Aug 10
Some NOTW Nonsense + Community Shield Preview
We return to some real footballing action today with the Community Shield against Portsmouth — although pseudo-real could be a better word as the real action begins next week. But before we move on to the preview of today’s game a brief word on some early morning bollocks.
The News of the World, as is their wont, decided to run a story where Real Madrid are to sue Ronaldo for £17m for deciding to stay at Old Trafford. The reason: apparently they had agreed personal terms with Ronaldo and there was a clause of compensation of 17m if he decided to stay back at Manchester. The story was run sans quotes which gives it as much credibility as a talking chimp on weed.
But the same paper ran another story where Fergie is quoted as saying that Madrid had put in one bid in the summer which was rejected. Now if one were to put these two together, then I can see only two possible outcomes:
1. Real Madrid are clearly guilty of tapping up and said contract with the player would be rendered null and void.
2. The story is absolute bollocks.
I tend to go with outcome #2. I can’t imagine a seasoned agent like Jorge Mendes indulging in potty deals like these.
Speaking of bollocksy stories, so is the one on Henry. Where the fuck is the proof in that This is London article? It’s got no quote, and it’s the only source carrying that story. Lazy journalism in my humble opinion. And I really don’t rate any daily these days apart from the BBC to some extent. Everyone including the Guardian are up to no good. (Although, I do think the Guardian have a few good columnists.)
Anyway, on to better things, the Community Shield today pits us against Portsmouth. Michael Carrick, who made a quicker recovery from the virus that has kept Rooney down, returns to the squad and so do Nani and Neville. It’s unlikely Neville will start whilst I believe Nani will. So will Carlos Tevez.
I guess, our starting XI should be something like this: EVDS (in goal), Brown, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, Nani, Tevez, Campbell. At different times in the game we will get to see the likes of Possebon, da Silva twins and Darron Gibson.
It’s good to give a run to a more settled squad that will play next week. And that’s why our strongest defence will be put out first and given a good work out.
Prediction: 2-0 to United.
Related items from Red Rants:- United* 1-1 Chelsea: First Blood to the Reds
- Community Shield Preview
- A Mini-Break
- Ronaldo Wins Ballon d’Or
- Sunday Roundup: Heinze Speaks Finally
Tags: Daily Roundup · Game Preview
August 10th, 2008 at 8:56
NOTW>>>> Marca in spouting shite.
Anyway RR. You not on rant anymore?
August 10th, 2008 at 9:05
@dozer: I do pop in from time to time. Not as regular, but again, I do have time constraints. Running this site keeps my hands full apart from other regular daily chores.
August 10th, 2008 at 9:12
Nevs is getting the nod. RDS will get an appearance. I forget Shield rules…more than 3 subs?
August 10th, 2008 at 9:27
Heya fellas, I am from India and last year the Community Shield was telecast live on Espn/Star but I don’t see it in their listings for today. Which channel is it going to be on?? PLease reply, finally some decent action I can watch on my new big-screen TV, I don’t want to miss it!
August 10th, 2008 at 9:51
mihir, i cant confirm it it, but it my be on justin.tv/mstv_2. but dont hold me to it.
RR, correct me if im wrong, but even though we will have a bench of seven, i swear we can only substitute 3 though?
August 10th, 2008 at 9:56
It’s almost the start of the new season and we have not signed anyone. Please SAF. Wake up. You don’t know what you doing. Our squad is not good enough. The world is ending. Where are the 5 world class players that we must sign in order for the plastics to continue supporting…
Note the sarcasm in my post……………..
August 10th, 2008 at 10:05
RR; I believe the first paper or site to publish this ridiculous Henry story was the Daily Mail and then This is London borrowed it. I agree, it has to be a load of rubbish.
August 10th, 2008 at 10:24
Maybe Andy is finding his scoring touch!
August 10th, 2008 at 10:47
@Mihir: Mihir you might wanna try Sony Pix at 7:30PM.
August 10th, 2008 at 11:56
Anyone else in the UK pissed off this is on Sentanta? I mean really, I pay all this £££ for Sky and satellite, and then to ‘break the monopoly’ they end up wanting me to pay more for Sentanta too! Screeeeww you guys!
August 10th, 2008 at 12:51
That Henry rumour was doing the rounds back in June… truly desperate on the part of This Is London.
August 10th, 2008 at 13:21
your screwed with sky to be honest, virgin is so much better.
August 10th, 2008 at 13:24
@Beachryan: Yep definately, I just resort to semi-decent streams on the internet now or maybe go down the pub.
August 10th, 2008 at 13:24
ANDERSON SCORED-for brazil
, please carry this form back with you.
August 10th, 2008 at 13:43
I’m worried if Nev plays instead of Wes. I think we are already handicapped enough, and Nev is far from match fit. Wes should be in. Pompey are going to be all out physical, and with players with real aerial threat. I think this is a game we don’t need too many hobbits playing in our team - eh Grog?. I may be wrong, but I think we will miss Wes’s aerial ability if he is not in the starting 11.
August 10th, 2008 at 13:47
@Craig Mc: nev and wes are similar height and you say he doesn’t have match fitness, well the only way to get match fit is to play matches, would it not be better to play him now in a match where doesn’t matter that much if we lose or a match during the season?
August 10th, 2008 at 14:08
wen is the kick off nd can ne1 plz put up sum links..
it aint being aired in India.
August 10th, 2008 at 14:12
@adie: I think Sony Pix is showing it…
August 10th, 2008 at 14:53
Links ?
August 10th, 2008 at 15:22
teamsheets?
August 10th, 2008 at 15:23
Wow we quite desperately need a target man. I don’t even mind if that’s Giggs, but he has tog et into the box. Fletcher and Nani are doing wellg etting into crossing positions, but there’s no point as Tevez and Giggs are nowhere near the box. Scholes is often the furthest forward!
August 10th, 2008 at 15:25
———VDS———-
-Gary-Rio—Vidic-Evra
—O’Shea–Scholes—
-Fletcher—-Nani—
—Giggs-Tevez—–
August 10th, 2008 at 15:37
Oh my
Darren FLetcher!!! tut tut tut
How did he miss that one!!!
We have been putting in a couple of good tackles though, evra and nani most notibly
August 10th, 2008 at 15:38
Wow, what a miss by Fletcher.
August 10th, 2008 at 15:40
wow what a shit teamsheet…
August 10th, 2008 at 15:44
we have a new Center Forward: Darren Fletcher!!!
August 10th, 2008 at 15:44
chance after chance…gone begging
August 10th, 2008 at 15:46
this Respect thing is extra extra gay.
August 10th, 2008 at 15:46
http://www.justin.tv/widgets/jtv_live.r8444.swf?channel=mstv_2
there you go mates, sorry its late, but studies first
August 10th, 2008 at 15:47
been a decent half though
August 10th, 2008 at 15:48
oshea is not a CM, put on possebon, take of fletcher and put on da silva
August 10th, 2008 at 15:51
@Mihir: you might be able to watch the stream on livefooty.doctor-server.com, you need sopcast!
August 10th, 2008 at 15:52
Please, we’re playing really well. Portsmouth look vunerable, but we’ve lackeda bit of a cutting edge. 1-0 it should be but isn’t - will that inspire Fergie to put ona real forward? We just seem to lack that penetration that we need without Rooney on there. Tevez and Giggs are both playing as withdrawn strikers, with Fletcher often getting the furthest forward. Perhaps we’ve identified a weakness in their LB, but I dunno, seems weird. Nani is lively but no end product.
Give it 15 mins, then on comes Campbell for O’Shea, move Fletch back into the centre, Giggs out wide (the only place he’s effective) and get going with a real formation.
August 10th, 2008 at 15:54
@Beachryan:
It is annoying isnt it, the whole point according to the EU was to provide a better deal for fans but it actually ends up costing fans more as the current cost is around £155 a year + £10 connection fee (Which forces you to really stick with the sub over the summer rather than cancel it and restart sub at start of the season) and you still need Sky Sports as most of the good games (especially the United ones) are on there.
On Sky the same games prem game package that setanta had cost £50 for the PPV season ticket so thats over £100 more that needs to be paid now. So now football fans are worse off all cos of a bunch of idiotic europeans
August 10th, 2008 at 16:01
@ Wakey - Absolutely mate, v. frustrating.
I’m a bit worried bout today’s game - we’re doing our traditional ‘arsenal’ performance - chances going a begging. Crouch and Defoe will create something in 45 minutes, and they might well take it. We need some damn finishing! With the two centre backs looking mighty slow, I’d defo bring on Campbell, he’ll force them onto the back of their feet.
August 10th, 2008 at 16:06
CR7 Sighting
August 10th, 2008 at 16:08
AHHHHHH! That should be 2-0
August 10th, 2008 at 16:09
So far my fears have been realized. Great defense and not much offense. And when we get the chance or two, our finishing is awful. Is everybody convinced yet that we need a striker? Also, this experiment of Fergie’s to play O’Shea in CM may work from a defensive point of view but offensively it does nothing but slow us down. This club is very ordinary without Rooney and Ronaldo. But then again to be fair, take the two best players off any team and they too would be ordinary.
August 10th, 2008 at 16:12
@Grognard:
I’d have to agree
August 10th, 2008 at 16:27
@ Gronard - I think the offense isn’t world class, but it’s not terrible either. We’ve created good chances today, just haven’t taken them. Nani has been lively, a good winger rather than goal scorer. Will be interesting to see now that Carrick is on if we can open Portsmouth up
August 10th, 2008 at 16:30
ohhhh bit of magic there by tevez, great play
August 10th, 2008 at 16:32
I can see deja vu in my head
August 10th, 2008 at 16:34
fucking hell!!!what tha fuck!
August 10th, 2008 at 16:35
terrible refereeing. we got jobbed a penalty
August 10th, 2008 at 16:35
the clearest penalty i have EVER seen in my life
August 10th, 2008 at 16:36
Quality shoe string tackle there by the Middle Line Backer Hreidesson - oh wait it’s not that kind of football? WTF?
August 10th, 2008 at 16:42
Campbell’s a lightweight, but he’s got some fight
August 10th, 2008 at 16:43
@Grognard:
I don’t think its that bad. Oshea obviously isnt a great choice for creating attacks but he is only playing because a) he is a first team player and he needs his games to be ready for the season (the likes of possebon will get reserve games) and b) Carrick and Hargreaves injuries/illness, Anderson being in China and Injuries pushing Fletcher to the wing restrict first team choices.
We do need another striker on the field, especially for the prem games where Giggs will surely have to play on the left, like many Im not fully convinced with Campbell but even him would give a better shape if we dont have Berba by next week and Rooney isnt fit
August 10th, 2008 at 16:48
somehow David James always has a field day playing against Utd!!! Was he ever rejected by us in his youth or somethig?
August 10th, 2008 at 16:52
This is awesome, Portsmouth are wasting time for penalties..in a friendly!
August 10th, 2008 at 16:53
@Beachryan: lol
August 10th, 2008 at 17:01
I think we should take some real positives today (and I write this before the shootout) - We outplayed a very strong permiership side, lacking our two best players. And despite Giggs only appearing to chip corners to David James too! Our passing was crisp, Tevez is looking absolutely awesome and the back 4 looked very solid, even if Gaz can’t manage the 90. All in all a pretty good showing, on any other day we’d be 2-0 and home and dry.
and best of all, it aboslutely highlights why we need a frontman, so hoefully Fergie will go take care of that this week!
August 10th, 2008 at 17:02
GIGGS hahaha shit
August 10th, 2008 at 17:03
YES
August 10th, 2008 at 17:04
OH MY god what a penalty johnson!!!
August 10th, 2008 at 17:05
Van Der Star
August 10th, 2008 at 17:06
Ha get in, we won
August 10th, 2008 at 17:07
Tevez looks so good…
August 10th, 2008 at 17:17
easy peasy! nice run out for the lads, but we still need a another striker. I have a good feeling that Fergie will get his man, come on spuds sell us Berba. like the look of Campbell though, come on you Reds!
August 10th, 2008 at 17:29
Are we feckin Chelsea in disguise?. I really mean it!. Our attack is non existent, but I know you all know that lol. I remind myself that in the league games coming up soon, we won’t be able to get penalties to decide the matches, so am I worried - yes I am. Like Fergie said in todays papers, if Arsenal get ahead this time, they won’t lose their advantage in his opinion. I wouldn’t mind, but we have known for a full season that we needed more strikers, and still we have dragged our feet. Now you can all have a go at me, but our football is BORING and has been for most of pre season.
August 10th, 2008 at 17:29
Highlights
August 10th, 2008 at 17:34
oops not yet
August 10th, 2008 at 17:37
Well it’s plain to see that we would win every game in football if there was a penalty shootout at the end of every draw. EVDS just owns that discipline right now. When he stands their with his legs and arms spread out he must be very intimidating due his height superiority.
As soon as it went to penalties I knew we had won. No way is Pompey going to beat us at that. They don’t have the players with the composure to excel at penalties like we do.
Tevez was the man of the match no doubt, but I am going to vote a surprise as second best player of the match. Darren Fletcher was very good in my opinion except of course for the sitter he missed. But give him credit for getting there. His second miss was a cheeky chip and he almost scored but what i liked is his ambition and creative flair. I said this last year and I stand by it, he is a quicker and faster player since coming back from his injury last year. His confidence to be a dynamic player as opposed to just another John O’Shea who does a very decent but pedestrian job is quite obvious. He is really making attempts to be more offensive in his approach and especially more creative and less predictable and static. And speaking of static, wasn’t Pompey just terrible defensively. They were caught standing around many times just watching Carlito or Nani playing with the ball. We really deserved to win by 3 or 4 goals but lets face it, our finishing is just not there.
Our defense was great but really, were they ever tested. Pompey showed no courage or character to advance and try to make a game of it. The fact we didn’t score obviously heightens my fears about what I feel we can expect early in the season until Ronaldo returns and if we get that much needed striker. We were good right up until we got into their box. Once there, we made a meal of everything. And Tevez needs to shoot more. He had a couple of efforts but he tries to pass far too often and not shoot enough. That 92 minute pass inside the box to Scholes was a perfect example. Shoot the ball Carlos, Scholes was not in a position to latch on to that pass.
Neville was pretty decent and I think his emergence and selection for this game sends a message to Brown and R. Da Silva that the job is his to lose. Fergie does reward his veterans doesn’t he? Disappointed to not see Possebon or either of the twins but then again, a smart manager would probably risk them in a 0-0 match. Their inexperience could have cost us. Campbell did well to get his clear chance but then again, the lack of composure let him down. How much do you want to bet Huntelaar would have put a bulge in the old onion bag on that attempt? One last comment on Tevez. He looks better on the ball than he did last year. He’s still not super quick but he is so composed, confident and full of desire. He is fun to watch although I wished he would do most of that stuff in the 18 yard box and not so close to midfield. He seems very happy and content and his desire is second to none but he needs to calm down after people fouled him. He has escaped two red cards in a week for retaliation. And that was a blatant penalty. RESPECT? If those clowns in black want respect from players, they need to earn it by opening their god damned eyes.
Good effort but lacking the polish and finish at the end. Still early so things should get better and hopefully reinforcements are on the way. UNITED FOR LIFE!
August 10th, 2008 at 17:37
honestly, i dont see anything wrong with us from down the middle of the pitch to our goal mouth, even our squad players like fletch and oshea put in good performances.
we just had no clinicality…
of coourse this is nothing new… zzzzzz get us a striker fergie…
August 10th, 2008 at 17:50
Wink, ZZZZZZZZ is the right statement mate. I don’t need a sedative anymore, I just watch United’s pre season games to get me to sleep. I will get slaughtered tonight by the City fans in our local boozer, who enjoy stating the bloody obvious, that we are shite without Ronaldo. Where’s our new strikers Fergie lol. I know he is iceman, but shit, I don’t want to be bored to death up front anymore.
August 10th, 2008 at 17:59
first off. that ref should be put back into the dusty confines of retirement for that incredulous penalty (or rather lack of) for tevez being yanked to the floor! how the hell did he not see it. it annoys me more so that these refs are now allowed to produce yellow cards for the slightest show of passion (which is what this game is all about) and yet when they make or don’t make a blatently ovbious decision its a wonder why players get so narked about it.. i know it wasn’t an important match, and it will be left to be forgot about, but if the season ahead sees officals not being up to sratch, whilst flailing yellows left right and centre, i seriously fear for the game…. mind you when it gets to a derby when each team looses 4 men, then i think the f.a. will have to review this stupidly harsh new implementation which only came about because twats like cashly cole and mad-man-erarno, carn’t take being told off.
glad we won, and tbf we were never gonna loose, i never felt panicked, and with basically a full team of players still to come back, im confident about the season ahead… if we get someone who will put the ball in the back of the net from 2yards or 20yards… (fletcher, im looking at you, you tit)
August 10th, 2008 at 18:03
Okay so we are back to winning things albeit via penalties. I must confess though,I almost screamed me lungs out when I sighted Ronnie. I still love the kid, I gotta say it.
So here goes my assessment of the game. From the rear, the bac four was incredible as usual which I personally think is our greatest strength. Rio has to been the calmest and most confident defender in the world, plus the telepathy with Vidic almost seems evil. Gary showed traces of what we remember of him, maybe just maybe. VDS missed Rooney a lot on the long balls. To the middle, Oshea is a very good defender but on the counter, he provides limited pace and creativity. Bottom line we missed Carrick like hell. I am a staunch believer in Nani’s capacity to explode in the future as did Cristiano. He needs to learn how to track back and help his full backs. Other than that I was impressed by his physicality and dedication and I am pretty certain he will continue to improve. Tevez? That dude can play 180 minutes with the same grit and determination if he has to. He was my best forward player on the day and I think he desperately missed Rooney. Tevez was involved in too deep with play most times that it was asking for too much to find him in the box to complete an attck he probably initiated. What I am saying in effect is that, had we a Berbatov, the game would have ended in the 1st half. Each time Fletcher touched the ball, I silently cursed David Moyes for having the balls to offer 3 mil for such a player.
Overall, I was proud of what the team achieved without Criatiano and Rooney. I am very optimistic about the start of the season and I think we are guaranteed maximum points against Newcastle if we fielded this team with Carrick and Brown replacing Oshea and Gary respectively.
@Grognard:
I don’t think the team looked ordinary without Ronaldo and Rooney. Of course we are invincible with the two Rs in the team, but ordinary without them, I think that’s too harsh. My reasoning will be valid after Chelsea plays this same Pompey side in a weeks time. I would love to see how Deco the Super signing will cope with the physicality of Dioup and Diarra in the middle. I predict Scolari sweating his pants and wondering if the EPL was the right place for him. Ballack for Deco will be his only saving grace.
August 10th, 2008 at 18:30
Someone please post the highlights of the penalties alone….
August 10th, 2008 at 18:48
Yes I caught snippets of the Roma vs. Tottenham game. Berbatov it has to be said looked UN interested most times. Poor berba, every player in the world seems to have dreams but alas, not all dreams come true. Bentley scored a screamer, a really terrific goal, and his second of the game actually. But still, my verdict is that the EPL top four will remain the same, with us at the zenith of course.
@ Grognard
What do you make of the Henry rumour? I still think we will get Berbatov though, but just in case we don’t, the other choice is Klass Huntelaar. However, based on what I think Fergie is planning to achieve with the new striker and given that He will only sign a player that adds to the team and doesn’t require a restructuring in the present squad to be accommodated, I have a feeling that Henry will be a very good signing. My reason, He knows the EPL like no other striker does and that’s a fact. He has an enviable skill set, pace and vision to play others on. He will score goals and provide numerous assists. He wouldn’t mind being a squad player, as par He won’t whine if he’s not started in every game. What do you think? Berbatov is my first choice really, but if Levy insists on playing hard ball, we are champions and we have to move on and defend our titles.
August 10th, 2008 at 18:56
@Krishnan: here are the penalty kicks highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkIXjjfLGHQ&eurl=http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/1465494/
August 10th, 2008 at 19:01
@hmm: thanks mate..
August 10th, 2008 at 19:47
anyone seen andersonsonsons goal
August 10th, 2008 at 19:56
Gator, there’s a video on Republik of Mancunia showing Anderson’s goal, is that what you mean?.
August 10th, 2008 at 20:05
craig mc: indeed
he was not to be denied
August 10th, 2008 at 20:33
Watching the game it was very much like the games we played at the start of last season: intricate passing moves with no end product. Tevez for me is a wonderful player but I hardly ever see him in the box and we play too deep when he leads the line.
I thought we looked better with Campbell up front even though the guy looks out of his depth
Time to buy a striker
August 10th, 2008 at 21:07
I thought Fletcher had a good game. His vision is top. He was the man in the box time after time and he picked out some good crosses / passes.
Shame he’s shit.
August 10th, 2008 at 21:07
Time to buy a striker?. Haha Colver, that’s the understatement of the year. We need TWO really good strikers to replace Saha, and Campbell, because that lad is at present out of his depth.
August 10th, 2008 at 21:09
@Craig Mc: I think we need one striker, and to have Campbell learning from the three of them. He certainly has some balls..
August 10th, 2008 at 21:17
I think that overall we were excellent today. We completely dominated the game against a physically very strong team. True, we didn’t score but on another day we would have score three or four even without a proper striker. Tevez was awesome and so was Scholes. We didn’t have any weak player and our movement was very good.
August 10th, 2008 at 21:21
@Traverse: yeah, just one striker will be good enuff (Berba!!)… also Campbell and Manucho can give us that extra dimension if need be…
Fletch was awesome today, people seem to forget the guy is still relatively young, he played RMF today and did what Ronnie usually does; gets into space and scoring opportunities. Maybe, just maybe we don’t need that extra young winger anymore.
August 10th, 2008 at 21:30
@Craig Mc: The reason it was boring mate was because they lack the finish or that clinical final touch or pass in the box at the very end. I actually thought they did very well to poke through and find spaces to exploit and destroy Pompey but their finish was terrible. The only good shot they had (Tevez), James made the good save on. Yes one can attribute that to rusty pre season lack of form but lets face it, we need a poacher and we need one bad. I honestly wouldn’t say we were boring and that’s me saying a lot since I am the Prince of Fucking Darkness on this blog. I saw a lot to be very delighted over. Tevez is really winning me over despite not scoring goals. Fletcher for me is becoming a revelation with his confidence and finesse skills which are developing at rapid pace. Neville looked decent and our defense is solid and now it is oh so incredibly deep with world class talent. I love everything about our team except for that very important and needed aspect of the game where they lack right now, scoring goals. They are terrible in the last quarter of the pitch. The buildup to that point is very efficient and occasionally very flashy but after all they do to get into a great position for goal, they make a meal of their opportunity or the last telling pass or cross is a poor one. Nani skinned guys all day but his last pass and cross was always off the mark. Campbell did very well to make his one chance but then lost his composure and belted the ball high and over. Tevez dribbled and ran rings around the back four but his telling pass at the end was just a bit off or a defender or GK would make the saving play. Nothing to panic over but the need for Rooney and Ronaldo is very clear and lets face it, we need a goal scorer up front to make the telling difference. My God, if we get Berbatov or Huntelaar and then get Rooney, Ronaldo, Hargreaves and Anderson back, we will be awesome.
It’s just surviving that first half dozen games that worries me because should Chelsea get off to a fast start, they are traditionally great front runners unlike Arsenal. And we are notoriously slow starters out of the gate. Add to that a killer first half schedule where we play all 9 of the of last year top nine teams (excluding us) on the road. Nobody is going to convince me there wasn’t a conspiracy cooking up that unfair schedule. It is blatantly unfair and brutal. Still, I think we have the defense to overcome a lot of that early hurdle as long as we get a striker. So even though I am troubled with some things, I find enough to actually be quite positive. JEEZ! I stand to lose to lose my crown in the Kingdom of Darkness.
August 10th, 2008 at 21:32
@WhiteY: Read my post #81 and you will get a more accurate and positive idea of my thoughts on the game.
August 10th, 2008 at 21:34
@gator: It’s Mr. Andersonsonson.
(If you don’t get the joke, it’s a reference to the Matrix)
August 10th, 2008 at 21:37
@Traverse: Ahh come on mate. You just praised him and then you call him shit. Fair enough if he was but he has come a long way in the lat 8 months. His pace, vision and confidence as skyrocketed. He honestly believes he’s good enough now to compete for a position in the starting 11. Don’t you think you are being unfair?
August 10th, 2008 at 21:50
I have to say that once again the Grognard feels very vindicated over the idea that we need a striker. For over a year now I have been the loudest person on this blog crying, Hell demanding that we buy a striker or even two. I have pleaded, demanded, cried and begged Fergie, who never bloody listens to me (I just don’t understand it), to rid me of that cancerous growth Saha and to buy one world class striker (goal poacher) and a decent young backup to play the role of striker #4. Man can I even count the number of negative and often hateful responses I have received due to my stance and my valid belief that the team was lacking this major ingredient in their team’s final recipe. Despite my claims and obvious wisdom (elitist joke), United won the EPL and the CL despite the fact that they lacked this needed component in their offense. That is more an indication of their greatness rather and a detraction to my theory. Even Fergie admitted to the fact the team needed a goal scorer to become more complete and even harder to beat.
Well it seems like after all this time the obvious has finally dawned on many of you detractors and unfortunately it took the loss of Ronaldo and other injuries to make you all realize that we need more scoring, depth up front and that I was right all along (I say while I’m patting myself on the shoulder). Vindication tastes sweet and for the few of you who still blindly believe we are fine, all I have to say is Ophthalmologists are readily available and a good eye prescription can do wonders. As for your stubbornness, I would rather not go there. It was obvious all along that I was right. Way to go Groggy (yet one more blatant pat on my own shoulder).
August 10th, 2008 at 21:54
@Gabriel: I agree about Fletcher. No he is not a winger but he is a very adequate RMFer. He was better than Beckham in the fact that he showed some pace, willingness to overlap and to cut in and create. He was actually very Ronaldo like but without the finish or the tricks. I have been sold on him for a while now and I think he would have been a shoe in for man of the match had he score on either of his two chances. He is so full of confidence an courage now. My hat goes off to him and I also praise Fergie for his patience and belief in the lad when many including myself had dismissed him as just ordinary. He has the potential to be a very special and highly valuable contributor to our team and I would not sell him for anything right now.
August 10th, 2008 at 21:55
I have new name for Sylvan Distin. Silly disdain. I found him very annoying today.
August 10th, 2008 at 22:01
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1539452.ece
Even though the heading may be bollocks!
Read the things that Fergie says!
Looks like the barcodes may already have wet their pants!
Cause Berba is going to be a red devil for them!
August 10th, 2008 at 22:01
@Grognard: well, well, someone is really proud of himself!!!
Nobody’s doubting we need a striker and I used to want berba, but after watching today’s game, I reckon Huntelaar wouldn’t be a bad idea. We have a lot of playmakers at the mo, and a pure goal-score would be more complimentary to the team. The only risk we run from doing that is, we might get accustomed to playing around him and as he is an in-the-box striker (unlike ronnie), good defences can easily mark him out of the game!!
In all seriousness though, Berba, Benzema, huntelaar are the only choices for me and I keep on switching my preference between each of them on a daily basis… Fergie save me from this madness!! Which of those three would you pick for united?
August 10th, 2008 at 22:03
@Grognard: This Red Diablo: is especially for you!
August 10th, 2008 at 22:05
@Red Diablo: That’s sadistic mate. OUCH!
August 10th, 2008 at 22:07
@gator: Andersonsonson’s goal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnZ8YdnRh-4
Mind you, he first hit it straight at the keeper, then capitalised on the rebound!
Also interesting to see Ronaldinho performing well! Have Milan got a bargain there? Woulda loved him to play in the EPL…
August 10th, 2008 at 22:11
@Grognard: Dont worry! It continues! Till Fergie brings life to what he says!
August 10th, 2008 at 22:12
I’m going to share an article from the Mirror with all of you which shows what kind of man and how much class Sir Alex Ferguson has. ENJOY!
Sir Alex Ferguson’s touching letter to Harry Redknapp
BEFORE Sir Alex Ferguson took off for a well-earned break in France this summer he insisted on writing a touching, personal letter to Harry Redknapp. The contents reveal a compassionate side to Ferguson few fans would recognise. But it didn’t surprise Redknapp, whose Portsmouth side face Manchester United in today’s Community Shield at Wembley.
Redknapp’s team went from strength to strength last season, culminating in victory in the FA Cup Final in May. But off-the-pitch Harry had to deal with the death of his wife’s twin sister Pat, the mother of Chelsea’s Frank Lampard. Her passing left them all devastated. Naturally, those in the football community close to him phoned and passed on their heart felt condolences. But only Ferguson took the time and trouble to write. “To be honest, it didn’t really surprise me,” insisted Redknapp. “It was a lovely touch. The letter was very personal and a great deal of thought had gone into its contents. “He included my wife Sandra, young Frank and the family in general. “What’s more, he meant every word of it and that means a great deal to me. “But that’s Sir Alex for you. It’s probably a side you don’t see too much but one everyone in football knows about. “Publicly you see the ruthlessly driven side of a man that wants to win at all costs and that’s what makes him such a successful manager, probably one of the best in the history of the game. He hates losing but as I have always said, ‘Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser’. “But in truth, you couldn’t meet a more caring and compassionate man. “He has time for everyone, let me tell you. If a lower league manager calls him, he will always call them back. If someone is in trouble he is the first on the phone trying to help and if someone passes away in the football community he will think nothing of getting in his car and driving to the other side of the country to attend the funeral.”
Harry and Fergie have had the odd spats - but nothing that would come close to damaging their close friendship. “He did have the right hump with me when I was at West Ham and they failed to beat us and lost the title to Blackburn in ’95,” said Redknapp. “I remember he kept throwing on strikers and I kept trying to nullify them by throwing on defenders.
“And obviously there was our quarter-final victory in the FA Cup at Old Trafford last season. I think he could genuinely see United going on to to win the Treble and we wrecked that. “Was he happy? What do you think? He erupted with fury and blamed everyone. But that’s Sir Alex for you. It didn’t stop him congratulating us when we went on to beat Cardiff in the Final.”
Redknapp admits that playing United is the highlight of his season and it will be no different today when he will be itching to get one over them again. “There are massive games in the football calendar and then there is playing Manchester United,” he said. “It’s like playing the FA Cup Final every time you meet them. There’s just something very special about that club. “It’s everything. The football, the style, the great players and the history of the club. If there is one team you’re desperate to beat it’s them. And it will be no different on Sunday.
“If we get a good result against them it will give everyone a lift before our relatively easy opener against Chelsea in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge next Sunday!”
Where Redknapp does envisage United having a problem is when Ferguson calls time on his managerial career. “It’s a great job but you pity the poor so and so who has to follow Sir Alex. “For the time being, and while he’s still there, United will remain the team everyone has to beat.”
GROGNARD: I think that speaks volumes about the man, the manager, the competitor and the human being. I just love him to death and it will indeed be a very sad day when he retires. I especially take my hat off to Harry Redknapp for showing his class and for divulging the contents of this letter as it really throws dirt in the faces of the many members of the London media who have taken turns slagging the great man. Shame on all of them for their biased reporting and their pettiness.
August 10th, 2008 at 22:14
@Grognard: Fletch is the shit!! people don’t realise the reason Fergie keeps these fringe players like O’shea, fletch and co is cuz they have that winning mentality. These lads have experienced winning more medals than most of the so-called talented and experienced players in the Premiership/Europe. These guys know what it takes to win; why do you think O’shea always pops up with those vital last-minute goals? They do not know how to loose!!
I for one am excited at the possibilities available to us this season.. 1 trophy down, 6 to go…
August 10th, 2008 at 22:21
@Gabriel: Yes I had to show myself a little love. Sorry about that. I have to disagree with your point about teams being able to mark Huntelaar out of a game. His presence is great because his physical presence is very hard to mark out of a game and because he offers such a threat, he actually opens the game up for the likes of Rooney, Tevez and even Ronaldo. So even if he isn’t scoring, his presence should allow for more quality chances for the others.
Having said that, the Henry rumor seems to be spreading like wildfire and Fergie isn’t denying it. Since Fergie rarely ever listens to me when we meet at the country club for a glass of wine. I fully expect him to destroy me by buying the Antichrist. God how could he? I think the Berbatov deal maybe dead because Spurs played him today as a starter. You just don’t risk a player when he is up for sale. I think Huntelaar is our third choice now and for me that is especially sad. Not fucking Henry
Please Fergie, say it ain’t so!
August 10th, 2008 at 22:24
@Nico QB: Sorry but you are mistaken. That was not Andersonson. It looks like him but it isn’t him. You see, it can’t be. The ball went in the goal and not over and into the 30th row.
August 10th, 2008 at 22:29
@Gabriel: Six months ago I would have agreed with your theory 100%. Bu tnow I can honestly not agree about Fletch. He is no longer the shits. I think he has come a long way. I think Fergie had a long talk with him and demanded that the lad step up and be counted or be prepared to move on. I think he challenged him by setting specific expectations of him that Fletcher himself probably thought were unrealistic. But then again if you limit a person to just shoot for the moon, they never have any chance of reaching the stars. I think Fergie told him he would have to change and shoot for the stars if he hoped to keep his place and push for something higher. And I think the lad is responding very well.
August 10th, 2008 at 22:37
@Grognard: A slight clarification for you in the world of English slang usage. When some one says certain player is “the shit” it actually means he’s good/awesome. The presence of THE before shit makes a big difference, as opposed to just saying Fletch is shit.
So Gabriel actually said Fletch is good with that expression.
August 10th, 2008 at 22:45
@Grognard: LOL.. u misunderstood my lingo, i meant he is awesome!! Fletcher has indeed come a long way, he was initially supposed to be a RMF, then he became a CMF, now he’s playing like a CF
The boy is more determined than ever, and he will use this ronaldo absence to prove he has got the goods. Like I said, our fringe players have something most first-team starters elsewhere don’t, a winning mentality!
These lads would put their necks and limbs on the line just for United to win; look at their performances when we really needed them in vital games last season - fletcher in Arsenal FA Cup 4-0 bashing, Park in CL game against Barcelona, O’shea in numerous games against Big teams - they never let us down. The good thing is that they don’t have that ego, but just want to improve and be part of the squad, and that’s why I love ‘em. In fact, from now on Fletch is my new United hero
August 10th, 2008 at 22:45
Hahaha, if you lot think that game was entertaining, that what do you all do for FUN, attend Wakes!. To me, it was all huff and puff, with no CLIMAX at the end, in other words a letdown. I want the Roon, the Ronnie, the Berba, the Hunterlaar, the Santa Cruz, anybody who can put the feckin ball in the net. Excuse me, if I thought football was all about scoring goals, if you are playing what Fergie calls the United Way!!!!!!!.
August 10th, 2008 at 22:52
@Red Ranter: thanks for the clarification RR!! btw, what did u think about the game today?
I thought our team really showed composure in defence, disciplined build-up play, but were unlucky not to finish it off(maybe a striker will solve that). But what I was most impressed with was our chemistry despite the team being a mash-up of players playing out of position. They all seemed to have matured from last season and are displaying the confidence of true champions.
Also, Gaz was impressive, so was Fletch. I reckon he might do a neat job on the wings this season, what do you reckon?
August 10th, 2008 at 23:03
Fletch is the best worst player in the premiership
August 10th, 2008 at 23:09
Gabriel do you really believe our players were unlucky not to finish off their good field play, which I can agree to the build up was okay. They weren’t unlucky though not to score, they were totally inept. It says something, when the Pompey fans cheered and ridiculed our every so called effort on goal. Last season, opposing fans hearts were in their mouths with Rooney and Ronnie bearing down on their goal. Not today, the Pompey fans were confident that if we played all day, we wouldn’t score. Sorry, but I don’t think there’s any excuse for that kind of ineptitude. Doesn’t anybody think it was a little bit embarrasing?.
August 10th, 2008 at 23:26
tevez looks like aman on a mission, and would be gobsmacked if and when we get the new striker, he was dropped for rooney.
August 10th, 2008 at 23:27
Embarrassed?????? Pardon my french man, but what the fuck was embarrassing?? Playing a top 8 Prem side off the pitch while missing a whole team of regulars through injury?? Of course the Pompey fans were cheering our misses, what the fuck else were they going to cheer about? Their team gave them nothing! And its easy to not have their heart in mouths with nerves at our awesome firepower when the game doesnt fucking mean anything!
Please guys, for fucks sake, just relax….We created enough chances to beat them twice, and I admit I dont know the pompey side inside and out but I think that looked like it was rather close to their strongest side. And united dominated in every aspect of the game.
Im thinking the starting 11 for Newcastle will have Wes come in for Gary, Carrick come in for O’shea, and Wayne comes in for Nani. If any person on here is still concerned about the three points with that available line up, well, i just dont know what to say to you.
In Vidic I Trust
August 10th, 2008 at 23:30
@Traverse: Agreed
No seriously, he’s really underrated! On top of his game he’s a world beater, its just a shame he’s irregular.
On the other hand, I have my doubts about O’shea… If Fletch were to leave us he coulld easily go play for Villa or teams looking after Europe! But can you in all honesty say the same about JOS? I used to think he was quite decent at CB, he was fast, strong, tall and a decent tackler. Playing him at Full back, well, why not? But he’s freckin inept at CM/DM! A DM remains a CM and should be able to pass and privide disponibilty to other players to find them in build up play. Unfortnnately it seems that this aspect of the game is really not his forte. Bring on Anderson (after he finishes the olympics as top scorer!) and Possebon!
Oh and just as Grog is officially the leader/founder of the Owen Hargreaves Appreciation Society, I wish to be known as the founder of the Possebon Appreciation Consortium. This guy is going to be world class mark my words!
August 10th, 2008 at 23:43
About the match itself….Player notes/observations….
–VdS, could have brought a book
–Rio and Vidic, ditto for both of them. Had “bambie on ice” and defoe locked down completely.
–Evra, just outstanding. Amazing tackles and dangerous on the attack. I love it when he gets fouled by his marker and it makes him mad (like papa diops tackle from behind in the first half) because i swear it just pisses Evra off and makes him play even better. He is terrific, the best LB in the league.
–Gary, Good to have the club captain out and good to see him back in action, but the rustiness is understandably still there. Just looks like he is two steps slow. Oh well, the comeback is a long process.
–O’Shea, did good work defensively, broke up play nicely a few times. But just not enough quickness or vision to be a Defensive CM for me.
–Scholes, typical, pass and move pass and move, keep it simple. Nothing spectacular, but just consistently consistent.
–Nani, looked good. Glen Johnson is a decent footballer and a decent right back, but Nani went at him constantly and caused him problems the whole match. I like how he fights to regain possession for the team and I like his aggressivness, he fights for his teammates which I think they appreciate so they dont get so angry or frustrated with him when one of his crosses goes behind the goal or some such.
–Fletch, not bad at all even in his unfavored position. I think he is a very capable box to box CM, and never has been and never will be a good right winger, but he does his job and works his fucking ass off, so you gotta love it. Had some good moments in the game too, I liked his chip with the outside of his right foot, that would have gone in!
–Giggs, meh…not great. Came into the game well though i though, and his passes and flicks started coming off more effeciently as the game went along.
–Carlos, as everyone has already said, he was awesome. Always wanting the ball, always looking to create, and just a tazmanian devil to deal with.
Disappointed not to see Possebon come in for O’shea, as I wanted to see a CM partnership of Carrick and Possebon, but oh well. Same disappoinment for not seeing Rafeal. And does anyone else, especially those of us with siblings, feel really bad for Fabio? God, how much must that suck when your brother gets the call up for the first team and you dont. How depressing.
In Vidic I Trust
August 10th, 2008 at 23:45
@Craig Mc: mate, like u said in ur post, Rooney and ronnie were missing (two of our top scorers). Anyway, we all know we need a striker/poacher as Fergie even confirmed. Apart from that, every other aspect of our game was sublime, and when we get that striker plus the return of our 1st-teamers, other teams will be quaking in their boots.
imagine us controlling games like we did today with the added bonus of having someone to convert all the chances we create…. mate, this season is gonna be amazing!!!
August 10th, 2008 at 23:48
Drew Vader, I wasn’t talking about the overall play, I was talking about the ineptitude in front of goal. Maybe you weren’t embarassed Drew, but I was. So sue me lol!. I did find the game boring to be honest, but that’s my opinion, and not one I’m likely to change. Sorry Drew mate.
August 10th, 2008 at 23:57
@Red Ranter: Thank you for the clarification. I was not aware of that. It’s like when somebody is the bomb. In north America to bomb is to be a major failure. It actually makes more sense because bomb fall. Americans have a saying where they call a person BAD. That means the guy is real good. Christ I hate modern day slang. It’s the shits (North American version). Thanks again for the clarification and Apologies to my good mate Gabriel for misunderstanding his statement. Just an old Grognard who is not too hip with the modern slang.
August 11th, 2008 at 0:01
@Gabriel: Yup! RR pointed that out to me. My apologies mate. I wasn’t aware of that slang term meaning the exact opposite to the North American version. So I guess we are in agreement and once again, great minds think alike.
I like Fletch a lot but my hero on the team is Hargreaves. I admit to a little Canadian bias there but I just love his style of play and determination as well, he played many years for my other favorite team Bayern. Hargo can do no wrong except suffer from this frustrating tendinitis. The two United jersey’s I own are Cantona and Hargo. He’s the shit! 
August 11th, 2008 at 0:03
RR; I thought you were going to e-mail me to discuss my change of thoughts towards Ronaldo? Or so I thought.
August 11th, 2008 at 0:04
@Craig Mc: Hey Craig, I’ve been to some pretty good wakes where the food was great and I ended up meeting girls that I shagged. Don’t knock wakes.
August 11th, 2008 at 0:10
@Grognard: i see ur doin it will ferrell style from wedding crashers
… how do people pick up chicks at wakes? y’all need to fill me in 
August 11th, 2008 at 0:12
@Craig Mc: I agree that they were inept but I really think that comes down more to pre season rust rather than lack of ability. But you are so right about the aspect of the game is to score goals. All the tricks, movement and pizazz means nothing unless you score a goal. Reminds me a little of Rangers who continue to useless finishers up front and sit a true goal scorer down every game. Smith just doesn’t get it and he and the team deserved what they got this week. It’s all about goals and we better start seeing them. Lets not forget that we got off to the same start last year and it lasted 6 games into the season before the offense woke up. We ended up scoring 80 goals in the EPL and the second most goals in the CL. So I wouldn’t panic although yes, we still need a world class striker to give us more option and quality up front and improve our seasonal goal tally to near 100. Why not, shoot for the stars. The 2000 team almost scored 100.
August 11th, 2008 at 0:16
@Gabriel: You need to respond to their soft and emotional side and you need to basically talk to women. Too many men don’t know how to talk to women. Without being a flirtatious Guido, I use my Greek charm and a very caring and understanding ear to break through their defenses. And I never shagged them the night of the wake. It was a date or two later. That was many moons ago and trust me, I have lost my touch and ability to get a handshake yet a good shagging these days.
August 11th, 2008 at 0:18
@dan(u-ol): I think a solid rotation of the three will bring out the best in all three and keep them fresh for the whole season. At United it’s not about ego, it’s about trophies. If the new signing doesn’t like that, Fergie knows exactly what to do with him.
August 11th, 2008 at 0:19
@Drew Vader: In Lord Vader we trust.
August 11th, 2008 at 0:31
@Grognard: LOL.. hang in there mate, we all have our dry spells!! we always move past it, and get hotter chicks in the aftermath; just like United did after our fruitless seasons of 2003-2005
August 11th, 2008 at 0:59
@Grognard: *Gasp* you were actually positive…never thought i’d see that day…Anyway, no one was ever denying we needed a striker, i for one just mainly disagreed with your comments that the reason for our transfer inactiveness was that we were broke due to the debt and the Glaziers and i continue to stand by that…
@Red Diablo: Thats awful news, i wouldn’t want Henry anywhere near OT or even in a United shirt, God please don’t let this be true.
On the game, most of the players had a good game, O’Shea was anonymous, but he did his part, so far Campbell has done nothing to prove that he deserves to be our first team striker, i can’t believe Fergie would think of not buying anyone and leaving us with Tevez, Rooney and Campbell, I’d have liked to see Rafael get a run-out, I think if he could pull off runs like the ones in the Juve and Peterbrough games against a defense like Portsmouth, then i’d say he’s ready to start some games for us, but i guess that was not to be.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:04
Grog lol, your incorrigible!. Wakes are supposed to be sad, tearful, and sombre affairs.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:44
Grog, Gabriel, I hear you, but I agree with Fergie, that we cannot afford to fall behind the other top 3 at the start of the season, like last year, because Fergie feels the others will not fall away due to injuries at strategic time to their players, which is what allowed us to catch them up. We need the goals flowing from the very 1st match.
Drew Vader, just to be devilish, here’s my take on the players game today.
VDS - Bloody marvelous as always, though he had little to do.
Evra - Always plays like a winner, which he did today.
Red Nev, should have only played the 1st half, cos he ran out of steam quickly.
Rio/Vidic - Immense, solid as a rock.
O’Shea - gets stuck in, but he’s not a Hargo is he?. No doubting his enthusiasm though.
Fletcher - couldn’t have scored, if terrorists were holding him at gunpoint, and his life depended on it. He did work hard tho, but got him no bloody where.
Scholesy - Not one of his better days. Where he left his shooting boots, and his MAP showing the way to the goals, I do not know.
Giggsy - If anyone ever sees a Giggsy pass get to the player it is meant for rather than the opposition, let me know please, and I will send him a congratulatory telegram in recognition.
Little Man Nani - BLOODY BRILLIANT IN EVERY SINGLE WAY, didn’t put a foot wrong. Course that isn’t just me being biased because he’s my favourite player, of course not lol!.
Apache Tev, he runs on and on, and on and on, like a battery always on charge. Great footballer. He better real in those temper tantrums he has started to have, and putting his hands around other peoples throats, because he should have seen red today, and then we would have been in even more bloody trouble for start of season.
Campbell - he tired, he failed, that’s all I can say about him.
Wes - reliable as ever.
Carrick, not on long enough to have the kind of effect on the game we know might have changed things.
All in all a right SNOOZE fest, as most of the papers are saying in tomorrow’s headlines.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:46
@Rd: I’ve been positive many many types mate. It’s just some of you only cling to my negative comments. As for our finances, I am still a believer of my theory that the tea has very little money to spend on transfer until Fergie proves me wrong and buys a player or two. Until then I feel I have a real case because it seems he is being halted in his pursuit of a striker because he doesn’t want to pay and extra five million to get him. When you are this in need of a striker, you don’t bicker over 5 million. Not if you make the money that team does in a year. But you do if every dime you make goes into paying off a massive debt. It’s all in how you look at things. It’s up to Fergie to prove me wrong.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:47
@Gabriel: Right now my sex life reminds of Liverpool’s number of EPL titles.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:51
@Craig Mc: It’s all in how you look at it. Actually I have been to a number of very upbeat wakes where plenty of food and jokes were being presented. Some people feel their loved ones would want them to celebrate their lives and not their deaths. Then there are Greek wakes where there is lots of food but nobody can enjoy it because everybody is so quiet, withdrawn and sad. A real bummer of time and a bad place to pick up girls. The wakes I have had success at were and Irish wake and an Australian one. They were very upbeat ceremonies and there was even soft and classy dancing in a hall. Go figure! Oh and although I have never crashed any weddings, I have had great success at them. Especially with envious and jealous bridesmaids. Just make sure you let them how much more beautiful they are than the bride. Secret to my success.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:01
My Girlfriend is away for a week or so, and that’s why I have been able to spend a bit more time blogging - haha!, Things will revert back in a few days when she returns. Women eh?.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:04
I swore I wouldn’t watch the Olympics because of China’s politics and crimes against humanity and because the coverage of the events is catered to people with ADD. Still, I was channel surfing and the Canadian coverage (God bless their non American souls) had the class to show the Argentina vs Australia game in it’s entirety. Man I love to watch the Argentines play. I especially love watching the great Riquelme (God’s gift to football) play and distribute great passes and show incredible vision. It is especially a treat to see how Riquelme and Messi are attached at the hip. They have an uncanny understanding of what the other will do. Both missed some great chances today but the teams build up to the goal was fantastic. But here’s the thing. The very same thing happened to them in the box that was happening to United. They were making a meal of their opportunities. And I honestly have to say that the combination of Aguero and Messi up front isn’t working. This just strengthens my theory that you cannot properly function with two second strikers or CF’s. You need a Crespo up front to poach and to show the proper instinct in the box. I swear, you put either Rooney and Tevez up front with Huntelaar and incredible things will happen. Even Berbatov, but not nearly as well. But please God, do not destroy my season by bringing that cunt Henry to OT.
Riquelme is still GOD. That man is just sublime and majestic to watch. I wish he was German. By the way, Argentibna won the game 1-0.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:06
@Craig Mc: Hey Craig, now that you are back, you can’t go cold turkey on us and disappear again. You need to sit down with the lady and have a heart to heart. Pick her favorite hobby and interest and use it against her. You need your footy fix and this blog needs you mate. Problem is, we don’t smell or feel as good as she does and we don’t put out…right?
August 11th, 2008 at 2:10
I wonder if Tevez was watching that game. The Argentine’s are passionately patriotic, so I expect he was. Grog, it’s 2am in the wee small hours here, so I’m off to bed and dreaming. Night then!.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:17
I can still get on to blog, just not as often. Just learnt to compromise that’s all lol!. You keep blogging Grog, cos its early evening where you are in Canada isn’t it. I will look up all your posts tomorrow.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:26
@Grognard:Your theory that two second strikers playing up front together limits their effectiveness is entirely accurate. I share this opinion with you. However, feel that rooney is the exception to the rule. He is naturally a second striker but i think he can basically play well and play effectively anywhere. He is a very complete player. As a main striker, he is better than messi or aguero, and is competent with the likes of torres. This is the reason it would seem that i disagree with your general view. I don’t, you are correct in my eyes that a strike partnership should consist of two players who’s styles are complimentary. I personally feel that robbie keane wasn’t the right player for liverpool. He is like torres in the sense that he looks to run in behind the defense. It will be interesting to see how they link up.
August 11th, 2008 at 3:20
Craig…Who cares if it was boring to the neutrals man? The only time the community shield could ever be exciting and thrilling was if you had either two teams that hate each other, or if you had two of the top four who are BOTH desperate to set the tone for the season and get a small mental edge. We had neither of that in todays match, so it was about getting fitness and preparing for the season.
Other than that I’d say we agree on pretty much agree on everything else. Although Nani is nowhere near my favorite player….
August 11th, 2008 at 4:11
Reflecting again on the Portsmouth game it was the sort of game we’d have won in the past with a Ronaldo goal. So many matches last season it was Ronaldo we relied on to finish one of the millions of chances our team habitually creates.
Tevez scores the odd match winner and Rooney has scoring streaks but Ronaldo is still the only consistent goal scorer in our squad. As goals are required to win matches that is a crazy situation to be in.
Rooney and Tevez can work but for that partnership to be ideal Rooney would have to be a more consistent goal scorer. Ferguson keeps talking about turning Rooney into a 30 goal a season man but it never happens.
Nani is great to watch and so fast! Cannot wait till he finishes his suspension and we get to see him step up in Ronaldo’s absence!
August 11th, 2008 at 5:32
@Craig Mc: Have a good night mate. Catch you tomorrow.
August 11th, 2008 at 5:42
@tevez: I agree with you regarding Rooney except for a few key problems. Wayne is not physical enough in the box, he really does suck in the air and lets be honest, his finishing and poaching skills have dipped off compared to his first couple of years with the team. The good news is I think he can improve his finishing and instinctive qualities. His first touch is sublime but he isn’t great at holding up the ball. Put a Berbatov who is fantastic at holding up the ball and then distributing beautiful finesse passes that penetrate a defense and you have a real potent weapon whether it be Rooney or Tevez who are on the other end of those passes.
I really think the goal for the team this year and next is to have the forwards score more goals and to actually have Ronaldo score fewer goals but become more well rounded and dynamic. That will actually make the team better. Ronaldo 25, Rooney 20, Tevez 15, Berbatov 15, is a better and more even distribution of goals and would actually give our team more dimension and put more of a scare into the opposition. Now if we get increased scoring out of our midfield it is very conceivable that we can reach 100 goals if we stay fairly healthy. Those totals are only EPL goals. In the CL I could see Ronaldo scoring 5 to 10, Rooney scoring around 5 and Tevez a couple because I think Berbatov would be Fergie’s preference in the Cl as that is the motivating factor for Berbatov to leave. You need to play him therefore in those games and play Tevez more in the EPL. I think Berbatov could score 5 to 10 in the CL. we’ll have to wait and see as well, we still don’t know if Berby will be ours.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:11
Courtsey - The Mirror
Man Utd and Spurs in Berbatov stand-off
By Paul Smith, sundaymirror.co.uk 10/08/2008
Dimitar Berbatov
Manchester United and Tottenham have less than 72 hours to agree a peace deal that can pave the way for Dimitar Berbatov’s transfer.
Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal that the Premier League will sit in judgment on the complaint brought by Tottenham against United for allegedly tapping up the Bulgarian striker on Wednesday morning.
If the PL feel there is a case to answer, United will be charged and fall at the mercy of a three-man independent commission who will sit in judgement.
United could even be docked points if the commission feel their crime is serious enough.
United, who have already tabled a £20million offer for the 27-year-old, insisted last night they would not increase their bid and any chance of the transfer going through depends on Spurs immediately dropping their action against the champions.
A senior United source said: “Our interest in Berbatov remains but is now the subject of certain demands.
“Primarily the club want any action taken against them by Spurs rescinded and they must accept there will be no improvement on the original offer.”
Spurs have already set a precedent after dropping a similar case against Liverpool to pave the way for Robbie Keane’s departure to Anfield.
Tottenham want about £35m for Berbatov, £15m more than United are prepared to pay.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:14
I am sure somebody has said this already Fergie not Henry…………..please.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:23
@Grognard:
Everyone knows we could do with another striker but its not about buying just anyone. Its about the right striker at the right price. We have perfectly adequate options especially as its looking like Rooney might be back so buying just anyone doesnt really add anything.
I mean you have people like Huntelaar who is unproven due to playing in an inferior league that allows Afonso Alves to have such a good strike rate (infact slightly better), or for that matter Georgios Samaras or before them Marcus Allbäck and Jon Dahl Tomasson. Yes there are players who did well in England also coming from such as Ruud and Bergkamp but with the step up in quality and settling into a new club, a different league and a new country its alot to ask for him to be worth spending the £20mill reported on and be a player you could throw into the team and get a performance from immediately. Don’t get me wrong I think he would in the long term be a great hit but I see him taking atleast as long as Torres to look comfortable in the league (He was fairly ordinary for the much of the first half of the season) maybe even longer as the jump from the spanish league to the english league is a lot less than dutch league to english league
Its not even as if he is that young either, he is 25 tomorrow which lets be honest cant have been good for his development. He needed to have been playing at a higher level earlier than 25
August 11th, 2008 at 11:44
Colver - post 134. Couldn’t agree with you more mate. You pretty much said everything I believe. And your sensible enough to be a Nani fan, and see his potential lol!.
August 11th, 2008 at 11:52
Drew Vader, but I am not a neutral, am I ?. Yet I am honest enough to agree with the neutrals, that yesterday’s game was SHITE, and snooze fest supreme. For a supposed showcase of football, a curtain raiser, it failed big time. Football without goals is not my cup of tea, I don’t care who we are playing.
And Drew, how can Nani not be your favourite player - haha!. That lads a little belter!.
August 11th, 2008 at 13:39
@Grognard: Rooney definitely sucks in the air and he is not all that physical in the box, but i wouldn’t say his finishing and poaching skills have dipped off. With him playing in a more advanced position last season, his long-range efforts have dwindled and he has found himself in more one-on-one positions. I am greatly encouraged by the number of times he found himself through against the keeper, especially as he missed a great deal of them. I would have been very worried if, after squandering a few of his chances, they had dried up. Obviously, there is room for improvement here, and i agree with you that he should improve on the number of chances he converts. For this to happen though, he has to be playing in the out-and-out striker position where he played last season. Bringing in an out-and-out striker for rooney to play off of will see rooney utilising some of his other qualities instead. His passing, vision and decision-making abilities would come back into play, along with his dribbling and long-range shooting - his flair, basically, returns to his game, as this is what the position requires.
While rooney plays in the main striker role he does not have to be able to hold the ball up well. It is not his game, not his style. Strikers don’t have to be able to hold the ball up effectively if they have genuine pace and make intelligent runs. I’m sure you’ll agree that torres, villa, eto’o, owen and ronaldo(brazilian) are or were great strikers, and none of their styles revolve around playing with their backs to goal or being physical in the box. It doesn’t stop them scoring goals. They help their team’s play not hamper it. They do not need to be paired with a more physical target man in order for either the team to be effective or the player to be effective. When rooney plays up top i would compare his style to that of these players, and i think they benifit more from being paired with a player who has an eye for a pass, rather than a hold-up player. Take the torres-gerrard partnership last year. They were excellent near the end of the season when benitez settled gerrard into a position in behind torres. Once gerrard got the ball, torres was on his bike and gerrard had the vision to find him. No real need for a player holding the ball up on the front lines. I agree that berbatov would help the team’s play, but it has more to do with his vision and finesse rather than his ability to shield the ball. I do not think the signing of berbatov means we will be seeing rooney return to his natural position behind a striker, as i don’t see berbatov as a main striker. It is more likely he will continue dropping off the defense and drifting about, looking uninterested and relaxed, peforming classy touches and passes. He isn’t the kind of player to bust a gut to get in the box either. A wayne rooney playing with berbatov will be quite similar to the rooney of last season, in that he will probably look to play on the shoulder and get on the end of berbatov’s threaded passes.
August 11th, 2008 at 18:54
@wakey: Your statement about the weakness of the Dutch league has no validity to it. Need I go into the dozens of world class names that have come out of that league in the last ten years? How about the hundreds since 1969? How about I just go with two names right now who happened to have pretty damned good careers while in the EPL? Ruud van Nistelrooy and Denis Bergkamp. If Fergie and Wenger held your bias and narrow minded view of that league to heart, these players would never have played in the EPL. A league does not make a player. A player makes a player. Don’t punish Huntelaar because he’s Dutch, just like you shouldn’t downgrade Adebayor because he’s from Togo. Quality and class doesn’t just breed in the top four or five leagues in the world. I guess Ole was garbage too coming from the Norwegian league and Dwight Yorke may have had some EPL experience before we bought him but come on, he’s only from Trinidad & Tobago.
Your argument is weak because you really are not backing up your point with hard evidence to prove that most Dutch players who come to the EPL like Alvez and Kezman (not Dutch by the way) are total shite. Like I said I can be repetitive and give you the lists of world class players who have come from Holland which I’m sure you already know is one of the top three best football factories in the world. Their domestic league may not be what it used to be in the Cruyff or even Gullit or van Basten eras, but they have turned out so many world class players that it just make me laugh and chuckle at your continual downgrading of their efforts and those of one Klass Jan Huntelaar. Give it a rest mate, you’re not convincing me and you are not winning this argument no matter how much you believe to the contrary. For you it’s a forlorn hope because you cannot look beyond two weak points in you theory. That just because a league is weak, that means all their players are and just because a player has no EPL experience or experience in a top league, he is not qualified to play in the EPL for Man Utd. Just totally wrong on so many levels. Sorry mate, I won’t travel that road with you because it’s a dead end.
August 11th, 2008 at 19:04
@tevez: I think Rooney’s chances and strike rate will improve even if he plays the role of a second striker behind a Berbatov or Huntelaar. Too many times last year he was stuck out on the wing or even in an advanced midfield role and that made him virtually useless up front. He also does not do well as a lone striker up front as he has the tendency to want to do too much and he’s not strong at holding up the ball and waiting for support. He reminds of a supply truck in war that overruns it’s supply lines and has to wait for the lines to move forward to catch up. His finishing will also improve when he is not counted on to be the main striker. He was prolific and far more composed at finishing his strikes when RVN was in front of him. Ronaldo’s brilliance on the other hand often forces him to try to match the brilliance and that often leads to him doing too much or going a bridge too far. Barring injury, Rooney will be much improved this year as his role is better defined and better suited to his abilities. But he will never be the quintessential striker we need because he lacks the physicality, aerial ability and poacher instinct (not bad, but not Huntelaar) that is required for a striker. As a second striker or CF, he is one of the best in the world.
August 11th, 2008 at 20:34
@Grognard: Rooney did play out on a wing at times last season but when he was playing as the main striker he played like one - he stayed long and although he was mobile he did not spend his time out wide. His strike rate will improve if he plays as the main striker, but playing as a second striker will limit the number of times he finds himself one-on-one and therefore will limit his goalscoring capacity.
Physicality and aeriel ability is only a requirement for certain kinds of strikers. It is a good characteristic of forwards like luca toni and huntelaar, but it is not something that every striker needs. Michael owen is a fairly shit player overall nowadays but he is still a good striker and he will still score goals. I will assume you think of torres as a good striker. He does not base his game on his strength and holding the ball up, but he does put himself about, like rooney does. Torres’ game is about his pace and movement, and he utilises the vision of his teammates( well, gerrard). When rooney plays on the shoulder, his style is similar. The big difference between the two is the conversion rate. Often last season, torres would only need one chance and rooney would need plenty. Here’s the thing; that was the first season where torres has been clinical. In the seasons before last, torres’ conversion rate was like rooney’s. Torres is likely to be a consistent goalscorer for the rest of his career now, provided he doesn’t get second season syndrome. Rooney gets on the end of a similar number of chances to torres. Even when he misses, he continues to make chances. This is important. A player who makes chances will score goals. Eventually. At some point rooney will break the pattern he is in right now if he holds onto the responsibility that comes with being the teams main striker. Then he would be regarded as a complete striker.
I agree that a lone striker needs to be able to play with his back to goal, hold the ball and wait for midfield runners. However, i hate the idea of only playing one up front. It is negative. I like two up front or three up front - and when i say three i mean a proper three-man attack, not the 4-5-1 crap most managers claim is a 4-3-3. Huntelaar doesn’t do it for me as a lone striker either though, he is far more effective when he has a supporting forward who gets involved in play. It means he doesn’t have to take part in build-up play and can take up his excellent positions in the box. It is the same with van nistelrooy, michael owen and kris boyd. This definitely works in huntelaar’s favour in terms of his suitability for united, with rooney and tevez both being complimentary to him. They would bring out the best in huntelaar.
August 11th, 2008 at 21:31
@tevez: Fair enough I agree with your last post. Rooney is not a Huntelaar or Toni type but he does bring other qualities to that role that those guys don’t. I admit though that I am a little old school in my way of thinking and I do want a striker that fits the more traditional model for striker. And as that is my criteria, I see Rooney and Tevez alternating at second striker and either one of them spelling off the striker we do buy for the odd start up front. Either way all three will get plenty of games but not so many that they are tired or knackered by the end of the year or when it really becomes crunch time. Add to that Campbell, Manucho (if they can get him his visa) and God forbid Saha, and we have enough cover for early round FA Cup games and League Cup games that will allow the big three even more rest.
August 12th, 2008 at 17:41
@Grognard:
My evidence isnt valid is it? Its more valid than anything you raise, lets name loads of old players or players who have learnt their trade elsewhere or lets name lots of Foreigners that were successful in the premiership while TOTALLY ignoring how almost all of those named took atleast 6months too look at where near premiership quality if not longer or infact never did.
The dutch setup is good for developing talent to a certain level but there is a point where playing in a weak league damages potential. You can only start to fulfil your potential by playing at a level that challenges you.
I have seen alot of Huntelaar and I am a fan but he isnt the player we need first. It does seem like we are after signing two new strikers and I would like him to be the second of the two along with a proven premiership striker so he could arrive without the presure of being expected to lead the team and given the time that all but a golden few foreign players have needed to adapt to the country, club and league