I wud imagine wilshere-song-arteta/yossi/ramsey will be the prefered trio in midfield.

Don't always look at signings as like for like replacement. Whoever it is, it will always be a step down in most cases. But they already have the likes of Ramsey and Wilshere who are both classy players. Ramsey might not really be a 'star' right now, but Wilshere is one fine CM. Short term they might find it hard a little, but they've bought solid players in IMO which should help out their kids while they grow. It might be a never ending story(repeat the process over and over) but it's hardly the end of the world.

He was most probably misquoted as usual, or the article didn't cover all his quotes. If you read it properly, he never said he's past his best or anything of the sort. All he said is that at 29, it is probably the last time he will be able to get a chance like that again and after this(few years) will probably be his last as a top footballer.

did we have a playes named sneijder whn we got to the final last season(without ronaldo), or the other 2 times previously?

i have always been of the opinion tat for the past 5 years, while we dont have the best cms around, its nt as bad as our fans thought it is. We are a level below the best(barca) but we are as good as anyone else out there. When available(fletch) and in form(carrick/ando), we're more than a match for any team.

While i wud have like to see a sneijder, im not disappointed at all to see us going with what we have. To me ando will finally grow to be tat main guy in midfield. Carrick once he get going in november will protect ahe back 4, n fletcher once up and running will make the midfield solid..and we have giggs as backup to provide the guile and creativity when needed.

Cleverley have been a nice surprise so far. Hes done very well considering hes been playing out on the wings/attacking positions mostly. While we cant expect him to play as well as he has done regularly, we can take heart in knowing tat against barca, city, spurs and arsenal he's been heavily involved n played well alongside ando of all people.

Its not perfect yet, but together with the front four, going forward, we are gonna hurt a lot of people. Pace, movement, quick passing, touch, control, the skills.. N everyone works hard to chase the ball. Relentless at the back of the badge..was this in saf's plan all along?

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Added on September 2, 2011, 10:42 amhe's a cm who need someone to do the dirty work next to him. Too bad we play away at leeds in cc.

This post has been edited by Wan: Sep 2 2011, 10:42 AM

i agree bc without fletcher at top form, we do miss his all action plays. Hopefully with cleverly playing so well, we dont need tat kinda player. Hes gd going forward while at the same time working hard in midfield n be a nuisance all the time

im posting ths frm a 3 year old e66. Lol. Igt i havent posted tat. Hoho.

This post has been edited by Wan: Sep 2 2011, 11:41 AM

with tat midfield, we got to the final 3 out of 5 times. And we shud have made it 4 if the ref wasnt so bias against bayern(bommel countless fouls n even on a yellow continued to fou bt the ref said nothing, rafael 2 fouls n he was off). who got a stronger midfield than us? Barca is one, liverpool and sunderland(drew wit liverbestmidfieldeverpool) are the others..n maybe real at a push. Apart frm the spanish n english sides, the other teams arent tat impressive.

Swap Fletcher with Carrick, and that midfield would have balance. Someone who can really hold and shield the defence, and two very hardworking guys playing next to him. Fletcher can replace either Ando or Cleverley depending on form/team we play against/tactics..

SAF have been making formation changes depending on the game/tactics and been successful for us these past few years. 442 normally, but 451/433 for the much harder games. I think we'll see that 433 again when the knockout round starts.. unless SAF really have that 'relentless' vision and trying it out every game.

We played Rooney alone plenty of times in the past when Tevez/Berba was here. It won't be used in every game, or many games. Only the big ones depending on what tactics SAF want to use. As long as Rooney is not isolated, he will shine. Cleverley would be better at supporting him from midfield than any of our midfielders even including Giggs IMO.

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Added on September 4, 2011, 11:26 amNot sure about Fletcher, he needs a few games here and there before he's back to his old self, but Carrick should be fine as long as he's not expected to perform wonders in midfield. Hold the the midfield, and the rest will be taken care of by Ando and Cleverley. SAF is saying sometime in November before he get into his stride.. huhu. It would take a while.

This post has been edited by Wan: Sep 4 2011, 11:26 AM

Last 5-10 years or so, it got a bit harder playing against the big boys. While we look sublime playing 442 in most games, against the big sides we needed a bit more protection in midfield so we don't get outnumbered in the middle.

Ever since that loss to Real Madrid back before Ruud was here, SAF have been trying to crack Europe. We tried 433 in Europe in the past with Teddy/Ole/Cole if I'm not mistaken. Then SAF bought Ruud and Veron and it was 451 all the way. Then 4231 when we won back the league back in 02/03. After that 433. After Keano left we started to use 442 again. But come the big games, most of the time we would use variation of 4231/433(451 same je lebih kurang).. until today also the same. Would be interesting to see how SAF approach the big games this season. So far he's using 442 all the way.

Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway Merah is still obsessed with us I see. Heh heh heh heh. Sakit bontot because we sabotaged the shiny tall horse he's riding. 19 must have gone deep. Very the.



As for tomorrow.. it's gonna be hell to those playing at the back. Welcome to EPL De Gea!

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Added on September 9, 2011, 10:00 pmWe're now called the English Barcelona by the bestest fans! Fuuh. I'm honoured.

This post has been edited by Wan: Sep 9 2011, 10:00 PM

Everybody looked away..
And Vida is serious yo..

The NEW English Barcelona in fact.
It's like version 2.0. Better than 1.x and previous version.

haha, I waz being sarcastic there. Look at the Liverpool thread..someone there thought some of us were calling ourselves, the NEW English Barcelona! I haven't seen anybody call us that, even in the media. And someone high and mighty over there wasn't happy because some of us thinks that we're better than most sides.. I

I guess our results over the past 5-6 seasons means nothing.

Crosses also don't come out! Bring in Lindegaard!

De Gea looked assured. Nais. Wasn't really tested much tho physically.

Rafael-Jones-Smalling-Fabio.. now imagine them bombing forward at the same time..

Carrick, Rio, Berba, Vida, Park, Valencia, Fletcher, Giggs, Hernandez all played only small part so far. Bodes well later on in the season when the kids ran out of steam later on in the season. Hoho.

Forgot about the twins as well. Almost last season's 1st 11.

Peak too early.. kinda afraid of that too. See Chelsea last season. But considering that Vida, Rio, Rafael, Fabio, Carrick, Giggs, Fletcher, Valencia, Hernandez and Berba have played so little part so far, I'm actually more confident that ever of our chances.