Andy Gray on the current Man Utd team
If Manchester United beat Barcelona on Saturday then Sir Alex Ferguson's team will have completed a Premier League and Champions League double that might well be his greatest achievement.
Although I disagree with those who say that Manchester United haven't been great this season, I do recognise that Sir Alex's current squad lacks the star talents of previous year: Wayne Rooney is a fantastic player and Javier Hernandez is becoming a terrific striker but there are no Cristiano Ronaldos or David Beckhams in this team.
The 2011 vintage is exactly that - a team - and while this may not be their most exciting group of players, it is certainly their grittiest. The fact that they haven't conceded an away goal in this competition is emphatic proof of that.
Sir Alex has had to be manipulative this season in the way that he has tweaked his starting line-ups, rotated players and deployed them in different ways. He's provided a tactical master class to all other managers. With this squad, the whole is better than the sum of its parts and it's a unit that I believe can overcome Barcelona.
Sir Alex has said that his side are ready for Barcelona. Since wrapping up the title a couple of weeks ago, Ferguson and his coaches will have been focussing on their tactics for the final. They will have impressed upon each player exactly what is expected of them against Barcelona.
Lionel Messi and co deserve a lot of respect but Manchester United will be determined to avenge their defeat of two years ago. I only hope they won't be too keen but Sir Alex learned from that defeat in Rome and, when he says his team will be ready, he's showing us that he has faith in them.
If I was still playing, I would want to be a Manchester United player. I would be desperate to get out there at Wembley and Saturday night couldn't come soon enough.
These are the nights you dream about and, once his players cross that white line, Sir Alex will have to trust his players in the way that he has done for the last 20 years. That's often produced great results and I believe it will again on Saturday.
Do you make Andy Gray right? They are [2.82] to get their hands on the trophy...
Published: 27 May 2011
RedScot (May 26, 2011 10:13 AM) said:
I have got to agree with Andy our boss will have reviewed the match in Rome over and over again.He will have worked out how to get at them, as is widely now recognised its their backs the obvious weakness,Dani Alves and if he plays Eric Abidal, because they push to far forward and short term forget their defensive responsibilties, leaving the mistake waiting to happen Pique, isolated with the lightening fast Hernandez on his shoulder.
The other aspect of this game is Barcelona's temperament and playing to the Hungarian officials will not work on this occasion, although I understand they are multi lingual.
The other positive for United on this occasion there is no Ronaldo to endeavour to win the game himself and glorify him as the United saviour.
Manchester United this time around are more cohesive and together without self massaging ego trippers.Its all to be won in the centre of the park, if Arsenal can achieve this at the Emirates and truly rattled their cage, United undoubtly can.The first goal will be vital clearly to get Barcelona to play in the last third of Uniteds half all the 90 minutes plus Fergie time, if they do and its nil/nil they tend to get more frustrated and tired , particularly with a British style of football high tempo agressive tackling and up and at em, approach.
Its my belief as in Barcelona in 99 against Bayern Munich with the great Dane hanging up his gloves, on this occasion as the great Dutch man, draws down the curtain on a fabulous United career its a fitting reward for Edwin to lift 'big ears' and the United lads will do this for the Manager, Edwin and Red Nev plus of course the fabulous United supporters(at the game) all over the world shouting on the lads.
Cmon United.
getenet (May 26, 2011 12:55 PM) said:
yes WE ARE ONE UNITED WE CAN DO EVERY(ANY) THING WE NEED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!