Aug 15
Preview: Pompey vs Reds
So after a disappointing draw against Reading we head south over to Fratton Park to play a team that in recent times have become our ‘bogey team’. But in a way it’s good we are playing away from home. At least there is this hope that teams wouldn’t park their bus in front of their goal. Harry Redknapp himself said he won’t be defensive. “One can’t just defend against teams like that”, he said - or something to that effect.
So we could hope for a much more open game today. SAF has confirmed that Tevez will start today. It would be a like for like replacement for Rooney, but that said, it shouldn’t open up the old, tiresome debate that Rooney and Tevez are too similar. As Carlitos would himself say, “I am only 50% similar to him” - or something to that effect. He would have said that in Spanish anyway, so there you go.
I would love for Hargreaves to start along side Carrick with Scholes in the hole, as I mentioned yesterday. But I doubt we are going to see that happening. Giggs might be persisted with in the hole with Carrick and the Ninja playing deeper. Fletcher would get to start on the wing with Ronny on the other. However we should see Evra in a more familiar role of left back - displacing Silvestre. So that should hopefully settle many nerves, or so we’d hope.
Nani would be on the bench and so would Anderson/Ole. I am sure Fergie would have realized his folly of not having any genuine strikers on the bench in the last game. Well, sure, he didn’t have any fit striker, but Anderson could play in that role too. Or even Frazier Campbell, no?
Oh well, let’s not talk about that game anymore. Here’s looking forward to a good game today and a result.
Prediction: 2-0 to United. The lads will be pumped up for the game. Tevez to score! I don’t expect our defence to be too troubled by Portsmouth’s attack although they are decent enough to cause us problems.
And before I end this preview, here is an inspirational fan chant created by none other than yours’ truly, (Who else!) which involves three of our summer signings. It could be horrible, or outright brilliant. But that’s your opinion. Anyway here it is:
Anderson, Nani, Charlie Tee,
In your pants, they’ll make you Pee!
Angry? You have the comment section for that!
August 15th, 2007 at 12:05
where can i watch the match online.
August 15th, 2007 at 12:06
nice new feature red ranter.
August 15th, 2007 at 13:50
the game is showed on MUTV later on 2night isnt it??
August 15th, 2007 at 13:56
I have this gut feeling that we might slip up today.i hope im wrong but i just feel that pompey will get the better of us.hargreaves wont play today
August 15th, 2007 at 13:58
I’m worried about Portsmouth’s set pieces, personally. We looked a little vunerable against a tiny Reading team, and while no one loves Silvestre he is a MUCH bigger presence in the air then Evra. Because of that, i expect him to start, with evra again on the left of midfield. Up front i expect a trio of Ronaldo, Giggs and Tevez, with a view to pull off Giggs for Nani. With Distin and Cambell Portsmouth have a really good centre back for height and strength, but maybe not acceleration, so we can look for darting runs. Looking forward to seeing carlito in action!
August 15th, 2007 at 14:00
taehr, i agree, i think we might slip up, real red, yes it probably is but not all of us is lucky to have MUTV, i was hopping satanta might show it but no.
August 15th, 2007 at 14:24
I think it’s worth a little risking today, and we could line up like so:
GK - van der Sar
DL - Evra
DC - Ferdinand
DC - Vidic
DR - Brown
ML - Ronaldo
MC - Hargreaves
MC - Carrick
MR - Fletcher
AM - Scholes
FC - Tevez
Subs: Kuszczak - O’Shea - Nani - Anderson - Giggs
i’d just love to see Scholes be given a bit of incentive to push on tonight.
August 15th, 2007 at 14:27
There shall be no juju tonight. we’re going to win it. I know the guys are in high morals. If campbell’s comments to go by(http://www.manutd.com/
default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-
3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=463485)
portsmouth players have fear running down their veins unless he’s just playing mind games. I think they’ve realised the missing ingridient in the reading game was a striker(after rooney’s injury)otherwise we could have…….. you know! Despite Lack of match fitness, Tevez enthusiasm will spur him on and who knows he might even score a hatrick (then he recieves a celebratory ban i.e. running into the united crowd- he!he!he!already laughed for you if you don’t get the joke). cross you fingers fellaz- tonight we are breaking the juju
by the way
(Manutd jaluo)
you can catch the game on GTV(g-sports 2- assuming you are writing from Kenya like me- 9:45 pm(Kenyan time)
note. if the link doesnt highlight itself you can copy paste it.
once again i would love to thank man utd blog for the feature. United set the standards and others follow.
just a thought: After the west ham game last season, tevez immediatley walked over to rooney. was he asking him if there was any chance he could join united!hmmmmm…… I wonder
(taer)
let us be optimistic, no matter how strong you feel about. pleaaaaaaase
August 15th, 2007 at 14:29
I don’t understand all the negativity folks. We are the Champions
remember! How can anyone write us off before a game!? This Utd team
are winners, both in mentality and results, and will continue to be.
Yes, it’s a tricky fixture. A lot of games will be this year as
teams have added to their squads. But we have proved in the past,
as we will again, that we are well capable of beating anyone.
Look at the possible line up:
VDS
Brown Rio Vida Evra (Silvestre may be injured)
Hargreaves Carrick (Hargreaves has been tipped to start.
Ronaldo Scholes Giggs (Nani in at some stage)
Tevez
With that lineup, I’m confident we will get the win. The Reading
game was disappointing. But anyone would have difficulty beating
a team that defends with 10 men around the box..
So snap out of it!
Red Ranter:… Terrible chant! We would get the ‘pee’ taken out of
us if we use pee in a chant!
August 15th, 2007 at 14:51
ronak, not a chance of that team, way to weak, ronaldo right mid, nani left mid, scholes cm with hargreaves, and giggs in a deeper position than that atacking mid position, but anderson comes on foor giggs and takes that center atacking mid position, you see how thats a much stronger side.
August 15th, 2007 at 15:12
Ronak r u stupid. ronaldo should strt on da right wid giggs on da left. fletcherz shit. we shouldve sold him long ago.
August 15th, 2007 at 15:16
If we are to win today ferguson needs to be a little positive and play all the new signings!nani and hargreaves in the starting line up and anderson on the bench and please no evra on the left wing!scholes needs to start shooting from out now.he seems to look to pass all the time.if we get an early goal we will win but ferguson needs to be positive and include the new players!
August 15th, 2007 at 15:41
Does any one know where I can watch this game online? I live in the US and they’re not showing it on TV.. Getting tired of watching in text lol.
P.S. I agree with De_Roiste on the line-up, I want to see Giggs back at LM with Nani coming in for him later in the game.
August 15th, 2007 at 15:59
We shouldn’t be afraid to go into this game with 4 3 3 or 4 1 2 3 if you like. Hargreaves has to do what he was bought for - play in fornt of the back four and let Carrick and Scholes run the midfield. Scholes musn’t play deep like he did for most of the time against Reading. Tevez needs the support of Ronnie and Giggs upfront. Of course it will take a bit of getting used to and we shouldn’t expect miracles right away. G;lad to hear Tevez says he can take any presssure because already the expectation of him doing something sensational in his first game has become somewhat OTT.
August 15th, 2007 at 16:24
i wanna see the match online 2, im in the uk
August 15th, 2007 at 16:37
yeah me too, if anyone can help us out with an online link it’l be appreciated.
this is a banana skin.
heres to us winning at a canter whoever fergie plays
August 15th, 2007 at 17:02
Nelson Otieno and Man Utd Jaluo, let’s watch the match at GTV S2 tinight here in Nairobi. f you want to contact me personally please write to hiram.gakembu@gmail.com I will be grateful to get to know you guys more since we all belong to the Red rants family….
August 15th, 2007 at 17:32
Download this: http://myp2p.eu/Programs/Sopcast.htm
Then go on this: http://myp2p.eu/Matches/Match1.htm
August 15th, 2007 at 17:33
Guys
Type in asiaplate in google, ive been informed that could provide you good links.
The programs you can use are:
PPstream
PPmate
SopCast
There is a 5min delay, but im sure u guys wont mind that.
ps. ranter, u cant be serious, that is a bad chant!
August 15th, 2007 at 18:16
yea sopcast or TVants are good p2p sharing system for the game. they take a while to set up so
allow enough time…and you need (well its preferable) to select the channel and have it running
for about an hour before the game to make sure that all the buffering and what not is cleared before
ko. try the website http://www.myp2p.eu/index.htm explains it all. goodluck!!
August 15th, 2007 at 19:54
It’s not the players I doubt, it’s the manager’s tactics - at times
August 15th, 2007 at 20:04
I was right no hargreaves!there has to be something wrong wit dat knee of his.
August 15th, 2007 at 20:04
paul scholes scores in the 15th. 1-0 Man Utd.
August 15th, 2007 at 20:05
paul scholes=legend
August 15th, 2007 at 20:18
im listening to the live comantary on bbc, i cant really play those sites, unless someone gives me a direct link to the video
August 15th, 2007 at 20:31
I got the TVAnts to work, thanks guys!
August 15th, 2007 at 20:53
what channel Kurt?
August 15th, 2007 at 21:13
im dying why do we always concede against portsmouth
August 15th, 2007 at 21:14
Soccer LIVE7 is the channel.
August 15th, 2007 at 21:15
2-1 to chelsea now, ffs common united!!!
August 15th, 2007 at 21:31
Oh geez, Ronaldo red card and Vidic yellow… wtf just happened lol.
August 15th, 2007 at 21:36
Fuck wats going on!
August 15th, 2007 at 21:46
Is it time to panic yet? No, let’s wait until Eriksson beats us
August 15th, 2007 at 21:50
lol, this is shit, no ronaldo now either, as if rooney being injured aint bad enough, we wait ages to get hargreaves, and then get him and he doesnt play. jesus christ im so pissed off right now.
August 15th, 2007 at 21:52
what the f*** is this?
look at our bloody bench! where’s our striker? we put o’shea up with tevez WTF
mind you, last time this happened we won the treble.
August 15th, 2007 at 21:53
Hopefully we can step it up come derby day against City. I’m not sure where Hargo is, a lot of people thought he would start today (as did I) but he wasn’t even on the bench?
August 15th, 2007 at 21:55
exactly, he can’t be injured, well he isn’t cause he’s been in the teams that we can pick from but just doesn’t seem to get a place starting on on the bench? i agree, i knew selling smith and rossi was a bad idea, why the hell did we let them both go, when saha and ole aint even fit.
August 15th, 2007 at 21:55
Yep it is time to panic!2 points from 6 no rooney no ronaldo.and where the fuck is hargreaves?!come on fergie!every1 can see we need another striker!
August 15th, 2007 at 21:57
What are the odds of losing Rooney and Ronaldo in the first 2 games. What did Ronaldo do? it said he ‘aimed’ a headbutt at someone.
Maybe it’s not all doom and gloom though because last time United didn’t win one of their first 2 games they won the treble. but anyway: FFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKK
August 15th, 2007 at 22:01
i think if we screw up against man city, we’l lose the title this season.
i know you cant win the title in the first few games of the season but u can certainly lose it. we just need some bottle now, and halt svens bandwagon of foreigners in their tracks
August 15th, 2007 at 22:06
were fucked big time charlie lads hell its time 2 panic and yah seems like we all been watchng the same commentary of sky sports through espn or what else all of us know abt the treble thingy
Anyways i see hargo anderson on bench with eagles starting on the wing and high time some fucking one touch pacy football to be seen and yes City won today as well so technically we are behind expect some slack from city fans boys
Some how i remeber the shitty song i liked in me childhood
Oh oh We’re in trouble something coming over……
August 15th, 2007 at 22:12
hey guys calm down everything is gonna be allright,what de hell is wrong with Fregie something was not write I cried man ,I cant belive it, tell me it must be abad dream I love the red devils man It hurts like pain man,f**kkk
August 15th, 2007 at 22:15
U know what we need?fergie to fucking buy another striker!he is the greatest manager alive but selling rossi was a big big big mistake!which striker did we have on the bench?o shea?wtf is the point of buying players when u cant put them in the team?we need a striker!saha and ole wont return!theyl b crocked soon!come on fergie please put the team before your pride and get a decent striker.4 points behind?we can catch up starting sat!
August 15th, 2007 at 22:29
I am ready to lose my mind. Is it possible that a tosser like Harry could out manage Fergie? Yes! What is wrong with United? Lack of hunger, lack of imagination, lack of finishing, and a static style that plays well into the hands of their far inferior opposition. My god when will they learn that you cannot succeed even against the worst clubs playing one man up front. I don’t care if that means placing O’Shea in a duo striking situation with Tevez. Poor Carlos, he worked his heart out only to see all the high priced talent in midfield continually lose possession of the ball or feed him terrible service. In seventeen years of great service to the club, I have never seen Giggsy play as poorly as he has in these last two matches. Forget his lack of finish, his passes and concentration is not there. I also think the team is having a terrible time figuring how to incorporate Tevez and Nani into the attack. An another thing, SHOOT THE BLOODY BALL. To much dipsy doodling and not enough direct shooting on goal. When they did do that they either scored or came close. The passing into the 18 yard box has been just terrible. It doesn’t matter who your strikers are, if they cannot get better service than what they have been receiving, we are in for a long season. Many of you may say I am panicking and overreacting. I say to all of you BOLLOCKS! Chelsea is a team that when they smell blood, they feed. United cannot afford to squander points now or at anytime. No I am not expecting 38-0-0 but remember that three seasons ago Arsenal did go undefeated and two seasons ago Chelsea only lost one game. The EPL’s top line competition leaves no room for error. This is not 1995. No big deal if you drew two games in a row against teams like the big 4 or 5, but Reading and Pompey? God help us? As for the Ronaldo red card, the referee was doing a rubbish job the whole match. I am sick and tired of watching defenders clutching and grabbing on to players jersey’s and not getting called for it. It’s not gamesmanship, it’s cheating, period. Ronaldo must have retaliated out of frustration and thus he received the red. All of the Pompey defenders should have received red during the match. Their play in the box was just criminal. For all the negativity I am spewing for my beloved United, I personally would like to hang Harry Redknapp and his whole lot of scoundrels. Like Reading, they were a disgrace to the sport. I will give them credit though for at least trying to attack in the second half, as it was something Reading never even bothered to try. Final word, United have spent lots of money stacking their midfield with quality players. Nani and Anderson will one day be great players however, I was never under the impression that Man Utd were in a rebuilding mode, correct me if I’m wrong? I would have preferred that they filled their needs with more established star player much like what their main competitors are doing. Alves, Pizarro and Malouda will unfortunately raise Chelsea’s game up a notch and I feel we will be struggling all season to find the right mix for a star studded side that lacks a specific style by which they can all operate on all four cylinders. Tevez and Hargreaves were good signings, but we were in need of a central attacking midfielder who could be the General providing telling balls to to our strikers and wingers. If we are planning to play a slow continental buildup style of play rather than the style that destroyed Roma, then we should have signed a magician like Riquelme who possesses the skill to crack open defensive schemes like the ones put up against our lads this past week. Pray that I’m wrong, because I sure hope I am.
August 15th, 2007 at 22:30
I am under the impression that Anderson can play as a striker, why don’t we test him out and play him with Tevez up front?
August 15th, 2007 at 22:46
I watched the game and it was bad. Giggs had one of the worst games, he was losing ball all the time. Tevez and Nani were good but Ronaldo was the best with his shoots.I am just disappointed that after all that wait we are getting this kind of fucked up games (two in raw). I was already abused by friends (Chelski fans)I will try to keep my cool, but I don’t know how long I will be able to do that. In short if we slip on Saturday I am fucked.
August 15th, 2007 at 23:16
We´re not playing very well, still the main thing is that we are missing many chances of goal…
Unless we win on Saturday…we are finished! That would be a major flop… Either way we already blazed over the psichological advantage/confidence of being the champions. We look like the fragile or “paper” champions…
Expectations were very high, i think…
August 15th, 2007 at 23:42
Whilst the performance was quite flat and the final ball lacking at times, what i find more dissapointing than the performance is the complete lack of faith shown by most in these comments, are you really that fickle that you completely change your opinion of the team & fergie after two draws? Games mind you that if we had delivered the final balls that we were delivering last season, we would have won comfortably. It really is disapointing to see such outlandish comments. City will be a tough game, it would have been a tough game even if we had won all three games, City are much improved and will find themselves under eriksson pushing close for 5th spot. Simple message, cut out the overeactions and the drama, and get behind the players & Manager that have consistently delivered your dreams over the past twenty years.
August 16th, 2007 at 1:47
the last time man u failed to win the opening two games, was 8 years ago, and something happened that season i’ll never forget
i’ll give you a hint, 3 is the magic number
August 16th, 2007 at 9:15
adil alhinai, the standard of the game since has risen by more than 3 times
you cant drop unncessary points and expect something like that season.
and i dont know how many times we’ve gotta emphasize that giggs is PAST his best. merely filling up the spaces wont help united in winning games. these days you need players with flair, creativity, pace and vision to win the league. giggs HAD them, but they’ve deserted him and he’s looking more and more like a league 1 player, with misplaced passes, untimely runs, poor vision and worst of all, finishing.
let nani and anderson do what they do best, bring out creativity and flair in the game. they’ve pace which frightens defenders, good pass/cross technique and links up pretty well with the team. so why keep them till its too late and the season is beyond us.
August 16th, 2007 at 11:48
The thing I miss most is someone from our team who poses a genuine danger from set piece and dead ball situations. We haven’t had one since Becks left. Imagine how many more goals Vidic would be scoring! I used to be very optimistic we’d be able to make something out of corners for sure, and optimistic that the direct free kicks would at least produce goals, but not now. *sigh* Tevez and Hargreaves to take our free kicks from now on, but corners, I’m not sure. We seriously got to work on our killer instincts and finish the chances we make, or else..