Apr 07
Man Utd v Porto: Preview
It would be really incredible if I didn’t mention the name of one of Porto’s strikers; the Brazilian, Hulk. Porto are said to have a pretty good recent form, but I don’t suppose they are anywhere near the side that sneaked past us, few years ago.
Yesterday Ronaldo strutted out lines you’d think he could have even said backwards; “I am at the right club”, is about as obvious and politically correct as they can get, for now. We’ll revisit this speculation in a couple of weeks, or whenever the press start scraping the barrel for stories.
Fergie feels it will be hard to keep Macheda out and there’s a good chance the Italian will be on the bench today. Speaking of Macheda, anyone else find it disturbing that there is a raft of articles comparing him with absolute fooballing legends on the back of one moment of brilliance? I mean, in the Guardian there was an article comparing him with George Best! That’s hilariously ridiculous. Trust the media to big something up anticipating a gigantic fall. One hopes the staff at United keep the lad firmly grounded.
On the game, Rooney will return and so will Vida. Hopefully this will ensure we manage to keep our defensive end as tight as we can. For a start, it would be a welcome change to get through a game without conceding a goal. Rooney’s influence would give us more of an attacking threat than we’ve managed to witness in the first 70 minutes of the Villa game.
So at the back, I’d expect a back four of Evra, Evans, Vidic and O’Shea. Carrick would likely partner Giggs in the centre, and Ronaldo and Park could be on the wings. Up front, I suppose it would be Tevez and Rooney.
Prediction: 2-0 to United.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Porto it is then…
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
- Rooney Out For A Month
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (479)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@Red Ranter: Well Donibrasco, I give you a HALO courtesy of RR. I shall leave commenting on your posts alone from henceforth!
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@Redrich: @<a href=”#comment-55 I know Bro, and we will lift ourselves up. Yet we need to get our best players fit to do it
.
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@Craig Mc: Please craig, conor was by FAR the most annoying person on this blog, thank the red god he left! The one with 2 Rs in his names comes next(not redranter
) followed by the one whos name rhymes with jonny brasco.
Ive given up on the one with 2 Rs, hes lost to me. But i think i can still get along with the one whos name rhymes with jonny brasco, i think he has just gotten off on the wrong foot with some of us.
You probably tell im bored to my nuts!
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@Craig Mc: Cheers. That would be a good start.
@Craig Mc: My point was about you having a go today at donibrasco when he didn’t even bring you into the discussion. Anyway, I don’t want to continue this discussion. You get my drift, I would hope.
And regarding irritants, as long as you are not the first to make a personal attack on those irritants, I am ok with it.
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i wonder if the blog needs mods, like dan for instance
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@Dan: Well as far as getting off the wrong foot goes, there’s good sense in giving some people another chance. Many will agree that not everyone got off on the right foot with Grognard, for instance. But things have worked out quite well now.
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@Red Ranter:
What you talking about, every one loved grognard! 
Im christian, im all for giving people chances. But im an unorthodox christian, you dont have an unlimted supply with me
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Stephen…..too late mate,looks like uv replied to me already…
Danny Boy……Please, get over yourself, Bitch. Wow- you really are RedRants “Big Wig” aint ya…bravo, bravo
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@Red Ranter: ouch RR no need to get personal
still, you got me. I can’t take people criticising Rooney especially since he has been our best player this season bar Vidic. I tend to defend a lot of players who I feel get undue criticism. I’ve had worse arguments with people over Park and O’Shea than I’ve had about Rooney but yeah I get your point about name calling, I was being a fair bit infantile and for that I apologise.
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So not many knee jerk reactions here then
right let’s sack Fergie and hire Ole, I’m sure he’ll play the youth team and everything will be just peachy. I don’t see how a draw automatically rules us out of winning the 2nd leg. Thinking like that is just short-sighted and irrespective of recent performances we are still in every competition and as long as a team like us is in a tournament then we can win it and I for one have faith in the lads to give it a little bit extra over the last month and get enough silverware to appease the fans. C’mon guys at least get behind them, Nani, Ronaldo, hell even Berbatov 
I don’t care about likes or hates anymore this isn’t the time to go on a fix it mission but to will the lads to greatness.
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@Craig Mc: It will be what it will be, as far as available players. I think it’s up to the rest of them to aspire to the heights that we expect.
It’s time to shut-up and put-up. If these players think they’re “World Champions” then they can rally around that thought and start to perform like champions. Take a huge look at what’s possible for themselves, and if they want it enough, they should go earn it!!!!!
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@Craig Mc: I understood buddy. I Just thought since there was so much disrespect going around I’d throw a joke in there. I guess I was the only one that got it.
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@Liam: Well we’ve seen what this team can do, but for some reason they’ve lost their way. It could just be a question of confidence after the Liverpuke game, but these are professional football players, playing at the highest possible level and we all expect the very best effort from them. That doesn’t include anything we’ve seen in the last 4 games from anyone other than Machedo.
Each and every one of them needs to stand up and be counted, put their hearts out on the line and take what is rightfully theirs (or ours)!! It’s all coming down to the endgame and I would just wince if we couldn’t find a way to make our presence known and remembered!!
Come on United, remember your history…….., take pride!!
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@Dan: Thank God that annoying muppet who’s name sounds a lot like Blowhard but starts with a Gr, wasn’t on your most annoying list.
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@Red Ranter: Hey, Grognard’s a pussycat and you know it.
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@Dan: “What you talking about, every one loved grognard!
@Red Ranter: Could we have a poll on this?
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@Dan: That’s right Dano, Grog is so cute and cuddly, how can anyone not love the guy?
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@Redrich: Hey that bold type seems rather negative.
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@Grognard: Maybe if if I go bold again, you could say two negatives make a positive.
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@Redrich: Well saying two negative things is so much easier for me than saying one positive thing. Either way, it’s math and I suck at math so I’ll just stick with negative + negative = negative. At least then I would be consistent.
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Is this still a football blog or has Dr. Phil taken this blog under his wing
Seriously… new entry please… pretty please?
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So to save this blog from too much man-love, let me ask you all a football-related question.
Ronaldo vs. Messi.
Dribbling: Messi (The ball is stuck to his feet with his lower center of gravity)
Free Kicks: Ronaldo (need I say swerve!)
Air Presence: Ronaldo (no contest)
Intelligence: Messi
Passing: Tie
Ability to avoid yellow cards: Messi
Goal Scoring Threat: Ronaldo (scores too often from no-where)
Shooting: Ronaldo (I think Ronaldo weaker foot is much stronger than messi’s)
Awareness: Messi (Ronaldo is too selfish too often)
Health: Ronaldo (How often is Messi injured?)
Results: I pick Ronaldo as the better (more complete) footballer but currently Messi’s form is far superior to Ronaldo. Unless Ronaldo picks up his form ASAP and puts in stellar performances in the end of the season, leading us to the quintuple – only Messi will deserve the Baloon D’Or next year.
Just my two cents…
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@Madschester United: I’d say Messi is a better passer. There’s another important parameter I’d like to add, which is the ability to show up in the big games, and Messi trounces Ronaldo on that one. When both players are in full flow, I’d say Messi is better, although Ronaldo may be more complete.
Also Messi is a more likeable personality than Ronaldo.
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@Dan: I thought Conor was OK Bro, but then I am biased where the Irish contingent are concerned, I loved Jb, Fred the Red, Phoenix, the Irish are mostly fucking immense mate.
. Where these guys have gone, I don’t know, but I miss them. And yes Conor and I had some barnstorming on blog fights, but I still thought he was OK. He just got mightily pissed off sometimes, because I think it did get a bit personal – silly really. Sorry Conor, wherever you are. 
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@Red Ranter: Not sure Messi always turns up in big games.. He didnt exactly set temperatures soaring (if that could be in an idiom/phrase) against us in the 2 semi final legs last year. Neither did he do much in the champions league the year before. Part of last season and a majority of the 2007 he was injured, so had no chance to play certain big games. This year his form has taken him on par with Ronaldo, but not beyond .. yet. Ronaldo also scored in a Champions league final.. which Messi has to do yet (so taking that last bit of bias, I say its a tie to be more considerate to Messi!).
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@Craig Mc: Just to check, ru nominating Conor for a Mod??
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@Craig Mc: Cuz you know.. past observations of your love for each other has been interesting bro!!
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@realred: Oh just fuck off you stupid twat, get a fucking life! 99% of your posts in your last few days have include stupid insults i hear kids saying to each other on the streets
You’ve been a united fan for 2 years tops and i dont care what you say, you’re a fake!
Get a life, you’re such a sad boy you think its fun to have argument over the internet! its sad and pathetic. I mean, you call me a bitch, thats hardly an insult is it? im not a female and im not a dog, so how does that one work
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@Red Ranter: We scored one goal from open play in the champions league final, which is the biggest game. Ronaldo got it.
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@Traverse: we should have scored 3 in the first half
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Okay guys, heads up from all the lovey-dovey stuff
I think the next 10 days will decide our season to a large extent:
Our matches:
Sunderland(a)
Porto(a)
Everton [FACup]
Portsmouth (h)
Liverpool’s matches:
Blackburn (h)
Chelsea (a)
Arsenal (h)
If our current points difference with Liverpool (1 point with a game in hand) does not increase by then, I think we could be in for a tough ride. Worst case should be the same situation as now, but if they were to overtake us, I think it will trouble! Now I know Liverpool have both home matches, but I believe they will be out of the CL next Tuesday, giving them ONLY the league to concentrate on till the season end. They already don’t play next weekend (Someone please tell me why!) so they will up for the Arsenal, who will have played a grueling semi with Chelsea just days before! The fixtures are definitely going Liverpool’s way me thinks. That is why the best recent news I’ve heard is that Gerrard may be out for the weekend.
I know Porto and Everton are very important matches as well, but the league takes priority over both of them for me. If we can win the next 4 matches, I will be OVERJOYED. But I think it’s too much of an ask…esp with the way we’ve been playing. We will need all the luck that can come our way, and then a lil more.
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@Dan: How many champions league final goals does messi have? Oh yeah, we knocked them out in the semis. They didn’t score one goal against us in 2 games.
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Another question for all you guys -> If you had the following choice:
1) EPL
2) CL and FA Cup
If we could win just one option of the two given above, what would you go for?
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Messi was pretty impressive against us in the semis last year even if he was injured. We couldn’t get the ball off him. The main problem with Barcelona in that game was they ran rings around us but there was no end product or killer pass and we held firm and kept them out of the box. It was essentially a defensive masterclass by us.
Against Bayern Barca not only dominated possession but the final product was there and they passed their way to goal. They couldn’t do that against us which speaks volumes for how good our defense was then. Question is what the hell happened to that defence?
antsboy, Id take the two cups definitely. Everyone knows we are the best team over the last 20 years in the Premier League. But our European Record poor.
Retaining the Champions League a feat that no sides have done in the current format of the competition would really cement this team’s reputation and 50 years from now fans would talk about this team.
But why limit ourselves?
Our toughest test is Porto away. But we can win that game if we show up.
We’ve got a fairly easy ride in the Premier League and should be able to win the majority of our games.
The great thing is that we can only get better. Whereas Liverpool were playing to the best of their ability and as the Chelsea game showed the only way for them was down.
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@antsBoy: 2) as long as the scousers dont win the league.
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Heres a question for you lot, is a jaffa cake, a cake or a biscuit?
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thats unfair dan…
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Good article pointing out why it is ridiculous to call for Ron’s head because he does not track back.
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Hmmmm…link didn’t work. Well it is here:
http://www.football365.com/john_nicholson/0,17033,8746_5165886,00.html
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@ROOOOONEY: whats unfair?
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your question
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EPL is more important, no question.
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Rio Ferdinand is back in training, but Sir Alex Ferguson is already planning for the England international to miss United’s visit to Sunderland.
The influential centre-back has missed the Reds’ last two games, but he is more likely to return in next Wednesday’s clash with Porto than on Saturday.
With Jonny Evans also struggling with an ankle injury, Sir Alex told his pre-match press conference that John O’Shea could partner Nemanja Vidic in the centre of defence against the Black Cats.
The potential for more defensive re-shuffles is tempered by the availability of Wayne Rooney for the trip to Wearside, with Sir Alex laughing off suggestions that he would miss the match with a rib injury.
There are also comebacks looming for Rafael and Wes Brown which, along with the impending returns of Ferdinand and Dimitar Berbatov, gives the Reds’ squad a healthier appearance.
“Rio started running today,” said Sir Alex. “Rafael started training on Tuesday – he will be available for next weekend, and Wes will start football training next week.”
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hopefully we will get through this week , even if its ugly
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@ROOOOONEY:
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Premiership is more important to me
Jaffa cakes are cakes in a biscuit format
Whatever
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@Eric the Red: One line struck me from that article
–
“Work rate isn’t everything for any player, it’s how effective he is in the work that he does that counts. Any fool can run around a lot.”
Reminds me of a short Argie…
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@antsBoy: I personally loved this:
To demand your world-class creative player to work like the grunt labour is like being outraged that Bob Dylan has come round your house and played you ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ instead of doing the washing up. ‘I can’t believe it – you’ve just performed a work of genius and never lifted a finger to help in the kitchen. Shocking work Bob. Get out!’
However, I do think the article was a little over the top in its criticism of Robson and in painting all of England with the same brush.
I’m also cutting Tev some slack for now given that he was willing to play whilst dead on his feet against Villa.
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Grognard: mate, thanks for the nice long dissection of our players, you’re right I do think in that way, I guess I hate change too, but yeh, there’s no personal attack on your views, I’m just ventin on my general perception of how we treat our players, no hard feelins bro
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I know we got some issues now and we dont really care at the minute about what goes on in the summer but ive just been thinking about where our team could be strengthened and i do feel our midfield has definitely been our problem this season. We have so many midfielders in there though especially in the middle but for me so many of them are finished it seems or just not good enough. For me we just dont have a keano in there that can drive this team forward but it seems there is no keano replacement out there except for essien so maybe we just have to do with who we have, hargreaves isnt a bad player after all just needs to get his fitness back. The main problem for me is we have no midfielder in the centre of our team that scores goals. Carrick and fletcher is much too defensive, there is not enough service there which is why i think berba drifts back so much. We simply have no gerrard or lampard in our team and i feel we definitely need one. A name i would like to suggest is juan roman riquelme. I know some people would say he is finished or not good enough, but for me he is perfect. We dont need a youngster as we have ando and llaljac and so on who are perfect for the future, we just need an experienced player for 3 or 4 years and riquelme is perfect. He can play as the winger, or the attacking midfield role and would be a bargain. At 31 he is at his peak, and i have no doubts would be able to play in england. I dont know what the rest of you feel but i think he could be perfect. I just feel we need a player like him cos i feel our midfield is just, well average. Carrick has been poor of late, hes a good player but i doubt hes a great player and in europe he seems to be found wanting an awful lot. Fletcher does his job ok but lets face it hes no world beater and would struggle to get into arsenals team. Giggs is still going, being a bit over rated i feel but still ok but he cant run the show against a barca say. Scholes im having real worries for, he does it against the fulhams at home but away even to lower league teams and european teams he is poor, sentimentallity i feel keeps him playing on such a regular basis. Next is anderson, such a talented player, i have no idea why he isnt getting games, ferguson should play him over fletcher and scholes any day i feel but its this sentimentality that i feel keeps him out cos hes no worse than those 2. Then we have gibson who i feel is just simply shocking to be honest, and possebon who looks a real talent but never plays. Llaljac looks a talent but is a few years away yet. Riquelme could slot into this team effortlessly and would allow the youngsters to come in in a few years. He would defintiely be a good signing and one i feel would be a good bet. Unfortunately i feel fergie goes for sentimentality too much and feels the fletchers, giggs’ and scholes can go on forever even though they are now getting too old or are not really the required standard. For me our mid is just not up to scratch and at least 1 signing there is needed in my opinion. Add to this the dropping of park for say nani and our midfield immeditaly looks better. Anyway the summer is a while off but i just hope to see a riquelme kind of signing come in cos its clear that our midfield is very weak and needs reinforcing.
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