Comments on: Carrick: Believe Me, We’re More Determined Than Ever

By: King George the Switzer

King George the Switzer — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:12:09 +0000

John I think you’re right. We’ve failed to really hit the heights this year (ok, I know we’re top of the league) and I think it’s centre mid that’s been the problem.

We’ve had no Hargreaves (who is class), Anderson’s been out most the year, Scholes (legend) is clearly past his best, Carrick still hasn’t broken sweat in a United shirt, Giggs has done well but isn’t a centre mid and Fletch….has been our best midfielder surely!

The kid has come good, but to reach this stage of the season and have the opinion (rightly or wrongly) that SuperFletch has been our best centre mid is surely a sign of the problems

By: Paul the red

Paul the red — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:14:09 +0000

we gotta make it through this season… then hopefully we will have a fully fit Owen Hargreaves for next season…… that should make a difference!!!

By: Drew Vader

Drew Vader — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:59:41 +0000

Nah John, we could use an Essien or a Mascherano….

By: alpha_rs

alpha_rs — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:39:12 +0000

John – Hargreaves when fit is up there with Essien.

I think we need to put a man on Hulk to stop him turning and running. He was the cause of 90% of Uniteds problems last time.

United need to be clever and keep hold of possession and hen the chance arises go for the kill. None of this gung ho rubbish and concede early in the match.

By: twinnyd

twinnyd — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:16:04 +0000

my starting line up would be:

VDS

Rafael/Oshea (sigh) Rio Vidic Evra

Fletcher Carrick Anderson

Ronaldo Rooney Giggs

a 4-3-3 or a 4-4-1-1 with giggsy behind rooney would do fine.a 4-4-2 would not work because we would lack defensive cover and leave our flanks bare,allowing oshea and evra to deal with porto’s fast counter-attacking play which gave us problems the last time.

By: John

John — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:50:56 +0000

I personally see our centre midfield as the weakest part of our team, im not sayin there bad but our defence is WORLD CLASS same wit our attack, Now dont slate me but i think Chelski and the scum midfield is better, We need a player like Essien or Alonso

By: smokebreaksteve

smokebreaksteve — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:30:01 +0000

Hope he plays Nani at Porto. Very dissapointed with him in general but he certainly can’t be tired and he will know that if he steps up for this one it would be a massive boost for his his own confidence. Back to Carrick he needs to up his game but I wonder what we expect from him defensively. He is more a player to steal a loose ball off an opponent rather than bully the ball off him. We were blessed with Keane and I don’t remember a time since he left that teams attacked us so much. We badly miss Hargreaves for defensive cover but on a good note, this attacking pressure on Utd at the moment won’t last forever. We will kick someone’s arse so badly on the counter that teams will again become wary of us and start parking the bus again. Not as exiting to watch but allows the attacking play to flourish. We are not crumbling, we are just not used to every team we play at the moment attacking us so fervently. I think a good win at Porto with goals on the counter will alter the mindset of teams facing us between now and the end of the season, thus relieving the pressure on the back four and consequently settling the nerves of players like Carrick and Fletcher and allowing decent attacks to be built from deep. I know it sounds quite simplistic but the problem in the last few weeks I don’t believe to be tiredness, more a bad reaction to teams actually trying to rip us apart for 90 minutes rather than parking the bus. Like any other tactic, if you are not used to it, it takes some getting used to. The next couple of weeks will shape the end of our season and I think will also shape our squad for next season. The last few weeks may not have been in vain. Older fringe Players will definately go in the close season with less of an emphasis on utility players and more on players who specialise in one position, albeit only squad players.

By: Hasan

Hasan — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:25:47 +0000

Though the recent performances suggest otherwise i sure hope that is the case…they hadn’t been flying all season but the not so sudden dip in form is inexplicable. Banking on Sir Alex to lift them up for the big game. Feel the mid field doesn’t provide enough cover for the defence, nor create enough to trouble the opposition…and carrick at the heart of them both. Lets walk the talk and not just talk.
Its Fletcher Carrick Giggs and Ronaldo for me… With Berba and Rooney at the top.

By: jon jonson

jon jonson — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:55:56 +0000

please, i’m believing in action speaks louder than words

By: costas

costas — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:35:20 +0000

Mistake.We play with Porto on Wednesday,not tomorrow.