Apr 07
Manchester United vs Bayern Munich: Preview
The second-leg of the Champions League quarter-final is almost upon us, and their will be much anticipation over an encounter that could in theory make or break out season. Manchester United welcome Bayern Munich to Old Trafford hoping that the 2-1 first leg defeat can be overturned, and the ‘spirit of 1999’ rekindled.
It promises to be very tough indeed, both teams are dangerous on the attack but also partook in top-of-the-table clashes over the weekend. United lost their encounter with title rivals Chelsea, but Bayern were victorious over Schalke and even played a large part of the game with ten men. So United will be aware of the threat they pose especially with the attacking talent they have.
Looking to stop the Bayern forward line will be Edwin van der Sar, who in the first leg was by far United’s best player and kept us in the tie with a string of wonderful saves.
Supporting the Dutchman will be first choice central defensive partnership Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, who will be looking to dominate the Bayern attack and provide the platform for the attacking players to build. After a couple of below-par displays it seems Gary Neville will not start this evening, in fact, youngster Rafael will get the chance to pit his wits against the likes of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. As always, Patrice Evra will be ever reliable at left back.
The midfield will be crucial in deciding the outcome of this match, an obvious statement you would think. But after being dominated against Chelsea and being non-existent in Germany, the United central midfielders have a point to prove.
Michael Carrick should be recalled to the side in place of Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher will keep his place in the middle along with Ji-Sung Park who needs to provide a more dynamic and intelligent performance, possibly replicating form shown in recent matches against Liverpool and AC Milan in particular.
It will fall to the wingers to provide support to the lone frontman, Antonio Valencia on the right and Nani on the left. The Portuguese was exciting and gave United more attacking impetus when he was brought on at the weekend, up against Philip Lahm he faces a defender who likes a foray into the opponents half, so Nani should look to exploit this trait.
Now, there have been rumours that Wayne Rooney could start the match, making a miraculous recovery as such. The best he can expect is a place on the bench, and this may only be a means to unsettle the Bayern management and give them something extra to think about.
He didn’t train with the team and Sir Alex Ferguson stated he will not be risked:
“No. We have made some good progress with the lad. The medical team have done some fantastic work, but I’m not prepared to take a risk on a player that’s not 100 per cent fit. We’re looking more at the Manchester City game, or maybe Blackburn as a sub. The boy is making good progress, but it’s an ankle injury. It’s no different to any other ankle injury. I can’t take a risk.” Ferguson stated.
As a result, expect Dimitar Berbatov to be in the starting line-up, and let’s hope he can step up to the plate
Bayern Munich on the other hand welcome back their most potent attacking threat, Arjen Robben. The Dutchman missed the first leg and was absent at the weekends game against Schalke, but he is widely expected to start against United. Along with Robben, Bayern welcome back midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who missed the first match through suspension.
Mark van Bommel was fantastic in Munich and will look to use all his experience and dominate the midfield once more, but Bayern coach still sees United as favourites for the tie. When asked, he retorted,
“Yes. They have scored an away goal and they are a great team. They have a lot of experience playing big games at home and of course, they will have the support of the crowd. Our team is quite a young one in that it consists of young players, so that is a different situation.”
Lets hope the lads can get the job done and a trip to France can be booked at the end of the month.
Prediction: 3-1 United
Probable Line Up: van der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Rafael; Nani, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Valencia; Berbatov
***
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Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (479)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@colver: United has had plenty of opportunities to go after young German talent well before Bayern Munich could get them. And when we are talking “big German clubs”, lets be fair, there is only one and that is Bayern and they cannot buy everyone. They do not have Marko Marin, Ozil, Neuer, Adler, Hummels or many other top young German players. They could be had for a decent price and they are all fantastic players. Hummels for example is a tremendous 22 year old box to box midfielder that is not that far behind Rodwell in talent. Marin is a very creative winger and Ozil is a world class attacking midfielder who is the future of Germany and is Ballack’s heir to the German AMF position. As for Neuer and Adler, not only great young German keepers but already world class. No excuses I’m afraid. Fergie is biased and has been brought up with a very negative feeling towards Germans because of the war that was instilled in him by his parents and he would personally have to prove to me that this is not so by signing Neuer or Adler, which I feel is now impossible after his hateful comments of yesterday, which were also poorly directed to Germans when it was van Bommel, Ribery and Robben that went and surrounded the ref. Not exactly Germans.
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@Redrich: No, it just proves that he devours Germans or anything German.
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: For many years the German game was very isolationist. They frowned on their stars leaving Germany and in fact many players like Bernd Schuster, and others were actually kept from the German national team because they got into a spat with the DFB over their willingness to leave Germany. With the more modernization of the game and the creation of a more united Europe those borders have been breaking down. Now many of the German players who play for the national team were born elsewhere or have dual citizenship like Klose, Trochowski and Podolski with Poland, Ozil, and the Altintop brothers with Turkey, Marko Marin with Bosnia and Mario Gomez with Spain. Germany has become an ethnic melting pot. Certainly not what the Third Reich was envisioning for Germany but the facts nevertheless. So I seriously doubt that this previous isolationism has any weight any further.
The Altintop brothers are in fact playing for Tirkey even though they are both German born and I do believe that many players in Germany are now being exposed more to the EPL, La Liga and other leagues because of the internet and because of the substantial options available now on cable television. I live in Canada and can see every Manchester United game live as well as every Bayern Munich game. That kind of exposure has made players like Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Pavel Pogrebnyak and Rene Adler grow up life long Manchester United supporters. To rule out the potential acquisitions from one of the historically top three footballing nations in the world is ludicrous and above all, bad business.
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: Totally agree. Villa is good but we want good at 23 or 24 so that we can build around that player for at least a half dozen seasons, not just two or three. Again I say, to hell with forwards, put all the money we have in buying two central midfielders and this time next year we will be sipping our wine while watching United in first place in the Prem and in the semi’s of the CL.
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: If we had over 100 million to spend on players I would say forget Villa as that is ridiculous money to spend on somebody so close to 30. Let Madrid get suckered in yet again.
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Yeah Grognard, it would not be that hard to make over this team and the Ronaldo money would have been more than enough to do it. In Valencia, Rooney and Nani we have a front three that could cause any side in the world problems. Our defence isn’t as good as it used to be but for the moment it is ok. All we really have to sort out is our central midfield and those two central midfielders you mentioned would do just fine.
The other signing I would quite like is Behrani. He would come cheap and he is very versatile able to play as right back, right midfield and also in the centre.
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GK:
Foster (out)
PIG + cash = Adler/Neuer/Lloris/Akinfeev
DF:
Neville (retire) = Smalling + Dodo
MF:
Scholes (retire) = Cleverley
Hargreaves (I don’t think he can run again) = Rodwell
Carrick + cash = (Milner)
Anderson + cash = (Jovetic/Pjanic/Silva/any recognised AMF)
FW:
Berbatov + Diouf (out)
Chicharito + any hard working striker (Hulk or Suarez)
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@Devilinho: harsh on Diouf… he has been here for 6 months. Let’s at least give him next season.
Berba + Cash = hard working striker, should be possible.
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@Grognard: im there too regarding strikers i think bringing in two mfrs would see us best most teams next year rodwell i think is in the plan but i hope to see one of gourcuff,silva,…ect to add a am that can play up front with val,nani,roon. If berba could run he would be excellent at this with his touches and flicks but alas his languidity shall continue beautiful as it may be.
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Apparently the hernandez deal is a big deal.
most expensive mexican player of all time 
LINK
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Fergie needs to decide if he can depend on Rio next season, because based on this season he can’t stay fit long enough to compliment vidic. If Rio isn’t fit then are we happy with Evans as first choice cb with vidic? If nor then we need to buy another central defender.
@Devilinho: Not sure why you are certain diouf needs to be shipped out. Berba has been here coming on 2 seasons, he is a seasoned EPL striker and people have afforded him every excuse under the sun. Diouf gets 1 game and people are already brandishing him a flop and what not. Atleast give him one off season with the club.
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@colver: Sorry but I am not a Behrani fan but then again I’m sure many players I like aren’t your fancy either. It’s clear to me that Fergie really doesn’t have the money to splash that he would like. Was it necessary for him to lie to us for so long and bitch about value. Of course there is not value in a market when you are penniless. To complain about the prices of world class players when you don’t have to coins to rub together seems a little silly in my books.
But I want to be an optimist for a change. I want to dismiss this feeling of hopelessness and pray that by some divine work of justice or a miracle, Fergie comes up with 40 to 50 million to buy two to three more players. The player I want more than anyone id Jack Rodwell. If we do not go in for this lad I will be completely gutted. If Wenger gets this lad, I will be pissed off beyond belief. After that I do want Benzema. I am not a fan of his attitude but he is class as a player and has the ability to be a lone striker which would mean more rest for Rooney as well, he can dribble, create and play on the left side in a 4-3-3 formation when needed. He is exactly the foil Rooney needs and we lose nothing when he starts and Rooney doesn’t when it comes to counter attacking strength and speed.
Finally, I still feel we need to go after yet one more midfielder. But this one needs to be a an attacking midfielder that we can call the official replacement for Scholes. A lot of talk going around is that we are interested in Marik Hamsik. I hear great things about him and I will trust those reports because when i have watched him play for Napoli, I haven’t been that impressed. Just my luck I guess. I only watch Milan and Inter games so I haven’t seen him more than four or five times and so far, he hasn’t doesn’t much for me. But that few games is not the true measure of a player. For me the obvious choice should be Yoann Gourcuff. What AC Milan were thinking when they unloaded him to Bordeaux is beyond me? He is exactly what Milan are missing in their attack. Complete idiots. His finesse, imagination, power and ability to destroy with free kicks is truly outstanding and he is still so young that his greatest years are way ahead of him. Put him on a club that attacks and shows enterprise and i think he becomes one of the top two or three midfielders in the world.
So I have mentioned four players. Four outstanding players of which Benzema, Rodwell and either Gourcuff or Hamsik would truly solidify United as a powerhouse once again and give us the power and confidence to strive for greatness again with true confidence and mojo. I think it would cost around 20 million to get Benzema and about 15 to 20 to get Rodwell as English players are always overpriced. The good thing about Jack is he wants to play for us and that should be pressure enough for Moyes to let him go at a reasonable price. Gourcuff could cost more than we can afford so I feel that if we were to buy an AMF as well, Hamsik would be the choice because he would be considerably cheaper as well, Slovakia are a minnow in the World Cup and I do not feel his presence there will make his price rocket skyward. Still, all these players need to be signed before the World Cup. If anything, Fergie needs to learn that waiting to sign players after a big tournament is financially disastrous.
But heck, who am I kidding, I think we will be fortunate if we go for Joe Cole and that will be all of our summer business now that we have the saviour and heir to Ronaldo in Javier Hernandez.
And in case some of you out there didn’t get that, I was being sarcastic. I find it hard to believe that some Mexican half pint will have any impact in the English game. Jeez, Jared Borgetti was probably the most prolific Mexican striker in the past twenty years since Hugo Sanchez hung up his spikes and he couldn’t cut in England. And this Chicarita or whatever is going to be our next big thing? Please. 
I must admit that I have an intense dislike for Mexicans due to personal reasons and even though that is wrong, I admit to it. So any Mexican on any of my two favourite teams bugs me. But the problem here is that although this lad looks to be a goal scorer, that does not mean he can handle the English game. Scoring for Chivas in Mexico is not scoring for United in England. Yet more wasted money in my opinion, but I am willing to be proven wrong. Another one of the many coups from our overrated and useless scouting department as now we are scraping the bottom of the barrel, that being Mexican football. And if I am insulting any Mexicans who are reading this, I could care less. It might not be PC or reasonable but it’s my choice to do so. If Fergie can be biased, then so can I.
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@gator: Louis van Gaal came out the other day claiming that he is a big Berbatov supporter and wanted to sign him back in his Ajax days when Berba was still at Leverkusen. Well Berba may be 29 now but he is a languid 29 and perfect for the style of play in Germany. Perhaps Bayern could use Berba as a partner to Gomez. I think Bayern would consider Berba if the price for him was around 15 million. But i doubt it would happen.
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@gator: His languid style if anything is missing a major ingredient, that being a telepathic connection to a talented and aggressive attacking midfielder. Add a Hamsik or Gourcuff to our attack and I think the link to Berbatov up front could become magical. Cantona at times was also languid but he also had great supply and communications with his great midfielders. This allowed him to get better position and supply around the top of the box because teams feared our central midfielders more. Still, I am more than happy to continue with 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 as long as we buy Rodwell and another midfielder to help Fletcher out in the middle.
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@Johnsom33: I am not won on this Diouf lad but I too agree that he must be given one more year at least to show us if he is the real deal. I personally don’t think he is but he has hardly been given a fair chance to show his skills and one poor game does not make a career or is it a fair barometer in judging a player. Still, I have my doubts about him. I am a massive believer in pedigree. I know that many great players have come from small non threatening footballing countries. Players like Drogba, Essien, Weah, Adebayor etc, but I am a big believer that nations that are footballing powers or known to be football factories are the the best places to find future world class talent. Diouf is originally from Senegal and he played in Norway. Both countries are not exactly giants (forgive me Eddy) but both are emerging as footballing rich nations. But Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, France, Holland, Spain, Italy and the Balkan countries are very rich pools for talent and I trust players coming out of there more because of pedigree. The coaching and development is much better and the chances of success are greater. Need I say just one name to make my case against signing players from minnow nations, Manucho. JUst too high a ladder for them to climb after having plied their trade in sub par leagues. Just my opinion.
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@Johnsom33: They did the same to Nani, so they can all go suck eggs now, because the lad is the BIZ!
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Berbato0v has had his chance, he has failed big time. Get fucking rid and sooner rather than later – I am bored stiff watching him play – he is morbidity personified!
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@gator: Nice link! It seems like our entire starting lineup is going to mexico to play in a friendly vs. Chivas is july…. does that mean the same team will play in the friendlies in America this summer (later July/early August)?
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Did anyone see Liverpool’s new shirts
I thought is was torres wearing a standard liege shirt. I guess they will get used to never winning the title again and that is their “standard” 
When is our new shirt coming out?? I am looking forward to the post-AIG shirts…
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: You know I was wondering the same thing when I saw their crappy shirts… Do you think it’ll come out before the world cup, during or after? I hope it is as soon as possible after the season is over. I am sick of AIG, especially living in a conservative part of America, I can bearly wear it!
We have that friendly Chicharito match after July 1, sometime in late July I’m guessing. Also maybe we’ll get a new third/European jersey… White or blue again or maybe green and gold? Haha just kidding bout the green and gold; the Glazers aren’t surely that daft.
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Everyone has released their shirts except for us, Arsenal, and Chelsea, I think. http://www.epltalk.com has all the other shirts from the other clubs.
If Utd come to America, I will likely go see them in Toronto as that is the closest to me (I’m in detroit).
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Sooooo… Rooney out for Sunday’s game. I hope we play 442 with Berba+Macheda/Diouf because we really really MUST score loads of goals and win.
Attack attack attack!!!
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: I personally could care less about the shirts as long as the Glazer’s are in charge because I will never buy anything which contributes money into their pockets other than cable tv rates for Setanta. I refuse to be a licensing whore to those bastards.
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: I guarantee 4-5-1 with Berbatov up front just like we played against Bolton. We won then 4-0 and our confidence was very high going in to the game. Now our confidence is at an all time low and so I will be ecstatic with a 1-0 win.
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I just cannot help the feeling that these last three games will cause the wheels to finally come off the apple cart. Although many of my fears and predictions have now been realized, I still feel this team is good enough to win the league this season because the other teams also have a lot to be desired. There are five game left and absolutely no wiggle room for error. We cannot afford another loss or a draw or it’s definitely curtains and possibly even third place. The cub has a lot of veterans and these veterans have got to start hollering and motivating the young and leading by example or the losing will continue. I look at Giggs and Scholes though and it looks like their legs are gone for the year. Neville has actually improved his play but is still found wanting and so we need leadership and confidence to come from somebody. No Rooney for Sunday just tells me we are in a world of hurt and I think it would be a minor miracle if we were to rebound after these past ten days and go on and win the league. Who will step up and put the club on his shoulders and lead us to the promise land?
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@Grognard: Iv seen the Hamsik fellow play a few times and on these occasions trust me he looked very very good. His runs into the box and finishing were tremendous. Sort of reminded me of a young Gerrard. Him and another fletch type player would give much needed energy to our terrible midfield. That said next season scholes and giggs cant continue to play as starters. They need to have about 15 starts max and the new players playing the majority such as a hamsik or Rodwell
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@Johnsom33: @[OPTI]Madschester United: I’m claiming that Diouf is a flop, but does any one hear believe that this guy Chicharito is going to make an immediate impact?? he is another Manucho or Diouf (a bench warmer), and to be honest I believe that our young striker have more abilities more than Chicharito and Diouf combined.
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@Devilinho: quite a statement. I am quite optimistic about Chicharito (less so about Diouf) from Youtube and statements from EPSN and mexican sources…
Manucho played one game for us. Diouf has played 2 games and scored once already.
All I am sayyyying, is give them a chaaaance…
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: Diouf has plenty of ability, some of the goals he’s scored for the reserves have been very good, the same goes for Obertan. It’s all about confidence building for these young players, and Obertan needs to learn the art of crossing a ball.
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The problem with our club is that we no longer give chance to young players. Diouf has played what 2 games? Those writing him off are a joke because nobody can judge a player on two games. He even scored in one of them!!
Yet Berbatov a clear flop continues to play because of his pricetag. Some reports say Hernandez cost up to 10 million which is a good thing. Fergie will have to play him as opposed to 2 and 3 million players like diouf. Obertan for instance is now permanently in the reserves? why? He has many good attributes, pace, skill on the ball and even good passing. But we would rather see Giggs give away the ball 5 times in a game and stunt the growth of the likes of obertan and even tosic. No disrespect to giggs and scholes but at their age they were being played week in week out and allowed to mature. What happened to that?
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Its a shame Cleverly got knee ligament damage. I feel he was ready to step in to the first team. Out of all our young players he excites me the most. Hes scored 11 goals for Watford in the Championship and looks a sold box to box midfielder.
Also, Possebon has recently begun to look his old self. I still harbour some hope he might get a chance here and there.
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Jack Rodwell <3
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Guess who just rediscovered his passion for football again?
Damn, sometimes you just need that one confidence booster that makes all the difference. Eddyskåå is back, I’m gonna crush a few bones this season! Yeah, fuck I miss playing football. Just one week left to the season starts, gonna be mint. Hope United do well these next few weeks, but gonna be busy with training, season preperations and phsyical improvements the next few weeks so won’t be able to spend a lot of time on this site.
Boy am I looking forward to this!
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@EduardoDaVinci4: United > Football
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@Devilinho: just finished reading an interview by former Everton player Adrian Heath who is coaching in the states and has been watching the rise of Hernandez and he said that he will be a good signing and is a player that looks like scoring everytime he plays. Heath was forward himself, and a pretty good one at that and played in Evertons great side of the eighties that won a couple of championships and the cup winners cup. He likened him to Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, a fox in the box type. To say at this stage that he is going to be a flop is just ridiculous mate. This kid has been faced with various hurdles in his rise to prominence and has suceeded very well so far. I havent found one single person who has seen him play regulary that has said that he is not up to this move, so I think we should wait and see how things go before we make any bold decisions about him. He seems to be a good lad into the bargain, give the kid a chance.
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@CraigMc: Send him to the knackers yard. We need to right off the 31mil (
) and move on.
If we get a pot of glue for him I would be happy!!
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@Grognard: Say what you want about the quality of the Norwegian first division, but I find it a little harsh to compare it to the Angolan first division. I respect your doubts, and that your atleast gonna give him a small chance. But other than being a black striker, I don’t see what he has in common with manucho.
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@Johnsom33: Ijust have reservations about him because when I saw him play he showed poor mechanics and a had no composure. Still, that’s kind of understandable. If he gets some playing time the composure will come and then who knows.
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@Redrich:
, however you plan to do it Rich, just do it and quickly. We have already written off 30 million in just buying him mate – he is just a United misfit for our team that’s all. But he is truly BORING mate, except for the occasional flash of skill! He’s not one for the trenches though is he Rich, when we have to dig deep?
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Let’s switch post… this is sooo sloooow.
Let’s hope Chelsea lose and get a couple red cards and injuries
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http://www.skipmore.com/freegames/synopsis/synopsis.html
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: would be nice ill have to try and get to one
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: AGREED! Lets move to David’s new thread lads.
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