ManUre Musings

Wow where has the time gone?

Well a brief catch up on events over the past few weeks. Wolves game again we lacked ruthlessness, cruising at halftime only to let Fletcher score with almost the 1st attack of the 2nd half. Did we wake up and push on again, not really. Still a win is a win at this stage and we are still trying blend 4 or 5 new players into the team.

One player who isn't cutting at the moment in Henderson. He was completely anonimous against Wolves, thankfully Kenny saw the light and didn't play him against Everton in the derby. He has no workrate, no end product and keeps drifting in-field, he then doesn't come back when he loses the ball. Kuyt is still our best option on the right unless you use Bellamy or Johnson if he ever gets fit again.

The derby itself looked like a good open game with the Toffees slightly on top in the early part of the game. Obviously the game changed in intensity and complextion with the bizarre sending off of Jack Rodwell. In real time I thought 'thats a foul'. Martin 'FIFA List' Atkinson who was only 3 yards away clearly thought he saw something heinous. When he went for a card, again I though 'OK yellow, 1st meaty challenge lets get on with the game'. No, out came the red and with it went any entertainment from the game.  Everton put up the barriers and we were yet again faced with the same problem we always have when the other team get a man sent off, how do we break it down. As usual it was just sheer weight of pressure rather than guile from us.

I agree totally with David Moyes it ruined a good game.Sure we may have lost,drawn or won if it stayed 11 vs 11 but what a stupid decision. He compounded it it by giving us a rather soft pen when Suarez enacted his Willem Defoe impression, but I suppose justice was done when Dirk missed. Maybe its a bit of payback from some of the bad luck with decisions we have had lately. Anyway I will take it and thankfully the disciplinary panel saw sense and rescinded the red card. Scant consolation for Everton.

Steve Clarke  was asked about our start and his response was average. I couldn't agree more. We have not been great starters fro many years now, perhaps that id borne of always bringing new players and throwing them in. Enrique and Adam have slotted in nicely but Downing, Carroll and Henderson still finding their feet, with the latter out of his depth entirely.  Bellamy hasn't really had a chance yet but against Brighton he and Suarez looked like a partnership. I haven't seen that with Carroll and Suarez. Carroll  still looks overweight and slow and has poor touch and awareness. I have a certain sense of deja vu, we went through all this with Crouch. A player more nimble of foot and with a better 1st touch and positional awareness than Carroll and we sold him!

I am not saying Carroll won't get there he is very young and like Henderson they need time, unfortunately with our predicament at playing catch up with the other 'Big Clubs' we don't think have the luxury of doing that in the Premiership. I think we should use the best weapons we have and surprisingly with Stevie G coming back that weapon is pace. Suarez,Bellamy,Downing, Gerrard, Enrique,Kelly and Johnson are all quick. Lets use Carroll and Henderson as impact players at this stage they can come on when the game is won or indeed when we are chasing it against tired opponents. 

I see our MD Ian Ayre is winning friends and influencing people with his idea of allowing the Premiership clubs to sell their overseas TV right individually ala the Spanish model. A set-up that works so well that only 2 out of the 20 teams can win the League. Is that what we want. Sure the Premier League model isn't perfect but at least revenue is shared however disproportionately among all 20 clubs. That gives everyone a decent crack of the whip. How are clubs like Fulham,Stoke,Sunderland et al suppose to generate TV revenue abroad? The collective deal works for everyones benefit.

Personally I would prefer something akin to the Bundesliga model if we are going to change it. As usual the Germans are efficient and seem to get the balance right. All 18 clubs get the same amount of TV money, that way any extra revenue you earn is down to capacity, marketing and success on the pitch.

Isn't that what we should be rewarding? Not the fact that us and ManUre can attract billions of pounds from the Far Eastern TV market. Do we really need to be helping ManUre earn more money???? Its bad enough they have twice the capacity of our ground and monstrous marketing machine which churns out enough money for at least 2 major signings every year.

 We would also potentially be harming our own global brand. It might be too expensive to watch our game in some countries and as a result less people will be able to see us play. Mr Ayre clearly has not thought this through. For me this is a non-starter and from the comment on  BBC Sport there is almost no appetite from many of the other clubs. Even Chelski and Man City realise their TV revenue is linked to Liverpool and ManUre being part of the deal. Our 2 clubs have consistently been given the largest  slice of the TV money from the Sky deal and are guaranteed 22 televised game a year. The German model would still reflect that popularity but obviously we would get less money and Swansea might not appear at all during the season but so what at least they would have sufficient funds to have a decent chance of staying up.

So to tomorrow's big game. On current form this is David vs Goliath in all possible comparisons. Form,funds, results etc. We are clearly the underdogs.  We are playing a team that has scored at least 3 goals against all the other teams that finished in the top 6 last year. Am I pessimistic or worried. Honestly no. We always turn up for this game. Its not often I I take any notice of the tripe that spews forth from SithLord Fergie's mouth, never mind agree with it. He said its still the biggest game in England and indeed in Europe as far as local rivalry, intensity and passion is concerned.
Its the one fixture that everyone looks for no matter who they support.

I really think we can beat then tomorrow despite their form,pace and goal threat. We have plenty of our own. they like us don't have a settled back four due to injuries. Their central midfield only works if they have possession. We can starve them of that. Also we are at home and the atmosphere will be electric and intimidating. Team selection is key. for me 4-4-2 will leave us too exposed against their counter-attacking style. I would go with 4-2-3-1 again but with a few personnel changes.

Reina
Kelly-Carra-Skrtel-Enrique
Lucas-Adam
Kuyt-Gerrard-Bellamy
Suarez

Kuyt and Bellamy have a far better workrate than Downing and Henderson at present. Plus Bellers is bound to wind a few of the Mancs up. Kuyt can help Kelly with Ashley Young.  I know starting Stevie G might be a risk but what the hell, if he only last 60-70 minutes he can have such an impact on our play and to be honest we are all dying to see how he links with Suarez. Lets give it both barrels tomorrow. I would rather we lost by having a go rather than trying to keep it tight and losing anyway.

Cmon the Reds!!!!!! Lets send them back to their Theatre of Delusions to their soulless marketing machine of a club empty handed!


YNWA

P.S. A little bit or Premier League history made before the International break that has probably escaped everyone else on Planet Earth's attention. Danny Murphy's pen against QPR makes him the highest scoring 'M' in Premier league history (50). 1 ahead of our own Gary McAllister, 4 ahead of  Paul Merson,  9 ahead of Steve McManaman.  Not a bad midfield quartet that!!! Alas it probably wont be his for long as Flourent Malouda has 39 goals.

A wasted life and mind full of useless information.