De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Anderson, Fletcher, Cleverley; Rooney, Hernandez, Van Persie.
Subs: Lindegaard, Buttner, Wootton, Nani, Powell, Kagawa, Welbeck.
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Wow really going for this one, strong line up for a club like Cluj, but we don’t want a repeat of last year.
Nice ! diamond midfield with rooney on top and behind the two strikers ?
attack, attack, attack attack attack!
no wingers…interesting
Goals goals goals
Lets hope fletcher and cleverly perform
I can’t complain
Strong lineup with a more dynamic midfield. I expect us to collect the 3 points but given our performances this season I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a draw.
This team is short as shit. #ballsinthebox
this is the team to watch.i can’t wait to see the way chica will tear their fucking defence.hope we win by 4goals
Nice, I like it!
Rafa & Evra will need to play well tonight with this formation as they will be expected to provide our width, though I’m sure after Saturday they’ve been reminded of their defensive responsibilities!!
Forza United!!
Switch Carrick for Fletch (if needed), and Kagawa for Hernandez and I’d keep this as my starting lineup everytime…no more mucking about!
Blanket defence 1 up we can’t afford the defeat here.
WOW impressed, smashin line up if i must say…chico deserves a game his form states that..also good to see de gea back in the frame and i hope he stays there….hope the midfirld dominate especially ando and also rooney and van persie link up well…good to see fergie..spot on son
And the Reserves ??
mahesh
no way mate have carick as far away as possible…as for chico he dserves a place in the team..rooney will no doubt play that role unite
Love this team. with the possible exception of Kagawa, this is the team I would have picked. If they play well we should play them against Newcastle.
So is this like a 4-3-3? Interestingg to see VPersie on the right and Rooney on the left. Should be a good game
I like it. Only exception would have been kagawa in the team instead of Chicharito but i suppose chicharito needs games also would have loved to see Buttner in place of Evra cuz you already know What Evra’s gonna do. He won’t change. No excuse not to win this now. COME ONNN BOYS!!!!!
Finally!
Darren Fletcher is the difference tonight, he should be our defensive midfielder that will avoid the repeat of horrible counter attack from the midfield position, I am eager to see a speedy scintillating passing match .RVP, and Cleverly to score.
this a 4-3-1=2 formation with rooney in the hole behind the two strikers and fletcher as the defensive midfielder…
Would have preferred Buttner over Evra.
anyone else think DeGea would’ve saved 2nd goal against Spurs?
Superb and very strong squad
i would love to see this formation being deployed more often, especially when our wingers are more or less redundent….
Anderson and Cleverley… back in business! Excellent. Get in United!!
really hope ando plats on the left and rooney on the free role. a more attacking team with defensive approach. glory, glory utd!!!
BTW am happy to see Giggs and Scholes are left behind, reality check for Fergie.he did many tactical mistakes last season, he should toughen up his mind.There is no room for errors in champions league games.Hopefully that will be the case and we will win this one easily.
Wazza & RVP starting together for the first time. Hopefully we see some goals!
Like the looks of this. Any team with Fletch in the middle will make me feel that our defence will keep it clean. Evra and Rafa will roam forward and Fletch will fall back and provide the extra man in defence. Hope we go two-three goals up and throw in Wootton for Ferdinand with 20-30 minutes to go.
GET STUCK IN LADS!!!
I can see it being a 4-3-1-2. with fletcher dropin abit deeper allowing rooney ando and celevs to get on the ball and set the play for RvP and chico. Be interesting to see were the width comes from cuz we dont want rafa and evra caught high up the field like against spurs!! The team sortenly shows ambition and if we get a goal early i can see us opening them up!! brilliant to see fergie going with this sort of team!! Very happy indeed.
What a wonderful concept of using threes and triangles.
Yeah, fletcher make this team perfect, and I can’t complain….
Ha, I don’t know how to not complain
Buttner should have started instead of evra
Hope Valencia injury is not that bad or else we should count our chickens.
Fletcher is going to be playing Carrick’s role which will allow the likes of Ando and Clev to retain, harry and support the front trio of RVP-Rooney-Chico.
my only concern would be fletch lack of game time..although i would have him in the team before carrick everyday of the week games is what he needs…so actually i suppose this is a good 1 for him to play in…good bench swell
my concern is because scholes giggs and carrick are rested does that mean there in for the newcastle game…besides scholes i hope not or its gona be another long day
Come on United.
We want good attitude and desire from the very 1st minute!!!!!
I heard Scholes, Giggs and Carrick were “struck down with a virus” and not rested… or am I totally missinformed?
I agree with mahesh , kawaga for chic, carrick maybe for fletcher, also Paul scholes in as well and that’s the best we got. Thank fuck for the formation we have to start dominating the midfield, only bad point is where Valencia will play in this formation
Interesting line up. Very interesting. I won’t complain about it.
I hope this is the option United uses going forward. A 4-3-1-2 is dangerous if you have 5 of the 6 up top who can interchange.
I expect Anderson and Cleverly to run through walls today. This is their moment to prove us all “right” that their future is now and that “the kids can win.”
@Mikael
You heard right.
On a different note, I can’t wait to see Wayne, RvP, and Chico as a trio. As mentioned earlier, GOALS, GOALS, GOALS!!!
And pleased as heck to see Anderson and Tommy Boy be given a game.
Anyone got a fast stream for shite internet?
I am really lucky to be a Man Utd fan for more than i can remember and in all honesty , i believe the intern solution to our Midfield crisis, is playing 3 CM players .We have been overrun in midfield time and time again over the past couple of years and as long as the Boss doesn’t have funds/doesn’t want to invest in Midfield, the only way to stop other team from bossing the Midfield when playing against us, is to sacrifice the two wings formation . It’s really sad to lose Valencia’s unbelievable effort, but we can’t afford to let other shitty teams boss the Midfield again.Carrick and Scholes and even Cleverley and Anderson won’t be able to stop big clubs Midfields overrunning us, we have to deploy someone like Fletcher behind them to protect our defence,which is already very short in numbers.
My thought is already at Saint James Park!!!this line up is a winner, until proven otherwise!!
Bit worried about Rio starting today. I know we have no backup other than youngsters, but it’s a tall order for him to play 3 times in 8 days. Hopefully Fletch will beb up for it today and will end the game without problems.
Other than that, this line up proves that Fergie doesn’t mind lining up without wingers. Which makes the “Giggs had to start against Spurs because we didn’t have any other wingers” explanation kind of pointless.
About fucking time
i love this lineup……we dont have any excuse not to perform
Someone save me from Fox Soccer. I want pour hot wax into my ear!
Also, if DDG does well today, I think its time to get him back to keeping for us in the league. I personally think he should be undisputed number 1…
According to infostrada
If United win, this will be their 100th CL win, excluding qualifiers. Only Real have more.
what’s gonna happen on the wings?! i love the line-up, but it really begs the question…
we should have played exactly this team against spurs with scholes instead of fletcher!! Good lineup
Swap Hernandez with Kagawa and for me we have a strongest team, bar the absence of Nemanja obviously.
Big win coming up.
Chicha and Robin clinical, Rooney creative, Clevz Ando Fletch dynamic, should be first team bar maybe Rooney up top to Chicha and Kagawa in behind.
So brilliant to see Fletcher just sit infront of the back four
Anything short of a win tonight is unacceptable.
This is more like it now
And that is why Evra is a liability.
Horrible.
Out of the blue…
lovely jubbly…! well done Evra…plonker!
Our defense is so bad
Horrible…
This is so bad.unbelievable
What the fuck, Evra.. Jonny… De Gea… all three of ye fucked that up big time.
Taxi for Patrice Evra. I’m sorry, but I’ve stuck by him for so long. As far as I’m concerned, he can get back to basics in the fucking reserves. Woeful, woeful defending.
This defense is a fucking joke..acting like juniors
What’s the point of playing Evra? He is finished!!!
That was a great pass you can’t deny that, but Rio and Evans can’t cope with one man and you know the pass was going to be cut back is terrible.
LOL what did I say about Evra?
Conceded 2nd min vs Spurs, 3rd min vs Fulham, 14th min vs Cluj, 16th min vs Southampton safe to say our defense is SHIT.
starts with what a strong line up ends with what the fuck,its a terrible manure defence instead of throwing 22 mill at rvp you should have replaced the oaps in midfield and the donkeys at the back.youll be luck to get through the weakest group yet again.
omg Evra
Is this actually
Happening?
any links, guys?
we’ve looked good, but evra isn’t up to it. He’s crap and we all know it. I hope they have their long range shooting boots on.
Kagawa needed. Soon.
did Evra just butt drop Sougu?!
From one of the leading clubs in Europe to a joke.
You can’t just blame Evra when that pass was class, it was slack defending on Rio’s part giving the one guy in the box too much room.
TC proving his worth. Gorgeous touch to RVP. I hope the staff have noticed.
Yes that pass class but the poor defending from Rio/Evans was shocking just like vs Spurs. Wake the fuck up!
Edcunited1878
Are you joking? He was just not interested. Gave him all the time and space in the world to pick a pass.
What the fuck have we come to
Links guys??
RVP !!!!!
Nice arc on that header. Come on boys!
Van Persie!
finally , the pressure should tel , make it count
No dispair. RVP to the rescue.
United can press Cluj into a 70:30 possession split.
Too much class on the pitch not to get the full three points.
Were up to our necks in cluj
How good is Van Persie!? A backwards shoulder lob now!
From a set piece!!!!!!!! 1-1 Game on!
thtas why we signed him!!!!
WOW…………..Robin hoooooooooooood
There was only one pass and it was cut back and if Rio cannot handle a shite pass then place the blame on him. Evra has to play closer to the center of the pitch and the pass that was made was class to release the player. You can’t just fucking blame Evra for every fuck up when he forces his player wide and makes a standard cutback for one man against two defenders.
Honestly they better score at Least 3 to make up for the embarrassment
Nice goal from RvP even though it did come off his shoulder and the defenders seems to completely forget he was there
70% possession to us…
@edcunited1878 –> kind of in agreement with you, though it was jonny evans, not rio, who should have got to the ball, but it happens. And yes, some people here scapegoat one person all the time. Evra isn’t nearly as bad as people pretend he is, he just isn’t as good as he was. He went from being without a shadow the best LB in the Prem to being a decent LB. He went away to South Aftrica with France in 2010 and didn’t fully return yet.
Please take note of how Rafael closed down the long ball overhead.
Pressure on the ball lead to an errant cross.
Evra used to do that. He allows too much time/space nowadays.
Is it just me or , is the ball seems to be bouncing of rooney ..?
http://www.wiziwig.tv/competition.php?part=sports&discipline=football
link to the game
Rafael’s defending has definately improved in the last month or so.
Edcunited1878
Forces his player wide?
Sorry mate, we’re watching the Cluj vs United champions league match … You?
Yes Kanchelskis, when the pass was made, Evra’s player was wide to the right then ran towards the end line at an angle forcing only one pass, the cutback into the middle of the box. If Evra allowed the player to drag the ball back into the middle, that would have been comical.
Thank God that was Fletcher in the LB position on that break.
Amazingly obvious how out of position the captain is when you choose to notice.
Edcunited1878
He wasn’t forcing anything … He was nowhere near him!!
Good goal by RVP.
Excess possession.
I see a full three points. Kagawa to come in and unlock their “defending 10.”
I’ll take the draw should be 1 up my granny would have been down quicker and more capably than GeGea fucks sake.
thought the same santa claus, thats where i loved berba, stuck to his feet everytime!
One way traffic…cleverley has been magnificient….maybe we could do with more width but still enough quality for the 3
If you’re playing at the full position, you’re dead if you’re beat inside. Evra wasn’t close to the guy as the pass was sprayed early from the half way line to wide right. It was a class fucking pass, everytime Scholes does this it’s a great pass and not bad defending, you can’t have it both ways. Please acknowledge how great that pass was. It was early, it was into space and only the offensive player was going to get it. The player went towards the end line and only had on pass, a cut back because Evra got back to force the pass. If Evra wasn’t as near, the player would have just dribbled around him no? but that wasn’t the case. Crosses come and go in the flow of the game, but not dealing with one fucking opposing player in the box when your two center backs are within five yards of each other and the guy is unacceptable. One gets in the guy’s pants, the other is covering the empty space.
Dominated them thus far. We are lacking some width. There’s so much we can do centrally.
Even though a Greek scored, it was an infuriating goal to give away. Here’s what I don’t get. I assume that Nani and Kagawa are rested? How come Evra NEVER is? How worse could Buttner be defensively?
Parryheid, you’re obsessed with putting down De Gea and while he hasn’t covered himself in glory since his arrival that goal tonight was not his fault. So please fuck off with the granny statement you bellend.
This annoying trend of us playing after we’ve gone behind has to stop though.
If we get anything less than a win here I will beyond pissed. there completely ZERO excuse for even drawing this game. Cluj on paper is not supposed to be even close to our league. NO EXCUSES. come on lads. go and win the fucking game. please. I also second costas theory. why the fuck is Evra never rested? is buttner worse defensively than Evra? please play Buttner. surely Evra’s defending is the worst it can possibly get for a left back?
We are lucky we are playing a poor team, otherwise we would have been in deep trouble. We need to play quicker. I would bring Nany for Chicha. As it is is not working.
I’m going to tell you like it is and you can take it ir leave it but you know it’s the truth
Evans = shit
Rio = Almost finished
Evra = one of all my time faves looking like a shell of himself
Giggs = shit and clearly, clearly not and never could be a CM
Carrrick = terrible
Hernandez = too inconsistent but does good things occasionally
You see how good, positive, forward thinking and energetic this young midfield is? Give them a run and they will DOMINATE.
I cant wait for the day Giggs retires and we buy a new CM because playing players like he and Carrick are KILLING United. Scholes makes them look 10 times better than they really are.
Oh and i really fear for Vidic because the downside after knee injuries us MASSIVE so we need a contingency plan.
TRUTH
I agree with most of that edcunited1878. I thought Evra could have closed down a bit better, but the ball was so good he was always going to struggle. Two defenders on one striker with a goal as the outcome is shoddy. Lindegard wasn’t blaming Paddy, was he.
Too bad Valencia is injured , because he is Utd’s go2guy to break through packed defences.
Costas, we all agree, but I believe part of it is when the the tempo going forward is slow, it has been for a while now, the team is slow. If you play with a higher tempo, everybody is alert ready to get on the ball. Passing the ball around the back around the halfway line attributes to a slow start as the tempo isn’t up to speed. But when possession is lost and the opponents are coming at pace, your mind and body aren’t up to speed yet. Tempo is key and it’s difficult when teams invite you to come into their half then break with pace.
Evra has become so pathetic this days
SAF said “When you consider the first half against Southampton, the first half at Liverpool and first half on Saturday, we have some work to do”.
“You have to be concerned losing goals the way we did. It’s not planned but I think it will be the last.”
Wishful thinking, clearly. Perhaps some of the players aren’t listening anymore, Evra, and Ferdinand, in particular. Patrice Evra said he believed the problem might be mental: given his defending in this match, you have to wonder. We have to stop relying on the increasingly-ineffective old guard: Wooton and Buttner may be raw, would make mistakes, but at least they’d be learning, and would improve with experience. Evra and Ferdinand are only going to get worse. At least we didn’t start with Giggs…
Lindegard / DeGea. Stop swapping keepers Fergie you are confusing me (and the centre backs)
@KR
I agree on some points, but definitely not about Carrick and Evans. For one thing, Carrick isn’t even playing today.
Scholes actually looks good occasionally because someone like Carrick does all the running in midfield. As for Evans, even with his mistakes, at least he’s consistently fit. Which is more than I can say for our other 2 bright hopes at centre back.
@edcunited1878
I agree that the tempo has been slow too often. But today this team is built to play quicker. We just don’t have enough width to stretch the play. We keep running into them down the center.
ROBIN VAN PERSSIIIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! GENIUS!!! ABSOLUTE GENIUS!!!!! Rooney two assists. matchmade in Heaven.
Now that’s what I call football. Nice
Oh Robin van Persie, Oh Robin van Persie!
RVP !!!!
Rooney and r.v.p! World class! What a ball frm rooney.
Costas, having Valencia or Nani could help with width. But say you want Fletch, Ando and Clevs on, only Nani would work from the left as Clevs could play the right side as he did with Wigan. But by the looks of today, Clevs and Ando drift side to side while Fletch is the true shield in front of the back four.
Haha this gay gay agogo bloke’s a proper whopper
Costas, the problem with Michael is he is your atypical english crab player. Likes to go sideways and backwards but lacks the guile and ingenuity to play a cutting edge ball.
Evans while you are right is fit is not United standard, at Everton per say he would SHINE and be the star but not MUFC level.
Edcunited –
Just saw your comment re Evra. Spot on. Just watched the replay of the goal. Evans indeed covering space and Ferdinand two steps behind.
I would still like to see the LB playing on the left and at the back. Fletcher is covering more and more now.
Great save DDG
What a ball from Rooney and what a goal
Oh and by the way this is something those stupid ingurland fans will never ever understand and criticise Wazza at every chance:
You give him a clever, clinical, striker that can actually put the ball in the net and not crouch then he is without doubt one of the best players in world football.
You want proof? Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Robin Van Persie.
@KR
Come off it mate. The ‘Carrick only passes sideways’ myth was statistically debunked some time ago. Can’t be bothered to dig it out now but if you check back through this blog (use the carrick tag) you’ll find Scott did a v good piece on it.
By the way i hope Fergie sees that if he played Kagawa/Nani instead of Chico then this (bar the central defence) is the best United team by far.
i think the change in system is causing our defensive problems. 442 is out with scholes, as he doesn’t have the legs, so fergie is trying to play the way barca do.
kanchelskis, just going by the eye test mate of what i see week in week out with him. If you compare other players that play in that holding role, take Yaya Toure for example then it is not even a contest.
Could you imagine Toure in this midfield instead of Carrick? We would be incredible.
Carrick can play the final ball and plays well closer to goal. He played that way when he first came from Tottenham, but he’s been slowly positioned farther away to goal and doesn’t roam forward as much. To compare Carrick to a traditional English crab (a la Scott Parker or Gareth Barry) is a poor and unfair comment. See Carrick against Roma in the CL a few years back now, that was class by Carrick.
Nice to see RVP getting stuck in. He has a bit of mean streak in him.
Toure isn’t a holding mid, he’s a box to box and just happens to be a beast of a man.
Andy Townsend is a proper wanker.
Over 20 minutes to go: have we really settled for a 2- 1 scoreline against an inferior Cluj side?
RVP has Eric Cantona syndrome!
edcunited1878, i don’t think i made myself clear and that’s my fault. A few years ago i said Carrick was the best English midfielder and i thought the press massively overrated Gerrard and Lampard while overlooking Carrick.
However now you can see with age he has regressed and become to comfortable and accustomed to just getting the balls from Vida and Rio or whoever is at CB and then passing it on to another winger or midfielder without continuing his runs or looking to link up further up the field.
You would think with Scholesy age that Carrick would do the leg work and ginger ninja would pick off teams at will in that holding role but it’s not the case and i don’t know why because as you saw against QPR and Galatasaray he still has that forward thinking in his locker but chooses to stay in a shell more often than not.
Funny thing is i always said RVP when fit is without doubt a better finisher Wazza and it’s evident with how clinical he is nearly all the times.
Rooney however most definitely has more vision and creativity than RVP and he can also finish with the best of them so if you put those 2 together there is no way on earth it wouldn’t work.
Our play is getting slower and slower.. still positive, but more and more like a training ground exercise, with very little goal threat. For a team whose best play is based on speed of thought and movement, I’m surprised that the manager is allowing play to continue like this.
Inferior Cluj side??? I am sorry but are we playing in the Champions League or the Blue Square Division 6 Championship?? There are no weak/inferior teams in the CL. No team is gonna bend down and take it in the ass just because we are Manchester United.
they seem to be getting a little tired – would be nice to bring on kagawa now and hopefully finish the job.
i can’t recall us testing their gk. we’ve scored two, but other than that, not much has created, considering who we are playing. There is a lack of urgency, but maybe that is European football.
Utd4life, exactly but you would expect a team of our stature to make easier work of a team like Cluj but don’t get me wrong they are a decent side.
Look at their tactics though, it’s been Cluj having 11 men behind the ball for most of the game. Hard to break down any CL team playing like that but as you see the quality of RVP and Rooney always shines through
BATE Borisov are for real.
This is the Wayne boy lots of TOP REDS wanted to get rid of in the summer. Clearly they know better than Fergie.
Cluj know that if they came out and tried to play then they’d get murdered, can’t say i blame them if i was their coach i’d set out to play like this too.
Delighted with the performance so far. We have not been overrun in the midfield, we have created chances, we have retained possession in the midfield and Rooney has provided the assist for both of RVP’s goals. Good enough. I’ll gladly take the 3 points compared to the horror show we had last season.
Anderson is having a great game, would like to see buttner on!
Welbeck on for Hernadez who hasn’t been doing anything except tracking space. Come on Danny!
Anybody else think Hernadez has never looked right since he got that concussion?
Proverb, i have never ever ever said get rid of our best player. I don’t give 2 shits if he ‘held our club for ransom’ because you sell someone like that then you turn into Arsenal, Spurs and Pool – feeder club.
Anyone who said get rid of Rooney had to be high on something.
OMG. URGENCY FFS. the game is still 2-1. You aren’t fifteen goals up. ONE GOAL up. Get another one and then settle down. fucking frustrating. why are we passing like we are playing against a reserves team?
FletchTHEMAN, definitely a step slower and more anxious in and around the box and infront of goal.
Wayneboy has covered every blade of the grass today TOP!!!
Good catch DDG
De Gea’s been working on those high crosses for sure, he is miles ahead of Lindegaard if he can sort out the physical nature of the PL.
KR, Cheers mate. Its not that really. JH’s still banging them in for Mexico, but that’s usually against p*ss competition. Just not doing it for me at United.
Just a crime to keep Danny out. Danny actually holds the ball up?! What a concept
If DDG finds a man with one of his clearance kicks i ll quit smoking
KR. This is not exactly vintage United mate. We have issues in the midfield and defense which needs to be sorted ASAP. I never expected us to make light work of Cluj considering what happened last season and I think each game from now on will be a dog fight. If we get our defenders fit and our midfield issues sorted then I think we could have a good run in CL.
Really exasperated by how easy it is to attack the left side of Uniteds defense.
All this pressure on our goal is our fault we could have put this game DECADES AGO. SMH. At least won and played fairly well today. Have to do a lot better against Newcastle on Sunday cuz that’s gonna be a cracker.
FletchTHEMAN , exactly my point with some of the players in this squad. If they played for an Everton or Sunderland they would stand out but you are talking the very best when it comes to putting on the red shirt. Rooney and RVP IS our standard so i don’t see why we should settle for anyone who doesn’t cut the mustard.
Scoring against Jamaica, Barbados et all is all good Chica but you have to play like you first did when you arrived because Welbeck has your number no question.
Now try to drop DeGea, he saved our ass AGAIN!!!
Rafael top-notch performance, same VanPersie, Rooney and Fletcher.
These were our best players.
Well done, 6 out of 6, great job lads, here we come newcastle!
De Gea saves us again, our defense was shit last year also but De Gea saved us. He should be nr1!
Oh well. 2 games, 2 wins good. 2 mediocre performances, not so good.
We’ve got to start gelling soon, surely?
KR – agreed, but we’ll need to raise our game against the acknowledged ‘bettter’ teams if we progress in this competition. Some teams will try to park the bus and hit us on the break (particularly given the fragility of our defence), but we’re not novices at this level, and should have some experience playing against those tactics. However, Cluj did score first, and have had a couple of good chances since then.. and we are definitely on the back foot as the game comes to a close.
6 points from 2 games. I will take that. Thank you very much. Bit shaky towards the end as was expected when you just have a one goal lead. Need to learn how to see out games.
we need to drop this crap 433 formation. they worked degea more than we did at their end. we were poor, they let us play and got a lucky goal and a class goal.
I’d stick with de gea from here on, chopping and changing doesn’t help proceedings plus he’s better than lindy in many aspects
Utd4life, that midfield tonight was perfect if you ask me looking at what we have. You’ll see what a run of games playing the same mid will do because you can’t chop and change and then expect consistency and perfect games when they play every other week.
Defence is a HUGE, HUGE problem. We might get torn apart when we face the big boys in the coming weeks. Infact Ba and Cisse could easily destroy us this weekend if they are not on their game.
Newcastle are going to fuck our defense hard. Hope fergie has a plan cause this won’t do.
We should not be happy with a performance like this against a very poor team. We should have gotten the third before trying to kill the game. We nearly paid for it at the end.
Gotta say though,
Been a Evra fan always, and still am, but wow the man has lost it, against Liverpool was ok, and fought against Tottenham, but still. Sorry Patrice!, but I hope he starts wroking out more.
Not trying to complain, cause we won, and I’m happy with that.
Look at Bayern, They lost. So gotta be happy.
yeaaaa maaaan. United all the way
REDTIDES, agree 100% we have literally seen every tactic against us so we should know how to deal with ‘park the bus’ teams.
3 points enough said.
Sushi, last year at St James (which i went to) left a sour taste in my mouth and i don’t see how this defence stops them again especially the way Ben Arfa, Tiote, Ba, Cisse are playing
Hands up if you love RVP. What a player. Never thought his transition from Arsenal would be THIS smooth. Like he never changed clubs and just does what he does.
3 points but unimpressed
KR. I hope to God that the Gaffer does not experiment with the midfield against Newcastle. Play Giggsy and Scholesy together in the weekend then expect us to get raped. Tonight’s midfield had pace, bite and movement. Defense is a problem and the lads need to pull up their socks and defend as a team.
Not too clinical, but it was mostly a positive experience. The defending actually got tighter, Tom and Ando made another legit claim as to why they need to start more often and the Rooney/RVP partnership is off the mark.
It’s obvious that Sir Alex still hasn’t found the right blend. Today we were missing players like Carrick, Nani, Kagawa and Antonio. Players who are also set to feature a lot. So Fergie has to search more for the right chemistry. But on this evidence, either Tom or Anderson has to start at St James.
United weren’t poor in the 4-3-3 today. This is Europe, you have to play a more patient and more tactical game. If it was a knockout stage, the match would be more open as it’s not about points per say, but goals and playing the away/home to your advantage.
If United have to grind out group stage matches like today in a 4-3-3 to cancel out the majority of counter attacks, so be it. Today would have been great to see Scholes play with RvP, Rooney up top and the midfield trio of Ando, Clevs and Fletcher behind him or in front.
Pirlo pulled the strings for Italy with de Rossi and Marchiso or whoever else, then had Balotelli and his strike partner Cassano.
That defense has some issues evra can’t be walking when an attack is shaping up to cross the ball and was caught facing his own goal that was pathetic buttner surely can do a better job
This looks to be our strongest lineup, with the exception of Kagawa/Valencia/Nani in place of Hernandez. Makes you wonder what happens when everyone gets fit.
Just a side note. Anderson ran out of gas again at the end. I know he hasn’t played much, but I would suppose getting your stamina up does not require play time? If Rooney coming back from injury can look fit, surely Anderson can do better? Perhaps this is the reason he isn’t starting as many games as he should? He needs better attitude in training?
Especially if we play an ineffective midfield again cause then tiote or that twat arfa will waltz right on through
Georgejoseph, if we had a fit defence you wouldn’t be saying that. We were only cautious because they were parking the bus and going full on counter attack and the whole team knows the defence is not in a good state so leaving gaping holes is not smart in the CL.
The defending has a lot to do with positioning. Gary Neville made a very good analysis of the way we defended on Saturday. The gaps between Rio, Evans and the full backs were criminal. If the defenders start playing tighter and if we get 2 CMs that can defend properly, the defending will get better.
Kapetanos shouldn’t be scoring against us. He’s an average quality striker.
I dont knw hw Evra finds himself in the team! we shuld start killing off these game
Utd4life, thank god people agree. I love Scholesy and Giggs to death but i’m just being a realist, NO OTHER top team in Europe plays 2 near 40 year olds in the centre of the park.
I promise you now if we stick with these young players that will get about Cabaye and Tiote then we win because they are also creative enough to make chances for Kag/RVP/Wazza
4-3-3 with Shinji or Nani instead of Chica is perfect for Newcastle.
Just because Cluj are not FC Barcelona it does not make them a poor team. This was the same Cluj team who beat Braga in their home ground( who incidentally beat Galatasaray in their home ground today) so they are definitely not shite. I am not saying it was a flawless, world class performance but it is a step in the right direction.
Ando does a thankless job working and running hard on and off the ball. Rooney does his fair share of running don’t get me wrong, but he isn’t under the stress of Anderson is when in the middle of the pitch. Rooney is able to drift into space where Ando has to fully commit himself, show for others, etc. Their fitness is tracked and measured so the training staff and coaches know his limits. Plus training fitness cannot fully compensate for match intensity and match fitness.
Good result.
No major worries. The back four played wrll enough to win. RVP bailed out the front line. And Rooney looked close to what is expected of him.
I think this same line up with Kagawa on for Chicharito is the answer.
Unfortunately, Sir Alex will start Carrick, Scholes, and Giggs in the middle with RVP, Rooney, and Valencia up top.
Get ready for it.
Why the fuck isn’t Neville a part of our setup? He’d be perfect to stand on the sidelines and have a go at our players don’t know why he went of as a pundit could have used his insight first hand.
edcunited1878, definitely. My god Ando is a proper workhorse. He will not stop until his petrol tank is below the red.
With more games comes fitness so PLEASE, PLEASE Fergie keep the same midfield for Newcastle.
Sushi, mates of mine that are City fans actually like Nev now, that’s how much they respect his analysis and views on Sky.
The fact he loves attacking midfielders creating chances says to me he moves along as the game of football does.
All I can say it thank good for RVP and Rooney. As they are the only real world class players we have !!!!
@FletchTHEMAN
Disagree re: Chico. He has not looked the same since the concussion, even when it comes to playing for Mexico. Any follower of Mexican football will tell you that.
Your comment regarding Mexico’s shit competition is also off base. Chico has scored against lesser international sides, but also against Argentina, France, and Spain.
At least he did prior to his concussion. Since then, he’s scored, but the goals just haven’t come as profusely and naturally as they once did.
In other words, it’s the exact same thing we’re seeing with United.
I don’t know if it’s a mental thing, or if it is indeed something physical, but he is really a different player post-concussion. Right before he got it, he had just finished a magical season with us and then won the player of the tournament award at the Gold Cup and then BOOM–the injury.
And now this. Poor guy.
You’re actually mates with city fans? Haha joking!
@Georgejoseph
sorry but thats b$
Wee Toms Ligaments, please don’t say that because the thought of that midfield is making me depressed no matter how good the frontline may be.
I juts don’t understand Fergie at times, i have no authority to question him but surely he can see the obvious, like Spurs at the weekend.
Nice to have maximum points. Much better than the clusterfucks we were witnessing at this stage last season.
Regarding Anderson, when it comes to work rate, he’s the missing piece of the puzzle in our midfield. He covers a lot of ground and (most of the time) passes the ball intelligently. But here’s what bothers me. Is it that hard for him to drop weight? He’s been like this for a couple of years now and it doesn’t do his stamina any favors. Like Marq said, he could have featured a lot more often.
Typical Champions League group stage game. This is the kind of game you always expect against a team like Cluj and in a country like Romania. Had that been Old Trafford I think it would have been a mauling even without our wingers. I think that some people here over-obsessed with complaining have either blanked out the group stage games of past champions league competitions from us, or they were too young, or for some reason weren’t fans. Champions League games can be boring, dire affairs in some of the most bizarre atmospheres the game has to offer.
I’m happy tonight because we have 6 points from two games, now if we win the next game against braga at OT, we’re seriously flying it. We need 4 points from 4 games, i think we’re good
We are forgetting about Evra and his role in 433 where we have a striker, with two more behind in an effective 4-1-2-2-1 formation,
Evra is expected to provide width and defend. He’s also missing a player like Young to assist him in defense, a job Park ji Sung used to be very good at. Thus he is being exposed as a poor defensive fullback.
We were too narrow in attack and too exposed in the wide areas on the break. I’d love to see the stats on how many times we’ve been done by a fast attack down Evra’s side this season. He’s actual not that good defending and he doesn’t really do anything going forward. I cant think of any assists he’s done off the top of my head. I’d love to see his assist stats for this season and last.
This formation is all about accomadating a barca appoach, with Scholes as the controller. Which is a wrong move in my eyes.
Valencia was our main threat last season, his width and hugging the touchline provided a lot of goals. He stretches the play. 433, nulls his role, that’s why fergie tried him at right back over Rafeal at Everton.
442 is our formation that has brought us the most success. I’d rather a 442, with Rooney playing as the 5th midfielder in Europe and away at tough PL venues. With quick breaking Rooney, Valencia and Nani/young. With Kagawa and a more defensive player like fletcher, who can provide cover for Kagawa, when he pushes forward. Both should be expected to get back and cover, like all the midfield does in 442.
MOM for me was Wayne Rooney. Covered every blade of grass and made both goals.
Can Rooney work with RvP?
Rooney: 2 Assists
RvP: 2 Goals
Any questions?
You know what, I half expect the Gaffer to start Giggsy and Scholesy alongside Carrick in the weekend. It befuddles the fuck out of me as to why he does it? Does he not see how better our midfield performs when we play Ando and Cleverley together? I wish he could just come out and tell his reason for starting both the legends against a young, dynamic midfield like Spurs.
Yeah unfortunately I don’t get sky but I’ve seen some of his commentary which is quite
Good. Especially compared to redknapp and the clowns over at bbc
@edcunited1878
I know where you are coming from, but do you seldom see top top players run of of gas the way Anderson looks punctured? I’m merely suggesting he can do better at his fitness. And today’s match is hardly in the league of intense, no disrespect to Cluj, because they are not just any inferior team like some suggested.
3 points rvp class, wazza looked fitter good to see fletch start !! ando and chica seriously need to work on there passing! but 3 points not to complain! mufc19
Chico made runs all nite and stretched there defense. Its hardly seen but he does it all the time. Just needs to get his shooting boots bck on. Is evans out for next match then?? Keane or Wootton your time is now!
Play Ando regularly then he will reach the desired fitness levels. On the other hand, if you play him like once in 3-4 games then don’t expect him to suddenly become Roy Keane.
Utd4life, exactly. I hope it’s not out of sympathy or not being able to move on because seriously football has moved on and ageing players in a fast modern game DOES NOT work.
I think we get destroyed if we play Carrick, Giggs Scholes at the weekend but if we play Ando/Cleverley/Fletcher then we win. The difference is that big.
Tiote, Cabaye, Ben Arfa and Jonas put incredible pressure on opposing midfields and when they win good it’s because they domiante the midfield and provide service for the 2 Senegalese lads upfront.
Spurs midfield is actually terrible without Modric because Sandro and Dembele is not really a good combination but ours was so much more worse and hence we lost.
Ando’s fitness levels is also a reflection of his diet and lifestyle outside of football and it’s fair to say it’s good enough, but can be better/should be better. Ando’s willingness and ability to get stuck in and battle for the ball then drive forward is something he has over all other midfielders, except Fletch.
Agreed Ando is Only a fat ass cause he diesnt
Play regular so can’t do much. There is
Only so much gym work you can do
All agree on Ando playing regularly. There is 0.00% of benefit you get out of playing Giggs over him, one guy is trying to get his career kick started properly and the other is slow and uninspiring at the end of his career.
Start Ando Fergie!
Degea has to be number 1 keeper. Fuk all ths tinkering.. hes getting better game by game.
To be fair, Wazza is a bit of a fatass himself and he smokes…..occasionally. But, the more you play, the more you know when to press harder and Ando just can’t turn it on and off.
Also this fucking switching act between keepers is a serious piss off.
If anything fergie should be mind fucking evra/buttner with game by game switch up keep them on their toes
Ando’s fat ass itself isn’t a problem. On the contrary. It’s one of the reasons he wins so many midfield battles.
Yup think we can agree on that. Anderson did very well, but definitely alot of room for improvement in terms of fitness.
As for suggesting we play him until he gets fit, I don’t agree. You prove you are fit enough to start, not start until you are fit enough. Match sharpness you need game time, yes, but losing weight, no, you don’t, just look at Rooney. And we are not asking Anderson to become a Ronaldo, just dropping 3-5kg would do him wonders I believe
We’ll get beat at Newcastle. We looked poor in the air tonight, so will struggle with Ba and Cisse. We will start with Scholes, who needs a runner and we carry, as fergie doesn’t trust anyone else in big matches. We will be tired after a long trip abroad. We are playing poorly. Newcastle have a great set of players, that can upset anyone. They also have strength in our weak area’s. Newcastle in short are our worst nightmare.
That may upset people, but I don’t have my head in the sand and I don’t make excuses for highly paid footballers and back it up with blind loyalty. They get cheered on when playing, but they also deserve grilling after. That’s what creates pressure, pressure turns shit into diamonds and clears the ones who can’t cope. That’s how we improve. Muppets who want to be seen as the “greatest” fans never question.
That was my head speaking. My heart says, we have the firepower, if we can provide the service. Newcastle defense is ok, not great. We can play badly and still get a result.
I think Evans is underrated, defensively he doesnt read the game as well as others but he has enough pace to make up for it and his distribution is phenomenal. Was impressed with Anderson tonight, really excellent range of passing if a little inaccurate at some times, and he showed good control in tight areas. He made a few driving runs forward which he needs to do more often, and he perhaps was slightly immobile at times which may be a fitness thing. Desperately needs games now which I would argue he deserves, Fergie must stop relying on Scholes, use him as an impact sub sure, but he must put faith in Cleverley and Anderson or they wont develop and when Scholes finally does say goodbge we’ll be in a mess. Plus theres the fact Scholes really cant play well when put under pressure, where Anderson and Cleverley may do better as they specialise over short distances.
Well if Evans cannot recover from his apparent dead leg within five days, United may be fucked sideways in defense.
Is Newcastle goalie injured? Fucks his name I Remember Him being good….
Yeah their defense is not the greatest
My heart says 4-3 United because Rooney/RVP/kagawa will bail us out as usual despite the midfield of Scholes/Giggs/Carrick getting destroyed.
My head says if we keep that midfield then we lose 3-1 because no matter how good that front 3 is that midfield is crap and too slow to keep up.
Now on the other hand play the same mid as tonight then this is a pointless discussion because we beat Newcastle IMO.
Sushi , Tim Krul: he’s quality
Lol wtf happened to bayern?
Ah yes krul that’s it. Thx couldn’t remember
Marq totally agree with ando stuff. these boys play football all day!!! ‘match fitness’ is meant to get players sharp and sort there quickness up to match speed not there personal fitness. ando needs to get HIS fitness sorted. 19
@edcunited1878
Agreed. It’s inconceivable that Evans could miss Sunday’s game. With it being a dead leg though, I am hopefully he will recover in time. We have 5 days until then. If he doesn’t, I bet Carrick will get the nod ahead of Wootton with Tom and Ando starting in midfield.
KR i’m with you on the midfield tonight, I think you summed it up perfectly. I hope you are correct. I just see fergie changing it and tiredness from the long trip kicking in. Maybe the extra days rest will be crucial.
Bayern got muchhosened. I don’t know what muchhosend means, i doubt anything, but that’s the word i’d use in german for being panned.
WAYNE ROONEH WAYNE ROONEH HE GOES BY THE NAME OF WAYNE ROONEH!!!!!
What a bonus it is having Wazza back . World class player and I always say it…when Rooney is on the pitch and playing for us, we ALWAYS have a chance! FACT!
Legend!!!!
Lol guess i shouldn’t laugh at their misfortune considering that was us last season!
Patrice can piss me off at times, if he could improve his fucking positioning but he showed his commitment with that brilliant defensive header, still think his place is up for grabs if he doesn’t improve.
Anderson was superb today. pinging passes about accurately, very inventive and gives united that mobility, power and drive added with his brazilian flair. People bang on about his fitness but he’ll only improve that with regular games and he has staked a claim with two great performances now. Fletcher sat in front of the back, looks to be reinventing his game, he did a solid job tonight but I hope to see him looking sharper soon.
Cleverley was also good. Moved the ball quicker, creative with his passes as i’ve always asked him to show that side of his game. He covered every blade of grass like anderson and his defensive work was great.
Rafael was outstanding at fullback. Little terrier, battles for everything. Looks strong these days, his defensive game has got better too, bomb up and down all game. Hope he keeps improving.
RVP was a threat all night, dropping off or looking to get behind. 7 goaks in 7 games shows why he was bought but his overall play impressed me. Two goals tonight, second one was classy technique at its best. He also put a shift in defensively, showing he has brawn with his artistry. Hope to see him get better.
Rooney was top class. Inventive, imaginative visionary. Two assists tonight, second assist was sublime. He looks hungry, sharper, meaner. Hope to see more from him.
De gea was solid, caught one high ball which he would similarly be tested by In the PL,that number 1 is his to lose but hope he stays there.
Generally please with the interchanging in our play. We looked creative everytime, passes were more Accurate and with purpose in the 2nd half but we need to stop fucking starting slowly and need to defend better right all around the team. The midfield tonight was the right blend hence why we moved the ball well, had more mobility and work rate. Improvement is needed as newcastle will be extremely tough, can’t afford a slow start. Gotta keep the midfield we employed tonight.
We’re not in top form, so a win is a win end of the day.
As for Anderson match fitness only comes from matches, you can’t replicate what he did tonight on a training pitch. He’s is getting stronger each game this was only his third 90 min appearance this season.
Cleverley has played 8 full games now, give or take two 60 min apps, and its showing. Having Fletcher back is a bonus, and im not one for writing off Carrick, Giggs or Scholes either. So far so good!
Just skimming the comments – People shouldn’t conflate Rooney’s fitness and Anderson’s fitness. All chubby players are NOT created equally. Messi and Yaya are hardly fat free for starters.
Basically, you can’t compare Wazza and Ando because the Brazilian’s weight doesn’t effect his first touch, or his passing and tackling, or his movement with and without the ball.
Im not saying Anderson is in top form, course not, but he’s getting there. He’s only played 3 x 90 minutes and his fitness is where it should be for now. All three performances were solid anyway.
But Wazza was bang out of order at Everton for being miles off the pace, as thats something you can prevent in training. Only a blind man can’t see Ando’s been working on his fitness in pre-season.
He wouldn’t be able to complete 90 minute games otherwise. Give him time, he’ll keep improving.