It really depends on the situation if we only lead by one but are looking quite good, he won't bring any of them on. If we are behind or it's level he will at some point. Same if we're leading comfortably, for fitness reasons.
Manchester United vs. Liverpool
- Thread starter nemanja15
- Start date
It really depends on the situation if we only lead by one but are looking quite good, he won't bring any of them on. If we are behind or it's level he will at some point. Same if we're leading comfortably, for fitness reasons.
I would think it has more to do with Carrick and Cleverley partnership in the middle. Of course, Van Persie's form has helped.
Definitely the RvP factor for me. It was the same when we went to the Bridge earlier in the season. For the first time in years I fancied us to get 3 points there.
So Rio will partner Evans. But who will play on the wings ?
Agreed. We battered them last year at home yet only won 2-1 after missing chance after chance and a bundled in fluke Suarez goal, then they deluded themselves it was a close match and the ref was the difference. Similar story with the 3-2, a crappy Gerrard free kick that somehow went in and a penalty. Somehow they are close games at Old Trafford despite us dominating the games.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-uniteds-wayne-rooney-could-1528109
We may have Rooney on the bench.
We may have Rooney on the bench.
What do you think is our best defence for dealing with Liverpools tricky and pacy forwards? I can't make up my mind whether I want Rio or Vidic playing, or if maybe Smalling should start. I'd imagine it'll be Evans + 1. Not that I'm overly worried about Liverpools attack, just that we've decent options with everyone fit
I think it'll be Rio and Evans. As you say, Evans will start and I don't really mind who else but I think it'll be Rio. He was superb at Anfield this season too.
Rio was excellent against City and his experience and reading of the game is still of highest standard. I'd pair him with Evans, definitely.
I'm also 100% sure Evans and Rio will start.
Fergie has all but stated that it's going to be Evans and Rio. Rio is a United legend, but I wonder if he's still got the right stuff to deal with a slippery fukk like Suarez who's been more than sensational this season.
This opponent seems a perfect fit for Vidic's services, but Fergie does have to work him back judiciously.
This opponent seems a perfect fit for Vidic's services, but Fergie does have to work him back judiciously.
Rio and Evans are both fantastic readers of the game so hopefully they can cope. They will have to be on their toes the Liverpool attack looks fairly pacy.
------------------De Gea------------------
Rafael-------Rio----------Evans-------Evra
Young-------Carrick----Cleverley-----Kagawa
---------Hernandez----Van Persie------------
Rafael-------Rio----------Evans-------Evra
Young-------Carrick----Cleverley-----Kagawa
---------Hernandez----Van Persie------------
If Kagawa starts he will probably come off for Giggs on the hour mark.
Other than that, spot on.
I would hope for:
------------De Gea-----------
Rafael----Rio----Evans---Evra
-------Carrick----Cleverley----
Valencia----Kagawa---Giggs--
-------------RVP--------------
------------De Gea-----------
Rafael----Rio----Evans---Evra
-------Carrick----Cleverley----
Valencia----Kagawa---Giggs--
-------------RVP--------------
Luis Suarez is quite probably the last football player in the world Vidic would deal better with than Rio.
Yep, Rio is built to deal with hacks like Suarez. Vidic is much more likely to get mauled. He struggled with an inform Torres in the past and I'd expect him to struggle with Suarez as well.
The real mauling however will be RVP with other going up against a line of garbage defenders.
I have to admit that RvP has given me heaps of confidence this season. I'm not saying we'll win every single match or he'll score every single time, but he's given us such an edge up front it's unreal.
Rio had him in his pocket at Anfield, him and Rafael were our best players by a distance that day.
Suarez was not getting support on that game, with Sturridge by his side the combo could be lethal.
In Suarez, Sturridge & Sterling, they have one of the paciest front 4 now.
It will also be hard to find another frontline with less football brain(s) between them
On topic I'm getting more confident as the game approaches. Bar Rooney everyone is available (we won't miss Jones at the moment), the squad had a week rest after the busy Christmas period and we're due to destroy a team rather sooner than later. I take a boring 1-0 win now, but I would absolutely love to batter these bastards. Come on United!
Also think we'll see this, if Rooney is out.
Doubt Nani will be ready to come straight in for Valencia. Enrique is out so they'll probably have Glen Johnson left back. Valencia & Rafael will get in behind him all day long.
Jones possibly not ready until the WH match. I'd keep Vidic and Giggs for the WH match. Anderson has been confirmed fit, he needs to start this one.
Subs: Lindegaard, Smalling, Scholes, Nani, Valencia, Young, Welbeck.
This team struggled a fair bit in midfield, even when Shelvey got sent off and they were down to 10men.
I think we should play the above team but with Cleverley in for Giggs and Young in for Nani.
We would have the option of bringing Anderson on for Kagawa if we need a stronger midfield presence at some point.
Also SAF could be doing his usual bluff routine and Rooney could start in Kagawa's place. Some papers this morning reported that Wayne had been in training since last week whereas SAF said he's expecting him to start today so I wouldn't bet against him starting at all!
This team struggled a fair bit in midfield, even when Shelvey got sent off and they were down to 10men.
I think we should play the above team but with Cleverley in for Giggs and Young in for Nani.
We would have the option of bringing Anderson on for Kagawa if we need a stronger midfield presence at some point.
Also SAF could be doing his usual bluff routine and Rooney could start in Kagawa's place. Some papers this morning reported that Wayne had been in training since last week whereas SAF said he's expecting him to start today so I wouldn't bet against him starting at all!
I would rather start Ando as he will run out of breath and TC can come on anyway.. but given SAF is out, that is the strongest line up with the question only, Raf or Smalling?
I'd start with Cleverley he has earned it. But it also makes it possible for us to ease Ando back in, and we're guaranteed a 100 % effort from him in the 30 minutes or so he'll get. And if we're chasing a result (God forbid) he wouldn't be too bad to bring on instead of having to take him off for Cleverley.
Regarding Rafael or Smalling I'd definitely go with Rafael. Liverpool are only a thread in the air from set-pieces and we should be able to bring back van Persie for those. And given Liverpool's strikers are pretty pacey I'd trust Rafael more than Smalling, plus Smalling wasn't very good against West Ham.
Ando and Cleverley, at the moment, are not equivalent. Tom's presence is crucial because he is reliable and provides a base for our forwards and creatives to play on. Anderson is one of the players who plays on that sort of base. If you take Cleverley out for Ando, we'll have no control.
Ideally, if Ando's fit, I'd like to see them both play, and Carrick, in some kind of diamond or 433.
Then you have to ask if your going 3 in the middle to either go with wingers or leave Kagawa out as he doesn't do brilliantly in the left IMO
My personal choice would be to leave a winger out, probably Valencia as he's been so ineffective recently. But what I'm saying is that if you don't want to start all three midfielders, Ando is the one to leave out, not Tom, who's been playing consistently well alongside Carrick and is important to give us good possession against 'pool's 'bore you to death' passing.
Agree with all of this, except I feel I am on my own in regards to Cleverly as obviously I rate him but I see him as an attacking player, he seems to play better when involved in attacks, rather than defending. For this reason I would consider him more similar to Anderson than Carrick, hence why for me it wouldn't be clev/Carrick or Ando/?, for me it's more Carrick/Fletch or TC/Ando
How do you think it will affect City mentally if they go into the Arsenal away match 10 points behind?
(Also, a big massive laugh at that scouser who said he would choose Suarez ahead of Van Persie on SSN)
(Also, a big massive laugh at that scouser who said he would choose Suarez ahead of Van Persie on SSN)
I agree that Cleverley is quite similar to Anderson and that's why we need to start with the former because he is match fit and the latter is just coming back from injury.
How could anyone even think of not starting Cleverley after his performances in most of the big games this season? Insanity!
Ando is just getting back and if history is any indicator it would take him a while to get back to full match fitness.
Ando is just getting back and if history is any indicator it would take him a while to get back to full match fitness.
Yes, I'd say put him and Nani on the bench against Liverpool and start them against West Ham, then back on the bench for Spurs unless something happens in the mean time.
It won't be very good for their psyche. I think they'll try and not lose that game.
Though if it is the other way around, I could see them going for the jugular.
Different players, both Anderson and Cleverley.
Also, since Anderson is coming back from an injury, I don't think starting him outright against Liverpool is the brightest idea. I'd rather have Cleverley. He is fit, and proved himself this season consistently, and with him and Carrick, we can exert more control over their midfield.
DDG
Rafa Evans Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Cleverley Young
Kagawa
van Persie
Rafa Evans Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Cleverley Young
Kagawa
van Persie
Or maybe Young at RW, Kagawa at LW and Hernandez alongside van Persie.
Without Toure, Aguero and Nasri too. For obvious reasons I really hope we go 10 points clear before they play Arsenal, the pressure on them would be MASSIVE indeed.
What happened to Toure and Nasri?