No shit
The next most experienced player available up front tomorrow has never started a game for the club, so it's not that much of a surprise Berbatov starts eh!
Dimitar Berbatov | 2009/10 Performances
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No shit
The next most experienced player available up front tomorrow has never started a game for the club, so it's not that much of a surprise Berbatov starts eh!
That will be the team more or less
No Carrick remember, red card in milan etc, which will be a massive loss for us during the game.
Second this. Park has made the difference the last few games. And Fletcher and Scholes are a better pair than Carrick-Scholes. I wish Carrick too, was available, but what are you gonna do.
On a different note, Valencia and Berbatov have a great understanding. The same for Berba- Park.
I am confident, we'll look different and better with Park and Fletcher.
Damn, forgot that! A Big loss alright. So stupid, as was the second Milan goal.
feck, feck, feck, keep forgetting that!
If Giggs isn't ready, then maybe Nani has a chance - assuming Park or Valencia plays in the centre. Gibson did himself no favours at all yesterday, I doubt he'll feature.
How the feck did I forget that!!
Yeah, Nani to play left or right maybe, and Park or Valencia in the middle.
I'd prefer Park in the middle, but Nani has been so poor on the left.
Yeah, that should work.
Sod's law that both Gibson AND Nani were shite yesterday. Fergie must be well pissed off neither of them really stepped up and made a claim for a place in the team.
Could just as easily be good news for the Milan game though. As Fergie always says - you expect a reaction from United players after bad performances.
Not technically true that mate, Sheringham certainly had an indifferent first season at United (and you could say he was average for the whole of the second season, the Treble Year) but despite his limited goal scoring record, Sheringham did actually contribute and perform to a more consistent level than Berbatov has ever shown for us.
Sheringham was bought as a third striker in an intended rotation of Cole, Solskjaer and himself. Cole himself has been at United two and a half years and had been in and out the side since 1996 with injuries and loss of form for most of 1996-97.
Solskjaer was also in his second season and Ferguson was worried that given his excellent first year with us, he may suffer Second Season Syndrome. Sheringham was also 31 years old at the time of purchase, he was bought for experience and talent yet potentially as a stop-gap, nothing more.
Berbatov was bought as a 27 year old, one to make impact and as a thirty million quid-er, one to be thrust into the first team yet we have seen he is not considered in the big games.
Sheringham also scored some important goals for us, against Arsenal in the big title games back then, cup finals etc. Berbatov has scored one goal, a gratuitous tap-in versus a poor Chelsea side who sacked their manager afterwards, in the Big Four matches in his two years with us....so far.
He has to start doing a lot more, because otherwise those who are still defending the undefendable with his Match of The Day flicks and youtube compliations which seemingly justify his position at Man United will also lose faith soon....
I like the idea of Park playing as the more advanced central midfielder in a 3 as his movement is so much better than Gibson's, and he also has the tactical and defensive discipline to play effectively there.
Maybe im being repetitive here, but we really need a midfielder with decent movement who is willing to actually make forward runs and play in the hole - in order for Berbatov to be truly effective as a lone striker.
It is quite obvious that Berbatov prefers to try to bring others into play and hold the ball up than to create chances for himself, therefore we need players with the movement to allow him to open up those opportunities.
It is quite obvious that Berbatov prefers to try to bring others into play and hold the ball up than to create chances for himself, therefore we need players with the movement to allow him to open up those opportunities.
True, hence why Park should be a better option on Wednesday than Gibson in my opinion.
Really? I'm not sure that Milan, with all their quality in the middle of the park, is the team to start experimenting with. I'd rather go into the game with players playing in their regular positions...
Park has played centrally for PSV, in fact one of the games that probably convinced SAF to sign him was against Milan in the San Siro where he was superb. We've played him tucked in quite often, and in the Charity Shield he was in a more advanced central position.
You could play him there, and then to drop onto Pirlo when they are in possession.
I don't see Gibson as an attacking midfielder in a 3, his natural game seems to be a more deeplying position.
Don't be silly Shimo, what do skilled managers and professional footballers know about football?
You're far better off listening to the opinions of internet spastics - they understand football better.
Berbaflop is a waste of space.
Berbatov also scored about six times in 1-0 victories. I'd call those goals important - 12 points is 12 points.
Big 4 matches aren't a great measure of teams, and they aren't a great measure of players. We were only so-so against the Big 4 last season, and still won the title. The year before, we were awful against them. This year, Arsenal have been unspeakably horrible vs United and Chelsea, yet there they are at the top of the table, favorites to win it by some accounts. Berbatov is one good Champions League performance or two away from looking like a big-game player
To be honest, I thought he was poor. As a lone striker, one thing you have to do is break your balls to get into the box and try and get onto the end of crosses. He swanned around and didn't make any effort to do so. It really pissed me off. In general, we are very lacklustre up front without Rooney.
Park played centrally in the san siro, he was visibly placed in and around the areas Pirlo likes to dictate play, this was noted in commentary after about 5 minutes....im sure he'll play the very same role again this week.
Rooney will play on Wednesday.
These quotes are telling. He does not lay blame on anyone.
"It is his own enthusiasm that has caused it. His problem is that he can't say no."
"[England boss] Fabio Capello has to pick his best team. A win was important so I don't blame him at all.
These quotes are telling. He does not lay blame on anyone.
"It is his own enthusiasm that has caused it. His problem is that he can't say no."
"[England boss] Fabio Capello has to pick his best team. A win was important so I don't blame him at all.
He's only one game away from being a big-game player? Mate, he should be doing it now, that's why we bought him, to perform, he's got a load of talent but he's not utitlising it correctly.
Even that other famous 'flop' Veron was very effective in the Champions League, most of the time anyway.
We have players like O'Shea, Fletcher, Park and Brown who have been slandered in the past yet have always produced in the big games, domestically or in Europe.
If he plays well against Milan, then great and the subsequent matches we have left, but he is simply not performing and doesn't look like he ever will to be honest.
If you subtract Tevez's goals from all matches this season, we'd be worse off relative to Chelsea than if you subtracted Berbatov's.
1-0 Berbatov against Bolton away and Boro at home last season. Wheres the other 4?
Hmm. Seems my memory of last season is not entirely accurate.
I said he's only a game or two away from looking like a big game player, and I stand by that. If he scores a big goal or puts in a great performance in the CL semis, or in the final...I think all his flaws will be forgiven, don't you?
You know what mate, look at it like this. France v Brazil in the World Cup Final, Zidane ran the show. Man Utd Petit made a cameo and scored the third in a game that was well over already. Berbatov seems to get a lot of praise for scoring these gratuitous goals and doign these flicks and what not when it is Rooney or someone else doing the Zidane-esque graft and matchwinning foundation for us.
If he scores for us in important matches, then great, I'll be happy as I want him to succeed for us. It's not like I've got it in my head that I want him to fail, course not, it's just that I think so far he hasn't succeeded at all and doesn't look like he will. If he does, I'll be very pleased.
If something, from the beginning of this season, he is showing quite the opposite
We are going in circles
I don't get this whole having a go at Berba for drifting deep thing - as if SAF would persist playing him if he was blatantly ignoring his instructions and just doing what he liked on the pitch.
Which is not to say that any element of blame lies with SAF - we won the game after all. I'm just pointing out that there seems to be an assumption that SAF has told Berba to play as an all action raging frontman leading the line style and Berba has just completely ignored him and done what he wants.
For my money it looked to me on Saturday like Berba's role was that of a link man similar to how he usually plays in a 442 - to receive the ball near the centre circle and get it out to one of the wingers (who would cross it to either the other winger or loose man getting into the box - started with Gibson and then switched to Scholes late on).
Which is not to say that any element of blame lies with SAF - we won the game after all. I'm just pointing out that there seems to be an assumption that SAF has told Berba to play as an all action raging frontman leading the line style and Berba has just completely ignored him and done what he wants.
For my money it looked to me on Saturday like Berba's role was that of a link man similar to how he usually plays in a 442 - to receive the ball near the centre circle and get it out to one of the wingers (who would cross it to either the other winger or loose man getting into the box - started with Gibson and then switched to Scholes late on).
More silly stuff from Rio, who is he kidding, we all know he is just saying it to coddle Berbatov and just because the stats say he covers the most ground doesn't hide the fact that with my own eyes I see he is lazy and not working hard.
The article was FedExed to Berbatov shortly after. Reports say there was a police escort was secured by Malcolm Glazer himself to ensure it got to him safely before the Milan game.
It is weird seeing him run about and making tackles, it's the fact i don't expect it that makes it even more pleasant.
Hope this is the sign of things to come, but with a tad more urgency to get into the box after playing a lovely ball to the wingers rather than stand and admire his handywork.
Hope this is the sign of things to come, but with a tad more urgency to get into the box after playing a lovely ball to the wingers rather than stand and admire his handywork.
But it was frustrating seeing him lead the line, from just 5 yards in front of the center circle. Even valencia and nani were playing further forward than him for most of the game. Ridiculous.
There's a difference between doing it once and being a "big game player".
How many great performances against top teams did Fletcher put in before people wanted him in the starting lineup in the next big match? Loads.
Would be crucial timing for Berbatov to give a glimpse though and pull out 1 big game performance this week. Rather than making him a "big game player" it would at least show that sometimes he can put in a performance when its needed.
Rio's right though. Berbatov did loads of running away from the box. If we can get him moving in the right direction that running could lead to some goals.
I agree on Saturday could have done with making more of an effort on more than a few occasions to get into the box but, that's maybe because we are spoiled by Wayne. Can't think of any other striker int he world that does everything like Wayne.
For Berbatov, he's damned if he doesn't play exactly like Rooney.
If he were to have stayed up top and constantly in and around the box on Saturday, waiting for the perfect delivery and hardly touched the ball otherwise, people would have laid into him for being invisible.
He is heavily involved in all our build up play and you get well he should have stayed in the box and just waited for everyone else to do the work and him to sit and finish off chances.
Wayne is a one off player. Well within our rights to want every player to be like him but, most, even the best in the world don't have his desire/work rate. Berbatov is still a class player, he puts in a lot of work.
Certainly hope for both our sake and his on Wednesday he puts in a good performance. Maybe finally will at least get him some slack from the brigade that keeps harping about him not doing the job in big games. I fancy him in a game like that where it is important the CF can receive the ball, keep it and distribute it out. There should be a lot of space as Milan will be looking to attack, he is the perfect person to receive the ball out at midfield and set off the likes of Valencia, Park, Nani.
For Berbatov, he's damned if he doesn't play exactly like Rooney.
If he were to have stayed up top and constantly in and around the box on Saturday, waiting for the perfect delivery and hardly touched the ball otherwise, people would have laid into him for being invisible.
He is heavily involved in all our build up play and you get well he should have stayed in the box and just waited for everyone else to do the work and him to sit and finish off chances.
Wayne is a one off player. Well within our rights to want every player to be like him but, most, even the best in the world don't have his desire/work rate. Berbatov is still a class player, he puts in a lot of work.
Certainly hope for both our sake and his on Wednesday he puts in a good performance. Maybe finally will at least get him some slack from the brigade that keeps harping about him not doing the job in big games. I fancy him in a game like that where it is important the CF can receive the ball, keep it and distribute it out. There should be a lot of space as Milan will be looking to attack, he is the perfect person to receive the ball out at midfield and set off the likes of Valencia, Park, Nani.
Yes. Nani is our best central striker.
Think about it.
We have other players who can create from deeper such as Scholes on the pitch. Other than Berbatov (chained to the penalty area) we didnt have too many players to get on the end of things and put the ball in the net. To be fair Valencia has got his fair share of goals, but none of them have been headers from a left winger's cross and most of the time it was Valencia out wide and Nani acting central striker, just a few times the other way around. Nani is yet to score this season. It didnt really suit our team on the day.
Then that's an issue for the managers not Berbatov. I just can't see how Berbatov would have gone a whole game playing the way he did if his instructions were to stay in the box.
As I said would have been nice if he had given the Rooney impersonation of making that extra effort to get into the box after he linked up play but, you put Rooney out of your mind and for what he was asked to do on the day, he did well. He was one of his normally exquisite touches away from scoring a goal playing off the shoulder of defenders and everyone would have been purring. That though doesn't take away from the fact that on the day he did everything from coming deep to keeping all the back line occupied and gave a good account of himself.
Just needs to grow from that performance. To me they have been for a while, the work rate is even higher, the desire seems to be there, he wants to score goals and is looking to take shots from outside when he never used to.
Won't ever be Rooney but, he definitely has that bit of class we are often missing in games.
As I said would have been nice if he had given the Rooney impersonation of making that extra effort to get into the box after he linked up play but, you put Rooney out of your mind and for what he was asked to do on the day, he did well. He was one of his normally exquisite touches away from scoring a goal playing off the shoulder of defenders and everyone would have been purring. That though doesn't take away from the fact that on the day he did everything from coming deep to keeping all the back line occupied and gave a good account of himself.
Just needs to grow from that performance. To me they have been for a while, the work rate is even higher, the desire seems to be there, he wants to score goals and is looking to take shots from outside when he never used to.
Won't ever be Rooney but, he definitely has that bit of class we are often missing in games.
Berbatov has pretty much played the same way since he signed for us. Deep, looking to create things for others... A shot on target per match, sometimes a goal.
Who knows what his orders were on the day? There's been no evidence to suggest he's a player who can follow specific tactics and hone his game to whatever the manager needs.
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