Nemanja Vidic left the stadium on crutches last night following our 2-1 defeat at the hands of FC Basel and his agent, Silvano Martina, has today confirmed the severity of the injury.
“It seems inappropriate to talk about that, because unfortunately he has suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament.”
In response to a follow-up question asking if the player would be out for several months, the agent said: “Unfortunately so, yes.”
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bad bad news we need captain fantastic
if its true his season is surely over
Outside……Comeon Vida!
Inside……..
That is the title bid over. He is the one player that can organise the defence. We need a miracle i’m afraid. The defense has been a liabilty when he’s not been there. We have to hope that someone steps up and proves themselves worthy of his spot in the team. It’s looking like Jones is the only man able to do it.
Damn. Our luck is pants atm.
Please,remove that pic.
Get well soon Nemanja. Don’t know what hurts most. His loss, or the several months of Evans bashing that lie ahead…
I don’t mean to make too much racket but our season hingis on the fitness of Martina’s client. He’s our defensive ace. This should serve (and volley) as a warning to the Glazer family. I hope the men from the US Open up the cheque book.
I’m with Costas, I would prefer that image removed. I remember my knee going, it’s devestating and the last thing you want to see is the moment right before it went.
The only silver lining is we might find a player who can grab the challenge with both hands and we are more likely to spend in january.
It’s getting harder and harder to play a settled back 4 or even a settled partnership.. Vidic is out for months, the twins are injury prone and Smalling and Jones have to get used elsewhere due to their versatility. Can we find a back 4 that will play week in week out for the weeks to come? We averaged 1.19 goals conceded per game in 01-02 and I have a feeling our record by the end of this season will be along those lines.
Don’t get me started on our “net” spending. The ball is in their court…
How very sad for Vidic, for United, and for football. Get well lad!
@Fred, Again, I need to say this but you never fail to make me smile. Just to add, I had (and still have) a huge crush on that particular tennis star. Thank you for reminding me about her just as I’m about to sleep.
@Costas, LOL at Evans bashing. Sad but true. Though not as bad as Carrick bashers, I think Evans bashers also do not understand football to a certain extents. I always feel that, outside of Rio, he is one of the best readers of the game in our team. He is prone to mistakes here and there but which youngster isn’t. Once he is properly settled, I can imagine him forming one of the bedrocks of our defense.3
Awwww man, not El Capitan!!
Chin up though boys, we got a new trophy to dominate
Awwww man, not El Capitan!!
Chin up though boys, we got a new trophy to dominate
Awwww man, not El Capitan!!
Chin up though boys, we got a new trophy to dominate….
@smartalex, Somehow, I feel that “lad” isn’t the correct manner in which to address Vida. That comment made me throw up my coffee for some reason. I cannot imagine someone – even Sir Alex himself – referring to Nemanja Vidic as “lad”.
Sorry bout the constant posts!! It kept saying my comment didn’t publish!!
My bad
Right, who’s selling those voodoo dolls? We’re cursed! Great result for the bitter bastards.
Balaji – my pleasure!
We all need a bit of cheering up, and not just because of last night either. In my opinion we’ve been playing like Wimbledon since we got smashed 6-1 (6-1! 6-1!) by City.
Maybe Barcelona will lendl us some players?
Sweet dreams of “the Swiss Miss” Balaji – and I’m not talking about Rooney last night!
may we could buy some borgain players
Our season has just ended with that injury. We’re struggling to score goals up front and without Vidic now, Our defence is gonna be all over the place. Write this season off imo and get ready for next season…..unless SAF plans to strengthen during the transfer window.
Part of me wonders if we might have seen him play his last game for us. There hasn’t been a shortage of rumors linking him to other clubs…
@RedLife
Your injury was similar to this? Ouch. Hope it doesn’t leave any side effects behind. It was an injury like this that kickstarted Michael Owen’s rich history with injuries.
@Balaji
Agreed. That’s where he complicates things for himself sometimes. But the way we play, it suits us to have defenders that read the game and don’t just knock the ball forward.
LOL Costas. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, now Vidic is leaving us?
Balaji, I hope that coffee was unground. Full of beans!
Vidic is the young lad we’ve chosen to lead the line.
I’ve been over the top. In fact, I still am!
I’m sure Monty, Rommel and their colleagues did their time in the trenches.
These days I send the young lad Vida in to fight on my behalf, I just pretend it’s me.
It looks like ‘I’ am to be sidelined for a spell. Fortunately there are decent options.
No more depth though.
Heatchez
Don’t worry my phone does the same.
Balaji
SAF Does use the term Lad and so do northerners including Mancs.
Get well soon, Vida.! IMO if we have a defensive and creative midfielders,we can ‘t get too much injuries.coz we can’t be chasing the game but have a total control of it.
Bloody keyboard. sent before i finished
Eye Lad
cmon Costats why should he leave we have one of the best medical teams in the world wait…
@Fred
At the moment this injury complicates any transfer talk, but it’s going to happen at some point within a year or two I feel. We know how whiny Mrs Vidic can be…
rat1p
Costas – I think you’re wrong. Mrs. Vidic has become a true northern lass, just as her fella is a true northern lad.
@rat1p
Heh, I think that’s why Vidic was in so much agony as soon as he got hurt. “I am falling into their hands!”.
Where is Brown when you need him ? Oh wait he is at Sunderland.
@costas It caused problem in my other knee, which now gives way when i twist and turn. It just buckles, my days of kicking the football around in anger are over. I suppose your body is never the same. It was certainly a shame for Michael, he probably would have broken Charltons England record. Good news for Charlton tho
even tho Bobby has so much class, the man would have cheered if Owen had broken his record and been happy for him.
Look like his season’s out tbh, gutted.
In a way, you could say that our exit from the Champions League is a good thing with this. Coz Rio now becomes essential…..and he struggles to play 3 games in quick succession. Now we’re out of the Champions League, and I’m assuming Rio won’t feature in the Europa League………..he just plays one a week. Slightly faint silver lining??
The only question is who he partners him? Rio + Jones is a recipe for disaster IMHO…..coz Jones charges upfield and leaves the ageing Rio super exposed. Rio + Evans seems solid as they both stay back and don’t bomb upfield. Rio + Smalling was good last season as well when they played together, although Smalling has his tendencies to bomb forward.
Personally I’d go for Smalling as he’s just a natural at centre back. Really think he can be one of the best centre backs in the world….this could be a chance for him to get games in his actual position.
This is really disappointing news. Hope he makes a full recovery. How about signing Gary Cahill from Bolton in Jan? They wanted about 15 mil which I think is reasonable, he wouldn’t have to move so would suit his home life. Although we can’t offer him champs league football now, we surely will next season.
Speaking of Vidic’s wife, did you know that she is the spitting image of Serbian tennis ace Ana Ivanovic?
Who’s Costas selling now? He sells more players, than Fergie does! :p
Last tennis connection of the night from me: http://copa.imguol.com/2010/copadomundo/2010/06/19/roger-federer-mostra-sua-camisa-do-fc-basel-time-de-sua-cidade-natal-1276957147439_200x285.jpg Love that man.
LOL @ Costas. There’s still time for the prognosis to get a lot worse once our crack medical team have got their hands on Vida.
@Fred
i suppose if you going to have your feet up, it’s better to have a fit Anna Ivanovic to make you cups of tea. I’m off to google her lol
Fred – I love Roger Federer, so pleased for him if he is a Basel fan.
Two players I would sign in January.
Neven Subotić – Borrusia Dortmund are out of the CL also so may be more willing to sell.
Javi Martinez – Tall tough tackling midfielder. 23 year old Spainish international
Both these players would improve our defensive capabilities and both are potentially top class players.
dazzer – Don’t know anything of Javi Martinez, do Spain do tough tackling midfielders? Who does he play for? Will look out for him.
Fuck….this last couple of days have been plagued with BAD news.
Get well soon, VIDA!
shebangsthedrums – me too, he’s the greatest.
Nadal supports Real Madrid, although his uncle is a Barcelona legend – Miguel Angel Nadal, AKA “The Beast”.
dazzer – we were linked with Subotic recently in one of the tabloids. With Vidic’s injury, we might see movement on that front (I doubt it though.)
everyone with sense of aesthetics likes federer.fact
and now maybe now some will get it why we miss brown and oshea
Out for season and I fear he has played his last game for us. Great servant and great character and I wish him all the best in his recovery and hope and pray his career isn’t over and that he will play for us again.
That explains Basel’s winning mentality.
@RedLife
Well I hope it’s not so much an issue in your daily routine. Besides, kicking the ball with venom is overrated. That’s why Rooney stopped doing it and prefers to chip it over the net. :O
Fred – Nadal’s a great player too, but I just can’t warm to him. Federer just oozes class to me. Although still doesn’t displace Agassi in my heart though. Anyway enough tennis talk. Can’t wait for Saturday, hope we can right a few wrongs against Wolves.
Vida will be back! That’s according to papii’s barber.
The knockout actually makes it easier to buy players as we’ve always been restricted by the fact that players we have wanted in january have been cup-tied in Europe. Now we go into EL which we won’t take as seriously as if we had gone through in CL so that means any available players would be of much more interest than in a scenario where we’d still be in CL.
For me we threw it away by not adding some class in the summer and we tried but did we really?
Gutted!! Truly gutted!!
rat1p & shebangsthedrums – agreed about Federer and Nadal.
You’re right, enough tennis talk – let’s concentrate on Wolves!
http://www.wolves.co.uk/javaImages/44/3d/0,,10307~6176068,00.jpg
Once again the Gods part cheeks and insert cock into ass.
We pretended to try to add to the squad in dastardly plot to *NeedToKnowBasis*
Get well soon Vida…………..wot a bad nyt yesterday was, and this is the December we’ve been waiting for.
I think Mikes gutted? I am too Mikey.
In case anyone doesn’t know, Wolves’ danger man is Stephen Fletcher, who scored two goals last week against Sunderland’s United-flavoured back four of Bardsley, Brown, O’Shea and Richardson. This is him on the right: http://www.wolves.co.uk/javaImages/54/a/0,,10307~9374292,00.jpg
Im looking foward to Europa !
You know why?
We can scout !
Javi Martinez,Lllorente,Ricky Van Wolfiehinkel to name a few
Then we will all be prepared for January.
Basically I want Evra,,Gibbo,Mame,Macheda,Anderson.Kuszchak out.
Bring in Alba,Rodwell,Martinez or, M’Vila & RVP.
Oh Fergie out, Rafa in
Willie
I feel like crying. Our luck this year has been fucking non existent. Got a really cunty email from a city mate too which has pissed me off!
Papii
Poor Guy, I ruptured my own ACL recently and it was one of the most horrific things I’ve ever experienced. He’ll be out for the rest of the season for sure, I only hope it doesn’t affect the rest of his career, Keano was never the same player after he did his cruciate : (
Mikekelly12 – My brother works with 4 city fans and a scouser, felt sorry for him today, but I told him not to mention shitty. We only care about United, they care about us and that’s what makes them bitter.
Mike
Oh I love childish pranks.
Do the old dogshit in a paper bag, set it alight knock his door and watch from afar.
Shebangsthedrums
A good way to approach it pal. They seem to think because they were knocked out in a more difficult group they are superior in Europe ! Wankers!
Where do United go from here?
They being the manager, board and coaching staff and players have to
decide what they want. Do they want to maintain and enhance their status
as football’s pioneers and dominant force
in England and Europe or are they just happy to remain where they are.
If they decide the latter, then more results will be the same as they
witness last night and against Palace a few weeks ago. There’s the
business commercial side to United, which relies
on how the team are performing, and United’s worldwide status as an
elite and prestigious club. Sponsors will not (in the long term) want to
be associated with United if they are
constantly being knocked out of competitions and not winning titles or
cups. So whilst fans will come – win, loose or draw, sponsors – and
we’re talking about blue chip companies from around the
world will only want to be associated with successful clubs. That means,
winning titles and cups, and having big name players endorsing their
products/services. So they will always want a new Ronaldo, Messi
or Rooney to drive their sales up and increase their profile and image
globally, this is all reliant on having a successful team.
The reason for this backdrop is quite simple. If the board want to keep
and develop their strategy in increasing revenues from different
commercial sources, and raise the clubs profile even further,
then they have to back the manager with the finances to go and not only
get quality players but also meet their wage demands.
Secondly, SAF needs to look at his coaching staff – namely Micky Phealan
and Rene Mulenseen, and tell them good bye. Then he needs to bring in
coaches who are hungry, bright and enthusiastic
about that side of the game, in terms of player development,
preparation, training methods, techniques and tactics. Men who will
challenge Fergie’s thinking about how to approach a game and developing
a strategy.
Thirdly, we need to get rid of the dead would or send some out on loan
to get experience of first team football.
The likes of players such as Anderson, Darron Gibson, Kiko Macheda,
Biram Diouf, Owen need to go. Sending the likes of Johnny Evans out on
loan (again) as he really needs to buck up his ideas about his game.
Fourthly, promote the youth, the old saying “if you’re good enough,
you’re old enough” is true. So the likes of
Ravel Morrison
Paul Pogba
Ryan Tunniclife
Zeki Myers
Larnell Cole
Reece Brown
Will Keane
These few and some others need to be fast tracked to the first team. I’m
not saying he should play them all at once, but like he’s done in the
past and is doing to a certain extent this season, is to gently
incorporate them into the first team, whilst not putting too much
pressure on them to perform.
Finally, we need to be attracting players of the calibre of Ganso at
Santos or Neymar at the same club. Christian Erickson at Ajax, and or
Eden Hazard at Lille. There are just a few names, but the point is
that young players who are in first teams at other clubs, the board
needs to support SAF in getting them in before anyone else does.
Let’s be brutally honest here, this will take great effort and will from
all quarters, not just one man or woman, everyone. If we genuinely have
serious aspirations of matching Barcelona and Real Madrid,
Whilst meeting the challenge Man City has set.
We have a good nucleus of players
De Gea
Lindergaard
Smalling
Jones
Nani
Young
Rooney
Welbeck
Chicarito
Cleverly
Vidic
UNITED BELIVE.
What are some of you on? Our season is NOT over until May. Gutted our Captain is out, absolutely gutted, but don’t throw in the towel FFS!
Lol, I bet the big Serbian would break necks if faced with such cowardice. Fuck Me.
James
Failing that I could put a dustbin full of shit through his living room window!!
Mike
Do u need a hand I’m up on Sat. 
Yes definately beats mine.
Goodnight all, I’m off to watch Question time, I know, sounds boring but I love political debate, unless United are playing of course!
James
Yes mate, you know what they say, two bins are better than one!!
Poor Vidic. These guys make a lot of money, but suffer injuries ugly. Where is Cedars?
Mike
Cunting Posnan Pricks I fucking hate them. We all have shitty mates tho I suppose. Still Bitter.
Soren
He went off a while ago.
James
Cunts! They got more pleasure from our CL defeat v Barca than they did beating Stoke in the FA cup!!
Hate to be pessimistic but our season is truly over!
There goes the season. I honestly don’t expect us defending this league title anymore. With Vidic we conceded a total of 3 goals, without him 16.
January spending looks more crucial than ever.
woah… that is proper shite news but let’s get a grip! We have a fantastic collection of young centre backs… Smalling was an absolute revelation last season, Jones is a beast, Evans is also very good on his day. It’s the one area we are blessed with excellent options. Vida out will actually allow one of these guys to play in their proper position and develop in to the brilliant players they are going to be. All of this shifting everybody around all the time is detrimental to their development, sometimes it’s been forced on us through injury but these kids are so eager to play that they’ll play anywhere without complaint. I’d be going for Smalling personally… he’s got the stature and power but he might be too similar to Rio, same with Evans. Rio and Vida work because they compliment each other well, strength and grace, so maybe Jones next to Rio works best.
Must admit I’m concerned about left and right back positions though… especially right back. Nobody has made it their own since Gary except maybe Wes… The twins just aren’t fit enough for long enough at the mo to develop as they need to.
We need one midfielder… a spark, presence, authority and experience to play alongside United’s Spanish maestro.. Carrick, or Fletch when he’s fit. We’re lacking the right combination not shit loads of players. This will allow Clev to develop without the relentless hype he’s having to carry on the back of a few games, and we can only wait and see if Ando can achieve a consistency to go with his potential when he’s fit again…
Chin up chaps! It’s time to fight for the record (our record) breaking no. 20…
Mike
I always ask a Shitty fan if i want to know anything about Utd.
Thats true they were probably watching our game last night rather than theirs.
I truly hope after the transfer window shuts their injuries come rolling in and all long term. The Neanderthal Belotelli will be banned most of the season anyway.
James21 Thanks
see you later, take care mate.
Rio and Paddy talking too much again… Saying it does not equal doing it! Just do it…
Should go down to carrington and contaminate city’s water supply with cholera!!
I’ll look into it.
See you later mate.
UTD UTD UTD
The situation is a bit similar to last season when we faced Rangers at OT. That dire performance combined with Tony V’s horrific injury and Chelsea’s flying start had lots of us worried that it was going to be a long season. And we coped well. So the season isn’t over by any means. However, the road blocks are a lot harder to avoid this time. We are already out of the Ch.League, Vidic is more crucial to the team than Valencia and we probably won’t see him back this season. It’s times like this where you start wondering if it’s going to be our season.
Who knows? Maybe Fergie’s answer to it all will be to get Tom C back and then start playing the kamikaze football that we saw at the start of the season with Jones and Evans playing in defence. Prepare for cricket scores each week.
I normally wouldn’t advocate a major purchase to cover an injury — even a lengthy one to a key player — because once the injured player comes back, it’s easy to find yourself with a rotation problem resulting in at least one top player unhappy with too much bench time. Top players have a habit of moving on if they don’t get enough game time. But in this case, I would make an exception, because I feel Rio is on a slide anyway, so another top centerhalf would be a good investment. And while we have some good defenders coming through, they aren’t up to it yet.
By the way, gutted for Vidic.
Why we should subotic, cahill? I mean we have few good young centre-backs ffs!!
What we really now is a fullback, right or left fullback would make our defense better.
Oh, our season is NOT over yet! Keep the faith guys!
*should sign*
sorry, my mistake…
Well what the fuck next !! Vidic is a real blow.
Sorry to say this but what is more a blow is that there are way too many negative people on this site – guess many have been spoilt by the success of the past 25 years. I’ve been watching United for over 55 years – yeah disappointment sometimes and sometimes poor, sometimes very poor (72-74 in particular).
But you know what I’ve always believed we will come good and we always do.Remember this club thrives on crisis – we always come back – bigger/stronger/more determined. The man who has led us for the last 25 years of unmatched glory will see to it. A certain Matt Busby also saw to it. You know why – they believe in one thing – MANCHESTER UNITED.
Apparently many do not agree and reckon SAF should be gone along with his “obviously useless mercenary band” of assistants like Phelan/Meulenstein etc – well I have a tip for your kind – FUCK OFF. Did not hear these comments with the same coaching staff when we had 3 UCL finals in 4 years and 4 Premier tiltes in 5 years (only a cheating ref/linesman screwed us from 5 of 5)
If SAF took time from running the club to read some of the comments posted here he would likely toss his guts in dissapointment. Cunts like you should be ashamed of yourselves – fucking glad twats like you were not watching my back when “it kicked off at away games” back in the 60/70′s.
Not sure who we are supposed to buy – but quite honestly there are not that many players out there I would want to see in the shirt. The season is not half way over and already many have already tossed in the towel. Well it ain’t over until the last ball is kicked. Take a pill or have a beer or a glass of your own poison, it may lessen the pain of the past week – but never ever stop believing in this club. If you do then you are not fit to be called a United supporter.
Cheers
UNITED 20/12 -2012 (and maybe the Europa Cup)
Shite. And Daily Mail reporting that Young has aggravated his toe injury and will be out. Pretty good side forming in the treatment room:
Rafa Vidic Fabio
Cleverley Ando Young
Owen Berbatov Chico
Heaven knows what side we are going to put out on Saturday???
Lindegaard
Jones Rio Smalling Evra
Valencia Fletcher Carrick Nani
Rooney Welbeck
Doesn’t leave us with much on the bench though!
Rooney
Smalling could fill in. He is a better CD than Jones right now with more experience.
If we are planning an emergency purchase, I agree with theCANTONA that it should be a full back. Imagine a right back that plays fit all the time like Evra. It would solve all sorts of problems including the rotation of Jones, Smalling and Valencia as out of position right backs. That could help us build a steady partnership at the back.
And as someone said, playing some youngsters in the Europa League will help us use Rio each week in the Premiership.
So now other than a new midfielder we also need a new defender….so let’s go get ourselves another winger:)
This is a sad day…when he went down all I wanted was for vida to be ok, he is so crucial. Get well vida.
Talk about Vidic leaving is rubbish and disrespectful. He ofcourse interests other clubs. He has never said he wants to leave or done a Rooney, he loves being Captain of United. Of all the shit to make up, leave that to tabloid shit papers.
spurs r 2 points behind us with a game in hand. We need to kick on in EPL.
torontored
“I’ve been watching United for over 55 years ”
Excuse me sir,gentlemen, elderly fella, how old are you exactly? 55 years ! # Im going to guess 63.
When it rains…
We NEED to buy !
Sign the next Beckham,Ronaldo,Giggs,Cantona,Roy Keane etc.
Im suggesting Albrighton,Bale,Hazard & O’Hara. I would to Cabaye all of them.
Maybe we can get Stam out of retirement for 6 months. The original murderer in defence.
Such a shame Moses committed suicide. He was right all along but we didn’t believe him.
Anyone have any tips for the Dubai versus Al Ahli game tomorrow?
I went for a Dubai win. Fingers crossed!
Fergie will not panic buy. I would though! They’re hitting the decks, like drunken sailors!!
@Costas
Some names to throw out there:
Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund)
Mathieu Debuchy (Lille)
Havard Nordtveit (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Javi Venta (Levante)
Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City) (we have a buy-back clause with him, I think)
Costas/TheCantona … yeah, that probably makes more sense. Though I still think there’s some merit to a centrehalf, as (sad to say it) I think Rio is in decline and I don’t know how much longer his body will last. It’s true we have good young centrehalfs, though I wouldn’t be surprised if SAF has plans for Jones in the midfield. It’s a bummer the twins have so many injuries, and I have to wonder why that it is. They are about the same size as Evra (height/weight), and he seems fairly robust. I can’t help wondering if the twins are being pushed too hard to bulk up. I have seen this a lot in sport — various sports, not just footy. Even in collision sports like rugby, the ones who have the most injury problems seem to be those who push their bodies in ways that nature didn’t intend for them, while those who can get by with what nature gave them, fare better. Doesn’t matter whether you need to bulk up, or struggle to keep weight off, if you’re fighting against your own phsyical nature, you’re asking for trouble. Look at Giggs — never had a weight problem, still going strong. Look at Nani — according to the official stats, he’s an inch taller than the twins yet a kilo lighter, and he doesn’t seem to have that many problems. And there’s no doubt the twins have bulked up their upper bodies, it has been quite noticeable. And both brothers have had shoulder injuries. Rafael has had 3 shoulder injuries, including 2 this year, and Fabio had a long delay due to shoulder surgery when he first joined us. But shoulder injuries are not that common in football. According to physio.com, United has had only 10 shoulder injuries since AUgust 2002. Four of those were dislocations (which are one-off traumas resulting from freak collisions, usually, and therefore not representative of any underlying issue). Of the other six, four were the da Silvas (phyio.com actually lists only 9, because it ignores Fabio’s initial shoulder problem). Maybe the physio’s should lay off.
Fred – I’ve got Ali at evens. Hope he beats Foreman.
Gonna dance!
Clint in response to a fucking rude question 61next year to be exact – lived in CCH at Hough End and we took the bus down Princess Road to Hume and then the 53 to the ground. First game was 1957 when my Dad took me to watch United. From about 7 or 8 used to go with a few mates by ourselves – times have changed now would think. Sixpence or ninepence to get in. Mid 60′s was one and six to get in the youth gate on The Stretford End.
Saw almost every home game and probably 75% of every away game between 64 and 73, including 4 FA Cup semi’s, 3 European Cup Semi’s (Partizan (lost to Everton next game in the FA semi at Burnden Park)/Madrid/Milan – ref screwed us on that when Law put one over the line and goal not allowed , one inter city’s semi.
Have not missed a televised game here for over 25 years and United are on every week.
Answer your question. How many games you seen?
So guess I can say I’ve tasted the bitter pill before of going out – did not like it then and do not like it now – but it happened.
Oh and by the way I still run 4-5 miles every day and do weights 4- 5 times a week added to which I also still do a bit of judo and kick boxing and some heavy bag work – like yesterday for 30 minutes. Diet these days mainly fish and vegetables and a lot of fruit. Beer and red wine – no hard liquor .
Any more detail needed?
How about you??
Cheers
UNITED 20/12 -2012 (and maybe the Europa Cup)
Huge blow this, you bastard marco streller.
Reserves got pummeled. All this bad news is messing up my sleep pattern.
@StatesideAussie
Nani trained in Capoeira. Huge difference. Guy’s got legs of steel. Anybody else and his leg would’ve been shattered right across the middle by the cheap-shot from Carragher.
Clint forgot to add get “happy endings” at least five times per week – double that when I go to the Far East
How about you.
Cheers
UNITED 20/12 -2012 (and maybe the Europa Cup)
@StatesideAussie
Makes you wonder about Owen Hargreaves’ accusations against our medical staff.
Cyril sneer 22:03. Very funny , made me laugh
Smalling will replace vida, he is a quality young centre half with a fair bit of experience, jones is there too even though he needs a little work on his positioning but that comes with experience, time for the experienced players to guide these young players but as we witnessed last night, i can’t say most of them can be relied on unless they somehow step their game up.
Hoorayyyy!!!
United top of the table!
http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php
The dreaded remark: “no return date”
Made me laugh too!
Cyril Sneer, that is.
LOL Saad.
Top of the debt table too, 6 years running.
Give Rio some of that True Blood? Or some of Sookie Stackhouse’s blood?
To understand success I know I have to first understand failure. I have to see it. I have to feel it. I have to breathe it. I have to know it. I have to look at it in the eye. At this moment I am looking at it in the eye. I’m not moving but I don’t know how far I’m going to be here. What matters is that after all this time I’m not going to turn around. I’m not going to go back. I can’t.
19
Saad – to be fair, that sunderland had experienced premier league players. will keane shined and proved yet again the talent he possesses, just gotta get that boy some experience on loan or something, he’ll replace mr ambition in no time.
horrible news. Why are sky saying United are refusing to confirm this news? Very odd.
Fred. Alright pal. Regarding your posts about the lyon ajax zagreb carry on. Of course it was a fucking fix wasn’t it mate. How else can that shit happen. Disgusting.
Hhmm. No coincidence that Amos keeps clean sheet after clean sheet for the stiffs. Bit oh no PIG was back tonight and concedes fucking six. Piss take. A strongish sunderland side but even so. I actually don’t care for Pogba. I really don’t. Owned by craig gardener tonight. He has becone an arrogant, lazy, showboating cunt. I keep harping on but Tunni is thrice the player and bleeds United .pogba is nowhere near ready to start for the for the first team imo.
Still reeling from last night but let’s just beat Wolves now and put some pressure on those bitter cunts.
Will keane is one cool customer.
Did denton REALLY say on the previous thread we should sell Young? Yes he has struggled of late but nowt like giving him time eh? I mean he must have played all of ten fucking games. Fuck me.
@samuel
I know about the Sunderland line-up. Still hurts. Scholesy gushed about Will Keane, though he’s more of a target man and so not a threat to Rooney but to Berbatov. But he needs speed and hustle in his game.
Will Keane = Teddy Sheringham (and hopefully more)
When the fuck is gerry francis gonna get rid of that fucking silly mullet?
Why is rooney still employing that shithouse stretford?
Also I notice on previous thread summat about sunderland, villa,spurs et al spending more than United. So what? What has achieved those cunts? Fuck all.
As I say let’s move on to wolves and get concentrated on the fucking league. If we end up trophyless fuck it. We can’t win it every year. I am just happy that for the last twenty years we have seen more highs and enjoyment than any other english club will witness in a lifetime between them. Enjoyed every fucking minute of it. Thanks to fergie who some idiotic cunts want out.
@StatesideAussie
Interesting observation on the “training/fitness” aspect especially that of Nani and the “Capoeira”. Have seen some of the martial arts training in Thailand and watched a few boxers training in Manila and Cebu – all “self body weight” and big reps/light(er) weights – stamina/strength/speed/repeated technique v’s heavy weight ” bulk up/high protein/streroid diet” stuff.
See a lot of kids here going for the hockey/football programmes and doing the heavy velocity training / heavy weight/ high protein at too early an age and really getting fucked up with the age/growth pattern – especially the joints – groin/shoulders/knees. Think Petruzzi the reserve team player had his issues with something similar to that and it kept him back for a while – believe he did his groins real bad and could hardly walk for 6 months.
But ffs sake one would hope that a team like United would have it right? One can only think that the Tampa Bay Bucs trainer has got in there via the Glazers.
I know from chatting with a few United coaches, when they were here the last few years that they take diet/lifestyle/overall fitness etc really serious but our football vs NFL or Rugby has never really depended on the “size”. Still the old adage may be in vogue -” a good big un is better than a good small un”. As well most trainers still reckon the healing process, with a muscle injury, is way quicker when injuries do occur with a “heavy muscle” .
Fucking hell – someting else to really worry about. Truly worrisome!
UNITED 20/12 -2012 (and maybe the Europa Cup)
Terribly devastating.
Nah about rumors of him moving. That’s already a gossip done dusted and shelved. I don’t get it, he seems like a nice fella, hasn’t mentioned anything on “ambition” and is proud to be our captain. So the rumors are rubbish. Love the Rock.
There is no choice to but just for the likes of Smalling, Jones and Evans to step up. We should get into the transfer window, but still, we’d have to buy an established player if we’re gonna insert him right into the squad, and that’s rather unlikely. Oh gosh. Nothing going right atm, just have to make do with what we have.
Oh Vidic. You’ve given me months of nightmares Rock.
Now that all the ones out of the woodwork have fucked off again here I go:
Any United fan that thinks the Glazers have done us any favours must be insane
Taking vast amounts out of the club to pay for excruciatingly painful interest is hard to digest
But the shit that went down yesterday lays squarely at United’s door for three pathetic performances twice against Basel and once against Benfica – let’s take the loss yesterday – no sweat we should have been home and dry anyway.
The players are to blame and it’s unfair to blast the young players the older heads should have prevailed in any given shit storm – whatever the fuck they were doing God knows.
Start adding injuries and it’s a ball game that becomes unpalatable considering United actually were playing the best football of their lives at the beginning for a while.
Did we really need to sign another midfielder? Probably but then TC Anderson would not have been injured together and Carrick would not have been missing for a game you have to win – and then the Captain gets injured and what amounts to a shock set of events becomes a nightmare of epic proportions
No one saw that coming yesterday.
By the way how the fuck did we let a team like Basel beat us? Because we were incompetent in our play because we disrespected them thinking we’d clobber them – with that fucking attitude United can quite happily go back to the drawing board and look at themselves again – they have let us down and more importantly the manager down who now has to take rubbish from all sections of ABU society.
This has got nothing to do with the Glazers because they have put no sanction on SAF. We can all happily have a go at them for taking money out of the club but the club has money to do what it wants – if SAF doesn’t want to do anything then so be it – again if TC and Anderson and even Carrick were on the pitch yesterday we probably would not have been having this conversation – in fact if TC were not injured the best part of three months we would not even have had to fuck around yesterday winning a match to get through.
Which then means that it was SAF judgement to not buy – wether or not he regrets that is his opinion and his alone – for everyone to go football manager on the situation can duly fuck off.
This team under the Glazers has got to three European finals since 08. Now it’s not there ownership that has cost us – it’s the teams mentality at not dealing with Barca – a team that by the way no one has got to – though signs are there that Mourinho might have found a way.
I feel for SAF but only he knows what cards he’s left with if he is to win one more CL trophy.
Again he has made his fair share of mistakes but the team have let him down – this team does have issues and if the Glazers had not seen to taking so much money out if may have had the resources to buy the players to have beaten Barca
But Manchester United are not that team – this United team was built up around one considerable player that now has gone – to rebuild it will take patience and commitment – United will easily come back again – it is the nature of the beast.
It is difficult to gather certain responses – I pretty much don’t care to respond to stupidity no more
I will say this:
To Colbert you’re a fine mess of a fellow if you think I apologised to you. I didn’t I apologised for replying back which you didn’t read quite well – I laugh at your fucking suicidal comedy when you said that I am a psycho. Maybe but I am not like you or many like you who cannot sponge loss or a defeat – I read a comment it felt like something died – oh give me a fucking break whoever wrote that – pompous spoilt fucking milky bar kids who have not got a clue what to do when the shit hits the fan.
To CROoney – I never said United played well why you bought that shit up is beyond me specsavers is open go get a 24 1
Ignorant.
I owe anyone nothing – it’s the love of a club that brings many of us here together. If you can’t stand the heat go fuck yourselves and rant away – but understand that no one here wants the worse for this club – yet when something doesn’t go right all hell breaks loose.
I don’t want whats worse for this club but I know one thing it’s done it got beat and many that do not love it or respect are speaking shit of it – when they do it it’s a fucking outcry – when United fans there are no words to describe that fucking shit.
No one died. We didn’t have a plane crash. We didn’t have coffins coming back. We never had anyone in hospital. We lost a fucking game and are out of a competition and thats the end of that.
Because once upon a time we lost something more than a fucking result and that is where the heart and mind lies. So yes it’s bad but not that bad. To say we would never lose a game if we had no debt is the biggest load of nonsense this side of the pond.
We will lose time and time again and it’s up to us to stand back up dust off and carry on
19
Thinking about it, we’re giving the UEFA Cup some serious glam by being in it
And. The trophy is slim, tall and sexy.
United will sign Ali Baba in the January window. The deal will cost the champions, a cool 40 million thieves! A United spokesman said, no camels were hurt in the transaction.
@MG
As usual, thoughtful post.
I guess when you put it in that way, that no one died, was a defeat and we’re out of competition, it’s very true. It’s a massive disappointment no doubt about that, but the only thing we can do is to chin up an move forward.
Lack of luck, terrible injuries, poor finishing, poor defending, we’ve touched it all so far this season. But the worse so far has been complacency, something that needs to be weeded out.
MG, g’day mate, blistering post, that. Cheers!
Too many speculations about Vida. I think i’m just gonna accept that he’s out for the season. So if he manages to come back earlier, it’ll be better. Low expectation is the key to happiness.
A united heart breaks bad luck. Stay united…
bad bad news its amazing how one game can destroy your season not only out of ole big ears but to have our leader captain beast out for months ,it a disaster.
KingOfStretfordEnd … “Low expectation is the key to happiness.” Indeed. Better to expect less and get more, than to expect more and get less. I think that’s something a lot of our fans should take on board!
Just read your post MG, tired as hell but you are so spot on about SAF decision not to buy, he chose not to. If he really wanted to he would have. Whether it was the right decision or not time will tell
Most of you have given up this season
Most of you have given up on the players
And most importantly most of you have given up on Sir Alex
Well, the real fucker comes out in times of need. Fuck off you pricks.
Support your team. We may be out, support your team. We may be pathetic, support your team. History will bear evidence, we will rise again. This is only a minor hiccup.
If you can’t support then fuck off you all negative bastards.
Oops, I gave the wrong link address for the historical data on United injuries. The site is physioroom.com and since it’s not obvious where to click, the United data is here (remove the spaces) www. physioroom.com /news /english_premier_league /clubs /14 /manchester_united_injuries .html
@costas:
glad you understand it mate, a lot of typo as i typed it in a rush…
@MG&voice of reason:
Top, Top post both of you. So glad we have some ‘rational’ posters like you around here.
Oh, I believe with so many talented youngsters in our team, we do really have good future. So fuck yess i’ll say it again and again!!
UNITED WILL STRIKE BACK!!!
Morrission was not in the team againts sunderland. Hope that means a place on the left wing againts wolves.Might be just what we need.
who wants to call a witchhunt on this streller bastard? not only does he score a floppy lucky goal on us but he also injures the only world class player we have. burn the satan i say!
Torontored cracking post mate. Coaching staff always gets it after a shocking result. Those calling for Carlos to return probably same muppets who called for his head when went down 2-0 to norwich a few years back.
Read somewhere today exit going to cost us £20million. We go out and win europa great marketing opportunity with only English team to have won all major club european & world trophies. Guys in suits would be impressed.
I wish we had beaten Barca in May got offered tickets for the fifa world club final on Sun. Not going
Fuck that.
Shawcross not a bad call neither is Cahill, won’t get either. We have an injury and with Fergie being stubborn about jan transfer window will have to make do with what we have. How long are the twins out for?
Wish him a speedy recovery, fortunately we have the likes of Jones and Smalling to replace him, and fingers crossed on Rio’s form as well. Nevertheless, think we do need another experienced center back as backup, with Subotic in mind… how I wish we had kept Piqué
Gutted, really gutted with this news….
MG – Brilliant post at 1:29, top notch and heart felt…
voice of reason – Very well said my friend
Oh and soren my darling, sorry I missed you here last night.
Wishing that we’d kept Piqué? How would that help us in Vida”s absence? It wouldn’t.
If we still had Piqué, we wouldn’t have at least one of Jones, Evans or Smalling.
No extra bodies.
Of course, if you respond “I’d rather have Pique” and that your suggestion is not liked to Vida’s injury, then it’s quite coincidental that it appears on this thread.
Good Morning CedarsDevil! – Happy Friday! Soon we love Fridays all the more, as we happily chat about our victory the night before.
@68Devils – Could be but maybe in the middle with Jones slotting back to CB, but damn I’d love to see him start a game.
This is horrible news,
Losing one of our best defenders at crucial stage of the season will have huge impact,
we can take that, personally i hope Vidic will regain his original fitness once he is back..
Looks bad..
The injury was excruciating.
@smartalex: dnt think that if we still had Piqué SAF would not have gone for Jones or Smalling, he knows when to buy talents at reasonable prices, now just look on the bench, there only Evans capable of getting on if we have a D injured, and still, he’s not convinced me yet with his performances, the twins are out, so obvious that Jones will have to return to the centre given his recent performances, unless we still keep playing him in mid, and get Evans back there instead, but then be prepared for some frail defending
nevertheless, we dnt have piqué, so will have to be content with the available players until vida gets back
Vidic is a massive blow but can’t see the need to panic buy a centreback in jan when we have 5 very good players who can play there (inc fryers). Might as well ride it out and see what happens in June.
lordt
If we hadn’t conceded to Pique’s request to return to his boyhood club, we would have sold Evans. There are limited squad places available and you cannot keep World-class defenders in the Reserves for years until you might need them. If we had sold Evans, some might be saying that our hardcase defender Vidic is more aptly replaced by Evans, than the nimble footed lightweight that was Pique.
Anyway, the logic is that a variety of positions can be covered in the season’s squad. Have an extra keeper, and another position falls short. Also, I think I’m right in saying that one of our 5 central defenders is out. We have no available right backs. Surely it seems more current to wish we’d kept a right back.
Am I being pedantic? Apologies if so. Anyway, I do agree that Pique, or Pallister or Bruce, would come in handy right now.
Of course, Vidic would come in pretty handy right now. Damn!
smartalex
Good morning my friend
JC-With vidic out i can see why you want jones in there but i feel evans or smalling will be better partnering rio in defence. Anyways hate to see jones confined to a more restricted role in defence and all that raw energy wasted. Like what i saw in the villa game with him playing a defensive role in midfield and carrick finally gets the freedom to dictate play where he is very good at. And once tc is back the prospect of him and jones in midfield is mouthwatering to say the least.
Good morning, all RoM Reds!
Some thoughts and questions to start the days proceedings:
1. Vidic’s injury is absolutely gut wrenching. Terrible, terrible news. Horrible for our season, no doubt, worse for the man himself. Get well soon, hard man, you will be missed!
2. UEFA League& scouting
Doesn’t the cup-tie rule apply to the UEFA league? In other words, because we are going to be pitted against the likes of Ajaz and Bilbao, doesn’t it restrict us from sniffing around Erickson and Martinez? Not clear on this part, so eductaion will be appreciated!
3. “get rid of x, bring in y”:
I have seen a lot of posts talking about whom we should get, and who we should let go. I think it’s the absolutely wrong way to start. I have been crying myself hoarse for us to first establish a clear tactical vision, and then build a squad of players who will deliver on that vision. There are two parts to this:
First, once the vision has been established, we must try to stay faithful to it as much as we can. Sure, every once in a blue moon we play a freak like Barca and special tactics are called for, but we should not tinker our mother framework for the likes of Stoke away. It can be a long, bitter journey, but that’s where the pot of gold lies. What the vision should be is open for debate. Personally, I feel that we should ditch 4-4-2 for good, and move to a 4-2-3-1, but that’s just me.
Second, find the players who suit that vision. I see people talk of players like Eden Hazard. Top quality player, close to world class in my opinion, but totally useless in a 4-4-2. And surprise, surprise, if you decide on the tactical vision, you might find that the players we already have, can be very valuable, or on the other hand, the ones we thought to be invaluable, are in fact, not quite so useful. For instance, Rooney is one of the best in the world, playing the no. 10 role in a 4-4-2. Hernandez is a brilliant finisher in a 4-4-2. Neither will be that good playing as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1. In fact, personally, I feel even if Rooney has some hope (34 goal season, anyone?) Hernandez will be spectacularly useless. Evra is fast becoming a defensive liability with his bombing runs – the same trait will become an asset in a 4-2-3-1, with 2 holding midfielders to cover for the aggressive wingback. So, let’s not fall to the “Galactico” fallacy. We have a decent squad, obviously need quality reinforcements, but we need to do this in a very thoughtful, strategic manner.
4. What does all of this mean for the fans?
Now, more than ever, the club needs us. If we think, the players, the manager and all the staff aren’t hurting like crazy, and then supporting the club is pointless. Bad things also happen from time to time to good professionals. Bad things happen to good clubs. Now is the time to stand up and be counted. All of us are frustrated, but today is not the day we desert the faith. Today we BELIEVE. Today is the day every one of us needs to draw a line in the sand as fans, and reaffirm the strength of our own faith. From every seat in every stand, from behind every TV screen in every land in every home, on every internet forum, today is the day we stand UNITED, and get behind our own.
Sir Giles said it better than myself on the previous thread, and I think it’s an incredibly important post for all of RoM. I post it again, for all of us to read and internalize:
Sir Giles said it better than myself on the previous thread, and I think it’s an incredibly important post for all of RoM. I post it again, for all of us to read and internalize:
“….At some point United will stop being the top club in England, inevitably. It may have happened already, which is not an attack on Fergie or the players, just being realistic. Nothing lasts for ever. If we go into a period of relative decline, supporters habituated to success will have to learn to adjust. Some will melt into the night, never to be seen again, at least until United start winning again. Others may even prefer it as we’ll have shed ‘glory hunters’. But for most of us – I hope – we’ll have to find a way to deal with relative failure.. There is a lesson to be learned from watching all those jowly ex-Liverpool players over the last twenty years, lining up to say how whatever current Anfield team is out there aren’t up to it, not as good as my day etc (as with Keane last night, and maybe with Gary Nev, sadly, having taken the Sky dollar)The past rapidly becomes an albatross round the neck of current players, a constant rebuke that they are not good enough. It’s hard enough to stay at the top year after year, and United supporters have a role to play helping what could be a difficult transition.This is not an argument for fawning praise or refraining from criticism, just a plea for keeping things in perspective, especially with young players learning their trade. It’s important to get behind the team who need our support more than ever. Anxiety and nerves and negativity so quickly spread to the players, we must stay positive.
And a Red tribute to a man, whose words never fail to give me courage when the chips are down…
Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.
@smartalex: got a good point mate, indeed the limited places available is another issue… Lets just hope the team copes well in the coming games, and develop a solidarity among themselves to get the wins we need so much these days. And also that Rooney gets back to the form he showed early on and start banging the goals in
Sorry for the super-long post (even by my standards)
Yesterday I was depressed, but my fighter’s instincts are now kicking in. Watch out, here come the Reds!!
Jeet
Get out, you’re just a glory hunter! hahahaha
Morning pal, hope all is well
@Jeet : nice one mate, but just with your proposed 4-2-3-1, I personally like to see 2 strikers upfront, unless you got brilliant goal scorers in the midfield, like Scholes who would pop up and crack a 25 yard shot past the keeper
But if indeed SAF wants to experiment, I think your proposed one looks good… Just a question thou about a player I think could up the level in midfield, Rodwell, is he a CDM/CM or AM?
All well, Cedars – how’s them injections? Me have green plans for Sunday with a fellow red dropping into town
Jeet – No need for apologies..good read at times like this. Good of you to inc Sir Giles post because i missed that one. Thanks
Jeet
Just pills recently, so no nurse sadly! Cannot have any booze either, fuck I miss a decent scotch
Enjoy the green, yummy!
68Devils
Greetings, new poster or a new moniker? Enjoying your posts pal
Excellent contribution Jeet! Thank you and good morning!
Apologies – mine’s just a late arrival in the rant about all things Basel v United. Just needed to rant though and get it off the chest.
Boy, if Rooney had scored from Nani’s cross, (or Park had tucked the rebound in) you’d get the feeling we probably would have gone on to win the game. And going through to the knockout, they would probably in all likelihood muster up enough tactical performances to get through a few rounds again. On the bitter Swiss night itself, they had definitely had enough chances to equalise (Nani and Rooney had chances, Macheda smacking the post, etc). But, United did look decidedly average at times and for a team who apparently has designs on winning major prizes, relying on wing play so predictably is not a good look.
And I’m tiring of Mr Evra saying for other players to buck up and look in the mirror. I think he needs a good buck up too. He’s not exactly Captain America either. To me, his performances have not been up-to-scratch and his regard for his own skills might be slightly overestimated in his mind. (Indulging in some reaching back into past games, was it not him who gave the ball away for Bayern to score the winner when we got dump out in the quarters, was it not him who left acres of space for Pedro to score the first goal in the finals last year and got repeated skinned by the Basel winger yesterday?) Not sure. And I feel for Rooney. Top player. Probably remembering why he was so close to leaving last year and wishing/hoping for the best in that this United can be replenished to the degree that allows him to shine and grow his game to that of the Messi, Ronaldo ilk, not running after long balls lumped forward.
And what of Keano’s critique. Ferguson’s response is absolutely brilliant in terms of protecting the minds and mentalities of the players he’s got at the moment. He knows that football is not just about tactics or stats, but about getting every human on his team to give everything they’ve got and not have any doubts in their minds. But speaking purely objectively without that constraint, I think Ferguson would probably have agreed with Keane. The team was just not up to scratch both technically and psychologically.
Right now, the likes of Barcelona, Madrid, (and you get the feeling, even City more and more now), if they were to face United, they would probably pay lip service pre-match to how good United is, but in the locker room, they will know without a doubt, that they have the upper hand in both skill and player capabilities. Put it this way, Dani Alves is not going to have sleepless nights facing the great dribbling skills of Park Ji Sung.
Quite incredibly and definitely thankfully, Ferguson has been able to churn out victories from this team for quite a while now, and especially of late – winning goals from perhaps on a lucky break, a good volley or maybe a few headers to go in from crosses. You look at City and you see Silva, Nasri and Aguero upfront – There ain’t nothing about that line up that relies on luck and a good rub of the green. They can have absolute confidence in their abilities. Their passing and approach play alone should pretty well guarantee goals. It’s the same with Messi, Xavi & Iniesta. The same with Ronaldo, Ozil, Benzema. Do we have that? Not so sure. We did when Tevez, Ronaldo and Rooney was in the ranks together. Right now, if everyone’s fit, we might have Anderson, Berbatov, Cleverley and to an extent Nani who can do that as a strength. Then you have Berbatov, who I reckon, if he leaves for some other team, is going to be blindingly superb. His attitude has been nothing but that so far, in spite of being constantly overlooked.
I know this is all just surface observations – but this IS nothing but a rant. Something to get off the chest. I know Sir Alex will be getting in the thick of things to work these things out and get the team development ticking along. Being a manager is unimaginably difficult given all the personalities to keep happy, contracts, new players to get, the media’s glare, tactics, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. But Sir Alex is a born winner, a thoroughbred old fashioned winner and I believe in the guy to leave another indelible imprint on what we, the fans, would call a crisis/decline/episode and have to the club navigate through to good times again, and do it in a classy manner.
Let’s just say we got all players fighting fit, set them up tactically well, what do we have?
De Gea, Jones or Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Anderson, Cleverley, Young, Rooney, Hernandez. Subs: Berbatov, Carrick, Fletcher, Rafael/Fabio, Owen, etc.
I think we’re missing a midfield enforcer at the very least. Having a strong backbone would at least get the other players to up their game another few notches. Busquets, Alonso and De Jong do it for their teams.
Anyways, it’s halfway through the season. Plenty of games, twists and turns still to go. One step/game at a time will probably be what Fergie gets across to the team. I’ll stop ranting now. Sorry if this is taking ages to read. I still have great hope for this team. And for the good memories to be carved out still from this season. Bring on the league, FA Cup and the Europa.
Cedars I’m going to bed, sweet dream to me ha ha
good morning cedars see you tomorrow…
@Lordrt: Not sure about Rodwell – I saw him have some brilliant games in the 2009-10 season (?), but then haven’t followed him closely since. Heard that his development has stalled a bit due to injuries (and also due to likes of Arteta leaving?), but then again I heard that he did a right job on David Silva recently. Sadly, or rather, not so sadly, with my son growing up, I prefer to spend very little time watching non United matches these days. Back to Rodwell though, I have no doubt he could do a job for us, and he is one of the few midfielders who could do a decent job in a 4-4-2 because he can attack and destroy as well. Not sure whether he will cut in in Europe though, purely from a technical point of view. But then I must admit I have a bias against most English players when it comes to Europe:)
soren!
Haha, sweet dreams my love…. See you soon darling
@Jeet : I was thinking of him due to your 4-2-3-1 formation, was thinking IF we go for him in one of the transfers, how he could slot in this formation, either in the 2 or the 3 line in midfield, coz as far as I know, Carrick would get a spot in the “2″
Cedars
Greetings back, i am new to ROM and sure glad to be on your good side.
@lordrt: I do believe he would cut it as one of the middle 2 in a 4-2-31, but then would probably need to be retsrained from bombing forward a bit. IMO, the best player in the world to play the central figure in the front 3 of my formation is Sneidjer.
@Jeet : Indeed for sneijder, but he’s price is too high and SAF will be unwilling to pay much for a player of his age, but the quality is certainly there no doubt on that
68Devil
Welcome aboard pal………. hahaha I am not that scary trust me, every true red is on my side buddy
Ah another one who would fit in the “2″, Javi Martinez, watched some Liga games, and saw him look impressive as well, a very good CDM IMHO
Later fellas
Robbo > Keane
Cedars
Glad to be part of this journey…thanks
@lordrt: I have heard many reaving about Martinez, but like I said, missed watching him. When King Eric praises a non-United player, I have to think highly of him:)
@68Devils: welcome aboard! You don’t need to feel scared of Cedars – think of him as the benevolent uncle. Tough exterior, but really a big, cuddly teddy bear at heart! I’ll even let you on his kryptonite – if he bothers you, you’ve just got to turn around, look him in the eyes and say, very loudly – “RVP!!” You’ll see his eyes suddenly glaze over, buckle at the knees and clutching at his thumping chest. You might even notice something akin to a tent emerging on , well, erm…you know what I’m talking of.
Welcome, mate and keep posting!
PS: Cedars – sorry, all in good jest – just couldn’t resist it!!
Wouldn’t we guys be happy if we win the Europa League come this may. I know Its not easy but If our players give 100% we can win. We are MANCHESTER UNITED DAMMIT.
I say we should make use of the tournament. Lets give the kids some exposure. Europa league better than Carling cup. Why not Just give our 100% and then see what happens.
Sir alex for the remainder of the season should stop with the experiments. Smalling should play in centre half along with either Evans or Rio. Stop playing At rb.
Players Like Evra, Park and Rooney should get serious. Sir Alex should have a fixed team that can challenge for Champions league in 2 seasons.
Jones is better as Defensive Mid Fielder. Let him play there and prosper.
I have full faith in Sir alex because I know he is not a quitter. He won’t Accept defeat.
Whatever any one says we are still better than Chelsea , Arsenal Tottenham Man City Liverpool.
Lets win the remaining games in December and hope city drop some points (Which they will).
DONT GIVE UP. BELIEVE
Lebanese tents are pants!
Jeet
Thanks for having me aboard and the lifesaver…
I still have some tiny hope that his agent’s comments weren’t translated properly or that Fergie might have a better update for us, but…
Was looking at Vida’s stats.
- He’s played 2/3 of our games in the last 6 years.
- We’ve won 71% of the games he’s played in and 60% of the games he hasn’t played in.
- We’ve averaged 0.70 goals conceded per game when he’s played and 1.01 goals conceded per game when he hasn’t played.
@Stateside
Sorry for the delayed response. My internet connection is as injury prone as the Da Silvas. From what I’ve seen with other footballers, if you don’t operate on shoulder injuries, they tend to come back and haunt you. That’s probably why it was a recurring issue for Rafa until he did the surgery this season. But in general, I feel that the twins were injury prone before they started bulking up. I was always suspicious why only us and Arsenal showed strong interest in them. Anyway. I hope our physios have a plan for the twins to stay fit on a regular basis. Because if this keeps up for 2-3 more seasons, they won’t stay around as long as the Nevilles did…
@Saad
Thanks for names. I am out of touch with the market nowdays and only Shawcross’ names seems familiar. Maybe Fergie could pull off some kind of loan move ala Larsson. We know how much that helped us. Or how much a loan move during 2004 could have helped us deal with Rio’s suspension.
Jeet
Hahahaha, brilliant stuff
I blame Costas and his typos….. Fergie OUT or was it IN?
Not sure anymore! hahaha
Good Morning ROM!
@Jeet, Belting post again!
I, for one, don’t think United can ever do a Liverpool or an Arsenal, i.e., go trophyless for a large period of time. Even if we did go through a barren spell, it would be something like 2003-2006 for a period of 3 or 4 years at the max. I cannot imagine it being longer than that as long as Sir Alex has a plan he is working with. Once Sir Alex retires though… *shudders heavily* …. I don’t even want to think about that right now.
And I know it may be my naivety talking but I’d like to think that the master has an overall plan he is working towards. In the past couple of months, that hasn’t looked to be the case especially when looking at the tinkering that is going on. However, you can say that his hand has been forced through injuries and suspensions also. The problem compared to seasons past is that the replacements aren’t veterans, a la O’Shea, Brown, Neville etc., they are also youngsters trying to learn their trade and that messes up with our rhythm. I would really, really like to think that has thrown all of Sir Alex’s plans out of the window and my personal belief is that it has to a certain extent.
What Sir Alex’s overall plan was going to be should be clear from the way we started the season. Sure, there were other problems at that time itself which was highlighted around ROM that we were too open and our defense was leaking, but the foundation was to begin with a team that played United style of football and taking it from there. I still think that is his overall plan once he gets a settled line up going.
The way I see it, Sir Alex is someone who “always” has a plan he is working towards, and I don’t care if you think this is the romantic or the naivete in me talking. Even after disasters like City or the CL, he has a vision of how he wants this United team to look like next season or the season after that. I am pretty sure we’ll start seeing that vision being fulfilled in due course of time. If that means we end up 2012 and even 2013 with no trophy to show for it, I couldn’t give a fuck.
Roberto Carlos signs for Manchester United
http://stretfordenders.net/roberto-carlos-signs-for-manchester-united/
Hope he can put in freekicks like Roberto senior
Balaji
Good morning pal, loved your post, especially the last paragraph
SAF’s just confirmed that he’s out for the season.
Fucking devastating.
kanchelskis
Seriously? That is terrible news……
Get Kevin Moran out of retirement, now that is a nut case I miss
@Cedars
He’s in and out.
@RedBlizzard
Doesn’t matter. In 6 months he will have forgotten how to take free kicks. Just like Ashley Young did.
I hate to be gloomy, but can anyone really see us winning the league with Vidic out for the rest of the season?
kanchelskis
I can, because the lads will get stuck the fuck in and give it their best…… Evans for player of the season
Fergie has confirmed vida out for rest of season, on ssn now
Ah who knows? That’s the first time we’ve lost our captain for an entire season after Keane’s injury at Leeds. And we know how that ended up. It’s a huge blow. If we save Ferdinand for the league games, that will give us some extra stability. The problem is that none of the other 3 central defenders seem to gel well with Rio. And there’s always the prospect of new injuries. We are down to 7 defenders and 3 of them are injury prone.
Imo we better start getting our attacking show back on the road because defence won’t win it for us this time.
@kanchelskis
Just expect the worst so the only suprise will be a pleasant one. Personally i’ve accepted Manchester United is still getting baked in the oven right now and Fergie’s cake isnt ready, but expect a flurry of trophies throughout the next 5 years. But make no mistake Vidic is a huge blow, he’s out for the season, i’ve seen some pretty gruesome injuries but i personally winced watching Vida’s leg get caught under that Viking’s frame, crap i felt pain in my stomach
@gerkeo
catch up!
_________________________________________________________________________
@CedarsDevil
I admire your optimism, and wish I shared it!
As I’ve said before, Fergie needs to settle on Vidic’s stand-in straight away. It looks for all the world like it will be Evans. The twins’ injury record means Jones and Smalling will be constantly needed at RB, and we dont’ want to be swapping CBs around all the time.
Let’s hope that with a few games under his belt, he can get back to his best.
Sorry, didn’t see kanchelskis’s earlier post
Right has everyone stopped feeling sorry for themselves , time to man up and get behind the fucking team. We want this we want that , me me me. Start by singing your fucking heads off on Saturday going 3 pts of the top of the league . Win this fucking cup turn it into a positive . Those were the days my friend stood in the Streford End we sing and Chat for ever and a day , we live the life we chose we fight end never lose those were the days ho yes those were the days , Make it great again. Exterminate exterminate.
kanchelskis
Cheers buddy…………. If we cannot look forward to United playing without optimism then what is the point eh?
Sorry 2pts off the lead even better
dazbomber
Fucking well said, not sure how better to express myself!
@gerkeo
No worries
Fuck I miss the Stretty …………
We love UNITED we do, we love UNITED we do………. Oooh UNITED we love you
Bring home wootton and tunnicliffe
Usually I am not a fan of panic buying, but we need another body in defence once the January transfer window opens. Don’t know if it’s going to be a new signing, someone on loan or De Laet returning, but our current options aren’t enough for the 27 games we have left. That number could increase up to 39 games if we go all the way in the FA cup and the Europa League.
FERGUSON HAS JUST CONFIRMED VIDIC IS OUT FOR THE SEASON
The way I see it, the biggest problem without Vidic will be our aerial ability. Let’s look at the people we have left: Rio, Evans, Jones and Smalling. Rio has never been the biggest header of the ball and he has never put his body on the line. His game depends on reading the danger and being in a position where he doesn’t have to put himself on the line. The same applies for Evans as well. Jonny’s biggest problem has been that he gets himself in positions where he has to put his body on the line like Vidic but doesn’t do it. Jones will put his body on the line. However, he lacks the height to be as physically imposing as Vidic is. And we still haven’t given him a run of games in the centre of defense. Smalling is like the first two. He has the height but he also doesn’t put himself on the line.
That is going to be our biggest problem. What happens when we face Bolton, Stoke, Chelsea with Drogba and any other team fighting for relegation? Unless Jonny’s personally asked by the boss to put himself on the line and go hard into headers, we should have an alternate plan for dealing with corners, free-kicks and throw-ins from such teams. This is the kind of situation where we need Wesley Brown and John O’Shea. Oh wait….
Where the fuck are you Costas? You fucking jinxed it. I told you at the beginning of the season itself not to speak about it.
@Balaji
Evans -vs- Drogba? Only one winner mate.
http://therepublikofmancunia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/drogbafit.gif
http://andersred.blogspot.com/2011/12/financial-cost-of-uniteds-cl-exit.html
In case you lot haven’t read, the financial cost of United’s early exit courtesy of Anders. Good news is that there isn’t going to a mega-huge loss financially, for whatever that is worth.
@kanchelskis,
Yeah, I almost forgot that one. But if you notice, a lot of Evans problems are due to the fact that he lets the ball bounce without attacking it full on like Vidic does. Most of his so-called mistakes are due to the above reason. IMO, he should begin to be more brave and learn to put his body on the line more often. If he does that, then he will turn out to be a complete defender in many ways.
@Balaji
One of my main worries about their departures was the event of a serius injury, After Tony V’s experience, I realized that it can come at any time.
Yeah promote the youth.This the same youth that got hammered by Sunderland reserves last night.That would be a great idea.
Make no mistake about it loss of Vidic is huge. Up to Jones,Smalling and Evans to step up. We get another injury in defence it will be more square pegs and round holes, especially as how the twins struggle to stay fit. We need the twins just as much as the centre halves cos we cant keep playing jones and smalling at right back, only other option is Tony V as De Laet is on a season long loan and cant be recalled
Another body in Jan isnt a bad idea tried something similar when Rio was banned. Went in for Southgate but Boro wanted too much money.
@parryheid: Agreed it could be dicey, but what else can we do? Half the squad is out injured, and we have to play every effin thursday. Surely we have to play a bunch of youngsters in the Europa cup? I mean we really don’t seem to have a choice now, do we?
What do we do ?well for starters play not one of our remaining first team pool in the Europa cup.Another thing we can do is pray we dont drop any points between here and the transfer window.Finally get our paws into that cash mountain and get buying not the two I thought we needed but double that.
Anyone know how I would submit an article to Scott for him to consider? I’ve been doing some detailed analysis of injuries, comparing types of injuries year by year for a number of clubs (so far: us, rent boys, the arse, dippers and spurs) since August 2002.
parry – Err I think you will find the best youth players werent even playing last night having been in Switzerland or on loan. ie. Tunnicliffe, Morriosn, Fryers and Larnell Cole.
StatesideAussie, there is a button at the top of this and every page of RoM: ‘ CONTACT ‘
SmartAlex … yeah, silly me. I saw it. I didn’t realize that contained an invitation to submit articles — I figured (based on no evidence and obviously not much thought either) that it was just for technical stuff.
No worries! I hope your figures figure, figuratively speaking.
Err,Tunnicliffe is on loan and therefore by strict definition not a reserve team player,But Pogba the Keane’s and the like were and they are players people are howling to be fast tracked uh uh .
While I’m at it I will make it clear and I know I should not be responding to you as we are fire and petrol as if you and I are in disagreement/dispute on any point I have the impression you have an ulterior motive and the handers appear on the scene without fail or don’t you remember the last time I asked if you needed handers and your reply? Anyway I wont pursue the matter.
Will miss you vidic