Man Utd Thread:

[Minder]

Now that the Utd summer signings have had a chance to settle is it too early to say if they are any closer to matching Barcelona?

[gawa316]

Now that the Utd summer signings have had a chance to settle is it too early to say if they are any closer to matching Barcelona?

Just wait til Cleverly is back to full fitness and then a comparison can be made

[gawa316]

This win for Basel is all the more stunning due to them being managed by a welsh bloke who lives in a carvan

[nrico2006]

Didn't deserve to go through, and I hope that this result kick starts the change in personnel that every Tom, Dick and Harry realises United need.  How long has it been obvious that United need 2 midfielders yet nobody has been bought.  We are really lacking in that area, missing that tenacity that the like of Keane possessed yet could have gotten it short term in Scott Parker.  As for playmaker, it says it all when a winger who never hit a pass in his life until he was about 35 is the main go to man for unlocking defences.

[AQMP]

Crisis at Chelsea...obviously

[gallsman]

In fairness there aren't to many players available in that role Ross ...and EC yes Carrick has been playing well going by his standards...but still not good enough..midfield has been horrible any time cleverly has been missing(yes hustle bustle of the premiership Bla Bla Bla) I hear people talking about not buying a midfielder in January because he would be cup tied for the champions league but even if we are still in the champions league I don't think we have any chance of winning it..I would rather get knocked out now than to play and lose to Barca in the final

Another gem of yours.you really do line them up.
This lad will be the saviour of the man utd season whenever we get to see him

Him and Fletcher. Fletcher missed the two CL finals. Otherwise he'd have stifled Xavi's and Iniesta's midfield passing game with his hard work whilst simultaneous providing foil for Carrick to threa delightful passes through to Rooney and Hernandez. Barca were lucky

[EC Unique]

Good craic seeing all the Liverpool fans slagging about Utd not progressing in the CL when they can't even get a place in the Europa. Looks like they won't this season either. Bin dippers

[Up The Middle]

Good craic seeing all the Liverpool fans slagging about Utd not progressing in the CL when they can't even get a place in the Europa. Looks like they won't this season either. Bin dippers

Its called pay back you mouth

[EC Unique]

Good craic seeing all the Liverpool fans slagging about Utd not progressing in the CL when they can't even get a place in the Europa. Looks like they won't this season either. Bin dippers

Its called pay back you mouth

Pay back   You fool, you really are a fool.

[brokencrossbar1]

Good craic seeing all the Liverpool fans slagging about Utd not progressing in the CL when they can't even get a place in the Europa. Looks like they won't this season either. Bin dippers

Its called pay back you mouth

Pay back   You fool, you really are a fool.

It is fun though and you have to accept that if the shoe was on the other foot you would be at the same!

[Bingo]

Lads, I know you's aren't in a happy place but we've been there, it not all bad (its wrose). Here is what you's can look forward to:

What comes next

The draw for the last 32 of the Europa League will take place a week on Friday, in Maintenance Supply Room 8B of Uefa headquarters at Nyon in Switzerland.

As two of the four best third-placed teams, United and City will both be seeded for the draw, and so will be paired with one of the 12 Europa League group stage runners-up or one of the four worst third-placed Champions League teams. The earliest United and City, or indeed any two of the English clubs, could meet each other is the quarter-finals.

Potential pitfalls

The likes of Porto, Ajax, Udinese, Lazio and Paris St Germain lurk menacingly in the draw for the next round. Further on, Schalke, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, PSV Eindhoven and Birmingham City are among the teams to avoid. United might fancy their chances of waltzing past most of those teams. Then again, they fancied their chances of waltzing past Basle as well.

Away days

Good news for Wayne Rooney: United could draw FC Metalist Kharkiv, assuring him at least one chance to get his boots muddy in Ukraine no matter what happens with his appeal in Nyon.

Depending on how things pan out in the final round of group games, one of the Manchester giants could be enjoying the trip of a lifetime to Romania's FC Vauli, Russia's Rubin Kazan, Israeli playboys Maccabi Haifa or even, most glamorous of all, a chance to experience European football nights at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium.

Opportunities

Some perceive the Europa League as a climb-down, but where some see a problem, Manchester United see an opportunity. Already the club shop are preparing a "2011 Europa League Qualifiers" duvet and pillowcase set; while Manchester City's owners are thought to be investigating the possibility of buying up every player from the 31 teams left in the competition just to be on the safe side.

Legacy

There's also the chance for both Manchester coaches to achieve the managerial holy grail: emulating Steve McClaren's glorious, free-scoring Middlesbrough side of 2005-06. And both teams are now flying the flag to prove, once and for all, that the Premier League really is the second best in the world.

Wider implications

As Basle's second went in, and Napoli sealed the deal against Villarreal, the sound of champagne (well, Asti Spumanti) corks popping in the Channel Five studios could be heard nationwide, or at least in parts of the country where Channel Five is available. It was also good news for the Europa League's committed but arguably second-tier sponsors: Sega Dreamcast, Hoffmeister, Skoda and the Yugoslavian Milk Marketing Board (now defunct).

Tips for fans

Change all your Sky+ 'series links' from Tuesday and Wednesday nights on Sky Sports to Thursday nights on ITV4. You've probably never watched Channel Five in your life, so make sure your home can receive it. Colin and Justin can come and sort you out if there are any problems. ESPN also show a few games.

Replica shirt owners, go into the club shop first thing on Monday morning and get yourself some iron-on Europa League sleeve patches. It shows you care. If doing all that doesn't take your mind off the disappointment, then you can console yourself with the knowledge that you'll now be free on Saturdays for the rest of the season.

Tips for players

Gloves are a must for those freezing February away games at FC Spartak Dynamo. Make sure you acquaint yourself with the new rules. Most Europa League games are played with coats for goalposts and no crossbar, so if you're playing against a short goalkeeper, make sure to lower your shots accordingly.

Perceptions will be crucial. Tiredness will suddenly become a valid excuse for poor performance, so make sure you look extra knackered when getting off the plane at Manchester Airport on a Friday morning.

Tips for managers

This is the ideal competition for giving keen young fringe players a go. So expect the likes of Wayne Bridge, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov to- oh. And for Sir Alex – it's not too late to install Steve Bruce as the manager of your second-round opponents to give yourself a slightly easier passage.

[EC Unique]

I hope Utd field Carling cup teams and get fcuked out of Europa as soon as possible.

[maxpower]

so do I, getting put out may not be thw worse thing that can happen United, results after European games tend to be difficult and if City had went out and United through then it could have given a distinct advantage to an already better equipped squad in the EPL.

United never had the quality this year to win the trophy having overachieved in it last year.  This together with the 1-6 might just convince for the need for a quality centre mid

[Doogie Browser]

I hope Utd field Carling cup teams and get fcuked out of Europa as soon as possible.

Same side as last night should do the trick 

[seafoid]

Switzerland has gone nuts.

"11 white superstars slouch off the field like dogs who have been hit"
http://www.blick.ch/sport/fussball/championsleague/manu-unter-schock-189109

Bye, bye Rooney! Bye, bye ManU!!!
http://www.blick.ch/sport/fussball/championsleague/manu-out-basler-liegen-sich-in-den-armen-189072