Manchester United Superthread 2014 Mod warning Post #1880 #2613

This is the Man United thread , not the Real v Barca thread.

I'd say Evra will start left back v City as Moyes will fear a hiding and he doesn't rate Buttner.

Still though at least Evra got a rest at the weekend a will again v Bayern. He has played a hell if a lot of games this season

Giggsy11 wrote: »

Madrid created 4 to 5 clear cut chance just with crossing the ball. I think it's just not about crossing but the movement of the attackers and the will to attack the ball matters most, not to mention quality of crosses. Even Bayern scored so many goals by crossing the ball last season.

Crossing the ball is not an issue - it is how you get into the crossing positions and WHEN you cross that is the issue. The fulham game, which is the main one for being looked at was 81 crosses - but so many of them were from deep, into a packed area - just lumped in for our lads to compete for.

United have always had a good and solid crossing component - but when it worked it was when we got to the wide positions quickly and crossed into spaces or for players to attack - not 50/50 hopefulls.

Same with the Madrid game tonight - they weren't just hoofing it in to a packed area against a set defence.

Crossing, in isolation, is not an issue - it is the method and tactics that resulted in crosses.

Regarding crosses,I posted our stats vs Bayerns in this season's UCL here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=89559931&postcount=2911

Bayern have crossed the ball more than anyone but as was said,it's where the ball is crossed form & whether it's actually aimed at somebody that makes the difference.
Just look at West Ham against us on Saturday,they simply lumped balls into the box once they got within 25 yards of our area.We've done similar in the past & I hope Moyes took note of just how ineffective it is.

If we revert to playing our zombie game of pass & stand still against City & Bayern we will be crucified.

Was noticable how ineffective that style of play from West Ham was, some helter skelter, but only one save I can remember from De Gea. It's documented how Allardyce can focus on that percentages game of lumping balls, getting a knockdown and someone on the end. Thought Carrick and Jones dealt well with that. Aerial balls to a defender like Jones is Christmas come early, so easy and comfortable to deal with.

Full backs focus and attention are crucial against Bayern, Ribery, Robben, Muller, Shaqiri and Gotze can play wide and to the byline, but frequently make little runs from wide central, in behind the full backs into space for lobbed passes or throughpasses on the ground.

Bayern at home was the making of Rafael for me, despite the red card, he pretty much manhandled Ribery for the match. Hopefully might be the making of Buttner is he is entrusted, and I think trust is the key issue. Saturdays game will have done nothing to hurt his chances of starting against Bayern.

I'd expect Evra to start tomorrow, but wouldn't be against Buttner getting the nod. Most likely against Navas who I feel he can match most with his pace and if it's Milner I think he could even get the better of him. Although Milner had a throwback game to his Leeds days at the weekend, attacking with pace and even some trickery, something I thought he forgot how to do.

zerks wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhDe99sJb68

Great start then it just went to shít.

keeponhurling wrote: »

The Bayern game surely?

It's a cup game, never know what might happen etc.

City game may influence whether we finish 6th or 7th

Thinking the same myself,at least with the first leg at home you never know,it could be one of those magical European nights at OT.

What annoys me most about evra is all these interviews and press conferences about how the team is underperforming and all this yet he couldn't give a **** on the pitch. Let Buttner start for the rest of the season I say.

agreed with the sentiment and concern about evra, but buttner would be destroyed against city or bayern. Absence makes the heart grow fonder here, he is dreadful in defence.

but, we have no other options, so I agree, what harm could it do anyway?

I don't think Buttner is good enough to be first choice for United, but I also don't think he offers any less than Evra at this point. And he's 7 years younger - so there's that. Play the lad, see what happens.

I'd be all for playing Buttner more. Has got a rough ride from people for some reason, labelling him as utter trash which I think is unfair considering the sporadic appearances he has had.

Thought he has shown some good signs anytime he has played. Of course there will be some odd lapses, hes a 25 year old fullback in a new league, learning. And he wont learn without playing.

BEfore we go spunking 25-30 million on a new left back, be worth checking him out on a consistent run. I think City + Bayern would be a pretty good acid test. While it's a big enough gamble, it could be repaid with a gut busting performance, something Evra hasn't done all season.

I can't underline how impressed I was with him on Saturday. Diame is a big, strong, powerful player. You could see they targetted him early on as the supposed weak link, but he handed everything thrown at him comfortably. They then switched wings to have Diame probe Rafael when they were getting no joy.

Diame has made plenty of people look weak and brittle this year, Buttner wasn't one of them.

I'm not singing the praises and predicting a world class LB or any of that nonsense, I'm just saying that it might be worth giving the lad a finish to the season at LB, before we go spunking massive money on a new LB in the summer.

The indications are he's professional, very grounded, hard working and understands the responsibilities of playing for a big club. Signed by Ferguson with the vision of replacing Evra, he hasn't made a peep negatively about his situation, which many a player might feel aggrieved by. His only interviews I've read are obvious disappointment he hasnt been able to force his way into the team, but he's taking advantage of being at a massive club and learning from great players.

At no point did he groan or mumble how he's not being picked, he appreciates when he gets his chances he needs to show why he should be playing. That's a pretty good mentality for an inexperienced player.

I'm not saying he is brilliant, or the finished product, but a player that will only get better with gametime. Evra has been a liability all year, and it's his stamina and pace thats been the problem. He's visibly panting when up against a pacey winger, and is frequently sauntering out to close down, allowing crosses into the box or cutbacks.

Buttner has an engine, a visible stamina thats awfully impressive, and has no fears about going forward and at times has neat feet. Evra might have a world of experience but when the legs go and you can't keep the pace, your going to get slaughtered.