ManUtd24 has started a deadly sins series, starting with “envy”.
The Mirror has Andy Mitten’s United We Stand podcast with former United hooligan Tony O’Neill.
United Rant discusses our defensive woes.
By Far The Greatest Team at who Romney and Obama would be if they were footballers.
The Guardian looks at the decline in quality wingers.
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Not sure what the Guardian piece is getting at. There are plenty of good wingers and there have always been very very few exceptional wingers.
What is dying, or evolving, is the use of a wide game that utilizes fixed positional play definable by a single term. We call Valencia a winger, but he plays in the middle for his country and will likely not look like a winger in a diamond. Todays top teams prize versatility. They still use wing play, but likely as not, the cross will come in from a Fullback or even a forward acting as the winger on that particular play. We have seen with the recent assists of Robin and Wayne coming from crosses from the deep wing position.
What has been evolving is the need for versatility. Not the need for people who can play a wing position. If anything, more players are needed who can play the wing position as a part of their overall game.
nothing regarding guardiola? i’m surprised…
agreed with fletch…
they’re still top, top traditional wingers in the country. Tony is probably at the top of the list. I doubt anyone in the english game can compare with his ability to outpace the defender, and put in quality balls in with consistent regularity.
gareth bale comes to mind. but with spuds playing defoe as the main striker, he does seem out of crossing options….
aside from that, the article still makes sense…. more and more teams are starting to adapt to the inside out wingers…. we see what Cristiano achieved with madrid at LW, and what messi has done with barca, originally playing at RW, and it does have certain appeal to managers
Fletch has it spot on.
I was well impressed by the passing of Swansea. We will have to be aware of Mr Rodgers and what he may well be able to achieve at Anfield with the right backing and patience. I thought Swansea was pretty damn good today and as for City, they do look like a Mourinho team every time I see them play. Maybe not the style of play exactly but it is apparent that the manager has very little coaching skills or ideas to impart as the players themselves are being found out. Its one thing being able to buy a team and rely on the new players coaching tricks brought and shared with his new team mates but when the money dries up and those new players dont come in everything starts to slow down. Manchini has only ever inherited very very good sides, as has Mourinho as did Kenny Dalglish before them. Only when King Kenny took over a pile of shit was it apparent the turd had zero ability and actually made Hodgsons reighn at Anfield half decent. I predict Mancini will be out before the end of the season.
Sorry to jump on the bandwagon but just to say I fully agree with Fletch here too. Valencia is a bit of a throwback though because he is essentially an out-and-out winger, as opposed to Nani or Young who are more versatile attacking midfielders. Valencia’s role is a classic one; run down the flank, beat his man and pump a cross in. He doesn’t really do interchangeable positions and his versatility is severely limited by his withered and useless left foot!
That being said his lack of versatility is a real asset to the team. Rooney might drop deep to win the ball and help out in defence but we always have Valencia, hugging the touchline and looking to surge forward.
altyred
Valencia plays are more central role for his national side just behind the striker (s). Agreed his left needs work but you’d have to agree we survived with Giggs and his dodgy right.
yeah we “survived” with Giggs.. Just think if we’d sold him in the 90′s and bought a “real” talent..
Den
Wash your bloody mouth out, lol. You wont make many friends on here with that comment, lol. Theres more to football than the kettle necks and the david silvas of this world, sometimes you need players of immense stamina and enviable fitness. When was Giggs ever out long term with an injury and the way he tired out fullbacks on either flank it was that that gave us the edge, not neccessarily the ball into the box. Horses for Courses
Yeah I agree on the stamina thing but you got to say that’s not all Giggs has (or maybe had, sadly). His ball control has always been top notch, and his ability to pick a pass too. I’d rather wan’t a Giggs in his prime than, say, Bale, and not just because of his stamina.
Afternoon Reds i’ll always be a wing man watched Le Arse and City today fucking shit,there’s nothing more exciting in football than a rampaging winger taking on defenders and banging in crosses,this fucking narrow diamond Italian way of playing football is fucking boring just like the Spanish possession football,Le Arse in the second half had a 80 to 20 % possession rate,so fucking what if there’s no penetration
Getting tired of Nani putting out things through the press,best if he moves on,the lads a baby who doesn’t want to work for a place in the team.Watched the premier league preview show both the lads on there one is Sturridge’s uncle or cousin said Nani just can’t be trusted to put in a full shift and is to much of a luxury in big games to be picked,in other words needs to get off the bus because not paying his fare.Today this
http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/nani-wants-to-leave-manchester-united-as-soon-as-possible-accordi
blaming Sir Alex for broken promises i’m honestly just tired of him
Fast paced wing play is the football for me. Agree on how boring the games were today. No urgency or creativity, just trying to hold possession and bore the observer out. Then both teams narrowly won with lucky strikes. But I think that’s not entirely because of no wingers but just because of this possession shit tactics. We played an entertaining diamond against Newcastle because the team was always looking to bring the ball forward. Not this Spanish shit tactics of trying to make the opposition fall a sleep and pass the ball in your own half for most of the game! I really hope that is not the future of football like the “experts” say it is and call it “beautiful”!
Obama & romney aas footballers???
Fucking hilarious article, I fucking pissed meself there, ha freaking crazy comparisons
Den that’s what i don’t get about some Utd fans,sure the team gives up chances but Utd play open football give me a 3-2 game any day.
Said after the RVP signing Sir Alex intends to go out in style and i agree with you Utd are not a rigid diamond formation,i’d rather Utd play open exciting football than have to watch the shit i suffered through today.Le Arse fans biggest mugs in the world,can you imagine paying 126 quid a game for that garbage
Sir Matt Busby on tactics
Quotes By Sir Matt Busby
1. “It was a very simple team talk. All I used to say was ‘Whenever possible, give the ball to George’” (George Best of course!)
Utd have the firepower to keep it that simple and entertain
I friend of mine actually went to that Arsenal game today, and like me, he doesn’t even live in the UK so imagine how much he spent on it! It’s not exactly what one hopes to see after long flights and a lot of money but he is a proper supporter so he’s just happy to have gone and seen a result.
I like how open and quick our games are to a certain extent. We’ve just been so close to losing more point’s this season, it’s entertaining when we win, but it’s to close for me. A steady defensive play would be a little bit more solid. But maybe when Smalling and Jones are fit again it’ll be less of a problem as the have more pace than Rio and therefore we could keep a higher line. That might suite our attacking play and result in fewer goals conceded.
Do love that quote from Busby wonder if that’s the team talk SAF gave when we had Cristiano!
Looking forward to seeing who we start in midfield tomorrow. I also hope we start Hernandez Rooney AND Van Persie all at the same time. Put Hernandez upfront and let Roo and VP play off him. Should be a good game nevertheless. If we get out of there with a draw i’ll be satisfied but I hope we can pull off the win.
dannysoya @ 23:15: ” I also hope we start Hernandez Rooney AND Van Persie all at the same time. Put Hernandez upfront and let Roo and VP play off him.”
I’d second that BUT I think that SAF won’t !
From the chatter coming out from UTD’s players – and SAF – I get the sense that he’s going there to get one point – and hoping that he can grab a victory from the jaws-of-a-draw.
SO, I wouldn’t be surprised if he sets out TheLads in a very, very narrow “formation” – maybe surprising everybody with FOUR of Carrick, DarrenFletcherinho/TheGingerNinja, Anderson, and Cleverley. That might not be the four who are on the field at the end of the match, which will depend on the scoreline.
The “chatter” – especially DarrenFletcherinho’s remarks about TheRentBoyz’ quick attacking and vulnerability to counter-attacks – seems to point towards a pretty tough slog in the trenches which certainly wouldn’t suit Hazard, Oscar, Mata, and Ramires. It’s also a scenario that would greatly suit playing MrJones alongside Michael Carrick in UTD’s midfield but he seems to be crocked.
Tomorrow’s match is not one that greatly excites me – yet. I’m hoping that SAF is still willing to gamble and doesn’t rely on “the old stagers”; if I see SirRyanGiggs, TheGingerNinja, and Rio striding into battle then my worst fears will be likely to be realized.
Tomorrow’s match is a test of SAF’s commitment to forward-thinking and breaking with the past – “old stagers: and wingers are going to leave the defence (which is already “weakened” by having Rio at half-speed) very vulnerable to the speed of CSKALondon’s four attacking players.
@denton davey
I’m not sure if Fletcher will be ready, to be honest. And, much as I love Scholesy, I don’t want him in the line-up either, at least not until we’re sixty or seventy minutes in.
Chico would be a good pick to start, in my opinion, and I’m not just basing that on his recent Braga performance. He always seems to bring his A game against Chelsea.
I hope you’re wrong about SAF playing for a draw. The thought sickens me.
What I guess will be the line up:
De Gea
Rafael Rio Evans Evra
Valencia Carrick Scholes Welbeck
Rooney RVP
What I hope the line up will be:
De Gea
Rafael Rio Evans Evra
Carrick
Cleverly Anderson
Rooney
RVP
altough I would also like to see Hernandez and Valencia get a start! I guess it’s good to want more than exactly 11 men start the game, means we have quality
lol add Hernandez to the later one.. no need to have only 10 men playing!!
Den
the lineup you hope to see.. has 10 men? I know we’re good but we might need the extra man..
Den
that’s funny, I call you a true supporter cause u know we can make it with 10 men!
can’t wait for the game.
2-1 for us. We take a 2-0 lead, they score one and the game gets exited for us, maybe a red for us? and DeGea keeps us alive.
BELIEVE
Well not sure how tomorrows game wouldn’t excite anyone unless that person is dead.iI’s huge in terms of standings and Utd are playing a bunch of rent boy cunts,how can that not be exciting,i’m fucking vibrating already
denton just curious,if Utd vs rent boys which without doubt is the biggest game of the season doesn’t excite you,which game are you waiting for CL final .Very very strange comment from a Utd and Football fan,to be honest makes absolutely no sense to me.
Denton not kidding how the fuck can a Utd rentboy game not excite you with so much at stake ? What are you?
wayne
Chelsea- united game are always entertaining in recent years but I think what denton means is it could be less exciting for us if we start with giggs and scholes. Honestly he has a point. I know giggs won’t start for sure but neither should scholes. In last few big games Sir alex has always started with giggs and we have suffered very badly. City away last season was also the most awaited match for us but look how it turned out once we saw that line up of ours.
I don’t like saying this but whenever I see giggs starting I get dull and sad. But this time I have afeeling sir alex will start a young team who will challenge chelsea and beat them.
Ash regardless of how you iterprete whatever is going on, Utd vs cunts 1 pt compared to 7 is massive so if your not excited by this either then you do belong in the Denton camp,but from someone who is a die hard Red,may I suggest let Denton explain himself.If you really believe Denton ‘has a point’ you’re not a Red either so I suggest don’t fuck with true fans and mind your own fucking business
wayne
Wow what was that. Who has given you a right to say who is a true red or not. If you read my posy in yesterdays blog you will find that I am pretty much excited for this match. So you never interpret me idiot. You are acting like you are the boss here but let me tell you are same like other. Don’t act like you are the only true Manchester united fan and others are plastics. You are unnecessarily starting a fight. If you want a fight go and pick some other person coz I am never interested to fight with a internet warrior who doesn’t have a proper opinion to present with.
This is a manchester united blog and I am a true Manchester united fan who care about the club, one who gets very excited in matchdays. So technically speaking I have a good business of being here. Never ever start a unnecessary fight with anyone and stop acting like you are the boss here. If you don’t like me fine but never make any stupid assumption about me because I only belong to Manchester united camp and not to any individuals.
If denton meant something else of him being not being excited then I apologies to him. From what I saw from his comment I found him being less excited because of how our starting line up has been in recent games. There is no need to start with giggs which many here would agree. Giggs has been poor in big games. His performance against City last season and Liverpool this season sums it up.
Clevrley should start today as he has been playing well recently. Looking forward to the game. And for those who think I am not excited can think that way because i don’t care.
BELIEVE
Ash- mate you don’t have to prove to anyone about your loyalty. As a matter of fact no one has to prove here. I have seen you commenting here for a long time and I like your comments. Those who read your comments will know that.
If someone is not excited in today;s game doesn’t mean he is not a true red. By the way I am very excited and I know majority are excited. hate those chavs,Racist,cheating cunts. Let us beat them.
Denton — you maybe on to something there.. even i thought of the same formation..
keep it tight in midfield and out possess them for the first half, after that we can change the formation and go for it in the last 20.. ‘d say we start cautiously with this formation
ddg
rafa rio evans evra
carrick
valencia ando clev
rooney
rvp
very narrow formation, but also tony v can offer width and help keep slimy cunt cole from attacking too much.
now after the first half,
we can either get young on for ando or chicho on for ando..
that would open the game up..
in any case i like this formation..
4-1-3-1-1
Rohan – I don’t see both chicho and danny sitting out. Welbeck will start. He performs well in stamford bridge ( For sunderland) . Chicho could come in the second half. Tony V will also start as he performs well against ashley cole.
Sigh Berbatov’s owning at Fulham.
5 mil is an absolute steal
I’m extremely nervous for the match today. Just thinking how many goals the defence leaked this season makes me wana crap my pants, that and chelsea’s pacey midfield. I hope the manager doesn’t dissapoint us with the line up as he did at Tottenham. Giggs and scholes together against a team like chelsea is a recipe for disaster.