[polpot]

Originally Posted by coolroy

The UCL leg I matches are over. My take :

Lyon VS Utd
I was not surprised to see both the teams playing one upfront. But I always thought Benzema is more comfortable playing the lone striker's role than Rooney. It was cagey to say the least in the first half. Lyon had a few half chances. But Rooney had the best chance of the first half. His finishing in recent matches has not been as lethal as it normally is.

The second half started with Utd dominating possession for around 8 minutes and then...Bang ! Comes the goal form Benzema...out of nothing ! He was more or less being kept on a tight leash throughout by Rio and Vida. But he shot right on the inside of the left post, perhaps the only area VDS could not have covered. But the fact that he scored inspite of being surrounded by 4 Utd defenders makes the goal look even good.

But then, Utd started pressurizing. Nani got in and started wrecking havoc. Recently, his crossing seems to have improved by leaps and bounds. I wonder if Rooney had not touched the ball which ricocheted off Tevez's shoulders, the ball would have trickled in anyways.

Utd got the crucial away goal. Ben Arfa showed glimpses of why he is rated so highly. But he was not played. Instead the No.2...what was his name was played because he is primarily a right back and Perrin was concerned about Evra's runs.

More or less, Utd got an away goal which counts the most. Which means that Lyon have to score at Old Trafford.

It was Clerc on the Right and Govou on the left, both played becoz of their defensive abilities. United, Milan, Barca and Sevilla would be favourites to go through now.

[sir roy keane]

Wes Brown has cast doubts over his future at Manchester United by upsetting Sir Alex Ferguson with his wage demands.



Contract negotiations between the club and the England international have been ongoing for some time now, with Brown continuing to be reluctant to commit his long-term future to the Red Devils.

As a first-team regular and full international the defender feels that he is entitled to more than the £45,000 a week offer currently on offer and is reportedly determined to either hold out for a deal closer to £55,000 a week or go and find a club who will meet his demands.

United boss Ferguson is far from impressed by the player's current behaviour, but does admit that it is possible his full-back has been unduly influenced by his agent.

(SAF'S comments)



"Players of today live in their agents' pockets," he said.


"It's a situation which depresses me at times, it really depresses me.


"Wes has been with us since he was 12, but I don't think that matters these days.


"Players' agents live their lives for them and if you are happy to go along with that, you get the situation you have got just now.


"But Wes knows this and the other players have told him.


"We wouldn't have made the offer if we hadn't had faith in him.


"It's in his hands. It's amazing really given that he has had such a good season and has had such a good run of games while Gary (Neville) has been injured"

[polpot]

Originally Posted by sir roy keane

Wes Brown has cast doubts over his future at Manchester United by upsetting Sir Alex Ferguson with his wage demands.



Contract negotiations between the club and the England international have been ongoing for some time now, with Brown continuing to be reluctant to commit his long-term future to the Red Devils.

As a first-team regular and full international the defender feels that he is entitled to more .........
........

"We wouldn't have made the offer if we hadn't had faith in him.


"It's in his hands. It's amazing really given that he has had such a good season and has had such a good run of games while Gary (Neville) has been injured"

Wes Brown has been a loyal servant of the club for along time. Im sorry to see him go. But it's about time he demanded first team play and he knows after United recruits a wing back in the summer he may not get that.

[sir roy keane]

Originally Posted by polpot

Wes Brown has been a loyal servant of the club for along time. Im sorry to see him go. But it's about time he demanded first team play and he knows after United recruits a wing back in the summer he may not get that.

well, its on the site too, but its not official!

a newbie like evra earns 36000$ per week. wes's been in united for a very long time(ever since he was 12).he deserves much much more. i really feel for him. ronaldo earns 144000$ per week. not that i have a problem. but thats where i feel defenders are being discriminated against. everyone looks at the no of goals scored! no one looks at the interceptions, no one looks at the amount of work defenders put in set-pieces, no one looks at the hard work defenders put towards achieving synchronizations (esp during off-side). there have been very few instances where the defenders are actually recognized for the 'offside trap'. everyone says 'xyz is offside'. end of! such a shame that they are not given their due!

thats exactly why you have people talkin bout messis,ronaldos,kakas and not about maldinis,stams,ayalas.

[polpot]

Originally Posted by sir roy keane

well, its on the site too, but its not official!

a newbie like evra earns 36000$ per week. wes's been in united for a very long time(ever since he was 12).he deserves much much more. i really feel for him. ronaldo earns 144000$ per week. not that i have a problem. but thats where i feel defenders are being discriminated against. everyone looks at the no of goals scored! no one looks at the interceptions, no one looks at the amount of work defenders put in set-pieces, no one looks at the hard work defenders put towards achieving synchronizations (esp during off-side). there have been very few instances where the defenders are actually recognized for the 'offside trap'. everyone says 'xyz is offside'. end of! such a shame that they are not given their due!

thats exactly why you have people talkin bout messis,ronaldos,kakas and not about maldinis,stams,ayalas.

Not true Sir. Ferdinand is on 120000 pounds a week. Its not that the defenders don't get paid that much. United follows a strict wage structure, depending on the market value. Its a world wide accepted system and the last team to not follow strict wage structure, ie Chelsea, resulted in huge wage bills.
But I agree with the whole defenders backbenching when it comes to popularity. But thats the way it is. Football is won by scoring goals.

[polpot]

I hope Eduard gets better. That was horrific to say the least.

[sir roy keane]

Originally Posted by polpot

I hope Eduard gets better. That was horrific to say the least.

horrible injury, taken straight to the hosp. they not even showing the replay,its pretty graphic.

wishing him a speedy recovery

"Eduardo suffered a suspected broken leg during Arsenal's match against Birmingham City on 23 February 2008, after what seems to be just a slightly late tackle by Martin Taylor, though referee Mike Dean sent him off. Eduardo recieved eight minutes of on-field treatment before being stretchered off wearing an oxygen mask. The injury was so graphic that Sky Sports, who were showing the game live, refused to show clips of Eduardo's ankle. Early indications show that he will miss the rest of the season and EURO 2008 for Croatia, which may prove fatal for Croatia, seeing his goal scoring record"- wikipedia

here's the only link thats available till now

بيرمنغهام VS ارسنال: كرت اØ*مر Ùˆ طرد لاعب بيرمينغهام تايلور (د. 3)

[sir roy keane]

i've seen a still pic which is very very graphic. i dont feel like posting it here. i really do feel for dudu.

[the_egonomist]

man, i think i missed a great match. saw the clip that was posted - looked like a weird challenge not a clattering one.

the most horrific ones i saw was one on peter cech and the other when larsson (?) broke his leg (he was running and his leg just snapped). also, the kick that terry got to his face from diaby in the carling cup final.

needless to say, hope he recovers soon and there is no long term damage for him.



and to think the match ended with a draw after a red card for birmingham.

[fire_kris]

Originally Posted by sir roy keane

i've seen a still pic which is very very graphic. i dont feel like posting it here. i really do feel for dudu.

ya man... me too seen the still pic at its the only thing that is available on net as sky has censored everything else.... really bad for the lad.... will miss this season and euro 2008... I personally wish him best of luck for timely recovery.. such injuries are career threatening... i dont think there is that much malice in the tackle to cause that much harm... if taylor intended it he hit bullseye

but still a deserved result for birmingham... as adebayor clearly fouled the keeper...

window open for united to close the gap but still this match will be remembered for the injury...

Ciao
Kris