Things got worse, Now its time to get better

[MancFanFromManc]

Though I was praying that we'd use Leeds as a springboard to our season...

I did forecast that things often get worse better they get better. Having calmed down, and slept on yesterdays performance a glimmer of optimism is creaping through the gloom....

Good players dont become bad overnight. Granted we've had an awful start to the season; the worst since the Prem began in fact. Granted we've also got to muster on with a full treatment room.

BUT

We've got some tricky fixtures out of the way. Liverpoo and Arse have both had far easier starts to their campaigns.

Although Arse are playing some superb stuff all does not appear well in their camp. Viera wants a rest (bless him) and Henry admits he doesnt know what day of the week it is.

No one is romping away from us so 6 points is hardly a gap worthy of throwing the towel in.

If there's one thing we know about SAF and the squad, its that we are a dangerous animal when wounded.

I predict that we'll struggle through and keep in touch in the Prem, scrape a few wins in the EPL. Then Keane, Scholes etc will return refreshed. Forlan will put his boots on the right feet. Becks and Giggs will remember how to create chances and RVN and Ole will explode into scoring form. All that and a much improved defence and we'll all be flying before long.

 

[Livvie]

That Vieira wanting a rest thing surprised me. Surely he'll be getting one shortly? Was it not a three-match ban?

 

[MancFanFromManc]

 

[bazalini]

Agree with your sentiments. The only hope I have is that players will discover their form sooner rather then later.

 

[reelworld]

I hope so to MFFM.
the problem is, without those key players, the current squad has an enormous task to at least stayed in the championship race.
I hope Butt didn't get any injuries anymore, last Sat just show how important he became to United. Only 3 minutes after he went, and they scored..

 

[dmode]

Need some young blood in here... everyone's injured... Veron... Giggs... Becks... Fabien... are prone injury players...

Why not trying some from our own school... <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

 

[uranushk1]

Originally posted by dmode:
<strong>Need some young blood in here... everyone's injured... Veron... Giggs... Becks... Fabien... are prone injury players...

Why not trying some from our own school... </strong><hr></blockquote>


Becks injury proned? I think his broken toe last season was the first time he got a big injury.

We already got Ricardo to backup Fabien, and whether Veron is injured or not just won't make any difference, so I think the most important part is the LW backup to Giggs. Hope Fortune can recover from his injury very soon.

 

[dmode]

Originally posted by uranushk1:
<strong>Becks injury proned? I think his broken toe last season was the first time he got a big injury.</strong><hr></blockquote>

It still hurts from time to time...

 

[MancFanFromManc]

Originally posted by dmode:
<strong>Why not trying some from our own school... </strong><hr></blockquote>

SAF has expressed his disapointment at the lack of youth players coming through and reacted to that with the shake up of his backroom staff.

That will take a few years to kick in though.

As regards our injuries and lack of cover, no one could have imagined that we'd be struck by so many. We've gone from having the strongest midfield in Europe to having (with all due respect) Phil Neville and Chadwick in there <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" />

 

[MancFanFromManc]

Originally posted by reelworld:
<strong>I hope so to MFFM.
the problem is, without those key players, the current squad has an enormous task to at least stayed in the championship race.
I hope Butt didn't get any injuries anymore, last Sat just show how important he became to United. Only 3 minutes after he went, and they scored..</strong><hr></blockquote>

Scary stuff indeed.

Do you think Veron was really injured? Or was it a case of SAF knowing that he wouldnt be able to cope with being closed down so quickly by Leeds - a very worrying theory of course !

 

[Toffa]

QUOTE!!!!!!!
__________________________________________________
I predict that we'll struggle through and keep in touch in the Prem, scrape a few wins in the EPL. Then Keane, Scholes etc will return refreshed. Forlan will put his boots on the right feet. Becks and Giggs will remember how to create chances and RVN and Ole will explode into scoring form. All that and a much improved defence and we'll all be flying before long.
__________________________________________________

Never has a more true statement been printed
This what i like to believe but there are fewer people agreeing at this moment in time!!!!!!!!!¬

 

[growler]

Originally posted by MancFanFromManc:
<strong>

SAF has expressed his disapointment at the lack of youth players coming through and reacted to that with the shake up of his backroom staff.

That will take a few years to kick in though.

As regards our injuries and lack of cover, no one could have imagined that we'd be struck by so many. We've gone from having the strongest midfield in Europe to having (with all due respect) Phil Neville and Chadwick in there <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

Sorry, when did you have a strong midfield? Giggs, Scholes, Keane and Beckham. That has been your midfield for a few years. Players rarely get rotated, and you have been unbelieveably lucky with injuries. The last time Keane was out you lost the title, which shows how thin your squad really is. you will struggle this season with that squad because the money is not really there, and with the lack of composure when things aren't going your way, and further temper tantrums occur, you may actually pick up bookings and suspensions. Unlucky for you, the fear factor is going,and pretty soon, you will receive bookings and red cards, you won't get dodgy penalties, and won't get away with Elbows

Honestly though, I think you should have sold Giggs earlier when you had the chance. Like Beckham, they are being found out. Because Beckham has no pace, and Giggs has no right peg, it makes it easier. They are quality players, no doubt, but maybe gone a bit stale.

One thing is for sure, the squad you have now, will not be in any danger of competing in the CL final

 

[Livvie]

Originally posted by growler:
<strong>

Unlucky for you, the fear factor is going,and pretty soon, you will receive bookings and red cards, you won't get dodgy penalties, </strong><hr></blockquote>


If we don't get the dodgy ones we won't get any.

We have more good ones turned down than bad ones given.

 

[reelworld]

Originally posted by MancFanFromManc:
<strong>

Scary stuff indeed.

Do you think Veron was really injured? Or was it a case of SAF knowing that he wouldnt be able to cope with being closed down so quickly by Leeds - a very worrying theory of course !</strong><hr></blockquote>

I think it's true, otherwise he would be on the bench. Putting Veron on, not Chadwick when Butt got injured is a better option IMHO, since Chadwick just got back from injury.

 

[thumper]

Dave O'Leary said at the end of the match that it was teh weakest Utd team he had seen finishing a match in a long time and I had to agree with him. One of the threads above said they hope QF will be back soon, WHY? He's hardly going to strengthen us is he.

 

[Ever hopefull]

Originally posted by thumper:
<strong>Dave O'Leary said at the end of the match that it was teh weakest Utd team he had seen finishing a match in a long time and I had to agree with him. One of the threads above said they hope QF will be back soon, WHY? He's hardly going to strengthen us is he. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Atleast with Quinton as another option on the left, we may be able to explore the posibilty of playing giggs through the middle.
It's not the weakest Utd team, its a team playing with the lowest confidence i've seen for a long time. The team almost looks like its waiting for something bad to happen

 

[MancFanFromManc]

Originally posted by growler:
<strong>

Sorry, when did you have a strong midfield? Giggs, Scholes, Keane and Beckham. That has been your midfield for a few years. Players rarely get rotated, and you have been unbelieveably lucky with injuries. The last time Keane was out you lost the title, which shows how thin your squad really is. you will struggle this season with that squad because the money is not really there, and with the lack of composure when things aren't going your way, and further temper tantrums occur, you may actually pick up bookings and suspensions. Unlucky for you, the fear factor is going,and pretty soon, you will receive bookings and red cards, you won't get dodgy penalties, and won't get away with Elbows

Honestly though, I think you should have sold Giggs earlier when you had the chance. Like Beckham, they are being found out. Because Beckham has no pace, and Giggs has no right peg, it makes it easier. They are quality players, no doubt, but maybe gone a bit stale.

One thing is for sure, the squad you have now, will not be in any danger of competing in the CL final</strong><hr></blockquote>

Strength in quality not numbers

 

[mike1116]

Originally posted by growler:
<strong>

Sorry, when did you have a strong midfield? Giggs, Scholes, Keane and Beckham. That has been your midfield for a few years. </strong><hr></blockquote>How is that not strong?

 

[MancFanFromManc]

Originally posted by reelworld:
<strong>

I think it's true, otherwise he would be on the bench. Putting Veron on, not Chadwick when Butt got injured is a better option IMHO, since Chadwick just got back from injury.</strong><hr></blockquote>

True you say...

"Juan Sebastian Veron, who missed Saturday's game because of a slight groin strain, is expected to be fit enough to return"

From tomorrow nights team news. Amazing powers of recovery that!

To have put Veron on the bench SAF would have to admit that he'd dropped Veron. He's too stubborn for that.

 

[Neil Thomson]

Originally posted by MancFanFromManc:
<strong>

True you say...

"Juan Sebastian Veron, who missed Saturday's game because of a slight groin strain, is expected to be fit enough to return"

From tomorrow nights team news. Amazing powers of recovery that!

To have put Veron on the bench SAF would have to admit that he'd dropped Veron. He's too stubborn for that.

</strong><hr></blockquote>
I don't think he'd drop Veron in order to play Phil there somehow.

 

[Dev]

Why do people keep looking to change peoples positions, giggs in the middle/upfront, beckham in the middle, fortune on the left, scholes up front etc etc

Try this one - I think everyone is playing where they should (if gaz is really on his way back)

Barthez
G Neville, Ferdinand, Blanc, Silvestre
Forlan, Beckham, Veron, Giggs
RVN Ole

I think this plays most people where they do best - given our midfield problems. What we need is for someone to add a bit of backbone and drive and that is Neville G.

Rather than keep shuffling the pack....why not get the pack to perform and if they can't drop them, don't shuffle them.
<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

 

[MancFanFromManc]

Originally posted by Neil Thomson:
<strong>
I don't think he'd drop Veron in order to play Phil there somehow.</strong><hr></blockquote>

he would if he thought the pace would be too much for Veron. Like I say scary if its true.

 

[nickm]

I'd like to see:

Barthez
Gary Rio O'Shea Mickey
Becks Keane Scholes Giggs
Forlan
Ruud

And see what happens. Reason is to sod winning Europe this season, go for it in the Premiership and ensure we get CL qualification for next season at the very least. We plan for a big Euro push next season, not this one, because the priority this season is to lay foundations for the future.

It would give us more pace and movement up front and a youthful feel. iI would also restore the greatest midfield we've had in 30 years, the midfield which won us the Treble, and which should never have been messed with. i.e time to be ruthless, bench Veron and keep him for rainy days. Bench Ollie, because we know it's his best position (sorry Ollie).

 

[Neil Thomson]

Originally posted by nickm:
<strong>I'd like to see:

Barthez
Gary Rio O'Shea Mickey
Becks Keane Scholes Giggs
Forlan
Ruud

And see what happens. Reason is to sod winning Europe this season, go for it in the Premiership and ensure we get CL qualification for next season at the very least. We plan for a big Euro push next season, not this one, because the priority this season is to lay foundations for the future.

It would give us more pace and movement up front and a youthful feel. iI would also restore the greatest midfield we've had in 30 years, the midfield which won us the Treble, and which should never have been messed with. i.e time to be ruthless, bench Veron and keep him for rainy days. Bench Ollie, because we know it's his best position (sorry Ollie).</strong><hr></blockquote>
Totally agree, on all points.

 

[Livvie]

Originally posted by nickm:
<strong>
Bench Ollie, because we know it's his best position (sorry Ollie).</strong><hr></blockquote>




A couple of questions.

How on earth did Ole make the Opta Team of the Year last year, when Ruud didn't?

How can scoring 23 goals from the bench be better than scoring 78 from starts. (All goals from open play incidentally).

There are times when Ole should be on the bench, whether for tactical reasons, or due to loss of form.

But these people who says he can't perform when he starts have, imo, paid little attention to detail over the past few years, and too much attention to the result.