Ah yes, he is a tool for that.
***SPOILERS!!*** Football 29 Jan -3rd Feb 2011
- Thread starter Greenlizard0
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Ah yes, he is a tool for that.
Caporegime
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Just for your reference, here is what Fergie said after the game today:
"Sometimes we make it difficult for ourselves, but in fairness I maybe meddled with the system by trying a diamond in the middle of the pitch," he explained. "Manchester United are used to playing with width and I think that [the system] was a problem for us. It wasn't working at all."
So that's two matches in a row he's admitted he's got the tactics wrong.
Soldato
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and against teams he should have 0 problem beating.
with the likes of Gibson required to start it doesnt help matters (Giggs has come on twice in both aforementioned games, and changed them totally)
In reference to last nights game, we also have to be aware of the EPL game on Tuesday
Last night two regular starters started the game - that doesnt help anyone.
Utd have been terrible away from home for 5 months, and with so few regular starts in the team, it was always going to be disjointed)
It also didnt help that Fabio had to be replaced on 1/2 time, probably the best performer in the 1st half (attacking wise) - and one less real attacking substitution also (anyone know what happened to him?)
Tactics were wrong undoubtedly - and Chico has struggled as a starter (but he did pretty well in the 1st half, and great in the 2nd), but its silly not to look at the issues surrounding availability etc etc too
Also its probable that Rafael would have started last night (with a more defensive minded RB to be chosen against Villa) if he hadnt had concussion.
Dont look at things in isolation - it can be pretty misleading imo
edit - majority of the team were rubbish in the 1st half , but Obertan and Gibson are worthy of most of the criticism imo, both were utterly *****, and to their credit Southampton were good all over the park (and helped by the amazing atmosphere) - can Utd afford to give either or both 3 or 4 years in the 1st team squad (as Nani got before he regularly became decent enough, even though unfortunately sometimes games still pass him by)? One of them maybe, but I dont think both - with the smaller squad sizes now available, even one passanger is seemingly a waste of space
I cant see Michael Owen getting a new contract (but stranger things have happened), Gibson, Obertan, Hargreaves, Bebe, Brown, Neville (I know Hargreaves isnt in the Euro squad but even so), all have question marks of one strength or another hanging over their heads at the moment imo - and I honestly dont think Utd should be carrying most of them - some have been loyal servants (and invaluable at times), while others have (or had) promise ....so far unrealised - but its a lot of players to have on the books who arent adding much if anything to the present squad
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Caporegime
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Fergie tried out some youth players, well not youth, backup/reserve players to see if they could do anything. Try as you might some players just don't show anything for years in training but put them in a real match and they come alive out of no where. Fergie's trying to see if theres a system that works for Obertan/Gibson and some others, and should he try that against Real madrid in the semi's of the champs league, or against Southampton?
Realistically Gibson just sucks balls and I can't see him staying even for playing bottom 6 clubs and a bit of backup, Obertan hasn't shown much.
These are the games you try things in though, on top of that, might be the FA cup but Fergie is going for the league first and foremost and champs league second, FA cup/worthless cup runs just hurt your chances at the biggest prizes, even more so considering he always has to bring on a bunch of first teamers to struggle to get through these games.
Chico for me hasn't struggled as a starter, just tends to be games he starts have weaker sides that simply don't give him decent service.
Realistically Gibson just sucks balls and I can't see him staying even for playing bottom 6 clubs and a bit of backup, Obertan hasn't shown much.
These are the games you try things in though, on top of that, might be the FA cup but Fergie is going for the league first and foremost and champs league second, FA cup/worthless cup runs just hurt your chances at the biggest prizes, even more so considering he always has to bring on a bunch of first teamers to struggle to get through these games.
Chico for me hasn't struggled as a starter, just tends to be games he starts have weaker sides that simply don't give him decent service.
I TOTALLY agree that inexperienced players NEED to be tried in live games - I have no problem with that - what infuriates most fans (Im sure it happens at Arsenal as well and every other club) is when the manager plays 9 such players at once, when really that proves little about anyone apart from their inexperience.
It would prove more trying 2 or 3 (or at most 4) youth / inexperienced players but surrounding them with senior players so they can learn / be guided by the pro's during the game - playing 9 or so juniors , no one knows what to do in any given situation
I agree to a point Frank but like I said to my learned troll cheets, there is a huge game coming up against Villa on Tuesday.
Say we play 9 first teamers and a couple of kids and 3-4 of them pick up injuries keeping them out of the Villa game, we lose and also lose ground in the title race. All for a great performance away at Southampton?
No thanks.
Say we play 9 first teamers and a couple of kids and 3-4 of them pick up injuries keeping them out of the Villa game, we lose and also lose ground in the title race. All for a great performance away at Southampton?
No thanks.
Soldato
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Arsenal game is on.
ARSENAL: Almunia, Eboue, Koscielny, Squillaci, Gibbs, Diaby, Denilson, Bendtner, Nasri, Arshavin, Chamakh. Subs: Szczesny, Fabregas, Rosicky, van Persie, Walcott, Song, Wilshere.
HUDDERSFIELD: Bennett, Peltier, Peter Clarke, McCombe, Kilbane, Roberts, Gudjonsson, Tom Clarke, Hunt, Pilkington, Lee. Subs: Colgan, Naysmith, Kay, Arfield, Novak, Atkinson, Chippendale.
ARSENAL: Almunia, Eboue, Koscielny, Squillaci, Gibbs, Diaby, Denilson, Bendtner, Nasri, Arshavin, Chamakh. Subs: Szczesny, Fabregas, Rosicky, van Persie, Walcott, Song, Wilshere.
HUDDERSFIELD: Bennett, Peltier, Peter Clarke, McCombe, Kilbane, Roberts, Gudjonsson, Tom Clarke, Hunt, Pilkington, Lee. Subs: Colgan, Naysmith, Kay, Arfield, Novak, Atkinson, Chippendale.
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My god he's human! Arshavin skies it.
I said much the same in my earlier post so Im not going to disagree with you now
I doubt that team selection from last night would have worked at OT either though - admittedly it doesnt help that Park is away currently (not that he would necessarily have played last night, but it shortens resources for games either side also)
Without a doubt the Villa game is much more important - and could be quite tricky too even though its at home
I think If not a drastic shake up of the first team, Ferguson needs to have a complete clear out of the reserve players and youth system, as none of them have provided anything for nearly ten years now.
I agree but I also think changing the whole back five is utterly excessive.
Even beyond that, who yesterday would have had a reasonable shot at being in the first choice XI?
Hernandez, Anderson, maybe Scholes?
Soldato
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Bendtner just missed a sitter.
Smalling is good - but needs Vidic /Rio beside him
Fabio was good before his injury/substitution (he just needs more game time imo)
Other than that you are about correct
Scholes, Brown and Gibson accounted for majority of the experience at the start.....and the latter two shouldnt ever see a Utd shirt again (I feel for Brown, but the game just isnt what it was....and neither is he lol)
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1-0!
Bendtner!
Bendtner!
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1-0
And another just before the goal \o/
Yup agreed, the squad is the worst I've known for years. O'Shea and Gibson need to be gone pretty soon, O'Shea has been a good servant but someone should tell him he can't pass for toffee.
Back 5 I agree with, VdS should have had a run out but the back 4 I was happy with, I really wouldn't like the likes of Evra, Ferdinand and Vidic to have picked up injuries at this stage of the season.
Good post. He tried something different, it didn't work but most importantly he left enough in reserve that if things did go wrong he felt could rescue it for us. He got another look at Gibson/Obertan etc will have made his own judgments on them. Rested a lot of first teamers, gave owen and hernandez a bit of game time together. So it's no big deal really, a few disappointing performances but it was the right time for those performances to happen in terms of the trophies we're after.