Manchester United v Wigan Athletic

I think Valencia will be rested. He seems to have played pretty much every game recently. Combined with a poor start yesterday, he needs a break imo.
 
Rowem said:
I think Valencia will be rested. He seems to have played pretty much every game recently. Combined with a poor start yesterday, he needs a break imo.
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I'd agree with that. He looked a bit lethargic and uninventive yesterday, and he's amassed a lot of games recently, so it's probably best for him and the side if we spare him tomorrow.

I'm hoping we'll continue with the Rooney/Berba frontline for this one, as they linked up well against Hull, and hopefully that partnership can gain some momentum. I feel a bit sorry for Owen though, as he's not featured a lot since Wolfsburg, where he was tremendous, so I'd like to see him get a run-out at some point during the Wigan game.

Hopefully PIG can continue his good form too. His shotstopping's always been good, but he's been better all round than most expected so far this season (although he's not at VDS' level).
 
Code: 
             Kuszczak

 Rafael    Brown    Vidic    Fabio

Obertan   Carrick  Anderson   Park

          Rooney   Berbatov


[B]Subs[/B]: Foster, Evra, de Laet, Fletcher, Scholes, Valencia, Owen

9-0

Rooney, Berbatov, Obertan (x7)
 
Assuming we have the following players injured: van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Evans; Hargreaves, Nani; Macheda.

Kuszczak
Rafael Brown Vidic Evra
Valencia Fletcher Carrick Obertan
Berbatov Rooney
--
Subs: Foster; de Laet, Fábio; Scholes, Giggs; Welbeck, Owen
--
Injured: van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Evans; Hargreaves, Nani; Macheda.
--
Left Out: Anderson, Gibson, Park, Tosic (lol)
​

There's no need to rest anyone. We have Cup Fixtures coming up after this game, so the big players can get their rest then. Anderson and Scholes both weren't in the squad for Hull, but I can see one of them getting thrown in here. Maybe Giggs will get a full rest and Park will be on the bench again, but I can see Giggs having a bit more impact. Should win this one, hopefully we won't make a meal of it like we did at Hull.

Prediction

Man Utd 2-0 Wigan
Rooney
Berbatov
 
Great Hat said:
I'd agree with that. He looked a bit lethargic and uninventive yesterday, and he's amassed a lot of games recently, so it's probably best for him and the side if we spare him tomorrow.

I'm hoping we'll continue with the Rooney/Berba frontline for this one, as they linked up well against Hull, and hopefully that partnership can gain some momentum. I feel a bit sorry for Owen though, as he's not featured a lot since Wolfsburg, where he was tremendous, so I'd like to see him get a run-out at some point during the Wigan game.

Hopefully PIG can continue his good form too. His shotstopping's always been good, but he's been better all round than most expected so far this season (although he's not at VDS' level).
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If they are going to park the bus he may well be exactly what we need to come on, always seems to manage to find space!
 
Great Hat said:
I'd agree with that. He looked a bit lethargic and uninventive yesterday, and he's amassed a lot of games recently, so it's probably best for him and the side if we spare him tomorrow.

I'm hoping we'll continue with the Rooney/Berba frontline for this one, as they linked up well against Hull, and hopefully that partnership can gain some momentum. I feel a bit sorry for Owen though, as he's not featured a lot since Wolfsburg, where he was tremendous, so I'd like to see him get a run-out at some point during the Wigan game.

Hopefully PIG can continue his good form too. His shotstopping's always been good, but he's been better all round than most expected so far this season (although he's not at VDS' level).
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Re Owen: SAF hasn't been unfair to him. He's used him about as much as he said he would.
 
Bread said:
If they are going to park the bus he may well be exactly what we need to come on, always seems to manage to find space!
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Yeah. He's great at getting in those positions just behind strikers and I doubt if he got those chances that Kirkland would be a match for most of them. Definitely be a good option if the game was at a deadlock.

Feed Me said:
Re Owen: SAF hasn't been unfair to him. He's used him about as much as he said he would.
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In general terms, I agree. Owen's featured largely as a sub and had a handful of starts, which is what Fergie suggested would happen. I just meant that I thought he was unlucky not to start after his clinical goals at Wolfsburg, and that he might be worth a bit more playing time if he can put in more displays like that.
 
Havak said:
Assuming we have the following players injured: van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Evans; Hargreaves, Nani; Macheda.

Kuszczak
Rafael Brown Vidic Evra
Valencia Fletcher Carrick Obertan
Berbatov Rooney
--
Subs: Foster; de Laet, Fábio; Scholes, Giggs; Welbeck, Owen
--
Injured: van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Evans; Hargreaves, Nani; Macheda.
--
Left Out: Anderson, Gibson, Park, Tosic (lol)
​

There's no need to rest anyone. We have Cup Fixtures coming up after this game, so the big players can get their rest then. Anderson and Scholes both weren't in the squad for Hull, but I can see one of them getting thrown in here. Maybe Giggs will get a full rest and Park will be on the bench again, but I can see Giggs having a bit more impact. Should win this one, hopefully we won't make a meal of it like we did at Hull.

Prediction

Man Utd 2-0 Wigan
Rooney
Berbatov
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What about Park? He should be in ahead of Valencia or Obertan on merit.
 
Great Hat said:
In general terms, I agree. Owen's featured largely as a sub and had a handful of starts, which is what Fergie suggested would happen. I just meant that I thought he was unlucky not to start after his clinical goals at Wolfsburg, and that he might be worth a bit more playing time if he can put in more displays like that.
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Much depends on whether Berbatov can up his game. Fergie will drop Berbatov if his form lulls.

RonaldoVII said:
What about Park? He should be in ahead of Valencia or Obertan on merit.
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In this sort of game, I always think that Park is a bit pointless. That said, I think he is due a start.
 
----------------------Foster--------------------


--Rafael---------Brown------Vidic----------Evra--



--Park J S-------Scholes----Anderson-----Obertan-



---------------M.Owen--------Rooney--------------



Subs: Kuzczak, Fabio, Welbeck, Berbatov, Fletcher, Carrick, De Laet
Prediction: 3-0 win. Rooney, Owen, Scholes
 
Rahul said:
I seriously hope Rooney and Berba start together again. If theyr'e both fit, they should both start.
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Yep me to thats the big thing for me...we need to get some continuity in selection going especially with the front two...I expect Scholes and probably Anderson to come into the side as both were rested yesterday clearly with this game in mind and wouldnt be surprised if Obertan or Park or both came in on the flanks...but leave the front two as they are.
 
I'm a bit annoyed that we have to wait until Wednesday for this! That said, it should give us a nice rest and hopefully nurse a few more players back to full fitness.

PIG

Rafael-Vida-Brown-Evra

Valencia-Fletcher-Carrick-Park

Rooney-Berbatov

Goals galore - 4-0.
 
JayWalker said:
PIG
Rafael--Vidic--Brown--Evra
Obertan--Fletcher--Anderson--Park
Rooney--Berbatov
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I'd go with that, park and Obertan looked good when they came on- both good players who make intelligent runs, and it is movement that we have been lacking in the final 3rd this season.
 
oleonenumber20 said:
I'd go with that, park and Obertan looked good when they came on- both good players who make intelligent runs, and it is movement that we have been lacking in the final 3rd this season.
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Obertan looked shit when he came on, but that isn't to say I wouldn't start him against Wigan.
 
Allforone said:
Not really any major surprise Fergie did the same with Ronaldo in his earlier years...he often likes to give the younger foreign lads a break over this period.
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Yep. And it's fair enough too. We'd be limited without Anderson for a long period, but we'll manage alright without him for a game or two, and it should mean he comes back in good fitness after the christmas break. It's tough for younger foreign players being away from home (even if they do get to shag like Ando), so the break's a good thing for the younger lads.

I think Scholes might feature wednesday. Wigan haven't got the most fearsome midfield, and someone with his passing range has a good chance of tearing through them distribution-wise. It's nice to have a fairly orthodox looking defence for this one too. :D
 
Great Hat said:
Yep. And it's fair enough too. We'd be limited without Anderson for a long period, but we'll manage alright without him for a game or two, and it should mean he comes back in good fitness after the christmas break. It's tough for younger foreign players being away from home (even if they do get to shag like Ando), so the break's a good thing for the younger lads.

I think Scholes might feature wednesday. Wigan haven't got the most fearsome midfield, and someone with his passing range has a good chance of tearing through them distribution-wise. It's nice to have a fairly orthodox looking defence for this one too. :D
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Scholes is a cert to play on wednesday probably alongside Fletcher id imagine...its the ideal game for Scholsey to play in these days...at home in a game we will probably dominate in the possesion stakes against with all due respect a lesser side...he should get the time and space on the ball he loves.
 
Allforone said:
Scholes is a cert to play on wednesday probably alongside Fletcher id imagine...its the ideal game for Scholsey to play in these days...at home in a game we will probably dominate in the possesion stakes against with all due respect a lesser side...he should get the time and space on the ball he loves.
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Wouldn't say he's a 'cert', but I think he'll most likely feature, for reasons we've agreed on. Fletch should feature in this one (and hopefully will), although I personally think his strengths are shown best at breaking down play against top sides, though his distribution has become pretty good as well, so I can see us running their midfield ragged if our central midfielders can play to their strengths. The wingers, who I think will be Obertan and Park are both pretty pacy as well, and Wigan haven't got the sturdiest defence, so I think the midfield battle is definitely ours for the taking, as is the game.

Still, some lower sides have come to OT and put up quite a fight, like Sunderland and Bolton, so it might not be quite as routine as that, and Wigan have put in some top displays at times this season, but I'll still be surprised if we don't win the game fairly comfortably.
 
Great Hat said:
Wouldn't say he's a 'cert', but I think he'll most likely feature, for reasons we've agreed on. Fletch should feature in this one (and hopefully will), although I personally think his strengths are shown best at breaking down play against top sides, though his distribution has become pretty good as well, so I can see us running their midfield ragged if our central midfielders can play to their strengths. The wingers, who I think will be Obertan and Park are both pretty pacy as well, and Wigan haven't got the sturdiest defence, so I think the midfield battle is definitely ours for the taking, as is the game.

Still, some lower sides have come to OT and put up quite a fight, like Sunderland and Bolton, so it might not be quite as routine as that, and Wigan have put in some top displays at times this season, but I'll be surprised if we don't win the game fairly comfortably.
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Id put my house on Scholes starting honestly...i think the fact he was left out of the squad totaly at the weekend was the teller sign that he'll be in the side midweek thats how fergie tends to operate with scholsey these days...plus as said its an ideal game for him to be starting....and yep i agree about the wide players Giggs wont be involved full stop i doubt, he never plays twice in 3 days anymore so for sure one of Obertan and park will start and probably both with valencia getting a breather....

As for Wigan i dont think itll be as routine as some have suggested either infact i think itll be quite tight for large periods i dont forsee a goalfest thats for sure...im going for a pretty comfortable nothing overly extravagent 2-0.
 
Allforone said:
As for Wigan i dont think itll be as routine as some have suggested either infact i think itll be quite tight for large periods i dont forsee a goalfest thats for sure...im going for a pretty comfortable nothing overly extravagent 2-0.
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Yeah, I think it'll be fairly comfortable, but I doubt we'll rack the goals up again in the way we did in the 5-0 at their place earlier this season. Personally going for 3-1. If we're going to win the title, we should be winning games like this without them going to the wire, but by the same token they're not usually a pushover, and have attacking options who will quite likely cause us some problems.

It's a must win game too, with Chelsea having beaten Fulham today, even if it doesn't seem to have the impetus of a fixture against City or the dippers.
 
Hopefully Rooney plays and scores, one off top scorer now because of Drogba and Defoe scoring, Bent is now level with him.
 
After that Anderson suggestion the official site reports he is available for selection for this game!

Matchday squad prediction: Kuszczak, Foster, Neville, Evra, Brown, Vidic, Fabio, Rafael, De Laet, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Valencia, Obertan, Gibson, Owen, Berbatov, Rooney.
 
I'm going to this and really looking forward to it, don't get to as many games as I'd like but got tickets for this and the Leeds game from the missus' uncle, hoping he can come up with Milan tickets too :devil:
 
Starting XI:----------- Kuszczak ------------------------
Rafael ------- Brown --------------- Vidic --------- Evra -
Valencia ---- Scholes ------------- Fletcher ----- Obertan
------------- Rooney ------------- Berbatov -------------

Bench: Foster, Neville, Fabio, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Owen
 
RonaldoVII said:
What about Park? He should be in ahead of Valencia or Obertan on merit.
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wtf?

He runs around falling over when was the last time he did anyhting positive for us in an attacking sense? I can't fault his work rate defensive reponsibilities and team work-- and Ok Valencia and Obertan were respecitvely poor in their last starts, but to say Park deserves to be ahead on merit is wrong.

Park in my opinion is a key player in tight away games where defensive responsibilities are needed. At home againt Wigan we need to have a go at them.
 
PIG

Rafael Brown Vidic Evra
Valencia Scholes Fletcher Obertan
Rooney Berbatov

I'd expect a comfortable win, one of our best performance's of the season was at the JJB. I'll go 3-0.
 
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