Forum Round Up - Owen Hargreaves Returns

Owen Hargreaves return to Carrington sparked a discussion about where exactly he should play in the team. Is he better in the middle, or out right? Click the link at the bottom to join in the discussion.

I think he might give Valencia run for his money on the right side. Hargreaves' best performances for United have come playing on the right of midfield with his energy, tracking back and fantastic crosses.

Matt-D7

I cant wait for that. Hargreaves playing on the right will make up for Valencia's lack of class

Siamak Khaledi

Play him in the middle ffs, that's his best position. Or do you want him to be like another John O'Shea?

Mr. Brownstone

I actually dont think its gonna be a bad thing if he's played on the right Trystan. At least until he's match fit. Playing at right back would be ideal for him IMO cause his lack of match sharpness wont be noticed as much as it wouldve if hes played in the centre. It would be a nice way to sort of ease him into it.

Keano's Fan

That's not what Siamak was on about though. His constant gripes about Valencia is getting on my nerves, and it makes me wonder if he knows what the word "supporter" actually means. Suggesting Valencia lacks "class" is fhucking ridiculous. But of course we're all entitled to our own opinions, even if they can be a bit silly.

I would like to see him make some cameos in the center to ease him back into his best position.

Mr. Brownstone

He's obviously not happy and not convinced by Valencia's performances so far this season, which is acceptable - tbf he's not exactly stunned us with brilliant displays here. No need to make a big deal about it and question his supporting though - if your ever in chatzy you know how big a supporter of the club he is, even though some of his opinions are laughable.

Even though the center is definitely his best position, I just wonder whether playing on the right (midfield/full back) might actually be a better fit for him immediately upon his return. I only say that because it appears as though Fergie is going to rift right through rotating our riches in the middle (Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Fletcher, Anderson, etc), and I don't think that will benefit Owen on his return at all.

Takhar7

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Reserves fall to first defeat of season

An early Liverpool goal proved decisive as Liverpool held onto their lead despite playing over an hour with 10 men. United started brightly, Liverpool scoring against the run of play, the ball going from their keeper to the back of the net within a few seconds. It was awful defending, but there should ave been more than enough time left to get back in.

In the event, Liverpool grew in confidence and went from awful pretty good, and were getting a handle on the game when Damien Plessis went for a rash tackle right in front of the ref. He had no complaints, simply walked off the field. There was no malice in the challenge, but it certainly was rash, and Liverpool found themselves a man down.

United though were unable to capitalise on the advantage, with James Chester sending one of the best chances wide, and was still bewildered as to how after the game. United eventually put the ball did into the back of the net, but Machdea effort was ruled out for a handball earlier in play. Quite who's hand this was remains a mystery to all but the referee. Despite that, United had more than enough chances, and Liverpool deserved the win for hanging in there, and taking a half chance when presented.

For United, it was a first defeat this season, with their record stretching further back to March when they lost by the same scoreline to Sunderland and if manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has anything to do with it, the record starts again tonight.

United: Zieler; Gray, Chester, de Laet, Dudgeon (Gill, 66); Welbeck, C Evans, Eikrem, Tosic (Brady, 77); Macheda, King.
Subs not used: Amos, Norwood, Tunnicliffe.

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Forum Round Up - Top Scorer

United Lounge members have made Wayne Rooney the hot favourite to be top scorer for United next season, with 76% of votes at the time of writing. There was some support for Berbatov and Owen, and Anderson garnered two votes on the back of his first goal in pre-season!

Rooney is the only sensible guess to be fair, Berbatov didn't exactly score a shitload last season and Owen + Macheda won't get eough games to be top scorer.
MartinJohn

I expect Berb to score more than last yr. Never think Rooney will score loads as there is so much more to his game. Owen will score more than people think. I'm gonna stick my head out and say Berb - I need to see more from him one way or another.
Sarah 77

I think if Owen plays anything close to as many games as the rest, he'll be highest goal scorer
Glorio

Isnt it unfair that Anderson gets a spot on the poll but Van Der Sar doesnt
Carrick

Gary Neville
Robbo7

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Forum round up - Michael Owen reaction

For what my four-penneth is worth, this signing worries me a little. I believe that it's a massive gamble from Sir Alex but if they pull it off, it could just be perfect. The amount of injuries that have happened at Newcastle to any of their players simply cannot be a coincidence. I've thought for a long time that there must be something amiss with their training facilities and from what Dan said, then I'm right. The conditions at Carrington are perfect so let's hope that this helps. I've seen Michael Owen play a few times in the last couple of seasons and I wouldn't exactly say that he lit up the pitch but then it makes a difference as to who you're playing with. At Newcastle he had no-one offering goals up on a plate. They only really had Duff as a true winger so the lack of balls into the box was very evident. With us, he'll get those opportunities created for him and hopefully start scoring regularly again. Only time will tell. The big bonus for me is that he's English/British and given the right situations he can score. Fingers crossed.
MobileNanny

It's less of a gamble than not signing anyone though

BTW, stop comparing the move to Smith's move...

This is the former European Player of the Year...a player who was looking a certainty to smash Bobby Charltons England scoring record...a player who can actually put the ball in the net...

He has been shit at Newcastle [mostly]... and I've slated him for that...but I guess we could have put Ruud in his pomp in that team and he'd have struggled...he's not going to add much to team play, so without service, he is nothing...we should provide plenty of that, and there's no better poacher in world football barring the aforementioned Ruud...

There is no-one better at eeking out a few more years of players careers at the top level than Sir Alex...Giggs, Neville, Scholes, Keane [with all his injuries], VDS and many others are testiment to that...Sheringham was of a simillar age when he came here and he was our player of the year...the more I think about this the more excited I am...possibly because I'm biased as hell, but also possibly because we all know what a phenomenal talent he was at Liverpool and Madrid...if he can get anywhere near that then it will be a great signing...
Matt 379

Owen's a really experienced striker, with a natural predatory instinct. His injury history is the biggest worry, but there is little use in complaining about a player of this calibre being tied to a deal on a free, and with a pay-as-you-play incentive arrangement. It's not a 'risk' unless he constitute's the club's main replacement of Ronaldo/Tevez (with Giggs/Scholes rounding the corner or retirement). Then, his success or failure will be bound to Fergie like a rash. It's certainly not a move that I would've made, but I applaud that there's an intriguing logic behind it. [I'm much less convinced on Valencia than Owen]

Reductio ad Absurdium

This is a no lose situation for all involved.

We get a proven, World Class goalscorer for a relatively low wage. A player capable of 20/25 goals a season if he can stay fit, and no real drain on our resources if he can't. It's easy to overlook the fact that Owen's goal rate for the Geordies was still not far off one every two games despite all their problems. There will also undoubtedly be hefty appearance/goal/release clauses in Owen's contract in case he continues to struggle with injury.

Owen gets a chance to revive his career at one of the worlds biggest clubs with one of the worlds best managers, a complete turnaround from the fiasco that has been Newcastle United over the last few years. If he doesn't revive his career, then at least he's failed here, and not at Hull or Stoke.

Mr. Brownstone

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Valencia deal a great one for United

What has been lost in the clamor to denounce the signing of Antonio Valencia as proof that United's empire is crumbling is that a certain Portuguese winger signed a few years ago suffered also from complaints about his lack of end product.

We know how that ended, and although Valencia represents something of a gamble, the Real Madrid that are busy hoovering up every spot of talent in Europe were serious contenders for his signature, and that Ferguson was the one to secure it represents something of a coup for the Scot. Real Madrid it seems can't get everyone they want, and some wingers really do prefer Manchester.

No one is seriously suggesting that the Ecuadorian will be a straight replacement for Ronaldo - it's far more likely that his move will see a shift in formation and shape for United. Rooney will probably start in the middle much more often, and as a result, we should see an increase in his tally. That should benifit Berbatov, who you would hope too see a few more goals from this season.

Valencia too, will be expected to improve on his tally of three goals in 31 League appearances, but it will be his assists where he is truly judged. If he can combine goal scoring exploits, with plenty of assists, we could be looking at rather than the heir to Ronaldo, or even Beckhams throne, we will see a Kanchelskis replacement, 14 years after the Russian left the club.

That truly would be a sight worth seeing.

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Forum round up

Bringing you snippets of whats going on on the United Lounge forum, here is the first of our weekly round ups.

The forgotten Man!

Everyone has overlooked this chap. I know he is not proven. I know at Hull he did not get to play enough, but we have not even given him a chance here yet. Yet he is all but forgotten. At least people see a chance for Welbeck and Macheda here, yet some wants us to get a young Benzema or Villa(not sure of age).
If we want a player who can provide cover for Rooney and Berbatov, why not give Manucho at least a chance before splashing money?
He has height, if we are going to result back to 4 4 2, with quality crosses, he can attack the ball and there are evidence of his heading power.
Through out my United following career , we have not been attracting world class players, we buy potential and make them into world class. It is just our history. We rarely buy the Berba's of this world (world class status debatable)
I hope SAF gives him a chance.
Give him a run of 15 games playing up front with Rooney and he'd turn into a 20 million striker.....or ....maybe not

vuudu

Beckham or Ronaldo?

I find the argument about them both freekick interesting elsewhere so i thought i like to know your thoughts on here.

Try to put hatred aside if there's any, who do you prefer and you think the better one between them??

Babysenorita

Trophies or Football?

In discussion of people's hopes for next season a lot of people have mentioned that they would like us to play better football. Admittedly our football was pretty crap at times last season (1-0 just isn't the Manchester United way), however there weren't that many people complaining about it as long as the results went our way.

My question is simple:

Would you rather us win trophies in a boring and dull manner?

or

Would you rather us play exciting, breathtaking football creating envy from the entire league, without actually winning any trophies?

Takhar 7

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New kit unveilled - fans call it rubbish

Someday, someone will explain exactly why Nike are so bad at designing kits. But until that day comes, we'll just have to find ourselves asking the question every year 'why?'

Another season, another rubbish kit. Only this time, it's supposed to be a tribute to the 1909 FA Cup final kit. Nike, in fine tradition, ballsed this right up, and produced something that bears only a vague resemblance to that kit. In that it's got a V on it, and has sleeves and a hole for your neck.

Although the pictures have been doing the rounds for a while, we can now officially deride the kit, which will no doubt go on to sell billions. Why people feel they must own the latest kit even when it looks awful bemuses this writer, but own it they will.

Fortunatly though, this monstrosity appears to be just a one year kit, which ordinarily would be a bad thing, but anything that gets rid of it sooner rather than later is good in my view. Unlike when Umbro did a 1 year kit though, I doubt this will be discounted.

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