to be frank, im quite disappointed SAF not adding a CM, preferably top class CM. Anderson and Cleverley have a great start, but they have doubful injury records.

while our best CM pairing last season, Carrick and Giggs only played few minutes this season. Fletcher is recovering and perhaps will gain match fitness on Scotland's games. Gibson still on our book.

im still convince with our CM numbers and qualities to retain PL crown, but not in CL. but still, i trust SAF judgement. he'll prove doubters wrong again and again (including me)

quite mind boggling to see Hargreaves sign for City. probably

>Mancini want to do what SAF did to Michael Owen (to Liverpool). piss off rival for fun (if they win something in May).
>Man City owner want to develop new state of art rehabilitation center, Hargreaves probably perfect study case.

but to be frank, i love to see Hargreaves play in the future. he's an out standing player when fit. good luck for him.

he's not 'home-grown' player right? (PL registration). that makes his signing more mind boggling.

This post has been edited by dundermifflin: Sep 2 2011, 09:58 AM

hopefully all international players coming back uninjured.

Berba, Owen, Giggs, Park and Valencia all have no international duties, are fresh and raring to go. Anderson and Fabio too.. not confirm about Ferdinand, Vidic, Welbeck and Carrick, but i believe they're not beyond 2-3 weeks away from full fitness. Rafael still need a month i believe.

Cleverley and Jones not play for England, they are fresh. Fletcher gaining more fitness.

Rooney, Young, Smalling, Hernandez, Evans and Nani all in fine form. De Gea still a suspect, but the more he play, the more confident he'll be.

everything seem very rosy right now..

possibly we are down with to Smalling - Jones - Ferdinand - Fabio for wednesday. very good backline but still worrying cause we've got Chelsea after Benfica, and less rest between games after this.

probably Fletcher and Valencia will ready to step in for RB position, and Giggs /Park for LB.

This post has been edited by dundermifflin: Sep 11 2011, 08:11 AM

want to praise De Gea a bit..

clean sheet, fault-less game, his distribution are top notch.. i reckon his kicking (right feet) are better than VDS.

conceded to long shot range (Dzeko) seem a bless in disguise. opponents seem just want to shoot from distance, resulting a poor shot /unwise decision.

similarity between Cleverley and Carrick, they keep it simple.. Cleverley is more mobile, more energy and faster.. Carrick better defensively, more experience, better physique /taller..

Cleverley will be huge loss, short or long term absentee.. Carrick is good enough to fill in, and probably fit again Fletcher (and Gibson)..

i love to see Berba on Wednesday, keep Hernandez fresh for Chelsea. i believe Terry dont like to play against him.

perhaps its time to rest Anderson, unleash Fletcher. Rooney is the key player, but i fancy to resting him (and Hernandez) and give chance to Berbatov and Owen. we have depth on wingers, play Park, and ill give minutes to Valencia, if he fit.

defenders, i dont think we have much option. just the play the best available. Ferdinand on the bench, if we have an extra defenders.

wholesome changes probably affect the result, but TBH ill take a draw if its meant no fresh injury to players. plus, Benfica are 2nd strongest team in the group. draw away is a good result. and the benchwarmers are also an outstanding group players. if they play their games, its good enough to score the 3 points.

perfect weekend, result -wise.. Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool all lost.. Man City dropped points after leading 2 goals..

and most importantly, a good win for us..

shaky defensive performance. if Chelsea have more clinical finishers, they easily can get a result. but thats what u can expect with young defenders, they can excite u, very adventurous, but at the same time they are very vulnerable.

attacking -wise, we are awesome. Young and Nani, with helps from fullbacks, they are nightmare for any opposition fullbacks. Rooney is a heartbeat of the team, his missed are comical, but proven not costly. Hernandez have quite game, shame that we'll miss for a few games. but Berba and Owen are itching to play, Welbeck will come back soon. so, no worry. Anderson have a nervous first half, glad to see Fletcher coming back.

injuries are mounting, i wonder who'll play as back 4 on Tuesday. im not recognize defenders from reserve. i guess Fletcher, Valencia, Park and Giggs will be prepare intensively as fullback in training..

great weekend, WOHOOOO..

haters can laugh all they want about Rooney's comical missed.. but we've got the result, and they didnt.. (assuming the haters coming from Che, Ars, Liv, City's camp)

still grinning about Ramires's and Torres's missed.. i've celebrated it like a goal for ourselves. they can easily claw back at that moments, if they bury it..

but TBH, Torres have a very good game. his touch, turning, vision seem very nice. hopefully the horrible missed will dent his confidence.

nah, shit happens all the time.. i still remember exactly Giggs missed (not too) similar golden opportunity. vs Arsenal, years ago (boot-gate incident SAF vs Becks, FA Cup). costly missed, we lost that game. few years back, Ronaldo missed far more easier chances. 3 yards, open goal. not costly because we had a relatively easy game.

but Torres playing for our arch rival. i have no sympathy. hahaha..

nice stats..

Ronaldo vs Nani not a worthy discussion, but the stats prove Nani's contribution are comparable to Ronaldo's.

Ronaldo was (and still) a world class player when he played with us. Nani is on the way to it, but i've a little doubt Nani will reach Ronaldo's level. Physically, Ronaldo is a beast. obsess to training, not injured much, can play anywhere in attacking positions, great in the air, and so on.

nevertheless, i hope Nani will stay with us for more many years and progress more to surpass his Portuguese compatriot. unlike Ronaldo, who's always the main man, Nani being a team -player more will make him more level -headed and less burden to deliver.