Manchester United Banter Archive January 13 2013

13 Jan 2013 22:51:45
Peter Schmeichel arguably the best keeper ever just said it wasnt De geas fault so stop having a go at him and get on his side!

James

De Gea is quality, he is young and will make errors just like any keeper. Two years from now we will have the world number 1 in goal in De Gea no doubt about it.

Brendan

Having watched it again on MOTD I totally agree with Schmeichel. It was a good save by DDG. Cleverly made the mistake by giving the ball away and Rafael was too slow to react.

Gav

13 Jan 2013 22:43:23
Very happy with the result today! You can't blame de gea for the goal it was a good save maybe rafael could have done better? But other than that rafael was my motm he won every challenge and now looks to have lost that rashness he had! A good example of that was when Suarez was in the box and he and rafael were after the ball in years gone by rafael would have brought him down and conceded a pen. I thought welbeck ran his socks of today he just needs a goal! Cleverly and Carrick were very good but tired a bit towards the end. Finally kagawa, much improved performance on last week looked lively floating about wisdom didn't know where to go, and he almost bagged a goal too I think he might be finding his feet. No one has really commented on the hunger he showed to win the ball for our opening goal.

Caolán.

Yes - and all credit to the ratface (tho it hurts me to say it) - in not going down.

Mike

13 Jan 2013 21:41:53
Interesting game plan today from BR. On paper we are as good as United.

Haha.... Liverpool fans really do believe anything. I did not realised they have finished even remotely near top for a few years and they definitely are nowhere near us now (24 points).....Does anyone know why Liverpool fans are so deluded about there own team? It is strange.

They continue to live on past glory.

-JakeW

And this was from Tel, the senile old fool who used to post on here for awhile before he disapeared like Blair.

Shappy

BR talks so much s**t its unreal, and im not being bias either he clearly just talks pooh in general..

Rouge Diablo :)

13 Jan 2013 21:50:00
Isn't there a rule that if a ball hits a player from close range, the area of which it hits the player must be the area considered for offside.

Rendering Vidic's goal onside...

I think I read that somewhere, but i'm most likely wrong about it and am just imagining I seen it.

MPez

Funny that I just read something saying united beat Liverpool today 2-1 ........... Said nothin about offside just that they won an some guy called van persie scored ....... An it also says surez did not score meaning once again Manchester united are victors...........

CAIN

NO such rule
Paul Belfast

Who needs that rule... He was level anyway, isnt the attacker supposed to get the benefit of the doubt anyway ??

He was level IMO and the officials wouldn't have even seen the touch in real time.

Gav

TV pictures show he was at least level. I'll post the picture on 'Manchester United sightings'

Sydney! {Ed001's Note - he was not ahead of the ball when played, onside without a doubt to me. If there is a doubt, then he should be given onside anyway. The issue is so many people forget you can't be offside if you are not ahead of the ball when played, they just don't know the rules.}

Ed001, exactly, even with the help of a TV monitor Poll still gets decisions wrong. Easily the worst high profile referee this country has ever seen.

I remember when he gave a penalty against Arsenal, then changed his mind after they crowded him. He said after the game that they wouldn't have reacted that way if it was a penalty so he thought they must have been correct and he was wrong. How can you do that? I cannot stand cowardly refereeing. If a ref makes mistakes then fair enough, but you have to remain impartial.

Sydney!

13 Jan 2013 20:27:05
how funny was Redknapp after the game, looked like he was gunna cry he just couldn't bring himself to praise us today! so biased its unreal! anyone would think we were 10 points behind listening to him!
And did i really hear him call our keeper average! Bold jamie very bold indeed! the save was a very gd save! granted it would of been better pushed to the side but a reaction save isn't always ways a controlled save, the main thing to do is stop the ball going in the net, then once you have you hope for a little bit off luck, unlucky for us it fell to Sturridge and rafa was caught ball watching (only mistake he made all game) but to call DDG average i thought was very disrespectful to a young 21yr old learning his trade at the top in a new league, considering he constantly telling us once Sterling irons out his 'rawness' he is going to be top draw! they are both learning and will get better! its just some are alowed time buy the press and some play for UTD!
Chris the REDman

What would he know anyway he never won anything he's just on sky cause of who his dad is. He's a complete muppet and thinks he's a real geezer.

Chris - I couldnt agree more about your last part saying that Utd players get more stick than anyone else..... I am just hoping that if we sign Zaha people don't start hating on him because he isnt Ronaldo..... I honestly think he could be a great buy so fingers crossed.

Cannot stand the sick note that was Jamie redknapp main reason I can't watch a league of there own.......

CAIN

13 Jan 2013 20:19:05
Rogers is a clown, he said there was nothing in the 1h when everybody watching knew we should have put the game away. We should have been up at least 2 or 3 at ht. Liverpool fans are getting suckered into what Rogers is telling them.

We gifted you the majority of the chances you had.

Just like the rubbish you believed that Fergie told you for 6 years starting in 1986?

Plymouth Red. {Ed007's Note - Are you being serious, 1986?? How many duff managers have LFC had in that time? I think you should go for a wee lie down, that is an outrageous statement! What age were you in '86?}

Do you thing Rogers believes the crap that he is spouting or just the fans? Your manager is out of touch with reality, do you actually believe that you were on par with us in the 1st half?

Madness..... What are Liverpool fans going on about and why do they persist to think they are anywhere near a top side any more ........They believe everything their sorry manager says instead of seeing the reality of what has happened..... They don't have their own opinions..... It baffles me so much....

But we didn't gift you your only goal of the match? We created enough to score 5 goals you created nothing my friend. I love how try to play the ball from the back like your Barca, what a joke. Keep watching the game with your rose colored glasses, the standings don't lie.

13 Jan 2013 20:16:22
let me start by saying always nice to beat them!
Very happy with the win even though it should of been more, but what the hell was the ref doing today? truly awful from him, i felt he bottled 4 major incidents today, a red with wellbeck running through on goal, no one will tell me johnson was getting there before wellbeck shoots! then we had the pen which is one of the most blatent pens ive seen for a while, wisdom just pushes Kagawa into Reina to stop him tapping it in and by the rules that should of been another red too! then you had johnson's hac towards the end which was another stone wall yellow after he was already booked!
That was just the main incidents too, i dnt think we ever got a 50-50 in our favour and he was blowing every time they fell over!
Now onto that game, the first half was very gd, RVP for me is the best striker we have had since RVN or maybe even further back, rafa is playing like he is a seasoned united RB, the way he bombs forward is so refreshing to see, and now he seems to have learnt the defending side is as important now too.
For me i thought Carrick was motm today, the way he dominated the CM area with Clevs (albeit against limited Liverpool MD) for 70 mins was very gd. Young was getting nothing out of webb today and should have been stronger in the game, too many times he was bumped off the ball to easily.
Kagawa i thought showed some amazing touches and his coolness under pressure is very a gd quality to have, he seemed to be stronger on the ball today aswell because every time he got the ball Gerard was at him straight away but with little success, once he is confident and up to speed we shall have some player there. Liverpool were poor and dnt let there rally in the last 20 mins let you forget that, one shot on target in 90 mins is poor with supposedly a striker up there with RVP (according to some)
So all in all very pleasing to win just feel if the ref had played like that in our favour today and we won, there would be all sorts being said this evening, but we won and im happy!
wonder what excuses we will hear for the loss from pool fans??
Chris the REDman

13 Jan 2013 20:09:59
does anyone think Alex Song would be good for united?

Ball boy? Water boy?

Ticket Office staff? Steward?

13 Jan 2013 19:55:08
Oh cmon, was Vidic goal really offside?I don't think so...

Was it just me or was jamie redknapp really bitter post game

13 Jan 2013 19:13:36
I have seen it said it was a game of two halves, well actually it was three thirds in which we were fine for two thirds of the game. Until 57 minutes we were not in any difficulty and actually couldn't see them scoring. Then some poor control of the game in front of our box let Gerrard shoot, it was a really good save but we fell asleep on the follow up as we have a few times and they were back into it. I am sad people have a go at De Gea, this guy is a very high potential keeper, we need to give him time and get off his back.

Lets look at the first half, it was tight to begin with as we expected then we had the difference, RVP and he has been the difference so many times. We should have been further in front, but Welbeck just is not Manchester United quality, yes he runs around, has energy but it looks like his head goes when presented with the goal in front of him. I am not sure he has the composure at the highest level. I actually felt Kagawa showed signs of improvement, he started to get the ball in areas where he can make a difference. Certainly whist being on the left he combined with central midfield quite well. Generally we should have been three ahead by half time.

Then we got to 57 mins, not quite sure who didn't track Sturridge but Rafael had an excellent all round game.
What was concerning was when Suarez dropped into the hole it threw the defence and midfield into difficulty. Eventually Ferguson brought Jones on to play in front of the defence but that just brought Liverpool onto us. The problem was that we had no command in the centre of midfield no captain to take control, the experience of picking up the loose player. It has to be said Cleverley didn't demonstrate that level in the final third of the game. Worryingly Valencia shows no sign of pulling out of his slump but we got through. I also felt Webb didn't have one of his better games culminating in not sending the man off for an awful foul admittedly right at the end. Another win that we deserved for 57 minutes where we were far better than them but that midfield worries me especially if RVP is not there to make the difference.

Red Man

This is a good, astute, assessment.

Aesop

It's funny how people slate Welbeck's performance, yet the manager singled him out as 'outstanding' and he gets MOTM today. His only issue is goals, if he puts the ball in the net more often he is the complete striker. Whether he can add that to his game remains to be seen, but I think he will be a very good player in a few years.

Valencia is an issue, especially if Young is out for a couple week? I have noticed Cleverley & Carrick play very well up until the 70th minute, but they do run out of energy by then. I think Strootman is exactly what we need in there. A midfield three of Carrick, Strootman & Cleverley would be pretty good in the final quarter of games, Jones done pretty well though.

Sydney!

Syd

I think Welbeck's main issue is while trying to do the "simple" things. He will do the difficult things and pull them off, but just when he gets to a position of real danger, he would do something really average. I hope the kid makes it here but won't hold my breath to be honest!

Deeps...

Just to add, I think Welbeck needs to play regularly to be able to progress into a better player. I am not sure he will get that here. Perhaps a loan move to another EPL club would have done him good?

Sydney!

Anyone who was there today should find it hard if not impossible to defend Welbeck. He is a decent hard working player who is not Manchester United standard. The manager will tell everyone how good he is to give Welbeck the confidence he obviously needs. Rafael was by far the MOM or RVP but wasteful Welbeck, sorry No

Red Man

I'm not convinced about Welbeck either. I think we are currently a good team as opposed to a great one. A couple of strong signings would make all the difference, one centre mid and one out wide.

AJH

Red Man, I was surprised when Welbeck got MOTM, but he did have a good game. He gave Liverpool a torrid time, their defenders didn't have a second on the ball. This is what I was saying earlier. SAF likes this kind of player and that shows with what he said about him after the match. Lewandowski does all of this PLUS puts the ball in the net. I think Welbeck could develop, but not at United, not with limited game time.

Sydney!

Welbeck ran his socks off today but does miss bit of class.
Not sure why people are comparing him lewandowski

I don't understand how people come in saying how well welbeck has played and that he deserved the man of the match today. He runs around a lot and puts pressure on defenders but apart fr this he does nothing. When he gets into the final third he either tries to beat a man and loses it, tries to beat a man and has a heavy touch and lets it run out of play, plays a poor pass and loses it or shoots from distance even from poor angles and off balance. He may look good in a poor england side but he simply isnt good enough for united. If we could sell him and get lewandowski we would be in a hugely better position.

Brendan

Welbeck for me will never be a top Premier league or European striker maybe just the step below at a Everton (no offence)....... We would be much better off giving him a years loan to a team like that to get him game time to see if he can improve and if not let him go as I just think he is really over rated due to being English and a local boy.

Syd last week you were arguing that Wellbeck was worth more that £14million and was a England International and better than Sturidge - now your saying we should loan him out to a EPL club as he will never develop at United...make up your mind fella!

IrishRed

IrishRed, I stand by all of that. I think he is worth £14m. I think he is on par with Sturridge (both not reached the potential). I think he needs to play games to develop his potential and he isn't going to get enough games at this club with Rooney and RvP ahead of him. A six month loan deal could really help him. Unless he gets a run of games he will never make it at United IMO. My opinion on these matters haven't changed.

Sydney!

13 Jan 2013 19:04:00
were we ever intrested in scott parker and didn't he go to totenham for free if so he would of been a bargain for us really energetic defensive minded player

13 Jan 2013 18:49:05
Was just reading that everton could steal Holtby from Spurs if they purchase him this month and it would take a bit of just under 2million.

Not sure if this is true and don't know to much of the player but surely for that amount of money and at his age he could be a great buy for our aging midfield. Any thoughts ?

RedJack

13 Jan 2013 18:27:01
Jamie Redkanpp just said united are just Rvp. Wtf is wrong with him. Rvp has helped immensely but to call us a one man team is stupid and annoying

James

Jamie Redknapp always has something negative to say about United. I've got plenty of time for Harry and his nephew Lampard, just Jamie always tends to get under my skin!

He couldn't read the game when he was playing and he can't read it now, constantly bad views against us.

The interplay between Welbeck, Kagawa, Cleverly an RvP was exceptional today. Gutted Ashley Young went off injured, he looked a threat.

I'm normally one to get on Welbeck's back as of late but put in a deserving Man-of-the-Match performance today.

ALDUtd

Where was RvP last season when we finished joint top?

Sydney!

Welbeck was nowhere near MOM, plenty of energy but a lack of quality and particularly composure is evident in his play

Red Man

Patrick Barclay and Graham Poll are both anti-United too.

Sydney!

You wouldn't be top without RVP that's for sure.

Plymouth Red. {Ed004's Note - Sure just like we wouldn't have been top without ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov, Nani etc etc etc}

I don't understand how people come in saying how well welbeck has played and that he deserved the man of the match today. He runs around a lot and puts pressure on defenders but apart fr this he does nothing. When he gets into the final third he either tries to beat a man and loses it, tries to beat a man and has a heavy touch and lets it run out of play, plays a poor pass and loses it or shoots from distance even from poor angles and off balance. He may look good in a poor england side but he simply isnt good enough for united. If we could sell him and get lewandowski we would be in a hugely better position.

Brendan

Plymouth Red, you would be bottom without Suarez.

Sydney!

Sydney you didn't finish joint top you finished second goal difference yes but second all the same {Ed004's Note - it is still joint first mate whatever way you want to put your spin on it to make you feel better...}

Take suarez out of liverpool, michu out of swansea, dzeko out of city, fellaini out of everton, ronaldo out of madrid, messi out of barcelona, falcao out of at. madrid. Its a stupid analogy with meaningless statistics. Strikers score goals. Teams get points.

Ste-Utd

13 Jan 2013 18:13:58
Chaps, I like to pop over to the Liverpool site now and then for a bit of banter but when we have won, we should perhaps not try and rub their noses in it. It's not big or clever.

AJH

Why not AJH, what is wring with a little cheeky boasting, there is no harm done.

I think sometimes we need to have a little class. They are tearing themselves apart, let's leave them to it. I wouldn't be happy if we lost and they appeared on here blowing raspberries.

AJH

13 Jan 2013 20:26:09
AJH,

You used the words bitterness and antipathy the other day, I'm not in the least bit bitter it is that total lack of class from some that brings my posts in kind.

Repugnance and distaste for the lack of class and humility shown by some who follow a great club that lets the majority down. Shame in truth.

Stoner

13 Jan 2013 18:09:34
If you have seen Kompany's red card challenge..... What did you think of it?? I thought it was a very good tackle, it may be rescinded. {Ed004's Note - I thought it was a great tackle. Ref didnt have a good day at the office by the looks of it. Only saw the last 20 mins tho.}

Both feet off the ground, doesn't matter if he gets the ball, was out of control. Agree with the rule or not its correct in the laws, I thought dean got almost everything right to be honest.

GDS {Ed004's Note - I was listening to most of it on the radio so only heard what Keown said and he's slightly biased haha}

They will rescind it. On another note, is Vidic injured and is it serious?

Shahram

I genuinely fear for tackling in the game if Kompany's tackle is not seen as a great challenge.

Took the ball with one foot and the other was tucked under the tackling foots left each they ar both off the ground but nowhere near both facing forward and more to the point he got the ball cleanly and I don't think even Wilshere complained.

I would be fuming if that happened to a Utd player!

But seen as its city......haha!

Jono

13 Jan 2013 21:09:03
We beat a middle of the table team by one goal. If it were not for RVP we'd be mid table too. Young was poor, lost or got knocked off the ball far too often, although he does chase back. Wellbek man of the match, I don't think so.Is it too strange to suggest that a striker needs to score goals, Wellbeck hasn't got a single goal for 13 games. He works hard, chases well but that's not enough. Carrick was his usual self but we must strengthen midfield. Roy Keane would have eaten this poor Scouser team today.

Paulo

13 Jan 2013 17:40:55
Eds, Syd and others Cazorla, Silva, Mata are all short and lightweight then why is it that Kagawa is the only one that faces problems with the physicality of the league whereas Cazorla, Mata, Silva keep on producing something special game in game out week in week out.

I know people won't agree with me but so far I haven't seen anything special from Kagawa. Hopefully he starts playing like he did at Dortmund.

MUMBAI_BOY

What did cazorla and silva do this week?

Mata wasn't the player he is now in his first season, it takes time to settle in. I think kagawa is showing his class at times and will improve given a nice run of games.

GDS

He played well today. A couple of times he was bundled off the ball, but Liverpool were always going to be rough today.

Sydney!

First of all, I wouln't call Cazorla, Silva, Mata lightweight. They have very strong upper body and lower strength. Did you not see how thick and muscular their legs are..
With Kagawa, I don't doubt his ability and I truly believe that like Hernandez( who has been working out a lot in gyms and you can see the difference) Kagawa would need a year to adjust and develop his muscles and strength.

He has to adjust to the way United plays aswell, lets admit it Dortmund plays very nice football where 2 people close down if they lose the ball and a very quick passing game.

Anyway, they way he turns so quickly and shift his weight, his passing ability, visions and the energy. He has lots to offer. By next year he will be integral part of the team.


Red Samurai {Ed004's Note - I have said all along he will be a top player and we need to adapt are game to suit him. While Rooney is here I would play him out left letting him come inside and have a fluid right winger because let's face it Rafael is better than our current wingers anyways atm and if we signed Baines he would be as well. If Rooney is sold move Kagawa central and sign a left cam and right one as well}

Give him a chance to settle. His ball retention is superb if you watch the game closely. It's no all about Hollywood passes an fancy footwork. He's lightweight but so are some of the others. They've all had time to settle apart from carzorla who is fairly stocky anyway.
His physical side will be worked on but I've seen some great stuff already from him and SAF has said similar so I'll take his word for it considering he works with him day in, day out. How long would it take you to settle if you went as an Englishman and played in the J league?

Supasub

Mumbai - Mata, Silva and Cazorla are the main men in their teams for attacking where as we have a few that we use if Kags had gone to wither Chelsea or City he would be insane because he suits there front men to a tee as Hazard, Oscar, Mata, Silva etc are al similar.

13 Jan 2013 17:15:36
I feel for Arsenal! It was a red card but with 9 minutes gone to go a man-down against a rampant Man City. They was creating at will before the sending off.

Arsenal are just going to get overrun all game sadly

ALDUtd

Willshire is a class player and wish we had him in our side.

Shahram

13 Jan 2013 16:57:19
I see the DDG debate is opening up again. Personally i think it was a good save, he was at full stretch and the ball was on the floor. When the ball is low it's always hard for a tall goalkeeper to get down quick enough, and when your at full stretch it's almost impossible to direct the ball. If you get a strong hand on it(like today it comes back out), if you don't get enough on it then it can go in at the far post. So it is always better to get a strong hand on it if possible.

The issue that has come from it is our defenders get caught ball watching rather than tracking the runners. I think part of this comes from the fact that DDG is making saves he probably shouldn't be able to get to, as such our defenders think the ball is going in and don't bother to track the runners.

Our defenders need to always track the runners as you don't know where the ball may end up. But if you are marking all the opponants then you stand a better chance of clearing the danger.

I played alot of my youth football either in defence or in goal, so i know the roles and what is expected very well. The role of the Goalkeeper is the hardest on the pitch as you only get noticed when things go wrong(unless you save a penalty). But as a keeper all you can do is stop the ball crossing the line in what ever way you can, but you need your defenders doing their jobs properly and for them to help mop up loose balls.

Today it was Rafael who allowed Strurridge to get clear while he was standing around watching the game go on around him. He wasn't marking anybody and he wasn't trying to block the shot, he simply stood there and watch Gerrard have a shot then watch DDG make a great save, he should have been anticerpating the save and following the runner(Sturridge) into the box and sticking close to him so he can put a tackle or block in if th ball comes back out.

I don't wanna pick on Rafael as he has been outstanding so far this season but he does have a habit of falling asleep on these kind of occasions. He is still young and he is still learning, someone needs to have a word with him and teach him to track the runner. Then maybe we'll stop conceeding these kind of goals.

Shappy

I would agree with the point re: DDG/Rafael. It was more the fault of Rafael ball watching than DDG's parry. Rafael does have a tendancy to do that but I thought he was very good today overall and has been all season. We need to be patient with DDG, he will be here til the summer at least so we should get behind him.

Gav

Rafael has a bad habit of ball watching sometimes and allowing people to run off him. Still our best rb though.

Jamesmack8

13 Jan 2013 16:43:14
First half we should have killed the game, but 3 points is all that matters in the end. Most blame for the goal needs to go to Cleverly for playing an awful pass to Carrick instead of clearing. De Gea was at full stretch but he needs to remember that it's no good saving the ball if you're just laying it off to the striker.

Biggest disappointment is the form of Valencia. It's not as if Young was setting the world alight in the first half but when he went off we looked completely useless down the right. Not sure if Valencia is unfit or if he's just lost his bottle but he increasingly looks like a player who is scared of running at the full back. It will be interesting to see if Nani has the drive to save his place at the club in the next few weeks.

Danny Pughnited

For me Valencia has been the biggest disapointment. I think his back problem is a concerning one as it's caused by one leg being longer than the other. This can't be solved, so it does raise the question as to whether he'll ever be able to get his form back.

Hopefully Nani steps up and proves his worth, the last time he needed to prove himself he had the best form of his career, so fingers crossed.

Shappy

None of our wide players are setting the world alight, so if Nani plays his best and impresses he may well be here beyong the summer.

Fresh!

I truly believe that he is the reason we are trying to buy Zaha.


Dishforth Red

13 Jan 2013 16:34:36
Another exciting game...that fixture really never disappoints! Two main points...the first being the Liverpool goal, I personally don't hold De Gea at fault at all...Gerrard was allowed too much room and to get the shot away, anyone who has watched the EPL for the last god knows how many years knows that Gerrard in that position is dangerous...he should of been closed down much quicker.

Second point, and this is more aimed at mr.negative (KLOOT obviously)...Cleverley pulled the strings in that midfield fantastically today and was as good, and on occasions, slightly better than Carrick. Was unlucky not to score and I thought his defensive work was top class.

Aside from that...a great game, Kagawa was very good, his touch and vision is fantastic. Would of liked to have seen how Young progressed over the game had he of not been injured, he delivered some good crosses and wasn't afraid to take on his man. Defense did well aside from the nervy last few minutes, clearly Vidic had a problem with his knee...had this not been the case I think Rio would of come off. RVP doesn't really need mentioning...how I wanted that second flick of his to go in!

Can only hope Arsenal do us a favor and fingers crossed we'll see the likes of Rooney and Anderson mid week!

Andy!

I agree with most of your points. However, the only reason Gerrard had as much space as he did was because of a sloppy pass by Cleverly. I'm a big fan of his, but he was at fault for the goal (besides DDG not holding the shot or pushing it wider). Cleverly will be rightly criticised by Kloot or whomever!

RedDub

13 Jan 2013 16:18:07
Why are players starting to rugby tackle each other, first johnson who should have been sent and now koscielny who was right to get sent. Still have a sneaky feeling arsenal will get something out of this

James

13 Jan 2013 16:07:28
cant wait to hear that sad scouser micky quinn on come up with excuses why his crap team lost and how in his opinion (unbiased of course) that he thinks they were the better team

13 Jan 2013 16:04:05
Interesting game, could and probably should have had the game sewn up at half time. The bobble just as RVP had his shot, Cleverley maybe should have scored, and how the hell didn't we get that scrabble in, also Neville made a good point about the shove on Kagawa as he went for what would have been a tap in, which could have been a penalty on another day. So that's potentially three more goals. Then Kagawa RVP and Welbeck had decent chances in the second half. So to get no goals from those seven chances is a little disapointing.

But we got the result, and now it's down to Arsenal to complete our weekend.

Shappy

Arsenal won't win if mike dean has anything to do with it...

JK92

Shappy - We missed that extra quality Rooney provides instead of Welbeck, Then I think we amde the wrong decision with the sub when Jones cam on instead of going for Jones and sitting imo we should of bought on Anderson and tried to keep the ball.... Welbeck missed a few chances and Valencia was awful when he came on.... I am just shocked Welbeck was picked ahead of Chicharito.

City now a goal up and Arsenal down to tem men....ah well, at least we won!

Gav

Welbeck was picked imo because of the poor form of Valencia. Young is our most on form winger atm and Kagawa deserves a chance and offers something different but he isn't a strong runner so Welbeck was played to add strength and pace which was lacking due to having no Valencia or Nani.

Hernandez isn't a strong runner either so to play him instead of Welbeck would have ment a loss of strength upfront.

Rooney would have obviously been first choice if he was fit.

I think Jones is in better shape physically and further along in his recovery from injury which is why he was played ahead of Anderson. It would have been unfair and reckless to throw Anderson on with 15 mins left when we were under pressure and it's his first game in nearly two months.

Shappy

13 Jan 2013 15:42:24
Well done lads, now come on Arsenal!!

Another DDG mistake, excellent save, but he's got to push that ball wide - similar to Reina's save from Kags, although the save itself was far better.

Welbeck played well, but he has to look at the amount of quality possession he had in dangerous areas... How has he not got an assist or goal?!

Tony V / Young... We're crying out for a better winger. Tony is a shadow of his former self, Young just needs to be stronger!

Ferdy and Vida played very well against a top striker, kept the toothed one very quiet.

Rafael top draw, Evra is playing very well at the moment... even his defending is going well at the moment.

For 60-70 mins Carrick and Clevs ran the midfield, but looked so soft in there for the last 15... Even with Jones added.

Van Persie just looks class... Didn't have his best game, but could easily have scored 3.

Players coming back from injury at just the right time, looking forward to seeing Ando and Nani hopefully against West Ham.

Happy Days!

DodgyBanter

Wellbeck was brilliant first half. it was a great save from de gea and the defence should've been in to tidy it up. give the guy a break. we should have had a pen for push on kagawa and Johnson should have been off.

Nozzla

Positivity, burn him!


T-O-I

Toothed one ha
Andy H

Agree with a lot of your post and can't wait to see Ando, Nani, Rooney again!

But with regards DDG: Reina's save was much easier to tip wide - his momentum was taking it that way. Gerrard's shot went back across DDG which meant he was at a standing start. It's slightly worrying how often he parries it out to opposition striker's but it's hard to say he should have done better today IMO.

Gav

13 Jan 2013 15:38:28
You can tell Jamie Redknapp is pissed off. What a pr*ck calling our keeper AVERAGE. Better then Reina

James

I thought de gea made a super save!

Caolán.

Lol He is almost crying while calling Vidic offside, but completely ignores about the 2 red cards pool players should have received.

He is so biased it is untrue.

Everytime Uniuted play Liverpool he gets it wrong, pundit!!

Good 3 points

Come on Arsenal.

A

I bet if joe hart did that nothing would have been said

The Devil

I used to like Jamie, but you could see he was almost going to burst into tears. Liverpool fans presenting on Sky, ESPN and BBC. Even with all this they are still sitting in mid-table.

Sydney!

Ya he never mentioned Glen Johnson playing Rugby in a Soccer match.
Andy H

Guys that was not a great save as has been stated further down the page.

People are sayin he is a great keeper as his shots topping is good well does everyone think lewandowski is a great striker as he scores loads?

No because there are other aspects in his game he can improve on which he can then become great. The same with DDG.

red knapp had basically said the same and G Nev also said it was poor after the Newcastle and Swansea goals conceded were exactly the same. It can't be the defense everytime.

At some point all you DDG lovers will have to admit its his fault as he should be pushing it wide OR as great keepers do hold it. Maybe the defense is so used to having a world class keeper in VDS holding those shots?

Who knows. I suppose summer will tell what SAF thinks about his choice in going for DDG. He will be hoping Real or Barca do come in for him then he can use the 'dream' get out clause instead of admitting he might have made a mistake.

Jono

Jamie normally one of the better pundits for Sky along with Neville but the main difference between the 2 is that Gary can remain impartial where as Redknapp screws his Liverpool tin foil hat firmly on.

TK-Red

Jono, I think you are maybe being a little harsh this time round mate. I think he done well to get a hand to it in the first place, from what I can remember it certainly looked like he didn't have enough purchase to tap it out for a corner, I will need to see it again mind.

Sydney!

Im annoyed at the red cards not given as I had that selected at 11-4. Johnsens was a stick on IMO.

Jono

Syd

It needed less purchase to push it wide or out. It came through the defenders legs but he didn't have to over stretch for it or anything it was a firmly struck shot nothing of super power or close range which has been used to defend the same outcome from him before.

If he within himself thought he had done all he could I'm sure he would have been pointing it out to Rafa but it was Rafa moaning at him and DDG just retreated into his net. A mental kind of barrier from 3/4 of the ground.

Not got the right mentality for me mate regardless of his shot stopping.

Anyway at least we won this time ;-)

Jono

Jono, I'm just going on memory and what I thought at the time so you could be right. I will watch it again later.

On a different note Ed002 seems to think DDG could be heading back to Spain in the summer and we are actively looking at keepers. Begovic was impressive yesterday. At 25 and wth several EPL experience I think he would be a good buy (if we sold DDG). His only downfall is he is nowhere near as good as DDG with his distribution. But with Smalling and Evans who needs a keeper with good distribution?

Sydney!

I remember seeing SAF after DDG had conceded either v Swansea or Newcastle and I'm sure he said to Rene 'has he f***ing done it again.' then he shakes his head. I just think SAF believes he should be keeping hold of shots like today.

I have yet to see a reaction from SAF after today as no angles were on him but I will look again to see what his reaction is.

It wasn't right in the corner so a shot stopper of DDG standard has control over where he is saving it out to and the last place should be straight out at 90 degrees from the shot.

Jono

13 Jan 2013 15:38:00
Something made me laugh today, my scouser friends calls me up "Hey Jake! United were lucky in the first half, Liverpool should have won the game." I simply replied with "Ohhh Robin Van Persie!".

Guys it's beautiful to know all these scouser friends of mine will no longer talk crap to me for the rest of the season.

Great game, Welbeck deserved a goal or two and we should have put the game to bed earlier.

Overall happy day though!

-JakeW

Jake,

Your scouser friends are different to mine then, they won't shut up for the rest of the season, they would have shut up 20 years ago if that was the case!

GDS

13 Jan 2013 15:37:04
Didnt like Kagawas performance today, I hope its just his lack of match fitness.

MUMBAI_BOY {Ed004's Note - I thought he played well.}

I think he played very well, his touch and passing was good. Also taking into account he was massively out of position.

Andy S {Ed004's Note - I think we will see the best out of Kagawa once Rooney is back and if we bought a more fluid right sided player like Rodriguez or his old team mate Gotze}

I thought he did OK today, better than against West Ham and he carried out his team duties well, including covering back at times. He's still just back from injury and we're trying to find his right position so we need to be patient. I'd like to see his first touch get a bit sharper and for him to cause more problems to defences. But didn't think he was poor by any stretch.

Gav

I too thought he played well.

What made no sense was his substitution! Why bring him off for a defensive Player then move Welbeck over into his position?

I thought Welbeck was very wasteful, he did a great amount of running and a great run down the line but Kags passing was far better and we were needing accurate passing at the end.

The major issue was the managers failure AGAIN to not counter a change in the oppos tactics. We went from battering them first half by pressing them in their third so they couldn't make use of the CM three but second half we dropped the pressing to our half and the CM three had us stretched all over defense again.

I find it baffling that we have a team of coaches watching the same game and yet nobody can see what is happening.

We went from walking a game one half to hanging on when we should have been out of sight.

Very frustrating.

Jono

Kagawa had a very good game today, he tied towards the end and had to be subbed, but I cannot wait to see him, Rooney, RvP get an understanding.

Sydney!

13 Jan 2013 15:35:36
I have to say Valencia was shocking again..... Also I was shocked to see Kagawa go off when I thought he was a good out ball.... I am looking forward to seeing Nani, Rooney, Kagawa and Anderson hopefully getting some more game time on Wednesday..... Imagine fmidfield of Carrick and Anderson then Nani, Rooney and Kagawa in front then RVP up top.....Dreamland.

Valencia did ok, please step away from the band-wagon...

AJH

Toni was suited to coming on when we were playing like we did in the first half. The pressing stopped then we went back to the slow build up play and loosing possession in th CM constantly then the balls to him and available passes were severely limited.

I thought he did well, not great but well enough.

Jono

13 Jan 2013 15:33:36
If only Welbeck could finish we would have won that comfortably. Good result for the lads.
Sparky

13 Jan 2013 15:32:35
well done mancs

you hung on a bit at the end just had a little too much for us

tom1975lfc

Cheers Tom, the 2nd half was certainly nail biting.

Gav

13 Jan 2013 15:31:20
Still think we did ok, fergie went defensive instead of control wwitht he subs so we was always going to have pressue !

Rafael fell asleep for sturridge goal as he should of been follwing it in as de gea save was top draw!

Vp - goal and a great free kick for 2nd goal, someone said on this site not long ago about how more dangerous we are from free kicks etc

Cleverly ! had a good game still needs to work on a few things but is getting there although i am kloot will disagree!

Wellbeck had a good game, people should take positives from that performance .

Overall defence was good, midfeild were outnumberd but played well, things look good and that wasnt our strongest team i don't think !

Big v

Welbeck has poor play as usual

Clevs was good today until the end when he started to tire. A foot away from getting goal of the season.

Sydney! {Ed004's Note - Wouldn't have been goal of the season. It would have been a very good goal though}

13 Jan 2013 15:28:28
Top win lads! We were good first half but dropped off 2nd half once we conceded - typical United really.

Nobody can use the Howard Webb card either - fe could have sent off 2 'Pool players today. Johnson should have been gone.

3 points, let's hope City can mess up now!

Gav

p.s. Rafeal keeps up his top form!

13 Jan 2013 15:06:13
What are we playing at this second half..... De Gea once again pads it into the danger area just like against Newcastle and we are playing into trouble on the edge of our own box....Hope we don't regret the chances we have had.

How can you blame de gea for that? a one handed save full stretch.. great save, rafa was ball watching..

Thought it was a good save

Not sure De Gea can be blamed, firstly Rafael should have been there, secondly Cleverly and Carrick should have done better.
Another decent performance from the 20 time league winners! {Ed004's Note - Well Redknapp disagrees with you about De Gea. Just called him an average keeper}

Would you lay off DDG. He made a great save, there ws nothing else he could of done with that. mayb you should look at the defence if your going to put the blame on any1. T45

ED004 I saw the highlights and it was a good save but he needs to learn how to push it wide rather than back into the box. He is not and average keeper and Redknapp is a d...k and one of the most overrated footballers that ever played. Who gives a. sh...t what he says.

Shahram

It's so hard to tell whether DDG could have done better with Gerrard's shot, it was hit pretty firmly and he was stretching for it. Definitely doesn't deserve a slating for it IMO.

My only worry is that he seems to parry it into dangerous positions relatively regularly but with some of the instinctive saves he pulls off it's pretty hard to react in time. Could this just be a coincidence? Only patience will give us the answer.

DDG had hardly anything to do today and that's the only reason his parry will be magnified. We should just keep faith in him for now, he's certainly our best GK and he's here till the summer at least.

Gav

p.s. Jamie Redknapp is a proper twonk!

13 Jan 2013 14:32:24
Just to answer some of people's questions of why Evans is not playing, he is indeed injured. But anyways, very good half, Kagawa/Cleverely solid. RVP brilliant, and Welbeck hasn't done too bad, but needs to improve his finishing, had 2 good chances.


T-O-I

Good game thought the guys were brilliant. disappointed with the sending on of jones. would have preferred Anderson but he's just back from injury. Fergy thrives on these big games.

13 Jan 2013 14:24:29
Got to say carrick and cleverly have been quality in that first half!

Big V

13 Jan 2013 14:13:44
My m8 is already making excuses. " The pitch is soo sh*t, did this purposely to counter our tika taka play" lol made me laugh so much

James

13 Jan 2013 13:52:46
Yes get in. Does anyone else think evra is the best left back in the world wen it comes to attacking? Just a pity he doesn't like defending .

Jay-c

Evra's in his best form for a couple of seasons, his defending has been pretty good so far as well as an excellent assist.

DodgyBanter

2 excellent assists ;-)

Jono

13 Jan 2013 13:44:31
I was a little worried about our starting XI today. Wish Evans got the start. But young kagawa welbeck and rvp are already linking nicely and making great choices. Kagawa will get 2 assists this game welbeck 2 goals, rvp 1, vidic the last on corner, 4-1 win

P.S. Evra/Rio are going to be on Suarez all game and shut him down.

TAS

TAS

13 Jan 2013 13:19:56
i predict 2-2....rat face to score both pool goals and RVP peno and young to score for UTD.....hope im wrong and its 4-0 to UTD....JoeIrish.

13 Jan 2013 13:07:04
Rooney not on the bench.

Supasub

13 Jan 2013 13:26:38
because he's still injured.

West Ham are going to get a rude awakening on Wednesday with Rooney, Nani, Jones & Anderson all returning and needing games. Disappointed with Valencia, Rooney and Evans not being fit.

Sydney!

Think Tony might react well to being left out of the starting lineup... He needs to improve or Welbeck and Kags are itching to take his spot... expecting a reaction when he comes on.

DodgyBanter

13 Jan 2013 12:59:42
Thought nani was ment to be in squad today?

Munkydunc

13 Jan 2013 12:54:39
haven't named our subs yet, maybe we are keeping a surprise?

13 Jan 2013 12:43:22
Team:

De Gea Rafael Ferd Vidic Evra Young Carrick Clevs Welbeck Kags RVP.


Devil Dust. {Ed004's Note - Glad to see no Giggs and Scholes starting but Welbeck is a strange one. Who's the subs}

Subs: Amos, Jones, Valencia, Anderson, Giggs, Smalling, Hernandez. So good options there.

Gav

Evans not even on bench?

Gar {Ed004's Note - Yeah shocked about that. What happened to him?}

Injured apparently

Gav

13 Jan 2013 12:08:51
Not really united related. Everyone seen chelski, united and city as the only 3 challengers for the title this season but do any of you think that spurs can become the "fourth team" like when we had the "big 4". I was only about 10 when that was broken up so I can really remember it but I remember they all finished top 4 every season and challenged for title.

Do you think spurs can become a team that challenges fo title season after season. They might get a new stadium, deeper squad etc

Thoughts?

JohnTheRedMaroon97

It was United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in the "Big 4" mate, not United, City, Chelsea and Spurs.

Spurs have only really come good the last 5 years.

MPez

MPez

I know who the original "big 4" was mate but sorry if i never made that clear

JohnTheRedMaroon97

13 Jan 2013 11:29:23
What's our score predictions today guys going 3-0 to us with rvp bagging a couple and Danny welbeck grabbing one too!

Caolán.

Got a cheeky £10 bet on 4-1 united which will rake me £260 in if it comes in.

AvidDevil

4-2

Suarez will score.
So too will Evans, Clevs and RVP

DodgyBanter

I've got 3-0 Utd with RVP 1st goal, £5 on and £180 back. I also expect a performance from Kagawa today as he looks as though he is playing in his natural role off RVP.

Rjmanutd

Evans is unlikely to score... Not in squad!!

DodgyBanter

13 Jan 2013 10:55:20
morning mancs

are ye ready for it

tom1975lfc {Ed004's Note - Cant wait...}

We were born ready ;) Should be a cracking game IMO.

Gav

Likewise ed004, gonna be a close game today, i think it could go either way, very unpredictable

tomlfc

I agree one of the games i most eagerly look forward to every year

tomlfc

13 Jan 2013 10:35:30
Good morning Guys
Its 3 hours to kick off and I'm starting to get excited and a little nervous.I honestly think we can win this quite easily however as we know with United they will make us sweat and have us on the edge of our seats.
The fact that its at Old Trafford and the crowd will be pumping I think will give us the edge.The only thing that worries me is this is Liverpools cup final and because its us that automatically raise their game.That said we have the class to beat them.

COME ON YOU REDS

Bazza The Red

13 Jan 2013 09:00:14
One bit of news circulating this morning is that concerning Pep and his next management position. I personally am gutted that all the talk is off City. He would be a great next point of call after SAF, gets his teeth sunk into a club unlike a Jose who we could only expect to hang around for 3-4 years. Pep is my number one choice, I wonder if its because SAF has now stated he will remin at the helm for another 2 years.

PJ

13 Jan 2013 11:12:03
city have been hiring ex barca staff to make it easier for pep. Personally i think the guys over rated. Sure he did well at barca but everything at that place was perfect for him. Its his club after all. He knew everyone at it. And he had messi, xavi and iniesta. Being in spain he was guaranteed a top two finish. And he still couldn't hack the pressure! How's he going to cope with a sheik on his back demanding success? His record in the transfer market is patchy. Ibrahimovic didn't work out. Chygrynski flopped. Sanchez is struggling. Even fabregas has struggled. I'm not really that worried about him going to city. He works best with youth, which is why most people want him here. But city have no youth. Personally i don't buy all that two more years rubbish from ferguson. I think he's going far sooner. This year if we win the league. I'd take mourinho for three to four years. Then ogs long term.

13 Jan 2013 11:19:16
if gets his teeth stuck in? He's managed one club. The club he played for for most of his career. He came through as an academy player. He managed their reserve side before becoming manager. Of course he got his teeth in it.

No Name

Is that not the same with every manager. SAF was supposedly on the rocks until that great youth class arrived and we started winning everything under the sun.

Mourinho has won with assembling expensive world class talents so Guardiola winning with great players is no different to other successful coaches.

You can be great coach but without the players you ain't going to win much in today's footballing world.


Shahram

13 Jan 2013 12:17:16
i think you missed the point. Ferguson built a side. Guardiola didn't it was on a plate. Ferguson still had to buy class players in from keane to yorke. Guardiola's buys have not worked. Yep both trusted to youth but guardiola should have known that youth being their coach. If he went to another club and started from scratch like ferguson did then that would be an achievement. I just think the guy is over rated. He's not that great tactically. He didn't have a plan be for the times plan a didn't work. He's not a good judge of a player in the market. I also think he'd need a season or two to get to know our youth before playing them. As for mourinho well he didn't spend massive amounts at porto and still did well. Chelsea taints his record but he had to spend to make them contenders. And the biggest buy of his tenure he didn't actually want. It was roman who bought shevchenko. At inter he didn't spend massive just on a couple of players to complete the team. Madrid will always spend money especially under perez but mourinho has tried to push youth forwards like he did inter. If mourinho was to come to us i think it would be like inter. He'd spend the money he has on a couple of big signings to complete the team. Which is what everyone on here is saying we need to do anyway. I also think that the best of the youth would be incorporated anyway.

Porto, cheaply assembled side at the time.

Supasub

No Name

I did not miss the point and would argue he had very little to do with Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, the neville brothers, butt coming through all the same time and these were no ordinary players and some might consider them at one point the best in the world at their positions.They provided the backbone and platform of the team and yes he did buy the remaining pieces.

Supasub

Porto might have been cheaply assembled but went through a purple patch of having a bunch of players arrive at the same time through their youth system who then went on to biggest clubs for big transfer fees.

Shahram

13 Jan 2013 01:58:44
Curry mile isn't Wilmslow!

Its rusholme

12 Jan 2013 23:50:57
Jus to let you all know, sneijders wife posted a tweet saying "Istanbul is beautiful" looks like it won't fall through after all. I used to love sneijder but he's become a mercenary big time, 28 is supposed to be a players peak? Yet he's gonna be playing in turkey? Poor stuff. Glad it will be put to bed

Big Mac

He was absolute class 2 or 3 years ago and maybe could regain that sort of form but it is too much of a risk to pay £10 million and then £150k+ wages...

He wants £130k after tax.

That is unrealistic for a player who has had one world-class season three year's ago.

Sydney!