Dec 18
Gamba Osaka v Man Utd: Match Thread
It’s the semi-finals of the World Club Championship — a tournament, despite my being happy if we lift the cup, I couldn’t care less about.
To me, it’s a big distraction with an already crowded league schedule. The timing is most ill-advised with a jam packed Christmas schedule, and we are still playing catch up in the league despite slip ups by Chelsea and Liverpool.
But more on the scheduling at a later time. Now for the game at hand.
Japan based club, Gamba Osaka take on United in front of their home based fans. So they will be looking to give their all against our blow hot, blow cold lineup.
Fergie has been sounding about how great being World Club Champions can be. But really I hope he’s more concerned about our prospects in the league than Sepp Blatter’s pet project. Neville, Scholes and Giggs might play today. I’d rather have them play here than in the league at the moment — particularly Gary Neville.
Berbatov seems to be laid low with a mysterious Japanese virus, so Tevez and Rooney should resume their partnership. Rio and Vidic should keep their place at the heart of United’s defence while the rest of the team will be picked by Fergie’s whim and fancy — as has been the case throughout this season.
Predictions: 2-0 to United. I think we are just too strong for them, but I have been wrong many times.
Over to you. Take it away.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v QPR: Preview
- Mourinho’s Inter, Liga de Quito and proof that Berbatov can be happy
- Aston Villa v Manchester United: Preview/Match thread
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (89)
Craig Mc (26)
Ian (18)
[...] United beat Gamba Osaka yesterday 5-3 in the semi-finals of the 08 Club World Cup. Red Rants has the discussion but honestly the goals are all that matter, and ROM has the necessary goal videos. Match report? [...]
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Only a few minutes left till the draw…
I WANT MADRID!!!!!
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Is the draw on air? If not is there some place where I can track it?
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News.bbc.co.uk – has txt, skysports has a nifty flash thingy.
I want Madrid, but happy as long as we avoid Inter and Lyon.
Anyone want to bet £10 that Chelski get panathanaikos?
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watching sky sports news right now, awaiting the draw…
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I WANT MADRID!!
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Chelski play juve!
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Real pls…
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madrid got the scum
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Hrm…Inter…Mourinho…bugger…
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shit! we got inter!
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shit… just missed…
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i wonder who fergie wants to win? real or scouser red?
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Whoa…Inter, and we’re gonna welcome back Jose..whatever, I don’t care!! We can beat them, we better beat them!!!
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You know, I remember when we drew Lyon last year… It was the hardest team to beat in our list of possible teams, and now we arguably got the hardest possible team again. Atleast we can knock ‘em out early, if possible.
Actually, I think I remember seeing a smirk when one of the teams drew Lisbon.
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@dan(u-ol): Well, atleast one of them will be out by the next round…would be even worse if both had got easy draws and got through to the next round.
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Barca will steamroll Lyon. They are in the form of their lives. If we can draw away then I guess itll be a lot easier for us. Mourinho will play his boring style anyway. We must make sure we dont do that as well. Who can be more boring? he will win hands down.
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our form needs improve greatly if we are to stand a chance of beating inter, thats for sure.
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Our luck wasn’t great in the draw. Let’s hope it improves, though, against Inter…
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@dan(u-ol): Form seems to be hit or miss for United right now.
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What are the odds that the 3 other Spanish teams get the easiest draws… Barca especially…
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Wow Inter is probably the toughest game because we always seem to struggle to beat Mourinho sides. But we have much better players than them, no doubt. We just need to rediscover the fluency we had last season and make sure we avoid those lapses of concentration our defence seems prone to this season.
To me it seems Ferguson is determined to play Rooney as a number 9 with Berbatov dropping off. This works on the rare occasions that Rooney converts his channces, but I can see it backfiring. Also playing Ronaldo wide more of the time makes him less dangerous and less likely to score.
Anyway I cannot wait for the mindgames with Jose to begin!
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Oh great just the team i didnt want. I know alot about inter and believe me at the san siro they are extremely hard to beat. I am actually a fan of inter due to my family suppoorting them and i class them as my 2nd team but i will still be hoping united make it through. I just hope when we go there we dont play our normal negative tactics away from home because if we do it could be tie over after the 1st leg. For me the defende and goalkeeper is the weak spot and if we can penetrate their weak spot then we can win quite comfortably. Inter have the kind of side that will give up if they loose the first leg. Ibra, cambiasso, adriano all have these kind of personalities so if we can get a draw or better still a win in the 1st leg then i would have to say it would look good for us.
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@Grognard: Well put mate, it really was a thoroughly entertaining match full of verve and attacking instinct. Some more clinical finishing and i think it could have had a whole load more than “just” 8 goals.
Looking forward to the final on Sunday morning. LDU are a good side but wom the Libertadores playing defensive football with fast counter attacking wingers/wing-backs. Unfortunately they’ve since sold their two best players who helped them to win, but they’re still a good team and not to be underestimated
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@Nick: Sounds like it will be a 1-0 snore fest if that’s the way LDU will play. Guarantee that Park will start which will put us on our back feet offensively. Nani may have played poorly the other day but at least he went forward.
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