Apr 10
The Day After Roma
It feels nice to be in the semi-finals for the second year running. We have a mouthwatering semi-final draw against Barcelona. For a change, I don’t feel the least intimidated about the Catalan outfit. Had we played them a couple of years ago, I’d have been quaking in my boots. But today’s Barca are unfortunately a poor imitation of their once all-conquering self. But one must also exercise some caution here. We must remember the Milan game of last year.
Milan were poor in Serie A last season but managed to win the Champions’ League. In recent times it’s been a trend where a team that has been dire in the domestic league has managed to turn it around in the Champions’ League. Barcelona are well behind Real Madrid in La Liga, and come April 23rd, they may be entirely ruled out of their title chances. So they may choose to rest players ahead of playing us.
However, to be honest, if Messi does not make it at Camp Nou, I don’t see how we could be threatened that much.
Oh well, on to some news today. Not too much I’m afraid other than stuff based on yesterday events.
Neville returns and speaks to MUTV
That was perhaps the best sight in a long time.The man steps onto the pitch to a hero’s welcome, dons the band and trots over to the midfield, and to tweak the once famous words of the current Governor of California, “I’m back!”. I just loved how everyone wanted him to come on, Anderson was so eager to get off the pitch and let out a smile, welcoming the skipper. It’s nice to see experienced campaigners returning to the squad at a crucial juncture and that could be the difference from last year.
Silvestre had a fair game and Evra can now breathe easy as he’s got a fellow Frenchman to give him a break. Silly may infuriate at times with his sudden mood shifts, but he certainly is a more natural left back than John O’Shea.
And noises have already sprung up from Catalonia, as Thierry Henry believes Barcelona can beat us. Hmm…
And that’s about it. Weekend brings another tasty encounter as we take on Arsenal. Just five more games to go. Win the next three and then we may not have to worry too much after that.
Related items from Red Rants:- Roma v Man Utd: Preview
- Man Utd v Roma: Preview
- Manchester United v Aston Villa Preview - Tougher than it looks
- De Rossi for Manchester United?
- History Beckons As United Discover Their Group
Tags: Daily Roundup
April 10th, 2008 at 11:40
good performance last nite, job done. hargeaves looked class, park deserved a goal for his running and endeavour, if only his first touch matched his commitment! One player performed brilliantly last nite without even breaking sweat or making any headlines, i might watch him closer than any other player coz im a centre half myself, but Rio Ferdinand must be the best defender in the world.
correct, barca are not what they were a few yers ago, eto’o is misfiring, iniesta is les influential and ronaldihno’s star has sunk so low hes being stalked by the blue shite! Messi is a danger but will be nulled if the defence can keep him on his right foot, hes possibly the most one footed player ive ever seen.
Speaking of one footed players, terry henry never plays well against rio and wes brown and has a habit of ducking out old trafford games, dont be surprised if he doesnt play int second leg, you heard it here first!
April 10th, 2008 at 11:47
good to be in the semis.hope barca underestimate us.couldnt be more happier for the team,but this sort of team selection should be for moments when we are already through.
April 10th, 2008 at 11:48
my team for arsnal judging by yesterdays game
VDS
hargo
rio
pique
evra
ronny
carrick
scholes
nani(if fit)OR park
rooney
tevez.
PLEASE SAF, play welbeck
April 10th, 2008 at 12:03
Well Donni Brasco, whats yo rating 4 RYAN” THAT SELFISH PR*CK” GIGGS after yet another “poor” show 2 add 2 his appearances record.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:14
DoniBrasco - you have a lot of courage mate, ‘Cos you get lambasted every time you open your mouth to make a comment - sad!. A word of encouragement for you though, Dan(u-ol) used to be very misunderstood for his unpolished comments on this BLOG, but now he is getting more love and acceptance. Hang in there mate - many of us may not agree with the way you express yourself, with all the finesse of a clumsy elephant trampling on some of United’s finest players, but if we read between the expression, you do have some points sometimes.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:34
barca with out messi and ronaldhinho is also dangerous….they have the spanish scholes and pirlo in Xavi and iniesta…deco on bench…with henry etoo and bojan in attacking they can be threatning…. remeber they have nothng to looose and they wii preserve everything for the Champions league….as this is the only recognised trophy they cud get this year
April 10th, 2008 at 14:32
[Jay wire]
Stop the taunting and get a move on. And turn your caps lock off.
April 10th, 2008 at 14:49
The opening para of this article from the Telegraph had me rolling around in stitches and gasping for breath so much I simply HAD to share it on here!! Check out the rest of the piece too and marvel at the other gems the jokers from Rome came out with…
April 10th, 2008 at 15:07
wow, Italians cease to amaze me, the last time they beat us was last year at home, they where lost away(home for us), we beat them this year at their home and we beat them at are home without the likes of ronaldo, scholes, nani, vidic, rooney and evra, i mean, they got a draw out of our youth team.
April 10th, 2008 at 15:12
Fellow ranters,
This is completely unrelated, but it occurred to me whilst comparing our night at Old Trafford last night to that at Anfield the night before. Both clubs are incredibly special, with momentous history and tradition, and both clubs have had to endure disasters befalling either their fans (Hillsborough) or players (Munich). So why is there such a difference at the end of a great European night at the two famous stadiums? Watching on TV, I was really struck by how they play “You’ll never walk alone” at the end, and everyone stays in their places, standing with their scarves and singing. Compare that to our ground (and, it is fair to point out, most grounds across Europe- but I see no reason why we should be like most clubs across Europe) and the natural reaction is one of envy.
Watching this recalled the feeling at the beginning of the City game this year, and, though this feeling quickly evaporated during the match (!), I have never been prouder to support this club than when I stood with my dad, holding up my scarf and singing “The Red Flag” as the bloke with the bagpipes played it. Obviously I am not suggesting such an event at every match, and I actually think the pre-match build up at OT (with Take me Home United Road etc) is fantastic. All I am suggesting is that at the end of every match they play “The Red Flag” over the speaker system. (Maybe not every match, but at the very least the Champions League ones, to make them that bit more special). Whilst I would generally shy away from copying the Scousers, and I’m anticipating some criticism coming my way from diehard Mancs here, I see no reason why we can’t make our matchdays, our stadium, and our crowd, as special as theirs. Imagine how much more spine-tingling and memorable last night would have been if, at the end, everyone stayed in the ground, stood with their scarves in the air, and sang “We”ll never die, we’ll never die” etc. Our club’s history and tradition, if nothing else, deserves it.
So you all probably think a) why would we want to copy the Scousers and b) what is this bloke doing posting this here. My intention was firstly to see if there is widespread support amongst United fans for this, and secondly to see if any of you know how one would go about proposing this to the club- who to petition etc.
Cheers.
April 10th, 2008 at 15:26
the dippers are the only club that do that and the reason they do that is because they thrive over that annoying song.
April 10th, 2008 at 15:44
Barca dont worry me at this moment! First time in many years that I was hoping for a game vs Barca. The strenght in the team that we have, that we can play a team without the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo, Scholes, Vidic and Nani and still win without too much trouble, is amazing. I hope Neville starts vs Arsenal and that Nani gets fit for that game.
My team v Arsenal:
VDS
Brown Rio Pique Evra
Ronaldo Anderson/Owen Scholes Park/Nani
Tevez Rooney
Giggs has played five games in 2 weeks, so he should be rested. Scholes was rested yesterday soo he defo should start. Anderson is a big-game player and a confidence player, so he should start on Sunday. He usually saves his best for Arse and Pool…
And for those who like stats: VDS has not conceded a penalty since the 3-1 win vs Wigan, Desember 2006…
April 10th, 2008 at 15:50
Since the end of the season almost is here, I want you to say who is your Player of the Season and your Goal of the Season.
My player of the season: Cristiano Ronaldo
My goal of the season: Cristiano Ronaldo Free-kick vs Pompey.
April 10th, 2008 at 16:09
Dan(u-ol) post no 9, If I understood you I might be able to comment!. What are you trying to say mate?. Also, you and your Welbeck, your dying to get him into the team, come rain, hail or shine - haha - hope you get your wish before the end of the season. Perhaps if we win the league with a couple of games to spare - you might just get lucky lol!.
Sam, I’m with you!. I think it would be fantastic if we started and ended with ‘United never die’ anthem. The difference between Anfield and us though, is that their management made sure they kept the kop. We lost the Stretford End as fans of old knew it. The Stretford End choir should have been preserved - it was fantastic in full voice. Outsang all opposing fans visiting Old Trafford every single game. They were truly majestic!. One of the poster’s over on the Republik of Mankunia website said, “Fans had fought for a while to bring the Stretford End back in all it’s glory,” but David Gill and the management wouldn’t budge. Then they have the cheek to complain about the lack of atmosphere at many games at Old Trafford - what hypocrites!. Fergie should have fought with the fans, ‘cos he’s God around Old Trafford and it would have made a difference. They can’t have it both ways I’m afraid. I think your suggestion is a fantastic idea though Sam, and hope that you manage to find a way to roll with it. You got my support mate!.
April 10th, 2008 at 16:11
[Sam]
It’s an interesting point you bring up here. Honestly I find “United road” a very poor club theme for our stature. I’d rather do “The Impossible Dream” that Sir Alex suggested a few years ago, it’s very, very inspiring. Makes me want to get off my arse and achieve something in life.
Those who haven’t heard it earlier here it is from a Honda commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB_1gPRCLCo
That said, it wouldn’t kill us if we don’t have a theme for the club, but one would expect a good one for a club as big as ours.
The Scousers did steal ‘You will never walk alone’ from us anyway. It was chanted at OT before Anfield.
April 10th, 2008 at 16:13
[craig mc]
I agree with you about the Stretford End thing. It was puzzling how Fergie went on a rant about the atmosphere at Old Trafford during one of the Champions’ League games this season. That’s what you get if you kick (price) out some of the diehards.
April 10th, 2008 at 16:16
[dan]
Agree with craig mc, what’s your point? Don’t understand how that ceases to amaze you.
April 10th, 2008 at 16:43
Red Ranter - Sad isn’t it, how United could see so many ‘bleeding heart’ United diehard fans priced out the club, without batting an eyelash?. What price loyalty eh?. The breakaway fans who started FC United, were red blooded, throat screaming, banner waving fanatics, who fill the little grounds everywhere FC United are playing. They sing long before the players come out, all the way through the game, and long after it. We as a club have lost so much, and anyone who saw the breakaway fans on the terraces every week, wouldn’t be able to resist a lump in the throat, and a tear in the eye. I jest not mate!. We lost most of United’s fans finest. Yet they all believe, they will overcome someday. What do we have now, instead of the cloth cap and tattie pie brigade, we have the attack of the prawn sandwich brigade. Long live the true fans, the heart and soul of Manchester United. Unfortunately RR these fans have been left to die, their United life supply cut off. Commercial GREED, has switched of their bloody life support machine. O United fans - lest we forget. They are of us!!!!!!.
April 10th, 2008 at 16:45
RR- agreed to an extent, but what about “The Red Flag”? It’s a song specifically about United, with reference to Munich and our history, and I personally find it very rousing. I agree “The Impossible Dream” is incredibly rousing, but I think it is too well known a song- and with connotations of Honda as you pointed out!- and hence nobody would really feel that it was ours, truly. Or at least not for a very long time.
April 10th, 2008 at 16:59
[craig mc]
True. But that is now the same of many clubs all over England. OT is still not half as bad as say, Chelsea or Arsenal. Chelsea were recently reported giving out free tickets in an attempt to fill their stadium! I heard on a recent podcast where a Chelsea fan said that the soul of the club has been ripped apart. But we have seen this happening for a long time now, haven’t we? The bigger you become, the more publicity you get, and the more you become popular all over. There will be a tendency for any growing business to cash in. And let’s be honest, we’ve seen unprecedented success for the club, since the inception of the Premier League. But then, that’s the price.
April 10th, 2008 at 17:12
Most Barça fans want Henry dropped with a front three of Messi, Eto’o and Bojan against United. Keep up with the latest Barça news and opinion for the next three weeks at Fcbnews. http://fcbnews.com/
April 10th, 2008 at 17:15
Agreed with RR - I have always thought of Take Me Home as a ridiculous anthem to have too. IMO it sounds kinda cheesy because the lyrics are too plain and unimaginative (’To the place I belong, to Old Trafford to see United…….zzzz) and make me cringe when I hear it being pumped out of the PA system on a match-day. Glory Glory is another unoriginal one too.
Disagree about the Impossible Dream though; although its very rousing its too commercial as Sam points out. We’d be better off changing our kit supplier to adidas and making our own songs up about impossible being nothing.
April 10th, 2008 at 17:18
watch this .very funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ofNjViTVuc
April 10th, 2008 at 17:24
[Nino]
The Impossible Dream is not Honda’s own song. It was composed by Mitch Leigh for Man of La Mancha. So it’s no different from us taking John Denver’s Country Roads.
Read this for the whole info on the Impossible Dream
April 10th, 2008 at 18:19
before the roma tie, I was thinking “if we can get past roma, then barca will be pushovers”. funny how as soon as the roma game is over I Immediately had a new found respect for them. A front line of Messi, Eto and bojan is always a threat. Having said that No team in the world wants to face Ronaldo,rooney,nani and tevez. It must be a nightmare trying to figure out a defensive game plan when ronaldo and nani can play either wing at anytime.
Lets pray we can stay injury free until then and it should be a fantastic tie. I predict 2-3 at the nou camp, then coming back to old trafford and winning 3-1(5-4 on Agg)
April 10th, 2008 at 18:20
To end all this “who is the best song” discussion,I think the supporters of Manchester United should make a completely new song. Something that has a power that will inspire the team. Maybe a song about the history of Manchester United, the Busby Babes, Fergie or/and treble 99. I am do not have my own favorite song, I think all are magnificent! But I still think that United need this unik, special song.
April 10th, 2008 at 18:27
Flamini will miss the game on Sunday along with Sagna! I think Arsenal without a midfield of Fabregas and Flamini are terrible. Great news! http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BB4CEE8FA%2D9A47%2D47BC%2DB069%2D3F7A2F35DB70%7D&newsid=548556
April 10th, 2008 at 18:51
RR - I was aware that The Impossible Dream was not Honda’s song. I was merely agreeing with the previous ranter that it would not be unique to us because of the association with Honda.
RedDevil - I was thinking the same thing actually! Instead of nicking songs from other teams like the ruddy Scousers, it would be great to be original and create our own, special anthem which takes into account our glorious history and heritage, and yet has the same effect as YNWA. For I have been to Anfield on a European night (Liverpool v Roma back in 2002) and I must concede, I don’t think I’ll ever experience anything like what I heard that night ever again! It was spine-chilling stuff and makes me very jealous that we have nothing similar at Old Trafford, except the poxy Take Me Home United Road, which I absolutely despise and is about as inspiring as watching paint dry…
April 10th, 2008 at 18:57
[RedDevil]
I think Fabregas is playing.
April 10th, 2008 at 19:02
Sam; Liverpudlians suffer from a tremendous inferiority complex. As well as being highly insecure, always seeking attention and being rowdy due to excess alcohol consumption, they are also sad sods who live in the past and like to sing and cry to make themselves feel better. When their team does well, they rejoice due to these factors. As a foreigner I see Mancunian’s as a more sophisticated lot who are proud and somewhat spoilt by their success. They do not need to remind the whole world that they are number one right now. Yes there is more atmosphere at Anfield but there is a much classier crowd at OT as well as the best football team on the planet. Now you tell me what you would rather prefer, mediocrity with atmosphere or excellence and reserved pride?
April 10th, 2008 at 19:08
What I’d like to see is United fans in Moscow singing “You Never Walk Alone” after we have destroyed Liverpool for the European Cup. Now wouldn’t that put the pathetic Scousers in their place and shut their traps for good. A dose of their own medicine is always best.
April 10th, 2008 at 19:28
Grognard- the best would be a combination! Excellence and atmosphere, and I see no reason why we can’t have that. Besides, this isn’t solely on atmosphere- as a commentor on the RoM blog pointed out (where I am getting stick for trying to copy Scousers!) our atmosphere was brilliant last night. I just think a theme song (Red Devil and Nino I agree a written song would be good, though I’m still in favour of the Red Flag) which is sung at the end would be very special. I think Nino knows what I’m talking about from his Anfield experience but let me just emphasise to people that this is not intended as a measure to try and copy Liverpool! I detest them! Perhaps see this instead as a way of becoming as good at them at the one thing they’re better than us at, thus becoming superior in EVERY way.
April 10th, 2008 at 19:51
Even better Grognard, United fans singing that after we score a jammy penalty that never was to win it in the last minute of extra time (after the scousers try to hold out for a penalty shoot out due to a couple of their players sent off harshly a la Inter Milan style). The penalty hits the underside of bar and bounces down on the line, but is still given. Now that would be a REAL dose of their own medicine!
April 10th, 2008 at 20:12
Grog 4 captain.Ha ha!Moving on I think the atmosphere at OT can sometimes be like at DisneyWorld.Maybe its because fans are spoilt in terms of amazing football that they are just in awe.Still I think we are falling into the big club trap.I watch Barca almost every week and they’ve had the same issue as long as i remember.This is mainly due 2 the gradual extinction of the notorious Noix bois or Noise boys a group or firm of rowdy and ultra passionate fans.These guys would sing,scream and insult opposition players and staff and their kids,wives and dogs as soon as they are within a mile of the nou camp.They also got free tickets coz they would lift the whole stadium but due 2 high prices 4 tix they were forced out.Thats why the Nou Camp is like a cinema these days.Same trend goes 4 United.
April 10th, 2008 at 21:23
RR- I also think Fabregas is playing, what I ment was that an Arsenal midfield with Fabregas and Gilberto is not as frightening as a mdfield with Fabregas and Flamini. And I wonder; Is anybody here a musican? Maybe they could make a new song!
April 10th, 2008 at 21:36
More news about the Arsenal game: After what I read on CaughtOffside.com, Adebayor is also out. Arsenal now will have to go Old Trafford with Sagna, Adebayor, Flamini, Eduardo, Denilson and Rosicky out. I cannot confirm the Adebayor injury cause it aint a really honest site, but if it is true you heard it here first!
April 10th, 2008 at 21:37
RedDevil: Fabregas must be running on near empty by now. I remember the stat coming up on tuesday night saying he had covered 13km, more than anyone else in either team. Three games against Liverpool with that type of effort must surely have run him into the ground.
April 10th, 2008 at 21:37
Well, then JB would have every right to form a Carrick advocates team. For new comers here, JB was pilloried for his staunch support for Carrick.
As for me, I am yet to lay into players for underperforming (apart from Saha who hasn’t performed at all). I tend to be more patient. So I should start a Manchester United Advocates team — plus since I run this site, I should have the most prestigious team
You are welcome to sign up!
April 10th, 2008 at 21:42
Brilliant result for Rangers tonight, 2-0 away to Sporting. They now have a maximum of 15, yes that’s right 15, games left this season. If anyone ever has a right to complain about fixture congestion it is our ex assistant manager Walter Smith
April 10th, 2008 at 21:57
If anyone is interested I had a link sent to me a couple of days ago of ITV’s documentary on Ronaldo. It’s a good watch but be warned it is 45 minutes long!
http://www.footytube.com/2008/03/07/cristiano-ronaldo-the-story-so-far
April 10th, 2008 at 22:13
I had downloaded that off rapidshare many weeks ago. Got a HQ version of it. Excellent doc, I must say.
April 10th, 2008 at 22:16
Red Ranter; Your entire blog and every member is the Manchester United Advocate’s team, don’t you think. Still, go for it, and I want membership OK.
April 10th, 2008 at 22:18
Sorry if I just can’t relate to theme songs and chanting at sporting events. We Canadian like cheers and doing a lot of shouting and hollering when excited but overall, we are pretty reserved at sporting events. Still, I’d love all that singing and chanting around me when I watch a game, but I probably wouldn’t participate much as it’s just not my style.
April 10th, 2008 at 22:25
WOW! Amazing UEFA CUP Quarter-Final 2nd leg between Getafe and Bayern. Bayern snatches a late goal by Ribery to tie the game in the 89th minute and send it in to extra time. Then in absolutely shocking fashion Getafe strikes for 2 early goals in extra time to send the crowd and all of Spain in to euphoria. But never ever count a German side out. Ask the French about the World Cup Semi in 1982. Toni scores 2 late goals, the last with only seconds left to send Bayern through on away goals agg. I feel for Getafe who played outstanding football and scored 3 goals with only 10 men. FANTASTIC match and what character by the Bayern team and especially the tall Italian. What I would give for a Luca Toni setting up camp in the opponents box for Man Utd. This game and the Liverpool v Arsenal match have got to go down as high drama classics and they al were played within days of each other. Sometimes the game just offers it’s fans such sublime utopia. GO BAYERN!
April 10th, 2008 at 22:30
Just to feel special(and since this is a made up team
) , I want a special membership RR! Such as a golden membership or something 
Or me and you could team up and run it together? 
And agreed re: JB, everyone else had lost faith in Carrick except him(and probably you), but even before Carrick started putting in some great performances JB enlightened me to Carrick’s importance to the team now and for the future. More often than not he is the voice of reason on this blog.
April 10th, 2008 at 22:34
Didn’t watch that game but there’s a constant trend in the Uefa cup of highly entertaining games over the years.Maybe its due 2 less pressure vs the ultra high stakes of the CL which is diminishing in entertainment value.But that game u were watching must have been out of this world.
April 10th, 2008 at 23:09
JB deserves credit for his faith in Carrick as well as Scholes. Although I am a late convert regarding Carrick, I was always a big Scholes fan but I believed earlier this year that he was truly finished. JB let me have it on that one and in fairness, the Ginger Ninja has rewarded him with his loyalty by rebounding and actually playing very well the past two months. Although I am a big Carrick supporter now, I am unworthy to be on a Carrick Advocates team as I was questioning his value before Christmas. Now I am waiting for Capello to wake up and bring the new Glenn Hoddle on to the England squad where he belongs.
April 10th, 2008 at 23:13
Jay wire; It was a great game with emotional high impact drama. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen German teams snatch victory from certain defeat in this manner. Along with their ability to always win in penalty shootouts, they have a knack of coming from behind and winning or at least drawing matches that looked like sure defeat. They didn’t deserve to win and Getafe were the better team with only ten men, but they have guts, composure and resolve and they find a way. Although, the Getafe keeper really screwed up badly on the second Bayern goal. This gave the Germans life with only 5 minutes left in ET. Sometimes you need to be a little lucky too.
April 11th, 2008 at 0:55
I really don’t understand why people would have been giving Carrick such a hard time on this blog. This is the guy who slotted into our midfield last season and proved to be a main-stay of the team that won us our first league title in 4 years. Technically, he is excellent. His passing is exquisite at times, and his intercepting and tackling are very under-rated. Sure, he doesn’t crash into tackles like Scholes, but he’s quite crafty and clean in how he wins the ball. There’s nothing impresses me more in Carrick’s game than when I see him nip in and pinch the ball of an attacker, before turning and delivering a pin-point pass into the feet on an attacker. His form might have been a bit patchy early in the season but he was coming back from the injury he had. Anyway, it’s not the United way to get on players’ backs so people shouldn’t have been giving too much of a hard time. Constructive criticism is fine though. Sometimes I think Carrick’s price-tag hangs over him a little, but judge the player, not the price-tag.
Grognard, I caught extra time of the Bayern game on an internet stream (Fox Sports channel). I was glad I tuned in. Bayern fans will feel some kind of resolve now after United inflicted something almost identical on them in 1999. Can’t fault Bayern for pure determination and will to win. Gotta feel sorry for that keeper though. He fucked up and he put his top over his face (a la De Rossi Wednesday night), but he must have forgotten that under his top he had a t-shirt with a picture of what looked like his family (obviously to show off in the event of victory). Dear oh dear, he’d just lost his team a Uefa Cup QF, and then he decides to get his family in on the act as well. Poor guy.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:51
RedAddict; That was also Argentina’s national keeper. Might not do well in helping him retain that spot with such a schoolboy blunder. Bayern didn’t deserve it but then again, Getafe have only themselves to blame because they choked after that goalkeeper mistake. I just knew Bayern were going to tie the game. Truthfully, I even had the feeling they were going to come back when they were 3-1 down because they had 25 minutes left in ET. Getafe shut it down and it cost them with only ten men. Hopefully United are not in a position with Barca where they have to come from behind.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:48
park starts every game over giggs until nani comes back.
he’s a winner.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:54
Hey red ranter plz put up the link of the HQ version of the CR7 documentary…I would greatly appreciate.Thanx
April 11th, 2008 at 11:19
What on earth is that? Does Hargo mean that he’ll never be fully fit?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3724106.ece
April 11th, 2008 at 11:29
he is fit, just that he has to be a bit more cautious. he’s better than haha.
April 11th, 2008 at 12:10
That is bad news about Hargreaves. I think it pretty much confines him to being a big game player because the wear-and-tear of playing regularly would just cause his knee to flare up. I am amazed there was not some awareness of this when we splashed 17 million on him. I guess like with Van Nistelrooy we assumed he’d get over it.
I would love to see Hargreaves converted into a right wing back. The way we play that would give him loads of chances to get forward and make those crosses of his, and tracking back and making necessary tackles should come easy for him.
April 11th, 2008 at 14:22
some stats ahead of sunday:
CR EA
29 - 31 Matches played
27 - 19 Goals scored
18 - 9 Home goals
9 - 10 Away goals
17 - 13 Right foot
5 - 1 Left foot
5 - 5 Header
5 - 8 Six-yard box
17 - 10 In the penalty area
5 - 1 Outside the area
13 - 10 First half
14 - 9 Second half
April 11th, 2008 at 14:28
Hargo means that some time he ‘ll get fully fit. It depends on …his own knee cause no case is the same with another one.It’s the patella tendon and it may take a few months or a few years.That’s all.
I think SAF is doing the best thing with him.Remember what Wenger has said for Henry and Van Persie?He admitted that he made a mistake by putting them in the starting eleven just after their injuries.He did that every time and look at last year’s Henry and this year’s Henry.He is a crap.Do we want to see this hapenning with Hargo . HELL NO! We also have 4 more players for this position so , who cares when he gets back fully fit? Till then we will have a GREAT ANDERSON and a greater team.
Enough said!
WE RE BUYING KAMENI . WOOOOW KEEPER! HE IS A GREAT PlaYER
April 11th, 2008 at 14:41
me and JB were the two only advocate of carrick while everyone was bashing caarrick.so you can say that two of us are the first in that club.lol.
April 11th, 2008 at 14:49
I forgot to check, did Silvestre still have his left ear or was he the victim of some Finnish vandalism?
April 11th, 2008 at 14:50
yea but to be honest, you where judging carrick by the way he played at spurs and not the way he was playing for us. my guess is that he thought he would always be automatic first choice, then along came hargo and andy.
April 11th, 2008 at 15:40
Nice CR documentary! Thanks JB!
Hey, but I still haven’t understood what CR’s “wink” meant in that WC match when Rooney got sent off! I do believe he only barged in to complain against the foul, and not to get Rooney carded. But the wink? Anybody have any ideas?
April 11th, 2008 at 16:59
nikos, what you on about? we are not buying that keeper.
April 11th, 2008 at 17:07
eh… is it michael or it’s donibrasco? i know u lad, if u r changing the name just because guys on you case for aimless mouth opening, accept it mate! dont play hide and seek.
back to the job. as for the back game, news is that Puyol is out for leg 1 in the Nou Caaamp. that would be great news provided we dont lose a player between now and 23rd April. He’s urguably been one of hteir best defenders along with Milito. That will call for calamituous Thuram, i guess a good day for the R’s awaits keeping in mind that Barca’s R is out of the tie.
Further still Iniesta has a knee problem, though it’s not yet known how long he’ll be left on the sidelines, rumour has it, he might just miss the first leg too. Its looks this is the luck of a champion “United†and come 21st May, Tores and Gerrard will be injured and suspended respectively.
April 11th, 2008 at 17:24
Looks like Messi will be fit for the Semis and will feature on the team against Recreativo Huelva on Saturday. Deco could be available but the absence of Puyol for the first leg is a big plus and means we should pressure their defence and really try to take advantage to what already looks like a weak Barcelona.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7342979.stm
April 11th, 2008 at 17:39
Hargreaves knee problem I suspect has cleared up or is very near to clearing up. His play the last 3 or 4 times he has suited up has shown more energy and dash than before. He’s regained his speed which even I noticed was missing earlier in the year. I have had elbow tendinitis having been a baseball pitcher and it’s something that is frustratingly slow to calm down. Once you get it, you are prone to get it again but Hargreaves is right that proper exercise and warm up can calm it down to a point. The key is a long rest. Hargo will get a long 2 month rest after the CL Final, if we are fortunate enough to make it that far. He should be 100% next season but there always will be that risk that it could come back. But proper warm up and precautionary treatment of the joint will probably prevent it from returning. Trust me on this, I know of what I speak.
The knee takes longer than an elbow to heal because you are constantly using it to walk whereas an arm is not used as much or has weight compounding the problem. But then again a leg never strains itself as much as an arm like the strain from throwing a baseball at 90 mph. This is why the history of baseball players with the problem is so much higher than other sports. Hargo will be fine. In fact, I think he is over it right now as it shows in his running ability.
April 11th, 2008 at 17:42
I’d like to know how many of our player are carrying too many yellow cards that could cause them to miss either of the semi games or possibly even the final with the next one issued? Does anybody have that info? For example, how far off is Rooney from having to miss a game, or worse yet Ronaldo or one of our CD’s?
April 11th, 2008 at 18:07
If nobody has read the quotes from Andrei Voronin about life in Liverpool, then read below. It’s absolutely hilarious. He will no doubt be the first man to leave Liverpool when the transfer opens up next.
“Speaking to a Russian daily newspaper the Liverpool attacker launched into a lengthy tirade: “Compared with Germany, England is far behind in terms of comfort and culture, Five out of the seven houses near us are occupied by footballers. Steve Gerrard was burgled recently so a police patrol car comes into our compound fairly often. We hear police sirens all the time. Leverkusen, by contrast, was so much quieter. The medical services here are poor. When I was in Germany, there were lots of good clinics and doctors. It is nothing like that here - when our child had a skin allergy we waited hours for the doctor to see him. When we finally got to see a doctor, he said he didn’t know how to treat children and to try rubbing in this ointment. That was it. I was stunned. As a result my wife had to go back to Odessa with him and took a full set of tests there. I study English twice a week with a teacher and I have made some progress in it, but English isn’t the main problem. The main thing is to learn to understand the local players like Gerrard and Carragher. They speak with some peculiar local accent and sometimes I have absolutely no clue what the guys are saying. Many foreign players have the same problem.â€
April 11th, 2008 at 18:22
Grognard; let’s hope that your right, as everyone responds from injuries differently, and Hargreaves may be a long healer. And I think it’s just Evra and Ronaldo one yellow card away from a suspension, let’s hope they don’t do anything stupid.
April 11th, 2008 at 18:23
someone needs to tell him that thats not england, thats scouserville. police sirens are like music to them, they here atleast twice every hour lol.
April 11th, 2008 at 20:10
my team vs Assnal :
VDS
Brown-Rio-Pique-Evra
Hargreaves!-Carrick-Andy-Park!
Ronaldo!-Rooney!
wat do u ppl think? especially with owen keeping his right wing and CR7 just behind Rooney and CR7 can actually make better use of Owen’s good crosses compared to rooney and tevez! Go go red glory MU!
April 11th, 2008 at 20:33
kienu, would it not be better if we played hargo at right wing-back, so we can use his defensive qualities aswell as his crossing qualities, with ronaldo on the right and tevez in the middle with rooney?
April 11th, 2008 at 20:47
JayJay - what does it matter if Donibrasco signs in as Mike or feckin Minnie mouse?. Surely we can understand why?. Every time he posts whatever name he chooses to use, some people jump on him. Time for a truce don’t you think?????.
April 11th, 2008 at 20:50
Dan, maybe ur right…but doing so wud mean dropping brown and exposing our midfield defensively as owen wud be struck on the right. also using ronaldo in the’hole’ wud enable him of flying forward with the flying headers from owen’s crosses….park must be retained and giggs be dropped!
April 11th, 2008 at 21:20
Grognard am sorry, Conor’s statistics have some innacuracies. infact Ronaldo only has one yellow card this season in champions league, meaning he’s two cards away from suspension which i don’t think he can get in the next coming two games. however Evra and Nani are both one card away from suspension as they both have accumulated two cards each.
April 11th, 2008 at 21:25
[Jay Jay]
Can you stop bothering if it’s Donibrasco or Mike? It’s not really your business to taunt people. I can figure it out if it is the same person or not. Just get a move on, will you?
April 11th, 2008 at 22:16
Jay Jay- You are right! I thought that Ronaldo and Evra were the ones with two yellow cards in the CL, but its NANI and Evra! Ronaldo only has one, after 80 minutes against Sporting at Old Trafford. I am not too worried about losing Evra with a yellow card now that Silvestre is back. I find him a terrible CB, but a class LB. Great news!
My team for Sunday after thinking about it:
VDS
Brown Pique Rio Evra
Ronaldo Scholes Carrick Anderson Park
Rooney
After what Wenger said about ref decisions going against them, do you think that they will concede a pen against us? I hope so! Since Arsenal have lost both Sgna and Flamini for this trip, I think United will win without too much problems. I go for 3-0 or 4-0 to us. Cant believe SkySports predict a 1-1 game!
April 11th, 2008 at 22:21
Ah Jay Jay, thanks for correcting me, but don’t blame me, blame my sources (not pointing any fingers…. *cough* Sam)
. I was just passing on the word from him to Grognard, but thanks for clearing it up.
April 11th, 2008 at 22:27
Jay Jay; Thanks for that info on the yellow card situation. Craig did have me pissing bullets when I read that Ronaldo needed one more yellow to be suspended. Thank God it’s two.
RedDevil; Let me get this right, you would bench Hargreaves after the performance he just gave, not to mention tha last 3 or 4 outings he has had? Some of you just hopelessly don’t get it…JEEZ!
April 11th, 2008 at 22:47
Grognard- I think Owen is an exellent player, but I dont know if he can play two games in four days. After what he said in that newspaper that he has to be careful, I thought he might not manage to play two games in a week. Anyway, Carrick has played brilliantly these last couple of weeks, Scholes was rested on wednesday and has started to play well, and Anderson simply is a big-game player. He really loves playing against Fabregas! Besides, its his birthday
United player usually score against Arse on their birthday! 2002: Scholes 2-0. 2004: Rooney 2-0. 2005: Ronaldo 4-2. If Owen plays I would use him as right-wing back, or midfield with Carrick and Scholes with Andy on the left.
April 12th, 2008 at 0:01
Dan(u-o.l) Maybe i belive it cause I like this player. Here it is.
http://www.eatsleepsport.com/articles/717459.html
April 12th, 2008 at 1:42
RedDevil; You are right about Hargreaves playing back to back games as his leg needs to be monitored carefully but this is Arsenal we are playing. I think we should play 4-5-1 and sit down Tevez because we need the bodies in midfield who will break Arsenal’s short pass and give and go style. Ronaldo will make up for Rooney upfield by himself. Hargo needs to be out there to give us defensive cover and the same amount of offensive surge down the right side. But you are probably right although at this stage of the year, I might be willing to risk Hargo for this game and sit him for Blackburn.
April 12th, 2008 at 3:22
hargo, andy n pique to score vs Assnal….3-1 MU wins!