Comments on: The Odd Couple: Will it work out for Manchester United and Michael Owen? http://soccerlens.com/the-odd-couple-will-it-work-out-for-manchester-united-and-michael-owen/31580/ Football News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:17:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: BD Condell http://soccerlens.com/the-odd-couple-will-it-work-out-for-manchester-united-and-michael-owen/31580/#comment-117618 BD Condell Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:34:21 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=31580#comment-117618 Good point Dimitar....and well done defending yourself. I didn't know that you frequented this BLOG but as you're here.....GET THE FINGER OUT NEXT SEASON! :) Good point Dimitar….and well done defending yourself. I didn’t know that you frequented this BLOG but as you’re here…..GET THE FINGER OUT NEXT SEASON! :)

]]> By: dimitar http://soccerlens.com/the-odd-couple-will-it-work-out-for-manchester-united-and-michael-owen/31580/#comment-117608 dimitar Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:24:59 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=31580#comment-117608 I think that all the negative publicity and the fans' reaction somehow affected Berba's self esteem and performance last season. At the end of the season it was as though he was somewhat afraid to shoot - and trying to get rid of the ball as soon as he gets it. I hope this year he will perform better. Actually, if you look objectively at all the statistics (goals/min. played, assists/min., % mauU wins when Berba starts, mins/goal overall for ManU when Berba plays) he had a quite a decent season - as also the Actim index shows. I think that all the negative publicity and the fans’ reaction somehow affected Berba’s self esteem and performance last season. At the end of the season it was as though he was somewhat afraid to shoot – and trying to get rid of the ball as soon as he gets it. I hope this year he will perform better. Actually, if you look objectively at all the statistics (goals/min. played, assists/min., % mauU wins when Berba starts, mins/goal overall for ManU when Berba plays) he had a quite a decent season – as also the Actim index shows.

]]> By: BD Condell http://soccerlens.com/the-odd-couple-will-it-work-out-for-manchester-united-and-michael-owen/31580/#comment-117594 BD Condell Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:06:11 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=31580#comment-117594 I think we'll see way more from Berba this season. His career goals/game stats speak for themselves. His first season was very difficult from the point of view of settling-in. Sometimes he played in a partnershih with Rooney, then with Rooney on the left, with Tevez, with Ronaldo playing thru the middle and sometimes had to make way for Ronaldo altogether. Then there was 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-4 and even 4-5-1. There was no continuity. Sometimes less is more. I think fergie will go with berba up-top and Rooney playing off him. Owen will come-off the bench or play as cover and will be told to get into the box and look for chances, any way he sees fit. If Owen stays fit and makes his mark he'll see more playing time but I expect to see much more end product from Rooney and Berba this season in a settled unit, without the disruptive (if individually productive) Ronaldo factor. I think we’ll see way more from Berba this season. His career goals/game stats speak for themselves. His first season was very difficult from the point of view of settling-in. Sometimes he played in a partnershih with Rooney, then with Rooney on the left, with Tevez, with Ronaldo playing thru the middle and sometimes had to make way for Ronaldo altogether. Then there was 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-4 and even 4-5-1. There was no continuity.

Sometimes less is more. I think fergie will go with berba up-top and Rooney playing off him. Owen will come-off the bench or play as cover and will be told to get into the box and look for chances, any way he sees fit.

If Owen stays fit and makes his mark he’ll see more playing time but I expect to see much more end product from Rooney and Berba this season in a settled unit, without the disruptive (if individually productive) Ronaldo factor.

]]> By: Adam Axon http://soccerlens.com/the-odd-couple-will-it-work-out-for-manchester-united-and-michael-owen/31580/#comment-117593 Adam Axon Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:18:40 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=31580#comment-117593 That's the tough choice of going back to a front two. Somebody has to miss out. Initially it will be Owen. Rooney & Berbatov will start up front. Personally I think Fergie has been planning that from the day Berbatov was signed. Let's assume that we agreed to sell Ronaldo to Madrid last summer. We would have known that when we signed Berbatov. I think Fergie knew that our current system wasn't really suited for Berbatov, but gambled that a team built around Ronaldo would be enough to win the league and give Europe a fair crack. A gamble which proved correct. If you look at the first 4 months of last season though, Berbatov and Rooney started most games together in close tandem, as if Fergie was giving them time to build a partnership for the future. Then when it got to the business end of the season we reverted to Ronaldo playing the more central role. With Ronaldo now gone, we take advantage of that early season understanding. Perhaps I'm looking too much into it, but another here's another point. With a 4-2-3-1 you could accommodate both Rooney & Tevez (very similar players) in the one formation. In a 4-4-2 there is no such freedom, could that be why we didn't really show much interesting in securing Tevez. I do agree with you that Tevez had an impact coming on as a sub, but to counter that he didn't do much when he started. That’s the tough choice of going back to a front two. Somebody has to miss out. Initially it will be Owen. Rooney & Berbatov will start up front.

Personally I think Fergie has been planning that from the day Berbatov was signed. Let’s assume that we agreed to sell Ronaldo to Madrid last summer. We would have known that when we signed Berbatov. I think Fergie knew that our current system wasn’t really suited for Berbatov, but gambled that a team built around Ronaldo would be enough to win the league and give Europe a fair crack. A gamble which proved correct.
If you look at the first 4 months of last season though, Berbatov and Rooney started most games together in close tandem, as if Fergie was giving them time to build a partnership for the future. Then when it got to the business end of the season we reverted to Ronaldo playing the more central role. With Ronaldo now gone, we take advantage of that early season understanding.

Perhaps I’m looking too much into it, but another here’s another point. With a 4-2-3-1 you could accommodate both Rooney & Tevez (very similar players) in the one formation. In a 4-4-2 there is no such freedom, could that be why we didn’t really show much interesting in securing Tevez. I do agree with you that Tevez had an impact coming on as a sub, but to counter that he didn’t do much when he started.

]]> By: Bjarkovic http://soccerlens.com/the-odd-couple-will-it-work-out-for-manchester-united-and-michael-owen/31580/#comment-117589 Bjarkovic Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:23:59 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=31580#comment-117589 I think we'll see more rotation up front this season, especially if we revert to a 4-4-2 system. There is no doubt in my mind that all three of these world class forwards can get goals. I disagree with the writer on Rooney and Owen being similar. That's just daft. Owen has never been the type of all-action-player Rooney is and his bursts, even if they're not as quick as they were, will still see him beat defenders. I think this is exactly what we'll see. Owen (possibly rotating with Huntelaar, if The Sun is anything to go by) up top, with Rooney or Berbatov operating just behind. That said, I don't think we've seen the last of Rooney on the wing, either. Thanks, B. ps. Is there a Football Manager update available already? I think we’ll see more rotation up front this season, especially if we revert to a 4-4-2 system. There is no doubt in my mind that all three of these world class forwards can get goals.

I disagree with the writer on Rooney and Owen being similar. That’s just daft. Owen has never been the type of all-action-player Rooney is and his bursts, even if they’re not as quick as they were, will still see him beat defenders. I think this is exactly what we’ll see. Owen (possibly rotating with Huntelaar, if The Sun is anything to go by) up top, with Rooney or Berbatov operating just behind.

That said, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Rooney on the wing, either.

Thanks,
B.

ps. Is there a Football Manager update available already?

]]> By: A http://soccerlens.com/the-odd-couple-will-it-work-out-for-manchester-united-and-michael-owen/31580/#comment-117587 A Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:29:59 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=31580#comment-117587 The problem in your logic is that if we go back to the traditional 4-4-2 that means only 2 of the 3 strikers will start. And since you seem to so hopefully think Berbatov will be the cog around which owen and rooney play, that means that Berbatov will have an assured place in the 11, even over Rooney? If not then that means that Owen will never get a game. You seem to think a lot like Fergie and i dont mean that in a good way. Berbatov started almost all games last season with Tevez on the bench but it was Tevez who changed the impetus and really was the impact when he came off the bench, case in point - the matches against spurs and Villa. Tevez didnt score a lot last season but lets be honest, he was the catalyst in a lot of the games when he came off the bench. I seem to have a lot less faith in Berbatov than you do. The problem in your logic is that if we go back to the traditional 4-4-2 that means only 2 of the 3 strikers will start. And since you seem to so hopefully think Berbatov will be the cog around which owen and rooney play, that means that Berbatov will have an assured place in the 11, even over Rooney? If not then that means that Owen will never get a game. You seem to think a lot like Fergie and i dont mean that in a good way. Berbatov started almost all games last season with Tevez on the bench but it was Tevez who changed the impetus and really was the impact when he came off the bench, case in point – the matches against spurs and Villa. Tevez didnt score a lot last season but lets be honest, he was the catalyst in a lot of the games when he came off the bench. I seem to have a lot less faith in Berbatov than you do.

]]> By: Paul Jeffrey http://soccerlens.com/the-odd-couple-will-it-work-out-for-manchester-united-and-michael-owen/31580/#comment-117577 Paul Jeffrey Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:12:47 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=31580#comment-117577 I reckon you should bite his arm off at 60 - 1. Owen only needed a bit of support to score goals - Greatly lacking at NUFC but not at MU I reckon you should bite his arm off at 60 – 1. Owen only needed a bit of support to score goals – Greatly lacking at NUFC but not at MU

]]> By: Irish Spur http://soccerlens.com/the-odd-couple-will-it-work-out-for-manchester-united-and-michael-owen/31580/#comment-117572 Irish Spur Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:39:17 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=31580#comment-117572 Masterstroke by Fergie, agree completely with writer, Michael Owen and Berba are perfect for each other, a 'friend' of mine who supports your mob was dejected saying Ronaldo then Tevez now this 'has been' offered me 60-1 odds on Owen finishing top scorer put a tenner on it anyone else fancy a go ? Masterstroke by Fergie, agree completely with writer, Michael Owen and Berba are perfect for each other, a ‘friend’ of mine who supports your mob was dejected saying Ronaldo then Tevez now this ‘has been’ offered me 60-1 odds on Owen finishing top scorer put a tenner on it anyone else fancy a go ?

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