Norwich City vs. Manchester United

Pretty set on Rooney at the top of the diamond (which should realistically feature Carrick, Cleverley, and Anderson as well - but if Scholes starts over one of them I will not be complaining even if he's not been at his absolute best lately. Anderson can still get a game in the Champions League, he's still obviously not fully match fit yet anyway.

vs. Norwich

de Gea
Rafael Ferdinand Evans Evra
Carrick
Cleverley Anderson
Rooney
Hernandez van Persie​

vs. Galatasaray

Lindegaard
Valencia Smalling Wootton Buttner
Fletcher Anderson
Powell
Nani Young
Welbeck​

Something like that.. Giggs and Scholes will feature in one or the other in some way (over Anderson / Powell in those two games). If Jones is fit I'd just start him in Galatasaray over Valencia. If Evans isn't fit for Norwich, then Smalling plays again.

Not arsed about the Galatasaray game as long as we get some minutes for certain players. Norwich, I quite like them, but I want us to be sticking four or five past them and keeping a clean sheet (though Holt is probably guaranteed to score from a header).
 
Sky Sports saying Rooney is a doubt but RVP should be fit. Guessing 442 with Chich and Robin upfront. Hoping Nani starts this one if fit but i'm assuming we'll see Young again.
 
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson expects Robin van Persie to be fit for the trip to Norwich but Wayne Rooney remains doubtful.

Both strikers missed their international commitments in midweek but van Persie should be fine to face the Canaries after resting a thigh problem.

Rooney, however, could be sidelined after hurting his ankle at Aston Villa and Jonny Evans may sit out his second successive Reds match with the groin injury that also forced him out of Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier with Azerbaijan.

"We've still got some doubts about Wayne and Jonny Evans," said Sir Alex. "I think Robin should be fit. We'll see what they are like today but there is a doubt.

"Phil Jones has been training all week. We will take him to Turkey [to play Galatasaray in the Champions League] with us. He’ll get part of it there, which is a good start for him."

"Bringing on Chicharito [at Villa] was good for us and he should start tomorrow."
 
Smalling is fit.. Evans had to get injured.
It'll be Rio next with Jones coming back... and then Smalling again when Vidic returns.
 
The rotation can wait till the CL game in midweek.
Play the strongest possible side against Norwich.. they are rubbish on paper but gave us 2 tough games last season and have troubled other top sides as well.

Away after the internationals is a potential banana skin anyway.
 
If Rooney really is out, then that three-man midfield becomes even more important. He always leaves a big void in terms of string-pulling and playmaking. Shame Kagawa's not back really, he would have been a straightforward replacement.
 
Wonder what odds I'd get at a 3-0 down, 4-3 up scenario?


I think we're developing this handicap thing over the course of the season. Later on we're going to see 5-6 goal starts being given to opposing teams (probably after buying more strikers in the Jan window)
 
Van Persie in behind Chicharito?

Dave

Rafa
Smalling
Rio
Evra

Carrick
Ando

Valencia
Van Persie
Young

Chicharito
 
Baxter said:
Van Persie in behind Chicharito?

Dave

Rafa
Smalling
Rio
Evra

Carrick
Ando

Valencia
Van Persie
Young

Chicharito
Click to expand...

Gotta think TVCLEVZ23 will play ahead of Ando. Would love to see both of them but with Carrick not playing midweek he'll definitely start. Just hope we don't see Scholes or Giggsy until 3/4's through if coasting. Going to be interesting to see how RVP and Hernandez link up.
 
Yeah, ideally I'd like to see TC and Ando but I can't see it. Surely Fergie will have learned from Villa that having a slow pairing in the middle is utter suicide.
 
If Rooney is out then I think we might see:

de Gea
Rafael Ferdinand Evans Evra
Carrick
Cleverley Anderson
Giggs
Hernandez van Persie​

People want to see the diamond and, although he isn't very popular on here at the minute, I think that AM role with 2 strikers in front of him would be Giggs' best position these days. Alternatively, we could see Young in AM, a role he's shined in playing for Villa and England. Would be a nice opportunity for him to regain some confidence perhaps.
 
Is that what you want or what you actually believe Fergie will put out?
 
I think it's a reasonable possibility and I wouldn't be against it. I have a feeling SAF would go for the diamond in this game, and I don't think the injury to Rooney rules it out. Would probably prefer Young to Giggs myself. Of course I'm not against 442 either, however that means leaving out one of Anderson or Cleverley, and picking two wingers who haven't been at their best recently. Seems to a good time to experiment if SAF sees the diamond as a genuine option on a more regular basis.
 
Rowem said:
If Rooney is out then I think we might see:

de Gea
Rafael Ferdinand Evans Evra
Carrick
Cleverley Anderson
Giggs
Hernandez van Persie​

People want to see the diamond and, although he isn't very popular on here at the minute, I think that AM role with 2 strikers in front of him would be Giggs' best position these days. Alternatively, we could see Young in AM, a role he's shined in playing for Villa and England. Would be a nice opportunity for him to regain some confidence perhaps.
Click to expand...

Honestly I was about to come in here and say that I have a feeling that he will play that very lineup, albeit with Smalling instead of Evans, and More of a 4-3-2-1 with Van Persie and Giggs as the 2 behind Hernandez. Same players pretty much though. I think Sir Alex is really liking his attackers interchanging like we have seen this season, with Van Persie playing through the middle, dropping deep, popping up on the sides occasionally too.

Originally I was going to have Rooney instead of Giggs but then we found out he is a doubt for this game.
 
Quiet in the match thread! only three hours to kick off! UNITED - UNITED - UNITED!

Hoping to see this team (barring injuries)

De Gea

Rafael
Rio
Evans
Evra

Valencia
Carrick
Ando
Cleverley

Rooney
RvP

Edit: Hmm, forgot about the little pea, gotta start him!
 
You alright there Maciek?
 
Norwich are showing some form ,so can see them trying to frustrate , but can't see them holding out. 0-3
 
I hate Saturday evening away kick-offs.

The home fans are usually raucous enough and the home team usually game-raise the feck out of it against us. Never comfortable viewing.

Here's hoping for a good result. Last season's win was very much a smash and grab, and I hope it doesn't come down to that again, but I'd take it now given the option.
 
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Nah I fancy us for this. Won't be a rout. 1-2.
 
To all of you asking for line-ups: do you seriously think someone have the line-ups without posting them ? :)
 
Giggs and Young? We're fecked.
 
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