Manchester United Thread [2004-2005]

[houston3721]

Originally posted by birminghamfan2
anyone have thoughts on how we will line up vs chelsea?

since Fortune is no longer injured, i think he will be one of the first eleven in the team.

So...

----------------------------Howard-------------------------
G.Neville--------O'Shea--------Silvestre-------Fortune
Fletcher--------Scholes-------Keane----------Giggs
----------------------Smith-----Forlan---------------------

i think Scholes in the middle alonside Keane is better than Djemba-Djemba with Keane coz Scholes holds up the ball better and he is creative.

 

[b-ytter]

Originally posted by houston3721
since Fortune is no longer injured, i think he will be one of the first eleven in the team.

So...

----------------------------Howard-------------------------
G.Neville--------O'Shea--------Silvestre-------Fortune
Fletcher--------Scholes-------Keane----------Giggs
----------------------Smith-----Forlan---------------------

i think Scholes in the middle alonside Keane is better than Djemba-Djemba with Keane coz Scholes holds up the ball better and he is creative.

Keane havin himself a coffe break?

 

[Amdy Faye]

Originally posted by mhflierman
I pretty much agree with you've said. Players like Bellion, Forlan, Kleberson, Djemba Djemba and Fortune really have to prove themselves this season. If they don't, for all I care they're off. I know Kleberson has been unlucky with injuries, but he somehow manages to reserve his good games, if he finally is able to play one, for Brazil. I have confidence in Djemba Djemba, he just needs some more chances to play and show what he's capable off.

It extremely annoys me to see that a players like Van Nistelrooij and Saha are out injured, but it annoys me even more that new signing Heinze and Ronaldo (players who we really need at this stage of the season) are off to the Olympics and that the club, who pays their massive wages are left nurtring their injuries and fatigue when they return... that's just not right.

About new or missed signings. I think Smith is a great addition and the same goes for Heinze. Smith is still a **** but he starts to win me over with his dedicated performances and aggressive playing style. We could/can use some fiery character on the pitch next to Keane and from what I've heard, Heinze ain't axactly a softie either. I don't want to see anything like last year against Arsenal, when basically Ruud got owned by Keown.
I don't agree with what you've said about Ronaldinho. He's a great, great player but I feel he doesn't fit in at ManUtd, we need players who are dedicated and "down to earth". Working hard comes first, showing off comes second. Ronaldinho fits better in a southern european club. The entire life style suits him better I feel.
Missing out on Robben was just pathetic. ManUtd had created the perfect feeling with the Robben feeling and Arjen really wanted to go. But then the Utd board heard about PSV's financial situation and they lowered their offer. I think PSV and Robben felt stabbed in the back and then Chelsea came along. They payed what Robben was worth and we lost out on the natural successor to Giggs... a real shame.

All in all our squad looks good, but I feel that we're missing that extra touch of brilliance in midfield. We've got proven, world class players in Van Nistelrooij, Giggs, Scholes, Ferdinand and Neville, but I think that a creative genius in midfield is what we're lacking. At the back we've got enough options coming season with the Nevilles, Brown, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Heinze and Silvestre. We've got a crowded midfield with loads of talent and some older, more experienced guys, perhaps lacking a winger or two. And up front we've got enough quality, but perhaps a fourth proven (i.e. not Vassell) would be a welcome addition. I would have loved to see Kezman at Utd for instance.

But basically I think we're looking good for the season. We've got a good staff with Quiroz being added again, and a Real MAdrid fitness coach. It's promising, but we've got worthy opponents in Europe and England...

Yea some good points. Nice one.

I just feel so strongly about Ronaldino. I know, why dwell on the past? You've gotta look into a hopefully bright future. But I just think he would of settled in, he'd of been such a player. He really would.

Van Der Vaart would be a good addition but he's not even close to the class of Ronaldinho who United were so close to gettin.

I do think Manchester United do need someone like that, to kinda step in the way of Scholes when he goes, or comes on restrictedly, like Keane.

But with a full-strength squad.. It's lookin very cool. I see a bright future. I really really hope you have Champions League success. But it'll be a fantastic tournament this year with I think Barcelona being fierce contenders. But we'll see

N for people who are kinda unsure about Ronaldinho (if you are ur nuts) you won't be able to miss him next season.. His name will be in lights

 

[ZamundaMan]

What's the availablity of Pablo Aimar. He is very creative, and if SAF can lure him to OT maybe scholes can be pushed up into a strikers role and sort out some of our creativity problems.

 

[Larry]

Originally posted by jonin
And as for Bellion. Just give this guy a chance.

If you can already count Smith as a positive form how he did on the USA tour, then Bellion should be counted as a success as well.

He was incredible in his first appearance for United during the USA tour last year. Some great runs a goal and an assist I think. Anyone else remember? Seeing how Bellion played in that one game has biased me completely towards him. (someone want to back me up here?)

I know i know. I was watching that game live on tv and seeing how good he played. He came on for Ruud (i think) and then scored a few minutes later. Then he got another goal disalowed (i think). I remember feeling "wow we have got something good here", but then he never made a real impact during the season.

He got a few goals but nothing great. We never saw him play that good as when he played on the champions tour

 

[Payaah]

Man Utd Videos:

George Best:
Past his best but still showing mindblowing dribbling skills resulting in American defenders chasing shadows
A young Best making his impact on the European scene vs Benfica
Driven out wide by the defenders but obviously not enough

Bobby Charlton
One of the great Wembley goals against Mexico in '66

Diego Forlan
Forlan can hit the net contrary to popular opinion and did in style here vs Senegal

Ryan Giggs
The awesome run in the FA Cup semi vs Arsenal

Philip Neville
A surprising piercing run from the utility man

Cristiano Ronaldo
Showing off skills vs Utd
Leaving two defenders for dust
Schooling Kishishev

Peter Schmeichel
Great save vs Newcastle

Cant be assed to copy other videos, maybe I will finish it later. Anyway I got the list from here: http://boards.ign.com/Soccer/b5106/61415976/?21

 

[Funky--K]

Originally posted by Payaah
Man Utd Videos:

George Best:
Past his best but still showing mindblowing dribbling skills resulting in American defenders chasing shadows
A young Best making his impact on the European scene vs Benfica
Driven out wide by the defenders but obviously not enough

Bobby Charlton
One of the great Wembley goals against Mexico in '66

Diego Forlan
Forlan can hit the net contrary to popular opinion and did in style here vs Senegal

Ryan Giggs
The awesome run in the FA Cup semi vs Arsenal

Philip Neville
A surprising piercing run from the utility man

Cristiano Ronaldo
Showing off skills vs Utd
Leaving two defenders for dust
Schooling Kishishev

Peter Schmeichel
Great save vs Newcastle

Cant be assed to copy other videos, maybe I will finish it later. Anyway I got the list from here: http://boards.ign.com/Soccer/b5106/61415976/?21

GREAT ONES, thanx

 

[night]

So anyone knows how our reserve team played yesterday against Nottingham Forest reserves?

 

[buzzer555]

Thanks for the videos man.

 

[jonin]

Originally posted by VanTheMan
Very nice way of presenting the thread Shokz! a class apart!

and by the way i sw the squad list for 04/05.

so why aren't Rossi and Pique in?

Rossi and Pique aren't in the squad list simply because they are NOT first teamers. They're in the youth system. Not even in the reserves yet, I think.

 

[b-ytter]

Saha could be out until x-mas!
When is the bad luck going to turn?
Saha out until x-mas!

 

[b-ytter]

Was going to post this in the "portugal vs Iraq"thread but it was closed!
i saw the game and was surprised about the Iraq team,played some good fotball at times.the portugal defense was bad tough.
anyway i think C.Ronaldo did a fair mach,but was not as sharp as i hoped he would be.Unlucky on the freekick where the ball went from the inside of the post and out!

 

[VanTheMin]

about the Saha story.

i hope he is alright but with the views that Fergie wants another striker,maybe he may be a long-term injury,else fergie would have wait for some weeks to let the injury go away.

 

[ngyc]

Originally posted by b-ytter
Was going to post this in the "portugal vs Iraq"thread but it was closed!
i saw the game and was surprised about the Iraq team,played some good fotball at times.the portugal defense was bad tough.
anyway i think C.Ronaldo did a fair mach,but was not as sharp as i hoped he would be.Unlucky on the freekick where the ball went from the inside of the post and out!

i just finished watch the olympic football replay. portugal defend so bad. ronaldo have a quite good game but his team mate just seems like dreaming around the field. almost all the passing are poor, left and right defender didn't marking winger well. conclusion portugal have a poor game but iraq play very well. Ronaldo wear number 7 in portugal squad

 

[Stotty]

looks like miller is set to start against chelsea with fletcher being banned

 

[monkee]

A few points...

In the last 2 games I've seen improvements in the play of both Bellion and Djemba. I was worried about Djemba following his performance in the Charity Shield but hopefully this season he will stay clear of the problems that he had last season and come good. I saw him grow in ability and stature as the game against Bucharest progressed. He still made the odd mistake but your bound to if your rusty and inexperienced at that level. It remains to be seen if he continues his improvement in the same vain as Ronaldo did last season but I'm optimistic about him, and I love the way players just bounce off him.

Bellion looks like he's improved but there's still a long, long way to go for him. There's not doubt he has the pace but does he have the ability to improve his game at the rate required to become Manchester United material?

Hopefully Kleberson will get his chance soon.

My main concern is O'Shea. A lot was expected of him after his magnificent 1st season with us but his game seems to have regressed if anything. He was the weak link in our defense against Arsenal and he was the weak link in our team against Bucharest. His passing was truely awful until Giggs equalised and his running, tackling and ball retention left something to be desired. He's got to make the step up this season. With Heinze waiting the wings for the LB slot, provided he comes through these Olympics unscathed and Ferguson hasn't taken too much of an offense to the fact that we haven't even seen him since we signed him, then O'Shea's position is seriously under threat.

Silvestre is a good defender but he needs a leader alongside him. This is why we need Ferdinand back to control the line. Brown is also out with injury atm and will be putting bags of pressure on Silvestre for his spot because Brown's performances improved considerably at the end of last season.

The new signings also need to prove themselves. Smith looks like a classic center forward and I like that. The strength he shows in holding the ball up and the general aggression he shows in trying for everything is great to see. He'll be contending with Saha for the 2nd strikers role alongside Ruud and it will be a very close battle by the looks of things. He just needs to improve his finishing. Some great shots coupled with some wayward ones in the 1st 2 games shows that he has the shooting ability he just needs to make it more consistent. He's not going to get Ruud's goal ratio but he could get a considerable amount given the chance, as could Saha.

Liam Millar also looked spritely in his run out on Wednesday. Appearance wise he looked a lot like Gary Neville from a distance but I was impressed with what I saw from him. Now to see if he can show good, improving performances consistently then he could very well be one to watch.

As for getting in another striker, I don't know. I like what we have and were it not for the injuries then it's a no contest. The rumours about Rooney are ridiculous, to ease our injury situation in the strikers we are not going to get an injured player?! Besides, the insurers would never sanction a move atm due to Rooney's injury so nothing will happen until January at the earliest, if anything was to happen. Vassell's good but I just don't know if we should buy anyone else just to make up the numbers. If Smith were to pick up an injury we'd struggle so maybe we need something but it will be strictly for cover and then what? Can you see any player with the ability to play for United coming to us on the basis that they will be behind Ruud, Saha, Smith and Scholes, and possibly Giggs in the forward pecking order at a minimum? That they are only being bought because of the injuries and when the players return they might not get a look in? I just can't see us getting anyone and we'll just have to hope that we don't get anymore injuries until we get all our players back, and that the players playing are up to the task.

That is all for now. Let's just see how we start the season proper and as long as we're contending come Rio's return we've got as good a chance as any.

 

[Stotty]

Miller also reminded me alot of roy keane in the way he runs and trys to block the ball, also no what you mean about seeing gay neville

 

[ngyc]

i think djemba-djemba is lacking of big matches experience. he keep losing ball at center show that he still nervous or don't know what he should do when holding the ball. partner with experience midfield may help him a lot and of course, experience are priceless.

certain i not get impress by bellion, he sometimes do well, sometimes just like dreaming everywhere. his situation like forlan. easy word is not consistent. btw, he still young, loan him out may be another way for him to learn.

about kleberson, just wish him have more luck and faster out from injury. seems he quite bad luck always facing injury. same as ole.

i kinda impress by o'shea first season. i still remember he done the 'ole' stuff on figo. seems his performance getting bad and bad. until now i still not understand the reason he getting poor performance. may be of switching position? or style he play being limited? not sure..

seems like silvestre poor form continuing from last season to euro and now. good point monkee, commanding defender are very important to hold the back line. sometimes are not those defender have no quality but just they need another commanding defender told them what to do. arrival of heinze can be a solid center or left back. IMO, i still prefer silvestre become left back since his crossing are better and physical are strong.

about vasell, i don't think we need him. unless we sell forlan, need another backup striker. btw, we have strong midfield, playing scholes behind smith is another solution for using classic 4-4-2 pure 2 striker formation. with the return of saha or van nistelrooy. shift scholes into midfield become playmaker as he do usually are works as well. adding another striker seems not really necessary currently

hopeful injury and defend problems can be solves as soon as possible. with the return of van nistelrooy, saha, kleberson, ole, ronaldo, heinze, and rio ferdinand. may manchester united rules this season....

 

[houston3721]

Originally posted by b-ytter
Keane havin himself a coffe break?

no....when i typed, i wrote a "C" inside the "(" and ")" to mean he will be the captain
but it comes out with a coffee

 

[houston3721]

Originally posted by Stotty
looks like miller is set to start against chelsea with fletcher being banned

Oh....Fletcher is banned cross-seasonly.....

hope to see a match with Miller on the right can he play on the right side btw?

and Thanks very much for the great videos, Payaah. i like the Geroge Best ones!