Manchester United F.C Thread [2009/2010]

[Pogba4Now]

40 millions for Villa will be an excellent deal IMO but it won't happen realistically. Valencia has got financial problems and will want to get the most out of him. Expect 50+ millions which will be almost twice the price of Berbatov. Plus you never know how he will fit in the formation with Rooney... I am a HUGE fan of Villa TBH. I think he's the best striker in the world right now but its gonna be a huge sum of Money for a player who probably has 2-3 more years at his peak ahead of him. The debt is an issue for us, remember.

 

[cfdemarco]

I honestly don't see why Rooney and Villa couldn't play together. Villa is great as the most forward striker and Rooney likes playing slightly behind someone. Surely it could work:

-------------------------------VDS-------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Rafael----------------Vidic-------------Rio--------------------Evra
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------Hargreaves-------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Valencia------------------------------------------------------Nani
-------------------------------Fletcher---------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------Rooney-------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------Villa-------------------------------------

Tell me that wouldn't work.

 

[Pogba4Now]

Rooney playing behind would mean less goals from him just like when Ronaldo or Ruud were here. That was my point.

 

[cfdemarco]

Rooney playing behind would mean less goals from him just like when Ronaldo or Ruud were here. That was my point.

He might score less, but overall I think we'd score more goals as a team.

Regardless of who is scoring, wouldn't you want a more dangerous striker on your team? Think of it this way, if you could do a straight swap today, Berbs for Villa, wouldn't you do it?

 

[AsmodaiPlay]

We bought Berbs when he was 27, he is 29 right now...Villa is 28, and is ten times the striker and goal-scoring threat that Berbs is.

We spent 30 million on Berbs...say for argument's sake we could get Villa for 40 million this summer, we would be out of our minds insane if we didn't do it.

This is a moot point of course since either Chelsea or Madrid are going to buy him this summer. But I guess I can still dream of being able to buy a United #7 Villa shirt next year.

I'd only do it if we could get back a good amount of money for Berba. Not sure if realistically we can afford to pay 40mil for a player who will also have incredibly high wages. I reckon Barca or Real will sign him soon tbh.

Got some more positive news anyway, Owen Hargreaves could be on the bench against Chelsea. I'm not so certain on this but I think O'Shea could be too.

Against Chelsea I'd probably set up like this:

------------VDS----------------

Neville---Ferdinand---Vidic---Evra

-----Carrick---Fletcher---Park----

Valencia---------------------Nani

------------Berbatov------------

With Park doing something similar to what he did against Liverpool, basically helping out the main striker.

 

[Zakov]

Are you sure Fergie's going to trust Neville against Malouda? I'm not putting down Neville or anything, but Malouda's been in great form and I don't think Neville's going to enjoy 1-on-1s against him assuming Chelsea try to isolate him up against Malouda.

If that is the case, definitely Fletcher or Carrick should do all they can to help him out.
But I expect Fergie to put young and fresh legs to cope with the threat of probably our best forward player this year.

 

[MikeyM]

Are you sure Fergie's going to trust Neville against Malouda? I'm not putting down Neville or anything, but Malouda's been in great form and I don't think Neville's going to enjoy 1-on-1s against him assuming Chelsea try to isolate him up against Malouda.

If that is the case, definitely Fletcher or Carrick should do all they can to help him out.
But I expect Fergie to put young and fresh legs to cope with the threat of probably our best forward player this year.

Neville has more experience, I would also expect Park to be assigned a role on Malouda or Lampard, as he did in the UCL against Pirlo. Rafael might be faster, but Neville would be the logical choice for me.

 

[kp41]

Hargreaves set for return, same goes for Oshea.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_6070435,00.html

 

[adedawson]

that almost makes up for Rooney. Great news. Hope he plays.

 

[Help?]

Are you sure Fergie's going to trust Neville against Malouda? I'm not putting down Neville or anything, but Malouda's been in great form and I don't think Neville's going to enjoy 1-on-1s against him assuming Chelsea try to isolate him up against Malouda.

If that is the case, definitely Fletcher or Carrick should do all they can to help him out.
But I expect Fergie to put young and fresh legs to cope with the threat of probably our best forward player this year.

He trusted him with Ribery, so don't see why not

 

[Zakov]

He trusted him with Ribery, so don't see why not

And Ribery even not at his best, skinned him numerous times. He also was too wary of Ribery until he gave away an unnecessary free-kick with a stupid handball.

I'm not knocking Fergie if he decides to go with Neville, just a bit puzzled.

 

[Help?]

Rafael might have been a more logical choice, but Ferguson will probably still trust Neville.

 

[Pogba4Now]

Are you sure Fergie's going to trust Neville against Malouda? I'm not putting down Neville or anything, but Malouda's been in great form and I don't think Neville's going to enjoy 1-on-1s against him assuming Chelsea try to isolate him up against Malouda.

If that is the case, definitely Fletcher or Carrick should do all they can to help him out.
But I expect Fergie to put young and fresh legs to cope with the threat of probably our best forward player this year.

Do we have a choice? Our 1st and 2nd choice Right back players are injured: O'Shea and Brown. We're left with Neville and Rafael. Neville is slow but experienced whereas Rafael is the exact opposite. How old is Rafael, 19 something? Rafael's too shaky at the moment for such a big game... I think Neville will do a better job but I have the feeling Ferguson will rest him. I'm sure Rafael can do the job if he's picked.

Great news about O'Shea and Hargreaves btw

 

[kp41]

I have a feeling that Berbatov will shine tomorrow.

Btw, Nice signature Nady, I love our black kit.

 

[AsmodaiPlay]

Are you sure Fergie's going to trust Neville against Malouda? I'm not putting down Neville or anything, but Malouda's been in great form and I don't think Neville's going to enjoy 1-on-1s against him assuming Chelsea try to isolate him up against Malouda.

If that is the case, definitely Fletcher or Carrick should do all they can to help him out.
But I expect Fergie to put young and fresh legs to cope with the threat of probably our best forward player this year.

Obviously I'd want O'Shea there but I think Neville is the best we have fit. Rafael for me is naive defensively and can't cope in the bigger games (see Man City and Milan as examples). Malouda would probably still skin him anyway, the only difference being Rafael would probably give a penalty away or something.

Personally I think Rafael is overrated, but good luck to the guy in proving me wrong. He's still young so he's more than capable of doing that. Even though I'm not a fan of him, as with Berbatov I will still support them as long as they play for the club.

I reckon we can still pull this off anyway, I notice Chelsea are missing a fair few defenders. At the end of the day Rooney is one man (albeit a very important one for us) so if the team continues to perform in the manner that they have been then we will still compete fairly well. My prediction is a 1-1 draw.

 

[MikeyM]

We're not in this. I have to say I thought it was a lucky goal until the replay. It is far too easy for Chelsea in the first 34 mins, we don't seem to have any pace without Nani. Should have had a penalty, but Andy Gray reckons the reputation and talk about Mike Deane's fondness for giving them in the media made him not give it (it was a foul) But then Chelsea had a possible one later on.

Scholesy booked now, I think Fergie should take him off before he's sent off. I'd put Giggsy in the centre and bring Nani on.

I was hoping going behind would spur the boys on, but even the crowd seems flat.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Should have had a penalty, but Andy Gray reckons the reputation and talk about Mike Deane's fondness for giving them in the media made him not give it (it was a foul) But then Chelsea had a possible one later on.

LOL, bull**** you should have had a penalty. Park fell down like a sniper hit him; it was Diouf-esque. Neville on the other hand, continued his run of moronic play around in his own defensive area and was extremely lucky it isn't 2-0 because Chelsea definitely should have got a penalty.

 

[mnj2x]

we are looking dire. Toothless in attack. I will take a draw.

 

[MikeyM]

LOL, bull**** you should have had a penalty. Park fell down like a sniper hit him; it was Diouf-esque. Neville on the other hand, continued his run of moronic play around in his own defensive area and was extremely lucky it isn't 2-0 because Chelsea definitely should have got a penalty.

Anywhere else and Park would have got the freekick. That's a penalty, the guy left his leg out.

Sky's bias continues - and ex Chelsea manager as the guest, disgusting. I'm making a dossier on all this by the way.

 

[Pogba4Now]

Come on there was contact there. How did you expect him to move with his left foot locked? I don't think its a penalty though. Just a regular tussle of the ball. The Neville challenge also was a tussle of the ball. He used his strength to dispossess the other player and didn't use his leg to stop the player. No penalty deserved for either sides for me.

EDIT: that was at ShiftyPowers