Manchester United V Arsenal Carling Cup 1/4 Final [R]

[Father Ted]

http://mufccn.co.uk/images/mufccrest.jpg V http://www.soccerlocker.co.nz/mwdata/soccerlocker/webpages/images/4296/Arsenal-New-Crest-Mug.gif

Old Trafford December 1, 2004 7:45PM GMT

The Baby Red Devils against the evil gunners. I wonder if Wenger will try and trick us again by playing a full strength side against us in the Carling Cup like he did a few years ago...

Either way, the arse have been rattled ever since we showed everyone how to beat them. I expect the Baby Red Devils to win this one.

My guess at the side:
Howard
Philly-Pique-O'Shea-Spector
Eagles-DJDJ-Kleberson-Richardson
Bellion-Rossi

[bigtoga]

I wonder if Wenger will try and trick us again by playing a full strength side against us in the Carling Cup like he did a few years ago...Doesn't appear so (from the Arse forum):Wenger has Named the squad http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=240984&lid=NewsHeadline&sub=Clichy+and+Smith+return+for+Old+Trafford+trip&navlid=&sublid=&Title=Clichy+and+Smith+return+for+Old+Trafford+trip

Manuel Almunia
Chris Wright
Robin van Persie
Mathieu Flamini
Philippe Senderos
Jermaine Pennant
Gael Clichy
Justin Hoyte
Patrick Cregg
Johan Djourou
Sebastian Larsson
Arturo Lupoli
Quincy
Frankie Simek
Danny Karbassiyoon
Ryan Smith


Clichy and Smith return from injury and Cygan is out with a back Injury. Frank Simek is back from loan @ QPR. I think they have a great chance as long as ManU stick to the same plan of playing the youngsters.

[50 Euro]

Here's our squad, from the BBC-
Man Utd (from): Howard, P Neville, Brown, O'Shea, Fortune, Fletcher, Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Richardson, Smith, Bellion, Spector, Eagles, Rossi, Ricardo, Ngalula.

It's rumored that Rossi could partner Smith in attack. :cool:

[Rei de Boston]

Here's our squad, from the BBC-
Man Utd (from): Howard, P Neville, Brown, O'Shea, Fortune, Fletcher, Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Richardson, Smith, Bellion, Spector, Eagles, Rossi, Ricardo, Ngalula.

It's rumored that Rossi could partner Smith in attack. :cool:

No Pique?? I think Rossi comes on late as a sub for Bellion. I think the starters are the first 11 on the list and we go from there. I definitely will be interestingto see the young guys out there.

[johno]

Here's our squad, from the BBC-
Man Utd (from): Howard, P Neville, Brown, O'Shea, Fortune, Fletcher, Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Richardson, Smith, Bellion, Spector, Eagles, Rossi, Ricardo, Ngalula.

It's rumored that Rossi could partner Smith in attack. :cool:

I'd expect something like this
----------------Smith
-----------Rossi/Bellion
Richardson-----------------Fletcher/Eagles/Bellion
----------Phil-------Klebs/DjDj
Spector---Pique-----O'Shea---Brown
-------------Howard

I think this would fit with the formation we've been playing recently. If it were up to me I would play Fletcher, Kleberson and Phil in the midfield together with Phil the anchor and Klebs and Fletch alternating as attacking and Right attacking mid. Richardson on the left and Bellion or Rossi playing off of Smith. I am completely unsure of the back four though as Fortune might need a run out and O'Shea certainly needs some time and I should think you have to reward Spector for doing well before and you need some experience in the side as well so I don't know???

[bigtoga]

I hope we see Ngalula - I've not seen him but he's really moved through the ranks quickly...

[jammybastard]

any TV info for the US on this yet?

[50 Euro]

From manutd.com-
http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=129791&itype=466&icategoryid=120
"I will play the same squad as against Crystal Palace, albeit with Louis Saha not involved," confirmed the boss. "Young Giuseppe Rossi comes into the picture, as does Chris Eagles.

"Rossi is one we would like to include," said Ferguson. "He has impressed us with the games he has played since he arrived at the club from Italy. Rossi, Gerard Pique and Floribert N'Galula have been absolutely fantastic. We’re very pleased with them.

This was the squad against Palace:

Howard; Neville P., Brown, O’Shea, Fortune; Fletcher, Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson (Spector, 80), Richardson (Eagles, 80); Bellion (Rossi, 86), Saha.
Substitutes: Ricardo, Ngalula.

[50 Euro]

any TV info for the US on this yet?
Looks like it's only available (via Setanta) in the pubs...

[phishy]

This was the squad against Palace:

Howard; Neville P., Brown, O’Shea, Fortune; Fletcher, Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson (Spector, 80), Richardson (Eagles, 80); Bellion (Rossi, 86), Saha.
Substitutes: Ricardo, Ngalula.

So that is what, 8 or 9 players that are in your first team from time to time?
i guess with a massive squad like manyoo that isnt surprising.

[johno]

So that is what, 8 or 9 players that are in your first team from time to time?
i guess with a massive squad like manyoo that isnt surprising.

What? Ok, lets break it down for you.

Howard - back up to the first team - is this a suprise?
P Neville - he rarely plays unless someone is injured
Brown - he is a reserve CB who has filled in at RB for Gary who is sick
O'Shea - argument could be made for him but LB is his nat. position and now its Heinze's to lose
Fortune - he's the back up to the back up LB
Fletcher - young player who needs time in the team
Djemba-Djemba - 3rd option DM
Kleberson - rarely ever plays, backs up Scholes I guess
Richardson - not a first teamer at all
Smith - 3rd string Forward
Bellion - 4th string Forward
Spector - prospect
Eagles - prospect
Rossi - has one sub appearance for the first team
Ricardo - 3rd string keeper
Ngalula - prospect

Now the reason you don't play starters is so that they don't get injured and that you can play your backups to see who can possibly fill in in the first team where needed. You don't pick a complete youth set up just to see them play, you pick whomever is closest to breaking in the first team. We have one player in that team who has recently been in the first team, Alan Smith and he is going to need as much playing time as possible on the pitch since he is 3rd choice starter behind Ruud and Rooney.

[phishy]

What? Ok, lets break it down for you.

Howard - back up to the first team - is this a suprise?
P Neville - he rarely plays unless someone is injured
Brown - he is a reserve CB who has filled in at RB for Gary who is sick
O'Shea - argument could be made for him but LB is his nat. position and now its Heinze's to lose
Fortune - he's the back up to the back up LB
Fletcher - young player who needs time in the team
Djemba-Djemba - 3rd option DM
Kleberson - rarely ever plays, backs up Scholes I guess
Richardson - not a first teamer at all
Smith - 3rd string Forward
Bellion - 4th string Forward
Spector - prospect
Eagles - prospect
Rossi - has one sub appearance for the first team
Ricardo - 3rd string keeper
Ngalula - prospect



johno... thx
Alan Smith, a 3rd string forward... england international.. lol, d'accord~

[johno]

johno... thx
Alan Smith, a 3rd string forward... england international.. lol, d'accord~

really, a testament to the depth at United... unlike some clubs when we rest our starters we don't bring in 8 year olds... its called having a squad and not being forced to play your best players constantly...

Smith has played 197 mins out of 540 possible minutes in the last 6 games. Over that same period Rooney has played 464 mins and Ruud 329 despite missing 2 games to injury... so yeah, Smith is the 3rd choice forward.

[phishy]

Smith has played 197 mins out of 540 possible minutes in the last 6 games. Over that same period Rooney has played 464 mins and Ruud 329 despite missing 2 games to injury... so yeah, Smith is the 3rd choice forward.

omg... lay off the stats!!!! pmsl~ go take a nice girl out tonight, or go have some beers at your local... just some advice.
:D

[Cannon]

omg... lay off the stats!!!! pmsl~ go take a nice girl out tonight, or go have some beers at your local... just some advice.
:D

I'm home sick and bored so I'll add some stats.

Our squad
Robin van Persie: 82 EPL minutes
Mathieu Flamini: 84
Jermaine Pennant: 177
Gael Clichy: 132
Justin Hoyte: 90
Total EPL minutes: 565

Your Squad
Howard: 450 EPL minutes
P Neville: 273
Brown: 584
O'Shea: 615
Fortune: 263
Fletcher: 291
Djemba-Djemba: 268
Kleberson: 229
Richardson: 24
Smith: 855
Bellion: 123
Spector: 164
Total EPL minutes: 4139

I just looked at EPL minutes played this season. Players not listed have zero minutes. I'm sure that adding in CL minutes and past EPL seasons would just make the gap much larger.

[BillyManutd]

And more stats.

I'm home sick and bored so I'll add some stats.

Our squad
Robin van Persie: 82 EPL minutes
Mathieu Flamini: 84
Jermaine Pennant: 177
Gael Clichy: 132
Justin Hoyte: 90
Total EPL minutes: 565

Your Squad
Howard: 450 EPL minutes
P Neville: 273
Brown: 584
O'Shea: 615
Fortune: 263
Fletcher: 291
Djemba-Djemba: 268
Kleberson: 229
Richardson: 24
Smith: 855
Bellion: 123
Spector: 164
Total EPL minutes: 4139

I just looked at EPL minutes played this season. Players not listed have zero minutes. I'm sure that adding in CL minutes and past EPL seasons would just make the gap much larger.

In addition to this.Lets look at the goals scored by the above mentioned players in the EPL:
Your squad
Robin van Persie:1
Mathieu Flamini:0
Jermaine Pennant:0
Gael Clichy:0
Justin Hoyte:0
Total goals in EPL: 1

Our Squad
Howard:0
P Neville:0
Brown:0
O'Shea:0
Fortune:0
Fletcher:0
Djemba-Djemba:0
Kleberson:0
Richardson:0
Smith:3
Bellion:2
Spector:0
Total goals in EPL: 5

[johno]

I'm home sick and bored so I'll add some stats.

Our squad
Robin van Persie: 82 EPL minutes
Mathieu Flamini: 84
Jermaine Pennant: 177
Gael Clichy: 132
Justin Hoyte: 90
Total EPL minutes: 565

Your Squad
Howard: 450 EPL minutes
P Neville: 273
Brown: 584
O'Shea: 615
Fortune: 263
Fletcher: 291
Djemba-Djemba: 268
Kleberson: 229
Richardson: 24
Smith: 855
Bellion: 123
Spector: 164
Total EPL minutes: 4139

I just looked at EPL minutes played this season. Players not listed have zero minutes. I'm sure that adding in CL minutes and past EPL seasons would just make the gap much larger.


Yup, our reserves are more experienced than yours.


omg... lay off the stats!!!! pmsl~ go take a nice girl out tonight, or go have some beers at your local... just some advice.

I live on campus, I don't really have far to go :D

[BillyManutd]

omg... lay off the stats!!!! pmsl~ go take a nice girl out tonight, or go have some beers at your local... just some advice.
:D
That is for the weekend. Meanwhile i focus on soccer and my courses. :D

[CG]

the only important stat will be the scoreline at the end of 90 minutes.

[pmannion]

Where's Miller? Let me guess - injured?