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Fergie F***ed It Up
After thinking long and hard about I think Ferguson and our defence cost us the game -
Firstly this is proof enough Van Der Sar should no longer be our number 1 - he put us in trouble two or three times with crap goalkeeping, he has lost his quick reactions - I am not saying Ben Foster would have definitely saved the two goals but I bet he would have at least moved to try and save them. Ben Foster should be our number 1 goalkeeper - Van Der Saar is too old now and he is spreading a lack of confidence into the defence.
Defence - What the hell has happened here? Last season Ferdinand and Vidic were outstanding, even if we were playing poorly they were able to keep us a clean sheet so we could nick a goal. Not anymore, I'm not sure what has happened but they seem all over the place, that's not just against Arsenal but against Hull last week and Everton the week before as well. It's well known that Carlos Queiroz did most of the defensive drills, but surely they can't have forgotten already what they have been taught? Evra was the only good defender against Arsenal and that needs to be sorted ASAP...as for Gary Nevile, can you tell me why a 34-year-old who has barely played football in two years is starting against Arsenal away who have Nasri playing left wing and is well known to be quick? It was a huge mistake and Rafael looked twice the player Neville looked when he came on. Neville shouldn't start big games anymore, he doesn't have the legs and he allowed Nasri so much space it was ridiculous.
Midfield - Carrick was poor, but he needs an attacking midfielder next to him to balance it out and Anderson played far too deep. Anderson looked good first half but lost the plot second half. Ronaldo was OK, at least he was trying to do something and should have scored, Park was awful, didn't create anything.
Strikers - Rooney was awful, how he stayed on the pitch til 75 minutes is a mystery - Berbatov the same...How Tevez only got 15 minutes Is an absolute disgrace. Ferguson brought on Giggs in the 65th minute. why? what the hell is a 35-year-old going to do when you have Tevez, who is full of energy, and has bags of quality waiting. Ferguson's treatment of Tevez is terrible, Giggs coming on instead of him surely points to Ferguson's one main weakness - too much loyalty to players who have nothing to offer anymore. Giggs is past it - a fantastic servant to the club but past it - Tevez is not and we will end up losing him if he carries on like this.
The reason Man U played so well last year was because Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo had such a great understanding and could change positions and move around the pitch causing trouble...then three strong in midfield to win the midfield battle...if it's not broke why fix it/by bringing in Berbatov we now play a different way and its more two-dimensional. Yes, Berbatov can fit in but we should have stuck to a 4-3-3 like last year...Arsenal had too much space in midfield and we should have played Fletcher, carrick and Anderson in the middle then Rooney/Ronaldo/Berbatov or Tevez up front.
We have played three games against the top four and lost two and drawing the other...that's terrible and we won't win the league unless Ferguson sorts out the obvious problems. He used to have Queiroz to help and give a different idea to how each game should be played, now it's Fergsuon's way and as good a manager as he is, tactically he has never been great - just a fantastic motivator...last time Queiroz left we finished the season poorly, Ferguson has shown faith in Mike Phelan...it's a mistake, he should have brought in a continental assistant with different ideas to complement his own.
Sorry for the rant, I just needed to get my views out there.
Aaron (at least we have Stoke next week) Collins
ManYoo Out Of Title Race
As a United fan, I have to admit we are out of the title race. Full credit to an understrength Arsenal (that's what rankles), but we put in a shocking wasteful performance. For me, our main culprits were Messrs Neville (always locked in reverse gear when being ran at), Carrick(ultra slow) and Berbatov (for f...s sake!You aren't taking a stroll along the beach.). The lack of bite in midfield is costing us (why o why are Hargreaves' knees made of eggshells?).
Still though,the only consolation was getting up very early on Sunday to watch England v Japan in the ladies U-17 World Cup, and what do you know, England won on penalties (5 out of 5 no less)!
Sullay Mannah, Sierra Leone
Who Would Have Thunk It?
You know...I don't think you can blame United for losing to Arsenal at the Emirates. Who would have thought an Arsenal player would shoot in spite of not being within two feet of the goal?
Holden (United seem to be unable to score in that blue jersey!) MUFC
Some Arsenal v ManYoo Queries
A list of questions coming from the Arsenal-United game...
1) Do 365 still think Rooney is one of the best players in the world, or do you now recognise what any sane person can see, that he scored in spurts and looks great for a few games in a row, but the rest of the time is stuck in a rut, played out of position and not reaching his potential?
2) Have United played anyone good this year except the other members of the 'big 4'? Where they've taken one point out of a possible 9...just a thought.
3) If people have always complained about the likes of Henry and Ronaldo not turning up for big games, what does that make Berbatov?
4) When Clichy launched himself at Ronaldo about a mile away from the ball, did Wenger start ranting about wiping that sort of thing out of the game blah blah blah.
5) How many bad performances can one central defensive partnership have (Vidic and Ferdinand) before the MotD team will stop saying "you won't see them ruffled up like that very often"?
6) On what basis does 365 think that Bendtner will be a great centre-forward in the future, because every non-Arsenal fan I know think he is shocking, and every Arsenal fan thinks he is a bit worse than that.
7) Did Howard Webb have a really good performance because the game flowed and the bad decisions evened themselves out, or did he have a shocker for denying two blatant penalties (Clichy handball and Vidic shirt-pulling)?
8) When Fergie went for the tracksuit bottoms and trainers look, did noone have the heart to tell him he looked like one of those old grandads who were trying to dress a bit too trendily for their age?
Nick Smith
Rooney: Really Not That Good
I am a Manchester United fan, I would like to know why on earth people in this country rave on about Wayne Rooney. He is without a doubt the most overrated footballer in the world, did you see the amount of chances he missed against Arsenal? I would like to know other than strength, work rate and the ability to sacrifice for the team what on earth do people see in Wayne Rooney, that people in the English media rave on about him as being the most natural English talent, because quite frankly I feel players like Tevez should be playing I believe Wayne Rooney isn't even Carlos Tevez's left foot!
Shoaib Rizvi
Arsenal: Still Not Title Challengers
For a team that was humiliated by Stoke City, I'm amused at the epiphany that the Arse fans have seem to have experienced since Saturday. There can't have been many who thought they would beat United. They played well - as did a United team, which, despite several errors and failings, still managed more possession than the home team, had more shots on goal and more shots on target than the home team. In a way Arsenal played like the away team. Perhaps that's the secret? Quite a few of the United players should have played better: Rooney and Ronaldo certainly should have hit the target; Carrick was slack at times; Vidic lost concentration. Neville and Van Der Sar are simply past it.
If Arsenal had played like that against Stoke, they would have won the game with ease. Let's see what happens the next time the Gooners play one of the supposedly 'smaller' teams. Will they roll their sleeves up and get on with it? Or just whine about the opposing team's tactics after the game? Losing to Hull, Stoke and Fulham isn't going to win the title for the Arse.
By the way, what was Pat Rice's pregnant chicken routine about?
John Neesom, exiled Red
This Gooner Agrees
OK, so that went waaaay better than I expected (thanks for putting my mail in twice, by the way - makes me look even more work shy than I am), and I am left with a bit of humble pie to eat. It really does appear that this Arsenal team can raise its game against the big boys. Nasri aside, I thought Gallas and Silvestre were excellent, Denilson looked tenacious, Fabregas still had an assist despite being in a bit of a slump, and Diaby continued to show signs of major improvement. The only real down side was Bendtner, who has the potential to be a fantastic player but is currently as thick as pigs**t.
But. Saturday's game was the kind of game Arsenal have less trouble winning. United didn't press us, had no physicality up front and were all too happy to stretch themselves, making them easier to counter attack. Plus, if Rooney hadn't been playing with two left boots on and Ronaldo had steered the ball just two inches the other side of the post, that could quite easily have been a game we lost. Don't get me wrong, I know we could have scored more too, and it was an excellent showing considering the opposition and the form we had, but this doesn't yet tell us anything about our ability to beat an opponent like Stoke. Right now I'm delighted, and proud that Arsenal won the game of this or most other Premier League seasons, but I think we'll have to wait 'til we play Liverpool to see if they have what it takes to challenge for trophies without significant changes.
Will (anyone want to tell me what Paul Robinson was doing for Chelsea's first goal?) O'Doherty
It Was Great To Watch Though...
What an absolute pleasure the Arsenal v Man Utd game was to watch. It just goes to show, that when a team turns up to actually play football, how great our beloved game can be.
The last five minutes were a touch worrying after Raphael scored, but we kept hanging on and got our deserved three points. It was nice to see our defence actually defending for once although they had a few blips, and I think if Rooney, Ronaldo and Berbatov had actually turned up, we might have got spanked.
Carrick was also nonexistent, although I prefer to think it was down to the magnificent Denilson, who was absolutely superb and my man of the match. Fabregas looked a little quiet I thought and Bendtner looked a little unfit, although playing up front alone against Ferdinand and Vidic must be hard enough. We still however, gave them far too much space in midfield, alowing them to pass through us and create some good chances. If we give that time and space to Chelsea, it won't be so easy.
Here's to Arsenal's season being over already...
Danny Painter
Arsenal: Brillaint But Braindead
I am an Arsenal fan and was absolutely delighted at yesterday's result. However, I think the criticism of F365 headline is harsh. You were absolutely right in your analysis (cannot say the same about your choice of words though). We played great attacking football but we showed that we are very vulnerable during the last 10-odd minutes of a match. Especially after Da Silva scored, we still were not keeping the ball. I don't understand why Fabregas was still trying to thread the needles and Toure of all people was trying to attack. Stop being a stupid moron, and defend for heaven's sake!! Also, one the reason we could play our football was because ManU were not in our faces all the time. Last year, we discovered our Plan B with Eduardo dropping off Adebayor and picking up long balls. We should get that Plan B back again. Also others should take a leaf out of Nasri's book and shoot more.
Amongst all the furore and excitement of the result, Arsene should look at it objectively and tell the players their mistakes in the final minutes of the game. We were lucky at the end yesterday. We might not always be. Hope these young guns take some confidence from this game and beat the hell out of Villa next weekend.
However, for now, I would just have a few chilled ones and bask in the glory of our achievement.
Shantanu Basu
...Don't take all the criticism to heart. From where I was sitting on Saturday during that last few minutes, I would say I know of at least 57,000 people who agree with you.
Paul Williams
We'd Ask For A Share If We Thought You'd Win...
My two housemates last night bet £30 each with me that Man United will not win the league this year. Please print this as they are all mouth and regularly back out of bets (well, they do support Leeds United and Everton so it comes with the territory I suppose) and this way I'll have thousands of witnesses in the form of the F365 readership.
Thank you.
Robert Melia
Miaow
So I just wanted to write in and bitch about the fact that Man U did my team no favours this weekend in the race for third.
Andy (sarcastic 'Pool fan)
There's No Stopping Chelsea
After watching Blackburn vs Chelsea yesterday, two things became quite clear to me...
1. Chelsea will win the league by more than three points and nearly 100 goal difference. Just look at them!
2. Paul Robinson will never be a top goalie. For all the superb reflex saves he made, he could have done better for the first goal than just stand and appeal for a possible handball or offside...whichever he thought it was. The moment he saw he's wrong footed he gave up where he should actually have realised the pitch is drenched and the ball might possibly slow down, which it did.
Rahul, CFC, India
All Going Wrong For Villa
Blimey, the wheels have come off Villa's season early this year.
That doesn't normally happen until after we get our annual drubbing by Man Utd in the FA Cup.
At least we should be able to get some points from our next few games, lets just look at the fixture list. Arsenal away, Utd at home, oh dear...
Karl (Villa fan living down south who keeps getting mistaken for a West Ham fan even though we had the colours first) Crutchley
It's Blatant Mouse-ism
In general I do agree with Kinnear's opinion regarding standard of referees and certainly assistant referees (former linesmen). However, I feel that there is no need to insult Mickey Mouse.
Furthermore I wonder if Kinnear's 'view was obstructed' when Ameobi scored the equalizer from an offside position.
Eef Dunk
Just Two Things
1) Its a commonly-asked question as to why Frank Lampard is hated so much. Proof was in the pudding when Fat Frank got irked yesterday when fouled by Grella (I think). It was not a sinister challenge, just a coming together yet he got into his usual self-righteous mode and refused to accept a handshake afterwards. A war of words continued thereafter between the pair which was fully insitgated by FF. It culminated when Anelka bagged Chelseas's second goal and Fatso took it upon himself to celebrate by winding up the Blackburn fans. He is a classless tosser, one so far removed from normality and the fans that no amount of PR stunts at hospitals can change the peoples perception of him, and that is why people cannot stand him nor will give him the credit he deserves.
2) How many people will mail the editor today to say how 'lucky' Spurs were yesterday? 10 pts from 12, and we're finally out of the relegation spots!! Benty is still a horrendous footballer, great finisher though.
Karl 'Notice how I managed to fit pudding and Frank in one sentence', Dublin
Praise For Bent
For some reason Darren Bent was derided last season for not being as good as Berbatov and Keane, and for underperforming when brought into a team who was clearly not playing to his strengths. While that criticism has largely gone quite over the last few weeks, isn't it time for some actual praise?
In a team that has only just left the foot of the table, a terrible run of form, a change of manager and a confusion of tactics and systems he has scored 7 in 12 league games (joint third top scorer) and 4 in 4 in the UEFA Cup (if flattered by a hat-trick): this is a fantastic return. Given his excellent record in the past this should be no surpise but many seem to just see the price tag and last season and continue to belive he's a flop.
He has been given the chance he needs and is shining, and with Spurs' resseurection continuing might even be worth a punt as top scorer this season.
Dave Hone, Beijing
Trash TALKSport Please
A while back you produced some excellent articles on the state of the media - basically following various publications for a week and then writing up some insightful and often hilarious comment on the findings.
I write to request a similar review of TALKSport. I find this radio station's faux bloke-ish stance and basic journalistic credentials appalling (the main headline on their sports bulletin the other day was 'Kenny Sansom says that people are starting to question Arsene Wenger' - that literally was the story) and would basically like to be able to laugh at an F365 review of it and pass the comments off as my own down the pub.
Dajve Bakinas
