With Dimitar Berbatov unable to play against Villarreal tonight, there’s every possibility that we’ll get to see our first sighting of new signing Manucho, who joined the club last season.
As United trained at Carrington yesterday ahead of tonight’s match, all eyes were on Cristiano Ronaldo. However, I’m far more interested to see what our Angolan striker is all about.
We signed him in December of last year, following a three week trial with the club, after Carlos Queiroz had been tipped off about the agile striker months previously.
Could he get a game tonight?
Whilst Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez are likely to start, it’s not out of the question to expect Manucho to get an appearance from the bench.
Having scored 4 goals in 7 games during his loan period with Panathinaikos, as well as being named in last season’s ACON Team of the Tournament, we’re right to have high expectations of the 25-year-old.
When on loan, he scored a goal on his debut and has shown he’s confident from the penalty spot.
There is of course always going to be the fear that he’ll end up like Dong, as he has come from an unproven league withouth much pedigree. However, any player who Queiroz has shown interest in is going to get time from me.
I think it’s best to throw him in at the deep end and see what he can do. Give him some time on the pitch, in front of the home fans, and get him settled in to the team.
Do you want to see Manucho playing a part in tonight’s game?
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Yes of course! I’m getting exicted by the sole prospect of him playin against the spaniards!
He is built like a brick shithouse….i would defo like to see him play Saturday… as them ponces Terry n Carvalho would get dragged about all over by this guy… which in turn would free Wazza up to drop off and score a hat trick with a bit of luck.
I watched him in the ANC … and he looks a better prospect than Didier (Grace Jones) Drogba… just hope he can do it in the PL.
I am from Africa so I am obviously delighted to see Manucho play tonight. For me he was the best striker together with Zaki during ACON 2008. But I have my doubts about Fergie’s tolerance towards african players. I think he will relegate the useless and sulky Berbatov to the bench if Fergie gives him decent playing time.I don’t know why we payed 30M for berbatov while we have some decent forwards in our team.
i cannot wait to see him play , i was more excited about him than berbatov , he scored some good goals in the african cup of nations , so give him his chance fergie .
he could be our secret weapon this year
I think you’ve pitched your post about right, Scott.
It’s always interesting to see a new player in a United shirt, and once in a while a total unknown turns out to be a very pleasant surprise (Ole’s debut, anyone?).
However, given our less-than-stunning start to the season, there seems to be a tendency to view our untried young players as the “solution”. There have been lots of calls on blogs and boards for Rafael, Fabio, Possebon and Manucho to be given runs in the starting XI – unfortunately for such optimists, the devil you know is often better than the devil you don’t (pun intended!).
Manucho could be a good squad player, but that’s about all we can realistically hope for. People who are viewing him on a par with Berba need their heads checked.
If we dont play him… we will never find out…
Sometimes better to be chucked in at the deep end… u either learn to swim fast or sink.
I reckon he could bully his way around the PL… will be harder in Europe with the refs etc but i reckon he could be really good
it wasnt a direct comparison with berbatov obviously berbatov is a proven centre forward, thats why we paid 30 million for him.
its just in the african cup of nations he looked really strong and powerful , very good in the air , we have lacked muscle up front for years and he will give us different options
I am from africa but I can not praise some one I have not seen play, I will judge him by what he will do today more so if SAF gives him playing time.
I would like to see him get a start to see if will be more regular starts and reduce Ronney to the bench……..beacuse he has not improved the way we though as a stiker
Why is Berbatov unable to play tonight?
Injury?
Must be, because he was actually registered in time for the CL on deadline day.
On Manucho, hope we do see him play at some point and he doesn’t become yet another player we buy but never see play.
I’ve seen him playing……..and i think MU miss some1 like him upfront……give the lad a chance today,fergie and I bet u won’t regret it…
manucho hatrick…..Mu to win 4-0…..
Couldn’t agree more……..
So young man………….impress us
I’d love to see him play at least show y’all a little something about African flair in a more pressurised environment. He’s definitely one with great prospects in United. 4-2-3-1…..Manucho up front being supported by the attack of Rooney,Tevez and….u guessed right Ronaldo.
I’d love to see him play…really
If CQ was an admirer of his then along with the previous positive comments he must have somthing to offer , he has to be given a chance, i expected to see him in our next Carling cup outing. Gather he is also a big fellah wouldnt be easily put off the ball.
Anyone who watched him play in the ACON surely knows this guy’s got tallent.He’s like an uncut gemand with the guidance of SAF,he’ll be da best export from africa to the premier legue.All am ask the gaffer is to give him a chace.He’s quick,agile and brute strength.what more can u ask 4 in a central striker.and dont forget that left foot(thunder bolts)
hope he gets some game time tonite, but does it really matter who plays this weekend as the cunt terry and his rentboy mates will find some cheating way to stop us playing…..looks like anything goes to stop a player, so fuck it, go on the field with baseball bats, and have no refs…..respect?, bullshit…..terry you cunt.
i think berbatov and manucho will be on the bench as well as ronaldo.
probably only two of them will come on as subs.
AND VILLAREAL WONT LIE DOWN. THEY ARE VERY TOUGH.
REMEMBER THEY REACHED THE SEMIS IN 2006 AND WERE KNOCKED OUT BECAUSE RIQUELME COULDNT CONVERT HIS PENALTY VS ARSE.
IF THEY HAD GONE THROUGH WHO KNOWS THEY COULD HAVE BEATEN BARCA.
i agree with pet, until he shows that he is worthy of the red shirt, i can only only hope and pray that he is a good buy, my jury is still out on him and berba..
CANT WAIT….been waitiing 9 months for him to get his bow with us..after the work permit stuff and then his metatarsal injury….its about time he donned our shirt.
ronaldo may take the limelight for us….but im looking forward to most is man i’ll chew u up MANUCHO
I am expecting him for the last four monthes.Man.Utd wants such kind of player.He is a man of big tournament and he fullfil all the requirements to play in the english premier league and European champions league.
I think the people rating him better than Berba are getting way too far ahead of themselves. Odds are that he’ll take a while to settle in and become used to the pace of our league, and the skill of European football, so I don’t think throwing him in at the deep end will help with that.
Don’t expect too much of the guy, Penguin got it right with setting his expectations at good squad player imo.