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Saturday’s defeat wasn’t in the script for United backers but if we don’t lose to Villa for another 26 years we can probably afford to let them have that one – especially after Chelsea dropped points again.
At short odds of 1.19 (2/11) the Reds should be back in business when Wolves come to Old Trafford on Tuesday night. The visitors are a massive 24.0 (23/1) to win but some lucky punters backed them at 15.0 (14/1) to beat Tottenham on Saturday, so should we back Mick McCarthy’s men?
No chance. United aren’t going to lose consecutive league matches at OT and Wolves aren’t going to win two in a row on the road. The Reds will be hungry for success on Tuesday night and we expect them to win both halves. Back Man United/Man United at 1.63 (5/8) in the Half-time/Full-time market.
United have scored two goals more on the road this season than at home. However, we believe that Wolves could be on the receiving end of a backlash on Tuesday; they’ve shipped 16 away from home and we recommend backing Over 2.5 goals at 1.67 (4/6) as well as a small wager on Over 3.5 goals at 2.62 (13/8).
Due to the skinny match odds on a home win we’re going to back United -2 at odds of 2.02 (evens) in the Asian Handicap market. This means giving Wolves a two goal head start but Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen are all likely to feature and all have a point to prove.
As a little experiment, back against a Manchester United clean sheet. It should only be a small bet but, with key men still out, odds of 2.46 (6/4) on a cheeky away goal are attractive. Wolves have scored more away than they have at Molineux so back No in the Man United clean sheet market.
Ji-Sung Park was typically industrious on the wing against Villa and it was good to see him back. If he starts, put a small bet on the South Korean to be the first goalscorer. In the correct score market, we like the look of 3-0 at 7.6 (13/2).
For some extra mid-week value, try small, maverick bets on some of the Premier League’s least predictable sides.
Wigan have beaten Chelsea this season but conceded nine against Spurs. They’re full of surprises and look over-priced at 13.0 (12/1) to beat Liverpool on Wednesday. Tottenham v Manchester City has goals written all over it so grab odds of 11.8 (11/1) on there being six goals or more.
Bet with Betfair and claim your free £25 bet.
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even though its wolves we shouldnt take this for granted, we need 3 points and nothing less tonight, then put the pressure on chelsea for tomorrow and see how they handle it, come on the champions!
anyone any idea of the starting team, giggs and rooney are doubts according to a few sources? i wanna do a 1st goalscorer bet ASAP.
I got an email true emilys YouTube account saying that Hargreaves should be playing for the reserves on Thursday. Can anyone anywhere find anything to back up this story?
Also berbatov to score first
A clean sheet is a must today. We have to improve our defesive record.
Off topic, but i think Fabio’s comments about Owen Hargreaves just go to show that Michael Owen won’t go to the World Cup. Fabio has given more hope to Owen who has yet to kick a ball this season, than to Michael who has exceeded expectations at Manchester United. Obviously Capello doesn’t have a place for someone like Michael Owen in his plans. That’s his choice and his risk, i just wish the media stop getting on Michael’s back about his England chances.
COME ON UNITED!!
we gta pick up the 3 points today.. and score a few goals
hopefully berbatov can get a few goals tonight!
AND START OBERTAN!!!!!
Costas
spot on mate.the defence isa major cause for concern although injuries and players coming back from injuries and again facing long lay offs isnt helping.hope we can get everyone back by jan
as for owen i always thought he wont go to the WC becaue capello will go with 2 physical players like crouch and heskey and rooney and defoe who are in good form and will be automatic choices. owen has to do something really special to convince capello.
Any win will do, but I have a feeling that Wolves will suffer tonight badly, provided we play attack minded formation.
@AIG: Out of curiosity, would you take a 5-1 or a 3-0 today? I am not underestimating Wolves by any means. Just hypothetically asking what is more preferable. For me, it’s important the clean sheets become more frequent for us. Like last season when we made 11 straight wins at the same time we were making our clean sheet record. I agree about the injured players, but at least Wes and Vidic will be more sharp than they were on Saturday. And i think that if Rafael doesn’t make it, De Laet should start at right back.
About Capello, that’s what i was thinking too. He prefers the more physical type of strikers. Defoe isn’t tall like Heskey, Crouch and Bent, but he is also quite physical. I am afraid that no matter what Micky does, Capello won’t be impressed. Well, at least he will have a full summer’s rest before the 2010-2011 season.
we are going to win, are we ? =)
Berba, Obertan on the left, Nani on the right. 4-4-2 please. Scholesy – Carrick in the middle.
Corea i hope we will!
I will make a guess for our line up:
Kuszczak-De Laet,Wes,Vidic,Evra-Valencia,Fletcher,Scholes,Nani-Rooney,Berbatov.
Costas
i too would take a 3-0.i want a good convincing performance in all departments. i also hope our goal difference will be boosted.if we score early wolves are in for a pasting but if the match stays goalless till the break i will be a little worried.i want an early goal and a convincing win with a clean sheet.
i also want some 1-0 wins like last season.of course that does not mean to compromise with our style of football but a 4-4-2 does well for us than a 4-5-1 even though we won 4-1 and 4-0 using that formation in the last 2 games but failed against Villa
PIG
de laet carrick vidic evra
valencia gibson scholes obertan
rooney berbatov
good team!!.. we should easily pick up the 3 points and get a few goals
specially with the wolves team with 10 changes from the tottenham game!!
looks like wolves already know their going to lose and gave up??
COME ON UNITED!!!
berbatov to score a hat trick!
obertan to get his first!!!
BBC reports that wolves boss mick mccarthy has made 10 changes from the side that beat spurs.
WTF is going on
Yes, bro. Against Wolves there is not much need to play Fletch in defence. But would give him a rest. Play De Laet on the right and Carrick-Scholes partnership in the middle. Valencia bench, Nani right, Obertan left.
Nani doesn’t get the chance even against that sort of opposition. Shit..
@obertanthenewstar:
Thats the line up? I hope Wes hasn’t suffered a recurence of his injury…
It should be enough though. What’s up with McCarthy making 10 changes? He doesn’t have that luxury does he?
Does anyone have the lineup? Corea, wasn’t sure if that was the actual lineup or what you’d like to see.
i thort they said rafael would be back?? instead fabio is on the bench
so looks like their both back!! good news..
but wes is injured again hamstring so carrick is back at CB for tonight
@Corea: Maybe Fergie wants to keep him fresh for Fulham? Nah…
Glad to see Obertan get a start in the Premiership though.
@obertanthenewstar: Thanks for the updates. Yeah, i guess both twins are reaching 100% fitness. That’s a rarity, but i hope it stays that way. I hope Wes is fit for Fulham.
A win, a clean sheet and Berba to score a hat trick and my day will be perfect ( unless I have to count this essay I still need to finish urgrghh)
Come on United!
7-0 and top of the table. not too much to expect looking at the wolves side i guess
the bench is
foster, fabio,park,anderson,owen welbeck,fletcher
Wolves lineup please. i don’t see it on bbc
@ aig alex is god, now that would be above perfect. We can actually do it
* 29 Kuszczak
* 03 Evra
* 15 Vidic
* 30 De Laet
* 16 Carrick
* 18 Scholes
* 25 Valencia
* 28 Gibson
* 09 Berbatov
* 10 Rooney
* 26 Obertan
Wes is out, DE Laet, Obertan Berbatov and Scholes in. Carrick plays as a center half.
np costas
should be a good game for us fans.. hopefully alot of goals
a hat trick for berbatov and goals for rooney and obertan would be good
P.S.. gibson and scholes for this game will be perfect as they wont really need to tackle hard or work hard to get the ball back whereas for the big games the best midfield duo would be fletcher/hargo and anderson as they have the energy and grit to win back balls and start an attack
bring on kickoff!
Wolverhampton
* 13 Hahnemann
* 03 Elokobi
* 23 Zubar
* 26 Hill
* 27 Mancienne
* 28 Friend
* 32 Foley
* 12 Surman
* 15 Halford
* 35 Castillo
* 33 Maierhofer
Thanks AIG. Nani not even on the bench? Ouch.
At some point i would like to keep a track of how many different back 4 combos we have used in the 27 games of this season. It must be 15-20.
Cheers, Kevos.
Wolves: Hahnemann, Zubar, Mancienne, Elokobi, Hill, Halford, Foley, Castillo, Friend, Surman, Maierhofer. Subs: Hennessey, Henry, Ebanks-Blake, Jones, Berra, Jarvis, Iwelumo.
Who’s said it’s a bad lineup ? don’t think so.. some first team regulars or beens..
@obertanthenewstar :
Yeah, not to mention that with this midfield duo we can expect a lot of rockets to be fired towards the Wolves goal!
I think that for the good of everyone Nani should be allowed to move on in January. Please. Just put him out of his misery.
Anyway, fuck them..Let’s thrash the fuckers 6-0. CMON United!
@Portugeseprincess
hope so.not difficult given the teams tonight
@Costas
no probs mate.nani mystery gets even more puzzling
@costas
yeh we should see some rockets at goal.. hopefully a few actually go in!
and just realised no nani even on the bench.. i think he mite be going in january.. what do you guys think??
@portugueseprincess :
I know it’s not the perfect time to make this conversation, but do you think that Fergie has lost complete faith in him? I don’t know what to think at the moment. I hope that Nani can get a chance to change Fergie’s mind. But he hast to start playing in order to do that.
@obertanthenewstar, i truly hope he goes in January. He needs to be playing and if he is not getting on the bench against Wolves I think there is no more hope for him. Sad but can’t really complain.
I like Obertan and De Laet starting. De Laet has proved himself to be more than competent and why not use a proper right back in the position instead of our best midfielder? I assume Fletcher is given a rest today, but I’d like to see him in the engine room again as soon as possible. Come on United! Must win!
Put Valencia on the left wing ..
Good squad, could easily get 6 against this wolves team.
Come on UNITED!!
@Corea
Why?
Come on lads!!! Lets put a message of intent tonight! Utd 4 Wolves 0 Berbs (2) Gibson (1) Obertan (1) Make it happen boys!
In order to compare his contribution to Nani’s on the left wing…
@Corea : That’s a good idea. At some point he has to learn to use his left foot for something else apart from just standing on it. Also, United in the previous seasons had a strong attacking point: That the wingers were switching positions during the game. That’s something that we must start doing this season too.
@costas,
I think he has. Even though Sir Alex came out and said that he would not sell him, I reckon Nani’s time is up. I feel kind of sad about it but I can understand the reasons. I spend most times screaming at Nani when he is playing, I get so frustrated. Because I know the talent is there but the last 2 years have not been great. The funny thing is he has been the talisma for the national team. Changed games for us, scored goals and showed leadership…
.
Sometimes I think he tries too hard. He wants to impress. In the first year he did not have much expectations on him so he was good but from then on to be honest thigs have not improved. If anything I would say he has gone backwards.
Well, it is what it is. I will always support him, unless he goes back to Sporting
@ Buddy
Parl has that ability. But he was again used on the left wing on Sunday. His main foot is right foot.
* Park
well the lineup fergie picked there is better balance shape and more of an attacking threat. no offence but anderson park dont offer much of a goal threat or creatve spark. the likes of gibson berbatov obertan coming in offer a better attacking and creative threat. lets see how berbatov does who really needs to get his united career kicking off.
Since when Park has fallen down in the picking order and Gibson is in his place ? Hilarious. Shit//
@portugueseprincess : I see. It is sad how things have turned out for him. Especially given his talent. But i am a bit romantic and i always believe in United players until the last minute. For example, i always though Kleberson would be a hit with us! Anyway, given that Nani wants to play a big part with the national team in the summer, i wouldn’t be surprised if he asked for a transfer in January.
@Corea: Yep, Park does. Lets face it, when Giggsy isn’t fit, a right footer has to play on the left. Whether it’s Nani, Obertan or Park.
Corea, i think he is just rested. He started 2 games in 5 days recently. Fletch and Anderson are rested for the same reason.
any good links m8′s..? Darn the cable network here cut off ESPN [in India]..for some gloriously fuksome channels.
See you at half time guys. Lets get this over with!
vidic captains the side,not rooney?
nikechap.
i too live in India and am watching on ESPN.try this link
http://www.sportztv.net/
McCarthy is a legend, haha: You’ve got to fucking do better than that, that’s nonsense!
@ aig alex is god, Thank you so much. At last a link that works
sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/69850
Perfect Sopcast link, it takes two minutes to download and install and the picture is perfect.
portugeseprincess.
your welcome.
That was a lucky escape. Wolves should have scored
Hargo!!!. So good to see him.hope he is back soon
Wolves will score first. Guarenteed.
If we don’t beat Wolves at home than that’s it.
Rooney should have had a hat trick by now
Valencia’s left foot! Not baadd.
And, Rooney has been taught a lesson it seems, he’s extremely humble and much more composed right now – character building based on the dive, it seems.
silly penalty for wolves to give away.we were looking a bit sloppy last 10 minutes. that should open the floodgates for us. Good penalty by Rooney
@ aig alex is god, thanks again for the info. My link stopped working. But I should be finishing my essay anyways instead of watching footie
Come on United!
We are undeservedly 1-0 up.
Portugeseprincess.
once again you are welcome. ill keep updating incase of any major incidents.
fze123
wont say undeservedly but we were sloppy the 10 mins prior to the goal and wolves have had some great chances.rooney should have got atleast 3 by now
wanted to thank you for voting for giggsy on sunday on my behalf too. glad he won
This is so frustrating. We cannot score from open play against Wolves reserves.
We had better be at least be at least 3 nil up at half time.. or there will be some booing out of me
wanted to say this earlier but can say it now i guess. gibsons corners have been good.atleast clearing the first defender and in the danger area.
2-0 VIDIC
VIDIC what a freaking header…..
Cracker! Nemannjjaaa!
Vidic 2 nil only6 left till united go top
at last…. a few decent corners!! who took saturdays? was it gibson?
Long John O’ Shea.
seems you didnt read Scotts article about booing today.we have been pretty average though
Long John Oshea….you prick, why you want to boo our team….Plastic fan…
Yeahhhhhhh now I can concentrate on my coursework a bit more. Thanks for that Vida!
Vida
Glad to be wrong. Wolves heads will drop and if this team is anything like what a United team should be, we’ll get at least 5.
Berbatov, Obertan, Owen and Valencia for 2nd half would be a dream.
hahaha tony you muppet, cant you understand a joke…. hahaha, point and laught at tonybee,…..
Guys, I think Long John O’ Shea was joking.
yes aig i did read it…. hence me saying that…. i was taking the piss
Vidic you bull!!!
Eh, good start but we’re not moving the ball forward as good as we should.
Satisfied with the result – the performance for most of the half has been poor though – probably worse than that against Aston Villa, which worries me.
thank you portugueseprincess.. at least you can have a joke
tonybee
calm down mate.long john o shea was joking.he is a regular poster.
I think we have done just about enough. UNited haven’t been good at all going foward, but we have finally got a goal from a corner kick and Giggs didn’t take it. Hopefully now the las can relax a bit and play some good stuff. 4-0 hopefully.
boredom but specific to some games this part of the season..
Hows Berba been playing? Quite fancy him to make an impact over the next few weeks
@cantona192:
Not one of his best games. From our 2 wingers and our 2 strikers the only one making a good impression so far is Obertan. Berba and Wayne haven’t linked up well yet.
i hope we can close down on the goal diff to Chelski tonight..wanting to see Owen/Berba combination flare up…!! 4 0 it is..!!
Pig really scared me when he let the ball bounce on the Surman’s head… and Vida had almost moved away out of the line of the ball.. Damn.. Our defence can be shocking sometimes..!!
@ aig alex is god, no problem mate. All thanks to everyone else who voted for him too. Even though its a ‘personality’ award its still a accolade which will be added to his ever increasing cabinet. Imo, I thought wolves were generally the better side, kept possesion well at times. Rooney should have scored, hopefully he will in the second half.
decent performance.there will be some games though where results are all that matter.remember last year against boro and wigan at home where we struggled but grinded out the win. points are more important
Rooney should have put away both chances, but take nothing away from Hanneman. He always does well against us!
rooney bin sloppy again.. good penalty tho:)
obertan has done well but should have scored at the end of the half
or atleast set up rooney!! but hes done well on that french connection left side.. hopefully berbatov and obertan can grab a goal each or more
P.S i seen someone mention about gibson’s corner.. they have been very good! hes the best corner taker we’ve seen so far this season
cheers costas, Obertan certainly looks the real deal. hopefully he can provide the spark that has been missing from time to time this year
We’ve been very poor by our own high standards. Still, we’re winning and that’s the main thing. I can’t wait til we get all our injured first-teamers back – then we’ll see the real United.
Ritchie is a good player. Thats about the only positive I can take from this first half… Oh, and Vidic’s goal
@cantona192: No problem. Maybe Berbs is still trying to shake of his recent injury problems. I think he had a minor knew operation last week. I think that with some more games under his belt he will get better.
rooney is turning into a bit of a penalty scorer
are we giving the ball away too easily?
rooney off-owen on
evra off-fabio on
rest them for the big game at the weekend
nikechap
yes. sloopy on the ball.wolves attacking more now
@AIG did he take them off or you mean he shud?
Costas I am not being funny but a lot of united fans are giving berbatov way to much slack. I just dont see a huge improvement in the guy over the season or next season. also he said he is feeling the pressure of the price tag of 30 million, well this puts things into perspective, ronaldo cost 80 million and what is ronaldos attitude I should cost more and he enjoys the pressure, thats the difference between the current great players and players who are good but who just cant handle at a huge club.
cantona192.
i mean they should be taken off.they are still playing
wish we could go back to the days when United used to play beautiful football, now we are like a machine, like Germany!
anyone know what that chant is that they are singing at the moment?
vidic is replaced by fletcher
@aig sloppy..very sloppy..everyone runs away from the ball and finally there’s no one to pass to.
just came to my mind.. scholes is 1 away from joining the 100 goal club.
@aig hope thats just to look after him, dont need any more injuries!!
canona192
he didnt limp off or look like he was injured so i am sure it was just to rest him for the big test against Bobby zamora and fulham on saturday
I have said this time and time again, I just don’t think that Berbatov and Rooney’s partnership will progress any further. They’re equally different talented players, but both do one same thing: Drop Deep.
nikechap
exactly mate.that is what is happening.too many passes going stray.understanding between the players dosent look the best.
as i type VALENCIA SCORES
3-0
3 0 united lets really step up the goal difference
FUKIN BEAUTYYYYY!!
WOT A GOAL.. GIBSON SCHOLES BERBATOV OVERHEAD PASS
VALENCIA WITH A BEAUTIFUL FINISH!!
COME ON UNITEDDDDDDDDD
what an assist by Berbatov.brilliant flick.and good finish by valencia
how is this for a stat
Wayne Rooney’s goal is his 20th in the Premier League in 2009 – more than anyone else. Here’s the top five: Rooney (20), Torres (19), Drogba (17), Bent and Defoe (15).
yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
Fze123 well it has worked but I agree united need a no 9 striker. but glad we are showing wolves what they are, lets get another 3 or even 4 goals
Sorry Long John …. took the joke AND the finger pointing…..
WHAT A FUCKING BEAUTIE….Berba over head to a Valencia volley…..scorcher…..
berba= the dopey bulgarian = magical
Everyone has predicted Gibson to be the next Scholes. He has even got his yellow card skills as well ..!!
welbeck replaces Obertan.welbeck on the left wing again.want to see him play as a striker
aig.. nice stat.. but torres and drogba have had their fair share of injuries in 2009..
Please Berba, score a goal and my night will be perfect.
by the way… anyone know what has happen to Kiko Macheda?
fair play tonybee…… i’ll have a beer for you….
@ aig, ditto with welbeck, im pretty sure he done the damage at reserve level as a striker, why he is a striker at reserves but a winger in the 1st team doesent make sense to me
Tony Starks
ya mate.but that shows rooneys superior fitness levels compared to the other 2.torres gets injured very often anyways and drogba is 31 so he will have some injuries. just glad that rooney is on his way to a 20 plus season finally
owen replaces wazza.typical wazza not to be happy when replaced
tony starks
think he played for the reserves yesterday.thats why he isnt there today.not sure though
Look at Rooneys face at coming off….fuck me he hates being took off, don’t he….
Gibson is a very lucky lad to stay on the pitch.should have been sent off.the tackle after he got the yellow was awful.
3 goals but a good clean sheet too….. happy days
Win, but fuck me it’s frustrating seeing us in the last 3rd of the field. Nothing works.
job done. not the best performance or a backlash by any means but we go level with chelsea.3 points all that matter in this busy period.we will have to do better on Saturday if we want to overcome fulham.that will be the real test.
Nearly 3:30 AM here.Good night everyone.Keep the red flag flying high
Frustrating performance. Plenty of possession, but look like we have no ideas in the final third. Berba needs to stop whining – I have backed him from day one, but I am not happy with whining, and am definitely not happy with his moaning about his price tag all the time. Suck up the pressure and do it – or in year’s time if things go like they are, he’s going to ask to leave…
mahesh..
what about rooney’s whining??.. why dont you say anything about rooney’s whining?
Another frustrating and dissapointing night, although one might say a win is win. We are definitely lacking cutting edge on the last third of the pitch. We should have made Mick McCarthy pay for his decision to play reseerves at OT and at the same time improve our goal difference. We should have been top of the table tonight. How I miss the old United when we used to rip teams appart. How I miss our free flowing football. This sort of attitude that United currently has, cost us at Burnley, Liverpool, then at home against Sunderland and Villa. I wonder if our players are tired of winning trophies? We are not Chelsea. We used to win in style!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lads,
I havent watched the match tonight, Im waiting till 10:30.
Ive been a united fan many many years and no offence the lads moaning about tonights win need to get a grip!
You cant win every match with a dazzeling diaplay! Some games you grind out, Some games your not on form and you win. Some games you play absolute tosh and still win by a big goal margin.
Over ever Premiership season where we have won the league we have had such games!……. Its part and parcel of wining the league!
Live with it!
@Xyth
Can understand your frustration, Part of it might be motivation! Forget the mega salary playing against Wolves reserves wouldnt be the most Inspiring!
The important thing is we got a result! Valencia got another goal, Rooney got another goal & Vidic got on the score sheet which he hasnt done for some time!
The season is still young, We have quite a few injuries and i am sure when we can field a consistant back 4 things will change!..
xyth
agree, against better sides tonight we mighnt have got the three points! not much in midfield and wayne as usual had to come deep get the ball and lay it off back to midfeild, scholsey was quiet as was obertan, in a way wolves didnt give united players much time on the ball but even still we should of had enough quality out there not only to win 3 nil but to do it in style! big match away to fulham at weekend
spot on trevor
at the end a win is a win
positives are that valencia rooney and vidic got goals which im sure they all needed.. de laet done well at times.. and also obertan did okay but does need to work on shooting, his shootin sucks at time
I would have liked to see UNited hammer Wolves, but Fergie’s team selection showed that all that mattered to him was the 3 points. I don’t think we will get a better goal difference than Chelsea anyway. And as long as i can remember, the title has never been determined by goal difference.
@rooney the new king: Today’s game summed up Berbatov pretty well. He lacks consistency. It’s no secret that he lacks pace, so i wonder why he is allowed to keep tracking back. I think we should leave that job to Wayne and have Berbatov playing around the penalty box. That’s where his magic touch is the most useful. That’s where i like to see him.
@ Costas,
I have thought the same in many games previous, Give rooney the freedom and let berbatov stay forwrad.
For me what berbatov lacks is confidence, It must be harder to players coming to united to get confidence. We have such high standards and you have to do your talking on the pitch no matter what. You go to your tottenhams, Evertons, Villas, Liverpools you can put in average performances and not given as much a hard time.
On another note he knows this club has so much history, The pressure on him must be enormous!
In short, Maybe he hasnt got it mentaly to play for such a big club like united, but if put in a team outside 4th place we would see a world class player with nothing to prove banging them in every other week!
I hope im wrong, i really like him and can see the potential he has to do well for us!
On another note!
Berbatov staying forward!!!
Some players need to be involved or they dont perform! ROoney is a little like this at times, if he isnt involved he gets frustrated and his touch and decisions arnt the best!
Maybe its the same for berbatov,, maybe they are to alike player wise to ever do well as a team!
Costas people can go on about berbatov and his first touch and teqnique the sad fact is he is just way to slow and he has not got enough veriaty in his game. and like it or not performence wise and goals is not good enough.
fans complained about another strikers goals for record look at berbatovs, strikers are judged on goals and performences. united fans have given berbatov at times way to much credit, I want goals and performences from berbatov for me I am not getting either.
@rooney the new king : That’s why i said that he has to play mostly inside the box. Because that’s where he can be more effective. There are times when he becomes a midfielder and one of our two CMs actually moves inside the box. That other striker is of course Tevez and i admit that Berbatov’s goalscoring record at United isn’t any better at the moment.
That being said, i don’t think any of our attacking players were good today. Rooney, Berbatov and Valencia were misplacing approximately 2 out of 3 passes and only Obertan was a bit more lively.
Portsmouth my Christmas smile could be in your hands
valencias goal = berbatov is magic
obertan did fantastic today he’s not Ronaldo but he could well be some day. Defender midfielder and striker scoring
wonderpets 2009- what’s gonna work ? Team work
hargreaves is 100% fit he just needs to get his mind into his game I’d say that first tackle could scare the shit out of a guy like Owen.
anyone who comes on here and slaggs off Berbatov and complains that he doesnt score enough should be kicked off this site for blatant stupidity…no other forward in the world makes that goal for Valencia!
Rant over…
Costas he is not a no 9, and rooney berbatov just do the same thing drop deep. we hear him say heis feeling the pressure of the 30 million price tag, look at ronaldo he cost 80 million and what does he say I feel I cost more, that puts things int perspective on how far berbatov is at the moment to being one of the best. thats the difference some of the greatest players today are full of themselves and arrogant.
if players have not got the strong mentality of carrying a big price tag how will they ever make it at united. some of uniteds great players never cared about the price tag berbatov thinks like that to much thats why he may not be here much longer
Bad news. Wes will miss the Fulham game. Nemanja also suffered a recurrence of his calf strain problem and he is doubtful. I don’t know what to think about this situation anymore. Apart from Evra, the rest of our defenders appear to be crocked up.
Costa it’s never been sown to goal difference
Costa with the problems apart from Hargreaves all coming from one spot it’s going to go on for a long time because like with Wes last week and vidic today once there’s a sign they could be fit they are rushed back because they are needed so baddly. We could see a first team debut on Saturday
@rooney the new king:
It’s a soft subject in my opinion. You can be a strong character to play for United, but still get intimidated by ridiculous price tags. In 2002, if we had asked Rio if he was worth 30 million, he would have answered no. Same goes for Veron. And correct me if i am wrong(i haven’t read his book in 5 years) but i think even Keano felt the pressure of the money United payed for him in those years. Granted, Keane and Rio signed for UNited at 24, not at 27 like Berbatov. I think in a interview he did with Berbatov, Shearer admitted that he felt a bit of pressure with the 15 million Newcastle payed for him. Ronaldo of course wouldn’t be intimidated. The lad is the most overconfident footballer i have ever seen. Besides, i don’t think 30 million was the the right price tag for Berba. Daniel Levy took advantage of our desperation and in the last day of that transfer window ballooned the fee up at least by 5 million
no offense people but give the guy Berbatov a break – he’s been out injured and just come back – he will always produce moments of magic like the third goal. But I feel he’s better in a free flowing, less rigid formation, like happened after Welbeck came on..
It’d not an issue at all that Rooney and Berba are similar – people said that about Tevez and Rooney but that was our Treble winning combination!
@GHTT: Yep, very good analogy. As soon as 3-4 defenders went down, we played with the same lads until they reached their breaking point. Now we are rushing them back. Well, at least Fabio and Rafael should be ready for Fulham. And Fergie has praised De Laet as a central defender, so if Nemanja doesn’t make it, don’t be surprised to see Carrick and De Laet in the center. It’s a tough place to go to, but i hope the lads remember what happened there last March.
Just got back from the game. I ve seen better matches where we’ve lost! Atrocious peformance by United and Wolves were literally one million times worse. I swear wolves wouldve been better off picking 11 randomers from the crowd they were so bad and United walked to a win. Awful awful game! Had we played anything like HALF our potential we could easily have got 6 or 7!
@ rooney the new king,
The problem is in your name… Rooney. In all of England there is not 1! striker that can ‘regularly’ partner him up front. Forge a partnership, because Rooney is a free spirit. I echo what Trevor Fze123 & Costas have said on the matter. Those 2 NEED instructions & shud stick to them. saying that our mid is makeshift so they prob have instructions to help out. That may be Fergie tactics to shore up the recovering team?
BUT mate, to say Berba lacks variety is laughable at best!
He’s made & score all kinds of goals in his 11 months at this club!
IMO Berba likes having runners around him & in front of him. options to buy him space & create space for others. threading thru balls for the spuds was a regular occurance for him. I’ve said it before that play needs to revolve around him to get the best out of him. You can tell he loves flowing football, never hogs the ball (unless he has to) & feels let down when other players hog, don’t make runs or make mistakes.(Wellbeck deservedly got an earfull tonight & that will improve him, but I too think he should be a bit more patient)
I think our beloved team is still holding back. Wholesale line-up changes… Wingers being cautious…
ps. I love Rooney, just saying he must be the hardest striker to partner as he rarely plays like one and loves carrying the ball He always comes short or OTT on the left, never runs across or play 1-2 touches.. last ROoney 1-2 being that golden move w Tevez vs Boro, 2 years ago!! how do you partner that manimal? I say play 3 up front! … but I ain’t no SAF!lol
Park’s Dog’s Dinner rooney has never been patnered with a proper striker who will lead the line, in the form of a torres villa etoo, that is the stype of striker that rooney needs to be patnered with.
I ment berbatov lacks veriaty for a striker he does, like score outside the box, head the ball run at the ball with pace, get in behind defences score the bread and butter goals he has non of these weapons.
berbatov would be great has a CM if that was his position but it is not, he is a striker and his job is to put the ball in the net and take the load of rooneys shoulders which he is not. united need another striker big time
The problem is not Berbatov in terms of our attacking play; the problem, if there even is any, is our midfield. Granted, the midfield does many things well, but attacking is not certainly one of them.
None of our midfielders make jinking runs to open up space for Berbatov or the other forwards. We do have the competent passers but, barring scholes, very few of our midfielders are particularly adept at unlocking defences with a single pass. Because of that, we have to rely on Berbatov to be the driving creative influence on our team. However, given that none of our midfielders offer a significant goal threat or really make runs into space (again, barring vintage Scholes), our play stops or stagnates whenever Berbatov receives the ball. Nobody around him really helps out except, occasionally, the wingers. Hence, it’s easy to perceive him as being lazy. I used to think the same but as I watch him play in more games, it’s apparent that that’s not the case.
He can’t produce magic all the time, people. Those around him have to contribute and confuse defenders by making off-the-ball runs. Only Evra in the past few games is constantly moving around looking for space. And he’s a defender, for Christ’s sake! As a partner, Rooney is not particularly the best for Berbatov and vice versa. With someone like Berbatov, I feel we need a forward who will attack defenders head-on (a la Ronaldo) and who can play quick one-twos with the slow but unpredictable (and thus unplayable) Berbatov.
Just what I think
I will just add my 2 cents about something. Rooney has been partnered with a striker suited to him and that was Ruud Van Nistelrooy. They might have been partners during our dark period, but i thought they linked up quite well. Another player who had an understanding with Wayne was Saha. At the same time, i think Berbatov clicked better with Tevez than Rooney last season. I don’t know what to say. Maybe it takes time.
I agree with Park’s dog dinner that the team still has issues all over the pitch. Once those are out of the way, we will be able to focus on the Berbatov factor and where it might begoing wrong.
@ (Park’s Dog’s Dinner) thats what the best players do, messi ronaldo torres go to the left to the right they dont stay in one position thats what has made united succesful, (players playing in different positions). I love seeing forwards move all over the place it keeps the defendes confused.
@ hustler we have played some great football without a great midfield (look at 05/06 season especially in the second half of that season). berbatov is quiet a pridictable striker, (he is not direct yes he set up a goal but it was wolves reserves). even when he is fully fit it is still the same question.
Berbatovs’ love life Said,
December 16th, 2009 @0:04
anyone who comes on here and slaggs off Berbatov and complains that he doesnt score enough should be kicked off this site for blatant stupidity…no other forward in the world makes that goal for Valencia!
Rant over…
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I agree. Even though, against an under-strength Wolves side, our £30million star striker could not add to the paltry 4 goals he has contributed this season, he had that one nice pass that set up a goal for someone else. All is rosy again in Berbaworld. That one flick was worth the entrance fee alone. A glorious moment and a memory we will cherish for eternity.
You can keep your Torres, Villa, Eto’o, Benzema, etc. I wouldn’t trade Berba-God for any of them. If Berba keeps this exquisite form up, he’s a certainty for next year’s Ballon d’Or.
Costas @ 23:19: “Today’s game summed up Berbatov pretty well. He lacks consistency. It’s no secret that he lacks pace, so i wonder why he is allowed to keep tracking back. I think we should leave that job to Wayne and have Berbatov playing around the penalty box. That’s where his magic touch is the most useful. That’s where i like to see him.”
Spot on – if he wears #9, he should play centrally AND forward; but he doesn’t. The pass to Valencia was sublime BUT – what else ? I watched him closely = not much else caught the eye although he did fiddle-faddle about a lot and generally slowed down play, doing his prima donna act.
Like I wrote earlier today, TICK TOCK. The clock is running out on the Berbatov/Rooney partnership.
Costas @ 23:51: “i don’t think any of our attacking players were good today. Rooney, Berbatov and Valencia were misplacing approximately 2 out of 3 passes and only Obertan was a bit more lively.”
Let’s be honest about this – IF Nani had misplayed so many balls, made so many useless passes, run into so many blind alleys, and so on there would be a lynching party being assembled to hang him by his balls, from a lantern on Deansgate. Rooney could have had three goals in the first twenty-five minutes; Berbatov had one sublime moment; ditto for Valencia; and while Obertan was “more lively”, his end-product was nothing special.
Wolves were the worst team I’ve seen this year. They were pathetic, and for all McCarthy’s bragging and brave words, they came to OldTrafford a beaten team; the only issue in doubt was the scoreline. With that amount of possession and territorial advantage, there should have been six or seven goals scored by TheLads. 3-nil actually complimented Wolverhampton.
@ Rooney the new king,
I see you have a gripe about Berba’s style, but the WHOLE TEAM (except a few) didn’t have a great performance against a poor Wolves side today. I feel you are being opportunistic to point out Berba, after yet another top class assist. he MADE a goal. to people who appreciate that ‘skill’ its as good as a goal, maybe even better
Assists are the second most important attributes of the striker, and he tops them all by a country mile. Without the assist like today, like the one he turned Dunne on the by-line for Ronaldo last year (fucking lets see Torres, Eto-o et al TRY pull that off let alone do it), like the 1-2 flick for Owen”s 1st goal, like many others.
People can try and compare Torres, Messi etc.. to Berba or Rooney,but fact is, they have their own roles to play, each with completely different roles for their team. Torres is a a target man, Messi is a winger, Berba is just magic.
@ Fred, spoken like a man who appreciates beautiful football
Scott, I think your famous Berba-line has to make a re-appearance!
Just got in. An awful game but the 3 points is all that matters. I have defended Berba from day one but even I am starting to get frustrated. A couple of flicks and tricks here and there isn’t enough, no way near. I keep waiting every game thinking “right this is where he will make his mark”. I am still waiting. Wasn’t too keen on his attitude tonight either. Constantly berating other players. Have to agree with Denton, UNLESS he steps up for the remainder of the season I think he may well be moved on next summer. A shame actually as I was over the moon United signed him.
The defensive situation is a fucking joke. Please come back Edwin, Rio, Jonny, JOS. Once we get a settled back line we should look alot more solid like last season. I have never known anything so ridiculous. It ain’t just the back four it is the fact we have also lost Fletch and Carrick from the midfield.
Anyway level with the rentboys. Play up Pompey!
Tony Starks – Macheda’s got a hamstring problem.
As for playing swashbuckling football we haven’t for a while as Fergie adopted different tactics for Europe and that seems to be the norm now.
was sat in the south stand, and wasnt impressed with the atmosphere at all… great game though, solid showing from the team, berb, de laet and welbeck impressed me alot.
If you don’t understand berbatov you don’t understand football
United didn’t break sweat tonight. Three points is all that matters. As Fergie keeps saying “get to New Years day and be in touching distance of the top we have a great chance”.
Carrick has been a revelation at Centre back. His reading of the game, breaking up of attacks and distribution are excellent.
What the hell are you guys doing up at 3:53 and 4:05?
Berba is a quality player, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Only he can pull off those little flicks and tricks which contribute a LOT to our attacking play. He opens up space for people but the thing is, no one in our team utilises that space bar Owen.
Wazza is a free spirit, like many others have said, who likes to run around, get the ball, and do the great things he does with it.
I am confident that he and Berbatov will finally click one day, and when they do, I feel sorry for every defender that has to play them.
morning everyone.
3 points is of course most important.the performance was as it has been for most of the season, average but we just have to keep winning. wolves clearly have other priorities so its understandable mick mccarthy fielding that sort of a side.our build up play was slow yesterday.Berbatov once again dropped too deep.rooney missed a hatful of chanes again. we have to be ruthless in front of goal.hoe that the lads were saving the goals for saturday.
i hear brown is out for fulham and vidic doubtful.
.thats very bad news.even with vida i couldnt see us keeping a clean sheet.now that job becomes even more difficult and fletch will have to play at RB again.i wanted him in midfield for the fulham game.zamora is in good form.he will prove handful.
However i am positive that we will get the result .it is typical of United to give a performance when our backs are against the wall.
who pressed the ctrl+alt+delete on Wolves?
My love for Valencia’s reaching no limits.Love the guy and he’s already scored nearly as many as he’d scored all his time at Wigan.Berba’s top class magic.
I really wanna see Fletch back in midfield but for all our defensive problems,guess he’s gonna be at RB for now.:/
denton davey @ 1:28
Costas @ 23:19
Totally agree with the both of you. Other than that sublime pass to Valencia, what else did he do ? Arguing with other players ? He slowed down our attacking moves. Not a big fan of him everytime he does that. A negative entertainment of football. He should know that the time is ticking for him. We bought him at such an expensive price. And never really live up to the price tag. He got class touches, but that’s not enough. Not enough for this big club. Time is running out for you Berba. You’re not getting any younger.
My feeling tells me he is very good, but my thought tells me otherwise so far. At least, for us..
@ King Eric I hate being negative towards any player but I have been frustrated with the guy from day one. has a united fan I expect more from berbatov is that to much to ask as a united fan, my worry is despite valencia is a very good player he has more goals than berbatov for me berbatov should have the same amount as rooney.
- can someone explain this to me, how can berbatov look so great for bulgaria an average side but look so overwhelmed by playing for united, I would not sell the guy I would use him like we used sheringham in 1999 be the back up striker to rooney and another striker that is signed this summer or even january 2010, but berbatov his performences are almost like veron flashes of genius but not enough.