11/12 Football Thread

[mcgaffer]

I love that Fry speech, reminds me of a coach I had when I was playing.

Best speech was "Look at those nets, smack the ball into that with as much power as you can and it'll scrape the mud off the ball and fling it in the keepers eyes."

One player asked him for some tactical advice on how to score the goal so the net could do just that and what to do if the keeper had the sense to wipe the mud out of his eyes should the unlikely event occur. The player was dropped to the sub's bench.

That player was me. I didn't get brought on.

We lost 3-0. The manager didn't appreciate me asking if it was because there was mud in our keeper's eyes.

[king mob]

I love that Fry speech, reminds me of a coach I had when I was playing.

That used to be the same as a coach when I was 15 who would just demand 'GRAFT' while kicking big lumps out of the wall whether we were winning or losing.

Tactics? Pah, we didn't need tactics.

[Omega Alpha]

Apparently, central midfielders to Ferguson are like goalkeepers to Wenger: he'll pretend he doesn't need anyone new, he has all he needs, despite the fact that the entire world sees otherwise, won't use the money he has to sign a couple of good ones, then he's forced to pick someone that was world class five years ago out of retirement...but still won't admit he has a problem. Scholes is the new Lehmann...

[Aubergine~!]

He was a fading force several years ago and frankly relying upon a 37 year old whose lost his legs is desperation as Man Utd have just found out.

As a United fan, I can tell you right now that he was, when in form, our best midfielder last season.

I'd agree that he shouldn't have played today though. He's played no competitive footie since the CL final last season, and I'm not even sure he's had a proper training session since coming out of retirement.

And that Kompany red card is actually a really good tackle.

Disagree, reckon it was a yellow card.

Still, horrible decision from possibly the worst ref in the league.

[king mob]

Apparently, central midfielders to Ferguson are like goalkeepers to Wenger: he'll pretend he doesn't need anyone new, he has all he needs, despite the fact that the entire world sees otherwise, won't use the money he has to sign a couple of good ones, then he's forced to pick someone that was world class five years ago out of retirement...but still won't admit he has a problem. Scholes is the new Lehmann...

I'm not sure he has the money to buy the midfielder (and other players) he clearly needs, and when he did have the money he went out and bought players for too much money who weren't up to the standard of previous Man Utd players.

But yes, the Scholes thing is a gamble and one which very nearly blew up in their faces today.

[king mob]

As a United fan, I can tell you right now that he was, when in form, our best midfielder last season.

Which if true shows how poor their midfield is.

I'd agree that he shouldn't have played today though. He's played no competitive footie since the CL final last season, and I'm not even sure he's had a proper training session since coming out of retirement.

Apparently he has been training regularly but even so he was miles behind the pace of Man City's players, and he ended up resorting to kicking players.

Disagree, reckon it was a yellow card.

Still, horrible decision from possibly the worst ref in the league.

It shaped the entire game til Scholes came on.

[king mob]

I have no idea how much worse this year can get for Liverpool and it's only a week old.


Stewart Downing has been nicked.

[thehod]

The rules clearly state that a two footed challenge is a red card, regardless of whether the ball is won or not. I'm not sure I agree with the rules, but the ref applied it correctly. It was a red.

[Aubergine~!]

Which if true shows how poor their midfield is.

It was good enough to win the league and get to the Champions League finals.

That's pretty bloody good.

Apparently he has been training regularly but even so he was miles behind the pace of Man City's players, and he ended up resorting to kicking players.

He's got a coaching role at United, so he's likely been attending sessions, but that's nowhere near being match fit.

[king mob]

The rules clearly state that a two footed challenge is a red card, regardless of whether the ball is won or not. I'm not sure I agree with the rules, but the ref applied it correctly. It was a red.

The problem I have was there were similar tackles flying around by other players, and I'm thinking especially of one by Jones on Aguero which should have been a yellow, but it's down to interpretation, especially as I don't think he had two feet off the ground when he took the ball. Nani certainly thought nothing of it til the rest of his team kicked off at the referee.

[king mob]

It was good enough to win the league and get to the Champions League finals.

That's pretty bloody good.

Win the league just about and get a relatively easy route to a final to be played off the pitch which led to Ferguson saying he needs to rebuild the side. Yes, they did well but it was hiding the real problems the side has and not only that, how Ferguson's tactics are beginning to creak.

He's got a coaching role at United, so he's likely been attending sessions, but that's nowhere near being match fit.

He won't be but rebuilding for the future with Scholes isn't going to happen and sends out a sign he's got no money to spend.

[king mob]

Fourth round draw.

Nottingham Forest or Leicester v Swindon

Sheffield United v Birmingham or Wolves

Macclesfield or Bolton v Swansea

Everton v Fulham

Derby v Stoke

Liverpool v Manchester United

Watford v Tottenham

Stevenage v Notts County

Arsenal or Leeds v Aston Villa

Blackpool v Sheffield Wednesday

West Brom v Norwich

MK Dons or QPR v Chelsea

Hull City v Crawley Town

Dagenham & Redbridge or Millwall v Southampton

Sunderland v Middlesbrough

Brighton or Wrexham v Newcastle

Sunderland-Middlesbrough and Liverpool-Man Utd are tasty games.

[Aubergine~!]

The rules clearly state that a two footed challenge is a red card, regardless of whether the ball is won or not. I'm not sure I agree with the rules, but the ref applied it correctly. It was a red.

I'm not sure I'd call it a two footed challenge, as the other foot was trailing, and it was only momentum that brought it in.

Win the league just about and get a relatively easy route to a final to be played off the pitch which led to Ferguson saying he needs to rebuild the side.

A.) United won the League by 9 points. 9 points. 'Just about' my arse.

B.) In the knockout rounds, they played Marseille, Chelsea, and Schalke. It's not their fault that Inter lost to Schalke, and calling a Schalke team that beat Valencia and Inter to get to the semis weak is just daft.

Yes, they did well but it was hiding the real problems the side has and not only that, how Ferguson's tactics are beginning to creak.

So they did well, and were arguably the 3rd best team in Europe, but the midfield was somehow still crap.

I respect your opinions in general, but sometimes...

He won't be but rebuilding for the future with Scholes isn't going to happen and sends out a sign he's got no money to spend.

I'd agree with this, though at the same time I'd rather the youth get a runout. Pogba in particular needs games.

[Alan Lynch]

I have no idea how much worse this year can get for Liverpool and it's only a week old.


Stewart Downing has been nicked.

On his current form it's great news for Liverpool. Get Andy Carroll banged up and they'll be delighted.

[Aubergine~!]

I've heard rumours of Andy Carroll being loaned back to Newcastle while Ba is off for the African Cup, which would have to be one of the funniest things to happen in English football, ever.

He's got a coaching role at United, so he's likely been attending sessions, but that's nowhere near being match fit.

To add to this, based off reports, the Utd players didn't know Scholes was coming back until he showed up at the actual game.

He'd likely not even participated in full training sessions, which makes the decision to sub him in even stranger from Fergie.