Arsenal vs. Manchester United FC - 8th Nov - Official Match Thread [R]

[Republic of Mancunia]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/53/Arsenal_FC.svg/150px-Arsenal_FC.svg.png Vs. http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/9933/unitedqm5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)




Location: Emirates Stadium
Kick off: 12:45 pm (GMT), 7:45 am (EST)
TV: Sky Sports 1 +HD1 (UK), Setanta (USA)
Streams: myp2p (http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=23070&part=sports)

Match preview from goal.com: (click for full article) (http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=952222)

Manchester United travel to the Emirates in the knowledge that a win could provide a critical blow to the title hopes of one of their Premier League rivals. We may only be in the early weeks of November, but the stakes are already that high..........

....Squad: Van Der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, Rafael Da Silva, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Neville, Brown, O'Shea, Anderson, Park, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Berbatov, Tevez, Rooney.

[Republic of Mancunia]

Thought someone would've started this sooner knowing how many of you in Big Soccer world relish the matches against le gooners.

Interesting to see what the manager does at right back in this one, and who's available there. I know I put the squad up as reported by goal.com but these things are generally made up by the media out of those players they assume to be fit. Perhaps there'll be further insight later today after Fergie's weekly Friday press conference.

All things being equal, I'd assume Neville would get the nod after being rested for Celtic. Only real doubt on that would be whether or not being rested was a euphemism for having a slight injury.

As far as what I'd like to see, would still prefer Brown there on a week-in, week-out basis but after missing games through rotation and injury it puts a slight dampener on me advocating him starting this one even if he is deemed to be match fit. Can't really see Rafael sarting even if he is the one with the guaranteed fitness at this present moment.

Central midfield could also be up for a fair bit of debate as far as what he goes with and what everyone would like to see. Would assume that it's a straight 2 out of 3 situation with 1 of Anderson, Carrick and Fletcher missing out. That being said, his tenedency to play 3 in there, or move one of them into a wider role away from home against some of the bigger teams on occasion could muddy the waters.

Tough choice. Was initially leaning towards a Fletcher/Carrick partnership then remembered that Anderson shits on Fabregas! Suppose Anderson being on the bench on Wednesday night with Carrick starting could be a pointer that he was kept back for this one. I might be reading too much into that but with Carrick coming back from his recent injury, it wouldn't surprise me if a third start in 7 days was deemed too much. Think I'd just go with Carrick. Fletcher's almost guaranteed to start (imo).

Other than those, Nani or Park on the opposite side to Ronaldo looks the main issue assuming we don't play all 3 of Fletch, Ando and Carrick but would think Park's work-rate puts him in pole-position here.

Reckon Tevez misses out.

Would just about settle on:

-------------VDS----------
Nevile---Rio---Vidic---Evra
------Fletcher-Carrick-Park
Ronaldo----Rooney--------
----------Berbatov

That midfield area and the subsequent shape of the team (Rooney wider?) really could go any way. Eager to see what happens there.

[Dark Savante]

What score do you have for this?

[Republic of Mancunia]

Was orignally thinking 2-1 to us. As far as IKTS goes it'd definitely be with insurance! The more I think about it, the more sense it makes to hold off on that and stick a score in after the teams are announced.

And you?

[Dark Savante]

draw or loss.

unless they score first, which would lead to us winning, imo.


dunno what score to go with. :/

[Republic of Mancunia]

Your pessimism disappoints.*

:(







*Even if I can see where you're coming from.

[Dark Savante]

Skeptiscm or realism, I guess.

Or mebbe I'm talking out me arse and we'll hammer them 5-0.

Rarrrr!

[holytoledo]

DS needs to get on board the confidence train.

[jeff070]

I think it has always been a united thing when before a game we look like we are going to dominate but then it turns out different. I am not predicting this I am too scared. I know for sure Arsenal will come at us!

[Drae]

Would just about settle on:

-------------VDS----------
Nevile---Rio---Vidic---Evra
------Fletcher-Carrick-Park
Ronaldo----Rooney--------
----------Berbatov

With the exception of Anderson starting over Fletcher (otherwise Fletcher would have been rested midweek, he does not need match fitness), I agree with the lineup and what shape we will take.

I also would like Wes to start, but he has not really had enough PT for my liking. The weakness of our rotation policy at RB is exposed coming big game like this.

draw or loss.

unless they score first, which would lead to us winning, imo.


dunno what score to go with. :/

Of course this is going to be a tough game, and they will be up for it, but none the less, I feel we have a good chance to win this game. I think they will go with a 4-5-1ish setup;

------------Almunia--------------
?Sagna---Toure---?Gallas---Clichy
---------Song---Denilson--------
?Walcott--------------------Nasri
------------Fabergas-------------
-----------Bendtner-------------

Fatigue will be an issue for them. Our game will be the 5th game Fabergas has played in two weeks. Likewise for many of their starters. Walcott / Sagna / Gallas are all very big question marks, and they will miss Walcott particularly if he doesnt start as they dont have Eboue either, so I guess Diaby would start out wide?

Either way, they are not going to be full strength. They certainly arent going to be really playing stifling defensive game, so we will get chances to score. Ronaldo / Rooney / Berba provide a lot of goal threat for them to deal with.

On the defensive side, as long as Rio / Vida are concentrating, Gary is not woeful against Nasri and Carrick / Anderson do ok centrally, our defense should be strong enough to hold them.

2-1 to us. Of course on recent form, we are still capable of screwing it up. The game is ours to win. Story of the season I guess.

[Amdrag]

You would hope Berba, Rooney, and Ronaldo would eat their laughable CBs for lunch. Their softer qualities aid us in midfield. No fear of being pushed around.

4-1 to us.

[johno]

Good post on the possible line up from us Rom. I can't really fault any of your logic, but maybe that's just because I see it the same way.

I agree that Park is almost guaranteed to start, not just for his workrate but also because his game is best suited to the less physical sides we face AND his movement is something that gets the best out of Berbatov.

I think RB is going to be a key key position for us. Nasri hasn't been great so far this season, but he's shown flashes and he can strike a ball. He'll probably be one of the best LWs we'll see in the prem in terms of cutting in and shooting with his right. Of course he's an excellent passer as well so we've got to be careful in that regard as well.

My thinking is that if Neville has a solid game, or even just an above average game, this match could/should come down to finishing. We've got the decided advantage in that regard, but that matters very little unless we do our job.

I'd expect a good performance from Berbatov and Ronaldo to get on the scoresheet.

[Father Ted]

No Adebayor, Eboue and van Persie for them. Also doubts about Walcott (shoulder), Gallas (thigh), Silvestre(broken nose) and Sagna.

I hate these matches when a team is missing players and is in a poor run. They usually raise their game and battle their way through.

[johno]

I think all the players who are not suspended or have injuries you can't dress up or exagerate like a break, will have miraculous recoveries to play the match.

[jeff070]

No Adebayor, Eboue and van Persie for them. Also doubts about Walcott (shoulder), Gallas (thigh), Silvestre(broken nose) and Sagna.

I hate these matches when a team is missing players and is in a poor run. They usually raise their game and battle their way through.

You Are right!

[pgr17]

some great pictures today from training: http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&language=en-US&family=editorial&p=manchester%20united&assetType=image&src=quick

http://i35.tinypic.com/izqnt0.jpg
http://i33.tinypic.com/6tgvgx.jpg
http://i33.tinypic.com/2f0c3g1.jpg



Maradona visits and Sir Alex in a Brazil hat...

[Numquam Moribimur]

Fergie is the master of WUM'S

:D:D

[sdotsom]

2-1 to us.

---VDS---
-Brown-Vida-Rio-Evra
-Ronaldo-Fletcher-Carrick--Park
-----Rooney---
--Berbytoff-

[pgr17]

Rooney and Ronaldo both get their 100's tomorrow... Berba and Tevez round out the scoring. 4-0 :D

i'm feeling this one (why not?).

[sdotsom]

Well the word is no Brown, and possibly no Fletcher. So Gaz will probably be our starting RB (unless Fergie wants to throw Rafael into the mix, or use O'Shea). If Fletch misses out in midfield, then we'll probably go with Ando and Carrick.