Apr 23
Barclona v Man Utd: Preview
Manchester United return to the stadium where we experienced our greatest European night. That night in Barcelona was something all United fans would savour, as would Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs. Today, however, we will face the home team in the intimidating cauldron that is the Camp Nou.
Much has been made about how mouth watering this clash is going to be but that would be the media talking. Yes, we will get to see the odd flourish or two because of the number of creative players that will be on display. But I think it would be a cagey affair.
Barcelona, for one, are not in the best of form and are full of internal squabbles. United on the other hand are in the rudest of health as far as team unity is concerned. In terms of form though, we’ve come out of a tiring draw against Blackburn. So we can’t really say that we’ve been annihilating teams.
Barcelona have something to cheer about though. The return of their talismanic forward, Messi, the probable return of Deco and the presence of Xavi and Iniesta will ensure that they will always be a threat. Moreover, with nothing else to play for other than the Champions’ League, they would give everything to get past us and save their season.
Formations? I would want Fergie to go with a midfield three of Carrick, Hargreaves and Anderson. The back four and ‘keeper is a foregone conclusion, barring injuries, and the forward line should be Rooney, Ronaldo and Park, with Nani to come on later on. I went for Park because I think Fergie might be swayed by his European exploits against Roma, and by the fact that he was well rested over the weekend.
If Fergie is really sentimental about wanting Scholes to play in the final — although, I’d hope he does not succumb to sentimentality — he could consider playing Scholes in the home leg only and not today because of his propensity of picking silly yellow cards. But then who am I to second guess him.
Prediction: 1-0 to United. It will be an ugly goal by some defender from a corner.
Over to you…
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- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
- Rooney Out For A Month
- Porto it is then…
Tags: UEFA Champions' League
Opti (541)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Stephen (454)
Craig Mc (344)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
Vidic is a question mark for the match after being rushed to the hospital with some stomach problems and he didn’t train yesterday.
I hope to see Hargreaves and especially Nani start where good delivery from set plays could pay dividend against a weakened Barca defence where again Vidic’s presence would be a big plus so hope he does make it.
I can see Tevez, Anderson or Park coming on after half time to pressure Barca which will be the key in the later stages of the game when the extra energy they bring will be needed and make the difference in the game.
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I was watching the liverpool chelsea game on ITV in the u.k where they said there is talk vidic is injured as well as brown and park is gonna start with rooney on the other wing and ronaldo up front with anderson carrick hargreaves as the midfield three. aargh!!
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Anderson should start instead scholes and Nani instead of Giggs
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Lets hope that Rooney keeps his cool tonight. It’s not Scholes I’m worried about in terms of picking up a yellow card because frankly we can afford that when looking at the numerous talents we have in the middle.
What we can’t afford though is a red card to a pivotal player. Wazza has been fiesty as of late. He should be cool tonight because there is no doubt in my mind that the match will be tenacious and emotions will be flying high.
Hopefully I’m wrong, but if Barca should nick a goal at 63 mins, then I think it will turn out to be a very ugly scene. The star of that scene will most likely be Wayne Rooney.
As for the unrest within the Catalan giants, then we all probably know that its a double edged sword issue. It can certainly deflate them, but on the other hand it can also be a motivating factor. Absolutley something that we don’t need given the fact that we all know their capabilities.
Back to United. I honestly feel that we can overcome anything thrown our way later this evening. We have the man power, stamina, agility and most importantly we have an unrivaled determination. The latter will hopefully be the factor to which we will triumph.
Predictions; Totally concur with the “ugly goal from defender”, aswell as a huge mistake from the poor Victor Valdez resulting from a powerfull shot on target from either Carrick or Nanny. Final score : 0-2.
Good Luck.
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Viresh its not so bad.by the way vidic is not injured he is just suffering from a stomach bug that’s all and has a sore knee.
Wes is a big question mark,we might deploy either owen or Oshea there.Oshea tends to lift his performances for the big games so he should stand up and be counted tonight.
I am just worried if fergie is more concerned on stopping barcelona than allowing our forwards freedom to punish them at will.Johan Cruyff urges Barcelona to attack Manchester United’s weak spot. He writes: “Where are their least technically talented players? In the back four. So put pressure on them and force errors.”
Just switch it back and reverse the entire scenario.Hurt them where it counts thats which is the back of the net.That’s all .GGMU
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The press should shut up about this Ronaldo Vs Messi thing don’t they just learn.Last season and every other season it will always be about the collective not individuals.
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Im praying for Vidic to be fit, we need him so badly….. I would disagree with you on the starting of Paul Scholes, I would 100% start with him with the experience he has and the way he makes us tick….. Anderson would be too jumpy, nervous and I think he is a better impact sub. I agree with you though on the Park issue. My team to start would be the usual back 5. a middle three of Hargo, Scholes & Carrick and a front three of Park, Ronnie & Rooney. I would then bring on Anderson for Scholes, Tevez for Park as the game comes to the 60 min and we have not scored as I feel we need an away goal tonight.
by the way Im 100% sh*tting at the moment,im so bloody nervous, god help me as the day goes on and we nearer kick off….please say im not the only one feeling like this today….
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You aint John T!
If United are going into this match to attack, I think they can win by 2 or 3 goals. This is going to be one of the games of the season, no doubt about that! I just hope Fergie and the team are ready for this test. Scholes shouldnt start because of the tecnical ability that Barca have. If he plays he will a yellow card tonight. Anderson loves playing big games, and he has already said that he thinks of this game as the CL final. He should start in midfield with Carrick and Hargreaves. I hope Owen man-marks Messi out of the game, that would be great! VDS is fit so he should start. If Vida is unfit, Pique should play. It looks like he can play though, it isnt that bad. Wes doesnt seem to make it, so I would pick Sheasy there. Pique if Vida makes it! Barca have fast attackers so United need quick defenders. Rooney has been a little frustrated these last couple of games, but I would still play with him. He, like Anderson, is a big game player, and I think he will be very important tonight against slow Barca defenders. And why does people want Park to start? Nani has to play, if he doesnt play United cant score from a corner! And his speed will make it difficult for Barca too! My team:
VDS
Brown/Pique/Oshea Rio Vida/Pique Evra
Ronaldo Owen Carrick Anderson Nani
Rooney
subs: TK, Neville, Pique/Park, Silvestre/Oshea, Giggs, Scholes, Tevez.
Prediction: 4-2 to United. Vidic/Pique from corner, Ronaldo free kick and Rooney brace. COME ON YOU REDS!
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cant get any bigger than this, jus hoping fergy will unleash the boyz n let them play the attractive attacking football we all used to in the premier leaue than the cautious kind of game that he adopts during european ties, lets remember this is barca and we cant afford to sit back, defend and wait for the counter attack..
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To Red Ranter, I just want to tell you that I have a big Pathology exam this thursday morning and Ive been studying my ass off since friday and although thats no excuse for my misbehaviour last night I unfortunately put out my frustrations on the first person I saw and although stressed and tensed it was inexcusable so Im putting out my sincere apologies.
Anyway, as a big Real Madrid fan I have 2 reasons for wanting United to win tonight, and hope we beat their sorry asses.
And another thing, I was thinking of the whole buying a striker issue and I realised most of our wishlist players will be playing in the euros this year, now hear my point , they will finish their respective leagues and go to their respective national teams and if they reach the later stages of the competetion that would keep them busy untill july then they would probably take a break for 2 weeks, that makes mid july the earliest time for them to join the team and if Im correct thats the time when everyone would be in south africa on their tour so not untill august will they be with the team, now isnt that going to be a problem??
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whoever has fergies contacts pliz call him and tell him to pliz not start neither shcoles nor giggz,,pliiiiiiiiz
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what a game in prospect……..kinda agree wit you redranter out the midfield 3 of OWEN/ ANDO/CARRICK as its the most balanced combination i feel. Those lads compliment each other the best i feel. Dunno tho…..hink tonights game could be taylor made for scholesy. If barca play with Deco/Iniesta/ Xavi scholes should have the time n space he needs these days to do his thing! Nani/Rooney/ Ronaldo should complete our team with tevez coming on wit 30mins remaining. Just got the feeling our midfield is gonna bb to strong for barca- As long as we stick to our game, not get intimidated we will be fine.
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Barca should be frustrated, first and foremost…by that I mean no space or time to play how they want…when their moves break down, go straight for the throat (metaphorically speaking)
Barca aren’t Milan or Chelsea, they will want to attack whenever they can…pace and closing down in midfield will be a must…the ball must be won back in midfield, unfortunately I don’t see Scholes doing this, I hope that Anderson gets the nod
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I really wanna see the midfield of hargo andy carrick with rooney and ronaldo on the flanks and tevez up front I think this would be leathal defensively we should be stong and attacking wise i can think of anything better, i really wanna destroy em in barcelona so we can concerntrate on premiership come saturday!
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Y’know, if Vidic doesn’t make it, I’d rather see Pique playing at CB than Brown or O’Shea shifting there. Pique, apart from being a good CB, also has the advantage of having played this opposition last season and obviously the fact that he’s a Catalan and the son of a board member or something like that. It would be fun for him
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Well, i guess irrespective of who starts, away results are always crucial. So i help we get a good one. Entertaining football with plenty of goals. But a good result
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*A few observations from yesterdays match…Ronaldo and Rooney we are playing an away match with 80 thousand fans so expect no favor from there 12th and 13th player the ref and fans respectively.don’t dive or make an necessary complains.
*If we get a goal struggle to force in another one so that we can kill the game earlier …..we don’t want any Riise cases.
*The game will be won in the midfield…possess the ball,spoil there moves and make there 18yard box busy and we shall win.
*Finally lets cheer our team despite the nervousness.
*Any news on Vidic?
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It’s a gigantic [even... massive
] game today in various aspects. Barcelona were the last kings of Europe (AC Milan don’t count, it was a fluke), a team acclaimed by almost everyone because they were capable of playing attractive football and winning the trophy, so it’s important to show the whole world tonight what WE are capable of.
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I’m not a United fan, but believe that your team is very strong. But playing away to barcelona is a whole new thing.
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i wouldn’t want to spoil the mood for today’s game, but just found out that “Rob Styles was demoted to League Two”….get the useless twat out of here !!!
Telegraph report
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Same freacking old story our deffenders go down like flies for CL semi. I hope Vidic and Brown play. I am not gonna predict anything, I just hope we will be strong and will dictate the game
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Conor: I just checked the stats, in all competitions tevez has played 1 less game than Rooney and has 5 more goals.
As for today I say we attack! Start ronney,rooney, tevez and Nani and make barca defend. If we can get an early goal I think they will fold.
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Tevez Manchester United 13 1 4 0 18
11 Rooney Manchester United 11 2 4 0 17
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A joke to lighten to the mood!
“John Arne Riise has just been arrested on the M62. Apparently he was heading in the wrong direction.”
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Ronaldinho might start!
Pique will start!
3-1 to United! Pique, Park and Andy to score!
GLORY GLORY MU!!!!!!!!!
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lol to the joke above…
i hope nani starts…. barca have no aireal threat…. corners + nani = goals
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Read this from the BBC on Vidic
Breaking news from Spain – it’s been confirmed that Nemanja Vidic was indeed taken to hospital with a stomach problem last night, and remains a doubt for the game tonight.
A spokesman at Barcelona’s Hospital de Bellvitge said: “He was brought here last night with a stomach problem and kept in for a couple of hours, but was later released as the condition was not very serious.
“Whether he plays or not is not our decision. He is back with the team and the club doctors will decide if he is fit to play this evening.”
I reckon it’s some good old fashioned Fergie mind games ahead of a big match. Make Barcelona think that there’s a chance that Vidic and Wes won’t be able to play, so they think they’ll have an easier time especially the attacking players then when he is found to be in the starting lineup psychologically Barca think twice about an all out attacking approach. Perhaps not but I really hope Vidic starts and if not what better time for Pique to prove himself on the biggest stage against his former club.
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Check out this article about Giggs and Scholes and Fegie’s general decision making, its pretty good:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/23/is_it_time_for_fergie_to_ditch.html
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[Jay] Hey mate, hows life at Infy?
Well anyway, its gonna be major…Larger Than Life itself. Atleast all of us want it to be. And thats where I feel, like RedRanter, we might be disappointed. Having expectations of free-flowing end to end stuff might be what dreams are made of, and both the sides on display today are totally capable of that, but it will certainly be cagey, atleast the first half I think, due to the whole lot of mutual respect for each other.
I say, eff the respect. We play to win, not to get wowed or to give respect. That can happen after the game has been won (by us ofcourse)
And RedDevil, I love your optimism mate, but 4-2 to United??? Doooooddddd…hehe, even I, whose blog title is “The Eternal Optimist” won’t make a prediction like that
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2-0 to United!!! Rooney to bag them both!!!
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Well Boyz i have a sinkin feeling today.As Taron mentioned all our defenders seem to fall like flies when it comes to the CL semi final and it Looks like we will go down say 2- 1 but should win at home 1-0 hopeful we get an away goal today”"”
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Oooooh…i can’t fckin wait!! The tension is just too much!! I wish I were at home with the beer flowing and all hell breakin loose..sadly I’m in office and will have to watch with my mouth shut
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I am hopeful for nani to start this game ahead of giggs or maybe park ji sung ahead of giggs. This is an important game of our season so we must field our best combination to battle barca.. 1-1 for this game..1-1 is a good result for us considering the valuable away goal..
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Its tough supporting a club… Am slowly turning superstitious…damn… im fidgety and tense…
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Mihir- just wait and see…:-D
No-one has predicted a big win for United, but I do! I have said earlier that I am an optimist. Even if United would be under 2-0 at half time(hopefully not!) I would still think they could win! Hell, yeah even if it only was 15 minutes to go!
Cant wait for this game! United are fielding a 4-4-2 for the first time away in Europe this season! Hopefully it will turn out to be the exiting game we all hope to see. And must all the goals go Uniteds way!
GK: VDS
RB: Owen
CB: Brown
CB: Rio
LB: Evra
RM: Ronaldo
CM: Carrick
CM: Scholes
LM: Park
ST: Rooney
ST: Tevez
subs: TK, Pique, Silvestre, Sheasy, Anderson, Giggs, Nani
Well, would have preffered Anderson tonight. Still think we can win 4-2 though
Owen takes decent corners too!
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ferguson has finally GONE FOR IT rooney and tevez satart. AT LAST!!!!
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It’s tough supporting a club like Man United, but we’ll have got our reward by the end of May. No Vida, after all, but with Andy and Nani on the bench, we can win even if we’re 3-0 down by the end of halftime.
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Barça’s team officially announced:
Valdés, Zambrotta, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Xavi, Toure, Deco, Messi, Eto’o, Iniesta.
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I’m going out on a limb and say that I think United should start Pique over Vidic today. If Vida isn’t 100% he could end up hurting us like his mistake did at Blackburn. On the other hand Pique will be sky high wanting to play in his homeland and in front of the Catalans who he idolized as a boy. I think he would come up big for us tonight.
This game is making me nervous because Messi is back and that player second only to Ronaldo in explosive talent. You can cut the tension with a knife. I just hope Scholes and even Giggs are not in the starting lineup. Play the warm weather boys and play an up tempo game while still only playing Rooney up front. I’d even be brave enough to say sit Rooney down and start Tevez. He is used to the warm weather and playing in a Spanish speaking environment would elevate his game too.
Anyway all the best of luck to the lads and lets get an away goal and keep the damage down to a goal or less. A victory would be absolutely MASSIVE. My prediction? 1-1.
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saf is being cautious starting park over nani, lets hope his winning run continues aye.
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Barca lineup:
Valdes
Zambrotta
Marquez
Milito
Abidal
Xavi
Yaya Toure
Iniesta
Messi
Deco
Etoo
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is the lineup official or you guys just guesting?
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One- Official lineup!
Some other facts from Barcelona.
Temperature: 18 degrees
Humidity: 46%
Pitch: Dry
Weather: Clear night
Referee: Massimo Busacca(SUI)
BRING EM ON!
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one its OFFICIAL line up
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I think it is a positive lineup. My only worry is we will be exposed in central midfield as Carrick and Scholes are not renowned for their defensive capabilities. But we are very strong on the wings and will be able to play with overlapping fullbacks now we have Hargreaves as right back.
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Carrick and Scholes?
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Could someone please post up any links for the Barca game please (as my Sky is f***ed up)? Cheers
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At least there is some justice in the world. Apparently Rob Styles has been demoted and will be reffing Division 1 games this week and possibly the rest of the season. The league apparently did this because he missed what they feel were two obvious penalties for United that were not given. I say send the pillock down to Division 4 for life.
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oh man..i am worry about brown..hopefully the lad’s concentration doesn’t slip against eto’o..
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Man Utd: Van der Sar, Evra, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Brown, Ronaldo, Rooney, Park, Carrick, Scholes, Tevez. Subs: Kuszscak, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Pique, O’Shea, Silvestre.
Barcelona: Valdes, Milito, Marquez, Xavi, Iniesta, Eto’o, Zambrotta, Messi, Deco, Abidal, Toure. Subs: Jose Pinto, Gudjohnsen, Henry, Sylvinho, Giovani, Thuram, Bojan.
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