Atkinson nailed his scouse colours to the mast a long time ago and I have a serious gripe about him refereeing our games but we surrendered the initiative in the second half and got what we deserved. Fletcher and Carrick failed yet again.
for once i wish fergie had gone with 4-3-3 - for the start of the second half. our midfield simply isnt good enough to cope with just 2 in the middle.
Truth be told its not much better with 3. Ando needs to play but he is injure, without him we are appauling be it 2 or 3, because the rest are not up to standard
Working with constrictions is all part of a football managers job. If he doesn't have a decent midfield after spending all that money on the likes of Anderson, Hargreaves and Carrick then thats his problem, not the Glazers. Look at Tottenham's midfield: Modric, Huddlestone, VDV, Palacios. That cost less than yours yet is arguably better. Look at ours: Fabregas, Nasri, Rosicky, Song, Wilshire, Ramsey. That cost less than yours but IS better. You lot constantly blame lack of money problems on why you are not the best team in the world whilst ignoring that A) You have spent a lot of money in the past under the Glazers and B) The situation isn't half as bad as you make out. Grow the **** up.
Under the past under the Glazers is all well and good but the problem is when the midfield is still **** now. You still have the money to buy **** centre backs as that is clearly your achilles heel. You've spent a pretty wee penny there in recent years. Carrick was signed 5 years ago. Hargreaves 4 years ago. We need midfielders now and don't sign. You will no doubt sign another useless centre back next year as you do every year. Much as you don't spend much, when Wenger wants a player in a position of weakness you tend to sign him.
No we have a different problem to you. We have the personnel just not the mental attitude that you have. I still think my point about you having spent money in the past stands. Carrick should be in his prime, you should have spent the money you paid for Hargreaves on someone else, Anderson should be playing in almost every match for you given how much he cost. Our midfield was bought around the same time yours was, its not like we have made massive outlays in recent seasons to overtake you, we were just more wise in our buys than you. It annoys me when fans of you and Liverpool go on about a lack of money being invested when there has been money invested but you didn't didn't spend it well enough.
Our problem was that SAF wasn't willing to accept a run of trophyless seasons whilst new young players were brought through. If you look at Utd and Arsenal in 2005/06 they were both in a similar state with top midfielders (Vieira and Keane) leaving and no ready made replacements. But whereas Wenger was willing to wait for youngsters like Cesc and Walcott to come through, SAF decided to buy established and solid players like Carrick (who played a major role in us reclaiming the title in 2007) and Hargreaves (who did likewise in 2008 and helped us to the CL). The problem we now have is that these players were at the top of their potential when we signed them and thus could only go backwards. It's a similar issue with Fletcher, who peaked last season. But the quest for steady silverware has meant we've kept these players in the team and not blooded the youngsters like Pogba, Morrison and Cleverly. And whilst we were unbeaten and in the middle of the title race, SAF is unwilling to shift players around and risk making it worse than it already is. It'll be interesting to see how he responds to our current mini slump over the next few games - he could well fast track a few youngsters as he did with Macheda in 2009...
Talking of the controversy over refs, how's the conspiracy involving Phil Dowd you gooners started barking about a while back going?
We have the personnel!! Do me a favour. While the Arsenal midfield this season is better than Utd's, your goalkeeper and defence are laughable compared to ours. In fact Wenger has ignored buying a top keeper and a truly WC CB for years despite journalists, pundits and his own fans pointing it out. Utd'd midfield is weak this time around as I believe Scholes is long overdue his retirement, Gibson is not Premier class and I even have doubts over Anderson. Carrick has under performed for at least for a season and a half and that has spread to Fletcher. The midfield will be improved I have no doubt, just don't hold your breath about the Arsenal back line.
Everyone except manure fans know that roonetta should have been banned for 3 games. Him getting a goal just rubbed it in. Winge all you like about refs, I and most football fans do not want you to win the league, c'mon gooners!
So no Utd fans believed Rooney should have been banned? Yeah you obviously haven't read the Utd forum over the last few days.
Constrcrepe Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, Clichy. You don't think that individually those players are good? And if you still believe we have goal keeping problems then clearly you don't watch us much because Szczesny is a real prospect.
Sagna is a good player I'll give you that. Djourou not a chance. Vermaelen when fit, a hell of a footballer but he needs to remember to defend for that was what he was signed for. Clichy also is a good player but nowhere near the ability of Evra and dare I say it Ashley "the shooter" Cole. I don't think Szczesny is a bad keeper just nowhere near van deer Sar and he has a lot of improving to do. I believe collectively and individually Utd's defence is far superior to Arsenal. Put it this way, you take our defence and the title would be over.
You don't rate Djourou? That way I know you don't watch us much as he is better than Vermaelen. Don't agree with your assessment of Clichy either, who got picked for France at LB for their last match? Evra's ban has run out and Blanc even said it was based on form so you can't say he is 'nowhere near the ability of Sagna'. I take your point on Szczesny though, however whilst he is not as good as VDS now he has the potential to be so it would be stupid to get someone ahead of him. Another thing to consider is that we have both conceded the same amount of league goals this season,and Vermaelen has been injured for longer than Ferdinand has which kinda pokes holes in your 'you take our defence and the title would be over' theory.
I think Arsenal have sorted out the GK issue. Szczesny is young, but he is a top keeper and with a much improved Fabianski as understudy, I don't think we've got a problem there. CB is another issue however. Whoever we brought in this season it was going to be tough for them, as they had not played together before (this affects the GK too) but I think Koscielney, Vermaelen and Djourou are top CB's and given time will go on to be as good as Vidic / Ferdinand. Not convinced about Squillaci though. I don't think he is quick enough for the Prem. I still think we've got scope to bring in a top CB this summer
Time will tell about the keeper and though he needs to improve he is still young. I agree about Squillaci but while Vermaelen and Koscielney are good players, Djourou is definitely a weak link. Your full backs again while good are not world beaters. I do believe Utd's back line is collectively and individually miles ahead of Arsenal and that other teams would rather attack your defence than Utd's.
But you've played two holding midfielders (Song and Wilshire) in most games this season. So your defence gets a lot more cover than ours.
"But you've played two holding midfielders (Song and Wilshire) in most games this season. So your defence gets a lot more cover than ours." In the big games Man UTD have consitently played with a midfield trio including Carrick, Fletcher and another (Schoels or Ando) Regardless of Scholes' past these 4 players offer very little going forward (maybe Ando's dynamic runs being an exception.) Also when Rio has been out you've played with the very unadventurous O'Shea so Man UTD have hardly been exposed when playing.
