I'd suggest that your defensive problems aren't entirely down to the personnel at the back though, Lidls. You seem to have severe injury/fitness concerns in that area, which damages stability there, but your goalkeeper situation is a puzzle and you've got no physicality in the centre of the park when Fletcher's out.
Barcelona, Bayern, Real and to a lesser extent Dortmund are light years ahead of the rest. We've seen nothing of Ferdinand in the last 3 years to suggest he can replicate the kind of form he showed in the 07/08 season, Vidic is good granted. Once Carlos Quieroz (your real tactician) left you haven't been the same defensively. Deep down you know you'd be no match for Bayern, Dortmund, Barca and Real, that said I still believe your light years ahead of Malaga, AC Milan, Inter, Arsenal, Schalke and the other Pretenders. I'd put you in between Juve and Shaktar personally. If I'm wrong then I'll come on here and apologise but you won't find many backing United for the CL whereas in previous years you'd have never written them off but the rest are just so far ahead now.
Robben miss-hit the penalty so unless Cech had a crystal ball then wouldn't put it down to homework. The pressure got to Robben as he hit at the perfect height for Cech to save.
Traditionally the big European clubs have always remained in 2nd gear in the group stage. We all know that if Barca needed to beat Celtic, they would have done it and comprehensively at that. United cannot compete with Barca, Real or Bayern. Dortmund? Yes
Changing the subject, Arsenal have their strongest team out tonight and it looks impressive. They are already one nil up v reading and I think it could be a fairly easy win for them unfortunately.
Yeah I agree Thor and I switched over too! That Arsenal team does look impressive. Would love us to play them at full strength with them at full strength with no sendings off. Would be a bloody good game.
