CSKA Moscow vs. Manchester United

Wellback has been given a few chance, would like to see Macheda get a chance. That is if anyone of the is considered.
 
Ferguson is without a number of key players for the match tomorrow after Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Patrice Evra and Park Ji-Sung all failed to make the trip.

Park is likely to be out for two weeks with a knee problem but Ferguson hopes the others will be fit for Sunday's trip to Liverpool.

Ferguson said: "Evra just had a little problem in his heel and we decided to leave him because we are quite well covered. That's the one I can certainly say will be fit by Sunday.

"We are fighting to get Rooney ready, it is a bit of an uphill fight but we are trying.

"Giggs, it is difficult to say, Fletcher is maybe a slight doubt.

"We are hoping to get the main players ready for Sunday because it is a big game."

Rooney has been troubled by a calf injury since England's trip to Ukraine earlier this month while Fletcher was also hurt on international duty.

Giggs and Evra suffered minor knocks in the draw against Bolton on Saturday.

It has been suggested that because of injuries, next weekend's fixture and United's position in the group - top with maximum points from two games - a win is not essential.

Ferguson, however, will not talk so negatively.

He said: "I don't agree with 'can afford not to win'. We will definitely try to win.

"It would put us in a fantastic position with nine points. That is the incentive for us tomorrow night."

Ferguson also has few concerns about the artificial surface at the Luzhniki Stadium.

He said: "CSKA Moscow are a good football team. They love to keep the ball down all the time and that has a lot to do with the pitch.

"It is a true pitch and the ball will stay on the ground as long as you want to pass it there.

"That way you can control the speed of the game.

"On this particular type of pitch, if you start lifting the ball, that's when your problems start.

"They're used to it. They've got the experience of playing on it which we don't, but the one advantage we've got is most of our players are good footballers."

The match takes United back to the scene of their 2008 Champions League final win over Chelsea.

Yet Ferguson has no time for sentiment.

He said: "We've been to Wembley a few times and won trophies and come back. It doesn't excite me.

"Obviously it is a fantastic memory but it is in the past. Maybe in a few years' time when I've had time to think about it I will think differently.

"It was a wonderful night and you can't forget these nights but I think it will be more important, in the situation we have, to win tomorrow because you have to move on."

Ferguson also gave a strong endorsement to back-up goalkeeper Ben Foster, whose recent performances in Edwin van der Sar's absence were heavily scrutinised.

Van der Sar, 38, has now fully recovered from a hand injury but the identity of his successor remains a subject of conjecture.

One player linked with United - in the Russian media at least - is CSKA number one Igor Akinfeev, the current Russia first choice.

Ferguson said: "I can't deal with rumour because we have two very good young goalkeepers at the club at the moment in (Tomasz) Kuszczak and Foster and the future lies with them.

"When Edwin van der Sar finally decides to retire I'm quite confident these players can take over."
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FERGUSON STAYS SILENT ON WILEY | Football Transfer News, Football News, Fixtures, Results, Match Reports, Stats

I've left out some of the start of the article which states that Sir Alex was not happy with a journalist's question. It's in the link if you want to know about it and posted in the thread 'Fergie charged'.
 
olesmyhero said:
Damnit. Just got a call to work tomorrow. Guess I'll have to record it then watch it when I get home. feck.
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Same here. I checked the rota yesterday and I'm down. Thank feck I'm not working Sunday, that's all I can say.
 
Evans brothers together for Man Utd in Moscow

Corry Evans has travelled with the Manchester United squad to Russia for tonight's Champions League tie at CSKA Moscow.

Evans, a midfielder who can also play at the back, is the younger brother of United defender Jonny Evans, who also is in the squad.

Corry has also been called up to the senior Northern Ireland squad by coach Nigel Worthington this year and says one of the family's big dreams is for he and Jonny to play on the same pitch for club and country.


Evans brothers together for Man Utd in Moscow | Premiership News | tribalfootball.com
 
With a lot of players doubt, such as Rooney and Giggs for Sunday, maybe it might be Owen and Macheda/Wellback.
 
I prefer Macheda but am just looking at the recent trend and Wellback seems to be getting the nod even though i think Macheda deserves a chance.
 
Misspelt elleven


-----------Kuzsczak--------------------
Nevile----Ferdinend----Eveans--O`Shae
-Nina-----Andersson--Carrik----Wellback
--------Oven---------Masheda------------
 
Well, the definite absentees are Rooney, Evra, Fletcher, Giggs, and Park, as everyone will likely already know. But we've got to expect that Ferdinand, Vidic, Berbatov, and van der Sar may all be held back to ensure they play at Anfield on Sunday. I'm not fully sure what to expect from Fergie in regards to how he'll decide to play Liverpool. as Rooney must play but we'll be lacking striking power and pace if the likes or Owen, Berbatov, Valencia, and Nani don't start (in favour of Giggs, Rooney, Park, with a three-man central midfield, unless Giggs plays from the middle). It's going to be down to whether SAF wants van der Sar, Ferdinand, and Vidic to have some play-time before Liverpool, or if he'd rather have them definitely fit. However, playing on a plastic pitch might not help things.

To be honest, in the back of his mind, and maybe in most of the fan's minds, we can afford to play a weaker team here and just probably 'not get beat'. I'm sure we can expect to beat CSKA at Old Trafford and Besiktas away, which means we'll easily qualify and provided there's no catastrophe in Germany we'll win the group.

I'm going to guess at Fergie probably playing a 433, something like this perhaps:

van der Sar
Neville Ferdinand J.Evans Fábio
Carrick Scholes Anderson
Valencia Owen Nani
--
Subs: Foster; Brown, O'Shea, C.Evans; Welbeck, Macheda, Berbatov​

Obviously, this is if Vidic can't make the first-team or bench, but he (and Berbatov) may be rested regardless to play Liverpool. I still think this team is capable of beating CSKA and it maintains some impact from the bench with Berbatov and Macheda. Though Welbeck could be given another start over Valencia or Nani - at least one of those will get a chance against Liverpool if we need to open them up.
 
'Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has given short shrift to questioning about the FA charge he faces for criticising referee Alan Wiley's fitness.

...

But the 67-year-old was in no mood to answer questions on the subject and cut the conference short when it was raised.

"Silly question gets no answer," he said. "I'm not answering it."

Another reporter replied that "It's not a silly question", Ferguson then got up and left the room, saying only "Good night" as he stormed out.'

:lol:
 
Havak said:
........

I'm going to guess at Fergie probably playing a 433, something like this perhaps:

van der Sar
Neville Ferdinand J.Evans Fábio
Carrick Scholes Anderson
Valencia Owen Nani
--
Subs: Foster; Brown, O'Shea, C.Evans; Welbeck, Macheda, Berbatov​

.........
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Think you are pretty much spot on here.
Maybe Brown for Neville if he is fit?
As you say it all depends on who Fergie has in mind for Liverpool.
 
CSKA's left flank will likely be their weak point. Their main winger Mark Gonzales (remember him from his brief Liverpool stint?) is out injured, and they don't really have a regular left-back at the moment. I think we'll see Rafael and Valencia on the right flank as a result. On the left flank, Krasic and maybe even Odiah, their right-back, will try to get forward, and I can't see Ferguson playing Fabio there to counter them. O'Shea at left-back for me, maybe even with Park playing on the left.

The rest of the team picks itself. They'll have three in midfield (maybe Mamaev - Rahimic - Dzagoev), so I think we'll do the same. Owen may be the lone striker for this one. Van der Sar to start in goal with Rio and one of Vidic and Evans completing the team.
 
I'd guess at:

------------------Van der Sar------------------
Rafael-----Ferdinand------Evans------------Fabio
---------Scholes---Carrick---Anderson----------
Valencia------------------------------------Nani
-----------------Owen--------------------------

Subs: PIG, C.Evans, O'Shea, Brown, Eikrem, Macheda, Welbeck
 
I'd personally prefer to see Welbeck & Macheda start up front together, and Owen come on as a sub (his best role as far as I can see) - but I think he'll start, and the only way we'd see Welbeck start is if he plays out wide again.

Definitely hoping to see some of Macheda and Welbeck at some point though
 
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