ha ha Man U

Originally posted by Rooney Once a Blue
[b]Thats an old argument but the way it is now is much better than the way it use to be.

(1) You are wrong.
Manchester United were the Champions of England when they won the Champions League. They actually beat Spurs at home 2-1 the week before the cup final to win the league😛

sorry i did not explain myself..what i meant is that when United won the Champions league, the season before, they did not win the prem league so they would not have been in the champions league to win it!

Anyway.. i was just making the point that the old system when the champions of each country played each other, is better then the system we have now were a team finishing 4th one year, can still win the champions league.

Infact i would say there are some teams now who would rather win they champions league then the prem league.

You only have to look back in the record books of the last 2-3 seasons when certain teams (united included) have rested their first 11 players on a saturday becasue they have big champions league games on tuesday or wednesday.

Originally posted by Angry Boy
Originally posted by Rooney Once a Blue (August)
1 Manchester United
2 Chelsea
3 Tottenham
4 Arsenal
5 Newcastle
6 Manchester City
7 Liverpool
8 Everton
9 Portsmouth
10 Blackburn

Make your mind up!

Angry Boy.. i am not sure if u waz having a go at R.O.A.B. with his post, but u gotta agree, apart from SPURS and Liverpool, the league table may will turn out as he said!

Originally posted by spurs73
Angry Boy.. i am not sure if u waz having a go at R.O.A.B. with his post, but u gotta agree, apart from SPURS and Liverpool, the league table may will turn out as he said!

If everyone was allowed to remove their 2 worst predictions from their top 6 - we'd all be pretty close!

Originally posted by spurs73
sorry i did not explain myself..what i meant is that when United won the Champions league, the season before, they did not win the prem league so they would not have been in the champions league to win it!

Anyway.. i was just making the point that the old system when the champions of each country played each other, is better then the system we have now we ...[text shortened]... t 11 players on a saturday becasue they have big champions league games on tuesday or wednesday.

I know what you mean.
Its harder to win the European Cup now but much easier to get into the competition.

It's basically a cup competition for all the best teams in Europe.

Winning the league is the most important by far.
I'm not just saying that.
Manchester United have won the Premier League 9 times in the last 15 years.
Personally I would want to win the league Every season over the CL.
I would say about 4 in every 5 United supporters I talk to would also rather win the League than the CL.

Manchester United do sometimes rest players before Champions League games but that only really happens if its a home game and we are playing a team not in the top 6.
United would never rest a 1st team regular for a league game if Sir Alex had any doubt about winning the game.

Arsenal and Chelsea also only rest players in league games when they are sure they will win the game.
Liverpool seem to sacrifice their best league side for CL games no matter who they play. I think this is because their manager does not really think they are realistic title contenders, where as Arsenal, United and Chelsea are.

Originally posted by Angry Boy
Originally posted by Rooney Once a Blue (August)
1 Manchester United
2 Chelsea
3 Tottenham
4 Arsenal
5 Newcastle
6 Manchester City
7 Liverpool
8 Everton
9 Portsmouth
10 Blackburn

Make your mind up!

As Spurs73 says, its not a bad prediction

1 Manchester United - Spot on I think
2 Chelsea - Spot on I think
3 Tottenham - I did not realize the extent of their injury problems, King, Lennon, plus difficult fixtures = loss of form, confidence and manager!
4 Arsenal - Now that Spurs have dropped I think Arseal will finish 3rd, so again a good call
5 Newcastle - Got this one a bit wrong, maybe about 8th?
6 Manchester City - A very good prediction!
7 Liverpool - Who knows, they are 6th now, playing rubbish and no team stability, maybe 4th or 5th if they take out another loan and buy in winter
8 Everton - Not a bad call
9 Portsmouth - Not a bad call
10 Blackburn - Not a bad call

On reflection I'm quite proud of the prediction - thanks Angry Boy.

Originally posted by Rooney Once a Blue
As Spurs73 says, its not a bad prediction

1 Manchester United - Spot on I think
2 Chelsea - Spot on I think
3 Tottenham - I did not realize the extent of their injury problems, King, Lennon, plus difficult fixtures = loss of form, confidence and manager!
4 Arsenal - Now that Spurs have dropped I think Arseal will finish 3rd, so again a good ...[text shortened]... ackburn - Not a bad call

On reflection I'm quite proud of the prediction - thanks Angry Boy.

Are you guys expecting Arsenal to slip in a major way at some point this season? The way they are playing at the moment I think they are definitely looking at a top 2 finish.

Big game this weekend.

Originally posted by Virtue76
Are you guys expecting Arsenal to slip in a major way at some point this season? The way they are playing at the moment I think they are definitely looking at a top 2 finish.

Big game this weekend.

I would not say I'm expecting a major slip from Arsenal.
I actually think its going to be a really close 3 way fight between Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

I'm a little biased but try to post facts and always backup my comments and always answer questions.

Manchester United Will win the league because:-
- I believe they have the best squad
- Seem to have the best strike partnership, you have admit the Rooney, Tevez partnership has amazing potential
- Ronaldo
- Very good buys, Nani, Anderson, Hargreaves, Tevez
- Solid defense
- Strength and experience: Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Ferdinand
- Very good squad backup: Fletcher, o'Shea, Park, Foster, Silvestra, Pique

Chelsea I think will finish 2nd:
- Excellent squad
- Seem to be getting confidence back
- Will buy big in the winter
- Have Terry and Cole to come back
- They know how to win the league and see an 80 point season as failure

Arsenal will finish 3rd:
- They have a bit of the invincible look about them
- If Fabregas gets injured, they are in trouble
- The striker department isn't right
- I think they lack 18 months experience, Arsenal could be awsome in the near future
- I don't think Asrenal are quite ready to break 9 men defense teams down consistently, look at the Liverpool game

Anyway, I'll stick my neck out and make a prediction for the Arsenal - Manchester United game on Saturday

Arsenal 1 - 3 Manchester United

Originally posted by Rooney Once a Blue

Arsenal 1 - 3 Manchester United

I wish I could share your optimism, I think it will be a close draw 0-0, 1-1 or either team could snatch a late winner.

Originally posted by Rooney Once a Blue

- Strength and experience: Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Ferdinand
- Very good squad backup: Fletcher, o'Shea, Park, Foster, Silvestra, Pique


Arsenal 1 - 3 Manchester United

I think United have been superb in the last month or so. However the experience players you noted are all on the way down, apart from ferdinand - who never really made it anyway.

Secondly the back up players are no better than Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpools.

I'm not sure Arsenal have the guts to come back from a couple of bad results, but on current form these are th eonly two in the title race.

I'd pick Arsenal 2-1 this Saturday but Man U only by a whisker in May.

Originally posted by invigorate
I think United have been superb in the last month or so. However the experience players you noted are all on the way down, apart from ferdinand - who never really made it anyway.

Secondly the back up players are no better than Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpools.

I'm not sure Arsenal have the guts to come back from a couple of bad results, but on current ...[text shortened]... o in the title race.

I'd pick Arsenal 2-1 this Saturday but Man U only by a whisker in May.

I reckon Arsenal will deserve to win it but some dodgy refereeing will give Man Utd the game.

2 - 1 Man Utd with a disallowed goal and an outrageous penalty decision.

Originally posted by invigorate
I think United have been superb in the last month or so. However the experience players you noted are all on the way down, apart from ferdinand - who never really made it anyway.

Secondly the back up players are no better than Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpools.

Sorry, but that's demonstrably rubbish!

United are currently missing: Foster, Neville, Silvestre, Park, Carrick, Scholes and Saha.

Neville, Scholes and Saha could be regarded as first choice. Foster was voted best keeper in the league last year. Park is constantly dangerous when he plays. Carrick was virtually ever present last season.

So far this season, the following players have been out injured (or suspended in Ronaldo's case)...
Van Der Sar,
Foster,
Neville,
Brown,
O'Shea,
Evra,
Silvestre,
Vidic,
Ronaldo,
Park,
Scholes,
Hargreaves,
Carrick,
Rooney,
Saha.

Chelsea still haven't shut up about injuries costing them the league last season. Of course, United just get on with the job when we had similar problems (AC Milan away being one ask too much)

Case in point, against Wigan, we started with our 3rd choice keeper, 4th choice right back and 3rd choice centre mid. Then due to early injuries, we had to play most of the game with our 5th choice right back, 3rd choice centre back, and 4th choice centre mid.

These were the players out for that game...
Van Der Sar, Foster, Neville, Brown, Vidic, O' Shea, Silvestre, Hargreaves, Carrick, Fletcher, Park and Saha

The equivalent players from the other teams...
Chelsea
Cech, Cudicini, Ferreira, Belleti, Terry, Ben Haim, Bridge, Essien, Ballack, Obi, Wright Phillips, Drogba

Liverpool
Reina and Itandje, Finnan, Aurelio, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyppia, Mascherano, Alonso, Sissoko, Benayoun and Torres

and Arsenal
Lehmann, Almunia, Gallas, Eboue, Sagna, Senderos, Hoyte, Silva, Flamini, Diarra, Hleb, Adebayor

I challenge anybody to suggest that the other teams would have done so well and start a record breaking run with those players out.

We're top of the league on points and we have never had less than 6 players out injured, and you say we don't have good backup players?

Come on invigorate, don't let your bias show.

D

Originally posted by Ragnorak
Sorry, but that's demonstrably rubbish!

United are currently missing: Foster, Neville, Silvestre, Park, Carrick, Scholes and Saha.

Neville, Scholes and Saha could be regarded as first choice. Foster was voted best keeper in the league last year. Park is constantly dangerous when he plays. Carrick was virtually ever present last season.

So far th ...[text shortened]... we don't have good backup players?

Come on invigorate, don't let your bias show.

D

Point well argued!

Originally posted by Ragnorak
I challenge anybody to suggest that the other teams would have done so well and start a record breaking run with those players out.

With the amount of money and buying power you have it'd be shameful if you weren't able to field a decent second choice team.

Originally posted by Ragnorak
Sorry, but that's demonstrably rubbish!

United are currently missing: Foster, Neville, Silvestre, Park, Carrick, Scholes and Saha.

Neville, Scholes and Saha could be regarded as first choice. Foster was voted best keeper in the league last year. Park is constantly dangerous when he plays. Carrick was virtually ever present last season.

So far th ...[text shortened]... we don't have good backup players?

Come on invigorate, don't let your bias show.

D

How would Saha fit in the squad as a first choice?

Originally posted by Daemon Sin
With the amount of money and buying power you have it'd be shameful if you weren't able to field a decent second choice team.

Chelsea and Liverpool have always spent big building squads. Its about quality and getting the players to gel. Something Benitez is struggling with a la Houllier.