Aug 29
Preview: Man Utd v Zenit St. Petersburg
Today is 07/08 season hangover day. A day where we play a game to prove we are better than a team that didn’t qualify for the Champions’ League. To be honest, I don’t get the point of a Super Cup. It’s not really super, whether we win it or lose it. Playing the UEFA Cup winners could be tricky, but it’s more like a glorified version of the Community Shield — a curtain raiser to the footballing calendar in Europe.
But, I do want us to win this one. The Super Cup doesn’t come every day, so I’d gladly take this, as well as the World Club Championship later this year.
In team news, Fergie said that Hargreaves could start, but also added that he won’t be fit enough to face Andorra for England. I agree with the boss. Playing for England at the moment is pointless. (Before you jump on me, yes, it is personal bias.)
Nani will definitely start and I hope he’ll be hungry as hell. I genuinely hope he comes of age this season. Park Ji-Sung could come off the bench too. So despite the apparent cramping of our schedule, we are getting to see players returning from injury in non-Premier League games.
In terms of formation, Rooney and Tevez should start up front; Nani, Scholes, Anderson, Hargreaves in midfield, Evra, Rio, Vida and Brown in defence. (Or perhaps, Fergie might choose to start Neville too).
The good thing is that we are getting very close to our first team. And today’s team will be the nucleus of the one that will play Liverpool on the 13th. A good performance now would augur well going into the international break, considering the disjointed displays from Liverpool of late.
Zenit will be without Arshavin. But I hear they can still be a handful without their influential playmaker. So there…
I am excited, I hope you are too.
Prediction: 2-0 to United
* * *
What the hell was the Goalkeeper, Defender and Midfield award about anyway? Was this some kind of a joke? Petr Cech for all his past brilliance has never been the same player since his head injury. John Terry? Give me a fuckin’ break. And I don’t understand Lampard getting the best midfield award either.
So someone, kindly explain.
* * *
Yup. No more news on the Berbatov front. Let’s wait for the clock to whittle down. Although if Tottenham continue to be linked with the likes of Miguel Veloso, then I don’t see any point in them holding on to Berba.
Back to today’s game though. Come on you reds!!!
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Manchester United’s 08/09 Champions’ League Opponents
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
- Porto it is then…
Tags: Game Preview
August 29th, 2008 at 10:12
i mean, even though WE won the european cup, THEY get the awards… that was blatantly fixed, i am serious when i say i want an investigation…
back to todays game, i think hargreaves will start in the middle with anderson, and fletcher on the wing, i also think campbell might get a bit of game, of the bench or from the start.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:18
Not sure the about the relevance of Veloso being linked to Spurs to the “no point in keeping Berba”, as one is a striker and the other a holding midfield player?
Personally I would love United to play the twins, Foster, Campbell, Possebon and Evans against decent opposition to gage how they could do in the EPL and the Premiership.
The award were a joke Terry in front of Rio actually made me laugh, but thats the joy of UEFA!
With Roman Pavlyuchenko about to sign might now see some action with Berba, but with only 3 days to go could be tight. Part of me now does not want to sign, I love him as a player but want to teach Levy a lesson, greedy twat.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:31
I’m pretty sure I’ve read a few reports that Nevs has already been given the nod. Are you sure Arshavin isn’t going to play? I’ve read multiple reports that he flew to Monaco and not one said he wouldn’t be playing. I hope he does end up playing.
The individual awards ceremony from yesterday was a joke. Even though I can’t stand looking at him, I wasn’t overly surprised that Lampard won. Cech winning was highly suspect; in his case I think it is a hangover from years past when he was so dominate. As many people have mentioned, since his accident he isn’t close to the same player. Cech had a good game in the final, but how you can overlook the winning keeper in a CL Final penalty shootout is beyond me. Last and by far least is Terry, whose win is downright scandalous. While I was watching him accept the award I got the distinct feeling that he was embarrassed to have won. Any of the other nominees would have been far more worthy. He should not even made the list, as Carvalho is light-years ahead of him. I don’t know if this was supposed to be a consolation prize, but Terry winning is a travesty. I will never again take these individual awards seriously. They are utter nonsense.
Did anyone else read the Times article stating that we have reached a verbal agreement with Tottenham over Berbatov? According to the article it is simply a matter of Pavlyuchenko’s transfer being finalized. I’ll try finding the write-up, but it is hard to simply disregard it as it came from the Times. If they’ve resorted to petty gossip I official give up on the rags.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:40
SAHA HAS SIGNED FOR EVERTON!!!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 10:40
What is this on SKY sports are we selling ‘fan favorite’ SAHA. I am the only fan in the world who thought it was insane to sell him last month, let alone now when we will end up with Rooney/Tevez/Campball/Manucho for the whole season.
Thats of course if we don’t sign anyone before Monday, but right now i’d sign anyone from Windass~Stead ANYONE just sign a player already.
If we go past Monday not recruiting a forward I want recognition in predicting that Rooney will go into the international break pick up an injury and leave us with Giggs being ‘forced’ to play up front with Tevez for the Liverpool,Villareal,Chelsea games.
That is my nightmare scenario!!!
Plus if Saha goes to the Toffees I for one wish him the best. Theres no doubt he spent his wages whilst on the treatment table for the most part, but when he played he was always a danger to the opposition defenses.
> Good luck Louis (or more appropriate Get well Louis)
August 29th, 2008 at 10:41
Can anybody please tell when is this match ? i mean UK time ? is it live anywhere ?
August 29th, 2008 at 10:43
@Stephen: Have you noticed it isn’t on are official website, United fans always the last to know! Who else are confirming this(Sky etc).
August 29th, 2008 at 10:51
@AGP: BBC mate, but…………………….. subject to a medical!, Micheal Jackson has more of a chance of passing one than Mr Glass.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:52
I think Saha is sold to Everton cause we have gotten Berba now. He should get the nr. 9 shirt, so its not surprising for me. Saha out- Berba in!
August 29th, 2008 at 10:58
@RedDevil: that sounds like a fair trade…
I think it will be a slap on the face if he actually manages to stay fit and score goals, which could happen. Hopefully, he has not left a curse on the Man Utd no.9 shirt.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:05
Subject to a medical hehehe… Could be a problem.
I understand the transfer but am gutted at how Louis’ time at United was utterly ravished by injuries. He was one of my favorite players (when he was actually on the pitch) and is imo underrated, but even I, as a big fan have become fed up with his frailty.
Surely this means we have a certified replacement lined up… I find it hard to believe that Fergie would head into the new season with a front four of Rooney, Tevez, Campbell and Manucho with any confidence… I’m not knocking Campbell and Manucho though… I have faith in any United player until they’re sold/released… they’re just not ready this season.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:06
Can anyone tell me if Manucho is eligible to play yet? Saha leaving is so frustrating considering his injuries yet obvious talent, he will go to everton and inevitably be fit and score goals galore. Im excited for everton because Saha and Yakubu could be an excellent partnership but back to United. Arsharvin is in the Zenit squad so thats an added worry for tonights game but he will truely test Neville to see if he can regain a starting slot as i feel he will start in front of Brown tonight. I want to see Gibson get some sort of run-out tonight if hes in the squad, i think hes a great back-up to Carrick and he should be ahead of Possebon in the pecking order. Excited about tonight though, United to win 2-1 Tevez and Nani to score.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:08
@RedDevil: Yeah maybe, any bulgarian passports heading from Heathrow/Gatwick > Monaco need to be double checked. I hope for the life of me the super cup/CL draw hasn’t delayed any plans to bring the Berba signing forward. I don’t wish to see Mr Gill flying back on Sunday with a suntan & 20 year old french fancy.
@Stephen: I’ve just seen that he has to pass a medical, I think Utd by now would expect him to fail!
Also is all this undisclosed transfer fees pissing anyone else off?
Its as if the big clubs don’t want the public to know they’ve sold for under there valuation.
Ideal fee £8m
Likely fee £4m
If i’m honest though a transfer window losing Saha, Silvestre, Dong and Eagles is a bit more satisfying than losing Ronaldo.
Sign Berba now!! I guess he is the only option this late on, though a winger would be just as welcomed in my view.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:11
@AGP: Berbatov number 9!
Probably best to get rid of the dead wood to be honest, he was a good player when fit, but I was worried he would fail a medical because of his lack of heart!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:13
@Niall Doc:
Manucho was granted his work permit two weeks ago but broke his metatarsal, I think he should be back by mid september though his lack of football and the nature of our fixture list means he may not feature til October!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:24
@AGP: Also there will be a bedding in period, I can see the rabbit caught in the headlights a little to start off with, but lets wait and see. We can’t hang our hat on him and now must push the Berbatov deal through because we are now very, very short of options.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:27
Manucho will be physically and mentally prepared for the english league from january onwards. no point in rushing his recovery process. Right at a time when we need him he comes into play and scores a banger of a goal vs Chelskum..
not a bad summer of work. Less Tweety, Dong and Sick-Note… NICE!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:27
surely this means we have berbatov… im a bit worried that saf will pay over the odds for berbatov now, following this sale…
August 29th, 2008 at 11:31
unless, we have somebody else line up for a replacement
August 29th, 2008 at 11:32
Ominous signs certainly! I seriously hope SAF and Gill are 100% sure of Berbatov signing for us (or could it be someone else???) because otherwise its absolutely lunacy to go into not even a single in-the-box striker in the entire team! I mean, Saha would probably have someday gotten up on the correct side of the bed and felt, well…FIT to play (whatever that means in the current context) and been his money’s worth, but now that option has gone as well.
I think its an indication that our no. 9 is leaving, the shirt is waiting for the BERBA!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:33
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article4630065.ece
I don’t think it is a coincidence that this came out the same day as Louis was sold. I think for the all the crap we’ve been put through this summer the brass could throw us a bone and make a surprise unveiling at the game tonight.
Au revoir, Louis.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:36
I think all this has been planned for ages by Gill and Fergie…. The Times and other sources reported that there has already been a verbal agreement btw United and Spurs for Berba to be officially signed soon. So the price for Berba has been agreed on principle.
Saha is now leaving, tottenham obviously getting wind of this after the verbal agreement btw them and us are unable to hijack the berba price (note: Saha was in the team pic for 08/09). Saha now evacuates the No.9 shirt, Berba is announced and presented the No.9 shirt.
Gill and Fergie are geniuses!! That’s if that is what will happen!! But I predict that is the scenario..
August 29th, 2008 at 11:40
I think this is an important match. We’ve got young players who haven’t won that many trophies and it will fuel their hunger for more. It would also be good for us to play a decent team going into the Liverpool and Chelsea matches. It might help us raise our game a bit and move into top gear.
The team looks solid, but I see Fletcher playing over Hargreaves. He is after all our top scorer :p
I could maybe see us playing 4-3-3 with Fletcher, Scholes, Anderson in the centre and Rooney Tevez and Nani up front.
Anyone know what time KO is and whether its on any of the English tv channels?
Saha to Everton is interesting. I do not think we would offload a striker with that much experience if we did not have a decent hope of buying a replacement. Regardless of his injury status if he only played five games for us this season he’d still have scored a couple of goals.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:51
@colver: Kick off 19.45 BST and it’s on ITV1 live.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:52
Anybody else seen this? I feel sorry for Andy, everybody is bugging him.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:58
i’m hoping Campbell gets a run out today as a starter.
——–Campbell——–
–Rooney——–Tevez—
Nani–Anderson–Hargreaves
–PE—-NV—-RF—-GN–
Park comes on for Hargreaves at half time. Scholes comes on for Tevez after 60minutes, and if we still haven’t scored by the 80th, then bring on fletcher for campbell
August 29th, 2008 at 12:03
when scholes comes on we switch to a 4-4-2 obviously haha
August 29th, 2008 at 12:05
I agree with Red Ranter bout this match being a glorified charity shield, but at the same time i do want to win it.@Stephen: i agree we should blood some of the new guys and youngsters. Its a good match to test them cos zenit are no mugs and we could see how they fare against decent opposition.
@dan(u-ol): loved yer post yesterday bout the sponsors for the awards…very good. i just cant beeeleaf they won them…there will never be an investigation but there should be! Would you not feel like a tit getting that award tho…knowing you were a loser.
As for saha….good bye mr glass! that is if he can pass the medical….good luck with that one! unfortunately this looks like its a certainty we will be signing berba. now i dont want to start getting people all riled up on a friday, but i STILL think this is a bad idea. berba is not the answer for us, and yes we need a striker….but i just dont want him.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:07
I think we should get larsson and fat ronaldo i know people think i’m mad for saying this but larsson brings experience and a few goals and fat ronaldo has got 2 maybe 3 years even if we don’t use them as starters their class and quality and experience can make us only better. And it looks like saha is gonna be staying there isn’t a chance in hell he’s passing a medical!! I think we’ll win tonight 2-0 with nani and tevez on scoresheet!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:08
man, Gill and Fergie are genious!
they wont sell saha until they have a sure boy to replace his slot
absolute genious. the way they handle things slowly but surely (i think)..
as for the super cup, united three-nil
(rooney 2, fletcherinho 1) or (rooney, tevez, nani)
-john freakin o’shea
August 29th, 2008 at 12:09
what happened to Henry supposedly being in Manchester yesterday? why would Alex have doubts over Berba yesterday if less than 24 hours later they have a verbal agreement…
August 29th, 2008 at 12:14
I agree with stephen,
ushering in the young guns of possebon, the twins and even campbell is a good idea, they’ll have european football experience.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:16
@RedDevil: I’ve watched the video a few times. Hilarious! I love when Scholes and Rooney grab Evra’s knees towards the end…Classic!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:27
Saha is one of my favourites…. have pace…two good feets…good in air and his link up play is very good….fergie pls dont sell him….let him be ours 4th striker …
…and there are possibities that this will backfire…yakubu adn Saha will be terrific Pair…they wud score ,laods of goal IF FIT
August 29th, 2008 at 12:30
@bond: But he was always injured, so a waste of space.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:31
I think we should def snap larsson up…even if he is just a sub we bring on to get a goal…he would be a great asset. and it would provide even more spice to the celtic matches!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:37
@jstar7: He is too old amte now, plus we need a number 9, a striker with pressence, we have two top small very mobile strikers, we need something different.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:48
it will be frightening if we dont buy anybody and manucho doesnt get a WP..when Saha was there,we always had a belief that we have a target man but is injured and will be back sooon ! but now
….Sometimes Fergie is tooo stubborn 
and wait till the last minute to make it happen
August 29th, 2008 at 12:48
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/soccer/wires/08/29/2080.ap.eu.soc.everton.saha.0183/index.html
August 29th, 2008 at 12:51
Manucho got his permit it’s on manchester evening news they usually good as they really ain’t got a reason to lie…
August 29th, 2008 at 13:06
@Stephen: im not saying he would be an answer to our striker problem… no way. I just think his experience and class is worth having around if it costs us pennies. he is way too old to start or play any full matches, but used correctly he could be a great help im sure.
August 29th, 2008 at 13:14
@jstar7: Hehehe
August 29th, 2008 at 13:15
@jstar7: He would be a super coach in my view his technique was excellent, I remember his disallowed goal agianst Villa in the cup. But we do not need that type of player, we need a taller more physical pressence up there, as we have Rooney and Carlito who are a lot younger than Larrson and very similar. Plus having a player the same age as your manager is not a good thing!
August 29th, 2008 at 13:20
I dont want Berba. Lets get Ashavin and Hunterlaar and leave Spurs with a player that will eventually leave them anyways… haha either or Henry, I swear if we do end up getting Henry then well… I will chear him but Ill never praise the guy. But to be honest he’s top of my list the guy even at 60% is better than most out there right now and he’s surplus to requirments at Barca
August 29th, 2008 at 13:22
@Stephen: It was against pompey, but whatever!
August 29th, 2008 at 13:23
If Balsaboy starts to play most of the matches for Everton, and has a good season, then it begs the question, why was he never fit for United?. Is he swinging the lead, because at Fulham, they had so few games compared to United’s long seasons. Is Louis really a fraudster regarding his health problems?.
If Henry was having a medical in Manchester yesterday, I would be gobsmacked if Fergie brought in Berba and Henry. I wouldn’t be surprised though, because United never seem to have all their eggs in one basket.
August 29th, 2008 at 13:26
@RedDevil: Yes my bad!
August 29th, 2008 at 13:29
@Craig Mc: I would say we do mate, if we were going to bring in two strikers and one was The Tov, then surely the other on would be in by now?
Fergie always sets his heart on one player, and we normally pay vast sums of money for that player, generally wisely but he rarely has a plan B.
August 29th, 2008 at 13:30
Henrik Larsson has left his club.maybe sir alex can sign him.these uefa people are jackasses.rio and vidic were better than john slipface terry.what jackasses
August 29th, 2008 at 13:31
@Stephen: i agree actually, he would be a great coach. but maybe once have a no9 (berb)…and tevez and rooney have run their asses off for 80 mins to no avail….who to bring on??? hmmmm hed be perfect!
@sig: im not a berba man myself but the henry stuff is nonsense.
August 29th, 2008 at 13:35
Realistically Berbatov and Manucho. Hopefully, Berbatov and Larsson. In dream land Berbatov and Huntelaar.
I’m sad to see Louis go. He is a brilliant player and the perfect spearhead to our attack. When fit. Which he never is. Very sad. Lets hope we see some activity on the in side now….
August 29th, 2008 at 13:37
I am looking forward to FIFA 09. It looks great! Ronaldo is a player that I am doubting if I will play or not because of what he did this summer to us, but I have decided to make it easy for myself. Love the player, hate the man. I woont care about his personal life or his comments any more, I will just see what he does in the games this season. Thta is why I will play him in FIFA 09. If noone has seen how his new free kicks in the game are going to be, here you go!
August 29th, 2008 at 13:45
I think OH is officially crocked. A real shame, as he is an excellent player when fit.
August 29th, 2008 at 13:49
Now for my preview! I dont understand why some of you think this is an exibishon(training match). It is a game that is rarely played by clubs. It is hard to win the CL or the UEFA-cup, so we must cherish tonights game. I was pissed off when we lost to Marseille in 1999 cause I knew it would take a long time till we would play for this trophy again. I just didnt think it would be this long….So I am looking at this match as important as a FA cup final. It is really, really hard to come here and I think Fergie knows that so he wil field a strong team. I think it will be:
VDS
Neville Rio Vidic Evra
Hargreaves Anderson Scholes Nani
Rooney Tevez
subs: TK, Brown, Oshea, Fletcher, Park, Campbell and Rafael.
I think this is going to be an entertaing match cause after watching Zenit play in the russian league and the UEFA cup, I can say that they are really good in attack- like United- but bad in defense- unlike United. If United decide to go out to win this game instead of waiting for counter attacks, then we will win. The question is weather Fergie will go for his ususal European plan or English plan. I know Zenit, they are a really good team. Arshavin is a good player, he reminds me of Pires. So, stop him and you stop Zenit. They didnt do very well last weekend with Arsha, but who knows? They might be up for todays game. I am looking forward to it!
Prediction: 3-0 to United if they go out there to win in style. 2-1 to United after ET if defensive minded.
COME ON YOU REDS!
P.S. Will United wear the blue kit tonight?
August 29th, 2008 at 13:53
@RedDevil: exibishon? Phonetic spelling is always funny.
August 29th, 2008 at 13:55
Update! Owen is injured again(maybe he will stop getting injured if I stop calling him Owen
) so he is out! That means that possibly Fletcher will play at right midfield and Fabio or Gibson replaces him on the bench. Team predition:
VDS
Neville Rio Vidic Evra
Flecther Anderson Scholes Nani
Rooney Tevez
subs: TK, Brown, Rafael, Oshea, Fabio/Gibson, Park, Campbell.
August 29th, 2008 at 13:55
@RedDevil: you can talk it up all you want…nobody really takes it as a serious piece of silverware.
August 29th, 2008 at 13:56
@IBleedRed: How do you spell it then? Should learn that word, shouldnt I?
August 29th, 2008 at 13:59
Well with Saha gone our four strikers are:
Rooney, Tevez, Campbell, Manucho
You could say Ronaldo counts as a striker but we need him to supply width and he gets too isolated when forced to play upfront.
Id take Larsson just because he’d add some experience, is intelligent enough to support our style of play and good for a few goals from the subs bench. Fat Ronaldo has his own injury problems and we do not need that especially as he’d come with an inflated salary.
I presume Ferguson is prepared to let Saha go because he got a work permit for Manucho. But that is one helluva gamble. I just do not see why we are so insistent on buying Berbatov when there are so many strikers out there who would be an improvement on Campbell or Manucho
August 29th, 2008 at 13:59
@jstar7: Well, I think people should. You dont get these games often!
August 29th, 2008 at 14:00
@RedDevil: Er it is an exhibition match mate, we all want to win, but we also do not want any injuries.
August 29th, 2008 at 14:02
@colver: Rooney, Tevez, Campbell, Manucho, if we ended up on Sep 1st only with those forwards at the club I would be severely worried.
August 29th, 2008 at 14:10
@Stephen: No-one wants injures.
I undersatnd what youre saying but think about how hardit is to come here. You have to win either the CL or the UEFA cup. When I think of tonights game, I think about what we had to do to win the CL last season. From Ronaldo header vs Sporting, our heroic defending again Lyon, Rome and Barca, Scholes screamer at Old Trafford to VDS` save to Anelkas penalty. Its not like were playing Aberdeen or Copenhagen or Peterbrough- Were playing Zenit, the team that beat Bayern Munich 4-0 in the semii-final! Its a great game that I am really looking forward to! Nobody or nothing can change my mind!
August 29th, 2008 at 14:12
@Stephen: We have Ronaldo too!
Still, we need a stiker. I see no need of Fergie to sell Saha is we dont have a replacement lined up. Manucho is unproven, Campbell too young, Ronaldo is a winger… We must surely have gotten a stiker by now, maybe we just havent told anyone yet! Fergie is not dumm, he must have gotten a replacement by now…. Surely…..
August 29th, 2008 at 14:15
@RedDevil: I am looking forward to it, but to go through our route to Moscow, which was the final for EPL, does not lead to Monaco.
Did you think the Charity Shield was our final for winning the league?
August 29th, 2008 at 14:17
@RedDevil: I hope mate we have Berbatov in the bag, please Fergie, tell me and for all of us on Red Rants, we trust you PLEASE!!
August 29th, 2008 at 14:17
@Stephen: No. Well, kinda, but after so many years I ve gotten used to the CS. I think the CS is different to the USC, since you can get to the CS just by finishing 2nd sometimes. You need to win the most difficult trophy in the world to get here!
August 29th, 2008 at 14:21
@RedDevil: I hope I didn’t offend you mate. I’m not sure where you are from, but your English is good. I know plenty of natives who can barely spell their own name.
Also, the da Silva brothers were left home so unfortunately we won’t be seeing them.
August 29th, 2008 at 14:22
@RedDevil: And the UEFA cup
August 29th, 2008 at 14:31
@IBleedRed: Not at all. Im from Norway, and the best Englsih-speaking guy in my class. My grades are very good, and I owe so much of that to Manchester United and English football. And I cant forget Harry Potter!
August 29th, 2008 at 14:39
And of cource, RedRants give me a lot of practice. With all the discussions and conflicts(sometimes) that we have here, you are bound to get better in English. Thanks guys!
August 29th, 2008 at 14:47
Stephen barring the signing of Berbatov that is the situation we will find ourselves in.
Its a pity Zenit upset Bayern in the UEFA cup. I think Bayern Munich v Manchester United would have been an explosive Super Cup fixture! I do hope we meet Bayern at some stage in the Champions League.
I see it as a kind of pre-season match which is good as some players didn’t really get much of a pre-season (Rooney, Hargreaves, Anderson, Park). But it will be a proper workout because Zenit will want another scalp
August 29th, 2008 at 15:15
@colver:
I see this match as being important but I agree that we should give Neville, Nani, Hargo, and Park as much time as possible. I hope SAF rests Scholes after 60mins or so because he’s been brilliant but perhaps needs the rest with Hargo Park & Anderson needing the playing time.
My staring XI for tonight
VDS
Neville Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Hargreaves Scholes Anderson Nani
Tevez Rooney
Subs> the usual but Park to come on if available.
August 29th, 2008 at 15:38
@AGP: Owe…Sorry, I mean Hargreaves is injured.
August 29th, 2008 at 15:45
AGP – Scholesy is going to get 2 weeks rest after this match, because of the internationals, so he may play 90 minutes. Depends if Fergie wants to give Possebon a chance.
Just heard all over the net, that Comolli is saying that Berba is probably going to stay at spurs, and how much they would love him too. Here’s how I translate it.
Comolli to Fergie – “Okay last chance saloon, 30 million or he stays.”
Fergie to Comolli – “Go feck y’self Comolli and take Levy with you. 30 million my arse. Go find some other suckers to do a Dick Turpin highway robbery act on. We don’t need Berba that feckin bad.”
Craig Mc says – “Good on you Fergie, Ronnie will be back before we know it, and most of our other players by the time L’fool and Chelski come around. Do not relent Fergie, no 30 million or anywhere near. Levy misjudged this one, and for whatever they are saying about keeping Berba, they are feeling fecking sick about their lost 30 million – Mwah hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
August 29th, 2008 at 15:49
@RedDevil: just call him hargo… i dont think he’s seriously injured, i dont even think he is more injured then before, i think its saf telling crapello to not get any ideas about calling up hargo to get injured.
August 29th, 2008 at 16:17
Does anybody know what kit United will wear tonight? Is it the red or Blue one?
August 29th, 2008 at 16:36
red most likely
August 29th, 2008 at 16:43
I still don’t want Berba. He isnt worth more than £15m IMO. I think that a young winger who can fill in as a striker e.g. Alexis Sanchez or a striker who can fill in a winger in the Babel mould would be the best type of signing. We don’t need a tall player to just hoof long balls up to. Fergie bought Manucho to be that player. I would prefer somebody who will play just in front of Rooney or Tevez (Berba plays in a very similar position) who will go for goal first and foremost and have the ability to assist if nothing is on. I see Berba as being the opposite to that
August 29th, 2008 at 16:44
M(ad)A(rrow)N(eutral)C(ool)H E(ek)S(hock)T(wisted)E(ek)R(oll)
MANCHESTER!
August 29th, 2008 at 16:54
hey any idea which channel is telecasting this game for indian viewers??thanks ppl
August 29th, 2008 at 16:56
Well, now it seems Bayern are trying to sign Berba?? WTF!
August 29th, 2008 at 17:17
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1050570/Russias-Pavlyuchenko-flies-sign-Spurs-Berbatov-says-goodbyes-team-mates.html
can we read into this??!?!
Doubt it!!
August 29th, 2008 at 17:29
@Viresh: I wish we could mate, don’t you think we will wear the blue kit as a perfect marketing opportunity?
August 29th, 2008 at 17:36
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A40236581
louis saha=legend…
August 29th, 2008 at 17:45
@dan(u-ol): Thats class mate!!
August 29th, 2008 at 18:03
@indianred: Zee Sports mate, 12am.
August 29th, 2008 at 18:04
@indianred: TEN Sports is showing it, but not LIVE. Its going to be starting at 2:30 AM on delay ! Sucks doesn’t it?
August 29th, 2008 at 18:08
@antsBoy: Great, I don’t get Zee Sports on Tata Sky. Guess I will have to resort to Justin TV heeehahaha! Someone please post the link for the stream?
August 29th, 2008 at 18:15
Hargreaves recurrence of knee injury in training. F**k. What is it with us and injury prone players?
August 29th, 2008 at 18:26
thanks mihir and antsboy…it definitely sucks!!!i have to try and check if i have Zee Sports…wish ESPN showed it!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 18:26
how much time till the game?
August 29th, 2008 at 18:34
@Jonny: 70 mins… btw, anyone know what song is playing in the background of this marvellous CL final comp ? this vid is the best CL final comp out there, i wept tears of joy when I first watched it…
August 29th, 2008 at 18:38
@Gabriel: thanks mate.
if someone could post thejustin tv/mogulus link, i’d greatly appreciate it
@Mihir: exactly
August 29th, 2008 at 18:43
@Mihir: @Jonny: Will do it before it starts mate, just hold on to your seats lol
August 29th, 2008 at 18:44
its harder to hold on to my seat, cause its a swivel chair. (ha.. ha..)
i’ll try though
thanks mate
August 29th, 2008 at 18:46
@Gabriel: Thanks Gabriel!
Tears of joy….
August 29th, 2008 at 18:59
Team News:
GK: VDS
RB: Neville
CB: Ferdinand
CB: Vidic
LB: Evra
RM: Fletcher
CM: Scholes
CM: Anderson
LM: Nani
ST: Rooney
ST: Tevez
Subs: Pig, Brown, O’Shea, Park, Campbell, Gibson, Possebon
Arshavin on the bench for Zenit
August 29th, 2008 at 19:00
Is JB actually Fergie in disguise????
August 29th, 2008 at 19:02
@JB: dude JB how the hell do you get the team news before anyone else??
August 29th, 2008 at 19:03
Team news:
GK: Edwin Van der Sar
RB: Gary Neville
CB: Nemanja Vidic
CB: Rio Ferdinand
LB: Patrice Evra
RM: Darren Fletcher
CM: Anderson Abreu de Luis Oliveira
CM: Paul Scholes
LM: Luis Nani
ST: Carlos Tevez
ST: Wayne Rooney
My team prediction was right!
HA-HA Lets hammer `em.
Prediction: 3-0 to United. Rooney, Tevez and Anderson to score.
August 29th, 2008 at 19:03
@JB: JB=Jason Bourne!
August 29th, 2008 at 19:04
@Sidharth: He gets them at the same time as me! But we wont tell you…
August 29th, 2008 at 19:07
You have to be up early in the morning to beat me to the team news lads
August 29th, 2008 at 19:08
Team news?
August 29th, 2008 at 19:10
Dan: Number 96
August 29th, 2008 at 19:10
woops, thats what happens when you don’t refresh regularly…
August 29th, 2008 at 19:12
Anderson has fixed his hair, its long again. Hopefully they will debut with a goal!
See you at half time. COME ON YOU REDS!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 19:13
could someone post a link for an online streaming of the match??
August 29th, 2008 at 19:18
last year, we didnt know our best team, opposition managers didnt know what team to expect from us, this year, we have become way to predictable.
August 29th, 2008 at 19:19
http://www.justin.tv/iraqgoals
August 29th, 2008 at 19:21
Here’s another Link
August 29th, 2008 at 19:23
@dan(u-ol): That’s because we are beset by injuries.
August 29th, 2008 at 19:23
It’s on ITV1 in the UK
August 29th, 2008 at 19:26
or here
August 29th, 2008 at 19:30
@Red Ranter: i know, but i dont see that changing even without the injuries, we know nani will start most matches on the left, with park and giggs as 2nd choice, and we know andy scholes and carrick will start most games in the centre, the defence will be the same as last year, and we dont need to discuss right wing.
August 29th, 2008 at 19:37
anyone know if it’s showing on MUTV?
August 29th, 2008 at 19:38
Dan,plus hargreaves in the centre and they can all play with each other…thats how many combos?
August 29th, 2008 at 19:39
@rsg: Commentary is not in english on that channel…
August 29th, 2008 at 19:41
@Gabriel: About the music in the CL video…the band is Sigur Ros. The song title is Hoppipolla off the album Takk. They are Icelandic, hence the very strange names. Great music!
August 29th, 2008 at 20:08
@IBleedRed: cheers.. the song just epitomises that match for me. Love it when it got down as ronaldo missed his pen then got back up when VDS saved Anelka’s penalty… Classic!.
gonna go do some *illegal* downloading now… sshh, don’t tell no one
August 29th, 2008 at 20:23
rooney is shite::::Tevez played a beauty and our pal has his foot stuck in the MUD…
August 29th, 2008 at 20:24
@maroon 14: feck off.. just caused he missed one chance??
August 29th, 2008 at 20:25
@Gabriel: He’s not playing well at all today so far.
Rooney – better than Ronaldo
August 29th, 2008 at 20:29
@Andrei: well, the match ain’t finished yet, is it? how do you expect him to play when Gary Nevile keeps tossin in unreachable crosses?
August 29th, 2008 at 20:32
feck off, horrible defending!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 20:33
Zenit take the lead. To say that they deserved it would be an understatement. They look a great team, while our players look like they’re still in Carrington-mode.
August 29th, 2008 at 20:33
@Gabriel: well he had one great chance to score and give us the lead… he cudnt do it!
August 29th, 2008 at 20:33
Nevs isn’t doing himself any favors. No need to put that ball out for a corner.
August 29th, 2008 at 20:34
@Gabriel: I know he can do something in the second half – which is why I said “so far”.
Rooney – better than Ronaldo
August 29th, 2008 at 20:35
we are getting beat up all over the field especially in their end. ando is doing well despite the nfl field goal atempt.
August 29th, 2008 at 20:35
I agree Gabriel. Does anyone else feel that we need the unselfish Rooney back? I bet Rooney’s super frustrated by now…
August 29th, 2008 at 20:36
He’s our captain but to be honesy I’ve never rated Gary Neville. He is very error prone and I have watched him a long time…he adds little to nothing to the attack…maybe he is just off pace this game but he looks like he isn’t playing with his head…why lump balls into the box when he well knows its Roo, Tev and Nani who are in there? C’mon..adapt mate…
August 29th, 2008 at 20:36
@Andrei: don’t mind me, i’m just wound up watching our horrible display!! It’s like we’re suffering from jetlag or sumthin?
August 29th, 2008 at 20:36
Nev is having a nightmare! I know he needs minutes on the pitch, but we need trophies in the cabinet and with Neville sticking in some terrible crosses and making dubious defensive decisions (it was his unnecessary corner that Zenit scored from!).
Rooney’s not looking so great right now, he’s clearly frustrated. Tevez on the other hand is brilliant every time he touches the ball.
If it were up to me (and thank god it’s not!) i would take off Fletch and stick Park on the right, tell Nani to stay on the left, and stick Brown on instead of Neville.
August 29th, 2008 at 20:36
that yellow was off a dive
August 29th, 2008 at 20:38
If anything, Nani’s been the worst player so far. Sorry Craig Mc!
August 29th, 2008 at 20:38
Cmon people we play like pussies
August 29th, 2008 at 20:38
@antsBoy: of course he’s frustrated, Gaz is just tossing in rubbish!!
August 29th, 2008 at 20:39
Zenit’s attack looks much more lethal and organized than ours…
Rooney!!! no comments…
Tevej too good so far… Nani has been impressive…
Fletcher – non entity… Anderson – not too far from fletcher…
August 29th, 2008 at 20:39
@antsBoy: I wouldn’t say our worst, but he’s not exactly showing his brilliant potential is he?
August 29th, 2008 at 20:39
antsboy he hasnt been the worst he is just too light with the amount of physicality they are employing.
August 29th, 2008 at 20:41
GAbriel: ur frickin Delirious which match are u watchin???? Rooney is shitee
August 29th, 2008 at 20:41
@Nick: feelin that prognosis mate, gaz should go off for brown, fletch has been a no-show… aarrghh.. it’s like we don’t wanna win this cup!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 20:42
Nani is having a nightmare, Rooney has been beyond poor, Neville doesn’t need to be on the pitch, and that big forward from Zenit can play
August 29th, 2008 at 20:42
we are missing a passer, we need possebon to come on.
August 29th, 2008 at 20:42
the only way we can get back in is to have the ref use the yellows against them they are all over us we just aren’t diving.
we do look on a practice game though.
August 29th, 2008 at 20:43
Nani has been AWFUL. But Gary’s having it even worse. Rio and Vidic are having to bail him out. He’s been beaten several times, conceeded a corner completely unncessarily, crossing for a big man (pssst, Gary, we don’t have a striker!) he’s just been awful. I’d love to bring on Rafael for a change, however it’s not gonna happen as they left the twins at home.
Rooney is never going to dominate two big centre backs in the air. No one is acknowledging that other than Tevez,who is still playing really well. Scholes and Ando look alright in midfield, but nothing is being created. Zenit defend very deep, and have troubled us on set pieces. Expect more of the same. I can’t say to bring on Campbell, cause there’s no room to run over the top. Tricky.
If Nani makes one more bone-headed decision I’m throwing something at the tv…
August 29th, 2008 at 20:43
@maroon 14: i’m watchin the horrorshow our team is presenting.. it’s like we are not as determined…
August 29th, 2008 at 20:44
come on reds stay with it and take your fouls when they come.
August 29th, 2008 at 20:44
We have nobody that can put a decent cross and nobody that can head it. So no problems there!
August 29th, 2008 at 20:45
we need pace and passing, campbell and possebon.
August 29th, 2008 at 20:45
2nd half
Brown on, Nev off.
Park on, Fletch off.
Maybe Campbell on after 70min if needed.
Fergie better give them a great hairdryer session, else we’ll lose this by more than just the odd goal guys.
August 29th, 2008 at 20:45
@frankie: so whats nani then?
August 29th, 2008 at 20:46
What a pathetic display. I can’t believe this is the same team from last year minus one player or may be two. We need Ronaldo back ASAP and I will smash the head of the next idiot who puts, that Rooney is better then Ronaldo. He didn’t create anything and screwed up what Tevez did…I am really pissed. I understand that loyalty is important, but what about loyalty to Brown. He deserved the place.
August 29th, 2008 at 20:47
Poor half -.- We don’t look up for it at all. Nani and Neville have been particularly poor.
Tevez has impressed. I swear that boy would give 100% and want to win a friendly family game of beach football on his hols. So competitive and tenacious…
August 29th, 2008 at 20:48
Feckin hell, Arshavin on at half-time. This is getting scary…
August 29th, 2008 at 20:49
We have passed quite well and on occasion we’ve moved it round pretty quickly, but the pitch is a gravel pit, causing our precision moves to be broken up, but if Zenit can do it, then why can’t we?? Let’s just keep on moving it around and we do have the quality (both up front and in midfield) to put it in the net and to cause them problems.
If Fergie makes some changes and gets his team moving quickly then i think we’ll pull this one back.
Arshavin has just come on, everybody pray he doesn’t get injured because if he does then wave goodbye to any Berbatov dreams you may have been having!
August 29th, 2008 at 20:49
Is it me or has Andys hair miraculously grown back?
August 29th, 2008 at 20:51
Looks like we are the Uefa cup holders and they are the Champions ;eague winners…Ohhh im getting laughed at by my friends who support chelscum….its really pissin me off to get bushwacked by some russian team..
August 29th, 2008 at 20:53
@maroon 14: tell me ’bout it mate!! Where’s the hunger? where’s the determination? if there is, I ain’t seeing it…
August 29th, 2008 at 20:55
lol, i’ve neva been more happy to see park warming up!!
August 29th, 2008 at 20:55
The only hunger or determination is coming from Evra and Tevez… poor show -.-
August 29th, 2008 at 20:58
Why does VDS never catch any more…?
August 29th, 2008 at 20:58
Scholes and Ando def not a good midfield combo.. evidence is here to see..
August 29th, 2008 at 21:00
@Gabriel: Both seem to be wanting to do the same job…
August 29th, 2008 at 21:02
…sigh!
August 29th, 2008 at 21:03
well, there goes my pre-match buzz…
August 29th, 2008 at 21:03
and they say we are getting our 1st team back…
desperately need Ronaldo…
August 29th, 2008 at 21:03
this is shit
August 29th, 2008 at 21:05
maby oshay can push back against them
August 29th, 2008 at 21:05
I won’t be surprised if they get one more…
August 29th, 2008 at 21:06
We look so blunt up front and surprising as it sounds I feel we’re missing Wes at right back.
August 29th, 2008 at 21:07
Wow – I guess this goes to show you how important 42 goals can be over the course of the season. The team looks like they miss that something special that was there last year. I’m afraid it’s #7 and to me it’s readily apparent that the team is quite different when Ron is on the pitch. Watching the first two EPL games and now this display – really shows how we miss having a target man and clinical finisher.
August 29th, 2008 at 21:08
this is a terrible performance. Take Scholes off and bring on Campbell, then stick Rooney in a creative midfield position and shove Campbell up front to give the Zenit back four something to think about.
August 29th, 2008 at 21:09
tevez is the shit
August 29th, 2008 at 21:09
Jim Beglin said it all… If the whole team played with the tenacity of Tevez this game and the majority of games we play would be over before you knew it.
It is frustrating that humans earning more money than they could ever spend can’t get motivated for a game of football. A cup final at that…
August 29th, 2008 at 21:11
gary looks like a kid given a chance to play with manchester united.
August 29th, 2008 at 21:11
We look like fools no wonder chelscum midfield got all the awards….atleast they are better than us we are really poor …groggy was correct without any gud signings we cant win anything this season coz we are SHITE
August 29th, 2008 at 21:14
we do not look like a very good team at all. P.S. why aren’t we in for Arshavin? we need creativity like that.
August 29th, 2008 at 21:14
@maroon 14: mate, feck off and go support chelski then.. it’s ok to criticise our players, but to say chelsea are better than us when we’ve performed better over the past two years is just takin the piss!!
August 29th, 2008 at 21:15
please god let george bush bomb russia right now. eurotrashskum
August 29th, 2008 at 21:15
YYEESSSS!!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 21:16
VIDIC!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 21:16
I just said if we score from this corner we’ll win… you heard it here first
August 29th, 2008 at 21:16
@maroon 14:
You sound really pathetic saying that! Its the same squad that just won the premier league and champions league.
And 2-1! come on boys!
August 29th, 2008 at 21:17
brilliant!! scrappy goal, but the last 10 minutes we’ve finally come to the party.
Does anybody know if the game goes straight to Penalties after 90 minutes if it’s a draw? or is it Extra Time?
August 29th, 2008 at 21:17
hahaha a
August 29th, 2008 at 21:17
extra time
August 29th, 2008 at 21:20
Park has been really lively since coming on, he’s really pushed the tea, forward
August 29th, 2008 at 21:20
Finally Neville is gone, but look at our “attacking” subs: Wes Brown, John O’Shea, and Park…..
August 29th, 2008 at 21:21
More fucking like it!
August 29th, 2008 at 21:27
Vidic can kick the ball better that Oshea!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 21:28
Nani has been extremely disappointing…
August 29th, 2008 at 21:32
LOL. Paul Scholes. Volley Ball champion.
August 29th, 2008 at 21:32
deary me Scholes, what was that about?
August 29th, 2008 at 21:33
Scholes?!?!?! whats was he doing??? shame…
August 29th, 2008 at 21:34
wow
August 29th, 2008 at 21:35
you have to smile about that – scholes. but what does this mean, does he miss any games in the champions league?
August 29th, 2008 at 21:35
Love the fact O’Shea celebrated the ‘goal’. Stupid thing to do…..
August 29th, 2008 at 21:36
Jesus, Nani has been pathetic.
August 29th, 2008 at 21:36
okay if hand balls were allowed – Scholes finish was ‘clinical mardonna’
August 29th, 2008 at 21:38
pitiful, please get a forward sir alex.
August 29th, 2008 at 21:38
fuck russia
August 29th, 2008 at 21:39
dreadful performance tonight, capped off by Scholes doing an idiotic thing. Nani needs to have a look in the mirror when he gets back to his hotel room and think long and hard about how much he wants to play for this club because the performance he put in tonight was below dire.
August 29th, 2008 at 21:39
toothless bastards
August 29th, 2008 at 21:40
everyone knows scholes and anderson cant play together… *ahem* you people need to realise that this was just the super-cup, nothing important.
August 29th, 2008 at 21:40
Well, with the exception of Tevez and to an extent Evra and Ferdinand, not one of those players out there deserved to be representing Manchester United. Most abject display I’ve seen in a long time. Pathetic.
All I can hope is that all Fergies talk of “doing everything to win the competition” was all bluff because if we play like that in the Champions League we will struggle to make it out of the group stage.
August 29th, 2008 at 21:44
Fergie! You seriously need to get your eyes checked! Three million! PAY THEM THEIR 30 MILLION!
August 29th, 2008 at 21:48
will everyone please stop saying we need a striker. Today its because “we dont have a striker”, what will it be when we are struggling to get a draw out of bolton, with a striker on the field?
August 29th, 2008 at 21:48
We were humiliated for the first 60 min and then were able to get some respect back, Fletcher and Neville shouldn’t be allowed to play. Andy. Nani and Rooney should get their act together. nani may be the worst player, but Rooney was really close to him too, not counting Neville who at least cost us one of the goals. Tevez was by far our best player, Park, Brown and Evra were good too. The rest of the squad sucked badly. And to the idiot who claims that rent boys are better then us. I would say just shut up. We are still missing key players and even if we will not buy anyone, when CR7 is back we will get better too.
August 29th, 2008 at 21:49
WTF…sloppy defense, sloppy nani passes, and lack of striking capability upfront, i’m very disapointed seing united play like that, midfields were “not bad” but again overall performance i gave united 5/10 tonite.. what a shame……bollocks….
August 29th, 2008 at 21:56
I’d expected Nani to mature this season..looks like that is gonna be too much to expect!
Brown should have got atleast 45min, and Rooney was definitely better in the 2nd half when he didn’t stick up front – all the more proof we need a striker. Fergie, take the plane straight to London and just get Berba. Even though we played shite today, the lack of a tall striker up front was evident, especially in the last 15min, when we were creating chance after chance.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:01
I only managed to catch the last half hour, because I had a meeting tonight. From what I saw, Tevez was fecking immense. He contributes FAR more than Rooney over these first games of the season, and anybody who says different is in TOTAL denial. Watching Rooney over this last half hour, he is afraid to shoot, keeps doing dinky passes that never got to who they were aimed at, and trying to get up to head balls, well he is like a midget with no ability to get off the ground. And NO Liam and Gabriel I am not kidding around this time, I am deadly feckin serious. That is what I saw, and you’d have to be blind not to see it. Tevez must be crying now, he doesn’t know the meaning of the word defeat. He bled all over that pitch, and pity others around him were so hellishly inept. United players were in good positions to shoot on sight, but they keep shovelling the ball to someone else, when they should be blasting it at goal. Totally bloody pathetic, and that is putting it mildly.
Scholesy, letting the club down again, and that on a big stage with millions watching across Europe.
Leave Nani alone, he has been very short of match practice. Maybe because of his stupidity with the ridiculous heading, but he will come back strong. Yes I really believe that.
We will be ready for Liverpool, but on that showing, we need more than a new striker, we need at leat 3 to 4 new players. Can’t blame the defence, they are not going to be able to play out of their skins and SAVE us all the bloody time. They will have the odd off game.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:02
@antsBoy: you do realise that the guy we negotiate berbatov with is in monaco right?
August 29th, 2008 at 22:07
Gary Neville was bad today however in the first half, the Russians came in through the left hand side as well. There was no purpose in our play considering the fact that we had majority of the possession in the first 30 35 minutes. Scholes I think is better when he plays with Carrick and Anderson is better when he plays with Hargreaves. Brown was good and it was really nice to see Park having a good outing there. He was lively, so we can have him at the right and Nani on the left for the pool game, with Scholes and Hargreaves in the middle. Rooney,you can clearly see, is frustrated to be alone on top and especially when we hit those long balls that he cannot reach. I think Sir Alex’s experiment with Gary Neville is over and I guess Brown would start all the important games from now on. We lacked flair and we also came to know how an opposition with flair can skin our defense.
When we were 2 down they showed Ronaldo, whose face was pretty glum. Hope he’s back for the Chelsea game. And Hargreaves.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:08
Another F**K up. We did not perform at all. We need that striker. And I thought Fergie said Saha was staying. Oh Well. I live in liverpool and I now will take all the flak from this defeat. Such is the life of a united fan
August 29th, 2008 at 22:08
I agree it was a listless performance. We could not keep possession and were outclassed in midfield. Even our defence looked shaky. When was the last time you saw it concede two goals? Part of that I feel was the re-introduction of Neville who looked very rusty. Another part was Evra was forced to play as a winger because Nani and Fletcher were doing nothing for us on the wings.
Tevez was fantastic and I was impressed with Rooney. He was for the most part anonymous but that was because he was doing his job and playing as a centre forward. With better service he could have scored a few.
It is all very well saying it was a meaningless match but when the camera panned in on a smiling Abrahamovitch I was mad as hell.
One thing I don’t understand is why we play so many high balls into the box against teams with giant centre backs? We’d do far better to keep ball and then play a teasing low ball into the box
August 29th, 2008 at 22:09
If Fergie does not sign Berbatov! He would be making the same mistake he made after ‘99!! Thus Fergie! We do NOT want to wait 9 more years! Sign the Goddamn Striker!
@Craig Mc: Totally agree mate! The Defence has got NOTHING to do with this except Gary Neville! I mean we got back to ourselves when Brown came on! I hate to say it but its time to let go of Gary!
August 29th, 2008 at 22:09
Another F**K up. We did not perform at all. We need that striker. And I thought Fergie said Saha was staying. Oh Well. I live in liverpool and I now will take all the flak from this defeat. Such is the life of a united fan
@antsBoy: Ants boy, i agree. id even lower it to a 4. we were poor
August 29th, 2008 at 22:10
This was a very poor performance in my humble opinion. I felt that we lacked the same intensity as Zenit. Tevez was absolutely brilliant, as was Evra. Nani and Rooney were shite and Neville should just hand the armband over to Ferdinand and go join Ole in the reserves and start working on his managerial badges. And what the hell are we doing crossing the ball into the box all match when all that is in there are two midgets. Put the ball on the ground and let rooney and Tevez run onto the damn thing. Our passing was horrible tonight and hardly anyone was on the same page. Now I have two weeks without the a League match to wait to get this shite taste out of my mouth. Lovely.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:10
Even with Berbatov we wouldn’t have faired well tonight. Too many players off the pace. Deflated when 2-0 down, and only Tevez the WINNER refused to give up, after there second goal went in.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:10
At this point, if we do end up with Berbatov, I can’t really imagine justifying Tevez going to the bench in favor of Rooney. He was once again, outstanding. Easily the best player on the pitch for either side. It was Nani’s first game back, so I’ll let him slide a bit (though he will obviously need to improve greatly). I am really missing Carrick of all people, and Hargreaves will add another good dimension.
This just highlights one of the more frustrating aspects of United. We simply do not have any attacking options off of the bench. Again. It is so frustrating to be down a goal or two, and see John O’Shea coming on.
The only other thing that is worth noting was Scholes’ blatant hand ball. That was embarrassing. I’m surprised that some of you found that amusing. That was shameful. I cannot believe that came from someone wearing a Manchester United shirt. Disgraceful. Any flack, fines, or suspensions that he gets, he deserves.
I’m underwhelmed.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:14
@Craig Mc:
A very good analysis except from this point on:
Scholesy, letting the club down again, and that on a big stage with millions watching across Europe.
Leave Nani alone, he has been very short of match practice. Maybe because of his stupidity with the ridiculous heading, but he will come back strong. Yes I really believe that.
Scholesy letting the club down again? So what does he need to do? I hope you do realise he scored that scorcher against Barcelona on the big stage when millions were watching.
Yes getting sent off that way was extremely stupid. And I am bloody pissed off at him for that. But saying that he let United down again is a bit harsh.
And the thing about Nani. I know you like him and all that, but he’s been with us in some of the pre-season and played in the Community Shield. If you are being objective about it and are criticising other players then I think Nani needs to be criticised today too. Yes he may turn out good in the future, but today he was poor.
Otherwise, I agree — Tevez was immense and even Park seemed to get things moving when he came on. But Rooney was poor. Shockingly poor.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:15
@dan(u-ol): Yeah probably, but I was just expressing how seriously Fergie should take this up.
That aside, even though we were pathetic, Zenit is a class team. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if they and Juve qualify from their group and Madrid go out in the Group stages. Would serve them right too!
August 29th, 2008 at 22:15
@Craig Mc: Nani does deserve his share of critism, granted it was his first game in a while and he will be rusty but he takes too long releasing the ball when there are options available.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:15
A few facts that I deem need to be mentioned:
1. To be fair I thought Gaz was having a decent match and then he conceded that useless corner. Then of course purely based on merit, Brown should have started.
2. As much as we all loathe the man, the difference that makes Ronaldo is there for all to see.
3. Evra can’t cross for the life of him. Poor boy. playing on his old pitch did him no good.
4. Yes, Tevez was our best player on the night, still he seems to be reluctant to pass the ball early when he’s worked himself in a good position and other players are in more open positions than him. He’s a bit greedy to take his own shots, and that’s not the only match I noticed that.
5. Rooney… pfffff… what can I say… He could do with a bit of Tevez’s selfishness. At times he was in good positions (cue he was playing more upfront than Tev), yet again he looked first for the pass, then perhaps for a shooting opportunity. This is getting embarrassing.
6. And yes Grog was right (even though I disagree on a great number of his opinions), we do lack goalscoring midfielders. The greatest United team ever (yes, 98-99) had 4 midfielders capable of scoring 10+ goals each. That equals to a Ronaldo, added to that 20+ goals from the starting strikers. Nowadays, Andy, though I love the boy, looks no nearer to score than Paul Scholes, whose trademark run imn the box disappeared entirely from his game (old age? more likely a different approach to the game) and on this kind of form Rooney doesn’t look like scoring 20+, Tevez for all his brilliant plays and commitment plays more and more like a drifting midfield.
And finally to all those praying for a David Villa or Aguero, it was clear today that height and physical presence is crucially important! So SAF and David Gill, it is high time to draw out the chequebook.
And oh yes, Nani was crap. Shame as he clealy is our best crosser of the ball.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:18
I said it before and I’ll say it again.
EUROPEAN CHARITY SHIELD.
If we won this and the league, no one would call it a double. Gary Neville is done. Thanks for your years of service and scouse baiting, but your playing days are over.
Nani is still not ready and Giggs is done, so we need a winger who is ready. Buy one.
Rooney is not the big man upfront. I hope you have learnt your lesson Fergusson. I’m just glad Capello was there to see it too. Spurs want £3million more? Give them £3million more. Stop fucking about. We need a striker. Buy one.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:25
We have a winger who’s ready. He’s Korean and didn’t play nearly enough in this game. 90% of the blame for this game IMO go to Gary and Nani. They were both shit, like, on a titanic level.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:26
@Traverse: mate i agree. please bring in aguero and berba.
This is killing me enough. I couldnt take it if we lost our next two games
August 29th, 2008 at 22:27
Oh and also to be fair to the team, we should remember that United just started a seson with half of its starters coming back from injury or still injured, while Zenith is a top European team already 2/3rds in their own league. They were better prepared physically and it showed.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:27
Hopefully the players take the defeat and the feeling walking past the cup to not repeat it when it really counts this season.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:34
@Red Ranter: And Fergie better start playing Nani as a starter, its the only way that he’ll improve. Remember his best form last year was when he had an extended run in the team (I think Giggs was injured). People were quick to criticise him, but then he started giving like 1 assist per match and looking more and more like a true winger.
Today might have been one of his worst performances, but just like you, the knowledge of him capable to play on another level entirely makes me trust that he’ll come good in the end.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:36
Red Ranter, I was referring to Scholesy getting a red card again, and the way he got it. It was a non essential game, but now we will be missing him for the essential CL games – ? 3 of them isn’t it?. I was not referring to the way Scholesy played, which I hear from my brother was average. I didn’t see the whole match. But it brings shame to a club to accrue a red card the way Scholesy did. It was bloody ridiculous, and you know it.
As for Nani, yes I do love the lad. He had a stinker tonight, but if I remember correctly he didn’t get as much play pre season, because he wouldn’t be available for start of season. Usually he does ok though, he had 2nd highest no. of assists last season next to Rooney, so I expect him to come on this season. I don’t think he has done any worse or any better than anyone else lately, apart from Tev and Evra, and our defence.
I feel sorry for every Man United fan who had to stand on the terraces tonight, having payed thru the nose for the trip, to watch that pitiful piece of nothingness. But I don’t care to think that the lads won’t come good, and I excuse them with the fact that they have won a lot of silverware for us lately.
Whoever said they were sick because Abramovitch was smiling that the Russians were ahead, well that’s just normal isn’t it, being a Russian and all. But he will not be smiling in the next 3 weeks when we do Chelsea at their place.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:43
@Craig Mc: “When We Do Chelsea at their place”?
Come on youre giving me a laugh!
Here is the thing we DO NOT have a damn chance of beating chelsea at the bridge(Drawing maybe) without Ronaldo or(Not and) a No.9(which is not Rooney!)!
Just thought that i would make that clear!
August 29th, 2008 at 22:48
Red Diablo, that’s your opinion mate. I know that United nearly always win when they HAVE to. If we win at L’fool. then we will be on a high. 2 weeks rest now for our players that need to get fit coming back from injury, and Ronnie may be back for Chelski. Although people think that, I wonder if Ronnie will. Nevertheless, I have FAITH. So let’s wait and see.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:55
Basically, we need someone like Pavel Pogrebnyak, Didier Droga, Adebayor… Even if not to start every game, but to give us a different option. Pogrebnyak impressed me tonight… was a real thorn in the side all match based almost solely on his physical presence. Sadly, for all their efforts Rooney or Tevez simply cannot have this effect on opposing defences due to their height or lack thereof.
August 29th, 2008 at 22:58
But we all knew this anyway… I’m still suprised we’re holding out for Berbatov so desperately, great player though he is. Pogrebnyak showed tonight that there are many other players who could fill this role for us and probably cost a fraction of the price, be younger and perhaps more willing to sit on the bench every other match…
August 29th, 2008 at 23:02
@Craig Mc: It’s a one match ban IMO. It was not a straight red.
August 29th, 2008 at 23:09
@Craig Mc: as far as I know its one game for a sending off with 2 yellow cards. It won’t matter to me though because I’m going to start supporting Liverpool and Chelsea because of the inspiring performances of both teams of late. I mean United couldnt even win the super cup. They are crap and not worth supporting anymore
August 29th, 2008 at 23:13
Btw the problem with Nani is that he doesnt play to his strengths. He tries to be a Ronaldo when he would get more out of being a Beckham
August 29th, 2008 at 23:15
gosh, you dudes need to chill out and look at the bigger picture.
August 29th, 2008 at 23:15
Man, we looked baaaaaad. While the outcome wasn’t important, the product was and it was terrible.
Tevez is fast becoming my favorite player on the team.
I’ll give Nani a pass because he hasnt seen real competition since the Charity Shield.
Scholes was a damn shame. That’s about all you can say.
I can’t wait for Ronaldo to come back.
The attack was weak and Neville doesn’t look like he’ll regain his form.
I. Cannot. Wait.
August 29th, 2008 at 23:15
Guys, United did not go all out against Zenit. It was a game to be enjoyed. Zenit wanted to win. Man Utd wanted to play another game in their busy schedule. It is nothing to be disheartened about. We win some, we lose some and in the end we will win some trophies.
August 29th, 2008 at 23:31
If we sign Berbatov, Rooney is on the bench.
August 29th, 2008 at 23:33
Liam, well feck me!. I never had you down as a fairweather supporter. One of these roving fans who drop their allegiance at the merest drop of a hat. You never were a true United fan then, just a fan of whoever happens to be playing what you consider to be decent football at any particular time. I am United thru and thru. If we played shit for a whole season, I would still be on the terraces giving it loud to all the opposing fans, and bigging up our lads. I couldn’t change my allegiance if my life depended on it. I have lost a lot of respect for you Liam, and all the gypsy fans like you. If Red Ranter wants to kick my arse for speaking up about this, then do so RR. I think there will be others of the United faithful appalled at Liam’s attitude re. fandom.
August 29th, 2008 at 23:38
Red Ranter, Oh right, 2 yellow cards, so automatic one match suspension. Still think scholesy was a clown though!.
August 29th, 2008 at 23:42
Andrei were not pissed cuz we didnt win were pissed cuz half the team didnt try hard enough to win.
3 weeks from now the georgian invader allstars will not be a better team than utd but tonight they were. we could have won this cup but we didnt want it.
August 29th, 2008 at 23:43
i think liam was kidding
August 29th, 2008 at 23:44
August 29th, 2008 at 23:45
@Craig Mc: LMAO! You really don’t know Liam do you?
You actually fell for that!
If I’m not mistaken, Liam detests Liverpool.
August 29th, 2008 at 23:53
Red Ranter – fair enough LOL. I don’t know Liam at all. If he was kidding, then for an Irishman, I am really amazed. No self respecting Irish Man Utd fan would EVER joke about moving on to support Pool or Chelski. I mean even slightly make jest of such a thing. O well, maybe Liam isn’t even Irish lol, perhaps he just has an Irish name. The Irish United fans wouldn’t even HINT at such a suggestion. Well not the Fanatics from Ireland that I know lol.
August 30th, 2008 at 0:00
Yea gator, I know. United didn’t give a flying fuck about this match (sorry about the language, but I am not about to censor myself). They just went out to play whatever. At times I had the impression that Rooney would ave preffered to be home with his wife… and the only player that wanted to win – again – was Tevez. That guy has ‘hunger for success’ every morning for breakfast.
Rio was a clown at their second goal (very uncharacteristic).
Scholes showed his appreciation for cheat-masters Messi and Maradona.
Neville is well past it (sorry, G).
Ferguson would be drunk not to get some kind of striker (as someone mentioned, Windass would do at the moment).
I think at the end of the day we need to look at the bigger picture and label this match as completley irrelevant when compared to the other 60 that the team will have to play this season. If the players are indeed saving themselves, I think that we will be happier in May – and we would all prefer to be happy in May, as opposed to being happy in August…
Rooney – better than Ronaldo!.
August 30th, 2008 at 0:02
@Craig Mc: I have an Irish friend (United fan) who punched me when I expressed my joy that Liverpool beat AC Milan in 2005… Irish people have heavy fists…
Liverpool – better than AC Milan
August 30th, 2008 at 0:06
@Andrei:
Rooney – better than Ronaldo!.
you keep believin that
August 30th, 2008 at 0:16
Zenit wanted it more. Good run out for Neville although it will confirm to SAF that he is nowhere ready for 1st team selection in place of Wes.
Tevez was emmense. Great to see Park and Nani back. The wing position is looking healthier already.
Bring on the red shite for our usual 3 points.
August 30th, 2008 at 0:23
@Craig Mc: it was meant to be more tongue in cheek than an all out joke. Notice how I said that Liverpool and Chelsea play beautiful football
. I was impersonating what a glory fan may be saying atm. I utterly and totally despise everything to do with that shower of deluded pricks. I have arguments with Liverpool fans nearly everyday about how shit they are. Hope that clears things up 
August 30th, 2008 at 0:28
see Craig you’re not the only person who can stir up a hornets nest
August 30th, 2008 at 0:43
Andrei – hahaha. Fancy you getting thumped by a good old Irish left hook. Well, you did goad him by mention L’fool, Winning, and GLAD all in the same sentence. I have a feeling that when you meet up with Ronaldo’s Irish United fans, you will get some more whacks, for the Rooney better than Ronaldo shite comment.
Ronaldo better than Rooney – by the zillions.
August 30th, 2008 at 0:52
Liam lol, as if we haven’t got enough coded messages with the over abundant use of smilies only fanatics, without you sending mixed messages too. Glad you cleared it up though!. But you got me mate, cos I didn’t suss you out. Get me once, you ain’t gonna get me twice – haha!. I will be watching for you coming. I seem to be the only hornet in your nest so far though!!!!!!!!.
August 30th, 2008 at 0:53
@Craig Mc: I actually think Ronaldo may be just a tiny bit overrated (hangs head in shame)
August 30th, 2008 at 0:54
buy a fucking forward for fucks sake… not even for fucks sake, but for rooneys sake… for fucks sake give someone nani can cross balls in for… not so they can watch over hit balls fly over their heads.
tevez is the shit. rooney is shit (atm)
with saha fucking off to everton, then it means we deffo get berba..
although if i were spurs.. i’d forget arshavin and get that danny bloke… made the best defence in europe look like pig shit.
lets get it sorted united… and hargeaves.. here have my knee! it might not run as fast.. but at least its free of sodding tendonitus!
August 30th, 2008 at 0:59
Liam – if you think that about Ronnie, never mind ashamed, your heading for the asylum. Have you been on the ale mate?.
August 30th, 2008 at 1:18
Craig; no its just something about the way that he loses the ball so much and the amount of shots he takes that just go tamely wide. He then usually produces about 30 seconds of Brilliance to make me wonder why I doubted him. But no, I’ll stand by with regards to this summers antics, but he never really has striked me as worthy of his label as the best. Maybe Dunphy is getting to me
August 30th, 2008 at 1:42
when…. not if. we get berba.. stick tevez up front with him, and let rooney play in midfield.. he can run about like a crazed dog after the ball all he likes.. whilst he can also set up the strikers and bomb forward to join the attack… pair him up with carrick or hargreaves who would hang back a bit more and perhaps it would work… im just thinking off the top of my head.. but at the moment rooney wouldn’t get im my first 11.. mind.. neither would VDS.
August 30th, 2008 at 2:43
I have good friend who plays for spurs.The team can not wait forBerbitov to leave. He will only bring bad vibes and feeling to any team he joins. Him and Rooney will be able to sit on the bench at man u and sulk togeather. That will make a goog image !
August 30th, 2008 at 2:46
The best thing for me was Tevez. He showed he has that special quality of being able to play well while the rest of the team plays shit. A quality shared by a certain Cristiano. For me Rooney does not have that. If the team plays badly he produces a performance worthy of his outings for England (a team that ALWAYS plays badly).
Really we should have started with O’Shea and Scholes. Our midfield looked very very flimsy and I think that is what lost us the game. Nani for me is still an impact sub. He gives the ball way too much and his crossing ability is wasted with Rooney and Tevez up top. We were ripped apart on the counter attack after we’d uncharacteristically given away possession. Really we could have used a holding midfielder from the start be that O’Shea or preferably Hargreaves if only he could stay fit!
Zenit looked very good. Im going to keep an eye on them. I think they could knock Real Madrid or Juventus out!
August 30th, 2008 at 3:06
I’m gonna end my part this discussion here and now:
Rooney, in my opinion, is worth more to Manchester United than Cristiano Ronaldo. I probably cannot justify this opion with facts, but looking at work rate, attitude and impact I think that Rooney did more for the team in the past four years than Ronaldo, who scored 42 goals last season and 23 in the previous.
It is impossible to asses a team of the past without a player. Can you say that Ajax would have won as much without Neeskens? Cruijff is considered to have been the main man there and then. Anyway, my take on ‘Rooney being better than Ronaldo’ is purely a matter of opinion, and I stand by it.
Rooney – better than Ronaldo!!!.
August 30th, 2008 at 6:43
Rooney better that Roanldo???
Crappp!!! Joke of the century….
I know “Form is temporary, Class is permanent”…
But your Class is useless for team if you are not able to regain your Form…
Rooney needs some kinda treatment… may be some Yoga might help…
It might(?) help him keeping his head cool…
And for Scholes… shame… that was embarrassing for fans and other players… Park seemed better than a lot of others… Nani is brainless footballer…
August 30th, 2008 at 13:27
in my opinion 2 things cost us in the zenit game,one of which was not the absence of ronaldo but rather the injury to carrick…we dont have anyone even close to covering his role which has led to a lack of progress from the middle forcing tevez and rooney to drop deep is proof of that…another is us missing quieroz…we weren’t/aren’t as tactically flexible as we used to be…no flank switching and etc…not just in this game but in all our games this season..
..and frankly gary shouldn’t start again this season..he doesn’t have the legs for it anymore
August 30th, 2008 at 13:32
tevez>rooney.
August 30th, 2008 at 14:21
great goal by SCHOLES!!!!!!!!!
August 30th, 2008 at 14:45
Andrei you are taking a long term view and I agree with you. It is only last season or two that Ronaldo surpassed Rooney in value. Before that Ronaldo was inconsistent and Rooney was the heartbeat of the team.
To me Rooney has a confidence problem. He doesn’t take his shots early and steamroll through defences shrugging off defenders like they were not there like he used to.
It is all very well commenting on his creativity and work rate but if he is going to be our centre forward this season its goals we want from him. And if he cannot provide them then we need to buy a centre forward who can score goals and play Rooney in the hole, although on current form Tevez should get to play behind Berbatov if we buy him
August 30th, 2008 at 15:14
Hull have made a £7million bid for Fraizer, and Saha apparently went for £8million. Thats £15million. The reason we have not signed Berbatov yet? £3million.
madness.
August 30th, 2008 at 15:26
@Traverse: you dont know is he going to be sold, and the chances are he wont be sold, maybe a loan, but not a permanent move.
August 30th, 2008 at 15:29
Tevez was immense! Had we had 10 Tevez`s and 1 VDS on the pitch last night we would have won. He tackled, ran and fought for every ball. He did well on our goal to keep the ball in play and see Vidic, he would have had 2 assists had Rooney not been so unlucky. But, if I had to choose if I want a win in the UEFA super cup final or a win against Liverpool, I would have chosen a win against the Dippers any day! But, I would have liked United to win yesterday. You cant get everything, can you? Win in CS, PL, CL and fighting for 5 more trophies right now….. Things will only get better. I think we miss Ronaldo, but obvioulsy any team would.
Neville, a great guy and previously the best right back in the Prem, but not any more. Wes Brown is in my eyes the best right back we have right now. Neville is 3rd, behind Rafael and Wes. He made mistakes at both goal nr 1 and 2, Wes wouldnt have done those mistakes Im sure.
Nani played bad last night. But I still think he will become very good in the future. He did well against Pompey and Espanyol and I thought he would be our best player last night ot be honest. But when you have Fletcher and Neville on the other side of the pitch to put crosses in, you cant do much. How many times did I see Nani wait for the ball at the edge of the 18-yard box? Dunno, but Neville and Fletchers crosses went either out for a throw, into the keepers hands or out for a goal kick. He was off the pace, but so was the whole team except for Tevez. He will be back against Liverpool. Ive seen some stats. 1 goal, 1 assist in 25 minutes vs Liverpool last season. 1 goal and 2 assists in 1 game against Arsenal. A penalty scored vs Cheslki, matchwinner against Spurs, assist in the game vs Lyon last season, as well as Everton away and Spurs away. He turns up for the big games, and Im sure he will if picked against Liverpool on 13 of September.
Anderson, Rafael, Foster, Fabio, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Possebon, Nani, Campbell….. THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT!
UPDATE: United will play Middlesbrough in the 3rd round of the Carling cup.
August 30th, 2008 at 15:41
Foster
Rafael ? ? Fabio
Ronaldo Possebon Anderson Nani
Rooney Tevez
Only 2 englishmen? Gotta get a CB pair of British heritage.
August 30th, 2008 at 15:46
@Traverse:
I heard Saha left on a free. Moyes has confirmed this!!
@dan(u-ol):
He should be sold though £7m is in my opinion £3m more than I would sell him for, are current dilemma and the fact Mr Gill and Fergie don’t seem that fussed about are forward line suggests we will keep Frazier.
Campbell is a player I like but he will always be down the pecking order, I rate Welbeck over him £7m Hull are paying over the odds if reports are true.
I won’t waste my time RANTING about yesterdays game, all are problems are obvious. Liverpool is the perfect game for us to bounce back though.
Striker
Assistant Manager
Wing/Forward
August 30th, 2008 at 15:50
Was that a Tevez assist yesterday or just a GENIOUS BALL BY ROONEY?
August 30th, 2008 at 15:50
Andrei, get real mate. All the Neeskens, Rooney’s and other good ? ball players in the world, are of no value at all if there is no one there to SCORE goals. Football is about goals. We get nowhere without them. For two seasons, Ronnie has scored 23 goals and 42 goals, as good as any striker. I don’t care how important you think the Roon is to the team, he is not being that important to the team right now. We need goals, and Rooney was bought as a striker. I notice that Rooney cannot even get a shot of on goal when tightly marked, or playing against packed defences. The great players of this world, can find a way through even the tightest marking and packed defenders. Rooney is not one of them.
Ronnie better than Rooney – a zillion times better.
August 30th, 2008 at 15:55
Anybody who doubts Nani’s contribution to the team, WATCH the United end of season review, and watch Nani in particular. Most of the goals he either assisted, scored, or had a hand in somewhere. When he was on the pitch that is. Then notice Giggs when he played instead of Nani, and see the littleness of his contribution, and his wayward passing 80% of the time. There are some biased fecks on this blog, but watch the review, if I am biased towards Nani, it is with good cause. Do the feckin maths, and see if I am not right?.
August 30th, 2008 at 16:00
@AGP: your telling me mate tht welbeck, that hasnt played in ANY football league apart from reserves and youth, is worth more then campbell that has championship and premier league experience? you obviously dont know what your talking about and you obviously dont know how good or bad campbell and welbeck is, you like most fans, are judging them on what you have heard instead of what you have seen. Tell me, who would you rather have in the starting eleven right now, campbell or welbeck, if the answer is anything over then campbell then i think you need to play some football manager to see what management is like.
August 30th, 2008 at 16:05
@Craig Mc: He didn’t turn up last night tho. Running into blind alleys. I guess we were all expecting him to come out chopming at the bit after having to sit the start of the season out, but on last nights performances Park should be ahead of him in the pecking order by some way.
Also, Saha for free? I heard we got good good money for him. If it was free what is the point of getting rid of him?! If we bring in Berbatov and Larsson before monday I’ll take it back. Fergie must really rate Manucho….
August 30th, 2008 at 16:05
@Craig Mc: Thank you! Im glad someone else than me sees how important Nani is to this team. I still think he looks a little like Michael Jackson from thriller though.
@dan(u-ol): What happend with you mate? You were drooling over Welbeck last season, wanted him to start against the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool. Thankfully youve been pulled down to earth this summer.
August 30th, 2008 at 16:07
@Traverse: We didnt give him away for free. Its just that we get money for how many games he plays for Everton. Like, 30 games, £15 mill. 5 games, £2,5 mill. I think it is 500,000 for every game he plays.
August 30th, 2008 at 16:09
THIS IS AWSOME!
Well done Wayne. Anybody got £38 mil to give for charity? 
August 30th, 2008 at 16:23
@dan(u-ol):
If you read my post again, you will realise I never stated what I thought of Welbecks price. However your point on Welbeck not having played first team football I take into consideration.
That being said I watched Frazier and Hull City last year in 6 matches(okay not many), but within reserve/youth football he didn’t impress me anywhere near what Welbeck did last year. What irratates me is having misread my comment you believe I haven’t seen the two footballers play, and that you alone can only share an opinion on these and other footballers we have at this football club.
If you wish me to make this clear to you: I VALUE welbecks potential higher, though he like Campbell should not in all fairness be anywhere near starting a premiership game.
I have followed are reserves for the last 5 seasons only I have my opinions and you don’t have to value them, Welbeck has barely signed a pro-contract why would I suggest he as a 17 year old even has a price tag?!
G.Rossi we sold for under £7m if you wish to compare prices.
Please re-read my comments if you find offense in them, they clearly are opinions of someone that follows football not football manager as you may think. They really shouldn’t bother you mate.
August 30th, 2008 at 16:35
Craig MC let me remind u this one…It’s a Rooney special when he ’s marked…Usually he gets a touch with the outside of the foot first http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eSqSUFoIY0
…But his special ability -and a well worked move in the training I suppose- is finding a gap betwween two defenders and striking a nice shot…..SOMETIMES he gets that chip perfectly even when the ball is in the air
Finally , I would like to thank Rooney,Scholes,Tevez and Anderson for being the best footballers in this club….Thanks to them Ronaldo scored all these goals….If ronaldo can’t bring the ball properly in th box then the others bring the ball to him.Cause he is the one who is confident,he s explosive and he knows how and when to kick the ball hard……That’s modern footbal….
The “winger” is a better striker than the “striker”
August 30th, 2008 at 16:48
I’ll make a controversial statement…ok not so controversial…Rooney is a headcase waiting to go wrong…as much as I love his workrate and fieryness I think lately more often than not he gets taken out of his game too easily…instead of whining and flailing his arms about Gaz Nev’s dismall crosses why not pick up his workrate a little bit and do something! For me Rooney has not grown up from that precocious 17 year old talent…he seems more interested in getting frustrated and kicking people than he does putting the ball in the freakin’ net… I’d rather have him in our side but he really needs to look hard in the mirror and take a look at Carlos Tevez and starting playing at the level we all know he should be playing at…his development is behind schedule of where he sould be at … Rooney please don’t turn into another Alan Smith!!! phew..my rant for the day.
August 30th, 2008 at 16:58
Don u should tell this to enclish fans , newspapers and reporters……..They make great english players look tired and overcharged
August 30th, 2008 at 17:17
Craig; as I said earlier in this thread, Nani has to go through a style change if he wants to become great. The talent is there he just needs to develop his own style and stop playing like a wannabe Ronaldo.@Don: Rooney has only gotten 2 red cards for United in competitive games so I don’t see how he is a headcase. Maybe if the ‘fans’ and the media got off his back for 5 mins he would get a chance to develop his game instead of being expected to produce greatness every time he touches the ball. He has also come a lot closer than Tevez to scoring so far
August 30th, 2008 at 17:44
@dan(u-ol): tevez>rooney?….ya right!! hes prolific isnt he….scored a shitload of goals in the preseason and the hattricks vs pompey n zenit were from another planet….
jokes apart,the truth is,carlos is more of a gattuso,winning battles in midfield and thats about it…roon is class,have faith my friend…the best is yet to come!
August 30th, 2008 at 17:45
Don, I couldn’t agree with you more mate. What has happened to the Roon of old?.
August 30th, 2008 at 17:51
O Liam mate, how blind you are. Nani didn’t play like Ronnie last season. Did you watch United end of season review?. Nani got the crosses in, something Ronnie doesn’t do much of, even though I love Ronnie. What style are you looking for mate?. Nani had more assists than anybody, and only one less than your favoured Rooney .He has his own style, and you either love it or hate it. I happen to love it.
August 30th, 2008 at 17:55
Nikos, I watched your clip on you tube thankyou. Where was the packed defence though?. Or tight marking I was talking about?. Rooney had space afforded him by none other than NANI. Nani genious made that goal. To say otherwise is to deny truth. Peace brother!.
August 30th, 2008 at 17:56
7m for Campbell! we should be snapping their hands off!
August 30th, 2008 at 18:01
Red Devil, yeah mate, I see Nani’s value to the team. But I am still waiting for all the Nani knockers to say they watched United season end of review, and didn’t see what we saw. If they didn’t see, then they all need a visit to their optician. Blind bats.
August 30th, 2008 at 18:05
@Craig Mc: He tries to do too many things before he gets the cross in. He isn’t great at beating players but everytime he gets the ball he tries to beat 2 or 3 players before crossing. I think if he played more like Beckham who didn’t mess around and just delivered the cross he would be much better off. He is a crossing machine and also strikes the ball better than Ronnie but he just doesn’t compare to Ronnie in beating players. If he wants to improve in that regard he has to bulk up a bit because right now a strong RB will have him in their back pocket unless he switches style in the matches when he is up against one. He needs to be a bit less selfish too. Fergie put a lot of faith in his abilities and I expect quite a bit from him for the price we paid for him. As i said before the talent is there but his football brain needs developing.
Btw Ronnies lack of crosses is one of the things that infuriates me about him because he is a good crosser and more often than not he cuts inside and hits a tame shot wide
August 30th, 2008 at 18:08
Pavljuchenko(WHATEVER! wierd name.
) has signed for Spurs! Must mean that Berba is coming.
August 30th, 2008 at 18:16
Louis Saha says he has been FIT and feeling good for the whole of pre season, and is going to Everton because he just wants to PLAY. If this is the case, could anybody tell me why the FECK Fergie hasn’t been playing him. Is Fergie cutting his nose off to spite his feckin face?. A fit Saha should have been in the team, in my opinion. What the feck is going on at UNited?.
August 30th, 2008 at 18:24
@Craig Mc:
I’ve not read that anywhere but if its true I agree with you, a fit fireing Saha is as good as any other striker around. My only thinking is that if Fergie had played him then he would have got injured and wrecked any hope of slashing 65k a week off the wage bill!!
August 30th, 2008 at 18:42
Yeah Ryan, I see your point mate, but United will only get payed IF Louis plays for Everton, so what is the point. I am trying to understand honestly, but I kinda feel like we have been lied too. Maybe I’ll be proved wrong though Ryan. I picked up the news from off News Now. Not the best place, but there must be some truth surely, cos why would Everton sign someone NOT fit?.
August 30th, 2008 at 18:51
The team didn’t deserve to win, they are not very good at the moment.
In the last few matches very few goal scoring chances have been created and the pattern of play has been similar: slow build up with good ball retention, then confronted by a wall of 8 opposing players. The only slight breaks have been on the wings with overlaps, resulting in crosses to nobody.
Tevez stands out because he’s the only player, in Ronaldo’s absence, who is able to break through the midfield. The team can’t pass it through the middle because they don’t have the talent or team coordination at the moment.
For me the problem is with team play, some players look dreadful in the way the team is set out at the moment.
What to do to make the team click again? Well, I suppose there are several answers:
A tall striker would definitely help with those crosses, especially when that’s virtually the only supply route to goal
Break up play in the middle of the park, it doesn’t happen too often…break up play and attack quickly before they get their whole team behind the ball, Tevez does this but then there’s no one in front of him…Scholes slows it all down, can’t tackle and can’t run any more…it’s predictable and too slow. I want two lunatics in midfield…running, breaking down…ok, one lunatic and some one who can pick out the passes…
Arsenal can pass their way through the midfield, Chelsea can avoid the midfield by using the long ball with the striker holding the ball up (with Deco, they can split it with one pass), Liverpool can’t do either of these two things
Hopefully this defeat will sting the team into action, you have to play to win, you can’t just turn up
August 30th, 2008 at 18:56
@Craig Mc:
But if he is not fit for Everton then he wouldnt be fit for us and we would be wasting 65k a week so think we have a decent deal even though i’d have loved for him to prove us all wrong this season. If we sell Campbell aswell for 7m then depending on Berba our options will be -
Rooney
Tevez
Berbatov
Manucho
Not bad is it, esp as Ronaldo can be the ‘emergency’ 5th striker.
August 30th, 2008 at 19:25
If we get Berbatov I think fergie should bench Rooney, maybe that will spark Rooney to put in the extra time off the field to improve his game.
August 30th, 2008 at 20:41
Boy, if we had to play Arsenal right now, they’d put their foot in our asses.
We need to get our act together quick cause we got 3 tough games in 8 days after the break.
August 30th, 2008 at 21:40
MUFC Fan in America: And what if we had been playing the mighty Arsenal a week earlier after their perfomance against Fulham
August 30th, 2008 at 22:36
@Craig MC well it was not a very crowded defence but you have to admit that he makes this Rooney special very often like here http://www.tv.com/uservideos/?action=video_player&id=cnUxkWb95b4OvDLf
DO YOU SEE THE CLOCK? DEFENCE ONCE AGAIN IT ‘S ITALIAN !!!! GOAL AGAINST AC MILAN CHL SEMI FINAL
I ‘ve got a friend who supports Real Madrid…We both like Rooney more than Ronaldo…All Europe knows Rooney’s greatnes over to any other Manchester player … The only people that don’t rate him are the English…….plus some 14 y.o. kids
August 30th, 2008 at 22:40
TIME 90 + …… the only time Ronaldo or any other manchester will make this will be against Fulham or Reading…….. BIG PLAYERS FOR BIG GAMES
August 30th, 2008 at 23:03
I’ve old it many times before writing for soccerlens.The only things that Rooney will never do in the pitch is tap-in goals + header (he ’s minimum aerial threat).
The only thing he does want is JUST A NEW PUSSY…to feed…I mean…u know…he is a zoophilic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpt5W0Pj2Yw&feature=related
August 30th, 2008 at 23:49
Does anyone have the link to todays episode of I’m on setanta sports?
August 30th, 2008 at 23:58
Liam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xQMvYf2X64
August 31st, 2008 at 0:12
Thanks JB. It wasn’t his best effort but still fantastic
August 31st, 2008 at 1:23
@JB:
just saying.
August 31st, 2008 at 1:53
@NiKOS: ask your Real Madrid supporting fan to explain why Madrid were willing to break the world record transfer fee for ronaldo, but never inquired about Rooney. I am so sick of this bullshit, Ronaldo might be a huge cunt, but he is undoubtedly the best footballer on the planet. STOP comparing rooney to him, its not even close. Nobody fears rooney, everyone fears Ronaldo. The same people who called Ronaldo a “big game bottler” are the same people rejoicing when they thought he was heading to Madrid.Stop perpetuating the lie that Rooney and Ronaldo are somehow on the same plane.
Speaking of Ronaldo being a big game bottler… How is it possible for people to claim Ronaldo cant produce in the big games, yet the same people claim United are nothing without him? Last time I checked we beat liverpool in the league twice, beat arsenal once and drew once, and split with Chelsea. BY my calculations thats 6 from liverpool 4 from the arse and 3 from chelsea for a total of 13 points out of a possible 18. so please explain to me how United can be a one man time, and how that one man can be a big game bottler?
August 31st, 2008 at 2:49
what is this NOTW story that Campbell is being used as makeweight for Berbatov…next couple of days should be interesting…
August 31st, 2008 at 4:25
Wow, the users on this blog took the loss a lot better than i expected, logging on here and judging by the stuff I’ve read here before, i was expecting to see “oh my god, we can’t win anything this season”, “Chelsea will win all”, “we will drop to 10th without a striker”
Anyway, does anyone know the Spurs line-up for tomorrows game, and if Berbatov has been included or not?
August 31st, 2008 at 8:48
I only have one question? Whats changed rooney’s attitude towards shooting from long range. When I look at that 17 year old scoring all sorts of great goals it makes me sad more than irritated that he’s changed so much.
August 31st, 2008 at 12:59
RD – Berbatov is not with the Spurs team today.
August 31st, 2008 at 13:19
The media in this country are driving me feckin nuts. They have really got it in for Berbatov, vilifying his name and reputation nearly everyday. Yet not once has Berba come back and criticised either his management, or his team players. To be honest, I think he has behaved admirably. Yes, he finally put in a transfer request, after his manager and team mates starting mouthing off at him. Yet he still did not mouth off back at them, respecting the fans. He supposedly refused to play for them, but isn’t this just another lie?. According to Ramos, Berba didn’t refuse to play in the Sunderland game, but Ramos himself took the decision to leave him out, because he didn’t feel his mental state was right. What is he a feckin psychiatrist then?. There was nothing wrong with his head playing for his country a couple of days later. If I was Berbatov, I would be off my head with anger about all that was being said about me, but he has kept his composure and not hit back. His club and team mates have been more disloyal to him, than he has to them. No wonder he went into a broody state. That is what you do, when you want to let the world know your side, but can’t out of respect for a team you still happen to be with, and fans fans that have adored you.
Amazes me, how suddenly the British media are all on Spurs side against Berbatov and against our club, and yet when it was the case with Ronaldo, they were all for him leaving us, and they were on Madrid’s side. Total hypocrites. Ronnie is appearing a bit more whiter to me, as he did not want to leave United unless the Club were okay with it. After talking with Fergie and realising they weren’t, he made his mind up he wouldn’t leave us with bad feelings and taste in our mouths. Robinho like Barry, Keane and others have all made a public issue over there transfers. So sorry, to all you critics, but I feel Berba has done ok in the circumstances.
August 31st, 2008 at 13:30
no berba = our berba FOR SURE
August 31st, 2008 at 13:52
It’s a good think you’re not paranoid Craig
August 31st, 2008 at 13:53
@ johnsom33 I’ve never told something like this.I mean I ‘ve never told that we are a one-man-team.You said so.Neither did my friend that is a Real Madrid supporter…All we say (people outside UK that are 16 and above) is that Ronaldo can produce majesty against Fulham,Bolton,Wolves etc….Against Chelsea , Arsenal , Liverpool he does less things.Even Tottenham can make him look lost…Anyway the things I remember from him last year in big games were the goal against roma , the 2-times arsenal penalties , the CHL final (hole in the water -> scoring a goal , missing a penalty)
Of course what u and me have to understand is that MAnchester is not Ronaldo and can make it without him…..I ‘ve also explained that “winger” is a striker in MU and Rooney is the server….Let’s copy paste now———–Thanks to them (Rooney,Scholes,Tevezs mainly) Ronaldo scored all these goals….IF RONALDO CANT BRING THE BALL PROPERLY IN THE BOX then the others bring the ball to him.Cause he is the one who is confident,he s explosive and he knows how and when to kick the ball hard……That’s modern footbal….
P.S. I already explained y Real M. want Ronaldo . The 14 y.o. boys the 10 y.o. old boys etc….COMMERCIAL HIT -> SHIRT SALES -> STUPID USELESS TRICKS (I ‘d like to thank God here, for letting Ronaldo mature and for letting Ronaldo know that his tricks are useless in a crucial game) ->
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
That’s the reason my friend
August 31st, 2008 at 14:03
If nobody gets what I tell I ‘ll explain it with another way…STATS
Stats say that Rooney scores 0.3-0.45 goals in each game he plays.VERY GOOD STATS FOR A SUPPORT STRIKER.
THE STUPID UK NEWSPAPERS U READ MAKE U THINK THAT HE WILL SCORE MORE THAN THIS…NO PAL,FORGIVE ME BUT THIS IS CRAP…THE SAME CRAP U READ IN MANUTD.COM.THAT COULD EASILY BE A SKETCH FOR SOUTHPARK……
journalist:what about Rooney?
SAF:WELL he is the most talented young player I ve ever seen , he is a great kid and I would like to see him in his best position (that’s reality that’s SAF’s quotes)…I mean as a support striker…I mean who the heck uses him in the box? That’s a disgrace
J:Well, SAF that’s your duty
SAF:And what the fck do you know about football? Do you think Manchester will buy a great in-box-striker just to make Rooney happy? That’s a disgrace.
J:Arent you buying Berbatov or Huntelaar????????????????????
SAF: AM I ?
ARE U? AT LAST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HE IS JUST A SUPPORT STRIKER NO 10 NOT NO 9
August 31st, 2008 at 14:13
@NiKOS: since you love stats and caps so much, tell me how many chances rooney misses in a 1-on-1 with a keeper. That paints a completely different picture.
August 31st, 2008 at 14:14
@NiKOS: how old are you?
August 31st, 2008 at 14:32
Nikos, if I could understand your posts mate, I could perhaps answer them. I am not sure whether you are saying Rooney is better than Ronaldo, or vice versa. Or are you saying they are both crap???.
JB, did you think my post was born of paranoai then lol?. If so explain yourself, I know where you live – haha!.
August 31st, 2008 at 14:34
@Craig Mc: eerr, i saw “stats” and “Stats say that Rooney scores 0.3-0.45 goals in each game”
August 31st, 2008 at 14:38
JB, your not a member of the media are you?. A conspirator as a plant on this board?. Hahaha – how’s that for paranoid JB?. I’m practicing and will get good at it?.
August 31st, 2008 at 14:43
23……….
a nice post was “lost” I ll do what I can…
He misses so many one-on-ones as his assists to Ronaldo or other players are -> Complete player -> Guess what -> FACKING SUPPORT STRIKER -> FACKING SHADOW STRIKER -> FACKIN COVERiNG THE HOLE BETWEEN THE MIDFIELD AND THE BOX !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder y Rooney is not that illustrious as he was…
Maybe the media created a very glorious image … the Lions’ best hope…The English for that will save your team and create show!!!! Then it collapsed…
But let me tell you something….english media has created so many losers……I mean the “YOU OUGHT TO BE CLEAN” “YOU MUST WIN CAUSE WE ARE THE BEST,SINCE WE CREATED FOOTBAL” “YOU HAVE TO WIN THIS AMAZING TEAM,WE ARE MORE AMAZING”…….Can you see what I mean? No?
Even Lampard and Gerrard look crap when they play for the English national team……I mean Rooney is more useful in a younger age….. BUY Since he got that red card he is falling deep down !!!!He just couldn’t handle the pressure… He sees a great Ronaldo image next ot him and he can’t even be compared to that…..
That’s a logical explanation for people inside UK
The fact is this….Rooney has matured.He doesn’t have to try stupid thing……He creates something out of nothing (like the goal against Zenit) + HE IS A FUUUUUUUUUCKING SUPPORT STRIKER !!!!! THE BEST SUPPORT STRIKER IN THE WORLD!!!!!
And a quiz for all of you ….. who is better in this position in the world?
August 31st, 2008 at 14:48
I mean I can see your view of things but once again he will never score more than 0.5 goals in a game and you know y?
HE IS A SHADOW STRIKER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 31st, 2008 at 14:57
Haha, i know this has little in the way of relevance regarding the striker situation but did anyone else know that carlos tevez is the lead singer of argentine group ‘Piola Vago’, ive even managed to find a video of him dancing, yes dancing for an argentine cartoon network, how incredibly odd, it seems one of the bands songs is also used in a condom advert with carlos appearing just the once right near the beginning, anyhoo to the dancing carlos! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSrPIcnZbAg&feature=related
August 31st, 2008 at 15:36
@NiKOS: And a quiz for all of you ….. who is better in this position in the world?
Tevez.
August 31st, 2008 at 15:42
Elsammio, thanks for the you tube clip – it is so bloody funny. Who would of thought Tev had that sort of dance rhythm?. He should teach Anderson, his dance moves are total garbage for a Brazil national. Tev better give us that dance as a goal celebrations – as Kevin Keegan says “I would LOVE it.”
August 31st, 2008 at 15:44
chelsea drew!
(except on goal difference that is…but with the berbs on our side, that shouldn’t be a problem for much longer)
one more win and we’re all level
August 31st, 2008 at 15:45
@NiKOS: so what if he is a different type of striker, he should still be scoring goals because thats his job. and btw 0.5 a game is equivalent to 1 goal every 2 games if im not mistaken…
August 31st, 2008 at 15:47
Nikos – Got you mate, your telling us we are all judging Rooney wrongly, expecting things from him that he can’t give us, being a shadow striker and all. Is that it Nikos?.
By the way Nikos, it was Tevez who made the vital pass for the goal against Zenit that O’Shea scored.
August 31st, 2008 at 16:06
@Craig Mc: I thought Vidic scored against Zenit…
August 31st, 2008 at 16:17
Yess, Spurs drew 1-1 with the rent boys.
August 31st, 2008 at 16:35
I dunno if you guys are watching Villa vs Liverpool, but Torres has just gone off with a hamstring injury. And its a bad one!
Looks like he wont bother us on September the 13th.
August 31st, 2008 at 17:12
Huntelaar!?!?!?
August 31st, 2008 at 17:22
Do we really want Spurs to have Campbell? He shows lots of promise… I would rather sell him to Hull and give Spurs the extra money instead. Why risk giving them a performer after they way they’ve tried it on with us?
August 31st, 2008 at 17:25
hahahahahahah
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_4074143,00.html
August 31st, 2008 at 17:32
Andy CR7 – I think your right mate lol, it was indeed the Vid. It was Tev who made it though.
August 31st, 2008 at 17:46
Mmmmm, what’s the deal with contracts then?. That Sky news report said Robinho is threatening to UNIlaterally cancel his contract. How the dicken’s can a player do that?. Surely it is the club that contracts the player, and the players agrees the deal. If a player UNIlaterally cancels or breaks the contract, he cannot go to another club, because the club who holds the contract will contiue to hold his registration. Is this right, or am I feckin imagining things?.
August 31st, 2008 at 18:03
@Craig Mc:
August 31st, 2008 at 18:12
Red Devil, see Jos’s post, and press on red lettering lol. You will see what I mean. Or were you querying something else mate?.
August 31st, 2008 at 18:16
@johnsom33: Aguero and Messi in his own country are unfortunately better than him
August 31st, 2008 at 18:32
@Craig Mc:
In Spain a player can cancel their contracts by paying a fee laid out in all players contracts thus effectively cancelling the contract. Robinhos buy out amount is £120mill and if he can stump up enough he can cancel his contract. Chelsea could effectively pay it all but with them not wanting to meet reals valuation this isnt going to happen, I would imagine they will contribute 25-30mill + the signing on fee that Robinho would have got. I suppose they may also come to an agreement to pay him less per a week for further contribution. Still Robinho would have over 7mill to find himself
August 31st, 2008 at 19:45
Thank god Chelsea drew. As things stand if we get a result against Pool, who have been looking woeful this season, we’ll be on pretty level ground by the time Ronaldo returns and will then be able to step up and gain some momentum.
August 31st, 2008 at 19:48
@Liam: Agreed with out question, but read Nikos question. He was asking who is better than rooney, and I said Tevez. I never said he was the best in the world.
August 31st, 2008 at 20:34
@Craig Mc: No, I only meant that I didnt know what is the truth. Is a contract needed or not these days. No-one seems to honour them anymore. Talk about hypocrits! If Ronaldo wants to leave, then sure! Lets make him wish come true and sell him. But when ROBINHO wants to move then is he allowed to be sold. FECKIN NO!
I hate those cunts as much as the Dippers now! Ronaldo must be stupid to wish to play for them. Man, I hope we crush them Roma-style some time this season! 
August 31st, 2008 at 20:35
Yeah, Im twisted!
Not hard to become after a summer like this!
August 31st, 2008 at 20:39
These two first pictures on this page are making me happy! A joy to watch!
WARNING! The article is in Norwegian.
“RAFA BENITEZ IS JUST A FAT SPANISH WAITOR!”
August 31st, 2008 at 20:47
ummm so i guess nobody is coming in this summer
August 31st, 2008 at 20:57
@Ishaq(South Africa): Still 27 hours left. I think we will wake up witha pleasant surprise tomorrow.
August 31st, 2008 at 21:03
@RedDevil: lol hope so
August 31st, 2008 at 21:08
Since there aint any special Manchester United related news at the moment, why dont look back at the past?! We have had so many great strikers in this club: Law, Hughes, Cantona, Van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer, Andy Cole, Yorke, Sheringham… And thats only the names I come up with right now! This club has been great, is great and will continue to be great. Just look at the types of players to have played/still playing for us: Names metioned above, Best, Ronaldo, Schmeicel, Bruce, Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Keane, Charlton, Beckham, Rooney, Barthez, Ferdinand, Tevez…. And most of those are only in the last 20 years time! And, lets not forget Alan Smith, Louis Saha, Forlan, Fortune, Kleberson, Veron, Taibi….
Jokes aside, players will come and go, but United will be forever!
August 31st, 2008 at 21:21
Chelski draw, L’fool draw, so if we win our game in hand, we will be on 7 points with them – Oh yesssssssssssssssssssssssssss. I would like that Chelski fan who visited us gloating about their opening 4-0 win. He was saying Chelski were playing like we played last season, and that we were playing like Chelsea under Avram Grant last season. O yeah, well their last two games haven’t exactly been covered in glory have they – JERK!. Come on you reds!.
August 31st, 2008 at 21:27
@Craig Mc: And If we win both our next games, we will over them in the table. I cant wait for the Liverpool game; Gerrard and Torres out, Nani and Park will be back for us. Chelski game; Ballack and Drogba out, unbeaten cunts in 4 years. That record will end sometime, why not against us? And what better time for that to happen when we are without Ronaldo? That will shut peoples pie-holes when saying we cant win without Ronnie! What better place to do it, eh?
The Future Looks Bright!
August 31st, 2008 at 21:32
Just one thing! Man United would be despicable if they let Berba out of their hands! I mean that player waited day and day for the deal! I mean it seriously would be immoral after showing Berba his dreams! He would truly be unsettled if he does not leave spurs! Hope that doesnt happen!
August 31st, 2008 at 21:41
@Red Diablo: I agree. But, if we dont get Berba it was he who got himself into that position with Spurs. We havent actually done anything excpet saying we need a striker…. We havent even said we want Berba! Come to think of it, maybe its not Berba were chasing. Maybe he is chasing us? Wierd…
The Future Looks Bright!
August 31st, 2008 at 22:06
The first thing I want to hear when I wake up tomorrow is someone screaming out: BERBA HAS SIGNED FOR UNITED, BERBA HAS SIGNED FOR UNITED!!! That would be great. Good night everyone.
August 31st, 2008 at 22:20
so who is going to be camping at bbc tomorrow?
August 31st, 2008 at 22:22
When I wake up.I wish to hear the hunter has signed for Utd…THE HUNTER HAS SIGNED…good nyt…
August 31st, 2008 at 23:18
363,365 both will be here tomorrow
September 1st, 2008 at 0:25
Rafa is on Sky Sports moaning about not being given a penalty. How come every time I see one of his press conferences he is either moaning about the ref or declaring public interest in a player. If fergie behaved like him he would be gutted alive by the PL and the media. Fucking prick!.
I really hope there is a non-Berba type of surprise in the morning. I would like to see a Solskjaer type player who will come on when Roovezonaldo isnt working. I honestly don’t think we need a sulky star player who isnt even worth £20m let alone the £30m that they want. I will lose a bit of faith in Fergie’s transfer tactics in the post Queiroz era
September 1st, 2008 at 0:57
Liam im hoping that manoucho will be that type of striker for us. honestly I would rather have had him fit for preseason to check his speed and bulk against better competition and had him impress to the point of not needing more. but i dont know if we should take that chance if the funds are availible. Berba isnt my first pic though.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:11
Will you get off Berba’s back ffs. Nobody more moody than Cantona or Roy Keane, who sulked like feck if things didn’t go there way, but they did their stuff on the field, and so does Berba. I want Berba, even if I am the only one shouting my head off on the terraces for him. I know I won’t be though, because my United mates want him too. He is a great player, and if he doesn’t come to us, but goes to Bayern, then who can blame him. After all the criticism he has got from some United fans, we don’t deserve him. He’s a proven premiership player, he can head the ball better than Rooney, has a better touch than Rooney, and is class. But some of you moaners don’t deserve him playing for you week in week out. Anyway, doesn’t look like we will be getting him now does it.
September 1st, 2008 at 3:57
i just hope to see berba holding the no.9 jersey next to SAF on manutd.com tomorrow, first thing in the morning..
and btw, inter sign quaresma for 30m euros (source: GOAL)..
September 1st, 2008 at 7:56
Good morning!
Its the final day of the transfer window, and I am looking forward to it. We might not buy anyone, and we might buy one. Its so exiting! No, serious this is gonna be a boring day if we dont get Berba, Huntelaar, Henry, Larsson or any other top class striker. I want Berba more than any cause he is proven in the Prem, Cl and he wants to play for us. Maybe he is a moody bitch, but he is a hell of a footballer. He has a great first touch, he is deadly and, unlike Rooney, he can head the ball. Hopefuly well get him.
Good start to the day, just read that Real Madrid lost their opening game of the campain to Deportivo last night. SCREW YOU BITCHES!
September 1st, 2008 at 8:02
@Liam,
I think I agree with you on Nani. Never thought of it that way, but since you mentioned it, it makes a lot os sense. He has Beckham-like crosses (and some Giggs-like dribbling). Before Ronaldo came along, that was exactly what United were looking for. (Ronaldo kinda changed all our perceptions of a winger). I think he can actually become “a David Beckham that can actually play football”.
“Rooney – better than Ronaldo”
September 1st, 2008 at 8:40
Karl – Rooney better than Ronaldo?. Not that old chestnut again. Football needs goal scorers to WIN things. Rooney is NOWHERE near better than Ronnie in that area, and to be honest, unless he dramatically improves soon, Rooney appears to be going backwards. They were just saying on Talk Sport this morning, that Rooney has an abysmal goal scoring record for England, since he first burst onto the scene. Most in the nation don’t want him playing for England anymore, certainly not as a striker. What I worry about, is hearing Rooney say that people think he should score more goals, but he is happy to let others get the goals. Rooney doesn’t even see himself as a striker anymore, and thinks United need to get Ronnie back quickly. Therefore we need another striker in Rooney’s opinion, and definately in mine. I think we need Berbatov PLUS other!.
As for Nani, do you lot who are saying he should pass like Beckham WATCH the games he plays in?. I will say it again, WATCH United end of season review and Nani, and you will see his excellent balls into the box, and just how many assists and goals he was responsible for.
September 1st, 2008 at 9:22
@Craig Mc: Some people may not have the end of season review, so I wil make it easier for people to remember. When Rooney was under heavy critique, I made a long post about every game he played and his biggest contributions in those games. Now it looks like Nani is also in the fireing line and I will stand up and protect him from this critiques. WARNING! Long post. Nanis contribution in 2007/08:
Reading- sub for Rooney at half time, shoots just wide from 25 yards.
Pompey- Crosses to Tevez on 28-yard box, Tevez 1 touch and pass to Scholes, Scholes scores.
City- Gets 1-on-1 with Schmeicel, saves shot. Problems with Richards, but makes some chances with good crosses.
Spurs- Scores his first goal for United with a thunderbolt from 25 yards. Matchwinner.
Sunderland- Passes free kick to Scholes on 25 yards, Scholes shoots just wide because of deflection. Corner assist to Saha, Saha matchwinner.
Everton- Corner assist to Vidic, Vidic matchminner.
Sporting- no major contribution, subbed off for Anderson.
Roma- Beats 2 man on left wing then crosses to Rooney who shoots just over the bar from 10 yards. Cross/shot hits the bar in 2nd half. Assist for Rooney who becomes matchwinner.
Villa- Cross that Rooney converts for 1-1, corner scored from Rio to 3-1.
Boro- Scores 1 goal witha thunderbolt from 25 yards, creates chance for Rooney and Ronaldo, neither manages to find the target with those chances.
Dynamo Kiev- 1 assist for Rooney goal, passes to Evra who passes to Ronaldo for 4-0.
Bolton- no impact, bad game.
Sporting- bad game, subbed off at half time.
Roma- 1 assist for Pique header from corner. Creates chances for Rooney and Saha, neither score.
Sunderland- Wins penalty for 4-0.
Birmingham- Hits post, crosses for Tevez who hits crossbar.
Newcastle- substitue, header down to Tevez who make sit 6-0.
Pompey- 1 assist for Ronaldo, passes to Tevez who shoots, James saves rebound form his dangerous shot, almost scores but James gets to the ball first.
Spurs- substitute, Corner assist to Tevez who scores in 94th minute.
City- No impact, bad game(like everyone else excpet for Andy)
Arsenal- 2 assists to Flecther, 1 goal, toys with the Arsenal defense, takes corner that untied make 1-0 from, makes Gallas look like a kindergarden kid, plays keepy-uppy with Traore, Wenger gets furious about his arrogance.
Lyon- substitute, cross for Tevez who equalises.
Newcastle- crosses to Tevez who heads wide, passes to Ronaldo who scores 3-0, crosses to Scholes good save by keeper, takes corner that Rooney scores from.
Fulham- showboats on the left wing, crosses for Scholes and Saha, neither score when 1-on-1.
Pompey- Horror game that United lose, Nani makes lots of chances, 1 for Tevez, 2 for Ronaldo and 1 for Carrick.
Bolton- Tests Al-Habsi reflexes with great free-kick, beat 1 man before he crosses to Saha who gets injured trying to scroe.
Liverpool- substitute, 1 assist from corner to Ronaldo, 1 goal after pass from Rooney.
Blackburn- returns from injury, corner to scholes who heads to Tevez who scores and makes it 1-1.
Chelski- bad game, bad decisionmaking.
Barcelona- Realy good game, heads just outside from Park cross, shoots over on counter attack, toys with Puyol.
West Ham- assist for 1-0 from Ronaldo, gets sent off.
Chelski, final- scores his penalty.
Hope this cleared so things up!
September 1st, 2008 at 9:44
Any news ..any news ???
we hardly have 10 hours 
September 1st, 2008 at 9:57
@bond: dude, we have 14 hours left, be patient.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:07
oh thnks dan ..forgot the timelag
…In India its 14.30 now 
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:44
Seeing as though we’ve paid (probably) over the odds for Berba anyways. I cant help but think we should have just got on with this a month ago and had him ready, bedded in with the team, for the new season. That way, considering the player shortages we had at the beginning and players not being 100%, we might be 6 points from 6 and a UEFA Super Cup in the bag. It all seems a bit retarded, all the cat & mouse games going on, trying to lower the price, trying to make Spurs part with him at all and chasing off any other suiters, then paying the full whack (maybe even more) at the end of the day anyway. It seems much time and the opportunity to make a perfect start to the season has been wasted.
Though maybe it took a sluggish start to the season to convince the powers that be to part with the cash. Still, as a fan, its fustrating.
*shrugs*
September 12th, 2008 at 18:51
Testing