Post match wash-up/rant thread

[kurtangle01]

The game merely confirmed what we already knew, at the very highest level our attacking options are not quite good enough.

Bellamy did well but on the 2 crucial points (his pass for Kuyt in the 1st half and his chance when clear through in the 2nd) he was found wanting.

I'm glad you cleared that up beause from where I was sat it looked as if Kuyt was to slow to get there.

Kuyt worked hard but again didn't look a goal threat to me. Against top class defenders he doesn't have enough to really worry them.

Crouch for me is still our best option. He should have scored late on though but is our best finisher.

Gonzalez & Pennant had very little impact. It was a hard game for them to get involved in but not once did they beat their defender & get a telling cross in. Look at the ball Ronaldo put in for their goal, top class.

The amount of times speedy had space to run into with the ball and cut inside and slowed down was very frustrating.

Momo was poor today. If he is to be really top class his distribution must improve. His passing today was shocking at times. I'm sure this will come in time but at present he's too limited going forward.

Reina was at fault in part for their goal. It was a very difficult ball to deal with but in the end all he could do was push it into the danger area. I have to say though if we were playing at OT would we have had a defensive midfield player in the 6 yard box for that free kick in injury time. I doubt it.

I don't agree we were unlucky today. Yes, we played well but we missed our chances and if you do that you are always open to the sucker punch.

On top of that they should have had a penalty.

When?
In 5 games now against the other top sides, we've won only 3 points, not good enough.

On the plus side, we are only a couple of players short of them in my view but those players will be both expensive and hard to get. We don't have a forward to match either Rooney or Saha and we certainly don't have a wide man anywhere near Giggs or Ronaldo.[/QUOTE]

[AFII]

I thought that it was a fair goal from where I was sat but something told me to look at the linesman mid celebrartion.

The ref was ****ing awful aswell. He gave them everything today.

Scholes was also a ****ing disgrace and should be banned for at least 10 matches and hopefully that C U N T Rooney has a broken metetarsle(SP?).

Jammy manc ****s.

Carra should have been sent off for the challenge on Rooney so I can't agree with you that the ref was awful.

[Neil Young]

What I meant was that our attacking play is certainly better than it was under Houllier. But in terms of degrees the bar has been raised since Rafa arrived, even more so this year. Last year we got 80 plus points by being solid in defence, only Chelsea were better and scored more. This season we've been good defensively, but the scum have been just as good but have scored over 20 goals more than we have. Bottom line is that we haven't made any progress in the league since Rafa's arrived.

But to a certain extent the same problems remain fom the Houllier era; we look too rigid at times, lack of movement from midfielders especially getting beyond the ball - Gerrard and Garcia excluded, certain players (too many) aren't comfortable in possession, in general we lack creativity and pace in certain positions. Perhaps new players will remedy this, only I have doubts about Rafa's tactical approach in this league.

I take your points. I think he's pragmatic enough to learn from his mistakes. Reports of his frustration suggest to me that he's willing to change things around. That's not to say it'll work out of course, nothing's guaranteed.

[kurtangle01]

Carra should have been sent off for the challenge on Rooney so I can't agree with you that the ref was awful.

What challenge are you on about?

[AFII]

What challenge are you on about?

When Rooney got injured and Carra got booked.

[kurtangle01]

When Rooney got injured.

That was Momo that challenged him and it was not a sending off. Unless Rooney was already injured by an earlier challenge that I missed.

[kurtangle01]

When Rooney got injured and Carra got booked.

Right now I remember. From where I was sat that was a 50/50 and we should have had a throw in. I've only seen it from behind though and thought that the booking was harsh.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

from where i sit (watching the game on tv), it was a beautiful tackle that unfortunately catches rooney's shin..

[FatTony]

Which makes the Voronin signing even more questionable considering his goalscoring record.

Thats what I thought, he's not exactly a goal machine and we should be in a position to now bring in some great youngsters or proven class, and he's neither.

I can only presume that Rafa has made the decision to offload one or two of our average strike force for a few mill, bring in this guy as a squad player for free and spend a good £20-25M on Eto'o.

[kurtangle01]

from where i sit (watching the game on tv), it was a beautiful tackle that unfortunately catches rooney's shin..

I wasn't a sending off offense. No way. It was about 20 yards from where I was sat and everybody thought that the booking was harsh.

How about the freekick that led to their goal? I never thought that was a freekick either.

[Speedy]

They could have had a pen they didn't deserve either.

Could or should?

Basically they've battered all the poor sides and done well/scraped wins against the decent sides. It's not the worst idea really.

[kurtangle01]

Thats what I thought, he's not exactly a goal machine and we should be in a position to now bring in some great youngsters or proven class, and he's neither.

I can only presume that Rafa has made the decision to offload one or two of our average strike force for a few mill, bring in this guy as a squad player for free and spend a good £20-25M on Eto'o.

We can only hope that's the case.

[AFII]

That was Momo that challenged him and it was not a sending off. Unless Rooney was already injured by an earlier challenge that I missed.

Meanwhile Wayne Rooney hobbled off clutching his thigh after a high tackle by Jamie Carragher. "It looks like a knee injury but we'll have to see tomorrow," added the United chief.

http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/03032007/...-ferguson.html

[Neil Young]

I wasn't a sending off offense. No way. It was about 20 yards from where I was sat and everybody thought that the booking was harsh.

How about the freekick that led to their goal? I never thought that was a freekick either.

Well it looked pretty bad on telly. He was high and late and caught Rooney on the thigh with his studs. I'd have been baying for a sending off the other way round. So would you I suspect.

Maybe a booking was about right.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

that wasnt a freekick at all, giggs made a meal out of it....exactly the same case a few seasons back at old trafford when they scored from a dubious freekick from our right.

I wasn't a sending off offense. No way. It was about 20 yards from where I was sat and everybody thought that the booking was harsh.

How about the freekick that led to their goal? I never thought that was a freekick either.