F.A. Barclaycard Premiership
v
At Old Trafford, Manchester
Kick-off: 3.00pm (GMT)
At Old Trafford, Manchester
Kick-off: 3.00pm (GMT)
United 2 Birmingham 0.....28-12-02.....EPL
- Thread starter $ukhjit
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
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Vodafone Match Preview
After coming away empty-handed from the new homes of Andy Cole and Steve McClaren, Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping that Steve Bruce is rather more generous on Saturday.
So far Fergie's old friends have had all the Christmas cheer - first Cole and Yorke's Blackburn beat United 1-0, then McClaren's Middlesbrough followed up with a sucker punch on Boxing Day. Now it's Bruce's turn to take on his old gaffer in a contest he's craved since starting his managerial career with Sheffield United in July 1998.
Manchester United's original Double-winning skipper has since taken charge of Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace, but it's at Birmingham where he's really blossomed as a boss. He first joined the Blues from United as a player in 1996, amid rumours that he would swiftly succeed Trevor Francis as the manager at St Andrews.
As it turned out, it took a further five years for the managerial change to take place - it was last December, 2001, when Francis and Bruce traded places at Palace and Birmingham. Five months after that, the hotseat swop paid off as Steve steered the Blues into the Premiership for the first time, by beating Norwich City on penalties in the play-off final.
Bruce has largely kept faith with the players that earned promotion - eleven of the sixteen who saw off Norwich in May were involved against Everton on Boxing Day. His five new signings have also played their part in pushing the Blues past their mid-season target of 20 points (they now have 25) - not least the USA international Jovan Kirovski, who scored the winner against Fulham a fortnight ago and then the equaliser against Everton.
As a kid, Kirovski plundered plenty of goals for Manchester United Reserves before work permit problems forced him to move to Germany. The striker returned to England to play under Bruce at Palace and then followed him to Birmingham on a free in the summer. Bruce's other front-line recruit from Crystal Palace, Clinton Morrison, was considerably more expensive. The Blues paid a club record £4.25million for the man who bagged 61 goals in 167 league games for the Selhurst Park side.
So far Morrison has mustered only four strikes for Birmingham, but they include a brace at Anfield where the Blues held Liverpool 2-2 earlier in the season. He's also netted three times in nine appearances for the Republic of Ireland.
Another Irish international, Kenny Cunningham, was another of Bruce's summer signings and he has formed a formidable partnership at the back with Steve Vickers, the ex-Middlesbrough centre-half. However, Vickers will miss the trip to Old Trafford after being injured in the challenge that saw Everton's Wayne Rooney sent off on Boxing Day.
The Birmingham back four also includes Ireland full-back Jeff Kenna who won the title with Blackburn Rovers in 1995 - at the expense of Bruce and United.
Birmingham are currently leading the Midlands mini-league, and they could do worse on Saturday than follow the example of their local rivals. West Bromwich Albion were unlucky to lose 1-0 at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season - the Reds struggled to unlock the Baggies defence until the visiting skipper Derek McInnes was sent off. More recently, Aston Villa became the last team to take points off United at Old Trafford when they drew 1-1 on 26 October.
The Reds will be hoping their home run continues - a ninth successive home win in all competitions could repair some of the damage done on those miserable away days at Blackburn and Middlesbrough, especially on the eve of Arsenal v Liverpool.
Probable teams:
Manchester United: Barthez; G Neville, Brown, Silvestre (or Blanc), O'Shea; Beckham, Keane, Veron (or Scholes), Giggs; Solskjaer, Van Nistelrooy.
Birmingham City: Vaesen; Kenna, M Johnson, Cunningham, Devlin; Savage, Cisse, D Johnson, Powell; Kirovski (or Morrison), Horsfield.
After coming away empty-handed from the new homes of Andy Cole and Steve McClaren, Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping that Steve Bruce is rather more generous on Saturday.
So far Fergie's old friends have had all the Christmas cheer - first Cole and Yorke's Blackburn beat United 1-0, then McClaren's Middlesbrough followed up with a sucker punch on Boxing Day. Now it's Bruce's turn to take on his old gaffer in a contest he's craved since starting his managerial career with Sheffield United in July 1998.
Manchester United's original Double-winning skipper has since taken charge of Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace, but it's at Birmingham where he's really blossomed as a boss. He first joined the Blues from United as a player in 1996, amid rumours that he would swiftly succeed Trevor Francis as the manager at St Andrews.
As it turned out, it took a further five years for the managerial change to take place - it was last December, 2001, when Francis and Bruce traded places at Palace and Birmingham. Five months after that, the hotseat swop paid off as Steve steered the Blues into the Premiership for the first time, by beating Norwich City on penalties in the play-off final.
Bruce has largely kept faith with the players that earned promotion - eleven of the sixteen who saw off Norwich in May were involved against Everton on Boxing Day. His five new signings have also played their part in pushing the Blues past their mid-season target of 20 points (they now have 25) - not least the USA international Jovan Kirovski, who scored the winner against Fulham a fortnight ago and then the equaliser against Everton.
As a kid, Kirovski plundered plenty of goals for Manchester United Reserves before work permit problems forced him to move to Germany. The striker returned to England to play under Bruce at Palace and then followed him to Birmingham on a free in the summer. Bruce's other front-line recruit from Crystal Palace, Clinton Morrison, was considerably more expensive. The Blues paid a club record £4.25million for the man who bagged 61 goals in 167 league games for the Selhurst Park side.
So far Morrison has mustered only four strikes for Birmingham, but they include a brace at Anfield where the Blues held Liverpool 2-2 earlier in the season. He's also netted three times in nine appearances for the Republic of Ireland.
Another Irish international, Kenny Cunningham, was another of Bruce's summer signings and he has formed a formidable partnership at the back with Steve Vickers, the ex-Middlesbrough centre-half. However, Vickers will miss the trip to Old Trafford after being injured in the challenge that saw Everton's Wayne Rooney sent off on Boxing Day.
The Birmingham back four also includes Ireland full-back Jeff Kenna who won the title with Blackburn Rovers in 1995 - at the expense of Bruce and United.
Birmingham are currently leading the Midlands mini-league, and they could do worse on Saturday than follow the example of their local rivals. West Bromwich Albion were unlucky to lose 1-0 at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season - the Reds struggled to unlock the Baggies defence until the visiting skipper Derek McInnes was sent off. More recently, Aston Villa became the last team to take points off United at Old Trafford when they drew 1-1 on 26 October.
The Reds will be hoping their home run continues - a ninth successive home win in all competitions could repair some of the damage done on those miserable away days at Blackburn and Middlesbrough, especially on the eve of Arsenal v Liverpool.
Probable teams:
Manchester United: Barthez; G Neville, Brown, Silvestre (or Blanc), O'Shea; Beckham, Keane, Veron (or Scholes), Giggs; Solskjaer, Van Nistelrooy.
Birmingham City: Vaesen; Kenna, M Johnson, Cunningham, Devlin; Savage, Cisse, D Johnson, Powell; Kirovski (or Morrison), Horsfield.
Alex Ferguson's Pre-Match View
There's nothing worrying, injury-wise, ahead of the Birmingham game. Maybe just a bit of tiredness, which you always get at this time of year with so many games. Other than that, everyone's fine.
Mikael Silvestre got a neck injury against Blackburn, then did it again while doing some sit-ups. He travelled with us to Middlesbrough but we left him back in the hotel. He wasn't ready to play.
It's frustrating to have lost to Blackburn and Boro. But they were two difficult away games, as their home form is very good this year. Middlesbrough are unbeaten at home and Blackburn's home form is very good. They're not easy venues, but we have to say we've been caught on counter-attacks. We were in control of both matches and got caught - that's what's frustrating. You have to make sure you've got the patience to play. If we'd had that we would have won.
Yesterday we didn't make many chances. They sat very tight to their back four, played very deep and invited us onto them. At Blackburn we had six great chances in the first half and they scored with their first attempt on goal. That's disappointing. At Middlesbrough Barthez had one save in the first half, so to lose a goal just before half-time was a killer blow. Losing another goal just after half-time was even worse. It was an uphill struggle after that. We did well to show the determination to get back into it, and at 2-1 it looked like we were going to do it. But their third goal, on the counter-attack, was always going to be a problem for us as we were risking so much.
We have to win our next two games, Birmingham and Sunderland at home. Home form is going to be very important this season, I think. I'll look at our side in terms of freshness, and see where we can bring in one or two players. We'll have to see how Roy Keane is after the exertions of yesterday. That was his first full game at that level. He did remarkably well but we'll have to see how he's come through it. The other players have got the wherewithall to carry on, that's the way the English game is. One or two will need freshening up, though.
Steve Bruce has done very well. He's got a lot of enthusiasm about him, and he was the same as a player. I'm sure his team reflect that. They're determined, enthusiastic, energetic and they have a great chance of staying in the Premiership as they're getting consistently good results.
Any team that comes out of the First Division into the Premiership finds it difficult. There have been one or two exceptions - Ipswich had a golden season but went down the next season. It's important to get off to a good start, which Birmingham did. Hopefully they'll gather experience as they go along.
It's vital for us to get a run together again. I don't know how it's happened, but we had a great run with twelve players to choose from, and when we get everyone back we start losing games. I don't know if it's coincidence, but it's certainly strange. They were difficult away games, though, but the other top teams will have to go to Blackburn and Middlesbrough and they'll find it difficult.
Enjoy the game,
Sir Alex Ferguson
There's nothing worrying, injury-wise, ahead of the Birmingham game. Maybe just a bit of tiredness, which you always get at this time of year with so many games. Other than that, everyone's fine.
Mikael Silvestre got a neck injury against Blackburn, then did it again while doing some sit-ups. He travelled with us to Middlesbrough but we left him back in the hotel. He wasn't ready to play.
It's frustrating to have lost to Blackburn and Boro. But they were two difficult away games, as their home form is very good this year. Middlesbrough are unbeaten at home and Blackburn's home form is very good. They're not easy venues, but we have to say we've been caught on counter-attacks. We were in control of both matches and got caught - that's what's frustrating. You have to make sure you've got the patience to play. If we'd had that we would have won.
Yesterday we didn't make many chances. They sat very tight to their back four, played very deep and invited us onto them. At Blackburn we had six great chances in the first half and they scored with their first attempt on goal. That's disappointing. At Middlesbrough Barthez had one save in the first half, so to lose a goal just before half-time was a killer blow. Losing another goal just after half-time was even worse. It was an uphill struggle after that. We did well to show the determination to get back into it, and at 2-1 it looked like we were going to do it. But their third goal, on the counter-attack, was always going to be a problem for us as we were risking so much.
We have to win our next two games, Birmingham and Sunderland at home. Home form is going to be very important this season, I think. I'll look at our side in terms of freshness, and see where we can bring in one or two players. We'll have to see how Roy Keane is after the exertions of yesterday. That was his first full game at that level. He did remarkably well but we'll have to see how he's come through it. The other players have got the wherewithall to carry on, that's the way the English game is. One or two will need freshening up, though.
Steve Bruce has done very well. He's got a lot of enthusiasm about him, and he was the same as a player. I'm sure his team reflect that. They're determined, enthusiastic, energetic and they have a great chance of staying in the Premiership as they're getting consistently good results.
Any team that comes out of the First Division into the Premiership finds it difficult. There have been one or two exceptions - Ipswich had a golden season but went down the next season. It's important to get off to a good start, which Birmingham did. Hopefully they'll gather experience as they go along.
It's vital for us to get a run together again. I don't know how it's happened, but we had a great run with twelve players to choose from, and when we get everyone back we start losing games. I don't know if it's coincidence, but it's certainly strange. They were difficult away games, though, but the other top teams will have to go to Blackburn and Middlesbrough and they'll find it difficult.
Enjoy the game,
Sir Alex Ferguson
well,it's about bloody time the phrase 'birmingham 6' is given a new meaning...
<img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" /> <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" /> <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" />
<img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" /> <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" /> <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" />
Originally posted by Livvie20:
<strong>
<img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" /> I hope not.....
United 6 would be better.</strong><hr></blockquote>
"...we often score 6..."
you'll have to specify the opposition
Well as long as the words "Birmingham 6" don't end up together. Unless "against" is at the end.
My man utd radio link is replaying the Boro game - NIGHTMARE
Robbie Savage,eh?
I think the guy is fantastic.
I think of him as a kind of bargin bin Keano.But with stupid hair and no ability.
I think the guy is fantastic.
I think of him as a kind of bargin bin Keano.But with stupid hair and no ability.
we'll win. iam 100 percent sure.
1-0 will do. <img src="graemlins/snowman.gif" border="0" alt="[Snowman]" />
1-0 will do. <img src="graemlins/snowman.gif" border="0" alt="[Snowman]" />
good luck Man Utd!
be carefull!
be carefull!
BIR
HAM
i bet this does not work!!!
i bet this does not work!!!
Originally posted by kimdeal:
<strong></strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
This is a novel idea isn't it - playing at 3pm on a Saturday.
I wonder if it will catch on.
I wonder if it will catch on.
I was just thinkin that, when was the last time we played at 3PM on saturday...it was southampton @ home wasnt it.
Sheesh
Sheesh
According to Talksport Blanc, Giggs, Neville, Ruud and Blanc all dropped for this game.
Forlan, Rio, Beckham and Keane all playing.
Forlan, Rio, Beckham and Keane all playing.
Neville...Blanc...Giggs...Ruud...
Dropped.
<img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" />
Dropped.
<img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" />
Originally posted by 26 may 1999:
<strong>Neville...Blanc...Giggs...Ruud...
Dropped.
<img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Is ruud on the bench?, or totally dropped?
looks like ole upfront on his own then, i guess we gotta trust fergies judgement, but still...
<img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" />
Defence line up is O'shea-Brown-Rio-Micky. At least that part of the team should work OK.
Originally posted by VanNistlerater:
<strong>
Not Ruud surely?????
Ruud and Giggs not even on bench. My guess is that both carrying knocks but Talksport say they were dropped for form alone.
apparently so, looks like fergies been readinng the muppets on this forum calling him crap, lol. That or he's just resting him, he did look worn out, to be fair.
So is it
--------------Fab---------------
O'Shea---Wes---Rio----Mickey----------
Beckham---Veron-----Keane--Forlan----
----------Scholes--------------------
---------------Ole-------------------
So is it
--------------Fab---------------
O'Shea---Wes---Rio----Mickey----------
Beckham---Veron-----Keane--Forlan----
----------Scholes--------------------
---------------Ole-------------------
Oh well I'm off to watch the game in a local bar. My first ever game at OT was the opening game of the 82/3 season when we beat the Brum 3-0 with Stapleton scoring a great long range goal (and I think Paul McGrath's debut game). I think we'd all settle for a repeat.....
Can't believe Ruud is dropped?
Even when not scoring, his front play is essential to our entire game plan.
And TBH, Forlan has had some real shockers lately so you can't say he is in better form.
How is the midfield shaping up? Scholes/Veron on the left? <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" />
Even when not scoring, his front play is essential to our entire game plan.
And TBH, Forlan has had some real shockers lately so you can't say he is in better form.
How is the midfield shaping up? Scholes/Veron on the left? <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" />
If we play like we did against west ham, build up play wise, we can really do this lot. we would of had 5 or 6 on that day had ruud not been in bad form finishing wise.
Heres a debate, who do you think is the best natural finisher we have, not all round striker, but finisher, ole or ruud?
ruuds movement is better than ole's IMO, but ole's finishing edges him, in my opinion
Heres a debate, who do you think is the best natural finisher we have, not all round striker, but finisher, ole or ruud?
ruuds movement is better than ole's IMO, but ole's finishing edges him, in my opinion
Originally posted by sidsutton:
<strong>Can't believe Ruud is dropped?
Even when not scoring, his front play is essential to our entire game plan.
And TBH, Forlan has had some real shockers lately so you can't say he is in better form.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Quite agree. Forlan is always capable of scoring but his all round play hasn't been that brilliant - and the idea behind this is that if we say it often enough, he will score.
So bearing that in mind -
Ole is total crap and can't put the ball in the net any more.
Diego flatters to deceive.
Becks can't put in decent crosses.
Veron shouldn't be in the EPL
Keane isn't fit
Scholes can't play withdrawn striker to save his life.
We really need to get back to basics in this match and WORK HARD!
If we don't match Brum's work rate, we are going to struggle big time. This match worries me a bit now, whereas a fortnight ago I thought it was a stick on 3 points.
If we don't match Brum's work rate, we are going to struggle big time. This match worries me a bit now, whereas a fortnight ago I thought it was a stick on 3 points.
Solskjaer is useless. Sell him to Southampton
Originally posted by Jens:
<strong>Solskjaer is useless. Sell him to Southampton
I wouldn't mind that.
Well, actually I would. But I'd cope.
i actually think itl be
-------------Fab Barthez-----------------
---O'Shea-----Wes------Rio-----Mickey----
---Beckham----Veron-----Keane---Ole------
-------------Scholes--------------------
-----------------Ole-------------------
we really need a performance today, as sidsutton said, work hard. we can do these, comon lads!
-------------Fab Barthez-----------------
---O'Shea-----Wes------Rio-----Mickey----
---Beckham----Veron-----Keane---Ole------
-------------Scholes--------------------
-----------------Ole-------------------
we really need a performance today, as sidsutton said, work hard. we can do these, comon lads!
Originally posted by Livvie20:
<strong>
I wouldn't mind that.
He wouldn't get in their team though
Originally posted by sidsutton:
<strong>
He wouldn't get in their team though
At right midfield?
Originally posted by VanNistlerater:
<strong>i actually think itl be
-------------Fab Barthez-----------------
---O'Shea-----Wes------Rio-----Mickey----
---Beckham----Veron-----Keane---Ole------
-------------Scholes
--------------Ole------------------------</strong><hr></blockquote>
You are getting closer to Livie's dream of a team full of Ole's.
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