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

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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

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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:

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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

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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

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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

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AC Milan vs. Manchester United
UEFA Champions League
San Siro
16. 02. 2010

Match Preview:

After finishing top of Group B in the Champions League group stage, Manchester United will resume their continental campaign with a trip to Milan, where they will face AC Milan, in perhaps the most anticipated tie of the round. Whereas United navigated their group relatively easily, AC Milan found themselves in a much tougher group, where they eventually finished second to Real Madrid, qualifying by only two points, over Marseille of France.

Since the end of the group stage however, AC Milan have seemingly overcome their shaky beginnings, and have found good form in the league. Winning all but four of their last ten games, two of which they lost, Milan are starting to see much better form from their players, in particular Ronaldinho, who has showed signs at different times this season of reemerging as the brilliant footballer he is obviously capable of being.

United too find themselves in a very good run of form. Despite only earning a point against Aston Villa, United will be pleased with the quality of their performance. Despite being forced to play with ten men for the better part of 70 minutes, after a rash Nani challenge, United controlled the game and looked the most likely to break the deadlock. Villa result aside though, recent weeks have brought big wins on numerous occasions as United finally look to be hitting their best form.

Manchester United will be very well rested. Sir Alex Ferguson took United’s lack of FA Cup fixtures as an opportunity to give the players a well deserved rest from training, heading over to Milan early to watch AC defeat Udinese 3-2. After watching Wednesday’s opponent up close, Sir Alex seems assured that a positive result can be achieved for Manchester on Wednesday night:

Team News

United – In: Rio Ferdinand Out: Ryan Giggs, Nemanja Vidic (Doubt), John O’Shea, Owen Hargreaves

Milan – In: Pato Out: Thiago Silva (Doubt), Marco Borriello (Doubt), Mancini, Gianluca Zambrotta

Despite facing domestic bans, Rio Ferdinand and Nani are still available for selection in European competition. Given the injuries which will be likely to keep Nemanja Vidic and Ryan Giggs out of the team, the availability of the England captain and Nani will be greeted with great relief by Sir Alex Ferguson.

The return of Pato to the AC Milan line up will be a massive relief to the Milan faithful, and they will be hoping that more good news is to come with the possibility that Thiago Silva and Marco Borriello could also be welcomed back if they receive positive results in last minute fitness tests. Mancini, formerly of Roma, and Ginaluca Zambrotta will both be out of contention.

The latter in particular will come as a disappointment for United fans, it was Zambrotta who gave the ball away to Scholes in the Champions League semi final two years ago for THAT goal….

Mg91’s Prediction:
Despite the result last week at Villa Park, I was quite pleased with the attitude of the players and the performance they put in. Even with ten men, that really was a game we ought to have won, but hey, given Chelsea’s loss, a point doesn’t seem too bad. The focus this week however is on continental issues, with a return to Milan, twelve months after our stalemate against Inter Milan. The opponent may have changed, but the importance of the match itself hasn’t.

AC Milan are a side we generally struggle with. A thrilling encounter in 2007 ended 3-2 at Old Trafford, after Rooney’s sensational winner, but a 3-0 smashing at the San Sior against the eventual champions still stings a little. Thankfully, this time around, our squad is not quite as afflicted by injuries, and Milan lack a certain Kaka.

That said, Milan do look to be hitting a bit of form, so United will have to be at their best to secure a positive result. Given the nature of the tie, any scoring draw will be a positive, but I think it’s imperative that we get at least one away goal. It proved pivotal in the Carling Cup semi final and would certainly come in handy for the return leg at Old Trafford. Thankfully, whilst AC Milan have made a habit of winning games, they seem to be suffering a little defensively, and are conceding their fair share as well. Given the form many of United’s attackers find themselves in, this can only be a positive thing for United.

In accordance with recent team selection, seeing we are away against a top side, I am expecting Sir Alex to persevere with the 4-3-3 formation that has bought such good results in recent weeks. The extra man in midfield will go a long way to stifling the creativity of some of Milan’s fantastic midfielders. However it remains of vital importance that these midfield players also get forward and support the wingers and Rooney, as they have done so well in recent matches. For all of Milan’s creativity, they lack strength and pace through the middle and at the back. United must take advantage of these weaknesses to their full advantage.

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

The right back position is a typically difficult one to pick. I’ve opted for Rafael for his good form, however, Fergie may opt for the more experienced Neville, given the fact that this match will probably be a little slower paced than what is expected in domestic competition. Similairly, Brown could also be given the chance to reclaim the right back spot, given Rio Ferdinand’s return to the first XI. Either way, the back four will be strong and will give us a good chance of containing a Pato who is still returning to full match fitness.

In the middle of the park, I would hope that the work rate of Fletcher and Carrick will allow the brilliant Paul Scholes to control the game from the middle of the park. Fletcher and Carrick will be chiefly responsible for ensuring that Milan’s midfielders have as little time on the ball as possible. Thankfully, they both have the skill and the engines to make positive contributions to United’s attack. It’s a big ask of the two lads, but they have performed brilliantly in recent weeks, combining graft with exceptional vision and positivity when they have the ball. Hopefully, they can pull off another fantastic performance.

Up front, I believe we have all the necessary attributes to pull apart Milan’s defence. Between Valencia, Nani and the unstoppable Wayne Rooney, United have blistering pace, fantastic wing play, lethal finishing and the potential for that something special that can so often be the decisive factor between a good result and a bad one. One should not underestimate the quality of AC Milan’s defence, however, with the pace and power of United’s attack, it’s hard not to be a little confident heading into this one.

Obviously, AC Milan have their own strengths. Ronaldinho in particular is looking very good at the moment. The important thing here is for United to take the game to Milan. We cannot make the same mistakes we made in 2007. Since then, United have matured into a team who knows how to play on the big stage. With that in mind, I’m predicting a positive result for United:

AC Milan – 0
Manchester United – 2

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Arsenal vs. Manchester United

Barclays English Premier League

31. 01. 2010

Match Preview:
Riding high after United stunning 3-1 win over local rivals Manchester City during the week, United will be buzzing as they head to North London to take on another set of fierce rivals in Arsenal at the Emirates. After putting four past Hull and another three past City, confidence will be sky high in the United camp, especially for a certain Wayne Rooney, who has scored five of those seven goals, as they prepare to face Wenger’s Arsenal.

Whilst United have been flying high, Arsenal have been in indifferent form. Despite beating Bolton 4-2, the concession of two goals against a Bolton side who have only managed 29 in 25 games have provided cause for concern. This concern was amplified with the concession of a further two goals against Stoke City in the FA Cup, terminating any FA Cup dreams harbored by Wenger and his side. Arsenal’s last game came against Aston Villa at Villa Park, where they could only manage a 0-0 draw despite hitting the woodwork a number of times. Hardly the best form to lead up to a big clash.

However, Ferguson will take nothing for granted against his old foe. Only one point seperates the two sides, with United sitting second with 50 points, and Sir Alex has completely recognized the importance of the fixture:

Wenger too has highlighted the importance of this game, and has rebuffed concerns that Sol Campbell will not be able to cope with Wayne Rooney:

The match is certainly shaping up to be an intriguing affair. If past encounters are anything to go by, then everything is set for a grand feast of football.

Team News:
United – In: Nemnja Vidic Out: Rio Ferdinand, John O’Shea, Owen Hargreaves
Arsenal – In: N/A Out: Thomas Vermaelen (doubt), Eduaro, Fran Merida, Abou Diaby (doubt), Robin Van Persi, Johan Djourou, Kieran Gibbs

United’s long struggle with injuries has subsided massively in recent weeks. Rio Ferdinand has returned, but has promptly been banned for four games for violent conduct after what the FA described as a “frivolous” appeal. Luckily for United, the ban coincided with Nemanja Vidic’s return from a calf injury. Other than that, United’s only missing players come in the form of long term absentees John O’Shea and Owen Hargreaves.

Arsenal on the other hand has numerous injury problems to contend with. Vermalen remains a big doubt, as does Diaby, but it is almost certain that Eduardo and Fran Merida will not be available, as applies to long term casualties Johan Djourou, Kieran Gibbs and Robin Van Persie.

Mg91’s Prediction:
After watching the lads knock the bitters out of yet another cup last Wednesay, I’m really up for another big game. Arsenal is always a tough fixture, and away from home it will be particularly tight. Results like we saw last season in the Champions League semi final won’t happen very often. In terms of the quality of football, this is the fixture I always look forward to the most. Sure, I love the lead up to a game against Liverpool or City, but the quality of football that is usually put on by United and Arsenal is second to none in the English game. It has it all. End to end fiercely paced football, passion and hard tackles. The tie may have lost its glamour a little since the emergence of Chelsea as United’s major domestic threat, but it’s still one of the greatest domestic fixtures in the world.

So what to expect? Well, these games are always incredibly hard to call. I think United would gladly take a point from the Emirates, but we have every reason to expect a good performance. United managed a win in the first meeting against Wenger’s side, despite not playing particularly well, and with United finally managing to play some decent football more than once a week, I think there is a good cause for optimism.

Arsenal’s biggest weakness is their defense. They have been extremely suspect at times this season, especially in recent times. Conceding four goals in two games against Bolton and Stoke is surely a worrying sign for Wenger, whose problems at the back are compounded by the loss of Vermaelen and Kieran Gibbs. However, what they lack in defensive quality, they make up for in creativity and a strong offence. Key to United’s success will be their ability to stifle the creativity and goal scoring threat of Cesc Fabregas and Andrei Arshavin. If they can be contained, then United have every chance of taking advantage of Arsenal’s weak defense, and gaining a big three points away from home.

Whilst Ferguson will want to take advantage of Arsenal’s obvious weakness, he’ll have to strike a fine balance between defensive responsibility and attacking football. The return of Nemanja Vidic, the good form of Jonny Evans and the engine of Darren Fletcher become increasingly important because of this. Those three will be chiefly responsible for ensuring that in the middle and final third, Arsenal have as little time as possible on the ball.
Whilst Fletcher handles the defensive side of things, it is vital to the teams cause that Carrick, or Scholes should he partner Fletcher, gets forward to support the front line. Carrick showed on Wednesday night that he brings a lot of quality to the table in the final third when licensed to roam forward. His passing, vision, movement and shooting ability mean his input in the final third can be game changing. Sure, he does a good job playing a bit deeper, spraying passes here and there, but I want to see him take the next step and evolve into a much more positive midfielder, especially if United are going to employ a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation more often. He’s proven he is ready for that step.

Up front, Rooney is obviously United’s biggest goal threat. He is in the form of his life, and as a player who has enjoyed his fair share of goal scoring success against Arsenal, he will look to continue our North London rivals with another goal or two. Rooney’s ability to create as well as score will also be vital to the teams cause. Whether that be for a strike partner, or for an onrushing midfielder, I would expect most of our positive moves to come through our immensely talented Englishman.

Predicted Line Up:
Van Der Sar
Rafael —————————— Vidic ————————– Evans —————————– Evra
Carrick ———– Fletcher ———- Anderson
Valencia ———————————————————————————– Nani
Rooney

Not necessarily my favorite formation, but its Fergie’s go to set up in the big games. Whilst it does leave Rooney awfully isolated at times, it does have its merits. It allows the team to go from a more offensive shape to a defensive one very quickly, and it usually sees us dominate possession. The impetus at the end of the day falls on the midfielders however. They simply have to get close to Rooney as much as possible. In the second half against City, Carrick and Scholes did exactly that. Not only did they score, but their positive play ensured City were on the back foot for most of the game. That’s exactly what has to be done against Arsenal.

It’s going to be an incredibly tight affair, but hopefully an exciting one. I’m struggling to separate the teams but I’m sure we can expect a few goals, so I’ll predict:

Arsenal – 2
United – 2

Give or take one goal either way.

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Manchester United vs. Manchester City

Carling Cup Semi Final Leg #2

27. 01. 10

Match Preview:
With a terrific 4-0 win against Hull last Saturday, United will come into this important second leg of the Carling Cup semi finals with renewed vigor as they look to overcome a one goal deficit and book their place in a second consecutive Carling Cup final. Despite eventually succumbing to two Tevez goals and losing 2-1, United will feel that they deserved more from the game, particularly considering the vital part the referee played in both goals. In addition, United will surely expect a little more luck in front of goal after some fantastic saves from Given and goal line clearances denied them their equalizer.

This match also represents City’s return to Old Trafford after their dramatic 4-3 loss to United earlier in the season in the first league meeting between the sides, and there has been no shortage of words between the two sides. Tevez in particular has been very vocal, expressing his unhappiness with Neville’s one fingered salute, going as far to state that he was now at the “right club”. Fergie too has chipped in with his own two cents, suggesting Tevez ought to have been sent off in the first leg after a very high tackle on Wes Brown.

All that talk will end on Wednesday night however, when both these teams will take to the Old Trafford turf to battle out the second leg of this fiercely contested semi final. The match should be a gripping encounter with all that one would expect from a local derby: fiery passion, hard tackles, and a few goals to boot.

Team News:
United – In: N/A. Out: Nemanja Vidic (large doubt), John O’Shea, Owen Hargreaves
City – In: N/A Out: Roque Santa Cruz, Patrick Vieira, Joleon Lescott, Wayne Bridge

Sir Alex has declared United are at full strength, with Nemanja Vidic nearing his comeback, leaving long term injury worries John O’Shea and Owen Hargreaves as United’s only injury concerns:

City on the other hand continues to struggle with defensive injuries of their own, with Santa Cruz, Vieira, Lescott and Bridge all ruled out.

Mg91’s Prediction:
This one really needs no introduction folks. But we all know how much I love to babble, so it’s getting one anyway. To say I was disappointed with the result in the first leg would be a massive understatement. I was gutted essentially. Disgusted by the refereeing. Devastated at the unjustness of the result. Frustrated with the brilliant Given. However, my despair was not all consuming. That boy Giggsy gave us all a cause for hope with his away goal which could prove priceless in the second leg. Furthermore, I took a bit of pride from the performance. City got lucky once, but we’ll see if they do again at Old Trafford.

What is of vital importance is that United don’t concede, and if they do, it’s important they don’t concede first. With Rio Ferdinand back I like our chances of a clean sheet. Van Der Sar has barely missed a beat and with Jonny Evans in good form, it will be good to have two out and out centre backs and an experienced goalkeeper in the backline. Evra will provide all the consistency he has done all season for us at left back. It will be interesting to see if Rafael will be given the chance to put his rash challenge (even though it WAS outside the box) behind him. Fergie, however, may opt for the experience of Wes Brown at right back. Also helping United’s likelihood of a clean is the small chance of City being given a penalty kick for a foul which occurs outside the box and a corner for a misplaced pass again.

Valencia should return to the starting lineup after being rested against Hull, whilst Nani’s impressive performance could merit him a spot on the left flank. In the middle the rested Anderson and Fletcher should return, however rumors of an Anderson/Fergie bust up could mean that Carrick will retain his place in the starting lineup. The physicality of Fletcher will be vital in breaking up City’s attack. His mobility will also help to ensure that United can get the ball from defense to the attacking line quite quickly.

Up front, Rooney will hardly be dropped after bagging a quadruple against Hull at the weekend, however Owen, who spurned quite a few chances against Hull, could see himself dropped for Berbatov, who produced a lovely assist in his brief cameo on Saturday night. Mame Briam Diouf also offers United a different option with his height, pace and finishing ability, and Fergie could potentially look to have him involved from the start.

Predicted Line Up:
Van Der Sar
Brown —————————– Ferdinand ———————– Evans ———————————- Evra
Valencia ———————- Fletcher ————————- Anderson ————————- Nani
Berbatov —————- Rooney

That team has all the necessary attributes to produce a high quality performance which should ensure a positive result. Forever the optimist, I predict:

United – 3
City – 1

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Manchester United vs. Hull City

Barclays Premier League
23. 01. 10

Match Preview:
Four days after United’s unfortunate and somewhat unjust loss to Manchester City at Eastlands, United will return to the Theatre of Dreams to take on Hull City. With Arsenal and Chelsea both ahead by one point (Chelsea have a game in hand), United could potentially spring to top spot with a positive result, if only temporarily, which would surely boost morale in the United camp after some erratic performances, and off the field concern with the club’s financial difficulties.

Despite the loss to City, United’s players will have been generally pleased with their performances, which for the majority of the match was a of a high level, only being denied a better result by poor refereeing and some magnificent goalkeeping from Shay Given. Thankfully for United, a return to Old Trafford against a Hull side who have won precious few points away from the KC Stadium this season, could be exactly the tonic United need to put that unfortunate result from their mind, and allow them to push on to the second leg of the Carling Cup semi final.

Hull have not had a particularly enjoyable couple of months recently, on the receiving ends of big defeats against Arsenal, Aston Villa and of course, Manchester United, whom they lost to 3-1 a mere four weeks ago. Draws with Blackburn, Bolton and surprisingly Tottenham at White Hart Lane, have offered brief respite to Hull fans, however they have now failed to see their side pick up a win since their 3-2 win against Everton on Wednesday the 25th of November.

Loss to City aside, United’s league form has perked up, going undefeated in four league games, including wins against Hull, Wigan and Burnley, as well as the closely contested 1-1 draw with Birmingham, following their shock loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Team News:
United – In: Rio Ferdinand *, Nemanja Vidic * Out: Dimitar Berbatov (major doubt), John O’Shea, Mame Briam Diouf (slight doubt), Owen Hargreaves

Hull City – In: N/A Out: Seyi Olofinjana, Daniel Cousin (both at ACN), Jimmy Bullard

*To be confirmed by Sir Alex at his weekly press conference on Friday GMT

For once, it seems possible that United’s opponents may actually have a more depleted squad! The African Cup of Nations has taken Seye Olofinjana and Daniel Cousin from Hull, whilst Jimmy Bullard will not feature due to a knee injury, which should keep him out for a further two weeks.

United on the other hand could finally welcome back Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, if not to the starting line up, then to the bench. Dimitar Berbatov’s knee struggles could well keep him out of this game as well, whilst Mame Briam Diouf, who scored a hat trick during Thursday’s reserve fixture against Sunderland, could miss the first team squad altogether after picking up a knock during the course of play.

However, bad news has come for John O’Shea, with Fergie ruling him out for the rest of the season:

However, there has been better news for Owen Hargreaves, who has partaken in training matches with the reserves, which should prove a significant step, both mentally and physically for United’s midfielder, on his long road back to full match fitness.

Mg91’s Prediction:
Although most of us were unhappy with United’s result against City in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi final, I think it’s fair to say that United played rather well for the majority of the match. Unfortunately, some poor concentration and bad refereeing cost us dearly, however the fact that there is still a second leg to be played should ensure that any massive drop in morale amongst the United players will be highly unlikely.

The prospect of playing a Hull City side who have been very poor away from home all season, however, will surely have the players drooling at the prospect of picking up three points which would see United climb temporarily to the top of the league. I don’t know about you, but the thought of being on top would go a long way to making me feel a bit better about the last few weeks!

If there was one thing that was made abundantly clear last Tuesday, it’s that, with our current squad, 4-4-2, or any system which which gives Wayne Rooney a partner or proper support up top, is the only way to go. It has become increasingly frustrating to watch Rooney slave up front on his own, when it is so obvious that he is most effective with a player close to him in the final third of the pitch. It was shown in the early moments when Ryan Giggs effectively supported Rooney from the left, and in the latter moments when Michael Owen joined Rooney up front. Rooney is by far United’s most dangerous player. He proved it on his own against City with some amazing solo runs, being denied only by the brilliant Shay Given, and his movement wreaked havoc amongst City defenders when Owen was there to feed him. To see us reap the maximum benefit of his play, he needs to be given the proper support to allow him to fulfill his lethal potential.

What would bring a real smile to my face would be the potential return of either Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic. Who knows! Perhaps even BOTH of them might play, but let’s not get all crazy just yet. Brown has struggled in the centre of defence, whilst Rafa was visibly shaken by Mike Dean’s terrible decision to award Craig Bellamy a penalty, after Rafael tugged his shirt well outside the penalty area, so now would be a great time for the league’s best central defensive partnership to finally make their long awaited reunion. That said, I would not expect to see Vidic return on Saturday, with the mid week return leg against City in mind. Rio however, has been near a return for one or two weeks now, so Saturday may well and truly see his return to the first team.

The midfield will be typically difficult to predict, with Valencia being the only real certainty to start on the right. In the middle, Scholes may very well be saved for the return of City, as may Fletcher, meaning Carrick and Anderson could be given the nod. However, with both having played on Tuesday, Ferguson may even call upon Darron Gibson to play in one of the two available spots. On the left, I would expect Nani to return. He played rather well against Burnley, and will be looking to build on that with a second consecutive league start at Old Trafford against Hull.

Van Der Sar
Rafael ————————— Ferdinand ———————- Evans —————————–Evra
Valencia ———————- Carrick ——————- Anderson ———————- Nani
Owen —————– Rooney

There are precious few “easy” games in the Premier League, however this one could be as easy as they come. Hull are missing three key players, and have been incredibly poor away from home, where they lost a mere four weeks ago to United by three goals to one. With that in mind, United are undoubtedly favourites. With that in mind, I predict:

United – 3
Hull – 0

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