Man United vs Portsmouth, 26.02.05

a_devil_inside

Big footed hermaphrodite
Joined
Mar 28, 2004
Messages
37,043
Location
in your closet, in your head
logo_thumbnail.gif
v
logo_thumbnail.gif


Manchester United vs Portsmouth
Date: Saturday, 26 February 2005,
Competition: FA Premiership
Venue: Old Trafford
Kick Off: 17:15​
 
------------Howard----------------
-G.Neville-Ferdinand-Silvestre-Heinze
-----------P.Neville----------------
-----Scholes-----Fortune----------
-Ronaldo-----------------Saha-----
-----------Van Nistelrooij-----------
 
------------------Carroll--------------------
Gaz--------Brown------Rio-------Heinze
-----------Keane-------Fortune
Rooney--------Scholes-----------Ronaldo
-------------Ruud-------------
 
-------------------------------Carroll-----------------------
G.Neville--------------Rio---------------Brown---------Heinze
------------------------------------------------------------
---------------P.Scholes------R.Keane-----Q.Fortune--------
---------------A.Smith--------R.van Nistelrooy--L.Saha-------

Bench:

Howard
Rooney
Giggs
Ronaldo
Silvestre
 
back to business as usual. Late kick off will suit us, always seems to have a bit more atmosphere in the late kick offs. I'll be watching it down in Pompey.... :wenger:
 
------------Carroll--------------
-G.Neville---Rio(C)----Brown---Heinze
---------------P.Neville-------
---Ronaldo-------Fortune----Giggs
-------------Saha------
----------------Ruud---
 
I read somwhere that rossi might be given a chance so he could be on the bench
 
Man Utd (from): Carroll, Howard, G Neville, P Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre, Heinze, O'Shea, Spector, Fortune, Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Miller, van Nistelrooy, Smith, Saha, Rooney, Bellion, Rossi. :drool:

-------------- Ruud -------------
Ronaldo ----- Scholes ----- Rooney
-------- Fortune ---- P.Neville ----
Heinze --- Brown --- Rio -- G.Neville
-------------- Howard -----------

bench: Carroll, Saha, Smith, Rossi, O'Shea
 
Ruud to tackle Pompey

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Ruud van Nistelrooy will start Saturday's Premiership encounter with Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

Van Nistelrooy made a 30-minute appearance against AC Milan in midweek after three months out with an Achilles injury and the Dutchman will now step up his drive for match fitness by taking his place in what is likely to be a much-changed starting line-up.

"Ruud will be in from the start, no doubt about that," Ferguson told the Manchester Evening News.

"It is always difficult coming on off the bench, especially after a long time out with injury and in a match like that. But Ruud did really well."

Prior to the FA Cup win over Everton, Ferguson said some of his senior stars would need a rest this weekend, so Roy Keane is almost certain to stand down, while Wayne Rooney might also be granted a break.

Roy Carroll is expected to continue in goal despite his blunder against Milan, while Mikael Silvestre and Phil Neville are hoping for a recall.

United (from): Carroll, Howard, G Neville, P Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre, Heinze, O'Shea, Spector, Fortune, Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Miller, van Nistelrooy, Smith, Saha, Rooney, Bellion, Rossi.
 
-------------------------------Howard-------------------------------------
----Gary Nev.----Ferdinand-----------------Mickey Silv.-----Gaby Heinze----
--------------------Phil nev.-------------Fortune---------------------------
------------------------------Scholes--------------------------------------
----Ronaldo------------------------------------------------------Giggsy----
----------------------------------------Rooney-----------------------------
-----------------Ruutgerus Johannes Martinez Van Nistelrooy :drool:----------

Subs:
"ill just drop this here ball" Carroll
Brown
Miller
Smith
Saha
 
Preview: Manchester United v Portsmouth

MANCHESTER United divert their gaze away from the Champions League and back to Chelsea with Wayne Rooney warning the Barclays Premiership leaders "You haven't won it yet".

With Jose Mourinho's men attempting to atone for their own European disappointment in Barcelona by beating Liverpool in Sunday's Carling Cup final, United can reduce the gap at the top to six points with a televised win over Portsmouth.

Although it would still be a significant lead with just 10 matches of the campaign remaining, it might just place a bit more pressure on the Stamford Bridge outfit, who are finally starting to wobble just as Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger claimed they would.

And though United have to shake off the misery of Wednesday's 1-0 home defeat to AC Milan, Rooney insists no-one in the Red Devils' camp has abandoned hope of title glory.

"It is definitely not over," he said. "We are still nine points behind but Chelsea have got a few tough games coming up.

"They have still to play us at Old Trafford and then Arsenal, so you never know.

"If they lose a game before they come to Old Trafford they could really start to feel the pressure.

"Hopefully we can keep the wins going and we could still be there to take the title at the end of the season."

Ruud van Nistelrooy will start the Pompey game after he came through Wednesday's brief appearance unscathed.

Van Nistelrooy came on for 30 minutes against AC Milan after three months out with an Achilles injury and the Dutchman will now step up his drive for match fitness by taking his place in what is likely to be a much-changed starting line-up.

Prior to the FA Cup win over Everton, Ferguson said some of his senior stars would need a rest this weekend, so Roy Keane is almost certain to stand down, while Wayne Rooney might also be granted a break.

Roy Carroll is expected to continue in goal despite his costly blunder against Milan, while Mikael Silvestre and Phil Neville are hoping for a recall.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown and midfielder Patrik Berger must pass fitness tests ahead of the match.

Both were forced to miss training this week with flu but are expected to be named in the starting line-up if they recover in time.

Captain Arjan De Zeeuw is fit after a shin injury while striker Lomana LuaLua is hoping for a recall, but Hayden Foxe, Svetoslav Todorov and Vincent Pericard are still out with long-term injuries.

Manchester United (from): Carroll, Howard, G Neville, P Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre, Heinze, O'Shea, Spector, Fortune, Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Miller, van Nistelrooy, Smith, Saha, Rooney, Bellion, Rossi.

Portsmouth (from): Ashdown, Cisse, De Zeeuw, Stefanovic, Taylor, Stone, O’Neil, Hughes, Berger, Kamara, Yakubu, Primus, Griffin, LuaLua, Skopelitis, Mezague, Rodic, Chalkias.

United v Portsmouth - the stats

Latest Premiership form

United: W W W W W

Portsmouth: L L W L L

Head-to-head

Oct 30 2004 Portsmouth 2 United 0

Apr 17 2004 Portsmouth 1 United 0

Nov 1 2003 United 3 Portsmouth 0

Jan 4 2002 United 4 Portsmouth 1

Top Premiership scorers

United: Scholes 8, Rooney 7, Giggs, Smith 5, Van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo 4

Portsmouth: Yakubu 10, Berger 3, Kamara, De Zeeuw, LuaLua 2

Danger man: Ayegbeni Yakubu - Pompey's only serious goal threat

Referee: M Halsey - Six bookings in a quiet match against Villa on his last Old Trafford visit!

Prediction: United 2 Portsmouth 0
 
Fergie wants sharp shooter back
Stuart Mathieson

A MATCH-sharp Ruud van Nistelrooy would have sent Manchester United to Milan on level terms, says Sir Alex Ferguson.

And in a bid to ensure the Dutch striker's cutting edge is back for Italy, van Nistelrooy will start against Portsmouth tomorrow teatime.

Reds' boss Fergie ended the hitman's three-month injury lay-off with a half-hour return against AC Milan on Wednesday. A last-minute headed chance of an equaliser from van Nistelrooy was steered over and United now face a massive task in San Siro.

Van Nistelrooy will tone up for the return a week on Tuesday with Premiership matches against Portsmouth and Crystal Palace. "Ruud will be in from the start tomorrow, there is no doubt about that," Ferguson told M.E.N. Sport.

"It is always difficult coming on off the bench especially after a long time out with injury and in a match like that. But Ruud did really well.

"If he had had a couple of games under his belt he'd have scored that late opportunity. But I was really pleased with him."

The Milan defeat arrested a United run of five successive victories. They haven't lost in the Premiership since tomorrow's visitors Portsmouth beat them at Fratton Park 2-0 in October - 16 matches ago.

Ferguson believes the European setback won't derail his side and is convinced the Reds can hit back to reach the last eight.

"There has been great momentum in our game and even against Milan we didn't do too badly," he adds.

"If we'd taken our chances then we'd have won the match. I trust my players to respond against Portsmouth and I know they won't let us down in Italy either. It's a big task over there but they had a big task coming over here and winning. We now must do the same to them in Milan."

While United were being rocked by Milan, Premiership title rivals Chelsea were suffering their second successive defeat of the week.

Jose Mourinho's league leaders were beaten at Newcastle in the FA Cup last Sunday then lost a 1-0 lead in Barcelona on Wednesday to go down 2-1 in the Nou Camp.

Chelsea will sit out league action this weekend as they are on Carling Cup final duty against Liverpool in Cardiff on Sunday. And Ferguson believes the Reds can strike a psychological blow tomorrow. "We can narrow the gap to six points this weekend," he said.
 
View from the other side

MANCHESTER United aim to put the disappointment of Wednesday's Champions League defeat behind them when Portsmouth visit Old Trafford.

The Reds still have an outside chance of catching Chelsea and could cut the gap down to six points with victory over Pompey.

Here, ManchesterOnline talks to Keith Allman from Portsmouth fanzine Fratton Faithful to find out the view from the other side.

United are on a roll in the league, but do you think the Milan defeat might have knocked the stuffing out of them?
Well, I hope so! I guess it could either go one of two ways; United come out with a point to prove and absolutely trounce us. Or United come out, aren't really up for it, but probably trounce us anyway. Our only real hope is that with more exciting games to be played, a match against little old Portsmouth isn't worth getting excited about and we manage to sneak a draw, or anything less than a 3-0 defeat.

What did you make of the Milan game (if you saw it)?
Didn't see it I'm afraid, although the gist I got of it from friends was: "Carroll is garbage".

You beat United at Fratton Park - what are your memories of the game?Most of the first half was an absolute nightmare. The first twenty minutes or so especially were dominated by United and, but for wayward finishing, we would've been dead and buried. We got our goal from a generous penalty early in the second half and I had memories going back to last season where we spent the best part of an hour holding onto a one goal lead. Thankfully my fingernails were spared with a well taken second goal and I think the final few minutes were spent in delirious laughter that, after years of Grimsby and Crewe coming to town and tonking us, we finally had something to cheer about.

Who do you see as the danger men in United's side, bearing in mind Ruud Van Nistelrooy might be back?
I think everywhere you look, it's trouble. Up front there could be Ruud, (Wayne) Rooney, (Alan) Smith or (Louis) Saha. Personally I'd hope for Saha as I reckon he's terrible, but realistically it's going to be a scary strike force. Then there's the likes of (Cristiano) Ronaldo, the likes of (Ryan) Giggs, even a player like (Quinton) Fortune who was never up to much is now playing well. (Paul) Scholes, (Gabriel) Heinze - where do you begin? The problems with games against the likes of United and Arsenal is that it's almost impossible to work out how to play against them. At least some teams - i.e. Liverpool - you know if you pin down their main man you stand a chance. It's going to be a bit more tricky than that on Saturday, I fear.

Which players in your team can hurt United?
(Ayegbeni) Yakubu, if he can be bothered. If he plays like we know he can he'll charge at the defence, petrify them and maybe even get a goal like he did in October. If he plays like he has recently he'll stand in the centre circle with his hands on his hips, occasionally flick the ball to the opposition, get caught offside, and then get subbed in case he breaks a sweat. But to be honest if he can't get motivated for this game, he's in the wrong profession. (Patrik) Berger is always a threat and his long shots are as fierce as ever, and Steve Stone has been causing a lot of teams trouble lately. If you want "hurt" in the more literal sense, Ricardo Fuller's shooting is a bit wayward so watch out if you're near the goal.

What do you make of the proposed Malcolm Glazer takeover...how would you feel if something like that happened at Pompey?
I don't really see the logic personally, as it seems like a profitable business with major turnover is going to be plunged into one deep in debt and owing money all over the place. Having said that, if it works out, then United have millions to spend in the transfer market. I'm not so sure if I'd want it here, though - there's just something about it that seems a bit shaky.

Do you rate Pompey's new manager - Velimir Zajec?
I think he's ok. He's never been a manager before and now he's been thrust into the limelight in a new country having to replace a guy who had tremendous success, so it's always going to be tough. The fans seem to be expecting miracles this season when survival is what we really want, so he's under pressure there too. He has some curious ideas - like playing defensively at home and signing a goalkeeper who can't catch - but I think he's ok as a stop-gap until the summer. I just wish people had more sympathy for him - Jose Mourinho has won the Champions League and even he, as shown against Newcastle, cocks it up from time to time. Patience seems to be forgotten these days!
 
Anyone fancy's Ricardo's chances? I've had a funny feeling last couple of hours that Fergie might suprise us by playing the spaniard
 
Ronaldo07 said:
-------------------------------Howard-------------------------------------
----Gary Nev.----Ferdinand-----------------Mickey Silv.-----Gaby Heinze----
--------------------Phil nev.-------------Fortune---------------------------
------------------------------Scholes--------------------------------------
----Ronaldo------------------------------------------------------Giggsy----
----------------------------------------Rooney-----------------------------
-----------------Ruutgerus Johannes Martinez Van Nistelrooy :drool:----------

Subs:
"ill just drop this here ball" Carroll
Brown
Miller
Smith
Saha
Click to expand...


Really don't think they'll let us get away with playing 12 men
 
Carroll
Gaz
Rio
Wes
Gabby
Quintin
Scholesy
Ronaldo
Saha
Smith
Ruud

Big midfield job there for Quintin, Saha and Smith taking turns in the direct forward position beside Ruud and as the advanced midfielder, Ronaldo swapping wings all the while, Scholsey picking them off passing and moving. Would require a lot of organisation, and would probably be a shambles, Hence Johnno on the bench to come into the midfield if things look like being difficult. Unlikely, but I'd like to see it....
 
Jepp a 3-0 victory is in the air with Ruud back on the scoreboard :devil:

Ruud
Ronaldo
Smith
 
Ron Atkinson is in the studio here in Norway.
 
very Ruud said:
View from the other side

MANCHESTER United aim to put the disappointment of Wednesday's Champions League defeat behind them when Portsmouth visit Old Trafford.

The Reds still have an outside chance of catching Chelsea and could cut the gap down to six points with victory over Pompey.

Here, ManchesterOnline talks to Keith Allman from Portsmouth fanzine Fratton Faithful to find out the view from the other side.

United are on a roll in the league, but do you think the Milan defeat might have knocked the stuffing out of them?
Well, I hope so! I guess it could either go one of two ways; United come out with a point to prove and absolutely trounce us. Or United come out, aren't really up for it, but probably trounce us anyway. Our only real hope is that with more exciting games to be played, a match against little old Portsmouth isn't worth getting excited about and we manage to sneak a draw, or anything less than a 3-0 defeat.

What did you make of the Milan game (if you saw it)?
Didn't see it I'm afraid, although the gist I got of it from friends was: "Carroll is garbage".

You beat United at Fratton Park - what are your memories of the game?Most of the first half was an absolute nightmare. The first twenty minutes or so especially were dominated by United and, but for wayward finishing, we would've been dead and buried. We got our goal from a generous penalty early in the second half and I had memories going back to last season where we spent the best part of an hour holding onto a one goal lead. Thankfully my fingernails were spared with a well taken second goal and I think the final few minutes were spent in delirious laughter that, after years of Grimsby and Crewe coming to town and tonking us, we finally had something to cheer about.

Who do you see as the danger men in United's side, bearing in mind Ruud Van Nistelrooy might be back?
I think everywhere you look, it's trouble. Up front there could be Ruud, (Wayne) Rooney, (Alan) Smith or (Louis) Saha. Personally I'd hope for Saha as I reckon he's terrible, but realistically it's going to be a scary strike force. Then there's the likes of (Cristiano) Ronaldo, the likes of (Ryan) Giggs, even a player like (Quinton) Fortune who was never up to much is now playing well. (Paul) Scholes, (Gabriel) Heinze - where do you begin? The problems with games against the likes of United and Arsenal is that it's almost impossible to work out how to play against them. At least some teams - i.e. Liverpool - you know if you pin down their main man you stand a chance. It's going to be a bit more tricky than that on Saturday, I fear.

Which players in your team can hurt United?
(Ayegbeni) Yakubu, if he can be bothered. If he plays like we know he can he'll charge at the defence, petrify them and maybe even get a goal like he did in October. If he plays like he has recently he'll stand in the centre circle with his hands on his hips, occasionally flick the ball to the opposition, get caught offside, and then get subbed in case he breaks a sweat. But to be honest if he can't get motivated for this game, he's in the wrong profession. (Patrik) Berger is always a threat and his long shots are as fierce as ever, and Steve Stone has been causing a lot of teams trouble lately. If you want "hurt" in the more literal sense, Ricardo Fuller's shooting is a bit wayward so watch out if you're near the goal.

What do you make of the proposed Malcolm Glazer takeover...how would you feel if something like that happened at Pompey?
I don't really see the logic personally, as it seems like a profitable business with major turnover is going to be plunged into one deep in debt and owing money all over the place. Having said that, if it works out, then United have millions to spend in the transfer market. I'm not so sure if I'd want it here, though - there's just something about it that seems a bit shaky.

Do you rate Pompey's new manager - Velimir Zajec?
I think he's ok. He's never been a manager before and now he's been thrust into the limelight in a new country having to replace a guy who had tremendous success, so it's always going to be tough. The fans seem to be expecting miracles this season when survival is what we really want, so he's under pressure there too. He has some curious ideas - like playing defensively at home and signing a goalkeeper who can't catch - but I think he's ok as a stop-gap until the summer. I just wish people had more sympathy for him - Jose Mourinho has won the Champions League and even he, as shown against Newcastle, cocks it up from time to time. Patience seems to be forgotten these days!
Click to expand...

What a class interview. Humorous, humble, human

Well done that man
 
So does anyone have the final line up?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.