Manchester United Banter Archive February 24 2013

24 Feb 2013 21:20:01
Stoners more frequent presence coincedentally collides with the last week or so, when Arsenals hopes of winning anything at all this year went down the toilet. Be nice to see your little feeder club make it a decade of wooden spoons!

Whistler.

24 Feb 2013 21:51:11
Sorry did I point some stuff out you didn't like. You hang in there son you're doing ok.

24 Feb 2013 20:14:10
Swansea have won more silverware in half a season than Arsenal have in nearly 8.

Loving the crisis they're having at the minute.

420United

Well,

I'm not sure how that makes sense.

Surely you have to at least keep the time scale comparative for it to have any meaning whatsoever.

I wouldn't say I'm loving it! Don't get me wrong, i'm glad there not pushing us for the title, but I have far more respect for Arsenal as a club than I do for our other title rivals:Chelsea and Man City.

Yes, the way they have handled their players contracts of late has been a debacle. And a serious lack of investment when the funds (Legitimate funds;yes, that is a dig at City) are there has cost them. But let's not forget when they were our sole rivals and got the better of us on occasion. They did that with astute buys and delightfull football and not a sugar daddy in sight!

That's like saying Swansea have won more trophies in the last week than united!

24 Feb 2013 19:23:25
What does everyone think on the di Maria speculation?

Good player not sure how he would do in the EPL

I don't know how he'd do in the Premiership either jred, but I know one thing for certain - he'd do better than Young or Toni.

He's been obviously overshadowed by Ronny over the last couple of years, but I think he's a top player in his own right, probably in the next rung below Ronny and Messi.

Amongst all the usual suspects, it's nice to see his name starting to crop up again.

24 Feb 2013 18:51:23
Joey, sooner or later Suarez will want to play for a big club.

Sydney!

Sydney, u have lost it mate, your obession with liverpool and their players is weird as a united fan, maybe you should follow little i am kloot posts and talk more about uniteds players?

Big Al

You call yourself big Al and refer to fellow posters as little. Mate, I know Liverpool fans have developed an inferiority complex, over the last couple of decades, but that is ridiculous.

You're accusing Sydney of obsessing over Liverpool players? You lot are painfully obsessed with us. Look around, you are on the Manchester united page.

24 Feb 2013 18:16:37
Pogba scored another beautiful goal for juventus and at the age of 19 has 5 goals in 22 apps for juventus. I think for the good of his own career he made the right choice. sigh

Sigh indeed! He doesn't play for us, move on.

I have some weird gut feeling that he will move to City in the summer. City would love to rub it in united's face and Pogba fits the mercenary category in my eyes.

IHaveNoName!

next summer sells for 10-20 million to Juventus just for them to sell in the summer making the player and agent more money, glad we got rid, I went to the Peterborough - Birmingham game and in the match day programme Petrucci was saying about his love of the club and how SAF has faith in all te youngsters but they must wait for their time!
Tommy!

24 Feb 2013 17:36:09
'jred'

You say that the PL has dropped in standards, you use the fact we are 12 points clear as an example of why you think this and then you say the PL used to be the best league in the world but has now dropped in standard. Can I ask which league you rate as the best then?

Is it Spain where Barca are 15 points clear?

or it Germany where Bayern are 18 points clear?

TK-Red

Which totally proves my point Dortmund were a better team than city yet are 17 points (not 18)behind a very good Munich team how far behind would city be in that league
madrid are also a better team than city as they showed in the cl and are only third in there league were would city be in la liga 4/5
City epl champions couldn't even get out of the group stages I won't even mention how they did against the champions of Holland.
Chelsea got stuffed of falcoa and athletic madrid

City and Chelsea would struggle for a CL place in la liga

The discussion is whether the EPL of 2012/13 is stronger than the EPL of 2008/09.

Judging the strength of the EPL by comparing Manchester City results with Dortmund & Real Madrid is not the way to do it.

Are you going to tell me Bilbao would be top of the EPL if they were an EPL side. It doesn't work that way.

Sydney!

How do you think utd would do in these leagues jred?

Jamal

So? Barcelona got beaten by AC Milan and they are hardly setting Serie A alight? Being a knockout competition, CL progression is a bad way to judge the quality of a league as anything can happen.

TK-Red

Oh and Dortmund were 18 points behind at the time of writing that post so let's not be pedantic eh jred.

TK-Red

Jamal
I think we would be challenging, barce and Munich are top teams imo I'm not sure we are as good as them yet
I think we would hold our own against madrid Dortmund and A madrid

TK, AC Milan would be top of the La Liga then ;)

Sydney!

Syd
I was replying to TKs very valid question
To your own question I will refer you to my previous post further down the post

"Go back 3 or 4 years and the best 3 teams in England would only be separated by a few points they would also be 3 of the best teams in Europe.
Now you could argue that teams in Germany and Spain have improved but have the teams in England, for me the standard has been raised and most of the top teams in Europe have passed the top teams in England.
For me in football if your not improving your getting overtaken and going backwards.
The EPL use to set the standard in Europe I no longer think that is the case
Still the best league to watch imo but no longer the bench Mark it was imo"

I respect and understand that you think the standard of the EPL have not dropped but as I have explained above I beg to differ

Jred, I guarantee you if it wasn't for the recent 1. 1 RM game, you would have RM in Barcelona's and Bayern's list. What a difference a game makes eh?

Good night lads, off out for a beer.

Sydney!

Tk
That was pedantic I thought I'd deleted it to be honest
The cl was just an example I honestly think city would of struggled for a cl place in la liga this year
I think I have explained my point of view both above and below on the current standard of the league and you disagree, no probs let's leave it at that and let somebody else have a go,

Syd
I think anyone who follows la liga would say real have struggled this season for various reasons although on there day are prob as good as anyone

Jred, AGAIN! the EPL is not made up of all UCL clubs. Only the top four get to go to the UCL. I am not comparing our UCL clubs to Germany's or Spain's. I am talking about the rest of the EPL. The other 16 clubs are stronger now than they were five years ago.

We are not talking about whether Chelsea, City or United are better than Barcelona, RM or Bayern, we are talking about the EPL. How the EPL is stronger than it was five years ago. This is a very competitive league and the littler clubs can beat the bigger clubs.

Our league as a whole has improved and gotten stronger. La Liga, Italy & Bundesliga has become less competitive because their smaller clubs have got worse, so the better clubs in their leagues are coasting. The EPL isn't like that, the smaller clubs have gotten stronger and our league is far more competitive because of this.

The EPL is a stronger league than it was five years ago.

Sydney!

Syd
I will again refer you to one of my posts yesterday
"
The bottom teams may of improved from recent years but the top teams the teams that set the standard for me have all gone backwards imo.
With the exception of United"

We are not talking about how competitive the league is we are talking about the standard
You make a statement "the EPL is a stronger league than it was five years ago" well believe it or not some people disagree,
In the posts above and on the banter 2 site yesterday I gave several reason to back up my argument.

You seem to think your opinion is proof enough,

Jred, Dortmund & RM beating City is not proof that the league isn't as strong as it was. By this reckoning Bilbao would be top of our league as they beat us or if AC Milan was in La Liga they would be top because they comfortably beat Barcelona. You cannot use one-off games between City and other clubs to determine whether we are a stronger league than we were five years ago. The reason we had three teams in the UCL semi's in 2007/08 & 2008/09 was because the rest of Europe bar Barcelona were poor, not because Arsenal & Liverpool were so good.

The rest of Europe have caught up over the past five years and teams like Chelsea, Liverpool & Arsenal have stagnated. But in their place City, Spurs, Newcastle, WBA and the rest of the EPL have all gotten stronger. Making the EPL a stronger league. The nonsense you were writing yesterday means nothing as the EPL haven't gotten weaker, the rest of Europe caught up.

Forget about Europe or the other UCL clubs and look at the individual clubs in the EPL. Only a handful have stagnated, the rest are stronger making the EPL a stronger league than it was five years ago.

Sydney! {Ed007's Note - AC Milan aren't the only team to beat Barca in Europe Syd ;-)

007, Very true my friend, Celtic ripped them a new one too ;)

Sydney!

As I have said a few times now
Go back 3 or 4 years and the best 3 teams in England would only be separated by a few points they would also be 3 of the best teams in Europe.
Now you could argue that teams in Germany and Spain have improved but have the teams in England, for me the standard has been raised and most of the top teams in Europe have passed the top teams in England.
For me in football if your not improving your getting overtaken and going backwards.
The EPL use to set the standard in Europe I no longer think that is the case
Still the best league to watch imo but no longer the bench Mark it was imo"

I think that's a fair comment so your comment of" the nonsense you were writing yesterday means nothing was the EPL haven't gotten weaker the rest of Europe caught up" is a bit harsh

You don't think the standard has slipped but that's not fact it's your opinion.

I'm not sure why you have such an issue accepting other people point of view, you think the EPL is stronger than it was 5 years ago, you might be right
I however don't think it is and gave my view and reasons why, I have nothing else to say on what is a trival subject

Well played Jred, enjoyed the discussion ;)

Sydney!

24 Feb 2013 16:54:41
Laudrup has done well with his time in charge of Swansea, but you have to give credit when it's due. Well done Roberto Martinez for getting Swansea to where they are today. They still play with the Martinez DNA. Definitely a manager for the future.

Sydney!

It'll be so funny if Swansea win a trophy whilst laughing boy Brendan carries on spouting his mumbo jumbo as Liverpool keep losing

AJH, I don't think a single Swansea player playing today was a Brendon Rodgers signing other than perhaps Routledge. These are Martinez' & Laudrup's players playing the Martinez way, with a sprinkle of Laudrup's forward directness.

Sydney!

24 Feb 2013 17:32:50
Exactly right as always Syd, knowing what a naff player Laudrup was and seeing the poor buys he made in Ki, Michu, Tiendalli, Pablo H, Chico, Bartley and De Guzman.

In was only natural that he would play a long ball game.

You ever thought about changing your name to Rodney.

Stoner, sorry you lost me, what are you talking about? What long ball game? Who mentioned long ball?

Sydney!

24 Feb 2013 18:46:55
hey don't sweat people, even the GREAT stevie g missed one the other day, maybe you should let anderson take your pens, I mean he must be good at something lol.

24 Feb 2013 19:24:49
Sydney!

My point is not long ball, my point is Laudrup got the players and Swansea play his style. Martinez may well be a good manager but them being in the final is h**k all to do with him.

Stoner, Swansea play the same way as they did under Martinez up until the final third, this is where Laudrup has improved Swansea as instead of going side to side, he has made them more direct and they now play through-balls to Michu as well as using inverted wingers and having balls played in from the sides. Laudrup fully deserves the plaudits, but the base of the team was built by Martinez. That was my point. I think Martinez with a decent amount of cash to spend would be a very successful manager.

Sydney!

25 Feb 2013 14:07:38
Sydney!

Not sure you'll read this this far back, but that still doesn't make it a Martinez team or mean he gets the plaudits.

Laudrup made adjustments to the way he wants his team to play football. Yes Martinez has the ability to be a top manager, I'm not arguing that point but Rogers has been there since Martinez and Laudrup lost three of there best players and got in 5 or more of his own to make that team and the way they play his own mate.

Who know's where Laudrup will go from here but it's his 1st season, next year he has europe to contend with to, that will be a great oppotunity for him to shine and I really hope they do well.

I have said Laudrup deserves the plaudits.

There was nothing wrong with my OP. Martinez deserves some credit for laying the foundations at Swansea, Laudrup capped it off with his directness and got a cup for his troubles.

My points was well done to both Martinez & Laudrup for making Swansea what they are today. Personally I think Liverpool made a blunder going for Rodgers, Swansea's rise was down to Martinez.

Sydney!

24 Feb 2013 14:56:34
Lampard bottled it. He always smashes higher into the net than that. What was that all about? The fear in his face said it all.

Sydney!

24 Feb 2013 16:09:29
hey syd, even wayne rooney has started to miss penalties lately, just goes to show, even players on 12 million a year wages like wayne
can bottle it?
ps, or do you think that its because a certain arsenal player in his team is on the same wages as wayne lol.

You over use PS.

They are on similar salaries, but I think it's nearer to £9m a year.

Sydney!

I suppose suarez will be looking for similar wages once he moves to a bigger club in the summer, joeyored

Joey, sooner or later Suarez will want to play for a big club.

Sydney!

It was a decent penalty, although, you could see the fear in his eyes and the gulp of pressure in his throat.

I don't buy into this bottling brigade of late when it comes to penos, there are plenty of players who put their foot blindly through it out of fear and end up scoring. Does that make them brave?

Good save to be fair

I think its a dead cert sydney mate, suarez must wonder to himself how the hell carroll got a loan move to a bigger club and he's still stuck at mid table obscuritity, lfc and his chums will at least have something to celebrate sooner or later as 1 more point and they reach the magic 40 point mark, joeyored

24 Feb 2013 18:30:59
To be fair I thought it was a good penalty, hard and low in the corner, was just a very good save.

Will Red

24 Feb 2013 14:27:51
Anyone see mancini's comments about how lucky we are. Such a bitter man, he just can't realise that are players want to win trophies while their players are there for the money.

Simple mind games. It worked last year, it will not work this year. In fact he may not having a job come the end of May.

Just taking non-sense and smells of desperation. With 2 more wins which are very likely, it will start to break their spirit.

Shahram

24 Feb 2013 13:43:51
Just catching up on yesterday's topics. I'm delighted we are so far clear and fingers crossed we can manage another double. But, I don't accept that the EPL is as strong as it has ever been. I think we are in transition and the fact we are so far clear tells you how poor everyone else is. Is this United team as good as the '94 team, the '99 team, or the '07/'08 team? I really don't think so. It doesn't mean we canpt go on to be but we are still a few players short. How many games have we truly dominated this year? Even yesterday, QPR, the worst team in the league had 50% possession. SAF is doing a stunning job to keep winning but Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have all gone backwards. Spurs have improved but Europe no longer fears English teams like it did a few years ago. I don;t have a downer on the team, they've done a great job this year but a little perspective doesn't hurt.

24 Feb 2013 15:38:14
Also everyone will improve over the summer. Arsenal will have to spend. Spurs will improve a little bit further. Chelsea will have a proper manager in and look to be only a few signings away anyway. City will spend whether or not mancin is still there or he's replaced. But we'll improve as well. MrE

I don't think anyone would accept that the EPL is as strong as ever! It's quite clear it isn't! while the league as a whole in terms of quality might be better than most if not all european leagues the fact remains that the Spanish, German and Italian top teams are far superior to anything the EPL has to offer in my opinion and that's the only thing that matters!

Jamal

Just realised I put fact and in my opinion in the same sentence which makes no sense what's so ever :)

Jamal

24 Feb 2013 17:36:09
i'd put us above the italians. Juventus are nothing special and milan are too inconsistant. And correct me if i'm wrong but didn't we just go to the home of the biggest team in Spain and draw? Not get thrashed like some were predicting.

The biggest team in spain is only 3rd in the league

AJH

My own view is that the top 4 are not as dominant (in comparison to European teams) as in previous years, but that the strength in depth throughout the remainder of the league is better. Also I don't agree there has been a significant drop in quality in the top 4, rather that other teams in Europe have progressed very well (German clubs being the best example).

Kuala

24 Feb 2013 13:20:03
If you get a chance watch James Rodriguez's assist against Rio Ave yesterday, it shows a glimpse of his great ability. The left wing is a position that I think we all agree needs strengthening, and in my eyes there is no better candidate than Rodriguez.
Nat

Ronaldo?

Realistic candidate
nat

24 Feb 2013 12:43:10
Happy birthday to the King 73 today. The reason I pulled my cuffs down as a boy. Still my Hero

24 Feb 2013 13:10:55
good grief AHOOT, kenny dalglish is not that old, is he. {Ed004's Note - Obviously not lfc...}

LFC if you remember that Dalglish was voted the second best Scotish player ever and who was no 1 yes that's right the King Denis Law.

24 Feb 2013 14:02:49
both great players KLOOT, so I won't quibble about it, maybe they wore the crown at different times.
ps, money can buy some of the worlds top players, ie- city, but to keep a winning mentallity, as sir alex has is not so easy to do.

If Kenny ever wore the crown then it was only because he nicked it. Hardly surprising.

TK-Red

Lfc, have you actually just said something nice for a change?

24 Feb 2013 15:52:58
yes mick, I have decided to be a bit more respectfull and nicer to utd fans in general.
ps, I am not even going to call anderson fat antmore, just pleasantly plumb lol.

Stop using ps. lfc!

24 Feb 2013 11:40:05
If anybody wants to see Strootman he is playing now live on espn vs Feyenoord! He is a player heavily linked with United.

Don't have ESPN but would be interested to get anyone's views on how he played?

Thanks

24 Feb 2013 11:02:11
So. Has everyone cooled off after the epic Rooney debate yesterday. JRed, Sydney! Still speaking? ;)

Fantastic day today, we can all kick back and relax and watch our two closest EPL rivals slugging it out in the hope that they can stay close enough to our wake to still feel the ripples!

Next five games Norwich, Real Madrid, Middlesbrough/Chelsea, Reading all at home, Sunderland away. As Sydney! said yesterday. If we win all of these this season will be shaping up very nicely indeed.

GGMU

Rooneys been discussed to death

On the league there's a chance if we win our next 6 games I think we could be champions by the end of March

There's nothing to cool off about my friend. IMO Rooney is still a top player and an important member of our team. He will continue to score goals for us, get assists and his work rate will continue to please. I just think we may have seen the best of him now he isn't at his physical peak. Still a player that I want to remain at the club though.

Sydney!

'Jred'

Looking at the fixtures of both sides, I have a sneaking suspicion that we will have a chance to put the title to bed against City at OT on he 8th April. No better way to do it IMO. well, we could do it at the Etihad.

TK-Red

Tk
Would be very nice

24 Feb 2013 07:19:18
hasnt it been a great season how many of you at the start of this season thought wed be winning the league by 15 pts and still in the champions league after drawing with madrid cause I certantly didnt
paddy the irish man

Neither did I. CL is still up in the sky and we need to win but the league table was never expected.

Life is very good at the moment.

Shahram