Aug 22
Fulham vs Manchester United: Preview
After a comfortable win over Newcastle on the opening day of the season, Manchester United face a much tougher task in West-London as they visit Craven Cottage to play Fulham side under the tutelage of United legend Mark Hughes.
Going into the match Sir Alex Ferguson will be well aware of his dismal recent record at Craven Cottage as United have lost their last two matches at the venue – 2-0 and 3-0 respectively. Something Sir Alex is all to aware of,
“We’ve had a bit of a topsy-turvy time at Craven Cottage the last couple of years,” Sir Alex concedes. “We ended up with nine men two years ago, and then last season we’d gone too far with the players we were using at the back.”
United are still without long-term knee victims Rio Ferdinand, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves, while Patrice Evra should be fit after a clash with the advertising boards in the dying stages of the Newcastle win.
The back five should remain unchanged but it will be interesting to see if Ferguson starts will Paul Scholes, who is clearly in top form but age has caught up with the ginger ninja, so he may be used sparingly by the manager. Nani and Antonio Valencia both impressed last week, but Ji-Sung Park may get his first league start of the season.
Wayne Rooney is likely to miss the match with a stomach bug thus leaving a starting place up front alongside Dimitar Berbatov. Will Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez get the not, or will Sir Alex go win an older head in Michael Owen?
One point to note is that Fergie has never lost a game to a club managed by one of his former protégés, adding weight to Sunderland boss Steve Bruce’s suggestion that Ferguson tries even harder in such fixtures. Something Fulham boss Mark Hughes agrees with,
“Invariably he seems to pick his strongest team against me, but I take that as a sign of the respect he has for the teams I’m involved with, because he knows I set up my teams to give his a hard time,” agreed Hughes.
“He likes to make sure we know our place, and rightly so! He’s always competitive, and, obviously, going up against guys he’s previously worked with, he’s always supportive of us, but he always likes to beat you. That doesn’t change.” Hughes concluded.
Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and defender Paul Konchesky, who both missed the match against Bolton last week, are rated doubtful for the game. Though Konchesky will have a late fitness test. Diomansy Kamara, Andrew Johnson and new signing Philippe Senderos are long-term absentees, but Belgium international Moussa Dembele could be thrown straight into action after only signing this week.
United though will have to keep striker Bobby Zamora quiet, he was Fulham’s top scorer last year with 19 goals and scored in the 3-0 victory over United last December. Clint Dempsey is another who can get amongst the goals especially when arriving late into the box from midfield.
Comfort though can be taken from the fact that United have won 10 of their last 12 games against Fulham in all competitions.
Prediction: 2-0 United
Probable Line Up: van der Sar, O’Shea, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Fletcher, Scholes, Nani; Berbatov, Hernandez
***
Betfair is the official Manchester United betting partner and we here at Red Rants have partnered with them to offer a free £25 bet when you register.
Unlike other betting sites, Betfair allows you to place bets when the game is running and choose the odds at which you want to play. What allows you to do these things is you’re betting against other fans, not the bookie, so if you want better odds than are currently available, for example, you can place an order for a better price (but bear in mind that if your price is unrealistic your bet is unlikely to be accepted).
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Rooney and Evans celebrate winner v Fulham – Wallpaper
- Fulham v Man Utd: Preview
- Fulham Preview
- Porto it is then…
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Stephen (454)
Craig Mc (344)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
Anybody fancy getting out of this arguementative thread and come post on the CL in the other Fulham thread where there are but few posts and plenty of space to talk CL football draw? This thread is too slow now!
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: English is a as good as my first language. I was just pointing out “opinions”. As for the Beuty and the Beast comment, it wasn’t meant for you mate – I know you meant well.
satire? ?/[sat-ahyuhr]
1. the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.
2. a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule.
3. a literary genre comprising such compositions
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Grog, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Look, I have told you once and I am telling you again, it’s not that we don’t get it. Every person here on this blog hates the Glazers with a passion, and most of us are convinced that Fergie is guilty of errors of judgement, if not intent. We get it Grog, we really do. So, when you refer to a whole bunch of people as having their “heads up their asses” you naturally end up antagonising them. And frankly, I have seen enough evidence not to take your claims of “I don’t start it, but I end it” seriously. You may not realize it, man, but you do start it. A lot.
)
You say, we will end up in sheet creek, I am saying that we are already there. But, and here is where my big point comes up, “What can we fans do about it?” You talk about your superior intellect and experience – I believe you. The thing is what are you doing with it, Grog? You talk of leadership Grog, what are you doing to lead the fans? Can you channelize all your bitterness and passion and energy into some concrete steps and actions that will have a small role to play in getting rid of the Glazers? Can you? See Grog, leadership is not all about whipping people into submission or “end it” as you call it. It’s about motivating and uniting people. And just by the way (and I hate saying this), since you talk of your intellect and experience, I am not exactly uneducated. I graduated from a business school that is consistently ranked among the top twenty in the world, I manage a multimillion dollar business, I have led hundred people strong teams, and been part of teams preparing to take companies public. And I am just thirty (there, that wasn’t so difficult
So, Grog, why don’t you focus and calm down and float some constructive ideas about what we fans could do, apart from banning merchandise? You want to build something -reach out to people on this blog. I refuse to believe that millions of fans can’t do anything about this. It goes against my nature to accept that sort of defeat and goes against everything that led me to becoming an Utd. fan in the first place. At the same time, my biggest fear is that the whole Glazer issue is so incredibly divisive that it will end up polarising all the fans unless we learn to control the anti-Glazer movement. So, for me, it’s not about getting it, or heads in sand, it’s about what you do with it once you get it.
In conclusion, the fact that you have been around on this blog longer than me, means jackshit to me. The principal reason why “newbies” wouldn’t want to contribute here is because you tend to swamp them out, perhaps without realizing it.
Think about it. If you don’t agree, then let’s just call it quits, mate. I won’t respond to your comments and you don’t respond to mine, directly, or even with indirect references in our posts. Can you stick to that?
Like?
0 
0
the headless chicken played well last week.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: It’s been suggested that we are after signing Fabrice Muamba, and sending Cleverly to Bolton on loan for the season as part of the deal. He’s an England U21 midfielder. He’s a decent player, and young. Could be along term Hargreaves replacement… thing is, we need a short term Hargreaves replacement!
Like?
0 
0
ben arfa to newcastle? how far his star has fallen….
Like?
0 
0
@Wink: How far Newcastle has fallen actually?
Like?
0 
0
@Jeet: Sometimes I hate me to. I’ll give myself 30 lashes in your name.
Like?
0 
0
@Jeet: So what can we do about it and what have I done about it? Well for starters, all of us believe in the cause should join MUST. I did a year ago and I donated a hefty amount of money to the cause as well. Add to that I refuse to buy one licensed item. I don’t care if the jerseys or caps or scarves are the bees knees, I’m not buying them. And then for those who are actually living in Manchester or who have season tickets, their’s is the biggest sacrifice, but also the biggest hit to the Glazer extortion machine. People like Stephen have made the sacrifice and have my respect and gratitude for what it’s worth. Whether he and I always agree, he needs to know that his action is something I greatly respect and admire because having to give up your season tickets to make a point is one hell of a sacrifice.
After that the only thing left to us fans is our mouths and our writing ability. Spreading the word, debating and getting the message out that not only are the Glazer’s stealing from us under the warped rules of this corrupt acquisition, but that people on this club that we the fans have admired and supported for decades are allowing them to do it without having a fit or quitting in protest. Their are hundreds of web sites, blog and forums and the more people who are upset with the situation spread the word and inform others the better the cause grows and the greater the support for overthrowing the Glazer’s gets.
So why do I go on and on with this? Well because I care and because the situation infuriates me but mostly, it’s because my hope is that I can somehow sway a few more people over to the side of light or as I see it it, the right side. There are still far too many people in love with and in 100% support of Sir Alex Ferguson and his role in all this and that for me is disturbing and untenable. The sad thing that you and others haven’t clued in on yet is that I was a long and loyal admirer of Fergie and for years I looked up to him with pride and the knowledge that he was always going to steer the ship clear of Ice “Glazer’s”. Well it seems I was wrong and that revelation has soured me on the man and made me question his every move. He has said and done too many things that for me are irritating, frustrating and unforgivable. But mostly, his constant praise and support of the family Glazer has been a very hard pill for me to swallow. So what do I do? I don’t the most sensible thing and most available thing to me. I go to my Manchester United blog and I rant like Hell. I become Howard Beale and I state the facts as I see them and I tell those who are listening just how “mad as hell I am and how I’m not going to take it anymore”. That’s all I am doing. I am blessed to have a handful of members who are as awake as I am, who share the passion and who are as pissed off as me to share thoughts and frustrations with. For the rest of you, it is always my hope that the information I present will make some of you also start questioning our manager and start asking the questions that so many refuse to do. Denial on this blog is definitely a river in Egypt and it has been a watering hole of tremendous frustration for me. People like you and others have made me out to be some kind of sinister minister and a harbinger of lies and rumours and yet I only present facts and ask questions. I don’t need to make up things about Fergie, he is good at putting his own foot in his own mouth.
But let it be known here right now, I am not happy about what I am forced to do. I’d much rather concentrate on the games ahead and on players but Fergie and his unholy alliance water down the team and my interest in all that because I see the big picture. You say you see the big picture but I respectfully disagree with you. Only a few people on this blog ever bring up the deadline for when these loans are to be paid off and when the Glazer’s plan to default on them. That dark day will make these present days seem like Utopian times believe me. And the fact nobody wants to talk about it and nobody wants to see the warning signs is incredibly disturbing to me. This is a Manchester United blog but the most vital and pressing topic in the team’s history is being forced to become off limits. How wrong is that? It matters not if you aren’t interested in talking or reading about the single most pressing issue this club faces. It matters that there are those who do and your complaining about me and the subject shows me and those people a tremendous lack of respect and tolerance and that is what makes me lose my temper and go ballistic.
I don’t want to argue with you mate, honest I don’t, but like I have done many times before, I fight for my right to free expression. I don’t come on here talking about movies or songs or what’s happening in Iraq. I am talking about Manchester United. The fact that I cannot be bothered with such short term issues as whether we will beat West Ham should be a warning to all that there is much more at stake here than winning games this year. Instead I am forced to endure a barrage of hatred and intolerance from people who will accuse me of anything they see fit but who actually haven’t got a clue as to what is going on here. And that will be my ongoing frustration and cross to bare. So hate me all you like mate. I don’t hate you, I just feel sorry for you and other supporters who yes, JUST DON’T GET IT. Because frankly, if you did, you would look at me as a valued ally instead of the dark cloud you have painted me out to be. And that does make me very sad indeed.
Like?
0 
0
@tom: the headless chicken played well last season…
Like?
0 
0