***Official Manchester United Thread***

[footylover18]

Why not? I reckon there's a good chance that Hargreaves and Carrick will both start.

I think Fergie will go with Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Hargreaves, Carrick, Ronaldo, Scholes, Park, Rooney. It'll be a 4-2-3-1 formation, although Park will be expected to cover for whichever one of Ronaldo or Rooney goes forward. We will defend deeply against Chelsea and try and get them on the break. It won't be pretty football, but Fergie just wants a win.

On the bench will be Kuszczak, Tevez, Anderson, Nani, Fletcher, O'Shea, Giggs. Tevez will be on the bench as fresh legs. If we've got the lead, expect Fletcher and/or O'Shea to come on. If we need to chase goals, then it'll be Tevez, Anderson, Giggs, or Nani. I don't think Giggs will be used unless we're 2-0 up with a few minutes left.

I think it was against Arsenal we played 3 central midfielders and it did not work. Against Chelsea it may be necessary though in order to neutralise Essien/Makelele, Lampard, Ballack. If we do play 3 in the middle then yeh, Hargreaves will start. I was assuming we'll play 442 with Park on the left. You could be right though, i dont like the chances of Fergie going with both Tevez and Rooney upfront. Instead of 4231, i think we may go a 451 come 433 when attacking. Usual back 4 then a midfield of Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Hargreaves, Park with Rooney up front.

If I had it my way, i'd be going 442 with Hargreaves, Carrick, Park and Ronaldo in midfield and both Rooney and Tevez up front. Both Rooney and Tevez have enough of a defensive mindset that you can afford to play both, and with Park on the left also providing some defensive cover then i think we can get away with playing 442. The worry i would have though is if we'd get run over in the middle of the park. I'd much prefer Anderson to Scholes though, Scholes does have the experience and i guess that carrie some weight, but i worry that sentiment will ensure Scholes plays more than he should.

SAF always goes far too defensive against Chelsea and it really pisses me off. Our record against Chelsea since their revolution has been woeful, the games where we've done well against them are the times when we've taken the game to them. It's a bit of a double edged sword though, since they have the players to destroy you on the counter.

 

[Crimson King]

I am expecting:

Brown--Rio--Vida--Evra

---Hargo----Carrick----
-------Scholes---------
Ronaldo-----------Nani
--------Rooney--------

 

[footylover18]

I'll be stunned if Nani starts.

 

[Crimson King]

Is your avatar, Ms.Lima?

 

[footylover18]

Is your avatar, Ms.Lima?

i believe it is. wish i could make her mrs lima.

 

[ashley12]

I am expecting:

Brown--Rio--Vida--Evra

---Hargo----Carrick----
-------Scholes---------
Ronaldo-----------Nani
--------Rooney--------

Park should start ahead of Nani. Nani will be on the bench and be a possible impact player. Scholes will play, I dont think Anderson will start. The 4-2-3-1 is our most likely option. Chelsea Im not so sure about. They may keep Essien as a right back, with Makelele holding, Lampard and Ballack up the middle. If they do, or have Essien instead of Makelele holding, then we will have to have 3 in the centre of the park.

 

[Crimson King]

We need to shut Drogba down, and this time for the whole game. He makes the difference against us. I am expecting Hargreaves to mark Ballack, Carrick to get Lampard in a bit of a shoot out against them both, and Scholes vs Makelele.

I really think Nani could trouble Chelsea with his crossing, he has that special touch about him, Rooney usually drops in the middle to provide Ronaldo with some chances.

A week away and I am ____ing pumped already!

 

[LondonCalling]

I think SAF has come out already and said that he'll start Scholes, if only for missing out in '99.

Interesting.

 

[Oscarman]

Following on from the La Liga pattern, and using this morning as part 1:

Russian win in Manchester, Manchester win in Russia.

Bring it on!!!

 

[Shinboners]

We need to shut Drogba down, and this time for the whole game. He makes the difference against us. I am expecting Hargreaves to mark Ballack, Carrick to get Lampard in a bit of a shoot out against them both, and Scholes vs Makelele.

Drogba and Ballack are the two who need to be shut out. Drogba is capable of the extraordinary, and it was Ballack's form that got Chelsea so close to the title.

One of the key reasons why Ballack joined Chelsea ahead of us is because he felt that Chelsea were more likely to win a Champions League. Ballack is desparate to win it, so he is going to be a handful in Moscow.

 

[Hawthorn United]

I'm the extra $$ per week had a little influence as well.

 

[Knowledge]

Following on from the La Liga pattern, and using this morning as part 1:

Russian win in Manchester, Manchester win in Russia.

works with me

 

[Shinboners]

No Taiibi? (I don't think he actually won a title in his time but the opportunity was too good to pass up)

Okay, here's my XI of the worst Premiership winning players in United's 10 titles. I'm pretty sure all of them qualified for winners medals.....although I do know that Alan Smith only played 9 games in 06/07 and got a special exemption from the FA to get a medal.

Mark Bosnich
Kieran Richardson, David May, John O'Shea, Quinton Fortune
Karel Poborsky, Juan Sebastian Veron, Nicky Butt, Jordi Cruyff
Alan Smith, Diego Forlan

 

[davey_magik]

Okay, here's my XI of the worst Premiership winning players in United's 10 titles. I'm pretty sure all of them qualified for winners medals.....although I do know that Alan Smith only played 9 games in 06/07 and got a special exemption from the FA to get a medal.

Mark Bosnich
Kieran Richardson, David May, John O'Shea, Quinton Fortune
Karel Poborsky, Juan Sebastian Veron, Nicky Butt, Jordi Cruyff
Alan Smith, Diego Forlan

Bit harsh there .

Did Barthez ever win an EPL medal with you guys?

 

[Shinboners]

It might be harsh on O'Shea, but I couldn't think up another centre back. William Prunier doesn't count as he only played two games for us.

For what it's worth though, I also think I'm being harsh on Nicky Butt and Quinton Fortune as well - the former was a useful squad player and the latter had his career ruined by injury. IIRC, Fortune was superb in the 02/03 campaign when United's squad was decimated by injury in October and November, and blokes like him and Phil Neville kept us in the race.

And Barthez did win a Premiership medal with us. He was in the 00/01 and 01/02 sides that romped home in the Premier League.

 

[belfast_bomber]

William Prunier doesn't count as he only played two games for us.

Haha, that was the first name I thought of!

Diegól really wasn't up to much, but he did score a few important late goals in 02/03. And he made the Scousers cry. In fact, delighted to see a couple of Scousebusters in there.

 

[davey_magik]

It might be harsh on O'Shea, but I couldn't think up another centre back. William Prunier doesn't count as he only played two games for us.

For what it's worth though, I also think I'm being harsh on Nicky Butt and Quinton Fortune as well - the former was a useful squad player and the latter had his career ruined by injury. IIRC, Fortune was superb in the 02/03 campaign when United's squad was decimated by injury in October and November, and blokes like him and Phil Neville kept us in the race.

And Barthez did win a Premiership medal with us. He was in the 00/01 and 01/02 sides that romped home in the Premier League.

Bosnich was certainly average, but some of the things Barthez did were hilarious .

 

[belfast_bomber]

Bosnich was certainly average, but some of the things Barthez did were hilarious .

Did your boys a huge favour with the "taxi" incident...

 

[DaSawx]

Did your boys a huge favour with the "taxi" incident...

Ah yes, didn't Di Canio even stop for half a second?

I remember Bosnich turning up in a yellow keepers shirt when Arsenal were wearing away Yellow, probably not his fault but still fun to blame him.

 

[Shinboners]

I remember Bosnich turning up in a yellow keepers shirt when Arsenal were wearing away Yellow, probably not his fault but still fun to blame him.

It was just amazing how Bosnich managed to last so long at United. He had two problems when he rejoined us - firstly, he was following in the footsteps of Peter Schmeichel, and secondly, Fergie didn't want him. Fergie didn't even bother to turn up to the press conference that announced the signing of Bosnich. Martin Edwards did the deal, and it was mainly because Bosnich was available on a Bosman.

So, how's this for a first day at United training. He arrives fifteen minutes late, and so, he cops a blast from Keane. Bosnich tried to explain that this was his first time at Carrington and he got lost along the way, and Keane told him he should have done a dry run the previous day. Onto the training drills and the Great Dane used to spend up to half an hour just having players kick balls at him with him trying to keep them out. Bosnich barely lasted five minutes doing this drill.

 

[DaSawx]

It was just amazing how Bosnich managed to last so long at United. He had two problems when he rejoined us - firstly, he was following in the footsteps of Peter Schmeichel, and secondly, Fergie didn't want him. Fergie didn't even bother to turn up to the press conference that announced the signing of Bosnich. Martin Edwards did the deal, and it was mainly because Bosnich was available on a Bosman.

So, how's this for a first day at United training. He arrives fifteen minutes late, and so, he cops a blast from Keane. Bosnich tried to explain that this was his first time at Carrington and he got lost along the way, and Keane told him he should have done a dry run the previous day. Onto the training drills and the Great Dane used to spend up to half an hour just having players kick balls at him with him trying to keep them out. Bosnich barely lasted five minutes doing this drill.

Yeah, I remember that. I heard he rocked up in his Ferrari or Lambourghini or whatever and was still smiling and being smug after Keano had given it too him.

Was never going to be easy following the great dane, but the attitude surely didn't help. Going to be just as hard for the next manager once Fergie does decide to give it up, or dies.

 

[youngsaint]

Is Bosnich still trying to make a comeback? Last i heard he was training with QPR but that was a fair while ago.

 

[belfast_bomber]

Thing is, if Boz just stood there he'd have kept plenty of the goals out. He was fat enough. But shot stopping was never his problem anyway, he was great at that, had terrific reflexes before the Boutros Boutros-Ghali took its hold. It was his distribution that was lacking.

Had his moments with United - the Super Cup final in Tokyo, the penalty save from Juninho after Keane's Buster Bloodvessel imitation at Andy D'Urso - but Ferguson never forgives anyone who crosses him, ever.

 

[Shinboners]

It was his distribution that was lacking.

He would have been perfect for rugby.

but Ferguson never forgives anyone who crosses him, ever.

The story I read was that Bosnich was on United's books as a kid, but he had to leave because he didn't qualify for a work permit. He married an English girl, and Villa snapped him up. When Fergie found out, he was furious because he felt that Bosnich should have notified him of the change in circumstances.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Keano actually liked Bozzy too.

Huge waste of talent.