With all the focus on the upcoming World Cup, the usual excitement that surrounds the opening of the summer transfer window has been much more low key than usual. This is certainly understandable, after all, the World Cup only comes around once every four years. Whilst the World Cup may take priority this summer, it’s fair to say that United is never too far down on the footballing media’s priority list, and this summer has been no different.

Constant speculation in relation to United’s ownership has continued despite the loss of the visual impact of the Green and Gold campaign, and in recent weeks we have seen countless, often contradictory reports, speculating as to whether or not United have the money to spend on new talent. Other reports have focused on the Red Knights and their stalemate with the Glazer family, which derives from their refusal to meet the Glazer’s 1.5 billion pound assessment of the club.

While these topics are interesting and certainly worthy of discussion, they are not the focus of this new feature on Terrace Talk.

“Terrace Chatter” is a new feature on Terrace Talk focusing solely on United’s potential dealings in this season’s summer market. It seems every day United are linked with another host of players. With so many names and so many figures being published day after day, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. The aim of this new feature is to try and help you cipher through the possible and the downright ridiculous.

In the first edition, we will look at two of United’s more interesting supposed targets, one of which have sparked up quite a bit of discussion on the UnitedZone forums…

Name: Mikel Arteta
Club: Everton
Position: Midfield

Says Who?: Daily Mirror
How Much?: £10 Million

Will It Happen?: Mikel Arteta is a versatile midfielder who would bring some much needed flare, creativity and versatility to United’s midfield. Taking that into consideration, it would be no surprise if Sir Alex was indeed considering a £10 million offer for the Spanish midfielder, however it is safe to say that this is one rumor which can certainly be placed in the “no chance” pile.

Arteta will most certainly not be in the red of Manchester next season

Arteta’s age presents the most immediate problem. Being 28 he does not fall into the category of players who United supposedly target, those being young talents with the potential to get better and provide a greater sell on value than what they were purchased for. Furthermore Arteta is in the middle of negotiating a new contract at Everton, who are desperate to keep him.

Name: Joe Cole
Club: Chelsea
Position: Midfield

Says Who?: The Times (Initially)
How Much?: Free

Will It Happen?: This is perhaps one of the most interesting transfers that have been suggested this season. Joe Cole is a fine player on his day, and a tricky winger. He is direct, skillfull and delivers a good cross. He also brings the added bonus of being very versatile, being able to play in the middle as well, and brings with him a goal threat, as United learnt at Old Trafford last season. With Cole reportedly unhappy with the playing time he has received this season, contract talks have stalled, and according to Harry Redknapp, Cole has already decided to move on.

Headed for United? Joe Cole could very well be a new face at United next season.

Whilst Redknapp did not know Cole’s preferred destination, it has been suggested that United have always been at the head of the queue to snap him up on a free transfer. Being 28, Cole, much like Arteta, does not really meet the age requirements of United’s transfer policy, however last season United proved they would be willing to sign older players on free transfers with the signing of Michael Owen.

The only other hurdle needing to be overcome in this transfer is Cole’s wage demands. It is reported that he has demanded £140,000 per week from Chelsea. If he were to persevere with such demands, any chance of him moving to United would be nullified. However, if Cole was willing to settle for a fairer pay packet, he could certainly be in United colours next season.

Want to have your say on the Cole affair?

Head over to the following thread on United Zone forums to have YOUR say.

Should United try to sign Joe Cole?

0 people like this post.

Like 

Manchester United vs. Chelsea
FA Premier League
Old Trafford
03. 04. 2010

Match Preview:

The attention of a footballing nation will turn to Old Trafford this Saturday when Manchester United will take on Chelsea in perhaps the Premier League’s most important fixture of the season. With only one point separating the two sides on the Premier League table, United have the chance to put some real distance between themselves and their title challengers, whilst Chelsea will be looking to overtake United and regain the momentum in a title race that has delighted us with so many twists and turns this season.

Never afraid to tell it as it is, Gary Neville has been quick to point out how important the fixture is, warning United that nothing other than a win will do:

Neville is obviously unhappy that Wayne Rooney will be unavailable for selection, after spraining his ankle in Munich, but insists his absence cannot be an excuse, highlighting United’s usual resilience in the face of depleted squads:

Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti is taking nothing for granted either. Despite United’s obvious injury problems, the Italian has acknowledged that his own side is not without fitness problems, and insists that the match at Old Trafford remains a tricky test for the London outfit:

Team News:

United – In: Owen Hargreaves, John O’Shea (doubt) Out: Wes Brown, Michael Owen, Anderson, Wayne Rooney

Chelsea – In: Didier Drogba Out: Ricardo Carvalho, Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Jose Bosingwa, Hilario

Whilst United will be without star striker Wayne Rooney, it is obvious that Chelsea also have their own problems to contend with. Their defense has been decimated by injuries to the extent that only two fit centre backs, John Terry and Alex, remain. The loss of Essien will also come as a blow to Chelsea as they will be looking to dominate the midfield. The return of Didier Drogba from a two week layoff however, has lifted Chelsea spirits.

The loss of Wayne Rooney to ankle ligament damage in the midweek game against Munich remains United’s chief cause for concern. With Owen and youngster Welbeck already ruled out for the rest of the season, United’s depth up front will be tested to its limit in the season’s most important stage. Dimitar Berbatov, who has been plagued with knee troubles of his own this season, remains United’s only experienced striker, with only youngsters Mame Briam Diouf and Federico “Kiko” Macheda as backups. Anderson and Wes Brown also remain out, however Sir Alex had good news for United fans by stating that Owen Hargreaves and John O’Shea were now fit enough to be considered for the substitute bench:

Considering Owen Hargreaves is not eligible for the Champions League, one would presume that the England international will feature on the bench on Saturday.

Mg91’s Prediction

Another day, another big match to look forward to. After watching the team play very poorly against Munich, a poor result which was made all the worse by the cringe worthy sight of Rooney turning on his ankle in the lead up to Munich’s winner. So often we have enjoyed the incredible high of seeing our side snatch a win from the jaws of defeat, but for once, we were on the wrong end of a quick turnaround, and I tell you what, it is definitely not a moment I was willing to savor.

All things going well, none of us will have to for very long. With the issue of Bayern put to the side for the week, United will have to get over that dreadful performance pretty quickly with the imminent arrival of Chelsea. I don’t think the match will settle the title fight by any means, but it represents a terrific opportunity for United to put some real space between themselves and their London based rivals. With matches still to play against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in the run in, it would be breathing space United could very well need.

United will be looking to extract revenge after Chelsea’s controversial 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season. Despite playing rather well in the midfield United didn’t come away with the points they will fell they deserved. The circumstances in which the eventual winner was conceded only added salt to the wound, and United will be desperate to repeat the performance which saw United win 3-0 at Old Trafford last year.

Both teams have their fair share of injury problems but undoubtedly United have the most worrying with the loss of Wayne Rooney. The striker has been in the form of his career, and his goal scoring exploits will be missed, especially against a Chelsea defense which has been hit hard by injuries itself. United will look to Dimitar Berbatov, a player who has continued to divide opinion, to provide a goal or two in Rooney’s absence.

Conveniently, Berba is in good goal scoring form in the league at the moment scoring five goals in his last five Premier League starts. He’ll need to continue that form against Chelsea on Sunday, where he will supposedly be asked to play the lone forward role. He played there with some success against Bolton, scoring two goals, and although Chelsea obviously seem a tougher task, Berbatov’s ability to create as well as score will be of vital importance in this fixture.

Predicted Lineup:

Van Der Sar
Neville ———————– Ferdinand ————————– Vidic ——————— Evra
Fletcher ——— Park ——– Carrick
Valencia ———————————————————————– Nani
Berbatov

Any hope of a victory for United will ride on the ability of our defenders to keep out Chelsea’s attackers. Chelsea have scored an epic twelve goals in two games, meaning that the defense will certainly be very busy against the likes of Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard. Along with their defensive duties, Neville and Evra will have to work doubly hard to support Valencia and Nani in attack.

The midfield will need to show a very, very big improvement on the performance they delivered in Germany during the week. Too often they turned over possession in poor positions which increased the pressure on the defense, and limited the supply to our attacking players. Any repeat of such a performance will have disastrous consequences for United in this game. Fletcher, Carrick and Park will have to rediscover the sort of performance they delivered against Liverpool two weeks ago. United will not have the comfort of a second leg to correct a poor performance this time.

Nani and Valencia will provide all the pace, strength and skill required on the wings. Valencia and Nani have troubled defenses all season long, and without their first choice full backs, United’s productive wingmen can be confident that they’ll have their fair share of joy down the flanks. What is of extreme importance is that the wingers support Berbatov in the middle when the ball is not on their wing. We all know and acknowledge that Berbatov is not the complete player that Rooney is, and as such, there has to be an adaptation in the way the others play to get the best out of not only Berbatov but the whole team.

Berbatov has a fantastic chance to prove his quality to all those who doubt him. As important as his creative abilities will be to any success against Chelsea, as the lone forward he will have to ensure to get into the box as he did against Bolton. If he does that, I’m confident he will score at least one goal, if not more.

This is almost an impossible game to call. Chelsea are one of the teams I can’t see many teams keeping a clean sheet against. Regardless of the strength of our defense, they’re going to have to be at their absolute best to keep out the likes of Drogba and Lampard. I’m always confident at Old Trafford, and as such I will predict a United win. I wouldn’t be surprised if we drew however.

United – 2
Chelsea – 1

0 people like this post.

Like 

Bayern Munchen vs. Manchester United

UEFA Champions League
Allianz Arena
30. 03. 2010

Match Preview:

After emphatically dumping AC Milan out of Europe, Manchester United are enjoying their best run of form all season. Not including their two wins of AC, United have won their last six league games and have already picked up the first major trophy of the season with their Carling Cup victory over Aston Villa at Wembley in January. With a league/European double still on the cards for Sir Alex’s men, there is no shortage of motivation for the Red Devils heading into this one.

Whilst United have been in terrific form, Bayern have suffered somewhat in recent weeks. After a rather unconvincing win at Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich lost 3-2 to Fiorentina in Italy, however snuck through on away goals. Their league form of late has also been shaky, as they showed again failing to beat Stuttgart, in a result which saw them forefeit top spot in the Bundesliga. Robben also pulled up injured during the match in a blow that could also hurt Bayern’s chances.

Former Bayern great has admitted that Bayern are somewhat fearful of Manchester United, but has singled out Wayne Rooney in particular as the main thread to Bayern’s hopes of continental glory:

The Kaiser hasn’t forgotten about United’s 2-1 Champions League final triumph over Bayern at the Camp Nou in 1999, and insists that Bayern are still smarting from the loss, and will be out for revenge:

Nemanja Vidic however remains very confident that United will be more than capable of picking up an away win at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night, but insists United will have to be cautious of Bayern’s many accomplished attackers:

United faithful will be hopeful that United do as well as Vidic seems to think they will. After defeating Bolton 4-0 without Wayne Rooney or Rio Ferdinand last weekend, a win in Germany would be the perfect lead up into United’s make or break league fixture against Chelsea at Old Trafford this Saturday.

Team News:
United – In: Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand Out: Michael Owen, John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Anderson, Owen Hargreaves

Bayern – In: Mario Gomez, Martin Demichelis Out: Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger

After being rested in the 4-0 win over Bolton on Saturday, Manchester United will boast a fully fit and in form pair of Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, an outcome which will have Sir Alex Ferguson delighted. A return to the first team for Kiko Macheda provides United with another boost which will be well received by United’s front line which has looked thin in Michael Owen’s absence.

Along with Owen, Anderson, Brown and O’Shea remain out of contention with long term injuries, whilst Hargreaves has remained in Manchester to step up his rehabilitation from a twelve month absence from first team football. His exclusion from United’s Champions League squad will mean that he will not even be on the plane to return to his former club.

Munich themselves will be delighted to welcome back their own striker and defender for this one, with Mario Gomez and Martin Demichelis both back in contention for a place in the starting line up. Bayern however will not be able to call on Bastian Schweinsteiger who is suspended for this tie, and Bayern Munchen have suggested Robben will not even be able to make the bench:

The loss of Robben could very well be a deciding factor in this match and the Bayern faithful will be hopeful that the Dutch winger will be able to play against Manchester United on Tuesday night.

Mg91’s Prediction:

“…AND SOLKSJAER HAS WON IT!!!”

It’s hard to believe that it has been eleven years since Clive Tyldesley emphatically declated United as champions of Europe for only the second time in their history. Undoubtedly the defining moment for a generation of Manchester United supporters, Solksjaer’s dramatic winner in the 93rd minute of a thrilling Champions League final in the Nou Camp on May 26th 1999 remains as poignant in the memory of fans lucky enough to witness it live today as it did on that fateful night.

To this day, that match remains the only time United have managed to beat the Bavarian giants. Of the seven times United have come up against Munich, United have won once, lost twice, and drawn four times. Not a stunning record, but United fans will remember that before the 16th of February United had never won at the San Siro either, a record duly done away with when United defeated the Italian side 3-2 away from home. Records like these are there to be broken.

In all honesty, there isn’t much reason to be fearful. Bayern are in a bit of a slump at the moment. They were unimpressive against a Fiorentina side who were arguable more deserving of progress, they have lost their position on the top of the table, winning only one of their last four games. The Germans have looked vulnerable at the back at times, and no one has adequately filled the void left by Oliver Kahn just yet.

That is not to ignore their obvious talent in attack. Despite their poor form, the brilliant Frank Ribery has the potential to be a match winner, and that’s before you consider the strength, height and power offered by Miroslav Klose, Mario Gomez and Ivica Olic. The loss of Robben will undoubtedly be a blow to their chances, but they certainly have enough about them in the final third to make a battle of it without him.

United on the other hand are in blistering form. Winning their last six games, including terrific wins over AC Milan and Liverpool, United will be the favourites, even away from home. Wayne Rooney will once again be the player to watch, especially after being given the day off against Bolton. His performances against AC Milan yielded four goals, and confirmed his status as one of the game’s greatest players. In recent games, the likes of Park, Vidic, Fletcher, Nani and Berbatov have also enjoyed great form. They will all need to be on form, should they all play, once again on Tuesday night if United are to get a positive result in Munich.

Predicted Line Up:

Van Der Sar
Neville ——————- Ferdinand ——————————– Vidic ——————— Evra
Fletcher ——– Scholes ——— Carrick
Valencia ——————————————————————————- Park
Rooney

My predicition was way, way off for the Bolton match last weekend, but I think this one is a little more accurate. After being rested, Park will be more than up to the task of returning to the left wing. I would expect him and Valencia to switch flanks should Ribery be playing on our right hand flank, and I would say that he will be assigned the difficult job of keeping the Frenchman under close watch. It’s hard to leave Nani out, and I would also not be surprised to see Giggs play, but given the form of Valencia and the discipline of Park to perform such a role, I think that it will be Valencia and Park starting this one.

The middle three selection is based on the assumption that Park will indeed start the game on the left. Once again the middle position of Scholes is one that can be played by a number of players. It could indeed be Giggs that gets the nod, but I went for Scholes due to his fantastic form this season in that central midfield role. In these big European matches, there are still few that can hold a candle to him when it comes to his imperious powers of distribution and control of a game.

Fletcher and Carrick have also been very effective in the midfield trio, covering all the ground Scholes no longer can, and doing a tremendous job of supporting Rooney and the defenders. Initially, this formation didn’t work because they never got close enough to Rooney, but they’ve really turned it around and this has been pivotal to the success United have enjoyed with this tactic. When they do their job properly, the team looks so much more fluid and in control of position and it’s a testament to the hard work they have put in all season to make themselves complete midfield players.

Neville has been extremely dependable in recent weeks and should retain his right back berth. It’s been a joy to watch our captain play so well, especially after the ankle injury he suffered against Bolton in 2007 looked to be the end of the Neville of old. With Rio, Vida and Evra lining up along side him, with the ever dependable Van Der Sar behind them, United have as good a chance as anyone to contain the attacking talents of Bayern, especially if they all stay true to their current form.

Rooney too will be raring to go after sitting out the 4-0 drubbing of Bolton. Berbatov coped admirably with the pressure of replacing Rooney, bagging a brace himself, but there’s no doubts about who will be starting this one. Our English talisman is in the goalscoring form of his life, and his ability to create and finish chances will make him a huge factor in the match. If he turns on the style, he will punish Bayern. After watching him make light work of AC Milan’s defence, I have no doubts that he has a terrific chance to pile on the misery for Bayern on their home turf.

United – 2
Bayern – 1

2 people like this post.

Like 

Bolton Wanderers vs. Manchester United
English Premier League
The Reebok
27. 03. 2010]

Match Preview:

United’s hunt for a fourth consecutive, and record topping 19th English League title continues this Saturday afternoon when they will visit Bolton at the Reebok. After defeating bitter rivals Liverpool last weekend at Old Trafford, United will have no shortage of confidence leading in to this one. The table toppers are in top form and will take some beating, even at a hostile ground like The Reebok.

Bolton however has found steadier form since the arrival of Owen Coyle from Burnley. The ex-Claret man has essentially guaranteed Premier League survival this season as expected, however their erratic form will remain a cause for concern for Bolton fans. Although they have secured important victories against West Ham and Wigan, who they beat 4-0, they have also suffered losses to Everton and Sunderland, who recently ran out 4-0 winners against Coyle’s men.

Sir Alex Ferguson, despite the titanic battles which await his side next week against Bayern Munich and the all important home league game against Chelsea, will be holding nothing back against Bolton, identifying the importance of picking up all three points on Saturday and doing so in style:

One player who Sir Alex will be hoping will start to chip in with a few more goals is Nani. After securing a new four year deal, which ties the Portuguese winger to the club until 2014, Sir Alex has reiterated his belief that Nani is not yet the complete article, and will look for Nani to follow the example set by Darren Fletcher and Park Ji Sung this season by getting his head down and working hard at improving.

Team News:

United – In: N/A Out: Owen Hargreaves, Wes Brown, Anderson, John O’Shea, Michael Owen

Bolton – In: Gary Cahill Out: Chris Basham, Gavin McCann, Sean Davis, Joey O’Brien

Whilst no players will be making a return per se from injury, United will be delighted to be able to select from Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. Although doubts hung over their heads after last weekend’s hard fought win over Liverpool, the manager has revealed that all three are fit and able to play a part in Saturday’s afternoon clash.

Whether or not they will feature, given the games United will face next week, is another matter. Sir Alex may choose not to risk three of his most influential players against Bolton in the hope of keeping them fresh for the two clashes with Bayern, which sandwich the league match at Old Trafford against Chelsea.

Bolton will welcome back Gary Cahill whose timely recovery injury should see him line up against United, in what will hopefully provide some much needed defensive stability for Bolton.

Mg91’s Prediction:

I don’t know about you lot, but I’m still positively buzzing after that win over Liverpool last week. I’ve probably watched Park’s courageous header fifteen times now, and it gets sweeter every time you see it. No doubt that the confidence would have been high at Carrington this week as well. United will be grateful for the six days break in between matches which will see them well rested before embarking on what will probably the most defining week of United’s season.

With Chelsea and Bayern beckoning twice in the next seven days, United will have to peak at the right time to send them on their way to a fourth consecutive European semi final, and potentially a record breaking fourth straight 19th League title. But before we can even think about those ties, our lads have the little matter of Bolton to attend to.

It’s simple really. At this point in the season, every game is a cup final, and this one is no different. A win at the Reebok will ensure United remain at the top of the table and will put all the pressure on Chelsea leading into next week’s game, as well as Arsenal, who will have to follow suit to remain in contention for the title.

The Reebok is usually a tricky place to go to, as anyone who watched last season’s corresponding fixture will remember. On that occasion it took a 90th minute header from Dimitar Berbatov to send United top for the first time of the season, and this trip could prove just as pivotal. Personally, I would rather a comfortable win, but at this time of the season, three points remains the priority.

Thankfully, United find themselves in terrific form and playing with a sense of confidence which is going to make them tough to beat, regardless of who they are playing. Rooney is enjoying the form of his life. Fletcher and Park are enjoying unprecedented runs of games and reveling in their new roles, improving with each passing game. Rio and Vida are hitting the sort of form which makes United so hard to score against. There’s no denying it. All the necessary ingredients are there for another Premiership, all that remains to be seen is whether or not the players can stay true to form, and close out the season in style.

Predicted Line Up:

Van Der Sar
Rafael ——————————- Vidic ———————– Feridnand ————————— Evra
Valencia ———————– Fletcher ————————— Carrick ——————- Nani
Rooney ————– Berbatov

Normally, given all the coverage of Rooney’s knee problems, I would have predicted that Sir Alex would have rested him. After watching Countdown to Kick Off this morning though, the gaffer seemed very confident that Wazza was more than fit enough to take part in Saturday’s game, attributing Rooney’s limp at the end of the game to a slight knock suffered in the very physical derby against Liverpool last weekend. That said, I would expect him to come off very early should United stamp their authority on the game, as to keep him fresh for the massive week of fixtures facing United next week.

Scholes and Giggs should be restricted to substitute roles given their advancing years. Their ability to still produce high quality performances against the best opposition will mean Sir Alex will want them as fresh as possible for the games against Bayern and Chelsea. In their place I would expect to see Fletcher and Carrick to retain their spots in the middle of the pitch. I believe Park will be rested as Sir Alex will be relying on him heavily again against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, and will want him to be as fit as possible for that match. Fletcher and Carrick will be looking to do what they have done so consistently this season and control the game from midfield.

Valencia and Nani will provide all the excitement, pace and quality required on the wings to peg the Bolton defense back. I’ve waxed lyrical about the quality of Valencia in these previews for the last three weeks I reckon, and nothing has changed. His pace, strength and ability to put a good ball in are all lethal and will ensure that Bolton’s left back will have his hands full for the full ninety minutes. Nani too will hopefully be buoyed after securing another contract at United that will keep him at the club until 2014 and will look to reward the manager’s faith in him with another good performance.

Berbatov will be back in the side after sitting out the match against Liverpool and will look to continue the fine form he found against Fulham two weeks ago. The Bulgarian has ten goals in eighteen starts this season in the league and will be looking to improve that ratio further against Bolton to put himself in contention for selection alongside Rooney in the big games United will play next week.

Rooney on the other hand is assured of starting every game United play should his fitness permit it. The English striker has twenty five league goals to his name in twenty eight games, with thirty two in all competitions. A massive improvement on his former career best of twenty three in all competitions he achieved 2007, and is a true testament to the development of a truly exceptional footballing talent.

All that, and I haven’t even mentioned the defense! Ferdinand and Vidic have been fantastic at the back since their respective returns from injury and with that essential familiarity established once again, United’s attackers will be able to commit themselves in the final third of the pitch with full confidence in the defenders behind them. Evra has been a stand out performer all season and will again start against Bolton as he looks to start every league game for United this season. The manager may also use Rafael over Neville, who has found some good form recently, in order to give the youngster some more game time whilst resting Neville for use in next week’s pivotal games.

Bolton will provide United with a test, no doubt, but I still can’t see this game going any way but United’s way:

Bolton – 0
United – 2

1 people like this post.

Like 

Manchester United vs. Liverpool

English Premier League
Old Trafford
21. 03. 2010

Match Preview:

The vastly different fortunes of Manchester United and Liverpool throughout this season on the pitch will mean little to anyone come 1.30pm Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford. All that will matter is winning, and as always, it’s personal. As United look to build on their current form and remain at the top of the Barclays Premier League table, Liverpool requires all three points to stay in the hunt for Champions League football next season. Their goals may be a world apart, but make no mistake about it; this is going to be the same fierce derby fans around the world have savored year after year.

Twelve months ago, in last season’s fixture, these two sides met in what many perceived to be a real title clincher. In reality, United were too far ahead at this stage for a loss to be too damaging in the title race, but the humiliating 4-1 defeat they suffered on their home turf is one which remains etched in the memories of United fans everywhere to this day. It is perhaps the ultimate demonstration of how little form really means in these matches, where sheer passion and determination can overturn such a poor run.

Liverpool have shocked United in the last three of these games, and Ferdinand is determined not to underestimate the lads from Merseyside for a fourth consecutive time:

Steven Gerrard however, has warned United that Fernando Torres, Liverpool’s star striker is hitting his best form and will be a massive threat again at Old Trafford, where he terrorized Vidic and Ferdinand last season:

Steven Gerrard’s own inclusion in this match, is one which has bemused many. Despite elbowing Michael Brown of Pompey in the back of the head, right in front of the referee, the English midfielder escaped punishment from both the referee and the FA, in what many considered a poor decisions considering the use of video evidence to charge and punish players, such as the four game ban imposed on Rio Ferdinand for a similar offence against Hull City. Sir Alex however, was hardly surprised by the FA’s inconsistency:

Sir Alex remains confident though, that last seasons shock loss at Old Trafford will not be repeated once again, and has promised a much improved performance from the United men after three disappointing losses to their fiercest rivals:

Team News:
United – In: Ryan Giggs, Jonny Evans, Rafael Out: Michael Owen, Wes Brown, Anderson, John O’Shea, Owen Hargreaves

Liverpool – In: N/A Out: Fabio Aurelio (doubt), Alberto Aquillani (doubt), Martin Skrtel, Albert Riera

Sir Alex was delighted to announce that Ryan Giggs, Jonny Evans and Rafael Da Silva would all be available for selection this weekend after recovering from their respective injuries. Long term absentees Owen, Brown, Anderson and O’Shea all remain out, as does Owen Hargreaves, however, Sir Alex was delighted to see United’s combative midfielder turn out for the reserves on Friday. Hargreaves will need more appearances with the reserves before he is ready for first team football however, according to Sir Alex.

As of yet, Rafa Benitez will not be able to welcome anyone back to his side, however he will remain hopeful that Fabio Aurelio and Aqulliani will pass last minute fitness tests to be available for Sunday’s derby. Benitez will certainly be without Martin Skrtel, who is suffering from a toe injury, as well as Albert Riera, who has been suspended by Liverpool after publicly describing the Merseyside outfit as, “a sinking ship”.

Mg91’s Prediction:

Well, it’s about that time of year again. United sit in pole position in the league, and with their Champions League quarter finals opponents, Bayern Munich, being revealed this week, the final phase of the season is well and truly underway. United’s most pivotal string of matches however starts on Sunday.

I would hope that I would not have to spell out the importance of this match on Sunday. Even beyond it’s obvious implications in our hunt for a fourth consecutive title (which would make nineteen, Mr. Benitez…fact), considering how we have fared against this lot in our last three games, I think it is essential that United pick up all three points, in a win that would establish astounding confidence in players and fans alike, which would provide the club with a fantastic platform from which to launch our assault on domestic and European glory once again.

I would hope that United would demonstrate their quality all over the pitch. I have no doubts that as a team United are a much, much stronger unit than Liverpool. What we have to be wary of, is the ability of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to transcend the rest of the Liverpool squad and carry their side to victory. Twice now, United have been undone by the pace and lethal finishing of Torres. Let’s face it, he is their biggest asset at the moment, and he will hurt us if given the chance.

Thankfully, I have tremendous faith, as I’m sure Sir Alex does as well, in the character of our squad. Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand have now both know from personal experience how costly any slip ups against the Spaniard might be, but I would expect them to rise to the challenge and ensure that they are not caught out again. Neither of the two have ever backed out from a challenge, and I would think that they will be delighted to have the chance to set the record straight and correct past errors.

Given the lack of fluidity we witnessed at Anfield earlier this season, I would expect Sir Alex to field a team in the 4-3-3 shape which has been so effective against the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and most recently, a certain AC Milan this season. As a skeptic of the tactic initially, it’s not very hard to see why Sir Alex has persevered with such tactics over the last two or three seasons, and I will be the first to admit that perhaps 4-4-2 is not tailor made to the players we currently boast, in every situation.

As opposed to the 4-4-2, Sir Alex’s 4-3-3 is extremely effective for number of reasons. Firstly, it provides our side with great versatility. It provides for both defensive solidarity and pace in offence. It give us great width, and it is hugely effective in allowing United to control the midfield. Secondly, it brings the best out of United in a counter attacking sense. We witnessed it against Tottenham, Arsenal and AC Milan, all who fell to goals in which United got the ball from one end of the pitch to another with blistering speed. But perhaps most importantly, it is the formation which seems to be getting the absolute best out of Rooney. Provided the support from the midfield trio and the wide men stays as reliable and as high quality as it has been in the last few months, Rooney can remain confident that he will see chance after chance come his way. In the form his in, he’d be confident of putting away pretty much all of them as well…

Predicted Formation:

Van Der Sar
Rafael ———————————– Vidic ————————— Ferdinand ————————— Evra
Fletcher ———– Scholes ————- Carrick
Valencia ———————————————————————————- Nani
Rooney

The back four, with the exception of right back which has remained a very difficult position to guess, essentially picks itself. Vidic and Ferdinand have been in terrific form, and it’s not a conincidence that United have not conceded once in the three games since the partnership has been reformed. Evra has not missed a game all season in the Premier League, and I see no reason for him to miss this one. He has been the epitome of consistency this season, and to my mind is the best left back in the world at the moment. I’ve opted for Rafael, but really it’s 50/50 between the young Brazillian and the veteran Gary Neville. We all know “Nev the Red” relishes these Liverpool derbies, but does he have the legs to cope with the increased demands they have on a footballer anymore? Perhaps so, but given Rafael’s performances against the like of Ronaldinho this season, I think Sir Alex can be very confident in the ability of his little Brazilian.

In the middle, we know what Fletcher, Scholes and Carrick are all about. Together they form a terrific three way partnership which provides United with all the essential ingredients they will need to run this game from the middle of the park. Their hard work, use of the ball and superior technique and vision will be essential to any success United will enjoy. When our midfield is on fire, the whole team operates much, much more efficiently.

It’s hard to go past Valencia on the right. He’s pace, strength, overall athleticism and terrific delivery have made him a real asset in this United side, where a renewed emphasis has been placed on the role of the industrious traditional winger. Our Ecuadorian is making a career out of his ability to beat his man, hit the line and provide all the ammunition out front men need, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has enjoyed watching him progress into a United quality player.

The left wing is a little harder to pick, but Nani has been in fine form recently, laying on a few assists of his own in recent weeks, and I don’t see any real reason as to why Fergie may drop him. The return of Giggs may have Fergie opt for experience, and the industry of Park might be a more cautious choice, but personally, I would rather see Nani get the run out. There is little doubting his ability to frustrate at times, but there is also no denying the fact that out Portuguese import has bags of talent and the ability to be a real menace to opposition defenders. Nani has seemingly started to adapt his game in the right ways, sacrificing his overly exuberant attempts to beat defenders with a knack for quick one-two passing, and dangerous early crosses, however, it would be fantastic to see him rediscover his goal threat without losing the more effective elements of his game he has seemingly discovered.

As for Rooney…well, 32 goals in 38 appearances this season speaks for itself. Our talisman has been in fine form, and we will all be hoping him to see him extend that run over a team he has himself confessed to “hating”. While I think we can be glad that we are not as reliant on Rooney as Liverpool are on Gerrard and Torres, there is no denying how important England’s star man is to our cause, but with the consistency he has displayed this season, and the new found cutting edge he has developed in the eighteen yard box, I certainly fancy our own scouser to hit the back of the net.

As such, I’m predicting a typically fiery battle, but with United prevailing:

United – 2
Liverpool – 0

3 people like this post.

Like 

Manchester United vs. AC Milan

UEFA Champions League
San Siro
10. 03. 2010

Match Preview:

After Scholes’ strike sent United to the top of the Barclays Premier League table at the weekend, United’s focus has once again returned to continental concerns with AC Milan visiting Old Trafford on Wednesday night. United hold the advantage going into this one, with three away goals to their credit as well as a one goal advantage, and will remain favorites to see off their Italian foes at Old Trafford to progress to the quarter finals.

Sir Alex however is taking nothing for granted and has pledged to attack Milan from the off:

Despite being a goal down and needing to score two goals to even have a hope of qualifying, Milan are confident that they are up to the task.

Leonardo will hope that Milan will be more profitable in goal and retains his faith in the way his side are playing:

Leonardo was also keen to pick out Beckham as one of his “big game” players, who he will hope will help lead his side to what would be a massive victory, on a big night for the former United player,

A positive reception is expected for Beckham, who has often spoken of his love for the club, and Becks himself has pledged not to celebrate should he score at his former club.

Team News:

United – In: Wayne Rooney Out: Michael Carrick, Wes Brown, Ryan Giggs, Jonny Evans (doubt), Anderson, Owen Hargreaves, John O’Shea, Michael Owen

Milan – In: Pato, Clarence Seedorf Out: Massimo Oddo, Kakha Kaladze, Mancini

There has been some good news for both clubs in the lead up to this one. AC Milan will be thrilled to welcome back Pato and Clarence Seedorf, scorer of Milan’s second in the first leg, who both sat out Milan’s draw with Roma at the weekend. Neither Massimo Oddo nor Kakha Kaladze will feature in Milan’s side, as both did not travel to Manchester, whilst Mancini was not included in the original Champions League squad at all.

Sir Alex however may have delivered the biggest news in his pre match press conference however, when he announced that Wayne Rooney, United’s top scorer, will be fit to face the Italian club. Rooney of course score two of United’s three goals at the San Siro and will look to add to the misery of Milan with another goal or two which would see the Italian’s out of Europe.

There was bad news for Wes Brown, who will now miss four to six weeks of football through injury. He joins United’s long injury list which also boasts names such as Michael Owen, Ryan Giggs, John O’Shea and Anderson. Michael Carrick will also miss this game through suspension.

Mg91’s Prediction:

The first real big European night at Old Trafford beckons, and I’m positively thrilled. Nothing beats watching United at Old Trafford on a European night, and when the opposing team is as big as AC Milan, you just can’t help but be excited for the action to get underway. With the competition in it’s proper knock out stages United will hopefully take the necessary step up required in their performances to see off the challenge of Milan and look forward to the quarter finals.

United have to be favorites for this one after their brilliant performance at the San Siro, where they defeated AC Milan 3-2. It will come as a relief to all of a United persuasion that United will also boast their talisman Wayne Rooney, who proved such a handful for AC in the first leg. Rooney has been immense of late and another performance of similar quality should provide United with the added quality they’ll need to see of Milan.

As confident as I am of United’s progression, I’m also wary of the quality of AC Milan. If one thing is for certain, it is that Clarence Seedorf’s late goal against United has certainly kept things interesting. Whilst the three away goals may eventually prove too much for Milan to overcome, if Milan were to score early, United would certainly face a nervy test of their credentials. Two goals without reply at Old Trafford isn’t an easy task by any means, but when playing a team with Milan’s defensive record and attacking talents, it certainly isn’t beyond them.

Predicted Line Up:
Van Der Sar
Rafael —————————– Ferdinand ——————————- Vidic —————————- Evra
Fletcher ————— Scholes —————— Park
Valencia —————————————————————————- Nani
Rooney

I suppose that is the stock standard team selection these days, however, perhaps Park and Nani may stick out a little. I just have a gut feeling that given Carrick’s suspension, Gibson’s failure to really impress, Park’s good form and Sir Alex’s insistence on 4-3-3 against tough opponents will lead Park to play in the middle. He has the work rate and ability to give Milan’s midfield operators a real tough time and is also positive enough to get forward and provide another option.

Nani was poor against Wolves, but one would hope given the extra space that will be found on the wings against a team that won’t simply stick ten men behind the ball at every opportunity, this sort of match will be much more conducive for a player of Nani’s ability to show his skill. Valencia picks himself on current form. His pace, strength, touch and ability to put in an accurate crosses, Valencia has matured in a way that I would have thought beyond a player who is so one footed. He is a fantastic physical specimen, and he is playing football which is matching that.

This is the sort of match Scholes will love. The industry of Fletcher and Park will let Scholesy sit deep and anchor the midfield. For one, I hope our newest Premier League centurion will have Old Trafford pulsating to his own special football beat. There have been countless appraisals of our Ginger Prince since his strike took United top of the table, but there is not a player more deserving of it than him. The epitome of professionalism, and a player who has never been properly appreciated by those not of a Manc persuasion, Scholes has been, and in many ways continues to be, the ultimate midfielder of his generation.

While Scholes will hopefully enjoy a good match, any success he has on the pitch tonight will largely be thanks to the work ethic of United’s most improved player over the last two seasons. Fletcher has delighted United fans this season with his terrific attitude and the added technical element he has bought into his game. The Old Trafford fans love an honest, hard working footballer, and Fletcher has well and truly endeared himself to the United faithful with some truly spectacular performances this season. Having been given the night off at Molineux, Fletch will be fresh and right up for this one, and hopefully he will once again prove to be as effective in shutting Milan’s midfield down as he was in the San Siro.

The back four is a much better selection than that which played in Milan, so I’m confident that United will not allow AC as many chances as they had in the first leg. Rio Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra all bring copious amounts of big game experience to the table, and I believe Rafael will be more adequately prepared for Ronaldinho having already played him in the first leg. They will all need to be at their best, but it isn’t too often that we can say Rio, Vida or Evra play badly for us. Perhaps more importantly the confidence that this back four will give our team as a whole will bring out the attacking qualities of some of our other players.

At this stage, not much needs to be said about Wayne Rooney. The man has been in absolutely brilliant form for Manchester United this season, and I’m sure I’m not alone in my confidence that he will once again shine on the big stage. Another two would be nice, Mr. Rooney!

United have a great chance to kill this tie off early, and if they grab the first goal, that is exactly what they will do. Scoring two goals at Old Trafford without reply is marginally possible. Scoring three without reply is as close to impossible as it gets in football. As such, I’m predicting good things for United:

United – 2
Milan – 1

2 people like this post.

Like 

Need I say more?

Paul Scholes proved the match winner again at Molineux with a neat finish to put United 1-0 up over Wolverhampton, and better yet, top of the Barclays Premier League table.

Scholesy’s strike was doubly significant however because it was his 100th league goal for his hometown club, which he has served with distinction over the last 15 years or so.

What a better way to pay homage to our Ginger Prince, than to share in some of his best moments that have delighted the Old Trafford faithful for the last decade and a half!

Here are some of Scholes’ greatest goals for United:

2 people like this post.

Like 

Wolverhampton Wolves vs. Manchester United
English Premier League
Molineux
06. 03. 2010

Match Preview:

After losing at Goodison Park two weeks ago, Manchester United will be thrilled to have won the first major trophy of the season, which they secured at Wembley with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa. Sir Alex Ferguson will hope that such a morale boosting win will be the catalyst which will fire United to a prolonged run of form which is now essential to any ambitions United may harbour to win the title.

Wolves on the other hand have only managed one win in seven. Although that win did come against a strong Tottenham side, losses to the likes of Bolton and Hull has the Wolves hovering ominously over the relegation zone. Having already lost twice to United this season already, in the Carling Cup and earlier league fixture, there is not much cause for optimism at Molineux, even though they did defeat United 1-0 last time Fergie’s men played Wolves at Molineux in the league.

Sir Alex however, is keen not to underestimate the Wolves, suggesting that their desperation could be enough to lead them to a shock result:

Sir Alex also took the opportunity to stress to his players the importance of grabbing all three points and going top, to turn the heat up on United’s title rivals Chelsea:

Team News
United – In: Rio Ferdinand, Nani Out: Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney (doubt), Jonny Evans, John O’ Shea, Anderson, Owen Haregreaves, Michael Owen

Wolves – In: Andy Keogh, Stephen Ward Out: Michael Kightly, Dave Edwards (both doubts)

Sir Alex revealed that Wayne Rooney is a doubt for the league fixture at Molineux, with his knee problem potentially consigning him to a place on the bench, or perhaps even in the stands. Michael Owen will also be out after it was revealed the injury he picked up at Wembley was much more serious than first believed. He will undergo surgery on Monday, and as a result miss the rest of the season. John O’Shea and Anderson will join Owen in the stands as they continue to battle with long term injuries, however better news has come for Owen Haregreaves, who is considered fit enough for reserve football.

Better still, it has been revealed that the injury which required Rafael Da Silva to be substituted at Wembley was not all that big a problem and he remains in contention to start on Saturday. Rio Ferdinand has also been declared fit to play, which will allow Sir Alex to finally reunite his strongest partnership at the back. Nani too will be in contention for a return, having completed his three game domestic ban.

Should Michael Kightly and Dave Edwards recover from their long term ankle problems in time for Saturday’s kick off, Mick McCarthy will have a full squad to choose from, after it was revealed that Andy Keogh and Stephen Ward were both fit to play.

Mg91’s Predicition:

Well it’s a pleasure to finally have a host of Premier League fixtures to anticipate again after the largely disappointing round of international friendlies. One really has to question their validity in modern football, especially when, despite the non competitive nature of these matches, managers decide to risk players who are not completely fit to play, as Capello did with Rooney. If the match had been a qualifier of some sort, one would understand, but in such a match, risking Rooney was unnecessary, especially when the manager has a plethora of other strikers all chomping at the bit to impress him in the hope of earning a spot on the flight to South Africa.

Desipte being away, I would hope that even without Rooney, United should comfortable deal with a Wolves side who have looked incredibly poor in recent weeks. Of course, Rooney is still a chance to play, but given the opponents, perhaps it would be wiser to err on the side of caution and rest United’s star man and let him fully recover for the bigger games to come. In Berbatov and Diouf, United boast a unique combination of skill, height and pace which one would hope is more than enough to dispense of Wolves.

That said, when a team is in as precarious a position as Wolves are at the moment, it would be wise to not underestimate them. It has been demonstrated time and time again that teams raise their game when United come to town, especially when Premier League status is on the line. Kevin Doyle in particular will be the man to watch, he has popped up with some very important goals for Wolves this season, so United will be glad to finally reunite Ferdinand and Vidic for this one. Doyle should provide an adequate test of both defenders match fitness.

Predicted Lineup:
Van Der Sar
Rafael ——————– Ferdinand ———————— Vidic ————————–Evra
Valencia ——————–Carrick ———————- Fletcher ———————- Nani
Diouf ——————– Berbatov

Given the fact that Rooney has been labelled a doubt, I do not expect him to start, but I would not rule him out of a spot on the bench, especially considering Macheda’s injury problems this season and the lack of Owen. Should Fergie opt for two strikers up front, as I expect he will, we will finally get the chance to see how Berbatov and Diouf work together. I have my reservations about Diouf’s technical ability, however there is little doubting he is a pretty good finisher and has fantastic pace for such a tall man. Most impotantly however, he is good in the air. Given the service Valencia has provided from the wings this season, I would expect that Diouf will have a host of chances to head the ball into the back of the net, and I sincerely hope that he takes full advantage of these chances. Berbatov will provide the technical skill Diouf lacks and will be looking to slip his partner through as often as possible and build on the good form he has shown in recent games.

In the middle, I would expect Carrick and Fletcher to retain their spots in the centre of the pitch. They have proved a fantastic duo at times this season. Carrick has made a bit of a habit of going missing in games, but when he gets involved he is a fantastic player. He can control the tempo effortlessly, spray passes all over the pitch and he can get forward and contribute in the final third as well. Fletcher complements Carrick’s style with his physicality, however his technical ability has also improved out of sight this season, and hopefully he will demonstrate that again on Saturday.

On the wings, Valencia and Nani will hope to continue their great form. Valencia’s brilliant crosses have been just as pivotal to United’s season as Rooney’s goals and he will be hoping to set up the strikers on Saturday with even more chances to score goals. Nani is a little more three-dimensional than his Ecuadorian counterpart, and brings an added goal threat, as well as outrageous skill and pace to the table. His form has been interrupted by his three game suspension, but he will hope to get right back into the swing of things against Wolverhampton this weekend.

At the back, I think it’s fair to say that everyone will be delighted to see Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic on the same team sheet. They really do not need much of an introduction, and the only real problem they may face is a lack of match fitness. However, given their quality and experience, one would hope that this is a problem they can overcome with relative ease. Rafael should retain his right back berth after it was confirmed he is fit to play and once again Evra, who captained United at Wembley last weekend, will play in the left back role he has excelled in all season.

Wolves will look to make it tough, but given the strength and quality of United, it’s hard to see them not picking up all three points, so I have no real doubts when I predict:

Wolves – 0
United – 3

1 people like this post.

Like 

Manchester United vs. Aston Villa
Carling Cup Final
Wembley
28. 02. 2010

Match Preview
After the famous 3-1 win over Manchester City at Old Trafford, in which Wayne Rooney’s last minute header secured United’s passage to the Carling Cup final, and Aston Villa’s own exciting 6-4 second leg over Blackburn Rovers, it’s fair to say that the first major final of the domestic season has a buzz of excitement to it which has been lacking in recent Carling Cup finals.

This final represents United’s third Carling Cup final appearance in five seasons, demonstrating the talent of United’s rising youngsters. In 2006, it was the bursting talents of Rooney, Ronaldo, Richardson and Evra which lead United to the final, while in 2009, a mature Ronaldo helped the new generation of stars in Welbeck, Macheda, Nani and Anderson to claim the cup. This season, United will look to make it two in two.

Villa on the other hand are looking to end a 14 year wait for silverware, and will fancy their chances against a United side who they have already beaten at Old Trafford this season, and drawn with at Villa Park. In any case, an appearance in a final at Wembly alone is indicative of the great strides this Villa side have made under Martin O’Neil who deserves great credit for the transformation Villa have undergone over the last few seasons.

Here’s how both sides qualified for the final…

—————————————————-

Road To Wembley:

Manchester United:

3rd Round – vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford

Probably the least memorable of all United’s Carling Cup fixtures, this tie was marred by the early sending off of Fabio Da Silva which forced United to play with ten men for most of the game. The height of Stefan Maierhofer proved troublesome up front, whilst the back four of Craddock, Foley, Berra and Elokobi proved a tough nut to crack. The dull game was lit up by one moment of true brilliance, when Danny Welbeck and Michael Owen combined for a disastrous one-two which undid over an hour of stubborn defending on the part of the Wolves. Owen’s measured return pass found Welbeck’s brilliantly timed run and the United youngster nailed the finish to give United the win in the 66th minute.

4th Round – vs. Barnsley at Oakwell

Perhaps best remembered for Owen’s fantastic second goal in which he capped some brilliant skill with a fantastic finish, however in years to come it could be noted for the debut of Gabriel Obertan. The young Frenchman showed what all the excitement is about with fantastic direct running, pace, skill and flare. Welbeck chipped in with another goal by scoring a header from a corner with a well timed run, to give United the lead, before Owen sealed the win in the second half.

5th Round – vs. Tottenham Hotspurs at Old Trafford

I’ve got two words which adequately describe this one. Darron Gibson. Two first half strikes of the highest quality from the Irish lad ended Spurs’ Carling Cup ambitions and demonstrated the sharpness of the midfielder from twenty yards. The game was rather dull outside those two strikes, but they were more than enough to send United into the semis, where their fierce cross town rivals awaited.

Semi Finals – vs. Manchester City

Leg One at Eastlands

United eventually succumbed to a 2-1 loss at Eastlands, however the result was tremendously harsh on a United hand who deserved a draw at the very least. Ryan Giggs put United ahead early on and set the tone for a fiercely paced match. City eventually equalized when Bellamy had his shirt pulled by Rafael outside the box before conveniently falling in the box which the referee then saw as a penalty. After Tevez equalized, he went on to score the winner through some terrible United defending after City were awarded a corner when Wright Phillip’s pass went out without touching a United player. Luckily for United, this tale was only half told…

Leg Two at Old Trafford

If you thought Owen’s last minute winner in the league derby early in the season was good, then you were in for a treat here. After a fast paced, but goalless, first half United turned up the heat in the second half and got a deserved goal when Scholes struck in the 52nd minute. The dominance which followed was rewarded with a second when Carrick tucked away a neat finish in the 71st. Tevez had thought he had spoilt the party however when he took his chance to level the tie 2-2 on aggregate, seemingly sending the tie into the extra time. Of course, that wasn’t to be, Rooney rose heroically to nod home in the 90th minute to score yet another last minute winner to leave City dazed and out of the cup. 34 years and counting for the blue side of Manchester, and another crushing defeat at the hands of United.

Aston Villa:

3rd Round – vs. Cardiff City at Villa Park

A truly drab affair, Gabriel Agbonlahor scored within three minutes and Villa never really looked challenge. Milner would eventually miss an opportunity to double Villa’s lead from the penalty spot, and from that point on, no team really looked like scoring. Much like United in their third round, Villa got a deserved win, however, it was hardly a classic.

4th Round – vs. Sunderland at the Stadium of Light

Perhaps equally as poor a spectacle as the match against Cardiff City, this one ended 0-0 after ninety minutes. Kenwyne Jones might have sent Sunderland through, but he missed a penalty in the 84th minute, for which Sunderland paid the ultimate price when they missed a further three penalties in the shoot out, before Ashley Young sealed the winner with a well placed spot kick.

5th Round – vs. Portsmouth at Fratton Park

It took two uneventful games, but finally, Villa offered up an exciting game at Fratton Park against struggling Portsmouth. Villa went behind to a Stilyan Petrov own goal, but recovered quickly when Emile Heskey scored with a neat finish. Aston Villa continued to pepper Pompey’s goal with shots until they went 3-1 up courtesy of a close range header from Stewart Downing. Kanu’s 87th minute goal sparked hopes of a dramtic comeback, however Young emphatically ended those hopes when he slammed home a shot from the middle of the box to win the game 4-2 in Aston Villa’s favor.

Semi Final – vs. Blackburn Rovers

Leg One at Ewood Park

Despite the 1-0 score line, this was an exciting affair with lots of chances. Villa were y far the better side in the first half and got their just rewards when Milner tucked away a nice finish in the 23rd minute to grab Villa a vital away goal. Had the Villains capitalized on their dominance, they could well have been up by more at half time. Blackburn made a fight of it in the second half and were unlucky not to score, with Ivan Klasnic striking the wood work twice. 1-0 is how it ended however and Villa looked odds on to complete the job at Villa Park. They didn’t disappoint.

Leg Two at Villa Park

The return leg at Villa Park was a true classic. Blackburn got off to an absolute flier, with Klasnic proving unplayable. He made up for his two misses at Ewood Park by putting the Rovers 2-0 up within 25 minutes. Aston Villa were struggling, but their reaction epitomized their class when they leveled the score at 2-2, going 3-2 up on aggregate, before the end of the half. Stephen Warnock grabbed the first on the half hour mark with a fantastic finish, before Milner took his chance from the spot to grab the second. The comeback continued into the second half as Villa found themselves two goals up 15 minutes into the second half. A Nzonzi own goal and close range finish from Agbonlahor put Villa 5 -2 up on aggregate and certainties to progress to Wembley. The goals continued to flow as Heskey completed a quick fire Villa hat trick four minutes after Agbonlahor’s goal before Martin Olsson scored one minute later to take the aggregate score to 6-3. The fun wasn’t quite over yet either, as Aussie Bret Emerton pulled another one back, however once again Ashley Young scored a last minute goal to emphasize Villa’s superiority, ending the game with an aggregate score of 7-4 in what was an absolute brilliant game.

—————————————————-

Sir Alex certainly will not be taking anything for granted against this solid Villa side, having already played them twice this season without picking up a win, but he remains confident of United’s chances:

Sir Alex also reserved special praice for Villa boss, Martin O’Neil:

O’Neil for one is excited to be leading Villa into their first Cup final in his tenure at the club, and has promised his fans a special occasion:

However, he is careful not to underestimate United or their manager, despite his success against them this season:

Team News:
United – In: N/A Out: Nani, Rio Ferdinand, Anderson, Ryan Giggs, John O’Shea, Owen Hargreaves

Villa – In: N/A Out: Stilyan Petrov (doubt)

Sir Alex has his fair share of selection problems this week. With Anderson out for the season, Ferdinand suffering another set back with his back, and the continued absence of Giggs, O’Shea and Hargreaves through injury as well as Nani’s suspension for a red card suffered against Sunday’s opponents. United did welcome back Nemanja Vidic against West Ham and he will provide some much needed solidity at the back. Thankfully Sir Alex has no injury worries in his forward line, although his options on the wing are very limited with Giggs and Nani out.

Aston Villa on the other hand have close to a clean bill of health. Petrov remains a doubt with a virus, however O’Neil is hopeful that even he will be available for selection. You can expect to see Villa’s best XI as they look to end their hunt for a first trophy in 14 years.

Mg91’s Prediction:
Well, it’s another final for us all to savour, and I hope that this one proves an enjoyable one. Winning or losing won’t really make or break our season, but it’s always nice to see the lads pick up an extra bit of silverware, and hopefully they can win a second Carling Cup in as many years on Sunday.
Aston Villa prove a credible threat however, and considering we have not beaten them once in two attempts this season, I think we all know we are in for a tough game, and face a real battle to come away with this trophy.

Loss at Everton aside, United have played quite well recently and hopefully the mid week thumping of West Ham will have put that minor blip out of their minds. No doubt Ferguson has left nothing to chance in his preparations for this match and I would expect to see a very strong side on Sunday considering the players will get a full week off before their next Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton. Injuries will obviously have a big impact on the side Sir Alex chooses and there is no denying that United currently face some big injury problems for this one. It’s nice to know that Rio and Giggs will return sooner rather than later, and that this game represents the last of Nani’s three game ban, but it doesn’t offer much comfort for our date in Wembley.

Thankfully, Sir Alex has assembled a squad with good depth, and we can only hope that the players who replace the wounded will be able to perform adequately. The return of Vidic against West Ham is massive for this match. He showed in that match how big an influence he is, and how he can bring the best out of those playing next to him, even without a whole lot of game time in the last month. He will play a big role against a Villa side who we have failed to keep a clean sheet against this season.

I’m also hoping for the United faithful to raise the roof. The match at Wembley will provide the fans with a fantastic stage to spur their team on to victory, but perhaps more importantly; it will allow them to take their protest against the Glazers to another level. Expect to see a sea of Green and Gold at the United end of the ground and a series of Anti – Glazer chants and signs to accompany it. The dedication of United fans to this cause has really caused a stir in the Old Trafford faithful and has really helped the crowd to find their voice at Old Trafford. Hopefully this is built upon at Wembley, if it is, it will make a big difference, both on and off the pitch.

Predicted Line Up

Van Der Sar
Rafael ———————————– Vidic ———————————– Brown ———————————– Evra
Carrick —— Gibson —— Fletcher
Valencia ————————————————————————————— Park
Rooney

I am expecting Sir Alex to employ the 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation once again, as it will effectively allow United to control the midfield and attack in numbers. What is important however is that Carrick imposes himself on the game. Too often this season he has seemed to go missing, and when he does it hurts the team. Fletcher will bring his usual battling qualities to the side, as will Gibson, but it is important that Carrick plays the quick positive football he is best at to provide Rooney and the wingers with all the ammunition they will need. I feel Sir Alex will employ Gibson instead of Scholes. The Englishman has been involved a lot recently, and given the fact that Gibson started last season’s final, he will get the start. This of course leaves the experience of Scholes as an option for later in the game. I don’t believe Gibson to be our most gifted midfielder, however there is no denying he brings a goal threat which could prove valuable if United’s chances are restricted to shots from outside the box.

At the back, I hope for another master class from Vidic. Against West Ham he was simply supurb. He didn’t lose one aerial battle, he tackled hard and he was clean with his distribution. The Serb is pure quality. What makes him even more important is the confidence he will give Brown, who has been error prone in recent games to say the least. We saw on Wednesday how much better he plays when he is confident, and hopefully that continues o Sunday. Don’t be surprised to see Evans get the nod though. He has played with Vidic on numerous occasions, and a familiar face at the back may see him rediscover the form that has had him labeled as one of the most promising defenders in the game. The pace and tenacity of Rafael and Evra will be vital in cutting the supply and width of Villa’s game from the wings. Another final for the young Brazillian represents another chance to gain some extremely valuable experience.

In the forward line, I hope for more of the same from all three. Valencia, Park and Rooney all overcame their poor performances against Everton with absolute flying colours against West Ham. Valencia’s raw pace, power and brilliant acceleration coupled with his ability to put in a great cross has made him a solid supplier of chances for United and hopefully such form will continue. With the form Rooney is in, he only needs a few to win the game.

Of course, there is every chance United will stick to the 4-4-2 which proved so successful against West Ham. If Fergie does opt for the more traditional formation, I would expect the selection to look something like this:

Van Der Sar
Rafael —————————————- Vidic —————————— Brown ——————————– Evra
Valencia ——————————— Carrick ————————– Fletcher —————————- Park
Rooney —————— Owen

Obviously, much like the 4-3-3, the emphasis would be on controlling possession, which Carrick and Fletcher are capable of, whilst attacking in numbers and with speed, of which there is no shortage between our wingers and forwards. Owen’s goal against West Ham will have his confidence sky high, so if selected, I would expect him to link up nicely with Rooney and show Capello why he is worthy of a spot on the plane to South Africa.

I am hardly expecting a free flowing end to end game of football. In fact, like most finals, this game may be very tense and tight. With that in mind, I will predict a narrow win for the Red Devils, which would see them pick up their first piece of silverware for the season:

United – 2
Villa - 1

1 people like this post.

Like 

Everton vs. Manchester United
English Premier League
Goodison Park
20. 02. 2010

Match Preview:
After United’s fantastic 3-2 victory over an in form AC Milan at the San Siro, confidence will certainly be high for Sir Alex Ferguson and his men as they prepare for another away match at Goodision Park, home of Everton Football Club. Everton shocked many with a fantastic 2-1 win over league leaders Chelsea, a result which saw United close the gap up top to one point. Louis Saha was the main protagonist for Everton, scoring two fantastic headed goals and missing a penalty, in a performance which did his former employer a massive favor.

Saha will be looking to repeat the feat against Manchester United to continue his good goal scoring form; however, Everton will also be wary of Saha’s former strike partner in Wayne Rooney. Rooney who is in the goal scoring form will look to add more goals to a tally which has already surpassed his career best to continue this fantastic run of form, which Michael Carrick believe will see the United talisman go from strength to strength:

Rooney will certainly be at the forefront of United’s game again on Saturday, and he will hope to inspire his team to another three points, where Chelsea failed.

Team News:
United – In: Nemanja Vidic Out: Nani, Rio Ferdinand, John O’Shea, Ryan Giggs, Owen Hargreaves

Everton – In: Mikel Arteta Out: Marouane Fellaini, Tim Cahill

Everton will be glad to have Mikel Arteta back in their side after a long injury lay off, however, they will be missing Fellaini for the rest of the season. His added height and strength in the middle of the park will be sorely missed by Everton, especially considering it was the Belgian who put Everton ahead in the same fixture last season. The loss of Aussie Tim Cahill will be another big problem for Everton, who have relied so much on his ability to out leap opponents much taller than him for goals.

United also have their own selection problems. Nani and Rio Ferdinand will miss the match with domestic bans, whilst Ryan Giggs will join John O’Shea and Owen Hargreaves in the physio room with a fractured arm. Thankfully, the injury should only keep the Welshman out for a month, unlike his two teammates who will be out for a considerable amount of time still.

Vidic has confirmed his fitness, and as such should return to the line up which will come as great news to the United faithful, who have not seen their beloved Serbian in action, who this week reiterated his commitment to Manchester United once again, for quite some time now.

Mg91’s Prediction:
Having conquered Milan at the San Siro for the first time, I see little reason to fear any opponent at the moment. Even without playing the best football we have seen from the lads this season, United picked up a marvelous result against one of Europe’s most successful teams. Everton however are a troublesome team from set pieces, even without Tim Cahill, as Saha showed against Chelsea, and in recent weeks, I feel our defending of set pieces has been our weakest point. To secure a positive result here, we need to get this right. In Arteta and Pienaar they have the players to put in the right ball, and in Saha, Hetinga and Yakubu, they have the players to get on the end of them.

That said, United’s greatest asset is their offense. Capable of breaking from our own penalty area into the opponent’s within a matter of seconds, their ability to break down disciplined back lines and their eagerness to get forward and play quick, positive football alone would be enough to defeat most teams, as it was against AC Milan.

Predicted Lineup:
Van Der Sar
Rafael ————————————- Vidic ————————— Evans ———————————– Evra
Fletcher ——- Scholes —– Carrick
Valencia ———————————————————————- Park
Rooney

Van Der Sar will return between the posts after a breathtaking display against AC Milan. Rooney’s goals may have stole all the attention, but without Van Der Sar those goals would have been mere consolation. The flying Dutchman was so nimble he looked like he was 21 with some of the saves he pulled off. He’s commanding in the penalty area, decisive in the air, fantastic reactions, great instincts. He really is the complete package.

Rafael should retain his spot at right back. He struggled at times against Ronaldinho at the San Siro, but in all honesty it’s all part of learning the game, and not many 19 year old right backs would inspire the confidence in their manager required for them to even think of playing him against a former world player of the year who is slowly hitting top form. It’s a steep learning curve, but he will be a much better player for it. Hopefully the education continues against Pienaar on Saturday. The return of Vidic should improve our aerial defending at set pieces when it is needed most, whilst Evans will look to put a less than inspiring performance against Milan behind him. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Brown replace the Northern Irishman, however, it may be better to stick with the lad despite a poor performance. Just like Rafael, he is still a young player coming to terms with the quality of opposition he will face in Europe, and as such looked a little overawed. Evra will hopefully deliver the same consistency he has all season and considering his great friendship with Park, the two should once again work together to maximum effect.

In the middle the trio of Fletcher, Carrick and Scholes will look to build on a series of fantastic performances. The three combine to offer a unique combination of determination, hard work, terrific passing ability, intelligence and movement. They make it hard for their opposite number to operate effectively through the middle, whilst also having the ability to seamlessly string a great number of passes together. What has been especially pleasing about their play is their positivity. Their first instinct is to get the ball forward, and their readiness to support the front three has been a vital aspect in many of the fantastic performances United has delivered in recent weeks. After playing sixty minutes in the reserves, Anderson should be back on the bench, and considering the ninety minutes played by Scholes in Milan, he should figure at some point as well.

The pace and engines of Park and Valencia will give United’s play much more width, however, between the two there is a distinct lack of creativity and no real goal threat. Valencia is capable of putting in tremendous crosses and beating his man and Park is capable of forcing mistakes and occasionally beating his man, however they lack the creativity and sharpness in front of goal that Nani and Giggs would provide. This makes the support of the central midfielders even more important, as outside of Rooney, they are our best bet for goals. Another option of course is the exciting Obertan, however any role he may play will most likely be off the bench.

I think by now, we are all familiar with what Rooney can do. He will be tasked with leading the line, and his versatility will be priceless in this match. He will drop deep when we need a link between midfield and the wingers, and he will bust his gut to be on the end of any balls they may play in. If he receives the support he deserves, he will give United another fantastic performance.

I will be hoping for an improvement on the performance against Milan, and if adequate improvement is achieved, this could be very much a one team game. Everton are a difficult proposition though, so I might err on the side of caution with my prediction for this one:

Everton – 1
United– 2

0 people like this post.

Like