After ending November with a shock home loss to Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup quarterfinals, Manchester United will look to open a busy and pivotal December with a win, as they visit Aston Villa this weekend. United are always a popular Premier League betting pick, and they’ll be favored to take the spoils in Saturday’s showdown at Villa Park.
After last Saturday’s controversial 1-1 home draw with Newcastle and City’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Sunday, United come into December five points behind City in second. With City facing Chelsea and Arsenal later in the month, the opportunity could be there to close the gap, but with City hosting Norwich City this weekend, United can’t afford to settle for another stalemate.
In last season’s visit to Villa Park, United needed two goals in the last 10 minutes to draw 2-2, but there’s reason to expect United to get three points this time around.
After winning only five away matches all of last season, United have four wins and two draws in six away league matches so far this season, and they’ve conceded only three goals in those six matches.
United are also facing an opponent they’ve dominated in recent history. Villa haven’t won at home against United in the league since August 1995, and in the 31 league meetings since, their only win is a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in December 2009.
One thing that will be noted at least a few times leading up to this weekend and on Saturday will be the fact that this will be Ashley Young’s first match against his former side since his summer move to United, and the Villains certainly look to be missing both Young and Stewart Downing, who also departed this past summer, moving to Liverpool for 20m.
England internationals Gabriel Agbonlahor and Darren Bent both have five league wins, and Agbonlahor has contributed six assists, but there’s been little production elsewhere, as Villa have notched only 16 goals in 13 matches this season.
Not properly replacing their two best playmakers is certainly a big reason why Alex McLeish’s side has had trouble picking up wins thus far. Villa have only three league wins, but they lead the league in draws with seven. It is worth noting that all three of those wins were at home, but it’s also worth noting that they come into their meeting with United with only one win in their last six matches.
Along with failing to hit the back of the net on a consistent basis, defending has also been an issue for Villa. Prior to Sunday’s goalless draw at Swansea, Villa had allowed 12 goals in their previous five matches. Also, three times this season, Villa have given up second-half equalizers in matches that ended in a draw, and they also surrendered an early 1-0 lead in a 2-1 home defeat to Midlands rivals West Brom in October.
This weekend would be a fine time for Young and the United attack to have a big game, especially with a crucial Champions League match at Basel ahead next Wednesday.
United haven’t scored multiple Premier League goals in a game since a 2-0 home win against Norwich City on 1 October, a run of six matches. And after scoring 21 goals in winning their first five league matches this season, United have scored only eight goals in their last eight league matches. Wayne Rooney, while still ranking in the top five in the Premier League scoring charts, hasn’t scored in the league since netting in the 3-1 win over Chelsea in September, and Young hasn’t produced much since his magnificent performance in the 8-2 rout of Arsenal in August.
Injury spells for impressive young talents Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck have hurt United, and Young also had a short spell on the sidelines as well. But with Young now fit again and Welbeck potentially back in action this weekend, United won’t be lacking the firepower to show their class in attack.
In last week’s draws against Benfica and Newcastle, United looked far more threatening in attack than they had been recently, but numerous chances went begging due to poor passes, crosses, and finishes. In fact, in United’s draw with Newcastle, United had an astounding 28 shots on goal, but only seven of those shots were on target. So, things are perhaps headed in the right direction, but United need to start converting more of those numerous chances into goals, starting on Saturday.
Not only do United need to win at Villa to at least keep pace with City, a quality performance – on both ends – will be a major confidence builder heading into United’s most important match of the season.
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Villa game reminds me of Bid Edwin kick collected by wazza and storming it at the back of the net
Not to forget the super Nani cross to wazza for his second….
And the Vidic screamer that said – How did you score against Manchester United?
Hoping for a repeat performance….
Come on United!
Haven’t exactly dominated this fixture in recent times. Although we could have won last year’s wacky game had Obertan converted his chance.
United seem more reliant on the road this season, so hopefully we will get out of there with the 3 points.
We are now getting used to results like yesterday. This is sad.
I feel it all depends on what Villa do. If they decide to go with the three strikers players Agbonlahor out wide then they’re easily beaten by United as they cant hold their shape that way. If they decide to sit Heskey, something they should have done years ago, and play Agbonlahor then things will be more difficult. Not because Villa are a great team but because we are void of any ideas in midfield and our play making skills are fully locked up with an injury prone midget in Cleverley. No doubt we will go out with a similar squad and we’ll see the usual ball snatching Rooney performance thinking one minute hes Paul Scholes and the next Darren Bent. Nani will be infuriating as usual. Skinning Warnock but hitting his cross 20 yards too long. Chico will get his goal and we will scrape a 2-1 victory. We will win. It wont be pretty but the cock suckers will no doubt have a dig at my hatred and say shit like LUHG, Rooney is the worlds best bla bla bla. And then be completely surprised that when we meet a team that has that bit of luck (Newcastle) we dont have any skill in breaking them down something that has been apparent for a very long time. We all remember last year time and time relying on Scholes and Giggs digging us out of a hole. I cant see a way to beat this cheesy slump were having without.
1. Feed Cleverley so he resembles a male rather than some boy band poofter. He has to be able to take a kick in the real world (not reserves) and
2. Ask Scholes to come out of retirement.
This is a must win game and we need to play better football, If we lose it the pressure heaps onto us!!!
The defeat against Crystal Palace underline the fact that the current United sqaud is not good enough. SAF apologised the fans after the match. However, apologise words are not important right now. AT the moment, the most important thing is to accept the fact that our squad is not good enough and this January SAF should eliminate those who are not deserve to wear United’s shirt, and then bring in new top class players.
Players like Evans, Gibson, Diouf are poor players and will never good enough to play for Manchester United. They are not deserve to wear United’s shirt. Rafael and Fabio are not developing. They like to battle but forget to realise that their bodies are comparatively small. The twin concede too many fouls and their final ball always poor. Berbatov, Park and Owen have all pass their peak for a while and SAF should consider selling them before loosing them with nothing.
We need to bring in top class players. Our squad need to strengthen especially in the midfield area. As a fan we want to see top class players playing for United, not a poor quality team like last night.
Gazzaerro you are spot on mate. You can add Macheda to that list too. He’s scored one good goal years ago and ponces around like he’s made the big time. The Da Silva’s never finish a game injury free. There was anger amongst the crowd where I was due to that crap performance. Valencia has been pissed about that much he seems to have lost all confidence. It was embarrassing. Time for a clear out of players who simply aren’t good enough.
Where do people get this notion that Tom Cleverly is injury prone? He was taken out by Davies & then rushed back by playing back to back games. Hardly injury prone is it, especially as its his first season really playing food us. Owen is injury prone, the twins are injury prone. Tom C was just unlucky or targeted by Davies. Some people just want to add more doom & gloom during this poor run of form. Miserable basterds.
Need a result here badly, not sure who I would play but would line up 4-5-1 vs villa. Then same again Vs basle.
Gibson gets such bad press. We were absolute dogshit against Palace but Gibson was hardly at fault for it. He was pinging 40 yarders and would have got a couple of goals with better luck.
Diouf on the other hand, needs his bags packed.
Last night just further proved Jonny Evans is just not man utd quality. At fault for the 2nd goal. He commits into a tackle when there’s no reason too.
Chuck Diouf on the scrap heap. Macheda needs to go out on loan, as does Freyers who desperately look like they need first team experience.
Park is a player with limited ability. This isn’t a game you need players like him in unfortunately. He would be handy on Saturday though.
Berbatov, done well in his 45 minutes. But for fucks sake i can’t stand it when he moans at people about not making a run, and when he holds onto the ball when there’s a pass on. Gibbo did well at times making forward passes.
Last time we lost to lower league opposition in the league cup, we won the double, so happy times ahead
.
As for Villa, we can’t play 4-4-2 and get outnumbered in midfield. Carrick, fletch and one other and we must play a pacey right back to stifle Agbonlahor.
Yet another uninspiring display by our lads. Beginning 2 look like we prefer the trap-and-pass type of player 2 d bags-of-trick type. Good as Pogba, Morrison and Fryers are, they lack d type of trickery required 2 unlock as stubborn a defence as d opposition had. I bet u if we had Zaha in our side, we would have won d game. What teams need 2 beat us is just park the bus and get us on the counter. Please, please, please we need players with tricks, guile, magic, etc. Nani is d only one in that category for us right now. Can someone please tell me why Tony V kept his game till d last 5 mins of d match?
First of all, i didn’t watch the game yesterday, power crisis out here. Secondly i don’t hold a season ticket and as such don’t contribute anything financially to Manchester United so i have no right to go on rant on who’s now shit. Thirdly am not on the board so i don’t have a say on anything and as such i have no right to criticize any of SAF’s decisions. Only thing i’ll say is i hope Evra didnt mean it when he said SAF gives one chance and you dont blow it. Better to lose to Crystal than to field a young side in the finals against Man City who take every trophy like El Dorado gold. Now for the weekend! Aston Villa has been a stumbling block for the last 2 seasons or so. I hope to see the same lineup from the newcastle game, that was some scintillating soccer.
Think costas said it best on 2 accounts.
1 – people would rather be proven right than have a player succed.
2 – They have their scapegoats ready regardless of the outcome & what actually happened in the game. I remember gibson getting shit after we thrashed birmingham 5-0. He didn’t do anything wrong that day. Yet the excuse was “so what he was playing a shit team.” He’s fucked regardless of what he does.
I cant criticise a player for getting injured or repeatedly injured. Thats something that stems back from their development, early life, gene pool etc etc and something they cannot control. Im sure they dont like getting injured but with age they will bulk up. Anyone criticising the DaSilvas need their bloody head checking. How old are they, give them a chance. Their play going in forward is better than any other full back in the league and most of them that you can compare to are seasoned pros and much older. The defensive side of things they will learn and its not as common to see very good defensive aware defenders as it is to see attacking aware youngsters. Simple bloody comparison is would you prefer England Internation Glen Johnson. I fucking wouldnt, Id prefer to cut off my own bloody Johnson before that. Cleverleys another one, absolutely brilliant and a bright spark but he just needs to bulk up. Hes never going to be a 6 footer but he has to put on weight and bulk up and resemble ex players like Hughes, Scholes or even Rooney in stature. Maradona or Aguero like in build is whats needed for him. Not this soft RnB singing boy band 40 kg wank bag look. Fuck the missus if she wants to bed a man that looks like a boy then shop her to the rozzers for pedo tendencies. Since when did Peter Andre be the architypal look for a man. Its fucking laughable.
Im still angry because Im pissed off with the idea that the League Cup is just a worthless trophy. Its still a first team trophy, it has no bearing on the reserves. Ive seen the reserves play a fair few games and even though some of these players perform there it is obvious they are more than two years away. So why the fuck are they playing. Why the need to put an arm round these players and tell them theyre doing well and continually praising them for shitting the bed. Playing for Manchester is a job, its not a fucking youth hostel for the best school boy players. Its the breeding ground for future proffessionals and acting like proffessionals is what they need to start doing. If I went to work with that attitude always demanding to be treated like someone whos been on the job for 20+ years, forgiven for stupid crimes, mouthing off or allowing someone who represents me to mouth off about my work to the outside I bet youd agree that I would be out on my arse so fast. The current crop are useless. Gibbo is a usefull midfielder but hes as good as Murphy for Fulham and probably not even that good. When would that ever be 1st team United quality. Evans is the new Wes Brown. He will play here untill hes 30 as back up to the back up, so lets not begrudge him the odd match. Im sorry but Kiko and Diouff will never be good enough. I see nothing in them to even carve out a decent premier league career with any club. Ebanks Blake and Frazier Campbell were better.
Hi Reds, @Rotegzy and @GAZZARO. &Mufc M41, am with yall mates. Spot on! We need to stop sugar cooating losses especially after a crap 120mins of football like yesterday. Am beyond pissed, am now just sad that I team I love and would give my all for is accepting such mediocre performances week in, week out. I know its all well n good to keep possitive and believe(I do), but we have been playing crap(since 5 games b4 the city thrashing) and I feel like the players haven’t learnt the lesson. Maybe it will take SAF, a UEFA cl exit(God 4bid) to realise that. We need to bring in more finesse, skill, composure in our miidfield seriously!!! RANT OVA
Ebanks-blake was/is/always will be a cunt and wasn’t/isn’t/will be much of a footballer.
Rafael and fabio are strange, very talented but yet so injury prone. It’s frustrating because anyone would expect them, (well in rafael’s case anyway) to certain starters but they seem incredibly fragile.
Their gung ho terrier like approach to games doesn’t help but i think they need to take some more vitamins and hitt the gym to get stronger because in the premier league, niggling injuries are frequent.
people are making a big deal outta sir alex’s apology. he did so because the performance was shocking, i mean he couldn’t believe his eyes.
They let him down badly last night and for some players, they may never get another chance again. Some players situation are worse than others, the younger players will get chances to keep developing and rightly so, macheda will be sent on loan, last chance saloon for him.
Diouf is finished along with a couple of others.
Dont talk shite RedBlizzard, are you really trying to say anyone without at season ticket isnt allowed an opinion on the squad? Seriously? Ive been a United fan since I can remember, but now due to the fact I have bills coming out of my ears Im lucky if I get to a handful of games a season – does that make me less of a fan? does that mean my opinion counts less than someone who is fortunate enough to be able to afford a season ticket?
Sorry for the rant but that kind of moronic viewpoint really does grind my gears.
At last people are saying it as it is, we are going backwards very quickly. We need serious money to put this right, some people are deluded about our squad, It’s crap……………..end of story!!!!!
The fact that we lost yesterday doesn’t anger me half as much as those 2+ hours of my life I’ll never get back. I hate watching United loose, but I guess we’ve been spoiled in that regard. Whats worse though is the performance yesterday. I can handle loosing to sides that play better football. The draw against Benfica wasn’t too bad, they played well. Newcastle game we had the chances, so albeit annoying we didnt score one of those chances, we at least played well. Yesterday was dull. No one in the team had an idea once they got close to the opposition box. You would think the youngsters and fringe players would relish such an opportunity, no? Uninspired and not a team performance.
Go out and buy who? can’t compete with chelsea, city, madrid or barca in terms of extravagant spending, players are getting more mercenary like each season and they think of bank balance first, hence why Fergie is focusing on bringing through youth and possibly finding unknown gems.
It’s not all doom and gloom. whatever the issue is, it will hopefully be rectified in time, United’s two up coming games won’t be straight forward, villa at home can be very very dangerous, basel are unpredictable and have players up front that can come up with the goods as proven by their draw at oldtrafford, both games united need to regain their clinical touch, if you create then bury chances. if you do so then that kills teams spirit, when it’s only a 1 nil lead, anything can happen. It’s never safe even at 2 or 3, football is strange.
In real honesty an apology was in order against Crawley a lot more than it was last night. Unfortunately, the “we won, so lets sweep it under the rug” mentality prevented Fergie from apologing on that day even though that performance was a lot worse compared to yesterday.
Gibson just isn’t good enough. It says it all when last night was one of his better performances and it still fell well short of United’s standards. I go to the match home, away and all over Europe and will defend United come what may, but the time has come to stop sugar coating it. Get rid of the dead wood such as Gibson, Macheda, Diouf, Bebe, Kusczak, etc free up some wages and get some decent players in. It speaks volumes when City are playing Aguero up front in the same competition and we play Diouf and Macheda. Don’t loan out Macheda, sell him. He’s had plenty of time. For fucks sake, we’re Man United and if they’re not good enough ship them out. We’ll never die.
NRD – Morning buddy, or in you case afternoon!
Well said or rather relayed at 9:51
Morning all
If people are saying we cant compete financially with the Citys and Chelseas of this world then we have two options.
1. Sink and watch them win titkles after titles because anyone believing were going to produce an entire squad on what we have in reserve they have to be shot and buried asap.
2. Sell Rooney. He is a comercial comodity and will fetch atleast 50 million. Thats 2 £25m pound players on £100000+ per week. We already have Berbatov that can do the drop deep striking roll and I would prefer we didnt buy a striker who goes to our own penalty area, steals the ball off our defenders feet then play a side ways pass.
The simple fact with me is. Im not prepared to sweep things under the carpet and be resigned to the fact that we have been “spoilt” with success. I believe success is a better stepping stone for future success than simply going out and spending shit loads of cash. Im not prepared to go “oh well” and except the success of others at my expense. I dont believe for one minute thats what Sir Alex has created or tried to create.
Costas
Morning my good friend, I posted my congrats to you for the win by PAOK last night on the other thread, but at the speed of which posts were flying in you might have missed it! I read this morning that some of their players are already being linked with Premiership teams.
Ffs, no more sugar coaating.. Arsenal in ’02 to ’04 were a very good team, but due to wenger’s mistake in replacing the talent, they r still 6+years without a trophy. I feel we are heading there esp withh city spending, sspanish football etc. We too need to step up to keep the no.1 spot, that means from scouts,to frigin players on the field (even fans!). Cant just brush these poor perfomances(10+ this season only) under the rug.. Oh well… UNITED!
marshawash – you say “Am beyond pissed, am now just sad that I team I love and would give my all for is accepting such mediocre performances week in, week out.”
That’s not standing by your team, that’s sticking the knife in when your brother is down.
MrKirie – you say “The fact that we lost yesterday doesn’t anger me half as much as those 2+ hours of my life I’ll never get back”
United fans are more than happy to invest a hell of a lot more than 2 hours of their life to benefit the team. You are a self-absorbed impostor, not a Red. The loss is far more relevant than 2 hours of your life.
Ravel and Pogba i still maintain are superb players. Macheda should go out on loan(in the premier league) and experience a relegation fight again, take him out of his comfort zone, did wonders for Cleverley and Welbeck. Someone once said in today’s game you are only good as the players around you. Take Messi to Sunderland right now and see if he saves them from relegation eh? Play Fernando Torres in Spain’s squad and see how he suddenly transforms, same as the Fabregas at Arsenal and the one at Barca. I’ll decide when i see Pogba and Morrison in the first team in a premier league game.Heck Moyes gave Rooney a chance at 16, Beckham made his debut at 17, Messi also made his debut at 17, Alex Ferguson made his debut as a striker for Queen’s Park at age 16, Ronaldo…..,God i could go on day
Sell rooney and replace him with who? a berbatov approaching footballing retirement age?. don’t get me wrong i rate the bulgarian but his long term future don’t lie at united, he’ll get a new deal but united have to build for the future, berba has passed his peak and selling rooney right now without replacements or anyone to step up could bring serious consequences, we already look devoid of ideas without him up front. United need players of huge quality to replace someone as experienced as he is.
As for macheda, i think he could be another rossi. moves to a spanish team and become van basten there, Fergie surely will know how to deal with him, whether it is loan spell to a premier league team or not, he’ll know.
Finally, can i ask why Fergie sent joshua king on loan to borrusia mochengladblach? the boy hardly plays matches and his development is being ruined gradually, why get a player on loan and not play him? i rate king highly and definitely has a chance to break through.
I hope They don’t play their midfielder against us or that he has a stinker failing that he could play havoc with us,but nah he isn’t of United class.
Evening cedars. Would add good to it if it weren’t for all the whinin. The dead wood some are refferin to are known as squad players. We will always have them and guess what they wont always be that good. We haven’t brought any strikers through since sparky. You can count welbeck as a success after 2 seasons playin the way he had been before his injury. Kiko has time he’s 19 I think. Just a shame he wasted half a season in Italy instead of going Tesco FC.
Good day Red Devil in the Cedars.
Smartalex – how can a mere football match be more important than a humans life? lets put things into perspectives here.
Human life and good health = important, football is a secondary matter when it comes to that.
marshawash
If United are making you sad now then I wonder how you would have felt if you watched them during the 70′s and 80′s?
If you love then you support, I hate losing as much as the next guy but United NEVER make me sad
too many sideways balls for my liking ! where the hell is direct football and fast passes ? so much hesitation while passing and a lot of errors.
Don’t you think you should be worried? Im saying this because we lost yesterday , I just can see things improving, while there is more talk than action
‘Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that’
Bill Shankly (RIP)
Good day smartalex
samuel – united WE stand
2 hours of a person’s life. Not their whole life.
MrKirie says that United losing is less important than the 2 hours of his life spent watching our team, when he could of used that time to do something else. Are you agreeing with him?
Or are you speaking tongue-in-cheek? Having a laugh, as it were!
NRD
You raise a good point on strikers coming through at the club…… To be fair we have not really produced so called world beaters since Fergie’s Fledglings….. I have high hopes for Welbeck and wee Thomas (If he can stay injury free!) I also rate Evans, but that’s just my opinion
Smartalex – fair enough.
All we can do is look at the positive side of last night as we now have more time to focus on overtakin shitty at the top of the league
I mean what is up with this nonsense from the so called ‘true reds’!With comparisons with Arsenal flying in and fear of City dominance creeping in?
Wtf?
United lost a League Cup game. With youngsters. Deal with it! And what the hell are you guys on about. We won the league last season. Its not even been 7 months since we won the 19th and you are on about SAF leaving and afraid United will become Arsenal? We sit second in the league with a 5 point deficit. Its not 50 you dumb asses. Of course we can win it. Have patience!
Do you think that all other teams are full of lollipops? Of course we will win some and lose some. Its all part of the game.
4 title wins in 5 years. 1 champions league win and two other finals! What the hell more do you want?
And enough with this City crap. Yeah, they are leading but until they win some titles just shut up about them. It was the same with Chelsea but who has won more titles even after the money poured in from the Russian underworld?
You guys really need someone to beat some sense into you! Fuck me, why on earth would you be spewing shit about United anyway? Clearly you are not United fans. Don’t you have your own fan blogs?
@cedarsDevil..Funny enough Evans was trending worldwide, just after we conceded that 2nd goal. It was as if he was tryna duck the ball. Guess the World thinks highly of him too!
@Cedars
Hi pal. I saw your congrats, but I guess I forgot to respond! Thanks anyway. Not many of their player can cut in the permiership to be fair. Just the 2 goalscorers for me. Nonetheless, it was a monumental occasion since it was the first Greek win on English soil. And it happened against the next England manager of all people!
Some self-anointed fans wouldn’t be prepared to carry a fridge up a few flights of stairs to help United, yet claim that they are entitled to demand 100% and more from everyone associated with the club. This even extends to wishing harm on the club, the players, the staff, and anything else that can be attacked, should their exacting standards not be met.
If you are one of these ingrates, no one thinks you’re a fan. We see you.
marshawash
A sly dig I sense, yet you chose to ignore the post in which I addressed you with
Tom Cleverley To literally step into Paul Scholes Boots.
Tom Cleverley is to replace Paul Scholes at the annual Santa Run at Old Trafford this Sunday, 4 December.
Scholes was originally scheduled to take part in the MU Foundation event, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the midfield legend is unable to attend.
However, just as he has done on the pitch this season, rising star Cleverley has stepped into Scholesy’s boots and will be on hand to officially start the 2km family race at 11.30am.
Also check out TRooney’s Christmas gift
Foundation chief executive John Shiels said: “We’re extremely pleased that we have a first-team player to start the race and we’re sure everyone will have a great time at our festive charity event.
“It’s unfortunate that Paul is now unable to attend but it can’t be helped. We are sure the Santa Run will still raise a great deal of money for charity on the day.”
“To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction” Sir Isaac Newton(RIP)
So when the team plays well, we all come here and congratulate, same should go for when they play poorly… Don’t gimme that holyier than thou comments of “true reds” bull-
You seem like an educated young man using such intelligent quotes, now tell where on earth did I say you should not react when we lose or play badly? I simply said United never make me sad, well unless I am remembering those who perished
Capiche?
Just for the record, “Chris Brown (famous woman beater) is LEGEND” was trending worldwide on twitter a couple of weeks back.
The folks on twitter are famous for NEVER trending utter nonsense…
@ samuel we dont need 2 compete with anyone. We got a goal scorer in d Little Pea for 7 mil without competing with anyone. There are lots of good creative attacking mid fielders who would give there right arm to play for us. Its either our scouts are not working hard enough, or we are unwilling to bring them in. Look at Ben Arfa for instance, what’s he still doing at Newcastle?
Costas
You beauty
True fans aren’t all about gimme.
Other ‘fans’ only come to the table to take what they want. The personal glory of proudly supporting an admired winning team is their demand from United. Anything less, and that pride falls into angry fits of childish frustration.
It’s not about the club for them, it’s about their experience and benefits as part of the club.
@CedarsDevil.about your earlier comment, I wasn’t born in the 70′s so I wouldn’t know how it felt, like wise u weren’t around during the 20′s and guessing we alll won’t be around in 2150, but UNiTED will.
@costas’s argument is with my “trending” word. And @smartalex is focused on “gimme”..LOL! #nuffsaid
smartalex
You beauty too! Term glory hunting springs to mind ….’Only sing when you’re winning’ etc
Glory Hunter is exactly the right term.
For someone to rue watching United should they not perform well enough…
At least they’re easy to spot.
Nice to see Ronnie airbrushed out of that picture.
This time, is what I like to call, RedNuts perspective:
Start with a random thought.
Kiko and Diouf? Do they need a loan spell in the premiership, or should we sell them both next summer?
Onto last night. Wasn’t really that bad, and I’ll tell yous why. We had a makeshift side on the pitch. It’s not as easy as, simply putting a 11 players on the park, and expecting them to gel. You don’t fully understand football, if you believe that’s the case. Costas will love the next bit. Injuries? I love the twins, but they’re seriously starting to worry me. Rafael is just back ffs. Fabio is exactly the same way. Hope the boys aren’t made of glass! Berba suffered an injury as well. If he stays on, maybe we break Palace down? Hindsight, I know. Lets look at their 2 goals. One is a winder strike. The other, is quite clearly offside. That’s 2 shocking decisions went against us now. We won’t get sympathy though. As I said on a different thread, I’d rather lose in this cup. We haven’t won the FA cup since 2004. Isn’t it about time we won the bloody thing again? The usually suspects got the treatment. Gibbo and Evans. Didn’t think they played that poorly? Maybe it’s just me lol. The bosses apology wasn’t needed imo. We’ve experienced far worse times. The Leeds Fa cup loss, for example. We had a stronger team out that day. United’s next 2 games, could make or break our season. Win them both, and things look better. If we come a cropper in both, invest in a crash helmet!
marshawash
My reference to the 70′s and 80′s era was not a brag or to try and give you an indication as to when I was born. You over state the obvious in your post…..
I was merely highlighting the fact that loving United for me is not about winning, its a passion, a love affair and the fact that they NEVER make me sad! They have given me so much joy over the years, too many to mention…..
Got it?
You see for me watching United is an honor, being at OT is an even bigger one. Singing your heart out for 90 minutes is a joy…. Win, lose or draw, how on earth can anyone say they’ve just wasted two hours of their lives over that!
Willie
I think we need to have you undergo a drugs test, I am sure you must be on steroids! Cannot remember the last time you wrote so much haha
Seriously, you raise some valid points, the twins are starting to worry me too with their constant injuries and like you say Costas will have a field day with this!
Surely most United supporters revolve around the scheduled kick-offs in our season. When is it ever that you don’t know when the next game is? Never. Those 50-odd 90 minute spells are our existence. The rest of the time we spend kicking our heels, whiling away the days and hours to kick-off.
smartalex
Trust me my good friend, over the years I have missed so many important occasions just because there was a United game on…… No occasion is more important as far as I am concerned
The fact that we are pinning our hope on Clev says it all, this is just a kid. All of a sudden he is our saviour, when was that the case recently????. This lad has huge pressure on him as we can’t buy a quality player unless we sell first, look at the facts!!!!. We are playing rubbish and look wobbly at the back, grinding out games is not enough………………..buck up or we are on the slide!!!!!!
I think it’s fair to say that Diouf should probably brush up on his turkish.
Bebe has been sidelined, so there may be an opening for a loan deal.
Macheda is an enigma. I still believe he will develop into a top player, I don’t think he should go out in January, and it would likely damage what confidence he still retains. If he did, I think he would need a continental manager in the Premiership.
For your information Smartalex, I’m in my 3rd year of med school and have 9 exams coming over the next two weeks. Let me tell you that those two hours were more valuable than anything right now, and I feel I have a right to be dissapointed in the showing yesterday. I know we fielded a young inexperienced team, I was just expecting more desire.
And please, save the whole “not a real fan” bullshit. Congratulations, perhaps you were born in Manchester and therefore have the privledge of being able to follow United closely. Perhaps your rich enough to do so. I’m a student, and I can’t. I watch as many games as I can, I follow the league, so get off your high horse and accept that not all people have the time, money or ability to follow the team as close as you! Some people have lives, other than football.
MrKirie
Went to my first match aged 10, at 15 I was allowed to go on my own, used to save all week, doing the odd job here and there to earn a few bob so that I can attend… My parents were not rich, far from it.
Never in my life did I ever feel like it was money wasted, and trust me, we hardly won games back then
MrKirie – Read the RedNuts perspective @11.45
It will relieve your ills mate.
CedarsDevil, I had at best a terribly intermittent stream for the game, yet kept feeling thankful that I had some viewing, for I felt despair in your inability to watch. You didn’t whine, but it is sad, and I was grateful for my small mercies.
These ingrates likely had a decent viewing. Yet they rue the time lost.
And do you want to know the best part? The really gob-smacking best part?
They consider themselves to be United fans. They forget that they are just acting, for reward.
I’m Norwegian and saving for the match tickets wouldn’t have been enough. Airfare, hotels etc. I just don’t think anyone is entitled to the supreme opinion on how to be a United fan. How many are there worldwide? I doubt everyone is as committed as you. Had I been born in Manchester, I would have done as you Cedars, but thats the luck of the draw.
MrKirie – United is not a priority for you. I understand. To each, his own.
Actually I can come up with another example of how seriously United fans on twitter should be taken. What happened with Gibson last season. #Plastics.
At the end of the day, smartalex summed it up best. Some fans are all about “gimme gimme”. A nice dose of following United during the 80s would be therapeutic for them.
It’s not about HOW to be a United fan, it’s just about BEING a United fan.
@willie
Diouf in particular didn’t look good at all. But then again, neither striker has played a lot this season. It was Macheda’s first start I believe. So I don’t get how quickly one could label them dead wood. Imo Hernandez didn’t play any better against Newcastle…
All very valid points Willie, and you’ll note that I never said the players were too poor for United because I know it was a young and “un-gelled” team. I was bemoaning the lack of desire. I didn’t see much
Being a United fan, isn’t exclusive to being from Manchester. Choose life. Choose love. Choose United!
One love, one United.
MrKirie
And I am Lebanese, was not born in Manchester, just lucky enough to have lived there for many years…. Since leaving Manchester I try to make a trip back every 2 years or so just to watch the lads and sing my heart out, and trust me it would cost me far more than you to get there….
Never have I said that was money wasted, the mere pleasure of being at OT is worth every penny for me
Costas
Make that the 70′s buddy, we were far worse then, furthermore we did not have a certain Robbo back then…
@Cedars
True that. Even got relegated at one point. Nonetheless,fans shouldn’t necessarily have to live through those times just to appreciate our current predicament but I guess the team has spoiled us too much in recent years…
Costas
I fully agree my friend, its not about which era you started following United, or what age you are its merely about knowing what true support is all about
MrKirie
Good luck with your exams, hopefully soon we will have a resident doctor on RoM…. Trust me, I need one!
smartalex says:
Some self-anointed fans wouldn’t be prepared to carry a fridge up a few flights of stairs to help United,
In hindsight, Palace were always going to score. I knew they went into the game without scoring in God knows how long so a Palace goal was always on the cards against a team with kids. You have to give Championship teams credit, especially their first teams (ffs)… having said that, I didn’t think Kiko or Diouf had a “bad game” per se. On the night we didn’t get a performance from any of our strikers, but I didn’t see anything that warrants a P45. Kiko’s been looking decidedly average for a while but last night was possibly his best performance I’ve seen in ages, which isn’t saying much! He needs to take a leaf from Welbeck’s book and start knuckling down imo. We’ve got young players who would LOVE a loan move ‘back home’ or a loan anywhere just so they can get games and come back. As for Diouf, apart from a silly throw in I can’t recall any mistakes from him? If anything he held up the ball well to compensate for our lack of real pressure, he wasn’t exactly inundated with passes, and tbf we didn’t batter the final third until we were 2-1 down facing ten defenders. If Diouf was missing the opportunities created by Giggs, Evra, Young, Nani and Valencia v Newcastle I’d understand the condemnation, but him, Kiko and Berbatov didn’t get enough delivery to warrant that imo.
Also, im not one for talking down the League Cup. Just because its not the biggest competition doesn’t mean its not big. We kicked on after being knocked out last year so lets hope he same happens from today. I’d love to hit form against Villa this weekend, and then go on to batter Basel. City don’t concern me in the slightest either, because when we hit form later in the season we are a sight to behold and they’ll have to live with us then. Even Newcastle will have to fight off Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. Personally I don’t think City are up for all that just yet, we are still two thirds of the way from the finish line after all. Lets just make sure we’re still in Europe in 2012 aye?
Chin up lads. Laters.
I never slate players as people will know but I was pretty fucking disgusted with last night. No leaders. No bollockings. Diouf brings fuck all to the table and kiko needs to go on loan or do summat. It was a horror show. Shit deep crosses to the back stick, slack defending, sloppy passing. Whats wrong with beating a man on the bye line and putting a cross low across face of goal for a tap in? The senior players should have grabbed that game but didnt. It turned to shit. Park at fucking full back, Pogba at centre half. The fucking twins injured again. Funnily enough for all the stick Gibbo got I think he did ok. Nowt wrong with him last night. Some of those lads need to have a good hard think and buck the fuck up. They are representing Manchester United.
Anyway as I say never slate players but cannot help it. Regards Pogba as I have said he isnt ready for the first team yet. The one player that should be playing is Tunnicliffe. At least he puts a fucking foot in and bollocks players. Get him back Fergie!! All in good time. Think last night has given Fergie food for thought and some of those may struggle to play again.
Anyway lets hope our first team regain their early season form. Will still win the league I reckon but I actually like the Carling Cup. Gutted.
@ Smartalex 10:43
There is a saying in my part of the world that when two brothers lock themselves up in a room and come out smiling, they went in to deceive themselves, however, when they come out wearing genuine frowns on their faces, they’ve talked some senses into themselves. One, two, three or four poor performances will be judged as ‘outlier’, however persistent poor performances is a trend and unacceptable. This is home now buddy, no need to mince words, we are not doing well and we are beginning to accept mediocrity, this is not United standard. Saying it as it is does not amount to stabbing your own, we are in ROM, this is home and we just have to accept the truth. SIMPLE.
Spot on Rotegzy, king Eric, MrKirie..etc
Once u have an opinion or argument of some sort here on RoM, “some” are so quick to state that you aint a “true Red”, plastic fan etc
Every1 is entitled to their own opinion…
A picture of us winning the European Cup in 2008? Haha WTF?
Bleeding hearts club?
King Eric shouldn’t be on that list either.
@Rotegzy – yeah but, no but, this is our best start to a campaign in ages is it not? Surely its too early to say “we’re accepting mediocracy” – its December 1st FFS!
Also, if United did ever slip into mediocracy, what exactly would you do about it? In good times or bad, you either back your team or you don’t. Thats how I see it anyway, come what may.
Not sure what you mean, but when people say the Club is falling behind they usually mean “transfer windows” and “new signings”. Thing is pal our success wasn’t built on big blockbuster transfers alone, it was built on clever signings like Solskjaer, Ronaldo and Hernandez, and by developing talent like Giggs, Scholes, and Welbeck. Let other teams piss money up the wall, thats not the United way. When we’ve gone 2 years without winning anything I’ll understand the impatience of some, but its only been 4 months and we haven’t even got to the January window yet FFS! Come on?
Imo we’ve gotta take the rough with the smooth. But to say Alex is allowing mediocracy at our Club is fucking laughable. We’re talking about the man who set and maintained the bar that every the manager in club football wants to reach. We are constantly evolving, and we are literally in the best hands possible. What more can the faithful ask for? 50 million on Torres? I’d rather get 5 more like Hernandez and Smalling tbh.
Yeah, King Eric is the chief United player abuser. He led the campaign that drove Gibson away from twitter and he was among those booing Berbatov at Ewood Park 2 years ago.
Anyway. KE’s opinion will always be respected in here because he doesn’t slam players on a regular basis. Unlike some others.
wow.. first few posts define over-reaction.
@GAZZARO:our squad is good enough. going by your logic should we have cleared out our squad last year after we lost to west ham?? well if we had we wouldn’t be 19 time champions. so much for knee jerks reactions
fact of the matter is we’re in transition.. i hope few on here remember the last transition years?
getting knocked out of champs league after finishing 4th in the group. being hailed as a team thats past it. .
we did rebuild right? and did that quite well i think
this time we rebuild around a core group of english players.
clev tunnicliffe morrison jones smalling young rooney welbeck.. thats three future stars and 4 current internationals..
really some of the drivel on here is crazy.
peace out people have a beer and calm down. every season has ups and downs..
well i meant to say 5 internationals and 3 future stars
So I take it that King Eric is no longer part of the ‘clique’ ? Hahaha
What a bunch of morons
Costas – Ha. Cheers mate!!
Pliz guys we all feel disapointed by the resault, to be honest we are tempted to give fergie the hair drier..BUT the end justifies the means..i am of the opinion that some players are nt to the standards of united but am sure the gaffer has realised that and must do something….lets come down and support our true love…united
Couldn’t Scott have airbrushed that Ugly Troll cunt Teves out of the Picture at the top of the Blog.
marshawash says that “Every1 is entitled to their own opinion…”
If that is taken to be true, then:
- when that opinion is publicly expressed, ‘Every1′ is entitled to judge it.
- when that opinion on RoM slates United, our players and Sir Alex, it will be criticised.
- when that opinion reveals the truth that the poster is not a fan, but a selfish ingrate; the poster has outed himself. His opinion reveals the unfortunate truth that glory hunters abound.
Call me a fuddy duddy, but every1? This is a blog, not fucking FB, or twitter! I can’t take someone serious, who posts like that, sorry.
FuddyRedDude – you’re a nut, Willie!