[Bryan_Munich]

Originally Posted by R_Nick

Rio? (please!)

The headlines in terms of team news are that Nani, Ferdinand, Park and Valencia all won't play against Arsenal.

Unless he's bluffing of course.

[dan_alex]

Does this mean that Anderson could be fit, as Fergie has not mentioned him along the injured list? We could do with his pace and energy in midfield.

[towcester_red]

Originally Posted by dan_alex

Does this mean that Anderson could be fit, as Fergie has not mentioned him along the injured list? We could do with his pace and energy in midfield.

But Fabregas is out so we wont need Anderson to shit on him!

[noodlehair]

Originally Posted by Top

I reckon we'll see both Hernandez, Rooney and Berba starting, like how we lined up when Nani came off against the Scousers.

Then it'll either be Giggs or Scholes alongside Carrick and Fletcher. Or at least that's what I hope happens. But wouldn't be surprised to see Gibson starting.

Nah, we were two goals down against the scouse so he was never going to bring an extra midfielder on and go 4-3-3. Where as against Arsenal we always stick three across the middle, and I doubt he'd want either Berbatov or Hernandez out wide (or at least, I hope he doesn't think that's a good idea).

Didn't like the team he played against City because it involved leaving our best attacking player this season on the bench, along with Carrick who's important in a 4-3-3.

At least this time we can't do either of those things, and Giggs-Berbatov-Rooney is hardly that desperate looking. Most teams would love to have that as first choice.

[R_Kelly]

Originally Posted by towcester_red

Nah he said hes definately out

Originally Posted by Bryan_Munich

Unless he's bluffing of course.

ah piss

[GaryLifo]

Vidic is back.

This is a massive boost.

[Donkey's Ears]

Unbelievable.

And people claimed that we wouldn't have room for a new winger.

Obertan simply isn't worth a squad place

[tintedsepia]

Notice he didn't mention Anderson!

[SmashedHombre]

Originally Posted by noodlehair

Nah, we were two goals down against the scouse so he was never going to bring an extra midfielder on and go 4-3-3. Where as against Arsenal we always stick three across the middle, and I doubt he'd want either Berbatov or Hernandez out wide (or at least, I hope he doesn't think that's a good idea).

Didn't like the team he played against City because it involved leaving our best attacking player this season on the bench, along with Carrick who's important in a 4-3-3.

At least this time we can't do either of those things, and Giggs-Berbatov-Rooney is hardly that desperate looking. Most teams would love to have that as first choice.

You think he would play one of Rooney / Giggs on the right? I would have thought fletch would play right, Rooney / Giggs left

[Sarni]

Fletcher on the right, Giggs on the left, Gibson/Scholes with Carrick in the middle.

[noodlehair]

Originally Posted by SmashedHombre

You think he would play one of Rooney / Giggs on the right? I would have thought fletch would play right, Rooney / Giggs left

We always play 4-3-3 against Arsenal, even with a fully fit squad, and we seem to use it both home and away in the CL these days too.

Fletch wont play as one of a front three when Giggs and Rooney are both available. Why would he?

It's not as desperate as some people are making out. We're basically missing a centreback and a winger, and in the case of the centreback it's highly debatable whether Smalling doesn't deserve his place anyway.

[Amir]

Originally Posted by Donkey's Ears

Unbelievable.

And people claimed that we wouldn't have room for a new winger.

Obertan simply isn't worth a squad place

You could hardly legislate missing a starting winger for pretty much the whole season, then another one returning from a month away in Asia and getting injured himself. The four we had were good enough and there was hope that if we needed them, Obertan and maybe Bebe would step up. Too many things went against us here.

[Devil may care]

The biggest thing is going to be how we use Giggs over the next 4 days, there's no reason the others can't play both games.

[Aaron]

Originally Posted by Devil may care

The biggest thing is going to be how we use Giggs over the next 4 days, there's no reason the others can't play both games.

I don't think that's really that big of an issue to be honest. There's a two week international break coming up. There's no reason Giggs cannot start both games either.

[Devil may care]

Originally Posted by Aaron

I don't think that's really that big of an issue to be honest. There's a two week international break coming up. There's no reason Giggs cannot start both games either.

How often has Giggs started back to back games in such close proximity in recent times though?

[giggs-beckham]

He was quite rettisant about speaking about rio wasn't he?

[Donkey's Ears]

Originally Posted by Amir

You could hardly legislate missing a starting winger for pretty much the whole season, then another one returning from a month away in Asia and getting injured himself. The four we had were good enough and there was hope that if we needed them, Obertan and maybe Bebe would step up. Too many things went against us here.

People keeping saying you can't legislate for this or that but that ignores the fact that injuries do happen, we knew Giggs was 37, we knew Park was going on international duty for a month, and we knew the state of Obertan and Bebe.

It was the same when we had all these apparently unforeseeable defensive crises which are now much less obvious with Smalling around. Rio has missed plenty of games, as has Evans, Brown and O'Shea but we coped much better by having Smalling as an option. Despite people saying we didn't need more defensive players because these crises were so unlikely to occur again.

[Red Defence]

Originally Posted by Donkey's Ears

People keeping saying you can't legislate for this or that but that ignores the fact that injuries do happen, we knew Giggs was 37, we knew Park was going on international duty for a month, and we knew the state of Obertan and Bebe.

It was the same when we had all these apparently unforeseeable defensive crises which are now much less obvious with Smalling around. Rio has missed plenty of games, as has Evans, Brown and O'Shea but we coped much better by having Smalling as an option. Despite people saying we didn't need more defensive players because these crises were so unlikely to occur again.

There's only so many players we can have, from both a financial and squad pov.

[Rahul]

Starting in 15 minutes.

[Pogue Mahone]

Originally Posted by Donkey's Ears

People keeping saying you can't legislate for this or that but that ignores the fact that injuries do happen, we knew Giggs was 37, we knew Park was going on international duty for a month, and we knew the state of Obertan and Bebe.

It was the same when we had all these apparently unforeseeable defensive crises which are now much less obvious with Smalling around. Rio has missed plenty of games, as has Evans, Brown and O'Shea but we coped much better by having Smalling as an option. Despite people saying we didn't need more defensive players because these crises were so unlikely to occur again.

We didn't know Valencia would miss almost the whole season and we probably hoped/assumed Obertan would have more to offer. At the end of the day we've got a 25 man squad and more specialist wingers than all our title rivals. Sometimes you just get unlucky.

[R_Kelly]

Hoping for a positive word on Vidic after him not training this morning

[StanleyCupboard]

#MUFC press conf: Alex Ferguson says Nani and Carrick have "good chance" of being involved v Marseille tmrw

[noodlehair]

We haven't actually had a crisis of wingers. Why do people keep banging on about this as if it's torn apart our season?

The only game where we've looked streched with injuries was on Saturday, and it led to one of our more satisfying performances of the season. Not only that, but if we'd really needed to we would still have been able to field a strong side anyway. Look at the line up we finished the game with, for feck sake, and that was with our top scorer still on the bench.

[cold-zebra]

Nani and Carrick have a "good chance" of facing Marseille tomorrow.

[Ole's_toe_poke]

Where are you following it?

[cold-zebra]

BenHibbs Twitter. Twitter

Also Oliver Kay's Twitter.Twitter

[R_Kelly]

BenHibbs Twitter.

Also Oliver Kay's Twitter.

[cold-zebra]

Neither of whom have said anything since I linked their Twitter accounts on here.

[R_Kelly]

So it's your fault

[Joey Mac]

Originally Posted by noodlehair

We haven't actually had a crisis of wingers. Why do people keep banging on about this as if it's torn apart our season?

The only game where we've looked streched with injuries was on Saturday, and it led to one of our more satisfying performances of the season. Not only that, but if we'd really needed to we would still have been able to field a strong side anyway. Look at the line up we finished the game with, for feck sake, and that was with our top scorer still on the bench.

If anything I'd say the opposite. Valencia was one of our best players last season, and it was barely mentioned throughout the season that we've been missing him, even when Park was out too. Only since Nani got mauled by Carragher did it receive any air time IMO.

[noodlehair]

Originally Posted by Joey Mac

If anything I'd say the opposite. Valencia was one of our best players last season, and it was barely mentioned throughout the season that we've been missing him, even when Park was out too. Only since Nani got mauled by Carragher did it receive any air time IMO.

Yeah, and we've only played one game since, which we won...with a winger scoring the opening goal after an assist from the other winger.

Fair enough last season when we had our entire defence comprised of midfielders. All that's happened this season is we've had to occasionally play different players in games, who are supposed to be first team players with experience of playing wide anyway.

and as you said, that's with Valencia being out of action, and he was arguably the best winger in the league last season.

[R_Kelly]

Vida was this morning being treated for a knock he picked up on Saturday. Should play v Marseille #mufc

[Heinzesight]

14:09 More injury updates from the boss: "Key is to have everyone available. We're in three competitions. Ji-sung Park is making good progress, we'll hopefully have him back for Saturday. Owen Hargreaves started training. You never know, we may have him available for the end of the season. The important thing is to have players for the run-in. If you do that then it increases our chances [of success]."

14:05 Boss on Marseille: "We have to recognise Marseille are an experienced, powerful side. They've showed their qualities away from home and that's what we'll be up against on Tuesday." (BH)

[kapill]

Real time: twitter > this thread

[R_Kelly]

14:15 Chris Smalling on breaking into the team in Rio Ferdinand's injury-enforced absence: "My confidence is growing with each game. I've been playing against some big teams. If I get chances in these games then hopefully my confidence will grow even more." (BH)

14:13 Sir Alex on Vidic: He got a knock in Saturday's game. He was getting treatment on it this morning and so couldn't train." So he should be fit to play. Jonny Evans been doing gym work. Not available for Tuesday, could be ready for Saturday, but most likely after the internationals. (BH)

[scholesy legend]

Originally Posted by Ole's_toe_poke

Where are you following it?

official website.

[Rahul]

Good news I'd say. Valencia back, Nani and Ji almost close to a return. Both Owens training.



Must hope that neither Vidic nor Smalling get injured though.

[Donkey's Ears]

Originally Posted by Pogue Mahone

We didn't know Valencia would miss almost the whole season and we probably hoped/assumed Obertan would have more to offer. At the end of the day we've got a 25 man squad and more specialist wingers than all our title rivals. Sometimes you just get unlucky.

Point taken. But surely to enter next season without adressing this issue would then change the issue from bad luck to poor judgement.

Giggs is a year older and Obertan isn't good enough. That merits some action I think.

[Red Defence]

Originally Posted by Donkey's Ears

Point taken. But surely to enter next season without adressing this issue would then change the issue from bad luck to poor judgement.

Giggs is a year older and Obertan isn't good enough. That merits some action I think.

Only if Fergie agrees with you. Other than that it merits none.

[jeston]

No news on Ando though