In Behind looks at why AC Milan won’t beat United.
The Times looks at the future of Dimitar Berbatov.
Birmingham blog, Joys and Sorrows, is a fan of Wayne Rooney.
The Daily Mail reckons Barca want John O’Shea.
The Chelsea Blog looks at Rafa’s latest rant.
Monkey Mag has Ashley Cole as their Twat of the Week.
Spectator has some interesting stats on the Premiership now compared to 92-93.
The Chelsea Blog reckons Guus Hiddink is biding his time with Turkey.
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Has anyone else’s browser been crashing over the past few days on RoM?
Not mine. It’s Firefox btw.
I’m on IE8 (that’s my problem I hear people say), but I think it’s something to do with one of the ad providers because every time it happens the status bar says it’s waiting for content from “http://files.vid-loader” or something like that.
The Times article on Berbatov is pretty spot on to be honest – I know he’s done some good things while here and I will support him when he plays but he hasn’t performed anywhere near to the extent that he HAS to play and to be honest our best performances this season have come when he’s not in the team. People will be crying out for a partner for Rooney in the summer but does he need one? Surely what we need is someone who can do a job if god-forbid Rooney is unavailable – because at the moment I wouldn’t fancy our chances against anyone in the CL without Rooney.
That’s not to dismiss our excellent midfield at all, but as far as strikers go I don’t believe we have another one who could win a tough european game for us like Rooney can.
spot on big phil – it would be nice if Owen or Berbatov leave in the summer to sign another big name striker…we have plenty of wingers but we need someone with class that can either pair with Rooney or fill in if he goes down.
Dont know who that is yet…I would love Pato but he may be too expensive, Dzeko may be a possibility but I’m sure SAF has something in mind already
I’m on Google Chrome and everything’s working fine. Btw Wolves have been fined for not fielding their full-strength team against United, as if they were the first and only ones to rotate their squad. Total disgrace.
@ Berbatovs’ love life, it’s weird that you are using this username as you said you want to see Berbatov leave at the end of the summer so we can find someone better to partner Rooney.
I have to admit, Berbatov has not lived up to his expectations. Rooney bursting into good form and his instant adaptation to the 4-5-1 restricted Dimi to the bench, including his surgery. I just think he is not being used properly. He currently does not fit into our system; but I really want to see how he would play ‘in the hole’, leading our attack in midfield, behind Rooney and supported by our wingers. He is naturally a striker, but I think playing up in midfield/in the middle would best suit his assets and style. For example:
Brown Rio Evans Evra
Fletcher Carrick
Berbatov
Valencia Giggs
Rooney
I really think it would work.
@ Che Guevarist – Disgrace indeed. Who are the Premier League to tell Mick McCarthy who he should pick, or try to rule what constitutes a club’s “strongest” team?
@ Fze – I’d play him against West Ham at home, then we’ll have a chance to assess where Berbatov stands at the minute. I would rest Rooney (ahead of the Cup final) and play Berbatov with Owen. If these two experienced strikers can’t muster a goal or two between them against West Ham then there is no hope for either of them.
As for Berbatov ever starting a really important big game, it will never happen again. If Rooney gets injured or suspended and we have to rely on Berba, we are in trouble.
Im moving to opera browser for wat its worth.
Fred – Agree pal. Play Berba with Owen or even Diouf against the hammers and rest Rooney. Would not like to be the one though to tell Rooney he ain’t playing!
Abt the Ashley Cole incident… I suppose the chavs’ defense is getting exposed big time huh…
Considering that Rooney has made the position his own and the the chances of us playing too much of 4-4-2 being slim, we may as well play Berba as the playmaker in front of Carrick and Fletcher. We are not going to get half of what we paid for him if we get rid next break. And there are not exactly a lot of options that would work around Rooney’s central role.
Fuck sake.
Why would anyone want Pato. He’s shit, just like every “next best thing”
I wouldn’t call him “shit” exactly.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Berbatov’s status changed during the summer. However, whoever comes in(whether it’s Huntelaar, Benzema or anyone else) will have the same problem: They won’t start away matches. Ferguson wants to play 4-5-1 nowdays and wants Rooney as the main striker. If we want to play a 4-4-2, we will need a strong midfield duet.
Barcelona wants john oshea? well… off course… who wouldnt like to have the best right back in the world on their team… but BIG O is staying in manchester… the ultimate potato…
I disagree, Costas. Berbatov doesn’t start tough games because he isn’t good enough/doesn’t fit our system. If we signed Benzema (or any other fast, dynamic, world class striker) Fergie might re-shape the team to have Benzema (or whoever) as the spearhead with Rooney playing off him.
VDS
Rafael Rio Evans Evra
Carrick Fletcher
Valencia Rooney Nani
Benzema
a 4-2-3-1 type arrangement.
@ oshea22 – agreed. If they want our crown jewel they’d better offer Messi, Xavi & Iniesta in exchange – then we’ll talk. Until then, they can keep dreaming of the day “The Big Potato” graces the Camp Nou.
Now they’ve got their players tapping him up. Just read this from Pique:
‘He is in a very delicate situation, so we will see what happens in the summer.’
‘My team-mates ask me what is O’Shea like and I say that, besides being a good person, he creates a good atmosphere,’ said Pique.
‘He has said that he has contract and that he wants to fulfill it. But I would like to have him in my team before that.’
I’m fuming about this.
@Elvido
4-4-2 is boring as hell. But I can see SAF playing it against the weaker teams in the league at home to keep Berbatov and Owen happy.
I am a massive fan of the 4-3-3 system. Well I was even when Ajax were using it in the mid 90′s in the Champions League. Talking about Berbatov and Owen fitting in to that system. It’s hard to see it happening. Even Henry had to play on the left of the front 3 for Barcelona with Eto’o and Messi. Only a certain type of player can do that job on the wings and neither Berbatov or Owen can do it. In hindsight probably should have kept Tevez as he was already familiar with the system, 5 years younger, and £5 million cheaper. I know I’m gonna take some shit for that but there you go.
@Edge
If Pato can get in to the AC Milan team I wouldn’t call him shit.
But they can have him for Berbatov if they want!
Plus it’s snowing here. AGAIN.
@Fred
I don’t know about that. Look at the time we brought Veron and Ruud to the club. Ruud could have had partners like Cole, Yorke or Solskjaer, yet Sir Alex was sticking with 4-5-1. For the tough matches anyway. Also, we played 4-5-1(or 4-2-3-1) in the knock out stages of the Ch.League in the 07-08 season, even though we had Tevez at the club. I believe that as long as 4-5-1 works for him, he won’t change it.
At the moment do you see Rooney as a striker dropping deep? Until recently, I thought that’s what he was, but his recent performances illustrate that he is a main striker now. If we are going to bring someone at the club, they would have to play off him.
What is it with Spanish sides and our players? Make your own players for a change! Sheasy isn’t going anywhere.
@Costas
I’ll have Henry on the left and Ronaldo on the right then!
Put Tvez on th bench as back up! Hehehe.
@AlphaRS
Lol, I always thought Henry was wasted on the left. I would play Ronaldo on the left and the current Nani on the right.
@ Fred, err how can Sheasy’s main asset, his versatility, go unmentioned by Pique? What is it with Barcelona. They wanted Evans last August, then put their sights on Vidic and now we hear this recent interest in O’shea. Won’t be long before they announce they want Red Nev too. He creates better atmosphere than Sheasy does, if that is what the Barcelona players are looking for.
the times article was spot on – my ass… just a cheap shot at United. i would agree with most of the opinions above but you have to look at the big picture. 1. berbatov is not clutch – well, it is tough to play well in big games if you dont play in big games! 2. we all know how teams work. we all know who the One was last year and who the Heir was… now the Heir has 25 goals and plays brilliantly. the best you can do is fit in as a feeder/second striker 3. berbatov slows the team down – now you can argue this for 3 days, but i believe that United have RULED the past 20 years MORE than anything because they play possession football in a league/country that plays “kick and run” football. that’s why i think berbatov fits in the team although SOMETIMES he can slow down an attack… and so on and so on… yes, most of us expected more of him, but you cannot assess the situation outside of the circumstances…
@chimsira
Completely agree mate. Berbatov fits in, and he should be playing off Roo, in order to release him or the wide players with throughballs. In the 5-0 victory over Wigan, he played off Wayne Rooney, and fed Valencia, Rooney and Park several times. Remember the throughball for Valencia that led to Carrick’s goal? Fucking class. Which is what he is all about.
I think that, much like formerly hated and now loved Nani, he just needs a decent run in the side. Play Fletch and Carrick in the centre of midfield when playing a 4-2-3-1 with berba:
VDS
Rafael – Rio – Vida – Pat
Fletch – Carrick
Valencia/Nani – Berba – Giggsy
Roo
In european away games, where possesion and controlling the game are particularly important Berbatov WOULD be able to play as the creating midfielder, but, like Fergie, I would choose someone with a higher work-rate, and although Scholes haven’t got the same as Fletch, it is higher than Berba’s.
Verdict: Berba should play off Rooney, if Fletcher and Carrick are available, and we want to take the game to our opponents. If we want to sit back and defend (Barca in the away leg 08) we should play Scholes or Ando in stead of Berba and just play 4-3-3/4-5-1.
Berba is class, nuff said.
@ProperMancsAreRe
Berbatov a creative midfielder? For £30.75 million?
There are better creative midfielders for half that price.
The linesmans workrate is higher than Berbatov.
Whether he is class or not is opinion. Don’t think he has come anywhere near.
As I said last night it puzzles me why any United fan would want that greedy cunt Benzema. He turned us down and it ain’t going as planned. Fuck him. He has made his bed let him lie in it. I want players at United that actually choose to play for us and not for the money. And that means Berbatov.
Still the myth doing the rounds about Berbatov’s “work rate”. Check the stats. People knew damn well he wouldn’t run around like a maniac.
AlphaRS – Snowing! Where do you live? We should not have kept Tevez mate. He was never gonna stay anyway, the deal was done weeks before the end of the season. Anyway not getting into it.
Boy oh boy John O’ Shea has come a long way hasnt he…
Scott – seeing as though the Brummies love Rooney and have done a piece on him please can you do one on Chu Chu or Jerome!
Hm, people slagging off Berbatov, what a surprise! Yawn.
Benzema chose the fascists over United and Tevez, the money-grabbing, illiterate c*nt signs for Citeh…. yet people still talking about them in our lineup over Berbatov? Pathetic.
@King Eric
Personally think Tevez was a better option because he suits 4-3-3, 5 years younger, £5 million cheaper. He has been acting a complete tw*t though since he left. It’s that bitter “you didn’t love me enough and I know I’m never gonna win anything with City and I regret leaving United” that annoys me.
Do you think we’re being a bit arrogant when a player leaves us we say he should never be allowed back, or if a player turns down a transfer to us we say he should never be make an effort to sign him again…?
The Fascists were prepared to pay over the odds for him and SAF decided the keep the cheque book in his jacket pocket. I don’t know what it is but I don’t ever want a reject from The Fascists. We aren’t their feeder club and we don’t take their cast off’s either!
I live in sunny Birmingham mate and it is snowing YET AGAIN.
Atleast 3 inches have settled and it’s STILL snowing.
@King Eric
No do one on Christian Benítez!
AlphaRS – I don’t think we are being arrogant mate, no. Benzema had his chance in the summer to join the worlds best club under the worlds best manager but thought it prudent to chase the cash and consequently his career has gone down the pan. Fuck him. Snowing in Birmingham eh?
Alpha – Chu Chu IS Christian Benitez!!
@King Eric
I don’t know how much of a choice Benzema had though?
If The Fascists came in with another £5 million Lyon would have done business with the highest bidder. I don’t know what is wrong with footballers these days. Winning medals or making lots of money. The Giggs and Scholes of the day are a dying breed.
Sorry mate didn’t know Chu Chu was Christian Benitez. I call him Chuppa Chups! Hehehe. I read that story on the Blues Blog. Do you think Capello can see Rooney doesn’t need Heskey to play upfront with him for England?!
@AlphaRS
I don’t think it is arrogance, I just don’t want a player at United if they don’t want to be here (Tevez, Benzema). We are Manchester United, the biggest club in the world, we shouldn’t want players to wear the shirt if they don’t want to be here 100%.
I think the real ‘arrogance’ is when people say every player who isn’t at United is overrated or not talented, especially if they don’t play in England… like people saying Pato is ‘overrated.’ He is no Wayne Rooney, but he is an obvious talent.
@Sanj
You are right it is arrogance when people say players that aren’t at United are overrrated. I personally think Paul Scholes has been one of the most underated players in the league for ten years. I also think Fletcher will be the same. I actually thought Beckham was the most overrated player in the world when he was at United.
There are many players out there who have talent. It just depends on whether that is channelled in the right way. For instance Bellamy a cnut he maybe could have been really good. Same goes for Anelka.
according to the latest rumours from extremely unreliable sources, man city is lining up a 800£ million bid to pursuade john oshea to the eastlands in the summer… according to john osheas facebook profile he is quoted “omg just heard man city is intrested in signing me lol… i wouldnt sign a city contract with anything else than my urine… because their shite…”
@Alpha RS
Definitely agree about Scholes and Fletch… If you had said Fletcher would be the first name on the team sheet awhile back, people would thought you were crazy (myself included). However, now I think Fletch is one of the most underrated midfielders in England. He has made Hargreaves’ inability to play much less significant.
@ oshea22 – glad to hear O’Shea’s response. I was starting to worry with those £800m City bid rumours gathering pace. The Barca rumours just won’t go away though. Apparently they see him more as a number 10 and are lining him up to be their new Maradona. Latest I’ve read from some bloke on Twitter is that O’Shea’s girlfriend hates the weather in Manchester. Got a bad feeling about this…
Fred and O’shea – Ha ha. nice one.
AlphaRS – Completely agree about Scholes and Fletcher. Scholes if he played for Ingerlund would still be their best midfielder by a country mile as I have put on the next post. Fletch in my opinion and I really believe this is by distance now the best box to box midfielder in the Premier league. He is more than that though. He can control games now, can pass the ball well and is now creative as well. Just how good he can get is exciting to say the least. Can become a real OT legend. Been at the club since he was 12 or summat .
@Sanj
Hargreaves is a proper sicknote. Personally I don’t think he will ever be back to the kinda form that caught SAF’s eye. I hope I’m wrong though.
Fletcher has come in to his own the last 2 years. That’s why SAF get’s paid the big bucks!
@Fred
I thought Barca and Liverpool were fighting it out for the signature of “own goal” for £812 million after his 10 top class finishes against United. This being after Liverpool missed out on signing B.Ball after he decided to join Stoke City!
@AlphaRS : completelt agree with you about Beckham – great player, but I found him overrated. To all those who suggest playing Berba down the middle behind Rooney and behind Fletch and Carrick, I dont think it will work – and here’s why:
When you need to to defend, this guy has got to drop down a bit and provide a little bit of cover, go in for some challenges and do a little bit of defensive duty…and Berba isnt the guy for that. Post Scholes, Ando is the guy for that. What we need is a real, lead the line striker as cover for Rooney when he needs rest or is injured – either Diouf and Macheda come good quickly, or we get someone who can do that – someone like Benzema/Gomez/Klose, or even someone like Defoe/Saha.
Sadly, though I like Berba, I don’t really think that on current form and with the current strategy and team composition, he gels in with the overall chemistry of the team.
Late comment, but here it is…:)
Better late than never, Jeet.
I think this 4-5-1 (however you describe it) system has started to work well, but it’s not so long since I used to dread the thought of Rooney playing as a lone striker. My point is that the team have figured out how to make it work, but when they first tried it, it sucked. Yet Sir Alex persisted with it, especially in the big matches. Why? To me, it’s because our midfield can’t cut it against top teams in a 4-man formation — and Sir Alex knows it. Shit, after Barcelona last year, we all know it. Our guys are good, no doubt about it. But against the best of the opposition, they struggle. With 4 in the middle, we have to choose between two options: keep the fast, wide men and take risks in the middle, or strengthen the middle and sacrifice the ability to go fast down the sides.
I believe Sir Alex has concluded that against the best teams, we need both options at our disposal, and that means 5 in the middle.
If that’s true, it puts an interesting perspective on the Berba debate. I mean, if you’re saying that Berba gets dropped against the top teams because he’s not good enough, then what you’re syaing is that the 5-man midfield is really just an afterthought, a fallback because we’ve only got one good striker and, well, you need 11 players on the field. I don’t believe that is the case. If Berba left (as he may well do), and we buy a top-class striker (name your choice), but do not strengthen the midfield, do you think Sir Alex will start to play 4-4-2 against top teams, instead of 4-5-1? I don’t.
I think 4-4-2 will only come back when Hargo becomes available again (assuming that he will), or someone like him. Otherwise, I think we will continue to see 4-5-1 against top teams, and 4-4-2 elsewhere. And in that case, Berba may leave, but don’t expect a high-profile replacement (because which high-profile player would want to sit on the benth for those matches?). Instead, I would expect to see more use of the younger strikers in the 4-4-2 matches, and 4-5-1 in the big games.