Manchester United vs. Arsenal | 4/29/09 | CL SF - 1st leg [R]

[pgr17]

http://www.manchesterunitedfcgifts.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/manchester_united_badge_1973-1998.png vs. http://i43.tinypic.com/30a82aa.jpg

Venue: Old Trafford
Kick-off: 1945 GMT; 2:45PM EST
Date: Wednesday April 29
Coverage: ESPN2; Sky Sports HD 2; streams/P2P; BBC Radio 5 Live
___________________________________________________________

injury concerns:

Manchester United - Gary Neville (foot)
Arsenal - Mikael Silvestre (back), Robin van Persie (groin), Gael Clichy (back)

yellow card concerns:

Manchester United - Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra
Arsenal - Robin Van Persie, Alexander Song, Abou Diaby, Samir Nasri

[Charleysurf]

I doubt we'll keep a clean sheet. Can't trust the defence at the moment and you've got to fear that Walcott will rape Evra in his current condition.

After the Spurs second half perfomance, and the dodgy nature of Arsenals defence, you've got to think that we can get goals ourselves though.

So I'm going for 2-1 win with the tie very much in the balance.
Very hard to call the team. How to accomodate Anderson, Giggs and Berbatov?

VDS
O'Shea Vidic Rio Evra
Fletcher Carrick
Ronaldo Giggs Anderson
Rooney

subs: Foster, Brown, Rafael, Park, Berbatov, Tevez, Scholes

[benni...]

I agree with that line up, but that line up is no help to Evra,


If Arsenals fullbacks start to get into the game, Rooney will be put out wide, and that would leave Giggs upfront, or Ronaldo.

[MtP07]

--------VdS
O'Shea---Rio--Vida---Evans
----Fletcher--Carrick
Ron----Ando---Rooney
------Berba

[DrBobC]

--------Rafael----------Vidic--------Ferdinand-----Evra
---------Carrick------------------Fletcher
-------------------Giggs---------------------------
------Rooney-------------------Ronaldo
Tevez------------Berbatov
Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez, and Ronaldo on Saturday were absolutely lethal.

[yikchi]

My guess:

---------Ronaldo-------
------PFA Player of the Year---
Park--------------------Rooney
------Anderson--Carrick------
Evra---Vidic---Rio-----OShea
------------VDS--------------

[urbnzy]

-----------VDS------------
O'Shea---Rio---Vidic---Evra
----Carrick---Scholes------
--------------------Rooney
Ronaldo--Berbatov---------
---------Tevez------------

Could this be a possible (best) line-up, maybe not for this one, becase Giggs and Anderson will probably start, but maybe if things don't go United's way or at Emirates, if the result is in their favour. With Rooney running his ass off on the left he would cover Evra, so the left flank wouldn't be so exposed.

So the idea is 4-2-3-1 with Rooney covering left defence. The fab4 together again, because I think they have a weak defence in the moment and we have to press them until they crack, what they would probably do eventually.

Since when is Silvestre injured?

[Republic of Mancunia]

--------Rafael----------Vidic--------Ferdinand-----Evra
---------Carrick------------------Fletcher
-------------------Giggs---------------------------
------Rooney-------------------Ronaldo
Tevez------------Berbatov
Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez, and Ronaldo on Saturday were absolutely lethal.

No goalkeeper? ;)

[Raj222]

--------Rafael----------Vidic--------Ferdinand-----Evra
---------Carrick------------------Fletcher
-------------------Giggs---------------------------
------Rooney-------------------Ronaldo
Tevez------------Berbatov
Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez, and Ronaldo on Saturday were absolutely lethal.

A team is not a team without a goalkeeper.

[Raj222]

-----------VDS------------
O'Shea---Rio---Vidic---Evra
----Carrick---Scholes------
--------------------Rooney
Ronaldo--Berbatov---------
---------Tevez------------

Could this be a possible (best) line-up, maybe not for this one, becase Giggs and Anderson will probably start, but maybe if things don't go United's way or at Emirates, if the result is in their favour. With Rooney running his ass off on the left he would cover Evra, so the left flank wouldn't be so exposed.

So the idea is 4-2-3-1 with Rooney covering left defence. The fab4 together again, because I think they have a weak defence in the moment and we have to press them until they crack, what they would probably do eventually.

Since when is Silvestre injured?

Wenger said he was a doubt.

[Ruud v.Nistelrooy 10]

according to Touré: United 'struggle a lot' when Arsenal play at their attacking best.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11945_5248111,00.html

[Invincible]

We struggle if we attempt to contain them. If we attack them however...

[sdotsom]

At this point in time, Evra will get destroyed by Walcott, utterly destroyed. We have to put a runner on his side of midfield, whether that means using Fletch to the left of midfiled or letting Anderson stray in that direction.

[Motterman]

-----VDS----
O'Shea-Rio-Vidic-Evra
Ronaldo-Carrick-Fletch-Park
---Rooney--Tevez----

[Rewinder]

At this point in time, Evra will get destroyed by Walcott, utterly destroyed. We have to put a runner on his side of midfield, whether that means using Fletch to the left of midfiled or letting Anderson stray in that direction.

We have the same issue with Ronaldo vs. Gibbs on our left wing.

[sdotsom]

No doubt. I may have been mistaken, but I once saw Song playing on the further side of left midfield. Is that a possible role for him, simply to be a runner on Ronaldo?

[benni...]

Have faith in Evra to show up big time for a big game.

[sdotsom]

I have faith in him overall, but what he's offered in the last 2 months doesn't inspire much confidence. Clearly Fergie believes in him, because even O'Shea's played better recently, and Fabio. But if Evra must continue to play, then at least cover the defensive part of your job man! Forget pushing up the wing...we'll try and make do without that. But don't let players like Lennon skin you alive..

[Rewinder]

No doubt. I may have been mistaken, but I once saw Song playing on the further side of left midfield. Is that a possible role for him, simply to be a runner on Ronaldo?

Denilson will probably be the one drifting to the left to assist Gibbs with Ronaldo.

Nasri has been playing a deeper role lately and has put in some solid defensive performances, so I wouldn't be surprised if we have Nasri, Denilson and Gibbs triple team Ronaldo.

Playing Ronaldo out wide would lessen his effectiveness against us. We have shown weakness in the middle, and having him match up against Toure-Djourou with a runner like Park occupying Gibbs would probably be a much better strategy.

[sdotsom]

I hope Fergie just lets the attackers loose, and then hold faith in the midfield to control that aspect of the game. Carrick, Fletcher, and Park trying to hold down CM, then Rooney, Ronaldo, and Berbs up front. Even after Berbatov's great great performance on the weekend, I'd still want to use him off the bench Wednesday and start Tevez - if we are going to use 3 in the midfield against you guys.