Rangers FC vs. Manchester United

The Reds are training in bright sunshine at Carrington... so bright it's hard to see who's on the far side of the pitch. But I can tell you that Van der Sar and Amos were training separately, as goalkeepers often do, while the 21 outfield players were as follows: Rafael, Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Jonny Evans, Smalling, O'Shea, Brown, Anderson, Bebe, Giggs, Scholes, Nani, Park, Carrick, Obertan, Rooney, Macheda, Berbatov and Hernandez. No doubt the boss will talk about the ins and outs - this morning's absentees include Darren Fletcher, Darron Gibson and Gary Neville - when he speaks at the press conference this afternoon.
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Not sure if Kuszczak's still out, he was on the bench for Wigan, looking at the three that are out...Neville possibly injured, Gibson could be given leave to look after his daughter seem reasonable erm reasons for neither training, not sure about Fletcher's situation.
 
what is the reason behind fletcher absence, it be a blow to lose him for this match.
 
BBC confirms Rio and Vida out for the Rangers match.

why are we showing Rangers no respect?

We didn't exactly play them off the park at OT...
 
BTV_is_neutral said:
BBC confirms Rio and Vida out for the Rangers match.

why are we showing Rangers no respect?

We didn't exactly play them off the park at OT...
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Is that a fecking joke, we are asking to be beaten by playing a weakened line-up.:annoyed:
 
I can understand one of them getting a rest, Vida has played just about every match has he not?

Also Rio being the crock he is now...but both?

When was the last time Evans played, I'm not sure how confident I'd be with a Evans and Smalling partnership at this stage.Also up front, Rooney just getting back, Giggs just getting back.

We could be putting out a very disjointed team tomorrow night...I'm sure Fergie has his reasons, but I'd rather smash Rangers, and then rest everyone for the last game.
 
Foolish to play a badly weakened lineup. Don't want a situation where you need to get a result against a dangerous Valencia side to go through.
 
I honestly think we'll be fine whatever back 4 we line up with. I'd be more worried if i was a Rangers fan (actually i kinda am). Rangers are missing their best defender Bougherra, and Smith has said this morning that Papac is a major doubt. They are in a far worse situation defensively
 
BTV_is_neutral said:
I can understand one of them getting a rest, Vida has played just about every match has he not?

Also Rio being the crock he is now...but both?

When was the last time Evans played, I'm not sure how confident I'd be with a Evans and Smalling partnership at this stage. Also up front, Rooney just getting back, Giggs just getting back.

We could be putting out a very disjointed team tomorrow night...I'm sure Fergie has his reasons, but I'd rather smash Rangers, and then rest everyone for the last game.
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You were confident enough to suggest that neither Brown nor O'Shea would partner one of them at centreback.
 
charleysurf said:
Foolish to play a badly weakened lineup. Don't want a situation where you need to get a result against a dangerous Valencia side to go through.
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Meh... if a draw is all that's necessary do a Rangers...

------------------------Van der Sar-------------------------------
Rafael-Brown-Smalling-Carrick-Berbatov-Fletcher-Evans-O'Shea-Evra
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------Rooney-----------------------------------
 
Smalling, Evans, Wes and O'Shea are highly competent center backs in any case, I think they'll do a fine job. Vida and Rio deserve a rest. Would be interesting to see who plays instead of Fletcher. I think we'll go for a Ando-Carrick partnership.
 
Cutch said:
I honestly think we'll be fine whatever back 4 we line up with. I'd be more worried if i was a Rangers fan (actually i kinda am). Rangers are missing their best defender Bougherra, and Smith has said this morning that Papac is a major doubt. They are in a far worse situation defensively
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The thing about resting key players is that it sends a message to the other players that this game is of lesser importance, and the performance levels drop. And we're not playing well enough at the moment to afford a drop!
 
charleysurf said:
The thing about resting key players is that it sends a message to the other players that this game is of lesser importance, and the performance levels drop. And we're not playing well enough at the moment to afford a drop!
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I think all the players selected tomorrow night will have the motivation of winning/keeping their place in the side. I can't see any of them letting their performance levels drop for a champions league tie.
 
charleysurf said:
The thing about resting key players is that it sends a message to the other players that this game is of lesser importance, and the performance levels drop. And we're not playing well enough at the moment to afford a drop!
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We'll see key players Rooney, Scholes, Berbatov/Hernandez and perhaps Giggs come in, while squadies with a point to prove will go in for the senior players ... who's performance is going to drop? Carrick's?
 
We've put out mixed sides for all our CL games so far if I remember correctly? Rooney has been confirmed as starting, I believe, and others may return such as Giggs and Anderson. Sure we'll be playing a few younger players but I don't have a problem with that.

Maybe:


...............................VDS

Rafael.............Evans.............Smalling............Fabio

..............................Carrick
...................Anderson.........Gibson
Obertan.....................................................Giggs

..............................Rooney
 
14:10 I've just had word from Manchester airport that the Reds are taking a 21-man squad to Glasgow. In no particular order:
Amos, van der Sar;
Brown, Evans, Evra, Fabio, O'Shea, Rafael, Smalling;
Anderson, Bebe, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Obertan, Park, Scholes;
Berbatov, Hernandez, Macheda, Rooney.
 
We need to draw it at least.

Can't see us fighting v Valencia for first place in our group just days before very important game with Arsenal...

I hope Smalling and (especially) Evans will do their best to not concede and Giggsy (or Berbatov, or Hernandez) will score at Ibrox ;)
 
In that case in my above team sub Gibson for Park, putting Park on the left and Sir Ryan in the middle. I'd leave Scholes to be fresh for Saturday if possible.
 
R_Nick said:
We've put out mixed sides for all our CL games so far if I remember correctly? Rooney has been confirmed as starting, I believe, and others may return such as Giggs and Anderson. Sure we'll be playing a few younger players but I don't have a problem with that.

Maybe:


...............................VDS

Rafael.............Evans.............Smalling............Fabio

..............................Carrick
...................Anderson.........Gibson
Obertan.....................................................Giggs

..............................Rooney
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As long as Scholes plays I'll be confident with playing an inexperienced back four.
 
Bryan_Munich said:
As long as Scholes plays I'll be confident with playing an inexperienced back four.
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Carrick usually shields our back four well and I would hope he, along with the others in my amended starting XI (see last post) would provide enough cover from the middle to help our defenders keep a clean sheet, without us having to bring Scholes into the equation. Should we need him he's on the bench but I'd rather give him a rest.
 
Am I right in saying that the only way we'll need to beat Valencia in the final game to qualify is if we lose by a three goal margin to Rangers tomorrow night and if both Valencia and Rangers beat Bursaspor?

If we only then went on to draw against Valencia in that scenario then you'd have all three teams level on 11 points and the three-way head to head would come down to goal difference because all three clubs would have 1 win, 2 draws and 1 defeat from their four games against each other. If we were to lose 3-0 to Rangers and then drew 0-0 with Valencia then Rangers would have a goal difference of 0 (four goals scored, four conceded), we'd have a goal difference of -2 (1 goal scored, three conceded) and Valencia would have a goal difference of +2 (4 goals scored, two conceded).

So obviously we'd go out on goal difference in the above scenario. If we were to only lose by a two goal margin to Rangers (slightly more realistic) then we'd both have the same goal difference from the head to heads, -1, but we would qualify for the knockout stages because the next criteria arranged to separate teams is ''higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question'', and so Hernandez's goal in Valencia would see us go through.

So if disaster does strike tomorrow night then we'll ''only'' need a draw in the final game providing that we don't lose by a three goal margin to Rangers. Much better than needing a win against Valencia particularly as a draw for Valencia in that game would be enough to see them qualify themselves and top the group.
 
prateik said:
14:10 I've just had word from Manchester airport that the Reds are taking a 21-man squad to Glasgow. In no particular order:
Amos, van der Sar;
Brown, Evans, Evra, Fabio, O'Shea, Rafael, Smalling;
Anderson, Bebe, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Obertan, Park, Scholes;
Berbatov, Hernandez, Macheda, Rooney.
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They're flying to Glasgow from Manchester? :wenger:

Must have a carbon footprint the size of Bigfoot.
 
Get them there and back as quick as possible, it's better than having them sitting on a coach for however long.
 
It's still a good few hours on the bus if you consider traffic etc.

30 minutes on the plane - job done.
 
TK
Brown, Smalling, Evans, Fabio
Obertan, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs
Berbatov, Rooney

Bench: Amos, Rafael, O'Shea, Chicha, Macheda, Bebe, Nani
 
---------Van Der Sar---------
-Brown-Smalling-Evans-Fabio-
Obertan-Carrick-Anderson-Park
-----Macheda--Berbatov------

Subs: Amos, Rafael, O'shea, Giggs, Scholes, Hernandez, Rooney

or

--------Van Der Sar--------
-Brown-Smalling-Evans-Fabio-
--Carrick-Anderson-Scholes--
Obertan-------------Park---
----------Macheda----------

Subs: Amos, O'shea, Rafael, Nani, Giggs, Hernandez, Berbatov.


For some reason, I expect one of those mediocre line-ups...I don't know why.
 
cloud218 said:
---------Van Der Sar---------
-Brown-Smalling-Evans-Fabio-
Obertan-Carrick-Anderson-Park
-----Macheda--Berbatov------

Subs: Amos, Rafael, O'shea, Giggs, Scholes, Hernandez, Rooney

or

--------Van Der Sar--------
-Brown-Smalling-Evans-Fabio-
--Carrick-Anderson-Scholes--
Obertan-------------Park---
----------Macheda----------

Subs: Amos, O'shea, Rafael, Nani, Giggs, Hernandez, Berbatov.


For some reason, I expect one of those mediocre line-ups...I don't know why.
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Rooney is sure to start
 
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