Feb 06
Manchester United vs Portsmouth: Preview
The first 3D football match and John Terry axed as England captain, football…bloody hell! Aside from drooling over the magnificent victory at the Emirates Manchester United must now refocus their thoughts as attention turns to the visit of the Premier League’s bottom side Portsmouth.
Avram Grant is probably on his way to another brothel to take his mind off the thought of the impending visit to Old Trafford. As United showed their superiority against Arsenal, a signal that the traditional New Year title push is underway, Portsmouth have on the other hand picked up one point in their last five games, are without a win since late October and have not beaten United in the League since 1957.
United on the other hand go into the match in fine form, one defeat since Christmas and that was the Carling Cup Semi-final 1st Leg, but the last three matches have seen a United raise the level performance greatly.
Therefore expect a number of changes given the visitors’ predicament.
In goal will be Edwin van der Sar, since his return he has only conceded 3 goals in 5 games since his return from compassionate leave. Tomasz Kuszczak will be on the bench after receiving some deserved praise from the United number one, “I thought he really played well in a difficult situation,” added Edwin, whilst talking about the defensive injury crisis.
With Rio Ferdinand serving the second match of a four-match suspension and Nemanja Vidic only rated as doubtful though he should make the bench, Wes Brown and Jonny Evans will continue as the centre-back pairing. Gary Neville should replace Rafael at right-back while the ever present Patrice Evra deserves a breather, so Fabio should step in at left-back given his impressive showing for the reserves last week.
It could be taken as blasphemy is Nani is not on the team sheet given his rousing performance on Sunday, only a few weeks ago his Old Trafford career seemed over, funny how things work out.
Sir Alex was full of praise this week, “In the case of Nani, like Rooney, I think we are seeing a player who is maturing. He’s a young lad who has come in from a different country and he has taken more time than some of the others to settle. But that sometimes happens. Sometimes you bring a player in from another country and they settle straight away, but with Nani you can see his progression over the last few games because he has been outstanding.” Said Ferguson
Nani should be joined by evergreen Ryan Giggs, given a something of a breather against Arsenal; he will be raring to go this weekend. In the middle of the park will be Anderson, given another chance to prove his worth to Sir Alex Ferguson and alongside him will be either Darron Gibson or Michael Carrick. Ji-Sung Park and Antonio Valencia will be looking to make an impact, if needed, from the subs bench.
Newly crowned January player of the month, Wayne Rooney is normally a certain starter, but with fears of burn out and some big matches coming up, he may well get a little time out. Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen will be desperate for some game time, and given the level of opposition they should be awarded an opportunity against Portsmouth.
For the away side, new signings Ricardo Rocha and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie will be pushing for their first starts for Pompey since joining in the transfer window. Nadir Belhadj, Hassan Yebda and Aruna Dindane all returned from the African Cup of Nations and played in the midweek game against Fulham. However Nwankwo Kanu has yet to arrive since being out on duty with Nigeria. Also out are Papa Bouba Diop and Michael Brown.
Looking to avoid defeat, a 4-5-1 formation will likely be employed by Pompey with Aruna Dindane playing as a lone striker. Four owners later and only four wins this season could be an inkling into the number of goals United will put past David James.
Avram Grant was in optimistic mood ahead of the clash, “I have no doubt the players will give everything again against Manchester United. When you see the fact that they keep coming onto the pitch, again and again, giving everything that is good. I always believe – and I do not want to see anyone in my team who does not believe. This is football – anything can happen. I saw Manchester United in their last game against Arsenal, okay they played a bit quick for us but you always have to face up to the challenge in a positive way.”
Pompey have won just one of their last 25 Premier League matches away from home, so do not expect this stat to change much after the game, it will likely read – Pompey have won just one of their last 26 Premier League matches away from home.
Prediction: 4-0 United
Probable Line Up: van der Sar, Fabio, Evans, Brown, Neville; Nani, Anderson, Gibson, Giggs; Berbatov, Owen
***
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Related items from Red Rants:
- Portsmouth Preview
- Some NOTW Nonsense + Community Shield Preview
- Man Utd v Portsmouth: Preview
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Manchester United vs Portsmouth: Preview
Tags: Game Preview
February 6th, 2010 at 14:47
Another terrific preview, david. Go United! hope to see berba + owen get a chance together today.
February 6th, 2010 at 15:29
GK: VDS
RB: Neville
CB: Evans
CB: Brown
LB: Evra
RW: Valencia
CM: Carrick
CM: Fletcher
LW: Nani
ST: Berbatov
ST: Rooney
subs: PIG, De Laet, Fabio, Gibson, Diouf, Owen, Park
February 6th, 2010 at 15:29
Where the fuck is Ando?!
February 6th, 2010 at 15:30
VDS
Neville Brown Evans Evra
Valencia Carrick Fletcher Nani
Berbatov Rooney
February 6th, 2010 at 15:53
@EduardoDaVinci4: Leper Island. Seems someone has to be there, and since Nani isn’t anymore….
February 6th, 2010 at 15:56
@Traverse: Should have been Park or Neville instead..
February 6th, 2010 at 15:59
RIP Busby Babes
Always admired, never forgotten!
February 6th, 2010 at 16:00
R.I.P Busby Babes
February 6th, 2010 at 16:02
on a funnier note
R.I.P Scotjimland
February 6th, 2010 at 16:08
I have just seen yesterday Manchester United history 1878-2002. It was incredible. sir Matt Busby and his babes will always be remembered.
Matt busby was a great manager who always aimed for the biggest and best and always wanted to compete in europe.
February 6th, 2010 at 16:39
boooooooooooriiiiiiiinnnnng!!
February 6th, 2010 at 16:41
roooooooooneeeeeeeeeeeyyyyy!
February 6th, 2010 at 16:42
fucking finally we score. Thank you David James!! what a sitter missed by berba. what the fuck is he doing these days????
February 6th, 2010 at 16:43
@EduardoDaVinci4: BEDDY, are you missing Ando badly??
February 6th, 2010 at 16:48
Nani is a fucking own goals machine!
February 6th, 2010 at 16:49
@godzilla: Yeah, I miss his fat ass blocking my TV screan so I can’t see us play beautiful football. But now that he aint there, I enjoy watching United again!
Life is good again!
Well, kinda… 
February 6th, 2010 at 16:53
but the team is looking good. we still need some strong penetrator to wipe away lower teams like pompey and not have to depend on own goals and weak goalkeeping/defense to see us through…
February 6th, 2010 at 16:56
Bloody booboo by bashful berba.
He just needs his confidence back. Confidence can make a whole difference and all the little things go your way – Nani can attest.
February 6th, 2010 at 16:57
I want Diouf to come on for Berba, I think we will be much more dangerous then. We are playing wide today, we are getting to lots of crosses but Berba is never a danger in there… Diouf is!
February 6th, 2010 at 17:01
@NicoQB: A depressed Diouf is a better striker than a confident Berba…
February 6th, 2010 at 17:01
agree, right now Diouf, fortunately or unfortunately, is our only strong presence in the box (different than Roo), so yea i think he will be brought on by SAF in this game at some point. that means Owen still gets no chance in this new year…
February 6th, 2010 at 17:01
@EduardoDaVinci4: Agree that Dioouf would have buried that, but all in all apart from that chance, Berbatov’s been rather good in the first half.
He could have had two great openings also but for Valencia’s propensity to go for the hard low cross in the crowded box instead of the drag back.
February 6th, 2010 at 17:03
@EduardoDaVinci4: I totally agree..Diouf is just a beast in the air…I think wants Diouf gets a run in the side it will be bye bye Berba…maybe that injury he’s carrying is worse than he putting on? He looks mighty sluggish and off the pace…did you see that header Diouf scored for the reserves in Norway btw? Amazing!
February 6th, 2010 at 17:08
@EduardoDaVinci4: I’d love to see Diouf get minutes.
But Berba, like Nani (whom everyone was willing to write off a month ago), has a reservoir of natural talent, that can make him truly world class if only he gets back his confidence.
February 6th, 2010 at 17:08
@Don: Not only did he score a class header, he won every possible aerial battle! Reminded me of Drogba, without the diving and groaning part.
February 6th, 2010 at 17:10
@NicoQB: We knew what Nani posessed because we had actually seen it, we had proof and a reason to believe in him becoming good.
Berbatov on the other hand… Albeit from the game against WBA in January 2009 has been shit throughout.
February 6th, 2010 at 17:15
Okey, I’ll give Berba credit for that one… Nice pass
February 6th, 2010 at 17:16
@EduardoDaVinci4: But can Diouf do that pass?
February 6th, 2010 at 17:17
The Old Trafford crowd is giving me goosebumps… :’)
February 6th, 2010 at 17:19
@NicoQB: Doesn’t need to, would have shot and scored himself.
February 6th, 2010 at 17:21
The Busby Babes, we’ll never forget you, RIP
February 6th, 2010 at 17:21
@NicoQB: Oy, shut up!!!
I should critisize players more often!
February 6th, 2010 at 17:25
DIOUF IS COMING ON!!!
Make me proud Mame!
February 6th, 2010 at 17:28
2,5 own goal of the day!!!
February 6th, 2010 at 17:31
5-0 nice one, OG we’ll take them all
February 6th, 2010 at 17:33
@EduardoDaVinci4: no mention of berba’s goal, eddi?
February 6th, 2010 at 17:34
@bildani: Comment 32
February 6th, 2010 at 17:35
@EduardoDaVinci4: in that case, yes you should!how about a rant on owen?
February 6th, 2010 at 17:41
What a miss by Diouf!!! Berbatov would have scored that!
February 6th, 2010 at 17:42
trying to be too cheeky there, diouf. A for effort though.
February 6th, 2010 at 17:44
come on boys, we have time for 2 more!
February 6th, 2010 at 17:48
@NicoQB: YOU DON’T KNOW THAT!!!
February 6th, 2010 at 18:08
Top of the League!
February 6th, 2010 at 18:23
@EduardoDaVinci4: Neither do you!
February 6th, 2010 at 18:28
What a game… complete control of the game, wide play, rooney keeps scoring, the fans were amazing, green towels strong, wonderful indeed!
Peace
February 6th, 2010 at 18:32
Great performance all round tonight.
I think I would be happy if our strike force up front remains the same. Roo and Berba (on form) are world class and Diouf and Owen reliable backup.
Funny how Diouf plays like a young Owen pace being his primary weapon. Owen I guess, will have to do a Giggs and adapt his game to his older legs.
Also a point worth mentioning is that Nani, while being very good tonight, was nowhere near as lethal as he was when he played on the right – he had a few of those old cut-inside-from-the-left-on-his-right-foot-and-find-himself-in-a-position-to-shoot-only-to-fluff-it moments.
But I still think that Valencia and Nani should start. Oh, if only we had a world class natural left winger.
MOTM: The old trafford crowd. The LUHG campaign is in full flow now. Berbatov comes as a close second.
February 6th, 2010 at 18:33
Berbatov is third, behind ‘Own Goals’ in our top Premiership scorers list!
February 6th, 2010 at 18:47
I wonder…
Where the fuck are all the goals gonna come from?!
February 6th, 2010 at 19:02
I tried very hard to wake up for this game because frankly I was expecting a goal deluge. But I was so tired after a marathon session of Mass Effect 2 that took me to 1:30am that waking up at 6:30am Vancouver time was very difficult. I saw all the goals as replays simply because I listened to the game but laid in bed with my eyes closed for the whole game. I was tired as Hell.
Glad to see we won comfortable but what I noticed the most in the first half was how little excitement there was in the game in the first half. When you are just listening and not watching a telecast, you really notice how quiet the OT crowd was, how few scoring chances we were creating and just how dull the game seemed to be. 3 own goals says a lot of how weird the game was but full credit to United for the result. They were far from Champagne quality but they had enough chances to comfortably win the game and they put just enough pressure on that poor Pompey team to force three own goals.
Nani was much more subdued but was still good and I was glad to see Fergie took my suggestion seriously and played both him and Valencia. Nani proved that although not as comfortable on the left side, he still could make some things happen and that his confidence and form had not slipped a bit. He clearly was not going to have those great runs and counter attacking chances today because Pompey came with their ten men behind the ball tactics and parked the bus for the entire game
Rooney was exceptional again and IU was also happy with Berbatov, especially in the second half. Could have had a few more assists with some delicate setups that failed but i did think he did very well to score his goal. Showed a lot of determination and his long range shot was fantastic. Still, he needs to do that kind of stuff against the top teams and in the CL, not just against the Prems minnows. That’s why he was bought.
A great result despite only an average performance. But two months ago this kind of effort would have brought a draw, so the team is making very positive strides and it looks so much more confident as a unite thanks to the security EVDS brings in goal and the best form of Wayne Rooney’s career. Right now he is unstoppable. Lets hope and pray he does not get injured. I fully expect Owen to be let go at season’s end so that they can take the money they are paying him and offer Rooney a much bigger contract because simply, the lad is worth every penny.
February 6th, 2010 at 19:04
To be fair to scotjimland, he did predict 5-0.
I didn’t have the pleasure of watching the game, but judging from the highlights Pompey were shocking at best. 3 own goals? From the few clips I saw it looked like a team that has thrown in the towel. Am I right in thinking that, or were they better than the scoreline suggest?
Regardless of the opposition I’m glad too see Rooney continue his rich vein of form. He has silenced all his critics, and he has put to rest our little debate about him being world class. I was one of the ones who thought he was just short of that status, but I would be foolish to continue with that train of thought.
Top of the league, and 5- nil is great for the old goal differential. With all the media piling on arsenal and wenger, I can see them being fired up for Chelsea. Couple that with the fact Chelsea have a few players trying to sync back with the team after the Africa cup of nations. I’d say arsenal are good for atleast a draw.
February 6th, 2010 at 19:08
David James was pants today and although he was not really to blame for the goals let in, he just does not look confident, passionate or in good form. Is he the best England has to offer in goal for the World Cup? I personally think Capello needs to hand the job to Joe Hart. Not the greatest keeper but certainly the best this season by far. In contrast I look at teams like Brazil, Italy and Spain who have world class keepers to count on and Germany who have two world class keepers fighting for the starting role. And trust me, the quality of keeper is the difference between winning it all, and finishing in the final 4.
February 6th, 2010 at 19:10
@EduardoDaVinci4: Ando is in the doghouse. Didn’t you get the memo?
Seriously though, I read that he has been banished to the reserves.
February 6th, 2010 at 19:11
@Grognard: I know exactly how you felt this morning. I’m a bouncer at a nightclub so I didn’t get home from work till about 4am(our time) and as I got into bed the Liverpool everyon game was just starting. I attempted to watch it, but the best I could do was listen to the commentary as I faded in and out of conscienceness.
How did you watch the United game, was it televised on Canada?
February 6th, 2010 at 20:10
What a weird game.
I thought we’d lost some fluidity from the last few performances and certainly some urgency in our play – but I guess that was to be expected when up against such a defensive mind-set.
With a 5-0 scoreline, it was hard to tell if we were that good – or they were that bad. With 3 OG’s I’m leaning to the latter (the last of which, was a superb effort by Wilson
)
, even though the Pompey defense gave him enough time and space for him to tie his shoelaces in the process.
Rooney and Berbatov took their goals well, with Berbatov shooting and scoring from outside the PA
Nani was bright, even though not as effective in taking on his defender today, and Valencia did… what Valencia does, well.
Fletcher played the MF spoiler role and got into the attacking action on several occasions, but we seemed to miss the creativity of Scholes (who IMO, has been huge the last couple of weeks). I look forward to the return of the 4-5-1 on Wednesday evening.
Overall a great result – 3 points, much improved GD, and nice heap of pressure that, I’m sure John Terry and the rentboys, will appreciate!!
February 6th, 2010 at 20:20
My scoreline of 1-0 NEARLY paid off, because Pompey properly held us for almost the whole 1st half. The Louis (I will always get deflected goals) Nani’s goal according to SAF settled the game for us. After that it was just a pigeon shoot to see how many we could score, and our lot missed MANY total sitters. The OT crowd – we were hating on the Glazers, but their Colditz style guards confiscated everything they could get their filthy ‘I love Glazer hands’ on
. They are doomed to failure, the fans to triumph 
February 6th, 2010 at 20:22
I think that’s enough of a statement we’ve sent to Chelsea before tomorrow. Sigh, here’s rooting for Arsene Whiner and his kids.
Oh, and my take on the game here
http://bigfourza.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/gone-in-60-minutes/
February 6th, 2010 at 20:25
@Redrich: We weren’t that good, and Pompey were indeed THAT BAD
I commend sincerely the Pompey travelling fans, they kept the ‘one minute silence’ to remember Munich faultlessly, as did all in the ground. Also some Pompey geezers had yellow/green scarves to support us against Glazers out, as they are fighting a similar battle to oust their owners, who are far worse than Glazers if that is possible. At least our staff get their wages 
February 6th, 2010 at 20:28
@RedDuck: Quack! Quack! Quack!
February 6th, 2010 at 21:02
Grog really a keeper is that important how? How many world cups have Brazil won with a shite goalkeeper ect Dida?
February 6th, 2010 at 21:10
@Grognard: It’s also possible that Portsmouth have been treating their players like crap. I mean seriously, I’m surprised how David James continues to stay with Pompey even when it’s well known that the Portsmouth players haven’t been paid wages for weeks.
February 6th, 2010 at 21:19
He stays because he is on a good contract he wants a move and will run his current down, also not triggering his right for a remowel is also great for him, signing on fee ect.
February 6th, 2010 at 21:26
a great win today, and fully expected. Im really pleased on how well nani has been doing lately, he has really come on, long may it last, HOWEVER no matter want berba does he will never have my backing, even after a five nil win it still pains me to watch that snail stroll around with his arogant head up his arse
well done to the rest of the lads tho
February 6th, 2010 at 21:40
@jamie lee: +1
February 6th, 2010 at 21:41
@CraigMc: Yeah, the sound of silence resonated all the way to California!
February 6th, 2010 at 21:46
@jamie lee: Watching Berbatov is like following granny on the freeway!
February 6th, 2010 at 21:56
Berbatov. Already some have lost confidence in him,but should he do a Nani like 3 match performance everyone will be on the wagon. Sometimes I feel 90% of fans only watch football that involves United. That’s all. If you say Berbatov can’t play a fast game and slows us down then definitely you’ve never watched him before he came to OT. If you think he is not world class then you must fall into that category. If you think he is not a good goal scorer then…well. Sometimes it’s best for us as United fans to expand our football experience and follow the rest of the footballing world and see what’s happening outside Old Trafford. With Berbatov,you need to understand that not only does he possess a great amount of talent but he also has great technique. He is not a versatile striker so he needs to play exactly where he is best.
Play him behind a striker and play your attacks thru him and you’ll see magic. Bayer Leverkussen and Spurs took advantage of him that way. As much as Rooney can be a catalyst in attack,his passing let’s him down a great many times,but he is a versatile player. He has shown his ability to play up top.
That’s the partner Berbatov loves. Especially one who can find spaces in and around the box. His passing is Xavi-Scholes like and he executes em intelligently and doesn’t just lose possession. If we make him the Zidane of our attack then we will see the best from him. Not that he is just a passer of the ball. He can score them too. He thrives best in an attacking setup and fluid movement which allows him to also get into great positions and score. That’s how Spurs play and that’s how we used to play generally. So give him time and play him correctly and we will all be singing merrily ever after
February 6th, 2010 at 21:58
@Redrich: Don’t you just love having a player on your team that you can make fun of?
Only thing Berba is good for apparantley. 
February 6th, 2010 at 21:59
top of the league.. hopin for a draw tomorrow.. after this week arsenal dont have many tough matches and chelsea have a few.. so tomorrows result will be interesting,
February 6th, 2010 at 22:00
Epic fail?
February 6th, 2010 at 22:03
berba has been better today.. more fluid.would love to see him hit the top gear(if there is one)
February 6th, 2010 at 22:28
@jamie lee: You sound exactly like the kind of fan that would have helped Nani pack his bags and driven him off to Manchester airport had any move for him materialised.
And welcomed Douglas Costa/Edin Dzeko/whatever flavour of the month before bashing them after 5 games.
February 6th, 2010 at 22:38
@Reddy: Trust me if we begin to see Berba in his top form like what Spurs fans experienced then we will all forget Ronaldo once and for all. Tbh I’ve not seen a more skillful player in the EPL(not that there are many). Unfortunately he is not gonna huff and puff and his face looks apathetic most times so he won’t be appreciated much by Premiership fans who love the Tevez,Rooneys and other hard running athletic players. If he gets 3 games on the trot then we are bound to see an improvement.
February 6th, 2010 at 22:39
Berba stats:
He scored in the last 4 games he started in the EPL.
This season,
14 games started -> 8 goals
For a creative striker, that’s a very decent return. He’s well within the scoring stats h achieved in his best seasons. I wish he would assist more and he would have but for Valencia tonight.
February 6th, 2010 at 23:44
@NicoQB: I don’t know why you always get suckered into the berba wind ups. They are bashing him just for the sake of it.
February 7th, 2010 at 0:17
Really nothing exciting happening. Any other day it would have been a 1-0 win, but we had a bit of luck with deflections and Berbatov actually had the balls to shoot outside the area, which makes a change.
I would love Ribery or Di Maria on the left wing. Nani does not seem a natural fit there and I think it is in his best interests if he plays in his best position on the right wing.
I agree Nico, that as a “creative striker” Berbatov needs to provide more assists. His goal return hasn’t been bad, although he does benefit from always getting to play against weak opposition. But every goal counts. So well done Berba.
This season is very strange. Rooney has suddenly emerged as the most prolific striker in Europe and when someone like Ancelotti claims he is the best player in the world, you had better take notice. Giggs and Scholes against all odds continue to play an important role in the side. Anderson ends up in the dog house. Nani seems to be in the dog house but then has a few very good games that seem to have saved his United career….that is if he gets to continue to play on his favoured right side.
We play shit football for the first half of the season, and then miraculously everything seems to click.
Who knows what will happen now.
On our day we are still capable of beating anyone. It all depends on whether the players perform when we need them to perform. If they do we really could win everything.
But then again we have lost to some rubbish teams this season.
So I really do not know what will happen!
February 7th, 2010 at 0:22
@colver: This season has been absolutely, motherfucking mental!!!
February 7th, 2010 at 0:27
@Johnsom33: Yes I saw the game live. We still get Setanta here in Canada, at least for the time being. I am worried about next season though as I do not see Setanta holding out for much longer and Canada hasn’t allowed the Fox Soccer Channel to transmit here.
February 7th, 2010 at 0:30
@CraigMc: I wonder what would happen to those Gestapo guards the Glazer’s have if 40 green and yellow Mancs jumped them and told them just who’s bitch they are?
February 7th, 2010 at 0:35
@Jay wire: It will never happen – and I will bet the farm on it!!
After almost 2 seasons of painfully watching him play with United, it is abundantly clear that he’s not ever going to fit in.
He’s a talented player but he is way out of league, and should now be looking to find a comfort zone in Italy or Russia!!
February 7th, 2010 at 0:37
@Johnsom33: I know.
But while it may seem like playful, mindless banter, it also contributes to entertain a untrue caricatural image of him. And the media image of him reflects that. Even tonight, they’ve mentioned how “lazy” he’s perceived to be, when he was very involved for most of the game. Fact is, apart from the leeds game where the whole team didn’t turn up, I struggle to remember a performance from him recently when he played like that.
But of course, caricatures and the collective image of him that people have formed about him, are always going to be the landmark according to which he was going to be judged.
Its really the same thing for Nani – there was time when he would play a decent game with odd frustrating moments and he would have got lambasted for those. It took him to produce 3 masterful performances in a row, and now he’s suddenly flavour of the month and people are willing to gloss over his usual failings.
I’m not kidding myself. Fans and journos alike do that, and will continue to do so for the lulz (thank you encyclopedia dramatica). If things stay like this, in time its most probable that Berba is going to be remembered for the wrong reasons, and personally I would hate that.
Had he been playing in any other team the journos would have been creaming themselves (I can easily imagine Bergkamp like praise). But he plays for us, and he’s been designated as an ideal punching ball. Sadly, many of our own fans happily perpetuate the myths about him without care for balanced appraisal of him.
But we’ve always had to deal with this. If this was 7 years ago, I’m sure I would have been fighting in Ronaldo’s corner after when he was being lambasted for being too wasteful and fancy. Back then too, the media caricature took precedence over what was the boy’s true worth.
Anyway I’m tired now, I’ll going to sleep. Ciao all.
February 7th, 2010 at 0:49
@Stephen: Those Brazilian teams had so much talent that a good keeper was sufficient. How about that great 82 Brazil squad that lost to Italy because their keeper was so useless. 3 shots, 3 goals. Meanwhile Brazil peppered Dino Zoff with over 20 shots and beat him only twice. Too bad you can’t watch the 1974 semi final between Poland and Germany to see how Sepp Maier saved the Germans bacon at least a half dozen times on sure goals in the 1-0 victory. I could give you example after example. Defense and goalkeeping wins you World Cups. Especially in this day and age.
February 7th, 2010 at 0:50
@Red Ranter: It’s because nobody wants to pay him his high wages at 39 or else other teams would go after him.
February 7th, 2010 at 0:52
@Redrich: More like watching Granny cross the street with a walker and stop to pick up a few loose coins on the way. Poor Berba.
February 7th, 2010 at 1:18
@Grognard: I think in Rio Terry Cole England have a pretty solid defence. Right Back is a problem. Johnson is good going forward but average at best defending. Maybe Brown would be a shout if England are going to Defensive at the back and let the midfield do it’s thing.
Here’s one for you… with England having a mass of good Central Midfielder, and only 1 good striker who has excelled in a 4-5 1 recently, what are the odds Capello will try it against Egypt? a midfield 3 of Lampard Barry/Carrick Gerrard with Lennon/Walcott down the left and Milner down the right.
February 7th, 2010 at 1:42
Nice to see the ‘fans’ still find reason to bash berba after a good performance…
February 7th, 2010 at 1:47
Nobody is doubting Berbatov’s skill, but he is a luxury player. He still does not influence the game enough. Yes he’ll occasionally score or provide assists and provide the occasional bit of skill that makes your jaw drop. But he is invisible for large sections of the game, and doesn’t pull his weight in the team. I thought the same about him at Tottenham, even though at least for them he was a lot more prolific.
He will never be at the centre of everything we do, the same way Rooney, Ronaldo, Cantona, and other great United forwards were. And for all his amazing skillset, what we really need is a fast striker who is good in the air and creates space for Rooney. Berbatov is so stationary that although he finds the occasional clever pass, he is relatively easy for opposition defenders to mark so they can concentrate instead on keeping Rooney quiet.
I also doubt his quality when it comes to the really big games. He is not the sort of player Id want on the pitch in a must win Champions League game or a crunch tie against Chelsea or Liverpool. Performing on the biggest stage is the mark of a world class player and Berbatov has never made his mark.
Yes he has been limited in appearances this season, as we’ve increasingly gone with a 4-5-1. But he’s had more than enough games over the last few seasons to cement his place in the team, and he has failed to manage it.
He is a wonderful player, but when you consider the history of the club and all the great forwards such as Rooney, Ruud, Hughes, Cantona, Yorke, Cole….he comes up short.
February 7th, 2010 at 2:16
@colver: He has lots of flair and style, but no fight! – and that really is the issue.
It’s not something you can gain or learn, either. You have it or you don’t have it – he hasn’t.
Like you say, he’s not someone you want on your side in a tough game.
February 7th, 2010 at 2:51
@Grognard: But you have to admit he looked uninterested and unmotivated – and as RR said who can blame him?
Even though Pompey don’t have a great squad, their attitude and performances would be so many times better if the club had a better financial outlook.
That ship is sinking, and I don’t see a lot of men standing on the deck, saluting the flag. If I was them I’d be looking for the nearest lifeboat as well – and I wouldn’t be waiting until the water reaches my feet!!
February 7th, 2010 at 4:45
Anybody watch the Merseyside derby? I have to say that Everton are one of the most attackingly uninspired teams I’ve seen in a long, long time.
With Arteta, Saha and Donovan, they should be scoring 2-3 goals a game!
What is it with Moyes?, is he so used to trying to stay out of the bottom half, that he’s forgotten to preach the offensive side of the game.
This was truly one of the most uninspired displays that I’ve seen from them in years!
Is their progress, over the years, limited by their roster? – or is Moyes not the inspiration that they need??
February 7th, 2010 at 6:14
Probably the most boring 5-0 game i’ve seen in a long time…But good nonetheless!!!!
Now we just need arsenal to not lose…
February 7th, 2010 at 9:52
@Traverse: Capello seems to be more than happy wasting everyone’s time with the useless Heskey up front with Rooney. I suppose he serves his purpose but for me, he is a waste of space and replacing him with a truly talented player seems paramount for England to have any chance whatsoever. 4-5-1 is not the answer however. No team has ever won a World Cup playing that negatively. It’s a short tournament and it only takes one game where nothing goes right with Rooney up front and on his own and it’s all over. I’m pretty sure he will stick to 4-4-2, although I could see him stacking the midfield against a Brazil or Spain for obvious reasons. Where’s Hargo when you need him?
February 7th, 2010 at 9:56
@Redrich: I’d like to say “Sucks to be them”, but then I think a bit and realize, we’re in no better shape ourselves. It won’t be long before we are in a world of hurt with the Glazer’s stealing from us everyday and D-Day looming off in the not too distant future. Unless we can get rid of them sooner rather than later, I see us being in the same boat because not too many investors out there want to tackle 700 million or 500 million in debt.
February 7th, 2010 at 9:57
@Redrich: He’s just one of many British chicken shit managers who only know one way to manage, with caution.
February 7th, 2010 at 10:52
unbelievable, So this is the Elitist site is it? better off reading tea leaves!! i wont bother elaborating
February 7th, 2010 at 11:11
It’s not an elitist site. But it demands someone making the effort to write coherently if they are capable of it. If they deliberately write incoherently as a way to pisstake (like he did) then I have a problem with it.
Anyway, I’m done talking about this.
February 7th, 2010 at 11:48
im not bashing berba just for the sake of bashing him, im bashing him because he is not a manu player and never will be. it is also unfair to compare him to nani, as nani has not really ever got a long enough stint in the team to prove his worth, but berbatov has had a full season and a hhalf of consistent football with not much to show.
IT amazed me last year how he kept tevez out of the team when we had an awesome partnership with tevez and rooney, and it also amazes me this year how little an oppurtunity owen is getting even tho its obvious to all he fits in better up front with ooney and im pretty sure if he had played as much miutes as berbatov he would have more goals/ my comments on berba are fair and just. i really do hope he is gone at the end of the year and bring in a long term partner for rooney that will compliment him
February 7th, 2010 at 12:18
@jamie lee: Never say Manu!
February 7th, 2010 at 13:10
YESS!!!!
Norway in the same group as Portugal, can’t wait to see Ronaldo and Nani here! 
February 7th, 2010 at 13:14
Daily Mail seems to think we might be after Stephen Ireland if City decide to let him go. That would be an interesting signing and a pretty cheap replacement for Anderson, if we decide to let Anderson go. Of course Id prefer a world class midfielder, but with financial problems it is best to be realistic.
February 7th, 2010 at 13:51
@jamie lee: Berba is a very cultured player mate, but I do have to agree with you on two counts:-
.
First – He isn’t a United player for the way we like to play the game – or he hasn’t proved he is over many games of football for us. He is a Fergie ‘white elephant’ mistake of a player, and Fergie keeps him in to save his own REDFACEDNESS
Secondly – You are more than a little right in saying that we didn’t want to be what SAF thought was ripped off for keeping Tevez, because it would have cost us 21 million more on top of agreed 25 million. Tevez cost City 46 Million! However when you consider we wasted 31 million quid on Berba, letting Spurs rip us off, because of United’s ineptitude as usual to get business done early, instead of panicking on deadline day, we could have better used that dosh to keep Tevez, whom like him or not, is proving his worth to City this year, more than Berba is proving to us. Another Fergie costly misjudgement AGAIN!
February 7th, 2010 at 14:02
@Grognard:
, problem is Groggy, all the fans would be arrested because it is a police state at OT – no kidding. Then Gill and SAF would insist on BANNING said supporters. What the fuck happened to democracy eh? England has become shit mate!
February 7th, 2010 at 14:06
@Johnsom33: It’s not Berba bashing at all, it is just some of us giving honest to God views of his fittedness for our team! It’s Berba fans ‘bashing the so called bashers’ that the problem. Maybe we should start responding in Gaelic idiom, that way we could say what we want, instead of getting censored on this blog eh?
February 7th, 2010 at 14:08
@NicoQB: Well considering he rarely starts against the big teams at all, I am not suprised with his goals tally
.
February 7th, 2010 at 14:17
@Jay wire: How do you come to that conclusion mate? Berba played almost all games on the trot in his 1st season, and how many goals did he score, say compared to how many Tevez scored in his 1st season? None of us DENY that Berba is a skilful player, but to be a Manchester United player requires a certain kind of mentality and bottle – Berba has a mental block and anxiety, and canit by his own admission come to terms with the expectations at OT. Also the very thing I hated and still do about Berba, is that when things go bad for him in performance level – he turns round and BERATES all other players around him, and blames them. Since Berba didn’t play the last few games, a lot of our players who he constantly GRIPED to, have been more relaxed and encouraged by playing with the team. So NO I don’t appreciate that in Berba, and I would have thumped him for his attitude sometimes, but then I am not on the pitch putting up with his deridings – am I?
February 7th, 2010 at 14:19
@colver:
(at tottenham)
No, he wasn’t.
He started most games and performed accordingly – 15 goals (11 asssits) for 33 starts in 2007/2008.
He started 14 games this season, with a return of 8 goals. If he started 33 games he’d score about 17 goals, not bad at all, if you add a number of assists with it.
February 7th, 2010 at 14:25
Last night in post match discussion on MUTV, the commentator’pundits were answering a question about Real Madrid and Nani for summer transfer. Madrid saw Nani and his supply for Ronaldo which led to a lot of goals for him, and same with Portugal. That was when SAF played the lad in his 1st season. Now Madrid are sniffing around again apparently. David May etc were saying ‘why would Nani want to leave? He is being given game time now by Sir Alex, and proving his point. He is doing well, why would he leave? No, I cannot see why he would leave us for Madrid in the summer!
, are you kidding me? I can see every reason why he would leave us in the summer – not least because he has been treated like shit by Fergie, and because United fans have fucked with the lad by being so fucking ignorant and unappreciative. 
February 7th, 2010 at 14:31
@NicoQB: No mate, I would have packed Lil mans bags and driven him to the airport, rejoicing with the lad, over his good fortune of escaping OT’s leper colony, and the vilifications of the Nani haterz
.
February 7th, 2010 at 14:35
@Jay wire: Careful what you accuse of mate – because most Brit fans watch all the other PL games, and we did see Berba for Spurs – and that regularly.
February 7th, 2010 at 14:37
@Redrich: Hope your granny doesn’t play on the Freeway mate
. Just teasing!
February 7th, 2010 at 14:38
@jamie lee:
Just continue to lap up all journalistic ramblings. That you call our team manu says enough about you.
Do you sincerely believe that Owen is a better partner for any of our other forwards? Heck even Diouf is starting to edge ahead of him.
About berbatov:
2008/2009: 36 games (out of which many he was substituted at some point), 14 goals, 9 assists.
His first season, sure he could have been better, but its not like he was poor.
2009/2010: 13 goals, 4 assists, in a season where he started much less games than last year.
So to prove you wrong;
1. He’s progressed this season
2. The awesome partnership with Tevez and Rooney was a 4-3-3. If Owen was to play in 4-3-3, he would have to be either a winger cum striker -which he will probably never be; or be the furthest man up front. Conse=idering Rooney great form in this position, and the fact that Owen’s lost a yard or two of pace, he will not play there. Its more or less the same situation with 4-5-1.
3. 4-4-2: Probably the best formation when the opposition come to park the bus, as we will then play possession football. The strikers then need to be able to pick a pass and create for others as well as being finishers. Berbatov and Rooney can, which is less the case with Owen.
February 7th, 2010 at 14:40
@Redrich: Well I hope you were stood to attention mate, with head bowed for your own 1 minute silence
February 7th, 2010 at 14:45
@jamie lee: Another thing about Tevez, he was great for us when he came off the bench but could be pants when he started games.
The exact opposite of Berbatov for that matter.
THat tevez wanted to start all games, makes it an easy decision for us in the end, imho.
February 7th, 2010 at 14:56
@NicoQB: That might be true, but Berba and Rooney cannot and never will be able to play off the shoulder of the last man – as Owen can. Owen if played regularly to regain his match sharpness, would score as many goals as Berba, and yes I would BET on that!
February 7th, 2010 at 15:17
@CraigMc: Nary a peep from me, lad.
February 7th, 2010 at 15:27
@CraigMc: Rooney can play on the shoulder f the last man, evn though he’s not as good as Owen there.
The thing here is that “playing off the shoulder of the last man” only works in either 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 when we are banking on counter attacking tactics.
Since Rooney is (unfortunately for you
) unmoveable from the starting eleven, Owen has no place in these formations, and seemingly, neither has Berbatov!
We’re only left with 4-4-2 but would anyone of us consider moving Rooney back as second striker, considering the success he’s had recently? So its either Berbatov or Owen as second striker, and considering this position needs more finesse, on the ball technique and creativity, there’s only one player who stands out, and his name isn’t Michael.
February 7th, 2010 at 16:37
@Redrich:
.
February 7th, 2010 at 16:39
@NicoQB: I am sure Rooney and Owen played together recently, with Owen up front and Rooney off him, and Rooney scored, or did I dream that???
February 7th, 2010 at 16:43
I’d agree with NicoQB that in a 4-4-2 Berbatov should start ahead of Owen, especially in the games where teams park the bus and we get plenty of possession allowing Berbatov a lot of time on the ball to do his thing.
Owen was a strange signing. I don’t think Fergie really knows how to use him and with Rooney turning into a wonderful out-and-out striker there is no real need for Owen. If Rooney got injured I wouldn’t mind seeing a Owen-Berbatov partnership upfront.
NicoQB, his Tottenham figures were over the course of a season and included a significant number of assists. We’ll see what happens between now and the end of the season and then we can make a fairer comparison.
My real problem with Berbatov is that he does not seem to be on the same wavelength as the rest of the team. He likes to take his time on the ball and slows the play down. That would be fine in a possession football team like Arsenal or Barcelona, who are happy playing at a slow pace, passing teams into submission. But our game is much more based on fast, flowing football with lots of movement and energy.
His goal return has been better this season, but he has missed his fair share of sitters and he needs to be a lot more aggressive in the box.
He has never really made an effort to adapt his game to fit with the team. And it is unfair to try to suggest the team should try to accomodate him.
Appearances can be deceiving and the papers exaggerate, but I think it is fair to say that Berbatov lacks the hunger, the desire, the will to win, that United players need. Also like CraigMc said he seems a bit overawed and for all his seeming aloofness I think he suffers from a lack of confidence. For a player with his skill and intelligence he should have much more of an impact on games. Statistics are not everything and Im looking beyond the statistics here.
For these reasons Berbatov is unlikely to ever be considered to be a United great. Which is a shame, because he is as skillful as anyone we’ve had at the club.
Yes I am being hyper-critical. But at a club like ours, with our legacy of top class strikers, I can afford to be.
February 7th, 2010 at 16:46
The crystal ball was right yesterday (predicted 2-0 and we scored two goals) and today it is back.
Chelsea- Arsenal Score: 1-1 with Ivanovic red carded.
That’s a fact!
February 7th, 2010 at 16:49
The mail and Sunday People was reporting that Fergie said in this weeks game programme that he had sympathies for the supporters and their campaign. Is it beginning to hit home then with Fergie, that this campaign is for real??? I didn’t get a programme, could anyone who perhaps did, say if this reporting about SAF is true?
February 7th, 2010 at 16:52
@colver: You guys are harsh on Berbatov — even if he has not been a 15+ striker this season his last game against Portsmouth, he scored and should have had at least one assist.
I thought he provided Rooney with less man-cover and allowed Rooney’s first goal I would say.
To each his own, I guess.
February 7th, 2010 at 17:29
Le Arse are getting sucker punched!!
February 7th, 2010 at 17:43
I think what Arsenal really need to turn this match is a silky 5′10 attacking midfielder…
February 7th, 2010 at 18:09
Has Wenger finally come out of the closet to show himself as a total fraud?
February 7th, 2010 at 18:18
One thing United have done for years is that when they lose a match, they usually learn from it and rarely come out the following week and repeat not only the same kind of performance, but the same kind of dumb ass tactics and lack of desire. Teams have realized that you beat Arsenal by playing a zone defense and pouncing on them with speed on the counter. The bonus is the knowledge that when you get a chance or two in the game , the ball will go into the net because Arsenal is playing with no keeper.
How long have Arsenal needed a striker to replace Adebayor? Wenger had a month and money to go out and buy a player like that. Instead he sits Bendtner and uses Arshavin (an attacking midfielder) as a lone striker. And to add insult to injury, he tells his players to cross the ball in tot he box where Chelsea is tall and where Arshavin are midgets. Call it the “Audacity of Stupidity”. Wenger should write a book on just how NOT to rebuild a team. He loves his youth movement but the problem is that other than Arshavin and Fabregas, all his players are pants. Total shit sticks. I’m glad Chelsea are winning. Let them and United create separation from the rest. If we beat out Chelsea for the title, we have 13 games to make up a few points. 10 wins in that period should do it as Chelsea do slip up against poor opponents. One thing is for sure however. We must not leave Stamford Bridge with anything less than a point. Beat them or draw and I do like our chances for a change. The benching of Anderson and the rebirth of Nani have given this team a new look and hope. And if Rooney continues to excel, then anything is possible.
February 7th, 2010 at 18:20
@Red Ranter: I agree with you mate but if you look around I’m sure you will agree that this blog is a far more serious and intelligent blog than most out there. So although it is not intentionally elitist, it is elite in general content.
February 7th, 2010 at 18:22
@EduardoDaVinci4: When you say that to somebody Eddy, you should at least explain why. Not everybody around the world knows that. I have been a fan for 35 years and I did not know that until somebody corrected me on this blog three years ago.
February 7th, 2010 at 18:22
@Grognard: we already left stamford bridge with zero points
February 7th, 2010 at 18:25
@CraigMc: Let them get arrested then. Sometimes we need to fall on a sword to make a statement. It would get in the news and further make the case for the fans vs the Glazer’s. Peaceful protest doesn’t help when your enemy is in Florida. We can be like West Ham fans and be forever blowing bubbles, or we can get angry and show some force against this repressive regime that not only is stripping the club of it’s wealth, but is also creating a police state in which the fans freedom of expression is now being taken away. What’s next, they won’t allow anyone wearing green and yellow into the stands?
February 7th, 2010 at 18:28
@ROOOOONEY: Yes you are correct. I forgot we are playing them at home. Still, same rule applies. A win is needed but a draw will keep us within striking distance. It’s maximizing our points against the rest of the league that will make the difference. No days off against minnows.
February 7th, 2010 at 18:36
Drogba is a fucking monster!!!
…………
We should play Diouf more often!
February 7th, 2010 at 18:50
@EduardoDaVinci4: I tried telling you guys. On form ,drogba is the best striker in the world. Even better than the ladyboy torres. Because of his pace and physicality he is unplayable.
February 7th, 2010 at 18:57
@Grognard: Wenger has convinced himself, and everyone around him, that he is never wrong. This stubbornness and elitism, that exudes from him, has hindered the progress of Arsenal for years.
Playing Arshavin as a CF is an example of it, and instead of signing a replacement for Van Persie, he stuck with his dumb plan. It has now cost him the title this year – as it has for the last 2-3 seasons.
His view of the game is way too Utopian, and whilst admiral in it’s conception, it’s very naive and unpractical in today’s PL.
February 7th, 2010 at 18:59
@CraigMc: Please listen to reason. Nobody was bothered by your boy scitjimlands point if view. We were only bothered by his delivery if said point if view. As Norweigandevil pointed out, in red ranters own rules text type is not to be tolerated. He was warned and still he didn’t rectify his mistakes.
I have zero problems with his point of view becaue frankly I’m not sure what it was because he didn’t speak English. So again I’m wondering how the hell your even trying to defend this guy.
Also stop saying Tevez would have cost us 46million. His fee was a agreed 25million. We tried to negotiate it down, but it’s hard to talk your way out of a fee that you already “agreed on”.
February 7th, 2010 at 19:12
@EduardoDaVinci4: Denmark , Norway, Iceland, Portugal and Cyprus is interested… Denmark will beat norway for 2nd place.
February 7th, 2010 at 19:14
@Grognard: “the audacity of stupid” hahahagagaga I was dying when I read that. I really do want to like wenger but he and his fans make it impossible. He refuses to get off his high horse and admit his mistakes.
Much is made of his shrewdness in the transfer market, but the same people refuse to talk about his failure to keep players. Any fan who says they don’t miss adebayor or flamini is a blind idiot.
5 years without a trophy and still wenger won’t give up his stubborn crusade. To quote alan hansen “you can’t win with Kids”. Fergie proved this wrong, but he did what wenger can’t seem to grasp. Developing young talent is one thing, it’s keeping the talent that is the thing wenger doesn’t understand yet.
February 7th, 2010 at 19:21
@[OPTI]Madschester United:
1. Norway
2. Denmark
3. Portugal
4. Iceland
5. Cyprus
You alirght with that mate?
February 7th, 2010 at 19:47
NICO i dont understand how come you are defending berbatov so much, i have read you facts on his goal return and assists, and all i have to say even tho he has made progress the facts you showed me are still no where near a good enough return for a player that cost 30million plus. DO U AGREE?
also regarding tevez, in 08 united played with two up top for the majority of the season, those two consisted of a partnership of rooney and tevez. the pair were dynamic with a great workrate and hunger which TRUE united fans love. and ronaldo dominated on either flank. that season we were near unbeatable and won the double. and tevez came up with a few important goals for us, has berba done that????
that was then and this is now, tevez and ronaldo are gone and life goes on,however can you honestly tell me what has berbatov done this season to prove he,s worth his place? in fact im not saying owen should be a guarenteed starter but surely he deserves a chance, like he scores a hatrick in europe and is then not given a proper chance to establish a place in the team. howver at the moment i believe 4 5 1 is suited uniteds qualities perfectly, howver when we do opt to play 442 i belive owen is the better choice than berba as he can play of the shoulder and rooney is brilliant behind or up top, its all the same to him, and i guarentee owen would get more chances than berbtov cause he is better in the box than he is, and a far better finisher, I VERY MUCH DOUBT BERBA WOULD SCORE THE GOAL OWEN SCORED AGAINST CITY IN THE 4 3 WIN, HE PROBALLY WOULD BE STROLLING AROUND SOMWHERE THINKING ABOU WHAT HES GOING TO HAVE FOR DINNER LATER, OR SOMETHING
ALSO ANOTHER FACT OWEN HAS MUCH MORE HUNGER THAT BERBATOV HAS TOO. FACE IT HES NOT A UNITED PLAYER………… what dont u agree with me now???
February 7th, 2010 at 20:18
@NicoQB: Let it be mate… Arguing for Berba with some United (not “manu”) fans is like performing magic tricks in front of the blind people… You know some of these people have the audacity to bash Berba when sometimes they defend player like Anderson and their favorites are players like Anderson (the crappiest player ever witnessed by football and least deserving player to wear United shirt)…
February 7th, 2010 at 20:30
@AndyCR7: Would that be me?
Seriously, at least many of us have seen what Anderson posesses. In his first season we were all drooling over him, and at the start of this season he was showing glimpses of what he could do. He dominated players such as Gerrard, Fabregas and De Rossi in important fixtures and proved himself as a good midfielder. Except for the fact that he couldn’t shoot, he had it all. Passing range, speed, vision, strength, tackling ability and skill. He has lost his football head during the past two years, which has dissapointed a lot of us. He can still produce some of that brasillian magic, but waaay to rarely I’m afraid.
I hope putting him in the doghouse will see a result like with Nani, who has blossomed lately! I’ve still got faith in Anderson, the only thing with him I’m worried about is his off-field focus. Partying and acting like an ignorant twat doesn’t suit well for me if it has effects on the pitch… But like I said, he is young and I’ve still got faith in him.
Berbatov has proven me nothing reminding of a United player. Them few glimpses, yeah, and he has proven to be a magnificent footballer. Just not United material, or could we say United mentality?
February 7th, 2010 at 21:26
@jamie lee:
I don’t agree with you because you are simply perpetrating half truths, when they are not plain lies.
In 08 tevez and rooney played together and moderately well. But the real driving force behind all this nobody will deny was ronaldo.
Sorry to say but being a newbie here you wouldn’t know that this argument has been argued to death.
At the end of the day, most agree that despite tevez being a good player, he wasn’t worth the hassle of him not accepting rotation gracefully and him being basically a bit on the thick side, being a puppet in the hands of his owners.
As for berbatov not being worth his price tag, I’d argue that he currently is just worth it. When we bought him we paid for 1) United tax = +6million 2) oil rich city competing with us = +3million 4) twat daniel levy holding out at the last = + 3 million
Berbatov’s “true” market value would be closer to 20 million and even that in all fairness, we should not judge a player according to a transfer tag he had nothing to do with it.
the Berba vs. tevez debate was also argued to death. Just know that tevez with his sometimes dodgy touch would lose the ball, bust a lung and get it back (to the hurrays of the OT crowd, a.k.a the Alan Smith effect) but in the end this would be wasteful as the opposition would have had time to regroup; whereas berbatov would simply NOT lose the ball in the first place. Less pleasing on the eye, but much more efficient as proven by his assists stats.
As for owen deserving a chance yes he does, but go back reading my point about how he simply doesn’t fit in any of our systems, not when Rooney is in this form. Rooney is NOT as brilliant as he is right now if played as second striker as he tends to lose focus of his duties. And anyway, bar the last game against hull where the association was just passable, the owen-rooney partnership generally failed to live up to the hopes of fans. (By the way in that game the moment berbatov came on he instantly delivered an assist)
As for your view about berba strolling around blah blah, you are just being perpetuating a myth and showing your gullibility to believe journalistic crap. Sure its funny (gratingly so) but its wide off the mark, especially this season where he’s shown noticeable will to chin up.
February 7th, 2010 at 21:49
Aah,… nothing like a good Berbatov fight to stir the juices!!
February 7th, 2010 at 21:53
@NicoQB:
February 7th, 2010 at 22:04
I fucking hate Spanish!
February 7th, 2010 at 22:05
NICO your points are recieved gracefully, i accept that your points are fair
howver i wont accept him ever so lets agree to disagree
February 7th, 2010 at 22:11
@EduardoDaVinci4: What all of them??
February 7th, 2010 at 22:12
@EduardoDaVinci4: No thank you.
It should be fun to have Norge and Danmark fighting fro Euro kvalification.
February 7th, 2010 at 22:27
…but he can really strut his stuff, and the style… oh the style!!
February 7th, 2010 at 22:50
@NicoQB: Tevez only had too be rotated because of fergies obsession with berba. But the cold part is fergies lust for him was coupled with his ignorance on how to play him.
February 7th, 2010 at 22:50
@NicoQB: Tevez only had too be rotated because of fergies obsession with berba. But the cold part is fergies lust for him was coupled with his ignorance on how to play him.
February 7th, 2010 at 22:52
@Redrich: No mate, just the language!
Got a big Spanish test tomorrow, gotta say it’s a shit language in my opinion. How the fuck do I spell Cuaterodiergonito!?!?!? 
Oh well, wish me luck!
February 7th, 2010 at 22:54
By the way, to all them puffs saying Italian or Spanish or French is the most beautiful language, I say FUCK OFF!!!
English is the best by far! 
Luv it, just geniounly luv it! Am I right?! 
February 7th, 2010 at 23:14
@EduardoDaVinci4: He’s a monster that rarely ever does anything against us because Nemanja has him in his back pocket.
February 7th, 2010 at 23:23
I’m watching the “Rooney – My first year at Old Trafford” DVD from 2006… In the start, when talking about the Rooney transfer, Fergie says this:
“We were feeling some pressure of Chelsea, because they could splash the cash on whoever they wanted, and we felt that with the talent Wayne had, sooner or later they would have a go at him. When we(Manchester United) go to battle for someone we want, I think it’s important we win it. And I think that was emphasis on the Rooney deal. We spent the amount of money we did, just for the sake of it. Manchester United couldn’t feel not to get him.”
hmm….
February 7th, 2010 at 23:26
@Redrich: Naive and stubborn is the best way to describe him and his master plan. I actually like his youth movement but here’s the thing. Most of his young players suck. I mean they are not very good nor will they ever amount to much. I personally think Clichy, Sagna, Eboue, Denilson, Song, Nasri, Walcott and Eduardo are all incredibly overrated and borderline useless. The only players I truly rate as good players on that team are Arshavin, Fabregas and surprisingly enough, Bendtner, who I know many on here think is useless. I actually think he would be a great striker in a country like Germany where his style is more adaptable.
Wenger’s greatest mistake however is to manage the club for three years and still not get the obvious fact that Manuel Almunia is pants. Simp;ly the most untalented and useless goalkeeper I have seen. Even wortse than Ben Foster because Foster is still capable of great reflex saves and the odd moment of brilliance. I frankly cannot recall the last time Almunia made a worthwhile save like the ones Petr Cech made today. And really, when has he ever made a game saving stop that helped his team save a point or a win.
Add to all this the obvious arrogance and stupidity to want to go this long without a legitimate striker up front and to not spend money to replace the loss of Adebayor and instead play Arshavin way out of position is just bordering on sheer incompetence. I honestly don’t know what the Hell the man is thinking? He makes many of the stupid personnel gaffs Fergie has made look like genius in comparison. Fergie by no means gets off free as he too has allowed too much stupidity to go unchecked. He has used players that are creative nitwits like Anderson and has been overly patient with too many of the young players that simply don’t cut it. But in fairness to him, he has also been patient and rewarded with the revelations of players like Fletcher and now Nani. He too doesn’t get that we need a special player in our midfield and a quality goalkeeper for the future, but at least he seems to get more out of his group than Wenger does with his because many of our players have more maturity and quality on the big day. Credit the manager for that.
February 7th, 2010 at 23:29
@Johnsom33: Point of view? He had no point of view and he literally was a rebel without a clue.
February 7th, 2010 at 23:36
@Johnsom33: As far as I ma concerned there is another manager who doesn’t like to get off his high horse and admit his mistakes but the funny thing with that individual is that even when he fucks up, and it’s a lot, he always seems to come out of the conflict untouched and unharmed. Credit to Fergie for having that special touch to make a blunder and still come out of it looking like silver. Wenger is a great manager but he is not and nor will he ever be in the class of Fergie because he fails at one area of the game where Fergie excels in. MAN MANAGEMENT. Fergie can get more out of a Darren Fletcher and Jonny Evans than Wenger can get out of stars like Fabregas and Arshavin. He knows how to motivate and prepare players mentally, especially for big games. Arsenal’s big players never show up for big games and he seems to get nothing out of his lesser players. We always put down Fergie’s rotation policy but look at it this way. United always have around 20 players who are all capable of playing a game. Arsenal have 11 or 12 players because they have no depth and because Wenger’s bench is thin and lacking in quality and match experience. At least Fergie’s young players get a chance to excel and adapt.
February 7th, 2010 at 23:38
@EduardoDaVinci4: Me too. Almost as much as Italian.
February 7th, 2010 at 23:39
@EduardoDaVinci4: For me it’s not the languages, it’s the football.
February 7th, 2010 at 23:47
OK Superbowl time, see you all later.
GO SAINTS !!!
February 7th, 2010 at 23:50
@Redrich: Colts for me.
February 8th, 2010 at 0:30
@Redrich: Red Devils for me!
February 8th, 2010 at 2:32
The real problem with Arsene is he discovered how to boss the Premier League in the early 00s and then he tries to re-invent the wheel. Even Fergie hasn’t managed to produce a team of invicibles. That team was tall, strong, athletic with skill to boot. OK maybe the funds were not there to adequately replace players like Viera, Bergkamp, Ljungberg and Henry. But with his eye for talent he could have at least tried to sign players in the same mould.
The average height of the Arsenal team has falled by around four inches over the last five years, and the average age has fallen about five years as well. I do not know about muscle mass, but Im sure that has fallen as well.
They play beautiful football on their day but they totally lack the grit of a successful team and their team is totally lacking in balance.
Wenger has done amazingly to keep his side in the top four on such a shoestring budget. But to win things you have to splash the cash, focus on substance rather than style, and winning rather than playing beautifully.
Fergie is also stubborn and it has cost us at times. But you have to give it to the old guy. His teams do play winning football even if it isn’t pretty at times.
February 8th, 2010 at 3:04
@NicoQB: Forget it mate, some people are so set in their opinions that they don’t see how important Berbatov is to United right now
As for the match, glad we won by that margin. Also, credit must go to Evans for making that goal-line block when the score was still 0-0, he has been great for us this season.
February 8th, 2010 at 4:20
@Red Ranter: Sucks for you.
February 8th, 2010 at 6:31
Food for thought:
This is the age of Chelsea’s top starters (ranked by minutes played): Goes from Terry (2113 mins) to Sturridge (180 min played):
{29,27.31,29,30,31,31,33,25,27,29.32.22.28.27.24,33,27,26,31,20} – avg. age = 28.2 yrs
Age of United’s top starters: From Evra (2218 minutes) to De Laet (148 minutes):
{28, 24, 24, 26, 28, 30, 29, 35, 36, 28, 22, 28, 21, 23, 39, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 19, 34, 22, 21} – avg. age = 27.5 yrs.
Difference: +0.7 years.
Looking at top 11 starters we have:
Chelsea average: 29.3 yrs
United average: 28.2 yrs.
Difference: +1.1 years
Looking at top 5 starters we have:
Chelsea average: 29.2 yrs
United average: 26 years.
Difference +3.2 years
That means our top performers are much younger than theirs and HERE is the golden nugget. When ECL come back in full swing the aging Chelsea squad will begin to feel the squeeze of playing a lot of games in a short amount of time (add in their FA Cup games) and I firmly believe our more youthful (and equally experienced) side will get the upper hand and I can feel (and BELIEVE!) that we will win the premier league.
Indeed, it feels good to be a United fan!
February 8th, 2010 at 6:32
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Source
February 8th, 2010 at 12:56
@NicoQB: Errrr Nico – think you got your assessment a bit wrong mate! The only reason that United payed 31 million quid for Berba – 11 million over his estimated worth (in your opinion 20 million), is because of United not tying up the deal until HIGH NOON on deadline day! They made the fatal error they always make, that nobody else would come in for Berbatov. They could have had Berba just after or even before Robbie Keane left for L’pool, but as usual the tight shits we are, we didin’t want to pay Spurs the 20 million, and so bolloxed the whole deal when Shitty came in for him
February 8th, 2010 at 13:03
@EduardoDaVinci4: Andy is never going to make the big time mate – if he doesn’t stop all his late night whoring. He is not a lean, mean fighting machine, and is a lazy GIT in training. Rooney used to be the same, arsing around, late nights and play stations. I just heard him say that he is playing to a better level now, BECAUSE he is in bed at 10.30 every night, and stays behind in training. Well wonders never bloody cease, not rocket science is it Roon
.
February 8th, 2010 at 13:13
@jamie lee: Jamie – try using your strong button to emphasise your points mate, because full sentences composed of Capital letters, are not allowed on this blog. It is ok to emphasise with odd words in Capitals, but not sentences
. One thing to remember about Berba in your difference of opinion with Nico and others, is that THIS season, he has been carrying an injury which will obviously effect performances. However, I still personally believe that although a very gifted player, he has not really gelled in our type of football. Other think differently, but that is what fandom is all about. I have noticed though the high and mighty condescension of the Berba fans, who like to try and belittle your differing opinions on Berba. Next thing you know, they will be wanting you to be banned from the blog in the manner of Scot – Jim 
.
February 8th, 2010 at 13:16
@EduardoDaVinci4: Portugal and Norway to qualify – that will do me
.
February 8th, 2010 at 13:26
@Johnsom33: Mate do you ever watch MUTV? Just a question like? Because SAF said that is what United would have had to pay to keep him at OT, because of his high demand for wages and other payments. He said that is why he went to City, and not for any of the other reasons he spouted week on week. We refused to pay 46 million for obvious reasons – we are fucking penniless mate and living on borrowed money. City were flushed and coughed up his demands of 46 million. Mark Hughes confirmed this, but said he is worth it – sooooooooooooooo go figure mate. As for Scot-Jim, I told you why he started to write text and Gaelic twatter – and that because some folk were in fact coming against his United fervour, calling him rah-rah etc. Maybe he didn’t respond in the right way, but people on here weren’t responding to him in the right way. So no mate, I can’t just go along with your reasoning – sorry and all!
February 8th, 2010 at 13:30
@Johnsom33: Drogba is the best and unplayable – that must be why he did so well in the African nations cup – NOT!
February 8th, 2010 at 14:09
@CraigMc: Also Spurs always hold out for top dollar, like they did with Carrick.
February 8th, 2010 at 17:06
@Redrich: That’s your opinion. It is not abundantly clear. Number one,this season he has not played many. Two, Just when he was beginning to get into his stride in October( United Player of the Month),his knee gave in. he didn’t play till end of November and it has been bit part since. He is still playing with a knee that is not 100%. Some said Nani doesn’t fit in and would be better of outside England. How many still stand by that. United fans have this habit of just writing off players without looking at surrounding circumstances. If SAF and his team figure out how to play him and what role he should take then he’ll come good. I suppose Owen doesn’t fit in as well given how long he has been here and his goal tally.
February 8th, 2010 at 17:40
What is expected of Berbatov really. Given the number of games he has playedhe has definitely done well. Take into account sub appearances. If he should be close to Rooney’s total then he has to be played as consistently. I look at both Berbatov and Owen and I see players that are doing well given the opportunities they have had. Nani was given a lot of stick here now ppl say it’s unfair to compare the two since Nani never had enough games. Amazing levels of amnesia are displayed everyday on this forum. Now Nani was hard done by yet a few weeks ago everyone was saying “he has been here 3 years now and has been given enough time.” I ALWAYS talk of things like a decent run of games and correct positioning and roles. It seems to be something that is taken lightly here and players should just perform like a bunch of FIFA 10 players and perform at anytime they are called to. Regardless of being out for a month. At one point Rooney was getting it with his barren spells. Noone even cared that he was being injured as soon as his goal rush was taking speed. Or the fact that SAF was playing all over the place to benefit Ronaldo.Noone even cared that he was scoring almost every game for England where Capello played him strictly as a striker. Now he is topping the charts. Is it a miracle. No. He has not had any injuries to contend with this season and thanx 90% to Capello and also Ronaldo’s departure,Rooney is back as a striker for UTD. Simple. I’ve defended many players,(Nani,Andy,Rooney) and now it’s Berba. In all cases no one bothers about underlying circumstances. It’s always “you came in as an 85th min sub you should have scored a brace”. I think I can safely predict that Owen will be the next target of condemnation once Berba picks up speed.
February 8th, 2010 at 17:53
@CraigMc: So I guess you watched how mighty Spurs were able to use him best and make him work within a fast attacking team. So how do people then come up with statements like “he is more suited to a slower passing team” so he should play in Italy. At United we always make excuses when players are not performing to their hype. He is not suited to United. He is not suited to the Premiership. He doesn’t have the right mentality for a club like United (as if we are psychics). If people watched him at Spurs knowing fully well that Spurs and United play a very similar game,then it’s surprising when they say he doesn’t fit in. NO. SAF doesn’t know how to use him. Period. If Bulgaria’s coach had the same profile level as Capello then maybe Fergie would have watched how he has been using him to such deadly effect till Lippi( Italy coach) said Berbatov is “unplayable”.
February 8th, 2010 at 17:58
@CraigMc: Owen played regularly would outscore both Berba and Rooney. He is a natural finisher critically low on confidence. Start him 3 in a row and that’s it. Unfortunately with Rooney’s form that’s not possible,so both him and Berba will have to share appearances alongside the Roon. Which doesn’t help either.
February 8th, 2010 at 18:30
@Grognard: To be fair to Wenger he has had more success with unknowns than Fergie. Henry was a Juventus castaway,being played as a winger when he took him to London. Viera was in a similar situation at Milan. You look at how suddenly Flamini has become ordinary. The problem with Wenger is his stubborness not in the style of play but composition of his team. Neither Denilson nor Alex can physically overpower anyone in midfield. Same with Diaby. It was different when Viera or Gilberto were around. There’s absolutely no muscle in his team. Chelsea are a very physical side and you need to match them in that dept. They are also a very immature team and too naive. He does take attacking football to it’s very extremes esp when u look at Rooney’s goal on the break. They had no sweeper at all and Gallas was still in our box when Rooney passed to Nani. Still his man management overally isn’t on the same level as Ferguson’s
February 8th, 2010 at 18:38
@colver: Personally I don’t think he has to change his style of football. It has worked for him before. He needs grit as u pointed out. Barca never play ugly but with muscle players like Yaya and Bousquets it works out fine for them. Madrid have Lassana Diarra and they still play their style no matter who the opposition is.
February 8th, 2010 at 19:32
@CraigMc: Part of the problem with all young players is that they are also young men. When I was in my early 20’s I was a night club whore. I lived in those places and I frankly not ashamed to say, I got a lot of action and had a lot of fun back in those day. Those were the best times in my life and if by some chance I was lucky enough to be playing a pro sport, I would feel really depressed and oppressed if a team expected me to go to bed at 10:30pm and limited my nightlife. I turned 51 yesterday and I can say this, I would tell any team and any manager to go sod off if they tried to tell me to live the life of a monk while playing for them. I believe youth is a time for all of us to get the parties and women out of our system. To oppress that is unnatural. It’s great to have dedication and commitment to a profession but let nobody ever convince you that work and no play is the way to succeed. Those who work hard and are the best but who don’t play, lead dull lives and eventually feel bitter that they screwed themselves over when it comes to the best years of their lives. Lets just say that at 20 to 25 all athletes should have their cake and eat it. If fans and managers have a problem with that, I would suggest they too try to get a life because life is too short. We must let it count. “All work and no play would make John a dull boy” as the old saying goes.
Anderson sucks not because he is fat or because he is a party animal. It’s because he simply isn’t that great a footballer.
February 8th, 2010 at 19:33
@CraigMc: Like I said earlier, Vidic has him in his back pocket. Drogba does not like the physical game and if you rough him up a bit and push him around, he disappears from a game.
February 8th, 2010 at 19:35
@Jay wire: I don’t think you can use immature as an excuse for arsenal anymore. It is 100% Wenger’s doing that Arsenal are chasing 3rd/4th place again this year.
They have been playing together for 3-4 years now and their biggest problem is that they do not learn from their mistakes not that they are immature. The way they lost to Chelsea was despicable because they used the exact same tactics that United so willfully exploited and play with no strikers.
I would rather have Man City, Tottenham/Villa in the top four than Arsenal and Liverpool, who have been underachieving for too long now.
February 8th, 2010 at 19:38
where’s the scottie?
February 8th, 2010 at 20:00
@[OPTI]Madschester United: I dont think you appreciate Arsenals position.They have had a streak of hard games and after that they will be on the roll.While we still have to play Chelsea,Villa, and the other hard games,they will be done after their customary win over Liverpool and Spurs.
We all know small teams have no chance against Arsenal.Games are always over before half time.
February 8th, 2010 at 20:04
@donibrasco: They also miss Van Persie, Wenger’s stubborness in the window not to buy a striker will be their undoing, Arshavin is a great player but not an out and out striker Terry and Carvalho must have been delighted that he played up there on his own on Sunday.
February 8th, 2010 at 20:07
@[OPTI]Madschester United: You want City in the top 4??? You are obviously not from Manchester mate that would be a nightmare!
February 8th, 2010 at 20:11
@Jay wire: You always put your point across well.Fans on this site never end to amuse me analyzing our players.If someone is not given time to play,then he is a flop.When he gets a chance and shines,then he has learned overnight?
Berbatov is a class player thats why we paid 30 mil.Its either that or Fergie is a shit manager who bought a player at that amount without knowing he was poor.I dont believe in the whole square peg round hole stuff.So which is which?
February 8th, 2010 at 20:12
@Jay wire: Spot on Owen would score more that Berba no doubt, for me it is odd that he really hasn’t had enough games. Fergie just seems so desperate for Berba to work out he can’t see the wood from the trees, if Owen got a run of 6 games I am sure he would justify his selection.
February 8th, 2010 at 20:22
@Stephen: I would rather have Liverpool fall out of the top four due to City than the other way around. I enjoy City’s competition (and they still are minnows) but cannot stand Liverpool’s stench of self-righteousness and Rafa and Gerrard. Plus, I hate Mascherano as much as Tevez — disgusting players to watch (footballing- and looks-wise, respectively).
I just don’t see Tottenham or Villa pipping Liverpool to top four. But I cannot stand to watch Rafa for another season and I think missing the ECL will be the end of him and perhaps Torres will leave too… down goes Liverpool.
City I could care less about, but for this season, I hope they beat Liverpool to top 4.
February 8th, 2010 at 20:24
@Stephen: For me he justified his position by scoring a hat trick away in Germany as a lone striker,playing within a highly cautious game plan. Yes Fergie is obsessed with making Berba work,but he also doesn’t understand that Rooney needs a rest. This is one thing that will catch up with Wayne and Evra.I don’t wish for it,but it’s possible Rooney may get injured at some point and will Owen be in good condition to take his place immediately and effectively. I think not. We actually don’t have cover for Wayne if u think of it. None of the other strikers have been having good consecutive minutes on the pitch.
February 8th, 2010 at 20:25
@[OPTI]Madschester United: If they got Champions league football they woud attract better players and with their budget it could be fatal.
February 8th, 2010 at 20:28
@Jay wire: Totally agree, Rooney and Evra could be burnt out for their respective countries for the World Cup, also they both are physical players and risk injury which would be a nightmare for us, Fergie rotates so bloody much and Rooney needs to be given a break.
February 8th, 2010 at 20:48
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Immature they are. Yes Wenger takes the blame but for me it’s not concerning his tactics. Let’s be honest they have had a terrible injury problem every season. I don’t know why but it seems to be occuring even with us. They don’t have depth. They can’t cope physically. There was no reason why Wenger should not have acquired a striker last month. Robbie Keane on loan would have been a better option than Arshavin upfront alone. But still it’s a case of squad depth and composition. I’d take Arsenal’s tactics any day with the right squad. They were unfortunate in 06 to lose in the Champions League but u could see they could compete at any level,and they had Gilberto. Madrid made the same mistake when they foolishly sold Makelele because players are brought in by the president not the coach. CQ protested,but it still happened. They didn’t appreciate the role of a physical player in midfield in an attacking team and they paid the price for years. Wenger surprisingly doesn’t appreciate this anymore or he thinks Alex,Song and Diaby are up to the task. Either way he is wrong
February 8th, 2010 at 20:56
@Stephen: That’s what amazes me. He rotates so much but overplays a select few. Evra and Rooney esp. I wouldn’t care about England and France but I’m sure after the WC both would be burnt out esp since they were both played similarly last season. We can all see what that did to Rio. Not just with his game but also with injuries that never end. It would be a disaster if that were to happen to Evra or Rooney
February 8th, 2010 at 20:57
@Jay wire: Also Arsenal 10 years ago were a strong physical side Veira, Petit, Keown and Adams now they are far to lightweight but Song does look a cracking player, but with nothing up front they simply cannot compete and that is Wenger’s fault.
February 8th, 2010 at 20:59
@Jay wire: And dropping a player after a Champions League hat trick is simply unfair, Owen deserved to the start the following game at least.
February 8th, 2010 at 21:11
@CraigMc: Like you had faith in Nani, I have faith in Andy
February 8th, 2010 at 21:15
@EduardoDaVinci4: He doesn’t seem to have the attitude that Nani has and I am afriad he doesn’t have the ability.
February 8th, 2010 at 21:59
@Jay wire: You hit the nail on the head mate when you mentioned lack of depth. For all the whining we all do about Fergie’s rotation policy, one thing is for sure, all our players are prepared and experienced in match situations. Wenger does not go deep into his bench and that hurts his team as it causes the starters to get more fatigued and they fall prey to more possible injuries. United’s injury woes this season are a freak event. If you remember last season, we did not have that many injuries and the fact we were healthy down the stretch benefited us greatly. Both Chelsea and Arsenal haven’t got the depth to count on if injuries hit. I mean we were without 3/4 of our back four and down to our backup keeper and we survived because our backups (excluding Foster) were up for the job. And in fairness to Foster, he was a daily calamity out there but I would take him over Almunia and Fabianski or that other muppet Arsenal have any day of the week.
February 8th, 2010 at 22:01
@Jay wire: His over dependence on Rooney and Evra has always concerned me. Rooney needs to be rested more as all these games will eventually catch up with him. Buying a quality striker who cannot only partner up with Rooney well but also be able to play the lone striker role when Rooney is rested would be a great thing.
February 8th, 2010 at 22:15
@Stephen: I concur. I’d rather have Spurs or Villa occupying the 4th spot
February 8th, 2010 at 22:19
@EduardoDaVinci4: You don’t have that much faith in Berba so that means u two have something u agree on
February 8th, 2010 at 22:20
@Stephen: I know he doesn’t have the ability or the attitude of Nani.
But then I’ve got to say the attitude of Nani has been exeptional! I can name at least 100 other players in the Premier League who would have had a mental breakdown had they gone through what Nani did, but instead Nani just showed what character he had and he has proven to become an immense player for us. As for ability, Nani is probably the most gifted player we have in the side. Yeah, Rooney is great and Scholesy is great and all that, but the skill of Nani combined with his vision and crossing ability makes him an amazingly rare player. If you combine every asset Nani inherites, both mentally and physically, I’ve gotta say we’ve got one hell of a player! Amazing!
But I believe that although Anderson doesn’t have the correct attidute right now, he will get it right. After all, he is a Manchester United player under the guidance of Sir Alex, Giggs, Scholesy, Neville etc. Some things, they just grow on you. Andy is two years younger than Nani, and the influence of the elders combined with the mature stars will help him a lot. Some things just grow on you, the people around him will make a difference. His head can be sorted, of that I am sure. As for his skill asset, some work at the gym and/or the practice ground after training will help him. I know it’s a lot which I demand, but somehow I know, I just know he will come good.
If you think I’m crazy, I certanly can’t blame you!
Well mate, if so… Smack my ass and call me Susan Boyle! 
February 8th, 2010 at 22:24
@Jay wire: I do have faith in all the Manchester United players. But… Berbatov has never been a United player for me. Sorry if it’s harsh, just the way I feel.
February 8th, 2010 at 22:33
@Jay wire: I’m sorry, mate, I just think he’s a dud for United.
You trying to rationalize the reasons why he is, doesn’t change my opinion.
What would change my opinion is Berbatov, himself, showing up to play with a 100% commitment to the team, for an extended run of games.
I think it’s laughable that anyone with a basic understanding of what is required of an top striker, can possible see him as anything other than a United misfit.
February 8th, 2010 at 22:41
@donibrasco: Exactly. This is a myth coming from the media. 1st myth is South American players are not suited to United’s game. We seem to have a “United style” that certainly rules out 90% of players out there. A personal myth about Berbatov is he slows us down. He plays calmly and let’s the ball roll and without huffing and puffing he seems to be slowing us down. Like Paul Scholes I call such players Hurricane Eyes. Very calm but they coordinate the stormers around them. If he made Tevez-Bellamy-Rooney like expressions with his face it woild help his cause. I’m surprised people don’t even see how Martin Jol used him to deadly effect with his speedy Spurs team. With Keane playing up top and in and around Berba finding pockets of space and Dimi picking him out. He doesn’t waste possession unnecessarily and knows there’s no point in trying to make hasty passes when players are not in good positions. I’m sure u also saw when he scored vs Pompey how he held the ball up with no one else in good positions. He could have just tried to lay it off to one of the arriving but well marked players and lost the ball. When he does release the ball quick it’s usually to devastating effect(note the excellent chip over defenders to the on rushing Valencia)
February 8th, 2010 at 22:46
@Redrich: I’m not trying to change your mind or opinion. I’m just disagreeing. People said Rooney will never be a great goal scorer but just a scorer of great goals. Nani doesn’t fit in and should be shipped off as soon as 1986. Some offered transportation to the airport only a few weeks back. We’ll just have to wait and see if he is a misfit.
February 8th, 2010 at 22:59
just a small point that is slighty off track, would people be worried that owen isnt getting enough of a chance to prove his england spot, i mean i personnaly believe he would be such an important personality to have with his experience and intelligence on the pitch.
you all know by now i really rate owen and his scoring ablility, we only have to look and the city game and the champions league hatrick to to acknowledge that this lad is not past it and still has plenty to offer. I really thought he was going to make a huge impact this season with all he has to prove (and he has proved his worth to me) its just a shame that fergie is in love with berbatov
and its a shame for england becuase me thinks fbio wont bring him now. i hope im wrong
February 8th, 2010 at 23:01
@EduardoDaVinci4: What is easily forgotten is right up to the end of Oct he was one of our better performers. He played well vs Spurs,vs Blackburn when he came on vs Dunderland vs Chelsea. Then rotation caught up with him and he never picked it up since. He’s young,he’ll come thru.
February 8th, 2010 at 23:08
@Jay wire: Mate he has missed sitter, after sitter, after sitter. I mean how much more opportunity and chances than the thousands he has had, does he need?
February 8th, 2010 at 23:13
@EduardoDaVinci4: I hear you Bro, and I hope your faith in the lad comes to great fruition someday soon mate!
February 8th, 2010 at 23:19
@[OPTI]Madschester United: It would be bloody awful for Mancs is the wastelanders make the top four. Most of the Mancs have to work alongside them and they would certainly suffer from megolamania and egomania IF they ever qualify for the top four. I would rather Spurs or Villa got the 4th spot to be honest. Also after all the gobshite coming from our noisy neighbours, it will be nice to shut their gobs again for A WHILE
.
February 8th, 2010 at 23:22
@Stephen: fERGIE has lied to Owen, who he told even as much as very recently that we have plenty of games, and Owen would get to play more, because he wants him to get the opportunity to go to the World cup – yeah Fergie, pul the other leg eh, it plays fucking looney tunes
. Owen has been treated like Nani – despicable!
February 8th, 2010 at 23:25
@donibrasco: Not a shit manager, but he certainly makes some shit buys sometimes. He is not without his errors you know our Mr Fergie
February 8th, 2010 at 23:27
@donibrasco: Aaaah it all becomes so clear now – you are an Arsenal supporter – right Donnie?
February 8th, 2010 at 23:30
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Banned from the blog mate, because he pissed off some of the bloggers here – of whom I am not one of them! They couldn’t live with his Gaelic lingo, or his text speak. Text speak is banned though for everybody, so he has no excuse there.
February 8th, 2010 at 23:36
@Grognard: Errrr Rooney has improved performances exactly because of his early nights. Why should he go whoring, he has a very nice Missus at home, and a baby son now. Responsibilities come with that, and IF as Rooney says he wants to become the world’s best and get the ballon de then he has to make sacrifices for it. We have enough John Terry cheaters on the missus mate. If a person wants to go a whoring, then don’t get married and have kids – simple AS!
February 8th, 2010 at 23:41
@Jay wire: I love little Mickey mate – he is a very good striker IF played regularly. Who else of our lot has scored a hat trick in a CL game, and against a German team, on their own patch, is no mean feat mate. Capello questioned Fergie’s credibility, when he went public to say – Owen scores a hat trick in a CL game, and he is never played again in the next games – WHY? Yeah Fabio WHY is the correct word to ask.
February 8th, 2010 at 23:43
@Jay wire: Would you rather people didn’t make excuses for him, and just say he is shit for us then mate?
February 8th, 2010 at 23:54
@Jay wire: Errrr Nani wasn’t bought as a 31 million pound striker, specifically to get the goals. Highly paid strikers are bought to score goals mate. Nani was bought to supply the ammunition, which he does superbly when he is played. Also Nani finds space, it is just that we don’t have many other good suppliers who can get the ball to him in a way that is meaningful. He whom I like to kick his arse Mr Rooney, seems to be striking up a bit of an understanding with Nani the last 4 games, and then Berba plays in the last game, and we did not have the same flow mate. Is it Berba’s fault – maybe not, but he doesn’t seem to have struck up any understand with anybody else, as he did perhaps with Robbie Keene. He certainly could have had an assist on Saturday if Diouf hadn’t rushed his shot from Berba’s deft pass, but that was against a very poor Pompey side Jaywire, and Berba doesn’t really do it in the big games, that is why SAF doesn’t play him!
February 9th, 2010 at 0:00
I get fairly philosophic before I go to bed…
My thought of tonight: Football is the best thing to have ever been created
I mean, what else could unite people around the whole globe? What else could make grown men cry and hug each other of pure joy? What else could create such fantastic moments which we will remember our whole life? It’s a magnificent thing, it’s far more than a sport. It’s even more than a religion! I tell ya, I bet my life on football being more dicussused every day than religion! Football is “the” thing, it’s amazing, bonding, marvellous, just pure incredibleism! Football… Bloody hell!
February 9th, 2010 at 0:02
At this rate I can easily see Rooney getting burnt out, picking up an injury and then doing crap next season.
Ronaldo can play every game because he is supremely athletic. But Rooney isn’t built like that and wear and tear will surely happen soon.
We have survived without Ronaldo because Rooney has turned it up several notches and become a lot more prolific in front of goal.
But without Rooney we would be royally screwed.
Im not going to bother giving my views on Berbatov. But if he really is injured and that is contributing to indifferent form, why not play Owen?
Once he has had a few games and got his touch back, you can guarantee he will show he is still the best finisher in this team. OK I accept the point that Owen does not do much for the team without the service. But when we play a 4-4-2 against a weak team, he will get chances, and he will put them away.
Then when Berbatov comes back from injury he can see if he can do a Nani and blow everyone away with a couple of MOM performances. But I’m not holding my breath
February 9th, 2010 at 0:16
The only thing I think Rooney is missing this season…
… is getting a goal outside the 18-yard box.
Seriously, who would have thought that last season?! Wayne scoring 23 goals in a row without a single one of them being outside the box? What a season!
February 9th, 2010 at 0:31
@CraigMc: Berbatov,Rooney and Owen have all missed sitter after sitter. In fact esp Rooney. The only players I’d surprised to see missing sitters in world football are Pipo Inzaghi,Ruud van Nistelorooy and David Trezeguet. Maybe a confident Owen could be added to that list alongside the baby faced assassin. Anyone else would be playing well to their means when they miss sitters
February 9th, 2010 at 0:47
@CraigMc: That’s harsh… I liked him. Maybe he will come back with less racist remarks and be re-instated like some other guys have been (right?)… couldn’t he just change his email and name?
Either way….
@EduardoDaVinci4: Football is amazing — the sport is the ultimate drug… it’s history and intrigue is worth a Hollywood of movies and the on-pitch entertainment is spell-binding. Plus, the teasing of the World Cup and Euro’s keeps us wanting it more and more — this year’s world cup is going to be amazing. I am getting the goosebumps thinking about it. Imagine, Portugal vs. Argentina (Ronaldo vs. Messi) or Denmark winning the whole thing! AMAZING!
My best memories as a kid are footy-centric. 1992 Euros (DK!), 1994 World Cup (Baggio’s miss), 1998 world cup (DK vs. Brazil), 1996 Euros (Davor Suker, Gascoine, Poborsky), 2002 World Cup (Denmark beats France), etc….
Love it!
February 9th, 2010 at 0:49
@colver: When things go well today … let’s complain tomorrow
Are you guys ever happy?
February 9th, 2010 at 1:02
@CraigMc: Firstly it’s another myth that he doesn’t do well against bigger teams. His debut was at Anfield and he came out of that game with an assist. Ask Chelsea if u think he doesn’t do well against big teams. They’ll tell u of how he has tormented them while at Spurs.He has scored 4 past Chelsea probably better than Rooney’s record over same period. He scored against United and was tormentor in chief at in his last game as a Spurs player at OT. So definitely a myth.Secondly,if players status and performances were directly proportionate to their monetary acquisition values then Messi,Fabregas,Xavi,Kaka etc should not be playing anywhere higher than the Coca Cola Championship. Players have no control over the price on their heads. Certainly Ronaldo should top his 42 goal haul in Spain by quite a bit then. Also Nani did come with a reasonbly hefty price tag for a young raw player but I still thought ppl were being unfair talking about his price tag and Anderson’s.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:35
@[OPTI]Madschester United: He was warned, repeatedly, but he either didn’t get it or couldn’t be bothered to get it.
At any rate he thought the whole idea of RR’s requests to adapt to a more readable style, laughable – at that pointed he was booted!
February 9th, 2010 at 1:59
I’ve lost for Hargreaves. The player I was so excited to see at OT will probably do a Dean Ashton in all honesty. Since he was expected to be back by October last year he has not even featured for the Reserves. He has been removed from the Champions League squad by Richie de Laet. Fantastic. Now we’ll get a return date of September. Remember Neville anyone? That sucks
February 9th, 2010 at 1:59
Some whispers say that DirecTV and DISH Network will begin HD broadcasts of FSC this coming Wednesday.
Keeping my fingers crossed.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:17
@Jay wire: His recovery was always going to be on a wait and see basis, and it continues to this day.
The fact that he was removed from the CL squad really just means that he wasn’t going to help us in the tie with Milan and the quarter final if we progress.
I really hope for the best, but 18 months out of the game at this stage of his career could be terminal. He’s a tough cookie, though, and if anyone could come back from those surgeries, he can!!
Disappointing because with Ando flunking out, our CMF could have used a boost. Hope that Scholes doesn’t get banged up of suspended!!
February 9th, 2010 at 3:10
Okay before I crash just a few stats to ponder:
Berbatov vs Drogba and Anelka over the last 5 starts in the league
Berba:
Goals-4
Assists -2
Drogba:
Goals-4 goals
Assists-0
Anelka:
Goals-3
Assists-1
Tevez
Goals-4
Assists-0
To give you some perspective,prior to the Pompey game his last appearance in any capacity was back on the 16th of Jan vs Burnley when he started and scored. We played 4 games in between and he was involved in neither. In December he played 5 games 2 of them as a sub and produced 2 goals and 1 assist. He played zero games in November but was United Player of the month in October. So let’s assume he had been fit in Nov and had played in any of the 4 games between the 16th of Jan and 06 February he would certainly be above 10 goals right now. So let’s learn to take things into perspective ladies and gentlemen before we bash players.
February 9th, 2010 at 3:14
@Jay wire: Berbatov is pants!!
February 9th, 2010 at 4:40
@EduardoDaVinci4:
You can draw amazing parallels with another south american starlet Ever Benega (at Valencia). Heres a nice article about him:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/feb/08/valencia-ever-banega-liga-spain
Lets hope Andy can get his head sorted out (just like Benega) and become what we all thought he can become when he joined us. he is still very young and can learn from his mistakes from the past and move on. The only question is can he!!!
February 9th, 2010 at 6:34
@CraigMc: I have said nothing to infer iam an Arsenal supporter.Its just that we are quick to write off teams without analyzing the league situation.Despite what people think,they are not that far off.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:42
@donibrasco: I’m not accusing you of anything mate – it is just that you are always seemingly commenting on, and gushing about Le Arse!
February 9th, 2010 at 7:49
@Jay wire:
Jaywire, you remind me of myself battling for Nani – good on you mate! Fight on for Berba. I am not a statitician myself, so please tell me the opposition we played against in Berba’s last 4 games – thanks Jaywire!
February 9th, 2010 at 7:55
@Jay wire: Thing is Jaywire – did Spurs win any of those games Berba scored or assisted in against the big boys Chelsea or L’pool? Just interested to know mate? Ronaldo was a match winner, and he still is for Real Madrid.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:57
Jaywire, as you know in the BIG games, we don’t get a lot of chances, and when we do they have to be taken. I wouldn’t call Berba a KILLER instinct player. Were the goals he scored the last few games the goals that mattered, or were they goals that came after we were comfortable.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:59
@[OPTI]Madschester United: It’s a discussion board, so folk are just discussing mate
February 9th, 2010 at 8:02
@Jay wire: I agree with your Rooney comment mate – but he has Nani now to help him out
. By the way, Nani just like Tevez doesn’t like Berba – so I am with Lil man – and once again 
.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:04
@EduardoDaVinci4: Eddi how can you say that – when you know Rooney for a good portion of the season was missing sitter after sitter, with rugby type blazing of the ball into the stands
.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:08
@colver: That happens to most players from the big clubs in world cup year especially. But I agree with you that Little Mickey should get more opportunities and Rooney rested. That needed to be done though before Rooney hit his present form, but ALAS Fergie will not leave him out in his present hot streak. SAF couldn’t give a monkeys about England – Rooney is a United player, and SAF cares only about United.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:25
“I would not have got through everything without them. To me, they are the best fans in the world.” – DB7
Legend !!
February 9th, 2010 at 9:37
I miss ScottJimLand.. He was fun..
February 9th, 2010 at 9:44
@EduardoDaVinci4:
February 9th, 2010 at 9:51
href=”http://redrants.com/manchester-united-vs-portsmouth-preview-2/comment-page-5/#comment-106898″>Jay wire: I agree I remember Fergie saying that Neveille had a good chance of making the Cup final, I think he played 18 months after that game.
Personally and I hope that I am wrong but for me he is finished, he seems to have lost convidence in himself, or is that faith? We all hope he can return but he has been injured really since he signed and how on Earth did he pass a medical? Classic case of Fergie simply wanting his man regardless?
February 9th, 2010 at 10:11
@RR: “ScottJimLand was banned because he was not capable of writing a coherent post”..
He was actually conveying his thoughts quite clearly albeit with a little OTT eloquence.. Granted, his posts demanded extra attention span if one’s not quite so proficient in EnGlIsH.. But it was just a matter of getting used to it.. as for readers who were unable to decipher the flowery muddle 
of vocabulary, they could’ve just skipped his post instead of kicking up a storm of excrement demanding his exit.. damn.. Quite a few readers on this blog actually enjoyed appreciating his cut-throat sharp intellect.. I’m sorry to bring this up, but no real harm in giving him a second chance, I say..!
February 9th, 2010 at 13:14
@Stephen: Gotta admit though mate, Nev does keep getting those killer balls into the areas that we get, or should get (OH BERBA ?) goals from. When he moves in from the right side of the box, he is like mi man Nani for putting in some excellent crosses. Better than Rafael I have to say with his distribution, but is defending leaves a lot to be desired these days, and after all that is why he is on the field – to defend
. Nev times his runs too, whereas Rafael – even mi man Nani was telling him to stay more in his position, and come forward now and again. Evra gets forward too bloody much as well, leaving us exposed at the back too often with our recent patched up defence 
.
February 9th, 2010 at 16:50
Craig, precisely my point. For us Berbatov has failed to deliver in the biggest games and that is why he never makes the team when we are playing anyone decent. So many of his goals seem to come when we are already 2-0 up and the game is sown up. Say what you like about Tevez but he did score some incredibly important goals for us.
In an ideal world we would buy a new right back because Brown is injury prone, Rafael is a few years off being ready and is still a defensive liability and Neville bless him does not have the legs to deal with a fast winger.
Ribery could be available this summer as he seems intent to leave Bayern if they don’t win anything. We do not have the cash and there would be a bidding war. But Nani on the right and Ribery on the left, would terrify any team on the planet.
I don’t think many players seem to like Berbatov. He seems to have an attitude of blaming everyone else and expecting the other players to adapt to his game, when the truth is Berbatov is on a different wavelength from the rest of the team. Berbatov can and should change his game.
Anderson just does not strike me as hungry enough to make it at Manchester United. He is industrious when he plays. But it is the work off the pitch that makes the difference and I have seen no real evidence of any improvement in his game over the last three years, despite getting to train with a team of our calibre. He is not blessed with the talent of Ronaldinho, so he cannot get away with partying all the time. He should take a leaf out of Fletcher’s book.
February 9th, 2010 at 17:30
@Merlinus: Can you stop talking about this and move on to something else?
February 9th, 2010 at 18:51
@CraigMc: My point is that he shouldn’t go whoring but that young adults should be expected to live a little on the wild side. Once they get married though, then all that stops. Their lives are forever changed and for all intents and purposes, OVER. No I am not an enemy of marriage, but then again I am not a major advocate of it either as in this day and age it is not looked at as a bond between two people who love each other as much as a legal ball and chain to cut somebody’s balls off with.
All I know is 21,22 or 23 is too young to be married but then again, who the Hell am I to tell anyone when they should get hitched. Rooney still finds ways to shorten his career with his smoking and his parties that include his wife, sometimes as far away as Malta. Ahhh, the good life. Anyway, teams need to demand less of players who are so young and let them live a little bit. That way they grow up not to become cheating, sociopathic cunts like John Terry. Let them get the parties and the women out of their system before marriage. All I can say is it worked for me.
February 9th, 2010 at 18:56
@CraigMc: Little Mickey is a good striker mate but he has not delivered most of the times he has been given the shot to do so. In fairness to him, he hasn’t been given a fair run of games to find some form and fitness and he also has been rather unlucky, but I for one am coming around to the reality that perhaps he’s just lost enough through age and injury that he just lacks that little extra in confidence and step to be the Owen of old.
One thing seems obvious to me. Owen will not be with the team next season. If I was Fergie, I would realize that I never got as much out of the player as I was expecting, fairly or unfairly, and that I will take the money I pay him and give it to the man I cannot afford to lose on this club, your favorite, Wayne Rooney. And yes, sometimes the truth sucks. Owen would do better on a club with lesser expectations but in the need of his services all the time.
February 9th, 2010 at 19:04
@Grognard: you’re married?
February 9th, 2010 at 19:09
@CraigMc: I too have tired of Berbatov. I love the player and feel he has lots of talent but he has a poor work ethic and like I said from day one, he seeed to me to be a square peg trying to fit into a round hole because unlike the team in the 90’s when Cantona came over, this team plays differently and does not fit Berba’s skill set or playing style. Cantona would struggle playing for the team today because of the style we use. Berba struggles because he hasn’t got the pace or the desire to work his ass off as a forward. And in fairness to him, that has never been his game. I can name dozens of great players that do not like to work their asses off but who have greatness all over them. Ibrahimovich, Brazil’s Ronaldo and Riquelme are perfect examples of languid players who were not born to copy Wayne Rooney’s style of play nor his work ethic. Still they offer greatness to the manager who uses them properly.
Well Fergie got it out of Cantona, but has failed with Berba because Cantona was languid in his style but his desire and determination in the attacking end was far greater than Berba’s. Berba is languid, fine we get that. But when Nani has the ball on the right and is looking to find a head to cross to, it would serve Berba better to hustle and get into the box, rather than walk and or jog there. Watch the replay of Rooney’s goal last game. Fletcher crosses it to Rooney and on the replay I could not see Berba anywhere near the ball. That is a scenario where he should be very close to Rooney, but as usual he was found to be out and about. Very frustrating. This is partly his fault but also, Fergie playing him so high has caused Berba problems because his lack of pace and desire to run hard keeps him from being a menace in the box. Frankly, it’s time for Berba to move on to a German or Italian club that is more suited to his style. Both Owen and Berba have to make way for a much more dynamic striker and Diouf.
February 9th, 2010 at 19:12
@EduardoDaVinci4: No mate, despite their evil intentions, nothing quite equals the look, feel, smell and touch of a beautiful woman. In comparison to a great looking broad, football is nothing.
February 9th, 2010 at 19:23
@Merlinus: Who is “kicking up a storm” now? Seems to be you complaining about yet another idiot who has gotten banned on this blog. If you have such a love for deviants and idiots, then why do you continue to show up once in a blue moon on this blog? I have nothing against you mate (unlike my knowledge of your feelings towards me from the past), but rather than come on here and offer up a little football talk, you show up to either support those who insult me or agree with somebody who insults me or to support and agree with the deviants and idiots who show up and are quickly banished from the site. RR may not have noticed a pattern here, but I have. Sorry but you have a track record for this kind of stuff and I’m making a point of letting you know about it. ScotJimLand was a fucking idiot who was not funny in the least and completely defiant and malicious in his way of dealing with people. You sticking up for him says a lot about you. I’d suggest you stop defending assholes who come on here looking for trouble and start talking football.
February 9th, 2010 at 19:33
@colver: Very valid point. Berba is not a big game player. He bottles it in big games. One concern I had about Berbatov when we bought him was not the price but the evaluation of him to begin with. I always liked him but i never felt he was right for our team. My feeling on Berba is that he can be a king on a little team but a serf on a big team. He thrived at Leverkusen and Spurs because at that time both team were not major contenders and they played a very undisciplined attacking game that never required Berba to take a defensive responsibility seriously or forced him to play a style or position that was not suited for him.
Spurs especially played a very undisciplined run and gun attack which was great for him as he never had to cross the center line to come back defensively. That all changed for him with United. He was now on a championship team but his attitude and work ethic was not of championship caliber. He floated out there and never worked hard enough and when asked to play higher up, he accepted the role but never adopted it and made his. Berba is just a typical player like so many in the prem that are capable of scoring for poor teams but get lost in the shuffle when they make the move to a bigger team with greater demands. Best place for Berba is a middle of the table German ir Italian club that is looking for a creative goal scorer and not a hard worker.
February 9th, 2010 at 19:39
@[OPTI]Madschester United: I was. But apparently she was like Berba. She thought of me like Spurs and decided that somebody in LA reminded her of Manchester United. Funny thing is Man Utd dumped her at the end and she then had to settle for Stoke City. Some ex cop bloke living in Fort Worth Texas. Sucks to be her as she deserved what she got and i got justice. That’s why I hate greedy players who all want to play for the top three teams in the world. Delusions of grandeur sometimes come back to bite you in the ass. And her ass had a big chunk taken out of it. Meanwhile Spurs (aka me) continues to struggle but survive.
February 9th, 2010 at 20:32
@Grognard: I responded to him mate. The last thing I want is people endlessly responding to this topic. Next time if something is addressed to me, or concerns me, please scroll down to see if I’ve responded (and if not give it time)
Thanks.
February 9th, 2010 at 20:53
@Grognard: Mate what chances has Owen had, rightly or wrongly for me he has done well he is a player who is normanally a starter and is not used to being a sub he has netted 7 times this season. For me if he gets to 15 and a couple of pots this season and with his wages he probably would be bar maybe Vermaelen the signing of the season.
Fergie was out of order dropping him after a Champions hatrick and if Berba had done that he would have started the next five games.
February 9th, 2010 at 20:53
Certainly as part of the shake up this summer I can see us buying another striker. Owen was a stop gap because we had no money and missed out on Benzema.
Berbatov has his uses but we are still over-reliant on Rooney and while he has stayed clear of injuries this season, Rooney being Rooney, he will get injured again and we have no one who can step up and replace him adequately.
Nani may or may not develop into a star player for us. But at this moment in time we only have one attacking star and that is Rooney. We are more hopelessly reliant on him than we ever were on Ronaldo. If his form drops, the goals dry up, or he gets injured we are royally screwed.
And the only way to correct that reliance is to get another world class forward. And sadly that will never be Berbatov
February 9th, 2010 at 21:09
@colver: I agree but for a “shake up” next season we would need a manager with a five year paln, Fergie rarely has bought instant success and we do not have the money for that. Personally I see very little happening next summer, with the World Cup prices will be high and we will not be able to compete, and Fergie will stick with what he knows and probably his stubborn loyalty to older players and players who will never make it.
I would love a striker, Owen should stay as Rooney for me Berba needs to move on Welbeck and Macheda should be loaned out and for me Diouf is just a punt, and Rooney will obviously stay.
February 9th, 2010 at 21:36
I just wrote the best comment ever produces on this site, but it didn’t get posted because of too many smileys…
Why RedRants, why?!
WHY OH WHY DIDN’T I COPY IT???!!!
February 9th, 2010 at 21:49
@Grognard: I wrote a reply to that, but the site wouldn’t let me post it…
Probably some of the best shit I’ve written in my life. Point was, although women are brilliant at times they are nagging bitches most of the time and the feelings you get by goals from Owen, Rooney, Solskjaer, Terry, Ronaldo etc.etc. are much better than any woman. FAT FACT! 
February 9th, 2010 at 22:28
@Stephen: But a lot of the questions being asked at the beginning of this season seemed to have been answered – and mostly in a negatives way.
Will Berbatov ever fit in?? Will Anderson become the box-box MF we need?? Will MO be able to break into the team on a regular basis. Will Ben Foster be our goalie for the next 5 years??
So in a way we do need a shake up, and all over the pitch. Whether or not we have the money to do it? Unlikely. But we certainly need not to depend on Rooney so much, and a good buy here would go a long way to putting us in a more comfortable position.
February 9th, 2010 at 22:33
@Redrich: Can Rooney become the great goalscorer/player we all wanted him to?
Can Nani take on the mantle of Ronaldo?
Can Evra regain his good old form?
Can Valencia fit into the team?
Can Fletcher continue to be a great presence in our midfield, or was it just a one-off season?
Many of these questions have been positivly answered!
DEMOCRACY RULES! 
February 9th, 2010 at 22:50
@Red Ranter: Got it mate.
It’s just that he has a track record siding with undesirables.
February 9th, 2010 at 22:51
@EduardoDaVinci4: When the right one come along and you mature a bit, trust me mate, you will not see her in the same way you have seen all before her. The right one has a way of totally changing your thinking on nearly everything.
February 9th, 2010 at 23:34
@Grognard: Someones in love?
GROGGY HAS FINALLY BECOME A MAN!
February 9th, 2010 at 23:50
I’m not gonna eat any meat, eggs or anything made out of milk between this Sunday and the Chelsea game(4th April). Wish me good luck, I’m gonna stuff myself with McDonalds and Kebabs this week!
I know it’s unhealthy, but do you guys know how great you play if you eat a kebab before a game? I tell ya, it’s amazing. I ate one before a game once, and I owned the pitch like damn! 
Besides, it tastes good. 
Got lots of foreign friends, Iranians, Pakistans and people from all over Africa along with the Norwegian ones, so no surprise I like kebab then!
Jesus Christ loves you
Wayne Rooney loves you
February 9th, 2010 at 23:51
Oh, and yeah. Looking forward to the game tomorrow, hope we beat Villa!
I think Everton can buttfuck Chelsea at Goodison, so if things go as planned United will be top of the League on Thursdag morning… 
February 9th, 2010 at 23:57
When you write anything in the search bar on Google.com, you will get suggestions for what you want to find. Well, if you write “why”, in the suggestions it will say “Why won’t my parakeet eat my diarreah?”
hmm….
lol?
February 10th, 2010 at 0:51
@EduardoDaVinci4:With the exception of Evra regaining his form the jury is still out on those other questions.
Even though Nani has looked good in the last few games, it’s still too early to tell if he has finally “got it”. The same goes with Valencia, who looks good one game, then ordinary the next.
But the real key for me is our over reliance on Rooney for our source of goal scoring. Just imagine what it would be like for us, if he gets hurt or suspended – we don’t have another striker that could fill those boots, and that is SCARY.
February 10th, 2010 at 1:23
@Redrich: Last season we were over reliant on Ronaldo for goals. Now it’s Rooney. He is our talisman and our main striker so it is natural we should be looking to him for goals now. Quite honestly Rooney is benefitting from good service in most of his goals. That’s why none of his goals this season have come from outside the box. Many of them are tap ins or shots from inside the box. We have players that are more than capable of shouldering the burden of goal scoring too. My only problem is Rooney is not rested enough. MO is a better finisher than Rooney and given the type of goals Rooney is scoring he is more than qualified to take his place from time to time. Dimitar Berbatov is capable of scoring goals regularly if allowed to take the responsibility.But my point is every club has a player who is expected to be the scorer 80% of the time. Liverpool-Torres,Chelsea-Drogba,Real Madrid-Higuain. If we want more players to share in scoring responsibilties then we should abandon cautious football and free up midfielders like what has been happening over the last few weeks.
February 10th, 2010 at 1:47
@Redrich: I guess sometimes when ppl have convinced their minds of certain things,they won’t change no matter what. I’m tired of pointing out that Berbatov is still one of the most productive strikers in England making and scoring goals. It’s a fact. But he’ll still be “pants”. Even if he has scored 4 and made 2 in his last 5 starts he is still not good enough. A better record than Drogba,Tevez,Anelka and Defoe. Having scored goals against Arsenal,United,Chelsea,Liverpool etc he is still not a big game player. How many big games has he been involved in? Esp given SAF’s tendency to apply the 4-5-1 in such matches. Let’s see. Only Liverpool at Anfield when the whole team didn’t turn up. But what do I know? He still fails to make an impact in the big games even if he doesn’t play in them. He shoild be doing better even if absent. He doesn’t attack the box as much as he should,even though in the last game he was in the box more times than Rooney(his horrendous miss,couple of headers,run up to his goal,Nani’s attempt to cross to Berba which was deflected into goal etc). I’ve realised that there’s no point arguing sometimes because people don’t care about facts,or surrounding circumstances or anything that isn’t based on prejudice and perceptions of character (lazy,berates teammates,prances around the pitch with this air of arrogance).
February 10th, 2010 at 1:57
@Jay wire: We’ve been playing with 5 MF’ers, mate – and that’s what’s making the difference!
We don’t have a dynamic, single threat through the middle, and so we are bludgeoning are way with the extra man.
It works fine because the skill sets of Scholes, Fletcher and Carrick, compliment one another well and has taken an extra defender away from our wide men and/or Rooney.
Problem is, if Rooney is injured or as you say, gets burned out, we don’t have anyone to fill the single striker mode.
By the way, your assertion that MO is a better finisher than Rooney, is absolutely preposterous!
MO may have been a good finisher 4 or 5 years ago, but his day is long gone!
February 10th, 2010 at 2:04
@Jay wire: Berbatov doesn’t have the guts or fight to play in the big games!!
He’s a small game, small club, small time player. Good against the bottom feeders, useless against the contenders.
Rerun all your stats and you’ll see for yourself that produces only against weak opposition.
February 10th, 2010 at 4:19
@Redrich: Moneycant buythe fonm roonyis in now!
Without roon we would proly use 442 w berb n Owen , diouf as backup macheda
But we would have to abandon 451
he IS our world class though
February 10th, 2010 at 4:23
@EduardoDaVinci4: Nope. Sorry mate but that ship sailed away a long time ago. Now I am only bitter angry and a miserable old Grognard.
February 10th, 2010 at 5:07
@Grognard: No mate, it was only in the old days that ships sailed away never to return.
Opportunities have never been greater for old fucks like us.
Get a life, and it’ll give you all you need!
February 10th, 2010 at 5:38
@Gator: Hate to be completely contrary, but Rooney and his form, and his goal scoring, cost a ton of money!!
February 10th, 2010 at 8:25
@Redrich: Perhaps I should clarify my situation. Nopt only has that ship sailed for me, but it hit an iceberg and sunk. And last time I heard, James Cameron hasn’t been taking any deep submersables out to go find it.
February 10th, 2010 at 9:33
@Grognard: Grow up, I post here once in a blue moon, but you cannot sit on the other side of the globe and say that because blue moon is the second full moon in the same month. Well, as you and me donot see the same moon – although the moon is just a single entity, so as to figure that i see it on the same month as you, is just bull’s buttox. I do read the blog on a regular basis though. So if all you can talk about is your weird conspiracy theory of me ganging up against you everytime there is a double full moon then i suggest you *moon me
everytime there is a post addressed (wait for it) NOT TO YOU!..
@RR: I was just voicing how i felt about it, not taking it any further.. No eViL intentions
February 10th, 2010 at 10:38
@Redrich: I already pointed out that he doesn’t play against the big clubs much. Or hasn’t rather,so I don’t expect him to perform well when he is absent. |This is due to Ferguson’s cautious tactics of playing one striker in those matches. He did well in big games 4 Spurs so as far as facts go this big game bottler theory is simply a myth. He scores against small teams coz that’s when he plays.
February 10th, 2010 at 10:55
@Redrich: Being a good finisher doesn’t just desert u because of age. He is a natural finsher,better than Rooney. I wish you would try 2 look at surrounding circumstances more. Rooney as much as he has scored tons,still misses tons. Owen is short on two things at the moment. Game time and most importantly,confidence. That’s what strikers need critically in order to be strikers. In every 8 min cameo he plays there is pressure to score on sight. How Rooney is a better finisher than Owen is a mystery. You look at old strikers like Inzaghi and their finishing has become better with age. But the difference is they do play regularly and they are not low on confidence. For all his genius in man management SAF can screw it up many times. I don’t know how one would feel,after scoring a crucial hat trick in Germany and 3 days later not even be on the bench. He bottled it with Nani this season and last and is doing another fine job with MO.
February 10th, 2010 at 12:03
I worried about internal clashes in united regarding the glazer issue and it has happened.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/steward-sacked-as-united-try-to-crush-green-and-gold-uprising-1894368.html
February 10th, 2010 at 12:13
@Merlinus:
– a load of Moonshine I see! Is this a moon blog, or what? I think The wastelanders blog is the blue moon blog Merlinus mi man. By the way, it would certainly UP the visitors to this blog if Groggy did indeed Moon you and put the photo on here -to be seen by the whole bloody football world – that would be the scoop of the year! Although we might get mistaken for the ARSE blog!
February 10th, 2010 at 12:30
@ Craig, alright Bro?
answer to your question on previous thread, George Orwells’ classic novel 1984 featured the “Thought Police”. If you Wiki it, there’s a good description of their aims and activities. The book is a great read and i recommend it to anyone aswell as his other classic “Animal Farm”.
February 10th, 2010 at 14:08
If Portsmouth get wound up we are fucked. This is different from going into administration. They will cease to be a club. All results against them in the league will be null and void. The league table would look like this, with only 2 teams being relegated :
Chelsea 55
United 50
liverpool 44
arsenal 43
spurs 40
villa 38
birmingham 34
citeh 32
stoke 30
everton 29
fulham 28
blackburn 25
sunderland 24
wigan 24
hull 23
burnley 23
wolves 21
bolton 19
west ham 17
The big winners are Liverpool, Chelsea and Wolves. We loose out big, and Arsenal even more so.
February 10th, 2010 at 15:30
@ Traverse : But we would still have a game in hand since Chels still to play ports….
February 10th, 2010 at 16:36
@phoenix red: Thank you kind Sir
.
February 10th, 2010 at 18:02
@Merlinus: Honestly, what is all that bullshit about moons? I never understood a word of it. No wonder you were so fond of ScotJimLand, you speak the same language, that being total gibberish.
Merlinus, I am not one to hold a grudge but I do not forget the names of those who have attacked me in the past or who took the side of somebody who did. So consider what I said a little warning and some well earned payback. As far as growing up goes, I think you have a long way to go if you side with idiots like ScotJimLand.
February 10th, 2010 at 18:12
@Jay wire: Not true at all mate. In all sports the first thing to go is finishing. The timing is just a bit off and the player slows down enough to just be off in both accuracy and pace. I have seen it in football with a lot of old greats but for me it has been very noticeable in hockey where losing a split second of timing and speed makes all the difference in the world to a great scorer. I saw it happen to Gretzky, LaFleur, Esposito, Hull and many other great goal scorers and in footy I saw great players like Shearer, Brazil’s Ronaldo, Rummenigge, Crespo and others suffer from it also. It’s not just age, in many cases it’s just that these players have lifestyles that catch up with them or in many cases they just get a little fat and slow as they grow older. In the case of Owen it’s a case of having missed too many games due to injuries over the years and the injuries themselves that have caused his once rapier like finishing to be as dull as an over used disposable razor.
Sad really, because they tease us when they get like this. There are days when they can score with anyone and they get you to believe that they still have the old magic, but in reality it was just a good day and nothing more. I like Owen a lot but I defer to Fergie’s experience and knowledge of what the lad has been doing in training all these months. I think Fergie realizes that he may not have it anymore although, I do concur with Craig and say that I still think he has underused and misused him because a player like that needs games to find his form and fitness, even if it isn’t what it used to be.
February 10th, 2010 at 18:16
@Jay wire: By that rationale, Jimmy Greaves, Gerd Muller and Denis Law would also be better options than Rooney!!
What a ridiculous statement. Firstly – I have to question whether you’ve watched a single game this season, to be able to come up with such nonsense. Secondly, please stop trying so hard to be controversial with every post you make. It’s one thing to explore an opposing view – but that view does need some merit or basis in fact in the first place.
February 10th, 2010 at 18:56
@Redrich: No what u are saying is what is ridiculous. None of them are still playing. Finishing has more to do with technique as opposed to physique. It’s also largely a mental thing. Why do u think Ronaldo is as prolific as he is right now.? When he was 18 even up to 22 he was frustratingly wasteful but still in great physical condition. Now he has matured and is more calm in front of goal and his technique in finishing has greatly improved. Yes he has lost a yard in pace but he still knows how to put the ball in the back of the net
February 10th, 2010 at 19:07
@Redrich: And what in the world is controversial about saying Owen is a better finisher than Rooney? You think I just post controversial things for the sake of being noticed or something? So I guess my views should be aligned to yours to make certain I please u? No thanx. I say what I see as true and at least I bother to validate my opinions with facts,historical references and other forms of evidence. If I criticise Ferguson I explain why. Same as when I defend a player. And I have had this discussion with u before and told u if u don’t really like my views and opinions then technology is on ur side. Check the name at the top of the comment and if it’s mine just move on and you’ll be okay.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:56
@Jay wire: Yes.