Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Jan 28, 2012 3:34 pm  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

Hendo looks better every game. Top player, who goes about his business quietly and effectively. Bellamy has always been a top player, works his balls off every game. All the eggs in one basket now for United after being knocked out of the Champions League, League Cup and the FA Cup before the end of January.

Still got as many comps to go for as City and Liverpool. Although wouldn't be against an early Europa league exit if it meant us being fresher for the league. I think you'd still rather be in our situation than your own.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Jan 28, 2012 3:42 pm  

Mark wrote:

Still got as many comps to go for as City and Liverpool. Although wouldn't be against an early Europa league exit if it meant us being fresher for the league. I think you'd still rather be in our situation than your own.

Of course, but we're in a rebuilding stage, you're not. Wouldn't suprise me for us to get beat at Wolves now after beating both Manchester clubs.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Jan 28, 2012 4:01 pm  

Mark wrote:

I think we have only lost one game with Lindegaard in goal. I know De Gea is only young but I just don't see it at the moment. Some of the spanish watching forumistas may have a better idea but just doesn't look confident at all.

He's a good player who's already good at things some 'keepers never become good at. His distribution is class, his shot stopping has been class at times (when you played us in the league he got you a draw) and his natural size means there's potential for him to be world class. Problem is (we had the same problem with Reina) he isn't that good at handling crosses or imposing himself. Spanish goalkeepers aren't trained to do that like English goalkeepers, so it's something that will take time like it did with Reina for us. There's so much potential in him but it won't happen overnight. Fergie could easily have spent <£10m and got a decent 'keeper for the next few years, he could have got Friedel on a free to last a season or two, but he knew once de Gea developed he'd be United's first choice for 10-15 years. Impatience will always happen, especially when so much was invested, but the raw ingredients are there. When we signed Reina, he was a few years older and a bit more experienced, so he didn't take too long to settle down. Maybe United will have to loan him out if they can't afford to be patient with him, I don't really know, but he's got too much potential to be dismissed at 21.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Jan 28, 2012 4:36 pm  

Adamjk wrote:

Only caught the 2nd half but Liverpool looked by far the better team. They might have had less possession but they looked more dangerous going forward. Other than the Welbeck chance, I don't recall United ever looking like they'd score a second

United probably took the first half, Liverpool the 2nd

I would probably have taken 2-1 when i saw the team United had out

Reasonable game between two not very good teams.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Jan 28, 2012 4:43 pm  

Go on Crawley

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Jan 28, 2012 4:54 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

He's a good player who's already good at things some 'keepers never become good at. His distribution is class, his shot stopping has been class at times (when you played us in the league he got you a draw) and his natural size means there's potential for him to be world class. Problem is (we had the same problem with Reina) he isn't that good at handling crosses or imposing himself. Spanish goalkeepers aren't trained to do that like English goalkeepers, so it's something that will take time like it did with Reina for us. There's so much potential in him but it won't happen overnight. Fergie could easily have spent <£10m and got a decent 'keeper for the next few years, he could have got Friedel on a free to last a season or two, but he knew once de Gea developed he'd be United's first choice for 10-15 years. Impatience will always happen, especially when so much was invested, but the raw ingredients are there. When we signed Reina, he was a few years older and a bit more experienced, so he didn't take too long to settle down. Maybe United will have to loan him out if they can't afford to be patient with him, I don't really know, but he's got too much potential to be dismissed at 21.

Pretty much spot on.

The worry I'd have from a Man Utd point of view with him is that he seems to have lost the ability to bounce back when he makes a mistake, today he was looking shot by the end of the game. Whenever I saw him play for Atlético he'd usually have a blinder of a game after making an error or conceding a soft goal - that ability to quickly bounce back seems to be ebbing away from him.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:13 pm  

Asim wrote:

Pretty much spot on.

The worry I'd have from a Man Utd point of view with him is that he seems to have lost the ability to bounce back when he makes a mistake, today he was looking shot by the end of the game. Whenever I saw him play for Atlético he'd usually have a blinder of a game after making an error or conceding a soft goal - that ability to quickly bounce back seems to be ebbing away from him.

When he played for Atletico, though, he's face 10+ shots a game with their defence. He didn't face too many today, what he did face were the things he's continually struggled with; crosses and high balls. He made a good save on a free kick and he saved well on that cross that Evans (was it Evans?) missed, he just never faced any shots to get himself back into the game. It was one of those days that the good goalkeepers just take as a write-off, even his usually brilliant distribution had a slight flaw when he lazily played it to Downing.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:24 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

When he played for Atletico, though, he's face 10+ shots a game with their defence.

I was going to mention that actually, it's requires a totally different mentality from him compared to the 18 months he'd been a regular start at Atlético.

At the moment I think he'd do a lot better with a strong presence in front of him, like Vidic, rather than the assortment of mediocre centre-backs that they have at the moment - for example that first goal. There should have been someone giving a bit back.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:24 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

When he played for Atletico, though, he's face 10+ shots a game with their defence. He didn't face too many today, what he did face were the things he's continually struggled with; crosses and high balls. He made a good save on a free kick and he saved well on that cross that Evans (was it Evans?) missed, he just never faced any shots to get himself back into the game. It was one of those days that the good goalkeepers just take as a write-off, even his usually brilliant distribution had a slight flaw when he lazily played it to Downing.

can't see Sir Alex tolerating his unpredictability - he doesn't suffer incompetance lightly...

some of his antics today were cringeworthy,even Gomes-like at times !

on a more positive note,impressed with Carrolls' contribution today

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:22 pm  

Typical MUFC performance at Anfield. Game there for the taking but no one with the bottle/ability to take control of the game in midfield. Think Liverpool were poor as well, which makes it even more frustrating.