May 09
Manchester United vs Stoke City: Preview
Here we go, it’s crunch time in the Premier League as Manchester United face Stoke City at Old Trafford on the final day of the season. Once last chance to clinch a record breaking 19th League title and 4th in a row, but two teams stand in the way… Chelsea and Stoke.
The Blues lie one point clear of United at the summit of the table and if they win their match at home to Wigan then they will be crowned champions, but if they draw or lose and we overcome our opponents at Old Trafford then United will be crowned champions… Simple.
All matches today kick off at the same time so the crowd will play a big part in communicating the results at other grounds to the players on the pitch, imagine if United get an early goal, the pressure on Chelsea will be enormous. Can they cope? We may be looking to make amends for another final day disappointment when in 1995 we failed to take advantage of Blackburn’s slip up at Liverpool.
Even Sir Alex wont be able to shut out events at Stamford Bridge,
“It’s pointless going into the game expecting anything from Chelsea in our favour,” said Ferguson.
“I have confidence that Wigan will do their best and they will try.
“There’s pressure on both us and Chelsea because we both need to win but I don’t know what’s going on in Chelsea’s minds – all I know is that in this situation we just hope.”
United will be going into today’s game with a relatively fit squad. Edwin van der Sar will sit behind a back four that should consist of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand in the centre. Wes Brown could well get a start as he is now fully fit following a metatarsal injury, but has Gary Neville, Rafael and John O’Shea all vying for the right-back slot. No such problems for Patrice Evra as he will make his 38th Premier League appearance, only one has been as a substitute.
Expect an attacking line up and a four-man midfield. The superlative Nani will be looking to add to his recent goal tally as he starts on the right, Ryan Giggs will look to take up at slot on the left, drifting into the centre when needed. Paul Scholes who has been turning back the years will be joined by Darren Fletcher in the centre of midfield.
With a 30 second run out for Owen Hargreaves last weekend, an extended appearance may be the order of the day, depending on the score of course. Antonio Valencia is out with an ankle injury so wont feature.
It appears the last chance saloon has closed for Dimitar Berbatov so this could be his last match at Old Trafford if rumours are to be believed, lets hope he makes it one to remember. Wayne Rooney will be his strike partner as he enters into a personal duel with Didier Drogba for the top scorer accolade, his record is 31 games 26 goals, and Drogba’s is exactly the same.
Stoke City boss Tony Pulis will name an unchanged line up from the side that beat Fulham 1-0:
“It will be the same team and I think that is only fair on the lads who have done so well for us against Everton and Fulham,” he told stokecityfc.com.
“The only change may be Abdoulaye Faye coming back in on to the bench after overcoming his recent injury.
“Hopefully we will have learned our lessons from Chelsea, but it is still difficult if the likes of Wayne Rooney are right on top of their games. The big sides can turn teams over if they aren’t at 100% so we have got to go there be strong and keep doing what we have done over the last couple of games.”
The last time we won our final four league matches we won the title – 2001/02, so lets hope for a repeat. As the saying goes it’s not over till the referee blows his whistle.
Come on Wigan!!
Prediction: 3-0 United
Probable Line Up: van der Sar, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs; Berbatov, Rooney
***
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Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Stoke City vs Manchester United: Match Preview
- Man Utd v Middlesbrough: Preview
- United Face Tricky Trip to Stoke
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Part Three – The Midfield.
THE CENTRAL MIDFIELD:
ThECenralmIdIeld, thecEntRalproBlem, themIDfieldConfUsIon!
Pretty hard to understand what was going on here, eh!! Ferguson’s organization of his central midfield players this year was akin to a bull in a china shop. It was a smash and grab effort that either worked or didn’t work. A combination of chalk and cheese, oil and water, fire or ice – and no matter how he combined his elements, they just didn’t get the job done.
I know that this is a challenging aspect for the great man, but his callous denial to sort this last summer, made our engine run on three cylinders all season long – and that’s why we were left wondering about a Rolls Royce when during each game we rode in a Yugo until the fucking wheels fell off!
It wasn’t only his fault; the players themselves had a huge part to play and we’ll talk about that now.
Darren Fletcher, had a breakout year, or should I say “most of a year”. He has emerged as a very important player through the middle of United’s heartland and one who’s presence can be felt in his admission or absence from the starting lineup. If you sense a feeling of reservation here, you’re probably right.
While Darren offers much more than most centrists do, his strengths and his role for us need much more clarity. Whilst making a very good “EVEREADY BUNNY”, the man needs to hone his finer footballing skills. A complete player needs this in order to round out the function that he’s trying to fill.
At the present I see him as “the great annoyer”, “the mad meddler”, “the infernal interferer” – in short, he’s a terrific spoiler. What he’s not is a creative influence on any aspect of our game.
Scholes, who in the mind of most of us has already earned his legend badges, came to play again this year. Moreover, as we reminisce on our season past and try to find words and thoughts that can explain it all, the Ginger Prince is probably playing one-on-one with his kid in the park and doing the dishes for his missus after a healthy serving of mushy peas and chips.
As unassuming as this great man is, he can still rise to the heights of any occasion on the football stage – as he’s shown us all again over the last few weeks. While unable to maintain a full seasons worth of toils and wisely used only in segments of our midfield, Scholsey is welcomed back in my 2010/11 team.
Giggsy is a one of a kind, a master technician on his day – he’s as smart as they come and can be as wily as the sliest fox. He showed that he could still put in a master-class performance on occasion – turning the best of any back line inside out and upside down with just a quick burst of speed and the quick reflexes of a cat.
But therein lies the problem for Ryan. His speed is not close to what it used to be and his age is beginning to take its cruel toll on his reactions. In short, he is becoming increasing marginalized by the limitations of time.
Unable to play on the wings, he’s used as an attacking midfielder, but as we’ve seen of late, the quickness of his thinking and ball distribution has fallen precipitously too.
Michael Carrick has had to have had the worst season of his career! Once a terrific force lending support right up and down the center channel, he now can’t be trusted to fill any MF function (he was pretty good filling in along the back line, though).
A huge goal scoring threat, he’s never was, but there was once upon a time he was a master at threading the long pass. Alas, now, we’re lucky if he completes any pass.
In the wings we have the “howitzer boy” Gibson, and when he gets a hold of one – wow, you better look out (especially if you’re in Row Z), but in truth he is far from a finished product and I not sure that he ever will.
The mish-mash MF formations were not entirely SAF’s fault – injuries hurt his selection process greatly. One thing that we pretty much knew at the outset – and now fully underlined, is that we lack the kind of box-to-box player that could make our other players fulfill the “specialist” roles – roles that either their age or lack of talent dictate.
WINGERS:
With Ronaldo gone and Valencia coming in right on his heels, Valencia’s efforts were never going to be met with a whole lot of acclaim. How, on earth can you follow that act with any inroad into the afore mentioned legend?
Of course, you can’t!
However, Valencia’s efforts weren’t bad at all. Pace, strength and tenacity hallmark his game and when you have those kind of things going for you, you’ll probably going to find work in this team!
Not good at beating his defender, he was still the best of the bunch at crossing the ball accurately.
Nani had never made my top-ten list. Why? … beats the shit out of me!
The man had never lacked talent or potential. He’s as fast as the wind, can turn a defender into a pretender and has a shot on him than can beat a goalie from thirty yards. With all this going for him, he’s a future WPOTY, right?
Well, … maybe!
Nani has made huge strides this term. Why? … beats the shit out of me!
An enigma that defies the riddle he’s wrapped in and a man with a mind of his own. Long may his progress continue!
Obertan and Tosic have offered so little, I have little to offer. They’re both part of the “Maybe-might do-some day-brigade” that I’m not a huge fan of.
I’m not sure Nani is that one footed, but a good left winger has to be on the list. Let the Obertans and the Tosics of this world learn a way to break into the team. But lets not gamble our trophies on their education!
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@Grognard: Well that’s the way things used to be!
There is a tension hovering over this blog most of the time – don’t really know why, but could be because of the Manc locals wanting it all for themselves and being suspicious and closed to points of view that try to intrude into the borders of NW England.
Seems kind of dumb to me, but there has always been that kind of animosity toward the un-Manc fan base – even in my day back in the 60/70′s.
Perhaps some of you Mancs can shed some commentary on this!!
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@colver: I think we may also be losing Hargo although he never really was here for the last two seasons. Apparently he was not too happy with our manager for snubbing him on the last day of the season.
And to be honest I am with Fergie on this. All season Hargo has been close but not close enough. Scared of challenging his body, afraid of crossing the pain barrier to see if the legs would hold up. Yet he kept the England dream alive hoping Fergie would give him a game at the end or even 30 minutes to prove to Capello that he was fit. Instead Fergie snubbed him in a defiant and cruel way which pissed Hargo off as he stormed out of OT before the game was over.
Now I love Hargo and being a Canadian he holds a close space near my heart but seriously, he can go fucking sod off. I may be down on Fergie a lot this season but the one thing I demand and expect from players is loyalty and getting their god damned priorities right. It was clear that for Hargo priority #1 was England and United was #3 after being cautious to not hurt his precious knees in a game all season. Well not in my book. So Fergie taught him a valuable lesson in his old age. Don’t fuck with the team and lack courage working and playing for them but demand time to audition for England. Serves the Canuck right. First of all he is Canadian and he snubbed his own country to play for the birthplace of his parents. Now he disrespects his club who have been incredibly patient and sympathetic because he was not given a 30 minute cameo to show off his health to Senior Capello. Well boo fucking hoo. To be honest, I would have no respect for Capello if he selected a player based on 30 minutes of sub play. So as far as I am concerned, Hargo has betrayed United and for that he just may now be dead to me, unless I hear something from him apologizing or altering the facts given in the Sun article.
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@Owen: Mate, that’s great. I just can’t think of a better punishment!!
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@Redrich: Hard to argue with any of that mate. Well done. I especially agree with the comments on Obertan and Tosic. Hope they are sold as they are not United caliber and hopefully this breakout season for Nani continues and that next season he does not revert into his old form and habits. A summer playing undisciplined football for Portugal can ruin every great stride he made in the second half. Ronaldo will do that to him.
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@Redrich: Man I couldn’t agree with you more. I have felt like that for a few months now but lacked the guts to make the comment you just did for fear of reprisals. Why? I probably wouldn’t have been so polite about it. It’s like a band of bullies right. Funny thing is I have been called a bully many times on this site which amazes me because all I want to do is debate and disagreeing with me is never a problem as long as they don’t get personal. Then they get personal and I blow up and then I am called a bully.
Go figure. All I can say is this blog is no longer any fun and when it’s leader has gone missing, that doesn’t help as he could say and do a few things to right the course of this ship which seems to be running rudderless like the Bismarck in it’s final hours afloat. 
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@colver: Where have you heard about Foster being sold? I can’t seem to find any mention of it. If so that is great news indeed and may I say it now in my loudest and most volatile way, “GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH”. It’s about time. And what poor sods were stupid enough to buy him?
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@Grognard: I think that from a Grognard perspective most of whats said against you is pretty much a knee jerk infraction.
You tend to be very edgy, and can and do offend on occasion (perhaps without the malice that some infer), but most of us know that you have a heart of gold and that your true meaning leans toward the good for all.
Be yourself, mate. i wouldn’t want you any other way!!
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: Why would you sell Gibson, especially for £5m?? The lad is 22 chipped in with 5 goals last season and with a longer run in the side could easily get nearer 10. We are cring out for a midfield player who can score goals and he maybe the answer, worth a run in the side but he could be a very decent squad player at least.
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In the best news of the day Milos Krasic’s agent has said that were in the running to sign him, apparantely behind Bayern? Why Would he want to go there?
Anyways I hope Fergie does, the agent said his price is 15 million which IS IS IS value considering players like Milner and Rodwell are rated as 25 million? I hope Ribery does get locked up for his prostitution charge because then we will sign Krasic hopefully. Fergie has said he likes him and judging by his games against us I do too 
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@Grognard: The Ozil chap looks like a gem. Ive seen him play a few times. Really tricky down the left wing but we probably, considering the state of our scouting system, arent even aware of him. Regarding buying a central midfielder I would not opt for David Silva If he was to be our only midfield signing simply because I think hes incapable of playing in a 4-4-2 formation in the centre. He would be overun by most of the team in the premiership as he has no defensive qualities at all. He would be perfect on the wing though in a 4-3-3 though. The player that interests me most from that group his Hamsik. Hes like a skilful lampard and just controls games with aplomb.He would be perfect here, I dont care much for the appearance of a player(tatoos). He can do whatever Freddie ljunberg style hairstyle as long as he performs!
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@Stephen: Perhaps because we could maybe use the 5 million to but a better player. Gibson has a good strike but its not good enough. Hes average.
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@Redrich: True about Giggs, he seems to be a charity foundation when it comes to possession. He just plays the ball straight to the opposition. Last year he was good this year apart from a few good performances hes been bad
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Grognard, Daily Mail has Foster moving to Birmingham for £4 million. The way they write it sounds like a done deal. Maybe the other papers will confirm it soon.
I also side with Fergie on the Hargreaves issue. He should forget about England until he has paid back his debt to Manchester United. There is no way I want him risking injury for England.
But for me Hargreaves will never be a real part of the United team. The nature of his injury makes it incredibly likely to recur and I doubt he will return to the player he was at Bayern.
I cannot understand why we didn’t do a better medical check on him before we bought him. From the sound of it he had the problem when we bought him.
Ive got a nasty feeling that Rooney will go to the World Cup still carrying an injury and he’ll end up aggravating it and missing the start of next season. And that will really mess up our chances for next season. The problem with relying on Rooney as your main man is that he has always been a bit susceptible to injuries and when he gets injured his form is always poor coming back into the team.
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In an ideal world we’d keep Gibson around to see how he develops. But we dont have that luxury. With Giggs and Scholes on the way out we need players who can walk into the side and make a difference.
We need to sell to buy. And selling players like Foster, Gibson, Tosic, and Berbatov could raise around £35 million. Add that to our usual £20 million transfer budget and we could buy a great striker and a great midfielder.
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@Taehr: He is 22 mate, he needs games and what would you get for £5m?? Not a lot and he would be a godd squad player.
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@Taehr: Also bro people said the same about Fletch and he worked out quite well, er including , me!!
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@colver: Fergie’s own inaction and unwillingness to freshen up the team with new players and with attacking tactics is what will hurt us at the start of the season. If Rooney comes back hurt that will be par for the course it seems.
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Stephen, if we had more money Id be happy to give Gibson a few years to break into the first team, just in case he is a late bloomer like Fletcher. But right now Id prefer £5 million cash in our transfer kitty.
Grognard, yeah it is par the course. All the players in the squad are speaking out to the media saying that we are too reliant on Rooney. They are crying out for us to bring in some quality back-up. Think back to 2007/8 when Ronaldo was supported by Rooney and Tevez and we were the best attacking team in the world.
We need to bring in £50-60 million of attacking talent. A striker and an attacking midfielder. If that doesn’t happen this summer we will do even worse next season, because I don’t see Rooney being quite as prolific next season especially after a gruelling world cup where he is bound to aggravate his injuries.
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@Redrich: Thanks Red. Once again you seem to get me. What’s kind of funny really when I think about it is that on many of those occasions I am saying things that are edgy, I am actually typing it with a smile as I am laughing on the inside hoping that all who read it will get the tongue n cheek attitude I am offering it with. Quite often I am not as serious as I come across. Quite often I just want to start a debate, not a fight and yet a fight is what happens because the written word cannot always show my true intentions.
But like I said yesterday, I hope that this blog’s dwindling numbers are not also due to my contributions. I know some have left in the past because they couldn’t stand my guts but that I didn’t feel that bad because I couldn’t stand them either. Some were just kicked off. But lately I am just noticing a real exodus of people who I have not had problems with but who seem to have disappeared or who show up once in a blue moon and then disappear again. Obviously, the blog isn’t holding their interest or stoking their passions, and really, they way it has been run of late, I cannot blame them. Hardly any new posts unless it’s an add for Betfair, and no moderator or leader to direct things and stimulate new conversations or get many off a topic that is going nowhere or that is pissing many off. I don’t begrudge RR his holiday but he was already burned out by this blog before he left and if it were I on holidays, I would at least try to offer something via a laptop or Internet cafe once or twice within that holiday period to put minds at ease and to let all of us know that he is well and that he still cares because I have to say for a working man, his holiday has been very long.
RR, if you are reading this mate, it’s time to come out of hiding and make a statement because truly, your blog is in jeopardy unless you can show to us that you still are in charge and that you still care. Please, we need some signs of life.
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@Taehr: I think Bayern wants him for two reasons. First, they would like him as a replacement for Ribery if he leaves (which I feel he will do because in fact he is an egotistical and deluded frenchman who seems to think Spain has everything that he craves including under age girls in brothels) and also because he looks so German with his flowing blonde hair. Truthfully though, he is a great player who can create and who can also play just behind a striker as well as on the right wing. Bayern probably needs him more than United do in fact.
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@Grognard: I can understand your feeling about the long post and thought of (may be) getting ignored. But the fact remains bro that there are people who will still come with well thought out replies.
Anyway getting back to your wish list and the post. I have to agree that it was well thought and surely very well articulated comment. But I have to say that it was albeit wishful thinking rather than the reality. I mean there are very few players who we would have gone for even before the Glaziers Era to today it is just out of question. As far as the list of exiting players are I am OK with that with an Exception of Berba of course. People on here who followed my comments before Jan will certainly know that I am one of the Pro Berba Fan here. Secondly, what I always felt is, after such a terrible season that he had his market value is next to nothing then why to sell him and then adjust with some substandard players as the money that we will recoup from the sell will never be sufficient to get a good striker, forget about the Great so Called Man UTD quality striker. Secondly, I always felt that he was always a 4-4-2 formation striker who will always play just behind the main man and provide little openings here and there. But then one thing we always knew that he was never a World Class Players who will on his own decide the result of the match and he needs good movement from midfield. So I will still keep him if its upto me. Having said that I am still convince that we need another 20 goals striker and basically some one in the mould of Hunter. A fox in the box. I mean the wingers that we have currently he will be an idle option. So the only way I can part with Berba is offer him to AC which will suit him as well and take Hunter as part of exchange.
As far the MF is concerned I am just looking at only one player and that player is Jack Rodwell. What ever you have said about him and comparison with the Ballack is exactly what I said to my bro when first time I saw him. He and his style of play is just tailor made for 4-4-2 and Man UTD way. I mean the 2 strong Box to Box MF, of which 1 will play more defensively and be the spoiler for the opponent (Fletch) and other who can be more adventurous going forward, can contribute few goals here and there (Rodwell) along with the good rather more than just a good winger is what I would like to see we are going to. Whats more I really hope a players like Jack who can provide some cover for defense will may just prompt Fergie to leave his 5 Man MF behind and Play 2 Striker more often then not. As he can assured of one thing that irrespective of whether we are playing against 3 man or 2 man MF Fletch and Jack Pair will not get rolled over that easily.So I am all for Jack given that we are playing 4-4-2 and we have a clinical finisher upfront along with Rooney. Secondly, assuming that we will play 4-4-2 I am not quite sure how the Sila, Gourcuff and all fair as I can really see them as real B-2-B MFers which we should look at. But then just my opinion.
I think I have been pretty long but thats how I am as well.
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@Stephen: Yea same here regarding fletch but with Gibson I dont see it happening, even for his one and only skill his shooting is quite wayward. Id rather give a chance to Cleverley who looks the better player to me.
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@Taehr: Where Ozil would be perfect is playing that second forward or as an attacking central midfielder in the same role as Frank Lampard. He is an offensive genius who can create and score goals and so his defensive duties should be slim to none. Problem is like you said, he’s probably not on our radar because he is typically German, even if he is truly more Turk. And trust me, when a Greek like me has great things to say about a Turk, he must be good. He’s the best German/Turk to show up since Mehmet Scholl who I thought was great in his day. And like you pointed out, he is equally comfortable playing on the left wing or even the right side. Great versatility.
As for Hamsik. I read the other day that he looks to sign a new contract with his team which could make it hard for us to get him.
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@colver: I would still go with one think that how we want to play. Is it 4-4-2, is it 4-5-1 or is it 4-3-3 to put it in simple manner. Because if we are saying that just buy an attacking players and come up all the names that we are discussing here then I am afraid that it may end up being Berba Part TWO. I mean we never really gave any heed to what was the way we wanted to played and then just for the sake of buying we went and bought Berba who was suppose to be a very good players and definitely better than most in BPL at that time. But then what has happened since then just there to see for all. I have feeling that if we are looking at the 4-4-2 as the way forward given that we tried few times this year Silva, and other Pure Attcking MFers always talked about is not the way forward. I would rather go for a players in the Ballack mould. Like I said Jack Rodwell or any of that kind. What I am trying to say is that Gaffer should have a clarity in is mind that what he want to play?? What formation he is looking at as the Primary way of functioning of the team?? And then only he should go and buy someone who will fit in that.
What I want is plain and simple, someone in Ballack (Jack Rodwell) mould in the MF and some one as clinicle as RVN (The HUNTER) as a striker to partner Rooney along with 4-4-2 Formation. That is the wish list for the summer. As I can’t see we are doing anything in any other dept provided that we have already singed Smalling and VDS has extended his stay.
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@colver: I know one thing for sure. This summer I will not be glued to NewsNow reading every bloody ridiculous rumour that comes out about players being linked with us. In the end I feel we will end up with Joe Cole and a few scrubs but you never know, Fergie and more so, the Glazer’s may surprise us and open their purses and spend a little. Why? Because they are a public relations nightmare right now and one way to appease the many fickle United supporters would be to spend and bring in a player or two who are expensive. And in that scenario I would actually have some sympathy for them because there will still be a majority of supporters who will still hate their guts and want them out like myself because they are not so easily seduced by last minute pre election style political moves designed to keep a lame duck leader in power. They must go and now amount of irresponsible spending on players will change the fact they are destroying this great club every minute they are in charge. But dishing out 50 or 60 million on players would at least appease many now and give Fergie the weapons he needs to get back the silverware we have lost over the next few seasons. Kind of a Catch 22 really. Damned if we don’t and damned if do when it comes to those assholes spending money
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@Onkar: It’s really great to have you back mate. I enjoy reading your posts and your passion and knowledge of the club is obvious. Don’t take any more long sabbaticals from the blog because it needs members like you to be here an to contribute, OK.
Let me start by saying that my long post was not a wish list as much as a list of what i felt were the best players available to us if we indeed wanted to go for any of them. Idid forget to add Neven Subotic from Dortmund as a CB who I feel would be a great addition and who will partner Vidic with the Serbian national team. One great way to keep Vidic at OT for years to come would be to partner him up with his fellow countrymen Subotic and even Milos Krasic.
As for Berba, you and me are on the same wave length in our love for Berba but where I disagree is the idea of hanging on to him just because we won’t get fair market value for him. Clearly he just does not mix well with our style of play and our style of play and kind of players we have are not going to change to accommodate him. He needs to change to accommodate the team and he has clearly not been capable of doing that. Therefore, he has to go for the good of the team but most of all, for his own good. I like Berba too much to see him languishing on our bench. He is not a good bench player or part time starter. He is at his best when he plays a lot and that just isn’t going to happen here. Let him go to Bayern or some other team that would appreciate his skill set and be more willing to accommodate his style of play.
Now on to Rodwell. I love the guy, you love the guy but the fact remains that unless David Moyes was willing to take a payer like Carrick and some money in return for him, the price is just too high. Personally I would offer either Carrick or Anderson to Everton and some money to get him but this kind of dealing and trading is rarely done in football. It’s par for the course in north American sports and I for one have always preferred the idea of trading players as opposed to buying them outright. The clear problem with United is not only the fact they need new blog, but that they need to get rid of old blood. This is where they need a savvy GM and manager who can talk it up with other clubs and convince them that a trade and money deal for players is win win for both teams. It’s clear to me that Everton could really use and benefit from a Micheal Carrick in the center of their midfield instead of a Phil Neville for crying out loud. Rodwell is seen as too young and inexperienced for Moyes who hasn’t got the depth. Well Rodwell would find it easier and be given more time and attention to mature with a club like United and be surrounded by a better core of players from which to learn from. Meanwhile, Carrick could also benefit greatly by playing for a good team that doesn’t bring the pressure and the expectations that United did. For me it was clear that Carricks was a quality player but not quite United class and like Berbatov, one of those players who just plays better for lesser clubs. Why United’s brain trust cannot see what I and others see is beyond me. I know I am right here but that means very little when Fergie and his GM and scouts are too damned out of touch with reality to get it.
For me there are only three signings that would fix our problems, and surprisingly, a forward is not in that group. Yes a good second striker would be a nice addition but I seriously would like to see what playing Macheda and Berbatov more would bring. I am not won on Diouf and although I like Owen, he is an injury waiting to happen. Still, I would not complain if we signed a Benzema or Higuain or even Dzeko. But I still fantasize of the day we sign Huntelaar. He would come cheap right now and i still think he is the perfect type of foil for Rooney. Yet like I said, forwards are not our main concern.
My top three signings would be Yoann Gourcuff as an AMF who plays just behind Rooney like a Lampard and who also has the duties of taking our free kicks. After that it would be Jack Rodwell as a deep lying midfield partner to Fletcher who has the ability to go box to box. And finally, I crave the signing of either Manuel Neuer or Rene Adler as the heir to EVDS in goal. This core of three players would make a big difference and change the overall makeup of a team that is going slowly backwards and that has gone creatively stale of late. Perhaps I would add a Kjaer or Subotic at CB due to the inability to trust Rio when it comes to staying healthy.
I should add that although I think adding these three or four players would do wonders for the team, the other thing that would do wonders for the club is to get rid of the dead weight and the seniors from the club too. I am willing to wait a year before sending Giggs, Neville, EVDS and Scholes out to the retirement home but for now, Anderson, Foster, Tosic, Carrick, Berbatov, Welbeck and a few other no hope reserves have got to go to free up space and to just change the look and feel of the club. I’d add Park to that list personally, but I know that won’t happen.
An one more thing, I wouldn’t mind if Fergie hired Gianfranco Zola as an assistant coach who I feel would bring loyalty, trust and a great attitude to the club which would rub off on many players. Not an heir to Fergie but as an assistant, I think he would be great.
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@Grognard: I think Fergie will go again after his love child Benzema depending on the lads court case. I would imagine that Real would be more than happy to sell as the lad is on massive wages and his face does not seem to fit.
This may spell the end of Berba which probably is better for both parties but Fergie is stubborn and Berba certainly does not want to leave, for me the most important position is the midfield as ours simply is not near the standard required in Europe.
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@Onkar: What is it about Rodwell eh? I have to say it has taken a long time for me to warm up to a player born and raised in England. Not since Rooney have I seen a talent that so lifted me with optimism and made me crave his potential like this lad. He just instantly did it for me when I saw him play for the under 21′s and then in his cameo’s with Everton. The lad just has the X-Factor. He has the skill set that I like in a central midfielder without being a Zidane or Gourcuff type. Most of you out there know that Ballack is my favourite player currently playing. Again I apologize for that but that was determined well before he showed up at Chelsea and became a bit of an asshole.
Why do I like Ballack? He is physically imposing, has great composure, can strike a ball beautifully with accuracy finesse and power, is one of the greatest headers of a ball I have ever seen, has great vision and passing ability and plays box to box as well as anyone. Of late he has really been hindered at Chelsea playing mostly a DMF position which has hurt his attacking game because it was the only way to fit him into the starting lineup with Lampard already their AMF. Why Ballack signed for a team that already had a Lampard is beyond me. So he is a great player with an over sized ego and intellect that borders on idiot. My God how well he would have fit with our club as a CMF or AMF. Well we never got Ballack but everything i have seen about Rodwell reminds me of him. He can defend and tackle well, covers ground well and with pace and has the passing ability and attacking instinct to move forward when it matters and strike a ball well or even head it with great power and accuracy. He is the real deal. And he is only 21 or 22. Jeez the future is his oyster and it would be such a shame if he wasted it at Everton.
Right now he is overpriced but considering his age and what he is capable of, I think he would be a worthwhile investment. I think he will be the cornerstone to our midfield for years to come and will be the resurrection of Bryan Robson to the England team for years to come. Yes I could be wrong with all this praise but honestly, I just do not think so. I just have real good feeling for this player. I also think Fergie is asleep at the wheel and we will lose him to Arsenal. Just wait and see.
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@Grognard: I think we go hand in hand as far as the whole Rodwell think goes. I think we may be wrong but. Even when I saw him first time the First player he reminded me was Ballack. I have to agree before he joined Chelski Ballack used to be on my wish list for sure as I just loved him play but then you know he is Chelsea players now. Secondly the precise point that what you are saying is what I am trying to put across. I think current Fergie way of thinking and the way Man UTD plays the players in the mould of Ballack is what we need and not a player in the mould of Zidane. And that is where my vote goes to Jack rather than most of the others who are discussed here. As I want to have a player who is more of CMF rather than just an AMF.
By the way NO MORE sabbaticals from my side I can assure that.
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@Stephen: I think if Fergie is really going for Benzema it won’t be that bad and the last year decline of might have worked in our favor. I mean we can look at it one way that, he will lot cheaper than what was talked about last year. Secondly, he might just be more determined to perform well and prove that he is world cup quality after being kicked out of team. In both cases we just may have something going our way. Secondly, its hard to say as I am one of the keen admirer of him, but Berba should go, and should go to team like AC where with little slow pace and technical game is played which will suit his way of playing rather well. It will be good for both the parties.
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@Onkar: You are correct. We play more of a 4-2-2-2 as opposed to a strict 4-4-2. Our central midfielders play deep and our two wide midfielders play a more advanced position like wingers and all the creativity comes from them. But we are also a team that plays 4-3-3 and in that case Rodwell probably doesn’t fit as well as a Silva or Hamsik would because Fletcher would be our central midfielder and frankly, Rodwell hasn’t got the pace or skill to play wider. Rodwell coming really depends on whether Fergie wants to go back to two strikers or just Rooney alone up front flanked by wingers. In a setup where we have two deep lying midfielders Rodwell fits like a glove. So I am pulling for that.
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@Onkar: I agree with all of that mate, I like Berba but facts are facts he simply hasn’t settled, and Fergie should put him out of his misery and sell him for the greater good of the club and the player.
With Benzema not going to the World Cup this alone will bring his price tag down, also Real want shot of him put the cloud on the horizon is obviously his rape trail which I believe is at the mid end of July so nothing really could be done until that has been done and dusted.
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@Grognard: We can say it other way mate, I mean having the deep lying MFers of a quality of Jack and Fletch may just provide Fergie the assurance and comfort that he needs to employ 2 ST tactics. And I agree, we can Go for 4-2-2-2 or even 4-2-4 if possible if we have an insurance of this deep lying pair. And this is precisely where I am saying that, we need to fix one thing first is what we want to do, are we going to play 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 then don’t even think of Jack. But if we are going to play 4-4-2 or 4-2-2-2 or even 4-2-4 then he is just what we need.
So, the solution of our teams problems can only be decided when we will finally decide what system we are going to play irrespective of the opponents and that should be our priority in my honest opinion.
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@Stephen: Can’t agree more every thing you said was just spot on. BTW how are matey, hows life, its been a long time since I had any talk with you!!!
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@Onkar: I’m good bro, got married a month ago and got stuck on honeymoon due to the volcanic ash cloud which was also great fun!!
But all good matey, this summer will be very interesting with regards to United, we obviously do need to invest money into the squad but need to spend in the right areas, people talk about Krasic who is a good player but not what we need, as we have plenty already on the right flank.
Ideally two centre mids, and a left winger is really whats required!
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