Lazie and the faithful

[Westman]

The thing is that Man U has never had a season in which they have not played in the Champs League. Some other teams which have gone that way have spiraled downward and have never recovered. I hope that never happens to Man U but the best way to prevent it is to finish in the top 3. And they aren't showing anything near top 3 class>>>>the promise doesn't seem to be there now. We cannot just hope, we must have action at every level.

[Gamma]

Well a your team suh a your dime😜😜😜

[Peter R]

Thanks for your response above and also your thoughts here. It is clear to dispassionate observers that Manu's defense is not what it was a few years ago... this team is aging and the rebuilding needs to be implemented: it's all wel and good for older guys egos to see Giggs starting etc. but really, the defensive pair of Vidic and Rio aren't effective; you (one) can't blame Moyes for that; I don't know the squad well enough to know whether there are adequate replacements on the bench but ManU needs to start there. Giggs should pack it in by Christmas. Evra isn't that old, but it seems to me he's lost a half a step.

On the post-match show today one of the analysts said that ManU has only five players IHO, who would be sure starters, including Rooney and De Gea... i missed who the other three are but the point is the team hasn't kept up... and OVERACHIEVING last season, has lulled the fans into a state of complacency.

Anyway, long and short of it, I think it is unfair of the fans to be SOLELY (or 95%) dumping on Moyes when there is evidence to suggest "dem give de man baskit fi carry wata!"

[Westman]

Boss, as I have said, it starts with the Glazers, then the front office and then with coaching staff. All of them are at fault. But I do not think Moyes has what it takes and Felaini aint taking us anywhere big or even keeping us as a top three team, which is what we need.

[Paul Marin]

That would be a factor for any top club that all of a sudden becomes a mid level team.

You mean like Liverpool? Look at what dropping out of the top 4 has meant to us...it ain't pretty and it ain't easy, especially when teams like Spurs, Chelsea and City are chanting SPEND SPEND SPEND...the business of football is broken; money can buy championships which was far less possible in the first 100 years of the game.

[Lazie]

Reinstating him to national team would have been BS. The majority of top sports writers would never have. Rio ceased being a top defensive player since his big suspension. Fergie was able to squeeze more juice out of an orange that was overjuiced. Rio is slow and vulnerable in the open field. Man U preserved him when he played with lots of support, in close quarters, with mid-field strength. With Vidic's decline and the wingbacks getting even weaker, and the mid-field mediocrity showing, Rio no longer has the support to protect him. So his vulnerability is more evident now than ever before.

Please, my friend, look at the top 8 teams in the champs league. Look at their centerbacks objectively. Rio couldn't start for any of them now. Now look at the top 12 prem teams. Their centerbacks are currently outperforming the Man U pairing with consistency.

Man U guys here call u their leader. But I was Man U's face here by myself for years before you came. I love Man U but I love and understand football. Everything that is happening now is what I kept pointing to in the last 3 years. Rooney and his team saw it too. That's why he wanted out. The Glazers used Fergie to get him to stay. If they continue at this pace, Rooney will be somewhere else next season. He is their best player now but he does not have the temperament nor maturity to deal with the current mess. man U will allow him to go rather than have him remain disgruntled and continue to poison the well. That is my prediction.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...reth-Bale.html
West man, you sounding emotional. Based on last years performance

[Westman]

Boss, I am not emotional at all. Come on now. Check archives. I have been saying the same thing on this website from before the last world cup. I understand this game. England aint winning anything with Rio in the defense. I appreciate Rio and what he has done for United but he is far from top class. Whoever wrote that article doesn't have a clue.

[Westman]

That emotional comment is far out of bounds. Just check the archives. I love Man United but I am an objective lover of football. I understand the game> I may use trash talk at times but I give people their due when they do well and I rightly criticize them when they don't do well.

Right now, there are at least six teams in the EPL alone that have a totally better defensive line than Man United. Taking the step to Champs League, it will be a miracle if this same team is in the competition after Christmas.

[Lazie]

Boss, I am not emotional at all. Come on now. Check archives. I have been saying the same thing on this website from before the last world cup. I understand this game. England aint winning anything with Rio in the defense. I appreciate Rio and what he has done for United but he is far from top class. Whoever wrote that article doesn't have a clue.

Dude, it's not what is written, Rio was in the PFA team of the year. Based on that your arguments from last year does not hold water Westman. As I said previously, on this year's performance you can criticize him.

[Westman]

That is pure politics. He was not good enough to make the world cup side and has no business playing for England in international competition. In close quarters with a lot of defensive support, he looks decent. But the game is about a whole lot more than that. He has no pace. He cant defend in an open game with top attackers coming at him. Vidic used to save him but Vidic can no longer do it. Vidic, too, is past his prime. There is no top class holding midfielder to save him. Wing back play is pathetic. The right side is totally atrocious. The left side is mediocre. And when Evra makes foray's downfield, attack comes down the left side. Mediocre midfield doesn't pick up the slack and neither Rio nor Vidic or any of their backups is of the class anymore to be able to go over to the wing and pick up the threat. Neither is effective stepping into the midfield to stifle an attack. they no longer have that in them like the once could. I am not the only one saying that.

Before the world cup, Rio started a big stink about this and even old time Man United faithful friends of his disagreed with him entirely.

The game that Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and others are playing, not to mention Champs League, exposes him and the whole backline as being way past their prime.

I do not need to read what others write to form my opinion. I watch the game. I watch the competition. I watch young teams. The Glazers needed to have been rebuilding in a meaningful way before now. That whole organization was overachieving and is now in serious crisis mode. it is going to be very difficult to rebuild now.