Jan 04
Southampton v Man Utd FA Cup Match Thread
This will be short — and will serve more like a place holder for match related talk.
Southampton will be interesting opposition as — correct me if I’m wrong — it’s the first time we meet them after relegating them to the Championship for the first time in their Premier League history.
It’s a four o’clock kick off, UK time, which is a few hours from now and I can’t really say much about our opposition. I could make the stock statement here, about this being their cup final and them parking their bus in front of their goal. But I think we know all that already.
For us though, it’s not exactly a chance for us to find our attacking groove because Fergie will look to rest the stars ahead of next week’s clash against Chelsea. But then we also have a Carling Cup fixture in midweek against Derby County. It is quite possible that the manager plays some stars for this and some for midweek — but then again, we can play this guessing game all week. So I can’t really bring an informed analysis ahead of today’s game. I don’t know why I am not too excited by the prospect of today’s game.
Oh well…
What I want to talk about briefly, before leaving you to discuss about the match, is regarding media speculation on Tevez possibly moving. I see no quotes where Fergie actually says that he’ll leave so I’ll not jump the gun. However, what Fergie says in reality is this:
“We will just work our way through it and that’s all we can do. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, we will just have to move on. It’s unfortunate, but that’s life. Carlos wants to stay. He’s happy here. I think he’s actually said that to the players.”
While there is a non-committal tone to his words it’s not an admission. It’s quite similar to the Wes Brown situation where the player wanted to stay. I’m sure, if Tevez were to demand £125,000, he wouldn’t be getting it. [Something in the 90k region is as far as I would go -- considering the apparent value Fergie has placed on him; in terms of appearances he's made this season.]
I’m sure asking this question — should Tevez be allowed to leave? — will divide opinion equally among fans. And would love to hear your response. I’d want him as long as we don’t over pay. Even 32 million is steep in my opinion. As a player he’s a wonderful asset to the club, needless to say.
Right, I’m out. Over to you…
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v QPR: Preview
- Derby Man Utd: Live!
- Aston Villa v Manchester United: Preview/Match thread
Tags: Site News
Opti (541)
Stephen (485)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@Rahul: It looked like a friedly the way we performed out there.
I firstly am not that fussed about the Carling Cup, but it is a semi final and should be played as one.
Like?
0 
0
@Rahul: Nah imo, I think he cares but he obviously has Sunday’s game in mind. What worries me now is that when Derby comes to OT we’re probably gonna see them Parking the bus like we’ve never seen.
@dan(u-ol): Wipe that awful thought off your mind. As long as Evra is fit, O’Shea shouldn’t be starting at all.
@scrtls: lmfao, i had to laugh, the Park- bashers won’t see anyone to vent on. All thats left is a confirmation that Phelan wasn’t involved in the match at all.
@Gabriel: I still don’t get it, what was wrong with the line- up???
@Craig Mc: Ummm, because you were talking about judging this performance to guage the Chelsea game and I replied that most of the players that started today won’t start on Sunday, so it’ll be different. It wasn’t a dig at Nani if thats what you think.
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: Exactly mate… hence my utter disdain at yesterday’s show.
Like?
0 
0
@Rd: I won’t bet against that!
Like?
0 
0
Late post i know but i have to say this. man utd is simply becoming a one man team = berbatov. after japan the guy has simply pulled us through with crucial wins and results and when he does not play like last night we look toothless.
i am still optimistic we will pull through but thats lotsa lessons learnt
Like?
0 
0
Rahul, regardless of what Ferguson thinks about the Carling Cup he still put out a team with over 50 million pounds market value.
I think the real problem was the balance of the team. As someone pointed out Anderson and Scholes do not play well together. The defence had no leadership and there was a complete lack of understanding between the players. Gibson was played out of position. Welbeck is lightweight and I saw no evidence that he had any pace. Whatever has happened to Manucho? I loved the boy at the African Nations and against a physical Championship team like Derby he’d have roughed them up. Tevez just looked pissed off.
Also I think Giggs would have done a better job in that game than Scholes or Gibson and seeing as Giggs is not a first team starter would have been nothing lost from playing him tonight. I know people slate Giggs but he at least has an ounce of creativity and is good enough to play against a Championship side.
I agree this isn’t going to be reflective of Chelsea. From the players Fergie rested my guess is against Chelsea he’ll play:
EVDS
Neville Rio (if fit) Vidic Evra
Park Carrick Fletcher Ronaldo
Berbatov Rooney
Utterly predictable and I fully expect people to criticize Fergie for selecting Park and Neville and Fletcher. But sadly this is our first XI in Fergies mind this season and none of the boys on Wednesday did anything to force Fergie to change his mind.
Like?
0 
0
@Rd: @Rahul: I will bet on this happening on Sunday, we play well for 15 mins great attacking football, then try to sit on it, they score, we draw 1-1, poor 75 mins of turgid football.
Like?
0 
0
@colver: If Neville plays, then surely we must start Nani.
Like?
0 
0
@colver: Yea.. but I seriously hope Brown recover faster and plays the RB slot over Neville. Rafael for late subs and weaker teams. Also Giggs could have been of use in last night’s maniacal mess.
@Stephen: I’m contemplating whether to even watch the game! Dunno about the score.. it surely will be turgid.
Like?
0 
0
@colver: Where is Man-uch-o, what is the point of not playing him in games like last night?
@Rahul: Lets hope it is a lot better than last night, as I said I know it was only the CC, but I expect United players to wear the shirt with pride, especially in semi finals when a Wembley day out is on the cards. There were players just stolling around seemingly not caring.
Like?
0 
0
Um…what?!
Stoke City defender Ritchie De Laet has today agreed a deal to join Premier League, European and World Club Champions Manchester United.
The 20-year old, who has spent the early part of this season on loan at non league side Wrexham, will pen a contract at Old Trafford after the two Club’s agreed a performance related payment package.
Apparently true, all over the news.
Like?
0 
0
In the last few games I have seen a pattern emerging.
The united forward line has moved from last years fluid 3 (in a 4-3-3) to 1-1 (in a 4-4-1-1) with the introduction of Berba. But our midfield has not adjusted to this change. They are still stuck in a 4-3-3 mindset where there are 2 holding and 1 forward midfielder. In the current 4-4-2, 1 or both of our CMF’s have to push up frequently. This is especially true since we tend to play with defensive wingers these days(Park, Gibson). Now, if you watch the games closely, what we can see is the CB’s passing the ball amongst themselves, and then pass it to one of the CMF’s. They in turn pass it back to the CB’s. The CMF’s do not turn and run at the opposition like a good AMF but they make too many square passes and of late many hollywood thru balls (Anderson was especially guilty yesterday). To counter our midfield, all the opposition has to do is sit back in their own half, let us pass the balll all we like in our own half, and as soon as the CMF decides to carry the ball into the opposition half, they begin to hustle our players, to win the ball back/foul our players/to generally break up play. They always keep 2 men on Ronnie to track his runs and that cuts out our only avenue of escape from this trap. Our other “winger”, Park is usually the free man in this, but he is not quick enough to make use of the space given to him. Berba/Rooney then have to come deep to collect the ball from the CMF’s and even when they are successful in finding a thru ball since Ronnie is too tightly marked for him to do anything. His woeful attitude of late hasnt helped either.
So thats my two cents on our current problems.
Like?
0 
0
who?
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4764085,00.html
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Ahhh Craig mate…somebody else who appreciates that frisky Vixen that is Ms. Walsh! Ooooh ahhh I say!! (If you saw the Girls Aloud Party which was on ITV just before Christmas you’ll know what I’m talking about!)
PS. I know all about the doghouse mate, w.r.t. to my admiration for Kimmy ….and many other women!
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: You can at least try to show some optimism, lol
@Michael: And yes i’m wondering the same thing, who is he?? It just broke on SSN a while ago. And I’m confused, some news sources are saying its a full signing, while Man Utd.com says its a loan deal.
Like?
0 
0
@Rd: I was referring to the lack of balance the players exhibited as a result of the formation or rather the wrong formation for the players we had on the pitch.
In a 4-4-2, you need at least one competent defensive midfielder and yesterday we had none. Scholes was playing the holding role FFS. Combined with the deep positioning of our defenders, there was so much space!! If a more talented team saw that space, we would have been punished with quite a few goals. What even peed me off more was that this was fairly obvious even to the untrained eye in the 1st half and instead of Fergie to order Ando to move back and scholes forward, he waited all the way till the second half to do so. By this time, Derby’s confidence could not get any higher, what with all the space they were being afforded.
Then there’s the forcing square pegs in round holes. Why does Fergie exploit player’s versatility so much. Is it any coincidence that it wasn’t until Gibson moved to central midfield that he began to look like a decent footballer? This is because he is a central midfielder, not a right mid/winger. Fergie does this all the time and messes with players’ key positional abilities, ergo their confidence.
There was nothing wrong with the batch of players on the pitch, it was simply the tactics and formation employed. I’m sure you would admit, a 4-3-3 would have been more suited with the players we had on the pitch? Gibson hovering in front of defence, with scholes and Ando allowed to do their thing. Nani and Welbeck to create width with tevez in the middle. It was a diplay of under-estimation and poor management by Fergie and his ‘Yes-men’. We under-estimated Derby, put out a dis-jointed team for the sake of fitness or whatever and failed to promptly change tactics when things were so horribly going wrong in the first half.
This is one aspect of Fergie’s game this season I do not like, the balls to promptly change things mid-match when they are not going right. I don’t know if it’s stubbornness or he misses someone that can tell him to his face that something needs changing, cause it sure as hell doesn’t look like any of the coaching staff do that at the moment.
Like?
0 
0
just checked out my FIFA09 widget it says united signed de laet? who the hell is that guy? says he’s a defender and came from stoke, if we can sign complete unknowns, sign tevez now!
Like?
0 
0
@Nino: Yeah mate, I saw the girls aloud party, and yes Kimmy – WoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooW
. Thing is Nino, she doesn’t even try to be sexy like the other GA girls, she just IS naturally all woman, as she sings in their song, “From top to bottom I’m a woman sunshine” – haha!. Glad to know others out there get in the doghouse for just showing a bit of admiration for the admirable in other lasses. But when they are like drooling for male celebs, well that is ok, talk about double standards!
Anyway, back on topic – I agree with Gabriel points about our poor MF, and Fergie’s frustrating inaction to change things early. Ronnie was sent on FAR too late to make a difference.
Like?
0 
0
@Beachryan: Beechy Bro, it embarasses me when I hear us chanting PL, Cl, world champions in away grounds, when we are performing the shite we have been dishing up this season. Oh the irony
.
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: Stephen, I hear Man(u)cho has become a leper, and has to ring a bell when trying to get the attention of Fergie and his not so merry men
. Poor Manu, I hope he gets to go on loan, and get a bit of first team football. 
.
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: Stephen, if we do not get MF sorted, I think Chelsea will do us on Sunday. The same goes for our pathetic striker performances.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: We just nned to score more goals mate, and watching our lack of creativity in midfield it won’t change.
Anderson really is going backwards and to me looks very, very expensive for £18m, Iknow he is young but jeez, and I must we need to give Nani a game, especially if Gary Red plays.
Like?
0 
0
De La Et will play for the reserves, and he used to play for Royal Antwerp. Royal Antwerps former assistant manager is now Ole’s assistant manager with the reserves. Looks like this guy has said ‘De La Et is worth a punt’, and we’re giving him an extended trial to see what ole thinks.
Like?
0 
0
@Rahul: Well that isn’t good enough mate, and very DISRESPECTFUL of United fans who travelled and obviously DO GIVE A FUCK. Who got numbnuts from standing in the freezing weather, and SANG their hearts out, and for what?, to be rewarded with a half arsed performance that makes me severely embarrased. United fans don’t deserve this kind of shite, I don’t care if we lose, but I do care about the performance we put on, and the ridicule United fans have to put up with from opposing fans, while at the same time chanting champions of etc.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: I hear ya bro…I hear ya! She looks foxy as hell in the video for their new single too, though I can’t believe she’s bloody 27 (according to Wiki) already! Anyway let’s get back to football before we get in trouble eh! lol
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: I am not going to the second leg especially with the Carling Cup rip off scheme.
Like?
0 
0
Ronaldo crashed his car this morning….lol. Will play on Sunday though.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard:
. Kimberley = LOVE 
.
Like?
0 
0
@ Gabriel – Good post, that’s exactly what worries me most. I mean, it seemed simple, just pull Gibson back to where he likes to play, allowing Scholes and Anderson to play where they like to play, and see how the team plays when all the pegs are in the right sized holes.
But Fergie has shown time and again this season a certain naivity with formations and substitutions. Personally some of this comes down to luck (he can make a change and it can be the right one, but some other event happens which makes it look bad) but last night was absolutely screaming for a shift to 433, and pulling a midfielder forward to link play. Begging for it.
Does anyone remember anytime in our past when our two centre backs did so much passing between themselves? Part of me likes the possession, but without pressuring teams we’re nto stretching them, and it means they can relax and not get tired. Dull.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: I would like to have them all, even the ginger one!
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Grog mate you are WRONG with a Capital W
. Don’t mistake her concert persona for Kimberley herself. She is a very fashionable lady with her own style and dress, she is classy mate. She is very personable ‘girl next door’ type, utterly lovable. Everyone LOVES her, and the media who criticise everyone as you know, have only ever had good things to say about Kimba. So please, you cannot judge by the costume dress on stage, you need to see the person in their own habitat, which I have done. Kimberley is beautiful when you see her in the flesh without make up. Her skin is to die for. But anyway, enough of this. I love everything about this girl, and she is the most down to earth NORTHERN lass, with no airs and graces. Don’t get me going Grog, the GF is already miffed with all the Kimberley love 
. You aint seen the right photo’s mate, and you haven’t seen her in the flesh – I have. Errr no literally in the flesh – man I’m in so much trouble!.
Anyway, one thing United fans won’t love about Kimmie, she is a Leeds United fan. Whereas 2 of her bandmates Nadine and Sarah are Man United fans. Cheryl Cole married to numbnuts Ashley Cole of Chelsea and England is from N’castle and is of course a fanatical N’Castle fan. Nicola is from scouseland, and supports Everton. They all love football, so they are sporty and great girls to have a couple of beers and chat down the pub with.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Hahahahaha – Kimberley is LOVE
.
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: Stephen, if your GF reads this blog, you are in so much shit mate
. I thought I was bad loving on Kimberley, but you want them all.
Like?
0 
0
@Beachryan: Beechy, you and Gabriel up for a thousands of pounds a week job on United’s coaching team, because you would do so much better m’thinks than the ones we have
.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: I do what I can mate, they are all very, very splendid, I do have a funny thing about the ginger one I must confess!
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: I was going to go Stephen, but when I heard Fergie saying he was going to continue with the youth for the return leg, I thought Fuck it. So I won’t be there.
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: You must like Redheads
. To be honest though Stephen, Nicola is a fit lass, and a millionaire and budding entrepreneur. So you wouldn’t have to pay out too much 
.
Will you be at OT for the Chelsea game Bro? I hope we get it together for that one. I couldn’t stand another 0-0 or even 1-0. I will be there chanting with the rest of them though. Look out for me, I have invited Kimberley, you will recognise her!
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Whoa easy on the Kimberley loving man! I thought she was from Bradford though, which seems to be a hotbed of hot football-crazy lasses (Jennifer Metcalfe aka Mercedes from Hollyoaks is from there too)…and yeah, people up North are sooo friendly and down-to-earth compared to their moody southern and capital counterparts.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: I will be there mate, not sure if looking forward to it!! I am playing footy in th emorning, United afternoon and mother is comming round for dinner in the evening and I have to cook, so busy day!!
@Nino: Bloody hell mate she is a bit rough!!
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: I disagree Stephen, she is a sultry lass from Yorkshire…although having said that, she did come on Soccer AM last season and showed off her ridiculously hairy toes and feet! But I’m with Craig Mc on this one: Kimberley Walsh all the way!!
There’s something ridiculously sexy and feminine about the name Kimberley in my opinion; I think it dates back to when I was a little lad and I was into Power Rangers and I had the hots for the Pink Ranger who was called….you guessed it! Kimberley.
RED RANTER: Please, please start a new thread as you can see we have started spouting mindless drivel about celebrities and whatnot because we have nothing else to talk about.
Like?
0 
0
@Nino: Ha ha, Megan Fox all day boys!!!
Like?
0 
0
Megan Fox boys, fox by name fox by nature, I have put this into another threat but guess what!! “Your comment is awaiting moderation!”
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: Ooooh Stephen, now you got me there! There’s no denying that Ms. Fox is, on current form, the sexiest woman alive….but being British, I have a loyalty to and prefer home-grown lasses, as they aren’t as plastic and prentetious as their counterparts from across the pond.
Damn this thread has got reeeeal boring now!
Like?
0 
0
@Nino: It is getting somewhat tedius, maybe should do some work instead!
Like?
0 
0
Why on earth are we buying De Laet? I read he has yet to even feature for Stoke and at the age of 20 you’d think he’d be good enough to get into Stoke’s first team.
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: Ah man, now you’re scaring the shit out of me lol. I have an exam on Monday which counts towards 1/6 of my finals and I’m finding every possible excuse to be distracted (by talk of sexy pop stars) instead of studying. I guess that’s my cue to sign off and get down to some nitty-gritty…so peace out!
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Strange thing…I actually envy you for missing the game. It was so boring that I fell asleep during the 2nd half.
I know I will get crucified for this, but I believe that the time is now ripe for Sir Alex Fergusson to retire. Just to make things clear, I have never ever in the past felt like this, I always supported him, and I still respect him massively, but, as he said, no one is bigger than the club. I think he should heed his own ‘advise’.
Regarding the Tevez deal, it is 22m, not 32m. Whether we sign him or not, the 10m is already gone. For HIS sake, as much as I love him, I hope we don’t sign him. His stay at our current United (just like Nani’s and Anderson’s) is detrimental to his carreer and development.
Like?
0 
0
@Nino: I think Stephen is talking about Jenny Metcalfe being a bit rough – I don’t know why he thinks that. But are YOU TALKING ABOUT Jenny having hairy toes, because I don’t think Kimba has, in fact she hasn’t
.
Like?
0 
0
@Karl: Bro I don’t think Fergie should go yet. I think he needs to decide who is going to follow him 1st, because Gill said that Fergie will have a big say in that. Then he needs to bring him in as equal in charge, so that the guy they choose is ready and totally informed and conformed to the United way. Whether Fergie is big enough to do that, I don’t know.
Like?
0 
0
@Karl: A bit premature for him to go mate, Anderson has been poor for a while and Nani is and has always been inconsistant, that is what you get with wingers.
Tevez also was really poor last night and to blame Fergie for all three poor performances is a little harsh, they all need to to look at themselves, I would say less so to Nani.
Like?
0 
0