Manchester United Football Club

Oh yeah, and we were missing RAFA MARQUEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marquez or not, if Robben had played it could have been twice as many

Barcelona are in a league which in my opinion is going through a slight transition phase at the minute, similar to the one Seria A went through not so long ago. Barca are run away leaders but are only half a team, and the second place team love nothing more that blowing themselves up. Hence no spaniards in the QF!!!

yeah, id agree with that. I watch a lot of Spanish football (almost as much as Italian ) and all Sky ever show are Barca and Real because no-one in the chasing pack are capable of providing a real title challenge. With Real being such a flawed squad the title has been Barca's to lose since the start of the season.

They need that competition domestically to keep players focused, it was beginning to happen in England too as Utd and Arsenal were stagnating slightly while they rebuild, with Chelsea to catch it should give both teams a big wake up and help them in Europe.

Originally Posted by rae

SO you Kenny still think that Barca is superior over Milan?

PSHHH of COURSE not! This is what I'm trying to point out, that I rooted for Barcelona though all along I've been keeping in mind that Milan IS the best team in Europe. Actually when Barca played Chelsea I beleived they were dead even. Trust me, Marquez's abscence had to do A LOT with their loss, but even if he WERE there, I wouldn't have been particularly surprised if Chelsea won.

What I'm saying is that, well first of all Inter DEFINITELY isn't the toughest team to get through, as this guy insinuated

If (i dont want to tempt fate by saying when ) Milan beat Inter then they should go on and win the tournament.

There's Chelsea, there's Lyon, there's Juve.... Do you realize what you said??? Milan certainly is the best team IMO, but it doesn't mean you can assume they are going to win. Juve can be JUST as tough as Inter, if not tougher. Just because Inter brings the Derbissimo to the CL doesn't mean that it will be the toughest game, though you are correct, it WILL be tough.

I think that if Milan get past Inter then it should open up.

The semi's will most likely be against Lyon who are a decent side but they havent had much of a test this year. Bremen (hardly one of the Elite) gave up after the first leg and although Lyon topped their group they only actually took 1 point from 6 against Utd. If Milan simply repeated Utds results they would go through comfortably.

The final is likely to be Juve or Chelsea. Juve are very solid but they are certainly beatable i wouldnt expect a shootout to decide it this time as for Chelsea (the more probable finalists imo) they would be extremely tough to beat but i think Milans style of play will be more effective against Chelsea than Chelsea's against Milan.

The Scousers! what about them? You're forgetting them!

Ferguson backs Keane for hot-seat

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/4375339.stm

***

http://www.man-utd.dk/die.mpg

The Scousers! what about them? You're forgetting them!

Simple Maths takes them out: Juve have 11 players (sometime even 12 ) and Liverpool have 1. Gerrard is going to have to man-mark Zlatan, run the midfield and score the goals as all their strikers are injured

Ferguson backs Keane for hot-seat

Not sure i want Keane or Quieroz to manage straight after Fergie. It would be better to get a manager who has proven himself at the highest level.

Utd are a business as well as a football club and the Plc will demand someone who has proven themselves capable get the job, a company wouldnt put a secretary in charge of the whole business just because she makes a good cup of tea

England to win 4 - 0 on Saturday, goals from Terry, Lampard, Rooney and Beckham

Originally Posted by Stezagud

Not sure i want Keane or Quieroz to manage straight after Fergie. It would be better to get a manager who has proven himself at the highest level.

Utd are a business as well as a football club and the Plc will demand someone who has proven themselves capable get the job, a company wouldnt put a secretary in charge of the whole business just because she makes a good cup of tea

Basically I do not like Fergie to go too. Especially now. Although about new coach we should think a bit cuz Fergie is 63...

Nevertheless for now I have no right options in the Fergie's vacancy...

England to win three to nil goals by Roon, Cole and Roon.

Originally Posted by Stezagud

Simple Maths takes them out: Juve have 11 players (sometime even 12 ) and Liverpool have 1. Gerrard is going to have to man-mark Zlatan, run the midfield and score the goals as all their strikers are injured

Gerrard's god complex has been proving to be a bit of a problem for them nowadays though. The Spaniards visibly don't enjoy it very much when he is trying to play all positions at once. They've actually played better without him recently.

Originally Posted by stezagud

Not sure i want Keane or Quieroz to manage straight after Fergie. It would be better to get a manager who has proven himself at the highest level.

Originally Posted by rae

Basically I do not like Fergie to go too. Especially now. Although about new coach we should think a bit cuz Fergie is 63...

Keane (though, in theory, has the proper attributes, does not have any experience). And Queiroz doesn't look like he can launch himself into a rage like Fergie can (when needed, of course ). And there is certainly nobody out there who can follow Fergie. I don't mean just a few trophies, but the management of (supposedly) diffiicult players. Getting long careers out of his players, bringing players from the youth system, and maintaining our status as a top football club for a long time.
When Ferie goes (not anytime soon, he's found a new passion - 'to knock Chelsea right off their f*cking perch') I'd prefer a British manager to come in. Because British managers will bring in players mainly from the isles, who have the required grit and passion to play for United, which I have seen in few players from elsewhere. And not one of those who tells the player how good they are (because I don't think that approach has worked anywhere), but another good old school hairdryer weilding manager!

The last time I posted here was when I said that ManU sucked and they sure prooved me right vs Milan. I believe ManU's surprising lack of heart and mostly the absence of any concrete ideas how to break through the Italian's midfield and defence was a cruel wake up call to all ManU faithfuls and made it pretty obvious that Fergie should start packing his bags if ManU wants to be considered something more than a decent team in Europe.
IMO, the best possible option ManU have for Fergie's heir is the current Celtic coach Martin O'Neil and not Queiros or even less so Keane. Couple of years ago O'Neil was the hot favourite to secceed SAF but then things cooled off for some reason and now all of a sudden Ferguson is promoting an unproven coach like Queiros.

When Ferie goes (not anytime soon, he's found a new passion - 'to knock Chelsea right off their f*cking perch') I'd prefer a British manager to come in. Because British managers will bring in players mainly from the isles, who have the required grit and passion to play for United, which I have seen in few players from elsewhere. And not one of those who tells the player how good they are (because I don't think that approach has worked anywhere), but another good old school hairdryer weilding manager!

As Zlatanov mentioned, O Neill is often linked with the role and the fact that he hasnt moved south for any of the other recent openings (Liverpool, Newcastle etc) suggest he is waiting for Fergie to retire. He's an excellent motivator of players and he buys the right players for the league he's in. Im not sure how he'd deal with a full Utd budget though

Iain Dowie has done a fantastic job at Palace and he has a lot of the right atributes (works well with youngsters, commited to attacking football, motivational, scary looking ) his career's worth watching because if he builds on this early promise then he could be a great manager.

Then of course there are the Utd old boys, Bruce, Hughes and Robson. Of the three Bruce is slightly ahead but at the moment none of them have done anything near Utd standard...I reckon the board will go for a foreigner with a big repuation though, someone like Capello.

The last time I posted here was when I said that ManU sucked and they sure prooved me right vs Milan. I believe ManU's surprising lack of heart and mostly the absence of any concrete ideas how to break through the Italian's midfield and defence was a cruel wake up call to all ManU faithfuls and made it pretty obvious that Fergie should start packing his bags if ManU wants to be considered something more than a decent team in Europe.

Thats a big statement to base on 2 (very close) games

Utd should have taken the lead in both legs and if either of Scholes, Fortune or Giggs had finished their chance then the outcome could have been very different. Fergie can hardly be blamed for them missing chances they usually score with their eyes closed

Also, Milans away goal was hardly on the cards until Carolls error. That game was surely heading for 0 - 0 which would've given Utd the slight advantage in the San Siro.

What Utd need most is a dominant midfielder, we'd been talking about replacing Keane in this thread since long before the tie was drawn. If Utd can get one this summer then the squad will be in place to launch a genuine challenge for the Champions League next year

Originally Posted by zlatanov

The last time I posted here was when I said that ManU sucked and they sure prooved me right vs Milan. I believe ManU's surprising lack of heart and mostly the absence of any concrete ideas how to break through the Italian's midfield and defence was a cruel wake up call to all ManU faithfuls

Yes. The heart was missing from what I've heard. But it will come back. Fergie will make sure that it will.

Originally Posted by zlatanov

and made it pretty obvious that Fergie should start packing his bags if ManU wants to be considered something more than a decent team in Europe.

You're joking right? Just about 5 losses in almost 50 matches in the season, and Fergie should pack his bags? Fergie stays. No question.

Originally Posted by zlatanov

IMO, the best possible option ManU have for Fergie's heir is the current Celtic coach Martin O'Neil and not Queiros or even less so Keane. Couple of years ago O'Neil was the hot favourite to secceed SAF but then things cooled off for some reason and now all of a sudden Ferguson is promoting an unproven coach like Queiros.

Well actually he has achieved sod-all except for winning a rubbish league.
Before Fergie was signed to manage United, he cut his teeth at Aberdeen, breaking Celtic and Rangers' monopoly on the League in a time when the Scottish League was of a higher standard than it is today. He also won them a European trophy.
I am not sure if Martin O'Neill does have the required attributes to succeed as manager of Manchester United if given the opportunity.

Queiroz has worked with Fergie and knows all the systems that Fergie has in place. You may not think so, but he might be a decent bet.

Quite frankly, I don't see anybody out there right now who we can pick to replace Fergie. Considering that the manager must be British (which I strongly believe) it narrows the choices even more.

Originally Posted by Stezagud

What Utd need most is a dominant midfielder, we'd been talking about replacing Keane in this thread since long before the tie was drawn. If Utd can get one this summer then the squad will be in place to launch a genuine challenge for the Champions League next year

Of course, it is alost impossible to find someone of similar stature, but a good solid one will steady the ship a little. It is going to be a situation like the Cantona departure when Keano retires.
We won't exactly replace him, rather we'll learn to play without him.

Originally Posted by stezagud

I reckon the board will go for a foreigner with a big repuation though, someone like Capello

That would be terrible. He'll come in, run things his way, buy a truckload of new players, complain that the board is not giving him enough cash, deliver one trophy and then move to Inter or something. That is what usually happens.

Robinson top target for Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson has identified Paul Robinson as the man he wants to be Manchester United's new No.1 goalkeeper. Fergie is ready to instruct the United board to launch a £7million summer bid to take the England No.1 from Tottenham to Old Trafford this summer. Mirror Sport has learned United's offer would involve their third-choice keeper Ricardo moving to White Hart Lane as part of the package. Fergie has made recruiting a new first-choice keeper his priority this summer after deciding Roy Carroll and Tim Howard are not up to the task. Carroll is set to leave United as a free agent this summer after rejecting a new contract offer, while Howard has failed to match the standards he set in his debut season. Robinson, 25, who is on £20,000-a-week at Spurs, would double his wages with a move to United and is understood to be keen.

Looks very good. Especially concidering that he is a potential England NT majoy goalkeeper. And a cost is not as big as it could be.

IMO he Downing and Jenas should be on the top of the list for next years major signings

PS: today I saw in TV programme that one channel is going to show England - North Ireland match live. Woooow, would be great day I guess

Go England Go

PSS: Fortune has scored form penalty spot already in the match against Uganda.