So, what's the plan for the next 8 weeks?

[Stud83]

Since SAF repeatedly stated we are not planning to buy a striker, we are currently down to Tevez being the only healthy striker with Saha and Ole hopefully joining the first team within the next couple of weeks... There is also Anderson who can play up front if needed.
If Ole and Saha are unavailable, I assume we'll see

-----------VDS---------
---------DEFENSE-------
---Scholes---Carrick
--Ronaldo---------Nani (Evra?)
-------------Giggs
--------Tevez

Now if Saha is healthy, it's interesting whether he starts or not. On one hand, on paper he seems to be an excellent compliment to Tevez. On another - if he starts we again would be left with virtually no alternative off the bench, and it is questionable whether he would be able to play full games right away. So my guess is if he's ready and Ole is not, he would be on the bench at first. If Ole is ready too, I am thinking the optimal line up would be as follows:

-----------VDS---------
---------DEFENSE-------
----Scholes---Carrick
-Ronaldo---------Giggs
-------------Tevez
--------Saha

Another interesting question is whether SAF will throw Anderson on in the line up if there are no other options available to him. And if so, where he would be played?

[pgr17]

any of our youngsters able to slot in and play?

and i am still amazed at this turn-of-events. Rossi wanted to stay at United and play regular first-team football. decides that will all those ahead of him it probably won't happen. now Rooney is out for at least two months and Rossi would have provided the perfect cover. sad how things work out :\

[Karloski]

O'Shea as the lone striker.

Seriously, I suspect SAF will play tevez up front being supported by Ronaldo, Giggs and Nani. There is no point bringing Saha into full games untill he's fully match fit (hmmmm), otherwise I could see his inclusion backfiring badly.

[pgr17]

O'Shea as the lone striker.

Seriously, I suspect SAF will play tevez up front being supported by Ronaldo, Giggs and Nani. There is no point bringing Saha into full games untill he's fully match fit (hmmmm), otherwise I could see his inclusion backfiring badly.

i'm sure it will be the same/similar formation as yesterday with Tevez up front. perhaps Evra moving back into defense and Nani taking his place outside.

[rolfefan1717]

i feel we should deploy anderson from the start. giggs is not a great support striker in my opinion. Moving him back out to the wing and pushing evra back would be ideal. One major problem we have is that if team's are able to shut out our attacking threat we have no attacking options available off the bench other than nani, or anderson. (oshea and fletcher are hardly attacking additions as we saw against reading.)

[Vermont Red]

Assuming that Tevez is ready, the he takes Rooney's spot in the same lineup we ran out on Sunday. Personally, I'd like to see Nani come in and Tevez moved back to LB. As for Anderson, he's not ready to carry much of a load right now. As for Dong, surely you can't be serious.

Plus, once Saha is back then we have another option.

[jayro75]

i feel we should deploy anderson from the start. giggs is not a great support striker in my opinion. Moving him back out to the wing and pushing evra back would be ideal. One major problem we have is that if team's are able to shut out our attacking threat we have no attacking options available off the bench other than nani, or anderson. (oshea and fletcher are hardly attacking additions as we saw against reading.)

Anderson is untested in the premiership while Giggs is one of the best players in the league during the premiership era, I'd stick with Giggs until Anderson gets used to the4 new league and country he finds himself in.

Also I'm pretty sure we'll have Saha, and Ole back as attacking options off the bench pretty soon.;)

[Motterman]

Q: So, what's the plan for the next 8 weeks?

A: Curl up into the fetal position and hope it all goes away.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

4-3-3 with Hargreaves, Carrick and Scholes.

[prymetyme]

I'm with Teso.

If that fails I am with Motter. Always good to have a good contingency plan.

[O Fenômeno]

THE PLAN???

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9023/10780detailsp5.jpg

[Stud83]

4-3-3 with Hargreaves, Carrick and Scholes.

And Giggs/Tevez/Ronaldo?


Personally, I'd like to see Nani come in and Tevez moved back to LB.


Did you just confuse a black French player with an Argentinian?
Racist.

[Cloudkicker09]

PRAY Everybody just go to their respective house of worship and just PRAY to G-d that we can get through this and that G-d will heal Wayne Rooney's injury quickly.

[Vermont Red]

Did you just confuse a black French player with an Argentinian?
Racist.

They all look alike.

[jayro75]

They all look alike.

Blacks, Frenchmen, or Argentines???

[Teso Dos Bichos]

And Giggs/Tevez/Ronaldo?

Indeed. With Nani coming off the bench.

[Vermont Red]

Blacks, Frenchmen, or Argentines???

Non-Americans.

[jayro75]

Non-Americans.

Those are the same freedom hating bastards the president has us at war with!!

[Stud83]

Non-Americans.

Tevez is an (South) American.

[Vermont Red]

Tevez is an (South) American.

He hates freedom, though.