Man Utd Thread:

[nifan]

only disappointed liverpool didnt get him as we lack a wee bit of cover in that area, with riise being preferred as winger now.
He isnt the same player he was at man u before injury and i think united have got decent money for him. If evra gets injured the money may not seem so good - whos back up- oshea?

[Deal_Me_In]

only disappointed liverpool didnt get him as we lack a wee bit of cover in that area, with riise being preferred as winger now.
He isnt the same player he was at man u before injury and i think united have got decent money for him. If evra gets injured the money may not seem so good - whos back up- oshea?

Jonny Evans is back up for Evra and looks every bit the cmplete player. Think ha may actually take the position from Evra as the season progresses. No need for Heinze as already cover available.

[nifan]

Evanshas been solid in full back fior us, but its not his best position.
He wont go on the overlap as much as Man U expect of their full backs, and hes mostly right footed.

[MauriceMalpas]

Silvestre or O'Shea. Though I think we'll look to strengthen there again but not before we take care of the Neviller's replacement first.
Surely Evans will never play left back???

[The Real Laoislad]

I hope Henize comes back to haunt "Sir" Alex in the Champions League for Madrid now that would be funny

[Balboa]

I hope Henize comes back to haunt "Sir" Alex in the Champions League for Madrid now that would be funny

Maybe he foreseen the start they would have to the season and didnt want to get involved in a relegation battle......

[new devil]

How you do in the GCSE'S Ballbag

[Balboa]

How you do in the GCSE'S Ballbag

Who are you referring to my learned friend?

[Balboa]

The Times August 24 2007


Rio Ferdinand will be given two games to prove his commitment to England after the team's third defeat under Steve McClaren, the head coach. A lax performance against Germany on Wednesday led to Ferdinand being taken off at half-time and the identity of his positional replacement, 19-year-old Micah Richards, was believed to be a clear indication from McClaren that the Manchester United player can no longer take for granted his place in the starting line-up.

McClaren's options in central defence are limited, with Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate injured and Jamie Carragher out of contention after retiring from international football, yet unless Ferdinand shows improvement in the matches with Israel and Russia next month, he could be relegated to the sidelines by the time of the October qualifiers, including the crucial trip to Russia.

It is not the first time that Ferdinand's focus has come under scrutiny with England. Sven-Göran Eriksson, typically the most benign of managers, dropped him from a World Cup qualifying game with Austria in October 2005, instead picking Sol Campbell.

Ferdinand was restored to the team for the next game, against Poland, and started every international for Eriksson after that, but the point was made.

The England management grew particularly frustrated with Ferdinand's casual air during the first half with Germany, including sloppy attempts to control the ball and a straightforward pass that ballooned out of play. This follows on from average performances for United, starting with the Community Shield match at Wembley, in which he was outmuscled by Florent Malouda for Chelsea's goal.

The frustration that McClaren feels – and which was clearly shared by Eriksson, albeit temporarily – is that Ferdinand is an outstanding natural footballer with the capacity to be one of the most versatile defenders in Europe. Comfortable on the ball, he should be a boon to England at a stage in the qualifying campaign in which composure on the ball is key.

It is felt that perhaps Ferdinand no longer believes he needs to compete for his place in the side after Carragher's retirement. The Liverpool player would have been the only strong contender to start beside John Terry against Germany. Campbell pulled out with an injury, while King and Woodgate have longer-term problems that will also make them unavailable in September, and Steven Taylor, of Newcastle United, lacks experience.

The decision to switch Richards from right back, where he had been enjoying an outstanding game, to centre half after the interval is seen as a deliberate attempt to remind Ferdinand that he cannot take his inclusion for granted. McClaren intends to contact all of his first-team players before they meet up again in ten days' time, and, possibly, the point will be made even more forcefully then.

Gary Neville, the Manchester United right back and club captain, is back in training after injury and, while the next two England games may be too soon for him, it is not unthinkable that he could return in October, with Richards alongside Terry unless Ferdinand improves.

"I want competition for places in every position," McClaren said. "We had a look at one or two things, one or two personnel, and now we know more than we did before. We've got two weeks to reflect on everything. Micah Richards did well to set up our first goal and then adapted to centre half. He's a big asset to the team."

[magpie seanie]

What the f**k?

[Gabriel_Hurl]

good luck with the relegation battle lads

[new devil]

  very good gabriel 

[The Real Laoislad]

   

good luck with the relegation battle lads

very good gabriel 

PLYD       PTS
1 Chelsea      4            10
2 Man City     4             9
3 Wigan        4             7
4 Liverpool    3             7
-------------------------------------
5 Arsenal       3            7
6 Everton       3            6
-------------------------------------
7 Portsmouth  4           5
8 Newcastle    2           4
9 Blackburn     2           4
10 Aston Villa  3           4
11 Birmingham  4         4
12 West Ham   3          4
13 Reading      4          4
14 Sunderland  4         4
15 Tottenham   3         3
16 Middlesbrough 3      3
17 Bolton            4       3
----------------------------------------------------
18 Fulham          4      3
19 Man Utd         3      2
20 Derby            4       1



It is very funny though isn't it
   
   

     

   
   


   
   

[Farrandeelin]

And if we win tomorrow we'll be 8th. Nothing wrong yet.

[Square Ball]

No panic as yet, we are playing great football and some one is gonna get a tankin soon, we have had 54 shots in three matches, just need that wee stroke of luck.