The Manchester United thread: A star is born.

[Dapxin]

Wolfsburg made a huge huge play of tonights game. engaging stuff. good goal carrick. + vidic was mighty lucky not to be bundled home....

[Odinaka]

Originally Posted by Dapxin

Wolfsburg made a huge huge play of tonights game. engaging stuff. good goal carrick. + vidic was mighty lucky not to be bundled.

I was beginning to give up on Carrick and Anderson. Maybe they need more playing time. Though they were ok today, Anderson in particular needlessly gave the ball away on a couple of occasions. But a good game in general.

[Dapxin]

I am personally out on Anderson. I think he fails under scrutiny, even more than berbatov, who is always under the press radar - for their so called 'languid' style.

Interesting to see how it goes for him. Any1 know where fergie kept Macheda ?

[chaos.com]

Originally Posted by Odinaka

No. I have never said there is a witchhunt for or against Man Utd. What I did was point out to Conspiracy theorists like you referee decisions that have gone the way or against other clubs other than Man Utd, just to let you know that bad decisions happen because refs are human beings. But you won't and can't even contest the points I raised, like the recent one in Man City vs West Ham, but want everyone to applaud you for calling someone a cheat. I haven't even conceded that the time added was too much, and have even gone further to give you instances where more than 1 second, which was the case in the match in question, was added. One of the cases was a match Man Utd was winning at OT. But no, you refuse to see. So go buy new glasses, it's obvious the ones you are using now are useless

Maybe you need to visit the optician and your psychologists as well.
Conspiracy theorists like you are spreading the news that there is a witch hunt against man utd. Well i do not care one bit. Too much time was added and that was a fact. Refs are human does not change the fact that too much time was added. Whether it was done elsewhere des not matter, so stop sounding like a stuck record and go watch your team behind your rose tints.

[Odinaka]

Originally Posted by chaos.com

Maybe you need to visit the optician and your psychologists as well.
Conspiracy theorists like you are spreading the news that there is a witch hunt against man utd. Well i do not care one bit. Too much time was added and that was a fact. Refs are human does not change the fact that too much time was added. Whether it was done elsewhere des not matter, so stop sounding like a stuck record and go watch your team behind your rose tints.

Do you have to lie, or am I writing in some strange language? Show me where I said that there is a witch hunt against Man utd. Well, you've been unable to argue with facts, and the next thing is to start blowing lies.Go ahead then. If it was done elsewhere, and continues to be done, then you surely did lie when you called a man a cheat. Go and watch your own team, with a dictionary in hand, or better still, with a certified language translator by your side.

[Odinaka]

Originally Posted by Dapxin

I am personally out on Anderson. I think he fails under scrutiny, even more than berbatov, who is always under the press radar - for their so called 'languid' style.

Interesting to see how it goes for him. Any1 know where fergie kept Macheda ?

Also, we could have lost the match or managed a draw if we didn't equalize when we did. Sometimes, players behave funny, and that was what Vidic did, forgetting he was on yellow (the ref also ignored two or 3 other similar incidence, 2 of them involving Wolfsburg player). Just like the Wolfsburg defender who stuck out his hand while defending a cross (definite penalty). I still remember one of my favourite players, Eto, doing that in that Chelsea- Barca semi final at Stamford bridge. Strangely, the ref (he was extremely poor in that game) said "play on". Again, both sides needlessly gave away the ball. Giggs was unfortunate with the disallowed goal as the ball came off a Wolfsburg player.

[Dapxin]

all I gotta say to that Ben Foster inspired 94mins of madness is here:

http://my.opera.com/dapxin/blog/2009...-unknown-force

see you next week.

[chaos.com]

pic.jpg

One for sir alex

[Dapxin]

Originally Posted by chaos.com

Attachment 685

One for sir alex

Its nice :

Who is noticing the arsenal kids btw ? they are back to some confidence...I think arsenal is the boogey team this season.

[Dapxin]

Saw the last minutes of the game tonight. not much entertaining stuff but Valencia nicks a 1-0.

Bring on Liver-crisis

[Dapxin]

Liverpool 2 - United 0.
thanks for being so crap today #ManchesterUnited. Football is Justiceless .....but #Liverpool did what they had to do. Congratulations! specially to Torress - a class act for a striker anyday, even half-fit.

all I gotta say. Who's next ?

[Dapxin]

Fergie vs. Ancelotti

by Stretford-end



They may joke about sharing a glass of red win tomorrow as they always have done in previous encounters – but make no mistakes – tomorrow is an enormous game for both teams to make a claim for the strongest team in the land. Fergie and Chelsea’s manager Carlo Ancelotti have met before – when United played Juventus and AC Milan – with the Italian having a better record than the gaffer.


United met Juventus in the April of 1999, having overcome one of the other big three Italian teams in the previous round (Inter Milan). The first round was at Old Trafford and to be honest Juevntus played us off the park – with Zidane, Conte and Davids starring. Snapping at the heels of a strong United midfield – the Turin club took the lead before a late goal from Ryan Giggs gave United some hope – however, having watched United crash out of Europe to Dortmund and Monaco the previous two seasons – lets say I was filled with confidence that we’d make the final.

We all know what followed in Turin and in my opinion it was the finest Manchester United performance i’d ever seen – especially from our skipper. Being the first club to win on Italian soil, having been 2-0 down to a club who had appeared in three of the last Champions League finals was quite simply phenomenal. Ancelotti was never a popular choice for the Old Lady due to his Milan ties and quite simply he was following an impossible task of surpassing Marcello Lippi. As we all know we went on to win the European Cup and Ferguson had outwitted the young coach – however, in time, Ancelotti would get one up on Ferguson.

Fast forward to February 2005 and United were drawn against AC Milan in the last sixteen of the Champions League. Eagerly anticipating the game due to the fact that I’d always seen Milan as one of the true giants of European Football. Remembering players such as Van Basten, Savićević, Baresi and Ruud Gullit – I was really looking forward to seeing how a Manchester United side (that was in transition) would fare against the then six times champions of Europe.

In fairness, we were never in the contest. Roy Carroll produced a howler for Hernan Crespo to score – whilst in the away leg Crespo scored again – this time with a header past the trailing Tim Howard. United were well beaten – and looking at the subs who came on that night – Smith and Fortune – United didn’t really have the strength and depth to compete. Combine this with an on going ankle injury to Ruud Van Nistelrooy and the inexperience of Ronaldo and Rooney – it wasn’t a major surprise that we struggled against a team consisting of Seedorf, Nesta, Cafu and the brilliant Maldini.

I always remember a quote from Ferguson as he watched Milan beat Bayern Munich two years later in the semi final of the competition. We had already booked our place in the semi final and were awaiting the outcome of the second leg in Munich. If memory serves me right – the Germans nicked a 2-2 draw at the San Siro and were slight favourites to venture on. However, Fillipo Inzaghi had other ideas and scored a brace to send the Rossoneri through. The more I think about it – Inzaghi is one of the best goal poachers i’ve ever seen. Terrible technically on the ball – but simply superb in front of goal. I remember watching that game on the TV and thinking to myself ‘he is the worst player on the park’ – before he went on and scored two goals – assisted by the excellent Seedorf. Milan made it through to the semi-finals for a Ferguson vs. Ancelotti round three match.

United against Milan in the spring of 2007 was going to be different from the one two years previous. Gone were the likes of Fortune and Carroll and in were Patrice Evra, Gabriel Henize and a more experienced Wayne Rooney. I honestly thought we had a great chance of reaching the final in Athens – but did have one concern i n my mind – what else did Milan have to play for? They were miles behind in Serie A, out of the domestic cup and simply had all their eggs in one basket, whereas we were fighting it out with Chelsea in the league and FA Cup – something had to give I thought.

United started off with a makeshift defense with O’Shea, Brown, Henize and Evra – but it was Ronaldo who scored with a header. Unfortunately that was Ronaldo’s one and only contribution to the tie as he was overshadowed by the brillian Brazilian Kaka – whom he battled out the Ballon D’or at the end of the season. What followed wouldn’t have looked out of place at a circus. Kaka scored two goals, one a superbly left footed shot beating Van Der Sar with ease – the other a calamity smash from Patrice Evra and serial jester Gabriel Henize – resulting in a one on one for Kaka – which he duly slotted away. The second half saw United fight back – with two Rooney goals – one after a brilliant scoop by Paul Scholes, the other an early shot from the edge at the box right at the depth beating Dida. We had one foot in the final – but the two Kaka goals meant there was little separating the teams going into th game at the Giuseppe Meazza.

What happened in that game – no red wants to remember. The pouring rain smashing on to the Milanese turf epitomised the feeling towards the occasion. Disappointment, embarrassment and the realisation we would not be going to Greece – considering Liverpool at qualified the night before. However, looking at the facts – United beat Everton 4-2 the weekend previous after a grueling encounter, which saw us fight back from 2-0 down. Milan on the other hand – rested their entire team against Udinese – in preparation for the match against United. No excuses – we were the well beaten – but I think the analysis as to why a team lost should go deeper than the one game that decided the match. Would United have won the League title that season and got to the FA Cup final – both against a superb Chelsea team – if they had put their eggs in one basket? I doubt it – but it was a learning curve for the next season – which saw both Ferdinand and Vidic playing consistently in the latter stages.

Forgetting the Community shield and concentrating on the major European ties – Ferguson’s record against Ancelotti reads – played 6, won 2, drawn 1 and lost 3. I don’t think it is a bad record due to the points I have raised within this blog entry – but i’m sure the gaffer will be keen to get one over on Ancelotti, especially considering the pain of the 3-0 defeat. Ancelotti has brought a decent brand of football to the Bridge after the guidance of the exceptional Guus Hiddink. Frank Lampard is having a great season and he’s even got Deco playing again. Joe Cole is good addition to the side – and will want to prove something tomorrow if he gets on. The 5th of November is usually the night were fireworks go off – however, I expect tomorrow – we’ll see the best of the bunch.

Just a little to wet your appetite. The real thing kicks off tomorrow.

All I lookout for is that United! play well. Its been scrappy ruffled dragging mix this season, but its United! we kickoff in December - except this unfinished business with the Italian bloke.

And that champions league loss to AC Milan was a disastrous night - unforgotteble @ the San Siro.

I pray for the United! midfield....Its all on them tomorrow! actually scratch that, I dont pray(it doesnt work in football), I wish.

[Odinaka]

Originally Posted by Dapxin

Fergie vs. Ancelotti




Just a little to wet your appetite. The real thing kicks off tomorrow.

All I lookout for is that United! play well. Its been scrappy ruffled dragging mix this season, but its United! we kickoff in December - except this unfinished business with the Italian bloke.

And that champions league loss to AC Milan was a disastrous night - unforgotteble @ the San Siro.

I pray for the United! midfield....Its all on them tomorrow! actually scratch that, I dont pray(it doesnt work in football), I wish.

It was after that unforgettable, disastrous night @ San Siro that we all saw what a disaster Gabriel Heinze was/is in defense. In the first leg at OT, it was still the same story (Evra was to be blamed also), as Kaka was allowed to score two highly preventable goals after we had taken the lead. That night at San Siro was even more painful because we had earlier on dismissed Roma (another Italian side) by 7 goals to 1 in the quarter final at OT. Fergie needs to learn from that experience. He needs to rebuild the team again. Forget about the likes of Carrick, Nani and to an extent, Anderson. Yes they were expensive but then one doesn't have to commit suicide because an investment has failed. The midfield is weak, with Scholes and Giggs not getting younger. He needs to go look for people with the hunger of Keane, the intelligence of Scholes and Giggs, and the Charisma of Cantona. Sure those players come once in a blue moon but he can get people close to them (maybe am fantasizing too much). Then the defense needs serious attention. That we had a good record last season seems to mask the fact that Wes Brown isn't good , especially in central defense. O'Shea is just ok in the right full back, but he is not going forward. He has been a good servant of the club but he needs a good back up, or rather, he needs a good right full back he can serve as a back up to. He is still ok as a back up in central defense. Neville has been a wonderful player but he is clearly past it now. Then there is Rio Ferdinand. I have never been his admirer, and don't think he is a bad player, but he seems to be over hyped by the English press, like some other English players. Fergie should start shopping for his replacement, since the Champions league final last season, he's been rolling down hill in form.

As for tomorrow, I'll be satisfied with a draw, Chelsea are firing on all cylinders these days.

[Dapxin]

great points Odin.............

You sum up all my feelings for todays United!.

In a sense, United! is in transition...............if we win anything this season, It will be inspite of an average midfield indeed.

Now dont make me remember the Keeenu! And how dare you talk of the Cantona like that..... una want make I dey go see old CDs again ?

+ The truly boogey team this season appears to be those Arsenal kids and I am not convinced by Anderson too; I think some of these guys truly dont get what it means to step out in a United! shirt.....thats the missing key imo.. Ronaldo, for instance, did. And even more so for Real. Nani cant. I fear he wont.

Still, If any team can pull off another surprise, when you least expect, United! is one of them. A draw @ the stamford bridge will taken, with a fully served plate of "thanks......see you @ the theatre of dreams."

[Dapxin]

so. 1 - 0.
dull tenative, and cagey 95mins of football. Cant feel sorry for United!;
The lack of clinical edge ooozing big......which worries.
Anderson, struggled sometimes making you wonder if perhaps Scholes woulda been better but it doesnt matter. We had our chances and cant take them....wretching!

Bloody ol game and chelski get dirty 3 points. well done.

Its now a 2 way contest with Arsenal and chelsea and the deficits in the United setup - despite playing so well today - begins to stare....

[Odinaka]

Originally Posted by Dapxin

great points Odin.............

You sum up all my feelings for todays United!.

In a sense, United! is in transition...............if we win anything this season, It will be inspite of an average midfield indeed.

Now dont make me remember the Keeenu! And how dare you talk of the Cantona like that..... una want make I dey go see old CDs again ?

+ The truly boogey team this season appears to be those Arsenal kids and I am not convinced by Anderson too; I think some of these guys truly dont get what it means to step out in a United! shirt.....thats the missing key imo.. Ronaldo, for instance, did. And even more so for Real. Nani cant. I fear he wont.

Still, If any team can pull off another surprise, when you least expect, United! is one of them. A draw @ the stamford bridge will taken, with a fully served plate of "thanks......see you @ the theatre of dreams."

Chelsea won by a lone goal. I am not disappointed with the result. In fact I am surprised by the way our midfield and defense played. The makeshift defense handled Drogba, Anelka and Chelsea very well, except for that free kick. Fergie should have had the courage to pull out Giggs earlier. He was particularly guilty of wasting potential goal scoring opportunities. Those who go about complaining about how refs are bought over by Man U should understand from today's game that bad decisions is an ill wind that knows no friend

I agree that Arsenal could be the surprise team this season. As long as they learn how to keep their heads up when things are not going their way, they'll be fine. Even the brilliant Wenger should learn the lesson too. Arsenal lost to Man U at the emirate in the champions league semi not only because Man U got two early goals, but also because Wenger bowed his head in despair,rather than tell his team all was not lost. Just look at the way Rafa's team played Chelsea in the champions league semi at Stamford bridge after it looked they were out of it following their terrible performance in the fisrt leg.
l

[Bunch17]

Originally Posted by Dapxin

Its now a 2 way contest with Arsenal and chelsea .

From a man who supports the only football team in the world (Arsenal) , I beg to differ. It is early says yet.

[Dapxin]

Football is so mental...

[Dapxin]

Originally Posted by Bunch17

From a man who supports the only football team in the world (Arsenal) , I beg to differ. It is early says yet.

what are you on about ?

[Bunch17]

Originally Posted by Dapxin

what are you on about ?

OK. There are two football teams in the world, Arsenal and others.

On the issue of the season being between us and CSKA London, there is the little matter of the African Cup of Nations 2010. During this time, African footballers have to be released at least two (one?) week before the competition making it 5 weeks when the respective clubs would not have the services of their African players.

Let us look at the top teams and see who they would lose for this period.

CSKA London: Essein, Drogba, Obi Michael, Kalou

The ARSENAL : Song, Ebue

MANU: That very useful footballer called No Player!

Now see the firepower these teams will lose during this period. These are very important players particularly for Cheski.
Mind you, often these guys come back crocked, fatigued or not at all (for some time).

Bros, the season is not yet over.