Dud3s

Costanzo, just out of interest, why do you support Manchester United? I am intrigued...

By the way I am a Middlesbrough fan :)

I'm with Costanzo on this one. Man U is the best team with the best player in the world right now.

Its called football

So you support them because they're the 'best team' Liza?

No aidan. I am an American who knew very little about soccer until my older son started playing around 1985. I quickly grew to love not only watching him play, but also watching the game played by professionals. I remember watching Man U play because here in Tampa we had a team called the Rowdies which happened to have some ex EPL players on it. There are other teams I like but Man U was just the first team I grew to appreciate.

Ahh right I see, I took it the wrong way to begin with :-). It's good that you like Football though, sometimes it comes across as though it isn't very big at all in America.

I can see how you you would grow to appreciate Man U seeing how big they are - it makes sense.

Just out of interest, have you heard of Jaime Moreno? He plays for DC United, and I have heard that he is quite big over there is that right?

He used to be. Quite old now. The younger American players are beginning to show some promise. Still hard to watch MLS after watching EPL on Fox Soccer Channel.

Nice, the only reason I asked is because he is an ex-Middlesbrough player.

There are quite a few upcoming stars that I've heard of, some of which if my memory serves me correctly; Eddie Johnson and Landen Donovan - those are the main two that I have heard of.

I have seen the odd highlight or two from the MLS and I would find it difficult to watch it after being so used to EPL. Another ex-Middlesbrough player that played in America, and still does I believe is Abel Xavier, plays for LA Galaxy, although he seemed to have a bit of a torrid time to begin with (from what I had seen anyway!).

Whilst talking of Middlesbrough players I believe that one of our youth players who seems decently promising qualifies to play for USA, his name is Seb Hines. Not sure if he will end up playing for USA, but I don't think that he'll get into the England side, I don't think he'll be quite that good. He qualifies to play for another country too I believe, so he has lots of choice!

aiden_1986 I've been a Manchester United fan since the age of 4, I just love the way they play. Fast tempo, attacking and its entertaining. Plus they produce homegrown players who are given a chance to break into the first team. You don't see that happening at other clubs now do you??

Scholes, Giggs, Neville, Fletcher, O'Shea, Brown, Simpson have all been on Man Utd's books from the begining and that is what i like about the club. They dont buy succes they nurture it in their own back yard.

Also i hear Woodgate is most likely moving to Tottenham soon. What do you think about Middlesbrough selling Woodgate?

Yeah I can understand why you would like Man U due to their style of play.

You mention how good Man U are at bringing through youngsters, Middlesbrough are just as good actually if not better. For example we have had many youngsters play for us, some of which have left the club now like Stuart Parnaby and Andrew Davies being the main two, but other youngsters who get a look into the team are people like; Stewart Downing, David Wheater, Jonathan Grounds, Andrew Taylor, Tom Craddock, Brad Jones (despite him being Australian he was still brought through the youth ranks), Ross Turnbull, Lee Cattermole, Matthew Bates, Anthony McMahon, Seb Hines and Adam Johnson. All of those bar Brad Jones, Matthew Bates and Anthony McMahon are involved in your first team and play in the Premier League.

With regards Woodgate, I am disappointed but he hasn't performed that well this season to be fair. We have adequate cover and excellent centre halves at the moment anyway in Huth and Wheater - they are rocks at the back. Obviously I would have liked to see him stay but if he doesn't want to be a part of what we're doing it isn't right to keep him here.

I see today that you drew Arsenal in the FA Cup - certainly a difficult tie! What do you think about it?

Should be a cracker of a game, i'm hoping United come out on top.

I'm also looking forward to Bristol Rovers play against Southampton. I lived close to Bristol so it would be wonderful for them to progress to the quarter finals.

It now seems Arsenal are intrested in Woodgate too, I'm glad to see Wenger looking at English players now.

Middlesbrough are up against Sheffield United, it might prove a tight game. Taking into account Shef Utd have already knocked out Man City and Bolton

Yeah it should be, although the Man U - Arsenal games aren't quite as good as what they used to be like with Viera and Keane!

Yeah, it will be a good signing for Arsenal should he end up going there - I am sure that he would be happier there, clearly he is unhappy here if doesn't want to be a part of what we're trying to do.

Yeah we are. It could be difficult but I see it as a winnable match - and it will be a nice occasion seeing as their manager, Bryan Robson is an ex-Middlesbrough manager.

Woodgate signs for Spurs and apparently Alan Hutton might be joining him too from Rangers.

It seems Spurs are out to boost their defence.

So they ought to, it has been diabolical this season in my opinion. Hutton would be a good signing mind, he has been in very good form from what I have seen and heard!

I began speculating that he might be on his way to Man Utd after Hutton rejected Spurs earlier this month.

Wes Brown didn't accept Man Utd's final contract offer and Ferguson heaped praise on Hutton after his display for Scotland against France.

I think he would make an excellent signing for United and with a price tag of £8 million would be a bargain for a potential long term replacement for Gary Neville

I can't believe how poorly Man Utd played, they were fortunate to get that draw. Spurs played well, credit to them. But i'm feeling bummed that United lost ground on Arsenal.

What are your views on this weekends results??

I agree it was not Man U's finest hour. They seemed to let the ref take them out of the game.Too much arguing over the calls and not enough playing the way they know how. I am sure it will come down to the Arsenal- Man U game which should be a classic.

The FA cup gave us some excitment over the weekned, Man Utd's 4-0 win over Arsenal was great and top things off, Liverpool lost to Barnsley.

This year's FA cup is proving to be very eventful with Cardiff, Bristol Rovers, Barnsley and WBA being outside of the Premier League. It would be great if one of them made all the way.

What were your take on last weekned games and Monday's quarter final draw?
Also, don't you think the 39 game plan is getting a bit ridicolous now?

The Arsenal loss was a minor blip. These things happen, but I don't think it will deter them from having a great performance Wed against Milan and for the rest of the season. United played well and deserved the win.

There is simply no hope for Liverpool. I fear that Gerrard just isn't the right central midfielder for the team, but he will never leave.

Don't underestimate Portsmouth in the Quarters.

As for the 39th game, mo money, mo money, mo money...mo problems.