February 16, 201510 yr Still more pace than the rest of their midfield. He's the sort of player that, given a run in the team, can become a mainstay for years. Agreed, but that's not really difficult with Blind, Fellaini and Rooney as your competition! I think they will beat Arsenal. They always beat Arsenal at Old Trafford no matter how bad they are, and how good Arsenal are.
February 16, 201510 yr Truly awful performance from Manchester United. They can't even play football right now.
February 16, 201510 yr Yeah once again it was an underwhelming performance (how often I've said the last couple of months) but point is we're doing what we weren't last season which is playing badly but still getting results. 1 defeat in 19 is seriously impressive whatever way you look at it! Really have to go all guns blazing for this cup now. It shouldn't be seen or indeed act as a distraction from the league and in all a top 4 finish and the FA Cup would be a very successful first season for LVG.
February 16, 201510 yr Yeah once again it was an underwhelming performance (how often I've said the last couple of months) but point is we're doing what we weren't last season which is playing badly but still getting results. 1 defeat in 19 is seriously impressive whatever way you look at it! Really have to go all guns blazing for this cup now. It shouldn't be seen or indeed act as a distraction from the league and in all a top 4 finish and the FA Cup would be a very successful first season for LVG. Agree 1 in 19 is impressive, but to me, it just reminds me of the final season under Ferguson. The results covered up the cracks, which is what is happening now. All it takes is for a couple of defeats and the tide really changes. I don't think playing the way you are is sustainable for the rest of the season, and a lot of these results have come with a large fortune of luck. Honestly the results might seem good, but this Man Utd side is so cack. So many good players that look clueless on the pitch. I hope Di Maria ends up in the worst signings of the year end of lists. Add Falcao to that list too who looks completely finished. My funniest moment critique though is how if Moyes played Fellaini last year as a target man he would have been hounded.. though for Van Gaal it's good management :D You can't write this stuff!
February 16, 201510 yr LVG has underperformed. He's spent by far the most money without sorting the main problems at Man United. Their budget must surely be the highest in the premier league? I'm guessing had Moyes had a similar budget then Man United would be performing similar. LVG is getting away with his awful tactics due to his name.
February 16, 201510 yr LVG has underperformed. He's spent by far the most money without sorting the main problems at Man United. Their budget must surely be the highest in the premier league? I'm guessing had Moyes had a similar budget then Man United would be performing similar. LVG is getting away with his awful tactics due to his name. Thing with Van Gaal is he's being pragmatic, and certainly has the greater tactical nous than Moyes to do this. If Man Utd don't get Champions League this year then they're pooed quite frankly. Hence why I think Van Gaal keeps changing things. It will be back to basics again next year trying to find a long term solution but right now he's trying to fit circles in square holes. He doesn't trust his defence one bit, so he sets his team up not to lose, not give possession away cheaply and hope that the extra quality Man Utd have will pay dividends. Failing that there's always the long ball :D
February 17, 201510 yr A dive from Rooney that Tom Daley would be proud of. Another lucky win for Man United. Perfect draw for Bradford City in my opinion.
February 17, 201510 yr The BBC have snubbed Bradford again! They will show Man United v Arsenal and Aston Villa v West Brom, while the other two will be on BT Sport.
February 17, 201510 yr After all the fuss over the 5th round (although I think the BBC's decision was justified), I'm surprised they have not chosen them again. Their first choice of Man U v Arsenal was predictable but, after BT snubbed Bradford, I would have thought the BBC would have made that match their second choice.
February 17, 201510 yr With all due respect I think Villa vs West Brom is a much better pick than Bradford vs Reading. Fair enough if Bradford were playing a Premier League team, but out of the 4 ties it's the least glamorous. With Sherwood now the Villa manager there's probably a lot more interest in the tie. And if you have first pick, then Man Utd vs Arsenal is obviously a no brainer.
February 17, 201510 yr Bradford v Reading would have been the obvious fourth choice if Bradford had got to the QF simply by getting lucky draws and only having to beat the likes of Rochdale, Bury and Swindon (no disrespect to any of them). However, their run has been the story of the FA Cup this year which makes their tie (even against a Championship team) more interesting.
February 17, 201510 yr A fierce Midlands derby between two PL teams (but for how much longer?) is obviously more favourable than Bradford/Reading. And it's not as if it's not on TV at all...
February 17, 201510 yr Its a much bigger audience on the BBC though - all their live cup games have had high ratings. Since Bradford are the story of the Cup this year, and the furore over the Sunderland snub, more neutrals would be interested in that over Villa West Brom. On the other hand, its a local derby with two high profile new managers who haven't had any Cup success for years. On balance, Villa is probably a better choice.
February 17, 201510 yr Maybe they're so confident Bradford will win they'll give them their time to shine in the Semis? :P I really could see another Bradford vs Villa SF tbh and then the other match will be a clash of the heavyweights...
February 17, 201510 yr I guess if it had been a Bradford verus a Premier League team then yes the BBC would have definitely shown it. They are probably confident that Bradford will make the semis. Plus it is one of the biggest Midland cup derby match since Aston Villa v Birmingham 2010.
February 17, 201510 yr ^^^ I remember that game, there was a mass pitch invasion and violent clashes between fans. St Andrews can be a nasty away venue at times.
February 18, 201510 yr BT will be making the Bradford v Reading game available for free. A good PR move by them which should satisfy most critics of the BBC's match choices. http://sport.bt.com/sport-football/news/bt...S11363962549635
March 2, 201510 yr Does that mean the game will be available to people who has BT Sport on Freeview but don't subscribe to BT Sport then? Predictions: 7th March: Bradford v Reading 12:45 2-1 Aston Villa v West Brom 17:30 0-2 8th March: Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers 17:00 3-1 9th March: Manchester United v Arsenal 19:45 3-2
March 2, 201510 yr Does that mean the game will be available to people who has BT Sport on Freeview but don't subscribe to BT Sport then? My understanding is that, as long as you have a channel number allocated to BT Sport, you will be able to watch it.
March 2, 201510 yr The four semifinalists will be Reading, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Arsenal I reckon.
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