The Manchester United Thread

[three3-times]

manchester united miss nemanja vidic

bob dylan is so good that he can write beautiful lyrics without typing a word. In most of the time, his song about the tortuous aftermath of a relationship, he tells us, through simple repetition of the titular phrase, that he is essentially fine – that he is "halfways content" and he "don't even notice she gone". Most of the time. There is no need to tell us what happens the rest of the time.
the song came to mind on sunday as manchester united ceded the initiative in the title race. Most of the time united have defended well this season. It has not been comparable to the post-stam shambles of 2001-02, when they haemorrhaged goals. This season they have kept more clean sheets than any other side in the premier league – six of them in seven matches before they met everton. Most of the time jonny evans and rio ferdinand have combined splendidly. Most of the time united have hidden the absence of nemanja vidic, the best defender in britain and maybe the world. Most of the time.
everton are an admirable side who played excellently, yet to concede four against them is indefensible. They do not score four away goals in many calendar months; the last time they did so in a league game was over a decade ago, at derby in david moyes's first away match as manager.
united's defence has had the strangest season, mixing clean sheets and filthy shockers. Even weirder, the worst performances – save a sound thrashing at newcastle – have come at home. Basel, manchester city, benfica, blackburn, bilbao and now everton have all had the run of old trafford. Vidic missed all six games. United have conceded 19 league goals at home, the most since 1978-79. They have conceded 31 in all competitions at old trafford; the last time they let in more than that was in 1962-63.
in vidic's nine matches home and away this season united have let in a goal every 351 minutes; without him a goal every 75 minutes – mainly because of those sporadic shockers. He is something of an everton specialist, able to cope almost single-handedly (or single-headedly) with the more rudimentary elements of their impressively varied game plan. He was magnificent at goodison park in november and had another splendid game there in 2007-08, when he scored the winner for good measure.
everton know that, without vidic, united can be bullied. Evans is especially vulnerable; bobby zamora and carlton cole are among those who have successfully worked him over in the past. Yesterday it was the outstanding marouane fellaini. Evans was far from the only culprit; rafael da silva had an even worse game and ferdinand applied none of the balm that a player of his stature should. Vidic would have won header after header, organised the defence and radiated certainty. With him on the pitch there is no chance this would have happened

[LC77]

Or he Carlos

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk

Or he Hargreeeeaves.

[mankind]

Utd prepare bid for Hazard as Fergie admits interest

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed his interest in Lille forward Eden Hazard, heightening the possibility he will make a bid in the summer.
Hazard announced at the start of the season that he will be leaving the Ligue 1 champions in the summer, as he looks to take his talents to a bigger stage. Clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid have been strongly linked with the Belgium international since that announcement - although United have remained on the periphery of the race for his signature.
However, first-team coach Rene Meulensteen revealed earlier this month that Ferguson had taken a close interest in the technically-gifted forward - and the Scot has now confirmed he scouted the 21-year-old against Lyon earlier in April with an eye to a possible bid.
"I was at the game and watched Hazard, as well as other players," Ferguson told French station Radio RMC. "That's part of my job, looking at good players.
"Hazard is a very good player and has a lot of qualities. He's particularly quick over the first 10 yards."
The player has previously acknowledged that it is flattering to have a club like Manchester United show interest in him.
"Of course [United interest me], this is a club that excites everyone, but for now my focus is on Lille," he told La Voix du Nord in March. "But yes, it is a pleasure to be watched by one of the best coaches in the world, if not the best."
Tottenham have also been credited with an interest, along with other clubs in Italy and Spain. Also in the interview, Sir Alex Ferguson praised France national team coach Laurent Blanc - who played under him at Old Trafford late in his career and has recently been tipped to become the next Chelsea manager.
``The France team is more balanced and has become a winning team again,'' Ferguson said. "As in 1998, it has established a balance between young and experienced players.
"When Laurent played in Manchester he followed our training methods very carefully.
"That's very intelligent and obviously he has qualities as a coach because he made Les Bleus a winning team again.'

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport...l?CMP=OTC-RSS#

[yourmumsface17]

Apparently this is how Madrid will celebrate if Chelsea win tomorrow night.

[three3-times]

I do NOT want chelsea to win, i DO NOT support other english teams and most of my mates are chelski ****s, id never hear the end of it if they got to the final!

[Nitey]

@Mourinho in that gif

[yourmumsface17]

What a moronic, and stupid way of getting sent off; I know it was a debatable red but it was an absolute asshole thing do to, he knew what he was doing.

Hope CFC fans are massively disapointed in their lion heart, he also cost me ...

CHELSEA HAVE SCORED WAHAAAAAAT

[John25]

What a moronic, and stupid way of getting sent off; I know it was a debatable red but it was an absolute asshole thing do to, he knows what he was doing.

Hope CFC fans are massively disapointed in their lion heart, he also cost me ...

CHELSEA HAVE SCORED WAHAAAAAAT

Were Talking about John Terry ,Cheapshotting is his Game just ask the players wives

[yourmumsface17]

Were Talking about John Terry ,Cheapshotting is his Game just ask the players wives

Good point

[yourmumsface17]

Lmao Drogbas excuse, a classic!

"He checked his run" He was stood still

[yourmumsface17]

[R3D D3V!L]

[Shibby]

I didn't even know that was him I was just like "wtf was that noise?" lol.

Torres must be thrilled. He just sealed the chance to sit on the bench for a CL final.

[yourmumsface17]

I didn't even know that was him I was just like "wtf was that noise?" lol.

Torres must be thrilled. He just sealed the chance to sit on the bench for a CL final.

I'm gonna put 20 quid on Chelsea to win it, their name is on the trophy, it's their destiny! It's their time, I don't want to say they have been lucky, but you have to admit, there was a lot of luck involved in tonight.

Amazing stuff though, credit to them for believing.

[Shibby]

I'm gonna put 20 quid on Chelsea to win it, their name is on the trophy, it's their destiny! It's their time, I don't want to say they have been lucky, but you have to admit, there was a lot of luck involved in tonight.

Amazing stuff though, credit to them for believing.

I just hope I get to watch Chelsea lose 2 finals soon .

[yourmumsface17]

I just hope I get to watch Chelsea lose 2 finals soon .

Same really, but with no John Terry to lift the trophy I won't have to get absolutely wasted to not mind it.

I bet Newcastle / Arsenal / Spurs feel sick right now! Imagine finishing 4th and Chelsea stealing their spot by winning it



Poor Ivanovic

I hear when the cameras went off Shreeves went on a 2 hour rant abour how Santa isn't real.

[Metal Warrior]

I didn't think it was possible to despise Chelsea even more. I'm no fan of Barça, but Chelsea just embody everything that's rotten in football. I absolutely hate Real Madrid as well, so go Bayern. I don't even particularly like Bayern either. Meh, fuck it.

[Shibby]

Haha I was just gonna post that video. To be fair, Ivanovic should have known the situation.

[Nitey]

I feel for Ivanonic. He played out of his skin tonight

Personally want Bayern to win it lol. But I can see Mourinho getting one over on Abromovic

[yourmumsface17]

[Firefox]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA-seoP6TII

[three3-times]

Erm, fuck chelsea, i aint about to congratulate a lucky average horrible team.

barca were shit, end of. no plan b as their plan a works 99% of the time.

Dont think real or bayern wont try and pass through the middle and not shoot from distance or cross the ball!

[mankind]

Eden Hazard happy to listen to Manchester United offer

Flattered: Lille's forward Eden Hazard (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed to French radio station RMC that he watched Hazard in action last month and the Belgian has responded to say that he would have to consider any offer put to him.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Hazard said: 'I am flattered by the compliment coming from the top manager in world football.

'I did not know he was at the game to be honest but no one knew he came to watch me because I was not aware.

'Manchester United are a very top team and anyone would listen to them.'
The United boss confirmed that he watched the highly-rated forward in action against Lyon and told the radio station just how impressed he was with him.
'When I went to watch Lyon versus Lille, last time, of course I saw Hazard playing but also other players which is part of my job,' said the Scot.

'I can confirm Hazard is a very good player, he has so many qualities, he is very fast over the first ten metres.'

Many of Europe's elite clubs, including Arsenal and Tottenham, are said to be on the trail of the 21-year-old with United the latest to be linked with a move in the summer.
Hazard joined the French champions in 2007 and is currently the joint-second highest goalscorer with Nene of Paris Saint-Germain on 16 goals.
Oliver Giroud of Montpellier leads the scoring charts with 20 goals.

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/footbal...r-united-offer

[yourmumsface17]

http://vimeo.com/40998935

OMG! I died

[claud3]

Well, United can still win the title, if they keep their focus on the game and not on the title... We have seen before how many want the title and then lose the match, because the focus is on the title and not the match

United need to play, like they play and not play like its the final

I know it sounds stupid, but that is how i see them playing for the last couple of months... That draw might not have happened, if they focused on the match at hand and not the last match of the season for the title