Manchester United vs. Blackpool

So the starting XI for the CL final won't start/play this weekend. What predicament would SAF have faced had United wrapped up the league prior to the Blackburn match? Because he'd probably have sent out a reserve/youth mixture for Blackburn and Blackpool, which would have seen the CL starting XI facing a three week layoff. In that retrospect, was the club better off having not won the league before the Blackburn match?
Why do you think not one of them will start? He has already talked about the layoff, and there's absolute nothing that indicates that they would've had a three weeks layoff if you look at his comments.

Some of them will probably play against Blackpool, and some against Juventus. If Valencia (just an example) starts on sunday it doesn't mean that he won't start the final. Same with everyone, really.
 
Well, yes, but listening to Fergie is more important than listening to Internet blokes! ;) I'm sure we'll field a weakened team against Blackpool, with probably just four or less (I guess three) Champions League final players, and then some more of them will play against Juve (since it's for Neville, I'm sure Giggsy is one of them, so he'll probably be rested against Blackpool). I agree with you that three weeks would've been way to much, and Ferguson pointed out after the Blackburn match that two weeks is too much too.
 
When Nani starts, we haven't lost a single game so hopefully he'll start against Barca...

Field Bebe' Obertan and let Owen + Berbs have their deserved play time and I think we should be cool.

---------PIG----------

Raf--Small--Evan---O'Shea

Bebe'--Gibbo--Fletch--Ober

--------Berba-------------

------------Owen----------

Wolves, Chelsea & Liverpool.
 
Fergie on Sunday v Blackpool: "Van der Sar, Fletcher, Scholes, Anderson, Berba & Evra will all play because they need a game."
 
Fergie on Sunday v Blackpool: "Van der Sar, Fletcher, Scholes, Anderson, Berba & Evra will all play because they need a game."

Why does Van der Sar need another game? Opps.

So it's basically


------------Van der Sar----------------
-Rightback--Centreback-Centreback-Evra
Fletcher-Scholes-Anderson-Midfielder------
-----Berbatov-Midfield/Forward----------

My guess is that it'll be something along the lines of:

-------------Van der Sar----------------
Rafael-O'Shea/Brown-Evans/Smalling-Evra
-----Fletcher-Scholes-Anderson-Fabio---
-------------Berbatov-Owen------------
 
Fergie on Sunday v Blackpool: "Van der Sar, Fletcher, Scholes, Anderson, Berba & Evra will all play because they need a game."

Sounds like the makings of a strong line up to me.
 
I'd like to see Nani play. Bag a goal or two and generally build up some confidence and get ready for next week. Not to mention, it would be a nice gesture towards the fans to see the player of the year perform at home for the last time this season.
 
I'd like to see Nani play. Bag a goal or two and generally build up some confidence and get ready for next week. Not to mention, it would be a nice gesture towards the fans to see the player of the year perform at home for the last time this season.

Nani I think might play, seems like off the ball runners like Park and Valencia would be saved for Barcelona.
 
VDS
Rafael - Smalling - Evans - Evra
Fletcher - Scholes - Anderson - Nani
Berbatov - Owen

PIG, Brown, Fabio, O'Shea, Obertan, Valencia/Rooney, Gibson?

Expecting something like that.
 
I was hoping Gibbo would get another game. But with fergie naming 3 midfielders who he thinks need games, Gibson might not be involved at all

Boo
 
mh4zh.jpg
 
"We're going to try and outscore this lot in front of us. And when we have got a goal let's go try get another one...because we are no good at shutting up shop. Our shop is never closed. Like the Kwik-e-mart." Ian Holloway

I hope they stay up and there is a way that we could win and it happens, apparently....if they lose, Wigan lose by a similar or greater margin, and Birmingham lose by a bigger margin than Blackpool
 
"We're going to try and outscore this lot in front of us. And when we have got a goal let's go try get another one...because we are no good at shutting up shop. Our shop is never closed. Like the Kwik-e-mart." Ian Holloway

I hope they stay up and there is a way that we could win and it happens, apparently....if they lose, Wigan lose by a similar or greater margin, and Birmingham lose by a bigger margin than Blackpool

If we beat Blackpool by one goal, Wigan lose (even by one goal) and Birmingham lose by two goals or more, they stay up. Wigan and Birmingham have everything to play for though, I think Birmingham won't lose by more than one and Wigan will probably take points off Stoke anyway. Any of them can go down really, it is extremely tough to predict.
 
I'd go for something like this with a good solid workout for Anderson going up and down the left flank.

Rafael - Smalling - Evans - Evra
Fletcher - Scholes -Gibson - Anderson
Berbatov - Owen
 
I think Wigan will do it they're playing a Stoke side who played midweek and are on a bit of a downer. Few injuries too I believe.
 
Oh for feck sake!!! I thought the last round was being played today :( Even put in loads of bets that have to wait for tomorrow, gaah!
 
i like ian holloway, he is a great funny guy and respects sir alex very much, i hope we beat them but they still beat the drop.can't they??

------------------------van der sar-------------------------

rafael-----------smalling-------------evans------------evra

nani-----------fletcher---------------scholes-----------anderson

---------------owen-----------------berbatov-----------------

van der sar to come off for a standing ovation after an hour, give lindegaard 30 minutes.

hope berba scores a few goals as well..desperate for him to win the golden boot..
 
It's time to go all Real Madrid.

Patrice Evra: "Whenever I get the ball [v Blackpool] I'll be passing to Berba because I want him to score."
 
It's time to go all Real Madrid.

Patrice Evra: "Whenever I get the ball [v Blackpool] I'll be passing to Berba because I want him to score."

I have a feeling that's probably a bit of banter between Evra and his mate scarface aswell as his friendship with Berbatov.
 
Anyone worried that it might be Scholes' last competitive game at Old Trafford, or confident he'll have another year?

think he is done. if he needs to be persuaded, he really should just retire.

He has given the club so much. But he obviously wants to do other things with his life.

Giggs though wants to play and he feels he still has something to contribute.
 
If Birmingham and Wigan also both lose, it's down to goal difference.

i actually prefer blackburn and birmingham both go down..unfortunately it is not going to happen...

i want wigan to stay..we have a great record playing them;)
 
I'm really looking forward to a good game today. I reckon Blackpool, playing attacking football for their premiership place, will be a wonderful site at OT. It'll be better than watching the other 95% of the league who just shut up shop anyway.

We'll attack and they'll attack which should lead to a good game. It'd be nice to see the league out with a quality game this season. Regardless of the result, I hope Blackpool stay up. I wouldn't mind drawing if it keeps them up. Score draw would be nice so that Berba wins his Golden Boot.

I've got it all worked out lads. :lol: