West Ham vs Manchester United

Cutch said:
Not sure why so many are resting near the whole team. We've rotated the pack well over Christmas, have 4 days til this game and another 8 til the Liverpool game. Fletcher and Scholes centre midfield? Seriously? West Ham at home are a force, and this is their cup final when United come to town.

Pick our best team, we havn't won this cup in years so its not a game to be fecking about in.

De Gea

Rafael
Evans
Rio/Vidic
Evra

Carrick
Cleverley/Kagawa

Young
Valencia/Giggs

RVP
Hernandez
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I agree with you. I don't want us to send out a weakened side and get another hiding there.
 
#Carl said:
Have we? I think we've kept rotation to a minimum. I'm expecting at least 8 changes for the West Ham game and I thoroughly expect to get beat. Mainly because that's what we do in the FA Cup and also because West Ham are excellent at home.

Expecting something like:

Lindegaard
Jones Smalling Vidic Buttner
Fletcher Scholes
Valencia Kagawa Welbeck
Hernandez​

Hopefully West Ham rotate heavily also.
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I wouldn't drop DDG, he has been pretty solid in goal and I think playing on a regular basis has something to do with it. I would make two more changes to that line up, Rafael at RB and Nani on the wing if he is fit to play.
 
scholesy legend said:
Only two players that should be rested for this:

Rio Ferdinand and Robin van Persie.
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And Carrick, surely? I want us to play a strong team but he's playing brilliantly at the moment with almost no rest. It would be criminal to let him burn out or get injured when Fletcher hasn't had a game for ages and hasn't been at all bad in general this season, especially when paired with Cleverley.

If either Nani or Anderson are fit I'd like to see them, at least for half an hour or so.
 
Brightonian said:
And Carrick, surely? I want us to play a strong team but he's playing brilliantly at the moment with almost no rest. It would be criminal to let him burn out or get injured when Fletcher hasn't had a game for ages and hasn't been at all bad in general this season, especially when paired with Cleverley.

If either Nani or Anderson are fit I'd like to see them, at least for half an hour or so.
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I would rest Carrick too. It may be the last chance for a quick break. Fletcher needs a game too. And if he can't go a full 90, then we'll make do somehow.
 
-----------Lindegaard----------
--Jones-Smalling-Vidic-Buttner--
Valencia-Fletch-Scholes-Welbeck
-------------Kagawa------------
------------Hernandez----------
 
Assume SAF will give Lindegaard a game. Hope Anderson is fit enough as would be a good competitive game to get stuck into.

Lindegaard
Smalling Jones Vidic Buttner
Fletcher Anderson
Valencia Kagawa Giggs
Welbeck

If we lost with that team, I wouldn't complain, just a good opportunity to let these guys get a full game (Valencia could be excused but who would we play?)
 
Definitely should rest RvP, Ferdinand, Carrick and Evra - no buts!

Hoping Fletcher can start to build on some form - he might be crucial later in the season when we need to rest Carrick. Could really make or break our season especially in the CL ties.
 
Anyone reckon Rooney will play in this? He's a natural quick-healer and i wouldn't be surprised to see him start. It's a perfect game for him to get some match practice before the dippers next weekend

Anders

Rafael/Jones--Vidic--Smalling--Buttner

Fletcher/Scholes--Cleverley

Rooney

Welbeck--Chicha--Kagawa

Reckon RvP will be on the bench
 
I wouldn't mind seeing a strong team out for this (but it seems obvious that Evra, Carrick and Rio won't be involved).

The FA Cup is still an important competition and it's barely a distraction. We've managed 2 or 3 tournaments in the past and I'm sure we could do so again.

West Ham away is a horrible fixture, and they'll be up for it so an entirely changed XI would be suicidal from us. I remember when they spanked us 4-0 a couple of years ago with our attitude of 'reserves and back up first teamers will do'.

Something like: De Gea, Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Buttner, Valencia, Fletcher, Cleverley, Young, Kagawa and RVP would do for me. And winning or losing, I'd hope RVP comes off within an hour.

I know a lot don't see it as a major competition, but I love the FA Cup. Even though it was Millwall and I was 12, the final in 2004 will always be one of my fondest memores because it's the only final I've been able to go to.
 
If we didn't have Liverpool next week, I would be all for it putting out the strongest team (or near it) against West Ham. I'm just frightened to see an injury/suspension.
 
-------------------------------Lindegaard -----------------------------


----p.jones ------------Smalling----vidic-------------------buttner---


-------------------------cleverly---scholes-----------------------------


-----------------------------kagawa-----------------------------------


---a.young-----------------Hernandez-----------------welbeck------
 
#Carl said:
Lindegaard
Jones Smalling Vidic Buttner
Fletcher Scholes
Valencia Kagawa Welbeck
Hernandez​
Click to expand...

This sort of side would be ideal in my view.

I do want to win the FA cup, and still have a lot of respect for the competition, but I hope not only aren't RVP, Evra, Carrick, Rio and maybe Rafael and Evans anywhere near Upton Park, but that they have been give the week off completely (ideally sent somewhere like Dubai to get a proper mid-season break).

Hope Welbeck starts and bags himself a couple.
 
Antisocial said:
This sort of side would be ideal in my view.

I do want to win the FA cup, and still have a lot of respect for the competition, but I hope not only aren't RVP, Evra, Carrick, Rio and maybe Rafael and Evans anywhere near Upton Park, but that they have been give the week off completely (ideally sent somewhere like Dubai to get a proper mid-season break).

Hope Welbeck starts and bags himself a couple.
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feck me! What's wrong with staying home like the rest of us and watching old episodes of Friends?
 
Antisocial said:
This sort of side would be ideal in my view.

I do want to win the FA cup, and still have a lot of respect for the competition, but I hope not only aren't RVP, Evra, Carrick, Rio and maybe Rafael and Evans anywhere near Upton Park, but that they have been give the week off completely (ideally sent somewhere like Dubai to get a proper mid-season break).

Hope Welbeck starts and bags himself a couple.
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That's all well and good, we all want to win it. But if you don't start enough first-teamers, wanting it won't make a difference.

I'd only rest Carrick, Rio and Evra, and leave them off the bench. RVP if Rooney is back, but if he's not then I'd prefer to see us start RVP and take him off nice and early instead. It's always better to start a game well and see out the end than have to rescue yourself from a poor first half.

Plus... momentum momentum momentum. We finally have some, let's not throw it away just before a difficult match against Liverpool.

EDIT: Obviously some players who aren't definite starters for us like the three above could be rested too, that goes without saying. Young could take a break to let Welbeck in, and I don't care who out of Vidic, Smalling, Evans and Jones starts at the back.

Rafael's actually had some good breaks over the last month or so, so I don't see why he shouldn't start.
 
We haven't rested carrick or evra over the Xmas break at all really and those 2 are players we don't really have proper reliable back up for and will be amongst the players to play the most at the end of the season. So like I said I think we need to take this opportunity to rest them of we can. It might not be possible in carricks situation with ando out and the uncertainty over fletch but hopefully he can get a break.
 
Brightonian said:
That's all well and good, we all want to win it. But if you don't start enough first-teamers, wanting it won't make a difference.

I'd only rest Carrick, Rio and Evra, and leave them off the bench. RVP if Rooney is back, but if he's not then I'd prefer to see us start RVP and take him off nice and early instead. It's always better to start a game well and see out the end than have to rescue yourself from a poor first half.

Plus... momentum momentum momentum. We finally have some, let's not throw it away just before a difficult match against Liverpool.

EDIT: Obviously some players who aren't definite starters for us like the three above could be rested to, that goes without saying. Young can take a break to let Welbeck in, I don't care who out of Vidic, Smalling, Evans and Jones starts at the back.

Rafael's actually had some good breaks over the last month or so, so I don't see why he shouldn't start.
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I agree with this personally. 8 day gap before Liverpool and then one game a week until the end of the month.

Momentum can be every bit as good as fresh legs. And it's not like we have to go there and play certain players for the entire game. Changing the entire team could work, but it's more likely to go tits up. Upton Park is not an easy place to go, especially with a second-string.

Sprinkle in some fresh-legs alongside those who'll clearly benefit from momentum. I always fear the worst when the team is completely changed. We didn't do too badly down at Stamford Bridge, that can't be denied but it doesn't seem as though we'll have the attacking prowess of Nani and Anderson, though one would assume we'll have the defensive steel of Smalling and Vidic starting this one.

Can't call it, bring on 5:15 on Saturday.
 
Big call is on VP for me.

He's in top form, but could it be time for a brief rest? Or is 8 days until Liverpool afterwards almost too much of one?

Welbeck is probably getting itchy feet not getting much of a chance up front, so probably wouldn't be a bad shout putting him in. Otherwise, when is he going to start a game for a while? Schedule is pretty much once a week until the Madrid games.
 
Sandikan said:
Big call is on VP for me.

He's in top form, but could it be time for a brief rest? Or is 8 days until Liverpool afterwards almost too much of one?

Welbeck is probably getting itchy feet not getting much of a chance up front, so probably wouldn't be a bad shout putting him in. Otherwise, when is he going to start a game for a while? Schedule is pretty much once a week until the Madrid games.
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If we rest Young, and Rooney's not playing, then I don't see a problem fitting Welbeck in. If RVP does get rested, he'll take his place. If RVP doesn't, then Hernandez surely will. And if for some reason both play, then Welbeck can come in and make a front 3.
 
Lindegaard

Jones Smalling Vidic Buttner

Valencia Fletcher Scholes Welbeck

Kagawa Hernandez

I like to see Kagawa-Hernandez partnership.
 
I hope Jones and Rooney are fit, I'd probably say play something like this:

Lindegaard
Jones Smalling Vidic Buttner
Fletcher Scholes
Valencia Kagawa Welbeck
Hernandez
--
de Gea; Rafael; Powell, Cleverley, Giggs, Young; Rooney​

Throw on Powell in the second half for some more game time and probably Rooney to get a few minutes before Liverpool if he's fit (preferably taking off Valencia and Kagawa who I can see starting against Liverpool). Then probably Young or Cleverley on for Hernandez.

That team is better than West Ham. Hopefully they do the job. We may have rotated well over the Christmas period, but players like Evra and Carrick have still played too much football throughout and RvP could do with a full rest (he'll probably make the bench over Giggs, though). Along with the players who have played too much, we have players like Powell, Kagawa, Jones (if fit), Vidic, Buttner, Fletcher, Welbeck who need more minutes to be sharper if called upon. If Rooney, Nani, Anderson are fit I'd have them involved in and instant too.
 
Think we'll see the diamond. Something like this:

DDG
Smalling Evans Vidic Buttner
Jones
Fletcher Cleverley
Kagawa
Chicha Welbz
 
Last game against West Ham: United 1-0 Hammers: Van Persie 1'

Lindegaard
Rafael Smalling Evans Evra
Carrick
Cleverley Anderson
Rooney
Cheech Persie​

2nd to last game: Hammers 2-4 United: Rooney 65', 73', PEN 79', Hernandez 84'

Kuszczak
Fabio Smalling Vidic Evra
Carrick Gibson
Valencia Giggs Park
Rooney​
 
The LC game before those two is worth noting as well:

Hammers 4-0 United: Spector 22', 37', Cole 56', 66'

Kuszczak
O'Shea Smalling Evans Fabio
Fletcher
Anderson Giggs
Bebe Cheech Obertan​

subs: Macheda for Bebe (46'), Rafael for Fabio (65'), Brown for Evans (72')

WH: Green, Ben-Haim, Tompkins, Upson, Spector, Faubert, Barrera, Morte, Kovac, Cole, Obinna
 
I think we will rest some key names, so it's a potential banana skin here. I think maybe a 1-1 draw here so we will take it back to Old Trafford.
 
gooDevil said:
The LC game before those two is worth noting as well:

Hammers 4-0 United: Spector 22', 37', Cole 56', 66'

Kuszczak
O'Shea Smalling Evans Fabio
Fletcher
Anderson Giggs
Bebe Cheech Obertan​

subs: Macheda for Bebe (46'), Rafael for Fabio (65'), Brown for Evans (72')

WH: Green, Ben-Haim, Tompkins, Upson, Spector, Faubert, Barrera, Morte, Kovac, Cole, Obinna
Click to expand...

The worrying thing with that 4-0 was that that team wasn't too bad on paper. Except the woeful Bebe and Obertan combo.

Am sure that was the game that sealed their fates though. Probably Kuszczak too.
 
With the news that Rooney is out for another two weeks, RvP must rest tomorrow. Can't gamble on playing his 5th game in just 13 days.
 
Amos

Smalling
Jones
Vidic
Buttner

Nani (if fit)
Fletcher
Scholes
Young

Welbeck
Macheda
 
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