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  • @JasTheDevil @JasDunham 01:34 on January 14, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Alex Ferguson, balotteli, , , , , , , tevez, ,   

    Morrison vs. Morrison 

    I remember when I was still playing football on a regular and competitive basis. One weekend our team traveled to Olney, Maryland to play against their travel team. Here in the States, we don’t have academies, really; we have what we call “select” or “travel.” Aside from ODP (Olympic Development Program), it’s the closest we have to competitive youth football.

    So, we get there and the atmosphere is pretty typical. Olney was known for being a dirty team. Even the parents were dirty – yelling at the opposing team’s kids, swearing, threatening, etc. We never ever liked playing them. From the get-go, their kids are acting like total heathens. It quickly turns into a battle. As the game got into the last few minutes, one of their players slides in studs up – from behind – and takes down our sweeper. In the heat of the moment, I chase him down, a la Wayne Rooney, and absolutely take him out. The play was dead. Everyone saw it. Ref shows me red. I knew it was coming. I storm off the pitch, more upset at how out of hand the game had gotten than actually getting the red. My coach grabs my arm, looks at me, and reprimands me for stooping to their level. I didn’t want to hear him, so I grabbed my bag and stormed off to the car to wait, a la Balotelli. He was old and he didn’t get it. He was out of touch with the game. I was 13 and that’s exactly what I was thinking at that exact moment. In that instance, I had no desire to listen to anyone. I was above it all. I was right; I was defending my player; I wasn’t going to be told otherwise. Sound familiar?

    (More …)

     

    • james okumu 04:56 on January 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      You got it right mate. Success comes to those who are patient. It may be all over for the lad before he knows it. The problem with young people is that they think they know it all. By the time they realize their mistake it is too late to turn the wheel.

  • TomPattison 18:37 on August 6, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Alex Ferguson, , ,   

    Fear of the Unknown: Have the Glazers won the war? 

    So here we are on the eve of another season of the Best League in the World (TM Sky Sports) following the fortunes of the Greatest Football Club in the World (TM MUTV). It is as good a time as any both to reflect on last season and look ahead to the coming campaign as we find ourselves straddled with one foot still glorying in the successful capture of title number nineteen whilst tentatively stepping into the ‘unknown.’ The ‘unknown’ very much characterises what lies ahead for this season. In this two-part post I’m going to consider two key questions that I personally feel will shape Manchester United’s fortunes over the next ten months both on and off the pitch.

    1) Have the Glazers won the war?

    An iconic moment which encapsulated the desire for change.

    (More …)

     

  • TomPattison 13:23 on July 28, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Alex Ferguson, , , , , , ,   

    Challenging the Fergie myth. 

    Ferguson receives the hair-dryer treatment.

    Ferguson receives the hair-dryer treatment.

    As a teacher I see a large part of my job as dispelling the myths so easily taken on as fact by the naive. ‘Islam is for terrorists,’ ‘Germany started World War One’ and ‘Homosexuality is a disease’ are three examples. It seems though that unceasing belief in baseless myths extends readily to football – and many of us United fans are as guilty as any.

    (More …)

     

  • ChiefWaffler 10:07 on February 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Alex Ferguson, , , , , Bastian Schweinsteiger, Cheik Tiote, , , Gareth Bale, Javier Mascherano, Jordan Henderson, Lassana Diara, Mahamadou Diarra, , , , , Steven Defour   

    What next for Man Utd’s midfield? Is change coming?? 

    Carrick, Flectcher and Nani

    When United fans look back at the derby from the weekend, one thing automatically springs to mind, Rooney’s wonder goal. Without a doubt the greatest goal ever scored in derby games. If we dissect United’s performance a little deeper and two things spring to mind; we changed our formation to 5 across the middle to counter how City play and for vast amounts of the game we were dominated in midfield. I may be using the derby as an example but really this is the story of many games this season, which leads me to think that there could be a big overhaul in the midfield department this summer. (More …)

     

  • ChiefWaffler 20:33 on January 26, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Alex Ferguson, , , , , ,   

    The 45 minutes that could define our whole season. 

    At approximately 8:17pm last night, United’s push for a record 19th title looked like it had grounded to an amazingly sudden halt. After being positively sublime against Birmingham on Saturday, United followed that with possibly the worse half of football played by the Red Devils this season. The score-line read a disastrous 2-0 to Blackpool, the performance felt more like it was 4-0 as Blackpool were the better team by a country mile. The punditry on ESPN (whilst obviously very anti-united) were spot on when saying how poor United were. My time-line on Twitter reflected pretty much the mood of the United fans in attendance, utter disbelief and devastation. I mentioned to one United fan on Twitter that I felt that whatever happened in the next 45 minutes could possibly define our season. I could hardly believe how right I was. (More …)

     

    • RedScot 21:39 on January 26, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Good Read. I believe the key is as you indicate in your thoughts on the second 55 minutes was the Managers changes having seen the way we were trying to play through the Middle of Blackpool and with Rooney on the left flank with almost zero success.
      As we all know he has been through all these scenarios before so he knows the changes to make.
      On saying the football park at Bloomfield road hardly was idle for playing on the floor football in a sand pit and this is what we tried to do in the first half.While Blackpool through Charlie Adam launched telling ball after telling ball effectively in the first half, which I think we mirrored in the second half with much more reward through the magnificent Paul Scholes’s raking passes.

      When Giggs was brought on there was clearly more danger on the left flank and more telling delivery into dangerous areas.
      Clearly they know and new of Hernandez’s lightening pace so this intoduction kept their back four closer to Kingston, all though bye which time with 24 minutes left of the 90 regulation time they were noticably flagging and tiring having worked like Trojans on the muddy pitch.The door was effectively opening for the opportunities to come, which they duly did.And brilliant feeling it was to witness, being taken to the cliff edge, to be pulled back to safety.
      Javier had 4 great chances to score in 34 minutes of play which to me says more than words.
      He is made for United, hand and Glove fit perfectly.
      .
      Nobody wants to keep on banging on about Rooney we can all witness his various failings of recent and the shocking scoring record in the last 10 months.He needs to well, just go back to basics.
      To me there is a deeper problem in this whole Rooney docu/soap that is the effect he is having not only in the United dressing room with natural animosity but the bigger picture.
      How difficult is it now for United to attract top quality players like Mesut Ozil,Van Der Vaart,Sneijder as of recent examples who were availiable, because of the huge wage that their agents could demand based on what was squeezed out of United through Stretford and Rooney.This simple has to have a bearing on United going into the transfer market,I have always thought there was a double edged Sword with this Rooney saga and the resultant insane wage he is allegedly being paid.

      Role on the 19th, its in our hands and “clear daylight ” between United and the challengers.Erm Arsenal. ;)
      Believe.

    • richard 01:40 on January 27, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Pundits,pundits, pundits…..Guys, just enjoy the game and leave the coaching and management to those that do, Fergie and Co… seriously this continuous run on as though you have a clue, and we care, is way past its’ sell date….enough already!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • MadManc78 08:00 on January 27, 2011 Permalink | Reply

        Richard, I’m wondering what exactly you expect from a United blog other than opinion on United based topics? If you aren’t happy with reading about peoples opinion on the club they love then I suggest you try BBC.co.uk and they’ll just give you hard facts. Alternatively, if you just want to read about United, manutd.com will do the trick.

  • ChiefWaffler 19:21 on January 20, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Alex Ferguson, , , , , ,   

    United’s transfer policy and the importance of the next six months 

    “We can compete for top players. People say we don’t, but we have bought well. Our goal at United is to develop our own players and also buy good players. If we wanted to, we could [compete for a big signing]. Over time, you will know we have rarely bought a world star. We have made them world stars by playing for United, and that will continue.”

    David Gill

    Think what you like about David Gill, but he has certainly got a point. Whether or not you believe we have money to spend, United have never been out and bought the ‘World Stars’ of football. The majority of our big money signings have been proven Premier League footballers but hardly superstars. Our one attempt at the star-buy was with Juan Veron, and we all know how that turned out. This has been a successful policy over the years and even the staunchest Liverpool supporter would struggle to disagree with the level of success we have had over the past twenty years (almost). However, the scope of the Premier League has changed drastically over the last five years. Money talks and billionaire owners with bottomless pits of transfer funds are the norm. So does this signal a required change in philosophy for the club? (More …)

     

    • RedScot 20:36 on January 20, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Good Read,thanks.
      I understand what you are saying in your article you dont want the article to “turn into a debate on the Glazers” Sadly when you mention Gill and then you move onto squad investment in the Summer,as you describe a “Pivotal” Summer its difficult to make comment without the financial connection and automatically the Glazer.My question is simple why has Gill brought the youth aspect of United up just as the January transfer window is closing.Its passification of the fans.He tells Porkie pie’s anyway, he says United we rarely buy “World “stars.This statement may be true or not, but what is true in recent years to my knowledge United have repeatedly broken the British transfer record, I can think of nine occasions recently.The interesting aspect of this, is three of these record breaking transfers were in midfield namely Bryan Robson,Roy Keane and Juan Veron.We know the success that resulted from two of those signings in particular and what they brought to Uniteds midfield.A general a dominant player a leader!
      .
      My belief while the squad is ageing and relatively thin particulary in the midfield I believe and always have United will be found out and exposed when it comes to Europe and the Champions league.
      All the young players you mention and there are numerous great players of huge potential, when you consider there postions I can think of only one youthfull player in midfield that you would consider as a future United player.Anderson and lets be honest he has not set the Heather on fire to date. I believe an attacking midfield player when you talk quality should have in his locker a goal threat, therefore he does not fit the bill at present.
      I feel i have written enough on this forum and coneyed my thoughts on Wayne Rooney,he is a liability right now and he will cost United in the long term if he does not get his form sorted and get back to the basics of football.Pass to a player, complete the pass, control the ball,try to hit the ball in between the two posts and below the bar.He is getting away Scot free(No pun intended) from Criticism it amazes me how?
      .
      They may not be stupid the Glazer, but they are going to have a mighty shopping list very soon I can think without brainstorming 5-6 positions. Sorry had to.We shall wait and see!Knifes sharpened in anticipation.

  • ChiefWaffler 15:44 on January 17, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Alex Ferguson, , , , , , , , , , , , , , Transfers   

    United sit top, but do we BELIEVE? 

    If there is one thing you can call United this season, it would be consistent. We have been consistently average at home, doing what is necessary to gain victory and the three points. We have been consistently poor away from home, especially in games against Everton and Villa, and we have been consistently written off for being the worst United side since the 80’s. Somehow, we sit top of the league, unbeaten, on the same points as our blue friends from Stockport, yet with two games in hand. Fergie’s latest masterstroke could turn out to be his greatest ever if this side goes on to lift title number 19.

    Our latest game against Spurs ended in a dire 0-0 draw in which we escaped White Hart Lane with a point after going down to ten men. A number of things were evident after the Spurs game; such as Michael Carrick is a million time better playing as part of a three in midfield; Darren Fletcher, in his current form, is like a shadow of his former self and almost as useless as John O’Shea (I’m sorry, but its true); Once Wayne Rooney slams home that first goal, the floodgates will open; and if United are to carry on and lift the title in May we may need a midfielder to freshen things up because it’s looking stale out there. (More …)

     

    • Mike 15:55 on January 17, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      “Once Wayne Rooney slams home that first goal, the floodgates will open”

      Wasn’t Rooney’s first goal (from open play) scored against West Brom on New Years Day? Besides a couple of half decent shots he was poor yesterday, as were the other attackers in our line up. Why Scholes wasn’t brought on for Fletcher is beyond me, and taking Nani off was a surprise too.

      Bore draws aside, we haven’t played consistently well for the last two seasons, yet we only missed out on the league last year by a point, and we’re one point better off now than we were at the same stage last season (although our goal difference is -3 on this stage last season).

      If we can find some form away from home and keep up our run at home, the league is there for the taking. But I feel like I’ve been saying ‘if we can find some form’ for a couple of seasons now, and we haven’t.

      I’m bracing myself for a very nervy end to the season, but hopefully we’ll still be at the top at the end.

      • MadManc78 16:30 on January 17, 2011 Permalink | Reply

        Fair play mate, forgot about the Rooney goal against West Brom. I just get the feeling when he plays he’s on the cusp of a massive streak of goals. He usually scores in spurts anyway (apart from last season). I’m totally with you on the finding form bit, I too have been constantly saying the same for months now as have I think 10 million other United fans around the world. Lets just hope it comes true soon

    • RedScot 16:51 on January 17, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      United still sit to but do we “Believe?”
      Aye I believe as far, if the question is directed to winning the Premiership there is nothing we have seen as yet from our competitors to suggest we will not win the Barclays Premiership for the 19th time.
      There is clearly a leveling out of large financial investment in our main competitors excluding City and Spurs.
      However as we have “nailed” Spurs home and away bagging 4 points in the process thats one of our alledged challengers past and we came out of succesfull,do not kid ourselves this Spurs team has cost a small fortune to assemble in comparison to Uniteds.
      City are a totally different proposition with a bottomless pit of money to force a serious challenge and maintain it.The recent signing of Edin Dzeko just makes feel like puking with envy.
      The match with City at Old Trafford on the 12th of February will be the litmus test as to how good bad or indifferent United are this season, we will need a Blackburn type performance to dispatch them to also rans.
      Yesterday at the Lane verified for me that our midfield is desperately weak with Fletcher totally of form showing lack of confidence and simply being out muscled and time and time again giving the ball away in dangerous area’s that will with stronger opposition harm United.
      Micheal Carrick while the same old defensive work which was good, his inability to create and deliver a clever and searching forward pass in a dangerous area was almost non existent.
      Anderson did not have sufficent time to impact upon the game but in fairness one or two good games from Anderson in his United history does not augur well to think he is what is required to create and control the tempo and rhythm of a an exciting and driving midfield also as with the prior two midfielders mantioned he is not going to deliver a regular return in goals.

      Step up Luka Modric who orchestrated the whole game yesterday is exactly the type of player that will not only secure the 19th premiership but give United a fighting chance in the Champions league
      HaHa Uncle Malcolm you are having a joke there, dip in his pocket, what for his bag to hide his face in as he laughs at United? Nett spend since their vile and unwanted hijack of United approx £2.1 Million net per season, in comparison to Spurs £18.50 Million and City in the same 5 years approx
      £80 Million .In a semi perverse way I hope United get eliminated from the Champions league against Marseille and that will hurt the Glazer were they understand their bank account.Tongue in cheek in a way, but you get the point.

      Our squad actually is thin on proven talent,if it were not for Nemanja and Rio I think we would be well of the pace and they have secured us numerous points with steady world class performances to keep us in pole postion.Heavens forbid if we suffer any injuries to either, thats not disrespecting either Jonny Evans or Chris Smalling they are young and learning their trade, thats a cheek I am 19, lol.
      Anyways we are there at the top, bye luck or design we have had the run of the green occasionaly but it evens itself out over the full marathon that is the season.
      Bring on the 19th simples, keep a realistic hat on for the Champions league win! Its nice to dream though!

      Cmon you Reds. Onto the Brummies.

  • ChiefWaffler 21:07 on December 21, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Alex Ferguson, Boca Juniors, , Corinthians, , , ,   

    Is Carlos Tevez Man City’s Angel or Demon? 

    I think it would be fair to say that Manchester City fans have been through a lot in recent years. Relegation to the third tier of English football followed by promotion finally back to the Premiership. Numerous managers, including former England manager’s, who all failed to provide the club with the stability they desired. An owner from Thailand of, shall we say, questionable moral standings, finally replaced by the disgustingly rich Saudi oil baron Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. With a seemingly bottomless bank account, the club set about transforming itself into a footballing superpower, both on and off the pitch. The jewel in the crown for City was the acquisition of Manchester United striker, Carlos Tevez. (More …)

     

    • Doron 21:38 on December 21, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Blame is as much with the agent rather than the player. Think he is genuinely homesick to a point having had a bad break up with his wife/partner and his two young kids are back in Argentina miles from him.

      I have to disagree with your tone in the last paragraph that suggests Mancini didn’t handle it well. On the contrary I thought he stuck to his guns and wasn’t bullied by the player. He said all the right things and refused to blow it out of proportion. He didn’t drone on about it an make a meal about it.

      As it happens in terms of is Tevez holding them back? Well no…his performances on the pitch are unquestionably good and his effort as always can’t be brought into question. Love him or hate him as a person, no one can argue he’s not a very good footballer.

      There are more disruptive players than him at City. Certainly his inability to speak English suggests he couldn’t really be verbally disruptive.

      I also don’t think how City choose to portray him is his fault. He has said he was uncomfortable with the poster and although his conduct towards United has been poor, I don’t think that he’d have chosen to be the menacing prat he’s been especially towards United given the choice. Much of the blame for that lies with city.

      The biggest thing which you’ve overlooked RE his time at United was in fact that he rejected us! That’s why I have so much disliking for him. After all the fuss we agreed a fee and offered what he wanted but he said no and trotted off to City.

      Trouble or controversy does seem to follow him around and I think he needs a good manager who will put an arm round him. Honestly I think Mancini would do that and has done that. That said, he’ll no doubt want to leave in the summer and the talk of wanting to go back to Argentina must be accurate – who can blame him for wanting to be near his kids! He is a money grabbing so and so but most footballers are today (hello Rooney), he’s a very talented player and he is disruptive but I think you miss that some of his problems are to do with his agent and City themselves.

      • MadManc78 07:50 on December 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        I think we as football fans are very quick to shoulder the blame on a players agent rather than the player. Simple matter is, the agent is an employee of the player. The player is also an adult and should be able to make decisions on his own accord. Paul Stretford came away from the whole Rooney thing looking like the Devil, and of course he is at part to blame. But if Rooney didn’t want to try and force more cash he wouldn’t have. Agents are clearly the little devil whispering into players ears, but players need to be held accountable for their own actions and that includes United players.

        I agree with what you said about Mancini and maybe I could have wrote that better. The point I was trying to make is that Fergie is a master at sheilding the squad from negative press. Mancini didn’t do anything wrong but the affair has clearly shook the team.

        I honestly think you are being too easy on him Doron. You say he needs a manager who will put an arm round him, but he has had that at at least two of his clubs. The fact is he hasnt been at a club where he hasnt had a bust up with the coach. He has always been in the middle of some row which has ‘forced’ his departure from the club and despite the fact he has agreed to stay (for now), it looks like its happening again at City.

        • Doron 13:33 on December 22, 2010 Permalink

          Fair enough but…to quote Oliver Kay “The situation between Kia Joorabchian and Garry Cook is at the heart of everything. It’s interesting that, despite having appeared to back down on Monday, the Tevez camp are portraying it as Cook being undermined by Mancini and Khaldoon al-Mubarak” – seems like a lot of the blame is with the agent…

    • RedScot 00:04 on December 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Nothing new to report then?
      I think Scott The Red at the Republik of Mancunia gave a brilliant time line and sequence of the events regarding Tevez..He normally calls it correctly and fairly.
      Dont be disillusioned it is agents.Most of these “Stars” we look up to couldna give a flying..Fcuk about us fans.I say cap the wages and defeat Euro laws of rights! Do i not have a right too require the Club I support to have players fully behind my “Team”.
      There is not a fricken thing today that comes close to loyalty and allegiance other than the fans that support our Clubs history and tradition.I say a root branch and trunk review of the whole system is needed to achieve radical change.
      As an example, Qatar holding the World cup in the early months of the year, because of the heat! Did Sepp Blatter not know this and his worthies before they made the “Gas” decision.Of course they did.It will be the climax of the biggest and most watched league in the world if they “Pull” this off.
      Moolah, spondooliks, green backs, bank balances.

    • Bluez 00:58 on December 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Maybe you should do you’re research extensively, educate self then we might just take your points with credibility. For the record, sheik mansour isn’t a Saudi, the is a difference between a Saudi and emirates!

    • RedScot 02:02 on December 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      @ bluez. maybe you should sit down. you have picked out one aspect of the post.its immaterial.Did you enjoy your team two evenings ago, that so far spent nearly 1/2 a Billion pounds in to create, Hope.
      Your star player, well 4, playing with fashion accessories.Did you sing your team on.The wastelands was dead mate.Try getting behind your team,to drive them to win.Its more expanctacy than , cos we we spent a buckets full of cash.
      At United the crowd is the 12th man regardless.
      Citeh do love a wee shake.While he is here.

    • Devil 09:40 on December 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Tevez..?? Who cares.. btw, what is on his neck.. :)

  • @JasTheDevil @JasDunham 21:28 on November 9, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Alex Ferguson, , , Bursaspor, , , , , Sporting Clube de Portugal   

    Talk The Flank – United’s World of Wingers 

    It’s not very often that fans have unequivocal faith in their manager, regardless of any decision that’s made. Over the last 24 years, United fans have learned that the brilliance of Sir Alex Ferguson can become apparent at the most unlikely of times. Therefore, we know that if our fearless leader makes a decision, there is a wisdom behind it that we might not be able to see right away. So, in a year where we lost two very important strikers in Ronaldo and Tevez, many fans, including myself, were wondering where we’d find some replacement firepower.  One of the results was having several new wingers in our camp. Our fans noticed that we didn’t replace those players with out-and-out strikers. We’d have to make do with what we have, so let us sort through the raw talent on the wing and figure out what to make of it all. (More …)

     

  • @JasTheDevil @JasDunham 17:10 on November 7, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Alex Ferguson, , , , , , ,   

    Michael Carrick, Where Are You? 

    Eventually, the wondrous, ageless legs of Ryan Giggs and the astute passing of Paul Scholes will be a thing of highlight reels for United fans. They continually seem to defy odds, and age, each time they step on the pitch, but the time will come when they hang up their boots for our club. Like me, most fans have been dreading that day for a few seasons now, all the while thinking about who will not only take their place, but who will be a lynchpin in our midfield. (More …)

     

    • leela 18:21 on November 7, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      that was something all the fans already know about carra and you made it even more boring by passing your laymen views.

    • janmetcalf 18:49 on November 7, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Think you summed up everything United fan’s feel about Carrick there, good post. I think he will be a key player for us this season.

    • JasDunham 19:04 on November 7, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Thanks, mate. I have always been a Carrick fan, so I’m really hoping he can get back to form. I feel like if he can, it’ll be a big boost for our midfield, and one less worry that Fergie has to deal with. Our back four (Evra, Vidic, Rio, Rafa) is top-notch. Our front line is questionable without the Rooney of last year. We need to get this puzzle to fit together and we’ll challenge Chelsea properly.

    • RedScot 23:58 on November 7, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Good Read.
      Nobody wants to shout down a United player do we? No we dont.
      Carrick cost £17 million more injured than Anderson.
      This is a continuation from his Wet Spam days.
      He looks shot to me in confidence, two forward passes as an example in the Bursaspor till he passed to Fletch to sweep pass the goalkeeper.
      His contract expires in 2013 so does he.
      He has gone. Did not play a match in South africa, no where near a poor England midfield.

      He aint no Roy Keane is he? never mind Paul Scholes. This is the level the “Glazer” have reduced this club to.

    • cartelmike 18:20 on November 8, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      tempo tempo tempo.
      the thing that Carrick does that only Scholes can, is get the ball out of his body and into a pass at a lightning speed. there are some games where that doesnt matter so much, but others where its crucial. The fact that he’s never relied on pace makes me think he’s worth another contract. He could be big player until his mid thirties. That Bayern game has weighed heavily on him, but he’s looked good recently. When he has Scholes alongside him we get the ball from wing to wing quicker than any team ever

      • Nik 17:19 on November 9, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        Fantastic post cartelmike, summed up perfectly. I wrote something similar http://bit.ly/bAsXgz here recently. Bit surprised to hear of author’s displeasure at attack…certainly for me Berbatov has accompanied Rooney well since his arrival. His hold-up play and creating for others is joy to behold. Great hatrick v dippers, but still not convinced Utd fans understand his real worth aside from finding the back of the net…

    • JasDunham 17:35 on November 9, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Hey Nik, thanks for the read.

      In regards to my displeasure at our attack, I don’t feel like my article or overall sentiments were about that. I wrote it to try and mirror some of the feelings that many fans that I’ve talked to have been expressing. Our attack, while understandably weaker without Ronaldo or Tevez, has held it’s own. Though it has to be examined and argued that if not for a Herculean effort from Rooney last campaign, who knows where we would have landed in the league table. Berbatov hasn’t really lived up to the hype, or the funds, that United have put forth. I think he is a brilliant player, but has been too inconsistent for our attack. At the beginning of this campaign, his form was stellar, but in recent weeks, he’s disappeared again. I am in 100% agreement about Berbatov’s ability to hold the ball and his passing/touch can be exquisite. I think the overall point of the article was to just express concern over Carrick’s noticable disappearance in the last year or so. I have always been a Carrick fan, and hope he can be a staple for our midfield for years to come. Again, though, thanks for the read. I do appreciate the comments.

    • Nik 09:17 on November 10, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Yes I totally agree re main thrust of article, hence me posting my thoughts which weren’t too dissimilar; But I do feel I needed to address the comment on United’s attack – I have written extensively on the subject, and I cant agree at all that he hasn’t lived up to the hype or the funds – the latter is entirely irrelevant for many reasons. And whilst Berbatov has had a couple of poor games of late, I dont agree he has “disappeared again”. Berbatov has come in for some harsh criticism simply because fans favourite Tevez was ditched by Ferguson; The two are hugely correlated – or how else could we justify the ridiculous nonsense talked about him in the last 2 years, and the horrific terrace abuse he has been subjected to? Are we saying that the majority of OT goers are unaware of why he was bought? That as a perfect foil for Rooney in a false 9 position his role is one of creativity (created most GS opps than any other player in PL last year/most assists year before) and not goals?

      There were games last season where Rooney far from carried us – despite hitting the back of the net – and I didnt hear one bit of similar criticism directed towards the player; Likewise any other player (aside from Carrick) you care to mention. Its about balance and objectivity, and Berbatov doesn’t receive that from our fans – its that simple.

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