***Official Manchester United Thread***

[NMFCMUFC]

People are caliing for the back of him, I'll support him till the end, but I'm just annoyed how he won't admit we lost the match not because of the refs but because the team wasn't right.

 

[belfast_bomber]

I'm disappointed, and a bit angry.

Not at the result, these things happen in football. Not the performance, we were pretty well outplayed but created plenty of chances on the counter, the game was winnable. Not even in the team selection, as I had a feeling SAF was going to do something like this, he's been obsessed with winning Europe again and he looks like he's prepared to write off the league in order to do it. Which I am 100% against, but it's not a surprise.

I mean the shameful display after the whistle.

That kind of thing is pathetic. Remember how we laughed at Arsenal after the pizza match? But this is no better.

Matt Busby looking down would've said "that's not Manchester United".

Anyway - despite that, it's still in our hands. Beat West 'am and Wigan and the league is ours, whatever Chelsea do. Fail to beat them and we've probably no business calling ourselves champions.

 

[ashley12]

I'm disappointed, and a bit angry.

Not at the result, these things happen in football. Not the performance, we were pretty well outplayed but created plenty of chances on the counter, the game was winnable. Not even in the team selection, as I had a feeling SAF was going to do something like this, he's been obsessed with winning Europe again and he looks like he's prepared to write off the league in order to do it. Which I am 100% against, but it's not a surprise.

I mean the shameful display after the whistle.

That kind of thing is pathetic. Remember how we laughed at Arsenal after the pizza match? But this is no better.

Matt Busby looking down would've said "that's not Manchester United".

Anyway - despite that, it's still in our hands. Beat West 'am and Wigan and the league is ours, whatever Chelsea do. Fail to beat them and we've probably no business calling ourselves champions.

Agree with most of that, except that I personally have no idea how playing Rooney as a defensive mid really helps us against Barca.

SAF wants another UCL, we all know that. Should he concede the league for it, no IMO. Maybe he thought he had it won a month ago, maybe he has eyes only on Moscow, either way, he has dropped the ball with League, and it MIGHT bite us in the arse. We should beat West Ham and Wigan, and as BB said, shouldnt blame anyone else if we dont.

That said, looking forward to a hopefully successful matchg match against Barca at Old Trafford

 

[A Bit High]

UNITED PAIR SIT OUT TRAINING
Posted 28/04/08 11:19
www.football365.com

Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic both sat out training on Monday morning.

The absence of the key pair from the session at Carrington casts doubts about their availability for the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona at the Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Rooney took a knock to his hip before scoring the equaliser in the 2-1 defeat by Chelsea while Vidic suffered a facial injury.

United are aiming to book a place in the final in Moscow after a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp.

A four-man group comprising Rio Ferdinand, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick and Wes Brown trained away for the rest of the squad at the beginning of the session.

With United looking to book a place in the final, they will be banking on Rooney to recover on time.

The England striker took his tally for the season to 18 goals at Stamford Bridge.

Serbian centre-back Vidic, who missed the first leg because of a stomach infection, saw just eight minutes of action against Chelsea.

He was stretchered off after taking a knee in the face following a tussle with Didier Drogba.

Darren Fletcher is looking to retain his place in the side after making his comeback from a knee injury against Chelsea.

Provisional squad: Van der Sar, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre, Evra, 0'Shea, Ronaldo, Scholes, Anderson, Hargreaves, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Fletcher, Rooney, Tevez, Kuszczak, Pique, Welbeck.

 

[Hawthorn United]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7371881.stm

 

[NMFCMUFC]

I seriously doubt Rooney or Vidic will be fit.


Rooney's looked knackered for 2 weeks.

 

[Crimson King]

Tevez is knackered himself, he cant last the full 90 mins. Infact since January he has been very tired. Its taken a toll on him.

 

[davey_magik]

With Rooney out for you guys now is Ronaldo's time to shine in Europe against a quality side.

 

[Jolldo87]

1-0 win thanks to a Paul Scholes goal in the 14th minute. And we did it without Rooney and Vidic

 

[Hawthorn United]

Tevez was fantastic. Nani had a few good chances to put the 2nd in. Hope the two that missed will be fine for this weekend.

Glad none of our players will miss the final now.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

The whole back four, Carrick, Park and Tevez were all magnificent.

Ronaldo played a very unselfish game too tonight - a lot of our best moves went through him and he had some lovely touches.

 

[A Bit High]

Great result!

Im very concerned and have been for a month now at our inability to keep the ball. We pass the ball back to the other side to often.

We were lucky over the 2 legs. Barca had over 60% of the ball for the 180 minutes and thank god they were shit in the final 3rd. Credit to our back four who have been solid all season.

Hopefully this result will be the boost we need to get the job done in the EPL and march onto Moscow to do the double!!

 

[McLeodMagic]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Park was like a workhorse covering so much ground and Tevez really stood up in the absence of Rooney. Hopefully Rooney and Vidic will be back for West Ham.

 

[Juddyzthebest]

____ yeah!!
Very happy with that result. Just waiting to see who our opponents are!!! Very exciting stuff whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[Macca19]

Was a great goal after almost giving away a penalty minutes earlier.

Gotta concentrate on West Ham now.

 

[Crimson King]

That should be some relief of our shoulders, now to full steam ahead for the EPL title.

 

[belfast_bomber]

I certainly feel better anyway. Don't know about you blokes.

And this old football romantic was absolutely delighted to see Scholes scoring the winner. If anyone deserves it it's him, after missing the final last time out, and we thought his career was over two years ago with that eye injury. And his asthma. And gingerness.

Ferguson said months ago he'd let his heart rule his head and play Scholes if we made the final. But Scholesy's gone out and earned it. Class.

He scores goals my lord, he scores goals...

 

[DaSawx]

Can't get the smile off my face, I want to European Cup, bad.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

I initially said that Rooney would replace one of Tevez or Park for the final, but to be honest I think he'll replace Nani. The other two played their way to a starting role, Park in particular playing IMO his best game for the club and Tevez not far behind in that regard.

Carrick was superb too, after a 'mare at the Nou.

 

[Crimson King]

So guys 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 for the final then?

 

[belfast_bomber]

4-4-2.

We're playing an English team.

 

[apollo_creed]

I initially said that Rooney would replace one of Tevez or Park for the final, but to be honest I think he'll replace Nani. The other two played their way to a starting role, Park in particular playing IMO his best game for the club and Tevez not far behind in that regard.

Carrick was superb too, after a 'mare at the Nou.

are you sure of that?

Anderson isn't 100% fit from what I read after the Chelsea game. (he asked to come off?)

One could assume that considering he didn't start and played no part in this mornings game that he still was carrying some sort of injury.

Against Chelsea or Liverpool (who he's been very good against - twice) he really has to start. So I think one of Park or Tevez will miss out.

Need Rooney back. Such a selfless, talented, crafty architect. His movement is as good as anyone in the world and as mentioned his passing game and vision is excellent.
I prefer him as a footballer to Ronaldo and if it were to come down to Ronaldo or Rooney missing the final, I think you'd be a better side with Rooney playing.

What has Ronaldo ever done against Ashley Cole anyway?

won't be faced with such an option but too many people ignore the importance of a fit Rooney to a fluent Manchester United attacking game.

central midfield is still an issue for mine as too many top sides (Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona recently) generally control/dominate the centre of the park against you.

Hargreaves having to play right back didn't help you this morning either.
any three man central midfield of Manchester United's with the current squad; against high quality opposition needs Hargreaves.

Ignore Scholes goal and Carrick was easily the best central midfield player on the pitch. It was 2 v 3 and all, which really didn't help to negate Barca's biggest strength. Although sacrificing midfield superiority for defensive assurance turned out to be an effective and successful tactic.

I think Brown is a better player than Vidic as well but that's for another day.

Best defence in the world now as well. Chelsea's is nearly as good a Brown-Ferdinand-Vidic-Evra combination has the runs on the board this season.

 

[RoosterLad]

What a wonderful goal by Scholes, finally he will get to play in a Champions League Final!

Great to get through to the Final after the loss last weekend, hopefully that gives the lads a boost ahead of their match against West Ham.

 

[NMFCMUFC]

Follow, follow follow.

 

[belfast_bomber]

Because United are going to Moscow.

Wish I was.