The old Man Utd Thread

[Liamness]

Prospective Carling Cup team, based on what I've seen on this tour;

Macheda

Welbeck Obertan

Cleverley Gibson

Anderson

Fabio Rafael

Evans Smalling

????

I'm hoping Chicarito will be too busy with the major competitions. I don't know who we'd put in net for these, VDS has no successor right now really.

[oli]

Prospective Carling Cup team, based on what I've seen on this tour;

                   Macheda

    Welbeck                   Obertan

            Cleverley   Gibson

                   Anderson

Fabio                                    Rafael

               Evans  Smalling

                       ????

I'm hoping Chicarito will be too busy with the major competitions. I don't know who we'd put in net for these, VDS has no successor right now really.

It's possible Amos might get the nod?

[Liamness]

I don't know the first thing about him really. He hasn't impressed me, but then a couple of pre-season games is hardly a fair trial. If SAF thinks he's worth a shot, then why not?

[tyler]

So is Hernandez jumping ahead of Macheda? You've a few very promising strikers with Diouf aswell but who's getting the game time with Berbatov & Owen first on the bench.

[Liamness]

I actually forgot about Diouf completely! He could play either side of Macheda. We're actually going to have to rotate strikers in the Carling Cup, how ridiculous. Another solution might be sending one or two of them out on loan, but of course they might not come back.

I expect Owen to basically never play again, Chicarito can play the role of the dinky predator now. Berbatov will never score that many goals for us, but his creative talents are still amazing. I'm not sure where he fits in for us, still. If we play 4-4-2, it's obvious, but we rarely do these days.

[Mr Do 71]

WOW!

Just watched the whole match, and bloody hell we've got another crop of good young players coming through. Everything has been said above, but there were some great goals scored from our youngsters/new signings. The future is looking very bright indeed.

[AlwaysBeClosing]

Who knew Gibson could do that? Excellent free kick, I know it's from the ideal distance, but pings in just off the crossbar.

Doesn't touch the crossbar!

[Liamness]

Correct. I just assumed it did at the time, seeing as it came back out so fast. It's even more impressive, then.

[fatbob]

Still not trying to get my hopes up too much, but he would be a real asset... especially if he goes for under £20 million.

Come on Fergie, do it for fatboob.

[Poppalarge]

Still not trying to get my hopes up too much, but he would be a real asset... especially if he goes for under £20 million.

Come on Fergie, do it for fatboob.

Hes the only player I'd be excited to see at United, but I just cannot see it.

[fatbob]

There's an article on the Guardian saying that Anderson has been pulled from a flaming car wreck... :s

[ckny]

He's played his last game for United. He'll get the Jaap Stam treatment, no doubt about it.

[phresh]

Proper facepalm stuff, I really like him but sometimes players clearly don't have the right attitude for whatever reason.

God I hope we buy a midfielder of some description, if O'Shea has to play there in an actual competitive match I will cry. Maybe Cleverly's performances will convince Ferguson to let him have half a season in the first team and see how much he has played come January.

[MojoChin]

Unfortunately I do think we'll see Anderson leave in January, too late for this window. I really like Anderson, but he has fucked up too many times and Fergie isn't the forgiving sort.

[Gabzy]

What's all this about him messing up many a time? In what way?

[Trigg]

How dare he have a car accident?!?!

In all seriousness, he's on holiday and it was just a having a jolly time, it could have been anyone! Reports have suggested he wasn't driving either! You could argue that he should maybe getting rest following his operation but I suspect he's not even in rehab yet as he's not due back till the end of September.

Personally, not sure what he's done wrong.

For the record there's reports of Rooney out of the razz until 5 in the morning and singing football songs in the street. Do people see anything wrong with that?

[redbloodcell]

Given they've all been released as well it doesn't look like there was any drinking involved. The way they've described the crash its pretty amazing they all got off with just minor injuries.

[AlwaysBeClosing]

Proper facepalm stuff, I really like him but sometimes players clearly don't have the right attitude for whatever reason.

God I hope we buy a midfielder of some description, if O'Shea has to play there in an actual competitive match I will cry. Maybe Cleverly's performances will convince Ferguson to let him have half a season in the first team and see how much he has played come January.

So it's his fault he has a car accident? Thanks for clearing that up, he obviously needs to be moved on!

[MojoChin]

Well he had the argument with Fergie in January when he went to Brazil for 2 weeks. He has been increasingly known to be out on the razz a lot of the time.

As for this incident. Reports don't suggest that he wasn't driving, it has been mentioned he mightn't have been driving. Also he was out in a nightclub til 7am and he could still be collared by the police on a drink driving charge. Not to mention there were 3 people in a 2 person car. And seeing as it was Anderson's car, even if he wasn't driving, he can be done for allowing someone to drive under the influence, or without insurance, as well as the excess passenger charge.

In fairness we do not know all of the details, but most reports point to the fact that police will be involved and Fergie likes to keep a clean enough image, in this regard, and he will most definitely take a dim view on this.

[phresh]

So it's his fault he has a car accident? Thanks for clearing that up, he obviously needs to be moved on!

Yeah, fair enough if it was a complete accident but cars don't crash and burst into flames for no reason and even if he wasn't the driver he was in a car with someone who was (possibly) driving like a dick. When you're paid a small fortune and are currently out with a fucked knee i'd like to think he'd take a bit more care of himself. I've said in this thread many times that I really like him and want him to do well but i'm starting to get the feeling he just won't make it at United.

[AlwaysBeClosing]

Well he had the argument with Fergie in January when he went to Brazil for 2 weeks. He has been increasingly known to be out on the razz a lot of the time.

As for this incident. Reports don't suggest that he wasn't driving, it has been mentioned he mightn't have been driving. Also he was out in a nightclub til 7am and he could still be collared by the police on a drink driving charge. Not to mention there were 3 people in a 2 person car. And seeing as it was Anderson's car, even if he wasn't driving, he can be done for allowing someone to drive under the influence, or without insurance, as well as the excess passenger charge.

In fairness we do not know all of the details, but most reports point to the fact that police will be involved and Fergie likes to keep a clean enough image, in this regard, and he will most definitely take a dim view on this.

Reports don't know who was driving so it's neither here nor there. You don't go for cheapy insurance if you're a millionaire footballer, I'd be surprised if he didn't have insurance for the car that covers anyone.

Guessing at what's happening isn't fair.

[Liamness]

Plenty of our footballers have had car accidents, and Fergie will let him know what he thinks of it I'm sure, but I don't think he'll see him as a lost cause quite yet. Maybe he hopes it'll be a wakeup call for him? We're thin in midfield, we need him back fit and focused more than anything

[AlwaysBeClosing]

And some prick negged me.

[Mr Do 71]

Unfortunately I do think we'll see Anderson leave in January, too late for this window. I really like Anderson, but he has fucked up too many times and Fergie isn't the forgiving sort.

He gave Nani a chance, after it looked like he was not going to make it.

[phresh]

Nani's problems were on the pitch rather than off it though.

[Liamness]

Lest we forget all the bullshit SAF put up with when Ronaldo was here, including a road accident. Obviously it wasn't ideal, but he's not going to get rid of a great footballer with excellent potential because of an image problem. He concerns himself with their football.

[ckny]

Lest we forget all the bullshit SAF put up with when Ronaldo was here, including a road accident. Obviously it wasn't ideal, but he's not going to get rid of a great footballer with excellent potential because of an image problem. He concerns himself with their football.

[RKID]

Why oh why do people continue to rave on about Anderson?

He can't pass, he can't shoot and he can barely tackle. He is simply not good enough.

I hate having to look at his sulking face when he has a shot go 20 feet over the bar or runs I to space that obviously isn't there.

My prediction is Fregie will play him a few times to get his value up after he cone back Tom injury before selling him in January to the likes of West Ham or Fulham. Fact.

[Liamness]

He can tackle, his ability to win the ball is one of his best traits, and one that surprised everyone during his first season. We were expecting a Brazilian attacker full of flair (a tag which he hasn't backed up with his performances) but instead we got a midfield worker; exactly the kind of player we desperately, desperately need fit and in form. He can pass, he's just often over-ambitious and sometimes not on the same wavelength in the final third. When he plays further back, he knows he must have more discipline and rarely loses the ball. Yes his shooting has been poor, but if he plays as a DM or CM (which he mostly does) that's not really his job. Would be nice for him to chip in with a few goals I guess, but I think that will just take time, and an extended run in the team.

[BigShimmeryWall]

New away shirt is officially out.

I'm not hugely keen on the sleeves.