Manchester United

[rixalex]

think liverpool and chelsea are both better set up to combat a team like barca because they both use specialist defensive midfielders to stop opponents playing in front of their back four.

Think you are right over two legs Stevie.

But then again i think we would have given a better account of ourselves over two legs - after all we have recently beaten them in that format.

But in a one-off game i'm not sure how much better Liverpool or Chelsea would have done, although i'll concede they probably couldn't have done any worse.

[mrtoad]

I was trying to think of a silver lining about getting beaten

Actually i feel surprisingly little pain about the loss. That's the good thing about being beaten fair and square - there are no ifs, buts or maybes. Not like for example when we got knocked out by Porto a few years back. That really hurt because we didn't deserve it. This time we did.

I think also the fact that we won the competition last year, and by a fair dollup of good fortune, helps ease the pain.

Put it another way, i would have been far more gutted had we lost the Premiership this year.

How many of these "new" posters would have loved to have seen there team acheive what United have done in the last 12 months.

I've said it, as have nearly all of the regular United posters, no complaints.

[StevieH]

How many of these "new" posters would have loved to have seen there team acheive what United have done in the last 12 months.

I've said it, as have nearly all of the regular United posters, no complaints.

true that. apart from the one nobber who called 606 to blame ferguson for resting them all at hull i've heard nothing but 'fair enough' from united fans.

[StevieH]

think liverpool and chelsea are both better set up to combat a team like barca because they both use specialist defensive midfielders to stop opponents playing in front of their back four.

Think you are right over two legs Stevie.

But then again i think we would have given a better account of ourselves over two legs - after all we have recently beaten them in that format.

But in a one-off game i'm not sure how much better Liverpool or Chelsea would have done, although i'll concede they probably couldn't have done any worse.

true, in a one-off you can only set up to play to your strengths and hope that your big players turn up. strange that rooney, ronaldo, carrick, ferdinand and vidic all picked the european cup final to have probably their worst games of the season.

i imagine we'd have sat back and invited barca on last night, used mascherano and alonso to try and contain iniesta and messi and detailed gerrard to get about xavi. but if barca want to keep the ball then there's not that much you can do about it, they're superb.

[jjp]

the only silver lining to losing a european cup final is that you actually got to it i guess. actually scratch that, there isn't one. you just pick yourself up and try to do better next season.

I was trying to cheer myself up Steve.

At the end of the day we let them play and did not pressure them enough as Chelsea did in the semi final.

It just shows that if any team does this, they are beatable. Your right that half of the team choose to have probally their worse game of the season.

[nev]

just like to add united could have played 67 games this year if they competed every touroment well we played 66 and only missed out on the 67th game by penalties.

i must also add united have not really played the best this year i have been frustrated at times.

we can now rest u8ntill the new season hope we come back fresh and we will have hargreaves and brown back like signing two new players and add maybe one or two new signings,number 19 on the cards.

good discusion lads,some honest assesments.

[rixalex]

^^ What is the latest on Hargreaves by the way? I had heard some rumours that his career might be almost over with his injury. Certainly hope not as he is class.

[bkkjames]

^^ What is the latest on Hargreaves by the way? I had heard some rumours that his career might be almost over with his injury. Certainly hope not as he is class.

the one thing Owen can do is get it over the wall and back down into the goal - unlike certain other PFA winners who on his last 5 attempts - has showed his age. still love you though man.

[Sparkles]

^^ What is the latest on Hargreaves by the way? I had heard some rumours that his career might be almost over with his injury. Certainly hope not as he is class.

I heard a report to the contary ,think it was on Man U TV that he was back doing light training. I certainly hope so along with Wes Brown ,who was absent this season, it will be like 2 new signings. Sure did miss Hargreaves this season he would have been very useful v Barcelona .He is great tackler and very rarely comes out without the ball.

[mrtoad]

^^ What is the latest on Hargreaves by the way? I had heard some rumours that his career might be almost over with his injury. Certainly hope not as he is class.

I think it was last week I read about him, and Ferguson was saying that he will be fully fit for the beginning of the season. He's had an operation and alot of rehab, and they reckon he's going to be fine. Ferguson sadi it would be like having a new signing. If we had hime and Fletcher in the centre on Wednesday, I think we certainly would have been more competative.

[Mali1964]

Apparently the new home kit i'll be surprised if that AIG logo is still on there as £14 million is still outstanding.

[bkkjames]

Apparently the new home kit i'll be surprised if that AIG logo is still on there as £14 million is still outstanding.

If you noticed the warm-up jackets everyone was wearing on the bench during the CL final - the V looks very similar to the photo above.

[redrus]

Said before, I like it.

I think there will def be a few touch up's to give it a more professional look and, get rid of AIG but yeah, on the whole, I like it. Still won't buy one, unless it's a Bangkok version of course.....

redrus

[MSingh]

Here you go Homo's...

[mrtoad]

Here you go Homo's...

Singhy, see you've already been out and bought the shirts then?

Time to come out mate.

[bkkjames]

Here you go Homo's...

Singhy, see you've already been out and bought the shirts then?

Time to come out mate.

Let's wait and see, something suspicious about the number 69 on those kits.

[rixalex]

^^ What is the latest on Hargreaves by the way? I had heard some rumours that his career might be almost over with his injury. Certainly hope not as he is class.

I think it was last week I read about him, and Ferguson was saying that he will be fully fit for the beginning of the season. He's had an operation and alot of rehab, and they reckon he's going to be fine.

Not looking good guys...

Ferguson has previously said that he was "certain" Hargreaves would be fit for the beginning of the 2009-2010 campaign but it is now believed there is little chance of that happening.

Manchester United have declined to comment on Hargreaves' current level of fitness, but it is believed that his injury is so delicate it can only be monitored on a day-to-day basis and stepping up the intensity of his rehabilitation programme could have potentially disastrous ramifications.

More here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/t...utd/8078750.stm

[Sparkles]

^^ What is the latest on Hargreaves by the way? I had heard some rumours that his career might be almost over with his injury. Certainly hope not as he is class.

I think it was last week I read about him, and Ferguson was saying that he will be fully fit for the beginning of the season. He's had an operation and alot of rehab, and they reckon he's going to be fine.

Not looking good guys...

Ferguson has previously said that he was "certain" Hargreaves would be fit for the beginning of the 2009-2010 campaign but it is now believed there is little chance of that happening.

Manchester United have declined to comment on Hargreaves' current level of fitness, but it is believed that his injury is so delicate it can only be monitored on a day-to-day basis and stepping up the intensity of his rehabilitation programme could have potentially disastrous ramifications.

More here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/t...utd/8078750.stm

Quite depressing news . Amazing too that Anderson, Carrick and Ferdinand to miss imminent international games with injuries. Might I suggest that this shlould be the time for all to have break. How can you play 52 weeks of the year ? If the fear re Hargreaves transpires Fergis has some big decisions to make.

[MSingh]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8081787.stm

Manchester United has signed a four-year shirt sponsorship deal with the insurance giant Aon Corporation. Aon will replace troubled US insurer AIG, which is restructuring itself having received a $150bn (£109bn) bail-out from the US government.

[redrus]

Hargreaves Could Be Out Until 2010

redissue

Once again United rue the decision to appoint Dr Nick Riviera as head of medicals

The Times report that Owen Hargreaves is not likely to be back in contention until January 2010. The player is said to still be in Colorado under the care of the doctor who performed his operation, and is only able to do very light training. He is, however, purportedly confident of a full recovery.

Carrick Played With Broken Toe In Rome

The pain may account for a poor performance

The Telegraph reports:

'The dominance of Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez may in part be explained by the news that United midfielder Michael Carrick was playing with a broken toe.

'It remains unclear whether the injury predated the final or was picked up during the match in Rome but may go some way to explain a poor showing by the former West Ham midfielder, who would have been in a considerable amount of pain.'

£90m Cash Prizes For United

An impressive haul

The Evening News reports that Manchester United earned £90m from prize money and TV cash from all competitions this season.

Mixed messages for Benzema-Sky Sports

Striker plans to stay at Lyon but chairman casts future doubt

Karim Benzema intends to remain at Lyon but chairman Jean-Michel Aulas has failed to rule out a move.

The gifted France international is the subject of speculation suggesting he could leave Ligue 1 this summer.

A number of clubs, including Juventus and Manchester United, have been mooted as potential suitors for the striker.

But Benzema told L'Equipe: "I am 21 years old and I will have time to play for another club.

"The clubs are going to carry on calling, everyone is looking for forwards. But I am fine at Lyon.

"If there is a huge offer and the chairman tells me I have to go, I would probably leave. But I will not go and see him to ask to leave."

Chairman Jean-Michel Aulas, however, told Le Dauphine Libere: "He said he wants to stay. I don't want to sell. So he is here at 99 per cent.

"However, Kaka should have not left Milan and he will join Real Madrid. We have entered spiral madness. Anyway I am relaxed. I won't say Karim is untransferable."

redrus

[rixalex]

BBC now reporting that we've accepted 80m offer from Real for Ronaldo!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/t...utd/8094720.stm

A lot of dosh by any man's standards!

Difficult, if not impossible to replace a player like that, but that sort of money in this sort of climate i think can't be refused.

Edited June 11, 2009 by rixalex

[nev]

so ronaldo off then, breaking news united have accepted 80 million quid.

thanks for the memories ronaldo.

time for rooney to step up move to his natuaral position and a couple of new replacements and all is not lost!

hard player to replace!

[LeungKen]

BBC now reporting that we've accepted 80m offer from Real for Ronaldo!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/t...utd/8094720.stm

A lot of dosh by any man's standards!

and Sky Sports has it here :-

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5374142,00.html

That should give us a nice kitty to buy a bit more talent.

Now we can even let Nani go for free............

[mrtoad]

Well, I hope Fergie has got something lined up. I am sure he has, but will be a difficult one to replace, that is for sure.

[bkkjames]

Well, I hope Fergie has got something lined up. I am sure he has, but will be a difficult one to replace, that is for sure.

Knowing fergie, he has, have faith. Edit to add, me thinks an agreement has been reached with his replacement, thus facilitating the green light on this.

Edited June 11, 2009 by bkkjames

[sanmiguellight]

Well, I hope Fergie has got something lined up. I am sure he has, but will be a difficult one to replace, that is for sure.

Knowing fergie, he has, have faith. Edit to add, me thinks an agreement has been reached with his replacement, thus facilitating the green light on this.

Have all the faith you want but you cant replace Ronaldo.

You'll need this money to rebuild your entire midfield now.

Edited June 11, 2009 by sanmiguellight

[rixalex]

Have all the faith you want but you cant replace Ronaldo.

You'll need this money to rebuild your entire midfield now.

I don't think Ronaldo leaving is the reason, if there is one, to rebuild our midfield.

Would have more to do with Hargreaves, Park, Scholes, Giggs and Nani all having uncertain futures - for individual reasons.

[patklang]

Do you want my views lads,why should i bother, he has gone now.

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[bkkjames]

Well, I hope Fergie has got something lined up. I am sure he has, but will be a difficult one to replace, that is for sure.

Knowing fergie, he has, have faith. Edit to add, me thinks an agreement has been reached with his replacement, thus facilitating the green light on this.

Have all the faith you want but you cant replace Ronaldo.

You'll need this money to rebuild your entire midfield now.

yea, maybe we can get nicky butt back for 150 quid and a pair of sunglasses.

[sanmiguellight]

Have all the faith you want but you cant replace Ronaldo.

You'll need this money to rebuild your entire midfield now.

I don't think Ronaldo leaving is the reason, if there is one, to rebuild our midfield.

Would have more to do with Hargreaves, Park, Scholes, Giggs and Nani all having uncertain futures - for individual reasons.

What i meant was before he was sold, you needed a new Left Midfielder and a world class Central midfielder, now you need a Right midfielder aswell, on the basis that Fletcher and Carrick will be both be going for the 1 place in the centre of midfield, and Anderson hasnt set the world alight yet.