Champions League 2012/2013 Thread

(07-03-2013 09:33 )dan g 27 Wrote:  Putting Welbeck in the team ahead of Rooney was the right decision. Fergie wanted someone that could nullify Alonso and Welbeck did it successfully until Nani's sending off. Fergie probably couldn't trust Rooney after similar situations of failing to mark Busquets and Pirlo in past seasons. I don't think Rooney would have been effective on the wings either and if was asked to help Rafael defensively like in the first leg then it wouldn't have benefited Man United.

I think RVP needs a rest for Man United. He is going through a bit of a dry spell at the moment by his standards. He should have been taken off when Man United went down to 10 men because he offered nothing defensively for them.

I still feel that in a one shot game, your best players should be starting. Rooney is more creative than Welbeck, Rooney has a better goal ratio than Welbeck, plus he's been on form the last few games. The goal against Norwich for example. If he was on the field, there's always a chance he could have scored a goal like that again. Could have made the difference.

If he'd been on from the start, and scored, then United might not have needed to worry even when the red card came. It's a missed opportunity for me.

(07-03-2013 13:13 )Regenerated Wrote:  I still feel that in a one shot game, your best players should be starting. Rooney is more creative than Welbeck, Rooney has a better goal ratio than Welbeck, plus he's been on form the last few games.

But Welbeck was arguably Man Utd's best player in the first leg in Madrid, whereas Rooney made little impact in that match.

(07-03-2013 15:40 )cosmonaut Wrote:  

(07-03-2013 13:13 )Regenerated Wrote:  I still feel that in a one shot game, your best players should be starting. Rooney is more creative than Welbeck, Rooney has a better goal ratio than Welbeck, plus he's been on form the last few games.

But Welbeck was arguably Man Utd's best player in the first leg in Madrid, whereas Rooney made little impact in that match.

Yes, fair point. But also when you have a player of Rooney's ability aswell, you have to admit that a goal or two is always possible. And Rooney can score in less chances than Welbeck, and can create them from nothing aswell, where I feel that Welbeck needs a little bit more help from team-mates in breaking through.

But we'll never know now - because Ferguson didn't go for it. I can understand wanting to contain - but Rooney could have still started and contributed to a defensive strategy.

Also, the red card for Nani shouldn't necessarily have meant that United should lose two goals so quickly. They should have enough knowledge of Modric and Ronaldo's ability to be able to dig in for a little while longer. Chelsea defeated Barcelona despite their most important defender John Terry being red carded. So it is and was possible.

Quote:I still feel that in a one shot game, your best players should be starting. Rooney is more creative than Welbeck, Rooney has a better goal ratio than Welbeck, plus he's been on form the last few games.

I disagree. The allegedly best players in a teams squad are not necessarily what is required to beat opposition in games like this. Rooney may more creative than Welbeck, but Fergie wanted someone to restrict Alonso from dictating the game and he was the better option in doing that and overall he was the best player for Man United over the two legs. People were expecting Rooney to be at least to be on the wing to help out Rafael, but as seen from the first leg that was a mistake.

Quote:The goal against Norwich for example. If he was on the field, there's always a chance he could have scored a goal like that again. Could have made the difference.

Rooney has been good this season, but that goal against Norwich came when Norwich were already beaten. Kagawa was the star man in that game and I think may have also had an argument for starting ahead of Rooney.

Quote:If he'd been on from the start, and scored, then United might not have needed to worry even when the red card came. It's a missed opportunity for me.

I don't understand this point.

(07-03-2013 17:12 )dan g 27 Wrote:  

Quote:If he'd been on from the start, and scored, then United might not have needed to worry even when the red card came. It's a missed opportunity for me.

I don't understand this point.

Simple - if Rooney starts, he scores, they get the own goal aswell. United are 3-1 up on aggregate and the tie would have a different outlook. Perhaps Real would still have come back, although perhaps not as likely? I don't know.

I admit its all conjecture - which is why I've said repeatedly - we won't know now.

Ronaldo is the best

^ you stole my news! Ronaldo is a Legend

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(05-03-2013 22:47 )malicious fan Wrote:  wonder if its worth havin a bet on barca at 5-1, tempting!

weren't ac milan cheering a few weeks ago as if they had won the trophy! tempting odds on barca after first leg anyone take em

someone is 50k richer after tonight, lucky prick

(12-03-2013 22:35 )malicious fan Wrote:  weren't ac milan cheering a few weeks ago as if they had won the trophy! tempting odds on barca after first leg anyone take em

Never took them mate. They were 5/1 to win the trophy after 1st leg, favourites again now at 7/4.