Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich

I hope SAF will start both Kiko and Berbatov, but I doubt he will.

He will not be having the team go for all out attack from the start, because we wont be wanting to concede. 1-0 will be enough. So I think we will approach the match with caution and be deliberate.

If we keep possession, unlike the last two games, we should get through.
 
In what big games has he played? He's our number 1 forward in the absence of Rooney, surely theres no doubt about that. I'm not disputing the selection of Park, just the omission of Berbatov for an 18 y o in a must win game.

Personally i'd start both of them.

That's the thing man, pretty fecked up if you ask me.

You pay 30 m for a striker in the brand of Torres, Rooney, Etoo or any class who can lead the line and play on his own, You gotta have something to cost that fecking quantity of money. He is no Rooney and we know that.

Anyway we better not play Berbs on his own if he is not gonna get the support he needs. Put macheda in front of him and lets the Bulgarian control our attack, he is good at picking passes and retaining posession. And pls put Nani and valencia to get some crosses and get at their defence if not we wont work at all.
 
I hope SAF will start both Kiko and Berbatov, but I doubt he will.

He will not be having the team go for all out attack from the start, because we wont be wanting to concede. 1-0 will be enough. So I think we will approach the match with caution and be deliberate.

If we keep possession, unlike the last two games, we should get through.

Yes, but Bayern wont be thinking cautiously. They will want to score first and get the away goal that will put them in pole position. After our last 2 defeats we need an emphatic response. Showing the same attitude we did to secure that famous result against Roma is what we need this time around.

Fortune favours the brave and im not comfortable sitting back and waiting to be picked off. We have to play a fearless attacking game otherwise im afraid we are heading out.
 
------------------ VDS ------------------
Rafael --- Ferdinand -- Vidic ------ Evra
----------- Fletcher -- Carrick ----------
Valencia ------- Berbatov --------- Nani
--------------- Macheda ----------------

Bench: PIG, Evans, O'Shea, Scholes, Giggs, Park, Diouf

What I would go with and put a real rocket up Carrick's ass to harass and win everything out there.

And if Diouf isn't fit then not sure who to put in place of him - maybe Obertan.
 
------------------- VDS ------------------
Rafael ----- Ferdinand -- Vidic ------ Evra
----------- Fletcher -- Carrick ----------
Valencia ---------- Park-- ---------- Nani
---------------- Macheda ----------------

This please although I'm sure SAF will have to find a way to include at least one of Scholes, Nev or Giggs.

The 4-5-1 only works with these two on the wings, put Giggs or Park on one of them and it becomes a bizarre formation that never seems to become 4-3-3.

Dropping Berba for Macheda in a game like this could be a Leighton/Sealey moment.

I'm not sure about the 4-4-2 some people are posting, it looks great but we've lost the midfield battle in our last 2 games and so I'd be shocked if SAF decided to take a player out of there.
 
I finally made my peace with the loss to Chelsea. I can see thing clearer now

SAF has some work to do.
We can talk and guess the team all day long, but what the manager really needs to do, is to help the lads pick themselves up.
There's no one to blame, we just need to play with confidence. The result in Germany was a good one. 2-1 is what teams are hoping for in the CL quarterfinal away games.

However, what sees us through is

1-0 United advances
1-1 Bayern advances
2-1 extra time
2-0 United
3-0 United
3-1 United
3-2 Bayern

The burden falls on the defense. No silly mistakes like in Germany /Evra, Neville/ or else.


I want a midfield of 4.
Valencia-Fletcher-Carrick-Nani. It gives us a chance in attack.
Rooney is injured, get over it. The midfield needs to step it up and support their striker/strikers

Two in attack with Berba behind Kiko
But they will do nothing, unless the midfield show up.
It is Alex Ferguson's responsibility now. In moments like this I believe in him
 
I finally made my peace with the loss to Chelsea. I can see thing clearer now

SAF has some work to do.
We can talk and guess the team all day long, but what the manager really needs to do, is to help the lads pick themselves up.
There's no one to blame, we just need to play with confidence. The result in Germany was a good one. 2-1 is what teams are hoping for in the CL quarterfinal away games.

However, what sees us through is

1-0 United advances
1-1 Bayern advances
2-1 extra time
2-0 United
3-0 United
3-1 United
3-2 Bayern

The burden falls on the defense. No silly mistakes like in Germany /Evra, Neville/ or else.


I want a midfield of 4.
Valencia-Fletcher-Carrick-Nani. It gives us a chance in attack.
Rooney is injured, get over it. The midfield needs to step it up and support their striker/strikers

Two in attack with Berba behind Kiko
But they will do nothing, unless the midfield show up.
It is Alex Ferguson's responsibility now. In moments like this I believe in him

Err... most teams would not look for defeats in any game.

But agree with your overall post, 2-1 wasn't a disaster, we just need to win the game and even the bookies seem fairly sure we'll progress.
 
Err... most teams would not look for defeats in any game.

But agree with your overall post, 2-1 wasn't a disaster, we just need to win the game and even the bookies seem fairly sure we'll progress.

I didn't say that. But say, if a team is down by two goals, any away goal is priceless.
I am talking here to convince myself a bit, because, 2-1 is a dangerous result. If they score, it puts us under pressure to score at least 2.
And we know how it can happen. One deflected ball from a free kick, one mistake in defense
 
Wayne Rooney believes he has a chance of playing in Manchester United’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Officially the England striker has been ruled out for two to three weeks with the ankle ligament injury he picked up in last Tuesday’s 2-1 first leg defeat.

Rooney turned up at Old Trafford yesterday still wearing a protective boot on his damaged right foot.

He hopes intensive treatment will enable him to play some part against the powerful Germans – even if it’s as a substitute.

A United insider confirmed: “He’s in a strap me up, send me out there mood.”

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney believes he can make a remarkable return to action against Bayern Munich on Wednesday - Exclusive - MirrorFootball.co.uk
 
Youth must be given a chance here. Scholes and Giggs shouldn't have to bail us out in these games anymore.

VDS
Rafael Rio Vidic Evra
Valencia Fletch Carrick Nani
Berbatov
Mecheda

This is a chance for Carrick and Berbatov to step up. Im expecting Carrick to play like a mad man and Berbatov to head the ball on target.

Rafael will not be left alone as Valencia has shown he can work both ends of the pitch.

We need to do this Roma style. Come out all guns a blazing. If we score first I really think they will be overwhelmed. Despite this young team we have LOADS of experience in European matches. This youngish lineup will offer Giggs and Scholes to come on later if we really need a goal or need to keep posession to settle things down.

Nani to score. Vidic to score from a corner. Fletcher will be everywhere hassling everyone. Rafael will attack to keep Ribery in his own half.
 
Wayne Rooney believes he has a chance of playing in Manchester United’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Officially the England striker has been ruled out for two to three weeks with the ankle ligament injury he picked up in last Tuesday’s 2-1 first leg defeat.

Rooney turned up at Old Trafford yesterday still wearing a protective boot on his damaged right foot.

He hopes intensive treatment will enable him to play some part against the powerful Germans – even if it’s as a substitute.

A United insider confirmed: “He’s in a strap me up, send me out there mood.”

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney believes he can make a remarkable return to action against Bayern Munich on Wednesday - Exclusive - MirrorFootball.co.uk

:devil:

I'm telling you people. There is still a lot of life in this season...
 
i want to see rafeal get a go at this stage. Robben can bomb down the wings all he wants but rafeal will give him headaches as well and robben cant defend

Robben usually plays on the right and it ll be Evra covering him. Ribery plays on the right and Rafael will have a tough time covering him. But its the only way Rafael is going to improve. He has to go up against world class players to get better. He will definitely make mistakes but he will also definitely learn from them.
 
Where do you buy those tinted glasses from? We don't want to sound like the scousers from last year who we mocked, now do we? Its over get over it. Only a miracle can save us now, and with five games to go there is no room for a draw at City.

:lol:

It's a 2 point gap with 15 points up for grabs. We need to be faultless, granted, but we are capable of stringing 5 wins together. Obviously, Chelsea are in the better position, but it only takes one bad result (and they've had their fair share this season) and it can swing back in our favour. Looking at their run in, it's highly conceivable.

Unbelievably defeatist. This season has seen point swings galore.
 
Look Fiorentina - Bayern highlights ;)

I watched the game. Not just the highlights.
Like in our game with Bayern, Fiorentina have only themselves to blame. We could destroy the Bavarians if we play as well. It's the unchallenged mistakes that bother me
 
You know what lads.

We're going to win this.

4-1.

No worries.
 
I never saw such unanimous agreement on what a United's starting XI should be... Really says something about the lack of reliable options that you lot are facing at this exact moment. Hoping for an exciting match.
 
Real similarities with the Roma tie a few years back. Smith lined up, up front that night.

The Smith goal is still one of the best goals I have ever seen. One touch passing from one end to the other and a very good finish.

Exquisite.
 
Van Buyten & Robben set to play part in Wednesday's tie - both will travel to Manchester, according to German media.
 
The Smith goal is still one of the best goals I have ever seen. One touch passing from one end to the other and a very good finish.

Exquisite.

Yeah, it really was a lovely goal. The only one he scored during his spell up front that season.

I reckon that it's a good parallel to draw because it was a case of lining up with an unfancied centre forward that day.

I think this Bayern game is the one to arrest the blip.

There is a lot of defeatism surrounding the club at the moment, but this season is still very much on a knife edge.
 
we've got to look at the big picture - rushing rooney back could be a massive mistake - look at what happened fabregas....rushed back against barca and out for season


we were shite against bayern - if we pass the ball well we won't need rooney - i hope!
 
Yes, but Bayern wont be thinking cautiously. They will want to score first and get the away goal that will put them in pole position. After our last 2 defeats we need an emphatic response. Showing the same attitude we did to secure that famous result against Roma is what we need this time around.

Fortune favours the brave and im not comfortable sitting back and waiting to be picked off. We have to play a fearless attacking game otherwise im afraid we are heading out.

couldnt agree more we arent playing barca here this is bayern. we must impose our will in the cauldron of OT and stuff the germans. Sure we might sneek a 1-0 but playing that way has cost us so many times in the past that i cant bare it to happen again. with fletch and carrick in midfield and nani and valencia down the wings and kiko the wunderkid leading the attack we can do it we will do it.
 
Robben usually plays on the right and it ll be Evra covering him. Ribery plays on the right and Rafael will have a tough time covering him. But its the only way Rafael is going to improve. He has to go up against world class players to get better. He will definitely make mistakes but he will also definitely learn from them.

and he is an attacking force as well. Gazza as much as i luv him is just a step slow and i think he he is nackered from playing so much lately. I think speed is our best option and if rafeal gets skinned either rio vidic or one of the midfielders need to support.

i just dont know what SAF will do.
 
Tell that to Fergie, we all know he is gonna end with Berbs again alone doing feck all.

Also just dont play Neville, he is just not good enough to close down Robben or Ribery, put Rafael or even Oshea, i have more trust in them even with less games.

surely he saw how energized we looked when kiko and nani came on. he isnt stupid and now that the league may be gone this is the most realistic chance at a trophy.

have faith in the man I do.
 
One thing's for certain, we're not going to win this tie by playing like we did in Germany.

After careful thought going for this:

-----------------------VDS---------------------

Rafael----------Rio--------Vidic------------Evra


Valencia-------Carrick-------Fletcher-------Nani

------------------Berbatov--------------------

------------------Macheda--------------------


Subs; Kuszczak, Evans, O'Shea, Neville, Giggs, Gibson, Obertan

Rafa in for Neville, give some fight to our attack which we will need and he's fast enough to cope reasonably well with the pace of Ribery. I know he's young but he's a fighter. His persistance also be a bit of a nuisance to the opposition too. Valencia will have to give him a hand defensively.

Reluctantly put Macheda in, not that I don't rate him, but he's young and inexperienced. Plus side is that he's also a bit of a nuisance to defenders when he has the ball, mainly because he's big and fast, but he'll pull defenders away that's for sure. Right ball in at the right time and he could get it in the net.

Put Berbatov there because his ball control and possession will help the midfield, he's also the right one to provide neat, defence splitting little through balls for Macheda. Those two seemed to work well in pre-season. Nani and Valencia can provide the crosses for both of them.
 
Macheda will probably be on the bench. It's a long leg, potentially 120 minutes, so we need striking options on the bench. Macheda hasn't played more than 20 odd minutes of football for months, let alone 90 or 120. He is likely to provide more as an impact sub.
 
If Rooney has "recovered" it's possible that he will be on the bench. If he doesn't start he can come on later for Kiko.

A striker on the bench with a sprained ankle and a teenager on the pitch who has played 20 minutes of football in the past 5 months? Reliable!

The muppet in me would love Kiko to start but I can't see it happening.
 
One thing's for certain, we're not going to win this tie by playing like we did in Germany.

After careful thought going for this:

-----------------------VDS---------------------

Rafael----------Rio--------Vidic------------Evra


Valencia-------Carrick-------Fletcher-------Nani

------------------Berbatov--------------------

------------------Macheda--------------------


Subs; Kuszczak, Evans, O'Shea, Neville, Giggs, Gibson, Obertan

Rafa in for Neville, give some fight to our attack which we will need and he's fast enough to cope reasonably well with the pace of Ribery. I know he's young but he's a fighter. His persistance also be a bit of a nuisance to the opposition too. Valencia will have to give him a hand defensively.

Reluctantly put Macheda in, not that I don't rate him, but he's young and inexperienced. Plus side is that he's also a bit of a nuisance to defenders when he has the ball, mainly because he's big and fast, but he'll pull defenders away that's for sure. Right ball in at the right time and he could get it in the net.

Put Berbatov there because his ball control and possession will help the midfield, he's also the right one to provide neat, defence splitting little through balls for Macheda. Those two seemed to work well in pre-season. Nani and Valencia can provide the crosses for both of them.

Park for Obertan maybe and maybe Rooney for Gibson :lol:
 
Whats the status on Robben? If he plays, we are very vulnerable to a fast counter attack
 
Papers say he'll be travelling with the squad. Nani and Evra will just have to be on their toes if he plays.

The United site said Antilop's red card caused the team to tire a bit, maybe wishful thinking to think it would make a huge difference. They could always shove Schweinsteiger out to the right if needed, leave Antilop, Van Bommel and Muller (support striker) in the middle behind Olic if Robben doesn't make it.
 
The United site said Antilop's red card caused the team to tire a bit, maybe wishful thinking to think it would make a huge difference. They could always shove Schweinsteiger out to the right if needed, leave Antilop, Van Bommel and Muller (support striker) in the middle behind Olic if Robben doesn't make it.
Methinks Robben will be playing some part of the match. Hope I'm wrong.