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Is it over for Man U?
Despite Alex Ferguson's admission this weekend, after his side's 3-0 defeat against Chelsea, that his Manchester United team cannot win the title this season, many true football fans will not be taken in by the master of mind games latest comments.
Is Ferguson up to his old tricks again? It would seem so.
It's certainly true that United are not firing on all cylinders this season, despite some fantastic pre season purchases in Ruud van Nilsterooy and Sebastian Veron, but to claim that the Manchester club cannot win the title is ridiculous, especially as we have yet to reach christmas.
For anyone who thinks I am a Manchester United fan, defending the team, I can assure you I am anything but that. But I've seen far too many comebacks in football to do anything but write off United just yet.
Who can remember 4 or 5 seasons ago when Newcastle led the Premier league by 13 or 14 points AFTER CHRISTMAS!!? United eventually came back to snatch the title from Newcastle, after putting together a long unbeaten run after the new year.
Ferguson is renown for his mind games, and I see this as just another ploy from Ferguson to soften up his opponents. Although I must admit that I don't think that United will be able to turn things around this season.
They are not playing well at the moment, and unless Ferguson changes his formation, and reverts back to his tried and tested 4-4-2, I cannot see his side picking up any trophies this season.
United's situation reminds me of Liverpool's just a couple of season's ago. They had the players to win the title, but too many key players were under performing.
This is certainly the case with United this season. The sale of Jaap Stam ( For whatever reason ) was a terrible one, and even though Ferguson will never admit it, deep down he will know that he never should have sold the reliable Dutchman.
Wes Brown, although a fine player, just isn't experienced enough yet to cope with other players around him under performing.
Roy Keane has already admitted that other team mates have been carrying him this season, whilst Fabian Barthez is currently suffering the worst drop in form of his career.
Despite the problems though, I would be the last person to write off the champions, despite the fact that I would like nothing more than to see United's dominence crushed.
In the past United have been able to afford a drop in form at some point in the season, quite simply because there hasn't been a side good enough to challenge them and make them pay for their mistakes. But this season we have Liverpool, Leeds United and Arsenal, who all look as though they could maintain a serious challenge to United's crown this season.
As a Liverpool fan I would love to see the reds lift the title for the first time in 11 years, although the sale of Robbie Fowler may put a huge dent to their title challenge. Especially if Owen or Heskey are injured later in the season.
Leeds on the other hand have a magnificent squad in my opinion, and as the team gains experience together, the bigger threat they will become.
United's other major title rivals this season are Arsenal, who have a great squad but seem to be lacking that cutting edge which may bring the title back to Highbury.
In closing, I think that this season's title race is far from over, and I certainly expect Manchester United to have a say in what happens at the end of the season.
Can they get back on track and win it? Personally I don't think so, mainly because they have three quality sides to match them this season. But I certainly won't rule United out of the title race until it is mathematically impossible.
Despite Alex Ferguson's admission this weekend, after his side's 3-0 defeat against Chelsea, that his Manchester United team cannot win the title this season, many true football fans will not be taken in by the master of mind games latest comments.
Is Ferguson up to his old tricks again? It would seem so.
It's certainly true that United are not firing on all cylinders this season, despite some fantastic pre season purchases in Ruud van Nilsterooy and Sebastian Veron, but to claim that the Manchester club cannot win the title is ridiculous, especially as we have yet to reach christmas.
For anyone who thinks I am a Manchester United fan, defending the team, I can assure you I am anything but that. But I've seen far too many comebacks in football to do anything but write off United just yet.
Who can remember 4 or 5 seasons ago when Newcastle led the Premier league by 13 or 14 points AFTER CHRISTMAS!!? United eventually came back to snatch the title from Newcastle, after putting together a long unbeaten run after the new year.
Ferguson is renown for his mind games, and I see this as just another ploy from Ferguson to soften up his opponents. Although I must admit that I don't think that United will be able to turn things around this season.
They are not playing well at the moment, and unless Ferguson changes his formation, and reverts back to his tried and tested 4-4-2, I cannot see his side picking up any trophies this season.
United's situation reminds me of Liverpool's just a couple of season's ago. They had the players to win the title, but too many key players were under performing.
This is certainly the case with United this season. The sale of Jaap Stam ( For whatever reason ) was a terrible one, and even though Ferguson will never admit it, deep down he will know that he never should have sold the reliable Dutchman.
Wes Brown, although a fine player, just isn't experienced enough yet to cope with other players around him under performing.
Roy Keane has already admitted that other team mates have been carrying him this season, whilst Fabian Barthez is currently suffering the worst drop in form of his career.
Despite the problems though, I would be the last person to write off the champions, despite the fact that I would like nothing more than to see United's dominence crushed.
In the past United have been able to afford a drop in form at some point in the season, quite simply because there hasn't been a side good enough to challenge them and make them pay for their mistakes. But this season we have Liverpool, Leeds United and Arsenal, who all look as though they could maintain a serious challenge to United's crown this season.
As a Liverpool fan I would love to see the reds lift the title for the first time in 11 years, although the sale of Robbie Fowler may put a huge dent to their title challenge. Especially if Owen or Heskey are injured later in the season.
Leeds on the other hand have a magnificent squad in my opinion, and as the team gains experience together, the bigger threat they will become.
United's other major title rivals this season are Arsenal, who have a great squad but seem to be lacking that cutting edge which may bring the title back to Highbury.
In closing, I think that this season's title race is far from over, and I certainly expect Manchester United to have a say in what happens at the end of the season.
Can they get back on track and win it? Personally I don't think so, mainly because they have three quality sides to match them this season. But I certainly won't rule United out of the title race until it is mathematically impossible.
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Is it over for Man U?
Despite Alex Ferguson's admission this weekend, after his side's 3-0 defeat against Chelsea, that his Manchester United team cannot win the title this season, many true football fans will not be taken in by the master of mind games latest comments.
Is Ferguson up to his old tricks again? It would seem so.
It's certainly true that United are not firing on all cylinders this season, despite some fantastic pre season purchases in Ruud van Nilsterooy and Sebastian Veron, but to claim that the Manchester club cannot win the title is ridiculous, especially as we have yet to reach christmas.
For anyone who thinks I am a Manchester United fan, defending the team, I can assure you I am anything but that. But I've seen far too many comebacks in football to do anything but write off United just yet.
Who can remember 4 or 5 seasons ago when Newcastle led the Premier league by 13 or 14 points AFTER CHRISTMAS!!? United eventually came back to snatch the title from Newcastle, after putting together a long unbeaten run after the new year.
Ferguson is renown for his mind games, and I see this as just another ploy from Ferguson to soften up his opponents. Although I must admit that I don't think that United will be able to turn things around this season.
They are not playing well at the moment, and unless Ferguson changes his formation, and reverts back to his tried and tested 4-4-2, I cannot see his side picking up any trophies this season.
United's situation reminds me of Liverpool's just a couple of season's ago. They had the players to win the title, but too many key players were under performing.
This is certainly the case with United this season. The sale of Jaap Stam ( For whatever reason ) was a terrible one, and even though Ferguson will never admit it, deep down he will know that he never should have sold the reliable Dutchman.
Wes Brown, although a fine player, just isn't experienced enough yet to cope with other players around him under performing.
Roy Keane has already admitted that other team mates have been carrying him this season, whilst Fabian Barthez is currently suffering the worst drop in form of his career.
Despite the problems though, I would be the last person to write off the champions, despite the fact that I would like nothing more than to see United's dominence crushed.
In the past United have been able to afford a drop in form at some point in the season, quite simply because there hasn't been a side good enough to challenge them and make them pay for their mistakes. But this season we have Liverpool, Leeds United and Arsenal, who all look as though they could maintain a serious challenge to United's crown this season.
As a Liverpool fan I would love to see the reds lift the title for the first time in 11 years, although the sale of Robbie Fowler may put a huge dent to their title challenge. Especially if Owen or Heskey are injured later in the season.
Leeds on the other hand have a magnificent squad in my opinion, and as the team gains experience together, the bigger threat they will become.
United's other major title rivals this season are Arsenal, who have a great squad but seem to be lacking that cutting edge which may bring the title back to Highbury.
In closing, I think that this season's title race is far from over, and I certainly expect Manchester United to have a say in what happens at the end of the season.
Can they get back on track and win it? Personally I don't think so, mainly because they have three quality sides to match them this season. But I certainly won't rule United out of the title race until it is mathematically impossible.
Despite Alex Ferguson's admission this weekend, after his side's 3-0 defeat against Chelsea, that his Manchester United team cannot win the title this season, many true football fans will not be taken in by the master of mind games latest comments.
Is Ferguson up to his old tricks again? It would seem so.
It's certainly true that United are not firing on all cylinders this season, despite some fantastic pre season purchases in Ruud van Nilsterooy and Sebastian Veron, but to claim that the Manchester club cannot win the title is ridiculous, especially as we have yet to reach christmas.
For anyone who thinks I am a Manchester United fan, defending the team, I can assure you I am anything but that. But I've seen far too many comebacks in football to do anything but write off United just yet.
Who can remember 4 or 5 seasons ago when Newcastle led the Premier league by 13 or 14 points AFTER CHRISTMAS!!? United eventually came back to snatch the title from Newcastle, after putting together a long unbeaten run after the new year.
Ferguson is renown for his mind games, and I see this as just another ploy from Ferguson to soften up his opponents. Although I must admit that I don't think that United will be able to turn things around this season.
They are not playing well at the moment, and unless Ferguson changes his formation, and reverts back to his tried and tested 4-4-2, I cannot see his side picking up any trophies this season.
United's situation reminds me of Liverpool's just a couple of season's ago. They had the players to win the title, but too many key players were under performing.
This is certainly the case with United this season. The sale of Jaap Stam ( For whatever reason ) was a terrible one, and even though Ferguson will never admit it, deep down he will know that he never should have sold the reliable Dutchman.
Wes Brown, although a fine player, just isn't experienced enough yet to cope with other players around him under performing.
Roy Keane has already admitted that other team mates have been carrying him this season, whilst Fabian Barthez is currently suffering the worst drop in form of his career.
Despite the problems though, I would be the last person to write off the champions, despite the fact that I would like nothing more than to see United's dominence crushed.
In the past United have been able to afford a drop in form at some point in the season, quite simply because there hasn't been a side good enough to challenge them and make them pay for their mistakes. But this season we have Liverpool, Leeds United and Arsenal, who all look as though they could maintain a serious challenge to United's crown this season.
As a Liverpool fan I would love to see the reds lift the title for the first time in 11 years, although the sale of Robbie Fowler may put a huge dent to their title challenge. Especially if Owen or Heskey are injured later in the season.
Leeds on the other hand have a magnificent squad in my opinion, and as the team gains experience together, the bigger threat they will become.
United's other major title rivals this season are Arsenal, who have a great squad but seem to be lacking that cutting edge which may bring the title back to Highbury.
In closing, I think that this season's title race is far from over, and I certainly expect Manchester United to have a say in what happens at the end of the season.
Can they get back on track and win it? Personally I don't think so, mainly because they have three quality sides to match them this season. But I certainly won't rule United out of the title race until it is mathematically impossible.
Good points raised.
Man utd are sort of like the germans in a sense, as you can never write them off.
It looked a dead cert that Newcastle would win the league that season, but as you mentioned Man United came back and won it.
And we can also look at arsenal, when they won it in 98. Wenger said at the same point of the season as now, that his side had no chance of winning it, but they went on an amazing run and captured the title.
Anything is possible, and with the talent at Man utd this poor run of form wont run for ever. United have been through some poor run of results in the last 10 years, but none of them are probably as bad as the current one. Winning the title from this position would be an amazing achievment.
Man utd are sort of like the germans in a sense, as you can never write them off.
It looked a dead cert that Newcastle would win the league that season, but as you mentioned Man United came back and won it.
And we can also look at arsenal, when they won it in 98. Wenger said at the same point of the season as now, that his side had no chance of winning it, but they went on an amazing run and captured the title.
Anything is possible, and with the talent at Man utd this poor run of form wont run for ever. United have been through some poor run of results in the last 10 years, but none of them are probably as bad as the current one. Winning the title from this position would be an amazing achievment.
Yeah, I completely agree. There was a great point raised in the paper yesterday about two top coaches comments over the weekend:
Eriksson: Saying how the group was the worst possible - basically he is making sure that there is no chest beating, and no mass hysteria over how England can win the World Cup. This way there will be no huge pressure on the England team. If we go out early on, we can point to the "Group of Death" and blame that.
Ferguson: Saying the title is beyond his team can only have two effects. One, it takes some of the pressure off the team. Second, they now want to prove their manager wrong, much like they did after the infamous Hansen comment of "You never win anything with kids" after United lost their first game of the season to Villa.
Conclusion: Two of the greatest coaches in modern football, both writing off their own teams at a ridiculously early stage when the truth is anything but. Those of you who believe them are fools!
Eriksson: Saying how the group was the worst possible - basically he is making sure that there is no chest beating, and no mass hysteria over how England can win the World Cup. This way there will be no huge pressure on the England team. If we go out early on, we can point to the "Group of Death" and blame that.
Ferguson: Saying the title is beyond his team can only have two effects. One, it takes some of the pressure off the team. Second, they now want to prove their manager wrong, much like they did after the infamous Hansen comment of "You never win anything with kids" after United lost their first game of the season to Villa.
Conclusion: Two of the greatest coaches in modern football, both writing off their own teams at a ridiculously early stage when the truth is anything but. Those of you who believe them are fools!
The following things that Utd should do during the Summer break of 2002:
1. Sell Scholes, Phil Neville, Slivestre, Cole, Fortune, Blanc and Yorke this should in theory bring in about 35 million.
2. Lazio are willing to sell Nesta in the Summer of 2002 because they are putting a salary cap in place and have to fund other transfer dealings. So Utd with Veron helping, should place a bid for Nesta for about 25m.
3. With TV and Premiership money and the 10m left over this should leave enough to buy Clinton Morrison or Matt Jansen as these are both pacey strikers and would be a good partner with Van Nistelrooy.
4. Last of all either promote a youth left back or buy Naysmith from Everton to fill in at Left back.
Team would look like this:
1. Barthez
2. Naysmith
3. G. Neville
4. Nesta
5. Brown
6. Keane
7. Beckham
8. Veron
9. Van Nistelrooy
10. Morrison or Jansen
11. Giggs
1. Sell Scholes, Phil Neville, Slivestre, Cole, Fortune, Blanc and Yorke this should in theory bring in about 35 million.
2. Lazio are willing to sell Nesta in the Summer of 2002 because they are putting a salary cap in place and have to fund other transfer dealings. So Utd with Veron helping, should place a bid for Nesta for about 25m.
3. With TV and Premiership money and the 10m left over this should leave enough to buy Clinton Morrison or Matt Jansen as these are both pacey strikers and would be a good partner with Van Nistelrooy.
4. Last of all either promote a youth left back or buy Naysmith from Everton to fill in at Left back.
Team would look like this:
1. Barthez
2. Naysmith
3. G. Neville
4. Nesta
5. Brown
6. Keane
7. Beckham
8. Veron
9. Van Nistelrooy
10. Morrison or Jansen
11. Giggs
CJ007 wrote:
1.
> Sell Scholes, Phil Neville, Slivestre....
Ya know Silvestre has set up both of our last two goals. He may have made a few mistakes, but in going forward he is amazing.
Reading some stuff in the papers today, it seems as though Eriksson has become the favourite to take over at United.
And another thing, over the 3 years Stam was at United, we onl lost 5 premiership games when he was playing.
1.
> Sell Scholes, Phil Neville, Slivestre....
Ya know Silvestre has set up both of our last two goals. He may have made a few mistakes, but in going forward he is amazing.
Reading some stuff in the papers today, it seems as though Eriksson has become the favourite to take over at United.
And another thing, over the 3 years Stam was at United, we onl lost 5 premiership games when he was playing.
So Man Utd are having a bad season. SO?
All teams have bad seasons. I myself am a Man Utd fan, but I still slate Barthez when he doesn't do what he's paid for. Barthez plays the French style of football, and to try and teach him how to play proper football is useless on him.
While we have worst defensive records in the league, we also have some of the best strikers in the league.
I admit Man Utd won't win anything this season, but there are too many variables that could be to blame that a quick-fix may solve.
You can never just write United off.
All teams have bad seasons. I myself am a Man Utd fan, but I still slate Barthez when he doesn't do what he's paid for. Barthez plays the French style of football, and to try and teach him how to play proper football is useless on him.
While we have worst defensive records in the league, we also have some of the best strikers in the league.
I admit Man Utd won't win anything this season, but there are too many variables that could be to blame that a quick-fix may solve.
You can never just write United off.
YES!!! It's over for us this season!! We can't win the league, we'll soon get knocked out of Europe, and we'll lose in round 3 of the FA Cup to Brighton 4-0, or someone lke that!!
It'll get better over the summer. Blanc will have retireed, a new manager (PLEASE!!! NOT SVEN!!!) will be incharge, and in the World Cup there'll be talent on show to splash out on for the defence.
I mean no critisism on Sir Alex, he's one of the greatest managers of all time!! He's having a bad season and I think he'll still do well away from the management side of the club.
It'll get better over the summer. Blanc will have retireed, a new manager (PLEASE!!! NOT SVEN!!!) will be incharge, and in the World Cup there'll be talent on show to splash out on for the defence.
I mean no critisism on Sir Alex, he's one of the greatest managers of all time!! He's having a bad season and I think he'll still do well away from the management side of the club.
Apparently Wes Brown could be out for the rest of the season. He is awaiting results on a scan, but it looks as if he has suffered serious ligament damage in his left knee. The same sort of problem that kept him out of most of the 1999-2000 season.
Now what exactly does this mean for or defence? Does this mean Blanc will not be dropped now?! how many natural central defenders have we got left?! I suppose Gary Neville could move back into the centre, but he has never really been reliable in that position. Keane could move back into defence, but thee were reports that he was unhappy playing in that position against Chelsea.
I dunno, but it just seems to go from bad to worse...I just hope Davind may doesnt get called back into the team...
Now what exactly does this mean for or defence? Does this mean Blanc will not be dropped now?! how many natural central defenders have we got left?! I suppose Gary Neville could move back into the centre, but he has never really been reliable in that position. Keane could move back into defence, but thee were reports that he was unhappy playing in that position against Chelsea.
I dunno, but it just seems to go from bad to worse...I just hope Davind may doesnt get called back into the team...
Solskjaer_24 wrote:
> YES!!! It's over for us this season!! We can't win the league, we'll soon get
> knocked out of Europe, and we'll lose in round 3 of the FA Cup to Brighton 4-0,
> or someone lke that!!
And what's wrong with losing to Brighton? Come on the Seagulls!!
> YES!!! It's over for us this season!! We can't win the league, we'll soon get
> knocked out of Europe, and we'll lose in round 3 of the FA Cup to Brighton 4-0,
> or someone lke that!!
And what's wrong with losing to Brighton? Come on the Seagulls!!
The GingerLord wrote:
Come on the Seagulls!!
Wouldn't that be slightly messy?
:-P
Come on the Seagulls!!
Wouldn't that be slightly messy?
:-P
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