Ahead of derby day on Saturday, Jack Pitt-Brooke from the brilliant Manchester City blog, The Lonesome Death of Roy Carroll, has taken time to have a chat with RoM again about their chances of finishing fourth, United’s best player and predictions for the game.
Scott the Red: Last time we spoke, you said Gareth Barry had been your best summer buy. Has your opinion on this changed at all?
Jack Pitt-Brooke: Yes I’m afraid it has. Gareth Barry’s had a decent season, but our best buy of the summer 2009 arrivals is certainly United fans’ favourite Carlos Tévez. He had a slow start to his career at City with just four goals in his first fifteen games but since 2 December he has scored 24 in 22 appearances, which is astonishingly good. I’m not going to say he is as good as Wayne Rooney but he has the same effect on the team, dragging them along with him and injecting energy and goals into occasionally lifeless performances.
.
STR: Talking of Rooney and Tevez, they have both just been named in the PFA’s shortlist for Player of the Year. Who do you think deserves it?
J P-B: Wayne Rooney. He’s just been brilliant this year, and not many City fans would have a bad word to say about him. He’s completely cut out those little moments of violence and petulance on the pitch and has supplanted Fernando Torres as the neutrals’ favourite striker in the league I think.
STR: For Tevez to be included in the top four players in the league this season is certainly something for City fans to be proud of though. But what about his interview this week where he claimed that Rooney was better than anyone he’s played with at City, that he didn’t think Hughes should have been sacked, that he didn’t like Mancini’s training methods and that he wishes the club had never put up that poster so many City fans are proud of. What’s that all about?
J P-B: This is a strange one. It’s not particularly surprising that Tévez doesn’t like extra training, or that he was embarrassed by the poster, or that he didn’t want Mark Hughes to be sacked. I agree with him on the poster and the sacking. But it is surprising that he would say this all in public a few days before our biggest game of the season, even more so given club officials tried to gag him this week, presumably in the fear he’d say some inflammatory stuff about United. What it shows is something that City and United fans know very well – that Tévez lives in his own world and opens his mouth without thinking things through first.
STR: I personally think he’s just really, really thick, which I suppose isn’t a rarity where footballers are concerned! Still, he seems to be helping you along to that fourth spot in the league. Do you think you’ll be playing Champions League football next season?
J P-B: We are still the bookies’ favourites and you have got to recognise that we’re the most likely to get it, even after Spurs’ beating Arsenal the other night. But this is City and in those rare seasons when we have anything to play for in ‘squeaky bum time’ we tend to piss it away. So I’m irrationally cautious, trying to convince myself (ludicrously) that we’re underdogs and that it would be a huge surprise if we made it. This is what being a City fan does to you.
STR: And what impact would it have on the club if you finished fourth?
J P-B: It would be huge. Since the takeover we’ve gone after world class players – John Terry, Samuel Eto’o and Kaká most publicly, as well as others on the quiet, and they’ve all decided that all the money in the world doesn’t make up for joining a mid-table club. But if we get Champions League football then we can offer both exorbitant wages and Champions League football, which should help us attract the best. As it happens, I’m not that keen on Terry and Eto’o type signings, but we will certainly be able to buy better. It would also do an awful lot to foster harmony in our squad and unite them under the boss, which would only be a good thing.
STR: I tend to think the big money signings have a disruptive effect. Just think, Chelsea were in the top four before their money, but they only got two years of Premiership success before it all imploded and it has taken them four years to look like favourites again! Regardless, presuming the big spending continues, which areas do you think City need to strengthen?
J P-B: There’s a few areas. We could do with better full-backs – we’ve got three specialist left-backs, two specialist right backs plus a handful of others who can fill in, but none of them are really Champions League quality. So an upgrade would be nice but we don’t need bodies for their own sake there. Another centre-back to compete with Kompany and Lescott – but Jerome Boateng’s coming in July and he’s meant to be solid. I’d like a box to box midfielder but players like Michael Essien don’t grow on trees, and I’d love for Stephen Ireland to recover his form of last season and Michael Johnson to get fit. And up front I did want a new partner for Tévez until recently but Adebayor’s in great form at the moment so he could well keep his spot next year.
STR: I’m glad you mentioned Ireland. He’s a player who is regularly linked with a move to United. Do you think he would come to us and do you think he’s good enough for United?
J P-B: This is something that keeps me awake at night. It’s no secret that Stephen Ireland was a boyhood United fan, due to the Cork/Cobh Ramblers connection with Roy Keane, nor that Sir Alex is a fan, nor that he has had a fairly disastrous season. From the outside I think he would improve United – he’s a much more credible long-term replacement for Paul Scholes than Anderson is. He’s got the talent and the commitment, though when it comes to maturity and discipline he’s not as good as James Milner who is also meant to be a target. Fortunately, as a blue, I just can’t see us accepting a bid from Old Trafford for him. If Spurs, Villa or Arsenal came in with £12million I think we might think about it. But not United. Unless, of course, Ireland tried to force it. Which would be a real shame as I love him like a brother.
STR: I rate Ireland, I just find the ridiculous cars, granny lies, underpant showing and wig-wearing behaviour totally bizarre. Although I do like his club over country attitude and if he’s good enough, it would be nice to see a player who City fans love like a brother running around in a United shirt… Anyway, if you could take one player from our squad, other than the obvious Rooney, who would it be?
J P-B: Patrice Evra. His bravery, his pace, his relentless shuttling up and down the flank are all exceptionally good. He’s probably the best in the world but choosing between him and Ashley Cole is very marginal. They’re both much better than Wayne Bridge.
STR: Coming to the end now, a win against United would almost certainly mean you had that coveted fourth spot this season. What are you predictions?
J P-B: As I said above, being a City fan means you have to expect the worst when it matters most. But I do think we’ve got a chance. We’re probably in better form than United and while I’m terrified of Wayne Rooney I don’t worry about too much else. I’m confident that we can score against your defence, particularly with Rio Ferdinand a doubt. So I’m predicting a satisfying score draw.
STR: And if you are to get a draw or win, and you are to get your fourth spot, is Roberto Mancini the man to take the club forward even further? Just checking out Wikipedia quickly, he’s lost almost a quarter of the games he’s been in charge for at City.
J P-B: I don’t know. The thing about Mancini is that he has been brought in to perform essentially the job of an international manager – simply motivating and organising a set of players that are in no real sense ‘his.’ He’s done this pretty well but it tells us nothing of his ability to build and mould a team, to buy and sell at the right time – the skills that make Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger so brilliant. I’d love him to stay, spend the Sheikh’s money and take the team forward over the next three years – I’m sick to the teeth of changing managers every 18 months – but I just don’t know if he will.
STR: And the scarf?
J P-B: I do like the scarf – I’ve got my own and will wear it on Saturday. I’d much rather a Manchester City scarf than a Norwich City one.
STR: With City fans welcoming “a human rights abuser of the worst kind” with open arms as your owner, I don’t expect you to understand our battle against the Glazers! Cheers mate, roll on Saturday.
————-
RoM’s derby day preview
Alternative Carlos Tevez posters
Man Utd News 24/7
No reply to the human rights abuser comment? would have loved to hear that one!
‘lost almost a quarter’….is that one of the most pathetic questions ever asked?
When you break that down that is such a ridiculously small percent.
Great read, the guy has a good sense of humour, and whilst this game has so much riding on it, there is a time to step back and realise we are in a much better situation that those bastards!!
“With City fans welcoming “a human rights abuser of the worst kind” with open arms as your owner, I don’t expect you to understand our battle against the Glazers! Cheers mate, roll on Saturday.”
Brilliant quote that Scott.
VIEW FROM THE ENEMY. always one of my favourite post ahead of big games. now, this game tomorrow is huge indeed. the past 2-3 weeks has been very painful. fuck the title thus year, i just want a results & performance to shout about. this is what being a UNITED fans is all about.
Come On United! Stuff the bitter…..again!
Norwich City Scarves?
34 years!
“STR: With City fans welcoming “a human rights abuser of the worst kind” with open arms as your owner, I don’t expect you to understand our battle against the Glazers! Cheers mate, roll on Saturday.”
Hahaha! Excellent, Scott! You’re not afraid to tell it like it is. I like that.
Once Saturday comes like no doubt a lot of us , I act as if we are going into Battle . I have many Citeh mates but i become delinquant . I do not care what others think the affiliation to my club blinds me to the often funny and banter ridden comments from both sets of supporters . We need this win or i fear the trauma of a loss will haunt us next season . And yes id take S Ireland status Q restored .
You had to have the final word didn’t you Scott?
Looks like they will probably finish 4th. Of course that doesn’t mean that they will qualify for the Ch.League. Given their European record, they will face tough opposition in the equalifying stages.
Evra>Cole>Bridge
from a bitter
Massive game this weekend… need a result before our heads drop between our knees. Good interview with the Bluenose, and he’s bang on with Evra – what a player.
Great Chat STR! And an excellent way to bring a bit of sanity to this site where it sometimes goes a bit OTT with this” yah boo our teams better than yours” thing. I just love their self effacing sense of humour i must admit, but thats what results from having won SFA for all those years!
Human rights abuser though? i thought it was for having scumbag drug dealers ‘eliminated’. Seemed like a proper chap to me!
Tomorrows result? I’ve had a fiver on the Bitters to batter us 4-1 at 50-1.
yes they are Norwich City Scarves and theyre fucking pointless
Scott doesn’t like big money buys buy he likes Berbatov – interesting bias there haha.
Chelsea haven’t had much trouble where the transfer market is concerned – if anything the team has been a bit unbalanced – but it’s not because of the size of the transfers.
Essien, Cole, Carvalho, Cech, Bowsinga, Drogba, Anelka, Malouda etc. – all solid buys, and all arguably amongst the best in their positions when fit.
The only poor transfer that Chelsea’s made recently in my mind is Shevchenko – but Utd probably has more questionable ones in the last few years and as such has far less depth to show for it.
i really hope man utd win that match, it will really write our name back on the league
wat is manchester united still doing with “THE UNDERTAKER”, i mean berbatov?. i want his name to be on the market list at the end of this season. wat abt the chicarito guy?
Joseph – I thought the implication was obvious. Buying one big money buy in a summer is neither here no there, buying loads of them, like Chelsea and City, is disruptive.
But of course, it’s too much to ask that our fans can talk about United without talking about Berbatov. Like I said, obsessed.
middyred – You never cease to amaze me. Betting AGAINST United now. What the fuck?
Scott, see attached, http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/37005/Nani_calls_for_Veloso_capture_.aspx nice to see them providing a link, shame they can’t spell it right!!
Joseph – How about Sidwell, Mutu, Farrera etc?
The “Honorary Life President” of Manchester City, from Wikipedia: “the Shinawatra government also faced allegations of corruption, authoritarianism, treason, conflicts of interest, acting non-diplomatically, and muzzling of the press. Thaksin was accused of tax evasion, lèse majesté and selling national assets to international investors. Independent bodies, including Amnesty International, criticized Thaksin’s human rights record.”
Garry Cock on Shinawatra: “he’s a great guy to play golf with!”
@Joseph – Khalid Boulahrouz , Claudio Pizzaro, etc
@Joseph
You mention Essien, Cole, Carvalho, Cech, Bowsinga, Drogba, Anelka, Malouda
Fletcher = Essien
Evra > Cole
Vidic > Carvalho
Van der Sar > Cech
Rooney > Drogba
Berbatov > Anelka (People will question this, but before you do, go check Anelka’s record this season)
Ronaldo > Malouda
I’n not going to go to Bowsinga, because I don’t rate him, but just to put things even, we got Fabio and Rafael
@King Eric
I said in recent years. Mutu was one of the first players to be signed, and is a good player – just has had some mental issues unfortunately.
Sidwell was a free transfer.
Ferreira was solid for them for most of his time there – but no shame in being usurped by Boswinga or Ivanovic at age 30.
All clubs have their issues with transfers though – just ask Liverpool this season. But overall Chelsea have brought in quality – even if on the older side now. Experience usually denotes a higher price tag but I’d be more inclined to spend large sums on young players (like Utd) as opposed to pre-packaged talent.
I guess if Chelsea wanted to buy success they didn’t do a horrible job of it though – too bad they weren’t patient enough to keep 1 coach around for any length of time to bring it together consistently though. Good for us I guess – until this season it seems anyway.
TBF a lot of shit has come and gone through Stamford Bridge in the Abramovich era: as well as the players already mentioned, you could add Smertin, Maniche, Parker, Pizarro, Kezman, Jarosik, Glen Johnson, Boulharouz, Del Horno and that’s just off the top of my head.
stretfordender
is that interview posted somewhere??
Belletti, Hilario, Ben Sahar, Ben Haim…
@Fred
I want to add 1!
Mikel!
Bridge, Geremi, Tiago, Nuno Morais, SWP…
Avram Grant, Big Phil Scolari…
@Fred.LOL.hahahahaahahah. You forgot to mention……. their fans.
Mutu the Coke head ha ha.
Big fat Danny Kelly thinks Rooney could go to Madrid, apparently Rooneys learning Spanish too.
Chelsea have bought good players over the years. But apart from Mourinho no other manager has gotten the best of them. The only exception being Malouda this season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBcP75gUwtg
Massive
very fair lad.
GHTT.
Big loves to Emily, bless her xxx
They’ve got 54 players that are no bloody good!
Costas – well chelsea have never bought players who are globbal names. I said on another post since 2005 have united really bought a big player that has truly improved united I dont think united have, there has been a lack of cash available at times that united with all the success between 2006 to 2009 united have never really benifited from the fruits of the success, that the glazers have used the money made to pay off their interest payments. But apart from VDS vidic evra united have united bought players who have truly improved united I do not think there has been
The cloud of dust which has blanketed Europe closing most airports, has been tracked back to Anfield…….
Apparently, the cleaner gave the trophy cabinet a wipe!
Knightsmith – Not to burst your bubble mate but that joke was said on here yesterday but about Citeh. Don’t think picking the scousers is a good choice. Their cabinet ain’t too shabby and lets not forget the cunts KEEP the European Cup.
I do enjoy the VFTE segments, good work Scott!
King Eric – the scousers have had to pay for alot of dusters because it is has empty has my stomach. Or put another fsayig liverpools trophy cabinet is has empty has a super model on a super diet and all you can hear is rumbles of moaning scousers of we need trophys.
sweet cantona
hayley mcqueen is so frickin hot
@Rooney the new king
nice user name says Denis Law the king of the football league
bischoff hates internet fans russo loves internet fans hogan sued russo cause of his stupid writing for internet fans
Haley Mcqueen can clean my house any time she wants.
off topic, don’t know if this has been mentioned already
“When asked which player Nani would like to see at Manchester United, the winger told therepublikofmancunia.com : “It would be nice if Ferguson brought one friend from Sporting Lisbon.”
“That would be fantastic for me. Maybe Miguel Veloso.”
“He would be good.”"
This was on Sport.co.uk
Great scoop Scot!
Anyone watching the inter juventus game. Sucgha crappy game and the ref is booking players for fun. If inter play like this barca will roll them over but with Jose there you never know
@Anon, it was mentioned on the Nani interview that was posted on RoM but that article was for some reason deleted. But you can still catch it on the RSS feed.
whaaaaaat? I missed the whole interview?! When was this?!
hesselbom can you read it on the “RSS feed”?
Fantastic read thanks Scott,I noticed you never touched on any of our financial problems and this lad Jack Pitt – Brooke(Bull) take on our woes, and what they wish to happen to us, probably not printable.
Sounds a really balanced lad, were do you find these oppostion supporters like this! lol.
I will bet privately Scott gave him a smack in the Puss after the interview.
Tosic scored a brace tonight.
Yes. I shared it here: http://www.google.com/reader/shared/viktor.hesselbom but if I’m not supposed to I can remove it.
@Costas
yep.. my name does say obertanthenewstar.. but tosic is looking good!! watched the whole game and his movement and skill/pace on the ball was very good.. two good goals.. also had a screamer of a shot in the second half.. denied by a super save.. good little player.. plays like messi if u ask me
hopefully sir alex gives him a chance because he hasnt so far.. hope we dont sell him without giving him a chance to play in the first team…
let me know what you think costas and others…
@obertanthenewstar
Absolutely. That’s why he went on loan. To get a few matches under his belt. The fact that he is doing well will help boost his confidence. Tosic will probably get a crack at the first team next season. Lets see how he does. Richardson did well when he was on loan at West Brom, but he still couldn’t impress with us. So it won’t be easy for Tosic. But I think that Fergie has an eye on him now.
costa
seen that its excellent to see
right im off to pack an overnight bag heading the airport soon
going to a wasteland to inhale soom bitter air
COME ON UNITED
talk to you people sunday
tomorrow will be an excellent day
AIG – I used to love Italian football back in the day, sad to see it in decline.
@willie
The italian sides were excellent in the 90s and early 2000s but since then it has all gone pear shaped. Juve have been the real surprise this season. i was tipping them for the CL and they wont even make it to the CL next year. They are utter rubbish
Anyone saw Maicons goal. Classy one for a right back??
Didn’t see the goal mate, there’s rumours Maicons going to Chelsea in the summer.
@willie
here it is in case you may want to see it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC1BE45tY7U&feature=youtube_gdata
i read that rumour too. It also says that Ivanovic will move to AC Milan in a 15 million pound move. maion and dani alves are the best 2 right backs in the world so it will benefit chelsea. Infact Maicon is the first choice for Brazil with Alves behind him in the pecking order. They are spoilt for choices there
AIG – Cheers mate, cracking goal from Maicon.
Welcome willie
hope for a good double result today.
Off to sleep.good night and cia tomorrow
Hoping we thrash shitty tomorrow!
Costas – there is no possible way they can sell tosic now. I like valencia and nani but tosic does seem to have the possible potiental to be uniteds most productive winger, he could even start being more of a goal threat than any of our current midfielders
tosic brace
http://www.footytube.com/video/1-koln-vfl-bochum-apr16-39804
@RTNK
I hope so. The truth is that we could do with some more goals from our wingers next year. I like how we have more assists from them this season, but as Nani told Scott, Rooney can’t do it all on his own. Tosic is also good at free kick isn’t he? Our wingers status is very good going into next season. The spine of the team could use some new blood.
About your comment earlier. It’s hard to buy top class players and see then play even better for us. I think that’s why Fergie prefers younsters or senior players that are hungry for trophies(Carrick is a good example). I don’t have a list, but most of the time, these players improve with us. But the likes of Veron and Barthez couldn’t go any higher could they?
Thanks sprite.
My team for tomorrow. Lets finish the season in style…
———— VDS ————–
-Rafael–Evans–Vidic–Evra—
-Valencia-Carrick-Fletch–Nani-
——–Obertan—————-
——-Rooney or Macheda———-
Costas – well if you followed some of my posts over the past week. I have said uniteds spine will be in the process of being rebuilt, has I can see the VDS ferdinand vidic patnership coming to an end in the next 2 to 3 years has a new GK will be needed, smallen carthcart evans may start to break through and the likes of the de silva twins de laat break through.
- uniteds midfield is in another process have being rebuilt has fresh blood is needed has scholes winds down in his last season at OT next season, hargreaves I have doubts over, carrick I think has not long left at united has the cycle ends, anderson and gibson I am not sure of, so the CM will need fresh faces.
and upfront there are numbers but united lack of strength in depth in terms of tactics and effectiveness and impact improving united if you take rooney out of the team. because macheda is not ready and needs a year on loan to show every week he is ready, welbeck has had a big injury, berbatov seems to ineffective without rooney, diouf is another who is not ready and needs a year on loan and hernandes has never played a game in the premiership.
so big decisions need to be made on uniteds entire spine of the team from GK CB CM CF
has for bartez he was a crazy GK, he was willing to jump off bridges and united suffered insanly, 2001/2002 I still have no clue what was going through his head half the time he slit his throat and wrists 10 times a game completly nuts he was. has for veron I blame a ageing roy keane who always held veron back.
Hey guys, was at the Rheinenergie stadium today. [my first live football game in a stadium
]…loved the way Tosic played. He found himself in space, had good first touches, dribbling and not to mention the goals. He takes good corners and is apparently a free kick specialist too. This was his second brace in 4 games. He clearly seems to be enjoying his time there.
However, I have my doubts as to whether he will ever make the United first team. He seems to be, [I would love to stand corrected on this] physically inept for EPL. The defending is shameful in Bundesliga and there is no pressing or closing down as much as it is followed in EPL. His final delivery from crosses leaves a lot to be desired. And most importantly, will he be content on the bench at United when he is slowly finding his feet and being hailed as a savior for Koln FC?
Anyway, I will be watching him again against Freiburg…hope he allays my apprenhensions…will anyday, be a welcome addition as a squad player.
Hopefully, we bury the bitters tomo and the spurs do us a big big favour
We will never DIE
@RTNK
I don’t know exactly what Fergie has in mind for this summer, but we might have already made 2 of the 4 signings you mentioned. The CB(Smalling) and the CF(Hernandez). We will see. It’s hard to predict how we will move in the transfer market nowdays.
The Barthez-Brown duo early in the 01-02 must have been a great comedy duo for opposition fans. Don’t know what they hell was going on that season. Barthez did in fact make amends next season with some good displays(at Fulham and Liverpool in particular). As for Veron, he and Keane just couldn’t play together. His best spells at United were when he was partnered with Phil Neville or Butt. Nothing more we could have done about that. That’s life. It was a mistake to sell him just after Becks left though.
Costas – I still think united need to sign a proper striker because of the rest of our strikers apart from rooney I do not trust, but the CM needs a major shake up big time well a world class one or sign a midfield destroyer just to give the midfield more energy and legs if united play a 2 man midfield, And I have no idea why united are lnked with milner when they have enough in his position it makes no sence signing milner.
has for veron keane should have been booted out the door not veron
@ arijc on the money mate. explain to me did you see my team selection I sent to SAF.
Nite Lads , Now boys girls you know we can do this.
what the fuck do you say, YES WE CAN
Believe!!!
@RTNK
My gut feeling is that Fergie will want to evaluate how much Anderson, Hargreaves and Gibson have to offer before he goes into the market for a CM. That’s why it’s not easy to say right now. We will see. Today it didn’t sound like any major signing would be on the way to OT.
Lol, Keano was never going to leave before Veron though was he? I’ve heard fans say in the past that Keane stayed at United a season or two too long. Fair enough his body wasn’t in the same condition it was in 2000, but his leadership was needed in those hard years. For example, I can’t imagine United winning 4-2 at Highbury with Veron instead of Keane. Not against that Arsenal team.
I am off too. Night everyone/.
Sweet dreams, Costas.
People mentioned a lot of Chelsea players – not all of them flops.
But even of those that were – how many of them were big money signings?
Many of the names mentioned were either free transfers or not big ticket players.
And I saw Mikel mentioned – and while the mental side has always been his problem, he’s been better recently – and was good enough to marshal our midfield at Old Trafford.
All of the big clubs have made mistakes over the last few years – Chelsea is no worse than Utd, Arsenal or Liverpool in this regard.
Joseph – Firstly, you have to consider Chelsea’s wage bill when looking at things like this. Michael Ballack and Andrei Shevchenko, for example, signed £120k a week deals.
But I would definitely argue that Chelsea have been the worst in the transfer market, maybe fighting it out with Liverpool.
They bought Khalid Boulahrouz for the same price we bought Nemanja Vidic. Shevchenko cost £30m and in two seasons scored a total of NINE league goals! Adrian Mutu cost £16m and played 27 games (scored 6 goals). Shaun Wright Phillips for £21m, Zhirkov for £18m (not that he’s been terrible, but he’s not a £18m player) Paulo Ferreira for £13m+, Tiago, Deco and Del Horno for £8m. The list goes on and on. They’re just the ones I can think of pissed lol.
A huge amount of comments for this great post and rightly so.
I just wanted to say, that I absolutely love Your view from the enemy articles. I wish You’d do them on a more regular basis, even against the so called lesser teams.
What I like most about them, that the people who run those blogs, are normally very knowledgeable and objective, and its always nice to see an enemy perspective
Keep up the good work, cheers from Latvia.
Roll on Shitty.
My god the boy Tosic plays like Messi from the right wing….. The goals I have seen from him in the past month or two clearly indicate that to make up for lack of physicality, we must play him forward right and tell him to come in like Messi…… The boy can also play CF and would blend perfectly in a 4-3-3……
Scott, have you put up the entire Nani interview yet?
If Joseph want to insist Chelsea has been perfect in their transfers whilst putting down the records of Sir Alex, let him be. Just 1 question though, how the hell did we win back the title, and keep it for 3 years, if our transfer dealings is as shit as Joseph makes out?
About Tosic, I really hope he be given a chance, yes he might be small in built, but he offers something we don’t have at the moment, a good left foot
The ref for todays game has changed. It will be Martin Atkinson and not steve benett
remember Atkinson???. 6 minutes of stoppage time at OT
aig
You just put a BIG smile on my face
Come on rooney end this shit month for us…
Off to work now, fucking gutting stuff having to miss the derby. Come on United is all I have to say, don’t make my day at work any worse!!
Morning everyone. I didn’t remember that Atkinson was the referee in the 4-3 win. I hope he doesn’t pull any crap out of some weird sense that City were hard done by at OT. We’ve been punished enough by refs as it is.
@MIG
i hope the ref isnt biased mate. A lot has changed since the 4-3 win over city and many clear cut decisions have gone against us. The refs in such games are swayed by crowds too easily. Hope that isnt the case today
Just wondering if SAF may go with a 4-4-2 here.I think it will work to be honest. it will give berbatov his favourite role of playing just behind rooney. further apart from fletch none of our midfielders are in top form so possibly the less of them we play the better it will be. We have to go for it so we must be more positive today with the team. give rooney and berbatov a start for a change in a big game and lets see how they can do.berbatov will get more space to try and find his through balls because city do open the game up with their 4 attacking players..
Why is that blog called “The lonesome death of Roy Carroll”? I guess it has something to do with the keeper who played for us from 2001-2005, but is it a bad attempt to wind up utd supporters or what?
Nice read scott… And the interview as well.
@AIG
I was thinking about that recently too. We won with 4-4-2 at the Wastelands last season dominating the game until Ronaldo got sent off. Rooney and Berba could start, with Carrick and Fletch in the center, Park on the left and Nani on the right. It’s been a while since we’ve started with 4-4-2 in a big game.
Another double from zoran tosic! Fergie fergie sign him up
lol
@Costas
I hope that happens. i though because of last years result too. i think we played well even after ronnie was sent off. The key in that game was we kept the ball really well and dominated for long periods. Ronaldo was totally anonymous in that game. Both their wingers are dangerous so i dont know which wing park should play. However with bellamys pace whoever plays on the right with rafa/neville will have a lot of defending to do. Attacking wise it should be valencia and nani to start. Possibly play park in midfield. dont think he would do any worse than carrick for sure
@AIG
Well, Park wouldn’t run or mark less than Carrick that’s for sure, but one of the main reasons why we played with such composure in that game was Carrick. It’s something that Park can’t offer as a CM. The question I guess is if Carrick can recreate that today or if the dip in his form continues. Selecting him(especially for a 4-4-2 is a big decision).
We will see. In all likelyhood, we will go with 4-5-1 again with Park behind Rooney. Rafa(or Neville) vs Bellamy could be a key battle for us.
Apparently Rio won’t make it today because he picked up his customary April groin injury. I hope that next season we will build a back 5 that won’t miss much playing time.
@Costas
and i hope that back 5 wont hav rio or neville in it. Rafael and evans should be regulars. Has nev signed a new contract?? or is this his last season
fergie has got to give TOSIC another chance! The lad is absolute pure class and i have just seen one of his goals from last night…great player and in my opinion he can go on to become united great IF he is given the oppurtunity??
Come on MUFC!
HUGE game 2day!
UNITED UNITED UNITED
@AIG
I think he hasn’t yet. It will probably get sorted after the season is over.
RTNK – Are you serious mate, Keane held Veron back and Keano should have been sold instead of Veron. You’re the only one i’ve heard of having that view pal, Veron couldn’ t handle the pace of the premieship and thats why Fergie sold him.