United fan in peace, I'm genuinely interested in how our two teams respond after the CL matches. Our defence was poor, especially the first 25 minutes, so Fergie's likely to be giving them an earful, however our attack is gelling nicely. You guys had a really tough away game and although I didn't watch your match, from what I've read I gather the performance wasn't great and Torres' performance in particular was a concern. My question is, how do your players usually react to a poor performance? For example, United have often bounced back after a rollicking from Fergie and turned up with a ruthless performance, and you'll often hear other managers saying that they hate playing United after a loss because they'll bounce back hard etc. Other teams just seem to lose all confidence and struggle to regain momentum. There are plenty of examples but for instance certain Arsenal and Liverpool teams in the past had their managers go on to blame the ref/linesman/weather/balloon instead of giving the players a kick up their backsides, and they've struggled to get back up to speed in the title race. I don't follow your team so I'm not in a position to comment, but how do you expect your team to perform this Sunday? I'm guessing with all of your senior players there will be a fair amount of determination and desire to puit things right? But of course Torres might well be a concern if his confidence gets affected negatively again. I predict an exciting game with lots of goals, I'd settle for a draw at the Bridge though. Enjoy the match lads.
We seemed to bounce back ok after the Madrid and QPR games where we were also very poor, so hopefully we can do the same this Sunday. I think overconfidence was the player's problem in those games and last nkght if I'm honest. I think there's going to be quite a few goals on Sunday, similar to last time!
And Torres? I remember last season when we played you guys, he was on that horrid run of hardly scoring... Then he scored a cracker of a goal and looked back to his best for a good portion of the match... But then he missed the open goal and went straight back to depression mode. I hope he doesn't suddenly become the Liverpool-Torres against us again.
Last night we were outplayed hands down. Shakhtar are a very good side and it is a very tough place to go. I don't think we will be too concerned about that defeat heading into the game on Sunday.We will be up for it. We are top of the league and have only dropped two points and tbh I don't think you need to try and bring your confidence back when United come to town. It immediately comes back. I predict a lot of goals on Sunday and I think we will win 3-2. Torres is very frustrating and tbh we need a new striker. I finally ran out of patience with Torres last night and I have given up hope which is a real shame. I hope we sign a new stiker in the January transfer window because if we do then the team will be complete.
Spot on Bucks! I dont think I could add much to that except to say I dont do predictions and I'm just hoping the boys go back smoothly to the show they put on last Saturday!
the talk of torres one day returning to the form of liverpool days can stop.. thats gone. He will never be that striker. Nowadays he looks so slow and clumsy. As bucks blue said, we need a new striker, ive lost all hope in fernando.
To be honest, United's come back last night helped paper the cracks in that defence and will probably help us this weekend as they won't need the reaction performance that they would have had they lost. We've struggled this year against quality fast passing teams who can break very quickly ala Juve, Madrid and Shaktar. I don't see United giving us the same sort of problems. United are a good side and will always be a hard game but at home and with our first 11 all available, I fancy our chances.
When we are playing this well the Nancy boy should be bagging lots of goals. Imagine how bad will the big baby will be when we suffer a dip in form and his head goes down/and or we sign a decent CF
I think its a treble chancer - both defences have been a shambles this season. Our main problem as always has been the lack of form of our CF (allegedly thats his position) we desperately need to remedy that problem in the next window; commentators couldn't work out why he was playing on the flanks last night, he's becoming a pedestrian and the team can't continue to carry him. 2-2 or 3-2 win for either side.
Just hope it's as good as the Spurs game, I really enjoyed that one. Chelsea vs' United rarely lets you down, so looking foward to a fizzing game.
