Manchester United Banter Archive September 24 2012

24 Sep 2012 23:43:34
I am a big fan of this page. Nice one edd

I have watched all man utd games this year and hv noticed some odd changes
1. Why change the 4-4-2 our players are use to, i think it neutralizes our wingers that's why none has performed at their best this year
2. We obviously have week points that needs addressing i feel evra should be droped for 3matches llets see hw the new boy will cope if lesser teams and players spot him as a weak link then him and buttner could be of the same standard
3. Kagawa should be tot hw to be a winger feel he is way better than the rest all he needs is to bulk up
4.Why did we buy van persie if he won't strike with rooney their combination is suppose to strike fear into fellow teams
5.Time to give anderson and cleverley their chance, anderson can operate deeper then cleverley do the link up play(remember we hav seen anderson neutralize fabregas with his strength)
6.Nani and young re no world class wingers only valencia i see as a world classs orthodox winger
7. Powell should be involved more fabregas and co stepped up at his age i feel he has a lot to offer

25 Sep 2012 00:10:38
Totally agree that we should give Powell more of a chance. SAF needs to be as bold as he used to be in giving youth a chance.

Fresh!

24 Sep 2012 22:32:32
Hey, I have been a very loyal attendant of this site, visiting it every single day without fail for well over a year now and I have read a large number of posts.

I can see over all of that time period that the main problem is (with no surprise) our centre midfield. I personally think that we need a new ball/pass playing midfielder to get the ball from box to box quickly and smoothly. Someone in the light of Moutinho or Marchisio would be a great replacement/partner to Paul Scholes.

I also believe we need a defensive midfielder to bolster our defensive line and to provide cover to our defence. The modern era of football requires a lot more defensive displays from midfield to help out the back line and I personally think, although Carrick can do a good job in that role, another world class Centre Defensive midfielder to win the ball and block things is needed. Someone like Strootman, Yann M'villa or Vidal.

I believe we currently have enough cover for Left back and Right back and our striking and wing options are brilliant (despite the necessity of a left footed left winger). I do believe we are in need or another centre back with Ferdinand and Vidic aging now. Something to provide competition for Evans, Smalling and Jones in the future.

Overall as of now, I personally believe that the main fault that needs fixing if we are to win a major trophy is the centre of midfield.

Thanks for your time guys.

24 Sep 2012 21:49:31
A problem popped into my head just recently.

With Fergie lining up what seems to be some great youth prospects e.g. Tunners, Petrucci, Blackett, The Keanes, Daehli etc.

I think that when the time comes for SAF to retire, Mourinho will not be a good option. He will stop their development and try ship them out as we have all seen he prefers the finished article.

Which leads me to ask you all this question, which Manager WILL put faith in these youngsters?

I feel Fergie is nearing the end of his managerial career possibly this season or next.

The only man for me is Guardiola. And don't give me the crap that he inherited the Barca team, which is quite obvious. But towards the end of last season, didn't you notice Barca switched off when they realised Pep wasn't staying on? Cannot be pure coinicidence. He introduced players like Tello and Cuenca who do look to have real talent. He has a great youth policy as we know and he knows the ins and outs of the famous La Masia, with which he would bring vital experience and competence as he has managed both the B team and the 1st team successfully.

What do you guys think?

RED_LAD

Couldn't agree more guardiola like to trust his youth and we need to trust our youth as we have some awesome young players.

Caolán.

Red lad

What evidence do you have that shows Jose doesn't trust in youth?

He had an unlimited cheque book and was basically told to win the CL, at inter he bought wisely and brought through Stanton and Balotelli (from the youth team) whilst also getting the best out of average players like materazzi and the likes and at Madrid he has bought and played Callejon, Varane and got good levels of performances from guys like arbeloa.

He has not been at a team long enough to provide the 1st team with a stream of youngsters yet has trusted in younger players he has brought in so the arguments false from that perspective. He has stated before he wants to build a dynasty and feels he would only be considered the best if he proved he could do that and to be honest ours and maybe arsenal are the only top clubs in England / the world that have a proven track record of keeping faith with managers long term so IMO he would be a perfect fit an the only option.

Plus he is the only one who has the pods to put himself forward as the man to take over from SAF. Lesser men will crumble under that pressure whereas I think he will strive in it.

Jono

I dont know about pep or jose, but I think Moyes will be our next manager. He has clearly been a magician at everton given their budget and resources. He is from the UK. good record of blooding in youth. works on a shoe string budget. he also holds himself together well and i think his playing style of late is similar to ours has been. I really think he would be our next manager. Mourinho is too brash and we are a pretty conservative club. he is too outspoken for the glazers or even gill's liking. Pep is reported to be cowardly at times with his players and does not have experience with english teams or football.

Trident!

I think Roberto Martinez can do a good job and his style is pretty good

24 Sep 2012 20:28:19
3pts at Anfield isn't to be sniffed at but have we actually played well yet this season? The 2nd half against Wigan, maybe. But overalll, we've carried on where we left off last season - sluggish, lacking ideas and unable to retain possession.

Every team we've faced so far has really done a number on us in midfield, surprise surprise. But SAF seems to realise our limitations in his post-match interview only to forget the entire thing by the following game.

Apart from David de Gea (unfairly, IMO), SAF no longer seems to punish for bad performances. Slow, lacklustre showings no longer mean being dropped.

I bet, more or less, the same team plays against Spurs on Saturday. We'll be over-run and SAF will acknowledge it, then pick the same culprits the week after.

When did we start playing predictable, untidy football?! It doesn't seem like we've struck fear into a team since the days of Rooney/Tevez/Ronaldo (apart from the odd 8-2 thumping or similar).

RED_SKY

Well we are so bad we only have 12 of 15 so far. Yes we need to improve - but in a funny way (tho as I said I want to see an improvement) I am glad we are winning "ugly" again - I was really worried at the end of last year when we lost / drew some games where in previous years we would have scrapped a win no matter how badly we played.
Anyway am hoping for a few good pastings to be delivered to the opposition soon (maybe with Anderson and Cleverley in Midfield?!).

Mike

Yes, we're winning ugly but we look average every week. Can you honestly imagine us playing say, Barca, next weekend? We'd lose 5 or 6-0/1. At present, we're not one of the best teams in Europe. We have the potential to be, but right now, we are not. We don't play good football, we're shakey at the back, non-existent in CM.

I really hope, that SAF wins the title this year and retires - because otherwise, we'll have Carrick/Giggs/Scholes blocking talented youngsters again next season...only this time, they might decide to leave like Pogba.

RED_SKY

24 Sep 2012 19:15:50
Thanks Ed004, i hope so...would really be happy. If there's a possibility of SAF having access to some of our thoughts, complaints and suggestions on this site it would be good and i think also helpful for him to know fans itchings which would contribute to the success of the team cos we love our beloved club MANUTD. Though i know he's doing his best. Thanks

SAMFORD01

24 Sep 2012 18:55:10
Pep Guardiola going to united. SAF had a meeting with him in new york and now Pep Guardiola learning english...

Lol i read the same thing but not the part that he decided to learn english after meeting SAF. On a serious note he is the best guy out there for the club. There will be some serious clear out of players if he gets the job. Shahram

Thank goodness. One very much hopes this is true. We are fed up with the ill-mannered, vexatious, aggression of the manager. Once an impressive leader, he has now clearly lost the plot.

24 Sep 2012 20:24:50
Think Jose is the next manager with Pep going to Arsenal.

Pretty sure he already speaks english

Ste-Utd

24 Sep 2012 18:09:50
I'm 253rd in the Fantasy Premier League and Bond is 254th. Shappy is 256th. 3 men that really know their football are doing absolutely sh*t.

G.A.G.U.S

Obviously shows how much you actually know mate

I'd completely forgot I done that, maybe we'll see a late surge to the title after christmas. Lol.

Shappy

I've been telling you along, you know absolutey sh*t. 253rd out of 260 is good by your standards GUGAS.

Blair Mayne YNWA JFT96

Blair didn't even qualify.

G.A.G.U.S

Given our team selections, i think you guys would probably do just as well lol. shahram

24 Sep 2012 17:51:10
Just for fun-
Name any three players of your choice whom you would want at United.The three players of my choice would be-
1.Vidal
2.Ozil
3.Wilshere ( I know he has been injured for a while now but i really rate him highly and think he will be one of the best in the world in a few years).

DDG

Rafael/Jones Vidic Smalling Buttner

Vidal Wilshere

Ozil Rooney Kagawa

RVP

I think that will be a fantastic team!
Banter please!

kdevil10 {Ed007's Note - McCarthy, Ozil, Higuain.}

Ronaldo, Messi, Yaya Toure.

---------------De Gea
Rafael -- Smalling -- Vidic -- Buttner
-----------Yaya -- Jones or Powell
Ronaldo ----- Rooney ----- Messi
--------------- RVP

Ports

Your team is similar to the one i posted yesterday, instead of wilshere id have m'villa.

4231

de gea
rafael vidic ferdinand buttner
m'villa vidal
ozil rooney kagawa
RVP

JK92

Ozil, Schweinsteiger(almost impossible) and Benzema/Higuain.

Devil for Life

---------------De Gea------------

Rafael-Smalling-Evans-Buttner

---------M'Vila-Yaya Toure-----

-Ozil------------------------Kagawa

---------Rooney---RVP-----------

(4-2-2-2)

RedKnight {Ed004's Note - Ozil, Schweinsteiger and Yaya}

_______DDG_______
Raf__Small_Evans_Butt
______Yaya_________
______Kags____
Val_________Gotze
Rooney___RVP

Ruudinthemood

I will take Ozil, Schweinsteiger, Muniain.

Sven Bender, Munian, Tello

SHAITAN

Schweinsteiger, Messi & Ronaldo

Mike

24 Sep 2012 16:36:08
Heard reports that ManUtd have registered interest in Isco...my God i'll be so happy if we can get him cos our midfield would be okay. Ed please is there chance of we signing him in January?

SAMFORD01 {Ed004's Note - There would be a chance}

I will swallow my tongue if we sign any one that is of any significance in January. Just press bs and we all get our hopes up and see them go one by one to other teams, Shahram

24 Sep 2012 15:59:34
THE WINDS OF CHANGE
the state of liverpool fc is very misleading , we are not just patching up the mansion like the remarkable saf is doing , no we are putting in new foundations with a fresh young manager with new ideas , but more to the point , he has the material to do this- ie a smashing awray of young players to built a great side for the future.
i give saf great respect , but he really has been patching up the building at utd in recent years - ie- still playing players who are well past their sell by date , giggs, scholes, rio, short-term gain, but long term pain i think , also paying big money for a injury-phrone 30 year old player in rvp , this is not quite the fergie of old- but hey- the fire does go out of everyone through time , saf is only clinging on to what he knows and trusts.
now i see a bright glory-filled future at liverpool under br, and before utd fans say look at the table, liverpool is just going through short-term pain, for long-term gain ,the more astute utd fans know deep down the man citys and chelseas wiil be hard to fight with in the coming decade , lpool will be there , the bigger question is will utd, the winds of change are at the door, forming over the red half of manchester , and its a very cold wind indeed................lfc

Deluded Fool !! (maybe next year eh)

Devil Dust.

Short term pain doesn't last 20 years lfc...

JK92

What's your definition of short term? 23 years?

This is either a wind up or you are the most deluded fool on the planet.

Wasn't going to respond but the post is hilarious and I actually just laughed out loud at work.

GDS

Lfc,

2008/2009 - lfc points 86
2009/2010 - lfc points 63
2010/2011 - lfc points 58
2011/2012 - lfc points 52
2012/2013 - lfc points ???

Can you see where this post is going?

If I was in your shoes, i'd be concerned that your club has just lost to a team that as you say have players well past their sell by date an injury prone 30 yr old.

I won't list our youngsters as I'm sure they'll be plenty of poster keen to inform you who we have coming through the ranks but our 22 year old RB scored yesterday set up by our 23 year old AM.

Ports

I bet those mushrooms are brilliant. I AM KLOOT

Is that the same injury-prone 30 year old who has outscored your entire team in the league this year?

(ps he's 29 but basic numeracy is probably a step too far for you)

Danny Pughnited

You are getting worse lfc and I can't wait to see Everton thrash you in the upcoming Derby. Lets face it your team only get motivated twicwe a year and thats when you play us
PS have a nice day
ARB

Lfc, look up the word "declination" in the dictionary and you will see a picture of the Liverpool emblem.

You are not improving, you are getting worse.

Sydney!

Lfc, must know what he is saying is tosh - so good banter! fair play to him...

Sydney, 'declination' is something to do with astronomy ;) but liverpool are very much in decline lol

Tetrahydro

Tetrahydro, Declination:

1. A sloping or bending downward.
2. A falling off, especially from prosperity or vigor; a decline.
3. A deviation, as from a specific direction or standard.
4. A refusal to accept.
5. Magnetic declination.
6. Astronomy The angular distance to a point on a celestial object, measured north or south from the celestial equator.

I would say 2, 3 & 4 relate to Liverpool ;)

Sydney!

LFC in case you've not noticed united reserves have won their league easily for the past three years.. so I think we'll be OK. But thanks for your concern!
NoMidfield

24 Sep 2012 15:52:29
We are currently playing bad football but hopefully we will pick up our form because we have rode our luck. Mistakes have cost us. Against Fulham we looked really good until De Gea's mistake and from then on they bombarded us. We actually played some lovely football but I feel that was our best performance of the season so far. But still there was room for improvement I.e a dm. But whenever Carrick plays he's quite slow and negative but initially against gala he played really well then faded. Cleverly and Anderson offer something different they play high tempo and would suit kagawa but still lack a tackling midfielder. Our wingers don't play like wingers anymore which is why they aren't playing as well. They look to me as though they are encouraged to pass in midfield rather than attack the defenders beat them and put a cross in. Also whenever we are on the edge of the box with a clear shooting oppurtinity we always pass sideways which allows the defence to settle. Even RVP had to play deep to get the ball. Things need to change that's obvious

Mad Hatter

24 Sep 2012 13:48:54
Any truth in the rumour that Ferguson and Phelan will both wake up sometime and start playing a young midfield. Or is it all a distant dream?
Also, while we're at it, please ferguson, do the right thing and sack Phelan and get someone who actually can stand up to you and tell you that your tactics, or lack of them, are the reason why we're performing the way we are.
Finally, any chance of seeing either ferguson or Phelan in the technical area anytime soon? Instead of just sitting in the dugout huddled up!
NoMidfield

LOL, if we had played Powell & Petrucci in midfield and lost people like you would be the first to come on here saying the manager rushed them into it too early or that they aren't good enough.

Sydney!

Syd Fergie needs to start bringing in the young lads soon...look at Rodgers yesterday they were down to ten and he still trusted the kid Suso to come on...would Fergie do that with Powell or Petrucci...not a hope.

We will lose more kids like Pogba when we wont play them.

Devil Dust.

DD look at Liverpool yesterday, losing to probably the worst united performance in my life time.

I agree the youngsters need their chance but like syd said if we play Powell and petrucci yesterday and lose everyone moans we put them in too early. Yesterday was not a game for Powell or petrucci, but it was also not a game for Ryan giggs. I was so shocked to see him on the team sheet, I was expecting coc up games at the most!

GDS

DD, Suso was the only player on the bench who could replace Borini. Their squad is wafer thin.

Sydney!

How can any young player make it if they don't get to play and afforded some mistakes. Unfortunately SAF does not believe in that policy and they are sent to the dungeons with a bad performance with the exception of the older guys. I think we are all kidding ourselves by thinking the current crop of kids will actually play an important role going forward. Shahram

24 Sep 2012 11:26:38
We got out battled in midfield against Liverpool. They were well up for it had the fire in their belly & won every 50-50. That's why it's even more hilarious that we won.

I know it doesn't matter, cause we've walked or hobbled in some players case away with 3 points. I'm just thinking what would of been your 6 players bar any injuries &
Lindegaard, Rafael, Evans, Rio, Evra were a shoe in.

THIS WOULD OF BEEN MY CHOICE & REASON.

LCM Anderson in for Giggs
- Ando would be out to prove he can out muscle Gerrard as he has in the past.

CM Scholes in for Carrick
- as he shown yesterday, changed the game & changed the tempo.

RCM Fletcher in for Kagawa
- we needed some one to win the ball & pass to Scholes to start attacks.

RW Valencia keeps his spot

CF van Persie keeps his spot.

LW Buttner in for Nani
Nani was terrible AGAIN. Buttner is on form & would of been well up for this game. Bombing forward & covering for the laps moments of Evra.

SUBS: last 20 mins Cleverley for Fletcher & Welbeck for Evra if it was tight which I'd expect with my team.

You think thats muscle on Anderson!? Fletcher for Kagawa is about the worst suggestion I have heard - so give a guy who has had 20 mins first team action in 10 months due to a serious injury preference ahead of the Bundesgliga player of the year....and Buttner on form? the guy has played one game in the EPL.....stiick with the PS3 fella

Valencia is pure pants; overrated, inflexible, clueless, clumsy. Nani was just the opposite until Fergus destabilized him. Now we have no wingers. Brilliant management.

Aesop

Valencia pants? not a chance. not a good couple of games at the mo, generally 100% consistent and great delivery!

Aesop, you can get eye tests at most high st opticians...

AJH

24 Sep 2012 10:52:09
Congratulations on your win.
Just a few comments.

1. "UNITED WERE POOR YESTERDAY"

Not at all, no.Most inaccurate description. United WERE rendered poor and ineffective by a Liverpool side that combined industry and game intelligence to outplay and more or less shut down a theoretically superior opponent.

United's bumbling on the ball, lack of cohesion and general cluelessness and ineptitude wasn't because United wanted that. They were FORCED upon you, as were many other indiscretions.

Liverpool didn't do anything that, say, Southampton, didn't. Only that LFC, with better players, did it far more effectively.
We harried and pressed and, true to form, United crumbled.

It's common knowledge now that your team simply can't handle and keep the ball. Teams, LFC included, know this and duly to harry and press your team, who typically panic and start hitting wayward passes, aimless hoofs and long punts.

This is nothing knew. So your assertions that "you were poor" (in the active) fall way short of the truth. You weren't poor because you were just poor. You WERE made to be poor. Your opponents on the day were superior, at your expense.

2. "LIVERPOOL ALWAYS RAISE THEIR GAME AGAINST US/IT'S THEIR CUP FINAL"

The implication here is that Liverpool play well only when United is in town, and play better more so against United than the other teams.

Absolute poppycock. Firstly, it's not untrue that our passion and drive often is at peak when playing you. This is nothing uncommon. Madrid and Barca players are more fired up when playing against each other than any other club. Same goes for Flamengo and Botafogo, as it does for Lazio and Roma, Dortmund and Schalke, Spurs and Arsenal, Villa and Birmingham and a thousand others.

So insinuations that Liverpool raise their game and play well only against United is grossly inaccurate, without basis in fact.
I could count in both my hands and feet games Liverpool raised their game and played just as, if not far better, than they did against United.

Just this season alone, the play against Sunderland and City was terrific.
Only plausible reason it may be said that we weren't just as good against City is that we just finding our game as the season had just started. In any case, City were likelier to offer more resistance as they have good midfielders who can win and actually keep the ball, unlike United.

So much as playing United has LFC fans and players more fired up than playing, say, Chelsea, United aren't the all important fixture in LFC's. You should know that.
I'm sure any and every LFC supporter would be any fussed losing to you lot both fixtures but finishing top 3/4.
You are giving yourselves undue, frankly ridiculous, credit.

3. SYDNEY: "WE WERE AWEFUL, WHY DIDN'T LIVERPOOL DO BETTER"

Yes Syd. Indeed you were rendered inept and useless, completely stuffed. Our failure? Snuffing out that last breath you had.
Surprising? NO!

LFC are presently incapable in front of goals and have been for the last twelve or so months.
We've done most of the basics right game after game, shutting dow and battering the oppo, creating tons of chances but typicall failing to convert most.

LFC couldn't have done more than they did yesterday. We currently struggle to score goals. That's our achilles heel.
So I'm not sure what Sydney means with "we should have done better". Could you perhaps have been living in a cave the last 12 month?

4. OUR AND UNITED'S PROSPECTS

Liverpool is a club that's been plugged and ravaged by problems in recent, particularly at the boardroom, subsequently to the detriment of the team on the pitch.

Now we seeking to put it all behind us. The early signs are promising.
Us being in the bottom 2 presently is most insignificant and unreflective of the quality and potential of this same.

We've played and continue to play well. It's the goals that are missing. WHEN they start coming in, we look the very good team that we are. Any honest speaking person can see that.

This season is largely foundational for us. I can for the first time agree the cliched "we are rebuilding". It is next campaign we may start looking anything like BR envisions.

But once it all clicks, it will be good. We have some genuinely gifted youngsters who will form the nucleus of our team for years to come.
Shelvely, Suso, Sterling, Wisdom, Yesil, Jerome Sinclair, Texeira are huge talents that, with time and patience, will be important.

You have some remarkable young talents yourselves. Januzaj, Powell and Daehli, in particular, are huge talents who can be very important for your club.

As regards your first team players, I'm not too enamored. Though Van Persie and Kagawa are exceptional, genuine. Those are the two I'd pick from your team.

That said, tho, it's teams, not individuals, that wins things, and yours is a good team, as you showed 2010/11 and last season, albeit coming 2nd.
I think you will be there and about, 1/2.
RVP could be huge difference for you.
We'll see.

BARNEY

Put it this way Barney lad, that was the worst United performance I have seen for many many years. It was woeful. We were lethargic and careless when passing, we had no tempo and the players didn't look interested bar Valencia and Rafael. It was the wrong midfield line-up and IMO Liverpool being at home should have done better. You had a fully fit squad to choose from unlike ourselves.

We do have some very tidy youth, but they will not get the chances that your youth are getting due to us having a better squad than yours. There is Powell, Henriquez, Januzaj, Daehli, Barmby, Petrucci, Tunnicliffe who are the pick of the bunch, but like I said with us having a big and good squad it will be tough for them to get good opportunities in the first team.

Sydney!

I'm sorry Syd, but our youth not getting opportunities is only partly down to the strength of our squad. Our midfield is so weak that a 38 (nearly 39 FFS) year old can play in the biggest game of our season so far. Fergie does not trust the youth at the club, he doesn't even trust Cleverly who hardly even counts as a youth player anymore. Only 3 of our starting 11 yesterday were under 25, 4 were over 30. It honestly doesn't matter how many top youth prospects we have coming through when our manager refuses to give them a chance to develop properly.

Danny Pughnited

We won 2-1, i rest my case!

Nozzla

Danny, I agree that Cleverley or even Powell should have started ahead of Giggs, but obviously he wanted experience in there. It is also harder for the manager to risk youth nowadays due to the amount of competitiveness now with City. The manager has given youth a chance with Overtan, Kiko, Bebe etc in the UCL and League Cup, just hope their poor performances hasn't ruined it for the next batch.

Sydney!

Syd, the problem is that we can all see that players like Giggs and Evra are passed their best, they're not performing well and need to be replaced. It's also clear that players like Nani are playing poorly every week and still ending up in the first team.

If Ferguson was honest with the supporters and said that a few of the older lads just can't do it anymore, so we have to bed in a few youngsters, and they may take some time to settle, but we have think about the future of the club. I don't think anybody would have a problem. I honestly don't see how younger players could do worse than what we saw yesterday. Evra was humiliated by a teenager, and Giggs was anonymous while wearing the captain's armband.

The manager has to take responsibility and acknowledge that if he isn't prepared to buy replacements for players past their prime, then he needs to have faith in our youth. There is absolutely no reason why Giggs should be starting, out-of-position ahead of Cleverly and Powell. And there is no reason why Evra's increasingly terrible performances should be rewarded with a starting birth. If the youth players languish on the bench or the reserves they will never achieve their potential.

Danny Pughnited

Barney,

You lost get over it.

Liverpool are no longer relevant - you can easily count 8 teams moving forward in the Premier League as you continue to decline.

Beilieve all you want that Brendan Rodgers is the new messaih - he's not. Swansea got an upgrade in Laudrup.

Shelvey is lower league standard - so yes could be a future Liverpool captain - because Gerrard won't be around too much longer.

PS and if your youth are any good - let's see you hold onto them as the big clubs come calling.

Get a life!

Danny, you are preaching to the choir mate, I am all for Cleverley & Powell getting games. It is an important season for Cleverley and he needs to play, I can only think the manager believes Clevz needs a little rest after the amount of football he has played this season so far. Powell only being 18 should be used more sparingly, but still more than he is getting used. You do not need to talk to me about Evra mate. I am constantly challenged by Jred and this new fella AHJ or something. I want Buttner fast-tracked into this side and I want Evra replaced in the summer by Fabio until Blackett is ready. This would give us cover at LB for a decade.

Sydney!

Syd, close but no banana. I am not defending Evra, I merely pointed out some were getting a bit obsessed :-). In reality I think we all have some very strong points that we agree on:

1. Some of our team are past their best
2. SAF seems not to trust any of the younger players
3. Clevs was the missing linik last year...yet now he is fit, he isn't being played
4. If there is a master plans round midfield, none of us can see it.

I do think Evra will be gently eased out and hopefully when Smalling and Jones are fit, they will also get serious game time.

I just find the whole midfield situation very very odd.


AJH (not AHJ)

AJH, I know you feel the same as I do and I actually agree with almost all of your posts.

I am not obsessed with Ev though, just infuriates me that we have watched his deterioration for two years and he has not been replaced. We finally get a player like Buttner who was amazing on his debut and he misses the next two games. Two more games of mediocrity from Evra. I understand it was important for him to face Liverpool, but now is the time to play Buttner. Is that fair enough mate?

Sydney!

Indeed it is. I'm just getting bored watching us now, anyone who can bring energy and pace would be a welcome change

AJH

24 Sep 2012 10:13:20
Just saw a stat that proved how rubbish Nani was yesterday. He completed only 50% of his dribbles and made only 65% of his passes. That pass rate is the lowest of every single player on the pitch. I really do think that he should be replaced.

Fresh! {Ed002's Note -

Sad thing is knowing fergie he will play nani next week! glad we won yeaterday but im still in total agreement with the load that mentioned yesterday b4 kick off about team selection it was crap

24 Sep 2012 08:04:48
Man United Vs Liverpool
Match 5 of the season, we have got back to familiar surroundings on the league table namely 2nd and feels good too.

Another agonizing first half display by Man United, this is easily our worst performance so far this season but still we won and just imagine if we play to our potential what we could do. Today I will not go into the misery of our midfield because it's no point discussing it as it's been the same for three seasons and getting only worse by the season, our passing in the first half was atrocious and will not go further as I will run out of adjectives to describe our first half performance.

My heart goes out to Liverpool for their fine performance even with ten men, a man down and they did not think of doing a "Chelsea" in the entire game but moved forward menacingly till the end, due credit must be given to the way we defended especially in the air and the wings as well, as there were hardly any crosses for our Goalkeeper to deal with, Gerrad's take and volley was a class act and the finish exquisite, glad he can do it even at this age.

In reply our very own Rafael came up with an absolute beauty in reply and what a finish and that too with the wrong foot. I do hope he can improve on his defending and tacking which can be pretty heavy at most times.

A lot of talk is on about the red card, in all earnest that was surely a red card offence irrespective of what some of the experts say, a two footed lunge is always a contender for a red card and with the history of this fixture and the emotions surrounding it, the Ref had no other choice or else the game could have easily got out of hand.

There is lot of debate over the penalty too, I am sure most will agree that Tony is not a diver unlike Young or even Welbeck, Tony lost his balance from the push in the back and not from the tackle, there was contact though minimal but enough to push Tony off balance and it was a clear cut penalty, there have been softer penalties given but no one talks about them, but when it comes to Man United the issue gets bigger, and we surely know why. If anyone says Liverpool played much better than us and we did not deserve to win I will agree but it is not always that a team that plays well wins, as we ourselves have played much better football at Liverpool but did not win games in the past so let's take this win as a win and three points in out kitty.
Every Man United game from here on will give me the jitters, only hope we improve and the jitters become less.

Happy that Arsenal gave the money bags a run for their money, we surely missed out on Santi Carzola, looks a bargain buy for Arsenal, Red for life - Fred

24 Sep 2012 07:10:00
Yes we won yesterday but i think we all witnessed how Loserpool overan us in the midfield.WHY..?..Because Fergie expects to get a different result with the same midfield of old horses which he did anywhere but the truth be told we arent the RED DEVILS that beat a strong Chelsea to win the UEFA and went on to win the World Clubs Cup,we arent the same UNITED that beat a tricky and strong Schalke 04 convincingly......WHY..?..Because we cant accept that even though Giggs,Scholes and Evra served us well its time we let them go and build another midfield and team,sell all the deadwood and undelivering like NANI,Anderson,Macheda,Bebe,because if we meet Juventus with this team haaaaa,i sense humiliation....LEts bring in the promising players Fergie has been talking about such as MEXICO'S Hector Herrera;ISCO;OGBONNA;HUMMELS;FELLAINI

And why? Because we can't accept that fergie himself and person phelan are old with old tactics. So the team goes on playing old fashioned tactics with old players and fergie and phelan are surprised when we get overrun! There lies the problem!
NoMidfield

I think we are on the edge of getting a huge hiding from a team that will take their chances. Although it really hurts to say this but maybe it will wake up the entire organization to make major changes and not what is consider cosmetic s...t by benching one goalie for another or one winger for another and continuing with the same tactics and playing style.Shahram

24 Sep 2012 05:35:57
It has been for six games we suffered this season.

Speak truth from deepest in your heart, if the manager were Mourinho, or Guardiola for us in those six games, do you still think that we would be that poor(don't judge by points)?

Even Kagawa lost is confidence and forced to back pass a lot and turned to one of the useless players last night. But how fruitful he provided with teammates of Dortmund early this year was still vivid in memory. Why?

Watched Arsenal last night, you always can't stop wonder: why is that there were no quality in the market? Anyone will do in United now isn't it? We can't be worse.

Now any team will easily punish us in midfield and got a lot of chances to defeat us, let alone those toppers. And we must realize that SAF won't change, he still blamed the bad performance of teammates and couldn't figure out himself was a source problem, too.

Luck will run out. All fans need to self-constructed to face greater defeats this season.

Dear sir
for someone unnamed
ngiak is very impressed
to ngiak, you have just posted the BEST post of the season
gan

24 Sep 2012 00:07:59
I love ManUtd! Rafael's goal was a thing of beauty. We still need a good midfielder. Nani at 26 still dissapoints, Evra is nowhere near his three years ago quality so why don't we give Buttner chance. Giggs good but was lost in our midfield cos of age and lack of energy and pace...please some of the aged players should think of retiring to give the young blood who can play with vigour some chance to change our rhythm. A wise man once said ''it's only a fool that does the same thing always and expect a different result''. YOU TELL ME, DO YOU REALLY ENJOY OUR GAMES ANY LONGER? We keep struggling to win games every week. This is not good!

SAMFORD01

Mate it's only a few games into the season is rather us struggle now and still be second than struggle at the end and lose the title. We aren't playing well but were winning!
We will be playing better against spurs! Gaurantee!
Q