wont look good on Mou, if a Man U team as limited as this particular one, knocks out this incredibly expensively assembled team

I fancy our chances away. United's advantage is minimal and I can't see them setting up to defend the result for 90 minutes. If they did, the crowd would get increasingly edgy as the minutes ticked by and the nerves could start to set it. It's contagious.

On the other hand, if they seek to take the initiative, we'll have more space to play to our own strengths.

Intriguing in any case. Last night was definitely Round 1 to Fergie imo.

yes i agree..

if de gea hadnt have made that save in the early mins of the match..things would have been v different

we need to defend set pieces alot better in the 2nd leg thats for sure

Our fixture list is shocking though

farza twice in the week before the 2nd leg !

if de gea hadnt have made that save in the early mins of the match..things would have been v different
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Can't be sure of that. Just look at our start vs Bayern.


farza twice in the week before the 2nd leg !
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Can't we just concede?

I fancy our chances away. United's advantage is minimal and I can't see them setting up to defend the result for 90 minutes. If they did, the crowd would get increasingly edgy as the minutes ticked by and the nerves could start to set it. It's contagious.
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I can almost guarantee United will defend at home if I know Sir Alex as much as I think I do!

The way he'll see it, United were able within his tactics to get enough forward to have chances whilst never really being short defensively in an away game so he won't see the need to commit more to attack with the hope that home advantage might aid United's play or weaken Real's. If anything United could be more defensive in the return (I wouldn't personally advise that).

I think United have the edge at both ends but Real have a large advantage in the middle.

Sir Alex will feel United can score goals with counters and spoadic attacks whilst keeping Real at bay and the crowd wont mind.

Of course if it does get late and it's still 0-0 it'll be tense but this wouldn't be the first time Ive seen United defend at home against a team that has superior use of the ball (they did it against Barca in 2008 and against Arsenal many times).

IMO The problem with doing it against Real is the unpredictability of Real's threats.

Pretty much agree with the lot. The array of talent means a goal can come out of nowhere, so you can't just look to soak us up. Conversely, the set up you describe will be pretty much what Mou expects too, and he's got a couple of weeks ahead to figure out how to address it. We could probably do with more long range efforts looking to exploit rebounds and deflections, maybe playing CR a bit deeper and central within his free role. (Me, advocating CR's attempts from 30 yards out! )

(Me, advocating CR's attempts from 30 yards out! )
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To be honest I think Ronaldo really is the key, his heading ability or long shooting could win the tie.

The scoreline itself from the first leg makes the tie even IMO because it gives United the chance to play similarly to the first leg but no other real advantage (Real scoring first being a disaster for United's hopes).

I'll be keen to see if Mourinho has any tactically decisive moves up his sleeve.

You're discussing football?

Very interesting article for all you Madrid-lovers (i.e. peks) that's just been brought to my attention on another thread:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/how-real-madrid-helped-to-rebuild-manchester-united-after-munich-air-disaster-8492422.html

good article...

showing the british public madrid are not the devils club !

dont know why they keep saying franco supported madrid though ! when did he ever claim to support real madrid!

the dome was supported by a hundred white columns.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/how-real-madrid-helped-to-rebuild-manchester-united-after-munich-air-disaster-8492422.html
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atleti !

the end of that match was pure comedy !!

That was a very nice article about Real, that's the first I've heard of their involvement with Utd post-Munich.

Also, what has gotten into Bale?

bale is on drugs i think

dr fuentes probably knows him

What's the story with Bale?

He is only a few links behind the rest of us in evolutionary terms now, imagine what he'll be like when he's a modern human

Looks like quite a few of the big league boys could be heading out of the Europa League.

Atleti (0-2), Napoli (0-3) and Leverkusen (0-1) all lost at home
Home draws for Bor.Moench (3-3), Stuttgart (1-1) & Newcastle (0-0)
Away defeats for Liverpool (2-0) & Hannover (3-1)
Spurs home win but tight scoreline (2-1)
Only Levante (3-0) and Chelsea (0-1) seem to have tipped the scales clearly in their favour, and good result for Lazio getting 3 goals away vs Moechengladbach

Ah, I see now. So we're in for a few months of Bale being one of the top 3 players in the world.

Question is, is he ahead of the other two yet, or is he still a step behind Rooney and Hart because of his Welshness?

IOAG - The only thing stopping him from being the best in the world is his lack of englishness.

he's as good as messi !..this is what i'm expecting jaime redknapp to say

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21468116

jesus !

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21468116

jesus !
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After-effects of Bale's performance.

peks - After the Newcastle match Redknapp genuinely said Bale is 'up there' with Ronaldo. I think that's their new way of trying to say he's as good as him without having to actually commit to it...