Couldbe

Seemingly Alves is going to MUFC plus along with Lahm, really showing up our lack of financial power with the targets we are going for, then again maybe Rafa is letting it be know that Hicks has no money in a discreet way

The wide player with good CV is it Freddie Ljungberg as part of the Pennant deal going there?

Barry delivers an excellent set piece, particularly corner, Villa's 2 goals against the bitters came from Barry's "assists" , at the mo, we only have Gerrard taking our corners, far better for us if he was on the edge of the box with Barry taking the corner. Plus this season dont think we have scored much from corners, just another threat for teh team to carry overall.

Managers of the clubs were asked who they woud prefer to win the league between Chelsea and the Mancs .... Rafa's response seems to follow Carra's if you read between teh lines.. but Steve's Bruce's is revealing also shows he is not stupid as Curbishley mind you but the answers show what a club like Liverpool are up against to win the league while Ferguson is around.. all hail f***ing King Demento ... pathetic http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ma...nchesterunited1 Blue or red? Top-flight managers call the title raceThe Guardian, Saturday May 3 2008 Article historyAbout this articleClose This article appeared in the Guardian on Saturday May 03 2008 on p5 of the Sport news & features section. It was last updated at 01:58 on May 03 2008. Arsène Wenger Arsenal Who will win the league? "I think Manchester United will win the title. Chelsea have a disadvantage because it depends on the result of United" Who do you want to win it? "United would be worthy winners. They have played an attractive game as well going forward" Alex McLeish Birmingham Who will win the league? "Manchester United will win it. I've always felt from the very beginning that they have more goalscorers in the team and, while Chelsea are finishing extremely strongly, that will be the difference" Who do you want to win it? "I have got ties with my old gaffer [sir Alex Ferguson], and it's nice to see him winning things, but I'm friends with a few of the boys at Chelsea, Frank Lampard for instance. It's great to see Frank doing what he did against Liverpool" Mark Hughes Blackburn Who will win the league? "Reaching the Champions League final will give United a huge boost in confidence and I think they will get the job done now. If they hadn't got through it might have been different" Who do you want to win it? "I am an ex-Chelsea player, I was a Chelsea fan as a kid and I have fantastic feelings for United. It is fantastic for everybody involved in each club that they could both end up with both trophies or nothing" Paul Jewell Derby Who will win the league? "I expect United, Chelsea and Arsenal to win their remaining games, I can't see any of them slipping up, which means United will win it as I can't see their goal difference being overtaken" Who do you want to win it? "Derby! But seriously, I don't care. Arsenal deserve to win something for the football they play but on their day Manchester United can also eat you alive if they're in the mood" David Moyes Everton Who will win the league? "I've said all along Manchester United and I'm not going to change my opinion with two games to go. But I have to give Chelsea an awful lot of credit. They're doing really well but I tend to think United will just about pip it" Who do you want to win it? "Manchester United deserve to win it just now" Rafael Benítez Liverpool Who will win the league? "I have my own idea who I want to win the title but if it's not Liverpool I would prefer not to say anything" Who do you want to win it? "I would prefer not to say anything" Harry Redknapp Portsmouth Who will win the league? "I cannot see anyone else but Manchester United winning the title. I cannot see them slipping up in the last two games. You would not be surprised if Newcastle make it very difficult for Chelsea" Who do you want to win it? "I do not care either way. They are two fantastic teams who have played great football" Steve Coppell Reading Who will win the league? "It is advantage Man United at the moment, but nothing is guaranteed. People have to perform under big pressure at the moment, with the intensity of big games coming up thick and fast. That could be a factor" Who do you want to win it? "I have a red bias, I'm afraid" Steve Bruce Wigan Who will win the league? "That's a silly question. I can't say Chelsea can I but then I can't say United because we play them next week. I can only back one team can't I?" Who do you want to win it? "That really is a daft one!"

Why didn't milito shoot ?

come on barca up the tempo.. manc concentration beginging to go

20 minutes

what are the odds on a last minute manc OG?

jesus the quick feet of Messi, made scholes look like a plonker there

I just don't see Barca doing it

Barca over cooking it at times

Gianluca Zambrotta

Balls

10 minutes not a shot on goal from either side or even a long distance effort

From the Guardian on line commentary : On ITV, commentator Clive Tyldeseley is trotting out the many lines of over-dramatic waffle he's clearly been busily scripting in the build-up to this game. Why he always feels the need to lose the run of himself completely whenever Manchester United play in Europe is beyond my ken. Anyway, it's the match you want to read about, not him.

Has nobody mentioned Maradonna ?? I think the few years between 1986 and 1988 in hindsight were a mini-golden period for football, highlights being Maradonna at Mexico 86 and Van Basten ay Euro 88 in Germany. Still remember that volley from Van Basten like it was y'day, unf***believable.

Reina Carragher, Skertel , Hyypia, Arbeloa, Babel , Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard, Crouch, Torres. Would drop Kuyt, he really looked dead on his feet in the second half tonite Just keep it tight , all we need is one goal, so play for set pieces as if Cech has another game like tonight, he will feck up. Penalties could will decide this one.

And who says size doesn't matter ....

Agree, my reaction also, reckon Rafa following demento's example. Makelle will be picking him up too with Essien suspended

Alonso is not leaving , he only recently came out stating that he was happy at Liverpool plus Rafa said he was not going , so why do people persist in thinking that he is leaving? If Barry does come here, its to play left side of midfield and offer cover for centre. Riise being off loaded

Possible scenario; come June, DIC replace Gillett and install their 2 directors , keep Parry for now as CEO as they need his vote. Then the game begins between Hicks and DIC , with Hicks blustering and bullying tactics of no use with DIC , he could very easily adopt the tactics of blocking anything going through the board. This could last until Hicks cashflow starts hurting but we could see season 2009 being wasted, in that case will Benitez stay, I just can't see him being here for next season.

I would imagine its about the summer plans, if klinsmann was asked about his targets by Hicks that would be surprising to any manager, Rafa would see this checking by Hicks as undermining his opinion on a target that he should be bought. Plus with all this fighting he would probally wants to know what is his transfer budget and can he get in his targets or not, again why the double checking on his targets, as the last crisis meeting between board and Rafa was about transfer targets and the slow response to his requests. They agreed if he identified a target they would go all out to get it, seems Hicks as gone back on this. About Parry being at the meeting in the US about Klinsmann , reckon Rafa probally knew about this anyway, it must be about the leaking / double checking of his targets that has miffed him, rightly so.

I would imagine Moores interview tomorrow will offer to break the stalemate between the owners, perhaps the possibility of an independent negotiator to try to break the impasse. If he is not acceptable perhaps he might suggest somebody else but somebody needs to bring these 2 to the table with a third party (DIC) to buy both of them out. But Moores should try to aim for the higher moral ground , offering to help to sort things out or with somebody else, showing up both for the fools they are . As it is now no financial house will back Hicks with the board of Liverpool against him.

We really don't want the lottery of penalties... need to score 2 goals min

Seriously if Henry is not happy at Barca we should offer him an way out ... the lad is still quality and with him and Gerrard playing off Torres up front it would be lethal. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...ble-802785.html