FA Cup Round 3 - Aston Villa v United, 1/5/08

[sdotsom]

http://www.footballwallpaper.net/engeland/villa.gif

vs

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2455/manchesterunitedms9.png (http://imageshack.us)

Venue - Villa Park
Time - 17:15 UK, 12:15 EST USA
TV - BBC (UK), Setanta [PPV or Bars/Pubs only] (USA)
Injuries- Tevez (ankle, very very doubtful), Scholes (knee) out, Foster (knee) out, Silvestre (knee) out, Neville (ankle) out


As we all know, we've beaten Villa in our last 3 encounters in this competition. However, they look like a very stout outfit this year and if we put out the effort we did against Brum, we could get done in by the likes of Ashley Young, Barry, and DS' illegitimate child Agbonlahor (sorry DS :D). Rooney will be back though.

Last year this fixture was won by the Scandinavian duo of Larsson and OLEEE Solskjaer.

[Rakim_22]

This will be no pushover. After watching Villa go toe-to-toe with Chavski I think they will give us a good run for our money. With Tevez down Saha (ugh) might get the knod.

That illigitimate child needs to be shackled and I can see him giving our CBs some trouble. We will match up well against Carew if he plays.

Will Pique and Simpson get some PT?

[Invincible]

I'm not really enthusiastic about this match tbh, or any FA Cup game for that matter. What will be, will be.

[sdotsom]

I'm a bit more optimistic about this competition, I think we could be in the final again and I'd like to see that. This could easily be tougher matchup than what we get on the following round, depending on the draw. I'd like this trophy again, I'm still pissed about the travesty that was the 2005 FA Cup final.

[sab456]

Oh nice, we are playing at villapark.. We will win somehow..

[yikchi]

I think we should field a somewhat weakened side for this game. I would still like to see us winning the FA Cup but I don't think the squad has the depth to handle all three fronts. I think we should put out a mixture of veterans and youngsters like Pique and Simpson.

Rio and Ronaldo should rest. If Rooney is healthy I would put him on the bench. I will keep playing Carrick with the hope that he will eventually snap out of it.

A lineup like this would do for me:
------------Koozy----
Simpson--Brown--Pique--O'Shea
Park--Carrick---Fletcher--Nani
--------Giggs-------------
------ ----------Saha-------

[FIFARay007]

I'm slightly nervous about this match. Aston Villa actually looks like they finally remember how to play soccer, and now with Tevez out, Saha will most likely get playing time. Saha will make sure that all of his shots on goal will be directly at the keeper, and he really hasn't teamed up very well with Rooney.

If we win, it'll be a tight game, 2-1.

[leafdolfan]

I think we should field a somewhat weakened side for this game. I would still like to see us winning the FA Cup but I don't think the squad has the depth to handle all three fronts. I think we should put out a mixture of veterans and youngsters like Pique and Simpson.

Rio and Ronaldo should rest. If Rooney is healthy I would put him on the bench. I will keep playing Carrick with the hope that he will eventually snap out of it.

A lineup like this would do for me:
------------Koozy----
Simpson--Brown--Pique--O'Shea
Park--Carrick---Fletcher--Nani
--------Giggs-------------
------ ----------Saha-------

I like this lineup for the most part but I'd take out Fletch and put in Anderson to give us some attacking threat in the middle with the possible absence of Rooney and Ronaldo.

[yikchi]

Regarding US TV: Setanta Premium which means Pubs that carry Setanta Premium or PPV for residential customers.

[Stud83]

I'd go with 4-4-2 with Ronaldo on the bench, and midfield of
Park--Fletcher--Anderson--Giggs

[Invincible]

Ronaldo and Anderson really, really need a rest.

-------------Koozy
Brown----Rio-------Pique-----O'Shea

Nani-----Carrick----Hargreaves--Park

--------------Giggs
--------------Saha

That midfield has enough hard workers to battle with Villa yet enough creativity to carve out chances for us to win.

[sdotsom]

Regarding US TV: Setanta Premium which means Pubs that carry Setanta Premium or PPV for residential customers.

Thanks, couldn't see that on the Setanta website. If a mod could change it on the first post that would be nice.

[gambit13]

------------Koozy----
Brown--Rio-----Pique--O'Shea
Park--Carrick---Anderson--Nani
--------Giggs-------------
------ ----------Saha-------

is ideal but fergie most likely will go with 433

ill play rio cos he might be able to teach pique a thing or two

[Twix]

A lineup like this would do for me:
------------Koozy----
Simpson--Brown--Pique--O'Shea
Park--Carrick---Fletcher--Nani
--------Giggs-------------
------ ----------Saha-------

That lineup would be ideal.

[muusa]

I'm surprised none of these line ups include Wazza.

[sdotsom]

Same here. If he's healthy, I'd think he'd be raring to go. 2 games rest, and I guess a virus would affect your fitness less than a muscle/bone injury. He probably wants to go out there and get back amongst the goals.

It's very frustrating how Rooney's season has been stop-start-stop-start so far. He looked to be in incredible form before all this shit started taking its toll on him.

[Stud83]

Mine assumed Rooney-Saha starting partnership ;)

[sdotsom]

Might have been a stupid statement on my part about Roos' fitness now that I think about it. Technically his body is probably the same as it was before he missed these 2 games, but he could be dehydrated, tired, etc.

If Saha gets the start, he better step the f**k up. THERE ARE NO MORE EXCUSES for this useless p-o-s. He is fit. He has been fit. He has NOT been performing. It is all mental with this guy, and he needs to show up.

[FIFARay007]

Mine assumed Rooney-Saha starting partnership ;)

Oh lord I hope not. Does anyone remember a time when Saha started a game and actually had a good game? It may have happened, but I don't think recently.... Bring him in as a sub, he's more useful that way.

[Stud83]

Oh lord I hope not. Does anyone remember a time when Saha started a game and actually had a good game? It may have happened, but I don't think recently.... Bring him in as a sub, he's more useful that way.

2 goals against Sunderland in a 4 goal dominance playing with Rooney just a week ago?