Comments on: The best and worst of Manchester United’s season http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/1910/ Football News Sat, 26 May 2012 13:33:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Michael kane http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/1910/#comment-48010 Michael kane Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:51:37 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/16191910.html#comment-48010 Well Expect a hard season from liverpool because look wat we can do with forward costing 9 million think about wat we can do with 30 million superstar wen the spanish transfer window officially opens and we get the team we deerve don't expect an easy liverpool anymore hey Well Expect a hard season from liverpool because look wat we can do with forward costing 9 million think about wat we can do with 30 million superstar wen the spanish transfer window officially opens and we get the team we deerve don’t expect an easy liverpool anymore hey

]]> By: jason http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/1910/#comment-47935 jason Sat, 09 Jun 2007 16:29:44 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/16191910.html#comment-47935 This pass season was fantastic. Man untied dominate the league.Ronaldo was perfect, Rooney should have done beeter,Paul a real warrior. Now we must look on to next season.The team looks good but we must buy a pantner for Rooney. Berbatov is my pick. He has shown his goal scoring ability this season.If not we need to get someone tall, strong, flexible and can scores. Nani, Anderson, Owen need to contribute to the team.Jasonx and monique This pass season was fantastic. Man untied dominate the league.Ronaldo was perfect, Rooney should have done beeter,Paul a real warrior. Now we must look on to next season.The team looks good but we must buy a pantner for Rooney. Berbatov is my pick. He has shown his goal scoring ability this season.If not we need to get someone tall, strong, flexible and can scores. Nani, Anderson, Owen need to contribute to the team.Jasonx and monique

]]> By: Tuga http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/1910/#comment-47859 Tuga Fri, 08 Jun 2007 22:34:11 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/16191910.html#comment-47859 @ devils_advocate: Yes Ronaldo has been used has a 2nd striker by Portugal Manager Scolari. However he's not good at it, besides that little edge of having Ronaldo on the wings is lost... Also, "has SAF enough talent?" This season he will start to phase out Scholes and Giggs with Andersson and Nani, but only time can say if these players make or brake... @ devils_advocate:

Yes Ronaldo has been used has a 2nd striker by Portugal Manager Scolari. However he’s not good at it, besides that little edge of having Ronaldo on the wings is lost…

Also, “has SAF enough talent?” This season he will start to phase out Scholes and Giggs with Andersson and Nani, but only time can say if these players make or brake…

]]> By: NiKOS http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/1910/#comment-47819 NiKOS Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:09:40 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/16191910.html#comment-47819 Ronaldo was bought as a winger.We all no the anti-beckham and No.7-shirt story.We all know the story where SAF asks his best players about ron Ronaldo was bought as a winger.We all no the anti-beckham and No.7-shirt story.We all know the story where SAF asks his best players about ron

]]> By: devils_advocate http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/1910/#comment-47812 devils_advocate Fri, 08 Jun 2007 15:17:12 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/16191910.html#comment-47812 The constituency achieved last season was mainly down to a strong defense & control of the midfield, Ronaldo exceptional contribution was the icing on the cake, However, What would the season have been like if Ronaldo did move on after the World Cup? Would we have regained the premiership title? I doubt it. So with this thought in mind, has the recent acquisitions cured the problems? The 1999 treble winners had a great team spirit, strength in depth & 4 good strikers, who brought different things to the team. This allowed SAF to rotate players, still win games and make well thought out substitutions in tight-games, when we needed to score or kill off teams. I see a lot of similarities with the current squad, except for the striking dept., which is why all ManU fans are anticipating an addition to this vital area. In my earlier post, I suggested that Ronaldo would make an excellent 2nd striker. However, Phobos last post suggests he was bought as one. All the information I have read confirms him as a ‘winger' but he's own country (Portugal) used him as a striker in the last World Cup. So, my fellow supporters,:- 1. Has SAF enough talent in the squad to achieve the title, double, treble or quadruple next season? 2. Should SAF add a striker or two to the squad? 3. Who should SAF release to make room for other players? 4. Who would you promote from the reserves/loan returns to the 1st team squad? 5. What tactics & formation is best? 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 I (for one) would love to be a fly on the wall in David Gill & SAF office at Old Trafford. The constituency achieved last season was mainly down to a strong defense & control of the midfield, Ronaldo exceptional contribution was the icing on the cake, However,
What would the season have been like if Ronaldo did move on after the World Cup?
Would we have regained the premiership title? I doubt it.
So with this thought in mind, has the recent acquisitions cured the problems?

The 1999 treble winners had a great team spirit, strength in depth & 4 good strikers, who brought different things to the team. This allowed SAF to rotate players, still win games and make well thought out substitutions in tight-games, when we needed to score or kill off teams.

I see a lot of similarities with the current squad, except for the striking dept., which is why all ManU fans are anticipating an addition to this vital area.
In my earlier post, I suggested that Ronaldo would make an excellent 2nd striker.
However, Phobos last post suggests he was bought as one.
All the information I have read confirms him as a ‘winger’ but he’s own country (Portugal) used him as a striker in the last World Cup.

So, my fellow supporters,:-
1. Has SAF enough talent in the squad to achieve the title, double, treble or quadruple next season?
2. Should SAF add a striker or two to the squad?
3. Who should SAF release to make room for other players?
4. Who would you promote from the reserves/loan returns to the 1st team squad?
5. What tactics & formation is best? 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3

I (for one) would love to be a fly on the wall in David Gill & SAF office at Old Trafford.

]]> By: Tuga http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/1910/#comment-47754 Tuga Fri, 08 Jun 2007 09:12:37 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/16191910.html#comment-47754 1st of all i would like to point out I'm Portuguese... Basically Man United's season was all about Ronaldo, without this edge they would be equal to Chelsea. But is Ronaldo's "transformation" for real? I don't think so; I believe he was playing his ass off for a new contract (which he got it). Next season, someone else will have to pick up the torch and run with it, probably Andersson (not Nani, I think he’s overrated). PS: Next season’s favorite is still Man Utd, mostly due to the African cup of nations that will cost vital players to Chelsea… 1st of all i would like to point out I’m Portuguese…

Basically Man United’s season was all about Ronaldo, without this edge they would be equal to Chelsea. But is Ronaldo’s “transformation” for real? I don’t think so; I believe he was playing his ass off for a new contract (which he got it). Next season, someone else will have to pick up the torch and run with it, probably Andersson (not Nani, I think he’s overrated).

PS: Next season’s favorite is still Man Utd, mostly due to the African cup of nations that will cost vital players to Chelsea…

]]> By: Keith Kaira II http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/1910/#comment-47753 Keith Kaira II Fri, 08 Jun 2007 09:01:55 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/16191910.html#comment-47753 Excellent article Ahmed. Excellent article Ahmed.

]]> By: Dave http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/1910/#comment-47746 Dave Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:35:06 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/16191910.html#comment-47746 The best of last season has been the formidable consistency over the whole season. In the last few years Chelsea have been putting an awesome pace to the race. Gone were those days when the title could have been won with 75 points and 6/7 defeats by May. Now a team needs almost a machine like efficiency and results. United managad to get results and still play open attacking football, score lotsa goals and secure a formidable success, and sustain the huge Chelsea pressure. Everyone played for each other and, most important, Ronaldo was AWESOME in some games!! Scoring 123 goals in all competitions was also a very good achievent. on the negative side, the teams inability to hold their own against strong rivals was apparent. 1 goal in 2 games against Arsenal (2 defeats!!, just 1 in 3 games against Chelsea (2 draws and 1 defeat) and 3 against Liverpool (2 victories, yet the one at Anfield was somehow fortunate) is testimony that vast improvement is needed in terms of calibre and quality of the midfield and attacking areas. Our inability to dominate midfields against big clubs was all too apparent. Despite the hype i think Ronaldo is still to prove himself worthy of what we call "true greatness". he has so far proved unable to shake off tight marking and he was terrible in the FA cup final. The arrival of Hargreaves might give Utd more grip in midfield. This will in turn give the attackers greater license of roam on the wings and grant better service the the front men. A mobile and strong partner for Rooney is needed if we want to get the best out of the merseysider. More striking options like Nani and Anderson will take the pressure off Ronaldo and Rooney, and allow Scholes and Giggs to get enough rest between games. I believe Manchester United can only get better next season. I just hope SAF gets his tactics right in Europe coz 2 wins in a competition to which United is so closely linked is not enough... The best of last season has been the formidable consistency over the whole season. In the last few years Chelsea have been putting an awesome pace to the race. Gone were those days when the title could have been won with 75 points and 6/7 defeats by May. Now a team needs almost a machine like efficiency and results. United managad to get results and still play open attacking football, score lotsa goals and secure a formidable success, and sustain the huge Chelsea pressure. Everyone played for each other and, most important, Ronaldo was AWESOME in some games!! Scoring 123 goals in all competitions was also a very good achievent.

on the negative side, the teams inability to hold their own against strong rivals was apparent. 1 goal in 2 games against Arsenal (2 defeats!!, just 1 in 3 games against Chelsea (2 draws and 1 defeat) and 3 against Liverpool (2 victories, yet the one at Anfield was somehow fortunate) is testimony that vast improvement is needed in terms of calibre and quality of the midfield and attacking areas. Our inability to dominate midfields against big clubs was all too apparent. Despite the hype i think Ronaldo is still to prove himself worthy of what we call “true greatness”. he has so far proved unable to shake off tight marking and he was terrible in the FA cup final. The arrival of Hargreaves might give Utd more grip in midfield. This will in turn give the attackers greater license of roam on the wings and grant better service the the front men. A mobile and strong partner for Rooney is needed if we want to get the best out of the merseysider. More striking options like Nani and Anderson will take the pressure off Ronaldo and Rooney, and allow Scholes and Giggs to get enough rest between games.

I believe Manchester United can only get better next season. I just hope SAF gets his tactics right in Europe coz 2 wins in a competition to which United is so closely linked is not enough…

]]> By: Phobos http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/1910/#comment-47734 Phobos Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:18:16 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/16191910.html#comment-47734 Ronaldo was bought as a striker, and his introduction to the wings was only intended as an introductory measure. Last season we purchased Park, and this time we have added Nani. Considering Giggs can still perform it is not unreasonable to expect that we may start to see Rooney and Ronaldo together as a strike partnership (even if only a handfull of games). We now have more strength in depth on the wings and the addition of Nani may have been more than cover for an injured Park. That said the most obvious reason is he is Giggs long term replacement. Ronaldo was bought as a striker, and his introduction to the wings was only intended as an introductory measure. Last season we purchased Park, and this time we have added Nani. Considering Giggs can still perform it is not unreasonable to expect that we may start to see Rooney and Ronaldo together as a strike partnership (even if only a handfull of games). We now have more strength in depth on the wings and the addition of Nani may have been more than cover for an injured Park. That said the most obvious reason is he is Giggs long term replacement.

]]> By: devils_advocate http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/1910/#comment-47693 devils_advocate Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:17:00 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/the-best-and-worst-of-manchester-uniteds-season/16191910.html#comment-47693 2006-2007 At the beginning of the season, I felt that MU would struggle to attain any silverware as our only acquisition was an over-priced Michael Carrick, SAF emphasis was on a good start to the season to avoid playing catch-up with Chelsea. Fortunately we did this and had a good Christmas too. However, the cracks started to appear shortly afterwards as the games mounted up, players tired, suspensions and injuries grew and limited striking options. Even though, Larson plugged a gap for a few games. In my opinion, the finish to the season suffered through lack of activity in the January transfer window to bolster our striking options, by the time May`07 arrived we had fringe players & kids on the bench. However, we still managed to bring the Premiership home, largely due to Chelsea slip-ups on & off the pitch. And Ronaldo swept the board in domestic honours. View on the coming campaign. I predict another good season for MU and SAF & CQ have acted quickly to improve the squad. Our Goalkeeping, defending & midfield options look good, but Fergie still needs to do some work on striking options. I believe we would benefit from having another striker to partner Rooney, but not a pacey player, but someone Tall, mobile & creative that would provide a great outlet on set pieces, corners, etc. a Berbatov would be great, however, a Crouch type coming from the bench in the last 15mins of a tight game would yield results. Someone like Nikola Zigic could do this job. If fergie wanted to spring a surprise on the premiership, he could convert Ronaldo into the second striker (like Henry did) and scare the living daylights out of everyone. This option with Saha and Smith as understudies could be the catalise to achieving domestic and Europeans honors next season. However, I will leave the tactics to SAF. 2006-2007
At the beginning of the season, I felt that MU would struggle to attain any silverware as our only acquisition was an over-priced Michael Carrick, SAF emphasis was on a good start to the season to avoid playing catch-up with Chelsea. Fortunately we did this and had a good Christmas too.
However, the cracks started to appear shortly afterwards as the games mounted up, players tired, suspensions and injuries grew and limited striking options. Even though, Larson plugged a gap for a few games.
In my opinion, the finish to the season suffered through lack of activity in the January transfer window to bolster our striking options, by the time May`07 arrived we had fringe players & kids on the bench.

However, we still managed to bring the Premiership home, largely due to Chelsea slip-ups on & off the pitch. And Ronaldo swept the board in domestic honours.

View on the coming campaign.
I predict another good season for MU and SAF & CQ have acted quickly to improve the squad. Our Goalkeeping, defending & midfield options look good, but Fergie still needs to do some work on striking options.
I believe we would benefit from having another striker to partner Rooney, but not a pacey player, but someone Tall, mobile & creative that would provide a great outlet on set pieces, corners, etc. a Berbatov would be great, however, a Crouch type coming from the bench in the last 15mins of a tight game would yield results. Someone like Nikola Zigic could do this job.

If fergie wanted to spring a surprise on the premiership, he could convert Ronaldo into the second striker (like Henry did) and scare the living daylights out of everyone.
This option with Saha and Smith as understudies could be the catalise to achieving domestic and Europeans honors next season. However, I will leave the tactics to SAF.

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