23 Feb 2012 23:54:57
Having had a look at the team sheet before kick off, it was easy to see how tonight's proceedings were going to play out. Park cannot play in a two-man midfield. It's terribly frustrating to watch. SAF can say whatever he likes about the inexperienced defence, the problems lie in midfield (as per usual). You can't control the game if you play Young-Park-Cleverley-Nani across the middle of the pitch. It's one dimensional and disrespectful to any opponent - let alone the Dutch champions. Why have United reverted back to 4-4-2 on European nights? Think back to the Inter game in 2009 at Old Trafford, the Arsenal game in 2009 at the Emirates, the Milan game in 2010 at the San Siro. These ties were won in the midfield using players who are still available for selection today. Most teams struggle when United implement the 4-3-3 formation. It's interesting that an approach to the game that brought so much success has been dropped in favour of an outdated system. I can't help but feel that Mike "Yes, boss" Phelan has something to do with it. Just a hunch though.
Scholes changed the game. For how much longer can he be asked to save the day?
Matthew...
Manchester United Banter Archive February 23 2012
Use our rumours form to send us manchester united transfer rumours.
23 Feb 2012 23:54:03
1stly very poor performance today makes you question the reason of playing berbatov. does he have a future at the club, r we renewing his contract? if he's leaving for free in summer why we taking away other's playing time? park captain he is not a leader? nevermind a cm. the more i see of phil jones the more i realise he's not a cb,maybe he's our solution to rb? very good at making runs and cross better than rafael/smalling. cleverly still hasn't really impressed me and i feel we r putting to much pressure on him. as ive said before young isn't united quality fullstop. nani needs to be dropped a few games so he can buckle up and stop being so careless with his play.
In our last games weve conceded goals from setpieces against chelsea liverpool and now ajax and has been like this whole year. Also we seem to not be able to score them, even tho we hav great headerer's of the ball but very bad setpiece takers.
My problem is more with the decisions that have gone during the year. i feel there has been a lack of respect to teams like no matter what team we put out we will win simply because we are manchester united and i think its goin to the players heads aswell.
On a final note i just wna give my 2 cents regarding the pogba situation i wna make clear that i dont know pogba or claim to be his brothers uncles cousins dogs sister boyfriend, all im sayin is if u were offered more money and more importantly more PLAYING time in comparison to less money alot less playing time then u will go with the 1st option. we always say we dont spend big on players and we rate our youth highly yet we dont wna pay them well cos their "youth", well u cnt have both u either spend the big bucks or go with youth yet we r not choosing ny option wer losin out in the transfer market cos of lack of value and we r losing our youth cos we dont wna pay the measely 30k a week what if we pay him the 30k and for next 2 years is amazing we will be sayin thank god we signed him or wud u rather we sign a older less potential player on 80/90k and he givs us an average next two years? seriously we need to put our money where our mouth is either r youth r special and deserve the cash or our youth rn't quality and shudnt be playin at united in the first place. hopefully we dont lose pogba cos he really seems a magnificent specimen. i don't remember cleverly at 18 being linked with juventus or mancity
sulei
23 Feb 2012 23:27:28
Sitting reading your posts about Pogba and laughing my balls off, at your double standards. Some of you are saying, we should not let him hold us to ransom, if he wants to go, he can go etc, etc....Please explain to me, how this incident differs from Shreks?
If the guy is as good as you think he is, shouldn't you give him what he wants? If not, just like Shrek he will be off. But still, you applaud this guy who brought your clubs, to it's knees. And made a complete fool of you fans and manager.
If Pogba goes it will show what we LFC fans, have known for a while. United is not the team/squad/club, it used to be.
Blair Mayne YNWA JFT96
23 Feb 2012 23:27:06
We were p11spoor tonight nani,young,park and berbatov just not good enough but what really needs to happen is we need a new number 2 who is tactically aware cos fergie certainly isnt and failing that we need a new manager as saf is now becoming arrogant in the way he picks teams to play big games and its his selections that are starting to cost us especially in europe but also at times in the league hope tonight is wake up call or we will finish the season empty handed oh and finally saf said the defence let us down no no no it was the area of the tea he has failed to strengthen for three windows it was the midfield and if he cant se that maybe he should leave at the end of the season
onecut
23 Feb 2012 23:21:00
is this where we're at mithered about whether some kids called Pogba and Morrison sign for us or not. Bringing back a bloke who has retired, how more embarassed are we going to have to get before the axe is weild.
Had a few Stella's have to say but am getting a little sick and tired now boys and girls. I hear these Shankly and Busby quotes but any Liverpool and United old boys will tell you. When you get to a position of advantage, you make sure you keep your feet firmly trod on your rivals in every department, money, investment, sponsorship, youngsters. The lot.
How have we ended up in this position, Busby took his foot of the rivals heads and Ferguson has. Mollycoddling Joe Royle when he was at City, allowing them to climb back up. Friendly with Houlier at Liverpool.
Ask any fan like me who endured the 70's that is inexcusable. Go now you have had your day, you have brought the club back to the position we swore we would never go back to. Out Out Out
Mike the Moston Red
23 Feb 2012 23:20:43
Talk about overreactions......
It's like Emmerdale here...
Whistler
23 Feb 2012 23:09:02
We are a one man team. Unless Rooney is playing and on form, we can be beaten by anyone.
We never had control tonight, and we didn't against Basel and Benfica.
The bank account that David Gill stated was allocated for transfers, has been raided to manage debt.
The old boys Scholes and Giggs are still our only real creative quality!
23 Feb 2012 22:59:09
how good Is pogba? Obviously being a liverpool fan not seen much of him. but most of the time you seem to hail him as god. So here's a question for you. would you give him the pay rise he wants in order to keep him? click 'agree' If not click disagree. cheers
Danny
23 Feb 2012 22:54:34
what did I say girls, your team is so poor. Ajax are hardly what you say a top team anymore. they have a couple of quality players in loderio and erikkson but besides from them not much threat. Your team needs completely rebuilding like I have stated numerous times. Many not fit enough to wear the united shirt. I will give your team one compliment though. De gea's save was excellent from the header. I still feel the same way about him but thought I would point it out. Just looking forward to sunday now. take care
Danny
23 Feb 2012 22:37:50
Just tweeted from Mathius Pogba, His brother ''My brother will be a big star 1 day, But it wont be at utd, au revoir''
23 Feb 2012 23:14:26
My eldest son took my youngest to Old Trafford for the Ajax game for his 18th birthday , the legend was Ashley Grimes with a quiz .They didnt stay tbh with what was pretty poor football that has cost my son 500 quid with the museum trip.
A lot of money to basically waste, will they go again I doubt it tbh
23 Feb 2012 22:43:55
Pogba is getting some serious abuse on twitter, type pogba into the search bar and check it out, at least 50 comments every 10 seconds, looks like he's on his way out, that bloke on here yesterday was spot on and he got loads of abuse aswell lol
23 Feb 2012 22:38:28
I was slated for being negative about the line up and told to stick to scouting, but tell me if i'm wrong but didn't we just lose that game? The reason i spot differant players and surgest them is down to the fact that i watch a lot of foriegn football and i thought the line up tonight was very disrespectful to the dutch champions. We got what we desevred, i said about the lack of experiance in the back four and hearing Sir Alex's comments after the game he seems to agree with me. I also said playing Park in the centre would leave us wide open and it did, as it did against Blackburn. That line up may have been okay against a lower league english team in the carling cup but not against the dutch champions. I'm not normally negative about the team but i thought that line up was disrespectful to a good Ajax team. But were through despite the loss, now lets not take Bilbao too lightly they are a good team with a solid base who work hard, they have some great players like Lorente, Martinez and Muniain.
I think this game also highlights that the tradional 442 formation is dead, it leaves you too open in the middle and relies too heavily on wing play for creativity, if you shut the wingers off then the front two become isolated and effectively your wingers and front two are cut completely out of the game making it easy to play against you. We need a tactical brain as assistant who can work with the players and manager in order to sort out our tactical naivity.
Lastly Pogba, If the quotes are true(i never believe them until i've heard them from the horses mouth), then he needs to get his head straight. I do appreciate his agent will have alot of say in his decisions so try not to be too hard on the boy who is only taking the advice of a man he trusts to look after his best interests, we need to remember he isn't even 20 yet, can any of us say we were saavy to the ways of the world and how contracts work at that age? I hope he signs a new deal and then all of this can be forgotten as if he doesn't then we'll need even more investment then we currently do.
Shappy
23 Feb 2012 22:27:21
Diabolical. Park was terrible as usual. Fabio will never make it as a left-back. Rafael badly needs to mature as a player. Nani - he needs a kick up the a** and a good slap. Cleverly, nobody could have played good tonight with the players he had around him. Berb, disgraceful at times, how can SAF play him? Scholes - ok I suppose. Jones - he is not a midfielder, but he is young and learning. Young - ??
Terrible, terrible display all-round. It is so obvious that we need a Defensive Midfielder (Jones does not have the positional awareness and has to realise just making foraging runs is not enough).
Pogba will never be the answer for this role. Carrick is steady, but is not of a good enough standard to control this area. Uniteds midfielders, with the exception of Scholes, who is too old, do not go looking for the ball and do not help alleviate pressure by providing an outlet for both defenders and other midfielders who are being closed down.
We need to get players who are near the quality of Keane & Scholes in their prime.
Terrible, terrible, terrible display.
J Bones.
23 Feb 2012 22:23:37
I don't have to tell you how sh!t, you are. I also told you last week, if you don't pay Pogba what he wants, he might be off to Chelski.
Cheers
Blair Mayne YNWA JFT96
23 Feb 2012 22:21:59
Can't wait for syd to tell us how good we were tonight
23 Feb 2012 22:16:20
Not the first time we have become complacent at home this season after having a comfortable lead, nevertheless it was a good lesson for the youngsters tonight, they will learn from this. Cleverley & Young got their 60 minutes and no further injuries.
Up next is Norwich and that will be a tough game down in Norfolk. Anderson & Rooney to return for Sunday's game, injuries not looking so bad now. Could do with Valencia returning a little sooner than planned, he has become a very important player for us.
Sydney!
23 Feb 2012 22:15:32
Pathetic,
That is aimed at SAFs comments after the match. Blaming a young inexperienced defence when it was obvious a midfield and up front, where we never held the ball, issue. Our wide players were shocking.
Frankly I can only imagine SAF is blaming a young inexperienced defence to cover his decisions on the shocking midfield he has developed.
Red Man
23 Feb 2012 22:12:07
Pogba
You reap what you sow. We lifted Pogba away from Le Havre on the basis of money so why are we surprised now that he is chasing more money?
What is shocking is that the basis of our whole policy of not buying star players were players like Pogba coming through, now it looks like he will leave. What I cant understand is that once he has gone we will have to pay more than 22K a week and pay a big fee for a replacement. Where is the financial logic in that?
Is Fryers next and then our youth model is shattered because we wont pay the wages. You can argue Pogba is being greedy but any of you who work will take a bigger wage if offered. When the young leave we will have to buy and you can bet it will cost us a lot more in the long run.
Red Man
23 Feb 2012 22:07:52
How poor was our midfield tonight...
Young - So poor and inconsistent with passing and crossing
Nani- Mr Inconsistent himself ! sell him now !
Cleverley - Looked okay not united quality yet i dont think
Park - Ive got nothing to say its pointless
Berbatov - Lazy, slow and doesnt look interested
Hernandez - Overrated !
So this is what i would do
Swap Hernandez and 10million for higuain or benzema
Sell nani for 25million
Sell Berbatov for 5million
Use the funds we have to sign Muniain and Javi Martinez and maybe eriksen or ozbiliz i liked the look of him tonight
23 Feb 2012 22:02:58
disappointing tonight, ajax were the better side for 90% of the game and deserved more, played football the way it should played. For everyone who defends nani i dont see how you can, he was the worse player on the pitch tonight by a mile, i understand people say he's a match winner but 1 game in 10, i would be happy to see the back off him in the summer. i cant see us playing this badly on sunday i think fergie will sort them out fingers crossed and come away with 3 points. tom17
23 Feb 2012 22:02:37
Tonight I was left looking for the very strong squad identified by Sydney or even a very strong team.
Tactically we were awful, Park in the middle was a shambles as he just is not up to playing there. A straight 4 in midfield needs a top level central 2 and they just were not top level. Cleverley may have doused some peoples expectations a little. I expect Cleverley to improve however Park , no. SAF has not learnt about playing this formation in Europe and there has to be some blame on the lack of advice from his No2. Ajax had extra in the centre of midfield, it is a tactic Liverpool use effectively against us yet SAF has not adapted. So for over 60 minutes we lacked any control and it took the return of 37 year old Scholes and the move of Jones to midfield to at least bring some balance back. Nani was as frustratingly poor as usual, why can some not see this? He gives the ball away and makes consistently poor decisions. Was Young playing at any point?
Berbatov put one good ball through to Hernandez then flattered to deceive all over again for the rest of the time he was on.
So Scholes and Jones in midfield gave us some level of control at home but this was a poor awful performance. If it wasnt for De Geas great save we would be out.
I will keep asking, at what point will you all acknowledge there is a major problem in the club that allows an shocking performance like that, that allows its highly merited youngsters leave, the ones who have been identified as the reason we havent bought in the market, that doesnt spend money on players but reduces its debt instead with the only beneficiaries a set of owners who have not put one brass cent of their own money in the club. We are being led a merry dance and it is by no means the first time this season this performance has happened. There was a time when we had a proud unbeaten home record now we just let that performance happen.
Ok, we are through, unconvincingly, in fact shockingly poorly, and no sign of a strong squad, whatsoever. Dont worry though, the debt has reduced by £92.8M so everything is fine.
Red Man
23 Feb 2012 22:06:02
I have to say,dat was a disgraceful performance by utd.Very worrying.we really looked like a side dat is struggling.i havnt seen utd play dat badly at old trafford in Europe in a very long time.it was like as if we weren't interested or we thought the game won from the first leg.we were lucky to go through.
Super red
23 Feb 2012 22:04:31
I'm not going to bother talking about the sh*t I just witnessed!
As for Paul Pogba, he can get out of this club. Don't want him anymore!
G.A.G.U.S
23 Feb 2012 22:01:39
Like to see the boys on here put a positive spin on today
jred
23 Feb 2012 22:00:45
Beaten at home in a competition where theres only losers left ? Guys this was a POOR home performance.......Without Scholes coming on it would have been a hammering.
This team is just not good enough to win anything, sorry but its true.
They need some cabbage soup in them, I will get my nurse to send the recipe to old red nose...
Tel 1949
23 Feb 2012 21:58:34
Poor performance tonight,credit to Ajax they played their hearts out
SpartanRed
23 Feb 2012 21:49:13
I'm not a utd fan but I'm surprised by the reaction to Pogba, fergie will never be held to ransom, especially by a 19 year old, regardless of how good he is.If he wants to go then let him cause they'll be plenty of other future stars comin through an when pogbas 30 he can look back an think to himself why did I leave all those medals behind for a couple of grand.
Malky
23 Feb 2012 21:25:23
Lucky its only Ajax and not Blackburn tonight or there would be another stuffing at home by minnows. Cleverly, park, young and nani wouldnt get a game for ajax. Ask urself do u think Erikkson is looking around thta squad and thinking i want to b a part of that. He will go to a club where they have stars not just Rooney same reason Silva, Nasri, Sanchez, aguerro, Sneijder said no. Can forget Goetz, martinez and gaitan they are alredy at clubs that play better football.
23 Feb 2012 21:17:21
In the case of Pogba if he has turned down 22k per week at his age with his lack of first team games then I think we should tell him to p*** off to Turin. Agent or no agent it's Pogba who is the one signing the deal and at the end of the day it is his decision. He is going to be a great player but if he is not willing to sign a deal that SAF says is the biggest we've ever offered someone of his age then that IMO shows he doesn't want to be here.
Rjmanutd
23 Feb 2012 20:55:28
Park showing us again tonight why he is simply not cut out to play in the centre of the field. His main attribute is clearly that he hounds people for the ball, so obviously he gets in a tackle here and there. But his passing is poor and more importantly his positional awareness is awful. When proper midfielders like Scholes, Carrick and Cleverly play their main concern when we have possession is to make sure they're in a position in which they can receive the ball in space. This is how good midfields control possession in a game. Park, however, seems completely unaware of this and generally stands far to close to opposition players, meaning that he usually ends up playing a sloppy back pass. Add to this the fact he stopped in the build up the Ajax goal looking for a handball instead of focusing on his job, defending the goal, and he has been the biggest weak link in our team. Park can do a job as part of a 3 man midfield or as a defensive winger in certain games. But as a central midfield player he's just a bit more effective than letting my terrier onto the pitch.
Danny Pughnited
23 Feb 2012 20:53:55
have to say i'm preferring young on the right looks so much better crossing first time. Also looks like nani been told to stay away from corners
23 Feb 2012 20:53:45
No Pogba tonight? Not even made the bench.. Does anyone know of an injury or anything? Not a good sign
23 Feb 2012 20:53:16
Young making Bebe look like a bargain, Valencia is needed back Asap nice to see a winger than can beat a man and cross, neither of which talent is possessed by young. Hoping he picks up another injury and soon fingers crossed he s injured for EUROs
23 Feb 2012 20:44:48
For everyone who doesn't think we need a cm look what we are left with if we have Carrick injured, Cleverly is decent but not good enough against the better teams in europe. Look how easily Ajax keep and pass the ball and they are a very average team. Need to buy at least 2 class midfielders lets stop making do with the scraps left over from the other teams. Oh and can anyone remember a game where Rafael didnt get booked its every game how much more time does he need to learn not to dive in. Guaranteed he will cost us dear again at some point in the future. Park CM well done fergie last time u tried that ended in what was probably the most embarrassing game at OT. What goes through his head
23 Feb 2012 20:38:05
hard game eh shappy? Stick to scouting eh lad.
23 Feb 2012 20:30:05
Its great we have Bilbao in the next round as now we can see Martinez. Thats two young midfielders linked to us we can get a good look at where we wouldn't usually.
Welsh Dragon
23 Feb 2012 20:18:10
Great finish !
Berba + Hernandez always look good together
DodgyBanter
23 Feb 2012 20:11:14
I am sick of people going on about pogba and Morrison. What have they won ?? A youth cup that's it. Giggs beckham Neville's scholes and butt all won one and you didn't see any of this crap from them,and look at the careers they have had and how well saf looked after them. So if pogba doesn't want to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world because he can get a few grand somewhere else LET HIM OFF. What will Morrison win at west ham ??i also think making jones capt tonite is a real dig at these contract rebels that you can do well at OT if you work hard.
23 Feb 2012 19:46:37
everyone thinking pogba aint in squad cause hes leaving
fryers isnt in squad either
23 Feb 2012 19:43:13
Sir Alex Ferguson ''Well we found out yesterday that the boy Pogba has turned down the latest offer, To be fair, Its the biggest offer manchester united have ever offered to a lad of his age, I think its just the way we have to deal with agents these days, He wont be getting out for us until he signs a new deal, We'll just have to wait and see but its not looking good''
23 Feb 2012 19:31:44
someone posted on here yesterday that pogba wouldnt feature in the squad tonight or play again until he signs a new deal, when he/she said this sydney, arb and ags 19 gave him/her loads of stick for no reason, fergie has just said pogba has turned down a new deal and wont feature again if he doesnt sign a deal, you 3 guys going to apolagise 4 been 'cretins' (as sydney so nicely put it)
23 Feb 2012 19:31:00
Not a rumour***
Just checked the line up for tonights game on bbc website....
No Pogba? Has been injured in training or something? i thought he'd be a shoe in for this game considering we are 2 up and looking to persued him to sign a new contract?
was looking forward to seeing him in action tonight.
MONK
23 Feb 2012 19:30:23
Hi Guys
I think tonights side is a good one really and should be strong enough to get through.
I'm not really sure what to make of the Pogba situation but even his agent must realise to leave United is a step down even if he can get him more money in the short term.If he's as good as everyone says he is than he needs to knuckle down get a first team berth then ask for more money.
Bazza The Red
23 Feb 2012 19:29:21
whats the crack with pogba , is there something to this juventus rumour or is it just a case of with park clevs scholes giggs carrick theres just no room in the squad, still got anderson to come back as well.
jred
23 Feb 2012 19:25:32
I told you all yesterday that Pogba wont feature again until he signs a new deal, he turned down 22k a week. You all called me a scouser, a clown, a muppet. certain people on here just resort to name calling if the news you bring is bad.
23 Feb 2012 19:18:49
I'm really not happy about our line up tonight, we have no experiance in defence with De Gea in goal with Smalling and Jones infront of him I think we could be in trouble, there isn't even any experiance infront of them with Cleverley and Park, although Park is 30 he has no real experiance of playing in the centre of midfield, remember Blackburn. Berbatov upfront doesn't inspire confidence of us seeing the free flowing quick attacking football our younger players seem to be best at playing. Maybe i'll be wrong but this could be a tough match.
Shappy
23 Feb 2012 19:05:52
United: De Gea; Rafael, Jones, Smalling, Fabio; Nani, Park, Cleverley, Young; Berbatov, Hernandez.
Subs: Amos, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Giggs, Scholes, Welbeck
pogba not in squad!!
has he agreed to move somewhere else already :(
23 Feb 2012 19:05:31
absolute joke pogba not even on bench,he's gone get used to life without him,cant believe it,pay the *****ing wages
23 Feb 2012 19:03:59
Pogba doesn't even make the bench. Horrendous.
Percy
23 Feb 2012 19:03:42
United: De Gea; Rafael, Jones, Smalling, Fabio; Nani, Park, Cleverley, Young; Berbatov, Hernandez.
Subs: Amos, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Giggs, Scholes, Welbeck
Disappointed not to see Pogba.
Matthew...
23 Feb 2012 19:03:24
Twitter's also saying that Jones will be captain?! Surely that can't be right....
#ags 19
23 Feb 2012 18:57:09
Pogba not in squad tonight and will not play for us until he signs new contract. fair enough if you ask me!
del boy!
23 Feb 2012 18:04:27
So if we hadn't wasted 92million quid on debt who could we hav bought in last 3 years?
2.63 Andy Carroll's!
Sort of puts it in perspective.
Supasub
23 Feb 2012 17:04:11
Not everyone wants to read about England on this page, so how about an International football page?
G.A.G.U.S {Ed002's Note - Perhaps with the Euros coming - I will pass it on.}
23 Feb 2012 16:35:10
This I AM KLOOT bloke. I take it he is Rainfishtrombone? Certainly tastes like him.
The Irish Rover
23 Feb 2012 14:46:03
In terms of the international scene I have to say the English fans are as close to Liverpool fans as they come. Both are blinkered when looking at their squads. They think they have a god given right to win football matches but are miles behind the leading teams.
I had a little row with my mates awhile back about club over country or country over club? I despise international football. It's a terrible standard, the qualification system is terrible. If it was scrapped I wouldnt miss a wink of sleep.
Mumbles
23 Feb 2012 15:00:31
as we are all wodering about the england team for euros on this page atm ... i was thinking who would everyone take if we had certanties
Hart
Richards / Jones / Lescott / Smalling / Baines / Cole
Gerrard / Cleverley / Parker / Milner
Young / Johnson
Rooney / Welbeck
So 15 people i would think will definately go if fit
so who would be your
2 fringe goalkeepers
2 Centre backs
2 More midfielders incl wingers if needed
2 More Strikers
I would have
Stockdale and Carson
Ferdinand and King if both fit if not then cahill and JT
Carrick and Nathan Dyer
Strurridge and Danny Graham
So who would you take ?
23 Feb 2012 13:53:24
What I would have liked to see for EURO'12.
GK:
01) Hart - Obvious choice for our number 1.
02) Robinson - Experienced and would be a decent back up.
03) Carson - probably the second best English keeper right now.
Def:
04) Richards - Best RB in the league hands down.
05) Smalling - Sold CB, operates across the back 4.
06) Lescott - Had a great season would be a solid choice.
07) JT - Regardless of other issues he's still a very good CB.
08) a - King - if he was fit, he'd be the best in the country.
08) b - Shawcross - Solid and reliable.
09) Jones - versatile and solid wherever he plays.
10) Cole - best LB on the planet.
11) Baines - quality back up, would be 1st anywhere else.
Mid:
12) Carrick - had a terrific season.
13) Cleverley - Versatile, passing machine.
14) Parker -one of the best in the league.
15) Gerrard - experienced and still a top midfielder.
16) Barton - a top class CDM.
17) A.Johnson - probably the best winger we have.
18) AOC - bit of a risk, but he's shown he can play.
19)Young - offers versatility.
FW:
20) Crouch - We need a big man option, always scores for England.
21) Rooney - I don't exactly need a reason...
22) Bent - Produces for Villa and has the ability to do so for England.
23) Welbeck - offers a different option to the other 3 strikers.
I would then probably go with this line up at the Euro providing everyone is fit:
-------------------Hart-------------
Richards------King---JT----------Cole
Young-----Parker---Cleverley---Johnson
----------------Gerrard
----------------Rooney
Hart, Richards, King, JT and Cole, Parker, Gerrard and Rooney are the strongest we have in their positions.
Young playing on the right would ensure that there's a decent and consistent standard of crossing, Cleverley would simply replace Wilshere in the side, Johnson playing on the left means he can cross the ball in on his stronger foot..Young and Johnson can also switch wings.
Gerrard always plays best behind Rooney and although Rooney is very good at playing in the hole we need a consistent Goal Scorer, plus Cleverley, Parker, Gerrard, Young and Johnson can play the ball up to him very well.
The Moon.
23 Feb 2012 13:51:34
Not United related but I have just read that Porto are preparing a complaint against Manchester City after the fans chanted "you're not incredible" to Porto striker Hulk, claiming the chants were unsporting and encouraging UEFA to act. I had to have a little chuckle, what are Porto thinking? Its ludicrous. If they dont want to hear, frankly harmless, chants like that then dont allow the player to have a nickname on the back of his shirt.
TK-Red
23 Feb 2012 13:12:41
Anyone know why Pogba has been left out of tonights squad? Jenny
23 Feb 2012 13:05:05
Manchester United have secured whizkid Adnan Januzaj to pro forms.
The 17 year-old midfielder joined United last summer from Anderlecht.
He has now signed a pro contract with United.
Does anyone know how long this is or is likely to be?
23 Feb 2012 12:49:43
Come on the lets p1ss the Irish off and name our England squad's ;) (Only joking lads).
J.Hart / Foster / Green
Micah / Smalling / Ferdinand / Jagielka / King / Jones / Cole / Baines
Wilshere / Cleverley / Parker / Gerrard
Milner / A.Johnson / AOC / Young
Sturridge / Rooney / Bent / Welbeck
It's quite difficult actually, who would everyone else take? Ed001?
Sydney! {Ed001's Note - I wouldn't have Ferdinand, you never know which one will turn up, I would prefer to have Carrick in the squad than Rio myself. If King was fit, he would be first choice, but I would let him rest his knees and put Lescott in instead. Sturridge and Young have not done enough to deserve a place either, I would look at some of the players in smaller clubs to fill the fringe places. Maybe Nathan Dyer, for instance. It is a shame Matty Phillips is not playing in the Prem, he is about the best right winger England have at the moment.}
23 Feb 2012 12:36:04
what is stuart pearce thinking ?
Frazier campbell should be swapped with danny graham, grant holt or scott sinclair they all deserve a chance more than him.
23 Feb 2012 12:02:22
Just seen Pearce's team - Bring back Capello!!
And please no Cahill !!
Mike
PS. Who hired Cahill for Chelsea - was it AVB or the boss?
23 Feb 2012 11:56:05
So Jones, Smalling, Young, Cleverley, Welbeck & Rooney all included in the England squad to face the Netherlands. Wondering why Glen Johnson, Micah Richards & Kyle Walker have been named? Especially considering Smalling & Jones can player RB too.
Sydney!
23 Feb 2012 11:53:49
Why the f*ck are people like Stewart Downing, Theo Walnut, Gareth Barry and James Milner getting in the England team but Carrick isn't? Baffles me. {Ed001's Note - Stuart Pearce is clueless at the end of the day, at least he is not ruining young players careers in the U21s for now though!}
23 Feb 2012 10:30:03
Giggs will probably play his 900th game tonight I think I can speak for everyone when I say, legend.
Anon
23 Feb 2012 10:27:41
how many here think PIRLO would have been a good signing for us.?he is only 32 and like ancelotti said, he can play till he is 36-40 years old.he is one of the best players in the world and one that comes close to scholes with respect to technical ability, passing,vision etc.and best of all, we would have got him for free.any idea Ed's as to why we did not try to sign pirlo?
RED DEVIL
23 Feb 2012 09:19:24
So if we hadn't wasted 92million quid on debt who could we hav bought in last 3 years?
23 Feb 2012 08:51:23
Special thanks to Dodgy Banter for reminding me of the golden days of Eric double D. He was a midfield Maestro in the same mould as Quintin Fortune, Mike Phelan and other greats who have graced our midfield. You can Keep your Robsons, Keane and Scholes, they were ok but as Banter says if we could bring back a player with the qualities of Eric double D then we would be certs for a league and cup double. Before any of you mention it yes I do know that Anderson is trying his hardest to join that band of players I have mentioned and I imagine Mike Phelan is giving him one to one training. Thanks Banter you made my day. I AM KLOOT
23 Feb 2012 07:00:29
I know most of you think the main problem is in midfield I don't agree I think we should buy one midfielder spend no more than 15 million on someone like honda or xhaka maybe we will have cleverley and anderson and hopefully pogba to progress together plus the older heads which makes are midfield strong imo. Are main problem is a really top class front man welbeck is progressing well and so is hernandez but I don't think they cause defenders as many problems as they should I would love to see benzema but I don't think he will be available because he is playing well higuain is rubbish I don't no why people rate him at all I would love cavani at united I think he would be great I think would could get cavani and xhaka for 50 million which is what I think are budget is tends to be about that most summers. And if we can get some money from offloading players like berba and the other unwanted players we could sign a left back or a centre half like benatia or not sure about left backs maybe morrel thought he was quite good last nite.
REDMAN 87
23 Feb 2012 00:44:20
Well ladies, the day has come. The day has come for you to sit through Stan (the women beater) Collymores, terrible 'expert' analysis of your season defining game, against Ajax (6th in the Dutch league). Getting knocked out of the CL, by the 'mighty' Basle and Benfica. Is not the most embarrassing part of your path to Europa League glory.
You have to listen to Collymores and Nevins 'expert' opinions, for 2 hours. That's what happens when you play on CHANNEL 5. You get nothing but the sh!tiest pundits about.
Enjoy............lol
Blair Mayne YNWA JFT96
22 Feb 2012 23:19:53
im sure most of yous will agree with me that this would be the team you would like to see play 2moro
------------de gea-------
fabio---evans--smalling-fyrers
---jones---pogba--cleverley---
-nani----hernandez--young
altho i dont think fergie will play it as it lacks alot of experience but it would be a nice team to see the young players playing
22 Feb 2012 22:50:49
my team to face Ajax:
DDG
Jones Smalling Evans Evra
Nani Cleverley Giggs Young
Pogba
Hernandez