1. We are the first British team to beat the MLS All Stars before going to penalties.
2. Ryan Giggs has played plenty of the pre-season so far and looks to be in top notch condition.
3. John O’Shea shouldn’t be played in midfield.
4. We do have players capable of scoring in the absence of Wayne Rooney.
5. Darron Gibson takes a mean freekick.
6. Tom Cleverley is trying to give Sir Alex Ferguson reason to keep him with the squad next season.
7. Darren Fletcher suits the captain’s armband.
8. Federico Macheda can play like how he did at the back end of the 2008-2009 season. Good to see him back!
9. Our defence look a lot more sturdy with the experience and command of Edwin Van der Sar behind them.
10. Little Pea is living up to the hype.
10 Quick Observations From MLS All Stars Victory
July 29, 2010 81 Comments
Man Utd News 24/7
11. 4-3-3 really suits us
Bit harsh on O’Shea – he has produced some decent performances in midfield in the past – agree with everything else! Hopefully we get to see ‘Little Pea’ in the flesh in the new Aviva stadium next Wednesday.
Chicharitooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
12. we´re gonna win the league
Awesome. Great goals, chased the ball down.
I have a good felling.
Javiers movement is like Owen ten years ago.
He’s offside!
… Oh… No he’s not. He’s just really, really smart with his runs!
Bring on Chelsea.
Excellent points and very well made!!
For the first time last night, I got the impression that Macheda could be quite prolific…if he bulks up a little bit more, like Ronaldo after 2006, then he could become a real monster…
Great free kick from Gibson, but he looked to be carrying some extra timber? The cut of the new shirt was not very flattering…
12. Wes Brown is shit.
Macheda, bulk up???!!! He’s already one of the biggest players in the squad and he’s only a teenager!
Great observations right there, i liked the idea of Fletcher becoming our captain. Macheda can definately make a huge difference for us next season especially in games like the one against Blackburn last season that eventuallyu costed us the championship. Gibbs should be played more often as he is energetic and has great eyes for great goals. I think Tom Clevely should be given a chance to prove himself at OT for atleast 2 more seasons
Really impressed with Fletch,again.His skills are very underated.
Its great to see Macheda on the score sheet as it was with Cleverly and Chica.
But giggs really impresse’s me,so many people are obbsessed with age nowadays that they are not taking into account of performances and form.Giggs can play as long as he wants because he has never (to my mind) been out of condition or shape,always been a slim player.
D – just fine tuning, I’m not talking about Brazilian Ronaldo-type bulk! There was a definite step up from Ronaldo when defenders started to bounce off him. There was an incident in the match last night when Macheda chased down a back pass to the All Stars keeper, and the goalie, with the ball at his feet was obviously stronger in holding off Macheda (to be fair, he was a huling brute of a man).
Whenever Macheda (and Wellbeck) played last year, it was frustrating how often they’d get into decent positions around the box and get eased off the ball by older, wilier defenders…
The only thing we need is a fit Anderson who could play the “1″ in 4141 formation or maybe Carrick (the old version) not
The one of last season. Then our team will be strong. That is if we don’t buy anymore players.
Players who didnt even play yestarday
TK
Neville
Rio
Vidic
Evra
Valencia
Anderson
Hargreaves
Park
Rooney
Berbatov
12. More reason to laugh at citeh again this season
Great goal by javier but what a ball by scholesy
nani looked off colour.needs more games
the da siva twins are great going forward but still suspect defensively
1. I think Fletch was indisputable MOM, awesome display, a bit unlucky to hit the bar.
2. Kiko, Chiko and Wellbeck looked very sharp, moved really well and are capable to score more goals.
3. Nani wasn’t impressive at all, looked like one-two years ago. Has to catch his early 2010 form and play meaningful game.
3. Johny and Wes looked quite vulnerable on free kicks.
4. VDS is our Rockman.
5. Giggsy played wisely and solidly.
Overall: well done!
Chicharito is incredibly quick. Looks like he’s got the tools to be a contributor right away
Cleverley has certainly given Fergie something to think about, thought he was MOTM after Giggs. I’d keep him with the squad, I think he’s ready. If we don’t add to the midfield then we will surely need him this season.
What’s the deal with Anderson? When’s he back?
By the way…anyone know whats happening with
Owen
Valenica
Also what will be our 25 man squad. I’d go with the following
1) VDS
2) TK
3) GN
4) Rio
5) Brown
6) Vidic
Evra
7) EVans
9) O Shea
10) Valencia
11) Scholes
12) Hargreaves
13) Anderson
14) Gibson
15) Carrick
16) Flecther
17) Giggs
18) Ozil if we sign him
19) Nani
20) Park
21) Rooney
22) Owen
23) Berbatov
24) Hernandez
25) Diouf
under21
Welbeck
1) Amos
2) Rafa
3) Fabio
4) De Leat
5) Obertan
6) Cleverly
7) Macheda
Our squad is sorted my friends!!!
Alex is God – The ball to Chicharito was by Fletch, not Scholesy.
11. I will wait for an official game before I draw my conclusions about this season.
Onto the other points, Sheasy really is our back up back up back up plan in midfield. When everyone else is injured. However, he puts in a decent shift defensively there. And I must admit that I do wonder what options we have in midfield if Fletch misses a game. Meaning which player can fill his boots and destroy the opposition’s attacks.
I was impressed with Gibbo’s free kick too. Other than Giggsy, do we have anyone better at set pieces right now?
@Costas
We have Ando and Hargreaves…god knows when they’ll be back
Let us pray Flecth stays fit at least until one of them comes back, otherwise it will probably be 3 in midfield when he doesnt play
Suggestions of sending Hernandez on loan are insane in my book. The guy just played (and scored twice) in a World Cup. Why the hell should he need to gain experience elsewhere?
@Mortal Wombat
Even the newspapers say it was Scholes. I don’t know where they get there information from. It was clearly Fletch. Maybe they’re confused bcause it was such a clever ball.
John O’Shea shouldn’t be played in midfield – yes.! And I agree all too ! Flect did really good last night!
You can’t read too much into a friendly, good or bad, but in general the lads look hungry and healthy and there’s so much youth and energy in the team, not to mention talent, that it’s impossible not to be optimistic. The tired old freebooters of Chelsea and the flimsy invertebrates of Arsenal must be quaking in their boots.
@ Sayyid
i wouldnt name hargo in the 25 to injury prone and tbh i think he’s finished
@Costas, we have Nani. He can take a decent freekick. The problem is that he’s not consistent, and 1 times out of 10 does a goal result from his freekicks. Also his corners are a bit rubbish sometimes, Gibbo’s are better. We don’t really have a proper setpiece specialist, I’d like Nani to practice them because he’s shown he can get a few on target. Also he will play more games than Giggs and Gibbo next season, so we’re going to rely on him a lot to deliver them – he must work on them because of that.
1 quick observation on your 10 obesrvations
– to make an onservation based on a pre-season (friendly) win against some half-decent side is stupid…
*observation
there should be no assumptions nor suggestions after a friendly match…it’s a friendly match ffs…it doesn’t mean a thing…especially coz not many new players have come in, and the team doesn’t need to gel – it’s just to warm us up and give a few youngsters a chance to show IF they can make themselves available for the EPL..
no one should actually suggest that 4-3-3 suit us , or that this player is better than that because he played great in a friendly season…pre season form means very little…rio and berbatov are the living proofs..
@CROoney….
Where in the ariticle is there any mention of players being better than others… or formations??
They are all credible observations as far as i can see.
Did you even watch the match? It was a good performance against good opposition… why can’t we get excited about it and make observations and make debate?
As far as i can see there are not many assumptions in that 1-10…. they are all true…
Don’t get what your problem is…. enlighten us?
Regarding point number nine, I actually thought VDS made some uncharacteristic errors today during some of the crosses, corners and free kicks we had to defend. He’s usually so composed in every aerial duel and when he comes out to claim a high ball you expect him to get it every time.
Of course it’s just preseason so no biggie.
Sayyid
Owen is still injuried from the league cup win and Valencia got injuried in american and was sent back to manchester
CROoney yeah good point about when we should take scotts point about Pre season , I mean who ever learned anything about there team from a pre season game , I say let John O’Shea be out number 1 starting CM player,
what pish saying taking points from a pre season game is pointless- Ive a great book for you to read its called Football 101
Fergie’s saying Hernandez is defo not going out on loan
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6285195,00.html
kiko is staying put too
I was there (my first United game live) and disagree on two things
1) O’Shea I thought did a very admirable job as a defensive mid. He actually worked his way out of a few situations and generally took up a good amount of space. It let Giggs roam around a lot and be the creative play from midfield.
2) Macheda – his overall game was non-existent. Goals make a striker stand out and if he can score every other game great but, the rest of his play last night was fairly poor.
@Sayyid
That’s the big question. When and how Hargo and Ando will be back. Hargo’s obstacles are physical and Anderson’s are mental. If we manage to get one of the two back in good form that will be a real boost because Fletch can’t carry the load forever.
@Fze123
As soon as I posted the comment, I thought about Nani. His free kicks got a bit better towards the end of the season. Hopefully his corner kicks will as well.
Hargo’s obstacles are physical and Anderson’s are mental, thought it was the opposite way round?
Sorry just reading through some of the comments now.
No – Valencia was not hurt in America. He has been carrying the ankle injury from the Spurs game. He started training at Carrington about a week ago. Owen is still not back in full training.
On the Fletcher pass to Chichartio – yes it was Fletcher. He played some brilliant balls yesterday so it is easy to confuse him as Scholes. The scoop/chip for Cleverly, the 35 yard cross field ball early in first hal to Nani and just overall brilliant CM play.
… can’t help thinking our backup defense looks very dodgy (especially at the centre)…
@gerkeo
Fergie did say that Hargreaves had to mentally get past his injury a while back, but I doubt that his recent setback was a result of that. So I feel that there is still an issue whether he will ever be 100% physically. As for Anderson, I was refering to when he does return and if he can recapture his 07-08 form. That’s something that depends on his mindset imo.
I said this a phew days ago. I do expect united too win league very comfortable, I think the team if the pieces all fall into place and it molds into a well oiled machine they will win it at ease. Chelsea are on a slipery slope and their double covers so many cracks, if chelsea do not buy anyone of real quality united will win the league, PPL may think I am crazy but I think the media have no idea how strong united are in at all area’s, only the midfield could be a concern has if united get a midfield general they will win the league at a canter
Costas – united need that dictater that will give fergie options of playing 442 and 433, because one world class midfielder can totaly bring it all together, that is what united are missing is a midfield general, like a alonzo thats the player if united had I would put my soul on a united title victory
GHTT
“I say let John O’Shea be out number 1 starting CM player”
You need to lay off the sauce, mate!!
JOS shouldn’t be anywhere near the pitch.
@costas, i fear Hargo will ever be back, a big loss really, he showed in 08 season how versatile he is between midfield and right back.
as for Anderson, i would love to see him turning in performances as he did at the emirates when he pissed on fabregas, he’s still 21ish?
I take your point about his mentality, he appears like a player who needs an arm round the shoulder to give him confidence.
@Tunnelboy
He was being sarcastic…making the point that we can make judgements on a pre season match
On free kicks… i remember a certain Wayne Rooney scoring one on his debut…. but i’ve never seen him take one since!
I remember a few seasons back Berba taking a few for Spurs… didn’t he get a cracker against WestHam when Teves played there?
Also i wonder whether one of the twins could have a go.
@gerkeo
I think Ando is 21-22. I agree. He could use the guidance. I feel that he might have lost his way a bit after Quieroz left. Perhaps he had a batter understanding with him.
Thanks for correcting me. I thought it was scholesy. Shows fletch has another dimension to his game. Was quality as always yesterday. Future captain??. Wouldnt bet against it
“United take on Hernandez’s former club Chivas Guadalajara in the final match of their pre-season tour on Friday, and the new signing will play a half for each side. ”
Does it really mean he’s gonna play against us????? If so, then I wouldn’t be against a 4-4 draw, with him scoring all 8 goals
The other night it was, we need 3/4 players, Smalling is shit, the kids aren’t ready! This time we win and it’s, we don’t need new signings, we gonna win the treble! As Costas and CROoney said, don’t read too much into pre – season friendlys, it’s all about fitness.
I forgot, Ozils now 1/5 on to join United, interesting times lads.
willierednut – I never bothered reading dumb comments after the defeat, they were pants but its pre season. If we bought into the pre season look at america in summer 2003, if we read into that united would have cake walked the league based on those performences
am i the only one who see fletcher as an awesome box-to-box midfielder and along with that he is starting to put in scholesy types of long balls and also having decent strikes on target…..why some people(eg. COSTAS) who are posting here from a long time and who i thought are sensible than many others just think that fletcher is just there to break up opposite teams play…i dont get it…and i am sorry for those who think that we need a world class midfielder…for god sake …cant you people see…our football genius is a world class midfielder himself…how many do you need!
@RTNK
Oh, yes. USA 2003. I think those were the most impressive United friendly performances I have ever seen. It’s a pity we never saw that kind of form during the 03-04 season, although imo the team was on course to win the title until Rio got suspended.
Guys i think ozil is going to join united.Those who think our squad doesnt need any signing should think again.We need a midfielder.
I think we should be patient with anderson.He is just 22 and some united guys in other blogs even in this blog are criticizing him.Frankly i dont like a united player being criticized but if someone has to be sold off that would be carrick.Dont get me wrong but i think carrick has past his prime.He wont be playing like fletcher or even like a player who scores 10-15 goals for us.So why not sell him and buy a young midfielder.Otherwise i think our squad is perfect and would win the league provided chelski doesnt sign someone quality.
@ancha
When did you hear me say that Fletcher was JUST good at breaking up opposition play? I just said that he did it it better than any other healthy midfielder we have right now. I thought it was clear the way I wrote it.
RTNK – Yeah, we beat Barca and Juventus in 2003, but then didn’t go on and win the league.
RTNK – Yeah, that tour we beat Barca and Juventus, but didn’t go on and win the league.
willierednut – the only season I thought we looked a mess was summer 2004. I think every united fan had every right too moan on just how bad united were. signing rooney that summer was never enough, it give us a little glimer of hope but they were a catastrophic mess, now this summer, if macheda hernandes cleverly gibson berbatov nani valencia obertan all chip in with goals and I mean atleast 3 or 4 or of those can get past 12 to 15 goals, some of them score 5 7 or 8 add the main man rooney get united say 30 goals united I can see becoming a monster ready too explode
Sorry for the double post.
RTNK – I’m all for the kids getting there chance, but if we could add another player, then i think we’d be in a great position to challenge on all fronts next season. I’m still concerned if Rooney gets injured, who’ll get the goals for us, we really need Berba to step up and produce the goods.
There are many players who if dont perform well this season could be out of here next season and berba is top of that list.I love berba hope hores 20 goals in the league and more importantly united win it.
I would rather have a fit Hargreaves and a solid Anderson than having any other player in the world.
willierednut – I agree united may need a striker, but for me what is so desperately needed is a world class midfield general in the alonzo mould.
I wont bring the berbatov debate he has had 2 years and in most years united have been a cut throat buisness, you ain’t done it in 2 seasons you are out the door.
But the problem is? where in the hell are these strikers, benzema wont be the answer, and he seems more lazy than ronaldo ribery and torres combined, if etoo was not crazy I wish united went for him. I am tempted for united too go for one of the Germans front 2, because? they have what united may need upfront, if rooney is not available? experience. They know exactly when to make the right runs.
but for me hernandes ticks all the boxes that I want from a CF, he may not be physically a power house like a rooney ronaldo torres drogba who all give defenders nightmares, but he has all the other attributes, pace, a eye for goal, nearly on average 3 times a game he tests the keeper, and he gets in behind defences and he is a game changer, so united can play the long ball over the top and he is on it in a flash.
I think with chelsea arsenal liverpool shitty so hypnotisenally bad, and spurs are still iffy at best, united do not need much because pound for pound they have the deepest squad from youth level all the way up too 26, chelsea have the best pool of 30 year old plus players which will have too carry them which for me will be their undoing this season.
Indeed O’Shea shudnt b in d midfield bt wud prefer hm to a certain twat carrick.Cleverley has his name implies deserve to b in d team,hw r park n carrick beta than d lad? Wes Brown is indeed d worst defender around,tank God we stil ‘ve Vida.Its very obvious we nd anoda reliable midfielder to support Fletcher or must encourage Gibson nt kpin beta players on d side line for one carrick.We got no strikin pro..again wit Kiko n little Pea around,4 God sake Fergie d midfield must b sorted out.GGMU!!!
Fantastic comments on here tonight.
11 ROM is the best United Blog on the net bye a countrymile.
AND THATS FACT, I said so. lol
Solid performance – passing was 150% SHARPER, FASTER AMD MORE ACCURATE THAN V cELTIC. Counter’s were fast and we should have had more goals
Dead on with Fletcher – great performance and ran the game – good leader by example. Cleverley is a player and reads the game well.
Can see “Chicarito” being the next Ole – very fast and his finishing is very good – will be effective in the last 25 minutes of any game – still after all this I have concerns about the back up keeper and the depth at centre back. Would like to see a quality signing in that area more than anywhere else if we do make a signing- but who is there?
Agree with #7 soo much. Fletcher is a legend.
Great blog. I’m here for the first time.
Stick around Martin, it’s a fantastic place.
great post. best blog on the web. keep it up
Nani can take corner kick and his pace is fast too. =D
Gotta hate tiny tears
so you’re tellying me that john o’shea should not be played in the CM based on that 1 match ?
you can look at it 2 ways my friend –
1. so you needed this match to see that sheasy can’t be played in the CM ?! how many times has he been played in that position in the last 3 seasons? excactly ! he won’t be played there more than twice in the upcoming season
that’s why making assumptions after this match is stupid…i mean sheasy’s been with the first team for what 6-7 years, and we needed this friendly match to see that he isn’t excactly the best CM… ? come on…we will never play that team in a competitive match…ever again
and the second way of looking at it, is that i can make my assumption on sheasy as a CM based on what i saw in that 2004 season(i think) where he formed a formidable partnership with giggsy at the end of the season…i won’t jump to a conclusion based on one match where he played in a position with a player he had never played before….in a friendly WARM UP match btw…i will rather stick to what i’ve seen in a competitive match…sheasy CAN be played in a CM area, this match didn’t prove anything about that subject…he probably won’t be played there but that’s not a point, the point is, is that he CAN be played in a CM position and he can do a good job there
btw, my point wasn’t excactly aimed at scott but at those people who actually tried to learn something from that match…i bet my house that we’re gonna play excactly the same formations and players we played last season..no 4-3-3, no de laet,no cleverley , no welbeck and co… that’s why i was saying that people should not take those matches seriously…especially as you can’t possibly know the form and the competitivness in opposition players…
ajax beat chelsea 3-1, wow big deal , it proves nothing..that’s why those matches are called the warm up matches…just for the players to get them going…it’s not like it’s a pre-world-cup match…we already know our squad and maybe 2-3 new players will be more involved than last seasons…but the system and the core of the team will stay excactly the same, so don’t kid yourself with the point 3 and point 4. of scott’s article
3. John O’Shea shouldn’t be played in midfield.
4. We do have players capable of scoring in the absence of Wayne Rooney.
it’s a friendly match FFS – even berbatov can score in those – these matches won’t show you anything
@ willierednut – thank God someone got my point ! you’re a smart guy i tell ya
@ GHTT – lay off the books and start thinking with your own head
btw – who wrote that book ? an englishman ? lmao ,when was the last time you lot managed to achieve something ?
1 quick observation from Chivas defeat – smalling should not be united player
( rolleyez)
CROoney – No sweat mate, and i know deep down you love Berbatov.
lol – the more i see him in utd shirt the more i want him gone…seriously man, there has never been any player who played for the team i support and that provoked such emotions from me as berbatov does…
and even more so when i see all those people who think he’ll become class overnight…sure, not everyone has to criticize him but when i see some of the adverbs that people use to describe him it just makes me wanna crach my screen
http://www.stretfordendarising.com/2010/08/02/what-to-do-with-anderson/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+StretfordEndArisingcom+%28Stretford+End+Arising+-+Blog%29