Red Ranter; I agree with you about the fact that the Young Player award should have gone to Ronaldo. Podolski was pretty good but he was being mightily criticized in the German media after his first two games where he missed numerous chances to score goals. Everybody shut up afterwards but he still netted only three goals. Hardly something to jump for joy over. Yes he played well but Ronny was outstanding except for a certain incident against England that we will try to avoid right now. I actually think Podolski would be a great signing as he is young with great potential and he wouldn’t immediately be a big threat to Tevez’ starting position. There still room to give both over 20 starts in all competitions and keep them fresh and active. He won’t cost as much as he cost Bayern when they got him. He is also the depth we need without stepping on the Apache’s toes in the process. I’d prefer him to stay with my other favorite team Bayern, but if he was to move, United would be an ideal location for him to develope in to a giant of a player.

As for VDV, I totally agree with you. I don’t question whether he is a good player. He is, but he is not what we need as a priority. Not all teams have central attacking midfielders that score goals. Our team is structured around our wingers cutting in and scoring goals. Most teams don’t have a winger like Ronaldo who can do this and even Nani has shown the ability to do this. Imagine in a couple of years how much better he will be. Our central midfielder today play much more of a holding role deeper behind the play. Like have said many times before whether we are are playing 4-3-3, 4-5-1 or 4-1-3-2, in reality our midfielders play and react to the situations in the game more like the Italian style of 4-2-2-2 or 4-2-3-1. The emphasis is on the build up from the sides and not the middle. Scholes plays a slow tempo ball control game with very few up field runs or passes, Carrick holds up the ball and sends longer passes up field, and Hargo does a combination of the two but adds strong runs upfield and from the side. Anderson runs up field much more but as we know, his finishing skills and desire to shoot right now is not good. Perhaps it will improve with time. But I love our midfield as it is. Yes I would like Gattuso to join us so that we can also add grit and bite to the midfield but that’s not vital. What is vital is that we buy a RB and a striker.

As for us focusing on tonight’s game, if some of us could have got hold of tickets, we would have been over in Barcelona cheering every move NAF. Joining in the banter or sobriety of other topics of discussion on this blog, does not diminish our fervour for tonights game. If you want to just focus on tonight’s game, I have no problem with that, and there is another thread started where you can do just that!.

By the way, who is the “all of us” you mention that this debate has taken it’s toll on?. Not the almost 100 contributors to this topic debate I’d say. I’m with you on your fervour and rallying call for tonight’s match NAF, and bully for you. Yet I’m also with those who have made known their thoughts on other matters up for discussion too. Fans are concerned about every aspect of the team and its players, that’s what being fanatical means surely?.

Enjoy the game NAF, as I surely will. A bit miffed I couldn’t get a ticket to be there that’s all.

Jos – thanks for your comments mate. It would be good to get more goals from our midfield, yet I am concerned too about our lack of controlling the game forceably from midfield. I do love when Hargo, Carrick and Anderson play together though, it just seems better to me. Again, that’s just personal preference though lol!.

Timbo (post 79), Fred the Red (post 71), Red addict (post 70), and Johnsom33 (post 90), WOOOOO, Go guys – loved these posts, and wholeheartedly agree with them. Couldn’t have expressed your points better myself lol!.

Red Ranter – (post 89), Re. our CM is bursting with talent, squad is well settled there – REALLY???. Can’t wholeheartedly agree with you there!. Carrick is not robust or commanding defensively. Neither are Scholes and Giggs this season. Anderson, apart from notable games away at L’Pool and Arsenal and a couple of games at home, is not yet consistent in same high standard in every game. Park has his odd good games, as does Fletcher, and Hargo is great when fit to play. I think our midfield is the weakest part of our team, and needs more strength. But hey, it’s all about opinions isn’t it?.

All of you worried about Vida and Wesley, rest assured guys they’re all going to take part tonight.

Oh and by the way, the who’s better fued going on here has taken its toll on all of us. We all know that the most important issue at hand is how can MUFC be the best in the world (p.s. refer back to the title of the topic above).

Frankly, right now, today, is our chance to prove that we are.

So, if we really want to focus on something, we should be anticipating one hell of a contest.

Lets hope that SAF, the genius that he is, has more of his tactical approaches up his sleave tonight. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from supporting, with all my heart (and sometimes hard earned money) the Red Devils, then its this; never underestimate the opponent (no matter how good you are), and always place your trust in the Gaffer, because 9 times out of ten he surprises every one, not only rivals, but us, the fans.

Finally, this humble rant of mine is directed to all of us here, and elsewhere for that matter, that today is the biggest night we will experience since the 1999 UEFA Champions league final. The emotions are so high that some of us cannot contain them anymore. Lets do it for the victims of Munich. They DESERVE it !!!