Re: Festive Football Chat : Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:53 pm  

Nemanja wrote:

I'd say the "kids" that we have chosen in the Carling Cup so far are Welbeck, Macheda, Obertan, Gibson, Anderson, Fabio and Rafael.

Sure, a few of them have played CL and all have played PL, but they're still only youngsters. However, despite what Fergie has said previously, he cannot play that side, because it won't beat City.

Before, we knew that if in doubt, we could give the ball to Ronaldo and 8 times out of 10 he would score a goal to get us a draw or more likely a win, the team always had confidence in him getting something. This season we rely on Rooney, and his ability to pull something from nothing isn't as good as what Ronaldo, which aint something to be upset about, Ronaldo was a freak.

Rooney liked playing alongside Ronaldo. They both read each other's game perfectly, and together they created just about everything that was good about United. Rooney liked playing alongside Tevez too, and his partnership with Berbatov just aint working. Berbatov is by far one of the best players on the ball in the League, but he doesn't fit into the United system with Rooney, he always wants one or two touches too many IMO. Unfortunately, I think we should cut our losses and say goodbye to him.

Another major loss for United since we lost Ronaldo is pace. Evra and the da Silvas apart, we have a shocking lack of pace in the side. Many times this season when we've tried to hit on the break (previously one of out biggest strengths), but we've tried to use Carrick as the breakaway. Although you can always rely on Carrick to keep the ball, he isn't going to sprint up to the other end of the field in a matter of seconds. So this season, we've tried to pass our way out, and with our awful passing so far this year we often lose it and put ourselves back under pressure.

Fergie claims he has £60million to spend, well he needs to buy a striker and a creative midfielder. Ideally, he'd sign David Silva, but as a cheaper alternative, somebody like Milner from Villa could be just as effective. He's somebody that puts 110% into every game, he can play anywhere along midfield, and he'll do all the running and hard work that we lost when Tevez left. Not only that, but he can hit the ball too.


As it's two legs and we're at home second, I think we are probably just about favourites, as long as we don't get stuffed at Eastlands. If it was a one legged tie, I'd put you as favourites.

ATM I even think AC Milan will chuck us out of Europe too.

Some good points here. For me one of the biggest issues is our creatvity, if Rooney does not play well then there just isn't any. There is way too much reliance on him and I think he will end up playing too many games and become jaded as the season closes.

I think there are several areas we need to strengthen, most impotantly would be an attacking centre midfielder and a wide left player. That would give us pace down both flanks and enable us to break with pace like we always have done. After that I would look at shipping out Berba and bringing in a replacement and also sign a top class keeper and then decide on a fixed no.2 between the two lads there now.

We have been linked with Di Maria and Silva who would both fit the bill for Utd and there have been links with Villa and Fabiano. Trouble is what money does Fergie have?

I woiuld also look to bring in a new no.2, for me we always look our best when we have a proper assistant to Fergie and I don't rate Phelan at all.

Utd don't seem to have the edge to their game this season, in the past they would have found a goal from somewhere against Leeds and they would have fought for their lives, for me there are too many players either past their best or players who just are not Utd players.

Re: Festive Football Chat : Mon Jan 04, 2010 10:23 pm  

I think there's some discontent in the camp - Vidic doesn't seem to want to play for Utd anymore. What about Rio?

Re: Festive Football Chat : Mon Jan 04, 2010 10:41 pm  

Enfield Exile wrote:

Interesting you say that. United appear to have struggled in some games this year where they have come under pressure, which is unusual for them. As a result, I think any added pressure may make it more difficult for United. Normally, the United teams have thrived on the pressure. I am not sure that's the case anymore. There's a collective psychological change at United. The players don't appear as battle-hardened, resilient and as confident as they have been in previous years.

Every game we have gone behind in this season we have lost. I think that answers the question for you. I am feeling strangely confident for the city game though. I am more worried about the home fixture than the away leg.

Why did city decide to charge £40 in all stands for this game? It shows how much fans have been priced out with the game at city 2 days away and still not sold out, along with the return game at OT going on general sale and still having plenty of tickets left.

Re: Festive Football Chat : Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:45 am  

Nemanja wrote:

Before, we knew that if in doubt, we could give the ball to Ronaldo and 8 times out of 10 he would score a goal to get us a draw or more likely a win, the team always had confidence in him getting something. This season we rely on Rooney, and his ability to pull something from nothing isn't as good as what Ronaldo, which aint something to be upset about, Ronaldo was a freak.

Rooney liked playing alongside Ronaldo. They both read each other's game perfectly, and together they created just about everything that was good about United. Rooney liked playing alongside Tevez too, and his partnership with Berbatov just aint working. Berbatov is by far one of the best players on the ball in the League, but he doesn't fit into the United system with Rooney, he always wants one or two touches too many IMO. Unfortunately, I think we should cut our losses and say goodbye to him.

Another major loss for United since we lost Ronaldo is pace. Evra and the da Silvas apart, we have a shocking lack of pace in the side. Many times this season when we've tried to hit on the break (previously one of out biggest strengths), but we've tried to use Carrick as the breakaway. Although you can always rely on Carrick to keep the ball, he isn't going to sprint up to the other end of the field in a matter of seconds. So this season, we've tried to pass our way out, and with our awful passing so far this year we often lose it and put ourselves back under pressure.

Without wishing to be deliberately provocative, Ronaldo's departure has exposed just how reliant Fergie had become on the direct long ball game. For all the plaudits that Fletcher may have received last year he isn't able to put his foot on the ball in the same way that Scholes could. Similarly Carrick is a hot and cold player. Did Ronaldo's progress damage the technical skills of the side? Maybe but that's similar to a lot of teams these days where the importance is on shifting the ball forward as fast as possible to speedy forwards. Only the very best can move the ball around the pitch and the shift over here to the quicker, more basic counter-attacking game dumbs down some of our teams. Arsenal are the only team that's remained true to the core value of ball retention.

Re: Festive Football Chat : Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:10 am  

Apparently weve score more goals and got more points than we had at this time last season. We do miss the moments of Ronaldo brilliance. I don't think teams are scared of us anymore.

Re: Festive Football Chat : Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:24 am  

Karlos13 wrote:

Every game we have gone behind in this season we have lost. I think that answers the question for you. I am feeling strangely confident for the city game though. I am more worried about the home fixture than the away leg.

Why did city decide to charge £40 in all stands for this game? It shows how much fans have been priced out with the game at city 2 days away and still not sold out, along with the return game at OT going on general sale and still having plenty of tickets left.

Unfortunately, Karlos, City wanted to price the game much lower but the clubs have to decide on prices together and the greedy lovers at United wouldn't budge on the £40.

Well, anyway, it's either going to be off or there will be about 15,000 people there due to everyone else being snowed in.

29 years I have waited for this. Gutted!

Re: Festive Football Chat : Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:13 am  

McClennan wrote:

Arsenal are the only team that's remained true to the core value of ball retention.

Trophies or ball retention. It's a toughie.

Re: Festive Football Chat : Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:37 am  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

Trophies or ball retention. It's a toughie.

Not for Barcelona or the Spanish national football team it isn't.

Re: Festive Football Chat : Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:41 am  

I think the fact that Nited are seemingly so reliant on a player of such limited abilities as Darren Fletcher indicates they are nowhere near as imposing as they have been in the past...and I'm not knocking Fletcher per se as he has improved massively over the past few years.

Re: Festive Football Chat : Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:46 am  

McClennan wrote:

Not for Barcelona or the Spanish national football team it isn't.

But Arsenal aren't Barcelona. Aresenal have won nothing in the last 5 years. Man Utd have won 3 titles, 1 CL, 1 FA and 1 LC. Chelsea have won 2 titles, 2 FA, 2 CC. Man Utd and Chelsea have won 6 trophies each to Arsenal's none.

So ball retention or trophies?