Manchester United Banter Archive March 19 2014

19 Mar 2014 23:17:02
Well well well, we decide to show the true man united and we are in march! So happy with the result, such a great night for once.

David de gea was outstanding, those saves kept us in that tie.
Rafeal, great improvement from Sunday, brung great energy.
Ferdinand done what an experienced player does, keep the defence organised.
Jones looked a bit rattled and not comfortable, but defended well.
Evra was out of position the whole game and the other team exploited that and evra is lucky they can't finish.
Carrick looked composed on the pitch with giggs playing. Giggs was unbelievable at the age of 40, he dragged us through that game and raised the spirits.
Rooney and RVP linked well! Rooney playing a bit deeper allowed support to the midfield and also allowed RVP to have more space.
Valencia and welbeck worked so hard, and made the defence run towards there goal which created space.

Now, watching that game Rooney, De Gea, Rafael, RVP and welbeck all played brilliant. However, Giggs and Ferdinand played well, I see that as a eye opener to see where the first 11 need to be strengthened as we need a experienced centre back ( 27 or 28 years old) to fill Ferdinand's boots. Also we need a central midfielder who can look up and play the ball forward with pace( which giggs done, but he's 40) and also evra is getting old.

From this, I hope moyes keeps picking the right team for the right games. Let's beat man city to make this bad season seem a little better. And let's go on and win the champions league!

I think we could do with a genuine pacey left winger as well, somebody to run in behind and stretch the back 4. That would certainly give RVP and Rooney much more joy. Welbeck does that well but I think he see's his future as a number 9.

{Ed007's Note - And hopefully it's as Stoke's or Hull's number 9!}

Great result but still not sure Rooney and RVP can play together. In the first half Rooney only passed once to RVP, and he scored.

Bond:) you read my mind. God help us LOL

{Ed007's Note - :)

19 Mar 2014 22:44:44
Just had to post and give credit when it i'd due. I'm not his biggest fan, but well done Danny Wellbeck. What a difference a bit of pace and forward runs makes. Just a shame he has no composure on the ball or in front of goal. Great pace and great work rate. Unfortunately he has less control over his feet than Stephen Hawkins.

19 Mar 2014 22:35:44
I think you boys have took some serious stick all season but credit where it's due. you lot were brilliant tonight.

All the best for the rest of the CL campaign.

Good man, Dags.

Cheers mate, since we are out of the league race good luck to you guys in it. Just not the scousers please

19 Mar 2014 22:31:14
Great performance tonite, but come on guys we have to find something to moan about tonite, this dnt feel right!
Waiting for the 'why didn't moyes take off rvp earlier' comment :-)

Why didn't Moyes take RVP off earlier?

#freeKagawa

Haha Mick!

19 Mar 2014 21:59:05
Valencia played that 75 minutes with one foot and one eye. All kidding aside, he's a warrior, his game has slipped but he always gives it his all. let's see if Moyes has learned anything when we face a much tougher test next week vs City

The way he shook off that defender off his body when he was down, this is MMA stuff. Seriously though in terms of sheer athleticism, few come close to Antonio. Wish he was a wee bit better on the ball though

Mick1

Haha, weirdly I said that to my mates when Valencia and the defender went down together then Valencia just powered up and shook him off – "Nice ground game!"

19 Mar 2014 21:57:04
Last night I said "We need a Robson performance from someone tomorrow, perhaps Rooney will come of age to save his manager on the night. We are not playing Barcelona so we have a decent chance if we are focused but need to be inspired, tight at the back and play with good tempo, so unlike the football we have been playing. Perhaps the Greeks will bear gifts and that will make it possible."

We showed more energy and effort than we have for many games and when the dust settles we should thank DeGea particularly for the double save in the first half. A goal at that time would have caused us many issues. We should also thank the Greek goalkeeper for the gift of keeping still for RVP's winning free kick. At the other end, the Greeks looked like they were going to score but we held on despite dropping too deep in the second half. Why haven't we shown that desire in other games? Desire was there but we were not looking solid and at times rode our luck. Giggs gave calm assurance and Rooney ran everywhere. There was a difference in that Welbeck and Valencia offered pace. I am pleased to get through but it was very hard work against a Greek side not a Real Madrid so we shouldn't get carried away. When the draw comes round the reality is the other seven teams will want to draw us as the bunnies. Great result tonight but against the next level of team we would have to play a lot better. Enjoy the night it doesn't happen often.

I thought for 70minutes Rooney was fantastic .

19 Mar 2014 21:45:55
Now that was a United performance. We took risks, we gave them the opportunity to play, but we went for it. That's the spirit we've been missing all season.

It was, dare I say it, entertaining.

19 Mar 2014 21:17:21
Now that my friends, is a moustache. All together now why M C A, it's fun to stay at the why M C A

Damn you auto correct

Beat me to it ajh.

19 Mar 2014 20:56:25
Blimey, I think the brandy is making me see things. To everyone who has been saying good riddance to RVP, beat yourselves on the bottom with the Women's Weekly. The issue is not the players, the issue is the manager, who he has been picking, and the tactics he has been adopting. RVP oozes class from every pore. If we get him and Rooney firing together then, then we will score plenty of goals.

Of course, this was before RVP went off on a stretcher

RVP World Class. You don't let talent like that leave!

19 Mar 2014 20:37:34
Really pleased we are pressing high a lot of effort and pace and most importantly playing as a team. Ok the defence is struggling the passing is poor in a lot of cases but we are trying to move the ball much quicker. De Gea saved us, the deficiencies are still there for all to see. I'm just delighted we are fighting and playing as a unit.

We have sit back since the third goal. That may come back to bite Moyes on the arse. I wouldn't change anything until we got the 4th.

Yes we did Syd but did you not see Moyes on the sideline urging them forward?

That's great to hear Grund.

Sydney

I was also ver worried about how we were retreating and just booting the ball away.

DM was shouting at the back 4 to get further up the pitch but it is hard to change old habits, when players are under pressure they revert back to what feels comfortable. We have done this for a few years when teams are chasing the game against us and keep retreating deeper and deeper.

19 Mar 2014 20:33:43
Well well well who would have thought it? Whoever slagged off Welbeck must be feeling a tad silly. Giggs may be 40 but what a difference he makes. We may now go on tend get through but what a great 1st half. Pace, energy, directness, all the things we have been sadly lacking so often this year. I'm going to pour another brandy to deal with my man flu and settle in for the second half.

AJH

I am tempted to have a drink too. Please god give us 2 quick early goals and then some more. This is nerve wracking.

Andy Grey is a person, he talks so much rubbish. Please stake him back to the UK and give him job, please.

Agree, I've long said players like welbeck are valuable members of the squad. Giggs along with Rooney running the game at the moment and Valencia a trooper.

Not sure what you see in Welbeck he is embarrassingly uncoordinated and clumsy. Only thing is he will run for you and hustle. Please boys score a 4th, I am wreck :))

I know it was called for offside but it takes some talent to fall over your feet from 2 yards with an open goal and the simplest of passes to tap in, There is our hero Danny LOL.

As I write this he is off and fletcher on to shore up midfield. Our left side is a concern and Evra is out of position all the time.

I've seen many a good player fall over his feet in my lifetime in important games but there are times when the unlikeliest players are electric. Cut him some slack.

Supasub

I am having fun and delighted for once we can all celebrate. He is a mystery and some of the stuff he does is so uncoordinated it makes you just shudder LOL but I will give him kudos for working his socks off.

Observation on tonights game about Ferdinand play. He makes a big difference with his ability to pass the balls and not hoof it upfield and it allows us to build pup play from the back.

Further up the page was very negative when I saw giggs was playing but credit he did well after stating quite poorly.

19 Mar 2014 20:27:08
We will be so so so much better when we buy a decent LB. Rio may as well not be on the pitch either. De Gea is a h***ing genius.

Evra misses next game, anyone else excited about that? Rafael at LB perhaps with Smalling or Jones at RB?

19 Mar 2014 19:46:06
I hope its a 433 not a 442.

Its almost 4-2-4 fluid with night work rate in defence

19 Mar 2014 19:20:00
So disappointed in Moyes with the line up. I really hoped he would be brave and play kagawa in the hole and drop RVP along with fletcher instead of Carrick. I read rumours that nani was going to start and I was really hoping it was true but it turns out Valencia starts and nani isn't even in the squad! Same old cautious Moyes for me and I really fear for us tonight as I think we will struggle to get a result tonight never mind qualifying!

Drop RVP?

That would have been a bad move considering he's just scored 2 goals.

19 Mar 2014 19:05:50
Do you guys think it's ironic how we are receiving so much praise for being great supporters singing none stop, backing the team etc, and in turn this praise is being jumped on by Moyes & Co as a weapon to indicate how the crowd aren't jumping to conclusions and justifies more time for them?

Obviously we want to gee our guys on and do what we do best, but I hate the idea that Moyes & maybe the board are taking that support as meaning we support the awful shows we have been seeing week in week out?

I don't like the idea of the support being manipulated in this way. We support the club, not the show!

It's just like if we were starving and rocked up at a restaurant (the only one left), looking close to death and anybody could see we were beyond hungry. We would eat anything even if it tastes terrible. But the awful cook then takes the fact we ate that meal as a sign that he has loyal customers who like his grub! No we don't we just have no option to eat it, but we may as well be polite about it!

19 Mar 2014 19:37:06
quality post Beast. Just tuning in to the game tonight. Hoping that Giggs has 1 last masterclass for us all, knowing his character he will see this as big opportunity to go down as the ultimate legend to inspire his team to an unlikely turnaround when all were losing faith, like an old heavyweight he still believes he has 1 last fight in him
and I for 1 am backing him to pull out his last great inspirational display for his beloved United. What a story it would be. COme on Ryan show Moyes the United way and lead and show your team mates both on the field and in the stands that the United spirit lives on.
Can he do it just 1 last time??

Good point but laboured analogy. If I were you I'd keep it literal from now on.

Ken

Giggs is so poor and should not be on the pitch. Respect the guy but these type of games are one bridge too far for him now.

I thought you would like stories Rumpelstiltskin. Point noted though, my wife tells me the same. haha

GCU so much disrespect. Giggs does not lose that class over night. He has had some poor displays this season but non on the Big Stage. I am with Ken, He is The Biggest player and someone that can make something happen ahead of him.

19 Mar 2014 20:49:41
GCU, give the guy a break please name me another member of the squad who would have pulled offeither killer pass for both goals,,, in fact name me another who would have seen it. yes he is 40 and well past his best but he is trying to galvenise the team out there. He has put in a better midfield first half than I have seen most of this season. its sad but in the big games he is still the best we have. because he has a bit of vision and hates losing

Jrobbm

Why is that disrespectful. Bringing out a 40 year old on a night like this reminds me of hail merry pass.

The unfortunate reality is we have not got many options in terms of someone who can sit in midfield and pass it around. He is the best option available for this game.

19 Mar 2014 18:59:31
We chose Valencia over Kagawa? What happened to him being a big part of this game?

I hope there's some amazing plan behind playing Giggs as well. Time will tell but I am not confident at all with that line up.

19 Mar 2014 18:52:57
Another cautious team selection by Moyes when we are losing 2-0. Giggs and Valencia both start. There is just no pace in that side for me can see this being a struggle but bloody hope I'm wrong lads.

We need welbeck evra and rafael to have a blinder to give us some pace in the side and of course RVP and Wazza.

Come on boys give us something to smile about

19 Mar 2014 18:12:19
Hey guys, for the first time this season, I'm actually feeling confident about winning a game comfortably, believe it or not!

Having seen Rooney nutmeg Moyes on the training ground and watching the players, they all look happy and I think Moyes will send them out with that jovial attitude rather than the fear factor that they're sent out with sometimes because Moyes doesn't want to lose. Honestly believe that if we win tonight and go through, confidence will be restored and I'd predict a win on Saturday 2-0 and a 3-1 against City on Tuesday. Probably hopeless optimism but I think the sun has got the best of me!

I take it you haven't seen the line up?

19 Mar 2014 17:18:26
Is it true that smalling is out now for a month or even longer?

That leaves us with Vidic, Jones, and Ferdinand, does not fulfil you with a lot of confidence does it?

I honestly don't understand why we did not buy garay in January and hope we buy two CB.

Smalling Evans and Jones can not stay away from injuries and not what we should bet the future of the club on.

We should have used Keane between now and May. We have nowt to play for.

I think injuries with them 3 are starting to become an issue

19 Mar 2014 18:25:23
Is it the training causing issues?

Agree he should have got Garay in or play Keane.

Not the training IMO it goes back a few seasons

It has been an issue since they signed. They are too stupid, they fly into ridiculous tackles thinking they are or look brave but they hurt themselves nearly every time. Their poor touch also invites reckless recovery challenges. If they do this on the pitch they will be doing this in training (Rooney gash I think was Jones in training).

I've gone on about this before, but if we are going to sign players who can't fathom that throwing yourself into dangerous tackles to prevent a none threatening situation is foolish then we have no chance planning games in advance as they may always be a doubt for the game. How are they expected to grasp complex tactics if they can't grasp this basic common sense? - hmm maybe this is the problem, some of our players are just too thick to handle intelligent pacey footballers and tactical planning. Too many Indians and not enough cooks, and those that do cook only make mischief at the minute.

We need some nouse at the back especially, not just Sunday morning style kamikaze buffoons.

Its a sign we need two first team central defenders like Garay who can play without losing quality but are easy to drop so Garay and Jagielka for me

19 Mar 2014 13:52:00
Ross barkley thinks roberto martinez is a more tactical manager than david moyes, no sh** sherlock!

No chance of signing Barkley then.

Never was . never will be . same applied to Baines & Coleman

I know we are suffering but guys really now we have to show some respect for the club and the manager. Frankly, who cares what some 20 year old Scouser person thinks.

Most of these guys are too dumb too be able to spell tactical and what do you think he would say anything given where he is and who he plays for.

"Applied to Coleman" - a bit presumptuous I think.

We took your best player last season and your best youngster over the past 20 years, not too sure where this idea of security comes from. I like Everton but don't kid yourself, at the end of the day you are a feeder club, albeit a very good one.

19 Mar 2014 13:00:31
I have an awful feeling we'll see one of Welbeck or Young tonight, making space for Mata who we obviously can't play. Thought about this game a lot over the past day or so and I keep coming to the same conclusion. a definite win for us, but I just can't see us going through.

A lot of posts on here today are saying about we need a Keane or a Robson to step up and pull us through, and while I admit a glowing performance from some of our big names is in dire need of happening, I feel it should have been up to Moyes and the staff to lift the camp over the last few days, to get out on the training pitch and set up for the type of football those boys want to play. Unfortunately, my gut says they haven't done this and we'll be in for a long night of frustrating football. 2-1 to us I'm thinking. hope I'm wrong!

Awful feeling?! Tonight is made for Danny Welbeck. High energy, passion for the club, will work his socks off for 90 minutes. There is a reason that Welbeck played in both legs of the Madrid tie last year and other players didn't. We need to inject some pace into our game tonight and get the crowd off seats. That is our best hope. For me I would drop one of Rooney/RVP to the bench and play Januzaj, Kagawa and Welbeck with the latter coming off the left.

TK, I think I would plonk Rooney in the hole, Van Persie upfront, Welbeck right and Kagawa left. I want to see Rooney and Kagawa link up like Rooney and Mata have done. Almost sharing the hole. I would like to see Welbeck join up with Van Persie in attack when we break.

I'm with tk red we need as much pace on the field as we can. I believe half our problem is having no one run beyond the opposition back four. The majority of our passes in the final third are to players facing their own goal making it easy for the opposition.

A lot depends on the Greeks, if they sit back I think it would suit kags more than welbeck.
Will Giggs play

Tk-Red

100% agree on dropping one striker. I think this is when DM needs to be brave and do the unthinkable by many pundits and drop one. They are both in poor form and we are better off having an extra midfielder and dominating the middle an deputing them under long spells of pressure, rather than hoping for Rooney and RVP's moment of magic.

I think if we play both rooney and RVP, kagawa will be stepping over each other toes and neither likes to go wide and they all come in to the middle of the pitch.

If we are going to get through we will need maybe a goal or two from one of our defenders or midfielders.

Welbeck does nothing more than run around, harass the odd player and fall over. Great if you're protecting a lead. but we need 3 goals, and he won't give us any.

Although he'll probably prove me wrong now haha!

Welbeck Kagawa and Januzai to play behind Rooney for me Jones and Fellani in midfield with Evra Ferdinand Vidic and Rafael at the back with De Gea in goal

19 Mar 2014 11:44:15
€95 million for Cavani done deal.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this rumour. Don't get me wrong good player and know united need to make a big statement this summer but really hope it's not true although on the other hand we been getting ripped of with our last 2 signings so wouldn't surprise me lol.

We are not going to spend £80m+ on Cavani.

Personally I don't think we got ripped off with mata. Fellaini yes but moyes doesn't seem to know how to use mata. He keeps putting him wide when he has no pace and can't use his creativity when he is out there. Just a case of using your players to their strenghths and not being bone headed and not changing things when he needs to

Syd,

But it's a done deal, so clearly we are! *yawn*

Syd don't forget you have to BELIEVE. Cavani, Kroos, Vidal, Carvalho, Mangala, Shaw, Garay Griezmann and James Rodriguez a mere snip around £350m the lot, damn I forgot a RB Coleman for £500.000 they still make a profit on him right?

Now I do believe that would be a good team.

I think we are going to do some mass spending this summer and I think we will be very happy with our summer's business, but is Moyes the man to trust to build this new looking MU? We will see, but I am not convinced.

Syd, I'm not sure that we will be very happy with this summer's spending at all. It's a World Cup year and every single one of our 'big' targets will be targeted by other big clubs if they become available.

Having looked over everything ed002 has been saying for the last few months, it appears that we have interest in a number of players, but nothing shored up. If you look at what the likes of City and Monaco have needed to pay to attract players to 'project' clubs that will need a few seasons to challenge for trophies, we would need to throw our wage structure completely out the window to compete against the likes of Barca, Real, City etc. In other words, we need to pay vastly over the odds if we want to convince top players to join us over other big clubs.

While I believe that the owners accept that they need to start putting more money into transfers, I'm not convinced that they understand how much more they need to pay to attract players to a club without any CL football and no guarantee of success in the coming years.

I think people will be surprised how competitive the market will be in the summer, and we may have to work our way down the list to less sought after talents.

I think we may have a couple shocks this summer. Mata was a shock and I expect two more this summer.

Learn to read gds2, it's a rumour!

I don't think we have a fixed wage structure anymore Danny, players like Rooney have made sure of that.

Even if we did sign cavani where do you thinks Moyes would play him left or right wing?

19 Mar 2014 10:00:57
I just about remember bryan robsons performance against barcelona. Who's going to do that for us tonight?
Time to stand up and be counted, everybody is playing for their future and this is a huge game for Moyes.
Come on lads give us something to shout about.
4-1 Rooney.

Personally I think it would be a blessing in disguise if we go out of the champs league.If we go through it will only paper over the cracks.In years gone by people would of been saying how many will we put past the Greeks 5 or 6.Really our second team should be able to beat these.Can anybody honestly say if we do go through we have any chance against any of the the teams left in it.The only team I'd give us a prayer against is Chelsea

I haven't posted in this mayhem for quite a few days now. We need someone today to be a Cantona or Robson or Keane.

Today is when players like RVP and Rooney stand up and show why they are considered to be the best of the best. No one essentially has to do it for Moyes, do it for the club. Tonight is make or break.

Upto Robin and Rooney then. I get a feeling they are going to turn up.

Deeps.

P.S - I will still apportion the majority of blame on our players.

Blackpool red
If we don't go through we will cross that bridge when we come to it, and like you say could well turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
But I for one can't hope for anything other than a convincing win tonight. We need to get through this one.
I think we will go through, but I have been wrong on many occasions especially this season :-)

19 Mar 2014 09:55:05
Is tonight Moyes's forest? We need the spirit of juve in 99 and finally for the players to step up and give us a performance we deserve after watching them all season. I can see RVP doing a keano tonight and dragging ys into the quarter finals.

19 Mar 2014 07:53:01
Who can do a Mark Robins for Moysee tonight?

I hope someone can but the cup is turning half empty no matter hard I try to stop it doing so.

Come on lads - give something back to the fans.

Kagawa if he plays.

19 Mar 2014 03:42:36
Well one point I have covered before with moyes is the amount spent already with zero improvement.

So with the Glazers massive money men, while the stock is dropping, season tickets clearly not getting snapped up and no doubt boxes not being filled where does this lead us?

Lack of everything that made us United ie passion, fight, pride, talent, dominance, attacking play etc the list goes on. Where is the attraction? Other than it being United there is none at the minute. The only saving grace is the 'talk' of big name signings to which in all honesty was not what the SAF dynasty was made of. All cloak and dagger garbage to keep the supporters onside!

Ill be honest, seeing the game on Sunday it would have taken everyone around me to do what our fans in the stadium did and show a defiance of power and sing like they did and I applaud every one of you for doing so. It showed we all are not as quick as other fans to turn coats publicly.

But in all honesty unless moyes brings in an entire new team I cannot see how he has the trust of the players. Current and future.

As the eds have said the lure of Utd is still there without CL football and our brand is still strong but signing for a man nobody under current control has trust in will never lure the type of quality we need and we definitely need it.

I have nothing but respect for moyes as a jock making a very good place for himself in his chosen profession but by god it's near bordering embarrassment if we don't even qualify for the Europa league after 70m of investment (as well as a massive bumper contract to keep our 'best' player) together with a title winning squad.

They know how to win, we have played the same teams we have before yet tactics, formation, personnel and management have dictated we are on a par with Everton of last year?

Now I get to my point. SAF was always a great motivator, getting great performances from 'lesser' players in big games but they have dried up. Both the players and the motivation. So what do we have? A guy that's renowned for working on a budget? Great! Glad that's the case after the 70m spent on just 2 players!

Where do we go? Give the same man another 100m to make another limited impression? I mean a guy with so many years of PL experience does not need a season to decide who is good enough in Uniteds squad, he as we do, would have known from day one what needs to happen so I ask why didn't it?

Incompetence is the only explanation. Blame the chief exec if you want but it's just another cover up for a blundering management team. Would SAF have returned with three bids for Fab? Haha no chance!

Moyes thought all his eggs would roll into his basket nicely and it failed miserably.

I worry for us, on the back of wanting to be the moral high ground takers and showing the manager he has the backing it hasn't taken for instance Liverpool or Swansea before that 100's of millions of backing to allow Rodgers to work his own stuff and get a good team together. Good managers make good of what they have and add to it not turn title winners into non runners and likely not even euro qualifiers.

Embarrassment for moyes really.

Give him all the support you want but he hasn't lost a major player, he has added to it and come out with shocking results. There is genuinely nothing to look forward to! No inspiration, no leadership, no forward thinking, etc.

You think RVP's comments were his own? Or a publicity stunt through his employers after his international manager pointed out his real grievances?

Simply put SAF has never in his career picked a manager to replace him, so why have we entrusted a guy on his approval as the only way forward? His signings have suggested a mixed bag of success to failure so why trust his only choice on manager?

Bulls**t IMO!

Our manager should have been picked on the credentials they hold NOT what one man decides as good virtues. As great a manager and as a legend he will remain SAF will never be known for his choice of replacements.

Whatever it costs get rid and build from the bottom. If we want to win it on merit and not money that's the only way!

Excellent, balanced opinion. It's hard to feel sorry for Moyes as he is the architect of his own downfall.
He took on a big job, manager of the biggest club in Britain, if not Europe, and turned it into a massive job. A well tried and tested back room had it's staff ejected in favour of people who had never won anything, personal trophies aside! Well run, successful businesses do not sack the entire board in one go when a new CEO is appointed. Changes are made gradually, and only when needed.
Moyes sent Zaha off without giving him a chance, and just to add a little salt to the wound, continued to play Young, Cleverly and Valencia when they haven't even had a handful of good games between them all season.
After years of being starved of investment by the Glazers, many fans are now hoping they don't give Moyes money to spend. Waiting until we have a new manager with the necessary credentials would seem to be a far better way.
It's sad times for us all as supporters of this now stumbling giant of a club, but I feel that an experienced European savvy manager with an eye for "a player" and a hundred million to spend would soon have us winning again, and playing the kind of football Manchester United are famed for. But before any of that can happen, Moyes has to go!

Agree with all of this and I think that only saf (although a genius) is conceded enough to think that the only man who can do his job as well as him is? well?'david frm the same place as me, with the same morals moyes, the nearest manager in the league in terms of personality as himself 'but In reality moyes is a coward and fergie has always been a gambler

That was me above ;)