Team for Sunday

[Benitez]

I very much doubt Aggy or Krompy ( ) will start.

 

Although I guess he could stick him in at right midfield! But I can't see it happening. More likely be something similar to the line up v Spurs. Maybe weith Cisse starting tho.

 

I hope he sticks with JAR at left back as well.

 

Has anyone ever guessed a Rafa starting line up right? We should have a competition

[Guest Red Mist]

The 11 we had vs Spurs will do.

[Guest redfromtubebar]

Reina

Finnan

Carra

Sami

Warnock

Riise

Sissoko

Alonso

Gerrard

Kewell

Crouch

 

Can't see Rafa playing two strikers in this one.

[RP]

I think 2/1 or 5/2 is about right for a team visiting Old Trafford - I'd imagine we are much shorter odds than we have been in 10 years??

[Earl Hafler]

I'd start with Sinama or Cisse. Vassell gave their defence some big problems.

[JimmyF]

Reina

 

Finnan

Carra

Sami

JAR

 

Stevie

Momo

Xabi

Kewell

 

Moro

Crouchy

[floyd the barber]

---------------reina-------------

finnan----carra-hyypia---riise-

---------alonso--hamann-------

-gerrard-----------------kewell

----------cisse--crouch---------

[MarkD]

Same as last week

[beejay]

Reina

Finnan

Carra

Sami

Warnock

Riise

Sissoko

Alonso

Gerrard

Kewell

Crouch

 

Can't see Rafa playing two strikers in this one.

 

I can. Playing 2 up front has been one of the main reasons we have been on this great run. The only doubt is whether he starts with Cisse instead of Morientes.

 

We are the only team left with any chance whatsoever of catching Chelsea (albeit pretty slim) and a win at Old Trafford might just give the Chavs a few nerves before the game at Stamford Bridge.

 

I fancy Sky & the Premier League would rather like an away win on Sunday to keep the pot boiling - Mike Riley to do us a favour perhaps????

[Stevie H]

i can see a case for starting cissé, but think that rafa will go with nando.

[Cisse]

---------------reina-------------

finnan----carra-hyypia---riise-

---------alonso--hamann-------

-gerrard-----------------kewell

----------cisse--crouch---------

 

Looks good to me

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

I can see Cisse starting this one, for pure speed & power

[David Hodgson]

I guarantee you it will be this :

 

------------------Reina

 

Finnan------Carra-----Hyypia--------Riise

 

Ciisse-----Gerard----Sissoko----Alonso----Kewell

 

--------------------Crouch

 

 

 

All kinds of flexibility in that line - up.

[Mike]

I guarantee you it will be this :

 

------------------Reina

 

Finnan------Carra-----Hyypia--------Riise

 

Ciisse-----Gerard----Sissoko----Alonso----Kewell

 

--------------------Crouch

All kinds of flexibility in that line - up.

 

and should we be confident, oh oracle?

[Guest Anders Honoré]

---------------reina-------------

finnan----carra-hyypia---riise-

---------alonso--hamann-------

-gerrard-----------------kewell

----------cisse--crouch---------

 

the only sensible team.

 

as evidenced by David's laughable attempt (bar momo for didi) to claim the idea as his own by posting it in a different formation.

[David Hodgson]

and should we be confident, oh oracle?

 

Yep. They will be beaten. The key will be us showing them as little respect as possible.

[Mike]

cool

[Guest Anders Honoré]

The key will be us showing them as little respect as possible.

 

[beejay]

i can see a case for starting cissé, but think that rafa will go with nando.

 

They will try to physically intimidate us. Utd always do when up against it and after losing to City last week, Ferguson can't afford to be out-battled. So they will play very high tempo, in our face, with sliding tackles all over the park and try to play an "English" game.

 

In particular, their defenders will be right on our strikers backs - an early boot from behind, followed by digs in the ankles and back so we can't settle on the ball. They killed us with those tactics last season at Old Trafford when we just couldn't hold onto the ball.

 

Crouch is able to overcome these tactics but I'm not so sure about Moro - they will target him.

 

Didn't rafa play pongolle up front against Bolton when he knew we faced similar tactics? It didn't actually work if I recall because flo disappeared but Cisse is the obvious alternative.

 

sissoko v smith in midfield should be interesting...

[Stevie H]

The key will be us showing them as little respect as possible.

 

i agree with this. f*** 'em. f*** 'em in the ear. f*** 'em in the other ear.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

kick em in the knackers, spit on their stadium, piss in their HT tea

[Guest snez1]

Think it'll be 4-5-1. Impossible to choose between Momo and Didi though. Momo could do a man marking job on Rooney but Didi in big games is just.....well Didi.

[beejay]

Just as important will be the subs - rafa is a real magician with his substitutions - especially now that Josemi's gone

 

I reckon Carson, Warnock, Hamman, Morientes & Pongolle

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

yes. he will launch a devastating attack with the secret weapon that is...

 

Darren Fletcher!

 

They've got nothing in midfield.

 

SHUT THE f*** UP

[Guest StereoManics]

Reina

 

Finnan

Carra

Sami

JAR

 

Stevie

Momo

Xabi

Kewell

 

Moro

Crouchy

 

Thats our best team, I think Rafa knows it and will play it as much as he can for the rest of the season. The only changes are Agger for Sami as and when Agger is fit, if he acclimatizes well etc. Moro for Cisse when he wants to inject the Cisse's pace, Luis comes in at times. We have a certain 7 or 8 for the first time in years. Notice how Rafa is called for over rotating the side but i'd bet that side with a couple of ins and outs have played consistently for 4 months.