Sussed

Neil Thomson

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I get the feeling we're going to see a lot of games where the opposition pack the defense and wait for us to lose concentration. It was the story of last season, and the trick still works this season. Its crap to watch, but it beats us every time. How the feck do you combat it? Alex needs to answer that question quickly, we can't afford another start to the season like the last.
 
Originally posted by fortyseven:
<strong>We could maybe combat it by packing our defence and wait for the opposition to lose concentration....</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'd rather slit my throat.
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Make sure we're not sloppy (hint Giggs and Veron)

Be strong mentally

Play Butt and Keano in the middle - butt to protect the back four, unleash Keano

Take our chances

Leave Phil Neville on the bench
 
I suppose we've said all summer the kinds of things needed - a creative forward, more reliable full backs and competition for Giggs. I hope this gives our attempts to rectify some of these some more impetus. What is of course more worrying is the tactical weaknesses to our system - I just hope Alex and Queiroz think hard about this and find a solution.
 
Perhaps players are making mistakes because the atmosphere inside OT is no longer geared to help the players express themselves, i.e. enjoy their footie. Perhaps it's too intense, players are feeling too much pressure and as a result they lose focus.

Keano seems part of this. I do wonder sometimes whether Keane inhibits some of the squad, in the same way Eric inhibited Andy Cole? Yelling at everyone is not a wise management style. Making criticisms public is unwise.

The trouble is Keano appears increasingly untouchable and I am not sure this is a good for squad morale.
 
Originally posted by nickm:
<strong>Perhaps players are making mistakes because the atmosphere inside OT is no longer geared to help the players express themselves, i.e. enjoy their footie. Perhaps it's too intense, players are feeling too much pressure and as a result they lose focus.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

I agree, OT was far too intense today that's why we lost.
<img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" />
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Originally posted by CremboMan:
<strong>

I agree, OT was far too intense today that's why we lost.
<img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Crembo, he has a point mate. Last season it was often the case that the longer the game went without a goal the more and more edgy we got, and worse we played. But if a goal goes in, suddenly we play fantastic football and go on to hammer them. I think nerves and pressure play a big part in this. Its a bit like what Sven was trying to change about England, trying to stop them choking with the pressure and stay calm.
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Originally posted by Neil Thomson:
<strong>
Crembo, he has a point mate. Last season it was often the case that the longer the game went without a goal the more and more edgy we got, and worse we played. But if a goal goes in, suddenly we play fantastic football and go on to hammer them. I think nerves and pressure play a big part in this. Its a bit like what Sven was trying to change about England, trying to stop them choking with the pressure and stay calm.</strong><hr></blockquote>

First of all I was referring to the fact we weren't playing at OT today...
2nd, you might have had a point if we were talking about a bunch of 20-22 year old players who play for the first time in the CL, but were not.
Most of them have won the CL themselves.

I can't put my finger on the exact reason of our performance today, but we looked very rusty and un-interested in most parts.
I think we were playing for 0-0, and got punished for that.
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Wake up yourself slick,Duffs magic would be invaluable in ze combat of zeez stubborn DEFENCES!!Its only an opinion..slugger ;)
 
Originally posted by Neil Thomson:
<strong>I get the feeling we're going to see a lot of games where the opposition pack the defense and wait for us to lose concentration. It was the story of last season, and the trick still works this season. Its crap to watch, but it beats us every time. How the feck do you combat it? Alex needs to answer that question quickly, we can't afford another start to the season like the last.</strong><hr></blockquote>

people said that all we needed was a defender.. but i've felt we needed a forward with a trick ala ronaldo...( i know, easy to say).. we always struggle against teams that pack the defence...
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Originally posted by Neil Thomson:
<strong>I suppose we've said all summer the kinds of things needed - a creative forward, more reliable full backs and competition for Giggs. I hope this gives our attempts to rectify some of these some more impetus. What is of course more worrying is the tactical weaknesses to our system - I just hope Alex and Queiroz think hard about this and find a solution.</strong><hr></blockquote>

We won't be able to get so many players. But at least a creative and quck forward is a MUST. Besides that, Fergie should kick some players out of their comfort zone. We all see how Scholes responded after he knew that he is going to lose his place. If I'm fergie I will drop Veron and Giggs from the starting lineup immediately for at least one month. It is a painful decision but I can't think of any better mean to ignite their fighting spirit again.
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Originally posted by CremboMan:
<strong>

First of all I was referring to the fact we weren't playing at OT today...
2nd, you might have had a point if we were talking about a bunch of 20-22 year old players who play for the first time in the CL, but were not.
Most of them have won the CL themselves.

I can't put my finger on the exact reason of our performance today, but we looked very rusty and un-interested in most parts.
I think we were playing for 0-0, and got punished for that.</strong><hr></blockquote>
SAF said: "I felt at times last year that some of the team were not enjoying life when things were going wrong, and that’s a self-defeating emotion. A team that does not enjoy playing is not going to succeed.

“Playing football, even at the very highest level, should always be a joy, and that’s the spirit I want to see bubbling at Old Trafford alongside all those other qualities like skill, determination, passion and hunger that make up a winning team.”
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Duff is great and all that but surely to goodness the answer to us being sussed was tackled last year when we splashed 28.1 million to stop us being sussed. One word.......

Veron
 
Originally posted by Davo:
<strong>


To replace OGS in your first choice 11?</strong><hr></blockquote>


Yes, what's the problem? Because our team has high standard and expectation, even a player as good as OGS can be replaced. Because you think Heskey is a great player, so may be OGS is the best thing since slice bread in your eyes?
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