saf will most probably rest the players that will play against chelsea...so we'll get line ups for two games come tuesday.
rooney should be started as he needs to score to boost his confidence...he always scores in patches like he scores in 6-7 games then doesn't get a goal for some time.
Have a feeling Sir Alex will have one eye on Sundays clash with Chelsea especially with us already having maximum points in the group…given that Rooney will most likely be asked to play the lone striker role against Chelsea on Sunday id expect Berbatov and Owen to partner each other up top for this one....Giggs assuming hes fit of course will again probably not play due to the Chelsea game on Sunday so Nani will probably stay in the side in the absence of Park.....Fletch was on the bench against Blackburn and will probably need a game ahead of the Chelsea clash to get his match sharpness up to an ideal level ahead of such a big game so I expect him to play...With carrick and Anderson probably in line for starts at the bridge and Fergie especially liking to go down the experience route in European games id bet Scholes is a certainty to start this one...the fact he was unused against Rovers would also suggest he will play...
Defence is a little trickier to predict but again i fancy Neville especially given his domestic ban will play on Tuesday to keep him in the loop so to speak as well as providing that experience that as previously mentioned fergie likes for European games...Rio if fit i expect to play alongside Evans...Vidic as Fergie has said seems to be struggling with a calf problem that has plagued him for a while now so i doubt unless hes 100% he'll be risked for this one with a big physical battle with Drogba awaiting on Sunday that im sure he and the management will want him in prime condition for..…for all his supposed troubles against Torres Vidic is most definitely our best way of combating Drogba next weekend so theres no need to risk his fitness against CSKA…
Also fancy we’ll see PIG in goal...Fergie likes to rotate his keepers in games like this...Foster played against Barnsley in the Carling cup last week...so it wouldn’t surprise me if PIG gets the nod in goal for this one....
Subs:Foster, Vidic, Carrick, Rooney, Obertan, Fletcher, Welbeck
Ins: Fletcher (Scholes), Obertan (Nani), Welbeck (Berbatov) in 2nd half to get some game time.
Prediction:2-0. Owen, Scholes
Just hope Fergie doesnt do a Rafa and play a weakened team for the sake of a more important match few days later. And hope no 'unfit' players will play as well. Rest giggs, rio and vidic well. Rest the 'old' VDS too.
In a way, this will still be a weakened side since it will mean evra and rooney are rested. But Fabio is no Degen and Owen is no Voronin. I hope Park can make it to sub bench and gets 15-20 mins of game time. He has perform well against chelsea before, and he might be useful again this weekend. I want to see a non wasteful nani for once. Just keep it simple to get the confidence back.
We've all but qualified for the next round so expect a young side. It wouldn't surprise me if we field one similar to the one we fielded in the Carling Cup last week.
All we need is a point to progress to the knockout stage, so I think Fergie will definitely select his side with an eye on the game at Stamford Bridge.
CSKA Moscow are in a bit of turmoil at the moment, having just sacked Juande Ramos, and in the midst of a disappointing League campaign. They are currently 5th in the table, 10 points behind leaders and current champions Rubin Kazan, with only 3 games left to play.
Hopefully Fletcher is involved at some point to get him back into gear for the big match at Stamford Bridge. We really shouldn't have too many problems against CSKA.
I think we'll see a changed first 11 for this game due the Chelsea game. The good thing is we play on the Tuesday and the Chelsea game is on the Sunday so its plenty time for the players to rest and recuperate.
Foster
Rafael - Brown - Evans - Fabio
Obertan - Fletcher - Scholes - Nani
Welbeck - Owen
Giving key players a chance to have a full week to rest for the big game and gives some needed playing time for the younger members of the squad. Hopefully Fletcher can come through this game and be ready for the weekend clash.
really hard to predict this team given chelsea on sunday, the amount of injuries we have and the fact that we are nearly qualified. i hope hargreaves makes the bench for this one. im going to go with -
No chance we'll field a weakened team. We've learnt our lessons from past seasons.
We'll play our strongest side and hope that we finally find some attacking spark. I wouldn't be surprised however if Rooney doesn't play with Colleen's birth, probably Berbatov/Owen. But I expect that to be the only change.
Valencia, Giggs, O'Shea, Vidic, Rooney, van der Sar, Carrick - probably all rested for the majority, if not all, of the game. Fletcher, Berbatov, Evra, and probably Evans will all play against Chelsea too, so I can see at least Berbatov coming off after the hour, probably for Macheda. Fábio on for Evra would be good, with perhaps Fletcher coming off too. Should win this quite easily, and then win the group.
If Berbatov isn't fully fit, then Macheda will start I reckon. Not sure on Welbeck's fitness but maybe he'd be on the bench if so.
Of course if Rooney doesn't play then Owen comes in with Welbeck on the bench; fairly sure the Berbaknock won't be too bad. I still think Fergie will want to win this one to get qualification in the bag for the year, hence the slightly stronger team and bench than a couple others have put out as their choices.
Also, he has to think about Chelsea of course. Against them, he'll play Carrick and one of Anderson and Scholes so whichever one starts this game you think would be on the bench at the Bridge.
Don't see why people have Anderson started don't think it would wise to have him start three games in a week and then be ready for a midfield battle v Chelsea more than likely. I'd wouldn't mind any 2 of scholes fletch and carrick