Aug 17
Man Utd v Newcastle: Preview
So, aren’t you all excited? Can you even contain yourself? Well, I can’t wait for the 08/09 season (for United) to start. So let’s kick start our season, proper, with a brief preview of the Barcodes game.
Michael Owen looks like he won’t be playing for the Magpies; interestingly he has never started the season for Newcastle in his three seasons at the club. They’ve made a couple of signings in Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez whilst we haven’t done much to speak of in the transfer market — apart from keeping hold of Ronaldo and signing Davide Petrucci.
Fergie wants Rooney to score more goals this season. But the bigger news is that Rooney will start. Rooney will partner Tevez up front, and that sight would be a relief. Tevez has been outstanding in pre-season, whilst Rooney has put in double training sessions. So there is a lot we can expect from our front two.
The big talking point, of course, is our lack of potent wingers that can hurt Newcastle. Nani is suspended, Park has just returned to training and Hargreaves remains crocked. That makes our options on the wing limited. This means Ryan Giggs will surely start. It could possibly mean we’ll play a 4-3-3 with Tevez and Giggs played wide and Rooney in front. This would mean, Scholes, Carrick and Fletcher will play in the centre of the park. The defence will consist of Evra, Rio, Vidic and Neville.
The lack of real penetrative wingers calls for moves through the middle of the park. And hopefully we just about get the job done.
Come on you reds!!!
Prediction: 1-0 to United. Tevez to score.
Related items from Red Rants:- Update on Red Rants
- Man Utd vs Newcastle Utd: Preview
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Keegan ‘I’d Love It’ Returns To Geordie-land. Heh!
- Rooney Out For A Month
Tags: Site News
August 17th, 2008 at 9:12
I agree 1-0 to United. But which one?? At least we’ll be bringing a defence with us this time, and Manchester are notoriously slow starters…..
August 17th, 2008 at 9:17
@UTD111: There is only one united
If it was Newcastle I would have said Barcodes.
August 17th, 2008 at 9:18
Hmm? So what do you think is the surprise that Fergie was promising?
August 17th, 2008 at 9:38
yea, redranter, did you let that slip you lol. This is why saf should of bought a winger this summer, we are short in that position. it would be nice if we played a 4-4-2 with fabio on the right…
August 17th, 2008 at 9:52
Sorry Red Ranter - I think you’ll find you are factually incorrect - there are lots of Uniteds both in the Prem and in the football league….as for your strange term “barcode” - this exists only in your little mind. I could but will not stoop as low by using names like “Manure” or “Scumchester” - as I think daft name calling like that is childish
August 17th, 2008 at 10:24
Oh come on! ‘The Barcodes’ is awesome. It has to be one of the most affectionate and less offensive term of any mock nicknames of the Premier League clubs.
As for the game, I think Man Utd will win by a comfortable margin, but I am not expecting fireworks. Also, Fletcher will play on the wings, as he did against Portsmouth, methinks.
August 17th, 2008 at 10:40
I think 3-0 i think rooney will get a brace with tevez also getting on the scoresheet!
August 17th, 2008 at 10:47
i’m starting to think that the surprise is just a lack of a new signing
we have another 12 hours or so for fergies 48 hours to be over
August 17th, 2008 at 11:08
Thankfully the season will start now. We have played against the likes of Pompey, Juve and Espanjol, but this is the real stuff. This is the start of another great season for us and I hope we start with a win! Rooney is back, great news, Ronaldo, Park, Owen, Nani and Anderson are out, bad news. Tevez is in good form, so is Scholes to me. I think he will become the MOTM today. Arsenal and Liverpool won yesterday, but not convincingly. Chelski play Pompey at Stamford Bridge today, so that should be a win for them. Cant really see Pompey draw or win that one, not after selling Muntari. But, Pompey are a team full of surprises so lets hope for one! But its annoying me that all the so-called “experts” are thinking that Chelskin will win the League. They think United dont have a real goalscorer, Ronaldo wont play so much(?), Tevez wont be as good as last season and the most rediculus is that they think our defense has gotten worse since last season since Gaz has returned! But United will prove them wrong again and win all 7 trophies they can this season. Hurray!
Lets look at todays game.
I know everything…
Our team should be:
VDS
Neville Rio Vida Evra
Fletcher Scholes Carrick Giggs
Tevez Rooney
subs: TK, Wes, Silvestre, Rafael, Oshea, Gibson and Campebell. Kinda defensive subs, but thats all we got right now with 8 attackers/midfielders out. Anderson, Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Park, Nani, Saha, Manucho and Welbeck are out. So…Prediction? 3-0 to Manchester United. Rooney to score a rare header, Tevez to score from a free-kick and Scholes to score when 1-on-1 after a pass from Carrick.
COME ON YOU REDS!
August 17th, 2008 at 11:12
@UTD nelson: There is only one united. You are right about the Barcode thing though, its actually Zebra stripes!
August 17th, 2008 at 11:20
Did anyone notice Fergie at Everton v Blackburn yesterday. My friend has good seats at Everton as a season ticket so he offered me a corporate ticket for free(dont worry I am a united fan)anyway Fergie were sat about 6 rows down from me and when i got back in last night watched MOTD and he were on there as well. He says we’ve got a surprise coming, I honestly wouldd be surpriesed if were gonna get santa cruz, why else would he watch blackburn?spurs ate just tryin 2 rip us off, and with the Glazers bein stingy, it might be the cheaper option, but I’m not 2 sure about him. what do u reckon, il still be made up if we get berba though!
August 17th, 2008 at 12:00
Red Diablo says - “So what do you think is the surprise Fergie was promising.” Being sceptical, I can venture a guess. We all expected transfer activity, and new striker/strikers, which haven’t materialised. So that’s the surprise, you expected new players but got Feck all.
August 17th, 2008 at 12:02
@Mike: Why does SAF require to go and see SantaCruz? I bet he already has enough info on him. Fergie rarely scouts. I think he was there coz its close by and Simpson could’ve played.
August 17th, 2008 at 12:35
If Wes Brown is dropped for Gary, after the blood, sweat and tears he gave for us last season, then I despair. I love Red Nev, but Wes has done nothing to deserve to be dropped!.
August 17th, 2008 at 12:44
@Craig Mc: It’s a new season so it doesn’t count as being dropped. Neville was fit near the end of the season last year but fergie never dropped brown. Fergie is fair.
August 17th, 2008 at 12:56
@Craig Mc: thank you for noticing!
I mean it is kinda obvious that we will sign a striker! But i was kinda trying to ask which one?
August 17th, 2008 at 13:04
Oh I can’t wait for the game but I can’t wait for the suprise more, I hope it’s
a signingBerba.August 17th, 2008 at 13:08
Oh no oh no oh no, i just read this. I hope this isn’t the ‘big’ surprise
August 17th, 2008 at 13:30
shit, chelsea just walked out the tunnel, and shiverd in fear, god this season will be 10 times as hard as last…
August 17th, 2008 at 14:11
Yeah Chelsea started well. They are looking more balanced with Bosingwa and Ashley Cole giving them width. Deco in particular is very impressive getting stuck in, wanting the ball and starting to pull strings and helping them keep possession. Really though it is still a Chelsea built on defence and a ball winning midfield and long balls.
August 17th, 2008 at 14:18
Chelsea should take the league this year, if drogba stays committed. They have ridiculous quality, a deeper squad than us and a better ability to nick 1-0 wins then we do. We’re more fun to watch though
They’ve already managed two over Portsmouth, something we couldn’t muster til pens last week
Santa Cruz wouldn’t be a bad signing, I think Berba has been priced out. And I feel really sorry for him, he looked frustrated yesterday on the pitch, just angry at life. Levy may have successfully f*cked their season. Good job chap!
August 17th, 2008 at 14:27
fuck me 3-0 at half time…
August 17th, 2008 at 14:29
Pompey f**k sake opening day and they ship 3 by half time>
I have a degree in football manager 08 only but Redknapp>
~Bouba Diop is no winger
~Kaboul is no midfielder
~Campball is no spring chicken
Onto United I think we will win 2-0(Man United that is), I think we will score late. Carrick and Rooney or maybe Tevez to seal it.
I think it’s important we grab the points today as the other 4 have come outta the blocks fast, plus with the list of players to come back we can go in the away games(pompey, scouse, chelski) in top gear!
I would go 4-4-2 =
VDS
BROWN
VIDA
FERDY
EVRA
FLETCHER
CARRICK
SCHOLES
GIGGS
ROONEY
TEVEZ
August 17th, 2008 at 14:33
2-0 to united…Rooney and Tevez to score…MOM Tevez..go United…
August 17th, 2008 at 14:49
Beachryan I really do not think Chelsea are all that much better than us on paper. We’ve bridged the gap with our signings last season and the ascent of Ronaldo. The difference for me is that Chelsea are like a machine. They rarely drop points and have so many players capable of scoring. I do not think they make as many chances as we do but they are much more clinical. On the other hand we have days when we just seem incapable of putting the ball in the net and other days when we murder teams 3-0.
On SkySports there is an article saying Ferguson wants a return to 1999 with four experienced strikers to chose from.
Well, Rooney is the only experienced player we have who can play as a striker and even then it is not his best position. For me Tevez and Ronaldo are forwards and Saha can barely stand up let alone strike the ball.
Really without that extra striker I am not sure we can top Chelsea for the third consecutive season.
August 17th, 2008 at 15:08
wheres jb
August 17th, 2008 at 15:12
i just saw half the team sheet, campbell starts as does rooney, and its is a youthful(and i mean youthful) bench, the only old timer is neville, suprise….
August 17th, 2008 at 15:17
Yes…the surprise is Frazier Campbell is starting…good one Fergie…here’s for Frazier to come good.
August 17th, 2008 at 15:18
although the mirror isn’t exactly a beacon of credibility, they’ve announced that the £25m deal WILL go through for berba.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/08/17/exclusive-25m-utd-dimitar-berbatov-deal-115875-20701688/
August 17th, 2008 at 15:18
Sorry for the delay dan
Team News:
GK: VDS
RB: Brown
CB: Ferdinand
CB: Vidic
LB: Evra
RM: Fletcher
CM: Carrick
CM: Scholes
LM: Giggs
CF: Campbell
CF: Rooney
Subs - Kusczczak, Neville, Rafael, O’Shea, Evans, Rodrigo, Gibson
August 17th, 2008 at 15:20
Wheres Tevez, please tell me he isnt injured
August 17th, 2008 at 15:21
tevz must be injured and welcome back jb. i hope possebon gets some game time.
August 17th, 2008 at 15:23
Thanks Dan
Tevez has apparently had to return to Argentina because of a family issue.
August 17th, 2008 at 15:23
aahh, tevez has gone home for family reasons.
August 17th, 2008 at 15:25
@dan(u-ol): thank god
that lineup looks a bit…shaky? we better put on some display
August 17th, 2008 at 15:26
campbell surely couldnt have been the suprise. what is it…
August 17th, 2008 at 15:30
i would prefer if rafael was on the right to be perfectly honest.
August 17th, 2008 at 15:32
@abood89: he’s gone home because a family member has died, not a good thing to say, what you said.
August 17th, 2008 at 15:34
why no attcking based players?? i know we got injuries but surely we didn’t have to have 4 defenders on the bench????
August 17th, 2008 at 15:36
i was meant to link that to the earlier comment that he wasn’t injured. my apologies…i wish him and his family all the best.
but an injury to rooney in this game and we are potentially entirely toothless up front. tevez’s absence just highlights the urgency of the situation.
August 17th, 2008 at 15:39
and i don’t count campbell or manucho etc. only one of these unproven players can be in our supposed attacking quartet. a quartet of campbell manucho dong and [insert unknown striker here] isn’t something to write home about.
August 17th, 2008 at 15:41
@abood89: i agree, we need berbatov, or welbeck could step up to the plate *waits to get raped by groggy and co*
August 17th, 2008 at 15:48
it’s been a long time since i’ve seen one of our youth players ’step up to the plate’ and become something truly world-class. even with berbatov, we’d still have a bit of a gap.
oh well…newcastle are ideal target practice (fingers crossed)
August 17th, 2008 at 15:49
were back boys!
Good luck
August 17th, 2008 at 15:51
JB - Woo, I was asking everybody if you had emigrated, because I expected to see you still on here. Keep the posts coming mate!.
Anybody got a live stream connection for this game, because I haven’t got sky - sad!.
August 17th, 2008 at 15:52
somehow not liking this line up…
It looks like some 2nd division team line up (except for defense)…
August 17th, 2008 at 15:53
where can i watch the match online
post a link asap. plz plz
August 17th, 2008 at 15:56
Giggs and Scholes together in the same line up!!!
I fear they will painfully slow down the whole left side…
August 17th, 2008 at 15:59
what? no tevez?
August 17th, 2008 at 15:59
Well, it’s finally time for kick-off..been waiting for this for almost 3 months!
C’mon you Reds!!!!
August 17th, 2008 at 15:59
AndyCR7 slow they may be but they are both a credible goal threat which is important as Rooney may still be feeling under the weather from the flu and Campbell is not playing against lower-league defencers any more. It is in our interests to slow the game down, retain possession and take our chances nad Giggs and Scholes (and Carrick) will help us do that.
My prediction 2-1 with goals from Giggs and Rooney.
August 17th, 2008 at 16:00
Stop Slating the team before a ball has even been kicked!!!
August 17th, 2008 at 16:11
@adie: http://www.justin.tv/widgets/jtv_live.r8713.swf?channel=chavulmb
August 17th, 2008 at 16:20
the team’s started brightly….me thinks the goals will flow once we break the dead lock
August 17th, 2008 at 16:25
there you go!!!..barcodes score…this team needs a striker!!! please SAF, let it be a good surprise…
August 17th, 2008 at 16:25
what the fuck was that….shit!!!
martins scores
August 17th, 2008 at 16:26
now lets see how fast we respond, hahaha as i type we score!!!
August 17th, 2008 at 16:27
exactly what we needed. tidy goal darren
August 17th, 2008 at 16:27
haha there you go…60 seconds and we’re level-fletcher!!
August 17th, 2008 at 16:27
carrick picked up a injury
August 17th, 2008 at 16:27
ahh..they r just barcodes…patience son patience
August 17th, 2008 at 16:27
O’shea?!!?!?! For the love of christ put in rodrigo. I LOVE Big John, but he suck at cm
August 17th, 2008 at 16:30
60 seconds and we get the answer! yesss!
August 17th, 2008 at 16:30
Did anyone else notice Ronaldo’s half hearted clapping when we scored? His face remained impassive and a second later he reached for his mobile. Very disappointing.
August 17th, 2008 at 16:48
@IBleedRed: Agreed, love O’Shea but should have put on Rodrigo instead.
August 17th, 2008 at 16:49
gosh, why couldnt saf put on possebon, o’shea is a terrible cm…
August 17th, 2008 at 16:50
it really is a second string side (except for the defense)
we need to pull this off…but if not, remember last seasons bullshit start.
have faith my friends
August 17th, 2008 at 16:50
@dan(u-ol): Because he’s got more experience. We need to dig in and win the game. Not throw in someone unproven like Possebon — especially in a crucial position like CM.
August 17th, 2008 at 16:50
@colver yea i saw that
we are getting pushed arround i think that is why jos is in instead of somone more skilled he is harder to push off the ball
August 17th, 2008 at 16:52
The midfield desperately needs rodrigo in there. Wazz is having to drop too deep again to be an affective striker.
Bit worried but im sure we’ll pull through…….def not sold on Campbell tho!
August 17th, 2008 at 16:52
@Red Ranter: true, very good point, but that doesn’t disguise the fact that john is a terrible cm.
campbell has been excellent, as has rooney, campbell has goals in him and was unlucky to score.
August 17th, 2008 at 16:54
Dismal, Dismal, Dismal. Too often caught in possession up front, get rid of the ball. Why is Campbell always trying to beat 2 or 3 men in the area, instead of the simple pass. He can’t dribble to save his feckin life, he is always off balance. I am trying to be positive, honest I am, but I hate this shit.
August 17th, 2008 at 16:54
Pretty good half from the team, given their banged up status. I mean, Campbell, Fletcher, Giggs and O’Shea wouldn’t start in a first XI, so we’re doing alright. It’s gonna be a tough match, but it should be, we’re missing half our damn team! It’s still early days, but let’s hope Given’s ability (luck today) doesn’t hold up in the second half. I fear for us though, Rooney hasn’t played 90 in ages, Campbell has never played a prem 90, Giggs can’t play 90…you can probably see where I’m going with this. We need a goal early this half if we want to win.
August 17th, 2008 at 16:56
I would have been there on the terraces today, but I got a foul cold, and wouldn’t be good spreading my germs around. I gave my ticket to a friend - glad I did now.
August 17th, 2008 at 16:58
@dan(u-ol): I’m not going to lay one on you mate. Cause you already know you’re wrong.
August 17th, 2008 at 17:00
hehe, you accidentally said ‘you’re’ when you where supposed to say ‘im’.
August 17th, 2008 at 17:03
@Red Ranter: Thats fine and all, but how do you explain Campbell on then? Certainly he would be ‘unproven’ too. And, Possebon will eventually have to come on to get ride of that ‘unproven’ tag anyway. The geordies arent that good, playing with heart, but we can pick them apart with a few well placed passes, which possebon could provide. Very impressed with Campbell though, after missing that sitter, hes held the ball up well and set up some great chances. Would love for him to become a integral part in the squad. 4th choice behind Rooney, Tevez, and Berbatov would suit him well.
August 17th, 2008 at 17:08
Well so much for my predictions for the Pompey vs Chelski match. Fuck they looked good but that’s OK. I just can’t believe they will continue with that. Still, today’s game was a clear statement of intent. They mean business and we need a striker. So what gives?
I have no problems so far with United’s performance in the first half. Newcastle has worked hard and credit to them. United have passed and moved the ball well, but there is no finish at the end. Simple remedy really. Get a striker and we need Tevez back ASAP.
August 17th, 2008 at 17:15
So do we all really belive that their will be a suprise signing? or is fergie just playing with all our emotions? I hope its berbatov, and I pray its not huntelar. I would be disapointed if we got Santa Cruz instead of Berbatov. But I would rather us get Santa Cruz instead of Huntelar.
August 17th, 2008 at 17:19
what is giggs mad at?
August 17th, 2008 at 17:21
To be fair, Nicky Butt has been absolutely superb today.
Giggs has been our best player so far, Campbell has looked sharp.
August 17th, 2008 at 17:28
grog et al,
what are you on guys. campbell has been quite good so far. in fact amongst the better performers.
the worst for me have been O’shea, VDS.
August 17th, 2008 at 17:30
when do we get Anderson back?
August 17th, 2008 at 17:32
I like how Ferguson seems to have a lot of faith in his youngsters. I dont think he would play them just to play them, he must really rate them.
August 17th, 2008 at 17:48
we now really need a late goal, campell has been quite bad today
but possebon good
August 17th, 2008 at 17:53
@OllieY: i agree…pretty shit performance all around. free kick given as we speak. let’s hope this is something
August 17th, 2008 at 17:54
ah crap…nothing
August 17th, 2008 at 17:54
And people will look back to this day and say see how much we need a striker or Ronaldo to bang in some goals against the Barcodes who we thrashed last season.
August 17th, 2008 at 17:56
ah fuck that has ruined my weeked and probably up until we get some good news SHIT!!!!!!!!!
August 17th, 2008 at 17:56
August 17th, 2008 at 17:58
we’re like a newly promoted championship team.
1. aging players: giggs ended up with a knock, scholes’ shots were barely kept in the ground and his passing nearly gave the game away.
2. inexperience: possebon was lively, but his over-confidence at times showed newcastle too much of the ball; campbell hardly made an impression other than his tracking back (his dribbling is atrocious).
3. and just simple lack of quality players: oshea and fletcher were all over the place. neither provided the ‘champions’ touch we needed.
if we really are on the brink of greatness, how come when every season starts, we are found to be in the midst of a serious injury crisis. is lack of funds in the market the problem, or the lack of initiative. even Henry would have done today’s squad a hell of good.
why do i get the impression we;re on a run of draws and 1-0 wins (sound familiar)?
August 17th, 2008 at 18:02
*phone rings*
Levy: Hello?
Fergie:How much?
Levy:What? Is that you Alex?
Fergie: How much?
Levy: How much for what?
Fergie: Im not in the mood right now, how much?
Levy: The going rate for a Berbatov is 38 Million… but since I like you, I’ll only charge you 32.
Fergie: Done. I’ll wire you the money in the morning.
*hangs up phone*
August 17th, 2008 at 18:03
We looked really good until Carricks Injury. Was only really Given that saved them. O’shea though isnt the player you want as a CM when you are the team top from an attacking pov and he just sucked all the creativity out of the side that we had earlier on. And as the game went on it was always going to get tougher.
Thought Campbell did well, a couple of times where his lack of experience and made the wrong decision but looked lively. More games at this level can only do him good
August 17th, 2008 at 18:07
Pretty bad performance overall, but Campbell looked good and so did Possebon. In the first minutes of the game (before Carrick came off) Rooney looked set to have a good game, but then the midfield support just gave out.
I think there are a lot of positives and things will straighten out once we get some of our players back from injury, suspension and international duty.
August 17th, 2008 at 18:12
Rooney was really pathetic today. He sucked whole last year, but today was on a whole different level. It says it all that Campbell looked better then him. I freaking 30 mil striker who is afraid to shoot
…just pathetic. I am not sure how we gonna pull through this and it might be all over before Ronaldo is even back. The worst part is, that I don’t see us improving till we get him back.Great day everyone get’s their wins except us.
August 17th, 2008 at 18:12
i’m sorry was i watching a different game from some of you??? Campbell was awful
August 17th, 2008 at 18:15
@Jonboi:
I’m not sure another Striker would have done that much for most of the game. It was the midfield that on the whole was at fault. Fletcher tries hard but I don’t think the right get the best out of him and when Carrick was lost and O’shea took over there just wasnt the same creativity and drive. Possebon might have been a better option but he wasnt at his most impressive when he came on either (that might have been as Newcastle were shutting up shop and Giggs had gone off so we had no real penetration down the flanks) so I think maybe Fletcher should have gone on the centre and either O’Shea brought on at Left back and Evra moved up or Rafeal brought on who may have given more penatration
August 17th, 2008 at 18:16
An indifferent performance. We let Newcastle dictate the tempo of the game and were forced into a fast, physical, pressing game we did not have the legs to succeed in. Sucks that Giggs was taken off I thought he looked very good today with some sublime passes.
It was good to see the youngsters get a chance but they all looked a bit lightweight in a game when we needed a physical presence. What I would have given to put Anderson or Hargreaves on to boss the midfield!
Most of our most promising play was on the wings which was a shame considering Nani and Ronaldo were both out.
Campbell did better than I expected. A lot of running, he got stuck in, and got a few shots on target. His passing is woeful and his touch not much better and I do not think he has the frame to be an effective target man.
Possebon is a stylish tidy player but this was not the game for him. He needed more time on the ball and Newcastle were pressing.
Da Silva looked extremely lightweight but I was impressed by his willingness to keep running and he did well to win the free kick in the final minute.
I was glad to see Rooney return but he was playing way too deep, no doubt because we weren’t controlling the midfield.
Portsmouth are very similar to the new-look Newcastle so we are going to have to seriously step up
By the way did anyone see Agbonlahor today? He looked very good and this could be the year he finds his scoring touch. Id love to see him and Rooney up front for England.
August 17th, 2008 at 18:19
Possebon should definitely start in placeof o’shea in the centre of midfield. Ferguson seems to select people just because of experience instead of ability. Campbell impressed despite what people on here will say. Think we need a creative winger who can create something, despite fletcher trying his all he just didn’t create enough.
Just seeing on skysport carrick is injured, lets see who fergie selects out of o’shea and possebon for the game against pompey. If it is o’shea i can see more dropped points.
August 17th, 2008 at 18:20
Spot on Jonboi. We lacked quality all round. The only difference with a newly promoted team is that we lacked so many first team players, particularly in the wide positions. The question is whether we can keep in touch until the injured players, particularly Ronnie, are back. I am not sure!
August 17th, 2008 at 18:21
To expect more from a youngster on his debut is crazy. Campbell forced several good saves from Given. What did Rooney do, 1 shot when he got lucky and the ball bounced to him and nothing else. I know that our midfield was bad too and that we are missing many players, but there were several chances that could have gave us smth and Rooney screwed up. My pationce is running out on Rooney.
August 17th, 2008 at 18:21
Wakey, come on Mate!. What feckin match were you watching?. Campbell good, well your easily pleased. We couldn’t put more than one pass together, unless we were passing it between the back four, or backwards in our own half that is. It was shite personified in the 2nd half. Though I do agree that Giggs was not doing too badly until he went off injured, and I’m not a Giggs fan. Strength in depth - hahahaha, Chelsea, L’Fool and Arsenal can’t wait to get us at their places in the next few weeks - they will certainly not fear us on todays form.
August 17th, 2008 at 18:22
@OllieY: You were watching a different game. Campbell is far from solving our striker crisis, but he looks to be a solid back up. Like Wakey said “More games at this level can only do him good.”
@Orez: Your being a bit harsh on Rooney, a striker is only as good as his midfield. He just didnt have the support he needed.
we dropped 2 points, but there is still 111 left to play for. So please can we all try and avoid the doom and gloom.
August 17th, 2008 at 18:23
…………………..
August 17th, 2008 at 18:28
We should get Agbonlahor and Ashley Young. They are both great players in my eyes.
Especially Young, he impressed me so much.
August 17th, 2008 at 18:32
Funny how a goal changes the appreciation of a player..
To everybody slating Campbell (Jonboi, Craig…) had he scored he would have been MOTM. But he didnt and some of you are quick to slate him off.
Similarly Fletcher, except for his goal was quite disappointing. Against Pompey he did not score but played very well. So please don’t judge a performance just by goals.
And RR, while I also agree that experience is important at CM, everybody agrees that O’Shea is dismal at CM. So no use to play him there when you can get the passing quality of Possebon instead.
Penguin, Giggs was not the best player today, but hey I think everybody would be hard pressed to actually identify our best player today. Campbell I think was very unlucky not to score he had at least three goal scoring chances that the barcodes did well to keep out.
Rooney on the other hand played reasonably well in the 1st half but was poor in the second. Shame about Tevez as he was clearly the one player likely to cause Newcastle problems today.
Also Fergie could have done with Rafael being introduced earlier on, as clearly Brown was not going to bring danger on the right and the culry haired lad nearly got us a penalty!
Hmph not much else to rant about, ecxcept that this year Chelski are clearly favourites, with Deco looking every bit like a young Scholes.
Oh, and welcome back JB!
August 17th, 2008 at 18:34
Look on the bright side, at least we didnt go to stamford bridge today ey chaps?
August 17th, 2008 at 18:41
@OllieY: Come on, all clear cut opportunities we got (except from the goal)were from Capmbell (and 1 from Rooney I think). Its just that as Orez rightly pointed out, Given did well to save them.
August 17th, 2008 at 18:43
Poor performance. I know we’re missing key players but this is when you need others, especially those experienced players to step up. Personally I thought Scholes, Vidic, Flecher, Rooney and even Evra (where were those trademark forward runs?) had poor games by their standards. Giggs as much as I love him was awful, and has been for some time now. Good assist though, it must be said.
There was simply no finishing touch today. And that was clear when you look back and see that the most dangerous player, he who looked most likely to score was a 21 year old debutant fresh out of the Championship.
Not only do we need a striker, a target man, someone with a bit of physical presence, I think we also need a covering winger. Giggs is sadly way past being an effective winger and Fletcher just doesn’t have the pace to beat a man. Without Ronaldo, Nani and to an extent tevez, there was no flair, and I almost expected us not to score by the end. It’s a long time since I’ve felt that way as a Man United (the team who ALWAYS score) fan.
At least there is solace, looking back only a year where we drew our first game and went on to lose the next (?) we still managed to go on to win the league. We’ve gained a point, and hopefully with a striker coming in this week we will be able to kick off against Portsmouth with some confidence and forget about this poor match.
Special mention has to go to Possebon and Rafael though. Certainly not the ideal game to introduce them but they did OK. Possebon looks incredibly assured on the ball and has a good eye for a pass. Kind of like a younger faster Michael Carrick. Rafael looks lightweight but to be fair, in the 10 minutes he was on he made 1 thrilling, imposing run, earning us a free kick in a dangerous postion, which is more than Fletcher did all match.
August 17th, 2008 at 18:47
got to the pub just in time for kick off… was pissed that tevez was no where to be seen (only just learnt that he has gone home for family reasons) shame, he was playing so well in the pre season. when newcastle goal went in i went fucking mad at fletcher, his man left him standing, scholes didnt have a chance when the ball came past him…i was too busy cursing fletcher that i didn’t notice he scored..so that shut me up. but things that were blatently clear to me… one, the passing was the shittest i have seen for a long time… 2 rooney has left his touch somewhere between his 20th and 21st birthday… i know i know he’s just back, but he is gonna have to improve a hell of a lot in my books, he managed to get booked as well… he knows about this bullshit respect the (even when he makes shit desisions0 ref. and still gets booked. 3. for all the effort that campbell put in, he was mediocre… had several headers that should of been goals if it wernt for given playing a blinder after that he just did a rooney and tracked back tackling horrendously even getting a booking… now i thought that he was suppose to be a striker but as the game went on it was more and more obvious that we NEED a striker who is greedy and wants to score goals, not run back to right back (rooney) yes i love his determination and passion, but in a few years he wont be able to do that will he… he will prove me wrong when back to fitness i hope… VDS showed his age.. brown showed he carnt play right back and someone tell me why the fuck… why out of the subs including gibson and possebon did o’shit get put on instead… i love him for that goal against the scouse, but he should only ever play left back.. or striker for the last 3 seconds of a game… really annoyed me that one… and when possebon got on the pitch he was lively quick passing confident, deffinatly gonna get a few games this seaon, as will da silva who came on for campbell….
overall really quite deflated.. especially after chelsea seem to have whiped better oppossion that we played… laughing at citeh gettin