The Manchester United thread: A star is born.

[Dapxin]

[Sir Alex Ferguson stokes up fire for clash with Arsenal in Champions League[/quote]

Sir Alex Ferguson has taken the unusual step of adding hype to an eagerly awaited fixture by describing this evening’s Champions League semi-final, second leg as the biggest match between Manchester United and Arsenal.

The United manager is hoping to move one step closer to becoming the first manager to retain the trophy since it was rebranded, while for Arsène Wenger, his opposite number, a home match at the Emirates Stadium represents an excellent opportunity to earn another chance to win the competition for the first time.

The stakes are high, but, given the recent history of explosive matches and off-field disputes between the clubs, Ferguson’s was still a surprising claim. The balance sheet is intriguingly poised at 14 wins apiece in the 38 matches that Ferguson and Wenger have contested in their 13-year Premier League rivalry, lending tonight’s meeting added significance.

“There’s no question that this is the biggest game,” Ferguson said. “The challenges and the clashes we’ve had with Arsenal in the past do not reach the proportion of tomorrow n


“We’re good at doing things for the first time and it’s strange no European winners have held on to the trophy. It’s interesting and it is a challenge. We’ve got a lead and we’re only one kick away from Rome, so it’s a big incentive for us.”

Ferguson’s spirits soared farther when Rio Ferdinand came through a training session for the first time since suffering a bruised rib in last Wednesday’s 1-0 first-leg win at Old Trafford and the England defender is expected to start alongside Nemanja Vidic.

“It is important,” Ferguson said. “There was a concern last Wednesday when he had to come off, and when he spits blood you worry about that. But, fortunately, it wasn’t so serious that he would miss any more games than he did and that was Saturday [the 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough]. Going into a game as important as tomorrow, you want everyone fit and we’ve got that.”

Wenger was bullish about Arsenal’s prospects, insisting that his young side will overturn the deficit even if they remain “super-outsiders” in the eyes of the world. “I am very confident that the team will produce a magnificent performance and that we will manage it,” the Arsenal manager said. “I believe in my team. We have an opportunity. Let’s go and do it. We will let other people talk and we will enjoy the game.”

Robin van Persie is expected to return to the Arsenal team, after missing the first leg with a groin strain, and Wenger expects the Holland forward, along with players such as Cesc Fàbregas, Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor, to make the most of the opportunity to reach the final. “They will,” Wenger said. “I’m convinced of that. It’s an opportunity for them to come out and be strong, and they will.

“I will feel very proud of this team if they achieve it because they have been through difficult periods and they have shown great mental strength.

“If I had said in November that we will reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup and go 21 games unbeaten in the Premier League, you would have called an ambulance.”

Wenger maintains that, whatever happens this evening, his team will stay together this summer, despite persistent interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid in Fàbregas, the Arsenal captain. However, the Spain midfield player insisted that he will stay at the Emirates Stadium, saying, “My future belongs to Arsenal.”

[Dapxin]

For the first time, in a long time, I just dont feel so threatened going to the emirates;

Pray the darn players dont think that way; Complacency is death, and death itself underestimates Arsenal to its own death.

[Dapxin]

Match Report: Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City

The 141st Manchester derby provided as comfortable an occasion as Sir Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United troops could have hoped for at such a crucial stage of the season, as they returned to the top of the table.

The 2-0 victory, while petering out for the whole of the second half on the pitch, was achieved with goals by two players who appeared to throw their Old Trafford futures in doubt once again.

Cristiano Ronaldo gave the Champions the lead - Dimitar Berbatov was felled around 25 yards from goal, and the United number 7 continued his excellent recent form by drilling in the right hand corner of the goal.

Carlos Tevez then made two telling contributions - the first acting as somewhat of a forecast for the second, with his initial 20 yard effort smashing against the outside of the post, and then his second - after the sublime creation of Berbatov - found the inside of the post into the goal to seal the result. The much loved Argentinian’s response was to cup both ears in direction of the South Stand - evidently in the hope of a stronger attempt to sign him from Sir Alex,

The second half was almost a non-event save for a hysterical reaction by Ronaldo to being substituted - throwing an offered vest to the ground and then almost pathetically offering pouts to the cameras for a full 2 minutes.

The visitors only really threatened through a wild Robinho half chance and an effort that van der Sar magnificently saved, while United could have added another with a late flurry, most notably through Rafael who saw his effort saved.

What looked like one of United’s toughest remaining fixtures on paper didn’t turn out to be so in reality but the lethargy of the performance, particularly after Tevez’s goal and the reactions of both he and Ronaldo will probably have given Sir Alex an untimely - and ultimately, more prevalent - potential disharmonious headache in a crucial week for the club.

[Dapxin]

Ronaldo is such a miniature immature kid - except when he is running after a piece of rubber inflated with air, of course

[Dapxin]

There it is



champions of the toughest football in the world.

[Dapxin]

bring on Barca.

[oluomo]

Originally Posted by Dapxin

bring on Barca.

Be careful what you ask for Dapxin

[Dapxin]

Originally Posted by oluomo

Be careful what you ask for Dapxin

we got em already so no room for choice.

Howsoever it goes, I am prepared to have some fun.

you ?

[sandybaby]

Manchester United has done it again!!!! Champions for life!!!

[Dapxin]

Originally Posted by sandybaby

Manchester United has done it again!!!! Champions for life!!!

keep playing it, till we reach Rome play play oon.

[Dapxin]

Michael Carrick: United's Roman emperor


Michael Carrick is the last person you would find jumping heedlessly aboard a fairground ride. He used to drive an 8.0L Dodge Viper but that was his one concession to youthful recklessness — “A lot of people were surprised but I just loved it when I was younger” — and the turbo-charged testosterone-mobile has been replaced by an estate car bearing a “Baby on Board” sign for Carrick’s one-year-old daughter, Louise.

Everything about this player is measured. It is three years since he took the Manchester United No 16 shirt vacated by Roy Keane. In Keane’s pomp United would dismember opposing midfields through amputation; with Carrick it is by laser surgery. “Coming here’s improved my game no end and I suppose you can be judged on what you win,” says Carrick, shyly, regarding his ever-growing influence upon Sir Alex Ferguson’s team. Judgment is simple. BC (Before Carrick) United’s only trophies in three seasons were one FA Cup and one Carling Cup. Since he arrived from Tottenham, Ferguson’s only signing in summer 2006, United have won three Premier League titles and have a shot at retaining the Champions League. Carrick is pivotal to whether they can take the latter opportunity this week.

His job in Rome will be the same as always, to launch counterattacks with his clean and precisely judged forward passing and to halt opposing forays, seldom through confrontational means but almost always via positioning and interception: chess not chase is the Carrick way. He will also be instructed to stay off fairground rides. Of Barcelona’s passing game, Ferguson says: “They get you on that carousel and can leave you dizzy. Your concentration levels can’t be allowed to falter for a second. But, with the right tactics, their game is containable.” He will ask Carrick to hold position close to Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, no matter what kind of merry-go-round is twirling away in front of him.


Carrick adds: “Chelsea are very powerful and with Drogba, and Frank Lampard coming from midfield, they would have been a very different threat. The way Barcelona play, they can have the ball for a long time and you’ve just got to be patient, defend well and concentrate. It’s quite a bit of a mental battle. Against Barcelona you shut up, as Chelsea showed, and then attack them at the right time. You have to respect their strengths and do something about dealing with that, but you have to believe you are there for the same reason and play your game. We believe if we play our best game we’ll win. That’s the challenge, really.”

Carrick, as a connoisseur of passing, appreciates the art of Xavi and Andres Iniesta. “Totally. I haven’t seen loads of them but I’ve seen enough to know how good they are,” he says. “I respect the talent they have. When Barcelona play they can really play, I’ve seen them demolish teams. Xavi and Iniesta are the real driving force and I’ve got huge appreciation for how good they are.” Barcelona are his pick when asked which other teams he enjoys watching, but the idea they are more exciting than United is dealt with like an inexact pass that demands intercepting. “How do you judge exciting? There’s times this season when we’ve played well and we’ve scored a lot of goals, and you think, ‘Brilliant’. Barcelona have played well but then against Chelsea they weren’t so good in terms of exciting play. So it’s pretty hard to judge. We’ve both got top players in the right areas going forward that can entertain at any given time.”

Despite this, and Ferguson’s assertion that “you will see a really good game, there will be goals, it will be close”, Carrick feels the final could be attritional. “People have said they expect goals and attacking football, but last year it wasn’t about that. The Chelsea game wasn’t about that really, a lot of nice football but in terms of chances it didn’t pan out. Who knows? It could be 4-3, but it could be 0-0.”

Regularly denied the chance to show continentals what he can do in an England shirt, Carrick has showcased himself in the Champions League. He dwarfed Cesc Fabregas, not just physically, in United’s games with Arsenal and his performance against Inter Milan in the San Siro left Italians drooling “Il Magnifico Carrick!” in one headline in their football press. A low scoring rate is what mars his England chances (Carrick’s 22 career goals are fewer than Steven Gerrard has scored this season) but Carrick has struck importantly in Europe. He scored twice in United’s iconic 7-1 defeat of Roma in 2007 and converted his team’s vital second penalty in the shoot-out against Chelsea in last year’s final.

“Scoring that goal was the biggest thing I’ve done,” he says. Paul Scholes was Carrick’s partner in Moscow but, though Ferguson says “he might even start, who knows?”, the veteran expects to be a substitute. Scholes jokes mournfully, and perhaps pointedly, that he might be playing for Oldham this time next season. “It’s more a physical thing than a mental thing — if your legs aren’t doing what your body wants them to do,” he says. “I do feel a bit like that some days. I don’t really want to go on more than I should do.”

The changing of football’s guard is always poignant, especially when a great — and he can be called that — like Scholes is involved, but this is Carrick’s time. Initially at United he appeared to defer to Scholes, often giving him the ball instead of looking to execute one of the more penetrating passes of which he is capable. Nature could mean he will always be diffident off the field but with age (he soon turns 28) has come an increased willingness to assert himself on the football pitch.

He agrees he is in the form of his life and revels in his team’s exploits and their quest to become the first to retain the European Cup in the Champions League era. “When you’re in it, in the back of your mind, there’s something telling you, ‘This is something quite special’,” says Carrick. “Everyone keeps saying, ‘Nobody’s done this, nobody’s done that’. It brings a smile to your face. But really you’re just focused on doing the business, getting the job done. Hopefully when we’ve won it we can sit back and take it in.”

[Dapxin]

YouTube - Cristiano Ronaldo interviewing himself EXCLUSIVE

[Dapxin]

YouTube - Cristiano Ronaldo interviewing himself EXCLUSIVE

[Dapxin]

oh well, well.

I saw the last 85minutes of the game and there was only one conclusive theme running
---->. United! was crap.

Congratulations Barcelona! Deserved Champions!

We will back.....

[valteena]

Originally Posted by Dapxin

oh well, well.

I saw the last 85minutes of the game and there was only one conclusive theme running
---->. United! was crap.

Congratulations Barcelona! Deserved Champions!

We will back.....

That's the spirit man. Well done. It was definitely Brilliant Barcelonia and like you said they deserve to win.

[Dapxin]

^hehehe. you do football too ? which train do you ride ?

I am waiting to see the first 10 mins which Iheard Utd was brilliant, to start the inevitable post match analysis, if mourning
but
if all United! was going to do was play like that - no chance in Hell. You deserve to lose.

But I am still proud; Proud we lost tryinig to play football, whilst clearly already outplayed...

[Dapxin]

Originally Posted by oluomo

Be careful what you ask for Dapxin

It took only 10minutes into the game, and we lost the initiative... and we were unmasked right to our pants

It was raw, it was awkward, It was unusual, it sucked, and above all...it surely was fun.(paraphrasing Andy Roddick

[valteena]

[B]

Originally Posted by Dapxin

^hehehe. you do football too ? which train do you ride ?

I am waiting to see the first 10 mins which Iheard Utd was brilliant, to start the inevitable post match analysis, if mourning
but
if all United! was going to do was play like that - no chance in Hell. You deserve to lose.

But I am still proud; Proud we lost tryinig to play football, whilst clearly already outplayed...

The only beautiful soccer playing train lol, Gunner train. Yep Arsenal fan for life here.

[the duchess]

Arsenal!, arsenal!!, arsenal!!! Guuner for ever.

The one and only.

[Dapxin]

So what for next season?
via Manchester United Blog | The Stretty Rant by Stretford-end on 6/10/09

Writing this a few weeks after the 2-0 dressing down from Barcelona it would be easy to over react - media columns have been illuminated with the opinion that United are in decline and message boards across the internet are plagued with deluded Scousers who seem to think they now have a completely better first XI than United, and even some Chelsea fans who believe their midfield of Lampard, Ballack and Essien would easily dominate for victory in a head on clash with United’s midfield.
This is of course nonsense - a Chelsea midfield admittedly shorn of Essien were overran by Fletcher and Giggs in January and that is pretty much United’s 5th choice midfield.
The crowing of Liverpool fans is all very well but comes after their 3rd consecutive season without a trophy and where early eliminations from all cup competitions enabled Benitez to field a full strength squad for most of the league campaign - even then, they never really managed to get anywhere near a United team that had key defenders missing, Hargreaves and Anderson out for long periods, and all in all played all season almost in 3rd gear while having the distraction of fighting for a quintuple (in doing so, falling a penalty shoot out short of playing one game short of what would have been a maximum season at the very highest level of the game).
And the loss to Barcelona was no disgrace on reflection - where they are strongest they highlighted our greatest deficiency. It was a result waiting to happen upon reflection where in the losses to Arsenal, and Liverpool at Old Trafford the absence of Hargreaves meant a heavy reliance on Anderson to be disciplined - as hugely gifted as our number 8 is, he cannot yet combine the role of puppet master and defensive shield. This is no slight on Anderson - for all of the wizardry of Xavi and Iniesta they would have struggled to dictate if not for the insurance of Busquets. They would have struggled to dictate at all if Hargreaves and/or Fletcher were available and while it is no use lamenting over “what ifs” it is worth noting that their absence posing such a significant question means that it’s not ALL bad.
Those who are slightly more level headed have suggested that Barcelona simply took advantage of United’s absentees where United couldn’t do the same to Barcelona. I tend to think that it’s somewhere between the two - Barca’s use of the ball was depressingly mesmeric and you cannot hide from the fact that they are deserving European Champions.
However there is no hiding from the fact that there were shortcomings that need addressing and that those shortcomings may not be simply fixed by the return of Hargreaves and a full season from Brown, Ferdinand and Rafael.
Tevez looks to be on his way out and his end of season form only strengthens the popular opinion that he is a better option than Berbatov. In the crunch games at the end of the season where Ferguson demanded a performance from his players, Berbatov has notably been dropped.
A season of reflection tells us a few things - primarily that Berbatov being signed as a “different option” to Tevez hasn’t really worked. Yes, Berbatov has a better touch, but at the same time Tevez’s work rate is a leveller there - Berbatov, too though, drifts in and out of games and appears in areas where he is not effective. The argument that he was signed to play Rooney as an out and out striker holds no water given the fact that Rooney has played on the wings towards the end of the season. Ironic, given that he was on performance our best player in the last 2 months.
The solution here is unfortunately one that can not be helped much - the investment in Berbatov has already occured and no-one will take a £30m plunge on him (despite maybe City). The dream scenario of maybe writing £10m off Berbatov and spending an extra £5m on securing Tevez maybe something Ferguson may well want to do but it is not prudent and in all fairness writing a player off after one season isn’t really Ferguson’s style anyway. The only feasible outcome is to either take the plunge and sign Tevez and start with him next season, or sign a REAL alternative. A goal poacher. Benzema has inevitably been mentioned, and here at Stretford-End.com we were also quite partial to taking a punt on Eto’o last summer before Berbatov came and before Eto’o’s stock rose considerably again at Barca.
Benzema, as a young, goal hungry, quick reactionary and actually quite decent in the air fits the bill perfectly. The price will however be substantial - despite not winning the league for once, Lyon still qualified for the Champions League. Eto’o, too, seems to be out of the price range so what of the alternatives? Michael Owen, a lazy money grabbing crock whose electrifying attibute in pace was last seen around the same time as David May in a United shirt? Sergio Aguero, likely to cost upwards of £30m, and too similar to Rooney, Tevez and Berbatov?
Anything else will come from left field - Macheda has bags of potential but is he ready? Of his restrictions he does seem pretty slow and up against Wheater at Boro didn’t bully his way around like he had started to make a name for himself doing.
In defence, a back up for Evra is sorely needed - perhaps Fabio is the one for this, but he needs to stay fit. As does Wes Brown if Vidic gets any more hiccupy. The rumoured signing of Dodo could be vital but as the kid is 17 I doubt he will be anywhere near physically ready to step up to the mark of replacing either an error prone Vidic or an injury prone Rio.
As for goalkeeping, does van der Sar have another season left? He has the contract but is now the time to take the plunge and risk Foster? Personally I would give the youngster a lot more opportunities than he has been given this season. The defence needs to familiarise with him rather than just being lumped with him when van der Sar retires.
It is midfield, for all our riches, that needs addressing. In Carrick and Fletcher we have the Premier League’s most improved midfielders over the last two seasons, in Hargreaves we have a player who has few technical equals and Anderson, as stated, has huge potential but needs a steady partner to find his true rhythm - think Keane and Scholes, Vieira and Petit, Zidane and Davids, these were midfields that were borne out of consistent picking. Where we are lacking however is a Scholes - it sounds ridiculous as he is still on the books but Old Father Time is creeping up on him. He still has the ability - bags of it - but 6 years ago he could play a blind pass, whereas these days he needs too much time. Time that most teams don’t give.
How many players are available though that we could get? Sir Alex spoke of his admiration for Lampard recently - would such a move ever materialise? Fabregas may not have the full range of the younger Scholes’ abilities but there are few better in the world and he may have grown disillusioned with the lack of success at the Emirates. These are players, though, that we would not only have to break the bank for but also buck a trend of the English top 4 signing from each other. Not just that, but Lampard has said many times he will finish his career at Chelsea while Fabregas’ future would be in Spain. Michael Essien, similarly, could be the enforcer that compliments Hargreaves and Anderson perfectly but his is likely to be the shirt which a new Chelsea manager creates his team around.
The fact that a ready made Scholes replacement isn’t available makes for depressing thinking, as does the inevitable conclusion that Giggs is nearing the end - there still isn’t as effective a natural dribbler in the game (I include Ronaldo and Messi in that), the closest thing after him though is Ribery. A player who could well be available as Bayern may look to cash in, but again, Bayern’s qualification for the Champions League means that they hold a position of strength, and like Lyon, they don’t tend to let their players go for reasonable prices (and why should they?).
I would want United to sign Ribery anyway, regardless of whether Ronaldo stays or goes, as we need a natural winger. The potential signing of Valencia seems at best overpriced and at worst an unneccessary gamble. It is a crucial season in terms of Nani’s development - upper body strength and greater consistency did not come into Ronaldo’s game until around his 3rd season at Old Trafford and Nani has shown that he can deliver - for that potential, it is surely worth seeing if he has learned from a difficult second season.
My conclusion? Few changes need to be made, but those that do are significant. Even those that do need to be made will be restricted by circumstance. Of priority is a goalscorer and a winger (maybe two, depending on Ronaldo’s future). Hargreaves’ fitness may temporarily make everything seem alright but we may still need that imposing or creative midfielder so Anderson can define himself and dovetail. That might yet be with Hargreaves; hopefully next season will give us a positive answer.
So come on Fergie; deliver us the impossible dream of Benzema and Ribery. Persuade Ronaldo to stay and for God’s sake get everyone fit!

That was before the £80M news of the day. sick!

On Ronlado; You dont ever stop a man from following his dream - unless he is Obasanjo and 3rd term.

A step away from United! however - dont care much what everyone else says - is a step down.

But when a king dies, the people rediscover their own dreams - including new kings...and queens. But when a good king dies, it takes the long passing of time, to fill the void the the royalty takes a new form.

Goodluck to the kid Ronaldo - you brought thrill to the theatre despite all. Goodluck son.