[Archived] Manchester United Away

[mike at picture]

I also remember him playing for Rochdale.

Think he also played for Burnley?

[des]

when there get crowds of 76000 and it takes us almost four home games to match that, then you can see that the gap between the resources of the two clubs is very very big.

In the view of the match we have to take the above into account, due to the fact that they can get better players, better support etc.

With this in mind we did very well for the first hour, after that there class started to tell. Will we ever be able to match the top two to three teams ? shame to have to say but I think not, so yes it would of been great to win, but its one game that I thought we would not get anything from, so nothing lost.

Can we improve ? Yes of course we can, and MH knows this, we need to be able to to keep hold of the ball much more, and have midfield players who can both win and play the ball. The down side is that these players cost a lot and as such we come back to the first point.

So heads up all is not lost we look forward to the semi and you never know london here we come.

[Fife Rover]

utterly disgusted in our 2nd half performance. they put pressure on us, and we crumbled!!

I have to disagree there. We were outplayed in the 2nd half, but not because we crumbled. Rather because United upped their game by several levels, and the way they played they would have beaten any team, including the the rest of the "big4"

I would hazard a guess that the tea cups were flying in the home dressing room at half time, and the RFW probably exceeded himself in his exhortations to " go out there and do better for me please boys".

[Exiled in Toronto]

While we may have conceded too much territory and possession because of United's brilliance, we lost the game because we gave away 3 poor goals. The first should have been cleared before Scholes ever got it; the second was a quickly taken corner where we dozed off and didn't have 2 men over to close it down; and the third was a Freidal parry back into the danger area. Only the 4th goal was 'good' in my opinion.

Mind you, if Rooney wasn't so awful, it would have been over ages before it was, but even then he was gifted his three sitters.

[Hasta]

While we may have conceded too much territory and possession because of United's brilliance, we lost the game because we gave away 3 poor goals. The first should have been cleared before Scholes ever got it; the second was a quickly taken corner where we dozed off and didn't have 2 men over to close it down; and the third was a Freidal parry back into the danger area. Only the 4th goal was 'good' in my opinion.

I agree. The second crucial Utd goal from the corner was a shocking lapse from Rovers defensively. As for the 4th goal it comes from a badly misplaced pass from I think Dunny.

[Neil Weaver]

Glad to see some sanity being posted at last. 4-1 wasn't a fair reflection of the game, but a defeat was. Strangely, if Brad hadn't had a cracking game and Rooney done his Akinbiyi impression, it might well have been more too. It's not often we'll have to play 45 mins against a team in world-beating form - that second half Utd would have taken anyone to the cleaners. By the way EiT, feel you're being a bit harsh on Brad for the third - it was pretty much an instinctive save from the free kick, with another split second I had the impression he'd have pushed it away from goal.

[USABlue]

Let's get a grip folks, he isn't even that promising. Yes, he scored at OT but it was a tap-in, like most of his goals this season. United aren't going to splash the cash on a player who has shown a little heart and probably one or two good pieces of skill.

Didn't that one fella get a lot of tap ins, what was his name, oh yeah Gary Linenker. Good goalscorers get lot's of tap ins.

[ABBEY]

ian rush

[Roar of the Rover]

We showed them too much respect in the second half, we should've carried on the way we played in the first half, i know United had alot of chances but we had too.

I understand that we stood back alot in the second half but i think even Fergie was suprised how much we sat back especially after our first half perfromance.

[CAPT KAYOS]

Strongly disagree.

but when the goals dry up (which they will inevitably) he must be able to still contribute to the team by creating, supporting, linking etc. etc. (hopefully not diving like RVN).

Otherwise, he'll be straight out of the team.

So what's your cut on McCarthy rover 6?

At least Derbyshire scored again (from open play) unlike the other so called 'superstar' - he's only 19 and has brojken into the team and his return for me has been excellent and he will only get better.

As for McCarthy ... anybody else still want to comment and big him up?

[Paul Mellelieu]

A player from the youth set up finally makes it into the first team and Rover6 is planning his exit.

Oh dear!

[waggy]

backed derbyshire for last goal betting slip lets hope we are more determined at our next visit to gold trafford.the semi- cannot come soon enough for me as i think one or two players have took there eye off the ball,god help us if we get to the final

[Manc Rover]

The biggest reason we crumbled in the 2nd half was a Paul Scholes masterclass. The guy was unplayable and in a strange sort of way, it was a pleasure to witness such a wonderful midfield performance. The guy is a pure genius!

Brilliant vocal support from the Rovers fans but I was very dissapointed with the number of our fans that buggered off when the 2nd goal went in. There was still 20 mins left and at £36 a ticket, whats the point in leaving early.

Also had the pleasure of sitting behind a few neanderthals who wouldn't sit down (even when asked politely) who seemed to think it was clever to tell me to f*** off for asking them.

[Wild Irish Rover]

I must admit I was somewhat mystified by the apparent collapse in the 2nd half. What happened to the defensive system we played so magnificently and successfully against Arsenal? Both games this year we seemed to have discipline and steel in abundance, but on Saturday in the second half we just seemed to be disorganised and lacking in cohesion. It seemed like Hughesy and the players had used the previous games against the Arse to learn and adapt to their style, then out-think them on the field of play.

Perhaps it is another Hughesy masterstroke - make the Mancs feel comfortable against us so that their guard is dropped in the FA Cup final when we will play with the guile and steel that we know is possible?? I hope so! Even so, I was hoping for a Rovers win to wipe the smug smile off all the Manc-pats that come out of the woodwork whenever they do well.

Roll on Saturday and the villains.

[waggy]

just read through the post's on here and many seem dissapionted about saturdays display.i honestley think the fa semi final is playing on too many players minds,if we get through to the final we may just miss relagation

[SAS]

we missed bentley big time in the second half

i thought we gave as good as we got in the first half

confused to see why man utd never got a yellow for dissent

[daveoftherovers]

Agree entirely!

We did miss Bentley, big time, that side of the pitch would have been looked very different if he was playing, but there you go, he has a clear run to the end of the season now anyway.

I thought we traded blows first half, and apart from Rooney nutmegging himself we deserved our lead, however, we missed too many chances (Dunn especially) left me thinking we were really going to get it in the 2nd half. (And we did)

You've also got to give them credit, Scholes & Rooney pulled us all over the place, we left Carrick to pick people out, their back line visibly moved up the pitch 20-30 yards straight from the 1/2 time KO and they wanted it big style, no one is going to stop them this year (Vidic is a big loss though)

Most people had 1 good 1st half, 2nd half:

VERY disappointed with Dunn some good footwork then his passing was woeful, should have got a couple of shots on target (Stupid challenge that reduced his game)

Benni was poor (Especially the feigned injury, just got the crowd up for it!)

Sergio wasn't the best person to put on and he gifted them the 4th

What is Roberts contributing at the moment exactly FFS??? Nonda ANY day of the week !

Bert was more Brett than I've seen him this season, but he did have a big ask on

MGP went missing

Tugay ran out of gas and was lucky to stay on as long as he did

The Axe had 4 men to Mark

Matty run his arse off, good goal

Warnock stuck at it in a defence that got inundated.

Need to get back on track against Vile

[den]

"When a few of the lads don't put a shift in then a team like Manchester United will pick you off."

Ryan Nelsen in the LET

[Ozz]

I think we all saw who he is referring to Den

[speeeeeeedie]

Rovers were beaten by a vastly superior outfit on Saturday. Man U have won loads on the bounce now and the confidence is oozing out of them. Last time out at Old Trafford they spanked Bolton, this time out they were made to work a little bit harder before they got the result. Those of you having a go at Rovers for being crap is a bit harsh if you ask me. They were under the cosh for most of the game. Whinging about bookings, Friedel's bad save for the 3rd goal, and dodgy free kicks stinks of sour grapes. It's been reported that United had 30 shots, with over 15 hitting the target; they absolutely ploughed us. Unfortunately for us United have so much pace and movement we couldn't cope. An attacking force of Rooney, Scholes, Ronaldo, Giggs, and Park Ji Sung with Carrick behind exploiting all the space caused us (and everybody else for that matter) no end of problems.

Let's be realistic about Rovers and their status. Arsenal (cup special excluded), Man U, and Chelsea are way out of our league; all 3 have battered us this season. We do not have the financial resources to compete with them. I'll wager that 76,000 every week paying over £30 per ticket alone generates more than Rovers do for everthing. What do some of you expect? Rovers do very well to be where they are, we should enjoy the continued stay in the top flight, the odd Euro adventure, decent cup runs, and a giant killing now and again rather than moaning that we got beat off the best team in England at their place.

I also enjoyed those who are picking Derbyshire and McCarthy apart. McCarthy may have a lazy day at times but only Ronaldo and Drogba have scored more league goals than him. How much did those two cost each? As for Derbyshire; it's his first season playing in the top flight and he's scoring in every other game he plays yet some are having a go because he plays too much like Gary Lineker. Idiocy. I could care less who he plays like as long as he keeps on doing what he does. Scoring goals the most important part of football. I think Gordon Strachan once said, when asked about Darren Huckerby "Darren is a scorer of great goals, unfortunately I need a great goalscorer." I'm sure someone wanted us to sign him onceover too.

[broadsword]

How many games has Derbyshire needed to net 7 goals so far in his first full season?

It amazes me how much rubbish some individuals post on here.

[den]

I think we all saw who he is referring to Den

Well he did say "a few of the lads"! but yeah, who'll be first to say it? Shouldn't be too long of a wait.

Plus, I can't imagine that Hughesy missed it.

[b12_simon]

As for McCarthy ... anybody else still want to comment and big him up?

He's our top scorer and the Premier League's 3rd top scorer.

He may not have the workrate of some strikers but he's got bags of skill. Presumably you'd be happier if we'd hung on to Kuqi and Dickov. Tons of work for hardly any goals.

[CAPT KAYOS]

He's our top scorer and the Premier League's 3rd top scorer.

He may not have the workrate of some strikers but he's got bags of skill. Presumably you'd be happier if we'd hung on to Kuqi and Dickov. Tons of work for hardly any goals.

No I'd be presumably happier if he started doing something with this 'bags of skill'.

You tell me when McCarthy last had a decent game? To me its well over 2 months and goals or no goals 2 months is nearly a third of the season and not good enough - people can accept poor performances now and again but not consistently.

Some of the other players don't have the skill or the talent that he obviously posesses, yet they still manage to perform with what they have - Mokoena was doubted by many including me but he seems to be upping his performances and at least gives it his all - now ask yourself the question of whether McCarthy does that.

Our season could well be over come a week next Monday, do you think McCarthy is playing like he wants to get something from it as he could be the difference that puts us into Final if he can be arsed.

Skill gets you nowhere if you don't apply it to something.

[roversmum]

"When a few of the lads don't put a shift in then a team like Manchester United will pick you off.

Thank you, Ryan, it needed saying. Now, if you wouldn't mind taking them aside and having a quiet word ready for Saturday.....