29 Aug 2014 18:47:14
Can't say I'm entirely comfortable with so many posters using the term, 'deadwood', to describe those players that look like they're on their way out.

These are players who pulled on the red shirt, and in my opinion anyway, always tried their best. They may not be of a good enough standard to play for Utd, but was it their fault they were picked or signed? They've all given us a moment of joy at some point, no matter their deficiencies as players.

Which one of us would refuse the opportunity?

As long as they tried their best, then I think they deserve a wee bit more credit than a boot in the ar£e out the door, with, 'deadwood' ringing in their ears from fickle supporters.

It only adds to the growing evidence, after the booing of Fellaini, the airplane stunt last season, and the way over-the-top slating of Cleverley, that Utd fans don't have as much class as I always believed.

1.) 29 Aug 2014
Bang on, unfortunately it's the new keyboard warrior world, but it sits uncomfortably with me too.

2.) 29 Aug 2014
Stevie, you and I are old enough to be pre Facebook and Twitter. As Dodgy says, it's easy to sit behind a keyboard under a pseudonym throwing out insults. Let's be honest, it's not just football, read any press article on any subject on line and the comments from Joe Public are atrocious.

3.) 29 Aug 2014
29 Aug 2014 21:12:21
couldn't agree more mate.

4.) 29 Aug 2014
1st time here had to say agree with son of sir matt remember whe he went it was chaos for years

5.) 29 Aug 2014
Well said stevo

6.) 29 Aug 2014
29 Aug 2014 21:22:19
100% agree these deadwood players brought home the 20th title.

I hope they all go on a do well.

Each player has their own story:
Cleverley - played too deep by moyes
Kagawa - the number 10 we needed but never played in position. Kagawa, RVP Axis could have been amazing.
Chicarito - brilliant super sub and deserves minutes.
Welbeck - played out of position but always gives 100%.

Without getting all Kloot/ Rainfish it amazes me what "fans" say. Back the team back the players.

7.) 29 Aug 2014
Chris, great photo, I'm a huge fan of the original radio shows. Smelly Alan Fartridge

8.) 29 Aug 2014
"way over the top slating of Cleverley"?

Look I dislike people getting on the back of players inside the stadium, but the venom for Tom inside the boozers I drink in in manchester is justified! Its not his fault but let's be fair. he's not even close to being good enough. Nowhere near good enough. I cannot believe Villa are offering £8m for him! Take their arm off!

Anderson, Michael Keane (pub player), Kagawa & Hernandez should all follow him out of the door.

In LVG we trust!


United till I die!

9.) 29 Aug 2014
29 Aug 2014 21:37:01
I know, guys. Pretty depressing to be honest. Especially when it makes me feel like an aul fart :)

I tore a strip off my wee lad for coming out with something similar the other day.

However, he has an excuse. He's 12 years old.

10.) 29 Aug 2014
They aren't good enough but you should support all players that play for your club whether there Tom Cleverly or Arturo Vidal encouragment for these players could spark a revival but slagging them off just puts them down more

11.) 29 Aug 2014
Right sanctimonious rubbish time over!

Top businesses and teams succeed because they make the tough calls. I don't hate cleverly or any of the other 'deadwood' that we have. But trying to sugar coat the fact they simply aren't and weren't good enough is exactly the reason we finished in 7th. Take him for a beer if you feel sorry for him but it doesn't change the fact he isn't good enough.

They brought the 20th title my arse! De gea, vidic, Ezra, Raphael, car rock, Rooney etc the guys who played 20+ genes for us won us the 20th title not those who simply made up the numbers.

I will always support the team that pulls on my beloved united shirt. But that doesn't mean I can't recognise weakness and where we need to improve!

Rant over

12.) 29 Aug 2014
29 Aug 2014 22:18:22
VPA - maybe Fergie should bear the brunt of that venom then. After all, he brought Cleverley into the team, and kept him there. What was Cleverley supposed to do, when asked to play for Manchester United, by the greatest manager ever? Say, 'no thanks Guv, I'll sit this one out'?

Fair play to the lad. He might be a limited player, but at least he fronted up and didn't hide, especially in the wake of that national lampooning over the England debacle.

That came from fans of other teams, which is fair enough. But I'm sure he probably thought his own team's fans wouldn't join in as well.

Wrong, Tom.

13.) 29 Aug 2014
29 Aug 2014 22:19:46
Ted de Bear, you really need to read my post again.

14.) 29 Aug 2014
StevieK,

Point taken, I do agree that it's wrong that he's taken so much grief from our fans (the best in the world) but I don't think he did him any favours by coming out last year saying " the fans jump on home grown players first". They do to any player who's performance goes from exciting to promising to average to down right awful. his performance Sunderland summed it up. . stunk the place out. worst player on the park AGAIN!. He should have "You do it" on the back of his shirt!. again, its not his fault and if I was given the chance i'd play for us aswell. but i'm rubbish too!

Agree Sir Alex does take some of the blame.

15.) 29 Aug 2014
29 Aug 2014 23:05:36
VPA,

I thought cleverley was no worse than anyone else in the Sunderland game. Also to call Keane a pub player shows you have hardly seen him play. He's about a year away from being ready but he has been thrown in at the deep end and then people like you call him a pub player. It's pathetic it really is.

16.) 29 Aug 2014
29 Aug 2014 23:33:03
As a season ticket holder, I have to stand up for the fans here, they didn't turn on moyes as much as maybe they definatly could have given the fall from grace we had, and other clubs even lower league ones doing so much worse than season before would have been calling for the managers head way before we did (if infact the fans in the majority actually did amazingly) last season the majority of fans we're stone cold, solid gold class IMO. The booing of fellaini hurt me tbh because in one game we ruined part of that. In summary for one season without looking like winning trophy's and without looking like finishing top four and without playing exciting football and scoring bags of goals and without signings we stood up, took it on the chin and still had some of the best support in the league, especially away from home.

17.) 30 Aug 2014
GDS2,

The only player that was on a par wit Tom Cleverley against Sunderland was Darren Fletcher.

I'm a massive Fletcher fan. always have been! But he was dreadful (maybe its catching up with him).

Tom Cleverley has not got the credit in the bank that Fletcher has. I cannot remember the lat time I watched Cleverley have even a half decent game for United. I am a loyal and patient fan, but the player HAS to give something back. something, anything! and he has not. ONCE done that!

Michael Keane makes John O'Shea look like Franco Baresi. He looks like a championship centre half at best!

Tyler Blackett on the other hand looks definately worth a place in the squad.

18.) 30 Aug 2014
30 Aug 2014 00:10:06
Class92 - I agree entirely, mate. I got over to a few games last season, and was always impressed with the actual match-going support.

Though some on here denied this was the case, and stated that the more disgruntled fans in the ground were being threatened by other fans into showing support for the manager.

It's the online posters, the keyboard warriors, the spoilt with success plastics and johnny-come-latelys I'm really referring to. And those like Ted the Red, who respond in a rage, without actually reading the OP properly.

Most genuine fans know how to behave.

19.) 30 Aug 2014
30 Aug 2014 00:55:50
Whatever happened to RFT?

{Ed007's Note - Before you ask that question you have to understand that we're trying to free your mind, Ozzy. I can only show you the door, you're the one that has to walk through it.
Once you step through there's no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.}

20.) 30 Aug 2014
Ed07

Red Pill huh, getting worried about you now mate lol

21.) 30 Aug 2014
StevieK

Several of the match goers were threatened last year. I actually spoke to another at the Swansea game who was abused on the coach on his way home for not being "onside".

I think our fans are really good but could be more vocal, I was there against Real Madrid and stood like most others to give the Brazilian Ronaldo an ovation, that is class. In fact I think it happened back in the early seventies when Charlie George played for Derby at OT, I was there and applauded a wonderful performance.

I agree genuine fans know how to behave

22.) 30 Aug 2014
Is that you Neo?

23.) 30 Aug 2014
Stevie.

I did read your post.

The reply was partly in reaction to your post but also to those reply's.

You say they deserve credit, I don't think they do! That's my opinion you have yours. Of course it's not their 'fault' they were picked and like anyone else I would have paid to be able to pull on the shirt.

But that doesn't change the fact that we need higher expectations of our players.

I don't remember their being a response like this when we shipped Gibson of to Everton as he wasn't good enough.

The fact is whilst I support whatever team goes out and plays there are certain players who I hope play well rather than expect to play well. People like cleverley and nani.

It's about setting expectation and being realistic about the quality of our players. Call a spade a spade! Just because they pull on the shirt doesn't mean they are good enough! I will support them wholeheartedly when they do, but it doesn't mean I can't recognise that they shouldn't.

24.) 30 Aug 2014
30 Aug 2014 10:49:36
Ted, when I said read my post properly, I was referring to the fact that I did state these various players weren't at the level required to be Utd players. There's no argument there. My point was, that as Utd players, they deserve a bit better than being constantly referred to as deadwood, just because they had the temerity to agree to play for our club when asked.

I remember the likes of Gary Birtles and Peter Davenport having a torrid time back in the 80s. Two new signings with big reputations, but who it just didn't work out for. But it wasn't through want of the Utd supporters not giving them good backing. We willed them to try and reproduce their form at their previous clubs. We didn't boo them or publicly vilify them. Same as Forlan. Why? Because they tried their best. Even though they couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo, the fans knew they were giving their all.

It's when they're blatantly not putting in the effort, that they deserve any criticism coming their way.