I’m trying to think when the last time I had a good feeling about a game was. With the way United have been playing this season, it’s hard to have total faith we’re going to end the day with the right result. More often than not, this is what we’ve managed to do, but we’ve been far from convincing on several of these occasions.
However, for whatever reason, I feel fairly hopeful about our game at the Riverside. The team have started to play the way we’ve been hoping they would all season. We looked good against Portsmouth, we were devastating in the second half against Spurs, and this good form carried through to Arsenal. Maybe I’m being pessimistic but have we had three good performances on the trot this season? It’s been a long time if we have!
Wayne Rooney has really begun to find brilliant form (which usually means he’s due an injury! Please God no!) and has even been incredibly influential from the left. Cristiano Ronaldo, more often than not, is actually putting some effort in to winning the ball back. Darren Fletcher is like someone possessed, chasing down everything. Michael Carrick has been playing some beautiful, defence splitting balls. Christ, even John O’Shea had a bloody good game midweek, so things must be going our away (no offence!).
I know the Riverside can be a tough place for the top teams to go, with their team able to drag out a gutsy performance from somewhere, which frustratingly for their fans, they can’t seem to muster when playing against the shit teams (they got battered 3-0 by West Brom a few months back). Regardless, United seem to have their hunger back and an early goal should be enough to shatter what was remaining in Middlesbrough’s confidence.
Gareth Southgate reckons his team has nothing to lose and hopes that mentality will inspire them to victory, but I beg to differ. If this game was being played back in November, then fair enough, but Boro have just three games to play after us and they’re second from bottom in the table. They have everything to lose and regardless of whether they’re expected to get a result against us or not, their aim should be to come out and play us and go for the points they desperately need.
If this is to happen, then it helps our cause tremendously. We’ve had real difficulties against teams who have parked the bus the season, relying on a dodgy penalty to open the scoring against Bolton and an injury time winner to secure three points against Sunderland. If Boro come for us then it gives us more space to work in.
I imagine Scholes will return to the start line-up, with his fresher legs bringing sublime passes for our forwards, with young players like Federico Macheda, who is tipped to start, needing extra encouragement. Park will probably start to give us that bit of tenacity and no doubt Rooney will be about. The back five is predictable but it is hard to imagine which team Ferguson will pick, given his insistence that there will be changes ahead of the Arsenal second leg. Will Bebatov be back in the team? Will Boro’s favourite player be rested? Who knows.
I do feel good about this game though and hope that’s not tempting fate. I can’t imagine it is though, given I didn’t go in to our games against Liverpool or Fulham feeling we’d play them off the park. I just want them to see this continued self-belief and desire to be better than what they have been. The games are running out now and with tougher Premiership fixtures to come, this one really has to be a three pointer to keep the pressure off.
Come on lads, do us proud!
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YEAHH!
FUCK yes! I can’t watch the game because I have a day-long seminar on Language Teaching! Bloody brilliant =(
I hope Fergie doesn’t make too many changes.Dream scenario guys.2 wins in the next 2 games and 2 draws by the Scousers will see us crowned champions.
Funny enough, I’m also confident going into this game. Its been long since that happened. Hopefully the same confidence runs through the guys. Line up : Foster, Oshea, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Park, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Kiko, Berbatov Bench : Kuszack, Rafael, Brown, Fletcher, Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez.
Hate to say it but I see Scholes and Giggs starting together which doesn’t bode well for us. But we’re gonna win coz WE ARE MANCHESTER UTD!
i swear to god i just got into bed and taughted id check this site one last time, and i was singing man united chants all set for this match tomorrow
its confidence
i love it i was singing come on united and play
the sir matt busby way
and that way is with confidence
this is my kis singing the chant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT1Ynl0AqTs&
but i really really love how its clicking again
couldnt come at a better time
I wish i was in your boots androo…..im so so so nervy about these games….in this one has me caking my pants. I know im getting nervy and jittery at the best of times…..and im even getting nervy at the sight of our players sneezing..incase they get an injury.
But this is why id rather not watch tmrw…and why im so nervy
Got to admit, I’ve become a “big game bottler” of late and from here every games a big game!!! I’m fine when I go to OT but on Tele I curse the fact that I can now pause the live action. I do it so often I get about 15 mins behind and fast forward to the end. Pathetic really!!
Seriously i hope im wrong and i wish i was as confident as you guys…but some glaring stats scare me for tmrw.
1. Boro our bogey side
2. Only 2 days rest after clge game…and last time we played sat morning after wed clge game..we lost v dippers.
3. Only 3 wins in 9 v boro at the riverside
4. Boro havent lost at home in 2009
5. Theyve drawn v arsenal and beaten the dippers in that time.
6. Theyre fighting for their lives
7. They always treat us as their cup final…sell out their stadium first time in the season…and a player as shit as alves who couldnt hit a cows arse with a banjo ends up scoring 2.
8. After clge games this season…10 games in clge…only 2 wins in prem the game after.
9. Like Barcelona we have to rest players and think about the clge game….whilst the likes of the dippers, arsenal and madrid rest players for ten days at a time. Look at barca…2 months ago they were 12 clear…then had 2 game blip like us…recovered like us…then they got handed games v valencia and el grande classico v madrid at the bernabeu sandwiched in betwenn chelsea. Thier lead could be down to a point tmrw. We re in a similar situation…whilst the dippers rest up v a depleted newcastle side…we play 2 fuckin days after a high tempo gruelling clge game. Flamin arse fixture sat morning too. WHY????
10. Anyway the stats arent good…they are our bogey side….and their players have to get summat and will be up for it BIG TIME. It is their cup final
So i feel its going to be really really difficult tmrw. YES scotts right…we have harder games. Man Shitty is a derby and a better team….Arsenal ofcourse are a better side…and so are Wigan and even maybe Hull. But logistically this is our hardest remaining fixture. Champions lge sandwich that is. And our record at the fuckin library riverside…which turns into a cauldron for us.
SAF is sooooooooo right we dont want to suffer burn out ala 06/07…where we were after 3 trophies…final of fa cup…semis of clge…and the prem. Yet only won the prem….due to fatgiu and players being flogged…and 5/6 main defensive players + 2 midfielders out at the san siro. That was burnout….and we could have won all three had it not been for fixture scheduling and injuries. Eg Everton away…San Siro away. SAF is right.
Yes i know our big boys deserves a rest tmrw…..but i hope theyre atleast on the bench. Cos we cant take any risks against our bogey side.
If we win tmrw…that 1 hand on the trophy….lose and the dippers are in big time. Theyll trounce the geordies…and will see off injury ravaged west ham and already relegated west brom and a weak spurs team. So i cant see them droppng any points at all.
Blimey i wish i wasnt soooooooooo nervy. Wish we were 10 clear lol. Tmrw i hope the firepower is there. Cos its going to be tricky
Davemack….im with you mate…im ok at OT…with our 70.000+ fellow fans to give you comfort. Games at home i just cannot watch….i just try to do something else…..or pace about. Wish i could fastforward to this time next week….and check the scores…..a win v boro and a win or draw v arse. That would be a perfect week.
This aint goood for me ticker….and hope my negative slant has egg on my face. Cant say im not worried about the game tmrw…cos i am bigtime!!!!
But like my old pal…Failsworth from ROM…keeps telling me….have faith and BELIEVE suhayl.
So it’ll be that and a prayer tonight
Costas what you think mate…am i right..or am i toooo damn nervy about everything lately???
Let me know pal….going to eat and go to bed.
So will read your reply tmrw morning pre game.
Hope we do it!!!! C’mon lads!!!…..and boro leave your relegation for fight for the other games.
There’s seriously something wrong with me!! First it’s Rio’s ribs, then exams and now this match… then it’s the arsenal one… then exams – I just can’t stop worrying!! I’m going to be all grey and old when this season finishes
Gut feeling -Macheda will start tomorrow and have a great game !
Nani will have a great one too..A hatrick on the card tomorrow !Odd goalscorers – PArk or Evra !
What’s That Unfamiliar Feeling? Oh yeh, confidence!- i felt that before the Chelsea game at OT when we recently won 3-0.Bang i had 25 tenner on us !
The Scouse to draw and Chelsea to lose this weekend!
I say Ronneyyy, you say Wazzaa,He’s doing Your Mama’s nets, It’s Utd’s Talent.!!! I say Ronneyyy, you say Wazzaa,He’s doing Your Mama’s nets, It’s Utd’s Talent.!!!…inspired from dj talent bgt manchester audition
Suhayl i will try to answer your points.
1)Boro are our boogey side. We haven’t done the double over them since the 00-01 season. But that has to change at some time.
2)We will have 63 hours of rest to be exact.It’s not enough.SAF will freshen the team up as much as possible but there is one major differene between this and the LIverpool game.United against Inter were tired and poor.Against Arsenal we were very lively.That means that our fitness levels are rising again and that is a lift.
3)Our record is better than that.Ever since they have been using the Riverside,we have played 12 times there.We have won 8,drawn 2 and lost 2.Actually our record there is better than at Old Trafford! In the last 9 games there, our record is 6 wins 2 draws and 2 losses.
4)Didn’t know that.
5)Didn’t know that either.But then again Tottenham had never lost against the big 4 this season.
6)Yes they are fighting for their lives.And Fergie must convince our players that they are fighting for theirs as well.
7)Yes they treat it as such but then again so do most teams.This year we will have Vida to take care of Alves.And remember:Evans and Vida have played together in 8 Premiership matches and we have won all of them.
8)We will have to fix this record of results after Ch.League games.
Fergie knows how crucual tomorrow is.And that’s why he will put a strong team out there.I have no doubts.By the way, the waiter has staryted muttering about the Webb penalty.What an asshole.
just got in from the pub and i couldnt agree more, even booze cant cut through the nerves
come on united, the look on the scousers face is we draw level on 18 will be worth all the heartache
itll be worth it, so lets hope it happens
I too have a good feeling about Boro game. below is a post I did yesterday :-
“I know “historically” we have struggled against Boro but although they are fighting for survival they are a very different side to previous seasons. They are nothing short of diabolical. Don’t want to appear “cocky” or “arrogant” or even “tempt fate” but I think we may hammer the cunts on Saturday. Got to be positive.”
A win will put us 6 points clear and this would pile the pressure on the vermin.
Dunno about feeling confident about this one,i’m sure that the lads will be up for it but i still feel extremely nervous. I don’t think that we’ll burn out like we did in 07 after the game against Everton because,as Sir Alex said yesterday,we got a bigger squad now and they’re all pretty much fit apart from Gaz and Hargreaves. What worries me is the attitude that we’ve sometimes shown against Boro and in games that everyone expected us to win against so called small teams (just to name a few,Boro at home in 07,West Ham,Blackburn and Boro away in 08) when for some reasons we seem scared of imposing ourselves and dictating the tempo. That’s why i think is a huge bonus having the experience of Giggsy and Scholesy from the start and i trust the young lad Macheda to get on the score sheet. May has always been a nerve-wracking month and this year is no exception,but keep the faith and keep the red flag flying high!
i am feeling more confident this time around for the boro game.as King Eric said this season they have been shite apart from Sanli & Downing maybe.
Fergie will definitely play one of Kiko or Welbeck with Berba.i would like to see one of Rooney or Ron start.
Game is on at 7:45 am here… SAF complains about lunchtime kickoffs. I complain about early in the morning kickoffs, of course i’ll be watching
@jcolas, you must be at ET. game starts here at 6:45am, just one question for me, stay all the night or get early in the morning.. I remember the days when I have to wait until 2:45am for the champion league games. I thought that’s hard.. but getting early morning in a Saturday always like killing me..
Yes we’ve been shite at the riverside for the last few years, but that has to change. Law of averages suggests we are due a performance there and the fact Boro have to play might make things a little easier. Want to see kiko in action and I have a feeling we will score 4 goals today. Dunno why, but the ole swagger is comming back and what we couldn’t do against the arse is going to be painfully inflicted upon hapless boro. Come on UNITED!!!
Suhayl– I’m with you on this one. I watched the first half of Boro’s game against Arsenal last weekend and Boro looked like they were half asleep, they didn’t show any effort at all.
But you know it, I know, everyone f’ing knows it, they’ll have 11 maniacs out there tomorrow, each one playing out of their skin and having the best performance of the year. I just hope we match their enthusiasm.
And Scott is right, an early goal, in the first 30 mins, and we’re as good as gold. But the longer it goes on, the more that belief will start to grow in them, and then their players, clubs and fans alike will all be saying at half time, “whats that unfamiliar feeling — oh yeah, confidence!”
FUCK IT I DONT WANNA OVER USE THIS BUT FELLAS
B E L I E VE
COME ON UNITED
I am glad someone feels confident coz i dont, we dont win here almost on a yearly basis, and thats with our strongest side! If SAF plays the kids and a second choice line up we might get beat here today. we need to be serious and pick a respectable team and that for me sorry to say does not include Macheda from the start or Welbeck at any point in the proceedings and Nani, well you know where i am going with this……….
A good team out and we may win at the riverside for once, but a second string side we wont simple as that, and i have to say this is a must win game today. cannot afford to slip up
im worried bout today…hope we fuckin win.come on utd.take 1-0 right now lol
the last thing iwe want is to get players luke Rooney injuried.
that’s why Fergie will play the second string
Foster
Rafael Vida Evans Fabio
Nani Scholes Gibson Park
Berba Macheda
Cmon United!
I have no worries about beating Middlesborough on any normal day!
The trouble this time is that it is after a champions league game! We only ever master a 90% performance after these games so i am with fergie and welcome some changes to rest some players!. I am up for having tevez partner berbatov with park, nani giggsn scholes in midfield.
With a defence of brown – evra – evans – vidic
and either vds or foster in goal! -
Hope you are right costas…
didnt get any sleep last night…cold sweats…..couldnt eat breakfast…just had half a mug of tea. Soooooo bloddy nervous.
ON skysports and soccer am…those gits are loving it….
” utd will drop points today” ” boro will get something” ” liverpools weekend” ” boro havent been beaten at the riverside since boxing day”
” Last time utd lost sat morning there was a big fight on on box office”…bigfight on today too with pacman v fatman.
Endless im telling you….doesnt help the old ticker one bit.
I hope you’re right costas…. however im not going to be able to watch it…cant take it..So it’ll be check halftime score and then fulltime.
By the way..hope the howard webb..abu media brigade doesnt cost us today either. I feel we aint gonna get anything after all this hype and crap that has gone on. Our players could get shot with an ak47 yet get nowt from now on.
Right my nervs and negative words over. Lets see what happens….praying
Tell me about it. Last night i threw upNot because of the game though. I am waiting to see the starting XI.If they are strong, then i think we will get the 3 points. I love it how they feel that Newcastle will just roll over tomorrow.As i said yesterday,2 wins in the next 2 and 2 draws by Liverpool will clinch us the title.
Team is in Suhayl :
Foster-O’Shea,Vidic,Evans,Evra-Park,Scholes,Giggs,Rooney-Berbatov,Macheda
No Ronaldo and no defensive midfielder to the best of my knowledge. Tricky selection.
Team selection was good enough costas…
NOW rest up lads…..plenty ice baths…physios…massages…drinks…food….relaxation and rest rest rest up today and some light training tmrw.
WELL DONE LADS