Apr 21
Hot News Ahead of Barca | Gattuso and the Usual Nonsense
Lads, plenty of stuff to talk about, with the Barca clash round the corner. So let’s get on with it quickly.
First of all some Barcelona news, as Eto’o apparently has threatened to leave the club if they end up trophyless, and that he would move to another country (England, perhaps?). Now he may be an excellent striker, but his attitude just about stinks. I read this at FCB News and I suggest you all keep tabs on your Barcelona related news from there for the next couple of weeks, as it is a pretty reliable source right out of Barcelona.
Nic, of FCB News, has also written a Barcelona perspective on how to overcome United, so it’s a good gauge on their view point. You can comment there, although be nice and avoid winding people up there. 
We’ve had enough wars here already!
Eidur Gudjohnsen has warned that Scholes could be a bigger threat than Ronaldo. I personally think Fergie might not even play the Ginger prince, given he’s not been particularly good over the last few games, although the pace might suit him. Eidur does have a point, though; on his day Scholes would easily be the best player on the pitch and a greater threat, but sadly, those heady days are now few and far between. Carrick would be a better player in Europe on current form and the pace would suit him. But more on formations and tactics later when we preview the game.
As an aside, if Fergie wants to play Scholes in the final (whether we agree with Fergie’s sentimentality or not), he would probably look to play him only on the home leg and protect him from picking up yellow cards like he did in ’99. But these things are irrelevant now and way ahead of what things are at the moment — and I am digressing anyway.
Gudjohnsen, meanwhile, also reckons that United fear Barcelona. Hmm… I think there is mutual fear and respect when two big sides clash anyway. So I really don’t see the point other than trash talking.
Some transfer gossip now. Doesn’t the Gattuso to United rumours strike as a little odd and silly. True, he is much admired by SAF. True, he still runs like a terrier and basically stomps over everyone with his displays. But we are already blessed with a surfeit of midfielders, and I really don’t understand what it would do to us other than unsettling the midfield. Someone would have to be shipped out. A Hargreaves/Gattuso midfield would be good, but that would mean one of Anderson and Carrick would have to be dropped. I just don’t think it’s worth getting him.
Mind, he is a bloody good player, but central midfield is the last position we’d be interested in this summer.
There is some worry in defence as Vidic is still feeling the effects of his return from a knee injury. But he says that he would be fine for Wednesday’s game. So hopefully he turns out right.
Ronaldo wants win in Barca. Now what would I give to see that happen!
Barcelona’s main man, the young Lionel Messi, seems very motivated and had a few kind words for Ronaldo. But he seems fairly determined after missing out on playing the final when the won the Champions’ League. It goes without saying that he is the most important player, and Brown/Evra will have their work cut out on Wednesday. I wonder how Fergie would look to counter his threat. Barcelona are a much better side with the Argentine (and Iniesta) in the team. Carlos Tevez would also be one of the first to recognize the importance of tackling is Argentine mate.
And that’s the end of a Barcelona heavy post. It has to be — after all it’s the semi-finals.
More tomorrow and over to you. And it would be nice, if we take a break from our usual striker debate. Just a suggestion, is all.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Gattuso, Berbatov, Owen – Debunking Some Rumours
- Porto it is then…
- Why Becks and van “the man†were sold so cheaply to Real
- Can Barca be beaten in Europe?
- De Rossi for Manchester United?
Tags: Manchester United News
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[Grognard]
“Silly talk”, “nauseating” eh?
I don’t want to go on a rant about ignoring it if it nauseates you. I hope you see why sometimes some opinions can sicken/nauseate people. And you know that you don’t need to say it here.
Just saying this in case there is another “war” in the future.
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The subject matter is nauseating and silly, not the posters, therefore I don’t see why you are concerned. It was a generalization not directed at any one individual. I find it funny that you red flag me on that yet so much that’s directed at me specifically gets through without the same kind of policing. Do I have to feel like I am walking on glass from now on? I don’t know RR???????
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“The subject matter is nauseating and silly”
Exactly. You don’t need to tell fellow commenters that they’ve brought up a nauseating and silly point. As long as there are people discussing it and seem interested it’s OK. For that matter I could say the whole “which striker should we buy” subject is itself a very silly thing to talk about now, couldn’t I? But it’s not right to do that.
And about your theory about you being victimised. I didn’t delete your comment in the first place so I allowed it to stand — which is itself something you should note. And the offending comments that you’ve managed to see against you are usually when I am away (I don’t sit refreshing page every second you know). I have lost count of the number of hate comments directed at you that I’ve deleted before you could even get your eyes on them. You give me very little credit. But then I won’t hold that against you.
And remember, I am not stupid to side one commenter against the other. It’s not good for this site. And it makes no sense really. If I really didn’t like a commenter I would have kicked him off a long time ago. And I have kicked a fair few off the site, trust me.
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Am I the only one who thinks the game will end up 0-0?!
With the way Sir Alex sets us up in europe the key will be not conceeding a goal. If we can nick a goal on the break then great, going back to Old Trafford with a 1-0 win would be a brillaint result.
I think the team will be -
VDS
Brown Vidic Rio Evra
Hargreaves Carrick Scholes
Park Ronaldo Rooney
I think Ronaldo will play up top with Rooney starting out on the left with park chosen to play down the right because of his energy, workrate and experience.
If we need to change things then the bench will look good – Tevez, Nani, Anderson, Giggs, Pique, O’Shea + TK
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Grognard: got to say I find it funny that you rip on Bojan for “being in the right place at the right time and scoring lots of easy goals” when you want Huntelaar at United. Bojan will become a player like Huntelaar, but with a bit moepace and probably better all round. Benzema is the type of player that United could do with: quick, strong, decent in the air, clever and involved. But I will say again that Aguero would be a fantastic signing for us. We need a player who can break at speed and finish, not a player who can wait until we cross it to him. Ideally we want a Rooney who scores consistently, and Aguero is the closest I’ve seen.
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playing giggs and scholes will be a huge mistake for this game, and I am not slagging them off either. When Nani is fit, he is hands down our best left winger. I think it is his form that has made giggs look horrible in comparison(that and we all have fond memories of giggs at his best.) While scholes is much more effective with the ball than Anderson, he just cant control the middle of the park like the young brazilian can. Its been said before, but when ever hargreaves plays with Anderson they absolutely control the game, which is critical against Barca.
I also think Ferguson should start Tevez, I know there is a temptation to play conservative which usually means tevez starts on the bench. But I think we should attack Barca, cause if we can get 1 or 2 early goals I dont see them having the character to fight back.
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Michael; Go back and read what I wrote. For crying out loud, I never ripped Bojan whatsoever. I just said that I feel that at this point in their careers, Benzema is a better player. Where in that comment am I ripping him? The fact that I find a player or players better than him is far from ripping him. I called him a goal poacher and that he is. And that’s fantastic, but he is technically not as good a player as Benzema YET. I watch a fair amount of Lyon’s games and most of Barca’s so I don’t feel I am in error here. As for Huntelaar, Bojan is quicker and more elusive than Huntelaar but he doesn’t have his physical presence in the box. He tends to score easy goals by ending up at the back post for a tap in many times. I like players that are very strong in the air and cannot be physically intimidated. Huntelaar is far superior to Bojan in that department. Benzema on gthe other hand isn’t comparable as a goal poacher because that’s not his style but he has more skill than both players. That doesn’t necessarily make him a better goal scorer, just a better all round player. United simply need a goal scorer. We have enough all round players. We need somebody who specializes in bulging the the back of the old onion bag.
As for Aguero, give it up. We will never get him because his asking price outside of Spain would be astronomical. United won’t play that financial game. One thing many of you don’t seem to understand is that it is not good to have to many artists like Ronaldo on the field. Look at Real Madrid before last year. For five years they won nothing because they had a half dozen Picasso’s trying to gel together. It’s impossible. What we need as a striker is the anti-Ronaldo. A player who simplifies things and is very direct and less subtle. Huntelaar or Gomez are those kind of player that could be available for transfer. With Ronaldo, Nani, Tevez and Rooney on the field the last thing we need is a Benzema or an Aguero.
Johnsom33; I don’t think Fergie will start Tevez in a road game against Barca. He will want five midfielders to better control the middle of the park. The only chance Tevez has of starting is if Rooney is a scratch due to his hip injury.
This will be a very difficult fixture. Scoring one goal and limiting barca to 1 or hopefully none will be a massive victory for us. The key to this game is to not let Barca win or to score more than one goal. Even without Ronaldo or Puyol, caution will still be the key. Barca are shadows of their former selves but on a big night like this, they have enough quality and pride to lay a licking on us if we aren’t careful.
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The great thing about the Barca game is that hand on heart, you can see any result. But United must play to win, because the tie can be virtually decided by what happens at the Camp Nou.
If it is to be a draw, United must make it high scoring draw because Barcelona will attack, attack, attack in the return leg at Old Trafford. They will score at least one goal at the Theatre of Dreams, possibly two. They will rest all their players at the weekend (like Milan last year) while United engage Chelsea in a life and death struggle in the Battle of Stamford Bridge. United have to play 3 massive games in just six days. Come the second leg, United will have some tired players and are bound to have the odd injury.
So, United must be brave at the Camp Nou. They will be at their freshest and virtually injury free. They must be Gladiators in the ampitheatre. Show that they are a great side, and put (if the Gods will it) Barcelona to the sword. A draw, particularly a low-scoring one, would be a dangerous result.
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absolutely fantastic news to hear Brown signed his contract…
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Someone above posted about Park, and I couldn’t agree more. He’s exactly the kind of player we want in a match against an attacking opponent – one who can out hustle almost anyone. His performance against Roma was a few first touches away from a standout performance of the season by a United player. Plus, if you play with him in a front 3 you essentially get another MF when we’re on defense, as he always gets back to help out. He is the answer to the Messi problem – he will both force Messi to come back sometimes when United have the ball, and also be there at his heels everytime Barca are attacking. You just can’t say that about Ronaldo, and Rooney is likely to take Messi’s head off if he’s given that responsiblity.
For me, we play to the highest energy level possible, because that’s just not what Spanish football is about, and they’ll find it hard to adjust. If we give them time in midfield they will pick us apart, just as we would to teh same. My second biggest concern is that Brown is slow, and our clear weak point. If you watch teams lately, they basically force the ball to Wes, leave him open, as he never does anything useful with it. Therefore I’d try Hargo there, especially as Barca aren’t a great force in the air, which is where Wes has the edge. This presupposes Fletcher is healthy, which it appears he is…
——–VDS———
-Hargo-Rio-Vidic-Evra-
—Fletcher–Carrick–
——Anderson——–
-Park——–Ronaldo–
——Rooney———-
Bench: TK, O’Shea, Neville, Tevez, Nani, Scholes, Pique
With a view to bring on Tevez, Scholes/Nani and O’Shea at some point.
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Beachryan i like it alot mate… but for this one i’d put scholes in….
i don’t know i can just see him hitting a 30 yard diagnol ball and ronaldo latching onto it on the run and cutting barcas defence with us winning 1-0 eh
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