Talksport reporting that Balotelli may make the bench.
Manchester United v Manchester City
- Thread starter Red Defence
- Start date
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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.
He doesn't concern me in the slightest.
Personally I don't think we will see any caution from Fergie in this game, leave the cautious approach to Mancini.
You say caution, I say sense. Man City play a high midfield line.
City are a big side so it wouldn't surprise me to see Fergie get some extra height in the side. Also, with Rio out and Smalling in you're taking out loads of experience so Fergie could balance that by bring in Sheasy.
I still think Rafael would start, I just wouldn't be surprised to see O'Shea start.
Cannot wait. Waking up early and going up tomorrow. Come on United !!
I think we have a real shot of taking them to task if we start really positive tomorrow. I think a Vida/Smalling partnership is a good thing. I think a standard 442 would be the best way to attack City (with two wide men).
Centre midfield is the tough one though. Fletcher seems to play all these "massive" games but tbh, hes been our worst midfielder this season. It seems like hes got the whole "ive made it mentality" whereas a year or two ago he was fighting to get into the team thus was playing really well.
Carrick/Ando has been our best partnership and should start but Scholes often plays well against them lot. But would Fergie start both Giggs and Scholes?
Will be interesting to see.
I think we have a real shot of taking them to task if we start really positive tomorrow. I think a Vida/Smalling partnership is a good thing. I think a standard 442 would be the best way to attack City (with two wide men).
Centre midfield is the tough one though. Fletcher seems to play all these "massive" games but tbh, hes been our worst midfielder this season. It seems like hes got the whole "ive made it mentality" whereas a year or two ago he was fighting to get into the team thus was playing really well.
Carrick/Ando has been our best partnership and should start but Scholes often plays well against them lot. But would Fergie start both Giggs and Scholes?
Will be interesting to see.
feck my life, I thought it was saturday already, came in wondering why there was no line ups.
---------------VDS------------
Rafael--Smalling---Vidic----Evra
Nani---Carrick----Anderson-Giggs
-------Rooney---Berbatov------
Subs: PIG, O'Shea, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Owen, Chicharito.
Let's smash the bastards.
Rafael--Smalling---Vidic----Evra
Nani---Carrick----Anderson-Giggs
-------Rooney---Berbatov------
Subs: PIG, O'Shea, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Owen, Chicharito.
Let's smash the bastards.
Playing O'Shea would be a nightmare alongside Smalling, neither have a good turning circle so their side would be horribly exposed.
Scholes will definitely play in my opinion.
I'm really, really excited.
Though I will say this now - if we feck this up it'll be in the midfield. Fergie has got it wrong in the middle a couple of times recently, and if our midfield is out of sorts again tomorrow, it could cost us.
But that aside I feel confident and I can't fecking wait.
Though I will say this now - if we feck this up it'll be in the midfield. Fergie has got it wrong in the middle a couple of times recently, and if our midfield is out of sorts again tomorrow, it could cost us.
But that aside I feel confident and I can't fecking wait.
According to the terrible dream I had last night we lose this 2-3, and subsequently today has been rather shit for me.
Apparently my subconscious isn't very confident, but I'll chalk that up to residual disgust at the completely poor effort against Wolves, or maybe some other redirected stress...but I digress.
Apparently my subconscious isn't very confident, but I'll chalk that up to residual disgust at the completely poor effort against Wolves, or maybe some other redirected stress...but I digress.
Obviously one way around it would be to move Smalling to the left side of the center of defense alongside Evra, which they may do anyway if Rafael plays, with Rafael and Vidic on the other-side. Smalling was always played on the left side of defense when he played for Fulham!
Personally I feel, O'Shea and Brown did fairly well in the 0-0 game at Eastlands, wouldn't lose faith in either of them.
No Hernandez I'm afraid back too late from the mexico game according to 5 live.
What did they say exactly?
Said no Ferdinand, Evans or Hernandez. They said Ferdinand because of continued injury, Evans was injured in mid-week and Hernandez who has been away on international duty with Mexico.
It was reported last week that his flight only gets in to Manchester today.
It'll probably be Gibson, Brown or Fabio brought in for the bench, Obertan doesn't seem likely.
Logic would probably dictate Brown, though Gibson is still a decent outsider to get on the bench as an impact sub.
This morning apparently, means he won't have trained.
Wouldn't be surprised to see him on the bench as a 'wild card' along with Owen.
Evans was injured at the weekend rather than midweek wasn't he?
Unless you mean Corry, but he's on loan anyway.
I reckon Fletcher and Scholes for Carrick and Anderson.
Fergie mentioned he picked up a knock but he still went on international duty where he then turned his ankle in training.
I really hope not. Carrick must play.
In training with Ireland apparently.
I feel if United were to have two strikers on the bench, it would be because they are playing 4-5-1.
Smalling's has just come back from a back spasm, Fletcher and Carrick have had knocks, Park is only coming back from a spell off, as has Wes Brown, do you really need to add a jet lagged player to the list of available subs?
That's the way I think Fergie will go, assuming it's 4-4-2.
Fair enough, I still think you'll br wrong though. Whether it's 442 or not. Carrick is so important to our back 4.
Let's wait and see.
We've had 2 strikers on the bench when playing 4-4-2 many times.
I sincerely hope not.
Carrick Anderson Park in midfield I recon
Fergie to unleash another master stroke, ala giggs centre mid 3-1 chelsea, to unpick their midfield blockade with his amazing swagger!
feck sakes, he would have been a good option on the bench. fecking international
feck sakes, he would have been a good option on the bench. fecking international
I wouldn't completely rule him out, unless Fergie has said otherwise.
If Fergie has ruled him out it's more likely he will make the bench...
Where the feck is wes brown?
Was just going to post about Wes. Am I the only one who would prefer to see a more experienced head in central defence?