The old Man Utd Thread

[superpretend]

Wow, Foster is terrrrrrrible.

[Poppalarge]

Wow, Foster is terrrrrrrible.

I think it must just be confidence. If he gets a few games he might settle down. He's a great shot stopper.

[chalkitdown]

At least Berbatov won't be able to take a penalty

[chalkitdown]

What the fuck was that, Evra?!

[moss]

I actually said "oh, fuck off Evra" when I saw that, then immediately felt bad, because I love him really.

[dan_tm]

Interesting to see how no one has mentioned Chelsea's second goal, it was ridiculous how much of a big deal Sky were making of it. Andy Gray and Jamie Redknapp were talking out of their collective arses.

Some things never change I guess.

[oli]

I was surprised that play wasn't stopped given that the ref had pulled the game back for Ballack minutes earlier, but we were caught napping

[a big boy]

"Ronaldo who?"

[phresh]

It depends how the ref saw it really. I always assumed that 'advantage' worked a similar way to Rugby Union so United would have got the free kick once Chelsea got the ball (obviously this has the problem of how long you play advantage for). That the ref didn't even give Ballack a card for what was a blatant foul makes me think he (the ref) didn't see it as a free kick. It's a grey area that you could argue both ways really although it would be nice for the FA to do something as our referees get all the grief for something that isn't completely their own doing.

I only caught the last 20 minutes so can't say an awful lot about the match except that Rooney's goal was superb. Did Foster fuck up for the first goal then? I only saw his pretty excellent save against Drogba late in the match. Our penalties were terrible but meh would it have gone any different with Ronaldo on the pitch? The quality of the substitutes we were able to bring in shows just how much depth we still have.

[dan_tm]

I was surprised that play wasn't stopped given that the ref had pulled the game back for Ballack minutes earlier, but we were caught napping

Sky used that reasoning too, but it didn't really make much sense...

When Ballack went down injured United came away with the ball. Result: No advantage for Chelsea, game stopped.

When Evra went down injured United again came away with the ball. Result: Advantage played for United, Rooney lost it and Chelsea scored on the break.

The silliest bit about it was Rooney being one of the most annoyed with the decision to play on, when he himself had plenty of time to kick the ball out if he was really that concerned.

[oli]

My understanding of the rule was that play is stopped at the referees discretion but generally if it's a head/face injury then the game is stopped whoever has the advantage. Given that Evra took an elbow to the face and went down holding his nose I expect that counts as a facial injury.

I reckon the referee either didn't see it or see it properly, and the players should have played to the whistle really.

[Naysonymous]

Sky used that reasoning too, but it didn't really make much sense...

When Ballack went down injured United came away with the ball. Result: No advantage for Chelsea, game stopped.

When Evra went down injured United again came away with the ball. Result: Advantage played for United, Rooney lost it and Chelsea scored on the break.

The silliest bit about it was Rooney being one of the most annoyed with the decision to play on, when he himself had plenty of time to kick the ball out if he was really that concerned.

Evra seemed to be perfectly fine and able to continue playing at the restart too. Play to the whistle boys, its something they should have taught you at school.

[fatbob]

Ballack proved again today what a horrible cunt he can be at times.

On the whole, it was a pretty entertaining game for a 'friendly'.

I hope our injuries weren't too badd today, Nani in particular looks like its probably a bad disloation or even break. Its a bit like playing against a team of Neil Ruddocks at times with Chelsea, when their heart is in it.

[oli]

Ballack proved again today what a horrible cunt he can be at times today.

On the whole, it was a pretty entertaining game for a 'friendly'.

I hope our injuries weren't too badd today, Nani in particular looks like its probably a bad disloation or even break. Its a bit like playing against a team of Neil Ruddocks at times with Chelsea, when their heart is in it.

The BBC says it's a dislocated shoulder, although I gather it was popped back in with no issues so it's just a case of recovering from that

[fatbob]

Aye, should be sore for a couple of weeks and might might well be out for a couple more, it depends if it tore any muscles around the shoulder joint, i've had a dislocated knee before and it wasn't very nice at all, especially if you get cartilage fragments on the joint.

[McFly]

Didnt Man Utd used to be good at pens? Or is it a Wembley curse?

[fatbob]

My main concern now is that as SAF was obviously looking for Nani to shoulder (pun intended) more responsibility this season, and Valencia being promissing again aside (I love his tenacity to chace down players when hes looses it - very strong and quick), Park didn't look great today and Tosic is still a year or two off a regular reliable performer, so that doesn't leave us with a lot of winger options now.

Oh, Obertan is injured too.

Might he change his mind and decide to make a run at Silva or Young?

[fatbob]

Didnt Man Utd used to be good at pens? Or is it a Wembley curse?

The opposite realy, didn't think they'd won many pens under Fergie at all, untill the last couple of years I think we'd gone something like 10 years or so without winning at pens?

Add to that that Chelsea is basically a team of penalty takers and our main one has left as well as an obviously nervy keeper... to be expected today realy.

We needed Anderson.

[Guest]

My main concern now is that as SAF was obviously looking for Nani to shoulder (pun intended) more responsibility this season, and Valencia being promissing again aside (I love his tenacity to chace down players when hes looses it - very strong and quick), Park didn't look great today and Tosic is still a year or two off a regular reliable performer, so that doesn't leave us with a lot of winger options now.

Oh, Obertan is injured too.

Might he change his mind and decide to make a run at Silva or Young?

How about Ribery?

[Majora]

Twas very reminiscent of last season. 20-25 minutes of goodness then a whole lot of nothing.

[phresh]

How about Ribery?

There was a rumour the other day that a deal has already been agreed that he will move to Real next summer. That neither Bayern and Ribery have said anything in a week or so makes me think it could be true.

Twas very reminiscent of last season. 20-25 minutes of goodness then a whole lot of nothing.

It was the same at times in pre-season, do we suddenly get 'found out' 1/4 way into a match or do we start at such a speed hoping to get a goal and then come off the gas? It's frustrating but at least the team looks to be playing well without Ronaldo. Didn't realise that Nani got injured though, thats a real shit as he's played well the last couple of games. Park doesn't look match fit yet which pretty much leaves us with Giggs and Tosic as the other options. Not the worst scenario ever but not the best either. I suppose he could also play Anderson out there.

We know that our post-xmas form is what usually wins us the title so i'm not too worried if we drop a few points here and there now but it would be nice if we could get a run of form that deserted us at times last season.

[milko]

Can't they give Park some intensive shooting training? Seriously, the guy's like me in front of goal; you jsut know he's gonna scuff it off target or some other way of screwing it up. I thought he'd have got better by now after managing to scrape a couple of PL goals but nah, not at all.

[McFly]

Yeah, he gets in so many great positions he just cant finish at all.

[dan_tm]

Ballack proved again today what a horrible cunt he can be at times.

Most players would do that to stop an opponent getting by though, it's unfair to single out Ballack just because he gets away with it more than most it seems. Carvalho did the same towards the end on the opposite side of the pitch, remember? Andy Gray even praised him for it, the fat cunt.

(unless Ballack's was a deliberate elbow to the face, that would be a different matter entirely of course)

[Majora]

Park's creeping up on 30 isn't he? I doubt his finishing will really improve now to be honest. He generally gets in better positions than Nani who seems to be a bit of a one-shot wonder (cut in off the left and blast it from outside the box) but his end-product has always been what lets him down. It's Anderson we should be forcing to shoot at goal ten hours a day, five days a week.

[phresh]

I don't think it's Nani's shooting that is the problem, that aspect of his end product is fine. Ronaldo got good when he got direct and as soon as Nani does that he'll be a world class player.

[phresh]

Here is the lineup for today;

-------------Foster-------------------

Fabio---O'Shea©---Evans---Evra

Valencia--Fletcher--Scholes--Nani

-----Rooney---Berbatov------------

Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Owen, Anderson, Giggs, Gibson, De Laet.

Ferdinand out with thigh injury which is a litle worrying with Vidic still out but they are two experienced players and i'm not convinced Mcfadden will cause too many problems. Midfield is interesting though, quite conventional in the sense of having 2 wingers, a holding player and a playmaker.

[Mr Do 71]

Here is the lineup for today;

-------------Foster-------------------

Fabio---O'Shea©---Evans---Evra

Valencia--Fletcher--Scholes--Nani

-----Rooney---Berbatov------------

Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Owen, Anderson, Giggs, Gibson, De Laet.

Ferdinand out with thigh injury which is a litle worrying with Vidic still out but they are two experienced players and i'm not convinced Mcfadden will cause too many problems. Midfield is interesting though, quite conventional in the sense of having 2 wingers, a holding player and a playmaker.

Come on United

[phresh]

Carrick out just to spread the load on the midfield apparently so I guess he'll play on wednesday.

[Rin]

Bit worried about the defence.