Dec 29
Man Utd v Middlesbrough: Preview
United play their second game of the Christmas programme after returning as ‘Champions of the World’ from Japan. Thankfully, our clear dominance was rewarded against the joke of a team that was Stoke City — cue, ‘brave Stoke’s hearts broken’, and more such tripe from the rags. It was just the sort of win we needed after returning from a gruelling schedule. And I would gladly take these kinds of wins right through this Christmas/New Year period. It’s like one of those bitter pills — you know it’s hard to swallow but you do so anyway because it’s going to be for the greater good. So I’ll be prepared to sit through periods of push, prod, huff and puff that my beloved team is offering for now with the hope that we’ll inch closer to Liverpool and, hopefully, ahead of Chelsea.
My premier league table tells me that we are currently 10 points off Liverpool having played 17 to their 20. Winning our games in hand would put us one point off the pace and two points ahead of Chelsea. That can only be good at this stage, and considering the underwhelming nature of most teams in the league this season, we still have a good chance if we can scrap through this difficult period.
So, in scrap we trust.
On to team news, Rio Ferdinand will continue to sit out due to his back injury. This should continue to be seen as a blessing for young Jonny Evans, who hasn’t done too badly whenever he’s been called up. Evra continues to serve his four match suspension, which would see John O’Shea get more game time. Speaking of left backs, it would be interesting to see how Fergie views this as an opportunity to blood Fabio at some point; I hear he’s making a comeback after recovering from his shoulder surgery.
Berbatov, who started on the bench against Stoke should start today, alongside — presumably — Rooney as Fergie looks to rotate (or play randomized musical chairs, going by how he’s picked his players this season)
Boro have had a history this season already when Pogatetz booted Possebon in a Carling Cup game. But this is a side that I don’t have much time for and considering our impressive home record over the past five games (we’ve won all five) I’d say we should comfortably win this one.
Prediction: 2-0 to United.
PS: For those wondering, I haven’t forgotten, and I will publish submitted entries for the writing competition. Those of you who haven’t submitted as yet, feel free to do so as the competition will continue to be open for the next few weeks. And for those who haven’t heard of it yet, feel free to read the rules of the competition here.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Boro v Man Utd: Preview
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Man Utd 4-1 Middlesbrough
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
Tags: Game Preview
December 29th, 2008 at 11:09
@All, The views about the game seem to be okay apart from the fact that the kid, Adam seems to play well for Boro, Still i think we should be OK with the depth in our squad. Also i am waiting to see how Fabio fares because of increased expectations after watching his brother raising the bar, i still expect him to come good.Anything about team news??
December 29th, 2008 at 11:22
I think we will by a two goal margin. My line up would be EVDS,Rafael,vida,evans,sheasy:evil:, ronaldo, ando, carrick,nani,berba, rooney. I hope this RR wont be disappearing for long
December 29th, 2008 at 11:36
@Nelson Otieno: Ya that’s the hope but i doubt about the lineup, I think park will be preferred over Nani, also i think there might be some other changes too.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:44
scholes still has a lot to offer, he looks like the only “experienced” player worthy off automatic selection, but andy and carrick should be our first choice partnership. I cant help but think, if hargo wasnt injured, he would be playing on the right, and ronaldo on the left.
fyi, i rate hargo a better right-back then Rafael.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:58
@dan(u-ol): Ya but we should play to our strengths and in that case Hargo would have slaughted into CM, where he is the best in business, I still hope we can get him back fully fit, that would be like a complete new signing.
December 29th, 2008 at 12:13
@Nelson Otieno: Don’t count on it. I am still in the midst of my vacation and will be for another 25 odd days. So things will be a bit on and off.
December 29th, 2008 at 12:54
I think THIS is the game where our team should step it up and show that we mean business. No better time to do it, at the turn of a new year. Our next game is a week away, so no rotation circus today. Play the best eleven who’re fit and give Boro a thrashing. I would love to see us do one better than Liverfool. A 6-1 scoreline would be perfect.
On a sidenote: Fergie HAS to play Nani and Andy in this game, or else we’re seeing serious signs of the benched player(s) being sidelined, either cos Fergie has lost faith in the player, or other issues.
December 29th, 2008 at 13:32
@antsBoy: I agree nani and anderson have to start cos i can see them both handing in transfer requests especially nani… I think ronaldo needs to be dropped to be honest he’s been poor the last few games….
December 29th, 2008 at 14:10
Its been a wonderful year hasnt it?
Champions of England in Wigan, May the 11th. Champions of Europe in Moscow, May 21st. Champions of the World in Japan, December 21st. And to think that it all started off with our scrappy 1-0 win against Birmingham. Follow by our 6-0 demolition of Newcastle. I would like us all to think about what this year has given to us United fans. From the late party in Moscow to the terrible summer because of Ronaldo. From our 2-1 loss to Manchester Shitty to mark the 50 year anniversary of Munich, to the 3-0 and 4-0 win against Liverpool and Arsenal, all those 3 games within a month. From the 2-1 loss against Liverpool in September to the 1-0 win against Shitty in November. It been a wierd and unusual year to say the least. Full of ups and downs, joy and despair, goals scored and goals conceded, Ronaldos free-kick against Pompey and Scholes thunderbolt against Barca, the injury of Hargreaves and the recovery of Neville, the gap left by Queiroz to the hole filled by Berbatov. 2008. A year that I will never forget…
So, on to tonights game! We face Boro, the team with the best record against us in the League. Hell, even better than Chelski, Arsenal and Shitty! They have beaten us 3 times at Old Trafford during the last 10 yars, we have also won 3. Its doesnt take a genius to see that the other 4 games were draws. And to make us worry even more: The goal difference is 10-10! When you see those stats you should feel that Boro is a team from the top 4! Or that we should at least be a little worried about tonights game. But am I? NO! Because this Boro team isnt the one that got those results against us. This is a Boro team that gets beaten 5-0 by Chelski, 2-1 by Liverpool and even lose to West Brom. I mean, which team, except from Shitty, lose to Stoke? I would like to think that this will be a challange for us, because you never face an easy game in the Prem. But can I? Again no! I cant see Boro not conceding, I cant see them scoring and I cant see them posing a single challange. If anybody thinks that I am jinxing the team all I can say is FUCK OFF!!! I am free to say my opinions and thoughts, without me being the scapegoat if they do not win. Its not my fault, its not your fault, it s the team fault for not winning. Dont blame Berbatov, Ronaldo, Fergie, Pheland…. Its a TEAM game and if the team doesnt win, the team should get the blame. Simple as. Dont think Im angry, Im quite cheered up.
My team: VDS
Rafael Evans Vidic Oshea
Ronaldo Carrick Anderson Nani
Tevez Berbatov
Score prediction: 3-0 to United. A goal for each trophy we have won this year. Ronaldo, Tevez and Vidic to score.
COME ON YOU REDS!!!
December 29th, 2008 at 14:31
Steeeeve gerraaaard gerraaaaard
he said that the scousers were best
and now hes under arrest
Steeeeve gerrraaaard gerraaaaard
December 29th, 2008 at 14:38
Aww I was getting used to the last post
okey so the last time I made a comment before the game the complete opposite happened so maybe saying something like Berbatov won’t score from now until the end of the season would be an appropriate comment or Ronaldo is too selfish or I fancy Boro to do us. OK so jinxs set, I don’t think Evans has been as great as people seem to think. In a lot of the games that he’s played we’ve looked more shaky when he’s come on and I’m almost sure that we’ve let in more goals. Still he’s still young and learning and I suppose he needs to learn the game a bit more. I want to see Carrick start and actually get forward because when he does like in the Stoke(home) and West Brom games we become much better. I have a feeling this might be the game he sits down Ronaldo and I think it may be ok. I won’t make a prediction as I’m sure it’ll be wrong
December 29th, 2008 at 14:51
@Liam: Yeah, we havent played quite well when Evans is on the pitch. His games this season: Villareal(0-0 both), Chelski(1-1), Boro(3-1), Stoke(5-0), QPR(1-0), Blackburn(5-3), Aalborg(2-2), Stoke(1-0). He is not Rio masterclass, but we have to judge him of his age too. For a 21 year old he is really good. Not many defenders have that composre at that age, which is the most impressive thing about him. For someone his age, he is brilliant.
December 29th, 2008 at 15:01
@Traverse:
Funny! And oh so true…. 
December 29th, 2008 at 15:20
@RedDevilEddy: Whats the latest Transfer rumours??
December 29th, 2008 at 15:36
@Despicable: What?
Ehh, I dunno. Aguero to United? Gerrard to Real? Messi to United?
December 29th, 2008 at 15:38
@RedDevilEddy: Mmmmmm, perhaps you should look at the midfield forthose games, and NOT Johnny (fighting Irish) Evans. The lad is international class – ho-hum
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December 29th, 2008 at 15:42
@Red Ranter: That’s a bloody hell of a LONG vacation by any standards RR
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December 29th, 2008 at 15:49
Just watched the 2007/08 season review on DVD, and the game that caught my attention was our game against Pompey in the FA cup. And Ronaldos free kick(looks better and better every time I see it!). But in the FA cuo game, how the HELL could we not score?! We should have had a penalty, Tevez shot cleared off the line, Ronaldo shoots just wide after a clammer in the Pompey box, Carrick misses an open goal, Evra hits the post… its amazing! I still cannot believe that we did not score in that agem! Evn though Ive watched the highlights of that game more than 100 times, I still cant get it in my mind. “We did not score”. How is that possible. Most one sided game Ive ever seen, most 100% chances youll ever see in a game, and we still lost 1-0. That is not natural! We could have won the treble… Damn, watching the highlights from that games is like thinking about how many people there lives on earth. Impossible to figure out!
December 29th, 2008 at 15:53
What the hell is going on with Wes Brown – surely the lad is not still injured. If he is fit, I don’t think much of Fergie not playing him. Think he must not be fit though, because I don’t remember him being on the subs bench at all.
Well, can anybody answer my recent question please – does John Terry come back from suspension in time for the game against us at Old Trafford?. This is where Jb is sadly missed, he was the champion ANSWER master on this blog – you are missed Jb
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December 29th, 2008 at 16:04
@Craig Mc: I can answer both those questions for you!
Wes Brown: Still inured, he will come back to training in early January. He is currently recovering from the his operation.
John Terry: He will not be able to play at Old Trafford. The red card rule does not count in the FA cup, so he will miss the game at Old Trafford. A straight red card is followed by a 3 game suspension, John Terry has sit out 2(West Brom and Fulham). Chelseas next Premier League agme is against United so…
Hope this is okey.
December 29th, 2008 at 16:30
@Craig Mc: I agree. I am moving to a new job so my date of joining was upto me. I felt I really needed a long, long time off everything. Hence a vacation that’s close to a month and a half. Thankfully my boss has been understanding. Have been doing a lot of travelling, especially in areas with low internet accessibility. Hence the inactivity on the blog.
I’m sure I will never have another long vacation of this kind until I retire.. so I’m enjoying this while I still can. 
December 29th, 2008 at 16:31
@RedDevilEddy: the red card does count.. remember when ronaldo got one for the hand ball when he was trying to protect his face against man city? terry will be available but so will evra… I think we need wes back as soon as possible we’re a bit light in defence with suspensions and injury.. Can’t wait for the next months fixtures if we win all and win big i think we’ll have the best chance the next month will decide the domestic competitions and how well we do in them…
December 29th, 2008 at 16:46
@Viz: That red card rule is for the Carling Cup. Not the FA cup. The reason Evras suspension does count in the FA cup is because its not a direct red card. Its mre like the one Rio got in 2004, only in a much shorter period. Terry got a straight red card, so he is 3 games. He would have been able to play at Old Trafford if Chelsea were in the Carling Cup semis, but they aint. The Carling Cup has the same rules as the Prem(7 subs, 5 yellows is suspension), but the FA cup is a little like the CL. So if you get a red card in the Prem, the FA cup is like the Champions League, doesnt count. The FA cup has 5 subs and 3 yellow cards for suspension. Its different, so Terry will miss the United game.
December 29th, 2008 at 17:46
Sometimes I just wonder about life. And then today, suddenly, I had a thought. “How would our lives be if John Terry had scored on THAT penalty?” Are there other people that have also thought about that. I mean, would I be so cheerful all the time?
Would Ronaldo have created all this mess during the summer? And would he be a United player? Would oppositions play 9-1-0 against us for every game? Maybe Chelski could be top of the League? Or maybe we could, because we would not have played 2 games less than our opponents going into the new year. When the media speak about Chelski, would they get less credit? Or maybe United less? Would Terry win the Ballon DoR? I mean, so many things in our lives, in so many lives, depended on that kick. We know what happend if he missed. But what would happen, how would we feel, behave and think if Chelski had won that final? Wow, Football… Bloody Hell!!! 
December 29th, 2008 at 17:58
@Red Ranter: vacation for ANOTHER 25 days, Im sorry RR, but were gonna have to let you go, collect your P45 from the office and close the door on the way out, Im putting Grognard in charge and changing the name from Red Rants to Grogs Gripes.
December 29th, 2008 at 18:41
@Craig Mc: Given it is the festive season and in the spirit of goodwill I will do my best to provide the answers for your questions
Based on my understanding of the FA’s disciplinary procedures, Terry will be available for our game at OT against Chelsea and complete his suspension in the FA Cup against Southend. I’m going to have to disagree with RedDevilEddy here, I believe all domestic competitions fall under the same banner with regards to disciplinary procedures. The FA’s procedures discuss suspensions in the context of covering FTCM’s, which include the FA Premier League, Football League Cup and FA Challenge Cup.
The one thing that surprised me about this suspension was that it seemed to kick into effect quicker than I though it would and consequently it will be completed before our game against them. But don’t have much knowledge of the timing policy of FA suspensions so that’s likely just a misconception on my part.
On a side note, I noticed some dissatisfaction with Vidic being ruled out of the CL first leg. However the suspension in the World Club Cup works under the same principle as above. We were eligible for the competition based on our exploits within a Uefa competition, so it seems only logical that any suspension should be served there. It is no different from Scholes being suspended due to his sending off in the European Super Cup.
Brown underwent ankle surgery and in the last update I heard said he would be back in 3-4 weeks (that was about 2 weeks ago).
@RedDevilEddy: As far as I am aware the seven sub rule has been rolled out to the FA Cup.
December 29th, 2008 at 19:18
@RedDevilEddy: Chelsea Without terry is a completely different cattle of fish i was quite certain he would’ve made the united game but if he’s out long as rio’s back i think we’ll be cool just gotta get a good high goal scoring performance tonight carrick and anderson gotta start i think this will be the future of united’s midfield and fergie needs to play this combo more often. I wouldn’t even mind seeing hargreaves and a carrick midfield next season…
December 29th, 2008 at 19:18
@Viz: @JB: Yeah, just checked the SkySports page. It looks like Terry will be playing the game against us. Sorry.
My source was the commentator at Canalplus, Norwegian. He said during the match against Fulham that Terry would also sit out the game against United. Therefor my thoguhts that the red card didnt rule in the FA cup. I also thought that the red card did not have anything to do with the FA cup, because in May 2004 Ronaldo and Fletcher got sent off for United, against Villa in our last game of the season. But why did they both play in the FA cup final then? It was only a week later! But, Terry will be able to play at Old Trafford. Im kinda happy for it, because now we can mock him after his penalty miss. Will be sweet! 
Hopefully we can win that game.
December 29th, 2008 at 19:22
@RedDevilEddy: WOW! Eddy, quite a bit of passion mate. Loved it. It’s great when we wear our love, passion and frustration for our team on our sleeves for all to see. I share your feelings and echo them as loudly as you do.
December 29th, 2008 at 19:25
@Craig Mc: So is Gibson and he doesn’t get a look in in our team. Dong plays for China that doesn’t mean he’s any good. Evans is a decent young player but he just doesn’t instill the same confidence with me as he does with you. He has looked dodgy at times and that will improve with time. He just isn’t at the level to play in the QF of the CL which is why we need Wes back soon
December 29th, 2008 at 19:26
@Liam: Evans hasn’t been bad at all mate. His job is to defend and if you look back at most of those games, we never gave up too many goals and the ones that did go in were not Evans’ fault. Yes he will improve and become more of a dynamic presence but him in the lineup doesn’t make me as nervous as when I see Neville in the lineup. Come to think of it, I would settle for an entire back four of Neville rather than see one Neville and Just Shite Park on the pitch.
December 29th, 2008 at 19:31
@Liam: O my God, comparing Dong with Evans, what planet are you living on Liam, because it isn’t planet earth it seems
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December 29th, 2008 at 19:33
@Craig Mc: The sad thing about Brown is I never heard anything about his injury being a bad one when he went down. In fact I think he was on the bench before he got hurt due to being in Fergie’s dog house. I certainly question the severity of his injury and wonder if there isn’t something more there than meets the eye. Remember, he was our starter last year and did very very well only to be benched early in the season for Neville and then watch Rafael also get time. If I was him I might have said something nasty to the Gaffer and that might have put my future with the club in some jeopardy. I don’t know, I could be wrong but somethings smells in the state of Denmark when it comes to Wes Brown’s absence.
And this thing about an operation, this is honestly the first time I have heard that he needed surgery. Either I was totally out of the loop or something mysterious is going on here.
December 29th, 2008 at 19:35
@Grognard: Agreed Grog, Liam saya that Evans has looked dodgy at times
, you tell me which of our defenders hasn’t, or our MF for that matter. Nobody’s perfect, we all GOTTA WORK IT, as the delightful and totally bloody gorgeous Kimberley (lush puppy) Walsh sings together with Girls Aloud 
.
December 29th, 2008 at 19:35
@Viz: It looks like Alex will miss the Old Trafford game. Malouda too. They both went off injured at Crave Cottage, and it looked like a teared hamstring for Malouda, but I didnt watch Alexs. Carvalho is just back from injury, while Cech has been really shaky. Ballack, I think, is still missing, along with Essien. Drogba is a shadow of his former self, and I dont think he poses the threat he would have done 2 years ago. Anelka is the Prems top scorer, but I am still not impressed by him. He hasnt scored any real important goals, most of them have been scored in 2-0, 4-0 or 5-0 wins. Never a 1-0 win. So if we can put Rio and Vida on him we should stop that “threat”. Lampard has impressed me this season, I think he has been one of the best in the League this season. I dont relaly like Lampard, but I am one that admires quality. He was shite last season, and the season before that, but this season he has been great. He is for me the only player that frightens me. Just look at this defense: Helmet head Cech, One eyebrow Bosingwa, Baby Tears Terry, Cashley Cole and the young Serbian Ivanovic, who does a worse job than Oshea. At least Oshea can head the ball.
Chelski should be our strongest opponent, but right now their team are shite. Anelka sucks, Drogba is a shadow of his former self, Joe Cole is Chelskis version of this season Nani, Ballack, Essien and Belletti are injured, Deco is worse than Smudge, and they dont have a proper left winger. And if anybody thinks of countering me with Park being our left winger, I need to say that he at least does something for the team. If he can keep players like Messi, Robinho, Van Persie and Totti out of the game, I am really happy. I am not a big fan of Park, but I admire his work for the taem. He is not the left winger I crave or want, but he is alright. I would take him over players like Downing, Kuyt and Petrov every day of the week. Well, only against top teams. 
I think Anderson, if he plays that game, will be the most vital part in our team. He is amazing in big games, like Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa, and he scored in the CL final agaisnt Chelski. He had the most pressure of all our players, because he would give us the lead back. And he took the best penalty of them all! Chelskis defense is quite slow, at least slower than Gallas and Toure, or Laursen and Davis. Carvalho and Terry should easily lose a speed duel with Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney, so Andersons through balls and vision, and will to attack, will be vital, absolutely vital in that game.
December 29th, 2008 at 19:37
@Grognard: Mmmmmmm Grog – where’s Sherlock Holmes when you need him
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December 29th, 2008 at 19:39
@Grognard: Thank you!
I do my best. United `till I die!
December 29th, 2008 at 19:40
@Red Ranter: Great to see you back mate, if indeed you are back. You have been missed but may I ask why you never saw fit to put in place a caretaker manager for your blog so that the uncertainty and frustration felt by many, as well as the poor performance of the blog’s mechanics themselves would have been addressed during your absence? Trust me when I say that many have disappeared and others were constantly questioning whether this blog had died. I for one knew you would be back but trying to convince many was becoming a futile gesture. Anyway, I am glad you are back and many of us are feeling a great relief.
December 29th, 2008 at 19:42
@Craig Mc: Yes indeed the game’s afoot and we need the super sleuth to get to the bottom of the “Mysterious Disappearance of Wes Brown”. I think it was Fergie in the dressing room with the candle stick. Or was it a knife in the back?
December 29th, 2008 at 19:42
@RedDevilEddy: Red cards are with immediate effect usually meaning the suspension is straight away but 5 yellow cards accumulated means that the ban will be 7 days after the yellow card.
December 29th, 2008 at 19:43
@Craig Mc: Hey Bro, shouldn’t you be at Old Trafford by now. Or have you decided not to waste your money on such boring
entertainment?
December 29th, 2008 at 19:45
@Grognard: @Craig Mc: No conspiracy guys, http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4625518,00.html
December 29th, 2008 at 19:47
@JB: Woo Jb you are a football knowledge whizz kid
– thank you for such great answers. Now I feel qualified to discuss the situation with my friends.
Regarding the season and good will and all, I though the good will was supposed to extend into the New Year as well, so how about it Bro. We want you back, so you feeling it or not?. After all Bro, I need someone to keep me in check
.
Well I am off to grace the terraces, and shout myself hoarse. The Reds better get that ball in the net tonight, and win, or I am going to jump off the Old Trafford bridge into the ship Canal – not really haha.
December 29th, 2008 at 19:50
@JB: See Grog, our very own Sherlock – Jb – Holmes. Thanks again Jb
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December 29th, 2008 at 19:51
@Grognard: Wes has had many injury problems before. So it doesnt come as a surprise to me that he needed surgery. If you think about it, last season he stayed injury free all season. And was the player with the most games! But this season he started well. But then came Neville and ruined it all.
It looked like Wes was gonna be back in our first team after the game against Blackburn, where he scored and played a blinder of a match. But Rafael… What can you say? He is incredible! Best Right back Ive seen since Neville emerged himself! And he fits to our style. Its like having two Evras! 
So its hard for Wes. But I would still like to have Wes at our club, because Rafaels stamina isnt the greatest and he is still very young. I dont want Neville to be cover, he is very… What is the word? Wierd? Confusing? Shadow of his former self? Yeah, all those things. Wes can be cover at RB and be cover at CB. Good to have that option, especially when Rio is getting older and having trouble with his back and hamstring, and Vidic playing so rough that he is gonna get a red card once in a while. So you need to have 2 covers at CB. Last season it was Pique and Oshea as cover. This season it looks like Wes and Evans. Ill take that, better than Ivanovic and Alex. Better than Hyypia and Insua. And definately better than Djorou and Song. What are those names really? Sounds like to freaks from a Circus! Well, they are. Arsenal are a circus… Run by “the proffesor”! Arsene Wanker! Captain Balles, the french elephant who speaks against the crew! And next to him we have Spaggetti hair, Sayonaragna. Then comes the left back, the humas that is named after a street: Clichy! And behind them all is the manly verison of Paris Hilton! Aliminiumia! Stpid, small breast, chicken and really blond! “Watch our next show, we will entertain you again! Hopefully this time with a win! Only on Sky.”
December 29th, 2008 at 19:51
Manchester United must win this match! This is a great opportunity to reduce the losses to Chelsea. But it can be quite difficult match but I hope that Red Devils will show that they’re still the best
Man Utd vs. Boro live streams
December 29th, 2008 at 19:53
Oh yeah, Balles(Gallas- Ball less). Just so its not confusing or anythign…
December 29th, 2008 at 20:01
YAY! jason brown is back! im timing you JB, i want team news, ready, set, GO
December 29th, 2008 at 20:06
@RedDevilEddy: i swear ronaldo scored the goal
or are you talking about the penalty – which you mentioned twice? 
it is either going to be 1-0 or 6-1
December 29th, 2008 at 20:07
@RedDevilEddy: i swear ronaldo scored the goal
or are you talking about the penalty – which you mentioned twice? 
it is either going to be 1-0 or 6-1
December 29th, 2008 at 20:08
@dan(u-ol): Damn Dan, relax!
Hadnt time to tell you the “unbeatable-secret” of FIFA 09 today, will do it tomorrow. Or maybe I will send you on eafootballworld. But only if you comment and rate my goals 
December 29th, 2008 at 20:10
Team News:
GK: VDS
RB: Da Silva
CB: Evans
CB: Vidic
LB: O’Shea
RM: Ronaldo
CM: Carrick
CM: Fletcher
LM: Park
ST: Rooney
ST: Berbatov
December 29th, 2008 at 20:10
Manchester United (from):
Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Amos, Neville, Vidic, O’Shea, Evans, Rafael, Ronaldo, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Nani, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson, Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez, Welbeck.
Middlesbrough F.C. (from):
Turnbull, Jones, McMahon, Taylor, Grounds, Pogatetz, Huth, Wheater, Bates, Hines, Williams, Arca, Walker, Downing, Johnson, O’Neil, Aliadiere, Tuncay, Alves, Mido, Emnes
Refferee:
Martin Atkinson
December 29th, 2008 at 20:10
This guy really knows how to manage a team!
Future replacement for Fergie?
December 29th, 2008 at 20:15
And subs: PIG, Neville, Gibson, Possebon, Scholes, Giggs, Welbeck
December 29th, 2008 at 20:17
@JB: 9 mins, impressive
@RedDevilEddy: ok eddy, tell me the damn secret
December 29th, 2008 at 20:17
@JB: No Anderson? No Nani? No Tevez?
Im gonna shoot myself! Fergie doesnt know what he does! Fuck Boro, fuck Fletcher and fuck Park. Bring in the offensive team Fergie, we need goals today! No fucking Fletch or Park, we need Anderson and Nani. Bloody hell, how can Fletcher play today! Just wanna kill him for being in front of Andy in the pecking order! I just know it, its gonna be 0-0 after 80 minutes, then Fergie is gonna putn on Anderson. That fucking senile wank is not gonna get a Fucking Christmas present from me, thats for sure! Need… To… Kill… Someone…
Gerrard! Im coming to get you, you fucking wanking scouse. You dont deserve to ba an Englishman, not a footballer either. Lick my fucking balls, you fucking twat! *!”#*!# SO*#!L FUC**! BITCH! FUCK! I dont know if I wanna watch this game now, I cant stand to see a team containing Fletcher, Oshea and Park from the start. Im gonna be sick…
December 29th, 2008 at 20:18
@JB: possebon is back, that is good.
December 29th, 2008 at 20:19
@JB: Andy not even on the bench!!?? I need an ambulance. Or a punching bag!
Where are the Arsenal fans when I need them?!
December 29th, 2008 at 20:19
where did u get the team info from JB? Im praying it aint official…
a team with Fletcher and Park is seriously understrenth as far as im concerned
December 29th, 2008 at 20:21
@RedDevilEddy: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHa
that was the funniest post, EVER!
December 29th, 2008 at 20:26
Okey, Ive recovered from my outrage.
I am really worried now. Does anybody know if Anderson is injured. He wasnt on the bench against Stoke, and not now either. Can anybody please tell me if he is injured, my life is at stake. 
If Fergie really has decided to leave a fully fit Anderson out of the first 18 players against teams like Boro and Stoke there really is something wrong with him. I need to know, or else someone is gonna die.
December 29th, 2008 at 20:26
So Nani and Anderson can’t even make the bench now…….
What The Fuck?? So if we’re tied 0-0 who the fuck are we going to bring on to add some offensive spark? Giggs and Scholes? Or how about that 17 year old?
Where the fuck is Tevez? What the hell man
December 29th, 2008 at 20:27
@RedDevilEddy: I think they’re injured or fergie trying to use the whole squad…. i’m fuckin puzzled…
December 29th, 2008 at 20:27
Evening Chaps n Chapettes, hope you’re all having a great Festive Season at home with friends and family. How much food!?!
Anyway, looking forward to the evening kick-off; heard a couple of rumours re: Fabio making the bench but who knows. the Boro haven’t done too shabby against us in recent times but I really am looking forward to a Roma-style (7-1 mauling!) performance sometime soon! Fingers crossed eh!
Come on the lads!
December 29th, 2008 at 20:29
@RedDevilEddy: HAHA my lord, all this time, ive benn playing fifa with a psychopath
, dont worry eddy, the psychopath here is rudolph him self. i dont think andy is injured at all.
December 29th, 2008 at 20:29
How old is Boro’s Julio Arca?? He always plays out of his mind against us and he isn’t half bad at a disrupting center midfielder
December 29th, 2008 at 20:29
Hopefully Welbeck will get on.. but where the fuck are tevez ando and nani?
December 29th, 2008 at 20:30
@Drew Vader: that 17 year old is named welbeck, dont forget the name
December 29th, 2008 at 20:30
Ah, there goes the Fabio rumour…but where are Nani and Anderson???
No Anderson? At all? Sorry, but thats does not compute, you have performed an illegal opperation, please shut down lol!
wtf?
December 29th, 2008 at 20:35
No Tevez, no Nani, no Anderson, no Fabio… WHAT THE FOOKING HELL IN GOING ON!!! I really need to clam down, but its harder than it looks like. Here we are, the last game of the best year in the clubs history, against a team fighting to avoid relegation, and Fergie fields a team that looks like its set to draw 0-0. It really pisses me off. And the worst thing is, if we have trouble scoring goals who do we put on? Welbeck? Scholes? Giggs? Two defensive midfielders at the average age of 20? Yeah! Three players dragged on to the subs bench from the retirement home and three players that are just picked up from the kindergarden! And of cource, a goalkeeper whos kickname is PIG!!! Hihihihihihihihihihihi.
This is awsome! We dont want to win the league! 
We are just want the best defensive record in the, he-he, country! Im going insane here! Im smiling and laughing and crying and depressed and happy at the same time. HE-HE-HE, HI-HI-HI-HIHIHIHIH! This is truly, shitbreaking awsome! Fucking world, I ate you. No, not hate, but ate! Hi-hi.
Please call an ambulance…
December 29th, 2008 at 20:37
@RedDevilEddy: @Drew Vader: My understanding of the team (and this is second hand information) is as follows: Nani and Anderson were given leave over Christmas to go back to Portugal/Brazil and both only got back within the last day or so and so were not considered for the match. Tevez has apparently been allowed to go back to Argentina for a few days holidays. I can’t vouch that this info is totally reliable but it does tie in with Anderson and Nani not being on the bench against Stoke.
@realred: A JB team is always official
December 29th, 2008 at 20:40
i mean its almost as if Fergie is trying to9 win the league with a B Team!!???
if we strugle to socre in this match im gon lose it…..can someone pls tell me our full bench pls?
December 29th, 2008 at 20:41
@dan(u-ol): Chill mate, Im just a little angry now. Trying to make this horrible situation a little funny.
But still, someone has gotta be on the end of my punishment. Hey, wanna play FIFA 09 tomorrow? 
Im gonna send you the secret now, just promise me that you wont tell it to anybody. Im gonna send you the whole package! Team, formation, oppoitions, tactics, even how to play when you are in trouble. Its gonna help you, at least in live matches. You cant beat me with it though, I know how to ruin your fun against that tactic. Im the king, actually, I AM FIFA 09!
December 29th, 2008 at 20:42
@JB: Better be. Only logic explanation. Cant see any other reason, because it simply doesnt add up.
December 29th, 2008 at 20:45
@jb With a little help from bbc of course
December 29th, 2008 at 20:47
boys were can i watch this match online. its not on skysports but on sentanta which i dont have or any1 has.lol were can i watch it streaming online? need 2 knw ASAP please
December 29th, 2008 at 20:48
@R: I am insulted, I get you the team news a damn sight earlier than the BBC does
The BBC gets its team news from me!!
December 29th, 2008 at 20:49
@RedDevilEddy: yay
yea i’ll play you tomorrow prepare to go down!
December 29th, 2008 at 20:50
@JB: Thanks, I just saw SAF say that Carlos went back to Argentina. He didn’t mention Ando or Nani though
December 29th, 2008 at 20:51
@dan(u-ol): I’m well aware of his name, I just chose to ID him by his age instead of by name just highlight my point of a complete lack of offensive spark that we have on our bench today…
December 29th, 2008 at 20:53
@iamfootball: Try this fella, it’s not verified yet but I’ll keep ya posted.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/livesport1
December 29th, 2008 at 20:55
@dan(u-ol): Sent you the tactics. If you got any question, just message me. Just remember: That tactics do not work against me. But please, try them out tomorrow.
I just wanna help. 
We Manchester United fans stand United, right?
Last thing Im gonna say before the game begins: Good luck to United, because if they dont win there will be far more severe consequense than just 2/3 points dropped at home. They are gonna have to feel the wrath of the Red Devil named Eddy! Im gonna finish with my usual statement before a game.
COME ON YOU REDS!!!
December 29th, 2008 at 20:59
tevez in argentina and i don’t know what’s going on with andy and nani we should be able to beat middlesborough with the quality on the pitch…
December 29th, 2008 at 20:59
good luck lads, god speed
December 29th, 2008 at 21:01
come on you reds!!
December 29th, 2008 at 21:01
@jb we’ve got ourselves an insider then…. Insider to the bbc
ps Good work anyway.
December 29th, 2008 at 21:06
stuggle to watch fletcher play….he mnay have improved but he’s still shit
December 29th, 2008 at 21:09
If Park had shouted for that it was 1-0
December 29th, 2008 at 21:11
plz may sum1 tell me wher i can c da mtch
December 29th, 2008 at 21:12
Just shows what happens when Carrick gets forward
Btw the pitch looks in bad shape also Ronaldo last year would have scored that
December 29th, 2008 at 21:16
i just cant help but think how much better this team would be with nani playin down the left….then Ando for Fletch and uv got the perfect team!!!!!!
December 29th, 2008 at 21:22
@realred: eh Park has been our best player so far and Fletch hasn’t been bad either
December 29th, 2008 at 21:22
were else can i watch it online please guys, can i have some links?
December 29th, 2008 at 21:25
liam, i disagree
December 29th, 2008 at 21:26
December 29th, 2008 at 21:29
I need a link please… iraqgoals is not working today…
December 29th, 2008 at 21:31
What the hell is Ronaldo doing! Park was wide open and he plays a stupid pass to Berbatov. What is up with him tonight?we should be at least 2 up
December 29th, 2008 at 21:33
the above is not working either… please post a better link?
December 29th, 2008 at 21:34
just got in anyone want to give me a summary
December 29th, 2008 at 21:40
@RedAllTheWay: “plz may sum1 tell me wher i can c da mtch”
I would forget about the match, and focus on your studies. Are you commenting from your phone?
December 29th, 2008 at 21:44
Rooney is waaay too unselfish.
@Mr.Muhozi: we’ve been completely on top andcreated tons of chances. Ronaldo has been absolute rubbish. Rooney has shown some good touches but is passing instead of shooting too often. Berbatov has been, well lazy and Park IMO has been brilliant. Everytime Carrick goes forward we seem to get a decent chance out of it. That has been sporadic though
December 29th, 2008 at 21:47
SHOOOOOOT the bloody ball thats why we paid £30m for you
December 29th, 2008 at 21:48
Got to OT, heard what our team was just as I arrived, thought right feck this, I am sick of watching Fergie shit, so SOLD my ticket to a lass who was desperate to sit near her friends as possible, got back in my car, and came home bloody disgusted. From what I have seen so far, I KNOW I made the right decision to sell and get my money back. So far the usual feckin ineptitude up front. Pissed off big time. Maybe things will improve 2nd half, but seeing our subs bench, I am not putting my mortgage on it
.
December 29th, 2008 at 21:51
Good save by the keeper and HOW THE FUCK HAVE WE NOT SCORED YET
Pogatetz had his hands around Ronaldo’s throat there btw
December 29th, 2008 at 21:52
@johnsom33: i ment 2 b wrkin but itz 2 feckin borin. plz gimme a link
December 29th, 2008 at 21:52
I just got back home now and watched the last 20mins of the 1st half…which was boring, slow-paced and uninspiring to say the least. Anyone else has a few words for the first 25mins of the half?
December 29th, 2008 at 21:52
PiggyTits is a fucking criminal and one of the dirtiest players in the EPL. In fact he is one of the few remaining Austrian Nazi’s still alive.
December 29th, 2008 at 21:53
pogatetz is a dirty player i think scholes and giggs need to come on what are we on come on boys…
December 29th, 2008 at 21:53
berbatov and rooney have been our best and brightest players. fletcher, ronaldo, hang your heads in shame.
December 29th, 2008 at 21:54
I am too annoyed for words. I mean what the fuck???????
December 29th, 2008 at 21:55
Forgive me if I am living in a cave but is Anderson injured? I never heard anything about him being injured. And if he isn’t injured than why is he not starting or at least on the bench. Just one more blow for us to have to put up with.
December 29th, 2008 at 21:56
@Grognard: Couldnt agree more. I thought we’d put them all in a Nuremberg prison!
December 29th, 2008 at 21:56
@Craig Mc: pretty extreme measures there
it’s been a good game so far. if Tevez was playing I think we’d be ahead. If Fergie takes off Berbatov and Fletch and puts Tevez and Scholes on we’ll win. Also if the team would actually pass to Park out wide instead of trying Hollywood passes through 3 defenders we’d be winning
December 29th, 2008 at 21:56
@dan(u-ol): And between them they have three shots on three half chances. We are far too dependent on Ronaldo for goals and when he is not on his game, we frankly stink.
December 29th, 2008 at 21:56
@Viz: thats horrible if we have to rely on those old geezers to liven up a game
December 29th, 2008 at 21:57
Soccer 2 on sopcast is working great but not sure about the browser streams today. iraqgoals seems to absent, as does adthe, however;
http://www.justin.tv/widgets/jtv_player.swf?channel=ittihadteam
http://www.justin.tv/widgets/jtv_player.swf?channel=onlyfoot
http://www.justin.tv/widgets/jtv_player.swf?channel=bysco
Not verified but worth a pnt if you’re still struggling.
Come on the lads!
December 29th, 2008 at 21:59
@JB: Thanks JB. By the way, good to see you back.
December 29th, 2008 at 21:59
we all saw what pogatwat did to possebon so i think ronnie should calm down before he becomes our eduardo
December 29th, 2008 at 22:00
@Craig Mc: Elementary my dear Craig.
Now if we can figure out what Professor Moriarty (aka Fergie) is going to conjure up for the second half. 
December 29th, 2008 at 22:00
@dan(u-ol): Berbatov has been absolute rubbish! He’s done nothing of worth in the whole game. He’s been losing the ball from the start and as usual isn’t shooting
December 29th, 2008 at 22:00
@Liam: cheers mate seems like i have yet to miss much, i can not wait until andersons back i’ve been saying this for a long time now, this team seems is too nonchalant without anderson
December 29th, 2008 at 22:00
@Grognard: it worrys me too.
@Liam: you really dont like berbatov do you?
December 29th, 2008 at 22:01
@Craig Mc: Elementary my dear Craig. Now if we can figure out what Professor Moriarty (aka Fergie) is going to conjure up for the second half.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:01
our bench looks a bit thin…frankly ronaldo hasn’t been as bad as people are making it out to be..he isn’t position centric and is playing a more free role like last season which is why he has had more chances on goal….any news on the whereabouts of anderson and nani?
December 29th, 2008 at 22:02
does anyone have a working link?
December 29th, 2008 at 22:02
@Liam: he’s losed the ball ONCE liam, ONCE!
December 29th, 2008 at 22:03
if i were ronny i would want to leave this league also. the refs are shite and there will be no action taken after the ref watches it on vid bc its united.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:03
@RedDevilEddy: Thanks for that comedy bit mate. Arsenal are always fun to laugh at. And it puts me in a better mood while I wait for the second half to start in this predictable encounter.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:03
They just need to calm down and finish one of these chances. Sadly the points are really whats important here. Just get the fucking 1-0 and move on.
Oh, and what a hit by Rooney with that left foot volley.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:03
unless you mean passing it to a team mate is losing the ball. by your logic, the whole team has been absolute rubbish! you HAVE got a vendetta against berba and your vendetta is clouding your sight.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:04
Well this is a one shity game. I am not even gonna go after the Boro. Horrible team selction and it seems to me that the team doesn;t have a heart. What happened to our speed? I am starting to have a headache. We just can’r survive this. We can’t be winning 1:0 all the way and playing like this. I am starting to agree with people who clame we are missing Carlos Queoroz (soory if I misspelled). I always knew we do, but not to this extenct.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:04
Damn, Fuck me!!!
I hate it when I am right. Sorry lads, but we wont score more than maximum 1 goal here. And the way Boro have played, they might score one as well. PiggyTits(Grognard tm) should have conceded a penalty there. Fucking blind ref, cant see it when a guy is choking Ronny. Shit, fuck, damn, bullshit, shitbreak, im lost for words. 
This team, which is containing Oshea, Park and Fletch, truly and honestly suck horseshit. Im sorry about my pessimism, but I think the difference between Anderson and Fletcher is a goalfeast and a snore feast. And for those saying at least Fletchers scored a goal, I have one reply: When he scores this season, we only score 1. At least when Anderson plays we know we are gonna see goals. Just check out his stats this season! Some games Ando has played: Bolton(2-0), West Ham(2-0), Aalborg(2-2), Blackburn(2-0 and 5-3), Osaka(5-3). Fuck me, I dont care anymore! Andy may need a vacation, but at least dont replace him with Fletch. Not a single creative midfielder in there! Shit. I hope for better things in second half.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:04
@antsBoy: Ants boy, one thing I learn’t from our first half, GLAD I decided to come back home instead of going into the ground, AND there are players out there PROVING you can’t polish SHITE. We have looked as far away from champions as champions can be so far this season. Maybe strong words, but I have not seen UNited play SO POORLY, for so many games, almost the whole of the first half of the season, for a good few years now. I wouldn’t mind if Boro were good, but they are making us look like feckin chumps. Sick of it truly. Absolutely amazed at Fergie’s bench tonight. Once again HE decides to play Santa for a team in the lower half of the PL. Deserve all we get if we don’t win this one. And yes, I am mad. The first time in bloody years I turned away from Old Trafford after seeing an impotent team sheet.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:04
@Grognard: I think it’s more Rooney nearly always passes first and we need someone beside him to put it in. Look at that present he giftwrapped for Ronaldo only for Ronaldo to scuff it. Why isn’t Berba there as a second option as I seem to remember Fletcher getting into the box more than him
December 29th, 2008 at 22:05
@RedDevilEddy: I don’t think so mate.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:05
we need a ufc badass that comes in and collects a yellow or red in games vs bully minnows and just clatters the feck out of ppl like pogtass. ill volunteer
December 29th, 2008 at 22:06
@johnsom33: This one workd for me.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:06
Just calm down Ronnie and fucking play!!!! Show them why you’re the best in the world. Shut up the Boro fucks with goals, not talking and getting pissed off, and for fucks sake don’t retaliate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 29th, 2008 at 22:09
@edi: Or in front of a firing squad.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:11
@Liam: Extreme, I don’t think so Liam Bro. Perhaps you are watching a different game to me, if you think it wasn’t bad.
As for passing to Park
, you ever seen his attempts on goal then?.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:13
can someone clarify for me please
ive seen welbeck play in a few games in the reserve he plays kinda like henry as a winger cum striker, if so BRING HIM ON for park
December 29th, 2008 at 22:17
lolfletcher
December 29th, 2008 at 22:21
Get Scholes and Tevez on please
December 29th, 2008 at 22:23
Wait, I forgot Tevez isn’t even on the bench
December 29th, 2008 at 22:24
Be a hard job – Tevez aint even on the bench!
December 29th, 2008 at 22:24
great scholes is on, but why is neville coming on… is the game not slow enough
December 29th, 2008 at 22:25
no tevez even thou the stands were shouting Argentina Argentina probably scholes or wellbeck
December 29th, 2008 at 22:26
tevez aint around mate…..these subs dont fill me with confidenc at all…im sorry….
December 29th, 2008 at 22:26
December 29th, 2008 at 22:27
2126: Neville and Scholes on. Rafael and Darren Fletcher off.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:32
BERBATOV!!!!!!
December 29th, 2008 at 22:32
fuckin get in DIMI!!
December 29th, 2008 at 22:32
berba fucking tov!!
December 29th, 2008 at 22:32
fuck yea
December 29th, 2008 at 22:32
FINALLY why can’t he do that more often!
Yes
December 29th, 2008 at 22:33
BERRRBBAAAATOOOVVVVV thats why we pay £30m
December 29th, 2008 at 22:33
I hope Nani and Anderson handed in transfer request to Santa for christmas, because Fergie clearly doesnt value them.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:33
lesson to united attackers, you see what happens when a cross comes in and there is somebody in the box for once
December 29th, 2008 at 22:34
damn what a poke for dimi he had a tv sized hole to put it in and it was at waste level wow
December 29th, 2008 at 22:34
See what happens when you prowl inside the box Berba. GOAL FOR COUNT BERBATOV!!!!!!
December 29th, 2008 at 22:34
@johnsom33: apperently they are on holiday if not then i hope not i have such high hope for andy hes my favourite united player come to think of it, even without my brasilian bias
December 29th, 2008 at 22:35
park you stupid
December 29th, 2008 at 22:35
at 89 min oshey should put a off the ball chalange in on potagass that takes his head off
December 29th, 2008 at 22:36
I repeat myself, everytime Carrick gets forward we get a chance out of it.
Taxi for Park btw
that was some miss
December 29th, 2008 at 22:36
omg park….how could you……HOW!!!!!??????? Liam??
December 29th, 2008 at 22:36
@johnsom33: I don’t believe fergie will ever drop em both they both gotta be injured..
December 29th, 2008 at 22:36
that is the miss of the season wait i mean year no i mean decade
December 29th, 2008 at 22:37
these lucky fucks we need one more
December 29th, 2008 at 22:39
@Mr.Muhozi: I realize they are on holiday, but what does that say about their worth? I am sure Rafael and Fabio would like to go home and see their families, or what about Ronaldo? We all know Ronaldo is a mommas boy and he loves the sunshine. Why didnt Fergie let those guys go home? I am sure al players would like to go home, but it isnt a good sign for you when your coach allows you to go, because he is basically saying he doesnt need you anyway.
I could be reading too much into it, but Anderson has most certainly cooled off form not playing and that swagger he was starting to develop is also prolly gone.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:39
shit would nani make one of those
December 29th, 2008 at 22:39
Surely Park is only still at OT to sell shirts in Asia?. He would never get in any other top 4 team in PL. That is a certain fact.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:40
Park really deserves a goal today…dont know if he can put one in!!!
December 29th, 2008 at 22:41
@Shyam: Park deserves to be on holiday…
December 29th, 2008 at 22:42
@johnsom33: i suppose so mate, but tevez is also on holiday so it shows what those 3 a worth in total, i am not too sure, maybe it was for special reason i do not know what goes on behind the scenes but on the pitch i know those 3 are worth a helluva lot less than to fergie than what they really are especially anderson
December 29th, 2008 at 22:43
Somebody should give me a Uni degree for being able to diagnose what Fergie can’t – the total Feckin ineptitude of our NOT strike force
.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:43
I think I should also say that Neville right now is a mile better than Rafael. He’s back to the Neville of old
How many shots off target have we had today?! It’s unreal
December 29th, 2008 at 22:45
@Mr.Muhozi: I feel the best CM pair is Scholes and Carrick…they caught hold of this game by the throat…Anderson is yet to convince me that he is a first choice player!!
December 29th, 2008 at 22:47
park has good ball retention he isnt bolled over easily and work ethic decent pace but his pass and shooting are reserve team level
December 29th, 2008 at 22:48
Rooney for all his running, has made feck all contribution that matters in this game.
December 29th, 2008 at 22:48
keep him from a red or yellow i guess
December 29th, 2008 at 22:49
damn a low roller would have put it in
December 29th, 2008 at 22:50
Park is the most unlucky man in the world
December 29th, 2008 at 22:53
bullshit card fuck this ref
December 29th, 2008 at 22:54
@Craig Mc: Yeah he only had our best attempt of the 1st half and set up Ronaldo and Berbatov for good chances that they both fluffed
I’m sick of having to defend Rooney. He was better than both Ronaldo and Berbatov anyway
December 29th, 2008 at 22:59
1-nil to the arse… er I mean United. This is starting to get ridiculous, I know we have 2 games in hand, but the way we are struggling for goals doesnt give me a lot of confidence in these guys converting those 2 games into 6 point.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:02
@johnsom33: What the fuck is this about Tevez and Anderson being on Holidays? Are you kidding mate?
December 29th, 2008 at 23:02
berbatov is your daddy for the 2nd match this week
December 29th, 2008 at 23:02
@Liam: Of course Liam, that is why Berba scored with his chance, and Rooney didn’t with his HOW MANY CHANCES?. That goes for Ronnie too, God help us that we have to rely on either of them right now for goals.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:03
park is shit, drop him please. I dont care how much he works and runs around he is not good enough to get in any top 4 teams, villas team, evertons team or most top 10 teams. Fletcher also offers nothing, all he does is 2 yard passes why does he get in the team over anderson. Im really starting to loose faith in fergusons decisions now, if i see oshea, park and fletcher in the team anymore i really am gonna be pissed. I know that people say they are good back ups and they are that, but in the case of fletcher and park they play 85/90% of all our games so they are in effect 1st team players and they are and never will be good enough to ever be 1st team.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:03
Yeah Shyam Id agree with you. Against weaker teams Scholes and Carrick have the creativity and passing ability to unlock them. Problem is against stronger teams Scholes doesn’t have the legs to track back. I believe we need a new creative midfielder and I do not think it is Anderson who I see more as a box to box midfielder useful for the big games and when we have three in midfield.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:04
@Liam: You cannot be serious mate? I saw a smiley at the end of that so I assume you are joking because coming from you, that has to be the most absurd thing you have ever said…..If indeed you meant it.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:06
@johnsom33: Mmmmmm me either Johnsom Bro. Then apart from what 10 WHOLE minutes, the rest of the game was SHITE personified. I am pretty sure most United fans will go bald before the end of the season, with tearing their hair out
.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:09
At last it’s over. Good for Berba and all of us. Credit to Boro. They played a good game. We should have had more, but I guess this season, there we many games that we should have more. What’s going on with Andy, Nani and Tevez. why weren’t they even on the bench? Park has many qualities, but his finishing is abysmal. I just can’t understand how he could have missed it. The second half showed some glimpses of our great game, but it wasn’t reassuring. In the end I am happy with 3 points, but the play has much to desire. Today’s selection is puzzling at least, but SAF’s subs hit the nail. Great game from both Neville and Scholes. I hope we get more info about what’s going on in the squad.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:11
God Help Us!
but in fergie we trust
December 29th, 2008 at 23:12
@RedAllTheWay: i sure as hell dont!
December 29th, 2008 at 23:13
@Craig Mc: I thought Rooney was our best player (further proved by BBC’s player rating) till Scholes came on, and then the Ginger Prince stole the show…
Park had a pretty good game too and held on to the ball more than other players, but his finishing is just atrocious and that was seen again today..I thought Vidic had a great game too. This is our 4th 1-0 win in five league matches…and I thought we were a team who was supposed to score 4x more…
December 29th, 2008 at 23:13
@Liam: I agree. Rooney played well today and was constantly dangerous and creating chances. As for Berba, he really didn’t do that much but for the goal of course.
Oh well. Its a vital 3 points.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:15
@ROOOOONEY: Yes Bro – you got in in one – Berba effectively WON the last 2 games for us. He may not be all that to some people, but that delicate chip to Tev won the stoke game for us, and his goal today won this one. Apart from 10 minutes where we played like we had after all got the remnants of the football of last season, we didn’t do anything to impress that we are in fact the champions.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:17
@Mr.Muhozi: We were shite in the first half, but I don’t agree with Liam’s view of the half. Fletcher was poor, Berba was anonymous and no way was Park our best player then.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:18
@Grognard: Rafael didn’t get forward at all tonight and was getting done in by Tuncay and Downing consistently. When Neville came on he was getting down the wing and getting it into the box. He was good against Stoke as well. People were too hard on him at the start of the season. He was only coming back from a 1 year injury and needed time to get back to his best and playing at CB in the CC made him look worse than he is.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:25
@Craig Mc: I disagree. One instant shot on target which worked the keeper, was way more dangerous and involved in the first half than Berba was, had good interplay (1-2 i think) with Berba to set up a dangerous occasion for Ronaldo… and that’s justoff the top of my head.
Berba, on the other hand looked subdued before he scored his goal.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:30
@Liam: I have to agree here. Rafael looked poor in his man-marking and positioning. Neville on the other hand looked like the Gaz of old. But that’s just one match and we know that Neville has not been consistent defensively recently.
Brown is still my no.1 RB for now, Rafael perhaps more useful as an impact RB when we need impetus to score, and I wouldn’t play him in an important game say in Europe, where his defensie frailties would get exposed.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:35
Wippi, Berba scored!
Yeah we won, but Im still feeling wierd. I want us to win, but I want us to win in style. I havent enjoyed a United game since the one against Blackburn in the Carling Cup. And in the league, nothing since Stroke. What has happend to this team? And most importantly, what has happend to Fergie? How the fuck can he choose the lice Park to play instead of Nani. I know Nani is on holidays, but I havent seen him play since… I dont remember! Anderson, the best player we have at the moment. Fuck Ronaldo right now, even Park is closer to getting a goal than him. On a side note, how the fuck could he miss that fucking chance, it was fucks sake only fucking 1 yard away from the fucking goal. 
Tevez is brilliant, he has found his form. IM happy for him. And when he finds his form, again he is out of the team. Just like in October. And Nani. He would have done miracles for us today as Boro LB and RB were only standing and watching. Not a single cross from Park or Oshea, and I never see Ronaldo cross so Nani it is then. But no! Fergie decides to play Jolly Shit Park. Makes me want to to something horrible to someone. Dont take me all seriously when I talk about killing people and hurting them, its just my frustration. But jeez, I would like to hurt Park in some way or another. Sadly Id get arrested. Like Stevie Me!!! big grin!(cant use smiley). Honestly, what does this team miss? Do we lack defensive power? No, we have the best back 4 in the country. Do we need strikers that are of top class? No, we have three £30 million strikers up there. Do we lack creativity in midfield? Of cource! How did I not figure that out?! I mean, we have the brilliant through passers Fletcher and Park in our team. And side-pass king and backpass king. Do we have any creative midfielders that actually thinks about getting the team a goal when he gets the ball? Hmm, oh yeah! ANDERSON ABREU DE LUIS OLIVEIRA!!! How the fuck can we leave that lad out? He has created most of our chances lately. No, I didnt say goals, I said chances. If Rooney had only been as clinical as Ruud, Anderson would have had 15 plus assits right now! Deary me, when we face teams like Boro at home, when we need a big win and lots of goals, we dont play Fletcher. We dont play Scholes. We dont play Park either. We play Nani, Ronaldo and Anderson. He is our playmaker, he is our midfield engine, he is our Samba start(as Ronaldo has completely lost his footing) and he is our best midfielder. Yeah, maybe I have a bias for Anderson. But its not something that should say anything. I wnjoy watching quality. Is it too much to ask for that when you have quality you use it, instead of letting it waste because of Shit?! Im pissed!!! Im glad we won, but this team is reminding me more of the Chelski of 2005, 2006 more than Chelski themselves. I want to win, but like Grog here Id rather take 4-3 wins over 1-0 wins. My defensive mentality should protect me from these wishes, but if I am going to be honest I want more of this. I dont watch United because of their success. I didnt become a United fan because they won everything. Hell, not even Norwgian saint Solskjær made me support them. It was the class of this team, the free play, the joy I got from watching them play. Even in the 2005 season, when we truly sucked donkeydick, I enjoyed games more than I do now. What the fuck has happend to the beauty of Manchester United. What the fuck has happend to the will of scoring goals? And what the fuck has happend to Fergie. Let me make one thign clear: Id rather end second in the League by a goaldifference of 80 plus, rather than win the league with a goal difference of 40-. Because, I think the team that should win the league is the one that deserves it. Not the one that doesnt. And even though this really, really, really, really hurts to say, right now Liverpool are more worthy winners to the Premier League than us. Lampard is playing better than Ronaldo. Even Robin van Persie is playing better than Berbatov. And this comes from a true United fan. Excuse me for this, but I only want to state how I feel. I think Im gonna leave for a short time now. Maybe I wont see you for a few days. I need to sort myself out…
December 29th, 2008 at 23:36
After all this I am just so happy that we won. I mean it. There is a lot of staff going on in my life right now and most of it is not positive, but man I am so happy that we won. I know we played shit and I know that we have many problems, but still. I was going crazy when I was watching the game and changed several steams, but it was worth it.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:39
@Liam: Ha! I missed that comment of yours. Exactly what I meant about Rooney. The fact that he didn’t score doesn’t diminish the fact that he’s been dangerous tonight.
@Craig Mc: You have to realize that not all strikers can score with just the odd chances. 20legend was a master at this, but Cole would always get more chances in a match than Ole that was why Fergie preferred Cole. For me its always a matter of creating chances and getting involved in the attacking build up.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:42
Conclusion, United need to go for shooting practice and classes on confidence. I would say we were lucky our wastefullness didnt come back to haunt us. We really need to take our chances if we are going to score more than one goal. I dont know what happened with the flight back from Japan but Garry Neville seems to be looking like his old self though dont count on this run to continue for long since age is catching up and dont forget competition from Rafael,Brown and Danny Simpson(he isnt bad at Blackburn from the games Ive watched). Scholes is pure class and is simply irreplacable. he is the only one of the remaining goldies i wouldnt mind seeing on the pitch. He might be old but his vision is second to none. what a difference he made. As for Giggs, all i can say is that he made sure the player count for united remained at eleven. nothing of note but then again one would argue he didnt have much time on the pitch to do anything. Overall I think our performance has improved but i must emphasize that we need to take our chances. Next time we wont be so lucky. and another thing i noticed in the game was Fergie never really wanted to use the young lads. they were just there to fill up the capacity of the bench to seven. I would have had Wellbeck in for Ronaldo instead of Giggs. I could be wrong but that my opinion. feel free to air yours
Good night all and happy a happy start to 2009. I also want to take this opportunity to wish the Gaffer an early happy birthday
December 29th, 2008 at 23:43
@Nico QB: Nico mate – as I said, Berba won the Stoke and this game for us though
– to me that says it all. But anyway, I sold my ticket when I heard the team and bench, so I feel pretty good about not wasting my money on shite. Shite is what I felt tonights game was, apart from 10 mins where we decided to come ALIVE from the dead 
.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:47
@Nico QB: Dangerous is not what we need though Nico, we need somebody who can REGULARLY put the ball in the net, for most games of the season.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:48
@Drew Vader: We all agree here then.
@Grognard: Perhaps Liam went a bit over the top to hail the return of the Neville of olde, but I have to agree that Rafael looked poor defensively today, and Neville’s entrance made a difference as to the space Pogatits and Downing were offered on the side.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:49
can someone tell me if there was a reason for Anderson and Nani not being around tonight, coz Ill tell you this nor nothing, the more I see Park and Fletcher starting for United, the more Im beginning to think that our manager should start going to Specsavers.
Our play at the minuye is complete dross and the commentator on Setanta summed in up perfectly, pedestrian.
Im not picking on Park and Fletcher coz I dont like them, its because theyre so blatantly average players who play in key positions in the team, key positions that they wouldnt have the talent to hold down at any other top five team, and if theyre not good enough for them, theyre certainly not good enough for us.
Berbatov in a subtle kind of way, was one of our better players tonight, but I think his impact this season has been slightly hampered by too many of our best players being below par.
Maybe its just me, but at the half way mark of the season, there are reasons to cheerful and alarmed in equal measure.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:50
My impressions of the match are as follows;
1. United players on the ball never have their head up to take advantage of great overlapping runs by Rafael.
2. The style of play and dependency on Ronaldo finishing has convinced me that Fergie sold his soul to Ronaldo.
3. What is really the difference between this year and last? Ronaldo would have scored on half of his 4 full chances and rather than winning 1-0, we would have won 3-0 and all would be well with the world. Without Ronaldo at 100%, we lack the ability to score because frankly, we have nobody who is a consistent goal scorer.
4. Carrick frustrates me because of his slow feet and slow reactions but when he moves forward, he really makes a positive difference. So tell me then, why we don’t play a 4-4-2 diamond with him up front spraying balls around?
5. We are far too slow, patient, unimaginative and pedestrian. We show no urgency or courage in taking risks and we must lead the EPL in unnecessary back passes.
6. Boro came to play in the first 60 minutes and we still couldn’t find the back of the net. Even when teams don’t park the bus, we are inept at scoring goals.
7. Berbatov needs to spend more time finding space in the box. And then when he finally does that what happens? A goal. Enough said on that.
8. We are definitely the gang that can’t shoot straight. I counted 15 great goal scoring attempts not counting Berba’s goal. That’s 15 attempts where the minimum should have been 5 goals. Ronaldo and Park’s misses were incredible. Boro’s keeper hardly have to make any saves because all our great chances were wide or high.
9. Jon Champion claimed that there would be nothing wrong if Boro came and parked the bus if they could steal a point. It’s irresponsible and idiotic compliments from turds like that which keep the English game and this league buried in the Dark Ages. A land clearly devoid of any imagination or craving for excitement and adventure. Stuck in mud and depression and loving it.
10. Jon Champion did say one thing that was correct and that I laughed out loud at. When he called United “Dad’s Army” just as Giggs was going to come on. Truer words were never spoken and I personally felt embarassed by it as a United supporter.
11. Pogatetz is a fucking criminal and the league has no business allowing players goons like that on the pitch. His mugging of Ronaldo was as clear cut a penalty as there has been all season but yet again, the fucking referees in this league turn their backs on this kind of abuse. It’s a bloody disgrace and yet one more reason why I despise the EPL.
12. This club needs to go watch the SAS train at Brecon Beacons in Wales where they will learn the art of sniping, poise and composure under fire.
13. Ronaldo hasn’t made so many mental and physical mistakes since his rookie campaign. He needs to suck it up, forget about the pain and frustration and focus on the task at hand. His lack of focus and concentration is the reason for his misses and poor possessions. Simply put he has become a little gun shy because of all the abuse he receives.
14. Why was the tackle near the box on Rooney where it looked like he was hurt not punished with a card?
15. I cannot believe they gave Scholes a yellow card for a 50/50 ball in the box.
16. Sometimes I feel we are playing with ten men and a ghost by the name of Park. Invisible for 70 minutes and then missed three sure goals in the last 20 minutes by not even getting the shots on net. His miss two yards out has got to be one for the ages and even though they flagged it offside, it really wasn’t and does not take away from the fact that Park doesn’t have feet at the end of those stubby legs. From now on he is known as STUMPY.
17. Our corner kicks never ever have any pace or menace to them. They look like a Rorry Delap throw in but without the menace involved. And how pathetic are we when we rely on Rooney to take corners for us.
18. Last year we used to send in a lot of low crosses in to the box on the break. This year players stop and never finish off a break because they are either to stupid or instructed to.
19. Why in God’s name would you bring in Neville for Rafael in a 0-0 game? What is that old goat going to offer the team in order to break the goalless draw other than a slow footed mistake that hans the game to Boro?
20. Up until Berbatov scored, I was amazed over how we shut down in the second half. Then the goal woke us up but the shooting still left so much to be desired.
21. As things progress it appears that this club will really struggle to reach the 60 goal plateau this season. Considering we scored over 80 goals last year, that is a considerable drop off in offensive production.
22. Park is fucking incompitent but not as incompitent as Sir Alex I should fucking retire Ferguson.
23. I really miss Anderson’s energy and desire out there and I am convinced he would have cracked the defense a coule of times with deep penetrating through balls. And Nani would have been a much better option than Park or Giggs. Even with Nani’s faults, he would not have missed those two sitters tha Park missed. And he would have created more even if he was sleep walking.
24. Why do I bother. My frustration is so great I need to double the dosage of my blood pressure pill.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:52
@Nico QB: I thought Downing looked like shite today and I personally never saw a thing wrong with Rafael’s performance. Even when he gets caught up field a bit, I find that he has an incredible ability to recover in time and make a play. Neville is frakken useless and should be put out to pasture. As should the rest of Dad’s Army.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:53
phew, thank fuck for that!!!
Good three points, albeit a sub-par performance. This team is stuck in transition at the mo and we can’t seem to get our style right. Do we play like we did last year or do we play more central and direct like Fergie is trying to? If we are to play centrally and direct with a 4-4-2, then we need to play one of our midfielders as an attackin mid and free Berba/Rooney from midfield playmaking duties so they can roam in and around the penalty area. If Ronnie isn’t gonna have his free role, then Berba and Rooney have to be in the box to meet the crosses he is meant to be providing and score the goals he was scoring last year.
As it is now, we are playing an unbalanced 4-2-3-1 in which Berba is essentially an attacking mid with Rooney as the No9. The problem here is that we need pace and interchanging movement up top but Ronnie/the other winger are ordered to stay on the wings and Berba is too deep to effectively compliment Rooney in attack, added to the fact that he doesn’t even run a lot. Why can’t we just play an attacking midfielder for pete’s sake!! Every time Carrick goes forward, we get a goal or a decent goal-scoring chance, so why doesn’t Fergie make him do this more often during the game? Instead, we sit back with two defensive mids, play one of our strikers as an attacking mid, have our wingers stick to the wings with only Rooney in the box and play unnecessarily deep. It all stinks of Italian footy, Roma style.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:54
@Matthew: Prepare to be pissed off as you will continue to see those players start. In fairness to O’Shea, he did his job well today and he is covering for a suspended Evra. But Neville, Giggs and Park are just an annoyance beyond description. Scholes I can tolerate because of his keen footballing mind and smart distribution.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:54
@RedDevilEddy: Biased I don’t think it’s biased, more like a disillusional (no insult intended, just couldn’t find a better word). I don’t like bashing youngsters, but some realism should be inputted. Anderson is not even in the same level as Ronaldo or Carrick. Scholes is better then him for 45 min and even though he is more talented then Park or Fletcher, their experience makes them better players then him. I think that he is player with great potential and talent, he needs more games and that’s why I also think we should play him, so that we can develop him, but your post is over the board.
In regards your claim that you would rather sacrifice trophies then attacking/goalscoring football, then just see my previous post. I would rather have both too, but then again I would rather have much more…
December 29th, 2008 at 23:55
@dan(u-ol): I’ll second that opinion.
December 29th, 2008 at 23:57
@Fred The Red: Fred, Nani, Anderson and Tevez have been aloud to go home for a ? weeks holiday in lieu they missed Christmas with their families.
Your other points I agree with mate. I will still go see them saturday though, but I am not going to try and listen to what the team will be first, cos if it is same as today, I would rather save my hard earned dosh again.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:00
@Craig Mc: I agree mate, I can remember watching United when we were rubbish, and I can remember watching them when we were just OK, but I can never remember being as dissapointed with our performances as I am at this minute, to the extent were Im almost not looking forward to watching them play.
I feel angry at SAF at the way he has treated Young Nani and Anderson, yes they have things to improve on, but dont tell me that both players are less talented than Park and Fletcher, coz if thats what SAF thinks, then its time for him to plant turnips or grow beans or something.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:02
@Craig Mc: I quite agree about the impact of Berba on those last two games; I was ready to start questioning him until he scored and looked more involved.
But my point here was that you will never score goals unless you get chances – and that is especially true for a team thriving on an attacking mentality (though recently we didn’t really look the part). Rooney looked the player in Osaka, and I sincerely think that many U.K. residents don’t appreciate the real worth of Rooney, because he tends to score in spurts. I watch United matches both with French and English commentary, and what I can tell you is that the French commentators are much more knowlegeable technically speaking and always stress the importance of Rooney to our game, perhaps even more than Ronaldo, since Ronaldo is so preditable, unlike Rooney.
Its clear that you want Rooney to be a no.9 (goal machine), and I’m sorry to say that he’s a no.10 (creative forward).
December 30th, 2008 at 0:05
One key thing to point out about Fergie and his purchasing of players is that we have all grown accustomed to think that when Fergie hones in on a player and wants him badly enough, that hemust have a cunning plan on how to use him and how he would fit in to the side. With Berbatov that theory goes out the window. It also goes out the window when it comes to his usage of Anderson, Nani, Rooney, Tevez, and even Hargo. At least with Hargo, he was outstanding wherever you put him, but the others are struggling to find a role and style of play that truly suits them. Therefore I am convinced that Fergie is clueless in Seattle and the last thing we need is any player that attracts his attention. Like Benzema for example. From now on think only great players that he doesn’t like as being the proper fit for this team. Huntelaar and a hand full of Germans.
We used to say in Fergie we trust. I’m not sure I can continue to feel that way at this point in the Gaffer’s career.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:07
4. Carrick frustrates me because of his slow feet and slow reactions but when he moves forward, he really makes a positive difference. So tell me then, why we don’t play a 4-4-2 diamond with him up front spraying balls around?
Coz then we would have no width. And united don’t play well thru the guts
December 30th, 2008 at 0:08
@Grognard: More than once Vidic (and even Fletcher) had to come covering for Rafael who was nowhere near his flank he was supposed to guard. Do you recall a (somewhat) dangerous foray by the boro side when Nemenja had to come put the ball out in touch then screamed his head off to someone? I bet it was Rafael.
Trust me I was as excited about the boy as any United fan, but today he looked all over the place defensively, plus his tackles were not the cleanest ones.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:10
@RedDevilEddy: After reading what you just said mate I can’t help but miss an individual know to us as Ruud van Nistelrooy. What I would give for a bonafide goal scoring machine? I share your sentiments fully.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:11
Parks a good player, people need to get off his back. Apart from the miss he was uniteds best player after Rooney and Scholes.
Fletcher – I would rather Anderson for sure.
Nani is to irratic for me.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:12
@Grognard: Double your BP medication dosage Grog, AND prepare to go bald from tearing your hair out, with every other United fan WHO CARES about the drivel being dished up. Some of us really care.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:13
@Grognard: I agree with most of the points,except some. Neville had a good game and as many other people posted Rafael was giving too much space to Tuncay and Downing. After Neville came in, we hardly had anything dangerous from that wing. I understand that many people want to see youngsters, but when their game is not on the change should be made. Park is incompetent, but Nani is in a worse shape right now. Park had a really good game. Yes he missed chances, a very good chances, but at least some of them were saved (I think) or at least he got them.I agree that Nani should play more to get his form back, but you are bashing people who were selected by SAF and did good. If we add to this that fact that we came back from Japan as winners (which you were doubting) and won our 2 games (1:0 I know not good, but a win anyway), I think SAF had done a great job.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:14
You know what would be justice to this team and teach Ferguson the ultimate lesson? A the end of this campaign we finished tied for first but lose out on goal difference. It would be great if a tie breaker would be on which team scored the most goals. That would be justice and a lesson taught to El Duce Alexio Fergusoni.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:15
@SHANNON: scholes was on for like 5 mins?
December 30th, 2008 at 0:15
@antsBoy: Remember we went through the consecutive 1-0 wins last season too? Then went on a 4 goal scoring spree too. I’m hoping for a repeat. I’m probably alone in this, but right now due to the position we find ourselves being 2games behind and all that. I’m just happy for the three points, I don’t think the league will ever come down to GD. The only thing that still worries me is the ratio of chances created to goals scored, its gotta be terrible right now.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:15
@SHANNON: The MISS?, its not the miss though is it Shannon, it’s the MISS, after MISS, after MISS, After Miss, after Miss, Miss, Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss – WELL you get my point
.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:16
@Gabriel: Finally, some people are cluing in to the Grognard’s Italian conspiracy connection. Totally agree mate. It wreaks of Serie A.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:17
neville came on after the game was dead and buried. had he been on from the start, i dont even want to go into that scenario.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:17
@Nico QB: Berba is a great playmaker, who nine times out of ten picks the right pass, but we should be surrounding him with dynamic players with good pace and movement, instead he is playing with one or two average players everyweek, which heaps the pressure on Rooney and Ronaldo to provide the cutting edge, we should be carrying an attacking threat from all sides of the pitch, only by doing this will Rooney and Ronaldo improve, coz at the minute we are carrying a few passengers, and its really starting to show in our play.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:17
@Rd: Yeah, but Rd Bro, those consecutive 1-0’s last season were only like 5 weren’t they?
.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:20
@Craig Mc: Yeah and they’ve only been 3 so far, so it not as bad…ye
t@Grognard: Thankfully for all fans who would rather see United win than revel in the light of Fergie been taught a lesson, that’ll never happen, it’ll be decided on points as usual.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:21
@Rd: I am there with you friend. I already said I am very happy with the win
December 30th, 2008 at 0:22
@Nico QB: I have news for you mate, if you want him to be an attacking fullback, that is going to happen a bit. Watch Daniel Alves play and you will see him get caught upfield quite often. And even the great Maicon is caught upfield three or four times a game. As for Vidic, thats what CB’s are there to do, protect the back and allow fullbacks th freedom to move up. The bottom line is the game was 0-0 and we were playing a shite side. In games where we faced a little bit more formidable offensive side, Rafael doesn’t make as many adventurous jaunts upfield. The last thing this team needs to worry about is a few cracks in our defense. Not when we are lacking imagination and ideas for scoring goals and poor finishing. We need Rafael’s offensive forrays forward. And Neville staying back is just as dangerous because frankly, he is shite.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:23
@Grognard: Grog don’t say that mate, that would break my heart. To go a season and amass the same number of points as someone else, only to lose on Goal difference, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Also, Fergie cannot be blamed for all the sitters that our strikers are missing at the moment. He doesn’t send them out saying – “Okay lads, play for a 1-0 win or else.”
.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:24
@SHANNON: You please far too easily mate. And you are welcome to that opinion even if 99% of Mancunia thinks you are in serious need of an eye examination.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:25
@Orez: Tuncay looked more dangerous when Neville came in. And he hardly played long enough to even grant a rating yet alone say he played well.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:25
About this Nani and Ando frustration… anyone ever consider they are being given a rest considering we have a hectic January schedule in which they will play a big part? We have a match on the 4th, 7th, Chelski on the 11th, then matches on the 14th, 17th, 20th and 27th… in total, 7 crucial matches in January alone!! We have to rotate the squad!! If the reports are true that Fergie sent the lads for a holiday, than it’s a master stroke as it might give them a chance to recharge their cells and a bit of a morale boost in time for January.
Ronny needs to rest and he should with the next two cup games. Both games, I expect Nani and Ando to feature in heavily and maybe reproduce the carling cup Blackburn performance. It’s all fine and dandy saying, that person should have played, this person should have not but we have to try and prevent burnout.
Also, it might seem that Fletch and Park shouldn’t be playing ahead of Ando and Nani, but they played their way into the first team with their previous performances and are being given the run they earned/deserve, if not for that, then at least for being loyal and patient servants. If Ando and Nani want to successfully overtake them, then they have to show in both their play and attitude that they want it more. Fergie is a great admire of attitude, hunger, determination and game appreciation, hence Rafael. There’s no doubt that Fergie is looking for that something extra from them before he guarantees them a starting spot and they should use those opportunities, even them being cup games, to show that they want to and can cut it in the first team.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:27
@Rd: Surely you have made an error in your mathematics there haven’t you Bro
.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:28
@dan(u-ol): Neville came on after 62 minutes, seven minutes before the goal was scored…….
December 30th, 2008 at 0:29
@Orez: Park always plays well up until the moment comes when he has to display skill, then he makes a meal of everything. That for me does not equate to a Manchester United quality footballer. He’s absolutely, completely, emphatically and utterly useless to the max and nothing you or the other three Park fans outside of Korea can do to change my mind. One of Fergie’s all time worst signings. I rate Djemba Djemba a better signing.
OK OK, maybe that was a bit over the top, but you get my drift.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:29
@Grognard: Im telling you mate, if SAF persists with some of the old guard while at the same time playing some of our more average players, then the truth is, we are not far off being a mediocre top side, if you know what I mean.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:32
@Rd: That was the first five games of last year. Understandable especially when you think we were missing Rooney too as well as Ronaldo for a few games. But now we are 18 games into the season and yet to see two games in a row like the ones Liverpool played this week without Torres and Rafa. I ask you, does this sound normal to you?
December 30th, 2008 at 0:32
@Fred The Red: Yeah, and quite a few of those passengers are getting a FREE ride Fred –
.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:32
@Craig Mc: Five 1-0 wins in the league so far this season, same number as the corresponding point last season,
December 30th, 2008 at 0:33
@Craig Mc: Sorry Craig but I MISSed your point.
Did I MISS something?
December 30th, 2008 at 0:33
@Gabriel: Fergie used to be a great admirer of talent, something you need if you are a United player.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:36
@Fred The Red: Absafuckingloutly. Well said mate. The stars on this team are being saddled with having to play with older or mediocre player and a far too restraining and defensive minded system. Nothing worse than holding a thoroughbred back and not loosening the reigns.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:37
Scholes was on for 5 minutes and did more then fletcher did for his whole game. Scholes’ passing was sublime
@ Grog – Hey we won and we are still lethargic from Japan…
People should back of Ferguson… We won the double last year remember… We are Champs of the world and we are a point off the dippers assuming we win our games in hand
December 30th, 2008 at 0:37
@JB: Thankyou Jb, knew I could rely on you Bro to get your maths right?. Thing is though Jb, we didn’t seem to be putting on the same kind of dismal performances in those 1-0’s last season. So that is why I am more than a little depressed with all the GAPING misses by our supposed top strikers this season. I never sold my ticket before Jb, but I just feel sickened because our poor, poor form has seemed to go on so long
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December 30th, 2008 at 0:39
@Craig Mc: What kind of training is this team doing to eliminate this problem. Are they taking the effort to deal with shooting and positioning for goals? Also, like Klinsmann, I am a proponent of sports psychologists who can help build player’s confidence and self esteem up and also help them deal with pressure and lacking poise in stressful moments. Perhaps the team needs some of this to break this slump.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:40
@Grognard: Grog, MISSED my point????. Get back onto my wave length will you Bro?. What you switched onto – Radio GaGa?
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December 30th, 2008 at 0:42
Craig Mc says:
December 30th, 2008 at 0:15
@SHANNON: The MISS?, its not the miss though is it Shannon, it’s the MISS, after MISS, after MISS, After Miss, after Miss, Miss, Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss – WELL you get my point .
Fair enough – but Park was never purchased as a goal scorer was he…
Berbatov… Rooney… Ronaldo… Tevez… These a the boys we need to be looking at in terms of goals… Carrick for me should be scoring more.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:42
@Fred The Red: I’ve been howling that song for a while mate. I know what you mean. I think he went to the well once too many times with the “Over The Hill Gang” and has shown too much trust in the
“Jobbers Brigade”.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:44
@SHANNON: Mate we have been lethargic for the entire season, or haven’t you noticed. I actually think we have looked better since returning from Japan than the way we played before the jet lag.
And still we couldn’t hit the side of a big barn from two feet, as Park so skillfully demonstrated today.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:45
gotta say some of the players in this team are embarrassing they are so average, i mean some of our players wouldnt even get into most of the top 10 teams first 11. Giggs is way past it now and although hes a legend he must retire now. Neville im not sure about, maybe 1 more chance to impress b4 brown returns but at the minute the jury is out, park is just a useless player who wouldnt get in newcastles team let alone ours, fletcher i just dont know why everyone defends him. All he does is 2 yard passes back to vidic or ferdinand, he cannot play a pass more than 10 yards. He hustles a bit but would he get in the other top teams squads. Say chelseas or liverpools- no. Finally kuzczak, he is just crap and again fergie seems to prefer him to foster for some reason. Looing at that analysis there are at least 5 players that need to go now that fergie seems to love. There is talk of giggs and nev getting 2 year extension (fergie even praised nev after a shocking game against blackburn), park plays every game as does fletcher, and every time vds doesnt play it is always kuz who replaces him. Little things like this really are pissing me off and making me loose faith with the manager and i hate that feeling. I just feel the fergie of 10 even 5 years ago wouldnt have tolerated these players but he does now.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:47
@Craig Mc: Sorry mate I MISS the Radio Gaga thing. In fact, I MISS watching good football too. I think I will listen to the song MISSing You now and think of Eric Cantona.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:47
@Grognard: Yeah Grog, Ronnie could certainly do with a sports psychologist. What he has to put up with, and it was blatently shown tonight by Pogotetz, and no action taken. I mean the ref was right there, and it was physical assault. He is getting this treatment everywhere, and NO LOVE or support from the United faithful. He is hurting, and yes he is beginning to dish it back now. When he does dish it back, then the PAPS are all over him, and suddenly the thug perpertrators become the saints. Ronaldo used to take all the flak thrown at him last season, but then he had the LOUD support of United fans home and away. It would truly be better for him to move on to somewhere he will be ENCOURAGED and loved again. I am ashamed of some of the United fans attitude towards him. We would have won feck all but for him last season. Shame on the United fans who are letting him down.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:48
@Fred The Red: Like I said in my post, it is all good saying this person should have played and that person shouldn’t have, but with our fixture list, would they be able to play every game? As it is now, Fergie is giving everyone in the squad a chance at playing in the 1st team to keep them hungry and fresh. This is the reason for having a big squad, so as to be able to rotate players. It’s all about spreading the games out. I would have preferred Ando and Nani in some games this year but we still have a whole bunch of matches for them to play. Nani and Ando might be more talented than Park and Fletch, but the latter have been at the club for longer and their performances early this season did justify their spot on the team. It’s up to Nani and Ando to play their way past them in the next few matches they get, just like Fletch and Park did when they used to get the sporadic appearances.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:50
@Matthew: Problem is though Matthew, on tonights and previous match showings, have we really got the talent to replace them. I think NOT.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:51
Craig – Shame on United fans for letting him down?
Do you remember his behaviour in the off season.. Fuck off shamed…
His a gun a player but he ruined Champs league celebrations for most..
December 30th, 2008 at 0:52
@Grognard: Well, you’re right in everything you say here Grog, and I wouldn’t want to challenge your argument since I agree with most of it.
But you should recognize that today Rafael had not had the best of games defensively and most of the boro threats came from their left side, the side Rafael was supposed to defend. As you said its alright if its boro, but I also think that it gives us food for thought, as in would you consider starting Rafael against, say, Barcelona, who have got Iniesta, Bojan, Messi, or Henry on the wings; in this case our CBs will not be able to cover for our Full-backs when they’ve got Eto’o and another forward to man-mark.
My point here is that while me too I would have started with Rafael against minnows, and really doubt the capacity of Neville to play to his standards of 5 years ago, tonight’s performance was really insightful in the sense that Neville more than held his own while Rafael disapointed defensively speaking.
@Grognard: Oh, just read this new comment of yours and I have to say that it was not the case. You’re in the minority here tonight, most of us recognise that Neville was not bad and Rafael was average.
It says loads that O’shea was a better fullback than Rafael tonight.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:52
@Craig Mc: I don’t know, having a quick look at those games where we got the 1-0 results last season. From recollection we seemed to struggle to create any chances at all in those games (I think two of them were without Rooney and Ronaldo). This season in general we seem to be playing better football in the 1-0’s but we aren’t converting gluts of half chances.
Alot has been made about the teams various faults such as SAF, no CQ, the old guard, poor finishing by Roovez etc. But truth be told, I think a lot of the faults and problems were there last season. They were however papered over by an imperious defence and Ronaldo. The defence started the season off shakily and we dropped points because of it (i.e. Stamford Bridge, Anfield), however they have now seemed to have got their act together. IMO if we can get Ronaldo going we can still have a very successful season.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:54
@Grognard: Grog, what most of our players need in front of goal is composure, but how do you teach that?. They either have it or they don’t, and ours don’t
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December 30th, 2008 at 0:56
@Grognard: The scary thing is mate, hes talking about giving them another season long contract for next year, I dont think I can stick much more of this play and the most frustrating thing is this, we are giving Liverpool a massive helping hand in the year that we can finally draw level with them in titles won, just put the most offensive side out against most teams and we will be fine, the only teams we should be wary of going all out against are Chelsea and Arsenal on a good day, the rest I would trust us too have too much for, and that includes Liverpool, thats the way we used to play.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:58
@Nico QB: I thought Neville was pretty handy when he came on tonight (as he was against Stoke) and seemed to secure the right side better than Da Silva had.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:58
@SHANNON: No but he was purchased to create opening and goal opportunities for others and he fails at that even more than in his own goal attempts. Honestly mate, what do you find in Stumpy that makes you defend him? He’s so terrible I wish we could somehow inflict him on to Liverpool or Chelsea. Let them live with that walking disasteer. Good ole Stumpy.
December 30th, 2008 at 0:58
Ive got nothing against playing Neville as he seems to overcome his early season slips and is looking solid. Good as Rafael is he does have an annoying tendency of giving away free kicks with rash tackles and that can be costly. Rafael is also very young and he is getting plenty enough playing time for his development.
Similarly with Scholes….he is still able to make a difference and help us control a game.
Giggs is past it. He is too slow to play on the wing and is just an older ,less skillful version of Scholes now who gives the ball away too much.
Fletcher and Carrick was always going to be too defensive a line up. Fletcher should be relegated back to last season’s role which was providing a bit more in midfield in a big 4 game. We need a creative attacking midfielder to break open these teams that defend with ten men behind the ball and allow Berbatov to push forward and get in the box where he can score!
I’m not sold on Anderson as a creative midfielder. For me his value is still his energy, his hustling, and that is of most value in the big games. He does not have the creativity to consistently unlock defences.
Ronaldo is unbalancing our team. I get the feeling Park plays because Fergie has lost his nerve and does not want to play 4-2-4 which is what it would be if we had Nani and Ronaldo on the wings. Maybe once Ronaldo is sold and we get a more conventional winger we’d be able to revert to a balanced 4-4-2 with one attacking central midfielder and one defensive central midfielder and Rooney and Berbatov banging them in
December 30th, 2008 at 1:00
@Matthew: I will defend Fletcher as I feel he has greatly improved this past year. He is more offensive minded and more ambitious than you give him credit for. With that said however, he should not be starting for United or any of the Big Four.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:04
@Craig Mc: I have one major disagreement with you Bro. Why is it you want all the players you love and who are being misused and mistreated to move elsewhere. Truthfully, I’d like the manager and coaches who have caused this problem as well as the referees to move elsewhere before the players. I think Nani’s biggest fault has been Ferguson. I watch how a mediocre play like Benayoun and even Dirk Fucking Kuyt gave improved because Rafa the Rotator stuck with them and gave them six or seven starts in a row. And it starts to payoff in positive dividends. Ferguson is the stone that is digging in our boots right now.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:06
@SHANNON: And he apologized and admitted he had been wrong. Get over it and the rest of the disloyal fans should do so too. You call him disloyal yet what about those who continually boo him right now. Last I heard, he was Manchester United player. To me that speaks of incredible hypocrisy and stupidity.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:07
@Grognard: The grass is always greener…. if you take a look at some Liverpool forums you will likely find similar arguments taking place about Ryan Babel’s progress.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:10
@Gabriel: I know what your saying mate, but in all honesty when Fletcher first burst onto the scene he was crap, but fergie continued to play him, he hasnt extended the same treatment on Nani and Anderson, despite both showing what they can do at different times since they arrived.
Fletcher has been given numerous extended runs in the team and quite frankly, he has always been somewhere between rubbish and functional and this to me smacks of favouritism, and the same goes for Park.
If Ando and Nani had been given the runs that Fletcher has, then I think both would have gone a long way in proving themselves to be more worthy than Fletcher and Park of a starting berth.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:10
@Nico QB: I’ll admit Rafael didn’t have a great night but it has more to do with what is being asked of him. I still think he has a remarkable ability to recover when caught out of position. As for Neville, I saw nothing in his game tonight to float my boat but also, I admit to a bias against him because I fully believe he far past his best and he is holding the team back with his presence as well as selfishly holding on to his captaincy. Even Beckham knew when to give up the captaincy of England willingly. He just rubs me the wrong way and to be completely honest, I have never been a strong fan of his play. Not even in his early years.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:11
Craig Mc, well if we dont have the talent already at the club to replace those players then we should have a mini clear out ala barca this summer and bring in replacements with the cash. If that means kicking out a few players who have underachieved then fine lets do that. The thing is most of the players i mentioned were back up players anyway so maybe a couple of youngsters can replace them, the likes of possebon and fabio could be looking for games sson. If any1 is needed to be bought then we may have to get the check book out but as we have seen with barca this year the squad look revitalised and reasy to win things. We just look the exact opposite of last year and dare i say it liverpool look more like us last year, up and ready for it so we need to do anything to get back to that and if that means a mini clear out then so be it.
Grognard, ok maybe i over react with fletcher but i cant stand seeing him playing every game like he is. He must have played in about 80% of our league matches this season as a starter and that is pathetic. He does seem a permanent member of the team at the minute and i cant help but think what does he offer us. Maybe he is more use against tougher opponents where he needs to run around alot like against man shitty when he was good yes, but at home to boro and other defensive teams is redicilous.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:13
@JB: That is a very accurate statement JB. I truly was in panic mode five games into last season due to the poor offensive output but more to the fact we weren’t creating chances. Our play is not as fast or as artistic as the whole of last season but it is better than the start of the previous campaign. It’s our finishing right now that really has all of us perplexed but at the same time, we are not seeing the style and flow of play that so enthused us last year. But you are correct on that point about last season’s start.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:16
@Craig Mc: You start with a psychologist and you end with constant practice and repetition under fire. You create mini games where there are rewards and punishments for success or failure and you just repeat them over and over and over until the players improve. My years of coaching basketball and US style football and golf have taught me that half the problem is in the mind and the other is simply being lazy at practice and not working on fundamentals like concentrating and mechanics when striking a ball under pressure. Repetition is the key. The great goal score Gerd Mueller once said he could envision a goal seconds before he got the ball. He saw it in his minds eye.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:20
@Fred The Red: That’s why I am sing blasphemous tunes like Sack the old fart before he brings down the whole house of cards upon his retirement. I mean really, is Dad’s Army a plan to sabotage the team before he retires and leave it in shambles while he Scholes, Giggs, Neville and EVDS go off into the sunset with their fishing rods?
December 30th, 2008 at 1:23
@JB: That’s a fair comment and an accurate one. I for one have never understood why Babel isn’t preferred to Kuyt but Rafa like Fergie likes workaholics who offer little skill (Park) over player like Nani and Babel who have tons of it but don’t always track back as well. Again I emphasize my Italian connection.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:24
@Matthew: On that we agree. He should not be starting over Anderson for example.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:25
@Matthew: It would be good to have a mini clearout of sorts and bring in fresh players, but I have a feeling that will be done next year, when Giggsy and Scholesy have both said they are ready to hang up their boots. To me it is glaringly obvious that we need a really good playmaker, because we are just not opening up defenses with our MF players as much as I would like. But I also still feel we do not have a very good defensive midfielder who can BOSS the show. Others feel differently though
.
I agree with you about Fletch, he does have a very few really excellent games in a season, but they are as I say FEW. He is not able to thread a ball through the eye of a needle to put our forwards thru one on one with the GK’s, which all top attacking MF’s can do with ease. So I would not truly miss him if he was sold, if I am being very honest.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:26
Okey, Im taking a rest from this site a couple of days. Maybe a comment on new years eve to grant us all a happy new year, but I need some time to think. If I dont comment, I am not dead. Im just away because of personal reasons. Last thing Im gonna say, a question for Grognard. Did you know this:
“Grognard is French for “grumbler”.[1] It is not necessarily pejorative and is sometimes used as a compliment. Historically it meant a soldier in Napoleon’s army, particularly a member of the Old Guard.[2] It subsequently became an internet pop culture meme.
According to Alan Emrich, “grognard” came to mean a veteran wargamer in the early 1970s.[3] It was first used by John Young, at that time an employee of SPI, and subsequently popularised by Strategy & Tactics magazine.
From wargaming, the term moved to role-playing games where it was used to mean someone who preferred older-than-current editions of a game (for example, a person who stayed with first edition Dungeons & Dragons even after the second or third editions were released).
Nowadays, in colloquial usage, particularly on the internet, it refers to someone who has been involved in a hobby or pastime for a long period, particularly those involved in earlier phases of a now-popular hobby. It is still most often used with reference to wargames or role-playing games.Ӭ
Found it on Wikipedia. Cheers, and have a happy time. Good night.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:28
@Grognard: Your Gerd Muller statement only applies to the special players, having the mental picture seconds before it happens is what separates merely good players from the great players and it does not only apply to goalscorers, all great players of any position have this, and it cant be coached, its something your born with.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:29
@Grognard: Well Grog, for Mr Gerd Mueller, that was a good way to see. Proper successful visionary thinking
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December 30th, 2008 at 1:30
@Fred The Red: Mate, Fletch and Park have only recently been given a decent run in the team. Fletch esp has never played this frequently for the 1st team. These players, for a number of years with us they have showed continued patience stuck in the fringes and whenever called upon, they put in above average shifts. Coupled with their early season performances, surely they deserve a run in the side. Also with Nani and Ando only being here for a year, they would not warrant the same amount of consideration, especially when the two sets of players form are similar.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:31
@Craig Mc: Sell Fletcher, you having a laugh mate, SAF will probably make him captain when Gary Neville retires.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:34
@Fred The Red: Fred, how much do I love this post of yours. So very true, and I fail to see Gabriel’s main point about them being given holidays to rest them for upcoming games. How do they need a rest, Fergie hasn’t played them enough for them to be remotely tired. Also I cannot see them getting much of a chance even after their holidays.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:35
@Fred The Red: Are you in favour of that then Fred
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December 30th, 2008 at 1:37
Craig mc, i agree sometimes im scratching my head wondering what else we need and im thinking we need an attacking midfielder. Then however im thinking of games when our midfield is over run and im thinking we need a defensive midfielder too but i doubt we can get both as we would be way too congested. I do think that maybe we should give anderson and possebon a try and maybe in the future that could be the pairing. Possebon is a similar player to carrick but i also feel he plays more defensive and puts in more tackles from what i have seen of him. Now i know that is not much and mostly reserve games but that talent is there for all to see, its just time he needs and i think he could make it. I dont know how fergie feels though. I would probs give hargo 1 more chnace to see if his injury hell ever ends, faling that a new DF may be needed. I always liked diarra of madrid ( the former lyon 1 not the portsmouth 1) so if we ever negotitated over ronaldo i would like to see him coming our way. As for creative midfield players i always loved riquelme but he is getting on in years now, so maybe diego of werder bremen who i have always liked. Theres not too much players like that out there these days but i do think anderson will improve alot when he gets his 1st goal.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:42
@Grognard: Grog, because I really feel for Ronnie particularly, he is hated countrywide, and vilified country wide, and NOT encouraged and supported by United fans anymore. I can tell you from standing on the terraces a good few of the so called FAITHFUL, want Ronni gone, and speak about him as badly as the away supporters. I have many a feckin barney with United fans Ronnie haters about it. The lad is having his head done in, that is why he needs his move away, before he goes insane.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:46
@Matthew: There was nothing wrong with Anderson or Nani in their first season Matthew, so you tell me why suddenly they have regressed instead of come on at United. They are losing everything good they brought with them
.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:49
@Gabriel: I disagree mate, during our three year title drought Fletcher played plenty of games, and was woefully average in everything he done, ask any supporter who watched him and they will tell you the same, and quite frankly, although his performances have improved, they are not up to Uniteds standard.
Charlton, Crerand, Wilkins, Whiteside, Robson, ince, Keane, Scholes, our engine room for the last fourty years along with some able partners along the way, Fletcher is not the answer to carry on that particular dynasty, so he should be treated as such, and thats not a criticism of him, its just a fact.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:51
@Gabriel: having said that, this rotation policy might just be brilliant. As it is now, Ando and Nani can try and play their way into a regular 1st team spot thru the games they get, hence producing better performances from them while Park and Fletch can either step their game up while in the 1st team or eventually play their way out but with hungry and improved Ando and Nani ready to replace them. Currently, Fletch seems to be playing his way out and if Ando takes his place, it would only spur fletcher to improve his overall game like he did earlier this season. If anything, this makes the whole squad hungrier and more determined to improve as no one’s place is certain.
It is all assumptive, as this might not be what is happening. However, like I said, we have a gargantuan amount of games, esp early nxt year and without doubt, the Ando’s and Nani’s would get their chance to stake a claim for a regular 1st team spot.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:56
@SHANNON: Yes, I do remember. I also remember he apologised – several times. He is still at UNited because of Fergie’s bullheadedness – end of. United fans should remember we would have won NOTHING without his stirling effort last season. He bled all over the pitch for us in almost every game, and then while carrying a nasty injury. I’d ask you to cut him some slack, but then with the attitude of your post, I would be wasting my time, you are just like the rest of the United Ronaldo un-appreciators
.
December 30th, 2008 at 2:00
@JB: Jb – I hope your right mate
. I would love to see Ronnie back on form, and the rest of the team in full power mode of last season also. We can dream, and hope, but it has gone on now almost half a season Bro.
December 30th, 2008 at 2:04
@Fred The Red: No one is saying Fletch is of the same pedigree as those greats, but on this season’s early performances and on the back of last season’s, fletch has played above averagely! In the beginning of this season, when it was him and Ando in our midfield, who was the better performer? Fletch. This is why I say he deserves a run and the chance to play himself out of contention with Ando or whoever taking his place. Same goes for Park. He might not be better than Nani, but his performances end of last season and early this season warrant a run in the side. Again, he can either improve or play himself out of contention, simple.
These are players who have been loyal servants to our club for some time now and a rise in form should at least be rewarded with a chance to display that form.
December 30th, 2008 at 2:04
@Fred The Red: Wow Fred, we did have a great engine room with those players you mentioned – for sure.
December 30th, 2008 at 2:07
Gotta go to bed folks – talk again tomoz
– night all.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:28
@RedDevilEddy: My nickname has been Grognard for years and years because I am a huge fan of military history, especially Napoleonics and I used to be an avid wargamer until the class and body odor of my fellow wargamers began to decline about a decade ago. Other than football my biggest hobby is military history and I as well as my recently departed friend George probably had combined the largest military movie collection on the planet. In inherited many of his films when he passed on but not all of them because I frankly never had the space. And I received my nickname because I always played the French in Napoleonic games and because I was a miserable grumpy opponent to those who hated to lose to my strategy and tactics. Many of you think I am a grumpy and miserable old bastard on this blog. At least you can say I am consistent.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:31
@Fred The Red: I don’t disagree with that. But it is nice when you have a player who plays that way and who does have that gift no matter what the position. Cantona certainly had it and van Nistelrooy certainly had it as a poacher. Who among our team has it now? Only Ronaldo and at present, his is out of order or it needs fresh batteries.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:35
@Craig Mc: I feel for him but unfortunately his selfishness and immaturity created all this and he has made his own bed, now he has to live with the consequences and lye in it. Hell with him the national hatred started with his first toe over move and got further enhanced with the winking/Rooney incident in the World Cup. He just has not learned how not to piss people off because it is in his cultural DNA to act like a petulant woman who needs to be put over ones knees and given a good hard spanking.. I love him but he does frustrate one so.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:43
I can’t understand why people here slate Neville and Scholes. The team played much better when they were in. I have said it before: Rafael is a great prospect but he is currently a defensive liability and even an aged Scholes is much better than a young Fletcher. Our problem yesterday was that neither Berbatov (pace his goal) nor Ronaldo are playing near their potential and that leaves Rooney as the only in form forward. As for Park, I think he played quite well but he cannot score in a brothel.
December 30th, 2008 at 12:28
i dont think anyone is slating scholes
December 30th, 2008 at 12:30
frankie, i dont think most people on here are slating scholes but i do think that definitely giggs and neville should retire b4 they tarnish their image. They are both legends yes and gotta say i love the guys for what they have done for us but in this business there is no room for being sentimental. It would be nice for these legends to keep playing until they are 40 but we know that they cannot do that and once their performances have started dropping to low levels so that they look shadows of their former selves you know it is time for them to go however painful and difficult that sounds.Look at arsenal for instance, they had the legends like vieira, pires, henry but saw tht these players were getting on in years and couldnt produce the form enough so they got rid of them. Vieira was a shadow of himself in his final season so they gave a young 17 year old called fabregas his chance and he has impressed ever since. If that was at our club that old player would still be playing despite poor performances just becos of his legendary status and this would hold back the development of a possible young world star. We have some extremely young talented stars that just need a couple of games. Neville has been shocking this year and for me rafael and brown are ahead of him so unless he likes being 3rd choice i feel he should retire. Possebon looks a great talent but he has hardly played even though in the games i have seen of giggs in CM he has been asful and if his name wasnt giggs he wouldnt be picked simple as. We also have wellbeck, fabio and campbell but we dont seem to play our youngsters even if the senior players arent deserving of a starting spot because of poor form. My point is i feel scholes still has something to offer us but i gotta say that although i love the guys, giggs and nev need to retire and let the talented under studies have their chance. I mean yesterday it was imbarrassing seeing us bring on all 3 oldies to try to change our match. Surely a young kid like possebon or wellbeck could have got a run out, but simply because of their names and their legendary status they were picked. Scholes was good yesterday and thats credit too him, he is still a good player. But neville and giggs arent needed any more and i just feel that any criticsm aimed at them is usually correct because some of their performances have been shocking but they get picked simply because of what they have achieved in the past. Its not their fault but we have to keep winning things and when players arent performing and are underperforming on a consistant basis maybe it is best that they leave and that is the point i and many others are trying to make about them.
December 30th, 2008 at 13:31
Steve Gerrard Gerrard
What ever will be will be
Detained by her majesty
Steve Gerrard Gerrard
December 30th, 2008 at 13:41
just for people whu are slating berba for being Lazy and not getting enough goals and ronaldo for flopping. berba has go 7 assists, the second most in the EPL and he has played one of the least games. ROnaldo has 8 goals, and is number 4. he has also been injured and is not even on form yet!
i cant wait till we are firing from all cyclinders.
December 30th, 2008 at 13:46
ronnie got 8 goals from 14 matches, not bad!
December 30th, 2008 at 14:05
@Matthew: Okay. First of all let me tell you that i am not a fan of G.Neville or his loyalty. But looking at the way he played against Stoke and his cameo performance yesterday against Boro, i dont think he deserves that kind of a comment from a football analyst like me…
Against Stoke, he provided the aerial support required and also put in some good crosses and made some overlapping runs..If you havent noticed, yesterday all Boro’s long kicks and goal kicks where aimed at their left hand midfield where Tuncay was playing against Rafael because they found him as the weak link in our defense..most of the time he was caught upfield …This is nothing bad, it is the learning curve for the kid…
G.Neville came on and provided the defensive solidity and also made some good runs most of them overlapping runs (which Rafael i feel has not done) which created couple of good scoring chances..He did what was expected from him..His performance dint warrant a sudden call for his retirement..
Well, cant say the same with Giggs..
December 30th, 2008 at 14:07
If us playing well below par leads to us being third in the league with the possibility of being 1 point behind the leaders, who are having their best season for 20 years then things aren’t too bad.
I think the biggest blow to our season and the cause of some of our current problems has been the loss of Hargreaves. All the talk pre season from Fergie was how hargo was over his knee problems once and for all and this would be his year, and I don’t think we had a serious back up plan to the Hargreaves/Carrick axis. If Hargreaves was fit then Giggs wouldn’t have got a game this season in CM, and Scholes would be the impact player that his years call for rather than a starter. Fletch is only getting as many games as he is because he is doing the Hargreaves job of providing grit in the Center, and Anderson would have got his games and been allowed to attack more with Hargreaves covering.
I also think this is one of the reasons we aren’t as marauding as last season, because Carrick is having to play a more measured game because of his defensive duties rather than having the time and space to ping a 40 yard lob onto an on running Rooney’s laces.
That or we’re just playing badly
December 30th, 2008 at 14:11
@RedAllTheWay: I am a fan of Berbatov’s touches and passes. In fact i am trying to play much like him on the field nowadays…But one thing is still missing from his game…aggression. No 50-50 headers, he is not trying to get to the box when rooney makes those runs towards the wings..Ronaldo and Park has made better runs than him into the box..
For once i think Fergie is playing Berba behind rooney because of his runs off the ball or lack of it rather..
He certainly can play with the aggressive frame of mind because we saw him do that against tottenham probably charged by the taunting of his former teammates..
December 30th, 2008 at 14:22
Just thinking of the game again and Berbatov’s main problem has become clear. He gets it between midfield and the box, and then makes a 5 yard through ball to the wings. Then he sees that as his job being done, he never calls for it back and I know if Rooney or Ronaldo passed the ball out wide they would either follow it to help the wide players or be breaking their backs to get into the box. Berbatov makes his pass and then just stands there. He might start jogging slowly or walking towards goal but without any purpose. I honestly can’t think of any other player we could have gotten for 30m who would be this bad. Why didn’t we just sign Eto’o when he was available? our attack wouldn’t have skipped a beat with him in it.
Also Craig, Ronaldo is a grown man. We shouldn’t have to worry about hurting his feelings. I know if I had a girl who i’d been making think I was in love with her for 5 years but as soon as I’d gotten everything I wanted out of her and just dumped her for some continental girl who’s mother really liked me but my father persuaded me to come back to her, then she isn’t going to be over the moon at me. I haven’t seen a hunger to do well from Ronaldo this season and until I do I will be skeptical of him
Btw weak analogy I know but I did my best
December 30th, 2008 at 14:34
@Liam: and yet, it was berbatov that scored and not rooney or ronaldo
Mate, it seems with you, players you like can do no wrong and players you dont like can do no right…
December 30th, 2008 at 15:18
Wow, few things are very clear from that reaction:
1. There are some that just aren’t easily pleased. This is a very hard time in the season, multiplied by our visit to Japan. It’s at time when big teams drop points. And we haven’t.
2. Park can do no right to some people. He was the most productive United player on the pitch yesterday, and his shooting was no worse than Ronaldo’s. I’ve doubted his quality, but you have to hold your hands up after a good performance and call it what it was.
3. You can’t call Fergie senile and mad for giving the young players a holiday if he felt they needed it. We won the games without them, they should be rested and happy. Everyone wins.
4. Our defense barely got a mention. That’s 7 league clean sheets in a row, with a 20 year old and John O’Shea featuring in several of them.
5. While I have a sneaky feeling we won’t win both games in hand, we’re still in the reckoning for a title, after the most ridiculous first half schedule I’ve ever seen. We’re still in contention for every title there is. So we haven’t managed quite as many one-touch passing moves and a lot less goals. We’re winning despite struggling. It’s not supposed to be easy.
6. Where the hell is Ronaldo’s rabbit foot or whatever he was using last year. My lord. He can barely play a 5 yard pass now with the right weight. Needs a serious injection of confidence.
December 30th, 2008 at 15:18
@dan(u-ol): Berbatov scoring the goal doesn’t change the fact that his overall game was atrocious. He constantly lost the ball, the only times he didn’t were on 5 yard passes to the wide players. Our 30m striker takes 1 shot a game if we are lucky. Rooney now has to play basically a lone striker role. There were a number of occasions when Rooney was bearing down on goal and it was Fletcher getting forward to support him. Why wasn’t Berbatov there?
December 30th, 2008 at 15:25
@Beachryan: thank you I was beginning to believe I was the only one who noticed that Park played well. If he had a bit more luck on his side he would have had a hat-trick. That miss was a freak event and has happened to many better players. If Park was Portuguese then maybe people would rate him
December 30th, 2008 at 15:44
@dan(u-ol): I would say most of the commentators on the blog suffer from bias on players (be it positive or negative).
@Shyam: Well said. Neville played some woeful games earlier in the season and got rightly criticised for it. But by the same token he deserves some praise after putting in a couple of good performances recently instead of more abuse.
@Liam: I think people would rate him more if he could actually finish. It is a huge problem with is game but he has a number of other attributes. His off the ball movement is the best at the club, his discipline and his workrate are excellent and his sheer persistence make things happen. There are a number of more highly rated players at the club that could gain a lot from having a look at Park’s movement. However this notion that he is a marketing gimmick or a completely talentless player is complete and utter rubbish IMO. Anyone who saw his performances against AC Milan before he joined us should know that.
@Craig Mc: I would say that Anderson and Nani’s form started regressing well before the start of this season. Thankfully Anderson seems to be coming around from it lately. As for Nani, looks like a case of second season syndrome to me.
December 30th, 2008 at 16:25
It’s simple..it’s VERY HARD for some people who’ve engraved their opinions about our players in stone, to change what they think about the player.
Park has been in our top-3 best performers for the last 4-5 matches. This is a FACT and it’s there for all to see. Similarly, Gary Neville has been doing a lot of good stuff in the last 2 matches. Especially yesterday, Gary looked really up for it..maybe he should be a regular sub around 60-70min.
Anyway, my point is it’s hard to change opinions in some cases, so we should just get along with it.
December 30th, 2008 at 16:50
Yeah Berbatov just isn’t doing it for us yet. While he has contributed a fair amount of assists we’ve created less chances than we did with Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo working in tandem last season. Also three goals in the league is a poor return considering the number of games Berbatov has played. You can argue we didn’t buy Berbatov to score goals, but that begs the question who was supposed to score the goals then? Ronaldo could not be expected to repeat the scoring feats of last season, Rooney has always been streaky and Tevez was benched the moment Berbatov arrived.
Earlier someone said that when Ferguson fancies a player he pulls all stops to buy them without considering how they fit into the team. I’m inclined to agree. Veron and Berbatov are prime examples. Fabulous players but caused us to change a system that was working really well. We seem a slower team than last season and our movement is not as good and I think Berbatov is partly responsible for that.
December 30th, 2008 at 17:13
@colver: 25 chances yesterday, 25. we ARE creating, we are NOT taking the chances.
December 30th, 2008 at 17:32
All the talk about our attacking problems have overlooked the strength of our defence, and particularly of the consitantly high performances of Vidic. Player of the season so far imo.
December 30th, 2008 at 17:40
Shyam comment 312, well yes neville was good against stoke but to be honest i would have done well against stoke they hardly had an attack all game, and when they did it was usually on the other side so i dont really feel that his performance was against world beaters. And as for yesterday well i watched the game and again cant say that i noticed him having a particluarly good even decent game, but maybe that was because the stream quality i had was so bad so maybe that was it. I dont wanna slate the guy cos hes a legend and that but if he isnt good enough then we should get rid and i personally feel he is finished at the highest level now so maybe he should call it a day. Just my opinion though.
December 30th, 2008 at 18:30
@Traverse: I’d agree with you if it weren’t for the fact that Hargo missed a lot of games last year too. Hargo does not help players hit the back of the net instead of shooting high or wide. But I would have preferred him for free kicks and corners.
December 30th, 2008 at 18:33
@Matthew: Neville is still king of the overlap, this is something Rafael is struggling to grasp IMO. He does have pace and a half decent cross but he tends to go inside of just hang back a bit when he needs to overlap. Neville, even in his bad games this season has shown that he can still get into those positions it’s just his crossing was rusty, that happens when you’ve been out for a season and not played much. People have been saying Ronaldo’s drop in form is down to his injury at the start of the season and we should give him time to recover. Well how come Neville is expected to return at 100%? Neville has a better football brain than Rafael and people seem to treat the old players as scapegoats despite the fact they’ve been as good as the foreign imports. Look at the NBA, older players can play a pivotal role in big teams. The Boston Celtics right now are the best team in the NBA and yet 3 of their best players are over 30. People don’t give age a chance these days in football. Look at the level of performance a 35 year old Henrik Larsson produced for us.
December 30th, 2008 at 18:37
@Liam: More like if he had an ounce of skill he would have had a hattrick. He was useless and if you and a few others can’t see it, that’s fine, but don’t keep telling the majority who believe he was worthless that they were all blind because frankly, they weren’t. And my mother who is an invalid in bed would not have missed that net from two yards. But Stumpy did. He does offer work rate and defensive help though.
December 30th, 2008 at 18:43
Looking at Sky Sports and their viewer polls are just bullshit. Carragher won defender of the year yesterday and the current one is midfielder of the year which includes CR, Fabregas, Lampard and Carrick. Runaway winner with 62% of the votes: Steven Gerrard. Either most English people are stupid or … Well you can make your own reasons. Oh well it’s the only thing they’ve won in 2008. I loved that European capital of trophies jibe yesterday.
December 30th, 2008 at 18:47
@colver: First off, we never changed the system to accommodate Berbatov. We were playing with the same style and pace before he played his first game and we played exactly like that when he was not in the lineup. Don’t lay the team malaise and lack of imagination and pace on the shoulders of one player. Bottom line is Berbatov is trying to fit in to a system that is asking him to track back more and play farther back than he has ever played in his career. And frankly it is cramping his style as a player. Berbatov is a classy player with exceptional skills but he must be used properly in order for the best in him to come out. I seriously doubt that all of a sudden he has lost his skill as a striker and we have ended up with a dud. When Veron left he found his mojo again too. It’s Fergie and his inflexible system that is at blame here and it’s also his stubborn demand to bring square pegs into a team full of round ones that has caused the problem. I’d like to say that Berba needs more time, but with this system in place and it’s lack modularization, I have my doubts if we will ever see the real Berbatov stand and deliver.
December 30th, 2008 at 18:49
@dan(u-ol): 25 chances and an amazing 15 that were clear cut goal scoring chances and not just half chances. The ratio for those types of chances is 3 to 1. We should have scored at least 5 goals based on that statistic alone. Even 3 would have justified the effort.
December 30th, 2008 at 18:57
@Liam: That’s not true at all. I counted no fewer than five times yesterday when Rafael went on a beautiful overlap run only to not get the ball in return and when he did Ronaldo got him the ball far too late. Overlaps, or should I say the lack of overlaps this season is because players have their heads down and are instinctively receiving a pass and then looking inside rather than the the outside option. This has been one of the points I have written about in the past is the fact that our midfielders never look out wards for an overlap and a quick 1,2 with a fullback. It’s very frustrating. And the only time they ever look for it is with Evra but even then, not as much as they should. On the other hand when one watches Barcelona and Bayern Munich the use of overlaps and 1,2’s is amazing. Lahm and Oddo constantly make runs but the midfielders are always cognizant of their presence. Same thing in Barca with Alves and Abidal. But then those teams utilize their pace and skilled players in a way to bring the best out of them. They never force them in a slow plodding ball control style that doesn’t allow pace and skill to create openings.
December 30th, 2008 at 18:58
@Liam: Carragher I laugh at but who amongst our midfielders would you nominate? None of them deserve to be on there. Oh let me guess, JS Park perhaps?
December 30th, 2008 at 19:22
@Grognard: Cantona definately had that gift that were talking about, Scholesy at his peak had it to and Sheringham to a certain degree.
Not sure about Ronaldo, his main attributes are quick feet and amazing athletic ability.
Rooney shows flashes of it at times, but the one player we have at the minute who definately oozes it, and this should divide opinion, is Berbatov.
I was at the Hull game at OT and the ball was bouncing out towards the sideline and Berbs gave chase with George Boatang in hot pursuit, in one movement and with his back to him he flicked it over Boatangs head, spun, and played an inch perfect pass down the line for Nani, it was pure class, and as a connosiuer of brilliance I took that memory more than any that day home with me.
I can understand why some have negative thoughts about him, but I am a fan, and I honestly believe that he is stamped with genius and is a wonderfully talented footballer.
December 30th, 2008 at 19:23
@Grognard: Read my comment again. ‘which includes CR’ =Cristiano Ronaldo who was nominated but has recieved 15% of the votes (2nd overall). Laughing yet
December 30th, 2008 at 20:26
@Matthew: I totally agree that he is past his prime..but he still can contribute considering the hectic fixture we have this season..No need to call for his retirement.