Manchester United Thread

If Phil Dowd didn't take the opportunity to gleefully report that Rooney swore at him, I have to believe it's true. Not like I can see Mr. Dowd wanting to demonstrate understanding or restraint...

Just saw that Agbonlahor got called up for the two under-21 matches. Should help us, initially I was slightly annoyed that almost all of our squad will be playing midweek and few of Villa's big names will, especially as it's so clear Villa are knackered.

What is worrying for us is that with Rooney suspended, Berbatov injured we'll be relying on Tevez, who will have just flown halfway around the world to lead our line. Eeesh.
 
I hope to see the Ronaldo beating players left right and centre with ease but I cant see it :(( I think he's changing his game to become a CF so we might aswell put him up there.
 
FA overturned Friedel's red, so he'll be playing against us.
By the way, that was Liverpool's 8th game this year against 10 men. I know it's not their 'fault' but surely that's some kind of record!

Have we ever had a red/yellow overturned? I can' think of one time in the past 5 years. There was no difference whatsoever between Friedel's red and Kuscak's last year, but perhaps we didn't appeal. I've never understood how ABU's say the FA are in our pocket, when I can't think of a single incident where they've helped us out (the unprecedented ban following the Amsterdam tournament being my perennial favourite)...
 
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United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is so concerned about his side's recent slump that he has refused an offer from Sky to bring the Premier League match with Aston Villa on Sunday, 5 April forward 24 hours to give the Red Devils more preparation time for their Champions League quarter-final with Porto on 7 April. (The Guardian)
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1. Since when did Sky offer to move games, shouldn't the FA be in charge of that?

2. Sky offering to help United in the CL, is that allowed? Favouritism? United already get loads of money from Sky from the amount of games they show, but surely it's going to far by offering to move games to help a club?
 
@ DagsJT - It was written into the originally agreement with Sky to show the game on Sunday that should United reach the QFs of the CL, they would be able to move it to Saturday. United declined, so if any of us moan after losing to Porto it's cause we were tired, we have no legs to stand on!

And FA set the fixtures, Sky set the times, as I understand it anyway.
 
Interesting points here from a ref on the weekend's action: http://football365.com/referee365/0,17033,8747_5097935,00.html

What I find most intriguing is that there is no reason, from a rules of the game perspective, that Friedel's red card should be rescinded. He WAS the last man he DID prevent a clear goal scoring opportunity and he WAS sent off. Of course, being the FA in Football Association stands for the 'F*ck All' - the amount of reason or evidence they need to tell the paying public about why they do things, we don't know why it was overturned.

Perhaps it is in their interests for a tight title race methinks? I stand by that being the reason the linesman gave a penalty at Stamford Bridge last year on Carrick, he couldn't get his flag up fast enough, not a single Chelsea player even appealed for the handball. And then low and behold, tv ratings up, audiences glued to Sky and a happy FA.

Alright, back in my box I go. But seriously, on what grounds was the red rescinded?
 
Abhishek said:
That Friedel was not the last man, Reo Coker was?
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No way would Reo Coker have gotten there ahead of Torres, he probably had 4 steps on him. And anyway, I thought it was denying a clear goal scoring opportunity? Nothing to do with the last man?

I just find it all a bit convenient...especially when you look at the way the FA have handled matters in the past with regard to bans (Aliadiere...shocking).

Anyway, if United can't beat Villa, at home, with their first or second choice keeper then we don't deserve to win the title. As I've maintained all along, the team with the most points at the end of the year are the best team that year. If it's pool, I'll hold my hands up and say well done. I still hope we've got some of the spirit and nerve we need to not drop 4 points more this season, but if we do, so be it.
 
Obviously I know Fulham beat you but that's because Scholes had a stupid moment. Otherwise I think you'd have won there.

Can't see you dropping further points.
 
We went about 12 games without even letting in a goal so winning the remaining games shouldnt be a problem. But then again, I was thinking the same two weeks ago. Maybe if we got a penalty almost every game like our rivals do then we'd be in a more convincing position.
 
RuneEdge said:
We went about 12 games without even letting in a goal so winning the remaining games shouldnt be a problem. But then again, I was thinking the same two weeks ago. Maybe if we got a penalty almost every game like our rivals do then we'd be in a more convincing position.
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While I would love a few more penalties (does anyone know where you can see a chart of penalties given this season? I can only think of 4 all year in all comps :( !) we shouldn't need it. The ball is still in our court, so to speak, but I get the distinct impression that we won't win all of games for the rest of the season. Just have to hope that Pool don't either!
 
Can you imagine the holding that would happen on corners if our kit had laces? Ronaldo would be quite literally strangled! No way is that going to go ahead...
 
Shouldn't it have the AIG logo instead of a Saudi one?
Also, I thought sponsor logos had to be in the middle...
 
That Kit is a clear fake, The new kit will look something like this...
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Not sure why you lot are worried so much? Were potentially 4 points clear with 8 games to go. Liverpool WILL drop points and so will we. The difference is we have a much better squad and a much better route in the CL. The games before and after the Chelsea game will be interesting, especially if we can put to bed our tie at home.

Rafa IMO will have to pick either to chase the CL or the PL. I think he'll choose the CL all day long.
 
YoungGun_UK said:
Not sure why you lot are worried so much? Were potentially 4 points clear with 8 games to go. Liverpool WILL drop points and so will we. The difference is we have a much better squad and a much better route in the CL. The games before and after the Chelsea game will be interesting, especially if we can put to bed our tie at home.

Rafa IMO will have to pick either to chase the CL or the PL. I think he'll choose the CL all day long.
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You can't say they will drop points, we went on a long run without doing so, there's no reason why they couldn't do it from now til the end of the season.

History is pointing in Liverpool's favour, it really is all about momentum this time of year and it's all in the favour. They're getting penalties every match, deadly from freekicks and utilising the long ball to great affect, luck is on their side right now and I fear we've had our share.

I really hope we win it, I'd happily take getting knocked out of the FA Cup & UCL to win the league, it's more significant right now than the other two. If Liverpool win it, they'll deserve it but it will be fucking horrible for a United fan given the circumstances.
 
I do believe somewhat in the 'unlucky' or 'blip' theories. I mean, we haven't lost a match since Derby away when we've had 11 players on the pitch ;) To have 3 red cards and two penalties in two games is pretty rare for us.

They'll need some luck, we'll need some luck and we'll see where it gets us.
 
Liverpool arent as good as us, Pretty simple. Yes we went on a long winning run. but are defence is better than theres.

Were currently missing Vidic, Neville, Scholes and Rooney from the first team and I still think we'll cope. Imagine if you took out, Skrtel, Carragher, Alonso and Gerrard, That would be pretty much them fucked.

Im not worried at all which is my opinion, Remember Liverpool dont normally struggle against the big teams, they struggle when Stoke City park the bus. :))
 
You do know AIG are ending their sponsorship with us and we need to find a new one from the 2010 season. Saudi Telecom are the favourites to be the new sponsor! Glazer doesn't want to be associated with a failing US bank that is receiving negative responses both in the news and from Barrack Obama!
 
Yep, but AIG will still be on our shirts next season, so I can't see why a kit we'll probably use for one season (like the black & this season's blue one) being leaked with a different sponsor.
 
Sean said:
You do know AIG are ending their sponsorship with us and we need to find a new one from the 2010 season. Saudi Telecom are the favourites to be the new sponsor! Glazer doesn't want to be associated with a failing US bank that is receiving negative responses both in the news and from Barrack Obama!
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I think it's more to do with the fact AIG aren't able to renew the sponsorship due to their financial position rather than Glazer. This is why they are seeing out the current deal and we'll have a new sponsor for the 2010/11 season and not this next one.
 
YoungGun_UK said:
Liverpool arent as good as us, Pretty simple. Yes we went on a long winning run. but are defence is better than theres.

Were currently missing Vidic, Neville, Scholes and Rooney from the first team and I still think we'll cope. Imagine if you took out, Skrtel, Carragher, Alonso and Gerrard, That would be pretty much them fucked.

Im not worried at all which is my opinion, Remember Liverpool dont normally struggle against the big teams, they struggle when Stoke City park the bus. :))
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hmm we have had our fair share on injuries this season.

Skrtel, Alonso, Gerrard, Torres, Arebloa and Aurelio have all had longish stints or on and off comebacks.

Speaking of injuries, the mail had pics of Ronaldo doing light training with Portugal with heavy strapping on his calf?
 
PetrovLFC said:
hmm we have had our fair share on injuries this season.

Skrtel, Alonso, Gerrard, Torres, Arebloa and Aurelio have all had longish stints or on and off comebacks.

Speaking of injuries, the mail had pics of Ronaldo doing light training with Portugal with heavy strapping on his calf?
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= blessing in disguise ;)?

I for one would be very, very interested to see us line up with a first XI without Ronaldo (maybe for Nani, or in a 433 with Tevez and Rooney flanking Berba) just to see if we can put to bed the myth that he's not offering the team much. I think even in his pissy, can't be asked style he's still our most dangerous player.

Then again I might trade it all for a free kick that went over the wall...
 
I dont think hes your most dangerous player. Baiscally you shouldn't struggle without him.

The last two season hes been doing a lampard, but has a knack of popping up for a goal, but hasn't really been performing in the role that hes meant to be. He's a striker really.
 
I still think he'll end up as a striker. If he can go back to riding challenges instead of diving, he could be rather good too. Tall, strong, fast as hell and a good finisher. Only thing missing is the grit and the intelligence. Can they be learned?

I see there is still lots of criticism about the overturning of Friedel's card. I know we the paying public aren't allowed to know how the vast intellect of the FA come to their decisions, but a few more refs have come out and said hte sending off was in line with the letter of the law, and therefore there is no 'rules' reason why it should be overturned. Again, I don't think it should matter and it's not an excuse, but in all seriousness if he was playing west brom next weekend, do you think it would have been overturned?
 
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