Middlesbrough vs Manchester United

We're gonna be knackered at that time in the day. A 5.00 KO would have been slightly better
 
He'll probably mix it up a bit. Hope one of Carrick or Fletcher plays despite putting in a good shift. Gibson seems like a risk too far.

Something like

---------------Van der Sar-------------
Rafael-----Vidic----------Evans------Evra
-----------Carrick-----Scholes-----------
Ronaldo-----------------------------Park
-----------Berbatov---Welbeck-----------
 
Team should be...

GK: VDS

RB: O'Shea
CB: Vidic
CB: Evans
LB: Evra

RM: Ronaldo
CM: Carrick
CM: Scholes
LM: Park

CF: Rooney
CF: Berbatov

Subs: Foster, Brown, Rafael, Giggs, Anderson, Fletcher, Tevez

This has been a tricky fixture in recent seasons but with enough freshness brought into the team I cant see them scoring more than us

I'll go 1-2. Rooney and Ronaldo with the goals
 
Anyone noticed the absence of Park over the last couple of games? He seems to have lost a bit of confidence and form, but I'm convinced he'll start against the game raising bastards on Saturday.

Van der Sar
O'Shea - Vidic - Evans - Evra
Ronaldo - Fletcher - Scholes - Park
Berbatov - Tevez​

Rest Carrick, Rooney, Giggs and Anderson. What I'd give to have Hargreaves around now, we really could use him well at this stage of the season! Score an early goal and hit them on the counter, they'll fight for their lives.
 
Fergie talked about keeping the same defence, minus Rio, but possibly changing the whole midfield and forward line. I hope we don't make such wholesale changes. I can actually see another change at the back, like Rafael starting (as well as Evans, obivously), but I hope we don't rest everyone else, although with options like Berba, Park, Giggs, Scholes and Nani, you can see that happening.
 
I would give Rio, VDS and Carrick a break.

Starting XI: Foster - Rafael, Vidic, Evans, Evra - Ronaldo, Scholes, Anderson, Park - Tevez, Berbatov

Bench: Kuszczak, Brown, O´Shea, Fletcher, Giggs, Nani, Rooney
 
If we change our whole midfield and the strikers we'd come out with something like this:

Van der Sar
O'Shea - Vidic - Evans - Evra
Park - Scholes - Giggs - Nani
Berbatov - Macheda​

I seriously doubt we'll 'only' play Giggsy and Scholes in the middle without any decent protection for our back four, Boro would murder us through the middle. Maybe Fergie gives Gibson another go, he did very well when he was called up against Everton even though he lacked playing time over the previous couple of weeks.
 
I am a bit worried about injuries. In the games vs Boro we witnesses some nasty incidents involving the likes of Pogatetz (on Possembon) and Morrison (on Ronaldo) amongst others..

Don't know but at times I wonder whether players showing this excess aggressiveness are being ordered by someone to do so...
 
If we feck about majorly with the team, I'm concerned we could end up losing points.

We're in the run-in - rotate a little, but just play as strong a side as possible.

VDS
O'Shea-Vidic-Evans-Evra
Nani-Scholes-Giggs-Park
Rooney-Berbatov
 
SAF

"I will bring some freshness into the team. The defence will be the same, apart from Rio, but the midfield and forwards could change," he said.
Click to expand...

I assume Scholes will play, and maybe Nani and Park?

Come on United, not too many changes...this is a huge game. Win this and it's practically impossble for us to not win the title. We'd need 7 points from 4 games, with 2 home games and a relatively easy away to out of form Wigers.
 
Foster
Rafael Vidic Evans Evra
Ronaldo Carrick Scholes Nani
Berbatov Rooney
--
Subs: Van der Sar; Brown, O'Shea; Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs; Tévez
​

Tough one. Middlesbrough always give us a game, and they really need the points. Hopefully we can just attack them and win it early. I wouldn't mind Tévez starting over Nani either, having that quartet go at 'Boro and then make changes later on.

I reckon we'll beat them though, this isn't a game we can afford to drop points in. We need to win our next three games then I believe the Title is well and truely ours.

I'm expecting Park to not play for some reason, but it wouldn't surprise me if he's put up against Downing on Saturday. I'd like Park to play against Arsenal away though, with Rooney wide right and Ronaldo through the middle. Same trio in midfield for the Arsenal away leg (Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson).
 
Why Foster instead of VDS? Its not like he usually has anything to do during a game. Resting the goalkeeper this many times a season is strange. I cant understand it. Goalkeeping isnt as demanding as any other position.
 
Number7 said:
SAF



I assume Scholes will play, and maybe Nani and Park?

Come on United, not too many changes...this is a huge game. Win this and it's practically impossble for us to not win the title. We'd need 7 points from 4 games, with 2 home games and a relatively easy away to out of form Wigers.
Click to expand...

And maybe so will those players who did not complete 90 minutes on Wed and are not injured i.e. Anderson, Giggs, Berbatov, Tevez
 
VDS

Rafael
Evans
Vidic
Evra

Giggs
Anderson
Scholes

Park
Berbatov
Tevez

Subs : Roo, Ron, VDS, O'Shea, Carrick, Nani, Flecth

0-2 !
 
dev1l said:
I am a bit worried about injuries. In the games vs Boro we witnesses some nasty incidents involving the likes of Pogatetz (on Possembon) and Morrison (on Ronaldo) amongst others..

Don't know but at times I wonder whether players showing this excess aggressiveness are being ordered by someone to do so...
Click to expand...

i'm worried about that as well. few nasty tackles with the sarcastic "good luck in Europe" after the game.

either way i'd play

--------------Kuszczak/ Foster

Rafael/ Orange-----Evans-----Vida-------Evra/ JOS


Ronnie --------Fletcher-------Scholes-----Park/ Nani

---------------Berbs------------Rooney
 
I think we will see a lot of changes, not sure if that is the right thing to do or not. But Fergie has stated he wants to freshen up the squad. It will be a tough game, if we field a weakened side like Fergie plans then Middlesbrough will want the win, they will think they should be able to snatch it. We certainly can't afford to lose this game or even draw with still having to play Arsenal and City last on. I think we might see,

Foster
O'shea - Vidic - Evans - Evra
Park - Scholes - Gibson - Nani
Tevez - Macheda

But we will see, will all depend on who he wants to start on Tuesday. The team I suggested may have too many changes in, but I wouldn't put it past Fergie.
 
After seing Fergie's interview regarding this game, it may look like this :

Vds

Rafael
Evans
Vidic
Evra

Park
Gibson
Scholes
Nani

Tevez
Berbatov
 
Hellboy said:
After seing Fergie's interview regarding this game, it may look like this :

Vds

Rafael
Evans
Vidic
Evra

Park
Gibson
Scholes
Nani

Tevez
Berbatov
Click to expand...

That wouldnt supprise me but i would have Foster for VDS
 
would start the same team as last night, if we were not playing on tuesday, so, its going to be hard to pick it. dont think anybody can easily predict this.

foster

rafael evans vida evra
ronaldo scholes anderson park
tevez berbatov

maybe nani will start instead of ronaldo and fletch in for anderson then on 60, but its too hard to predict. massive game, a win here and we have one hand on the title IMO.
 
The games that have followed a CL match this season:
Won: 3
Drawn: 5
Lost: 2

Not very good.

There'll be plenty of fresh legs against Boro. The same back five with Evans instead of Rio. Scholes, Park and Berbatov to start. Maybe Nani? Maybe Gibson? I trust the squad, we'll win no matter who plays.
 
IhabX7 said:
Why Foster instead of VDS? Its not like he usually has anything to do during a game. Resting the goalkeeper this many times a season is strange. I cant understand it. Goalkeeping isnt as demanding as any other position.
Click to expand...

Concentration purposes, and playing in goal is becoming more and more demanding.

Wouldn't do it if Foster wasn't good enough. With the next game being Tuesday I think Edwin would appreciate not having to travel from Manc to Middelsborough to Manc to London in the space of 3 days.
 
Hate playing these game raising cnuts and i'll be glad when they go down.

VDS
O'Steady Evans Vidic Evra
Ronaldo Scholes Carrick Giggs
Rooney Berbatov​
 
----------VDS
O'Shea Vidic Evans Evra
Park Gibson Scholes Nani
---Berbatov Macheda

Foster; Brown; Rafael; Ronaldo, Giggs; Rooney, Tevez

Thats my team going off this

Fergie said:
“I have got a squad, and I intend to use it,” says Sir Alex. “The midfield will change and the players up front will also probably change. I’ll bring some freshness into the team in some important areas.

“There’s Paul Scholes, Darron Gibson, Ji-sung Park and Nani, who didn’t play against Arsenal. But I won’t change my back four, which will be much the same apart from Rio. But up front I’ve got Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck, and they may be involved.”
Click to expand...

fecking hate boro. Win :mad:
 
Yesterday's match wasn't particularly frenetic and it's not like they're travelling to Spartak Moscow on Tuesday. I'm in favour of starting Rooney and Ronaldo as this is so important. However, I'm sure we'll use Scholes, Berbatov Park and Evans too who are very capable.

Boro have won 2/22 the league since 9th Nov while we've won 18/22 - so they'll need something special to beat us. A draw wouldn't be disasterous with four to play but I can't see either team settling for that.
 
Москва2008 said:
Yesterday's match wasn't particularly frenetic and it's not like they're travelling to Spartak Moscow on Tuesday. I'm in favour of starting Rooney and Ronaldo as this is so important. However, I'm sure we'll use Scholes, Berbatov Park and Evans too who are very capable.

Boro have won 2/22 the league since 9th Nov while we've won 18/22 - so they'll need something special to beat us. A draw wouldn't be disasterous with four to play but I can't see either team settling for that.
Click to expand...

Nah, a draw is no good for us. It gives Liverpool the chance to claw 2 back and keep things well and truly alive.
 
VDS
Rafael Evans Vidic Evra
Park Anderson Scholes Nani
Tevez Berbatov
 
Pretty certain the team playing on Saturday will largely be dictated by who Ferguson has pencilled in for Tuesdays game.

I would consider resting Rooney against Boro and playing Berbatov/Tevez/Ronaldo. With Park/Scholes and probably Anderson.

Giving Fletcher/Carrick/Rooney a rest ready for Arsenal.
 
-------------------VDS------------------
O'Shea------Vidic------Evans--------Evra
Ronaldo-----Carrick----Scholes-------Park
-----------Rooney-----Berbatov----------

Subs: Foster, Rafael, Brown, Giggs, Anderson, Nani, Tevez.

I know SAF is saying he has a squad and he'll use it but we're a few games away from the title, no fecking about please. Apart from Hargreaves and Nev, we basically have a full strength squad and we've only 6/7 games left in the season (both league and CL) so I think we must play the best team possible each match. Welbeck and Kiko have both done brilliant this season when played but it's down to the nitty gritty stage now and if we keep all the above fit then they must be in ahead of Kiko, Welbeck and Gibson IMO.
 
I've actually got more worried about this one as thedays gone on.

This is pretty much a trap, if we play anything like the teamwe played against Everton we'll lose.

Some Boro players were on telly earlier saying they learnt from Arsenal they need to close down fast (well fecking durrrr), however they'll be at us from the off and we must be prepared for a pshysical fast paced game.
 
Van der Sar
Rafael Evans Vidic O'Shea
Nani Scholes Anderson Park
Tevez Berbatov​

Bench; Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs, Carrick, Fletcher, Brown and Foster.
 
oh FFS am gonna have to miss this one!!! i hate early saturday K.O!!
VDS
-Rafael-Vidic-Evans-Evra
Nani-Scholes-Fletch-Park
---------Giggs----------
-------Berbatov--------
we need 3 points from this game i'll take a 1-0 win
 
Number7 said:
Some Boro players were on telly earlier saying they learnt from Arsenal they need to close down fast (well fecking durrrr), however they'll be at us from the off and we must be prepared for a pshysical fast paced game.
Click to expand...

If they're anywhere close to capable of doing everything they want to do, they wouldn't be at the position they are now, would they?

We'll also go for the throat this one. No chance of Fergie taking it lightly.
 
December_16 said:
If they're anywhere close to capable of doing everything they want to do, they wouldn't be at the position they are now, would they?

We'll also go for the throat this one. No chance of Fergie taking it lightly.
Click to expand...

Well there is no way Fergie is playing a full squad. He is going to look, and bringing in the likes of nani, welbeck and Macheda. So we will see. But I wouldn't underestimate middlesborough, they are desperate to win and will see us fielding a weakened squad as a chance for them to sneak a win.
 
December_16 said:
If they're anywhere close to capable of doing everything they want to do, they wouldn't be at the position they are now, would they?

We'll also go for the throat this one. No chance of Fergie taking it lightly.
Click to expand...

You'll definately see increased effort levels and we'll have to match that then beat them with pure ability, which they lack.

It doesn't matter how much a team wants something if they're rubbish...I'd quite like to score 8 past Liverpool, but put me on a pitch with the bastards and I doubt I'd get a touch, unless Dossena was playing.
 

---------Foster---------

Brown-Vidic-Evans-O'Shea

Park-Scholes--Gibson-Nani

---------Giggs----------

--------Berbatov--------​
 
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