Real Madrid vs Manchester United

Jaybezia said:
I would be suprised if we get 90 out of him, I find it hard to leave him out, but after SAF's comments..
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He'll start and will play until the end unless he's forced off.

After today he's not needed for 10 days.
 
Brightonian said:
Anyone care to explain what happened with the first question there?
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French Journalist starting asking about Evra and the kiss and tell story involving him. It was quickly made clear he was only there to talk Football.
 
I'm surprised at some of the very negative line ups a lot have posted.

Madrid are a top team that deserve respect but I expect you'll see something close to the 11 that we've used in the big games all season with maybe 1 or 2 personel changes. The main difference will be the tactics themselves rather than the players.
 
Ruud10 said:
Not many here fancy Nani starting. Understandable, I suppose, yet I still see it happening.
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That left side is the position most in question for me:

Kagawa: Not been in the best of form since moving, but the international opponents are probably more suited to him than the British ones at the moment. He's well rested and I would personally like him to start. However, I have to admit that things don't look fantastic right now given our performances I've managed to watch of late when he has played. The ones that spring to mind were Liverpool at Old Trafford which was a somewhat average display in the second half. Southampton at home and Tottenham away where we seemed arguably second best. The rest of his appearances since his injury have been more likely 20 minute stints that didn't bring that much benefit. He'll at least be involved, but I don't know if he'll start.

Nani: He'd have to assure the team that he can provide the work rate required away in Madrid. He seems more like the choice Fergie would like to make if we were playing at home. He's not played a great deal as of late since his injury, but he has been decent admittedly and has a very good chance of starting.

Young: Unless Sir Alex has a plan in mind and thinks he is ready, I can't see Young featuring. Asking a player to come back and get a result at Madrid is just too much for me, especially a player who I think would struggle anyway. Hopefully it's not Young that gets the nod, but if he is chosen, hope he has a stormer.

Giggs: No chance for me, not after starting the Everton game.

No one...: Or more-so, Rooney filling in. Sir Alex could see that all four of our main left sided players have their flaws due mainly to the timing of this particular game. SAF could simply have Rooney slightly wider and play Jones, Carrick, and Cleverley in a midfield three. Valencia and van Persie making up the rest of the front six.

I'm really excited to see what kind of formation and which personnel we choose.
 
Ruud10 said:
Not many here fancy Nani starting. Understandable, I suppose, yet I still see it happening.
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I hope it happens. The line-ups on here seem to have got more and more defensive the closer we get to the game. I reckon we want to try and blow them away with work-rate and intensity and try and keep a decent amount of the ball in the first half at least. Sitting back from the start is a recipe for disaster. So I'd still like to see:

DDG
Rafael Evans Vidic Evra
Anderson Carrick Cleverley
Nani/Valencia Rooney ---------
RVP​

That team has perfect balance: on-the-ball ability and off-the-ball workrate, potential width and tight central areas, counter-attacking pace and the ability to maintain good possession.
 
My reckoning is Jones will play but will not be man marking Ronaldo.

I seriously hope not anyway. Will leave holes everywhere else to exploit.
 
Some said that our defence against Everton was one of the best performances they've put in all season.

That may be thanks to Jones. I understand there is a massive void between Fellaini and Ronaldo, but we seemed to close them down well.

I'm all for Jones starting and following Ronaldo. Whether I think it'll happen is another question.
 
Poxbo said:
French Journalist starting asking about Evra and the kiss and tell story involving him. It was quickly made clear he was only there to talk Football.
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Pretty pathetic behavior from the journalist to ask a question which has nothing to do with one of the biggest games in recent years.
 
Ole's_toe_poke said:
My reckoning is Jones will play but will not be man marking Ronaldo.

I seriously hope not anyway. Will leave holes everywhere else to exploit.
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I agree, he won't be there to man mark Ronaldo, but he will be expected to help.



DDG

Rafael - Ferdinand* - Vidic - Evra

---Jones - Carrick - Cleverley**

Nani*** ------------------ Rooney

van Persie
​


* I'm assuming with Ferdinand rested on Saturday that he will start but the big question I have is Pace. Will we opt for Smalling to have a Centre Back that can match them for Pace or will we use the 5 yards Ferdinand has in his head?

** Cleverley played on Sunday and we've seen Anderson trusted in big games before. His strength and mobility could be a big asset to us tonight.

*** Nani, Valencia, Kagawa or Young? With Young back from injury I'm going to rule him out, Valencia's has been struggling for form and played 90 minutes on Sunday so I think it's between Kagawa and Nani. With the counter attack in mind I can see Nani starting tonight as he's better carrying the ball forward, Kagawa is more of an outlet than a player to carry from deep and with Ferguson saying Kagawa will "be involved I think he has a plan to use him and Hernandez as late substitutes to give us a player who can stretch them and someone who can play on the ball under pressure.
 
de Gea

Rafael Ferdinand Evans Evra

Valencia Jones Carrick Kagawa Rooney

van Persie​

Plenty of mobility there to damage Madrid, and enough hard workers to protect the defence. Someone like Kagawa could be important tonight, he rarely gives the ball away. Rafael, Valencia, and Jones on the right side can help nullify Ronaldo.
 
You can tell that Fergie clearly wants this, and I think he believes that we can do it.

People may be under-rating Madrid, but I think some of our fans are under-rating our team.
With Van Persie and Rooney up front, there isn't a defence out there that can keep us quiet.

Our defence will have to be on top of their game though, and they did look great against Everton.

I'm going for 2-2.
 
Absolutely shitting it. :nervous:

Anyway, I would like to see team, as I think it is very solid.

De Gea

Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra

Carrick Cleverley

Valencia Kagawa Rooney

RvP​
 
DDG
Rafael, Rio, Vida, Evra
Carrick, Cleverley
Nani, Rooney, Kagawa
RVP

I think that is the team that we will end up playing. It will give us plenty enough to at least get a goal or two but, also be very good defensively.
 
I'm almost 100% certain the front four will be Valencia, Rooney, RVP, Welbeck.

De Gea, Evra, Rafael and Carrick are set in stone, it's the other 3 I'm not sure about.
 
No nerves yet. I'm watching it with a scouser, whom I celebrated in front of when Lukaku slotted home on Monday, so I'm going to be even more gutted if we lose without scoring..

I reckon we'll come away with a goal, 1-1, 2-1, I'd be happy with either. I'd be pretty confident at Old Trafford if we needed to score and keep a clean sheet.
 
Last time we faced Madrid, there was a lethal Ronaldo in white and a lethal Dutchman in red. Lets hope that the Dutchman comes out on top this time!
 
This is genuinely the most excited I've been about a game of football for long time. Cannot wait, hope it lives up to the billing.
 
Ah, such a great day for football. Been waiting for this game for years. It's something that has really been missing from European football panorama for a long time.

It may end up being a disappointment footballing wise (I doubt it), but the tension will be great. So many proper ingredients.

And it's just the first leg :drool:
 
I don't know why, but I'm really, reaaaally confident for today.

Like those days when Madrid is really shut down early and things go downhill. Ronaldo start to have fits, especially if Rafa comes guns blazing, Ozil drifts too much for the wings and marks himself out, Benzema gets few service, Coentrão gets fecked by Valencia on the wing (a la Ashley Cole), Pepe comes in thug mode and gets sent off for clipping RVP.

Aaaah, can't wait. I'll even get out of diet with a huge Dominos.
 
elisha27 said:
So if we don't score tonight, we're not going through, even though 0-0 is better than the score you'd be content with (2-1 defeat)? You lost me.
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I can see his point, if we played well and came away with a 2-1 defeat, I would not be to depressed , a win 1-0 at OT would be well within reach.
I would rather we came away with a win of course.
 
For some strange reason I'm really calm today, the excitement hardly kicks in. Maybe it's because it's 'only' the first leg, our focus was put on the league the last three months and I'm confident we can go through. Team selection is key IMO, I will probably be shitting it when the game starts though.
 
Also this reminds me what shit clubs City and Chelsea are, I've been excited for those games in the past but this is a whole other level.

Big clubs with big histories both playing at similar levels with some of the best players in the world, its fit to be a final.

Seems setup for a 0-0 snoozefest full of diving and bickering.
 
I dont expect much. Its weird. Its not supposed to be this way.
 
Looking forward to this more now that my game tonight has been called off :devil:

I would like to see:

ddg
Rafael Vidic Evans Evra

Carrick Jones

Valencia Young/Nani (dependent on fitness)
Rooney

RVP

Keeping Jones free to try to nulify Ronaldo, Valencia for added cover for Rafael if Ronaldo manges to slip by Jones.

Think it will be 1-1 or 2-2 depending on how we do in defence.
 
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