Moneyball won't win the Premiership 2012-13

j spark and fletcher were there to play in the "big games"

ferguson's insight was that carrick IS a defensive midfielder, even if he isn't particularly aggressive

since 2009 or so their midfield has been dreadful for a team of their stature but it's lacked skill even more than tenacity

1.44pm BST

"Jacob, you're right," says James Galloway, who's a man I'd like to be friends with. "PHILanthropist. PHILharmonic. PHILibuster. The cream always rises to the top... he's nailed on for the job isn't he? Though I suppose there's always PHIListine for those naysayers amongst us."

1.35pm BST

Just thinking about Phil Brown. It can't be a coincidence it's called PHILosophy, can it?

1.19pm BST

"In the picture at the top of the page, exactly what is everyone finding so amusing about the act of taking David Moyes’ pulse?" says Joseph Orchard, who just made me LOL out loud.

this sardonic shit is as bad as the bbc liveblogs in its own way

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/09/manchester-united-sir-alex-ferguson-successor1

In the first Carrick season it was mostly Carrick/Scholes, yeah, but as you've said he subsequently brought more traditional DMs into the team and they improved after 2006. Even in that season Fletcher still played in central midfield when required, which was quite a bit iirc.

That post-Keane, pre-Carrick midfield was shocking though, especially with Scholes' injury, fudging it with Alan Smith and Giggs in central MF. Anyone would have looked like a genius after that.

Wayne Rooney removes 'Manchester United player' from his Twitter page
• Unhappy striker now terms himself 'NikeUK athlete'

they need for more defensive cover in midfield came once ronaldo had almost no defensive capabilities, hence the change in formation, but it was mostly ronaldo's improvement (along with tevez) that was the source of the team's improvement

i think united could use a powerful stupid central midfielder, but really they could use any good midfielder

the last thing they need is a dumb card collecter tho, the best dmid now (apart from busquets maybe but barcelona is a special case) is javi martinez who is not like that at all

oh jesus that post is so badly composed

news just in Wayne Rooney has driven his car down to London to Loftus Road

silly fucker, cooke's pie and mash do online delivery now

if Rooney goes to Spurs they win the league next season

imagine it

He's only having lunch with Bobby Z, come on

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTqA2NrNiy5HGjtp5EWFXFKvc4tUqJJnVUC8SwU-sEROOjSloMP

is this pure animosity to Moyes or do you think he wd've wanted away even if Ferguson had stayed?

well he asked for the transfer two weeks ago supposedly

moyes will be able to keep him. done it once already

posted and swiftly deleted on the Utd facebook page

https://cdn-tabsstatic.buddymedia.com/1368104372076_ThankyouBuddynew.jpg

ThankyouBuddynew - I hope this has a technical fb meaning, because ugh

well it's hosted at something called buddymedia.com

either that or he's going back to St Mirren

is this pure animosity to Moyes or do you think he wd've wanted away even if Ferguson had stayed?

There's been a lot of talk of him leaving for the last six months or more, so I doubt it's connected to Moyes. If (and it's a big if) they can get rid of him for a decent wedge and (and it's a big and) put it towards repurchasing Ronaldo that would be great, imo.

Hopefully Spud can be moved out of the country so we don't have to look at him for a few years

the best team was 07/08 by which time they were 433 and did use more orthodox dmids more often (hargreaves, fletcher, anderson even played there)
still, 06/07 was beautiful

06/07 was fantastic, some of the most exciting attacking football I've ever seen from United. Off the top of my head I can hardly remember anything about 07/08, despite winning the league and EC...Ronaldo scoring a late one at Craven Cottage...Gallas crying...Terry slipping over...that's about it.

the chances of Ronaldo coming back were remote before this but they're nonexistent with Fergie gone

and Everton have just released a statement

i know there's been talk of Rooney going for months but there does seem a sudden urgency in his actions

And thank god for that. I wouldn't want to see the prick play for ManU again tbh

xxp

That urgency probably coincides with the end of the season. According to the Graun today, Moyes and Rooney have been basically cool over the last few years.

who wants twp in 2k13

Hopefully City or, failing that, some team in Antarctica

It'd be funny if Chelsea signed him only to play him awkwardly out of position behind Falcao.

who wants twp in 2k13

PSG was the main rumour, though Chelsea has raised its head in the last couple of days.

mourinho has never really used a second striker, if he wants him then id guess its as a #9

ibrahimovic

pastore twp lavezzi

veratti matuidi

You could offer him back to Everton in exchange for getting Moyes a month early

wait lucas needs to play

mourinho has never really used a second striker, if he wants him then id guess its as a #9

I was wondering about that, hence:

Rooney to Chelsea? Presumably that would mean Torres would be on his way?
― The Horse Rustler and the Rustler's Horse (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Wednesday, 8 May 2013 20:44 (Yesterday)

Rooney's better as a #9 anyway. I mean he'd be a bit of an upgrade on Torres at least

torres is done either way

not even sure atleti would trust him as their main striker going into next season

I think Utd should do everything possible to avoid selling him to one of our rivals though. It'd be just like the cunt to go there and be really good

Moyes official

Something very odd seems to be going on behind the scenes

Second thoughts?

The odds on Mourinho suddenly started tumbling

In other, realer news:
1. BT to offer their espn successor channels to their broadband users (including me) for free
2. Stilian Petrov formally retires

3. Rio Ferdinand joins the BT Sport team as an interviewer, programme-maker and football expert

+ Michael Owen as co-commentator

lol

Nice statement from Petrov here:

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3172465,00.html

I