They will be starting against Reading away, in tandem, in a midfield two. It seems that SAF prefers them for the tougher away games. Scholes is banned tonight anyway.
Manchester United vs. West Ham United
- Thread starter nemanja15
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
They will be starting against Reading away, in tandem, in a midfield two. It seems that SAF prefers them for the tougher away games. Scholes is banned tonight anyway.
Giggs has gotten it easy compared to Gaz at the end. And Gaz actually had a decent game one in every three.
Neville, realist that he is, knew he was "gone" and promptly retired.
Does Giggs realise HE is past it, too?
I thought that SAF handled Nev differently, as soon as Rafa joined he basically intimated that Nev was about to be usurped.
Won't be watching the match as I'm working, luckily its showing on mutv at 12 so ill have to do everything possible not to find out the result.
Id like to see
------------De Gea---------------
Rafael Ferdinand Evans Evra
------------Carrick--------------
--Anderson-----Cleverley-----
------------Rooney-------------
------Welbeck---Hernandez--
Id have RVP as an impact sub if needed and allow Welbeck to actually play up front.
Id like to see
------------De Gea---------------
Rafael Ferdinand Evans Evra
------------Carrick--------------
--Anderson-----Cleverley-----
------------Rooney-------------
------Welbeck---Hernandez--
Id have RVP as an impact sub if needed and allow Welbeck to actually play up front.
Excited. I say this before every game these days, but I feel like maybe this will be the one where we finally see the desired line-up, with Cleverley and Anderson. Fergie's said Ando will start, and why would he bring Powell on ahead of Tom against QPR if not because he was resting him for today?
Not sure our recent form points to a battering of West Ham, but I would love us to do so because I detest West Ham.
Three points? Yes, important.
Stuffing West Ham? Would be fantastic.
Three points? Yes, important.
Stuffing West Ham? Would be fantastic.
I also wished that in the Spurs match, was at OT and he was horrible on the wings that day. I still think he's more useful in the middle.
Does no Giggs mean he will play versus City?
City's still more than a week away. No Giggs today might mean we'll see him vs Reading away.
you shouldnt have opened yourself up for that. youl get the usual "he doesnt read this" or "hes not good enough/past it" rubbish, from people completely adamant to shift the blame to giggs and scholes this season. the entire team has been sub par bar one or two but these players bear the brunt from the usual type. despite only featuring in 6 league games and us being sub par in almost every game it has been decided giggs is the weakness. there little logic, no respect and no chance of changing their minds now. and yet therel be a time when his praises will be sung again.
Ah ok got that mixed up. Have to say I'm a bit relieved now. No disrespect.
Carrick, ando and clev. The rest is irrelevant. Perfect opportunity to give it a go with wingers out of form/injured.
If anyone reading this can buy a pack of SAF's favourite gum (i'm going for Juicy Fruit for a bit of a change) inscribe the above on a piece (write small) so that it looks like it just 'appeared' like those times when Jesus' face appears on a crisp before a housewife from Middlesborough and she sends it in to the Sun, reapply the foil, refold the exterior paper back around the foil, fix it back in place with a light dusting of UHU, put the piece of gum back on top of the pack, go round to OT after stealing your mate's stewards jacket and pass, slip inside the tunnel, pickpocket Fergie whilst he is stood at the urinals whistling Flower of Scotland and replace his pack with the doctored one, then we are all set.
If anyone reading this can buy a pack of SAF's favourite gum (i'm going for Juicy Fruit for a bit of a change) inscribe the above on a piece (write small) so that it looks like it just 'appeared' like those times when Jesus' face appears on a crisp before a housewife from Middlesborough and she sends it in to the Sun, reapply the foil, refold the exterior paper back around the foil, fix it back in place with a light dusting of UHU, put the piece of gum back on top of the pack, go round to OT after stealing your mate's stewards jacket and pass, slip inside the tunnel, pickpocket Fergie whilst he is stood at the urinals whistling Flower of Scotland and replace his pack with the doctored one, then we are all set.
Logic: Most of our worst matches have been those in which Giggs and Scholes have started. Anyone who actually watched those matches could tell that serious problems in central midfield was the reason we were poor.
Respect: Scholes and Giggs are amongst the greatest United legends ever, and two of the best players ever to grace our team. But they are getting old, now, and it is inevitable that eventually they start to get worse, and eventually become bad players. That is the only thing that can happen if you keep playing them despite their age, and it is well on the way to happening this season. Having respect for a player and recognising that they are no longer good enough are not mutually exclusive.
Chance of changing my mind: Plenty. If I see performances from them that are more like the Giggs and Scholes of old, and that cease to be a problem for the team as a whole, I will be ecstatic. I don't think it's particularly likely, because as I've said I think age is the reason for their declining form, and you can't turn that clock back. I actually think it's a shame that Fergie insists on playing Giggs when he is so diminished. People claimed that his performance against Chelsea was good, but three years ago we would have called it a poor one from him. Meanwhile two very in-form young wingers who are due their chance at being first-choice are being kept on the wings.
I don't think this is disrespectful, or spoilt, or knee-jerk, or rubbish. it's a logical observation. I have no problem with singing their praises, they are true greats. I hope the fans sing their praises for ever. But all greats have their time.
thats a level headed post but i meant in the grand scheme of things a bit more, do you agree that the reaction to giggs or scholes involvement this season has been way over the top many times and a large consensus that our team falls apart due to them being ivolved, despite our defence and wingers being absolutely apalling in many games. my main point is that overall they have been nowhere close to what is let on here and it has absolutely become a go to excuse for a general overall lack of form from the team. the fact that neither has been heavily involved proves this but they are still spoken of as if one person, contributing to our poor form despite winning.
I'm not sure SAF did handle Neville differently to Giggs, he played Neville when he shouldn't because he was passed it. Neville then took the decision away from Fergie by retiring and according to the Neville autobiography SAF attempted to talk Neville out of retirement which would suggest he still intended to use him.
Sadly, I'll have to miss the game live as I'm in Los Angeles today on work duty, but I've got my DVR set to record what I think, or maybe just hope, will be the thrashing we've all been waiting. Back home tonight to check it out!
Word from the hammers is that they're missing a lot of key players today.
The table is set!
Word from the hammers is that they're missing a lot of key players today.
The table is set!
I would wrap up tonight, it is freezing and the traffic on the M60 is dreadful .
I think Giggs is playing for the incredible personal achievement of 1000 games.
He'd have to play into his 40s for that.
982 games according to wiki, including internationals
1. Fewer times than a lot of people seem to think. You only notice the crazy irrational posts, but from what I've seen, the vast majority of those complaining about them are expressing the same sort of opinions that I am. And there's a reason for that.
2. Falls apart is silly, but I do believe that our poor midfield selections and Fergie's continuing insistence on 442 - despite it being outdated, ineffective and reliant on in-form wingers that we just don't have at the moment - should take a huge portion of the blame for our poor performances. I believe a much, much better quality of football is easily within our grasp if Fergie will just abandon an approach that is clearly not working at the moment.
3. You will disagree here, but I believe that it absolutely is the reason for the team's general lack of form. The midfield dictates almost everything about a performance. Aside from our shaky defending during a serious injury crisis at the back, our defenders' performances have been strong. But the opposition just walk through Giggs/Scholes midfields, particularly if the partner is Carrick, who isn't the most mobile player himself. And our strikers, who've provided ample evidence that they are in great form, simply can't get going when they get so little useful service, and when the team as a whole has so little dominant, purposeful possession.
Yup. Little bit understandable, but people act as if he's not capable of a good performance anymore.
5-0 win tonight.
Giggs was getting serious stick from Utd fans in 2002 when he was 28. Football fans are fickle but it still annoys me.
Indeed! Against Chelsea, he was immense! However, once he puts in a bad shift, he is past it; basically, it has been like this since he turned 33 or so. He has proven us wrong so, so many times. He said himself he thought his best match was in 09 against City where he turned Micah Richards inside out with pace and trickery. Giggs still has it in him, he just hasn't found his form yet. We all know Scholes can deliver, he has been off form also. Don't write them off just yet; too soon for that!
Traffic is bloody awful tonight, and its fecking freezing. Less than 5 goals and I will not be happy.
This thread will be fun in 10 minutes... 
Giggs still has decent pace so he can still cut it - but Scholes is reaching the point where he is so slow that he is a liability. But I can't see either of them playing next season
Lindegaard
Rafael
Jones
Smalling
Evra
Giggs
Anderson
Young
Rooney
Welbeck
RVP
I think this line up would piss people off the most
Rafael
Jones
Smalling
Evra
Giggs
Anderson
Young
Rooney
Welbeck
RVP
I think this line up would piss people off the most
West Ham's recent record is not good only 5 points from the last 15 but did hold City to a goalless draw.
Should be a good game.
Should be a good game.
Time to put on my Spice Girls Greatest Hits album to psyche myself up.
What if Jones starts in midfield?
IIIIII Tell you what a want what a really really want, wanna giggs wanna giggs giggygiggygiggs....
Would have no complaints personally. Wouldn't mind seeing him get a run in a midfield 3. If he can grow the discipline side of his game, he can be an asset there. Not to mention Carrick and Fletcher have been quite poor.
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, O'Brien, Reid, Collins, Tomkins, Diame, Nolan, Jarvis, Taylor, Carroll
With Giggs....
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, O'Brien, Reid, Collins, Tomkins, Diame, Nolan, Jarvis, Taylor, Carroll
It will be interesting to see how Jones-Smalling works out, it has been a while since they've both been in a position to play there.
Unfortunately this one man midfield of Fergi's won't help them out.
Unfortunately this one man midfield of Fergi's won't help them out.