06 May 2013 00:37:06
SAF, you owe me two hours of my life back. One striker, with the never ever going to score Valencia and Anderson to back him up? We could have played for a week and not scored. Then the substitutions, which make even less sense. Today was one example of why SAF can be quite frustrating. A match like today was predictable from the moment the team sheet came out. There are these odd matches when SAF doesn't see what every person watching the match does. It was a terrible match for most of the players and for the referee, but I think SAF had the worst day of all. He put out a team that had no chance to succeed, and he didn't even get any youngsters involved despite putting out a formation that was never going to work. Five midfielders, not one of them can link up with RVP. MOTM for me was Anderson. Today was a perfect example of what he brings that no other CM on United can, which is his ability to turn a player and make piercing runs at the defenders. If there was more than one striker on the pitch (or anyone not named Antonio Valencia) he would have created far more chances. Good news is that once I saw the team sheets I knew it was going to be 1-0 Chelsea, so I made some decent money, and Chelsea's win makes Spurs less likely to make the CL, which may have been SAF purpose all along, as today's plan does not suggest he had any interest in winning the match. I know I'll get scolded for calling out SAF, but this happens every 5-6 matches, where he seems to be the only person on earth clueless as to why he's about to watch an underwhelming performance by his side. Today, SAF didn't give the boys even a chance at success. Trophy is won, so oh well, but if I'm going to take time out of my weekend to watch a match, the least he can do is remember to call me before kickoff and warn me not to waste my time. Hard luck to Rafael, that was nowhere near a red card. But you've earned your summer vacation kid, so go to a beach somewhere while we stumble across the finish line without much effort it appears.

1.) 06 May 2013
How the hell can you slag of Valencia and then give Anderson man of the match.
Why is everyone so quick to right of Toni and then continue to hold onto this dream that Anderson will suddenly become the greatest player ever for united. He is shocking, and is very far behind any player at united. He is a very poor professional that needs to get his priorities right. We can go on about his injuries and say well if he didn't get this and he didn't get that.
Poor old Valencia who gives his all to the club, and let's face it has been a very good servant for us, is slagged of. Well heres one for all you Anderson believers, what if Valencia hadn't snapped his leg in two? Maybe he would be an even more present member of squad that he most certainly contributes too. Far more than a lot of duds still at the club, from Anderson, Nani, Young, Cleverly and Welbeck.

aaallj5

2.) 06 May 2013
06 May 2013 01:52:11
What match where both of you watching Anderson and Valencia where going past the other player all day the team could not find the final ball

3.) 06 May 2013
Anderson played a number of wonderful passes and fantastic penetrating runs. Valencia just gave it away, albeit after running down the sideline and crossing nowhere near a United player. I'm not commenting on Anderson's professionalism, just his performance. As for Valencia, he can be useful when Rafael needs support and when there are at least two strikers who are in the six yard box. BUt now that Rafael has developed into a reliable defender, and since we rarely play with two actual strikers, Valencia is a completely misfit for the way the team plays now. He's a 4-4-2 winger who does nothing but cross the ball. Will never score goals regularly and I'm still in shock that someone can become a professional footballer without being able to pass the ball 10 yards with his weaker foot. Even Giggs will use his right foot in an emergency! Just a frustrating day all around, and quite predictable from the team selection and substitution decisions. Evra gets hurt and they send on Buttner for a midfielder!

4.) 06 May 2013
I agree with Bmac, both Valencia and Anderson were shocking.
Valencia cannot go pas this man, no pace, no Valencia, simple as that.
Anderson, suffice to say that he will never play in a top team midfield. But he's managed to be in ours, in and out for the past few years! How can a professional footballer in May, where he should be fit, run out of steam after 60 mins? He always looks unfit and to be honest, I'm really getting p. ed off with him playing at the expense of kagawa, Powell etc.
As for saf, agree with KG, the team, tactics, selection, substitutions, all made no sense at all. If we are going to give Chelsea the match, then we might as well give our younger players a chance. The whole thing was inept, from the manager to his players and the selection, tactics, or lack of it.
Before anyone starts saying that we have already won the league, I will tell you that firstly there were 75,000 people who travel led from all over the place to watch this dross, secondly, we can't just turn our form on and off, thirdly, Chelsea have beaten us three times this season, come to next season, they will be rubbing their hands with glee to play us as they know they can beat us. And lastly, this was our chance to knock them out of the CL spot for next season which would have been huge blow to them, instead, we let them off the hook. They'll now qualify and Mr abramovich has got his cheque book ready and mourinho is running there as we speak!
Nomidfield

5.) 06 May 2013
The reason people are saying that Anderson had a half decent game and was one of our best perforemers on the day - is because he seemed to be the only player in red who 1) dribbled the ball past players into space, and 2) played a number of forward thinking balls, both into feet and chipped out to the wing. Whilst we had 0 cutting edge in most areas of the pitch, Anderson did at least provide a bit of drive from midfield.

Not sure why so much hatred towards Ando - I still want him sold because I think he's injured too often. But I still like him and am able to recognise when he out performs a number of our other players.

6.) 06 May 2013
06 May 2013 12:05:02
I agree with the Badger. I think he's had too many chances and given his injury, fitness and weight issues this summer surely he has to go. He does look good when he plays, but his inability to complete 90 minutes is a major concern. He has a spell of three games where he reminds us of what he can do, then the shock to the system of actually playing means he twinges something and its another month on the sidelines. Its a massive shame as I like the guy and his style of play and there's no doubting his ability or talent. When we signed him and I had to youtube him I was so excited at the prospect. Also his first season was immense bossing the likes of fabregas and gerrard. My big worry is that we can't shift him come summer and we get another season of carrying him as a passenger in the squad through 75% of the season as we have yet another injury hit stop start mess. Shame as he does offer a lot to the midfield as he's the only one win can drive forward and run at players with the ball and replacing him won't be cheap. MrE