Manchester United vs Olympiakos Piraeus Official Match Thread

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;) Gary Neville could be in line for his first start for four months as Manchester United look to protect their 100% Champions League record this season against Olympiakos at Old Trafford

Sir Alex Ferguson hinted after Saturday's 3-1 win at Charlton he could throw Neville into the fray following his recovery from a broken foot.

Ferguson has a number of niggling injury worries, including Juan Sebastian Veron (flu), Mikael Silvestre (knee) and Nicky Butt (back), but it is Ruud van Nistelrooy's hamstring that continues to cause most concern.

"I took a risk with Ruud on Saturday but if we keep playing him the injury could get worse," said Ferguson. "We have kept it in check quite well so far but it is a problem."

Olympiakos will be without striker Lambros Houtos, who is continuing to recover from a calf injury. Houtos is joined on the sidelines by defender Christos Kontis (knee).

The Greek champions come into the match after a full week's rest thanks to a league strike organised by clubs in protest at the collapse of digital television revenues.



Van: Hamstring problems



Olympiakos, beaten twice by United last term, started their present campaign with a 6-2 dismissal of Bayer Leverkusen. However, the Greeks followed that up with an equally remarkable 3-0 reverse to Israeli minnows Maccabi Haifa.

"Last week was a shock but maybe Maccabi were nervous when they played us and having got that out of their system, enjoyed themselves last week," said Ferguson. "I have seen some of the video and Olympiakos didn't deserve to lose 3-0.

"We played them twice last year and they were both very close, so I expect another tough game. They have a lot of experience in their team, so we need to perform to our own capabilities, in which case we will have a good chance."

Manchester United (probable): 1-Fabien Barthez; 2-Gary Neville, 5-Laurent Blanc, 6-Rio Ferdinand, 27-Mikael Silvestre; 7-David Beckham, 8-Nicky Butt, 4-Juan Sebastian Veron, 18-Paul Scholes, 11-Ryan Giggs; 10-Ruud van Nistelrooy

Olympiakos (probable): 33-Dimitris Eleftheropoulos, 2-Christos Patsatzoglou, 3-Stelios Venetidis, 18-Paraskevas Antzas, 32-Giorgos Anatolakis, 7-Stelios Giannakopoulos, 8-Christian Karembeu, 11-Predrag Djordjevic, 12-Ze Elias, 20-Par Zetterberg, 10-Giovanni

Referee: Gilles Veissiere (France)
 
Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>This can't be official. There's no logo. Mods... <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

UEFA Champions League Group Stage 1

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At Old Trafford, Manchester

Kick-off: 7.45pm (GMT)

it is now :cool:
Now no one is to go copying all my hrd work ;)
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there we go

thanks to murt all is well with the OFFICIAL match thread
 
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Common guys, a win is what we really need... Veron's from Vega too... so is Elvis...
 
Ruud is unlikely to start, and considering Alex's past behaviour, a 4-5-1 is likely to be favoured if possible.

Considering injuries, the 5 midfielders would have to include Forlan or Phil, therefore a similar side to that against Charlton, but with Scholes maybe playing a bit deeper than in the first half. Butt is also a worry, so it may well be Forlan Beckham Phil Scholes Giggs, otherwise Beckham Phil Scholes Butt Giggs.

In defence, Gary is expected to start at right back, with Phil presumably deputising at left back again - with O'Shea on the bench.

Ole would have to lead the attack, which personally, I think he is unsuited to. He will need a lot of support from Scholes and Giggs.
 
Originally posted by Neil Thomson:
<strong>Ruud is unlikely to start, and considering Alex's past behaviour, a 4-5-1 is likely to be favoured if possible.

Considering injuries, the 5 midfielders would have to include Forlan or Phil, therefore a similar side to that against Charlton, but with Scholes maybe playing a bit deeper than in the first half. Butt is also a worry, so it may well be Forlan Beckham Phil Scholes Giggs, otherwise Beckham Phil Scholes Butt Giggs.

In defence, Gary is expected to start at right back, with Phil presumably deputising at left back again - with O'Shea on the bench.

Ole would have to lead the attack, which personally, I think he is unsuited to. He will need a lot of support from Scholes and Giggs.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Id like to see 442 with Olle & Diego at the top. Maybe with Diego roaming slightly behind Olle, freeish.
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Originally posted by Murt:
<strong>
Id like to see 442 with Olle & Diego at the top. Maybe with Diego roaming slightly behind Olle, freeish.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'd love to see that too.
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Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>Right everytime I've posted this we've won, so I'll post it again...

THERE ARE NO EASY GAMES IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE</strong><hr></blockquote>

you should have kept it to yourself, as soon as you tell everyone you hex us,

cheers thanks a bunch ;)
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Originally posted by An Extremely Boring Man:
<strong>I reckon we'll lose 2-1 today

We'll still qualify for the next stage comfortably though</strong><hr></blockquote>

why do you say that?

they are quite a poor side away from home
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I think that it'll be a draw... if Diego doesn't get the spark that we all are waiting for. Comon Diego, just put that ball in the freakin' net!
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Wouldn't be too surprised by a defeat, they can score goals, but can't defend, we've not been scoring many goals without Ruud, though we're defending well. We've a good record against them though, and its a good time for Ole to get his shooting boots on (and Forlan too plllleeeeasssseeee God).
 
--Barthez--

Gaz - Rio - O'Shea - Silvestre

Beckham - Scholes - Veron - Giggs

Ole - Diego

prediction

united 4 - Olympiakos 1
ole (2) Karembeu
Giggs
Scholes
 
i think we should win confortably although we probably won't have RVN. I think scholes coming back will give us that extra sharpness in attack.
come on diego,show us what your made of!!! <img src="graemlins/smirk.gif" border="0" alt="[Smirk]" />
 
Originally posted by Murt:
<strong>
Id like to see 442 with Olle & Diego at the top. Maybe with Diego roaming slightly behind Olle, freeish.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Agreed. There have been games in the past when Ole has done OK on his own - like Leeds away last season - but I'm not too happy seeing a short-arse up front alone against big defenders.
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Originally posted by An Extremely Boring Man:
<strong>I reckon we'll lose 2-1 today

We'll still qualify for the next stage comfortably though</strong><hr></blockquote>

yeah i've a funny feeling.. i'll say a draw is the best we'll do. 2-2
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Ruud's out of the squad altogether.

It's Barthez, Gary Nev, Silvestre, Blanc, Rio, Butt, Veron, Becks, Giggs, Scholes, Ole.
 
With Ruud not 100% it is the ideal oportunity for Diego to start. Up front this time.
We should win well, as long as we play with pace.
The passing needs to be slick.
Bascially play like we did in the 2nd half against Charlton. When for the first time for a while we scored for quick decisive counter attacks
 
Just seen the team.
No Ruud at all
Ole upfront with scholes just behind
Gaz at RB
 
Surprised to see Veron and Butt and Silvestre back


Barthez

Gary Rio Blanc Silvestre
Becks Butt Veron Giggs
Scholes
Ole
 
On the bench is Fortune, as you'll have seen from my news article, he's recovered from his Achilles injury and will play in the reserves on Thursday.
 
Originally posted by Neil Thomson:
<strong>Surprised to see Veron and Butt and Silvestre back


Barthez

Gary Rio Blanc Silvestre
Becks Butt Veron Giggs
Scholes
Ole</strong><hr></blockquote>


Wow is that a full 1st choice defence there :eek: :eek:
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I know, amazing isn't it! We're getting them back. Keano the main one left. Brown is unlikely to start anyway. Ruud is on the bench, might come on as a sub if things aren't going well I guess. Supersub that he is.
 
Wow, loads of chances just then, very surprised one didn't go in. They look poor defensively though.
 
Originally posted by Neil Thomson:
<strong>I know, amazing isn't it! We're getting them back. Keano the main one left. Brown is unlikely to start anyway. Ruud is on the bench, might come on as a sub if things aren't going well I guess. Supersub that he is.</strong><hr></blockquote>

He's not on the bench according to... well, everybody.
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Originally posted by CremboMan:
<strong>

He's not on the bench according to... well, everybody.</strong><hr></blockquote>
To be fair I didn't quite reach the bottom of the list! <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> Thats a blow though. Not sure we'll need him though, Olympiakos look their for the killing.
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to my shame i must admit i keep switching between the milan and manutd matches ...
 
Originally posted by redinsyd:
<strong>Anyone know of any live feeds for the game?</strong><hr></blockquote>
ManUtd.com always have the game, you need latest version of RealPlayer though.
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Bench:
19 Ricardo Lףpez
3 Philip Neville
14 May
17 Stewart
21 Forlבn
22 O'Shea
25 Fortune

Again... no RVN today at all.

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