Blackpool vs. Manchester United

Anduin said:
I'm not so sure mate. Arsenal's fixtures look quite easy and while they tend to collapse in the run-in they look much better this season IMHO. I'd say it's fair to assume we'll win five or our remaining home games and draw two considering our home form - that's 65 points then.

Leaving the obvious three difficult away games (Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool) aside we still have to play Blackpool, Wolves, Wigan, Blackburn, Newcastle and West Ham on their pitch. I'd say we'll beat Blackpool, Wigan and West Ham and will have trouble at all the other locations... 13 points sounds about right, we always have a shock defeat somewhere in there every season. 78 points, how many can we take from the Emirates, Stamford Bridge and Anfield? If, and that's a big if, we manage to win five out of six of the 'easier' away games we're basically home and dry, especially if we manage to esape beating at the Emirates too. Do you really think that 80 points will be enough?
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I don't think we are going to draw two home games, they seem easy on paper and the only two in which we might have trouble are City and Chelsea but looking at how City set up against top sides and how poor Chelsea are, I can see us winning both.

Arsenal will have to do 8pts better in the second half of season than they did in the first half to get to 80pts mark, it's fair to assume that they will do that but they won't do much better. 80 should be enough, perhaps 82 or 83. Onoy Arsenal can take the title from us this season as neither City nor Chelsea will get there, and don't even get me started on Spurs.
 
This is a really crucial game in the title race. Only just secured my ticket, but I'm really buzzing for it now. We've seen how dangerous a team Blackpool can be this season, but this is a great place to get only our third away win and start to race through the gears.
 
Some people are over-cautios with 'resting our players'.

There are really good facilities at Carrington, they are professionals and that's three days - that shouldn't be a problem for Manchester United players.
 
--------------------------Van Der Sar--------------------



--Rafael--------------Rio--------Vidic-------------Evra--



----Nani-----------Fletcher------Anderson-------Giggs---



--------------------Berbatov----Hernandez---------------



Subs: Kusczak, Smalling, Fabio, Scholes,Gibson, Owen,Rooney
Prediction:0-2 Berbatov, Hernandez
 
I hope Ferdinands alright, but I wouldn't mind seeing Smalling get another game after that performance.
 
I think we'll make a statement here. I know it's only Blackpool but they are doing alright. We'll put in our best away performance and come away with a 3-0 win to confirm ourselves as title favourites on merit and put to bed the claim that we're top and haven't played well yet, before going on to lift the title.
 
I hope there will be good weather for this game. We have been shit on poor weather. fecking Birmingham played us like Barca in the rain.
Come to think about it, every game we have played in the rain, we have been shit
 
This is a massive massive game.
2 games in hand does not automatically mean 6 points. Don't count your chickens and all
But this will be a damn good time to pull ahead of the pack. This game is even more important than the Chelsea one

I hope we have Rio back for this one.
 
championo said:
I hope there will be good weather for this game. We have been shit on poor weather. fecking Birmingham played us like Barca in the rain.
Come to think about it, every game we have played in the rain, we have been shit
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You've obviously never spent any time in Blackpool, gale force winds are considered good weather.
 
A few points
- Rafael should definately return
- Obviously Rio will return if fit
- I would assume that Giggs will start again seeings we brought him off after 55 mins yesterday seemingly with this game in mind.
- I'd guess Anderson wont start as he still seems to struggle with games in quick succession and struggles on small uneven pitches away from home (See Birmingham and West Brom away for example)
- I'm assuming Carrick wont be risked
- Scholes should be fit to start

So i think the team will be

-------------------VDS---------------------

Rafael-------Rio----------Vidic---------Evra

Nani--------Scholes------Fletcher-----Giggs

-------------Berbatov----Rooney----------

Subs
PIG
O'Shea
Smalling
Anderson
Gibson
Owen
Hernandez
 
We should play the strongest 11, i did not notice if Chichariro was on the bench on Sat is he ok ?
 
Excal said:
I'm guessing he's going to start on Tuesday to rest either Berba or Rooney after they both went the full 90.
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I can't see it. I think after their performances on Saturday Fergie may want to play the two together again. It's a hard game trying to second guess Fergie but i don't think we'll be seeing Hernandez from the start on Tuesday.
 
public holiday wed here in oz , so can stay home and watch this one without telling my boss an excuse for being late to work.......
 
After the Birmingham game in talking about Giggs and how they've worked to manage him, SAF said he won't play against Southhampton. Which tends to imply he'll play on Tuesday.

If Rio is fit he'll play otherwise Smalling will continue

VDS
Rafael, Rio (Smalling), Vida, Evra
Nani, Scholes, Anderson, Giggs
Rooney, Berba

Bench: TK, Fletcher, O'Shea, Evans, Gibson, Chicha, Owen.

Only concern for me is right now we don't have a proper winger to bring on. Can't wait till that fecking Asia Cup is done and our Park is back.
 
Starting XI: -------------- Van Der Sar ------------------------
Rafael ------- Ferdinand -------------------- Vidic -------- Evra
-------------- Fletcher ------------------ Anderson ------------
----------------------------- Scholes --------------------------
----- Rooney --------------- Berbatov ------------ Nani --------

Bench: Kuszczak, Oshea, Smalling, Gibson, Giggs, Hernandez, Owen
 
No point in guessing the line up. Fergie is the master of picking teams just strong enough
to get something. Expect a few surprises, cant see us fielding what people refer to as " our strongest eleven".
 
Paul Scholes said:
Starting XI: -------------- Van Der Sar ------------------------
Rafael ------- Ferdinand -------------------- Vidic -------- Evra
-------------- Fletcher ------------------ Anderson ------------
----------------------------- Scholes --------------------------
----- Rooney --------------- Berbatov ------------ Nani --------

Bench: Kuszczak, Oshea, Smalling, Gibson, Giggs, Hernandez, Owen
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Broadly agree with that line up, but I think Giggs has a good chance of starting. not sure for who though, Scholes would be my best guess. That would allow us to play 442 with Giggs wide, or 433 with Rooney wide and Giggs playing infield.

Based on current form a case could be made for dropping Fletcher, but with Carrick likely out I reckon Fletcher is a certainty to start. I reckon either himself or Anderson will be told to get on Adam quickly (if he plays) and not allow him time to spread the ball from deep with ease.

Whatever the formation, I really hope Rooney and Berbatov both start.
 
2-0 to us I think it'll end up.

Fergie has got to keep playing Berba with the form he's in and Rooney as he's just getting back to form. Should be a great game tough!
 
I think that O'Shea will probably keep the RB for now, he played well on Saturday and needs games under his belt
 
phelans shorts said:
I have access to the MotM stats, I can tell you that I am definately in the majority thinking that.
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Yes but as discussed in the Nani thread you'll know from the MOTM stats that whilst not playing great he's still contributing in terms of goals and assists.
 
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