Rooney off to a flier already eh? Hope he can maintain it for long periods..

I was expecting the game to open up, but almost everytime we have the ball, Birmingham had a lot of players, minus their striker(s) behind the ball. It's up to us of course to open them up, but first game of the season, had a couple of clear chances, and a fairly comfortable game, I would take the 3 points for now. Do remember last few seasons we couldn't score that much picking up 1-0's along the way till around the 10th game or so before we explode, but last season didn't really happen for us going forward. I'm expecting better this time around, but we are generally slow starters, so don't expect too much so soon. Half way through the season we still struggling, then maybe there's reason to panic, but looking at last night in patches, we still have a lot to show for. Valencia didn't play his best last night.. he played far better in pre-season, and I expect him to play far better.. his crosses were awesome in pre-season, last night it was a bit crap.. didn't have that much chance to cross though. And he need to work on his left foot, or what to do when he comes inside because he stop every time he move to the middle.. expecting better on that front as the season goes on and he adjust to the way our team moves..

If the games so far are anything to go by, Nani have nothing to worry about. Valencia is pretty basic and straight forward, effective, but stoppable(let him come to the middle, he doesn't know what to do), while Nani is more unpredictable(although, that means the same for our strikers too). He has far more tricks than Valencia and his crosses when he hit them right are great too. If we want someone to change the game, we might look to him apart from the usual suspects. Let's hope that shoulder of his hold up.. gonna be a big season for him.

Park too should be safe although maybe he won't start as much as last season. But like in the CHelsea game showed, his movement is terrific.. if only he's a bit stronger, faster, have better control and composure, he would be a superb player. Well, nobody is perfect.

Can't wait for Obertan though.. people will love him when he starts going past people.

Aiya, no live ar for the next game? They usually only show one game(per day) right on weekdays? Bloody annoying.

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Added on August 18, 2009, 2:02 amThey gonna show the CL qualifiers instead huh? Idiots.. arrgh. Only show one game lah, let the other channel show EPL games.

This post has been edited by Wan: Aug 18 2009, 02:02 AM

A few weeks back, it was this...
Vidic agent brushes off exit talk


But then what is this? Which is which? None of the other websites run this story.

Vidic dreams of playing for Barcelona, says agent Source: Soccernet

Ronaldo chapter already got that 'the end' thing at the end, and Tevez too. Rooney will stay here for life, the other midfielders don't have big reputations, at the back Rio surely would end his career here, and you're left with Vida as their next target.

Maybe he thought tonight..

But still why the hell do they show the qualifiers!! Show only one enough lah each day, let the other channel show EPL stuff. Idiots!! It's a bloody qualifier!

Tomorrow morning:
ESPN - Celtic FC vs. Arsenal FC
Star Sports- Sporting Clube de Portugal vs. AFC Fiorentina

Thursday morning:
ESPN - Panathinaikos FC vs. Atletico de Madrid
Star Sports - Olympique Lyonnais vs. RSC Anderlecht

See Kuyt's reaction..

Scholes.. tepat2 100 huh? He's the master all right.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/chalkboards/create
Choose the season, team, then games, then click on player name, then choose the 'stats' you want. Got pass, shots, interception, blocks etc..

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Added on August 18, 2009, 9:15 pmIt can take a while to load though.. so be a bit patient.

This post has been edited by Wan: Aug 18 2009, 09:15 PM

Not today lah, next morning one. 20th our date..

Depending on the opposition, Macheda/Welbeck will play alongside one of the strikers. SAF trusted them last season, he would do so again this season with them getting more opportunities. And in the case of Macheda, he's physically ready to battle it out with big strong defenders. Welbeck might not play 90mins this season though.. from the international(youth) games and the recent reserve game, he only play 60-70 mins under instructions from us.

No wingers=shit.

It just doesn't work for us. Lack width.. and we're crap playing anything else.

As for Rooney, it will be interesting how he's deployed this season. Seems to have a bit more freedom to drift about compared to last season where he was the front man and has to stay there most of the time and Berba hanging behind him. But this season Berba is further forward than last season although he would still be our #10, with Rooney as the number #9 with a bit more freedom perhaps.. but then Mike Phelan just told that he need to stop wandering around so much and focus on being more central..

Nobody ran the story apart from a few. We know just early last July his agent denied the story linking him away. Guess it's time for him to renew his contract.. that's why got so many news flying around.

It's ESPN's fault.. those idiots don't have brains. Show one channel CL game and another delay, and the other channel show EPL lah. Fword stupid. It's a bloody qualifier which not many cares about!! duh.

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Added on August 20, 2009, 2:01 amWe change our midfield again.. arrgh. Why can't he just play them all the time almost.

This post has been edited by Wan: Aug 20 2009, 02:01 AM

They come out 45mins before the game or so. Game is at 2:45.

Anyone got a reliable stream?

we've reached the maximum number of streams from your country... wtf

That was a frustrating game to watch. Stupid loss really.. should at least got a draw.. but guess it just wasn't our night. We never really click. What SAF said is true. Sometimes we were too eager, other times hesitant.. both Roon and Berba went for the same ball etc. We need wingers.. lots of them, and effective ones on the pitch at all times. Left side was non existant apart from Evra bombing down there but not effective when he doesn't have someone else to play with in front of him and on the other side got Park who lost every ball that was given to him almost. Really really frustrating. Unleash Fletcher! And Nani get back soon.. you are our best bet on the wings.

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Added on August 20, 2009, 4:50 pmClearly. We had 11 penalty decision turned away. Rafa at work I guess.

This post has been edited by Wan: Aug 20 2009, 04:50 PM

Gerrard=Played behind Torres.
Lampard=Part of a midfield 3 who has lots of freedom to attack the box..

Our CMs don't have that much freedom..
Our best bet is Nani fro the goals with the others chipping in collectively.

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Added on August 20, 2009, 9:39 pmAs for Fabregas.. 3, 5, 4, 13, 3, 2(this season so far) goals..
Not really that prolific.

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Added on August 20, 2009, 9:45 pmHow many goals the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and their other partner(s) scored for Barca? It's not really a must although it helps to lighten the load..

This post has been edited by Wan: Aug 20 2009, 09:45 PM

We don't play with an out and out attacking midfielder. And in a midfield 4(two wingers, two CMs) it's suicide. If you want an AM, you got to sacrifice one of the strikers/wingers and still need two CMs covering his back. There's nobody really able to score that many goals playing as a CM in a midfield 4 setup. 433/4231(playing between the wingers and behind the striker) would work maybe, but we play with two strikers most of the time. Last game we just lack the width on one side, and the other a really off form and ineffective one. If we can get one of Fabregas/Iniesta/Xavi, that would be heaven.

Really overrated IMO. Fletcher can do that job just as well as any of the others at any team. What we need is someone like Scholes able to really dictate play. Apart from Fabregas, and those two at Barca, there's just none really that fit the description. We just have to make do with what we have and wait till Anderson is at the stage where he can really run the show which might take a while. But until then the likes of Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs and Scholes is more than strong enough IMO although not the best in the business.

One DM, one AM.. won't work IMO. That AM will be in advanced position, + the wingers bombing up and down we're left with one DM to stop the whole attack..

Park plays wide in PSV's 433 formation right?

Berba have yet to prove his worth? Ever watch him when he was at Spurs where he was in the top 3 or so in terms of number of goals + assists in the league? And with us he's done fine although we're expecting far more from him, which he might fulfill this season. And Owen just need to get back into the swings of things. Look promising from his movement.. only a matter of time when he starts banging them in.

And Diouf is unproven. Could end up with our reserve for a while.

I'm sure the midfielders will score goals, collectively. I'm expecting goals more from the wingers, especially Nani.

Even strikers(and Ronaldo) missed that sort of chances, just that they have more chances to bang them in to redeem it. Not sure why you keep banging on and on about that as some sort of proof our midfielders don't score much. Tell you what, you tell me how many goals Liverpool midfielders apart from Gerrard who plays behind Torres scores, or how many goals Barca midfielders score, then we'll discuss..

Alonso+Mascherano+Kuyt+Riera=5+0+14+5=24
Iniesta+Xavi+Toure=5+10+3=18
Nani+Carrick+Fletcher+Park=6+5+4+4=19

Based on last season(wiki).. not that bad IMO considering Nani wasn't a regular and we have Ronaldo one one side of the wings playing like a wannabe striker rather than be a winger providing chances. Certainly could do better, but with Valencia providing crosses, I'm expecting better return from the strikers and whoever that attack the box at the time.

Like I said, it's not a must have although it would help. Ronaldo was a freak nature.. not many people score as much as him playing out wide and we use it to good effect. Now we'll play our normal games with wingers creating chances rather then have them get on the end of things.

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Added on August 21, 2009, 12:31 pmSorry sheep. I don't want to be your Manucho replacement..

This post has been edited by Wan: Aug 21 2009, 12:33 PM