Aug 25
Preview: Portsmouth v Man Utd
It’s bank holiday Monday as United travel to Fratton Park in what has proven to be a tricky encounter in recent times. Last season Paul Scholes’ opener was cancelled out by Benjani’s equaliser giving us a 1-1 draw. It was one of the wretched few games that kick started, what turned out to be, a rather famous season.
We must consider our chances of getting a result this time better. We have Rooney partnering Tevez this time which is always better than what we had against Newcastle. But more importantly, we are facing an abject looking Portsmouth team.
Of course, I do realise that I may have tempted fate by calling Pompey abject. David James might suddenly become as good as Casillas or Buffon and so, like the cliche goes, an early goal will surely help settle the nerves.
In team news, Owen Hargreaves, Park Ji-Sung are still in training while Nani is still smarting from the consequences of his bird brained head butt against West Ham last season. I wouldn’t know Louis Saha’s injury situation, so it would be a bonus if he ever featured on the bench. Carrick and Giggs are out after picking up injuries last week.
We seem short of options on the wing. So it would be really interesting to see who Fergie decides to play on the wing. Whilst it might be tempting for the gaffer to persist with Fletcher on the right like last week — although he doesn’t offer much over there — I’d hope he plays him in the middle of the park instead, alongside Scholes. I am sure a lot of people may be clamouring for the inclusion of Rodrigo Possebon in the middle, but plunging him into the deep end against a very physical midfield, away from home — when we are already doing a bit of catching up — would not necessarily be a wise thing to do. We have Anderson returning, so we could see him making the bench if he’s in the frame of mind. I suspect one of the Brazilian twins will be played on the wings. Raphael might start on the right. I honestly don’t know who’ll play on the left so we may as well throw Fabio in to the mix. The defence seems settled, but there is a chance Gary Neville might earn his first start of the season.
In some positives to take, going into today’s game, Chelsea returned to their usual disjointed snore fest style of football against a willing Wigan side. They got the result they wanted nonetheless, but it also shows the kind of team Pompey were last week. It’s just a thought — not something I’d want to read too much into as the season’s just gotten underway. Winning today could propel us into third spot behind Chelsea and (oh-my-God!) Liverpool.
Prediction: 2-1 to United.
* * *
Customary Berbatov Update:
Nothing for certain yet, but it looks more and more likely that Berbatov is not in people’s good books at Spurs. And I can understand Spurs fans feelings with the way Berba’s treated them. For all Ronaldo’s faults I am pretty sure he wouldn’t be throwing the sort of tantrums Berba seems to be throwing at White Hart Lane. We’ve had parallels, in the cases of Gareth Barry and Adebayor, already this summer, but Berbatov still looks the most likely of the three to actually move.
I would be surprised if he stayed in Spurs beyond August 31.
Related items from Red Rants:- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Man Utd v Portsmouth: FA Cup Preview
- Man Utd v Portsmouth: Preview
- Rooney Out For A Month
- The need for a right-back and a forward | Title race blown open
Tags: Game Preview
August 25th, 2008 at 10:19
August 25th, 2008 at 10:31
Anderson might play on the left with either of the twins on right .heard that Manucho has travelled with the team..is that so ? can any one confirm this please ?
so its again gonna be a 2 horse war with us adn chelsea…I wud nt be worried tooo much if we drop points at fratton park 
coming to the performances of other teams, its again going to be the same in top 4… Lpool escaped again while Arsenal showed their potential
August 25th, 2008 at 10:37
(just to start off the comments in a different way)
August 25th, 2008 at 10:57
Seems Berba was kept off the bench too by Ramos. Ramos was quoted saying that he decides who goes where and not Berba. Just imagine if CR7 would have done anything close to what Berba has done this season, as rightly pointed out by you RR. He would have got a nice kick on the backside. Now I really hope that fater all this drama at White Hart the guys there realise that they are wasting one player and sell him to United. Although that newspaper report not long ago that Fergie might play Ronaldo in the CL and then make him cup tied and then keep him on the bench throughout the season and then sell him to Madrid next season kind of thing seems like a distinct possibilty too…
August 25th, 2008 at 11:12
Actually he could stay beyond that and still move to United. The transfer deadline has been extended to September 1st (given that August 31 is a Sunday…). I thought I’d share that.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:17
Ramos Urges Berbatov Closure - http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_4045484,00.html
“We need to get this matter resolved before the transfer deadline,” he said.
“If Berbatov goes, we will need time to sign a replacement. We want to have the best centre forward we can possibly get.”
Lets hope we get this sorted today!
August 25th, 2008 at 11:20
Ya they should and let us have berba…
August 25th, 2008 at 11:20
I have to say that I am very pessimistic about this game. Almost every season we lose one game to Portsmouth… I think it will be today. With no wingers apart from Giggs and a shortage of good cental midfielders (Carrick injured, Hargo injured, Anderson probably tired) we are vulnerable.
How many of you would screech at the idea of playing Rooney on the right side of midfield? It sounds like a sensible decision to me… that would let Fletcher move in central mid and would give Campbell another start. It is kind of nice when you have some young, promising talets step off the bench and into teh first team…
Speaking of the devil, why does everybody hate Campbell? I thought he had a decent game last week. Good enough to earn him another start when one of our players goes missing again.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:21
See this http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/index.html
August 25th, 2008 at 11:22
Ya i heard Even Wellback is in squad..
August 25th, 2008 at 11:32
@Andrei: I also believe that if that header would have gone in, people might have changed their view of campbell, That’s the luck of Given that it came straight to his head… He does deserve a chance.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:42
@Despicable: You mean welbeck
August 25th, 2008 at 11:45
Speaking of young strikers, did anybody watch the city match yesterday? that striker sturridge(sp?), what a talent, big and strong and has tricks up his sleeve, a real talent, he could be a big surprise this season.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:49
yeah i saw that, nothing fancy but thorough play.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:55
Ya i too saw him, He is strong and got a good Left foot, Actually he was also helped by good midfield, We should rate him only after watching him play against strong defenders.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:55
@Dan(u-Ol ) Thankz…
August 25th, 2008 at 12:08
i actually thought sturridge was a real handful against the hammers but then again the entire city side was pretty impressive yesterday.
Anyways getting back to today’s game, and yes i am pretty worried about today’s match but being the optimist that i am i still think United will edge it.
I don’t think Sir Alex should play the 4-4-2 with no genuine wingers at his disposal but go with a narrower 4-3-3 and hope that brown and evra bomb forward and help out in the wide areas.
I think the young lad campbell deserves another chance. He looked really lively in the first half last week, and with tevez and rooney right behind him i fancy him scoring. i know a lot of people (including me) dont like seeing O’Shea in the starting line up but i think we need his physical presence against Pompey and if that doesnt work we could always bring on Anderson from the bench in the second half.
Here’s my starting line up:
EVDS
BROWN RIO VIDA EVRA
FLETCHER SCHOLES O’SHEA
TEVEZ ROONEY
CAMPBELL
August 25th, 2008 at 12:13
Id rather have a tired anderson in that game. Remember how tevez was thrown in last season. Putting Rodrigo in there would be asking too much. So Anderson playing a free role but more into linking up with Roovez and shooting on sight til he hits the target. Brown should be retained. The Silva lining should be introduced as the game progresses and if we are not winning fletcher replaced by rodrigo. May John O’Shea not be played in this game if we need to quickly get a goal. Though i think he will start in the middle with Scholes and fletch on the right. Rooney will defo score whatever the result. I promise that. But i think defoe will do the same
August 25th, 2008 at 12:37
if spurs get Huntelaar I think they got the better deal here…
I dont like the attitude of Berbatov… we’re just getting the dressing room settled again after the summer that was Ronaldo… ah well
August 25th, 2008 at 12:44
I expect at least one of the twins to play, for more width and penetration than against newcastle. I also expect anderson to play, it’s the start of the season so fatigue’s not a factor. Playing for brazil’s let him get a lot of minutes under his belt so he should be fit and sharp.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:55
What is everyone so hesitant about playing Campbell and Rodrigo?. If they don’t throw them in the deep end, how will you know if they got what it takes?. Campbell performed brilliantly last match and deserves a spot; Anderson just came back off of playing several high tempo, consecutive matches in the sweltering heat of china, and y’all expect him to be thrown straight into the starting line-up of a team he hasn’t played with since may?. Never mind the fact that portsmouth have a very physical midfield!.
I was thinking 4-3-3, as we have no fit/available wingers. We should play a narrow 4-3-3 with Evra and Brown bombarding up and down the wings for width:
————VDS————-
Brown—-Rio—-Vida—-Evra
—–Fletcher—Scholes—–
———–Rodrigo———-
—-Rooney———Tevez—-
———-Campbell———-
With Fletch, Rio and Vida playing deep, Evra and Brown will be free to move up and down the wings. I put Rodrigo higher up than scholes because Scholes usually likes to drop deep and dictate play, plus he is more experienced and will display more game-concentration that will help in breaking up portsmouth midfield play. As per Rooney and Tev, they can both play free SS roles there and leave Campbell to push the portsmouth defence deep, hence creating space for both of them and Rodrigo.
The silva twins can be brought on later to replace Brown and Evra as I hope Brown/Evra run up and down those wings causing havoc till they tire, as they are the only width we would have.
Seriously, we are looking very good for today, I reckon we can put two goals past them, and more importantly, not concede any.
August 25th, 2008 at 13:00
@sig: i agree 100% with you mate i mean us united fans were on ronaldo’s back all summer long over his behaviour (which wasn’t the best by the way), but he never stooped to the level of berbatov to get his desired transfer.
Besides i always hoped we landed huntelaar eventually, but now that we wont get him berbatov is defenitely a really good answer to our front striker problems. Although i’d sure as hell be pissed if he started to throw a hissy fit every time he’s on the bench at united.
August 25th, 2008 at 13:07
@Gabriel: i dont know mate about throwing someone with hardly any experience like rodrigo into the deep end. Especially against Pompey at Fratton Park where the atmosphere is un-fucking-believably intimidating- no two ways about it. We need to get the 3 points and we already have the guile of Scholes in mid field, what we’ll need is a physical presence who’ll be looking to win the ball i.e O’Shea or Anderson (if he’s fit).
Anderson in all likely hood will be on the bench and getting maybe half an hour out of him wont be that hard, besides he’s just 20 so fitness that much of an issue with him.
August 25th, 2008 at 13:14
@Sidharth: I think, it might be fair to say that Berbatov won’t behave in the same way, if he gets his dream move settled. It would make him happy, and not unhappy like he is right now.
Yes, he has the sulking in him, but I doubt we’ll see much of that at United. He’ll get his fair share of games, and so will the others. We’re playing 60 matches this season.
I have no worries at all about him joining us.
August 25th, 2008 at 13:16
Idea of playing the twins as wingers sounds great… That would add more pace to our attack…
August 25th, 2008 at 13:19
red ranter, you don’t advocate that we play young inexperience in the shape of possebon… but then you want to start with not one but two wingers of the age of 18?
i think that rooney or tevez will be on the left wing with fletcher on the right. if the reports are true about manucho getting his papers that means he could start right?
August 25th, 2008 at 13:21
I hope fergie doesnt do what i expect him to do and play oshea bt left back and evra at left wing…im just dying to see at least one of the twins,possebon…and i dont want oshea in centre mid…someone said something bout physical presence…huh?he has nothing no pace,skill,goal threat…zero!and please old rooney show up!
August 25th, 2008 at 13:24
Will…its not about age.if they have the talent they must play..it makes no sense to plays rooney or tevez out of position…when they cannot play there…
August 25th, 2008 at 13:24
i think is going to be a tough one indeed for the utd at fratton park but we tevex back and rooney also getting some match fittness i think our front will posses a threat but we must be very careful for pompey cos they lost their first game and they will not want to lose again.
August 25th, 2008 at 13:26
@Sidharth: well, I don’t think Fergie would have promoted Rodrigo to the first team and played him against Newcastle if he was worried about his experience. The lad was bought to play in the first team and the reason he didn’t play in it last year was cause of our already packed midfield and the fact that he hadn’t played in europe before, unlike Anderson. He has now got a year of English football under his belt and i believe is almost ready to make the step up; this is his opportunity to shine, and Fergie should let him. Besides, playing at Old Trafford or any other big club for that matter is way more intimidating and tense than Fratton park!.
As per Portsmouth’s midfield, fletcher will do a good job against them, we all know how he gets juiced up when the stakes are high!. If we have three in midfield plus no wingers, we should go for creativity and O’shea doesn’t have that (sorry John). Scholes will provide that guile like you said but he loves to drop deep (as most of his recent performances show), so having one midfielder who can stay further up, pass and create opportunities is key - Rodrigo/Anderson.
Maybe Anderson will be fit, good, but I will still prefer Rodrigo to be given that chance to play!.
August 25th, 2008 at 13:28
@Taehr: i agree, but the same could be said about possebon right?(im not saying i wouldn’t start them im just saying why isnt possebon viewed in the same light as the perm twins) anyway of what the bbc says is avaliable… no manucho, but instead welbeck. doubt he’ll get on tho
there is (and this is against what i always say but) john o’shea at left back and push evra onto the wing? and put a RDS on the right fletcher and scholes in the middle. with tevez up front with rooney… regarding rooney.. it don’t matter where he starts… he’ll end up at right back at some point… please rooney prove me wrong and bag a brace
August 25th, 2008 at 13:32
I think, hmm this is a tough decision. I want Campbell to be played but the only way that that will happen is if Rooney or Tevez was to be pushed on to the wings so no dice for me. Anderson should play, I mean he is a proffessional athlete he should be able to play after 2 days rest. Tennis players are put through more demanding schedules and they are ok. I think young players today are treated like some antique china that will break if pushed too hard. I think Anderson on the left wing would be something worth trying. Possebon would be a bad choice in this game because he does tend to dwell on the ball for too long and that will be punished against Pompey. Fletch I think is actually a decent winger. I think it was against Liverpool last season when he looked Ronaldoesque. I think a 4-4-2 if Hargreaves is fit with him on the right Fabio/Giggs(?) on the left (I heard Giggs may be fit, I think it was on SS). Fletch and Scholes center and Roovez up top.
Prediction: 3-0 United
As an aside it is just my luck that they show the first 4 United games on Sky when I got rid of it and got Setanta because ironically they show more United games
August 25th, 2008 at 13:34
And Berba would dare not sulk at United!. he would have no right to, after all we and he have gone through to get the transfer done!. Fergie would kill him.. forget the flying boot, it’ll be a flying chair!.
In all seriousness, the guy has only sulked because he was promised this move a year ago, but Totenham are now making it difficult. When he first came to Tottenham, he wasn’t sulking!. The tabloids just exagerate his moody demeanour!.
August 25th, 2008 at 13:35
@Liam: ah but when the cold nights role in you’ll be glad you don’t have to make the trek to the pub in the sodding rain.
August 25th, 2008 at 13:39
also i can’t see pompey scoring…i mean little and large? lets face it vidic and ferdinand are gonna win every single time…that and kranjar is out. they sold muntari… so that leaves otaka and diara.. if anderson plays he can keep them at bay…. mendes has been sold as well.. so i think we’ve got a decent chance, the only problem i see is if james decides to be mr phonominal.. mind.. i think he used that card against us in the charity shield… at least i hope so
August 25th, 2008 at 13:44
@Will: they sold mendes?. Krancjar is out injured!. what creative force do they even have now?. Seriously, it looks like portsmouth will defend and play on the counter with Utaka and Defoe providing the pace and peter crouch in the box.
We should destroy them by attack, attack, attack!. James has already had a good game against us, and it doesn’t happen more than once in one season lol
August 25th, 2008 at 13:47
@Gabriel: yea i get what you’re saying- in an ideal world O’Shea wont come close to starting in midfield (heck anywhere in the lineup) but still i’d rather have some experience under the circumstances because at home portsmouth are really tough to beat and i would not want to take any chances in such a tough fixture where 3 pts is vital.
If hypothetically this match was at home i would advocate rodrigo to start but since its away mate i’d really like to be on the safe side.
Yea in any case if Fergie does make him a regular fixture in the squad it will be in a bit part role this season and the only starts imo he’ll be getting will be in the easier fixtures not one like tonight.
August 25th, 2008 at 13:48
No Campbell, please God no!!!
August 25th, 2008 at 13:53
What times kick off please?. I’m going to try and watch it on Justin tv if he is rolling with it. I do not have sky - SAD!.
August 25th, 2008 at 14:01
@Sidharth: mate, no fixture is easy for us anymore, we ARE the team to beat. Other teams save their best performances for us; look at Newcastle last week and even Portsmouth in the Charity shield!. We are the DOUBLE champions and every team will want to get a positive result against us; last week, Newcastle were celebrating like they escaped relegation!.
I understand you might prefer experience, but when that experience comes at the expense of creativity/impact, I’d choose the latter. It’s time to live dangerously
, that’s what United do!. O’shea should be banned from the midfield (sorry John), he is a defender and when he plays CMF, all he does is slow our attack or negate our creativity!.
We do not usually get dominated or beaten by several goals at Fratton park; it is usually the 1 lucky extra goal they get, if anything, they are very defensive when we play them at home. Hence, we shouldn’t go there with a defensive mentality, but one of attack and creativity!.
August 25th, 2008 at 14:04
@Craig Mc: It’s at 8.00pm BST. Perfect time to watch United trash Portsmouth (fingers crossed
) after such a long weekend of seeing the scousers and rent boys scrape undeserved victories!.
August 25th, 2008 at 14:41
@Craig Mc: every time I’ve tried that service I don’t get good results. Either my computer or my internet connection is too slow and it lags like mad.
August 25th, 2008 at 14:44
@Gabriel: Don’t worry u r about to witness a convincing one today…
August 25th, 2008 at 14:46
I am nervous for this game. But I am looking forward to it!
We got off to a bad start last week, but now we have Tevez back. That is a major boost for us. People at my school say Ronaldo is the reason we didnt beat Newcastle. I say it was because we missed Tevez and Hargreaves. We miss a winger and a striker, Campbell is good but he needs more time. I hope we dont play Oshea, Flecther and Scholes as our midfield. Please God not that midfield! Pompey have swithed their formation to 4-4-2 from their usual 4-5-1. That has made them worse. They lack a midfield powerhouse since Muntari moved to Inter. They need to control the midfield today, if not they will never get a result. Harry Redknapp usually makes god buys: Defoe, Kranjkar, Campbell, James, Diarra…. But he has lost that ability this season. He sold Taylor to Bolton, bought Crouch, sold Muntari, bought Traore. Good, but he has made the team worse rather tahn better with those transfers. I wonder how they will play today. Hopefully bad 
I doubt it though, but hopefully I am wrong. Tevez is back, Carrick is out. Good news and bad news. Tevez will decide the game, believe me. His pre-season was amazing, his ability is amazing and he wants to make up for his 1-1 debut against Pompey last season(hopefully 
). My prediction for United team:
United should start Anderson. I know he is tired, I know he hasnt played for us in pre-season, I know he came back from the Olympics on Saturday. But I also know that we might have to start tonight with a midfield of Oshea and Scholes.
VDS
Neville/Brown Rio Vidic Evra
Rafael Fletcher Scholes Fabio/Possebon/Anyone?
Rooney Tevez
subs: TK, Brown/Neville, Oshea, Possebon/Fabio, Anderson, Welbeck, Campbell.
Prediction: 2-0 to United. Tevez and Rooney to score.
COME ON YOU REDS!
August 25th, 2008 at 15:18
This is funny
August 25th, 2008 at 15:27
Im on Setanta sports new season! Funny!
Damn, R… you beat me to it
August 25th, 2008 at 15:52
@R…: @RedDevil: I watched that episode over the weekend, and then went on to watch the whole series!. lol The stuff is funny as hell!. Wayne sounds like a right spud and Sven is always gettin bullied!. BE CHAMPIONS!.
August 25th, 2008 at 16:29
i agree… its hilarious…save berba appeal was great
August 25th, 2008 at 16:37
Okay. Here is my view. Anderson is tired because what? He has rested enough and will get plenty of rest when we go for that long break. So he should be in it. Behind Roovez and roaming around in general. Rodrigo,well against Diop. I dunno. I havent watched a lot of him but maybe this is not the right game 2 start. The silvas must not start but must be introduced later on when an urgent approach is required. And they should be played as close to the box as possible. Hargreaves should not play because i want him fully fit so no risking him. Together with Tevez, nani and andy the new boys are going to be very crucial this season.
August 25th, 2008 at 16:43
Gabriel lol - thanks!. I will be watching, hopefully.
Liam, I know the reception isn’t the best, but I do manage to see the game, altho the sound is sometimes little distorted.
Don’t know why some folk are complaining about Berba and his antics down at Spurs. After all, we don’t know what Spurs have been promising him, and then dilly dallying about. They told him last season if he stayed and did it for them, he could get his wish this season. So if somebody went back on their word to me, I would be FURIOUS and anti too. After all, he did his part, and with no tantrums for spurs when they refused to let him go last year.
August 25th, 2008 at 17:26
The problem for Anderson is jet lag. If his body’s still on Beijing time then it’s going to be like playing the game at between 3 and 5 in the morning. And if he’s sat on the bench he’ll probably be nodding off. I’d be very surprised if he travels with the team.
August 25th, 2008 at 17:33
@Chris: quite simple really, sleep on the plane, if your still tired, bare it out until sunday night, sleep some more, and if your still tired, slap your self silly and get high on caffeine
August 25th, 2008 at 17:40
@dan(u-ol): or some RedBull!.
August 25th, 2008 at 17:41
Works for me Dan, but then I’m not a top athlete who needs to be at the peak of physical fitness and sharpness… And too much cafeine would probably contravene doping rules. If Anderson does manage to play at all I’ll be even more impressed by him than I already am.
August 25th, 2008 at 17:49
@dan(u-ol): Clearly you’ve never been on long haul flights. Trust me, it’s a bitch.
August 25th, 2008 at 17:55
My team pick would have Fletcher and Evra on the wings with Evans filling in as left back and O’Shea and Carrick in the middle. Tevez and Rooney can then play up front.
August 25th, 2008 at 17:57
Doesnt matter…as soon as the adrenalin gets through all tiredness/jet lag is out the window.
August 25th, 2008 at 18:01
@colver: I guess you meant scholes? Carrick is injured..
August 25th, 2008 at 18:01
Colver carricks out…And thats the kind of team Im dreading!defenders on the wing?
August 25th, 2008 at 18:04
lol, don’t know why everyone is so desperate for Ando to start? I’d rather he rest and give it his best at the suoercup on friday!! Right now, we have Scholes, Fletch and Rodrigo who are well capable of producing the goods in midfield tonite - and yes, I ommited John O’shea, he is a terrible midfielder (sorry John
).
August 25th, 2008 at 18:15
what site was it that has the team sheets up before evryone eltse fifa or fa i cant remember?
August 25th, 2008 at 18:39
Y doesn’t JB put up team news nowadays?
August 25th, 2008 at 18:44
@Red Ranter: i have when much, much younger, but im sure ando will at least be on the bench.
August 25th, 2008 at 18:46
@Gabriel: No one expects Anderson to start after his return from the Olympics but we could sure as hell put him on the bench and bring him on in the last half hour if we need some energy in the middle of the park.
As far as the starting line up goes well you have your opinion and i have mine- lets leave it at that
August 25th, 2008 at 19:00
@Sidharth: we’re cool mate!. just lively debate that’s all!.
I would love Ando to start, but I would also love Scholes, Fletch, Rodrigo, Hargo and Carrick too… darn it, we have so many options, thank feck i’m not Sir Alex. However, I reckon the most sensible option would be for Ando to at most be on the bench and maybe come on later. He hasn’t even played with the team since May and I guess because he just returned, he didn’t even have the chance to practice fully with the squad!!
August 25th, 2008 at 19:03
@Gabriel: Actually, Ando hasnt played with us since Aprils game against Chelski in the league(except for his goal in the CL final).
August 25th, 2008 at 19:05
team news?
August 25th, 2008 at 19:09
yo JB, what does jb stand for?
August 25th, 2008 at 19:10
@RedDevil: further proves my point!. Is it safer to start a player who has been out of the team for that long, experiencing the side-effects of a long distance trip taken after an exhaustive match schedule in sweltering heat?. I would think not, given the fact that we have three top quality CMF’s at the moment(and NO, John o’shea is not one of them
sorry John).
August 25th, 2008 at 19:13
Team News:
GK: VDS
RB: Brown
CB: Ferdinand
CB: Vidic
LB: O’Shea
RM: Fletcher
CM: Scholes
CM: Anderson
LM: Evra
CF: Rooney
CF: Tevez
Subs: PIG, Neville, Evans, Rafael, Fabio, Rodrigo, Campbell
August 25th, 2008 at 19:13
Team news:
VDS
BROWN-RIO-VIDIC-OSHEA
)-SCHOLES-EVRA
FLECTHER-ANDERSON(YEEAH!
ROONEY–TEVEZ
August 25th, 2008 at 19:14
Dan: They are my initials
August 25th, 2008 at 19:15
It is as we feared…
But, I will not make the mistake I have made in the past (doubting Fergie). Thus, I think that Evra has what it takes to play as a winger.
Anybody surprised that Brown is still in the first team? I would have expected Neville to get at least one outing before the big games with Chelsea and Liverpool as he will clearly be the preffered choice for right-back during those games.
August 25th, 2008 at 19:15
that team can beat pompey no probs
prediction 3-0 to united
August 25th, 2008 at 19:16
@JB: Jason Brown?
Almost beat u to it JB, almost… Hopefully United beat Pompey!
August 25th, 2008 at 19:17
@RedDevil: @JB: where do you guys get the team news about half hour before us (mere mortals)?
August 25th, 2008 at 19:17
told you andy would start! possebon, campbell and rafeal/campbell will come on, i feel it for evans, such a great talent being held back by the 2 best centre backs in europe, but that can inly improve him-right.
August 25th, 2008 at 19:17
ARGHHHHH evra at left wing!!!!NOO…anywayz andys in there!
August 25th, 2008 at 19:18
@JB: John bradshaw i bet it is lol, jimmy belfast?
August 25th, 2008 at 19:19
@Taehr: evra is pretty good winger, whats the problem?
August 25th, 2008 at 19:20
No doubt. the most fucking youthful bench i have ever seen us have
August 25th, 2008 at 19:20
i pray to god that andy and fletcher switch positions!
August 25th, 2008 at 19:21
RedDevil: An uncanny guess………… do I know you
Andrei: That is a trade secret
I’ve already given my source away on Uefa CL games, can’t give away all my secrets!!
August 25th, 2008 at 19:29
[disguised as an Arsenal fan] > Not as young as ours!!!.
August 25th, 2008 at 19:32
hopefully this is the time where we get a win…. cant rely on starting a winning run against liverpool… oh wait we can haha but not Chelsea
August 25th, 2008 at 19:32
anyone got a link working the one im on is cutting in and out and the rest on myp2p are not going yet
August 25th, 2008 at 19:35
just wait 20 more minutes… anybody know if Beeb is doing the live commentary?
August 25th, 2008 at 19:39
how hould we past the time?
August 25th, 2008 at 19:40
Just thought I’d share: this is what SkySports had in their pre-match report for the Pompey game:
now look at the team sheet. Fuck, I am tired of these know-it-alls taking their opinions for facts and injecting our football brains with it. Shut up already and stick to the bloody facts!!.
JB: someone is being stalked…
August 25th, 2008 at 19:40
I am looking for a flash based link that is not Justin TV. (It’s blocked at work)
Something like Ustream would be great.
Thanks!
August 25th, 2008 at 19:43
http://myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=16947&part=sports try my sports 2s third link.
August 25th, 2008 at 19:44
RR: Don’t know if any of the ones on redissue are any good, but here you are anyway.
http://forums.redissue.co.uk/showthread.php?t=155146
Andrei: To be fair, the way SAF was talking in his press conference, I didn’t really expect to see Anderson either.
August 25th, 2008 at 19:47
@JB: do you live in belfast? i actually have a cousin who goes by that same name in belfast!
August 25th, 2008 at 19:49
Try this
August 25th, 2008 at 19:49
Dan: I live about 20 minutes outside of Belfast city centre.
August 25th, 2008 at 19:51
i’m pretty happy with the line up. Hopefully we can get an early goal and settle into a nice tempo.
My preditcion : United 2 Portsmouth 1
Would be nice to see Anderson finally score wouldn’t it.
August 25th, 2008 at 19:52
@JB: yea all i know is that he lives in belfast lol i havent spoken to him since christmas lol, hes an arse fan so i doubt your cousin lol! freaky that though.
August 25th, 2008 at 19:59
any workin justin link pls?
August 25th, 2008 at 20:07
High tempo game at the start.. Coooool lol
August 25th, 2008 at 20:08
@AndyCR7:
Link
http://www.justin.tv/mstv_2“
August 25th, 2008 at 20:10
Justin Tv
August 25th, 2008 at 20:27
i hate how portsmouth play…let’s get a bunch of thugs in the mid and send long balls to crouch and hope one or two deflect to defoe.
i know everyone says “we need to have experience on the pitch…JOS should start over Rodrigo and Feltcher is our best option on the right” Laughable. I realize JOS is playing more CDM right now, but he is NOT a starter, ever in a million years. Put Fletcher in the middle so we have someone to cross to (who is over 5′10″) and put RDS on the right so we have some pace and trickery. Am I losing my mind here?
August 25th, 2008 at 20:28
not really playing like that, I have to say…
August 25th, 2008 at 20:34