Preview: Newcastle United v United
When Manchester United last visited St James’ Park in January, heavy defeat told only part of the story that week. Demba Ba’s volley and a fine free-kick from Johan Cabaye helped to inflict a 3-0 loss on Sir Alex Ferguson’s men – it came just four days after relegation bound Blackburn Rovers’ New Year’s Eve victory at Old Trafford. Five months out from the season’s dénouement and United’s domestic challenge appeared every bit as forlorn as that in Europe.
Yet, defeat on Tyneside marked a sea change in United’s fortunes, with Ferguson’s men first challenging and then overtaking Manchester City in the Premier League title race in the Spring. History concludes that United’s challenge was unsuccessful, but that 4 January defeat to Newcastle seemingly sparked the Reds’ campaign into life.
The new season brings new challenges, of course, but just a week after defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, Ferguson can only hope that a modicum of history does not repeat at St. James’ Park on Sunday.
However, United’s inconsistent performances to date have already brought two Premier League defeats in six games; it’s a loss ratio that cannot be maintained as the season progresses if Ferguson wants his team to challenge. In Europe narrow victories over opposition bodes well for European qualification at least, although performances have been far from stellar either.
Indeed, defeat to Spurs last weekend came amid one of the worst 45 minutes performance during Sir Alex’ Old Trafford reign; that first half followed, at least, by a hugely impressive attacking effort in the second that only just failed to bring Ferguson’s men a result.
Still, United’s form in the first nine games of the season leaves supporters wondering if, and when, the Reds’ season will spark into life. Few hope the kindling required is another defeat on Tyneside.
“In the second half of the season we had to do something, when you lose a game you have to do something,” said Ferguson of last January’s defeat at St. James’.
“We lost a game to Tottenham and we have to recover again. Hopefully we can get the result on Sunday. It won’t be easy, it is always a difficult place to go, Newcastle. I think under Alan Pardew they have become a really committed team. But after what happened in the game against Tottenham we need to get on the road in terms of recovery.”
“I watched Newcastle last night and they played a few of their squad and left a few others out. But they still won convincingly. It was a good performance and a good result for them.
“Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse both have good scoring records. They rested Ba last night and played Shola Ameobi. I’m not sure what combination it will be on Sunday. Ba and Ameobi are both strong, while Cisse has scored some fantastic goals for them. The third goal last night was excellent.”
If United is to get a result at St. James’ then Ferguson’s men will do so without a plethora of injured players. Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones will again be absent from the back-four, while Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia sit out another fixture. However, Ferguson will welcome back Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs to the travelling party after the midfield trio missed United’s trip to Cluj in midweek.
Ferugson will retain Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans at the heart of United’s defence after the Ulsterman overcame a dead leg picked up against CFR Cluj on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Chris Smalling is one step nearer full fitness after the
“It was just a dead leg he picked up last Saturday against Tottenham,” said Sir Alex.
“I took him off towards the end [of the Cluj game]. Smalling has started training on the football side. That helps us, particularly as we have a problem at centre-back. Ashley will start training while the internationals are on, particularly during the second week. He could, at a stretch, be back for the Stoke game.”
Wayne Rooney should start alongside Robin van Persie at Newcastle, although Ferguson faces a difficult choice where to deploy the former Evertonian with Shinji Kagawa waiting to return. The Japanese midfielder sat out United’s narrow victory in Romania on Tuesday night, and may have to settle for a role on the left side of midfield.
Meanwhile, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew can point to some improved for after the Magpies dispatched Bordeaux 3-0 in the Europa League on Thursday night. Underwhelming results, including a succession of draws, has seen Newcastle slip to 10th in the Premier League. Yet the Magpies have hit top form at just the right time, with former Red Gabriel Obertan imperssing on Thursday.
“You can bet your life this place is going to be rocking on Sunday after that performance,” said Pardew after Newcastle’s victory on Thursday night. “It is going to be a tough game for us and a tough game for Manchester United for sure.” (AM)
Of that there is little doubt.
Match Details
Newcastle United v Manchester United – Premier League, St. James’ Park – Sunday 7 October 2012, 4pm
Possible Teams
Newcastle (4-3-3): Harper; Perch, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon; Bigirimana, Gutierrez; Ben Arfa, Cisse, Ba. Subs from: Elliot, Ferguson, Tavernier, Anita, Cabaye, Tiote, Obertan, Sh Ameobi, Sa Ameobi
United (4-2-3-1): Lindegaard; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Scholes, Carrick; Nani, Rooney, Kagawa; Van Persie. Subs from: De Gea, Büttner, Wootton, Powell, Giggs, Anderson, Cleverley, Fletcher, Macheda, Hernández, Welbeck.
Officials
Referee: H Webb
Assistants: M Mullarkey, D Cann
Fourth Official: K Friend
Form
Newcastle: DDDWLD
United: WWWWLW
Head-to-Head
Last 10: Newcastle, United, Draw
Overall: Newcastle, United, Draw
Stats
- Newcastle fans were spared defeat last week with talismanic frontman Demba Ba scoring twice in the second half against Reading to ensure a point returned north with the Magpies;
- Jonas Gutierrez turned in a typically hard-running performance against, covering 5.37 miles, the most of any Newcastle player;
- French midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa continues to trouble defences this season, making nine dribbles to date – he is joint second on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index;
- Papiss Cisse’s performances this season have been aided by the player’s speed – the striker clocked 20.26mph, the quickest of any player on the park last weekend;
- Defender Mike Williamson has gone quietly about some solid defensive work so far this season, making 31 interceptions and 5 blocks;
- Michael Carrick covered 6.67 miles against Spurs last weekend, in a team total of 64.46 miles – a season high;
- Carrick has also received the ball more than any other United player, having been passed to 420 times by his teammates this season;
- At 37 Paul Scholes’ enduring influence remains – no other player in the United squad has completed more passes in the opponent’s half than the midfielder – 189;
- Jonny Evans was United’s quickest player against Spurs – recorded at 19.96mph;
- Bought for his creativity, Shinji Kagawa’s defnesive work has been surprising – the former Borussia Dortmund has successfully won 86 per cent of tackles attempted so far this season.
Prediction
1-1
Also worth reading:
- Poll: derby day thrashing is…
- United’s opening fixtures moved
- Fergie blames players and trusts fates to others
- Baffling decisions could cost United the big prizes
- Rooney returns as Reds rally for Geordie trip
Tags: Newcastle United, Premier League
Loading ...
We’re gonna get done
Please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs, please don’t play Giggs…
He’s blatantly going to start now isn’t he!?
It’s not often as a United fan that you look at a fixture and say “I’d take a point”
But this is definitely one of those games
We look so vulnerable at present that I don’t see us keeping a clean sheet unless some serious goalkeeping heroics are involved
That said, we are a pretty fun proposition going forward and should be able to punch holes through the Newcastle back line
So I think it will be an entertaining game for the neutral
and another nerve wracking stress fest for United fans
which will most likely result in some further recriminations and multiple posts about our lack of a midfield
Oh well – such is the way of things at present
We’ll keep the red flag flying high regardless!
Come on you reds!
No we’re not
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
No we’re not.
Make me believe, Alf
All I can see is an arse raping
Are you watching Deliverance?
Hodgson has embarrassed Rio… he’ll be out to make Woy look an idiot… Evra has been shit and I can see Fergie sitting him on his arse, and giving Buttnuts a game, and he’s going to play out of his skin,(again), to stake a claim for a regular place.
Since he’s come back, Fletcher has actually looked quite good… nowt spectacular, but he’s put a bit of grit in the midfield that wasn’t there before… and we’ll need that against Tiote…
And…
Rooney and van Percie are going to take the Toon defence to school… the MotD pundits are going to have a major pissing contest to see who gets to review,(wank over) this game on Sunday night.
But mainly because Jamie-a face I’d like to punch-Redknapp predicts the Toon will win…
How’s that???
It will probably be a goal fest. On form and paper there’s a distinct possibility of Toon taking us to the woodshed, but Fergie is usually pretty good at making the lads bounce back from a defeat.
Last season we played Newcastle at St James’ Park after Blackburn beat us 3-2 at Old Trafford, and we got smashed 3-0
That helps
Van Persie is in brilliant form, aye… But so is Ba, 6 goals in 7, and some of them are belters…
ignore all the shite alf said
theyre without collocini, all their other defenders are shite
we’ll lose though
Ignore Knobby period… he blows dead bears.
We’ve both got shit defences, but it’s their midfield and their attack and how everything goes for them at St James’ that makes me think this is only going one way
We’ll probably play Scholes and Carrick in the middle, have zero midfield presence, and watch them try to bang it long to our frustrated forwards.
2-2
Our defence is shiteful
I have a good feeling about this one….3-1 United
I think Rooney will play deeper and drop back and help out a lot so we might be able to hold them IF Evra and Rafael actually defend. RVP will be up front and his class could hurt the Magpies on the counter. But not having Valencia again hurts us. I wonder if DDG will play or SAF will continue to play this stupid rotation game which isn’t good for either keeper.
I’ll say 1-1 as well just because I thin kRooney will drop back into MF more but I worry about Demba Ba making Rio and Evans look silly.
If Valencia is fit to start, we’ll play with wingers… which probably means Nani will also play, and there’ll be no Kagawa if Fergie plays both RVP and Rooney. I think we’d do best with Kagawa and Rooney both behind RVP.
Chelsea and City have struck form so we have to win: if we lose then its “feggedabowdit” time.
i think the arthritic axis of carrick and scholes continues. Draw – possibly a slim victory if Rooney can inject some physical vigour back into the side. It would be nice if Fergie fortified the mifield with a Clev or Ando. I think there is some merit in playing without conventional wingers (a lot of top teams do); it doesn’t preclude a team from achieving width via midfield/forward rotation and progressive fullbacks.
Must win! Need much better performance to get anything out of this!!
I disagree. Can’t go to Newcastle in a defensive mood, our defense is suspect so we need to go there and take the game to Newcastle. Van Persie and Rooney up front.
If Valencia is unfit, use no wingers, play attacking fullbacks instead, which would be Rafael and Buttner. Nani is useless, needs to start on the subs bench. Behind the two strikers play Powell on the left wide, Kagawa in the middle and Anderson on the right wide. Powell and Anderson will play wide midfield, they will not play as wingers. Fletcher will play behind in the midfield but in front of the defenders to stop anyone coming through the middle before they get to the defenders. Rafael and Buttner will play a double role as fullbacks and wingers. Thats the way to go folks and 3 points will be in the bag.
Coach Herbie has spoken…
If coach Herbie is right and we have this one in the bag as a result, then… Fergie, SIGN HIM UP!
Yep, Coach is right! Drop Evra (who is more of a wingback than fullback, like Rafael), and put on an inexperienced fullback, but ask him to go forward.
And drop Carrick, who’s playing well, for Fletcher who is nowhere near match fit. Also drop Cleverly (who is on the cusp of greatness) for the inexperienced Powell.
Makes sense to me coach!!
Got to be Fletcher, Cleverley and Carrick (or Anderson) for me. Last season the midfield was woeful at Newcastle. Scholes does not have the legs for this type of game. I worry about our defence too. They need support. Fletcher + 1 could offer that support. We need a good tempo to surpass the likes of Cabaye.
Where’s the spirit lad, we don’t give up that easy, at least that’s the United i grew up to know. C’mon people sing it, GLORY GLORY UNITED
fucking excellent side weve got out
clev and degea start
De Gea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Welbeck, Carrick, Cleverley, Kagawa, Rooney & van Persie.
Giggs not starting. What’s Fergie on??
Subs:
Lindegaard, Scholes, Valencia, Anderson, Giggs, Hernandez, Wootton
Nani not even on the bench….if he’s not injured then there really is a big problem around him.
Fergie’s team selection has got me believing we could actually win here… especially against Newcastle’s dodgy as fuck back 4
Carrick & Clev will be interesting
I love seeing Clevs and Carrick in the middle. Would like to see Ando more though. No Scholes or Giggs in sight. (thank God)
Ferguson deciding to have a proper go here… maybe there’s life in the old cunt yet.
I’m surprised he didn’t pick Fletcher.
Looks like it’s Welbz and Rvp up top, Rooney playing a bit deeper
nice one! evans!
BOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Get ther fuck in
Looking good so dar. Really.
Good goal from a corner! Lets keep it up lads!
Finally we go all out attack!!! Much better!
Great start, great cross, great goal
Their back 4 is dodgy as fuck
No communication
Fucking hell Welbeck can’t shoot for shit.
Welbeckkkk you bellend
FFS might regret that
How danny, how
Welbeck is dire. He plays for England, how?
Fouled though wasnt he. Should have just fallen over as Harper’s challenge threw him off balance but probably concerned about the stick after Wigan.
In other news, Newcastle’s full back looks worse than Evra.
Patriiiiiiiiiice
Evra… ha!
Right lets bloody murder these bastards
Fuck yeah
Rooney is aving it, he’s oclass
This. This is how we should go about our football.
Fuck me, we’ve finally turned up for a game in the first half.
This is like the Newcastle team from the 90s, shite defence
There is going to be a load of goals here today.
We need to dominate possession because you can sense a change in momentum
Rooney is everywhere
The irony that Webb is getting card happy is that he missed the worst of them all by Tiote the walking sending off machine.
Collecting yellow cards like no one’s business.
Nope. Just the first fifteen minutes. United have switched off with the two goal lead. Too many passes going backward, and what has happened to de Gea’s vaunted distribution?
We’ve lost the plot a bit past five mins…
Slightly worried about the yellow card count
fucking hell. If the ball is in the air, De Gea is just hopeless isn’t he?
We haven’t “switched off”. Newcastle adjusted and have put an extra man in midfield.
Wellbeck has been wasteful. Kagawa a bit missing since yellow. But other than that thought itsbbeen Pretty good by everyone really.
Rooney has been magnificient.
Great start, defence have done well, DDG all over the place with every ball in the box.
Oh, that would explain why most of United’s attacks end with a de Gea punt to someone in a Newcastle shirt.
Reckon Welbeck got a roasting from Fergie. He could have finished them off after 20 minutes.
See how he plays second half, Fergie might have broken him.
Bloody De Gea…Cmmentator is right. Flaps whenevers theres a high ball..
That completely sums De Gea up
And people wonder why lindergaard gets plenty of games? DDG is a fucking liability. He maybe a better shot stopper but why oh why hasnt he improved his catching under pressure?
probably because we have nobody in training big enough to put him under pressure….
also i think that from now on when we play this formation we need Fletcher to play the holding midfield role.. Carrick is just too slow for this tight, quick, one touch passing and his range of passing is wasted due to a lack of wide men.
Think we’d all like to see Fletcher back 100% week in week out. He’d play more or less every game.
i’m not sure who is a worse finisher Cleverly or Welbeck
Think there’s your answer!!!!
At least Clev is a mdfielder. Whats wellbeck’s excuse?
Take that back now.
Wow what a goal, almost certain it was a cross
Stunning goal, he means it
3-0 at St James’, fucking hell
And i shall watch from now on whether everytime threadoflength criticizes someones finishing said player then comes up with a wonder (lucky) goal!
Rooney has been class in midfield
I want to see us keep a clean sheet here.
Haha, never happier to be wrong!
Fuck De Gea’s not going to work out is he?
Rooney been fantastic in midfield today
The midfield has been class today
I really dont get that substitution. Why sub Rooney whos been class? Why not take off Wellbeck whos been average at best? Can put Rooney up top if he wanted
Not on yellow. Intl break coming, doesnt seem to be injured. Why?
Anyone know what purpose Welbeck serves?
Best game I can remember Rafael having for utd. Evra very good- good back four performance today
3-0 up with 5 minutes to go is the right time to play Giggs
I was a bit off on the scoreline but pretty darn close!
Brilliant away win, Rooney was my MOM but great performances all over the park. Nice to see Evra’s got his bullocks back
Great result, we needed that, the team can gain confidence from that performance.
‘Our first clean sheet’ – Evra lovin’ that
Scholes , not on long and his usual yellow card, just love this United legend.
Rooney , should he stay in midfield, always from now on ?
Superb performance – not perfect, but given the background it showed they’re learning, they’ve got passion and are working really hard. Some of the one touch stuff in tight spaces was class. The whole thing is a work in progress but I really do think that when it clicks and they’ve had a good half a season together then we’ll see some great football.
That’s as good as the midfield has played in a while. We had the right mix of energy, tempo and ability. Carrick, Clev and Rooney dominated for long spells, and played some nice one touch football under pressure leaving shit meathead cunts like Tiote chasing shadows. He was fucked after 60/70 minutes like Dembele was the other week. Cabaye was also fucked. He was whinging like a prick for most of the second half, frustrated at having to run about a lot chasing shadows.
Aye, he enjoys it there, you can tell. He played like a sweeper at times making tackles on the left and right, as well as getting forward and making things happen.
Now that his touch is back, and he can pass the ball to a red shirt, there’s no reason why he can’t be trusted with a midfield role. He gives us greater tempo and aving it ness.
I really hope we have finally seen an end to the nonsense that is playing both Giggs and Scholes together in the starting line-up and we start with a team more like today’s.
I have to say, I do question the wisdom of dropping De Gea. He’s back to punching and flapping at everything, when I thought he was learning to iron that sort of thing out of his game. He needs to be playing regularly so that his decision making improves in match situations.
We did attack and defend pretty well today (easily best performance of the season) although we need to get more out of Kagawa.
Chicken and egg. Is De Gea flapping like a hopeless chicken because he’s being dropped? Or is he being dropped because he’s flapping like a headless chicken?
I tend towards the second.
He needs to show he can deal with crossess. Its a fairly common occurrence in the Premier Legaue, crossess are
I thought he might start today as he dealt with crosses midweek pretty well. Must be the Premier League in the back of his mind where he is more likely to get a centre forward trying to knock him out and away fans getting on his back early.
This is why Lindegaard starts, you know what you are going to get.
ThreadOfLength @ 5:10: i think that from now on when we play this formation we need Fletcher to play the holding midfield role.. Carrick is just too slow for this tight, quick, one touch passing and his range of passing is wasted due to a lack of wide men.”
Gotta disagree – today was Michael Carrick at his best. He did a terrific job “shielding” the defence – a defence that was taken to the woodshed last weekend. I’m a HUGE FAN of DarrenFletcherinho but SAF is right to bring him on slowly AND carefully.
Getting a fully-fit Fletcherinho in his “football genius” mode for the crunch time in March/April/May will be the old geezer’s answer to all those numpties who have questioned spending money on luxuries like RVP and KagawaBunga while seemingly “ignoring” the midfield. It’s a somewhat risky strategy in that ulcerative colitis is an unpredictable problem BUT if SAF’s stars are aligned and Darren really does get his strength/fitness back then we’ll all be happy in May.
I thought it was notable today just how much narrower we played. We seem to be happy to let the full backs provide the width, with more bodies in central areas from midfield. With the likes of Rooney and Kagawa in behind van Persie it’s a system that could work well and should certainly make us more solid.
I have to give SAF credit for getting his selection right , although I would have used a more attacking formation, but the team came out of the blocks in an attacking mood and that was great to see. If SAF is going to use Rooney and Kagawa behind Van Persie, then he can put Valencia on the right wing and use Cleverley or Powell as wide left midfield and Buttner in the double role as left fullback and left winger, otherwords, attacking fullback. But he continues to use Evra. The team and players we have are good enough to win the EPL but definately not good enough to win the Champions league. We need more quality in defence and midfield and that means spending more money. So what happens to our academy players? I read today that Scott Wootton wants to leave next summer. Whats the sense of the academy if the players feel they have little chance of making the first team. Do we have any superstar quality players coming out of the academy? If so, we need to play them more often. Is Wootton the only defender from the academy that is worth a chance? Do we have a quality defensive midfielder in the academy? What do we have of first team quality? Are we afraid to play them or are they just not good enough. I say this because we seem to be getting a lot of injuries but no academy players seem to be getting a chance to replace them. Instead, we first put players in positions that they have never played before and then hope everything works out. That is not good enough and should not be tolerated at a great club like MAN.UNITED.
United we stand but SAF needs to get it right all the time, not just today.
Herbie you tool, just because you’ve changed your name to “coach” doesn’t instantly make your batshit crazy ramblings any less ridiculous.
// I have to give SAF credit for getting his selection right //
Then you go on about how you would have done it better.
Get some perspective mate. At least you provide some comedy I guess
)
what did brian think of evans
I thought he had a solid game. He’s not first choice in my opinion, but with Vida out, he’s done well.I still get flash backs to the West Ham game of a season or two ago but I’m moving on.
What’s your opinion on Welbeck?
hes quality obviously
anyone other than welsh down syndrome cunts can see that
cant finish tho
The FA will not charge Van Persie for the ‘elbow’ incident. Good. It’s not an elbow – it’s no Stevie G special. You can see he’s trying to put his arm in front of Cabaye’s face. It’s cunty, but it’s not an elbow.
Cabaye was being a wanker for most of the game, too. You have to bear that in mind. He was constantly fouling, going in unnecessarily hard and bitching like fuck at the ref. He spent more time whinging than he did playing, and that’s because he was getting owned.
I can’t decide if I’m happy that Rooney was played in midfield or not. Shouldn’t he have been up with RVP, and with Kagawa playing the attacking mid role? Isn’t that what we bought Kagawa for? Rooney had an excellent game, and I’m happy about the result, but I can’t help but feel that SAF’s tactics for this game came down to “our midfield is shit, let’s put our best player in midfield to make it less shit”.
hes been doing that for years, using rooney to plug a hole he refuses to fill with signings
To be fair, I think Rooney now WANTS to play in the midfield… he’s more or less said so… he gets to see more of the ball, and doesn’t have to wait for inferior service to be invloved… I think he’s going to be a fuckin awesome midfielder as well… nearly as good on the ball as Scholes, takes no shiit and can tackle.
What do we do when Rooney is injured or suspended? We still need signings.
I didn’t know Rooney said he wants to play in midfield. The trick is to maximise his skills without taking him too far away from goal. It probably is a better use of him in a midfield role, there’s not many players better than him as a passer. If he’d been born in Italy or Spain, I suppose he’d have been seen more as an attacking-mid creator type.
obviously he’ll love it in there, hes wayne, he wants to be at the centre of the action, jones is the same, thats why weve got a manager whos job is to fucking reign him in play him in his best position, which isnt in midfield doing the riff raff work that the shite weve got in there now are supposed to be doing but are too fucking shite to, taggarts fucking taking advantage
LKHF
faffing
riff raff work in midfield wins games.
Rooney is not a striker though… he’s got too much creativity and vision to be JUST a goal scorer… he’s better just behind a proper striker.
But if he’s not going to play as a number 10, then I would rather see him in midfield, where he can use his full range of talents, with license to charge forward when he can… than just running about up top and hanging around waiting for service, or worse, out left.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
Where do you see Kagawa fitting in then?
Wayne will be alright and excellent anywhere on the pitch.
Just stop giving paul scholes a shirt even for the bench same for giggs who somehow still managed to be wank in the five or so minutes he was on!!
I listened to SAF talking tonight and yes I do believe Rooney is going to be used in this new role playing behind the srikers. I can say also that SAF is still interested in signing Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmand.
He said tonight that he was trying to buy Kagawa and Lewandowski this summer but Dortmund did not want to lose both of their star players. Lewandowski scored 31 goals last season. The deal fell through so he went after Van Persie. But he said with Rooney in this new role, Lewandowski would be a perfect partner for Van Persie up front. Which leads me to believe that Hernandez could be on his way out. He plays Wellbeck before he plays Hernandez. But this would be a good move because if Van Persie gets injured, you still got Lewandowski, but Hernandez and Wellbeck are not goal scoring machines like Van Persie and Lewandowski. I do believe SAF is going to spend again in the January transfer window but I hope its midfield or central defender or both that he brings in. But SAF loves to buy strikers so their lies the problem.
Interesting article – essentially arguing Rooney might be solution to our midfield woes….actually makes sense
apparently Rooney also tweeted that he Is “…really enjoying my new midfield role…” so might be something in this…
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/965?cc=4716
How about this???
…………..DDG
Rafael….Rio…..Vidic…..Evra
……Strootman….Cleverly
….Kagawa….Rooney….Van Percie
…………Lewandowsli
I can see Rooney doing quite well in midfield, early signs look good and he has all the right attributes. Also worth remembering that, like Rooney, Paul Scholes started out as a forward, in fact Scholes never really truly established his place in the team until he reverted to midfield. This could go one of 2 ways, if it’s a success it’ll prolong Rooney’s career far longer than playing up front would have (particularly in terms of retaining him at the club), if it doesn’t then he’ll probably be sold in a year or two when he becomes disillusioned and wants out, and I genuinely believe it’ll be the former.
Can’t control the ball and can’t pass, but apart from that….
Thing is Rooney has played in midfield quite a few times now, and not done a lot. Certainly nothing to suggest he should play there every week. He needs more peformances like the one against Newcastle if he’s to convince us he can excel there.
so basically you ignore the things hernandez cant do, which is everything, and then call up welbeck on things you think he cant do even though he does them every game
righto
Alfonso Bedoya: “if he’s not going to play as a number 10, then I would rather see him in midfield, where he can use his full range of talents, with license to charge forward when he can… than just running about up top and hanging around waiting for service, or worse, out left.”
True that. TheWayneBoy is – and has been – UTD’s most important player for a couple of years; so, it’s important to make the most of his talents. I also think that he has much more to offer as an “attacking midfielder” playing “in the hole” (or whatever) – it would seem that the purchase of RVP confirms that SAF is also thinking in this way.
Or, ask the question another way: Rooney or Dembele ?
brianofnazareth: [Chicharito] “Can’t control the ball and can’t pass, but apart from that….”
Yeah, sure, BUT he scores goals.
You’re right, but at least Hernandez can score goals.
When???
He was a one season wonder…
Isn’t a waste to not have RVP up top? I’m not terribly fussed about getting someone like Lewandowski in, even though he’s a good player. We’ve already got decent striking options with RVP, Welbeck, and this young Chilean lad looks promising. Plus Rooney of course. If we keep Hernandez, he’s at least useful for the fact that his pace makes defenders sit back, so he would open up options for our midfielders.
To tell the truth, I’m not arsed about Lewandowski… but according to the papers, Fergie seems to want him bad, so I was just postulating what the team might look like with those 2 players.
Personally, I’d be happy with just Strootman… I think that one signing would make all the difference, with all the options Ferguson has to work with… he’s got lots of strikers and creative attackers, and when all fit, he’s got lots of defensive cover as well… the one thing he doesn’t have is midfield grappler… and Strootman is a proper box to box player.
When he’s given game time. Do you expect him to top the scoring charts with 5 mins here and there?
I like the balance the Dutch strike between technique and thuggery. Exactly what we need. Think Strootman has been named captain for the next Netherlands match as well. If we’re moving away from using wingers though, isn’t it worth giving Valencia a go at CM?
Aside from RVP, Hernandez is our only striker with positional discipline. If we’re going to play one up front we need someone who can lead the line, who won’t be tempted to drop back into midfield.
“Aside from RVP, Hernandez is our only striker with positional discipline.”
Positional discipline???
The daft twat is always offside… how disciplined is that?
Hahaha true that
hes even worse than michael owen
when has he ever shown he can lead the line
even in his fluke good season he couldnt. hes too shite on the ball
all he can do is wait for people to give him sitters and then fluff em
He’s offside more than our other strikers because he’s actually running in the right direction. Hard to be offside running toward your own goal. As much a it’s his fault for being offside, it’s the providers as well not releasing the ball early enough. They should be able to read his runs by now. You don’t have to be great on the ball to be a lone striker. When you have the extra man in midfield it’s more important to be a goal threat.
Marion @ 4:44: “Hard to be offside running toward your own goal.”
Unlike Alfonso Bedoya and UncleKnobHeadForFuck’sSake, I think that there is a clear contrast to how Chicharito is used by SAF and how he’s deployed for the Mexican national team. When he’s played in his “correct position” – on the shoulder of the last man/fox-in-the-box – he scores goals; when he’s kept on the bench and then played on the wing he doesn’t.
In a certain sense, he’s a “luxury player” in that his close control isn’t especially great and he’s very much the tip-of-the-attack so he doesn’t contribute much by defending from the front BUT his presence stretches the opposition defence and provides more space for team-mates playing “in the hole”.
One of the usual criticisms of Nani is that he doesn’t cross the ball into the box but, really, who else but Chicharito can be relied upon to be in the box running at the opposition defence ?
Play Chicharito and Nani/Valencia together and you get one style; play TheWayneBoy/RVP/KagawaBunga together and you get another style.
How come everyone gets silly nicknames except Van Persie who is simply “RVP”? Couldn’t go with “TheBoyWonder” or something?
threadoflength – Good question.
RVP is better than ThumbInDike (or ThumbInDyke) or TheLittleDutchBoy.
How about RobinHood ?
Besides, Nani and Rio and Jonny Evans and Michael Carrick and Ashley Young are ALL awaiting their baptisms – and they’re ahead of RVP in terms of seniority.