Man Utd v Blackburn - 11/22 [R]

[Achtung]

Returning to Old Trafford for the first time in what seems like at least a month (well, 3 weeks anyways). Something tells me we won't be seeing Ricardo come in to make a PK save this year though. Blackburn played us well last season, even in the match we won.

This season looks different for them, as they're barely clear of the relegation zone this time. And to make things worse they won't have Andy Cole (what a goal, Andy Andy Cole!). Gary Neville is questionable for us after aggravating his Achilles' in that friendly over the weekend.

Match is live on FSW at 7:30 ET / 4:30 PT

[sch2383]

We have a CL game next Wednesday, so I would expect our B team (well, maybe B+ team) to play.

If Gary can't go, does that mean Phil will play in his spot? If not, who plays that right back spot?

I would expect to see:

---------Forlan---------
-----------Kleberson-----
Fortune---------------Ronaldo
-------Butt----Dj-Dj/Fletcher-
O'Shea---Silv---Rio---P.Neville
-----------Howard----------

Actually, Keano would probably demand to play since he has had two weeks off. If thats the case put him in for Butt.

[bkn0528]

you really think Ferguson is going to sit Ruud on the bench after his hat trick yesterday? Or ever?

[Achtung]

Originally posted by bkn0528
you really think Ferguson is going to sit Ruud on the bench after his hat trick yesterday? Or ever?

Depends on what Ruud thinks, I would say. Its important to win this match to keep up with the Londoners, but at the same time they will want the points when travelling to Panathinaikos next week. United could be tired with several players having seen international duty this past week, so it might be worth it to rest a few tired legs, though at the same time being careful not to underestimate Blackburn. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ruud and Ronaldo come in as late-match subs.

[Achtung]

FYI, this week Arsenal will be missing Parlour, Vieira, Lauren, and Monkey Boy, er, Keown, meaning there is a very real chance of Birmingham being able to give us a helping hand.

Chelsea play at Southampton, no easy task either.

[bkn0528]

oh, Arsenal could be quite caught up in their snowflake's chance at the next round of the champion's league...

[Ferris]

I think Fortune is injured.

[Father Ted]

Originally posted by sch2383
We have a CL game next Wednesday, so I would expect our B team (well, maybe B+ team) to play.

If Gary can't go, does that mean Phil will play in his spot? If not, who plays that right back spot?

I would expect to see:

---------Forlan---------
-----------Kleberson-----
Fortune---------------Ronaldo
-------Butt----Dj-Dj/Fletcher-
O'Shea---Silv---Rio---P.Neville
-----------Howard----------

Actually, Keano would probably demand to play since he has had two weeks off. If thats the case put him in for Butt.

I don't think Fergie will go with a B Team especially after the Fulham debacle. Expect Keano to play as he didnt play any international games. Forlan will only be on the bench because he just gets back today(Friday) from WC qualifiers in South America (BTW, he scored twice against Brazil in a 3-3 tie). Giggs might sit after two tough games in the last week.

[Ferris]

Originally posted by Ferris Beuler
I think Fortune is injured.
Sorry to quote myself but this is not true...I misread a headline stating that he will be out for a period of time in the new year playing in Africa...

[gildarkevin]

My guess is that it's pretty much an "A" team out there on Saturday. It's a big rivalry for Blackburn, who beat United last year. A decent amount of the starting 11 got to rest last week. And you don't want to lose ground going into the big match at Chelski next week.

But most of all Fergie is excellent at looking not only at the immediate need to rest players from previous games and for the next game, but moreso on when players need to play in order to get/stay sharp. With a big CL game coming up and a few players having had their biggest break in some time, I think he actually plays a strong lineup to tune up for Wednesday and beyond.

[MikeyM]

HT United 2-0 Blackburn

Goals: Ruud & Kleberson

Lineup:

Howard
G. Neville
Ferdinand
Silvestre
O'Shea
Kleberson
Keane
P. Neville
Fortune
Bellion
van Nistelrooy

[Motterman]

HT

United 2 - 0 Blackburn

United in great form albeit against a poor Blackburn side.

Ruud with a nice tough angle near post blast in off the near post. Sublime. The kind of shot he would have missed two weeks ago. "Slump" obviously over.

Kleberson. What a refreshing player he looks to be. Well taken goal by him, cool left footed first time finish. His first touch and one-touch passing are above average.

Waiting for 2nd half...

[ManUtd R16]

HT: Manchester 2, Blackburn 0

Scorers: Ruud Van Nistelrooy (24), Kleberson (38)

This is the first goal Kleberson has scored for United, and he is also the 15th United player who has scored a first team goal this season. Good stuff!

[MikeyM]

Fortune has played well. He had a hand in both goals. Setting up Ruud & then Kleberson.

[haven]

Best 1st half that Utd have had all season. Fairly mediocre in the 2nd half, though they weren't really bad. Plenty of counterattacking opportunities, and they were always a few inches off. I thought Blackburn were lucky to only be 2-0 down at the half. I was fully expecting more goals from Utd after the break as a result of that 1st half.

Probably got a gift on that Yorke non-goal. Gallagher might have been obstructing Howard's view, and he was definitely off-side. Still, not one you expect to get.

But then, Blackburn got it back with dividends on the lack of a penalty when Keane went down i nthe area. I thought that one was pretty obvious. Keane had a clear shot on goal if he didn't go down, and he's not the type to dive. If that wasn't a make-up call, then it was truly awful.

It was telling that the official didnt' book Keane for diving. It really was one that was either a penalty/red card... or a dive. It could not have simply been legitimate contact. Penalty. Or dive.

Good games for Kleberson, Fortune, RVN, Silvestre, Howard. Ronaldo was quite good for the 15 minutes when he was in. Poor from Gary Neville, David Bellion (announcer thought he was decent... I thought he ruined pretty much every attack he participated in by promptly giving the ball away), and the officials.

Gary Neville really had a ton of excellent attacking opportunities. Not just the point blank shot, but tons of unmarked crosses from near the corner of the box. He didn't do really poorly on any one, but you really would have expected him to eventually do something with one of them.

[Motterman]

We're still managing to get the results while still missing Scholes, Solskjaer, Brown, etc.

This is good news.

Our squad is still getting there, but good appearances by the current fringe players were enough today.

Bellion had a couple nice speed moves, his touch isn't there yet, but he only turned 21 this week, so there is plenty of time for him to improve. Kleberson did well today. Keano played...well...like keano. Ruud took his chance well and Blackburn always seemed to panic just a bit whenever he got the ball in a good position.

Roll on to Greece midweek....

[Alberto]

It seemed in the first half that United other than the two wonderful flourishes that resulted in goals played as flat as Blackburn. The second half was more competitive. Blackburn were clearly robbed of a deserved goal. Fortune was not offside. Stuff like that happens because it's a reaction decision to raise the flag on the part of the AR and one's depth perception is poor from that distance away from play. Also the atmosphere at Old Trafford gets more and more quiet every year.

[prk166]

Originally posted by Ferris Beuler
I think Fortune is injured.

physically or in terms of hair style? ;)

[prk166]

Originally posted by haven
Probably got a gift on that Yorke non-goal. Gallagher might have been obstructing Howard's view, and he was definitely off-side. Still, not one you expect to get.


This raises a great point that the commentator didn't seem to cover. First off, Yorke was dancing the line in his own right. Yes, he appeared on when the ball was played, but it was so close that it was only clear with super secret slow mo hindsight footage. That's something linesmen don't have. And to add to it, Gallagher was clearly in an offside postion. And being as close to play as he was, I don't think it's a given that Yorke was called offside. I'm not so sure that Gallagher wasn't called for offside given his position and how they lineman may have felt that he was part of the play.

[johno]

Originally posted by Motterman
We're still managing to get the results while still missing Scholes, Solskjaer, Brown, etc.

This is good news.

Our squad is still getting there, but good appearances by the current fringe players were enough today.

Bellion had a couple nice speed moves, his touch isn't there yet, but he only turned 21 this week, so there is plenty of time for him to improve. Kleberson did well today. Keano played...well...like keano. Ruud took his chance well and Blackburn always seemed to panic just a bit whenever he got the ball in a good position.

Roll on to Greece midweek....

Good point about winning without key players, did Bellion play as a striker or on the right???
When Scholes and Ole get back do you expect us to go to the 4-2-3-1 and stay there???

I think Kleberson's good play was important he gives us another option in midfield...

To reiterate... Fergusson is a genious, look at ManU's squad and compare us to Arsenal (and Chelsea) we have a really bright future....

Ronaldo, Fletcher, DjDj, Kleberson, O'Shea, Fortune those are 6 players who will be our core in less than 5 years and they are already tasting success... can Arsenal say the same thing? Even Chelsea cant, well not yet, but we've spent nothing compared to them...