PaulC

The international break is for the WC qualifiers, not for these England friendlies. Yes ok fair enough. I still find these breaks annoying. Its the third one of the season I think. One time we had three weeks without a game. We always loose after an international break don't we?

How often do your dreams come true?

Those two wins against Newcastle and Man City have given Sunderland a bit of hope. There's long way to go so they can easily pull put of danger. There's worse teams than them anyway. Agree anyone outside the top 9 can go down.

Its just annoying to have another international break for friendlies 7 months before the world cup starts. Such a stop start season.

100% agree with you. Its a major blow for united. They have nobody else that can play the role Carrick does. A very underrated player in my view.

Would you really say that we didn't spend them wisely? We bought at least half a team for those money, and that team finished 7th and then 2nd the year after. I'd call it rather well spent money. As I don't remember what all the players cost at the time I can't say which we got for him, but the summer we sold him we bought: Dalian Atkinson Steve Staunton Kevin Richardson Shaun Teale Ugo Ehiogu (I think it was that summer) Cyrille Regis Among others. Ok, you can add a few that never turned out that great, like Dariusz Kubicki and Paul Mortimer. But all in all I think it was rather good. Agree with the rest of your post, though. Yes i was going to post the same thing. The money we got for Platt built a side which came 2nd in the league. Arguably the best team we have had since the 81 team

You can go back further than that. Platt cost us 200k and we sold him to Bari for 5.5 mil which i think was a record fee at that time Then theres Dwight Yorke

They are obviously not. Nothing suggests to me that Liverpool will finish above United this season, at least not their first-XI or squad. They have had a "great" start to the season with a fairly easy program, United have had a "horrendous" start to the season with a fairly shit program. The difference? 3 points... which is nothing, and next week Liverpool go away to Everton whilst United play Cardiff in Wales. United got off to a bad start under extreme scrutiny from the media, now they are right back into the mix. I would say City are in worse shape, those three losses away have been extremely poor and they are all against teams that will more than likely finish in the bottom 10. Look at the squads and see who can come in from the bench, the same ones that will play when others are injured or knackered. Yesterday United played without Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Young, Nani, Adnan Januzaj, Marouane Fellaini, Rafael da Silva, Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez from start. Look at Arsenal's bench last night and see how weak they are when a few are injured, they will never stay the course when Bendtner is the one to change things around. Liverpool have Luis Alberto, Victor Moses, Joe Allen and Raheem Sterling to put in when the going gets tough, it's not like Luis Suarez will fire on all cylinders every single game. Their midfield has been ridiculed for years now, but how could they win the league last season when they had the exact same people there minus Fellaini and Januzaj? City still had Silva, Touré and Nasri et al, but they overall lacked cohesion just like they are doing now. Doesn't matter if you can smash Norwich 7-0 playing the most attacking football in the league, if you lose to Cardiff, Villa and Sunderland away in the first 10 games of the season. I don't hold United as favorites to the title either, but their team is mostly underrated on here IMO. Facts are facts, they won the title last season and it was not all down to Van Persie. Liverpool had Suarez last season, who was praised just as much if not more, they finished 28 points behind United! Defense was the reason perhaps? They let in the same amount of goals. Maybe the midfield was/is not as bad as people make out. By the way, WBA beating United away in the beginning of the season doesn't mean anything does it? We beat Arsenal away, does that mean they are **** as well? Southampton beat Liverpool a few weeks ago, all unlikely results. Every top team lose a game against crap opposition once in a while, I remember Barcelona losing 2-0 to Hercules at home in 2010, they finished 19th in the end. Barcelona won 16 of the other home games and got 96 points to seal the title. Football is a game with equal emphasis put on ability and squad over the course of the season. Liverpool, for me, do not possess a great first-XI expect for Suarez/Gerrard and maybe Sturridge, and their squad is basically crap. Never going to win the title. Arsenal will be stronger when they get some of these players back. They have had three forwards out injured all season. Walcott is a player that can get behind defences. They have plenty of depth in midfield. United's midfield was so poor Fergy had to beg Scholes come out of retirement. Giggs is nearly 40 and still playing.. Van Persie won the league last season for them. If he was still playing for Arsenal they'd be 8 points clear by now. I'll be honest I am sick of United winning the league and i do want them to finish outside the top 4. Arsenal are the only contender i don't mind and i have always been a big fan of Ramsey. Guess the January transfer window could be vital

I thought he is unlikely to be fit.

If you look at the table now - the top 8 including Southampton are pretty much nailed on. So we have to finish the best of the rest. 9-11 is where we will finish.

Great end to the season for Djokovic winning the atp tour finals in London beating Nadal in straight sets and totally dominating him.

Clark probably got in more crosses on saturday than we are used to from Luna.

He's still one of the best players in the Premier League. Problem is hes always knackered by the time the finals of a major international tournament starts

When Scholes was in the side yes, but they lack quality in there now. Carrick is ok.

I'm still not totally convinced. Their midfield is weak. They are very reliant on Van Persie and Rooney. Yes they got a 1-0 win against Arsenal but Arsenal had just come back from a massive win against Dortmund. They were without their best defender and they won by getting men behind the ball. That's not what we associate with United teams. West Brpm proved teams don't have to go to Old Trafford and fear them this season. Top 4 maybe but title not for me. Liverpool are a better bet than United.

As he was against us last season

Yes 100% agree. I think the partnership with Benteke will worry a few defences this this season.

I'd have scezney in the top 3. Still only 23 he's grown as a keeper this year.

So Gabby walks straight back in the team even though he hasn't scored this season I think Kozak deserves to keep his place. Gabby has a decent goal scoring record in derby games and his pace is vital in how we play, especially away from home. Must start for me despite his lack of goals. Yeah the problem is we need to choose a team (or rather Lambert does) that is capable of beating the opposition on an individual basis - the team that faced Cardiff would have been comfortably beat at Baggies I feel - and we'll be soaking up pressure that a local derby puts on us so a counter attack and pace is best suited for us - that's why id throw Gabby straight back in for Kozak. Also Gabby is always well up for derby games and has a decent return of goals in them. Fair point but he's been out of form since he returned from his last injury. A 100% Gabby playing like he did at the backend of last season is a definate starter but I'd still keep Kozak in and have Gabby replace Tonev. You don't drop a player who scores do you?

And how many shots on target did Arsenal actually have? I can't remember DeGea making many saves. Arsenal could have played for another hour and they wouldn't have scored. More shots than United and 60% of possession at old Trafford. I think they really missed rosicky today. He was great against Dortmund. To be fair the game could have gone either way. United have the edge up front. Arsenal have the edge in midfield. The title wont be decided on that game alone. i still fancy Arsenal to finish above United.

I thought Arsenal dominated the 2nd half. United just got men behind the ball an hung on. Van Persie and Rooney apart they don't look much.

Agree with that. A change of manager will probably see a change of fortunes for Fulham. I think Hull will go. Norwich will pick up enough points at home to stay up. When Carroll comes back for West Ham they will pick up. Cardiff could go too.

I like that side although I think Clark should play at left back. And if Weimann is fit he's a great option from the bench.

He cut out the clangers. That's the main thing. Defenders tend to get better with age too. There was always a good defender in there somewhere. He now has concentration and maturity and we're seeing the benefits. Having competent teammates helps too. He's a good utility player as well. I think he could do a good job as a holding midfield player.

That's what I think. He's doing his best but probably just trying too hard to live up to his nickname. Me too. He has the potential to be really good. We wont see the best of him until later the season.