Aug 14
Rants Returns to Regular Service
Just to make it official, I am back from a rather extended holiday and had good times away. That said, the blog wasn’t really away, thanks to some lads who popped up with posts. I did manage to pop up while on vacation too, in the midst of my high spirits. However, the high spirits were slightly tempered by the Reading game, but I have the whole season to look forward to. After yesterday’s pessimistic post, that scared some readers, I would like to say I am still positive about the season ahead.
Anyhoo, I don’t have too much to talk about apart from pointing out to the already well known fact that Rooney is out for two months. What makes one feel really bad here is that he was really in full force right through pre-season. The hunger was there for all to see. I’d say two months to be rather optimistic and it will take him until November to recapture his form. Till then we hope Saha returns for real and forms a partnership with Tevez. If that works out then I wouldn’t worry too much about Wazza.
Wednesday, we head over to Fratton Park to face Pompey and, with an admittedly poor record against them, in recent times, with a rookie striker, it is not an ideal situation for us. But nothing will rejuvenate us better than a resounding away win against them. That sort of confidence would be essential going into derby day against a Citeh side that seem to be gelling together from the very outset. One would hope it was a poor West Ham side more than anything.
I will be bringing out my match preview tomorrow ahead of the game on Wednesday, but for now, I leave the platform to you, dear readers, to debate on your thoughts on the best formation that could help us beat Portsmouth. I’d recommend that you reason out why you think your formation would work rather than just spelling out your formation. That way we could have a nice little informed discussion going on in the comment threads today.
Here’s mine before I end the post today.
——————-EVDS——————
Brown——Vidic———-Rio———Evra
————-Carrick—-Hargreaves——–
Ronaldo———–Scholes————Giggs
——————-Tevez——————
My backline explains itself. Silvestre was shite in the last game, and Evra must play in LB. He’s our best option at the moment. And here’s my request to SAF: If you must play any other LB other than Evra, then please, please play Evans instead of Silly. In midfield, since we are playing away from home, Hargreaves will give us that extra bite as a box to box player. It will free up Scholes and Carrick who can concentrate on going for the jugular. Scholes can play his role in the hole. Giggs should play where he plays best - the left wing, and if he fades then we could bring in Nani as the impact player. Ronaldo would play on the other wing. Tevez would obviously take the lone striker’s slot.
Now, it’s your turn.
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August 14th, 2007 at 10:29
I basically agree with you, but I would like to see Nani instead of Scholes. I think Scholes looked less than match-fit (even if technically fit) against Reading, and with a genuine holding midfielder there, I don’t think we need a third central midfielder.
I think the subs bench is important too: Kuszczak, O’Shea, Scholes, Anderson and one other. Gives us two impact players if things aren’t going well, which we have to acknowledge as a possibility.
We need Saha back asap.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:37
i think i’ll jump right to the formation
———–EVDS———-
Brown—Vidic—Rio—Evra
–Hargreaves—–O’Shea–
Ronaldo–Carrick–Giggs/Nani
———-Tevez————
i share red ranter’s sentiments concerning the back four
In midfield i really don’t think that SAF will want to play Giggs and Scholes so close after the previous game. and for scholes he has a decent backup in O’Shea. also, i didn’t feel that hargreaves would be quite ready to take on the holding midfielder’s role all by himself, so this formation has him sharing that load with O’Shea
while SAF trusts O’Shea i don’t think he quite trusts Nani enough to start him yet and thus might use Giggs as a first half starter. . or maybe even fletcher. . but i feel it will be down to nani or giggs
and the forward speaks for itself
that seems to be alrught . . although i have a sneaking suspision that “silly” (
August 14th, 2007 at 10:39
got cut off somehow… heres the rest
(
August 14th, 2007 at 10:40
will get another game back at left back. . which would push evra up to LW giving us instead the following lineup
———–EVDS———-
Brown—Vidic—Rio—Silly
—Hargreaves——O’Shea—
Ronaldo—-Carrick—-Evra
———-Tevez————
that solves the giggs/nani problem. . but absolutely messes up the back four. . i mean you might as well play EVDS as striker and O’Shea in goal if you’re going to play Silly. . that pisses me off to no end
August 14th, 2007 at 10:50
Totally agree with your team. What is the point of signing all these attacking stars and then sticking Evra on the left wing? Especially when it is Silvestre coming in, not Heinze. Evra did very little in the Reading game (for all the possession, Evra Carrick were largely absent when they were needed as Reading man-marked the others) and must go back to full back where he can overlap at speed when required.
Another point. We had Campbell playing the friendly midweek. With no other forwards available on Sunday, why wasn’t he on the bench? Ok, so a youngster and untried at this level, but surely better than John O’Shea up front?
August 14th, 2007 at 10:53
Hi hi guys remember we are playing Pompy away - where we hardly come out with anything! Forget about leaving Scholes out of the line up, it won’t happen. It does not matter whether he had a good game or not. He will be there tomorrow night. So the best line up is 4-4-2 with Giggs as a supporting striker to Tevez and Nani on one wing and Ronaldo on the other. Scholes improves with time and tomorrow he will be fit
——EVDS——-
Brown————Vidic——-Rio———Evra
—————– Carrick—————–
Ronaldo ——————————-Nani
—————– Scholes—————–
—————Tevez——–Giggs———
August 14th, 2007 at 10:58
My reasons for above post are:
1) You need goals - so you cannot rely on Tevez alone. Giggs can help since he has done so before.
2) With Nani and Ronaldo on the flanks, that department will have been well taken care of and we shall expect plenty of ball supplies from the wings.
3) Evra at no. 3 means the defence is also sewn up.
4) Carrick has maintained his form of last season and I would not withdraw him in favour of Hargreaves yet.However, if we shall be ahead by 2 clear goals by 70th minute, then we remove Carrick and put on Hargreaves as a warm up for him.
5) Scholes remain a trusted person at the AM position. You do not change a player just because he has failed to click in one game.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:26
hopefully saha is good enough to make teh bench
i for one can’t wait till we’r playing with 2 forwards again, it makes our overall play so much better and effective.
I suspect Tevez to hit off with a bang, and a pick with ronaldo to score.
I don’t think hargreaves will start either, but should make teh bench.
vds
brown ferdinand vidic evra
ronaldo carrick scholes nani
giggs
tevez
nani might have done well enough to start for the first time, fergie knows what we need to do and a win is essential so good odds on the above formation
August 14th, 2007 at 11:28
I’d go with this formation
———————————EVDS———————————
Brown——Vidic———-Rio———Evra
————-Carrick—-Hargreaves——
——Ronaldo———Giggs———Nani——
——————————-Tevez——————————
August 14th, 2007 at 11:33
i recommend we go with the 4–2-3-1 formation. one is to maintain the chemistry since its what were are going to stick to it for the season. rooney’s place be taken by tevez. Although the lad is short tevez does know how to head balls especially the diving ones. he is also creative just as rooney and being his first game, he will be inspired to prove his worth. Silvestre, Hargreaves, fletcher should be on the bench as cover up. Nani should start. hes got the confidence to play.As I said earlier if scholes gets his form back and Carrick weighs his passes more accurately like his teacher(scholes)then we will be good to go.as much as football issomehow runned by ’superstition ‘ let it not get in our way tommorow. As red ranter put it a win would be a huge lift for the derby game which make no mistake(considering their game against west ham)would be tough. they got quality than last season and they seem to be jellying very well
August 14th, 2007 at 11:47
YAY, silvestre is in doubt for the pompey game, evra left-back and nani at left mid OR we could gamble and put either nani or giggs at left mid, and dong or campbell partner with tevez upfront.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:50
I must say I despair at football fans.
This Sylvestre bashing is getting pathetic. I know he has not been a
spectacular player for us but he is a defender of quality although he may
be past his very best, he is still a reliable squad member.
I mean if SAF didn’t rate him he wouldn’t pick him would he?
I may be in the minority here but I personally thought he had a good game
against Chelsea and he did no worse than the rest of the back four
against Reading. I mean he didn’t miss free headers three yards out
like Brown & Vidic.
Six weeks ago plenty of the “short term memory Brigade” on here wanting
to ditch Saha as soon as possible. Now we apparently need him more than ever!!!
I think that we all want success for the club but the more we achieve
the more critical and unrealistic some of us get.
We should consider getting behind players, instead of on their backs
or are we becoming the England so called supporters who gave
Hargreaves/Crouch/Neville their “support”
August 14th, 2007 at 12:04
As one of the Silvestre bashers, I would argue with the statements “defender of quality” and “reliable”. Silvestre shows up pretty good for 90% of the time, and then invariably does something incredibly stupid that would cost us a goal.
I believe that he and Wes Brown caught a “doing something stupid” virus off Fabien Bartez. Brown has managed to shake off his illness, but I will Silvestre would take his “doing something stupid” bug off to somewhere like Newcastle before he infects Vidic.
Rio seems to have caught a similar but less virulent bug called “falling asleep at the wheel”.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:23
oh and welcome back
August 14th, 2007 at 12:28
That said, the blog wasn’t really away, thanks to some lads who popped up with posts.
dude I think this whole ‘Ranter’ thing is going to your head, is that any way to acknowledge guest bloggers?
August 14th, 2007 at 12:49
I agree with Red Ranter
August 14th, 2007 at 12:56
gubby, what match were you watching, in the chelsea game, he was making mistakes, and evra had to run back and fix them, if we idnt have evra in that match we would of loss 3-1,
August 14th, 2007 at 13:19
i think the only reason silly has
been playing is in order for fergie
to sell him for a good price
considering the offers we received
(read newcastle)we are likely to get
there abouts if he is playing first
team football but too bad now that
his picked up an injury.
August 14th, 2007 at 13:28
i have confidence that manutd will bounce back from the sloppy start. at least pompey will try to score hense move forward therefore giving us an oportunity to hit back with counter attack..we got so much talent infront, nani should start tommorow,giggs and scholes should be saved for the derby.
August 14th, 2007 at 13:31
hope lyon comes in with a good offer for heinze, i’d rather see him go there than at liverpool
August 14th, 2007 at 13:42
lets sign ruud back on loan until christmas…lol
August 14th, 2007 at 13:44
Carlitos all the way!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSrPIcnZbAg
August 14th, 2007 at 13:50
i just relised, saha has been at united shorter than ronaldo, and has made less aperances than ronaldo, but has scored like 30 more goals than ronaldo, if he wasnt so injury prone i doubt we would have bought tevez, but when he’s fit and back on form, trust, we wont be crying over rooney, we’ll be cherring for the sahvez partnership.
August 14th, 2007 at 14:29
For people with the short term memory of a stick insect. Sylvestre
has been at OT for Eight years and if he wasn’t a palyer of some ability
he would have been gone long ago.
I agree his time may be passing and I would prefer to see Evans given
his chance.
As for Sylvestre making mistakes in the Charity Shield, maybe he did
but he and Evra combined very well and Sylvestre defended well throughout
the game, considering he was up against a resurgent Wright-Phillips.
As far as mistakes go, Heinze made more mistakes than you could shake
a stick at at the end of last season, was made Captain and then says
he doesn’t want to play for us anymore, and doesn’t receive half the stick
Sylvestre is getting.
August 14th, 2007 at 14:40
[Ahmed]
For what it’s worth (you glory hunting bastard) read the starting lines of this post. I even tipped my hat to you!
Cut me some slack mate.
August 14th, 2007 at 18:05
Why should we play Giggs through the middle. This is something I dont get. You have Giggs who can’t last a whole match without fading and you play him through the middle which makes him have to track back more. And Giggs was playing on the right against Reading even though he has been playing on the left for his whole career I think if anything then Ronaldo should be a forward because he rarely tracks back.
EVDS
Brown Vida Rio Evra
Nani Carrick Scholes/Hargreaves Giggs
Ronaldo
Tevez
I think that’s how we should set up. It’s a toss up between two of Carrick/Hargo/Scholes and I can’t decide which should be left out.
August 14th, 2007 at 19:04
no i think giggs should sit out that match and play nani at left-mid and anderson upfront with tevez.
August 14th, 2007 at 19:19
I am interested in seeing anderson in center mid if saf thinks he is fit let gigs and nani split the game at left hargo should play if he is ready
jaluo i like the idea of saving one of gigs scholes for city but i think scholes should get some time tomarrow to help him regain match fitness
cant wait to see 32 in a united kit and growling at defenders
wazza back soon pleeeease
August 14th, 2007 at 19:21
teves is a scarry looking fuker i would move out of the way and let him shoot
GLORY
August 14th, 2007 at 20:15
Anderson?
No-one’s mentioned him, assuming he’s somewhere near fitness (having kept training without playing during the Copa America) and with out lack of options up front. Someone mentioned Campbell but not one mention of Anderson. Weird. I know he’s one for the future and we’ll see him gradually this season (Im actually looking forward to the League Cup 3rd round for once lol) but he’s got to be looking at a place on the bench atleast, assuming Saha & 20LEgend arent fit enough.
Anyone?
August 14th, 2007 at 20:17
Just realised there was a mention a couple of posts before, but whatever.
August 14th, 2007 at 23:11
I agree entirely
August 14th, 2007 at 23:41
I agree Red Ranter, thats the side put down on yesterdays post. People are saying that Scholes and Giggs cant manage to play another game so soon - absolute rubbish!! its the 2nd game of the season and they are fit as a fiddle so there is no doubt they will be there from the start with maybe giggs being withdrawn around 70mins. Nani is not ready to be thrown straight into this game, we’re under pressure and he cant be trusted yet. He looked good in spells sunday but gave the ball away in dangerous area’s aswell, he looked very nervous. I dont even think we will have a striker on the bench so if need be ronaldo will go up front and either fletch or nani put on the wing as i dont think tevez will play the whole 90 mins.
August 15th, 2007 at 3:32
Welcome back Red Ranter
I haven’t seen Evans play that much, can he manage at LB? I’d rather O’Shea there even, rather than Silly! I am with you on that formation, currently our ‘best’ with Anderson, Nani, Saha playing from the bench.
August 15th, 2007 at 8:41
guys, we all know that its going to be the same formation from sunday tevez and hopefully hargreaves playing.
we’re all saying what we want, but we all know what the formations going to be.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:34
glory hunting bastard my ass
WCH - Evans can manage at LB just fine.
Fergie won’t play Silvestre at LB two games in a row - if he’s expecting Silvestre to turn a new leaf then that’s like banging a black chick and expecting her to turn white at the end of the whole thing…it just won’t fucking work.
Oh, and excuse the analogy
August 15th, 2007 at 9:39
We shall need an early goal in order to remove the barrenness duck from our psychology. A goal within the first 20 minutes would do. Portsmouth has a very good record against us at Fratton Pack, where we have won only once since the League was renamed EPL and they have won 5 times. Last season at Fratton Park it was Rio and EVDS who messed us with an own goal and reckless defending. If our defence remains tight we can beat them. But every player must give his best. We cannot afford to drop more points even before Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have dropped any
A win is inevitable, lest we start chasing shadows again…..
August 15th, 2007 at 9:44
About Heinze, it is obvious he wants to leave and so we should not keep him. I would prefer he goes to a non EPL side and I welcome the news that Lyon are interested. Heinze’s departure means that Jones and Pique will get more opportunities to play in the season. By the way how comes whenever we have injuries, they are always concentrated in one department? Now we have 3 of our 4 strikers all injured. In April-May we had Vidic, Rio, Silvestre and Neville all out. Is it a bad omen????
August 15th, 2007 at 9:45
Yup Dan. It’s going to be the same formation and players with the exception of Rooney/Tevez ofcourse. Also think another striker will feature on the bench (perhaps Dong/Campbell if OLE or Saha is not fit). If all fit, I think Saha).
August 15th, 2007 at 10:14
That said, I would really love to see a 433 with OH playing holding and Carrick and Scholes in front of him.