There sure is a bizzare obsession with resting players on here. This is a derby semi final FFS, a game we NEED to win. I don't think asking the likes of VDS, Rio, and Carrick to double up after a 4 day recovery is too much to ask, certainly not on the money they are earning.
Manchester City vs. Manchester United
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
I dont get the idea of paying them the respect of playing a 5 man midfield, weve just demolished Chelsea in the past 7 days playing a 4-4-2 with Hernandez causing their defence numerous problems, and Chelsea are a much better side than the lot we're going to play at the weekend.
Berb/Hernandez up top, Nani and Valencia wide, Scholes and Carrick in the middle, chuck in a few defenders and the jobs a goodun.
Think playing 4-5-1 with Berbatov on his tod up top is playing into their hands, City would much rather face that than Hernandez up there with him.
Edit: Just to add Citys Achilles heal is pace, they have none of it and we have plenty, we should exploit this to the maximum, down the flanks they are easy pickings, Kolorov gets roasted on a weekly basis by even average wingers and we saw what Nani did to Zabaleta in the last derby game, can you imagine Joleon Lescott trying to handle Hernandez??
Dont let the feckers breathe, pound them into the dust!
Berb/Hernandez up top, Nani and Valencia wide, Scholes and Carrick in the middle, chuck in a few defenders and the jobs a goodun.
Think playing 4-5-1 with Berbatov on his tod up top is playing into their hands, City would much rather face that than Hernandez up there with him.
Edit: Just to add Citys Achilles heal is pace, they have none of it and we have plenty, we should exploit this to the maximum, down the flanks they are easy pickings, Kolorov gets roasted on a weekly basis by even average wingers and we saw what Nani did to Zabaleta in the last derby game, can you imagine Joleon Lescott trying to handle Hernandez??
Dont let the feckers breathe, pound them into the dust!
Its not resting. Its giving some players who haven't played in a while a chance.
I'm fairly certain Owen will play some part in this match.
To be fair an FA cup semi final against City at wembleys not really the place for 'giving players a chance'. Your 90 minutes away from a final, get your best lads out there and win, especially when your playing local rivals.
I see Owen coming off the bench on saturday.
We didn't play a 4-4-2. We played a 4-5-1 with Rooney in the hole behind Hernandez. Berba can't do what Rooney did, and neither can Hernandez.
Berbatov likes to play in exactly the same positions Rooney does, he may not run around like a madman as much as Rooney but he occupies much the same areas, if you want to be pedantic about it we played a 4-4-1-1 in both legs against Chelsea, id play the same on saturday against inferior opposition.
Ill also throw in that Citys midfield is nowhere near as good as Chelseas, De Jongs a pure defender, he has no ability going forward and offers nothing to their play other than winning the ball, the other 2 they will play in there are Barry and Toure with most likely James Milner on the right hand side....i dont believe that calibre of player requires us to go in with a 3 myself and change our style, but thats just my view.
Its an old School of thought maybe but ive always believed in any Sport you do what your opponent would least want, do you think City would prefer us going with 3 in midfield and an isolated Berbatov up front or Hernandez up top with Berbatov drifting? not only does the second option suit our players better but its what City would cope with least comfortably for want of a coherent way to put that!
Tactics schmactics.
It's obvious United are playing total football at the moment. So many interchangeable players that each can cover 1-3 additional positions on the pitch.
It's obvious United are playing total football at the moment. So many interchangeable players that each can cover 1-3 additional positions on the pitch.
We have to win this one or that'll have a somewhat negative impact on the players. As much as everyone seems to deny the thought of a possible treble, we are fecking close to making the finals at least. And once there....
I say, play our strongest side for this one. Rest players in the PL.
I say, play our strongest side for this one. Rest players in the PL.
a must win game... this could easily save our season...
We need to take the approach Liverpool took against them the other night and really go for it against them. 4-5-1 would just mean an entire game of fannying around. I think Rooney - Berbatov up front with Hernandez to come off the bench. Maybe rest Rio. Apart from that - no other changes
Rooney is banned.
I'd play the same team as we did against Tuesday with the exception of Berbatov coming in for Rooney and maybe Rafael for O'Shea if the former is fit.
FA Cup Semi Final games against Manchester City are not games to be chopping and changing for me.
Strongest team possible please!
FA Cup Semi Final games against Manchester City are not games to be chopping and changing for me.
Strongest team possible please!
Tevez defo out for 3-4 weeks according to bbc ticker
Ah yes. Hernandez and Berbatov (will probably be a better combo anyhow) with Owen as impact sub
...........................VDS.........................
O'Shea.......Smalling......Vidic.............Evra
...........Anderson..Carrick..Scholes..........
...........Valencia....Berba.....Park.............
O'Shea.......Smalling......Vidic.............Evra
...........Anderson..Carrick..Scholes..........
...........Valencia....Berba.....Park.............
Tevez out is good news for us, I hope I'm not jinxing us but I'd like to think that Vidic and Smalling would easily be able to handle Dzeko.
Rio will play this match.
Two games in a week, I doubt it. Especially as he limped through most of the CL game.
We should go at them, without Tevez they'll be set up more defensively than usual
It was just a knock in the CL game. Nothing a days rest wont fix.
The training isnt that intense anymore, I think Rio will be available for selection. Fergie might decide to save him for Ameobi like
The training isnt that intense anymore, I think Rio will be available for selection. Fergie might decide to save him for Ameobi like
Still won't be a walk in the park. Other players might step up now Tevez is out
Will de-jong the terrier be playing?
My only concern is City might resort to some rough play if they are not playing well.
Surprising as it might seem but I don't expect SAF to play Berba and Chicha from the start. I think SAF will have Chicha on the bench and start Berba. SAF will want to play Rooney and Chicha on Tuesday against Newcastle away.
4-5-1
VDS
Sheesy Smalling Vidic Fabio
Fletcher Scholes
Nani Park Valencia
Berbatov
My only concern is City might resort to some rough play if they are not playing well.
Surprising as it might seem but I don't expect SAF to play Berba and Chicha from the start. I think SAF will have Chicha on the bench and start Berba. SAF will want to play Rooney and Chicha on Tuesday against Newcastle away.
4-5-1
VDS
Sheesy Smalling Vidic Fabio
Fletcher Scholes
Nani Park Valencia
Berbatov
How much do you want to bet?
Good luck to those going by Train , just been reading on BBC that there is 30 trains going on Saturday morning but only 5 back , that is just crazy.
they probably are expecting an awful lot of people to be so pissed they wont catch the train back...
yeah I feel Rio will play..Smalling v Newcastle.
We need the best at the back...Tevez or not.
Scholes, Ando and Fletcher in midfield...prob
think it will be Owen and Berba up front with Hernandez to come on later...
Ok, my dad has told me today he has been informed of Citys intended line up for saturday via a friend in the Manchester eve news, now ive never posted any ITK stuff on here before so ive no reason to make this up, this is what apparently they will start with against us fitness permitting on saturday:
If that is true then id fancy our chances.
........................Hart
Richards - Kompany - Lescott - Zabaletta
......................De Jong
Milner - Yaya Toure.......Barry
...........................................Silva
.......................Dzeko
Richards - Kompany - Lescott - Zabaletta
......................De Jong
Milner - Yaya Toure.......Barry
...........................................Silva
.......................Dzeko
If that is true then id fancy our chances.
If Silva's on the left wing, then I'd play one of the twins (or Valencia 
) at right back so there's pace there to keep up with him.
) at right back so there's pace there to keep up with him.If Silva's on the left wing, then I'd play one of the twins (or Valencia
Clearly they are using Milner to double up on Nani down their right hand side, that was a pretty predictable Mancini move, Silva often likes to drift in from the left so Rafael at right back making runs down that flank would be great as hed get a lot of space in behind Silva who wont be tracking back.
Id fancy us strongly down their left if that team is correct, the speed of Valencia and Rafael doubling up on Zabaleta could be rape! we saw how Nani destroyed him at OT the other month.
I was thinking that, with potentially Adam Johnson or Mario Balotelli getting the nod over James Milner..
Kuszczak; O'Shea, Smalling; Anderson, Giggs, Park; Owen
---
van der Sar
Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Scholes Nani
Berbatov
Hernandez
Silva Dzeko Johnson
Toure
Barry De Jong
Zabaleta Lescott Kompany Richards
Hart
---
Given; Boyata, Kolarov; Vieira, Milner, Wright-Phillips; Balotelli
---
van der Sar
Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Scholes Nani
Berbatov
Hernandez
Silva Dzeko Johnson
Toure
Barry De Jong
Zabaleta Lescott Kompany Richards
Hart
---
Given; Boyata, Kolarov; Vieira, Milner, Wright-Phillips; Balotelli
Something similar. If Rio is out, Smalling in, Brown on the bench. If Rafael is still out, O'Shea in, Fábio on the bench.
City are shitting themselves about Nani, they see him as the big danger especially after he destroyed them in the last derby by running rings around zabaletta, Mancini is as cautious as they come, i honestly think Milner starting to aid defending Nani is a given, and i hope thats what they go with, Milners very average where as Johnson is potentially dangerous, Mancini will go with the best defensive option, its his nature.
Nah Tevez is out for 3-4 weeks mate its confirmed on their website.
Not that i was overly concerned about him anyway tbh, Smalling and Vidic dominated him a few weeks ago, hes hardly been in great form lately either, although from a inspiration point of view i think it will be a big blow for them mentally not having his name on the team sheet.
Silva's their main threat in my view, the rest dont really worry me tbh.
several people think Rio will be rested for this one. initially I felt the same because he seemed to be injured Tuesday. But I think Fergie wants his big game experience.
Expect Smalling for both Newcastle and Everton and Rio for this one and Schalke 04.
Lets see if I am right.
Is Rio now basically our answer to Ledley King then? Only used in big games and nursed through the season? If so, I'd regard this as a game he needs to play in.
I've not even thought about this match yet, I'm still on a high from Tuesday night.
I doubt anyone will be rested, and expect Rio to start.
I doubt anyone will be rested, and expect Rio to start.
If Rios fit he starts, he has to, if he misses Newcastle away so be it, this games clearly bigger.
The only way he dosnt start is if hes injured, not heard anything on that note yet.
The only way he dosnt start is if hes injured, not heard anything on that note yet.