Biggest surprise in 2002 for you?

RUnited

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Silvestre gets my vote.

Excellent at LB, excellent at CB. Defied all his critics.

I've always thought he was very good at LB, but he certainly has surprised me with his ability at CB.
 
Originally posted by uranushk1:
<strong>O'Shea. His progress has surprised me a number of times now.</strong><hr></blockquote>

When we sold Stam one fo the reasons Fergie gave was the young lad John O'shea coming through the ranks - at the time he looked like a lanky school kid and I thought SAF was clutching at straws - but the he has been a revelation. I am only surprised we ahvn't tried him up front - he can play everywhere else!
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Number of people -

o Shea - this boy is pure class!
Silvestre - has improved sooo much - looks like a real solid defender and great full back too
Veron - never thought he would settle in the prem - but he actually managed to put together a run of consistent good performancs in the pm!
 
Ferdinand - not really as good as I thought he would be <img src="graemlins/annoyed.gif" border="0" alt="[Annoyed]" />
 
Apart from the obvious JOS/Mikey etc I thought the biggest surprise was paying £30m for Rio. He's a good defender and has a great future but I just think that was way too much to pay. £20m ok but £30m would have bought Nesta and Canavaro, together, let alone any other combination of wc defenders like Ayala/Thuram/Sorin etc. I think we should be more careful with out money and not be prepared to be held to ransom just because we are able to pay.
 
Originally posted by thumper:
<strong>Apart from the obvious JOS/Mikey etc I thought the biggest surprise was paying £30m for Rio. He's a good defender and has a great future but I just think that was way too much to pay. £20m ok but £30m would have bought Nesta and Canavaro, together, let alone any other combination of wc defenders like Ayala/Thuram/Sorin etc. I think we should be more careful with out money and not be prepared to be held to ransom just because we are able to pay.</strong><hr></blockquote>


You just described Liverpool, and see how they're doing! :rolleyes:
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Originally posted by DLE:
<strong>Ferdinand - not really as good as I thought he would be <img src="graemlins/annoyed.gif" border="0" alt="[Annoyed]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

agree totally! I wasnt too surprised though as i did not expect he's going to be our saviour per se before he signed. Even without that expectation or less, he disappointed me!

<img src="graemlins/annoyed.gif" border="0" alt="[Annoyed]" /> <img src="graemlins/annoyed.gif" border="0" alt="[Annoyed]" />

I am truly surprised (and hugely delighted) though, with phil's class performance in midfield. And only a little surprised Ole contribution on the right flank out class Becks in terms of pace and equal Becks in effectiveness and crossing ability. Should have known our Ole can do anything he is asked to do by the gaffer and never disappoint!! :)
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1) The way we just curled up and died against Arsenal at OT in May. I never seen a United team just give in before.

2) Not beating Leverkusen in the CL SF last season.

3) Liverpool finishing above us last season. Average team, average manager - just plain average club.

4) O'shea at full-back. I'd seen him as a CB, but he is excellent at FB.

5) Wes coming back even better than ever. IMO he is the best CB in the PL at the moment.
 
I was surprised more wasn't done to bring Keano and McCarthy to a compromise during the WC. I was also surprised we didn't go for Ronaldo :(
 
The surprise was Phil's recent form in midfield. I always knew Mickey was class, it's just taken a while for most people to recognise it. John O'Shea is superb and I am really pleased but it's not a surprise because i had no real expectation of how good he was.
 
Originally posted by thumper:
<strong>I was surprised more wasn't done to bring Keano and McCarthy to a compromise during the WC. I was also surprised we didn't go for Ronaldo :( </strong><hr></blockquote>

i never thought he had an interest to come to England. And even if he did, i wouldn't be surprised if he chose Arsenal over us.. their counter attacking games would suit Ronaldo much more because he needs space up front to produce the magic. our non-stop attacking would ruin his game IMO.

besides, the physical game in the EPL would feck up his knees like how it has done to Giggs and Owen.
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Rio will be ok..... he just needs time, some players take longer than other to settle in.... he's got huge talent...and i have no doubt that we'll see the best of him.
 
please give Rio time, i remember Veron being slated by certain muppets on here, 'waste of money' etc. Now he's started to proove them wrong and they all look like clowns.
Anyway, biggest suprise...Probably John O'shea, i remember him making his champions league debut sometime last season, against leverkusen i think, in the first leg. Last 10 minute's, he looked good but i didnt immedietly think "this guy will be amazing" when i saw him, but he has been and he's been the best played for us this season, consistancy wise.

There were other suprises, the worst one being the way that we lost to city, i really thought we'd be up for that game but obviously not.
 
1. The Leverkusen disappointment came to me as a real surprise, especially after we had handed such a smacking to Deportivo.

I cannot really say that either of Silvestre or Butt or Barthez has surprised me with their performances of late.

2. But, a really pleasant surprise was Phil Neville in Central midfield and giving a thorough lesson to Viera.
 
O'Shea- is a different player this year to last. He has filled out and this has helped his co-ordination so much. Last year he could be bit like a new born deer, all gangly and shaky. Now that has gone, his touch has improved greatly. Excellent flexiblity also across the back four. I think he should only be used sparingly at left back though as he sometimes runs the ball out on his bad side.
Silvestre- Always had a problem with his focus and concentration in games, tended to ball watch and not be aware of his positioning. This year especially at centre back all of these aspects have greatly improved. Since back at full back his forward play (crossing, passing and running at players) is also progressing.
Brown- His comeback after his knee injury seemed to have set him back a lot from when he first broke in. He was class then. I think he developed a confidence problem due to a couple of incidents with Barthez. Since his last injury though he has been fantastic along with Silvestre who have created the best central partnership for United this season. Has looked rock solid. Distribution has become better and a little more adventurous too. These three have been the biggest plusses for United in 2002.
 
Henry, Trezeguet and Cisse not scoring a goal at the World Cup, although being the best scorers of their respective league... <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" />
 
As for United, biggest surprise, Silvestre. I had always thought he was better as a LB.
 
Originally posted by DLE:
<strong>Ferdinand - not really as good as I thought he would be <img src="graemlins/annoyed.gif" border="0" alt="[Annoyed]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

give the lad some time :)

biggest surprise for me would be O'Shea! He stood out during our defender injury crisis and have been magnificant since!
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Biggest surprise is J S Veron being the most improved player in 2002/03.
I thought that he was £28m's worth of rubbish last year, but of late - during Keano + Becks's absence - he's suddenly began to turn it on.
The interplay of passing between Seba, Becks and Keano has been enthralling at times. At last, something that can take us to a new level.
Mickey, Phil Nev, & Deigo have also improved, and JOS is the find of the season across the whole of the Prem.
 
John O'Shea's versatility surprised me more than his performances. I was more surprised by Wes when he came back. I thought he was just a bog-standard defender at the club just to add strength in depth, but he's been superb this season. Our best defender.
 
Originally posted by Elfie:
<strong>Henry, Trezeguet and Cisse not scoring a goal at the World Cup, although being the best scorers of their respective league... <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

biggest flop of the year that French team... realy strange how it doesnt reflect on their individual forms at all...
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I'd say the midfield combo of Phil and Veron actually outplayed Vieira and Gilberto.
That's the biggest suprise for me.
Silvestre performance at CB also counts comes as a suprise, although not as big as the one above. I never thought he had that degree of concentration to excel there.
And if I could recall one suprising moments at a particular time, I'd say the moment O'Shea dribbled his way to Deportivo penalty box from near the halfway line.. :D :D
 
I'm surprised at the criticisms of Rio after one bad game and some normal ones. Give him more time.

And the biggest surprise in 2002 is Phil. Credit to him for doing so well in central midfield, especially when I saw him outclassing Vieira. Totally.
 
I'd have to say Germany making the WCF, S. Korea making the SF and Portugal getting slaughtered in the first half by the US and failing to make the second phase of the WC.
 
Originally posted by thumper:
<strong>Apart from the obvious JOS/Mikey etc I thought the biggest surprise was paying £30m for Rio. He's a good defender and has a great future but I just think that was way too much to pay. £20m ok but £30m would have bought Nesta and Canavaro, together, let alone any other combination of wc defenders like Ayala/Thuram/Sorin etc. I think we should be more careful with out money and not be prepared to be held to ransom just because we are able to pay.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Neither Nesta or Cannavaro ever had any intention of leaving Italy. So it wouldn't have made any difference what sort of money we offered.

The biggest suprise has to be not beating Leverkusen. Especially considering we led 3 times during the course of the tie.
Second biggest has to be the change in our defense this season compared to last. Last season we never looked like keeping a clean sheet, this year it been totally different. (for the most part)
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JOS surely,cos his versiltility(sp)has impressed me and one to watch
 
Some nice surprises: Silvestres performances especially at CB. Wes's form. Bart seems to be taking things seriously now. Phil Neville's midfield perfomances especailly against Arsenal. I was not surprised at Ryan's dip in form. He's been playing for so long at the top of his game it just had to come - he'll bounce back though. The biggest revelation for me has been John O'Shea. I can't wait to see him play CF.
 
SAF decided to stay and keeps doing his awesome job – this is the nicest surprise for me. Let’s remember how many surprises (in terms of tactics and formation) he prepared for us last autumn.
1. JOS as a full back
2. Phil as a CM
3. Mike as a CB
4. Wes’ return
5. Van as not only a finisher but an excellent assistant as well.
SAF on manager post means surprises will go on.
 
Not a suprise to true United fans...but everyone else...

Diego Forlan...!!!

I always had faith in him, like many of you!
 
I'm not surprised that Forlan is doing well - even before he started scoring goals, he was pretty useful.

I am a tad surprised that Veron has settled, as I'd lost a bit of hope in that department.

Not surprised by JOS as I would have played him last year as well.

Biggest surprise for me was how good Ole is as a RW.
 
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