2011

[Demetrio]

and did I mention Newcastle have played the same back 4 in all premier league games yet? That's a significant advantage.

No

I think Newcastle are in the same position as at this point last last year, a few players away from a very good team... If the owners will act on that... Hhha... Well...

[5DOM]

United CM position is like Arsenal's GK position before Szczesny arrived. Every supporter wants it fixed, but the manager doesn't do anything

[Ted Lasso]

He'd probably pick up Modric in a second if he could.

I'd say they kinda sorta need a pure ball winner, and kinda sorta need a regista. But beyond the Modric type of (non-available) no-brainer, it's hard to improve the group of Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Anderson, and Cleverley. Fellaini might be a good fit there.

[Ted Lasso]

and did I mention Newcastle have played the same back 4 in all premier league games yet? That's a significant advantage.

I think there have been a few changes along the way. Steven Taylor has been out injured. And Santon only recently got into the side.

[LittleOzzy]

Anyone watch the Everton game? How did Landon Donovan look?

[treiz]

To be fair they just muscled us out of this game, pressed hard and were tougher physically.

I thought Carrick was fine, moved the ball quickly and got into the tempo of the game well. Tiote just simply broke up every decent pass our players tried. Too much steel in N'castle's midfield and back four.

Giggs, Welbeck, Park and Rooney just kept giving the ball away.

and did I mention Newcastle have played the same back 4 in all premier league games yet? That's a significant advantage.

For the last paragraph:

They're actually missing Steven Taylor and their back four when they went on that run included Ryan Taylor at left back instead of Santon. I know I'm nitpicking but what the hell.

But anyway, two main factors why Newcastle won this game. First, the Tiote-Cabaye just dominated Giggs-Carrick. They had no answer for the Newcastle duo and the fact that they complement each other so well. Tiote the steel and Cabaye the playmaker. Secondly, Demba Ba is incredible, Phil Jones had an absolute nightmare today trying to deal with him, Rio did okay against him but like you said Jones-Ferdinand couldn't win a header today. I was expecting that when Ameobi went for it (I miss Dave), but when Ba started beating them for headers then that's when trouble started. (It was during the first 20 minutes might I add).

[treiz]

Anyone watch the Everton game? How did Landon Donovan look?

He looked okay, you can tell the magnitude of opposition between the EPL and MLS and it took him a while to adjust to the tempo, especially since Bolton was dominating the game he had to track back quite a bit. But by the second half he adjusted nicely and had a decent game overall. Didn't contribute much offensively, but defensively he was sound.

Tim Howard scored a goal btw.

[treiz]

He'd probably pick up Modric in a second if he could.

I'd say they kinda sorta need a pure ball winner, and kinda sorta need a regista. But beyond the Modric type of (non-available) no-brainer, it's hard to improve the group of Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Anderson, and Cleverley. Fellaini might be a good fit there.

I don't think a regista is needed, a ball winner is more essential to their needs hence why I think Modric especially for the price he would command and the fact that Tottenham are doing incredibly well this year won't go to OT and I don't think it'll be a good move. Fellaini just signed an extension at Everton so he isn't going anywhere, I think Sami Khedira should be a priority for them this January.

Or if they want, they can sign Mikel. He was suppose to sign for them a long time ago

[Demetrio]

Hey. you can probably have Tiote for better value than andy Carroll....

[IronChef]

Yann M'Vila is said to be available for 16-20 Mil, he'd be a good fit in that United midfield.

[BC_]

Suarez should have told Evra he reminded him of a young Lenny Henry imo

[IronChef]

[Slava]

He'd probably pick up Modric in a second if he could.

I'd say they kinda sorta need a pure ball winner, and kinda sorta need a regista. But beyond the Modric type of (non-available) no-brainer, it's hard to improve the group of Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Anderson, and Cleverley. Fellaini might be a good fit there.

We are bad but we are not Fellaini bad.

We miss Cleverley, we looked great in the first month or so when him and Anderson were playing at top form.

If he can get back I think we'll be fine with a Cleverley-Carrick-Anderson midfield 3 for big games but I also don't see Jones as a center back. He's going to settle down as a box to box midfielder/part time right back and he'll be a mighty successful one at that.

[Ted Lasso]

Haha i guess we'll have to agree to disagree there. I like Fellaini. I think he definitely deserves to be part of a big club's midfield rotation. My only issue is that he is becoming more of an offensive minded player and i don't know if that suits him better.

If Ferguson is set on using Rooney behind one of his strikers as he has been doing in big games since late last season, then a midfield of three is obviously out of the question. If that's the case, i don't think two of Cleverley, Carrick, and Anderson is enough going forward. Once Giggs retires, they are going to have to admit Anderson hasn't become what they paid for him to be and get themselves a better passer.

[5DOM]

British media at their best:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... mpard.html

[IronChef]

^ The single quote from that article is dated 2005, awesome.

[Slava]

Haha i guess we'll have to agree to disagree there. I like Fellaini. I think he definitely deserves to be part of a big club's midfield rotation. My only issue is that he is becoming more of an offensive minded player and i don't know if that suits him better.

If Ferguson is set on using Rooney behind one of his strikers as he has been doing in big games since late last season, then a midfield of three is obviously out of the question. If that's the case, i don't think two of Cleverley, Carrick, and Anderson is enough going forward. Once Giggs retires, they are going to have to admit Anderson hasn't become what they paid for him to be and get themselves a better passer.

Rooney scored 34 goals as a center forward the season before that and we lost the league by a point. The change in using him as a support striker came last season because Hernandez was scoring everything you throw into the box and Fletcher was having a fine season too.

If Fletcher is fit and on form we can happily roll with a Carrick - Fletcher two man midfield with Rooney dropping deep to be the playmaker but unfortunately we don't have that option now.

I've always been in favor of playing Carrick further forward so he can use his passing and intelligence around the box more (Remember the 7-1 game against Roma). I feel that he's a truly gifted passer who's been shifted around too much to cover up for our other deficiencies.

Still with a fully fit squad we'd be very fine. Carrick - Cleverley - Anderson - Giggs and Fletcher is pretty good depth for a central midfield. Ofcourse we miss that marquee player but we were hoping that one of our academy prospects like Pogba would step up into that role and signing someone for big money would stifle their development.

I still feel the 16 million investment in Ashley Young could have gone elsewhere.

It'd also help if all 6 of our center backs wouldn't get injured at the same time. The Vidic injury is a terrible blow.

[treiz]

Nathaniel Chalobah signs a two-and-a-half year deal for his first professional contract. So glad we got him locked up, excited to see his future.

[IronChef]

Jordan Rhodes with five goals today against Wycombe.

I know it's only League One, but jesus.

Brings the kid up to 25 goals in 18 apps this year (+3 subs).

[IronChef]

Reports on Sky that Man United are going to make a statement on Wayne Rooneys future, speculation he may be on his way out. Can't really see that happening.