Man Utd Selection Crisis

Not even in the worst, most challenging moments whilst playing away on Football Manager and Champ. Manager over the years has the computer programming deemed it realistic or fair to deal out in a football simulation game the selection crisis currently facing Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of tonights Champions League clash against Wolfsburg.

Not Available
Edwin Van der Saar (Knee Injury)

Gary Neville (Groin Injury)
Rio Ferdinand (Back & Calf Injury)
Wes Brown (Hamstring Injury)
Nemanja Vidic (Illness, Flu)
Fabio da Silva (Groin Injury)
Rafael da Silva (Groin Injury)
John O’Shea (Thigh Injury)
Jonny Evans (Calf Injury)
Ritchie de Laet (Ineligible)

Owen Hargreaves (Not Yet Fit)
Ryan Giggs (Rested – Did not travel)

Wayne Rooney (Hamstring Injury)
Dimitar Berbatov (Knee Injury)
Frederico Macheda (Injured)


Available
Tomasz Kuszczak
Ben Foster

Patrice Evra

Park Ji-Sung
Michael Carrick
Paul Scholes
Darren Fletcher
Antonio Valencia
Darron Gibson
Anderson
Zoran Tosic
Nani
Gabriele Obertan

Michael Owen
Danny Welbeck


Promoted – Available for selection
Oliver Gill (Defender)
Magnus Eikrem (Midfield)
Cameron Stewart (Midfield)
Matty James (Midfield)
Oliver Norwood (Midfield)

So, I will do my fortune teller bit, here's my guess for the line up, 15 into 11 leaves few options....

GK Tomasz Kuszczak

DL Darren Fletcher
DR Park Ji-Sung
DC Patrice Evra
DC Michael Carrick

MC Anderson
MC Paul Scholes
MC Darron Gibson

AMR Antonio Valencia
AML Nani

ST Michael Owen

Fergie forced to speak to BBC? Not on your life

The Premier League have just agreed new rules that will require managers to speak to television rights holders (no doubt for extra cash) from next season (2010/11)

This, of course, means that Fergie will have to speak to the BBC in post-match interviews, as well as the written press, whom he has also boycotted for seven years, giving almost all of his screen time to the club's in-house MUTV channel

Now, knowing the famously stubborn soon-to-be-68-year-old do you think he will be going near the BBC? In 2007 he was pretty clear about never going back there

So, I ask - is this finally Fergie's final season? It's been on the cards for years, but will he, now surely at the end of his career, be forced back to the 'arrogant' BBC by the club for only a few years? Or will he bother with the sliding scale penalties, or will he just take his retirement?

I'd be doing the latter, not that I personally like being told who I have to talk to

So, money on Fergie retiring methinks

And yes this will also apply to Big Sam and 'Arry

Why Is Nani So Crap At Football?

I made it up for the Blackburn game recently, and it was the first live game I have been to where Nani got a start.

He is a frustrating player to watch!

Thankfully, I am not alone in my assessment of Nani, and a section of the crowd nearby frequently sang "you'll never be Ronaldo" whenever he copped hold of the ball.  Obertan, (like Michael Owen) was granted standing ovations when they replaced struggling 1st teamers mid-way through the second half.

Anyway, I just spotted this over on The Bun, it seems Nani thinks he's crap because Sir Alex has mismanaged him....

Bwahahahahahah!  Not only can he not control a football, it seems he can not control his verbal diarohea.  Sir Alex has an exempluary record in bringing through youngsters and making them superstars, perhaps Nani, the problem lies a little closer to home.

Nani has not lived up to his potential, and looks no better today than he did when he first arrived.  Christiano grabbed his chance and eventually learned that just looking good and having a few tricks is not what makes a good footballer.  Man Utd do have some creativity and penetration problems at the moment, which will not resolve itself.  I was hoping that Nani would get a run this year and that he would come good, but it just is not happening for him.  Time to look elsewhere, and soon because United are not well stocked on [young] creative midfielders.

A generation of Fergies?

James Lawton in the Indie has had a go at Ferguson for his treatment of referees (or, his hypocrisy, if you will)

Stating the bleeding obvious you might say, but he's right:

not even arguably the most successful manager in the history of English football, can stand above the game, making his own rules and flaunting his own prejudices. This is what is happening at the moment and what it is doing to the Football Association's campaign to win more respect for match officials is tantamount to rolling it up as though it is a piece of grubby paper and tossing it into the nearest bin.

Ferguson's device, though, of shifting attention from the deficiencies of his team on any passing day with criticism of the referee has done more than wear thin. It is becoming a sustained challenge to football authority – one which recent evidence suggests is hardly likely to be met with any significant force when the FA comes to render its decision on the Wiley affair.

One problem is the grisly prospect of a whole generation of Fergie imitators, men who have swallowed the idea that they should take the best of the great manager and live with the rest.

 
It's an entertaining read, and while we all know it already, I thought it worth posting that the FA really do need to get some balls

Old Trafford Time

We all know the accusations of playing until United score at Old Trafford, but when they play to 97 minutes you've got to admit it looks like a fair comment...

Owen scored at 95 mins 28 secs

I think Sparky is right to feel a bit miffed when the fourth official indicated four mins, even if they did count goal celebrations..

And do you think Fergie would've felt it was the best derby ever if he hadn't got the win?

For sale: large north east club with loyal army of fans, Cost: equivalent one Portuguese brat

I know it's been covered but I'd thought I'd add my two cents

80 fecking Million!!!

That's obscene, Madrid break the transfer record twice in a week...and in a recession

Personally I view this as a brilliant bit of business from Fergie - he's got the best out of the boy and he's got way over the odds for him (is Ronaldo 70% better than Kaka?), and he loses a pain in the arse to boot - this continues a long line of big sales that have been lucrative - Beckham, Nistelrooy etc

My concern is two-fold - how will this affect Madrid? Is this level of spending tenable? I appreciate they're financially strong after they got a massive pay-out from the city under Perez but this must put them back into debt, and I doubt this will stop at a mere 136 million, even for one of the world's biggest clubs these are unprecedented new levels of spending and we don't know how it will affect such a club long-term, although I'm sure they'd get bailed out anyway

Secondly how will this impact on the wider footballing world? Will we see the giants race ahead in spending levels? - If that happens I can envisage somebody collapsing, especially considering the debts of Liverpool/United, maybe Man City will play along and 15 clubs will get left even further behind and football will become even more ridiculous

I know we say it all the time, but now clubs really are starting to feel the pressure and these new records may push them to the wall

But hey, maybe we'll see every premier league club become the plaything of an actually wealthy Arab oil tycoon

As for United - they'll live, as long as they keep Rooney they won't need a new superstar, but next season should be closer

Sir Alex Interview

I was reading a write-up of an interview Alistair Campbell had with Sir Alex Ferguson this week, from the Times and there were some interesting points.

First. Sir Alex says Man United will not do the quintuple this season, because of the unpredictable nature of of cup ties, and the number needed for Man Utd to negotiate to achieve this feat.

Second. He says his biggest mistake was letting Jaap Stam go, and his biggest regret was not signing Paul Gascoigne. We have all heard the Gazza story before, but I think this is the first time I have read that Sir Alex acknowledged the hole left by Stams departure was a big one.

Third. Sir Alex names his Man Utd dream team, and names Ryan Giggs as the "Player he would never leave out".... hmmmm, funny comment considering that of the two Champions League Finals that Sir Alex has guided Man Utd to, Giggs did not start in either.

The snippet interview from The Times is here. It is a good read whether you like Sir Alex or not.

Carling Cup Final

Tottenaham are going to field the strongest possible team in tomorrows cup final after manager Harry Redknapp rested his big guns against Shaktar Donetsk. However, Carlo Cudicini, Wilson Palacios, Pascal Chimbonda and Robbie Keane are illegible, Jermaine Defoe is injured and Jamie O'Hara will have a late fitness test.

For Man Utd Sir Alex Ferguson has already stated that he will stick with his youth policy that has guided United to this final. Jonny Evans needed a pain killing injection to play Inter in the week so will likely not be risked. Gary Neville returned to training this week which means he may feature as Wes Brown and Rafael are both out with injury.

Brazillian Anderson played 45 minutes for the reserves in mid-week. Fabio also played in that match and was withdrawn early. Van der Saar has not played in the competition this season so Sir Alex will pick between Kuszczak and Ben Foster.

So likely line ups will be:

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Zakora, Jenas, Lennon, Modric, Pavlyuchenko.

Man Utd: Foster, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio, Nani, Gibson, Scholes, Ronaldo, Tevez, Wellbeck.

Anyone care to offer any predictions?

Gary Neville Signs New Deal At Man Utd

Manchester United Captain Gary Neville has agreed a new deal that will keep him at the club until June 2010 according to ManUtd.com. Neville turned 34 this week.

Neville made his debut against Torpedo Moscow in 1992 and has been in the first team for 17 years. Nevilles deal follows on from Giggsy's extention signed last week.

Sir Alex Ferguson is quoted as saying "Gary is a true professional and I admire how he has overcome an injury which kept him out for over a year, returning as good as ever. He deserves this new contract and we are very happy to have him here."

I expect Man Utd fans will welcome the news that their captain will be staying on for another season.

Giggs Gets Contract Extension

Ryan Giggs will be playing for Manchester United next year having secured a one year extension to his present deal.

Giggs made his debut in August 1991 and is the only player to have scored in all 17 seasons.

Sir Alex commented on ManUtd.com:

"He is like a young boy in the way that he plays and, although he wants to be involved in every game, he understands that by using his experience when it matters is a benefit to him and the team.

"It would be easy for him to be complacent after all he has achieved but he isn’t and that speaks volumes of his character and explains why we wanted to extend his services and use that experience.”

Hargreaves Will Return In 2009/10 Season

The BBC is reporting that Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson has said that Owen Hargreaves should be fit for the start of next season following a second operation on his tendinitis.

Hargreaves has made 37 appearances for Man Utd since his move at the start of the 2007/08 season, and despite an injury interrupted first part to the season, he returned and was a key player in the second half of the season that saw Man Utd win the Premier League and European Champions League.

Keegan Interview

I asked "Did Rafa not see what happened to Kevin Keegan and Newcastle all those years ago?"

Well, just in case the answer is no.......

Rafa's Tactics

Rafa Benitez almost since he walked through the door at Liverpool has had his on-field tactics frequently questioned. Some ex-Liverpool players have very openly and strongly criticised Benitez for his faith in his rotation policy.

Today however, I have to question his off field tactics. Benitez, seem to be a quiet manager, he is not in the news every week like Sir Alex Ferguson is, and like Jose Mourinho was during his time at Chelsea.

But I am not sure what Rafa's recent digs at Sir Alex Ferguson were supposed to have achieved? I would have thought that being top of the league, a preemptive verbal attack across the bows of the third placed team would be a little distracting to the squad, when the focus surely should have been to focus on your own teams efforts. Did Rafa not see what happened to Kevin Keegan and Newcastle all those years ago?

Has the attack worked? Well lets look at the weekends results....

Stoke 0 - 0 Liverpool
Man Utd 3 - 0 Chelsea

It is my assertion that Rafa has unnecessarily added to the pressure of a team that are unaccustomed to being top of the Premier League in the second half of the season, and that have not convincingly challenged for the league title in nearly two decades. Am I wrong?

Man Utd Misfiring?

I have just seen this analysis of Man Utd's Strike force this season on the BBC. Includes a contribution from Andrew Cole.

This will be a key weekend in Man Utd's challenge, a defeat will hurt their challenge but not irrevocably; however, a win will give some needed momentum. After the defeat to Derby, Sir Alex will probably not surprise anyone with his selection this weekend, but a bad performance this weekend may prompt changes to the established order as Man Utd head into their traditionally strongest section of the season.

Chelsea and Big Phil need to travel to Old Trafford, Anfield and Villa Park within the seven games they play before the Champions League resumes in February. Will Chelsea be celebrating on Monday that they again have some advantage in the Premier League over Man Utd?

Update 12-Jan-09: Momentum Achieved, 3-0 Victory to Manchester United.