Apr 13
On Ronaldo’s Fergal Treatment
Since it’s already been reported by every conceivable media outlet, I suppose most readers would already be familiar with this bit of news.
The long and short of it is this: Ferguson made comments in the media about Ronaldo’s general behaviour this season and, for a change, actually said something without being cloyingly appreciative of him. Here’s the meat of what he’s had to say on Ronaldo, that I’ll quote for those who haven’t read this before:
“I don’t accept that he will give goals away because of the player he is. I speak to him about it. I don’t accept that from anyone. In European football, if you give the ball away it takes a long time to get it back.“He always feels he’s not getting the proper protection from referees and I think that, maybe, in quite a few cases he is right, and a few cases he is not right. It’s hard when a player who wants to entertain doesn’t get everything his own way. But you can’t get everything your own way. He understands that and there’s not a problem with that. It’s just a frustration that he feels he doesn’t get the decision and he gets upset about it.
“I think, obviously, he doesn’t enjoy that and he knows he’s letting himself down more than anything. He holds his hands up. I have had to remind him about that but I’m not getting into what has been said.”
It is a rare public occasion where Ferguson has admitted that he’s actually said stuff to Ronaldo other than, ‘You are the best player in the world and the world is out to get you. Don’t worry son, it’s just an alien conspiracy and it will pass.’ That, papers have proclaimed it’s a bust up between Fergie and Ronaldo and, that Ronaldo being benched against Sunderland was a punishment of some sort is just hyperbole and wishful thinking, respectively.
There are two things to note here. First, Ferguson has in fact made one more remark on Ronaldo that could be construed as, let us say, mildly negative when, in the CNN interview, he admitted that the Real Madrid distractions did affect him on the pitch, a bit.
Now to the most discerning of the United faithful, the above statements are like the Pope saying, the fact that man has now seen the earth from outer space could mean the earth may have been round since the beginning of time, or me saying the fact that Phil Collins writes bad music could mean he may be a shite artist. Nonetheless, it is something Ferguson has said in public, whether it is stating the blind obvious or not. So, in the least, it could translate to him not being very pleased with the way things have transpired since last summer.
Secondly, Ferguson saying what he has said in the media does not make the ‘bust up’ (if you can call it that) a very recent event. If both United fans and journalists alike can spot a bit of tiredness, slackness or a more than usual whingeing, there is a good chance that a manager like Ferguson, during the course of the season, would have stopped for a moment and gone, ‘hey, hold on. Now, that doesn’t look right…’. While there may have been a lot of critics questioning Ferguson’s lack of tactical nous, the one aspect of his management that tends to always stand the test of time and personnel, is his man management skills. So, to antagonise an important player at this crucial point of our season is not something he’d do.
What might have happened, if I may speculate, is Ferguson sitting down and having an adult discussion with Ronaldo. No flying hair dryers like the media would love to cream themselves about.
The papers have been quick to link these quotes with Ferguson benching Ronaldo for Sunderland because of this alleged ‘bust up’. It’s not too different from Mark Lawrensen’s (in)famous remarks, a few days ago, on how ‘everyone knew there was a bust up between Fergie and Rooney’. So I would not waste too much of my time with all this. I’ll just point to an important game in mid week that would need our star winger to be at his freshest best in a squad bulging with jaded players. If he’s benched for Porto, though, then it’s worth debating whether Fergie’s bust up with Ronaldo is indeed true.
Till then, let us be relieved that Fergie does recognise Ronaldo is capable of much more than he’s shown so far this season.
Related items from Red Rants:- Ferguson joins fight against cancer
- Jonny Evans: on Manchester United, Northern Ireland, Ferguson…
- Dream on…
- The Rio Ferdinand Situation
- Ronaldo’s career to end by February
Tags: Opinions/Columns
April 13th, 2009 at 8:45
yeah.please ronaldo listen to the gaffer and take us to Rome(or wherever).Wake up Ronaldo so we can stand tall again in Rome(or wherever).Viva ronaldo
April 13th, 2009 at 8:50
I don’t think he was benched for that reason alone, He was dead tired after playing continuosly for so long, He is matured enough to accept the mistakes done by him, especially if someone like fergie points out.
April 13th, 2009 at 8:53
@julio: Ya i know he will be rearing to go and prove people wrong..
April 13th, 2009 at 9:44
[...] Red Rants reacts to Ferguson’s recent comments about Ronaldo. [...]
April 13th, 2009 at 10:00
@despicable: Thank God he was benched for the game.. I cant even remember the last time he was rested.
The ‘bust-up’ label is usual Daily Mail style of blowing things out of proportion.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:03
There is nothing to indicate that fergie let it fly at Ronaldo. He just “spoke” to him. I found Ronaldo tracking back quite a bit for the short time that he was on the pitch against Sunderland.
Also isn’t everyone glad that come next weekend, Manchester United will be having a near fully fit squad, barring of course any injuries that happen during/before/after the Porto game. Wes brown is back in training next week, Rafael is strating training on tuesday which is tomorrow. So barring Hargreaves we have a fully fit squad.
April 13th, 2009 at 11:12
@UnitedUnited: I’ll only be happy if by this time next week we have a Champions League Semi Final and FA cup Final with Arsenal to prepare for.
If that’s the case, we have to play them 4 times in the next month. We can’t possibly win them all….
April 13th, 2009 at 11:50
http://soccerlens.com/no-gerrard-no-sweat-for-liverpool/26415/
My god, the scousers just cant seem to stop gushing about life at the moment. This guy actually tries to say that inspite of being flushed out by Chelsea CL, their winning against a Blackburn side which would have rather not turned up, is indicative of their superiority. They apparently played erm…responded like “Champions”.
April 13th, 2009 at 11:55
@Traverse: I have a feeling that Fergie will have to forego one of the three we are in. So most obviously it has to be the FA Cup. Because our matches are like this :
15th – Porto (A)
19th – Everton (H)
22nd – Portsmouth (H)
25th – Spurs (H)
3rd – Boro (A)
I dont see a point in trying to go for the FA cup when we have our game in hand and Spurs at home in a weeks time.
April 13th, 2009 at 11:56
Of course, Grognard has been saying this in virtually every post of his over the past two – three weeks.
April 13th, 2009 at 12:30
Whatever others may say SAF has at last opened his eyes to see what a let down Ronaldo has been this season and especially in the last 10 games or so. Against Porto he was a Porto player in ManU colours. Disgraceful! 80-90% of his passes were to Porto players. World Player of 2008/2009? Bah! disgraceful
April 13th, 2009 at 12:35
The day Fergie benches Ronaldo for an important game is the day I eat my hat. Although he has done it to Rooney a couple of times this season so who knows…
April 13th, 2009 at 13:26
@UnitedUnited: Our game in hand is Wigan away (13th), between home games with Citeh(10th) and Arsenal(16th).
About next season, reports are we are buying Douglas Costa. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcZPye-oSqY Yeah it’s youtube, blah blah blah. One thing about the kid from this video that I enjoy is his willingness to pass the ball after doing a couple of players. He looks like he’s playing for the team, not for himself. Imagine if Ronaldo did a bit more of that…
April 13th, 2009 at 14:36
Traverse yeah he looks good but im hearing he would cost close to £20million and i think thats a bit much for another young player. We keep hearing with every player we buy they will be world class in the future, our midfield has been shocking this year so for this reason i personally think we should be looking for someone whos world class or near world class already. As i have said before my prefernce is diego, hes 25 so is close to his peak, and is an absolutely brilliant player. He averages 15 goals a season and for the money douglas costa would cost id prefer to pay a few million more and pick updiego, thats just me anyway.
As for the porto game, do you think nani may finally get a game. Park has been awful for me all season but not talking about his ability but how he has played he has looked tired. I wonder why he wasnt rested for the sunderland game with that porto game in mind. If we arent stupid park should be rested but we seem to over use the same players all the time and leave the fresh players (nani, ando) on the bench. Hopefully starts for nani and ando and also a start for macheda and i reckon we will win this game. Expect to see us go for scholes and giggs though.
April 13th, 2009 at 15:18
How do you know its the summer transfer window?
When your linked with tosh like ireland and valdes!
I cant believe newspapers are linking us with these 2, out of all the players in the world.
They are both OK players, but not what we need.
April 13th, 2009 at 15:43
It worked didn’t it? Unlike other games, he actually took his tackles well and got on with the game, he only whinned twice. He along with Rooney who I was impressed with for not blowing his top over that rubbish yellow card did a little growing up in that match.
April 13th, 2009 at 16:50
I will be stunned if ron doesnt start against porto
stupid media – 2 plus 2 —-5
i reckon saf had a word with roon as well.
April 13th, 2009 at 17:18
@Traverse: Douglas Costa does look to be a real talent, but for now people have to be patient. If we did buy him, dont expect him to play right away. At the moment he isnt getting regular games at Gremio. BBC’s Tim Vickery(who for my money is hands down the most knowledgable english speaking pundit in S.America) Said right now Costa is a great player for “moments, not matches” and that he needs a little more time in Brazil to add consistency to his game. Frankly I rate the kid, but I think the price is too much for a youngster who isnt ready for first team action.
April 13th, 2009 at 17:55
Considering how long Ronaldo has been getting away with murder and running the asylum the way the Joker runs Arkham, any kind of conversation where Fergie reads the riot act to Ronaldo or puts him in his place and settles him down is going to be overblown by the media. Of course it was a one on one meeting in which Fergie basically told Ronny in the kindest of ways to smarten the Hell up. This conversation needed to happen a long time ago but the fact it happened now is a case of better late than never.
Did Fergie bench Ronaldo for the Sunderland game as a punishment? Not on your life. In fact I had a very strong feeling that both Rooney and Ronaldo would not start that game. I really felt that Fergie would rest them knowing the biggest game of the year was in midweek vs Porto and that his two game breakers would be needed fresh and ready to go. Well he started Rooney and played him out of position again but at least he saw the common sense to finally rest Ronaldo. It’s too bad the team once again played so poorly that it forced him to bring him on. Full game off would have been a great thing for Ronaldo.
Anyway, the meeting I am sure cleared some air and helped Fergie get some things of his chest. Hopefully Ronaldo took the criticism like a man. Fergie has said many times in the past that Ronaldo reacts well to people being honest with him. Well I hope this is true because the honest things I would have to say to the lad would get him hot under the collar and mad enough to throw a punch in my direction. In Fergie’s case would they make Ronny hot enough to start percolating fantasy’s of life in Madrid again? Only time will tell. In the mean time, lets hope the savior Macheda continues to save our bacon time after time after time.
April 13th, 2009 at 18:24
I am pretty excited about the Porto tie. This is a great chance to see what we are made of. We finally have a CL game that will force Fergie to go for it, and quit all this playing it safe crap. Winning in portugal wont be easy but I would feel much better going out swinging then going out so meekly like we did in Milan.
While I would be tempted to start Macheda on wednesday, I think at this point in the season I would continure to bring him in off the bench preferably around the 60-65 mark. Upfront I would revive the Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo trio and tell them to unleash hell.
I will concede that Carrick hasnt been up to his usual high standards, but I dont feel we have a better option than him right now. If fit I would pair him with Anderson, if not I would use fletcher. We are gonna need someone very mobile in the midfield to disrupt the Porto attack.
9 times out of 10 I would start Nani over Park, but this is one out of the ten where I would prefer Park. A midfield of Park, Carrick and Anderson should be busy enough to keep the supply of balls coming to the attack upfront.
Lastly I would kidnap coleen and show Rooney a polaroid of her tied up, and tell him that if he ventures into our half for a second she will be entering “a world of pain”
April 13th, 2009 at 18:48
First off, when our midfield is forced to run and defend, they never and I mean never deliver good passes to our forwards. They play too deep and are on their heels for the entire game. So I expect no contribution or distribution from Carrick, Anderson, Fletcher, Scholes etc. I’d like to say that I agree with Park starting but to be honest, his form of late has been poor not just in offense, but in defense too. Here is where I shock Porto and put out an attacking lineup that includes Nani and perhaps Anderson. Both would be very motivated and keen to show their skills against Portuguese rivals in Portugal and for Nani in front of his countrymen. Starting Nani would be a positive message sent to the squad by Fergie. Park is not an option right now. And I’ll be honest, I am really hesitant about starting Evra. For me, he is the number one, but not only reason for our downward slide. He has been caught out of position so often and has not showed hustle in getting back. Not only that but he has also made many defensive errors that has spread out the back four and made them weaker and less cohesive.
Other than that, I expect both Brown and Rio to man up and be ready to start this next game and I expect Ronaldo to give the performance of his life in front of his countrymen. I expect nothing from Berbatov and Tevez because as usual, they will deliver nothing. So Fergie, do us all a favor and bring in Macheda around the 60th minute if we are still close. Don’t wait until after the 70th minute to bring him in. I am convinced that Bebatov will once again be invisible and that Tevez will do everything except control the ball in the box and get shots on goal or at goal. I expect Rooney to start on the left side again because that’s why Fergie played him there against Porto. He plans on 4-3-3. Chances of Nani starting are slim to none but a 4-4-2 with Nani starting would be nice to see. Below is not my predicted starting lineup, it’s the one I would prefer.
GK – EVDS
RB – BROWN
CB – RIO
CB – VIDIC
LB – EVRA (With great trepidation)
LM – NANI
CM – GIGGS
CM – CARRICK
RM – RONALDO
ST – TEVEZ
ST – ROONEY
SU – FOSTER
SU – O’SHEA
SU – SCHOLES
SU – ANDERSON
SU – MACHEDA
SU – BERBATOV
SU – FLETCHER
April 13th, 2009 at 18:50
@johnsom33: We need goals, to score goals we need end product, something park does not have.
Same with tevez, we should our most efficient, and in form players, which means nani and macheda in my books.
April 13th, 2009 at 18:59
i hope this is THAT come back we have been waiting for since the liverpool game , its the perfect time for it.
April 13th, 2009 at 19:10
@Dan: The problem with that theiry Dan is that I am sure Fergie doesn’t share it generally. Generally he would put the responsibility on his defense to hold off Porto and hope that one of our stars breaks through with one goal. But knowing how poor and leaky our defense has been, will he opt for a shootout approach where he throws caution to the wind and hopes the team outscores their rivals. I don’t know but I honestly think Fergie will play it tight and defensive and hope that the boys regain their form.
Last week I said after the draw that no matter how disappointed and upset I was witht he team and Fergie, that I still felt that we would go to Porto and win the game 1-0 or 2-1. I still stick by that. There are a few factors that point me into that direction of thinking.
1. We have far more experience in playing in these types of games.
2. We are a far superior team. Porto should not even come close to us on paper, but of course the game isn’t played on paper.
3. We have a way of scoring late goals that matter
4. Porto is coming into this game high on confidence having achieved a stunning draw at OT. Their overconfidence could end up betraying them because the reason they did well at OT is because they had nothing to lose so they let it all hang out. Now they have something to lose and that pressure will hopefully make them fold like a tent. Doubtful that we will go in there and win 3-0 but I think the pressure on them will be enough for us to steal the game.
5. No matter what he has or hasn’t done in the past, Fergie is a much better manager than Ferreira.
6. We have Macheda and they don’t.
April 13th, 2009 at 19:12
@Dan: I agree we should play Nani but since when has he been one of our in form players? Wouldn’t he need to be playing regularly for that to be the case?
April 13th, 2009 at 19:41
@Grognard: Hes not, but hes more efficient then park. Park is neither in form or efficient.
April 13th, 2009 at 20:01
@Grognard: great line-up. Just realizing how weak our RB position is that we must put in a rusty Brown for under-achieving Neville…. Brown is a gamble, in my mind.
I like the Tevez/Rooney up front. Porto is a small technical team so no need for berba, besides keeping the ball. I think this would make berba an excellent sub if we lead come 60th minute or so.
If Nani plays in portugal, this game will define his future with us. And Ronaldo better improve his form also (but we will keep him regardless
).
Otherwise, spot on Grognard. Now let us win this blimey game!
April 13th, 2009 at 20:17
i think rafeal has more chance than brown in that squad
April 13th, 2009 at 20:33
@Madschester United: I Neville starts this game, we will lose. Having both him and Evra caught up field or out of position will put too much pressure on Rio and Vidic and spread them out.
Also, one thing I forgot to mention. Have you watched over the past few games how predictably stupid Man Utd is in attacking the opposition from the left side of the field? They seem to continuously put the ball at the feet of O’Shea as opposed to moving the ball to the right side and let Ronaldo have a go. The only time I want to see the ball on our left side is if Ronaldo shifts over there. Fergie, you use the weapons that shoot bullets not the ones that squirt water.
April 13th, 2009 at 20:35
@ROOOOONEY: I’ve heard that Brown is ready to go. If so, his experience as well as his ability to make good common sense decisions is important. Neville is an idiot and over the hill. I’ve always felt this way about him and now he has gone and proven it in the most extreme ways. To those who like Neville or even love the useless bastard, sorry but that’s the way I feel.
April 13th, 2009 at 20:51
@Grognard: Neville would be a much, much better option then brown! fact is, brown wont start an important game for the rest of the season!
Brown has been out for the whole season, all of it more or less, why start him against a team where we desperately need a win? He hasnt played a second of football since what? thats how long hes been out for, hell be as rusty as pin and should not start.
Rafael hasnt been out for as long, he has a better chance, but in my opinion, O’shea has done a marvelous job filling in, and should start until rafael gets his fitness up.
April 13th, 2009 at 20:53
@Dan: If not Brown, then Rafael, if not Rafael, then O’Shea, if not O’Shea then Evans……Just don’t play Neville. Neville Never Again.
April 13th, 2009 at 21:10
It saddens me that I was told not to watch anymore United matches in the previous post from someone who barely knows me, but what the hell that wont bother me.
And someone else was surprised when I said that I was ashamed of the players and the manager, but isnt that my right as a fan, supporter or follower whatever you call it, dont parents feel ashamed of their own kids when they do something wrong?!! and the fact is the month of march was hell for any United fan out there.
April 13th, 2009 at 21:13
I hope we DO play Neville so he can prove everyone wrong.
@Dan: I would take Ireland in a second. He’s been the best player in the league outside the top 4 and arguably better than most of our ’superstars’ all season. I don’t understand how people can go crazy over players like Costa (who they have never seen play) and Diego (who has never played in the PL) over Ireland who seems to score every other game and has outshone Robinho this season.
April 13th, 2009 at 21:20
@Hannoodi: you did say ‘I am considering not to watch any more games the rest of the season’ and Craig goes to every game and supports the team through thick and thin so you can’t really blame him. However you did say that you will cheer them on so I’ll cut you some slack and write it off as a misunderstanding but now isn’t the time to be saying that you want to stop watching matches because it makes you look like a glory fan
April 13th, 2009 at 21:23
@Liam: Thats just irish bias, ireland is the best smelling turn in a team of turds, that is all. A couple of goals against relegation teams doesnt mean you’re good enough for united.
Seriously, who would you rather play against barcelona? madrid? milan? inter? Ireland or giggs/hargreaves/anderson/carrick?
Ireland is over rated tosh who is holding back a real talent that is micheal johnson.
April 13th, 2009 at 21:33
I do agree on Ireland being a good player, but not yet United quality but he is still 21 so he can still improve, so why not!
There is something bothering me, we have spent a fortune on Nani, Anderson and Berbatov but I dont see moneys worth.
Last year I was a huge fan of both Nani and Anderson but this year they are either not playing or not impressing, and Berbatov who made me one of the happiest people alive when was signed, played a number of good matches then he too were either injured or not impressing.
How much is the debt ManUnited are carrying?!!!
April 13th, 2009 at 21:48
@Hannoodi: The previous post was me and I never said anything of the kind nor have I ever said that to anyone.
April 13th, 2009 at 21:50
@Liam: I too wouldn’t have a problem with Ireland as he seems to be able to go box to box and play as well if not better than the higher priced Ballack’s Lampard’s, Elano’s etc.
As for Neville, that’s your opinion and I respect it, but like you disagree with mine I too really disagree with yours. Neville has become a joke. Retire now before the joke becomes a disgrace.
April 13th, 2009 at 21:51
I didnt mean the comment I meant the whole “Sunderland Preview” post
April 13th, 2009 at 21:54
@Dan: No English bias there at all
I’m sorry that the big bad Irish player is holding back the next crappy English prospect but get over it, Ireland has been great this season. He is a complete psycho though… Trust me Ireland is a quality player in the making and to accuse me of Irish bias towards a player who doesn’t even play for Ireland is a bit weird. So you’d call Zabaleta, Kompany, Elano and ROBINHO Turds? City is full of good players but Ireland has been a standout
April 13th, 2009 at 21:57
Neville, O’Shea, Brown, Silva… RB is one big WEAK spot this season…
April 13th, 2009 at 22:02
@Grognard: He was rushed back from injury and asked to play 4 games in 11 days so I’m not going to dismiss his ability based on those games, he was putting in some very good performances before the injury and IMO when he is on form and fully fit he provides a good balance between defence and attack i.e. he knows when to burst forward and when to hold back. Everyone loves Rafael but I don’t think he is near ready to be a first team regular and Brown seems to be injury prone so if Neville himself can get and stay fully fit until the end of the season he could be our best option. I can see the othher side of the coin though but most of his nightmare performances have come when he has been played at CB and the 2nd Porto goal last week came when he had to cover in the centre for our CBs who’s positioning was appaling
April 13th, 2009 at 22:06
@Madschester United: I wouldn’t say it’s the personal as such, rather that we don’t have a consistent RB due to injuries. When O’Shea was playing there every game we were unbeatable at the back even when Evans was in for Rio. Consistency is the key imo
April 13th, 2009 at 22:07
@Hannoodi: You are new to this blog so may I suggest that your replies be addressed to specific individuals. You can do that by clicking on the grey arrow next to their names. That will put their name in the comment box and highlight in red. That way we all know who you are replying to.
April 13th, 2009 at 22:10
@Liam: Its not english bias at all, Johnson was and still is the bigger prospect, ireland had a few good games this season and now suddenly hes good enough for man utd, NO hes not.
And have you even seen city this season? All of those players including robinho have been average at best. Zabaleta is a poor mans kevin nolan, kompany was mean to be the next best defender in europe, he would struggle to make our reserve side, has elano played this season? and if someone said that bellamy has played better then robinho, i would have to agree.
Man city an average team at best, as showed by their league potion, 11th.
April 13th, 2009 at 22:11
@Liam: Perhap that is right but I just have a negative bias towards the guy that goes back years. I have always felt he was overrated because I cannot tell you how many times over his career he has blown a cover assignment and or mad a bonehead play that has cost us a goal. And still he would be out there every week and be England’s #1 choice. I just didn’t get it. To me he it was borderline on whether he was better than his useless brother Phil, and I’m not joking. The only good aspect in his game is his overlapping ability and skill to cross the ball. That’s of course if he isn’t caught out of position.
April 13th, 2009 at 22:14
@Dan: Sorry Dan but I’ve watched Ireland play enough this season to rate him a heck of a lot higher than you. He delivers and delivers in the clutch. He’s not our ideal guy in our want list but the fact is, he does the job and does it well. It’s the same thing with Tim Cahill at Everton. Say what you want about the guy but he delivers and is a great predator in the box. He is absolutely lethal in the box and he is a midget. Berbatov, Rooney, and all the United forwards other than Ronaldo could learn a lot about playing in the box, eluding their man and scoring goals. And who cares if Man City is an average or pathetic team? It doesn’t take away from the fact that Ireland is head and shoulders above bigger names than his on that squad.
April 13th, 2009 at 23:10
I have just finished watching Manchester United 1998/1999 season review and I must say it brought a lot of confidince in me, that year we did things the hard way, we didnt have the best defence, we didnt always win and we won a lot 1-0 and 2-1.
I just hope and wish that this year we can do it all over again, I was 10 years old in 1999 and didnt see it live I only saw it a few years later so I really want this to be our year, we did it before and we can do it again.
We will never die!
April 13th, 2009 at 23:20
@Grognard: Yeah I used to feel like that too and Neville would always be one of the first players sold when I played FIFA or whatever but I dunno, I started to be really impressed by the way he was always perfectly overlapping and delivering great crosses. I always took him for granted and only when I started to really look at him did I see the worth to our team. I always seem to get behind the underdogs on our team though…so maybe all this criticism has just made me over-supportive of him
@Dan: league positions don’t mean anything when judging a player. Look at Lescott and Cahill. They were both playing in the Championship (well, division 1) and now Lescott is in the England squad and Cahill is a pivotal player at the 5th or 6th best team in the league. Does that mean that they were division 1 standard while they were playing there
April 13th, 2009 at 23:30
@Liam: I have never had a problem with Neville contribution to the team in attack or in his heart and loyalty. But for me he is a below average player defensively. Quite often his mistakes are mistakes a rookie would make and it amazes me that someone like Ferguson has tolerated them. But yes, he is a great attacking threat moving up, overlapping firing in good crosses. That much I’ll give him. Unfortunately, it’s not good enough. Especially at a time when we are playing so poorly on defense.
April 13th, 2009 at 23:38
If Brown is fit Id start him. He has pace, is as good a tackler as any of our defenders and is adept at slotting in as a centre back if required. Id then put O’Shea at left back as Evra has been appalling and we need defenders who stay back and defend rather than bombing forward and being too lazy to track back.
Id go with Park as well, because Nani just really hasn’t had many games this season and Park has risen to the occasion on big nights in Europe before and can do it again. Park has a ton of European experience and I think he can keep Porto quiet. He was awful in the first leg but I blame the international break for that.
I have a feeling Fergie will start with Berbatov. I cannot see why else he’d play him this weekend, and then use Tevez or Macheda as impact subs from the bench. I don’t think this is the game for Berbatov but Id be happy for him to prove me wrong.
Rooney is the key player. He has been our stand-out player the last couple of games and he can take Porto’s defence apart single-handedly and provided he keeps his head his aggression can force Porto into making mistakes. We need to play Rooney through the middle not on the wing in a 4-3-3 like we usually do in away games.
The centre midfield is the hardest to pick. Id actually go with Giggs and Fletcher. They are a bit less lead footed than Carrick and Giggs is top of the assists chart for us and can help link midfield and attack. Fletcher can stay back and defend.
So long as we do not concede we will go through-because a team featuring Ronaldo and Rooney is worth a goal against this sort of opposition, annd I have a good feeling that a patched up defence featuring Rio and Brown will realise the magnitude of the situation and cut out the stupid errors that have been plaguing us in recent weeks.
We’ve won our last two games in the Premier League and even if we did so unconvincingly we are top of the table with a game in hand and that has to have boosted our confidence. We’ve had plenty of rest-the international break is a distant memory and we have a nice break until the Porto game. So tiredness shouldn’t be an excuse.
So I am convinced we’ll turn up fresh, play like we are capable of, and get the result. But being United we’ll make a meal of it.
So I predict a 2-1 victory with a goal coming in the last quarter of the game! Goals from Ronaldo and Rooney
April 14th, 2009 at 0:03
@colver: I don’t think there is any chance Brown is fit for this game so I’d go for O’Shea at RB and Evra at left. I just hope Evra sitting down on Saturday has recharged his batteries both mentally and physically.
April 14th, 2009 at 1:26
Key to the game for me, would be to build a 2 goal lead. It would take the crowd out, and would allow us to play our usual CL, conservative best. Which, by the way we’re quite good at.
If we have to chase the game we’re sunk, we would play into their hands totally by pushing up the field. Lets face it they’re gonna play for 0-0 or 1-1 and if we get a goal down the bus will be parked and the keys will be sent to the Emirates.
Hope we play an agressive attacking formation in the first half. Bombard them from left, right and center and don’t give it up until the 2 goal margin is achieved!!
April 14th, 2009 at 1:34
@Redrich: I’m sorry mate but that just made me laugh hysterically. Honestly, I don’t mean it as an insult but seriously, you make it sound like scoring two goals is a piece of cake. Christ, I’d be ecstatic if we were able to score two goals against them at Porto. But it’s not that easy. Heck, one goal will be hard enough and then the real tough thing will be to keep Porto from scoring. Yes building a two goal lead would be ideal but I just want to add that is certainly much more difficult than it sounds. Especially from a club that has had scoring troubles all season long, and especially on the road. Like I said earlier, I will be incredibly happy if we can steal the game 1-0. Anything better than than that will be seen as a monumental win and a day for great celebration. Here’s hoping you are right and they do get two goals and hold on for a victory.
April 14th, 2009 at 2:26
@Grognard: Yeah, I know, but why settle for one. The crowd will be absolutely rabid for the head of the Champions and I just feel it could be a deciding factor for a team that’s playing way beyond it’s present skill set.
Point taken, about the difficulty in scoring two goals, after all you and I are not gonna score them, but when we put that aggressive foot forward we’re more than capable of pounding away.
If I was to script an approach to this game, I’d have them come out with both barrels blasting. It’s called “shock and awe”, we know all about that in this part of the world, unfortunately, but I think it would give them the element of self doubt, that they should, rightfully have!!
April 14th, 2009 at 3:28
@Dan: I know we need goals,based on what I saw last year Rooney tevez and ronaldo was a devastating recipe. Roovez was never prolific but they create a lot of chances and they keep the defenders honest allowing ronaldo the space to operate. I could have sworn the most popular debate out there was that Rooney and tevez made ronaldos fantastic season possible.
I wouldn’t be totally against starting macheda, but it is putting an awful lot of pressure on the young kid. Bringing him on around the 60th would allow him to attack a slightly tired defense who chased tevez and Rooney all day.
April 14th, 2009 at 3:29
@Liam: I admire you for sticking up for the loyal servant that is Neville, but you have to be honest. He just doesn’t have it anymore.
April 14th, 2009 at 3:40
@Redrich: I agree. What they need to do is to come out and attack like they did when they went to Milan. That game ended 0-0 but we should have had 5 goals that evening. And that’s what I am talking about. Even when we let the dogs loose, they have been defanged and have no bite or finish. Therefore, I will settle for 1-0 and lets move on to extend the misery because in the end, we will not win the European Cup. Of that I am convinced.
April 14th, 2009 at 4:26
@Grognard: I just wouldn’t be that convinced! If we could just simply turn the burners back on as easily as we shut them down, a run of 4 good results doesn’t seem that impossible.
I do think that Wednesday’s game will be a yardstick for us though. After 5 shocking performances under their belt, and they’re still not convinced that things need to improve, I would add that it’s not just the CL we’re in jeopardy of blowing!!
This game ranks as the most important yet, and to take this on meekly, would upset me deeply. It’s not that often we have the opportunity to defend this trophy, and to go out against the lowest ranking team left would make our challenge laughable!!
The 2-2 draw in the home leg could have possibly steeled their nerve and made them address some issues that have lingered for some time. It’s certainly good to see SAF making some critical gestures and, perhaps, some of the players making some adjustments as was noted in Ronaldo’s second half against Sunderland.
It’s clearly the time to put-up and to shut-up. We all know this here and they, perhaps, are beginning to get the message clearly, too. We’re up against a team that we should beat handily and as long as they approach the game with a winning perspective, I feel sure the win is attainable!!
April 14th, 2009 at 6:49
@Redrich: I do agree that this game vs Porto is a season breaker. We can send a real message if we win it and win it convincingly. A great result will inject the needed confidence that the team has lost since the Liverpool game and it will also send a message to the other teams that we are not yet dead and buried. But a loss could be catastrophic to all our potential opportunities. Even a lucky win like the one we had at Sunderland will not be good enough, but you know our supporters, they’ll take it and find something great to say anyway.
Fergie dealing with Ronaldo is a great thing and dealing with him has sent a message not only to Ronaldo that his shot will not be tolerated, but it sends a message to all the rest that their jobs are never secure and that the ax can fall on anyone if they don’t perform. Fatigue and complacency has created this problem and the two culprits to blame for this are the congested schedule as well as Fergie’s inability to manage and discipline players. Well, perhaps the old Gaffer has awoken and had a sniff of reality and realized that he has let things slip and fall way out of order. A resounding performance by the lads against Porto would go a long way in getting the United Express back on the tracks.
April 14th, 2009 at 9:23
@Liam: So you concentrate on one part of my comment, but not the rest?
@Johnsom33: I dont care how good they were last year, this year tevez is tosh and usless.
April 14th, 2009 at 11:04
http://www.teamtalk.com/football/preview/0,16374,1778_5186826,00.html
brown didnt make it but rafeal did
April 14th, 2009 at 11:15
@ROOOOONEY: No Fletcher?
April 14th, 2009 at 11:19
@Stephen: Dont trust squad lists from the internet, 99.9% of the time, they just guess, the BBC are the worst at doing this. Unless that is copied and paste from the man utd website(i havent checked yet), treat it as false.
April 14th, 2009 at 11:22
@Dan: Ok mate
April 14th, 2009 at 11:38
its on the manutd website too
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=6630661
April 14th, 2009 at 11:45
Wow, well pointed out, there’s no Fletcher in the squad. Interesting. Ando and Rafael have travelled though, but I can’t believe the Scotsman isn’t there, must be an oversight? Though Gibson being included suggests he might be injured? Sigh.
Anyone else really looking forward to tonight’s Chavs v Pool match? Should be really interesting, with the rentboys determined to shut up shop but with a very mobile counter attack and Pool having to force the issue…
As for Wednesday, I had hoped for a formation similar to that which beat Chelsea quite thoroughly, but with no Fletcher that’s not really a possiblitiy. We bought Berbatov for matches like this one, so I’m almost 100% sure he’ll start if fit. Which means Rooney shunted out to the left, Ronaldo on the right and a midfield three, likely Carrick, Giggsy and Park. I guess the mysteries will be Ferdinand and Rafael…
If we lose I can’t see us winning the league. Our confidence is in dire need of a boost, and losing to the ‘easiest’ of the CL opponents would really hurt.
April 14th, 2009 at 11:50
the way i think about it to make me forget they have 2 away goal is thinking liverpool need 3 away goals. makes me feel a lot better
April 14th, 2009 at 11:54
@Beachryan: Why do you think Rooney will play out wide?
Logic sugguests he will play through the centre with probably Ronaldo and Park either side, with Giggs and Carrick in the centre?
Berba will start and will score!!!!! It is his destiny!!
April 14th, 2009 at 12:04
Giggs and Carrick in the midfield would be completely and utterly overrun. Which one of them is going to tackle and provide defensive support? I’m hoping Anderson is fit enough to play, and if you throw him in with Giggsy and Carrick I could see it working. But then you’ve only got 3 spots up top, which is what I see Fergie going for. We’re never ballsy away in Europe – we’ll try to keep it tight and nick one. I expect us to go out at 1-1.
April 14th, 2009 at 12:09
@Beachryan: Carrick would, he sits so deep anyway.
Anderson will not start Fergie has lost faith in him as have I now to be honest, we need to attack and not sit back, I believe we will go through.
April 14th, 2009 at 12:09
i think giggs will start , hopefully he will have one of those matches like he did vs chelsea
April 14th, 2009 at 12:36
@Dan: If this season was last season then Tevez would be one of the top scorers in the league. I’m sorry if I don’t agree that Berbatov is gods gift to football but last season Rooney and Tevez scored over 30 goals between them which this season would have made them the best strike combination in the league. I wonder what’s changed? Tevez is utter tosh? Jesus Dan we wouldn’t have come close to winning the league or CL last season if it wasn’t for Tevez. He played some fantastic football and was shoved out of the team by an inferior player.
April 14th, 2009 at 12:49
Hrm, looking at this picture: http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={83A644F4-1A7E-48B9-AF95-4605613A9A18}&newsid=6630670
Seems to me that’s gotta be fletcher in the distance behind Scholes. Methinks the live blogger just missed him off…
April 14th, 2009 at 12:59
@Liam: Regardless of form mate Berbatov and Carlos are so difficult to compare, to say all the huff and puff of Carlito is better than than the vision and touch of Berba is imposible.
April 14th, 2009 at 13:19
@Liam: if this season was last? tevez has 3 goals in 16 starts in the league, if thats not pure shit i dont know what is? No one has said berbatovs gods gift to football, but hes a lot better then tevez.
And tevez better then berbatov? if you really, really think that, then your berba hate is at an all time high, ive Park has better control then tevez, gibson has better vision then tevez, Welbeck is a better goalscorer then tevez.
Im sorry, but just because he can run around like a clueless idiot for 90minutes doesnt mean hes better then a player that doesnt.
April 14th, 2009 at 13:48
Hey guys, Im back from my holidays! Ive kept up with the discussions in this site, but I chose not to comment because I felt I had nothing to say.
Well, Im back in full flow now and ready for more commenting!!!
And for those that may have missed it, the shortlist of the PFA Player of the year are out. Incredibly 5 of the 6 players are from United!!!
Looks like we might not have played so bad afterall… Have a look, there are some surprises there.
April 14th, 2009 at 14:54
@RedDevilEddy: I still doubt that FA will give it to gerrard..
April 14th, 2009 at 14:59
@RedDevilEddy: Yep, the bigges surprise is Mr.Apple AKA ronaldo!
Shows the type of player he is, been playing shite all season and has scored the most premier league goals!
Shocked and rios inclusion to, i thought Cahill might of got a shout, and not forgetting Lamps, interesting this is.
EVDS should be nowhere near this, he has been off form for about 2 or 4 years now, and the CL final last season clouded my judgement.
To be honest, the only united players worth the award is vida and giggs, maybe rooney.
If Macheda had made his debut earlier in the season, i reckon he would be on their to. As would welbeck if he had got more games this season.
April 14th, 2009 at 15:03
@despicable: Gerrard will get it… it is too obvious. But I have to admit, I was surprised to see United every-where on that list. Evans might win the Youth award or Young (I think Young deserves it, though).
Depending on how the rest of the season goes, I think we can win the main awards again. If Ronaldo scores 4-5 more goals he might win it… wow. It has been a weird season!
April 14th, 2009 at 15:12
Gerrard should win as the United players will divide the votes. Pretty simple IMO…
@ Dan – surely you jest re Welbeck and Macheda being nominated if they’d played more? I’m all for a bit of optimism, but neither has done anything to indicate that they’re going to be BPITW material.
April 14th, 2009 at 15:36
@Beachryan: Its not best player in the world i was talking about, im talking about the PFA young player of the year awards there, sorry, should have made that clear.
April 14th, 2009 at 15:46
am stupified lol how we got five people in there.Shame Rooney aint there man he is been better than giggs by a mile.but as skysports says maybe its just a token gift for him not getting one all those other years ( @ giggs)
April 14th, 2009 at 16:12
@julio: voting took place before united’s recent dip in form. remember when vida was a beast?
April 14th, 2009 at 16:31
Hello,
Even though this is not the first time I ever post a comment on this blog, it has been a while. I am also a vivid follower of everything that goes on here, on a daily basis that is ofcourse. Greatly appreciate everyone’s comments. I just hope that someone in one of many cubicles at OT has a responsiblity to follow certain Blog’s, namely Red Rants and especially those rich and emotional comments made by all of you guys.
I chose this time to post a comment because I really feel that our game tomorrow will define alot of issues in Manchester United’s future. Yes future.
If we loose tomorrow evening then I am very confident that many of the following CHANGES will occur before the start of next season:
1 – Cristiano Ronaldo will definetly be sold. Why? well other than his ‘dream’ to play else where, it’s obvious for all too see in the way he has performed up till now. I honestly think he is avoiding any sort of injuries. Who knows may be the owners want to protect him too for more Benjamins. But I sincerely believe that he’s off IF we loose against Porto. If we win on the other hand, then that’s a whole different ball game. Why? I think a win tomorrow will play a huge part in lifting the moral of our changing room. Confidence is pretty low at the moment. If this is regained, then I really think that a second consecutive CL trophy is attainable. Yes I know I might be wishfully dreaming, but surely the best team on paper (or maybe second to Barcelona) must have a strong chance. Now if and only if we win that trophy second time running, then I am sure CR will realize that this team is the best in the world and leaving would only harm his effervecent career. Therefore I am hopeful and maybe even quite confident that he will stay if we are European winners again. Call me coockoo, but thats my gut feeling on one aspect of the teams future. I mean forseable future.
2 – Also, there will be changes in the coaching staff, I think atleast, if we loose tomorrow. Initially and hopefully SAF will realize that Phelan is not the correct man for the job. I also feel that he has been placed there temporarily. Maybe someone else has been given a contract already but will not be available until the end of the season. Someone of high coaching credentials that is worthy of being in that position. Who knows he could be Latin too. Another area that might see a change in our coaching staff, win or loose tomorrow, will be the goalkeeping coach Eric Steele. I know many here might not put him at fault for EVS’s lapses recently and rightly so, but I really believe a change in that department will do a whole lot of good, especially when we have BF as our rising star between the goal.
3 – If we loose and CR is sold, then the logical replacement will be someone well established. Like Ribery perhaps. But honestly I don’t think so. Why? Again the majority of the money from selling CR will be used elsewhere, i.e towards MUFC’s mounting debt. Therefor I think we will purchase someone humble and turn him into a superstar once again. I just hope that he doesn’t have those pesty dreams of playing for another team once he does develop into that star.
4 – I also think that a loss will somehow play into our advantage. I know most might not even continue reading my comment, but do give me a chance to ellaborate. Being the club that we are, especially with our current rich vain ( I meant the last 2 seasons and this season too on a lesser scale considering our current form), it is apparent for all that we have very high standards. Very high standards indeed. So, if we loose today I cannot see beyond a major re-shuffle within the squad with special emphasis on midfeild and a sub left and right back aswell as a replacement for our Aregentinian warrior. Yes Carlos Tevez will go, otherwise can some one explain the reason behind the delay in extending his ‘loan’ contract, which mind you, expires come June? Oh well, I guess here really should go to a club where he is regarded higher by the gaffer.
5 – Finally, next season should also see a massive administrative change at MUFC, if we loose tomorrow ofcourse, because a season without the CL trophy will also mean loosing alot of green papers! which I think the owners need ASAP considering the demise of AIG, whom apparantley were our marketing agents too per sources from the Telegraph. Hope that this is not the case because if true then we are in for a turbulant few years.
In closing, I might want to highlight that I put alot of money on us winning tomorrow. I am one hell of a fan of Grognard and have taken his hunch on us winning 2-1. Grog mate I hope you’re right for my sake.
Cheers.
April 14th, 2009 at 16:37
@Nafooy: I hope I am right also mate. But I hate the idea of you losing money due to my predictions. In terms of true bookies out there, I think the smart money would be on Porto as they are at home, but I believe experience and both the team’s hunger to repeat and Fergie’s burning desire to make it happen, will pull us through. I hope for all our sakes that it comes to fruition. And also, thanks for the support. It does the heart good to know that along with one’s critics, there are people out there like yourself, that appreciate my contributions. Cheers.
April 14th, 2009 at 16:48
My pleasure Grog
April 14th, 2009 at 16:52
@ Nafooy – I think you’re spot on, and welcome to the posting crew! It might be one of those necessary short term set backs, where we come back stronger in the medium/long term.
My only fear is that we’ll lose the league to Pool. That would be absolutely crushing, and I’d have to go into hiding til September
April 14th, 2009 at 16:57
At 0-0 Porto have the tie won, their minds will be in doubt about how to approach the match, hopefully they will have a “let’s hold on to what we’ve got” attitude. It’s important United give them something to feel worried about early on. We want them passing it around nervously, not us.
That’s only part of the battle though
April 14th, 2009 at 17:08
The only decent thing about the tie is that we are not winning 2.1, odd you may think.
We now have to attack, we have no choice but to do so, and if this pays off then it could devlop into a trend, also we are shit at defending any type of lead so lets hope for an attacking performance as we have to.
April 14th, 2009 at 17:17
5 out of the 6 nominees for PFA player of the year without hitting our stride. What an odd season it has been. I still fancy Ronaldo, he might well get top scorer this season and that’s for a midfielder who has been playing badly, interesting.
April 14th, 2009 at 17:40
@Dan: We are gonna have to agree to disagree, calling Tevez utter tosh is a bit harsh. and as it was pointed out, he was sacrificed for a player who isnt setting the world alight. answer this question, would you rather have the tevez of last year or the Berba of this year?
April 14th, 2009 at 17:45
@Grognard: Its funny to me how 99.9% of the english press were proclaiming how United got the easiest draw and that this porto team was a shadow of the mourinho side. Now that it is 2-2 everyone has done an about face and proclaims that United underestimated a strong Porto side. I honestly cant believe my ears and eyes.
Having sad that I am so glad the world is against United again, I cringe when the press is creaming over my team or when Reddevileddy is proclaiming 3- nil scorelines(
I kid I kid). I think fergie finally has something to work with in creating his famous siege mentality. I admit I am being a tid bit optimistic, but I feel if we can get pass this game with a win that we will regain our form and finish the year with a bang.
I can see us losing the FA cup game with a late cahill header 1-0.
April 14th, 2009 at 17:55
@johnsom33: Or the Berbatov of last season and the Tevez of this.
@Nafooy: ” I cannot see beyond a major re-shuffle within the squad”
Why? We have a lot of young players comming through, the Twins, Macheda, Welbeck, Possebon, Evans, Gibson Petrucci and even Anderson to some degree so I just cannot see that happening, also if we win the league touch wood and another pot touch wood we have had an amasing season, even if the league is the only other trophy we have had a great season so changing the squad serves no purpose.
April 14th, 2009 at 18:05
@johnsom33: I would rather have berba of last year, then tevez, period.
If tevez isnt utter tosh, hes tosh at the very least.
April 14th, 2009 at 18:12
Call me slow for only just noticing and i think iys been mentioned on here earlier but looking at the squad theres no fletcher, is he injured? I never heard anything about it from the sunderland game i just thought he was being rested so he would play in the game tomorrow but i guess not. Im not 1 of fletchers greatest fans but credit where its due he does raise his game when we are under pressure so he would have been in my team for tomorrow. Could be a big miss cos fletcher has almost been our hargreaves replacement this year in that he seems the only 1 who can tackle and defend the back 4. He doesnt do the job brilliantly but he still does a decent job and looking at how badly our midfield has performed lately he would have been ideal for tomorrow imo. I just hope ferguson doesnt go for his usual sentimentality and pick carrick with scholes or giggs cos this just isnt the right game for that partnership. Against inter we did well but we had a 4-3-3 with carrick, fletcher and giggs and for me in that game carrick was poor and it was fletcher that was brilliant that allowed giggs to get forward more, but with fletcher out even if we went 4-3-3 and changed fletcher with scholes it just wouldnt work because you dont have a hustler in your team who can tackle. For me regardless of whether we go 4-2-2 or 4-3-3 anderson has been a starter. He is a player who can atleast tackle and is a real bundle of energy which for me is just what i feel we need with our midfield being so slow and tired looking.
Dont know about anyone else but do you reckon nani may get a game tomorrow. Park looks tired lately and i dont understand why you would play him in the sunderland game if you had plans for him to also play in the porto game. Hopefully anyway we see nani cos i think hes a good player, better than park, who has not been given much of a chance this year. Hopefully anyway oshea will soon be out of the team cos i dont agree with the argument hes a good back up player cos he really does not do a good job whenever he plays. He could have been responsible for 2 goals in the hime leg with a stupid backpass which nearly got punished for and a pathetic offside. The sooner he is out of the team the better in my opinion. Sorry to go on about him but it really annoys me how we seem to have lowered our standards of late. Barca only let class into their team but we seem to play anyone. You can say he only plays cos of the injury crisis but hes terrible and if hes not good enough he should be gone anyway.
Nafooy you mentioned some good points and i agree. for me our game tomorrow will define our season. Should we loose i think the league will go cos i just dont see any player in there who will rally the troops to continue going on. Sorry i just dont and its painful for me to say that i think liverpool will win it cos that just sounds so wrong.
April 14th, 2009 at 18:22
Dan, Tevez is not tosh. He is playing crap this season because he was dumped out of the side the moment Berbatov arrived and limited to insulting five minute substitute performance and cup games with the youngsters. He has also had a cloud of uncertainty over him because Ferguson keeps stalling on signing him up permanently and Tevez feels marginalised as a result.
Tevez is the sort of player who needs to be player regularly and made to feel like he is valued. Ferguson has treated Tevez like shit and that is a big part of why he is “tosh” this season.
Last season if we’d had Berbatov and played him instead of Tevez I highly doubt we’d have won the Champions League and Title. That is how important I feel Tevez’s contribution was last season.
Berbatov had a good patch of form in which he contributed assists and goals. But over the past couple of months he has done absolutely nothing for the side. I’m not blaming just him for the turn in our form, because he was injured for part of the time and other players have been equally bad.
Fergie will start him against Porto Im sure. So tomorrow would be a great time for him to score an important goal for us. I think it is telling that in the first leg Tevez almost won us the game, had it not been for crappy defending after the goal. And this during a season when for reasons Ive explained his form was bound to be poor.
April 14th, 2009 at 18:24
I was wrong about Fletch, he didn’t travel. Apparently has a hamstring injury sustained against Porto (he played the full 90 didn’t he?!) which doesn’t bode well for our run in. Given scholsey played on Saturday, that more or less guarantees that Anderson should play some part. I doubt that Fergie will throw caution to the wind and play Nani, Ronaldo, Berba and Roon, so I’m figuring it’ll be:
———EVDS———
-OShea-Rio–Vida-Evra-
——–Carrick——-
—-Giggs-Anderson—-
-Ronaldo——Rooney–
——Berbatov——–
Which isn’t a bad lineup at all but I worry that Ando/Giggsy can’t play the full 90.
April 14th, 2009 at 18:29
Well, it seems Porto’s boss has been given a touchline ban for the next 2 days.
Hopefully that will work in our favour. Hopefully, getting the PFA nominations will boost our players’ sagging confidence too.
I’m just trying to gather any positive signs for tomorrow.
April 14th, 2009 at 18:37
I think our way into this game is through Helton. We need to get a shot or two on target in the first 15 mins and shake him up. Go in on him from corners. He’s very much a typical shake Brazilian goalkeeper. He looked like he was going to cry against Athletico at least twice. I think we’ll win, and I think it’ll be 3-2, and 2 of ours will come from corners. Vidic and Ronaldo. Macheda off the bench to win it in extra time.
This way when the papers ask who writes his scripts, we can all tell them it was me.
April 14th, 2009 at 19:03
@antsBoy: I meant next 2 games, sorry!
April 14th, 2009 at 19:11
@colver: If Fergie has treated Carlos so shit why is he so desperate to stay?
Rio definatly playing tom, which must be a positive, also no Gerrard for the Dippers and Lucas, Mascherano and Alonso in midfield, er very attacking.
April 14th, 2009 at 19:26
Oh my my. Stevie Me out against Chelsea. Definitely goes to show that Loserpool is going to forget about the Cl and kiss their Cl hopes goodbye. Rafa is eating his words again. Think of all the nonsense that he had sprouted, Fergie supporting Liverpool because then they would be under pressure to keep themselves in both the competitions.
Also, Djourou out for Arsenal, that means a central defending partnership of Toure and Song
Looks like Villareal are in with a mighty chance to make it to the last four, would be horrendous if Porto, god forbid, beat us and Villareal thump L’Arse at the Emirates.
April 14th, 2009 at 19:31
@Beachryan: I like the look of that side mate it has a bit of everything, youth, experience, work rate and guile seems very logical to me.
April 14th, 2009 at 19:43
@Beachryan: I agree mate. The shame would be unbearable. Losing to Arsenal and Chelsea or even Man City is bad enough, but for me, losing to Liverpool and the evil Real Madrid after what they have done to us, would be hard pills to swallow.
April 14th, 2009 at 19:46
@Babyface: It speaks volumes over how ordinary and overly defensive the league has been…….up to last weekend of course when the most goals were scored in a weekend since 1995 I believe. In a year when a defender and goalkeeper are probably the top two candidates, it speaks of how dull and boring the English game has become.
April 14th, 2009 at 19:49
@johnsom33: Our form is so poor right now that I too worry about Everton even more than I do Porto. I still believe we will steal the Porto game but something has to give with 3 games in 7 days and 4 in 11 and five in 13. The FA Cup takes third place in our priority list and so I expect a weakened lineup for that game and one that will allow Everton more chance to dominate. I like the FA Cup but I for one would sacrifice that game and play bench warmers and reserves and be damned with it. CL and EPL mean everything. I f we lose to Porto, then we can take the game more seriously. Hope it doesn’t come to that.
April 14th, 2009 at 19:52
@Grognard: I agree Fergie eill put out the kids, maybe Macheda will start but out of all the trohies it is not a priority far from it.
April 14th, 2009 at 20:07
If Rio is fit to start then I think he’ll be tempted to play a back 4 of
Evans Ferdinand Vidic oShea
and tell them to not venture forward. Provide a solid back line, and leave our midfield and attack to do the running. We can’t be giving goals away easily tomorrow, so staying the fuck back and doing your job should be the order of the day.
This I think can lead to us playing a forward six of..
Nani Carrick Anderson Ronaldo
Tevez Rooney
I think Park should miss out because that defence should be solid without needing protection on one of the wings, and we’ll cause them more problems with 2 running wingers than we’ll stop with Park. Anderson providing the hustle, and Carrick the passing. If not Carrick, then Giggs, but with Fletcher out,we need some hustle in the middle, and that’s Anderson.
It is imperative we play Rooney upfront, and not wide, and Tevez up with him. The two of them hounding and chasing down Porto’s defensive line will cause them no end of problems. They already played Rooney in 1on1 under only the slightest of pressure. Lets attempt to dominate from the start. Control the possession, the tempo and ultimately the match.
April 14th, 2009 at 20:10
@Traverse: Berbatov will start I have no doubt about that so saying he won’t is pointless in my book. Also cometh the hour and all that and this type of game could be the making of him.
April 14th, 2009 at 20:11
liverpool just scored
April 14th, 2009 at 20:15
and they scored again! wtf chelsea?!
April 14th, 2009 at 20:15
wow 2-0 to liverpool LOL this is a fun match
April 14th, 2009 at 20:23
@Stephen: doesn’t make it right. You could see from the amount of strapping he had on his ankle that he isn’t right. Tevez and Rooney have both already scored against Porto.
April 14th, 2009 at 20:23
Sammy Lee is a hamster faced prick.
April 14th, 2009 at 20:25
@Traverse: If Berba is fit he should start, simply these are the games he was bought for.
April 14th, 2009 at 20:26
@Traverse: I fucking hate him, him and Gonzo Thompson are my two most hated people in football.
April 14th, 2009 at 20:58
2-2 WOW
April 14th, 2009 at 21:01
@Dan: I like how you conveniently re-worded my question. Tevez was a success for us last season. Berbatov won a carling cup last season, granted tevez had the better squad. Berbatov replaces tevez and the squad looks nowhere near the squad of last year. Tevez excuse for a dip in form is the inclusion of berba, so I ask you. What’s berbas excuse?
April 14th, 2009 at 21:04
why is it that liverpool and chelsea can both score two goals each in such quick succession while united labors to even create one?
April 14th, 2009 at 21:06
@Johnsom33: The squad looks nowhere near near the squad of last year, sorry don’t get that at all, you can’t blame Berbatov for the drop in form of other players that is just speculating.
April 14th, 2009 at 21:14
@bildani: Er we created quite a few chances on Saturday, lets not criticise for the sake of it.
April 14th, 2009 at 21:19
3-2 , Guus is a tactical genius
April 14th, 2009 at 21:19
@Stephen: @Stephen: not really criticising; just being nostalgic about the free flowing attacking football we (used to) play so well. and a tad bit dramatic too.
April 14th, 2009 at 21:23
wtf is up with this match , 4-3 liverpool
April 14th, 2009 at 21:39
@Stephen: It’s a game of margins. Tevez and Berbatov are both good options to have. If Porto come out hell for leather then Berbatov will benefit from the space afforded to us, as there was in the last game. I just think pestering the fuck out of their defence is probably the better option. As long as we win I couldn’t care less which players play. Play O’Shea upfront if it means a win!
April 14th, 2009 at 21:43
@Traverse: Ha ha I agree on both points, they both have great ability but are totally opppersite, and have points to prove this season.
April 14th, 2009 at 21:45
@Johnsom33: I didnt re-word anything i didnt want any of your choices, i want berba from last season!
Berbatovs dip in form may be down to the fact hes playing for a new team, hes playing in more competitions then he did last year, the ones that like him constantly compare him to cantona, the ones that dont lie to them selves and say hes worst then tevez, we have had Zero creativity this season, meaning he has got no service, he is constantly being criticised for being a £30mil striker, even though it not his fault his former club are criminals.
I probably could go on, but it i think you get my view.
April 14th, 2009 at 21:46
@bildani: Simple. Imagination and courage with a dash of pace and one touch football. We are to slow, not deliberate enough, predictable and we rely on one player for everything.
April 14th, 2009 at 21:57
Who ever thought that a two leg tie between Liverpool and Chelsea would go down as a classic and a credit to the game of football. Two teams that are known for playing it tight letting it all hang out. It sure helps when both goalkeepers play like muppets. After watching Petr Cech the last week or so, I am not so down on EVDS. EVDS has had his poor moments but Cech is just a comedy act out there. He’s the fourth Stooge, the fifth Beatle, the greatest muppet of them all. That dome Czech Cech just wrote himself a one way ticket out of Chelsea, I’m sure of it. Any team who had a keeper that is so incredibly gun shy and lacking in concentration needs to look elsewhere for their goalkeeping needs. Rieira wasn’t great either but Cech’s positioning or lack of courage and poor judgment handed Liverpool 3 goals today and Bolton 2 out of 3 goals on Saturday. Calamity Cech is his name.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:07
What I notice with both Liverpool and Chelsea as well as with Barcelona is their willingness to play and attack on both wings but also with quick incisive one touch passing and moving off the ball. United is slow, less deliberate, they are moving very poorly on and off the ball and they are so predictable in their play. No imagination, quickness and deception in their game. And yet we still do a lot of things better than both Chelsea and Liverpool. Even in our bad spell, we are much better defending and especially in the air. We do not give up killer rebounds which both teams do. And no matter how bad EVDS and Foster can be at times, they are better than Cech and I for one have always believed Rieira to be overrated. The other thing those teams both do that makes all the difference in their attack is they have central midfielders that go box to box and really get involved with finishing off attacks. Both Ballack and Lampard were immense today. Our central midfielders treat the opponents box like it’s Kryptonite. Problem is our boys are far from being Supermen. We just aren’t fast and aggressive in our approach. And so when our defense goes into a slump, it is more glaring than when Liverpool and especially Chelsea slump defensively. At least their confidence in attack as well as their multiple attacking options leaves them in a healthy and positive situation, even when their defenders play poorly and when their keeper suck supremely.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:07
@Grognard: My God, I wouldn’t want United to play like the scousers and Kremlinites did tonight. Both defences were a fucking shambles, and we think we have defensive woes. I wasn’t impressed sorry, but I see some of you are easily pleased
. The scousers got exactly what they deserved, because of Alonso the cheat making certain he got Terry sent off.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:11
I think today how Petr Cech almost cost Chelsea the Champions League. The score is 4-3 Liverpool and liverpool is all over the Blues when Cech makes yet another poor decision and is caught out stranded. The ball is shot at goal and Essien the savior stops it on the line and clears it. That ball goes in, Liverpool pull off the greatest comeback in CL history and move on.
I am not a Chelsea fan but that Essien clearance made me jump with joy. Die Scousers Die!!!
April 14th, 2009 at 22:11
@Grognard: I have always said Cech is overrated, and Reina is a big game bottler, in fact in my view Liverpool’s best player is Mascherano, he is a terrific player.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:13
Guus Hiddink, NOT AFRAID to haul off a player who wasn’t doing it, and he subbed him after 30 minutes to bring on Anelka. Hope Fergie, and his late subbing take note! Hiddink reminds me of Mourinho, any player not up to the job, off the pitch, even in the first 20 minutes if necessary. He did that a few times with Joe Cole when Cole didn’t stick to the game plan appointed him. Seems like Hiddink is the same, no SENTIMENTS allowed. That’s what I like!
April 14th, 2009 at 22:14
@Craig Mc: Here is the difference mate. Both teams played poorly defensively and both keepers were living breathing nightmares but the big difference between them and us is their offense creates chances and many of them. We’re lucky if we have 3 or 4 good chances a game. That’s enough to worry me. We are just boring as Hell. Chelsea has become United offensively under Hiddink and we have become Chelsea of the past offensively. Something is radically wrong with the world. Did Mourinho put something in Fergie’s bottle of wine when we visited Inter? Since then, we have been total shit and lacked courage in attack as a team. It’s the Mourinho curse.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:15
@Stephen: He is also THE DIRTIEST feckin player as well Stephen. A sly little GIT!
April 14th, 2009 at 22:17
@Craig Mc: Great point Bro. Totally agree. Both Hiddink and Mourinho will make adjustments right away and have no problem subbing a player who is not doing the job. They don’t wait until the 75th minute to do it. Fergie just waits and waits and rarely has he been rewarded for his patience. Park should have been taken off in the 2nd minute the other day.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:18
@Grognard: We still have exactly the SAME players as last year, SO PLAY THEM. Lets see what they can do again. I’ll tell you this, I am sick of seeing stumpy Park get into the area, only to fall on his arse time after time.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:19
And the scousers wouldn’t have got half those chances if Terry had been on the field, AND THAT IS A FACT.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:20
@Craig Mc: Horrible little git but Liverpools best player, selfless unlike Stevie Me (apart from bringing up someone elses child
) and I can count Torres as a man seriously. PS got engaged 
April 14th, 2009 at 22:20
@Stephen: Freddy Mercury (aka Mascherano) is a good player but he is also a punk. Rieira does bottle it but Cech has not always been overrated. In my opinion Cech was the best keeper on the planet before his infamous head injury that required major surgery. Since then he has become timid and is prone to mental lapses and poor decision making, not to mention an unwillingness to challenge for a dangerous ball. It’s sad because he truly was a fantastic goalkeeper. Right now, I wouldn’t hire him to play goalkeeper for a pub side.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:23
@Grognard: I am an Essien fan though, he is a great player.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:23
@Craig Mc: Park is not always on his arse. It just looks like that because he has no legs. His legs are so short it looks like his ass attaches to his feet therefor, he looks like he is always on his ass.
Yes we have the same players as last year but they are all a year older and slower and our tactics discipline are on a different planet. If we could only reverse time.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:24
@Grognard: Good point about the injury and you are right, Mascherano is a punk but for the same money we could have signed him and not Anderson and I know which player I would prefer in my side now.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:25
@Craig Mc: I’m not a fan but I sure respect and admire that boy’s ability, heart and desire. The only player on Chelsea I can stomach as you know is my boy Ballack. That’s one more player than Liverpool because I hate them all with a passion although I must admit an admiration and respect For Gerrard.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:26
@Craig Mc: Essien is off the hook the nearest I have seen to Bryan Robson, he has everything.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:28
@Stephen: Congratulations on your engagement Stephen mi man. Oh dear, soon you’ll be a married man!
.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:28
@Stephen: Mascherano is a true punk but yes, I’d like him if he were our punk instead. But he needs to see a dentist because every time I see a closeup of him I feel like singing Bohemian Rhapsody.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:29
@Grognard: Never to this day understand your love of Ballack mate, at Bayern he was a great player, but he wound his contract and sold his soul for the money and really has been poor with Chelski.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:29
@Stephen: I know, that’s why I can’t understand why Fergie didn’t fight Chelski tooth and nail for him
.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:30
@Craig Mc: Cheers matey makes me feel old and now must mature and get into verbal spats with others on this blog, ps thanks for your support mate.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:30
@Stephen: Bollocks Ballack missed an ABSOLUTE SITTER TONIGHT!. My Gran would have scored that
.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:31
@Stephen: Gosh mate, I’m so tainted and bitter over my engagement that was that I feel like offering my condolences, but then I’m sure you did a better job in selecting the right girl. So then I have to congratulate you and wish you all the best. Just make sure she allows guys night out.
All the best to both of you.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:32
@Stephen: Your welcome
.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:32
@Stephen: He isn’t fit to clean the chunks of Gerrard’s shin out of Hargreaves studs.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:33
@Stephen: All this Mascherano looking like Freddy Mercury thinking and now you getting engaged just makes me think of one song. “Another one bites the dust”.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:34
@Craig Mc: Soloman (I havn’t got a) Kalou and Malouda make Park look like Messi they are awful.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:34
Mascherano – hahahahahaha – who let the dogs out
.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:35
@Grognard: Ha ha cheers mate I am away this weekend on a stag weekend so all is not lost yet, but as they say another fallen soldier.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:36
Haha I just got in trouble on boards.ie because I abused the scousers on there of being hypocrites when criticising Drogba for diving
Great fun. Great match too btw
April 14th, 2009 at 22:37
@Traverse: Quality fuck me I miss Hargo, I miss singing his chant as much as well!!
April 14th, 2009 at 22:38
@Stephen: ‘Soloman (I havn’t got a) Kalou’ LOLed at this
April 14th, 2009 at 22:49
@Liam: As you know Gerrard never dives bro, if you say that in England you get life in the Tower of London it is treason, or worse still a weekend in Kirby.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:50
Holy shit, what a game that was!!!
Dont usually watch Chelski vs Liverpool games, because they tend to be boring. But I hadnt much to do tonight, so I chose to watch it. I dont regret that decision! 
Best football game I have seen since Roma 2007, for fucks sake this game was a masterclass and lecture in how to play attacking football. This is why we love the game( especially when the goalies act like muppets! 
), and thankfully I could enjoy it because my bias hadnt creapt in. I hate Liverpool and Chelski equally much, so for the first time I watched the game a sa a neutral. I should do that more often! 
Great game, and I hope we see more of those in the future.
April 14th, 2009 at 22:50
@Liam:
You keep giving it to those scousers Liam, they have more divers than they have in the Olympic swimming pool!
April 14th, 2009 at 22:52
@RedDevilEddy: As long as it is not our team playing CL football, and having 4 goals put in our net, when we have scored 4 goals at the other end – that is shite mate!
April 14th, 2009 at 22:53
@RedDevilEddy: Not a masterclass in defending though mate!
April 14th, 2009 at 22:56
@Stephen: Congrats mate!
Hope you are/get happy!
April 14th, 2009 at 22:57
@Stephen: No, but it was a masterclass in attacking football. Long time since Ive seen such an open game between two giants in world football.
Weird that I as a defender would rather win a game 4-2 than 2-0.
April 14th, 2009 at 23:03
@Craig Mc: Yeah, that would be shite.
But if we were involved in a 8 goal game, where we scored 7 and conceded just 1( or won 8-0) it would be an enjoyement. I miss the Roma games… 
My team for tomorrow:
VDS
Rafael/Oshea-Rio-Vidic-Evra
Carrick-Fletcher
Ronaldo-Anderson-Giggs
Rooney
I dunno if Rafael is back, but if he is I would want him to play. His speed will be needed. And I would definately leave out Andy, because him not playing would practically be a crime to football! He was brilliant when he played for Porto, and he is used to the pace of the Latin game. Him playing now would definately give us a major boost offensivly! And please Fergie, dont play Scholes. I tell ya, if Ginger starts then it will be suicide. Playing the slowest minded player against the fastest minded team Europe is just stupid. Plain, painfully and utterly stupid! I dont know what the deal about Fletch is, wether he is suspended or whatnot, but I would play him. And Carrick! If Fletch aint ready, then play Anderson as prtner to Carrick, Giggs behind Rooney and Nani on the wing. Because the recipe for a win tomorrow = PACE!!!
April 14th, 2009 at 23:03
@RedDevilEddy: Thanks matey I am happy but my wallet isn’t currently, but she is worth it!
April 14th, 2009 at 23:06
@RedDevilEddy: Do we need Anderson, Fletcher and Carrick in a must win game not a must loose?
April 14th, 2009 at 23:11
The best midfielders, all-rounders that is, are these players( in the correct order)
1. Michael Essien
2. Daniele De Rossi
3. Xavi
Those three players are the closest you come to the ultimate footballer. What Essien has that makes him stand out is his power, strenght, versitality and strenght in the air. No offence to De Rossi and Xavi, but Essien would thump them in the air. I know he didnt beat Ronaldo in Moscow, but in all honesty, no one could do that against him last season! Not even Vidic on thsi seasons form. De Rossi comes over Xavi for his defensive abilities, but other than that they are close to equally similar. Boy, how much I would wish to have one of them in our team these days…
Oh well, at least we have the brilliant prospect Anderson. 
If the world was perfect, and money didnt matter, then this would be our team:
Casillias
Maicon-Rio-Vidic-Lahm
Essien-De Rossi
Ronaldo-Gerrard-Messi
Torres
Hard to argue with that. Unfortunately, its all just a dream…
April 14th, 2009 at 23:13
@Stephen: Good for you!
If you need help with money, all you have to do is to dress like Messi and have a walk in Manchester. I bet the Shiteiks would give you a contract just for looking like him. Stupid twats… 
April 14th, 2009 at 23:14
@RedDevilEddy: Thats a great idea but I would be rather poor than rich playing for Shitty!!
April 14th, 2009 at 23:15
@Stephen: We need Andersons pace and will to attack tomorrow. We also need Carricks vision, not Scholes because his passes have been woeful lately. And we need the stamina of Fletcher so he can contain their midfield. Would have opted for Hargreaves instead of Fletch, but he is unfortunately injured.
Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo, yeah! I would start those three for a must win game. Especially this must win game!
April 14th, 2009 at 23:16
@Stephen: Good call!
Oh well, Im sure you will work things out. As all United fans know, it ALWAYS works out in the end. 
April 14th, 2009 at 23:19
Seriously, who else is dreading the fact that Ferguson chose not to buy Torres in 2006?!
Apparantley he was too expensive. 
Yeah, the best striker in the world is too expensive at £25 million. But spending £31 million on the Gus Goose of football is a smart thing to do! 
Well done Fergie! Seriously cant believe that shit…
April 14th, 2009 at 23:23
Ive finally finished my summer list of wishes for transfers!
In:
Ashley Young
Micah Richards
David Villa/Karim Benzema/Sergio Aguero( either one is the cheapest!)
Out:
Gary Neville( please retire!)
Tommy Kuzczack
Wes Brown( if we get Richards)
Nani, if he doesnt get more playing time.
Berbatov and/or Tevez( if we get one of the three strikers above.)
Oh, and De Rossi in if Hargo isnt fit enough.
April 14th, 2009 at 23:41
@Stephen: I’ve been a fan of Ballack from way back in his Leverkusen days. A truly awesome box to box midfielder with a great shot and the best header I have ever seen that isn’t a striker. Problem in Chelsea is that Lampard plays his preferred position and he hangs back more which makes less aggresive and less opportunisitic. He missed a sitter tonight but he set up the first of Lampard’s goals with a great steal and pass to Drogba. But did you notice that as soon as he made that pass to Drogba he immediately started running back into a defensive position. The Ballack who plays for Germany would have followed through and moved into the box. But on Chelsea, that is Lampard’s role and that’s why he scores so many easy goals. Ballack is a and always has been a great player but he is also over 30 now so the best is certainly behind him. Man he was awesome in his last few years with Leverkusen.
April 14th, 2009 at 23:43
@Craig Mc: And here I go sticking up for your Lil Man Nani no matter what and do I get the same support for my Ole Man Ballack? I feel betrayed.
April 14th, 2009 at 23:44
@RedDevilEddy: Torres wanted to stay at Atletico, nothing to do with Fergie
April 14th, 2009 at 23:45
@Stephen: Perhaps in a couple of years we can compare battle wounds and scars.
April 14th, 2009 at 23:48
@RedDevilEddy: It was a great game because of the intent and attitude both teams to took in the game. Liverpool scoring early real made the game though. But consider this, if both goalkeepers had shown up tonight it might have been 1-1 or 2-1. The keepers were just horrible and Cech made Ben Foster look like the second coming of Petr Schmeichel, didn’t he?
April 14th, 2009 at 23:49
@RedDevilEddy: Fletcher is out injured chaps, he wont be playing. Hamstring injury.
April 14th, 2009 at 23:50
@Craig Mc: The problem with our team is if we gave up 4 goals in a game, we might get 1 or 2 in return. We don’t have the ability to score 4 against a great team or to come from two goals behind. Both Chelsea and Liverpool did that tonight.
April 14th, 2009 at 23:51
@Stephen: And your wallet will never be happy again. In fact it will get down right anorexic in size.
April 14th, 2009 at 23:56
@RedDevilEddy: OK mate, enough of the Torres to Man utd bitterness. It was not Fergie’s fault. Tores never wanted to leave and the only reason he did go to Liverpool was because the team had half a dozen Spanish player and a Spanish manager. It was culturally easier and more palatable for him. Had Liverpool been managed by a non Spaniard, Torres would today be playing for Barcelona or still be with Atletico. When Fergie told him there were not enough transsexual bars in Manchester, that was the deciding factor for Fernanda choosing Liverpool.
April 15th, 2009 at 0:00
I’m surprised nobody has commented on what I think was a very corrupt and stupid decision by UEFA in tonight’s game. How can they choose a Spanish referee to officiate a game when one of the team’s is managed by a Spaniard and the team itself has half a dozen Spaniards on it? For me that is conflict of interest and incredibly unfair. I for one believe the penalty that was given was totally justified but no referee in all of Europe has been making that call all season. There were other decisions that made me wonder like some of the yellow cards that were handed out.
He was probably honest but that was the wrong choice as picking a Dutch ref would have been.
April 15th, 2009 at 0:16
grog mate, u took the words out my mouth
dont get me wrong, i feel our team/squad is far superior to either chelsea or liverpools but when i watch both of them play i cant help but feel envious almost?!!
they both look to be passing the ball a lot faster, sharper than we are. their movement, on and off the ball is better also.
thats whats pissin me right off @ the mo..theres no excuse for the way weve been playin this term. complete lack of style, accuracy, directness and pace
still waitin for them all to wake up n get back to business but i just cant see us snaping out of it with this useless, stone-age coach weve got @ the mo.
He needs to go for sure…our style of play, or lack of it is solely down to him and his staff.
my dream summer transfers would be as follows:
Ronaldo- OUT
Ribery- IN
Sneijder- IN
April 15th, 2009 at 1:04
@Grognard: Raised my eyebrow too! But other than being super-sensitive to any form of contact, I thought he was fair enough.
Good to see Benitez give up the ghost at 3-2 when he pulled Torres. Team tried to fight and almost pulled it off, despite their manager waving his white hanky!!
April 15th, 2009 at 1:57
@Stephen: Congratulations my man. I’m sure he’s perfect for you, but he’s a United fan, right??
April 15th, 2009 at 2:21
@Stephen: We have the exact same squad as last year, just replace tevez for berbatov. the main difference is Ronaldo isnt the same player. I really believe that Rooney and tevez made Ronadlo the player he was last year.
April 15th, 2009 at 2:26
@Dan: I figured you would say that Berba is adjusting to a new team. But then again Tevez was playing in a new team last year too, so I dont really see that as being an excuse for why Berba is playing poorly.
and you may not like the choices I gave you, but they are reality. We sacrificed the Tevez of last year for the Berbatov you see now. We all agree that Berba is a world class player, but for whatever reason he is just not cutting at United.
Mock Tevez all you want, and yes I concede that he has not been up to snuff this year but go back and look thru last year and there is no way we win any trophies without him last year. He had countless big goals.
April 15th, 2009 at 2:45
@Redrich: Twenty minutes to go and you need two goals to go through. Certainly difficult but far from impossible. To go and lift your best player and goal scorer is conceding defeat not only to your players but to the Scouser Nation in general. With that move alone he declared to the whole world that he is playing for the EPL title. Pretty pathetic.
April 15th, 2009 at 3:22
@Grognard: By my reckoning the PL is all that’s left for them. Isn’t it strange that all this talk about a Liverpool revival this year has left them at about the same position as always – out of all competitions but one. It’s usually the CL that’s left for them, but, oh my god, they actually are contending for the PL this time around.
Whoop-d-fucking-doo!! Wonder if Rafa can chew gum and rub his fat belly at the same time!!
April 15th, 2009 at 4:57
How many games it is that Fools have scored 4 goals in a match. its 4 or 5 i think, How come they are scoring when we are even struggling to find one.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:12
@Stephen: Congratulations mate! Wish you a nice and happy married life.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:14
@Redrich: Honestly, I don’t even worry about what Liverpool does. As far as I’m concerned the EPL is ours to lose. We need to get the train back on the tracks and play like we are capable of playing. We have a game in hand and we need to take advantage of that game. As I see it, the Arsenal game will make us or break us. W eneed to win that game or get at least a point. Arsenal have turned their whole season around and there isa good chance we will have to play them four more times. The league game at OT, twice in the cl Semi-finals, and possibly in the FA Cup. We could be sick and tired of Arsene Wenger by the time the season is over. He’d like nothing more than to destroy our season. And here we are worrying about Liverpool. Liverpool is history if we want to make them history. It’s our old rivals from Arsenal and possibly even Chelsea a couple more times that matters most.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:16
@Redrich: Well, this actually bodes well for ‘pool. If we continue to be playing like this, it’s going to be tough; we should remember that we’re going to be playing 2 matches every week for quite sometime now. Of course, if we get back to our vintage ways, starting with Porto, then it wouldn’t matter one bit.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:28
@Grognard: hear hear! Arsenal is the team to beat right now. Unfortunately, just as they are about to play Liverpool they have an injury crisis in defence… I just hope Pool will get a draw and we beat Portsmouth (über-important!) to add pressure to the Arse-Pool game.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:39
@Grognard: Conflict of interest, yes, but at least he was consistent even if some of the yellow cards were dubious. Interestingly, all the whistle blowing didn’t kill the game…
As for the penalty, I personally think it was a too soft. Yes Ivanoic was draped all over alonso (or whoever it was that won the penalty), but he made a meal of it to earn the call, not to mention Skertel happened to be pulling ivanoic’s shirt simultaneously. Given how the ref called the game, I can understand whhy he awarded it.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:53
@Grognard: I read an article a couple of days ago where they looked more closely on the Torres-to-United “saga”. It is believed that when Torres was ready to leave( 2006), Fergie didnt have the guts to pay for the transfer. Atletico wanted £25 million, but Fergie thought he wasnt worth it. So the story went like this:
2004: Too young.
2005: Too young
2006: Too much money.
2007: Lost his patience.
2008: Cursing that he didnt buy him in 2006.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:10
Hello everyone.This is my first post though i have been a reader of this site for a long time.
I was reading the comments about yesterdays game and just didnot see Drogba’s name come up.He was immense yesterday.Strong,skillful and set up two of the goals(i think) and a delightful chance for ballack.Also abt the attacking aspect.to me it seemed that the last two liverpool goals were more downto chelsea lack of concentration(Itseemed to me that they had switched off)rather than any brilliant work by liverfool.
But enough abt these two shit teams.I realy hope we put out an attacking line up tomorrow.Both nani and ando should start(Pls not park again).Whether we all like it or not Berba if fit WILL start.Fergie just wont leave him out for reasons best known to him.
I am just hoping what Grognard haspredicted comes true(It does most of the time)and yes Grognard mate i just love most of your rants and more often than not i find myself completely agreeing with you.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:15
@Grognard: Actually the score was 4-4 then Grog. It wouldn’t have mattered too much if it became 5-4.
But to second what you were saying, I would take the example of the beginning of the 2nd half. Cech came off his line and looked totally foolish when he was stranded there. Luckily for him the ball into the box wasn’t good and Pool didn’t go 3-0 up. That would have killed Chelsea.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:16
Seems Ando scored a blinder yesterday in training. What would I not give to see him get a winner (and his first goal in open play for us) tomorrow!!!!!
April 15th, 2009 at 8:36
I’ve got a feeling that Ando is gonna bag tonight!
Thats where my lucky pound is going! Come on the lads!
April 15th, 2009 at 8:42
@RedDevilEddy: I was all for the better because I for one don’t believe in having girls play for us.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:49
I love the Ando-contingent… they always believe he will score. While I am no expert in Probability, I do find it VERY likely that he will score in the next game… every game he does not score makes it more likely that he will score…
Is there a record for most games without a goal for a midfielder/attacker?
Anyways. Bed-time and let’s go United!
April 15th, 2009 at 8:51
@Kartikey: Welcome aboard mate. Glad to see you finally popped your cherry and have decided to contribute. I certainly look forward to reading your posts as you seem to know the game and you are a United fan. The more the merrier.
Thanks for the kind words. Don’t feel shy about contributing and even disagreeing with me. Good points on Drogba and on Chelsea basically switching off once they got up 3-2. They seem to lose their focus and fall asleep but lets face it, Petr Cech is making them look a lot worse than they are defensively. Seven goals given up in the last two games and four of them were direct Cech goofs. He has been a total nightmare in goal.
I still think Chelsea will beat Barcelona. I think Barca will try to play their champagne football but the reality will be that Chelsea’s size and physical domination will take it’s toll on them. Then again, if Barca win, it will be because of Cech. Any coach can see the way to beating Chelsea is cross balls into the box because Cech is joke at handling them.
As for United, lets hope I am right. I’ll be missing the game live as I will be out for most of the day, but here’s hoping that when I come back, I have a memorable classic recorded and ready to watch.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:54
@antsBoy: I stand corrected. Still, Cech was a riot to watch. Man I haven’t seem bad goalkeeping like that since Calamity James about five years ago. It’s sad to see because Cech truly was an intimidating goalkeeper before his head injury. He was unbeatable. Now the only thing he has in his arsenal is good reflexes. Everything else isn’t good enough to secure a job in the Coca Cola Divisions.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:55
@m34ch: See, now I just can’t throw money away like that.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:58
@Madschester United: OK, so what will happen first?
A) Anderson scores a goal
B) A cure for Cancer is found
C) Liverpool win the EPL
D) Man lands on Mars
e) Fergie retires
Personally I feel that all four of the others will happen before Anderson scores.
April 15th, 2009 at 9:10
@Grognard: Hahaha, it has to happen one day surely!
April 15th, 2009 at 9:15
@ Grognard: E,D,B,A,C
(anderson’s own goal gifting the title to Liverpool on the last day of the season in 2020)
@ Stephen: Congrats!
Last night’s match was one of the very best CL games I’ve ever seen, a real advertisement for the virtues of the premier league and football in general. Cracking game. I want nothing like that tonight, a simple 2-0 will do me just fine thanks!
Don’t care how we do it tonight, just want a win. Actually, in a perfect world Porto would have a wonderfully good goal incorrectly ruled out for offside, and we’d capitalise off a terrible goal keeping mistake in stoppage time to win 1-0.
April 15th, 2009 at 9:27
@Beachryan: Phew, don’t think my nerves would like all that drama!
I hate to say it, but I see a Leverkuesen/Porto mishap happening again. We score first and then they get a late (or not) equalizer. Therefore, if we do get a goal first, we should just go for the kill and make it 2-0. Could take a leaf out of pool’s book for that..
April 15th, 2009 at 9:28
@Redrich: I would never marry a non beliver mate, thanks!
@Red Ranter: Thanks RR, but happy and married life never should be put together in the same sentence!
@Beachryan: Many thanks bro!!
April 15th, 2009 at 9:58
All sites are blocked in office, any news about the squad today..
April 15th, 2009 at 10:12
@ Despicable – We won’t get anything until around 6pm I don’t think, so plenty of time to sort out your internet woes!
April 15th, 2009 at 10:45
@Grognard:
Well said. I bet the reason he went to Liverpool was that he could find some friends with his interests. 
Fucking transvetite…
April 15th, 2009 at 10:46
I hope Andy scores tonight.
Im gonna jump on the bandwagon and bet £5 he will score. With these odds, I will be a millionare at the end of the day! 
April 15th, 2009 at 10:52
@RedDevilEddy: Andy is 25-1 to be the first goalscorer tonight mate, feeling lucky!!!???
April 15th, 2009 at 10:55
I think I know the secret to Ando’s scoring. I’ve carefully been analysing Fellaini and Jo this season. Both have been absolutely tosh whenever their hair is braided, but have been scoring machines when it is allowed to be free and fro-ey. If Anderson truly wants to break his duck and score, he needs to release his inner fro, seize the sansom-esque power of it and let it all hang out.
Go forth Anderson my son, and use the fro.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:09
wow can the day go any faster,want to know what happens tonite,so i can be exhilarated if we win or depressed if we lose till the next game Vs Everton.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:17
@Beachryan: Ha ha go fro And(y) prosper??!!! er maybe not.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:38
I really don’t think we had a hope to sign Torres even if we’d made a ridiculously high bid. The player had no interest in joining us. The moment Liverpool come along with a bid he’s declaring his boyhood love of Liverpool and his respect for Benitez. You just can’t kiss all the girls.
Im confident going into tonight for the following reasons
1) We are twice as rested as we were going into the first leg. Four days of rest after a relatively easy game against Sunderland compared to two days after a Villa game where we were run off the pitch after just coming back from the international break which always screws our players up
2) We have Rio back to steady our defence. Rio and Vidic in the middle. Evans has been superb this season but recently he’s showed his lack of experience when it matters and is still our third choice central defender.
3) Ronaldo owes us a performance and in front of Portuguese fans I think he will give it, especially if they start booing him!
4) Against Inter we played them off the park at San Siro but were hopeless at home and lucky to win. Sometimes I think when a team is lacking in confidence like we are it is easier to play away than in front of your own fans when there is more pressure to perform and win.
5) The first leg we played shit and loads of players were playing well below their capabilities. I am sure the momentum of the occasion (win or else we get knocked out) will encourage our players to rise to the occasion and produce a much better performance. Porto on the other hand were playing close to their best. They can only play worse. We can only play better.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:49
@Grognard: It took Forlan long enough, but when they came they came. Didn’t Anderson used to be a Porto player? Another reason he should start, he’ll be very used to their stadium and atmosphere. What a place to get his first United goal!
April 15th, 2009 at 12:01
@Traverse: To a degree this could be the making of the lad, a sort shit or bust senario for him. Give him the chance to prove himself on the biggest stage against his old club and if he takes his chance this could be a spring board to bigger and better things. On the flip side if he doesn’t then he only has himself to blame and maybe it is time to say thanks but time to give soemone else a chance.
April 15th, 2009 at 12:25
Nobody knows our starting eleven?!!
Anyone has any predictions on that?
April 15th, 2009 at 12:29
Mine would be:
GK Van der sar
LB Evra
CB Ferdinand
CB Vidic
RB Rafael if fit if not Oshea
CM Anderson
CM Carick
LM Nani
RM Ronaldo
CF Tevez
CF Rooney
Subs: Foster, Berbatov, Macheda, Giggs, Evans, Scholes and Oshea or Rafael
April 15th, 2009 at 12:36
@Hannoodi: All I know is that Rio is destined to start. Fergie said it in the pre-match press confereance.
April 15th, 2009 at 12:52
@Hannoodi: Berbatov if fit will start, I said this yesterday these are the games Fergie bought him for.
April 15th, 2009 at 13:13
Stephen, yeah i would be pretty surprised if berbatov doesnt start today. He was brought off early against sunderland so he could rest i think so i would expect him and rooney to start up top today, probably in a 4-3-3 with ronaldo on the right of the front 3, rooney on the left. Fletcher is out so hopefully we will see anderson take his place, and i reckon the other 2 midfield spots will go to carrick and giggs. Giggs has been rested recently i think in preperation for this game. In defence i hear ferdinand is starting which is good news, but i dont expect any other changes at RB or anything. This is the team i expect to see anyway:
VDS
OSHEA RIO VIDIC EVRA
ANDERSON CARRICK GIGGS
RONALDO BERBATOV ROONEY
Would love to see us go 4-4-2 and bring nani into the squad but i cant see us going 4-4-2 away from home. We definitely play better in a 4-4-2 but we seem to play with the 3 midfielders in europe which if im honest dont feel suits us. Sometimes i wish we were a bit more like barca, we dont go defensive where ever we play, we go for it home or away. As we saw in the home game vs porto we went 4-3-3 and i think it was cos of this we ended up with a draw. We have to play to our strengths and go 4-4-2 because we have to score today. Looking at our last few games we have conceeded atleast 1 goal a game so in effect we need atleast 2 and in a more defensive 4-3-3 formation i cant see that.
April 15th, 2009 at 13:17
@Stephen: Congratulations on your engagement!
April 15th, 2009 at 13:21
@Beachryan: Its Already 6 in my regions timings..
April 15th, 2009 at 13:21
@Stephen: Happy and married life should never be put together??????? Well THANK YOU Stephen Bro, you just put me off proposing to the GF, which I had planned for later this year
.
April 15th, 2009 at 13:24
Have you people seen Fergies statement regarding the way porto played against athletico, He is playing mind games, He wants them to come at us, leaving spaces.
I doubt that, especially when they showed in first leg that they can attack with 4 people leaving others to defend, seems like a good idea especially if rooney and ronaldo comes back to defend, leaving us with no chance of counter, especially with Berba is there… Tie looks difficult.
April 15th, 2009 at 13:28
@Kartikey: Anybody who recognises like I had LONG AGO that the scousers real name and city is called LiverFOOL will do me
. Welcome aboard mate!
April 15th, 2009 at 13:30
I’ve been away on holiday for the easter and only got back today. Just finnished reading all the posts I missed (sad to hear I always whine @Rd, maybe if the team put in a ‘United style’ performance tonight, win or lose, I won’t).
Firstly, Wow! what a game? I hate Pool and Chelsea, but what a game? Drogba was immense, and although I loathe him as person, he just emphasised to me that he is exactly what we needed to get in the summer.
Watching the game, I actially got quite scared at the thought of meeting one of those two teams in the finals…
I don’t know if anyone noticed, but I was quite surprised at Ronaldo’s performance on Saturday? He actually defended. When he got tackled, he actually got up and got on with it. After reading what Fergie said, I think it must have had an effect on him. If he continues like this, he will again be the player we all love to love.
I’m not too confident about tonight, but I believe we can snatch it. Would be great to impose a whipping on Porto, but a slender win will do. And what I won’t give for Anderson to be the one giving us the slender win
April 15th, 2009 at 13:33
@Grognard: Fat, Daft, Rafa has one mission in life, TO OUTSMART FERGIE. He is UNHEALTHILY obsessed over Fergie –
.
April 15th, 2009 at 14:01
@Craig Mc: Ya and the obsession seems to have increased every match
April 15th, 2009 at 14:02
I think, just for today, we’ll leave the scousers out of it.
The worst case scenario for our line up is a 4-5-1. If it’s that, Fergie is done, he bottled it, he choked, retire please. 4-4-2 please. Attack with Ronaldo and Nani on the wings. Rooney and Tevez up top.. (although we all know it’ll be the Berb), and as Anderson – Carrick/Giggs midfield. Evans Right back.
April 15th, 2009 at 14:04
berba will prove all of you doubters wrong!
April 15th, 2009 at 14:14
@ROOOOONEY: Hopefully..
April 15th, 2009 at 14:21
@ROOOOONEY: yeah right bro you wish!!!.HE is a classic case of *cough* a……………. CHOKER
April 15th, 2009 at 14:47
Berba is a team player, a thinker, shame he has to take it upon himself to be the attacking midfielder because no one else is there.
If it carries on like this then he will continue to appear crap. I hope he doesn’t play injured cause that just makes him look even worse.
April 15th, 2009 at 14:52
Thanks for the kind welcome Grognard and Craig Mc.
I feel its a little harsh on berba.No,I am not defending him because I too am fed up of his attitude.He slows our attack down.But i feel the problem is somewhere else because i remember in the start of the year he won a lot of plaudits for his play from pundits and fans alike.But as the season has progressed he has faded away and looks trigger shy.Just for that I’d start Tevez(who agreed doesnt look better than berba these days) but atleast he give us something defensively.Not that it helps Berba if Fergie continues to play him(and some others and now we all know who they are)out of position.
But Berba will start bcos he has one thing in his favour-He is our highest goalscorer in the champions league.
My line up would be
VDS
O’Shea Rio Vidic Evra
Carrick Anderson Nani
Ronaldo Rooney Tevez
.I know we could get caught out defensively but hell we forgotten to defend anyway.We should just try and outscore them.
April 15th, 2009 at 14:59
Thoughts on formation/tactics for tonight:
Porto were able to attack us using only 3 players last week. So it was usually 4 on 3 from our defense, yet they were still able to create chances. This afforded them the luxury of leaving 3 midfielders in defensive/preventative positions and nullifying our counter/general attack. Worked a charm. But our 4 defenders should be easily able to handle only 3 attackers. I expect a much better showing on that end.
Porto tended to use 2 or even 3 players in DMF positions, led by the outstanding Fernandes (i think?). They always had two players sitting in that middle position, nicking the ball away. This causes us one very major problem, which is lack of space down the centre. It would likely completely cut Berbatov out of the game, because that is where he operates. What it should mean is that we use width to just avoid this area. The danger of that approach is taht you minimise Ronaldo’s effectiveness and really, we don’t score much from crosses. Tough one.
Porto’s defence looks shakey, if we can get at the back 4 without their shield of midfielders. Therefore we need to start getting up the pitch faster. We’re not Barcelona and don’t have the ability to pass around teams defending with 9 in the box, nor do we have Lampard’s uncanny ability to score from range via deflection. We need VDS, Rio and Carrick to be pinging balls up the field to FEET or SPACE as quickly as possible. Note Edwin, that does not mean hoof it towards our 5′9″ double teamed scouse centre forward. You idiot.
Anyone else think Ronaldo is going to dive like a baby tonight?
April 15th, 2009 at 15:06
@Kartikey: But i think this team can’t contain the physicality of the midfield that porto possesses, last think we want right now is to get run over in midfield, As last night game showed, if midfield enforces the issues, mistakes occur from the opposition, however good they are.
April 15th, 2009 at 15:09
@Beachryan: I think if we can push them back and play high, then we can stop them playing and make them use the long balls, which should be ok for us, Biggest problem will be to get along the side line and bring panic in there defence by running in the box, like we use to do last year. Why no one considers the fact that we miss the chances of getting penalties if we don’t run in the box often. Which fools are doing regularly.
April 15th, 2009 at 15:10
@Beachryan: Well I dont think after Fergie’s rare comment/criticism(ur choice)he will moan too much.Also playing against a team whom he used to consider a fierce rival he should be pumped up.
Well has anyone else read reports that Calderon (that git) has spoken that he has signed a top player with all reports pointing towards ronaldo.I read it in skysports.It also goes on to mention that the player in question has now formally become real madrid player.
April 15th, 2009 at 15:12
@Kartikey: But i think it might be Villa/ribery or Benzema, as there is no news on there part and they are surely going to move this summer.
April 15th, 2009 at 15:14
@Beachryan: As long as we get a Spanish referee ronaldo’ll work a treat! Every player who got touched even slightly in last nights game got a freekick, and even a penalty!
April 15th, 2009 at 15:14
@Kartikey: Calderon is an open sewer.
April 15th, 2009 at 15:16
@despicable: But mate we have no one who can control the physical aspect of the game.We had fletcher but he is out injured and giigs wont be comfortable in a very physical game.
Yes you are right our midfield could get overrun but i couldnt think of any other midfield that would give us an attacking threat.One more problem is that has our midfield has been playing too deep.They havent been imposing themselves.Thee only other option would be to place Park instaed of Nani and none of us want that do we??
April 15th, 2009 at 15:18
@Traverse: The referee was pathetic, he never let the game run in first half, We saw in game after 60 minutes that how free flowing games run.
April 15th, 2009 at 15:20
@Kartikey: Ya especially in the kind of form he is…
I expect fergie to do something different… May be shock Porto with team selection.
April 15th, 2009 at 15:31
@ Despicable – The only realistic ’shocks’ I could see given our current team is to play Fabio as a LMF, Anderson as a SS or if we lined up with a 5-3-2, with Rafael and Evra playing as wing backs. Which we’ve never done, and would be ridiculous…ly awesome
April 15th, 2009 at 15:48
New post up that could also serve as a preview. Get your pre match thoughts (as well as thoughts on the post) in there.
April 15th, 2009 at 15:49
@Craig Mc: Ha ha go for it mate, I was only joking!!
April 15th, 2009 at 16:38
@Red Ranter: How come my comments don’t appear anymore? Am I under moderation or something?
April 15th, 2009 at 16:40
@Stephen: In case my previous comments don’t show up…Congratulations on your engagement!
Any date yet for the wedding?
April 15th, 2009 at 17:19
@Beachryan: Wouldn’t that be rich. Anderson finally scores a goal and it’s an own goal. Classic mate.
April 15th, 2009 at 17:21
@Karl: Thanks mate, probably Spring next year as the other half fancies the Maldives for the honeymoon!!
April 15th, 2009 at 17:24
@Beachryan: He could be suffering from Reverse Samson Syndrome. A case where if he got a haircut and got rid of that mess on his head, it would make him stronger and better and dare I say, better looking. Dreads are just a joke.