Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Brown will play because having 2 short defenders agains the bean pole Crouch is a disaster waiting to happen.

Scholes and Fletcher will play. As will Nani, Berba, Hernandez. The real point is do we playd 4-4-2 or 4--3-3.

By that logic O'Shea is taller, and better suited to beanpole duties.
 
By that logic O'Shea is taller, and better suited to beanpole duties.

Brown is better on the deck.

So it will be an on form Bale vs.

Neville - no chance in hell
Sheesy - he would struggle
Rafel - would match him for pace but crouchatron would be over him
Brown - would match Bale for size and strength and have crouch in his pocket.
 
We've done better at OT in the league since Wenger came than you have at Arsenal. Spurs have been shit without a win in 20 years.

For someone who purports to deal in facts, at least research your theories before spouting them in public. Since Wenger took over in September 1996, United's league record at OT against Arsenal is 7 wins, 4 draws, 3 defeats; Arsenal's home record against United is 6 wins, 2 draws, 4 defeats. As someone else said, we'll ignore Champions League Semi Finals (and other cup competitions).
 
:eek: 3 pages already?? People obviously feeling this is a big one.

Nani will be key to this game. Spurs' defensive weak point is down their left hand side.
 
First match of the season for me at OT!

What a humdinger, as well.

VDS

Rafael Rio Vida Evra

Nani Fletcher Scholes Park

Berb Hernandez

3-0 win.
 
First match of the season for me at OT!

What a humdinger, as well.

VDS

Rafael Rio Vida Evra

Nani Fletcher Scholes Park

Berb Hernandez

3-0 win.

Very optimistic. Spurs are no mugs.

It's written for VDV to score and the Caf to implode.
 
First match of the season for me at OT!

What a humdinger, as well.

VDS

Rafael Rio Vida Evra

Nani Fletcher Scholes Park

Berb Hernandez

3-0 win.

They were worryingly shite at the weekend.

I'd find a way to play Carrick. He's been consistently good against his old club.
 
Rafael against Bale please. Brown and Neville would struggle, and O'Shea is out of form.
 
Brown did fine on the ball but was routinely fecked by Jarvis. He looked like a centre-back out of position. He was fecked by the pace. Bale would be worse.

We should have more faith in Rafael. He's not that ill-disciplined. And besides, he's played well in each game he's played this season - the same cannot be said of any of the other options.
 
Brown did fine on the ball but was routinely fecked by Jarvis. He looked like a centre-back out of position. He was fecked by the pace. Bale would be worse.

We should have more faith in Rafael. He's not that ill-disciplined. And besides, he's played well in each game he's played this season - the same cannot be said of any of the other options.

Aye, s'pose so.

I'm probably subconsciously influenced by watching his twin make a number of fairly reckless challenges last night.
 
We won't be playing 4-4-2 with a central midfield of Scholes and Fletcher its too weak.

Spurs will line up 4-4-1-1 with two deep central midfielders.

I would opt for Carrick Scholes Fletcher in the middle and Nani Hernandez and Berba up top.

Both Carrick and Berba play well against Tottenham so I expect a goal or an asist from either of these two.
 
I'm probably subconsciously influenced by watching his twin make a number of fairly reckless challenges last night.

the problem with this, is the just because it looks reckless doesn't mean it is, if the timing is good.

Rafael has done more than well enough against wingers/forwards, who supposedly would take the mickey out of him.
His collection of cards is less due to technical faults in his game and more due to impetuousness and temperament (for example the foul against Van Bommel, when he thought he should have had a foul and so retaliated)

if it is just down to playing the technical/physical side of football, Rafael will take care of Bale
 
I thought Brown did ok last night and he should be all the better for playing another game.

Rafael against Bale is a red card waiting to happen IMO.

You reckon? He's matured a lot in his defending this term. I'd be more than happy with him playing.
 
I'd like to see Carrick play too. But he can't seem to get a break in the PL at the moment...

I expect him to play which would mean either Fletcher on the right or Hernandez on the bench.
 
We won't be playing 4-4-2 with a central midfield of Scholes and Fletcher its too weak.

Spurs will line up 4-4-1-1 with two deep central midfielders.

I would opt for Carrick Scholes Fletcher in the middle and Nani Hernandez and Berba up top.

Both Carrick and Berba play well against Tottenham so I expect a goal or an asist from either of these two.

Agreed, although you can bet if we do start with those players people will still assume we're playing 442 with Fletcher on the wing!
 
I have a horrible feeling we'll play a 4-3-3 with Berba up top and Hernandez on the wing :/
 
I thought Brown did ok last night and he should be all the better for playing another game.

Rafael against Bale is a red card waiting to happen IMO.

I concur, Bale will be out for blood if Rafael skins him again. :D

There is another Bursaspor game coming up, I could see Brown getting a runout then.

I think United shouldn't get wrapped up in playing against one player, Tottenham have many others.
 
Who are Spuds missing currently? Defoe is still out iirc. O Hara, and I think Corluka?
Plus Dawson and (probably) King, not forgetting Woodgate. Possibly dos Santos also.
 
So would that mean Hutton, Bassong, Gallas, Assou-Ekkoto again?

What's there in terms of backup?
I'd guess that Kaboul will play CB instead of Bassong (since the latter impressed against Everton in the last match and he's improved hugely after his spell at Pompey), but otherwise the back 4 may well be as you've said.

Backups are thin on the ground right now: if needed then Kaboul could play at RB, Bale could switch to LB and Huddlestone can play as a CB.
 
Brown is better on the deck.

So it will be an on form Bale vs.

Neville - no chance in hell
Sheesy - he would struggle
Rafel - would match him for pace but crouchatron would be over him
Brown - would match Bale for size and strength and have crouch in his pocket.

O'Shea's had very boring games against Bale.
 
I'm not sure it will be easy but I'd trust him or Brown to keep him fairly quiet, although Brown's lack of pace yesterday worried me a little so I would go with Rafa.
Saying easy was a bit over the top its true. But what I meant though is, since better players than Bale have been handled by Rafael. What makes some think Bale has suddenly become so good that Rafael couldn't deal with him?
 
Saying easy was a bit over the top its true. But what I meant though is, since better players than Bale have been handled by Rafael. What makes some think Bale has suddenly become so good that Rafael couldn't deal with him?

Bale has gone from being spectacularly underrated- see the hilarious statistic that the papers constantly brought up even though it was obvious it was just a coincidence, to being overrated in the typical British player looks pretty good....."best left sided player in world football".
 
Saying easy was a bit over the top its true. But what I meant though is, since better players than Bale have been handled by Rafael. What makes some think Bale has suddenly become so good that Rafael couldn't deal with him?

As I've said before reversing the argument, Bale can cope with Maicon, but not with Emmerson Boyce. So you either you let Brazil fringe rightback stake a case against the number 1 one, or you basically put O'Shea or Brown on him to disrupt his rhythm.

After the game, we'll probably be talking about Evra vs. Lennon anyway.
 
Brown is better on the deck.

So it will be an on form Bale vs.

Neville - no chance in hell
Sheesy - he would struggle
Rafel - would match him for pace but crouchatron would be over him
Brown - would match Bale for size and strength and have crouch in his pocket.

i believe his actual model is crouchbot 3000...but i agree with the sentiments, he always seems to target that area so would be a worry with rafael in there. Brown is a good balance of pace and aerial strength.
 
Saying easy was a bit over the top its true. But what I meant though is, since better players than Bale have been handled by Rafael. What makes some think Bale has suddenly become so good that Rafael couldn't deal with him?

To be fair only one United player has really struggled against Bale at rightback?

Fabio da Silva