Nani turned the game around for Manchester United against Reading after coming on for Phil Jones just before half time. He scored our first goal and then provided a brilliant cross for Chicharito to make it 2-0.
Our Portuguese winger didn’t even make the squad for the Real Madrid game this week but Nani has insisted he is happy to help the team whenever the manager asks him to.
“Everyone is ready to help the team,” said Nani. “I was glad to get an opportunity to come on, I enjoyed the game and helped the team. I scored the first goal and that changed the game and I am pleased to get an assist to help the team to this big win.”
Three days ago, Nani was involved in a car crash with an unmarked police car. Nani escaped the crash unharmed and there was just minor damage to his Bentley Continental.
“It was not a big crash but I’m happy,” he added. “These things happen and I’m just very happy for this beautiful day and will keep working.”
Man Utd News 24/7
It is about time for Nani to give us a decent performance.
Can he keep it up? I hope so!
Given how badly the other wingers in the team have been playing lately Nani deserved a chance long before Monday night. In terms of raw talent there are few players in the Premier League who can touch Nani and when he’s on song he’s unstoppable just think back to what he did against Chelsea last season. In our sad, short 2011/12 Champions League campaign Nani was one of the few bright lights and having been United’s player of the year as recently as two years back he should be getting more opportunities.
Nice to see Ando’s up for it too btw: http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/193957.html
I can see Sir Alex hanging up his chewing gum at the end of the season if he wins the double/treble. Perfect way to leave! You heard it here first.
King Eric gonna love this
Ando says: ‘”The only places you could go to from here are Real Madrid and Barcelona. You can’t have another choice.’
Hahahhahah
“It is very important, the manager has told us that he wants to win the FA Cup and we are very focused on this competition,” Nani explained. “We prepared very hard for this game and we did well to win, which is the most important thing.”
“I have been injured for a long time and it is always difficult when you come back, but I’ve worked very hard and part of what I did on the pitch was because I’ve worked very hard. I will continue to work hard to do my best.”
“It was nice to help the team, it was a beautiful evening and I have to keep working hard to try and help the team every time I get on the pitch.”
The spark that makes us love football doesnt it? It excites you =)
Although we are playing well, we lack that spark that excite us this season.
Nani provides it and i hope he can play more often this season.
“His [Nani's] contribution was terrific,” Sir Alex said. “Just after coming on he had two great strikes, one hit the post and the other one was saved. In the second half he got us the opening goal and I had the feeling he would win the match for us.”
“I think he deserved it. He’s a fantastic talent. You could see he was right on form when he came on. He’s a good addition. If he keeps that form, it makes my job more difficult.”
Why sully the thread with vain soothsaying?
Good to have positive words from Nani and Ando. Press just seem to be making stuff up right and left.
Both had excellent games v Reading. Ando really drives up the center and takes defenders with him.
Both players were are positive and essential to the squad going forward.
Nani hit the bar twice and was willing to have a go from distance. With very good accuracy from my seat. Only a great save from their keeper kept him out on yet another chance. Changed the game when he came on for Jones. There are times when he is frustrating, seemingly taking a shot when a second player might be in a better position. But as far as I could see, Nani had a big role in winning the game, so feel he gets a pass. The Chelsea game from last season still sits in the memory. Lad needs to show more brain at times. There were some signs of this on Monday. Couple of deft chip passes to the wing spring to mind. Just needs to stay healthy and prove that he can be a team player. Definitely has shooting boots and good eye for goal.
Still think RvP should have taken the free kick at the death. Was never going in from Nani and 3-1 would have been more reflective of United’s positive play in the game.
“Everybody knows the quality of Nani,” Ando told MUTV. “I know he sometimes does not play but when he does he is important for the team. He won the game for us and he was very important. It was a hard match, the boss picked a different team and the players have to be ready for everything, but we did the job to win the game and that is what matters. Every game is hard because everyone wants to play against us and everyone wants to win against us, but we did our job very well and I’d like to congratulate everyone in the team … It would be fantastic for me to say to my family and my kids that I won the FA Cup with Manchester United.”
I don’t understand why people are obsessed with Fergie winning ‘one last European Cup’ or ‘one last Treble’ before he retires. I don’t think he sees his life as the cinematic underdog story people want to paint it as. If he never wins another thing I’m sure he will have no sense of failure and he doesn’t have to win anything else to be more highly thought of at the club.
He’s said he will leave when his health deteriorates. It is fine at the moment, even if he wins a treble he won’t think “I’d better retire on this high.”
“His [Nani's] first touch was a volley which hit the post,” Chicharito said. “He almost scored an unbelievable goal and he was brilliant. He scored and he made a few chances for us.”
Gopher Brown with the truth 11:16. Well said sir.
Nani is the most skillful winger in the team, by far.
This season has been ruined by injuries for him, but his performance on Monday was a delight.
Hopefully he can put in a run of good performances now. It`s mouthwatering to think about how big of an attacking threat the team will oppose if Nani can put in some solid displays on the wings. Our wingers have been sub standard in their perfomances this season as we all know.
Sir Alex at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Research Centre’s pioneering apprenticeship training centre which will provide the next generation of world leading engineers:
“What we need is businesses to have confidence in young people”, said Sir Alex. “Manchester United is the best example of this. We believe in young people and it’s amazing how they can surprise you.”
“In 26 years our young players through our academy have made £115 million in sales, that’s an investment. My apprenticeship was a fantastic part of my life. I always knew I had something specialist to go back to if football didn’t go well. Apprenticeships give you a work force, a regeneration of people coming through. We need opportunities for apprenticeships to give young people chances to get success.”
Great talented individual hope he takes his place on the right wing as we attact! attack attack attack Real Madrid.
Anderson speaks the truth though, barca and real are on this same level as united and we’d be deluded to think otherwise, i don’t think he’s ridiculed the club. As much as some make out that the likes of anderson don’t care about their careers at united, it’s untrue. He clearly feels disappointment for not making the bigger impact his talented would probably suggest him to do and that’s mainly due to injuries but there’s hope and i still think he can reach that level but avoidance of niggling injuries is critical.
Regarding nani, i just don’t see why some want to push him out, players of his quality and flair are rare and will cost at least 50mill in the transfer market added with the fact he’s got bags of experience, people will say “we can find better wingers” but where exactly? fergie and gill know they can’t just dump talents like this, got to get him signed on and i think he was given more confidence and more ability to roam around, we’d see a more dangerous nani. He’s stuck out wide and his flair and craft can be crowded out by being doubled up on but if he’s given that free role and united show less rigidity in terms of valencia hogging the rightwing and not able to play other roles then united will benefit. I remembet unitedtillidie saying nani could easily play as a floating centreforward, he’s got that talent to carry it out but united do not use him to his full capacity or give him the support, i think nani and anderson will feel they have to constantly prove groaning fans wrong, they are not fully relaxed despite both staying long enough to have already ingrained the united mentality in them.
Gopher brown – agreed, i’m sure some united fans aren’t purposely looking to taint his career but majority of A.B.U’s are, they will nit pick and say that he should’ve won more european cups, as if it’s that easy.
What a load of shite,for me Anderson would already be gone and Nani would be off for definate this summer.Had to read all the nonsense spoken about him yesterday and it seem we are in for another today.Another thread belittling both Young and Valencia the so called water carriers and Nani is a superstar,World class no less.For fucks sake based on what?half a game against the cannon fodder that is Reading? Or am I wrong and they are putting in a late challenge for a C/L place rather than relegation.And I am closing down for the rest of this thread rather than bother responding to the fan bois for another day fight it out among yourselves.
QUOTE.
True, Nani hasn’t hogged many headlines in recent times (why would he when a hamstring injury sidelined him for 15 matches and more than two months?), but United fans’ memories aren’t so short. and 15 matches???? over 2 months?? crazy stuff. YES THEY ARE.
They still remember the player who, in 2010/11, contributed as much as anybody to the Reds’ record-breaking 19th league title and was widely regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous wingers. NO THEY SAY IT*S IN THE PAST.
They still remember the player who terrorised Manchester City at Wembley in the Community Shield last season and delivered the final, fatal blow with an ice-cool injury-time winner. IN NANI WE TRUST.
Sure, not every trick comes off and there have been times when he’s shot when he should have passed, or passed when he should have shot. He’s not perfect. EXACTLY!
But what you always get with Nani is a constant desire to place himself at the centre of United’s play, take responsibility and affect change. THAT*S UNITED STANDARDS.
Nani may yet play a leading role in United’s charge for three major trophies. AGAIN; IN NANI WE TRUST.
As for Ando speaking the truth like @samuel put it, yes only Real Madrid or Barcelona is an option to ManUtd, and that’s a fact
there’s nothing to think he’s ridiculing our club.
Then maybe ACMilan and BayernMunich.
“Nani turned the game around for Manchester United against Reading after coming on for Phil Jones just before half time.”
Scott summed it up with his opening sentance. Reading being the word. Phil Jones the second.
Reading are a bust team and thats about it with sod all depth and next to no technical ability. We were playing a side that has champions league experience against some very good teams. The fact we were able to take off a defender and shove on a greedy and self player in Nani just goes to show the opposition wasnt all that.
Im going to reserve my praise for Nani for his 45 minutes of “work” as being the saviour of Uniteds season as I have seen endless pointless performances by him for many years. Yes he has skill, Yes he can hit a shot and yes he has stamina and pace. But he is insanely selfish, myopic in his approach and cant pass for toffee. He cant tackle and hes lazy in defence as well as stupid in defence. I see Nani as Ronaldo with his movement in the last third and getting past his man but he is decidedly Paul Dickov when it comes to passing and introducing team mates into the game. A few Jermaine Defoe/Gerrard long shots will not save his career at OT
Gopher
its not every year that feeling ‘this might be the year’. 2008 was the last time, and we lost in the semis of fa cup. In his own admission saf thinks that a club as big as united should have won cl more often. his status in united is unquestionable, but I’m sure he would like to reach the rarified air of 3 cl and two trebles
@Goat
what did all other wingers do or how many goals they scored ?? against READING?
who was the star man, so when RVP plays greatly against southampton, it’s not because RVP is great, but because it’s a bad team?
ANd that’s not even a great argument from you, cause Nani has turned against BayernMunich, Arsenal, City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham a few to name etc. Many Many times.
Small teams?
I emant BayernMunich, Chelsea ***, City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham etc
WeAreUnited
Yes there are small teams, Im not one of those namby pamby arseholes that refuse to criticise the lame for their lameness. Reading are not very good.
Yes Nani has done well against other teams, lie I said in my argument. His movement and long range shooting ability cannot be argued against BUT his ability in bringing in team mates and his defensive work is shite on a catastophic level. When he is in the last third and decides to pass to a team mate when an oppertunity has failed or not materialised for himself (self first with that boy) the play has moved on somewhat. Whatever oppertunity to pass was gone and he hurrys a pass that is more often than not (90%) intercepted or straight at a defenders foot. Tackling back when hes the loser of the ball is non excistant and if he entered a room where Paul Ince just so happened to be they would anhiliate each other in a burst of gamma radiation.
His long range shooting has won us games before OR that little bit of magic but even the likes of Jermaine Defoe or Gerrard does that, are they United class because they win the odd game NO. Why because their general play and ability to bring in others is fucking woeful, hence they stay in underachieving rich teams where they can be the hero of the uninitiated.
Onwards and upwards.
@GoatPetticoat – Judging by the amount of assists he’s racked up, his ability to give the ball to team-mates clearly isn’t as bad as people would make out…..
@goat
your quote “Yes Nani has done well against other teams, lie I said in my argument”
I read your whole comment, and you didn’t say anything that he has done well against other teams, onyl this “few Jermaine Defoe/Gerrard long shots”, you are underestimating him.
“his ability in bringing in team mates and his defensive work is shite on a catastophic level. ”
to bring on players, mate if you wathced for example last match, and your performance is usuall based on the last match you play, though sometimes it shouldn’t, he brought with his 1-2 touches players all along into the game, so that’s a bad argument.
And for his defensive duties, well until you bring me some proof, running meters or how much he runs or defends, then your argument is biased and a MYTH. Like the ones that talk about inconsistency MYTH, we bring you proof with goals and assists and explain that wingers are required to score and assist.
But for the defensive work, well Scott brought a couple of months ago, whern Nani had player only 5-6games and his running meters were one of the highest, so there’s your proof. The lad ain’t running only upwards, so the running meters are based in both attack and defensive wise.meters
david gill stepping down a bit of a shocker
Complete statement on new management structure at Manchester United.
Ed Woodward to take over from Gill as Chief Executive
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Club-News/2013/Feb/ed-woodward-assumes-responsibilities-at-manchester-united.aspx
DAVID GILL TO STEP DOWN AT THE END OF THE SEASON. . .
http://m.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/feb/20/david-gill-manchester-united-chief-executive
Damn! he’s been one good exec for united. I think the best.
WeAreUnited
I never said he didnt run, he presses defenders high up on the pitch and often makes runs that never see a through ball reach him or even attempted but he makes runs to take defenders away from others often on the counter attack. He does run, he often tries to find as much space for himself as he can all the time. This does not translate into running back and covering the full back. He does do this on occasions but rarely has full concentration and follow the overlapping fullback hes supposed to be taking care of whilst our fullback is tackling their winger.
As for proof what am I supposed to do, get a youtube video of the last performance and mark out every single discrepancy just to show you what Ive seen. Sod that I have a life. And your proof to what you say is the goals. Ok my proof is the 89 minutes played where the goals dont go in. childish response isnt it.
I look at the whole game, not just the few seconds a goal is scored. If we are going to just take goals as the merit of good play then maybe we should be looking to get rid of nani because Darren fucking Bent has scored more. Hell do we remember a player called Berbatov. If we just take note of what the end product is then we are the biggest morons in world football for selling the premier leagues top scorer for 5 million.
This place is the reason Im getting fed up with football. The new fans and idiots just keep coming. every fucking year some dozey catholic family decides to prove that every sperm is sacred and let another useless fucking reprobate enter society to eventually come on football blogs and pretend they know it all. The older fan just leaves, Ill leave football for the young, give them something to do in between wanking to 30 year old Turks on Chatroulette.
Sod this. Toronto Maple Leafs blog, An ice hockey blog gets over 1500 hits per day even in the off season and this place, United biggest chatting blog with 650 million fans gets 40. I see why!
Ed Woodward to take over all operations on July 1, 2013. David Gill will remain a member of the Board.
Woodward’s title will remain executive vice chairman, but he will take on Gills rolls in club management and work with Ferguson on Player Recruitment.
@goat
“he new fans and idiots just keep coming.” if that was supposed to hit me, well you missed me. We have had a great disuccions around the blog these couple of days, so I don’t get what you mean by your comments.
And for the blog not getting hits, well mate, this is a well kept secret, which I discovered two or three seasons ago and started making comments a season ago. yes there will be stupid comments and 10-year olders who wants to complain everything, but they have the chance to do it, and will learn somethign from us. And I will learn something from the ones who are Mancunians and live there. I RESPECT THAT and try to learn.
We didn’t have the chance to go and chat about ManUtd, we had to do that only with our close friends, and now they and we have the opportunity to chat with everyone across the globe. I RESPECT THAT!
Just remember, that there will be new generations, and new ones who sees the game differently and I for example accept that, even though I am not old in the sense of it.
But you have to accept that, you can compare the blog with Manchester United football squad, the team wouldn’t be what it is, if the experienced ones wouldn’t accept the young ones, but only complain about them, because they see the game differently. It’s called a transition.
But you’re the one, the chosen one who decides who’s legit and who’s a fake supporter? Let’s leave it there, cause instead of being reasonable, you went talking something else.
I am not saying that you’re wrong, I am saying that I TRUST IN NANI and think one Nani is better than just a defensive player.
peace.
@goat
and yes you wrote about Nani also, but then implemented the diss towards those who come here and enjoy the blog, or maybe only me? I don’t know.
That’s why I said you weren’t reasonable.
peace.
Seems the only words left to say on this topic are …
… haters gon hate.
We are, me and you, the Mancunians, the older once, the new generation, that keep the blog alive and wellbred.
How will it happen, well by listening and trying to communicate, like I believe we have done lately.
You are the one complaining about the blog, others, listens are patient and responses.
Just look at me and @wayne for exampl, our opinions differ so much, very much, hell I don’t know when was the last time we agreed
but one thing we have in common. UNITED WE STAND. and that’s why we tolerate each others, the old and young ones. We keep the blog alive. Sometimes, I will have stupid comments in the heat of the game, or just some comments that are not reasonable or I will act like a deluded fan, but UNITED is weher we stand. That’s why we can communicate and respect each others, even though this is the Internet. It’s optional.
peace.
TYPO-alert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ho3F0Ng32U
RVP ooooooooooooo robin van persieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
@Goat
Dont forget that Nani contribute the most assists in the league 2010/2011. Dont forget so easily!
Goat
Ice hockey blog got more hits? Probably they don’t have a goat slagging off every newcomer. If it’s only 40 pple fine, as long as they are well thought arguments and opinions which don’t criticize the opposite viewpoint for just being opposite. I’ll come here as long as Scott makes enough off it to keep it alive. Hell, I’ll even click the ads a few times. Why don’t you return to your maple leaves and leave us in peace.
“Sod this. Toronto Maple Leafs blog, An ice hockey blog gets over 1500 hits per day even in the off season and this place, United biggest chatting blog with 650 million fans gets 40. I see why!”
_________________________________________________________________________
Lol. Cos this is definitely the only United blog on the internet.
All i want is Nani to show up every week and apply himself if he does that it’s all good.There is a group of fans who all they see is Nani’s dribbling ability and party tricks and that makes him ‘world class’ in their eyes instead of looking at his whole game and seeing although he has tons of natural ability still has a lot of work to do if he wants to be considered world class
Ando wasn’t insulting Utd with his Barca/Real comments just saying Utd are a massive club and unless a player ends up at those two it’s a step down.On Ando though he’s been beaking a lot lately he just needs to shut up and start producing every week.
Good Nani, we have been waiting for the real Nani to turn up, hopefully more often too.
In another news, Gill stepping down is a shock. Maybe its to prevent conflict of interest with his role in the FA? He has been excellent with our transfer deals, always quick and low key. He will be missed
Nani is the most creative and skilful player we have at United.
These RoM threads are read by a couple of thousand people.
He might have the most natural ability but he can’t be called the most creative until his final ball improves,he wastes too many chances by making bad decisions.The truly creative player makes the right decision more often than not.
Hong Kong going mad for Utd 990 hk $ about 83 quid
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1154828/man-u-tickets-sold-out-hours?
@wayne
that’s why we are happy man, because we who sees “only” those tricks and dribbling ability, now believe the other side of Nani is back, this was his second “arsenal” game.
We want to break the myth of inconsistency. For you in general, not only you, but those who believ in this myth, the inconsistency is when you don’t track back supposedly, and for us it’s the stats and we realise like @samuel always put it, wingers will fail on passing, will do tricks, not track back 24/7, but we know that by now, wingers duty is to score and provide assists and creat chances.
He is careless sometimes, I will not be biased, but this season he’s been injured for 15 matches and 3 months and before that, he had the transfer-saga, which made him play badly.
NO I/we don’t accept that, that’s why we wwere happy with Valencia, but after that, it was Valencia’s turn to slump in form.
And now we’re happy, because we believe that finally United got one of the their strongest assests back in complete -> for the believer in the myth, the tracking Nani and for us the goal-threat Nani back.
btw, when I asked Goat to show some proof of Nani tracking back, I meant meters he runs or how he does defensively. Maybe someone can gid the stat up, @samuel you have it?? the one where Nani and Valencia is compared in everything and Nani’s defensive stats were quite impressive.
Even though people tend to forget that Nani would thrive even more, if he’d get that Ronaldo-freedom here, but that’s the case with SAF, he loved Ronaldo liek his own boy, and Nani is another figure i nthe chess-game. and that’s why he will never give him his freedom.
blog is full of know it all plastics
Sir Alex says: “I have been at United for over 26 years and for 23 of those years my boss has been one of only two men: Martin Edwards, who brought me to the club, and David Gill. I have enjoyed working with both.”
“David has been a magnificent chief executive. Of course, we have had a million arguments, but I have always enjoyed them because I know that David has two great qualities: he is straight and he always puts Manchester United first. No disagreement is ever personal with him. He always wants the best for United, whether it’s the players, the training ground or the staff.”
“Him stepping down is a big loss to me but the fact that he is staying on the board encourages me that the reason for his departure is heartfelt, that he believes it is time for the club to move on. If I could have found a way of persuading him to stay I would love to have done that. But he has made his decision and I respect him for it. He has been, and will continue to be, a fantastic success for Manchester United. He has all the qualities of successful people engrained in him: energy, honesty, integrity, personality and
decision-making ability. I wish him well in whatever new challenges he will tackle in the future.’”
Such pseudo-pliant insincerity red joey, but then you knew that.
WeAreUnited like i’ve said before my main issues with Nani has been his attitude,don’t like players who threaten to leave unless they get a pay raise when the ink is barley dry on the contract then showing up sulking and disinterested.One thing about Utd if a player shows his worth normally the club will offer a new contract happened time and time again
It’s not just a question of tracking back it’s also about getting involved,watch the Spurs game at OT when Utd got overrun first half Nani was in defensive positions and was just letting players go by him not making any effort to get a foot in or make contact.Listen he isn’t picked for his defensive abilities all i want to see is effort and that he cares,even Utd’s premier players Rooney and RVP work hard for the cause look at Barca all the players work hard.Look at the Real game every Utd player worked his ass off,Nani very rarely shows that commitment to the team
I hope he comes back with a renewed vigor and shows everyone how good he is but one of the main reasons Sir Alex goes with Tony V and Young and now Danny in big games is because he trusts their commitment and so far more often than not Nani is a floater and at the very highest level it’s tough for a team to carry a passenger for maybe a few seconds of brilliance.
Only in england will a player be criticised for not being able to tackle whilst his attacking abilities are disregarded. I think know what to do.now, get as much sunday league players and get them kicking ankles and digging muds with robust tackles. This is the way forward, only manchester united apparently needs “defensive strikers and wingers”
Upon announcing his decision to stand down, David Gill said: “It has been the greatest privilege to serve Manchester United for 16 wonderful years – the last 10 of which as its chief executive. I have worked alongside the finest manager in the history of the game and been part of what I consider to be the best club in the best sport in the world.”
“It has been a very hard decision because I love this club and, as the fans’ banner says, it is, ‘more than a religion’. I’ve experienced some incredible highs, such as the Treble in 1999 and the League and Champions League double in 2008, and lows, like losing the title with the last kick of the season last year. But that is what makes this club and this sport so compelling.”
Gill, who will remain a director at the club, was appointed vice chairman on the Football Association in 2012 and has been nominated as its candidate in the upcoming UEFA Executive Committee elections later this year. He added: “I am looking forward to continuing my involvement on the club board. And I hope to be able to make a contribution to the game on a wider national and European level.”
Thanks David. Good luck, and consider us fondly always.
samuel you always like to exaggerate nothing to do with defensive strikers and wingers but there’s 2 sides to the ball and everyone has a job to defensively when Utd don’t have the ball.You’re a smart man samuel so don’t get silly you know as well as anyone it’s a team game and everyone has to be committed
England’s four Champions League spots are definitely in danger. This year, perhaps one of Arsenal and United will make it to the quarter finals. Last year, Chelsea was the FA’s only representative in the quarters. Should neither team progress further, It would be the first time England have not been represented in the quarter-final since the 1995-96 season.
@Wayne – Nobody’s denying that the defensive side of his game is weak, and his passing can be careless as well. But you take the rough with the smooth no? Because what he offers – not in terms of “fancy tricks” – but in terms of pure goals, assists and attacking threat – is invaluable.
How many wingers guarantee you double figures in goals AND assists every season? Not many.
Also, I certainly wouldn’t accuse Nani of “lacking commitment”. He loses concentration in defensive positions but you never see him not trying, or just slacking up the pitch not putting the effort in.
@wayne
you know,I who loves the style the likes of >Ronaldo and Nani play, gotta admit that you’re right on some points. Not goign to be biased. I you’re good, you get the raise.
BUT bare with me. Imagine you being Nani, player of the season, CL winner, PL winner, Ballon D’or nominate, and you would normally ask a payraise. Then your manager goes and buys a new player called AshleyYoung, who has won nothing and played for AstonVilla, and he gets the same amount of money or even more than you. WHAT WOULD YOU DO? just sit and smile? Nani wasn’t and isn’t recognised, and that’s the truth mate. Simple as that. He wants to stay, btu wants more money, cause he deserved that.
And yes The one against Tottenham, he did awfuly defensively and we conceded, but it wasn’t only him. Anyway. Not going on that. BUT the other side of the coin is that he also scored in that game, so he corrected his mistake by scoring.
But you also could admit, that this season it is what it is, Nani was bad at the beginning of the season, still played as a starter, didn’t convince and got dropped. I get that from SAF. And now, he’s slowly getting back, he was out for 15 games and 3 months, cleared his head, like SAF said when they send Nani to Dubai, and now we’re getting one of our biggest asset back. You could admit that. On the other hand our player of the season 2012 has dipped form, like Nani after his exellent seasons, and gets the free ride, I am not sayign we should bash Valencia, but give Nani a rest and respect him more as a player.
I struggle to comprehend donning the red shirt of united would lack in commitment and effort. Fergie priortises good character/temprament added with talent, if fergie noticed he puts less than 100%, he would not be signed by manchester united and if fergie noticed his supposed “laziness”, he would have been thrown out yet fergie is trying to get him to sign a new deal. Do people think nani was handed out gifts to reach the highest level? He’s had to scrap to get there, the myth that he’s a lazy slouch makes me laugh honestly, would the manager not notice a lack of hardwork from the portuguese in training? Yes, his form.will fluctuate like anyone but a lack of commitment cannot be thrown at him. This is all based on assumption and “facial expression” i would imagine, if you grunt like a pig with a toilet plunger stuck down its ass-hole then they really are putting an effort in. Shake your fist, have a couple of bruises and blood streaming down the face, this what showcases “commitment”. If this is football then it really shows why england can’t win a tournament, the most skillful players are mocked for not constantly tracking players whilst their strenght as an attacking force are forsaken (scholes shifted to the left, “scotty” parker getting ahead of carrick”). We can safely say nani is not schooled in the british style, continent says pick up the ball and be confident technically, have as much touches, dribble, pass and move, i can’t imagine nani on the beaches of lisbon tackling, he’ll do his fair share of tracking but his strenght is doing something different going forward, the motto i presumed was, praise a player for what he’s good at and not what he isn’t but hey, i don’t think that applies to everyone.
Team for QPR:
DDG
Rafa
Evans
Ferdinand
Evra
Kagawa
Carrick
Cleverley
Nani (yep!)
Rooney
RvP
kanchelskis
agree with you
great line up
Wayne – yes, everyone has to track back and i honestly believe nani puts in hard shift going back. I will admit, he isn’t as defensively aware as michael carrick or even rooney, we have to understand what culture he’s been schooled at, the attacking players on the continent barely get back, this must be ingrained in nani but i’ve seen him getting back to support the fullback, you know that fergie won’t allow a pure liability in his team. All i’m saying is, why do we not praise him more for what he could potentially offer as an attacker than what he does less as a defender? I get your point but to call him uncommitted is unfair.
@samuel
mate, on point, your response should make people think on this issue. Great read.
It’s liek with Ando, if SAf would have noticed that Ando wants to leave, Ando would be now playing for another club, But SAF has seen something in him and wanted to keep him. Maybe as a back-up? maybe for his talent? I bet for the both.
peace.
“All i’m saying is, why do we not praise him more for what he could potentially offer as an attacker than what he does less as a defender? I get your point but to call him uncommitted is unfair.”
exaclty mate!
When has ManUtd become a defensive club? and I am not tryign to say this just to prove my point or be “more” of a supporter, but honestly?
I myself, don’t like the defensive-Antonio Valencia, I like the Attacking Terminator aka Silent Killer Antonio aka TonyV Valencia who goes past players and bursts throught them. THAT*S UNITED! We are ManUtd and we’ll score when we want so no worry how many they score
peace.
@iced earth
Aye. No need to rotate any strength out of the team for this one, especially with the long gaps there are now between CL knockout legs.
Saturday’s got banana skin written all over it. Need to go there full strength and attack them.
WeAreUnited my main issue with Nani had just signed a new contract in 2010 he must have been happy with and it’s the way he did it by using his agent and the press and threatening to leave ultimatums through the press normally don’t work with Sir Alex as Nani has found out.
Carrick arguably has been Utd’s most important player over the last few seasons and his wage was 80k a week,see him running to the press demanding more because Young has a better contract,no he didn’t and recently was given a extension.
All that shows in Nani’s character is jealously and selfishness.Anyway i’ve got to go to work have a good day
@wayne
no you’re right, and that’s not the way to behave from a player mate! I agree on that,
and I think because of that (IF you believe in rumours, that’s why I am a bit cautious when I talk about contracts etc, because I don’t believ on them, unless there’s Quotes, but they are usually misinterprented.) if that’s the case, this might be Nani’s last season. Because SAF usually doesn’t tolerate those kind of things.
But, if he acts right and gets a new contract and SAF accepts that, we would not let go a player who can decide games for us and win us titles.
have good day mate!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2281694/Manchester-United-fans-worried-David-Gills-departure.html
daily fail
@ iced earth
Lol. What a joke. Completely baseless, spurious, speculative article. As if the resignation of any other CE in English football would be met with doom-mongering stories about how the fans should be worried.
Typical daily-fail, obsessed with united and any opportunity to spread doom, you can imagine they’ve already written headlines before a situation occurs.
WeAreUnited – fergie is as meticulous as any manager in the game and he notices little details that supporters can’t see, anderson and nani train regularly and if fergie felt they weren’t living up to the standards of united then they’d have left, fergie is ruthless.
@samuel
exaclty what I am trying to say and support your observation
that’s why we will never know what happens behind the doors and what’s happening, it’s only speculations and rumours from the medias.
I don’t know what’s been going on behind the scene, but his attitude on Monday was exemplary. Really wanted to perform and impress from the word go. I’m sure SAF values this – someone who comes in and gives it a proper go.
I don’t think a lot will change with Gill’s departure. The rags were also predicting our doom after the mastermind called Peter Kenyon left…
So Gill takes a breather. The players’ bookkeepers will be pleased.
Getting wages out of David was like sucking air out of water.
Nani in the starting XI vs. QPR. please. Potential *gimme* games like this one can do wonders for one’s confidence, and he could bang in a few goals.
DDG
Rafa-Smalling-Rio-Buttner
Nani-Tom-Ando-Kagawa
Chicha-Welbz
Bench = Wayne, Powell, Giggs, Scholes, Amos
Nani does things with the ball I could only dream of. Isn’t that what football is about? He’s cut from the same Portugese cloth as Ronaldo who believe that being humble is a form of vanity. Nani has to have a certain swagger and persona to perform at his best. He wears his heart on his sleave displaying every emotion he feels at the time on the pitch. That won’t always endear him to the faithful and I can admit it can make it hard to get behind him. We as fans of United cannot take for granted how well behaved and personable the majority if not all the lads are in general. Other teams have to put up with a lot worse. last time I checked he wears the red shirt that we all adore and we should support him like we do every other united player until the day he isn’t anymore. Look at how the love shown to Ronaldo elevated him to another level at united the likes we’ve rarely seen before. If Nani continues to display such breath taking moments of wonder in a way where we aren’t lacking defensively by moving him further up the pitch (like his Portugese compatriot was) then it won’t be long before he has his own viva Ronaldo type chant and the party time atmosphere that was so thrilling to be a part of.
For me Nani is a lethal weapon that just sometimes backfires on us. Yes, he can be sloppy at the back. Sure, his eager to dribble everything in his line of sight annoys me like hell, so as the number of silly losses and missed passes.
Still, he’s one of the players capable of delivering this little piece of extra magic that TonyV or Young can’t. He can pass, he can score, he can work hard – anyone remember Euro 2012? Nani was brilliant there for Portugal. That’s THE Nani we need.
The key is though that it seems that noone has the keys to Nani’s form.
Its amazing how players with a higher technical ability, but questionable in others areas can divide opinion at Utd. I have read countless debates about Nani, Berba, Ando etc. The simple fact is that Nani is still wearing the Red shirt. When all Utd players are on the pitch, they deserve the benefit of the doubt.
I am not saying us fans cannot have a negative opinion about a performance, we pay our money and I encourage all reasonable debate.
I like Nani as a player, I prefer him to young and valencia. Why, because he has the ability to make my jaw drop with skill, tricks and ability. Yes he frustrates the shit out of me, but I am a United fan. Our stadium is nicknamed the “theatre of dreams” not the “factory of efficiency”. We have always had a balance of both, players who excite and amaze you combined with players who have other strengths. They all bring things to the TEAM and that is what makes a team. We are not the fucking Gilacticos!
Nani does need to become more consistant, but we should NEVER forget we encourage and applaud individual skill at Utd and I say long may it continue…….
I am excited about ZAHA for this very reason.
Sad to see David Gill go. Proper Chief Executive. Refused to be mugged off by stupid agents. Hopefully his successor is like him.
… against QPR.
De Gea
Rafael Evans Vidic Evra
Nani Carrick Cleverley Kagawa
Van Persie Rooney
There is very little difference Anderson and Cleverley they both are not good enough for United.
I think Kagawa has been dog shit but Young and Valencia have been worse.
Id like to see this line up against QPR
de gea
rafa evans vida evra
carrick
ando cleverley
Nani kagawa
welbz
i just feel those 5 up top can really interchange well.
Daniel88 vomits dog shit from his mouth, what an asshole!
Wow – lots about Nani on several threads to the points its almost overload – some people on here are bigging him up to an unrealistic extent and going over the top, if he was that good there would have been bids from top clubs for him by now given his contract situation. You only have to look at Ribery and Robben to understand Nani at 26/27 has a long way to go to get into the league of top wingers. He is a good player but his decision making remains a question mark and again you saw how he was stuck at times on what to do, he needs to get his head up more and read the game better, it is his reading of the game and football intelligence that is his biggest weakness stopping him getting to next level that his talent justifies, and I agree with comments above, his passing can improve. But he has had a lot of time to watch Giggs in his younger days and try to get it together. Even when he does well early season his form tails off significantly at some point.
That said, of our current wingers so far he is the only one who has shown a bit of attacking form this season albeit against a poor team that failed to close him down and gave him more space than top teams would. If he can keep that form against better opposition we are in business.
But personally, much as I love Nani, I just don’t think he has the football brain to match his ability, he has been excellently coached and still decision making and reading the game remains a struggle for him. He can be a very good exciting player for us, he will probably never be a great player for us or a winger that people remember like Giggs, Becks or Ronnie.
LeeMartinsWinner @ 19:24: “Our stadium is nicknamed the “theatre of dreams” not the “factory of efficiency”.”
Perfectly said.
Valencia and Young while more limited do read the game better, decision wise Valencia knows what to do but he does not always execute well, Young also generally knows what to do but is limited in his ability to execute.
@LeeMartinsWinner
I have read many greatreviews on Nani, and wrote a couple myself too, but yours one one of the best read I have done about him.
Amazing, great stuff. The blog is alive and breathing and this season and last seasons last minutes have brought us alot more together!
The experience of the less experienced players has grown, Rafael, Smalling, Jones.
Getting Vida back, Rio getting better, Evans filling the boots,
RVP is finally home,
Kagawa and Buttner getting stronger and stronger for the next season
Chicha on fire,
DDG getting the recognition he deserves
Rooney being Rooney
and Welbeck getting some serious experience!
Wingers have disappointed us, but they have made many realise how things change and that we shouldn’t be biased or have double standards with some players ( Nani),
Young after Christmas getting a big match player
The midfield has been strong Ando, Clevs and the super-rise of Carrick.
Giggsy from being old, tearing opponents again apart. Scholes did his job at the beginning of the season
We saw Fletcher back and scoring a goal and being himself (though now he’s ill aagain)
Powell getting experience
and buying Wilfred Zaha the next big thing and the next target of frustration for some
Tell me if I missed something, but I LOVE THIS TEAM!
Valencia being consistent on the defensive work and clicking with Rafael****
I love reading most of the posts on here. In the main, the comments well reasoned, good humour / banter and many different opinions. You only need to read some of the bollocks on sites like the BBC to see how good it is.
My team to face QPR – Based on the fact that City have the Renties on Sunday.
I say go for the fucking throat!
D Gea
Raf Vidic Evans Evra
Carrick Cleverly
Valencia Rooney Nani
Van persie
I feel Nani gets a start based on Reading display and the fact that QPR will sit deep. A long shot could be the Allthough if kaagwa started insted, I can see the logic of quick link up play to break them down.
All in all gofor the throat of those tossers then maybe rest up v Norwich at home.
IMO not the time for rotation an another oppotunity to apply more preasure on Rat face and the merc gang!
@ Lee Martins
Cracking line mate!!
The same ilk that gripe about defensive this and that are the 1st to slag off a Mourinho for “anti-football.” Can’t have it both ways. A player like Nani most certainly has a place in this side. There’s times to shut opposition down, then there’s times (ala Reading Monday) where a player like Nani is exactly what’s needed. Fair play to the lad, he had a terrific game and we can all only hope for more of the same.
FEBRUARY 20, 2013 AT 19:24
Lee Martins Winner said:
Our stadium is nicknamed the “theatre of dreams” not the “factory of efficiency”
I love this sentence so much.
@NBI Red Onion at 19.52
This Nani discussion has been going on for the past few days but your assessment there is probably the best of all the posts about him, mine included. You summarised Nani perfectly with this one statement
” I just don’t think he has the football brain to match his ability, he has been excellently coached and still decision making and reading the game remains a struggle for him”
I’m a massive fan of his so I’m a bit biased, but this is as close as an assessment of Nani can get. Bags of ability but his footballing brain is letting him down. Here’s to hoping he gets a run of games and starts to mature as it is long overdue.
@ Le Martins Winner
Our stadium is nicknamed the “theatre of dreams” not the “factory of efficiency” = Nothing else need be said, this statement says it all!!
Milan showed tonight how to play against Barca (read RM). So i feel very bad when i see how we play against RM, how they put us in the box, and how Milan play against better team with worse team than we have and outplayed Barca. They cant do shit to Milan. They play so secure in defence…we didnt have that against RM. So i cant believe when anyone can say that we played well agains RM. This what Milan play is good. Our game in the first half was shit, second was less shit.
I love a good debate about an indivdual player. For me football is great because we all have opinions. I know its off topic but I hate watching Barcelona, sure they are a great side, sure 75 ticka taka passes sideways before one killa ball is pretty, sure I admire thier work rate and “philsophy”, but it bores the shit out of me. I find myself hating the fact they have Unicef on there shirts, like they are somehow above other clubs who need sponsors (i know its changed recently). I hate how the media cream over all things Barca.
But above all things I hate that thier play seems to be hailed as the “blue print” for the future of all football. I want fast counter attacks, I want wingers beating a man and delivering a juicy cross for a bullet back post header. I want a big hard non comprimising defender who looks like he would boil your rabbit. I need a Shirt number that stands out as “special” for my club, I want my manager to have “blinkers” on for my club….
Football is nothing without opinions…… I am just glad that my opinion is Red…
Milan 2-0 up against Barca. Hahaha. I never guess that would’ve happend…
@mara
I agree with you, and that’s why I think bringing Cleverley in place of Jones with a duo of Carrick-CLeverley is what we need. Then put Kagawa or Welbeck to the left and/or Young or Nani or valencia to the right and we will work them out.
That team will have possession, fighting spirit and counter-attack ability.
I guess We’ll see after the next two games, which players raise their game and which doesn’t and which players get the nod.
Well well well… invincible Barcelona are beaten in Milan, 2-0. Tie is far from over but they certainly have given themselves work to do at home. Milan will sit back and try to hurt them if they make mistakes, and from set pieces and so on.
We simply MUST beat real madrid at OT, we MUST!
@ weareunited
I think thats one of United biggest strengths this season, Its hard for teams to make plans for us, beacuse we have such a deep squad, if we dont know our best formation / side how the fuck can anyone else! lol
Pompey 2-0 Arsenal. Ooops, I mean Milan 2-0 Barca
@Mara:
I disagree with you.
You can’t compare the 2 games apple to apple.
Milan was rested well and they played at home. Those are huge factors. Our players had only 3 days to rest and still had to jet to Madrid and played at the Bernabeu. If you think fatigue wasn’t the factor we played carefully and the fact that going out to Bernabeu wasn’t tough, then you are so wrong.
By saying shit to that performance without having a bit of understanding is what I call a lack of respect.
@WeAreUnited:
No it’s not about bringing in Cleverly or doing a counter attack. It was about seizing the opportunities. We could have won and if we did none of these negative comments would appear here.
Real’s strongest play is in their counter attacking flow. You want to counter attack them fine but we are risking holes in the back. Cleverly isn’t as discipline as Jones and he can’t help with our defenses who will? It’s not as easy as calling out names to the table, I’m pretty sure Sir Alex knows it better than we all do.
Efficiency is what every team and athlete strives for,the more efficient the more wins
Its silly to compare Milan vs Barca with United vs Madrid last week.
@TheRadLegion:
well said buddy well said….
@LeeMartins exaclty mate, the season ain’t over yet, but I love this team!
@theradlegion you always disappear when I put great argumentsi and then always start a new one, but hey that’s the idea. not throwing or dissing you, don’t take it literally.
YES it’s about that, did you see how in the first and second half, but escpecially on the second half Milan went deep with 6-7 players and then counter-attacked Barca.
We did the same against Madrid or do you claim that Madrid were the ones counter-attacking us? NO, they were in possession. But when we had the ball, we needed to go fast forward and CLeverley is good at that.
Seizing opportunities is of course the key, but 1-1 is not a bad result and at home we can do even better.
BTW I didn’t see any negative comments over here, only that many wanted to win because we had the chance. The only “negative” thing that I reckon that was mentioned was that some of us wanted Cleverley to play instead of Jones, so we get more possession and ballcontrol.
That’s it, no bashing and no negativity, only explaining our opinions. Jones did a great job and will do it again if asked, but there were some of us that wanted Cleverley, but like you said “I’m pretty sure Sir Alex knows it better than we all do.”
“Its silly to compare Milan vs Barca with United vs Madrid last week.”
Why it’s silly, I don’t get it.
A CL game, Madrid controlled the game, Barca controlled the game. Only difference was that Milan used their 2 chances and we didn’t. We used one.
ManUtd tried to counter and retain the ball more on the second half more, Milan did the same.
Both are maybe 4 of the best teams in the world of history. What more do you want?
Yes they had different names.
@ TheRadLegion…i knew someone s gonna say that…we didnt have this, or that. Look pal, Barca is another world for Real…so yes you can compare games. Saf knows, but sometimes he is doing wrong…he is not God.
Our counter attack was good…but in defence we were hanging…
If Barca lose, we have oportunity like never in our history to take CL. Real and Barca are the strongest. Only team that can beat us is Bayern…they are our level ( i zhink we are bit better). So if you get rid of 2 from 3 best teams…you have everything in your hand.
When Inter was winner of CL we could win CL without a problem. Only reason why they won it, was that they didnt have any strong team against themself. Hope we got this trophy…we deserve 4 titles more than anyone…more than shitty Barca…
@mara I think people forget that these players are paid to fly and go around the world and are not first-timers to do that.
Yes fatigue is a issue, but cmon, they are professionals, yes not robots, but still, if they can’t do that, why they are playing for ManUtd.
Fatigue of course touched us a little, but so did for Madrids players, the thing was that We just were overcareful and it looked that fatigue had reached us more than you know.
The second half is the proof for that.
@ WeAreUnited….agree…
@ TheRadLegion….i hate when people start to makeing thing mistic, complicate…etc…things in football are very simple…and as long as you keep them simple than you winning. When you start to complicate, then everything goes to hell. It is like that in life and in football. WeAreUnited said enough arguments.
I hate when i say Pogba is good in Juve…and some fan say:’ofcourse, they play slow football’
When i say Milan showed us a way..some fan say:’ it is not a same game’
Whatever you say, there is some excuse, reason…bla bla bla
So if that guy Pogba was shit..why SAF was so patience with him even if he didnt want to sign a contract, giving him a games….if he is shit. We all know what kind of person is Saf…if you trying to ful him, he will get you out of the club. And we know he was waiting all life Pogba to decide. He never did that with any young player.
Some people here think that only they understand football, tactics…and the rest of us are jerks and we comeing here to listen what they got to say. Than we comeing here that we can learn from them about football…
Wait, I thought Barcelona were the best side the universe has ever seen? Got beat by 2 goals from ex Portsmouth players. Lol.
The AC Milan performance tonight was magnificent absolutely flawless defensively and took their chances.
This AC Milan team unlike the United vs Madrid accepted the reality that their opponents are better and will outplay them.
Barcelona just like Real Madrid have definite weaknesses.
The same weakness the counter attack.
If AC Milan finish off Barca and we get past Madrid then the CL is wide open.
For me whoever can beat Bayern wins it.
Fatigue…i can give you 100 examples that can prove you opposite…actually we are well known as team that play better in last part of season. If you want to win CL, that cant be excuse. There will always be reasons…the only reason i m takeing is when you dont have ‘your day’ that is shitt…you cant do lot about that…
To say Nani’s level is on par with robben/ribery and co is NOT an exaggeration. He’s just as technically gifted, he can dribble and strike the ball better than ribery at least, he can produce that extra magic to win games just like both players. His goals and assists ratio can be compared to the best wingers in the world, he’s produced against the very best not only for united but for portugal, he’s been a key player for them. I disagree with the notion that he hasn’t got a “footballing brain”, you confuse unpredictability and risk taking for a lack of consistency, if you take more risks then you’re susceptible to the moves failing or gaining. I don’t want to drag valencia/young into it but they are safe and limited players, they are direct due to not possessing the natural.match winning ability, their game is as basic as it gets in football therefore, the deficiencies and lack of high technical skills in their styles can’t be exposed. Neither is prepared or has the ability to create out of a non-existent situation, neither is blessed with unpredictability or the ability to shoot with both feet, they are not dribblers or technicians of a ball, basically, neither is comfortable to take any risks and can’t be exposed for lacking these skills. my support for nani and any technical player is the courage to pick up the ball and take responsibility, it is so easy to play square passes and knock the ball down the by-line but against world class defenders and as abidal showed against valencia, they will nullify a player to the point of them becoming clueless.
I want to say, my opinion isn’t based on trying to degrade the likes of valencia and young, both directness and workrate is equally important but on the big ocassion, a Nani’s match winning ability will be needed, more so than grafting but both side of the coin is needed and the 3wingers all bring different but important qualities. I just totally disagree with the notion of a “lack of footballing brain”, it is untrue.
I know that we have best statistics about changeing result i the last seconds. And i dont like Italian football. But if there is any team in Europe that i would bet on them, even if they would play in CL final with 11 juniors, it is Milan. It is just strange how they even when they buy ‘old’ players, how they are compact. Those players maybe play 2 seasons but they give their best, and then they sell them. Even when they are weak, they are strong…even when they have old squad, they win. That guy Sharawi…he is gold…only 20 but so mature player. Cant believe.
I’m sick and tired of hearing how great the fucking Germans are bring those cunts on next once we take out the Fascists
@ Samuel United WE stand….agree about Nani. Actually we need more players like him in the middle. We have hard workers wich is good, but we also need magic. We need not just one player with that, but 2 or 3. PL is hard, but good driblers gives you oportunity to save your power.
Mara – i’m sure you are just as knowledgeable but it’s difficult to go along with your idea that the bernabeu is a ground for united to dominate? Are you actually serious? United could have nicked the victory if van persie was a bit more clinical but we’ll find out how important that draw is when they come oldtrafford, need to get the stadium loud and rocking.
Wayne i think Bayern play football that is not the best for our way of playing. But we can beat them. They are not from another world, like Barca
hahahah
@ samuel
I didnt say that we should dominate. Milan wasn t dominate. I dont know where did you red that from my post.
Milan was good in defence. Barca didnt have many chances. Unlike RM had more chances and they were more dangerous. Ronaldo was more dangerous than Messi.
We were good in counter attacks, but wasnt lucky. It is also with RM. But Barca today could have all luck in the world, they couldnt win, because they didnt chances – many chances, clear chances…etc
That is the difference
@samuel
I don’t think @mara meant tha twe should have dominated, cause obviously that’s not the case at Bernabeu.
I tried to read @maras’s comments a couple of times, and @samuel I can’t find anywhere were he says that we should have dominated?? maybe it’s later here and I am tired, but I just cannot find it.
He’s onyl sayign that fatigue is no usually an issue for us at this stage of the season. We’re no Arsenal, that’s why we win the league and play at the CL finals two times in a row.
TYPOS
@ Samuel
Actually i think that is very hard, if not impossible, to be dominate either you playing home or away, against RM…specially Barca. Tell me one team, game where someone was dominate against Barca? Rare games or teams….maybe one game. Milan was so secure, like a wall in front of their keeper. I like their defenders. They are not static, like they were before in Italy. They were also ofensive, dangerous.
Also i dont think i know everything. I m saying what i think, that doesnt mean i m right
Mara exactly mate fucking Rent Boys beat them last year with a shit team.I love the way people jack off to foriegn teams who have a huge resource advanttage over every other team in the league and barely get challenged week in week out,fucking joke
Point is Barca couldn t do anything, but RM could do to us specially in the first half. Milan defended better against stronger team. That is the point.
@mara exaclty, Milan really did show themselves on the defense today. I think we also were very strong defensively on the second half as soon as we changed our shape and formation a little bit.
Madrid at home at 1-1 is great for us, no complacency and we can get a good result and a win.
@ wayne but we cant say Bayern is shit. They are good, one of the best in Europe…but not unbaetable. I think we have to be careful against them, because they can be unpredictable. They are fisicaly strong.
hihihi…kidding we need him in good form against Serbia…later on…i dont care…
And one of the best striker in the world Mandzukic from Croatia
Not saying their shit mate just saying their bound to look good when most teams in Germany can’t afford to go out and sign top players,its a fucking toss off for them most weeks.That’s the reason Pep went there any daft cunt could manage them,there’s no other German team that comes close to Bayern’s resources easier gig than Barca
Apparently, UTD are “investigating” a swap deal with Porto with Nani going back to Portugal while James Rodriguez comes to M/C. Probably bull-shit but very interesting paper-talk with a semblance of value trading taken into consideration. The big obstacle would be Nani’s wages.
Lee Martins Winner – united applaud gifted players who turn up every-week, not once or twice a month, and that is the difference
Denton will never happen mate Porto can’t. Afford his wages.Juve also wants him but don’t want to pay utds asking price of 20 mill only want to pay Nani 4.5 mill a year,Nani wants 6 mill+ per year
The Milan result makes for a very, very interesting two weeks in Spain.
Barca have wrapped up the league BUT they play RM twice (or three times ?) in the next fortnight in the Copa Del Rey and the classico BEFORE the return leg. Similarly, Madrid have to play their nemesis several times before the meeting with UTD in the CL.
So, what does Jo$e do ? does he put all his eggs in the CL basket, hoping to get through to give him a chance for “la decima” ? If so, does he essentially throw away the matches versus Barcelona in order to get his team pumped-and-primed for UTD ? OR do national rivalries come into play so that the RM board/fans/press won’t accept anything less than a full-bore effort to de-stabilize their rivals ?
I’d assume that if Jo$e had his own way then he’d take the first option – putting all his eggs in the CL basket so he can tell Perez and his flunkies to fuck themselves and ride off into the sunset with a huge wad of ca$h to ease his departure. BUT if he’s cornered and his team MUST give maximum effort in the matches against Barcelona then what does that do to his planning for UTD ?
@WeAreUnited @Mara:
You miss me that much.. “Pal”?
FYI, I do have a busy daily job, so unfortunately responding to your comment -as much as I would love to discuss with you- isn’t in my priority list, but I do my best to respond going forward
01. Of course it’s silly to compare apple to apple, Milan played at home while we were away at Bernabeu.. of course it’s different. You think we could go there and dominate Real Madrid as if they were QPR, and play a counter attacking football as if Ronaldo wasn’t on the pitch and Ozil had shingles?
02. Yes these players are paid handsomely but that’s irrelevant. Travelling sucks, you have to deal with the airport and their security, driving to the hotel yada yada. Doing that numerous times, week in week out, fatigue will come knocking at your door. If you are tired, you are tired and there is no way around that.
Madrid players were rested well. They did not have to travel to Manchester AND they had ONE extra day to rest. Our players did not. We played on Sunday afternoon, had a chance to rest a bit and went straight to Madrid. So it wasn’t even close to 3 days. So imagine with two and a half day to rest, and you have to play against Madrid who were rested well, you tell me “pal” if Sir Alex did not factor in fatigue.
03. Sure, football is simple if you look at it from your TV screen. It’s a game of 11 vs 11 trying to score more than the other team. Of course it sounds simple. But if you start being judgmental and making assumptions without taking into considerations “other simple things” like travel hours, fatigue level etc you are being judgmental without trying to understand that there are stuff behind football than a sport show on TV.
04. “actually we are well known as team that play better in last part of season. If you want to win CL, that cant be excuse. There will always be reasons…the only reason i m takeing is when you dont have ‘your day’ that is shitt…you cant do lot about that…”
Yeah, I don’t know what’ your point is. Glad we have Sir Alex who knows well how to rotate the squad to maintain fitness level. If one of us was to replace Sir Alex we would end up using the same team and the same player week in week out, slaving them like a horse.
Well done Milan, shows that if you can stop Barca playing their usual stuff, you can get a result. Barca have never had a plan B, they never needed one. Hope Milan can finish off Barca and the CL will really be anyone’s game.
Balotelli : “I didn’t participate today because of the laws of the CL but I do not know why Messi didn’t participate.”
SUPER MARIO STRIKES AGAIN!
Balotelli said that? Wow! We all know he is a crack head, but that is one hilarious line, good one! Haha
Love the Balotelli quote! Hate Barca and the ping pong football. Well done, Milan!
Is it just me or does anyone else think that it wasn’t our tactics or ability but rather what was in our heads that affected our performance?
Rafael, for me, along with a couple others seemed a bit overwhelmed by the occassion of playing against all those star players at the Santiago bernabeu which was absolutely deafening in the opening minutes. That was a key factor leading him to play like that.
And that is where you need a natural leader of men in your team. As theRadReligion says, there is much more to the game than what you watch on tv. The 11 out there are not automated machines that go out and play. They are normal people, young people, who like anyone other person will be affected by facing that atmosphere against all those star names. And there you need a Roy Keane, a Nemanja Vidic, a Bryan Robson, to raise you, to help you fight, to help you realize that the opposition are not gods, but normal people who can very possibly be defeated.
Which is why the return leg will nowhere be like the first. Old Trafford has a habit of lifting our players to new heights and I’m sure that will happen in the return leg. And possibly our captain will start. Let’s show Mourinho who the real Special One is.
49 quid East Stand,should br good value for the return leg tickets came yesterday looking forward to hobbling back after nearly two years.So if any of you see a figure hirpling at Old Trafford dont push against me please cause I will go down quicker than Nani.
@20LEgend agree that a couple of our lads looked a little nervous particularly in the first half. The remarkable thing to me was so did Madrid. Some of their attacking play was uncharacteristically hesitant. Just goes to show you just how much the media built up the match and that the sense of the occasion got even to the home team. Full marks to our team for performing to the game plan. Not only were Madrid flustered but by the end they actually looked like they had given up on the tie. Strange contrast with the Madrid team from last year and particularly one overseen by Mourinho. This Madrid side, although dangerous, is certainly there for the taking. Weak in defense it clearly has issues off the pitch that are impacting on field performances. I dont mean to underestimate them but this just builds into a brilliant narrative for the second leg. Cagey tactical or explosively fluid? Madrid have to score and we know we can reply against them. Just glad at the depth of squad Sir Alex has built up, Madrid can plan but Sir Alex can always put something unexpected on the team sheet.
And according to Sir Alex Phil Jones has an outside chance to be fit for the second leg.
Samuel at at 15:45 … top post, pal. As I recall, back when Giggs was a much younger lad, there were some who used to say he didn’t put in 100%, accused him of imitating My Anonymous, but it was bullshit then about Giggs as it is bullshit now about Nani. SAF doesn’t buy slackers, and if by chance one was to sneak under his guard, he’d be found out pretty quick. And then be shown the door. He certainly wouldn’t last 5 seasons.
When people make stupid insinuations like that, they are not only insulting their own players, they are insulting the manager too, who is apparently so thick and ineffectual that he either doesn’t know when he’s being taken for a ride or is simply unable/unwilling to do anything about it. Guess that explains why he’s the most successful manager in any top flight league for 26 fucking years, the lazy, useless slob. Fuck me!
Stateside Ha! Cheers.
Speaking of slackers, SAF confirms Jones is out for QPR and a doubt for Madrid.
Compares him to Robo! Doesn’t know the name of fear!
SLACKERS !
Need a thread on Gill. Man built our current team and is going to continue to battle for United at the FA and UEFA.
Slackers
@ Comeback Kingz – thanks mate.
@ samuel – Nani is not on the same level as Ribery or Robben you have to be wearing United tinted glasses to think that. They are two world class wingers who would get into almost any first X1, amongst the most feared in Europe who are a major reason why Bayern have re-emerged. Have you seen the speed at which they make decisions and spot opportunities in the final third…?
And it’s also not that Nani is trying to be creative, Scholes, RVP, Ronaldo, Giggs are all players that can be equally creative, it about judging what he should be doing in the interests of the team, there are times you need to play more conservatively to see a game out, times you need to be alert to the risks around you, picking the right pass, bringing players in, having awareness of where other players are. You can’t be “creative” to the point of stupidity, its a team game, the creative ability has to be used to further the team, its not relevant in isolation, if you cannot do that by your late 20′s you will be looking at the door at major Clubs who give talent a chance but expect that talent to be put to use of the team. United has bought talented players who did not fit in with what the team was doing or gel with their team mates on the pitch, they have all been moved on. Nani is on the borderline, I hope he can deliver.
@RedLagion my friend and I don’t put any quoting marks into friend:)
1. I NEVER SAID, I repeat, NEVER, read my comments, I was happy with the 1-1 draw, I never said that we should have gone and dominate them. period.
2. So, no we can’t dominate them. Bare with me, I am not repeating.
3. You say, we can’t counter-attack them cause there’s too many great players in Madrid and it leaves us holes.
4. If we can’t counter and possess or do both of these things, what did we basically do there? Just stand?
5. I remember us in the first half going counter and lying deep, and on the second half counter and possession. I watched that game, and not the one with jet lags.
6. Travelling sucks I agree.
7. Fatigue is an issue. I agree. They weren’t 100%. But so wasn’t Madrid.
8. Was this the first time for a team whhich is called ManUtd to travel?
9. Aren’t we used to travellign away from home every season and play for the finals of UCL or in the FINALS? why fatigue didn’t hit us then.
10. The guys have massages, physios, everything. Also Do you really think United has to wait on the airport for hours?
11. You make things too complicated.
12. Don’t make me or others look as we don’t know this “Sure, football is simple if you look at it from your TV screen.”
13. I myself have played football, and it has always been simple, yes fatigue has hit me, but usually the last part of the season was the best part, and you didn’t feel the fatigue, when you were competing. That’s why we sleep and these pro’s go and massage themselves.
14. That’s SAF’s and physios problem.
15. I want my ManUtd come fresh and play hard. They are professionals who should do that, no they are not robots, that’s why SAF would rotate them, but he didn’t. SO no complaints.
16. I am an supporter and I don’t care about fatigue, but I take them into consideration and not accuse others for not knowing anything.
17. Yes you can compare, I will put the same comment to rest my case
18. A CL game, Madrid controlled the game, Barca controlled the game. Only differences were that Milan used their 2 chances and we didn’t. We used one. Milan and Barca were more rested than Madrid and United. ManUtd tried to counter and retain the ball more on the second half more, Milan did the same. Both are maybe 4 of the best teams in the world of history. What more do you want?
peace.
@We Are United & @Mara
Just read a few of your earlier posts in relation to comparisons between the Real Madrid and Barcelona game. I think what Milan did was press higher up the pitch more effectively rather than United only pressing Real on the edge of the penalty area.
I was impressed with the way Milan organised the team and collectively pressed. The players stayed in formation which meant there was less blasting the ball upfield for clearances by defenders and more passing.
If AC Milan can do it anyone can do it.
@AlphaRS
Thing is, when you look at the occasions Barca have been beaten, more often than not the opposition has pressed them high up the pitch. Barca are collectively more effective when dominating possession in the opposition half, their offensive players are all excellent in tight areas, so even if a team tries to ‘park the bus’ as it were, they are still capable of scoring goals.
What they don’t have is exceptional pace on the counter, so if you can push their midfield play back towards the half-way line and press hard then they will have far fewer opportunities to create those lethal triangular passing sequences on the edge of your box. Barca generally do not play direct, they can switch play, but rarely will they punt it and leave it to a physical battle.
In this sense it’s very different to Real Madrid, who against us and for most of the season, have lined up in a 4-2-3-1 most comparable to the way the German national side are set up. It’s no coincidence that they have Ozil in there linking the play as the most central orientated one of the attacking 3. Likewise Sami Khedira as half of the defensive two.
Real rely very much on Alonso and Khedira getting the ball early and being able to find Di Maria, Ronaldo and Ozil beyond the opposition midfield. The idea is that with these 3 pressed forward in addition to the striker (Benzema/Higuain) they conspire to outnumber the opposition on the flanks. Notice how, entirely unlike Barca, they were happy to pump crosses in time and time again? In these instances Ronaldo becomes like their version of Llorente, a physical presence in the box.
In this sense we absolutely need a midfield player with the disciplined role of tracking the runner into the box (generally Ronaldo from the left, although it switches). It’s no good leaving this to the right back, as when Ronaldo drifts this will leave space for Di Maria and Ozil to exploit. And they will.
So in terms of pressing, yes I think we need to do this higher up but we absolutely can’t afford to lose the destroyer in deep midfield, nor do i think we can lose Carrick. The Real/Germany formation is by design a destroyer of a flat 4-4-2, it forces your wingers deep to cover the full back, and exposes the gaps behind and in front of your midfield. In essence it would be very easy for Real to dominate us when you consider the attacking players at their disposal.
My preference would be to line up as we did in Madrid, with 2 deep midfielders, but to use the pace of Nani/Welbeck/Chicharito to try and exploit gaps in their back line and break at pace. That would mean that one of Rooney or Van Persie would be relegated to the bench. Controversial?
I don’t know guys the San Siri pitch was a shame ..90 mins in camp nou could turn out to be an eternity …keys c how the Milan guys match up than ..right now it’s advantage Milan but I am not writing barca off
I don’t think Barca controlled that game against Milan. Sure, they dominated possession of the ball. But that’s not the same thing. It was useless possession because they did fuck all with it. They had 66% of the ball, they could only manage two attempts on target. Milan, with only 34% of the ball, had 6. That’s the story right there.
Barca don’t have a Plan B. Mourinho was the first to expose that, with his infamous “give the ball to Barca” ploy with Inter. Possibly the most outrageous tactical ploy I’ve seen, because it went way beyond parking the bus. Some say it was as boring as bat-shit, but I don’t know. I sort of enjoyed watching Barca totally befuddled about what to do. Anyway, it worked. Since then, no one has gone to quite that extreme, but several have adopted a more orthodox ploy of sitting deep and hitting Barca on the counter.
Barca’s Plan A relies on exploiting small gaps in the other team’s positioning. What Mourinho demonstrated was that if the other team lines up in a formation that doesn’t have any significant gaps), and then has the discipline to hold its positions, then Barca are stuck. (And whatever else you might think of him or his tactics, he does deserve the credit for being the first to prove this against Barca.)
Barca don’t have the width to stretch your wide defenders (nor do they have tall strikers who can capitalise on crosses). If they did have all that, that would represent a viable Plan B. But they don’t.
Barca are also shackled by their philosophy that possession is the most important thing of all — more important, really, even than goals. I say that because according to this lijne of thinking, if you dominate possession, then the goals will flow from that naturally, whereas if you don’t have possession, they won’t.
We all know that is true, of course. The trouble comes when you are confronted by tactics that require you to “force the game”. If you can’t tease the other team out of position to create gaps, and you can’t go wide around them either, then the only option is to try to go through them. But without any real gaps, it’s risky: you could well lose the ball. And there’s the rub: because that’s one risk Barca do not like to take.
But this is the beauty of football. Tactics and strategies are constantly evolving. A couple of seasons ago, tika-taka was widely considered to be the ultimate “style”, the “perfect strategy” that, when executed as well as Barca did it, simply couldn’t be beaten.
But that was always going to be nonsense. It was only a matter of time before someone would figure out the weaknesses in that approach and how to exploit them. Mourinho started it, others have built upon that.
And now, I think, Barca are out this year. Even at home, I can’t see them beating Milan by three clear goals.
StateSideAussie @ 21:27: “Barca don’t have a Plan B. Mourinho was the first to expose that, with his infamous “give the ball to Barca” ploy with Inter.”
While I agree with the overall thrust of your argument, I think that the game-plan for playing rope-a-dope against this particular Barcelona team was devised by SAF and worked to perfection in the semi-final of 2008 when TheGingerNinja scored the only goal on a stunning 30-yard volley.
Milan show great resilience and discipline and their forward options – even without Balotelli – were excellent. I do wonder, though, whether the “pundits” aren’t overlooking the possible role of the junk-yard dog, Nigel De Jong, whose absence has really, really hurt ManShitty.
@ davey denton
Great point re de jong…… When city phased him out, then sold him, I was very happy. Underrated player in that holding position and was a big reason for thier def record.
Lee Martins Winner @ 22:29:
I was at first befuddled when Mancini would bring De Jong on in place of an “attacker” but quickly came to realize that that move freed GreatBigHugeYaYa to play in an advanced role and he won them quite a few matches in that way.
De Jong himself was severely under-rated – a real junk-yard-dog with pretty-damned good on-the-ball skills, too.
@StatesideAussie February 21, 2013 at 21:27
Excellent stuff, very insightful, and . However, tactics aside, I would add there’s another reason why Milan got the jump on Barca the other night. The likes of Messi had simply had a poor game.
In the end, top class skill and creative quality will almost always win through against lesser opposition. I would suggest that is why Barca don’t have a plan B, as you put it, is that with talent like Messi, Iniesta and Xavi they don’t really need one; players at that level can usually improvise or pull something out of the hat. But when top creative talent like Messi are having an particularly poor game, in addition to the effect of opposition tactics, they Barca like anyone else can get beat.
I’m not a lover of Barca; I cannot abide that boring tika taki shit (or whatever its called) so just happy the bastards got stuffed.