Feb 24
Inter v Man Utd: Preview
Suddenly we are not ‘injury proof’. Rafael has been added to the list that includes Evans, Brown, Neville, O’Shea and, for all practical purposes for the day, Vidic.
Mourinho reckons a ‘worried’ United may be defensive. Fergie brushes that aside with a we-rarely-play-for-draws rebuttal. Ronaldo mumbles something about killing or being killed which, for some reason, sounds to me like the job description of a suicide bomber.
Wenger talks about how his club looks to educate people… as opposed to United.
So, as you see, it’s an exciting day indeed, and everyone’s chirpy.
My day, on the other hand, isn’t nearly as exciting. I have work, you see, which coincides nicely with today’s game. For Fuck’s sake.
But I’m none too optimistic about today. Unless, of course, Jonny O’Shea steps in at centre back and stuffs the sizeable Ibrahimo-watsisname-ovic into his wee back pocket. If pigs could fly and if George Bush could say disestablishmentarianism. (Yes, the smart ones may have noticed the Black Adder reference.)
Fergie, despite the tough talk about rarely ever playing for a draw, he’ll surely make today one of those rare occasions. He’ll go for his most defensive formation ever. A 4-3-3 that would really be a 4-5-1. A midfield of Carrick, Fletcher and Giggs. A forward line of Ronaldo, Rooney and Park. And a back line of Evra, Rio, O’Shea (if he emerges from Fergie’s smokescreen of being ‘doubtful’) and Fabio.
If he doesn’t make it, then Fletch would most likely partner Rio (the horror!) with Carrick, Giggs, and Park pushed in to the middle. This way Tevez would be brought into the mix alongside Rooney and Ronaldo.
Defence will be key today. And hence you’ll see Fergie pick players like Park, Tevez (and Rooney) who will cover every inch of the pitch for 90 minutes. I can’t see Fergie picking Berbatov today.
Had Vidic been available, I really wouldn’t have had any worries about today. But he isn’t, so we can’t expect to play like Barcelona and the Harlem Globetrotters rolled into one.
Prediction: 1-1. Our goal coming off a set-piece.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v Inter: Preview
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
- Rooney Out For A Month
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Stephen (454)
Craig Mc (344)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
Attack Attack Attack should be the mantra today….. Lets attack and keep them at bay…..
fletcher – rio – oshea – evra
park – carrick – giggs – rooney
————tevez————–
————ronaldo————
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our attack>>>>>their defence, we need to remember this.
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@Dan: Ok.
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i think ur right Dan, our attack is better than their D,
…As long as we can score a goal, we SHOULD win the tie
2-1, 3-2 would be great, def can see us winning tonight though…
I mean is Fabio really gonna play tonight? what a baptism of fire for the lad, hope hes up to it like his bro
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@realred: I still having a strange feeling that we will be very happy by the end of the game, i would like to see how Berba stands up for such big games , also ronaldo’s attendence is required..
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@bond: I think berba will get a nod above tevez, although tevez will be handy in such matches.
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cant*
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@realred: What Cant???
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id like to see tevez and rooney tonight, they graft like there lives depend on it every minute of every match, along with park out wide, giggs scholes for the experience and ron for the flare. Dont think playing fabio would be a good idea but saf knows best! Cmon reds!!
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I can’t believe how optimistic people are. The San Siro is a very tough place to go, and Inter are easily the best team in Italy over the past 2 seasons. They have a world class starting XI, have virtually no injuries and had a reasonably gentle weekend.
We had a very tough encouter with Blackburn (Ronaldo looked out on his feet towards the end) have lost half of our defence with no real replacement and always stink it up away from home in the CL.
A draw would be a great and holy blessing. We’re good, but we always underperform in Europe. Oh and Fergie has only beaten Mourinho once in 10 matchups.
So why the optimism?
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Ronaldo and Rooney need to have big games for us. Just showing up isn’t an option. The world’s best player needs to make a statement on the road at one of the true footballing Mecca’s, the San Siro. I’m looking for something special. So help me, prepare for a nasty review from me if they pull a snore fest like they did vs Barcelona last year. I want to see if they are capable of playing attack oriented entertaining football against a top opponent and win. I’d rather lose trying to win over winning through parking the bus. We need to show guts, determination and cockiness. I hope Fergie doesn’t fall into Mourinho’s trap like he has a half dozen other times. Shock him with a wave of attacking fast paced football and lets see what they have to offer from a defending point of view.
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2-1 to inter, maureen to go all giddy….
7-1 to united at OT with supervida back, maureen to go hide himself in the inter clothesbasket like at chelsea
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Mourino brags alot which has no significant about the match against MU. He is more worried man than Alex with his ridicules comments just like a barking dog….
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I can see Fergie deploying Rooney out wide with Ronnie through the middle ce soir to give the defence some cover.
I hope Evans and O’Shea are fit, but can see SAFFY risking one of them but maybe not both.
@Beachryan: Underperform, aren’t we European Champions?
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we gotta try be realistic lads, there a solid outfit n theres no guearentees with the sort of defence were playin tonight!!
its def gonna be a toughy
im in agreement with big Andy cole though sayin that any away goal will do…although id prefer two!!
who knows we could be surpirised, the sheer quality of our strikers means we can overcome any opponent
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I think the score is going to read 2-1 at the end of the game. I hope for an early goal and then we should see it through to victory… I must admit though, that I’m also concerned over our defensive line, but the lads should win it…
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Grognard, I dont think parking the bus is an option with the defence we are playing with today. So we better move like butterflies and sting like bis.
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Its gonna be a hard game. That is something we know. But how difficult I dont know. Excuse me for my optimism, but I really cant see us losing this. Inter are a shit side, most overrated team EVER!!! Believe me, I watch them. They are just a worse version of Mourinhos Chelsea from 2006. Static, boring, tactically good, no pace, no penetration and no fucking entertainment. Some nice flicks from Ibrahimobitch, but nothing more. The Itanlian League has fallen drastically since 2005, when the Prem was weak and Spain and Italy were the dominating countries. All capped off at the World cup 2006, and that has also proven to be their downfall. Not only the planned matches and stuff, but they caliber of the players have fallen. Not only italian players, but all footballers playing in Italy. Playing Inter is not much harder than playing Lyon!
And Im serious. Lyon dominate the French League, but are not so good when it comes to challenging the big guys from England or Spain. And Inter are Italys Lyon. Its a crap League with just boring football which isnt even worth to watch. They ruin the fun!!! 
So playing Inter away is for me like playing Lyon away. Would you be worried about that? Not so much. Come on, we are talking about a team that drew to Anartothis and Panatinaikos, and lost Werder Bremen.
United defense is the only thing that worries me. But not as much as I would think I should do. We are facing the best team in Italy away with only 2 proven or real defenders in our team. And if we get a replacement, he will either be half injured or playing in another position. But I aint worried. I am actualy really confident. Please dont ask me why, because I dont know myself.
We are the best team in the world. Proven by all the trophies we have won and the positiong we are in. Leading the Prem by 7 points. Final of the Carling Cup, quarter final of the FA cup, Champions of the world and we are in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Now this may all come back to bite me, but what the hell? As a United fan I should only expect the best of my team, and if not I should be allowed to feel dissapointed or angry! And because we are so used to winning, why dont we just keep staying in this positive mentality. If no-one believes we are gonna win today, then why fucking watch it?! Jeez, all the negativity…
I think the key player tonight will be Ji-Sung Park. If he can stop Maicon, we have stopped Inter. Most of Inters goals come from crosses from his side, or at least he is invloved. Probably the best RB in the world, but I feel Park has the ability to shut him up. And I swear to God, if Ronaldo and Rooney doesnt have one fo their best games of the season tonight, I will be fucking dissapointed. Ronaldo will be up against Maxwell, and Rooney up against Chiuvu or something. If there is anything the Italian league is not familiar with, its what these two players possess. Aggresion, flair and pace. Say it again? Aggresion, flair and pace! They both have these qualitites, and they should manage to ruin Inters defense all by themselves. They are not only humans, they are legends of the game!
Team prediction:
VDS
Fabio-Evans/Oshea-Rio-Evra
Ronaldo-Fletcher-Giggs-Park
Rooney-Berbatov
Score prediction: 2-0 to United. Ronaldo and Rooney will score. It will be in the bag tonight…
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I love your optimism Eddy. I have faith in Fabio especially with Park protecting him. But I don’t think Evans or O’Shea are going to make it and if we go with Eckersley or Fletcher alongside Rio then Adriano and Ibrahovitch are going to smell blood. I know they are inconsistent as hell but this season Mourinho has really built up their confidence.
Im almost certain we’ll concede two goals. The key is taking our chances and getting that away goal or two. We’ll probably go with a fairly defensive line-up so Rooney and Ronaldo will be our only real goal threats and it is imperative they take their chances.
Certainly their defence has never encountered a pair as good as Ronaldo and Rooney.
I think it is more likely we play Ronaldo on the left wing (so we can use Park to protect Fabio). So he’ll come up against Maicon. As such Maicon will be wary about bombing forward
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I like the way you think of the match Eddy, Inter are apparently very fragile mentally due to their lack of success in Europe over the years. They’re desperate to do well, this is not like in their league.
I’m looking for an approach like against Chelsea recently, compact, but enterprising when the opportunity arises…fearless.
I hope this isn’t going to be 60 minutes of non play like the first leg against Lyon, let them do the worrying.
If United ‘play’ I’m confident, if they muck about with back passes and are content with keep ball, I will be less so.
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Ronaldo against Maicon….I dont think so….
Park and Evra will be cricial tonight…and Berba, of course…
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INTER HAVE INJURIES IN SAMUEL AND VIERA. MATTERAZZI A DOUBT. I BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE IT. MY TEAM WILL BE LIKE THIS a 4.3.3
vds
oshea rio evans evra
park carrick Fletcher
ronaldo berba rooney
i take this formation coz i believe sheasy and evans are likely to play. it was just caution to sub evans on B/BURN game. if the worst comes i would play like this
vds
Fabio oshea rio evra
Fletcher Carrick park
Ronaldo Giggs Rooney
i think we also need a strong bench. Berbatov, tevez . nani. Tevez can sub park. berba can sub ronaldo/giggs. when we need someone who can croos nanai maybe for giggs/ronaldo.
I’m of the idea that fletcher should mark ibra, so he shold be in the central midfield., remeber Roma 7-1. the mid pairing of carrick and fletcher. someone who can tight mark is the only one since we don’t have vidic.
man united we normaly make it when things are tight. remember against Roma when we were 10 men.
Man United 3 Inter 1
The fall of the special-one the self annointed one.
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I think we will line up like this.
VDS
Fabio Evans Rio Evra
Park Fletch Carrick Ronaldo
Rooney Berbatov
Park will start to cover for Fabio, and I think we should play the match like any other, and attack. Not all out forget defense, just like we usually do. Mourinho is expecting us to hold back a little because of our defensive situation, and that’s what they want too, because their defense can’t handle our attack. Rio will have to have his game face on to deal with Ibra and Adriano, and Fletch should come deep often to pester Ibra.
Sitting back and Defending is a good tactic when you have a defense!! The strongest area of this traveling squad is Attack, so that’s what we should do. Inter won’t be able to kill of this tie in this game and almost regardless of tonight’s result I think we will do what we need to at Old Trafford to get through.
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Berba will not play as rightly pointed out by RR. The holy trinity of Tevez Rooney and Ronaldo should do it. This game can be THE game for many in our team. A lot to prove to a lot of people,
Ronaldo – He can silence his critics yet again by handing out a masterclass today. Rooney should be fired up enough to get everything right.
Tevez – Time to show that gaffer that he is every inc as good as Berbatov is, make a case in point that he should be playing more first team football. Boy, if he can turn it on today, we will definitely look good.
The defence – Fabio, if he plays at all, for him it should be the sort of a shot in the arm that drives the truly great players. Because if he can deliver a performance worthy of a RB at Manchester United, then he will be remembered for long.
Rio has to show today that he can carry the defence on his own, with or without Vida – no disrespect to the monster.
If these players play to their best today. Then I dont see any reason why we cant get out of the San Siro with a win today.
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@Man Utd fan/Macedonia: I think if giggs is given time to run the show he will destroy them, I am not a fan of muntari neways.. so it shouldn’t be a big problem compared to some other midfielders we could have faced.
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@UnitedUnited: I still think Fergi will field berba, as he might need someone to come back and create for forwards if he has to field carrick as CB.
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@Traverse: I would love to see Fabio play as he seemed to be more confident and composed of the two, although we saw only a glimpse of the guy, hope he does well.
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Martin comment 20, that is exactly the team i wanted too mate. I dont think though that oshea and evans will make it but i just hope we dont go so defensive cos trust me that will play into their hands and they will easily win the match. I hope we see fabio at RB, he is actually naturally right footed anyway. Only problem with him is, we would need park on that right side to protect him, but we really could do with him on the left to stop the excellent maicon. Honestly though inter are the kind of team where if things are going well, they will look great, but if they went behind they aint the kind of team to bust a gut and raise their game, some players will sulk and they just wont look the same, so in this respect if we got the 1st goal then we could be home and dry which is where i think fergie gets his comments that the game could be won today. If however we sit back, we will loose. Its not in our nature to sit back, we aint really good at it and with a dodgy defence i dont know why we would want to sit back anyway. As Eddy said inter are extremely over rated, i have watched them at least 10 times this year and even my family who are inter fans say they are very over rated and have no chance in europe this year. My cousin said they are just a roma like team but with a higher profile. Dont know about you guys but to me roma arent all that so if inter are roma like then i think we should win. I pray to see some of our exiting european performances like in the 90s against barca and that tonight, but somehow i see us sitting back for 90 mins and trust me if we do that, we will be disappointed tonight.
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@Matthew: I agree with all sentiments there, Inter are an aging side and with Ronnie and Wazza should tear them a new one.
Did Evra play right back when we beat beat Roma 7.1 or is that just my mind going a miss? Anyway if we play our own game we will be fine, if we try to play the slow tempo european game which we have a tendancy to do in Europe then it could be a tough night.
I feel Inter’s best player or most effective is Stankovic, come on boys!!
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@UnitedUnited: I think we need Berbatov’s ball retention skills at the top end of the park. He is almost impossible to tackle, and if we are going to play with a little restraint like it seems we will, we’ll need someone up top who can hold the ball and bring the runners into play. His first touch/close control is far superior to anyone else in the team, including Ronaldo.
Tevez’s energy cannot be ignored, but Inter aren’t a fast team or a wide team. They’ll be playing a diamond in midfield and expecting their fullbacks to get forward. This should leave plenty of space in behind for counter attacking with Ronaldo, Park, Evra, Fabio or even Rooney bombing into the channels.
If either team will be the defensive one I think it’ll be Inter.
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Berbatov will and should play, Fergie would not spend that money on him and drop him for the biggest game of the season.
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I predict like alot of other people… 2-1 inter
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@Traverse: When I said that Berbatov wouldn’t play, my train of thought was something like this. Tevez Rooney and Ronaldo as a trio would be difficult to mark than Berba up front. It is true that Inter is an aging team. If you unleash three of your most energetic men at them, they might struggle to mark them. Plus this would be the ideal attacking impetus that would stun Mourinho. Assuming that the back four has O Shea Rio Fabio and Evra, we will have to be defensive and play a three man midefield. So the service to Berba wont be upto the mark. This might render him slightly ineffective. Ronaldo Rooney and Tevez on the other hand will run at their defense, which is not their strongest point anyway and hence we will have an equal balance of attack and defence.
@Stephen: It is true that he spent a lot of money on Berbatov. But that doesnt mean he has to play him no matter what.
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@UnitedUnited: Berba can hold the ball up well which the others cannot do, which I feel is something which will be needed.
Also he is playing well and is unlikely to feature Sunday.
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Hrm, someone on an Inter forum has posted saying: did little research, this spanish ref is notorious for screwing up games.Gives almost 7 yellow card/game, 0.83 pk, gives loss time up to 10 min, and has average of rating of 4 from Marca. Ref will be a big part on this game.
Oh oh…
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@UnitedUnited: I have to agree with Stephen. If we are going to play with only one player up front, it has to be Berbatov. His control and ball retention skills are second to none and we’ll need him to hold up the ball so that our defenders will get some breathing space. His creativity and vision can be used to set up somebody like Ronaldo.
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@Beachryan: Ive read that in an inter forum too funny huh? Thing is they’re more concerned about the the referee than we are. Players like Muntari and Rivas are prone to collecting cards. Although it is be possible that the referee might get intimidated by the home crowd and may produce silly cards against us.
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I really like the idea of playing it tight, and leaving Berbatov and Ronaldo as a constant threat up top. I think that we should be able to contain, and Berba’s vision coupled with Ronaldo’s pure speed could really cause Inter problems. Something like:
————-vds———–
-Fabio-Rio—O’Shea–Evra–
—–Fletcher–Carrick—–
————Giggs———-
-Park—————Rooney-
———-Ronaldo———-
———–Berba———–
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@Beachryan: Good side but I can see Fergie playing Fletch at right back and playing Scholes, going for safety rather than playing an inexperienced defender in such a big game without his first choice CB.
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@Beachryan: That side would probably give Inter major problems……… given that you picked 12 men
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@ JB…hrm…d’oH!
Take out Giggs, push Park and Rooney back a bit. We should try it
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Stephen, i dont know if we will scholes today anyway mate, he has played pretty much 90mins in our last 2 matches and i dont think he will be able to do 3 games in a row. Giggs was rested in the fulham game (i think) and i know he only came on as a sub for 10mins or so in the blackburn game. To me that says giggsy will be a starter today. Sounds like evans is definitely gonna miss the game, absolutely no training i just cant see him being risked so it looks like oshea will fit in at CB. I dont know about the rest of you but seeing oshea there is giving me nightmares. I know he has imporved a bit in the last few years but he is still is dodgy and playing at CB any mistake he makes would be suicide. On the other hand he could have an absolute stormer and be like brown and rio last year against barca and just be amazing, hopefully the latter. So this i reckon means fletcher will slot into the RB position and leaving the 3 man midfield with im guessing carrick, giggs and someone else. I would like this man to be park, even though he usually plays as a winger, he doesnt offer much attacking wise but in a game like this and with our current defensive problems we may need him just for the defensive side of his game. He could be useful for marking macion as well. As some have mentioned maybe berbatov wont play, park maybe will play in a 3 man attack, but i just think these are the kind of games we need berbatov so i change my mind and think berba will start.
Anyway thios is how i think we will look:
VDS
FLETCHER RIO OSHEA EVRA
CARRICK GIGGS PARK
RONALDO BERBATOV ROONEY
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@Matthew: You are probably right matey, it does depend if O’Shea or Evans are fit, I like you think O’Shea will be fit and also do not trust him either but we are lacking heavily with options.
Park will certainly play and maybe in a 4-4-1-1 with Rooney or Carlos behind Berba, or even maybe Roonie so Rooney can give a bit of cover for the fullback.
Mourinho has a decent record against Fergie but played 12 Mourinho has won 6 but one win was in a league cup, one was a hammering right at the end of the season and one when Keano had to play CB in the first game of the season, also 4 have been drawn with Fergie winning 2. So not so cut and dried I would say.
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I think he’ll play Giggs and Park today definitely as they both are quality at tracking back (as well as Giggs calming influence, he’s been here, done it, got the t-shirt remember).
I’m imagining he’ll revert to his 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation he prefers in Europe.
VDS
Fabio, Ferdinand, O’Shea, Evra
Rooney, Park, Carrick, Giggs, Ronaldo
Berbatov
That can obviously quickly move into a 4-3-3 when United have the ball.
I am very confident about tonight, our makeshift back four will probably concede, but i definitely think we’ll score. I’m predicting a score-draw, Not sure how many goals, either 1-1 or 2-2
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there is no point at all in playing tevez to be perfectly honest. Yes he’ll run down defenders like a dog chasing a stick, but im sorry, energy does not win you games. End product does, something tevez lacks. We need energy and someone to finish of our chances, thats why it’ll be a 4-5-1/4-3-3 with berba being our focal point.
i understand why everyone is so afraid, but show some fucking pride! We are manchester united, that best team in the world and current European champions! we have the best players in the world and the best manager in the world. We are quite simply, the best and we, the fans and players need to realise this. Play with your heart, and your pride and show the rest of europe are glorious hell.
Red devils FTW!
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WWOOOOOHOOO YEAH bring it on special one.
War red devils United ftmfw
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@Beachryan:
i wish they would let us play this formation we could beat anyone with 12 players hahaha
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@Beachryan:
i dig where your going with it though.
maby
________VDS________
fletch_rio_evans_evra fletch for fab cuz of first team play
___gigs____carrick___ thought jos was hurt so evans
park____roon____ron__ park for nani cuz defensive cover
_______berb__________ come on berba make us proud
with the attack switching like they do 433 451
bring on fabio tevez and nani as needed for tired legs or nicks
and thats why were champions
sit down morinho
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i think O’shea will play in the center and fletcher at right-back. fabio will be on the bench as fergie will not risk him in such a huge clash.
I feel a draw is on the cards if fergie goes for a attacking strategy.
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@Dan: I agree mate, even if we loose tonight which we won’t
we still have the second leg when we should be close to having a fully fit squad to choose from.
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