Ok , so I had to respond I guess.....I want to make a few points here...
1) To be concerned over negative play is not the same as saying we should play gun- ho and attack naively or not keep our shape. This is a mistake and missrepresentation of what I and others are saying. There is a balance here. Just because I think we should attack more doesn't mean I think we should naively throw players forward. It's also NOT to do with pretty football , it's to do with effectiveness.
2) I wasn't "worried" just frustrated , it's a turn of phrase more than anything else
The title of your thread is "I'm still worried" Don't be worried.
3) To feel the way I do about some of our tactics at times is not negative but positive because I believe United are selling themselves way short when they try to play like Sven's England. We are better than that. So whilst at first sight my position seems negative, if you think about it I'm actaully very optimistic about United and their talents.
I do not doubt your belief in United's ability for even a second. I KNOW your are true red and have the highest regards for our players and their ability. The issue lies in how we express ourselves and expressing doubt about the team's play and then compounding it by explaining and analyzing is negative, not positive.
4) I agree entirely and absolutely with you when you say we should not focus on worry and negativity because it empowers that energy. But I believe in that very philosophy MORE than you do because that is exactly what United and SAF are going to be tempted to do (and did against Barca). Don't you see? United became "worried" about Chelsea scoring and "worried" they might lose thier precious point in the second half - what happened ? We focussed on negativity and it came back to haunt us. It could so easily have been the same with Barca. The irony of this debate is that it's really United's "worry " that "worries" me. If we worry too much about what Chelsea can do to us and forget what we can do to them it could haunt us for a long time. You see I agree with you, we should not worry and be negative , so why are you not frustrated like me when United do the very thing you are telling me not to do???????? United are starting to focus on the other team and not themselves (WH result does not apply here because WH were woeful)
this is very interesting. I agree you with you on this up to one point. I don't want to get frustrated. I cannot control the team's thoughts or Fergie's thoughts. You might have a damn good point here. I haven;t thought of it that way. It's United's worry you;re worried about. Good stuff. I would only say Do not be worried. Do not be frustrated. Trust them that they are doing the right thing and if we deserve to be champs, fate will comply. If Chelsea truly are the better team, they will get their rewards. But being worried and frustrated empowers Chelsea not Man Utd. Unless Fergie and the boys are reading this, I think it;s best we do what we can, and since we can only control our thoughts and not theirs, do not worry and do not be frustrated.
5) I also believe in defending and playing smart but am I the only one here who feels biting on a leather strap when I watch United defending so passively and not aggressively. I know this is because I am a passionate believer in the aggressive pressing style of defending where midfield players are closed down quickly and possession is very strongly contested (eg Gooners 4-0). I don't think Sven style defending works as well.
No, you are not the only one. I have no more nails. I turn 30 in September and bite my fingernails like a kid till they do not exist. The point you make about the Gooners is a good point. Take the way we FA Cup match and the league match against them. Two completely different games wouldn't you say? What changed? The players on the field. Honestly, I feel that when Fergie smells blood he will let the team go at the opposition, but different players on both our team and the opponent team might dictate differently. It then also depends on the players on the day and fitness levels. It's easier to defend "Sven" style as you put it, then to press for large parts of the game.
6) I am confident that we will win the league and we have a great chance in the final , but I'm not as confident as I should be because I fear that we might try and get too cute and out "chelsea" chelsea or leave it too late to express our true colours. But it is possible to have concerns and be confident at the same time. It does not have to be one or the other.
7) I actually feel now is the right time to say these things because if they were said after it all went Pete tong then I would only be accused of being wise after the event. Mine (and others like me) is not a fickle position. I believe what I am saying and whether we blow the lot or win the double in style will not change my mind on it. The reason ? Because I believe that OVER concern over what the other team might do to you is ultimately self destructive to your team. Respect the other team , but not too much respect , keep our shape but stop playing basketball (United players are allowed to tackle if they want).
On point 6 or 7 - I understand that you want to have aired your opinion before the fact, so it doesn't look like your only ranting after the fact, BUT don't you think it sets up some pretty negative dynamics? At this point in time what Man Utd needs is for their supporters to support them. Using world like fear is dangerous. If you are truly confident, do not fear anything. None of us, for all our years of watching football, are not football managers. We must realize that at this stage in the season, bodies get tired, minds get tired. This is the reality of pro sports. Honestly, an ugly 1-0 win over Chelsea in April or May is worth more than a 4-0 thrashing of another team in 4t or 5th month of the season. Do not be worried, do not fear. Now is the time to trust Fergie and the boys that they will do what they can to win and that the will USE THE RIGHT TACTIC GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND RESOURCES to get the desired result. And at this stage of the season it's about the result. Whether that means playing less or more defensive, pressing opponents or defending basketball style, I will leave up to fergie.
8) One final point is about regret. If we lose the CL final and look back at it in 5 years time , it will be 10 times worse to be thinking , "hmmmm if only we had played our own game and took the initiative and attacked, I wonder what might have happened if we had gone at them like we did in the last desperate 10 minutes from the start maybe we would have won" . That kind of regret never heals , if we lose , then we lose our way not theirs then we can have no regrets.
Once again, I detect some pretty unhelpful feelings here. Are you setting yourself up for regret in advance? Time heals a lot. Man .. how many times have I been let down and really hurt, especially when I was younger, but the lure of Man Utd is too strong
We keep coming back. I know how you feel. Of course, I have felt like that this season. Especially after Bolton away and West Ham away.
But now's the time to get behind the team. It's zero hour. Time to SUPPORT the team. If your daughter is in a beauty contest, even if she is the least pretty contestant, you're going to shout the most and make the most noise. Your not going to tell her about how the other girls are prettier and they did their make up and hair nicer, are you? Why, because you would support her whole-heartedly. WITHOUT FEAR OR WORRIES. Just support, everything else is just noise right now. Just support.
You see I'm glad that you felt that you weren't going to just sit back and take my thread passively without contesting it. I only wish United would show the same spirit sometimes without having to be 1-0 down and in a corner before we do it. My message in moscow would be "get stuck into them and show them who the better team are" . I would feel so much more positive if I thought we were going to do that.