Birmingham City v Man Utd

-----------Howard-------------

Bardsley---Wes-----Mickey-----Pique

Ronaldo----Fletcher---Jones------Richardson

-----------Saha--------Rossi-----------------
 
----------------Howard----------------
--Bardsley---Wes---Gary Nev---Pique--
--Ronaldo--Fletcher--Jones--Richardson-
--------------Rossi---------------------
--------------Saha---------------------
 
Here's the squad that traveled to St. Andrews..

Man Utd (from): Howard, Steele, Neville, Bardsley, Eckersley, Brown, Pique, O'Shea, Richardson, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Martin, Smith, Park, Jones, Rossi, Saha, Ebanks-Blake, Rooney.

Taking this, and what Fergie said into account, here's my guess for the side..

--------------Howard--------------
Bardsley----Pique----Wes/Rio---O'Shea
Ronaldo----Fletch----Park------Richardson
----------Rossi------Sahahaha-------

Bench: Steele, Gaz, Smith, Rooney, Jones
 
thoward said:
No. Perhaps the Burton Albion FA Cup tie will be a good game for him to come back for.
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I agree. But January's fixture list is an awful one to ease him back into the team. We have the arse, liverpool and city, hopefully 2 Carling Cup semi's and a 4th round FA Cup tie. Even the Burton game isnt as ideal as say a team as lame as Sunderland.

Ole will still be a bit vulnerable, biggest game in the Burton players careers and the chance to dent massive reputations. That can lead to certain tackles flying in. SAF will know the best time.
 
Dowders_Jnr said:
I agree. But January's fixture list is an awful one to ease him back into the team. We have the arse, liverpool and city, hopefully 2 Carling Cup semi's and a 4th round FA Cup tie. Even the Burton game isnt as ideal as say a team as lame as Sunderland.

Ole will still be a bit vulnerable, biggest game in the Burton players careers and the chance to dent massive reputations. That can lead to certain tackles flying in. SAF will know the best time.
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Well maybe but then games against City and Liverpool would be tough games to go into as well. Im not saying hed be ready to start against Burton Albion but perhpas bring him on for the last 20, 25, 30 minutes if the team was winning by more than a goal. 20-25 minutes would be handy(if United are winning comfortably) and more reserve games in January
 
randy420 said:
Here's the squad that traveled to St. Andrews..

Man Utd (from): Howard, Steele, Neville, Bardsley, Eckersley, Brown, Pique, O'Shea, Richardson, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Martin, Smith, Park, Jones, Rossi, Saha, Ebanks-Blake, Rooney.

Taking this, and what Fergie said into account, here's my guess for the side..

--------------Howard--------------
Bardsley----Pique----Wes/Rio---O'Shea
Ronaldo----Fletch----Park------Richardson
----------Rossi------Sahahaha-------

Bench: Steele, Gaz, Smith, Rooney, Jones
Click to expand...


What?
 
Rossi Looking Forward To Louis Link-Up

Giuseppe Rossi is relishing the prospect of linking up with Louis Saha in tonight's Carling Cup quarter-final against Birmingham, insisting the pair have the ability to form a prolific partnership.

The duo were paired together in the previous round against West Brom, a game which United won 3-1 thanks to goals from Ronaldo, Saha and O'Shea.

It was the third match in which Rossi and Saha have played alongside each other after showing promising signs during two of United's four pre-season matches in the Far East.

"Louis and I have been working well in training and in the games we've played together," Rossi told ManUtd.com.

"We have the characteristics to form a good partnership and tonight's game is another chance for us to show what we can do together and I'm sure we'll link up well."

Saha is likely to be one of only a handful of senior players to start the last eight clash at St. Andrews as Fergie goes for a blend of youth and experience in his starting line-up.

"It's a very good chance for the young players to impress," insists Saha.

"They always show a great determination and confidence whenever they play and I'm sure they'll do the same against Birmingham.

"It'll be a tough game but hopefully we can put in a good performance and get the right result. We've been doing well recently and we want to keep that going."
 
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce says Nicky Butt has finally adapted to life away from Old Trafford.

Nicky Butt, currently on loan from Newcastle, left United for St James' Park 17 months ago after 12 years and almost 400 appearances in United's first-team.

The move didn't really work out, but the Manchester-born midfielder's boss at Birmingham puts that down to the difficulty of leaving such a big club.

"It will be a huge game for Nicky," Bruce told the Sunday Mirror newspaper. "Newcastle were thrashed in the FA Cup last season by Manchester United and he was very disappointed.

"It has taken him a couple of years to get over leaving United," he added. "It's massive when you leave - I've been there. Look at Dwight Yorke. Look at Andy Cole. Initially, when both of them left they struggled.

Butt made only 16 league starts for Newcastle last season, but failed to find the form he had shown throughout his United career - and in particular around the 2002 World Cup.

"Nicky tried to make an impression at Newcastle but he wasn't fit for the best part of half a season," explains Bruce.

"All of a sudden, things have passed you by and you haven't done yourself justice.

"But he has a great attitude. He had his best game for us against Fulham. Nicky will be looking forward to Tuesday's game. The crowd will be up for it and so will we."

Birmingham suffered a 4-1 defeat to United's neighbours Man City at the weekend - a loss Bruce described as "utterly pathetic".

The former United defender's job is safe, according to Birmingham chairman David Gold, but Bruce goes into the Christmas period second bottom in the Premiership.
 
Manchester United travel to Birmingham City in the Carling Cup on Tuesday, with the game live on Sky Sports 1.

The Red Devils reached the semi-finals of the competition last year and, after crashing out of Europe, Sir Alex Ferguson will be targeting a trip to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium next year.

Gary Neville is likely to start in defence but impressive youngsters Giuseppe Rossi, Phil Bardsley and Gerard Pique will all be given the chance to continue their progress.

Louis Saha will spearhead the attack alongside Rossi, providing he has recovered from a bug, and there will be another experienced figure at the heart of the defence, alongside Pique.

"Gary [Neville] may get included simply because we probably feel he still needs games," Ferguson told Sky Sports News.

"I'll wait until nearer the time to confirm that.

"Rossi, Pique obviously; Bardsley, Richardson. I'll play all the young players and obviously I think Saha will be the older member really. Possibly one of the centre backs will be either [Wes] Brown or [Rio] Ferdinand."

Birmingham, who were awful in the 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday, are desperate to ease the pressure on manager Steve Bruce.

Goalkeeper Colin Doyle has been recalled from Millwall so he will be on the bench as cover for Maik Taylor, who returns in place of suspended shot-stopper Nico Vaesen.

David Dunn was substituted in the City of Manchester Stadium fiasco to protect him as he has been suffering from a thigh injury so Bruce has a difficult decision to make over the influential midfielder with so many games on the horizon.

Emile Heskey is set to lead the attack after his partner gave birth recently while Martin Taylor could dislodge Olivier Tebily at full back.

Jermaine Pennant can expect to start if Bruce opts to have a go at United as the Blues boss aims for his first-ever win over his former club as a manager.
 
There's only two carling cup matches today.

19:45 Birmingham C. ? - ? Manchester U.
19:45 Wigan Athletic ? - ? Bolton W.

The rest will be played tommorow.
 
Emile Heskey is poised to return to the Birmingham starting line-up for the Carling Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester United.

Heskey was absent from Saturday's 4-1 debacle at Manchester City because his partner was due to give birth - even though he was named among the substitutes in the hope he would return to Eastlands in time.

Maik Taylor will replace Nico Vaesen after the keeper was sent off in the closing stages and Colin Doyle has been recalled from a loan spell at Millwall to act as back-up.

Martin Taylor is pushing strongly for a recall at the expense of right-back Olivier Tebily, who was substituted to save him further embarrassment against Stuart Pearce's team.

Sir Alex Ferguson will check on the fitness of Louis Saha and Alan Smith before finalising his Manchester United squad.

Both men missed the weekend win over Aston Villa after picking up a virus and, with a busy Christmas programme looming, Ferguson will want to be sure the duo are 100% fit before he selects them again.

Although the Red Devils are now out of Europe, Ferguson still intends to select a young squad, with Giuseppe Rossi and Gerard Pique among those attempting to guide United into the last four for the second successive season.
 
Bruce Fearful Over Reds' Visit

United's current form is irrelevant because there is never a good time to play them, according to Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce.

Former Reds defender Bruce feels his side are in for an almighty test in Tuesday night's Carling Cup quarter-final at St. Andrews.

"There is never a good time to play Man United because you know what you are going to get.," he said. It's a fantastic cup tie but they are at their best when they are wounded and come out with that fighting spirit which makes them the great team they are."

Bruce feels United's early exit from the Champions League will have boosted the Carling Cup in Sir Alex Ferguson's list of priorities, making his own task even harder.

He said: "They think that the world is against them and they come out and produce a performance and it will be tough. They have just gone out of Europe so I am convinced they will want to try and win this competition, that's for sure."

Bruce is also wary that, even with a host of big names set to sit the tie out, United will still provide his side with a stern test.

"Whatever team they put out, when Man United come to town, it is going to be a tough, tough game but one that we will relish and we will look forward to the challenge," he said
 
Rossi is 16-1 :eek: at my local bookie's for First or Last goal. Stuck an absoloute wedge on. Even if it doesn't come in it's still big, big value.
 
Team news from SSN:

Saha/Rossi

Richardson/Fletcher/Park/Ronaldo

JOS/Wes/Silvestre/Gary

Howard


Bench:

Rio/Rooney/VDS/Bardsley/Jones
 
I would have thought Richardson left back, O'Shea central-midfield and Park on the wing. That's what you played last round wasn't it?
 
Wtf no Pique not even on the bench?:(

Btw 2 wingers that can't cross;)
 
French Henry said:
I would have thought Richardson left back, O'Shea central-midfield and Park on the wing. That's what you played last round wasn't it?
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Would of made more sense, since Park IMO isn't really suited to play in the middle.
 
French Henry said:
I would have thought Richardson left back, O'Shea central-midfield and Park on the wing. That's what you played last round wasn't it?
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You're probably right. I was typing it as they were rattling off the names and I wasn't sure who they said was playing where...
 
very Ruud said:
Park in the middle ?
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Nah, my mistake. As pointed out above, he'll probably stick with Richardson as a LB and Park as a winger.
 
French Henry said:
Rossi is 16-1 :eek: at my local bookie's for First or Last goal. Stuck an absoloute wedge on. Even if it doesn't come in it's still big, big value.
Click to expand...

If it doesn't come in then it's no value at all is it? I mean I don't gamble but surely the bet is only value for money if it pays off?
 
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