Match Thread: Manchester United vs Villarreal - CL Group Stage Round 1 (17/09)

bloody scoreless draw

not really much to take out of the game

except evans looks very good in the back

When Ronnie came on it changed it up, Looked like the attacking threat of last season again.

oobydooby wrote: »

There's some clown in the Villareal midfield who constantly gives the ball away with casual passes. Really infuriates me. Every team I've ever played with has had somebody who reminds me of him:mad:

Every team ??

Are you sure it is not you

Very good result for Villareal, they came to do a job and really they succeeded. At times both teams played some lovely lovely football.

I think this really has to be the end of Neville now in big games!

Thought Evans was good, didn't have much to do in defence, popped up in nice positions. Think his second chance skidded up quickly which didn't give him much time!

One positive to take is Ronaldo is back!:D

The stuttering start continues, but let's not overreact. Celtic only managed the draw as well so it's pretty much as you were.

Looked devoid of creativity up top, most passages of play in the final third ended in frustration. Only two real chances I can think of, the ball cleared off the line and Evans' (shocking) missed header. Scholes was really missed.

kmart6 wrote: »

I'm sure it's just a case of getting used to it..big difference for him compared to Carling/Pre-season!

and the premiership with Sunderland

What in the world are bitching bitching about Evans for? They had one chance in the whole game realistically, he did very well. Coulda scored but what are you gona do, he's a CB

I was 100% sure that Fergie was preparing for the Chelsea game after seeing that team. No doubt about it. Weakened team somewhat, but shoulda got the result.
I'm not hugely worried about qualification, but I'd like it done earlier considering we've got a tough away game each time.

I maintain my belief that if we can stay within 5-7 points by Christmas, we'll be close to favorites. We played the top 10 away in the first half of the season, it's gona be tough. That said, not really an ideal start.

What worries me most is our attacking play has been frankly blunted. It's not just the Ronaldo thing, he adds lots, but even without him last year, we had much more zip. Everyone is playing below par. Tevez is doing well, but not great imo, just best of a bad bunch.
Ultimatley imo it comes down to Rooney not playing well. He seems to be really frustrated, because he knows he is playing poorly. His touch, his shooting, even his movement is off-form. He desperately, desperately needs a goal.
Without Rooney playing well, United just don't tick.

Ronaldo was fine, his touch isn't back to standard yet. I don't really expect him to do much in the Chelsea game, but knowing Ronaldo he'll do something. Expect Boswinga to be targetted again, as I recall, he's not great in the air.

Neville was poor once again. I'm beginning to wonder whether or not he can step up. It'll be sad to see him go out like this, he deserved to be the captain of a CL winning team for United, injuries though I guess happen to them all.

All that said,
Evans should have scored, Ronaldo should have scored, we had two dead cert nailed on penalties turned down, and on a different night we could have hockied them. Alas such is football.

Dave! wrote: »

Couple of woeful ones too... I wasn't overly impressed with him tonight.

Giggs was shocking when he came on.

Gaz Neville showed determination and chased down most balls, but you can see he's getting on tbh. His crossing aint what it used to be

Fletch was quality again today. I agree with PHB that he should really start against Chelsea, and I'd have Scholes beside him instead of Anderson.

Tevez was immense I thought. He hasn't had a bad game at all this season. AND he's dying to sign a permanent contract! Quality player.

Fistly Giggs did not get long enough to make an impression.
Is your memory a little foggy? Neville was never good crosser of the ball. It was horrific tonight but he was never a good crosser of the ball.
I agree that Fletcher should play after that performance but whats your midfield if you put Scholes in as well, and whats your lineup?
Tevez played well but the problem is that with Ronaldo back you have tough decisions. Again whats the lineup for Sunday?
I personally think that if Berbatov is fit, then you play him and Rooney and you will see so many more goals from Rooney if he plays behind Berbatov. Its also going to help Ronaldo.

Smegball wrote: »

Giggs and Neville are really beginning to show their age Neville was terrible tonight I think, Brown is far far superior at this stage!
Giggs was atrocious quite frankly, broke up so many attacks by dilly dallying on the ball and ulimately losing it.
It was frustrating as hell to watch, but once Ronaldo and Anderson came on you could see we were alot better, ok it wasn't a pleasing result, we are all dissapointed, but imo tonight showed alot of promise, we looked alot better tonight than any other game this season, its the exact same as last season isn't it? We looked absolutely clueless going forward, we looked disjointed, but hey we got our act together and our forwards clicked, the rest they say is history. I'll be hoping for the same this season
Lets keep up the optimism lads

You do realise that Giggs only came on in the 81st minute. Methinks everyone is adding in his mistake the weekend to his performance tonight.

Smegball wrote: »

Yeah, but he was awful in that stage tbh

Im_No_Superman wrote: »

Disappointing result but not a disaster. There were some plus points:

-A vast improvement on saturday (not that was hard, but it was still an improvement).
-I thought Evans put in a very competant performance and was unlucky not to score
-Fletcher continuing his excellant start to the season
-Hargreaves+Park getting a game under their belts. Both did quite well in the first half imo
-Ronaldo coming back

There obviously were the few dissapointments, mainly the score plus Neville's performance but the most concerning one imo is Rooney's form, he really is struggling and looks a shadow of himself and when Rooney isnt on form invariably United arnt.

But overall there are enough positives to take from the game to be raise the spirts for the Chelsea game.

there will need to be an even bigger improvement for the chelsea game - the way chelsea are playing at the moment they will brush us aside if we don't improve.

Was listening to radio 5 live last night after the match and they had a caller on who was driving home after being at the game. He was asked how Ronaldo was received when he came on and he said, "very well actually but I wasnt overjoyed personally, best way I could compare the situation was if my wife had tip toed back into the bedroom after being out with another bloke" LOL, made me laugh

Mr Alan wrote: »

personally i couldnt believe the reception Ronaldo got

Master. Alan I'm not surprised your shocked - but then again your not used to the classier fan.

no idea wat you're talking about Boggles. simple fact is, he ****ed you round all summer, embarrased your club, Ferguson even admitted as much yesterday when he said "his head has been turned by money, but when we told him our decision, he accepted it"......ie:he didnt have any change of heart, he was told he couldnt go, he doesnt wanna be at Utd and yet he is cheered onto the pitch? his name sung?

if the same happened with Torres, i'd call the fans who cheered him a farce too. it is a farce, and tbh, i thought Utd fans would be above that sort of fickleness.

Pighead wrote: »

Did you cheer Steven Gerrad as he ran out onto the pitch to play against TNS in a Champions League qualifier in 2005?

Did you just call yourself a farce?

first off; no i didnt.
Gerrard went a long way to repairing the damage by saying that he never wanted to leave after it, and signing a new long term contract. although a lot of the "hardcore" fans have never really forgiven him-which is a little harsh imo.

also lets remember, it was Gerrards decision to stay at Liverpool-Ronaldo still wants to be at Madrid.

surely even you can see the differences in the two cases? its a lazy comparrison to make Pighead. I expect better from you, you must try harder in future.

CHD wrote: »

Villareal will be a tough team to beat for anyone. United were unlucky last night. There knocking on the door of getting top form going, need to beat them on Sun.

Evans looked decent but why was he playing? What happened with Vidic? too hungover to go surfing the net.

I reckon Fergie was planning on eithe rplaying Evans at CB on Sun, or Neville at RB and Brown at CB; and wanted to see how Evans and Neville were doing at the moment in relation to a competitive match. For me Evans is the better option than Neville based on last nights performance.