Midfield battle

[Internationinteroperability]

I really hope we play with a bit more speed than last time and two up front.

 

At Anfield we played the long ball way too often and I didn't take long for Rio and Silvestre (think it was) to figure that out and deal with it. It would be nice if Cissé started up front alongside Crouch or Morientes.

 

We really should be able to win the battle in midfield with Didi (if he's ready) or Sissoko as a holding midfielder.

[floyd]

With Placcy being out, can really see Smith playing. Now if Stevie could do an "equaliser" on him, ala Dacourt and P. Neville, that could set us up nicely, to really dominate their midfield.

[Guest blizztar]

I hate that, when people call them 'scum'

 

Its so leeds Utd and small time

 

We never used to call them that so stop it, or people will think you support Leeds or Birmingham or some other no mark team

 

Oh, sorry I'm not up to "standard" then. I'll stick to calling them whatever I want though, you can disagree if you want, I don't mind.

[G Richards]

I often dreaded going to Old trafford with our team under Houllier, but we'd often get a result (thank you Danny Murphy!) I'm nw more optimistic than ever about going there and getting a result, but it will be a hard fought and close game, easily able to go either way.

 

Rooney will be the key for them, so if Sissoko (or Hamann) can keep him quiet, we should be well on our way. We have a fairly big team too, so if Evra plays we should get a lot of joy at the back stick since he's a midget.

 

Deffo a game for 4-4-2. They have nothing to neutralise in midfield, and I'd say we have more weapons than they do, so let them worry about us. Stevie on the right, Alonso plus Momo/Didi, Kewell on the left.

 

I'd play Crouch and Cisse, with Pongolle ready to come on if Cisse has one of his off days. Back four picks itself.

 

Will be a great occasion and I'm going for a win for us.

[RafaTheGaffa]

We haven't beaten Birmingham yet either

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

it's a feckin derby. There's no such thing as a banker in these games.

 

An example of a banker is Burton away in the cup. Or Jonsey (with a 'W')

[Guest Anders Honoré]

I often dreaded going to Old trafford with our team under Houllier, but we'd often get a result (thank you Danny Murphy!)

 

I was generally confident of playing under houllier as he knew exactly how to play them, whereas under evans, I had no faith at all we'd beat them.

 

Rafa so far has been outthought by ferguson, but we've come a long way since then and manU haven't.

 

Their midfield now is the weakest it has been in decades. Fletcher, smith, giggs and...??? Scholes, Park and ronaldo are all out. Only giggs even resemble a class player and I doubt he'll prove much of a threat now. I assume he'll play O'shea in central midfield alongside smith.

 

There is no way we should lose this one tomorrow. Didi and Xabi in the centre will completely dominate them, with stevie and harry on the flanks. Nando and Cisse up front (crouch has been poor recently).

[psl]

Its tomorrow?

[Walrus]

There is no way we should lose this one tomorrow.

You're not wrong there.

[fred milne]

If Cisse is fit I'd play him with Mori (Crouch is off form).

Crouch is a must for Old Trafford - neither Cisse or Morientes can be relied on to hold the ball up away from home.

[Frosty Jack]

Isn't smith suspended too?

[Phil236849]

Scholes is still having trouble with his eyesite isn't he, hence he's not back yet?

 

can you find that on the web?

[Gilps]

can you find that on the web?

 

Been no news since this but he hasn't featured since

 

Scholes blindness claims rejected

 

 

Manchester United's Paul Scholes is not suffering from partial blindness, according to the Old Trafford club.

The 30-year-old has been out of the first-team line-up since suffering a bang on the head during the Premiership draw with Birmingham on 28 December.

 

United insist that Scholes only has a slight problem with his eyesight.

 

"Paul has blurred vision in one eye. He has not got a cyst and is not suffering from blindness. He cannot play until he recovers," said the spokesman.

[Ombudsam]

If he's fully fit and ready to go, could this be a job for Didi?

 

i'd put him in for sissoko in this game

[Stevie H]

lot of complacency going on here. it's them. anything can bloody happen.

[Phil236849]

Been no news since this but he hasn't featured since

 

Scholes blindness claims rejected

 

 

Manchester United's Paul Scholes is not suffering from partial blindness, according to the Old Trafford club.

The 30-year-old has been out of the first-team line-up since suffering a bang on the head during the Premiership draw with Birmingham on 28 December.

 

United insist that Scholes only has a slight problem with his eyesight.

 

"Paul has blurred vision in one eye. He has not got a cyst and is not suffering from blindness. He cannot play until he recovers," said the spokesman.

 

cheers - doesnt sound like an imminent return. think that was last week wasnt it

[pinstriped]

Who is the ref?

According to RAWK, Mike Riley's the ref.

[Mikey]

According to RAWK, Mike Riley's the ref.

You're F***ing kidding me right?

 

Fergie will be knocking one out over this if it's true!

[pinstriped]

You're F***ing kidding me right?

 

Fergie will be knocking one out over this if it's true!

Unfortunately, no.

[Benitez]

I don't think it is being complacent to point out that we are favourites.

 

 

favourites?

 

How do people figure that out?

 

They are at home, and last time I looked still 2nd in the league. And the last 3 games between us have seen 2 wins for them and a draw. The reports of ManYoo's demise have been severely exaggerated imo.

 

Until the Man City game, they'd been on a very good run in the league as well. The only team to beat Chelsea in the league and had gone 12 or so games unbeaten in the league as well (sound familiar?!).

 

On current form it should be a close game, but no way on earth do I see how we are favourites, away from home, to a team above us in the league.

[Benzo-13]

favourites?

 

How do people figure that out?

 

They are at home, and last time I looked still 2nd in the league. And the last 3 games between us have seen 2 wins for them and a draw. The reports of ManYoo's demise have been severely exaggerated imo.

 

Until the Man City game, they'd been on a very good run in the league as well. The only team to beat Chelsea in the league and had gone 12 or so games unbeaten in the league as well (sound familiar?!).

 

On current form it should be a close game, but no way on earth do I see how we are favourites, away from home, to a team above us in the league.

 

I think we have a right to be bullish about this one.

 

They've no leaders on the pitch and we've got Mr. Perpetual Motion (Stevie G) and the as quoted "Best midfield in the Civilised World"

Work hard and get our toe in and we've got them.

[Jon]

The tramp stated before last weeks game that Scholes was still suffering from blurred vision, doubt he'll have made a miraculous recovery in the space of a week as he's been suffering since Xmas.

 

If Riley is the ref you can put money on him giving a penalty to the diving horse, probably send someone off in the process too.

 

How he can possibly ref a game again after the debacle he made of the Bolton match is beyond me, even the commentators were shouting out to him that football is a contact sport. Surprised Fat Sam hasn't called for him to be hung drawn and quartered. He should at least be Rennie'd for the rest of the season.

 

Momo should definitely not be played if Riley is on the pitch because he will be guaranteed two yellows.

[RedMersey]

Even though a 4-4-2 might be the right choice for Sunday's game, I think the midfielder to play along with Xabi should be Didi rather than Sissoko. Sissoko picks up way too many cards for this match. It's just not a job for Sissoko. Hamann has much more experience, and I would feel a lot safer seeing him face Rooney doing his best to keep him out of the game.

 

On the other hand, I'm not at all sure that the 4-4-2 would be correct for this game. I believe a 4-5-1 with Didi behind Momo and Xabi could work out well. The problem then would be to move the midfield up to support Crouch (want him to play as the lone striker). I'd love to see Gerrard's runs from midfield to pick up Crouch's passes. Just like the goal against Newcastle.

Edited January 16, 2006 by RedMersey

[Guest Anders Honoré]

favourites?

 

How do people figure that out?

 

They are at home, and last time I looked still 2nd in the league. And the last 3 games between us have seen 2 wins for them and a draw. The reports of ManYoo's demise have been severely exaggerated imo.

 

On current form it should be a close game, but no way on earth do I see how we are favourites, away from home, to a team above us in the league.

 

Only above us because of games in hand. and frankly, a much weakened side compared to the one that has got them to this point.

 

Scholes, park, Keane and Ronaldo would probably have been their starting lineup if they were available for selection against us. They are fielding a secondrate midfield, the weakest in many years.

 

If we allow them more than a draw, I think it's fair to say we will have underperformed.

[surf]

I'd go with Sissoko, Alonso, Gerrard, Kewell, Garcia, Crouch.

And the back 5 of course.