United coach writes off Chelsea

[Styles 9,790]

First-team coach dismisses Blues' title chances

United coach writes off Chelsea

Manchester United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen has branded Chelsea's squad 'too old' to provide any real competition for the Premier League title this season.

Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant also believes local rivals Manchester City, tipped as serious contenders for title success this term, will not be able to compete with United's experience in winning silverware.

He told the Daily Star: "We are not afraid of anyone at all.

"City have made very good signings, but we have something they don't possess. We know what it takes to win trophies.

Too old

"City are still a big rival. But Arsenal have gone backwards, Liverpool are still in a stage of rebuilding and Chelsea have just made one major signing in Juan Mata.

"Besides, Chelsea's squad is too old, and their tempo is not high enough to win the Premier League."

The sad thing is that he's right.

[Ollie 4,400]

I'll remember this thread in May. I don't think we're too old, it just depends who plays. We have old and young like every good team should have. It's not old, it's experienced. We can win this title, we probably wont but there's no doubting we can.

[Styles 9,790]

I'll remember this thread in May. I don't think we're too old, it just depends who plays. We have old and young like every good team should have. It's not old, it's experienced. We can win this title, we probably wont but there's no doubting we can.

Do you disagree with what he's said about tempo?

In our first three games so far it's been the usual slow build-up with very little dynamism where it takes about 20 minutes to get once decent chance. If you look at the top teams in Europe (Real, Barca, Utd etc) they all play with great energy and speed.

[Tomo 21,681]

So were too old but their expierenced, what a twerp that coach is. Surely he should have learned from Fergie's error in2008 of writing us off.

What he does not realise is United's CM options are horrendusly thin, they have a goallie who makes Almunia look like Cech and Buffon combined. Also have lsot 6 expierenced players and replaced them with 3 players with not ONE CL minute between them.

The portuguese press did not give Andre a chance with Porto last season to win the league apparently, surely the English press and rivals would learn from their mistake.

Don't know why im complaining out of our 3 prem titles we were only expected to win it once of the 3 (in 05/06) writting us off suits us fine.

[Henri 115]

Lets see what happens, but until now he is right a about speed, sadly.

[DYC. 7,542]

their tempo is not high enough to win the Premier League

That's the issue that needs to be dealt with.

[neel 257]

Kalou is not too old if i am not wrong.

But he is right about the tempo. We need to work on that. But it is stupid thing to write any team off after just one month.

[Styles 9,790]

So were too old but their expierenced, what a twerp. Surely he should have learned from Fergie's error in2008 of writing us off.

What he does not realise is United's CM options are horrendusly thin, they have a goallie who makes Almunia look like Cech and have lsot 6 expierenced players and replaced them with 3 players with not ONE CL minute between them.

Age and experience are not mutally exclusive.

Rooney is 25 but is very experienced for example.

Utd may have a average CM options but you don't need to have a world class CM options to win the league, they proved that last year. As long as you can defend and score goals then Anderson, Carrick, Cleverly etc are perfectly fine options.

[Steve 10,227]

Oh i hope we prove him wrong! Why open your mouth you twat..

[Fulham Broadway 16,393]

Gobby cunt. I notice he doesnt mention that the old aged pensioner Ferguson is incontinent and senile.

[Tomo 21,681]

Age and experience are not mutally exclusive.

Rooney is 25 but is very experienced for example.

Utd may have a average CM options but you don't need to have a world class CM options to win the league, they proved that last year. As long as you can defend and score goals then Anderson, Carrick, Cleverly etc are perfectly fine options.

To be fair they only won it because the rest of us fucked up, we had our worst season for a long time yet we took them to the last month.

United started last season similar to our start now, infact its not really until December you can get a true indication off how the season goes, unless a team are leading by like 12 points (Chelsea 05/06), if we are still playing slow sideways football in November ill start to worry but for now ive got every faith we will slowly improve like United did last year and in 07/08 for example.

[Styles 9,790]

To be fair they only won it because the rest of us fucked up, we had our worst season for a long time yet we took them to the last month.

United started last season similar to our start now, infact its not really until December you can get a true indication off how the season goes, unless a team are leading by like 12 points (Chelsea 05/06), if we are still playing slow sideways football in November ill start to worry but for now ive got every faith we will slowly improve like United did last year and in 07/08 for example.

That's your view, I think they won it because they had the best squad and their players performed.

We took them to the last month but they also beat us 4 times out of 5, knocked us out the Champions League and won the title in the end by 9 points.

I agree that it takes time to really assess the teams but we have a very slow team with very little energy all over the park. It doesn't take 4 months to decide to come to that conclusion.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

never mind... thought its just Daily Star rubish, but its on SSN too: http://www.skysports..._7146993,0.html

[Tomo 21,681]

That's your view, I think they won it because they had the best squad and their players performed.

We took them to the last month but they also beat us 4 times out of 5, knocked us out the Champions League and won the title in the end by 9 points.

I agree that it takes time to really assess the teams but we have a very slow team with very little energy all over the park. It doesn't take 4 months to decide to come to that conclusion.

Agree with that but they still lack compared to champs in the past, even themselfs when they had Ronaldo. When was the last time 80 points was enough for 2nd let alone 1st? 09/10 we played slow and shit at times (the Inter and Blackburn games in March nearly had me in tears) but we ended up with the double.

I personally think Anelka, Lampard, Mikel and to a lesser extend Alex are responsible for our slow game atleast 3 of them out and 3 of Luiz, Romeu, Meireles and Danny in we will see a different game. Best to wait and see what Andre has up his sleeve now the windows shut he can focus fully on the squad and the players at his disposal. Were understandably not fav's but we are more than capable.

[Beast 85]

Un*ted

Evra - 30

Ferdinand - 32

Owen - 31

Berbatov - 30

Giggs - 37

Park - 30

Vidic - almost 30

Carrick - 30

Chelsea

Cole - 30

Lampard- 33

Drogba - 33

Malouda - 31

Anelka - 32

John Terry - 30

Ferriera - 32

Results: United have 8 players over 30 years old, while Chelsea have 7, so does that mean Un*ted's squad is too old?

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

It's not about age, it's about us not being able to play fast and simple football atm. :unsure:

[Tomo 21,681]

Un*ted

Evra - 30

Ferdinand - 32

Owen - 31

Berbatov - 30

Giggs - 37

Park - 30

Vidic - almost 30

Carrick - 30

Chelsea

Cole - 30

Lampard- 33

Drogba - 33

Malouda - 31

Anelka - 32

John Terry - 30

Ferriera - 32

Results: United have 8 players over 30 years old, while Chelsea have 7, so does that mean Un*ted's squad is too old?

+1

So that means last season (given the 6 they let go) they had 14 over 30s

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Do you disagree with what he's said about tempo?

In our first three games so far it's been the usual slow build-up with very little dynamism where it takes about 20 minutes to get once decent chance. If you look at the top teams in Europe (Real, Barca, Utd etc) they all play with great energy and speed.

I think our tempo will improve with Daniel, Luiz, Meireles and Mata in the same team, when you have Bosingwa who

got into great form. Those are 5 new areas that we have good speed and energy. Lets see how we will play with our

hofpefully, new starting 11.