Manchester United Banter Archive March 21 2014

 

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21 Mar 2014 21:07:01
League is a write off now. I know we need to keep up the momentum and finish as high in the league as we can but we really need to get some players blood for next season and get some players game time that I think could be vital for bayern. I.e. kagawa nani fletcher. I hope moyes looks at this straight away and uses these league games as preperation for that.

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The leagues gone, you think?! Where have you been, the pacific triangle?!

Looking forward to the Bayern games, I think we'll do well.

Thanks for cheering me up ;)

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Nani vital for Bayern? You really have been away haven't you? Seriously, Get Kagawa and Fletcher needing to be involved but Nani is all put of chances.

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Haha not worded that too well have I. I meant the league is a write off even challenging for a europa place never mind the champions league place so we may aswell use the games to prepare for bayern. Everybody's looking forward to bayern mate. I think we might suprise a few :)

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You mock AJH but Nani may very well be vital for Bayern. It's no coincidence that we looked better in midweek when we played with pace. Nani has that. What he also does is pick up the ball, go forward and run at players. We need players who are direct and, regardless of Nani's form when he has played, the teams form has been just as bad this season. If RVP is out then I'd like to see Nani play some sort of role vs Bayern as he is likely to catch them on the counter.

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Nani could be that something we might need. I would not object to him coming on in the final 20 minutes to run at the opposition. Or even better, sit on the halfway line and wait for a break. We are seriously lacking speed so the left-winger that we sign must be a quick player.

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Sorry chaps, but Nani has had so many opportunities and wasted them all.

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21 Mar 2014 20:25:44
With RVP out for 6 weeks how about playing Kagawa and Mata behind Rooney in a 4321 formation. It may not be everyone's deal formation but it would allow our two best attacking players to play more centrally. A midfield three of Fellaini, Fletcher and Carrick with Fletcher driving from midfield to support the attack and Fellaini and Carrick to provide support and push out wide to defend as required. Also Smalling and Jones as CBs and get them to play a higher line.

What do people think.

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I think we need to stick with 4231 playing Carrick fellaini welbeck mata kagawa behind rooney. Kagawa needs some serious game time because I think we will need him for the bayern game

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Mad, I think with top quality fullbacks and a solid midfield, that formation would work well.

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That's us knackered then Syd ;)

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21 Mar 2014 19:54:36
Alrite lads, Eds, weird question for ye. Is there anyway this United squad could beat Bayern over two legs? I mean without luck, just with tactics and strategy. Could Gaurdiola/Mourinho/Klopp beat Bayern with this United squad? How do you think we should play and how do you think moyes will approach it?

With players like Mata, Carrick, Giggs, Januzaj, Nani, Kagawa, Rooney, you'd think we'd be able to put up a front 6 that can keep the ball. Why not try keeping the ball instead of trying to close down Bayern. Make them work, do we have the players technically able to preform this? Nani on his day is as good as robben, Mata was Chelsea's best player for two years, etc. I think we should try bring the game to them, if we park the bus we will definitely lose by a huge margin. Thoughts?

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{Ed004's Note - I don't think there is. Bayern and Madrid are a level above every other team in the world and we are a few levels behind them teams}

Sulei

I always think that any given day, a team can raise it's game and do the unexpected. Unfortunately, we have not been able t do that all year. Whilst we have won some games we have not looked convincing for any period of time. Meow ever, assuming DM picks players in their best positions, then who knows? The heart says let's go for it, the head says we are going out

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21 Mar 2014 19:22:56
Lfc fan who discussed this at about LFC at work the other day so thought I'd ask a few pages.
If you could have just one player from the past brought back in their prime who would you go for?
Think uniteds is the most interesting to ask for 2 reasons:
1 - have a great list of fantastic players who have played for you
2 - IMO have numerous positions that lack any real quality

So, who would you go for? Roy Keane, who could add that steel and competitiveness to your midfield? A 25 year old rio Ferdinand to sort your defence? Or Ronaldo before he left, lack real quality on the wings and he won you 2 leagues and a champions league. But, can only have one. Who would you want back?

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{Ed004's Note - Ronaldo, cause them could go all out and get people at Roy and rios level like Vidal and Benetia}

Bryan Robson. Exactly what we need. A leader controlling the he middle of the park, driving us forward

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Cantona, the only true king of football. When people say they have a genius at their team, he needs to be compared to the god!

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We could really do with a Dennis Irwin right now! Best left back other than Ashley Cole I think English football has seen, although it is very close between the 2.

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Giggs or scholes

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Bryan Robson for me. Exactly what we need at the moment. Box to box, 100% commitment every game. Great leader and would command the best out of everybody else. Scores goals and hard as nails.
What a player.

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{Ed007's Note - Roy Keane for me, by far THE best sportsman, never mind footballer, I have ever had the privilege to see.}

Georgie Best, of the older lads. What he could do now, on decent pitches, with a decent ball, and without defenders trying to cut him in two, doesn't bear thinking about. Our creativity problems would certainly be solved.

Of the more recent players, take your pick from Scholes (my favourite), Robbo and Irwin - all greats in the positions we need strengthening most.

It has to be just one? Damn.

Ok, Keane then.

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Without a shadow of doubt it would have to be Duncan Edwards - one of the best players ever, sadly cut short in his prime at Munich.

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Another vote for Cantona, without a doubt for me. Best / D Edwards were not of my generation so never had the chance to see them in person but went to a lot of games were Cantona played. We were almost unbeatable with him in the team and not just a great footballer - he was a magician. He would control a game and the skill, oh the skill. we could do with just a tenth of his creativity now.

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Thats quite a question.

There are people like Rio and co in the world, and we can buy one not much worse.

For me it has to be one of Ronaldo, Best, Scholes and Keane, with Scholes the prime candidate.

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21 Mar 2014 23:45:39
lfc fan

Would just like to chuck in another vote for Cantona
The bloke was simply an enigma. a one off.

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Best question I have heard in ages and in answer to your question I would say Ralph Milne!

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Eric, for the smile reason that he joined a team that was stuttering and failing to gel and transformed them. He was the glue that brought it all together.

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Well said CTR, Irwin for me.A total honour and pleasure to have seen him an Giggs rampaging down the left.Awesome.I wouldn't have called Keane a 'sportsman' either, unbelievable footballer but not the most sporting bloke On the pitch.
On another issue, I do think there Is a case for Nani on the left against Bayern.He could counter Robbens attack's and hopefully, Mad Pat could be less cavalier. Kagawa has to play now, in the number 10 role from now On.Get him matchfit, it is the perfect opportunity.My team for Bayern games would be: DeGea, Rafael, Smalling, Jones, Evra, Januzaj Fellaini, Fletcher, Nani, Kagawa, Rooney. We can win those games, they are not unbeatable, they're just 11 blokes trying to win a game of football.We have the ability but do we have the belief.I've a funny feeling we will beat Bayern.It doesn't get much better than this, come on!

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21 Mar 2014 18:34:01
Watch how quickly Van Persie gets forgotten about on here in the next six weeks. People saying we must buy a striker in the summer because he's too injury prone :)

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Sydney it will also help us ratify your assumption that United won't be better off without RvP and with Rooney as main striker.

(I personally agree with Syd that RvP should be our main striker with Rooney playing behind him but I don't like the way in which Syd dismisses others opinions)

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It will tell us nothing MB. I would expect to see Welbeck replace Van Persie.

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Disney - on the RVP thing - I posted on here the other day but I either missed it or the Eds didn't put it up.
But why are people surprised when he is injured.
My previous post pointed out that since he has been in England he has had only two seasons when he has been more or less injury free. The last season at Arsenal (which is why you bought him) and the first season with you and didn't he win you the title last year. BUT he is an injury prone player- always has been and so to buy him means you accept the risk. It worked last year.

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Quite possible.

We are short of good midfielders anyway. Hopefully Buttner gets a start.

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Puzzled, can you name any player who has gone two full seasons without injury? There will not be many players to be fair. Van Persie suffered a lot of muscle injuries in his younger years, but since AW let him train his own way he has managed himself well. This latest injury was caused by another player and could happen to anyone so it's unfair to put this on him. Because Van Persie doesn't rely on pace and because he has played a lot less football than most players his age due to injury, he may be able to stay at this level for a few more years yet.

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RVP is not injured to an extent he is out for six weeks, he is injured and will demand the extra recovery time as this is his last World Cup and Holland require him at full strength? I think the bloke takes his country before his club!

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Neil Webb? Scholes for me just so we could keep the fecking ball.

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21 Mar 2014 18:26:32
So Robin Van Persie will be out for 4-6 weeks?

David Moyse, this is your chance to set up an attacking 4 we have all been crying out for! Mata, Kagawa and Januzaj all behind Rooney may well be a perfect set up (Would prefer RVP).

Or will we play Rooney behind Welbeck and shove Mata on the wing again?

I hope Moyes tries this formation as it's the perfect time to be experimenting before we face big boys bayern.

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Or this:

Rooney
Welbeck----Mata-----januzaj

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I would prefer Welbeck, Mata and Valencia behind Rooney.

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Welbeck up top. Rooney mata kagawa behind

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We should lay Rooney up front with Mata (or Kagawa) behind. For the wide roles, take your pick from Januzaj, Welbeck and Valencia

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AJH

"We should lay Rooney up front"

Never thought you were like that mate, I guess we learn something new every day:)

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21 Mar 2014 18:12:07
People going on about robben and Ribery having a field day imagine if that was ronaldo bale an benzema. A clean sheet in the 1st leg is our only hope. Madrid to win it with some spare IMO.

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We need to play Evans at left back

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Yep Evans for me too. Rafa at right back and if used in the right way could have jones in front of a back 4.

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21 Mar 2014 18:06:32
Kagawa in behind Rooney in Europe anyone?

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It's a hard one to call. I wouldn't rule out Welbeck playing as the main striker with Rooney just behind. I can see Kagawa getting game time against BM though.

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21 Mar 2014 17:51:49
RVP out for 4 to 6 weeks, chance for Mata and Kagawa to play in their desired positions.

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Rooney just in front of Kagawa Mata Januzai with Welbeck replacing Mata for the Bayern game and Kagawa moving behind Rooney Jones and Carrick in midfield and Buttner Evans Vidic Rafael at the back Vidic and Evans were our best centre back partnership in the title winning season

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21 Mar 2014 17:51:40
RVP out for 4 to 6 weeks, bad news .

No doubt Moyes will play Welbeck and Rooney up front, continue to stick Mata on the wing and Kagawa on the bench.

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I think rooney prefers to play in the hole and will not stay upfront as the advanced striker. Terrible news on RVP, this season goes from worse to worse.

Anyone know for sure how far smalling and Evans or as I like to call them china and china are from coming back:)

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Mourinho was trying to sign Rooney to play centre forward

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21 Mar 2014 17:33:34
Anyone worried about RVP having another scan? This is the perfect opportunity to play Mata in the hole and Rooney upfront.

Quite interested to see what team DM picks tomm.

West Ham will lump it into carol all game and I am worried given our lack of options defensively.

A win would be good for morale going into the derby but West Ham at home are very difficult.

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21 Mar 2014 17:28:55
Hi all, what a tough draw and reading the posts below I agree that we have difficulty in matching up v their midfield across our back 4. As a coach its DM's job to find a way to beat them, something Jose M is great at. Fergie spent weeks preparing the team to play Barca in 2 finals and tried to match up, it failed twice miserably, we can't afford to do the same v bayern. I posted last night that I thought we could experiment with Fellani higher up the pitch.
For this game I would play him much higher allowing us to by pass their and our midfield instead of trying to play through one of the most disciplined and talented and well drilled and best coached midfields in world football. Play giggs left (60 min), Valencia right and RVP, with fletch and carrick behind fellani.
Fellani is capable of awesome performances when he plays between the lines of their defence and midfield and would be an Aerial mismatch for lahm as their holding midfield player. He can cause havoc and upset Bayern in arguably their weakest area central defence

It may not be the football purists way but it is worth considering we can't beat them at their own game so we will have to find away. The best coaches usually do. wenger has won nothing for a long time but what has he changed or try to alter to change that? NOTHING. You can't beat everybody playing the same way every week unless you are super super talented like barca so at times a radical alteration in tactics is required in order to win any particular game.
Ken

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21 Mar 2014 17:05:14
Predictions for last 4 in CL?

Mine are

PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern (unfortunately), Barcelona

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Chelsea, Bayern and the two Madrid clubs.

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Fresh, if Jose wasn't at the helm, I would predict a comfortable PSG win. I think PSG will pip it, but it will be closer with Jose and his mind games in charge.

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I agree syd. On paper not a good match up for chelsea at all. Chelsea strength is their midfield and psg has as good a midfield as anyone, with the exception of Bayern. I think Ibra and Cavani will give chelsea all they can handle.

Expect Mourinho to set up to defend with numbers and counter.

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Chelsea united barca and real

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21 Mar 2014 16:52:17
Hello lads. How many of you see evra's yellow card is a blessing? Super speedy and tricky wingers like robben and ribery would have torn as apart from left side.
Now only Rafael's red card to be worried about. lolssss.

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Will be interesting to see how Buttner shapes up. He needs to play a couple of games before then though - that can't be his first start for a while.

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Yes I do evra was a good player for us, he can't get up and down the pitch anymore and he's defending is shocking, a left back must be top of our list

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Watching Ev against Olympiakos was frustrating. He didn't even attempt to prevent crosses going into the box and all sides see Ev as our weakest link and they target him specifically. Like Honigstein says on his Twitter, he is a major liability for us and his suspension is a blessing in disguise. Great servant and teammate, but for footballing reasons he should have been replaced in the summer of 2011.

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Rodio, it also gives Moyes an excuse to play another LB leading up to the game. I wouldn't be surprised to see Evans play there.

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Absolutely guys. Now we hope Rafael don't take red. If I remember correctly it was turning point in our tie with Bayern last time.

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21 Mar 2014 14:52:54
Hi Eds, is there any interest from United in Dries Mertins of Napoli. I watched him play last night and though he did a great job, very direct.
Thank,
KingGiggsy

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{Ed002's Note - No.}

21 Mar 2014 14:16:29
dont write is off just yet. in 05 when liverpool won europe they finished outside the top 4 and 37 points behind league winners chelsea. a couple of years ago when chelsea won they also finished outside the top 4 and 25 points behind.both had terrible league seasons and still won the european cup.what i'm sayin is stranger things have hapened.city have beaten and arsenal drew with munich away this season already. and we have the firepower of rooney and van the man.which gives us a fighting chance. all i'm sayin is it ain't over till the fat lady sings.*****BELIEVE****

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We will take on anybody and Bayern are next

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Bayern aren't overly brilliant at centre back either so Moyes rather than playing Valencia and Young Kagawa and Valencia have to play for me with Jones Carrick midfield Rooney behind RvP and a back four of Rafael Smalling Evans and Buttner

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Chilly76

I would agree with you if we could defend better. Whilst everyone thins RVP and Rooney can win us games, at this stag of the competition, it is most often teams that can defend and win 1-0 and ugly if needed.

Look at Real Madrid, They have not won the CL for a long time now due to their defensive frailties and not their offense because no one has better offensive players than real.

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I think Madrid will win it this year, I don't think we have a chance against Munich like gcu says our defence is in for a shock

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Paddy I can't see anyway moyes will go with that defence as it lacks experience and I just can't see him playing buttner, I think it will be either rafa, vidic, jones, evans or jones, rio, vidic, rafa.

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Jred

Interesting one. I think the semis will be crackers.

I am also inclined to pick Madrid over Bayern in the semis and have PSG beating Barca in the other one.

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I think Bayern will win it, but RM a very close 2nd fave. If these two face each other in the next round, the winner will go on to win the comp for me. If you consider the amount of times BM have gotten to the final and were unlucky to lose, it's quite incredible.

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PSG to win it!

Might have something to do with a certain Frenchman playing for them ;)

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21 Mar 2014 14:47:38
Right guys there is no point us all writing everything off just because we got Bayern. Yer they're a great team and probably favourites, not just against us but to win the actual thing, but could this be a blessing in disguise? We have nothing to lose, everyone will be expecting us to get battered, so with no pressure, might we actually see a better performance? I am really looking forward to it and am not in the slightest bit worried or scared. To be honest, I'm not sure Bayern are as great as everyone makes out anyway, they are in an average league and against Arsenal weren't that impressive to say the least, plus I still think Real are faves for me. So bring them on!

Also, does anyone else think Moyes is being a tad coy on Rvp? Yes he got a a fair whack midweek but maybe it's just so he is fully fit for the City game? I hope so

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21 Mar 2014 11:48:18
, It just had to be, Bayern. 6 other teams and it just had to be the toughest of them all. We have probably 40% chances of going through, and if we do we'll very likely reach the finals. The season just got a little worse

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Even though BM IMO are the best team in Europe, I think Barcelona would have been a more difficult tie for us. The way Barcelona play, they would have opened us up hundreds of times with the likes of Vidic and Evra. No one is expecting us to go through against BM, including myself, but hopefully it will be closer than some think.

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PSG Vs Chelsea :)

twitpic.com/dyxzba

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Not a kind draw at all guys. Par for the year I guess, I can't remember getting one break this year, Unbelievable:)

Robben must be the worse player to face if you are United and have Evra on the left.

I guess they are all tough teams at this stage, let's hope we at least have a fully fit squad. Need to win at OT without conceding to have any chance.

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GCU, couldn't agree more, Robben will have a field day against Evra. Luckily for us Moyes will be forced to leave Evra out of the first game as he's suspended. Would we go with Rafael at LB? Evans?

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Evra suspended 1st leg so we are safe we can play buttner

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We are expected to get hammered so the pressure is off really. Players will go out and fight to save their United careers. It's unlikely but far from impossible.

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I think our priority in the 1st leg should be stopping them from scoring. I'll be happy with a goal less draw at OT then try and catch them at the Arena. Maybe we'll pull a Chelsea and win the damn thing, stranger things have happened.
I agree though, Barcelona's style would have been harder to cope with.

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Shahram,

In the home leg we won't have Evra on the left, might be a blessing in disguise. We need to not play Buttner either though, maybe a back 3 with giggs and valencia wing backs would be beneficial but probably not the best game to be messing with the formation.

40% chance? You have got to be kidding me, we have less than 10% chance.

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More than likely Buttner he'll be up against GCU in the 1st leg. Evra banned for that game I think. He's hardly played this season. Might we see him start in the next couple of games?

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Is Buttner still at the club?

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I had forgotten that. Buttner will also get his a. s handed to him as his positioning defnsively is awful a penalty waiting to happen.

I think the draw is a bad draw as here are too many match ups all over the pitch that are not great for us.

Goetze and Ribbery down the right will give rafael a horrid time as well. The funny thing is they are as close as you get to our yester years of playing with out and out wingers although inverted.

Then you have Goetze, Schweinsteiger, Alcantara, Muller and kroos which are hard match ups for us.

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Sydney, I think rafael down playing left back is quite plausible.

Unfortunately that would mean Smalling or Jones playing right back against robbery and Goetze, who tend to switch lot during the game is a terrible match up for us.

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Buttner has to play, he is a left back. Play the players that are used to that position or get rid. Playing all these people out of position doesn't work!

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Rvp Rooney and ddg are all better LB than buttner

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Evans for lb

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21 Mar 2014 11:47:26
One of two things will happen against Bayern, either we'll see a United not seen since the Real Madrid games last year and shock everyone, or we will get demolished. I just don't see there being any middle ground in this tie. Can't wait for the games, just wish we were home in the 2nd leg.

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21 Mar 2014 11:38:29
Phew. Thank goodness for that. It's only Bayern. And I was worried we might get a tough draw!

If it goes to form we will get trounced and the Glazers will be wondering whether they have access to enough capital to ever get back to the top. Let's face it, we don't have a player in our team certain of a starting position in theirs.

On the other hand if we pull of a miracle, perhaps it could create a false sense of security and maybe cause some second thoughts about Moyes as a coach ready for the European big time. Of course we will have to return to our successful ways in the domestic league first before he will get that chance again.

Dare we hope?

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21 Mar 2014 12:15:44
Van Persie would get in there team

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Rooney and RvP would get in there team

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One of Rooney and Van Persie would get in their first 11

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21 Mar 2014 11:30:46
So Munich it is then! Can't wait, this could be our last Big european night at home at least for a season! Not writing us off though. We are in a strange position of winning the cup is actually our best chance up qualify for next season so we'll have to go for it that's for sure

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Its a big clash indeed.
But you said it well yourself, could be the last big European game for a year.

Honestly I'm happy we got them but I think we'll be kicked out without difficult.

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It's going to be longer than a year before we get another big European game at home. The odds are 20/1 on us winning the European Cup and that's probably about right. Next season it's the Europa League if we are lucky.

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21 Mar 2014 11:28:22
Manchester United vs Bayern Munchen

Could this be any better? I don't think so. Was a very good draw.

If we past them we'll have the chance the WIN the UCL if we don't (the most possible thing), at least we'll have the chance play against the best team in the World right now.

I have the opinion that to be the best you need to beat the best.

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Absolutely right. Also I think the second leg away is crucial to our chances of winning. If we can stay in the tie until the final half hour of the second leg, then nerves kick in and anything can happen, and away goals will be in our favour for that crucial period. The hard part will be staying in the tie until then but stranger things have happened and never write off United.Liverpool and Chelsea won the whole thing when they were both out of Champions League spots.

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Best quarter final draw I think we've seen

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21 Mar 2014 09:05:07
My draw predictions are.
United v Real Madrid
Chelsea v Barca
Bayern v Dortmund
PSG v Atletico Madrid

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Ideally I want

United vs Dortmund

Real vs Chelsea

Barca vs Bayern

AM vs PSG

In the semis (if we win) we should get PSG or AM

and in the final we will beat Chelsea (sigh) Dream on.

At least we are still in the best 8 of Europe

Please God help us!

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Mine are:

Real Madrid vs PSG
B. Dortmund Vs Barcelona
Bayern Munich vs Athletico Madrid
Manchester United vs Chelsea

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Well its Bayern fellas. Now it's on.

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21 Mar 2014 07:27:14
What are we hoping for in the draw? Our best chances of going through I think are getting either Dortmund, Chelsea or possibly Atletico. On the other hand, I would love to see a Bayern, Madrid or Barca visit.

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Tbh honest fresh mate i'd say the best chance we have is getting psg, they much like us this season rely heavily on individual brilliance in games.

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I bet they would all love to play us too.

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I'm hoping for PSG as I think even a David Moyes's Manchester United can send them home with their proverbial tail between their legs!

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Has to be Dortmund for me. Chelsea can be a little flakey but Athletico are between Barca and Real, not exactly no hopers!

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I agree either chelsea or dortmund would be our best chance and I would take barca over athletico to be honest, whoever it is we'll have to accept we won't see a lot of the ball and hope we can get a bit of luck and take our chances.

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We will get Real, Chelsea are bound to get Barca with Mourinho losing his head again. I think it will be an all German tie and PSG will get Atletico. Could be an amazing quarter finals.

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Bet we get Bayern. We haven't done anything the easy way this season, so why would we start now?
Would rather get them and beat them now now than get embarrassed in the semis or the final.

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Nice call Bettey. Any Idea who wins:)

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The team in red shirts :)

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21 Mar 2014 06:28:46
The dust has settled quite quickly, a realisation perhaps that it was a good win, but United should be expected to beat a Greek team at home. We had many squeaks but we played more positively, challenged and harried higher and were more pushy and direct in our play than almost at any time this season. It is relevant to ponder this.

It may be my opinion but an easy answer is needs must, there was no option for caution, we needed a minimum of three goals and had to be positive. It brought a different ethos to the fore, it brought us back to nearer SAFs philosophy where we pushed the opposition back and pressed them, certainly until we got the third and then dropped back. In fact it is quite interesting when you look at it. Nearly opposite to the turgid display last Sunday and many others this season, particularly against the top teams, yet this time we were more aggressive and worked hard but by no means at our best. Yet the question remains, why was there such caution in team selection and set up on Sunday but not against the Greeks? Was it that we had to score three or was it that actually we were not afraid as much of the opposition as Sunday, or both of course? Was our philosophy defined by the obvious need to score goals but also because the opposition was not shall we say as scary as Liverpool therefore the manager felt able to set us up more positively? Is there something in the managers mindset that gives concern about teams at the top, perhaps something that comes from fearing them in the past at Everton when it was natural to fear them and that is leading to over caution here or is it just that he is naturally cautious? The Moyes comments prior to Newcastle, "make it difficult for them", playing Ashley Young, could highlight this very point. He has admitted it is a lot tougher than he thought, so he continues to be cautious as he always has been because his aims in the past were survival and his objectives far more limited.

A point for discussion and thinking on the above it will be interesting to see Moyes philosophy in the next two games particularly against City.

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Good point red man. I think every manager's character manifests itself on the team. In this case, Moyes is a cautious and negative character and the way the team plays is symptomatic of this.
We played very well on Wednesday, until we scored the 3rd goal, then we went back into Moyes mode and nearly let the Greeks score. It wasn't pretty to watch the last 15mins and a better team than olympiacos would have scored against us.
I'm not sure what the solution is, I think we've got to modernise our play and that requires more athletic players in the side, but we've gone out and bought fellaini and mata, non of whom are known for their quickness or athletiscm.
I watched Dortmund play zenit, and every player had high energy, lots of closing down by both teams, lots of fast passes and counter attacking.
I think we are obsessed with the idea that we need to get individual players who are good at tackling or passing, while in my humble opinion, if you watch the top sides, they all try to press, they all try to rush the other team into making mistakes. For that, we need players with high energy and skill to win the ball and pass it accurately.
I'm not sure which direction Moyes is taking us, but the first two buys, certainly don't point into playing modern tactics.

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For me, Moyes tactics and team selection are dictated by the opposition. Obviously you can't go out there all guns blazing, when you play a top quality side, but you can give them something to think about!
Against Liverpool, at home, Moyes should have planned to be more aggressive but he seemed to pick his team and tactics in the hope that we didn't lose. It would have been more acceptable to setup tight in defence and midfield and play counter attacking football, something United have done well in the past, though we did have better wingers then.
It was good to see some of the old United on Wednesday, but for me, it was hard to get excited. Yes we won, and played better than of late, and against many of the teams we have lost to this season, Newcastle, WBA etc it would have been enough to beat them, but in all honesty, all of the better Premium league teams would have beaten us. Heart alone will win us nothing.
Giggs was a mixed blessing. His quality was there for all to see, but it shows we are reliant on a 40 year old to see passing that can cut a defence open. But on the plus side, it also reinforces the belief that we desperately need quality midfielders that can pass through a defence like Liverpool did so often on Sunday.
Since we can't buy until the summer, and our season is effectively over, I would like to see more of our youngsters playing a few games. Could they be worse than Cleverly, Young, and a few others have been this season?
I would still like Moyes to go. In my opinion, he turned a big job into a huge job by getting rid of the back room, strange team selections and tactics better than any sleeping pill, and will the Glazers trust him for a large wad of money?
In saying "your job now is to get behind the new manager", maybe SAF had an idea of what was about to happen?

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