Sep 29
Man Utd 2-0 Bolton: Ref Reprieve Earns Win
No, it wasn’t a penalty; everyone by now would testify. I’m not sure if Ronaldo dived, as lot of pundits would claim — though, I think he could have stood his ground. But it was the sort of break you needed in the game to come away with a win.
As usual I’ve taken longer than required to come up with a match report so it will be brief.
The tactics:
Didn’t have much to argue about apart from Neville’s continued presence in the starting XI. However, I mustn’t be too harsh because I see Fergie giving him a fair run to see if he improves. I don’t see it happen at this point, although he has been marginally better every game he’s played so far. However, I think it’s unlikely he’s ever going to scale the heights of his career. Hopefully SAF plays Brown against Aalborg to make the lad stop wondering if the boss has actually forgotten him.
Berbatov:
He’s been dividing opinion among fans everywhere. I thought he was actually good yesterday although his involvement has been subtle. Rooney’s introduction made his contribution more apparent. I think it’s unfair to judge Berbatov until we know for sure if he’s understood our system completely.
Substitutions:
I wasn’t sure of Scholes’ longevity, or should I say ability to influence a game for the full 90 minutes, but yesterday’s substitutions — the bringing on of Scholes and Rooney — showed how much of a difference he could make. Rooney, more so, showed his hunger channeled into the position he was supposed to revel in. He wanted to prove himself in the attacking end, and in partnership with a familiar friend, Ronaldo, scored a peach. As I said in the past, I reserve judgement on Rooney untill I see a fair bit of him this season. Perhaps Christmas would be a good time for me to judge the boy as his understanding with Berbatov grows. I also saw Scholesy make a couple of forward runs for the first time in years.
The penalty:
Perhaps the most dubious of penalties you would see. It’s unfortunate the game will be known for that rather than our general bossing of midfield and possession in the second half. The press are quick to call Ronaldo out for diving — which I’m not sure of, and I think is borne more out of the need to sensationalize things.
The Performance:
We are getting there. It’s a win. The next one’s at Blackburn, I believe, and it has been tricky in the past. But I think we have a better chance against Paul Ince’s boys than Sparky’s Blackburn. I haven’t been too impressed with them this season. Arsenal’s loss to Hull was a positive to take out of the weekend and Chelsea are still grinding out less than impressive wins; there is a good chance they’ll drop points. Liverpool, however, are winning but I wouldn’t put them on a pedestal yet. And City lost, ha! So it’s a rather decent weekend overall, I must say.
How was your weekend, then?
Related items from Red Rants:
- Rooney Out For A Month
- Bolton vs Man Utd: Preview
- Man Utd 2-0 Bolton: Ronaldo Usurps Best
- Who Is Your Role Model?
- A Mini-Break
Tags: Match Reports
September 29th, 2008 at 7:30
One phrase sums it all: “We are getting there”. Just like last year!
September 29th, 2008 at 7:46
it wasnt a pen, but i am more thten satisfied with with the performance and win.
September 29th, 2008 at 7:48
Why is it automatically a “diving-issue”, when Ronaldo goes to ground in the area (or anywhere else for that matter)? It was a clean tackle, and he fell because of it. He cannot be faulted for the refs bad decision, but he certainly didn’t dive on this occasion.
Maybe he could have remained on his feet, but that would have required him to go less for the chance. He could have run slower or even stopped, but he wanted to get to open space to take his shot. The defender didn’t allow him and made a very nice tackle. Ronaldo fell, because he was moving forward and didn’t expect the tackle.
September 29th, 2008 at 7:51
Dan, Grognard and other FIFA fans. I have got the player ratings for FIFA 09! At least the Premiership sides. Ronaldo is 91, Rooney 87, so is Rio, Berba 86, Carrick 83 and Anderson 82. Well, here you go!
September 29th, 2008 at 7:51
Ronaldo: 91
Rooney: 87
Rio: 87
Berbatov: 86
Vidic: 86
Tevez: 85
Scholes: 85
Evra: 84
Hargreaves: 83
Carrick: 83
Giggs: 82
Anderson: 82
Nani: 81
Brown: 80
Neville: 79
Rafael: 67
Fabio: 64
And so on…
September 29th, 2008 at 7:57
im a bit surprised and the united player ratings in fifa…
manucho is rated higher then welbeck and rafael? those 2 should be in the 70+ rating, but they are in the late 60s, also, manucho is rated 72. now i have no objections to it, but, for a relatively unknown player, thats pretty high…Brown, park, fletch, carrick, possebon and evra are all rated lower then their worth. gibson could be a bit higher also.
evans is rated as a 73, but i think he should be rated a bit higher then that.
September 29th, 2008 at 7:59
I feel that we are on our way! Against Aalborg we will see if this team really has learned. We got a draw out of Villareal, bad, so we have to win in Denmark. Hopefully United go out to attack, then we will see how this team does. I think we played really well, Im just dissapointed that we dont take our chances! We had 32 shots against their 12! 21 of those on target, still Jaaskelainen did well to stop Rio, Anderson, Berbatov and Ronaldo. We hit the post too. Berba looks really good, I just hoped he would score when 1-on-1 with the keeper, unlucky his touch wasnt good. But he will be better, and I think he will score against Aalborg in midweek! Hull and Wigan won- HA!
TAKE THAT SHITEH! And the gooner-friend I have got a burn from me yesterday, wonder if he has courage to show up for school today. 
Well, after watching the latest games I thibnk this is the best team we have:
VDS
Brown Rio Vidic Evra
Ronaldo Carrick Anderson(replaced by Scholes in second half) Nani
Rooney Berbatov
If we play this team in most of our matches this season, no-one can live with us!
September 29th, 2008 at 8:06
@dan(u-ol): Rafael and Welbeck had never played for United before. Well, neither have Manucho, but he is rated from the ACON. He did well there, so he has to be rated higher than Welbeck. Rafael is 67….well, had anyone actualy seen him play before he joined United? I hadnt, and for an 18 year old who is unkknown, 67 is alright. Not good, but alright! At least he is rated higher than Fabio. Evra, Vidic, Anderson, Carrick and Tevez; They should all be at least 3 ratings higher. And Rio! How can Torres be 88 and Rio 87? Its fucking unbelievable! Terry is 89 for Christs sake! My ratings would be:
)
Ronaldo: 92(Would have been 100 had it been possible
Rio: 89
Rooney: 87
Tevez: 87
Vidic: 87
Berbatov: 87
Evra: 86
Carrick: 86
Scholes: 84
Anderson: 84
Hargreaves: 83
Brown: 83
VDS: 83
Neville: 79
Foster: 75
Kuszczak: 75
Rafael: 70
Manucho: 70
Gibson: 68
Fabio: 65
September 29th, 2008 at 8:08
I’ve read a news that Nolan said when the penalty was made, even Ronaldo, Tevez & Fletcher claimed that wasn’t a penalty! I also thought that wasn’t but neither did Ronaldo dive! That’s the fault of Mr Styles but I’m still glad about it, if not, I wonder if this match will end up a draw. Berbatov was really frustrating because no one pass the ball to him when he was mark free! But overall his performance was getting much better, I think he want to proved himself not a lazy player as he always help defencing!
September 29th, 2008 at 8:12
United vs Chelski, stadium news and Ronaldo in FIFA arena. All here!
September 29th, 2008 at 8:12
That wasn’t a dive… Ronaldo didn’t even appeal for penalty… He didn’t raise his arms…
September 29th, 2008 at 8:21
Ronaldo didnt dive. Reason he fell? The defender got the ball, but when he took it, the ball was between his legs. Ronaldo fell on Samuels legs cause it all happend so fast he didnt have time to jump. It was a good tackle, the wrong decision and not a dive.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:25
It was just a clean challenge, Slave didn’t dive it was just poor refereeing.
I win is a win, and good to see Rooney get on the sheet, hopefully that will build his confidence, we do need to utilise Berbatov more, but that will come.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:10
It’s just a matter of time until Berba finds his feet and settles in to the “united way”, Ronaldo is clearly not 100% yet but it will come and when it does we will see this team move to another level and all the doubts about Berbatov etc will disappear, I thought we played well and at times we had so much possession it was like watching a training session, but give credit to Bolton they came here to frustrate us which they did at times and we needed a bit of luck which we got with a “penalty”, most teams will come here this season and use these tactics and its up to us to break these teams down, it would help with an early goal to settle nerves but i think we are getting there.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:44
Is it just me who’s irritated by all the FIFA 09 talk in this blog? Oh, ok… *gets coat*
Back on topic:
The fact that the word “Ronaldo” and “Dive” were uttered in the same sentence this weekend enraged me. Even though most pundits were quick to dismiss that it wasn’t anywhere near being a dive, I really gets my goat that they need to debate it.
I’ll tell you something, if Ronaldo won us a penalty in the same fashion as Michael Owen did this weekend, the media would be calling for Ronaldo’s head. But just because it was Michael “Can’t do feck all wrong” Owen, who “Given the opportunity, will always score” (Give me a break), his penalty antics were completely overlooked.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:47
@benjd: The biggest diver playing in the Premiership is Gerrard, he goes down like a hooker on prom night.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:49
@Stephen: Yeah don’t get me started on him.
I got so angry this weekend when they showed his penalty last year from the Everton game. Disgusting.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:57
@RedDevilEddy: is that playstation ratings? is the ratings the same with the pc?
September 29th, 2008 at 11:01
@benjd: The fucking press adore that scouse twat, he can do no wrong, and Andy Gray loves him.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:11
gerrard is andy gray’s god
September 29th, 2008 at 11:18
I fucking hate Andy Gray, he is the biggest ABU out there in the press bar Alan Green!
September 29th, 2008 at 11:48
@Stephen:
September 29th, 2008 at 11:54
RedRanter said, “Berbatovs involvement was subtle.” Yes RR, and only those who understand the subtle, will understand Berba. I watched the game again on MUTV late last night, and saw so much from Berba I even missed whilst cheering him on from the terraces during the game. Berba is definately NOT a Ronnie or a Rooney. They are all speed, cut and run, hit and miss because of haste sometimes. Watching Berba last night, I saw what the majority of all the fans of the speed merchant players miss. Berba doesn’t need to dash around like a feckin maniac, but he MAKES THE BALL DO THE WORK FOR HIM. He sees the pass, and there is no question in my mind about that. He split Bolton’s compact defence TWICE and put Scholes straight thru on goal, and Scholesy should have scored at least one of them. He split their defensive shield seeing the pass to our wide players, and he cannot be blamed for the fact that Ronnie, Rooney, Tev, Park, and Neville couldn’t LIFT the ball over the first man of Bolton, or get it properly into the area. Berba was so often in the box too from corners and set play, but seldom did the ball find him in space, for what we would call opportunity for a sitter. I LOVE footballer’s WHO can MAKE THE BALL do the work for them. These kind of players ‘the Subtle’ as RR says, are rare indeed, and the other players in our team are not yet on the Berba’s wavelength.
As for Nani, he was given a 10 minute cameo. He had two shots, BOTH on target, and the goalkeeper stretching for both. He did get passes in the area to other players, but the area was too packed with Bolton defenders for our lads to have time to get a shot away. For the short time he was on, I think he did good.
But Viva the Berba and Nani sceptics, because THEY LIKE MAN UNITED, will NEVER DIE
.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:58
Why is everyone sceptic about that, Important thing is that we won…
September 29th, 2008 at 12:03
Player Ratings
EVDS – 6 – didn’t have anything difficult to do, but no howlers – and that’s an improvement on performances so far. One particularly encouraging take from a corner.
Evra – 7 – won his on-going battle with Kevin Davies, proving he can handle physical as well as tricky opponents. Provided his usual energy going forwards, although he must still be careful not to be caught out high up the pitch, as he was for the move leading to Muamba’s chance – he relies heavily on a midfielder being around to cover his tracks.
Rio – 8.5 – a rock as usual. Even with Neville back in the side, there can be no doubt who is the organiser-in-chief of the defence. He is increasingly getting himself into good spots at the other end – a goal can’t be far away – and in a game where we had most of the ball his assured distribution from the back is another plus.
Vidic – 6.5 – a solid if unspectacular return from suspension. Seemed to have Elmander under control, but wasn’t eye-catchingly dominant as he can be.
Neville – 6 – perfectly solid at the back, but offered little going forward (which was the chief criticism of Brown last year, and the area which Brown has improved most strongly). Wesley’s continuing omission is baffling.
Park – 6 – energetic as usual, but without the extra helping of skill that has made him stand out in the past two games. A couple of disappointing crosses, and arguably could have done better from the rebound chance by lifting it back across goal.
Anderson – 6 – showed glimpses of everything he is capable of – incisive forward passing, skill on the ball, strength and tackling – but still seemed off the pace. He was too often chasing rather than being well positioned to start with. That said, he did a good job sitting deep and offering an easy pass outlet when we were going forward, something that we often lack when both Carrick and Scholes are missing. I still maintain he needs a break to recharge both mentally and physically. A goal would help, too!
Fletcher – 6.5 – worked hard and prevented our four-man midfield being overrun by Bolton’s five, but was consequently unable to indulge in those driving runs forward and late arrivals in the box which have caught the eye so far this season.
Ronaldo – 7 – it was never a penalty, but he didn’t dive or appeal, which was good to see. Had an average game by his standards, but that level is so high that most wingers (Nani included) would have been delighted by their contribution. Good to see him linking up with Rooney for the second goal. So, two starts, two goals and an assist…surely not again…
Tevez – 5 – if this was an audition for the spot of Berbatov’s partner, he failed it. Ineffectual for the most part despite his workrate, and I can’t recall a single meaningful pass between him and Berba (in contrast to when Rooney arrived). I can still see a role for him raiding from the left in the 4-2-3-1 that I would love to see Fergie try, but he’s behind Rooney once more in the support striker stakes.
Berbatov – 6.5 – largely anonymous in the first half, increasingly influential in the second. Proved that he will be very dangerous with the ball into his feet as well as the extra physical presence he offers. His workrate is of a different type to that of Rooney or Tevez, in that he’s constantly trying to find space and make good runs (as opposed to chasing the ball like a loon) – the others need to start looking for his movement rather than assuming he’s only relevant around the penalty area. That goal won’t be far away now, nor will that big performance.
Rooney (sub) – 8 – just when we needed it, a reminder of why Rooney is a special player. Looked like a man with a big point to prove when he came on, taking the game by the scruff of the neck, terrorising Bolton and scoring a peach of a goal. I could watch that little shimmy on loop for hours, pure class.
Scholes (sub) – 7.5 – having struggled with his stamina when starting, this performance gave rise to an intriguing possibility – Scholesy the impact sub. With no need to conserve his energy, he made forward runs and generally buzzed about all over the pitch, in massive contrast to his usual intelligent, languid offerings. Watch this space.
Nani (sub) – 5 – continues to follow Ronaldo’s career path, by having a second season characterised not only by moments of skill but enraging, beer-bottle-through-the-tv-screen decision making. Get your head up, son – it’s a team game.
September 29th, 2008 at 12:04
Nani needs a run in the team, he is a top player, pace, trickery, great crosser and can score goals. I can never understand why Park is chosen ahead of him, who to be honest is average at best
September 29th, 2008 at 12:39
@Stephen: Park will track back every single time. Nani won’t.
September 29th, 2008 at 12:52
Scholes the Impact sub has to be the direction his career takes at this juncture. Any 2 of Carrick, Hargreaves or Anderson has to start when the former are fit. Scholes coming off the bench using all his fitness in a 20 min spell rather than stretching it over 65 / 70 mins means we will have the Paul of old for 20 mins a game. Against tired opposition legs this is a magnificent prospect
Also, I feel like the impact Scholes had from the bench sounds the death knell for Giggs. He has come off the bench all to often and changed little. We don’t need another central player. It’s a shame, but it’s over Ryan.
September 29th, 2008 at 13:06
@benjd: Its not all about tracking back, it’s about getting good balls into the box, and Nani had more assists than anyone else last year apart from Rooney, and most of those games he made the assists he didn’t start – SO LIVE WITH IT!. Its about time our midfield was strengthened and did some feckin tracking, as they are the ones who are supposed to be supporting the defenders
.
September 29th, 2008 at 13:12
@Penguin: Rooney On as a sub, given 8 rating, Nani on for 10 minutes had more shots at goal than Rooney, given 5 rating. Talk about feckin bias, why am I not surprised
?.
September 29th, 2008 at 13:17
@Penguin: By the way, what’s the CONTINUES to have a second season bollocks, when has he had the chance to play much. Like I said, and will keep repeating, hope he leaves United and we will find out how feckin talented he is. Hope he joins another prem team, and comes to OT and wallops us, and I feckin mean that. Some of you lot feckin enrage me. Wouldn’t mind if your comments were even remotely fair.
.
September 29th, 2008 at 13:20
Nice ratings Penguin. I also concur with Craig MC. Berbatov did show what he can do and doesnt run around. there’s this pass that he released park that made me watch the replay of it over and over again.Only thing that remains is break the scoring duck which am sure will happen sooner rather than later.
it was an encouraging performance from the team. Once we hit top gear there will be no stopping us.
Does anyone know how long Possebon will be out
September 29th, 2008 at 13:31
@Stephen: Stephen Bro I love you
.
.
I do love little terrier Park though as well
September 29th, 2008 at 13:31
Any idea about what happened to Kuszczak ? Ben Amos was on the bench in place of him for the Bolton game, and now he hasn’t even been picked as part of the squad traveling to Aalborg.
Has he picked up an injury? Or is this a “tactical” decision to give some experience to Ben Amos? Also, any date set for Foster’s return?
September 29th, 2008 at 13:47
Like I’ve said before, I love PPR ratings!
Nice analysis Penguin.
However, maybe Nani deserved a 5.5 cos he atleast was a bit more active compared to Tevez who has a 5.
@CraigMc: You said Nani had only two shots at goal and both on target? If I remember correctly, he had 4 shots, out of which one was on target. That doesn’t matter, what matters here is that in atleast 3 of those 4 situations, there were players in better situations and he could have passed but chose not to. I think that has affected his ratings, it sure left many fans frustrated! Considering we were already two goals up, maybe it is forgivable, but the boy better start making some assists soon!!
September 29th, 2008 at 13:52
nani was frankly rather frustrating to watch in his brief 10min appereance. sure, it was only a short period of time, but within that time, he had various opportunities to pass the ball to a team-mate in a better position, only to go for glory.
i like him as a player, but he needs to get involved more as a team player. (which i am sure he would)
September 29th, 2008 at 14:37
@Sparx: Groin injury.
Our keepers seem like they are competing over being the new Saha. 
September 29th, 2008 at 14:41
@Penguin: Nice ratings, once again… maybe Nani deserved a 6/6.5, cuz he showed some spark. I know he still tends to hug the ball a lot, but that’s what most natural wingers do, he will learn gradually when and where to utilise one of his many skills to devastating effect, and when he does, he will be dynamite.
Hargo is once again missing from the squad, which leaves Ando, Fletch, Scholes and Gibson fighting out for midfield, unless Fergie plays Giggs in his ‘new’ role of AMF. Ando deserves a break to maybe get his energy levels and game concentration back up, he showed glimpses of his talent on sat’day, but needs a bit more focus, which can be gotten from a bit of R&R.
Tevez to me needs to work a bit on his passing game/team chemistry. He can dribble, but when he gets to the end of his dribble, he still needs to make that killer pass that justifies that dribble. Maybe playing wih Berba didn’t help as he is a new figure in the team, but given he has been here for a year, his team chemistry should be a bit higher.
Brown is set to feature once again, he will be relieved to know Fergie hasn’t forgotten ’bout him. I think Fergie is just trying to ease our Captain Gary back and see if he can still cut it in the big league, after all, it will be a bit rash/wrong to just axe our captain without giving him a fair/lengthy shot at regaining his place.
Berbatov is gradually getting with the team chemistry, and the others have to remember it’s a two-way street. He needs to adjust his game as much as they need to recognise his strengths/abilities. Rooney is beginning to look sharp, maybe some rest was what was needed, after all, he had played almost every game for us this season on the back of an illness.
Scholes the impact sub, sounds great to me!! He can utilise his energy more productively in the 20mins or so given to him by making continued forward runs as opposed to conserving it when he starts. Plus, he gives the young ‘uns their chance to prove themselves by starting.
One last thing, If Giggs is gonna be playing a more central role his season, shouldn’t we be looking for a young prodigous winger that can in the future replace Giggsy in our wing quartet? I would prefer a walcott type, fast with good feet, and the ability to pick a pass and take a shot. Anyone out there?
September 29th, 2008 at 14:50
@Gabriel: Agree with the Anderson theory, he needs a rest. But what does R&R mean? One stands for rest, but the other? Well, Nani will become better, he is just a young winger with a right foot cross that I am thanking God for. When he learns when its the right time for him to cross, we will have another one of the best wingers in the world. His crosses and power are fantastic! Just wait and see, a star in the making.
September 29th, 2008 at 14:50
@benjd: Mate great wingers are not in the team to track back, the are in the side to create goals and Nani does that more than any other player.
Park is a great lad, no question but he lacks real quality which Nani has, he just needs a run of games in the side to get confidence.
@Gabriel:” One last thing, If Giggs is gonna be playing a more central role his season, shouldn’t we be looking for a young prodigous winger that can in the future replace Giggsy in our wing quartet? I would prefer a walcott type, fast with good feet, and the ability to pick a pass and take a shot. Anyone out there?” Er NANI!!”!!
September 29th, 2008 at 14:51
@Gabriel: Eh, why does everybody think Giggs is gonna play as a CM or CAM? He is conna be a CF for Christs sake! When Berba, Tevez or Rooney are injured, he will come on and play as the striker. Manucho is still unproven, so he might not become the big star until next season.
September 29th, 2008 at 14:52
@Craig Mc: Mate, I don’t expect to agree with you on anything at the moment. I’m not biased towards Rooney – are you telling me you didn’t think he was awesome for the last 20 mins? Didn’t you think his goal was quite good? I gave him a 5 against Chelsea which some people thought was harsh, but I thought he was great on Saturday. I don’t think I’m in the minority either.
As for Nani, I want him to do well, and I want him to play more. All I’m saying is that he doesn’t make the right decision often enough for me. He seems to pass when he should dribble, dribble when he should shoot and shoot when he should pass. I don’t want people taking shots when they should be setting up others in a better position, but if shots taken is your measure of contribution then that’s up to you.
September 29th, 2008 at 14:52
@RedDevilEddy: R&R
Rest & Retire 
September 29th, 2008 at 14:53
@cheeseburger o’shea: The ratings of players are the same on every console. PC, Xbox, PS2/3, Wii and others are the same. So if Ronaldo is 91 in PS/Xbox, he will be 91 on PC.
September 29th, 2008 at 14:54
@AndyCR7: I dont like that…
September 29th, 2008 at 14:57
@RedDevilEddy:
September 29th, 2008 at 14:57
Possible team tomorrow:
VDS
Brown Rio Vidic Evra
Ronaldo Flecther Scholes/Anderson Nani
Rooney Berbatov
or:
VDS
Brown Rio Vidic Evra
Fletcher Anderson Scholes
Ronaldo Berbatov Nani
Good enough to beat Aalborg.
September 29th, 2008 at 14:59
@Stephen: I don’t disagree. I was just stating why I think fergie played park instead.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:01
@RedDevilEddy: Rest and Relaxation
he has been playing non-stop since the olympics, so maybe a bit of R&R might do him good. However, without Carrick and Hargreaves, the chances of him getting a rest are slim as he is needed!
September 29th, 2008 at 15:05
@benjd: I found that odd as we were playing Bolton at home!!
September 29th, 2008 at 15:12
@Stephen: Nani is already part of the ‘Quartet’; Nani, Park, Giggs, Ronaldo
If giggs can’t play on the wings no more, we are thereon reduced to three from now or next season, and with injuries, it could get worse. All i’m saying is that looking for a young, prodigous but ready-to play winger would be nice. He can develop playing for the reserves/carling cup getting that vital manutd chemistry while at the same time provide back-up for our wingers.
I see Nani getting a lot of games this season, and will solidify his place in the 1st eleven. Ronaldo will also be a starter which will leave just Park as wing cover, don’t we need more than that? Nani fits the bill of the winger i would like to add, but a bit of variety is good, hence a walcott type, who just has lightening pace with the extra abilities, like, shooting, crossing, dribbling etc Too much to ask?
September 29th, 2008 at 15:12
@Gabriel: United need him, but if he isnt fit enough to play well then I would rather have an in-form Fletcher next to Scholes. I am a dead-hard Anderson fan, he is my favorite player. I want the best ofr him, and at the moment I thin the best for him, and for United, is that he takes a rest. After he got a rest, he was back against Boro and played really well. Then he played against Bolton, now Aalborg? We need him more for Saturday against Blackurn as his energy and strengh will be needed against Dunn and ? who ever Rovers play. They are a “strong” team, so Anderson is more needed for that than playing against a weak team in Aalborg. Ive watched them a few tuimes during the years as the Danish League is shown here in Norway, and I know their biggest weakness- crosses. They let in loads of goals from crosses and set-pieces, and the play hard even though being weak. If we play Ronaldo, Nani and Berbatov in that game I can promise you at least a 2 goals win.
Nani cross+Berbatov header=Goaln against Aalborg.
Ronaldo trickery+violent Aalborg players=Ronaldo free-kick/penalty goal.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:13
@Gabriel: Nani, Park, Hargreaves, Ronaldo, Rafael, Fabio and Welbeck can all play on the wing.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:15
@Stephen: Fair comment!
September 29th, 2008 at 15:16
@RedDevilEddy: He’s gonna be a deep SS/AMF. Fergie said so. We have enough strikers at the mo, and only a freak injury crisis will see us requiring Giggs to play as No.9. I see him coming on in games to provide a bit of composure and experience to the attacking set-up thru the middle. He showed it against ‘boro in the carling cup, and I reckon Fergie was impressed. Maybe he and Scholes will prove vital as impact subs this season, won’t that be great.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:22
@RedDevilEddy: Only three out of the seven you listed are natural wingers. Anybody can play in the wing (apart from O’shea
) but only the natural wingers can display the abilities and performances required of a winger. I’m not one for utilising players out of position as it blunts their productivity and in the long run deters their development, so would rather see us have a natural winger as back up/understudy than a LB, RB, CF and DMF.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:24
@Gabriel: looks like we missed a trick with Ramsey in my book.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:32
Lee Askham on the wing, sign him! or we could go spanish with a tried and tested david silva.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:40
@john freakin’ o’shea: We tried to get Silva, but he wanted to stay in Spain. He even said he wanted to join Real Madrid and I dont want to start another one of those sagas, at least not with a new player.
@Gabriel: Rafael and Fabio are almost wingers, they are good crossers and have skills. They have pace, like Evra who has played left winger for us sometimes. Hargreaves is a really good crosser and he is fast. He can definately play there. Welbeck is young, and against Boro he played as a RF/RW. Not a stiker. Okey, so only Ronaldo, Park and Nani have the “winger” position as their best, but in crisis we can opt for Hargo, Rafael, Fabio and Evra. I wouldnt complain.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:41
@Penguin: Shots taken give us at least a chance of getting goals, if the shots are on target, and Nani’s were. Goals is something we haven’t been doing too well on lately, except when our reserves were out against Boro. So YES, I appreciate anyone who has a shot when we have a seemingly poor scoring rec at the moment.
Regarding didn’t I think Rooney was fantastic when he came on Saturday – Honestly apart from his goal – NO. I watched the match again last night, and looked for Roon’s contribution, he couldn’t get passes in from wide positions, and a few of his passes went astray. I also very seldom agree with your player ratings, but hey, you have your opinions and I have mine. I WILL BE SURE to tell you though, when I come across the majestic Rooney of old again.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:41
Hargreaves is a real worry for me guys, will he ever be fit?! We signed him well over a year ago with this injury and he never seems to be getting over it. In my view he should start pretty much week in week out, but he is never fit, paying that money for a player who is not fit looks very expensive.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:43
@Stephen: maybe, maybe not… If he doesn’t develop as promised at arsenal then we know we definitely didn’t miss anything, as Wenger brings the best out of the young ‘uns.
@john freakin’ o’shea: saw a clip of the Askham kid.. looked good and scored a peach, but not enough for me to judge him on. David silva is too high profile a signing for me as we already have two 1st team starters in Nani and Ronaldo. He might not take too lightly sitting regularly on the bench. Still, if we could, why not?
A player that was brought to my attention by Grognard was Marko Marin. He plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga. He has all the qualities i like in a winger; lightening pace, dribble accuracy, clinical shooting, great crosser/passer and good playmaker. He is also 19, and being just promoted into the Bundesliga, might not have too much of a problem being an understudy to Nani/Ronaldo at United. Any other wingers you guys know of?
September 29th, 2008 at 15:45
@john freakin’ o’shea: Errr whose Lea Askham mate, seriously I don’t know this guy
.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:47
@Gabriel: Agree with you on Wenger Bro, he is good at young player development. Wish Nani and a couple of our other young players were under his charge
.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:49
Horray!
September 29th, 2008 at 15:50
@Craig Mc: Fergie isn’t too bad at developing young players mate?!
September 29th, 2008 at 15:50
Guys, what do these guys have in common:
Foster
Rafael Rio Evans Evra
Ronaldo Hargreaves Scholes Nani
Rooney Tevez
Good luck. Try to find it out, I will tell who is right.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:52
Really nice Tim Vickery post here with some comments on our youngs ones
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2008/09/unknown_possebon_hits_headline.html
September 29th, 2008 at 15:54
Here you can find all the Highlights from BBC Match of the Day, every match, week by week, free download and great quality video:
http://www.recontragolazo.com/?cat=26
September 29th, 2008 at 15:55
@Gabriel: Bro, Brown did nothing wrong last season, and most things right!. Shouldn’t it be Red Nev who is being used as super sub like people are saying scholesy and giggsy should be now –
. Wes has done nothing to deserve Gary coming back in and taking his place. He was not at fault for Edwin’s crazy bloomer at scouseland.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:56
@RedDevilEddy: “..They are almost wingers..” that’s the phrase that makes my case. They can produce average/inconsistent performances there, but is that what you want from a starter? Honestly, I see us needing four ‘true’ wingers in our squad as when injury/suspension hits (like this season so far), the ‘almost’ wingers cannot consistently produce the goods.
I’m not saying we don’t have options, we do, but we should get appropriate options. I would rather the twins, welbeck and hargo stick to what they know best and develop with that, than always moving around and stagnating their progress in their preferred positions.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:56
@Gabriel: Per Siljan Skjelbred, Norwegian young winger. Plays for Rosenberg. Pros: Quick, good skills, great vision. Negatives: Injury prone, not much of a crosser.
Emanuelson: plays for Ajax, left winger and left back. Good pace, nice skills and great crosser.
Balotelli: Inter Milan, called Super Mario, can be used as a striker if needed, good shot, pass and cross. Quick and strong.
Young: Aston Villa, Fantastic crosser, new England star, pace and shot.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:57
Come on people, GUESS!
September 29th, 2008 at 15:58
@Craig Mc: Spot on mate, Fergie does seem to be getting sentimental in his old age. The Fergie of old would have released certainly G Nev and Probably giggs to be honest, not that would certainly be right but he would have been more ruthless.
September 29th, 2008 at 15:59
@RedDevilEddy: Their favorite food is Thai?
September 29th, 2008 at 16:02
@Stephen:
no, wrong answer.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:06
@Craig Mc: Nani is doing good at United bro, this is his second season and his first was highly fruitful/promising. Like every young player, his decision-making is still developing and as he continues to work on that, he will become better at utilising his many talents. Fergie is working on that, and you can gradually see his focus improving with every game he plays for us. Once he gets that maturity, he will be a definitely 1st team starter/star performer.
@Craig Mc: Of course Brown did excellently, but Gary is our captain for one thing, and he is being given an ample chance to prove he can still cut it (not necessarily replace Brown) considering his long lay-off. I’m sure even if he wasn’t captain, he would still deserve that chance!!
We need reliable, experienced cover and unless Gary gets an extended run of games, we can’t know for sure if he is still reliable. Don’t worry, a bit of competition shoud do both of them some good. However, I see Brown winning in the long run.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:08
@Stephen: Fergie was at one time, but not for a long time. Either our scouting programme and selection of young players with quality is lacking, or something, because apart from Carling cup, the reserve youngsters seem to be loaned out, than brought thru to our first team. Why do you think Bale and Ramsey didn’t sign for us?.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:08
@RedDevilEddy: everytime i see andy johnson in the england u21 side, he always looks head and shoulders above everyone else, to bad southgate doesnt see it.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:13
i saw marin, i think he played for the german squad already,
September 29th, 2008 at 16:15
@Craig Mc: You are right but the twins, possebon and I suppose Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson are youngsters comming through.
Our scouting network has worried me for a while, our feckin chief scout is Fergie’s brother! he sourrounds himself with “jobs for the boys merchants” which is not right. We are one of th biggest clubs in the worls and should have foreign scouts all around the world finding the best young talent but we would rather spend £17.£18m on Anderson/Nani who are good but are still punts considering they are young and you never know how they will adapt to English football.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:16
if we cant poach david silva, lets poach ashley young instead, he is way better from bentley imo.@Craig Mc: le askham is a sheffield youngster i think..
September 29th, 2008 at 16:17
@Gabriel: I see where you are coming from Bro, but I have to ask you to consider why Nani is so much more confident and relaxed playing for Portugal than he is for us?. If I remember, before last seasons stormer of a season for Ronnie, many United fans were asking why Ronnie always played better for Portugal than he did for us. Something worth consideration I believe
.
Brown would always be my 1st choice for RB position now. But my choice isn’t Fergie’s choice obviously
. I think my choice first team, would probably not be 1st choice with many on this blog. But I would put my lads out, and bet all I had on them beating most teams 
.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:18
@RedDevilEddy: None of them seem good as wingers.. check out that Marko Marin kid, he could be our walcott!!
September 29th, 2008 at 16:19
@john freakin’ o’shea: Oh right, thanks for the info Bro.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:24
@Stephen: Nani, Ronnie, Anderson, Possebon and the twins could hardly be considered home grown players could they?. They already had their basic and advanced football skills inbred into them long before they came to us. Same with Macheda and Petrucci. I watch the reserves and acadamy players a lot most of the season, and the foreign players stand out from our home grown lads for excellent skill and technique. This is the honest truth Bro.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:24
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=829693
link all about marko marin. like gabriel said, he could be our walcott. i think this lad is class.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:29
@Craig Mc: Fair enough, mate – the world would be boring if everyone agreed all the time.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:33
@Craig Mc: I agree mate, but Ramsey, Vela, Merida, Song, Djourou ect cant be called homegrown also, so many people go on about how Wenger finds these players, well he brings them in like everyone else.
The English lads do lack the technique of the foreign boys certainly, which has always been Englands problem full stop, buy maybe we have more heart?!!
September 29th, 2008 at 16:34
@Craig Mc: Our scouting is good, but different to Wenger’s. We have always had a mixture of youth and experience in our team way before Arsenal began their youngster programme. We had the class of scholesy and co come thru when Arsenal were still playing with oldies. Wenger decided to get rid of those players and invest in not only local but mostly foreign youth. He gets them at a very young age and introduces them one by one, gradually eliminating those old ones he had. This worked mostly because he invested mostly in ‘foreign’ talent, not the mostly average homegrown.
We had our beckham class in full swing and since the homegrown thing worked peaches for us then, we continued with it. However, with the growing strength and demand for excellence in the premiership, those youngsters couldn’t cut it and Fergie was forced to buy some outside players. When that failed (Veron, Fortune, Djemba), he started buying younger ones (ando, nani, Ronaldo, Rooney) and we also began to recruit foreign young prodigies for the academy/reseres (possebon, the twins, macheda, petrucci).
Wenger has had a head start with the youngster thing as he had older players and liitle finance then, so had little choice but to bleed those young ‘uns early. We have similar player age groups with arsenal, but since we already have some excellent middle-aged players for us, we would have to do what Wenger did, gradually replace the oldies with the young ‘uns. We are doing that already and I see the furure as very bright..
September 29th, 2008 at 16:35
@john freakin’ o’shea: I hope not, bar the England game have you seen Walcott this season, he makes Damien Duff look tricky!!
September 29th, 2008 at 16:36
@RedDevilEddy: what is the answer?
September 29th, 2008 at 16:38
@Stephen: i havnt seen a gunner game yet, but am looking forward to seeing one, i heard hull beat the shit out of them at the emirates.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:39
The only players we have that are the de facto best players in the world in their positions are Ronaldo, Ferdinand and Evra..
Can anyone explain Evras shit rating?
Did you see him against Chelsea/Bolton? He did a lot more up front than any of the attacking players…
September 29th, 2008 at 16:42
@RedDevilEddy: The ratings that concern me most are always specific skills ratings. In 08 and previous versions I would go in to the edit feature and change specific skill sets on players who I felt either got to high a mark or too low a rating in certain areas. This year it looks to me that Rooney has too high a rating simply because his finishing is not good enough to put him at a level over 85. Scholes is also not an 85. Other than being tidy he offers very little to the team offensively yet he gets a better ranking than Hargo who is superior defensively and is also a better crosser and set piece taker. Brown is far better than Neville. Neville’s rating seems to be there on past reputation yet Brown gained very little improvement over past years considering he was RB on the best defensive team in the CL and in England.
But here is the thing fellas. There is nothing stopping any of you from tweaking the ratings yourselves to better improve or in most cases bring down the ratings of some players like Terry, Neville, Barry, Almunia, van Persie, Yakubu, Manucho.
Usually in the past moving ratings around on an a player could never get him to improve more than a point for his total skill set. But one can bring a player down far more. Terry was not better than Rio and Rio deserves an 88 for sure. To get the points I need to bring a player’s skill up a bit I borrow all the useless and unnecessary ratings they have accumulated under the category of goalkeeping. For keepers I take away their penalty taking and crossing points to improve their important ratings. I don’t let some idiot working on this game 1 mile from where I live at EA Canada dictate to me what I feel a players ratings are. I know some of those guys and in the case of a few in the past, before 2005, I got them their jobs as I was an IT Recruiter. Most of these programmers are clueless about totally understanding the game and player nuances so I am not going to trust them or their smarter producers in putting forth a truly accurate game with player ratings simulation that truly measures a player correctly. usually they just get a ratings framework directly from FIFA who are even more clueless and bias to boot. As much as this game is fun and great, it’s not Football Manager when it comes to statistical accuracy or player ratings. The lads at Sports Interactive know their football and it always shows. And this year their graphics engine has been tweaked quite a bit. I have always preferred that game over the console games because of accuracy and mental challenge. Still, FIFA is great but one must enforce his own honest changes in order to really enjoy it.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:42
@nagraj: rio is our most consistent player. expect motm performances from rio “the rock” ferdinand all season long.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:48
@RedDevilEddy: all of them are right footed…
September 29th, 2008 at 16:49
@3Vunited: Here’s the thing guys. That was a terrible call and Bolton got screwed. So what, move on. United have had more than their fair share of rotten calls go against them with phantom penalties or red cards given by pratts like Clattenburg, Bennett, Styles and the rest of the Handicapped Brigade that ref the games in the BPL. Every team except Liverpool get bad calls against them. It’s a sad part of the game. My philosophy on Saturday is better them than us, because eventually it will be our turn. The difference in most games though is that we often recover from a bad call and grab a win or a tie. Tosser teams like Bolton don’t. Thems the breaks. They miss the real calls and give out yellows for absolutely nothing against Chelsea. Things have a way of evening out over a season.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:53
@Craig Mc: I totally agree with your assessment of Berbatov mate. I couldn’t have put it better myself. And if others cannot see it it’s time for an eye examination or a primer on the subtleties finesse and beauty in football.
September 29th, 2008 at 16:58
Berbatov is WORLD class and will prove it to anyone who doubts him wrong, there were glimpses of that against Chelsea and Bolton and he will get better.
We just need to adapt to him and vice versa, but he will be a class signing for us be warned!!
September 29th, 2008 at 16:59
@Craig Mc: It’s funny nobody has a problem with subtle when it comes to Cantona but they won’t give Berba a chance to find himself and firmly figure out our team system. Also, as you pointed out, it’s not Berba’s fault that nobody has the skill it seems to get him a ball when he places himself in an ideal position. I never want to see Park start again. Fergie in fact should take all his wingers and fullbacks and drill them for hours on crossing the fucking ball. They are horrible at it and completely inept at getting the ball to a central striker who plays an old school role. Instead everybody wants to be Ronaldo and cut in and score goals. I want width on this team but only if the wing play or overlapping leads to proper service in the end. Berba would score over 30 goals a season if he had a Beckham servicing him. Instead we have Nani and Ronaldo servicing themselves and Park and Evra and Neville servicing defenders
September 29th, 2008 at 17:01
@Penguin: I totally agree with your ratings mate. Very well thought out and very accurate.
September 29th, 2008 at 17:05
@Craig Mc: mate, that’s a question that has many answers… but consider this, Ronaldo has begun to play better for us than he does for his country! It’s all a matter of team chemistry/formations. It is easier for a foreign winger to gel with his country-men and in a preferred 4-3-3 formation where he is a winger than it is for him in England in a 4-4-2. However, with time, that chemistry develops with his club team-mates and just like Ronaldo, he will start to perform even better for us. This is his second season bro, of course he won’t have hit the ceiling with his performances yet!!
So what is your choice first team? let’s see if it’s any good..
September 29th, 2008 at 17:08
@Stephen:
maybe British players do have more HEART, but it seems to have been severely lacking in the England international team for some long while now 
. Maybe that’s down to Sven and other foreign coaches coming into this country, because they seem to want technical skills, rather than passion, blood sweat and guts. This is why Rafa bulldozes Gerard off the pitch, when he gets too passionate and that is not what Rafa wants or admires in him. Other foreign coaches bar few, are the same.
September 29th, 2008 at 17:16
@Craig Mc: You have to stop thinking about what Nani did last year Craig. At this time last year he was playing much better and with more confidence. Also, he was not in Fergie’s doghouse. He has been in Fergie’s doghouse ever since he picked up that red card at the end of last year and when he made a couple of incredibly dumb and selfish plays on counterattacks in the FA Cup loss to Pompey last season. Ever since then the boy has regressed for us but played better for Portugal. What does that tell you? Nothing wrong with his skills and ability. It’s all in his head and his confidence is low because Fergie has shown little faith in him. I mean come on, would I start Park over Nani? Giggs I’m still torn about and I prefer him in specific matches due to experience but Nani should be the first choice on the left side. He isn’t and that has caused him great insecurity and unlike Ronaldo, he isn’t dealing well with Fergie’s head games. And as long as he comes in and tries to do everything by himself, he will continue to be benched. The kid has a ten cent brain because he flat out doesn’t get it mate. He has not figured out that Fergie wants him to pass and cross and only occasionally go for goal. He is dumb as nails because after being benched he still comes in games and feels he has to put his head down and score goals to impress the Boss.
Trust me, he has a far better chance of starting his next match by offering a telling cross that leads to goal over his shot attempts for goal. I’m sorry that you can’t see that mate. I know you love the lad but perhaps you are wearing blinders a bit. The kid is fantastic and his skill is not in question, but if you cannot see that he has tremendous immaturity issues which bring on poor judgment on the field, then I can’t convince you. He is 21, not 17 so his comparisons to Ronaldo when Ronaldo arrived are not fair to Ronaldo. He should be more farther along than Ronaldo was at 17. But he isn’t. I’m not saying it won’t come but he has to buy into Fergie’s mantra and forget that he has a free reign on the pitch to do whatever he feels like doing. Only Ronaldo and Rooney have that right. Once he grows up a bit and buys into Fergie, then we hopefully will see his incredible talent at peak efficiency. My question is whether we ever will. Fergie has got to break down and give this boy an extended trial as a starter and stop messing with his head or he will never be the player you think he is and that we want him to be. Fergie needs to do this now or he will lose this boy to Spain sooner than later.
September 29th, 2008 at 17:17
@Craig Mc: There was no bias Craig. Come on Bro, those ratings were very accurate. Two shots on goal does not mean Nani played well. He didn’t. And Rooney was an 8.
September 29th, 2008 at 17:18
@AndyCR7: Evra is not right footed…..
September 29th, 2008 at 17:19
@Nelson Otieno: Apparently Possebon is expected back next week once his stitches are out. Great nes and a big relief his injuries were not greater.
September 29th, 2008 at 17:24
@Gabriel: In three years Marin will be thought of as one of the top 5 players in Europe if not the world. He is truly outstanding. His only negative is his lack of size and the fact that a lot of his talents are wasted playing for a bottom dweller in the Bundesliga.
He would be a coupe if we were fortunate enough to sign him. And he’s only 19 and right now I don’t think he is on everyone’s radar. And his maturity is far ahead of his years. That is why he already has been called up for duty with the German national team. Joachim Lowe knows his players well and is a good judge of talent.
September 29th, 2008 at 17:39
@Grognard: mate, that was quite insightful. Nani doesn’t seem to be able to decipher Fergie’s mind-games. He is doing the wrong things to impress the boss, he should be playmaking and passing/crossing the ball more. Hell, for portugal, you don’t see him being this selfish, he is constantly crossing the ball, with a shot here and there. Maybe Fergie just needs to let him loose and let him return to his normal game, cuz the mind-games are proving too much for his immature head.
Park proved in the last game that he cannot perform consistently as a 1st team starter. He has the tenacity and work rate, but when that fails he doesn’t have the required skill set to compensate. He is good, but barely excellent and Nani should sooner rather than later take his place now Giggsy is no more a winger(according to Fergie).
I reckon with park’s showing in the last game, Nani might get more chances come tmz or saturday. Btw, how is that Marko Marin kid doing so far in the bundesliga? Any good performances?
September 29th, 2008 at 17:39
@AndyCR7: I didnt know Evra or Foster were right footed.
No, the answer is that they all use Nike boots. 
I was just going through the Nike.com, shopping place, I need new footy boots, and realised that they all wear Nike boots. Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez and Rio are all heads for Nike. We rule! 
Answer is: They all wear Nike boots.
September 29th, 2008 at 17:41
@Grognard: I would have liked Marin. Ive never seen him play, but you obviously rate him high so I will trust you. You are our German scout anyway!
But I dont know if Fergie wants him, being German and all. Fergie has never bought a German, but as I said I would be happy if he bought Marin or Podolski.
September 29th, 2008 at 17:44
@Grognard: Really? Where did you hear that? Could you share the link with us?
September 29th, 2008 at 17:47
@Grognard: Nani, Nani, Nani… Well, we all know he has Beckham-esque crosses. He has skills to beat men. He has enough power in his feet to make the goalkeeper shake of fear. But he just doesnt do everthing right. I hadnt thought about the things you said until I first read it now. He is a wonderful talent, but like you said uses it wrong. He wants to score goals, good, but he will never be Ronaldo-type, top scorer. We already have 1 selfish winger, why have two when the one that isnt supposed to be selfish is the best crosser in the team but still only makes 2-3 in a game he could have made 10 chances for us. Hopefully he will grow up and become a more used player, he needs experiense, and quick!
September 29th, 2008 at 17:51
@Grognard: Well playing in the Bundesliga will alert the big guns to his talent, and I predict bayern will be first in line.
Hopefully, Fergie can get over his phobia for germans and sign this kid, cuz I really haven’t seen any young prodigous wingers out there at the moment.
Also, what do you think about this Hargreaves situation? The guy has been constantly injured since his arrival and I suspect he has partially been the reason we still stick with two CMF’s as opposed to a DMF/AMF pairing. If Hargo had been fit, our AMF’s will have been allowed to move forward and thus gotten the knack for attacking as opposed to sitting back in our half. Does he deserve any extra faith from Fergie after a year filled with injuries?
September 29th, 2008 at 18:15
Red Ranter, how did you get the Avatar thing?
September 29th, 2008 at 18:30
guys, what do u think of us signing the 3 wigan players? : ZAKI, VALENCIA AND PALACIOS! They look good!
September 29th, 2008 at 18:44
neville and hargreaves wont be in for the AEB game…brown should finally start
September 29th, 2008 at 18:46
Here is what Eusebio has got to say http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=887638
September 29th, 2008 at 18:49
@Kienu: I am not sure if any of the three are ultimately good enough for us, but I am a big Palacios fan. Also Sunday was the first time I have seen Zaki for a full 90 minutes and I have to say it was one of the more enjoyable individual performances I have seen this season. He strikes me as a bit of a poor man’s Benzema.
@Gabriel: He is gradually gaining himself Saha’s old tag line, excellent player……… when fit
September 29th, 2008 at 18:49
@Kienu: I think we’re better than that…
September 29th, 2008 at 20:01
@JB: I seriously hope that’s not the case, as we need him to anchor the midfield so Ando/Carrick/Scholes/Fletch can be allowed to display their attacking/creativity. Without a proper DMF, we have to employ two CMF’s who sit back more to compensate for that. It’s curbing Ando’s development as an AMF and Carrick is getting more defensive as each game goes by.
It’s a niggling injury, but if by the end of this season it doesn’t go, then we should be looking elsewhere as he was supposed to be our Roy keane type player. We need one and the sooner we get a reliable one, the sooner our attacking midfielders will step back into their roles.
September 29th, 2008 at 20:09
@Gabriel: Marin has played well and he was outstanding the first three weeks but his team has really dipped in form of late and hasn’t scored in the last two matches. Hard to say hoe he did because their first three matches were televised but not the last three. But I wouldn’t worry about his stats or how his team does. He is a stud and his greatness will elevate as he moves to a better team and when he matures.
September 29th, 2008 at 20:12
@RedDevilEddy: The thing is he really is Serbian but came to German and lived long enough there to get German status. Serbia is still pissed off about it and blame Germany for poaching him. That alone and the fact he would have a mate who speaks his native tongue in Vidic might make Fergie notice him. But I wouldn’t count on it. He unfortunately has South America on his brain. Nothing wrong with that but his tunnel vision is making him ignore fantastic talent in Europe.
September 29th, 2008 at 20:18
@Red Ranter: I’m not sure I get your jest their RR. I never said I read it anywhere. Although commentators like Ray Hudson call him the second coming of Maradona (absurd). I have watched him play about ten times for his club and 3 times for Germany and it is I who makes that claim. Am I not allowed to make a bold claim like that?
I feel I am a good judge of talent. I claimed two games into his career that Ronaldo would be the best player in the world while everyone else referred to him as a show pony. When I study player I feel I do a fairly accurate and thorough job for a fan thousands of miles away.
If you watch a player like Marin you can see why I would make that kind of statement. And I don’t base my feelings on Youtube clips if that’s what you are thinking.
September 29th, 2008 at 20:23
Aah, Youtube…
September 29th, 2008 at 20:25
@Gabriel: I predicted Bayern would eventually get him next year just before this season started. They always seem to have first crack when it comes to homegrown talent. Still, Marin may surprise and shun them. They already have Ribery so I don’t think he would like sitting the bench.
As for Hargo, the bottom line is the only thing that will finally take care of Hargo’s knee tendinitis is surgery. Apparently he as well as the team don’t want to go down that road. Why? Because they don’t have the money or they are to cheap to go buy a DMF to replace him for a season. But come January that is probably what they will have to do. I still think we may eventually get Veloso because of Hargo’s problem. It really kills me because he is my favorite United player and I love his work ethic and way he plays the game. At 100%, Hell at 75% the guy is totally awesome. I just hope he can get through this problem. The team realy needs his influence and leadership out on the pitch.
September 29th, 2008 at 20:28
@Gabriel: It is the same injury as he had when we got him and the medical staff are no closer to solving it. The club doctors apparently reckon it will disappear in time but what that timescale is, who knows?
I’ll disagree slightly with your other points. If SAF is looking at a 4-2-3-1 formation then two deep lying CMs are a necessity to make it work. On Carrick, I wouldn’t say he has got more defensive, he has been a deep lying player maker almost exclusively since the day we bought him.
September 29th, 2008 at 20:28
@Grognard: i think he meant about possebon…
September 29th, 2008 at 20:57
@Grognard: I seriously hope our scout (Fergie’s brother
) is working hard and notices him as a very viable option for us in the coming years. Seriously, I see a united version of walcott/wright-phillips if he joins.
Hargo’s situation is saddening.. he can be the driving force in our midfield and he’s english!! That’s why I would prefer him to Veloso, as hargreaves will be more at home in the team and more comfortable barking orders at players.. a bit similar to Keano. We need that vocal midfield general and he was the one Fergie noticed and chose. However, if the sitiuation continues, veloso would not be a bad addition, as we have a strong portuguese-speaking contingent already and with CQ coming back after his stint with Portugal
, it would be ok
September 29th, 2008 at 21:02
@dan(u-ol): I clicked on my name and it took me to the comment I made about Marin. If it’s Possebon, I read it at one of the major papers but I don’t remember which. Fergie was also quoted as being amazed that no serious injury came from it and it was only a deep cut that would heal very quickly. It was something I read while surfing so I didn’t take the time to remember where I saw it. RR is just going to have to take my word on what I read. Either way, good news about Possebon avoiding serious injury. Now I’d like to see him play for the first team more.
September 29th, 2008 at 21:10
@Gabriel: Actually he reminds me of a Walcott a bit but more of Tomas Hassler the former German great. Short with sublime vision and skill and the boldness of mind to try things. Hassler was also very good at playing a wide midfield role or as an attacking central midfielder. Marin is also. Another comparison in size and skill set would be Olaf Thon of Germany. Another former German international who offered it all. But here is the thing, Marin is better than all of them because he can do all that stuff and show maturity and he is only 19.
I don’t have much faith in Fergie’s brother to track a talent down in Germany. Honestly, I don’t know if the guy has ever scouted in Germany.
He seems to spend a lot of time in Portugal and Spain. And in those countries you here a lot of buzz about up and coming Brazilians, Argentines or other South Americans. He also spends time in Italy. As for other scouts on the team, I have no idea.
For now I will have to settle for having him play for United on my FIFA 09 team. Small consolation. This player would solve our problem at winger outside midfielder or attacking midfielder. Brilliance coupled with that kind of versatility is rare. The only other one that I can immediately think of that is comparable is Ribery.
September 29th, 2008 at 21:20
@Gabriel: You know I don’t always give Fergie a lot of credit for his own scouting and noticing of players. Quite often he doesn’t notice a player until we play them or he sees them in a major tournament or game. Ronaldo is a perfect example of this. Hell mate, I am sure of this. Did he go after Berbatov when he was at Leverkusen? NO. He waited until he saw him play in the Prem. I f he thought so highly of Hargo, why then didn’t he try to get him four or five years ago. The lad was doing it for Bayern for almost a decade by the time Fergie woke up to him. He woke up to him because of Hargo’s play for England in 2006.
This is why we quite often pay top dollar for blue chip players as well as blue chip prospects. Because we wait to long and by then, the players price tag has increased because he has been noticed and inquired about by other teams. This why I have a lot of respect for the way Wenger goes after his young talent. H has a large network of scouts and he is a good judge of talent before a Fabregas or Adebayor becomes so big that they end up costing a mint. His only problem is he likes to limit his searches by and large to France, Africa and the Netherlands.
One more player that i forgot that is a very good comparison to Marin in speed, skill and versatility is Arshavin. God how I would love Arshavin on United.
September 29th, 2008 at 21:23
@JB: Well, SAF is not looking at that. None of our normal games apart from maybe europe(where you have to be defensive) have indicated that. We play with two deep-lying midfielders because that is what we had and had to adapt as such. It has been successful, but it blunts creativity from the midfield (as has been evident this season when our front four have been less than creative).
I believe Fergie wanted Hargo the season we bought Carrick. Hence, Scholes and Carrick had to become deep lying midfielders as none of them were genuine midfield generals/keano’s/makelele’s and had to support each other. In Tottenham, carrick was an AMF/CMF and he has adapted as a deep lying CMF at United perfectly, but we wanted Hargo then cause that was what was required, a DMF.
When we play with an anchor, our midfield will be able to link better with the attack, our SS will be able to stay up the pitch, instead of having to drop deep to playmake and we will not solely rely on the attackers for creativity/playmaking. We have got away with this because of the creativity/ruthlesness of our top four (rooney/tevez/ronaldo/giggs). When those guys underperform, we have no other source of creativity cause our midfielders are all deep. Carrick also disguised that with his through balls and accurat long range passes.
Beleive me, if hargo gets fit and we play him with Carrick/scholes/ando, you will see the difference in our midfield’s attack/ball possession. We will be able to control the game more with an anchor that regains the ball better.
September 29th, 2008 at 21:29
renato augusto……what a player
September 29th, 2008 at 21:53
@Grognard: I meant Possebon. Click on my name and see the comment above the Marin comment (Comment #108). I think I didn’t make the mistake of selecting the wrong comment to respond to. Surely you’d know by now that I don’t get into debates involving the next wonderkid.
September 29th, 2008 at 21:57
@Grognard: We are doing better with our scouting of recent, maybe because we realised that solely relying on young english talent won’t provide much dividend. Every team usually has their main scouting regions, like you said, arsenal’s is france, africa and netherlands; ours is brazil, portugal and italy. It’s hard to develop reliable contacts in every region in the world.
With regards to hargo and berba, those were fergie’s scouting, as in he probably noticed them on his own. He wanted Berba from when he was in leverkussen, but wanted to offload nistelrooy first and since tottenham had showed longer, more determined interest in him, he opted to join them. Hargo maybe during the world cup or even before, who knows, but we still got him, even if it was two seasons late.
Arshavin to me is ok and I reckon has hit his peak. He will not have an ideal sell-on value, considering the kind of money his current club are demanding. He is just a by product of the Euro buzz, he is an above average player, but that’s it. He can’t go further than that, especially at his age.
September 29th, 2008 at 22:10
@Grognard: Grog, that’s your opinion, but it is not mine – accept it Bro whether you agree with me or not
. I do not see those ratings the way you and Penguin do. In fact I seem to see little the things Penguin sees, and visa versa 
. Far as I know, that is not breaking RR blog rules. People can’t sanitise my views to co-incide with theirs, nor visa versa.
September 29th, 2008 at 22:16
@Grognard: Grog, we only saw 10 minutes of Nani, in that ten minutes he had more shots on goal than Rooney. So we see things differently
, probably because I like to see shots on goals, and MUTV Stapleton and Crerand do too, because they both were saying how they love that Nani is not afraid to have a shot at goal. I think he played well in those 10 minutes, you don’t, so lets agree to DIFFER. Craig Mc over and out – 
.
September 29th, 2008 at 22:24
@Grognard: Grog, I talk about Nani last season, because people keep pontificating how SELFISH he is. Yet he was second highest in assists last year, 1 less than Rooney, and he didn’t play full games, just part of games. He hasn’t deteriorated as you put it IMO, he hasn’t had any bloody time on the field these first few matches to be judged as deteriorating. In the cup match against Boro he was bloody good and scored his goal. Anyway, I am tired of answering all the Nani critics, and I refuse to get into anymore with any of you, because you judge wrongly in my opinion. That’s it – END OF –
.
September 29th, 2008 at 22:55
@Steven, post 21. What the fuck does that mean? ABU?
September 29th, 2008 at 23:00
Well, this is just…. Never mind
September 29th, 2008 at 23:02
@Craig Mc: Way to go defending Nani. I love the little fella, well I love every United player(Im not gay!
), and I think great things are his future. He will be awsome in a year or so, just wait and see everyone, just wait and see… 
September 29th, 2008 at 23:04
@Abu: Arabian Bitch Ugly
September 29th, 2008 at 23:04
@Abu: Oh, didnt see who wrote it.
No offence. 
September 29th, 2008 at 23:05
@Abu: ABU means ‘Anybody but United’. Probably an unfortunate choice of name you have there
September 29th, 2008 at 23:19
@Craig Mc: I don’t get it too, it should be Neville and not Brown fighting for a place in the squad. I really hate the sentimental value attached to Gary cus he’s the captain, big deal! If last season’s performance cannot be enough to cement Brown’s place in the squad then nothing will.
@Grognard: If i remember very well, i don’t think Hargreaves knee issues can ever be totally cured, i remember reading somewhere that he said its gonna be with him throughout his playing career(i don’t know how true that is though), but in pre-season he said the United physios had started injecting him with medication that would make sure he’s at 100% all season long. That remains to be seen though.
September 29th, 2008 at 23:27
@Red Ranter: I did click on it and the comment on the top was the one that had to do with Marin. That’s why I was confused. Because you don’t get into those kinds of debates or challenge one’s thoughts on a player. As for Possebon, I am elated that he is not seriously injured. Lets hope the whole team avoids a serious injury all season.
September 29th, 2008 at 23:34
@Gabriel: Fergie says he noticed Berbatov when he was at Leverkusen but I seriously doubt that. In fact, it took half a season at Tottenham before he started to talk about getting him. At that point he never claimed like he does now that he should have bought him when he was at Leverkusen. I don’t like calling Fergie a liar but I seriously and honestly believe he is offering us a fib. Berbatov only entered his air space and activated his radar when he started to play well for Spurs.
As for Arshavin, no I don’t think he has reached his peak yet. I think he will in two full seasons for now. Still, he is just what we need playing on the left side. And I have noticed and watched him long before the Euros. This guy is amazing with Zenit and with Russia and he has been like that for a few years now. However, he needs to be on a team that believes in motion, speed and great movement off of the ball. Sometimes United plays like that, and sometimes they don’t. Zenit always play like that.
September 29th, 2008 at 23:37
@Craig Mc: Craig, thats fine mate. It’s not a problem if we don’t always see things the same way. Just as long as you realize I am always right.
Seriously though, we are in agreement a lot about Nani, but I see the negative side of the lad too which you seem to miss. But that’s ok. 
September 29th, 2008 at 23:42
@Craig Mc: This is not hockey we are talking about mate. It’s not about shots on goal. It’s about making smart decisions that lead to high quality and high percentage shots on goal. All of Nani’s efforts were highly speculative and you know it. Credit to the lad that he can occasionally scare a keeper but four times he had a player in a better position for a shot and he showed his selfishness instead. Like I said, this isn’t hockey and in hockey the one thing they teach you first is to keep your head up and look to see about passing before shooting. Nani doesn’t do it. Hopefully he will learn and learn quickly because we need him out there to show his quality. He just needs to offer us what Fergie and most of here are asking of him. This many supporters cannot be wrong Craig. You are a lone wolf in the wilderness supporting and sticking up for him. Yes it was only 10 minutes but he has done this whenever he has played all season and for large periods late last year. It’s time for him to wake up and make it happen. All he wants is to score goals and get glory. Why the hell didn’t he try out for striker when he was young? Because his coaches saw that he was better as a winger. Now if only he would realize this.
September 29th, 2008 at 23:44
@Craig Mc: This is why we are upset with his selfishness. Because it started last year after he had the 17 assists and he has not reverted back to the play maker we know he is.
September 29th, 2008 at 23:49
@Rd: I’ve read the same about Hargo but I have also read that surgery has a 75% chance of curing him but he would have to sit out an entire season. I read this towards the end of last season but I thought the off season would help him plus the fact doctors claimed to have figured out a way to relieve his problem. I guess they were lying. I love Hargo but it does look like he is headed in the direction of Louis Saha. I hope not because he is so vital to our success. I also think he shows a lot more heart because he played many times last year at only 60% to 70% healthy. Saha sure never did that.
September 29th, 2008 at 23:51
@Grognard: It is well documented that we wanted him while at leverkusen and I believe i have read an article where Berbatov claimed that was the case also. Anyways, we got him, that’s what counts. It’s not like we did poorly those two seasons that we had to wait
As you say, Asharvin is great, but we have Nani and Ronaldo as our starters on the wings, hence I would like a young prodigy who can still develop well coming off the bench, playing as cover or in the carling cup/fa cup. Arshavin’s inclusion will just deter Nani’s progress and I believe Nani’s gonna be one hell of a player. Maybe a younger Asharvin, like Marko Marin
September 29th, 2008 at 23:53
@Rd: Glad we see eye to eye on Brown Bro
. We will just have to see what happens, but Brown has the edge for me over Nev now.
September 29th, 2008 at 23:54
Spurs beat Arsenal and United to sign Berbatov
Berbatov: I turned down a move to United
September 29th, 2008 at 23:57
@Gabriel: I just been talking to a mate on IM, and he knows one of United’s players. He reckons the player told him, that Nani is thinking of moving to Spain with Ronnie – problem solved m’thinks!.
September 30th, 2008 at 0:16
@Gabriel: What I am trying to say in my last post mate, is that will make a space for Arshavin maybe next season.
September 30th, 2008 at 0:20
@Craig Mc: Rubbish, go where in Spain? he belongs here mate, and he knows it. I don’t understand why you think he is not progressing or settled in United!! He is a great player for us and everyone knows this, including Fergie. Fergie is just trying to eradicate his immaturity and enable him get more focus and better decision making.
On the back end of last season, he made some dissapointing plays/actions and fergie has put him in the doghouse for a bit. All he has to do is prove he has matured a bit with the time afforded to him and Fergie will once again let him loose. This is how you mould young players, they cannot grow thinkin they can get away with whatever. Believe me, when he has become that player we all know he can thru Fergie’s guidance, you would look back at these moments as his formative period.
I appreciate Nani, so does the team and Fergie, so to say you wish he should leave just cause Fergie is trying to mould him into the complete package and some fans on here are impatient with him is a bit impetuous. All young players need to be moulded properly, look at walcott, bendtner and co, they hardly ever featured consistently for their teams cause of the same reasons… i know you like the lad, but don’t be too brash with how he is being developed and appreciated.
September 30th, 2008 at 0:28
@Craig Mc: Why should we replace Nani with Asharvin? Nani is going to be a better player and I prefer him to asharvin as he has most of arshavin’s qualities but with excellent crossing and shooting. Do you like Nani so much, you can’t bear to hear him criticised being part of your favorite team? if you like him as much as you let on, surely you would want him to play for United?
sorry, I just don’t understand your angle… 
September 30th, 2008 at 0:41
@Gabriel: Listen Gabriel, I am only telling you what my friend says he heard first hand from a United player – geez
. He knows how I personally feel about Nani, but he isn’t just making stuff up. He was unsettled by the prospect of Ronnie wanting out in the summer. He didn’t speak out like Tev did about the possibility of playing in Spain, because he hadn’t had a sound offer at the time, now he does have the chance. That’s what my mate told me, and I have no reason to doubt him, because he has told me other titbits of info from this player he knows, and they have turned out to be true. So we shall see next summer I guess. Not everybody is so in love with our team that they will never go elsewhere, ask Ronnie!. Perhaps he is not one of those players who want to hang around and sit on the bench, if he can get more football elsewhere. P’haps he cannot take to Fergie’s mind games. Not everyone has the same mentality as the O’Sheas, Fletchers, Parks and Browns, who have put up with the bench because they love UNited. Latin players have a different mentality, ask Grog. Anyway that is what I have been told, and we shall see what occurs in the summer. Ronnie looks miserable too these days as he is playing, not the same for him as before. Anyone who doesn’t see that Ronnie is miserable is feckin blind. He looks gaunt and withdrawn at times. He hardly celebrates his goals anymore. He needs to follow his dream too, cos he sure as fuck isn’t happy at Man Utd anymore. Aint that the truth, and I love the lad.
September 30th, 2008 at 0:49
@JB, Post 146: Abu is my real name….
September 30th, 2008 at 1:13
@Gabriel: I’m not that selfish that I would want him to play for United if he is miserable. Same goes for Ronnie. Ronnie looks as if the attitude of the fans is getting to him. My girlfriend is a health worker, and she says that Ronnie doesn’t look well, he seems depressed. He hardly celebrates his goals anymore, and that statement comes from the girfriend who hates football. I told her, that’s how United fans want him to feel, its his punishment for wanting to leave us for Madrid and being naive enough to say the wrong thing. She said, but I saw his apology in the paper. I said that doesn’t matter babe, you upset the United fans, and they may never forget. She said “bloody hell, poor sod, he needs to leave United then.” Like I say, comments from somebody who hates football and football players. As a health worker she has eyes though to see his dejection. Take that how you want, but I stand by this statement.
September 30th, 2008 at 1:15
@Craig Mc: No need to bring in the fringe players to make a weak arguement buddy. They are not Nani’s quality and there are others that are above them in pecking order. If that was the case, we should only have 11 players as the rest will be stupid/unambitious to stay on the bench
Nani is not going to be a fringe player for United and he/you/everyone knows this, so I can’t understand where you are coming from.
On Ronnie being miserable, i don’t know why you would think that given the fact it’s not the first time he hasn’t over-celebrated for his goals. Another weak point to support your arguement. What do you want the lad to do, run round the pitch grinning and take off his shirt. When he scores his usual spectacular goals and plays at his usual standard, you would see him back at his celebrating/emotional best… talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill
On Nani wanting to leave because Ronaldo wanted to, that if true, is sad. I believe Nani is more independent than that, but if your mate’s ’sources’ are true, then I say good riddance as that will prove his immaturity and lack of willpower/balls/cohones or whatever you want to call ‘em. He says he doesn’t want to be like Ronaldo and wants to be his own player, well here’s his chance, he should take it… personally, i know he will excel with us, just watch
September 30th, 2008 at 1:39
@Gabriel: How come you can’t appreciate comments coming from somebody in the health service, who has watched the games, knows the signs of clinical depression, and can see Ronnie is suffering. Those were her comments not mine, and I couldn’t express her comments to your last post, because RR would surely intervene. Suffice it to say, she deplores ignorance.
Regarding a weak arguement regarding fringe player –
, you don’t think Nani is being treated like a fringe player, as you and Grog say he is in Fergie’s bad books. Once again it is ignorance to feel that EVERYONE has the same mentality towards things. We don’t. We all have different temperaments, and Latin people particularly as a very emotional race mostly. Your good riddance is typical, if he doesn’t want to sit out games, and is impatient to play more football, then he is immature of course. Anyway, I am never going to agree with you on either Nani or Ronnie, and to be honest, I want to leave it there, because I am sure the blog is bored of the Nani talk now, and I apologise for that people. I personally think Ronnie and Nani will go, but that’s just my opinion. United fans have shown Nani thru Ronnie’s treatment what to expect if you want out, or say or do the wrong thing at Man Utd. Ronnie is downhearted big time, and I feel sorry for you if you can’t see that Gabriel. No need for the sarcasm about shirt waving goal celebration comments either, but then what else to expect, ignorance is bliss.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:03
@Craig Mc:
mate, you are amusing me with these comments… now Ronaldo might be suffering from clinical depression or something along those lines?!!! 
Nobody said Nani is immature because he doesn’t want to sit out games on the bench, stop twisting my words to suit your arguement. I said if he wants to leave solely because of Ronaldo leaving, then he is proving to be immature/dependent/cowardly. Is ronaldo his partner? He says he doesn’t want to be like him, so why should he follow him wherever he goes? however, i know this is not the case, which is why I said at the end that he will excel with us.
If it is ignorant to see an improvement in Nani’s game thru careful handling, then…. How you automatically assume these players are depressed is beyond me, I watch them for portugal and it’s the same faces/expressions they pull on for United. maybe they are not as giddy with excitement because they know they can do better, is that not reasonable? just cause a player smiles less doesn’t mean they are depressed.
You talk about how the fans are treating ronaldo? I believe he was given a standing ovation on his debut this season. His songs were still sung on the terraces, maybe not as much, but still sung. Hardly a cold reception now is it?
I think your arguements are emotionally charged (I might be wrong) and I do not expect you to see my reasoning while it continues as such, so…
September 30th, 2008 at 2:08
If Ronaldo is unhappy it is because he sets sky high standards for himself and is still a long way from being back to his best. Injuries take a huge psychological toll on sports professionals. Perhaps he still feels a bit of pain when he plays.
When Ronaldo gets back to his best he will cheer up.
I do not think Nani is a quitter. He will force his way back into the first team. Park is ahead of him in the pecking order (which I do not think is completely unfair given that Park has a lot more experience) and Nani will get first team opportunities as Park hardly has the best record of staying fit and the season is so long that there is a role for everyone.
I really do not see Ronaldo leaving until Ferguson retires. I think Ferguson sold Ronaldo the idea of making a hero’s departure as an integral part of Ferguson’s last and best team. Ferguson’s will is stronger than Ronaldo’s and there is no way Ferguson would let his best player ever leave before he did
September 30th, 2008 at 2:19
@Craig Mc: I disagree, Ronaldo has only played 3 games for us, and he’s just returning from injury, its waaay to early to tell whether he is miserable being here or not. I don’t get what you mean by: “United fans have showed Nani what to expect if you truly want out”. In the usual fickle football fan fashion, Ronaldo has been welcomed back by the fans with cheers, so what exactly have they showed Ronaldo? That if you agitate for a move, we’ll welcome you back once we have a bad start to the season and are lacking in goals? Nani is going to get games this season as Fergie has said the old-guards are playing a minor role than before, so if Nani still decides to run-off to Spain, then good riddance to him. If Nani is in Fergie’s bad books, then as a professional, its up to him to get himself back in line with Fergie and not run-off to Spain like some immature brat. I agree if Ronaldo leaves, Nani will leave sometime(though not immediately), but I’m willing to take anyone on a bet that regardless of whether Ronaldo leaves for Spain(which he probably will), Nani is not going anywhere.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:30
@Gabriel: Gabriel READ my feckin posts will you. I never said THESE players, I mentioned Ronnie is down, it was my GF who feels he is not well. And you tell me that I am twisting your words
.
As for Nani moving to Spain, well we’ll see won’t we mate?.
I was on the terraces at OT, and Ronnie songs were not sang. Rooney, Anderson, Cantona, Giggs, Argentina, but not Ronnie.
@colver: Colver I don’t think Ronnie will stay to be honest, but we’ll see next summer. I will be suprised if Nani stays too, but only time will tell whether the info I have heard turns out to be true. I like Park Colver, but I don’t think he should play on the wide LEFT. I’ll never forget the stormer of a game he had for us against Barca, he was everywhere in that match, Tevez too, they were majestic
.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:42
@Rd: Rd, “we’ll welcome you back once we have a bad start to the season and are lacking in goals –
, so he wouldn’t have got the same welcome otherwise?. I’m just teasing Bro, not trying to twist your words, but it did sound like that. Ronnie did get a standing ovation when he came on the pitch, but it isn’t fair to say that his welcome back is with the same fervour he enjoyed before. Though his goals have been cheered, but then that I think was down to sheer feckin relief, because we haven’t seen too many goals lately. I don’t think his feeling down has got anything to do with his not being on top form, but his missing the lauding he used to enjoy. Don’t think he’ll ever fully recover that though, what do you think RD?.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:45
@Rd: RD, I don’t want to discuss Nani anymore Bro, cos I can’t be bothered with it. Time will tell if he stays or goes
.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:52
@Craig Mc: mate, u/ur friend also said Nani might be miserable/unsettled, hence move somewhere else as a result; “I’m not that selfish that I would want him to play for United if he is miserable…; “He was unsettled by the prospect of Ronnie wanting out in the summer. He didn’t speak out like Tev did about the possibility of playing in Spain, because he hadn’t had a sound offer at the time, now he does have the chance…” again pickin irrelevant bits to make a case…
As per Viva Ronaldo not getting sung, that is incorrect as it has been sung everytime he has played for us this season:
http://therepublikofmancunia.com/ronaldo-was-right/
http://therepublikofmancunia.com/fergie-i-knew-fans-would-support-loyal-ronaldo/
http://therepublikofmancunia.com/my-alarming-realisationi-dont-like-ronaldo/
like I said earlier, emotionally charged arguements hardly see opposing reasoning so…
September 30th, 2008 at 3:21
@Craig Mc: In my opinion(which isn’t worth much), I believe if we’ve thrashed the barcodes, beat Zenith, beat Portsmouth by more goals and then beat Liverpool, Ronaldo would probably have been booed. I think our bad start to the season kinda gave some fans the sense that “without him we can’t score” and of course the team comes first which is why the fans thought that booing him might do more harm than good.
On your question…the general concensus I’ve seen from most fans is that they’ll cheer the team, but most have said they won’t be cheering Ronaldo individually anymore, so yeah i agree he “might” never fully get back the adoration of the fans he used to have all through last season. It’ll definitely take a LOT of goals for him to get that back.
September 30th, 2008 at 4:04
I wouldnt read too much into Ronaldo not over celebrating. Someone said it earlier that he has very high standards for himself and he is nowhere close to where he wants to be at.
In the States we have a saying, that if you make a great play you should act like you’ve done it before and that you will do it again. Barry Sanders of American football embodied that philosophy. Everytime he scored a touch down he would simply hand the ball to the Ref and get on with the game. I am starting to see that same attitude in Ronaldo, and I think it is a healthy one. He is not going to do Nani backflips after scoring against Bolton in the league, look back at his reaction to his header in Moscow. Nothing extravagant or “look at me” just pure emotion for a moment then back to the game.
September 30th, 2008 at 4:14
@Craig Mc: Never mess with the Craig MC’s MISSUS!
September 30th, 2008 at 5:53
@Gabriel: Thanks for correcting me. I also noticed another individual went to the trouble to dig out the evidence just so he could embarrass me due to the grudge he carries. Anything to prove me wrong. No problem. I’d have expected nothing more from him.
Heaven help us all if I was wrong about something. The world may have some kind of quantum event.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:29
What did Ronnie do to celebrate madly about? He scored a header in the most prestigious domestic cup tournament and he (almost embarrassingly) scored off a penalty that never was, which he and everyone around him accepted.
I would be SHOCKED if he celebrated elatedly for these goals.
If he did, I would say he was depressed.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:44
Hey, you know what I just realised? We will be wearing our new blue CL away kit this evening! The kit is awsome and I look forward to seeing it.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:51
@Red Diablo: Diablo
. The missus says thank you 
.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:54
@Rd: You get my point then RD
. And I was right in the 1st place, I didn’t misread your comment – phew RELIEF 
.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:56
@johnsom33: I hear you Johnsom but the Girlfriend doesn’t
.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:23
Antsboy is totally right about celebrating the pen – it would be as disgusting as Lampard last season v liverpool. Made me start to see why people hate him so. (I’ve never understood the flack that man gets, he’s quiet, effective, talented and gets on with his job, Terry on the other hand…)
Nani is going to have a big season. Fergie is easing him into games, which may or may not be a mistake. His decision making is still not ideal, but I’d say a key difference between him and Park is that while Park might make the right decision, he doesn’t have the ability to implement it, whereas Nani has the ability. Which one is easier to learn? I’d go with Nani turning out to be a fantastic winger.
Re: him leaving cause Ronaldo did – I can kind of see it but that also doesn’t give him much credit as a free-thinking individual. Maybe if Ronaldo leaves Fergie would give him the 7 and so go on son, show me.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:48
@Craig Mc: Mate do you ever sleep?!??!?!
September 30th, 2008 at 10:44
@Stephen:
September 30th, 2008 at 10:58
In advance of RR’s preview of the Aalborg game tonight, I’ve published a preview on my blog.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:03
I still have not forgiven Ronaldo for his antics in the summer, I know that I am in the minority here, but for me he over stepped the mark by calling himself slave.
He was so desperate to leave and only stayed because he was told to, doesn’t wash with me, and to be honest never will.
He is a great player no doubt, strong character yes, but he let me down last season and he seemed to be laughing at the fans like me who pay his wages.
I expect complete loyalty from my United players, I know its a lot to ask but that is how I feel, and he let me down over a summer which should have been the best for nine years.
People heavily critise Rooney and to a degree rightly so, but he has been 100% loyal to my club and appreciate that more. I will never boo the lad, but find it hard to cheer him.
September 30th, 2008 at 12:38
Seriously, is the match preview ready soon or whta?
September 30th, 2008 at 12:41
@RedDevilEddy: I don’t think RR gets paid for this you know.
September 30th, 2008 at 13:28
@benjd: me either
September 30th, 2008 at 14:51
@benjd: I dont think so either, but its always nice to read his previews. I like them, they are usually with a joke or some news I havent noticed, so I hope he makes one.
September 30th, 2008 at 15:31
Well, its only 4 hours left to kick off, so I will make a short preview on my own. Denmark is a place we have had mixed fortunes in the past, winning 6-2 in 1998 and losing 1-0 in 2006. This time we are lucky compared to 2006 cause its not snowing. Its not very warm, but Scandinavia isnt usually very warm. Fergie has said he learned from his last visit in Denmark and he will not undersetimate his oppontents today. United will field their strongest team, which I actually am looking forward to see. With Rovers away being the next game, Anderson needs to be fully fit for Saturday cause we need his energy at Ewood park. Nani has gotten some stick by some of you, to me shocking to blame a young lad having just his second season with us for being to selfish. 1: He is Portugese. 2: He is a winger with a lang range shot that is more powerful than a RPG. 3: He wants to impress Fergie. Him shooting often does not have anything with him being a bad player, but him being young and not having good decision-making. He will become much better, as his crosses are accurate as Beckham and his skills are good enough to just walk through a whole team. When his decision-making is better, we have a rare player. VDS is our only fit frist-teamkeeper, with Amos being really, really young and inexperienced. He will probably be on the bench though. Neville has not travelled with the team, our captain needs a rest after playing three 90-minute matches in 2 weeks. He is too old, if you ask me use him as Maldini, only in big games. Hopefully Brown starts next to Rio, Vidic and Evra. Ronaldo and Berba need games, and this is a perfect opportunity for Berbatov to get his first goal for us. Aalborg are really week on defensive crosses and set pieces, so if Nani crosses to Berba we will get a chance every time. If Ronaldo uses his trickery to full effect and if he has trained on his free-kicks he will score not 1, but 2 goals today. I really hope this is the game we finally take our chances, at least 50% of them. Rooney got a rest this weekend, so he should play next to Berbatov. Scholes also got rested against Bolton so I wouldnt be surprised if I see the Ginger Ninja in our central midfield next to Fletcher.
Score Prediction: 4-0 to United. Ronaldo free kick, Berbatov(2) headers and Rooney missile to win the game for us.
COME ON YOU REDS!!!
P.S. United will use their blue CL annaversary kit for the first time tonight. Hopefully it gets a nice debut.
September 30th, 2008 at 16:00
Aw, the blue kit always makes me think of that goal a couple seasons back, when Rooney dribbled from the halfway line, chipped to Ruud who chested spun and fired it in. One of my fav goals of all time. Here it is: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XihbbX7D2_4
Lovely. More of same please.
September 30th, 2008 at 16:16
@Beachryan: Same here bro. That goal and Ronaldos rabona vs Villa are the two moments that spring into my mind when I see the blue kit
September 30th, 2008 at 16:22
You know, when I saw the trailer for FIFA 09 and I played the demo I wondered why every player wearing Nike T90 shoes had red types of the shoes. I was like: “Ive never seen those before, why dont they have the white or yellow boots” Now, thankfully, Rooney has shown the red shoes(3rd pic). Hopefully he will wear them for some time, I usually keep players fresh. If Ronaldo, Anderson or Tevez get new coloured boots in real world, I give them same coloured boots in the game. Yeah, I have no life outside footy!
September 30th, 2008 at 16:23
Sorry, that was messed up!
September 30th, 2008 at 16:38
Fecking cunt!!!
September 30th, 2008 at 16:40
@Stephen: Look it’s simple mate. Let your bitterness consume you and take your enjoyment away from watching your team and the world’s best player or get over it. Find some forgiveness in your heart and get on with life. The boy came out and apologized. You don’t know him, he’s a stranger and I am sure you have more important people in your life to love and hate. Hating a footballer for his indiscretion is fine but how far must it go. He’s still playing for us and has accepted that. He is not at Real Madrid. We won the custody battle here mate. Time to forgive but not forget. Even with me he is on a probationary period. I will cheer him and support him but I have lost some love for him. Still, I believe it’s only fair to support him due to his apology (which I believe to be sincere) and because he is playing for our team. I’m not buying any jersey’s with his name and number on it. So get off your soapbox and give the guy a break. It’s a tired tirade and it’s doing you no good. In fact it’s spoiling your love of the game and most of all your enjoyment of the team. Look around you man. The markets are collapsing, people are dying, starving and generally not getting along and we are wasting our time hating a player who has been forgiven by the the team, manager and majority of supporters. Talk about holding a misguided grudge. Sorry for this rant mate but your grudge is only going to make you ill for no reason. I just want you to relax and enjoy the game and Ronaldo for what he brings to Manchester United. Life is too short for such misplaced animosity. Trust me, I’ve learned my lesson in the past too. Time for many of us to look at things like football in the proper perspective.
September 30th, 2008 at 16:52
@Grognard: I gave my United jersey 07/09 with Ronaldo on the back to a guy in my class during the holidays. Ive lost the love I had for him, he was my 2nd favorite player behind Anderson until that happend. I have forgiven him cause since his return, he has proved that he will give everything for this team and he will continue to do what he did the last season- scoring goals, torturing defenders and showing jaw-breaking skills. I will never buy a United kit with his number on until he is finished with this crap and does like Rio and prves his love for United. It may take some time, but I am willing to wait cause I am still young and will see many United teams in myu future. But I will sing Viva Ronaldo, not because I like it, but because he seems to play better when he is happy cause we sing his song.
September 30th, 2008 at 16:56
@Grognard: I wouldn’t call my grudge misguided, but I do take your point mate. For me and I do believe I am a rare beast with regards to my feelings on this subject, is people (and its their choice, and I totally respect their views) saying how wonderful he is now, personally I think he is a great player no doubt, but not a great person, and he has let me down somrthing I can’t forgive him for.
I don’t hate him at all, just feel let down by him something that Rooney regardless to his loss of form has and will probably never do.
September 30th, 2008 at 17:00
Eh, Grongard? You are German right? You must be really unpopular in England among non-United fans. Being a German and supporting the team everyone else hates. No offence, but no-one on this blog hates you. You are among friends.
September 30th, 2008 at 17:05
Sorry for the delay folks — need to have a word with my ISP. The preview is up.
September 30th, 2008 at 17:25
@Stephen: Stephen Bro, I can’t bloody believe it, but the GF is mithering the hell out of me to take her to a United game
, and it is all down to your previous posts about your doll of a girlfriend, and how she goes to occasional games with you. My GF is a real girlie girl, not interested in sport at all, but suddenly she wants a pilgrimage to OT. I think she finds Ronnie, Hargo and Tomaz too dishy for words (her comment). I am definately trying to put her off, because I always go with load of the lads, where the language is choice and terrace banter fierce. What the feck have you done Stephen Bro 
. Don’t know what to do about this one mate, but I know she’s only going for the eye candy players, especially pretty boy Ronnie 
.
September 30th, 2008 at 17:37
@Stephen: Stephen I had four hours sleep this am, but sleep like a baby, so it is like the same as 8 hours. I am a nocturnal-ist, and love being up when everyone else sleeps
, and as I work for myself, it doesn’t matter if I happen to be late to the office 
. Anyway smoocher, how much sleep do you get with that gorgeous girl of yours 
.
September 30th, 2008 at 17:44
@Stephen: I fully understand how you feel about him letting you down but lets give the lad the benefit of the doubt. He made a huge mistake that was misguided by his heart and by his family and culture. He realized his mistake and about his naive desires and has apologized. Yesterday I read that Madrid has abandoned their pursuit of him which although very suspect may indicate that he has basically told them to forget about it. So all I’m saying is if you really look hard, you will find people you know or are close to who deserve your wrath and feeling of disappointment more than a misguided football player who has now seen the light. Forgiveness mate, it’s all about forgiveness. Give it a try, it will make you feel good. He never stole from you or betrayed you with another man or stabbed you in the back at work etc. A few months ago I felt just as pissed off with him and I had made the major claim that Ronaldo was dead to me. Then my friend up and died last week. Now he really is dead to me. Again, it’s all about perspective. I certainly learned a lesson about being a bit too extreme over silly and trivial things. Roony is a fantastic player who plays for our chosen team. We need to embrace that bit of great fortune and cheer him and the lads to further glory. Lets not live in the past over some small period of stupidity and confusion. It’s not like any of us haven’t made a major mistake or two. Problem is his was being magnified and blown way out of proportion by a corrupt and often irresponsible media. I say give him another chance and guardedly open your heart to him one more time.
September 30th, 2008 at 17:49
@Grognard: Grognard I thought you were the agent of doom and gloom, the prince of darkness.
Oh how the tide has turned. 
Seriously though I can see what Stephen is trying to say. I also personally want to like Ronaldo because he’s a United player, but I still can’t do it because there is tremendous inner conflict when I see him play. I guess we just have to learn to live with it.
September 30th, 2008 at 17:58
@Red Ranter: Yes, well call me eccentric. I’ve had a bad few weeks and my perspective on life in general has had a turn for the better. That’s not to say that I am all wine and roses now. Just watch if United lays an egg in Denmark today. I’ll show you doom and gloom.
September 30th, 2008 at 18:02
@RedDevilEddy: Fair enough mate. He was my third favorite player behind (and I am ashamed to say it) Ballack (still angry he went to Chelsea) and the much more palatable Riquelme. I too have sworn off things regarding him but I am giving him a chance to prove me wrong and to win me over again over time. His loyalty more than his play will be the deciding factor. But until then it’s VIVA Ronaldo.
September 30th, 2008 at 18:07
@RedDevilEddy: No I am not German. I am Canadian with Greek roots. I just happen to love Germany, Bayern Munich and everything to do with their football and culture. I guess you can say I am a wannabe German although I am proud of my Greek heritage and I am even prouder to be a Canadian living a great country where we are incredibly tolerant of all nationalities and races. Having said that I spit on Italian football as well as I hate Spanish and French football with a passion.
September 30th, 2008 at 18:22
@Craig Mc: I’ve been down that road mate. This is her way of getting you to appreciate and accept her way and her domain. She will demand more attention both in and out of bed. My ex did the very same thing when it came to baseball and American football. She will also eventually ask you to buy her something or demand something of you. They are nice to look at, smell nice, feel nice and taste nice but deep down inside they are devilish manipulators who should never be fully trusted. Everything comes with a price and never underestimate their hidden agendas. Still, it is nice of them when they give the extra effort to give you some enjoyment and contentment, but never mistake that for something like love and total devotion. With women it comes at a price.
I’m 49 and I have been around the block with many a woman before and only now when I am single after many years of being attached can I look back at my mistakes and naive ways and look back at how I handled things and realize that they are much smarter and much more cunning than us. Part of this is because they have fewer interests and hobbies than us. Craig, you may be your girlfriend’s number one hobby. And if this is true you will have to get used to having to please her and be there for her over anything else. But she isn’t stupid. She doesn’t want to force you into a choice. She will play along with the footy thing until it bores her. Chances are it will be rather soon. What won’t be tolerated by her is you making her second to United. Especially after she has entered the camp of the enemy or competition (OT) and smelled out the competition for your heart and attention. Still, all the best of luck to you bro, but keep your guard up. They are cunning and very sinister underneath that beauty and makeup. And that’s not bitterness or disappointment talking here. It’s experience. Trust me.
September 30th, 2008 at 23:26
@Grognard: Feck me Grog, you make it sound bloody awful
. If all you say is true, I better phone Ronaldo and get his “I’m a slave crown.” I don’t think my GF would ever want out Grog, even though I do love United. I give her plenty of time, and as you can see from my posts I am a very passionate, ardent person, and she gets plenty of doting 
. We just click Grog, and we’re totally on the same wave length. We have our moments, but our fights are more tiffs than volcanic eruptions 
. I don’t think we ever had a full scale war 
. Bet RR would never believe that, after my warfare on this blog regarding those players I like, and those I don’t. Come to think of it though, I don’t really dislike any United players, but just the overly hysterical Rooney FANS. I am quickly learning though, that they feel the same way about me and Nani hysteria perhaps 
. Gotta love it eh Grog?.
September 30th, 2008 at 23:38
@Craig Mc: I never mind warfare on the blog as long as no one attacks anyone personally.
I actually believe that you are a pretty loving person. Passionate people usually have soft centres. This is from experience.
You don’t understand me, do you?
October 1st, 2008 at 0:08
@Red Ranter: RR thank you kindly
. I want to understand you 
, I want to understand most people, I expect we all do 
.