Comments on: In The Red Corner: United Fail First Real Test

By: goonerd

goonerd — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 19:59:13 +0000

Fair comment Harry – or should I say Harold – no – make that Tarquin.

A key point for us is can the Big A keep up that level of commitment and energy. If he can, then “one on me head, son” becomes an option we must employ to beat the massed ranks of Northerners.

By: Harry Barracuda

Harry Barracuda — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 06:16:35 +0000

Since Red Nose was the man who pioneered the concept of kicking Arsenal out of their stride, it’s ironic that he put out a team to try and outplay them. That was the mistake.

Not that I’m complaining, but it was actually quite nice to see a football match at Old Trafford instead of a wrestling and kicking contest.

Next week Arsenal have Sheff Utd., so we’ll be back to trying to thread camels through the eyes of needles against an 11 man defence.

At least it’s kick-started our season, and as for Man U, it’s still only September for heaven’s sake, no-one wants to peak too early!

Cheer,s
Harry

By: Oh Dennis

Oh Dennis — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 03:01:44 +0000

rupert..
for someone with the 2nd poshest name in the world, should you really be using the marginally posher ‘tarquin’ as an insult?
Resorting to paranoid ramblings about our ‘friends in the print media’ and the whole ABU idea is pathetic. I think i’ve read every word written about the game and yes, the majority of it is gushing about us.. but because we played really well and earnt it.
I don’t know where you get the idea that we are treated any better by the media than you are. I can list just as many examples of, what i think is, media injustice towards us, bias towards you and just as many times when i think you lot have acted shamefully. And of course I hate seeing any of our players diving or talking shit..
But what annoys me most is self righteous, blinkered hypocrites trying to take the moral high ground…
I don’t think there is a moral high ground to be taken in football anymore…

By: Spliff

Spliff — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 02:52:47 +0000

I think a certain guy called GunnerPete is not used to success,hence a single dose would expose his level of stupidity.Everyone who watched the game saw it was a classic end-to-end stuff with nothing to chose from both sides.He simply confuses himself with a stupid statement.Hear him: “Manure like to dominate with attacking football, like us, and thats why we won so easily”.If MAnUnited are manure and play attacking football like arsenal,what then is arsenal? Trash? Don’t get too excited,United have set a standard,and Arsenal will always want to be us at all times.Start thinking of life after Henry coz it’s not too far.

About all the crab concerning Rooney,may be you were BLIND when United came to highbury and played out a 2-2 draw in 2003.Do you remember Henry’s goal?

Can dirty play really fetch a win against Inter,Juve,and Bayern on the road to European cup victory in 1999? And why did Toure threaten Lehman’s position with such goal saving heroics at olf trafford last season (may be that does not sound dirty)? Or the indicipline the gunners showed at old trafford in the 2003/2004 season? GunnerPete (or Shit),learn to sit back and edit your comments before posting them coz you’re such a disgrace.

And for the rest of the REASONABLE gunners,that was a brilliant display,i hope you keep it up.Incosistency is what cost you your team last season.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 23:17:17 +0000

I agree with you that Ronaldo is often a bit selfish, but on his day he can make the knees of a whole back four wobble, and for that alone he deserves his place in the side. I still can’t fully agree that we looked like the away side, but what I did see is what they call ‘unforced errors’ in tennis. Maybe a bit more composure amongst established players was necessary. Also, the fact that the defence was suddenly not playing with their customary keeper I think caused some confusion, although Kuszczack aquitted himself admirably on his debut. The communication in defence was lacking. Toward the end of the second half we started to tire as well.
On where I think we’ll finish this season, with a bit of luck (always necessary), and with a fraction less injuries than we’ve had the past few seasons (always welcome), and with some choice signings in January (always a gamble), I believe we may just edge Chelsea to the top.
I was as gutted as everyone that we didn’t complete another signing in the summer. But I also agree that we shouldn’t let ourselves be held to ransom. But things are looking exciting again, and it’s only September! There’s talk of Pirlo, Torres and, of course, Hargreaves. Unfortunate about his leg break, but I think he’ll be up and running again when the transfer window comes, and up to that point hopefully Bayern will have abandoned their in my opinion childish stance.
But of one thing I’m absolutely sure, it’s going to be nailbiting stuff until the end, as it always is with ManU!

By: David Fox

David Fox — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 22:45:45 +0000

Again, I do understand what you’re saying. Ronaldo does deserve praise for his performance, but for ?12m-odd player, he doesn’t seem to make great decisions (shooting when he should pass and sometimes vice versa) which I think is a fair criticism, though I understand he’s still young and is bound to improve in that area eventually. I think my problem with the game was not that Arsenal were different class, but the fact they did still look beatable, but we never looked like doing it. There were a few forays into opposition terrority but there was never really any concerted pressure. We were at home but often looked like the away side, a team with one man up front looked far more dangerous than we did.

I still stick behind the side and we won’t play like this every week, but there are problems with the side that Fergie needs to address. Of course he supports his players in public, but I hope he has a quiet word in the ears of the likes of Fletcher and tells them to raise their game.

You’re right, there is no shame in losing to Arsenal, but we need to beat – or at least draw with – the “big four” sides to challenge for the title. Out of interest, Alex, where do you think we’ll finish this year?

By: Red Rupert

Red Rupert — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 22:44:59 +0000

Dunnit make you laugh when these Tarquins come on here calling other clubs dirty. Their record under Wenger (and Graham for that matter) has been the worst of any English club, ever. Still, I suppose their mates in the print media print it often enough that anybody who beats them at their own game is dirty, that some actually believe it, whilst their appalling record of red cards and general display of (pizzagate, Ruud’s missed pen aftermath) barely gets a mention and Mr Dein’s fat arsed mates in blazers give them their usual slap on the wrist. The most contemptable club in the game, yes, including Chelsea. At least they’re not hypocritical with it.
As for the game, well, it started off with Mr Poll giving them the usual leg-up with their customary penalty. They’ve had at least three on the trot to my knowledge and we’ve again, (as with their red cards) become so accustomed to this, it hardly rates a mention. They demonstrated they can actually win a game with half their team (Ornreeeee) missing but it could’ve gone either way. Our midfield is seriously inadequate and our best player is taken off whilst the Love Child and O’Pie stay on. You’d think we could cope adequately at full strength, but the squad is worryingly thin and some of Ferguson’s selections are baffling to say the least.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 22:24:57 +0000

Mr Fox, I support you 100% in saying that criticising the team does not mean one doesn’t support them. But I just can’t say that the performance of the team as a whole deserved the sort of comments they have been getting. Mind you, I’m not saying that the above article is anywhere near the worst that I’ve seen. Of course, if you lose a game, especially for a club like ManU, something has gone wrong somewhere along the line (Neglecting those few rare games where the opponent truly plays as if in a class above you – which I don’t think they were in this game). I take your point that O’Shea and Fletcher had a poor one, and I’m quite sure that they know it, as Sir Alex and his hairdryer will have let them know. But there were also positives, like the fighting spirit of Scholes, and the movement of Saha, and the willingness of Ronaldo to take a man on (which I personally always delight in). Incidentally, I did notice the few words of praise you had for Ronaldo, but the end of the paragraph where you voiced your doubts on his progress at the club all but negated them. But, in saying that, I can’t say that you’re necessarily wrong in your assessment of his continuing footballing education. However, it brings me directly to what I’ve been trying to say all along. It’s like encouraging a friend to do well in something and ridiculing him if he just doesn’t get it right, instead of picking him up and telling him to try again. Although I must say that your article is based on common sense, I read in another less restrained piece of ‘journalism’ that Sir Alex ‘must be senile’ because of his selection and substitutions, with said gentleman conveniently forgetting that Sir Alex is a main reason behind him even being able to complain about losing to Arsenal. It’s no disgrace to lose to a team like Arsenal, although the home loss does sting a bit. But let’s face it, OT is not the fortress it used to be, not for many years. But I digress. While it is fair to criticise the team on valid points, it is also necessary to stand behind them when a lot of half-wits and glory-hunters decide to dig in once a result doesn’t go the way that everyone had envisaged.
As for footballers being entertainers, I admit that they get obscene amounts of money for doing what any football-lover would give his left testicle for. However, football is a team sport and the talent of the players is worth nothing without the foundation of a solid club that gives an otherwise unconnected group of men a collective identity and a common sense of purpose. As your namesake would and has said, Keano, he doesn’t mind their lack of talent as much as their lack of commitment, expecting 100%, and that is what is important, regardless of what they get paid.

By: goonerd

goonerd — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 20:30:45 +0000

IMHO an honest blog by someone who knows about the game. I’ve hated some of Man U’s tactics in the past and you could see on the telly that Keane was bemused to say the least. But basically Arsenal won because United came out to play football, it was a cracking game, and because your midfield is not of your past quality. I wanted us to get Hargreaves but thought you would land him. You need him and someone more creative at the very top level – am surprised you didn’t achieve this before the window shut. Is this the Glazer effect ? Carrick is a good player but the players around him have to be the perfect blend to get the best out of him. O’Shea and Fletcher are, by your standards, second rate midfielders.

By: Keano

Keano — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 19:48:36 +0000

Well what do you expect Alex, a passionate supporter doesn’t sit still or quiet for long in the ground, so why expect an internet blog to be any different. Well done Mr Fox, a well written straight talking FAN of man U and football. Footballers aren’t gods you know Alex, they are paid entertainers and as customers we get to heckle. Grow up with the game matey!