Sep 15
Besiktas vs Manchester United: Preview
Memories of that dismal night in Rome some four months ago undoubtedly still linger among United fans, players, coaching staff…well anyone even remotely connected with the club. Surely the perfect tonic to banish those memories would be to repeat that feat and have another bash at a third consecutive Champions League final. Madrid awaits if we dare to dream and it all starts here.
A trip to Turkey probably wouldn’t have been right up there amongst Sir Alex Ferguson’s most ideal destinations for the opening group game of the European campaign. That said, with Barcelona taking on Inter Milan and Bordeaux facing Juventus over the next couple of days, it could have certainly been a whole lot worse. In all fairness, Besiktas, on paper, looks a somewhat straightforward hurdle to negotiate.
Looking at how the side may shape up, Fergie will surely have one eye firmly on the Manchester derby coming up on Sunday so it would seem likely that he will ring the changes, especially in midfield.
Ben Foster will continue to fill in for Edwin van der Sar but it really is a difficult proposition predicting the rest of the starting line-up. Patrice Evra has played every competitive game thus far and was involved in both of France’s fixtures during the international break. That may see young Fabio deployed at left-back or alternatively John O’Shea could move over from the right allowing one of Wes Brown or Gary Neville to step in.
At centre-back, Nemanja Vidic should partner Rio Ferdinand unless the England man feels any discomfort in the calf area over the next 24 hours which would see him drop to the bench.
Despite the highly impressive victory over top four hopefuls Tottenham on Saturday, the midfield will certainly change from the four that featured at White Hart Lane. Expect Park Ji-Sung to be given the nod on the right (unless Ferguson sees him playing a major role at Old Trafford on the weekend) and one of Nani or Antonio Valencia to start on the other wing.
Darren Fletcher could be given a rest with City in mind so take your pick from Scholes, Giggs, Anderson and Carrick and perhaps Darron Gibson will be given an opportunity to further showcase his abilities.
In an ideal world I’m sure Sir Alex would love to give Wayne Rooney the night off but the England international’s desire to simply play the game of football knows no boundaries and it would be a bold decision to leave him out. Michael Owen will be desperate to get some playing time and this could be the perfect opportunity for him to be utilised.
One thing for sure is that, with wholesale changes or not, Ferguson will send out a side that he believes and expects to be capable of beating Besiktas. With all due respect to the Turkish outfit, any team that the Scot opts to select should be capable of doing a job judging by the squad that have travelled (see below).
In the build-up to the game, Fergie has admitted that United will just have to deal with the intimidating atmosphere that will greet them in Istanbul on Tuesday evening.
“There’s a lot to be admired in that, their fanaticism,” he told the Daily Star.
“You expect that. The stadium is full at 12 o’clock on the day. It’s amazing how they make that noise but you just have to deal with it.
“The Champions League is the priority. It’s a great tournament, with all the best players and teams. So there’s always the two challenges for us – the Premier League and the European Cup.”
Besiktas’ goalkeeper Rustu Recber (remember him) has also provided his two pennies worth regarding the antagonising nature of the home support.
“The level of hostility at the Inonu is unique,” Recber is quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
“United have been to Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, but the Besiktas fans are in a league of their own.
“They are the noisiest, the most passionate, and they stay with the team for 90 minutes. The noise is incredible. It will be a new experience even for those United players who think they have seen everything. Our fans can really make it hell.”
The Inonu Stadium will be a cauldron of noise no doubt but when you look at Besiktas’ start to the season (one win from five including a 3-0 defeat in their own derby against Galatasaray), anything but victory will surely go down as a disappointing result. Nihat Kahveci, who you may remember from his days with Villarreal, will spearhead the opposition’s attack but he shouldn’t cause too many problems for Vidic and co.
Prediction: 3-0
Squad in full: Ben Foster, Tomasz Kuszczak, Ben Amos, Wes Brown, Gary Neville, John O’Shea, Fabio, Patrice Evra, Jonny Evans, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, Anderson, Darron Gibson, Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Antonio Valencia, Nani, Park Ji-Sung, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov.
Photo credit: EPA
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Besiktas: Preview
- Manchester United drawn with Besiktas, CSKA Moscow and Wolfsburg
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Liverpool’s ‘Match-Fixing’, and the FA Cup Cockup
- SAF reckons this isn’t Scholsey’s last season; but should it?
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Stephen (454)
Craig Mc (344)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
Patrice Evra has been receiving texts from CARLA Tevez telling him Man Pity are going to beat United. Patrice said that IF UNited fans BOO CARLA TEV, then Evra will join in with us and Boo Tevez too
. He says he is a City player now, and City must not be allowed to beat Man United 
. Good for you Patrice, and give the little fecker a few telling kicks on both shin from me too!
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Good for u partice, tevez deserves all the crap he gets little bugger, oh and by the way craig meant to say to u, been away a while but was reading on here last night, congrats with the new arrival mate.
Like?
0 
0
@Matt: Thanks mate – appreciated!
Skinned sausage is becoming somewhat of a legend with United supporters,
.
Practice your BOO-ing Pat
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Tevez is craping himself,the wuss.I’m gutted if he doesn’t play on Sunday. I was looking forward to him shouting in Fergie’s face;
Judas;”Why did you not play me?”
Fergie:”I did, 51 times”
Judas: “My agent, Kia, told me to say you didn’t”
Fergie: “get a new agent”
Like?
0 
0
@Cyclops-Red:
Like?
0 
0
@AndyCR7:
How come this did not make the BBC front page???
This effectively means that City will be banned from ECL as they will not make what they spend in the coming seasons.
@Craig Mc: Cannot wait! Until Manchester Derby!!!
Like?
0 
0
@Onkar: Being a Man Utrd fan does not mean being a trained sheep. You were given a brain and a heart that functions along with your senses. I suggest that everyone has a right to use all of those senses and their brain to choose when , how and why they watch a game.
Only Nazi’s and Communists blindly follow something or someone and never question it. Life is too short and too valuable to sit through a game like yesterdays while Sir Alex Ferguson tinkers and plays with his toy. I for one have better things to do than to watch such rubbish.
Like?
0 
0
@Karl: I’d add the excuse of not having Fletcher destroy the 4 man midfield of Barcelona all by himself was also a reason.
I’m not sure on what medications Fergie is on but I’m sure they would help me with my back problem and other things. That man is high on his own delusions.
Like?
0 
0
@Onkar: I for one was bored out of my tree watching United walk through the game. I decided to channel surf because I for one am an impatient individual and in my impatience, I decided what I will and will not tolerate. United was boring me to death but it’s not like I left the game all together. I just took the odd 20 second break to watch Ronaldo help revive me and get my heart working again. And he did. I would now like to thank Ronaldo for making yesterday’s United vs Besiktas game tolerable. It’s almost as if he was still with us. God bless him.
Like?
0 
0
@Jay wire: And you thought we never agree with each other. I completely agree with your feelings on this. Well said. I’ve said it for years now that Fergie never gave a damn about the fans. Remember how indifferent he was to the ones that broke away when they lost the battle to keep the Glazer’s from taking over? Fergie doesn’t give a rats ass about the fans and their sacrifices and devotion.
Like?
0 
0
@Onkar: We are not trained seals and their is not a manual that we all read that says how we should act as United fans. What are you on about mate? I think you are crossing into very political oriented ground here. People are free to do whatever they want and cheer for a team in any way they want and it’s not for you or me or anyone to tell them differently or to judge them. I for one do not appreciate being judged by Dan or you or anyone out there because I decided to channel surf during the game because frankly, what I do is my business and the only person who has the right to question my loyalty and devotion to my team is me. I’m not mad but I am insulted at the bollocks of others trying to tell me how to be a fan. Seriously mate, with all due respect, you are out of line with your way of thinking.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: I agree that for now, Valencia’s game is very one-dimensional. I would be the first to welcome some variety in his game.
But for all of his one-dimensionality, he still manages to float in dangerous balls i the box, and it was Fergie’s fault for us not having enough attacking bodies in the box.
I agree that Nani is the more talented of the two, but Valencia’s directness in his play allows him to create a dangerous opportunity by getting an early ball in. When Nani dawdles, the opposition defence oftens has the time to get back in shape and make it more difficult for us.
Truth be told, the two of them should take some of the other’s natural playing style and become more effective!
Like?
0 
0
@Onkar: Why should we? We are all paying customers in one way or another and we have been spoilt for two decades on successful, attractive, attacking and entertaining football. We bought into a system and into a team for a reason. Many of us have different reasons for having become United supporters but the fact is we all are. One thing we all are is accustomed to success and winning with style. So no, we should never tolerate any deviation from the norm. It’s not in our nature. Let the other teams supporters suffer from that because simply they are not up to our stature and class. We are United, we are the best we must always try to be the best and we must always try to play the best. Anything less in my books is failure. Winners in society never settle for second or for a lull in their tenure.
Like?
0 
0
@AndyCR7: It’s not a question of tolerating his tantrums, it’s understanding why he had his last one that is at issue? I for one sympathize with him because I feel Fergie sacrificed him out there all alone in the wilderness and because he was all alone he decided to finally take him out rather than offer him a little help with a sub and a change of tactics. No player ever born would ever want to be sacrificed and used for such a useless purpose as Rooney was used last night. It was insulting to him as a player, to his loyalty and hard work and a major betrayal to his talent. A complete waste of his great talent. Fergie has become an idiot of epic proportions and I for one have the guts to come out and say this even though many out there agree with me but are afraid or unwilling to admit it too. He has become a timid coward who is consumed by selfish needs in his own legacy and is not concerned with anything other than the result. He doesn’t care if he wins with a great hand, he just cares that he wins. And he feels that this new and unique stinking, festering style that he has concocted will get him what he wants. The man is only concerned with his legacy He wants one more European Cup and he wants to break Liverpool’s record. That is all that consumes him and he couldn’t care less if he did in an empty stadium. Fergie sold his soul to the Devil a while back and we will never consistently see the brand of football he made famous again.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: That’s because if he disciplines them, he stands a chance of losing games that they do not play in and all he is concerned with these days is padding his legacy. To Hell with rules and discipline. How many players from the past would get a start in the next game after taking two stupid yellow cards and almost costing the team a game? Remember two years ago when Nani got a red card on a stupid head butt. Well Fergie never forgot it and placed Nani in the doghouse for the whole of last season. He plays favorites and he uses double standards all the time and I for one might admire and respect the man but I can tell you now without a question of a doubt, if I were a player for him I would have been long gone because I do not tolerate that kind of shite and I am nobody’s trained monkey. If I were either Berbatov or Owen I would be asking why the hell I signed with this team? He treats them both terribly and does not use them for the reason he bought them. Instead it’s Scholes, Neville and Giggs, Scholes, Neville and Giggs etc etc etc. It’s bloody well nauseating.
Like?
0 
0
@Onkar: I didn’t channel surf, I watched the entire match on delay (I stayed out of the loop till I got home from work and watched it). But when you see rubbish you have to say it for what it’s worth. It was a rubbish, boring match. You also seem to give football or any sport for that matter far too much importance in life than it really is.
I don’t have a problem with fans staying loyal to their clubs, I for one know full well that I am and I will be through thick and thin. I don’t have a problem with fans who want to show support for their team in the way they feel best. They can do anything, even change loyalties if they want to. I couldn’t care less. What I have a problem with is fans trying to tell other fans how to support their team. Fandom is irrational behaviour, built on emotion.
I won’t go into detail about this, because I have already written a long essay on fan behaviour which explains what I really think about this subject.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Christ I see no speed in Valencia at all. What I see is a player playing wide that is always static or moving at a trott. I rarely if ever see him turn on the juice. That is the big problem when we play this style is it demands that the wingers get the ball and take on defenders with their moves and speed, not just their moves. Yesterday both Nani and Valencia crossed rarely and poorly and it would be nice if there were players in the box to aim for but still, they were told to move slowly and linger on the ball. This is anti-football in my opinion.
Nani at least came through as he always seems to do but Valencia. well he’s just a waste of time. That boy needs to find his mojo and become far more aggressive and at pace. So I’m sorry bro, but I do not see the speed merchant you speak of.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: I may be on Evra’s case a lot with his Skinned Sausage form from last season (but not lately) but I do admire the Frenchman’s loyalty and hunger for the team. If we had more players who felt like this come from other lands, we would be desired destination of all great players because more Evra’s would spread the word, despite what Fergie is doing to the team.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Yes from now on we will just shout OI OI OI IT’S SAUSAGE TIME as a cheer for his every move.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Most consistent player this season??? It’s probably too early to tell but so far, in my book, he is looking like an ex-skinned sausage.
Like?
0 
0
Jeez! that Inter team has no creativity whatsoever…
Like?
0 
0
@Red Ranter: No game where Nani is almost single handedly responsible for a FACE SAVING GOAL could EVER be boring RR
.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Yeah and where the feck was OUR MORE IMMENSE Wesley Brown? Better now and more reliable than those players mentioned
.
Like?
0 
0
Anybody watch Mickey Thomas interview on Red Cafe tonight? I thought that the Red Cafe fans were supposed to have a great knowledge of football – yeah right – NOT! You can all call me biased I really don’t care, but those Red Cafe so called boffins were going on about Nani – AGAIN. Questioning whether he needs to improve, or is this year his last year at the club. Are they all SUFFERING FROM THE SAME blindness? No Nani last night, and we come home with one point instead of 3
. He put several very good balls into the box, right to the players, who as usual SQUANDERED them, and as usual again Nani was blamed for their shortcomings. Pisses me right off. Some folk were saying that he was slow to get the ball in – but nobody thinks that might be because UNLIKE Valencia who continually floats balls into an empty box, with no end result, Nani was schooled in Portugal and was taught to WAIT and keep the ball until the strikers did catch up and get into the box. But would I expect the the Red Cafe bods to understand that – would I fuck, not any more. I hope just like Fletch he proves all the knockers wrong, and when he is up there, he sticks two fingers up to all the fans he loves at OT, and pisses off to Barca with his skills!
Craig Mc – signing off with an ALMIGHTY 2 finger salute to all Nani haters, who wouldn’t know what getting a good ball into the box meant if it bit them on the arse
.
Like?
0 
0
Oh yes and may I just add, in case any Red Cafe fans peruse this blog – Nani is always played out of position on the left too, seeing he is a right footed player, so he has to slow down to turn and juggle the ball back onto his RIGHT foot. Think about it, as Grog says – it’s not fucking rocket science!
Like?
0 
0
@Cyclops-Red: I’ve got to agree with you so far but I still have my hopes that the old Skinned Sausage will return so that I can have my fun tearing him to bits.
Like?
0 
0
@AndyCR7: Inter’s problem even before Mourinho showed up was that they have no central midfield maestro to pull the strings. A bunch of defensive midfielders and others who are used to playing wide. I still am a big believer that the most important player on a football team is the central midfielder who is in charge of the attack. Many teams today seem to lack them or go with two DMF’s instead. I still believe in having that Riquelme. Fabregas, Zavi, Lampard, Ballack style player in the middle who observes and then figures out ways to penetrate or break down the opposing wall. Today’s game is like an old war game where they feel a rear echelon attack by getting around the defense is the way but I still think you need to punch through the middle but with imagination and finesse.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: I honestly do not know what the deal is with Brown, whether it’s injuries or if he is in the doghouse but I sure would like to see more of him. It seems to me that he has been in the doghouse ever since he fought for a new contract and threatened to leave before last season. Then he got injured too but I just have this feeling he is in Fergie’s bad boys den. I could be wrong but what other explanation is there? I don’t buy the injury stuff anymore. Fergie demands loyalty from his homegrown players especially and so Wes has rocked the boat a bit and has not been first team ever since.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Now I am 50 but I get irritated as Hell watching Red Cafe and questions always coming from these 80 year old toothless geriatrics who suffer from both dementia and Alzheimers and who seem to think Scholes, Neville can do no wrong.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Besides, you and I think Nani is great, isn’t that enough?
So are you naming the little one Nanette or Kimberley? 
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Those farts on Red Cafe were aroind well before there was rocket science.
Like?
0 
0
The comments here remind me why I don’t com here anymore. Anyways to the actual reason why I’m here:
@Craig Mc: Since you read redcafe, I don’t know if you’ve seen the thread, but apparently, a user said there’s HUGE news on the way about United. He’s a respected user there and he says he can’t reveal but it might be good.
So since a while ago, you said you were itk about United, even though your rumors about Nani turned out to be rubbish, have you heard anything about what this guy’s saying?
Like?
0 
0
@Rd: He’s not talking about the Red Cafe forum. He’s referring to the show Red Cafe on MUTV.
Like?
0 
0
@Rd: Errrr I’m not with you Rd – what rumours about Nani turned out to be rubbish??? If you mean what the Man United player told my friend – then it didn’t turn out to be rubbish
. He said Ronaldo and Nani were off to Spain this summer. Ronnie did go, and it is common media knowledge that Barcelona and Inter Milan were BOTH chasing Nani. He was anticipating the move, but turned it down when SAF told him he would get more playing time this season. So please know the facts before you say the rumour, which wasn’t a rumour at all were unfounded. It certainly wasn’t unfounded, because Nani himself gave interviews on to Portugal tv saying Barca wanted him. And RedRanter was right, we were talking about the people in the MUTV programme Red Cafe!
What was your point Rd in bringing up what someone on Red Cafe web forum said – Re something big is happening for Man United soon? How does that equate to the points I made on Nani
, I’m puzzled as to what you are getting at????
Like?
0 
0
Rd – this big thing that might be happening, I hope its that the Glazers are selling up, or that our club debt is being wiped out.
. I did hear rumours like everyone else about this being SAF’s last season at OT, and that’s why he hasn’t spent the Ronnie money. But it is just that – RUMOURS. What I said about Ronnie and Nani was FACT, coming from a Man United players Mrs – and if Nani changed his mind and decided to stay during the summer, that doesn’t make the player info wrong, that he was offered a move to Spain in the summer with Ronnie!
Like?
0 
0
Just been browsing for the 1st time through the RedCafe,netforum. They seem like a really great bunch of fans on there – United thru and thru. Good information too. So if any of the guys from this forum are also attenders of the Red Cafe MUTV programme, then I think I misunderstood you, and apologise!
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: I do think that Wes, being out for so long, has to win his way back into that very strong line!
With Evans doing such a stellar job filling in for Rio and Vidic, he’s gonna get the nod first in the middle. Evra has been a revival of his former self and O’Shea makes it hard not to select him because of his consistent form.
It’ll probably take an injury or two before we see him regularly!
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Valencia seems to take way too long to release the ball. For a cross or a simple pass, he tries to stop the ball, dead, before offering it up!!
He makes some good runs and seems to be able to penetrate somewhat, but cannot seem to make his final move and release in one fluid motion. There is always a stop or hesitance to it all!!
The lad needs to go train with Giggs for a couple of weeks.
Like?
0 
0
@Red Ranter: @Grognard:
So PEACE… 
I think in whole of the fandom and all topic I never how you all should behave. I just expressed what I feel is the right way of behaving. I clearly have my way and my thinking which i feel i have right to express. And thats all what I did. So, to all who felt that I am trying to teach a lesson in Fandom. NO. I am too busy in my life to do that. I just tried to say what I feel is correct and incorrect in my personal book.
I agree everyone has there own way dealing with things and they are free to follow..
So, I repeat what i said yesterday. In this perticular topic I would not fancy entering into debate…
Like?
0 
0
@Onkar: It’s just amazing how different we all are mate!!
Like?
0 
0
@Redrich: Yeah… I agree.. We all are so different… But, I think we have one thing in common, no matter who we are and what is our name is be it Craig, Dan, Red Rich, RR or Grogy that, we all are through and through Man UTD fans. We love our club more than any thing else. And may be thats why we discuss, debate, fight, agree or disagree we still like each other. Because, Man UTD is keeping us all tide with each other…
Isn’t it matey??? What ya say???
Like?
0 
0
@Onkar: It’s really quite simple mate. Nobody on a Manchester United blog needs lessons or lectures on being a devoted fan. You may not have intended that with your comments but that is how it came across. Anyway, it’s not a problem and nobody is upset with you, we just wanted you to know that there are different ways of showing one’s love for his team and at times, just like you do with a wife or girlfriend, there will fights or fits of rage. That shouldn’t mean that you leave your team like some of us leave our wives or GF’s or vice versa. Being a United fan cannot be a full time job and it certainly isn’t going to be for me as long as Fergie continues to dish out this crap to us all to witness.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Like Redrich said its amazing how different but at the how same we are!!!
I hope our loved Man UTD will be the same team which we all know and loved in our life very soon!!!
Like?
0 
0
@Onkar: Mate, you don’t have to explain yourself, you just need to put your ideas across in a persuasive manner.
) but addressing your concerns and issues with an element of objectivity certainly will.
Being like a shrill schoolgirl who has just seen her favorite pop band, is not gonna win win you you any fans here (well maybe Craig, sorry Craig
But remember, your opinion is sacred and you have the right to it!!
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Lets give it all a chance before we condemn the team and its prospects!!
The game yesterday, as much as I abhorred it, was typical of our beginnings in the CL, and certainly SAF’s tendency toward a conservative approach away from home at the start of the campaign!
In the PL I’ve seen 2 games that I thought we were great, and 3 games were I thought we were ordinary at best. Lets give it a chance, say 4/5 more games when we can read something into what we’re watching and certainly get a better understanding of the players and the way they fare up against each other.
In the meantime I’m taking it one game at a time, and trying to accumulate my overall feeling as we go.
Right now I think it’s too early to report!!
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: You want the old skinned sausage to return?
Are you seriously asking for a dip in form for a united player 
Like?
0 
0
@spizzy: Refer to this word.
Like?
0 
0
Onkar – Red Rich is right, I am a fan of yours already – so sail on mate, sail on.
.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Flattered matey….
Get Ready for some more NANI supports……
Like?
0 
0
@Redrich: So far I have seen one and a half games that were great. The second half vs Wigan and the game vs Spurs. As for games where we were ordinary, I’d place the game against Arsenal and Birmingham City in that category. That leaves the final category for me which is games where we were terrible and a joke. Burnley, the Charity Shield vs Chelsea and this game vs Besiktas fall in that category. Yes we won the Besiktas game and actually won it comfortably as we were really never tested, but that was not a performance to be proud of. So far we haven’t had much to get really excited about and above all, nothing to give us confidence and a feeling of bright things to come out of the future. But you are correct, it is still very early.
Like?
0 
0