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VIDEO: Hernandez Scores Against Argentina

June 27, 2010

Scott is the editor of RoM and has a season ticket at Old Trafford. He writes for The Mirror, Paddy Power and Red News. He started The Republik of Mancunia in March 2006. Follow @R_o_M on Twitter.

GIF: Hernandez Acts On Behalf Of United Fans

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241 Comments

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Marq June 29, 2010

Read somewhere alternative suggestions to goal-line technology. Just replace the turf behind the goal line to sand, problem solved. LoL. Funny but not exactly a stupid idea, cost next to nothing and might actually work!

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denton davey June 29, 2010

Ozul is the most "attractive" player on display - for sale ? - at this year's WC. He's probably already been gift-wrapped for Bayern Munich.

Chicharito is the best 'striker" I've seen who would be considered as a possible recruit for UTD - to my eyes, he's been better than both Suarez of Uruguay/Ajax or Sanchez of Udinese/Chile.

Fortunately, Chicharito has already been signed, sealed, and delivered to UTD. For what would now be about one-third of his market-price.

BUT there's a problem - where will he play ? I doubt that we will see SAF set the team up in a 4-4-2 in any important matches. Obviously, anyone with a particle of footballing intelligence saw that WayneRooney is simply NOT a support striker or an attacking midfielder - he just too undiscplined. So, in any big match, SAF will play some version of a 4-3-3 - as he recognized a few years ago, when the whirligig of Ronaldo/Rooney/Tevez were playing magically, the 4-4-2 is yesterday's news. (one of the reasons Ingerland got beaten so easily - and so often - on the break by the Germans was because they played the "English" system with crappy defensive midfielders).

So, while I am thrilled with the signing/transfer of Chicharito, I still think that he's not really any kind of answer to UTD's big off-season issue. UTD's midfield needs probably one seriously-good defensive midfielder since Anderson is a huge question-mark and Owen Hargreaves is unlikely to ever return to proper, full fitness. Paul Scholes isn't any younger; Michael Carrick is unlikely to get more assertive; and so on with all of the midfielders except for Darren Fletcherinho (football genius).

Brazil have shown that a team with two defensive midfielders and a box-to-box partner can make it hard to break down - and they have three attacking players who aren't better than on-form WayneRooney/Nani/Valencia. Sure, Kaka/Luis Fabiano/Robinho are all good but they aren't super-men in a different class. What Brazil showed against Argentina a couple of years ago in the Copa America was that an efficientily organized 4-3-3 is a tough-nut for even the most skilled opposition to break down. And, let's not forget that the middle "3" is composed of the aged Gilberto Silva, the Juventus-failure Felipe Melo, and the ManShitty-failure Elano. These guys aren't supermen - and they are backed by Kleberson (yes, that guy !).

If you don't think that SAF - and other managers like Jose Mourinho - "went to school" on Dunga's dismantling of Argentina in 2008 then you're hopelessly out-of-touch with rthe reality of contemporary trends in the world's game.

And so, to square the circle, that's why Chicharito isn't going to set the OldTraffordWorld on fire because he;s not good enough to unseat WayneRooney as the main strker while WayneRooney isn't "adaptable" or "disciplined" to be the "Wesley Sneijder/Elano" of a NewUTD as the attacking midfielder in a 4-3-3.

So, we come back to the question of the midfield - and the lack of reliable quality behind - and beside - Darren Fletcherinho (football genius)...... I may be repeating myself but that doesn't mean it's not true.

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Vinay June 29, 2010

@ Marq

Goalkeepers will then complain about sand in their shorts and hair :)

@ Denton Davey

You never know, after Rooney's injury in march, he hasn't been the same player and coming from a very bad world cup, he will pretty much have to start from scratch in terms of confidence. Chicharito may well get a run in the side at the start of the season, and he does look technically gifted and tricky. United can and do play a 4-4-2 against most premiership teams, but I agree that it is a long abandoned system for the bigger and the champions league games. And so Chicharito will have to satisfy himself with a place on the bench for those games, just like Berbatov.

The big question mark of our season is definitely Anderson. If he can fill the creative midfielder role, then we will have a proper team.

But isn't Hargreaves finally fit? If he is it will make a big difference. I think Sir Alex will give one more season to him and then to both Anderson and Berbatov.

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Gotta hate tiny tears June 29, 2010

still on the england world cup exit thingi have another question

why is sky sports news talking and going into detail about how england was too old and they need youth and the premiership has alot of youth and here they are and this is how bright there future is------- and the bit i dont understand is why is this a hugh factor as to were they failed but turning back time 4 years a reason why england failed was bringing walcott cause hes ,althou has a bright future, is an unproven youth

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Rai June 29, 2010

David James has come out and said the reason Rooney didn't perform was because he was marked out of the games.....what a load of hillocks. Rooney didn't perform because he hasn't fully recovered from
injury, he had a long season of carrying the expectations of the United fans then went unfit into the world cup carrying the expections of the country....only difference
is he's not playing with anything like the standard he's got around him
at United.

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arijc June 29, 2010

@denton davey
I think Chicharito will get his chance on either side of Rooney (in the 4-3-3) or as the central striker if Rooney is not in the team. He has the pace to give opposition defenses a major headache in either scenario.
Sanchez would be a good addition because he can also play in any position in attack and can also play as a winger. I also believe he would offer a lot more to the team than Valencia, in spite of Valencia's good performances last season.
Regarding the need for a mid-fielder, there are rumors linking Cambiasso with United. He could certainly do the job that you highlighted. I also thought the Brazilian mid fielder Ramirez looked very promising yesterday.

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ashwinred June 29, 2010

Our squad is not good enough. We will be fortunate to finish in top 4 next season . Considering the strides made by mancity and spurs in transfer market we are going nowhere . We need a striker a creative midfielder and a ball winning midfielder like toulalan . We are a one man team . Don't expect Chicarito to score 25 goals next season. We need some one like dzeko or fabiano or even a marquee signing like pato . All this can be done if SAF uses the money he claims is available for him . He should use it and stop doing a Wenger pretension that he has money but the market is inflated. We have enough young players and all the above transfers should be players who have proven themselves in a big stage.

SAF has been continually saying that " MUFC is always bigger than an individual" . If tats so and if he doesn't sign worthy people he should be "sacked" . I understand that i have many swear words coming @ me but I want him to go because I simply believe SAF is misleading people abt Americans and the finances. If SAF speaks the truth abt finances no one will buy a single season ticket . His revelations would be the greatest thing he has done for the club to date . Even if we dont do well this season because of the protests coming from the Revelations i am sure we can get our football club back with a new stable owner within that period . We are man utd we should be signing players like dzeko , pato , aguero etc . We can drive out the americans only if SAF speaks the truth .

Guys we should protest .....give up season tickets .......protest against aon ......protest against everything our club is associated with financially ....tats the only way we can save our club . I've seen people wasting a lot of time sitting on this blog posting comments for stupid issues but most of them forget the important thing .
I wish I would be dead before citeh finishes ahead of united

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dela June 29, 2010

@ashwinred
You're either a retard or an ABU masquerading as a United supporter.

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arijc June 29, 2010

Looks like Tottenham's bid for Kjaer has been accepted, Time to put the Kjaer rumors to bed now.

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dela June 29, 2010

Firstly, money doesn't always guarantee success. Citeh bought plays by the hordes last season and yet how much of an improvement have you seen in their performances? So as far as Citeh finishing above United goes, it's the sort of deluded statement blue knobs make. I'd rather worry about Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

'Fortunate to finish in top 4 next season'? How many times have we heard that being said about us? We were favourites to drop out of the top 4 last season and still finished a point behind the eventual champions, in spite of having our entire defence in the treatment room for a month. We have retained that entire squad and have signed Chicharito- true we could still improve but how is this squad not good enough? We are not Real Madrid. Face it.

I don't understand why Sir Alex stands by the Americans either but do you really think that, after all that he has done for us, he deserves to be sacked simply for standing by the owners? You are saying all this after a season where we finished 2nd in the league and quarter-finalists in the Champions League. Hell, we did better than Real Madrid this season, with their Galacticos and whatnot. Where is the crisis you're talking about?

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Rai June 29, 2010

Ashwinred-

I agree about giving up season tickets, but you're claim that we won't finish in the top
four is laughable!!!!! We're not a one man team, agreed Rooney needs more support but to say we're a one man team is disrespectful to all the other players.

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Fze123 June 29, 2010

@ ashwinred, we lost the League by 1 point, we were robbed of a place in the semis in the CL and could have well made the final if not for unfortunate circumstances. Get a grip, ffs, Shitty won't get into the top 4, let alone finish above us.

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Costas June 29, 2010

While I am also concerned about the Glazers, I don't think we are anywhere near finishing outside the top 4. Other than Rooney's fitness, there are plenty of reasons to feel positive that next season we will be in with a strong shout. Plus, none of our rivals have gotten stronger either and Spurs will be pre occupied with the Ch.League(if they go through). Shity could be the wildcard next year, but it takes more than money as dela said.

And we are not a one man team. That's England as it became painfully obvious this month...

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King Eric June 29, 2010

gotta hate - Yes mate I thought mhirrh was an imposter of the other as well . Same negativity.

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King Eric June 29, 2010

ashwinred - strides made by Spurs and Citeh. What strides are these pal?

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King Eric June 29, 2010

Are you even serious? Fucking Dzeko and Pato. Pato hardly pulled up any trees last season and cannot even get in the fucking Brazil squad. Sack Fergie? Get a fucking grip.

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Hasan June 29, 2010

@ashwinred

Just to have you dead I'd even stand city finish ahead of us one season..

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Rai June 29, 2010

Hasan - Harsh!!!!!

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theboogeyman June 29, 2010

ashwinred- You're a pathetic excuse for a United fan and I'm ashamed to have the same name as you.

Hasan- Quality mate.

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denton davey June 29, 2010

Vinay 2 6:53: "United can and do play a 4-4-2 against most premiership teams,"

i know that BUT I think that - if given the choice - SAF wouldn't set up the team that way. Last year, for instance he went out of his way to try and accommodate Dimitar Berbatov - by playing him alongside, ahead of, and behind WayneRooney - which didn't produce much product, as it were. I dont' think SAF will be so generous in accommodating that player in this way next season.

Arijc @ 9:42 - unlike you, I wasn't very impressed with Alexis Sanchez. I don't think he would be an "upgrade" or an "Improvement" on Antonio Valencia. Purchasing Sanchez would be spending big money on the wrong target in the wrong part of the field - unless, of course, getting Sanchez would free Valencia to play an attacking midfield role in a forward-diamond formation, with two sitting midfielders (this is, of course, how RafaelBeneathUS set up the KopSuckers for their great run in 2008/9 and it worked well for them).

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King Eric June 29, 2010

Cannot believe people are still doubting Valencia on here. Strange. What do you want!! Watching the reruns the lad was fucking class. How else did Wayne score all those goals? Beggars belief.

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Rooney22United June 29, 2010

Valencia was superb last season! But somehow i feel Nani might just overtake Valencia this season. I was so excited to see Nani play in the world cup, but oh well... he'll start the season with a bang.

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denton davey June 29, 2010

King Eric @ 13:06 and Rooney22United @ 14:34

Right on. Antonio Valencia was terrific and, at 24/25, he's still not peaked. Same goes for Nani - and WayneRooney. They're all just approaching their prime-time years. And, the back-ups - KikoTheKid, Chicharito, and maybe Gabriel Obertan - aren't too shabby, either. That's sorted.

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ashwin June 29, 2010

@ all
Thx for all the obnoxious comments . But I believe in what I've said . If we don't invest Ronaldo's money this season we are gonna go out of the top four this season or the season preceding it . For starters our squad should be good enough to be comparing with RMad Barca and Inter , Instead we sit here today to compare ourselves to Man City and Spurs . Spurs with a good manager who has CL exprience will have a great say . They have a fantastic squad which is gonna be improved further by Caviani and Kjaer . They are waiting for a catalyst like Cantona to shoot them up the ladder. I don't see a single player other than rooney and maybe evra getting into madrid , barca and Inter's squad . We are man utd and we should be the premier English club . I fear our standards are dropping . I believe fergie did'nt use to care about money when he did bring in marquee signings like Pallister , Keane , Cole , Veron , Berba etc. But today he sits here speaking about market value , resale value etc . I don't berate him for that .....i berate him for standing by glazers and misleading supporters that money is still available and its he who doesn't want to spend . I hope real supporters won't renew season tickets and vehmently oppose all the brands our club is associated with . We must spend the rest of the year trying to drive out the americans and atleast hope that this squad which we have now is intact without our major players like rooney , evra not being sold .

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King Eric June 29, 2010

ashwin - Just one question. Do YOU have a season ticket?

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King Eric June 29, 2010

Marquee signings like Pallister and Keane. Sorry pal? One million even then is SLIGHTLY different than spunking 30 to 40 million on over rated shite who have done NOWT. Our lads are all fucking winners mate domestically and in Europe . How far did all Madrids spending get them last season?

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King Eric June 29, 2010

Finally do you REALLY think Fergie would protect the owners if his hands were tied? Would he fuck.

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Costas June 29, 2010

@ashwin

Well, predicting United's doom is obnoxious in itself. I agree with many if your points about the Glazers, but United still have a plenty of good players, not to mention youngsters. Only Rooney and Evra would get into Madrid and Barca's teams? Vidic wouldn't? Fletcher wouldn't? Nani wouldn't? Anyway, it's not entirely up to United where they will finish. I can't see which 4 teams will finish higher than us. 1 and maybe even 2, yes. 4? No.

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ashwin June 29, 2010

So u guys are telling me tat an engine room of scholes anderson fletcher and carrick would be doing great against Barca Rmad and Inter ??????? Don't u remember the mauling barca gave us . We were supposed to improve after the defeat ???? But have we signed anyone or improved in that area ? I don't wan't to boot-lick SAF everytime . I feel my club is going stale like Tampa Bay did here in USA and I don't care if it is SAF or Glazers ......I oppose everyone who contribute towards it . I respect SAF .....but I am distressed lately about his stand on glazers . If he says he has money to spend he should do it . If money has to be paid to bring in a player he has to do it . He can spend atleast 30-60 mill on 2 experienced players. If he does'nt have money he has to say that in public and not mislead people.

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willierednut June 29, 2010

ashwin - Why should SAF placate you, or anyone else? His main concern is Manchester United football club, rightly or wrongly, thats the case atm. In terms of signings, i agree we should bring in two players, but we're not even into july yet, give it time friend.

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Costas June 29, 2010

Barca were superior on that day, but the devil is in the details as they say. And when I say details I mean: a) Fletcher missing, b) United dominating the first 10 minutes of the game and losing a glorious chance with Park to go ahead and c) Carrick and Anderson suffering injuries during the game. It is worrying that a year later, Fletch is still our most reliable player, but that doesn't mean that Hargo and Ando can't bounce back and help out next year.

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Fze123 June 29, 2010

d) Fergie tactically got it all wrong

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Costas June 29, 2010

@Fze123

What would you have changed mate? Before the game, I was saying that Scholes was more suited than Giggs for that game. In hindsight, I would also say that Evans should have started instead of Rio. The other option was to start with either Berba or Tevez, but I can't see how they would fit in given that Park was certain to start. Can't believe it. 13 months later and this defeat still hurts like hell.

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ashwin June 30, 2010

All of u guys are missing the point that we have not improved fro that defeat . I am not arguing against fergie for the defeat . I meant to say that we have not improved from the defeat as all good teams do . We have lost ronnie and tevez after the defeat . We have'nt tried to rejuvenate our stale midfield. I dont buy all this shit about Fletcher . He is a good player but he is not a marquee midfield man whom u count to make a difference in attack like all big teams have . Just a practical question - Take out rooney from our squad and can u count on any other player to score goals every match ? Is there a decent 15 goal a season midfielder in our team ? Have we found replacement for scholes ? . So I do think fergie is wrong to say that he will buy only 1 player .

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King Eric June 30, 2010

ashwin - You have just answered my question. You live in the States, have probably never been to OT YET you are asking us to give up our season tickets? Whatever pal.

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King Eric June 30, 2010

Fletcher isn't a marquee man. What shite. Because he isn't a greasy Spaniard and Scottish you don't rate him? He shits on every central midfielder he plays against.

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Fze123 June 30, 2010

@ Costas, I too would have started with Scholes, alongside Anderson, with Park on the left and Ronaldo on the right, and Tevez and Rooney up front. Carrick imo shouldn't have started, his main asset is passing but he doesn't often put a tackle in, something which Ando does. Tevez had experience playing in a final so that's him over Berba. Ron as a lone striker worked well against Arsenal, but it didn't against Barcelona. The lone striker role exploited his selfishness, his desire to do it all alone, but on the wing he would have been more focused on cutting inside and slicing in a pass/delivering crosses for Rooney and Tevez. Given Barcelona's nervy start, I think we would have got a goal despite playing 4-4-2, but I don't know if we would have been able to win. We were going to get punished without a Hargo or Fletch anyway, and add on the complacency, lack of hunger and the fitness of some of our players.

I have not watched the final again, don't think I ever will.

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Fze123 June 30, 2010

Fletcher is better than Gerrard and Lampard. Evra, Vidic, VDS, Rio, Rooney, Fletcher, Nani and a fit Hargo would get into Barca's/Real's team.

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ashwin June 30, 2010

@ King Eric

Call me a glory hunter or whatever u may fell to do so . I know how i feel about united in my heart .

My life long dream is to attend a Man Utd vs Liverpool match @ OT . Maybe I was born somewhere but I know i have the same passion . I am 23 , I've been following united for the past 15 years . I don't remember how i started to follow united and why i did [so . U can't give a specific reason for loving someone...u just love them . I am saving money for my trip and would be there soon and I hope glazers are out by then .

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King Eric July 1, 2010

ashwin - I in't calling you a glory hunter, never said anything of the sort. Just find it a bit "off" you telling people to fuck their season tickets off when you don't hold one yourself.