Nah! He's resting Rio and Vidic. I'd be very surprised if he plays both. I think SAF is a huge believer in experience against the biggest teams.
I'd bet money on Vida and Smalling starting. I think we can do the job with a b team IF those players are deployed properly. But i also think barring a miracle, we won't gain a decisive advantage in Spain, so it makes sense to me that we will be best served making sure we play well and win tomorrow so we have some momentum. A draw or a one goal loss in which we score in Madrid is as good as a win. That will require Evans, Carrick, Rooney and RvP from the start and a strong bench. I'd go with Nani Welbeck, and Shinji against Everton and maybe one or two of them play their way into the subsequent match.
i think one of the golden oldies will start as they wont play in madrid. possibly both. i see scholes starting with ando, and then carrick, cleverley and one other going in madrid.
I think exactly the opposite. They won't have enough pace against the likes of Benzema or Higuain. I can definitely see Evans there for sure, whether it is Rio or Smalling I am not sure. Rafael definitely at right back too.
Well we know Rooney won't be starting, that is for sure. SAF mentioned he gave England the green light to play him 90 for that very reason.
Very important week for us. If we get 3 points here we can severely deflate City and their hopes of a title challenge....and then there is a little club called Real Madrid that needs to be dealt with.
Who is the ref? A lot hinges on that. If it is a ref who is going to let Fellaini get away with murder, as per usual, then we need to start Evans, Vidic, Smalling and Carrick to have a chance to win this.
Everton are a bunch of game raising bastards and i think they'll come out today as if it is the Champions League Final.
The pitch maybe a worry too. Mark Froggatt @Mark_Froggatt Sir Alex: " I trust my players and I believe in them. As I say, there's not a player here I'm reluctant to play. No-one would let us down." Expand 13m Mark Froggatt @Mark_Froggatt Sir on last year's 4-4: "It won't happen again - or if it does, put is this way, they will feel the full effect of the hairdryer." Expand 15m Mark Froggatt @Mark_Froggatt In his programme notes, Sir Alex stresses the need to ignore the fortunes of City and "keep our eyes firmly dead ahead."
De Gea, Rafael, Evra, Vidic, Evans, Jones, Cleverley, Valencia, Giggs, Rooney, van Persie So much for a weaken team. Citeh's result yesterday must have SAF smelling blood. Also seems to confirm that Nani will start against Madrid. Good to see Carrick getting a rest.
Mark Froggatt @Mark_Froggatt Confirmed Everton XI: Howard, Jagielka, Baines, Neville, Distin, Gibson, Mirallas, Pienaar, Osman, Fellaini, Anichebe.
Stronger team than i expected. Mark Froggatt @Mark_Froggatt Confirmed #Mufc bench: Amos, Anderson, Smalling, Hernandez, Carrick, Nani, Welbeck.
Not sure about that tbh. He could still be in the doghouse. Cheech and Kagawa may not be starting due to the travel. Welbeck seems likely now against Madrid more than Nani to me.
If Nani isn't starting today, he is starting on Wed. It makes no sense to play Valencia today if he was going to start midweek.