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Post by soapy481 on Feb 13, 2008 16:46:27 GMT
Agree with A-t-S. After last week a bit of an effort and a narrow win will suffice. So long as theer is an actual effort to win the bloody game then i'd be happy.
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Post by Rais.n.Hell on Feb 13, 2008 17:08:13 GMT
I just want a win. Don't care how. Don't care who starts. A win to knock Arsenal out of the Cup and give us the boost of confidence we need and knock their confidence ! My sentiments exactly!!
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Post by Dan_Utd on Feb 13, 2008 23:22:15 GMT
I can't see Scholes starting this game,he hasn't been his old self since he came back from injury. Hargreaves and Anderson should be in the middle with Ronnie and Giggs on the wings. Hopefully we can shut them down, and move on to the next round.
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Post by 7even on Feb 14, 2008 5:16:14 GMT
Sky Sports
Rio Ferdinand feels knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup will be an ideal response to Manchester United's disappointing weekend in the Premier League.
United lost 2-1 at home to rivals Manchester City, whilst Arsenal increased their lead at the top of the table to five points after victory over Blackburn on Monday evening.
Ferdinand admits United had a very bad weekend, but he insists they have the chance to put things right as they face Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
"It was a very bad weekend," he told MUTV.
"We've all been thinking about the reasons why it happened and how we want to pull ourselves together and get the result out of our minds.
"The best thing you can do is to come into training and just get focused on winning the next game, and that's what we're doing." ---------------------------
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Post by kokka78 on Feb 14, 2008 11:12:07 GMT
Taken from THE SUN RYAN GIGGS says it suits Manchester United fine that Arsenal have been installed as title favourites.
The Gunners have moved five points clear at the top of the table on the back of some sparkling football which has won them plenty of headlines and admirers.
But Welsh wizard Giggs believes United’s steel and their ability to win ugly as well can ultimately see them retain the Premier League title.
Giggs said: “I did notice the praise Arsenal were getting earlier in the season but it didn’t really bother me.
“Arsenal were playing good football, but we felt we were as well.
“I just thought, ‘Right, you keep talking about Arsenal, put the pressure on them and keep saying that Arsenal have won the league already and that they’re going to walk it’.
“It’s always been the United way to try to win with good football but our ability to win ugly as well has been a trademark of the last 15 years or so.”
While Arsenal have lost only one league game this season, United have now lost four following their derby-day defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford. But many believe there is still a brittleness in Arsenal which could show itself in the final run-in.
Giggs says the big test comes when teams have you under the cosh or set themselves out to gain a draw.
Giggs said: “In the majority of games, we’re going to try to play attractive football and score lots of goals but we also need the added steel for games like the ones at Liverpool this season and last.
“We did not play particularly well in the last two games at Anfield but still managed to sneak a win. They are the kind of results that really do win leagues, not the big wins like 6-0 against Newcastle.
“You find that every team you come up against in the Premier League is playing for something, whether it’s battling to stay up, going for a place in Europe or trying to win a title.
“Many of those clubs would consider a point against United to be a good result, so you’re coming up against sides that maybe don’t intend to win.
“They just want to defend and get men behind the ball and that’s what we’ll have to try to overcome — teams that are trying to stifle our play.”
Yet Arsenal did manage to overcome a resolute Blackburn side on Monday to move clear at the top.
In the past it was the sort of game they might have come unstuck in but the Gunners look like they are made of sterner stuff this time.
The resumption of other competitions is also likely to have a huge say in the title race. Arsenal have to visit Old Trafford this Saturday in the FA Cup and the psychological effect of defeat could unsettle the losers.
Then next week the Champions League knockout stages begin.
Both teams are still in with a chance of the Treble that Giggs helped United achieve in 1999.
The Welshman said: “I think it is still possible to win both the league and the Champions League, but momentum is key.
“You also need a big squad so that you can make five or six changes for a Champions League game without weakening yourself too much for a tough weekend game.
“But with no injuries, I think we’ll be able to do that. It’s more difficult to win the league and Champions League in the same season than it was 10 years ago.
“A lot of the Italian and Spanish teams set out to win the Champions League and that’s the main priority. They seem to prioritise more than us, whereas we think that we can win everything!
“Obviously, we have done that once, but that was extraordinary.”
Giggs, in an interview with magazine Inside United, says there is a much stronger squad at Old Trafford this season than last when they won the title.
They also reached the Champions League semis and FA Cup final.
Giggs said: “Last year, we were playing the last few months of the season with really only 13 or 14 players.
“But, hopefully, we can go into the run-in this time with 20 players so the manager will be able to freshen things up.”
United are still trying to pick themselves up from their weekend derby defeat.
That was made worse by Arsenal’s subsequent victory over Blackburn.
They have the chance to make some amends on Saturday as they host the Gunners in the titanic cup clash
But according to Rio Ferdinand, they first have to get rid of the derby-day blues and work out where they went wrong.
Ferdinand said: “We didn’t do any of the things that have taken us into a good position in the league and made us a threatening, compact team. It was a very bad weekend. We’ve all been thinking about the reasons why it happened and how we want to pull ourselves together and get the result out of our minds.
“The best thing you can do is to come into training and get focused on winning the next game and that’s what we’re doing.”
United will be hoping Cristiano Ronaldo will be on top form against the Gunners as he closes in on George Best’s record goal haul for a United winger.
The Portuguese showman has notched 27 goals in all competitions while Best’s top tally was 32.
But Argie Carlos Tevez insists he is not jealous of the Portuguese wizard.
Tevez, who has managed a more modest 14 strikes, said: “There is no jealousy whatsoever towards him. That would be stupid.
“If I hadn’t been scoring I would be worried but I’m in good form.
“I think we’re the top goalscoring pair in Europe. That’s fantastic. I’ve been in Manchester less than a year and I’ve a great understanding with my fellow forwards.
“It’s the best thing that could have possibly happened. Who wouldn’t want to play with him and Wayne Rooney?”
“Playing with fantastic players means I get two or three chances a game and I want to deliver. I want more goals.”
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ I LOVE GIGGS
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Post by littlemissdevil on Feb 14, 2008 12:02:52 GMT
we have to knock them down. i don't care if it is a 1-nil win, as long as we win it.
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Post by Red Yank on Feb 14, 2008 14:12:52 GMT
I didn't mind being 2 points behind Arsenal because to put it in cycling terms: we would be letting them fight the wind while we coast behind building the energy for the final sprint. Now however we're in a different position and I feel Saturday's match will be important in keeping Arsenal from gaining too much confidence against us when we play them in the league.
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Post by stretfordendling on Feb 14, 2008 14:53:38 GMT
I would love it if we beat them. Love it.
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Jak
United Bench Warmer
Member of the Month - January 08
Posts: 846
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Post by Jak on Feb 14, 2008 16:15:14 GMT
I've been reading rumours that Wenger will not be starting his best XI on Saturday. In that event, if we do beat them, it won't mean as much in terms of the Premiership, will it? Psychologically, I'd rather face a full-strength Arsenal side in the Cup tie, and have a narrow victory, then beat the crap out of a diluted side and have the pundits saying, well, that doesn't prove anything.
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Post by Tatty on Feb 14, 2008 17:12:44 GMT
We're gonna get beat, 1-0.
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Jak
United Bench Warmer
Member of the Month - January 08
Posts: 846
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Post by Jak on Feb 14, 2008 19:05:14 GMT
We're gonna get beat, 1-0. Well, aren't you just a little ray of frickin' sunshine!
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Post by adexkola on Feb 14, 2008 20:17:57 GMT
We're gonna get beat, 1-0. Talk about lack of faith!
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Post by aussiegraham on Feb 15, 2008 1:48:34 GMT
We're gonna get beat, 1-0. There's a lot like you on the Loserpool board. Are you in the right place Tatty?!
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Post by adexkola on Feb 15, 2008 3:24:39 GMT
We're gonna get beat, 1-0. There's a lot like you on the Loserpool board. Are you in the right place Tatty?! Nah, he's cool. Just a wave of depression. In one week, he'll be saying, "Man United for the treble!"
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ReD RaT
United Bench Warmer
The shirt speaks for itselfplg%%#11%%
Posts: 915
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Post by ReD RaT on Feb 15, 2008 6:42:21 GMT
It's his opinion; no need to jab at him for it.
Besides, you'd all be shame-faced if that actually turned out to be the right scoreline.
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