Manchester United Banter Archive December 27 2012

27 Dec 2012 19:55:14
I just don't understand why some people are having a go about yesterday, I mean, how could SAF put out a different side with the injury list we have? (Supposedly) Rooney, Young, Nani, Kagawa, Anderson, Rafael. Plus the players that are not 100%, Fletcher, Vidic, Jones, Cleverley and Big V. I can't see how we can put out a different team that would be more effective than the one yesterday?
One thing we defo need to sort out are our fitness coaches, since the Italian fella left our injuries have been atrocious.

Dishforth Red

I would have liked to see Powell, is he injured?

RedDub

I would like to see Petrucci and Powell given game time ahead of Giggs and Scholes now.... They have more to play for and will be chomping at the but to prove they are good enough.

Petrucci is still trying to regain full fitness from his last injury spell. If Petrucci didn't suffer his latest injury then he would have been in contention for playing for the first team as he is ahead of Tunnicliffe in progression. Powell maybe okay for tomorrow, but was ill for the Newcastle game.

Sydney!

Chomping at the but?

27 Dec 2012 19:25:38
Lets not beat around the bush yesterday was a disaster averted. What a terrible team selection by Ferguson who totally ignores the fact of how bad the team are with Scholes and Giggs together. As for Ferdinand he should spend less time twittering and more time concentrating on the game and what strikers are behind him. DDG seems determined to get himself a move back to Spain with some quite frankly dreadful keeping. When the Brand came on he made no difference at all and our result was down to Carrick who most of you haven't got the sense to see plays like that every game. It was Smalling's worst game. Evera once again showed without someone to cover for him like Young has been doing he is a disaster. Tony V where have you gone and who is that imposter wearing your shirt. Fergie if you are going to play Chicho you must give him a supply of balls played in front of him in the box and not to his feet outside the box. RVP was the quality i expect and want to see from someone wearing the shirt. Fergie was getting ready to blame the ref and linesman which is always his tactic when he gets it wrong. We should be putting teams like Newcastle to bed early but he did the same against Blackburn last year and it cost us the title. Our biggest threat to winning the title is Fergie's team selection. Oh and one more thing the crowd in the first half was pathetic. If you are going to turn up at OT stop taking photos and get behind the team. I AM KLOOT

I thought Carrick played his best football when 'The Brand' came on. I am sure Carrick was partly at fault for the first goal by passing to the wrong coloured shirt. It's funny that you bang on about Carrick doing the bits that get unnoticed, well try watching 'The Brand' a bit more because when he is on the field Carrick is able to be more offensive while Clevs does the 'unnoticed' bits, funnily enough unnoticed by you.

Sydney!

Agree with all of that apart from cleverly. I berated him on here for his performance at the weekend, but I thought he clearly changed the game when he came on. Surely you could see that the energy he brought changed the dynamic of the team compared o scholes' pedestrian football?

DodgyBanter

Yeah, cheer the lads on rather then spend the first 20 mins counting a player's missed passes cause you got the hump with them!

Criticising Fergie for Hernandez not getting good enough opportunities? He had 2 headers, within 8 yards of the goal, one opportunity when he took it around Krul.

Cleverley made no difference?

What a nopple!

Ports

Cleverley was class when he came on. You see what you want to see.

Percy

Thats a lot of slagging off , even by your high standards
jred

So Kloot, who exactly would you have played?

AJH

27 Dec 2012 20:04:33
The game changed when Cleverly came on. You shouldn't let your judgment be effected by your hatred of a player. It's very immature and quite frankly tedious. Anderson and Cleverly are our only shining lights in midfield this season, why are you so keen for them to fail?

Poor team selection you say Kloot? So you want Cleverley starting in the centre and Rooney in the hole? What exactly would you have done different?

This should be fun.

Sydney!

KLOOT, I don't disagree with you often, and Cleverley is by no means my favourite player, but I thought he gave us the impetus in midfield to go on and win the game.

StevieK

I must admit to browsing on this site from time to time. The best posts by far are from RFT

Puzzled

Apart from RVP, I disagree with pretty much everything in that post.

G.A.G.U.S

Why do you target De Gea?

27 Dec 2012 23:39:30
whats cleverley done to kloot? Never seen such consistent vitriol aimed at a player. Whats he do turn down an autograph request? Cut you up on the road? Hook and chuck your daughter? Its pathetic from someone of your supposed age.

You must have had too much sherry over Xmas KLOOT. Cleverley was awesome when he came on. He provides vitality, energy and is technically at a very high level. He's the one of the first 4 names on the teamsheet for me, together with Ando, Rafa and RVP. (if fit of course)
PerthDave

Strange, I seem to remember a time when you were slating carrick as not good enough and past it.
Nov00

27 Dec 2012 18:40:35
Alan Shearer as a pundit, why? He purports to be an expert but continually talks nonsense. Hansen and Lawro may be ex Liverpool but they tend to make sense. Shearer, not got a clue. Really don't get it.

AJH

27 Dec 2012 19:21:26
He's such an expert his one spell as a manager he took his beloved barcodes down and hasn't had the balls for a second go instead hiding behind Alan hanson on a sofa every Staurday.

27 Dec 2012 17:57:53
Evening gents, hope you all had a great Christmas topped off by yesterday's football. Just a couple of things I thought I'd share my opinion on:

SAF

I know some people are doubting him but for me, he's still the best, yesterday when he was on at the ref and the linesman for me showed the passion is still there but what I think it also does and did was fire the crowd up and also make the players want to play for him. Players are funny creatures, you see it when a team are struggling, they sack the manager, a new one comes in and suddenly results are going the right direction without the new manager having to change to many things. This is why Mourinho has been successful, because the players want to play for him and when the lads see the gaffer reacting like that this will/should fire them up. His comments about RVP and the Williams incident, maybe over the top but what must RVP feel knowing his boss wants to protect him and sings his praises like he has been? SAF gets players wanting to fight for him, which leads me on to my next point, teams are built on different things, Attacking strength, defensive strength, individual brilliance and team courage. The latter cannot be coached on the training field, it comes from the top and this is what SAF has installed at the club and in every team he builds, I don't believe any other team under any other manager would come back as many times as united have already done this season, I see people post we are United, we never die, this is because of the gaffer. I think out of the 4 things I mentioned we have 3 and need to work on the defensive side and with young talent like De Gea, Rafael, Smalling, Jones etc it will come, most solid defences are built on experience so this team will get there!

Carrick

Again, has is doubters but he is getting so much creditfor setting up the winner but he also put RVP in and Giggs with similar passes and deserves credit for setting up RVP for the equaliser, really pleased for the lad.

Team selection

I know it was frustrating for people seeing Giggs and Scholes start but I think SAF fealt without Tiote, Cabaye and Ben Arfa, we could get away with resting some players with the hectic schedule coming up and in the end, well we did :)

Lewandowski

People including myself want Ronaldo back and say Rooney, RVP and Ronaldo would be unstoppable, people also say we don't need Lewandowski but maybe Ronaldo is impossible so why not Rooney, Lewandowski, RVP wouldn't be bad or maybe as some people may be suggesting, Ronaldo, Lewandowski, RVP? Just a thought, just think if we can get a world class striker like Lewandowski for a decent price then why not?!

January

I think Strootman could be likely or Herrera (Mexican) either way be nice to strengthen CM. is it greedy to have both? :)

Well that's all I got to say on those matters, whatever people's views are, we are top by 7 and i would of bitten your arm off if someone offered me that at start of the season so we can all be happy.

Here's to a great 2013 guys, another treble perhaps :) (Actually maybe I've had to many trebles in the last few days!)

All the best guys,

Ports

Nice post ports

snakey

27 Dec 2012 16:55:33
syd
why do u think the rooney injury is a cover story
jred

Jred

There are people here who are saying that Rooney has had a terrible season. And then Syd says "the injury is just a cover up". People can't wait to sell him. Well we shall see.

It would never ever be a good deal if Rooney had to go and he was "replaced" with Lewandowski. Sorry but he hasn't done enough for me.

Deeps...

"It was a volley towards the end of training," said Ferguson.

"He did a ligament at the back of his knee and could be out for two to three weeks."

Rooney will miss Premier League matches against West Brom and Wigan, in addition to the FA Cup third round tie at West Ham on January 5.


"After his performance on Sunday I think he would have been brilliant today. You don't have two performances like he did on Sunday," said Ferguson.

"Unfortunately we couldn't risk him."

doesnt really sound like fergy dropped him
and you would have to wonder why fergy would drop a player during the busiest part of the season when we all ready have a number of injuries and then try to cover up the very fact he dropped him
jred

Cover up sounds like one of the stupidest things I've heard in a long time. The manager is going to risk 5 games in that time frame that may cost us the league and knock us out of the FA Cup, no way. Rooney maybe sold in the summer who knows but to not play him for 3 weeks out of spite is madness.

Rooney has a poor game, 2nd to every ball, wayward passing. The manager hauls him off the field and Rooney makes a point of publicly disagreeing with the manager about the RvP/Williams incident. After I seen that I questioned on here whether or not Rooney will be dropped for the Newcastle game. I think there is far more to this 'injury' that meets the eye. I think Rooney is perfectly fine albeit slightly out of shape which showed in the Swansea game. IMO the manager has dropped him. I think they have had a little bust up and the manager has left him out. I hope he returns fit and fresh for the Liverpool game, but I do think something very fishy is going on.

Sydney!

Syd
or rooney has a poor game , admits that himself and the picks up a slight injury in training
as for him not being fit well he looked pretty fit against city and how would missing training and matches improve his fitness
why drop him and then cover up his been dropped
why drop him when we all ready have a number of injuries and so many games
imo it makes a lot more sense his simply got a slight injury.

rooney had bad game , fergy said he had a poor game, rooney admitted he had a bad game it happens

but i suppose making out his dropped and something fishy is going on ties in better to the we will sell rooney theory
jred

I dont think rooney is injured i personally think he still overweight and could do with this 2 weeks to sort himself out people may not think he needs it but for me he has probs had 2-3 good games this seasonand apart from that he has been average this break could give him a kick up the arse he needs and hopefully he will kick us on in 2nd half of the season

Calvin

No name, it wouldn't be the first time the manager cut off his nose to spite his face. I don't think Rooney will miss five games, I think he will be back in a couple games. Perhaps the manager wants to see how the team copes without him. Personally I think he has had another bust up with the manager. That is just my opinion.

Sydney!

Calvin, couldn't agree more.

Sydney!

Calvin
so his out of shape and over weight
then how the hell is 2 weeks of going to help

jred

Jred, not rocket science mate, plenty of work in the gym. Him staying off of the booze and fags and mince pies. Naturally Rooney is a fat man. Without football he would be a porker. He could put on half a stone in one week. I think the manager has told him to get his act together, it's certainly not the first time is it.

Sydney!

Syd
no pal you get fit on the training field pal and playing.

do you honestly think fergy and rooney have had a massive bust up and there has not been a single report about it

fergy has dropped rooney and others for various reasons before but listen to fergy and rooney they are both saying the same thing

with the injuries we have the amount of games we have it would have to be something big for rooney to be dropped for 2/3 weeks

also rooney covered the miles against city and looked fit
for me he just had a bad game he has said himself it was one of his worse

i think its far more likely his injured
jred

It may not but one thing for certain it could help mentally this is the perfect time for fergie to do this we have kagawa coming back and to be quite honest we should be able to get past west brom wigan and west hame without rooney!i can guarantee u rooney will be fit and ready for the liverpool for me personally this is the best time for rooney to get himself together

Calvin

You believe what you want to believe and I will believe what I want to believe pal :)

Sydney!

Calvin, I couldn't agree more.

Sydney!

Ooh, I love conspiracies. I think Rooney was kidnapped by aliens who force fed him turkey and stuffing causing him to put 2 stone on. They sent him back and kidnapped SAF replacing him with a maniac who harangues linesmen. Their next step is to kidnap Nani and replace him with someone who can actually take a corner...

AJH

Calvin
if his not playing well and overweight as you say surely the best thing would be hard training and games to get match sharp,
i think it is far more likely that rooney had a bad game against Swansea and picked up an injury in training than some big conspiracy
you may be right but i think there is just as much chance that he is simple injured.
with rooney being so high profile do you not think it a bit strange that there has not been a single report of a bust up with fergy
i think fergys quote of
"After his performance on Sunday I think he would have been brilliant today. You don't have two performances like he did on Sunday,"
makes a lot more sense than either yours or syds theories
jred

I have never once said he has had a bust up with fergie my opinion is this a mutual understanding that fergie has had a word with rooney and this is his conclusion that he beleaves with a little break for rooney this could work wonders for the buisness end of the season and like i will say again if we cant get past west brom wigan and west ham without 1 player then im sorry we dont deserve to win the league.fergie is very very clever when it comes to the press last week he makes a meal of that kick to rvp but if he wouldnt of sed n e thing then all the press would of had on that back of the papers is how poor rooney played which potentially could of been damaging for rooney and the team.either way injured or not this is perfect for rooney to really push us on and wot a way it would be startng with liverpool

Calvin

Calvin
i dont agree with any of that to be honest
but to be fair you might well be right , for all i know
jred

Calvin, i would not be so quick to tally up points in those games. West Brom are a difficult team and depending on our line up it will be a tough game and they are a lot harder to break down if we fall behind. Wigan is bogey team for lots of top teams and away will be a handful so will west ham.

Shahram

I don't think there is any major conspiracy going on. I think the manager has told Rooney to take a break and get his sh1t together in time for the Liverpool game. It wouldn't be the first time this has happened. For obvious reasons I think it's easier saying he has an injury than saying he has been dropped. He may well injured, but I think it's highly coincidental and IMO unlikely.

Sydney!

Interesting reading all the different views on Lewandowski and Rooney theories.

I think Lewandowski in a united set up would be deadly with RVP and Kagawa in the hole.

The Wayne Rooney fans don't need to worry, he is not getting sold as most people out there are seeing the same thing some people see here, he is past his prime and no one will pay stupid money fro him and if an offer comes in, on his current performance 40 million might be pushing it, and we will not sell him for that sort of money.

The reality is that he will probably end the season with about 15 goals in the league and that my friends is sh..it for a supposedly 50 million striker.

However going forward, we would be mad to bank on him and picking up Lewandowski is a no brainer especially if the reported fee is true.


Shahram

Sydney
lol yer as always your right, fergy thinks the best thing for Rooney is no training no games to get his form back

5 goals in his previous 3 gAmes I'm sure fergy thinks " he needs to get his rubbish together "

so..let's ignore fergy saying Rooney is injured or the fact that fergy has said Rooney is the type of player who needs to be playing week in week out or that Rooney has said his gutted about the injury as he wanted to get the last game out of his head
or that the press haven't got..a whiff of it or that with so many games and injuries it makes no sense to drop him

no let's just blow 1 bad game out of proportion ignore the fact he scored 5 in the previous 3 and ignore all the above

last year it was evra this year it looks like it's Rooney you will be flagging off.

strange thing is I don't remember you slagging Rooney of last year with " his not fit, his over weight his lost his pace "
in fact I don't think it started until you started posting about selling him , must just be a coincidence

sharham
the only people on here who say Rooney is worth 50 mill are the ones who want to sell him and play fifa with the money
and don't forget top scorer in the league last year

have a good day I'm off for a pint
jred

Jred so what is your point and what is he worth.

You believe he is a world class player from what I have read on this site, do you think he is having a good season?

BTW, I thought he was rubbish last year too and yes definitely sell him while you can get good value as he will be worse in 12 to 24 months.

Shahram

27 Dec 2012 16:21:30
Bebe's gone out on loan, what ever will we do ? Jokes aside I hope it does him some good. You never know we might be able to sell him on afterwards.
sparky

Where have you heard this?

DodgyBanter

He's away to Rio Ave.

Thomas.

There are quite a few 'respectable' sites reporting this DB.

GDS

DB - He has gone to Rio Ave in Portugal.

Cheers guys, i wrote this and then search t'interweb only to find that it was plastered everywhere!

Hope he gets a run of games without injury and really shows what if he can do.. if only to increase his resale value!

DodgyBanter

27 Dec 2012 13:54:00
Jono

I don't understand where he made a mistake against City? I think you are wrong about the assumption that his price tag is why he gets so much backing. For a 22 year old, his talent is exceptional. Shot stopping is not a problem, crosses are a little wobbly, but it will be drilled out of him because he is young. Reina still punches because he grew up in the Spanish game. De Gea is growing up in the English game and the crosses will eventually become second nature to him.

I asked you something a few weeks back and you never answered. When Joe Hart was 22, did you think he would be a top class goalkeeper?

G.A.G.U.S

Anyone who thinks DDG made a mistake at City should be smacked on the head repeatedly. He made a world class double save and was extremely lucky to see the ball go back to Tevez who squared for Toure to score.

People also blame him for the tap in Michu scored; the initial shot was smashed him at from point blank range. Most keepers would not have reacted to keep that out.

The "best keeper in the world" Joe Hart would not even have got to the ball, just like he didn't at Sunderland.

DDG will now be working very hard on saving the ball out into non dangerous areas. He is still learning and will no doubt swiftly improve in this area.

Give the kid a break, he is on the path to stardom!

DodgyBanter

27 Dec 2012 16:45:08
its something else that can be laid at the door of the midfield. As its so weak everyone's dropping deep as the midfield is over ran. We're not closing down teams and its inviting them to have a go from range due to the perceived idea from last season that de gea is weak at shots from distance. He's making good saves but the defence isn't reacting as fast as de gea does. Perch should have been closed down much quicker.

G.A.G.U.S.

Sorry mate I never seen that question previously.

In all honesty at 22 Hart was on the way to establishing himself After a loan at Birmingham and around 50 games for city. He then came back and played all the time since. The difference is Hart has learned his trade in the English league. The Birmingham loan was no doubt the big learning curve for him to fully establish himself at 22-23 and become England's no1. So although you maybe couldnt say at that time he was definitely going to be world class you certainly couldn't discount it. The same as DDG but I wouldn't say DDG is any better at his age and yet DDG has had first team exp in La Liga and a year in the prem!

Now DDZ has learned his trade in Spain, a far different league in terms of what's needed in players all over the park. I have seen a programme before on Casillas and his training through the youth teams and even back then they were teaching them to punch instead of catch but not to release the pressure on the defence but to instigate attacks. That's all fine and dandy when as a keeper your punches are able to do that, DDG doesn't have the strength to punch it through players to make this a possibility. His distribution from his feet is far better so he should be focusing on catching to distribute accurately with throws or kicks like big Pete.

I would hope the palming out will be getting coached out of him but those early years of shot stopping and palming it out are things that tick with keepers like Casillas who still does it so the coaching might well not work. Plus you would have thought the coaching would focus on the mistakes in players games but Nani and Evra are prime examples of this not being the case!

With DDG and comparison with Hart IMO hart at 22 was by far a better suited keeper to the EPL than DDG is. It's like I have always said instinct is the biggest part of a keepers game and in the EPL you need to be brave, commanding, good at organising as well as a good shot stopper. Without those instinctive areas covered there will always be mistakes. Look at foster, a good shot stopper yet indecision would always cost him as well as communication.

With DDG there are far,far to many on here with the attitude that he is guaranteed to become world class when we should all know that nothing is a given. I'm sure we all thought Veron would work or barthez would replace big Pete brilliantly but look what happened.

Who knows I might end up with egg on my face and DDG goes on to be classed as a great keeper who gives Utd 10 years of his career but I fail to see that on both accounts and think we should have a far more established keeper now never mind one that might become great.

I don't think he will adapt and on top if he does have a hankering for home in the back of his mind then he may not want to as his game will be less suited to going back.

Mate for me at 22 you should be on loan gaining the stripes as a keeper ie like hart not having played for Bilbao,and Utd for three years and still be at the learning stage with so much still questioned about his game. IMO for him to be world class he has loads to work on and IMO his personality and demeanour don't inspire me with confidence he will make it to the top.

I think his backing is because of the price tag and his age as that allows for many on here to say oh well he is young, he is learning when he f**ks up where as Linders gets slated as he is older and didn't come with the hype of replacing VDS. That in my eyes is the reasons.

Against city his save lands at the strikers feet, same as v Swansea same as Newcastle so just because he saved the second shot v city doesn't mean it's not a mistake mate. It's a reoccurring theme that has happened three times in recent weeks twice of which has cost us goals now blame the defence aswell as they are allowing the shots but the keepers just as culpable IMO as the defence can't be blamed for not expecting it to land at the strikers feet again and react in time. Did you see rio in Newcastle game? He was livid with DDG after that mistake and IMO rightly so!

No name

You can't say one keeper would save a shot another didn't as its all guess work. Irrellivent Of whether they are world class or not doesn't make it certain a keeper will save a shot or not. Look at mignolet or begovic or vorm who are far from world class but can produce some Worldly saves. So what! Does it matter if those saves still end up in the net as the ball is palmed to the striker?

Didn't think so!

That's why it was still a mistake v city, one that he redeemed as he saved the second but didn't v Swansea or Newcastle. As I have said its a reoccurring theme that's not good enough for a 1 supposedly world class talent and 2 a Utd No1 coming into the business end of the season!

Dodgy

He has been here 18 months mate and is still not convincing on crosses, I wouldn't expect this problem to go away instantly but lets hope it does.

Jono

On Joe Hart, not exactly covering himself in glory lately is he...but it doesn't mean he isn't a class keeper. DDG is young and still learning, unfortunately at OT, every minor mistake is magnified. He has still saved us far more goals than he has cost us...if you see what I mean.

AJH

But Jono, the save against City was a reaction save. How is he supposed to divert it away from goal when the ball is almost under his body? It was a top save and not a mistake, no matter what way you try to spin it.

When Hart was 22, he was only going on loan to Birmingham so he hadn't finished his loan. City bought Shay Given tor replace Hart, but because of his loan spell, he forced him out of the team. He was far from world class when he went to Birmingham. DDG is better than he was then.

DDG is learning the English way and that requires patience from the coaching staff and the players. If you thought DDG would come in straight away and make world class saves every game and collect every cross coming his way with ease, then of course you'd be annoyed. But I watched De Gea for a year before we signed him and I was convinced he was the man to replace Van Der Sar. He has come in to replace one of the greats, and is only 22. All the best goalkeepers in the world are 27, 28, 29. He is outstanding for his age. Nobody better at that age.

You talked about Rene Adler. Where is he now? Leverkusen sold him to Hamburg I think? Says a lot doesn't it? Leno is nothing special, and he was pushed out by him.

I have faith in De Gea and I am convinced that in the future, most people will be putting him in there world XI. You don't even notice the smaller things like he's talking more to his defence, he gets more angry with them, he stand up bigger on one on ones. His dealing with crosses has improved. Compared to the start of last season, he is much better. As time goes on, you'll see more and more of this. He's a massive talent and I wouldn't swap him for anyone.

G.A.G.U.S

G.A.G.U.S

He was 22 the April before he went in loan so at 22 for the season he showed enough in that year that he was the main man. If we had another established keeper like given at the club I don't think we would have went for DDG never mind proving himself on a loan.

As I said hart was not world class at 22 going on loan but showed enough in that hard season, with a hell of allot more to do than a city or Utd keeper, that he was able to it. DDG has far from convinced me in 18 months in our first team with our standard defence in front of him (although the chopping and changing wont have helped). The problem is after 18 months he is still not actively trying to catch is he? He still is trying the punches and still not commanding. He is shouting in himself. He shouts out but does nothing to command or hold authority of what should be his box. He should be screaming at Evra like rio was or anyone else making the mistakes. 22 or not he is playing for Utds first team so he is deemed good enough to be there and so should be good enough to do those things. Don't give me the language thing as anyone can learn the basic football grasp of common tongue in a week or so never mind 18 months!

If as you said you followed him in the lead up to his transfer then you will notice how much protection all keepers get in Spain, something not afforded to them over here. That, his punching and bravery were all concerns of mine yet 18 months on he is still far from convincing in all areas. The getting bigger at one on ones I haven't seen mate as I dont think he has had to deal with many in the last few games so can't comment.

Compared to the start of last season he almost couldn't fail to improve so from that you are correct but is he up to the standard of a convincing No1? Not IMO.

Age shouldn't come into it mate unless you are considering range of exp. hart and DDG have had the same amount of games roughly after his loan he had around 150 games at just turned 23, DDg by the end of this season will be around the same at 22 and a half. Difference is as I have said hart has the instincts for this league DDG IMO doesn't so at 22/23 Hart was good enough to oust Given as well as hold off the massive spending buying an established 'big name' keeper, DDG is still learning IMO at a very slow pace and has some concerns over a fair few areas including his possible want for a return home.

IMO he was the wrong choice and I'm still waiting to be convinced otherwise.

Adler moved to hamburg on a free this summer mate and so far has 6 clean sheets out of 15 games I think. He has the fourth best conceding record behind Bayern, Dortmund and Freiburg keepers and he has all that with that donkey manncienne playing in front of him.

Still would be my choice.

I hope DDG does prove me wrong mate but I will continue to point out my perceived mistakes in his game like so many were doing to Linders earlier this year.

That's only fair IMO ;-)

Jono

But Jono, it wasn't a mistake against City ;)

G.A.G.U.S

Maybe...

But I think it was ;-)

Jono

It wasn't.

Kuala

27 Dec 2012 13:26:53
We all know rooney will be out for a few weeks, knee injury.

I would like to see kagawa now given a chance behind the striker( his best position) but he is also injured.

When is he back? Will he make bench for WBA game?

Cheers


JohnTheRedMaroon97

27 Dec 2012 11:48:48
Any news on anderson anyone ?

maybe bench against wigan!

Big v

27 Dec 2012 11:20:26
What happened to Rafael. Hasn't played for last two matches. Is he injured? Any news about him.

Red Devil

I believe he has a hamstring injury if it isnt a smokescreen for his rather crap game the other day

Pardoe

27 Dec 2012 11:01:25
Ed how good are tribal football for transfer news

If lewandowski is true surely one of the forwards will have to leave !

Any other targets you know anything about like a cm joining mufc

Big V {Ed001's Note - tribal just reprint news stories from newspapers etc. So they are as good as the newspapers are.}

27 Dec 2012 11:47:55
So for me then this news isnt true !

I personally want to keep our front line as it is !

we only need a fit defensive type midfeilder at the moment!

Maybe jones will play there!

Please people notice what fergie has said and we wont be buying anyone in january !

Unless our hand is forced!

B.v

27 Dec 2012 10:29:10
If we have actually bagged Lewandowski, I'm very so as to how we will play ?

Does that mean either of Rooney or Hernandez are sold ?

Hernandez is a very good striker, people say he misses so many oppurtunities, but he is the reason why oppurtunities are created, he is always at the right place and is very very quick.

It would be sad if we are to sell him. He'll score 40+ goals if he goes to barcelona and realmadrid, and you hardly see chicharito in the media being angry at limited oppurtunities like berba was.

Selling Rooney ? Very much possible, but highly doubt it.

Welbeck, Macheda, Henriquez, W. Keane. Mame diouf whom we sold recently has been a good signing for hamburg, 12 goals for 23 games isn't bad at all, and german league is good enough.

I wish we had the same situation with our midfielders,

we HAVE the best striking force in whole of europe in terms of players, and in terms of reserves.

Rahn

27 Dec 2012 10:00:59
With Rooney missing, RVP had his best game of the season , playing in his best position,just off the main striker. When Wayne is fit i'd like to see him revert to a main striker roll with RVP playing just behind him in the position he will eventually have to play next season if reports regarding Lewandowski are true .
Raffa

I think we could be seeing Lewandowski as the main striker with RvP just behind. What becomes of Rooney? Midfield? Sold? Should be an interesting summer regardless.

Sydney!

Syd.
I have started to believe that we are shifting to 4-3-3 next season.
Lewandowski at center while rvp at lef forwad cum wing role.. Same with rooney to the right.
They both work hard in defending as well.
Ao this formation can actually work if lewandowski arrives.
Sso while attcking its 5 and while defending its 8 to 9 player in own half.
Sounds quite solid.

Rodio17
So no1 has to leave. Welbback and chicha can all rotate with young a second options.

27 Dec 2012 12:11:20
i can't see him in midfield he loses the ball too easily. He tries to be an imitation of scholes thinking he's a ball pinger but more often than not he's more like gerrard hitting hollywood balls that don't come off. Sure he runs around a lot but no he's just not a midfielder. I maintain his best position is an out and out striker. With valencia out wide, van persie just behind and a proper threat from out left he'd bag loads. I'm still not convinced on lewandowski. Every game i've seen he hasn't really impressed but i'm probably always catching the bad ones. But i'm not convinced we're in for him. I think its part lazy media and part agent antics. I can't see the need for yet another striker when we're getting desperate for a quality midfielder. I think he'd be good value for money at the prices talked about, if we are in for him. But it does point to a departure. Wont be Robin. Hope to god its not the pea. And i doubt its Welbeck as he's still a work in progress and has struggled out wide. It only leaves Rooney. Would it be Fergies revenge for the contract? Glazernomics? Would it be a mistake? I certainly hope we don't drop him back into midfield through some folly of ego thinking he could do it for a full season as to me that would just be yet another dodge to buying a quality midfielder. Mort

27 Dec 2012 08:26:20
7 points but far from convincing

Usually at this time of year we watch the Great Escape on TV rather than the football pitch but still we dug out three points. I know Ferguson says it is Champions form but how long can we keep dodging the bullet and keep playing our get out of jail card?

Great result , made even better by City's loss but we are far from convincing and given Chelsea's dug out result yesterday we would be foolhardy to write them off.

The nature of the game and result has to an extent hidden the managers stubborn streak in his team selection. The fact that Vidic is feeling something in his knee is very concerning, but why bring Rio back in? Then the absolutely steaming obvious howler of Scholes and Giggs is now beyond belief and it appears the manager is determined to prove he is right regardless of whether it puts the result at risk, which it did yesterday.

We are at the halfway point and I would have taken a 7 point advantage at this time but I can't help think that our poor ball retention, indecisive left back and sluggish midfield will not win us the title this year. I look back at when we have had big leads in the past but we had a better team then, right now we are winning but by the skin of our teeth but winning non the less. We are being driven by our managers determination and that is a key part but his blind spot with the three oldest players could easily catch up with us come May. Our major competitors are not making decisions based on sentiment for their old players, they want young hungry talent, something Ferguson always eulogised about in the past yet now goes with three very old players. Basically the stubborn "will not be beaten streak" in the manager that manifests in chasing a game like yesterday also gives us his refusal to be wrong about the geriatrics. It is Fergusons nature and on balance it has generally given us more wins than losses however the perseverance with the geriatrics this season is more risky than ever before.

Red Man

The 'geriatrics' were playing due to squad rotation. Powell and Anderson are injured and Cleverley cannot play 90 minutes in every game during this busy schedule. So I can understand why the old guard played, however we should have done better to replace Scholes a few year's ago IMO.

Didn't know Vidic had a pain in his knee, very worrying.

Sydney!

Agree totally regards scholes, but to say cleverley cant play 90 mins due to busy schedule, load of s***e, players should be able play all time at his age, you dont see likes of Toure and plenty others "rested"

So you think it's a good idea to play Cleverley for three whole games in six days when we only have Giggs, Scholes, Cleverley & Carrick fit for central midfield? Not just that, Cleverley played in the Olympics and we do not want him to get burned out like Wilshere did the season before last.

If Yaya was given rests then perhaps he would be playing better this season. Yes he gets crucial goals, but he has been lacking in midfield this season compared to previous years.

Sydney!

Sydney

On Sunday Ryan Tunnicliffe is 20 years old, yesterday he is only deemed good enough for the bench behind two geriatrics in a home game against a thoroughly depleted Newcastle team without so many key players. The geriatrics are playing at Fergusons choice because he is lacking the conviction of giving youth like Ryan Tunnicliffe a chance, unless they just are not good enough. If they are not good enough then questions need to be asked of our youth and reserve set up.

Ferguson referred to soreness in relation to Vidic, that gives cause for concern until Vidic has played say 10 games without problem

Red Man

Red Man, there is a difference between not yet good enough and never going to be good enough. SAF clearly feels Tunnicliffe isn't yet ready. I tend to agree and feel Tunnicliffe needs to work on his passing and will need a couple loans to sharpen up, still a rough diamond IMO. Powell would have played if fit.

Sydney!

If Giggs and Scholes are given contract extensions, which I expect, wave goodbye to 1,2 or even 3 youngsters in the summer.

I for one wouldn't blame them either.

RED_SKY

Sydney

So you would prefer to play Giggs and Scholes well past their best, rather than give a chance to a young player? Manchester United has been built on giving people a chance, young people. If at 20 Tunnicliffe is not ready then some responsibility lays with the manager for not getting him ready. Sometimes you have to throw them in and see what happens, sink or swim, but not to have faith in any of them is so very damning on every single one of their talents.

Red Man

Red Man, age is irrelevant. It's to do with when the player is ready. Or more to the point when the manager deems them ready. Powell is 18 and he plays, Jones was playing at 19, Smalling at 20, twins at 18. The manager isn't afraid to play players WHEN they are ready. I do not think Tunnicliffe is ready. He really does need a loan or two mate.

Petrucci on the other hand is ready, I would hope to see him playing by the beginning of next season.

Sydney!

Sydney

Please answer my question , would you really rather watch Scholes and Giggs become increasingly embarrassing with their levels of performance rather than a player like Tunnicliffe having a go first and bringing the experience on later. Add to that there is only one person responsible for us having to rely on the geriatrics.

I would rather have seen Tunnicliffe given a chance than the geriatrics again, even Fletcher at the level he is, but our manager has become dangerously sentimental

Red Man

I would prefer to see Petrucci chucked in ahead of the elders, I don't think Tunners is ready. One bad game and it would probably ruin his progression, certainly delay it.

Sydney!

Sydney

One bad game spoil his progression , first, what progression he isn't getting any. Secondly to be a United player you need the mental side, if he doesn't have it he won't make it even he goes on loan.

If we or more accurately Ferguson is too scared to give him a start in these circumstances then i seriously start to doubt that he will make it.

Birigimana played for Newcastle at 19 yesterday but our manager doesn't feel our now very nearly 20 year old isnt ready. Something isn't right

Red Man

Also why assume Tunnicliffe would have a bad game, why not take a positive view that he could show he is a Manchester United player. Your post shows Fergusons mentality as it is now rather than when he made United successful

Red Man

Red Man, the young lad only played the other day because Newcastle have been hit hard by injuries and don't have the squad to cope. Thankfully we're not in that position.

StevieK

So Stevie you say we are not in "that" position?
You mean the one where we play a 38 & 39 year old so far past their best it is ridiculous?

Red Man

27 Dec 2012 05:44:53
I feel that Carricks criticism of playing ball more sideways and backpasses was the thing when he had a more than 90% of pass completion rate... and more so ever when Kagawa joined even he spoke that Utd tend to play ball more sideways has prompted him to play ball more forward... I feel presence of Cleverley has impacted his playing as he makes runs which Scholes cant now because of his Old legs.. so it allows him to play ball more forward now...

Shaun

27 Dec 2012 01:10:27
Crikey, it seems it all got a bit feisty on here tonight. Today showed what we are as a club. We never give up. The result was a massive one, especially added to the City result, but let there be no doubt that today showed that SAF needs to bring in more bodies for the midfield. IMO, had we played someone like Powell or even Tunnicliffe in the centre with Carrick today we would have shown more energy and possibly not gotten into the mess we were in at one point. Playing Giggs, Scholes and Ferdinand means that we play far too deep due to a fear of players running in behind and what happens? We allow the opposition to get within 25 yards and have a dig. We need to start playing further up the pitch. However we did win and it was a typical United comeback so lets enjoy it.

TK-Red

Yes, me included. A bit too much plonk! I hate it when people are rude...and there I was being rude. Hey ho, I apologised and will be a good boy!

AJH

27 Dec 2012 00:46:25
Just wondering where are some of the regular posters gone? Mainly aimed at Gan and Jenny. I miss Gan's 3rd person replies!

-JakeW

Gan went back to his mental institute and jenny is probably too busy in the kitchen =)

JK92

Haha great reply JK92 ;)

-JakeW