Manchester United vs. Wigan Athletic

He probably is serious and it wouldn't be such a bad idea.

Giggs played the full game last night and Jones might not make it. Our only other option would be Park or one of the kids.
 
cw1984 said:
He probably is serious and it wouldn't be such a bad idea.

Giggs played the full game last night and Jones might not make it. Our only other option would be Park or one of the kids.
Click to expand...

Yeah you're right, damn I forgot how important Jones is now to the midfield least in the short term.

We'll play either Rooney or Park and both will look a bit out of place. Luckily we're only playing Wigan.
 
I reckon Jones will be OK anyway. He'll just wear one of those awesome looking masks :D
 
Rooney? Gibson is in today's Reserves line-up.

Gibson.jpg
 
Forgot about Gibbo. Yeah... we could play him.
 
If he is fit, would prefer Gibbo-Carrick to Rooney-Carrick
 
I'm gonna say Fergie will give Giggs another game since we're in desperate need, maybe Cleverley will be back for the one after that?

The next game is Blackburn at home, even easier, so I say use Giggs now and play Rooney or Park in midfield against the Venky's.

Rafael Smalling Evans Evra
Carrick Giggs
Valencia Rooney Nani
Welbeck​

But we're getting down to bare bones now. We've got Park and Chicharito after that we're using reserve players.
 
gooDevil said:
I'm gonna say Fergie will give Giggs another game since we're in desperate need, maybe Cleverley will be back for the one after that?

The next game is Blackburn at home, even easier, so I say use Giggs now and play Rooney or Park in midfield against the Venky's.

Rafael Smalling Evans Evra
Carrick Giggs
Valencia Rooney Nani
Welbeck​

But we're getting down to bare bones now. We've got Park and Chicharito after that we're using reserve players.
Click to expand...


Giggs won't start.

Also, what makes you think Cleverley will be back for the game after that?
 
tbh, and considering we're at home, I'd prefer to see Gibson, who had a decent performance last time he played (as long he promises not to try to shoot from distance) in midfield. Pogba perhaps, or too soon for Prem?

Rooney has got his scoring boots back on & I don't think we should discourage him.
 
cw1984 said:
Giggs won't start.

Also, what makes you think Cleverley will be back for the game after that?
Click to expand...

I think that was the original prognosis, end of december, though I'm not gonna believe he's back till he's been seen training for a week.

Physioroom says dec 31st, day of the Blackburn game.
 
Is this game live on telly seeing it's Boxing Day or do usual 3pm rules apply?
 
Colin129 said:
tbh, and considering we're at home, I'd prefer to see Gibson, who had a decent performance last time he played (as long he promises not to try to shoot from distance) in midfield. Pogba perhaps, or too soon for Prem?

Rooney has got his scoring boots back on & I don't think we should discourage him.
Click to expand...

Wigan at home could be a good place to give him his first start but based on his other outtings this season I'm not sure it's a great idea.

If fit, Id go with Gibbo.

Presuming Jones isn't available that is.

gooDevil said:
I think that was the original prognosis, end of december, though I'm not gonna believe he's back till he's been seen training for a week.

Physioroom says dec 31st, day of the Blackburn game.
Click to expand...

Ah right. I thought there were reports it had been pushed back to the middle of Jan?
 
If SAF resists the urge to tinker with the lineup too much we should run out easy winners here. Wigan got their point a few days ago and they are typically far too adventurous at the back to stop us.

Playing Rooney anywhere except attack after he's got back into goal scoring form is MADNESS. We should play Gibson or Park in the middle before we consider playing Rooney there.
 
I reckon we'll probably see:

de Gea

Rafael
Smalling
Evans
Evra

Valencia
Carrick
Rooney
Nani

Berbatov
Welbeck

SUBS: Lindegaard, Fryers, Fabio, Gibson, Park, Giggs, Hernandez.
 
de Gea
Rafael Smalling Evans Evra
Carrick Park
Valencia Rooney Nani
Hernández
--
Lindegaard; Fábio, Fryers; Gibson, Giggs; Welbeck, Berbatov​

Phil Jones might even make it yet, which will mean Fábio or Fryers missing out. I'd still start Rafael here just to ease things up for Jones even if he is back. I'd be tempted to start Giggs and sub him off after 60 minutes for Park or Gibson depending how the game goes, but I can see Park starting this one.

Maybe it's a little narrow minded, especially given Wigan's decent run, but I expect us to win this 3-0+ in the form we're in, we always roll Wigan over. If we can be 2-0 up by 60 minutes I'd like to see Fryers give Evra a little break, and Gibson probably give Carrick some minutes out so they're fresher for Blackburn after having to play seemingly every minute lately. My other ideal substitution would be one of the front four off for Welbeck or Berbatov.

de Gea, Ferdinand, Evra, Evans, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, and Rooney will probably be guaranteed starters against Blackburn if all goes well. With one of Smalling/Jones in, and one of our strikers (probably Welbeck/Hernndez depending which starts against Wigan, with Berbatov to sub on). Cleverley might make the bench for Blackburn I hear, which would be great if we can get him on for 20~ minutes.

Edit: Apparently Phil Jones knock is merely a bruise and nothing serious - no mention of concussion so I expect to see him in the squad for this.
 
It's xmas and we've hit some top form.

I'm going with a 6-2 spanking. Can see one coming.
 
United's Jones fit to face Wigan

Phil Jones fit to face Wigan, Ashley Young out for a few weeks - ESPN Soccernet

Manchester United have been boosted with the news that Phil Jones is fit to face Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day, but will still be without Ashley Young who is missing for several weeks.

Jones was caught by a stray Clint Dempsey elbow in the 5-0 win against Fulham and had to be replaced after 20 minutes with fears that he could have a fractured jaw.

However, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that the defender will be fit to play against the Latics.

"We have good news on Phil Jones: he should be okay for Monday," Ferguson said. "He has some swelling in his jaw but there's no break, no fracture, which is good news.

"We feared the worst because he lost his vision a bit in that period when he came back onto the field. Thankfully it's good news."

The prognosis was not so good for Young, though, who limped off midway through the second period at Craven Cottage with a knee injury sustained in a collision with Dickson Etuhu.

"It's not so good for Ashley Young," Ferguson added. "We're still waiting on some of the bleeding to go away, which is quite extensive at the moment. It was a sore one so he'll be out for a few weeks.

"Ashley was tripped as he went into the next tackle. He wasn't positioned to go into that next tackle - he was half-falling at the time. The second tackle was a hard tackle - not a bad tackle - it was just the way he went into Ashley. He's taken a real clump."

Rafael is in back in contention to play after completing 90 minutes for the reserves on Thursday, but Rio Ferdinand is not ready to face Wigan after a foot injury and joins long term absentees Michael Owen, Tom Cleverley and Anderson on the sidelines.
 
Can someone explain why everyone agrees that the elbow in the face to Jones was not considered dangerous? It didn't appear to be any less dangerous than any number of other such episodes that have resulted in yellow/red cards.
 
----------------------------de gea-------------------

Rafael/Smalling-----------Smalling/Rio--------------Evans-------Evra

valencia----------carrick--------------Jones---------nani

----------------Welbeck-------------Rooney---------
 
Colin129 said:
Can someone explain why everyone agrees that the elbow in the face to Jones was not considered dangerous? It didn't appear to be any less dangerous than any number of other such episodes that have resulted in yellow/red cards.
Click to expand...

Completely agree. For me it was certainly worse than Balotelli's second yellow against Liverpool, after which Souness among others was condemning the violence of the challenge.
 
most of these 'offences' don't become an issue unless the media builds them up. This should have been a matter for the FA to take action. But apparently no fuss has been made.

It may not have been malicious, but certainly was reckless.
 
Red Dreams said:
with Jones back and Carrick alongside we should be pretty fluid in midfield.

plus our front players look real hungry....

Should be a good Boxing day :)
Click to expand...

Fingers crossed.

I hope we bang in a few more goals too.
 
All these putting Rooney in CM... no chance!

He's finally found his scoring boots again, you think SAf will risk that? Not on your life, it'd be Gibbo before Wayne and rightly so.
 
Sharky7 said:
All these putting Rooney in CM... no chance!

He's finally found his scoring boots again, you think SAf will risk that? Not on your life, it'd be Gibbo before Wayne and rightly so.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

However, I still think in terms of starting the match, it'd be Jones, Park, or Giggs before Gibson. Since all three are fit, it'll be one of them. Giggs should honestly be fine to play again, I don't get why everyone's adamant he can't play twice in five days, but with Jones there and Park fresh we have somewhat of a 'luxury' to be able to leave Giggs on the bench. They could both start if SAF doesn't want to play Rafael though.
 
Sharky7 said:
All these putting Rooney in CM... no chance!

He's finally found his scoring boots again, you think SAf will risk that? Not on your life, it'd be Gibbo before Wayne and rightly so.
Click to expand...
They thought Jones would be out.

I'm sure they all would pick Jones and Carrick in midfield now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.