Dec 08
Man Utd vs Derby County: Preview
It’s been quite a week for me, so it should come as some sort of relief to be back finally. Much thanks to Ahmed for chipping in as usual and preventing the site from rotting away. Of course, a more than cursory nod is in order for the readers who kept dropping by while participating in the banter in the comments thread. Needless to say, you people form the other half of this site — the better half, that is.
Anyway, onto the game and we face Derby County today — a club that could easily be termed as among the worst ones to have ever played in the Premiership. Bookmakers, fans and pundits alike predict a goal fest. The manager also expects more goals from the side - expecting the players to show a much more ruthless streak in front of goal.
While it is fair of us to be expecting to brush Derby aside, one can’t help but think about the ‘new manager syndrome’. Although, Paul Jewell hasn’t had a particularly great time against us, till now that it is. That Derby have been appalling can be talked of at length, but we all remember Sunderland of two seasons ago — the team that went down with ridiculously low points — which held us to a 0-0 draw; a game where even a certain Ruud van Nistelrooy couldn’t score a penalty.
So there was the caution bit from me. A politically incorrect statement would be that we would absolutely murder Derby. But let’s save our breath on the trash talk.
Given the game is at home against a weak opposition, it would be tempting for the gaffer to play some of the more promising young players. But after the Bolton game (and Arsenal’s dropped points) he would play his best side. Which would mean, another day for Rooney to get more minutes under his belt. Also, with the Roma game around the corner, he would play the experimental side for that game rather than this.
So Tevez and Rooney, it should be, upfront today with Ronaldo, and possibly, Nani on the wings. Anderson could continue his impressive partnership with Hargreaves at the centre of the park. The back four will be the reliable quartet of Evra, Rio, Vidic and Brown.
Speaking of the back four there is some news doing the rounds. Brown’s agents have snubbed the latest contract offer made by United and the club have made one last final one. This would appear rather strange if you ask me because Wesley has been such a great servant for the club for so long and had not so long ago reiterated his commitment to the clause, saying how much he loved it here. Even the gaffer appeared to give strong hints that he may leave. I hope this deadlock is not out of Brown’s new found belief in his worth in light of Neville’s new setback.
We’ll have to wait and watch how this whole contract thing pans out. Expect the rags working overtime, linking us with a ton of right backs.
Back to the game, well, there isn’t much else to talk about, is there? I hope they do perfectly well in warming up for the ‘dippers game next week. So here’s to a handsome thumping handed out to the Rams. Come on you reds!
Prediction: 4-0 to United.
And finally, one our last reminders on our long running contest to win a cool Savile Rogue scarf: the competition ends on the 10th of December the details of which can be read here. So hurry!
Related items from Red Rants:- Derby County v Man Utd: Preview
- Reds Warm Up for Anfield, With Derby Win
- SAF Sounds Words of Caution | Safety Arrangements for Roma
- Man Utd v Portsmouth: FA Cup Preview
- United vs Wigan: Preview
Tags: Game Preview
December 8th, 2007 at 10:34
wow, tribul were right, peeks and simmo will be getting much more chances now, i wouldnt be suprised if we recalled 1 of our loaned out defenders or go into the acad and reserves.
December 8th, 2007 at 11:09
hi everyone i am new to this blog. traveling in the far east
at the moment. can anyone pls tell me where i can find live
broadcast for tonight’s game around roppongi area in tokyo,
or perhaps an internet link? thanks!
December 8th, 2007 at 12:33
download a few p2ps(TVU sopcast TVANTS) then go to myp2p.eu(you can download the p2ps from here too) and look for what channel its going to be on, it’ll be more clear once you download the p2ps.
with brown looking like he’s going to now i say, we either use him in a swap deal with or without money for a player or we sell him to a team who could use him like sunderland.
December 8th, 2007 at 12:34
and why has my name changed back after i shortend it.
December 8th, 2007 at 15:18
same line-up as the one that played against fulham, same subs aswell
December 8th, 2007 at 15:43
good news andersons playing, bad news, nanis not on the bench, and the traitor brown is playing, give simpson a chance, i can see brown making a massive blunder today
December 8th, 2007 at 15:46
Adil you call Brown a traitor with very little reason, Wes is one of our most loyal players and it’s alll because of the agent that Brown might not stay with us, so don’t call him a traitor if you don’t know the facts.
December 8th, 2007 at 15:57
seriously adil, arent u jumping the gun calling wes a traitor….. the guy’s known he can first team football outside man utd for a long long time, yet he’s stayed with us (and he is the lowest earning first teamer too)…. he’s playing well right now and his agent is trying to squeez some extra cash outta us, thats wats got sir alex unhappy… he’s got nothing against wes, agents have always been the gaffers least favourite ppl… i’m sure sooner or later wes will step in and sign a deal to stay on…… besides, i’d rather see us play our best team today and win big and then let youngsters have fun in roma!
December 8th, 2007 at 16:05
thanks dan! it will be very sad to see brown leave. he’s a very decent player and perfect candidate for our centre back / right back coverage. still have a feeling that he may stay with us at the end. first team football at another team even sunderland does not necessary win him england cap if that’s what he’s hoping for. surely his agent is only after the money.
December 8th, 2007 at 16:17
Brown has served us well and we need to acknowledge the fact that he may want assurances at this point in his career. I mean it’s OK for Fergie to ship off Beckham and Keane once they reach a point of diminishing return but Brown has no right to leave when he reaches a point where he fees his contribution could be appreciated and utilized better somewhere else? The bloke can read and he sees the writing on the wall. His days are numbered as a starter for United and so he feels he has paid his dues and deserves a raise for his sacrifice and contributions. If he is to sit on the bench as a super sub then he wants to be rewarded for his years of dedication, loyalty and service. It’s not personal, it’s business to quote a scene from the Godfather. I don’t condemn him for this but I do believe that if he has a problem being a role player then we should let him move on. Fair is fair. His contributions have been noted and I for one respect and appreciate them. If he leaves I say thanks Wes and good luck to you mate.
That said, he is a dead man if he chooses to go to Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelski. That would then constitute betrayal of the highest order.
December 8th, 2007 at 16:18
Hargos injured .fuck
December 8th, 2007 at 16:29
great hargreaves is injured, new mr glass, i hope not
and to samg and conor, personally i do not like wes brown, yes i am jumping the gun soon, but out of my own personal taste, i think wes brown can leave and i will not miss him, wes brown to me, is what carrick is to grognard, (hope grognard does not take offence to it and doesnt mind me using him for an analogy)
December 8th, 2007 at 16:46
Adil i don’t think that is an analogy…
And one of the reasons why grognard doesn’t like Carrick is due to the fact that we paid millions for him, we paid nothing for Wes and he’s been happy not to be a regular first team player, plus we have lots of cover in the cm position, we have no genuine back up at right back. I’m sure the reason you dislike Wes is because he isn’t flashy, but he’s a great defnder, we can’t just throw money around buying a replacement for him and Neville.
December 8th, 2007 at 16:56
it isnt an analogy for another reason…. grognard has never questioned carrick’s commitment to the club…… when u say traitor, one name comes to mind, heinze… brown on the other hand is united thru and thru and just because u dont like a player gives u no right to insult him….
December 8th, 2007 at 17:01
im not saying we should throw our money at buying a replacement, im saying we should give simpon and the twins chancs when they come because to me brown is just over hyped and lucky, his crossing is shit, just look at most matches 99% of them they go out for a goal kick, his tackling is decent, suitable for a midtable team, his positioning can be suspect sometimes, i.e the goal against arsenal, and over the years i still have those images of all those own goals he has scored, me and my uncle call him own goal, and i hold my breath when ever he is in control of the ballin our 6 yard box, its not what he has done in one game, its a build up, and all his past performances that makes me not like wes brown if you can understand that last part, but i would not miss him if he left,
December 8th, 2007 at 17:22
who said hargo was injured
December 8th, 2007 at 17:27
You are putting way to much trust in Simpson, and the twins won’t play for us until next season at the earliest, they will completely lack any positional sense. wes rarely scores own goals, can you think of the last time he scored one? His tackling is excellent, his positioning too, and altough everyone knows he isn’t a good crosser neither is Evra and we don’t rely on crosses at all. I completely disagree with you and you are greatly mistaken in calling him a traitor.
December 8th, 2007 at 17:33
He was named in the first team and then at the last minute had to be swapped with Carrick, and sky sports reported he got injured in the warm up.
December 8th, 2007 at 17:54
This is the reason we dont get penalties.ronaldo has to stop this.
December 8th, 2007 at 18:09
He went looking for the penalty BUT it WAS a penalty. Plus what about that SHIT last week?! I was glad to see that 4th goal too, it was nagging me all toward the end of the game, esp. after that wacky goal. That was just….
December 8th, 2007 at 18:11
now im beginning to understand groganrds claims about people on this board being illiterate, read the beginning of my post carefully, im saying we should give danny simpson a chance, instead of playing brown, when did i say i have the upmoost trust in simpson, im saying let him play games gain valuable experience, to see if he is better than brown, i did not say lets play simpson because he is much better, and if thats what you thought i meant, then you misinterpreted what i said.
Secondly, evra is a much better crosser of the ball than brown, and yes we do not rely on crosses due to a lack of a target man, but nevertheless, evras link up play, dribbiling speed, passing, vision is better than that of browns, but we’re not discussing whether evra is better than brown. now you said brown has excellent position yet you did not back up your claim with examples that way you justify what you are saying,
3rd yes you can disagree with me as much as you like, thats why we have freedom of speech, otherwise we would be living under a communist regime, but nevertheless, lets just agree to disagree on wes brown before this arguement escalates into something out of nothing,
December 8th, 2007 at 18:17
We certainly need to retain Brown, we have no cover otherwise on top of the fact that Neville is yet to be replaced or at least accounted for. Seriously Saha needs to go…he’s getting contagious haha. I doubt we’d recoup our investment although Man U must be getting some insurance money from this.
I was listening to Kenwyne Jones praised in the other game(Fox Sports World), what do y’all think of him?
December 8th, 2007 at 18:34
adil alhinai; No offense taken mate regarding your Carrick comment. True, I am not a big Carrick supporter but I don’t dislike the lad. I just think he has underachieved based on what he was bought for and what he cost us. That said, I think I like Carrick better than you like poor old Wes Brown. I have to disagree a bit with you on Brown although I do see your point. Firstly, Brown is a far superior crosser to Evra. Evra is far superior in passing, linking up and and dribbling plus he has great creative imagination. That being said, I have to say Brown is better at finding players in the box with wide crosses. That’s not to say he is great at it. That’s just saying that Evra is that poor at it. If Evra could cross and finish better he would be a candidate for European Player of the Year. I’m not joking. His tools as a LWB are fantastic but he has no composure in both finishing inside the box, and making a telling wide cross in to the box.
Wes Brown is a good defender. He would be the best defender on 12 or 13 other EPL clubs. For us his value comes in his versatility. For that reason United should pay him what he is worth. He knows his days as a starting RB are numbered and thus, he wants to be rewarded for his years of service, loyalty and willingness to be a substitute if he is to stay. Not unreasonable and totally understandable. Of course that doesn’t mean we must like it.
As far as playing Danny Simpson, NO WAY MAN! I’m all for Simpson getting an occasional taste of action but the lad is far to young and inexperienced to be put in the back four of the EPL champions and asked to defend like a veteran. Too much is at stake here. We don’t have a ten point lead in the league with the opportunity to play young defenders. We need to put forth our best defenders the rest of the way if we are to overtake Arsenal as well as winning the CL. Perhaps Fergie should give Danny a chance to start in the FA Cup games. Giving an offensive midfielder like Nani or Anderson a chance to play is so different than putting in a very young lad back on defense. You do it only when injuries have caused you to do so.
December 8th, 2007 at 18:36
fergie likes to have a utility man and he is definately it, he plays anywhere on the park barring the keeper position. he is strong upfront but im not sure if he is united quality. he certainly has potential though to become our target man upfront if needed.
December 8th, 2007 at 18:40
im on about kenwyne jones by the way
December 8th, 2007 at 19:05
Now my review of the game. I think the game was disappointing only because the conditions made it very difficult for United to really lay a drubbing on these misfits from Derby County. Derby has to be one of the worst sides of I have ever seen. They were horrible. The fact that we never scored 8 or 9 on them amazes me but like I said, the conditions were a real equalizer. I’m also pissed over the fact these tossers scored a real garbage goal on us. To concede to such a rubbish filled side is totally embarrassing.
United did well considering the conditions forced them to play in second gear all match. Tevez took 2 of his 3 great chances and for that I am thankful. He showed better composure in the box which added to his already outstanding contributions in other aspects of the game.
Rooney still looks like he is out of form because of his injury and long layoff. He’s definitely and obviously lacking that sharpness he had before his injury. He’ll find it in a game or two I’m sure. Why he was risked for the whole game in weather like this is only something Fergie can answer?
Ronaldo answered all his critics over last weeks penalty not given by proving Rob Styles correct. He has resorted to his old style diving which was sad to see. There were a few times where he was fouled and not rewarded and this caused his frustration to build. When this happens he starts diving all over the pitch. Too bad really. Also, it was clear Tevez wanted a crack at taking that penalty. For me Ronny showed a little selfishness by not allowing his teammate to go for a deserved hat trick.
The team were far too static for large periods of time but as soon as a good chance or a goal was scored they would have strong flourishes of dominance. Two goal posts a few near misses and a gift of a chance missed by Rooney and we really should have scored 7 or 8 despite not playing that well. That alone tells us how bad a side Derby are.
For me the man of the match was Tevez with honorable mention to Evra and Ryan Giggs. Giggsy was very good and to those nay sayers who feel Giggs is washed up, shut the fuck up please. He’s not what he used to be but he’s still pretty frakken great in my books. He should have had two goals and his long ball to Rooney in which he chipped off the post was just magic.
December 8th, 2007 at 19:07
Adil i didn’t misinterpret what you said, I know you don’t think Simpson is better, nor did I imply that, but people seem to think that the only way to make players improve is to play them in games regularly, whereas they actually improve greatly during training against the best players int world. So stop trying to get Grognard on your side.
Ahy would i need to give examples? The fact that we conceded something like 3 goals in the first 10 games should help to prove this, and if Brown was that bad then other teams would target him as our weak point, but it hasn’t seemed to work out that way has it?
And chris when has kenwyne jones ever played defence?
December 8th, 2007 at 19:23
www.socawarriors.net/kenwyne_jones.htm this is kenwyne jones is profile which says he is a versatile player, unless the source is unreliable.
December 8th, 2007 at 19:34
Missed the match, so I’ll reserve comments on that though I will catch the repeat later.
I’ll be bummed if Wes leaves - as Grognard pointed out, he’s probably at the stage where he feels that he should be rewarded for his loyalty to the club and he has been playing more this season now that Neville’s return is on perennial hold. I respect that, especially since he could have left much earlier. If he does leave, I do hope he gets a place in an upper half of table team, the way Phil Neville did with Everton.
But the fact that Fergie is even willing to consider letting him go hints that he feels that the younger players will eventually be up to the task. With Wes out, Pique (and Evans, though we’ve not seen much of him) moves up in the list of back-up CBs. RB still is problematic though since Simpson is way too young to be reliable, though I hope he comes good in the future. There is a surprising number of young defensive talents in the club. Though we all could do with a bunch of strikers, I guess.
December 8th, 2007 at 19:47
Ha ha ha reading 3 1 liverpool!ha ha ha ha ha ha
December 8th, 2007 at 21:29
That fucking bastard Ronaldo…I almost hate this guy….I mean his charachter…..He didn’t celebrate any of his team-mates goals but his team-mates congratulated him….And they congratulated him as being a super player….It reminds me of Zidane and his team-mates in Real Madrid.It’s the same kind of relationship…..Shame on his team-mates , especially his older ones, who gave Ronaldo the chance to feel and behave like being the best player…..Shame on them ….all of them!
December 8th, 2007 at 22:09
anyone found a stream for the hatton maywether fight? the one on myp2p says its for tomarrow unless the time zone it uses is in syberia
December 8th, 2007 at 22:47
Gator,the fight is tomorrow,that is where i am.im sure the stream ur using has the right time because i got to wake up at 5 to catch the fight.cant wait though.i want to see mayweather batter hatton.
December 9th, 2007 at 1:28
When did this become a boxing blog?
December 9th, 2007 at 1:45
it doesnt really matter i think we can make an exception for tonights fight. people only ask here cos we use streams to watch football regularly.
December 9th, 2007 at 4:08
I agree i don’t like Ronaldo’s attitude…
I’m all for arrogance in the way Cantona showed arrogance, but he never acted in the way Ronaldo acts. When the team wins 4-0 and he doesn’t get on the scoresheet he doesnt smile… he makes me sick at times. That said I wouldnt want him on anyone elses team
December 9th, 2007 at 10:12
Ronaldo does seem to have this niggling attitude problem, which, if not nipped in the bud, could lead to another dumping a la one David Beckham.
Meanwhile, was Ronnie’s apparent selfishness on the pitch a result of Tevez not giving him a single ball in the game against fulham?
By the way, yesterday was testimony to the fact that our defense switches off pretty easily. My kingdom for a captain who’d shake things up a bit in such turns of events.
And lastly, where was the passing? There were some obvious passes that were never made and which led to the breakdown of several attacks. If we continue like this, the dipper’s might steal a point from our game. Goddamit! I’d rather see Derby do it than them!
December 9th, 2007 at 11:58
anyone has links to the match highlight please?
December 9th, 2007 at 12:04
k9, as grognard pointed out, the surface made it hard to play our normal flowing, passing game……. a lot of the passes fell short because the pitch was an absolute nightmare……