Robin van Persie, who has now scored against Chelsea, City, Arsenal, and twice against Liverpool, has reflected on today’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool.
“It was an unbelievable goal with great combinations,” Robin told MUTV. “Carrick was involved, Danny Welbeck was involved, as well as Tom and Shinji, and then it went out on the left to Pat, who put a really good cross in and it was a good finish. It was a great goal – especially the build-up. Everybody felt the importance of this fixture during the week and we are really happy with the result. We had a good first half and it should have been more than 1-0 in my opinion. In the second half, Liverpool played for all or nothing with lots of attackers so we had to dig in and fight for each other, helping each other out where possible. We did that and we fought hard. We got the result we wanted. We didn’t really want that because when you have a two goal lead you want to keep it for as long as possible and they scored after five or six minutes. Then we had to go again and we had to find the right balance to try and score a third goal but not forget our defensive work. It was only a one goal difference so it was a bit tricky and they had a couple of chances, but overall I think it was a deserved win. It was a great game and a very honest game. The defence was great again and it was a proper football game.”
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This guy is on a personal mission to win the league I feel after so many barren trophy years. I think he knows he’s wasted half of his career so now he’s steam rolling anyone in his path and his attitude is driving the whole team.
It seems he doesn’t care who we play. He’ll score and brush them aside, just to get that one step closer to the league title and make up for lost time.
…and for me, whenever I think Madrid will probably defeat us in the Champions League, I think ‘but wait…we’ve got Van Persie. Anything can happen!’
we did well except the goal they scored. What should be done with Welbeck, if SAF can’t sort him out -who can?????He wasted every goal scoring opportunity
@Arni –> Madrid are there for the taking right now!
It is a shame we made a hard work of what should have been a routine victory. The match should have been over by half time. It is a shame that Wellbeck’s finishing leaves a lot to be desired and does not match his effort. Our defenders should be more alert to rebounds. Twice now the were caught napping.
Anyway, I would have taken 2:1 before the match.
BTW, after seeing Kompany’s tackle in slow-mo, City will appeal it and they will prevail. To be fair, he didn’t move toward the oncoming player, he stood his ground, when he put in the challenge it was single footed and he won the ball, it just looked from the refs angle like he went in two-footed with studs showing. Highly unlikely Kompany will be banned.
good news, shitty did not extend the GD, has we were, huge game at WHL, play a similar side, confident we can win. What we learnt? young is our best wide player, and we missed his movement, and intelligent play to win free kicks etc, and his ability to cut inside and run at the Liverpool defense
Wasn’t a vintage display from United. But again it was RVP who pulled the trigger. As Fergie said You would take that result before the game any day. Also you have to remember we played an in form Liverpool team too. Just a pity the Gunners couldn’t pull off a result for us today. I just hope RVP stays fit for the rest of the season and we get an in form Rooney back from injury.
@Dela — Kompany will be banned for 3 games as I don’t believe anybody can appeal a straight red card, no matter how bad the decision was. Anybody correct me if I’m wrong.
The guy is missing troophy after wasting alot of his playing time without anything to show to his kids when he calls it a day..and i believe this season he will come out on Top. GGMU.
Robin has come with hunger and fight, he has imbeded into the manchester united mentality and is thriving. His technique, guile, imagination and subtletly is a joy to watch. He’s as creative as he is ruthless in front of goal. A wand for a left foot, his first touch is like a tiger caressing its cub or cool breeze wiffling through the green grass of an empty land. 24mill for a complete world class player, i hope he carries on doing well. His attitude is fantastic, he appreciates the work of the players around him and that’s played a part in his good integration into the team, he hasn’t come with massive egos and that shows fergie not only wants talent but right mentality.
See mike dean back with his sky blue shirt on – Webb did his best could have been 3 reds for the vermin
Good first half but did not understand 2nd half tactics with carrick pushing onto Gerard which cleverly had done in first – we really missed Rooney in 2nd half getting a foot on it – great win though and well deserved – 3rd year running we should have annihilated them and ended up with a tense finish
Injuries probably stopped us making different subs as well
It’s easy to pick faults with a performance that isn’t 100% convincing, but screw it, you never get a perfect game in a derby and I’m just happy we kept our lead in the table. Also a big loss for City in Kompany, their silver lining has a big cloud in the form of his suspension. A good day for United.
What a goal that was.
RVP = Legend
What a quality classy player he is!
Keep it up Robin
I would have taken a 2-1 before the game, but we had control of the game and then lost it. Its frustrating because we seemed on our way to a good win and possibly adding another goal, but instead we got slack and conceded a goal. Once Liverpool scored it was back to the walls defending for 20 min. Suarez was quite today and we handled him well, but he lit up a bit in the last 10 min and we struggled at points to contain him. There was some nervy defending and Sturridge could have levelled the game for Liverpool towards the end. We do really well in the big matches, but then lose control for some reason. Its how Chelsea and Man City both came back for 2-0 down, before we scored the winner in both matches.
A good win though and Van Persie is a special player. Welbeck worked his socks off and did very well for us, but he does need to work on his finishing more. I mean he is 22 so its not a major issue but he will know himself that he could have scored a goal. There is a lot of good qualities about Welbeck and he showed today that we do have the right four strikers in the squad. I mean a combination of Welbeck and Hernandez is probably the best striker in the world, but each have their strengths and bring something to the squad.
Great result and at least they cant say webb was on our side. They should of been down to 10men. But that would of been another excuse. Young was brilliant and we missed him when he went off. R.vp is totally right. Great result and a well earnd 3 points.
Michael Carrick was Xavi-esque today.
Adam – agreed, something we can take off the game is hammer the nail in when united are in the position to do so. Let’s be fair, it was never a game where pool were completely going to get rolled over and the rebound goal (united really need to sort that out, defenders have to react faster to danger) gave them a new lease of life and we saw the cup final mentality liverpool, it was always going to be nervy but the job was done, albeit in a nail bitting manner. United need to continue to improve as spurs is another tough test but i’m happy with the win.
The teams collective ass fell out after Liverpool scored.
The inability to respond tactically to Liverpool change putting two strikers up front was shocking.
Its hard not to be worried with Mourinho waiting next month.
would have loved to see Tom’s volley go in
Over the moon for the lads. Agree with Scott 100%! Robin has been a revelation.
Robin has scored in 77% of the games he has played in (21/27) this season and scored the
1st, last, or winning goal in over 50% of his matches.
Nemanja Vidic has scored 19 over his United career. He has scored the 1st, last, or winning goal in over 17/19 matches in which he has scored. He last scored in May 2011 v Chelsea. That goal was also the winner!
Rvp is our man.go man u
While we have been holding our own in Liverpool derby. Completing the home away double is very special indeed. We have actually only done 6 times in the EPL era. They have done it 3 times. Very special indeed.
Did anyone mention this Wilfred Zaha tweet (since deleted) where he says
“Looks like I am on my way to the top of the premier league”
Hmmm…..
Daniel88
FFS United are picking up the points in tough and easy fixtures, whereas the great Madrid of legendary Mourinho that you speak of, just dropped points against a team struggling to beat relegation in the bloody La Liga, and are so far behind even 2nd spot it’s unreal.
Please stop supporting United and stuff your head up Mourinho’s arse.
Daniell88 is a proper cunt .. Also goal.com are so biased its unreal. They are writing articles suggesting city are in a better position then us due to their new found belief since winning last season. How about uniteds never say die attitude built up over decades, the top scorer in the premier league, last years bundesliga player of the season, our captain back, carrick in the form of his life, pretty much all the standout difficult games won, a 7 point lead, highest scoring team in the league against their top players from last season not quite living up to expectations this year, toure at the afcon, the 3 most pointless signings of the season and their captain at risk of picking up a ban .. Tell me, where in that does it suggest city are in a better position right now?
Oh yeah also… Daniel88 your a cunt
@ Pratyush
- I dont remember speaking about the “great Madrid of legendary Mourinho”.
- If such a simple tactical move by Rodgers with Suarez, Sturridge, DOWNING, Sterling, Allen and Stevie The Starfish can hurt so much imagine what Mourinho can do with Benzema, Ronaldo, Di Maria, Ozil and Alonso will do … FUCK ME. What world do you live in.
- Not sure if you noticed but football changes fast.
- Madrid being so far behind Barca in the league makes them MUCH more dangerous their attention is ALL on CL. Players will be rested at weekends for CL in midweek. This wifs of AC Milan.
“in bloody La Liga”
- Like La Liga is bad.
Barca beat us twice … easily.
We have not forgot Bilbao I hope.
See what Atletico Madrid did to Chelsea.
Madrid beating City too ….. VIVA RONALDO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
@Dan-young
Who are you talking too ? … you are talking about things I didn’t even mention.
Who mentioned goal.com ?.
@Dan-young —> You think that’s bad, check out this…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2261684/Howard-Webb-good-game-replays-needed-help-offside-goals–Graham-Poll.html
See where they have the Offside marked out? What a pile of tripe! Vidic is inline with Evra’s head at least. He is not gone beyond him, so it doesn’t matter where the defender is either. Trying to make it look like we won the game from an Offside goal. The British media is just a fucking joke.
What you are witnessing is sheer denial. They don’t accept United’s current position, top scorers and with a massive points tally for 22 games played. Won at Anfield, Stamford Bridge AND the Etihad stadium, with the best striker in the country leading the way. Rooney, Nani and Anderson set to return to add strength too, the odds are overwhelmingly in our favor right now.
Every SINGLE fucking game I watch now I hear the same shit as soon as its clear we are going to win….. “Well.. we all remember what happened last season when United were 8 points clear…” and blah blah blah. Sir Alex already said it.. NEVER AGAIN… That being said I’m not ticking off #20 yet, there’s 16 games left and I know we’re only a few bad tackles away from an injury crisis at all times, but how anyone can call City as favorite right now, or suggest that… as you said… somehow their win last season means they will have a mental edge over a team who has won 12 of 20 Premier League trophies….. it’s just wishful thinking, the British media in mass denial again.
Fuck em! Let’s just hope we do the biz in the FA Cup now and go to White Hart Lane looking for a perfect response to losing to that lot at OT a few months ago!
You fuckers REALLY need to read comments PROPERLY before you reply to them !!!!!!!!!!!!.
Dan Young attacks me about things I didn’t even mention.
Dela attacks Dan Young despite them agreeing with each other.
Good to see Danny the scapegoat again. The lads all round game is excellent. His finishing will come. Take that you scouse cunts.
@Daniel88 –> I attacked who now? I attacked nobody lol
Voice of reason. Spot on. Don’t know how it was on telly but at the game Webb seemed a fucking joke. Conspired to fuck us over. When potato head cunt Reina was injured he only stopped game after allowingtthe vermin to attack us.
What a fucking clown that fat fuck Rodgers is ” we are 24 points behind but not 24 points in quality” Ha fucking idiot.
Daniel88 – really? lets look at the game today, before halftime, not only does kagwa get pushed right into the GK by the fullback, its a red card, pen RVP scores it is 2 0, lets not forget skitall should have seen red, Johnson should have a second yellow, not only do liverpool get away with a stonewall pen, but they could have been down to 8 men, and with the OT pitch it could have been 4 or 5 1
And I will continue to highlight these terrible decisions that went against united today, united did respond to Liverpool’s tactical change, as they got the win, but at 2 1, we should have seen 2 red cards for liverpool. Double standards again today, from PPL who only see what they want to see, to fmake their opinion valid. And do not get me started on idiots even thinking vidic’s goal was offside, when it proves they were level
Daniel. Have you seen much of Madrid of late pal? That’s all I am saying. Clearly not.
fuck off and learn to read daniel88 you worthless trash, Dan wasn’t attacking you about things you didn’t mention; you were a part of his rant, but not worth too much of his time so he moved on to rant about goal.com you fucker. where the fuck did dela attach anyone he was agreeing with Dan about shitty journalism so yeah fuck right off cunt
DELA. Spot on. I am fucking pig sick of hearing how we threw an 8 point lead away. Won’t happen again.
The worst thing is that we have injuries again….
here is something for old danni to refresh is memory
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2013/01/12/sp-soccer-spain-la-liga-130112.html
i love u guys and i love van persie
I was really really pissed off when Reina went down, the ref gave L’pool advantage but when they lose it and Utd had advantage, ref blew his whistle. And people talking about Utd advantage when the ref appointed.
@ fergie is the boss
WHAT ?. I never mentioned anything like this you fucking loon ! ! !. The ref had a shocker you are completely correct. I never mentioned this.
@ King Eric
PRAISE FUCKING JESUS. Thank you for keeping this even remotely on topic. I have seen plenty of Real Madrid recently. They are not great. However. That club is yearning (like we were in 08) for their next Champions League. They will be very different next month all focused on two games against us.
King eric – it’s a shame some do not understand the essence of footballing development in terms of younger players. Had a fool claiming fergie favours a player that’s been playing second fiddle all season, he puts in 100% and had a barnstorming game missing a goal, his all round game is improving all the time as you say and i think the composure thing is a minor issue that can be rectified with patience, fortune and the player gaining confidence in front of goal.
We played our best team today. Wellbeck haters are arseholes and I havent got time for the idiots. He runs all day, he can pass in the last third, hes a thorn in the side of any defender, midfielder or goal keeper. We passed magnificantly and this period of temporarily going 10 points clear has been a fucking pleasure. Oh well, back to the grind of grinding out results, making it hard for ourselves and losing the odd match against relegation hopefuls all because the press’s fat wonderkid has his lungs full of smoke.
Yay Rooneys back.
P.S dont bother comenting back to me, Ive already logged off. Your childish opinions of who can and cant play football is best left to your EA sports football donkey 2013. I dont come on here to listen to opinions, I give them. As mine are always right.
@King Eric
Hi mate. No offence, but last season when I was worried about the title, you kept saying there’s no way United will throw it away! So lets not count our chickens before they hatch.
We have to make sure we have a 7 point gap (at least) going into April. Some big games coming up then.
Daniel88 – the same moron who rates this Madrid side, tell me, how are Madrid doing again, before going for a second helping of their dick
childish comment? LOL. you’re really getting boring now…
As for Real, I remember everyone also making us the favorites going into the 99-00 tie. And we know how that ended up. Don’t be fooled by their domestic form. The Ch.League is all they have left and we still have to sort out our defending.
daniel88 is a mong. probably dipper in disguise.
Costas – well in 2000 united were at the peak of their powers, so it was understandable PPL made united fave
@FITB
It wasn’t just about that though. Real were struggling then just like they are now and people were underestimating them. Heck, even I thought we would knock them out easily.
Costas. Hi mate. Me? Never!! Yes I did actually but just can’t see it happening again although plenty more twists and turns yet.
As it says in today’s Red Issue regarding Madrid. ” We need to play the team not the myth” So true.
@ fergie is boss
Its like you are being intentionally obtuse.
Real Madrid being so far behind Barca in the league makes them MUCH more dangerous. All their attention is on CL. Do you remember AC Milan ?. The weekend before the game in the San Siro they rested six players while we were scrapping at Goodison Park.
We all know Sir Alex is bad tactically we got a look at that today and that was a team over twenty points behind us.
Jose Mourinho is going to bring his tactical tricks (much superior to Rodgers) and with much superior players.
I hope my worry is unfounded but ……….. .
I know what you are going to say (leading goalscorer, top of the league, seven points clear and injuries healing) but we need to be BETTER !!!. The second half performance today is unacceptable. If you think its remotely acceptable DO NOT be shocked when we dont get near the CL again.
Daniel88 – what ever, your an idiot, sir alex bad tactically, just go away seriously. Yea mourinho really has been a tactical genius with his performances in la liga hasn’t he, you clearly did not watch the game today, when a team time after time gets bad decisions go against them, heck if the officials had a brain between them, united would be 3 0 ahead in the second half. with Liverpool down to 8 men. United are so bad aren’t they, the only side to go to shitty, defeat them especially with the officials once again getting it wrong, and united still won, young scores the 3rd goal, most likely united win the game 4 or 5 0. Fans like you show how spoilt rotten you truly are, if united keep this up, for the first time since 2008, united look like a proper team again
Daniel. Ha that comment is priceless. ” we know sir Alex is bad tactically” Well please do explain why he has been so successful for over three decades. Unbelievable. ‘-
You two are fucking deluded if you think Fergie is good tactically.
King Eric – fergie got some big things wrong last year, but this year he has got it right, still the odd gaff from the boss, but he has realized, do not go defensive, get the best out of the attacking players. He has got the midfield right also, def we have found our best midfield duo in C an C. The side has started 2 regain its strength, the backline looks strong again, fullbacks does have its odd moments of madness, but our attack has been so ruthless when it needs to be. I aint underestimating Madrid, but if we play to our best, put on the same performance we showed at shitty, we can beat them, that danielle is dying to see us lose that game, as he’s dugg himself deep in a huge hole, so united winning will see egg on his face.
We could do nothing wrong Sunday, we should have had a pen, we should have seen liverpool go down to 10 men, what more could united have done today
Daniel88 – fergie is not, tell me how united tactically outsmarted mancini, and how he outsmarted rogers on sunday, yea we the only side to go 2 shitty and win there, and should have won atleast 3 or 4 0. Starting welbeck ahead of hernandez, and oh yea, welbeck won man of the match, and his pace and movement put Liverpool in all sorts of problems, and oh yes the only reason Liverpool were in the game because of the officials, Just face it, you have dug yourself in a hole, and you have made such a tit of yourself, you aint going to back united now, because how much you have bashing the team, who are doing fantastic, they have proved me wrong, and I know when I have been proven wrong, your just a fan loving to bash united, because they are not barcelona
I tried posting the link but it wont work you really need to read an article on ROM called The Gaping Hole Left From 2008 Departure.
If you want to prove Fergie’s tactical mastery then you need to pick a better opponent than Mancini.
I have to say again if you think Fergie is good tactically you are truly deluded.
” because they are not barcelona ”
- That is the biggest problem.
Daniel88 — How old are you? Truthfully?
Daniel88 – and how have your so called great Madrid side have done since 2008? 2009 no title, 2010 no title, 2011 no title, 2012 1 league title in 5 years, have they put a dent in Barcelona’s dominance? I just answered your question. They spend half a billion to win one la liga title. Has for barcelona, they can thank their lucky stars in xavi iniesta busqutes cesc and messi, because apart from cesc, their transfer activity has been nothing short of appalling.
@Daniel fair enough if you think Madrid will improve before they play us in mid-February, but why can’t you see us get better, you keep mentioning our SECOND HALF performance today… Well, guess what you’re a MORON
You support a team you believe in them… never fucking doubt MANCHESTER UNITED
@ fergie is the boss
” Daniel88 – and how have your so called great Madrid side … ”
- You really need to let me know when I said Madrid were this great side.
I dont think we should get too judgmental about not beating Barcelona.
@ Dela
Lets keep the conversation on arguments rather than the person making them.
@ Van Da Man
I can see us getting better Anderson and Nani being back is a very good thing. If Anderson can stay fit (good luck) he can hurt any team up.
They just have more room for improvement.
They also have nothing else to play for which is a huge problem … for us.
@fergie is the boss –> I remember after we lost in 2009 when Fergie was talking to the press afterward, he was asked about Messi and he said “Messi wasn’t a problem, it was Xavi and Iniesta, we couldn’t get the bloody ball off them” or something to that effect, and that’s the truth. Messi is world class, by and large the best player of his generation and stands side by side with anyone who ever played the game, but the problem is Barcelona just have supreme talent in the middle that almost no team can overcome. Iniesta is just a boss… simple as that. I have argued with fellow United fans for a long time about this now… we can’t just buy our way into outdoing Barcelona because with their style of play, there is NOBODY out there we can buy who can beat them at their game. It’s very difficult because they impose themselves and they play the way they WANT to play.
Even Mourinho, who overcame them with Inter…. people forget what REALLY happened.
The first leg of that game was in Milan, and the Icelandic volcano had grounded all commercial flights on the continent, so the Barcelona team had to travel to Milan by train and coach.. it took something like 2 days of travelling just to get there, and then they had to do their pre-match stuff, they got NO R&R, and no time to mentally prepare and they lost 3-1 to Inter, then made a long journey home again.
Then, when Inter went to the Nou Camp, Mourino, the so called master tactician, showed that he KNEW they got lucky by planting the entire Inter team in front of goal, and even at that, Barcelona broke through once (Pique scored), and came agonizingly close to getting a second that would have put them through on the away goal rule.
I was disgusted when the ground staff turned on the sprinklers while the Inter players were celebrating.. I didn’t condone it.. but I understood why they were so frustrated…. simple as this… had that Barca team been able to fly to Milan in a few hours and have a couple of days preparation, there’s NO way Inter would have put them out and then went on to win the Champions League in 2010. Mourinho did NOT outsmart them, his tactics were not superior, he (and Inter) got fucking lucky!
The funny thing is I was delighted to see them go out to Inter, but not because they had beaten us in the final in 2009. I was delighted because — as Ronaldo said — we NEVER should have been playing Barcelona in the final in 2009 in the first place. It’s hard to say… but has to be admitted… the officials ROBBED Chelsea of a place in the final in 2009. They were denied stone wall penalties and they held Barcelona reasonably well. It should have been Chelsea’s night but once again the limitations of football match officials rared its ugly head again…. that was the night of drogba’s “It’s a FUCKING DISGRACE” outburst… he was right, even if he was totally stupid to scream it into a camera. A re-match of the 2008 final, this time in Rome, would have been absolutely brilliant but instead we had to face Barca and lost, despite Cristiano Ronaldo being in the team and in form (for all those who say his absence is the difference.)
This year I almost would beg to run into Barca… but NOT in the final. I would have loved to face them in the knock outs at any point, with the first leg in Barcelona and the second at Old Trafford… do a 2008 on them all over again.
Fantastic game, RVP could have had 3. Young stepped up Clev. Carrick, Kagwa looked great combo first half, but faded second half. Kagwa is class but tires around the 60 min mark, he runs like hell and you could see how his passing was making him the person players played into with confidence and he was key in the build up to some of our attacks. He also defensively hustled. Cleverly needs to step up his defending when we are under pressure.
@Damiel 88 does make a valid point. Madrid are not a useless team and are fully focused on CL and Spanish Cup, their players have said that. Let us also remembers Liverpool is a now a mid table team at best with a top striker and a fading Stevie G, Everton are now the strongest team in pool. So beating a mid table team is something we would be expected to do. City will be expected to thrash them.
Anyone who thinks Liverpool is a better team than RM is deluded. Also when RM lost against bottom team Ronnie was not playing and Maureen benched Benzema and Ozil and Kaka was sent off. Maureen will be happy with RM in third and to win the cups. He is resting key players for the cups. He knows he has lost the league, he is overrated but not an entirely shit coach, he has won the CL twice and beaten United who he knows well as does Ronnie, that game will be a different level. Do not forget even in this shit season Madrid have beaten Barca.
We are defensively shaky, today was disappointing because we looked so strong and confident in defence and then after we lost Young and Vidic and they bought on Sturridge our defence was all over the place and we just about managed to see it though. RM will punish us more. I thin k we are really missing Van De Sar, De Gea is a decent young player but in personality, organising a defence and as a goal keeper is nowhere near VDS who was the best in the world and it has made a huge difference to the composure and organisation of the back 4. We also struggle very badly with players with pace who run directly at us when we have several attackers to mark, e.g. Sturridge today, the MF backs off, and we lack the pace and guile to close them down allowing them into dangerous positions, Carrick cannot cover everything. Ronnie will run at us and so will a few others at RM, this is for sure as all teams know this is how you get points of us run at us cause havoc get lucky.
Let me also say Evra was class. Also all those people who have been slagging him off and abusing him and saying he should be sold because he had a few bad games, which EVERY player does, you tossers should hold your hands up and aplologise now. Pat is a LEGEND and it was his goal, it just happened to skim of Vidic face without him knowing where it was.
Only negative, Valenica, both defensively and attacking, he is not the same player. Lets hope he improves as this is not good enough.
if Madrid had everything to play for, you would still say the same thing, and you know that, its just you bashing the team, when infact the side has stepped up the game, they are 50 times better than last year. This side is built for the big games, and when they are asked questions they answer them, this side has the mentality of a championship winning side, and unlike 2011, they can go anywhere and win
Are we getting match reactions?
Despite real’s poor form, we would be foolish to approach the game with over-confidence. The champions league is rarely ever a game of who is in the best form and add that to the fact madrid are littered with match winners. United have to approach the game with having the right balance. Personally i would counter attack them at the bernabeu but generally, i wouldn’t underestimate them.
Carrick, Cleverley, Kagawa … Carrick, Cleverley, Kagawa …
As if Sir Alex would take Real lightly, get a grip, he is not one of the greatest manager of all time for nothing! In fact, this season he has shown time and again he plays to win, unlike last season we tried playing not to lose. Not worried, but definitely not over confident.
So lets just shut the trap up about Real and savour our double over Liverpool
LOL at City fans. They seriously think we are gonna let this lead slip as easily as we let the 8 point lead slip last year? They must not know a lot about Sir Alex Ferguson then. LOL let them keep believing that we’ll just slip up and hand the title back to them while they struggle their way through games. It would be nice to point out to them that this has been done without Rooney and Nani and Anderson and Hernandez.
I would prefer us as underdogs against Madrid. Deep inside my heart I know we will knock them out. The reason is because we have performed very well in big games. When we are in pressure we deliver. Don’t compare this squad with last season. It would have been very likely that if We had faced athletic bilbao in champions League we would have beaten them. Sir didn’t want our team to waste time in europa league. So stop saying the athletic bilbao shit. It is over, our boys were hardly motivated by playing in europa league.
We have a great squad who are brimming with confidence. We are improving with each game. Yeah we were poor in second half but we got 3 points. We are playing like professionals unlike last season where even after leading everton 4-2 we were attacking rather than seeing out the game. If we had done that we would have won the league. Our defense also has improved from last month. It will take time for our defense to be truly great. But we have to accept that the game against Real madrid will be high scoring. At the end of the tie it will come into who has scored more goals.
It will be a cracker of a game and I f I had to put money I will put money on manchester United as they have handled pressure much better than Madrid this season.
Now let us beat West ham and concentrate on winning against Spurs. Spurs game bothers me more than Madrid. 3 points is must especially after Man city defeated Goons with ease.
Daniel has a point there guys …passion is one thing but tactics is another….Madrid have only the CL to worry about …they ll have pepe back by than …higuain .benzema….ozil …ronaldo kedira alanso …pepe Ramos marcelo arbeloa cassilas… Is one hell of a team .. One months time ..v better sort things out cos they can batter us if v r not at our 150% both home and away …. Our midfield is not of their class and I have no faith in fergie’s tactics in Europe …not a pessimist but a realist …
Daniel88
I’ve been searching for a word to describe u unsuccessfully. Maybe idiot does it. Why would someone with proper brains need to rely on an article (someone s opinion) on ROM to argue point is beyond. What’s written here isn’t the gospel truth. That hole in midfield u are talking about has since been filled by a different type of player in the mould of shinji,cleverly and Anderson. Football has evolved boy. We don’t need a keano type anymore and title No 20 will prove that to you. And guess who figured that out? its the tactically daft fergie who’s perched at the top of the epl in january with the chasing pack 7 kilometers away. Prick!!
I’m not saying that United are the favourites against RM, far from it, but to slag off your own team just after they won the derby against their biggest rivals makes no fucking sense.
Real Madrid may have nothing to play for other than the CL, but they also have to play Barca just before and after EACH match against us.
That in itself will be emotionally and physically draining.
So before you write off United, consider the fact that even Real Madrid have a tough fixture list around that time. Moreover yesterday was the first time in a long while that Rio and Vidic were playing together, so some nervousness in defense was to be expected.
Plus the first half would probably have seen us go up 3-0 if Rooney had also been on the pitch.
Our squad is coming back to full-strength, and RM just showed that they are a one-man team.
I am confident that United will overcome Madrid.
Also to the person who said that Real Madrid didn’t have Ronaldo when they played the relegation threatened team:
I expect that a team that has been so expensively assembled should be able to overcome a bottom-three team with some ease.
The fact is, they do not have the winner’s mentality ingrained in them, and their poor season is only going to make it difficult for them to get into gear against United.
Morning reds.
55 points from 22 games 18W 1D 3L. Best point total ever at this stage!
Right, and check out this photo. Could be a sprinkler, OR, could be irrefutable evidence of the red mist descending on Old Trafford?!! HA! [via Tom Purslow @GettyImages]
https://twitter.com/FletchTM/status/290731329199427584/photo/1
Ha ha. I can see myself in the pic!! Great game.
Theredderdevil @ 08:12 “We don’t need a keano type anymore”
I absolutely disagree with that statement. I do like our current midfield complement of Carrick, Cleverley, Anderson, and that each of them bring very different attributes to our team.
However, if a Keane-type player was still in our squad, he would definitely be one of the first names on the team sheet. Keane was much more of a player than you give him credit for. He was a freak of nature, has an unbelievable will to win, always comes out of 50-50 challenges with the ball, breaks up play and then dictates our play from deep, and bombs forward when he knows it does not jeopardize the team in any way.
Maybe you were referring to the Nicky Butt type of player. No disrespect to Butt however, he was a great servant to the club.
Some of the earlier comments in relation to Welbeck missing chances. Yes he missed chances but he also got the Sky Sports Man of The Match Award. His link up play was impressive and he held the ball up well. Someone who was more of a concern for myself was Kagawa. He lost possession of the ball far too easily on a fair few occasions.
Before anyone suggest Real will rest their first teamers before playing us, I suggest they go take a look who they are playing in the midst of playing us.
Marq, I’m not as convinced as I was a month ago. I just looked and Real are now 18 points back of Barca and 7 back of Atletico Madrid. They couldn’t catch Barca if they tried now. ONLY hope for a strong team v Barca is that Mourinho fears for his job if he rolls over AND/or, that he needs all the points he can get even to real in Atletico.
Here are the before and after game for Real in our 2 meetings. The play Sevilla 3d before us in Feb, and then play Vallecano 5d after.
Feb 10 16:00 GMT Real Madrid v Sevilla FC La Liga
Feb 13 19:45 GMT Real Madrid v United Champions League
Feb 17 16:00 GMT Real Madrid v Rayo Vallecano La Liga
The Home leg is even better looking for us with Real hosting Barca 2 days before
Mar 3 16:00 GMT Real Madrid v Barcelona La Liga
Mar 5 19:45 GMT United v Real Madrid Champions League
Mar 10 16:00 GMT Celta Vigo v Real Madrid La Liga
Have to say I still like our chances. But the distance between Barca and Real in the league, and the fact that there are only 2 days, means that Mouinho would be crazy to play his strongest team for Barca.
@bRed
Absolutely spot on. It’s amazing how when people think of keano they only think of a guy with boundless energy doing all the defensive work. Idiots don’t realize the he was so much more than that. Starts attacks, attacks when necessary, headers, lifts the entire team, everything. If keano was on the pitch yesterday then Liverpool would have raised the flag at half time.
@Daniel88
I realize that we have to be on our toes against madrid and you’re just an over-anxious fan that’s all. But one thing – Sir Alex is tactically weak? Seriously?
When Sir Alex said he doesn’t go for that hard tackling mop-up player, everyone was surprised and skeptical. “Making carrick a DM?” I admit, even I thought it was ridiculous. But he got it spot on at the end. Also, I would suggest you to take a look at the current “best team in the world”. They have a player exactly like carrick, a player who is so much more important to them than people realize. I would still say that if we have to play barca in the CL, we have to think of a way to get around Busquets. If we do, puyol and piqué are nothing.
And as everyone else already pointed out, plain luck and referee help don’t win those many titles and stay for 27 years at the best club in the world if you’re tactically weak. It’s just nonsense. I would advise you to not just blindly believe what all you read and instead think for yourself.
Right, and Real have to sandwich a travel day in as well. Many are figuring Real will get the Barca tie postponed. Anyone have a sense as to if that could seriously happen?
Well the thing is Real is not even in second place, so any chance of them completely giving up games is very remote, unless Falcao & co drops off horribly in the next month. Anyway, its their problem, I wouldnt want it as an excuse for ABUs to take away any credit if we do beat them. So let them postpone it all they want. You want to be the best, you have to beat the best, not depend wholely on luck like the previously winner
Daniel – No pal you are fucking deluded if you think Fergie doesn’t know his tactics. What do you think he has done for 3 decades? Just winged it. Too much bollocks placed on tactics and diamonds and 4-5-1 and all that bollocks. Just go out and play. You are laughable mate if you think Fergie doesn’t know how to set teams up. Whats his win percentage again?
Tom – No offence but you are a clown. Don’t rate Fergie’s tactics in Europe. How many Champions League Finals has he got us to and semi’s ? Yes he could have won more but it isn’t easy to win. Fergie is the master of the two legged affair. Ha. Yeah pal shit scared of Marcelo and that fat rudeboy Benzema , Pepe? Ha. Ramos the serial red carder and fucking Arbeloa. Don’t fear them at all. A fucking myth that side and massively over rated and it fucking annoys me why every cunt in the media thinks United will get hammered. Madrid have underperformed for over a decade now but every cunt bangs on like they are the best side ever. A bunch of fucking wankers of which Mourinho has lost all interest at present. Without Ronnie as proven Saturday they have no magic, bang average side who had NOBODY defenging their right hand side against osasuna.
Oh and if you think Carrick and Cleverley and say a fit Anderson can’t match their midfield of Alonso , Khedira and Ozil who is fucked after 65 minutes then you are even more deluded.
Fletch – Hello mate. Yeah those fucking scouse cunts were letting off flares yesterday. Mind you United have been known to do that on occasion!
Gorse Hill Red – Which one are you pal? In the photo I mean?
I hope I can have the same confidence on our mids that u do but I frankly can’t …..we lack creativity …the league is one thing Europe is another ……the last few years v have been found out by the better teams specially the midfield …
Tom – No mate creativity is not something we lack. Not at all. Been found out by who? Barca. Who else? Bilbao don’t say as like I said last week Fergie didnt give a fuck about that joke league. Barca will find ANY midfield out.
King Eric; just noticed it was not me as I was weaing a hat. The guy with the brown coat with the arms in the air was sitting right infront of me. The pic must have just cut me off; gutted!! I sit there every week though.
king eric
think Real midfield is a bit better but on current form and given Real’s problems at the moment we really should do them. Also Carrick and Tom are starting to click now which is great to see
NBI Red Onion @ -3:24: “Young stepped up”
I must have been watching a different match – Ashley Young’s first half was dire. BUT what could we reasonably expect after the preceding three/four crappy performances.
Over the past three/four weeks I have been a persistent critic of AY – much to the irritation of Marq and Wayne. In fact, last week Marq “challenged” me to keep track of AY’s next performance and that’s what I did yesterday.
Here’s my view:
In the first two minutes, there were two/three really lousy touches; miscontrolling the ball and giving up possession.
9:00 – a good interception
14:50 – why no yellow for diving ?
16:00 – dispossessed by Raheem Sterling (ahem !)
16:30 – good long pass
24:50 – weak, loses the ball
26:00 – great run and pass to RVP which he uncharacteristically skied into the stands
29:00 – bad touch, runs into blind-alley
33:00 – hopeless back-heel (then schooled by Glen Johnson)
35:00 – lost ball
37:00 – more crap
39:00 – good defence
40:00 – left-footed cross that was easily defended (great work making space but didn’t find team-mate)
ExtraTime – dive over Lucas which fooled the ref and got Lucas yellow-carded (AY was in flight before he encountered the LiverPoo midfielder).
Half-Time – substituted by AV7 who was just about as dire as AY.
SO, my overall marking for that effort by Ashley Young would be 3/10 (although I might be old-school in my grading but there is no way that AY’s half deserved more than 4/10). He was weak, didn’t control the ball and – with one notable exception @ 26:00 – his passing was piss-poor. I don’t think that my assessment of AY’s half-game is one-eyed – but, then, that’s just my opinion. However, the very idea that he “stepped up” is simply comical.
Indeed, AY’s performance on Sunday was very much like the preceding matches in which he messed-up four point-blank shots at goal, repeatedly miscontrolled the ball, and made just one goal-scoring opportunity for a team-mate.
Marq asked (rhetorically) why SAF persisted with AY – I answered that AV7 has been just as bad recently while Nani has been injured (so we’re being told). Now, AY seems to have been injured – there are reports that he left OT “on crutches”.
In a results-driven business like top-level footie, AY’s injury and AV7′s rotten form is an opportunity for SAF to give game-time to someone else (Nani ?) OR to switch to a wing-less formation that might better utilize the attacking talents of KagawaBunga, TheWayneBoy, RVP, DannyTheLad, and/or Chicharito.
One thing is for sure – I don’t see that AY’s absence will make TheLads weaker on the pitch. The guy just isn’t good enough.
@king Eric ….. Carrick is world class mate …I think his distribution is the best there is after busquets (hate him for his antics but wat a player)).barca r in another league mate .. Clev is very good too but Europe is difft he ll be up against ozil ,alanso they r immaculate at paasin ,through balls .Our wingers am not sure off …whom do v play ??? Forwards and defence v myt just pip them but our mids I worry off
Gorse – Ha. Sickener mate!
aig – Hey up pal, you well? I agree to be honest but like you say in Carrick and Cleverley we have a great two in middle of park now. God Tom covers some ground. I aren’t just regurgitating what Hansen said last night BUT Carrick’s passing second half was bizarre and most unlike him. Unless you were 9 feet tall you had no chance of controlling his passes. Every pass was to chest!
Tom – Oh I agree mate. Hate to admit it but Busquets is much better than he is given credit for.
King eric
All good here mate. Hope you and the little one are doing well
the goal against the run of play by Sturridge unsettled us. We looked a totally different side and were shaky and uncertain after that. A bit similar to Chelsea and city where we lost control after the opposition scored a goal. A good thing though is Ando being back. Fingers crossed he can stay fit and find his pre injury form.
I feel like there’s more to Welbeck’s game than scoring. His movements off the ball, his speed, his pressure. Lots of dangerous movement (or goals) were down to his movements and speed off the ball. But of course being a striker he’ll be judged by his goals. But I wouldn’t mind a striker who’s not scoring as many goals as the next striker. We have loads of this kind of player.
A kind of assist-before-the-actual-assist player, who’s as equally important as the person scoring the goal himself!