Manchester United - Fulham [R]

[Motterman]

United host Fulham at Old Trafford on Saturday. United won this fixture 3-0 last season on a hat trick by Ruud Van Nistelrooy. I can remember it just like I was there.... hey, I WAS THERE! :p

[Achtung]

It'd be nice to see a repeat of that scoreline. :)

[ugly american]1-0 games are sooo boring.[/ugly american]

But in all seriousness, the team should be putting more balls into the net. They're getting chances, but finishing has been a bit off the past couple of games.

[Achtung]

Fulham are a surprising sixth in the league, and I'm sure they are not happy about last week's result when they scored two goals in the first seven minutes, then watched Alan Shearer help Newcastle claw their way to a win. Look for the Cottagers (a name that will be more fitting once they're no longer QPR's bitches) to come out full force.

[Potomac Red Devil]

I agree that we need to unleash the offense this weekend. I will be watching on PPV...:-)

[Motterman]

Fergie:

"We don't usually (hit top form yet) anyway. What we have done is we have been consistent," said Ferguson.

"What we hope to do is maintain that consistency up to New Year and we always feel we improve in the second half.

"There's no doubt Chelsea and Arsenal have achieved a great consistency themselves.

"We want a consistency up to New Year and I think after New Year we will be in a good position."

Fergie starts his two match touchline ban on Saturday as well. I think the second match ban will be served in the League Cup match against Leeds.

[Motterman]

Fergie: (apparently unfazed by the touchline ban)

"If we lose it will be Mike Phelan's fault!"

:D

[Ferris]

I'm not sure how crucial it is for the manager to be right next to the pitch....at least for a couple of games. I'm sure the boys will know he's watching anyway.. :D

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally posted by Motterman
Fergie: (apparently unfazed by the touchline ban)

If we lose it will be Mike Phelan's fault

:D

I guess in a few hours time we will see whos fault it is if United lose.

They are using mobiles to communicate. I am not sure at the end of the day how much of an affect it will have on the team, given the talent and experience. I believe he can still go to the dressing room, to deliver the hairdryer treatment if needed :D

[giggs88]

i saw forlan score.... i saw forlan score...!!! ;) :)

[Potomac Red Devil]

We lost 3-1.

A bit shocking to give up three goals at OT to Fulham.

From what I can gather, our back 4 was atrocious, particulalry in the center, and the absence of Keane in defensive midfield was costly as well.

We have lost more points at home (5) this season than away (3).

I don't know if we can afford for more than one of the following to be off the pitch:

Giggs
Keane
Scholes

Don't know why Scholes didn't start today, especially with Keane out.

[Soccerholic]

A 3-1 loss to Fulham at OT???? What a depressing way to wake up.

What happened?

[giggs88]

Originally posted by giggs88
i saw forlan score.... i saw forlan score...!!!

he was the only one to score. :(. very poor display from defence today. i wonder why scholes didn't start?

[bkn0528]

don't understand why scholes started on the bench. did he have a slight knock? otherwise can't understand it.

every shot by djemba2 seems to go into the 30th row. he needs to take his time a bit.

I was pleased to see Forlan score, thinking perhaps he'd redeemed himself - but that blast wide instead of a relatively simple cross to the penalty spot for a wide open RVN was not good. is he trying too hard to prove himself?

[bourque312]

How was timmy howard's game? Were the goals his fault at all?

[bkn0528]

1st goal more silvestre's fault - poor clearance led to a low cross around 6 yards out that wasn't cleared.
2nd goal looked like defender had near post blocked, and was shielding Howards view I think, but defender got nutmegged.
3rd goal Howard came off his line but Inamoto made a nice shot into the high corner at the near post. This goal arguable I think in terms of whether Howard could have done better but in general the defense was just not good today. Also third goal came moments after Howard saved a one on one with I think Saha trying to round him in the box.

[Lancashire Lad]

Simply shocking to lose 1-3 at home to Fulham. 0-1 may be. We shouldnt be losing to Fulham, anyway there is a long way to go.

After affects of playing away at far flung Rangers in CL, SAFs arrogance in team slection, SAF banished to the stand or just simply a bloody poor display? Pick your reason for the defeat.

I dont think Ruuds inform at present. We need another top striker, which is no disrespect to Ole (injured) and Forlan.

[bigtoga]

Originally posted by bourque312
How was timmy howard's game? Were the goals his fault at all? From SAF's post match press conference:

"We made a terrible start, and Fulham fully deserved to win the match. There was just a lethargy about the team, and it could have been six - our goalkeeper was marvellous."

Oh well - It never bothers me to lose a non-critical game in October. If we lose a critical game in April, then its time to worry. If you 've watched United play for more than a season, you know that SAF always likes to start strong and then he starts (a) tinkering) and (b) letting players rest. SAF will likely play with this lineup as much as he can between now and the end of February and rightly so. If we lose SCholes, RVN, etc in March, SAF needs to have the plan already in place.

[American40]

Don't know why Scholes didn't start today, I read somewhere his hernia was acting up.

[ManUtd R16]

I'm sorry again guys. The last time I failed to wake up on a Saturday/Sunday early morning to listen to Man Utd commentary, we lost 1-0 to Southampton. This morning, I slept through the alarm clock again (because I have had 8 hours of sleep total the past 3 nights), and we know what happened.

[burning247]

I watched this poor display, unfortunetly. The goals were defensive brain farts. No one was on the same page. Forlan's goal was the only good thing he did. RONALDO IS OVER-RATED, he needs work for now. No more starting for him. He was probably having a bad game, but he needs to learn he is not Pele and he cannot take on the whole team. Fulham made a fool out of him time and time again. Crap game, hopefully we can move on and play like we know we can play.