Comments on: Is Negative Football The Future?

By: Scott the Red

Scott the Red — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:12:18 +0000

I don’t think United ever approach any game aiming for a draw. We ran out at the Nou Camp not wanting to concede, to make the second leg as easy as possible for us. We didn’t go there hoping for a draw.

By: Andrei

Andrei — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:15:38 +0000

Fair point, Scott.

On a different night at Camp Nou, it could have been 2-0 to Barcelona and on a different afternoon at Old Trafford, Sunderland would have lost n-0. Still, I found the two performances relatively comparable (accounting for the immense discrepancy in class and skill between the two teams). I realize United did not go to Camp Nou with the same game plan as Sunderland came to us (we can only guess what would have happened then) but they did go in content to snatch a draw and that is exactly what Sunderland did…

By: dave stopher

dave stopher — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 13:07:01 +0000

I think football is starting to go that way now!!

By: Scott the Red

Scott the Red — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 11:45:54 +0000

Andrei – I hear what you’re saying, but I don’t think our performance against Barcelona is comparable to how the majority of teams play at Old Trafford.

Firstly, statistically speaking, we had 7 shots in that game (granted, only 1 on target).

Secondly, our best two chances came when Ronaldo burst in to the box. On both occasions he was illegally brought down and we were awarded a penalty for one of them. The likes of Sunderland never broke in to our box.

Thirdly, United’s game plan was to play counter-attacking football. We’d absorb pressure (which we did remarkably well, when you consider the likes of Messi, Eto’o, Henry etc. only had 6 shots on target at home) then push forward to create our own opportunities to score. That is not the same as winning back possession and hoofing the ball up the pitch every single time, as Sunderland did.

I agree, we played extremely defensively at the Nou Camp, but it wasn’t as if there was NO substance to our performance. On a different night, it could have been 2-0 to United had we been awarded both penalties and Ronaldo actually scored them. Only in an alternate universe could Sunderland have won 2-0 at Old Trafford with the way they played.

By: BD Condell

BD Condell — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:58:55 +0000

@Andrei, can’t agree. Utd went to to Barcelona with a game plan to play them on the break, missed an early penalty and had a good shout for 2 others. While the stats may not look pretty, Barca hardly had a clear cut chance in the game and never came close to breaking the Utd defence down. It was a tactically supreme execution of a game plan and the big difference here is that it was a 2 legged tie. This for me justifies the approach as opposed to a one off game.

Otherwise, I agree totally with TC.

By: Simon

Simon — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:07:24 +0000

I totally agree. I love the way Hull have approached their games against the big four and I really wish more clubs would recognize that setting out to press and harry the likes or Arsenal and Man U can set you up to turn them over.

And I’m an Arsenal man.

By: TC

TC — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:20:02 +0000

I don’t agree with negative football. However some teams have been able to scramble points or even a win with this style. When you are always fighting for survival in the premier legue, you do what you have to do in order to survive. Good post.

By : http://idoitforfootball.wordpress.com/

By: Andrei

Andrei — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:48:13 +0000

Great article… but:

Am I to suppose that your reaction to the Barcelona – Man Utd game last season was the same? Because Manchester United ‘did a Sunderland’ last season when the played at Camp Nou and I am pretty sure that I was the ONLY unhappy United supporter.

I am not trying to put you down – this really is a great article – all I am trying to do is show that we are extremely hypocritical when it comes to our favourite football.

I made the mistake of claiming, on a United forum (was writing for RedRants at the time), that I wished Barcelona scored a late winner. Wanna know what reaction that got? Or can you guess (no prizes )?

So now that we claim that justice was served against Sunderlan, through Vida’s late winner, can we say that justice was not served at Camp Nou last April?

Just for emphasis, I agree with your stance in this article completely.

By: jamie_sheffield_owl

jamie_sheffield_owl — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:56:45 +0000

Great article i’m still suprised Hansons got a job he chats so much bs its unreal top article good read