Momentum

[stressederic]

Now we might just see how important momentum is in the title race.

 

This situation isn't really that different now from when Arsenal won the league in 98. They had lots of games in hand at the end of that season but rather than being viewed as an obstacle it was just obvious to everyone they were going ti win them and roar past United. If we can build up a head of steam now and just keep going, we can see just how mentally strong United really are.

 

They're still in the best position and can win the league regardless of our games, but in losing to Fulham they've sacrificed the chance to slip up against the likes of Arsenal, Spurs or City.

 

We just have to keep rolling now, it's going to be all about momentum.

[Magic8Ball]

Now we might just see how important momentum is in the title race.

 

This situation isn't really that different now from when Arsenal won the league in 98. They had lots of games in hand at the end of that season but rather than being viewed as an obstacle it was just obvious to everyone they were going ti win them and roar past United. If we can build up a head of steam now and just keep going, we can see just how mentally strong United really are.

 

They're still in the best position and can win the league regardless of our games, but in losing to Fulham they've sacrificed the chance to slip up against the likes of Arsenal, Spurs or City.

 

We just have to keep rolling now, it's going to be all about momentum.

you never know portsmouth and villa could get something against them too

[carrafan]

What a time to have an international break! The Mancs must be bloody welcoming it.

 

 

Still, we have to do our job and look to win all of our games. The crowd was fantastic today and need to keep the atmosphere up in all our games, homes atleast even if we dont start well.

 

 

Good stuff.

[Moose]

Hope Friedel gets that red card overturned, would be a shame for him to miss the manc game.

[Rimbeux]

What a time to have an international break! The Mancs must be bloody welcoming it.

Still, we have to do our job and look to win all of our games. The crowd was fantastic today and need to keep the atmosphere up in all our games, homes atleast even if we dont start well.

Good stuff.

 

Are they?

 

If you've lost two games what you want is another quickly, very quickly, you dont want to be stewing thinking about vulnerability for two weeks. There is not anything inherently wrong with Man U, it's all upstairs that these things turn on and the more time they have to get used to being vulnerable the better and we have a good few days ahead of inquest and dissection on Man U falling apart without a game for them to respond with.

[Zoob]

Are they?

 

If you've lost two games what you want is another quickly, very quickly, you dont want to be stewing thinking about vulnerability for two weeks. There is not anything inherently wrong with Man U, it's all upstairs that these things turn on and the more time they have to get used to being vulnerable the better and we have a good few days ahead of inquest and dissection on Man U falling apart without a game for them to respond with.

 

I agree. the break isn't great for us because of momentum we may lose (and fear of players getting injured...) but I'm sure the mancs hate the fact that they have to wait 2 weeks for their next game, and won't have much time on the training field before they next play.

 

We're now top scorers in the league and have the best goal difference. Quite something for such a negative team. But won't mean anything if we go the same way as Utd at Fulham in a couple weeks.

 

Kicking Villa's ass was perfect though - when you get a kicking like that, next match they have a lot to prove...

[drdooom]

It's probably a good time for a break for Villa. 5-0 drubbing at the end of a bad run, better to take 2 weeks to regroup after that than getting back up right away. Hope so anyway.

[carrafan]

Are they?

 

If you've lost two games what you want is another quickly, very quickly, you dont want to be stewing thinking about vulnerability for two weeks. There is not anything inherently wrong with Man U, it's all upstairs that these things turn on and the more time they have to get used to being vulnerable the better and we have a good few days ahead of inquest and dissection on Man U falling apart without a game for them to respond with.

 

 

I still disagree to an extent. From a fan's perspective, two weeks of uncertainty might be nerverecking but a break is exactly what a manager wants. A lot of his lads go away for the international game and get a change in circumstances, and when they're back a good manager like Ferguson can sort his problems out.

 

 

We've hit them hard and they're reeling from it. No manc player (or Ferguson himself) would have expected to see us just be a point behind them and ahead in goal difference, a week back. IMO, a break is good for the manager and the players and probably nerve recking for the average fan.

 

The part about Villa getting time to sort their problems out, i agree with also. They dont have many players heading for international duty and will get a break.

[Swipe]

Hopefully Villa are suitably embarrassed at getting chinned today and come back after the break with a more determined performance at Old Trafford.

 

And we continue our own great form, or course!

[MFletcher]

Hopefully O'Neill will display some actual understanding of the game by playing a defensive midfielder when away to a top four side. He might also wish to consider playing the formation that worked for Villa earlier in the season, rather than trying to shove Heskey into the side. His purchase looks to have unbalanced the Villa side.

[Zoob]

Hopefully O'Neill will display some actual understanding of the game by playing a defensive midfielder when away to a top four side. He might also wish to consider playing the formation that worked for Villa earlier in the season, rather than trying to shove Heskey into the side. His purchase looks to have unbalanced the Villa side.

 

Good point - and I think after his debut goal, Heskey hasn't scored again.

 

Playing a right back at right back is also a good idea. Reo Coker is an average midfield player as it is - he's never a right back, and I imagine every manager whose team still has to play Villa will be hoping to see him at right back...

[Rimbeux]

I still disagree to an extent. From a fan's perspective, two weeks of uncertainty might be nerverecking but a break is exactly what a manager wants. A lot of his lads go away for the international game and get a change in circumstances, and when they're back a good manager like Ferguson can sort his problems out.

We've hit them hard and they're reeling from it. No manc player (or Ferguson himself) would have expected to see us just be a point behind them and ahead in goal difference, a week back. IMO, a break is good for the manager and the players and probably nerve recking for the average fan.

 

The part about Villa getting time to sort their problems out, i agree with also. They dont have many players heading for international duty and will get a break.

 

 

You can spin both ways tbh, and that is what it will be about, spin. Make no mistake players and managers pay far too much attention to the press which is why so many managers try to manipulate it, ypou can make your opponents believe in myth and hype and you can also see players and managers crumble under harsh coverage. The agenda for the next few days will be about this mini collapse and our charge and there is nothing Ferguson can do to change it, and nothing he can do to get into his players heads that they are not vulnerable because he has near all of therm away and no game to change the agenda. What he'd love to do is close ranks, train hard and go and smash some team midweek, no doubt about that.

[Zoob]

One interesting factor is that over the next 4 'rounds' of matches, we either play the day before Man Utd, or have an earlier kick off than them. Overall I think it's an advantage - it's a bit like taking the first penalty in a shoot out. We have to make sure we keep on winning, but if we do, there'll be more and more pressure on Utd

[Stevie H]

Hopefully O'Neill will display some actual understanding of the game by playing a defensive midfielder when away to a top four side. He might also wish to consider playing the formation that worked for Villa earlier in the season, rather than trying to shove Heskey into the side. His purchase looks to have unbalanced the Villa side.

shocking management by o'neill that was yesterday, real amateur stuff.

[growler]

good shout re: fixtures. makes a big difference playing first.

 

When is their game in hand?

 

Imagine the players when the international squad get together? I can see Gerrard telling Rooney, ' you guys must be a bit worried now eh? we right in there!' Rinse and repeat for any of our lads in teams with theirs.

[fred milne]

Are they?

 

If you've lost two games what you want is another quickly, very quickly, you dont want to be stewing thinking about vulnerability for two weeks. There is not anything inherently wrong with Man U, it's all upstairs that these things turn on and the more time they have to get used to being vulnerable the better and we have a good few days ahead of inquest and dissection on Man U falling apart without a game for them to respond with.

Agree with that. Provided we don't pick-up any injuries to Gerrard and the Spanish lads then I think its come at a good time.

 

With any luck it gives O'Neill a chance to get his house in order again before his trip to Old Trafford where they will be without Vidic, Scholes, Rooney and possibly Berbatov. Hopefully, he will bench Heskey and revert to the 4-3-3 that served him so well earlier in the season. I could see Carew being a real handful for Ferdinand and Evans. Just a shame Friedel is suspended. Any news on Laursen?

[Kahnee]

Any news on Laursen?

 

He's still Danish

[fred milne]

Agree with that. Provided we don't pick-up any injuries to Gerrard and the Spanish lads then I think its come at a good time.

 

With any luck it gives O'Neill a chance to get his house in order again before his trip to Old Trafford where they will be without Vidic, Scholes, Rooney and possibly Berbatov. Hopefully, he will bench Heskey and revert to the 4-3-3 that served him so well earlier in the season. I could see Carew being a real handful for Ferdinand and Evans. Just a shame Friedel is suspended. Any news on Laursen?

The suspension has been rescinded:

 

http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsD...1601470,00.html

[Falconhoof]

The suspension has been rescinded:

 

http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsD...1601470,00.html

 

haha, that will wind the mancs right up. I still expect them to beat Villa convincingly though.

[Stevie H]

The suspension has been rescinded:

 

http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsD...1601470,00.html

that's lovely news.

[Tosh]

Odd, isn't it, that Friedel appeals and wins. The damage is done and cannot be undone - OK, the outcome of this game was not in doubt BUT.... the law seems to be that a player denying an attacker a clear goalscoring opportunity is due a red card. See Vidic

 

I felt sorry for Brad and he was clumsy and did deny Torres a goal. Red card should stand. Good outcome for us but...

 

Which then begs the question, what does Rooney have to do to get the treatment Mascherano got?

[Jarg Armani]

We just really need to beat Fulham.

 

Even if we do they'll probably beat Villa, and that's fine, you can't have a massive swing every weekend.

 

But we just need to do our bit.

 

It's difficult to gauge how rattled they are, judging from saturday it's somewhere between 'very' and a weird unearthly screaming noise like when they open the ark in indiana jones. So, we do what we need to do, then if Villa do something mad like get the first goal... hmmm.

 

Even if they batter Villa we'll be sound. Just as long as we've beaten Fulham.

[Jarg Armani]

Which then begs the question, what does Rooney have to do to get the treatment Mascherano got?

 

Be a lot less English for starters.

[Knox_Harrington]

It's difficult to gauge how rattled they are, judging from saturday it's somewhere between 'very' and a weird unearthly screaming noise like when they open the ark in indiana jones.

[barry Davies]Oh that's marvellous.[/barry Davies]

[richwilks]

Think Villa will actually give them a game. They can't be as bad as they were against us.

 

Mancs have some potential banana skins coming up in my eyes. It's all going to be down to how they come back after the international break.

 

Games like Man City, Arsenal, Sunderland, Portsmouth and Villa are all games where the other teams will fight hard against them and could potentially see them drop points.

 

2 draws and we win all our games and we win it. Arsenal have a decent recent record against Manc as well.

 

Don't see us winning all our games unfortunately.