The Manchester United Thread

[gangsta_795]

Rooney: My performance against Aston Villa wasn't good enough

The Liverpool-born forward shared Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson's view that he was too "casual" in the comfortable Premier League victory.

"It was nice to score two goals but I didn't think my performance was good enough," Rooney told reporters.


"It was nice to score two goals but the rest of my play wasn't great. I will be working hard to put it right"
"The rest of my play wasn't great. I am disappointed with that and I will be working hard to put it right."

Sunday's double brought Rooney’s goal tally to 31 for the season and the striker finds himself only three away from beating his personal best of two seasons ago.

The 26-year-old is also just one short of notching his 179th goal for the club, which would take him level with United legend George Best.

But, whilst the former Everton man admits that matching Best’s record is an additional incentive, he insists that ensuring that the Red Devils maintain their lead at the top of the league is more important.

"It would be great to equal that record and hopefully surpass it," said Rooney.

"I would be proud of that achievement but I can't really look at it just at the minute.

"If it happens then great but it's the points that are important at this time of the year and if I can score the goals that get those points then I'll be pleased."

Wayne Rooney is 11/5 with Bet365 to score two or more goals in Manchester United - Everton
After United were surprisingly beaten by Wigan, rivals Manchester City have stepped up the chase for the title, scoring 10 times in their last two matches - and Rooney is aware that his side must win their next match, against Everton, to see off their challengers.

"A month or six weeks ago, if somebody had told me that we would be five points clear at this stage of the season I would have been delighted," he added.

"Next week against Everton is another massive game for us.

"We need to get three points there to make it an interesting night against Manchester City."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...nt-good-enough

Imo that's very professional of him.

[yourmumsface17]

I'm not going to say he is a wonderful defender simply because Ferguson or any other person said it,do you actually believe he is the best defender in the league right now ?!! I think even Ferguson knows he isn't he may just be saying that to motivate him or any other reason.It's just my unbiased opinion.Just because i'm a Man Utd fan doesn't mean i have to praise every single player of them team no matter what.And the way i see him,aside from any skills he is not even strong enough to be a good defender,he almost loses every man to man contact.And no team gets several clean sheets simply because a defender is very good or even two, it has to be the 4 in the back and the 4 in the middle working together right.And if you have a very strong midfield and attackers you will hold possession a lot and that alone will raise the chanced of getting clean sheets,no to mention the superb performance of De Gea.

I'm not saying you can't criticise any Man United player, I'm just backing up my opinion with the opinion of the best manager in the world.

He has been terrific since November, I don't know which defender you are watching, but he has pretty much consistently raped every attacker for a while, loses almost every man to man contact? What a load of nonsense! He really doesn't, and I'm not saying it was just him that was the sole cause for the clean sheets, but he was part of it, and deserves credit! VDS barely had a shot to save back then thanks to the collective awesomeness of the United defence.

Love the Vidic and Evans partnership, they are great together.

There's a reason why quite a few people on this forum are saying he is our player of the season, so don't try and make it sound like I am the crazy one here

[yourmumsface17]

Gary Neville on diving, speaking sense as always. Not the best picture quality but you can still see what's going on. Watch it all.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xq6...12-20-07_sport

Wow great vid, interesting Djeko did exactly the same as Young... hope everyone can watch this and not jump all over Young and call him a cheat.

Like how he touches on what I saw saying, if you don't go down you don't get a pen, refs need to give pens for incidents where you DON'T fall down.

He really is amazing, completely neutral, rips into everyone everyone watch this video!

He even stuck up for Suarez LFC fans

[manutdfan]

I'm not saying you can't criticise any Man United player, I'm just backing up my opinion with the opinion of the best manager in the world.

He has been terrific since November, I don't know which defender you are watching, but he has pretty much consistently raped every attacker for a while, loses almost every man to man contact? What a load of nonsense! He really doesn't, and I'm not saying it was just him that was the sole cause for the clean sheets, but he was part of it, and deserves credit! VDS barely had a shot to save back then thanks to the collective awesomeness of the United defence.

Love the Vidic and Evans partnership, they are great together.

There's a reason why quite a few people on this forum are saying he is our player of the season, so don't try and make it sound like I am the crazy one here

Yep Evans has improved a lot in the last 4, 5 months. He's improved his strength and has matured a lot, looks comfortable on the ball, much better in the air and getting into attacking positions from corners.

[yourmumsface17]

Yep Evans has improved a lot in the last 4, 5 months. He's improved his strength and has matured a lot, looks comfortable on the ball, much better in the air and getting into attacking positions from corners.

Good post, why did you highlight my VDS? (I was talking about the 08/09 season where we had all those clean sheets, just incase you were confused )

[F34R]

I can say with my head held high throughout all the years I've played at a competitive level, high-school, college, and semi-pro, I've never taken a dive, EVER.

[LC77]

Gary Neville summed up the diving argument last night. Most if not all teams do it, just like all defenders try swapping shirts at each and every corner/set piece. That is blatant cheating, are they going to start retrospectively banning them too? Can of worms springs to mind.

They can't even decide when to retrospectively ban a player for assaulting a fellow pro.

[three3-times]

Gary Neville was brilliant last night on MNF.

Everyone loves him as a pundit, even rival fans!

I am scared of facing the tevez/aguero partnership on the 30/4. I'm gutted that we lost to the impressive wigan, as we could've afforded to lose that game and still have a 5 point gap with 2 games to go.......... i can see us beating Everton and them beating wolves with EASE!!!!

[three3-times]

http://www.psu.com/forums/showthread...Transfers-ect)

You will find that this is still by far the most used football thread mate. hence why hardly anyone posts in there.

[manutdfan]

Good post, why did you highlight my VDS? (I was talking about the 08/09 season where we had all those clean sheets, just incase you were confused )

Thanks. Yeah at first I was then I realised lol, forgot to take the bold off.

Gary Neville was brilliant last night on MNF.

Everyone loves him as a pundit, even rival fans!!

Yeah Gary Neville was great yesterday on the diving subject he's a smart bloke and knows his stuff. They showed a few incidents Dzeko blatant dive against Sunderland to win a penalty. They could of showed a lot more as well.

It's just part of the game all teams get dodgy decisions and 90% of players dive. There's nothing really you can do about it, it's been in the Premier League for a while now. Was like in Europe years ago Premier League managers told there players to dive in Europe cause you get free kicks easier.

[Tutankhamun]

Manchester United close in on Eden Hazard and Nicolas Gaitan

Ferguson always planned to hit the transfer market again this summer and has spent the season narrowing down his targets.

Gaitan has been on his radar since United faced Benfica in the Champions League – while he made a personal check on Hazard last month.

Ajax’s Christian Eriksen is another name on his shortlist – and he has a long-standing interest in Luka Modric.

Manchester Evening News

Which one would you prefer?

[mankind]

Nicolás Gaitán's skill, shooting ability and technique could help Manchester United tick again

United have lacked creativity at times this season, with Paul Scholes' return a tacit admission that their current midfielders have yet to reach the stage where they can have a consistently effective influence on games.

Given their persistent links to Wesley Sneijder and occasional chatter about Luka Modric being a target, the signing of Benfica's Nicolés Gaitán represents something of a gamble, but if he can reproduce the form he's shown in Lisbon he will quickly become a firm favourite at Old Trafford.

The 24-year old attacking midfielder was seen hugging the left touchline during Benfica's recent Champions League game against Chelsea, but his game is usually more expansive.

He has been fond of switching wings frequently with his Argentine compatriot Pablo Aimar during Benifca matches and is a threat when running directly at full backs or drifting into more central positions.

He is able to play his part in flowing passing moves, as in this goal, one of five Benfica put past Pacos de Ferreira. Gaitan receives the ball in his own half and plays two excellent passes as his side sweep forward before eventually unleashing an inch-perfect shot that curls into the top corner. The bad football boot advert editing job may labour the point slightly, but does demonstrate Gaitan's ability to contribute as both creator and scorer:







The midfielder's technique is undoubtable. This first-time volley, hit on the run and off a quick cross, demonstrates why Gary Neville may well be sallivating over a giant iPad at his natural talent next season.



As an out-and-out winger Gaitán is more than capable of beating his man with a combination of pace and skills and possesses excellent crossing ability which has helped him to five Champions League assists this season, making him joint-leader in providing goals in the competition. More often than not if Gaitán doesn't get past his man it means he's been fouled:



Gaitán is prone to the odd demonstration of somewhat cheeky skills, which should quickly win over any Old Trafford sceptics. This literal backpass is a good example:



Cristiano Ronaldo is the template which Alex Ferguson hopes Gaitán will conform to, although this training goal from his days in Argentinca suggests he could be taking his cues from another lauded former United midfielder:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...ick-again.html

[manutdfan]

Good post, why did you highlight my VDS? (I was talking about the 08/09 season where we had all those clean sheets, just incase you were confused )

Manchester Evening News

Which one would you prefer?

Tough call between Gaitan and Hazard...

If we loan out Fabio who's cover for Evra then, Jones? How will Rafa cope without his brother?

[three3-times]

Manchester Evening News

Which one would you prefer?

Both!! As we have proven we can win or do well in the league with a "shit" CM!

Dont really need a DMC anymore, just a fit Fletcher. or more mobile ando, ando could and should be like Ramieres

[Tutankhamun]

I can't imagine we won't sign an LB in the summer. Seems unlikely SAF would settle for just one true LB.

Not sure about Anderson's future, wouldn't be surprised if he's sold in the summer. Apparently he got arrested for drunk driving in Brazil earlier this week..

[three3-times]

Tough call between Gaitan and Hazard...

If we loan out Fabio who's cover for Evra then, Jones? How will Rafa cope without his brother?

Hmmm, no left back what so ever?

Fryers? If he stays?

[manutdfan]

Yeah shame about Ando he's been so inconsistent. Fyers is behind Fabio in terms of first team action and experience.

[three3-times]

Yes, but fabio is going on a season long loan next season.........

We no other left back option

[yourmumsface17]

Yeah shame about Ando he's been so inconsistent. Fyers is behind Fabio in terms of first team action and experience.

Ando is such an enigma, he has moments where you think, what a quality young player we have here, but then he will go through a really bad young and get injured, I maintain if he hadn't suffered all those injuries he would be a regular now (imo)

I'd like to keep him, just because it is clear he is talented.

[manutdfan]

Yeah I like Anderson but if new faces are brought in he may not be needed.

[yourmumsface17]

Yeah I like Anderson but if new faces are brought in he may not be needed.

That's true, I'm still not convinced that we will buy a midfielder this summer, especially if Pogba stays, how would it look to him, offer him new deal, sign new midfielder. (a meme in that somewhere )

Carrick,
Scholes,
Giggs,
Cleverley,
Anderson,
Fletcher,
Pogba

We seem to have a lot of selection, however I would be pleased if we did sign one.

[three3-times]

THE MORE i think about it, i dont think we will sign a CM, but we will sign someone in the hazard, gaitan mould. if darren can come back, i think we will be ok. for europe anyway

[Tutankhamun]

Scholes may not stay + he can't play every game. Giggs can't play every game either. Fletcher may not recover or recover fully. Pogba surely would be eased into the team. Anderson has never performed consistently over a full season. That doesn't leave us with that many options.

[yourmumsface17]

That's true, maybe it's something United will analyse in the summer, I agree that we will sign someone between the midfield and the forwards.

Also..inb4sneijder

[manutdfan]

Gaitan or Hazard would be bought for the left wing to go with Young, Nani is more a right winger really.

Park could be sold, looks like his legs have gone. Great servant for the club.