No Van der Sar, no Nemanja Vidic, no Rio Ferdinand, no Jonny Evans, no John O’Shea, no Rafael, no Fabio, no Ryan Giggs, no Wayne Rooney, no Dimitar Berbatov, no Federico Macheda, no Owen Hargreaves.
Things weren’t looking good ahead of our trip to Germany.
After casting an eye over the ridiculous situation in defence, of Park at right back, Carrick and Fletcher as central defenders, without our first choice keeper Van der Sar in goal, and Evra as our only defender, you had to wonder how we were going to keep the goals out. With all the pre-match talk concerning Dzeko and how United were keen to sign him, it was natural to worry he would be up for having the game of his life against us.
The next concern was the bench, with Antonio Valencia the only player with any real experience. Where were the match winners if we needed them? Of course, nobody expected Federico Macheda to make the impact he did that day against Villa, but I’d still rather a Rooney or a Giggs on the bench, over the fantasy of a young nobody possibly making the difference.
Still, we have left Germany with our heads held high, knowing that despite missing so many players, we were still good enough to overthrow the German champions on their own soil.
There were a few early scares, it has to be noted. They had a couple of free headers in our box and should have done better with them. They also burst behind our back line before Michael Carrick slid in and should have conceded a penalty. Thankfully the ball changed direction and the referee believed that was due to Carrick’s challenge. It wasn’t.
As half-time approached, I was just relieved that the one point we needed was still in tact. Wolfsburg hadn’t looked too dangerous and we’d seen more of the ball. It was almost too good to be true when Michael Owen put us in front just before half time. He put great direction on the ball that had been delivered perfectly by Nani. The keeper had no chance and we could spend half time knowing they needed to score two goals to put our top spot finish in doubt.
When Dzeko evened the score, there was a slight panic. CSKA were still doing us a favour but I didn’t feel comfortable back at 1-1. They were becoming more and more desperate, putting the pressure on more and more, but credit to our ‘defence’. Tomasz Kuszcak made some great saves and looked totally competent between the sticks. Fletch put in some great tackles, as did Carrick, and Evra was his usual imposing self, maybe even more so with the surprise captaincy boosting his confidence.
Gabriel Obertan came on for Nani and made an instant impact. I love watching him run at players. With Obertan on one flank and Valencia on the other, two wingers who love to run at the defence, we’ll be looking the closest we have to Giggs-Kanchelskis in the early 90’s.
Obertan burst in to the box, lovely skills to beat his man, and rolled the ball across the goal mouth to present Owen with an unstoppable chance. That was top spot sealed but there was more to come. Owen’s best goal of the game was the third, as he raced almost half the length of the pitch before executing a lovely finish to put us 3-1 up. Full credit to him. These aren’t some nobodies in a nothing game. These are the champions of Germany, on their own ground, playing for their spot in the knock out stages of the Champions League. It was a massive night and Owen came up with the goods, again proving what an excellent decision it was by the manager (no matter how much I grumbled at the time!).
Whilst it’s easy to point to the three goals from Owen or the massive impact Obertan made after coming off the bench, I think the manager and his tactics need a mention. It’s not often we can salute to the manager for getting a tricky game in Europe totally right, but he totally nailed it yesterday, against all odds given the players he had to pick from.
All in all, a great result which should give us a favourable draw in the next round. We will definitely avoid Real Madrid and Bordeux, and could face Baynern Munich, AC Milan or Porto. All eyes on tonights games…
Ulster red it’s 3 wins in there last 14 games in all competitions
This is the dippers year?…………… They were all on show tonight, ‘Stevie starfish’, ‘El Nitwit’ and the ‘Little Ponce’ and guess what? They were rubbish! Graeme Souness reckons they are on the verge of a meltdown both financially and football wise, I agree with him and as he said they need a new stadium just to stand still in terms of weekly revenue. Ah well! couldn’t happen to a nicer club!
cheers ghtt, that is proper poor, and to think 1 of their wins was against us
Ulster red burnley also have 3points on united this season. This is the worst season I’ve at 28 ever seen Liverpool play.
Liverpool fans beware. Rafa has signed a new contract!…with Vodafone, so he can get some extra minutes
@ Costas
The most effective formation to use which wouldn’t require Rooney to move to the left would probably be a 4-3-2-1, where Berba and Rooney play as AMs, because they drop too deep anyway, and Owen up front as a lone striker. Agree about Welbeck & Macheda, when they become more established in about 2 years time they’ll hopefully be first choice for utd.
@ Rob the Red what you talking about off course this is their year, they are being talked about that is enough to be the talk of the town haha. Fze123 I do not want to see all 3 on the pitch at the same time
This result makes me very happy, it just goes to show that you don’t need overpaid superstars to do a job. Of course its nice to have the odd Ronaldo, makes things easier and gives Sir Alex another option but when it comes to playing football its a team sport. United has a way of playing football, close if not total football. Most players are happy in a multitude of positions and learn the basics for every position. We miss 10 players and we go on, when the Dippers lose 2 players they look like Tranmere.
my thoughts now will obertan be going to africa ???
Nate
I hope that you are ignorant to the fact that gabby is French and you didn’t know where he was from than racist in the fact that you think all black players are from Africa, united have players from different races From portugal to brazil to England from France to warick road
@nate
I would love to see Obertan going to South Africa, kid is pure class.
@ Gotta hate tiny tears did he mean obertan going to france which world cup is in africa maybe he ment that
I also think ate meant France. Who knows though? Is Obertan better than Malouda? Wait. I didn’t just ask that…
I think Domenech should take him.
hopefully he meant Obertan going to the World Cup with France, in South Africa.
Doubt it. Ribery plays his position so don’t think so. Definetely be a France regular by Euro 2012, he is looking quality.
@ Costas does that pratt domminic choses evra has first choice, nope he uses the barca LB. did you hear radio 5 live some idiot italian said chelsea are head and shoulders above the rest and balague said the same.has these idiots been watching chelsea they are by far the most overated side in europe. lets see how great chelsea are without essien and lose 9 defenders and their attack then we will see if chelsea are all that
Red Army- I thought the same thing about the advert. I opened the Leeds page and saw “BAAAAAAAA” and I fell off my chair laughing at the coincidence.
Costa mate, if we do draw Olympiakos, will you go for the game?
Back to the topic, we are champions for a reason. Let’s see any other team lose 9 defenders, 2 main strikers and then win.
Yes. Sir Alex get those tactics right. I was half correct with my prediction on defense. Only didn’t thought that fletcher could be playing Central Defender. Ha. Looking forward to this weekend. If we win, we could be in a driving seat as we comes up against a team which is battling to be a top 4 teams. Come on!
Take any of the second place teams – we should do the lot – only one worry is Milan. Over the years they have been the one bogey team (69/07 etc) we have always had trouble with. Italian football right now is bad – but that lot do scare me. Bayern flatter to deceive. They truly played a “cup tie” with their life on the line v Juve who folded like a cardboard suitcase.
With a full squad we should get through any of the potential teams we may face.
Hard game for Saturday – but Villa’s defence is tripe so reckon with the right team out we should get the points.
SAF is truly a genius like someone else posted what would Chelsea or Arse do with our injury situation – probably the twat FA would postpone all fixtures until they got better
anybody see the *young guns* get beat.?olympiacos were shit
great to see the delutionals get beaten tonight. i put a nice little bet on them, liverpool to be winning at half time but lose the game, got that at 50-1 . snappin i only put five euros on it tho!!!
Alan Hansen said it best.
“You’ll never win anything with Scousers”
What? He didn’t say that?
Then he IS a knob!
@torontored: “…. someone else posted what would Chelsea or Arse do with our injury situation – probably the twat FA would postpone all fixtures until they got better”
Lol!!
Yeah, and if Sir Alex said anything about in the press he would be banned for unfair play. How dare Sir Alex ask other teams to play with their players out injured?
@theboogeyman:
Hi mate. Sorry, i fell asleep. If that happens, i would love to go to the game, but Olympiacos have a strict ticket policy. In Ch.League games it’s very difficult to find them. You have to be a member of one of the fan clubs who go to the stadium in mass. My bets shot would be to secure an invitation. I will try to see if i can find one. If the game was at the Olympic Stadium(which can host 60000 people) then i would have a better chance. We will see. I would love it if UNited draw them, because i can’t stand them!
Hi Costas
Good morning. Great year for Greek Football. Olympiacos make it to the last 16 and your country make it to the World Cup. I think Olympiacos along with Stuggart will be easy for us given the fact that Arsenal beat them comfortably at the Emirates and their kids did well yesterday.Stuggart have done well and got a new coach but i fancy us to overcome them easily
My insticnt tells me its goona be Lyon or Inter AGAIN.
I want to avoid Inter or Bayern Munich. WE can beat AC Milan or porto
Good morning everyone just a question for you football minds. Why are sky sports reporting on arsenal lossing last night by saying ” the future looks bright for arsenal” “future stars” and ” possible arsenal heros” and 14 days ago it was simple the united future is In disarray and sir Alex made a balls up by picking his young players. “young guns fire for the future” ” you’ll never win anything with the kids” . GHTT’S QUESTION OF THE DAY. What’s the fucking difference
@rooney the new king. I think nate’s comment wasn’t that clear, the reason for Ghtt’s comment. You know there’s that perception since Gabby burst into the scene(thanks to united) that he might have an Algerian background,like Zidane did. We know Algeria will be at Angola and South Africa. So nate’s comment might imply a call by the african nation on Obertan for both competitions. @ nate – be specific. Well, i trust gabby to force his way through to the world cup. He’s unique.
ghtt
good morning mate. Arsenals young lads were pretty impressive yesterday i thought.Maybe we were slated a bit because we lost at home and given our ususal standard of performances didnt really create much against Besiktas.Plus Arsenal had qualified as top of group while we had to get a point to ensure top spot.
Manchester United; the team that has not finished outside the top three in the Premiership since it’s Inauguration in 1992!
It just makes good reading!
AIG
never did I say there was anything bad about the arsenal players or how well they played. I taught our kids who lost by one good attack by the other teamwere by far the better team, we played them off the park in the first half but they scores in that half, same way we’d nearly 60% possestion against burnley. My point is arsenal kids get beat amd they a brave young men who will take over the world and united kids lose and sir Alex made a mistake an our future is looking bleak. And want does itatter that they where already top . The points mean nothing every game should be a must won.
ghtt
exactly mate. AT United we are expected to win evey game irrespective of the team, even if SAF plays himself people will still expect a win. Thats the mentality of the fans and everybody when they think about United.Also whenever our kids play there will be those comparisions with becks,scholes,nevs and giggs. we cant avoid that so one bad performance and people will starts comparing and say how they are not as good as becks and the rest without forgetting that most of them are the lads are just 18-20 years of age. What pleased me was the way we bounced back againsts really good spurs side.That wasnt easy because the lads had to bounce back afetr the criticism and they did it in style,Gibbo doing well and may become a regular if he continues his improvement
Aig
your right about Gibson , himself Valencia and gabby and p.I.g. have done what foster nani and park with injuries should have done and that step up when a oppertunity comes a knocking. You can see gibson in the future and with the 2 lada on the wings which scott wa right about the redS in 1994.
Cambell is saying thismorning that hed love to join united
RE: GTHTT
” Cambell is saying thismorning that hed love to join united ”
So would I!
kusczak to replace van der sar when he retires this guy is showing his true potential
See Durham on talksport, called Wolfsburg…wait for it “a pub team”
Costa, to be fair, it was around 7 in the morning here in India. I was just logging on before getting ready for school.
GHTT- Would you rather be praised by the media for doing nothing or slated for achieving something, not everything?
It’s more fun to rub it in their faces when we do win.
@theboogeyman
Getting ready for School? demoted from college.LOL
@doncobaino
just trying to downplay his performace and the team effort. They are German Champions.The dippers lose to a 4th string Fiorentina side and Chelsea draw with some unknown street side despite fielding most of their big players.BTW if anyone follows the German League the side that played on Tue was Wolfsburg,s strongest 11.They arent doing well in the league becasue Grafite has been injured for long period and Dzeko has had to do it alone.Their defence may not be the best but they are more of a free flowing attacking side than trying to play tactically like the dippers
About Obertan boys, I take great pleasure in when he was fed the ball wide that he quickly passed it back to midfield, appropriately. That actually took Ronaldo a year or 2 to learn, and something Nani still cant do. Then sure, you take on the man when you have the chance to beat him, not 2 of them.
Morning
doncobaino – Yeah I hear that twat last night Durham. He is laughable. Everything he says is just for a reaction. He is the ONLY person I know that has said negative things about Owen the other night.
The best bit of comedy I have seen in ages was on Talkshite last night. Some dipper rang Stan and said that he can’t slag Rafa off as when he was at Liverpool “he stank the place out with his attitude”. Fucking quality, even the scousers hate him. He was furious was the bird beater, saying that he knows fuck all and that him and Fowler were “the best partnerhip in Europe”. Ha ha ha. ONly a matter of time before he is sacked from that show, he is a joke.
gotta hate and aig – Nevermind the ridiculous comments about Arsenal’s wonderkids I have another question. Why the fuck are the Rentboys Joint favourites for the Champions league?
Off topic – Why the fuck were Barca wearing those stupid leggings last night? I know it was cold but fucking hell. Ponces.
@King Eric
hi mate. Good morning
The rentboys are always favourites for all the tournaments.do they win anything apart from Carling Cup or the FA Cup.No. So i am least bothered by who the favourites are. The fact that England are 2nd favs to win the world cup after spain made me laugh off my seat.
Derek Mcgovern’s tip of the day
on Tue: Wolfsburg-they lose
on Wed: Liverpool-they lose
Seriously this cunt makes me laugh and he says owen was finished since a long time. Yeah Voronin isnt even fit to lick his arse.
@king eric
I turned it of once he started ripping micky owen apart, he’s a jealous cunt calling wolfsburg a pub team, the guys got no class.
Hi guys.
@AIG: Yep, it is a great year for Greek football so far. But Olympiacos were dealt with the easiest group a Greek side has ever had! Arsenal aside, the other two were easy pickings for them. And i agree that Stutgart and Olympiacos are our prefered choices, but since they will be reserved for Chelsea and Real(as usual), in would like to face AC Milan. For two reasons:1) We haven’t faced them in the last 4 years. 2) That defeat in 05 still hurts.
@GHTT: I don’t know how impressive the Arsenal kids were last night. Olympiacos were missing a few first choice players(in case you are wondering where he vanished, Matt Derbyshire plays there) and they are not on par with Arsenal’s fitness. I think what let them down was that they were playing in front of a hostile crowd. The UNited team that lost to Besiktas didn’t have that. They were at home. That’s why they were critisized harder than the Arsenal kids.
I came across this comment by “Speaktruth” on the Guardian Online blog about UTD’s defensive display against Wolfsburg:
“If you take a team like this current Utd squad. Carrick and Fletcher are of a reasnably suitable height to play in central defence. Once you get over the aerial and positioning issues, you start thinking of their actual midfield-bred abilities on the ball. All of a sudden rather than have natural defender hoofing the ball upfield, you have natural passers, playing out from deep. If you are good at this as Utd are across the team, then logic suggests you have more possession.”
Good points about possession – against Wolfsburg, UTD mostly played the ball on the ground, out from defence. Scholes was the fulcrum. It worked a treat. For a long time, I’ve wondered about the value of “hoofing the ball upfield” – I mean, how many times does a sixty-yard kick end up in the kicking team’s possession ? And, isn’t the object of the game to control the ball ?
I’ve always believed that when Rio keeps the ball and moves upfield into opposition territory with it in his possession then there is consternation in the opposition’s defence. IF he comes back to health, match-fitness and -sharpness then I’d like to see him given more liberty to do that. [By the by, it's the same skill-set that makes Everton's Jack Rodwell such an intriguing young talent.] But, getting back to the main point of “speaktruth’s” comment – watching UTD against Wolfsburg had an eery similarity to watching the traditional game of “triangles” done faster. Short, quick passing with an emphasis on control and immediate re-distribution.
hi all.. sorry for being late here after the Wolfsburg game.. was very busy with work, and i got ill after the game..
@denton davey, hats off to you mate, i always enjoy reading your comments. I am learning to be more patient, giving more chance and time to our young players, from reading comments like yours. Thank you for your comments.
I think Obertan is one of the most natural footballer i have ever seen. At 18, that comfortable with the ball, the noise, and everything that comes with playing for Manchester United, home and away, he is just genius. He brings smile to my face, he captivates me.
I am lost here I am, didnt some expert pundits and idiots on talksport say united have a rough 90 minutes ahead and they fear for united, tell me people what has changed it is the same side that won the german league. I dont care who you play in europe to beat the german champions thats right the german champions with no defence and your first choice attack out thats a pretty god damn impressive performence and scoreline.
united players missing vds g neville brown rafeal ferdinand vidic evans o shea fabio hargreaves giggs rooney berbatov hey why dont I just throw ronaldo in at this rate since everyone still thinks we are nothing without him. that is your goals gone the creative spark gone and the defence gone and they still won. liverpool chelsea and arsenal cant aford to miss a quater of that type of quality.
hey and arsenal are the future, so tell me the media arsenal cocksuckers and pundits what was the score last night exactly.
Like I said from the first time I saw him;
Obertan could very well be our Zidane. He moves and has that crazy vision from outer space just the same as Zidane did. And for a player still with the tentative beginning phase that he is undergoing, it’s a frightful prospect to imagine what he will become when he is fully acclimated and fully in form.
cantona7 he’s 20 mate
Have a read of this, funny as!
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/liverpool-turn-corner-into-terrifying-alley-full-of-zombies-200912102300/