There has been a few informed arguments in the media in recent times that irrespective of how much fun the new united way of play is to the eyes, there is a seeming imbalance in the system.
We seem not to have gotten a balance between our attack and defence.
a look at the number of shots on target in the Chelsea,spurs and Arse games prove a point. it is the hughest number of shots on target at OT in the last 5 or 6 years.
Whether it is down to the makeshift defence,absence of Vida and Rio, Evra's continual denfensive failure,lack of an enforcer in the middle or even our failure to defend from the front properly or just a misguided belief that De Gea is vulnerable from distance.
I am not sure which it is obvious something is not balanced about this fun system.

Whether it is down to the makeshift defence,absence of Vida and Rio, Evra's continual denfensive failure,lack of an enforcer in the middle or even our failure to defend from the front properly or just a misguided belief that De Gea is vulnerable from distance

For me its a combination for these factors and really playing 2 in the middle against these sides also contributes to this.

Cant narow it down to one thing.

^^^^
playing through the middle is not an option because going through the wings is a certainity in this new formation.
making the pitch big and Ashley and Nani being at the crux of our attacking play is the hallmark of the system.

mbulela:

There has been a few informed arguments in the media in recent times that irrespective of how much fun the new united way of play is to the eyes, there is a seeming imbalance in the system.
We seem not to have gotten a balance between our attack and defence.
a look at the number of shots on target in the Chelsea,spurs and Arse games prove a point. it is the hughest number of shots on target at OT in the last 5 or 6 years.

this why it's called attacking football.
see, fans and the media cannot have it both ways. when united were conservative in 2008/9, playing dull football and keeping clean sheets, they were berated, criticized for being the worst team under ferguson.

now, he's created an attacking force that puts many players in the opponent's half of the pitch, leaving the defence exposed, and people are still talking about the number of shots on target opponents punt at us. we cannot have it both ways. there's no balance between attack and defence.
you either attack or defend. no sitting on the fence - we are not swansea!

Whether it is down to the makeshift defence,absence of Vida and Rio, Evra's continual denfensive failure,lack of an enforcer in the middle or even our failure to defend from the front properly or just a misguided belief that De Gea is vulnerable from distance.
I am not sure which it is obvious something is not balanced about this fun system.

it has nothing to do with enforcer in the middle of the pitch. it is mostly de gea factor.
opponents have gone to spain to see de gea's appalling record from long shots - which suits united perfectly.
instead of them to work their interplays around our back four - they have resorted to taking it from distance like dzeko did in wembley. van der vaart kept taking long shots too like a mumu when passing was the best option!


very soon, they would drop that strategy and really have a go at us.
chelsea did that very well on sunday but fortunately for us, torres has forgotten how to finish! i like the way we play these days - just like the good ol' times. fergie's mantra: my kids are better than yours
i have skilful players, you have got skilful players. let's see who would score more.

i say woe on stoke this weekend.

Windy, Wet Britannia?

Horrocious didn't you say?

debosky:

Windy, Wet Britannia?

Horrocious didn't you say? 

horrocious on a particular day of the week and a certain weather condition: cold, windy, wet, tuesday night.

united go there on saturday and the weather forecast is even favourable.

Seems Smalling is injured so hopefully Rio is fit again to start. It's likely to be Jones that'll go to RB and Evans to partner Rio, then Evra for the Back 4.

Away at Stoke is always tough but I'm guessing it'll be Fletcher and Anderson in the middle with Young and Nani wide.

I've actually never been a fan of Fletcher and Anderson as the middle 2 as they've never really performed well together as the thought of it would suggest. Hopefully that changes.

Hernandez was back in training on Wednesday so he might start with Rooney.

A huge test for De Gea ahead though.

SMH at Owen Heagreves.
I expected much more from him.
How can a club stand by you for three years and you come out with such sour comments.

I wonder what Fergie's response will be?

^^ Could be interesting . But I suspect Baba may go easy on him.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/sep/22/owen-hargreaves-manchester-united-injury

mbulela:

SMH at Owen Heagreves.
I expected much more from him.
How can a club stand by you for three years and you come out with such sour comments.

I wonder what Fergie's response will be?

U DEY MIND DAT GUINEA PIG?? PFFT

Mr_TA:

Seems Smalling is injured so hopefully Rio is fit again to start. It's likely to be Jones that'll go to RB and Evans to partner Rio, then Evra for the Back 4.

Away at Stoke is always tough but I'm guessing it'll be Fletcher and Anderson in the middle with Young and Nani wide.

I've actually never been a fan of Fletcher and Anderson as the middle 2 as they've never really performed well together as the thought of it would suggest. Hopefully that changes.

Hernandez was back in training on Wednesday so he might start with Rooney.

A huge test for De Gea ahead though.

Even if he drops d ball and rolls it into d back of d net against Stoke, I won't be concerned. If De Gea has a shocker at d Britannia tomorrow, he won't be d first PL goalie to do so.

Most important will be our defenders being up for it and taking what chances come our way at d other end.

Definitely some disappointing comments from Hargreaves. He didnt need to bad mouth the club that supported and paid him full wages for 3 seasons of doing nothing. oh well. The club moves on.

Emperoh:

Guys,

No be United again? There has to be something to be talked about in the media.
We are the news makers and any opportunity to take pot shots at what's working is fine by me as it keeps acknowledging what we are doing and that we are doing itwell.

However great your analysis are, we need to know that this game plan ain't the way to go in Europe.
We need to do it the conservative unattractive way else we get punched.
But who cares about shots on target? as long as they don't go in and they keep making De Gea shine
Any predos for Britannia?

stoke 1-4 man utd.

it's hard to think stoke would not score - they bought well in the summer.
cameron jerome, crouch, palacios, etc.

montelik:

^^ Could be interesting . But I suspect Baba may go easy on him.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/sep/22/owen-hargreaves-manchester-united-injury

he has every right to feel that way.
the injections he took at united worsened his situation.
the ones he took at citeh improved his situation.

what would you say in his shoes?

coogar:

he has every right to feel that way.
the injections he took at united worsened his situation.
the ones he took at citeh improved his situation.

what would you say in his shoes?

He didn't have a problem collecting his weekly wages while being injured.
He didn't have a problem when United paid his fees to the specialist in Colorado who worked on his knees
Another malcontent.Joins Tevez in City.

coogar:

stoke 1-4 man utd.

it's hard to think stoke would not score - they bought well in the summer.
cameron jerome, crouch, palacios, etc.


he has every right to feel that way.
the injections he took at united worsened his situation.
the ones he took at citeh improved his situation.

what would you say in his shoes?

He is a complete muppet and  if some of d statements attributed to him are true. This is d same guy who also blamed Bayern for his injury problems while he was still at United, now that he is at City its United fault. Hargreaves had knee problems even while in Germany (tendonitis), United sent him to d best knee specialist in d world, Dr Steadman. It was he who ultimately recommended and approved d treatments he was given at United. D club spent 3 years patiently rehabilitating him and got maybe 15 mins on pitch despite d millions invested. Now he is at City all of 2 seconds and he is attributing his "recovery" to them despite d efforts United and d medical team made for him. He is incredibly silly to have sad this, and even more silly to have said this at this particular time.

Thankfully SAF has dealt with this d right let. Let United issue an official statement and release his medical records.

montelik:

He is a complete muppet and  if some of d statements attributed to him are true. This is d same guy who also blamed Bayern for his injury problems while he was still at Untied, now that he is at City its United fault. Hargreaves had knee problems even while in Germany (tendonitis), United sent him to d best knee specialist in d world, Dr Steadman. It was he who ultimately recommended and approved d treatments he was given at United. D club spent 3 years patiently rehabilitating him and got maybe 15 mins on pitch despite d millions invested. Now he is at City all of 2 seconds and he is attributing his "recovery" to them despite d efforts United and d medical team made for him. He is incredibly silly to have sad this, and even more silly to have said this at this particular time.

Thankfully SAF has dealt with this d right let. Let United issue an official statement and release his medical records.

StarBoard:

He didn't have a problem collecting his weekly wages while being injured.
He didn't have a problem when United paid his fees to the specialist in Colorado who worked on his knees
Another malcontent.Joins Tevez in City.

you guys are just blowing hot air. . . . .

only owen hargreaves himself can truly reflect on what he went through in that agonising period of three years.
alex ferguson himself has admitted he does not know all the facts of hargo's health and fitness. . . . . .when dr. steadman saw hargreaves knees, he said it was the worst knee he had seen in his entire career. it says a lot! if our medical team were doing the right thing, i doubt dr steadman would say hargo's knee condition was the worst he has ever seen.

^^ Could care less about him, though I hope he gets his career back on track. But what he has said is slanderous, damaging and very silly. It could very well affect other players being willing to join d club due to his dishonest allegations. After 4 years of money spent, support and absolute patience from d club. Who took an initial risk in signing him with his already banged up knees. He then tries to blame them for basically wrecking his career. This being d same guy who after initially leaving never said anything like this and was only positive about d way he was handled. I am not surprised though, as he has form in blaming previous employers.

United's statement will ultimately show what truly transpired, then he will come out and say "I was misquoted" or "I didn't mean it d way it was portrayed", but by then it will too late for him to remove d foot firmly planted up his a**.

montelik:

^^ Could care less about him, though I hope he gets his career back on track. But what he has said is slanderous, damaging and very silly. It could very well affect other players being willing to join d club due to his dishonest allegations. After 4 years of money spent, support and absolute patience from d club. Who took an initial risk in signing him with his already banged up knees. He then tries to blame them for basically wrecking his career. This being d same guy who after initially leaving never said anything like this and was only positive about d way he was handled. I am not surprised though, as he has form in blaming previous employers.

United's statement will ultimately show what truly transpired, then he will come out and say "I was misquoted" or "I didn't mean it d way it was portrayed", but by then it will too late for him to remove d foot firmly planted up his a**.

hargreaves was with us for about 2-3 years before being sent to dr. steadman. he had received plenty of injections from united's medical team before it was decided he was sent abroad and yet when dr steadman examined him, he claimed hargreaves' knee condition is the worst he had seen. so what made it worse? is it not the wrong injections prescribed by our medical team?

let's be balanced with our analysis.
hargreaves has every right to voice out what he feels about the whole issue.
he was the one in the quagmire. he is the only one that can truly reflect whatever happened. fergie cannot! this is not saying our medical team is not excellent but they might have gotten it wrong on hargo's case!

much ado about nothing, really!

Very unsavoury comments made by Owen Hargreaves ~ why would a club invest so much in a player to ruin him!!!? I hope SAF doesn't respond to these comments directly, he'll definitely be asked questions in the pre-match briefings, let posterity be the judge!

On the issue UTD defensively, I think the point about the number shots on our goal being influenced by a potential weakness De Gea is spot on but I also think we do tend to get carried by our attacks and forget about the back; and more worringly, we absolutely need a recognised defensive midfielder or destroyer (or whatever they are called these days), that defense is being overly exposed by the game and we'll definitely get punished one day.
Furthermore, Evra seems to increasingly drift infield; if he is itching to play CB, why not politely put a request to the Gaffer. . . . !?  

I firmly believe we can still play pretty attacking football without some of the nerve-jangling scenerios of last sunday!

coogar:

hargreaves was with us for about 2-3 years before being sent to dr. steadman. he had received plenty of injections from united's medical team before it was decided he was sent abroad and yet when dr steadman examined him, he claimed hargreaves' knee condition is the worst he had seen. so what made it worse? is it not the wrong injections prescribed by our medical team?

let's be balanced with our analysis.
hargreaves has every right to voice out what he feels about the whole issue.
he was the one in the quagmire. he is the only one that can truly reflect whatever happened. fergie cannot! this is not saying our medical team is not excellent but they might have gotten it wrong on hargo's case!
much ado about nothing, really!

Guy, they got it wrong for 2-3yrs Shuuuoo

Maybe we better ship Cleverly down to Igbobi before im case turn to shoot bed, mama fly

coogar:

hargreaves was with us for about 2-3 years before being sent to dr. steadman. he had received plenty of injections from united's medical team before it was decided he was sent abroad and yet when dr steadman examined him, he claimed hargreaves' knee condition is the worst he had seen. so what made it worse? is it not the wrong injections prescribed by our medical team?

let's be balanced with our analysis.
hargreaves has every right to voice out what he feels about the whole issue.
he was the one in the quagmire. he is the only one that can truly reflect whatever happened. fergie cannot! this is not saying our medical team is not excellent but they might have gotten it wrong on hargo's case!

much ado about nothing, really!

coogar,
No need to get sanctimonious.
So what you;re saying is United deliberately wrecks its stars right?
Remember Hargo had fitness concerns before signing to United.
For him to use language like that i downright disrespectful.
Even if United got it wrong on Hargo's case,is it right for him to act this way?United were guinea pigs while paying him through his non-playing stint,including when he injured his shoulder in training or his hamstring against Wolves.

@ coogar. United consulted with specialists immediately after he signed. Remember he didn't make his debut straight away (waited till October). It was d medical team and specialist who decided on d course of treatment to manage and deal with his already developed tendonitis problems. By d end of his first season when there were still issues he had a consultation with Dr Steadman, so it wasn't like they were juicing him up with like some "lab rat" for his entire time at O.T. Also d fact that his knees were in bad condition is directly related to his tendonitis which was there since his Bayern days, well before United destroyed his knees as he seemingly alleges. Simply cos he played an hour for City and their doctors might have said d injections did d damage, doesn't mean its right diagnosis. For all Hargreaves knows it could be d injections and 3 years of patience that United showed that have allowed to even make a return this season. I would certainly attribute d success more to them than 3 weeks of whatever magic potions they have at City.

Do you get it know. What he said directly brings into question d ethics and professionalism of United's medical staff and he offered no proof whatsoever, despite questioning their reputations. Frustrated as he might be, he has spoken like an idiot and frustration is not excuse to talk rubbish.

Leave coogar to be defending the guinea pig.
If he was honest with himself,he knows where his knee problems started from,and it wasn't from United.
Remember he broke his leg at Bayern and probably didn;t play till he was signed by united.
So if united mismanaged it,then United's medical team shouldn't be treating its stars anymore,since they can't deal with a simple knee injury.
by the way,he wasn't treated exclusively by United's medical team before going to Dr. Steadman.I hope you (coogar) are aware of that.So lumping this thing on United's medical staff isn't true.
Hargreaves comes across as bitter.His frustration should not get the better of him.Let him move on wit hhis career and hope United fans remember him for the fleeting contribution he made to us,but with these disgusting statements,I'm sure United fans will deliberately forget him.

RuuDie:

Guy, they got it wrong for 2-3yrs      Shuuuoo
Maybe we better ship Cleverly down to Igbobi before im case turn to shoot bed, mama fly  

they got it wrong for 2-3 years because hargreaves never played for us again and dr. steadman confirmed the condition of hargo's knees was the worst on the planet!

StarBoard:

coogar,
No need to get sanctimonious.
So what you;re saying is United deliberately wrecks its stars right?

hell nah. . . .i would never insinuate that. they did what they thought was right but it only worsen his case.
to be fair to them, it's an honest mistake!

Remember Hargo had fitness concerns before signing to United.
For him to use language like that i downright disrespectful.
Even if United got it wrong on Hargo's case,is it right for him to act this way?United were guinea pigs while paying him through his non-playing stint,including when he injured his shoulder in training or his hamstring against Wolves.

you must be very brilliant to bring this up!

if hargo had fitness concerns before signing for united and united announced he passed his medicals before he was signed, have you(starboard) not questioned the competence of our medical team in this case?

how did hargreaves pass his medicals? well our medical team gave him a pass.
so he was signed, he made 34 appearances that season which was quite good considering it was higher than his last 2 seasons in germany!

from then on, his knee condition worsened. he was at man utd throughout. the same competent medical team kept flushing his system with various injections - when his case kept getting worse, he was transferred to dr. steadman who then said his knee is nothing to write village about. now i ask - who fu[i]c[/i]ked up hargo's knee? our competent medical team or boko haram?

montelik:

@ coogar. United consulted with specialists immediately after he signed. Remember he didn't make his debut straight away (waited till October). It was d medical team and specialist who decided on d course of treatment to manage and deal with his already developed tendonitis problems. By d end of his first season when there were still issues he had a consultation with Dr Steadman, so it wasn't like they were juicing him up with like some "lab rat" for his entire time at O.T. Also d fact that his knees were in bad condition is directly related to his tendonitis which was there since his Bayern days, well before United destroyed his knees as he seemingly alleges. Simply cos he played an hour for City and their doctors might have said d injections did d damage, doesn't mean its right diagnosis. For all Hargreaves knows it could be d injections and 3 years of patience that United showed that have allowed to even make a return this season. I would certainly attribute d success more to them than 3 weeks of whatever magic potions they have at City.

more hot air. . . . . .if hargreaves already had his baggage from bayern munich, how did he pass his medicals at old trafford?
no one is answering this question. our medical team passed him, he didn't pass himself.

Do you get it now. What he said directly brings into question d ethics and professionalism of United's medical staff and he offered no proof whatsoever, despite questioning their reputations. Frustrated as he might be, he has spoken like an  and frustration is not excuse to talk rubbish.

in his shoes, i can bet you would say worse than that!

StarBoard:

Leave coogar to be defending the guinea pig.

i love my old trafford faithfuls - always ready to die for the red devils.

so owen hargreaves is now a guinea pig?
carlos tevez is a judas forward slash tarado?
who else??

If he was honest with himself,he knows where his knee problems started from,and it wasn't from United.
Remember he broke his leg at Bayern and probably didn;t play till he was signed by united.
So if united mismanaged it,then United's medical team shouldn't be treating its stars anymore,since they can't deal with a simple knee injury.

let's just assume hargo's case was the only they have gotten wrong. it does not make our medical staff incompetent!
but if we have to refer a player we okayed his medicals to dr. steadman, then it means something isn't right. we passed him, he played for us, his knee got jacked - we treated him for years - the case worsened and we referred him to a specialist who then said his case is beyond whatever his wealth of experience has seen. who do we then blame?

by the way,he wasn't treated exclusively by United's medical team before going to Dr. Steadman.I hope you (coogar) are aware of that.So lumping this thing on United's medical staff isn't true.

we are saying the same thing, bro. . . .
that exclusive treatment only aggravated hargo's condition. he got worse so are we going to say our medical team did well?

Hargreaves comes across as bitter.His frustration should not get the better of him.Let him move on wit hhis career and hope United fans remember him for the fleeting contribution he made to us,but with these disgusting statements,I'm sure United fans will deliberately forget him.

i will never forget owen hargreaves. whether he says what's worse than this or not!
i still have his vivid penalty kick in moscow. without him, who knows what the history books would have written!

hargo for life - i wish him well!!!

coogar,
It's very simplistic to assume United's medical team kept flushing Hargreaves with injections.
It's simply not true.He was going to London and Sweeden to see specialists on his knee.

StarBoard:

coogar,
It's very simplistic to assume United's medical team kept flushing Hargreaves with injections.
It's simply not true.He was going to London and Sweeden to see specialists on his knee.

but there's always a referral when our medical team sends a player to another doctor.
hargo went to those places with his medical file signed by our competent medical team?

excuse me, if i may. . . . . . .
are you saying our medical team cannot get it wrong even if it's this once?

no one is above elementary mistakes, abeg!
only hargo knew what he went through.

^^^
Not the point.
If United's medical team can mess us Owen's knees,then Rooney,Nani,Vidic,Ferdinand,Ashley Young should have left United eons ago.
Ole Solksjaer's knees were treated by the same staff.
If our medical team is so incompetent,as you would like us to believe,how did we remain fit enough to win 4 titles in the last 5 seasons,with Owen in 2 of them?

On cue,
Like FErgie was echoing my mind.
"We're trying to analyse all the stuff he has said and there will be a statement later to address that," Ferguson said. "As far as I am concerned my medical staff is one of the main reasons why we have been so successful over the last few years.

"Do you think we would be successful if they were not 100% brilliant? Our doctor and his five physios are fantastic – that is my opinion and that is more important than what anyone else has to say about it."-S.A.F.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/sep/23/sir-alex-ferguson-owen-hargreaves

I have no problems ex united players. Wish all of them well. D issue is Hargreaves is being dishonest and please stop with d "only Hargreaves knows" nonsense. If na only him know, why didn't he treat himself, after all na him sabi pass.  

Anyway d official response will paint a better picture and then we will know, hope then you won't call it "hot air".

Only OH knew what he went through but regardless of what happened, he has been very disrespectful to the club. He claims he has been fit since the end of last season when he posted the youtube videos so obviously its not City that made his knees better? He went on to sign for City which was less than ideal but we all still gave him our blessing but making such comments are the club after all that has been invested in him was very very disappointing.

Part of the reason his contract wasnt renewed was so he could go somewhere and get a chance to play regularly and hopefully get his career back on track.

Just smacks of a lack of class when you're spitting at your ex gf from your current girlfriend's  house.