Paul Parker Article

United must assert themselves

Tue Apr 07 10:22AM

Manchester United need to learn the lessons of the Internazionale tie when they face Porto in their Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford tonight.

They dominated the first leg away to Inter in the last 16 but failed to make their dominance pay and were a little lucky to come through the second game.

It is no good just waiting for things to happen - you have to make them happen, and United must do this right from the off against Porto, especially with the first leg at home.

Porto were not seen as a threat five years ago when they ended up knocking United out - and went on to win the trophy.

While Alex Ferguson's side are strong favourites, there is always a risk of an upset if you underestimate your opponents. They need to leave nothing to chance and press home their advantage early on.

I think Sir Alex is right when he says fatigue is not an issue going into this game, even though it comes only 48 hours after Sunday's win against Aston Villa.

The important thing is that United got back to winning ways against Villa. They haven't played well for a long, long time, but it was a huge win and the dramatic nature of it will have given everyone a boost.

It might have been a different story if Villa had held on for a draw or even won that game, but I don't think anyone in the Manchester United dressing room will be worrying about tiredness. They will feel energised and rejuvenated.

They also have the bonus of three players coming back from suspension - Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes - who will have fresh legs.

In any case, United had the option to play on Saturday but Sir Alex wanted his squad to have an extra day of recovery after the international break. So there is no room for excuses or complaint.

Federico Macheda's late winner got United's title challenge back on track and evoked great moments from the past such as Steve Bruce's two late headers against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993.

As with any young kid who comes in and does well, Macheda has been massively overhyped by the media - perhaps understandably given his spectacular debut.

He has kept his place in the squad, although I suspect he might have done anyway given the seriousness of United's injury problems.

As with so many young players in the past, Sir Alex will make sure Macheda keeps his feet on the ground and he will bring him through slowly.

He is not the only good young striker at Old Trafford, with Danny Welbeck and Fraizer Campbell - currently on loan at Spurs - also trying to break into the first-team picture.

There is no way Macheda will be allowed to believe the hype, and he is lucky to have a manager who will ensure he keeps his feet firmly on the ground.

Rio Ferdinand is expected to miss the game because of a groin strain, but I wouldn't put it past Sir Alex to sneak him back into the side as he has done with supposedly injured players in the past.

If he did, it would be a massive fillip for a defence that has looked shaky recently.

Jonny Evans looked like an inexperienced 21-year-old for the first-time against Villa, and obviously Gary Neville struggled out of position alongside him.

Having Vidic back is a big bonus, but Ferdinand's return would complete the restoration of United's formidable defensive unit. Whether Rio plays or not, Evans certainly looks more secure when he has Vidic to support him.

Video: Manchester United v Porto preview
Team news: Ferdinand a big doubt
Probable teams: Man Utd v Porto

Video: Villarreal v Arsenal preview
Team news: Van Persie misses out
Probable teams: Villarreal v Arsenal

Comments1 - 30 of 76
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Im a United fan but does PP really need to do an article about them every other week??
From mikefrank82 on Tue Apr 07 10:30AM
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and state the obvious..?
From irshad_0 on Tue Apr 07 11:32AM
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I agree with most of your article Paul,however,let's not repeat AGAIN that Porto beated United 5 years ago,becouse,as you will probably remember,it was down to a refferee desicion,giving an offside for a good second Paul Scoles goal.I wonder,where would Mourinho be now,if it wasn't for that decision...
From frentury on Tue Apr 07 11:33AM
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As a Man Utd fan, i suggest u all remove PP as one of your contributors.. Every time he said something about the club, more people become fed up with United..PP, why don't u send a resume to manutd.com..they shld welcome u with open arms...
From rulsheva_7 on Tue Apr 07 11:42AM
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Relying on 17 year olds is a great way for Man Poo to make things happen
'Mon Porto
From arttidesco on Tue Apr 07 12:16PM
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A good article, united are now back with confidence. I hope Hargreaves is avliable next season so we can bench Carrick and i hope the potential purchase of Ribery is genuine. Maybe Macheda is the old type of centre forward we need along likes of Van Nistelrooy and Andy Cole.
From thjaq on Tue Apr 07 12:56PM
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8J܅tor
From thjaq on Tue Apr 07 12:56PM
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h
From thjaq on Tue Apr 07 12:56PM
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COME ON PORTO ;)
From nathward on Tue Apr 07 12:56PM
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The sky is blue, water is wet and PP likes to talk about Man U. Get used to it people!!
From stephenburton2001 on Tue Apr 07 01:22PM
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ManU 1-3 FC Porto
From hejon1 on Tue Apr 07 02:00PM
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what do you know parker? united do that already you dope! take last seasons champions league campaign.... or the time when they beat roma 7-1...... you cant say in games like that united wait for things to happen.
make a decent article!! maybe one on hypocrites like gerrard or carragher!
From philiphaynes on Tue Apr 07 02:01PM
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parker: you were saying last time that Ronaldo should not take free kicks. The reason you gave was that it is not possible to score again and again on free kicks. WHAT happened with villa? You tend to make mistakes when you talk about individual player in your repective article. Please, try to avoid naming players when you write article. JUST A COMMENT!!!
From danny11cam on Tue Apr 07 02:02PM
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I am a man ûnited fan 4 life.man united are going 2 beat porto 2-0 today.goals 4rm rooney and tevez.
From stteejax4real on Tue Apr 07 02:03PM
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Not bad PP.... your improving, either that or I have grown immune to your sometimes inept and very nearly always obvious journalism.
From samuelmanley on Tue Apr 07 02:17PM
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Yes because he gets paid to brains ..
From mercy.1357 on Tue Apr 07 02:18PM
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as usaul...all paul parker's articles are non sense and believe it or not he should be one of us...no wonder any more...just a waist of money for eurosport/yahoo...to all united fans...just ignore him!!!
From rykeano on Tue Apr 07 02:22PM
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irshad_0 how many bad decisions have changed football history? What you are saying is out of place and Mourinho deserves all he has achieved. This time aroung Man U will be beaten without any controversy.
From richardritam on Tue Apr 07 02:31PM
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"keep his feet on the ground" this has become the most used phrase since a little after six on sunday evening. Sheeeesh could you all please stop with it already.
From crazy_pee_jay on Tue Apr 07 02:42PM
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Macheda and welbeck are not the only good ones~ petrucci is another amazing youth~~~ and there are quite a few more that are truely amazing~~~ it's been a some time since we had so many young talents coming through~~ but i don't think campbell is anywhere near as good as the other youngsters~~~
From vitorlam on Tue Apr 07 02:42PM
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emm..porto win..thats it..
From campuzboyz_89 on Tue Apr 07 02:43PM
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Im a real madrid FAN! for me Man u is the best team in ENGLAnD !! i hate liverpool, and hypocrats gerrard and caraghe
From chechenr on Tue Apr 07 02:44PM
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It was said he just enjoyed hot dating with a black female on "M i l l i
0 n a i r e l 0 v e s . coo 00 m"
From ahwfadfw on Tue Apr 07 02:59PM
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man united 1 porto 2, come on 'the hulk', i have 2 admit paul parker im suprised you were not proclaiming macheda as the next best striker seeing as your normally are always so biased towards ANYTHING to do with man united, nonetheless another boring, poor paraggraphed, poorly wriiten article from a former player infatuated with all things machestyer united
From juanpab1988 on Tue Apr 07 02:59PM
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Oh well, its a blog for crying out loud. Don't read it if it bores u or nauseates you. He is giving his opinions, hence the comments field so that you all get to give your comments. No need for slagging. What's up with Human Beings? Do your thing Paul.
From tinashenko on Tue Apr 07 03:00PM
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It was said he just enjoyed hot dating with a black female on "M i l l i
0 n a i r e l 0 v e s . coo 00 m"
From ahwfadfw on Tue Apr 07 03:00PM
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Go rolling paul parker as your namesake paul scholes will be solicit for his favourite team card and complete the name, the red card devils. I'm a supporter, both vocal and financial so dont think I'm a lost soul. The attitude of our guys is just fascinating. I wish they'd some humility or something that resembles it.
From mugpgits on Tue Apr 07 03:00PM
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How many Manure articles does this guy have to write????
From joelconner_stlmc on Tue Apr 07 03:03PM
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I doubt if Beckham really loves Victoria? You know some times he
is absurd. Fox emaple, His fans told that he is dating at a celebrity site
m i l l i o n a i r e l o v e s. c o m, but he has not confirmed yet.
From ahwfadfw on Tue Apr 07 03:22PM
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I have no issues with journo's writing about what they are knowledgable about, and in his credit paul parker is knowledgable about Man U...but, we read the same recycled stuff every week...use your contacts paul and write about something we cant read about anywhere else....play up united...!
From stuartxland on Tue Apr 07 03:26PM
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