Jan 05
Aston Villa v Man Utd:Preview
We take on Aston Villa in the FA Cup, again. It seemed sort of inevitable when the drawing was made — we played them last time like some million times in January itself, I suppose.
Anyway, we have had a great record against them in recent times, although it must be said that Martin O’Neill’s sides can never be written off. They are a good side with a decent midfield and an excellent forward line. However their defence might appear a bit crap, as demonstrated by our last meeting. Zat Knight, particularly, seems injury prone and if we get our swagger back — something that was missing over the last couple of games — we could comfortably overcome them.
Regarding squad composition, Wayne Rooney should return to the side, although Tevez would be certainly ruled out with a sore ankle. Thankfully the injury is not very serious and he should return to the side soon.
Saha would most probably partner Rooney in attack. Despite his slow start to the season, I feel he is getting his game back. I was impressed by what I saw of him, especially in the Sunderland game. I think he will prove valuable in the latter half of the season.
Ronaldo and Giggs would most likely play in the wings with Anderson and Hargreaves likely to play in the middle of the park. With the crowded fixture list of December out of the way, it is fair enough to assume that Fergie would field his best XI. In this case, with Tevez the only casualty, our best XI would be the midfield and forward line that I just mentioned with the quartet of Brown-Rio-Vidic-Evra.
I am not really sure if EVDS is fit as yet. We’ll have to wait and see. And the same would hold for Neville, although that’s something we’ve been doing all season.
Meanwhile, in news relating to the club, the Barcodes have bid for Brown and the bid has been rejected.
Ramos has placed a ridiculously high value on Berbatov. I would be stunned if we ever bid so much for a striker. He’s still got a lot to prove, in my opinion. He’s got a great touch and all the great attributes, but that sort of value – 31 million pounds – is just extortion. And we would be well advised to stay away from it all.
We continue to be linked to right backs, and I don’t want to talk about Hutton and Lahm anymore than what’s already been discussed to death here. We do need decent right backs, but getting someone in January and expecting him to straightaway make an impact in the side would be asking for too much. Even the best of players take time to adjust. And that is something we just can do at this crucial stage of the season. I wouldn’t mind letting Brown go at the end of the season on a Bosman, if it means his presence in the current side helps us win the title. He is settled here, Neville should hopefully return at some point (surely?) and that should be it. I don’t really expect much to be done during this window.
Anyway, let’s get back to the game today. I will be travelling today, which means I will be missing the game. Also, for the next couple of days I will be in a place where I won’t be guaranteed of a sustained period of net access. So I will not have a match report. But I will leave you to give your informed analyses — something that you all usually do — post-game, in the comments section.
Anyway, I do also have a couple of posts lined up that will be up even while I am out of town. So that should give you your daily dose of RR Fodder — if I may be allowed to call it that.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Aston Villa v Manchester United: Preview/Match thread
- Aston Villa 0-2 Manchester United: Ronaldo and Rooney complete a late win
- Manchester United v Aston Villa Preview – Tougher than it looks
- Aston Villa vs Manchester United: Match Preview
- Aston Villa vs Man United: Preview
Tags: Manchester United News
Craig Mc (195)
RedDevilEddy (170)
Opti (135)
Moscow is my heaven (96)
Ian (95)
you know, i wouldnt be suprised if we took a gamble and put manucho somewere in the squad. prediction, 3-2. andy, roo and giggs.
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If we field our strongest team, we should be able to beat them. I hope we are going to see a great, attack-minded game, as Villa are capable of scoring. They got a 4-4 vs Chelsea(Im not saying were Chelski), and I think they fancy their chances. Its an FA Cup game, so it should be entertaining. I think they will score against us, because they have the quality. Although…if EVDS plays I think we are getting a clean sheet. He brings confidence and calmness to the defence, witch is what we have been lacking since PIG came in against Everton. But if we play the kind of football we delivered before the game against West Ham, they dont stand a chance! My bet: 3-1 to United. Ronaldo(2) and Rooney to score.
Dan- Manucho is not able to play for us yet!
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Fair do’s pal, Your lot always do well at VP, but eventually all good things come to an end. Arrogance can be beaten by humility and you have a right to be arrogant. However I remember May 6th 1957 when a very good side were so confident that they wanted a team photo taken before the final with the team in clean kit with the cup. Result, its now history.
So please be careful. I am full of admiration for MUFC but all could change today.
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you never knnnnnoooooowwwwww
nudge nudge.
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no, he really isn’t legally cleared to play for us yet, otherwise we would have heard
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damn home office!!!
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I wonder if Manucho is good enough to be our 3rd striker, behind Wayne and Carlos. I think he cant play for us until the Africans nations cup is finished, because hes going there with South Africa. I have never seen him play, or what he is good at, but Fergiesays he is tall, fast and agile. Anyway, I just wonder….I consider Arsenal as our rivals. Do u too?
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he’s going to angola not st.africa.
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its time to rest the king ronaldo we need hiim for the end of the season.its an fa cup theres park nani and giggs avalble
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rest him for the toon game.
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Is Angola qualified for the ANC?
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I would definitely expect there to be goals here, but with Ashley yongs crossing ability and PIG’s poor cross catching ability, I think they will score more than one goal from a cross, and they seem to score quite a lot from set peices. I think it’ll be 4-2.
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Manucho is Angolan and they have qualified for the ANC so will be going with Angola.
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yep, angola are, you cant play for a different country because your country didnt qualify.
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Just some stats.
Since 2002, all teams that have beaten United in the FA Cup(if they have beaten us) have gone on to win the cup. 2003:Arsenal. 2004:United winners! 2005: Arsenal final. 2006: Liverpool 5th round. 2007: Chelsea final.
Results at Villa Park since 2004/2005 season! 2004: 1-0; Giggs. 2005: 2-0; Ruud and Roon. 2006:3-0; Ronaldo(2) and Scholes. 2007: 4-1; Rooney(2), Rio and Giggs. Agbonlahor for them. Do u see something unusual? Clue: 1,2,3,4……
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Team News:
GK: VDS
RB: Brown
CB: Ferdinand
CB: Vidic
LB: Evra
RM: Park
CM: Carrick
CM: Anderson
LM: Giggs
CF: Ronaldo
CF: Saha
Subs: Heaton, Hargreaves, O’Shea, Nani, Rooney
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PIG not on the bench?
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why not start hargreaves? why not play rooney? so many thinhs wrong with that dissapointing line-up.
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As far as I know Rooney has only had about a days worth of training since recovering from his virus. On Hargreaves, I don’t have a clue, but I would guess he is carrying a knock. He hardly needs rested given he hasn’t played much over Xmas.
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its rooney, he played football while he was sick.
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how can he start with carrick after the last game? what is he trying to let him make up for it?
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i think SAF has been living high(in more ways then 1 if you know what i mean) for the last few weeks.
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trying to shop him arround
probably not haha
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andersons runs have been good with a nice shot on target on the first but should have passed the ball on the second
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Please don’t play Ronaldo as a striker SAF.
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Decent performance, haven’t allowed Villa to get on the front foot, and given they are at home with their first XI, that’s not too bad. Carrick and Anderson are combining alright. Shocking Giggs miss and Ronaldo has done very, very little. We’re not playing wiht much pace, but that could be to try and stop the game getting stretched (see Chelsea Villa). Rooney on for Giggs please.
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Ronaldooooooooooooooooo! What a team! Rooney’s effect was immediate!
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we need a striker bad! I was horrified when I saw Park starting up front. He is fine as a squad player, but he is not good enough to start for manchester united. lets package brown, and a few million pounds and add another striker.
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Boring game until the last quarter of the game, but thankfully were through. Rooney changed the game. Great finish and what a pass for Ronaldo before the second goal! Villa played well, but again the two R`s proved the difference. The first run from Anderson was amazing, but second he should have passed in the end. Difficult to pick the best player, but I though Vidic and Andy was our best players. I understand if u disagree, but it wasnt an easy pick today. Great goals though. I hope we meet Man City or West Ham at home next round, because…..I WANT REVENGE!!!!!!
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anderson will be our best player soon i think he is just young and needs to settle and score
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