriel: I don’t think the Craigster meant it with any malice or negativity. To know him is to love him cause he’s so lovable, cute and cuddly.
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@Craig Mc: He needs to take the chance and have the surgery though. Without his career is over anyway. It’s really a no brainer at this point in the whole fiasco.
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@Stephen: The question was not directed at me but I will be happy to answer it. Yes he is. You don’t have to be a Ronaldo or Kaka to be world class. What Hargo does, he does better than most and then you add his incredible versatility and ability to take a free kick unlike any other Canadians I know.
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@Aron84: Just remember how hard Bayern fought to keep him. They went to war with their friends United (historically a very friendly relationship) over not wanting him to leave. In the end Hargo’s demands, not United’s were the reason he was finally sold a year after the first knock on the door. Bayern loved him and he actually loved Bayern. He was never interested in signing for no other team in England or anywhere else other than United. That was a major enticement for Fergie to get a player who performs a role you need badly but who is also world class and dreams of playing for you exclusively. If Hargo was cut loose today I honestly think he would go back to Bayern, and they probably would take him too. That’s of course not taking into account what may be a career ending injury.
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@Traverse: I totally agree. Hargo and Carrick in the middle was the combo I have always favored.
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@colver: If Scholes is too much of a defensive liability and he is too slow and old to really contribute to our attack like his old self, then how on Earth can he still be world class? He’s not world class anymore and he hasn’t been for 4 years now. In fact he’s a liability offensively more than he is defensively simply because he sits back so far and never moves forward enough or deep enough to really help out. Other than his occasional bonehead tackles, his defensive game has come a long way.
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@Red Diablo: That’s a game I need to stay away from until my heart condition improves more. The first one was intense enough. Man how I wished we had Roy Keane with a GOW saw gun in the middle of our midfield. Bring Frank Lampard and the Drogba on then
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Ok. There is one thing for debate that I’d like to put up. When Ronaldo does leave, we will try to buy Ribery. And it is most likely that he wont come.
So how is this option? We ship Nani off to the right, I mean he is a right footer. And for the left we call up Aston Villa and buy their no.7, Ashley Young. I mean say whatever you like, but the guy is young, English and Class! His crosses are inch perfect and he can score from free kicks as well!
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@Grognard: I don’t get it, you’re one of the people crying for Ronaldo to be forgiven cus he has come out and appologised to the fans, why is it easy for you to believe Ronaldo’s appologies when you yourself just implied in your post that players words mean nothing?
@Grognard: I had to lmfao at Saha’s questioning United’s medical handling, the same Saha that would get injured in training? Its not as if he had a recurring injury like Hargreaves and United knew this but didn’t take action. I hardly believe that Saha came out and questioned United.
@MUFC Fan in America: I agree, anyone know where Conor is? So far from reading his posts, he’s usually the sense of reason in some of the strange comments in this blog.
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young well be an excellent choice for United to buy. He reminds me of the old Ryan Giggs. Although know where near as skillful he has the pace and directness that giggsy use to have to make defenders trip over their own feet. He is also an excellent crosser and free kick specialist. If ronnie does decide to leave we should go for Ashley Young. I agree with red diablo, can’t see Ribery who has been our target before coming as he would have been a United player by now if he really wanted to join us. Young and nani on the wings will be devastating. Another player that I have admired for a while and IMO would do well is Ricardo Quaresma.
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@Rd: I’d give Saha the benefit of the doubt and assume either a misquote or being taken out of context. The injury he had was meant to be a recurrent problem with his knee (something that was supposedly picked up in his medical but ignored). Still if he did come out with that stuff it is a bit rich, expecially since United were probably picking up the tab for the French medical centre he was at during the summer.
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@Rd: That wasn’t a players word. That was a quote to media. I’m happy isn’t exactly devoting yourself to the team forever now is it? I think you are overreacting to the comment a bit. Fact is players are quoted one thing while they do the opposite a hundred times a week. It’s all media BS.
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@JB: My thoughts exactly, it’d be really stupid and a little ungrateful of him if he came out to question the medical team, though i didn’t know that his knee injury was recurring.
@Grognard: Maybe I’m reading your post the wrong way, but the last line my point exactly. In one of your other posts about the fans and Ronaldo, you mentioned that both sides should move on since he has come out and admit he was naive to push for a move. I was just pointing out that why should the fans believe what Ronaldo said and whether he’s truly sorry since players words are mostly BS anyway
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hey, i’m guessing this a good a place as any to find out..
what’s the best way to get tickets to a game?
i’m going to be in the UK next feb, and there’s an away game at West Ham,
prob one of the only chances to watch a game live n don’t wanna mess it up!!
neway, any advice is much appreciated,
cheers,
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@Grognard: Lovable, cute and cuddly, you been listening to my GF then Grog, ‘cos thats what she says. I’m beginning to think your right about women Grog – the GF is fed up with Blighty and wants us to piss off to Spain
. Whatever will it be next eh?.
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@Grognard: Your report on tendinitis is exactly as I thought Grog. I really feel for Hargo, because he is a great player, even at 70%, but like Fergie said, that knee is too painful to play on now.
.
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So once again, anyone like the Wigan player Zaki, he seems to be scoring every game. He scared the shit out of L’fool. Wigan only lost that game at Anfield because of poor refereeing decisions
. I want Zaki, I love what I have seen of him.
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FM fans…the demo for 09 is out…i m dloading it!!!
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@Gabriel: I have to disagree with you on Andy. He is an attacking mid, he never played this current position until he came to United. True he didnt have a lot of club expeircne but in the Brazil youth national teams he always played an attacking role. Dunga only put him in the defensive mid role after he saw Anderson play at United.
Anderson has shown glimpses of his attcking potential but its obvious that fergie has him shackled. I think this is just his plan to make Anderson a more disciplined player, and eventually he will give him a little more room to roam once he matures a bit more.
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@Craig Mc: Run quickly if she says she wants a dog. That is a warning of much more serious things to come….if you get my meaning.
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@Craig: How I wish we sign Zaki bro. How much would he be on sale for after his displays at Wigan now? 10mil? 15 mil? 20 mil?
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@Grognard:
With an attacking line of Ronaldo, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney/Tevez; why is it so vital for Anderson to get into goalscoring positions? How many did Scholes really get into last season, or Hargo?
I might be wrong, but I really think you underestimate Anderson because of some sort of bias. How can you not see his vision during games? If anything, I would say his passing lets him down at times because you can see that the idea that we was trying to pull off was just amazing. To me, only Rooney shows that natural type of vision during games.
I think Hargo is a brilliant player, and when 100% fit, one of the best in his position. However, his buy was also an emotional one by SAF (more ego than anything else). I said it that time, and I will say it again; “what did he expect from a player who has been out for almost the entire season (and a bad medical track record before then) when he bought him for that huge amount of money?” We were solidly screwed by Bayern, though in fact it weren’t Bayern doing the screwing, it was Fergie himself. At the time I was being criticised for being negative in prediting that his sick-bay visits at OT will be similiar to his ones in Munich.
With all our talent in our squad, I fail to see why we should buy anyone, let alone a defensive mid???? If you think about it, SAF added Berbatov to the already best team in Europe and England (and I dare anyone telling me we don’t deserve those titles) whereas Chelsea – the secnd best team – added no one. I don’t understand the logic that we now need to add more?
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@Karl: It’s not vital but it is a worthwhile thing to do to add diversity and dimension to our attack and to his game. There is nothing wrong with a central midfielder attacking and scoring goals.
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@Karl: We are weaker defensively this season than we were last. I attribute that to no Hargreaves and no Carrick for most of it. Hopefully we settle down defensively while not hurting our offensive production.
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Our problem lies not in defense.
This is just a symptom of what the real problem is.
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