FC Bayern Munchen vs. Manchester United

:lol: and if you want to see us as a one man team Arjen, mate, then that suits us too

He did say "almost" ... it's just mindgames, I'm sure they're aware of Berbatov, Valencia, Nani, Park, Scholes, Giggs, Evra etc.

I wouldn't advice 180 minutes of distraction from the likes of Lamh, Badstuber and Demichelis though.
 
if all fit and whatever

---------------------- VDS -----------------------
Neville ---- Ferdinand ----- Vidic --------- Evra
-------- Fletcher ---- Scholes --- Carrick ------
Valencia ------------------------------------ Nani
--------------------- Rooney ---------------------

Thats the team I would go with, actually had a sneaky feeling since the draw was made that me may come away with a 2-0 win
 
---------------------- VDS ----------------------
Neville-----------Rio-----------Vidic-----------Evra
---------------Fletcher-------Carrick------------
------------------------Park----------------------
Valencia---------------Rooney----------------Nani


SUBS : PIG, Evans, Rafael, Scholes, Giggs, Berbatov, Macheda.

This seems about right. Not sure about Gary Neville or Rafael. I like having Valencia and Nani stretching the play. Fletcher and Park's energy to create openings, both for themselves and for others.
 
---------------------- VDS ----------------------
Neville-----------Rio-----------Vidic-----------Evra
---------------Fletcher-------Carrick------------
------------------------Park----------------------
Valencia---------------Rooney----------------Nani


SUBS : PIG, Evans, Rafael, Scholes, Giggs, Berbatov, Macheda.

Only thing is I might replace Macheda with Gibson but, agree with the rest.
 
WAYNE ROONEY and Rio Ferdinand have declared themselves fit for travel ahead of tomorrow's quarter-final with Bayern Munich.
The Manchester United duo missed Saturday's 4-0 win at Bolton with a bruised foot and groin injury respectively.

But both were among the United party that checked in at Manchester Airport this morning.

United are looking for a positive result against the four-times winners to take into the Old Trafford decider next Wednesday.

And for Ryan Giggs at least, the clash will bring back many happy memories of 11 years ago when United defeated the Germans 2-1 in the final in Barcelona.

The veteran winger said: "I can't believe it's 11 years ago. It was one of the greatest nights of my life and for many fans too, this will bring back a lot of happy memories

"We will settle for the same score as in 1999 too, but hopefully not leaving it as late as we did then."

That night remains the only time in seven encounters United have beaten the German giants.

But despite that statistic, Giggs' believes their next clash is too close to call.

He said: "I am a little bit surprised about our overall record but it has always been tight.

"It is usually difficult against German sides, and against the top ones even more so.

"We have won the European Cup three times. They have won it on four occasionsso you are talking about two clubs with massive history; full of experience and full of great players so hopefully it's going to be a great spectacle."
 
I expect such an attacking game, screw Arsenal vs Barca this is where its at. Will be played at 100mph.

Nani and Rooney to stand out.
 
------------------VDS------------------
Rafael-------Rio---------Vidic-------Evra
----------Fletcher----Scholes-----------
Valencia----------Park--------------Nani
-----------------Rooney----------------

Subs: Kuz, Evans, Neville, Giggs, Carrick, Gibson, Berbatov
 
------------------------Van Der Sar--------------------



--Neville---------Rio----------Vidic-------------Evra--



--Park-----------Scholes----Fletcher-----------Nani----



--------------------------Berbatov---------------------


-------------------Rooney------------------------------



Subs: Foster, Rafael, Evans, Carrick, Giggs, Macheda, Valencia
Subsitution:1-1 draw. Berbatov.

Berbatov was brilliant against Wolfsburg and his scoring record while playing for Leverkusen was second to none. Also, his form is very very good coming into the game.

Park will play as a rightsided midfielder to help Neville contain either Ribery or Robben on the flank.
 
This is definitely good news.

Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand fit for Bayern showdown - UEFA Champions League - ESPN Soccernet

Manchester United's chances of overcoming Bayern Munich to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League have increased following the news that both Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand have travelled to Germany for the first leg.

Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand are key players for United

• Bayern wait on Robben news

Rooney and Ferdinand both missed Saturday's 4-0 win over Bolton Wanderers due to injury, with top-scorer Rooney suffering from a foot problem and defender Ferdinand struggling with a groin problem.

But both players travelled with the squad on Monday as they embarked on their trip to Germany and should start at the Allianz Arena in the first leg of the quarter-final tie on Tuesday night.

Bayern are awaiting news of a calf injury suffered by Arjen Robben and if the Dutchman plays, Nemanja Vidic feels the former Chelsea winger will be a real threat to United's hopes of reaching the semi-finals for the fourth season in succession.

"Bayern build things up well from the back and they have a few players with real quality on the ball - people like Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben," Vidic told the club's official website. "They have pace and skill and can beat defenders one on one. They also have a few big forwards who are very good in the penalty area - they're old-fashioned goalscoring strikers.

"Like every team, Bayern have strengths and weaknesses. They'll try and play to their strengths, while we'll look to exploit their weaknesses. We're going to Munich looking to win the game."

Tuesday's tie will naturally draw comparisons with 1999 when United defeated Bayern in such dramatic circumstances in the Champions League final in Barcelona. Injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer secured a 2-1 win which Ryan Giggs has named as one of the highlights of his career.

"I can't believe it's 11 years ago,'' said Giggs. "It was one of the greatest nights of my life and for many fans too, this will bring back a lot of happy memories.

"We will settle for the same score as in 1999 too, but hopefully not leaving it as late as we did then.''
 
: Edwin van der Sar, Ben Foster, Tomasz Kuszczak; Gary Neville, Rafael, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, Ritchie De Laet; Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Darron Gibson, Paul Scholes, Gabriel Obertan, Nani, Antonio Valencia, Ji-sung Park, Ryan Giggs; Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Federico Macheda.
 
Robben plays.

Müller Wolfahrt will have him ready so say sources here.
 
Surely he wont be fit. Coming off injured on Saturday and not training today.

He'll be on the treatment table for 3 days solid and on the bench at the very least come Tuesday. I won't be surprised if he starts.
 
Starting XI: ------------- Van Der Sar ---------------------
Rafael ------- Ferdinand ----------------- Vidic ------- Evra
--------------- Carrick ----------------- Fletcher ----------
Valencia -------------------- Park -------------------- Nani
--------------------------- Rooney ------------------------

Bench: Kuszczak, Neville, J.Evans, Scholes, Giggs, Obertan, Berbatov

That's a good line-up. Good width and with players like Fletcher and Park, strong in midfield. Hopefully we can score at least once.
 
Going to make a few predictions:
1. Scholes will start this and Giggs will start the Chelsea game
2. Carrick and Fletcher will also start, with one of the three (Valencia/Nani/Park) saved for Chelsea too.
3. Gibson will be on the bench for this
4. Rafael will start this game or Chelsea.
5. Rooney will be withdrawn before 90 minutes regardless of scoreline.

How many will come up?
 
I don't see SAF throwing any surprises for this match and agree with most of you that Rooney will start as the lone striker up top with my expected midfield line behind him:

Valencia-Fletcher-Park-Scholes-Nani

Giggs to start the Chelsea match.

I would love to see Rooney and Berba start one of these matches but I don't see this happening.
 
RT @DTguardian just arrived in Munich with #mufc team, Ben Foster spent flight with sticker on back saying 'i love ass' footballers huh!

:lol::lol:
 
van der Sar
Neville Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Fletcher Carrick
Park
Valencia Rooney Nani
--
Kuszczak; Rafael, Evans; Gibson, Scholes, Giggs; Berbatov​

Think it'll have to be that. Scholes and Giggs are obvious maybes, but considering they played the majority of the physically demanding Bolton game, I think they'll be on the bench (though the late substitutions could point to one of them maybe starting in the middle, with Park on the left over Nani, which I'd be fine with too). Rafael might start due to probably being quicker than Gary, and Gary playing quite a lot lately, but the experience will be a factor IMO. The last bench spot is down to Gibson, Macheda, or Obertan and I think Gibson edges it, though I wouldn't be surprised to see Macheda make it.

If they're missing Ribéry, Robben, or both, we'll absolutely murder them I feel. Though I expect us to not lose anyway. If we score, which I really think we will, we'll win the tie overall.

1-1 if they're full strength, 0-3 if they're not.
 
Both Ribery and Robben out? What happened to Ribery?

Mind games. Though both have been fragile that it isn't out of the realm of possibility.

Plan for both of them. Not having either could be detrimental as they may choose to defend more. With at least 1 in the team, they'll at least attack more and leave us some openings.

P.S. I am starting to get that queasy feeling in my tummy. Going tomorrow as I'll be at work and not watching the game live. :(
 
Both Ribery and Robben out? What happened to Ribery?
Ribéry should be fine - Robben's involvement is still on the line and will be decided by tomorrow.

Bayern's likely lineup:

Olic - Klose
Ribéry - Van Bommel - Tymoshchuk - Müller
Contento - Badstuber - Van Buyten - Lahm
Butt​

Valencia v Contento makes me :drool:.
 
Valencia v Contento makes me :drool:.
Yeah, Valencia will tear him a new one. Contento lacks positional sense, experience and he won't get much help from Ribery either. He's the most obvious weakness though Van Buyten and Badstuber aren't too convincing either (Badstuber is a brilliant prospect but totally inexperienced at this stage of the competition).

I certainly fancy our midfield against Van Bommel and Tymoshchuk. While Van Bommel has been very important this year Tymoshchuk basically has gone off the radar and hardly got any time on the pitch. He is nowhere near the player he was at Zenit or for Shakthar.

Edit: Completely forgot about Demichelis, I think he'll play in central defence and push Badstuber to left-back. Well, Badstuber obviously is better than Contento but Valencia should still have the edge over him.
 
Mario Gomez appears to be fit for this game. Wouldn't he start in place of Klose?
 
Yeah, Valencia will tear him a new one. Contento lacks positional sense, experience and he won't get much help from Ribery either. He's the most obvious weakness though Van Buyten and Badstuber aren't too convincing either (Badstuber is a brilliant prospect but totally inexperienced at this stage of the competition).

I certainly fancy our midfield against Van Bommel and Tymoshchuk. While Van Bommel has been very important this year Tymoshchuk basically has gone off the radar and hardly got any time on the pitch. He is nowhere near the player he was at Zenit or for Shakthar.

Edit: Completely forgot about Demichelis, I think he'll play in central defence and push Badstuber to left-back. Well, Badstuber obviously is better than Contento but Valencia should still have the edge over him.

I thought Demichelis was injured?
 
van der Sar
Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra
Fletcher - Carrick
Giggs
Nani - Rooney - Park

I'd stick Park and Nani on the wings to help neutralize the threat from Ribery and Robben; also Rafael in place of Neville, primarily for pace, partly to save Neville (who'd have thought it?) for Chelsea. Maybe Scholes > Giggs. Otherwise I'm confident.
 
I think we will see Park on the wing to neutralise the threat coming from Ribéry. Should Robben be also fit, Valencia would come into equation.

Rooney
Park - Scholes - Valencia
Fletcher - Carrick
Evra - Vidic - Ferdinand - Rafael
Van der Sar​

If Robben does not make it:

Rooney
Nani - Scholes - Park
Fletcher - Carrick
Evra - Vidic - Ferdinand - Rafael
Van der Sar

There is a possibility though that we will see Park in a more central position like we did against Milan, so, in that case:


Rooney
Nani - Park - Valencia
Fletcher - Carrick
Evra - Vidic - Ferdinand - Rafael
Van der Sar​

Neville & Giggs as well as Berbatov have a chance of being involved from the start, however, I can see both - Neville the more likely - brought into the team v Chelsea on Saturday.
 
We can't change our lineup based on what the other team is going to do as far as I know. Don't both teams have to give their starting lineups at the same time and only change permissible is due to injury, ruling out the injured player completely?

That neither Park or Carrick started on Saturday and no chance Fletch being dropped - can't see past middle 3 of Fletcher, Carrick, Park.
 
We can't change our lineup based on what the other team is going to do as far as I know. Don't both teams have to give their starting lineups at the same time and only change permissible is due to injury, ruling out the injured player completely?

That neither Park or Carrick started on Saturday and no chance Fletch being dropped - can't see past middle 3 of Fletcher, Carrick, Park.

Makes sense and I think that Scholes is a very definite possibility to play a part as well, Giggs will be on the bench and start vs. Chelsea.