Ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford to play Manchester United in the Champions League with Real Madrid, he has spoken of his feelings for his former club.
“I still have a great feeling of friendship and love for them, they are a team that have done a lot for my career,” said Ronaldo. “The fans know me well and I have a lot of friends there that I keep close to my heart. But now I’m defending Real Madrid’s colours. It’s a bit of a sad feeling I guess. But I want to score, and for us to win, and that would make everything better.”
Man Utd News 24/7
No chance Ronny
Feeling sad is when we kick your ass in Champions league. Let Maureen dare try to poke SAF staff in the eye after we kick his ass.
Well lets hope you have a horrid nite and nothing goes your way!
Off topic, Mancini losing it getting physical with Balotelli. Maureen must be licking his lips. City are just what he likes a rich club, accommodating patient owners, a platform from which to preen himself. He would do well there for 2 years before his usual 3rd year crash kicks in.
So much for Maureen man-management, if he can’t get Madrid behind him he will never manage the egos at City, even Mancini has been driven mad by Tevez & Balotelli sagas. Plus his other whinging players.
As unpopular as it will likely sound to most of my fellow United fans, I personally don’t want him back. He wanted out and he got it.
I would have to be holding my nose as I rooted for United if he was back at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo ….spoken like a true attention whore. I will reserve all my feelings for you until after we eliminate you from the UCL this year. Cheers.
typical of ronaldo, always about himself, no question he is unhappy there, and like many predicted, moving to Madrid was a huge mistake. He has tasted what its like at that club, and even someone has dynamic and life thrill seeking has ronaldo is, even he is realizing its taking its tole, and its sucking the life out of him.
As Sir Alex said, grass is not always greener in the other side…
I always thought, boyhood dream or not, he made a mistake by moving to Madrid, as United and EPL were better suited to him. Spanish do not like Portugese very much, do they (Even his team mate Pepe admitted that recently)?
I do not think we have crazy money to bring him back!
Also, Spurs have pulled one over us. They send Fryers to Belgium, so they do not pay us compensation. We should make them pay when we meet them soon at WHL and beat them well and truly!
As much and all as I admire him as a footballer I dont buy into all this talk, He could hardly wait to get out of OT
Of course he wants to be adorned by United, maybe he wants to show his own fans how much he’s loved elsewhere, And the only love he has is for himself.
I wish Ando was fit Vida will be huge but defensively only Ando in MF has the pace and ability to track ans stymie Ronnie. Carrick in MF will not be able to handle Madrid attack on his own and lacks the pace to deal with a flying Ronnie & co. Scholes, Clev and Kagwa are not good enough defensively. The whole team will need to defend together well.
I am confident Young has the pace and positioning to help defend LW, same for Valencia on RW. Through the middle is the worry. I expect we will play counter attack when we go to Madrid. My line up away at RM:
De Gea
Rafael Rio Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Cleverly Ando Young
Van Persie
With a switch to 4-4-2 later depending on how game goes – swap Cleverly for Pea. We stay at least level at Madrid, and take any chances, we can finish the job at home.
Yeah yeah Ronnie. Bore off. If you loved United that much why go to Madrid. Love him as a player but I aren’t buying all this bollocks.
As a kid, Ronnie in Portugal would have grown up watching the galacticos of Madrid – the era of Zidane, Figo (his hero and countryman and why RM has such a following in Portugal), Raul, Ronaldo (Brazil) and later Beckham. Many of those players like Zidane and Raul clearly loved RM and were tough men but gentlemen and the Club not only seemed to have a great spirit but it was sometimes like watching the Harlem Globe Trotters. RM was a joy to watch then and that group elevated the status of the Club. Two FIFA best players in the world. It was the place to be. The team to watch. There he would have been amongst equals and greats.
Unfortunately, by the time he got there it was a pile of piss. And what he did not realise is that at that time United had taken over the mantle of the great entertainers in Europe, the exciting team to watch, the team that put 7 past Roma in a master class of one touch football and was churning out stars, Rudd, Rooney, Giggs, the best defence, he was a big part of that. Only now does he see it. OK maybe he doesn’t. But that is more poetic.
@ hans
I can’t blame him for moving to RM as it was the club he supported.. If I was at RM and United came in for me I would leave in a heartbeat, irrespective of the money or trophies I was getting at RM.
Why wouldn’t he? We’re the most awesome team to ever walk this earth!
“I always thought, boyhood dream or not, he made a mistake by moving to Madrid, as United and EPL were better suited to him”
Ronaldo (as well as other products from england) is wrecking la liga. His goals to game ratio is insane. Of course the complicating factor is that he’s the best player in the world but there you go.
He made me excited to watch Utd games even in the days when all he did was tricks and had little end product. I still have a little vague hope we’ll see him again but he is on insane wages at Madrid. I wouldn’t give it up if I was getting what he was (and taxed as he is).
Who knows though maybe he’ll make enough money and come over with Mourinho to see out his career. We loved him better than the Madridistas.
What a player he is though! I was watching some clips of his this morning during his time with us! He is a beast class player with an unbelievable self belief. However you feel he have united and edge with his sheer cockiness. I wish him best of luck but this is all talk no way he comes back I don’t see Rooney wanting to play 2nd fiddle to Ronnie again. Hope we trash Madrid and get through
Well Cristiano how’s about u stop felling sorry and return instead of hoping to score against us, that would make things a lot better
@ Toms – Rooney and RVP are paid more than Ronnie. That is part of his issue with RM.
I would definately take him back. He is an odd little character but one of the best players ever and his focus, talent and commitment are on a different level.
There is however, a satisfaction of a Club scorned in that the new love he left us for has soured and he is making cow eyes at us. But as people noted, Ronnie is Ronnie, he will do what suits him. He will be respectful to United. However I have no doubt statements like the above wind up Madrid fans the same way his “God knows what will happen” and surly attitude towards the end of his United career wound up United fans.
He went on his terms with the blessing of SAF, he made the Club loads of money, he was keen to go but has never said a bad thing about United. All his comment are positive about United and he still watches and supports the Club. He has ties here. He has never hidden that he maintained an affection for the Club. If he comes back on our terms. Welcome.
I’m realy feeling this game think Utd will win going away,R.am it up Maureens and Ronnie’s ass,ruin Real’s season and get Rid of a bunch of fucking trolls it ‘ll be a sweet day
Question for y’all: contemplating 1 of the 2:
1) Go to Madrid on Feb 13th for Real vs. United sitting between Real fans or in the away section if lucky to find a ticket
2) Home game at Old trafford against Everton on Feb 10 and watch the Real at a United pub in London
FYI I am a New Yorker passing through Europe and figured need to do 1 of the 2 above
Think smalling should start rcb to deal with Ronaldos pace when he cuts in
Jay couldn’t agree less pal. Has to be Rafael.
Yeah need Rafa to start all top wingers have issues with him,close down Ronnie the tie is Utd’s
From what I’ve read he has Madrid under pressure to make a ridiculous offer or risk not recouping by the end of his contract. They’ll offer the world for him to stay, but I still wouldn’t be surprised if he came back.
I don’t think he went for the money alone in the first place Madrid are the biggest Club in European competition, so its only natural he wanted to prove himself in Spain and he’s already done that – minus the European Title he WON’T be winning this season.
But if Ronaldo wants to be remembered as the best player of his generation, he has to come back to England (preferably United!) to make his case. Messi isn’t brilliant outsi won’t be surpassed, but thats just in Spain.
Ferguson reckons he’s got years left at the Top and I don’t doubt him. Thats just enough time to bring Ronaldo back for nothing and leave in a blaze of predetermined glory. Stranger things have happened in Football.
Did Keano ever play a testimonial?
He absolutely went for the money 1mill a month 21/2 years ago was lots,thing is now a lot of players have caught up with him.Neat trick Madrid being the biggest team in Europe when Utdare the biggest team in the world,how does that work? Madrid are living on past glories,when was the last CL final they were in,Madrid are always overrated because in the past spent a ton of money on Rent boys
He got his sun tan. It’s pretty much glued on. He can come back to the rain now and focus on footie.
Most fans: United, Barca, Madrid. In Europe most fans is Barca I believe. But I don’t think any accurate study has been done. Ronnie will sell lots of shirts in Portugal and Messi will sell shirts everywhere as they are 2 best players. So if based on short sales of these two it would skew numbers .
I don’t know what the second coming of Ronaldo would be like. The first was a complete cardiac case, start to finish for me. Everything one hates about diving petulant players? that was our Ronaldo. Then the last 2 years when he was actually contributing more than bleeding dive accusations? right, then we got 24/7 doses of “Only god knows”.
Honestly, give me Rooney any day. Complain about the Rooney’s and the Rio contract sagas all you want. End of the day, they stayed.
Last great player to come back was Mark Hughes. I’m sorry, but Sparky had more character in his left foot than Ronney has in his entire “Only god knows” body. Maybe not as much raw skill, but being a United player is a bit more than that.
Spend 80m on Ronnie? Tell me you are joking.
Ronnie,do what most lovers who regret breaking up with their loves do.See if your former is open to recociliation sometimes works.
Too little too late.
Fuck I’m feeling all Deirdre ish.
NBI Red No, Keano never had a testimonial. Would have been a sight. But not going to happen in my view.
@Fletch
Keane actually did have a testimonial. After the 05-06 season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7tWUhbvWl4
swap for Bebe ?
Costas, Stand corrected. Just skipped my mind I guess. All the vitriol warping my memory.
Wouldn’t it be funny if Wazza got him sent off then winked at Fergie
@Fletch
I can see why that would happen, lol. I don’t remember plenty of hype about that testimonial anyway. It felt more like an opportunity to go through with it while there was still common ground between him and the club.
Thanks for info. I regret we never got to say a proper goodbye to Keano.
I didn’t expect him to come to unveiling of SAF statute when invited given how they fell out, but hopefully that gesture from the Club will thaw things in time to come. It is an enormous shame our iconic captain has had such a bitter departure. More than Ronnie, come back and make up Keano, pick up the phone and get it over with then come watch a game and hear us sing your name.
@James7t7
That would be hysterical!
stupid news…journalist writing this…and it is unbelievable how people can eat this shit…possibility that Ronaldo came back is -273 degrees Kelvin..-that means absolute zero, nada, nothing…imossible….
Who can pay him 15 mils per year + all comercial rights from shirts…He like us, but he likes money more…but what im very happy is the fact that he can see what king of club is RM..you wanted go there, well, here you are…eat what you made for diner
I have to say Keano listening to this girly warbling from Ronnie would probably have given him another slap.
@mara
That’s a hilarious and fitting quote there in the end.
Ronnie left and saw the “Real” Madrid. Not so pretty up close is she. Like Rooney in a wig and pink dress in a dark night club.
@Wayne, you’d have to know EUrope to understand how Madrid can be the biggest Club in Europe while United are the biggest in the world. Across the continent Germans, Spaniards and Italians alike are all in agreement about who the “biggest” Club in Europe are. Its the European club with the most European Titles, surely?
@mara
One word – TAX
The EPL will soon offer a better rate of Tax than La Liga. Also, we already pay Rooney over the 15m you reckon Ronaldo would want, so paying him a fair wage is hardly a bad move? I doubt United would insist on owning all of Ronaldo’s image rights either. Im not saying he IS coming back btw, but him staying in Spain isn’t as concrete as people are suggesting. He has to go somewhere, why not United?
Never mind about Ronnie … he’ll be treated like a hero when he returns …. what about Mancini
“He’s cracking up.
He’s cracking up
Roberto’s cracking up!!!!
United TID: The comment on Taxes is interesting. Apparently Spain is considering a rework of the tax code that would “appear” to put the current incredible advantage La Liga have at risk.
Most of the high end players in Spain won’t be affected (short term) because their contracts are written as net income. Meaning clubs like Real and Barca will be forced to make up the difference. Ultimately, however, the move could make it more difficult for La Liga teams to offer the ridiculous wages currently on offer.
“Like Rooney in a wig and pink dress in a dark night club”
Quote of the year!
CR7 knows he’ll never match Messi. No one will for a long, long time. So what does a person like Ronaldo do? He bails because RM is in a hopeless situation.
I’m English and worked in Germany in the 80′s before moving to Canada so I’ve no idea what you mean,I didn’t need a work permit and UK was one of the founding members of the European Union.Think its fucked up a Utd fan would consider Real Madrid a bigger team than Utd
I’d accept him back in a heartbeat (obv he’d be delighted to hear that vital news
).
Plus -t*ssers that they are -I always feel The Glazers are just as likely to approve “Glory” transfers as “percentage” ones -e.g Baines or whatever.
@NBI I thought Ronaldo was on a scaling wage that went up year on year + additional image rights that UTD had claimed + a 20% top tax rate vs 50% in England.
His wages were supposed to rise to levels…. “only god knows” (:p)
Ok as far as I can gather the European Cup/CL was formed in 1955 Real Madrid won the first 5 and have won 9 total,so since 1959 they’ve won 4 in 53 years,yeah that doesn’t make them the biggest team in Europe makes them the most overrated team ever.This is the first time I’ve ever dug into the history of those cunts but as far as I can see like Liverpool living on ancient history
De Gea
Rafael Evans Vidic Coentrão
Ronaldo Fellaini Moutinho Bale
Van Persie Rooney
… yep.
I’m guessing the first 5 years of the European Cup wasn’t the most competitive how the fuck did these cunts get such a big reputation 4 in 53 yrs massive club
And how many did we get?
Hi @ Toms. My understanding is that he has a fixed salary that is covered more than twice over by his shirt sales. So RM pay nothing for him in reality and he brings in profits. Also his annual salary is lower than Rooney and Messi. Ronaldo is on about EUR 12 million a year including bonus and image rights.
I understand the 24% tax rate for professional footballers no longer applies this tax year, so he will pay 56% on his salary. Apparently his contract states that he is entitled to a net amount RM will pay for the tax increase but that means they are unlikely to want to raise his salary. He wants to be on par with the best paid footballers in the world, he is far below that. Even Tevez earns more net.
And another thing if the Babes tradedgy hadn’t happened the cunts would be 3 or 4 more short so I’ve concluded the claim to fame of the virus is winning the spanish league lots of times when the odds were stacked in their favour.Real Madrid are the most overrated team in the history of football
Daniel don’t use we you troll cunt,related to Daneil88,or all the other troll cunts that constantly change their names
I’m using team and it should be club they’d won their 6th by 66 before it became a competition so thatt means they’ve won 3 in 47 years,fuck me I’ve been giving them to much credit.Everyone bangs on about Liverpool living in the past,having nothing on the Virus,I’m being dead serious their history is based on bollocks
I’m pleased united till I die rated Real Madrid the biggest team in Europe obviously that’s a contradtion to his user name.Utd till I die but Real Madrid are the biggest club in europe WHAT THE FUCK to those who are not deaf wtf. Real Madrid are Liverpool times 2 really don’t have any history outside the first 10 years of the European Cup
I’m a old Red who doesn’t understand cunts like denton who slag off Utd players.I live by who wear the shirt and be commited then if you’re a Utd fan the lad should be supported.What most cunts like denton don’t get its the work of players like Young that give RVP the space and time to make sure Utd win games.denton is a fucking idiot,the way he slags of players not a Utd fan a cunt
By the way denton I live in Calgary if you come this way would love 10 mins with you
@wayne- You said whatever I wanted to say in your last message. Thanks.
Denton I’m sure you live in Canada for Gods sake call me 40r-238-4166,I don’t like you and want to take you out
@ wayne – dude – Brit in Canada friggin behave. You are over 50 and you act like a hyped up teenager on speed. Your over-aggression and threats make you sound like a sad lonely bastard. You make some good comments on football sometime. Make them and shut the fck up with your threats and laying into everyone who has a different view, it gets boring and you take it too far. Seriously get laid or something.
I absolutely agree with Wayne. Real madrid are over rated. They like city and chelsea have spent millions of money and yet failed to dominate european football. Only during their prime galacticos period they won 3 times like Barca have won 3 times now in past 6 years. I can bet if ronaldo had stayed or if we had bought players like Madrid buys we would have won 5 times by now.
I never like real madrid. I respect AC milan,Bayern munich and barca more than Madrid. They are just a hollywood club who like to buy superstar. The power of madrid have gone less after the dominance of Barca.
Let us knock them out and ronaldo can keep on thinking.
NBI Says
My line up away at RM:
De Gea
Rafael Rio Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Cleverly Ando Young
Van Persie
Have I gone blind or is rooney seriously missing from your line up. You can never drop player like rooney who will give 100% in games like this.
Jeez wayne. CALM DOWN.
still drunk from new year’s, I see, wayne
@Wayne:
i agree with anything u say, i also understand with your anger after reading comments after comments by so called united fan here but jeez calm down no need to over aggresive on the internet pal…
@ Costas
@ United till i die
I would love that Ronaldo come here…but i m almost sure he will choose someone else. He would look for more money than Rooney. If Fergie is a owner, i have no doubt what he would do.
RM became so big circus that you can t enjoy there any more. The pressure they make on players dont give you satisaction in the game any more.
I actually think there is something going on here and we could see Ronny back in the red shirt you know. This story just keeps on re-appearing it’s head and I just hope it’s not me getting too excited ove nothing!
NBI Red Onion says: “over-aggression and threats make you sound like a sad lonely bastard”
What a fucking hypocrite! This is the cunt who prayed for the death of Dimitar Berbatov.
NBI also attacks the mothers of those he disagrees with, making harsh statements about their sexual behaviour. He also wished for the death of SAF. NBI is a cunt.
On a more personal note, NBI claims that I was banned. Idiotic and incorrect.
Why would STR publish articles on RoM that were written by someone he had banned?
He wouldn’t.
Actually, NBI has a history of usurping RoM regulars user-names, submitting multiple posts designed to discredit by pretending to attack other locals. Also, NBI is extremely rude to StR, and has frequently derided our host on RoM.
NBI Red Onion = plastic = cunt.
wayne is a top Red, a true United supporter and a real fan, and should absolutely not calm down.
He should continue to expose the selfish cunts on RoM who are NOT United supporters
Keep up the good work wayne.
after we beat madrid this quote should be shown to CR7.
“Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it’s a better cow than the one you’ve got in the field. It’s a fact, right, and it never really works out that way. It’s probably the same cow and it’s not as good as your own cow. Some players like to think there’s a better world somewhere else. It never really works.”
wayne should stay off the jungle juice when posting
injuryleague.com/2013/01/anderson-returns-to-training-with-united/
will anderson be avalaible for westham?. Apparently he’s back training
I’d laugh if we smashed Madrid off the pitch. Ronnie can score as many as he wants against us just as long as we score more….
@Wayne – wind your neck in and be quiet you prat.
IN TERMS OF TITLES WON – Real Madrid are the biggest Club in European Competition, and Liverpool are the joint biggest Club in English Competition – FULL FUCKING STOP.
It doesn’t matter if you like them or not. Personally I can’t stand them, but its a question of true and false, real and fake. Do you understand? Probably not, but thats your problem.
Think about this. Do you walk around saying United only have 2 European Titles, since our first European win was nearly 5 fucking decades ago? Of course you don’t!
United have won the European Title THREE times, and do you know what that means? Liverpool have won it FIVE times and Madrid have won it NINE times.
Does stating the facts make me a Liverpool supporter too? Wind your fucking neck in and face facts.
@Wayne – and then you question my support of United? Ha, not only does that make you sound like a juvenile, you haven’t actually thought this through have you?
I’ve read you on here. You reckon City and Chelsea are small clubs with loads of money and no history, but then you turn around and say Liverpool are a small club because they’re relying on past glories?
Your fucking confused mate, make your mind up. Does history matter or not? Because if it does, no Club in Europe has a history like Madrid, and United still need one more Title to finally over take LFC. It doesn’t matter if you like them or not, facts are still facts sunshine.
Back to my original post, you clearly know fuck all about Europe if you are denying that Madrid are considered the biggest Club on the continent by most European nations.
I’ve been all over Europe and most people I meet understand that a Club with 9 European Titles has a bigger history in Europe than a Club with 3 European Titles. Its very simple.
Use your head for fuck sake. Apart from a few United supporters, did anybody on the planet suggest that Madrid was the smaller club and Ronaldo was taking a step DOWN? Fuck No.
United is my Club, always has been, but we are still 1 league title away from knocking Liverpool fully off their perch, and we’re still a long way away from overhauling Madrid in Europe.
They’re just the facts, and the love I have for my Club doesn’t change the facts. Im sure our manager reminds his players about Liverpool’s 5 and Real’s 9 all the time.
Its motivation to acknowledge your rivals, not betrayal, you fucking idiot.
Wayne @ 06:49: “I’m a old Red who doesn’t understand cunts like denton who slag off Utd players.I live by who wear the shirt and be commited then if you’re a Utd fan the lad should be supported.What most cunts like denton don’t get its the work of players like Young that give RVP the space and time to make sure Utd win games.denton is a fucking idiot,the way he slags of players not a Utd fan a cunt”
You might well be an “old Red” but age hasn’t improved either your manners or your understanding of free speech – as well as criticism.
I’m probably even older than you – but not quite as old as SAF ! It seems to me that we are not so far apart in wanting MUFC to do well, to be great, and to be entertaining. BUT one way that the team can reach the lofty heights is for each and every player to do his job.
I realize that AshleyYoung is a spear-carrier among a group of elite players BUT I think that even such a work-a-day player has to do more than flub four open chances in two consecutive matches. I think that such a player has to do more than lay on one good ball in 75 minutes (against Wigan).
I’ve not see any evidence that AshleyYoung – or an empty shirt – has done much to provide space for RVP or Chicharito or TheWayneBoy or DannyTheLad. AshleyYoung is sub-standard and his recent outings have shown that – IF he can improve on those performances then I’ll be happy with him getting a starting role but as-of-now he’s not just a non-contributor but actually a negative presence.
Calling me names – and threatening me with GBH – hardly does you any credit nor does such infantile behaviour provide much support for your claims that my assessment of AshleyYoung’s performances aren’t satisfactory. If it makes you happy to call me names – and threaten me with GBH – then you are one sad deluded old man.
Samuel @ 14:23: “will anderson be avalaible for westham?. Apparently he’s back training”
LIKE A NEW SIGNING !
Having Anderson and YoungTom available to partner MC16 would be just wonderful; playing with them seems to liberate MC16 from being Scholes’ minder and let’s him play a more aggressive, forward-looking game.
@denton
Interesting that Ashley Young bears the brunt of your criticism, but ‘DannyTheLad’, who’s fluffed every recent chance he’s had to prove himself, doesn’t.
‘DannyTheLad’ can play wide left. Do you not think Fergie would be starting him there if Young was anywhere near as ineffectual as you seem to think?
The issue with TheReturnOfCR7 is that the guy isn’t a team-player while SAF has done his utmost to foster the belief that “there’s no “I” in team” as we can see from RVP’s remarks this week.
In the NFL/NBA/NHL there’s a perpetual discussion surrounding “drafting” young players – do you go for the best available player ? or the player who best fits your needs ? Clearly, CR7 would be considered in the first of these two alternatives; he’s a wonderful athlete – fast, strong, driven by ambition, skilful, and rarely gets injured. BUT he’s given his best years – the “prime cut” of his career, as it were – to TheVirus and it seems likely that he won’t/can’t continue to operate at that level as he passes his 30th birthday.
I don’t think that money is a big stumbling-block in re-acquiring Ronaldo; the massive infusions of ca$h from the Nike, Chevrolet, and EPL television deals would essentially be eaten up by his fee/wages. The question for the bean-counters would be – will he provide surplus value in terms of
“brand recognition” ?
On the field-of-play, the question would be somewhat different – would the presence of CR7 mean that the team will again revolve around him and his “needs” as was the case in his two most productive seasons (2007/8 and 2008/9) ? An adjunct issue would be how the others – TheWayneBoy and RVP in particular – feel when/if SAF pushes their noses-out-of-joint to accommodate CR7.
It’s also important – but much less significant, in my opinion – to ask what becomes of Chicharito, DannyTheLad, Nani, AshleyYoung, AV7, and KagawaBunga ? I’d imagine that Chicharito might be part of the price UTD pay to acquire Ronaldo while the three wingers would be essentially bench-warmers (or sold off) so as to balance the books to accommodate CR7′s massive fee/wages as well as being sidelined by a new style of play which will be centered around him.
If we assume that MUFC do re-acquire Cristiano Ronaldo can we assume that SAF is going-for-broke ? Or would such an acquisition mean that he’s now abandoning his long-term strategy of team turnover/renewal in order to cope with the new challenges of petro-/gas zillionaires ?
Finally, winning the CL is such a crap-shoot – in the past decade alone, Porto, LiverPoo, and CSKALondon were complete surprises that won through a mixture of the mutual-destruction of the favourites, their own favourable draws, and no small measure of luck. Fortune may favour the brave – and SAF has continually shown himself to be a bit of a gambler – but in the CL it doesn’t necessarily favour the best team.
Once upon a time he was our best player, would love to remember him all the time but right now we are in a state of war, so let us all put the emotion and sentiments aside.
And before anyone starts – there is nobody I want to succeed more at OT than Welbeck. I think his talents are unique, and he has the potential to be a fearsome striker. Nice guy and a Manc. But the limited opportunities he’s getting this season, he’s just not taking.
Big day for him tomorrow, as he’ll surely start.
Kanchelskis @ 15:08: “Interesting that Ashley Young bears the brunt of your criticism, but ‘DannyTheLad’, who’s fluffed every recent chance he’s had to prove himself, doesn’t.”
Well, that’s a pretty good point BUT in response I’d say that DannyTheLad would be played out of position by being a winger whereas it’s AshleyYoung’s position. Welbeck is a very young, center forward who has the bad luck of being less clinical in front of goal than Chicharito; still, DannyTheLad is best when leading the line. He’s still growing into the game whereas AshleyYoung should be at the top of his own game.
Besides, didn’t Welbeck make a direct assist to RVP in his 15-minute cameo when he was played out of position ? Or am I arguing at cross-purposes with myself ?
Anyhow, I wonder whether the point-blank misses and the single effective cross in 75 minutes wouldn’t be more costly if Nani and/or AV7 were both available and match-fit. So, in answer to your question, I’d say that AshleyYoung is getting his recent playing time by default. AND it’s up to him to prove otherwise.
Denton – spot on, i agree with you saying tom and anderson do let michael carrick focus on his job which is primarily deep playmaking. Their mobility and in anderson’s case, the ability to powerful drive forward and beat opposotion midfielders gives united another dimension. I’m just hoping he can stay fit for a longer period of time. Anderson, cleverley, kagawa are all dynamic, i’ve always said michael’s game is even more effective when partnered with energetic and industrious players that can make up for his lack of immense turn of pace, their presence does make the midfield look a lot sharper and brighter, hopefully they can make regular impacts as the season rumbles on. Got some tough fixtures coming up.
@kanchelskis
Ditto your statement on Welbeck, I love the lad.he plays with so much heart and passion.he appreciates every opportunity of playing under United shirt, I guess all those crude passion and talent will one day flourish to give him the best landmark in the first team.
Kanchelskis – I will always say it, cameos aren’t helping welbeck because he’s not an impact player. He’s an all round striker that needs to be constantly involved in play, he needs to be on the same level as the rhythm of a game. I hope he takes his chances against westham but that’s not an easy ground to dominate as a forward and even if he doesn’t score, i still feel it’s a long term thing with him, patience is required for him to develop his game and get more composure.
@denton
He may be getting his playing time ‘by default’, but so is Valencia at the moment, and his form is worse than Young’s. Another one avoiding a tongue-lashing from many, not just yourself.
Yes, Welbeck made that assist. So could I have done, the way the defenders ran into each other and gave him the ball.
Also – and I’m not doubting you, it’s probably just my memory – but I’m struggling to recall any point-blank misses from Young.
@samuel
Good points about Welbeck and the rhythm of the game. He’s always looked at his best when trusted to start in a run of fixtures.
We’ll probably get a bonus 1 year of loyalty out of him cos he’s a local lad and academy product, but at the rate we’re going, I wouldn’t begrudge him choosing to move on at some point in the next couple of years if he simply can’t force his way past RVP, Rooney and Hernandez, whose progression in his all-round game seems to have pushed him into the 3rd-choice slot.
Kanchelskis – don’t try the redknapp’s “my wife could have scored that” line. Ha
@kanchelskis
finally someone got what I was trying to say one day about DannyTheLad
everybody bashed me off and though I was slating DannyWelbz, when I wasn’r.
I just said the lad has to use his opportunities better and that he was a beast from the right wing. And it proved right in the last game where I though he used his chance very good. NNow 2 games in a row he’s been ok, but he has taent and will flourish in time.
I compared him to Chicha who uses his chances in 15 or 90 minutes. I bet my life that tomorrow Danny will score, and believe me that is what I would like to see, I was a Welbz fans since that Stoke wondergoal.
but for me Welbeck played very good as a right winger and in that game you can see his talent, maybe at the moment he should establish himself as a better winger when our 3 strikers are on form.
And if one of them three gets injured, then Welbeck the kido can jump in. Let’s hope he could use his chances even better, like Chicha.
Kanchelskis – i reckon he would want to stick it out longer in order fo be force his way back into the team, you don’t throw away all the hardwork welbeck has put in to make it at united because competition intensifies, every big club has huge and fierce competition, it will improve welbeck, more sothan deter him like some make out. Robin is looking fantastic now but we’d be naive not to have players like welbeck, henriquez and will keane ready to shift him off the team. They are all very talented and capable of stepping up.
My mates just pointed something out to me. I know Liverpool have 18. When I say we need at least one more Title to really be called the biggest Club in English history, im adding together European and Domestic records. Our 19th league title was obviously a big achievement but LFC still have 23 major titles and we have 22. Thats the long and short of it.
Just think about all the EPL, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup titles we’ve won under Ferguson. After all those victories our records as English Clubs are STILL only neck and neck, so it goes to show how long they dominated English football for. So yeah, we have 19 and they have 18, but its taken us over 20 years to achieve that lads! Don’t be complacent.
The likes of City and Chelsea have a long LONG way to go to match us, but our supporters shouldn’t assume that we’ve “made it” and rest on our laurels just because we’ve finally managed to catch up with Liverpool. Their title-winning record was miles ahead of ours for YEARS, and even if we lift the CL this season they will still remain the biggest English Club in Europe until we win it 5 times.
The truth hurts I guess, but records are there to be broken, not ignored.
Our players should constantly be reminded of what LFC and Madrid have achieved, so they don’t get as complacent as some of you supporters. Yeah we’re a big Club, I reckon the biggest in the world, but in terms of history we still have loads of Titles to win and a lot more work to do. After 1968 and then relegation, the last 20 years have put us back on the map as a big Club. But its the next 20 years that will decide how big a Club we really are. Will we allow City to catch up with our 19 and allow Barca to be the first Club to catch up to Madrid? Or will we repeat our Ferguson-era success and pull ahead of everybody?
To me United are the biggest Club in the world, but records speak for themselves. We should be constantly aiming to break all of them, otherwise we might stand still like LFC did.
Should go without saying I reckon we’ve got a very good chance of knocking out Madrid. If our lads are all fit and everybody performs, this existing Squad (including Nani and Anderson) can beat anybody in Europe. This could be our year to make it FOUR, its long over due imo.
@samuel
I gotta agree with you in this one “Robin is looking fantastic now but we’d be naive not to have players like welbeck, henriquez and will keane ready to shift him off the team. They are all very talented and capable of stepping up.”
I think Welbs is one for the future and he’s a ver ytalented lad, who is in a hard position competing against 3 on form strikers. That’s why he should prove himself more as a winger in this season. ANd when he gets his chance as a striker then USE it buy scoring a goals or assisting.
But I don’t agree with @kanchelskis on “I wouldn’t begrudge him choosing to move on at some point in the next couple of years ”
Welbeck is doing muchmuch better and his all aroug work has improved, npw he needs to do a Ronaldo, and by this I mean, take his chances and score more gooals. He’s only 22 so he has time with him.
My conclusion is he should start scoring more as a striker when he gets his opportunity, cause that’s what we remember of strikers and establish himself as a winger in this season.
For example when Chicharitos all aroung game was not that good, we stil lloved him cause he scored important goals, right? well now he plays very good and scores alot. GOALS are what are remembered. Just look at Berba, and not trying to start a new discussion.
Welbeck should start doing the same when gets tge opportunity as a striker and when not well he should start establish himself as a winger
THIS IS MY SOLUTION!
many go on about welbecks assist, much like rooney, many forget young’s asisst for Rooney’s goal against shitty, and young should have got on the score-sheet, if the officials were not so awful
@FITB
exaclty,
Look, I was in my mind very angry that Young played so bad, but after that one Reading game, Ashley Young, want it or not, IN MY OPINION has been our best winger and we saw that against City for example.
Said previously I don’t see any of the fifteen teams capable of beating United in a two legged tie.This is very much Uniteds game.the knockout final is a different matter though which is why I hope we have met Barca prior to reaching it.
@parryheid
It’s a pleasure to see you so optimistic, but I still don’t understand this dramatic change from the start of the season, when – if I remember rightly – you were telling us all to expect a pretty poor season, even after the signing of RVP…
@WeAreUnited
Young has been our best winger since the Reading game? I thought he was only starting by default?
You know, after the City game I suspected that Ashley Young over the top critisism would be seen again. I just didn’t suspect that all it would take would be a couple of weeks. Deal Lord…
kanchelskis @ 15:34: “it’s probably just my memory – but I’m struggling to recall any point-blank misses from Young.”
I’m probably older than you BUT I remember three in one match and then another one in the next match – I just don’t remember who TheLads played (Newcastle = 3; West Brom = 1, I think). I also commented on the misses after both matches but I’ve let that information slip into the nether-reaches of my memory bank.
With regard to the play of UTD’s wingers – isn’t it odd that Young is missing open shots on goal, AV7 is in a form-slump, and Nani is still “in Coventry” YET TheLads are still scoring more than anyone else. Must be that “shitty midfield”, eh ? Or, to put a more positive spin, what’s going to happen when SAF gets to choose a fully match-fit and game-ready first eleven ?
@denton
Ah, I didn’t watch the Newcastle match and most highlights packages only had time for the seven goals, so I’ll take your word for it.
Against WBA, do you mean the one Foster saved? Cos for me, that was just a damn good save.
And there’s been an update on Nani at last … he’s back in training!
Daniel – Yeah typical of you to name a United side with hardly any United players actually in it! Fellaini and Moutinho in centre midfield. Yeah thats gonna work seeing as though Fellani plays off a striker.
United Till I Die – Alright pal. We DO have one more title than Liverpool!!!
United Till I die – Just read your later post where you corrected yourself. My apologies.
Is Rooney out for another 2 weeks? I actually think its bollocks as Fergie said before the Wigan game “I DON’T THINK Rooney will feature tomorrow”. I think he may start tomorrow. Certainly be back for the dippers.
United Till I Die – I disagree mate to an extent. Even in the barren 70 and 80′s United were still deemed the “glamour ” club and the bigger of the two. We have always been the bigger club.
@Costas
haha, for me Ashley Young has been outstanding by his standards, yes he’s not in that Aston Villa form yet, but he pops up in odd games and does well in big game matches. I don’t know the complain.
His beginning of the season was very hard and he also got injured. He came back and played 2 or 3 games, can’t recall badly, but then he picked himself up and since the REading game has been our best winger, so don’t get the fuss.
And about that point blank shot? Like @kanchelskis said, it was a effin unbeliavable reation save from Foster. can’t complain on that.
the misfoot kick, it happens dudess.
just realise that, Ashley Young wasn’t bought to be our saviour, but to play his part and pop odd goals here and there, when Nani comes back and returnes on form and Valencia goes on form also, then Youngie will have it hard, btu until then it’s other wingers to fight for the left-winger place.
King Eric – I think the guy is just trolling, my stance has changed since we beat shitty, we showed we can match nearly any side in europe, barca is still a tricky one because of the fantastic 4. But anyone else we are easy a match, or better than most of those sides. And I think we have found a perfect balance in midfield, carrick and cleverlys form, has really transformed the fortunes of our engine room, in the summer I do feel we need one more CM, and 2 more defenders
Here’s the lineup I’d want for the tie, ideally:
De Gea
Rafael Vidic Rio Evra
Carrick Ando
Wazza Nani
Clevz
RvP
By now, DDG, Rafa, Vida, RvP and Pat are givens. I’d pick Rio really for his experience, but I would maybe vouch for one of the younger CBs (Jonny, Smalling, or Jonesy) because they’ve maybe got more legs to deal with any pacey front men of Real’s, but current form at that time will tell. The Carrick/Ando/Clevz diamond has been argued already, so I won’t elaborate further. Rooney and Nani I include for the former’s influence when he’s on the pitch. It’s a whole different United when he’s on his game, and Nani because of the unpredictability you get with him. Young and TonyV have been doing great, I just find they’re a little too cut-and-dry and TonyV hasn’t been the same of late, so that’s why I disclude him. Both Nani and Wazza can change the game in a heartbeat and I feel that you need that and they’ve both got that magic in them that can hopefully unlock the Real defence repeatedly and give RvP some service. They can swap wings, too, and I’d maybe swap Nani with Valencia to get that partnership with Rafael, which means putting Rooney on the left.
Zemmamma77
take clevs out and put Kagawa on that sheet, and we’re a force.
Clevs could play instead of Carrick or Ando.
And this line-up if everyone are in form, but that should be the case when playing for ManUtd.
kanchelskis,
pretty straightforward at the start of the season the surrender of the previous season was very fresh in my mind and still not forgotten I saw massive holes in our team defence Evra who I hoped would regain some kind of form.He has, helped by the signing of Buttner,Midfield and my main source of concern nobody being bought I reckon we need Two still,I accept a bit of improvement with cleverly but Scholes deary me and it takes some willpower to mention the name of the egg on legs Anderson.Van Persie I have recognized always as a quality player but preferred our mid sorted out first yet recognize he is dragging perfomances from others to the extent I consider our back line solid and our front line lethal.Midfield problem being overun is still there but in the European comp we can over come it by strangling the away games with bodies.But how the fuck the rest of the league have let us away wth it so far totally bemuses me.
January 4, 2013 at 03:40
Daniel88 says:
De Gea
Rafael Evans Vidic Coentrão
Ronaldo Fellaini Moutinho Bale
Van Persie Rooney
—————————————————————————————————————————————-
This boring twat surely spent too much time on Football Manager. it wont works in real football though. Fellaini who loves to going forward would leave big hole in the middle and a tiny playmaker like joao moutinho wont be able to cover him.
Fuck Off, you will cry again!
WeAreUnited – that lineup is BS, what has kagwa done, that says,he can play ahead of cleverly. This love in some fans have for nani makes me laugh, he has done nowt since 2011, For me uniteds best 11, is the one that beat shitty end of. Until I see the likes of kagwa and nani prove they are good enough to play every week the best 11 is?
DDG
rafeal ferinand evans evra
carrick cleverly
valencia rooney young
RVP
The “love” they have for nani? What is this? Bridget jones diary?. Perhaps people acknowledge the quality of the players and if they step up, they will be in the starting line up. I don’t understand what is “laughable” about that fact.
@fergie the boss
did you read my comment to the end.
“And this line-up if everyone are in form, but that should be the case when playing for ManUtd.”
Kagawa is an AM and Clevs is not, Kagawa can split defenses with his assists, Clevs not.
CLevs is a amazing CM, there he uses his movement and intelligence much better. My favourite line-up would be Ando and Clevs there together, but Carrick has been so immense that one of the duo would be sacrificed.
As for Nani, I counted that he would come in FORM, if not then obviously Valencia or Young would be ideal.
That was my idea of the line-up with Kagawa and of course you mentioned Nani also so him too.
FORM was the key of my line-up.
be patient. the seasonb is long, if we would be realist and everyone would be in form and not injured, that would be the line-up. But this is not PES so it’s a bit hard
@Denton
I am getting tired of your constant banging of Young missing sitters. For starters, Young didnt even play against Newcastle. It was against Swansea that he missed “sitters” and the fact that the chances didnt even make the highlights, show that it was not worth mentioning, let alone it being a sitter. He had a shot that was blocked by a last ditch slide in by Williams, with the goalkeeper still to be beaten, yea, that is a sitter for you? And he and another effort blocked on the line by a defender, another sitter? And the chance that Carrick played him in, he was just at the edge of the penalty, with the goalkeeper yet to be beaten, and you consider that a sitter too? Boy oh boy, you sure have high standards. So as long as someone has a shot inside the penalty, regardless of if there is a keeper or any defender near by, if it doesn’t go in, it is considered a sitter missed?
Go watch it again and find people to agree that those are sitters then maybe we can talk.
I have to say that it is sooooooooo gooooooooood to have player/striker RVP – in this example, who is world class…that you dont have to worry about scoreing goals, you just sitt and watch, enjoy. I wish us one or two in the middle
One of the very few players to leave against SAF’s wishes.. does he regret it?
Speaking of players and their happiness at United, did anyone notice the photo album posted on Facebook by United, showing a happy and content training camp? Is it just a coincidence that they’ve been released at the same time as the Balotelli lovers’ tiff? Or has Fergie taken his mind games to Facebook?
How long will Tevez permit Balotelli to upstage him in the outrage stakes without trumping him I wonder.
@King Eric – alright mate? I imagined my posts on this thread might get some on here riled up, but I can’t be arsed to fuck about and always mince words with people, know what I mean?
To me as a supporter we are the biggest club in the world hands down, but if we’re talking about domestic and European trophies sitting on shelves collecting dust, then Real Madrid are the biggest club in Europe whether we like it or not. Thats all im saying. So instead of playing it down or ignoring it, our lads should be motivated to acknowledge and overtake every record worth breaking. Its the same with LFC, we’ve outperformed them no end for decades so we’re obviously the bigger team. But in terms of Trophies sitting on the shelf, they remain the biggest English Club in Europe until we win 2 more CL Finals – and even then – we should be motivated to go on and be the first Club to win 10 European Finals…
Onwards and upwards. Its as simple as that for me, and if our lads thought about it any other way that would make us a small Club with limited ambition. Knocking LFC off their perch is Ferguson’s greatest victory thus far, but its refreshing to hear him admit that only winning 2 European Titles during his time is his biggest regret. This season our chances are as good as any to improve on that, and I think the hunger to do so is what keeps our manager going. Long may that continue. Complacency is the only thing that can bring down United imo.
@FITB – who is trolling?
The reason this United team is doing well is the nice balance between players who offer pure quality e.g. Van Persie and those players who may be less capable technically but at the same time really know what they are doing e.g. Carrick. We’ve also got a good mix of youth/energy and then the experienced players (unless Fergie risks the Carrick/Scholes/Giggs Trio in a single match but he wont do that in the big games).
I’m also going to go a step further. People are rightly slow to recognise when a young player has made it. You don’t want to go overboard. I remember when Fletcher was derided by some but I was fairly sure he would make it and he surely did. Well, cleverly hasn’t come in for half as much stick (thankfully) but I’d even go so far as to say that he is terrific. He’s exactly the midfielder we need. He does everything right and he already does it. We are not waiting for next year. He’s good enough now.
Dare I say it, I think we are fine for midfielders unless an absolute gem becomes available. I turn to left back and if we can get Baines at a good price it would be nice.
@UTID
THIS
“To me as a supporter we are the biggest club in the world hands down”
AND THIS
“if we’re talking about domestic and European trophies sitting on shelves collecting dust, then Real Madrid are the biggest club in Europe whether we like it or not. ”
there’s nothing to wonder about.
Marq @ 19:25: “He had a shot that was blocked by a last ditch slide in by Williams, with the goalkeeper still to be beaten, yea, that is a sitter for you?”
Well, yeah. Because my view of that episode is rather different from yours. What I recall is that he was alone in the area and then took two or three touches to control the ball. Those two or three touches were enough to allow WIlliams to get himself in front of the shot and block it.
Usually, when a quality attacking player is alone in the box with only the keeper to beat then I’d classify that chance as a “sitter”. The whiff in the other match (against West Brom ?) might have been caused by the lousy state of the pitch which caused the ball to bobble but no one mentioned that. What I saw was a ball that was played sideways to AY, who was completely wide-open just above the penalty spot; he fanned on his shot – what might be called an “air shot”.
If I’m wrong then I’ll happily admit my “mistake” but in the Williams incident you mentioned – which I recall vividly – I am not convinced by your recall which is damned-nearly diametrically-opposed to mine since you neglect to mention the salient fact that Ashley Young’s shot was blocked BECAUSE he dawdled over the ball rather than shooting first-time. Was his control no good or did he think he had more time to shoot point-blank ? THAT we’ll never know but what I do know is that he never tested the keeper when he had the keeper unprotected and (I recall) out-of-position, too. AND he never tested the keeper in the West Brom match when the pass was completely whiffed. So, even if I give your testimony the benefit-of-the-doubt, that still makes two point-blank misses in consecutive matchers.
But I’m not willing to give your testimony the benefit-of-the-doubt in both of the other two instances. I don’t remember the shot which was cleared off the line by the defender so I’ll grant you that one but I do have a memory of the over-the-top pass from MC16 that was not converted – and I do remember that Chicharito received a similar over-the-top pass from MC16 that was converted.
So, taking these four instances into consideration, I disagree with you about three of them and can’t remember the fourth. (I don’t live in England so I don’t get to see match-of-the-day and the highlight packages shown in Toronto on FoxSportsWorld show goals, not misses).
I know that you (and Wayne) have been pissed with my criticisms of Ashley Young and that’s your right. Sometimes we just see things differently; sometimes we don’t see the same thing. What I saw was four point-blank shooting opportunities – inside the box – and no end-product. To me, that was just awful; to you there were extenuating circumstances. That’s fair – in most trials, eye-witness testimony is considered the least reliable form of evidence.
Sahin was availlable for free,we didnt even make an inquiry,odd that
We are united. Carrick will be one of first names on sheet for Madrid.
Sahin? Hardly been pulling up trees at dippers. Another nothing player. Flavour of month.
@KingEric
if your comment was meant to say that I didnt’ want Carrick to the middle, my response is this
I also truly believe that Carrick will be on the seet. I said this “My favourite line-up would be Ando and Clevs there together, but Carrick has been so immense that one of the duo would be sacrificed.”
But If all our players would be in FORM, and I would have been the manager, I would put Clevs and Ando to the middle, Kagawa as a AM and Nani RM and Roonet LAM
RVP CF
nothing more
Sahin has been a disappointment, so glad we didn’t try to get him.
to his defend, liverpool were/are awful, but so was Sahin there.
maybe madrid can offer him somethign else.
Real Madrid tends t odestroy careers, when players go there too early or without thinking (Kaka)
“Usually, when a quality attacking player is alone in the box with only the keeper to beat then I’d classify that chance as a “sitter”. ”
There you go, your definition of a sitter is definitely different from 99% of us. That to us, is a chance, not a sitter. And the instant you choose to compare the fluffed shot by Young to the one scored by Hernandez showed that you have something against him. How many players can actually score from chances like that? Yes Hernandez did, but not many players can, or did. Just because someone did it, doesn’t mean it is as achievable as you make it. Why can’t Rvp or any of our players score with a bicycle kick from outside the penalty box ala Ibrahimovic?
By your definition Rooney, Hernandez and even Rvp are missing sitters every other day, so why do you only pick on Young? Something against him? You tell me.
You choose to pick on Young, that is your choice, and to us, it is plain obvious you have something against him. The only thing I ask of you is to never add “names” to our players’ name, that to me is beneath a real fan.
It ain’t a big deal Ronaldo shouldn’t worry coz we understand what happens in soccer but am assuring him we are gonna kick their ass come 13th
I agree with Wayne on Madrid. An absolute sham all those first 5 or 6 European Cups. Franco paying off refs and opponents, Di Stefano the man who brought most of them to Madrid all set to sign for Barca till the dodgy transfer embargo on foreign players, only for him to rock up at Madrid. Hollow wins. Dispicable club.
@King Eric, well they’re not called the fascists for nothing mate!
Shouldn’t be surprising to anybody that the club with the most European Cups has a shared history with fascism. But the fact still stands, in terms of current records and the perception of most people in Europe, that the fascists are considered the biggest club in Europe by default. We can make of that what we will.
Still doesn’t change anything over 90 minutes. I expected us to play them this season, and I think we’ll knock them out. If we manage that we’ve got the experience to probably go on and win it. Then we’ll have 4 European Cups without goose-stepping over anybody.
World of difference turning out for United and turning out for Liverpool,point made he was available for wages for a season and if only if we wanted to keep him we could negotiate a transfer fee.This was preseason and we needed then and still do midfielders to me it was a no risk move that could have paid big dividends,his form for Liverpool has no bearing on the matter we are a different animal entirely.Could well underperform but there again maybe not.
Marq @ 02:09: “By your definition Rooney, Hernandez and even Rvp are missing sitters every other day, so why do you only pick on Young? Something against him? You tell me.”
That’s a partial response to me (@ 22:14). Of course, by my definition, every striker misses “sitters”. BUT the real issue is whether such misses are occasional or consistent, part of a pattern.
SO, the very specific example I’ve used purports to show that AshleyYoung had four of these “sitters” in two consecutive matches – and missed on all four.
I’ve also mentioned in earlier posts that when Dimmy missed two in the FACup semi-final against ManShitty in May, 2011, that SAF responded by essentially “sending him to Coventry”. Dimmy sat on the sidelines when UTD played Barcelona a couple of weeks later in the CL Final @ Wembley. When the 2011/2 season began, Dimmy was again left sitting on the “naughty step” and, despite being productive in the matches he played, he never again got regular playing time EVEN THOUGH he had been the EPL’s top-scorer in the previous season. Coincidence ? I don’t think so.
Finally, as to your point that “it is plain obvious that you have something against him”, I can only repeat what I wrote to Wayne the other day – I never understood SAF’s willingness to spend 18 million on the guy. I was sceptical from the get-go. He played fairly well in the opening matches of 2011/2 – but when you thrash TheArse 8-2 then it’s not likely that anyone had a bad game. More to the point, however, I thought then that he was an unnecessary signing – the same money could have purchased Juan Mata who IS left-footed and a far, far more skilful player OR the same money could have been used to upgrade the central midfield.
So, as they say from down in the USofA, “I’m from Missouri, prove it.” In my opinion, Ashley Young has not proven it.
You guys – you and Wayne – seem to get all hot-and-bothered when I point out specific evidence to back up my argument. I’ve not provided similar evidence of not using his left foot, giving the ball away, slowing down the attack by not driving to the bye-line, and so on but I’ve seen plenty of evidence of all those things Just go back an re-watch the most recent match when he limped off after 75 minutes – by my reckoning, he was playing on the right (his preferred side) and did ONE THING expected of a UTD-quality winger – a terrific cross in the 59th minute (?) which Chicharito did not head into goal. I’m not blaiming Chicharito for that miss – he scored twice as you might recall AND all strikers miss “sitters”. What I am saying is that that cross was THE ONLY THING produced by Ashley Young, after missing on four point-blank chances in the previous two games.
Of course there are always extenuating circumstances but when I see a consistent pattern of incompetence then I’m ready to comment on those specific instances. Why do you consider the reference to such examples to be evidence of prejudice ?
Young’s prefered side is the left wing. You don’t even know your own players, sad fan you are. And your so called evidence is based on 2 games of chances not converted, if that is a pattern to you, Valencia should be sold by now. And Rooney should be given a free transfer. Unneccessary signing? I’m more than happy Sir Alex makes the calls, and people like you don’t have any say. He is the reason we are still able to play 442 these days. The four chances are not sitters, period. And you still havent got anyone who thinks the same that those four should be goals. And Young is still playing, he is not dropped, prove that Sir Alex thinks that he is doing fine, not the horrible player you imagine
Like I said, you are watching him with tinted glasses, I don’t intend to change your opinion. The only thing I have against you is you calling our players names unwarranted. Good that you removed it. If not I’d like to see how you’d react when people do it to you
How bout this. You drop the myth that Young missed 4 sitters and watch him afresh. Then you decide. You pick out everything does badly and I’ll pick out everything he does well for the next match?
Marq @ 20:44: “How bout this. You drop the myth that Young missed 4 sitters and watch him afresh. Then you decide. You pick out everything does badly and I’ll pick out everything he does well for the next match?”
OK – I’m not sure about “everything”; maybe just the high-lights and the low-lights. Just to answer you @ 20:40, I do not intend on nicknaming UTD players. Secondly, if AV7 plays consistently like he did yesterday then he should be benched.
Finally, “Young is still playing, he is not dropped, prove that Sir Alex thinks that he is doing fine, not the horrible player you imagine” – maybe his recurrent selection has a lot to do with a lack of viable alternatives – AV7 has been dire and Nani is injured. BUT, then again, maybe SAF does think he’s doing fine. I don’t.