Saturday 15th December 2012
Barclays Premier League
Old Trafford, Manchester
KO: 1500 GMT
Manchester United vs. Sunderland
- Thread starter nemanja15
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Saturday 15th December 2012
Barclays Premier League
Old Trafford, Manchester
KO: 1500 GMT
Even more players returning but maybe it's also a good chance to give some other players some minutes... Buttner, Powell ?
We've got the week to rest. Please no rotation now. We took the last 2 CL games easy.. and we're out of the league cup... the players cant be that tired.
Most teams struggle and drop points in this phase.. we need to make sure we dont.
Most teams struggle and drop points in this phase.. we need to make sure we dont.
We should win this comfortably
There'll be plenty of chances to rotate in the next few weeks, we should be full strength for this. Same lineup as today, smalling for Evans if he's injured. Hopefully we can give some minutes to vidic and Kagawa as well.
Exactly, with a week's rest between City and this game and then again to Swansea, we do not need to be faffing around with team selection. Two changes at most. Possibly Smalling or Vidic to partner Ferdinand. Hope to see Kagawa at some point and Hernandez too.
DDG
Rafael Vidic Smalling Evra
Valencia Carrick Cleverley Young
Rooney
RVP
Would be great if Kagawa could make the bench and get minutes too.
Rafael Vidic Smalling Evra
Valencia Carrick Cleverley Young
Rooney
RVP
Would be great if Kagawa could make the bench and get minutes too.
Is a clean sheet too much to ask for in this game?
Easiest game of the season, Sunderland are truly atrocious at the moment.
not a team in the league id like to hammer more this season. even fergie said we wouldnt forget their fans last season. doing the poznan after losing a game, sad bastards.
6-1.
6-1.
The only changes we should make is Vidic and Smalling for Rio and Evans. Rio to be rested and Evans is injured, while Smalling deserves to play and Vidic is back.
And we should demolish the cnuts, and teach them to not never ever celebrate when City wins the title (not a thing which will happen in the near future but anyway).
And we should demolish the cnuts, and teach them to not never ever celebrate when City wins the title (not a thing which will happen in the near future but anyway).
Strongest possible team please. We'd probably get away with rotation but don't want to take any risks - need to hammer home our advantage and put City under real pressure.
I hope we do the poznan on their fecking heads.
Need to twat these. Revenge for last year and also get that goal difference up (too close to City's at the mo).
We'll be buzzing from today and Sunderland are fecking shit.
5-0 Rvp x2
We'll be buzzing from today and Sunderland are fecking shit.
5-0 Rvp x2
You can't see anything fewer than 5. This might be the game that makes O'Neill resign.
No messing about at this stage
No fecking about, I want to see this team:
De Gea, Rafael, Rio, Evans/Smalling, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young, Rooney, Rvp
Should batter them.
De Gea, Rafael, Rio, Evans/Smalling, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young, Rooney, Rvp
Should batter them.
my own sentiments, in a more colorful manner
Time to get revenge on these pricks. Fergie said we won't forget.
Same again
Obviously Smalling will come in for Evans and I can see Welbeck in for Valencia but other than that it hopefully will be the same team as today.
Not to many changes needed.
If Anderson is not fit, then it's about time Cleverley was given a run of games to show what he can do.
Possibly Welbeck for Valencia and Smalling for Evans. Rio does not need resting.
If Anderson is not fit, then it's about time Cleverley was given a run of games to show what he can do.
Possibly Welbeck for Valencia and Smalling for Evans. Rio does not need resting.
Actually bringing in Welbeck might not be a bad move, I really liked how he, Rooney and RVP all linked up when we beat Stoke at OT earlier this season so it could be that type of game again. Harsh on Young though after his best ever game in a United shirt
Quite clearly we'll play the same team and lose 1-0 doing nothing all game.
Do our goal difference a favour, nail the cnuts.
We'll win this something like 5-0. We'll be fired up.
Vidic and Kagawa could be back, mouth watering that is.
Skip to 1:35 hairs stand up on the back of my neck! Sunderland your getting whats coming to ye
I hope we stuff them!! will never forget them celebrating that City winner the pricks!!
A week until this match; another week until the next match - no fecking about resting players or rotating for the sake of it (maybe Vidic over Smalling if fitness allows since Evans will possibly miss some of the Xmas programme); best 11 please. We have a 6 point gap with an outside chance of increasing that if the Geordies find form at last. This match seems typical of the type of game we'd throw away all the good work of the derby.
I'd like:
Oh, and one more thing - feck them up
I'd like:
De Gea
Rafael===Ferdinand===Smalling===Evra
Carrick===Cleverley
Valencia===Rooney===Young
RVP
Rafael===Ferdinand===Smalling===Evra
Carrick===Cleverley
Valencia===Rooney===Young
RVP
Oh, and one more thing - feck them up
Hopefully we completely wreck the cnuts, we'll see who'll be cheering then. I don't mind the team or the players, but the fans were disgraceful last season. Cheering for City even though their own team lost the game.
Manchester United Vs Sunderland Preview
After the euphoria of a injury time win at the home of the team from Abu Dhabi comes a relatively easy game against a relegation battling Sunderland team. Martin O'Neil and Sunderland have had a tough start to the campaign with a dearth of goals and wins. Sunderland also to play have a postponed game against fellow strugglers Reading at the Stadium of light on late Tuesday night. This game gives them a chance to get out of the relegation zone with a win before their visit to Old Trafford (OT).
United's home form has been excellent this season with six wins out of a possible seven with the only loss coming against an inspired Spurs team. They been scoring pretty freely at home, 19 goals @ 2.71/game, but have also shipped in 9 goals @ 1.28/game. It is interesting to not that United have only kept two clean sheets so far and have gone behind in four of the seven games. They came back to win three of those four games though it suggests that they start games slowly and the opposition has a chance to pounce on them early in the game. Giving away 1.28 goals/game also suggests that they have struggled defensively and present teams with an opportunity if they can keep it tight at the back.
Sunderland on the other hand have been horrific both home and away. They have only secured 7 points in their eight away fixtures out of a possible 24 with one win, 4 draws and 3 losses. They scored 8 goals and let in 11 goals in the process. There only away win was a 3-1 victory again Fulham in November. They have managed to draw some tough away fixtures against Swansea, West ham and Stoke city though it is hard to imagine getting them anything on their visit to OT.
History (Last 5 seasons):
These teams have met 10 times in the last 5 season with eight United wins and two draws. United scored 15 goals in those 5 games with Sunderland only managing 4. In the 5 games at OT, United have four wins and one draw.
Both last season's fixtures finished with a 1-0 score line. The victory at OT coming courtesy of a former United graduate - Wes Brown's own goal. Wayne Rooney scored in the corresponding fixture in the last game of the season. The sounds of Sunderland fans celebrating despite their own teams loss as the team from Abu Dhabi won the title at the Etihad stadium would still be reverberating in the United players ears. They would be looking to extract revenge in this fixture.
Injury doubts:
United: Johnny Evans, Nani and Anderson are out of the game whereas Vidic and Shinji Kagawa are supposed to make a come back. The come backs should be a boost to United with a busy holiday fixture list coming up. The return of their talismanic captain should help them secure a leaky defense.
Sunderland: Steven Fletcher, Lee Catermole and Wes Brown are listed as out for this fixture. Fletcher has scored 6 of their 14 goals this seasons and his absence is a big blow to Sunderland. They would also miss Catermole, there defensive force in the midfield.
Likely XI's:
United:
It's literally impossible to predict the line-up Sir Alex is going pick for any game. For instance the surprise inclusion of “injured” Valencia and Cleverley against the team from Abu Dhabi.
United most likely would go with a 4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1:
---------------------DeGea-------------------
Rafael------Smalling----------Vidic--------Evra
---------------Carrick------Scholes-----------
Valencia------ -----Rooney--------Welbeck---
-------------------Van Persie----------------
Sunderland:
Should also line-up as 4-2-3-1 with young Connor Wickham to start as the lone striker in Steven Fletcher's absence. O'Neil mentioned in a recent interview that he would persist with Adam Johnson despite him being off form.
---------------------Mignolet-----------------
Gardner-------O'Shea--------Cuellar-------Rose
-------------Larsson---------Gardner----------
--Johnson---------Sessegnon-------McLean----
---------------------Wickham------------------
Tactics:
Like most teams that visit Old Trafford, Sunderland's plan would be to sit back, soak up the pressure and try to get United on the counter. They would try to defend in banks of four and would be positioning themselves for the barrage of crosses that will inevitably come from both sides of the field. United attack mostly from the right and they would double team Valencia to negate him in the game.
On attack, they hit you equally from both sides of the field. Adam Johnson's form would be crucial for them to exploit a slight weakness on the left side with Evra. Gardner and Johnson can combine and cause problems to United's defense. They would look to attack United on the counter and try exploit United's slow central midfield and central defense. Though without a good target man this could be a long night for the black cats.
United would look to retain possession and would depend on the wingers to provide the attacking impetus. In the games so far this season United have kept 59% possession with an average pass success of 88%. 60% of their goals have come from open play with 39% of the attack through the side ride. There is little to suggest that this is going to change in this game. Sunderland is not a team that would disrupt United's style or rhythm and it would tough for them to stop the attacking trio of Rooney, Valencia and Van Persie. United would look to get a goal early and open the game in order to find better attacking spaces.
Conclusion and Prediction:
The real danger to United in the game would come from within themselves. This is a classic let down game after the build up and craziness of the Manchester derby. Though with team changes and the events of last season I am sure Sir Alex would keep them focused. This is usually the time when previous United teams have come to life and put on a run of victories together to separate themselves at the top the league. I do not envisage anything beyond a comfortable United victory.
United 4 – Sunderland 0
After the euphoria of a injury time win at the home of the team from Abu Dhabi comes a relatively easy game against a relegation battling Sunderland team. Martin O'Neil and Sunderland have had a tough start to the campaign with a dearth of goals and wins. Sunderland also to play have a postponed game against fellow strugglers Reading at the Stadium of light on late Tuesday night. This game gives them a chance to get out of the relegation zone with a win before their visit to Old Trafford (OT).
United's home form has been excellent this season with six wins out of a possible seven with the only loss coming against an inspired Spurs team. They been scoring pretty freely at home, 19 goals @ 2.71/game, but have also shipped in 9 goals @ 1.28/game. It is interesting to not that United have only kept two clean sheets so far and have gone behind in four of the seven games. They came back to win three of those four games though it suggests that they start games slowly and the opposition has a chance to pounce on them early in the game. Giving away 1.28 goals/game also suggests that they have struggled defensively and present teams with an opportunity if they can keep it tight at the back.
Sunderland on the other hand have been horrific both home and away. They have only secured 7 points in their eight away fixtures out of a possible 24 with one win, 4 draws and 3 losses. They scored 8 goals and let in 11 goals in the process. There only away win was a 3-1 victory again Fulham in November. They have managed to draw some tough away fixtures against Swansea, West ham and Stoke city though it is hard to imagine getting them anything on their visit to OT.
History (Last 5 seasons):
These teams have met 10 times in the last 5 season with eight United wins and two draws. United scored 15 goals in those 5 games with Sunderland only managing 4. In the 5 games at OT, United have four wins and one draw.
Both last season's fixtures finished with a 1-0 score line. The victory at OT coming courtesy of a former United graduate - Wes Brown's own goal. Wayne Rooney scored in the corresponding fixture in the last game of the season. The sounds of Sunderland fans celebrating despite their own teams loss as the team from Abu Dhabi won the title at the Etihad stadium would still be reverberating in the United players ears. They would be looking to extract revenge in this fixture.
Injury doubts:
United: Johnny Evans, Nani and Anderson are out of the game whereas Vidic and Shinji Kagawa are supposed to make a come back. The come backs should be a boost to United with a busy holiday fixture list coming up. The return of their talismanic captain should help them secure a leaky defense.
Sunderland: Steven Fletcher, Lee Catermole and Wes Brown are listed as out for this fixture. Fletcher has scored 6 of their 14 goals this seasons and his absence is a big blow to Sunderland. They would also miss Catermole, there defensive force in the midfield.
Likely XI's:
United:
It's literally impossible to predict the line-up Sir Alex is going pick for any game. For instance the surprise inclusion of “injured” Valencia and Cleverley against the team from Abu Dhabi.
United most likely would go with a 4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1:
---------------------DeGea-------------------
Rafael------Smalling----------Vidic--------Evra
---------------Carrick------Scholes-----------
Valencia------ -----Rooney--------Welbeck---
-------------------Van Persie----------------
Sunderland:
Should also line-up as 4-2-3-1 with young Connor Wickham to start as the lone striker in Steven Fletcher's absence. O'Neil mentioned in a recent interview that he would persist with Adam Johnson despite him being off form.
---------------------Mignolet-----------------
Gardner-------O'Shea--------Cuellar-------Rose
-------------Larsson---------Gardner----------
--Johnson---------Sessegnon-------McLean----
---------------------Wickham------------------
Tactics:
Like most teams that visit Old Trafford, Sunderland's plan would be to sit back, soak up the pressure and try to get United on the counter. They would try to defend in banks of four and would be positioning themselves for the barrage of crosses that will inevitably come from both sides of the field. United attack mostly from the right and they would double team Valencia to negate him in the game.
On attack, they hit you equally from both sides of the field. Adam Johnson's form would be crucial for them to exploit a slight weakness on the left side with Evra. Gardner and Johnson can combine and cause problems to United's defense. They would look to attack United on the counter and try exploit United's slow central midfield and central defense. Though without a good target man this could be a long night for the black cats.
United would look to retain possession and would depend on the wingers to provide the attacking impetus. In the games so far this season United have kept 59% possession with an average pass success of 88%. 60% of their goals have come from open play with 39% of the attack through the side ride. There is little to suggest that this is going to change in this game. Sunderland is not a team that would disrupt United's style or rhythm and it would tough for them to stop the attacking trio of Rooney, Valencia and Van Persie. United would look to get a goal early and open the game in order to find better attacking spaces.
Conclusion and Prediction:
The real danger to United in the game would come from within themselves. This is a classic let down game after the build up and craziness of the Manchester derby. Though with team changes and the events of last season I am sure Sir Alex would keep them focused. This is usually the time when previous United teams have come to life and put on a run of victories together to separate themselves at the top the league. I do not envisage anything beyond a comfortable United victory.
United 4 – Sunderland 0
Kagawa's back? Excellent.
Have we sent Brown and O'Shea their ... payment yet?
Have we sent Brown and O'Shea their ... payment yet?
With games coming thick and fast over Christmas I do expect the likes of Buttner, Welbeck or Hernandez to feature. I hope Vidic is available too. I think he will rest Rafael and play Jones right back.
Remember the day...
Reckon we'll hammer this lot with a clean sheet to boot.
I've been Ashley Young's biggest hater but he had his best game since the 8-2 drubbing of Arsenal yesterday, so obviously he doesn't deserve to be dropped. Hopefully Valencia came through unscathed as well as he had a good game. But yeah, basically Smalling for Evans and sub on Kagawa.
Only changes I can see is perhaps Vidic on the bench if he's ready and maybe Scholes starting over Cleverley. SAF may want to give Welbeck or Hernandez a start, but after such a good win against City I wouldn't tinker right away, they can come off the bench if we need to change it or if we've hammered them.
I've been Ashley Young's biggest hater but he had his best game since the 8-2 drubbing of Arsenal yesterday, so obviously he doesn't deserve to be dropped. Hopefully Valencia came through unscathed as well as he had a good game. But yeah, basically Smalling for Evans and sub on Kagawa.
de Gea
Rafael Ferdinand Smalling Evra
Carrick Cleverley
Valencia Rooney Young
van Persie
--
Lindegaard; Jones; Giggs, Scholes, Kagawa; Welbeck, Hernandez
Rafael Ferdinand Smalling Evra
Carrick Cleverley
Valencia Rooney Young
van Persie
--
Lindegaard; Jones; Giggs, Scholes, Kagawa; Welbeck, Hernandez
Only changes I can see is perhaps Vidic on the bench if he's ready and maybe Scholes starting over Cleverley. SAF may want to give Welbeck or Hernandez a start, but after such a good win against City I wouldn't tinker right away, they can come off the bench if we need to change it or if we've hammered them.
For as long as I can remember the biggest score line we've beaten these lot at OT with was 2-0 when Berbatov scored twice*. I'll go 1-0 RVP
*one was later credited as a Anton Ferdinand OG
*one was later credited as a Anton Ferdinand OG
I just hope there's no unnecessary rotation from the City game, unless its needed.
Far too much, don't be ridiculous.
If it's needed, it won't be unnecessary then will it?
However I agree with the sentiment of these 2