What a difference a year makes!

TBF. This team last year went on to beat Villa 6-0 a week later.

 

Rafael is the right back though and he looks an absolute gem. Jones and Smalling are just filling in. We'll have agree to disagree on Ferdinand. I'm not saying he is as good as was, he clearly isn't, but I can only go off his most recent performances and he has been in unbelieveable nick. They have not conceded a goal in the five games since City and I think he has played them all. People just got carried away with the City thing. When they have Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra in the same defence, they just don't normally concede goals. Couldn't call Evans poor either. He's the best fifth choice centre I've seen! The games you've mentioned were pre City. Ferguson has reorganised now and you'd have to say 5 played without conceding, regardless of oppo, is a good defensive unit. Just a sloppy start which they are renowned for!

Funnily enough I think it will be 0-0 on Saturday. I'm hopeful of a point. Two really good defensive teams (yes we made a couple of error against City but otherwise we've been rock-like). We'll probably lose as its not a happy hunting ground for us but I'm trying to be positive.

 

Yeah but Villa were canny ****e like....

The same team lost to Stoke, Blackburn, and could only draw vs Fulham and Wigan at home.

It wasn't a **** team, but it was very average.

 

Some selective memory on our very decent season last year.

How about the Mackem, West Ham, Wolves maulings with the Arsenal, Everton away wins, with a pinch of taking points off Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manure at home? It was only a 2nd half collapse being 3-0 up v Brom costing us a 9th place finish.

 

8th actually...

And I'm not talking about the team we finished with, I'm talking about the team at the start of the season

I know I'm wrong about the same team losing to.. yadda yadda

But I was referring to our first team last season.

 

Yes, right after Carew sent that penalty right over the bar swinging the game in our favour.

 

Enuff said.

 

Yea because whenever a team misses a penalty they usually go on to concede 6.

 

They had a stand in manager, Carew stuffed the penalty effecting their confidence, all we did was pounce on the opportunity and win the game. The fact we scored 6 was down to Villa's sloppyness on the ball, which was shown on MOTD that night. Yes it was a good scoreline, but that team was very average despite a good scoreline.

 

Villa were SO bad that game it was hilarious. Their defence was all over the place. On full form if those two teams played each other again, at their best, it wouldn't be the same scoreline.

 

You are wrong...again!

 

I find it rich coming from a Bindipper that our CM is poor.

Fair enough, I'll admit that we've got a weaker CM than City and Chelsea and possibly Spurs on paper but this team is capable of beating any team in this league. Couple that with the fact that our wide-men options are better than every other team including City, and our midfield is not too shabby, and where Liverpool's midfield is concerned, it's a billion miles better because Steeeeevie Geeee hasn't kicked a ball because of his sore legs in about 6 years.

People have short memories if they're forgetting what our kids done to a full strength Manchester City side at Wembley only a few months ago. We have THE best two young England defenders in Smalling and Jones as well as probably the best central defender in world football. Getting them all to click when players are dropping like flies (Cleverley, Rio, Vidic, Young, Hernandez, Welbeck) is hard and that's a test City haven't had to face yet.

I'd also like to point out that Rooney & Hernandez are better than anything outside of Manchester.

United might not win against Newcastle, I'll admit that, but I guarantee you Pardew would rather play at least 17 other EPL teams away from home before he picked United at Old Trafford.

 

I can remember a worse defence though, West Ham! At least Carroll etc were pumped against Villa, West Ham may as well have rolled out the red carpet in front of goal. Imagine my horror when one of the key components in their demise, James Tomkins, then began to appear regularly for the U21's and I think got in the finals squad! He may be better than he looked that day, quite a few rate him, but I reckon I could have torn him a new one that day. Just to be clear, I'm a little overweight and completely finished in footballing terms with dicky knees and ankles!!!!

 

I was shocked you didn't go for Parker. He was tailor made for you guys. He was much maligned in his time with us, wrongly. I kept hearing the same old arguments rolled out that we had when Batty was here. "he just spins round in circles and passes it back or sideways" He never gave the ball away and some just didn't understand the value in keeping the ball. There is no doubt that CM is Man U's weakest area, but they are still well equipped compared to most. I do think our two would go straight in your team though which gives me hope for the weekend. I just don't expect anything because its Man U at Old Trafford, one of the toughest assignments in world football.

 

The same defence that made Smith(!) look like he had some pace left in him.

 

The only team that are harder than you away from home are Man City. I will happily admit that and the title will be close this year. However I am much more confident going to your place this year than I have been in previous years. That is mainly to do with the improved side that we have, but I think you have to agree that you are weaker than you have been in many years. However I will happily admit that will not be for long once the likes of Jones, Smalling, Cleverley, Wellbeck etc. reach there peak!

 

James Perch can be yours for the very reasonable sum of £5.5 million then you will have the best central defender in world football... eventually.

 

They're raving about Jones because of his ability as a footballing centre half. What about Perchino? He may be the natural replacement for Vidic. David Silva would have been happy with that reverse slide rule defence splitting pass.

 

I wont deny they are a very good side but compared to other Man U sides they look fairly average, especially in central midfield.

Unfortunately, the position they are strongest in (wide midfield) is up against the position we are weakest in. Although I think Collo and Saylor could cope with Rooney (barring some spectacular play), I think Raylor and Simmo will really struggle against Nani and Young, if they play.

 

Cant work out whether u can work out sarcasm....or you're being sarcastic yourself.

anyway.