Greenlizard0 Weekend Football Thread ** spoilers ** [28th December 2013 - 1st January 2014]

The biggest problem appears to be Henderson. Lucas has to play as our DM and Coutinho has to play as either a left sided forward or behind Suarez. I'd personally play him behind Suarez which means there's only one midfield spot up for grabs. Do we sacrifice Henderson given how much he's improved since Gerrard's been out? I'd rather not.
 
If you go that way I'd rather sacrifice Henderson rather than both waste him and leave us exposed in midfield.

I think the most likely outcome will be one of Sterling, Coutinho or Sturridge start on the bench.
 
If Sturridge hits the ground running he'll become undroppable pretty quickly again and if Coutinho hits form there's no one more creative in the team so it'll probably be Sterling which won'y be too bad given his age and mixed form this season.

Would still question whether Gerrard's set pieces and ability to control the game is worth losing Henderson's speed, work rate and ability to get forward quickly and support the front three though. He's only 1 assist behind Gerrard and all of his have come from open play so he's obviously more than capable/more important than Gerrard in attack.

Certainly a big decision for Rodgers coming up :)
 
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As you might say to DM, don't goals from set-plays count? ;)

Whether from set-plays or not, Gerrard's more likely to score or create than Henderson and he's played far more withdrawn than Henderson this season. And I don't see why you need to lose Henderson to accommodate Gerrard. I'd stick with a 4-3-3 with Gerrard in place of Allen (one of Coutinho, Sturridge & Sterling dropped depending on form).

I suspect we'll go back to the system we were playing before Gerrard & Sturridge's injuries though, with Henderson tucked in on the right and Sturridge alongside Suarez.
 
Don't forget, if Big Sam were manager of Real Madrid of Barca he'd win everything. He said so himself!

"I'm not suited to Bolton or Blackburn, I would be more suited to Inter or Real Madrid," Allardyce said. "It wouldn't be a problem to me to go and manage those clubs because I would win the double or the league every time. Give me Manchester United or Chelsea and I would do the same, it wouldn't be a problem. It's not where I'm suited to, it's just where I've been for most of the time.
 
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Gerrard should just be benched and Rodgers looks for a DM to partner Lucas. It's kinda obvious Gerrard-less Liverpool is more fluid.

I want Kagawa in CM at United. Cleverley can go on loan and we get a DM to partner him in CM.
 
I think yesterday highlighted the two or possibly 3 core issues we have at the moment.

LB: I love evra, he has been a brilliant left back for us for a long time now, but the game has become too pacy for him and he has lost what pace he had. I dont see why Fabio isnt getting a chance? Whats the worst that can happen?

Midfield: Cleverly is like the Nani of our midfield, he can have one good game then goes missing for another 5. Similar to Evra, the pace of the game can sometimes get the better of him. All the top sides have midfielders that not only create goals, they score them too and we dont have anyone like that.

Wingers: Valencia has looked improved, but he still isnt the player he was, he must have hit the first man at least 10 times yesterday. Young wont and should never get ahead of Januzaj who is one of the few shining lights at the moment. We need a replacement for nani/valencia or at least someone who can challenge them for the place.
 
Wasn't there a certain poster who predicted how United would turn out if they didn't take action to sort the midfield something like 4 years ago?

Didn't that certain poster ALSO point out the need to be buying defenders a couple of years ago to be slotting into place about now, not unproven youngsters, but top quality defenders to be taking over from Ferdinand and Vidic on a more regular basis.

As well as buying a decent left back (three years ago) and a right back and a left winger?

Oh how we all laughed and pointed.

In some ways I feel a bit sorry for Moyes in that he hasn't exactly been left with the club in as good a condition as it could possibly of been in.

On the other hand I don't because what he was left with was a squad that is better than it is currently showing and it's almost entirely down to his management of the team.
 
See I just don't get it. We have a terrible record this season and are playing awful. But no one seems to care? It's like you've all accepted we should be 6th or 7th and that losing at home was an acceptable result in any way.

Maybe by the middle of next year you'll catch up like you are now blaming our squad of players - yet you thought the players were great last season and the season before that despite us looking awful over and over again. A few quick wins and you forget about playing competent football and like Cardiff the other week you're all gushing over 3 points, happy regardless of performance on the pitch...

Forget critiquing players like ando and Nani, it's the regulars of Valencia, carrick, who play every week and literally do nothing positive in 90 mins of football week in week out.
 
Stevie wont be benched unfortunately (we should be breaking the bank trying to sign Mata or go after Rakitic), if Gerrard is to play I would like something along the lines of the following against Stoke..

-------Lucas--------
Henderson--Coutinho---
Sterling---------Gerrard
--------Suarez---------
 
Shamikebab said:
Please go find evidence, I'll wait.
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The proof is in the obnoxious responses to my words of caution when we sold Ronaldo and signed valencia etc. I asked the question about how us doing this gets us closer to Barcelona quality who seemed to be our main competition at the time. You were all like, 'pessemist', 'hater' ' Fergie is the best eva' and I was like, we have Michael carrick in midfield and Valencia plus Ashley young.

If you had agreed with me for the past few years about how dismal our players and signings had been then I could understand. Instead you all overlooked our dismal performances for a few good results every now and again. I'll find you some quotes. It's just slower on my phone with the searching etc
 
The Running Man said:
The proof is in the obnoxious responses to my words of caution when we sold Ronaldo and signed valencia etc. I asked the question about how us doing this gets us closer to Barcelona quality who seemed to be our main competition at the time. You were all like, 'pessemist', 'hater' ' Fergie is the best eva' and I was like, we have Michael carrick in midfield and Valencia plus Ashley young.

If you had agreed with me for the past few years about how dismal our players and signings had been then I could understand. Instead you all overlooked our dismal performances for a few good results every now and again. I'll find you some quotes. It's just slower on my phone with the searching etc
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Ah, so no evidence then. Carry on.

#n'zogbiawillsaveus
 
Send a message via MSN to One More Solo Quote:
Originally Posted by The Running Man View Post
Yea biut when you contribute very little compared to other players who play in a similar position, you cannot disregard the facts either.

Valencia - not a UTD player for me. Ive said it before and ill say it again, he is 'workmanlike'

I want a Kanchelskis not another Ji Sung Park.

You can say, 'well he;s a good 2 way forward' yea but i dont care if he is. As a winger his job is to be great at attacking and sure its a bonus if he can defend a bit. You dont buy someone for the wing who isnt a great winger under the assumption that he can stick the boot in every now and again, surely?

I say, re position Valencia as a Right Back, Nani to right wing then find a left winger.

You need workmanlike players to balance the team, and create space and opportunities for the flair players.
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Yes we need workman like players on the wing. Circa 2011.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=19414747&postcount=4526

others

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=23434563&postcount=549

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=19607108&postcount=8154
 
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FrankJH
Capodecina


Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,138 Quote:
Originally Posted by Nickg View Post
well you cant say fergie hasnt taken a great team and made it mediocre.

its not that we lost ti liverpool, nor that we drew with moscow, or that we also lost to chelsea.

its that at no point did we ever look like winning any of the above matches.
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Well thats a crock of **** if you ask me

The only game where we didnt look like winning was the CSKA game - the two EPL games were pretty even and if anything we tested Cech much more than VDS was tested

Yesterday's game was so marginal , a different ref / assistants and Utd could easily have been up 2-0 at half time, the performance itself was right up there

People forget very quickly that we havent won at SB for a good number of years (admittedly a couple of them have been end of season where they wont alter anything)

We have also recently had West Ham, Liverpool, Man City all do the double over us (the last two both last season I think), and thats not including the individual losses here and there

Arsenal have got a gigantic chance without a doubt and while AW has won the league many times , and I guess Gallas and Silvestre have with other clubs - are there any players left in Arsenal's squad that won it with AW? Thats a significant factor if you ask me either way.

It also depends who gets bought by which Manager in Jan (I really dont expect SAF to buy significantly unless there are more significant /long term injuries, I suspect Chelsea will buy due to ACoN)


Quote:
Originally Posted by skippi90 View Post
After every draw or loss? Nope.

As for them taking action, what he receives is no more than a slap on the wrist for adding pressure onto refs.

So the fact that what SAF said was correct is irrelevant yeah? (They arent GOD but if an independant panel of judges (MOTD) agreed that Rooney was onside, Valencia should have won a penalty and the freekick wasnt one in the first place - surely its only right that SAF highlights mistakes made by officials)


Quote:
Originally Posted by Nickg View Post

this is after he has deteriorated our centre midfield quite badly, using people like carrick and scholes, when yes 5 years ago maybe scholes was good.. and carrick.. well...he's no keano. hell i dont even know what he is.

i like berbatov but really fergie blew 30 million on a player we didnt really need him that much. i cant help but feel that Torres, or eve Tevez would have been better overall, especially considering age, effort, and sell on ability..
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1stly There arent any well known wingers that where available during the summer apart from Ribery who was daylight robbery and is injured now anyway - who hasnt proved himself like Ronaldo yet BM want majority if not more of Ronaldo fee, which is just ridiculous (even if Ribery wanted to come to Utd which is open to question itself)

2ndly Nani isnt Utd quality , I agree but its unfair to berate Valencia I think he has done well and could well be a really good player for Utd and same for Obertan

No club (unless you have a Billionaire owner - not indebt by a billion either lol - or funded by Royalty , can afford to buy every member of the squad/ team at £20m + it just doesnt work (and usually they dont always work as a team either)

Carrick has won 3 EPL titles in a row with us, and most significantly arrived in a summer where he was the only purchase after we lost the league mainly due to our terrible midfield......I think that proves how good he really is. He hasnt hit top form yet this season by being in and out of the team like most other players but he is a very decent player . Also someone who plays 150 games before this season for the club CANT be bad even in these lean times!!!

Tevez was a waste of space (and a real waste of money at the kind of price being asked), his first season was great no question - 2nd season was spent whinging more about when he would get a proper contract rather than actually doing anything remarkable on the field. Berba hasnt worked I totally agree, he should have but it plainly isnt working and we would be lucy to get £20m back for him at this rate, but thats the only optioon I can see, Torres would have been excellent but he blatantly didnt want to come to Utd for whatever reason - and whatever happens at Liverpool there is no chance at all he would ever come now.
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Living in ignorant bliss since 2009?

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=15278896&postcount=366
 
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