Morning my red friends.
Just wanted to get a sensible opinion on our CL exit last night. I'm sure you've all had a good snigger (I'd have probably done the same had it happened to you), but lets look at the bigger picture.
Personally I'm not devastated at our early exit as, unlike Arsenal, we'll almost certainly be in it for the next few years and will improve.
We all know Ferguson is desperate to take the prem title back off us, but you are now going to be battling on two fronts, whereas the only possible distraction we may have is an FA cup run.
Does he put all of his efforts into winning both? Is your squad strong enough to cope?
Assuming the title stays in the north west (which I think is a fair assumption) would you rather win the EPL or the CL if you had to choose?
Serious question
posted on 5/12/12
PL should of course be the first priority. Yes City will have an advantage based on playing less games however it is also difficult to keep the squad happy and match-fit if you are not playing many games. Plus, by the time CL starts again we would be done with about two-thirds of league games. It might give SAF extra incentive to utilize this period to establish a decent lead in the league and play his strongest side in each of the games until February. Last year going out for CL and Europa didn't really help us as we had players out of form who didn't get much game time.
The other big problem for City is going to be the loss of revenue. They are already carrying a massive loss from last year and with this year as well, it will be difficult for them to meet the FFP conditions. It will come down to how strictly Platini decides to implement it and based on that it may have a massive impact in terms of January and summer signings etc.
posted on 5/12/12
I don't think it'll mean big advantage to City in PL as I don't think we will go far in CL anyway.
Perhaps a couple more games, it won't give City this big advantage that some think.
posted on 5/12/12
I would still take the PL...
Fergies legend will be that he knocked Lpool of their perch. Which he did in winning 12 PLtitles. One more would be perfect
He would have to win 2 or more CL to get these same in respect in European competition... which would take him another 10 years maybe.
Anyway its not about fergie is about United. You win your league first and then see what happens in the cups.
posted on 5/12/12
comment by Mæstro (U8867) posted 1 hour, 13 minutes ago
I think we have enough to challenge for the PL and the CL.
The only thing that will let us down is SAF team selections.
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The selections that have you top of the league?
posted on 5/12/12
Of course, I'm not saying Pl should play second fiddle, to win the CL you need luck on your side at some point, which isn't the case over 38 games.
I still think it would be nice to see us win the CL again under Fergie, especially if it involves beating Barca and Madrid.
The goosebumps of ' and Solskjaer has won it', outweighs the pain of ' Agueroooo'.
So lets just win the treble eh?
posted on 5/12/12
comment by RedBlackandWhiteside (U2335)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
would you rather win the EPL or the CL if you had to choose?
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the Pl of course...anything else is just a bonus.
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Same here too. The PL
posted on 5/12/12
We can all laugh at City (& we are) but I still cant understand what went wrong.
They should have beat Ajax at least once & were winning in Madrid with minutes left to go, it was a tough group but to go out without winning a game is a very poor show.
I also think a lot of the city players will be on a downer after being booted right out of europe all togeather, It will or should have dented their pride if nothing else.
Winning the Prem is always first on my list but if I were a blue I would be very disapointed the way city have performed again in europe as no doubt will be their owners.
Prem or bust now for city, the pressures on with the little matter of the "derby" coming up this Sunday, "this is how it feels when your passports back in the draw"
posted on 5/12/12
would you rather win the EPL or the CL if you had to choose?
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I know I'm in the minority but I would choose the CL.
1) I want SAF to win at least one more CL before he retires. Our European record is not nearly as good as it should be.
2) It may take two seasons of not winning the league for SAF to realise that our team needs to improve. E.g. the way in which we responded to the threat of Jose's Chelsea.
3) It might help us to attract the quality of players we need.
posted on 5/12/12
"I also think a lot of the city players will be on a downer after being booted right out of europe all togeather, It will or should have dented their pride if nothing else."
Problem is ONH it won't have dented their wallets and with some of the astronomical wages these guys are on the pride thing doesn't really come into it. Apart from Micah Richards and Joe Hart, none of these guys are affiliated with City in any other way.
We are quite lucky at United that we always seem to have a few guys around that are 100% affiliated to the club, whether its the class of 92 or the latest guys in Welbeck and Clevs (and although we bought him, Rafael has been at the club through the youth levels).
posted on 5/12/12
What you have to remember is that the four times Fergie has got United into the CL Final they also won the Prem League in all of those seasons as well so Fergie and a lot of the players at United are well used to battling on two or three fronts.
United have the squad to cope (assuming they don't get a horrific spate of injuries from Feb onwards).