Manchester United F.C. vs. Fulham F.C.

[Freak]

Neither did SAF.

Can't blame him. Look at SAF's midfielders - Keane, Scholes, young Carrick, box-to-box Fletcher. He could afford to play a midfield two. Moyes, despite having no midfield, insists on it. Besides, SAF did play 4-3-3 a lot of the time as well, especially in Europe and against the bigger teams away. Moyes, well...4-4-2 all the way.

 

[Siorac]

It's not going to be our strongest team out there. It's a Sunday game against relegation fodder, when we have Arsenal on Wednesday. Players are going to be rested for this one, to allow for a stronger team mid-week.

Our last game was eight days before this fixture. Our best team should be able to handle both Fulham and Arsenal. A team doesn't have to be rotated all the time.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

It's not going to be our strongest team out there. It's a Sunday game against relegation fodder, when we have Arsenal on Wednesday. Players are going to be rested for this one, to allow for a stronger team mid-week.

Given the long rest surely we try to use the Fulham clash as a springboard to try to get something from the Arsenal game. Get the strongest XI hyped up and confident with a solid display against Fulham and hope for the best against Arsenal.

We've also got a fair few injuries so unless you're assuming the likes of RVP and Rooney will be rested for Welbeck and Hernandez, I don't see where we can really rest up.

 

[walsh]

Can't blame him. Look at SAF's midfielders - Keane, Scholes, young Carrick, box-to-box Fletcher. He could afford to play a midfield two. Moyes, despite having no midfield, insists on it. Besides, SAF did play 4-3-3 a lot of the time as well, especially in Europe and against the bigger teams away. Moyes, well...4-4-2 all the way.

So we have no midfielders but should sacrifice an attacking option to play three of them? And people say Moyes is negative.

 

[Freak]

So we have no midfielders but should sacrifice an attacking option to play three of them? And people say Moyes is negative.

We don't have midfielders for a midfield two. We could easily sacrifice ashley young who offers nothing in attack. Rooney, RVP, Mata would be good enough since he doesn't want to play Kagawa anyway and Nani is injured and Valencia is useless. We have been leaking goals left right and center because evra is not good enough defensively and there isn't much protection for our shaky defence. Adding another midfielder there would help. Jones, Carrick, Fletcher in the middle with Fletcher given more freedom to join in attacks.

 

[Nick 0208 Ldn]

So we have no midfielders but should sacrifice an attacking option to play three of them? And people say Moyes is negative.

At this point there is surely no harm in being a little creative? The status quo does more to exacerbate the deficiencies of the team than mitigate.

 

[Mister Ed]

I don't know if Evans and Jones are available for this (with the injurries they sustained in the Stoke game). Also Fellaini is out for atleast another week with a groin injurry. We have Arsenal coming up and I'd like to us not to risk RVP and rest him for that game.

I'd play like this:

-----------DDG--------------
Rafael---Smalling--Vidic---Evra
-------Carrick---Fletcher-----
Januzaj-----Mata------Young
-----------Rooney----------

Bench: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Büttner, Cleverley, Valencia, RVP, Hernandez

Hopefully no further injurries and hopefully we'll see a good fluid attacking United that can deliver a good result. Expect us to win this one 5-1.

 

[RDCR07]

Is Kagawa injured for this one?

 

[gooDevil]

M Fellaini Groin/Pelvis Injury 22nd Feb 14
P Jones Concussion 9th Feb 14 Late Fit Test
J Evans Calf/Shin Injury no return date
R Ferdinand Knee Injury 9th Feb 14
Nani Hamstring Injury no return date

 

[UnofficialDevil]

M Fellaini Groin/Pelvis Injury 22nd Feb 14
P Jones Concussion 9th Feb 14 Late Fit Test
J Evans Calf/Shin Injury no return date
R Ferdinand Knee Injury 9th Feb 14
Nani Hamstring Injury no return date

Whats that supposed to mean?

 

[Carl]

From the injuries the back 4 picks itself. Expecting something like:

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Fletcher Mata
Rooney
Van Persie​

Hope Adnan plays in place of Valencia though.

Whats that supposed to mean?

Because it was a serious injury they don't know when he'll be back.

 

[poisson]

From the injuries the back 4 picks itself. Expecting something like:

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Fletcher Mata
Rooney Van Persie​

Hope Adnan plays in place of Valencia though.

Slight change, but yes I think that will also be the lineup

 

[Magnus]

De Gea
Valencia Jones Vidic Evra
Mata Carrick Cleverley Januzaj
Rooney RVP

 

[Gerald G]

de Gea
Rafael--Smalling--Vidic--Evra
Carrick--Fletcher
Mata--Rooney--Januzaj
van Persie

Subs: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Cleverley, Valencia, Young, Hernandez/Kagawa, Welbeck

 

[Adebesi]

I've never been as apprehensive going into a home game against Fulham. Actually apprehensive isn't the word. Dubious about our ability to win.

 

[Gerald G]

We'll win this one easily. You can quote me.

 

[Blue always red]

Fulham should pose little threat to us, key word in there is should. However, with the way our season has gone, I half expect us to lose. Moyes needs to put out a team out with all guns blazing, but I do not mean play 6 forwards with no midfield.

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Vidic Evra
Fletcher
Mata Cleverley Rooney Kagawa
RVP​

Fletcher to dictate for us, with Rooney dropping deeper to help out if needs be, and Cleverley to link up between Fletcher and the forwards if need be. The game plan will be to play as fluid as possible. Instruct Mata and Kagawa to stay as infield as possible and force our team to play narrow. Rafael and Evra will overlap providing a wide outlet, but please for the love of god do not rely on width! Our forwards lack the ability to attack the ball in the air and it almost always results in us losing possession! I long for the day when Mata is dancing around in the middle and plays a through ball into the rushing Rafael.

 

[Adebesi]

In all seriousness I don't expect us to lose but I expect us to make beating them seem a lot harder than it is.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

In all seriousness I don't expect us to lose but I expect us to make beating them seem a lot harder than it is.

Of course we will. I can't see anything other than an unconvincing win.

 

[prateik]

I think we'll destroy them.. I like Fulham but we are due a good performance..
We'll go back to being nervy next week though.

 

[bosnian_red]

Of course we will. I can't see anything other than an unconvincing win.

Yup, it'll be like a 2-0 game like the Cardiff game was where it's relatively flat but we win because of how shit the opposition are.
We're not going to lose it, but at the same time, anything less then a good all round display and like a 3 or 4-0 score line creating plenty of chances will be a disappointment.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Still think those of you expecting a hammering will be disappointed.

 

[bosnian_red]

I think we'll destroy them.. I like Fulham but we are due a good performance..
We'll go back to being nervy next week though.

You could say we are due a good performance if we were playing well and just not having luck... We've just been crap unfortunately. Let's hope we pick the front 4 we all want and we have a great performance but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Cee90]

We'll win this one easily. You can quote me.

 

[B20]

Has anyone done the usual rundown that are sure to be in the papers on monday anyway?

Ie, how many years since Fulham last won at old trafford? And so forth...

 

[bosnian_red]

Has anyone done the usual rundown that are sure to be in the papers on monday anyway?

Ie, how many years since Fulham last won at old trafford? And so forth...

Yeah it's been done, think its been 11 years.

 

[Buchan]

Yeah it's been done, think its been 11 years.

Steed Malbranque?

 

[holyland red]

I think we'll destroy them.. I like Fulham but we are due a good performance..
We'll go back to being nervy next week though.

I wish I shared the optimism. I haven't seen anything from us this season suggesting we could "destroy" anybody.

 

[Salfordlad70]

I think we'll be at full strength and give them a mauling tomorrow! 5-0

 

[a_devil_inside]

I don't like the quotes I read from Meulensteen saying Fergie has been giving him tips, just hope it hasn't been this week for the build up to our match. Still think we'll win but don't think it'll be a hammering

 

[Van Piorsing]

This forum will murder Moyes if team fail to win. On the other side there will be no huge surprise as everything seems to be a one big experiment this season.

Upcoming matches like these will definitely reveal a bit more who will stay and who will go. I'm going with 2:0 win.

 

[redevil2]

Neither did SAF.
.

Idiotic response here! SAF could so whatever he liked as long as he's winning us the league. He's Sir Alex he can do whatever he wants. And he delivers.

Moyes was anything but delivering.
What was your point!

 

[edn33]

Sack Moyes if we fail to register a big win - at least 3 goals.

 

[gasmanc]

Still think those of you expecting a hammering will be disappointed.

What's even more grim is that, if we are convincing and do give out a hammering, it won't even remotely please some people. Get your fecking It's only Fulham post at the ready just in case eh kid.

 

[Cutch]

What's even more grim is that, if we are convincing and do give out a hammering, it won't even remotely please some people. Get your fecking It's only Fulham post at the ready just in case eh kid.

I'm not sure about that. I think we all just want to see a really convincing attacking performance for a change, and i think we'd all be thrilled if we could dish out a hammering to someone, after seeing the likes of City and Liverpool doing it to teams all season.

 

[Red Dreams]

looks like the match is on the USA channel in the US.

 

[Glanville95]

That loss against Stoke more or less sealed our fate in my opinion. Liverpool have been incredible and look unlikely to drop enough points for us to be able to overturn the deficit. We have essentially given ourselves far too much to do in the first half of the season, which makes this PL campaign a bit of a write-off.

Still, if we can't beat this Fulham team serious questions have to be made of Moyes' future here - it obviously won't, but it certainly should.

de Gea
Rafael - Smalling - Vidic - Evra
Carrick - Fletcher
Mata - Kagawa - Januzaj
Rooney

Subs: Lindegaard, Jones, Cleverley, Valencia, Welbeck, van Persie, Hernandez
​

The back five is more or less a certainty, due to injuries. Evans will miss out and there's no need for Rio to feature in the matchday squad at present when there's not too much need for squad rotation with not a lot of games and Vidic recently returning from a three match ban. Buttner is our only other natural fullback, so you could make a case for him on the bench, but I'd rather see Rafael revert to LB or Valencia to RB than Buttner.

Smalling needs a run of games at centre back, at present, he is our naturally most impressive defender, even if his distribution and ability on the ball is questionable. Very good player who simply needs to play regularly in his favoured position and should be a mainstay there until the end of the season. Smalling won't have to deal with concerted pressure on the ball from the opposition and should be largely at ease against Fulhams attack, so I would feel genuinely quite confident of a clean sheet with him in the side.

This midfield is not something I expect at all, but it would be refreshing to see us try to create centrally, be far more expressive off the ball and create frequent passing options for Carrick and Fletcher, so we don't squander our ball retention by labouring in possession or hitting it aimlessly at no one from deep. Of course there won't be a massively significant improvement in our football as there are clear, inherent problems in our managers tactical aptitude and coaching at the club, but frequently starting our more technically-gifted players who can encourage a more positive, free-flowing style of play is a start.

I can't claim to hold an expert opinion on all things Fulham, but from what I have seen of them under Rene; they are a side with incredibly poor defensive shape and with Rene being a more attack-minded coach/manager, I can't imagine he will be able to significantly amend that even with better personnel, as it is, there defensive options are shite, so that should be all the better for us.

A flexible four, with good off the ball movement and intelligence would be the ideal cause for concern when it comes to a team with poor structure, players who can intelligently pick up space where it can be exploited - which should hopefully happen on many occasion. I'd opt for Mata's fixed position on the right, as he's more adaptable than Mata and would still be effective cutting in, or with his delivery.

Just hope Holtby and Mitroglou are a bit rusty.

 

[Glanville95]

I'm not sure about that. I think we all just want to see a really convincing attacking performance for a change, and i think we'd all be thrilled if we could dish out a hammering to someone, after seeing the likes of City and Liverpool doing it to teams all season.

We genuinely seem incapable of beating any team convincingly anymore. I just want a win, I don't expect any more than that at the moment. Would be refreshing to see Mata's first 'world-class' performance for us, mind you.

 

[Drifter]

If our current pattern under Moyes is followed it will be a win. 3-0

 

[MDFC Manager]

Hopefully the team give the home crowd a good performance.