Manchester United Banter Archive March 11 2013

11 Mar 2013 20:11:34
There was a time when a certain section of fans would not have been sad to see the back of giggs After a testimonial against Celtic to celebrate ten years at the club he struggled in the 2001-02 campaign and it was then that this option first became apparent.

Alvaro Recoba of Inter Milan.

At the time Recoba was one of Europe's most mercurial and exciting talents. Just 25-years-old he was playing some of the best football of his career either as an attacking playmaker or from out wide on the left.

It was then that a long running transfer rumour regarding a swap between the two players first started.

It was a rumour that never seemed to fade away. After an abject performance against Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup semi-final of 2003 Giggs was booed off the pitch by a pocket of United fans. This again saw the Recoba option rear its head once again.

However Inter didn't want him with the club's then technical director Gabriele Oriali claiming extraordinarily that Recoba was a better player than the United star:

"In the future of Inter, there is not Giggs because Recoba is perhaps better than the Welshman. "

With his glorious technique and skill the Uruguayan remained a 'maybe' player. He suffered from severe knee injuries and battled with his weight and fitness throughout his career. There is little doubt that swapping the two would have been a huge error "
(Cut and pace)

That's just to add to a point myself and Redman made the other day,

11 Mar 2013 16:13:13
Just a thought, if man city came in for rooney would you consider selling him to them? and for what price?

maybe 15m + nasri?

I wouldn't touch Nasri, nowhere near as good as he was at Arsenal and his attitute stinks.
Plus he has one of those faces only his mother could love.

Simmo

I don't want Nasri here. I wouldn't want any of there players AT ALL.

Not in a million years would we except that offer

Seriously?

I would you take Silva and Aguero for Rooney and nani

Only if we could get a swap for aguero

Maybe aguerro and Silva, then we're talking!
Nomidfield

11 Mar 2013 14:53:33
Anyone know why lindergard wasn't in the squad yesterday, noticed he played for the u21 mid week

There is some question marks over Lindegaard. Since his poor performance he hasn't played or looked like playing. Not sure if there has been a rift or the manager just doesn't trust him, but I think he will be replaced in the summer. I would rather see Lindegaard replaced rather than DDG.

Sydney!

Agreed Syd, something has changed in the manager's eyes since that poor performance (can't remember against who). There have been a few cup games where I thought he would be involved but he never has been.

HBadger

Tbh the bloke has just had a kid and DDG has been great over that period and I think fergie saw wot happened when he kept changing keepers, no one could get any form going. So i'd say, he dropped lindgaard, DDG came back in performed well, helped us get 12 points clear, so why drop him for any game, the boy needs games more than any1 at our club, it doesn't always have to be a rift between players when they dnt play!
Chris the REDman

Begovic will probably replace him.

Chris the REDman

I don't think there has necessarily been a rift but I do believe Lindegaard would have started at least one game (probably cup) if everything was OK. I agree with your summary of events but feel the manager may have lost faith in his ability. Just speculation on my part. At the end of the day he sees him day in day out in traning and we don't, so only SAF will know.

I've seen a few posters suggest Begovic as our no. 2 now (Fresh! most recently) but would he really be willing to be a backup keeper? I don't know, I'm just asking - but if I was a 25 yr old keeper in top form I'd personally want to be playing week in week out to make a name for myself.

Thoughts?

I can't see begovic wanting to be no2 and I think ddg has the no 1 tied up

Agree with Badger, not sure why a keeper in his mid 20's playing regularly in the prem would come sit on the bench. Even at utd the bench is still the bench.

There is confirmed interest from United in Begovic and with Stoke buying Butland and Begovic saying he will leave in the summer you have to say he is likely to join us. I do not think he would join unless he has had assurances that he will be the number one next season. I think if United got a good enough offer for DDG they would accept it, but I think it's unlikely someone will pay close to what we paid for him. So I think DDG will stick around with Lindegaard making way for Begovic. I wouldn't mind seeing Begovic and DDG battle it out for the number one spot. Both are quality keepers.

Sydney!

Would thta not just knock Dave's confidence though? Have amore accomplished rival brought in.

Syd

You are way off the mark. DDg is not on the market and Begovic is not joining us as no2.

Shahram

Syd
which players wouldn't you sell
whats a good enough offer for ddg

Jred, I wouldn't sell DDG, I think I have made that very clear, however the editor has told us that Manchester United are not convinced or completely happy with the goalkeeping situation. He has also said that Begovic is very likely.

Sydney!

Shahram, I don't think I am, if the editor is to be believed then we are looking at Begovic as United are not happy with the goalkeeping sitch.

Off to bed now as I am on a promise, nighty night ;)

Sydney!

11 Mar 2013 13:50:56
So apparently Rooney has said he may leave? The plot thickens.

When RvP came on last night Rooney was shoved on the left. What happens when we buy a left winger? What happens if SAF gets his way and Lewandowski is signed? Where does Rooney fit in then? If Rooney isn't playing in his preferred position when the manager picks his best XI, then why wouldn't the club cash in on him rather than continue to pay a huge wage? It really doesn't matter what SAF says about Rooney until the summer, it doesn't benefit anyone at Manchester United to say he will be sold or he could be sold. It's what the club do in the summer that really matters. I think they will listen to offers for him.

Sydney!

That being said, I think finding a buyer will be difficult. Finding somewhere suitable for Rooney with someone willing to pay his fee and salary will be difficult. I think United will need to accept a fee lower than he is probably worth.

Sydney!

Really syd you've hardly mentioned it.

Do you still think we will sell
Ddg, evra, ferdy, vidic, scholes, Anderson, nani, lindergard, Hernandez
Have I missed anyone

That's the problem Syd, with Rooney's wages alone most clubs would not be in a position to pay them whilst trying to make their accounts look good for FIFA let alone on top of £35+ transfer fee. 'IF' Rooney leaves something will have to give and unfortunately any shortgivings will probably be picked up by United.

HBadger

I totally agree. I think Kagawa has a far superior weight of pass and is better in the whole than Rooney is. We won't spend £30 million on Rodriguez and leave him on the bench, that's for sure. Rooney could play on the right I suppose, but I think RVP might drift out there with Lewandowski up top.

Yes, I think all of them will be gone by August 2015. Although I hope Hernandez & DDG are still around. None of the above are certainties to be here past then.

Sydney!

HBadger, that is certainly a problem for the club if they do want to offload him in the summer. Clubs like Barcelona & RM won't want him and the other clubs that could afford him he probably will not want to join.

Fresh, exactly my point. At least you two have something constructive to say.

Sydney!

Funny post jred. Syd does tend to get a bee in his bonnet when he's made up his mind that a certain player is leaving! :)

HBadger

Putting RVP on the right is a bad idea because he'd have to track back and do more sprinting about, increasing the chance of injury

Fresh

Going back to your post about Kagawa having a far superior pass to Rooney anmd is better in the hole (i think that's what you meant but you put whole).
What team have you been watching this year, Kagawa has been terrible apart from the game last week.
The games have just passed him by without him even getting involved.
Yes maybe he will improve and we will see the best out of him next year but to compare his performances to Rooneys this year is absolutely absurd.
How the hell do you come to this conclusion, it really baffles me.

Simmo

Syd
Come on I'm only joking.
As I have said many times in the past,
I can't see Rooney moving abroad,
I can't see United wanting to sell to an English club
Just built dream house New kid on the way seems settled, I don't think he wants to move and I think the player not the club has the power these days.
If United want to sell I don't think they are in a strong position
1 there options are limited 2 as a team wanting to sell they will find it hard to drive a hard bargain so his transfer fee will be no where near what some are dreaming about
I also still think he's a top player 34 goals last year is good I would expect him to get 20 this year, not bad for a player who's had a poor season that has been interrupted by injuries.

I'm not going to argue any of them points as we have covered them far to many times before but that's why I don't think he will leave this summer.

Fresh
What has kagawa done for United to suggest he's better than Rooney. I'm not sure he has adapted to the EPL or fitted in to United's style yet.
I hope and think he will but so far he hasn't done enough for me to think " we can sell Rooney now we have kags" if you know what I mean

Jred, I agree with all of that. Like I have said I think Rooney is a top player, but feel we have probably seen the best of him physically. I think he peaked a long time ago and he is coming to the end of that peak now. I have also said that this would be the best time to sell Rooney money-wise, I wouldn't be surprised to see Rooney sold this summer, yet I too feel it would be difficult. The club would need to accept around £35m for him and probably pay Rooney £5m of that.

Sydney!

Syd
So who do you see him moving to

I think he'll probably stay but if he did go I can only really imagine him going to Chelsea or PSG.

It's difficult to see where he would go which is why he's more likely to stay. I think PSG is his most likely destination. Manchester is an hour flight from Paris so he wouldn't need to stay away for weeks on end. They would pay his salary and they would pay his fee. Bayern are meant to be interested, but I think they have their targets all planned out (Suarez & Falcao), if they do not pan out then I am sure somewhere along the way Rooney could be an option. Would he move there? Perhaps, but I think he would prefer Paris. Teams like Anzhi & Zenit are out of the question I'd imagine. He would jump at the chance of RM, but doubt they would want him. Same with Barcelona. I would say PSG or staying at United are his most likely outcomes.

Sydney!

Syd, you forgot to mention he's lost a yard of pace

AJH, I say what other people are thinking, you know I do not mind getting slaughtered ;)

Sydney!

All I can say is that I have been impressed with a lot of his link up play. Ultimatly he has been played out of position, yet he has still scored and threaded through countless excellent passes. It is testiment to his improvement that Rooney is playing on the left when RVP & Kagawa are on (for example against Chelsea). Kagawa will eventually keep Rooney out of the team, I'm sure of it.

Fresh
Really pal, out of position and still scored and threaded through countless excellent passes, what more assist and goals than Rooney
Rooney has had a poor season but kags has been worse.
I actually rate kagawa but come on how long did kags & Rvp play before he got subed.
Bandwagon?

11 Mar 2013 12:08:38
Does anyone have any ideas why valencias form gas dipped so much, he was our best player last season

I read he's had bad back trouble due to one leg being slightly longer which I assume is since his bad injury?

its a worry though mr consistent looks totally shot of confidence.

ms85

It is true about 1 leg being shorter than the other, and apparently he sometimes struggles with back pain especially in the morning, I think major surgery to rectify the problem would also end his career. I do believe we have tried different options like insoles in 1 boot etc but to what affect I don't know.

I'd assume that if the situation doesn't change then he could be sold sooner rather than later, which is a shame really because last season he was unbelievable

11 Mar 2013 09:26:13
It was a bad performance yesterday but i'm sure we will come back in the next game.
I know a lot of players had an off game yesterday but Tom Cleverley was shocking yesterday.
People might disagree with me but I cannot see what this kid brings to the team.
And don'y give me all this sh*t about him being youg and improving because if anthing he is going backwards.
He can't tackle, he never creates chances and very rarely scores goals. He just scutters around in the middle playing useless 5 yard passes making himself look busy. The amount of times Chelsea broke yesterday and he was caught out in the wrong position leaving Carrick and our back 4 exposed was untrue, this also wasn't helped by Patrice Evra contantly being 50 yards up the pitch at the Chelsea end when Chelsea were attacking. Even the good thing in Cleverley's game which is his 5 yard pass he couldn't do. If this kid is the future in the central midfield were are in the s*it. He isn't effective in any way shape or form.
I can only hope that Fergie goes out and buys a world class central midfielder next year which is what we have needed for the past 3 years now.
A decent left full back wouldn't go a miss as well.

Simmo

Cleverley was poor yesterday, he was clearly fatigued by the 60th minute and needed to be subbed. Sometimes I wonder what the manager is seeing because it seems so obvious to the rest of us. Young and Anderson would have changed that game. Everyone was poor yesterday, some just less poor than others. Cleverley, Rooney & Valencia were dreadful. I think Rafael was poor too.

Sydney!

Simmo

We've been asking for CM reinforcements for years mate, I've given up. It's not going to happen, SAF seems convinced we've got sufficient options there which we all know is bull - so the only reason can be, SAF is digging his heels in and being stubborn.

Carrick/Cleverly is simply not good enough for a club like MUFC. Carrick has had a great season but he has his flaws - Cleverly is a 'good' player and nothing more, regularly turning in below-par performances.

We had a great chance to blow Chelsea away yday and took our foot off the gas. We didn't need a replay, but now we're going to have to fit it in.

Not a disaster, although I suspect with nothing left to play for, Chelsea will go 100% at the Bridge and nick it.

RED_SKY

It has to change next year or we will get left behind. We have to keep improving the team because teams like City, Chelsea, Barca and Madrid will.
With Scholes gone, Giggs nearly 40, Fletcher will never come back and Anderson is a complete waste of space what options does it give us. I can't believe he doesn't see this, it's so fustrating.
All though Carrick has had a good season he will be knocking on for 32 next season and Cleverley just isn't good enough.

Simmo

Simmo

Agree with you re Carrick/Cleverly have always said Carrick is not good enough for us he never dominates games just is too slow for a top class midfielder. Yes he has had a good season but against top class and clever players he is always found out. Cleverly just is another not good enough for us another player never dominates and is too easily knocked off the ball. Really thought Anderson would have been brought on, I don't know what has happened to Valencia he is getting worse by each game. Finally on Rooney, I was watching MU TV last night (Rooney all the goals) and to see him play and score the goals he did for us in the early days was something else, the burst of pace and the sheer strength alone was a joy to watch. Now a days he just doest seem to be enjoying his football and is a shadow of his former self which is a pity.

Damian M

Simmo

I agree with everything you said and have always maintained Cleverly is good squad player and people like him are needed for a club who plays almost 50 games a year.

We need two new midfielders that can play in the bigger games and rotate the rest against lesser teams. Whilst I agree valencia was very poor but if you watch the game again there were so many instances, where he was up against 2 or 3 players with no united player in sight, and you have to wonder where was the support play.

We sat so deep that even we broke it was 3 united players against 5 chelsea players and even Ronaldo would struggle to get past ashley cole and support crew if he is isolated on the wing.

We lack pace and need some young pacy midfielders who can match guys like hazzard and matta. Credit where its due Matta was brilliant yesterday and too good for cleverly.

The good news is that Jones is back next week and we will have him in the return leg at chelsea and that will amke a big diffrenec. We also have reading and sunderland next in the league and 6 more points makes the city game a title decider if we win it even though mathematically they still would still have a chance but we are never going to lose 6 in row are we now?

Finally, no point harping about yesterday as it was poor performance by many players including rafael, rooney, evra shocker and thank god Evans and ferdinand saved the day or we would be out completely.

Shahram

Sydney
Appriciated your honest comment about all specially cleverlly

Rodio17

11 Mar 2013 11:47:38
The squad isn't as good as some have made out. Rafael and Cleverley were poor yesterday because they've played the majority of the games. We have no cover at right back. Playing centre backs like smalling and jones out of position isn't good enough. Beyond carrick and cleverley what do we have in midfield? Fletcher deserves applause for trying but was always going to break down. Scholes has declined. Anderson is so unfit its a joke. A dozen games a season isn't good enough. We need two signings in midfield. How many times this season have we seen teams pressure us high up the pitch and we have no answer. Mort

The club have looked at several midfielders since 2010. Oezil, Sneijder, Nasri, Witsel, Dembele to name a few, but not got any of them. I think this summer we need to concentrate on the midfield. I think Strootman is high on the manager's radar and he would make a great addition to the squad. Other than that we seem to be looking at Lewandowski and Rodriguez. Definitely three great additions if they can be signed, but if these are the signings and Rooney does stay put, then could he be moving to midfield earlier than planned? He would need to quicken up and not be so sloppy in possession, but would Strootman, Rooney, Cleverley, Powell, Carrick & Jones be sufficient midfielders?

Sydney!

11 Mar 2013 13:16:51
No Syd I don't think it would be enough. Strootman would be a great start but I think we'd need another in there as well. I have my doubts over rooney's ability to play centre midfield and at a risk of sounding like rainfish moving rooney to midfield would smack of a money saving dodge rather than signing a player. Mort

Mort, would tend to agree. Shoving Rooney out on the left yesterday is another indication that Rooney is surplus to requirements (so to speak) when the manager chooses his best XI. If we bought a Rodriguez (LW) & a Lewandowski, where would Rooney fit in then?

Sydney!

If that means Rooney is surplus to requirements what can you say about Hernandez and kagawa
People are obsessed with Rooney we have other players

So Fergie is consciously being stubborn about our centre midfield, because RED SKY and some others have been on this site pointing it out.

Apart from the fact he probably doesn't even know this site exists, never mind reads the comments on it, do you think he's won everything there is to win by listening to people on sites like this.

Talk about being full of your own self-importance. Have a read back and see how laughable some of the comments on this thread are.

We may think we're shaping the club's direction on here, but its a banter site - nothing more, nothing less.

I wonder how SAF has managed all this time without gleaning the views of posters on here!

What is it that happened yesterday yes we got bet because one midfileder isn't good enough to start the other is absolutly wore out the left back would be useless in the conference leagues let alone the premier united could do with 3 midfielder's and a left back in the summer with nobody going out apart from the retiring player's

No Name

Where did I say SAF was being stubborn because of this website? I, and many others, are more inclined to beleive he's stubborn in the face of the media and pundits.

Ask many pundits where MUFC are weak, the majority will give you the same answer they would have given you 4years ago - central midfield.

I, and others, have been banging the same boring drum for years on this site - and those sentiments are echoed both in the media (who SAF despises) and punditry (a lot of whom SAF has no time for).

It's far from ridiculous to suggest a notoriously stubborn, single-minded man like SAF would stick to his guns to try and prove the media and his critics wrong.

I would say the bulk of pundits agree with the theory that in CM, United are porous and very, very beatable if we have an off-day there.

And I also think those critics know a heck of a lot more about the game than an un-named jobber on the internet.

RED_SKY

No name, the difference is Kagawa and Hernandez are not on Rooney's salary. Rooney earns at least twice as much as both Kagawa & Hernandez put together, possibly three times the amount. If the manager feels he has seen the best of Rooney, then cashing in while the price is still high is a possibility. If Rooney isn't first choice in the manager's best XI, then why would the club pay him his salary?

If people look at this from a neutral point of view and not their Rooney loving point of view they may just see that Rooney is not the manager's first choice anymore and certainly won't be if a left winger and another striker is signed in the summer. If both RvP & Welbeck are being chosen ahead of Rooney now, then RvP & Lewandowski will be too as Lewandowski is a much better player than Welbeck. Then picture a left winger being signed like Rodriguez and then where does Rooney fit in?

Rooney as a squad player would be fine if he wasn't our highest paid player. You have to think not what you would do, but what the club would do. Is Rooney worth his salary if he isn't in the manager's best XI? Simple question and it should be an easy answer if you look at this neutrally. Also if he isn't in the manager's best XI, then wouldn't it be a good idea to replace him with someone who would make the manager's best XI? Someone like a top quality midfielder or winger?

Sydney!

Syd
So after 1 game your argument is now that Rooney is no longer first choice?
So your saying that welbeck is now first choice.

Do you think there is maybe just a small chance that your maybe not looking at it from a neutral point of view either

RED SKY, Simmo et al - your reactions to a draw against a top 4 club are embarrassing. Where have you been the last lot of weeks when everything has been going well?

12 points clear in the league not enough for you? An unlucky ECL exit, where our crap midfield was not over-run, and one bad half of football, and suddenly Fergie doesn't know sh!t?

Behave yourselves lads.

Maybe you're just annoyed you haven't had the chance to slag off Giggs and Fergie recently, and have been sitting by the keyboard, fingers poised, waiting for one blip.

Guys like you were saying we wouldn't win anything this season. Come back in May and spout all you want then if we throw away this lead. Otherwise, wait til the summer and see what happens transfer-wise.

RED SKY, I take everything you say with a pinch of salt anyway mate, since you stated you didn't want to watch Utd if Giggs and Scholes were playing.

Jred, I don't think Welbeck is first choice by any means, but RvP is first choice and if Lewandowski is signed then he will certainly be second choice. He is a top notch striker and he will play alongside or slightly ahead of RvP. I do not see Rooney playing left wing or right wing so that leaves midfield.

I know it's a squad game and if Rooney was getting a salary in line with what others in the team are getting then he would remain a squad player i'm sure, but will United pay him his very modest salary if he isn't first choice? Surely you can see it does ask questions. What I have been saying for months now is what most journalists are writing.

Sydney!

StevieK

Take a full shaker mate!

I was one of your 'agrees' on the post above by the way, seen as though you make good points.

I didn't/dont want to watch United with both Scholes/Giggs in the same midfield because the game passes them by - Giggs however has been pretty damn good to say the least in recent times.

I did indeed say we'd struggle with this midfield at the start of the season - I've been proven wrong. But whenever we do slip up, its usually when our midfield is over-run.

Been the case for a few seasons now, disagree with me all you like and with good reason, but you can't change the fact that our midfield has cost us numerous games/points over the last couple of seasons.

As have the GK, LB, etc. I accept that. I guess we've all got an area of the team that sticks out to us for criticism, for me, its the CM and has been for years. That's one thing I'm certain I've been consistent with in terms of my moaning, haha!

Do you think we've got strong midfield options, then? If so, fair enough.

RED_SKY

Syd
What most journalist are writing has been a direct result of Rooney not playing in 1 game, lazy journalism at its best, a few of the papers have actually all ready changed there story and are reporting United will offer him a new contract.

Just for the record I think fergy nearly said word for word what I've said a few times this year, Bobby Charlton echoed his words today as well pal

As for lewandowski well to be fair
1 we haven't even signed him and
2 if we do why will he certainly be a second choice, I think kags looked just as good as Lew last year and it hasn't really worked out for him so far.
I also don't see Lee as direct competition for roo but that's been discussed.
Rooney/rvp
Kags/rvp
Rvp/lew
Hard to pick for me and then when you add the fact we will prob play 1 up with 3 behind I would pick rvp not Lew as that 1 every time.
Rvp is good behind the striker but he is world class as the striker

RED SKY - think we all reckon it could be stronger mate, but no point getting too upset about it considering the position we're in - well clear in the league, two matches away from an FA cup final, and unfortunate to go out in the ECL against a team a lot of people believed, were streets ahead of us. Plenty of other clubs would love to have our 'problems'.

If the summer goes by without any reinforcements, then fair play, fill your boots with the criticism, because we'll be one down for definite with Scholes going, and possibly Ando too.

Do you know what tho? Even if he didn't buy anyone for CM, I still wouldn't bet against Fergie managing to make next season a success too - he has a knack of getting the best out what is available, and has created a work ethic and team spirit at our club, that seems to make even relatively average Utd teams, overachieve.

Didn't mean to be narky mate- the Giggs comment rankled with me a little, as I thought he was getting a lot of over-the-top abuse at the time, but glad to see you can appreciate the contribution he's made.

I wouldn't expect SAF to be truthful and say that Rooney is on the downward spiral. That wouldn't do anyone any good. It would certainly lower his price by a considerable amount. If you cast your mind back to April 2003, a certain SAF said reports about Beckham leaving are nonsense. "David will be a Manchester United player next season" Was he? In 2009 he said several times that Ronaldo isn't going anywhere. Where did he go? What the manager says can be taken with a pinch of salt. What you say is no more than a supporter trying to hold onto a player they love and wish could return to form. Problem is deep down you know that that WR is now gone.

Sydney!

Syd
Lol bit like evra last year.

Look pal you stick with what the papers and journalists think
I will come to my own conclusions which I think I explained further up the page. (the ones you agree with)

So while you keep listing reason after reason why we will sell Rooney, just remember why I said we probably won't ;)

Jred, the exact same reasons I have said it would be difficult to sell Rooney. That doesn't mean the manager isn't considering offloading him. I doubt it very much Evra would be here past this summer if we signed Baines last summer. I guess you think there was no Baines interest? Naive!

Sydney!

Syd
Again you are getting interest and concentrated attempt to sign a player mixed up.
You think we are going to sign ever player we are linked with
to believe everything you read in the paper and then call people naive lol

I'm off to work, enjoy your day

I don't believe everything I read in the paper, but I believe we wanted to sign Moura, RvP & Baines during the summer. The three names Bob Cass was given by SAF after his interview with him in South Africa. Sure Bob Cass could be a liar, but we know him and SAF have a good relationship and that Bob Cass is SAF's journalist of choice. Were we interested in buying RvP? Were we interested in buying Moura? So why is it so hard to believe we wanted to sign Baines? Arguably the 2nd best LB in the world.

Sydney!

Syd - even if Baines had been signed, I think Evra would still have been here. Buttner wouldn't have been signed and Pat and Baines would have shared the left back role, with Pat probably going the following season, and Fabio covering for Baines until he's ready. or not.

11 Mar 2013 08:40:59
Do I have this right. You can most of the time get away with it against lesser teams, but not against quality? Your examples shows 2 times you getting away with it against quality. Man City and Chelsea.

As a non united supporter I think you are so far from the mark mate and about as fickle as they come. Posting nonsense about your team not being good enough and your manager not being tactically astute enough. You've got to be having a laugh or your just the biggest pessimist I've ever come across. You guys are renowned for getting it done. Against everyone. Your manager is known for being the best in the business. You lose one game due to a decision, drop a 2 goal lead to a quality team in the FA Cup, without your strongest XI (and against close to ours) and you want to complain?

Your 12 points clear mate, buy a pack of tampons and stay off the computer for 3 days. Might help

Melbourne CFC

That was meant to be a reply to Mike, sorry.

Melbourne CFC

Good post and thank god for a mature and intelligent post from a rival fan as seeing teh scousers post dumb shot stuff is getting quited tiring.

Matta was superb yesterday and you guys were very good. Someone posted earlier in the week that we would win 4-1 and I though they were way off the mark and it was going to be close.

Shahram

Probably one of the poorest ever United performances that I can remember and we still should have been 3. 0 up by halftime. It just shows how far ahead of the rest we are that when we are playing poor, we still manage to score goals and carve out chances.

We need to get over this RM defeat quickly if we are to seal this league title. Luckily for us we are playing a side like Reading at OT next rather than someone like WBA or Swansea away.

Sydney!

11 Mar 2013 08:09:32
I love how 3 months ago a lot of people want David De Gea out. Well if it wasn't for this man we would have lost so many games. That save yesterday in stoppage time was absolutely world class! And I rarely say that.

He really has stepped up this season, and I truly hope we don't replace him in the summer.

But for the game, well the problem is the lack of tactical knowledge on the bench IMO. Once Hazard and Mikel came on all of the players carried on absorbing the pressure, Fergie or Phelan should have reacted, but they sat there and watch us literally get humiliated by Chelsea in the second half.

Why did we bring on RVP when the clear problem was the lack of energy in the midfield, Anderson should have came on to give us that little bit on energy to keep us in the game.

We didn't deserve the win yesterday, it pains me to say it but we didn't. Hope Fergie wakes up and gives a lot of the players a kick up the ass for the replay and better yet the Reading game, we don't want to be dropping points at this point of the season!

Yeah, that was a puzzling decision, it seems that saf does not want to over cram the midfield area and we are obsessed with playing with wingers. But sometimes, we need to forget about wingers and tighten up in midfield. Real and Chelsea games were good examples and last season Everton at OT when we were 4-2 up is another example.
Nomidfield

11 Mar 2013 06:19:53
Hi guys

Ok I have calmed down now but still seething on a whole regarding the last 2 home games.

People who read my posts on here know my feelings regarding Ferguson and Phelan. If you don't heres a little reminder. No Ferguson greed regarding a daft racehorses blood rights, No Glazers. Phelan couldn't coach a cub team.

On 2 occasions over the last week a coach has changed tactics and we have failed to track it. Hazard and Mikel yesterday. Modric during the week. And don't hark on to me about a rough sending off. McClaren dealt with a sending off in 99 etc. You change it quick and get messages on the pitch. We were too busy arguing with fourth officials and the manager was leading a chorus to the crowd.

We've been sussed and have ran out of ideas. We can't cope with the other team changing tactics, no plan B as it were

Examples: 2 nil up at Chelsea, they change tactics and we scrape a 3-2 against 9 men

2 nil up at City, they bring on Tevez, we hang on to score an injury time winner

2 nil up at home to Liverpool, they change it, Sturridge etc. Hang on for a 2-1

We can most of the time get away with it against the lesser teams, but not against quality. I hope to god none of you are naive enough to thing the Premiership is in the bag with 10 games left. We are beginning to see the results of arrogance towards strengthening an inept midfield at the business end of the season, the first two thirds mean nothing now it is this final third that matters.

Needs sorting quick because it seems to be falling into place for City looking at it from where I'm standing.

Mike

Mike, I'm in total agreement with everything you said there, our midfield is truly pathetic. Valencia has been rubbish all season yet he gets to play. Hernandez is a superb poacher, yet we never saw him against Real, preferring to bring on Rooney instead.
But as I've always said, it is our shocking tactics and reluctance to change our playing style during matches that has cost us.
Manager and no2 are to blame.
Nomidfield

Good to see you have calmed down and are in no way overreacting to a bad performance mike ;)

The way results are going for city is starting to remind me of last season, I've noticed we seem to have more of an idea when we fall behind as like you say we don't know how to hold a lead without panic setting in and I fear if it happens against city and chelsea we could end up losing those games, obviously we have a bigger lead than last season but I honestly think we could lose 3 remaining games minimum unless we sort out the problem.

phil

Totally agree. Shocking midfield no energy no pace ne creativity. We have somehow managed to go clear in the league but that is due to poor teams not us having a great team. We need 2 midfielders & another winger. Young never good enough. Valencia absolutely useless, 1 trick pony who has lost all confidence. Personally I would keep Nani although I know if frustrates. Cleverly not utd class for me, what does he actually do
Blackpool Red

Im a city fan just want to say it is nice to see a utd fan NOTcovering up the problems in your team.
BLUE MOON.

10 Mar 2013 23:45:52
I was sat watching the game today and I just thought 'imagine if cleverley was a top class box to box midfielder, we would be some team and winning this game easily'. He didn't perform well today, and I think he can be a good squad player, but as everybody has mentioned tons of times, we are missing that world class player in the middle of the park.

Carrick has surprised me this season, he is fantastic, it concerns me what he was doing for the last 4 years passing it sideways when he has through balls in his locker.

I think we made the wrong subs today, in fergies post match interview he said the centre midfielders and the full backs were dead on their feet. This was clear from 60 minutes so why the hell he didn't take one of them off and took off a fresh Hernandez is beyond me.

I also think when nani went off we should have brought on welbeck. That would have allowed us to stick to the 4-2-3-1 rather than the flat 4-4-2 we have to play when Valencia was there. Rafael had probably his first poor game of the season.

I am not going to call for players heads as some have done on here as its a little embarrassing. We know who the players are who are not in form but nobody will be sold until the summer so we need to back the lads and hope we can pull off an amazing double, which we have to admit is looking very tricky now, but if anyone can do it, we can.

Hopefully back to normal on here tomorrow with regulars posting rather than 70% no names.

Agree with you mate about Clevs being a good squad player. Against lesser opposition he can do a good job, but he is not good enough to be our primary midfielder.

Thats what I was saying yesterday gds.
Cleverly is nowhere near good for starting birth. Anderson is better among those 2.

Rodio17

Completely agree on the subs, strange decision

Very good post GDS.

I often think to myself - how good would we be with a quality, physical box-to-box player alongside Carrick to help us control games. Hopefully our wish will come true in the summer! Having said that I still rate Cleverly as a good, young, homegrown squad player and feel he should be kept on that basis for years to come.

HBadger