Trizy
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Controversial opinion.
Forgot to put ''- Michael Owen'' at the end
Controversial opinion.
VS
Date - Saturday, April 23, 2016.
Kickoff Time - 1715 Hrs BST.
Venue - Wembley Stadium, London.
Referee
Anthony Taylor.
BBC said:The new Doctor Who companion will be revealed live on BBC One during half time of the FA Cup semi-final.
TEAM NEWS
Before his press conference, van Gaal sat down with MUTV as usual and had this good news: "[The squad is] Nearly fit. Only Shaw and Schweinsteiger are unable to play and maybe Januzaj because he didn't play yet in the second team. But we have a full squad of fit players."
Where is Phil Jones, is he fit or made the bench in recent weeks ?
Maybe it's good to be brought down to earth every now and then. Cherish every bit of success and all that.Will be utterly amazed if we win this
I have a feeling that, if Rooney starts and throws in his usual performance against Everton, there is no going back from it
I'm sorry but, this is bollix...We're Manchester United and we are "buzzing" over a cup semi final at Wembley
Never thought I'd see the day
very good postUnited have suffered a lot in the FA Cup since we last won it. The defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea in the finals in 2005 and 2007 in particular stand out, but I think we won’t have a better chance than this season to end our 12 year drought. The winners of our game against Everton will go and play either Watford or Crystal Palace, you would happily take that if you were offered it at the start of the season. I personally would rather win the FA Cup than finish in the top four if I had to choose. As far as I am concerned our season is probably over if we lose on Saturday, the same applies for Everton. It is a season defining game for both teams. Van Gaal’s claims that United are better this year because they have got further in the FA Cup are well wide of the mark, the league is the ultimate yardstick, United have not progressed and may even have regressed from last season which of course is a huge disappointment. The FA Cup is a knock-out competition and in knock-out competition every dog can have its day, but I would be pleased for Van Gaal but more importantly the fans if we went on won the cup. United are clearly in a better place than Everton at the moment. Everton's midweek performance at Anfield was so horrendous that the 4-0 defeat actually flattered them - it could have been so much worse. The Toffees desperately need a victory at Wembley here to save their season - and perhaps to save Roberto Martinez's job. I would expect a response from them and would be surprised if United brushed them aside in the manner that Liverpool did the other night.
Tactically Van Gaal has decisions to make. Not only about the personnel who play but also the format of the side. He has generally played 4-2-3-1 this season, but has altered the midfield triangle recently. In midweek he used an attacking-minded 4-1-4-1 system that had Rooney and Mata ahead of Schneiderlin. He also used a 4-1-4-1 in the win over West Ham in the last round. Against Everton I think a ‘double pivot’ would work better. In the recent meeting with Everton, Martinez deployed his usual system but with his regular attacking midfielder, Ross Barkley, fielded in a much deeper role, with Tom Cleverley starting from the left and regular winger Aaron Lennon playing just behind Romelu Lukaku. Barkley, Cleverley and Lennon were effectively fielded in each others’ positions. The problem for Everton was they weren’t able to build passing moves. Lennon lacks the positional intelligence of Barkley, who always finds space between the lines from that attacking midfield role. Barkley struggled to influence the game from deep, often wanting too long in possession. I would expect Martinez to return to the norm in this game which means United need to be wary of Barkly between the lines. Having a two deep midfielders in front of the defence would make it easier to control Ross Barkley. Barkley might relish playing against a sole defensive midfielder as he'll find space in the channels. He varies his position well, moving laterally to receive the ball into feet. Having two players in this zone gives him less space to operate in.
A key individual battle will be Lukaku vs Blind. In the recent match at Old Trafford Lukaku positioned himself against Blind to try and use his extra physical qualities against him, but Blind more than matched that challenge, not only physically but also by reading the game really well. He often pinched the ball when it was played into Lukaku and wasn’t really exposed against a faster, stronger man. I expect Lukaku to do same again here so Blind again will have to perform well. Out wide, Martinez prefers a system featuring the left wide-man drifting inside from the left to help in midfield, usually former United man Tom Cleverley. He should be up against Antonio Valencia who will probably push him back from his left-sided position by Valencia’s overlapping runs. The right-sided player is handed more of an attacking brief on the right. Gerard Delefou caused Marcus Rojo problems in the recent league match, Rojo has had a poor season and I would prefer to see the impressive Fosu-Mensah play ahead of him at left-back. Aaron Lennon will probably be his opponent in a direct wing-battle. Lennon has looked lively in recent weeks, and could cause Timothy Fosu-Mensah problems. The young Dutch defender has performed impressively since coming into the side, and is an old-school defender who loves making tackles. It will be interesting to see where Lennon positions himself - he's become a more intelligent player since moving to Goodison Park.
Overall Everton’s most impressive performances this season have come when they've used the ball quickly. It feels like Martinez's side are better when the opposition come onto them and there is space for them to break into, this is perhaps why they have performed better away from home. The key for Martinez's side is about getting Ross Barkley on the ball, and combining with in-form centre-forward Romelu Lukaku. If United can stop this combination from being effective they should have a good chance of getting a win because at the other end Everton have been to frustrating with their lack of defensive organisation all season, and throughout Martinez's reign. Injuries have not helped them, Seamus Coleman and Phil Jagielka will be injured for this game and to make matters worse, Ramiro Fuenes Mori will be suspended after he was dismissed for a terrible tackle on Divock Origi in the game against Liverpool. John Stones also departed through injury, but will probably be fit to start tomorrow. Fuenes Mori's suspension gives Martinez a serious headache. Using Gareth Barry in his old position as a left-sided centre-back seems the most obvious solution, with Besic another option. Either way, Martinez will surely ask his central midfielders, probably Besic and McCarthy, to remain extremely deep and protect the new centre-back combination. United will need to pass the ball quickly and show good movement off the ball to penetrate through the middle. For me Rashford has to start because he offers excellent work-rate, speed, movement, link-play and of course goal scoring. He will give Everton’s defence a stern test running the channels and in-behind. On the left another key battle will be Martial vs. Oviedo. Martial will fancy his chances of causing Bryan Oviedo problems. The Costa Rican is yet another playing in an unfamiliar role because of Coleman's injury, and he made a poor mistake for Liverpool's opener on Wednesday. Accustomed to playing on the left flank, Oviedo looks uncomfortable on the right. Martial loves collecting the ball in left positions before trying to beat his opponent. On the right flank the choice is between Mata and Lingard. Lingard might be used to track Leighton Baines back, but Baines hasn't been at his best since his long injury lay-off, and is no longer a major attacking weapon from full-back. I think we could get away with having Mata on that flank he'll look to dart inside into space between the lines with Valencia overlapping to give United width. Having both Rooney and Mata in the team ahead of Lingard gives United more goal threat because both are capable of popping up in the opposition box to provide goals and assists.
Subs – Romero, Darmian, Rojo, Herrera, Fellani, Memphis, Lingard.
Will be utterly amazed if we win this
I have a feeling that, if Rooney starts and throws in his usual performance against Everton, there is no going back from it
I'm sorry but, this is bollix...We're Manchester United and we are "buzzing" over a cup semi final at Wembley
Never thought I'd see the day
So good
Key battles.
Good grief. Hope it's Giggsy.
Yes, semis don't go into replays if it's a draw, just to extra time.Does this game go to extra time if it's a draw?
Key battles.
You're an Everton fan?We really should beat this lot. They're shambles right now
I had forgetten that it would give us a chance at the Community Shield, we have to win this!!Come on we have to win this cup, Leicester win the league and then we can win the Community Shield again.
Anthony Taylor