tmonkey

Been posting that as a theory for a long while, it was just too suspicious the way Souness was banging on about 4-3-3 all summer and chasing Anelka for it to the extent that he even tried to unsettle him through the media, then for us to go out and sign Owen (who cant play the pivitol striking role in a 4-3-3) for double Anelka's asking price. Quite clearly, as we know now for a fact, Shepherd was deciding who to buy, not his managers. Thats not called backing the manager. In other words, fucking dickhead chairman fucked us over because of signing the crock Owen when for the past 3 years we could have had the brilliant Anelka up front had he trusted his manager. Like they say, being a successful scrap metal dealer doesnt mean you know how to run a football club.

No I wasn't overly impressed, they got knocked out the night round anyway. Well, fair do's, but I thought his tactics were excellent against us, and he won the mental battle that night, showing himself to be in a different class to the gutless but niceguy Roeder. AZ are struggling right now, but is it fair to judge him on his current team considering his proven calibre? Didn't many of us similarly think Svenn was shit based on his tactics and philosophy with England? Was Sir Alex's "shit and sliding" ManU side a fair reflection on his ability a few years ago, when everyone was saying he was finished? He's a CL winning manager. There arent many of them around, and they tend to be very good at their jobs - nobody's fool. They do fail sometimes, they do go through peaks and troughs in terms of success, but they normally bounce back at some point or another. The closest we've had in recent times was Sir Bobby, a Cup Winner's Cup winning manager. Maybe Hughes is a good manager in waiting, but I dont think its fair on others who want Van Gaal to say hes wanted just because hes a foreigner. Hes proven his class.

Walcott cost that amount. An improved N'Zogbia in a better team could be one of the best players in the Premiership. He manages to look good in a God awful side and does everything on his own, imagine if he has good players around him with better movement ahead and alongside him and the confidence of a strong defence behind him? Were not talking about a possible world class player for me, i.e. a star player for a big side, he'll not get to that level imo, but he's definately capable of turning into a good player for a top side, someone decent with the ability to be explosive at times, and he could be devestating in the Premiership because of the open space you get compared to other levels (eg CL, international, etc, hence why he'll not be world class for me, his game isnt suited to that sort of environment). I could see him comfortably playing for someone like Arsenal or ManU, and the sad truth is hes the only player in our side who I could realistically envisage doing that (not Given, Beye, Owen, Martins, anyone else, etc).

Without a doubt, but probably not with us. I know its a biggish leap, but if I were Alex Ferguson, I would be considering whether I had just seen a good display from a potential Giggs replacement/understudy from Zog today. If Zog learns when to pass and move and when to drive with the ball, instead of trying to drive every single time, hes going to be quality.

Looking at today, even I wouldn't take it. I would, but only for the huge windfall when theyd pay my contract up. Honestly, that must cross some of these managers' minds now when they think of us. Nice payday if they want to retire, 3 years salary in the space of 6 months.

As a side note, C.Ronaldo is on 22 goals so far, and its just about mid way through January. That is insane.

Keep the faith lads. There'll be more ups than downs in the next decade as long as Ashley throws big money at the problem. And im not being sarcastic. £30mill will buy 2-3 big money signings, and hence theres a decent chance that 2-3 signings could flop. £100mill should buy at least 6-7 big money signings, and without a doubt a couple at least will be good signings. Look at it this way - if Souness was given more backing, Anelka would have been signed. It'll get better. Unless we get relegated that is.

Smiths out of position to be fair to him. But why the fuck hes in central midfield and Emre is sitting on the bench beats me. It would be understandable if Smith actually provided protection for the defence, but its just a case of dropping a midfielder with decent ability for a midfielder who does nothing except give fouls away and bark at the referee.

Always been a fan of his, but Tevez is just fucking class in a Beardo kind of way. Awesome team player, must be a joy to play alongside him.

It happens every single week to at least half the teams in the league, long balls where the striker starts off onside but by the middle of the flight of the pass the striker is in an offside position, and time and time again the linesman calls it off because its not possible to look at two different places at the same time and hence he gives the benefit of the doubt to the defending team. Nothing can be done about it, and everyone suffers from it.

Zog is a beast. I'll be suprised if hes still here next season.

Plenty have gone for us but they'll not be remembered. Like? J.Carew's headed goal wrongly judged to be a foul last season, which would have leveled the scores to 2-2. We went on to win 3-1 when they pushed out for an equalizer. Even in this game some decisions have gone against ManU. 2 penalty decisions that easily could have been given.

Plenty have gone for us but they'll not be remembered.

Hes standing around doing nothing. Fucking waster.

Fucking hell Butt. Simple throw in to him under no pressure = out for a throw in again.

No mention of Given's s*** clearance i see,... The blame starts and ends at the person who created the calamity. If Cacapa hoofs it, Enrique doesn't have to pass back and Given doesn't have to clear under pressure. Simple fact. Cacapa did nothing wrong. Enrique did nothing wrong. Given made a shit clearance when he wasnt under pressure.

Its the manner. They're not beating us out of good play, its just us pushing the self destruct button.

If Owen had that chance it would be 1-1. FACT.

Owen needs some work with his left peg.

Its easy to call him a cheat, but hes smart. If you come up against a team with aggressive foulers like Smith and Butt, players who get "stuck in", why not take advantage of it? It only really happens to players who are stupid enough to run around making late challenges.

a) A few at least. Fucking position yourself better instead of lunging in right on the edge of the penalty box. b) The ball rolled down the middle with a bit of pace ffs. Should have been a comfortable save.

Given should have saved that. Butterfingers there.

So Van Gaal didnt impress last season when his mediocre AZ side knocked us out of the UEFA cup, and he completely outhought and outclassed Roeder with his side going for the jugular? Hughes might turn out to be a good manager if he moves up the club ladder, noone knows yet (so far hes just about done as well as Souness did at Blackburn), but Van Gaal's calibre cant be overlooked just because his current team arent doing so well (AZ arent exactly a Dutch powerhouse either). Was Svenn's England team, the tactics and the way they played, a good reflection of his ability as a Preimership club manager? How many of his detractors when he was England boss (i'll hold my hand up to being one of them) will have now compeltely changed their mind about him being a boring, defensive, uninspiring manager incapable of getting a "talented" group of players playing well?

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Interesting.