Manchester United Banter Archive February 04 2013

04 Feb 2013 21:05:17
sorry guys the post I sent I said it was 2 games where fixed, it was one and don't now why the danish paper said its the liverpool match just passing on what I read on the nett on a norwegian site zee

04 Feb 2013 17:44:41
Eds or any1else,
What is the situation in spain with the top players not at barca and madrid? I know there is a real money crisis with players wages not getting paid and such, do you expect a mass exodus of players leaving for the PL where the big sky deal kicks in next season?
Chris the REDman {Ed001's Note - Sevilla are on the verge of collapse, they won't be the only club selling off their prize assets come the summer.}

04 Feb 2013 20:44:56
Anyone think Rafael is worth a punt at right mid? He's the only player on the right who has took somebody on this season! Great little player.

420United

Developing into one of the best right backs in world football, let's play him out of position. Classic.

DodgyBanter

Love the name

04 Feb 2013 17:18:11
Forget how many wins are enough to win the title from here, it's not over until that trophy is being lifted high into the air at Old Trafford.

G. A. G. U. S

Or away to West Brom for that matter ;)

G. A. G. U. S

AND I want that to be at home to city.

would be the best. ever.

Oxred

Wouldn't it be awesome if we had won the league at Anfield 2 years ago when we overtook them for league titles?
Would have been the best. Ever.

04 Feb 2013 15:19:51
Mourinho to Chelsea reports doing the rounds can't see it to be honest.

RED91

I can see either Chelsea or City, because our position isn't going to be available this summer.

Can see him leaving as soon as RM's champions league campaign is over.

A

04 Feb 2013 13:52:54
For all the people who think Rooney should be sold or wouldn't mind if he left. This is what Ronaldinho recently said about him in the build up to England vs Brazil - "Rooney is a player I like - there is not a national squad in the world he would not improve. " He knows it.

Ozwald

Yet another quote from another footballer to prove conclusively how good a player is. yes? Don't be fooled into thinking I am saying such opinions are wrong but they don't count for anything IMO as at the end of the day it us just another opinion.

Pele was one of the greatest footballers the world has ever seen but the guy knows bugger all about the game.

TK-Red

Didnt pele once claim Butt was the best midfielder of his generation?
Chris the REDman

Pele is infamous for his comments and predictions about football so nothing would surprise me.

TK-Red

Pele, said that Butt was the best midfielder at the time and he had just had an outstanding game for England at the World Cup against the Argies (1-0).
He has said before that Best was the best player ever but also said the same about Di stefano and puskas.
Seeing as he's arguably the best player ever with over 1000 career goals, 1 effin thousand I'd say he knows a bit about the game.

Supasub

There are drivers in Formula 1 who can drive a car very fast but couldn't tell you how it is built. Just because as a player he knew how to play the game doesn't mean he has an automatic knowledge of the workings of it.

TK-Red

But considering he spent the best part of 20 years as a professional footballer, is regarded as one the the best ever players, played against and with some of the very best there has ever been and played in what is arguably the best team there has ever been you would imagine he picked one or two things up along the way

Or maybe TK is right and he knows bigger all about the game
jred

So when various ex footballers, football managers etc work as pundits for various TV, radio and newspapers, you boys agree with everything they say do you? You sit there and say "gosh, I'm glad we get to listen to these chaps as they've had such fine careers in the game and clearly know what they are talking about"? Let me answer that for you, do you chuff. People from within the game talk just as much rubbish as anyone and yet Pele is somehow immune to this is he? Don't let romantic notions of a player fool you into thinking he has some kind of footballing higher knowledge.

I would also like to bet that you people probably haven't every taken to time to listen to what Pele has to say about football.

Oh and its not just me Jred. A certain Eric Cantona once said exactly the same. you know, if we're talking about what "people involved with the game" have said.

TK-Red

Isn't this the same Pele that put El Hadji Diouf in his top 100 players of all time? Yet left out players like Scholes, Giggs, Xavi, Zola, Jairzinho etc.

The man is a legend for his football skills, just because he was a good footballer it doesn't mean his opinions are fact or better than anyone elses opinion.

Sydney!

04 Feb 2013 12:47:20
So a CL game in England was fixed, I wonder which one.
Chelsea v brace?
Jred

I think so Calling Mr Ovrebo to the nearest police station

MANRED

It was a strange game and I think Chelsea were robbed
jred

Could have been Chelsea Barca semi?

Supasub

04 Feb 2013 13:14:40
13 games to go. 9 points clear. Most of our difficult away games gone. 11 more wins should be enough. However is anyone else worried about Everton? We've not looked too convincing the last couple of games in midfield and we have tended to struggle with Everton recently as Fellaini tends to brute us.

No name,

11 wins will definitely be enough, no should about it. I don't think we will need anywhere near that to be honest, City will not win every game they have left, they have to play Chelsea (home) and United, Everton, Spurs and Swansea (Away).

Everton will be a tricky game on Sunday, if we can come through that with a win then we have to be looking at winning every game before the city game. If we do that I think it is over.

GDS

I agree this is now a huge game for us, especially given what happened in our last 2 games v Everton. 3 points will be difficult to come by but if we do manage it, they will be a 3 big points IMO.

It's difficult to know how to set up against them - whether to put 3 in midfield to nullify that area or to push our wingers on in order to push Baines back?

I'd be tempted to try a bit of both. I think Jones would be a good option as the 3rd midfielder - so he can make life as difficult as possible for Fellaini. Even man mark him at times. Then have Carrick and either Clev/Ando to control possession. Not sure who would be best on the wings TBH but Welbeck is always an option as he works so hard and could help us stretch the play. The most difficult decision with my shape would be who to pick as the lone striker - RVP or Rooney? Or could one of them play effectively out wide for this one?

I'll be very interested to see how the manager sets us up for this one.

Gav

10 wins will be enough.

Sydney!

We didn't have jones, smalling or evans for that opening day match. . .
i am hoping jones will be man marking fellaini to keep him at bay

Your right everton is a worry however if utd can beat them this weekend it would be a massive boost beating one of our boogey teams I know there's a long way to go but if we beat everton it would be a massive result for confidence.

phil

Stick Jones & Carrick on Fellaini in midfield, Smalling at RB, Ferdinand & Vidic/Evans at CB. Try and incorporate Welbeck, Rooney & RvP as Welbeck & RvP are great at defending corners. If Jones and Vidic/Evans mark Fellaini at corners then there shouldn't be an issue.

Sydney!

13 games left, 9 points clear and 11 wins SHOULD be enough? I take it maths isn't your strong point ;)

TK-Red

Correct me if i'm wrong but if we win 11 more games won't it DEFINITELY be enough?

Stuey

TBH last year at OT we should of put Everton to bed by the time it was 4-3 let alone 4-4. i'm sure the squad will come out to kill this off early. I have every faith we will win convincingly.

ms85

We could win 10 and lose on goal difference again.
Jred

Sydney

Smalling is poor at right back and Rafael is much better.
8 wins and a 3 draws will do te trick.

Shahram

04 Feb 2013 18:21:51
Exactly jred which is why I said 11. 11 wins though will be tricky and as much as I see city dropping points I can see us dropping some too, especially against everton.

City will not win the remaining 13 games.

Shahram, Rafael would be better there agreed. I am just showing that we have great options to deal with Fellaini.

Sydney!

04 Feb 2013 12:50:40
Jono,

Who would you rather have in net, DDG or cabaye?

Also, was it DDG's fault that the floodlights went off?

GDS

That flodlights remark tickled me, nice one GDS.

I must give Jono his dues with regards Cabaye though, he's a player I like the look of a lot. In CM though, not goals lol.

Gav

I could guarantee CAbaye would be great in the net!

Plus DDG was out of shot do its definitely a possibility ;-)

Jono

Definitly his fault

Jono,

I am glad this was taken with the humour that was meant!

GDS

04 Feb 2013 11:10:06
I watched the Wayne Rooney first 150 goals dvd last night. Remind me, why did he drop deeper?

Hoppy

I believe it's because he started slowing down. He is by no means a snail now, but he rarely bursts past defenders anymore like he used to do.

Sydney!

Because our central midfield (supposed to boss the game and feed him with ammunition was/is helpless!

Jonny8

That Volley v newcastle after moaning to the ref is still my fave tbh

ms85

He's scored some unbelievable goals, the season after Ronaldo left he was up there with the best strikers in the world. He developed his game so much, but now he's gone from a world class striker to what would be a fairly average midfielder.

Hoppy

I think it was just because he seemed to have a lot more to his game than scoring alone, rightly or wrongly we thought he had the capability of creating and scoring loads - so we looked to play him in a Cantona or Totti type role.

I believe he dropped deeper before he lost his burst of pace. That's just from memory though.

I do agree with Johnny8 to a degree, if our CM hadn't been so average in recent years I doubt we would have seen him drop quite so far. But I do believe he would still play behind the main striker.

Gav

I mean't to make this point yesterday Syd! but forgot. The thing that doesn't make sense to me is dropping Rooney deeper as he loses his pace. I can understand when Paul Scholes did it as his first touch and passing ability are up there with the best where as Rooney plays in midfield like he has lead in his shoes. The one thing Rooney CAN do is get into the right areas and stick the ball away. People talk about the psychological impact he has on a game but in terms of attributes, if he isn't scoring goals, he doesn't tend to bring an awful lot to a game. That's why, as he loses pace, he should IMO be playing further forward. RVP seems to be enjoying a free role in the team at the minute so let him do that and tell Rooney to concentrate on the penalty area. If a player is going to drop into the hole then it should be someone who can keep possession of the ball, something Kagawa and RVP are superb at whereas Rooney can be sloppy.

TK-Red

TK, if you take the Swansea game as an example, RvP laid the ball off to Rooney twice and he was too slow and fluffed both chances, chances someone like RvP would have gobbled up easy. I know he was having a poor game, but hand on heart how many times does Rooney play on the shoulder of the last defender go through on goal and score? Like you said he is best in and around the area running onto the ball when it's a corner or a free-kick, but when he is put through on goal either the defenders catch up with him, he stops and lays it off or he fluffs it. This is something he rarely did when he had more pace. He was clinical when he had his pace. I think because he cannot beat defenders for pace now he is played in the hole.

Sydney!

Sydney I think everybody gets it you don't rate him but your talking rubbish at least tk agrees
Z

Thats my point Syd! It is strange to say but he is becoming less and less effective when he has the ball at his feet 5 yards or more outside the area so, for me, he should be concentrating on the final third of the pitch. Playing in the hole is fine but when he plays there, he has a tendency to drop deeper and deeper and becomes ineffective. Fortunately he still has good physical strength and good positional sense so he needs to base his game around them. RVN never had lightening pace but he could hold off a man, get half a yard and get his shot on goal. IMO that is what Rooney should now be looking to do.

TK-Red

Sounds like some people have a downer on Rooney I suppose rvp never missed a chance what Rooney got 9 in 9 or something U N I T E D

Unfortunately some people seem to think the Rooney issue is black and white, he is either brilliant or rubbish. Others, whilst still rating him as a player, can see that certain aspects of his game are have declined. Rooney has scored 10 goals in 10 games you're right but is it a coincidence that Rooney has been playing much further forward of late while RVP drops deep? Rooney hasn't scored those goals whilst playing deep.

TK-Red

Out come the Giffords.

Let me get something straight, I am a Rooney fan, all I am saying is he has lost his explosive pace which made him the complete striker.

Sydney!

TK, that's it mate. He either plays in the hole/midfield (in between) or as a second striker/hole where I think he is best. I agree that he needs to play behind RvP, but not drift into midfield.

Sydney!

03 Feb 2013 22:52:34
Love the site ed's, it annoys me massively some of the grief you get - if only some would take a minute to think that this is most probably a hobby you do for the benefit of others instead of complaining about pointless requests for info about players/posts not being uploaded within seconds et al. I guess varying degrees of education.

My only gripe was a reply to lfc stating " your mum " as the answer : )

Anyway my question to the masses - who's more suited to us out of the Bender twins? Field day if either sign when it comes to whitty retorts

Moog

Wow that's hard but I'd take bender from futurama. . . The bloke is solid. . Please insert gerder.

CAIN

Lars is the more talented of the two, he has a better passing range and great vision. Sven is a great DM but is a much more limited footballer.

Shappy