Birmingham v Manchester United

Pogue Mahone said:
I think that people are thinking about last season when they're bigging up brum's record at home. They're a lot less impressive this season - W3 D4 L1

That said, a draw wouldn't be the end of the world (although it will seem like that on here)
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Even last season they didn't have a particularly good home record in terms of wins, but the difficulty tends to be that they are very difficult to beat- shown by just the single home loss this season. Only United and Sunderland are unbeaten at home this season, and Birmingham are in a group with Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Bolton who have only had a single home loss. When you see that those teams are all in the top seven, while Birmignham are 17th, it just shows how much better they tend to play at home than away.

Add to that the fact that we have only won once away from home in the league this year, Birmingham's notoriety to raise their game against the top teams and the fact their last game was called off.

Make no mistake, we are in for a really tough test tomorrow.
 
R_Nick said:
The hell lads?! How about a bit of faith eh?!

3-0 I reckon. Ando, Rooney and Hernandez with a late one after being subbed on.
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Totally agree! Don't understand some of these comments .... we are playing the mighty ...... Birmingham. We should be looking to get 3 points from games like these and worst case, like before in the season not lose. We are now bang in form having won 5 PL games on the bounce, have a full compliment of strikers available and just come off a 14 day period of no matches.

We should win this comfortably. feck, even Sir Rooney of Croxteth might even score.

I think it will be 0-3 or 1-3.
 
I think that the strength of the team yesterday was a statement that after the rest we've had, the boys have enough in the tank for two games in 3 days - I'd expect a very similar side. Can't see us changing from 4-4-2, and hopefully Nani can come in for Park. Maybe Obertan for Giggs?
 
I'm presuming Park is unavailable now?

If so then I expect to see:

VDS
Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Nani Carrick Anderson Giggs
Berbatov Rooney​

Although I wouldn't rule out Hernandez starting.
 
I'm not 100% on Park, but I thought that was his last game for us until he's back from the tournament. I'd assume that's why he wasn't subbed off against Sunderland and Giggs was, but I'm not fully sure. I'd prefer him to be available obviously.
 
Just to clear it up:
Park will be missing from December 26th to January 29th at the latest, depending on how far his country progress.
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Giggs & Nani for this one then? Should Nani not make it, how would we line up?
 
Jaap said:
Just to clear it up:


Giggs & Nani for this one then? Should Nani not make it, how would we line up?
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If Nani doesn't make it then i'd expect a start for either Obertan, Gibson or Fletcher.
 
Edwin

Wes--Rio--Vidic--Evra

Nani--Carrick/Fletcher--Anderson--Rooney

Hernandez--Berbatov

I think we'll see a few fresh legs for this, and i think we'll win pretty comfortably.
 
Rooney couldn't score in a brothel at the moment (and that's saying something!)

We'll win but it won't be straightforward.

I expect a tight 1-0 win - I don't reckon we'll respect them enough either and we will play 4-4-2.
 
A very tight physically tough 2-1 win is my thinking, assuming Nani and Fletcher are back to add some freshness to our midfield, i fancy the same back 4 considering they had a pretty easy time of it against Sunderland yesterday as well as Rooney and Berb up top.
 
Plan M said:
Rooney couldn't score in a brothel at the moment (and that's saying something!)

We'll win but it won't be straightforward.

I expect a tight 1-0 win - I don't reckon we'll respect them enough either and we will play 4-4-2.
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I hope we play 442. I see nothing to make me think we won't play 442. They're a tough outfit but not a particularly dangerous one. 1 striker up front would be playing into their hands imo.
 
cw1984 said:
I hope we play 442. I see nothing to make me think we won't play 442. They're a tough outfit but not a particularly dangerous one. 1 striker up front would be playing into their hands imo.
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Yeah i agree we must go with 2 strikers, although we did go 4-5-1 at St Andrews last season mind you so its possible i suppose but really hope not especially with the partnership and form of Rooney and Berbatov, they really are playing well together.

Basically make sure both ends of the pitch are full strength ie Rooney, Berbatov, Nani up the top and Ferdinand/Vidic/Van Der Sar at the back, lob a few around that and we should win this game.
 
Jaap said:
Just to clear it up:


Giggs & Nani for this one then? Should Nani not make it, how would we line up?
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We have the option of using either Obertan or Bebe on the right. I think Obertan might get the nod for this one. He has not played since the loss to West Ham. I also think Smalling might play for Rio unless Fergie wants to risk Rio and play him twice in 3 days.
 
I think we MIGHT play 4-4-2 this time around because they are not doing as well as they were last season. They are in 16th I think. With Berba and Rooney combining so well, I don't think we should bench either one of them. Berba got some good rest and Rooney is a beast, who can play continuously.
 
Birmingham's defence are always good, can't see more than 2 goals in this game and it's vital we get the first goal. Johnson, Dann, Carr and Ridgewell have played well together for 1,5 year now. McLeish has a good defence, the attack is worse.
 
----------------------Van Der Sar---------------------


--O Shea---------Smalling--------Vidic---------Evra---



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



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


Prediction: Amos, Neville,Fabio, Carrick, Owen, Hernandez, Evans
Prediction:1-2 away victory. Rooney 2
 
lots are thinking Carrick will be rested for this one.

He has not played a lot a games this season because Fletcher was preferred on form.

So I dont see why he should be rested. Now if he is injured...


just want to add... Carrick and Anderson look lethel together.
 
----------------------Van Der Sar---------------------


--Rafael---------Smalling--------Vidic---------Evra---



--Nani-----------Fletcher------Anderson--------Rooney--



-----------------Berbatov------Hernandez-----------------
 
..........................VDS............................
.........................back 4.........................
Nani..Fletcher..Anderson..Giggsy
............Berbatov..Rooney...............

1-0 win. Nani to score.
 
Red Dreams said:
lots are thinking Carrick will be rested for this one.

He has not played a lot a games this season because Fletcher was preferred on form.

So I dont see why he should be rested. Now if he is injured...


just want to add... Carrick and Anderson look lethel together.
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Well said...
 
Sir Matt said:
Was Kakuta really worth poaching?
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Wrong thread?

If Nani plays then I expect

VDS
Rafael, Rio, Vida, Evra
Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs
Rooney, Berba

Otherwise replace Rooney for Nani on the right and Chicha up top with Berbatov playing the deep lying striker.
 
I would love to be as confident as most on here are but they've got a good defense. It'll be a hard fought game. A draw would not be the worst result in the world.
 
Colin129 said:
Oh ffs...stick to tennis eh?

Are you honestly saying we don't have enough to beat Birmingham?
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It was hardly a ridiculous opinion, to be fair. As has been pointed out by others, Brum have a pretty impressive home record, at least in respect of avoiding defeat. Add to this the fact that they have had a long break whilst United played yesterday, and there is a distinct advantage in their favour, which could well offset United's superior ability.

Personally, I think United will be sufficiently buoyed by the opportunity that's been presented to us by Chelsea's current troubles, and that we'll just have enough to win.
 
This game really is massive - we need to take some wind out of Arsenal sails quickly. Going 5 points clear after their own fantastic result would be just the tonic.
 
Red Defence said:
The same team...bar Nani...that will have played a match just 48 hrs before? Can't see Fergie playing that team.
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They weren't really taxed that much and had a two week break from matches. If those players can't handle 2 games in 48 hours after that - we have some serious issues.

I guess SAF may decide to change up Nev for Rafael but, goodness why? He is barely 20. The rest Ando was taken off at 60 minutes as was Giggs - only 2 that I could say out of the bunch that were really running their socks off. Even Evra to me was a bit 3rd gear for the day.
 
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