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Midfield Musings

In the first chapter of Genesis, God tells mankind (yes, I know) to go out and conquer the world, and ever since (yes, I know), we’ve been gripped by a paranoid, neurotic desire to understand everything. But however hard we try, it’s simply not possible: whether its spontaneous combustion, kicks in snooker, or red trousers, cardigans and fascinators, some things will forever lie beyond human comprehension.

There are some things, though – and then there’s Manchester United’s midfield. After signing Owen Hargreaves in July 2007, a player legendary knee-botherer Richard Steadman described as having the worst knobblies he’d ever seen, Alex Ferguson spent five whole years refusing to recruit reinforcements (helping online betting sites predicting moves for Sneijder, Hazard and Modric make millions in the process).

At times – painful, aggravating, despondent times – United’s eleven has interpreted the term “midfield” in the most literal possible sense, that being a lump of grass right in its very centre. Outsiders might say that United supporters are spoiled, insiders that it’s important to maintain standards. When I began my career, we had Norman Whiteside and Bryan Robson, who were irreplaceable – until they were replaced while still at the club by Paul Ince, who was irreplaceable – until he was replaced while still at the club by Roy Keane. Soon after, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt came through, and ten years ago yesterday, United augmented perhaps the finest foursome of all-time with Juan Sebastian Veron, to be later accused of possessing more genius than any team could reasonably accommodate. How far we done fell!

The problem in the first instance was the lack of obvious replacement for Keane. Praised for the ranting and intimidation usually euphemised as on-pitch leadership, this obscures the crucial element brought to the team by him and his direct predecessors: excellence that was shocking in its consistency.

So instead United made do, midfield composition regressing faster than Charlie Gordon. All of a sudden, it could contain up to any three of Fortune, Kleberson, Djemba-Djemba, Smith and Phil Neville, also evidencing a lack of managerial concentration – at least on things listed in the job description.

And all the while, the Paul Scholes problem grew. Now, before you spontaneously combust in outrage, let me explain the paradox (note: spontaneous combustion in humans is a myth, not something unexplained). Old Scholes is still better than almost everyone, so demands inclusion. And yet old Scholes also struggles to influence the biggest games, and deprives of a spot a player more likely to improve.

Anderson, for example, or Godot as he’s known in the dressing room. United’s equivalent of Arsenal, every coming season is definitely going to be his, until it isn’t. This isn’t actually all his fault. Aside from being inferior to Scholes, which is so of the overwhelming majority of players ever to have existed, he’s also suffered more than most at the hands of the Fergie selection tombola – almost every time he’s had a sustained run of games, he’s done well. But even so, when he and Cleverley were attracting praise at the start of last season – some of it legitimate – the manner in which opposition players sauntered between them didn’t indicate a viable partnership.

And then there are the Glazers, leeching fingers in our pockets at every turn; but even this doesn’t fully explain the situation. Ok, there’s no chance United’ll chuck however many dead presidents it takes to assuage Daniel Levy’s ego and make him look hard in front of Joe Lewis, but missing out on Luka Modric ain’t no thing – there’s something horribly inelegant about snatching a player developed elsewhere as soon as he reaches requisite standard. What’s really odd, though, is the number of players bought who either aren’t midfielders, aren’t that good, or weren’t that necessary.

After Ronaldo left, United signed Antonio Valencia, a decent player but not a star. No doubt that sentence is causing consternation, as he’s popular and seems nicer that your average ftbllr, but it’s true. Had United not bought him, I’m certain red teeth would’ve remained unnashed regardless of what he’d done elsewhere, and he doesn’t compare to the best wingers of the Fergie era. Also that summer, Gabriel Obertan and Mame Biram Diouf turned up.

The following January, United bought Chris Smalling, and Javier Hernandez, Bebe and Anders Lindergaard in the close-season. Smalling is already an exceptional defender, and Hernandez a similarly inspired purchase; fair enough; and our pooled imaginations probably couldn’t muster the wild to guess what Bebe was really about. Then, last summer, they signed Phil Jones, whose situation was similar to that of Smalling – a player wanted by a rival and deemed too talented to miss out on – David De Gea, and Ashley Young.

So United have spent in the region of £22.5m on goalkeepers and roughly £43.4m on wingers – or “wingers” – and decided that both were more important than the blokes most regularly involved in the game. Why?

Well, after the last raft of midfield signings, United ended up with a version of what tactics charmers call a broken team: some players defend and some try to score, but no one knits those two elements together, and there’s no discernible style. To an extent, United were a victim of circumstance: Hargreaves and Anderson, their best midfield combination, were frequently injured. They also had a reliable goalkeeper and three exceptional defenders, so didn’t concede many goals, and Ronaldo, who scored in almost every game. That being the case, Carrick and Scholes in midfield, or whoever in midfield, was pretty much good enough.

Except that it wasn’t, overrun at Anfield in consecutive and unable to muster a kick against Barcelona in 2009, in addition to other minor heres and theres. But generally, this only tended to happen against the better sides, against whom you tend to need better players.

So perhaps because they’re out of reach, instead, Fergie built a squad with attacking variety, complementary players with ability, though not outstanding, absolutely discernible. In addition, he knows that fitness – and form, in most cases – are unreliable, thus not spending the entirety of a limited budget on a single player makes some sort of sense, even if it doesn’t make for the most grooved, orgasmic football.

The policy is, most likely, a product of the 2006/07 season. With a small squad and obvious first eleven, the team effectively picked itself, consistently producing thrilling beauty until February and intermittently until April – but ultimately, it limped over the line in the league, was decimated by injury by the European semi, and exhausted for the Cup final.

Much as I despise its opportunity cost, the consequent squad-building is exactly why United could stay with City last season – a selection of strikers with different abilities, and the same in wide positions. Take Ashley Young, for example; his arrival disappointed every Red I know, and even in that context, they were all still underwhelmed by his contribution. But it’s also the case that in a single crucial week, he first created an injury-time winner at Norwich, then provided another and scored a couple himself to arrange a scarcely believable larceny at Spurs, United’s embarrassing inferiority the precise consequence of a missing midfield.

Of course, the ruse fails when entire seasons come down to individual games against other decent outfits. The European losses to Barcelona could be almost ignored – theirs is possibly the best midfield of all-time, and comprises players contracted to them from a very young age. But the home defeat to Chelsea in 2010 and the collapse in the Bayern Munich games either side of it ought to have been easily avoided.

Which brings us to last season: in the three games that cost the title, the lack of proper midfield was decisive. At Wigan, the division’s form team, United were outrun and overrun for the full ninety minutes. Then, against Everton, though the defence was culpable for the late goals conceded, proper midfield protection would have prevented the opposition getting anywhere near.

And lastly, against City, a squad which suffered from problem the very opposite of United’s: an admittedly handy first eleven, with ropey replacements at the back and few attacking options. In the first derby of the season, United started relatively well, but a lack of midfield class and mobility left them unable to penetrate, despite territorial supremacy and a greater share of possession. A few months later, United spent the first ten minutes of the Cup game scarcely able to finagle a touch of the ball, before scoring on the break and benefitting from a red card immediately afterwards – and even then, they almost contrived to lose the advantage. Finally, and most glaringly of all, comes the return league fixture; the team Fergie felt compelled to select couldn’t have announced City’s midfield superiority any more submissively had it taken to the field in red, white and black gimp suits.

But looking forward to 2012/13, things might be changing. A midfielder has now been signed, and though Nick Powell probably won’t play much part, it remains a cause for celebration. Shinji Kagawa has arrived too, introduced yesterday as a support striking false ten trequartista. I say introduced because there’s always the possibility he’ll be deployed everywhere but there, but let’s just assume for a second.

That leaves Carrick and Cleverley as the two most likely to accompany him, the former in front of the back four in a role similar to that played by Busquets, and the other a prompting touch player, similar to Xavi. Obviously it’s the roles rather than the abilities that correlate, but the technique, vision and composure of all three might – might – supply the control that’s been so severely lacking. And, though heritage and sensibility tell us that it’s at least one hard bastard short, for the first time in a long time, I think I might just understand.

————-

Daniel Harris is the author of the excellent On The Road, a journey through a season, and co-editor of The FCF website. You can follow him on Twitter @DanielHarris.






 

305 Comments

  1. catotraa says:

    Great read! Also thinking the same about Clev and Carrick, assuming they both stay injury free. Also hoping (not realy sure what i think) that we haven’t seen the last of Ando yet..

    Also, i’m thrilled to see Alex get the no.7, as he makes a great winger running both forth and back. That could leave.. say Kagwa or Clev going further up. Who knows, maybe we see some more goals from midfield this season?

    Heres to next season. May our midfield look better than ever!

  2. santafereno says:

    Nice article! I hope that this year we’ll get our stuff together. GO UNITED!

  3. Robbo says:

    I often wonder why no journo asks the question of SAF about our midfield. Everybody seems to see the problem but I have never heard a responce from SAF.

  4. LexxytheRed says:

    A great and insightful article. The best i have seen here on RoM in a while,

    United MUST sign a CM in the mould of Moutinho or Luka and frankly must stop playing 442. 50% of the PL teams have ditched that formation why cant we?

    Carrick will not improve, Scholes though a Legend is now 37, Ando will NEVER be fit over a course of a season, Clevz is an unproved player even if he denies it. . . . . A CM is a MUST.. . .

  5. CedarsDevil says:

    Costas

    If you read this, let me tell you that you are an absolute fucking genius………I just realised who you meant and you are spot on!!!

  6. parryheid says:

    Good read,Has to be someone in and around Sir Alex who has spotted what every man and his dog has and not just last season either my solution is Martinez.

  7. goatinaunitedshirt says:

    Whether you agree or disagree with the coursts ruling over whether Terry is inocent or guilty or found not guilty it is the measure by which the civilised world conduct themselves. After a near year exile from here due to me being called a racist for defending Terrys rights and let the courts decide the matter I wonder whether I would be allowed back in without being abused by my peers and maybe a certain member on here could tone down his agression to all new comers and be a friendly United supporter.

    Should Rio Ferdinand be repremanded for his choc ice jibe. He didnt say it but he laughed at it. If Terry had been on a radio show and followed someones lead in tormenting/bullying/ or taking the piss out of a group of peoples he would immediately be deemed a racist, especially on here as anti Chelsea means more than honesty and objective thinking.

  8. Tonka Norris says:

    Bloody excellent! Brave and insightful.

    The neglect has been shameful and the result embarrassing. When you play “greatest side ever” with united you can spend hours debating whether current or past players were better, except in midfield. There’s no comparison.

  9. Clint-Iamyourpapii says:

    This thread is by Daniel Harris;

    My Response to sum it up;

    SIGN A FUCKING MIDFIELDER

    :lol:

  10. coomy says:

    more of this kind of article on ROM please

  11. Peter says:

    New midfielder and new medical team and we`ll be right.

  12. WillieRedNut says:

    Brilliant article! Spot on.

  13. Cyril Sneer says:

    Sorry Daniel but I had a bit of trouble getting through this article. I’m sure it’s down to personal taste as I don’t really enjoy the whole ‘tactics and statistics’ side of the game. I know lots of people like playing ‘armchair tactician’ (available on PC, Xbox and PS3) but it’s not my thing.

    For what it’s worth, I personally feel that United need a ‘hard bastard’ (as you put it) in midfield way more than a Modric-type. We hear a lot about ‘unlocking defences’ but the fact remains that in the English League we are going to face a lot of sides that basically still want to kick lumps out of our players and bully their way across the pitch. We all saw Kevin Davies’ handiwork on Cleverley and there are a lot more like him about.

    Whether it’s Vieira, Roy Keane, Essien or Yaya Toure, the most successful teams of recent times have always had someone capable of playing that ‘physical’ role and the league hasn’t changed so much that those type of players aren’t necessary. We’re not playing Barca-lite every week so it makes more sense to me that we should have our own physical presence in midfield.

    Just my two penn’orth…

    By the way, I’m pretty sure God doesn’t tell people to conquer anything. He says “go forth and multiply” :)

  14. Sparky#1 says:

    Great article I always believed that the 6 yrs success has been in spite of our midfield, Roo, Roonie & Tevez covered it up between 07-09….we should have moved heaven & earth for Martinez, but that doesn’t look like fergies plan……maybe Fergie is going 2 use Jones in the hard bastard role :-)

  15. james21 says:

    goat
    I was told Choc Ice is slang for someone who betrays their culture/race or something like that.
    Personally think twitter is stupid and a dangerous tool not to be taken lightly.

  16. jw515 says:

    This article is great but what about Fletcher? Was he not the replacement in the heart of midfield that was on the way to developing into the answer until this bowel condition?

  17. wayne says:

    Tony V is a decent player but not a ‘star’ yeah that’s the reason some teams were double and triple teaming him and he was still unstopable,i forget what game it was Tony V recieved in the neighborhood of 75 passes.That comment is bollocks Tony V is one of the best wingers in Europe.
    What the fuck is a definition of a star anyway.Ask Rooney how much he rates Tony V,has had his best seasons with Tony V supplying the ball

  18. Jack says:

    a great read.

    i am still in the dream world part of the window, where i believe we will sign at least one midfielder if not the two we need. hell i still have hope we might sign an exciting player like Lucas lol. soon i will be hoping we sign someone/anyone before giving up and hoping that the pieces we have will come together.

    we are getting linked to Modric, Moutinho and Erkisen and signing one of those would be great and we need one to replace Scholes (who will be limited this season) but the Hard Bastard is our number one need we were linked to Tiote with a silly price but there are cheaper options and there are better options so hopefully Fergie has one lined up and pulls the trigger soon.

    on another note we must have a left back lined up as at the moment is just Evra or playing someone out of there comfort zone, so this one or two talk worries me.

  19. ARUN says:

    i think we have to be careful abt signing proper central midfielders.we have petrucci who will be 21 soon and tunnicliffe who will be 20.i realy hope petrucci makesit.he was i the first team squad vs tottenham last season.if he goes to soth africa and does well along with tunnicliffe then we may keep both of them

  20. Zibbie says:

    gO AWAY goat, CRAWL BACK WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN, PLEASE. i NEVER READ YOUR POSTS, SAW YOUR NAME AND TYPED THIS, YOU SICK FUCK WILL NOT READ FUTHER POST YOU SCUM SUCKKEN BOTTOM FEEDER OF SHIT FROM BABIES DIPERS.!!

  21. ARUN says:

    @jack
    mate, there are not many quality hard bastards out there .yann mvilla is a quality player.
    javi martinez is leading spain in olympics so if he plays well then he may be a candidate.he has a 35 million buy out clause

  22. Zibbie says:

    The funny humorous racist rantings from Billy GOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  23. Zibbie says:

    I hunt Goat, have dead heads on the wall. No room for flat out racist shit on RoM.

    Hello all and a big good morning poo to you!!!

  24. goatinaunitedshirt says:

    james21

    I couldnt agree more with you regarding twitter and wish Sir Alex had the power to stop players from being allowed to use it. Mainly as whatever is said is being said with weight behind it because the twitterer is a proffessional football player employed by Manchester United. So realistically Rios twitters are weighted by the fact he has something to do with United. Like Ashley Cole said he didnt want to take it further as he understands the ability to tweet is so instantaneous that silly unthought things could be said. Possibly a way of confirming the courts decission that mental fatigue can make a player say things he doesnt really mean OR hear things that he thought he heard (John Terry).

    Either way the choc ice term can be deemed racist as it is to represent someone being black/brown on the outside and white on the inside. You have to consider if John Terry had laughed along with such a term would we all be happy with that.

    I wont say any more about the issue other than its a crying shame all these racist slants have happened in such a short space of time as it really has damaged the game.
    Thanks anyway for a kind post to an exiled United fan.

  25. parryheid says:

    ARUN.

    35 mill yes but class costs and United should have room for another top player at Rooney’s kind of wedge imo.

  26. Zibbie says:

    People who lay with goats get STD’S!!!!!

  27. Costas says:

    I don’t believe I’ve seen the name Fletcher mentioned once in this article. For me that’s where our midfield problems were exposed. As soon as the lad’s illness kicked in. And yeah, you could say we’ve had a couple of new central additions in Powell and Kagawa, but United is still missing Fletcher. Or a player like him.

    @Cedars

    Haha, about time mate! The way he wrote was a giveaway. :D

  28. Costas says:

    Just thought I should share this. Berbatov has a FB page (I believe it’s legit since he’s uploaded pictures of himself while training) and he posted this about an hour ago:

    “Because i am tired of speculation,i am telling you this. I read the papers and i see they say 10 million pounds is my price. I go and talk with Sir Alex, and he says to me 5 million..So who is talling the truth, what do you think??..And the truth is, I love this club, but i am not going to be useful to anyone, if i am not playing. And i want to play, i want to help. But for unknown reasons its not going to happen, or my chances will be limited, so it’s better for everyone if we say goodbye. If not, i am professional and i will keep doing everything i can, to help my team and my teammates, whenever i have opportunity to do so.”

  29. CedarsDevil says:

    Why the fuck are my posts not coming up? Good thing mind you, the last one I typed raped shit

  30. wayne says:

    Beba class as usual,mindboggling to me a team doesn’t want him for 5mill,would be the best buy of the summer

  31. WillieRedNut says:

    Cedars – Same thing happened to me? Must be Scott! :)

  32. Zibbie says:

    Great read, 2 MF players in one more to go with them, like fresh Buffalo Mozzarella, heritage tomatoes, and fresh picked basil.

  33. Zibbie says:

    Kebab so spot on, Fletch and his plight is imo been the “problem” not that he can help his condition.

  34. xol says:

    Although I’d like another midfielder, I’m quite prepared for us to start the new season without further additions. I also feel the article is over the top. In fact, the same tone of article could be written about the best ever Brasil national team. Yes, holes could be picked out of those great teams. Just not my kind of article.

  35. WillieRedNut says:

    Scott is policing the Republik again. :lol:

  36. james21 says:

    Goat
    What’s in the past is in the past. If you post here I have no problem, what’s said is said.

    I understand the meaning of the word but I am also led to believe the poster who put it on twitter is also of Black origin. It was aimed at Ashley Cole by said poster who must have felt strongly about Cole’s part in Terrys defence. Personally I’ve never heard the term ‘Choc ice’ except the obvious, an ice cream.

    Rio needs to reel it in a bit on Twitter for the good of all involved.

  37. CedarsDevil says:

    wayne

    Commended you for your post on the other thread mate, so fucking spot on….

    Willie

    Bizarre!!

    Costas

    I could be slow at times mate!

  38. Zibbie says:

    IMO if, Fletch did not get that late yellow before Barca and he was healthy. MUFC gets 1 more CL and 1 more PL titles. He is my second favorite players. be well Fletch MUFC will have a place for you.

  39. WillieRedNut says:

    Hard bastard might be overstating it a bit, but a CM who can do all things, would be nice.

  40. Zibbie says:

    Kagawa raping the PL and shining star is born.

  41. Zibbie says:

    Tree I feel you baby! Wayne and I over the last 6 months have had good fun together, I feel U mate and how U feel is fine by me as well,

  42. Costas says:

    @wayne

    Maybe there have been offers in that region but not from a club or a league that satisfies him? Whatever the case, I don’t think he was going to be sold before the tour anyway. It’s good that he cleared the air because 10 million did sound a lot for someone out of favor and into the last 12 months of his deal with United.

    @Zibbie

    I am always inclined to agree with that. People often say that one player wouldn’t change a football outcome, but as King Eric would often say, Fletcher was immense in 08-09 and would have made a huge difference against Barcelona. Keep in mind that Barcelona at the time weren’t as confident as they became in the last 3 years. The first 10 minutes of the Rome final showed that they were afraid of the occasion. Someone like Fletcher could have bullied them, in the football sense of the word. Just like the Chelsea midfield did that year in the semi finals.

  43. eric keane says:

    Great read.

  44. goatinaunitedshirt says:

    Never trust a man without a point of view, I have to say I wasnt too keen on the article either. I think the champions of England always have the hardest job in football as they have to on one hand balance the ruff and tumble of the premier league and then also have the finess to break apart some of the worlds best european teams. The lower teams in the spanish and Italian divisians as well as the dutch league all try and play football in one degree or other whereas the premier league regularly get to see teams such as Stoke, Bolton, Blackburn etc who couldnt kick a ball in a straight line if their lives depended on it. And then there are always the derbys. In a country so tightly packed we have arguably more derbys than any other country and this more often than not along with the british temperament mean the odd boot will fly as well.
    I have no doubt that a Silva, an Xavi or Iniesta could survive in the premier league but one thing is for sure, there is no way they could survive without the referees protecting them (orders from head office to try and get more skill into the english game?) and for any length of time. I dont believe that Silva will be around for long and Im pretty sure Xavi and Iniestas careers would have been so brilliant had they played their entire careers in England.
    Where do you find another Scholes or Keane or dare I say it Beckham. We tried with Veron and even though he could play wide right, and he could swing in a ball like Beckham or Scholes, the hard man of Italian football was utterly petrified.

  45. wayne says:

    Cedars thanks mate
    Costas yeah i’m pleased aswell hope he gets the club he wants,honestly though at 5mill would have thought clubs would be lining up in every league

  46. NotoriousRedDevil says:

    Choc Ice, Bounty, cocunut – All terms to describe someone who’s brown/black on the outside and white on the inside.

    Offensive – of course it is its meant to be. Racist? Don’t see it myself.

    Terry got off and in my experience when anybody with any skin colour says something that MAY be interpreted as racist there are white people who are ready to jump down that individuals throat for being racist as in the case of Rio Ferdinand on Twitter today.

    @goat – I stayed away from the attack on you but people jumped down your throat because you used industrial language which was acceptable in the 70s and 80s. Racist language is used in Only Fools and Horses for example.

    However its 2012 now and that type of language is totally out of order and then having text written on a screen without the aid of tone of voice and NVC just makes people think you’re a bell end and a bigot.

    Thats why they jumped down your throat.

  47. Zibbie says:

    In 1985 the Bears won the Supper Bowl, they were the 1st big team to lose free agents in the new market. I was crushed, the game I played as a kid. George Hales help make the NFL and it was his team. Wow at 24 it hit me hard. Fucken greedy cunts making millions want to leave the Bears. In 7 years I was won over to the point. They were indentured servants at best. And should like me be free to move in a market economy. Sports have become big business. Sigh……………………..

  48. CedarsDevil says:

    Well fuck me side ways, I finally got me Linda to make a post from my PC and it has not come through!

  49. Zibbie says:

    Kebab I agree, I am all for the one player thing 94% of the time. But anyone who has performed with a group of people at the highest level in sport, business, music, theater and more. Their is the glue person, the rue, corn starch or arrow root that thickens the stew. Fletch was all that.

  50. NotoriousRedDevil says:

    @ Costas 15.51 – Classy Berb as always. Absolutely shocked nobody wants him for £5 million when £15 million was being talked about last year. Looks like if he stays he’ll be given the Dwight Yorke treatment of 2002 which is a complete waste. This saga will go to deadline day.

  51. james21 says:

    Costas
    You on FB? How do I find you? :)

  52. Zibbie says:

    Hello Linda, I am Zibbie. I found out from Cedars in his mother tong this means my dick. Over time I have become Cedars Dick, in a non-gay way. Man love expressed though hugs and close mouth cheek kisses.

    A true pleasure to be read by you. I live in Dubuque Iowa USA, love my mom the Cubs and Man Utd. My favorite color is red.

  53. NotoriousRedDevil says:

    The Fletcher situation makes me sad. The guy was tripe when he broke through and the fans criticism of him was justified.

    But my word did he make us all eat our words, to the extent where we all say.

    If Fletcher had been playing vs Barcelona the outcome would have been different.

    However he’s ill and it looks unlikely he will make a return. We have to be ruthless and get a replacement. There’s no room for sentiment as a manager. Thats what Fergie has said and it will be unfair as we waited on Hargreaves, but we should learn our lesson.

    Phil Jones isn’t the solution for that role.

  54. CedarsDevil says:

    Goat

    You could of course post here whenever you want, not my place to cut you off…….Although I will always think of you as a hateful racist bastard

  55. CedarsDevil says:

    Zibbie

    Has her post appeared? I cannot see it

  56. Bane says:

    With the players signed so far and assuming a CM isn’t signed it looks as though Fergie wants to move to a more fluid and higher pressing 4231 that the likes of Bayern, Real and Dortmund played over the last couple of seasons.

    Carrick the sitter, Cleverley/Anderson the runner/link and Rooney/Kagawa playing in the hole . 2 wingers and Welbeck/Hernandez as no.9.

    Kagawa played the style at Dortmund and he and Cleverley are key to making it work as they would be the main pressers when we don’t have the ball

  57. james21 says:

    Keep away from Zibbie, Linda. He’s a Wayne Rooney Looney. :D

    ROONEY ROONEY ROONEY. Oh and Go the Cubs.

  58. Zibbie says:

    Kebab I saw a show break down the Brazilian WC teams since 58, with using a modern method of what type of people make the best team. Almost never is it all the best players. The use a physiological break down of types of players
    !) all about me types, call them blue types, only 2 max 3 per side or kayos happens.
    2) Team people, call them red, all about the win not my stats to win a WC a min of 6 players like this.
    3) middle of road pulled in right direction by coach/ shit I forget, call them green. no more then 4 on a winning WC team, with that he figured a Brazil loss at the last WC with his formula.

    Fletch a type 2 guy!!!

  59. NotoriousRedDevil says:

    @ Cedars – If you can’t see her post its because love has made you blind. Open your eyes MAN!!!

  60. Zibbie says:

    Tree not yet buddy!!!!!

  61. FletchTHEMAN says:

    … Alex Ferguson spent five whole years refusing to recruit reinforcements…..

    Because he knew he had Cleverley, Petrucci, Pogba, and Tunnicliffe on the way.
    Injuries have been a b i t c h.

    Ando, Clevs, Petrucci, all hobbling for major periods. We need an enforcer. The reason our lads are getting creamed is because we don’t have a Keane, Pali or Bruce to collect on bad fouls. English game is still dominated by this side of the game.

  62. Zibbie says:

    james21 says:
    Keep away from Zibbie, Linda. He’s a Wayne Rooney Looney.

    ROONEY ROONEY ROONEY. Oh and Go the Cubs.

    Full dis-closer, hehe

    Linda the reason for Tree’s mountain escapes? She 1/2 of the women I think she is. She gets us benn with us. We drink in spirit already.

  63. Zibbie says:

    Speak of Fletch, RoM’s Fletch shows!

    Howelllll…….

  64. Zibbie says:

    To be, or not to be. Where is Tony Bee, or been.

  65. Zibbie says:

    @Tony Bee, no pressure on you mate, I through out my bran muffins.

  66. Costas says:

    @James

    Hey pal. I don’t like promoting myself or anything, but this is my page: http://www.facebook.com/cosspa22

    Feel free to make a friend request. :)

  67. FletchTHEMAN says:

    Zibbie Cheers mate.

    On topic of United Midfielders who still got game. Check out the goal by Becks. He actually scored 2 but this one must have been dedicated to Stewie Pierce no doubt.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QrjrfjNvlQ&feature=player_embedded#!

  68. samuel - united WE stand says:

    I can only assume the reason FERGIE hasn’t purchased central midfielders is because he sees quality emerging from the youth system. Tunnicliffe and petrucci seem ready to make the step up while a couple of others are developing gradually. That’s the only logical explanation i have for FERGIE not buying. We’ll see those that make the squad for the tour.

  69. CedarsDevil says:

    Well thanks StR, You have almost ruined my night……..My babe makes her first and probably only post and its still under frigging moderation

  70. Zibbie says:

    I do not face book but thanks for the face. Cool Costas with the mostas.

  71. FletchTHEMAN says:

    Cleverley Petrucci out from bad tackles.
    Nani and Valencia out to bad tackles.
    Throw in Hargreaves, Fletch out from bad luck,

    That’s 6 midfielders

  72. Zibbie says:

    Tree it can take 48 hours, depending if he is on a bender.

  73. Zibbie says:

    @Fletch is Petrucci in training?

  74. Chuckie says:

    It’s fair (if harsh) to describe Valencia as “decent” in the context of him replacing Ronaldo, but it really doesn’t add up when you go on to describe Smalling as “exceptional”.

    Back on topic, I don’t know if it’s fair to criticise Fergie for not signing a CM last summer, considering that the original first-choice partnership missed the entire season. But the two previous summers it was quite a mystery- I suspect he simply rated Carrick a lot higher than the rest of us.

  75. Zibbie says:

    Saw the Becks game, the NW is footy crazy full soccer only stadiums,

  76. Costas says:

    @Notorious

    Hi mate. Regarding Fletch, I actually think it’s gotten past the point of being sentimental. Fergie painted a depressing picture this week. Which tells me that he’s reconciled with the fact that Fletcher won’t be the box to box midfielder we’ve lacked even if he returns. So what’s the real issue? He doesn’t want a midfielder like that in the team anymore. It’s something I’ll never agree with because even teams like United need these players. I mean, you can load a midfield with technical CMs like Tom, Carrick, Scholes etc etc. And they will do their fair amount of pressing. But who’s going to track a rival CM from one box to the other? Who’s going to get stuck in? Or who’s going to hussle the opposition’s playmaker (Like Fletch would have done with Xavi for example). As things stand, I can only see Jones attempting to do it but he’s no Fletcher. And he will be needed elsewhere.

    But that’s my opinion. Sir Alex has been in charge for 25 years and if he feels that we need to change our approach, he probably has seen something I haven’t. Because one thing’s for sure. The fact that we haven’t bought a box to box CM has little to do with our finances. Plenty of options out there.

    @Zibbie

    Just saw your comment about the types of players. It’s a very valid one. There has to be a balance and the type 2 players will always be the majority in the team. Guys like Fletch or Park. It’s no coincidence that Brazil won their last 2 WCs when they struck a perfect balance between workhorses and talented players. The 2002 team in particular is one of my favorites for that reason. Good thing Scolari lost his mojo by the time he took over Chelsea. :D

  77. xol says:

    The thing I don’t like about getting a hard bastard is the fact that I do not trust the fucking FA to be consistent. It’s bad enough that the likes of Cleverley get done by heavy tackles and the perpetrators get away with it. Not hard to imagine is it? Eg De Rossi joins United, De Rossi flattens Silva, Ref has to show red, extensive media coverage and pressure on the FA to watch him after he returns from his 6 month fucking ban!

  78. fergie is the boss says:

    FletchTHEMAN – its not because we do not have a keane replacement, we just do not have enough in midfield that can replace scholes’s brilliance in terms of holding the ball, and passing it. When cleverly was fit, we were flying because we had someone that could control games. I do feel if we find that player that can hold the ball, and pass it I do feel we can regain the league title, and do really well in europe

  79. eric keane says:

    Martin edwards has told sky italia that manchester united are in executive position in the negotiation for lucas moura and hope to complete the deal soon..

    Unabusive thoughts anyone??

  80. ARUN says:

    I THINK fergie beleives the answer to midfield problems is petrucci and tunnicliffe…… i think we will not sign any proper cm this summer.i think the 2 players fergie were reffering to were baines and moura

  81. goatinaunitedshirt says:

    NotoriousRedDevil

    Point taken. I always read a persons comment as if they are saying it without any malice. Thats my default setting. Like I call my grand mother an old whore I have no doubt she doesnt think I think shes a whore. She rusted up years ago. I am old school but it doesnt mean I am a racist, far from it.
    Thanks for the heads up and glad you dont hold any grudges or evil intent towards an old goat.

  82. Zibbie says:

    Kebab, it took Fletch a few years to become Fletch. Jones in time will find his place. I for one hope it is a 15+ year career as a Red.

  83. eric keane says:

    Source : @mufcsupport on twitter..
    Seems legit.

  84. ARUN says:

    @eric keane
    mate ,i hope we do it
    but dont get too excited
    we have all been through this path before.THIS SIGNING WILL BE A BIG STATEMENT,,IF IT HAPPENS.i think this is our best chance . the spanish clubs dont seem intrested.
    pls wrap the deal up before olympics

  85. Zibbie says:

    Maybe Petrucci at the Games for Italy hum..

  86. samuel - united WE stand says:

    The days of box to box midfielders are vanishing gradually. Only in the premier league do people still clamour for those lung bursting players that don’t necessarily bring successes as it’s been proven in the past few seasons. A complete midfielder that can playmake and also defend is what is needed and that’s the type FERGIE wants. People will be wasting their time if they think he’ll go out and buy cheikh tiote.

    This is why i feel he’ll give the younger players already at the club a chance. It’s a gamble but something has to be done.

  87. FletchTHEMAN says:

    From my info, we have Petrucci in training and he will travel with United for the tour to South Africa. Hoping for good things from him.

    Juniors on tour should also include: Johnstone, M.Keane, Thorpe, Blackett, Tunnicliffe, Cole, Lingaard, and Brady.

    Lingaard, Tunnicliffe, Cole and Petrucci just signed new contracts. So that’s 4 up and coming midfielders that we can watch for the next 3 years.

  88. Zibbie says:

    Thanks guys, Lucas on Twiter looks like a good chance for MUFC?? cool get a big one boss.

  89. goatinaunitedshirt says:

    eric keane

    Must admit I have no idea of the player other than the fact hes been mentioned on skynews football a few times. I dont have time anymore to watch Brazillian football so Ill just have to trust Sir Alexs opinion on this one. Im just glad we arent chasing players that are now too old and had their chance to join us in the past (modric and Schneidjer).

    Does anyone know anything about this kid. All I know is hes a midfielder?

  90. eric keane says:

    @ ARUN : I think its more a risk than a statement. Brazialians bar the twins hardly set the epl alight.
    I wonder where fergie wants to play him..
    Maybe I’m a bit tentative about this signing cause I haven’t seen him play, bar a few youtube videos.

  91. Zibbie says:

    Fuck yes thanks Fletch!!!

  92. Amy says:

    Nice Read. We all wish there was a CM player like Roy Keane available. A real hard Irish bastard who would die for Utd on the pitch. If he was playing now, Kevin Davies would be in his top 5 players to get revenge on come the new season. Maybe, perhaps maybe the great Cleverly himself (over time) can become such a warrior. Either way UTD20 this time next year.

  93. ARUN says:

    @goatinaunitedshirt
    mate, i watched alot of games of sao paulo .this guy is good and potentially great.can play on either wings andalso behind striker and as striker.much like ronaldo.ronaldo was 18 wen he came here.this guy will be 20 next month.plus he is strong like tony v.all sortsof tricks like most brazilians.’
    DEFINETELY THE NEXT SUPERSTAR FROM BRAZIL unlike neymar who is a pile of shit along with ganso.

  94. Zibbie says:

    Rafa on the Olympic team. He has had 1st team games, Fabio a slightly different path. Twin split for personal growth, Fabio to come back battle for his spot.

    LB still to come.

  95. denton davey says:

    Coastas @ 15:48: “I don’t believe I’ve seen the name Fletcher mentioned once in this article. For me that’s where our midfield problems were exposed. As soon as the lad’s illness kicked in.”

    Spot on. In fact, DarrenFletcherinho’s importance was visible to anyone with eyes to see EVEN BEFORE his illness kicked in – that red card against TheArse in the CL semi-final in 2009 meant that TheLads went into the CL Final in Rome playing short-handed. NoFletch/NoWin.

    The article was amusing and insightful but missing out – completely – on the contributions of DarrenFletcherinho when he was in his rampant “football genius mode” was just plain silly. Mr Harris, do your homework.

  96. Zibbie says:

    Arun thanks man, I wikied him and liked what I read.

  97. Costas says:

    @Fletch

    Tunni has signed a new deal? Must admit I didn’t know that. Good to know because his current deal ends next summer. Can’t wait to see Petrucci at the tour.

  98. eric keane says:

    @goat : he’s a creative midfielder 19 years old and extremely versatile. The next big thing coming out of brazil..
    We bid 33mil euros for him!!

  99. Zibbie says:

    Hey Dave, Fletch the Man the Red from a lad through the Academy!!!!!!!!!! SAF he has a spot for life.

  100. xol says:

    Goat – Yes, I’ve watched him extensively on youtube vids, mostly against suspect defenders with suspect soundtracks. He looks absolutely superb and after seeing the 3 minute video, we must sign him! People say he’s strong but really it must be in his legs because he doesn’t look it, great balance and determination to not be knocked off the ball. Most of the clips I saw involved him knocking the ball past a player and getting to it first, seemingly against the odds, after being obstructed. That was what stood out for me. Unpredictable changes of direction like Nani, similar bursts of speed. In fact, why the fuck do we need him – we’ve got Nani.

  101. FletchTHEMAN says:

    As to who is flying to SA.

    Nick Coppack ‏@nickcoppack
    ‪#mufc‬ tour squad won’t be revealed in full until all players have checked in for flight to Durban on Monday morning.

    So there you have it!

  102. ARUN says:

    @mate, risks have to be taken at times.we were ready to pay 32 million for hazard who plays in a shit french league. yes,southamericans have not set the premier leaggue alight.but tevez was a hit in england.others like robinho were shit because of there shit attitude.as i said before if we wait till next season those spanish fuckers will sign him. we all know that united have missed a bit of magic since ronaldoleft .lucas along with kagawa wold be magnificient.

  103. denton davey says:

    Wayne @ 15:56: “mindboggling to me a team doesn’t want him [Dimmy] for 5mill,would be the best buy of the summer”

    Totally agree – I’m not slagging him when I write that he’s still a quality player but (alas !) something of a square-peg-in-a-round-hole at UTD. 5 million quid is one-seventh of Andy Carroll’s fee; it’s also about the same as Spurs are paying to get Adebayor and pay him 170,000 per week.

    To my mind – and I know that it’s warped – I’d think that either Fulham (or Everton or Blackburn or even Wigan) would snap up Dimmy as he’s “real value” in this transfer market.

  104. Zibbie says:

    SAF need, or should say wants a slash player this year, I prefer Lucas to Hazzarard and LOVE KAGAWA!!!

  105. WillieRedNut says:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRuTap8MBxg

    Lucas Moura. Excuse the terrible music!

  106. daemondada says:

    Thanks StR for making it clear that citing stories of a religious theme as can be seen in the Genesis creation account used by Daniel Harris in his write up is not unwelcome on ur blog.I feel much freer now.It’s time for the young ‘uns to step up.This is probably their last chance to learn frm the shogun Scholesy in a full battle theatre.Go Utd!

  107. Zibbie says:

    splash, Freudian type O. Slash/// Splash!!!!

    I crack myself up sometimes. pisses me off….

  108. Zibbie says:

    Wolfie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  109. eric keane says:

    @fletch : I wonder if fergie’s hoping for a signing before we fly off to SA.

  110. ARUN says:

    hope lucas doesnt turn out like to be sneijder saga or the hazzard one

  111. james21 says:

    And on the 6th day God created MANchester United in his image. On the 7th day he created city because he’d ran out of bog roll. :D

  112. fergie is the boss says:

    ARUN – if you think that is what fergie is thinking, united are in for a long season, which could be no different to last season. United must sign another midfielder, it is crucial united get this area beefed up with one more signing, despite signing 2 midfielders. I still feel we are in the same position has last season, relying on midfielders in their 30′s in scholes carrick and giggsm while cleverly anderson and fletcher will remain on the injury table. Unless powell and kagwa become key midfielders straight away, we could be talking about the same problem has last season

  113. samuel - united WE stand says:

    If you ask me, i feel the lucas moura speculation is nothing more than fictional crap. FERGIE has thrown a suprise or two but i wouldn’t get my hopes up.

    Assuming he signed which is unlikely then i’m thinking FERGIE is trying to completely transform the system we play. These are attacking creative midfielders, they’ll only fit in a more flexible formation of 4-2-3-1, 4-5-1, 4-3-2-1.

  114. WillieRedNut says:

    Spoon 2 aka Jimmy James – Lovely! :)

  115. ARUN says:

    @eric keane
    mate, we have to get him before this friday thats wen the olypics starts and he could have a great tournament and the price will shoot up to become impossible

  116. WillieRedNut says:

    Zibbie – The boys got insane skills! As someone said though, he’s similar to Nani.

  117. samuel - united WE stand says:

    F-i-t-b – if we keep signing central midfielders which is absolutely necessary, what happens to the likes of petrucci and tunnicliffe?

  118. ARUN says:

    @FITB
    mate, if wwe spend 35 million on modric and sign him then surely guys like petrucci will leave much like that asshole pogba.then thereis tunnicliffe .lets hope they have an outstanding preseason.i think we have 6 midfielders in ando,clev carrick scholes giggs and jones.pluskagawa can play there also powell petrucci and tunnicliffe.

  119. ARUN says:

    petrucci will be 21 in 3 months .if fergie thinks he is good enough then him and tunni will be in the first team soon

  120. wayne says:

    Hello

  121. wayne says:

    sorry being blocked from posting a article on Danny’s contract dispute,

  122. james21 says:

    wayne
    was it from the Manchester Eve News?

  123. WillieRedNut says:

    Wayne – Join the club! Thats me you and Cedars now!

  124. wayne says:

    DANNY WELBECK has been told that he is putting his Manchester United career in serious jeopardy with his on-going contract dispute.

    The England hitman, 21, is refusing to sign a new deal at Old Trafford – worth £40,000 a week – as his representatives demand £60,000 a week following his exploits at Euro 2012.

    But former United favourite Lou Macari believes Welbeck, out of contract in 12 months’ time, is making a huge mistake not extending his stay immediately.

    The ex-Scottish international, 63, said: “My main concern right now is Danny Welbeck – he’s had one good season, he’s only young and you never know which way they’re going to go.

    “I’m hoping Danny signs his new contract, settles down and doesn’t listen to his advisors, like other young players do.

    “Because I don’t think any United supporters want to see a long drawn-out saga over a contract.

    “I just hope Danny realises these extended contract sagas, signing or not signing, don’t go down well with the fans.”

    Macari is a big admirer of Welbeck and is convinced the sooner the war of wages is resolved, the sooner he will get back to fulfilling his undoubted potential.

    Old Trafford legend Macari, who scored 97 goals in 400 United games between 1973 and 1984, added: “Danny did great last season and he did great the season before on loan at Sunderland.

    “But it’s wrong at this moment in time to say, ‘We’ve got a really top player here’.

    “I know that a lot of the supporters are still divided about Danny. Personally, I believe he has a great chance of going all the way to the top – if he concentrates fully on his football.

    “But if he doesn’t, then he’ll do what others have done before him … all right. But I feel he deserves to do better than just ‘all right’. ”

    Welbeck currently earns £17,000 each week.

    Yet, although boss Sir Alex Ferguson is desperate to keep him, the club are reluctant to pay him more than fellow England internationals Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.

    Macari added: “The club want to give him £40,000 but he’s after £60,000. I know the difference is £20,000 but please, he’s a kid. £40,000? Just sign the contract!”

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  125. wayne says:

    just copied and pasted it,if this has been mentioned on a different thread,sorry

  126. Costas says:

    Haha, nice one wayne.

    Personally speaking, the 2 most interesting words in that article were “Imogen Thomas”. :P

  127. Daniel says:

    Scholes needs to retire.

  128. xol says:

    I think an important thing to look out for in a midfielder is awareness and that’s not always easy to spot. If Cleverley is going to be a mainstay post Scholes, a basic ability to take a pass from Tom and return the ball to him is important, if we’re going to attack down the middle. You see Scholes and Carrick dictate the play so much from the centre circle and they rarely get too far forward. One of the two will make like they’re gonna charge down the middle, only to stop because of the forward’s movement up top and availability of wingers out wide. It could be that Scholes/Carrick continue as the 1st choice with Cleverley/Anderson as the alternative. Shinji and a striker complete the 4-4-1-1. ” I don’t think we’ll have one player changing the way we play”. If we’re not changing the way we play, but are signing a midfielder then surely the player that comes in would be a Carrick type? (As Tom is more like Scholes). Moura isn’t a Carrick type.

  129. CedarsDevil says:

    James at 17:42

    Just pissed my self

  130. Zibbie says:

    something in the mix, some news coming soon!!!!

  131. Zibbie says:

    Iniesta to much like Xavi. They will never play together well. Why have both?

  132. james21 says:

    Daniel
    Totally agree. All these pensioners taking the jobs youngsters could be doing.

  133. Zibbie says:

    the 4-6-0 is coming back

  134. CedarsDevil says:

    Arrrghhh I am in such a mood for a rightful bash, but been told to keep my gob shut

  135. james21 says:

    Cedars
    Where’s Linda?

    Thought you might like it but as Willie rightly points out. I’m spoon2. :)

  136. james21 says:

    Cedars
    Thought you might like it but as Willie rightly points out. I’m spoon2. :)

  137. Zibbie says:

    WTF Scholes living walking scholar and gaffer as well as Icon. Scholes will get his 20 or so games, and we and the team will be better for this.

  138. james21 says:

    Don’t know what went on with my post above. :/

  139. CedarsDevil says:

    Jimmy James

    She posted ages ago just as Linda, fucking thing seems like its still under moderation and now I am having to pay the price!! My unused wrath was not against the daft Scholes comment though

  140. xol says:

    Every time I see ‘FERGIE’ it reminds me of 80′s tabloid bollocks talking about Sarah Ferguson. I think you’re the only person on here that uses that term and it’s always in capitals like you’re trying to make a point. Maybe someone had a word with you about it and you didn’t like it so now you use it all the time and put it in capitals.

  141. Zibbie says:

    Thats it James poke a bear, gasoline on a fire o put it out, hello Linda’s hope to see your post some day.

  142. fergie is the boss says:

    samuel – united WE stand and ARUN – I heard this last season, what happens if we sign a midfielder, what happens to pogba and Morrison? what happened? it cost united dearly in europe and the PL. Anderson I think should be moved on, cleverly has been quiet injury prone, scholes may not have a season left in him, giggs is the same, carrick needs help, and kagwa is not an out and out CM, he is more of a number 10, while powel has just arrived. So really we look at united’s options, without carrick we could be in some serious trouble in midfield, he is our only player we can rely on, I would snap modric up in a flash if it meant we replace anderson.

  143. WillieRedNut says:

    While I don’t understand the Moura interest, Fergie will have had the lad watched for an considerable time. If we wanted Hazard, then Moura must be the alternative. As I said before, would love someone like Moutinho. We chased Sneijder and Nasri last year. Supposedly Sanchez was a target for us to. Seems from the outside looking in, he wants game changers. Players who can produce pieces of magic out of nothing. We’ve commented on here, that United can be predictable. Fergie clearly has something in mind for the new look United.

  144. james21 says:

    xol
    Fergie is ok. Its never been pulled as an insult as its a warming way to describe our great Manager.

    We chant Fergie Fergie give us a wave.

    Cedars
    All mine seem to be posting ok. It’s you, you bald Fool, paranoid again. :P :P :P

  145. james21 says:

    Linda Linda give us a wave. Drink the Marro under the table where he belongs. :D

  146. CedarsDevil says:

    Jimmy James

    Piss off you fool, she is a first time poster and they tend to take ages, mine are going through just fine……You must be Catholic, I hear prayers help with posts!! ha ha ha

  147. fergie is the boss says:

    Like I have said, for established players over a season in CM, it is very very thin indeed.

    Our overall options are? carrick scholes kagwa cleverly anderson powel giggs fletcher

    Numbers are deceiving, scholes carrick and giggs are either in their early 30s, or late 40′s or nearly 40 and carrick does suffer from wear and tear at the start and end of seasons, anderson and cleverly always find themselves injured for atleast 3 or 4 months of the season or more esp anderson, fletcher we know the deal with darren, kagwa is better playing close to the striker, not in CM, and powel will need time. The 2 youngsters have no PL experience what so ever including powel, and what will happen is PPL, we will end up overplaying giggs and scholes yet again, because of united’s failure to strengthen that area of the team for different reasons, because carrick will be rested from time to time, and he is perhaps our most crucial player of the team along with Vidic and rooney

  148. Mikekelly12 says:

    Evening my little love puppets!
    Samuel – apparently the Lucas bid was made 6 weeks ago and was left on the table with a deadline of Fiiday 13th. Which is why I guess it all came out this week. So I doubt it’s definitely not fictional. In terms of buying midfielders, I don’t think it will mean saying good bye to the likes of petrucci and tunni. Existing midfielders are finishing their careers and others are likely to move on. The young lads are not ready to step up yet and can be integrated in and around new talent and based on our history of injuries a surpless ogmf players is a must.

  149. ARUN says:

    @fitb
    mate if we want to sell ando then yes we defnetely need a new centre mid.but dont think we will. i think fergie wants moura and maybe baines as his 2 signings .i think we could be heading for a new exciting and pacy MANCHESTER UNITED.he might have enquired abt modric but it seems modric prefers spain.MATE ,DO U THINK WE SHOULD SIGN MODRIC OR MOUTINHO EVEN IF WE KEEP ANDO

  150. WillieRedNut says:

    James – Sensible retort to parryheid on the thread below this one. Defused nicely! ;)

  151. Zibbie says:

    Willie I get it, your last thought. A game changer. His talent is awesome. SAF when he writes his story. He will let us know about the MF thing. As long as possible he wants Fletch to get player wages that is in this long equation some place. Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Jones, Tunni, TC23, Petrucci, and Powell the window closes on Sept 1st or when we here that tone in SAF that he is done. Neither have happened.

  152. CedarsDevil says:

    We’re listening to ABBA and I am dancing like a mad man!! ha ha ha

  153. FletchTHEMAN says:

    Costas, You are correct about Tunni, signed last year so still has another year from my notes. Just pointing out that he wasn’t a worry like Davide was.

    @eric keane.

    After history with Ruud and Veron, club just doesn’t announce who is on the plane until the doors close.
    Wouldn’t read anything else into it.

    But still, I like your thinking! ! :cool:

  154. xol says:

    James – ok true. There’s an Asian Barbers less than a mile from the ground, red plastered all over the front, it’s called SAF’s Cutz. Went in to have a chat, turns out SAF the owner didn’t have a fucking clue what I was on about lol. I suppose you also see ex players saying manyoo and that offends some. ABU press jump at the chance to avoid calling him Sir and that annoys a bit.

  155. CedarsDevil says:

    Right here is a bit of what Linda wanted to say on her own, in case her post never appears…..Have to say this before I get killed!!

    ‘Hello all, although I am not a football fan I have enjoyed reading this place, its funnier than looney tunes, I think you are all mad….Just glad Cedars has made some friends here, special greeting to my green brother from the North’

    There I said it!

  156. fergie is the boss says:

    ARUN – I think anderson’s time is up to be honest, he will not be sold because of the condition of fletcher. If fletcher was never in the condition he is in now anderson would have ben sold. I think united have to sign a new midfielder even with anderson there, so the midfielder established can take the load off scholes giggs and especially carrick, to give carrick a breather. I do not trust anderson as a player anymore and I do not trust either anderson or cleverly’s fitness levels, moutinho or modric will do me fine, those 2 players would give united what they are missing, someone that can hold and control the tempo of our play, and make those telling passes deep, that scholes has given us for years. Because I do not think we have been great holding and passing the ball when scholes is not there

  157. james21 says:

    Willie
    We all say heat of the moment things. I just took 10 mins out.

    Cedars
    I like sending you jokes, you always laugh. Normally its tumbleweed all round. :D

  158. United Till I Die says:

    Easy RoM :wink: Hope all is well wid ya.

    This is a well thought out article (Lol @ “In the first Chapter of Genesis”). We’ve missed an energetic midfield goal threat more than a box to boxer imo. Our defence isn’t as bad as made out especially when Vidics there, but we have looked out of ideas in midfield. We’ve also over relied on our wingers, which on occasion has made us predictable and easy to frustrate. The introduction of Kagawa has come at the right time as he poses a real threat when passing and shooting. Cannot wait till next month.

    Also – I agree with Samuel, our youth player development must be the reason why we haven’t spent our way out of this dilemma. We didn’t buy the replacement for Keane and Ince even though we had the money – instead we put trust in Scholes and Butt etc. Chances are we’re doing the same now as we’ve got loads of young midfielders, but signing Kagawa could be the piece we’ve been missing. And for what its worth I’ll be the first to say that Anderson will deliver the goods this season

    :mrgreen:

    As for all the racism hoopla, I’ll say this. PROGRESS didn’t take place on television or in parliament it took place in the street – Cable Street for example – and I trust the street will remain where all future progress will come from. Filth like Anders Brevik and the EDL will always serve a purpose for class division, politics, and limp two-faced liberals alike.

    Seriously fellas, is it racist for a white Englishman to question another white Englishman’s “European patriotism”? Not in my book its not, so likewise if a black person questions Ashley Cole’s “African nationalism” and Rio Ferdinand laughs how exactly is that racist? They are all black ffs – or are white people the only people allowed to discuss questions of cultural loyalty? If so find me a culture older than Africa’s, fellas? End of the day – and excuse my lack of tolerance – anybody clamouring for Rio to get done for Racism over his justified diss is a cunt in the truest sense of the word, and probably the type that bemoans why 50 Cent can say N in public but white people can’t. Errr, cos he’s black and you’re not you fucking cretin. Should be a laugh to see what the FA does any road, but I wouldn’t be surprised if both Ferdinand’s are the only ones charged with racism. You couldn’t make this shit up so nothing surprises me any more.

    End of the day Rio gets my full support as he’s done nowt wrong, and if you think his TWEET has gone too far perhaps you should look in the mirror and make sure you ain’t part of the problem? If Cantona is admired for kicking a man, and Zizi is admired for head butting a man, why should Rio be forced to sit in silence and not express himself in any way after all the disproportionate fuckrey he’s experienced his WHOLE CAREER? Don’t make me laugh. by rights he COULD be out there kicking the shit out of Terry or anybody else – If anything i’d be disappointed if he WASN’T backing his brother in public and if he WASN’T putting racist cunts in their place through Twitter.

    Having said all that – ROLL ON AUGUST FFS

    UTID.

  159. ARUN says:

    @fitb
    good point
    moutinho is a possibility if we are intrested .modric will join real i think

  160. Zibbie says:

    Linda, That’s Right Folks!!!!!!

  161. CedarsDevil says:

    Jimmy James

    I share your jokes with most friends and family, always top fucking quality

  162. Mikekelly12 says:

    HOORAY….. LInda’s popped her RoM cherry!!! Get in!! Welcome Linda.

  163. Zibbie says:

    Tree I chose a Vodka day with some mid range weed. I am on my 1st cocktail with baby back pig ribs!!!

  164. CedarsDevil says:

    Come ON STR moderate her frigging post, having my head done in here

  165. WillieRedNut says:

    Cedars – My Green brother from the north! :D

    Zibbie – Cheers mate. The boss confuses me sometimes, but he always seems to have the right answers. Of course, he gets it wrong on occasions. He’s only human after all!

  166. Zibbie says:

    Hi Linda!!

  167. CedarsDevil says:

    Mike

    Its still under fucking moderation!

    Zibbie

    Pig ribs arrrrr……..Fucking drooling

  168. Mikekelly12 says:

    Willie
    He can’t be human. What he achieved last season could only have been done by someone superhuman!!!

  169. CedarsDevil says:

    Willie

    Not kidding mate, that is what she calls you!!

  170. Zibbie says:

    Willie me 2 hehe.

    Linda I am new to tech stuff, no facemail, so I look like a sexy Fred Flinstone with rhythm to burn. 2nd generation Irish Italian American. A 50 year old once a stud buck. A sexy cute Sopranos type.

  171. WillieRedNut says:

    Mikey – He’s not of this world!

  172. CedarsDevil says:

    Mike / Willie

    You two talking about RvP?

  173. Zibbie says:

    PORK FAT UUUMMMMM SO FUCKING GOOD.

  174. WillieRedNut says:

    Anderson will deliver the goods this season? Can only be a Paul Parker post….. ;)

  175. samuel - united WE stand says:

    i’ll assume that comment was aimed at me and i’ll give a brief response. 1. The name FERGIE is purposely set in capital letters in my phone’s dictionary, i type quite fast so i use the predictive text. 2. i’ll choose to type however i like and however i want. You can make up as much bullshit as you can in order to find an explanation. Put your palms over your eyes if the word “FERGIE” hurts your fragile feelings.

  176. WillieRedNut says:

    Cedars – In your dreams! :P

  177. Mikekelly12 says:

    Robin van Cedars
    No mate, there is only one man in the echelon that we speak of and he is a knight of the realm!

  178. CedarsDevil says:

    Zibbie

    Linda says you can now stop hitting on her! We’re on what is it now? Oh yeah James Bond like vodka martinis with a fucking lemon twist…………This Cedars is going under ground and soon

  179. United Till I Die says:

    Lol

    Laters Reds.

  180. WillieRedNut says:

    Cedars – RVP is going to the bitters? Time to let him go mate….. ;)

  181. Zibbie says:

    Linda In Dubuque Iowa, it sits on the Mississippi River where Iowa, IL and WI meet. Some 180 miles west of Chicago. Settled in the 1840′s and 50′s mostly German Irish people and I grew up here and came of age on my mothers lasagna and Irish German girls…. uummmm both taste so good. .

  182. Zibbie says:

    OK Tree kiss her hand for me please.

  183. CedarsDevil says:

    Think King Eric had it figured out first…………Course he’s Paul Parker

  184. Zibbie says:

    I watched Gold Finger in HD today !!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!

  185. Zibbie says:

    hOW ABOUT THAT mf!!??

  186. Mrad_leb says:

    Liverpool agree a £27million fee to sign PSV duo Strootman & Mertens. Both flying to England tomorrow for medicals e discuss personal terms

  187. CedarsDevil says:

    Zibbie

    Do not worry about it mate, she is more of a piss take that I am

    Willie

    Show me a link or piss off!!

  188. Mikekelly12 says:

    Cedars, how do you get away with all these lovely drinks So often. I’ve not had a drop of alcohol since last Saturday!!! That’s over a week! I’m shaking like a shitting dog!

  189. Zibbie says:

    Paul, Peter’s brother?

    I can not stop being me go rooney…

  190. FletchTHEMAN says:

    We found a Keane replacement? Surprise to me!

  191. goatinaunitedshirt says:

    WillieRedNut
    thanks for the vid link earler.
    He looks half decent but the amount of spcae they seem to run into out there in Brazil makes me wonder what the ability of the defenders are. There were a few times when the video stopped as it was blatently obvious they had to “cut” as there were a few wayward passes. The video is obviously made by a Lucas Moura fan and isnt going to show the poor points to his game. One thing we desperately dont need at OT is another pathetic passer in the last third of the pitch. We have tons of those. The boy looked to me like a young and enthusiastic Nani and we know how thats gone so far.
    Oh well guess we’ll find out in a week or so.

  192. Zibbie says:

    no worry mate just me saying hello to whom makes you smile. I have thick skin here. hehe

  193. Zibbie says:

    Mike on the 5th day I shit blood, so I drink only 4 days in a row.

  194. Mikekelly12 says:

    Zibbie
    Linda is spoken for…. Down boy!! Haha

  195. Zibbie says:

    As I look at my shorts from last night, tday makes day 14 for me. CHEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

  196. Zibbie says:

    Mike I have sat, may I have my treat now, please. hehe

  197. Busby babes says:

    still would like m’villa physical player but is distribution of the ball is good again within our price range, a player who can sit and let the more expansive players express themselves although i do feel carrick could play that role, with a moutinho or modric in the same side

  198. Zibbie says:

    have we signed anyone yet!!! the ribs smelllll sssoooooo ggggooooooddddd!

  199. Busby babes says:

    still would like m’villa physical player but is distribution of the ball is good again within our price range, a player who can sit and let the more expansive players express themselves although i do feel carrick could play that role, with a moutinho or modric in the same side.

  200. CedarsDevil says:

    Mike

    I just get a list, I buy the raw the products and the rest is fed to me like a toddler !! ha ha ha

    But seriously them fucking Bond Martinis are fucking spectacular

  201. WillieRedNut says:

    Liverpool are signing Strootman? Cyril will be gutted! :)

  202. Zibbie says:

    Today I went with Raspberry Stohli from the freezer with a mix of flash froze and fresh raspberry’s to make it soo… uuummmm

  203. Zibbie says:

    Sneer to Snarl

  204. Mikekelly12 says:

    Zibbie
    Grab yourself a modello, good boy.
    Cedars
    Those martini’s are strong as fuck too!

  205. Busby babes says:

    how much foundation to the strootman liverpool rumours

  206. CedarsDevil says:

    Hmm. every time I have a certain dig at a certain someone my posts do not appear!!

  207. Zibbie says:

    They got their Lucass back as well I dislike my like for their new gaffer. I hope Dempsey goes elsewhere.

  208. Busby says:

    Dembele and Fellaini. That is all.

  209. Zibbie says:

    Anger and angst level way down, I have another older brother failing fast. Mortality a bitch.

  210. WillieRedNut says:

    Cedars – Scott not letting you post again? He’s patrolling the site! :D

  211. Zibbie says:

    Big families have a way about them. My mom a tuff old broad is watching her boys die or close to it. That is so hard on this mom-mas boy.

  212. CedarsDevil says:

    Mike

    Strong as fuck mate…………Any hoo where were we? Oh yes Kagawa

  213. Zibbie says:

    Should I pull over?

  214. Zibbie says:

    Yeh when I drink the hard drink, I prefer quality and its taste, like Crown Royal on big ices 3 cubes. and oohh, Bombay Saph lights my fire, old Scotch and Irish whiskey the 12 years and older thing. If just drunk Lemonade and cheep gin or vodka.

  215. Mikekelly12 says:

    Cedars
    Maybe your nemesis is STR!!!!! Kagawa..woooooah Kagawa .. Woooooah. He fucked on man city, to bring number TWENTY…. Kagawa. Woooooah !!!!

  216. Giggs12Gerrard0 says:

    What a top thread this is. Scott quality mate really hits home the conundrum we find ourselves. We need to add or it will be Carrick and Scholes holding the fort.

  217. Zibbie says:

    A glass of Jose 1800 and a white sand beach…… a empty bottle of Patron …… to much lemon or lime chaser upsets my stomach. 1 in 5 love this drink the other 4 look at me and say wtf. Jose Gold with Grapefruit juice.

  218. CedarsDevil says:

    Willie

    Its fucking weird mate, never happened before……….Anyway I am err I mean we are pissing off to bed

    Shit dreams you fuckers!! ha ha ha

  219. Zibbie says:

    Kagawa to split open the PL mf like a cherry but in a prison rape.

  220. Zibbie says:

    sleep well and dreams of your youth….

  221. Zibbie says:

    Indian holiday?

  222. WillieRedNut says:

    To the victor belongs the spoils…… #20th

  223. WillieRedNut says:

    Come hell or high water! Whether we sign a CM, or not. United can count on my support! Bring it bitch!

    :lol: 19

  224. xol says:

    Samuel – you assume right cocker. My feelings aren’t fragile. I didn’t ask for an explanation. Carry on as you were.

  225. Cyril Sneer says:

    Stop spreading lies about Strooty.

  226. Zibbie says:

    I see Caroll back to New Castle on loan, hahahahaha

  227. Zibbie says:

    #20 BITCHES!!!!!

    Should be a T-Shirt

  228. James7t7 says:

    Our midfield has been pretty lame for 2 years now… Enough excuses.. Out with the deadwood and injury prone and in with quality, steel and creativity. The only 2 Id keep is Scholes and Carrick!

  229. Zibbie says:

    have it say

    #20 then with one of those shirts from most angles you see Believe and some time see BITCHES!!

  230. WillieRedNut says:

    Zibbie – Carroll back to Newcastle on loan. Rodgers doesn’t want him.

    Cyril – I knew you’d bite! :)

  231. Zibbie says:

    lame, a man who shoots his own foot to get out of the Army. Lame.

  232. xol says:

    Rio’s packing for the flight. Looks like he’s going then. I bet he forgot what it’s like to be picked and valued.

  233. James7t7 says:

    Haha zibbie.. Thats been our midfield alright

  234. Cyril Sneer says:

    Willie – I’m not having any bad-mouthing of Strooty, my tattoo of him is barely dry.

    Strootman United Legend 19 (on my back) – £30
    Love & Hate (on my knuckles) – £10
    cobweb (on my forehead) – £15

    Cheaper than a shirt and will last longer.

  235. xol says:

    Well, Berbatov has been patient and the fact he’s still here means the Boss probably has something up his sleeve, but the general consensus seems to be wrong era. Only one thing for it then…a massive clear out!
    He’s gonna rebuild the team around Dimi.

  236. fergie is the boss says:

    xol – you cannot build a team around a player that does not fit into systems other than 442, and he is 31, so it is doubtful the boss would build a team around a player who is in his 30s now

  237. Zibbie says:

    2 years ago PL title good by me
    Last year more points then the year before, and more goals tie for PL title lose on Goal dif, lame?
    Fans of Man Utd hard to please.

  238. TonyBee says:

    I have a tattoo….got MUFC tattooed on me cock….

    when MrsBee tickles it under the chin…. MUFC becomes Manchester United Football Club

  239. fergie is the boss says:

    Zibbie – when united were 8 pts clear with 6 games to go, and then they blow it, then I do not blame any fan being unhappy, especially throwing it away to shitty.

  240. Zibbie says:

    See this Henry guy hires well. He was pushed into KK to a point and was sly he gave him $ failed and was looking for the young bright guy. How many big clubs in the PL past would do that. Then the guy who wins with the Green and gold goes to AV, 2 American owners doing what is done here. Give young hot talent big jobs. And AVB now second chance at Spurs, on paper best North London club, the Gunners 3rd best London club now?

  241. parryheid says:

    When United in a title decider more or less are 1goal down with a whole second half to play don’t even put in any attacks and surrender the game something is very much wrong.

  242. TonyBee says:

    EVENING ALL…. I see Cedars is on the nest again…being fucked sideways i expect….

  243. Zibbie says:

    fitb sure me 3 balls kicked up into mu throat. 28 days later they fell back into place. Just sayen.. #20 this year!!!

  244. Cyril Sneer says:

    Zibbie – No way man, Arsenal are still the top London team.

    Arsenal – 13 League wins, 8 times runner up.
    Chelsea – 4 League wins, 4 times runner up.
    Tottenham – 2 League wins, 4 times runner up.

    Manchester United – 19 League wins, 15 times runner up. :cool:

  245. eric keane says:

    Strooty to ‘pool
    And ganso to arsenal apparently…

    Fucking bored of this transfer window…

  246. TonyBee says:

    oh and by the way welcome back Goat……. missed your madness and irreverence….

  247. Zibbie says:

    Tony Bee I’m off bran Muffins.

    This fuck me sideways things lets the mind drift a bit, some have to strap that around there head. Get there head strapped around that? hum sideways a movie about wine friends and desire. sIDEWAYS, A PSITION i HATE TO FIND MYSELF IN MY CAR ON THE FREE WAY. sIDEWAYS, A WAY CAN TALK OUT THERE MOUTH. sIDEWAY THE WAY FAT PEOPLE GO THROUGH DOORS. sIDEWAYS THE ROADS AFTER BY WAYS??//??

  248. Zibbie says:

    sNEER SURE GREAT TEAMS gUNNERS TOP, JUST THIS COMING YEAR AND NOW sPURS ON AN UP.

  249. Cyril Sneer says:

    Zibbie – Nah, Spurs were the ‘fluke team’. It happens every season, some team punches above their weight. Next season they’ll be back in 6th/7th where they belong.

    Evening TonyBee…

  250. TonyBee says:

    see the bran muffins gag went down well

  251. TonyBee says:

    Gunners gonna lose RVP this year…

    he’s gonna become Cedars love bitch…

    then sign for some one like Shitty

  252. Zibbie says:

    So let me get this right some 8 years ago
    Pool 18
    MUFC 15
    Gunners 13
    and had a run of 3 PL tiles in 6 year then Chelski for 2 then MUFC 4 of 6 PL titles one lost on GD and a bad call at Chel$ki. hum So one might say Rooney has righted the ship. Now future is bright, pool caught, tied and passed by Man Utd with a blue Liverpool boy leading the way. humm Yea to bad that guy sucks so much and wanted his going wage. Fucking dick head, not like he past Bestie in goals or nothing like that.

    Oh I get it that is all bull shit. he sucks always listens to the Boss, when formations change in the flow of the game, SAF calls him over tells him what he wants and to tell the others, oh that cunt. Hey guy on the best goal run of your life we are leaking goals at the back need to stop your goal rum play MF for 7 games and still lead us with 35 goals your most ever and play LB this time OK, Yes Sir. oh that trouble making twat????

  253. TonyBee says:

    Cyril …agree with your earlier post with regard to signing a midfielder with a bit of a bite…..

  254. TonyBee says:

    zibbie …your point is?

    when you rant slow down the typing a bit mate….. your post although always fun sometimes get a little ….
    overexited and garbler

  255. TonyBee says:

    garbled…even

  256. Zibbie says:

    That Fucking Rooney played all last year with repect no yellow cards that got by like ever fuckin body, had to play mf link to himself! looked lost, humm maybe SAF saw this cam help please OK Powell one for 2 years from now and Kagawa POW one for now, TC23 again Lucas anyone, 4 world class wingers are not to much he plays the 10 for country and read cam play all MF positions likes to go deep, bring them in SAF gets a big fish every 4-5 years on average he wants one this year. Fill in the rest.

  257. Zibbie says:

    slow down Rooney good, trust in SAF

  258. TonyBee says:

    in that case Zibster my friend ….we both agree

  259. Zibbie says:

    Tony Bee I hope for the next Bera, Rio, Rooney, Ruud, Keano, ect I have lived the near get of Ruud then Rooney and Berba and want my next big MUFC star to be.

  260. Zibbie says:

    Seams like over 25 years a big star every 3 to 5 years come along with the Rafas, TV7′s ect.

  261. James7t7 says:

    Whats all this with Berbatovs statement.. Its a shame as he’s been such a proffesional at utd. Feel a bit sorry for him and he has been shafted at our club. Obviously I dont know the whole story.. But either way our club is getting a bad rep.

  262. denton davey says:

    Zibbie @ 16:04: ” if, Fletch did not get that late yellow before Barca and he was healthy. MUFC gets 1 more CL and 1 more PL titles.”

    I’ll raise you – if DarrenFletcherinho was healthy then I think UTD would have won 2 more EPL titles – a six-peat ! – and possibly two more CL trophies. AND with DarrenFletcherinho (in his “football genius mode) all the orgasmic slobbering about Barcelona might never have happened.

  263. Daniel says:

    Now we are making bids for Eriksen at Ajax.

    We are fucking pissed about not winning anything last year.

  264. TonyBee says:

    James ….think Berba has got fed up with waiting for a move…..seems like he is not as in ‘demand’ as some think

  265. TonyBee says:

    Denton…agreed …..he would have put the mockers on Barca’s tappy tap passing

  266. Daniel says:

    Sorry.

    I dont want to double post but even suggesting Fletcher might stop Busquets, Iniesta and Xavi in the 09 and 11 finals is laughable.

    They are twice the player Fletcher is actually Xavi and Iniesta are three or four times the player.

  267. TonyBee says:

    Daniel……you’re spouting bollocks…Fletch in his prime would have out muscled them

  268. Giggs12Gerrard0 says:

    Daniel

    Not as pissed as being a team 7th best in the country my friend.

    Never been so deflated about my own team that I have had to blog on a rival. Must be wank having never seen your so called big club never win a title and your 19 are you not?

  269. denton davey says:

    xol @ 17:11: “De Rossi joins United”

    I’ll have a double order of what XOL is having !

  270. Giggs12Gerrard0 says:

    How much better must they be than Lucas, Adam, Henderson then?

    Pool fans big club in their own mind.

    1k tickets sold for £1.75 in Malaysia….ouch

  271. James7t7 says:

    Hope so Tony. Shame its come to this.

  272. denton davey says:

    Samuel @ 17:45: “Assuming he signed which is unlikely then i’m thinking FERGIE is trying to completely transform the system we play. These are attacking creative midfielders, they’ll only fit in a more flexible formation of 4-2-3-1, 4-5-1, 4-3-2-1.”

    That’s my suspicion, too.

  273. Daniel says:

    @ TonyBee

    They dont get muscled out football has changed talent wins over strength. They are better footballers. C’mon. This is just embarrassing.

    @ Giggs12Gerrard0

    I am a United fan.

  274. Giggs12Gerrard0 says:

    Daniel

    Mistaken identity apologies there is a lad by the same name who comes on and posts.

    I think you and Tony Bee are both right. When we played Barca we would have needed Keane and Robson against Xavi and Iniesta. Fletch woukd have been a better option than Giggs though.

  275. TonyBee says:

    Daniel…. As I said you are spouting bollocks……better footballers …..talent wins over strength…. rubbish…look at the Barca team …are you telling me that they don’t have their midfield destroyers…..eventually they will come up against a team full of strong robust players and they will get kicked off the park…
    your comment about Xavi and Iniesta being four times the player Fletcher was a shameful and if you are an actual Utd fan you should be fucking ashamed of yourself

  276. denton davey says:

    WillieRedNut @ 19:04: “Anderson will deliver the goods this season?”

    I know that you’re being sceptical but what do you reckon the odds are that Anderson can actually play the full season without being injured ?

    The guy has had “bad luck” but when he has been relatively healthy and playing regularly then we begin to see what’s in his locker. My own reckoning is that it’s now odds-on that he can’t/won’t ever reach the potential that seemed to beckon in his first season – five years ago !

  277. denton davey says:

    Mrad_leb @ 19:13: “Liverpool agree a £27million fee to sign PSV duo Strootman & Mertens. Both flying to England tomorrow for medicals e discuss personal terms”

    Is this Strootman’s level ?

    Who is the other guy ?

    Where is the money coming from ?

  278. Toms says:

    Ah the yearly rant about the midfield. Even more true than before. Spot on about Valencia, Young and the 06/07 season. I always found it interesting that united supporters seem to be perpetually looking for a replacement to Keane. It is a play like Kagawa and scholes that we so desperately needed last season.

    ” I say introduced because there’s always the possibility he’ll be deployed everywhere but there, but let’s just assume for a second.”

    Inspired line. Brings back memories of Anderson’s signing.

  279. goatinaunitedshirt says:

    Im still on the fence in regards Anderson. I dont really think he’s a great passer, He hasnt got lightning pace and he cannot use his head. He hasnt got a motor like Keane or Rooney. He isnt the best at getting past his man and hes not always diciplined to track back when the more tempting option of going forward is on offer.
    I look at Anderson and I cannot name a single quality which I feel he actually excells at. Hes fairly good at all but not really a master of any of them. Hes still young so Im not going to come out with he’s crap but we certainly cant rely on him.

    However in regards Cleverley, despite the fact hes very small and not so clever with his head he has fantastic first touch, always with his head up and plays like a seasoned pro already. He is brave and going for goal is his default setting rather than the easy sideways pass. There are parts to Cleverlys game that isnt as good as Andersons but as Cleverly is very very good at one he is the better option for the future.

  280. WillieRedNut says:

    Denton – If he can stay injury free, I’m sure he’ll be useful, but I share your concerns. I think he’ll get this season to prove himself. After that though….

  281. StatesideAussie says:

    G’day lads. Been away for a few weeks, but good to be back. I thought the article was OK, but no more than that. Haven’t read all the comments, but caught up on the early ones.

    A good dose of realism is needed, I think. Players like Keane, Robson, Ince and Scholes don’t grow on trees. When you run out of them, you can’t just pop down to your local supermarket and pick up another (2-for-1 on Thursdays with a coupon). They were all exceptional players, and so, by definition, replacing them was always going to be a matter of luck and timing. United were very bloody lucky to have had such a succession of players.

    Sir Alex is realistic enough to know that the odds are against finding another player like that (just when you want him). He almost pulled it off with Hargreaves, only to be cheated by fate. And he’s smart enough to know that when you can’t get what you want, you have to do something else. Especially when you are up against competitors with virtually unlimited funds at their disposal.

    I missed a lot of last season due to my own troubles, but it’s fair to say there’s been little joy in watching United’s play recently.

    But, given what he’s been up against, I am prepared to argue that these last few years, since the departure of Ronaldo and the tragedy of Hargreaves, in a way have proved more about Sir Alex’s genius than the “good years” did. Precisely because of what he has still been able to achieve despite the meagre and mediocre resources available to him.

  282. Zibbie says:

    See Stateside gets it, one if not SAF greatest streches, Hargo and Fletch and sill so good.

  283. Zibbie says:

    Stateside it musy be good to be home and out of crazy CA!!!!
    Would love your quick US float thought.

  284. Zibbie says:

    Fuck, one of those days I eat and eat and never fill up!

  285. Zibbie says:

    must

  286. Daniel says:

    @ TonyBee

    Sergio Busquets is Barcelona’s midfield destroyer. He is hardly a tough guy. Is he ?

    No. They wont because the other team will have players sent off very quickly you cannot kick lumps out of players anymore especially in European competition.

    Yeah lets all delude ourselves by saying Fletcher is better. Its laughable. If Fletcher was playing in those game he would have been just like Carrick being given the run around by players far superior. Accepting that non United players are better doesn’t make you a bad fan it makes you realistic.

    I would have thought 2009 and 2011 would have been a big enough reality check.
    The blood and guts style

  287. Daniel says:

    @Tonybee

    The blood and guts style does not work anymore.

    Better Players = Win Matches

  288. goatinaunitedshirt says:

    Daniel
    I will agree with you on one point and thats that if Fletcher had played either of those finals it wouldnt have made the slightest difference.
    However Fletcher wouldnt have looked over run like Carrick as they play a completely different game. Fletcher runs and chases, puts stress on the player with the ball just as Park did in the last final whereas Carrick is a zonal defensive midfield and stands in the way of the centering pass and cuts out angles and forces the attacking team to pass out wide with the idea that the attacking team has to make more passes to get in on goal thus increasing the oppertunity for them to make a mistake and allow us to counter on the break.

  289. StatesideAussie says:

    Zibbie … g’day mate. Yep, happy to be home. The US float seems weird: apparently, investors are expected to sign up and in return will get (a) absolutely no say in how the club is run, and (b) absolutely no dividends. So my initial thoughts were: it’s an act of the purest desperation, because no one will sign up for that.

    But I have read elsewhere that this type of offer is not unusual in the US, so who knows? The one good thing is the pledge to use the funds raised to pay down the debt. If the float is successful, and the debt is paid off (and not subsequently rebuilt), then I won’t complain. Under those circumstances, I might even welcome the Glazers retaining full control, because whatever else we can say about them, no one can deny they haven’t directly interfered with the football side, and they do know how to run the commercial end.

    Still, even debt-free, we don’t have the resources to compete with billionaire oil salesmen from the middle east or Russia. We don’t have upwards of $10 billion in ready cash to spend whenever and however we like. Nor are we going to get it. For as long as the football authorities allow this dangerous nonsense to continue, we will always play second-fiddle in the transfer market. That’s just the way it is.

    Off to work lads!

  290. Daniel says:

    @ Goat

    ” However Fletcher wouldnt have looked over run like Carrick as they play a completely different game. Fletcher runs and chases, puts stress on the player with the ball just as Park did in the last final ”
    - Yeah but he wouldn’t get near the ball just like Park and Carrick.

    The only difference is Fletcher would “happy” running his balls off between Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta just like Carrick, Giggs and Anderson in both finals.

  291. Jay says:

    I’m with Berbatov on this, it seems like if a player does things the right and polite way, then you are taken advantage of. Rooney acts with impunity and he gets a higher wage, looks like being nice gets you nothing. That’s why when some players act out I don’t automatically jump down their throats. Berbatov has been pleasant and wants to leave so he can play. He had a better games to goal ratio than Hernandez and Welbeck who we now hear is acting up over his wages. Who knows Berbatov may have reproduced the goals this season but wasn’t given his chance. If I were Wenger I would snap Ferguson’s hand off to get him. I was not a fan of Berbatov when we bought him but he is conducted himself admirably. To be honest I would be kicking off like a mother******** because one you are not playing him and two you are pricing me out of a move.

    Now Welbeck is a good player and I like him as he always plays with a smile on his face but he still has a lot to prove. Now he did have a good season but he is not at the top of his game, I think the problem now is that players are starting to look at players the same age as them and how much they are getting and are starting to wonder why they are not getting the same. Oxlade-Chamberlain is reported to be getting a new contract worth £50,000 and he came on mostly as a sub for Arsenal so of course Welbeck will be wondering about his wage increase. However I thinks it is right they keep Smalling, Jones and Welbeck on the same wage bracket as they are performing at the same level, this gives them the incentive to improve. Javier Hernandez although close to their age is a proper international for Mexico so he may get a bit more. I don’t really buy into the theory that English players are more loyal and if Manchester United are not careful Welbeck may very well exercise his options.

  292. StatesideAussie says:

    Jay: for me, the Berbatov issue goes to the heart of why fans should stop moaning about greed and how money has replaced loyalty. Because the truth is, neither the clubs nor the players care about loyalty any more (except when it suits them to say they do, of course). Managers reserve the right to treat players like shit; indeed, they have no choice because ultimately it is the manager who is held accountable for the club’s failure, and so he must be free to call the shots however he sees fit. Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn’t have it any other way. But in return, players are free to haggle and gouge for as much money as they can get.

    The only people who care about loyalty are us fans. For the players and clubs and agents, it’s all pure business, and when they rape each other silly, neither side has any cause for complaint.

  293. Zibbie says:

    I’m 17 in DBQ Blak Sabath, The Scorions and introducing Deff Leapord. wow I saw an Ozzy doc the other night, and after he was kicked out of Sabath the Sharon managed him then MAGIC he found.

    http://www.ozzy.com/us/videos/crazy-train

    Ozzy Shanker and DL on acid at 17!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  294. Zibbie says:

    Wofie he opens in my 1st concert 1st time on acid and IHe sweated on my as he sang highway to hell and I was on it in a red Lamborghini going like 437 wow then some dobbie smoked UFO and Michael blew me away!!!

    http://bonscott.org/

  295. Zibbie says:

    The global breakthrough arrived when German guitarist, Michael Schenker, joined the fold in 1973, having left his band Scorpions to follow an offer by Phil Mogg and Pete Way. UFO released three consecutive rock classics with Schenker (Phenomenon (1974), Force It (1975) and No Heavy Pettin’ (1976)), featuring classics like ‘Doctor Doctor’, ‘Shoot, Shoot’, or ‘Rock Bottom’. Following the arrival of keyboarder/rhythm guitarist Paul Raymond, UFO released their two studio albums Lights Out (1977) and Obsession (1978), including the hit singles ‘Too Hot To Handle’, ‘Lights Out’ and ‘Only You Can Rock Me’. Their live cut Strangers In The Night came out in 1979 and is referred to by the press to this day as one of the best live releases of all time, while also signalling the end of the Mogg, Way, Schenker, Parker & Raymond line-up.

  296. Zibbie says:

    That night in August hot summer night with my lady and friends had a night of the ages for our group.

    Michael Schanker was so awesome in this stadium of 4500 kids going ape shit!!!!!!!!!!!

    http://www.last.fm/music/Michael+Schenker/+videos/+1-eunraBcFtRI

  297. Zibbie says:

    They had such a great live show in the 70′s they were some of the bands I saw 6,7,8 times and more, back then 7-10 $ tickets bands went from Rocford to DBQ to Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Davenport, Iowa City Madison all a 1 our or 2 away from where we lived. Bam Car or Van full get the girls full tank of gas a cooler full of beer and a bag of weed and off we went. For the Friday night, 16 parents blessing, drink to much stay in a motel drive back after a good breakfast. Different days the. State patrol pulls us over dumps open beers takes the rest for them says less drunk kid drives we see you agian your in trouble. We passed a cop going to the state baseball playoffs smoking a 3 foot bong open beers at 118 mph he took 10 minutes to turn and catch us. Let us go to the game, tossed the bong chugged the beers and said we would slow down and we would miss the first 3 innings.

  298. Zibbie says:

    The voice and face of addiction…. hurt in all of us who are addicted to addiction, red alert.

  299. Zibbie says:

    hahahahaha

  300. WillieRedNut says:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz_6jagv_D4

    Check this one Zibster! Paranoid…. 8)

  301. The team that wouldn't die says:

    The thing with Anderson is that he can’t lose. United can’t lose. Nobody is expecting him to be a hero. A hero costs £32m these days. He may come good, he may not. It’s up to him now. I for one, wouldn’t bet against him. I say he has a more than fair chance of making a mark next year. But he needs quick players like Tom Cleverley around him.

    Read more at: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1583485_anderson-ambition-brazilian-determined-to-prove-himself-at-manchester-united?order=liked#comments

  302. shuddertothink says:

    United had an over reliance on Carrick last year. the others were either aging or un-fit. I think United need another body. Will it happen? Probably not

    http://www.thebusbybabe.com/2012/5/28/3047772/man-utd-2011-12-depth-chart-by-minutes-played

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