Whatever else we learnt from last night, one thing is certain - we paid the price for a lack of investment in proven talent in key positions. Whether the failure to buy in recent years has come from a (misplaced) belief by SAF in the likes of Gibson, Macheda, Anderson and Carrick, or from a genuine shortage of funds, has yet to be seen. What we lacked last night (and in recent PL games) was direction - the whole team is in danger of turning into Ji Sun Park - all go, no real purpose. Had we a Sneijder, or similar, in the midfield, I very much doubt if we would have lost. We need someone who can boss the midfield, hold up play when required, yet have the ability and the experience to carry play or make decisive passes. For as much as Giggs was lauded last night by some pundits, I for one thought his passing was poor and the odd moment of skill is no substitute for consistent dominance of the midfield. Evra was poor, Vidic is turning into Ferdinand, injured every time he goes for the ball and will probably be gone in summer. This is a big slap in the face for all Man U fans, it remains to be seen whether SAF invests wisely in the future of the club or just muddles through with the mediocre talent we have on the books at present. I suspect if it is the latter, that we are in for a very long spell in the Europa league.
at least mancini has come out and apologized to city supporters. haven't heard a thing like that from fergie. embarrassed against palace and now basle in what should have been a fairly easy group to get out of. ****ing shocker
The trouble is that there aren't many midfielders out there who fit the bill. It's not just about signing players, it's about signing players who are right for United. For me Sneijder is not a good fit.
Surely a better fit than Ando or Carrick. Also, the loss of revenues from not progressing in the CL makes a complete nonesense of SAF saying there is no value in the market - what price a £30m player now - we've lost that and more by getting kicked out.
Sneijder is 29, a headstrong player with his own ideas. His footballing education has been very different to the culture at United, and I just can't see him slotting in and having the right type of intensity. Also he would arrive as a "big fish", which is not generally true of United's players. I can see a Veron situation happening all over again. Hazard may be a better bet, but I think he's got his eyes set on a move to Spain. Personally I'd give Cleverly time to develop, and spend the money on defensive midfielders who are better able to protect the defence. Cleverly seems to be an intelligent player who has a lot of confidence in his ability. I think he can figure out what we're lacking, and what he needs to do to supply it..
From an outsider looking in I would say the problem was underestimating other teams in the group and sending out carling cup sides to play them. If you fielded your strongest team possible in each game you would have won the group, its that simple.
And therein lies another problem, a complete lack of strength in depth. Our bench last night was crap - nobody with any talent or experience. I know people will say that if Hernandez or Berba weren't injured etc etc, the fact is they were, and what we had left to choose from was reserve team material at best.
I agree, our attitude has been poor, we played as if we would automatically win just by turning up. Very un-Man Utd like!
What has Mancini done for City? He has won 1 FA Cup and had it a world class side handed to him on a plate, from a wealthy Arab. SAF on the other hand has single handedly transformed our side, over a period of 25 years averaging atleast a trophy a season, and made us the most successful side in English football history. SAF doesnt need to apologise to anyone, if anything we should still be thanking him for the great success he has brought our club
However good or great you are, in whatever line of work - at some point you reach the peak of your powers. Has the time come, I wonder, to consider whether SAF is still as good a manager as he was, or are his powers of tactical nous, player analysis and man-management in decline, in which case, regardless of his past achievments and the debt all true supporters owe him, is it not time to hand over. This would be as good a time as any, further decline such as underachievement in the Europa league or faltering in the PL, might be a humiliation too far and tarnish his retirement. Just a thought.
fergie has never..and i'll always say this..never had great tactical nous. anyone who plays a 442 with a central midfield partnership of carrick and giggs against barcelona needs a slap.
Completely agree.Also, you cant go in to a crunch CL game with a 38 year old winger and a 19 year old CB as your midfield 2 and Park playing off the striker, piss poor IMO.
I wasn't too concerned with the CM partnership, Giggs's experience and guile to supplement Jones's inexperience and drive and energy. Definitely good enough, or should have been. I Agree 100% about Park though, he's not good enough in any position in the side let alone this crucial one. It should have been Young up front with Rooney with Valencia and Nani out wide. Although we were decimated to a degree by injuries the reason we did not qualify is all down to Ferguson and his frankly wierd team selections thoughout the group.
with one game to go and qualification up for grabs. Chances created and missed, blame falls squarly on the shoulders of the team on the night, they failed to convert some good football to goals.
Maybe last season was the year to retire after he finally knocked Liverpool 'off their perch'. With the emergence of City and Barca's dominance in Europe it is going to be very tough to win the big trophies now.
Not being funny mate, but weren't you lot meant to dominate for the next decade? It lasted two seasons. I'll give you Barca but until such time as City win the league and then follow it up with another they are a long way off being dominant.
City may have loads of cash and doing well at the moment but considering we are second and in touching distance plus (very importantly) crap, dire, useless etc etc, they are not the dominant force others claim they are. The squad is not that strong upon close examination and also how the hell are they going to navigate their way around the new financial rules as laid down by UEFA?
Even young Morrison would have provided some guile in there, Park is hopless unless he is given a specific task ie press their playmaker or keep their adventerous full back busy.We only created 2 or 3 decent chances all game, how many saves did their keeper make?I cant remember any of note. Giggs should never play in a two man CM IMO, he no longer has the legs and more importantly losses possesion far too easily with his stupid ****ing flicks.If both him and Park had swapped positions it may have been different, certainly not ideal but both would have been in positions to suit their abilities. I like Jones as a holding DM but his first touch is not yet good enough to play in the more condensed central positions.We may get away with this against some of the lower PL clubs but not in the CL where he would face much better players playing in their natural posistions.He has only played there a dozen or so times in his short career and crunch CL ties are not the place to experiment IMO.
