I think it's safe to say we have an injury crisis on our hands.

[Dark Savante]

"We're now playing with just 12 fit players, really," Sir Alex said. "Cathcart's out for the season too. He was injured during training this week, so we don't really have any other defenders to call on. We're down to the bare bones."

Players out

Rio
Saha
Vidic
Gaz
Evra
Silvestre
Cathcart
Park
Richardson


...... :eek:

What I want to know is what would you do for the Milan and Everton games from the players we have left?

If Fletcher has to play RB on Wednesday I think we're in for a nightmarish time against that midfield.

IF O'Shea or HEinze are in the middle vs Everton...well...

[Shen-O]

S'about time.

[Invincible]

This is ********ed up, so ********ed up....

[Holy__Joe]

Whats a List of players that are fit

VDS
Polish
Heinze
O'Shea
Brown
Fletcher
Giggs
Scholes
Giggs
Ronaldo
Rooney
Smith
2OLE


Players out

Rio
Saha
Vidic
Gaz
Evra
Silvestre
Cathcart
Park
Richardson

[Seeing Red]

"We're now playing with just 12 fit players, really," Sir Alex said. "Cathcart's out for the season too. He was injured during training this week, so we don't really have any other defenders to call on. We're down to the bare bones."

Players out

Rio
Saha
Vidic
Gaz
Evra
Silvestre
Cathcart
Park
Richardson


What I want to know is what would you do for the Milan and Everton games from the players we have left?

If Fletcher has to play RB on Wednesday I think we're in for a nightmarish time against that midfield.

IF O'Shea or HEinze are in the middle vs Everton...well...

It really is quite astounding how almost every one of our injuries has been in defense, the one place where we thought we had depth upon depth. Aside from defense, the only real eye opening injury has been Park (we expected this from Saha :rolleyes: ).

As far as what to do.... agh...????...!!!...???

Quite the predicament, eh??

If Evra is reasonably healthy i think it has to be:
Evra----Brown----O'Shea----Heinze

The fact that I think that could be our best backline scares the hell out of me.
Anyway, this would allow Fletcher in midfield with one of Giggs or Scholes sitting. On one hand, Scholes may be better at keeping possession whereas Giggs might be a little more erratic here. On the other hand, the last thing we need is Scholes breaking someone's legs right outside our box so Pirlo can punish us on a free kick. But I guess that's up to Fergie.

Otherwise it's Fletch at RB and Scholes and Giggs playing. I guess that would mean Carrick and Scholes hanging back a bit and Giggs venturing forward more. Either way, I think counter attacking would give us our best chances, but Milan is going to try and slow the game down as much as possible and they won't buckle in defense like Roma.

I really wish we were playing in Milan Tuesday because away goals are going to haunt us in this tie, you can just feel it coming. All I can say is that our midfield, with Fletcher in it or not, has to be sharp, as in nothing even close to resembling today. Possession cannot be given away cheaply against a team as good as Milan and we can't be compromising our defense constantly by losing the ball in our own half.

I think our best chance would be to have Fletcher in midfield harrowing Kaka every time he touches the ball and Rooney and/or Smith need to do the same to Pirlo. They cannot be given an easy touch at any point in the game otherwise they will hurt us. I also hope Carrick and Scholes, plus Giggs to an extent, to have their passing boots on because we are going to need some nice through balls or long balls to take advantage of our speed and get our men into space.

In defense I really fear for our organization without Rio back there; someone has to step up and get things in order, and I suppose that falls on Van der Sar and Brown mostly. One of Scholes or Carrick should also be relatively withdrawn at all times too. Seedorf proved in the last leg against Bayern that he is more than capable of making a difference and we cannot let our backline get overrun. I haven't seen Milan play much but I get the impression that they don't play too fast, so if they aren't as capable of catching us on the break then that helps us, but not that much; they'll still be able to hurt us plenty.

So in all, there really isn't a good situation out there without Rio. Our backline just has to step up and our midfield has to be sharp in keeping possession and shielding the back as much as they can. I hope we finish too because it may just come down to trying to outscore them rather than keeping them from scoring. This is definitely not the ideal time for this tie but I guess we just have to hope for the best! :( :cool:

[ToonUSA]

This is ********ed up, so ********ed up....

Good thing you support Man U. You would have taken your own life if you were a Newcastle fan earlier this year.

[Invincible]

Good thing you support Man U. You would have taken your own life if you were a Newcastle fan earlier this year.
I can't imagine what it's like to be a Newcastle fan. You have a ton of injuries and poor form, followed by bursts of great form that raises your hopes, then the injuries and poor form hit again. You need a European class manager and an exorcism.

[ToonUSA]

I can't imagine what it's like to be a Newcastle fan. You have a ton of injuries and poor form, followed by bursts of great form that raises your hopes, then the injuries and poor form hit again. You need a European class manager and an exorcism.
Yea, so be thankful. You would be as much of a cynical asshole as I am.

[Cevno]

saf said neville is supposed to be back this week and i think we should play him in the centreback role.we have probably two of the best young defenders in the world in pique and evans and cannot use them because we have loaned them out and that is discounting bardsley and simpson.how could we have used them four at this time of the season.
i bet no one would goout on loan next season and then everybody would be fit and there would be no injuries.

[ktul6336]

if Evra is back for Milan we could play
Evra----Heinze---Brown---O'Shea

then if Neville is back for Everton
Evra----Heinze---Brown----Neville

then if Ferdinand is back for Chelsea league game
Heinze---Ferdinand---Brown----Neville

then if Vidic is back for Chelsea fa cup game
Heinze---Ferdinand---Vidic---Neville

[The Guv'nor]

Richardson? Whats wrong with him??

[Stud83]

If there are any good news at all here is that most of the players should be back in time for Chelsea game.
Meanwhile, SAF would really have to be creative for the nest several games.

[Lancashire Lad]

Whats the deal with the players on loan? They cant play in the CL, but could they be recalled for the prem?

[israbeckham]

Whats the deal with the players on loan? They cant play in the CL, but could they be recalled for the prem?

no 4 both

[Achtung]

Really amazing that at this very moment, our entire first choice backline is out, as well as a couple of backups. All things considered, we're probably doing better than many might expect.

[JC7rox]

What happened to Richardson? Did Rooney "congratulate" him for stealing his goal?

[haven]

Just terrible luck. If we had half these injuries, I'd feel great about all 3 trophies. As it is...well, I'm not hopeful. It's not just United - no team could have much optimism w/o any of their starting back line.

[Lancashire Lad]

no 4 both

Why? Is that because of squads at end of the transfer window or because of terms of the loan deal?

[holytoledo]

Why? Is that because of squads at end of the transfer window or because of terms of the loan deal?

I think for many it is because they have already represented two teams this year, which is the the limit, unless you sign for Liverpool.

I don't know how the transfer window applies either, though.

[Lancashire Lad]

I think for many it is because they have already represented two teams this year, which is the the limit,

but does that apply to transfers only? You might be right as it applied to Mascherano.

Found this about Mascherano which is quite funny "After he signed for Liverpool, he made a notable gaffe when he stated "I can consider myself a Red Devil""