Oct 01
Totti Mouths Off Prior to Hammering | Happy Tevez | Happy Ron | Happy Vidic
It’s that time of the year again. Just a day away from the Roma game. The Romans will have some scores to settle. And it is highly likely they will begin their mind games, looking to score some points, prior to the game, in order to make up for the hiding of last season.
So is the Roman revenge going to be successful? Will Totti terrorize Rio and Co? Stay tuned for the preview of the Man Utd-Roma clash same time, same place, tomorrow, here on your favourite blog! Till then, though, let’s go ahead and get done with the customary roundup of the day.
1. A vengeful Totti talks about, erm… vengeance. He should be anyway. It is expected from him. We’d have to wait and see if they come at us. If they do, it would be a good thing. We should get more space on the counter then. Anyway this is what he had to say prior to the Inter game last week:
“I’d like to win both clashes,” Totti said, “but should I have to choose, I prefer winning in Manchester.
“More than Inter we think to Old Trafford, where last year we suffered a general disaster. That evening, I felt bad. We were sure to overcome the round and to join the semi-finals.”
It looks like he set himself up not to win against Inter. What else explains the 4-1 hammering they got at the hands of the Azzuri? It should give us confidence, and Fergie would be studying the videos carefully.
2. Tevez Delight. Carlos Tevez is touched by the adulation and love he gets from the fans in England. He loves how close to the ground, supporters are, here in England, as against those in South America. And of course, the Argentina chants keep the lad going.
3. Ronaldo Delight
Encouraging signs from our Portuguese No 7 as he seems to sound more and more a proper Red player. It’s been widely accepted that some day he will move on to warmer climes of Madrid or Barcelona. But when he says things like this:
“Here at Manchester United is where I feel happy. So much so that I have no problem in saying that I would like to stay here for many more years.”
it makes one feel quite happy. More than that he does also say he regrets ever saying he wanted to move away, putting that down to being a slave of his impulses more than anything. It’s nice to hear some of the stuff that he’s been saying. He does seem to have a far mature head these days, which is good.
4. Vidic Delight
Yes, it’s been a procession of happy red players here, while this news may sound a tad old. Vidic has been apparently handed a bumper 4 year contract in recognition of his immense contribution over the past year. Apart from defensive solidity – Rio is a completely different player alongside him – he is also a lethal goal threat and I think we’ll see more of those fearless headers towards the opposition net in corners. He is also, unsurprisingly, quite delighted with our 1-0 wins.
5. Other news.
We are supposedly after Miguel Veloso of Sporting Lisbon (Surprise! Surprise!) which doesn’t make sense to me. He is a defensive midfielder. Given the surfeit of players in that position – not to mention young Darron Gibson – I wonder if we really need him.
And Simone Perrotta and Aquilani look to be doubtful starters against us. Apparently Perotta could be fit.
And that’s all there is to it for the day. Preview to come tomorrow. Be good.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Ronaldo: I like to know what’s happening at Old Trafford
- Anderson Glad to be Back
- Vidic to stay, Cleverley+Welbeck loan deals…
- Some More BerbaTalk
- West Brom v Man Utd: Match Thread
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (542)
Stephen (500)
RedDevilEddy (462)
Craig Mc (349)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
I LOVE UNITED BUT LETS FACE IT. THE REASON WE ARE NOT PLAYING TOP CLASS FOOTBALL IS DOWN TO MANY ISSUES.ROONEY.FOR ALL THE LOVE,AM AFRAID HE HAS FAILED TO OUTGROW THE YOUNGSTAR REPUTATION AND MAYBE WILL NEVER WILL.HE PLAYS LIKE AN IMATURE SPOILT SCOOLBOY. CAN U REALLY RELY ON HIM TO CARRY THE TEAM?NO.GIGGS.AS LONG AS THE TEAM CONTINUES TO CARRY HIM,EXPECT NOTHING BETTER.MAYBE WORSE.SCHOLES.GOOD DISTRIBUTOR OF THE BALL,BUT HAS LOST ALL HIS FOWARD MOVEMENT.HE PLAYS MO OF ADEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER. FERGIE HAS FAILED TO ADJUST HIS TEAM TO THE CHANGING WORLD OF SOCCER.THESE THREE FACTORS MO THAN ANYTHING HOLD US BACK.AM SURE IF WE KEEP PLAYING THIS BADLY,FERGIE WILL DROP NON PERFORMERS.ROONEY FOR ME SHOULD NOT START AHEAD OF TEVEZ AND SAHA.
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Totti has a reason to have a vengful ambition. We crushed them like potatoes that night. No mercy at all! In the first 20 minutes we were 3-0 up and you would have expected our players to release off the accelerator pedal. But we kept on attacking and attacking. And goals continued falling onto them like dominoes. Can we repeat the same tomorrow night? At the moment I can say no. Because our team has yet to heat up and is comfortable with the scrappy 1-0 wins at the moment. I won’t mind another scrappy 1-0 victory since it will guarantee us the 3 points and place us nearer to the second round of the UEFA Champions League.
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I just hope United actually does something worth cheering about. Yes,they’ve had a scrappy start but can they make it back into their game with this match? oh well…
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I agree with bloodbath here, they’ve had a scrappy start
to the season but let’s hope they find their way and give
us something to cheer about.
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Rooney an IMATURE SPOILT SCOOLBOY?? Well if u started watching UTD this year, u might think so.
But he has a lot more to offer than his temper. After all he came back from an injury,
does that ring any bells?
Also some advice
1.Turn your caps lock off
2.It’s immature not imature
RR, good reading. I’m pretty excited at our Roma match. I wonder what formation we will be using.
And I predict Tevez will put a good performance:)
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@busingye .. you dont appear to be a Rooney fan particularly
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the reason united are misfiring is fergie still persists without a centre forward,neither tevez or rooney are suited to leading the line , they both play well in the support role.
secondly ryan giggs (as much as we love him ) is past his best and his passing has been woeful to say the least, also scholes has been below par, hopefully all of them will regain their touch against roma
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Roma will be a big test and the game will be tough one but since its at our backyard we might snatch full points but dont u all expect flair and same old united just yet it’ll take some more time
Anyways Exactly 28 hrs to go
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No, no way they are gonna revenge
Its 10-0 this time!!!
Is Van der sar coming back?
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Sad news just in
Defensive injury blow for Reds
The Reds have some defensive injury concerns ahead of AS Roma’s visit to Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown, both picked up knocks during the 1-0 win over Birmingham City on Saturday.
With Gary Neville still out, Sir Alex will call on John O’Shea at right-back, while Vidic would be replaced by 20-year-old Spanish defender Gerard Pique.
The Reds could, however, be boosted by the return of midfielder Owen Hargreaves. The 26-year-old trained on Monday and is rated as a “possibility†by Sir Alex.
But given the absence of van der Sar’s wealthy experience and the potential lack of Vidic and Brown – both outstanding so far this season – the manager may be tempted to throw Hargreaves into action to protect United’s back four.
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busingye, you are a breath of fresh air…..I think. Jeez! And they call me negative. Where the hell are my detractors when it comes to what you wrote. I have never lambasted United like that. I sort of agree with you on some points but I think you are wrong about Fergie and you are dead wrong about Rooney.
Fergie is a GOD and should never be sacked or questioned. Well maybe he should be questioned. I only have one problem with Fergie and that’s his stubborness. I’ll also never forgive him for souring on David Beckham. Despite Ruud’s fine year at Real, I noticed a decline in his game and desire before he was unloaded. No Fergie has been great but he needs to occasionally admit to making an error or two in tactics. He has stuck with a setup that’s not working for far too long, but even though that bugs me, I have a feeling that everything will turn out super in the end. Why? Because he’s Sir Alex Ferguson and he knows more about footy than all us so called pundits of the game. I and a lot of us need to have more faith and patience. Just look at what happens to greatness when the reverse emotions are exercised. Need I say the word CHELSEA?
I actually understand some of your frustration regarding Roonaroo. He often plays like he has taken a few too many shots to the head. His temper gets the better of him in some of the most meaningless situations. The problem with Rooney is that he is too undisciplined and too hard a worker to actually be of any value as a striker. His finishing skills are great but he usually plays to far back to get too many opportunities and his aerial game is non-existent. For me he is the ideal replacement for Paul Scholes as an attacking midfielder because of his finishing skills but mostly because he is really a very good passer of the ball moving forward. He does have to grow up though as his cry baby antics are getting very tiresome. Stop whining and score some goals already. That said he is light years ahead of both Tevez and Saha in talent and should never leave the pitch. Fergie has always had a problem trying to contain his energy. He is the number one reason why we need a true central striker.
As for Scholes and Giggs, they still have great value but because of their age and decreasing pace, they have to alter their game to cope. Therefore, they should be used as super subs instead. The pace and physicality of the EPL has made it a young mans game I’m afraid. Still, I think they have more to offer. I wouldn’t retire them yet. Just use them better.
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My only concern against Roma is our goalkeeping situation. I hope EVS makes a speedy recovery because the polish kid leaves a lot to be desired. As for Totti, he’s just a talented idiot who should be blowing kisses to girls and stop mouthing off about revenge. He should start wondering how bad we will beat them after they got clobbered by Inter over the weekend. Totti has no class. You would think that 7-1 would have shut him up but good. Still, I expect our typical tight game either ending 2-0 or 1-0 for the good guys. It’s bloody well time for Wayne Rooney to score a goal I think.
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[Grognard]
As indianpunk pointed out Vidic is a doubt. And if that is true, then goalkeeping is the least of our worries.
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Well the positive thing that comes out of vidics injury is that we get to see if pique can one day be in the first team.i think tmr will bring the best out of us.3 0 i predict
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You wish Totti, don’t expect to win the leg at Old Trafford. By the end of today, we will be top of the group table!!! Come on United!!
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Red Ranter, Yes Vidic is a big concern therefore his absence makes our goalkeeping even more important and an even greater concern. Rio needs to play the game of his life, as does O’Shea. I f United play a strong fast paced one touch attacking game, I doubt Roma will test our keeper that much. It won’t be 7-1 but relentless offensive pressure from us is always the best defense. Roma is a good team but their counter attacking isn’t in the same league as Milan or Inter. I feel we will be alright.
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Tonight is rooneys chance to shine! Although i agree that he needs to grow up, he has more hunger for it then any of the others. Hes desperate to prove himself and i think once hes got that goal he will be flying!
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grognard,i like yo view on the team,we agreed on all things but rooney.the times i saw him in everton were enough to win me over but honestly is he what u expected him to be 2 or 3 years back?can u compare his maturity to ronaldos?can he carry the team like ronaldo?hunger is one thing,even smith had it,but at this stage of his career,we need results
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busingye; I absolutely love Wayne Rooney but I do feel that he has perhaps been overrated. The skill, desire and hunger are evident but immaturity still remains. He has controlled it better than say two seasons ago, but he still lets referees decisions get under his skin or even worse, he lashes out at opposing players if they foul him or take the ball away from him. I have always maintained that although he is a fine finisher, he is not an out and out striker.
He lacks the goal scoring instincts of a true goal predator like Gerd Mueller, Alan Shearer, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Marco van Basten. Predators are aways living in the box, can hold up the ball, are physical and are a force in the air. Rooney does none of this. Even little Michael Owen can claim to be more of a presence in the box and in the air than Wayne.
Where Wayne excells is running with the ball, moving forward with or without the ball and breaking on the counter. His speed and finesse are fantastic but when it’s all said and done, he scores very few garbage goals by being there for a rebound or a tapper. His goals are usually beauties of skill, placement and finesse. Paul Scholes scores similar goals and Wayne also has a similar style to Scholes as he likes to move with pace and is also a very good passer of the ball (especially through balls). For me he is an attacking midfielder and barring that a second striker who plays behind the central striker. He seemed much more dynamic when RVN was on the team and usually had more space to run into lanes and create chances. Again, don’t get me wrong, I love the lad and I think he does much more good than bad, but he needs the proper support up front and he’s not getting it.
Tevez is too similar in style and Saha is always injured or quite often is asleep at the wheel. What he needs is a Huntelaar or Berbatov to really make him dangerous. The ideal player for him because of his ability to hold up the ball, play the striker as well as make nice penetrating passes was Miroslav Klose but we didn’t sign him. So far this year he has scored 8 times for Bayern and had 5 assists, setting up Toni for four gimme goals.
As for leadership, Rooney is a leader because of his commitment, energy and positive attitude. The kid’s hungry and fiercely loyal to the United cause. Much like Roy Keane he is captain material even if his temper occasionally betrays him. Keano was the same. It’s called passion.
Finally I will say this about Ronalado, a truly fantastic player with great skills and who leads by example and work ethic as well. But his is a silent less animated leadership. Rooney’s enthusiasm is infectious and so his contribution should never be valued by goals alone. Having said that, he needs to score more goals. Two or three years ago I was hoping him to start netting 30 goals a season. That hasn’t happened. I think I was corrupted by his three goals in his first Champions League game. I think everyones expectations of the lad went over the moon because of that match.
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Rooney is getting there. 23 goals last season (when many said he was having a bad season) isn’t a mean feat! He’ll be there abouts by the end of the season, I think.
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You guys will see. Our team will start performing now. (even Rooney)
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We just had a bit of ‘bad luck’ where goals are concerned. Even though we didn’t score in our opening games, you have to admit that our ‘team-play’ and build up was great. Nobody questioned our players then. Give it a couple more games, and everybody (I mean everybody) will be proclaiming how great Rooney/Ronaldo are. Not to mention the value that Scholes and Giggs bring. Also prepare yourselves for some compliments to SAF for ‘discovering’ and acquiring the services of Anderson, Nani, Tevez and Hargo.
United fans sure are funny hey?
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I hate to say this but,
I TOLD YOU SO!
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