Norwich City vs. Manchester United

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Ferdinand Evra
Anderson Carrick Cleverley
Van Persie Rooney
Hernandez​

I think this is how we will (and should) line up. Cleverley and Anderson are both in a good run of form, as is Hernandez. Our wingers are all awful currently so I can't think of a better lineup then this. Should be an easy win for us (hopefully).

:drool: Just please, for once, this line-up
 
I think Hernandez should stay as a sub where he is most lethal against tired defences. Valencia is a must on the right wing. So basically the same team at Villa with Cleverley for Scholes and Ando for Young

De Gea

Rafael--Rafael--Evans--Evra

Carrick--Cleverley

Ando

Valencia--RVP--Rooney
 
573447_Manchester_United.jpg


I'd love to see this
 
573447_Manchester_United.jpg


I'd love to see this

the best option at this moment imo.

young is badly out of form, valencia is doing not much better either.

hernandez upfront with rooney and van persie behind him.

cleverley and anderson will make sure there are movement in midfield, while carrick protect the back 4.
 
I'd love to see that, Evra and Raf would need to have good games but they are so comfortable in attack we have the perfect set of fullbacks for it.
 
the best option at this moment imo.

young is badly out of form, valencia is doing not much better either.

hernandez upfront with rooney and van persie behind him.

cleverley and anderson will make sure there are movement in midfield, while carrick protect the back 4.

exactly :D
 
He's played without wingers before this season, so no reason why he wouldn't do it again. And in terms of playing a diamond/4-1-2-1-2 formation - that is our best line up for it and Ferguson hasn't used it yet. Against Newcastle we looked good but Kagawa wasn't suited to the midfield role, he'd be better at the tip.

Cleverley and Anderson with Carrick behind and Rooney at the tip is the most natural fit. Thing is, we would need to have width from the fullbacks otherwise it's just going to leave us stagnant in attack.

If Fletch was at his best I'd be tempted to play him instead of one of Ando/Clev to give us a bit more solidity and allow the fullbacks to be even more adventurous due to the extra protection. Plus it's probably as close as we can get to the AC model with Pirlo;Gattuso,Seedorf;Kaka.
 
As others have said, play as strong a side as possible, given we have the CL dead rubber mid week.


I'd 'rest' RVP ... been full on for him since he joined, a few games off to refresh himself as we approach the mad run of games into xmas. Tell him to get some sun for a week.

Anyhow, I can see Hernandez getting a run of games whilst SAF cashes in on his goals given he is in 'hot' mode right now.

Think Giggs needs some game time. I also want to see Fletcher play in the PL to see what progress he has made. So I'd also give Carrick 'a rest too', he has also played virtually every game so could also do with a refresh. He can join RVP in the sun.

DDG
Rafael, Evans, Rio, Evra
Cleverley, Fletcher, Anderson,
Giggs, Hernandez, Rooney,
 
We've only played Norwich 4 times in the league since 1995, with a 3-0-1 record.

26.02.2012 Norwich City 1-2 Manchester United
01.10.2011 Manchester United 2-0 Norwich City

09.04.2005 Norwich City 2-0 Manchester United
21.08.2004 Manchester United 2-1 Norwich City
 
We've only played Norwich 4 times in the league since 1995, with a 4-0-0 record.

26.02.2012 Norwich City 1-2 Manchester United
01.10.2011 Manchester United 2-0 Norwich City
09.04.2005 Norwich City 2-0 Manchester United
21.08.2004 Manchester United 2-1 Norwich City

09.04.2005 Norwich City 2-0 Manchester United


how is 4-0-0???????????
 
Injurries permitting I think it's very safe to assume that Rooney, Van Persie and Hernandez will all start.

That either means diamond or Rooney on the left. I'm hoping for the diamond (the team gooDevil posted on the last page) but expect it will mean Rooney on the left.
 
I want to see this:

----------De Gea----------
Rafa--Rio-----Evans--Evra
---------Carrick-----------
--Cleverley----Anderson--
-----------Rooney---------
---Hernandez-------RVP--

Providing Rooney and van Persie are fit.
 
I didn't advocate the diamond in the previous 3 league games, and certainly didn't expect it, but this time it feels like it's gonna happen doesn't it? Wingers off form, Hernandez pushing for a start, surely a good time to try Carrick-Anderson-Clev all together!
 
I didn't advocate the diamond in the previous 3 league games, and certainly didn't expect it, but this time it feels like it's gonna happen doesn't it? Wingers off form, Hernandez pushing for a start, surely a good time to try Carrick-Anderson-Clev all together!

So how come you weren't advocating it in the last three? All of those things were also true then. I think the diamond/pyramid (depends on how advanced you think RVP will be) has been the obvious solution for a while. So I'm still not massively convinced that Fergie will go for it.
 
Didn't RVP pull out of the Holland squad due to an "injury"?

I'm thinking he is going to be given a few games off rest so he doesn't burn out.
 
Didn't RVP pull out of the Holland squad due to an "injury"?

I'm thinking he is going to be given a few games off rest so he doesn't burn out.

Once we've got this match done then we can rest him as we have several Home matches on the bounce. He doesn't have to play in the CL considering we've already qualified.
 
Id like to see:

DDG
Rafael Rio Smalling Evra
Carrick Cleverly
Valencia Rooney RVP
Hernandez​

Or if we need to be a little more conservative, Anderson for Valencia with a midfield of three.
 
I reckon it will be...

De Gea

Rafa Rio Smalling Evra

Valencia Carrick Anderson Rooney

RVP Hernandez​


I think he'll rest Clev after he plays 90 minutes for England on Wednesday.
 
I reckon it will be...

De Gea

Rafa Rio Smalling Evra

Valencia Carrick Anderson Rooney

RVP Hernandez​


I think he'll rest Clev after he plays 90 minutes for England on Wednesday.

Really? He's barely played in the last couple for us, is he so fragile that we have to rest him every other game? He looks to me like the sort who we could play every game of the season and he'd be fine.
 
As sloppy as we have been at the back and as lightwieght in the middle without Fletch and Ando I bet teams really shit themselves when seeing Rooney, Chicharito and RVP in the starting line up.
 
Must be a strange mix of emotions going 2-0 up against us in the first half these days. Once it would have been 'holy shit, we're two nil up against United.' But this season, that's statistically a surefire way to lose the match!
 
De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - Ferdinand - Evra
Carrick
Cleverley - Anderson
Rooney - RVP
Hernandez​

4-0 (if we play this XI). Can see us scoring for fun considering we should control the midfield. I won't be surprised to see Scholes and Giggs though, it's bound to happen.
Give De Gea, Ferdinand, Evra, Carrick, Rooney, RVP and Hernandez a mid-week rest, no need to do the traveling to Istanbul. Play the reserves, we've got more important games coming up.
 
So how come you weren't advocating it in the last three? All of those things were also true then. I think the diamond/pyramid (depends on how advanced you think RVP will be) has been the obvious solution for a while. So I'm still not massively convinced that Fergie will go for it.

We played Arsenal and Chelsea.

We played what we know. It was obviously the correct decision.

We won.

Valencia and Young were the first choice players on merit. Anderson and Hernandez were instead given the opportunity to impress in the cup games (which also was part of our rotation policy). They impressed, and now I think they deserve a place in our first XI in the league.

You are an incredibly annoying little twerp at times. Curb down on the whinging and petty little digs at SAF.
 
We played Arsenal and Chelsea.

We played what we know. It was obviously the correct decision.

We won.

Valencia and Young were the first choice players on merit. Anderson and Hernandez were instead given the opportunity to impress in the cup games (which also was part of our rotation policy). They impressed, and now I think they deserve a place in our first XI in the league.

You are an incredibly annoying little twerp at times. Curb down on the whinging and petty little digs at SAF.

Read: legitimate discussion of our team and predictions about who Fergie might start based on his preferences over the years.

It's a difference of opinion mate, no need to get snappy.
 
Norwich arn't a bad side, so I can't see this being as easy as some people would suggest. They're in a fairly decent run of form, and Hoolahan in particular has been very good for them of late.

If we play a diamond against Norwich (we won't - Valencia will play), we'd need Ando and Cleverley to do some good defensive work down the wings, as Norwich like to use their wings to build their attacks... especially down the left where Garrido likes to get forward. Pilkington's a decent player and Snodgrass has been in some fairly decent form for them lately as well so it could prove to be tricky.

As I said though, I can't see him playing a diamond. More likely it'll be Valencia on the right, Rooney (if fit) on the left, then Carrick with either Cleverley or Anderson... and I'd guess at probably the later.