Oct 21
Man Utd v Celtic: Preview
Pre-match prattle: The usual media bollocks about the battle of Britain. As if United and Celtic are the English and Scottish first eleven, respectively; get England to actually play Scotland in a friendly in the first place, for fuck’s sake!
Ok, that’s the anger part out of the way… now let’s get a little quotesy.
Ferguson talks about Rafa da Silva and how he’s given him a good selection headache:
“In football, when a guy turns the corner you cannot do anything about it. Rafael is a great talent and his performances are telling me I have another problem at right-back. It is a learning process playing against that power and experience. Premier League football is not easy. I didn’t realise how big Brunt was and what a nice left foot he had, so that presented a challenge for Rafael. For periods in the game he was finding his way and it was only when I was going to take him off that he started to play the way we know he can. He was excellent. The positions he took up and the penetration from deep positions was absolutely superb. It gives me a selection problem that is good for the club.”
The other bit from Fergie was about the prospect of playing Tevez, Rooney and Berbatov in the same starting XI:
“My torment… It is very difficult trying to gauge whether I can play the three of them together. I have been thinking about it for a couple of weeks now. It is possible, with one of them playing in behind. It is a very difficult situation because they are all terrific players.”
There is some more from the boss, but then I am done being quotesy.
In team news, Anderson and Tevez return to the squad while there are reports that say Fergie might rest Ronaldo. This should pave the way for Nani to get a start — something that’s been rare for him this season — and give him a chance to remind the gaffer of his ability.
I think Tevez will start alongside Berbatov although, I suspect, Rooney wouldn’t like to be benched against a team like Celtic. Perhaps, he could play all three in which case someone would have to be shunted wide. Which, to me, isn’t a bright idea. I think it’ll be Nani and Park on the wings, Tevez-Berbatov upfront, Fletcher-Giggs in the middle and Neville-Rio-Vidic-EvraO’Shea at the back with EVDS taking his place between the sticks — in a 4-4-2.
Prediction: 2-0 to United.
I suppose that’s enough preview. This thread’s open folks, as always. Over to you
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
- Rooney Out For A Month
- Porto it is then…
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (479)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@Craig Mc: Yeah. I think Nani is going to be a real vital player for us in the future. If he improves his decisionmaking, I think we might have the best winger in the world in our hands. I dont consider Messi or Ronaldo as wingers.
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Sorry, meant ONE of the best wingers in the world. I doubt he will ever become the best.
I want to say two things.
1. We have already matched a feet we did last season- scoring only three goal in a game. We have done it against Aalborg, Boro and Celtic until now. In 2007/08 we only did it three times. Spurs(3-1), Fulham and Liverpool(both 3-0).
2. Dave is gonna go mental on Saturday. AMEOBI SCORED!
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@Craig Mc: and what response will he not be happy with? The standing ovation he got on his season debut, the singing of his songs, the round of applause he got yesterday in recognition of his effort?
Ronaldo has said it himself, “In the game when I came back against Villarreal I wasn’t nervous, but just a bit excited to see how the fans would react to me,” said Ronaldo… Thank God things went well… This shows people have not forgotten all the good things we’ve done together and I’m very happy with that.”
Again, I see no reason for Ronnie to be unhappy with the fans or the way they have reacted as they have been nothing short of gracious. That is why I maintain it has something to do with his personal performance.
I’m not circling you out for criticism, I’m just making general comments on the sensationalist nature of some people’s reasoning to Ronnie’s recent lack of ‘zest’. You don’t have to take offense as it is not aimed directly at you…
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Fuck Liverpool, they lead.
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@RedDevilEddy: Eddy mi man, you keep on talking that sweet music Bro – I am glad you think Little man Nani will make it big. I so hope so mate
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@Craig Mc: I know that… Youre like Dave, just about Nani instead of Ameobi.
). But now my favorite player outside United is Benzema, I really hope we go for him next summer. That is of cource if we get him for under £40 million. Good thing about Benzema is that he can play as a LAM, something that we could use if Ronaldo leaves. I can think of a team like this:
I have high hopes for many of Uniteds youn players. I have big hopes for Anderson, Nani, Evans, Possebon, Campbell and Rafael. I havent watched Fabio yet so… But I dont think Gibson, Cleverly, Welbeck, Eckersley or Hewson are good enough to ever play in Uniteds first team. They dont have that extra spice that I see in players like Rafael, Evans or Anderson. I hope Im wrong, but I usually aint. I thought Torres, Benzema, Podolski and Anderson all would become great players before any of you guys probably had heard their name. I am really discusted with Torres cause he was my favorite player outside United until he moved to Shitville. I hate him more than Carragher. But still not more than I hate Gerrard or Terry. I hate them so much…(Homer voice.
Foster
Rafael Rio Vidic Evra
Nani Carrick Anderson Benzema
Rooney Berbatov
Would be my absolute dream team…
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United reserves did good tonight against the Bedouins – Man Shitty. Cleverley scored a stunner, Gibson a penalty and Possebon a good goal too. The Bedouins are top of the reserve league, so now we are only two points behing them I believe
. Our young warriors did good, and glad I got to see the game on good ole MUTV 
.
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Simao equalised!
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@Craig Mc: Craig you took me far too seriously when I referred to them as drunken bastards. I was just picking on them for picking on Ronaldo. Tit for tat I guess you can call it. They need to get over their animosity for the good of the team because if they continue to act like spoilt babies they will literally be buying Ronaldo’s plane ticket to Spain. I cannot imagine the height of stupidity involved with going after the best player in the world when he has come out and apologized and stated his claim to stay with the club. Who cares if his dream was to play for Madrid. He said he was being naive and he now knows better. Like none of the blokes in the terraces have never been confused about something in their personal or professional lives. They need to lighten up and show Ronny some love. If he doesn’t return the love they need to relax and understand his reasons. He’s just not happy with his play and conditioning at the moment and it’s affecting his focus and his mood. The fans at games need to support and show confidence in the lad rather than play tweny questions. Sorry mate but I’m not talking shite. I’m talking common sense and fairness and that’s not something a lot fans in terraces do even if they are sober. They let their emotions control their minds and then stupid and unreasonable things come out of their mouths. I’m sure OT has an atmosphere that’s different than the hockey and football games I go to here and back in Edmonton but I doubt they are that different than the NFL and baseball games I have gone to in Seattle. Those fans can be the epitome of drunken bastards because of course they sell beer at games. The shite that comes out of their mouths when their team or a specific player isn’t playing well is unbelievable. So I am not naive to the situation or atmosphere. And really, calling them terraces anymore is incorrect because there is no more standing room in Prem stadiums. Correct? Anyway, don’t be too upset with me bro as I am just trying to convey some common sense and fairness in regards to Ronaldo. Should he come out and betray that confidence and trust in the summer, then I will put a hit out on the bastard.
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@Grognard: Grog, I bloody love you mate
. Thing is, although you saqy there is no more terraces, there really is Bro. I was supposed to be sitting, but come on. Around me was the Little Hulton, Walkden & Worsely Massive. The Whalley Range and Old Trafford Crew. The Salford Reds and Manchester gobsters. A few foreign visitors et al too. In other words a bunsh of fanatics, and believe me Bro, they were not feckin sittin much at all. In fact the stewards were gesticulating like feckin frenzied maniacs, but we couldn’t give a toss 
. We were terraces Gorg, in every sense of the word. 
. People werent miffed about Ronnie not responding, they were just concerned Big Time, because that is not Ronnie Grog, and you know in your heart it isn’t don’t you Bro?. We are concerned that he is hurt by the way the fans have viewed him, and he has withdrawn into himself as a result. Call us what you like, but we love the lad Grog, and we SENSE there is something wrong. That’s all I am trying to portray Grog. Plus eveyone, including me, WAS STONE COLD FECKIN SOBER. 
. Should we not care about a player who we have always loved Grog?. I know you know we should 
.
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Grog, apologies for all the feckin spelling mistakes in my last post, I am dog tired today. Too much work and not enough play. You know all about that don’t you
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@Liam: Thats my point, I was telling everyone on the board to lighten up. After every match I swear people rush to their computer to say how awful someone did. I wasnt slating Oshea I think he is a valuable and loyal member of the club. I just find it funny that one person can say somebody was shite in a match and then someone else can say they played brilliant. but I wasnt slating any of the players, I was just highlighting some of the stuff I saw posted earlier.
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@Grognard: “And lets not forget he returned a full 40 days sooner than he was estimated to be back”
Excellent point(especially coming from the prince of darkness). I am a Ronnie fan and even I have forgotten that he came back so soon. At this point everything he has given us has been a blessing.
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@Craig Mc: But I’m confused, what exactly did he expect from the fans??? They cheered his name and there were no booing incidents, what else does he want the fans to do? How can he not be happy with the fans? Look Adebayor, he put Arsenal fans through a lot less than what Ronaldo put us through this summer and still got booed in his first game for Arsenal after the transfer fracas, Ronaldo got a much better reception, so what else does he want? He hasn’t given the fans anything to cheer about, they haven’t booed him either, so it really bugs me on why exactly he’s not happy with the fans?
@Craig Mc: But WHY should the relationship go back to the way it was when his form hasn’t gone back to the way it was? I mean you’ll probably hear Rooney’s song been sung more than it ever was last season because he’s hot right now and if(though i hope not), he experiences a lapse of form again, singing his songs will go down a notch, same with Ronaldo, the fans applauded him when he got back, still cheer him a little. He’s a bleeping idiot if he expects his name to be sung like it was last year, theres nothing to sing about yet.
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I have changed my stance on Tevez, I dont think we should keep him. Rooney Tevez and Berbatov are all too good to be rotated and its a waste of our money and their career to make one of them a squad player. I believe that Tevez is worth the money, but only if your gonna play him week in and week out. I still think someone like Roque santa cruz would have been perfect, because he is quality but he would be fine being a 3rd choice striker on a winning team.
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@Rd: Rd mi man, the fans applauded him, because Fergie emcouraged them by saying United fans will forgive Ronnie. Lets face it Rd, everyone follows Fergies lead. I don’t know if you were there or not Rd, but you had to be there, to understand what I am going on about
. Why do you think Fergie came out in Ronnie’s favour Rd?. Because the fans up to that point hadn’t come out in Ronnie’s favour, and Fergie was just making sure that they did. Don’t you know how official-dom works Rd?.
Rd Bro, if you don’t understand the Ronnie or the latin mentality, I can’t explain it to you. I could try, but I wouldn’t do Ronnie or the fans justice. I am not blaming anybody. All I am saying, is that Ronnie does not seem to feel the relationship with the fans anymore. But lets wait and see IF Grog and Gabriel are right. Lets wait and see if Ronnie and the fans interaction improves when Ronnie is firing on all cylinders again. My mentality is obviously different to yours RD, a player doesn’t have to be performing on top form for me to support him. I support everyone who is in a red shirt on the pitch, as I did with Rooney when he was out of form
. I will say if I think a player isn’t on form, or i he is everywhere he shouldn’t be – and I appreciate all of you who think Ronnie is out of form. But he has been contributing even when out of form. As Grog says, Ronnie came back several weeks sooner than he should have done. Whether we like to admit it or not Rd, the fans have not been the same with Ronnie, and I think he is just protecting himself against the conflict of feelings he has since last summer. I am not saying he or the fans are right. I am just trying to understand how he feels Bro. Basically that is it.
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Hey! Did anyone notice that when Red Nev came off, he gave the armband to Wes Brown!
Do you think that Rooney would forgive Fergie?
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@Craig Mc: Nice reply mate. Loved it. Sure the terraces may include the old gang but lets face it now, if they don’t come to the game pissed to the gills, then they have to watch the game sober. And even though I have never taken a game in at OT, I know the problem with the terraces everywhere in England in past decades was the fighting that broke out because of the booze.
As for Ronaldo, I honestly don’t see it the same way, honest I don’t. I think his ego and pride is all out of whack because he is struggling to find his form. Mark my words when he breaks out with a two goal game you will see the old Ronaldo. Especially after the second goal. He just needs to believe that he is back, and not struggling anymore.
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@Craig Mc: I make the odd spelling mistake too but I am also to anal and to egotistical and proud like Ronaldo to tolerate the embarrassment so I spell check after I finish writing. See, I told you that I am a lot like Ronaldo in that department at least. I’m also pretty good in the air.
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@johnsom33: I may be the Prince of Darkness but I am fair………except when it came to Louis Fucking Saha. That guy just brought out the evil in me. My dark powers begin tingling now just thinking of him. The farce is strong with that one.
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@Grognard:
I make the odd spelling mistake too but I am also to anal and to egotistical and proud like Ronaldo to tolerate the embarrassment
The irony of that made me laugh out loud. Unless you intentionally put “to” where it should have been “too”, in which case I take it back.
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@Red Ranter: You know when it comes to my grammar I have always mixed up too and to in my head. I never said I was perfect, just egotistical and proud. I just thank the good lord that when I worked for Government I had a good spell checker on my PC. I’m generally a good speller but I am losing it a bit in my old age. 49 may not be that old but I do find that I forget simple words that were automatic for me 15 years ago. The price you pay for not being a fan of brain food.
So you got me on that one. Funny how my gaff got you to come out of your work induced hibernation. Hope you are doing well RR. Cheers!
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I wonder if Saha will be fit on Saturday. If he scores the winner against us, I’m seriously believing it’s not our year
With all this Tevez stuff, I really hope Fergie and Gill put it to bed asap. I don’t want us held hostage and I don’t want to hurt our finances but I really think we need to lock him in before the media start focusing on his every move. We’re all talking about how we don’t need him now that Rooney and Berbatov look good, but I can absolutely guarantee we’re going to need him for at least 25 games this season, and the next, and the next. He’s not just a squad player, he’s a first XI for some situations and a sub for others. He gels with the players, had never moaned too much about Manchester and puts in more effort in our shirt than almost anyone I’ve seen don the red. Sort it out Fergie.
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@Red Ranter: RR, your not really that bloody schoolteacher are you, that used to rap knuckles and shout at us, “punctuation, punctuation, punctuation, grammar, grammar, grammar?”
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Lets move on from the Ronaldo pantomime all will unfold in the next act I am sure, what is more important, is the team.
Has anyone noticed we have won our last six games, scoring 17 goals in the process, an average of 2.8 goals a game. Rooney has 9 in 7 for club ans country Berbs has 5 for us already, so guys its not all bad
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What a sickener it will be, if Louis Saha does stick one past Edwin in the Everton game
. An even worse sickener if it happens to be the winning goal 
. I bet you, that just like all other long term injury players, who suddenly get miraculously cured the day United come to town, Saha will be FIT and WELL 
.
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RedDevilEddy, You must be jocking with what you are saying on Cleverly and Welbeck. Those young gems are really good and Machester United material. Cleverly i see him as the exact clone of Paul scholes (Attacking Central Midfield). His movement and pass are second to noone in the reserves. Take time to view his goals. Welbeck although still 17 is very promising, his first touch and vision is reaaly good.
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How can I put a picture like you guys do?????
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@Red Ranter: “Hey, Teacher! Leave them kids alone! All in all it’s just another rant on this blog!”
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@Craig Mc: come on Craig…. this is SAHA you’re talking about… all vida has to do is sneeze on him and he’ll be in the back of an ambulance faster than you can say “remember the name… wayne ROONEY!”
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@Will:
, you got that right. Poor ole Louis, he has managed the occasional full game though Will 
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@Will: Oh and Will mate, remember the name – Little Man NANI
. Don’t mock Bro, just you wait and see 
.
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@Martin: I agree about Cleverly mate, he’s class
. I don’t see what in Welbeck though 
. Everytime I watch the reserves, and see Wellbeck, his balance is all wrong, he resembles the sugar plum fairy to me 
. Still, like you say, at 17 he has time to develop and MAYBE prove me wrong, I wait and see.
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@ stephen..thanks for the little bit of positivity which is the main thing and it seems like bloggers here have forgotten that we are winning men! and winning comfortably and convincingly..bring on the toffees..2nil,,a rooney brace(rem he has a habit of scoring against his old club)
More positive news. Sun,either or all of the title fakers (non will win the PL) will drop points, so if we win at goodison,then we get to move closer pointwise still rem with a game in hand..praying for a draw on sun.
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@Man Utd Jaluo: If Chelsea drop points at Liverpool, lets say a draw, and we win a Everton we will only be 4 points behind with a game in hand.
The press having been waxing lyrical about Chelsea this season and we have just got going, don’t forget we have played Liverpool and Chelsea away so far this season.
After Saturday we have West Ham at home and Hull away, not easy but I would bet on 6 points, so we are doing quite well considering the injuries to Scholes, Carrick, Sahagreaves and Ronnie who is just comming back to full fitness.
I know Chelsea look good, and I discount Arsenal from challenging, I will keep an eye out for the dippers, but Chelsea are our main threat, but I believe we are finding form, with Rooney and Berbatov starting to click.
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@Stephen: Hey Stephen Bro – SAHAGREAVES?. Are you being cruel to our Owen? Shame on you
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@Man Utd Jaluo: You say we are winning with comfort!. I think Bolton and Celtic may think its not without a little help from our friends – the kind ref’s who keep giving us the off side goals
. On the other hand, we could retort back, but they don’t give us the Rooney goals that are NOT offside, do they?. So swings and roundabouts I guess 
.
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@Craig Mc: Nah, He makes me want to have curly hair to!!!
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@Craig Mc: i’ve got plenty of faith in Nani, just needs to make some better decisions when it comes to offloading the ball… i.e. he should pass it sometimes instead of taking the ball for a pointless wonder… although since he got a goal the other day i hope he gets more starts… i mean he’s technically the only left winger we have, discounting ronaldo and park, who i would say are right wingers… even old giggsy has been demoted to centre midfield.
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Saha will be invisible once Vidic and Rio do the bump with him. The boy has never liked contact you know. It always lands him a bed with a view at the local hospital. He doesn’t mind though as it allows him to do what he does best………which is flirt with the nurses. Saha is a hopeless case and he is the last player on Everton I would worry about. You see, ever since I came down with heart problems, I realized what Louis biggest problem was despite all his injuries. He has no heart. The guy had no fight in him.
Now regarding Hargo, Stephen Stephen Stephen. I don’t want to see that Sahargreaves written here again or I will send the Canadian Mafia to hunt you down and convince you that making fun of our boy is not in your best interest.
Hargreaves has frustrated all of us and especially himself with his knee problem but he has never ever shown a lack of heart and desire to play for United. Unlike Saha, he has tried very hard and played a lot of last year at 60% health. Saha would return after a lengthy stay in the health spa and a gust of wind from an opponent running past him would cause him to fall and wilt like a flower. The boy was a complete tool and a useless and heartless parasite. Good riddance to bad rubbish I say. Nothing better than to see one of the Scouser sides end up with him. Too bad it wasn’t Liverpool. And as for Hargo, his problem will never get better unless they try to cure it with surgery. No guarantees there either but so far both he and the club have resisted this measure which would mean he would be gone for sure for the season. Still, it would give us a better chance of having a fit Hargo to love and appreciate for the next couple of seasons if they made this decision to put him under the knife. I just don’t see how they can continue to go on like this?
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@Grognard:
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Does anyone else see this weekend as a potential banana skin? Goodison is never an easy place to go and they’re always up for it, plus they are in desperate need for points right now. I just see them playing out of their skin against us, not really threatening us offensively, but I see them putting out a defensive, cautious line up of a 4-5-1 and just working their f’ing socks off. I won’t be surprised if we see a 0-0 tie…which won’t be the end of the world I dont think.
Hopefully the rentboys and the dippers tie also so they both drop points also.
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@Grognard: I was plagued with tendonitis thru out my basketball career. It never goes away but if your careful you can manage it. The key is to always warm up properly otherwise it will flare up really bad. I feel his pain about not playing 100% it is really frustrating when your mind sees the play to make, but your body cant execute it. as far as I know there is no way surgery can help, but I could be wrong.
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@Drew Vader: With the form that United and Everton are in the really should be no doubt about who is gonna win! Everton are yet to win at Goodison. But football is unpredictable, you never know what might happen. Who would have expected us to beat Roma 7-1? Or Arsenal 4-0? Or us losing 4-1 against Boro in 2005? But I dont think Everton will be up for it. They have let in many goals in the last 15 minutes. Blackburn, Stoke, Arsenal and Liverpool all prove that. If it stays 0-0 until the 80th minute, I might get worried but United and Everton does not have one certain thing in common: Stamina. United never give up or stop, Everton do. I think Wazza is gonna score his 100th career goal and I think Ronaldo might score some. I think we will win 2-0, probably scorin late in first half and early in second half.
VIVA WAYNE ROONEY!
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@Grognard: Owen is a great player. If he wasnt Fergie wouldnt have spent a whole year chasin him. But I am yet to see that little extra that you mention so often. I only remember him playing 4 good games for us last season, Liverpool away, Roma, Arsenal and Barcelona home. And 2 of those games he played as a CM. the other 2 were RB and RM. His best game war probably against Roma so…
Well, I hope he proves to be the player that you speak so high of and the player that United need in midfield- a hard man. Keano style. He is a great player, but he needs to stay fit to really prove that he is.
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@johnsom33: I’ve had elbow tendinitis back in my football and basketball days and back when I pitched in baseball. You are absolutely correct that rest is the best way to deal with flare ups but in some cases of serious tendinitis, surgery is performed. Don’t ask me what exactly they do but it is a regular procedure on arms and on knees. It may be time for Hargo to go down this road as his problem is chronic like my heart condition and like some athletes who pull hamstring or thigh muscles a lot. After time, it can become a chronic condition and then either surgery or retirement are the options. I wish Hargo well.
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@NiKOS: http://www.gravatar.com
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I agree we should dump Hargreaves in surgery for a year. We are not going to see him at his best if he is only able to play once a month. He needs regular games. We have the resources to do without him for a year and if he is back next year and stays injury free he’ll have a good chance of forcing his way into the side. Till then Fletcher is my first choice midfielder
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“It (a deal for Ronaldo) is not possible,” said Calderon. “That matter is over.We talked about that last season. Manchester decided they did not want to sell the player and we don’t want to do anything against a friendly club like Manchester.We accept that Ronaldo decided to stay at Manchester. It is forgotten. Not only for January but, I think, for ever.
However, Calderon admits that, if United decided to put the 23-year-old up for sale, Real would consider an offer.Only if Manchester decided to sell will we be talking about it,” he continued.But I would like to say clearly that Madrid is not doing anything to disturb a nice and friendly club like Manchester.
This is hilarious. Calderon is a smart guy. His tactic I believe is to wait for Ronaldo to force a move by making a transfer request and then getting him on the cheap.
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wow calderon’s comments are frackin’ hilarious!lol!
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