Aug 08
Preparing to beat Reading
United take on Glentoran and Dunfermline today in the last of the pre-season friendlies before the Sunday kick-off against Reading.
Four players are confirmed on the injury list - Ben Foster and Park Ji-Sung are long-term casualties while Louis Saha and Dong Fanghzhou are expected to regain fitness for the home game but most likely will be rested till the away game against Portsmouth on the 16th, especially if Tevez signs on before Sunday.
However, tonight’s friendlies have only one thing of interest to watch - the fact that the key players come out of it unscathed. All eyes are on the Sunday season-opener, with Manchester United playing the last game of the weekend (you won’t hear any excuses from Fergie about United playing after Chelsea though).
So with Reading in mind, who do you think will line up at Old Trafford on 12th August?
Here’s my pick:
EVDS
Neville, Rio, Vidic, Evra
Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Carrick, Giggs
Rooney, Tevez
Anderson and Nani are definitely going to play a substitute role in that game, and if Tevez hasn’t signed up we’ll see Ole start (although I’d prefer Anderson playing in the hole and Rooney up front).
Let me know what you guys think.
No Heinze in the starting lineup, until this mess with him and Liverpool ends, he’s not going to get any games under Ferguson.
Related items from Red Rants:- Reading 0-2 United: Rooney, Ronaldo Keep United Top
- United win easy, questions on Evans and Rossi
- United’s £100k+ Christmas party, useless Shorey, Arsenal will stumble and of course, Rooney is better than Kaka
- Spurs, Levy, Ferguson and Berbatov
- Transfer Rumours: Quaglierella, Smudger and Heinze (again)
August 8th, 2007 at 15:15
i think nevilles still injured too.
however heres mine
VDS
Brown Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Fletcher Carrick Hargreaves
Giggs Rooney Ronaldo
i have a strong feeling bout this lineup, especially as scholes is rumored to get a place on the bench, Tevez isn’t fully match fit considering he’s hardly trained, Saha isn’t ready
and Fergie rarely starts Ole.
August 8th, 2007 at 15:16
i think the team is pretty simple to pick now that the tevez ordeal has been almost sorted, i think we will line up with EVDS, neville, rio,vida,evra,ronaldo,giggs,OH,carrick,rooney,tevez same as you ahmed subs nani on for giggs scholes on for carrick, anderson on for OH in the last 10 mins or so. 3-0 win ronaldo rooney and tevez 2 get the goals. Lita and Hahnaman out 4 reading, should be an easy win, would like to c uniteds name on the top of the table as soon as possible so goals goals goals would be welcome. is neville going to be fit by the match tho?
August 8th, 2007 at 15:19
if neville is injured replace with brown
August 8th, 2007 at 15:58
Considering injuries to certain players I think Eltons’ lineup looks about right.
Depending on fitness and considering the Community shield, I can see
maybe O’Shea starting ahead of Hargreaves (if he’s not fit enough) or
Fletcher.
August 8th, 2007 at 16:21
Ahmed’s line up’s for me. With Brown at rightback if Nev is out. And Anderson in if Tevez doesn’t start
August 8th, 2007 at 16:24
VDS
Brown, Rio, Vidic, Evra
Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Carrick, Giggs
Rooney, Tevez
I have confidence that PL will sort out the Tevez deal soon enough for him to participate, and I have no worries about his match fitness. I doubt SAF will risk Scholes, and it’ll be a perfect opportunity to see Hargo. Nani and Anderson should be subs, and they should have a few minutes on, when the game is settled with 2 goals from Rooney and one from Tevez. Ronaldo will get one as well, and we’ll thrash them 5-0 (goal from Nani perhaps).
August 8th, 2007 at 17:17
VDS
brown,rio,vidic,evra
ronaldo,o’shea,cariick,fletcher
giggs
rooney
i dont think hargreaves is fit enough at the mo, might change after 2nights game. but tht included we need a good start to the leauge. i fink nani and anderson will b subs. dont fink we will risk scholes(unless necessary). if tevez registration comes thru, he will b on subs bench
August 8th, 2007 at 17:24
am agreeing with Elton’s team.
August 8th, 2007 at 17:27
vds
evans rio vidic evra
ronaldo anderson/fletcher hargreaves giggs
tevez rooney
i think evans will be given a chance to shine. i dont think SAF will play carrick and hargreaves together unless it’s an away cl game, cus the way united play, 2 holding midfielders would make the game to slow, so anderson or fletcher. nani will come on for giggs sometime during the match, and i wouldnt be suprised if we see pique in the match either.
August 8th, 2007 at 17:55
yh but when OH is playing SAF wont deploy carrick in the holding midfielder role, OH will give carrick and the rest of the midfield more freedom
August 8th, 2007 at 18:50
Yeah did you see what happened in the Roma game when Carrick had license to go forward?
August 8th, 2007 at 19:02
I see the line up SAF tested on Sunday … against Chelsky I might add
EVDS
Brown, Rio, Vidic, Silvest
Giggs, Carrick, Evra, Ronnie
Rooney
This will change at half time if need be, but it looked good enough against Chelsky … he’ll give the injured more time if he can … rather than risk them … are they match fit? Nani, Anderson will be in the second half … especially if we are winning. If not, expect experience … you know who I’m talking about … Neville, Hargreaves, Tevez
August 8th, 2007 at 20:53
I would rather see Evans and Pique start at full back than Brown and Silvestre. Silvestre is just a waste of space and too far past his prime. And I’m not sure how much Brown has slipped over the years. The Malouda goal last weekend was essentially his fault because he got distracted by Joe Cole, leaving Rio to try to clean up his mess, which was impossible to do, even for him. I think Evans deserves a chance in the first team, even if it isn’t at his natural center back position. Plus, with the injury to Neville, the last thing United should do is rush him back. We all saw what happened to Vidic in Milan in April. I think SAF is going to line up a 4-4-2. If Tevez’ transfer is completed, it will look like this:
VDS
Evans Rio Vidic Evra
Ronaldo Hargreaves Carrick Giggs
Rooney Tevez
If not:
VDS
Evans Rio Vidic Evra
Nani Hargreaves Carrick Giggs
Ronaldo Rooney
August 9th, 2007 at 7:03
scholes played the full 90 mins last night my team has now changed,
VDS
bronwn rio vida evra
giggs scholes carrick ronaldo
rooney tevez
August 9th, 2007 at 7:05
for people who are saying tevez isnt match fit so therefore wont start, how is he going to get match fit!!! p.s im not saying he isnt match fit
August 9th, 2007 at 9:35
go with number 14 above..subs, hargo for carrick, nani for giggs
August 13th, 2007 at 8:33
we ethiopians love foot ball me and my friends love manunited so much but we are very dissapointed by yestrday game I HOPE on NEXT GAME red devils will won