Man Utd Thread:

[nrico2006]

I don't know how Giggs isn't up to this level when he has been the star man in his last 3 Champions League games for United.  At the end of the day, everybody is going to make Barcelona favourites for this game, but what I don't understand is the constant snipes that United aren't up to the task etc, that they are going to be taught a lesson.  If United can't do it, then why the hell does any other team in Spain or Europe even bother turning up to play Barcelona because United are one of the top two sides in Europe.  Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Hercules and Arsenal have all beaten Barcelona this season, so why is there such strong views that United won't?  United are better than all these sides, and with United strongest defence in place they are very hard to score against.  The midfield line-up for United will be key, if Fletcher gets fit for the final he could be vital as he is the man that could disrupt the Barcelona midfield and he was a big loss in 2009.  In saying that, he was in great form back then and this season he has been nowhere near that.  The 2009 final flagged up that United needed to invest in their midfield area, and no matter what happens in the final I hope Fergie really brings in a few top notch midfield players come the summer.

[NAG1]

Who would have said at the start of the season that United would be contesting the champions league final, not very many thats for sure!

[Dave]

This thread has totally gone to hell altogether.

You are quite capable of posting the odd bit of shite now and again in fairness.

[magpie seanie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh6vgkgQ2Ww&feature=related

Here's a 3 minute highlight reel from that final . . . Bayern scored a perfectly good free kick, hit the crossbar and the post and forced 2 saves from Schmeichel. . . United bundled in 2 corners!

The best team lost that day but that can happen in soccer more than any other sport. Fair play to United also as they managed somehow by the grace of god to pull that comeback off. There is no way that I am convinced they deserve to win it though.

Likewise for the final. Barcelona could play them off the park and hit every post  and force 10 saves off VDS while United might score a deflected corner and win . . . there is no scenario in which this United team will convince me they are better than Barcelona!

Don't need to click the link or been told what happened as i watched it live like millions across the world, must remember United had a make shift midfield for that final.

My point is it's about the whole CL campaign & not just the final.

Quite correct. In the 1998/99 Champions League United set a goalscoring record for the group stages that has yet to be matched in a group containing Bayern and Barcelona. They were undefeated throughout the competition. Yes in the final they were outplayed, largely due to being missing half of their midfield, but as they had done since the previous December they found a way to get the job done. United deserved to win that competition.

[NAG1]

Still would agree with the team needing huge investment over the next couple of transfers windows, but there is a good piece on the Glazers on the BBC Sport website, interesting reading.

[screenexile]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh6vgkgQ2Ww&feature=related

Here's a 3 minute highlight reel from that final . . . Bayern scored a perfectly good free kick, hit the crossbar and the post and forced 2 saves from Schmeichel. . . United bundled in 2 corners!

The best team lost that day but that can happen in soccer more than any other sport. Fair play to United also as they managed somehow by the grace of god to pull that comeback off. There is no way that I am convinced they deserve to win it though.

Likewise for the final. Barcelona could play them off the park and hit every post  and force 10 saves off VDS while United might score a deflected corner and win . . . there is no scenario in which this United team will convince me they are better than Barcelona!

Don't need to click the link or been told what happened as i watched it live like millions across the world, must remember United had a make shift midfield for that final.

My point is it's about the whole CL campaign & not just the final.

Quite correct. In the 1998/99 Champions League United set a goalscoring record for the group stages that has yet to be matched in a group containing Bayern and Barcelona. They were undefeated throughout the competition. Yes in the final they were outplayed, largely due to being missing half of their midfield, but as they had done since the previous December they found a way to get the job done. United deserved to win that competition.

Nah!

[Bingo]

Get in lads before all the seats are gone, bargain   

http://www.abbeytravel.ie/special_offers.php?offer_id=677

[snoopdog]

Get in lads before all the seats are gone, bargain   

http://www.abbeytravel.ie/special_offers.php?offer_id=677

What a ripp off 2400 euro???
thieving b*stards.
Anyone aware yet of a United only pub in Dublin for the final.
I know there was one for 08 & 09 but i was in moscow and Rome for those

[brokencrossbar1]

As much as it pains me to say it I reckon United will win the Final.  Man for man they are not as talented as Barca, style of play they are worlds apart.  United do not have the match winners that Barca have.  The thing is though in a one off game I reckon Whiskey nose will know how to set up his team to stop Barca winning clean possession in MF.  It will not be pretty but there will be an organisation about United that will disrupt the flow of the Spaniards and I reckon VDS will have the game of his life.  Fergie will retire a happy man if he wins this game and the EPL and let someone else do the rebuilding job that he is doing with United.  I hope not but...

[EC Unique]

As much as it pains me to say it I reckon United will win the Final.  Man for man they are not as talented as Barca, style of play they are worlds apart.  United do not have the match winners that Barca have.  The thing is though in a one off game I reckon Whiskey nose will know how to set up his team to stop Barca winning clean possession in MF.  It will not be pretty but there will be an organisation about United that will disrupt the flow of the Spaniards and I reckon VDS will have the game of his life.  Fergie will retire a happy man if he wins this game and the EPL and let someone else do the rebuilding job that he is doing with United.  I hope not but...

Ferige was ripping after defeat in the last final. Not so much because they lost but because some of the players (Ronaldo) did not stick to the plan. I don't think there are any players now who will put themselves before the team plan so I think they have a good enough chance. I agree with what you say that Utd do not have the same talent and I think disciplined organisation and workrate could win for Utd.

[GalwayBayBoy]

As much as it pains me to say it I reckon United will win the Final.  Man for man they are not as talented as Barca, style of play they are worlds apart.  United do not have the match winners that Barca have.  The thing is though in a one off game I reckon Whiskey nose will know how to set up his team to stop Barca winning clean possession in MF.  It will not be pretty but there will be an organisation about United that will disrupt the flow of the Spaniards and I reckon VDS will have the game of his life.  Fergie will retire a happy man if he wins this game and the EPL and let someone else do the rebuilding job that he is doing with United.  I hope not but...

Everyone has a chance in a one off game. If it was over two legs United wouldn't have a hope in hell IMO but over 90 minutes all it takes is one lucky goal and some desperate defending and anyone could beat Barcelona. That said I think they will struggle badly to get hold of the ball. Luckily for United the Wembley pitch is usually not great and may not be conducive to how Barcelona like to play.

[Bingo]

If a few weeks into the season someone told me United had a 3 point lead with 3 games to go and were in a CL final, I'd have laughed and asked them for odds....I'd have lost badly. With Fergie at the helm and individual players like Rooney, Giggs, VDS, Vidic, Rio they have the big game players who can produce displays to match Barca. By no means can they go toe to toe as such but they are more than capable of producing a winning display in a one off game.

Thankfully I'll be in a big field in Slane and will avoid it, as I have a feeling United will produce something as they regularly do.

[brokencrossbar1]

If a few weeks into the season someone told me United had a 3 point lead with 3 games to go and were in a CL final, I'd have laughed and asked them for odds....I'd have lost badly. With Fergie at the helm and individual players like Rooney, Giggs, VDS, Vidic, Rio they have the big game players who can produce displays to match Barca. By no means can they go toe to toe as such but they are more than capable of producing a winning display in a one off game.

Thankfully I'll be in a big field in Slane and will avoid it, as I have a feeling United will produce something as they regularly do.

Thankfully the Ulster Council have not changed the Armagh Down game!

[Minder]

As much as it pains me to say it I reckon United will win the Final.  Man for man they are not as talented as Barca, style of play they are worlds apart.  United do not have the match winners that Barca have.  The thing is though in a one off game I reckon Whiskey nose will know how to set up his team to stop Barca winning clean possession in MF.  It will not be pretty but there will be an organisation about United that will disrupt the flow of the Spaniards and I reckon VDS will have the game of his life.  Fergie will retire a happy man if he wins this game and the EPL and let someone else do the rebuilding job that he is doing with United.  I hope not but...

Ferige was ripping after defeat in the last final. Not so much because they lost but because some of the players (Ronaldo) did not stick to the plan. I don't think there are any players now who will put themselves before the team plan so I think they have a good enough chance. I agree with what you say that Utd do not have the same talent and I think disciplined organisation and workrate could win for Utd.

I would have thought the entire team "did not stick to the plan", ie get the ball and stick it in the net. I suppose it is easier to blame the, now departed, greasy foreigner. I wonder is Wazza hoking out his magic set to do his third, world famous Champions League Final disappearing act !

[snoopdog]

If a few weeks into the season someone told me United had a 3 point lead with 3 games to go and were in a CL final, I'd have laughed and asked them for odds....I'd have lost badly. With Fergie at the helm and individual players like Rooney, Giggs, VDS, Vidic, Rio they have the big game players who can produce displays to match Barca. By no means can they go toe to toe as such but they are more than capable of producing a winning display in a one off game.

Thankfully I'll be in a big field in Slane and will avoid it, as I have a feeling United will produce something as they regularly do.

Thankfully the Ulster Council have not changed the Armagh Down game!

not YET anyway.
Its inevitable.