Man Utd Thread:

[Man Marker]

League over already. We don't have the cash and we have as poor a midfield that Utd have had since Fergie walked in the door. Scholes was AWOL on Saturday

[ross4life]

Chelsea have an nice lead at the top but it's still only 7 games in & the league doesn't take shape untill 19 games at least

As for poor midfield.. clearly you don't remember the 04/05 midfield united had

[Farrandeelin]

I have to admire your optimism ross4life. However, the fact that city are ahead of Utd for 2 weeks at least doesn't sit pretty with me.

[Over the Bar]

Hopefully Hargreaves will be back in a few weeks to add some needed mettle to midfield.  By all accounts he's flying in training. 

[scud]

Hopefully Hargreaves will be back in a few weeks to add some needed mettle to midfield.  By all accounts he's flying in training.

[ross4life]

I have to admire your optimism ross4life. However, the fact that city are ahead of Utd for 2 weeks at least doesn't sit pretty with me.

It's an maraton just waiting for the leaders to trip up 

[Boycey]

From todays Manchester Evening News, pretty fair in my book.

What's wrong with United?

Sir Alex Ferguson is on a break in New York amid cynical whispers that his Old Trafford Empire could be in a state.

As the United boss relaxes in the Big Apple while the bulk of his players are on international duty, undoubtedly he will be reflecting on the Reds' start to the campaign.

Inevitably, if United are not setting a searing Premier League pace at the top and scaring Europe to death the knives are sharpened.

It hasn't been a vintage opening by the Reds by any stretch of the imagination.

Eight points lost on their travels in the league, a Champions League home point dropped to Rangers and a
fortunate victory in Spain against Valencia has led to unease among the support after a modest summer of spending.

But the flip side is that United are third in the table and well on their way to the 10-point European group target needed to qualify for the knockouts.

Not bad when you still haven't really got out of second gear.

However, the concern is have United got any more gears to move up into?

A number of short and longer term issues are beginning to occupy fans' forums and pub debates.

Here M.E.N. Sport takes a look at the topics needing attention.

WAYNE ROONEY
After this current international break, England have just one midweek friendly against France next month to interrupt the Reds calendar so the out-of-sorts and injury troubled United striker might finally be able to get his teeth into his on-field mysterious form slide. Since his World Cup disaster and lurid off-field allegations, Rooney has had a stop-start opening to United's campaign.

His latest ankle injury has added to his woes.

But he is set to play for England next week against Montenegro and, all being well, will be fit to face West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford a week on Saturday.

The 24-year-old needs to get off to a flyer against the Baggies to restore his damaged confidence and reputation.

Having failed to score an open goal for United since last March that burden has to be shed as quickly as possible.

Rooney's 34 goals propped United up last season and, despite Dimitar Berbatov coming to the party this term while his sidekick suffers, there is no doubt a pumped up and firing-on-all-cylinders Rooney is vital to the Reds'
season.

OWEN HARGREAVES
Memories of the England midfielder's performance in Moscow against Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final are fading.

The influence Hargreaves had on the Reds' engine room that memorable might in Russia promised much for his Old Trafford career.

It was arguably his finest hour for the Reds.

The recollections maybe dimming but there is no doubt the grit and guile that Hargreaves has in his locker is a much needed commodity in United's engine room.

After two career-saving knee operations in America and months and months of rehab the 29-year-old is now surely facing a make-or-break return.

He came back from another recovery stint in the US that cost him pre-season and is now catching up with his training at Carrington. A comeback has to be on the cards soon and then the answer as to whether
Hargreaves can still be the same inspiration will be answered.

United need to know the answer sooner rather than later because if Sir Alex is no longer able to call on the true pre-tendinitis Hargreaves then a replacement figure of similar experience and stature is a must.

MIDFIELD
Numbers wise, there is every reason to call United's engine room strong in depth.

But depth of quality has become a worrying issue among the support.

A chunk of the department have got some serious convincing to do to prove they can stamp their impact on matches for United in this key area.

Anderson, Ji-sung Park, Michael Carrick and Darron Gibson have some work to do to sway opinion back in their favour.

Anderson has had injury problems to deal with but even before last February's knee ligament injury his early impact on arrival at the club had not been reproduced consistently enough. His progress chart was flat lining.

Park has admitted he hasn't been on his game this season after the World Cup with South Korea.

His energy and workrate is unquestioned but beyond that you have to wonder if there is anything else to beef up his contribution.

Carrick suffered for his efforts in the fatal Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich. His stock appeared to slump in Fergie's eyes at the end of last season.

This term he has struggled with an Achilles heel problem and is only just back in contention. There is no doubt he has ground to make up but the fact Aston Villa are keen suggests the word might be out that he would be available.

Gibson has not had the match time to get his foot in the senior door and United fans want to see more than his trademark howitzers if they are to recognise him as a contender.

If those four do not respond en masse United's midfield could look lightweight and heavily reliant on old stagers Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs plus Darren Fletcher.

GOALKEEPER
If Edwin Van der Sar were 10 years younger and guaranteed an injury-free future then you might as well forget dossiers on potential incoming 'keepers.

But the Dutchman is 40 in a few weeks and there are no assurances how long he can keep going.

Ben Foster came to the conclusion in the summer that he wouldn't dislodge him and couldn't hang around to see if the situation changed and moved to Birmingham City.

Next summer, Tomasz Kuszczak could come to the same conclusion.

It would leave Fergie with a choice of a near 41-year-old and rookie Ben Amos.

Danish keeper Anders Lindegaard of Aalesunds is the latest reportedly getting the closely watched treatment.

There is no doubt the department is going to need revamping in the not-too-distant future.

STRIKERS
Michael Owen quickly went from Bolton sub hero, scoring the equaliser at the Reebok, to unused against Valencia, to ineffective starter against Sunderland.

It appears the 30-year-old will forever be facing that roller-coaster existence for as long as he stays at United.

His contract ends next summer and there has to be a question mark as to whether either party will want to continue with the arrangement.

Federico Macheda is attracting loan interest from Everton and Lazio but in the past Fergie has said he wanted to keep his Italian teenager under his watchful eye rather than let him loose out of his sight.

But Macheda might benefit from a spell away like Danny Welbeck (Sunderland) and Mame Biram Diouf (Blackburn).
That would leave the trio of  Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and the exciting emerging talent of Chicharito.

As good as all the five are capable of on their day it still doesn't have the threat of the Yorke, Cole, Solskjaer and Sheringham attacking combo Ferguson is desperate to recreate.

But it is hard to see where a hitman of United's level of proven quality will turn up from in the January transfer window

[EC Unique]

 

Manchester United has reported an annual pre-tax loss of £79.6m, hit by interest payments and reduced revenues from the sale of players.

The loss for the 12 months to 30 June compares with a profit of £48m for the year before, when revenues were boosted by the £80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The club's interest payments on bank debt for the past year totalled £40m.

Manchester United also saw a fall in match-day turnover, but this was offset by its commercial earnings.

Its overall annual turnover increased to £286.4m.

The club's operating profit also rose, reaching £100.8m, compared with £92m a year earlier.

[Goats Do Shave]

It's hard to believe that the club continues to perform better every year, in terms of Turnover... yet the Glaziers bank payments are bleeding the profits & the club!

Real & Barca will be licking their lips... Can see a cheeky bid for the Roonster at some stage... wait till see the Sunday papers!

[Boycey]

Was gonna post up some figures earlier but I know Ross doesn't like it....... So look away now Ross .

Its frightening that with a turnover of almost £300 mill and operating profits of over £100mill we can still register a loss like this. Still no word on whether the Glazers have started to remove money from the club yet, thats when the shit really hits the fan.

Great owners eh Alex?

[EC Unique]

Was gonna post up some figures earlier but I no Ross doesn't like it....... So look away now Ross .

Its frightening that with a turnover of almost £300 mill and operating profits of over £100mill we can still register a loss like this. Still no word on whether the Glazers have started to remove money from the club yet, thats when the shit really hits the fan.

Great owners eh Alex?

Would make you sick when thinking what could be if there were no interest payments. Sad thing is that there is no end in sight.

[EC Unique]

MUST response to MUFC financial results - more losses
In response to Manchester United's financial results a MUST spokesperson said:

"The financial results today continue to demonstrate the tremendous revenue generated by Manchester United - directly or indirectly through the unparalleled loyal support the club receives. Sadly those supporters are let down by owners who continue to extract millions from our club. Imagine how successful we could be without the millstone that is the Glazers' ownership.



Under a supporter ownership model, or even the debt free plc model prior to the Glazers takeover, this huge revenue stream could largely be reinvested in the Football Club (squad, stadium, ticket prices) rather than being leached out by the Glazers.


The pressure continues to build on them - with greater competition domestically it is going to become increasingly expensive just to maintain a place in the Champions League and the huge debt burden makes the club extremely vulnerable to any dip in revenues such as that which might be triggered by a decline in on the pitch performance. When Sir Alex retires the chances of maintaining anything like the same level of success look remote without massive investment. So the clock is ticking for the Glazers - and for the supporters too. It is time for every Manchester United supporter to join together through the supporters trust and demonstrate their desire to not only see a change in ownership but to participate in it too.


It is only a matter of time before the opportunity for a change of ownership comes and supporters need to be ready. MUST membership has grown to 163,000 but this is the tip of the iceberg and we want to see membership approaching a million (there are 3 million members on the MUFC Facebook group alone) to coincide with supporters opportunity to invest in the club when the Glazers agree to sell."

[Farrandeelin]

Can't understand how Fergiw insists the Glazers are 'doing a good job'.

[Carmen Stateside]

Can't understand how Fergiw insists the Glazers are 'doing a good job'.

Because its not going to be his problem in two years when he has retrired.  Any manager with anything for the club would speak out!

[Boycey]

Can't understand how Fergiw insists the Glazers are 'doing a good job'.

Because its not going to be his problem in two years when he has retrired.  Any manager with anything for the club would speak out!

I don't understand Fergies stand on the Glazers but to suggest he has no regard for United, behave...