Sir Alex Ferguson may be in a state of favete linguis – at least with the international media and his own TV station – but Manchester United’s squad can be in no doubt of the importance of Sunday’s fixture with Liverpool at Anfield. After the calamitous defeat at Chelsea on Tuesday night – a second loss in four Premier League games – United simply has to secure at least a point at Anfield.
Ferguson’s side will do so without key defender Rio Ferdinand and suspended captain Nemanja Vidic against the seventh placed Merseysiders. And with Liverpool potentially welcoming £35 million striker Andy Carroll back into the fold after injury, it promises to be a tough encounter at Anfield, a ground on which United has lost on the past two visits.
With Jonny Evans still suffering from an ankle injury, Chris Smalling, who has excelled in recent weeks, and the previously ostracised Wes Brown, will deputise in central defence for the Sunday lunch-time kick-off. Patrice Evra faces a late test on an ankle injury sustained against Chelsea at the weekend. Either Rafael or Fabio da Silva will come into the side if the Frenchman is unfit.
Meanwhile, United should welcome back Ryan Giggs into the fold. The Welshman missed the Reds’ defeat at Stamford Bridge but his vast experience will be welcome just five days after the crushing if controversial defeat to Chelsea.
“You could not have a better game to get the frustrations of Tuesday night out of our systems,” said Scot Darren Fletcher, whose performances have markedly dipped this season.
“It is a weird thing to say about a match between Liverpool and Manchester United but if anything it has become even bigger because of what happened at Stamford Bridge.
“There is a lot of disappointment because we never seem to get the rub of the green down there. We have to bounce back quickly and get all our focus and energy on Liverpool.
“It is part of football rivalry that there might be more incentive from stopping us achieving stuff than what they can do themselves. Liverpool are a proud club with a great tradition. They certainly won’t want to relinquish the record to us. However, we are going there to get our title challenge back on track so it is not as though we are lacking an incentive to win.”
Ferguson could restore Dimitar Berbatov to the United attack for the match after the Bulgarian was demoted to the bench for United’s trip south this week. While Ferguson picked an unchanged side for the first time in 165 matches against Chelsea, Javier Hernández is likely to miss out if the Scot restores his leading scorer along side Wayne Rooney.
Hernández bagged his 13th goal of an increasingly profitable season at Wigan Athletic last month and in scoring with a third of his shots this season boasts the best chance conversion rate in the Premier League.
Off-the-field distractions aside, nothing will irritate Ferguson more than dropping points at Anfield – far more so than any FA sanction in next week’s hearing. Not that the Scot will welcome Stoke-on-Trent based referee Phil Dowd, who has previously sent off five United players.
Indeed, victory will enable Ferguson’s side to stretch its lead in the title race to six points after Arsenal’s tame draw with Sunderland at Emirates on Saturday. At this stage of the season, every points counts. The prize: a record 19th English league title. And nothing could be sweeter than taking a step towards the title at Anfield.
“I always say the best feeling, the most satisfaction you get, is winning at Anfield,” says United legend Giggs
“It’s an old-school ground. With the history and rivalry between the two teams, it’s probably the ground where, if you come away with a win, you’re most satisfied. It’s such a tough game and you’ve got to beat so many elements to win – the fans, the history and then there’s the actual game, so you’re up against everything.”
“So to win at Anfield is, for me definitely, the most satisfying ground to win at.”
Meanwhile, Dalglish will pair Carroll with £22 million new signing Luis Suarez only if the former Newcastle United player has recovered from the thigh injury that has prevent his debut to date. However, Dalslish could be without Daniel Agger, who is suffering with a thigh injury, although Raul Mereiles should play.
Opposition
Liverpool – 442 – Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio; Gerrard, Lucas, Mereiles, Cole; Kuyt, Suarez. Subs from: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Spearing, ,Wilson, Ngog, Poulsen.
United
United – 442 – van der Sar; O’Shea, Brown, Smalling, Evra; Nani, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs; Rooney, Berbatov. Subs from: Kuzszazk, Gibson, Bébé, Lindegaard, Fabio da Silva, Obertan, Hernández, Tunnicliffe, King, Carrick, Rafael da Silva, Owen, Carrick.
Officials
Referee: Phil Dowd
Assistant referees: Dean Mohareb & Glenn Turner
Fourth official: Andre Marriner
Form
Liverpool – WWDLWD
United – LWWDWL
Must beat the dippers.
Looking pretty thin off the bench though, Fergie needs to demand money this summer for at least one quality midfielder or next year we’re fecked.
Don’t worry. Herbie will be here soon to CONFIRM that he’s right about £100m being spent in the summer on the likes of Bale and Henderson.
My head says it will be a 2-2 draw.
Confirmed team news:
UNITED
Van der Sar; Rafael Brown Smalling Evra; Nani Carrick Scholes Giggs; Rooney, Berbatov
Subs: Kuszczak, Hernandez, Fabio Da Silva, O’Shea, Fletcher, Obertan, Gibson
LIVERPOOL
Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Gerrard, Lucas, Meireles, Maxi, Kuyt, Suarez.
Subs: Gulacsi, Carroll, Cole, Kyrgiakos, Ngog, Spearing, Poulsen.
I have been negative about this game, but us lining up 4-5-1 gives us a more of chance to get something. I think a draw is a most likely outcome now. If we went 4-4-2 then a loss would have been more likely.
Wao!!! No Rio?? Am gutted. I really hope that we set-up 4-3-3 with Fletcher in the middle. Nani should have the backside of Aurelio..
Original team that was posted was announced in error by Ben Hibbs. I have amended it so that it is correct now.
Er that isn’t the team!
Fletcher on the bench, Berba in the team – 4-4-2 = loss
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9410613.stm
Er, I already amended it FFS
Two factors have gone against us already, Gerrard plays and we are going 4-4-2. Bracing myself!
You have just written rubbish Sheesh. We are going 4-4-2 with that Berbatov fellow starting and Fletcher on the bench!!! Oh Mike Phelan!! Why the hell is this? Am scared.
Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Smalling, Brown, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Hernandez, Fabio Da Silva, O’Shea, Fletcher, Obertan, Gibson.
you always fuck it up sheesh
This is a really really porous team to take to Anfield.
FFS, you cunts need to learn to read.
A team was announced in error by Ben Hibbs (which I posted). A revised (and correct) team was then announced (which I also posted).
shift the blame,
could go 433 with that team also.
I love how you have just posted the exact same team that I put up.
FFS
wanted the little pea to start.
you changed it….. fucked it up as usual
Why play carrick over fletcher?
fletch should always start before carrick, thats a crazy decision
I tell you what, I’ll ask Fergie what team he’s picked next time, instead of relying on pesky journalists.
come on united, a win would really screw up arsenal after yesterday.
just tell him who to pick instead
you
would get it , right then, journalists twats.
I’m happy with that team. Fletcher has been shite for a long time and going 442 is the way forward. Our attack is better than theirs.
4-3-3 would help us – Scholes and Carrick in the middle of midfield in a 4-4-2 is asking for trouble! Even so Scholes, Carrick, Giggs – where’s the bite and legs.
Sheesh – i hope you are right. I have this as a loss, but I think we will still win the league. They win the battle, we win the war!
I would have started Hernandez instead of Berbatov, but other than that we should be fine.
sweet pea off the bench will work – get him on after 60 mins and he will be sweet
this is the scousers world club, european cup and title decider all in 1
they will come out like whores looking for condoms in rome – we need to soak their early pressure up and smack the bitches on the counter
Do yourselves a favour and accept we’ll lose….but on the good side we’ll then go on and win the 19th!
come on united
Honestly, am as nervous as anyone can possibly be – plus my laptop nearly caught fire with the power cable snapping – but i honestly can not understand the exclusion of Fletcher and the inclusion of Berbatov from the start.
hi Han, ready for the rollercoaster ride
hey mad red
long time no see
hope we can get a decent game today but even a shitty goal from shreks backside would do the trick for me
their 35 million signing is on the bench…should be interesting if he gets on
yes any win will do nicely..
so want berbs to get to 20 today
Shitting myself… No Vidic n Rio, no Fletcher, looks it’s gonna be 3-2. Not sure which way though.
Evra’s got the armband! Hope he will be a leader out there.
no commentary on radio 5
It’s a positive team, we have gone there to win, come on boys!
Total wankers
Having to use Talkshite ‘cos myp2p is down
ffs
cant stand that talk sport bollox even though alan greene loves scousers on 5 live
am watching the texts on bbc ffs cos that p2p isn’t working
Sopcast 6816 is a good stream
looks like the cunts are going down our right hand side too easily
“You’re just a fat granny shagger” sang by scousers – what the fuck
hope the fat granny shagger gets on the scoresheet today
that’ll learn them
hope he gets a hat-trick
ginger prince starting to take control….
berbs hit post just then
Great hit from Berba
Wicked
Brown, a monster
Nice try from Berbs.
Still can’t believe that we are starting with Giggs and Scholes. SAF has fucked up our midfield with useless signings.
brown is all over the place. fucks he doing
Nope… Berbs will be well fresh… a better match for Rooney, and Chico will be available, if needed to come on and do what he’s been best at so far… scoring as a sub.
It is Anfield and Giggs is stinking out the joint – as usual!! Our back four have NO protection whatsoever and they getting in too easy.
Carrick has to stand up and be counted in this game. He needs to STAY and protect the back four and let Scholes do whatever he can offensively.
carrick squats to pee
how is he gonna grow a pair today?
The next United no. 1 needs to be as cool and as comfortable on the ball as Van Der Sar is
In games like this he gets as many touches as Scholes
Good link up between Rooney and Berbatov.
berbs ffs
Soft free kick. Ffs
FUCK. Brilliant from Suarez.
Great goal to be fair
Kuyt is onside
Where the fuck was the fucking defence there typical shower of bollockless cunts.
come on reds
now grow a fucking pair collectively and go for it
fuck
we play better a goal down
fucking hope we do todat itel
Doesn’t do us much good if we don’t score and just now its all Liverpool.
Carrick pressed and stood on the ball
That’s what’s wrong with our midfield right there – they can’t handle the pressure
Anything is better than the shit we been serving up
How does Michael Carrick sleep at night after getting his wages?
Game over
Apparantly not at this rate you can expect Liverpool to score again before we do.
FUCK.
That is pathetic.
nani ffs cunt
Laughably bad this
Absolutely terrible
Might have to stop watching if it’s gonna finish 3/4-0
come on united
pass the ball u cunts
And I was right Liverpool did score first 2 – 0 up and the way were playing were fucked and big time fucked, not one player till now has taken it on himself to drive United on.
We getting nothing in midfield. When will SAF open his eyes and change things.
Phelan you useless cunt.
He wont Just1n, the soft ginsoaked jock cunt is giving new contracts to the fucking spastics costing us the games.
Fuck me its handbags at Anfield Nani you Michael Jackson lookalike cunt stop play acting
Carragher almost landing the scouse cunts in trouble
Should have been red
How on earth can we go 4-4-2 into a game where we are playing without our first choice centre-backs?? How? I curse you Phelan!!
that was a dirty foul by that scouse moron
Is Nani just doing this to avoid getting a bollocking from Fergie at half time
Get up Nani. Fuck sake.
Starting the game with 2 of the oldest players in midfield. What the fuck. We are getting ripped apart.
The guy has torn his ankle through to his bone which is obvious to everyone. If it was Rooney or Scholes you will not be so damning will you?
Embarrassing…..
Fuck the lot of them
Really disappointed by the team’s response after the Chelsea game. Truly pathetic.
Utter shite
Did anbody expect anything different though?
Away against an alright team. Nevr had a chance.
is he actually hurt?
if so then fair dues
if not then he doesnt deserve to play in a united shirt despite the fact that we have shit all as cover at the mo
useless cunts. all should be fined
Rafael is the only player who looks pissed off that we are behind. The rest are fuckin dismal
This has to be the worst performance of the season thus far. We haven’t got going at all. Defensively, we look at sixes and sevens and look completely incapable of handling Meireles and Suarez. Evra has been having a shocker, in particular.
Carrick has been his usual shit self. Nani has been subdued and he should be fined for that spasticated header which led to their second.
How many touches of the ball has Rooney had in that first half? You wouldn’t even know that he was playing. Only Scholes has had anything like a good game.
Problem isn’t formation, the problem is that the players simply haven’t turned up today.
We’ve gifted them 2 goals through some shocking defending. Offensively, we’ve been anonymous.
We look bereft of ideas. A thrashing is on the cards.
45 mins to get 3 goals
come on saf – breathe some spirit into the lads
There are those who will come on here to tell you how wonderful Scholes is and how Giggs is the best footballer since Maradona and that these two are the best we have got.
This is not because we do not have other players, this is because our manager aided by that lump Phelan are so inept. We do not have our first choice backline, at a ground that is unforgiving, why on earth start with two men who are the oldest and thereby the lest physically effective? And then compound it with a 4-4-2 formation? How? Scholes can’t run nor tackle, Carrick the same, Giggs is perenially useless at Anfield, so why play this way? Why? A midfield trio of Carrick, Fletcher and Gibson would have given us by far more energy to maybe accommodate Giggs. Berbatov? No comment really. And this is a game in which Gerrard has been subdued and we are being whitewashed. Amazing.
That was embarrassing…
Nani… ffs… what a big jessie…
I thought that result would fire them up but they all look utterly disinterested. Only Scholes wants the ball.
Fucking cowards they are.
Cal you dont half talk some fucking shite, if Nani was injured so badly he would not have been able to get up so quickly before falling down again and if it was Rooney or Scholes then it would be the same, try pulling your head out of your arse now and again and leave the Scholes or Giggs shite as it has nothing to do with Nani being fouled and strangely there are no reports of his foot being removed from his leg by Carragher.
Carrick – jibbed a tackle in the Suarez goal, trips over the ball and then jumps past the ball for the second – NICE ONE!!!!
4-4-2 was a receipe for disaster and this has proven it. Carrick and Scholes in 4-4-2!!! Come on man!!!
This is going to be 4-0 if we don’t watch it. Keep it 2-0 in the second and take our medicine. SAF now surely has to learn that this side is an very average one so we must play 4-5-1 in all away games.
Name one player who has had a better half than Scholes. One.
If all people who are watching can see how pathetic we are in midfield then why can’t SAF. I cannot comprehend what he is doing. This sentimentality with his Fledglings borders on alzheimers.
The Bindippers rejuvenated, this will be a debacle, we were once the come back kings, but this team are the come back ponces.
How Arse are enjoying this shower of muff divers.
we can still do it. Fuck carrick or Berbatov off and bring in Fletcher. We are capable of giving these cunts a pasting
A debicale isn’t the half of it, the scouse are arse raping us just now
Apparently Carrick is worth a new 3 year contract.
I’m not one to wish ill on people but he’s been testing me big time for a long time…
Robbo, as soon as he got up you could see the blood dripping from his shin!! The lad was crying.. He went right through him without a doubt. The lads in the studio are ripping into Carragher and you guys are coming here and blaming Nani. I can’t believe that.
Carragher should been off. FACT!
Yeah everyone in the studio says Carragher should be off.
Smalling and Rafael. But that is not the point Sheesh. Scholes was never going to influence this game. At least not in the way we are set-up. No chance. Liverpool will get in his face and they have been doing that. All he has done is pass sideways to Carrick and Evra and Smalling. Made one pass to Berbatov but that was it. Giggs has been the worst on the pitch by some distance though.
raphael should also have seen red then
Wasting your breath Sheeshy… even that header from Nani, for their second was Scholes fault…
utter shite.
Wrong Alf that one was Giggs
show some guts this half,
These dickheads have no character, that’s the problem.
You’d expect anyone wearing a United shirt to show some fight in a Liverpool v United game…but not our lot.
pull one back and this will be the start
come on reds
call me pedantic but that low sun right in the team’s faces didnt help
see how the scouse cunts deal with it this half
If he was so badly injured then why the hell did he get up to start complaining to Ref ???? before falling over again, I didn’t see if he was bleeding or not but Nani has a history for play acting so you cant expect people not to complain when he is doing the dying swan act.
No one is blaming Nani, you twat… Carragher cleaned him out… dirty fucker… but, getting up, running over, and then flopping down in front of the ref is nothing short of embarrassing… even Rooney turned away in disgust.
Wrong both of ya … Carrick!
Thank you Alf !
unlucky sweet pea
Fuck sake Hernandez.
Carrick gives it away again
Almost a break on for the Dippers
giggs close
come on united
Decent move
Great ball to Rooney from Scholes
Its impossible to play well with carrick in the team.
Another decent move
They’re letting us have it and attempting to park the bus
Almost. Some good play. Finally.
Great ball in there from Berbatov… and a confident Rooney hits it first time with his left.
Why don’t Berbatov take the free kicks? He scored a few at Spurs.
come on united
hold your composure and get us a goal lads
Opened up so easy after no one tackled in midfield.
how much can scholes do on his own?
Unbelievable. Kuyt hat trick.
fuck me.. awful
Well that’s that its the scousers day today.
Well, that just sume this lot up… where was the cover?
Fuck! I am going to bed.
You have got to be kidding me. Do you even know what the score is? 2 inexperienced defenders and we’re getting raped, Yet they’re playing better than Scholes.
I’ve heard it all now.
And no movement on our bench… That is a fucking tragedy.
Liverpool still look shit even at 3-0, that’s the sad thing.
Had we turned up with players ready to battle, we may have got something today.
I’m hurting
No one followed his run
I said 4-0 and it might end up that way
Absolutely fucking shit
Fuck Fergie. He could have sorted out our away form in January and he didn’t
This result isn’t wholly unexpected, I agree. How the manager has simply allowed this shitty away form to carry on is hard to fathom.
Even harder to fathom is how we played so well against Chelsea and turned up playing like a pissed pub team today.
come on score pls ffs
We don’t half look shite today there is absolutely nothing coming from us.
Fergie wants to talk about momentum. Get some fucking decent players first.
The weird thing is, I don’t even feel so bad. Usually, if there was a mass melee on the pitch (like after Rafael’s challenge) I’d be up in arms.
But this side deserves this mauling. They’ve had it coming for the entire season now. I ask myself why I even bother watching United play because its by far one of the worst way I can waste my time. This is exactly like the phase after 02/03. If this shite keeps up, I may as well stop watching them and just keep track of scores.
Why oh why, do we have to see uber nonsense served up every three years at Old Trafford? Is it so hard for Fergie to keep a team together?
Aye. Who really expected 3 points today
We’ve been dominated by shite like Fulham and Wolves
It was never going to happen. Best we could hope for was a point
I at least expected a response. An effort. We haven’t even seen that yet.
Carroll coming on
Rooney on the left hasn’t worked at all
Neither has 442
Great Oshea comes on. I thought the midfield needed changing.
O´Shea for Rafael
Giggs really has been shit today. Every set piece has been poor.
But he gets 90mins. It beggars belief.
Fletcher coming on. To little to late.
Fletcher on for Scholes.
ive seen oaps move more than carrick
Fletcher is shite but he should really have been on from the start
Well in, Brown
Almost made the last 84 minutes worth watching
We’ve been crying out for the likes of Valencia and Park in these last couple of games. I’m sure they wouldn’t have let us down. Anderson would have been a shoo-in ahead of Cuntrick.
Maybe Fergies forgiven him for calling him a cunt
I hope we lose the title spectacularly, lose 4 games more or something. May be Fergie will do something about the midfield then
Carrick too much of a fanny to take a shot on himself there.
FFs Suarez but where the fuck was the defence
Carrick gives it away again
3 terrible ones from him that almost land us in the shit
u really don’t mean that do u
But there´s no value
the gimps will really need to show some money otherwise their long term raping and pillaging of the club will need revising
The game’s finished but well done on scoring in injury time.
FFS.
Great. A goal. Helps with the goal difference.
we are shit. Not average, not in the middle of a transition just plain shit. I fucking hate to see a mediocre Liverpool raping us, without our players even showing a bit of fight. Winning the title with this shit team only give Fergie to not invest.
sweet pea
thanks
Ah well onwards and upwards to the next game (hope we don’t lose it
)
Chico does it again, heh
Another goal created between him and Giggsy
91mins for 1 goal…ffs
We were never in that match from kick off. We didn’t play like we thought we could win
It’s a crisis, our away form, and the club have done fuck all about it
No value
We lost the title at Wolves.
Today confirmed what we already knew about these players. Arsenal will tear us a new one at the Emirates.
VDS 5
RDS 5
PE 5
WB 6
CS 5
RG 5
MC 3
PS 6
LN 3
DB 5
WR 5
SAF 4
3 = very poor
4 = poor
5 = below average
6 = average
bit shell shocked tbh
hated the way there was no fight from most of that team
scouse cunts rejoicing as they will truly have fucked us for the 19th – if we let them
saf – shoot carrick in the head and quickly – scholes and giggs cannot do anymore than they have done
stick shrek in midfield if only for a bit of a fight
we really let ourselves get arse raped but still could have been worse if im honest
this will give some incentive to the rest below us to try and fuck us no doubt
A useless statistic six years ago we lost 2 games in a row in the PL.
2s and 1s should be there… 1 = kill him 2 = sell him
how did carrick get a 3?
The only positives here firstly are that we will have Rio, Vida, Valencia and Park back for the run-in. We were always going to lose this one.
Secondly this might make SAF realise that 4-5-1 must be the formation played away from home or in the big matches. We just can’t sustain a 4-4-2 against the better sides or away from home. Not playing Fletcher was a big mistake – at least he will get stuck in and put a shift in.
Our formation was wrong to begin with, but that is no excuse for the shit that was served. Why the fuck was Carrick offered a contract??? Cunt is surely a fanny. Feel like kicking his teeth in. Absolute disgrace of a man. What the fuck is the point of Berbatov???? Nani was dumb fucking cunt passing to Kuyt for the second gola killing us off completely. The fuckin fanny embrassed us as well. Fergie is tarnishing his legacy in his last years. The lack of fight and skill is so embarrassing and so unlike of Fergie’s team. What the fuck was he thinking starting with Carrick and Scholes in the middle. fuck fuck fuckk
i hope those cunts are hurting the way we are
somehow i doubt they will be thinking of this when they pull away from OT this evening in their ferraris, lambos. porsches or whatever else they drive these days
in all fairness, saf really should take a long hard look at this game and replay it for the next 5 days at training to show these twats what a bunch of pussies they are
Simple question folks and am asking honestly: Do you guys really think we would have been worse if we had started with Fletcher,Carrick and Gibson in midfield; Giggs and Nani wide of Rooney? We would have been able to compensate better at least in terms of energy and legs. Or maybe Scholes instead of Carrick but Hernancez instead of Giggs. Liverpool were so full of running in the key areas.
For me, the manager failed his players today and horribly so. I can not even blame the players. Honestly. No first choice central defence away from home then asked to play 4-4-2 without ANY protection for the defence and no energy upfront.
However, I honestly despise Dimitar berbatov. A proper bully. A nothing man. We round up on Carrick easily but this man is just as bad if not worse given his huge transfer fee.
does anyone know if nonce is really injured?
The only positive is Vidic, Rio and Park are coming back after injury but Valencia has been out for months now and we don’t know ho his game will be compared to before his injury.
A different formation wouldn’t have changed the fact that Nani headed the ball to Kuyt who scored the second which killed the game
Or that none of our defenders tracked Kuyt’s run when Van Der Sar fumbled the ball
442 away from home is shit for us and doesn’t work. But individual errors cost us today, as well as the shit formation
4-5-1 would have seen us have more chance of getting something. Instead of which we got spanked.
The other main problem along with the midfield & the formation was the lack of Rio & Vida. 4-5-1 with those two and we would have got a point.
Add in a world class central midfielder and you are entering winning territory.
Still favourites for the league – somehow!
The only thing that could make this worse is if Gibson signs a new deal next week
It will have such a demoralising effect on the team that we’ll lose, at home, to Arsenal
You forgot o’shea and owen.
If we don’t win #19 this season, when will we win it? I fear it could be a very long way away, the way we’re going.
cal
u make me laugh
how the fuck can our front 2 play when they are starved of any real service?
u single out berbs and he did not have a good game but the whole team played poorly with the exception of brown and smalling given the circumstances they were in
nani fucked up big time and has been poor in the past 6 games – it’s simple – he swallows the hype around him after a good 1st half of the season and thinks he is ronny mark2 – if he is really injured after that tackle, then i hope he takes stock of his game whilst he is out recovering
simple game is football but when you have the likes of a limited midfield, u either have to hoof the ball from the back or else pray a lot during the game
Sid,
you are right that individual erros cost us. However, our formation gave the initiative to Liverpool from the off. Something that should never have been done away from home. nani mistimed his jump, but Carrick should still have cleared the ball – easily but being half-man and half mollusc, he could not.
Right from the kick-off we could not handle their movement in between the lines and such was our problem and these led to the individual errors. If Nani had not been there at the time, the Gerrard was latching onto that same ball. Strikers are usually first to the balls from keepers after free-kicks so I am not attaching any blame to the defenders there.
We will do amazingly well to win another away game. West Ham, Newcastle, Arsenal & Blackburn…. I can’t see us taking 3 points in any of those
Even if we win one of those, that will make it 5 away wins. Is that really enough to win the league – despite the great home form
What a fucking disgrace.
Has Fergie had the bottle to come out and try to explain himself?
He’s fucking lost it… if he thinks that Carrick is anywhere near worth a new contract then I’m afraid he’s lost the fucking plot…as you all know I’m not the biggest Gibson fan but I’d rather him play than Carrick, how that fuck can sleep at night is beyond me, biggest pussy I have EVER seen play football. I physically HATE his every being.
OK Nani made a fuck up…a big one BUT it happens, he’s been one of our best players and at the moment is the most important player we have….give the guy a break.
Rooney….FFS what can I say…ugly little granny shagging gimp is not worth £250 a week let alone £250,000!! he’s absolute shit… and should join Carrick in the cunthouse room at OT.
This summer is massive for us, we will know by August the 31st where we as a club are heading. Everyone of us can see that this United side is the worse we have had for 20+ years…
Phelan Can fuck off with his big arsed bowling ball head!!
I’d rather lose to Man City than Liverpool.
When Park is back I would prefer him in the central midfield 3. I always maintain one of the best performances from United last season was vs. Milan at home when we won 4-0 and the cm was Fletcher, Park and Scholes.
What’s the update on Anderson? He could do a similar thing to Park. We need Scholes in there as a playmaker – they can’t all be headless chickens in there!
interesting to see even wigan and b’ham have conceded less than us away
han,
why do we always make excuses for front men when it comes to ‘service’? We need them to move about more; give the overworked defenders something to hit once in a while and when they get it they should keep it. THAT usually helps. Not asking them to score in this instance or create chances. Effort. We needed a lot of that from the front men. hernandez did his bit.
Too pissed off to even wind you lot up.
ffs taggart….your beloved Utd is going down faster than the Titanic and you still hold on to this midfield as the band plays on.ffffffffssssssss
And Wazza´s holding up Nani in the Bow
Fegal fucked this up by not starting with Fletcher.
May not have got us the win but would have given some power and energy.
Taggart has failed us.
Ruined a whole fucking days of good boarding. Even the couple of fitties on the table next to me are fucking annoying. Am gutted.
holding up the ball is something berbs is very good at
when you have a lack of running from anyone in your team including the guys behind your forwards, holding the ball is pointless
hernandez did his share i agree but it is pretty obvious that with non existent passing from the middle, it takes a miracle to score
Come on Danni….Anal rape and your smiling again.
Why not top the day off and grope the bitch…fuck her grab a nipple!
Yep they got no service, but Rooney will go looking for the ball. Berbatov expects waiter service most of the time.
His game is better suited to Spain to be honest. He can do a job for united but away from home against the better sides he just doesn’t cut it.
Hernandez again showed that he knows where the goal is – as an impact sub.
To be honest after this farce Gibson would be worth a go – as long as it isn’t in a central midfield 2.
Scholes, Gibson and Fletcher is a better option than Scholes, Carrick and Fletcher at present.
good nite guys
im fucked
running on empty – which is probably the same as united today
Never mind Madred will come over and give you a good doing then you´ll feel better.
i am already their, will have to wait my turn, robbo wanted it first,
Anyway pretty everyone here called it on Carrick. The Red Cafe forum were generally happy he signed a contract – 1-0 Rant!!!
I have been trying my best to understand the finer points of his play, but he is like Berbatov – more cut out for Spain where the pace of the game is slower. In English football you need more drive drive and physicality to play in the big matches. Berbatov and Carrick should be squad players.
Chelsea – games prior to playing us:
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Barclays Premier League
Chelsea v Man City, 16:00
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Barclays Premier League
Stoke v Chelsea, 15:00
Saturday, 9 April 2011
Barclays Premier League
Chelsea v Wigan, 15:00
Saturday, 16 April 2011
Barclays Premier League
West Brom v Chelsea, 15:00
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Barclays Premier League
Chelsea v Birmingham, 19:45
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Barclays Premier League
Chelsea v West Ham, 17:30
I tell you what – City is the only tough side they play and its at the Bridge. By the time they play us they could well be only 3 points behind & in touching distance.
Back to being a 3 horse race IMO. City are out of it though – they have tougher matches plus are still in 2 cups and plus they have no title run in experience – Chelsea do.
From The Guardian’s Daniel Taylor on Twitter: “Jamie Carragher waited outside MUFC dressing room to apologise to Nani for his studs-up challenge.”
cunt
We got twatted, simple as!
Teds awards.
Gaffer award. Berbatov.
Duffer award. Dead heat between Giggs and Carrick.
Egg on the face award. Nani. What a tart!
Nani, what a fanny! (warning: the image is a bit nasty) http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/185880_10150169955036145_575721144_8616308_216935_n.jpg
Carragher is a nasty scouse cunt and should get a ban, apology or not, it was a stupid, dangerous challenge
damn, looks like a lengthy time on the sideline. Thats a shame.
that looks pretty nasty to be fair to nani
obviously none of the papers will pick this up and instead give that dirty scouse motherpussylickingcocksucker a pat on the back
I watched Spurs and I saw the DRIVE from young Sandro and Jenas and Modric and I despair at the people we have playing for us. Amazing that Ferguson has allowed this to happen since the back end of last season. When Anderson is not playing there is not ONE player in our midfield prepared to run WITH the ball. The number of times Carrick passed sideways to Scholes and vice-versa when there was NO player within 10 yards of them was shocking.
Now that you have seen the pix, those of you calling Nani names should cover your heads in shame!!!
Throughout the time we had CQ with us we did not lose at Anfield in the league. He made sure we went there with a proper midfield trio that will stem the inital flow. Our last victory there we had Hargo, Anderson and Giggs with Rooney and Ronaldo either side of Tevez. We stopped Liverpool getting any head of steam. We had energy; we had legs and were prepared to fight. The man leaves and that moron Phelan can’t not even make any meaningful impact.
It was plain madness to have gone out there with that kind of set-up and line-up in a match without Rio and Vida. Sir Alex should be ashamed. Phelan on the other hand should take a gun to himself.
5 words: “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”
As Sheesh said so often he has rolled around like someone has pole axed him and today why did he get up run 3 or 4 meters towards the ref then fall like pole axed again when Stevie G touched him so why should we cover our heads in shame ?? its not the first time and probably wont be the last either.
Regardless he will be out for a few weeks unless there is bigger damage than the gash which doesn’t help us either though today numpty Nani turned up and played for Liverpool.
Cal… look… it doesn’t matter how well you battle for the ball, if you are incapable of doing bugger all with it, once you’ve got it… Giggs was poor today and I’m not going to argue with you about Scholes… but the fact is, these two players have not been the real problem with our midfield this season… the real problem has been with the players who are supposed to force these two into retirement.
You asked the question, should we have “started with Fletcher,Carrick and Gibson in midfield”?… Fletcher has had a poor season, Gibson has been consistantly awful… and Carrick?… even you don’t like Carrick… and he is SUPPOSED to be the so called protection for the back 4… so there’s nothing there to suggest it would be a good idea to start them…
It’s all well and good to blame Ferguson for cocking up the team selection… but you have to be able to look at the options and say they would have been better… I don’t see it… and considering the hue and cry on this forum about the new contracts handed out, and the fear that Gibson might be next… no one else sees it either.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
“Now that you have seen the pix, those of you calling Nani names should cover your heads in shame!!!”
I’ve broken many bones, and had a lot of stitches… I once had a 400lb welding jig tip over and crush the arch of my foot… I have never… ever… rolled around and made such a drama about it the way some footballers do… and Nani is without doubt… one of the worst.
A friend of mine in Canada, had his arm tore clean off just below the shoulder, in a combine harvester incident… using his one hand and his teeth, he tied off the stump with his hat and his belt… he pulled his severed arm out from under the machine, and made it back to the farm house… his mom packed his arm in a plastic bag with several pieces of frozen meat, and drove him to the hospital… in the end, they couldn’t save the arm… but at least he tried… he didn’t waste time rolling around on the ground like a big fuckin baby, hoping it would get him some sympathy for behaving like a big fuckin baby.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
i thought it was foolish to start scholes, giggs, carrick and berbatov all at once. there was no movement, and no tracking of liverpool’s runners from midfield. it was embarassing.
what a shit fucking week. hope we get knocked out of the fa cup and the champions’ league, maybe fergie the cunt will finally acknowledge that all is not well with the fucking midfield.
ffs Alf
my spin on playing footy was bad enough.
but havin a shoulder torn off and pissin around after, nah sorry.
LOL
what you loling at?
cunt
LKHF
Ober-Faffer
MUFC: THE RELIGION
Absolutely spot on Kramer. Yesterday we turned up at Anfield with SIX players. Only six players yesterday deserved to have started and then actually did play. Giggs and Scholes I can excuse because they are, frankly, washed up; but Berbatov and Carrick should bury their heads in shame and should not walk the streets of Manchester in daylight till the end of the season.
Alf, am not sure you people see this thing: our away record is the way it is because we do NOT win the ball back enough without it getting to our back four or the keeper. We have enough talent in the attacking areas that we should stop this obssession with supposed quality of passing in midfield. The strongest United team of Keane and Ince won the ball and sent it to the wide men of Giggs and Kanchelskis/Sharp QUICKLY.
Going to Anfield and Stamford Bridge, SAF was foolish beyond measure with the formation. The results have borne them out. Worst part of yesterday? We were destroyed by a Liverpool team that CARRIED Gerrard. I am so embarrassed that I do not want to read the press or watch Skyportsnews.
Cal’s been saying for ages we need some steel and legs in midfield.
Funny he’s turned out to be right, eh, and in a crushing and frankly embarrasing loss against Liverpool.
On the plus side he can tell you all “I told you so”.
Alf – we pay loads of players to be able to do something with the ball. Rooney, Berbs, Nani, Tony V, Chicha, Evra + Rafael (don’t pretend like the modern fullback is a defensive player, they’re more like wingbacks than anything else)
4 – 4 – 2 is, for me, all about dominating the midfield.
You harry the opposition out of possession and use it quickly and decisively. You have capable wingers and two proper forwards. You also have full backs who get forward and allow wingers to move into different positions.
For some reason, Fergie – the guy who for me mastered 4 – 4 – 2 – seems to have forgotten about the importance of dominating the middle of the park in 4 – 4 – 2 physically.
Carrick, Scholes, retain possession brilliantly but just don’t have the real physical presence.
A good option for me would be a midfielder who is capable of winning the ball and driving forward with it after beating a man. Fletcher can do this but he has been so poor this year. This will then allow Carrick to sit back and recycle possession by sensible switches of the play to where the space is.
One of Paul Ince / Roy Keane said 90% of the games they played they knew they’d won before the game even started. The other team would bottle it lined up in the tunnel. We just don’t inspire that kind of fear anymore yet still have the brand name of the team to beat. We need to bring that fear back.
There you go again, claiming we’d have been better off without Scholes and Giggs… when the options are Fletcher, Gibson and Carrick… Fletcher, I’ll give you… no one understands why Fletcher didn’t start… however, even Fletcher is looking burned out these days.
But Carrick DID start and was useless… and Gibson is the laziest cunt on the team… what good would he have done? Nowt.
Scholes and Giggs are over the hill and far away… but the alternatives are worse… period… and I’m getting sick of the stupid argument to the contrary… everybody knows it… If Park was fit, I could see the use of playing him instead of Giggs… but that’s it… and yet even that’s hit and miss, as Giggs on a good day, is twice the player Park is, who on a bad day is horrible.
If it was up to me, I’d shit-can the whole fuckin midfield… all of them but Nani… Scholes and Giggs to get coaching roles, and the rest can fuck off to Luton Town… but don’t give me any silly arguments about energy over ability… our midfield has neither.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
Gibson can NOT be lazier than Berbatov. No other Premier League footballer can possibly be.
One is a striker who has scored 20 goals, one is a midfielder who has done fuck all… which one hurts the team more, when he doesn’t pull his weight?
evans
Apparently Fletcher was ill.
Fergie definitely got it wrong against the Scum. He should have started with Rooney and Hernandez up top, like he did against Chelsea. Hernandez is great at pinning back the other team’s defenders, especially when they are slow like Carragher and Skrtel. Then again, given Carragher didn’t get sent off for his tackle on Nani, he could probably have gotten away with Luiz’s surefire method for dealing with Hernandez’s pace (i.e. put him on the turf).
Or else this watch a match crying out for 3 in the middle. But Fergie probably felt that we needed the three points, or that he simply didn’t have 3 fit central midfielders.
I think at this point Fletcher is by far our best midfielder. He’s not been in the best form this season, but I think this is partly because he has to carry so much water for the likes of Carrick and Scholes, that he’s fucking knackered after every match. I’d love to see how much ground he covers. Against the Chavs, he was bombing up and down the wing like Valencia.
The other problem Fletcher has is that he’s never allowed to play in his best position these days. Scholes and Carrick are simply incapable of playing the more advanced midfield role, so Fletch is being asked to “do a job” there, which is not going to show him in the best light. He gets shifted around and not given a chance to settle into one position because of the limitations of the other midfielders. His best season was a couple of seasons ago, when he was consistently given a Keane-esque role, which was box-to-box, but mostly defensive and possession-minded, occasionally getting forward to support the attack. He’s a good battler, good tackler, and good passer. He’s good in front of the defenders, we just haven’t let him play there all season.
If Anderson lived up to the expectations he set early on, by far our best midfield pairing would be Fletcher hanging back and Anderson roaming forward. Then when we wanted 3 in the middle, we could add in Scholes or Carrick to retain possession and deliver good long balls, without either needing to worry too much about defending or marauding forward.
Absolutely spot on dude. Anderson’s failure to fulfill his potential is one of the most baffling things I have seen in football. Beggars belief in truth. In ’08/09 we got away with a lot when we had Anderson/Fletcher/Carrick trio. It had everything: Fletcher to hassle, Anderson to drive with the ball and Carrick to recycle possession and to release the wingers or full-backs.
Anderson is a flash cunt.
All that talent, but he loves the high life… he may never acheive his true potential… or one day he may meet a big arsed lass, have a couple kids, and settle down… and then start to realise that he’s pissing his future op a tree…
…and start to work at his profession again.
I genuinely fear Alf is probably correct about Anderson never fulfilling his potential because of his attitude, which is sad really. The first season he was here I was literally (not literally) moist with excitement. He looked bloody fantastic. Needs to sort his head out IMO, very much in the style Alf has suggested :>
tbf ginsoak got the team right,
apart from the centrebacks thats the best starting eleven weve got, thats our best midfield, best front two, best pair of fullbacks and thats vds, and we got fucking hammered
if one game should be enough to prove we need investment this should be it ffs, if just to give everyone a fucking lift, like liverpool have done. in the long term carroll will flop but dalgliesh showed bollocks to ship out torres and get him and saurez and its lifted em
On the money there Noblet. Why some people are determined to carry on this “denial” is fuckin crazy. Every cunt and his dog knows our problems and weaknesses. After all, are’nt we in a no win situation as it is? If we do go on to win the league its beacause “the rest of the league was shite”, if we don’t it will be because the squad is simply not good enough. Both opinions are correct of course. So why the fuck pissed face and the rest of the board are washing their hands with it is beyond me, because thats what they’re doing by awarding new contracts to the likes of plodders like Carrick and Fletcher. Where the fuck is the youth? What the fuck has happened to United being a major player at the top end of the transfer market? Who the fuck is this Bebe fella? who sanctioned that for fucks sake. Obertan, lordy lordy. Do some of our supporters actually realise that when Giggs retires.(though some would agree he did 3 seasons ago) and Scholes retires, it will be Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher and Gibson competing for places. Is it no fuckin wonder we’d lost that game before pissed had shook hands with Dogleash on sunday. I’m not buying the fact that Wobbly gob and Vidic did’nt play cozz the dippers did what several other teams should have done to us this season, but we managed to get away with it. I’ve been saying for 2 seasons now that this is the worst United squad in 20 years maybe more. Teddy Sheringham has said the same in the paper today. He goes on about Keano being a leader, someone who would win back posession and drive the team on, losing was not an option. Todays United don’t have that.
I hope we do win the league, and after that pissed face should leave. And lets start again. His childish ruling of Old Trafford with an iron fist is getting boring now. Surrounding himself with yes men staff and players is to the detriment of the traditions of the club.
He could fuck off now for all i care.
Anyone asking for Ferguson to leave is suicidal.
Ferguson absolutely MUST stay, at least until the Glazers are gone…
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
Any midfield with Carrick in it is not our best midfield. Anderson (yes I know he’s inconsistent) would have been a better pick, had he been available. That said, I was happy enough with the team when it was announced simply because I thought we could out-score Liverpool. Contrary to what Cal thinks, Scholes was our best player in the first half by a country mile.
Suarez was a no-brainer of signing really. He’d been on the radar of many top clubs before Liverpool made their move but, to be fair to them, they got him at a respectable price.
Ted,
you are having a laugh am sure. And for calling Rio Ferdinand that name you are an idiot of the highest order!!
Sheesh, ofcourse he was. As he is always in your view.