Manchester United faces, arguably, the toughest fixture this season, away at La Liga leaders Valencia on Wednesday night. Following the draw against Rangers, United is under pressure to secure at least a point at the Mestalla. It may provoke Sir Alex Ferguson to change the 4-4-2 system he has mostly deployed this season.
Wayne Rooney, seemingly perpetually out-of-form and with a continuing ankle problem, will be fit to play against Valencia on Wednesday, according to Sir Alex Ferguson, although it seems the Scot may yet choose to deploy his star striker on the left of the Reds’ attack.
With United suffering defensive problems this season, caused in part at least by the lack of a traditional holding midfielder, Ferguson may revert to a 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 formation on Wednesday, with Rooney the most likely sacrifice given Dimitar Berbatov’s outstanding form.
In midfield Ferguson could bring in one of Darron Gibson, Park Ji-Sung or Anderson as an attacking option, or bolster the defensive side with a fit-again Michael Carrick in something closer to a 4-3-2-1 system.
What would you do on Wednesday?
[poll id=”49″]
Please don’t play O’Shite we have drawn every game when he is on the pitch. Rooney needs a rest or two… fully fit or not at all as was proven last season when not fully fit cost us everything by gambling on him. We have such great options up front why waste it.
Berbatov
Owen/Hernandez Nani
Obertan Anderson Fletcher
Evra Vidic Rio Rafael
VDS
4-5-1
VDS
WB
PE
NV
RF
JSP
OA
DF
PS
LN
DB
Subs:
TK
JOS
CS
DG
WR
MO
FM
Gibson on for Scholes after about 60 mins. I think the importance of the game will mean Scholes will start 2 games in 4 days. Giggs, Rooney & Carrick’s recent injures will mean there is little depth in midfield.
I’d like to see Brown in for JOS, but I may not get my wish. Nev has the experience & not the legs, RDS the other way round.
4-3-2-1
van der Sar; Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Fletcher, Scholes, Anderson; Nani, Obertan; Berbatov
berbatov
park / scholes / nani
fletcher / gibson
evra / vidic / rio / rafael
Agree with Allen but Rooney instead of Scholes. Playing as a deeper 2nd striker. Keegan is right; Rooney brought all this on himself and the only place he can answer his critics is on the pitch.
The Park/Fletcher work rate will be essential. Would switch Park over to the right to cover Rafael. Not against Wes playing there.
NO MORE O’SHEA.
What that fat lump of uselessness is doing in a Utd shirt is beyond me. “Versatile” my arse… shit in every position!!!
Rooney not travelling with the squad to Valencia due to ankle injury. My guess is that Berbatov will play up front alone, with Park coming into the team on the left and Anderson or Gibson joining central midfield.
I’m guessing that Sir Alex, not wanting Valencia to pull away with a perfect start in the group stage, will play not to lose, and so, put out a side capable of grinding out a draw. This would mean that, in addition to the obvious selections: van deer Sar, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Nani, Fletcher, and Berbatov, Sir Alex will probably make my two least favorite selections of late: O’Shea at right back and Park on the left. I’m hating watching this match already.
If fit, Wes Brown would be the ideal compromise between what many of us want, Rafael, and what Sir Alex continues to pick. Were he available, Valencia (the man), would have been preferred to Nani on the right because of his more diligent attention to his defensive responsibilities; I don’t know if Nani would then have been selected on the left, but I’d hope so. That would have left Park to be selected as part of a midfield three; a role he can fill. Unfortunately, Park will be out on the left, so I’ll guess that Anderson and Carrick will get the nod to start beside Fletcher in midfield.
So, that makes it:
Berbatov
Park / Anderson / Carrick / Fletcher / Nani
Evra / Vidic / Ferdinand / O’Shea (Brown?)
van der Sar
Depends who is fit
The only absolute must is someone sat in front of the back 4 as protection from now on
But even with O’Shea and a shit Evans on the pitch, a holding player is damage limitation
who have valencia got whos any good since selling that other two,
Juan Mata? Winger / forward.
There could be a chance of O’Shea in the holding midfield role with all the injures (a la Everton) & Anderson not 100% fit. Not my choice, but quite possibly SAF’s.
What in the world would happen to manutd, if Scoles happen to get injured this season. I dont pray for that to happen but its worth thinking about.
I will go for 4-3-3, with Scholes, Fletcher and Ando in the middle. Park helping Oshea/Wes out on the right, Nani on the left.Its quite tricky on the striker issue, Would have stuck Mame Biram Diouf upfront because of his pace and physical presence but i’d stick with Micheal owen instead and play for a counter attack. Bebe would make my bench as well as make his CL debut later on.
Scholes hasn’t travelled with the squad… dun dun dun
My opinion isn’t one of the choices available.
I’d go with 4-2-3-1
……………………………..Berbs
………..Nani……..Anderson…….Hernandez
…………….Fletcher…………Carrick
…..Evra……….Vidic,,,,,,,,,,,Rio………..Rafa
VDS
Wes Rio Vid Evra
Fletch Carrick Ando
Nani Berba Park
Not ideal but more than likely. O’Shea for Wes and/or Gibson for Carrick maybe
Interesting. I’d be happy to see that lineup tomorrow.
Can’t see us going in with 4-2-3-1. The players are more familiar with 4-4-2 or 4-5-1. To play 4-2-3-1 in a big game without using it before is a big risk, and SAF is conservative, especially with Phelan as Assnt.
It doesn’t get much more conservative than 4-2-3-1… it’s an excercise in defending.
Anyway… it’s not what I expect Fergie to play, it’s what I would play with the players we have available.
I expect Fergie to piss all of us off with some daft selection involving Park and O’Shite.
When I mean conservative I mean he doesn’t often stray from what he is familiar.
Well I can’t see oshea playing right back against the pacy and tricky mata, rafa has played his best against players of this ilk, robinho, ronaldinho and ribery – he defended better against this type of player.
Also the best we have seen of park recently is from the centre so I expect park to start in a 3 man midfield with carrick and fletcher.
The main issue will be the 3 attacking players – Berbatov and Nani are definite – who attackes from the left?? I expect a surprise and think we may see macheda playing as a left sided striker / winger – he has done well when asked to do this but it also allows flexibility in the formation without making subsitutions if needed.
VDS
Rafa Rio Vidic Evra
Fletcher Park Carrick
Nani berbatove Macheda
If the even slower Gary Neville were available for selection, I’d agree with you: no O’Shea. Seriously, though, I would probably prefer your lineup to the one actually put out on the pitch.