Mr. Bungle said:
Spot on, from my perspective.
Against the lower teams, Fortune can cut it as LB, but he is much stronger in MF.
PL: Chelsea Vs. Manchester United 15/08/04
- Thread starter Nem 7
- Start date
-
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.
Spot on, from my perspective.
Against the lower teams, Fortune can cut it as LB, but he is much stronger in MF.
Thank GodNem 7 said:
Trippin_Stoned said:Thank God
Great news it is. You know we can always play Bellion if that makes you feel better.
Jacqueline_S said:
Score predictions?
1-1
1-1
roxyfella said:
Vs
Class!Jacqueline_S said:
Twat!Gillespie said:You Mancs have no fecking chance......you'll get stuffed and humiliated by Chelsea..............
Prediction:
Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United.
Speculative Chelsea Team:
(Based on what was reported from a midweek training session of probables vs possibles).
------------Cech
Ferriera---Gallas---Terry---Bridge
-----------Makelele
--------Geremi-Smertin
----------Lampard
----Gudjohnsen-------Drogba
A few random thoughts on the game...
- The indication from training was that Smertin (very much a central midfielder) may get the nod ahead of Duff, who was still tentative in his pre-season games. If that is the case it doesn't point to an attractive game of football - four central midfielders and no wingers.
- Chelsea will look to control the centre of the park by playing a very compact midfield diamond with four central midfielders. If United play 4-4-2 with two wingers they will effectively conceed the middle to Chelsea without a fight. So I think united will play either 4-5-1 or a 4-4-2 with only Giggs as a genuine winger.
- IMO Giggs is the key player for United. Scholes, as good as he is, will not find much space because of the number of Chelsea central midfielders playing in the middle. Giggs, on the other hand, could be released to go one-on-one with the RB Ferriera in his first EPL game.
- the United defence will need to deal with the areal threat from Drogba. In the pre-season games I think Ferriera crossing to Drogba created three goals in two games and many more opportunities. Ferriera's crossing has been a feature in the pre-season (leaving out his first game against Celtic) and IMO looks like the way most likely to produce a goal.
- Chelsea weakness in the pre-season (and last season as well) as been defending set pieces. They have defended these poorly and conceeded most of the goals in the pre-season to free kicks - often marking very poorly. If I were SAF I'd be working on the attacking set-pieces in the days leading up to the game and then instruct the players to do whatever they can to win free kicks down in the Chelsea last third.
(Based on what was reported from a midweek training session of probables vs possibles).
------------Cech
Ferriera---Gallas---Terry---Bridge
-----------Makelele
--------Geremi-Smertin
----------Lampard
----Gudjohnsen-------Drogba
A few random thoughts on the game...
- The indication from training was that Smertin (very much a central midfielder) may get the nod ahead of Duff, who was still tentative in his pre-season games. If that is the case it doesn't point to an attractive game of football - four central midfielders and no wingers.
- Chelsea will look to control the centre of the park by playing a very compact midfield diamond with four central midfielders. If United play 4-4-2 with two wingers they will effectively conceed the middle to Chelsea without a fight. So I think united will play either 4-5-1 or a 4-4-2 with only Giggs as a genuine winger.
- IMO Giggs is the key player for United. Scholes, as good as he is, will not find much space because of the number of Chelsea central midfielders playing in the middle. Giggs, on the other hand, could be released to go one-on-one with the RB Ferriera in his first EPL game.
- the United defence will need to deal with the areal threat from Drogba. In the pre-season games I think Ferriera crossing to Drogba created three goals in two games and many more opportunities. Ferriera's crossing has been a feature in the pre-season (leaving out his first game against Celtic) and IMO looks like the way most likely to produce a goal.
- Chelsea weakness in the pre-season (and last season as well) as been defending set pieces. They have defended these poorly and conceeded most of the goals in the pre-season to free kicks - often marking very poorly. If I were SAF I'd be working on the attacking set-pieces in the days leading up to the game and then instruct the players to do whatever they can to win free kicks down in the Chelsea last third.
concentrate on set pieces eh... hmmm.... well considering we havent scored from a corner for, what feels like, 25 years, and free kick specialists being a tad thin on the ground.....
I think we'll settle for good ol fashioned grit and determination. Smith Keane Phil would give a nice battling spine to the team, with Giggs and Scholes to add the creativity. I have no worries about Miller starting, impressed me on Sunday. Fortune, Mickey and DJ need to up their games conciderably.
Stuck a few quid on us to sneak it 2-1, but more likely a draw.
COME ON !
I think we'll settle for good ol fashioned grit and determination. Smith Keane Phil would give a nice battling spine to the team, with Giggs and Scholes to add the creativity. I have no worries about Miller starting, impressed me on Sunday. Fortune, Mickey and DJ need to up their games conciderably.
Stuck a few quid on us to sneak it 2-1, but more likely a draw.
COME ON !
http://skysports.planetfootball.com...&CLID=&lid=3&title=Ferreira+bullish+about+Utd
hehe, he is worse than the french cnuts in our side
hehe, he is worse than the french cnuts in our side
Eh? Chelsea will play 4 players in the middle ? Thats a new one.Taipan said:
No wonder you are expecting your Rb to create chances. By the way if it does come down to Giggs Vs Ferraira, i will be very pleased.
Well Ferreira has started the bragging rights by saying Chelsea will definitely win the game.
Quote-Without Ruud and Ronaldo United are very normal and there is no doubt we will win the first game.
http://skysports.planetfootball.com...&lid=&cpid=8&title=Ferreira+bullish+about+Utd
Quote-Without Ruud and Ronaldo United are very normal and there is no doubt we will win the first game.
http://skysports.planetfootball.com...&lid=&cpid=8&title=Ferreira+bullish+about+Utd
Number7 said:
It does. I'd rather play Forlan there in a 4-5-1 than Fletcher. And don't get me started on Forlan
lonbwoy said:
No wonder he doesn't know that Ronaldo is a midfielder, he can't even see the difference between a Greek and a Portugal player.
Miller for Fletcher, balance of side unchanged...
from Sportinglife.com:
Sir Alex Ferguson is often at his best when Manchester United are involved in a bruising scrap with a leading opponent but he admitted today he would have preferred his injury-ravaged side did not have face to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
United's list of injuries and other selection problems has lengthened week-by-week through the summer and Ferguson will be down to the bare bones this weekend.
The side will have been buoyed by their win in Romania against Dinamo Bucharest but should he need to make changes in midfield against Chelsea then it means Ferguson will have to rely on youngsters such as 19-year-old Kieran Richardson.
Ferguson said: "It's a difficult one, no doubt about that. We would prefer under the present situation regarding our player availability not to have played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
"But I'm satisfied with the players I have got - they are a great bunch and they did a great job on Wednesday.
"We have the experience to handle all types of competition, that's the most important thing, to be able to handle pressure games as we did on Wednesday.
"A lot of people were expecting us to stumble, or maybe hoping we would stumble, but nonetheless they showed their experience and did not panic even when we went a goal down."
Ferguson will be forced into one change as Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher is suspended but Irish midfielder Liam Miller should take over his place on the right after an excellent cameo against Dinamo.
"Liam Miller comes into the equation after his second-half performance," confirmed Ferguson.
"He did very, very well and impressed me greatly. I would have no hesitation in starting the lad."
Apart from Miller, it should be a case of 'as you were' for United with Roy Keane continuing at centre-back - brought in there in midweek as the defence looked suspect against Arsenal last Sunday - and John O'Shea a surprise success in central midfield.
"It's a marvellous option for us," added Ferguson. "Keane showed wonderful experience and the influence he has on everyone. There were some great performances and Keane's was one of them.
"It has always been a possibility that O'Shea could become a midfield player but we couldn't do it last season because our back four was disrupted with injuries after February.
"He was a physical presence in midfield for us and apart from that did very, very well on the ball."
Meanwhile, Ferguson rejected reports that Louis Saha will be out until 2005. The French striker has a knee medial ligament injury but Ferguson insisted he is still on course to return in three weeks.
He said: "Louis Saha has not had an operation, and has been training terrifically for the last week and doing everything apart from kicking a ball."
What frightens me most about this article is the reference to SAF having to rely on youngsters (that part of it is ok) like Kieran Richardson (that part is horrifying!!!). After watching all 3 of the games in the USA and the Community Shield, I think I can describe Richardson's typical play as follows:
Richardson dribbles up the left touch line.....shows good pace....approaches the corner.....crosses the ball towards goal....(1) ball smacks in to defender who is running alongside of him....(2) Richardson falls down!!! If I saw that sequence once during the pre-season, I saw it 5 or 6 times!!!!!!!
from Sportinglife.com:
Sir Alex Ferguson is often at his best when Manchester United are involved in a bruising scrap with a leading opponent but he admitted today he would have preferred his injury-ravaged side did not have face to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
United's list of injuries and other selection problems has lengthened week-by-week through the summer and Ferguson will be down to the bare bones this weekend.
The side will have been buoyed by their win in Romania against Dinamo Bucharest but should he need to make changes in midfield against Chelsea then it means Ferguson will have to rely on youngsters such as 19-year-old Kieran Richardson.
Ferguson said: "It's a difficult one, no doubt about that. We would prefer under the present situation regarding our player availability not to have played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
"But I'm satisfied with the players I have got - they are a great bunch and they did a great job on Wednesday.
"We have the experience to handle all types of competition, that's the most important thing, to be able to handle pressure games as we did on Wednesday.
"A lot of people were expecting us to stumble, or maybe hoping we would stumble, but nonetheless they showed their experience and did not panic even when we went a goal down."
Ferguson will be forced into one change as Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher is suspended but Irish midfielder Liam Miller should take over his place on the right after an excellent cameo against Dinamo.
"Liam Miller comes into the equation after his second-half performance," confirmed Ferguson.
"He did very, very well and impressed me greatly. I would have no hesitation in starting the lad."
Apart from Miller, it should be a case of 'as you were' for United with Roy Keane continuing at centre-back - brought in there in midweek as the defence looked suspect against Arsenal last Sunday - and John O'Shea a surprise success in central midfield.
"It's a marvellous option for us," added Ferguson. "Keane showed wonderful experience and the influence he has on everyone. There were some great performances and Keane's was one of them.
"It has always been a possibility that O'Shea could become a midfield player but we couldn't do it last season because our back four was disrupted with injuries after February.
"He was a physical presence in midfield for us and apart from that did very, very well on the ball."
Meanwhile, Ferguson rejected reports that Louis Saha will be out until 2005. The French striker has a knee medial ligament injury but Ferguson insisted he is still on course to return in three weeks.
He said: "Louis Saha has not had an operation, and has been training terrifically for the last week and doing everything apart from kicking a ball."
What frightens me most about this article is the reference to SAF having to rely on youngsters (that part of it is ok) like Kieran Richardson (that part is horrifying!!!). After watching all 3 of the games in the USA and the Community Shield, I think I can describe Richardson's typical play as follows:
Richardson dribbles up the left touch line.....shows good pace....approaches the corner.....crosses the ball towards goal....(1) ball smacks in to defender who is running alongside of him....(2) Richardson falls down!!! If I saw that sequence once during the pre-season, I saw it 5 or 6 times!!!!!!!
------------Cech---------------
Ferriera---Gallas---Terry---Bridge
-----------Makelele-------------
--------Geremi-Parker-----------
----------Lampard--------------
----Gudjohnsen-------Drogba---
VS
------------Howard
G.Neville--Keane--Silvestre--Fortune
-----------Djemba--------------
------Miller---P.Neville--Giggs---
----------Scholes--------------
-----------Smith---------------
Ferriera---Gallas---Terry---Bridge
-----------Makelele-------------
--------Geremi-Parker-----------
----------Lampard--------------
----Gudjohnsen-------Drogba---
VS
------------Howard
G.Neville--Keane--Silvestre--Fortune
-----------Djemba--------------
------Miller---P.Neville--Giggs---
----------Scholes--------------
-----------Smith---------------
MancFanFromManc said:concentrate on set pieces eh... hmmm.... well considering we havent scored from a corner for, what feels like, 25 years, and free kick specialists being a tad thin on the ground.....
I think we'll settle for good ol fashioned grit and determination. Smith Keane Phil would give a nice battling spine to the team, with Giggs and Scholes to add the creativity. I have no worries about Miller starting, impressed me on Sunday. Fortune, Mickey and DJ need to up their games conciderably.
Stuck a few quid on us to sneak it 2-1, but more likely a draw.
COME ON !
if your sayin WE as in man utd, well smith scored from a corner against celtic on the tour, oh and silvestre in the vodafona cup
Trippin_Stoned said:
Fletcher is by far the better player imo.
My prediction : [size=+1]Chelsea 1 Man Utd 2[/size]
Com'on Devils!!
Com'on Devils!!
1-0 to Utd.....
Alan Smith 43 mins
Alan Smith 43 mins
skeeta said:
Kezman isnt suspended nor injured. Id think hes likely to play and score. Im afraid his words about out gunning ruud are more likely than anybody would think. If he gets the right service hes a phenomenal striker. His only problem is his attitude, he gets frustrated when things doesnt work out, and is known to collect cards when that happens. So Keano should know what to do.
isn't that Tiago guy going to feature??
crappycraperson said:
If Duff Robben Smertin and Kezman cant play....yes the will play with 4players in the middle but Geremi goes to the right and Smertin(if he can play) or Lampard on the left..an COle in front..
PARKER
Parker is the 5th Mourinho choice he prefers putting another defender than PARKER..
Sorry but Parker isnt the 5th choice he is the last choice..(9)
Lampard Makelele Duff or Robben Geremi SMertin Cole Tiago and at last(9) Parker.
But Duff Robben Smertin Tiago and maybe cole cant play so that means that..............................................................................................
he still going to be in the bench..
Parker wouldnt play in a Portuguese 2nd division team..
Lampard Makelele Duff or Robben Geremi SMertin Cole Tiago and at last(9) Parker.
But Duff Robben Smertin Tiago and maybe cole cant play so that means that..............................................................................................
he still going to be in the bench..
Parker wouldnt play in a Portuguese 2nd division team..
lagostin said:
You really are a daft cnut.
Smash-E said:
No. He got pulled from the Portuguese olympic team due to injury, and now he isn't able to play until Portugual get knocked out of the Olympics.
Lagostin said:
As far as I am aware only Robben is unavailable through injury. Kezman can play and I expect he will feature at some stage, but my guess at the moment is as a second half substitute for Drogba. Duff is available but has only played a few games as part of his recovery. He may start, but my guess is for Smertin to start ahead of him.
Nem 7 said:
atomic keane said:
Is Wes fit
didn't think so....
but anyway, I think this game has 1-0 all over it.
but anyway, I think this game has 1-0 all over it.
to hard to call, no wonder the odds are so shit.
i just hope for a decent game, win, lose or tie as long as we dont try to be defensive and dour i will be ok with whatever result occurs.
regarldess of our injury list, we still have a very good team as we proved on Wednesday night, i get the feeling chelsea are going into this game with an air of arrogance and over-confidence. Hopefully at their peril.
i just hope for a decent game, win, lose or tie as long as we dont try to be defensive and dour i will be ok with whatever result occurs.
regarldess of our injury list, we still have a very good team as we proved on Wednesday night, i get the feeling chelsea are going into this game with an air of arrogance and over-confidence. Hopefully at their peril.
I think Miller will be the man to look out for in this. Prediction:
2-1 to us. Scholes and Miller with the winner.
2-1 to us. Scholes and Miller with the winner.
United will win
For those who think Chelsea will be superior tonight, forget it .... Keano's will to win alone is enough versus the whole Chelsea team.
We'll win it. I go for 2-1.
For those who think Chelsea will be superior tonight, forget it .... Keano's will to win alone is enough versus the whole Chelsea team.
We'll win it. I go for 2-1.
If any United goals, lets get together and put them on this forum!
90 mins to ko
everton 0 - arse 1
2-0, reyes
cr7fan said:
everton arnt the best of teams but Arsenal are looking good again!
1 hour left, or even less, im not nervous....