chanzhesheng

Again, SAF is playing mind games. When Man Utd vs Man City, he said Danny Welbeck MAY act as lone striker. During press conference before Man Utd vs Bolton, he said he believed Vidic and FERDINAND can handle Kevin Davies. Then who is playing as center back? Then SAF says Ferdinand and van der Sar cannot play against Liverpool. Only he knows that 2 guys can play or not. But interestingly, when van der Sar and Ferdinand appear on matches against Liverpool, Man Utd sure win. So, if this time Ferdinand or van der Sar really can't play, then it is a very dangerous situation. Everyone knows how Brown plays as center back. 真係要求神拜佛!

chanzhesheng

I think is not Man Utd lose 2 points but actually gain 1 point.
For those veterans, use them accordingly. Everyone knows Blackburn is a very physical team.
So, why put 2 veterans there? One is enough. I prefer Scholes over Giggs.
I can see the trend now where if SAF plays Giggs, Man Utd always struggling.
I mean experiences always important in any matches but physically, Giggs is worst than Scholes.
You see, Giggs already becomes corner taker for 15 years still he hardly produces winning corners.
Even Hagreaves or Nani can take better corner.
Nani is a little bit inexperience, he is undergoing "Ronaldo-cloning". Forgive him for any missed chance if you can.
~ Man Utd can enter to Chelsea match without so much pressure with Man Utd can afford draw or lose the match.
~ Barcelona 1-1 Espanyol at Nou Camp. Barca take 70% possesions still cannot produce goal. Frank place Messi, Iniesta and Deco at the bench with Messi completed second half. Is Henry injured or rested?

chanzhesheng

BPL vs. Wigan, No Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani! So, how is the attacking options? Giggs? Park? Anderson?

chanzhesheng

Rooney must rediscover selfish side
From: Soccernet.com
URL: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=566228&sec=england&root=england&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1&cc=4716

Manchester United head to Monaco on Friday, hoping for silverware from the European Super Cup to accompany the recently acquired Community Shield and, more prestigiously, the Premier League and the Champions League trophies. At 22 and the owner of 43 England caps, Wayne Rooney has already achieved more than the majority of players do in their entire careers.

Yet the more he wins, the greater the enigma Rooney becomes. In 2005/06, he was magnificent while Manchester United were, by their standards, mediocre. A one-man source of optimism about the club's future, his coruscating brilliance was the highlight of their season. In a side that seemed to have too few, he was the principal match-winner. If both and United's and England's hopes seemed to rest with a player barely out of his teens, it was entirely understandable.

Last season, however, the most startling statistic about Rooney's campaign is that his goals only yielded one Premier League point, in April's draw at Middlesbrough; mathematically, United could have won the title without him. Such a strict mathematical analysis ignores his overall contribution  indeed, it is telling that their defeats tended to occur in his absence; nevertheless, the comparable figure for Cristiano Ronaldo, who superseded him as the club's resident superstar and points-gatherer in chief, is 19.

That illustrates the difference between 'R' 'n' 'R'. Moreover, in the Champions League final, it was Rooney who was replaced while Ronaldo and the tireless Carlos Tevez remained on. In contrast, 12 months earlier, he produced a fine double against AC Milan in the semi-final to accompany an outstanding display against Roma in the previous round.

If that suggests Rooney is at his best in an unsuccessful cause, that is an impression that the 2005 FA Cup final, where the shootout defeat to Arsenal followed a forceful individual display, reinforces. Rooney's international career, meanwhile, is one of diminishing returns. It has only brought two goals in competitive games since Euro 2004 and Fabio Capello, like Steve McClaren and Sven-Goran Eriksson before him, is already accused of failing to get the best from the only world-class attacker at his disposal.

Rooney is far from the only international underachiever in the current England squad and an overall record of 14 goals in 43 caps is more than respectable, but different standards are applied to him.

And so they should be. While there is an obvious temptation to hype every youngster, he is, along with Steven Gerrard, England's foremost talent. Too much can be expected at too young an age, and growing up has its perils for child prodigies, but Rooney is in danger of underachievement. Not just for the national team, where the majority of his team-mates struggle to replicate their club form, but for Manchester United. Ronaldo, once the junior partner in their alliance, has surged ahead of Rooney. Tevez is at his most destructive alongside the Englishman but it is the Argentine who forged the reputation last season for delivering the vital goals.

Rooney, the odd metatarsal difficulty notwithstanding, has 41 goals in two seasons. Once again, it is a record that would induce envy from most strikers, but then the majority lack his ability. It is true, too, that his talents extend beyond goalscoring; United's slick football, their fluid movement and interchangeable attacking would not be possible without his blend of creativity and industry. Yet there is a reason why, in pre-season, Sir Alex Ferguson stated the need to use Rooney in his proper position, to grant the No.10 the role and responsibilities the shirt often entails.

With an unselfishness that is alien to Ronaldo, Rooney tracked back diligently in the Nou Camp as an orthodox right-sided midfielder. He has often, especially in Europe, been delegated duties on the left flank, taking him further from goal. The situation is complicated by Rooney's roaming or, as Ferguson termed it, 'overdoing it in the wrong areas of the pitch'.

Far from operating five yards behind the principal striker, his first two appearances of the season were notable for the supposed striker dropping far deeper. It is a sign of a willingness to involve himself in the game and provide inspiration when the midfield cannot, but for Manchester United against Newcastle and for England versus the Czech Republic, he was ineffective.

If Ronaldo, in contrast, is vain enough to channel his efforts towards individual glory, it can be beneficial, as 42 goals last season suggest. Rooney, however, appeared the superior player in 2006, but has not advanced to such a degree. Perhaps the realisation of that leads to the dissent and mis-timed tackles that characterize a frustrated Rooney. The team ethic that he possesses takes him further from goal and, at times, into trouble, depriving him of tap-ins and leaving others, less talented and less qualified, to take up the striker's position.

At 22, he has time on his side. Yet for the past two years, we have been waiting for him to produce career-defining performances, as his fellow Liverpudlian Gerrard did in Istanbul, or to become the ruthless, relentless destroyer Ronaldo has morphed into. A willingness to roam everywhere on the pitch should not obscure Rooney from the fact he is most dangerous in the final third.

Perhaps the paradox is that too many footballers are too selfish; Rooney is a rare example of one who should act with self-interest in mind more often. Few others would be charged with being Manchester United and England's talisman, but few others have his potential. Wayne Rooney is picking up the medals, but now it is time to challenge for the individual honors as well.
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Really an unselfish player. Maybe is a tactical formation changes but I hope SAF will reinvent Rooney into ruthless striker.
Next: UEFA Super Cup (Vs Zenit Saint Petersburg)

chanzhesheng

why this man united forum become inactive?

chanzhesheng

sat, I don't agree with you. For a club to dominate for a certain period of time, the club must have 1. Key Players, 2. Right Manager, 3. Right Tactics and etc. After the club have the right players and manager (coaching stuff), then the manager must do his job. A certain tactic such 4-4-2 cannot used by a club for a period of a few years as other clubs/teams will find the solution to counter a certain tactic. The success achieved by Sir Alex or Man United is based on this. For example, AS Roma, use 4-2-3-1 for 3 seasons and this season their tactic is decoded and the team does badly. Everton use the same tactic for 3 seasons and this season they have shaky performance.

Sir Alex knows this theory and he makes changes to the team. Mobility and floating football (or free role) is the trademark of Man United for the last season. This season, Sir Alex reduces the mobility and injects some organization.  Besides, Sir Alex adds one more important player into his system, Berbatov. I don't care what others say about him but he integrates into them team quite well. He holds up the ball, makes rooms for Ronaldo, Rooney or Tevez, and control the tempo of the final third. If Sir Alex continue to use the same tactic as last season, Man United will do badly. He creates variation of his 90's formation.

For a long time no one debates tactics and formations here. What a relieve now where at least someone stands up and injects some fresh into the forum.

chanzhesheng

Michael Carrick and Anderson do not provide midfield authority. Bear in mind Manchester United are playing at Old Trafford. Carrick is off form today while Anderson looks like lacks match fitness.

Then. SAF tried to turn things around by making a stunning triple substitution. This is the strength that Rafa Benitez lacks and one of the reasons why Liverpool give up their 7 points lead over 2 months period.

Vidic has a match to be forgetted. He shows signs of fatique over a long season period. Maybe Vidic needs some time to off.

Anyway, at least Manchester United have put down the pressure on them after 12 match winning streak. SAF needs to rivitalise the squad a little bit. Expect some hairdryer style reaction after the match. Get up & march towards the championship!

chanzhesheng

So, now who is Manchester United? A team which according to the record book has only 13% of chance to qualify for next round's Champions League.
Manchester United have suffered from some recent setbacks.
From my observation:
~ The tempo of the team is slower.
~ They show signs of fatigue.
~ The tactic of the team is quite static. From good point of view, it is consistency. But it can also cause opponent to easily anticipate the team’s tactic.
~ The offensive moves are one dimensional. Opponent easily anticipates and counters the one dimensional attacks.

2-2 at home to Porto is a near death sentence for Man United. Sir Alex or Man United needs to have changes made to the team. 
Suggestions:
~ Tactically, 4-4-2 = Man United. Sir Alex needs to change that. For example, change to 4-3-3 or 4-5-1. This is a must win game away from home. So, tactical surprise is a must to win the game. 
~ Put a holding/defensive midfielder protecting the back four. Darren Fletcher should be included in the first eleven. He had a decent game against Fulham and Aston Villa. His work rate and energy is badly needed.
~ Put 2 central midfielder. First choice would be Scholes and Carrick. But, Carrick has some bad run recently. Same goes to Scholes. However, they are the finest passer or playmaker in the team. 
~ The final third is important. Dimitar Berbatov should start. He provides focal point of attack and aerial superiority. However, his work rate is quite low. Not a plus point when playing away from home. Wayne Rooney has a lot of energy, great vision and is a decent crosser.
Finally, Cristiano Ronaldo is a must for Man United. Besides he is an aerial threat to the opponent, he also provides width for the team. 
~ The back four: Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, John O' Shea. (Provided Ferdinand and Berbatov recover in time)
~ Physical toughness is more important than attacking flair.Vidic, O' Shea, Rooney, Fletcher all provides physical toughness to the team.
~ Set Piece: Where isthe aerial threat when Carrick floats the corner kick? Ronaldo, O' Shea, Vidic, Berbatov, Ferdinand, Fletcher. They are good header. Scholes will be waiting outside for long shot chances. 
~ The bench! Place Carlos Tevez, Ryan Giggs, Luis Nani. They can change the game (and then history).

                                     Edwin van der Sar

John O' Shea      Rio Ferdinand      Nemanja Vidic      Patrice Evra

        Darren Fletcher      Michael Carrick      Paul Scholes

       Wayne Rooney      Dimitar Berbatov      Cristiano Ronaldo