Manchester United vs. Fulham

VDS
O'Shea/Brown/Fabio (whoever we can get)
Smalling
Vidic
Evra/Fabio* (*if he's not playing at RB).
Valencia
Carrick
Scholes
Nani
Berbatov
Owen

I'd have Anderson, Park and Chicharito all on the bench. Defenders, I've no idea about, depends who is fit.
 
I think we will see Gibson in this game, probably with Scholes

I'm not expecting to see Valencia, Rio or Carrick, with Chelsea 3 days down the line
 
Thinking about it more, I still want Fábio to start on the wing. But I'm now thinking that Ferdinand and van der Sar will be rested. VDS was struggling with his kicking and I think Ferdinand will be saved for Chelsea (and probably Man City).

Kuszczak
Brown Smalling Vidic Evra
Nani Scholes Anderson Fábio
Owen Berbatov
--
Amos; Evans, O'Shea; Gibson, Carrick, Valencia; Hernandez​

I really think Brown and O'Shea's utility and height will be helpful against Fulham (they've got some big lads like Zamora, Hangeland), so I'm hopeful that at least one of them plays. I'd probably have Fletcher on the bench over Carrick if he's fit enough to make it.

van der Sar, Ferdinand, Rafael, Carrick, Valencia, Park, Giggs, Hernandez, and Rooney all rested for Chelsea so we can put out a similar, if not identical team. That's amazing when you think about it, that we can make nine changes and still put out a team that most people would be confident could beat Fulham comfortably at Old Trafford.

Also, I know this will hold no bearing on the manager's thinking, but I find it somewhat interesting none the less.

League Appearances (As Sub)

Brown - 7 (3)
Evans - 9 (1)
Fábio - 6 (5)
Kuszczak - 3
Obertan - 6 (4)
Owen - 6 (5)
Valencia - 4

Games left: 7 - Fulham (H), Newcastle (A), Everton (H), Arsenal (A), Chelsea (H), Blackburn (A), Blackpool (H)

As far as I'm aware, you still need to make 10 League Appearances to receive a medal, so if we do win the League, these are the players who need more games in order to earn one. Amos, Bébé, Hargreaves, Lindegaard, (Macheda), and Morrison are the other players who cannot make enough appearances now even if they managed to play every game (barring a Macheda recall).

Valencia could still make enough appearances, but I think he'd be given a medal anyway under the circumstances due to his injury, he'd have definitely played enough games to earn one otherwise.

This could possibly be Brown's last season, surely he deserves to get another League winner's medal for being a great servant to us? I'd expect him to get on the pitch pitch just about enough, if he avoids further injury.

Would some people find it funny if Michael Owen had played for us, we'd won the League, and he still didn't earn a Premier League winner's medal due to not making enough appearances?

I think Kuszczak, Brown, Fábio, and Owen all have a good chance to be involved on Saturday, from the start as well, but Kuszczak needs to play all the remaining games (which he won't). Evans has an outside chance at playing, while I expect Valencia to be on the bench so he could get on.
 
I'm so fecking worried about this game because I fear we will rest a lot of player. Can someone calm me down or are Fulham this scary?

You know it's close to finish in the PL when you are nervous before a home game against a side from the middle of the league..
 
Havak said:
Thinking about it more, I still want Fábio to start on the wing. But I'm now thinking that Ferdinand and van der Sar will be rested. VDS was struggling with his kicking and I think Ferdinand will be saved for Chelsea (and probably Man City).

Kuszczak
Brown Smalling Vidic Evra
Nani Scholes Anderson Fábio
Owen Berbatov
--
Amos; Evans, O'Shea; Gibson, Carrick, Valencia; Hernandez​

I really think Brown and O'Shea's utility and height will be helpful against Fulham (they've got some big lads like Zamora, Hangeland), so I'm hopeful that at least one of them plays. I'd probably have Fletcher on the bench over Carrick if he's fit enough to make it.

van der Sar, Ferdinand, Rafael, Carrick, Valencia, Park, Giggs, Hernandez, and Rooney all rested for Chelsea so we can put out a similar, if not identical team. That's amazing when you think about it, that we can make nine changes and still put out a team that most people would be confident could beat Fulham comfortably at Old Trafford.

Also, I know this will hold no bearing on the manager's thinking, but I find it somewhat interesting none the less.

League Appearances (As Sub)

Brown - 7 (3)
Evans - 9 (1)
Fábio - 6 (5)
Kuszczak - 3
Obertan - 6 (4)
Owen - 6 (5)
Valencia - 4

Games left: 7 - Fulham (H), Newcastle (A), Everton (H), Arsenal (A), Chelsea (H), Blackburn (A), Blackpool (H)

As far as I'm aware, you still need to make 10 League Appearances to receive a medal, so if we do win the League, these are the players who need more games in order to earn one. Amos, Bébé, Hargreaves, Lindegaard, (Macheda), and Morrison are the other players who cannot make enough appearances now even if they managed to play every game (barring a Macheda recall).

Valencia could still make enough appearances, but I think he'd be given a medal anyway under the circumstances due to his injury, he'd have definitely played enough games to earn one otherwise.

This could possibly be Brown's last season, surely he deserves to get another League winner's medal for being a great servant to us? I'd expect him to get on the pitch pitch just about enough, if he avoids further injury.

Would some people find it funny if Michael Owen had played for us, we'd won the League, and he still didn't earn a Premier League winner's medal due to not making enough appearances?

I think Kuszczak, Brown, Fábio, and Owen all have a good chance to be involved on Saturday, from the start as well, but Kuszczak needs to play all the remaining games (which he won't). Evans has an outside chance at playing, while I expect Valencia to be on the bench so he could get on.
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Last season United could've had three keepers on medals (and no not O'Shea being one of them) but Chelsea ruined it.

What about Park, Ferdinand, Gibson and Anderson... have they played enough games?
 
Evans suspended two more games, so you will have to play left back.
 
I'm not sure about that, he didn't look injured on saturday so maybe he was just rested last night as Fergie had 2 cb's instead on the bench so I would think he will play on saturday.
 
● Wes Brown - 09/04/2011
● John O'Shea (hamstring) - 09/04/2011

● Darren Fletcher (ill) - no news
● Rafael da Silva (knee) - 12/04/2011
● Anderson - 12/04/2011 - (playing in reserves on Thursday, 7th April)
● Anders Lindegaard (knee) - May 2011
● Owen Hargreaves (shoulder) - May 2011

● Jonny Evans (suspended in Premier League and FA Cup, v Fulham and Manchester City)
● Wayne Rooney (suspended in Premier League and FA Cup, v Fulham and Manchester City)

Available Squad for Fulham, 09/04/2011

Goalkeepers
Edwin van der Sar, Tomasz Kuszczak, Ben Amos

Defenders
Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic, Fabio da Silva

Midfielders
Ryan Giggs, Park Ji-sung, Michael Carrick, Nani, Paul Scholes, Antonio Valencia, Gabriel Obertan, Darron Gibson, Bebe

Strikers
Michael Owen, Dimitar Berbatov, Javier Hernandez
 
Berlinknives said:
Last season United could've had three keepers on medals (and no not O'Shea being one of them) but Chelsea ruined it.

What about Park, Ferdinand, Gibson and Anderson... have they played enough games?
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Park - 12 (2)
Ferdinand - 15
Gibson - 10 (6)
Anderson - 13 (4)

They're all safe if we win the league. I forgot that Evans' Red Card will probably be regarded as violent conduct / dangerous play, or whatever the term is, despite it just being an unlucky challenge. So, despite him only needing one more League Appearance, it can't come here, can it? He'll have to wait until Newcastle, but I'm more so expecting him to start against Blackpool on the final day if we've already settled it..
 
Team
Starting XI: ------------ Kuszczak ---------------------
Brown -------- Smalling ------------- Vidic -------- Fabio
Valencia ------ Scholes ------------ Anderson ----- Nani
--------------- Owen -------------- Berbatov ----------

Bench: Amos, Rafael, O´Shea, Carrick, Park, Giggs, Hernandez

Out: Lindegaard (Injured), Evans (Suspended), Hargreaves (Injured), Fletcher (Ill), Rooney (Suspended)

Rested: Van Der Sar, Ferdinand, Evra

Predicition
3-1, Berbatov, Nani, Owen - Dembele
 
Longlivekeano said:
All out attack

---------------------------Van Der Sar-----------------------



--Valencia------------Rio--------------Vidic----------Giggs---



---Park J S-----------Gibson---------Scholes---------Nani---



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


Subs: Kuzczak, Smalling, Owen, Anderson, Carrick, Fabio, Chicharito
Prediction:3-0 Rooney, Berbatov, Scholes
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We do that and we'll be docked serious points.
 
TK
Fabio, Smalling, Vidic, O'Shea
Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Nani
Berba, Chicha

Bench: Amos, Ferdinand, Giggs, Anderson, Gibson, Park, Brown.

I think Evra/Rio will get rested and VDS will be given more time to heal so he is available for Tuesday.

Bring on Anderson for Scholes around 60 minutes to close the game out.
 
Go full strength. I want all of Nani, Berbatov and Chicharito to play and hopefully Scholes too. We can afford to draw vs Chelsea, not Fulham.

Arsenal are away at Blackpool this weekend so win our game and we can put even more pressure on them.
 
evra said:
Fulham have been our bogey team recently, I think we need to play a three man midfield.
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Away from home. We smash them at OT every season.

We should be winning this but I'll be far more nervous for this than I was last night.
 
Man-United said:
I'm so fecking worried about this game because I fear we will rest a lot of player. Can someone calm me down or are Fulham this scary?

You know it's close to finish in the PL when you are nervous before a home game against a side from the middle of the league..
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Fulham's form has been very good.

7W - 4D - 2L

And they just got Zamora back, which makes a huge difference. He scored two goals last week. In their run they drew against City away, Chelsea at home, should have drawn against a lucky Liverpool and thrashed Spurs by 4, They pick up their game for better teams.

I wouldn't rest many starters and I specifically wouldn't start Owen.
 
Sean_RedDevil said:
Team
Starting XI: ------------ Kuszczak ---------------------
Brown -------- Smalling ------------- Vidic -------- Fabio
Valencia ------ Scholes ------------ Anderson ----- Nani
--------------- Owen -------------- Berbatov ----------

Bench: Amos, Rafael, O´Shea, Carrick, Park, Giggs, Hernandez

Out: Lindegaard (Injured), Evans (Suspended), Hargreaves (Injured), Fletcher (Ill), Rooney (Suspended)

Rested: Van Der Sar, Ferdinand, Evra

Predicition
3-1, Berbatov, Nani, Owen - Dembele
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Something like that team looks good enough to me, assuming all those named are available, with game-changers on the bench in case they are needed. A win here is vital in buying us a bit of breathing space for a pretty brutal run of four games in 11 or 12 days - CL Semi away, Arsenal A, CL Semi home, Chelsea H - if we get past Chelsea.

Get this won and don't offer any encouragement to Arsenal.
 
Yes no playing Owen please. Berbarito, Nani and Valencia with Scholes and Carrick.
 
londonredmaniac said:
We do that and we'll be docked serious points.
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Maybe the plan is to put him in a wig and say he's Owen Hargreaves?

fgr4t.jpg
 
I think owen will start alongside berba. Also following anderson performance in the reserves the manager may play him. He may want to exploit andersons feel good factor after his two goals.

Slightly different sitaution but the amanger did do it with macehda before teh villa match. He does keep an eye on the reserves and when you show good form he does tend to exploit it.

My Team: PIG, O'shea Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio, Valencia, Scholes, Anderson, Nani, Owen, Berba.

bench: VDS, Rafael, Smalling, Giggs, Carrick, Park, Hernandez
 
So, Rafael out, but no major damage and should be back for Chelsea. Brown and O'Shea are back, Anderson also available, while "Fletcher has put a bit of weight back on which is good. He's progressing not too bad now."
 
It's looking much better than it was three weeks ago.

● Rafael da Silva - 12/04/2011
● Darren Fletcher (ill) - back in traning
● Anders Lindegaard (knee) - May 2011
● Owen Hargreaves (shoulder) - May 2011

● Jonny Evans (suspended in Premier League and FA Cup, v Fulham and Manchester City)
● Wayne Rooney (suspended in Premier League and FA Cup, v Fulham and Manchester City)

Available Squad for Fulham, 09/04/2011

Goalkeepers
Edwin van der Sar, Tomasz Kuszczak, Ben Amos

Defenders
Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic, Fabio da Silva, John O'Shea

Midfielders
Anderson, Ryan Giggs, Park Ji-sung, Michael Carrick, Nani, Paul Scholes, Antonio Valencia, Gabriel Obertan, Darron Gibson, Bebe

Strikers
Michael Owen, Dimitar Berbatov, Javier Hernandez
Click to expand...
 
I'm certain Owen will be given the nod tomorrow. Got a feeling Evra and VDS will be missing also.
 
Number7 said:
I think we will see Gibson in this game, probably with Scholes

I'm not expecting to see Valencia, Rio or Carrick, with Chelsea 3 days down the line
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Yeah I'd agree with that.

Surprised people are saying Owen will start. I don't think either Berb or Hernandez will start on Tuesday so I think they'll both start.

Hopefully Anderson will play a part.
 
cina said:
Yeah I'd agree with that.

Surprised people are saying Owen will start. I don't think either Berb or Hernandez will start on Tuesday so I think they'll both start.

Hopefully Anderson will play a part.
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With Rooney out I think you'll see Berbatov and Owen and don't rule out Hernandez starting either.

As for Tuesday i'm sure he'll continue with the Rooney/Chicharito combo...why not? Terry hates playing against the Little Pea
 
If O'Shea and Brown are fully fit then going to change up my defensive line prediction and say

Brown, Smalling, Vidic, O'shea

Jut because I think Evra needs a rest and Fergie might not risk Fabio and Smalling starting side by side given the more experienced option available.

Smalling starts because Rio will not be risked for the return leg against Chelski.

Attack and score early - kill the game off best we can so as to go into Tuesday not having played a gruelling game.
 
Chicha was being tossed around like a rag doll on Wed and he did work his socks off and looked quite tired when he came off. He's young and all these guys are athletes but, conditioning for playing in the PL is not easy as many players have found out.

Still - I see him starting tomorrow and not on Tuesday - look to finish the game early and then hopefully he gets a breather with Owen coming on.
 
Win this one and the pressure will be heaped on Arsenal for their trip to Blackpool. Ideal game to have between the two Chelsea matches, should be able to freshen some legs. 3 points required.
 
We've a good squad but why the desire to rest so many player's? We're going for 19 FFS and need to keep winning. What will resting Edwin achieve? He had a breather last week and I'm sure isn't so unfit to stand between the sticks 3 days before CL. As for Rio, am I the only one who'd play him? He needs games and to rebuild the understanding with Vidic.

I'd go:

Van Der Sar

O'Shea Ferdinand Vidic Fabio

Park Carrick Scholes Nani

Berbatov Hernandez

They are professional footballers, not slaves. Resting is fine, resting too many can backfire.
 
WireRed said:
What will resting Edwin achieve? He had a breather last week and I'm sure isn't so unfit to stand between the sticks 3 days before CL.
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Just because Edwin missed the game against West Ham with a calf problem and he seemed to be struggling with his calf towards the end of the Chelsea game.
 
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