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Post by Kamilo on Sept 17, 2006 3:45:48 GMT
From The Guardian:
Manchester United
The three-match suspensions just served by Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes have complicated United's start to the season, though not as much as the arrival of Owen Hargreaves would have done had Bayern Munich been willing to sell him. Most people feel a midfield of Michael Carrick and Hargreaves would be too defensive for United, whatever tricks Cristiano Ronaldo and the now-injured Ryan Giggs might produce on the wings. The purchase of Hargreaves would also have pushed out Paul Scholes, unjustifiably on the evidence of Wednesday's Champions League victory over Celtic. So maybe Bayern's intransigence was a blessing in disguise for United, who have any number of attacking midfield permutations when Park Ji-Sung and Alan Smith join Kieran Richardson and Darren Fletcher on the fit list. The one question that has not been settled yet is how United replace Ruud van Nistelrooy. Rooney and Louis Saha are the first-choice front pair, but though the French striker's pace and mobility offer a different type of threat to Van Nistelrooy's refined brand of goal-hanging, there is some doubt over whether he is as reliable a finisher. Despite overwhelming superiority in their last two games, United could easily have been embarrassed by late goals from Spurs and Celtic in what turned out to be narrow victories. Saha missed chances in both and it was not clear whether Sir Alex Ferguson was bragging or complaining when he said Saha could have set a European goals record on Wednesday.
Arsenal
The answer to Arsenal's flaky league form is, if Arsene Wenger studies the video of last season's Champions League run, staring him in the face. Now is the perfect time to return to and develop his dalliance with 4-5-1. Planting another body in the centre of midfield to share the burden on Cesc Fabregas and Gilberto would at once make Arsenal more robust, and address the fact the squad is short of pacy wingers. Theo Walcott has looked their liveliest option there but Wenger has already said he will use the boy wonder sparingly. Thomas Rosicky is clearly gifted but might be even more dangerous in a freer role. Alexandr Hleb and Freddie Ljungberg have mostly played wide this season - conspicuously without penetration. A flexible 4-5-1/4-3-3, with the wide players pushing up front whenever possible a la Chelsea in the last couple of seasons, should suit Arsenal's personnel better. Because so many experienced players left the club in the summer, there are quite a few unknown quantities. What is Julio Baptista's best position? Is Rosicky physically strong enough to weave his craft centrally? Should William Gallas play in the middle when Gael Clichy is back from injury or might he show more willingness to stay at left back at Arsenal so Philippe Senderos can pick up his partnership with Kolo Toure? Once upon a time the back four tripped off the tongue. Not at the moment it doesn't. But it is further forward that Arsenal need to find answers more urgently. good read |
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Post by Kamilo on Sept 17, 2006 3:46:42 GMT
2-0 united ronaldo and rooney split one
vds
neville ferdinand brown evra
ronaldo fletcher scholes solksjaer
saha rooney
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Post by stonecarver on Sept 17, 2006 10:11:46 GMT
Shit. I'm stuck at work and am gonna have to listen to the match on 5 live.  MOTD highlights will have to do. Enjoy the match folks, it should be a cracker. #thumb# Goals Goals Goals United to win with an emphatic display of attacking flare and defensive superiority. Scholes, and Ronaldo to score with Saha continueing his scoring record.........! Rio to open eyes fully and prove his position as the best defender in the business. Really hope Carrick shines today. I would love a clean sheet for VDS #devilbanana# |
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Post by VintageRed on Sept 17, 2006 10:37:42 GMT
No ticket so its going to be a stream or down to the pub. #beer# Can't wait. Those of you going think of us and sing us a song . we want to hear you giving it Max as we have to make do with TV, pub or stream.
Heres hoping we totally humiliate them.
#devilfinger# #boxing# #devilfinger#
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Post by keano16 on Sept 17, 2006 11:11:33 GMT
This is old, but nevermind. Sing it with me now:
Viera, Woah-oh ,
Viera, Woah-oh-oh-oh ,
He comes from Senagal,
He gave Giggsy the ball,
And Arsenal won f*ck all.
Viera, Woah-oh ,
Viera, Woah-oh-oh-oh ,
His favourite card is red,
He sleeps in Wenger's bed.
Viera, Woah-oh ,
Viera, Woah-oh-oh-oh ,
He missed and f*cked it up,
And Arsenal lost the cup.
Aaah, memories.
You are my Solskjaer,
My Ole Solskjaer,
You make me happy,
When skies are grey,
And Alan Shearer, Was f*cking dearer,
So Please don't take, My Solskjaer, Away.....
#boxing#
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Post by sahahaha on Sept 17, 2006 11:41:23 GMT
UNITED . . . UNITED . . . UNITED . . . UNITED
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Post by Busby Boy on Sept 17, 2006 12:12:23 GMT
One Arsene Wenger, One Arsene Wenger,
with his packet of sweets,
and his cheeky smile,
Wenger is a dirty paedophile.
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Nailer
United Bench Warmer
Keep the Red Flag Flying Highplg%%Paul Scholes%%
Posts: 942
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Post by Nailer on Sept 17, 2006 12:21:52 GMT
Anyone have a link to a stream of the match?
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Post by theresonly1united on Sept 17, 2006 13:50:03 GMT
ha! ballack was just sent off. come on now scouse beat chelski.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win with wazza scoring first. Come on let's thrash le arse!
By the way how are the streford end flags this year so far?
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BenW_23
United Bench Warmer
Posts: 713
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Post by BenW_23 on Sept 17, 2006 14:19:38 GMT
Kuszack Nev-Brown-Ferdinand-Silvestre Fletcher-O'shea-Scholes-Ronaldo Rooney-Saha subs: evra, vidic, carrick, solskjaer, heaton why is carrick on the fcuking bench?  ? and what happened to VDS? obviously injured but still |
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akane1984
United Youth Teamer
plg%%Paul Scholes%%
Posts: 155
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Post by akane1984 on Sept 17, 2006 14:19:41 GMT
team news, no van der sar, Carrick on bench. . . .
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Post by VintageRed on Sept 17, 2006 14:23:43 GMT
Don't think anyone saw that team selection coming.
Still, good enough to do the biz.
UNITED... etc.
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Chris
United Bench Warmer
Posts: 968
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Post by Chris on Sept 17, 2006 14:27:16 GMT
Van Der Sar must still be ill or something, he didn't look right on Wednesday. Surprised about Carrick, guess he thinks O'shea is better at breaking up any attacks...
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Post by redom on Sept 17, 2006 14:33:37 GMT
These late surprises aren't good for my health, I hope Kusczak is up to it and that right hand side of Fletcher and O'Shea hardly fills me with confidence but hopefully we can still pull it out of the bag.
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Post by JoshReddevilz on Sept 17, 2006 14:47:29 GMT
why carrick on the bench? and fletcher??? |
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