Man Utd (H) - Tue 19th Apr 2022 (8:00pm)

[Trumo]

The schedule is relentless. No sooner have we booked a place in the Champions League semi finals and reached the FA Cup final, the league programme is back on the agenda with a couple of home games against two sides whom we probably want to beat more than any other due to the historical rivalries and bragging rights. We smashed the shit out of Ole’s lot at Old Trafford, coming away with a 5-0 win. Since then they have had a change of manager, protested yet again against the Glazers (they spent a shitload of money again last summer, but their fans seem to be of the mindset that they are not spending enough, and seeing their team fall well off the pace to challenge for anything, the toys have well and truly been thrown out of the pram), and are still heavily reliant on de Gea on goal, and the mid-30s preening twat’s goals up front. No room for complacency from our lot despite all that, so:

 

Grit. Intensity. Verve. Electricity. Intelligence. Tactical nous. Gumption. Ingenuity. Gall. Gravitas. Skill. Effervescence. Heart.

 

I don’t ask for much.

 

Last season’s corresponding fixture came at a time when we had no central defenders, and the Mancs were getting ridiculous VAR calls in their favour seemingly every week thanks to Professional Game Manchester-based Officials Limited. It was an insipid affair that finished 0-0. I don’t recall a single thing that happened in that game. Our defence of the title won so gloriously in 2020 had fallen away as we were decimated by injuries, and the goals had dried up.

 

In May 1977 though, the picture was rosier. We were looking to retain the title we’d won the previous year, and Man City had emerged as the nearest challengers. QPR had gone close the previous year, and Nottingham Forest would go all the way the following year. The First Division was a very open contest in those days by the looks of things, even when Liverpool generally came out on top. Liverpool and United would meet again in the FA Cup final a few weeks later, but there was a league game at Anfield first. It finished 1-0 thanks to an early goal from King Kev, with the diminutive forward leaping like a salmon to bury a header from David Johnno’s cross. Even then, the media talked up the game as a dress rehearsal for the cup final. The FA Cup was by far the biggest deal domestically back then. This was also Kev’s last goal for Liverpool. He didn’t score in our last few games though his contribution is undeniable. He would transfer to Hamburg for half a million that summer. The fella from Celtic we spent the bulk of that fee on didn’t do too badly! I can’t find highlights of the league game so here’s a match report. Horace Yates isn’t the sort of name you might associate with a sports journalist!

 

 

The big box office draw n early May 1977 was the film many consider to be Woody Allen’s finest, and it’s certainly the most decorated. Annie Hall was co-written and directed by Allen and starred Diane Keaton in the title role. At the time, perhaps her biggest role had been Michael Corleone’s girlfriend and then wife Kay Adams in the first two Godfather films. Allen also starred as the (neurotic, what else?) New York comedian looking over his relationship with Annie Hall, showcased over a backdrop of how they got together and how things slowly unravelled. Can a committed neurotic ever truly settle with such a free spirit? It is definitely funny in places and very inventive but at the same time, it’s all a bit hipster in being a film you’re told you have to like if you have any pretensions of being a cinephile.

 

 

Guarding against complacency is probably the biggest thing in these return fixtures against teams we absolutely battered earlier in the season. Not that these teams have necessarily got better since then, but mostly because any lack of focus or not taking games seriously can see even the very best teams come unstuck. Klopp and his staff do appear to have worked hard on the squad over the past year to try and avoid such a scenario. They don’t go out there thinking a game is won before it is, they want to go out there and win it. The difference comes from what gear we are in. If we approach it with the appropriate levels of commitment, attitude and application, we can again claim the three points. Handing out another tonking would of course be most welcome. And if Mo finds his goalscoring mojo too, then great. Just go out there and get the job done.

 

 

[Creator Supreme]

Rapeydingo scored a hat-trick today. He'll do the same on Tuesday, 0-5!

[manwiththestick]

Obliterate the cunts.

[rubble-rouser]

They’ll set up for a draw and play Sancho, Rashford & Elanga. Bobby to start with Jota and Mané for me, Clive.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

I'd love to put a load of in-depth analysis in this post, but all that needs saying is that we're great and they're shite.

 

Just get these beat, Reds.

[aRdja]

Alisson; Trent, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Henderson, Keita, Jones; Mane, Jota, Firmino

[an tha]

Really quick turnaround from today this.

 

Yes they are mediocre and we are miles better- but this fixture has special demands.

 

Look at all the times we went the toilet much the worse team and did them - Danny Murphy's exploits for example.

 

When we were sweeping all before us in the 80's we hardly ever seemed to beat these.

 

All that said though the last couple of meetings have been a good reflection of the gap between the sides - if we turn up and are not too leggy and we play well - we surely win 

 

Trust the boys to do just that.

 

Alisson

 

TAA

Matip

VVD

Robertson

 

Fabinho

Henderson

Thiago

 

Mane

Firmino

Salah

[Anubis]

Get in. Get the three points. Open a bottle of celebratory beer on Maguire’s head. Get out.

[Reckoner]

It seems crazy but not so long ago, Manchester United were regarded as one of our rivals for major trophies, and this fixture was one of the biggest in the country. Younger fans might be surprised to know they have actually won the European cup in their history, and more than once too!  If you listen carefully to some of the older songs from the kop still mention Manchester United as a major rival, harking back to a long gone era. The prestige may have gone from the mid table strugglers but this remains one of the more traditional matches which the older generation can testify to.

[The Midnight Rambler]

McFred out for this. Can’t workout if that’s good or bad?

[Bjornebye]

This can’t be taken for granted. Nothing can. I’d take a scrappy 1 nil. 
 

 

 

 

Obliterate these manc cunts 

[niallers]

posted this in the other football thread but it works just fine here too:

 

watched the manc highlights on YouTube. My word, they're fucking horrific. Norwich gave them the first fucking around in their own box, conceded the 2nd from a corner and Tim krul let in a shot straight at him for the rapists 3rd. Norwich opened them up at ease. No Fred or mactom for them either in Tuesday! They only have pogba and matic in midfield! 

 

Barring a complete collapse, we should be tearing these cunts to shreds.

[Anubis]

Fred has pretty much been their star man recently. Insofar as any of them have. 

[Grinch]

Tuesday, fucking hell.  I’ve literally been taking it one game at a time.  Forgot this came around so quickly.

 

Score first, we’ll bum them.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

52 minutes ago, Anubis said:

Fred has pretty much been their star man recently. 

That's how low they've sunk.

[sir roger]

1 hour ago, Anubis said:

Fred has pretty much been their star man recently. Insofar as any of them have. 

I don't watch much of United but of the bits I do Fred and McTominay are the only ones who, while limited, seem to put in 100% each game ( possibly Fernandes too ). Seems a bit unfair that those two are the 'joke' pair when other more illustriius and better earning players are taking the piss game after game.

[Pete]

Twat  em. Three points. Next game

[Grinch]

What’s that on the 12th July?

 

 

[sir roger]

Maybe we are taking them to Southport to watch the Lodge march.

[Grinch]

Just now, sir roger said:

Maybe we are taking them to Southport to watch the Lodge march.

Not been green and gold scarfs that day.

[sir roger]

1 minute ago, Grinch said:

Not been green and gold scarfs that day.

Ha ha, not many half and half scarves on Netherfield Road or Scotland Road in the 50's from what my dad told me.

[Bruce Spanner]

11 minutes ago, Grinch said:

What’s that on the 12th July?

 

 

 

Post season friendly, one for the shitness of modern football thread.

[Anubis]

12th July is the game in Bangkok.

[Numero Veinticinco]

A fucking crazy world we live in when you play a handful of games an United isn't the biggest one. A crazy new world indeed. Just fucking win. 

[Joey8FrogsLegs]

10 hours ago, The Midnight Rambler said:

McFred out for this. Can’t workout if that’s good or bad?

It’s good imo. Those two are ridiculed by many, but where there is a massive lack of defensive structure and willingness to press and challenge those two at least offer some of the latter. Against us the mancs will defend deep, concentrate on trying to stop us playing and hope to hit us on the counter. They’d have better chances of success with those two in the team.