United Rant Live: Liverpool v United
Liverpool versus Manchester United is the biggest game of the season at any time, but an FA Cup game at Anfield, with 5,000 travelling Old Trafford regulars, and all the drama surrounding Patrice Evra, means this fixture has an extra dimension.
For the second time on United Rant, the podcast regulars will be live blogging a game this season. Join in on the comments below or Tweet us. Paul – @UtdRantCast and Ed – @unitedrant.
The game kicks off at Anfield on Saturday, 28 January 2012, 12.45pm GMT. We’ll be with you around 45 minutes before the whistle!
Page will automatically refresh every 20 seconds or hit F5.
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Ed - Saturday 15:03
Bye from me
Thanks for joining us today on the live blog. In the end, hugely disappointing day both for the result and the “friendly banter” – as Kenny Dalglish calls it – the disgraceful booing of Evra, together with monkey gestures coming from the stands. Bitter? Yeah, I am. Angry that United lost a game that should have been one. Worse, that it was lost to THAT team and THOSE fans.
See you all on the next live blog!
Ed - Saturday 15:00
Sir Alex
“I don’t have the words. It was a really good performance by us. In the context of the FA Cup that can happen. One bad break and you can lose a game. It was a bad goal, we didn’t deserve that. We didn’t do well (with the goals). I’m pleased with my players, they played really well. They didn’t deserve to be beaten. But that’s FA cup football, it’s not the first time it’s happened.”
Ed - Saturday 14:56
Final stats
Look a bit different to the half time picture don’t they [click for a big image if you need to]
Ed - Saturday 14:50
How do United come back from this?
Make no mistake. The FA Cup might have been the third priority at the season’s start but the United squad will feel this. Dumped out of Europe and the Carling Cup, now out of the world’s oldest competition. It’s hard to take and it will hit the squad’s confidence. There’s a game on Tuesday – United simply have to get some players back for that one with hardly any time to get the players fit.
Ed - Saturday 14:47
Ferguson
No word from the manager yet. Can’t imagine he’ll be happy with United’s defending for either goal today. First goal – de Gea fails to get to the ball when he should have cleaned out absolutely everybody. Second, Evans misses the header, Evra goes missing and de Gea can’t get a foot or hand to it. United dominated but it wasn’t enough. Bad mistakes and an inability to turn chances into goals.
Ed - Saturday 14:41
Huge disappointment
The steam went out of United in the last 15 minutes. Despite dominating huge amounts of this game United have lost, paying for losing the tactical battle as substitutions were made. Should Scholes have been taken off? Well he was controlling the game but those legs aren’t getting any young. Needed some verve in the middle of the park in the last few minutes and no options on the bench.
Critical juncture now in the season. United dumped out of Europe, three points behind City in the Premier League, out of the Carling Cup, out of the FA Cup, nobody cares about the Europe league.
Worst part of today though. The Anfield crowd will go home happy, having disgracefully abuse Patrice Evra all afternoon. This is a club that has not only failed to condemn racism but has supported it. Liverpool – an embarrassed to the game I love. And now have knocked United out too.
Now for the interviews… what will Fergie say?
Paul - Saturday 14:41
Real politic
Right. Losing to Liverpool is really painful, and to be honest, I wanted them to pay for the Evra affair, but given how ravaged are squad is, we can do without the FA Cup.
Paul - Saturday 14:37
Beglin
“You just wonder if the emotions have taken a toll” Do you mean “You just wonder if being booed for 90 minutes for reporting racial abuse, facing vitriol stirred up at an institutional level by a smear campaign filled with deliberate misinformation designed to undermine your very name and credibility has taken a toll” Beglin?
Gutted!
Ed - Saturday 14:35
Berbatime
He’s not exactly an impact substitute but its desperate times from United now. Let Liverpool back into the game in the last 15 minutes and paid a huge price.
Out of Europe, out of the FA Cup (it seems), behind City in the league. It’s not looking clever at all right now. I’m off to drown my sorrows in a very large glass of… oh wait it’s no drinking January.
Paul - Saturday 14:34
Didn’t want a replay
Now I really want a replay.
Paul - Saturday 14:33
Gutted
Absolutely gutted – it’s been coming. Poor defending, but it’s been a good performance from a very tired squad.
Ed - Saturday 14:32
Oh no!
United miss a long ball and Kuyt fires past de Gea. It was very close to the young Spaniard too. Could he have done better. Evra completely out of position, Evans did nothing to challenge Carroll for the flick on. Mistakes all over the place there and it’s probably cost United a place in the FA Cup.
Ed - Saturday 14:31
United no longer bossing this
The tactical changes mean United is no longer totally dominant in midfield. But there’s more presence up front. It’s a gamble from Ferguson. Will it pay off… they normally do.
Paul - Saturday 14:30
Welbeck
Led the line excellently, again, but looks unsurprisingly exhausted. Time some Berba?
Ed - Saturday 14:27
Evra time
Patrice Evra to fire in a last minute winner in front of the home fans. It’s what FA Cup dreams are made of, right?!
Paul - Saturday 14:26
Nerves
They’ve come back into it strongly since their first substitution. It’s another game of three quarters!
Ed - Saturday 14:25
Squeaky bum time!
Nervous yet? You should be. Huge 10 minutes coming up in this game. Nobody wants a replay, but Liverpool slowly creeping back into this game. Home side having some more of it – momentum with them?
Ed - Saturday 14:23
Duh duh duh duh duh
Racist bastards. The view Anfield didn’t want to see….
Ed - Saturday 14:20
Scholes
Lasted 75 minutes. That’s a good effort for a 36-year-old asthmatic who has barely played in the past eight months!
United matching Liverpool with a 4-4-2 now. Hernandez and Welbeck up front. Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park across United’s midfield. Ferguson is going to try and win this one.
15 minutes to go. COME ON YOU REDS!
Paul - Saturday 14:20
Huge change
Scholes, who has been given the freedom of Anfield and used it excellently, is replaced by Chich – so, a 4-4-2 then, Giggs and Carrick are going to have it tough, but obviously great to see Chich come on.
Ed - Saturday 14:18
Tactical changes
Liverpool have switched this from 5-4-1 to 4-4-2. Will it make a difference? Might help the home side put a little more pressure on United’s back four but they have to stop hitting long balls and actually get some possession in midfield first.
Looks like Hernandez is likely to come on for United. But a straight swap for Welbeck or will one of United’s ageing midfielders depart?
Paul - Saturday 14:16
High quality lols
Welbeck trying to take the captain’s armband of Gerarrd, then looking really amused by how serious Gerarrd looked. Excellent.
Ed - Saturday 14:16
Bellamy
He’s a pantomime villain but a thoroughly dislikeable man too. Remember the time he ran 50 yards to slap a fan who was celebrating on the pitch. Apparently assault is ok if you’re a Liverpool player….
Paul - Saturday 14:15
Knife edge
This one is so finely poised, and Bellamy’s coming. I’m definitely nervous – be interesting to see how Fergie reacts.
Ed - Saturday 14:15
Time for a change?
United’s midfield is less dominant in the last five minutes. Tiredness is bound to play a part with Giggs and Scholes still in there. Might be time to freshen it up a bit as we get into the last 20 minutes of this game.
Ed - Saturday 14:12
Route one
Liverpool going longer and longer in this game. Hoping to take advantage of De Gea’s nerves and Andy Carroll’s height. Not sure it’ll help the home side much.
Paul - Saturday 14:12
Dave
Taking Keano’s advice there, having a pop at Carroll. Good.
Paul - Saturday 14:10
Rafa gets booked
It was definitely a booking, but there’s a slight irony to a challenge with no chance of hurting the opponent being the first one to draw a card.
Paul - Saturday 14:09
De Gea
He just looks incredibly uncertain. It’s sad to see.
Ed - Saturday 14:08
Bag of nerves
David de Gea having a really bad day at the office today. Feel for the young man. Lots of talent but United need to go to school on him. Launch balls high at him all day in training. Every day until he gets it! Dropped a very easy cross there…
Ed - Saturday 14:07
Two footed challenge?
Isn’t that an automatic red card for dangerous foul play these days. Maxi Rodriguez saved by being substituted before Mark Halsey could get the card out. Clever tactics from the Liverpool bench I guess.
Paul - Saturday 14:06
That was a sending off.
Paul - Saturday 14:05
Scholes
Liverpool are making the phoenix like return of Scholes seem like complete genius by leaving him entirely untroubled to do anything he likes.
Paul - Saturday 14:04
Action
Welbeck – very slightly overcooked his touch, but the lack of room to manoeuvre was a consequence of how badly outnumbered he is by the defense. Then Evra played a gorgeous ball into Park who appeared to shoot as best as he possibly could at a goal which was a good foot to the left of where he thought it was.
Ed - Saturday 14:04
Downing, Henderson, Carroll
Cost Liverpool a combined £70 million. Money well spent then! None of them are hurting United here. Downing looks more of a threat but the quality is lacking so often its untrue with the former Middlesborough man.
Ed - Saturday 14:02
Was that handball?
It hits Smalling’s hand as he was falling. Surely the young man has no control where the ball is. Would have been a ridiculous penalty but with the Kop calling for a penalty weaker referees would have given it just to appease them.
Tyldsley goes on about the rules “deliberate” or not he says. Rules are more subtle… well the referee’s guidance is. Non deliberate can be handball if the arm/hand is in an “unnatural position”
Paul - Saturday 14:00
Smalling
Bad slip, but fantastic recovery. Smalling and Evans both having really good games.
Ed - Saturday 13:59
What was de Gea doing?
It wasn’t even a back pass. Just lash the thing out! He’s great in possession but the concentration levels appeared to go there. Wasn’t aware of what was going on around him or the potential threat.
Paul - Saturday 13:58
Flippin ‘eck
HOW was that not a booking??? I know Rafael’s short, but Maxi’s leg’s above waist height as he kicks him.
Ed - Saturday 13:57
Second half woes
United have been TERRIBLE in second halves recently. Not today it seems. The intensity and drive is still there. Fingers crossed that it continues. Helped by Liverpool’s inept management not understanding what’s going on in the game.
Paul - Saturday 13:55
Great start
Given how poor we’ve been in the early part of 2nd halves recently, this is very promising stuff. And Liverpool STILL aren’t pressing Scholes. We’re bossing this, but we’re far from immune from the counter attack.
Ed - Saturday 13:55
This is a disgrace
Will Merseyside police do something about this kind of behaviour. Look to the left….
Ed - Saturday 13:54
Same pattern
The second half starts in the same fashion with United retaining the ball and Liverpool sitting off. Simply amazing that Liverpool isn’t pressing harder – it’s a huge tactical mistake from Kenny Dalglish.
Paul - Saturday 13:52
Second half
I really hope Kenny forgot to say “Get tight on Scholesey” at half time.
Ed - Saturday 13:49
Here we go again
No changes at half time and no obvious tactical adjustments from either side either. Wouldn’t expect to see Ferguson call on the bench until 60 minutes in but if United continue to dominate possession there’s a chance that Hernandez or Berbatov might see some action. It’s also debatable how long Scholes can last.
Paul - Saturday 13:44
Personal reflection
I don’t really understand why I get so defeatist about United. At 1-0 down I couldn’t see us getting back into it, which is pretty ridiculous, given our history and the talent on display (albeit some of the talent is a bit old). There’s just something about us (or me!) at the moment that leaves me unsure the whole time.
No surprise that when the goal came it came down the right, though – clearly Rafa and Valencia combine to form an incisive attacking force.
Ed - Saturday 13:44
Roy Keane
“You have to make your presence felt and go and nail somebody” – could be the motto of a lifetime for the Irishman there. He was referring to David de Gea at corners and he’s right, but Alfe Inge Haarland might have a rue smile on his face.
Ed - Saturday 13:36
Half time cuppa and half an orange
Do footballers still partake in this tradition? Not unless they’re flying across the dressing room courtesy of Ferguson’s boot. It’ll be isotonic sports drinks, tactics boards, and the hairdryer. Although Ferguson will be pleased with a lot of that. United controlling the game tactically but they could hurt Liverpool a lot more. Three Liverpool defenders versus Danny Welbeck is something of a wasted opportunity. Ferguson will want to keep three in central midfield but needs to get somebody at little closer to United’s 21-year-old striker.
Paul - Saturday 13:35
Impressive
The Arsenal game and this one so far have been defined by an impressive psychological resilience from United. Not always something I associate with this particular team.
Liverpool making a massive mistake not pressing our midfield. Long may it continue.
Paul - Saturday 13:31
Twitter feedback
@fresher_mike makes the very valid point – “the look of pure terror on LFC players when they know Tony V is going to run past them and they can’t stop him. PRICELESS!”
Ed - Saturday 13:30
Can you hear the Scousers sing?
I can’t hear a f*cking thing. The hate has drained away for the time being. Should United score, they’ll turn on their own. They always do. Red army sing the travelling fans. The only fans you can hear at Anfield now.
Ed - Saturday 13:28
Carrick
For all the criticism that the Geordie deservedly received at times since 2009 he has simply been brilliant this season. From November onwards easily United’s best player. Xavi-esque in his passing and distribution. Control of the game, screening defence. Simply great stuff. Can’t praise him highly enough.
United still need a ball-winner and a creative midfielder though…
Paul - Saturday 13:26
What a goal
Absolutely brilliant touch from Valencia, power, pace and incision from Rafa and a stunning finish from Park.
Ed - Saturday 13:26
Park
And I was saying?!! Get in!
What a goal. Great flick from Valencia, fantastic loss cross from Rafael and a simply brilliant finish from the Korean
Paul - Saturday 13:25
THE REVERSE CURSE OF THE RANT LIVE BLOG!!!
Well done, Ed. Top, top, top work!
Ed - Saturday 13:24
Park
Once again he is United’s weak link. He misplaces or loses possession about 50 per cent of the time. Surely somebody can buy the lad some Maximuscle and tell him to man up. Five years in England and he still seems to struggle with the physical (and technical) aspects of the game. The problem being… there aren’t a lot of wide options on the bench.
Ed - Saturday 13:22
Feel the hate
Paul - Saturday 13:19
Scholes
Hope Kenny doesn’t read this, but why aren’t Liverpool pressing him harder. He’ll hurt them if they keep giving him all this room.
Ed - Saturday 13:18
Triangles
United playing some very nice triangles in midfield but there isn’t enough penetration. It’s a true five in midfield with nobody getting close enough to Welbeck to make a real difference. At this juncture its hard to see United hurting Liverpool. But I’m sure Fergie will turn something around. Surely?
Paul - Saturday 13:17
So, ref…
What interpretation of the laws of the game wasn’t that a yellow, then?
Ed - Saturday 13:16
Tensions rising
Both in the stands and on the pitch. Liverpool fans happily sinking into racism and Liverpool players flying in with tackles. It’s taken a while but I can feel some ‘afters’ coming here…
Paul - Saturday 13:15
Jim Beglin
Watching the game with @joediego24 who has just pointed out that whenever Beglin says something isn’t a foul he should be forced to face the equivalent force of the challenge he’s describing. Harsh but fair?
(Can’t bring myself to say anything about the actual game at the moment, because between the atmosphere, our recent record at Anfield, the line up, I’m just not seeing where we get the win from.)
Ed - Saturday 13:14
Liverpool fans are a disgrace
Booing Evra at every touch was expected. But now “one lying bastard” rings around Anfield. This isn’t a vocal minority, this is the whole crowd. I’d shut Anfield and make Liverpool play behind closed doors until there’s some kind of enlightenment on Merseyside. May be a very very long time coming with these fans. Disgraceful behaviour.
Ed - Saturday 13:12
Five man midfield
Ferguson’s tactic of packing the midfield is – obviously – now looking a bit of a problem, with United now having to score to get something out of this tie. Danny Welbeck versus three central defenders is a tactical problem for United now rather than a potential blunder by Dalglish. Liverpool is set up to hold what they have.
Paul - Saturday 13:08
De Gea
What on earth is he thinking about there. That was really incredibly poor goalkeeping.
Uphill struggle now, obviously.
Ed - Saturday 13:08
Goalkeeper
De Gea got nowhere near the ball as Daniel Agger nods in for the opening goal. Liverpool’s tactic of fouling the ‘keeper at corners pays off. Andy Carroll was almost making love to the young man there. Might be best for de Gea to just stay on his line and let the defenders deal with the incoming ball.
United must now come from behind.
Paul - Saturday 13:07
Park
I hope someone took a series of photos that can be turned into an animated gif of whatever Park was doing on the floor then.
Ed - Saturday 13:06
Antonio Valencia
What a buy he has proven to be at ‘just’ £14 million. Worth a lot more today and on fire in recent weeks. More than a few fans were suspicious when he joined. After all he hardly set the world alight at Wigan, did he? Proven a great piece of business.
Paul - Saturday 13:05
Steven Gerrard
Whilst Ed’s position might be entirely based in fact, in case the Gods of hubris are watching, I would like to point out that he’s still more than capable of hurting us. (Balance is restored to the force).
Paul - Saturday 13:04
Valencia
Ouch. SO close. What an awesome run and shot from a player who is absolutely. on. fire.
Ed - Saturday 13:03
Free kick
The first really good chance of the game from a set piece. United lining up a free kick just outside the Liverpool area. Will the big guns head up from the back… sadly Ryan Giggs was unable to get past the first man. How often that happens.
Paul - Saturday 13:00
Welbeck
As Ed points out, he’s marked by three of them. Which reduces the odds of him pointing at the number on his back after scoring a goal, but the dream lives on.
Ed - Saturday 12:58
Giggs and possession
He’s been loose in recent games and already today. It is really important that United keep the ball. With Scholes and Carrick likely to hit 90 per cent pass accuracy is Giggs the weak link in midfield?
Ed - Saturday 12:57
Danny Welbeck
Very isoltated up front already. Need Giggs, Valencia and Park to get close to the 21-year-old or United will struggle to get anything to stick up front. The young man is being marked by not one, not two but THREE Liverpool central defenders.
Paul - Saturday 12:55
Rafa
SO close to doing his special move and pulling back the winger, but didn’t.
Ed - Saturday 12:55
First strike on target
From Ryan Giggs. He’s been playing in these games since 1991. Half the United fans at the game today probably weren’t even a twinkle in the milkman’s eyes in 1991. Remarkable man, remarkable career….
Ed - Saturday 12:54
Liverpool’s form
Manchester United has won the last three games. Liverpool has lost twice and drawn with Manchester City. Dalglish’s side has barely progressed in a year, not that you’ll hear any different from the Anfield faithful.
Paul - Saturday 12:52
Scholes slips
Much as I love him, having in the team is not comfortable. Great save from Dave, though. What a bearpit to chuck him back into the team in.
Ed - Saturday 12:51
Midfield attrition
With 10 players strung out across midfield this is where the battle will be one and lost today. United’s may be ancient, but Liverpool’s lacks quality. United will try and keep possession and calm down the Anfield crowd. Big test.
Paul - Saturday 12:51
I know we knew it was coming
But actually seeing the close up of people booing Evra just made me feel really sick. It gets lost in the haze of tribalism and United Liverpool rivalry, so it becomes “acceptable” but those people are booing a man for reporting racial abuse. It’s absolutely totally and utterly despicable, and my feelings on this have nothing to do with whose fans it is doing the booing. It’s shameful.
Ed - Saturday 12:47
Booooooooooooooooo
Predictable reception for Patrice Evra… booed for calling out a racist. The unreconstructed reside at Anfield. No surprise there.
“There’s only one racist bastard” cry the United fans.
Paul - Saturday 12:47
AAAAARGH
Ed - Saturday 12:47
Handshake
Between the two managers ahead of the game. They’re two Scots but that’s where the common ground ends. They’ve not always been the best of friends and Kenny Dalglish’s reaction to the Luis Suarez affair has irked Ferguson…..
Ed - Saturday 12:41
Anfield atmosphere
Sir Alex Ferguson: ”It’s volatile, it’s emotional and it can be inspiring too….”. The manager says he never considered leaving Patrice Evra out of the starting line-up. “Never, never, why should I? He’s done nothing wrong, he’s our captain.”
The manager says you “can bet your life” on the match being as intense as ever.
Oh yes.
Ed - Saturday 12:39
David de Gea
Big day for the young man, restored to United’s starting line-up. No real surprise there with the FA Cup down the list of priorities and Ferguson still keen for the Spaniard to get games today. They will be some nerves though with the Kop baying for the 21-year-old to make a mistake…
Ed - Saturday 12:36
U . N . I . T . E . D
10 minutes to kick off and the atmosphere is building at Anfield. 5,000 United fans – a lot less than there really should be – will be cheering on the boys. It’s a negative looking line-up from Ferguson but there are plenty of options on the bench if the manager needs it. Looking for a replay back at Old Trafford perhaps?
Come on you Reds!
Ed - Saturday 12:32
Mark Halsey
Big day for the stand-in referee today. Sir Alex will be grateful that his nemesis Martin Atkinson has a cold and isn’t taking the game. He’s the Ferguson criticised as not being “strong” or “fair”. The manager saw a two match touchline ban for that one.
But Halsey has his critics too… and with the Kop baying for blood, the Welwyn-born official will need to be super strong today.
Ed - Saturday 12:27
Suarez
Paraded by Liverpool ahead of the game at Anfield. As @badgerwolf rightly points out on Twitter, the club is not a “custodian of our sport”. Liverpool’s reaction to the affair has always been to stoke the fires of racist hatred. Conciliatory noises from Kenny Dalglish yesterday – far too little, far too late – and completely revoked today. How could the Uruguayan being there do anything but increase tension?
Ed - Saturday 12:21
Who’d wear one of these?
Aside from the ridiculous Suarez masks, who would actually buy a half-and-half Liverpool-Manchester United scarf. Aside from risking life and limb it makes little sense, even for a day tripping tourist….
Ed - Saturday 12:08
Sprightly
The average age of United’s midfield quintet today is 457. There or thereabouts. Valencia should offer an out ball, but Carrick, Scholes, Giggs and Park is about as dynamic as my 96-year-old gran. Maybe less so. The concern, obviously, is that Danny Welbeck will be isolated. Who is going to get near him from United’s midfield?
Better news comes in the form of Kenny Dalglish’s ridiculous tactics. Three at the back, when Ferguson is deploying two wingers and one striker? United should exploit that faster than you can say cross-field ball….
Paul - Saturday 12:00
The kids are on the bench
Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Berbatov, Chicharito, Fabio, M.Keane, Pogba.
I guess that gives a decent amount of attacking options. Also, how many people would have to get injured for Pogba to get a game today?
Paul - Saturday 11:56
Us
De Gea; Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Park; Welbeck.
Given our injuries, that looks a pretty sensible approach to me. Just not sure attacking bombast is what’s required today. Worried about Scholes getting overrun though. Wonder if it will be Carrick and Scholes with Giggs sitting just behind Welbeck in a 4-2-3-1 or a proper 4-5-1. I’d guess the latter…
I’d also guess that Valencia’s gonna have to have an absolute stormer if we want to create anything.
Paul - Saturday 11:54
Teams
In the modern world, Clive Tyldesley tweeting the team is what passes for official confirmation. He’s just tweeted this Liverpool line up:
Reina Kelly Carragher Skrtel Agger Enrique Gerrard Henderson Downing Carroll Maxi.
Altogether now – boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! (Glad that there’s no Bellamy!)
Paul - Saturday 11:39
This time last live blog…
I was just posting that Paul Scholes had come out of retirement. No whisperings of Keano being on the bench today, so far. More’s the pity.
Paul - Saturday 11:34
Morning all
That intro’s a bit David Pleat, isn’t it? “Good evening everybody…”
Not sure how to go about sensibly live blogging a match with such ridiculously heightened expectations and atmospheres around it. Been hearing conflicting things about the starting line ups and match day squad all day. It’s almost impossible to parse all the speculation, but it boils down to this – either most of our best players are injured, or they’re not. Even if he’s not actually out today, you’d imagine Rooney might be struggling a bit. And he’s never exactly torn it up at Anfield, anyway.
I predicted a scrappy one-nil on the podcast this week, so I guess I have to stick to that, but I think a draw might actually be a more reasonable prediction. Hope I’m wrong and we absolutely smash them to pieces, though.
Ed - Saturday 11:24
Scholes – return was my idea
Whether you believe Scholes returned to the United squad out of desperation or because the 36-year-old wanted one last crack at the big time is open to interpretation. There’s the party line, and the Glazernomic reality. Whatever happened to that £150 million transfer war chest, Malcolm? In any case Scholes is back in the squad and likely to be on the bench for today’s game.
Here’s a nice story. When Scholes went to see Ferguson, he knocked on the manager’s office with a 15-year-old pair of boots hanging round his neck. Ever the pro….
“After coming in for the last three or four months, still seeing people and doing a bit of training, I was missing it more than I thought,” Scholes said.
“I saw the manager and told him I wanted to come back playing. I didn’t know what his reaction would be. Thankfully, it was positive. I missed it and decided to give it another go.”
Ed - Saturday 10:53
Welbeck for England?
Sir Alex Ferguson says that Danny Welbeck will go to Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. Well why not – he’s the country’s in-form striker and it’s not as if Fabio Capello has a lot of quality options these days. Welbeck has nine goals in all competitions this season – five in his first seven games and then four in the last six.
“I think he will be (in the squad). He is developing into a very strong athlete and when he gets moving, he is really quick. He was always a decent goalscorer but when he plays regularly for us he has been getting a goal a game. We expected him to do well this year. We did the right thing sending Danny to Sunderland last season.
“We are quite positive about our strikers because they are all different. In the box, Javier Hernandez is unbelievable. He has had his issues with concussion and two ankle injuries but his game is starting to come now. Wayne Rooney has 19 goals and can easily end up around the 30 mark. Dimitar Berbatov is the one who is being ignored by everyone but he will always give you something different.”
Cynics might add that Berbatov is most ignored by Ferguson. I couldn’t possibly comment…
Ed - Saturday 09:53
Preamble
Good morning everyone, and by all accounts a very fine morning across the land. On Merseyside Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are waking up at their Liverpool hotel ready to take on the old enemy for a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup. 5,000 United fans will be cheering the lads on, ready to block the gangways, ignore stewards, and discuss the housing arrangements of the home support.
The early news is good: Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jones, Nani, and Wayne Rooney all apparently travelled with the match-day squad to Liverpool. Rio’s back problem flared up 10 days ago, Jones has an ankle problem, Nani an undetermined foot injury and Rooney ankle and calf concerns. Will they play? Sir Alex Ferguson is the master of the smokescreen: if the Scot tells you its pasta, to borrow a phrase, check under the sauce.
One man not in the squad is striker Mame Biram Diouf. The Senegalese striker was in Germany last night putting the final touches to a loan move – Hamburg 06 the lucky recipients of Diouf’s unique ‘talents’.
While you’re waiting for kick off why not read the match preview, or listen to this week’s podcast!
Also worth reading:
- United Rant Live: City v United!
- United Rant Live! Portugal v Germany
- Classic United v Liverpool
- Classic United v Liverpool
- Fletch: Scouse defeat difficult to take
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last time we played well at anfield quinton fortune played
we’re always less up for it we always get outworked and generally always outplayed win or lose
Well, it does not matter how we play tomorrow in my view as long as we win. SAF is currently playing a blinder by not telling who is fit or not. Keep them in suspense and let’s go win this and move on.
We will win this and then beat Stoke and then go ahead and beat Chelsea even though Torres will score. We are Manchester United. We do what we like.
Get in Cal…
get in what exactly?
his and your straitjackets?
wow, that is some optimism there
i’ll be happy with a draw and bring them back to OT
This is almost certainly the beer talking, but I think we’re going to put in our best performance at anfield for years and absolutely dick ‘em.
The scouters will tire second half & then we”ll do them.
Not felt so confident in the team for months.
No beer talk just we “ll win. Only job we must do is make sure Gerard doesn’t make himself the one man warrior.
we are coming into form now.. carrick valencia will be crucial.
unconfirmed team.. De gea, rafael, smallin, evans, evra, valencia, carrick, gigs, scholes, park and welbz
were in trouble if its true
I hope Evra scores a goal. He’s due one…
The result today will depend on injuries.
“Dimitar Berbatov is the one who is being ignored by everyone but he will always give you something different.””
lol… Surely Ferguson is aware of the irony. I dont understand why he’s even giving him a contract if he’s never going to play him.
team i have is right ffs… madness. liverpool playing 3 cbs
Scholes and Giggs start. Oh dear.
Carrol starts for Liverpool. Every cloud…
Just seen the team. I withdraw my earlier comment!
that is a crazy team
scholes will not last 45 mins and it is total madness leaving berbs out of the starting 11 with the injuries we have
still wtf do i know
just seen the scouse line up – no bellend starting nor kuyt – so not all doom and gloom
Man Utd
01 De Gea
03 Evra
06 Evans
12 Smalling
21 Rafael
11 Giggs
13 Park Ji-sung
16 Carrick
22 Scholes
25 Valencia
19 Welbeck
Substitutes
34 Lindegaard,
05 Ferdinand,
20 Fabio Da Silva,
38 Keane,
42 Pogba,
09 Berbatov,
14 Hernandez
With giggs and scholes in the team i think we will lose. We will either concede a penalty or someone will get sent off today.
Gerrard always saves his one decent performance per season against us at klanfield.
Was half expecting Ravel Morrison to be on the bench considering his performance against Liverpool in the Youth Cup.
winning today would be a bonus
a draw is achievable even with the team SAF has fielded
still, knocking them out would be sweet on their patch
he is destined elsewhere
Yeah probably. But it might have changed his mind to be involved in a game like this. He certainly relished the rivalry last year.
Come on United.
Fucking ITV. Adrian Chiles is such a twat.
all dalglish is missing is emu
itv are getting more like sky every time they show a live match
full of hype and hot air
carragher is even slower than a crocked rio
wish nani was playing – he would have skinned him alive
Honestly what is the point of Rio Ferdinand again these days!! Big game and he is only good enough for the bench.
Sky do go over the top with hyping up matches but the actual coverage is good imo. I like the different pundits. Tyler is a better commentator than drury or tyldesley.
Oh well here we go. Come on lads.
Strange team… I just don’t know…
If we’re on a good day, we might pass them off the pitch… but if we have a boner… there just isn’t the legs in this team for a grafting result.
I think we’re going to get slaughtered in midfield if Scholes and Giggs don’t have awesome games.
Experience Cal… we’ll need lots of it today.
evra looking focused… come on
We’ll see what Welbeck is made of up top on his own
he will need support.
MANCHESTER IS MY HEAVEN- SIR MATT BUSBY
Park….. FFS.
There was no one around him
The Verrrmin are very sloppy… the occasion is getting to them more than us… so far.
Unlucky giggs
lovely ball from valencia
Funny to hear the Anfiled crowd booing Evra while the sideboards are screaming to ‘Kick Racism Out of Football’.
rafael needs to stop running so far forward and then expose the defence when he cannot get back ffs
Rafael has been sloppy.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Valencia, nice run
Proper wing play
unlucky v
“There’s only one lying bastard” the racist cunts are singing at Evra
carrick scholes one touch passing was class then….
Fuck off
De Gea again
Shit
Cock!
Fucking De Gea again.
He’s a fucking liability.
stupid cunt.. why?
Lindegaard sent to warm up
De Gea pretending to be injured, bottling it
play better 1 down…come on err stripes
keep passing the ball like we have
we will be ok
We had been the better team up to that point. Keeper fucked up.
no one was on agger really.. free header at second look
Tony V our biggest threat by far. Nothing’s sticking with welbeck though
Any idea where ashley young went?
Proper English game, this.
I’m not saying he IS one, but, am I crazy, or does Henderson have a bit of the Hitler Youth about him?
Its been shit. Hardly any chances. We have fuck all penetration.
Scholes, Carrick and Giggs isn’t that bad
no threat no energy
Endless fannying with the ball. Lots of possession but no end product.
Need to get out wide where the space is
This.
I’m not a Wellbeck fan…should have started with Hernandez.
No threat in the box at all.
We’re really missing Rooney and Nani… doing well, until the final third… and then no clue.
no movement up top at all…
PARRRKKK
Get in!
Park! get in
Get the fuck in!!!
I’ve always liked Park…
About time!!
There’s only one Ji-Sung Park!
In your face Beglin!!!!
paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
park yes 1-1.
First proper cross and its a goal
Funny thing, he’s been shit as well. Looked like falling over every time he’s taken a first touch.
Fergie just asked Mike ” Who scored it ” LOL
Would it be crazy later in the game to sub Fabio for Park and have Fabio and Evra interchange as needed?
Scouse cunt doing monkey gestures https://p.twimg.com/AkP5rO6CIAA127Y.jpg
And what would he have done with sod all service?
get fucking in.. we are bossing them
enrique getting his arse raped by Valencia and Rafael. Fergie should play him, a natural full back more, rather than a centre back and a poor center back there.
The guts on those twins is something else, perhaps the bravest footballers in the club.
Gerrard looked like he was about to lunge a two footed, but Rafael won the ball and it wasn’t a blind clearance too.
Sir Ryan Giggs? No no no. Sir Paul Scholes say.
Has Scholes misplaced even one pass yet?
Giggs, Carrick and Scholes with a combined age of 198 are actually dominating the ball at Anfield
I would fucking love Evra to score today, just to shut these scouse twats up!
Nah… he was just communicating with his mates.
Do do do do do do do racist bastard
Oh how I hate Beglin and his so obvious bias!!!
Other than the corner fuck up that was a decent half
When was the last time we dominated the ball so comfortably at Klanfield?
fuck they are old….66 years of age each
Its all very well having lots of possession but if you don’t do anything with it whats the point?
Martin Atkinson was supposed to be the referee today? Are the FA mad?
Never mind, I’m sure he’ll referee his favourite team’s match at Stamford Bridge against United.
75 – Paul Scholes made 75 passes in the first half v Liverpool, completing 73 of them (97%). Master.
great passing making liverpool look poor
continue that and they will tire after 70 mins
bellend will come on no doubt to exert some energy but have to be pleased with that half
de gea was culpable with that goal though
I’m prepared to give de gea the benefit of a season to bed in but it does worry me that he looks vulnerable at set pieces.
Surely a keeper should be able to deal with set pieces?
I’d love the papers to get on this!!
But we did something with it, we scored
You can’t have too much possession away from home – especially at Anfield. They can’t hurt you if they haven’t got the ball
Second half will be interesting because I doubt Scholes will do 90 minutes, so we might go 442 after 60/65 minutes and bring another striker on. That is unless Park switches to the middle, in which case someone has to die
Edits
we’re comfortably the better team. if the players keep their heads, and one of scholes/giggs is taken off in a bit, we should win this.
What a cross by Giggs
True. Game has opened up.
I’d like to know Giggs’ crossing/assist ratio compared to Downing’s
Scholes or Giggs comes off it will have to be a striker come on bc theres no one on the bench.
LOL… our 105 year old midfield is dominating this lot.
ffs de gea cant defend you much longer.. terrible
Downing puts in hundreds of average balls into the box
Giggs puts in one or two a game when he drifts out wide, and they’re all belters
Wellbeck you’ve got to do better!
starting to get a bit lively
unlucky wellbeck… get a bit more meat on that
Fucking hell, De Gea. Is he going to cost us this game
Keepet will cost us tge game
Get the keeper off!!1
Those changes will make the scousers stronger and DeGea looks like he’ll give them another goal at some point.
what the fuck is he doing.. confidence is gone…
Carrick FFS, compose yourself!!
fuck me he caught one.. we are shite now…
Carrick just had 30 seconds where he was ace then, ace at everything
I’ve got a feeling we’ve had our period of control and the dippers will be on top for the last 25 mins.
Must be time for a sub
If we keep the ball away from de gea we will be ok i hope
Come on United.
Fuck Bellend is coming on!
You’d think so this being their Cup final and all
Problem for Fergie is 451 isn’t dominating the ball in the way it was
So do we go 442 and open it up, or try and hang on and nick one
We need a change…
We’ve gone to shit! going to be a long 20 mins..
what fucking sort of throw wAS that… ballbag
Chicharito time
Park… way to ruin a good move.
Scholes, class.
Smalling…FFS
Scholes done well
Carrick is having another good game n all
Come on… don’t want a replay.
Diouf is officially gone to Hannover. Not relevant to the game, but saying.
Giggs GET RID YOU FUCKING CUNT
Goal is coming.
We’re going to fuck ourselves I can see it.
Yeah for them….
Come on United.
Giggs come on. Step it up.
I just don’t rate Wellbeck sorry…
Giggs is starting to fuck me off now!
he is not a lone striker, still young time to learn.
Please take Giggs off.
Pipe down sweet cheeks
i cant watch.. this is killing me
FFS…Dire.
welbeck ffs.. thats terrible.
Welbeck has been gash today
Fuck it!
No, I’m sorry that shot was world class.
FUCK.
fffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkk
Carrick should win that fucking ball
Fuckin’ell
well you got what you wanted
OK Berbs… hero time.
We are fucking shocking.
I’m sorry we are just not clinical enough, Welbeck is nowhere near good enough. For all Giggs’s experience he can produce moments of utter shit.Our defence is not good enough.
I hate Kyunt to! horrible afterbirth.
Evra’s cost us this game.
We’re spent out there.
JOHNNY FUCKING EVANS!!! I HATE YOU CUNT.
As has Welbeck, Giggs and De Gea.
wtf is berba going to do with 3 minutes
Our attacking play is the equivalent to Wigan’s.
why don’t you just go fuck off and support city you cunt
If Lindegaard had started we would have won
I feel sick. I fucking hate Liverpool more than any other club.
We are very poor quality these days and it’s all on Fergie taking his eye off the ball.
Nothing to do with Johnny here. Evra was ball watching. Unforgivable. Liverpool have done nothing to win this game and they have ..
It’s shit defending that cost us. Two proper fucking schoolboy goals to concede.
Bit harsh Cal… he might have been caught out of position, but we’re a team on the attack, trying to win it…
We gave them a good game, and if we’d have had Rooney and/or Nani fit… I think we win that game easily.
played well in the 1st half but lost focus 2nd half
lucky route 1 for their second goal but evra was out of position for that tbf and de gea just doesnt look like he knows when to stay on or move away from his line
Evans was thrown the ball for 2 yards away and could control it. Not good enough Cal. Simple.
that sucks. we made too many basic errors.
the experienced players let us down.
and playing welbeck as a lone striker was a mistake. should have started with berba
We hardly made Pepe get his shirt dirty. Welbeck will never be good enough to lead our line.
Shit play from Evra, but he expected Carrick to stop Carroll flicking it on
Liverpool were shite today and we completely dominated. That’s football.
Yeah fuck off brian. Welbeck was poor today but he’s been one of our best players this season. And he had almost no service whatsoever.
At least Gerrard is man enough to accept we controlled the game.
Andy Carrol is shit. He’s like a hired goon.
G’won Keane
He’s right, we were the better team but we conceded 2 shocking goals
Evra was poor today as well. The match got to him. Fabio would have been a lot better.
Welbeck playing for us shows how low our standards have gone and idiots like you accept it! that’s our problem.
we played really well considering who we had on that pitch
2 35+ year olds in midfield who ran the game particularly in the 1st half
it has been a while since we went to their tip and come away kicking ourselves at not getting a win
rio and vidic both absent will cost us goals no doubt but i felt evans and smalling had good games as well as rafael and apart from that mistake, evra handled it well
scholes was superb tbf and it was 2 cock ups defensively that the scousers benefited from
all in all, i am not disappointed with that performance and know we will play far worse and win
Completely agree Cal. Evra worries me sometimes and makes me think we are vulnerable at left back. I think he was culpable for the 2nd goal although I think de Gea could have done better.
I think if Lindegaard had played today we would have drawn the game at the very least. De Gea didn’t inspire confidence in his team mates. We had a decent spell early in the 2nd half but, as soon as Liverpool started going forward, I thought that our players were worrying about the keeper fucking up, felt that we needed to protect him more, we therefore dropped back a bit deeper and we looked less threatening.
The Scousers were complete and utter shite. How many shots on target did they have? We gifted them that game with 2 instances of shocking goalkeeping and defending.
As usual, they were there for the taking on their own backyard and we fucked it up.
you are so full of shit it is unbelievable
the lad is a good player and will become better
You’re a stupid cunt. Simple. Welbeck has been our best forward this season and is vastly superior to Hernandez.
Ha-ha….. I think that says more about our forwards if you think Welbeck is the best.
Less of the cunt as well, I’m sensitive!
And what did Hernandez do when he came on?
When forwards get little in the way of decent service in decent areas what do you expect them to do?
I’m not on about how good Hernandez is am I? I’m on about how shit Welbeck and our other forwards are.
I’m not just on about this game, I’ve never rated Welbeck… he is not good enough for what we should be looking for.
brian is a fucktard. welbeck is clearly fucking good enough, he was isolated up top all game, and he’s a kid. what the fuck did you expect him to do? score a hattrick?
we bossed the game, and lost the game to some route one football. shit happens, although evra should have tracked kuyt.
Ahhh “fucktard”… that always gives me wood.
You’re not going on about other forwards, though, you’re picking on Welbeck.
My point is that if you bring another forward on who is equally ineffective, the problem doesn’t lie with the forwards, it lies elsewhere in the team.
I know Welbeck didn’t have a particularly great game himself, but he was hardly the worst player on the pitch. The way you keep going on and on about him is complete nonsense.
Welbeck….**wait for it** IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH IN MY OPINION….remember opinions? we’re allowed to have them!
He doesn’t have the quality for a PREMIERSHIP winning club who want to win the Champions league.
He was playing on his own today up front for most of the game against 3 centre backs but, yes, it’s clearly his fault we lost.
You complete and utter tool.
Are you fucking blind you thick inbred cunt? Read what I am saying…NOT judged on just today’s game! In my opinion he is not good enough. PERIOD.
To sum up. Giggs was shit today. So was Evra and De Gea.
I’m off out now, apparently Fegrie’s looking to sign a new forward.
Name me a world class forward on our books? or a midfielder? our whole attacking team is shit….and breaking news that INCLUDES Welbeck.
As a squad our quality is not good enough to get back to the top of the football summit.
Haven’t you fucked off yet?
This will be my last post, I don’t expect to be abused like this when I come on here!!
LOL. Cunt
rumors fergie attacked de gea in the tunnel after game lol
he probably knocked his glass eye out. 18m on a blind goaly, ffs?
Cant believe you are trying to blame Carrick Sid. How could have been EXPECTED to win the header off Carroll? If Evra was expecting that then it is even worse.
Scholes and Giggs were sensational in the middle except when the Welsh man went wide and refused to cross first time. We were so good and am really gutted that we lost.
He’s an utter liability! Give the other cunt the shirt for the rest of the season, or bring Edwin back…..
By the way, both Carroll and Kuyt were offside from Reina’s kick. Am surprised no one has mentioned it.
or gary bailey
can’t be offside from a goal kick, right?
Don’t agree with you about scholes and giggs. Scholes had a better game than giggs but thats not saying much. We had lots of possession but didn’t create enough. First half we had 2/3 of possession but how many chances were there? I said in the first half that we lacked penetration. We had a decent spell in the second but liverpool grew in confidence when they saw how vulnerable we were with our keeper. We dropped deeper and again ended up not creating enough.
Absolutely 100% fucking spot on!
If there are any positives to be taken from today, it’s that we made those cunts look like the away team for the majority of the match. It’s the manner in which we lost the game that’s disappointing.
And well done that supporter caught making monkey gestures on camera, proof if needed that they’re all cunts
I spread that shit all over twitter and it caught! Thanks Sid!
apparently this liverpool supporter wasnt being racist. he was just cold and putting his hands in his pockets.. camera caught it wrong lol… some excuse that
Why is our recent record at Anfield so shit?
I can’t believe we failed to even get a draw against such a poor Liverpool team and, yet, it’s not just today but a regular occurrence that we fail to do ourselves justice there.
I don’t even think it’s a question of Liverpool raising their game against us. We have a better team and should be getting better results.
we have rio vidic jones fletch nani cleverley rooney anderson young all out injuerd, thast a massive loss for us. our pensioners and reserved bossed them most of the game,
to be fair, anderson out is a bonus. i hope he never comes back.
Oh I love it, people racing to defend Welbeck, if it was any of our other strikers they would be raging, the lad is ordinary.
Welbeck didn’t really have much service and was just up there on his own fair enough. But up there when he did get the ball his first touch , decision making and lack of technical ability let him down again. People are hyping him on a few good games and he is hideously over rated at this stage. He had three shots on goal all of which were pointless as they were so far out and even further wide.
Do people really see the new RVN? he puts himself about a bit but I just think people are too used to mediocrity and because he is from the youth set up and a local lad they have lowered expectations and standards.
Carrick admittedly good, Tony V and Rafael V good and Scholes MOTM. We lost the game bringing Scholes off. Crazy to start DeGea today who will come good but today was not a good day.
welbeck, like de gea, is budget. doesn’t cut it; never will.
Why would people be raging? Raging about what?
Who is saying that Welbeck had anything like a decent game?
Your post makes no sense. On the one hand you seem to accept that Welbeck was on his own today against 3 experienced centre backs yet, on the other, you berate him for his touch and technical ability. Touch and technical ability count for little if you hardly see the ball.
What were you expecting him from him exactly? What would you have expected from any other forward in exactly the same situation? We put on a second striker, Hernandez, and that made no difference to the outcome.
It was clear that we suffered because our centre forward (and later centre forwards) got very little support.
The problem, as you yourself have admitted, was the lack of service.
The only reason we are defending Welbeck is because Brian was on here practically blaming Welbeck for the defeat. It doesn’t matter who is up front. If you don’t give the forward the ball, he can’t do anything.
Sheesh,
we “lacked penetration” because were decimated with injuries. Nani and Young’s absences were huge. Add that to Rooney and you know we would struggle to create much. But had right go. We played at our tempo and were even unlucky to go a goal behind to start with. However, we got up and got level. If Welbeck had been a bit more ruthless, or Giggs had crossed better we could have gone in the lead.
This is the best we have played at Anfield since the Tevez winner. And we played like this with so many big players out.
Cal, for all the possession we had how many clearcut chances did we create in that game?
My biggest problem with the way we played was that we had so much possession but didn’t have a midfield player who could make something happen. I think the result might have been different if we had someone like Cleverley in the team as he might have caused more problems.
Giggs and Scholes saw plenty of the ball. Giggs put in one really good ball in the second half but, from what I can recall, that was about it. He was frustrating today because he kept holding on to the ball too long. Scholes kept things ticking over without really making a huge impact. We were solid but unspectacular.
I wouldn’t get too carried away with us having so much possession. That Liverpool team (one of the worst I think they’ve had in years) would have felt the effects of the City game on Wednesday.
Maybe injuries did play a part but it was highly frustrating to see us have so much possession with little to show for it. I still think we should at least have nicked a draw.
We are saying same. We lacked the players. if Rooney had been available to play in the position that Giggs played we would have had penetration. My feeling is that with our problems we did exceptionally well and deserved at least a replay.
I will explain, Berbatov gets stick for not working hard enough, Hernandez gets stick for not been involved enough in any build play up but Welbeck was both these problems today. When he lost the ball he didn’t chase back or even pressure the Liverpool defenders. He is meant to be leading the line for Manchester United against Liverpool and it was poor. Welbeck had more service then many of our other big games this year, Valencia and Giggs played some brilliant crosses and the midfield was well on top.
Knobhead and others goes on about him being a match winner, a player who can make something out of nothing. Well they had all the possession and the match winner was AWOL and always will be at the top level.
Correct
So it’s not just me who sees it. The guy will never be good enough in my eyes, he’s average, mid table prem league team will be his comfort level. That one chance he had where he knocked it around Pepe summed him up…just falls short when quality is required.
Quote me on where I blamed him for today’s loss, he contributed to it on a lesser extent than say De Gea or Evra but he lacks real quality.
My argument was/is he is not good enough to play for Man Utd, and if we are to have any hope of winning the Champions league or dominate the league again then we have to find better.
I only watched the first half today because I was playing myself. To listen to a home crowd booing a black man who complained about being racially abused, made me want to be physically sick. I have heard racist apologists today say that United fans would have done the same. That’s not an excuse. Such a position doesn’t wash with me. I don’t care about club or football when it comes to this. This is bigger than football and Liverpool FC should not be afforded the option of hiding behind tribalism on this issue. As for ITV panning to Suarez well thats disgraceful. Fuck football, fuck LFC and fuck racism. I don’t care about the result I care about what is morally right. Fuck football today and fuck LFC, fuck Dalglish, fuck the LFC board and the booing fans. I’m right, they are wrong. I love kicking a ball about and watching football but not so much that I would suspend my moral compass.
Quoted (from page 6).
In response to Cal saying “Evra’s cost us the game”.
And there lies our biggest problem.
Without Rooney, we just aren’t the same team.
As good as Messi is, even if he was injured, Barcelona are still miles ahead of us… Madrid would hammer us, even without Ronaldo…
We’re not spending money on new, world class talent, because we’re supposedly bringing youth along… but our two best midfield prospects, both want out…
Lies, lies and more lies…
Scholes was excellent today… but he still needs replacing… and it’s just not going to happen.
Scholes had a good game in terms of holding the ball and making lots of passes. But Pool’s MF was rubbish. How long can we continue to neglect our central MF and make excuses? Perhaps Fergie will play Scholes and Giggs until they’re 50.
By the way, I thought we put in an excellent performance and the boys should be proud. It was a tough loss and we deserved better. Now, let’s move on and beat Stoke, Chelsea and those booing losers at Old Trafford – another 8-2 scoreline would do nicely!
Police have arrested the fella who was doing monkey chants http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-16775767
Another racism story regarding Liverpool. Surely the yank owners are gonna come in and tell Dalglish & co to stop being stupid cunts and sort it out, because this just looks terrible. It’s on rotate on BBC & Sky, and is the most read story on the Beeb website
i have been raving about the kid for 2 years. i think he’s got an excellent first touch, he’s good in the air, quick and links up well with players like cleverley and rooney. sure, he’s got some growing up to do, but i believe he’ll be a top class forward.
no one’s calling him the new RVN ffs. i think if he reaches the level of a fit saha, we’ll have a fantastic player to call upon.
if its any consolation, my lads won 16-2 today
Me>>>>>>>>Fergie
Ha, my lad won 27-0 yesterday.
’twas Rugby to be fair though.
Thanks to you Sid I tweeted that picture all over twitter and it spread like a rash!! Was it your picture?
FUCKING SPOT ON.
I didn’t solely blame him though did I, if he was world class he would have finished that chance he had, the one on one with pepe….
That argument makes no sense whatsoever – and I don’t think anyone on here has ever said that he is ‘world class’ but, if you must use world class players as a bench mark, even those like Messi miss goal scoring opportunities.
Is everything this black and white with you?
He should have done better for the one and one but the keeper was rushing at him and he had to make a split second decision. Had he not bent his run and timed it to perfection, which you completely ignored, you would have moaned because he was offside. There is no pleasing some people.
You keep saying that based on other games you don’t rate him. Not something I agree with but, whatever. Many other people on here seem to agree that he has been one of our best players this season (where were you when we beat City in the Cup). To have a go at him for yesterday, though, is silly.
I wouldn’t have a problem if you mentioned that he didn’t play that great and left it at that. It’s just the way you keep going on and on about it and making him out to be one of the worst performers. Tedious.
” Tedious “
A bit like your nonsense posts trying to “prove” you had a point. Oh the irony!
I blame him for not doing better with the one on one, I blame Evra for the second goal I blame de Gea and the whoever the defender was that should have marked the free header and fergie for letting the Glazers bitch him!! again, feel free to quote me where I blamed Welbeck for the defeat alone! or shut the fuck up and get back to your boyfriend!
Welbeck in my OPINION is not good enough for us and never will be. I’d love to be proven wrong.
No, I nicked it off the Caf
It went viral after I tweeted it!
brilliant sub apperance from hernandez
I love the wy that, even when he doesn’t score, he’s always massively involved in the game
there’s never a time when you don’t notice hernandez is on the pitch, moreover he is absolutely brilliant at leading the line, because not only does he take chances, he also creates for himself and others, a complete player
You always were one of the more intelligent Ranters on here. Well done.
Many thanks!
The Welbeck lover extraordinaire with a post that’s longer then the usual 6 word retort/insult. So slag another player who was on for 20 minutes to defend his beloved Welbeck. Admittedly Hernandez did no more or no less in 20 then Welbeck did in 90 and that was nothing.
Personally I would rather take my chances with the better finisher not the player who you cast alongside Rooney and Nani as United’s match winners, players who can make something out of nothing and whom you describe as having an x-factor (Terms I never heard to describe players before. I would also have started the player with a bit of form Berbatov ahead of both of them.
Welbeck/Hernandez???… pffft… fact is… take Rooney and Nani out, and you get a stark reminder of just how ordinary our team really is.
The two above posts are spot on!!
why don’t you just swallow his dick and his balls whilst you’re at it
and get unc to bum you as well
xfactor is a highly suitable phrase to describe a certain type of player, football people like sid and cap understand it, people who don’t watch games blinded by an anti english agenda…
why even support an english club….
WTF has being English got to do with it? You’re not from Manchester so why do YOU support them?
People with an awareness of football and basic grammer would consider it a completely ambiguous phase used by people to fulfill their argument.
Is it that only English players have an x-factor or just players that you like?
basic gramm[a]r
ph[r]ase
otherwise, I agree with Sq.
Sorry… but I just don’t see the point.
Arguing about who’s better… Welbeck or Hernandez, is like arguing who’s better, Park or Fletcher…
They’re all decent players… all have their uses, but none of them should be any more than squaddies.
A United first 11, SHOULD be made of much better players.
When I think of past midfields, especially the Giggs, Scholes, Keane, Beckham lineup… all in their prime… and compare it to the dreck on offer now…
It really is sad…
“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.”
Look on the bright side, we’ve still got half of our greatest midfield in recent memory!
Fuck me, you really are a miserable cunt, aren’t you?
Having a bad day/week/month?
Life.
HMM