Football 2011-2012

[ralph250]

Its stupidity from Hargreaves. Also, Utds medical staff are one of the most respected in the game.

Typical City player.

[The Nal]

while that might well be true, there's a well-documented history of similar-skilled people operating one idea of how to keep players fit which might not suit all players.

One example I can think of is Gerrard when he was much younger, who had continual back problems until they developed a different training plan for him.

I read something very similar recently for another player too - can't remember who now, but it might have been Ledley King or Woodgate, tho I can't be sure.

So it might be the case that despite their skills those medical staff stuffed up.

[eFestivals]

Will be interesting what the statement later contains. It's potentially libellous, and if United's side of the story is contradictory to Hargreaves, then would presume they'd wish to defend their reputation from the comments. Damaging if players (current or potential) think Utd will mistreat their injuries.

I'd have thought that pursuing him thru the courts for those words would be hugely more damaging to Utd than just letting it go.

[ralph250]

Club statement on Hargreaves

Following certain comments reported in the media this morning, the Club has issued the following statement:

Manchester United is disappointed with Owen’s remarks after the game on Wednesday. The Club gave him the best possible care for three years and is as disappointed as anyone he was not able to play a part in the team’s success at that time. It has shared all the medical records with Manchester City and is comfortable with the actions taken by its medical staff at each step of his many attempts at rehabilitation.

United does not acknowledge any validity in the comments Owen is alleged to have made.

Manchester United has some of the best sports medical staff in world sport, who have made a significant contribution to United’s on-pitch success in recent seasons

http://www.manutd.co...hargreaves.aspx

Edited September 23, 2011 by ralph250

[The Nal]

Dead right, its like they are wiped of class and dignity once they join City.

Edited September 23, 2011 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Dead right, its like they are wiped of class and dignity once they join City.

yeah, cos those 32 years banners seen at OT till last May (but not since ) are real classy, eh?

[The Nal]

yeah, cos those 32 years banners seen at OT till last May (but not since ) are real classy, eh?

[strummer77]

Aldershot v United then Neil!

[ralph250]

Aldershot v United then Neil!

[ralph250]

Quality ball from Silva.

[Neil]

Its good of the draw to give aldershot a bye into the last eight. I wonder who they'll get in the quarter finals?

i wonder what those superstars will make of the (w)rec(k)? A bit more basic than they're used to.

last time utd came there were 18500 in the ground, shame its just 6800 now.

[pink_triangle]

Its a great draw for aldershot, the directors probably wish it had been at old trafford but as a fan its great to see a huge team come to your stadium. My best ever moment as a wrexham fan was in 1992 seeing us beat the league champions arsenal at home in the fa cup and theres no chance we would have won at highbury.

The premiership was predictable today with most of the results going as expected. In fact I predicted the correct result for all 8 games and am now annoyed I didnt put my money were my mouth was. Still think some of the media were wrong annointing man u as champions elect. First tough away game and points dropped. Will take a few more games to see if they have sorted the away problem from last year out.

[eFestivals]

I very much doubt I'll bother trying for a ticket, tho I'll wait and see what they announce for them. Those who had tickets for previous rounds have first shout, and i guess they'll be a queue round the ground for days for the rest.

I'm still very pleased it's at home tho. It gives the best chance of winning, and the TV money will help make up for the small ground.

And while it's hugely likely that Utd will win, you never know. They're going to be hugely out of their comfort zone just by the facts of the ground, and while the shots are currently 15th in league two, they're 15th with the best defensive record in the league by a fair way aside from sharing it with the league leaders.

As for the Prem, I reckon we need another 4 games to get a better idea of how that'll pan out - it needs a few more games to better average out the great starts and the poor starts. But I'm not surprised that Stoke held Utd, cos Stoke are going to be fighting with a few other teams for 6th this season.

I only saw the MotD highlights of that match which suggested that Stoke had the better of the game. Was it really like that, or was that an impression wrongly given by the highlights?

[strummer77]

As for the Prem, I reckon we need another 4 games to get a better idea of how that'll pan out - it needs a few more games to better average out the great starts and the poor starts. But I'm not surprised that Stoke held Utd, cos Stoke are going to be fighting with a few other teams for 6th this season.

[kaosmark2]

It's going to take until January really I think. For example Liverpool have a tough couple of games before an easy run and Everton have a fairly nasty set of fixtures coming up. Would be silly to judge Liverpool after Everton away and United home when the next three 'should' be bankers.

[pink_triangle]

I think you can make some initial judgements after 10 games about the strength of each sides best 11, as at this time suspensions, tiredness and injuries have in general not kicked in to a maximum level. However its after january when you start to see the strength of squads tested where some of the poorer sides who start well eg blackpoo/hull start to drop and sides like villa under o neil who were touted as champions league contenders struggle to keep their early form

[pink_triangle]

It's going to take until January really I think. For example Liverpool have a tough couple of games before an easy run and Everton have a fairly nasty set of fixtures coming up. Would be silly to judge Liverpool after Everton away and United home when the next three 'should' be bankers.

[Benj]

Re- 4th (assuming MU, MC and CFC are the top 3), as you've all alluded to, its impossible to call now, I agree with waiting till January (and more importantly post Jan tranny window) before even daring to make a prediction

[eFestivals]

when I said things need a few more games to see where teams will end up, I wasn't meaning that it would give them exactly.

I was meaning that what might well be some current anomalies with teams positions are likely to be ironed out, such as whether Newc are really contenders for a European spot, and whether Arsenal aren't.

As for knowing who exactly is going to get 4th I suspect it'll be a long time past January before that's clear. There looks like being 4 or 5 teams in the mix as things are right now.

[The Nal]

Fergie pointing out what nobody has seemed to report in the last five years. It always confused me - how does Crouch get away with fouling so much?!

“He fouls all the time. He gets off with it because of his height, but he jumps on top of defenders all the time. He has been doing that for a long time".

Remember he pulled that lads ponytail in the World Cup and got away with it?

By the way, did anyone see Barca at the weekend? Fabregas is turning into the new Xavi. Hes better now than he ever was at Arsenal. Everyone, including me, thought he'd be a benchwarmer. Fair play to him. Great to watch.

Edited September 26, 2011 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Fergie pointing out what nobody has seemed to report in the last five years. It always confused me - how does Crouch get away with fouling so much?!

“He fouls all the time. He gets off with it because of his height, but he jumps on top of defenders all the time. He has been doing that for a long time".

Remember he pulled that lads ponytail in the World Cup and got away with it?

It works both ways.

He defo fouls a lot, exactly as fergie says.

But there's also loads of occasions where he doesn't foul, but the ref 'sees' a foul anyway.

So overall I'd say it about evens out - he gets away with fouls that don't get called by the ref, but refs also give a foul when he's not fouled anyone.

[The Nal]

It works both ways.

He defo fouls a lot, exactly as fergie says.

But there's also loads of occasions where he doesn't foul, but the ref 'sees' a foul anyway.

So overall I'd say it about evens out - he gets away with fouls that don't get called by the ref, but refs also give a foul when he's not fouled anyone.

[eFestivals]

Hmmm, I don’t know about that. Yeah hes big and awkward and sometimes gets so far above defender, fairly, it looks like a foul. But he always has a hand round the neck or back at some stage. Nothing nasty, but defo fouls.

Fergie hinted in what he said in full that Crouch's goal at the weekend might not have been a foul.

What you've got to remember about Fergie is that he only ever makes statements like these in Utd's favour (he's not the only manager to show that sort of bias not all of them do). He's not going to clearly say something like "Crouch also scores good goals" because his statements are designed to pressure the ref and saying something like that lets the pressure off the ref.

Last season he was quick enough to slag off Carra for his foul on Nani, but he uttered not a word a game or three later when a Utd player (I forget who now) made a foul that was at least as bad.

Likewise, he also said that Nani would be out for weeks or months, but he was back within a game or two. It won't be any different with his comments this weekend about Hernandez either.

[The Nal]

Fergie hinted in what he said in full that Crouch's goal at the weekend might not have been a foul.

What you've got to remember about Fergie is that he only ever makes statements like these in Utd's favour (he's not the only manager to show that sort of bias not all of them do). He's not going to clearly say something like "Crouch also scores good goals" because his statements are designed to pressure the ref and saying something like that lets the pressure off the ref.

Last season he was quick enough to slag off Carra for his foul on Nani, but he uttered not a word a game or three later when a Utd player (I forget who now) made a foul that was at least as bad.

Likewise, he also said that Nani would be out for weeks or months, but he was back within a game or two. It won't be any different with his comments this weekend about Hernandez either.

[kaosmark2]

when I said things need a few more games to see where teams will end up, I wasn't meaning that it would give them exactly.

I was meaning that what might well be some current anomalies with teams positions are likely to be ironed out, such as whether Newc are really contenders for a European spot, and whether Arsenal aren't.

As for knowing who exactly is going to get 4th I suspect it'll be a long time past January before that's clear. There looks like being 4 or 5 teams in the mix as things are right now.