**OFFICIAL Association Football 2012/2013 Season thread**

[pieceofme]

That'll buy a lot of Everton, just to make him comfortable.

He will buy Baines who while decent is really not what we need.

Midfield please Moyes! Although considering he bough fucking Fellani who I've always thought was mediocre maybe we should get rid of Moyes, and give it to a manager who knows what he is doing.

I knew we were going to lose to Chelsea.

[MickeyG]

If they don't trust Moyes with money, then they need to get someone they do trust now. I mean, if you don't trust him now, why would you trust him in the summer, or the summer after etc.

[Tenacious_Dio]

[Hellsinkey]

Juan for the money. I hope that with Mata it won't be a case of another Juan from Chelsea. He's a good player, but is he the right player? Now if they only changed the manager... Moyes still can't get it right, oh well. It was better to lose now than to Citeh at final. DeGea should have a rest.

[MickeyG]

It Juan Mata who he signs if he doesn't change tactics and style of play.

[pieceofme]

It Juan Mata who he signs if he doesn't change tactics and style of play.

I see what you did there.

Great player so happy we're getting him.

[Hellsinkey]

It Juan Mata who he signs if he doesn't change tactics and style of play.

Juan for the future, no Mata what.

[Rageman]

Rageman, I know you watch the Bundesliga but how are Leverkusen 2nd in that league after getting raped by a poor United side twice? Is that league overrated? Bayern are probably the best in Europe but is the rest of the league shite?

I saw this awhile back and was busy, fully intending to answer later . . . it fell a page behind my huge pic of the World Cup draw and I spaced it . . . got into a similar conversation with a ManU fan at work . . . realized that I never replied with my theory as to why Bayer Leverkusen was torched so bad by a near mid-table United squad. I haven't had a satellite for awhile so no Bundesliga for me for over a year . . . no idea if they've plateaued or fallen off as a league. So here's my idea-ish as to why it looked so bad.

1. While I did say that the Bundesliga has steadily improved with their economic revolution . . . I did state that they had merely closed the gap, not surpassed La Liga and the EPL.

2. I also said that they were closing the gap, not by out spending the EPL for the big stars, but by being able to out bid them for the up and coming players and solid, middle ground players that every roster needs.

3. I also feel that they closed the gap by the fact that I would currently take any German International squad(Senior, U-20, U-17, etc) over any English squad of the same level. The Germans just play exciting football and a lot of them are getting playing time.

4. The gap was widened again this last off-season by the economic collapse in La Liga. Most of the high payed players that were cut loose or sold went to England. I know a couple of players went to Italy but none went to Germany. I kept my mouth shut, hoping it wouldn't matter but the EPL has picked up in skill this year. Looks like United snatched up a much needed Spaniard to open up their midfield. Get Rooney and Van Persie back together with Mata feeding them and United will qualify for Europe, where though ? . . . that is the question.

5. From what I remember, Man U was absolutely on fire in those matches. Nani had his best match of the year by far.

6. Maybe Moyes should go to the Bundesliga?

[MickeyG]

Apparently Rooney is in talks to extend his contract, 300 grand (pounds) a week so they say. An offer for Luke Shaw has also been made according to the media. And Moyes was in Germany last night watching Bayern and Moenchengladbach. Kroos was mentioned as a possible target. I still think Uniteds tactics need to change, but I guess you need the right players before you can do it. The center of midfield needs major, major attention. To be fair to Moyes on one point, he has had injuries to 3 of his best attackers to contend with. RVP, Rooney and Nani have all missed a shit load of games this season.

[pieceofme]

Apparently Rooney is in talks to extend his contract, 300 grand (pounds) a week so they say. An offer for Luke Shaw has also been made according to the media. And Moyes was in Germany last night watching Bayern and Moenchengladbach. Kroos was mentioned as a possible target. I still think Uniteds tactics need to change, but I guess you need the right players before you can do it. The center of midfield needs major, major attention. To be fair to Moyes on one point, he has had injuries to 3 of his best attackers to contend with. RVP, Rooney and Nani have all missed a shit load of games this season.

When Nani is one of your best three attackers then you have problems.

Although Mata will be here soon.

[MickeyG]

He's been shit and injured the last 2 seasons, but for the 2 seasons before that Nani was Uniteds best forward. More consistent than Rooney.

[pieceofme]

He's been shit and injured the last 2 seasons, but for the 2 seasons before that Nani was Uniteds best forward. More consistent than Rooney.

He's so wasteful.

Out of every wonder goal he scores he shoots over the other 99 times.

He tries too many dribbles and loses possession. He can't cross. He can't tackle.

He really isn't very good.

He never lived to his potential. Get rid to Juventus asap.

[CliffByford]

Did anyone see Bournemouth make Liverpool look very ordinary yesterday? Two goals on the break sent Liverpool through, but Bournemouth were with the ball, showed more attacking intent and were denied an obvious penalty.

If I were a. Liverpool fan I'd be worried, either at how ordinary we looked or at how complacent our players are.

[jellyheadrobertson]

Did anyone see Bournemouth make Liverpool look very ordinary yesterday? Two goals on the break sent Liverpool through, but Bournemouth were with the ball, showed more attacking intent and were denied an obvious penalty.

If I were a. Liverpool fan I'd be worried, either at how ordinary we looked or at how complacent our players are.

These cup games always bring out the best in the lower league teams but I am worried. The back four is very suspect. The midfield is over ran nearly every game lately and we cannot afford an injury to SAS.

[MickeyG]

You can't play brilliant all the time even against the lower leagues, who like Jelly said usually raise their game. This is the time of the season though where injuries and tiredness can creep in. Suarez missed the start of the season, but since then Rodgers worked him like a dog, because he's had no other choice. The Everton game should be an interesting one for both sides.

Nice cup draw.

Hey pieceofme, go look at Nani's stats for the 3 years before last season and you'll see he was up there with the best in the league for production. Yes, he's been shit ever since Carragher clogged him at Anfield, and I don't know whether he can reach those heights again, but I'd give him a chance over Valencia and Young.

[pieceofme]

You can't play brilliant all the time even against the lower leagues, who like Jelly said usually raise their game. This is the time of the season though where injuries and tiredness can creep in. Suarez missed the start of the season, but since then Rodgers worked him like a dog, because he's had no other choice. The Everton game should be an interesting one for both sides.

Nice cup draw.

Hey pieceofme, go look at Nani's stats for the 3 years before last season and you'll see he was up there with the best in the league for production. Yes, he's been shit ever since Carragher clogged him at Anfield, and I don't know whether he can reach those heights again, but I'd give him a chance over Valencia and Young.

Talking about cup draws, when was the last time Manchester United player a team that wasn't in the premier league.

It will be nice to get rid of 2 of Liverpool, Chelsea, City, and Arsenal. I hope Everton win it. Martinez - two back to back FA cups with two different teams. And takes one season to win a trophy with Everton, whilst Moyes didn't in a decade. That's what I want anyway.

Nani will never reach those 'heights' again. Valencia was decent when he arrived but I really don't know what happened. Young is only good for winning penalties. I like Valencia more. But yeah Mata smokes all of them.

[Rageman]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-fr ... e-25781156

[MickeyG]

40 points, relegation avoided for another year.

[Rageman]

40 points, relegation avoided for another year. :lol:

Man City fans celebrate that every year . . . looks like ESPN FC is right . . . United have become the noisy neighbors.


Korea chimes in

[Hellsinkey]

40 points, relegation avoided for another year.

We're staying up!

[MickeyG]

I read somewhere that United are looking at 70 mil plus a year for their new shirt deal. Over twice as much as the deal Arsewipe just announced, and much more than the chavs and dippers.

[pieceofme]

I read somewhere that United are looking at 70 mil plus a year for their new shirt deal. Over twice as much as the deal Arsewipe just announced, and much more than the chavs and dippers.

That would be great!

Although 1 step forward, 2 steps back.

[CliffByford]

I've seen enough from Man United to convince me they'll steer clear of relegation this season.

[pieceofme]

I've seen enough from Man United to convince me they'll steer clear of relegation this season.

We hit the 40 point mark so we're good this season!

[Hellsinkey]

Moyes: "I don't know what we have to do to win."

You don't, do you? How about getting sacked.

[MickeyG]

I thought I was watching a replay of the United match last night then realized it was the Wizard of Oz the TCM channel here in America.

I said to the wife that 3 of the characters reminded me of United players. The brainless, clumsy scarecrow is Phil Jones. The heartless Tin-man is Cleverly. The cowardly Lion is Michael Carrick. I'm sure there's a few Dorothys and wicked witches in there too.

[Hellsinkey]

[MickeyG]

Great first 20 mins from Liverpool today although Arsenal were shite. Arsenal will probably beat United in midweek though. I wonder if their yearly collapse around this time will happen.

[Hellsinkey]

I saw the game. If Moyes United could ever play like that... Just kill it, then sit back the rest of the game.

[MickeyG]

If United lose to Fulham, would Moyes get sacked?