Rooney and Man Utd......gulp.....!

[Doc Sark]

After witnessing the boy get his first career hat-trick, in his first Champions League game, in his first game of the season, in his first game for united, I have to say, I'm very scared. Imagine if Rooney had been fit since the start of the season, the boy looks sensational and his goals were so well taken. Don't get me wrong, I hate the Manc Scum as much as any other non-united fan but have to take my hat off to their attacking play this evening. They may even pose a threat to Arsenal if Rio stops forgetting things...ie drugs tests.....defending free kicks....

Rooney is gonna destroy the Welsh and I'm gonna love every minute of it.

[Cz]

Aside from his suspect discipline, it's fair to say that Rooney is one of the most complete strikers we've seen in years. If Fergie actually gives him a decent run of games this season, and isn't as overprotective as Moyes, then he'll blossom into the most lethal striker in the Premiership, perhaps the world.

I still don't think he'll be enough to give United the title this season, but he's bound to be a massive boost to their title challenge, and if he continues to play this well, defenders the world over will be quaking in their boots.

However, as an Arsenal fan, I shouldn't be saying any of this. Just assume that when Man Utd. visit Highbury this season I won't be quite so complimentary.

[Doc Sark]

I reckon old Fergie will sort out Rooney's disciplinary problems, there's no way any player at Man Utd is bigger than Alex Ferguson.....except Eric Cantona.....and Roy Keane.....! Still, you're right, he is a devastating finisher and hopefully will blossom in to one of the greatest strikers in the world. All we need now is for Michael Owen to get in Madrid's first team...(looks down at sig and remembers that's never gonna happen)...so Rooney and Defoe for England then?

[Cz]

Indeed. They're both in sensational form, and as long as Sven has the courage to change his tactics for once, they could well become the regular front two for the national side, which is good news for us all.

[Skogs]

Watching the game, Man United will score lots of goals - but their defence was shocking. Thierry Henry and co will rip them apart if they don't get it sorted. And not all clubs play schoolboy defensive tactics like Fenherbace did.

[Doc Sark]

This is very true but its still impressive to get 6 in a Champions League game. Their centre half, Denis, was AWFUL! Arsenal stuttered a bit last night. They really should be beating teams like Rosenborg comfortably. No biggy though, only a minor wobble.

I don't think Thierry Henry would so much have a field day, as the big centre halves would on set plays as that does seem to be Utd's weak spot right now, and Liverpool's (curses). Still you can guarantee when they do play blood will be spilled....again....!

[setzergabbiani]

The Manchester United with Rooney is now a very great machine of football. They now will throw at the trash the invincibility of the Arsenal :rolleyes2

[Doc Sark]

The Manchester United with Rooney is now a very great machine of football. They now will throw at the trash the invincibility of the Arsenal

I don't really understand this. Are you saying that with Rooney Man Utd are going to end Arsenal's unbeaten run? I doubt it, they have to learn to defend again as well.

Throw at the trash? I'm confused old son, could you please enlighten me.

[setzergabbiani]

I say that. The Manchester United will defeat at the Arsenal!!!! ;)

[Doc Sark]

Ah ok.

Wanna put money on that. I sure as hell wouldn't.

Man Utd could beat Arsenal, but then so could a lot of teams if they had a really good day and Arsenal had a really bad day, personally I think its gonna be Liverpool or Chelsea that does the beating of Arsenal. However ask me that when Liverpool crash to another away defeat tomorrow and see if I'm still as cocky!

[Psychotic]

Rooney is gonna destroy the Welsh and I'm gonna love every minute of it.

Oh hell yes. :) Rooney is very much a talent, I just hope he doesn't do a Gascoigne.

And eh, Liverpool will lose again. It's just tradition. We look promising on paper, but in actuality....scmoo :(

[aeris2001x2]

Yes! My beloved Man U will rise from the ashes. My phoenix, my fallen Angel, will desimate the premership once more. The fact that Middesborough did not beat us 3-2 again is a good omen!

Ok i dont know if Man U can take the title this year. I think the Arsenal will wreck more havoc. However, only one side is allowed to beat Arsenal, and thats Man U! Arsenal will not go unbeaten in the league again.

Now all Man U need to do is sort out there defense, and we could be a major force again.

EDIT- oh what is it with Liverpools away form? Can anyone explain Benitez away policy of Zone defending(like Doc Sark :cool: ) and is that why?

Its just odd, cause at home they thrash norwich, yet lose 1-0 to Olymaikos. They may be the Greek Champions, but they are not much better then Norwich. A better side would have hammered Liverpool 4 or 5-0 that night :eek: .

[Doc Sark]

Well in fairness, a large number of teams in England employ a zonal marking system. However, under Gerard Houllier, Liverpool employed a man marking system and it's just taking a while to get used to the transition. Take into account the teams Liverpool have played away from home, Man Utd, Chelsea, Bolton and Tottenham. Really the only "disaster" was at Bolton, of course at Man Utd aswell cause the man that can't defend without Rio holding his hand inherited some scoring talent and we lost Gerrard early doors. I'm not that worried, a lot is being made out of nothing. Last year it was our home form under scrutiny, it's gonna take time to get a balance but when we do, as we have already showed so far this season in some performances, Liverpool are going to be a force to be reckoned with.

As for Utd beating Arsenal. Dream on man, only Chelsea have got the defensive capabilities right now to do it. I would need to see a significant improvement in Man Utd's overall team displays before I was going to be convinced of that.


Its just odd, cause at home they thrash norwich, yet lose 1-0 to Olymaikos. They may be the Greek Champions, but they are not much better then Norwich. A better side would have hammered Liverpool 4 or 5-0 that night .

No offense aeris2001x2, but you obviously don't know a great deal about Olympiakos. They have a handful of European Championship medal winners, they have Rivaldo, and anyone who watched the game will know that he IS a great player despite his recent problems, they also have Giovanni, vastly experienced brazillian striker who was first choice at Barcelona for a number of seasons not to mention Greek internationals like Georgiadis and Venetidis to bring off the bench. They are vastly superior in every way to Norwich, and are probably better on paper than most teams in the Premiership that finished outside the top 10 last season. They play nearly every year in European football, more often than not the Champions League and they know how to play against sides like Liverpool at home. It's no biggie for us, we'll do 'em at Anfield don't you worry.

I don't think we would have lost 4 or 5-0 to a better team. We underestimated Olympiakos a bit and paid for it. Liverpool don't get hammered in Europe, period. It's not up for debate. It's a fact.

[aeris2001x2]

Lol. msybe i dont know too much about olyamikos. i just remember Juventus doing them in 7-0 last year and the memory stuck :p .

Maybe they have got stronger since, but last season i thought they were a joke. And yes the Greek side had 4 or 5 clean chances they SHOULD have put away. To be honest the greek side were pretty crap and still won.

Anyway i,m not criticising Liverpool...i,d say they have improved. I was just curious about their away form. So thanks 4 the answer.

Yeah i know Man U defense is awful...i said it would need improving if we want to be a force again. So i hope its sorted soon cause i want Arsenal to lose when they next meet. I Dont want anyone else to stop them! Infact i dont care if Arsenal do a treple this season...as long as Man U end the unbeaten run.

[Doc Sark]

Everyone wants to end Arsenals unbeaten run, but if the players concern themselves with such preoccupations they are guaranteed to lose. Realistically, it's not just Man Utd's defense that needs improving. You're never gonna win titles if the best replacements you got for an aging talisman are Djemba Djemba and Kleberson.


To be honest the greek side were pretty crap and still won.

That's a total disrespect to Olypmpiakos. They played very very well. Their finishing was hampered by the woodwork twice and I remember them having one other good chance that went wide. It's hardly disastarous finishing, they still played very well, they were organised in defence and midfield, contained our flair players, and beat a superior side. Fair play to them. Anyway, don't tell me you actually watched the game when Man Utd were on the other channel. Watching the highlights would not have given a fair reflection on how well the Greeks played. Juventus won 7-0 against an Olympiakos team with a totally different dynamic last season. Deportva La Coruna got hammered by Monaco 8-3, does that make them rubbish? Freak results do occur *thinks about posting times when Man Utd have been totally dominated by inferior opposition, particularly York City in the League Cup a few years ago....doesn't want to start a war so doesn't!*

[aeris2001x2]

i,m sorry. Yes i did just see the highlights so maybe my view is a bit wrong. But they did look ordinary that day from those highlights.

Actually i think Man U have great attackers. Rooney, Saha, Smith and Van Nistleroy should easily be enough 4 attack. Maybe the mid-field needs sumthin else, but personally i think only the defense is in dire straights (even though Rio is back).

I really believe that Man U will reclaim their dominion over English football.

[Doc Sark]

And what a great start they made at Birmingham.

It's not enough just to have great strikers. Especially when they're not all fit. Ferguson needs to look hard at the midfield. Keane is aging and may well end up in prison anyway (shame), Kleberson, Djemba Djemba, Fortune, Fletcher, Miller all look particularly "ordinary" to coin a phrase and major money has been invested in an area that didn't particularly need improving. When January comes and Utd find themselves miles off the pace again I would not be surprised to see Ferguson watching Fulham again and thinking about the quite brilliant Steed Malbranque, hell Igor Biscan would probably get in the Utd midfield at the moment, its got more holes in it than your average household collander. Man Utd will need to SERIOUSLY pick it up to have any chance of beating Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday, or Arsenal will have to play very very badly. My money's on a draw but that's cause I like to sit on the fence............hmmm

[Cz]

The sad thing is, should we finally lose our unbeaten run to United, they'll be calling us rubbish.

Fortunately, their current form makes that appear unlikely to happen. Rooney may bag a couple for them, but Henry and Reyes should tear that defence apart, more than making up for whatever Man Utd can put past us.

[Doc Sark]

Aye lad. You're not wrong.

I was saying that to a freind of mine today. I said "Do you really want United to end Arsenals unbeaten run and have to endure the Utd fans gloating about until someone else beats them?" It would happen, all the glory boys would come out, we're the best again blah blah blah. The only worry I would have is that Utd get an extra days rest after the Euro game.

I would love to see a 5 goal thriller. That'd make my day.

[Cz]

Me too, provided at least three of them go the right way. :D

It'll be a great atmosphere, no matter what. Too bad I couldn't get tickets for this one, but I'll be following it intently, nevertheless.