Spot on. Kagawa in for Giggs, Nani for Val, Carrick for Jones. Back four will consisit of Rafael, Vida (the only question mark really),Rio and Evra. DDG and RVP to play as well.
Real Madrid vs Manchester United
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Spot on. Kagawa in for Giggs, Nani for Val, Carrick for Jones. Back four will consisit of Rafael, Vida (the only question mark really),Rio and Evra. DDG and RVP to play as well.
I do rate Kagawa, but to be fair in terms of form, him and Nani shouldn't be selected, however saying that I would still love to see Nani
but would be happy with Welbeck on wings...I feel Valencia should not be anywhere near the starting XI. I am worried that he will have a stinker much like the 2011 Final.
He hasn't been in form ok, but with the defensive qualities he offers I wouldn't be too worried about him having a stinker... maybe not the best clincally but he will work for the team..
I hope we smash the twats, and I'm feeling very confident we'll do it. Jones Cleverley and Carrick in midfield would be good to see, with Kagawa ,Rooney and Van Persie up front. I'd pick Nani over Kagawa, but I don't think he's in enough form yet(he could have a field day though if Ronaldo gets lazy in defending..), and Kagawa's tight possession and passing style will help us a lot.
Would love to see...
Will probably see (because we're going to be ultra defensive)
DDG
Rafael - Evans - Vidic - Evra
Carrick - Cleverley
Nani - Rooney - Kagawa
RvP
Rafael - Evans - Vidic - Evra
Carrick - Cleverley
Nani - Rooney - Kagawa
RvP
Will probably see (because we're going to be ultra defensive)
DDG
Jones - Rio - Vidic - Evra
Carrick - Cleverley
Valencia - Rooney - Welbeck
RvP
Jones - Rio - Vidic - Evra
Carrick - Cleverley
Valencia - Rooney - Welbeck
RvP
Well it is also important to be a useful outlet for a pass. During counters or when under intense pressure, it is very useful for a player to maintain possession and hold the ball up. Also, in an away game at Real Madrid, it will be critical to capitalize of any openings or breakaways. We can't afford to slow each and every counter down, or we can't afford to allow every burst on the right to be a pass back to the full back or a midfielder on the inside.
With Valencia these days, we know for sure that we will not get the above mentioned qualities. Atleast with Welbeck, we will be giving ourselves a chance.
I think I would rather we go all out attack at Bernabeau, if we pinched an early goal or two by the half way point, we could look to close them off at this point and hold out for a win, I think if we go defensively it will only end one way... as great as we can be defensively, we weren't built to defend.
Yeah, I can't argue with that actually, I agree with you.
Excellent point. Stop Carrick and you go a long way to stopping United. Khedira to close him down seems like a logical step Mourinho would take. I think we'll see a midfield three of Anderson, Cleverley and Carrick within a 4-5-1 formation.
Not sure who will play wide, maybe Rooney or Kagawa and Nani on the right. Maybe Rooney will start in the middle in place of Cleverley. Interestingly Kagawa wasn't even on the bench for the Everton match, which makes me think he'll be involved. Though there is the chance that Fergie doesn't trust Kagawa yet in big games, though I would find that surprising considering how much we paid for him.
Rio not playing vs Everton basically pencils him in to start alongside Vidic. But considering the speed of Madrid's attack I reckon we'd be better served going with Smalling alongside Vidic. If Ronaldo cuts in from the left Smalling would be far more capable of matching his speed than Rio.
I haven't been this excited for a United match in a long time. The thought of beating Madrid at the Bernabeu is just too much. RVP to score the winner
If Mourinho puts someone on Carrick specifically, then it would mean Ozil would start wide or not start at all.
He bought Modric specifically because Ozil wasn't giving the defensive workrate in this sorts of game. If he puts Khedira on Carrick, then Ozil and Khedira will end up near each other too often and leave Cleverley with a lot of space.
Also, we'll put someone on Alonso. Maybe even Welbeck as i am not sure we trust Kagawa to do that type of pressing yet.
He bought Modric specifically because Ozil wasn't giving the defensive workrate in this sorts of game. If he puts Khedira on Carrick, then Ozil and Khedira will end up near each other too often and leave Cleverley with a lot of space.
Also, we'll put someone on Alonso. Maybe even Welbeck as i am not sure we trust Kagawa to do that type of pressing yet.
Not sure if Alonso was rested or was left out as a precausion but I guess he'll play on Wednesday. The big question will be if Marcelo starts ahead of Coentrao seeing as Mourinho ignored the medical staff's advice and brought him in too early. Pepe will presumably be back aswell on Wednesday. Casillas is the only starter that's definately out of the tie, hopefully he'll be back for the return.
This is the team I'd start against you guys. I'd put Ramos back on RB and put Varane at CB.
Lopez
Ramos - Varane - Pepe - Marcelo
Khedira --- Alonso
Ozil
Di Maria --- Ronaldo
Benzema
Ramos - Varane - Pepe - Marcelo
Khedira --- Alonso
Ozil
Di Maria --- Ronaldo
Benzema
I reckon that would be the best team available.
Chances of Essien starting this? I wouldn't bet a classic Mourinho show, starting Essien, Khedira and Alonso in midfield with Ozil playing in Di Maria position.
With the defensive work Jones was doing yesterday, I can see him playing again on Wednesday... I predict our team will look something like this
I'm basing this soley on the idea that Fergie will have special plans for Ronaldo. I can't see him having a game plan to deal with Fellaini and not have one to deal with the "2nd best player in the world" (tm)
De Gea
Rafael ....... Vidic ....... Rio ....... Evra
.... Jones........................................
..........................Carrick..................
.................Cleverley........................
Welbeck.................................Rooney
......................RVP...........................
Rafael ....... Vidic ....... Rio ....... Evra
.... Jones........................................
..........................Carrick..................
.................Cleverley........................
Welbeck.................................Rooney
......................RVP...........................
I'm basing this soley on the idea that Fergie will have special plans for Ronaldo. I can't see him having a game plan to deal with Fellaini and not have one to deal with the "2nd best player in the world" (tm)
I think he will bring in Essien for Ozil when we're ahead.
Ozil will start, doubt Modric will. I don't think Mourinho is totally convinced of Modric, even though he did pay circa 40mil for him. I think Essien would be more likely to start. You make a good point about Khedira being too close to Ozil, maybe he'll start wide.
Hmm....being sarcastic? Just making sure :-)
I'm pretty confident Welbeck will start.
Howard Nurse @howardnurse
SAF: "Let's hope we can get the team out that we want on Wednesday." - suggests he wants Phil Jones to be fit to face Real Madrid.
Hohum. Hopefully Jones isn't injured as i can see him being our man marker on Ronaldo. Can't see who else can do the job ?
SAF: "Let's hope we can get the team out that we want on Wednesday." - suggests he wants Phil Jones to be fit to face Real Madrid.
Hohum. Hopefully Jones isn't injured as i can see him being our man marker on Ronaldo. Can't see who else can do the job ?
Bale is the closest thing to Ronaldo we have faced this season and in the away game there were special plans for him. Can't see us not planning for Ronaldo and letting Rafa alone.
Reckon Fergie will put the likes of Jones and Welbeck in the mix as he will want to harry the Madrid players when they're on the ball. Also, I'm sure he will have a special plan to deal with Ronnie.
Park.
Jones on Ronaldo can be great, he's got the athleticism for it, and he seems to understand that type of job pretty well. The hard part is to not get booked too early in the game, cos that kind of hampers the whole strategy. Seriously, if we go with it and Jones pulls it off, managing to man mark one of the two best players in the world out of the game in a CL tie, at 20 years old, it'd be a huge feat.
No pressure Phil.
I'm pumped up for this game, loads of friends coming over to watch the match, hope it'll be a good one! Would be very surprised if it turned out to be dull.
Difficult to guess who will be playing in this. Carrick, Anderson, Nani and Welbeck all on the bench yesterday could be a clue, but then it was a strong team out with Rooney, van Persie and Vidic all starting so it would be no surprise to see Cleverley, Valencia and Jones all keeping their spot.
If I had to guess it would be a 4-5-1/4-2-1-3 of:
Countering to:
With Rafael and Evra supporting and providing width and Jones and Carrick sitting deeper and covering them in the channels.
If I had to guess it would be a 4-5-1/4-2-1-3 of:
DDG
Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra
Welbeck - Jones - Carrick - Cleverley - Rooney
Van Persie
Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra
Welbeck - Jones - Carrick - Cleverley - Rooney
Van Persie
Countering to:
DDG
Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra
Jones - Carrick
Cleverley
Welbeck - Van Persie - Rooney
Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra
Jones - Carrick
Cleverley
Welbeck - Van Persie - Rooney
With Rafael and Evra supporting and providing width and Jones and Carrick sitting deeper and covering them in the channels.
Maybe Rooney on Alonso? To do a similar job to what he did on Arteta? Obviously Alonso is a much better player though.
You're all wrong, Nani will start it's nailed on!
I think...
I think...
Park ?
I was being stupid! It's just that his job of manmarking Pirlo out of a CL game a few years back is a bit of a perfect model for me. But I'm aware he's not here anymore!
Anyone thought of the possibility that Ronnie has a stinker? Rooney used to constantly have mares against Everton. Maybe all the love we give him will put him off and he'll get sad.
He's going to score isn't he.
He's going to score isn't he.
Tell that to Sporting Lisbon
Everyone seems increasingly convinced that we're playing Jones. Nothing against the lad, but I'll be a little disappointed if we do. A man-marking job on Ronaldo would be a disaster. Jones isn't going to be able to keep him quiet all night, and it only takes one such escape for all the man-marking effort to have been for nothing. Plenty of other players in their team can hurt us without Ronaldo's involvement. We should try and limit him - probably by playing Valencia instead of Nani - but not devote a player completely to stopping him.
I still think we should play a more normal team, and simply try not to let them have too much of the game. We don't counter-attack so well any more, we'll need the ball if we're to have goal threat.
I still think we should play a more normal team, and simply try not to let them have too much of the game. We don't counter-attack so well any more, we'll need the ball if we're to have goal threat.
Arteta has been better this season, actually. Alonso might raise his game against us, but he's been having a below par season.
Maybe Kagawa instead of Welbeck or Cleverly.
DDG
Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra
Jones - Carrick
Kagawa
Nani- Van Persie - Rooney
or
DDG
Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra
Jones - Carrick
Cleverly
Kagawa- Van Persie - Rooney
It seems nailed on that Jones will play. If nothing, Fergie may sub out Jones for Anderson and hope he lasts at least 70 minutes.
DDG
Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra
Jones - Carrick
Kagawa
Nani- Van Persie - Rooney
or
DDG
Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra
Jones - Carrick
Cleverly
Kagawa- Van Persie - Rooney
It seems nailed on that Jones will play. If nothing, Fergie may sub out Jones for Anderson and hope he lasts at least 70 minutes.
we have to score at least 1.
He won't man mark him, he'll just double up on him / be a body down that side of the pitch to help Rafael. It's what he did against Bale and it worked a treat in that game... as Bale did next to nothing (where as he's been doing everything in the games since).
I don't see Fergie going to Madrid for the win. I think he'll play it quite similar to Barca in 08... if we can knick a goal, great... but the main thing is to not concede and keep it very very tight, then win the game back on our own pitch. It'll be a very disciplined performance from us I feel.
I reckon we will play 5 across the middle, one man up front and try to settle for a draw. I know I know its not the "United way" to play but a draw heading back to Old Trafford would be some result and hell if we nick an away goal then even better.
I trust Rafael against anyone. Even Ronaldo or Messi. Let him at him
But it didn't really work against Spurs, that's my point. Bale was pretty quiet as a result, but we also got outplayed and drew. Whereas Rafael's shown before that he can handle Bale (he's the best RB in the league, so if anyone can do it it's him), and maybe if we'd started someone normal instead of Jones we would have played better in general and won.
I can see the appeal of that approach. I think it was a good tactic against Everton (ok, that was a genuine man-marking job but the principle's the same), because we had to rest some players and not over-exert and because Fellaini really is central to almost all their attacking football against the big teams. But against Real, we need to be able to stay in the game in terms of possession and territory, and Jones will hinder that more, in my opinion, than he'll help us defensively.
Obviously I'll be behind whatever team Fergie puts out, as he's showing once again this season that he always knows best. It's just a point of interest.
Do you have their number?
...................RvP
..Rooney - Cleverley - Welbeck
..........Carrick - Jones
Evra - Vidic - Ferdinand - Rafael
................DDG
It looks to me like Jones will be used to do a job on Ronnie. So I'd want Cleverley and Carrick in midfield otherwise we'd be lacking in there.
I would like to see Nani on the RW but I think it's wishful thinking given how little he has played since his injury. With Rooney on the left Kagawa is not an option as we need some real width and pace on the right. Normally you'd opt for Valencia but he is out of form so I think Welbeck could be given the nod.
..Rooney - Cleverley - Welbeck
..........Carrick - Jones
Evra - Vidic - Ferdinand - Rafael
................DDG
It looks to me like Jones will be used to do a job on Ronnie. So I'd want Cleverley and Carrick in midfield otherwise we'd be lacking in there.
I would like to see Nani on the RW but I think it's wishful thinking given how little he has played since his injury. With Rooney on the left Kagawa is not an option as we need some real width and pace on the right. Normally you'd opt for Valencia but he is out of form so I think Welbeck could be given the nod.