Sep 19
John Terry, AIG and Fergie’s Rant on Hackett
We all, by now, are aware that John Terry’s red card has been rescinded. The word, I can’t seem to find the link, goes that his punishment (i.e., the one match ban) has been ‘reduced’ rather than his red card being revoked. This in itself strikes me as strange, because I would imagine a red card would at least warrant a one match suspension.
My second gripe about this whole fiasco is about the nature of the card itself. The referee’s decision to send Terry off was not for a professional foul — which is rather easy to detect with video footage — but for “serious foul play”. This would be a matter of opinion and interpretation of rules by the on field referee, and if the FA are really concerned about the integrity of their “Respect” themed Premiership season, then undermining what seemed like a referee decision doesn’t sound like a good way to start.
It really makes no sense whatsoever. Either the red card has to be rescinded — which it cannot because it was a refereeing decision — or there has to be a one match ban at least, because it was a red card.
I, for the life of me, cannot understand this. Someone in the know, kindly educate.
This, of course, has not gone down well with Ferguson, whose rant against Keith Hackett has been well documented last season.
“By the letter of the law it was not a goalscoring opportunity. Maybe it’s good to have an FA panel people can go to but it certainly opens the gate to that kind of thing now. If it had been a Manchester United player Hackett would never have done this for us.”
I don’t buy the last statement, because I know it’s just his anger getting to him. But I do understand Fergie’s concern that this decision is yet another instance of inconsistency in the appeals process. He should have kept his mouth buttoned about the last line though. That could get him in trouble again.
Finally, something I’ve been meaning to write for a while but didn’t. AIG collapsed but has been rescued by the US Treasury. Which makes the US Treasury the shirt sponsor of United. People have expressed concerns about how AIG’s collapse might affect United’s sponsorship deal. But I say all that is unfounded. If AIG is to walk away from our contract, we only have everything to gain. Our brand value — on the back of having won consecutive Premier Leagues and a Champions’ League — has never been higher. So we will demand an even hefty sum from a prospective sponsor. At the moment, AIG survives, so we’ll still have that ugly looking logo on our shirt. (Yes, I have never been particularly crazy about having AIG on a United shirt.)
Related items from Red Rants:
- On Vidic’s red card
- The Glazers’ Busby Babes Tribute Madness – Sign the Petition
- International roundup and a link fest
- Future Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand named England skipper
- Man Utd 0-0 Villarreal: Ronaldo Returns
Tags: Daily Roundup
September 19th, 2008 at 17:35
exactly right!! couldnt have put it better meself
September 19th, 2008 at 17:41
whats wrong with with having AIG on the shirt?
Afterall it means Alex Is God
Sagar
September 19th, 2008 at 17:45
the rentboys unbeaten streak at the bridge must end some time right? nothing lasts forever, and what justice a win will be after cunt terry’s card was revoked,
terry is a cunt.
terry or no terry, bring on the rentboys
September 19th, 2008 at 17:51
..can’t wait to beat those pensioners at the bridge!! Lampard’s been runnin his mouth recently, and it would be nice to see him eat his words… maybe some tears by ‘Cry baby’ Terry will make it all the sweeter!
September 19th, 2008 at 17:55
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article4754216.ece
“The FA is unable to downgrade cards from red to yellow, so Chelsea must demonstrate that Terry should not have been booked to get the decision overturned, an unlikely proposition.”
by taking Terry’s red card away the FA has made a statement that they didn’t even believe the foul to be worthy of a yellow card. so by rescinding John’s card the FA have vindicated his actions & all together validated foul play.
i’ve had too many lengthy discussion about this already this week so will keep it short but the FA’s a disgrace.
September 19th, 2008 at 17:58
The ideal would be United to win the match via a Terry own-goal! Justice!
September 19th, 2008 at 18:07
@james f: That would be brilliant. I wouldnt be able to watch the match, cos id be laughing that much if it happened.
Those pensioner rentboys are gonna get some!
September 19th, 2008 at 18:13
justice will be served at the bridge.
September 19th, 2008 at 18:26
I think it will be a draw at the Bridge this weekend. They may have had a barnstorming start, but ‘Big Phil’ hasn’t had a true acid test yet, which will come on Sunday in the form of Manchester United. We always respond well when our backs are against the wall and I expect us, with Berbs and Ronaldo restored to attack, to come out all guns blazing and take out our frustrations on Chelski for what has been a truly wretched start to the season. Of course, the Chavs will certainly need no motivation to get fired up for this game, what with getting revenge for what happened in Moscow and all that, so I think it’ll be honours even: 1-1.
Re: AIG – I couldn’t give a shit if AIG went bust, as they represent the American values which have seen us plunged in debt, to the tune of £660m, and I would certainly welcome the arrival of a new sponsor. Also agree with RR’s point of our current stock being high due to on-field success, hence there would be no problem in securing a new sposorship deal.
Having said that…I have gotten used to seeing the AIG logo on our shirts over the last two seasons, and, call me a crackhead if you like, I kind of think it looks imposing/menacing
….
September 19th, 2008 at 18:54
@Nino: I have to agree with you mate about AIG. I could care less if they went into the tank or not. The fact that the American government bailed them out is absolutely disgusting to me. Let them go bankrupt I say. However, having said that, your comment on “American values” is insulting. Like most governments in the world the idea that they represent the values of those they govern would be an ignorant conjecture. As an American I have always built my values based on core priniples of liberalism. Which is why comments like yours make you sound very glib on the subject.
As for United, I feel Chelsea is a challenge we are up to. I just want to see a smashing match. I must admit there are times when I watch the Red Devils play and I hope for a cracking goal. Often I don’t want to see tap-ins and the like. But as for this weekend, I don
September 19th, 2008 at 18:57
My comments were cut off, but what I was stating is that I do not care how we score or what United player scores…I will take a tap in just as easily as I would a cracker from Nani at this point!
September 19th, 2008 at 19:09
@RichmondRed: With regard to my previous comment, the point I intended to convey was that it was the Glazers who brought about the sponsorship deal with AIG through their business contacts, and so consequently, as a supporter, seeing the AIG logo on our shirts is a constant reminder of them and the levels of crippling debt that the family has brought upon us. I admit my choice of words was poor and certainly did not intend to insult any Americans, so I apologise for any offence caused, but not for my stance on the issue
September 19th, 2008 at 19:10
hmm strange the FA screw united over rooney and scholes which had nothing to do with the premiership and neither were redcards yet the FA were happly to let terry off scott free, coincidence that terry’s next game he would miss the united game. I wonder if the FA would go through the trouble to get a united player off with a suspension.
September 19th, 2008 at 19:15
Its Berba 9 Time!
Seriously hoping that Rooney plays behind the Berba!
If we do that!
We will atleast score two against the rent boys!
Seriously!
And one more thing! All of Chelsea’s physicality? Yeah its with Ballack and Essien!
And they wont play!
WOO HOO!
September 19th, 2008 at 19:47
How could we possibly even think of playing Chelski on Sunday with out JT? What better game could there be for 3000 odd voices to sing for 90 minutes, all together now, ‘Viva John Terry, Viva John Terry……..
September 19th, 2008 at 19:53
@Nino: I understand your harsh words for the Glazers but I see the owners as sound business men who have brought to the club nothing but positives. Yes the club is in debt and yes that is never a choice place to be, however the constant reminding of the debt that we are in as a club seems overrated. The club has been moving in the right direction since the takeover in my opinion. Back-to-back league crowns, the Champions of Europe ect.. It seems to me that the Glazers not only have begun to pay down debt owed, but have reinvested in the club with the aim to never rest on past accomplishments. I don’t know what else you would want from an owner quite honestly. In fact, the Glazers have also done a noble job of staying out of the limelight by remaining behind the scenes and allowing the club to function according to the manager and David Gill. I for one think they are wonderful owners, with the club, fans and players interests foremost on their minds.
September 19th, 2008 at 20:19
@jason: I presume that is in reference to the Amsterdam Tournament a couple of years back? The FA gets alot of bad rep for supposed double standards because a Liverpool player (Gerrard?) got off without a ban in similar circumstances. In reality the issue was whether the referee included the incident in his match report (the referee for our game did and the one for Liverpool did not). Once it was included in the match report and forwarded to the Dutch FA, the English FA had no option but to enforce the bans.
@RichmondRed: I’m not as critical of the Glazers as some have been, but do you have any evidence that they have begun to pay the debt owed? If anything the restructuring efforts have increased our debt (currently upward of £600m). I believe that the club has been run well since the takeover but from a financial viewpoint I still can’t see where they are going to get their money back, unless they plan to sell off at some point to an oil rich Arab.
September 19th, 2008 at 20:26
RichmondRed there are three things that I want from those idiots, 1 the ticket cup scheme broken up, 2 the dept on our club vanished, 3 the glazers gone. If they achieve these three goals I will be happy then. And please don’t get suckered in because the team as done well they are great. I do not trust them at all still and that is never going to change and real united fans all know this. and why should any money go to the banks when that money could be invested into the team, make old Trafford a much bigger stadium to get more people into the games that would mean less money charged and more money is made, and future players will see united as this monstress place to play football.
September 19th, 2008 at 20:26
@Nino: @RichmondRed: Although this is a football blog I thought it might be worth saying a couple of words on AIG. Saying just let them go bust is taking a very simplistic view of the situation. The American government couldn’t afford to let the world’s largest insurance company go to the wall as the damage it would do to the global financial markets would have been almost unimaginable. As bad as this week was for the financial sector, it would have been far worse if AIG had gone under. It might also be worth sparing a thought for the 100,000 plus staff worldwide that would have been left jobless if the American government had decided to do as you suggested.
September 19th, 2008 at 20:34
JB to be honest I won’t be happy if our club was bought by some Arabs and I will be just as opposed to them as the glazers, Manchester utd should be run in the same way as real Madrid and Barcelona to be honest all clubs should be. I am not happy with these people buying up our clubs there has got to be morals and souls in our football clubs. in these moments in football I wish I was Spanish and supported a Spanish club because I know my club is almost like my second home and not spending a fools ransom on tickets, real Madrid and Barcelona maybe a nutcase places at times but they never forget about the fans.
September 19th, 2008 at 21:01
I heard Berba is fit is this true??????
September 19th, 2008 at 22:34
The Glazer’s get 20 million euros per year from AIG… AIG is struggling… in addition, the Glazer’s other company First Allied Corporation could be in trouble due to the mortgage crisis in the US…
BE SCARED:
http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.readers-edition.de%2F2008%2F09%2F16%2Faig-nicht-mehr-in-der-champions-league%2F&lp=de_en&btnTrUrl=Translate
September 19th, 2008 at 22:39
Be scared:
AIG down but pays Glazer’s 20 million euros per year.
Glazer’s own a company in the real estate business, the mortage crisis could be hurting them there (its a private company so we cannot check if that is the case).
Be scared… be very scared:
Source
September 19th, 2008 at 22:52
JB you are right and AIG is a multinational firm with holdings all over the world. Going under would have caused a downturn of the economies of many nations besides the US. This economic downturn is not just because of the
but the spending practices of people in places such as Ireland where the housing market mirrored that of the US. Causing US “based” (some in the Caribbean) multinational finance companies to fail.
Yes they lent money to people that should not have been given loans. But natural disasters destroying whole towns and cities full of houses with insurance claims among many other stresses that caused this crisis to financial institutions.
and i am the last person that would make excuses for companies like this. I have been railing against this for years when i was trying to buy a house 3 yrs ago i could see that the market was way over valued and that the prices were not maintainable. the problem now is that the executives are making off with millions while the employees and the common shareholders are left cleaning out their desk or holding an empty bag. Hopefully they will one day be held accountable for their part in this like the average citizen is being burdened now with this mess.
September 19th, 2008 at 22:52
@JB: I never suggested that AIG should go under I just said I could care less if it did. However, in saying that I did not give any thought to the thousands of people who would be unemployed because of it. So with that in mind I would not want the company to go under. However, I was thinking in terms of our beloved football club and in the light I could careless about AIG. The sponsers would be lining up at the door to have their name posted upon the front of the most popular football shirt in all of the world. Personally I would prefer another sponser name on the front of the shirt anyway even if I have grown somewhat less opposed to it as I was when the sponser deal first broke through.
Anyway, none of it is in our control. All that is in our control is our love and passion for the Red Devils. I for one cannot wait for Sunday to get here. Come on you Red Devils! Wipe the floor with the rentboys.
September 19th, 2008 at 23:16
RichmondRed why are you taking you’re anger with united’s dept and blamming AIG, they have nothing to do with the dept blame it all on the scum the glazer famly that is it, all AIG are doing is sponsering united that is it, they are no different from any other sponser, only anger I have with AIG is their sponser on the 58 team photo that was put up on the east stand. I would love to see united have no sponser on the front of the united shirt
September 19th, 2008 at 23:24
@RichmondRed: Well saying “let them go bankrupt” does sound fairly harsh
I have to say I’m not sure I would be as confident about the sponsorship issue as everyone else seems to be. In the current economic climate there are alot of companies having to tighten their belts just to survive. I’m sure throwing money at United to plaster your logo on their shirts wouldn’t be at the forefront of many CEO’s minds. Not that I’m saying we wouldn’t get a sponsor, I just don’t think it would be as easy an ask as some are suggesting.
@Mads in USA: As far as I am aware the Glazer’s holding companies have a wide variety of businesses, such as healthcare, broadcasting, food processing and real estate amongst others. How much the current economic situation has affected their holdings is impossible for us, and the reporter in your link, to determine. Idle speculation at this stage (and the article was prior to the Fed’s rescue of AIG).
@maroon 14: He’s fit.
@gator: AIG can consider themselves fairly unfortunate that they are in this situation. They were not providing mortgages/loans to people who could not afford them but they providing financial institutions with insurance incase of defaults. There troubles seem to have arisen from the lax attitude to risk of a number of banks and the general malaise in the housing market rather than greed/incompetence on AIG’s part.
September 19th, 2008 at 23:54
@maroon 14: Yeah its on the website, in the same article Fergie said he’s unsure whether to start Ronaldo tomorrow.
On the last point Fergie made, i kinda agree with him, I’m not saying the FA has some kinda vendetta against Man Utd, but I’m pretty sure if that was Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra or Brown, the best we’d have gotten would have probably been a one-match ban…
September 20th, 2008 at 4:00
The AIG logo sucks. it’s the one reason that i think twice about wearing a jersey. their situation hasnt made it much easier either.
September 20th, 2008 at 4:38
red ranter at his best!
September 20th, 2008 at 7:40
It seems the london teams are the chosen ones for the FA ..then why can’t they have a LPL …and have multiple chelski teams like chelski 1,chelski 2 , chelski 3 play..then they can kick each other to their heart’s content ..and can decide the winners
September 20th, 2008 at 8:51
@MUFC Fan in America: i think its nice, its slick and classy.
i wear my new berba shirt every time me and my mates play. 
September 20th, 2008 at 9:18
i had a dream last night, i saw manucho score a cracker against chelsea, and we won the game, u hope this is a sign.
September 20th, 2008 at 9:41
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1712348.ece
Carlos Tevez is what man utd players should be modelled upon!!!
September 20th, 2008 at 10:38
@dan(u-ol): I also had a dreamlast night, that we tore chelsea apart and were 3-0 up at half time!
September 20th, 2008 at 10:40
@OllieY: i like that dream!
September 20th, 2008 at 11:40
@OllieY: i think manu will win 3-0 with rooney scoring 2 and ronnie 1!
Of course, rooney will score a volley and chip while ronaldo will score a 30 yard freekick
September 20th, 2008 at 11:46
Berba fit = Rooney on the left.
i await another Roon bashing evening tomorrow.
September 20th, 2008 at 12:43
if berba, ronnie = fit
we have a chance to end those scums’ streak
terry is a cry baby though <– and that is a fact. feckin twat that cunt terry is
September 20th, 2008 at 13:13
@RichmondRed: OK, granted the Glazers have indeed kept a low profile since they took over and haven’t messed about with on-field affairs or anything; but you are missing the key point: nobody wanted them there in the first place!!
What was wrong with staying as a PLC? Malcolm Glazer could have had a small stake e.g. 20% in the club, I wouldn’t have a problem with that, and if he really wanted it: a place on the board, like Stan Kroenke at Arsenal this week, offering his business acumen and experience, but there was no need to borrow so heavily to buy the club. If you don’t have the money….
I do not see the benefits of having the Glazers on board as owners. You refer to the on-field success of the last two years; however that is down to one man only (Hint: It’s not Malcolm Glazer). His name is Alex Ferguson. We shall continue to win trophies while this gentleman is at the helm of the club; our success has nothing to do with the Glazers in my opinion.
September 20th, 2008 at 13:31
@jason: Mate you come up with some very good points there. Theoretically, I would also like to see United in the hands of the people who truly care about the club, and do not see it as some kind of sports ‘franchise’: the supporters. However, the system at R. Madrid and Barca, where the club is owned by the ’socios’, could not work over here. (Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but) R.Madrid and Barca, as well as a lot of other clubs on the continent, are not just football teams. They are sports clubs, with various departments such as basketball, athletics, tennis, etc. (some clubs even have chess teams!) and the members of these clubs are the ones who own them. As far as I am aware, Man Utd is not a sports club and so this system could not work for them. In addition, the system at Real in particular, where the president (who more often than not turns out to be a complete fassy) interferes with the managers role and overrules him, and takes command of transfers, is not ideal at all, especially in light of the situations with Keegan and Curbishley recently.
I also agree with your point of United not having a shirt sponsor at all. Teams such as West Brom and West Ham have set a trend (unknowingly!) and I would like to see United follow suit. It’s kind of heartbreaking to see such a sacred shirt desecrated by a sponsor; it is like selling out your soul to the devil, and that is why I used to admire Barcelona a lot back in the day when they did not have a shirt sponsor (even R. Madrid had a pure white shirt during their centenary year a few seasons back) and which is why I also abhor Arsenal for selling the rights to their stadium name to Emirates.
September 20th, 2008 at 13:34
I hate AIG too…reminds me of those smug dipper c*nts with the almost in greece bit…
Who would you like to see on Uniteds shirt?
It has to be a big big company, but an ethical one also, and an american insurance company is somewhat putting off..
Google?
September 20th, 2008 at 13:53
@jason: I’d also like to comment on your point about stadium expansion. That would not be financially sound, as to expand the South Stand and make it into a tiered stand like the others would involve buying the plot of land behind it (the one with the railway line) and the many council houses nearby, which would cost us around £120m and put us further in debt. Thats a bit too much money just to expand one stand, especially when you consider that other clubs can build a whole new stadium for that kind of money. If we were to expand the South Stand though, the capacity would rise to 96,000; bigger than Wembley even! Now that certainly would re-inforce the general ideal amongst the Utd faithful that United > England!!! (Unlike most fellow Utd supporters, I am also an proud England fan too!)
September 20th, 2008 at 15:03
@nagraj: Although I said earlier that I would like to see United’s shirt sponsorless, I realise that in this day and age it’s almost near impossible to do so, due to the lucrative revenues the club will miss out on, and so I wouldn’t mind seeing us sponsored by a huge respected electronics company like Sony; maybe go down the Chelski route and be sponsored by Sony Ericsson lol; have Walkman/VAIO/Cyber-shot logos on our kits; now that would look pretty cool imo…
September 20th, 2008 at 15:17
AIG is a good logo IMO. Not too flashy like most big companies would have it. I can’t think of many companies that size who would look much better
September 20th, 2008 at 16:52
Bayern 2-5 Werder
Liverpool 0-0 Stoke
September 20th, 2008 at 17:00
@JB: annoys me more than anything. The fact that we lost to them (and drew with Newcastle) has really gotten some perspective today
September 20th, 2008 at 17:04
btw, everyone disagreed when I said that Pool play better without Torres and Stevie
September 20th, 2008 at 17:26
Has it come to this? We waste time and space debating over the incredibly dull and pointless logo and our sponsors AIG. Like I give a damn about the logo or advertisers on the bloody shirt. It’s who’s wearing the shirt I care about. I’d rather talk United vs Chelsea. Let the Glazer’s worry about whether AIG will remain or should remain our sponsor. I’m more concerned about how we are going to score enough goals to beat Chelsea. Last week Liverpool opened a big door for us to stampede through when they never started Gerrard and Torres. We never took advantage of it. Now we have a Chelsea team that are ripe for the picking because they have no Terry, Essien and probably Ballack. This is an ideal scenario where we can end their unbeaten run at the Bridge and kick start our season as well. And yet, I have a feeling we are once again going to lay another egg because there is something seriously wrong with our intensity, focus, conditioning and desire. Hopefully Fergie will iron things out sooner than later. And if Drogba doesn’t start we should win this game. Lets hope for the best. Hopefully a healthy Ronaldo and Berbatov will make the difference.
September 20th, 2008 at 18:20
@Grognard: Terry is back lol ^^
September 20th, 2008 at 18:44
@Grognard: terry is back, believe it or not he is back. dont worry, he’ll slip and mess up again. that cunt is too slow even to handle jo.
September 20th, 2008 at 18:50
Those Scousers are hopeless. That team has absolutely no imagination. They have goal scorers but no idea how to get them the ball. The service to Torres and Keane today was just comical. If today’s performance was not message enough that they are never going to go anywhere with Rafa the Dullard, then they truly are as stupid as Republicans in the US who keep clamoring for more of the same old crap that has led American straight down the toilet. Sorry for getting political but stupidity needs to be compared to stupidity. Liverpool are truly a joke and nothing changes with them. One has to laugh on one hand and then cry over the fact they beat us last week. How the Hell did that happen against such an awfully unimaginative and totally static side?
September 20th, 2008 at 18:53
@Nino: What? Forgive me but I have been out of the loop for 5 days while I was in hospital getting useless tests for a heart condition that wasn’t. It was just heartburn created by United’s piss poor performance of last weekend. Did Terry not get sent off in his last game? And if so, why is he playing? Please fill me in. Or let me guess, the pricks have decided to appeal the sending off?
September 20th, 2008 at 19:01
@Grognard: The theme of this post (on the main blog) was to discuss about the whole John Terry affair. It would help if you read the article above. Surprised you haven’t read it yet. (Or perhaps I’m just being deluded that people actually read my posts)
September 20th, 2008 at 19:02
OK I just read that the FA (aka Fucking Assholes) rescinded his red card. Why? Had that been Nemanja Vidic or Rio would they have done that? I guess there is one rule for Chelsea and another for the rest. Terry is a cunt with a terrible reputation and he is allowed to walk on this one? Unbelievable!
Is there any fucking fairness and justice left in the English game anymore? If I was part of the FA, I’d use every possible excuse to make an example of a cunt like Terry. He’s everything that’s wrong with the modern game. I’m just totally dismayed by this and I wonder how many more conspiracies against United we have to look forward to this year? 
September 20th, 2008 at 19:04
@Red Ranter: Sorry RR, I was just anxious to get my 2 cents in after being tied to a bed for 5 days and way out of the loop. My apologies. I always read your articles and it’s kind of funny the one time I don’t I got called on it. I guess I deserve that poke.
September 20th, 2008 at 19:05
I really think we miss CQ !! My concerns will be even deeper after chelski hammer us. Sorry guys but I really am pesimistic about this one!!!
September 20th, 2008 at 19:11
@nawaf: CQ is very much missed in the offensive third of the pitch as well, I think Nani and Anderson are struggling without him. I wonder if Ronaldo will struggle without his cultural and soothing influences as well? He was strong tactically but he was an excellent players manager. He really knew how to talk to the players and make them feel good and boost their confidence. Tell me, do either Nani or Anderson look confident this year? They look like fish out of water if you ask me.
September 20th, 2008 at 19:34
@Grognard: I think Nani looks good, Anderson however has been hopeless.
I think the game tomorrow depends on what formations each manager puts out. Will Chelsea play Anelka and Drogba up front or will he stick with the 4-3-3. Fergie has some potentially game changing decisions too. Like maybe playing Rooney in the middle might help! Tevez I think would make a half-decent Winger. He can leave a player in his dust and has a decent delivery. However, any formation will depend entirely on the fitness of Berba and Ronaldo
September 20th, 2008 at 20:47
@Liam: It will be interesting to see who sits out between Tevez, Rooney and Berbatov? I am sure Ronaldo will start and pretty certain Berbatov will too. So who will sit down? My bet is on Rooney. I think it would be a mistake to start all four of them and I really prefer Nani on the left wing over Tevez. Nani can cross the ball for Ronaldo and Berbatov. Eventually Fergie will have to make his statement and start rotating Rooney and Tevez or sit one down. I think he will rotate them so that they both get plenty of action. I don’t think Berbatov will miss many games as he was purchased for a reason. 4-2-3-1 is the way to go
EVDS – Brown, Rio, Evans, Evra – Carrick, Hargreaves – Ronaldo, Tevez/Rooney, Nani – Berbatov
I don’t care who starts over Rooney or Tevez. I just don’t want to see Scholes, Giggs, Neville or O’Shea start this game.
September 20th, 2008 at 20:58
@Grognard: i was thinking about this, i think the best line-up for chelski would be:
)
vds
brown
rio
evans(let the power of youth explode
evra
nani-RW
hargreaves
anderson
tevez-LW
rooney
bebatov
i think that formation would be best, but we all know that fergie will pick either:
vds
)
brown
rio
evans(
evra
fletcher
hargreaves
scholes/anderson
rooney
tevez
berbatov
i strongly doubt that ronaldo will start. in a game this bit and his lack of game time would be to much of a risk.
September 20th, 2008 at 21:01
I was under the impression that Berbatov was struggling for fitness.
I think we’ll go 4-3-3 with Fletcher, Hargreaves and Scholes in midfield and Nani, Rooney and Tevez up front.
September 20th, 2008 at 21:02
unfortunately ive made a blunder in my last comment
ive said either so im guessing you people thought i would list 2 formations, sorry, its the one…
September 20th, 2008 at 21:06
@dan(u-ol): We’re almost in agreement there Dan. I just prefer Carrick and his ability to thread a perfect through ball over the boring as sin Anderson. As for Scholes, I’ll guarantee you that Fergie starts the old man once again and he will be subbed off after we are down in the game around 65 minutes.
I for one will be shocked to the bone if Ronaldo doesn’t start. He needs him big time and this is a must win game. To hell with fitness. He will sub him off in the 70th if he is sucking wind. By that time we should know where we stand. I don’t want him coming in to the game when we are already behind. I want him to start and take the game by the scruff of the neck. To beat Chelsea at the Bridge we need to hit them early and often. Waiting until late in the second half to bring in the world’s best player is tantamount to disaster, unless we put up a wall and are playing for 0-0.
September 20th, 2008 at 21:11
@Grognard: oohh right, you haven’t been told yet…carricks out, for 6-8 weeks…
September 20th, 2008 at 21:40
clichy has torn his left shit lol
25 paragraph down.
September 20th, 2008 at 22:03
well this was all over 606 so im guessing bbc have fixed this shit, no pun intended.
September 20th, 2008 at 22:19
United will win tomorrow!
September 20th, 2008 at 22:43
@Viz: Sorry, but after the events of this summer, I cannot take what any player says seriously when it comes to club loyalty, personally i don’t see him spending more than 5years with us.
@Grognard: Unfortunately with Carrick out, we’ll need a lot more creativity, something a midfield consisting of Hargreaves, Anderson, Fletcher/ Park does not provide enough of, so Scholes will likely be starting.
September 20th, 2008 at 22:48
uniteds record against chelsea is realy a myth especially at stamford bridge and here are the reasons why, united have not put out a real manchester utd side since the 2002/2003 season and I will show everyone the teams since that season that leaves alot to be desired going to chelsea’s ground.
02/03 season {a} to chelsea
Carroll, Phil Neville, Blanc, O’Shea, Silvestre, Butt, Keane, Beckham, giggs, Scholes, van nistlerooy
subs Williams, Tierney, Veron, Solskjaer, forlan
this is the only time united have put out a strong united side that was capable of winning there and we should have if it were not for poll’s poor decision against scholes.
03/04 season {a} to chelsea
Howard, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, silvestre, o shea, Keane, Phil Neville, fortune, giggs, van nistlerooy, forlan
subs Butt, Bellion, Carroll, ronaldo, Kleberson
04/05 season {a} to chelsea
Howard, Silvestre, Gary Neville, Keane, Fortune, Miller, O’Shea, Djemba Djemba, Giggs, Scholes, Smith
subs Ricardo, Phil Neville, Bellion, Forlan, Richardson
same season {a} to chelsea
Howard, Phil Neville, Silvestre, O’Shea, Heinze, Fletcher, Djemba-Djemba, ronaldo, Fortune, Rooney, Saha
subs Carroll, Miller, Spector, Scholes, Smith
05/06 season {a} to chelsea
Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre, o shea, giggs, Ronaldo, park, rooney, saha
subs Howard, Brown, Evra, Richardson, van Nistelrooy
06/07 season {a} to chelsea
Kuszczak, Lee, Brown, O’Shea, Heinze, Eagles, Smith, Fletcher, Richardson, Solskjaer, Dong,
subs Van der Sar, Ferdinand, Scholes, Carrick, Rooney
07/08 {a} to chelsea
Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, silvestre, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Nani, giggs, Rooney
subs Kuszczak, Tevez, Hargreaves, Ronaldo, O’Shea
you look at those lineups and how many times would you say united have a great chance of winning, only once when beckham was still wearing the no 7 shirt and ronaldo was in his first full season as a pro. when united faced chelsea in the 06/07 season at old trafford united almost beat them, and that was a real united side. last year in 3 of the 4 meetens between the two united won the 3 matches because united were at full strength. another thing I should point out every time united have put out a almost full strength united side against chelsea united have beaten them and last season we beat them three times when united were at their strongest.
September 20th, 2008 at 23:37
@RedAllTheWay: You say, you think Man Utd will win 3-0 tomorrow – How I hope you are right.
You said ROONEY will score two of the goals –
. LMAO, but it would be nice.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:15
@dan(u-ol): More bad news. Jeez you get isolated and out of communication for a few days and the world falls apart. Carrick gone for 6-8 weeks. Will we ever be able to field our “A” Team this season or will there always be one or more players injured? Frustrating.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:23
One vannot forget the revenge factor here. Chelsea really want revenge for the CL Final and will be gunning for us big time. This means we may be able to beat them on the counter. Fielding a fast team and not a slow plodding team that includes Scholes and Giggs is important. Nani must start over Giggs and Anderson would be a better alternative for this fast tempo counter attacking game than Scholes. But Fergie will go with the vastly overrated experience card. So with Carrick out I guess Scholes will have to start. Hell, I’d prefer Fletcher over him. I want players who can go forward and who have a burst of pace. Scholes looked so slow against Liverpool it was depressing.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:44
Grognard I agree, at this moment of time united’s best midfield four is hargreaves anderson ronaldo nani if ronaldo is ready and even though I am not impressed with nani at this moment of time he starts over giggs park and fletcher but dont be suprised if the useless fletcher giggs or park plays instead, it is one thing writing of giggs but dont’t write of scholes just yet. I still could not predict the team fergie will play. I could name vds ferdinand brown evra rooney tevez but the rest I have not a clue.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:57
Alot of you have not addressed one minor issue here and that is PS knows slot about both CR and Nani from coaching their national team, hence if they both start tomorrow that might not be a blessing for us. Anyways, besides the fact that we need the three points, I also think SAF needs to land the big Brazilian with a big blow if he were to send his usual strong messages of intent to new coming managers in the EPL, especially with the abundance of talent he has at his disposal. That unfortunatly might not happen. Again, even though I’m going to cheer the red devils in the bridge tomorrow, but I really feel we will have one fucking bad afternoon. Unless the gaffer can once again conjure up a miracle that is. Mind you I still think we should have won against the bar fucking codes though!
September 21st, 2008 at 2:59
I didn’t even want to stop by here. I’ll be honest I have a bad feeling about this. If we are going to get a result we need our playesr to be at the top of their games. No stupid mistakes like last week. It was so depresing to see us concede such embarasing goals. Agree with most of you that speedy guys should start and old timers should retire. It was obviose last season, but SAF insists on playing them. Where was Giggs’s experience, when he didn’t clear, not that he should the blame for that performance. Well I do hope for the best, cause we really need to start our season.
September 21st, 2008 at 6:00
@jason: I have screamed for Fergie to buy an attacking midfielder for two years now. For me Scholes is done. Yes he still has his moments like Giggs but they are few and far between. Bottom line is he hasn’t got the pace nor the attacking ability anymore that we need for him to possess. A team like United should not be so average in the middle of the park. Scholes, Carrick and Anderson do nothing for me and they never have. I don’t hate these players and in fact, I have been a Scholes fanatic for years, but there comes a time when sentiment must not overtake common sense. Fergie has gone a bridge too far with Scholes, Giggs and Neville. These players are not capable starters anymore. And if he isn’t going out to buy a replacement for Scholes, then Anderson better show some kind of fast development. Personally, I’d love to see Possebon in there. What do we have to lose? We suck with Scholes or Anderson anyway. I doubt very much Possebon would be that much worse. In fact I think he would be a revelation. Come January I think we need to address this issue. But I doubt anything will happen. Fergie will hide behind his stubbornness but in reality, this team just doesn’t want to spend to get anyone right now.
September 21st, 2008 at 8:53
Does anyone feel like Alan Hutton Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale are being farm raised by Tottenham so that Manchester United can have future players to replace Aging Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale bolsters the defense(doesn’t seem so pertinent with Evra being such a superb left back). Anyone feel like maybe this is the best managed Company in the World right now?
September 21st, 2008 at 9:03
Scholes is decent but I think Fletcher should start ahead of, and Owen Hargreaves should play next to him. If it were me I’d play Ronaldo/Nani and Tevez winging. and Rooney behind Berbatov. Or leave Rooney on the bent all together and play Ronaldo and Nani. Or Nani and Rooney with Ronaldo starting on the bench.
This season Fergie can afford to motivate Rooney with bench presence. But after all the kid was brilliant with England. He just nees a good run at his position.
September 21st, 2008 at 9:09
I’m Imagining an Awe Inspiring Attacking Line up that crushes Chelsea tomorrow
————-VDS————–
——Regular Back Four——-
———-Hargreaves———-
–Ronaldo————–Nani—
———Rooney–Tevez——–
———–Berbatov———–
this lineup works because between Rooney, Tevez and Hargreaves, we have 3 people who will track back if needed (and in rooney’s case even if not needed). If Berbatov is indeed injured and unable to play, then I’d have the following lineup
————-VDS————–
——Regular Back Four——-
—–Hargreaves–Anderson—–
–Ronaldo————–Nani—
——–Rooney–Tevez———
I would love to see either of those line ups.
September 21st, 2008 at 9:12
personally though i would play Carrick or Scholes in front of Anderson at this point (like it or not, we miss the former two for their passing skills)
September 21st, 2008 at 10:15
I’d like to see Tevez on the left for his workrate coming back. Nani as a sub for leter in the game. Scholes / Hargreaves in the middle. I think Rooney must play again for the tracking back and hustling we all complain about – it’s vital in these games.
September 21st, 2008 at 10:19
Jonny, you will never see Fergie starting a team with those 5 attacking players and only one defensively minded midfielder. Chelsea would destroy us in midfield and we wouldn’t get out of our half. We can’t play our regular back 4 either because Vidic is suspended.
Here’s the line-up I’d like to see:
—————-VDS
Brown—-Ferdinand—-Evans—-Evra
——–Hargreaves—-Fletcher
Ronaldo——–Rooney———Nani
————–Berbatov
Bench: PIG, Neville, O’Shea, Scholes, Anderson, Park, Tevez
I still haven’t regained faith in Neville at right-back. Brown back in the team for me. Seen Johnny Evans play for Northern Ireland and the big games don’t faze him. I remember him making Torres look like an amateur. Drogba should be no problem then.
I’m worried that if Scholes played he’d be bullied out of the game even worse than he was against the dippers. Hargreaves and Fletcher is very solid and has the right combination of strength and a tenacity to ensure we don’t get bullied by Chelsea’s midfield. They didn’t give Villareal a sniff on Wednesday.
Rooney in his best position behind the front man please. No more right-sided nonsense now Ronaldo is back. Nani gets the nod on the left after an encouraging display on Wednesday. Would have been good to see what Berbatov could have done with some of those wicked crosses.
Tevez can be a great sub off the bench, like he was many times last year. Sometimes a weapon on the bench can be just as important as those starting, especially if that weapon is Carlos Tevez. The Chelsea defence won’t relish a fresh Tevez coming on at 60 minutes.
September 21st, 2008 at 11:38
@RedAddict: yes i agree, we have to have a secret weapon, a super sub