Champions League 16th/17th *Spoilers*

[drunkenmaster]

He was one of the worst but tbh I think rooney's head wasn't right in the first 1/2. I am pretty sure that Nani got 1 very good cross in and Rooney turned around and starting moaning about it.

England fans: Should beckham be in the england squad? The guy offers nothing from play...

It wasn't a good cross the one you're talking about from Nani, it would have been a good cross IF there was anyone near it, but he got the ball and did his usual, he spent AGES peeing around going back and forth, as a striker you can't just make a run come back, make a run, you have to have some idea when the cross is coming in. When Nani finally got clear no one was making a run, and without looking up as per usual Nani just blasted it in, in hope. THe most dangerous speed/dip on a cross is still a bad cross, if you hit it to no one.

Nani was pants, most of the midfield was pants and Milan were ridiculously better in the first half.

PAto continues to be heralded as brilliant, when I only ever seem him (and Kaka) play like that, basically going down easily, refusing to pass, thinking they can take on everyone and basically wasting every chance they get and conceding posession stupidly easily.

I think a rollocking from Fergie, coupled with a ridiculously old and not fit enough midfield trio asked to do more than their fair share with very little help defensively from Pato/Ronnie, simply looked shattered in the second half, is what got Utd back in it. Its laughable you didn't start Valencia, because Nani managed one and a half decent games in the past year, he's not very good, and never will be.

Had Milan taken off Pato for INzaghi, or not started him, and made a midfield change MUCH earlier they could probably have won that. They really should have been miles ahead by half time.


Rooney took his goals, well, okay, Dida is pathetic though, the first header he didn't attempt to save, maybe he could get there with two steps and a big jump, maybe not but he didn't try. Same with the second header, more power but he stopped raising his arms BEFORE the ball had passed him. First goal was flukey and hilarious at the same time, even after it Milan should have taken a lead into half time.

Real, suck, without Diarra they are such a different team, no steel, Diarra wins the ball so much, but also gets the ball from defence to offence very effectively. kaka was appauling yet again, by far the most overpriced transfer in the history of football. I've not seen him have more than a few fantastic games in his entire career, he's so poor so often I can't imagine how anyone rates him so highly. Ronaldo cost very little more and is infinately more effective than him.

 

[Tom84]

drivel

How one can make such a comprensive review of two games that were on at the same time just minutes after the final whistle is a mystery

 

[Shamikebab]

I wouldn't be surprised if it's another false red card that we can't appeal.


You have to remember of course that Valencia was up against a 40 year old, Nani was up against the proper full back for most of the half. I think the only player that really played well was Van De Saar, although rooney came to life in the second half.

 

[drunkenmaster]

How one can make such a comprensive review of two games that were on at the same time just minutes after the final whistle is a mystery

it was almost half an hour, and I watched both games, shock horror.

As for comprehensive, I watched the Utd game most, most of what I wrote was regarding that. Pato, Nani observations were general, not to do with the game specifically but their general crapness and I flicked over to the other game often and everything Kaka did was useless, as it has been all year, and Real were being easily over run in midfield with poor posession, without Lassana playing, which is how I often see them play without him, again general observations not necessarily specific to the game.

Rather than brand what I wrote drivel with a poor excuse, try reading, ignore my posts if you want, I'd prefer that than have you talk complete crap.

 

[Loki]

It wasn't a good cross the one you're talking about from Nani, it would have been a good cross IF there was anyone near it, but he got the ball and did his usual, he spent AGES peeing around going back and forth, as a striker you can't just make a run come back, make a run, you have to have some idea when the cross is coming in. When Nani finally got clear no one was making a run, and without looking up as per usual Nani just blasted it in, in hope. THe most dangerous speed/dip on a cross is still a bad cross, if you hit it to no one.

Nani was pants, most of the midfield was pants and Milan were ridiculously better in the first half.

PAto continues to be heralded as brilliant, when I only ever seem him (and Kaka) play like that, basically going down easily, refusing to pass, thinking they can take on everyone and basically wasting every chance they get and conceding posession stupidly easily.

I think a rollocking from Fergie, coupled with a ridiculously old and not fit enough midfield trio asked to do more than their fair share with very little help defensively from Pato/Ronnie, simply looked shattered in the second half, is what got Utd back in it. Its laughable you didn't start Valencia, because Nani managed one and a half decent games in the past year, he's not very good, and never will be.

Had Milan taken off Pato for INzaghi, or not started him, and made a midfield change MUCH earlier they could probably have won that. They really should have been miles ahead by half time.


Rooney took his goals, well, okay, Dida is pathetic though, the first header he didn't attempt to save, maybe he could get there with two steps and a big jump, maybe not but he didn't try. Same with the second header, more power but he stopped raising his arms BEFORE the ball had passed him. First goal was flukey and hilarious at the same time, even after it Milan should have taken a lead into half time.

No we weren't really that bad and once again you show that quantity over quality counts for nothing in terms of your posting and assessment of the match. You fall for the rhetoric that a team is only good when it's going forward and/or in possession. Despite what you do when you haven't got the ball is as vitally important if not more so than when you have got the ball.

Fletcher played an outstanding game marking the space Beckham would do us damage. Nani despite his poor passing played a mature game picking his runs when and where to stretch the Milan defence.


As for starting Valencia ahead of Nani again is laughable. Out of the two, he is the player in form. He has played in Champions league games as well as European Championship games for Portugal. He has more experience, way more experience than Valencia.

Other than Rafael's positioning for Milan's 2nd goal, I thought we were pretty much spot on with both the line up and the tactics from start to finish. I guess as an Arsenal fan though, pretty little triangles and breaking each others arms patting yourselves on the back basquing in your own footballing excellence means more than end product though.

 

[Owenb]

and I flicked over to the other game often and everything Kaka did was useless, as it has been all year, and Real were being easily over run in midfield with poor posession, without Lassana playing, which is how I often see them play without him, again general observations not necessarily specific to the game.

I take it that you missed his two assists in two minutes for Ronaldo at the weekend? He hasn't had a good season by his standards, but then again the team is built around him it's built to suit Ronaldo.

 

[FrankJH]

Sorry Loki you are totally wrong

Nani was pretty terrible for the hour he got - and as soon as Valencia came on he supplied the first of Rooney's goals with his first touch (or near enough), and from then on the crossiing - which had been plainly obviously awful before that, was pretty darn good

The only thing I would say is that Fergie was probably saving Valencia for the Everton game on Sat, as Nani is suspended for it.

Nani may have stretched the AC defence but if the crossing is worthless (which it most definitely was) there isnt any point in the first place imo, just wasted effort all around

Should have really won 4-1 , but happy enough with a 3-2 away win - I was dreading the match after first 5 minutes, but after about 30 mins (and a few milan misses) Utd really started to get into gear. Carrick didnt deserve the red at all, and pretty confused about Rooney's yellow (watched in the pub with no volume) and personally thought Park was a waste of space, but without Giggs there isnt another option (as Anderson is in no-mans land, even though he has played on the left in the past, and couldnt be worse than Park)

this is where I REALLY start to hate the new three week interval

 

[johnyccc]

That first 45 minutes was truly horrific. We looked like a bunch of kids, as if we had never played a big game before. The defence was a shambles but it was hardly helped by the mandatory awful referee and a midfield who couldn't string two passes together.
AC should have gone in 3 nill up, we were very lucky. They played fairly well but we allowed them to. If you're going to set out with just one up top and a packed midfield, you need to keep the ball well, have people make runs from the deep and fall backs providing width. None of that happened.
It was a missed opportunity, as the 2nd half showed that put them under a bit of pressure and their a different animal. After our 2nd goal, they all looked like they wanted to go home.

 

[Stewy]

DM you're posts are getting worse.

In what world is any keeper saving either of those headers?

 

[Shamikebab]

I guess as an Arsenal fan though, pretty little triangles and breaking each others arms patting yourselves on the back basquing in your own footballing excellence means more than end product though.

Sig-worthy

Nani may have stretched the AC defence but if the crossing is worthless (which it most definitely was) there isnt any point in the first place imo, just wasted effort all around

I have to disagree with you here, in the first half no-one was getting forward to support Rooney in the box, so Nani had one man to aim at. At one point he did a really good cross and there was just no-one running in for it. The second half the midfielders got much further up the pitch.

 

[Stewy]

Gotta say I too thought Nani was horrendous.

 

[Liefrich]

Nani did not have his best game but at least he tries to bloody attack and create. Much prefer him on the field than Park.

Utd played okay. Fletcher is magnificant probably one of the best in the world in his position. AC Milan are as we all knew a shadow of their previous self and we should demolish them at OT.

I have no concerns.

 

[Stewy]

Apart from tha fact we'll probably have to play Anderson?

 

[FrankJH]

I have to disagree with you here, in the first half no-one was getting forward to support Rooney in the box, so Nani had one man to aim at. At one point he did a really good cross and there was just no-one running in for it. The second half the midfielders got much further up the pitch.

One cross may have been good - the other 1/2 dozen where much closer to Dida than they ever were to Rooney, or they where way over the bar

When Nani is good, he can be very very good - unfortunately for most of the hour he was on the pitch tonight (imo) he was worse than tragic!!

Personally think Valencia should have started and the 1st half would have been very different (but then we might have paid the price with a worse performance against Everton at the weekend ...time may tell)

Apart from tha fact we'll probably have to play Anderson?

Still preferable to Gibson unfortunately

 

[Tummy]

A.C. Milan are still a good side.

Ronaldinho looks to be getting some form back, He's a funny one because on his day he could still be the best player in the World.

Such a shame.

 

[Shamikebab]

Apart from tha fact we'll probably have to play Anderson?

At least Anderson would have tried to pass through them tonight. Far too often (especially in the first half) we just got the ball and hoofed it, was sickening to see and you could see how frustrated Rooney was getting.

 

[drunkenmaster]

A.C. Milan are still a good side.

Ronaldinho looks to be getting some form back, He's a funny one because on his day he could still be the best player in the World.

Such a shame.

Just a shame he's a bit fat and puts in no effort in training, likes to party doesn't he IIRC?

Great for 35 minutes, barely involved for the next 50, realised there was less than 10 minutes less so put in a bit of effort and another goal was made.

UNfortunately that squad just screamed "old or can't be bothered" all over it, its been that way for years, maybe its just the attitude at the club with arrogant and ***** players like Inzaghi there. If they could have kept up their first 35 minutes throughout the game, they should have won quite easily, they just didn't turn up for the second half. The defending second half was entirely laughable and both Rooney's goals came from UTd's midfield being under zero pressure and walking passed their midfield then given years to decide what to do, added to criminal lack of marking on Rooney that didn't happen first half.

Ronaldinho could have been one of the best ever if he actually tried, but he's always been perfectly happy to pick up a huge paycheck and not really care beyond that, shame really.

 

[4T5]

I listened retro style with a Radio blaring out & no pic to the Man u game, I do enjoy listening to Footy on the radio but for the first time ever I have to ask What the **** happened,
Game was Mental just Mental.

 

[FrankJH]

At least Anderson would have tried to pass through them tonight. Far too often (especially in the first half) we just got the ball and hoofed it, was sickening to see and you could see how frustrated Rooney was getting.

Very true (although its possible due to the above Anderson would have granted them even more possession - and they must have had 70% + easy in the 1st half)

 

[mike gunnz]

PAto continues to be heralded as brilliant, when I only ever seem him (and Kaka) play like that, basically going down easily, refusing to pass, thinking they can take on everyone and basically wasting every chance they get and conceding posession stupidly easily.

Rooney took his goals, well, okay, Dida is pathetic though, the first header he didn't attempt to save, maybe he could get there with two steps and a big jump, maybe not but he didn't try. Same with the second header, more power but he stopped raising his arms BEFORE the ball had passed him.

kaka was appauling yet again, by far the most overpriced transfer in the history of football. I've not seen him have more than a few fantastic games in his entire career, he's so poor so often I can't imagine how anyone rates him so highly. Ronaldo cost very little more and is infinately more effective than him.

If you've only seen Kaka play well a few times in his entire career then you've either been very very unlucky or you don't know what you're talking about. I suspect its both actually. Despite Ronaldo's undoubted brilliance (personally I rate him higher than Messi) Real are actually a more cohesive team when Ronaldo isn't playing. Its down to the manager to find ways of utilising the talent of his star players on the field at the same time and Kaka is clearly struggling to find a role on the field and is also adjusting to a new culture and style of football. He's also a victim of excessive call ups for Brazil. He's tired. To simply label players as 'crap' or 'poor' is overly simplistic and speaks volumes about your lack of appreciation for football

it was almost half an hour, and I watched both games, shock horror.

Only an armchair critic such as yourself would argue that it was possible to watch two games on two different channels simultaneously and then give a coherent critical analysis of both. Laughable.

Just a shame he's a bit fat and puts in no effort in training, likes to party doesn't he IIRC?

Ronaldinho could have been one of the best ever if he actually tried, but he's always been perfectly happy to pick up a huge paycheck and not really care beyond that, shame really.

He's actually slimmed down a lot. He was Fifa World Player in 2005 & 2006, and has numerous other individual and club honours. The football he played at Barca was at times mesmeric, some of the best any of us has ever seen in a club shirt. No player can replicate that level of play forever. No one player is beyond criticism (except the Liverpool legend Johnny Barnes ofc ) but for you to say hes only in football for the money is utterly ridiculous.