Benfica S.L v Manchester United Wed 14/9/11 - (UEFA Champions League) 7.45 RTE2/ITV1

Blatter

Headshot wrote: »

You do know we're only 4 games into the PL season? I dont think the players would need such a long rest between Wednesday and Sunday.

I know we're only 4 games into the season but playing twice in a week still has the potential to screw up players' form. They could get injured aswell. I think it was important to give the likes of Park, Valencia, Fletcher etc. a game to keep them happy anyway.

dahat

flahavaj wrote: »

Some gross stupidity in here tonight.

Just reading through and this sums up the whole thread...
This group we are in will take no getting through,i fully expect the "second team" to play alot of those games.
Any supporter worth his salt would value Sunday's game above tonights all day long,10 points is the target,1 down 9 to go....get a grip some of ye..........

flahavaj

Blatter wrote: »

I know we're only 4 games into the season but playing twice in a week still has the potential to screw up players' form. They could get injured aswell. I think it was important to give the likes of Park, Valencia, Fletcher etc. a game to keep them happy anyway.

Even aside from keeping them happy, they needed it for fitness and sharpness.

Headshot

Blatter wrote: »

I know we're only 4 games into the season but playing twice in a week still has the potential to screw up players' form. They could get injured aswell. I think it was important to give the likes of Park, Valencia, Fletcher etc. a game to keep them happy anyway.

Rooney our most important player played 90mins and im sure he'll be playing against Chelsea

Btw I do agree with your players that you mentioned that need match time but they should be grouped together with better players

Drumpot

Headshot wrote: »

You do know we're only 4 games into the PL season? I dont think the players would need such a long rest between Wednesday and Sunday.

You do know that as the season progresses United will find it tougher to rest players and use tough games like this to get squad players good match time ?

Not just that, you do realise that sometimes players crash by Feb (like Arsenal last season) because they have been playing league, cup and Internationals with little break ?


You rest players now so they dont burn out later on the season and so you take the need to rest them later on in the business end of the season away.


Given our group I would be happy enough if Sir Alex chopped and changed our squad for the entire 6 games as I am confident (or arrogant, dont really care what you call it) that we will qualify comfortably with any 11 of our first 20 players.

Vanbis

Drumpot wrote: »

United has a squad for a reason . . Some people struggle with the concept of Sir Alex's winning mentality and his unrelenting belief in his players that is clearly evident at the end of most seasons when the likes of Arsenals of the past were found wanting in big pressure games.

You call it arrogant, I call it belief . .

It's there 5th game of the season, a bit early to be resting players ahead of Chelsea at home on sunday, too many dropped. It was a chance to get 3pts but it was more a 1point gainged then two dropped. Maybe arrogance is the wrong word but a lack of respect to Benfica. I don't struggle with belief the Sir Alex has in squad but just team selection for tonight and this early after starting the season flying is baffling. It was a great chance to continue that winning start and continue playing with the confidence ahead of Chelsea. I fully expect us to beat Chelsea on sunday at home.

Raskolnikov

flahavaj wrote: »

Most of our players played internationals as well. Its importamt to keep the whole squad ticking over, surely you've grasped that detail in over a decade of Fergie rotatiung players in and out?

There's plenty of time for rotation with League Cup, FA Cup and final two Champions League group games. You should win your group first, then use the remaining games, which often come during periods of fixture congestion to rotate.

flahavaj

Headshot wrote: »

When has Carrick ever been "fine"

I dont mind seeing players rested dont get me wrong but I wanted to pick alot better team than that. Leeds game will be used for the squad match fitness. You dont use a 2nd string team against a quality team like Benfica, its arrogance imo

This from the fella who wanted to throw kids from the youth team who were nowhere near ready into frst team action last year.

You're a gas man Heashot. If he'd played Pogba tonight you'd have been fapping like a lunatic.

dahat

Thought Fletcher looked well off tonight,to be expected but will look to see him get 90 mins v Leeds.

Headshot

Drumpot wrote: »

You do know that as the season progresses United will find it tougher to rest players and use tough games like this to get squad players good match time ?

Not just that, you do realise that sometimes players crash by Feb (like Arsenal last season) because they have been playing league, cup and Internationals with little break ?


You rest players now so they dont burn out later on the season and so you take the need to rest them later on in the business end of the season away.


Given our group I would be happy enough if Sir Alex chopped and changed our squad for the entire 6 games as I am confident (or arrogant, dont really care what you call it) that we will qualify comfortably with any 11 of our first 20 players.

If we won tonight, better position to rest players in the latter stages of the group. FA cup 2nd squad. CC mix of youngsters and 2nd squad. Your argument goes out the window tbh if we won tonight the latter stages of the group would of been a perfect opportunity for resting players

Drumpot

Headshot wrote: »

When has Carrick ever been "fine"

I dont mind seeing players rested dont get me wrong but I wanted to pick alot better team than that. Leeds game will be used for the squad match fitness. You dont use a 2nd string team against a quality team like Benfica, its arrogance imo

You speak of our 2nd stream team as if its full of youngsters, you keep ignoring the quality of these players . . These are champions league final playing players, integral players in winning the EPL . .

Fergie's strategy is to utilise his squad strategically . . Ideally we would win every game but I agree 100% with Ferguson's use of our squad tonight .

jaykay74

Raskolnikov wrote: »

There's plenty of time for rotation with League Cup, FA Cup and final two Champions League group games. You should win your group first, then use the remaining games, which often come during periods of fixture congestion to rotate.

You're right Fergie doesn't have a clue how to use the squad at his disposal. Not a fckin clue. Good call there.

Paul Tergat

you have a big wager on us tonight HS?

flahavaj

Raskolnikov wrote: »

There's plenty of time for rotation with League Cup, FA Cup and final two Champions League group games. You should win your group first, then use the remaining games, which often come during periods of fixture congestion to rotate.

Given the teams in the group I think we can comfortably use the squad to its fullest over the 6 games tbh. Moutain out of a molehill stuff. I would re-iterate that the players that came in are more than capable of getting results from the opposition we have. Fletcher, Park and Tony aren't mugs, far from it.

Its also worth bearing in mind that last season the only players that started regularly were Rio, Vidic, Evra and Rooney. Everyone was rotated in and out. Tonight's selection is an extension of that.

Raskolnikov

jaykay74 wrote: »

You're right Fergie doesn't have a clue how to use the squad at his disposal. Not a fckin clue. Good call there.

:rolleyes:

Drumpot

Headshot wrote: »

If we won tonight, better position to rest players in the latter stages of the group. FA cup 2nd squad. CC mix of youngsters and 2nd squad. Your argument goes out the window tbh if we won tonight the latter stages of the group would of been a perfect opportunity for resting players

What ? This was the hardest game we should play in this group and we drew . .

I think its safe to say that we should be able to play that team for the rest of the group and they should qualify . .

This isnt an argument, this is me simply pointing out the flaws of your views . .

flahavaj

Paul Tergat wrote: »

you have a big wager on us tonight HS?

Aye, apparently you can talk any amount of sh*te if there's momey on it.:rolleyes:

jaykay74

Raskolnikov wrote: »

:rolleyes:

No need for the roll eyes. You won me over with your argument. Great point there about Fergie fcking up with the squad rotation.

Tesco Massacre

Did Dunphy just say Tevez is on 300k-a-week!?

I think he just makes sh*t up as he goes along sometimes.

Raskolnikov

flahavaj wrote: »

Given the teams in the group I think we can comfortably use the squad to its fullest over the 6 games tbh.

Benfica away will be the hardest game - it makes no sense to field a second-string against the toughest match. I can't think of a single team that has done this in the Champions League at such an early stage.

Headshot

Drumpot wrote: »

What ? This was the hardest game we should play in this group and we drew . . I think its safe to say that we should be able to play that team for the rest of the group and they should qualify . . This isnt an argument, this is me simply pointing out the flaws of your views . .

It shouldnt have to be hard, our first team would of beaten Benfica. My argument is that why make life hard for us when we could of beaten Benfica and then win the group and then rest players. I also like to see when a team is playing so well, dont change the nucleus of the that team in the important matches

Raskolnikov

jaykay74 wrote: »

No need for the roll eyes. You won me over with your argument. Great point there about Fergie fcking up with the squad rotation.

There's no point even replying to something that's so completely nonsensical.

Sgt Pepper 64

dahat wrote: »

Just reading through and this sums up the whole thread...
This group we are in will take no getting through,i fully expect the "second team" to play alot of those games.
Any supporter worth his salt would value Sunday's game above tonights all day long,10 points is the target,1 down 9 to go....get a grip some of ye..........

Even a rookie manager like AVB rested Terry and Lampard.
With a potential 60 odd games and internationals, you have to rotate to survive.
Your wingers will be flying at us on Sunday - wish you had played them!

flahavaj

Headshot wrote: »

It shouldnt have to be hard, our first team would of beaten Benfica. My argument is that why make life hard for us when we could of beaten Benfica and then win the group and then rest players. I also like to see when a team is playing so well, dont change the nucleus of the that team in the important matches

The more important match of the week is Chelsea so you'll get your wish, the nucleus of the team will return. See the wider picture.

Drumpot

Headshot wrote: »

It shouldnt have to be hard, our first team would of beaten Benfica. My argument is that why make life hard for us when we could of beaten Benfica and then win the group and then rest players. I also like to see when a team is playing so well, dont change the nucleus of the that team in the important matches

This is usually what Giles thinks and is one of the things I usually disagree with him on . .

I personally believe managers are far more clever with their squads in modern football then they were back when Gilsey played . .

Not just that and possibly even more importantly, players mentality is nowhere near as strong and committed as it was back even in the 80s . . Players dont play for the crest or the love of the game, particularly at Uniteds level . . Motivating players at this level has never been harder . . back when Gilsey played, players were playing for a meagre living, now they are sorted by the time they are in their early 20s (perfectly highlighted by many players who are finished by the time they hit their peak - Ronaldhino, Adriano and old Ronaldo).

Ironically, Rooney is one of those exceptional kind of players that (when happy - last season aside) give it the same in every game. I genuinley believe that these players are few and far between . .

With that in mind it makes complete sense to rotate our squad for a variable of reasons, some of which I have already mentioned . .

As a fan we always want to see our team win games and play well but I think this game worked out well for us in the end . . It was a gamble and we will take more (thats what you have to do with such a big squad and so many games in a season) but I believe it was a well balanced calculated gamble . . For me the results can sometimes (whether win/lose/draw) be over emphasised too much with little comprehensive consideration of the broader picture . .

I genuinly think that Ferguson was spot on with his starting team . .

flahavaj

Headshot wrote: »

It shouldnt have to be hard, our first team would of beaten Benfica. My argument is that why make life hard for us when we could of beaten Benfica and then win the group and then rest players. I also like to see when a team is playing so well, dont change the nucleus of the that team in the important matches

Your post reeks of arrogance (and bad grammar).;)

DM_7

The next game is Chelsea. Its more important than tonight's game. On that basis the team selection was okay with me.

TheBunk1

I'm using my phone so I couldnt be arsed multi quoting some of the ****e posted here tonight. We drew away from home, in what was our hardest game of the group. The team that started was well capable of winning tonight. It's not SAF's fault we didn't. It was a first start of te season for many players tonight. I look at it as valuable game time for them.

Some people say we "dropped" two points tonight.... Bollox! We'll still win this group at a canter. I see winning on Sunday as far more important. Going on tonight's starting team, I see only 5 of the same players starting on Sunday.

We've a lot of games coming up, almost twice a week between now and Christmas. We always rotate for the group stages, even with more difficult groups than this. It may be boring at times but you gotta look atvte bigger picture.

Get a grip lads. We're lucky we've got the squad we have.

DM_7

Our first game last time out v Rangers, at home was a Nil Nil, a draw away to Benfica really isn't that bad a result.

n32

jesus , some people on here are as bad as dunphy and the boys. of the team that played tonight lindegaard, fletcher and valencia were playing their first games of the season. giggs, park, fabio and carrick havent played much either.
considering we have chelsea, stoke away, leeds away, norwich, liverpool away, city, everton away plus more CL games before the end of october, we needed to give some players a break. i d prefer to beat chelsea than beat benfica any day of the week. we ll canter through the group like we always do. theres no point going like the clappers in september and being washed out by the run in.

thegreengoblin

Great quotes from Lindegaard:


"It was very amusing, great fun and that's the most important part of why you play football - fun," he told ITV1.

"I enjoyed it very much, it was a great night. It's a great stadium to play at, a very loud audience and also I could hear our own fans which was nice. This is why I came to United, to play these kind of games.

"There's always a bit of nerves and if there isn't then it's not that enjoyable. It makes me feel alive. I'm satisfied with my performance, just a bit sad that I didn't save the first goal."

Asked about challenging for the first-team spot, Lindegaard said: "What answer do you expect to that question? I've said a thousand times before I'm not here to pick my nose."

Sgt Pepper 64

Should have signed Sneijder after all eh?!

Drumpot

United play B team and draw with Benfica away - We are awful and screwed in this seasons CL . .

Barca play most of their first team against an AC Milan team that Dunphy lambasts every season United play them (and their players are even older this season) and Barca only draw 1-1 at home, but this is an example of how great they are again !!

WTF . . Dont get me wrong, Barca are rightly favourates, but the first round of matches have done nothing to strengthen their favourates tag . .

Wait till you see . . United will get Milan in the knockouts and Dunphy will go on about how Crap they are and how bad it was that United only beat them 2-0 at home and drew away (or something stupid like that!).

I propose a dunphy or RTE football panelists quotes sticky so people can refer to their off the wall, ridiculous comments later on in the season when they have changed their tune completely . . Like Dunphys on the show pony Ronaldo (when he kept saying it up until the CL final when ronaldo had scored 20000 goals in that season) . . If nothing else it would be a laugh . .

flahavaj

Sgt Pepper 64 wrote: »

Should have signed Sneijder after all eh?!

Ask that question again at 6.00 on Sunday.;)

Nalz

n32 wrote: »

jesus , some people on here are as bad as dunphy and the boys. of the team that played tonight lindegaard, fletcher and valencia were playing their first games of the season. giggs, park, fabio and carrick havent played much either.
considering we have chelsea, stoke away, leeds away, norwich, liverpool away, city, everton away plus more CL games before the end of october, we needed to give some players a break. i d prefer to beat chelsea than beat benfica any day of the week. we ll canter through the group like we always do. theres no point going like the clappers in september and being washed out by the run in.

Well said. Great point tonight imo.

n32

Drumpot wrote: »

United play B team and draw with Benfica away - We are awful and screwed in this seasons CL . .

Barca play most of their first team against an AC Milan team that Dunphy lambasts every season United play them (and their players are even older this season) and Barca only draw 1-1 at home, but this is an example of how great they are again !!

WTF . . Dont get me wrong, Barca are rightly favourates, but the first round of matches have done nothing to strengthen their favourates tag . .

Wait till you see . . United will get Milan in the knockouts and Dunphy will go on about how Crap they are and how bad it was that United only beat them 2-0 at home and drew away (or something stupid like that!).

I propose a dunphy or RTE football panelists quotes sticky so people can refer to their off the wall, ridiculous comments later on in the season when they have changed their tune completely . . Like Dunphys on the show pony Ronaldo (when he kept saying it up until the CL final when ronaldo had scored 20000 goals in that season) . . If nothing else it would be a laugh . .

I had to laugh when dunphy said barca were mesmeric last night. they had a far stronger team than we had out, were playing at home against a mediocre milan team. its easy to be mesmeric when the opposition sits in their own box and lets you have possession . the rte panel judge united very harshly compared to other top teams

Nalz

n32 wrote: »

I had to laugh when dunphy said barca were mesmeric last night. they had a far stronger team than we had out, were playing at home against a mediocre milan team. its easy to be mesmeric when the opposition sits in their own box and lets you have possession . the rte panel judge united very harshly compared to other top teams

They have a habit of being harsh, stating the obvious yet portraying it to be anything but.

"in my day..."

"these two guys beside me were the best..."

"Michael Carrick is a...."

meh

killwill

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Benfica away will be the hardest game - it makes no sense to field a second-string against the toughest match. I can't think of a single team that has done this in the Champions League at such an early stage.

Think about the broader picture, United's strength in depth is why we will be there or there abouts in the PL and CL come May.

MisterAnarchy

n32 wrote: »

I had to laugh when dunphy said barca were mesmeric last night. they had a far stronger team than we had out, were playing at home against a mediocre milan team. its easy to be mesmeric when the opposition sits in their own box and lets you have possession .

The problem is that Barca werent mesmeric last night or anywhere near it.
By their standards it was a very laboured and sluggish performance.

Julez

killwill wrote: »

Think about the broader picture, United's strength in depth is why we will be there or there abouts in the PL and CL come May.

Exactly, I would be far happier with a point tonight and three on Sunday as apposed to the other way around. We will still qualify top of our group in the champions league.

LuckyGent88

Only just got to see the game and while we played pretty poorly, a point away from home is just fine. win our home games and have a second team out in the last game is what we want. it was great to see Fletcher back on the field and Lindegaard looks pretty good after last nights display.

Mitch Connor

Poor enough performance.

Smalling had his worst game of the season, as did Evans. Don't seem a good partnership imo.

Fletcher and Carrick were off the pace in the middle, and Giggs didn't get going til the goal.

Rooney was ineffective; starved of decent service and support - you could see his frustration regarding his isolation.

Valencia looked ok - but may take a game or two more to get back into stride.

Overall it was a disappointing game and performance - the change in tactics, style and personnel told last night. Hopefully we are back on early season prem style for the chelsea game this weekend.

Cypher_sounds

Didn't get to see the game but considering the amount of players that started who had minimum to no game time this season before last night, 1-1 is a decent result away from home and the players will be much sharper for the Chelsea game at the weekend.

jdooley28

New signings bring freshness and energy to a team. None of Jones, Young or De gea features also Cleverly and welbeck out who are like new signings anyway. We just looked a bit flat and off the pace. Still got a decent result do, a draw away from against the our main rivals in the group isn't not too bad.