Manchester United Banter Archive February 22 2014

 

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22 Feb 2014 23:13:47
Good performance and great result today.

First half was tough and frustrating as palace were so organised, but second half when mata started to find space more chances were being created. Glad to see RVP on the score sheet again, certainly looks happy to me. Rooney was our best player and looked like a potential leader out there, scored a very nice goal aswell. More of a positive game from evra who got man of the match from sky. Overall we looked like a team again, great hunger.

I thought janazuj look a little flat but he's young and learning.
Vidic made a few mistakes which lead to palace chances but he is getting on now.

Happy to see united playing well again and who knows our top 4 chances could be raised a little bit!

Come on United.

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{Ed025's Note - i dont want to rain on your parade trev...but it was crystal palace, not barcelona mate..

Still a long way off top 4 mate, and this chance did not prove much or improve our chances ( unless Liverpool and/or Tottenham end up dropping points.

I honestly do not care much for results at this stage, but the tactical changes that were made, the all round approach to the game, is something to be exited about.

We completed more short passes, had more possession, a better passing accuracy than any other game this season. Not to mention the number of long balls was cut in half, and we barely crossed.

Fellaini had a good game, and won back possession more than any other player on the pitch and drove forward to decent extent. After a long layoff, he had a pretty good game.

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It's been a difficult season ed. Let us take the positives from beating palace. A change in form has to start somewhere

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{Ed025's Note - fair comment will..

I think Ferdinand should get a mention as well tbh. He plays the ball out from the back better than any other CB at our club, so calm and composed and tricks players closing him down so well. Wish he was young again because he really does have such decent ball skills for a CB.

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Ed025

The league is tough especially away. Look at all the top teams and how they struggle when the bottom tier teams get stuck in and defend in numbers.

Look at stoke yesterday as they really did not give city much and that was at city. I think Palace will surprise a lot of teams on their hoe ground and I am just happy we tare done with them, given how disgraceful their fans were and hooligans are alive and well.

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22 Feb 2014 21:55:09
Love Rooney or hate him, he does tend to go on scoring runs once he gets one. More from him, RVP always scores and mata, januzaj with the odd goal I could see us going on a run.
Also Fellaini fit who did ok today and Jones to come.
Put a bit of pressure on them scousers and hope its not too little too late. Plenty of points to play for yet.

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22 Feb 2014 21:36:11
Good performance today. first steps toward a bright new era.

Rooney was the best player on the field, and took his goal very well. Van Persie looks anything but unhappy. Mata just needs to stop trying so hard. Fellani actually looked like he belonged on the field.

Add young, energetic bodies to our defence / midfield base in the Summer and we'll be fine. it's not as bad as many want you to believe. the media and the opposition just love to see us fail. but they'd better enjoy it while they can.

On a side note though was the behaviour of the Palace fans. beamed around the world, snarling and spitting obscenities at Rooney. a very very poor reflection on the Premier League.

If you behaved like that in a bar or in the street you'd be arrested.

All they did was show themselves for what they are. utterly classless.

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Fellaini may have looked like he belonged on the pitch but not for us - perhaps for palace! No disrespect to palace mind. He hardly controlled the ball throughout the game . He just should not be there.

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You must have been watching a different game from me then. he's a United player, I support him and want him to do well.

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Supporting a player does not mean he cannot be criticized. But still, I have no idea what Pancho is talking about. He recovered more possession than anyone else on the field, drove forward to good extent, covered a lot of ground, and his passing was relatively positive.

He will not be scoring hat tricks every other week, but if he keeps performing like he is, our midfield is much, much better off.

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Pancho

You were obviously watching something different mate. Fellaini was very good yesterday and will be very good player for us.

He can do so many things that our other midfielders can't and give us options. Give him a full season with our lot and he might turn into a very popular player.

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GCU
He gave the ball away a few times because of his lack of ability to control the ball. I did see that! I hope your right because I want him to be good but as some the squad apparently feel - I can't see it.

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Pancho

He is a huge improvement over Cleverly. He gives us an outlet when under pressure and also provides an extra dimension to our play because of his size.

I think to be fair he needs a good run of games and getting used to playing at United.

We all know he is not the fastest midfielder but neither is carrick, I thought he made us look very stable in the middle of the pitch. He is no kroos or Vidal but he is not mug either.

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I thought he was superb yesterday tbh and for possibly the first time this season I didn't doubt we would win. A great performance imo regardless of people saying "its only palace" you have to beat what's in front of you and I thought we did that confidently and comfortably. I can't wait til next season with the addition of a few players I think we will be great .

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GCU
Like I said I hope your right. I am not bothered about how fast he is . But I am bothered how fast his brain sends signals to his feet . Or his case, so far, doesn't .

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22 Feb 2014 20:55:16
Ed002 says we have no interest in Griezmann, and I believe her, but OMFG we should be interested. Has the ball in the net twice against Barca, 1 overturned because of a foul by someone else, 1 assist created a few chances and had a couple of other shots OUTSTANDING performance.

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I have liked the look of Griezmann for a while. Good player.

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22 Feb 2014 20:43:01
Sat in a Middle East airport but nice to get off a flight to find we won. Good result as Palace under Pulis could be awkward like Stoke at home used to be. We badly need a good run now and we so must beat Liverpool at home.

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Can you bring a new owner back with you?

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22 Feb 2014 20:28:22
Not posted for a bit been busy with work and pretty downbeat since leaving OT after the Fulham game.

Today was better and you can see we are trying to form a style and shape.

I'd be keen to see a 4-3-3 with a middle 3 of Fellaini Carrick Mata and front of Rooney, RVP and Januzaj.

Similar to Barca with Mata in an Ineista role.

We looked good today when both Mata and Rooney where in the middle and this would be the only way of doing this unless we went with the Venables Xmas tree formation.

Good result.

Ps palace fans where a disgrace.

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22 Feb 2014 19:46:13
Hi Guys
A good result and a decent performance.
I'm not going to get carried away with that but its a start.
The interesting thing for me was how RVP celebrated his goal.He looked like anything than someone who wants to leave.
I agree with some of the comments that say we need to play with a bit more pace.
As I said before its a start

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Well done 2day boys big 3 points!
just keep looking up lol

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22 Feb 2014 19:37:18
Magnificent performance by the team imo. We should have scored a couple more, but the all around stats are great. We might have just found our best front 6.

Statistically, we had a magnificent game. 700 passes to palace's 355, 67 % possession, only 19 crosses, only 8 % long balls, 32 % of our attacks through the middle ( season high ).

Individual highlights are also very impressive, especially in terms of passing. We had an overall 90 % passing accuracy, Carrick produced a league high 143 passes with a 94 % accuracy. Juan Mata made 98 with a 90% accuracy. Fellaini was very impressive in his first match after 11 weeks out. 16 defensive actions, 71 passes with a 91 % accuracy and 2 dribbles certainly show that.

What I liked most is Mata's average position during the game. He was playing right next to Rooney in the middle of the pitch, with Rooney a bit to the left and Mata a bit to the right. Van Persie was just in front and Januzaj offered width down the left hand side. I would have wanted him to pop on on the right and dribble his way in a la Di Maria though.

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Mick, it was like watching a different team today. We looked classy at times, showing excellent composure on the ball.

Fellaini had his best game for us today, IMO. He can definitely develop into the role he is being asked to play, because he has all the attributes needed.

All in all, very encouraging.

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Mick

Well said, although if you read further down, apparently Carrick was dreadful. Go figure.

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Fellaini did get around the pitch missed a sitter but hey he had a decent game. great to see Janu Mata and Rooney behind Rvp sadly Janu's worst game imo and Mata looked slow, not his pace, his passing apart from 1 or 2 beautiful moves. Very pleased just sad I got greedy and bet 3- 0 instead of the 2-0 I posted here earlier.

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Todays play was what Everton could play like before when Moyes was in charge and did usally play

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22 Feb 2014 19:26:46
You got to love how football can make fools out of any of us.

Heres me going on how Rooney is not a great No 10 and he goes and plays a blinder there.

I'll get my pie.

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He was ok but no blinder mate. Evra made both goals when www were struggling to create much through the middle.

Glad we won and the whole teams demeanour looks better.

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Rooney is best there IMO. Van Persie is best upfront. Mata is better in the hole, but at Chelsea he was great coming in on the right and Adnan needs to nail the left side position. He took his chance very well albeit handball. We just need a bit of consistency now, our mojo will return eventually, I just doubt it will be in time for this season. We will be better next season. A good build this summer to add to the quad of excellence and we will be fine. Fellaini got about a bit and when he finds his form we will look a better side.

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GCU, sorry to see you stuttering there ;) I thought Rooney was the driving force behind the team today. He was full of energy, linking up play, bringing the ball forward, defendingf back, good passing both long and short, plus topped off with a great goal.

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Andrew

I don't stutter and generally stay away from exaggerating stuff, which is the norm on this page by many.

Rooney was actually average in the first half and got better in the second when the fullbacks were pushed forward.

Best player on the pitch was DDG and Fellaini and Evra had good games. Carrick was very good in the second half after mopping around in the first 45 minutes.

Rooney will get the headlines for the quality of his goal.

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Whats with the "www were" then?

Think we'll have to agree to disagree. Also you might like to consider a little humility when offering your opinions. I'm sorry if its news to you but they are not fact.

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22 Feb 2014 18:26:16
Zola on Aljazeera

Saying United wide players all coming in and no width and also no room for RVP and Rooney and easy to defend.

Funny he think we should get down the byline and keep our width.

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Funny we go wide and get a penalty and a wonder goal from Rooney. Maybe there is something to this theory of going wide:)

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Nobody said there should be no width and obviously going wide can work well.
The negativity was about over 80 crosses in a game with no attempt to do anything different.
Bit better today, formation and the passing looked improved.
Hopefully the start of some form

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22 Feb 2014 18:24:21
Don't know how everyone else feels but I think that we are getting something together here. Fellaini looks better, we have the main 4 on the pitch and Mata is mostly in the middle with Rooney - both pulling wider at times. It seems a very fluid system that also has some solidity to it now that Fellaini is back. If we can keep this team (maybe change centre backs) then we have a real chance of 4th still - its not over yet. Having said that, its all very well and good saying this though as we haven't taken the lead yet.

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Not posted in a while, and think todays as good as any to. I couldn't agree more Fresh. We played a good solid game and all the players were interchanging very well. Fellaini looked very solid in midfield and was even a threat going forward apart from a couple of fluffed shots, but I really think he's starting to get some of his form back that led us to buy him in the first place. He also covered a lot for smalling and evra as well, which gave them the freedom to perform as wing backs. Rooney looked like he had a point to prove (understerdably) and I hope it continues. Mata wasnt fantastic but he was solid and kept attempting to find space behind a flooded back line. All in all I think it was the best we've played in quite some time, and I just hope moyes sticks with this formation, as it will only get better and better with the quality of players we actually have already.

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I have to say that I thought we looked good today. We moved the ball very well; and we looked strong through the centre.

I really hope we can build on this with a good win on Tuesday, followed by a win at WBA on the weekend. That would set us up nicely for the Liverpool game

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22 Feb 2014 18:06:15
Carrick need to circulate the ball faster, he mopes around on it too long. We need to get some pace into the game. They are defending with 10 deep and hoping to hit us with the odd goal.

On a funny note, mata looks funny all shaved.

We need to go out wide, there is very little room down the middle.

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Couldn't agree more, no pace in our build up. 9/10 behind the ball is a recurring theme against us now

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Carrick is just too slow to start games now he is ok if we are a couple of goals to the good and need to go through the motions the see the game out but he offers little now because by the time he actually passes the ball the opposition have got all their players back. I actually think we were quite poor tonight it took a penalty and a great goal from rooney but we never really looked like scoring apart from that, we struggled to get adnan and rvp into the game our midfield just doesn't get forward so when we do break you get the situation that rvp had which was him up against 4 defenders and he done well to get his shot off on another note fellaini was awful today and offers nothing he is just a waste of a team member

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Shahram, spot on mate. Carrick slows down the tempo almost to a standstill. Swap him for a Vidal or Gundogan, sort our defence out and we are good to go :)

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Is that the same Fellaini that's been out for 3 months?

The same one that most commentators said had a pretty decent game before understandably tiring.

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Yes that's the same fellaini and being out for 3 months is only an excuse for fitness not his passing, shooting and 1st touch compare him to glen murray who has been out since the play off semi last year and has also never played in the PL

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Surprised it's taken years for people to realise how slow Carrick is on the ball and even more amazed that people are surprised that our 27 mil signing can't trap or pass!

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I thought Fellaini's passing was pretty decent today, considering he must be a bit rusty.

Also liked the way he always looked to get turned, to start a forward move, rather than just going for the easy option, and a pass backwards.

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StevieK, I agree. He could settle into a decent player once we have a better defence behind him. He would need a busy player next to him. I think we could see Fellaini & new signing being the first choice, with Carrick, Fletcher & Cleverley as back-up. I thought defensively Fellaini put in a shift and offensively too. He is just missing a little bit of confidence after his bad start at MU. He is not what we are missing in midfield, but he is part of it. I think someone like Vidal or Gundogan next to Fellaini could work well.

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It's not confidence he is lacking its ability!

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Agree Fellaini did ok today, and with the right mobile partner could be very good for us.

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Absolutely, Syd. I think some of the criticism against him him by some on here, has been way over the top, especially considering he's only played a handful of games.

I've said it before, but the man deserves to be given a chance. He's just made a move to one of the top clubs, played a few games with an injury, knowing some of his own club's fans don't rate him - I'm sure his confidence must be sky high.

But like I've also said before, all the top clubs were sniffing around him at some point, he tore us a new one on a few occasions, and the Belgian manager considers him an integral part of a very good international squad. Yet some still think they know better.

I think, like Moyes, some people just didn't like him from the start, snobbishly seeing him as, 'not a United player', and have let that cloud their attitudes towards him.

He may or may not be one of the answers to our midfield problems, but he surely deserves more than a handful of games to show it. I think we all realise he is not THE answer on his own, and needs someone else in with him.

People are just very quick to judge these days.

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So Pancho, you know better than the managers of several top PL teams, and the manager of Belgium?

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{Ed007's Note - C'mon Stevie, you're better than that!}

Bond, you overestimate me :) point taken. Cheap, grumpy shot. In my defence, it was way past my bedtime. Sorry, Pancho.

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Who's the several pl managers? It is my opinion based on what I think is a united type player having watched them for a long as I am sure others have . From what I have seen so far and heard about what he is like in training in terms if speed of thought passing wise I don't think he is what I want to spend 27 mil on .

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Pancho, it's no secret that several of the top clubs were sniffing round him at one point or another over the last few seasons. They can't all be wrong. We also have no idea what the other players really think of him, other than rumour and gossip.

If you don't like him, fair enough, but he's a Utd player just starting out with us, and we should be hoping he does well, rather than slagging him off after a handful of games.

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22 Feb 2014 17:58:37
Palace fans have been disgraceful tonight when we've had corners, absolutely no need for it

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They best behave themselves as I will set king Eric onto them :)

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22 Feb 2014 17:20:45
Rather curious lineup, especially on the right. Smalling does not offer much attacking threat, and Mata is more likely to come inside than anything else. Are we not going to attack down the right and concentrate on the middle? That's rather curious.

Of course, we can look at it defensively. Mata does not offer much help at the back, and Smalling is more solid than Rafael, but offensively it doesn't make a lot of sense.

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Rafael has a concussion and not fit and neither is jones.

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I realize that Shahram, I'm just interested in how we are going to approach the game

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Mick1

Well quite obvious tika taka will not work and only when we got our fullbacks forward and to the byline we made 2 goals.

If we are going to play our best players, it is obvious we need two really good fullbacks to open the game up when teams set up to defend which is pretty much all the time. If motes does buy 2 fullbacks then we know what style he wants to play.

Fellaini was good I though especially for being out for so long and glad he is back.

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22 Feb 2014 16:52:56
I have a feeling we will give Palace a good hiding today. Maybe I am completely wrong but I think its well overdue and today could be the day

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22 Feb 2014 16:49:51
We finally get to see Fellaini, Mata, Van Persie, Rooney & Januzaj in the same team. With Smalling at RB, Ferdinand and Vidic at the back.

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I am loving the prospect of see the front 4 play together with this centre pairing. Just worried about the back four and the lack of pace.

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About time. let's hope it is 4-2-3-1 formation and no hint of wingers!

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Delighted to see what is certainly our best front 4 playing together. A little disappointed though that it's all very slow behind them Hoping to see Felaini in a box to box role with Carrick holding. Vidic and Rio are, as we know, very slow so we'll need a pacier CM to really work and link up. Fingers crossed this is a new start for Fellaini, not everyone's favorite on here (mine included) but we know the talent is there!

Also. hope some of guys who are rugby fans are watching the Ireland/England game. excellent stuff! As an Irishman, i'm hoping to see the triple crown back in our hands!

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Not enough width for my liking, Just way too slow and someone for christ sake, please take a shot trying to walk it in.

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22 Feb 2014 14:40:22
You have to feel for Everton, Ramires dives, ref buys it and they score from it via an Howard OG.

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Have to feel for Solskjaer too.

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@ Sydney!

There was contact, it was a foul.

@ Grund

Why do we have to feel for Solskjaer? Because he is a Utd legend? Because from where I'm standing he made out he didn't want to rush into managing in the Prem and wanted to wait for the right club, then chose Cardiff. The club with the most personic and eccentric owner in the league. Money talks. He knew what he was getting in to. No sympathy from me. He

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There was contact AFTER he went down. AFTER being the important word here. It was a dive.

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Steven

I know you are fairly new but Sydney is never wrong

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@ AJH

Thanks for the pointer mate, but there's just one problem, neither am I. This could be interesting! Lol.

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He was already going down before any contact was made. If the clear cut camera evidence isn't proof enough, then what is? Oh and I have been wrong many times.

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Steven, don't listen to AJH. He's a pathological liar.

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22 Feb 2014 14:09:03
Who all do you see leaving OT next season?

Vidic, Evra, Buttner, Nani, Anderson, Young, RVP, Hernandez, Kagawa.

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{Ed004's Note - Rio, Vidic, Evra, Anderson, Nani and Giggs IMO are all gone then maybe one or two of RVP, Kagawa, Rafael and Hernandez though I hope last 4 all stay}

I think Rio, Evra, Vidic, Anderson, Nani, Giggs, Kagawa & Hernandez will leave, obviously much depends on whether we can agree a deal for them. Nani has been for sale for years and he's still here.

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I think it's possible we could sell Buttner and Ev. Buy a RB, LB and use Rafael as back-up for both positions. Obviously Vidic and Ferdinand will leave. I think we will need an experienced CB to go straight into the fold. Perhaps if Song was one of two midfield signings for us this summer, he could be back-up CB, as can Carrick, as can Fellaini according to him. We clearly need a busybody in midfield, someone like Cleverley but much better and with a better goals ratio. For me we need one more attacking winger/forward who can go straight into the team. Adnan will need to be used carefully over the next few seasons. So a RB, LB, CB, CM & FW. I think we will need a young, potentially good CB too, or a midfielder like Song, someone who can play as a CB if asked but also play midfield. That's the six signings I think we need. However IMO five need to be top notch.

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Vidic, Evra, Rio, Anderson Giggs, are gone Nani, RvP Hernandez, and hopefully not but he may want to move Kagawa all of these will probably be leaving, I would prefer RvP and Kags to stay but think the writing is on the wall I would like us to invest in young players that have experience of first team football I think a summer of Granit Xhaka to partner Felliani Ricardo Rodrigues for left back, a top class young center half like Mangala and I said it all last summer and think it could now be on the cards Bale for the left wing with RvP going the other way we could then put Wayne up top with Mata Bale and Januzaj behind him would be great also I don't think we need a central midfielder who will get us goals we need some one to win the ball and give it to our players that can score Xhaka is a really good ball winner and he and the Wig could beat up the opposition and let Mata and co run riot

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22 Feb 2014 13:43:11
What do peeps make of the Alex Song rumour? According to one or two sources we have been discussing a transfer with his agent.

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{Ed004's Note - Wouldn't want him}

I agree Ed, the only way I would take Song is if another (much better) midfielder was coming in too.

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Better defensively than Rafael, but more limited going forward in my opinion.

I think Rafael does need competition, but would Song be happy with that role?

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{Ed004's Note - You thinking of Alex Sandro the left back?}

Finished too early. Meant to add that young Varela's looked good when I've seen him. Think I'd be happier seeing him coming through to provide the necessary competition.

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No. Had Sagna in my head for some reason. Ignore me.

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Song is better than we have so would be an improvement; however, I would hope we buy a better player, or someone equally as good but a lot younger with potential to develop to be better than Song.

Aren't RVP and Song good friends? I hope we are not going to try to buy Song to placate RVP?

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2bh when he was at Arsenal I thought he was quite a good player and at £12 - 15 million I think it would be a great acquisition considering the shape of our midfied at the moment.

Obviously he wouldn't be my 1st choice with the likes of Vidal on top of my wish list but realistically is he an option plus with our other targets being valued at £35 - 40 million financially it could be a great deal.

. Shut up David I told them. Hehe.

At the end of the day he's a bargain and prefer him as a back up than Cleverly/Carrick and Felliani if we can't acquire reported top targets of Vidal and Cavalho

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22 Feb 2014 12:09:23
Well its good that Rooney has finally signed. The last thing we needed this summer was another Wayne Rooney contract drama, given the amount of stuff we will be doing as it is.

I'm hoping the 300k is just media invention or heavily weighted on the bonus side.

I also disagree with him becoming captain. You don't make your bets player captain, and also playing upfront you see less of the game. Whilst I agree we lack leaders I don't Rooney is quite leadership material, he gets too stroppy when things aren't going his way.

Good that this saga is put to bed anyway, at least for the next 2 years anyway.

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It's very important that he signed a new deal, we are on the ropes at the moment and one more hit could have ruined us. We need to concentrate on RvP now and make sure he too is happy.

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50 percent tax rate mate that's half his wages no wonder he wants a pay rise

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Paddy, all EPL players pay 50% tax. Januzaj takes home around £15k a week. One tenth of what Rooney is probably getting. On the other hand, Januzaj gets around 30-40 times what a lot of people get paid a week in England. I have no issues with what Rooney gets paid.

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22 Feb 2014 11:11:23
Matchday.

What's everyone saying?

Palace are in good nick, and at home, they'll be fired up and confident.

I think we'll nick it, 1-2 with a conservative but effective performance. I'll take any kind of win today, a draw would be disappointing and a loss would be mortifying.

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It will be tougher than most think.

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Syd, if people have been watching us at all this year, I don't think there is anything like an easy game. I'm not looking forward to the prospect of Ince running at our defence.

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Danny, I agree, they will be difficult to break down.

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Well for the first time, this year, I do predict a good win for us 2- 0 or better. I hope he starts Janu Mata Rooney though.

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Don't want to scud us, but I've gone for a Super Saturday bet, with Ireland, Utd, Aberdeen and Ballymena Utd - all my teams.

Last time I bet on Utd, was against Bolton many, many years ago. 2002 or 2003, I think.

They beat us at OT, 1-0.

My lad's young team also lost for the first time in 16 games today, so not a great start to the day.

In fact, now that I think about it, the omens aren't good.

Can I get my bet refunded?

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22 Feb 2014 10:50:23
I have to say i'm pleased Rooney is staying because personally another summer of will he won't he would have done my head well and truely in.

That aside he's till a great player and i'm glad he's commited himself to us.

Listening to TalkSprout at the moment and i'm loving how gutted the presenters sound and all the abus ringing in are.They all thought Rooney would do one and it would be another nail in our coffin so Is good that the tide is turning and finally something positive for us which I think will boost the team confidence.

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22 Feb 2014 09:47:49
I've seen over the last week or so a lot of people saying they'd like to see RVP leave or they think he should be sold or will go, why? He is our best player, he is head and shoulders above the rest! Yes he's not in scintillating form yet something like 6 goals and 3 assists in last 9 games he's played. I'd weep to think where we would've been without him the last 18 months.
Rooney signs a deal and mata joins and all of a sudden RVP should be sacrificed, sounds silly to me, no one has said he's unhappy, he himself has said he is happy, his body language is one if frustration because he is a winner! We are not winners presently.
RVP is out best player in so many respects he certainly should not be sacrificed!

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Here here totally agree. Keep our best players, move some squad players on and sign better players.

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I hope RVP does not go as you say he is one of our best players. A few of us thought we were moving towards a 4231 and that may be so my question would be, if we do where would you play Valencia, Young? Perhaps more likely is a 451. It should be come evident in who we target in the summer. Also a lot depends on where Moyes sees Jones playing, I think he sees him as CM, has he actually played CB this year? Jones is already one of our best players but his injuries are becoming a real problem.

The opposite question If we play 451 where does our new signing or signings play with the likes of Carrick, Cleverley Fletcher, Jones ( Maybe) play.

I hope we move to 4231, the 3 can interchange go outside or cut inside and atm our best players fit this nicely. Injury free; anybody bar Evra, perm any 2 from Vidic, Evans, Smalling, Rafael,
Jones, Fletcher,
Janu, Mata, Rooney
RVP

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I agree. Quite a few of our players need selling. He is not one of them.
The press are having a field day with us not doing so well this season and are looking for problems that aren't there because manchester united stories sell newspapers.

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22 Feb 2014 09:28:17
With signing Mata and Rooney that points towards a new formation. If not this season then next when others are signed.
Either that or we have signed a 37 million pound number 10 to stick on the wing, surely not.

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A formation of 4-2-1-3 two midfielders Mata in behind Adnan Rooney Valencia

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22 Feb 2014 09:03:17
1.I believe initially SAF wanted to move Rooney to midfield, but Rooney refused.

2. believe SAF wanted to sell Rooney. Moyes doesn't, that's why he's still here.

3.believe Van Persie was signed to replace Rooney as the out and out striker.

4.believe Kagawa was bought to replace Rooney in the number ten position.

I stand by all of these.


Sydney!
1maybe he wanted to move Rooney to cm, but the player never wanted to play there and it didn't really work. For me it was a stop gap due to how poor our cm was .He has had to play there this season as well again due to the quality of our cm.
The season before Rooney had just scored 34 goals, it would be a very strange decision to then decide he was a cm
2 .SAF said on numerous times WR was not for sale and would not be allowed to leave the club.
3. Rvp May of been bought to play as the out and out striker which would allow Rooney to play as second striker a position many think is his best position.
On paper it sounds like a very good combo.
4.kagawa was never given a proper chance to play in the hole behind rvp which is strange if SAF was planning this as his first choice, even when Rooney was out of form or injured fergy still never went for his supposed first choice pairing.


You made them same points for 12 months yet none of it happened, maybe the simple truth is you where wrong.

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Sydney's wrong 99.9% of the time.

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And how often are you right Carloto?

Grand total of 8 posts ever and all of them either calling the team crap or telling Syd he's wrong.

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"I didn’t feel like I got a consistent run of games up front, ’ he said. ‘I actually felt when I played in midfield I did OK, but I didn’t want to play there."

Rooney added: "Everyone at the club knew that’s where I wanted to play (up front) and that’s why I was disappointed because I got told to play in midfield and I didn’t want to. But I’d always go in and try to help the team, so I think there had to come a point where for my own career I had to be a bit selfish."

"In the past I’ve had no problem playing out of position, but I felt I deserved to play in my position, which wasn’t happening. Naturally I was disappointed and maybe that affected some of the games I played. Maybe when I’m a bit older, losing my legs a bit, I can go back there (to midfield)."

I think this proves otherwise. Ed002 told us years ago that SAF planned to use Rooney as a replacement for Scholes. How about you believe your theory and I will believe mine. If you think SAF wasn't trying to offload Rooney with his "he wants to leave" comment then you are blind. Rooney has even said himself before the Moyes appointment that he believes he is being pushed out of the club. Like I said, you believe what you want to believe and I will do the same. Just because something didn't happen it doesn't mean that was the plan. We know the club have been trying to offload Nani for years, just because he hasn't left it doesn't mean it's because the club want to keep him. If SAF was still in charge now Rooney wouldn't be a MU player now. Deeps agrees with this, he also believes Rooney wouldn't be here now if SAF was still manager. I think it's obvious what SAF was trying to do, Moyes disagreed.

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Jred, just on your point about Fergie saying Rooney was not for sale. Come on, mate. How many times on here, usually regarding transfer targets, do we all say that managers always say that, but it means nothing?

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Mort I may not post often but I do read. I don't call the team just point out the weak points. And the point about Sydney is correct he is usually wrong.

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Syd
But my theory actually happened

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22 Feb 2014 09:00:11
Can we just forget about this 300k that rooney's suppose to be on, its only speculation anyway, whatever people say he's going to go down as an all time great at united. He's a valuable tool both on and off the pitch, For his goals and for what he brings to the team overall and sponsors want to advertise Wayne Rooney, plus he sells jerseys, we might need that income, as much as the rest of you I hate all this over sponsoring of products that Woodward has done it may bridge a gap for a few seasons if we aren't in the champions league.

Finally just to get slated a bit more, if rooney is made captain is that the worst thing in the world, we've certainly lacked a bit of passion from him and the team I think this is exactly the way to get it back. So to cut a short story long! I hope we can move on from the money side of this contract extension and focus on the fact that we've got one of the top players in england and the world and let's not forget the goal he got against city after his last contract extension.

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22 Feb 2014 08:52:31
Right, back to work today lads. I'm hoping we see a more unified and united (!) squad today, I expect us to look like a team with a plan.

DM has had some time with his squad to put a stamp on the team, and we should expect to win quite comfortably.

I hope all this travelling and Rooney contract press hasn't had a negative impact, because our opponents will be honest, hard working and ready to take advantage of a lacklustre performance.

We should start very quickly today, and hopefully with an early goal we will win comfortably and lay down a maker for the rest of the season. Can't wait!

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22 Feb 2014 07:53:45
wayne rooney signs new deal! where to start with this one, paying him 300k a week is obscene ( ronaldo and messi yes, rooney never in a million years does his talent justify this sort of money and if its true that he's being told about potential transfer dealing then david moyes, ed woodwood and the rest of the Manchester United staff should be embarrassed for themselves becuase alex ferguson always said nobody was bigger than the club and anyone who thought they were could find somewhere else to play there stuff! to put the icing on the cake he is going to be made captain next year, can half understand that because we lack any real leadership and experience with our senior players nearing the end but rooney is a petulant child when things in the game aren't running for him. don't wanna sound like a rooney hater because he's a brilliant player but 300k a weeks worth and preferential treatment he is not.

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Agreed. If the club thinks the outlay on Rooney is a strong move, they are wrong. The stronger move would have been to sell Rooney.

Lets hope Moyes now puts some round pegs in some round holes which includes playing Rooney as a centre forward.

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IF the figure of £300k actually originated from the club, which I personally doubt, then I'm sure it would have been accompanied by two small but rather important words: 'UP TO'.
We all know how much complete dross is written in the newspapers. It is simply done to get people talking and therefore sell more newspapers.
Everyone should really calm down over this. I'm not the greatest Glazer fan but if there's anything they know about it's the money side of the football business!

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Keeping Rooney was the right thing to do. It sent out a message to the likes of Chelsea that if United want to keep a player, they do. How much pulling power do you think United would have in next summers window if star players were leaving? The amount of money United pay their players is down to what they think he's worth, same as any other club. Our problem over the last few years has been not attracting great players because we won't pay their worth.
Rooney didn't ask for a transfer, SAF tried to push him out the door. Too many people rush from their rubbish newspapers back pages to their keyboards without thinking. United are a business and don't throw money around (as we all know). How much would a new world star cost to buy and then what would his wages be?
Like it or not, Wayne has been twice the player he was last season. He's been happier under Moyes and has been far and away our best player this season, and how many leaders do we have? No Keane, no Nev, no Vida.
He's not my favourite player but when everything is considered I still think United made the right decision. Let's see how long RVP stays after one bad season!

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I haven't seen the amount made public at all by the club. People shouldn't get too caught up in numbers thrown about. There will be so many different factors added, bonuses, add ons, deductions, performance/appearance related stuff. Any one who thinks that he gets a weekly payslip saying £300k gross then showing his Paye tax deductions will probably be going back to school on Monday after the half term has ended.

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Rooney has even come out and said that some things in the written press are laughable. Like demanding captaincy and input in transfers as part of negotiations

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So he picks this moment to come out and say something about a none-issue after the past 3-4 years of virtual silence when tens times worse things were being slung at him!

Who knows what to believe, but the guilty certainly do hide when in the firing line rather than counter accusations!

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I should have added that I'm not advocating selling Rooney, just that it would have been a greater show of strength.

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22 Feb 2014 07:18:20
ngiak is happy that moyes is now identifying the core of the team
The most hardworking and talented player in the group has signed long term
A simple gauge of the magnitude of this event
Ngiak believes
Is the number of petrified doubters from other clubs invading this banter site
It's a huge contract but deserved ngiak bethinks
Slowly but surely moyes men are forming shape
The sir alex deadwood are being burnt
And the red of Manchester will rise again
Ngiak has one thing to say
Time will tell
gan

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22 Feb 2014 03:26:49
I rember so we'll when we had cole yorke sheringham and ole so I was wondering if you had to compare them 4 to strikers today who would you for all 4

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21 Feb 2014 22:18:14
I know you don't like to discuss finances Eds, but surely 300 grand per week is press exaggeration?

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