Manchester United were beaten 3-2 at home at Athletic Bilbao following a brilliant performance from the Spanish side.
Whilst Bilbao’s second goal appeared to be offside and their third came in bizarre circumstances after the referee arranged a strange freekick, they were clearly the better team.
Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed that if United improve their defending in the second leg they will be able to progress to the next round.
“We were well beaten, I have to say they were the better team,” said Ferguson. “I thought our defending wasn’t very good tonight and that kept us on the back foot all the time. Our attacking play was very good at times and it was an open, entertaining match. But Bilbao were the better side. We can still win the game. No question. We showed we can make chances against them, but obviously we have to defend better. I need to really look and see how we can maybe bring Rio Ferdinand in without disrupting the league programme.”
Man Utd News 24/7
where was berba?
As we were well beaten by Basel, Benfica and Ajax…
Fergie, please do something about it!
The passing last night by United was bad. Not good to see.
Was at the game last night and it was not the defending which Sir Alex claims but once again the non-existent midfield and Chicharito’s inadequacies upfront. Was very embarrassing last night to see Spain’s fifth best team humiliate us with a footballing lesson. Will the Glazers give us funds this summer to improve? Will they fuck.
Unfortunately this is happening far too often this season in Europe. We have got away with it in the PL but when it counts the players have come up short in Europe. Maybe its time for Fergie to rethink and not mess around too much with his team selection.
Really pleased fo DeGea now showing what a good goalkeeper he is and will only get better.
We were just outplayed, end of!!!
They played the game of their lives last night, no way are they that good every game otherwise they’d be in the mix with madrid and barca for top spot no question!
We just have toi go there and play football, we are a better team no question!
We always do it the hard way!!!
@Gorse Hill Red: Not so sure about the glazers, TBH. In all fairness we spent ~ 60 mil this summer. Hardly the glazer’s fault that we still didnt buy a top class midfielder, and that we continue to play 4-4-2 in Europe.
Have to agree with Gorse. Our midfield gave no protection last night and put extra pressure on the defense. Bilbaos midfield passed or ran passed us far too easily. The centre midfield was only good going forward and when is it going to be understood that Giggs is ok at times and Jones isn’t a midfield player. Only when Smalling went off and Carrick came on did we look more stable. Hope we buy midfielders who are better than those we have in the Summer. But then expect words like ‘No value in the market’ to rear its head again when we don’t buy.
I enjoyed the game last night.
Bilboa look a very good team.
United do not have a divine right to win every game!
People over react to nights like last night, bilbao out played us and were the better side but it could have been different if chica was on form and we defended better, lets hope we can turn things around in the second leg.
with all the young players in the squad and the injuries we have had it will be a miricle if we win a trophy this season and it looks like we are in with a good shout to win the prem, happy days.
Our european form does worry me a little but united will be back next season in the champions league and will perform much better as the younger players will have more experience, fergie will not be complacent in the early rounds and the boys will be out to make up for this year.
Relax and enjoy the football!
Somebody please tell S A F to concentrate on the premier league!! Its much more important to be champions again and stop ‘the bitters’ from winning at the same time than worrying about this 2nd rate Europa league cup!!!
@fitz’em’good’n'tight: It could have been very different too if DDG wasn’t on form
Fergie says he’s given up the hair dryer treatment. Well last night I hope for old times sake he gave them the flame thrower treatment because we were shocking in every sense. Truth be told he could take a look at himself too.
The fact is that we are going backwards. We’re not producing good football and while we might get away with it in the league in Europe we’re being shown up time and time again.
The problem doesn’t seem so much the players but the coaching – we’re not producing good football, the movement is poor and defensively we’re poor getting carved up like a christmas turkey time and time again.
All of this comes from the training ground – where has the slick, incisive passing gone? Now it’s knock it down the channels and rush after it or play the counter attack. What happened to controlling the pace of the game and clean sheets?
Last night hurt – it hurt because we looked like chumps. The Bilbao fans here at work are asking me
“is that how you play football? – you were rubbish”
I thought Anderson and especially Carrick did really well when they got in the game. I love Jonesy but he doesn’t look up for a place in the starting 11 and especially not as a CM. His mentality is great but his positioning in that area was pis poor tonight, also his control and passing game just wasn’t up there. I’d like to see Carrick and Ando/Clevs/Scholes getting a full run next week.
The mistake by Rafael at that third goal was just unforgivable, really WTF!? His afro must be all over the place after the hairdryer Fergie’s likely to have given that lad… Of course it was lousy sportmanship by Bilbao but in the end it was Rafael who fucked op terribly. After that goal it looked like United finally realised they were playing a game of football… We’ve seen that happen to often lately and you do wonder how that keeps happening. Again we got away with it (sort of) but it really shouldn’t happen again.
As far as playing pis poor, how bad was Chico? It seems he only wants to score with his left foot or something… Could’ve easily bagged a brace but just kept on making the wrong decisions in the final third.
DDG is looking more like a proper United goalie with each game he plays. Together with Evans and Bibao’s missed chances (they could’ve scored 5 with ease) he has kept us in this tie.
In the end we’re lucky as fuck that we’re still in this leg. But make no mistake, their ground will be roaring next week! No team has an easy one over there, so going in and having to score at least twice (and conceding none) will be a proper challenge. We just might have to go with our strongest lineup if we’re to accomplish that. Obviously, the Europa League is nowhere near as important as the league but it saddens me to see United getting ripped apart by the #5 side of Spain.
We’ll Never Die.
@jeet – very true mate, he had a cracking game didnt he, he has been awsome as of late. it wouldnt surprise me united turn it around in the second leg though. in fact i will place a bet on it.
Gorse has hit the nail on the head. I thought we actually played well, for the team we had out. They just played better. Apart from Rafeal going to sleep for the third (and once or twice earlier on), the defence was good. Evans looked quality again. Reminds me of Fletcher, who spent years being a joke then suddenly he’s one of the first on the team sheet. Chicharito is a great poacher and his movement in the box can be outstanding but he just hasn’t got a fooball brain and his first touch is terrible. How many half chances did he throw away? He needs to stay on the shoulder of the last defender and be ready to sprint. Either that or be a permanent supersub to use his speed and movement in the last 30 mins against tired legs.
Why didn’t Fergie play the best team available? He said before the game that against Ajax the defence on the whole was too young. So yesterday he fields Rafael, Smalling and Evans with Jones in midfield to start with. Rio and Evans have developed a good partnership as have Rooney and Welbeck. Nani and Carrick should have started. Did he underestimate the opposition or is he really saving his best players for the big game against West Brom at home on Sunday?
Finally, I haven’t noticed any ABUs claiming De Gea is the new Taibi lately!!! The guy has grown in stature in the last few weeks.
Well, the myth that we’ve(me included) loved to perpetuate that La Liga is basically the Scottish Premier with better technique, i.e- Barca & Real are the only teams worth anything, was blown out of the water like a crowd in a swimming pool who’ve just noticed a floater.
I thought they were good, very good.
Everyone always bangs on about sign this bloke or sign that bloke but Munian was absolutely fucking superb. Like Scholesy with electric pace- not quite the finished article but imagine the possibilities. It’s not cos he’s got a fancy name, or that I don’t rate our team- but the last person (Messi aside) to take us apart so effectively was this Portuguese fella with dodgy teeth and he did okay for us.
We looked knackered- the fitness levels of the Basques seemed relentless.
Ando and Carrick did do a job when they came on which was promising and a lot will depend on how we show at their place. The atmosphere thing doesn’t bother me- look at San Siro and Nou Camp in years gone by- it’s whether we have the nous these days to pull it off.
How many times last night did the ball go along the back line, then back to De Gea? It was like they ran out of ideas after half an hour.
We had chances, good chances- but every time they ran at us I was worried.
De Gea was, as I always championed- fucking superb.
Drastic action? Mainly in mentality.
We can still go through, definitely, and do not forget: John Terry is a fucking 100% Gold plated CUNT.
it was a very very very dissapointed performance last night against the fifth spain best team.. SAF really need to do something about his team.. need to back fast into our style of football.. no need to follow their style.. we do our job as a fans.. – Relentless -
By the way, can people please stop calling Chicharito “Chica”. It means “girl” in Spanish! I assume it’s not intended. “Chico” meaning “boy” is a bit better. If it has to be shortened,make it “Chicha”.
@Ian: you mean ”Chico”
Berbatov is better than Chicarito in my opnion. Chico can poach goals like no other but Berbatov is far better in linking up and holding the ball. He can also create magic with a splitting pass or by superb control/technique. At the moment Chico just dissapoints me in the games he plays and The Berb should be given a proper chance to shine. I think he can still do a massive job for us and it’s a shame he’s so underapreciated by a large section of the fanbase.
So where was he last night? He’s not on the injury list or I’ve got my info wrong (http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php)
@ClaytonBlackmoresTan: A small clue to “What ails United in Europe?” :
Do you think Munian would be able to play in a 4-4-2?
I was watching the match and felt very angry and ashamed, this is not the United which we used to know… If we were beaten again by Barcelona or R.Madrid I could understand, but Bilbao sitting 5th, and 30 points off R.Madrid, came to OT and gave us a footballing lesson of the highest level, while we are still shouting 19 – Champ19ns to our rivals, yet failed to win over a side which has players who are not yet stars in their own league, and most of them earn about half or even less than our top wages’ players. Credit where it belongs however, they have a great team spirit, and we have DDG in good form to keep the scoreline almost respectable, it could have well been 6-7 goals in the Spanish side’s favor
@ Ian:
Oh, didn’t see the 2nd ‘h’ in Chicha. Noneteless, ‘I think you can only use ”Chicha” if you write it down. If you pronounce it It sounds just the same as ”Chica”. :p
Poted this earlier on another thred – reposting here as the parallels are scary:
It wasn’t that long ago that we had the best team in the world with the best player on the planet playing for us. Now we have an average team, relying on ageing players with our best player sometimes seeming disinterested and a manger on the home run for retiremement.
Is this a gripe that I am having here – no just a warning from history – instead of thinking 2008 & Ronaldo for the best team and player, think 1968 and Geroge Best. Instead of thinking of Giggs and Scholes for the ageing players, think Charlton and Law. Instead of thinking Rooney for the disinterested player, again think of Best and instead of thinking of Ferguson for a manager on the home run to retirement, think Busby. If history is repeating itself then we are in for quite a few mediocre years – I’m just hoping that 2014 does not turn into a repeat of 1974.
Posted*
Do I think he could play in a 4-4-2? Are you winding me up? Yes.
When we had Ronnie, Rooney and Tevez all playing in a front three that worked okay didn’t it?
I think he could also play in the hole, on the wing and probably slice the oranges whilst playing for half time.
The way we play interchanges all the time, I think he’s be alright. I have never gone overboard about another player but he’s one of those who has a brain two seconds ahead of everyone else’s thought pattern.
He is class. One game I grant you but fuck me running he was tremendous.
Norman – you can’t compare these things with eathother. Football changed so much in all these years. If Fergie retires we’ll have trophyless years but for gods sake we don’t have a god given right to win every year.
We were on our peak in 2008 with Ronaldo. Atm we are in transition clearly. Fuck me there will be times when we are the best again. If someone can get us there it’s SAF:
We have faced far worse things with players like Richardson, Djemba 2x etc.
*he’ll
Re post from the other thread
Jeet
It’s not about proving anybody wrong, it’s just that don’t loose your trust with one bad season (even if we don’t win anything this season).
As for the Europe tactics, I feel we have the players like i have indicated in my first post on this thread. I just hope that SAF and his assistants figure how to use these player and get their tactics right as quickly as they can. If you remember the last time we changed our tactics for Europe it was Carlos Queiroz who helped SAF and SAF got him on board as he realized that he needed some help on that front, I don’t think SAF will be stubborn this time, he is one of the most adaptable managers around the globe. He won’t go through two decades with such success without being adaptable to the situation. I just don’t understand why some are not able to trust him this time. Yes, I agree this time the rot in our game has dragged on to few more games than it used to be but I will prefer to trust the manager in turning tide again.
@ClaytonBlackmore’sTean: “When we had Ronnie, Rooney and Tevez all playing in a front three that worked okay didn’t it?” Wasn’t quiet the traditonal 4-4-2 was it? More like a 4-3-3, if I’m not mistaken? Didn’t see the lad exhibit a defensive bone in his body, whereas we keep demanding our midfielders to be Roy of the Rovers these days, and then complain about “no value in the market”. Munian doesn’t come across as a classic winger either, more like an inside forward running down the gap between the fullback and the CH. Net net, what I’m saying is that the lad is fucking gold if you ask me – the best of all the young, generally overhyped prospects being touted around Europe that I have seen, but he doesn’t fit in to the current United scheme of things. You tell me what’s the solution – keep persisting with what we have, or change tactics?
We were well beaten last night. No complaints with the rssult at all. I do worry about our squad though. Are we going to improve for next season? Are the Glazers prepared to invest or Fergie prepared to buy? We have done brilliantly this season with all the injuries but i can’t help but get a bit worried that we will slip further behind our big spending rivals ( scousres not included ) City will invest more, Chelsea will invest more and even Arsenal are at it already securing Podolski. Im not saying we need to buy a new team but it is obvious that we need at least 2 world class additions to our young squad
@Ancha: Spot on about tactics, Queiroz and Europe. It’s not that I don’t have trust, either. If you don’t trust SAF, what else you got? Organized religion? What frustrates the fuck out me sometimes is:
A. The red-tinted viewpoint that “all is well and you are not a United fan if you think otherwise”
B. The same erros being made time and again, e.g. Evra tucking in and trying to play a third center half instead of marking space, playing 4-4-2 against a team like Bilbao, etc.
Hopefully, things will improve next season. Amen to that.
Pathetic again in a second rate competition , the sooner all fans stop getting carried about the premier league the better, its overrated just like all of utd team a the moment, if we can’t cut it in the Europa league what chance do we have in the champions league , yeah yeah , before u clowns tell me about 3 finals in 4 years wake up really . Only for john Terry Chelsea would have won that , and we got ripped apart in the other two, utd are a club in decline , relying on a 37 and 38 year old in midfield , barca, real Madrid , b Munich are milles ahead of us.
I hate to admit but i 100% agree with @ Owen11:19
Zelh. I’m not making direct comparisons and I know that Ferguson will be doing his best to turn this around, and we are in no way near the state we where in back then – my concern is that the club appear to be heading in the same direction as then – where we could end up just drifting around for a while when Ferguson goes, until someone puts together another team to make us sit up an enjoy football again. I am fully aware that we do not have a right to win things, I actually started supporting United in 1974, and I can tell you that we had players back then that would make Djembax2 a good player – If you are old enough then remember (or if you are not old enough, google) Trevor Anderson, Jim McCalliog, Tony Young, Ian Storey-Moore and 1973-74 – it was dire. My main fear is that Ferguson is talking on the same thought process as Busby back then – in recent years we have always had a good core of players, and when some players left, the transition was smooth and the success continued almost seemlesly – now I think that we have too many average players, so the transition to being a world class team again is going to take a bit longer. I’m not having a go at any of the players and their abilities, it just seems that some of them are incapable of rising to the consistent level required by Manchester United. If you go back to the 1994 team, or the 1996, 1999, 2008 teams there was a group of about 6-7 or more players that you could always rely on to have a good game, so our dependency on particular players was not as critical – now we rely too heavily on players like Rooney, Vidic (when fit), and more recently Scholes and (worryingly) Evans and DeGea – the other players are not as reliable – and I say worryingly for Evans and DeGea, not as a reflection on their abilities as I think they are both great players, but more on the fact that we seem to spend more these days trying to stop the opposition from scoring than actually scoring ourselves and it is left to Evans, DeGea to earn their worth just to keep us in games.
I hate to admit but I’m 0% agree with @ Owen 11:19
The Europa League is a great competition if you’re not fighting for the league and to me, the league comes first. It’s your bread and butter, the first thing you should aim for. Anyone who thinks differently wants United to be a cup team and thats something I don’t want us to be. And to say we’re in decline is also a stupid statement. Yes we lost last night, but we didn’t play from the start Ferdinand, Vidic ( I know he’s injured), Scholes, Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Valencia, Cleverly and Welbeck.
Put it this way – would you prefer the league of a cup? I know which one I’d pick all the time. If we made it to the final then we’d end up having to play 2 games a week for the rest of the season. Wouldn’t help in the slightest.
And another thing. I hate people saying ‘relying’ on a 37 year old. For fucks sake, if he’s still one of the best top 5 mindfielders in the league (which Scholes is) then he’s good enough regardless of his fucking age. Rooney is out best striker, do people say we rely on 26 year old? No! And if he’s not playing in goal, defence and up front then we don’t rely on him, he’s part of a fucking team!
we got a footballing lesson there last night!
Shows how we are lacking in midfield. they took the pi55 out of us!
A mid table Spanish team came to OT and coolly collected , 3 point, DDG stopped it being double that.
JONES: The MF was terrible; I can’t see Jones as a MF, he is not as talented, nowhere near as talented, as Carrick or Scholes in terms of passing and positioning. He run’s a lot, can dribble and run with the ball, but his passing range is very limited, his reading of the game and positioning is pretty much the worst in the squad, he in no Keano either. I think SAF is trying hard to find a position that works with him, just like Alan Smith, but I think right now to say Jones can be an O’Shea would be to flatter him. He can just about manage at RB, maybe he can grow in that position but he has nowhere near the natural talent of Rafael despite playing way more games this term. Jones is a very fringe squad player, if he does not settle in a spot I think SAF will move him on like Smith. He would not make any other top 4 team first XI.
We need to buy MF players. We sorely lack depth here and lack players who can play week in week out.
DEFENCE – not a bad job, but Smalling and Evans are not the team Vidic, Rio and Evra are. Smalling defers alot to Evans and Evans while much better and growing in the role is not able to marshal and organise the defence as a leader in the way Rio does. Really miss Rio and Vida, the young lads should be playing along one of them all the time.
PASSING – something is really wrong here – almost all season United have struggled with passing particularly when Scholes is not there. Very few players seem to be able to string passes together, move into space, receive, pass, looking at Atheletico, the difference in movement and just basic passing ability was staggering. The coaching in this area is weak or the players are really not at the level we think they are. It is staggeringly bad, players get crowded out, lose balance, can’t find a player near them to pass to, pass without looking, take to many touches, are always under pressure due to poor movement. Possession is a problem for United. The whole squad should do better here.
The tactics in Europe aren’t a major concern for me (in that they’ve been a slight concern for years, no change there) but the big concern is that we nowadays we often wont have the best players but our sheer spirit and desire can carry us over the line. What I’ve seen this year has been disappointing. We scored goals against Basel at home but the players didn’t seem bothered! And these are players with little Champions League experience, not season campaigners like Giggs. It’s as if the opposition is below us and we should turn up and win. I hoped the Europa might iron this out. Now I’m concerned that our poor attitude, in winning ONE of FIVE European home games, will carry on into next seasons campaign and a beating from Bilbao might derail our league form. I can’t see it though, but it was a humbling match.
—–
And those people who say the Spanish league only has two good teams like the Scottish league are the ones who don’t watch it. Same with Serie A. People say Serie A is crap yet there’s plenty of good teams, as Man City and Chelsea have found out. Udinese also pushed Arsenal close in the qualifiers. Problem in Spain is Barca are very good and Madrid are very rich. They’re two beasts who are so big and powerful compared to the rest that they seem poor when they’re obviously not.
It’s sad to see so many Reds here saying we’re ‘a club in decline’. Are you fucking serious? How many teams have we heard that and how many times has SAF prove everyone wrong?
We’ve got a hugely talented squad with a lot of very young players who’ll only be better next year and the years after that. Yesterday was a poor performance, we’ve all seen that, but you have to be able to look at the bigger picture. At the beginning of the PL season we played some briljant football. With Anderson and Cleverly in the center of the park we ripped everyone, including Arsenal and especially Spuds, to pieces. With Vidic back next season, Carrick in form, the ever good Scholsey and the return of Ando and Clevs (again) I’m sure we’ll be as good as ever. Never mind our fantastic wingers and our lethal strikers..
And somehow this starts feeling more and more normal. That’s what’s alarming here.
Oh well. We didn’t want to be in the Europa League and now we will get our wish by the looks of it. Fergie better not risk Rio, Carrick, Rooney or Scholes in the 2nd leg. Not with Wolves 3 days later.
“Kick in the door, waving the four four, all you heard was, Bilbao don’t hit us no more” RIP Biggie Smalls
We got our door well and truly kicked in!
No way are we a club in decline. But, if we continue top pretend theres nothing wrong and we are a club at the peak of our glory, we will sonn be in decline. As I keep saying here (ohh, why the fuck do I even bother, wait, I know, it’s because of this stupid love of mine for this club called United), the price of staying at the top, like the price of freedom, is eternal vigilance.
sorry for the effin typos
All said that has to be said in the above posts.
Team selection has to be critized firstly as we must have at least sent a scout to watch and then not putting a team out to tactically nullify their ability. It was like SAF said just go out and have a kick about. Fuck they had a kick about alright
Have to say their energy and ability surprised me – we were second rate on the night . No we were shit.
Only plus side was seeing Ando back and for his many critics would remind them he and TC ran the games at the start of the season – also he played injured for several games.
Anyway let’s do it the hard way – ffs will be pissed if we go out with a whimper.
Come on Reds
United 20 – 2012 (and maybe The Europa Cup)
I feel SAF has to take the blame for last nites result due to his team selection. We had two CM’s on the bench and he plays two players there last night who wer out of position and had never played together at CM before. No wonder they cut through us both seemed alien to each other and offered no protection to the back four. Young was played on th right side away from his favoured left side were he has asisted and scored from in the last few games. Why does Fergie continue to play people out if position It’s not fair on the team, fans or players. In previous seasons in Europe Fergie has adapted the cautious approach prefering to play are way into games keeping our shape but this season has been too Hung ho and its cost us. Sure they got a huge slice of fortune last nite but deserved the win. I feel if Fergie had hav played his strongest 11 we would have won.Still think we could still go through though. Always believe until it is over. UTD till I die.
It’s always the same after a defeat,a club in decline,Glaziers fault,no funds to sign rentboys and once again no evidence to back it up.I’ve said this a 100 times Sir Alex doesn’t want fucking rent boys at the club and that’s fuck all to do with the Glaziers,again if there is proof out there send me the link thanks
Utds main goal is the league,what is Bilbao playing for i’m guessing the Europa league because they’ve got fuck all else to play for just want it more that’s all.If this had been important you’d have seen a totally different Utd team so enough of the bollocks,start putting things into perspective before talking bollocks please
“what is Bilbao playing for i’m guessing the Europa league because they’ve got fuck all else to play for just want it more that’s all.”
They’re trying to get in the Champions League for the first time in ages and win their first trophy in decades as they’re in the cup final against Barca. Since when did United become too jaded and bored of European nights at Old Trafford? Attitude part of the problem for me.
“If this had been important you’d have seen a totally different Utd team so enough of the bollocks,start putting things into perspective before talking bollocks please”
It’s a squad game now. He always rotates, especially in Europe. Young, Rooney, Giggs, a patched up Smalling, De Gea, Evra etc – how could it have been much different? And Bilbao had lots of injuries in defence – Martinez has been talked about as a replacement for Xavi but they played him at centre back! They also only have players from their region of Spain as a policy, so there’s no excuse for United to not only lose, but get thumped.
Old Trafford used to be a fortress. It’s not anymore and drawing and losing only gives teams ideas and courage to come and take us on.
@wayne: I know you arent speaking to me, but just my thoughts about what you said right now.
1. Club in decline – Defo no, but you gotta admit we have slept a bit over the last 3 yrs. Results have come in, but performance wise, theres been a slip. “No question about that”, to quote the great man.
2. No rentboys – We know that. We just spunked out upwards of 50 mil in the summers, so let’s not scapegoat the glazers. What beggars belief though is that we did absolutely fuckall about the midfield. You got to question that.
3. Europa league not a priority – Agree that we eplayed Jones and Giggs because we didnt seem to have any other options available. But then why not play a 3 man midfield? Surey one out of Ando, Carrick and Scholes could have played, at least for 60 minutes, without significantly denting our chances for the weekend? Also, was the CL not important enough for us either?
Spin it whichever way I can, mate, there’s no getting away from the fact, that we are systematically, and comprehensively, being outplayed by tier 2 European clubs at home. And that is cause for concern, and let’s not sugarcoat it any longer.
I think it was high time questions were asked about this team’s European campaign. We pride ourselves on European nights, especially at OT. So what? Benfica, Basel and Bilbao aren’t good enough? We will only commit to the cause if we are up against Barca or Real?
It’s not just 1 or 2 games. It’s 9 European games this season where we’ve made a half assed attempt to negiotiate them. That’s not good enough and the boss has to take the blame for the players’ lack of motivation.
Wow weren’t we yesterday real terrible. I know we have given some shit performance in last 2 season but yesterday was something very terrible. I won’t predict whether we will beat bilbao 2-0 or more but have to say with this performance we won’t.
But the good thing is We play away. You know its very amusing to say that we have played better away than at Old trafford.
I am about to say something which Honestly I am saying for first time. I have to say Sir alex has made some very disappointing decision this season. Now it has nothing to do with yesterday’s defeat but The way he has handled the situation in selection policy and the way he has treated some player (Especially berba) Frankly I am a sad.
No doubt when it comes to tactical and on field decisions he is still the best. He will never lose that trick or specialty . But what bothers me is his decision of buying and selling players.
Now look at berba, Tell me one good reason why he is not selected. I know we have to focus on future and thats why welbeck and chicho deserve to play ahead of berba but then why didn’t he sell him at January window.
Berba has never spoken against our club but I can bet he is quite frustrated. Remember he is also human and a professional. Other player watching around the globe would also think the same and would think twice whether they will be treated properly.
Kuczchack (Sorry still can’t spell his name properly) has also been treated the same way. Now When he bad mouthed (Which wasn’t bad mouthing quite frankly) people of United blame him . I know he doesn’t deserve to be united keeper but then why keep him and create bad impression on others about our club.
And now the youngsters pogba and morrison . I don’t feel they have been treated badly or were treated badly in the case of Ravel but still Sir alex could have handled the situation better like he always used to do.
I remember after 2006 WC Cristiano Ronnie was behaving like a dick but Sir alex just did what was required for the benefit of the club and kept him. And honestly at that time Ronaldo wasn’t that great.
I may be wrong but I feel Sir alex tends to lose patience early now. I don’t know if thats because of his age but I am worried.
Yesterday was another example when he selected the wrong team. Young at Right wing is a terrible decision. He is not a right winger.
But speaking of yesterday I would be happy if we Sign munian or any young talented Midfielder from Bilbao. They have so many talented players.
I will say this I still Trust fergie and will always do but he hasn’t been the fergie that we have seen in the past.
just completley dissapointed with last night. Again we are outplayed. We didnt look interested, They wanted it more end of. Someone said that the way they played it was a one off, I wouldn’t be to sure. I think they outclassed us in all departments. Im just hoping that we can turn it around next week cuz you can’t beat watching a final with United in, regardless of the competition. And all the people claiming they don’t care bout the Europa Cup chat shit cuz it kills me watching United loose. But last night was a painfull match to watch, we were sloppy. I hope Fergie sorts it for next week.
And so what if he plays Wazza, Scholes and whoever, save them for Wolves?! fuck that, we will beat them regardless of who plays. I dont care if they are fighting for their lives, they have no leades, we will beat them so i think we shud concentrate on gettin through in Europe, cuz lets face it, Wolves are shite
can someone please tell me where was Berbatov last night?
Won’t sir Alex even Give him a chance in a second rate competition,
@Ash
The logic behind not playing Berba is half right. If he’s marginalized just so Chicharito and Hernandez get their opportunity, why didn’t the same thing happen with Pogba? Or why is Rio getting picked for the League games ahead of Smalling? Or Evra instead of Fabio. Don’t know why Berbatov doesn’t even make the bench anymore. It can’t be down to form imo. Hernandez (even though he’s our 2nd scorer this season) has played just as bad or even worse at times. Likewise for Welbeck. For a while I thought it was because Fergie saw him as Rooney’s alternative. Well Rooney misses the Norwich game due to an injury and Berbatov still doesn’t start.
So the only explanation I can come up with is that a decision has been made to sell Berbatov this summer and we don’t want to rely on a player that won’t be around next season. Of course tha begs 2 questions: 1) Why we didn’t sell him last summer when his stock was still high and 2) What kind of fee do we expect to get for a player that doesn’t even make the bench?
Ahh the lazy fuck Berba….he’s just too busy auditioning for Scorsese’s latest. Bastard doesnt even turn up drunk for training…
Anyone who watched Athletic Bilbao’s 2-2 draw with FC Barcelona in La Liga would not have been surprised by the team’s energy, overall ability, their pressing game, etc which had United on the back foot all night. They did that to Barca and it took a real effort from the European Champions to end in a draw.
That said. Anyone who also watched Real Madrid beat Athletic 4-1 would have realised that they can be beaten when a team is properly organised and knows how to take its chances on the break. That explains why they are 5th and not yet competing directly with Real and Barca.
Which leaves one with the feeling that the coaching staff+scouts et al, didn’t do their work properly or they clearly don’t give a shit about this competition despite pronouncements to the contrary. How else could one explain that SAF and co only realised in the 2nd half that 3 in the midfield would be better than the lame 2 of Jones and Giggs? How else could one explain that Carrick, Nani, Rio were on the bench rather than on the pitch?
I firmly believe that United have the players that could have matched Ajax and Athletic on the pitch. The key to win is to pick a strong team, respect the opponent – thus studying them properly like Biesla does -, choose adapted tactics and breathe down their necks about the importance of giving their all.
It isn’t all about throwing money and buying expensive players. Just look at Athletic. They didn’t buy their players for zillions of Pounds and they are not in any better financial situation than us (even if we input the cost of burdened on us by the Glazers). Athletic couldn’t afford our outlay in the Summer for just 3 players (DDG, Jones, Young). Their manager brought in 1 player in the summer (if am not wrong) but they’ve been working like hell to have the team play the kind of football that played us off our own turf last night.
It is not that we lost – losing is part of the game and winning is not United’s divine right. It is how we lost that matters. Could it have been different? Yes. Our coaching staff should be looking themselves in the mirror.
Costas
Mate exactly that was my point. We could have easily got 8-10 millions if not more for berba had we sold him but now we get nothing as he will go for free unless something happens. This is why It bothers me on why Sir alex and the club didn’t sell berba.
This may be an unanswered question for our lifetime
@Costas Good point about Europe.
I respect the views of those who say that the Europa Cup is just a second rate competition and the League is more important. That’s fair. But is that really an excuse for our lustreless showing? We would still have been playing twice a week and challenging on two fronts if we were in the Champions League. Why can’t we do that with the Europa? We are United and we should be seen to challenge in any competition that we’re in. We mustn’t win all the time but should at least look like we give a damn about playing well. That hasn’t been the case in Europe this season.
Why is Jones in midfield ahead of Pogba – he is a year older and has played in MF when that is not his position, if I was Pogba I would have a few questions about why youngsters bought in are blooded even if they play badly, but he is not given a chance to stake his claim. No way is Jones better than Pogba in MF.
Also, re not rating the Europa league, if we can not win/ perform well in what is supposed to be a second string competition with our first team squad there is a problem with the squad.
fitzem good and tight 10 06 – spot on post mate. Bilbao were reallyt good on the night. we din’t play that bad, some of our passing was brilliant. If Chica had had a bit more luck/control it might have been different.
We can’t win every game, we should just learn from this and accept we were beatea by a better team. Nothing wrong with accepting that. In general the PL teams should be seriously looking at Spanish football and trying to learn some lessons. Bilbao were really good to watch – high level of skill – one thing PL game is missing – SKILL, SKILL, SKILL.
What was really disappointing was the fans in the crowd. The spanish fans put us to sheme, they were magnificent – wish we coudl be liek that.
Sack the boss and get in a manager who knows how to win in Europe , Jose or pepe no clowns in their midfield, fergie had long enough!!!
As a fan I can lose my head and have all the emotional arguments. The one guy that has to keeo his is SAF.
redcoppel
Bless you for the perfect response
19
redcoppel
- applause -
I’d rather lose you Owen as a fan, than Sir Alex. 19
Yes we got outplayed at times and let them keep the ball more than we’re used to at OT but it was hardly the blowout that the chicken littles are crowing about. IMO the game came down to critical calls going against us due to another terrible euro ref, 2 badly whistled offsides calls early on Chicharito the 1st that probably would have led to a goal and the 2nd that directly turned into a goal for Athletic, another badly uncalled blatant offsides goal and then that clusterfuck free kick goal. Admittedly Chicharito had a couple of other chances to score and shockingly didn’t even get close especially that clear through ball that he ended up taking so much time with that when he did shoot he was closed down, had he either shot immediately or after he reset then just slid it over to a free Giggs it may have been different.
As I said before Ive watched a lot of La Liga this year and other than Barca/RM not a one of their teams would challenge for a top 6 spot in the Prem week in week out. Now that doesn’t mean they dont have some individually talented players and that they cant play the game of their lives as they did yesterday while we play uninterested and disjointed but it aint gonna happen every week.
Where was berba?
I’m a one man army.and my cause is to wage war on every bitchy comment on my true love which is United.ppl coming on here afta any poor result to moan.Yet,u neva see them afta good performances.Slagging off d boss,players and club.Oh,I 4get,u are all season ticket holders and hence must take ur pound of flesh off a group of professionals who have lifted 4 titles in five yrs as well as competed in 3 UCL finals winning one while all d while wanking off I suppose.Plz,give d boys a break and support d troops unreservedly.and no,I’m not against anybodys right to free speech all I’m saying is that there must be an appreciation for d ‘realness’of dis utd side who hav refused to flo wit d times and go all galactico on our arses a la citeh,madrid,rentboyz u name it.if my memory serves of correct I bliv it took Sir Matt almost a decade to build a ucl winning side after d darkest day of our club.Reds get behind d program.SAF is building his last great team as per proper succession planning.this is his lasting legacy to our great club.Brothers,this is d time to stand up and b counted.we need to pump up d volume at games.we need to suit supplying ammo to an increasingly abu media determined to see citeh lift our title.Believe.them lads will come good in the end.I’m out.
I’m a one man army.and my cause is to wage war on every bitchy comment on my true love which is United.ppl coming on here afta any poor result to moan.Yet,u neva see them afta good performances.Slagging off d boss,players and club.Oh,I 4get,u are all season ticket holders and hence must take ur pound of flesh off a group of professionals who have lifted 4 titles in five yrs as well as competed in 3 UCL finals winning one while all d while wanking off I suppose.Plz,give d boys a break and support d troops unreservedly.and no,I’m not against anybodys right to free speech all I’m saying is that there must be an appreciation for d ‘realness’of dis utd side who hav refused to flo wit d times and go all galactico on our arses a la citeh,madrid,rentboyz u name it.if my memory serves of correct I bliv it took Sir Matt almost a decade to build a ucl winning side after d darkest day of our club.Reds get behind d program.SAF is building his last great team as per proper succession planning.this is his lasting legacy to our great club.Brothers,this is d time to stand up and b counted.we need to pump up d volume at games.we need to suit supplying ammo to an increasingly abu media determined to see citeh lift our title.Believe.them lads will come good in the end.I’m out.