Manchester United vs Roma

I hear you, but I don't agree. Any tactic that sees our best player sitting it out ain't a clever tactic IMO
He's not our best player, he also can't tackle or run, the way Roma play is to get their midfield rushing up and beyond Totti, Scholes doesn't have the legs to chase them for 90 minutes.
 
I hear you, but I don't agree. Any tactic that sees our best player sitting it out ain't a clever tactic IMO

Everyone is entitled to his opinion am I right?

Scholes is a terrific player but he isnt cut for playing so deep as he is currently playing. De Rossi and Perrotta are two tough nuts and I doubt that either Hargreaves or Carrick can keep them at bay alone. Mind I hope that Im proven wrong.
 
Everyone is entitled to his opinion am I right?

Scholes is a terrific player but he isnt cut for playing so deep as he is currently playing. De Rossi and Perrotta are two tough nuts and I doubt that either Hargreaves or Carrick can keep them at bay alone. Mind I hope that Im proven wrong.

Fletcher and Carrick kept them pretty quiet last year :)
 
I think we're going to most likely see a 'change' in formation from the first and second half. Saha will probably still not start, so perhaps we will field a 3 men midfield in the first half with Rooney leading the line. This will most likely be changed when we bring on Saha and field the forward line up we played at the end of the Birmingham match with Saha leading the line, Tevez behind him and Rooney and Ronaldo on the flanks.
 
Fletcher and Carrick kept them pretty quiet last year :)

2 hardworking midfielders that can actually tackle. Scholes is talent wise better then both players, but he cant tackle and he ended up seeing red in the first game.
 
I have a feeling we'll see all three of Hargreaves, Carrick and Scholes starting against Roma, lining up in a similar fashion to the way we did against Milan and Chelsea towards the end of last season.
 
This game will be lot closer than last year. It'll only be 6-1 this time.
 
Very likely that Hargreaves will play. I read somewhere that Vidic and Brown had knocks and didn't train on Monday! That is a huge worry.
 
I'm geussing it's been mentioned ealier in the thread, but Vidic and Brown are both confirmed to have knocks. John O'Shea and Pique will replace them if they are not fit.
 
I'm geussing it's been mentioned ealier in the thread, but Vidic and Brown are both confirmed to have knocks. John O'Shea and Pique will replace them if they are not fit.

Im ok about Oshea but Pique is my concern... hope Wes or Vida can play tomorrow
 
Im ok about Oshea but Pique is my concern... hope Wes or Vida can play tomorrow

I would probably agree, though more the fact that partnerships are quite important, and VDS's absence will alredy have unsettled the defence as t is.

If Pique is ever to become the player his potential of three years ago suggested, and his progession since has confirmed, he'll need to be there and competent in the role in such a situation sooner rather than later.

I still have faith that he will.

And by the way, am i the only person on his forum who feels that starting all of our forwards [not including Campbell or Dong] is...well too much of a risk? And leaving us with little room for maneuver if the situation requries it?
 
And by the way, am i the only person on his forum who feels that starting all of our forwards [not including Campbell or Dong] is...well too much of a risk? And leaving us with little room for maneuver if the situation requries it?

no you are not. i was just about to suggest it myself.

at this level, having a strong bench is key.

also, i really wouldn't feel any nervousness seeing Pique at CB. i watched him come up against top sides in the Liga last season and he didn't put a foot wrong. we must blood our biggest talents at some point, no?
 
HowardJones.jpg
 
this made me laugh; Fergie won't be best pleased, though:

he humiliation that they suffered at the hands of Manchester United last season has yet to subside for many of the AS Roma players, but, while Sir Alex Ferguson moved to quell talk of “revenge” before another potentially explosive meeting at Old Trafford this evening, Cristiano Ronaldo was less than diplomatic in rubbing salt into old wounds.

Having arrived at Old Trafford in April with every confidence of progressing to the last four of the Champions League after beating United 2-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final at the Olympic Stadium, Roma were taken apart. A 7-1 defeat was the Italian club’s heaviest in European competition and, while no one associated with Roma will need reminding of that, Ronaldo was content to recount the extent of their misery yesterday – a revelation that is unlikely to sit well with a team nursing their pride before this evening’s group F encounter.

The United winger claimed that, at 6-0 down, one of the opposition had pleaded with him to show mercy, but, although the Portugal winger declined to reveal the identity of that player, to judge from the comments this week of Christian Panucci, who accused some of the United team of “abusing their superiority” during the match, it could well have been the Roma full back.

“I often get some comments from opposition players that bring a smile to my face,” Ronaldo, who scored twice in the romp, said. “It happened during the last match against Roma when we were already winning 6-0. ‘Don’t do any more dribbles, you are already winning by six,’ said one of them, almost begging.”

link
 
Not the ideal food to eat for a pre match meal.

I beg to differ, Carrick has been asleep this season (apart from Chelski) and thats because he has been a naughty boy and missing out on the most important meal of the day. I think SAF wife should make him some porridge or something
 
So whats our defence going to be if god help us both Brown and Vidic are missing?

Personally I see no other option but to play.....

Hargreaves----Ferdinand----Pique----Evra

should worst come to the worst :nervous:
 
So whats our defence going to be if god help us both Brown and Vidic are missing?

Personally I see no other option but to play.....

Hargreaves----Ferdinand----Pique----Evra

should worst come to the worst :nervous:

O'Shea at RB, and Hargreaves protecting the back four and we're sorted. Pique has done well against the likes of Barca and Madrid in the Liga, so i'm not unduly concerned. in the worst case scenario, Rio will have to put in a double shift to cover any mistakes he'll make.

that said, i reckon both Vida and Brown will be fit. it's probably just a precautionary move on SAF's part. could be wrong, though.
 
Is Hargreaves fit?

I'd personally have Giggs/Scholes on the bench and have Hargreaves (if fit) and Carrick in midfield, giving us protection and a vast amount of energy in midfield (which we will need against Roma). Then our forward four, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Saha, I'd count on them to get the goals.

As for tactics, I think we will need to stop Roma down the flanks. I'm thinking if we play in a system with the forward four being the above mentioned, we have 3 forwards and one winger/forward, so I think Roma's attacks would come down the wings and we'd need to stop that. Would Tevez be willing to help Evra on the left flank? I read he didn't like playing as a winger and didn't like to do the defending part.
 
O'Shea at RB, and Hargreaves protecting the back four and we're sorted. Pique has done well against the likes of Barca and Madrid in the Liga, so i'm not unduly concerned. in the worst case scenario, Rio will have to put in a double shift to cover any mistakes he'll make.

that said, i reckon both Vida and Brown will be fit. it's probably just a precautionary move on SAF's part. could be wrong, though.

:rolleyes: totally forgot about The Cat ah it's not as bad as feared then. I'd still play Hargreaves at right back though, with O'Shea partnering Rio.

Like you though we'd be blooming unlucky to lose them both
 
Sounds like Hargreaves will be on the bench, though part of me would be a bit surprised if SAF picks Pique. Maybe my elbow.
 
Just read about the Vidic/Brown thing. Would be big losses, I feel Brown has got better recently.

It would be very interesting if Pique did play though and showed us what he's got. What a big game to step into.

Van Der Sar was a huge loss ready, he has been outstanding so far and it's a shame about the injury. I'm not too confident with PIG.
 
Have to say with potentially VDS, Brown and Vidic all out a draw is looking more and more likely :(
 
Just read about the Vidic/Brown thing. Would be big losses, I feel Brown has got better recently.

It would be very interesting if Pique did play though and showed us what he's got. What a big game to step into.

Van Der Sar was a huge loss ready, he has been outstanding so far and it's a shame about the injury. I'm not too confident with PIG.

brown has been nothing short of awesome recently, he had a slightly dodgy start but has shown yet again what he has to offer this great emerging squad.
remember that cross..(nothing biblical intended)
 
:lol::lol::lol:

Can't believe any proffesional player would start begging 'Pls stop dribbling'.

They raped so to speak, you tend to beg whenyou're being attacked they way Roma were. They were so dejected after the 6th goal I would not be surprised. Ronaldo will be marked by atleast 3 players and I hope Giggs can recapture that form cause he had 3/4 assists that memorable night of April 10th 2007.
 
They raped so to speak, you tend to beg whenyou're being attacked they way Roma were. They were so dejected after the 6th goal I would not be surprised. Ronaldo will be marked by atleast 3 players and I hope Giggs can recapture that form cause he had 3/4 assists that memorable night of April 10th 2007.

i really do hope that you are not speaking from experience...
 
So whats our defence going to be if god help us both Brown and Vidic are missing?

Personally I see no other option but to play.....

Hargreaves----Ferdinand----Pique----Evra

should worst come to the worst :nervous:

Well its matches like this we know what he is made of.. If he fits in tomorrow we will know we are good in the central defence area for ages..
I hope Pique plays tomorrow.. Vidic does not..
 
------------------------Kuzczak----------------------------

--Brown---------Rio-------Vidic----------------Paddy Evra---


----------------------Hargreaves--------------------------


------------------Scholes------Rooney--------------------


-------Ronaldo----------------------------Giggs/Tevez-------


-----------------------Saha--------------------------------


I think we will win this game 2-1. Hargreaves to form a defensive screen aginst striker-less Roma which however has about 4-5 attacking midfielders romp forward at the same time in the form of Totti, Aquilani, Perotta, Mancini, Giuly. Thus, Fergie will probably clog up the central midfield area with Hargreaves, Scholes, Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez all ezpected to move inside to help out in the midfield scrap.

When we attack, Scholes and Rooney will be the starting point of attack, launching their 25-30 yard passes out to the wingers (i.e Ronaldo, Tevez) or route-one style to Saha who would have to hold up the ball before releasing it to our wingers. Once we are are ready, wingers would cross the ball for Saha and the central midfielders who started the move to attack the ball. We will score tiwce from headers of Saha and Vidic (from corner). Totti to score one back for the Romans.
 
If Vidic and Brown aren't fit, then I'd be fairly confident with Pique next to Rio. He's played top level opposition before, and although he is suscpetible to making mistakes due to his age, I think he has the ability and self-confidence to cope with a European side.
 
Well, O´Shea and Pique in and I believe them. I would also rather have Giggs on the pitch. Players like him or Scholes are vital in this competition.

And then maybe give him the rest against Wigan and try together our fantastic four (Rooney, Saha, Ronaldo, Tevez).
 
Why are people just assuming Brown and Vidic will miss the game.It was only an article saying they missed a training session.If they were really injured we would have heard something from SAF.
 
Why are people just assuming Brown and Vidic will miss the game.It was only an article saying they missed a training session.If they were really injured we would have heard something from SAF.

Ok,I have just seen quotes from SAF that Brown,Vidic and Hargreaves could miss the game.:nervous:Feck!
 
Man Utd must stop Totti - Ferguson

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says if they stop Francesco Totti, they'll beat Roma tonight.

"He is pivotal to the way they play," Ferguson said. "He is looked upon as the king of their club."