The club have confirmed that Anderson has pulled his hamstring which almost certainly means he won’t play next weekend against Manchester City. I had to say I told you so, trust me, but I have predicted for a while that this injury was coming. This is his sixth season at United but his time here has been marred by injury. He follows a cycle of finding good form, then being ruled out with injury, before returning to look unfit and not bothered.
Hopefully this won’t be a lengthy spell out for the Brazilian.
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Bad news, but not surprising. Time to start depending more on Cleverley me thinks.
FUCK’S SAKE. Cleverley to get the start and Sign a good midfielder in January and that’s this problem sorted.
Nooooooooo!!
Estimate on how long he’ll be out for? Feel sorry for the lad
Just as he was showing good form. So sad
if it were Rio i could be happy!
How unlucky is he! Gets some form going then injured again. Feel sorry for him
@ Costas
I don’t feel Cleverly offers the same thrust & verve & ability to beat opposing players as Ando does. Me feels we need our wingers back and play a mid-field combo of Carrick & Fletcher
Same story everytime he`s putting together a run of good performances, so annoying.
This is very bad news before the derby as well, we lack penetration in midfield without Ando.
@Walata
No he doesn’t, but at least he’s reliable in terms of fitness. Anderson isn’t anymore. The best way to use him would be as an impact sub (which in itself is quite depressing considering his talent and youth). He can’t be a regular starter anymore. We’ll see. Fletcher also looked off the pace at times and other than a shield in the diamond formation, I am not sure how impactful he can be a in foursome with wingers. Carrick-Cleverley is by default the best pairing in that shape imo.
Ando out for 4 weeks
It is incredible how much a mobile and aggressive midfielder like Ando changes the dynamic of our attack. Then look at Carrick, Scholes, Giggs and Fletcher who have the combined speed of a turtle and it isn’t that hard to see why we have so much problems with the midfield.
Sneijder in january !!!
Posted on here a long time ago and likened Anderson to the Prodigal son,difference with him is unlike the real thing he only returns for a week or two then he’s off again.Nothing it seems changes
I have a question. Isn’t it our medical team’s responsibility to devise player-specific fitness regimes? If Ando’s fitness/conditioning is an extraordinary issue why isn’t he on some extraordinary fitness plan?
6 seasons and we’re still waiting. Let’s face we is he ever going to play a full season and be the heart of the midfield?! He has the potential and I really like him, but he’s not dedicated to stay in shape when injured or not playing. He’s injury prone and we need a quality midifielder who is fragile. Time for him to move on. It’s a shame, but we could be waiting forever.
Sigh, the beginning of a crisis….can foresee more of Giggs in midfield coming up…& wats with the new boy who never gets fit again?! Kagawa gone back to Japan or sumthing?? Time to earn his keep
Let’s get back Beckham now… At least that’s what Sir Alex would be thinking now..!! Then we would have Scholes-Giggs-Beckham in midfield… Would be fantastic…
What is happening to the injured players in United? why they take too long compared to other clubs in the PL..!! All our injured players are like injured for life..!! What the hell is happening..!!??!!
Our fucking medical team has been in contact with mancini, last season it took them all our team to get injured and never return to win the league, this year…………
How consistent is our injuries crisis
The definition of stupidity is to keep doing the same thing but expect different results
Kagawa: back, knee……..
Nani: hamstring
Valencia: thigh
Vida: knee
Anderson: hamstring
those are our important players right!
But honestly I thnk a member of the medical staff must explain to the publik why players are taking so long to come back?? Players get injured all the time, that’s understood, but Kagawa has bn out fo almst 2months now(if not mo) not to mention Nani another 4weeks away…I mean come on!! An explanation should honestly be given!
He tore his cruciate ligaments two years ago, and chances are they used part of his hamstring tendon to repair it, which means the hamstring will never be as strong as it once was.
If memory serves me correct, didn’t he do his hamstring last year, too?
Such a shame that he can never stay healthy because I’ve been one of his strongest supporters since he came to United.
I feel 4 d lad.He’s putting gud performances n it’s sad 2 see him got injured. Hope he wl nt be sidelined more than a week. All d best Anderson!
Come on, e schedule is gonna be busy for united, quik recovery lad
i think man u need to sign a good defensive midfielder in the mould of celtic victor wanyama or psv kevin strootman
This!
Memories, sad ones in that case hargraves > anderson
Man city game need some speed n pace in e midfield which might be lucking when Ando isn’t there
who the fuck are our medical team fucking piss take always hampered by injuries
@Walata …Ando never looks fully fit to me. No matter how good the coaching staff are ultimaely its down to how much thye player puts into it. My bet is he always does just enough to avoid being picked on and fakes the amount of effort he’s putting in.
Silly boy really because this season is probably his last chance to really make it otherwise 2/3 seasons from now he’s a stone heavier playing Portugal or two stone heavier and playing in Brazil.
Sad news for Anderson. It’s getting to the stage where you feel sorry for him more than being pissed off. His career is being ruined by just being injury prone, constantly getting niggles. No difference to Saha or RVP in his time at Arsenal.
He did well today until he came off, and the previous 2 games. It’s really unfortunate for us going into City game, although I doubt he would have started, but would’ve been good from the bench.
Hopefully he’ll be back soon.
@Dave Mack –> It’s not just that, it’s genetics too. Some people are naturally thin and fit in a cardio / stamina sense of the term,. like Ryan Giggs. Some are not, like Wayne Rooney. If Giggsy eats too much and exercises less, he’ll put on some weight predictably, but not as much as the likes of Rooney, who gains weight very easily, because his body tends to aim toward a certain weight. He has to fight his own body’s will in order to stay match fit. I think Anderson probably suffers from the same problem.
Did anyone notice how well Carrick played today? His passing is so good to watch! He plays these lovely forward balls straight to feet (like the one to RVP against West Ham). He gets so much stick for nothing.
Gutted for anderson,,i wish lindergaard would concentrate more on the pitch rather than gay rights,He was pi** poor this evening,
I love Ando but when you’re fat and out of shape you get injuries. His injury record matches his body. I don’t think he’s serious about his diet like the other players are. He should just eat whatever Giggs is eating.
sign up two world class mid…no excuse
wondering strikers are so many than mid imo
chicha,van,roo,welbeck(shabarans/bill blanks only score for Inguland),mancheda,king
come to mid
carrick slow
fletcher not at his best
kagawa injured
ando injured
cleverly not good enough to be relied
powel inexperienced
for the God sake Rio=0% he is finished give the young guns chances
DDG is by far gd than the sweed one
Fergie said that Valencia should be back in time for next week, that’s good news to me. Even though Valencia hasn’t been in the best of his form, that presence on the right wing will be a problem for City, we need a player who can push them back, and Tony V can corner a team, and if he delivers a decent cross then we’re laughing! His cross to Rooney in the FA Cup game in January was spectacular.
If Valencia plays, then Scholes needs to play, although I’d say he might keep Scholes until the 60th minute, then put him in a midfield that has been drained of energy a bit. Scholesy can find a winger right up in the corner, as opposed to out other midfielders (except rooney at times) who tend to find him loser to the half way line than the corner flag. A late intro of Hernandez if Scholes is on the pitch might also deliver a death blow.
But for now, please, wrap Rooney, RvP, Fletch, Evans, Rio, Rafa, DDG, etc. in bubble wrap. How many times have we suddenly lost the availability of a key player before a huge game? Gets on my last nerve!
Fuck me another bunch of moaning twats on the other thread,one of the commenters said it’s amazing the amount of injuries Utd have to deal with and just get on with it and keep winning
All you moaning cunts need to take that into account before picking the team apart week after week.99% of teams would be down and out the amount of injuries the team has had to deal with over the last 2 seasons Utd are fucking top of the league and fucking entertaining to boot,half of you cunts are just not fans.Just fucking pick the team apart week after week although Utd are fucking winning and banging in goals for fun,bunch of spoiled cunts stop the fucking whining and start supporting the team
You think Utd are bad i watched Le Arse,Rent Boys and the whores.Le Arse are fucking clueless just fucking pass the ball around without doing fuck all,Rent Boys have no heart folded like a cheap suit ffs they have one main player missing and can’t cope and the whores are just fucking dire none of those cunts give a shit
Be grateful for what you’ve got and stop all the bitching
Ffs. I hope we dont start with giggs and scholes against the bitterz! Hope ando isnt out to long.
@Wayne
I agree with you in certain points, that it’s like people are expecting something to happen suddenlsy and United to become Barca. Look we have a great team. But some people also has it right, cause they are thinking the big picture in certain points.
For example, we have fletcher, carrick, scholes, cleverley and ando. YES. but what about the future, when football is developing, will these players be enough to compete? I agree, that we are doing very well, and some people needs to start enjoying the ride, and stop the moaning.
The season has started, so stop waiting and start focusing on the team. We are frightening attacking wise, but that certain midfield is our problem. And when our best midfielder Ando, starts banging goals and playing well. He gets injured. WOW. what a luck for us.
BUT. We are top of the league like Wayne said. Stop moaning. I get it, if we suddenly start losing every game and we would be 8th. But we are in the top of the league baby!! Without, Nani, Kagawa, Valencia 2 games, Ando now, Vidic. For me that’s bloody well.!
@Chuvannistelrooy -> Did anyone notice how well Carrick played today? His passing is so good to watch! He plays these lovely forward balls straight to feet (like the one to RVP against West Ham). He gets so much stick for nothing.
I DID: I think, he is very good, when we play two players with him.
BTW. Did anybody notice, that it was the first time, that Ando played in his favourite role, and scored and played so damn good!!!! He enjoyed his game. Sadly, after he got injured, we lost something.
peace.
how does pulling your hamstring have to do with ando being over-weight (which he isn’t anymore btw). gonna miss him in the team. don’t have anyone else similar in MF who can carry the ball and run at players. all the others just pass and move, no dribbling ability.
Its disappointing, annoying and frustrating news about Anderson. The lad has been doing very well for the last few weeks and had won his place in the starting line-up. Unfortunately he has no luck when it comes to injuries and it happens every season now. Its a bit different now because his form has actually been very good and the fans wanted him in the team. It hasn’t always been that way. Anderson won’t play against Man City but hopefully he is back in 2-3 weeks and with the same hunger he has been showing recently.
We will have to bring in Tom Cleverley, but in my opinion he has yet to truly spark for Man Utd. I keep waiting for an incredible performance to really show that he can be the future of Man Utd midfield, but it hasn’t arrived. He is a good player, but he seems more like Carrick than say Paul Scholes. He is a part of the clog in a machine, which is important for the team, but not yet a vital component that makes the difference between winning matches. Roy Hodgson went as far to compare him with Cesc Febregas, but I haven’t seen that quality to be honest. Cleverley doesn’t yet look to me like a player who can score goals and win us matches. Anderson has done more in fewer games this season.
No matter whatever the position we’re at or even how bloody terrific we were, that ando injury fucked my mood
I need a few hours to recover
CHECK THIS OUT:
United have now fallen behind in 10 of 15 league games this season, emerging triumphant from eight,
United have fallen behind 4 out of 5 Champions league games, emerging triumphan from three.
Conclusion:
20 games, falling behind 14 times, and emerging triumphant 11 times.
WeAreUnited things will take care of themselves in midfield it wouldn’t surprise me if Utd make a move in January or the summer.
We all know our midfield isn’t the strong point at the moment but Sir Alex isn’t a idiot.The club waited to long for Hargo to get fit then Fletch got ill,Ando was supposed to be the next midfield general but that hasn’t panned out as yet.Sir Alex is giving Tom a chance to make his mark plus the midfield players Utd have gone after last few years in the transfer market never happened,so circumstances have dictated why things are what they are.That really isn’t the point though this is a Man Utd blog we’re supposed to be fans and get behind the lads,we should be congratulating them and being battlers,coping with all the fucking injuries instead cunts just come on here and bitch and complain,sorry that’s not being a fan it makes me sick
He’s powerful player and with that drive, he’s always susceptible to a hamstring injury added with the fact he hasn’t been playing regularly until recently. People forget that hamstring injuries can occur due to either playing excessively, especially if a player is more mobile or if you’re not gettibg enough games. Mahadev is right, puzzled as to why he keeps getting called “overweight”, he’s in the best physical shape he could possibly be in, pathetic cheap shot at a player.
Rooney seemed lost upfront specially after robin was taken off, anderson who linked the midfield and attack had to be forced off due to injury and we then looked like a completely different side, hopefully kagawa saw how ando has been playing and will hopefully comeback and slot right in
Samuel @ 23:17: “He’s powerful player and with that drive, he’s always susceptible to a hamstring injury added with the fact he hasn’t been playing regularly until recently. People forget that hamstring injuries can occur due to either playing excessively, especially if a player is more mobile or if you’re not gettibg enough games.”
I have to disagree – to a point. How does a professional athlete – chunky, not fat – get a hamstring strain/pull in the middle of a match
Presumably he’s been warmed-up beforehand and he had played about 30 minutes of high intensity competition but it’s only THEN that his hamstring gives way. Something seems “fishy” with his training and preparation – maybe he needs to do yoga (like Giggs did when his hamstrings plagued him) or pilates or some other kind of muscle conditioning.
Losing Anderson makes it more likely that one of Giggs, Scholes or Ashley Young will get a start next weekend – that’s NOT good news. Anderson’s drive – and, yes, his skill on the ball – will be sorely missed.
Are people seriously laying the blame at Anderson’s door? Im not a doctor by any means but I know very bloody well there are TWO common causes of hamstring injury in football. The first is making a full return before a previous hamstring Injury properly heals, and that clearly isn’t the case with Anderson.
The second common cause is playing competitive matches when the hamstring muscles are TOO WEAK to continuously run .
Now, when you consider Anderson couldn’t even complete 90 mins just a few days ago, theres no point saying “aah he’s always injured” as thats just fucking lazy. How about asking the real question, which is why the fuck was he starting another game when his legs were clearly not up for playing 2 games in 4 days? Any cunt could see it was a risk playing him today. If he’s that important to us winning games why did we risk him before we played CIty? Are we scared we’d lose the Derby, so we risked him today to get 3 points of Reading? Is that it?
Fuck knows, but this is what happens when you piss in the wind. Its all well and good saying “we needed to win today so we selected Anderson”, but thats like cutting the proverbial goose open to get to the golden eggs quicker. Its fucking stupid, and you end up with fuck all.
Often baffled by the amount of injuries we get, and wonder is a big part of it got to do with having a very high level of fitness which is evident by how strong we can be towards the end of games when we win many of our matches. Though its good to see jones back again making those forward runs, also Smalling back with Vidic about to return, and Anderson may only be out for a few weeks to come back and have a strong season. I think we will be ok
Don’t know how much his weight has to do with the hamstring problem. Giggsy got them quite often in his prime and he was always remarkably fit. Anderson’s problem is that he’s become injury prone over the course of time. He has accumulated too many injuries for someone his age. And when that happens, it’s hard for any player to return to full fitness on a permanent basis. Especially someone that’s not exactly in top shape. As much as I like the guy and his style of play, we should have gone out and bought a replacement 2 summers back.
Am so not happy, man u will surely miss golden boi ando
Costas hi mate think Utd made a big effort to sign WS 2 summers back,think it was close and would’ve happened apart from his personnel demands.That’s a total shit show at Inter now wouldn’t surprise me if Utd make a move,what i’ve read probably get him for 10-12 mill and i’m sure he’ll be more susceptible to a lesser wage.
Plus he’d also be available for CL,if Utd can get him cheap don’t have much to lose,i know his form and injuries have been touchy last season or so but i’ve always rated him he’s quality
Btw, I love how Cleverley suddenly can’t be trusted by some of you to put in a performance against Reading. Fair enough Ando outperformed him against West Ham but so what? Its a nod to the Brazilians experience and class, and its just one game. It doesn’t mean Cleverley is incapable of putting in a proper shift, or he’s lost his talent overnight. Our medical and coaching staff obviously know this but they started/risked Anderson anyway. As I said, its almost as if we did it just in case we lost v Reading without him, and lost v CIty with him. Beating Reading is the safer 3 points right? I sincerely hope thats not the thinking behind the line up today but why else would we do it when Ando CLEARLY isn’t fit.
Also, I know I’ve banged on about him being our best CM, and he is, but fucking hell, don’t give me this bollocks about we had to start him today to get a result. We’ve got Cleverley, Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes, GIggs and Powell, and they are all players who could’ve done a job today. Its not like Anderson hasn’t come on as a sub and changed games already this season, so if he really is head and shoulders above all our existing midfielders he could’ve come on for the last 20 minutes and produced something.
Nobody should be surprised he’s been injured. If he couldn’t finish wednesdays match how in the fuck was he supposed to NOT get injured starting another game today? I didn’t want to mention his hamstrings before a match, but its an obvious concern for a player short of match fitness, and as soon as he went down and took his time getting up I knew he’d pulled something. Its a piss take imo, he’s been rushed back so many times in the past at United and we’ve gone and done the same thing again. Seriously, with so many other midfielders available you have to ask what the fuck happened today?
Or is it easier for people to just shrug and say he’s injury prone, without asking about the decision to start him in the first place? If he’s not 100% of course he’s injury prone. In ANY SPORT you are more likely to pick up new injuries if you’re not fully fit. After watching him struggle to finish the game at West Ham how can you lot blindly accept the decision to start him again a few days later? THATS the reason he’s injured, its not fucking rocket science.
Btw – this isn’t slagging off the Club, Squad or manager, im just asking why did we shoot ourselves in the foot by risking the fitness of our best CM v Reading of all teams? Imo its lazy to offer the same, well-trodden bollocks without actually thinking about what happened today. Yes he’s had injuries but theres only ONE reason he’s got a new one, and thats because the decision was made to RISK him. After midweek games in the past I’ve seen Fergie rest perfectly fit players for the weekend fixture, so what made him think an unfit Anderson could start today after Wednesday and still leave the pitch unscathed?
Thats the real question.
Imo it was a risk, and our bluff has been well and truly called. We can’t even buy our way out of this one as there are plenty of games between now and the window, and they are all must win.
@Wayne
If Sneijder is available for £10m-12m, then someone else will definitely offer him over £200k p/w for 3-4 years. PSG and City in particular. Think Fergie’s view will be that Sneijder had his chance to sign for Utd.
Completely off topic, but what is the truth behind Lewandowski joining to united is a done deal?Anyone!
Hi wayne. Hope you’re well. Don’t know about you, but I don’t consider Sneijder as a similar player to Anderson. More attacking minded, not as good defensively. I agree there was an intention to sign him, but once that didn’t happen, we moved on to Kagawa. Who’s has more in common with Sneijder I feel. I saw the reports this week, but surely that ship has sailed by now.
Anderson is a different type of midfielder from anything we have at the moment (unless by some miracle Fletch starts covering as much distance as he did 2 years ago) and that’s what causing the problem. Not that the other lads don’t work hard, but they just don’t have the same amount of mobility.
@wayne
yeah I get that, I’m with you, people moan, like we lost etc. We are in top of the league, I was happy with the game and that we won. I don’t care, 3 points baby.
But a BIG but,
SAF hasn’t found a solution, no matter who he tried to get or not. he didn’t find a solution.
When one solution appeared, well due to his agent and cockiness, but also due SAF’s ego, he let this talent go. OF course we got Powell, which is good and we also have Cleverley, but he doesn’t get played and then we have Ando, who started flying again, but he got injured unfortunately AGAIN. But yeah.
Year after year, we are always in this same situation of midfielders. Anyway, not complaining, just saying SAF hasn’t found a solution, and when he does (Ando) they get injured. SAF though, that finally he can rely on Ando, but then these stupid things always happens to him.
Anyway Things doesn’t take care of themselves in business or football. You gotta make an effort, to find players. Let’s hope that’s the case, but we can’t be waiting anymore, to see will Ando get fit, is Scholes in shape, does Giggsy play, in what mood Carrick is, is Fletcher ill or not, and why Cleverley doesn’t get played?
Don’t get me wrong, for me Carrick had a stunner in that game and played well, same for Fletch ( always admired), but when Ando got off, Jones didn’t help them. I always support our players, but we have to look into the future, and with these players, it will get in the wrong way. Maybe I’m wrong, I hope so, but we have to start looking for more.
@UTID
Hi mate,
I agree that slamming Ando of being fat is crazy and everything is crazy, but Ando should make it 2 games in a row, if he wants to make it at United.
Maybe that’s the odd reason why he unfortunately to us doesn’t play that much?? Could it be? I don’t know. Maybe, his body can’t stand 2 games in a road in this intensive run? Could it be?
IAMUNITED!
Not saying Ando won’t be missed but think there’s a major overreaction going on here,he’s been a perihal player for most of his career including this season,now there’s panic because he’s injured again all seems a little silly to me.Don’t want to see him injured but it’s not like all of a sudden he’s Utd’s marquee player,the team will cope fine without him.
@United Till I Die
You’ll get no arguement from me. I guess he should have been protected better than he was. Fergie seemed to grasp that concept earlier in the season when he used him sporadically. His performances have been so good lately, that Fergie was tempted to use him three times in 7 days and actually start 2 of those games. And not to sound arrogant or anything, but we definitely didn’t need him to beat Reading.
As for Cleverley, don’t know if they are also trying to protect him, but he hasn’t started 2 games in 4 days for us this season. The boy seems fit to me. Works hard, lasts the 90 and has survived some thugish tackles. Fergie hasn’t trusted him enough though and that’s a shame. Even today, he prefered to bring Jones on instead.
Costas WS has played in a deeper midfield role,imo if a club can sign world class quality at a good price they should go for it,the only question i ask would WS make the midfield better my answer is yes
I know what your saying he’s not the driving force like Anderson,i’m sure in the next 2 transfer windows you’ll see Utd make some moves in this area.According to Denton De Rossi is a given to join Utd in January,would De Rossi and WS in JAN make you happier lol
Hello guys:))
Ando is a great talent and we will certainly miss him the coming games.But I think sticking with Cleverly and Carrick as our default midfielders along with Fletcher, Scholes and Giggs on the bench will do the work for us.in one hand we will exploit the youth of Cleverly and on the other we will have an eyes on experience of our old guards.
@Costas
I also agree with UTID
But could it be the odd reason we have always wondered, that why Ando doesn’t play 2 games in a row.
Can’t his body stand the intensive run of games? Maybe we have been wrong and the case has always been that SAF has protected him from pulling anything off, like @United Till I Die said we made a mistake to let him play. Could it be?
For me, whatever the reason is, you should make it 2 games in a row, when you play for United, Ando is one of my favourites, btu still, you gotta wonder. RIGHT?
@Wayne
He isn’t suddenly our marquee player, but I be damned if you say that he isn’t making us a different team attacking wise, and give us that extra effort that we need from our midfielders and what we have been looking for.
Fuck Sneijder – he can’t even do what an unfit Anderson can, and he probably wants twice the money.
Last point – I am delighted with the win, but losing our current best CM for no reason leaves a bad taste, especially when it was completely avoidable. All that was needed was a bit more care and Anderson could’ve built up his hamstring strength and made a proper return to the starting line up. How many times have we heard Fergie talk about the importance of not risking hamstring injuries by rushing players back. He’s gambled and lost, simple as that. Anderson only needed a few more games before he was 100% and we’ve pissed that up the wall.
Then some mugs on here want to blame Anderson for that. He could’ve been 100% fit by next Sunday if we gave him the right preparation during the week. Instead we probably won’t see him again till January. It was piss poor judgement, and very short-sighted, it has to be said.
While im at it, whats the point in not signing Pogba but spending even more money signing Powell, even though Powell isn’t ready to play v Reading, but Pogba is ready to earn penalties in the Turin derby and win 3-0? If you can, watch him whenever he starts for Juve and see for yourself how easily he could’ve started ANY match for us this season. He is the real deal, but I digress.
Choosing Anderson for West Ham was reckless enough, and we were lucky to get away with it imo, but trying the same thing today was just taking the piss. He shouldn’t have been on the pitch if Cleverley and 4 or 5 others were available, or what is the point of paying these players to be here while we let Pogba go? Tom, Fletcher, Carrick and Young would’ve been a strong enough midfield to support RVP and Rooney against Reading for fuck sake, surely?
But – after having a proper rant about our best CM being injured through incompetence not of his own doing – I still trust we’ve got the players to beat City, although that only raises another question. If we are good enough to beat City without Anderson, and I think we are, then WHY THE FUCK didn’t the coaching staff think we beat Reading without him as well? The mind boggles.
Ah well, the show obviously goes on but now we’ve got at least 5-6 matches without our best midfielder. After dropping points I bet Mancini and his Squad welcomed this news with open arms. This will give them hope after falling down the table, they probably started the season with more respect for Anderson than most supporters on here.
WeAreUnited not saying he hasn’t made a difference mate just saying the way some are talking it’s a disaster but the fact is he hasn’t played much and the team has still been producing results.I said in a earlier thread when i watched him playing with Hargo all those seasons ago thought he was going to develop into a world class player so it’s very disappointing to me circumstances have dictated otherwise.Just not in a panic because he’s injured again the team will deal with it like they always do
@united til I die
Totally agree with you. This injury cannot be blamed on Anderson. As I said earlier, he tore his cruciate ligaments, and chances are they used a piece of his hamstring tendon to repair it, unless they used a ligament from a cadaver. Using a hamstring tendon will forever weaken that hamstring, and extra care and caution needs to be taken to make sure a player is match fit.
The physios at the club should know this, and know that he wasn’t in shape to start two games in four days. Maybe Hargreaves was right after he left about our medical team.
WS imo is proven to be world class so i don’t know how anyone can discard him as fuck Sneijder if the price is right,that comment makes no sense to me and to say Ando is a better player injured is just silly
Utd till i die – i don’t see the issue in starting anderson in the reading game, he is in top form and most would have been baffled as to why he wasn’t starting. You take every game by one step, you can’t keep in form players off the team and then pay for it, we can’t be wrapping players in a cotton wool, reading today was an important game and that means playing your best players. Shit happens, anderson gets unfortunate with the injury, united will just have to get on with it. Hopefully anderson gets back soon as soon as possible. Hoping kagawa is nearer to fitness too.
@UTID
Are you a fysio? You really convinced me for that Ando’s case, but answer me that, could this be the odd reason why he doesn’t get played that much? His body and that he can’t stand 2 in a row.
WHAT IF. just a what if, he would been on the bench, and we had lost, or put him in the last 30minutes, and something strange happened etc, every different scenarios.
Would SAF get the blame for not playing him? We would be wondering, what’s happening.
I am not syaing that we did right, for playing him, if he really was in that shape, that it was a too of a big risk to play him.
As for Pogba, well I mentioned it in my comment earlier, when @wayne said we haven’t got the players we wanted. But I din’t mention Pogbas name, cause it’s caotig mentioning him here.
For ME, it was one of the biggest mistake, no matter how much of a cunt his agent was. Letting him go, was a big mistake. Buying Powell is 50/50 and the lad has talent,
but that’s not investing to the future. Cleverley doesn’t get played… why? why on earth? Does he also have this Ando dilemma?
@wayne
okey mate, I got that, no problem.
I’m not panicking also, cause Ando just started playing, so no need to panic, but I am as pissed of as United till I Die, but more pissed off, that he got injured and why the lad can’t play 2 games in a row without getting injured, is this the odd reason we been looking for?.
Cause if the case were as United Till I Die commented, then SAF made a mistake, but like SAMUEL said:
“i don’t see the issue in starting anderson in the reading game, he is in top form and most would have been baffled as to why he wasn’t starting. You take every game by one step, you can’t keep in form players off the team and then pay for it, we can’t be wrapping players in a cotton wool, reading today was an important game and that means playing your best players. Shit happens, anderson gets unfortunate with the injury, united will just have to get on with it. Hopefully anderson gets back soon as soon as possible. Hoping kagawa is nearer to fitness too.”
In my day i was fast and had hamstring problems but unless you feel the tightness it’s impossible to predict when it’s going to pop,i agree with samuel can’t rest players on the off chance he might get injured Ando must have felt fine before the game or surely he would have said something.Costas said it best he’s had tons of injuries for a player so young seems to me regardless of rest injuries are likely to occur with Ando at anytime so you have to play him when he’s in form and hope he gets a run of games
Wayne – i don’t think fergie was ever interested in sneijder to be honest and don’r think it will be happening. I agree with you though, wesley is, at his best, a world class playmaker but i don’t see it as a realistic signing even though he’s 28 and in his prime.
@wayne
I’ve learned to live with little in life, so just De Rossi would do, lol. Some movement in that area is long overdue. There seems to be a pattern where we can’t find a player in that mould who we can rely on for good. Keane was the last one. Since then, Hargo only showed up for a season, Fletcher’s illness struck just 2 years after he became a force to be reckoned with and Anderson has been battling his issues too. Maybe Pogba could have turned into that player, but we’ll never know. And there never seems to be a backup plan, which takes a toll on us. The Rome final for example.
@WeAreUnited
Well, to be honest, I want the team to be comprised of players that can be depended on game after game. No matter how often we play. THat’s why Keano’s last couple of seasons were setting us back. Because he was kind of becoming a special attraction. Anderson (for different reasons than Keane) also has to be used very selectively. As an impact sub and as a starter only when it’s absolutely necessary. It’s not something I am fond of, but on a short term basis, that’s the only way to use him. Can’t put my finger on why it is, but it seems like he needs around a week to fully recover after each full game (or in his case, after every 75-80 minutes). I’m equally frustrated with UTID about losing him just before rhe derby match. But who knows? Tom didn’t do so bad the last time he played against City…
Wes Brown is a good example of what happens to a player when he suffers multiple injury setbacks early in his career. While he did get stronger around the age of 25, that didn’t stop him from getting injuries here and there. That’s why I am fearing for Anderson’s long term fitness.
samuel Sir Alex has always been a big fan,something was going on 2 summers ago even WS came out and thanked the Utd fans for all their support.It’s a fucking shit show at Inter regarding WS if Utd could get him for less than 15mill on decent wages imo have to take the chance
Costas you’re analysis is spot on as usual mate,Pogba for me doesn’t come into the equation because of his attitude if he becomes quality or not didn’t have the right character and Sir Alex was right to ship him out .
@COstas
I get that we should use him selectively, but that would raise questions among supporters, and we be wondering, why in the hell, the lad who is flying, doesn’t get gametime.
Maybe it was the hamstring of not being in shape, maybe it was like @United Till I Die said, but he has to play, when he’s in form. Maybe, just maybe, he got unlucky and his prone to injuries got him again?
The Anderson case is similar to Pato’s case. Just when they start playing well, they suddenly get injured. What’s the real reason? Only the medical staff and SAF knows, untile then, if you are playing very good, you won’t be sitting in the bench. Ando got his chance, he used it, but this injury got him again.
As for Clevs, hell yeah, I was wondering in the middle of the week and also today / though I liekd the formation with the pair of Flecth and Carrick, cause it let Ando to play behind the striker and in his REAL place, but Cleverley definitely should play more.
Anyway, let’s hope we get Kagawa soon and start getting that extra push.
Ando, please come back soon!.
For me, thinking of Ando’s history, if we can get ANdo to play these 4 games well and win us games then get injured, it’s fine, he gets that 4 weeks rest, and comes back winning another 4 games hahah. It’s 12 for 4 games hahahah
peace.
@wayne
as for Pogba, well he is gone and dusted, but it makes you wonder.
And if we would be moanign about attitudes, then Ronaldo would have gone years ago.
So it’s not only about the attitued, anyway, let’s forget that. He didn’t have the charachter SAF wanted and so be it. For me it was a big shame, but I’m not the manager.
IAMUNITED
The Sneijder-Nani swap is looking like a good move at this point. Anderson has always been injury prone, Cleverly isn’t ready to be a week in starter, Fletcher is still battling to get back, Scholes & Giggs are both on the way out after this year. The only center midfielder that we have that has been consistent with performance and has not been knocked with injuries has been Carrick but he doesn’t add that “spark” of creativity that we need.
Yes Sneijder has been injury prone through out his career but when he plays he is special. He can also bring in some goals from the midfield spot, which is something we have been lacking in recent seasons. He has proven himself in the Netherlands, Italy and even in his short stint in Spain. He was the stand out player on a horrid Dutch team in Euro last summer and their leader during the WC2010 finals run. He can preform in the spotlight…… I would prefer to keep an inform Nani on our roster, but Sir Alex has pushed him out.
Wayne – isn’t he getting transfer listed for not wanting to reduce his salary? I don’t think he’d come for peanuts but you’re right, signing him would not be a bad idea, how realistic it is though is another question. fergie is the type to stick to his decision and rely on the players at his disposal, we all know he isn’t one to run off into the january market.
Is there any news of kagawa coming back next week ?
samuel what i can gather he’s been frozen out because Inter want him to sign a new contract at reduced wages,now if he decides just to spend the rest of his contract not playing and collect the big paycheck then end of story but if he has the choice to take a pay cut at Inter or move to Utd for reduced wages with a new challenge i think he’ll take the latter,he hasn’t been happy at Inter really since Maureen left just a bad situation
WeAreUnited not having a go mate mate my point with Pogba he’s already demanding things before proving himself just seems the type of player the better he gets the more he’ll want without having any loyalty, the type of player that will end up at PSG,Rent Boys or the Whores
@ United Till I Die. WHOA WHOA WHOA Slow down. You say that sneijder cannot do what an unfit Anderson can do? I Know anderson was on a good run but LOL. Have you seen Wes play before mate? errr He’s pretty good. But with that said I do agree with your sentiments that if he wants to come here he is going to have take a BIG pay cut. It will be worth it in the end cuz he gets to play for one of the most successful clubs in the history of football and with some of the world’s best strikers. That is bound to get him much more publicity and hence more cash.
@wayne
no proble, I didn’t get it that you had a go with me hahah.
THE Pogba issue hahah, is so delicate
anyway, I get it what you mean, my opinion was, we should have sticked with him, make him a star and sell like Ronaldo with 50million to a ” we buy our histoy” oil-teams . We would have gained a good player and money.
But like you said loyalty is the key, and he will end to one of those teams. And United usually pays for loyalty also. Anyway, I would have kept him.
agree to disagree
peace mate.
Hello everyone. I’ve been visiting this blog regularly for a couple of years now, never really posted myself. Really love the enthusiasm and activity on here, much better than most blogs. Brilliant insights from people here, especially Costas, Denton davey and United till I die.
United have struggled to dominate teams of late and in my opinion, that is not due to the so-called “ageing” scholes or “sideways-passing” carrick or injury prone Ando. The problem lies with our wings. Antonio valencia, Nani, Ashley Young and Ryan Giggs are names that would strike fear into any fullback’s heart and Ashley Cole would vouch for that. Manchester United have always played brilliant wingplay and therein lies our problem this season. Our wingers just havent been good enough. A fully fit and in-form valencia on one side and Nani on the other would not only make their fullbacks sit back and defend, they would also draw players out of the opposition’s central midfield which would open up spaces in the middle for attacking midfielders. This is the reason why United played such blistering football at the beginning of last season, due to quick spreading of the play to the wings, fluid movement from the front two and attacking central midfielders.
Unless our wingplay improves, no matter which combination we play in our midfield, we are not going to dominate the big teams this season, simply because most of them outnumber us in the middle,even city, for who nasri and silva are found more often in the middle than out wide. I just dont believe this “they have much better players in the middle” crap. Micheal Carrick, in my opinion, is a much better defensive midfielder than Yaya Toure. A highly underrated player for united. The key to beating city next weekend will be a returning and rampaging Antonio Valencia who can torment either of Zabaleta or Clichy. They will have to double up on him which frees up our midfielders. Similarly, if Young can dominate Maicon, we can torture the life out of city.
Heres to Hoping.
CHECK THIS OUT:
United have now fallen behind in 10 of 15 league games this season, emerging winners from eight,
United have fallen behind 4 out of 5 Champions league games, emerging winners from three.
Conclusion:
20 games, falling behind 14 times, and emerging triumphant 11 times.
BTW.
It’s funny how this conversation hasn’t come here.
What do you think of the incident where Rafael was subbed?
My first reaction was, what the hell, then my mate, said, well he had a yellow and played risky. I agreed with him, but I didn’t agree in the way he got off, after 30minutes. It is not like it was his fault we conceived,
Yes, he got run over a couple of times and it was risky to keep him, I agree that he deserved to be subbed but he didn’t deserve to get treated like that. I would have subbed him after the half-time.
Second issue. Did Rafael respond well to his subbing? Hell no! He is young, of course, but he has experience on him. He is a firece boy and brazilian so he felt terated badly.
But it was a bad response from him. No doubt he apologised to SAF and SAF understood the reaction, but still. He should have behaved more properly.
What do you guys think?
@WeAreUnited
Agreed re: Rafael’s reaction to his subbing. I love the boy. I truly do. But his behavior as he sulked off the pitch was that of a petulant child.
Sir Alex seemed to be fine with it in the post-match interview, though. Hopefully, we can put this behind us, since Rafa has been our rock in the defense this season so far, what with Vidic out for most of it. We need the lad fit in both mind and body as we go into the latter part of the season.
I felt the Rafael’s substitution made sense & was very bold. It paid off too as we dealt with setpieces better.
Looking at the goals we conceded, 2 were from corners & one from a cross from the left wing. Seems like it doesn’t matter who the goalie & the back 4 is…..we keep conceding goals from crosses/corners. We all talk about how having Vidic back would help but I feel there are deeper issues. Does anyone know if we have a defensive coordinator on the coaching team akin to Bould’s role in Arsenal?
I don’t think Sneijder is what we need. He is a passer, like Scholes. We are crying out for legs in midfield, thats why even a half fit Fletcher makes us look better than when Scholes or Giggs is in the team.
Marq Scholes career is just about done mate WS is 10 yrs younger,if the price is right don’t see how Utd wouldn’t want to sign him
I know defenders were getting blame today and rightly so as collectively,they didn’t defend well, in fact the entire team,didn’t but reviewing the match, i thought lindegaard’s indecisiveness caused most of the shambkes. He was hesitant, shoved aside his responsibility, expecting defenders to do everything. Let’s be honest, he didn’t inspire confidence. I wouldn’t castigate him but we have to call a spade, a spade. Lindegaard is a second choice, de gea has the potential and should be main man. The constant rotation isn’t helping, especially in a position that requires communication. I also want to add, some of our defenders need to start taking more, responsibilty. Example, most of the goals we’re conceding seems to ve sloppy ones. Crosses, cut backs, set pieces of all sorts. There’s a lack of general sharpness and decisiveness in terms of taking comnand of a situation and sensing danger. Vidic had that sense but he’s not fully fit yet, the defenders united currently hace avalaible need to step up, they need to show their mettle and grow some cohones if they want to rank amongst the best. United have talented defenders but they all need to start showing responsibility sooner than later.
Am I the only one who thinks Dembele is the one who got away?
It almost makes me sick to think of what a legend he could have become had he come to OT.
As a huge Netherlands fan (I am Dutchfuty if anyone here goes on youtube) I agree that Sneijder will help this midfield, but he will not save it.
Dembele was the answer and we missed him.
So, after three great games, anderson is our savior is he? Even in the qpr game he played just the final 20 mins.. He’ll be back in a few weeks now and we will still be winning.. Our team’s mental set up is such that we don’t depend on any one midfielder. (maybe that’s cause we don’t have good ones, bar carrick)..
Cleverly and carrick will be started in the derby.. However i would like tony v to give them support centrally… He is strong and powerful and has the physique to keep yaya toure in check.. We are going in as under-dogs at the etihad just like we did at stamford bridge against an all conquering rentboy team that is now 10 points behind us.. and the three musketeers (cringeworthy name) have lost their spark..
Football is a funny game and things change very quickly.. Who knows, fergie will take a bold chance and play a midfield trio of valencia carrick and cleverly… with scholes coming on late and tonyv then moving to the wings full time..
However, this was the first game when young actually looked like a decent winger… his cross for that dis-allowed goal was inch-perfect.. I still think he is more effective if allowed to roam and doesnt have the responsibility of beating his man.. (he can’t anyways.)
Re the sneijder deal.. IF its a swap with him and nani, then that would be a good deal.. But we will be forced to sign a new winger… money for that etc etc.. However i am certain playing beside carrick, sneijder would work wonders as a deep lying playmaker.. Common UTID.. he’s not that bad.
Sneijder is a quality player but We have kagawa. Sneijder is not what we need. I will definitely put a bid for that malaga kid isco. Look the real deal For me. Heard cunt city were bidding for them. But I doubt if he will leave malaga this jan as they have progressed to knock outs.
Fellaini would be good. But he won’t come cheap. I haven’t seen strootman play so no comments. Its funny to see that when our defencive players are coming back from injuries our attacking midfielders are injured. Nani,Kagawa,Valencia and now Ando. We need kagawa ASAP.
Rohan19
If we have to win at etihad then we need Valencia (If fit) and young to perform well. Young had a good game yesterday but again faded in second half, His touches has been good but his shooting and crossing has been below par. I agree with a comment someone said above what is with our players missing for so long time. We have been missing kagawa very badly. If kags was play regularly in oct and november he would have become our star player by now. You know when we have every player fit we have the best squad in the league. But when you lose 4-5 quality lads you are bound to become handicapped. Thats why i feel likes of powell and tunnicliffe should be gradually brought to the first team. I will start with powell any day instead of a giggs.
For next week my midfield would be Clevrley-Carrick- Fletcher. Young will start if valencia is not fit. If tony v starts then he should play in right and cleverly should play the roaming midfielder. We would struggle at etihad if we start with 2 midfielders.
My line up will be
De gea ( Yeah he should start)
Rafael rio evans evra
Tony v (If fit) Carrick fletcher Clevrly
Rooney”
Rvp
No need to start with giggs or scholes. We need to show faith in the young boys.
The earlier suggestion that part of his hamstring might have been used when repairing his knee, may have some merit as I understand this is a common procedure. In humans, the “hamstring” mostly refers to the three posterior thigh muscles (and their related tendons). “Hamstring injuries” typically refer to muscle strains: a pulled hamstring is defined as “an excessive stretch or tear of muscle fibers and related tissues”.
The club doesn’t release much information, but if they’re expecting Ando to be out for 3 weeks, that would be consistent with a grade 1 strain, which is described as a “sensation of cramp or tightness and a slight feeling of pain when the muscles are stretched or contracted”. The treament for a grade 1 strain is basically 3 weeks of “RICE” – rest, ice, compression and elevation. It doesn’t seem that a grade 1 hammy involves much actual damage to the muscles or tendons. Seems more precautionary in nature.
A grade 2 strain is more serious, involving more pain and longer recovery (4-6 weeks). A grade 3 injury represents a complete rupture, severe pain and several months of recovery.
I really feel for the lad. Everytime he is on form and back in the team, he pulls an injury. He offers something different in the midfield and I hope he recovers quickly.
If, as Stateside states above, a grade 2 hammie can cause a player to miss out on 4-6 weeks of playing time, then I guess that goes some way in answering the speculation surrounding Nani’s absence, seeing as he has a pulled hamstring too.
Why oh why this have to be happened just before Mansour Shitty game?
I just hope that Anderson will come back as soonest. And also Kagawa and Vidic.
On the positive, we have 3 points ahead Shitty now and hoping to break their unbeatable record in their own turf next week. What could be more exciting challenge than this? This can extends our lead to 6 points.
On the other side, our defense was very poor on the first 20 minutes last night. Those are the cheapest 3 goals have conceded. Players needs back up nowadays. Rotation is a must. Well, Rio needs back up, thats obvious. Even young boy Rafael needs one. Lucky that Smalling and Jones come back on time.
I would say that rest our best players against Cluj and get ready for the Emptyhead. And this is our best players for Emptyhead to me:
Gk- DDG
Def- Rafa, Evans, Rio, Evra
Mid: Valencia/Welbeck, Fletcher, Carrick, Young
Fw: Rooney, RvP
Subs: Lindy, Smalling, Jones, Scholes, Chicharito, Welbeck
Forgot about Cleverley!
He can take Valencia/Welbeck position on that formation.
I haven’t seen too much people pissed at one moment even after a win, that in itself tells the story about our mid field
I just wander ur lots will be saying if lose a game, pray for ando wish him well surport utd and peace
Shit!
The one player we don’t want injured just happens to be one of our most
injury prone players.
Have an awful sinking feeling about next week now.
Hopefully we can train someone else in midfield to master that
rarest of skills…..running with the ball.
anderson has changed the man united midfield
they were boring,very slow without imagination,flair
ando brought magic to united midfield
and sir alex believe in him,know his potential
he will be back,im sad and worried he will not play against city
he will be back stronger
You only have watch some of the mid and early 2000′s to see the movement there was and how Anderson brings that back. I don’t think we have another player who can do that, maybe cleverly.
Well I’m not asking him to be ando but cleverley would do good if he had an eye for goal instead of making the pointless passing in the final third even with a goal at his mercy
Well I’m not asking him to be ando but cleverley would do good if he had an eye for goal instead of making the pointless passing in the final third even with goal at his mercy
Personally i would keep nani as hes a worldy wen hes at his best but fergie rotates the team to much hence why there is no consistancy…we need central midfielders and sneodjer and strootman are 2 must players for me..scholes and giggs are to old now, carrick needs replaced without question aswell which leaves clev and ando in there and if u include the 2 i mentioned then its a good central midfield…to be honest if theres 1 player fergie must get its hamsik, he is outstanding and scores regulary for napoli..so wat if hes 30 mill hes young and it will only be a matter of tine before a big team snaps him up…i no we have kagawa and fletch but fletch looks like maybe he might not return to his best and kagawa needs to play behind the strikers to suit him…the diamond is shit and thats that…4 4 2 is outmr greatest formation and selling nani for sneidjer doesnt make sense…we need wingers maybe rodrigeuz for nani and maybe a young winger to go with young and tony v…im not saying sign all of tge above as i believe we need a new centre back unless fergie just realises that jobes and smalling should play there as ferdi is finished and vidic is injured alot these days…so all in all i would say get in rodriguez, strootman, hamsik and a good strong big centre back between now and the start of the season and we will be just fine, sell nani if thats the case and ge wants to go and retire scholes and giggs and moce ferdinand on..thats 4 in 4 out (and like i said maybe a young winger in zaha or sum1 like that) i just feel this is needed…oh and no more fuckin injuries to go with that….i mean do i sound out of order or am i speaking sense here…do u not agree theres to much rotating and formation changing in fergie theses days…dont let the table fool u as the performances have shown over the last 2 years..really dreading next week at those cubts but having said that it wouldnt surprise me att all with the inconsistancy that we go beat city.
If we defend like the way we did last night next week, I dread to think what City are going to do to us.
Give me a draw now and I’d take it with a heart beat
F.A cup draw will happen in few hours time. I really want us to win the F.A cup. How long has it been since we won the F.A cup. We always get tough draw but I hope we get a decent home tie.
Wouldn’t concern myself to much with the City game next week,we have a very good defence and a top notch strike force and exactly the same shite midfield and City are no great shakes.Last game at the City ground we made some good scoring chances with a defensive team first half,we had our best players waiting on the bench and did not use them so surrendered the game and as it turned out the league.That repeating itself this game bothers me.
I agree also on Young.
he played very well yesterday.
Ando Ando Ando, why ou why
anyway,
Shitty is a 1-1 draw.
they were boring,very slow without imagination,flair”
Anyone would think he was describing wimbledon here. No flair and imagination? Oh dear.
West ham away at FA CUP. We never get easy draw. I hope we beat them and win this trophy.
The FA does not like us do they. West Ham away this time. UGH. I bet if we win they’ll give us City away next. If there was technicality that the FA could exploit to give us Barcelona away in the cup they would do it. Slimy bastards. City get Watford at home. SMH.
Our F.A Cup draws are bordering on silly now.Always a tough one.Last 3 have been away to city,liv and west ham.I’m not one for conspiracies but you have to wonder.
Chelsea drawn away from home in a third round. Modern day miracle this.
20Legend @ 01:47: “The key to beating city next weekend will be a returning and rampaging Antonio Valencia who can torment either of Zabaleta or Clichy. They will have to double up on him which frees up our midfielders. Similarly, if Young can dominate Maicon, we can torture the life out of city.”
Ashley Young couldn’t “dominate” my grandmother – the one who died in 1947. He’s just getting worse and worse – watch him closely and cringe.
Will AV7 be match-fit for next weekend ?
What’s Plan B ????????
Sonneveld @ -6:56: “Am I the only one who thinks Dembele is the one who got away?”
YES.
We Are United @ 15:00: “I agree also on Young.
he played very well yesterday.”
You must have watched a different match.
He was incredibly bad – he did play a “wall pass” that led to Anderson’s goal. Otherwise, just awful.
@denton
And the flick to release Evra to set up Rooney’s goal?
And the ball into the box that led to what should’ve been our fifth?
Some people only see what they want to see.
I’d take someone who can have a hand in 3 goals than someone who can dominate Denton’s grandmother
Ah, common sense. Such a lovely thing.
Kanchelskis @ 19:18: “Some people only see what they want to see.”
No doubt, that’s true.
I’d like to think that this is a glass half-full vs. half-empty situation but what I saw was someone who ran into dead ends because he never drove to the bye-line and squared the ball like a proper winger. I saw someone who repeatedly gave up the ball. I saw a left-winger who never used his left-foot. I also saw someone who consistently undermined the tempo of the attacking game.
OK, Marq, maybe he could dominate my long-dead grandmother but even if I grant you that he could do that, I seriously doubt that Ashley Young can dominate an EPL-quality full-back.
Denton Davey is spot on about Ashley Young except against Reading he was excellent. Judging from his midweek and then against Reading somebody has given him a rocket.
PS. Fletcher was fucking awful against Reading. He ran his balls off defending but gave the ball away so many times. I lost count of how many times a passing move broke down on Fletch.
Young Fletcher Carrick Cleverley Rooney
——————–Van Persie.
Some stats from last night’s game:
Ashley Young pass success was at 90%.
http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/615068/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2012-2013-Reading-Manchester-United
@denton davey
well regarding, how bad he has done this season, this game was like somebody stucked a rocket to his ass, and so he did very well.
Contributed in a lot of stuff going on in the attack. If Nani and Valencia were fit, I would put both into the game and Young for bench, but for now, and it has been a long time since he has done well.
So congrats for that. Maybe because it was Reading, but that’s not a problem, cause he’s a squad player, and we need players that can do well in some other situations when the better players are injured.
As for people not being happy, that a player that has done so bad recenlty gives us some glimpses, it’s pathetic to start bashing him.
Look Ashley Young wasn’t in my top-10 list who to get, or in my top-20 favourite players, but he’s a United player, and if he does well like he did now against Reading,
I WILL RECOGNISE it!!!!
#IAMUNITED!
Put Nick Powell in there.
Costas @ 20:26: “Ashley Young pass success was at 90%.”
Lies, damned lies, and statistics.
How many of those passes went backwards AFTER he was in a favourable position to do something dangerous.
If you’re going to use statistics then those statistics need to be precise; simply calculating “pass success” on the basis of completions/attempts is misleading.
Look guys,
Like I said he’s not in my top-20 favourite players,
BUT, it’s funny, that when Nani has the space to go and do somethign dangerous and sometimes he makes it and sometimes he doesn’t. People bash him for trying everything and being inconsistent.
As for Ashley Young, when he plays safe, not always, like against Reading, then people bash him for not trying.
WHAT do you want you people??? If Nani doesn’t play safe you go crazy, if Young goes safe, you go crazy? What do you want?
peace.
Ashley Young is not in my favourite 20 players. He’s 21st.
Denton, if its lies, why dont you prove it that 89% of his 90% is backwards?
Btw, I’ll take a player who passes 9/10 of his passes backwards and have a hand in 3 goals than someone who passes 10/10 forward and does nothing
Costas
That stats page you showed my friend and those who compile it looks to be utter shite to me. I had a quick look at the passing stats page with our players and they rate Rooney the highest. I will explain my dislike.
Fletcher passed 90 times with a 90% success rate
Rooney passed 55 times with an 89% success rate
Fletcher didnt make a cross
Rooney crossed 4 times with a 25% success rate
Fletcher passed long 8 times with 7 on target
Rooney passed long 4 times with only 2 on target
Both had a so called key pass
Rooney made no through balls despite it being his job
Yet Rooney is the main man and had the highest rating literally thrashing Fletcher, because he scored from the spot and got a sitter as well.
This isnt an attack against Rooney this is attack against ridiculous sides over inflating worthless english players when its bloody clear foreigners out strip us in every department. And yes Scotland is foreign.
This is sick. There’s something about Ando I love, and not just that he he’s a class player for United. Time to put him on whatever Giggs and RvP are taking…
But in the meantime, Fellaini is just the ticket.
Forget Sneijder, Strootman etc.. when the big Belgian Fellaini floored Kompany and Toure yesterday in one go for an aerial ball I felt my heart had made it’s choice. He’s fucking immense and I would have no problem going upto £40m for him.
@Goat Petticoat
Rooney did make the clever flick(through ball for Van Persie’s goal. Stats , dont tell the whole story, felt Fletcher was pretty average
Personally if I had the control on the chequebook my target would be Bale. Fucking monkey faced Bale. Yesterday we saw the problem with the two short attacking fullbacks when playing a set piece orientated team full of fucking monsters. In years past we have seen Brown, OShea, Jones and Smalling take on the RB role and even though it is nowhere near as dynamic as the sprightly Rafael, it has to be said that Rafael in set pieces or corners is an extra man for them. If Bale was brought we would atleast have a defensive capable man (lol at his own goal this weekened) who can play at LB. With Fabio (currently Evra) on the left with Bale and Rafael on the right with Valencia we would have players that can chop and change with each other. The height of Valencia and Bale would give us far more options and have the sprightly Fabio and Rafael cutting out rebounds crosses and available for breakaways.
I see Bale as such a good option that I would be willing to give either £25m + Ashley Young OR £15m + Nani.
I realise alot of football purist will rate Nani more than Bale but for me Bale is fitter (in terms of physique and less likely to get injured), better with his head, full of confidence, can both fill in defensively, miles more consistant, home grown and puts the fear in all that play him. Nani and Young seem to be more of a thorn in the sides of defenders because they dont want to get too close incase they dive. Bale just plays the game.
@denton
Actually I didn’t use these statistics to prove his value. His contribution in 3 of our goals (one of which didn’t count) did that. I kind of doubt those were backpasses by the way.
I just used that figure to prove how he “repeatedly gave up the ball”.
@Goat
I believe they considered Rooney’s assist to Van Persie as a through ball. That’s probably the key pass too. I wouldn’t say Rooney has had a terrific season, but he’s still played a key role. He actually tops our assists chart this season and some of them have come from crosses or corners. He’s really helped a lot in that area when you consider our wingers’ average season.
Don’t know a lot about this site. It was the only one that had detailed statistics from the Reading game. I believe those are true with the exception of the rating. That was entirely their own opinion and I agree with you that Rooney didn’t have that good a game. But in my opinion, he was better than Fletcher mate. I like Darren, but he didn’t have the best of games. Solid passing, but there were times when he looked off the pace. Which isn’t that surprising really.
Costas
I wasnt having a go at Rooney, I think hes uped his game this year and playing as the third striker 4th midfielder really suits him. My beef is statistics and ratings.
Ithought Rooney was ok for him yesterday and I thought Fletcher was pretty anonymous to be honest. It was a funny game but there was only going to be one outcome. Ferguson made a selection gaff but who really studies Reading before playing them when your Manchester United.
They are a side who plays for the first 60minutes. Their belief is to come out of the traps at break neck speed and go all out for an early goal. I wasnt worried yesterday as it was obvious they were tiring far too soon and their whole season has gone on to prove that. We should have played a CB at RB to increase the height of the box. Even though Rafael didnt have a bad game (despite his strop) Smalling should have been there first and it made a massive difference.
Goat – bale is never going to be a defender, he’s a great going forward but poor defensively, even redknapp realised that and moved him further up the pitch. in the end, it has proved to be the right move. he’s a pure winger and i don’t see his signing a possibility, some talk about how spurs ripped united off with the two signings made from them, trying to get bale would cost epic proportions of transfer fees, especially with the measly 25mill added with nani that would refute the idea of trying to move the other way. People want rid of nani (why that is, is a complete mystery to.me) but no doubt, he will be leaving this shores for bigger things.
I’ll never know why people bring fellaini up. He’s a top class midfielder but everton use him to his strenghts. He’s a big, awkward player. Powerful and aerially immense but united will not use as effective as he should be, united rarely knock constant diagonal balls into the box like everton, pretty much taking away the use of his strenght. He also plays further up the pitch, almost like a second striker, he’s not that central midfielder needed even though technically, he’s a good player. He just wouldn’t fit into united style.
samuel
Im not thinking Bale as a defender out and out rather a man with height, experience in the job and to come for corners and set plays. A bit like Valencia can do. Im after a more defensive aware winger on the left rather than a stay up field man.
I also didnt offer 25 + Nani it was 17 plus Nani OR 25 plus young
Yeah dealing with Spurs has been a bit of a ball breaker but they get what they want and nothing less. If they are selling to the league leaders it must mean they are selling something really good so that commands a higher price than it would if they were selling the same man to say Liverpool.
Nani is deeply frustrating and Ive always thought him and Rooney just dont get on. They dont gel, they look like they despise one another and on the pitch they are chalk and cheese. We are obviously going with Rooney. I feel that Nani over does things, he doesnt look up. He hasnt developed his free kick like Beckham and Ronaldo did before him. He cant take a corner he just has no weight behind the ball and it rarely makes the first man. He gives away the ball far too easily trying silly stuff and is not so defensively aware to make him of any use.
Im not doubting his skill level but he doesnt use it like some of the greats have and I dont think hes developed one bit in the past 3 years. Its a shame because hes family but hes stagnated.
By the looks of it we need to buy a whole new team..
Kungfoocantona suggests we need strootman sneijder hamsik rodriguez and a young winger.
Awesome. Lets buy iniesta xavi and ronnie while we are at it..
Reading posts i mistook this page for an arse blog.. Team in 10th position and playing shit etc etc..
We however are 3 points clear at the top.
Perspective needed guys, we aren’t/weren’t THAT poor.
According to me, we need a box to box mf who is also a mean cunt with great tackling skills and has a great pass on him.. The only one i know that fits the description plays for city. The other one plays for bayern. So no point discussing.
Laters.
And no, neither fellaini nor dembele are the answer to our MF problem.. Dembele is an okay midfielder.. Nothing as spectacular as is being potrayed.
People really love the spurs midfield it seems. Lets go buy them then.
Fellaini as a battering ram would give us a new dimension, i agree. However that isnt how sir alex wants us to play.. Doubt we will ever go for him.. He is suited to chelsea. Him and avid luiz in the same team would be akin to a russian circus, which chelsea already are.
Goat – if you’re looking for a defensive winger, you can find them in lower leagues, they usually use workman like workrate to cover up their poor attacking play, bale is hardly a player that focuses on his defensive duty, regardless of his height and power, i don’t think he’s the man for the role you’re asking of him.
i don’t think you have any proof that, wayne shows a sign of frustration at anyone that doesn’t lay the right pass e.t.c and lot of players in footballing history have been best of friends but they still get on with it, they’re professionals after all and with nani laying most of the assists during rooney’s 35 goals season spurt, you’d imagine he appreciates the portuguese’ talent. Like i always say, i would rather a player tries to something to make a difference than one that square passes with no impact, i would rather a player doesn’t hide under his shell like most british players. In life, if you take a risk, you’ll either benefit or fail but then you try again. When you say he hasn’t developed, i’m not sure what you mean. Is it tge fact he hasn’t lived up to that ridiculous comparison with ronaldo (he’s a winger while ronaldo is mainly a roaming forward), i really don’t get it to be honest because looking at his general contributions during his 5years at united, he’s been a key player.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s had infuriating and frustrating spells and his form has dipped but looking throughout europe and comparing him with the best wide players, he can stand alongside them all. He’s a confidence player and we won’t see the best from him until he starts getting more support, not fans groaning aftet every poor touch from him. I personally think he’s a continental player, not for this league.
He’s 25 and will likely move on but it wouldn’t be due not being good enough, i’m sure a disagreement on contractual terms and a general lack of support and appreciation will be the reason.
Goat – if you’re looking for a defensive winger, you can find them in lower leagues, they usually use workman like workrate to cover up their poor attacking play, bale is hardly a player that focuses on his defensive duty, regardless of his height and power, i don’t think he’s the man for the role you’re asking of him.
i don’t think you have any proof of that, wayne shows a sign of frustration at anyone that doesn’t lay the right pass e.t.c and lot of players in footballing history have not been best of friends but they still get on with it, they’re professionals after all and with nani laying most of the assists during rooney’s 35 goals season spurt, you’d imagine he appreciates the portuguese’ talent. Like i always say, i would rather a player tries to something to make a difference than one that square passes with no impact, i would rather a player doesn’t hide under his shell like most british players. In life, if you take a risk, you’ll either benefit or fail but then you try again. When you say he hasn’t developed, i’m not sure what you mean. Is it the fact he hasn’t lived up to that ridiculous comparison with ronaldo (he’s a winger while ronaldo is mainly a roaming forward and a rare talent), i really don’t get it to be honest because looking at his general contributions during his 5years at united, he’s been a key player.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s had infuriating and frustrating spells and his form has dipped but looking throughout europe and comparing him with the best wide players, he can stand alongside them all. He’s a confidence player and we won’t see the best from him until he starts getting more support, not fans groaning after every poor touch from him. I personally think he’s a continental player, not for this league.
He’s 25 and will likely move on but it wouldn’t be due not being good enough, i’m sure a disagreement on contractual terms and a general lack of support and appreciation will be the reason.
@Goat
I don’t know where you’re getting your stats from. I don’t know what RvP’s winner came off if it wasn’t a Rooney through ball.
Not again!
@Goat
Yeah I got your point. Ratings I also disagree with. I avoid doing them myself because comparisons are inevitable. That being said, Rooney definitely wasn’t a 8.7/10. Was he our best player on the pitch? Tough to say. I voted for the front 3 as our best players simply because they did the job they were supposed to do better than anyone else on the pitch.
About the right back spot, here’s what got Rafa out of shape in my opinion: He knows the pattern by now. We have a problem (especially in Vidic’s absence and after Edwin’s retirement) to deal with set pieces. Evra can’t be dropped because none of our tall CBs can also play left back so Rafa has to be sacrificed in order to add more height to the defence. First it was O’Shea and now it’s Smalling and Jones. Don’t get me wrong, it was the right decision by the manager. But it’s also a short term fix and a bad break for a youngster that’s really hit his stride this season. I hope we’ll get to the root of the problem soon. There was a time when we didn’t have to sacrifice Gary Neville for a taller right back..
kanchelskis
Costas put a link up on stats. I suppose they labelled it a key pass rather than a through ball. If anything it just proves my point that stats are fucking useless and you should just go with gut feeling which is formed by years of watching the game.
Again my point wasnt an anti-Rooney jibe it was an anti stat jibe.
samuel.
If you can find me a defensive minded winger with height and can also do the wingers role and outpace anyone, have a great free kick, take corners and general give all he meets a dose of butthurt then by all means name him. I just feel Bale is the complete player and is this years Rooney/Rodwell/etc
Rooney excelled as he was snapped up by United and taught to play. Rodwell failed (or has had arrested development) because he stayed at Everton too long. Bale needs to get out of Spurs now, I feel he is what we are looking for. He would fit right in.
For me, Bale isn’t a bad player, he’s a very good player, if he would come, I would be more than glad, he’s fast, he’s tal, and has an eye for a goal.
Why be disappointed if he comes, he’s better than Ashley Young, with all due respect towards our United winger. And he’s as fast or faster that Valencia, and ex-defender, so he can defend, and scores alot more than Valencia. That being said, he’s only thing is that he’s not as strong, but that is forgotten by his goals.
My own prefer, if we and when we unfortunately sell Nani, we should get Iker Muniain, cause I have seen him play in many games, and he’s raw talent and also Bilbao is not doing that great so he would feel appreciated here. Also his mate DDG is playing here, so that would help 100%.
Anyway, If Bale doesn’t come, well probably, we will buy some young player and develope him into a Ronaldo. OR find a same kind of a player as Nani, but maybe even better. For me it’s 50/50. Whatever happens.
As for Rooney and Nani not coming along, well @Goat and @Samuel, I agree 100% with @Goat, no matter how many goals Nani assisted on that 35goals season for Rooney, they usually both are happy when they score and go celebrate together, but usually Rooney is all but love towards Nani.
You can see it in the Rio’s first diary of the pre-season tour, when Nani speaks and kids around, Rooney isn’t that happy haha.
But they are professionals, so they handel it and appreciate the work, but you have to be blind to not see that Rooney more than often yells to Nani and doesn’t pass to him that much. Believe it or not. It’s right there. They will celebrate together, cause they have the same goal and purpose, but Rooney isn’t that friendly with Nani.
peace.
Costas
There was a time when we didn’t have to sacrifice Gary Neville for a taller right back..
Too true but Ferguson did say he was a natural CB but lacked the height. We do need to address the CB possitions though thats for sure. I hope Smalling and Jones get alot more starts. Vidic is looking fragile and Ferdinand, especially after yesterdays performance is looking like hes for the knackers yard already.
Alot go on about our midfield, I dont see a problem or a need for a box to box kicke em in the air type but I do see 3 replacements to our back 4.
Would you be comfortable going with Rafael Smalling Jones and Fabio. I think I would but they need time to gel.
Marq/Costas/Kanchelskis – my estimation of Ashley Young comes from watching the game, not counting “statistics”. It’s my opinion – only that ! – Ashely Young is an awful player . It’s my opinion that he’s timid, one-footed, and not-in-the-least creative. It’s also my opinion that purchasing him – when there were already two excellent wingers in Nani/AV7 – AND when there’s been a crying-need for a midfield ball-winner/box-to-box player was an absolute and complete waste of money. NOW, when the team’s attacking formation is shifting from the traditional flat-4-4-2 to something more exotic like a 4-2-3-1, that expenditure seems significantly more wasteful.
You guys can pick out moments when he does something good – I’m not going to deny that – but I watch the whole match and try to make an evaluation of everything he does and doesn’t do. We all watch the matches through our own eyes – and what we see is influenced by our opinions. Mine is that Ashley Young isn’t UTD-quality AND he’s not going to get any better. He’s not a waste-of-space but I do think that his contribution is small and significantly less than expected.
@denton
I’m not disagreeing with your overall opinion of him, necessarily. Just with your assessment that he was consistently awful yesterday, bar the one incident you’ve picked out.
I’ve picked out two more, one which led to a goal, the other which also technically did, and would’ve been credited but for the linesman’s incompetence.
No problem with you having an opinion of him, but if you’re basing it on a complete misreading / misremembering of what’s happened in a game, I’m less likely to respect it.
Hear hear denton davey!
@ Goat
No Evans in your preferred long-term back four?
@ Costas-There was a time we didn’t have to sacrifice Gary Neville for a taller RB
But u ignore the fact that we had a Keano in the midfield then. He was more than just a darn good player; he was practically our coach on the field. Our current team has no one who can marshall defensive set ups & take charge of situations.
Walata
Not sure. Evans is getting better and better all the time but Im just wondering whether him sitting on the bench for quite a few number of years behind Ferdinand and Vidic has caused him to maybe not develop like he could. A bit like Brown and Oshea. Of course we are never going to go through a season with only 2 center backs so there is no chance (i hope) of selling him but Smalling and Jones have played together for the England U21s and they are developing and getting games of the ammount youd expect them to get for their age. Evans has sat a little too long. It may be early doors as yet as Evans is still young. Maybe Jones will be seen as Carricks replacement. Maybe Fergusons idea is to go with Rafael Smalling Evans and Fabio with Jones sitting just in front doing Carricks job. Just ahead of him Cleverly and Ando with a top line of Wellbeck Rooney and RvP(Chico). But like I said we can pick a top 11 untill we are blue in the face, it is a squad game and the best 11 will probably not play more than 5 times a season together due to squad rotation and injuries.
I have nothing against Evans and hope he stays and hope for now he plays
Goat – bale is a top player and if fergie was interested, i would have no problem with it. He just wouldn’t be signed to play defensively, his quality is mainly going forward, he’s genuinely a poor defender. I don’t think fergie would pay the supposed 50mill spurs would ask for a player to left back, don’t see it happening. Might as well give the younger players at united a chance or scout the world for a top winger with less price tag.
samuel
Im not saying he will play left back. Not saying that at all. I have Fabio earmarked for that job. Im saying its handy to have a LM/LW who can if needed for certain situation not be so alien to helping out that smaller and flimsier wingers couldnt do. If you have Smalling, Jones and Evans in the box with Carrick adding more height then an extra tall head in Bale cannot hurt. What hurt us against Reading and Stoke in the past is we have short fullbacks and we have midfielders such as Cleverley, Scholes, Ando, nani, Young with little height. Im just trying to address that WITHOUT loosing speed on the wing, ability, shooting ability, play making skills.
IT SO SIMPLE!!!
Just go out and buy a hard tackling, box to box midfielder in the mould of roy keane. A leader, a man who will solve all our midfield problems.
Just one problem…. this player does not exist!
im gettin sick and tired of everyone banging on about this, do you really think fergie doesnt realise we need this type of player as well?
There are plenty of tuff tacklers around who will win the ball back, like tiote. but this is manchester united. we need more, this man has to be able to play ball as well.
There are very few of these players out there and none that are available to my knowledge.
So lets acting like fergie can pop down to tesco and pick one up!
@Denton
First of all, your frustration is directed at the wrong direction. Is it Young’s fault that Sir Alex didn’t go for a midfielder that you like? Your comment of a waste of money is directed at Sir Alex. I’m pretty sure most of us would rather let Sir Alex be the one wasting money than any frickle fan
Secondly, so many of us are trying to point out, the amusing thing about Young’s bashers are that they are more likely to be the ones who rate Young highly, and when he doesn’t have 100% passing rates, 10 inch perfect crosses, dribble past 3 defenders every single possession, make 2 assists and score 1 goal every game, he is rated ‘Not United Material’. For the rest of us, We don’t really care what he does, as long as he does his job, which he did against Reading & Chelsea, we are happy enough. You can go join the likes of Antiscouser and be bitter all the time or you can be like us appreciating the little things and decisions by Sir Alex, up to you.
Btw, the need for a midfielder is on everyone’s mind, but I blame Giggs & Scholes for overstaying rather than blame Young, or any arrivals.
@ Marq
The irony is that Giggs & Scholes staying on is also Sir Alex’s decision.
Can’t help but object to this posting’s derisive tone. Perhaps he is partially at fault for not looking after his body better. Perhaps Giggs ought to pull him aside and explain the merits of yoga in strengthening the muscles’ elasticity. Though, from our perspective, it’s not his fault he’s injured himself. The boy’s done it while giving his all for the club. I think he deserves a bit more respect and empathy — after all, this is his career, his life. I’m sure he can’t stand being on the sidelines any more than we can bear watching him there.
Best of lucking mending, Andinho.
@Walata
The difference is that Giggs & Scholes has a say in that decision. Or do you think any player the frickle fans deem not good enough should tell Sir Alex that they shouldn’t play?
Marq @ 03:08: “We don’t really care what he does, as long as he does his job, which he did against Reading & Chelsea, we are happy enough. You can go join the likes of Antiscouser and be bitter all the time or you can be like us appreciating the little things and decisions by Sir Alex, up to you.”
I write on here often enough for you to know that I am generally up-beat – a glass half-full kinda guy – and not “bitter all the time”. However, my patience with Ashley Young has snapped – I tend to see what he doesn’t do and, as you and Costas and Kanchelskis pointed out, I tend to overlook the good things he contributes. On balance, he doesn’t do enough to take playing time away from DannyTheLad or Chicharito – I do understand that those two guys – and KagawaBunga offer different things which I consider more valuable. In fact, last month I wrote that of UTD’s 8 main attacking players Ashley Young is 8th in my estimation.
“Btw, the need for a midfielder is on everyone’s mind, but I blame Giggs & Scholes for overstaying rather than blame Young, or any arrivals.”
I’d agree with that.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2242006/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-admits-Jose-Mourinho-replace-Manchester-United.html
SAF endorsing the special one??
Does anyone here know Leroy Fer. The guy could be a decent signing. He is uncapped in the CL. He is big, strong and fast. Plays a lot like Anderson. He’s also young.
Everybodys worst fears confirmed. Everyone had high hopes for him and he wasn’t disappointing.
Hopefully he’ll recover quickly and get quickly back into his strike. I hope this doesn’t mean too much reliance on Scholes and especially Giggs for the next few games. Tom and maybe Powell need to get their chance.
Off topic:
Sir Alex Ferguson says Jose Mourinho is capable of replacing him at Manchester United. http://t.co/PtyHwDAd
[Sky sport]
sir why mourinho better pep
@Walata
Even with Keane out there, I doubt some of those goals from corner kicks would have been avoided. Lindegaard just wasn’t commanding enough and Jonny is still a bit better at attacking corners than defending them. With Edwin retired and Vidic missing, I am afraid that a tall right back is a necessity for games like this.
@denton
Of course it’s your prerogative whether Ashley Young appeals to you or not. I am not denying that. But your critisism of his performance at Reading seems to overlook a lot of the positive contributions he made. I’ve seen a lot of his sceptics admit he had a good game. Heck, Antiscouser vanished that day. That should tell you something…
It’s also your prerogative to want the best from the team, but in my opinion, expecting Young to do the job Ronaldo or Nani would do is not on. It would save everyone a lot of trouble if they just accepted Young as a modern day Park (who also rarely used his left foot and rarely took on the full back). Like Marq said. He does the job he can do to the best of his capabilities. THat’s all I ask for.
Sir Alex publicly endorsing Mourinho, not for the first time. Has he ever done that for any other managers? From the looks of things, I think the ideal case now seems to be Mourinho here for 3 years before Solskjear takes over?
It is Sir Alex’s fault that we have won 4 of the last 6 Prems (with 2 second place finishes) and it’s Sir Alex’s fault that we have been in 3 of the last 6 CL finals (with a SF and a QF)
He is to blame.
Sir alex using as a smoke screen in my view
Guardiola is our next manager after fergie and he has done enough to convince me he could be the right coach for the long term
Costas @ 09:15: ” It would save everyone a lot of trouble if they just accepted Young as a modern day Park (who also rarely used his left foot and rarely took on the full back). Like Marq said. He does the job he can do to the best of his capabilities. THat’s all I ask for.”
you’ve made two points that I want to respond to:
first, comparing AY to ThreeLungPark is a disservice to both players; Park was a tenacious defender who was pretty lousy as an attacker whereas AY is a lousy defender who is NOT a terrific attacker; and,
second, it’s not about doing “the job he can do to the best of his capabilities” – if that were the case then a “trier” would be sufficient. Trying to do the job is a minimum requirement; more is needed and expected. Given that AY is installed in an attacking position, the expectation must be that he is both creative and consistent. I don’t think that he meets that expectation – I know, he does some good things but he also doesn’t do them consistently because he is one-footed, timid, and more than likely to pass the ball backwards rather than driving at the opponent. One example – in the recent Ingerland match, AY was on the left wing and he drove to the bye-line and put in a perfect left-footed cross that was nodded home by DannyTheLad; when was the last time he did anything like that in the red shirt ?
So, I guess where AY is concerned, I’m a glass-empty kinda guy.
@denton
When was the last time he was afforded so much space and time on the left by any right back in England? They have figured him out over here and know how to limit him. And he’s not a Ronaldo type dribbler. We knew both these things when we signed him. So yes, he’s doing the best with what he has and it’s probably what the manager asks of him too. If it’s not enough, then the blame should go to the manager.
My comparison between him and Park had more to do with the attacking side of things. The fact that they are not traditional wingers that will run down the byline. I give you that Young is a bit more talented in that department, but neither guy’s job is to win us games.