The Manchester United Thread

[fuelledbypassion]

The Sun claim the Reds are closing in on Blackpool winger Thomas Ince. The son of former United star Paul Ince has impressed in the Championship and rumours suggest he could be on his way to Old Trafford in January.

Had a fantastic debut full season at Blackpool and has started the this term with 6 goals in 6 league games. He's 20, so definitely one for the future...any thoughts?

 

[GodCubed]

The Sun claim the Reds are closing in on Blackpool winger Thomas Ince. The son of former United star Paul Ince has impressed in the Championship and rumours suggest he could be on his way to Old Trafford in January.

Had a fantastic debut full season at Blackpool and has started the this term with 6 goals in 6 league games. He's 20, so definitely one for the future...any thoughts?

Very good player, from what I hear. Liverpool got rid of him a while ago, but it seems they were premature.

 

[alicwkd]

He's very raw atm, but is slowly improving his decision making. Not sure he'll ever be quite up to the standard United need from a winger though. (I'll probably delete that bit when he tears us a new one on Saturday) He reminds me a bit of Scott Sinclair in his late surge in development and his style, and also how he has kickstarted his career by dropping into the Championship.

 

[fuelledbypassion]

Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Carrick, Cleverley; Welbeck, Rooney, Kagawa; Van Persie. Subs: Lindegaard, Valencia, Anderson, Giggs, Hernandez, Scholes, Wootton

 

[Vanjagl]

Finally, 4-5-1 formation with aggressive mid in starting 11. Should be nice game.

 

[Vanjagl]

**** yea, Evra, our most potent winger XD

 

[ceco]

Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Carrick, Cleverley; Welbeck, Rooney, Kagawa; Van Persie. Subs: Lindegaard, Valencia, Anderson, Giggs, Hernandez, Scholes, Wootton

I believe it was rather a narrow 4-4-2 diamond formation. At least until Valencia came on when we switched back to the usual 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1. Evra did look better than in his previous games and not just because of the goal. Just sad Welbeck isn't progressing quick enough and keeps producing poor displays. Nevertheless an important win and 3 points.

Do you guys think Kagawa can play in the diamond formation in the striker slot in front of Rooney? Cause I think he didn't perform well today and I believe it was because of the position he was forced to occupy.

 

[CtPauley]

Very good player, from what I hear. Liverpool got rid of him a while ago, but it seems they were premature.

Seems they wanted to keep him, but he didn't want to sign a new contract and not play.

 

[GodCubed]

Manchester United captain buys flat for father of friend who passed away - Sport Witness

Classy gesture.

 

[fuelledbypassion]

Manchester United captain buys flat for father of friend who passed away - Sport Witness

Classy gesture.

Not too surprising either. He seems like a humble, old fashioned kind of player, who plays for the love of the game, unlike the modernistic premadonnas of his era

 

[zzeezzy]

Not too surprising either. He seems like a humble, old fashioned kind of player, who plays for the love of the game, unlike the modernistic premadonnas of his era

Classy player on and off the pitch, no one better for United captain. I think he is right up there as one of the best CB's in the world.

 

[thekill]

Rooney scored his first goal of the season just not the net he would have liked to score in but made up by scoring where he should score lot more .

 

[hughesman]

How come this thread has been rather dead of late?

 

[ajt09]

How come this thread has been rather dead of late?

FIFA 13 and FM 13 perhaps?

 

[sunilvk7]

Cleverley is as mobile and energetic as Anderson, but is a much better passer and a much better tackler. Not convinced a diamond is a good idea by any means at all. We should be matching the flanks as it means we can pin back Cole with Valencia, and Ivanovic is not a major attacking threat compared to the other 3 full backs, meaning that Evra can get forwards down the left, a diamond would leave their full backs free to maraud forwards at will and overload us.


Carrick, Cleverley, Rooney. Positioning, mobility, complete attacking midfield presence. Rooney can track ramires late runs from deep. Carrick shields the back 4 and intercepts, while Cleverley is the mobile link, picking up and harassing Oscar. Those two are likely to be battling each other most of the game. We need to impose our game as much as be reactionary. 4-2-3-1 vs 4-2-3-1

Yeah agreed about Cleverley but still he can't win physical battles like Anderson. No one can at ManUtd. Also when I said Diamond, it's not narrow like Milan did, Cleverley and Kagawa provided width and defended flanks against Newcastle. So I dont think our FBs will be exposed much.

While I love Rooney's passing from midfield, we will lose his thread in the final third. He is playing well with RVP upfront, so like I said in the alternate formation, Valencia instead of Kagawa will switch us to 4-2-3-1 or Barca type V formation with Carrick, Cleverley, Anderson trio in midfield and Valencia as RW. Rooney and RVP interchanging positions like they did against Stoke.

Also Anderson played really well this season and IMO he deserves run of games. He changes the tempo of our game, he makes those driving runs from midfield and even when we are pressed he makes the runs which pushes the opponents to back foot. Some of his passes were scholesesque against Stoke and Newcastle (CC game), also I never saw ManUtd players winning physical battle against Tiote except Anderson. He adds lot to this team, only problem is his injury record.

I have said it before, midfield trio of Carrick, Anderson, Cleverley brings best out of each of them. Passing, driving runs, tackling, reading the game you got everything along with Rooney doing damage in the final third. Also Cleverley and Anderson are on same wavelength, they know when the other will be making runs and when to stay back.

End of the day, if Scholes AND Giggs both won't start that's enough as any other player added will bring the energy to midfield, if only Scholes start we can at least do some damage but with Giggs we will be clueless.

 

[craig curtis]

No ferdie or evra for united braga game tomoz.

 

[Mike.]

Yeah agreed about Cleverley but still he can't win physical battles like Anderson. No one can at ManUtd. Also when I said Diamond, it's not narrow like Milan did, Cleverley and Kagawa provided width and defended flanks against Newcastle. So I dont think our FBs will be exposed much.

While I love Rooney's passing from midfield, we will lose his thread in the final third. He is playing well with RVP upfront, so like I said in the alternate formation, Valencia instead of Kagawa will switch us to 4-2-3-1 or Barca type V formation with Carrick, Cleverley, Anderson trio in midfield and Valencia as RW. Rooney and RVP interchanging positions like they did against Stoke.

Also Anderson played really well this season and IMO he deserves run of games. He changes the tempo of our game, he makes those driving runs from midfield and even when we are pressed he makes the runs which pushes the opponents to back foot. Some of his passes were scholesesque against Stoke and Newcastle (CC game), also I never saw ManUtd players winning physical battle against Tiote except Anderson. He adds lot to this team, only problem is his injury record.

I have said it before, midfield trio of Carrick, Anderson, Cleverley brings best out of each of them. Passing, driving runs, tackling, reading the game you got everything along with Rooney doing damage in the final third. Also Cleverley and Anderson are on same wavelength, they know when the other will be making runs and when to stay back.

End of the day, if Scholes AND Giggs both won't start that's enough as any other player added will bring the energy to midfield, if only Scholes start we can at least do some damage but with Giggs we will be clueless.

We dont need that physical battle. we were not taht exposed because newcastle player 4-4-2, once they went 4-5-1 they got back into it and we then switched.

We havent lost Rooney's threat at all at AMC. He has been a creative force from there, and scored twice vs stoke doing so. This game will be more about movement than power, and that suits cleverley, carrick and rooney

 

[Vanjagl]

Well, if you take a look at United and Chelsea squad, they are pretty similar. Both lacking in holding mid, both having amazing attacking options and both having pace controller in Carrick and Obi Mikel respectively. So yea, whoever can exploit that lack of defensive mid will win.

 

[sunilvk7]

We dont need that physical battle. we were not taht exposed because newcastle player 4-4-2, once they went 4-5-1 they got back into it and we then switched.

We havent lost Rooney's threat at all at AMC. He has been a creative force from there, and scored twice vs stoke doing so. This game will be more about movement than power, and that suits cleverley, carrick and rooney

I wouldn't say Rooney played as AMC against Stoke. He played few mins there but RVP dropped deeper and created chances. And then Welbeck interchanged position with RVP and Rooney too.

When Newcastle switched we moved to 4-3-3 (4-5-1) , which is what I'm saying we should be playing.

I wouldn't mind Rooney in advanced CM position but I would like to see players playing in their natural positions. Anderson has done well when given chance and this should be make or break season for him and should be given chances to prove himself.

 

[sunilvk7]

Stewart Gardner ‏@stewartgardner

Boss also mentioned that Cleverley and Kagawa will play tomorrow and Ashley Young will be involved #mufc

Good news about Young, he is also the player who can change game in an instant. Cleverley playing tomorrow with Kagawa, which will be great to watch as they like to play quick one twos. Hopefully Nani will also start as Nani and Kagawa combine really well.