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VIDEO: Park Goal vs Liverpool
January 28, 2012 277 Comments
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TheLads need to tilt the field to the right wing – they can’t control Rafael/Valencia.
Superb first half, Scholes and Carrick dominating the midfield and raffa and Tony Valencia causing mayhem , just need a bit of luck now.
They had to score when that grade a cunt Alan Green was commentating.
scholes has been spot on for me. They have to get some shots on Reina in the next 5 minutes.
Sun is in his eyes and might be un sighted. Not a shot second half. ComeonU devils.
F*******************K!
OH COME ONNNNNN.
Giggs is really, really flagging in the 2nd half of games now, that is where we lost the initiative today.
But then again, the biggest club in the world should not have to resort to playing 37 and 38 year old’s in midfield.
Welbeck the most over rated player on our team!!!
I’m so mad right now, it’s beyond belief.
Should have brought Berba on earlier instead of waiting ’til we needed a goal.
Lol @ sgtstupid what a tool
No blame on any of the players. They worked hard, they gave a good account of themselves, considering the circumstances. The first goal is the typical goal scored against us with our young, inexperienced defense.
So the racists get this one, despite their shameless booing of a man who got racially abused by a degenerate pathetic excuse of a human being. Oh well, so be it. On we go for the 20th and the Europa.
We conceded that game the second we went to 4-4-2. Shocking decision from Fergie, nothing else to say about it!
can someone tell me how the hell united lost that game, but that seems to sum united up at times always coming up short in some of the big games, still there are big problems with the spine of the squad esp losing to this liverpool side
CartainEvra was out-of-position – wandering inside -again. Then, they could have scored another – DeGea was very “flappy” all through the match.
Not what I was expecting in the last ten minutes -Dalglish’s match-strategy worked and their substitutions were key to their late energy-burst.
This is why Hernandez is so annoying.. comes on and does nothing.. and then our players try hit the ball up to him.. IF he controls it he has NO idea what to do with it..
Bad subs from Fergie.. Berba would have been a MUCH better decision..
We REALLY missed width on the left..
Really frustrated to lose at that fuckin shit hole
Why did we have to play that twat in goal ?
There it is then. Speechless as to why we take Scholes off. tits up after.
I was pleasantly surprised by our performance, especially in the second half. Scholesy was amazing and I think we lost the initiative after he was subbed.
That flick-on for the winner was probably the only header Carroll won today – and it had to find a team mate in space with laser-like accuracy.
I wonder how many F.A. cups we’d have won by now if the draw wasn’t fixed every year?
Giggs should have come off instead of scholes imo but other than that we played another well fought game that we dominated for most and ended up losing due to a couple of crucial mistakes that we paid dearly for. Ah well with the lineup we had to play we give it a great run and could have knicked it had we been a tad better or luckier in the final 3rd. Nothing to be ashamed about.
I can’t believe this is actually happening!!!
What the hell??!
Horrible defence and we needed chico way earlier
I feel reaaaally bad for de gea
I would have thought Berbatov would come on for Welbeck earlier, oh well. It was a bad goal to concede, Welbeck completely wasting a few good moments, including the move just before their 2nd goal, where Evra made a lung bursting run into the box only to see Welbeck blast it into row Z. That run upfront by Evra probably contributed to his lapse in concentration to let Kuyt in.
If Welbeck wants a bigger contract, he would do well to learn how to make better decisions when his teams need it
De Gea cost us the 1st goal for sure, he is soooo weak in the air. But United were the better team, shame we didnt create many chances. Welbeck was not good either dont get it why SAF didnt change him earlier instead of taking out schole, who had been superb. Instead of going for a win we should’ve settle for a draw and crushed them at OT. Whatever now its only the PL title left, can’t whine on anything else now.
Very disappointing game I got to say. Midfield did well, but the defense and Welbeck were really disappointing. DDG had a very flappy day, like someone already said, but Welbeck was pathetic too. You can have your forward play like this. I can’t remember a single positive contribution. Our froward line can really be toothless.
has de gea ever heard of actually using your feet and legs to make saves? to score against him all you need to do is hit it low and straight at him. i think every manager in england will be telling their strikers that.
Good game of footy. Frankly speaking we were better than pools but Playing giggs for 90 mins caused us. Don’t get me wrong but He can’t do it for 90 mins. Very poor game from the master.
Park apart from the goal was just average. It would have been great if we had lost having played Pogba and morrison. . No point playing Scholes-Giggs together.
Overall gutted
oh boy Evra should have done better there. Then again probably a bit breathless after making the run into the Liverpool box. Welbz should have played him in there instead of going for the spectacular
Roy Keane really laying into Evra on ITV…
We did really well with the depleted team we got out on the pitch.
2 horrible mistakes cost us the game.
I think that taking Scholes off was probably the killer for us. We had the midfield battle completely under control until that point… not that there was much the midfield could have done about the second goal, Evra should have been in position. Such an annoyance.
Had we gone there today with a full compliment there’s no way they’d have won the game, but that’s going to be the story of our whole season I think. Fighting for the league now, don’t give two shits about the Europa League.
I am really getting tired of the sloppyness.
FITB, Ah come on man, I know you have been critical of the team and fairly. But with the depleted squad we took to those scum, we came back with out heads held high. I don’t think we can look at this match and say we have problems with the spine when a lot of our first team didn’t even play this one. This was our 2nd or third choice squad made up of the older, experienced heads you wouldn’t find starting this sort of match in normal circumstances. All said and done, it was a couple of individual mistakes that cost us the game. Yes, we lost but I don’t think I will fault a lot of our players. Liverpool played like the shit team they are and did fuck all for the entire game. We bossed a lot of the game with just small periods of exception. Yes, I am pissed off that we lost to the scum of the Earth but I don’t think we “came” up short so to speak.
ah I see De Gea is the new scapegoat.
Seriously fuck off.
HOW THE FUCK WAS MARKING AGGER?!
WHAT THE FUCK DID EVRA FOR THEIR GOAL?!
We were just beaten by the worst fuckin liverpool team in decades. nightmare, no excuses. city beat us 6:1 at home, liverpool knock us out of the cup. great season so far.
United deserved to win that game but you lose some and you win some. Pool are still a poor team who got a lucky break. We move on.
Evra has had mistakes like this in him since the 2009 final.
Why are there negative comments?
We’ve largely outplayed a team which offered no football and had scarcely an attempt at goal. They only had racist bastard missing and we had over half a team missing and we’ve played all the football.
If we hadn’t played the weak link in goal we’d have won.
You look at their team and who’ve they got? Absolutely no-one except the goalkeeper. I’m proud of our players. We’ve got a future. They’ve got fuck all. Have you ever seen 2 more clueless tossers than Special needs Henderson and Shove people Andy Carroll?
Valencia, once again best player on the pitch.
Heads up. We’ve a brilliant future and them??? ………..Fuck all.
Can’t believe people are laying into Welbeck – this is a young guy still making his way in football and it was a big ask for him to be able to play the lone role up front against a team that has one of the best defences in the league. If we’re looking for blame, look at the experienced player (Evra) whose error set up Liverpool’s winner and the manager – we lost all our momentum when we went to 4-4-2.
Still cannot believe we lost a match that we controlled most of the time. We should have been little bit more adventurous in the second half. We deserved at least a draw. Berba should have come on for Welbeck much earlier. Scholes was tromendous!
Evra was at fault for their winner, but I blame Welbeck. 20 seconds before that, rather than shooting from an impossible position he could have passed the ball to unmarked Evra in their box for a probable winner. he should be lucky he is offered a contract at all and should think twice before asking for more.
@Alom
Dont be blaming Hernandez. Had there been opportunities created up front, he would’ve taken them. We lacked creativity today, which is no surprise given we didnt have Rooney or Nani.
United deserved to win that game but you lose some and you win some. Pool are still a poor team who got a lucky break. We move on. …….
For me it’s simple why we lost the game. The game kept slipping away from United as time went on and Scholes and Giggs were tiring. KKK freshened up his team. Our manager didn’t. And yeah, I know that we didn’t have many options, but play Pogba for all I care.
Anyway, I could care less about the cup. No new injuries is a plus. This team can’t stand playing in 3 competitions.
Balaji
We bossed the game in first half but were poor in second half. Like I said Giggs and scholes weren’t able to play with high tempo. I thought it would have been better had scholes gone off a bit more earlier.
Saf should take equal blame fro todays loss.
But like you said we were playing with depleted squad and performed well.
Awful again just goes to show how bad we are when we get turned over by that shite! I know we got injuries but we can’t even hold for a draw. Welbeck can’t lead the line on his own but neither can berba or chico so no point slaging him off our goalkeeper is an accident waiting to happen. Just typcial of our season.
I’m certainly not making De Gea a scapegoat but he needs a rocket up his arse and a good fucking meal! We lost our way badly in the last 30 mins, was surprised to see Scholesy come off? All in all gutted to go out to what can only be described as a very average lpool team, doesn’t speak well for our boys.
fuck, cunt arse scouseshitratmunching fucktwat horse shit
@Costas
“This team can’t stand playing in 3 competitions.”
Isn’t that a cause for concern?
Just as i was about to think that this was the best performance at anfield for a few season now, then we lose. One mistake, game gone. Anybody criticizing Welbeck for an ineffective performance must be crazy. He isn’t exactly the best playing up front alone.
We played well, didn’t deserve to lose.
Having said that, i’m certain that this will prove a blessing in disguise.
Given our depleted squad, going on a long cup run or even a replay would have handed a definite advantage to the bitters.
3 points against the Klan at OT is much much more important.
I have no doubt whatsoever that we’ll get that.
No need to berate anyone.
R_o_M Scott the Red on twitter.
I am most disappointed with Welbeck in lead up to their winner. He went for personal glory, as he’d done repeatedly today. Frustrating.
Summed up my feelings perfectly his ego cost us today.
Sam
Its been brewing a while. all he needed was a game like today and sure enough its begun. All our strikers have got abuse from time to time, and personally this is an important stage in Welbz progression, i’d like to see how he handles himself on the back of a “bad” game. And to be be fair, Evra was the one who made the lung bursting run and Danny failed to find him not for lack of trying but ignoring him outright and going for glory in an audacious attempt. Reina was just smart. Evra would have tired a bit and with Kuyt around he had a golden opportunity
@marq
He learned that today. Give the kid a break. He was asked to lead a line alone against our biggest rival. He worked hard and didnt get any dividends for his hard work. He can only get better from this point onwards.
Show some appreciation, people. Our boys tried hard in unfavorable circumstances.
Mark Halsey wen’t a bit too far with his leniency. Cesspool players made no hesitation to go in hard on our players. There were at least three yellow card moments which Halsey didnt give, yet he gave Rafael a yellow for a non-malicious shoulder charge. Inconsistent.
This is you get when you play 40yr old players.
The people who say our performance was shit should fuck off.
We played a depleted team. THAT WAS THE REST OF THE REST. There were no other fit players!
Get that in your fucking head.
we would have done better with rooney, nani and co. but they are injured and we coped well with that till Evra switched off.
What the fuck are you on about? blame welbeck for trying to win a game.
Evra was at fault for the winner. Has been drifting out of position for the whole season and we got punished yet again.
Positive is, i thought rafael was superb today apart from a few sloppy early passes. All these crap about he’s not tall enough, play him. he’s United’s best right back.
I don’t think anyone is putting the blame square on Welbeck & De Gea. Probably just the frustration that we lost to one of the worst Liverpool teams in recent memory.
You could say Welbeck contributed to that error by Evra. Like with Berbatov, nobody should be immune to criticism. If it was Berbatov doing what Welbeck did, I can only imagine the mayhem here, so you can say Welbeck has got off cheap already, even if he is still young. And it doesn’t help with all the rumors of Welbeck asking for a bigger contract.
That said, somehow, I don’t really feel very angry with this loss, because we did well with such a depleted team. Taking off Scholes really put us on the backfoot, and that says alot about our state of affairs in the middle of the field.
kkk fucktwats. im so pissed, we shoulda won. no point blaming one by one player, dont find a scapegoat, dont question saf. we as a hole could not get the win. my god had that valencia shot in the 1st half gone in this would be a completely different game.
Really disappointed, we’ve not won the FA cup for ages now, going out to the racists just makes it worse. So much for karma eh. Hopefully that will come at OT in a few weeks. I wish these injuries would f**k off now, it’s getting ridiculous.
Balaji Sivaraman – at the end of the day we got to look back since 2009 we are still playing the likes of giggs and scholes for far to long in 90 mins, like I said I do not know how we lost today. The lineup we put out today is not far from united’s best side, and even if rooney and nani played would united really have done better? I do not think we would have, rooney and nani can put on very strange performances. But still the side united put out is more talented than liverpools, and we also saw liverpool put out a understrength side. But today united lacked the class upfront to hurt liverpool, we had the ball but could not keep reina busy
NotoriousRedDevil
his ego is what makes him the player he is, its what got him all his goals and playing well for us. Today it just didn’t work out. Poor decision cost us the game not his ego
Fuck!!!!!!!!
Fucking hate those KLANSMEN with such a passion.
Evra does get caught out too often nowadays defensively,
Wellbeck was poor all day long. Althought he scored at arsenal last week he could and should have had a hatrick against them. Today he never looked like scoring and his control was poor.
We may have had loads of possession but what the fuck did we do with it?
with all our injuries all season it feels like we aree playing with our hands handcuffed.
if you had said to me which do you want to win FA Cup or the PL. Every single time the PL, Bring on No. 20!
Oh Paddy, I love you but you need to stop wandering around mate. Evra had a pretty awful game but he didn’t lose his head and character. The defeat is a very bitter pill to swallow but we got bigger fish to fry.
Evra is a liability in defence and I’ve been saying it was awhile. I’m not surprised he was at fault. I wouldn’t blame Wellbeck. Any Manc striker wants to score the winner at Klanfield.
We need Keane to come home, I rate his opinions and I rate his drive. We need an assistant, why not Keano. He might even sort Morrison out.
And, people need to leave off DeGea and wait until next season. I was till sucking my thumb at 20, he’s playing at that shit hole Klanfield, infront of a bunch of the biggest whinging, moaning and nasty fans going. He will come back stronger for this, he just needs time and bulk.
@AntiScouser
Yeah, that’s why I’ve been crying for weeks now that we are getting more and more injuries week by the week and it’s going to cost us at some point. The manager keeps going on about the squad, but this squad can barely handle 2 competitions at the moment.
@Notorious
Not surprised he’s developing an ego mate. I said it elsewhere, but he and Javier aren’t challenged like they should. They know they are 2nd and 3rd behind Rooney no matter what. Berbatov should have come on at least 25 minutes before he did.
One thing has been proved conclusively today.We cannot and must not play DeGea against Stoke it’s points at stake and they are the masters at crowding weak in the air goalkeepers.
I will blame Welbeck for hitting it first time from 35 yards when Hernandez is unmarked edge of the box level with their keeper and only one defender on the line. Any other game would cut him some slack but I’ll be damned if people try and say take the positives from losing to the vermin at analfield…AGAIN!!
“Should have won”
Come on lads, let’s not go to the “moral” victory area now. Made a mistake, it cost us. At least we didn’t get trampled on and put in a good shift. Honestly, with such a depleted squad, I wasn’t even exactly expecting us to get the equalizer, and that too a very good goal.
@Utd4life
“The defeat is a very bitter pill to swallow but we got bigger fish to fry.”
Plenty of bitter pills this season, wouldn’t you say? Every time we say “we move on”, but two more bitter pills and there won’t be any fish, let alone bigger ones, to fry.
Another good performance from United without too many chances created. 1 slip cost us the game. That 1 slip up shouldn’t give us reason to question anything other than Evras marking. Thought the lads were fantastic otherwise.
all in all , a lot to be proud of from the lads, hope their heads don’t drop too much,
Costas – Well show me a squad who can handle 2 competitions with 3 fucking key players injured.
Threw it away ffs. Liverpool were there for the taking. They made their subs at the right time. Fergie acted too late. Danny isn’t comfortable playing on his own. Scholes was top class. Bemused at him getting subbed. Giggsy struggled I thought. What pisses me off, is that this Liverpool team are fucking ordinary. Gifted them 2 goals. Pissed off Red! We’ll never die! 19
Well I don’t think it’s a case of losing cause we played the old boys?! But in all honesty it shows how desperate we are when Scholes comes back and is still head ms shoulders above every centre midfielder at the club. The other players should really be stepping up but no one has. To think 3 years ago we had an attack of Tevez, Ronaldo and Rooney and today Welbeck up top on his own shows how far we have fallen. All in all the premiership has really gone down hill. Chelsea, Arsenal and United all considerably weaker and Liverpool as shit as ever.
While you are all happy to use the excuse of not your 1st choice team you seem to have forgotten that they played 2 days ago whilst you lot had a week off which more than evened it out.
Evra needs to buck up a lot, and as Keane said, he DOES get caught out in the big games, NOM to Evra but its high time we tested Fabio at the left back position.
as Balaji said, we go out of the competition with heads held high, they beat us fair and square. we did really put in a great shift but the final ball was very much lacking. hoping to see Nani, Young, Wazza, Clev, and Ando back asap. cant wait for Feb 11th now, we’ll show them what it is to play against us then.
Believe!
I’d like to see how well any of you would’ve coped today with the abuse that Evra got today….and for what?…coz he wasnt going to let a racist son-of-a-whore insult him because of his skin color.
If any United fan said shit about Hillsborough, I’d cuss the shite out of that fool because what is wrong is wrong and can never be tolerated, even if the person committing the wrong is your beloved.
Today Liverpool fans showed that they are fucking racist bastards, the whole lot of them, because of the abuse they hurled at Evra.
Go to hell all of you for blaming Evra for tonight.
“Dont be blaming Hernandez. Had there been opportunities created up front, he would’ve taken them. We lacked creativity today, which is no surprise given we didnt have Rooney or Nani.”
@ Saad
yeah you are right.. but taking off our most creative player for him wasn’t the best idea.. and with no Rooney or Nani there was less creativity.. so Hernandez’s introduction… FOR ME was always not gonna go down well.. its a shame I was proven right..
but its like you said.. give him a chance and he’ll finish it
Roy keane as an assistant? you’ve lost the plot.
Gary – Guess why Danny played all on his own. We have Rooney, Cleverley, Nani, Young and so many other injured. The team can’t get in a fucking rhythm.
The result is disappointing. Now this may seem like a knee-jerk reaction but believe me it isn’t, It has to be said, united need to BUY players. I am not just suggesting this because I believe our squad lacks the star power to win the league, no. I think as far as the league, this current set of players can win it comfortably, but we don’t seem to have OPTIONS, which is worrying. Far too many injuries. At 1-1 Scholes and Giggs in the middle of the park, good result. But not what we should be resulting to. Their role is supposed to be reduced, and they certainly shouldn’t be relied on to win us games against the scousers. Players are coming back and all that.. but really? Hard that same shit for weeks now. So, who exactly is back? Where are half of these players? SAF should get the cheque book out and get signing.
Onto the game, words can not express how much I hate ITV. A bunch of despicable cunts. The coverage was just awful, seeing that goofy prick every time for his reaction was fucking annoying. Then the analysis with Keane, happily dissing us, in a not so constructive way, and channelling his evident bitterness left me feeling disappointed, in that legendary midfielder we loved so much.
The game should have been won, but we lost. Evra’s lapse in concentration and the fact that we didn’t manage to outscore them.
SAF’s decision to take off Scholes was just mistimed, and replacing him for Hernandez was a mistake. Berba should’ve come on, a creator was needed at that point, because united were more than happy to keep the play without creating many chances.
Bad day, and we are out of another cup.
WE must win the league now, no excuses or distractions.
Saad @14:57
You are right to defend !dannyTheLad; he had a very tough assignment and, overall, did well. If he had a rush-of-blood in taking that “impossible” shot, the real problem was that he leaned backwards and skied the ball rather than getting over it and driving it low-and-hard into the box where there were three of his team-mates in a position to feed off any deflection.
Bad call by SAF today, we had them right where we needed them and he takes Scholes off and puts Giggs back into the centre of a 4 man midfield!! As soon as that happened they got back into the game, not massively but enough and more than they should have!!. We had battered them all game and then bad mistake by Evra and poor attempt by De Gea and we’re out!! Fucking annoying!!
Also for the record although he did get the winner vs l’arse he did exactly the same thing when he was on the touchline with Chestknee and Nani was waiting unmarked on the edge of the box. I’ve only known to people to score from that angle where Welbeck was one was Kanu and the other was me.
@ Costas – The Hernandez substitution baffled me as 2nd half we hardly had any crosses coming in from Tony V they were mainly from Giggs and we all know Hernandez needs service to score. Then bringing on Berbatov with 1 minute injury time played…POINT!!!!
Believe? Does this squad deserve to be believed in? Sure, we believe in the club, in the name that is Man Utd. But ffs, I wish some of these boys start feeling like I do now, maybe that would motivate them to finish the season properly. One more thing, there’s something wrong with all these injuries, something very wrong.
first people ciriticise because we brought Scholes back, now they criticise that he’s not playing 90 minutes.
Did anyone of you had the idea that he can’t last 90 minutes anymore?!
Did nobody of you see what he did first on the bench? He’s gone for his inhalator.
@Zelh
Who’s the 3rd key player after Fletcher and Vidic? The problem isn’t losing 2-3 key players. That’s not what’s hurting us. It’s the constant 8-10 fucking absences we are facing each week. And on top of that, instead of putting on a youngster in midfield today, we keep recycling Scholed and Giggs’ presence. Again, I don’t care about the cup. But is this how we will approach the rest of the season?
zelh
rhythm is something we’ve missed all season. been a funny season
Am so very sure we gona beat them next month (EPL) i believe we played well until the last 10mins when we changed formation, don’t blame Welbeck, I blame it on injuries especially that of Rooney and Nani.
Evra and Welbeck were poor for the game. Seriously, give Fabio or Fryers a change in the first team. I have nothing against Evra, but the man needs a big break.
Carrick and Scholes were brilliant today, just bloody brilliant. We lost control after Scholes was subbed, cannot wait to get Cleverly and Jones back for more midfield options. Evans did well against the lumberjack who won a header against Rafael. Speaking of Rafa, the kid’s getting better and better and making less rash sliding tackles, too. Good future for him.
Would have liked to see Keane come on for Welbeck earlier instead of Berbatov. Yeah, he’s got experience but also a tendency to slow down our counter attacks. Love the guy, but not the ideal situation for him.
Valencia was top notch again, fullbacks and defenders in general can’t contain him. Hope he continues this form, could be vital in retaining the title.
Park did well for the most part, too.
Full focus on the title now. Cleverly to come back and hopefully Young and Nani will return soon too.
We were the better team today, though.
Costas – for me Clev is a keyplayer already. You can’t deny that. The squad is down to his bare bones and we have to cope with that.
we could have brought on Pogba and I hoped Fergie would do so, but he didn’t.
But that didn’t cost us the game.
We’ll see who’s back for Stoke.
AntiScouser – Seriously did you lost the plot? You know that we have 8-10 injured players from gameday 5 or 6?!
I think every player will go through an ego phase like that at some point of time. It happened with Ronaldo, it happened with Rooney, it happened with Nani and it will happen with any player. I got pissed off when all of them did it and I will get pissed off when Welbeck does it no matter what his age. There is a distance limit at which you have to stop shooting and Danny was way beyond that limit. There was no way any shot from that sort of distance was going to trouble anybody and there was no point taking it on when he had Chicharito and Park to his left unmarked. Whether that would’ve led to a goal is a completely different point but that was a wasted opportunity because of one person’s selfishness and I can’t understand how anybody cannot see that reality.
FITB, Fair enough mate. As I said, I completely understand such criticisms about our overall progress but I just personally feel it isn’t fair to blame the performance of the team we put out today and the tactics we played. If it hadn’t been for a couple of individual mistakes, we could’ve come away with a well-earned draw or even the full haul.
Costas, I do agree with you mate that the league should be the priority. If all our players were fit, then we have the squad to handle three or four fronts but with injuries hitting us left and right, I would be perfectly happy with us playing only in the league and fighting to win it at all costs.
I too was baffled by the substitution. I’d like to think that its coz Scholesy was getting tired and SAF spotted it, but I’d like to share a quiet little opinion of mine that hasn’t yet become a typhoon but it may one of these days:
I think SAF’s starting to botch his substitutions. They’re no longer like the kind of inspired substitutions he used to make in the past. And if you want a reason, I’d offer that it’s because he’s getting a bit over-confident in his twilight years.
Wouldn’t be the first that’s happened to a great manager.
i believe berba should have come on instead of chica. it was not like we were creating any chances but all the same, i respect fergie’s decision. however, this could be a blessing in disguise considering our injury situation. if we really want no. 20, then we need not play in so many competitions.
Bigger fish to fry? We’re not certain of winning the league. 3 points behind and shit load of injuries to contend with. Make no mistake, we’ve let this game slip from our grasp. Stoke at OT, then off to a ground we haven’t won at since 2002. Time to regroup. These next games could be telling in the title race. City will be expecting us to drop points at the bridge. The boss will lift the lads, no doubt. Lets respond in United style.
There are people here I’ve never seen before on RoM. They only show up to whine and complain after a loss.
Guess that’s the downside of RoM being so open to all…
Costas
you crack me up sometimes. Talking as if you don’t know Fergie. No chance of Pogba playing in the midfield today, unless we were 3-0 up and like you said, having 10 injuries every week doesn’t help matters when introducing a young player to the first team squad. especially this player in question
Costs @ 15:03
I completely agree that Dimmy-for-Scholes ( or Giggs ) would have made sense. Ironically, Chicharito would have thrived in the first half when UTD dominated possession but didn’t have much penetration in the box ( pun intended – if you know what I mean !)
Scholes was indeed tiring. Couldn’t last much longer. It just didn’t help that we replaced him with Giggs and brought on Hernandez. We immediately surrendered plenty of possesion to them.
@Zelh
Yeah sorry mate. Tom is indeed the other big absence. I forgot about him.
@Notorious
Don’t know what’s Berbatov expected to do at that point. Bring on Michael Keane instead and give him a taste of the fixture.
Evra struggled to get past Downing let alone Kelly (I think). I said last week that when l’arse deliberately injured our players when things werent going their way (a notion that not a single person on here agreed with) that it could cost us this tie today. We DID play well for the majority of the game but fucked it up ourselves, didn’t even look in it last 13 minutes struggled to keep the possession and I just wanted a replay at that point.
Then Marq makes a point at 14.45 about Evra which is spot on and Welbeck tries the umpteenth attempt on goal. Fair enough when theres only one forward on the pitch, but Hernandez has just come on and he thrives on balls played into the box.
@zelh
You misunderstood me. but you’re right about one thing, I have lost the plot and I’m sick of having to “move on” every other weekend. we’ve just been beaten by the worst liverpool team since 1965. henderson, charlie adam and kuyt beat us. and all else is irrelevant.
De gea is incredibly weak, talented but has some way to go before realising his potential. He’s not dominant enough in the box.
I honestly didn’t think we played badly, some costly mistakes gave pool the game. We dominated but again lacked that killer creative instincts. Yes the midfield needs to be strengthened but waving the cheque book in this window is certainly not on fergie’s agenda. Pogba made the bench yet again, so perhaps he’s closer to the first team than we think.
The injuries aren’t helping. Nani’s creativity could have made a difference today, i can’t say a lot for wayne because he hasn’t played well against pool for a while.
Danny’s a Manc playing for United against Cesspool on their ground, asked to lead the line himself. Of course he was going to go for glory.
I’ll bet you’ll see a WAYYY better performance from Danny when the racist bastards come to OT for the league game.
thought the lads put a really good shift in today, we were just unlucky, similar to the arse game we absolute bossed the end of the first half & shoulda got another at least. up untill his mistake paddy was having a great game gotta feel for him really.
oh well its a funny old game as long we do em in the league i’d take that.
No20 and shuttin up the bitters is the priority
One thing’s for certain, I’m really glad Scholesy’s back, not just coz of our midfield worries but bcoz he really is back. You could feel the calmness in the midfield when he’s there.
It was nervy at City. It got better in the following games. It was calm tonight. It got fucked when he was subbed.
1) We didn’t deserve to lose. To go out in the way we did fuckin hurts big time. You can say its only the FA Cup, but you’re deluding yourself, Liverpool are our fiercest rivals.
2) BOTH goals were silly, sloppy, schoolboy-ish. But you know what? It’s not even a surprise, coz our whole season has been like that. Teams don’t have to work hard to score against us nowadays. The whole reason we got knocked out of the Champions league was because 7 out of the 8 goals we conceded were BASIC errors. Same again today….Liverpool got their goals without having to work for it.
3) Carrick and Scholes were immense in the middle of the park. I expected this to be a war, like it usually is at Anfield (which is why we’ve been bullied there for the last 4 years). Today it was a totally different game, and it really took me by surprise. Maybe its coz Liverpool were tired after midweek….but it suited our personnel down to the ground and the midfielders were excellent.
4) Someone explain why, after being our No 1 for the last month, Lindegaard was benched today? For a game of this magnitude, it was ridiculous IMO, and once again, De Gea’s cost us another goal. Yes he has potential, but in the last month, his errors are becoming FATAL (Benfica, Basle, Blackburn, and today)
I also think we made a mistake in opening the game up in the last 20 minutes. Went 4-4-2 and lost control a bit. We should’ve kept it as it was…a draw would not have been a bad result, I’ll back us at Old Trafford any day.
@zelh I am of course aware they are all injured and of course they were missed. I’m just pointing out the blinding obviousness that were far weaker in that depertment than before. Cleverley started the season really well but already there is a heap of pressure on him coming back after a handful of performances. Funnily enough today the centre of the park wasn’t the problem mainly because Liverpool are bloody dire. We played well for the most part today but I just thought the whole match was lacking in quality. I’ve defended De Gea a lot but I’m finding it harder to after another shaky performance. I also found it bizarre that Fergie chucked him back in at an away tie to Liverpool? I really don’t understand why he made that decision?
Gutted with how we lost the game, we gave it to them at the end I think, they barely piled on any pressure at all. I mean really, besides andy carrols header at the end and the couple of saves De Gea made… what else did they do? But then again, what else did we do? Oh well, out of the cup, fuck it, have to focus on the league now. We’ll have to write it off as having an arguably under-strength side out for this one… at least up front… Welbeck had a poor showing but to be fair to the lad, he has been superb lately so I hope he brushes it off.
Next game up is Stoke at OT… then Chelsea. For me, the Chelsea game could be a league defining game. In my opinion, if we go there and win our first game there in the league in years, it really could push us forward. Remember chaps that we have Tom Clev to come back, Rooney, Nani and Jones to recover too.. we could really make this a wonderful run in.
@samuel – united WE stand
Lost the plot? The man was good enough to be captain for how many years, and I don’t think it’s over the top to call him a club legend. I don’t think it over the top to want him to be in the coaching staff.
The man signified all that Fergie was, but on the pitch, during one of the best periods this club has had. I believe players like him, GNev, Scholes and Giggs, should still be around the club to press home the standards expected.
I get that you disagree, thanks for making that great point. It was really worth reading………. Now I’m wondering why i replied….
Fickle Fkers.
This squad are champions. Lets not forget that. Keep our heads up and focus on winnin that 20th title. Exactly what SAF will be saying. Could be worse could be scouse
I’m gonna root for Arsenal in the Cup. No way can I stomach the racist bastards winning anything. All they and their racist bastard fans deserve is gonorrhea.
AntiScouser
all else is irrelevant? even common sense? Cup games throw form out the window and Liverpool have been dire this year and the game against city and United is typical of a team struggling to live up to expectations. They put everything on the line and then some. Their fans screaming for 90 mins, tough for United and we did okay with the limited resources
Costas, I completely agree regarding the substitutions. IMO, we would’ve been better served had they been reversed. Berbatov on at the time Chicha was on and Chicha on at the last moment to poach us a winner. I was saying to my dad that there’s no point bringing Berbatov on at the 90th minute as he is not an impact player. I didn’t get any of our substitutions like people have already been saying.
AntiScouser, I understand your frustrations mate. However, like I said, I don’t think there is anything wrong with “moving on” today given that we have been completely ravaged by injuries and played a highly depleted squad and dominated the worst Liverpool side since 1965. Yes, we could’ve done better and yes, two individual mistakes did cost us the game. But I still feel we can “move on” with our heads held high today.
@Balaji
It’s not like United have ever won 3 trophies in one season. After 99 I mean. Our injury problems in the last 3-4 years mean we have a chance of winning 1-2 trophies at best. So for me, the FA cup exit was going to come at some point. The next game was sandwiched between the Ajax games for example. Don’t know what’s going to happen now, but trying to overtake City by playing in one more competition wasn’t going to happen…
@slim
Yeah mate. I know the game was evenly poised until the 60th minute. But Fergie was known in the past to take risks, so why not this one. I am not one of those that demand Pogba plays here and now, but when you are running out of options, you look to your youth. This is the second time in the last month that Fergie could have used him in some fashion, but opted for something that wasn’t going to work. (The other was the Blackburn game when Park and Rafa started in CM instead).
@Denton
Yeah when were at our most creative, maybe that’s when Javier would have been useful. Maybe even as Welbeck’s partner. In hindsight 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 wouldn’t make much difference.
Don’t believe it’s an ego thing with Danny. Naive, probably. Certainly not the former.
When we loose at their pathetic field means that we need to adjust our squad. So Sir Alex please start addressing the problems…….. pleeeeeeese……….
That is the measure coz they play like zombies almost the whole season exept vs United !!
Makes me glad I didn’t get Ajax away tickets. Like many have said, with the injuries we have we aren’t capable of challenging for more than one trophy. With 3 games to play before the 1st leg and the recovery dates of most our players looking abysmal, I fully expect us to go out in the round of 32.
As for De Gea, maybe its the tv commentary, but he hardly covered himself in any glory today. Age is on his side but replacing VDS clearly wont be happening this season. It will be interesting to see who starts the next 2 league games especially the chelski one.
Antiscouser
Yeah, they beat us, that’s what it’ll say in the records, but they didn’t “beat” us. Like many have said tonight, we didnt deserve to lose. Just one brief moment when a ray of light shone through Cesspool racist ineptness….and that’s when we lost. So be it. Let’s move on.
If you aren’t going to move on then what will you do? sit down and fucking feel sorry for ourselves?.
We were playing at anfield, a ground we’ve had a poor record in for a while now, a win there was always against the odds even with their supposedly average team. They always their skins out against us and they did again today and of course helped by the fact we made silly errors at the back. What did people expect? a 10 goal blitz in our favour with an injury depleted team and a team which isn’t as complete as we all want it? GET REAL.
Costas
i feel your pain mate, but if Fergie hasn’t done it all season, no chance in hell he’d do it at Analfield with his side chasing a game. He sooner put young will keane on or Ravel on the left (assuming he was on the bench and in his good books) but tinker with the midfield? No chance. its his Achilles heel so far and the injuries amassed obviously doesn’t help matters
Fergie needs to wake up and do something fast because this team has only got worse since 2008.
We simply can’t put out a fully fit 11 of the same caliber as the top teams anymore. We have a big squad of mostly very good players but they don’t have the same level of players as we once had.
We’re so dependent on rooney it’s gone beyond a joke. Welbeck needs at least five chances to score but has good approach play and works his socks off. Chico offers nothing at all besides a good finish. As for berba, he has to go ASAP and we need to sign somebody like Higuain who can take the burden off Rooney. I’ll be hear all day if I talk about the midfield and defense. On a quick note, Sneijder is not the answer to our problem either unless we have a change of system because he has no work rate and does not tackle. Not much good in a two man midfield.
Not a great suprise at all.
Running out of chances now.
Wonder what we deem at bad season, given we Are the biggest and ri hest club.
@slim
Listen, if you’re going to be positive no matter what, it’s your choice. I’m not going to be happy after losing to the racist scum of the earth I’ve personally loathed since I was born, ok? Plenty of positives? not for me. in fact, doesn’t get much worse than losing to liverpool in a cup tie.
Seems lots of you forgot that this is the same liverpool team we didn’t lose to because of Hernandez and specialla De Gea in october.
I’ve seen faaaar worse performances from us at Klanfield.
You know what I don’t get about the goalkeeping situation, it is that the changes happen in all the wrong matches. Lindegaard has been quietly building up momentum and then he is not playing for one of the most important games of the season. I thought he was going to play until the Chelsea game and then we can take it from there. De Gea has not played since the mistakes against Blackburn and to play him suddenly in such a hostile environment doesn’t seem like the best decision to me. I know with two goalkeepers vying for the top spot, we are not going to see one person consistently playing till either is established. But the switch should not happen to the younger goalkeeper in a game of this magnitude is what I personally feel.
well, when we equalised I thought we wuold win it but our midfield ran out of steam in the second half and we had no one to bring on but strikers. Injuries have cost us that game imo. It was a good game! A draw would have been justice, but Liverpool took their chances so fair play.
points:
1. Wellbeck didnt play well. Its times like that I miss RVN.
2. De Gea! LOL – anyone still sticking up for him?
Looks like it was Merseyside’s day against us. The U18s lost 1-4 to Everton today.
@saad I think this is Spurs cup to lose this year, scousers won’t win it, they’re truly an awful uninspiring team full of deadwood all be it that it’s very expensive deadwood. The league for us is going to be very difficult, If we come out of the next 5 games still 3 points behind it’s game on. The next period of fixtures is key for us.
Very brave performance from the lads. We had most of the possession but, predictably, had no bite upfront- 1 shot on goal in 3 attempts. This is down to our formation and the players available due to our injury crisis.
A replay was on the cards till SAF decided to risk it and go for the win, switched to 4-4-2 and surrendered the initiative to Kenny. Looks like short memories on how we’ve fared using only 2 at the center, they normally overrun or just bypass us there.
The 2nd biggest mistake was obviously Evra’s positioning, a thing he’s been doing all season. All of you guys pointing to Welbeck…he’s a striker he can choose to pass or go for goal regardless of the runs presented to him. He decided to use Evra as a dummy, but missed on the shot- move on!
All in all, we gave it a go with a very depleted team. As we never intended to get into the Europa league, I’m going to disregard the competition this season. So here is my grade for our team in Cup competitions this season.
Players: D-
A D minus because they showed a lot of spark in the irrelevant Community Shield, and gave it to City in the FA Cup. Melding a new team together is no walk in the park, however, this squad from back to front, has displayed an unprecedented lack of discipline and professionalism in the Cup games this year…the Champions league is exhibit A.
Staff: F
The tactical naivety by this veteran coaching staff is just quite frankly unreal. From team selection, to formation, responding to tactical adjustments….they were always one step behind. SAF will have to take a serious look at his back-room support system.
Maybe we will all have the pleasure of seeing Morisson, Pogba and the rest of the youngsters in the Europa league.
Full speed ahead to defend the crown and get the 20th in what many have predicted will be a $hitty season (pun intended Etihad clowns).
I’m sticking up for De Gea. Really believe in the lad.
Good thing is we’ve got a midweek game. Need to get this out of our system ASAP. Hopefully the injuries clear up in time.
Not a cat in hell’s chance De Gea will be starting that, in fact I’ll be surprised if he gets much of a look in between now and the end of the season, think he’s really damaged his chances with this showing.
Actually a really good performance considering we are missing Vida, Nabi, Rooney, and clev to name a few.
De Gea is not ready to play in England he is too weak simple as.
I love paddy but his defending at times is indefensible, you just can’t do that at this level.
Spakkz@ 15:25
I disagree about Scholes and Carrick being “immense” in the midfield.
They played too close to one another and, as usual, Michael Carrick is waaaay too deferential when playing alongside TheGingerNinja. What struck me was that for as long as Paul Scholes was on-the-pitch then LiverPoo didn’t press but once he was taken off then they did so.
I know that these two sentences are contradictory but I don’t think that they are wrong ! What this seems to indicate is that SAF got the starting team right but he got the substitutions wrong.
Gary
A North London derby for the final would be quite a spectacle for the neutrals.
I’m sticking with De Gea, cause I know what he’s capable of.
What did you lot think would happen if you drop him, bring him back after 4 weeks without a game at Klanfield.
Of course he would be nervous and insecure.
“Why has nobody else noticed Andy Carroll was 3 yards offside for the winner?”
costas i think you’ve hit the nail on the head.how the fuck do we have 10-15 players out injured consistently year after fucking year….? we lost to a fucking poor liverpool team but we feel better because we played well with a depleted team.this dont make me feel any better i dont know any team in the last 2-3 years that have suffered the ridiculous injuries we seem to endure maybe we need to focus on how the fuck year after year are major players miss game after fucking game……?
I love De gea as well, but we done him no favours putting him in there today. Anders had the spot, why change now? Feel for the lad. Every time he makes mistake, or perceived to make a mistake, people will be out for his blood. Still think he’ll go on and be our future number 1.
DDG’s getting serious baptism of fire here in England which he would never have gotten playing at Atletico looking up at Real and Barca week-in, week-out.
If DDG grows up from these experiences, he has the no-bullshit potential to become of one the GREATEST keepers in the world of all time.
@Costas
You and I had a conversation a while back about Owen Hargreaves accusations against our medical staff. Any further thoughts on that?
@Anti
Nah mate,you got it all wrong. Not talking about feeling positive no matter the circumstance, just saying the lads were brave today but came up short. it doesn’t count for much but to disregard the effort from the players is a bit unfair. referring to your comment about all else being irrelevant because we lost to a team that according to you is the worst since the 50′s. You won’t find a scouser lovers here. hate them more than the next guy. They had the whole world against them today and it helped them win the game
Much as the loss to Liverpool is a biter pill to swallow. We have to “move on”, alot of mistakes have been made this season by both the team and the coach not to mention the club as well. Since SAF has said that he is going to retire after 3 yrs when he finishes his last team we should let him coz the young inexperienced team that we have now are hopefully learning from this season. I still refuse to have a go at them as much I want to because that position of youth and expectation is a really hard to live up to. Lets just continue to support them.
Zelh
We all support de gea he plays for Manchester United and we can believe all we want but today he was as weak as piss.
I don’t blame him for the loss though like I do paddy that wad woeful from our skipper.
i blame gibson…..
Saad, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? Why post such a question to Costas right now? Adding fuel to the fire, are we?
off topic
it turns out Diouf was sold to Hannover. thought it was a loan but he’s been sold
Knightsmith says:
“Why has nobody else noticed Andy Carroll was 3 yards offside for the winner?”
Can’t be offside from a goalkick.
zelh.
And what do you think will happen if you stick him in goal against Stoke midweek?Are you prepared to gamble with our title challenge.I’m not.
Agree with Sparkz’ (15.25) points on the game. I didn’t like the change to 442 which matched the scousers change of shape, nor the subs we made. Fergie’s options to change things were limited by injuries, but reckon Berba would’ve made more sense than Chica at that point.
Our passing and possession were great for much of the match but not enough testing of Reina.
I rate Welbeck highly and he can play that role up on his own, but he needed to play with a bit more intelligence later in the game.
Questioning the medical team is nothing short of embarrassing.
We physically saw the injuries to clev, vida, young, Rooney, Nani so to say its the staff is ridiculous.
brett1985:
That’s just me being bitter, take no notice!
If, like me, you need cheering up a bit this site is cracking;
http://newsmanc.co.uk/2012/01/23/sport-redknapp-and-rooney-set-to-meet-for-world-chess-championship/
@Balaji
He was asking questions about how we are always going without 10-15 players each season. Seemed like a logical line of questioning to me. At least I’m thinking it…
proper cup game this was and a replay was on the card, fate didn’t allow it and someone had lose. We did. Feel proud of the lads, gutted we lost to that lot but this is what cup games are about and haven’t seen one like this in ages. Again i hope heads don’t drop to much
De Gea will defo go on to be our No 1 Goalie. He is young and will make loads of mistakes but he will mature and come good, Im more concerned with Evra’s mistake (again!!, too many times hes been caught out position wise this season) and the fact SAF made an error of judgement, and not for the first time this season. Hes being stubborn and expecting us to get results even if a poor side is put out, he’s letting players play who are out of form and wont pick the kids, give them a chance otherwise how do they learn. I love SAF but he needs to answer for his mistakes to and today he made it going to 4-4-2 and letting them back into it!!
@Saad
I’d say the way this season has unfolded has proven Hargreaves both right and wrong. He was right as far as our medical team not always making the right decisions. However, things were never going to get any better for him at City and he looked like an idiot for saying that. “I’ll play 40 games”, yeah right.
“Move on” it is an awful cliche but what else is there to do? You can either moan about this result as long as you want but the result will remain the same or you dust yourself off, pick yourself up and get ready for the next challenge. Considering half our squad was injured, I was surprised at how well we controlled the game. Shit happens, L’pool won fair and square. Daglish made substitutions at the right time and they took their chances. I still believe we can win the league title but we have to get our injured players back. No doubt about that. Rooney, Nani, Jones, Vidic, Fletcher, Cleverly, Anderson- We need all of them back if we are to compete in multiple competitions.
oh my God! De gear lost confidence.Alex could have replaced welbeck with Chicho or Dimiter instead of scholes.I wish we have won this match for Evra.
@andy7blain
haha, thanks mate. worked for me.
We can take this to and fro all day , what we have done is given them confidence ! They wont care about who we have out ,just like Citeh last season we have let them in . Dogleash is creaming himself . He did out think SAF .
@Utd4life
“…if we are to compete in multiple competitions”
For the sake of precision, make that two competitions.
i am for de gea
pablo
not sure about you view of things. i personally don’t feel better because it was a depleted team, i feel better because Pool were up for it, their fans were up for it, and we played our part, not crumbling like i’ve see us do over there. it was a fucking jungle at klanfield. Supporters very much involved with every tackle, pass, ref decision, everything.
The whole country against them, talkof King kenny not fit to manage Liverpool was doing the rounds mid-week.The suarez affair; they were seriously pumped for game,this was the kind of game the whole place needed. Cup games are rarely about form and today was no exception. Game had stalemate written all over it until, well, until the ball went in, in a favor of Liverpool
@Costas
SAF’s always been pretty quick about axing players that are disruptive to the clubhouse but I don’t think he nearly as quick when it comes to firing his staff. He’s a bit of a loyalist, our gaffer.
Would be nice if the Glazers would send us some of those really talented NFL medical staff. Because of their short playing seasons, they’re quite adept at helping players recover quickly.
@andy7blain hahaha they got Redknapp spot on, how were subjected to that patronising moron week in week out is an insult to sky viewers, very little input just the usuall “they gotta get the ball this little fella Mata. This little fella is a wizard, he’s a magician.” I’d pay to see a chess match between Rooney and Redknapp, the lack of quality would have been all too similar to that on the pitch this afternoon at Anfield.
Park’s goal was really well taken. On the half-volley, with power, past Reina in the near post through a gap that was not wider than a yard….plus it was an equalizer. Definitely a candidate for our goal of the season.
Redlife – yeah that would work well wouldn’t it?. A bitterness filled roy keane who has now joined the ITV A.B.U bandwagon and can’t help himself from having sly barely constructive digs at united returning back as an assistant.
Fergie would never over that man a job as a kit-man let alone as his assistant regardless of what he achieved at united. Why don’t we bring back every former player and give them a job?.
I honestly don’t see what keane would bring to the table, he hasn’t exactly set the The world alight as a manager, besides, Fergie can’t stand the man so how can they work together?.
So this has no over-reacting element to it?. Funny how we get knocked out and drastic measures have to be taken place in the coaching department. An assistant isn’t the problem, a depleted team that needs strengthening in key areas is the issue. Of course you’re entitled to your opinions.
AntiScouser. Trust me, if we had all those players fit then we would be competing in multiple competitions.
If we had all those players fit, we’d be 8 points ahead of Shitty.
57% possession……. Hard to take that loss!!!!!
We will make amends on the 11th……..
@Giggs12
Yeah mate, we saw those injuries. We also saw Tom aggravate that injury against Everton just by crossing the ball. Since then, his return has been pushed back twice and he hasn’t been seen in 4 months. And he’s not the only player’s who’s recovery has been pushed back or who got injured on his own (Hernandez at Villa for example)
@Saad
I agree. Like you, I’ve gotten the feeling in recent years that the medical team (or our training stuff for that matter) is not held accountable as often as it should. The manager seems to have a lot of faith in them. If we don’t make changes in that department, I am afraid it will be more of the same each season.
@NYDUDE
I agree. The OT game is the one that matters for me. That was my mentality going into this game.
NYDude
Big blue or gang green??
Lot of ball, but very few clear cut chances created.
@Utd4life
wishful thinking, nothing more.
We simply have to beat Chelsea and Spurs away and Liverpool at home. We simply have to in order for us to DESERVE the 20th.
Glazers bringing in N.F.L medicals in. That wouldn’t contradict fergie’s notion that he’s in complete control of the footballing side of united would it?
Cmon Willie, our two most creative players were missing. Course created chances were going to be few today.
No harm in picking up the phone and saying “Hey Sir Alex, could we offer the services of our medical staff here in Tampa?”
Listen there can be no denying the fact that De Gea is seriously costing us this season. If it weren’t for him I think we’d be better off points wise in the league even if it was just by a point or two. I think we’d still be in the champions league too and I’m absolutely convinced we’d still be in the FA cup if it weren’t for him. Sir Alex obviously thinks it too as he’s no longer prepared to risk him in the Premiership and will in hindsight see that he was wrong to risk him today. I’m no expert but I just knew when I saw him in the team sheet today, that by fulltime he’d be a major topic of discussion for all the wrong reasons.
To be brutally honest his start to life at United has been nothing short of disastrous. I’m sorry, but this is my honest opinion and I just cannot see any aspect to his game that gives me hope. His ability with the ball at his feet isn’t overly impressive and this we were led to believe what one of his greatest strengths. Balls crossed into the box either from corners or open play he looks completely lost time and time again, and this was never more obvious than today’s game. Shot stopping is ok but what professional keeper in the top flight doesn’t make decent saves time and time again. But I’m looking for a United keeper to have the ability to stop shots like Dirk Kuyt’s today.
I know people arguing his case will point to the earlier game in the season at Anfield but that for me is just not enough proof. I just do not want to see him playing again this season and even if Lindergaard gets injured I’d rather see Amos getting a chance. For his own good, and I firmly believe it would be for his own good, he needs to be taken out of the lime light now and start fresh in the pre season again. I’m not saying sell him but I am saying drop him for the season, including in the Europa League. What must Ben Amos thinking if Dea Gea is still getting chances ahead of him. He must be thinking, what’s the point I’m off.
I try my best not to be too critical of our own players but I can’t deny what I’ve seen. All that said I can’t understand the thinking behind him starting today and I feel sorry for him cause he looked a nervous wreck. He was dropped for a reason and to bring him back in such a massive game was a mistake.
@Saad
Can you honestly see us winning those 3 games? I can’t, even in the most optimistic scenario.
Banging on about conspiracies regarding injuries at united doesn’t help either, they were regarded unfit so Shit happens.
If people feel they can eradicate natural injuries then apply for a job at united and sort it out.
We have some pretty physically weak players who fall on their asses and are out for several weeks, their style of play or simply being unfortunate could be blamed for this.
Any news from the gaffer yet.
As for Keano, he’s hardly ABU. Certainly stuck the fork in cit-eh when Chiles and Co were prompting him to do the opposite. He just calls it as he sees it. Seems to me that was fine and dandy when he was at United but now he’s not makes him a cunt in some peoples eyes. Un-fucking-believable.
As for him being assistant, why is it when we lose people blame Phelan? Bruce, Robson, Hughes, Keane and now Solskjaer have all been named as future Man United managers. Keane took Sunderland from bottom of the Championship to winning it after 12 games were played. He kept them up and then it stopped working. Things didn’t work out at Ipswich but Paul Jewell looks like he’s taking the Tractor Boys down to ploughs the field of League 1.
Point I’m making is they are all flavour of the months. All it takes is one bad season to desecrate their names. The names I’ve mentioned are legends as players lets just keep it that way. Would hate to see a bad season with a former United legend in charge or as assistant a la Alan Shearer relegating the Geordies.
@byron1970
When SAF bought DDG, did you really think he was going to be a VDS Clone from Day 1? He’s underweight for a Premier League GK and he learnt his trade La Liga. Surely you could’ve realized that there was going to be a learning period for DDG and that learning period was most likely going to last at least one whole season…and during that period he was bound to make mistakes.
For certain, DDG cannot learn to be an EPL goalkeeper while sitting on the bench. He had to learn by playing matches. What games he plays, that’s SAF’s call to make.
It is obvious DDG was bought with the hope that he will be United No. 1 for the next 2 decades. For such a long-term investment, you need a long learning period and an equal amount of patience.
@Antiscouser
Liverpool…yes, definitely, especially after seeing how lousy Liverpool actually is.
Chelsea…maybe, if Rio is fit and Nani and Wazza get back.
Spurs…big question mark coz they’re a lot better now than what they were when we beat them early in the season…and they pass the ball a lot better than they are given credit for.
If Keano questions the mental strength and discipline of the players, I’d listen.
If he questions SAF’s management or our football, I’d look the other way coz he has no qualification to be offering his opinion about football management. He is, quite bluntly, a failure as a manager.
After a short amount of time thinking about what has happened today all I can say is atleast it wasn’t a league game we lost today.
@Samuel
No need to apply for a job at United mate. Our foreign players go and consult doctors from their own country anyway. That’s how effective our medical team has been.
Anyway, I am not a doctor and never claimed I was one. But for a club of a United’s financial status to find itself in this position year after year is pretty pathetic. If the problem is with the medical stuff, change it. If the problem is that we have to many injury prone players, change them. It’s really frustrating to have to contend with losing out on competitions simply because we can’t have the squad to compete in more than 2.
@Denton – But that’s what Carrick and Scholes have always done isn’t it? Played close together, keeping the ball, and spreading it. Giggsy was the one with the responsibility to push on (and his final ball was atrocious today at times)
AlphaRS says:
After a short amount of time thinking about what has happened today all I can say is atleast it wasn’t a league game we lost today.
—-
I don’t like losing but you are right. I felt we were significantly superior to Liverpool in the general play and this bodes well for when Nani and Rooney are back.
It’s also a fact that if you are involved in more than one competition you drop points in the league towards the end of the season. As such todays defeat was probably be worth extra league points.
An intelligent executive would at least conduct an audit of our medical staff. Any corporation would do just that.
Anyway. Good luck and all the best Mame Diouf. Hope things work out for you at Hannover.
Saad – I appreciate that De Gea wasn’t going to be a Schmichel or a Van Der Sar from day one but I must admit I did expect him to be better than he has been. After all he does have some experience, winning the Europa League and playing for what is by all accounts the third biggest club in Spain. I was prepared to put up with mistakes from him but just not so many that have been so costly. Enough is enough now, we need to go and try to win the league and think this can be best accomplished without De Gea in the side.
I do apprecitate also that’s he’s a young lad living in a different country, which is why i think just letting him train now or play in the event of injuries will best suit him. Let him have the benefit of a full pre season and give him another crack of the whip next August. No doubt there’s more to him than what we’ve seen, otherwise we wouldn’t have signed him.
@Costas
” If the problem is with the medical stuff, change it. If the problem is that we have to many injury prone players, change them. It’s really frustrating to have to contend with losing out on competitions simply because we can’t have the squad to compete in more than 2.”
Could not agree more with you.
AntiScouser.. Well I am an optimist mate. If everyone of those players were fit and we didn’t keep losing 2-3 players before every match then I am sure we would be in a much better position than we are in right now. I-N-J-U-R-I-E-S and mistakes have screwed up our season. But I know you will disagree with me so lets just agree to disagree.
@Costas
There is of course another possible explanation. We don’t exactly have the biggest players in England. Most of our players are on the lighter side of the average.
Nani, Rafael, Fabio, Evans, Park, Chicha, Young, Clev…they’re all smaller and lighter than the league average.
Saad – Come on what? Someone said we had 57% of the ball. I then said we created few clear cut openings. You still had Giggs and Scholes out there. Two of the most creative players in Fergie’s tenure. Liverpool sat back first half. Which was surprising to me. Thought they would’ve pressed right up on our midfield. That give Scholes and Carrick a ton of room to pass the ball around. We should have done better imo. A missed opportunity….
You know I bet you all, if we won that game, all would be forgotten and there would be no discussion about the medical team.
We lost but we played a good game considering the injuries. Take your chill pill, enjoy your saturday and come back next week.
@byron1970
I’m certainly hoping that DDG improves in the off-season and my hope is based on the experience with Vida and Evra. They too didn’t light up the league when they first arrives. They struggled but they ended up becoming quite fantastic for us. And they were A LOT more experienced when they joined us than DDG.
Not enough is said about the difficulty of moving to the EPL. It truly is the most menacing league in the world.
For all those who are slating De Gea, yeah he has made mistakes but they arent all down to him!! The defence has let him down far too often as well, if they cut out the mistakes then maybe De Gea would be more confident. He’s a kid, get his mistakes out the way now and he will learn!!
Nothing against you, Willie. I know where your heart is. I think our boys need to be lifted up so that they can brush this one off as quickly as possible and focus on the league.
If we win the 20th, Cesspool bastards can go wank themselves off with their Suarez shirts.
What keane has to say is irrelevant in my eyes and i don’t think i’ve mentioned the word cunt alongside his name.
I don’t think he’s an A.B.U but joining up with the I.T.V and coming out with yet another dig at united like that twat townsend would do isn’t great.
keane was given a huge cheque to bring sunderland back to the premier league for a then championship club, so don’t come out like he’s some magnificent manager.
I’m not a sentimental person. Keane had his time and has left, i’m focused on united so his views and Not very constructive criticisms are worthless to me regardless of what he’s achieved.
Everyone knows keane returning to united would be a major calamity. He would disregard fergie’s orders whilst also setting on a mission to be the big man at united. Last thing united need is disruption within.
hello everyone
very frustring day,united are in my blood,i suffer so much when i see man utd losing,let s be clear,sir alex is the master and best of the best but he is just human and sometimes he got it wrong,today he make mistake by switching formation to 442,it not about chicharito,it is a tactical mistake,i said it many times before that we need new players it s impossible for team like ours to be comptetive,our best option is 2 legands aged 37 and 38,barca won 5 trophy last season and have the likes of keita xavi iniesta busquets mascherano tiago,and manage to bring fabrigas
the injury problem is unreal,no team in the world have the same amount of injured player
sir alex must find a new assistant our tactical system is weak
if we win the pl, sir alex is a wizard no manager in the world would win the epl with injury hit team like united
@Samuel
Calling Roy Keane ABU is well far off the mark. I’ve not disagreed with much of his views on United as a pundit.
He set high standards for himself and those around him as a player and I reckon it disappoints him to see United losing like this, to be honest.
Which comments of his do you think have been ‘barely constructive’?
I think fellas should just relax. there’s being gutted and then there’s this. Surprised at this, seeing the general consensus is that we’re in a transition period. maybe not winning the league will be in our favor. The season has been weird. 2nd in the league but not quite hitting the high notes. Tons of stuff going on at OT that no one quite understand thereby leading to conjectures and rumors. And most of all timing. the timing has been off on almost everything since the league began.
Timing hasn’t been right to put the youngsters in, timing of injuries to key players. Contract issues made public, The “blue moon rising” and the incessant wanking of the media to the new darlings. Way too much noise. This is the journey i spoke of at the end of last season and all through the summer. I’d much like to see a settled side with less contract talks and injuries. Not giving up by any chance but next season is all ready looking far more interesting. The midfield issue will be put to bed before or during the summer. More questions will be answered too and i believe we’ll have more of an insight to what Fergie’s got up his sleeve now that he’s gone toe to toe with a title seeking man shitty
If anything De Gea has got worse at corners and crosses. Must be a confidence thing,
@ Costas – I’m with you all the way on this medical staff thing, if memory serves me right we both came up with it pretty much the same time. A lot of people simply want to refuse theres any sort of inadequacy at the club. Its the constant push back of dates regarding players, this whole Cleverly is back soon is pissing me off. I’ll believe it when I see him complete 2 90 minute games back to back. Then you have the Anderson thing who was supposed to be back in Feb, was obviously been the all clear by the medical team plays 2 games in late Dec/early Jan and has disappeared again.
I can live with the whole Rio and his back problems, those who aren’t suffering memory loss or have been following United since before the year 1999 should remember Pallister had exactly the same problem. He could have carried on at Boro but there was no point, they were hardly going to win stuff.
Then you have the Da silva twins breaking down every 5 minutes, I put that down to not being fully developed. However there was a time not too long ago that Rafael was fit throughout the entire season.
We get no realistic return dates from any of these players, perhaps thats because of the war between Fergie and the media. We as supporters miss out. We have several players supposedly returning on 11th Feb. Main one being Young, he got a knock on his ankle before the game vs cit-eh sat out a game and his form hasn’t been the same since. We see if he makes the bench for the vermin game or god forbid starts one of the ajax games.
Thats just this season, theres countless more example and don’t even get me started on the Fletcher fiasco. If he’s been ill for 4 years and we’ve had the Hargreaves debacle alongside that then how can anyone logically defend the medical staff for not spotting that and why haven’t we either
A) Gone all out to sort midfield out (Even though this season has mainly been the Defensive Crisis Part III)
B) Made more of an effort to blood the youngsters.
Don’t know why Keano is getting some stick here? He rightly said Evra was partly to blame for their winner. You can’t blame Keane for someone on here suggesting he should be number 2 at United? He won’t come back now anyway. Lets focus on United ffs. Not whatever Keano says on ITV!
Dogleash started the game with 5 defenders and 2 players holding the midfield. Bit of a cowardly cunt, if you ask me, that racist bastard.
We can get away with blooding inexperienced outfield players, but goalkeeper is a different position. Its a position where one mistake can cost you dearly.
De Gea’s early season errors (Community Shield, West Brom, Arsenal) weren’t costly coz we still won those games. But your outfield players won’t bail you out each time.
He was one of the main reasons we crashed out of Europe – he gifted Benfica and Basle a goal each in the last 2 games. He blundered to give Blackburn the winner on New Years Eve. And now today. We’re not in August any more…we’re at a tight point of the season where every error can be critical – as De Gea has found out the hard way.
So I certainly wouldn’t jeopardise our League prospects by playing him and I don’t think Sir Alex will either. He always says that although he builds teams for the future, he always tries to make us successful in the present as well.
One of those games that watching it you just can’t see yourself loosing then bang! Carroll won his first header of the day, Evra switched off and De Gea made a dogs dinner (sorry Wayne and Ji) of an average shot. We did play very well in patches but when you don’t transfer that into goals then your likely to pay the price. In many ways I agree with Byron. De Gea has cost us a lot of points and again today, I don’t know what the answer is but I think most of us will have raised our eye brows at his inclusion today. Up until the last 5 mins I think we defended well but we just failed to create anything which is disappointing. I’ve said it before, I think Liverpool are a VERY average side (that’s being generous) but we haven’t beaten them this season which sucks. Does this mean we are a shit team? Hell no, put it this way, if VDS had given us another year we’d be playing Bayern in the quarters of the CL, be at least level in the PL and looking forward to the 5th round draw of the FA Cup! Not bad for a team savaged by injury all season but very fucking annoying when thinking what could have been. Anyway, with that said, today’s defeat will make our victory on 11th all the sweeter and Liverpool will not go on through the FA cup playing against weakened teams. I also fancy Cardiff on the final!!
de gea is the best young gk in the world but he need 2 to 3 years to be at the same level of edwin,clearly need to improve,exept rafeal&valencia the whole team didn t play well it s not de gea fault we are out of the cup
very very sad,losing to a shit team like pool is making me mad
Ando has bad metabolism which in turn means he’s a slow healer. The point of no-return with Ando is fast approaching.
What’s with blaming De Gea?
Who was the defender marking Agger for the 1st goal?
Yes he didn’t inspire confidence, but us losing the game wasn’t because of De Gea, it was more because of Valencia’s shot coming back out off the post instead of going in, Welbeck not doing well to hold up the ball as well as certain decision making and us losing the plot after Scholes went off.
As for people blaming Evra. Think about this.
You have just played 85mins in a hostile environment with people abusing and booing you, you ran up the length of the field to support your young striker hoping to help him buy some time and space, and the next thing you know he does a rugby kick, disregarding your efforts. You run back into your position within 30s, and next thing you know the opponent striker won his only header of the game, the ball is behind you and your team loses the game.
Yes it is his job to defend, but not all fault lies with him. You can even say Park or Giggs was suppose to be the one making that run into space instead of Evra, but they did not. Evra made a captain’s decision to buy his young team mate time and space, but his team mate failed him.
Mike – That’s what is galling. Liverpool are an average team. Hope we batter the cunts at OT. Hate losing to this shower.
I don’t blame the team for their performance, the manager needs to shoulder some of the blame.
Why didnt we have Chicharito come on in the 65th minute when the foward line was tiring?
Why did Berbatov come on in the 91st minute for Giggs? Why not earlier for Giggs?
If we was so defensively poor, why did Rio not come on in the 70th min to see off the 20 mins for a replay?
Why play De Gea alongside a inexperienced defence? Talk about lamb to slaughter, no protection from the Ref,defence or from the manager today.
When Liverpool made 3 changes to dominate the game, how come we kept on the tiring midfield trio and not put on Fabio,Berba or Chico earlier to give us a boost in energy. How can we be so oblivious to the impact of Adam,Bellamy and Kuyt the main men of the Pool?
Sir Alex continues to be indecisive this season, so the team is reflecting his state. Sir Alex goes tactically nuts during FA Cups, it isn’t the first time he;s prioritised being defensive over seeing sense. ( The opposite happened in the CL final vs Barca twice )
Sort out your tactics man ! We need stability in our team. This season is gonna be a downward spiral till Vidic returns. We needed signings…ok we’re broke, but we;re not stupid, this is Utd way of doing everything the hard way as usual, when we say we mean that Utd get through despite adversity, but this type of decision making this season has been a shambles from management and players.
Plus the medical team deserves the boot, Hargreaves was right, their shit as Andy Carol, who was made out to be the next Duncan Ferguson by Evans and De Gea.
We need an established XI plus 5 good players, Sir Alex sort it out or the media will come sniffing and Utd fans (well the dumb ones) will fall for the media mist of us being in decline etc. I know we have injuries and have been handicapped all season, but injuries is not an excuse for being so disorganised all over the field, we have a big squad for a reason.
These little moments of indecisiveness from the team and manager are jepordising our season.
Sir Alex Ferguson is a genius and wonderful manager but he is not immune to errors, he does need to be criticised at times, because it will keep his blood flowing and put the fear of failure in the Utd players hearts. Little changes at Utd can push us to the 20th and Europa, but if this indecisive management of resources continues we may have to wait till Vidic, Fletcher (New signing) start playing regularly next season hopefully.
I am a pessimist and a perfectionist, I demand organisation, the effort is there to be praised, but mentally and tactically Man.Utd are not on the ball.
We deserved to lose despite what the boss says, Liverpool came out gunz blazing after the 3 subs made, we had great subs that was not utilised.
I refuse to blame the players this time around, liverpool was poor, the management staff should be held accountable for the shambles of the CL,FA Cup and Carling Cup campaigns.
Willie
They’re an average team, yes, but they were playing at home and against us. In the 70s and 80s, we weren’t that great but we still beat them quite often because the occasion fired us up.
Cesspool’s ineptness will show when they come to OT. I can’t wait for the “racist bastard” chants.
Never have I been so disgusted with Cesspool as I am today…
@ Willierednut – Keano’s getting stick because its the “cool” thing to do recently. He doesn’t suger coat things and some can’t handle it. Although it was all well and good when he gave out his prawn sandwich rant.
If that was G Nev nobody would have said fuck all. We may not need him back on the coaching staff, I’ve never been a huge advocate of turning our coaching staff into an old boys club. Stagnates the thinking a little, however we do need someone else who has a bit of aggression in the team and staff somewhere. We have Fergie and Vidic the latter being injured, if we had someone else who just gets stuck in it will only be a benefit to the club.
@samuel & Saad 16.31 – A failure is someone who doesn’t complete his objective, so he didn’t make Sunderland reach europe. They finished mid table he reached his objective. As for the money thing that is very true but that doesn’t always work Fulham struggled before they brought Tigana, as did Cit-eh until Keegan come along. What he did at sunderland was impressive otherwise they would have done a Charlton or Southampton. Evra made a mistake which was clear and he called it, if G Nev had said the same thing you would have said nothing, and he had 6 cit-eh players in his team of the season so far!!!
some of our fans said it was a good performence today!
we are the best club in the world!! we must play much better than what we did ,avarage team like pool spurs ect can be satisfied with performence like that,
what making me so sad that we lose against a weak team
Costas – i don’t think players going to other doctors outside the club necessarily means the ones at the club are incompetent, maybe they’re just not experts of that specific injury.
I don’t know what’s going on with the club in terms of injuries. Maybe i’m naive but all i can see is players being unfortunate with injuries suffered at crucial times, explains one of the reasons why the manager keeps rotating Players.
I see your logic but finance has absolutely nothing to do with sustained amount of injuries. We can keep replacing players but what if the new recruits also suffer injuries?. We have to persevere and hope these players recover because as fans there is nothing much we can do, conspiracies or bringing in American football medicals certainly don’t guarantee an improvement, it would only undermine Fergie in my view.
We just have to sit tight and hope some key players have recovered in time.
Red Nation
“Sort out your tactics man ! ” haha one of the most ridiculous comments I’ve heard! It’s easy to be a manager under the name of Mr Hindsight!
@NRD
That’s one way of defining failure. I’ll buy that. But I prefer to define failure based on the job description. He was the manager. His job was to manage the resources at hand: players, line-ups, match strategy, the media, the fans, the transfer budget, etc.
He had a good setup in Sunderland. Good club, good fans, decent financial resources, great heritage…he could’ve taken them far with those resources, maybe a cup run or two. But he botched it when he got to the Premier League. At the very least, he should’ve done crisis control and prevent the team from losing. Like SAF says, the manager’s the most important person in the club. If he doesnt get it right, nothing will ever go right in the club.
He then went to Ipswich…smaller club, lower expectations, lesser challenge than the EPL. He botched that too.
Keano either has to learn a few more things about management or go learn his trade in League One.
sir alex will not bring new players i think he don t have the money
fuck the glazers
if he can t buy new player,he can makes some change,for 2 years we are trying to copy barca dutch style play
we have always possesion without result
we will never match barca style of play for many reasons
we should return to our own style,we are man utd
i don t love rene style bring back carlos,we need some tactical modifecation
with the group of young talent we have quiroz will be the best addition
iced earth
what makes me so sad is your choice of word. Sorry but you only sound disgruntled while throwing out overused cliches
Why can’t people get the fact that even with an supposedly average team, liverpool always play their skins out against united?.
It’s a cup game, they were buoyed by their midweek victory against city, it was always going to be a very difficult game. I hoped we’d punish them through our dominance but despite the resounding possession keeping, we lacked creativity in the final third.
Welbeck couldn’t do much alone up front, He’s a rookie striker and because he’s went on a storming goal scoring run lately, people expect him to suddenly destroy an experienced pool back four with ease. He worked hard and if he had someone creative behind him then things may have been different, i just don’t get the waves of criticisms towards him. I guess these are people showing frustrations which i’ve also shown many times on this blog. The boy is developing his game, not the finished article yet and as for de gea, he has some way to go in terms of adapting to the rigours of the premier league.
@ Saad – For him to have done better he needed more than 1 season and a bit in the PL. I’ll agree with the Ipswich thing, that was a disaster. Its easy to call managers failures these days they get fuck all time to manage. Hypothetically speaking if I had to pick anyone out of the ITV studio to become an assistant I’d pick Paul Ince but after blackburn he weren’t the same manager. In the modern game one bad job/run as a manager makes players lose faith in you when you go to your next job. When Fergie calls it a day I’ll be surprised if the first manager lasts more than 2 years, especially if Rooney and Morrison are still at the club.
samuel – united WE stand
thats what i’ve been trying to get across all afternoon.
Keano didn’t have a pop at the management did he? He correctly stated that Evra was at fault for the goal – fact. And he said that this isn’t the first time its happened either. Again – fact.
What, just because he failed as a manager it means everything he says means nothing? Means he doesn’t know a thing or 2 about defending? Do me a favour!
As NRI pointed out, if it was Gary who said it none of you would be jumping on his back.
@NRD
No arguments there. It’ll be some nervy times at OT after SAF rides off into the sunset. If people are being impatient with 21yo DDG, imagine the stick a new manager would get if he had so much as a three-match bad run. All hell would break loose.
NRD and Costas
Somethings happening with injury after injury. We might differ on the reasoning, but lets try and counter act the problem. Every season this is occurring at United. Only this time, it seems to be every fucking position! In 09/10 season, the defense was hit hardest. Now, the wingers and strikers are cursed! Either some cunt has a dozen voodoo United dolls, or the problem is more realistic. The training, Medical side. Maybe both? In 07/08, we managed to keep our back 4 fit for the majority of that season. Back 5, if you include VDS. Hell, we even got a turn out of Hargreaves ffs! Spot on about Keane, Notorious. He’s got strong views on United? Hold the back page! Lol.
@ samuel Why can’t people get the fact that even with an supposedly average team, liverpool always play their skins out against united?.
Because they are our rivals and we want to beat them no matter what even if we play shit and win as we did in 07 at analfield, or play well and win as did in 97. Its not everton, bolton or wolves.
As for Welbeck he was great up with the exception of the one on one type chance he had with Reina until Hernandez came on, his role on the pitch changed then but he refused to adapt to it. His rash shooting and failure to look up which he doesn’t do as often with Rooney was evident. As I said earlier any other team he wouldn’t get criticised heavily by me or many others but when we play the vermin everyone comes under the microscope.
It’s my opinion regarding roy keane so i’m not really bothered if people disagree with it.
Someone mentioned him as a potential assistant candidate and i disagreed by stating my own view, i don’t think i’ve flicked vile abuse him or anything, He was a wonderful player at the club.
But “Was” is the keyword here, his views are no longer relevant to united as Fergie has clearly reaffirmed by hitting back at him. united have bigger Issues to solve than keane’s opinions (which are mostly right regarding evra being at fault for the goal). I’m just not bothered about what he thinks, sue me for that.
slim
i don t understand what you mean,maybe you mean my bad english!! whatever you mean it is not a concern for me
i can t stop thinking of how we will bounce back
On a positive note, Rafa and Park looked great today.
Signing Park to an extension was one of the smartest pieces of business done by United. By retiring from int’l football, Park basically committed himself to giving his final years to United. And he still has quite a lot to offer. He’s a team player and plays out game plans perfectly. Can’t get enough of Ji-Sung Park.
Every time Rafa plays nowadays, I hope for two things: that he doesnt get hurt and that he keeps his cool long enuf to give us the full range of his abilities. He’s not far off from being a top-class RB. Just a few more hurdles and bit more toughening of those bones…
I’m seriously pissed at that result because game wise and sq
fa should ban pool racist(fan ), pool should play in empty stadium for few matches
the way they abuse evra left me in shock
what a rac ist club!
@Saad – disagree about Park. The goal aside, I thought his touch and control was off. Had Nani been fit, I think he’d have played that role and done it better.
Agree about Rafel. He started a bit sloppy but really grew into the game as it wore on. I think he’ll be benched for Tuesday though….Rio will be back, and Smalling will get shifted to RB (need extra height against Stoke).
NRD – I’m pissed off with yet another defeat at the pool and you’re right that the team should be pushing on for victory over there. I think we tried to without really creating enough which in my view, is the most disappointing thing to happen apart from United’s slack defending in the end. A victory would have been sweet but as we pushed on, i was worried they might go up and nick something, which they did. I’m disappointed but i don’t think the performance was that bad, i certainly didn’t think pool out classed united.
Regarding welbeck, yes he has things he can improve on. Like keeping his composure and seeing options around him rather than blazing shots wastefully but i think that will come with experience. He didn’t play badly but he could have done with someone creative behind, he was really growing into the partnership with wayne and i still see it blossoming.
Ifs and buts. fact remains, we’re knocked out. We will have to recover to play against stoke, can’t be having our heads down at this crucial stage of the season.
@ WillieRedNut – Problem is every year on ROM people have such faith that when a someone comes back from injury that will be it. When the past few years have told us, that simply isn’t the case. We will pick up more injuries this season, its inevitable but when you 2 players out for the season, one being your Captain and the other the best centre midfielder over the last 3 years it hurts the squad a lot more. I hope I’m proven wrong but we will be left with a few players short on more than one occasion beyond Feb and that for me will be the difference between winning and losing the league.
De Laet has returned so when he gets fit, he may be an option to play if we continue to lose more defenders. The truth is we haven’t seen our strongest team at all this season and we won’t either.
It seems to me that in some fans eyes Roy Keane can’t say a negative word against United at all these days. What’s he supposed to say, United played well today but we were beaten by two great Liverpool goals. Fact is we gifted them two goals today and whether you’d like to focus the blame on the defenders or the goal keeper there’s no doubt we were badly at fault for both goals. Is he supposed to say that all is rosy in the garden when we’ve been knocked out of the league cup by a championship side, knocked out of the champions league in arguably the weakest group we’ve ever been in, and now we’re out of the FA cup. Keane is paid to give his honest opinion, most of which I’m inclinded to agree with, he’s not paid to look like a biased United fan. And let’s not forget he will have been hurting as much as us all by today’s loss. That twat on ITV said Keane will need to make a large contribution to the swear box after Kuyt’s goal. I think from that it’s safe to assume he had the same reaction that most of us on this site had.
I will always love this club no matter what but I also have to acknowledge that the season is not going according to plan. But what can we do but pick ourselves up and look forward to Tuesday night. We’re still in with a great chance of winning the league and if we do I’ll be over the moon. I have not one shread of doubt that the greatest midfielder I’ve ever seen playing for this club will be over the moon too.
Again not good enough when it actually matters….. sticking the ball in the net.
Gutted about the result!
Rafael and Valencia were amazing, thought scholes was incredible too with some effort all over the pitch! But in general the game was a bit bad… Those injuries are really affecting the team and Chico and berba should have gone earlier
Saad – Great shout for Rafael today. What a display, absolutely everything I want to see from a fullback. He was outstanding.
@ samuel – I’m just in a foul mood because been ill last few days, only have a week left over here, and todays made a bad day horrible. Looking forward to to the chelski northern rent boys supporters club, hopefully by then won’t be coughing up my insides and also hopefully Hernandez and Berbatov start. Need Welbeck fresh for the chelksi game, plus those cunts tackle hard and like to hurt the opposition. Back in England for chelksi and I’ll be in London for it as well. Should be fun!!!
I’m just thankful we get a chace to put it right on the 11th. Gutted we didn’t win today but with our injuries a replay would have been very expensive, particularly with Stoke, Liverpool and Chelsea around the corner. And given the choice of a cup win today or league win on 11th, give me the league game any day!!
whoops…pressed send button too early.
I’m really pissed at that result because game wise and squad-wise Liverpool were there for the taking. By squad wise I mean regardless of injuries we have much better players at our disposal. Firstly, credit where credit is due, and that means bugger all credit to Liverpool for the win. They were outplayed for long periods and looked exactly what they are -an ordinary side put together at extra ordinary expense. Worrying for them, Stevie G look seriously shit today and posed little threat, though at least Dogleash had the wit to take him off.
For our part, Scholes, Valencia and Raphael all had excellent games. Most of the rest of the lads played well too. However, up front we were seriously lacking and too many times again our final ball in was lacking or non existent. The idea of playing Danny upfront as lone striker was a bit bonkers from the off. Danny doesn’t hold up the ball and his all round game isn’t yet suited to the role or responsibility of lone at this stage of his development, but in fairness without service most strikers are sunk. The load striker role is much better suited to Berbatov’s and I am bemused that he didn’t start from the off, or come on much earlier, given the absence of Rooney. At times I felt I was watching Arsenal- loads of possession with little end product. Scholes going off was the turning point for me. Not getting into the De Gea thing as to my mind the real weakness was what we should have done to them not what they ended up doing to us.
If Rafael could stay fit for a while, he’s the best RB in the prem.
The season ends for us on the 13th May and if we don’t have the league title I think its obvious where its going to go.
Good post by byron1970 @ 18.05 – He’s summed up exactly on how we’ve done on 3 cup competitions. We’re fortunate to have a second bite of the cherry in Europe but judging by many on here nobody gives a fuck. I hate banging the same drum but we need certain players fit to grab No. 20. Also don’t expect anyone in the media to give us credit if we do. We’ve won so many league titles the media have a template stored on their hard drive that they simply use and just add the current players into it to make a story.
@Byron1970 – 100% spot on there mate. From what I see whenever he’s on ITV, Keano still cares deeply about Utd and wants us to do well. But if he didn’t give an honest assessment, he’d be doing a disservice to his new job – which is to be a pundit, not a mascot.
My biggest concern this season, more than midfield, has been defensively. The last few years, if teams scored past us, it’d be an achievement. They had to WORK to score.
Not so any more. We gift goals nowadays, teams don’t have to work for it any more. I hate to keep referring back to our CL exit, but its true. The reason we got knocked out is because we conceded 8 goals in 6 games…and 7/8 were down to OUR mistakes (go and look at all the goals again if you disagree).
Same again today – we just gave goals away through basic friggin errors. I can accept if we’re undone by a great move/individual strike. But its so frustrating when we lose games through our own sloppiness.
Just another post agreeing with those who have singled out Rafael and Tony V for praise.
If they can stay fit and keep the form they showed today then it will do us the world of good.
Mr C – Exactly what I said. They were ripe for the taking. We had them chasing shadows 1st half. Let the game get away from us. Fergie admitted as much in his interview. Liverpool were slightly better after the break. Until the goal, there was nothing in it.
I’m not being funny, it’s easy to jump on the bandwagon of de gea or evra, but our squad looks threadbare. I don’t think giggs is the man to solve our problems in tough matches like this, we need energy in midfield at anfield. If we lose pl this season will be our worst for a while. I would want to see fergie blooding some youngsters to have a massive charge on all fronts next year. City will win the league at some point through throwing money from Asia. Get some youngsters in and build for the future! I don’t question SAF I just think for the sake of already gone season build for the future!
Sparkz
I agree we gift goals at times, but for that lack of concentration at the end I thought we defended well! Our goal came from a mistake by thier left back so our lack of craetuvity has as much to answer for as our defence.
@Willie 18.16 – Defo agree with you there. But then again…if my Aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle. And sometimes I fear there’s more chance of that than Rafael being fit consistently!
@MrC – I think Welbeck’s ability to hold the ball up is really good tbh, and the fact that he combines it with pace, work rate & link up play is what gives him the edge in that department over all our other strikers IMO. He was poor today though.
I do agree on the Berba thing though….I think we could’ve bought him on and pushed Welbeck out wide as the first sub. Keep 3 in midfield, yet retain the ball up top a bit better.
I was really surprised to see lindegaard warming up though after liverpool’s first goal!!
Why was hearing up anyways? I felt really bad for de gea though through out the game
Some people are telling me that is career at united is over,
Safe to say I think we thought some of our youngsters, whilst not being regular starters would start to be blooded this season. That really hasn’t happened. It really didn’t happen in the Carling Cup. If we didn’t make such a balls up of qualification could have played some of them in the last 1 or 2 group games of the CL. We may see them vs Ajax, I wouldn’t want to bet on it though.
If we don’t win the league this season I would like to see some of our youngsters get some games. I’ve always maintained that if we don’t buy the players we need we should bring the young’uns through and for me at this current stage we have done neither. Whatever the reason may be.
Lebomanc
He complained about a side strain apparently.
Also I know people have been praising Tony V but I thought he was very quiet 2nd half. Granted he didn’t have a lot to aim for with his crossing but wasn’t nearly as active as in the first. If anything when Hernandez came on most of our creative play went down the left when the best crosser/quickest midfielder on the pitch was clearly on the right.
A positive note from today, nobody got stretchered off and as far as I’m aware ni new injury worries?!
NRD
Don’t think anybody did much second half to be fair.
Cannot really comment on the match as I did not see it, only just saw the goal by Park on this thread. Defeat is easier to handle in a way when you do not witness it. However even my die hard Liverpool supporting nephew text me and said that a draw at least would have been fair.
Anyway, this makes the game on the 11th all the more sweeter.
UNITED
@Notorious
The Fletcher situation will always be a question mark for me. We went into this season knowing what his problem was and yet we didn’t buy anyone for cover. And this is exactly what we did with our full back options. We stripped the team down to the bare bones. As far as Anderson goes, I doubt he ever had surgery. I have a feeling he was given some time off to get his shit together and lose weight. And then he got injured in training 2 weeks ago.
Don’t know mate. It’s just too many issues of a different nature at the moment.I can’t explain it. But I sure as hell know it’s not because of bad luck. Something has gone horribly wrong this season. Whether it’s the medical team, pre season or every injury prone player outdoing themselves this season. If Ferguson ever writes a book, I’ll love to know his actual take on this season. Because he damn well knows we haven’t just been “unlucky” in that department.
@Samuel
Nah, I don’t think the solution is the Glazers bringing on their own team either. But I do like Saad’s idea about an audit. Quite frankly, I am surprised Fergie himself isn’t looking into this. I reiterate. I am not just talking about the medical team. Maybe it’s what happened in pre season. Maybe his faith in certain players was misplaced. All I know is that wishing it away won’t solve this problem anymore.
@ Sparkz: ‘I think Welbeck’s ability to hold the ball up is really good tbh, and the fact that he combines it with pace, work rate & link up play is what gives him the edge in that department over all our other strikers IMO. He was poor today though.’
Sorry Sparkz mate, but Danny’s first touch isn’t that good and no way does he have the edge over all of our strikers. He’s an a run and gun type of striker. What Danny does perhaps bring up front is an all round mix that complements weaknesses in the others, but the top of Danny’s game doesn’t measure up to what the others can do. For example, Chico’s a better finisher but not much of a physical presence, Berbatov holds the ball up better and has greater skill, but Danny runs about more etc etc. This is not to knock Danny but merely to point out the folly of playing him up front as lone striker – he needs a partner. And when the service isn’t there…well there’s not much most strikers can do about that.
I thought we played great to day 9 first team team players out and we controlled the game but some poor defending. I thought it was a two footed lunge on Giggs and he should have gone , but the ref today was never going to send any one off. I hope we can get some young lads in the team but with the tough games cumin up I don’t know. It’s shit getting beat by them but our football is getting back to it’s best.
@MikeKelly – You’re right mate, our defending today was excellent until the last minute. That’s my point though, even when we defend well, we switch off and gift goals. Willie made a point above about us “allowing the game to get away from us” in the second half….not the first time either. The last round vs City..same story. Basle at home – same there as well. We have an issue with compalcency/confidence/concentration at times, at the back more than any area.
@Mr C – Danny’s touch isn’t as good as Berba’s (not many people that are though!)…but as a lone striker, physique and strength is just as important. In this league, maybe even more so.
Additionally, that work rate of keeping defenders on their toes, plus the ability to get in behind defences is why Fergie chose him to lead the line if you ask me (and the fact that he was in form).
It basically comes down to what a manager wants from his lone striker I suppose- a patient, possession based game, or a more physical and hustling approach.
@Sparkz. In fairness to Danny, I don’t think playing a lone striker really works unless you are playing for a draw (parking the bus) or have other players who are able and willing to break through from MF or the wings to take or create chances. But if we are going to play that way – and I don’t think we should -Berbatov’s got a better skill set for it than Danny.
Morning lads. Well, it’s morning over here. As soon as I saw scholes being subbed off, I figured we were in trouble. There were several aspects to it. Scholes had been bossing the midfield, so him coming off was a problem anyway. (I have to assume his tank was empty.) Secondly, our cupboard was bare, so we couldn’t replace Scholes with another MF. It was noticeable how much the dippers changed their game and took the upper hand after the substitution. And finally, even given that we had no choice but to take Scholes off and bring on a striker instead, I would have chosen Berbatov, not Hernandez. Or, I would have taken Welbeck off too and brought on both Hernandez and Berbatov, with Berbatov dropping into the hole behind Hernandez.
I don’t mean any slight on Hernandez. But Danny hadn’t been getting much service all day, and although he and Hernandez are different players in some respects, they are both similar in one respect too, in that they’re most effective when they play high up, right at the back of the opposition defense. It means they need service, and yesterday there was precious little of that. That’s why, when Scholes had to come off and we had no more midfielders left, I would have had Berbatov sitting behind either Welbeck or Hernandez, not Welbeck and Hernandez together.
In any event, it seemed pointless bringing on Berbatov for the last two minutes or less. I certainly did not get that. If you don’t want to use him, then don’t use him.
Apart from being knocked out of the cup by the hated dippers, the result also sucks because it is immediately apparent that the racist cunt Suarez, and all the rest of the horrible racist cunts involved with that stinking bucket of filth of a club, including King Kunt Kenny and their pathetic, neanderthal, bin-dipper Ku Klux Kop “fans”, take this as some sort of sick twisted vindication of their sick and twisted racist behavior. Fucking scum, the lot of them.
It sucks winning so much then winning nothing but get used to it. Life is swings and roundabouts. I just wish the Glazers would fuck off and we got a decent midfield. Jesus how many seasons do we have to keep saying that?
StateSideAussie @ 22:20: “As soon as I saw scholes being subbed off, I figured we were in trouble. There were several aspects to it. Scholes had been bossing the midfield, so him coming off was a problem anyway.”
G’day m8. As long as Scholes and Carrick were playing together, the midfield-whole was greater than the sum of the parts. Oddly, bringing Giggs to play the ScholesRole didn’t work – this is “odd” because usually the Giggs/Carrick combination is more coherent than the Scholes/Carrick partnership. Today it wasn’t.
However, I think that your secondary point is the more significant one – taking off Scholes and bringing on Chicharito (instead of Dimmy) meant that the constipated-solid midfield got a strong dose of Metamucil and things loosened up (sorry for the shitty metaphor). Chicharito is a player who thrives on quick penetrating service and that just wasn’t forthcoming without Nani/Rooney and because too much of UTD’s attack went down the left side so that – as NotoriousRedDevil said @ 18:35 – the most dynamic crosser was marginalized in the second half. (I have to blow-my-own-horn here and say that I had made a not dissimilar comment at half-time when I suggested that UTD tilt-the-field to the right to take advantage of the Rafael/Valencia combination. Alas, SAF didn’t get that message.)
Overall, this was another one of those frustrating “half full/half empty” days. The youngsters – Rafael, BigManSmalling, and DannyTheLad – all did very well; the oldsters – Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes – did what they’ve been doing for a long time but, unfortunately, not as well as they used to do it. Giggs has always been inconsistent and Scholes seems to have little “puff” so he really didn’t run much – I watched him closely and he was usually jogging very slowly and very rarely got himself into the danger area whereas he used to pop up there and score. Their declining ability to impose themselves on the match – except in brief interludes for Giggs or by playing a relatively stationary role in the case of Scholes – is troubling and a cause for concern. On the other hand, SAF was seriously handicapped by not being able to call on YoungTomCleverley, Anderson, Darren Fletcherinho, MrJones, or even TheWayneBoy while he is clearly not confident enough in Paul Pogba to give him playing time.
BUT what can one say about David De Gea ? His shot-stopping is excellent, so, too, is his distribution. However, his command of the area seems to be sub-standard and that must send a shiver of worry through all his defenders. Plus, he could have run through the “pick play” that led to the first goal but he’s too lightweight and he’s just not confident enough to do so. I think that Lindegaard would have done that – or, maybe, if Lindegaard was in goal then LiverPoo wouldn’t have tried that manoevre although Michael Carrick would still have been flat-footed rather than challenging Daniel Agger for the cross.
Overall, then, today’s match was a microcosm of this year’s season. For the glass-half-empty gang too many first-choice players were missing, there was not enough penetration, and the match was lost by naive, school-boy defending from CaptainEvra. For the glass-half-full brigade (like me), the maturity of Rafael, BigManSmalling, Jonny Evans (let’s not forget that he’s still a kid) and DannyTheLad was good to see and holds promise for a rebound.
Being optimistic, I’d like to think that this season is closely following the 2006 script when CaptainKeane-o was summarily dismissed, Ruud was sent packing, UTD had exited the CL before the knock-out stage, the RentBoyz looked imperious, and it seemed that SAF had lost his powers. Being optimistic, I seem to recall that 2006 was the beginning of a glorious run – 4/5 EPL champtionships and 3 CL finals. Being optimistic, I prefer to see UTD’s glass as being half-full and think that this is very much a season of “transition” – if TheLads can win anything this year it will be a huge achievement. If TheLads don’t start another cycle of domination next year it will be a huge disappointment.
Say it isn’t so:
“United could make a sensational move for German midfielder Michael Ballack, 35. (CaughtOffside.com)”
Denton … good comments mate. I think it was Slim who said we need to remember this is a squad in transition, so I am not too down about it. (Yep, let’s hope the Ballack rumor is a hoax.) I especially agree with your last statements. I won’t be distraught if we have to settle for 2nd place this year — I always thought that was on the cards, though I confess my hopes rose dramatically early in the season when we were playing so well. The catch this year is not us coming second (since realistically, we can’t expect to win every year; after all, this is the PL, not La Liga), but that Shitty might win it. Still, we’ve been through this shit before with the rent boys and the arse and always won out in the end.
As for DDG and the dippers’ first goal, I think the match commentator had it right (for a change) when he said DDG’s better option would have been to stand back on the line, once he saw they were blocking him off. That was obviously a deliberate ploy, by the way, and bloody close to obstruction. I can’t help thinking they wouldn’t have gotten away with it if Rio or Vida had been there to police them. But I also think we need to remember that both new keepers have been playing behind makeshift and changing defenses all season, and haven’t had chance to settle. I know others will say they shouldn’t need to settle, but I won’t buy into that.
Both keepers are good long-term prospects. I think DDG will learn to impose himself. I am not of the school that says he is physically too frail to ever be imposing. He has the height, and what he lacks in brawn, he can make up with technique, attitude and experience. But in the short term, I do think AL might be a better option.
And yes, the fact that even in the midst of this injury crisis, SAF does not see fit to give Pogba or Morrison a go, is highly instructive. We all know SAF has never been shy about giving youngsters a chance. Indeed, even in the current make-up, there are plenty of youngsters who stand as evidence of that. If Pogba and Morrison aren’t getting a go, there’s a bloody good reason for it.
StateSideAussie @ 2:12: for sure, the “obstruction” was planned -in basketball and US football it’s called a “pick play”. Still, Michael Carrick WAS flat-footed. One other thing, can Carrick step up when he plays alongside Scholes – I remain unconvinced. And, today, Carrick’s cross-field passing wasn’t very good, either.
I am in complete agreement with you about Pogbs/Morrison and the “transition” but I’m enough of an optimist to think that the EPL title is still a possibility -what happens between now and mid-March will be crucial. In the meanwhile it would be good to get the walking wounded back to give ManShitty a proper fight.
The difference from 2006 to the present day, is Fergie hasn’t got that long left to wield his magic. Three years and his done. The next guy will want to try and stamp his own authority on the team. Tough task that will be. I certainly don’t envy whoever it is.
@Willie – I’m not sure about that tbh. The fact that Fergie is developing a team with young players, even though he won’t be around to see their peak….tells me that the next manager has been identified. And it’ll be someone who will continue what Fergie’s started, someone who’ll change very little.
Think about it….why introduce 18, 19, 20 year olds if the next manager is gonna come in 3 years and wanna get rid of them. Is that not a bit of a waste?
Sparkz @ 16:14: “The fact that Fergie is developing a team with young players, even though he won’t be around to see their peak….tells me that the next manager has been identified. And it’ll be someone who will continue what Fergie’s started, someone who’ll change very little.”
I am more in agreement with this line-of-thought than Willie’s sense that SAF is rushing towards the exit.
It seems to me that two factors are at work: first, SAF doesn’t want to repeat the schlamozzle of the post-Busby years when the successor inherited a team past its peak with no clear future team ready to go; and, second, the longer SAF stays the less likely that someone like Jose will take over and the more likely that someone like OGS has already been designated. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t OGS win the Norwegian league with a team of youngsters ?
Of course, the team-building is a matter of fits-and-starts – some of the guys are progressing nicely [MrJones, DannyTheLad, BigManSmalling, YoungTomCleverley, Rafael and (if he can ever get fit and stay fit) Fabio BUT, of course, some others (Pogba/Morrison and, perhaps, David De Gea) haven’t been as predicted and/or advertised. Then there’s the group that will be the “veteran core” of the post-Fergy team – TheWayneBoy, Nani, Valencia, Jonny Evans, Anderson, DarrenFletcherinho, and Chicharito – most of whom have already proven to be solid starters but whose health/fitness is always likely to be unpredictable. Add to this group, some of the guys who are still “infants” like Ryan Tunnicliffe, Will/Michael Keane, Davide Petrucci, Larnell Cole, Jesse Lingard (and so on) and it seems that SAF has been working diligently on providing for continuity and not change when he departs.
Overall, the group of guys in the previous paragraph – and probably two or three more who will be signed in the next few years – and it seems to me like the foundation of TheNextUnited is already in place. But, of course, I’m a glass-half-full kinda guy.
Sparkz – I said the new man will want to stamp his own authority on the team. That doesn’t mean he’ll get shot of a load of players. I see Fergie gone in 3, maybe 4 years time. He’ll leave the next guy a top quality squad. No doubt about that. I don’t know what your point is there denton? Rushing towards what? His time is coming to a close. That’s life unfortunately. Ole isn’t confirmed either. So no point making assumptions yet. It could yet be the self proclaimed special one. Whoever it is, the club will be in fine fetal. My theory on when the boss is ready to go, the Glazers could be ready to sell United. Just a theory. No evidence that will be the case….
http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/sunday-exclusive/blog/2012-01-29/balague-its-very-clear-mourinho-would-manage-manchester-united?
Wouldn’t be my choice, but he’s one who’d relish taking over from the great man.
My theory is that SAF wants to build the squad from youngsters for a whole bunch of reasons.
First, he enjoys the challenge of working with youngsters, loves their energy and daring, takes enormous satisfaction from seeing them develop as footballers and as people, and knows he will never get another opportunity to do this.
Second, I also suspect that SAF does honestly and deeply object to the transfer fees that are being demanded currently, even for ordinary players.
Third, I think he and the club both have one eye on the FFP rules.
But beyond that, I think SAF and the club are also being very clever in how they prepare for his own departure, and his succession by a new manager. To understand this, we have to look at what might happen when the next manager comes in, from the point of view of both the club and the new manager.
The new manager must have the right (and the ability) to change the squad. No one needs a lame-duck manager. For the club, that raises a bunch of concerns:
They will want to eliminate or minimize any compelling reasons for the new manager to go into the market. I am talking about reasons such as inheriting a squad that is on its last legs. That would force the new manager to rebuild extensively, and almost certainly through the transfer market since it is faster to buy established talent than build it from scratch. Having one or two older players (Giggs and Scholes, for example) is fine, because replacing two players does not represent a major overhaul. But if the squad has 5, 6 or 7 key players on the wrong side of 30, that would be a big issue. And it’s not just a case of needing a lot of money to replace that many key players. It’s also a case of needing to trust the next manager’s judgment in the transfer market. Even with an experienced, that is always risky.
The club could attempt to avoid this by re-stocking the squad (through the market) before the new manager comes in. That would allow them to use SAF’s experience and nous to do the buying, but it still requires a lot of money, plus it creates an awkward situation for the new manager and the club. The club won’t want to spend a fortune now, only to have someone else come in, sell a bunch of those guys in a fire-sale and then ask for another big transfer kitty. That would be disastrous. On the other hand, like I said, we don’t need a lame-duck manager, so it would be no good to tell the new guy, “Look, we’ve bought all these guys in, now stick with them.”
Given all those concerns, the policy of developing a new, youthful squad internally has enormous merit. Yet, it is slow and painful and frustrating. But it does mean the next manager will be handed a squad that is comprised of players that are already “certified United quality” by the current manager (the greatest of them all). And they will still have plenty of time in front of them, and we won’t have emptied the bank account in the market. If the new manager doesn’t like the look of the squad, he can sell some of them off of course, but generally speaking, players we have developed can be sold for a profit.
This approach represents the least risk for the club in terms of football and finance. It ensures that the new manager will inherit a squad that is in good shape, but it does not paint him into a corner. To me, it makes all the sense in the world.
Morning lads. Still sick about the result but proud of the boys, given the team that stated the match I thought that they did themselves a lot of credit and deserved a draw but that’s football, it has a way of coming back and kicking you in the bollocks every time!
I don’t get why people are slagging off Welbeck when he runs his arse off for the team and was always an outlet for the midfield/defence. Nobody should get any blame apart from maybe Evra who was out of position for the second goal (lets be honest, he’s not been playing well for about 18 months now but there recent signs of him getting back to his best) and De Gea who, like it or not, is definitely suspect on crosses – I’m beginning to wonder whether it would have been a better idea to have bought him and let Athletico keep him for a couple more years or loan him to a Premiership club where he could find his feet before facing the pressure of playing for United. I do think he is going to be a fantastic keeper for us but it must be a massive culture shock for him with the different styles between England and Spain.
I did think that tactically Fergie got it wrong because with Suarez out Carroll was always going to start so the scousers would be throwing in cross after cross which De Gea is definitely dodgy on, he should be clearing out everybody in his way when going for the ball but doesn’t seem physically capable of doing that at the moment.
As for the Keane criticism who is say whether it was constructive or not? We all have our own values and will see things differently, personally I don’t think he said anything wrong and I welcome people being honest about their views, Gary Nev recently said that the injuries were no excuse for our recent run of indifferent form because that’s why we have a big squad but nobody slagged him for being critical of the team. The truth sometimes hurts but we should be big enough to admit that there are some issues with the squad at the moment but that’s one of the reasons why we are a team in transition, Fergie is changing a few things so its going to be a bit up and down for a while yet IMO but come match day whoever is on that pitch will get my support 100%.