Vs Venue: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg Kick off: 19:45 GMT, 14:45 EST TV: Sky Sports 2/HD2 (UK), FSC (USA) Streams: MyP2P, FSi, Iraqgoals, atdhe, rojadirecta, football4less etc. etc. Today in Germany - Manutd.com
Ben Foster, Gabriel Obertan, Magnus Eikrem, Paul Scholes, Darron Gibson, Antonio Valencia, Oliver Gill, Michael Carrick, Matty James, Michael Owen, Darren Fletcher, Danny Welbeck, Ji-sung Park, Anderson, Patrice Evra, Cameron Stewart, Tomasz Kuszczak, Nani, Oliver Norwood. My word... that is really barebones. I'm struggling to put together a team. I guess it is a given that Owen, Carrick, Evra, Scholes and Gibson will be starting but who knows what the shape or intent will be. I'd love it if Matty James (can he play CB?) or Eikrem/Norwood got a shot at CM, but to me, it would make more sense if they did that alongside 2 mobile CBs with good passing as opposed to Scholes/Gibson who must surely both start since they are suspended/on a hot streak ---------------Owen Obertan-----------------------Welbeck ----Scholes---Gibson---James Evra-----Carrick-----???-------Fletcher
Looks like Gill will be the other CB. I remember ages ago, think it was when we had huge injury worries ahead of Inter Milan away a couple of seasons back, I suggested Gibson for that role; suppose he could still do a job. Failing either of the above, Fletcher with yet another player being moved out of position to play FB (Gibson? Norwood? Park, even?). Think Gill will get the nod, though. Guess Corry Evans is injured? He'd have been another CB option, or even a midfield one. Considering the make-up of the rest of the squad, I'd have thought he'd have had a good chance of at least travelling if fit.
I'd probably go with something like this if desperate to get a result: -------------Kuszczak Fletcher----Carrick----Gill----Evra Valencia-Gibson-Scholes-Anderson-Nani/Park/Obertan -------------Owen Not sure we are that desperate, though.
Lineup: Foster (he has not played yet much, this is a good chance) Fletcher (no need for explanation) Carrick( same) Gill (well, since we qualified, there is no reason not to put an actual CB even though he is reserve) Evra (we have to ) Nani (needs game time and perfect time to play him) Gibson (let him keep going with his good form) James ( good game to play him in and see where he is at, and Ando should rest for villa along with scholes who just came off in a 90 min game) Park ji ( needed to cover fletch or evra on the wings and help out james inthe middle) Owen (needing game time ) Welbeck (they work good together and both in need of game time)
Could see a few interesting debutants at the very least. Kiko injured or being prepped for another crack at Villa? Thank heavens we've already qualified. Not particularly bothered about who we get in the next round.
I thought you had to register your champions league squad at the start of the season, as we put Owen Hargreaves in on the understanding he would be fit later in the year. If we can only pick from the squad we have presented at the start of the competition then why are the following players travelling with the squad when they are ineligble, I assume for a team jolly? Magnus Eikrem, Oliver Gill, Matty James, Cameron Stewart, Oliver Norwood
No, the rule is different for academy players under a certain age. We don't have to register them for the competitino cuz they've been with us for more than 2 years and are under 19 or 20 or something like that. It encourages teams to play their youngsters.
From ManUtd.com http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=6638851
let's play Scholes as CB and see how many PK he gives away...it will be like having a position player pitching in baseball.
wow... i bet none of these kids thought they'd ever be flying out for CL match at this stage. let's hope they do well. i'm kind of surprised that Macheda didn't make the squad. also if CSKA beat Besiktas we will top the group no matter what.
I'd love to see Eikrem out there. What a barebones squad though. Also want to see Owen from the start. Hopefully Gill does a good job, quite a situation for a first team debut.
Well, if at this point of the season I'm just thankful we took care of business early and have a very favorable schedule.
i'm looking forward to the game. these players will want to prove themselves if they get a shot... considering how much we were slayed in the press last time around.
no official word yet. possibly saving for the Villa game at the weekend. or maybe a knock? we may find out more at the press conference later today. it would be good to know what the latest injury is for Rafael.
Ridiculously thin squad. Who could have forseen 8 defenders going down with injuries at the same time? Even the biggest of squads acan be susceptable I guess.
We have been hit with similar defensive issues before. Hopefully this forces Ferguson into making another signing.
Nani will start. He has not touched a ball since the qualifiers, and for us I don't remember when. He needs these minutes for sure. He will be the first one on the list along with Evra.