Right Wing German?

jasonrh

No, not a thread about Bismarck...but close. I'm starting to get nervous enough about this one to start thinking in formations...

There's been a lot of talk about lineups and such and of course years of evolving discussion on how best to play Chelsea.

I'm one of those people who thinks that you sometimes have to play another team's game to an extent, but would prefer us to play OUR game as much as possible. In this case, playing too defensively and trying to out-chelsea Chelsea won't work. But traditional marauding MUFC might be a little too risky for this one.

How's this for a middle ground?

Play 4-4-2 with the usual suspects up front and at the back, with a MF of
Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick and Hargreaves.

Hargreaves has been a hell of a threat along the right at times (see Roma), he has a lot of experience in Europe (he's got a winners medal even), and he is excellent going forward as well as defending, meaning perhaps we could go a little more gung-ho with overlapping and fluid play in 4-4-2 without leaving ourselves quite as open as if Park or Nani were to play.

I really see him as the perfect player for this occasion.

Says you?

REd FUn DevIl

Park has been great also. He defend as well. Either choices (him or Hargo) are good.

jasonrh

Don't get me wrong.

Park has worked his arse off. I just fancy Hargreaves to be a bit more physical with a side that will be a bit more physical.

REd FUn DevIl

You have got a point there, i just expect we to play our style and not try to match chelsea line up (4-3-3).

anything about now

cue the chief to come in and denounce playing Hargreaves out of position, and that he should stay in central midfield. oh, and he's not a holding midfielder.

UBERScholes

I wouldn't mind seeing Hargreaves on the right at all, he was mega against Roma but could use all the athleticism we can get on the pitch to help counter Chelsea's physical dominance. Cole usually gets the better of Ron when they meet as well, so I'd prefer to see him on our left flank

Alex

Not involving Anderson would be idiotic in my opinion

MDFC Manager

Agreed...We'll have to keep Cole on a tight leash as I see him as their main threat.

Rowem

If we play two strikers then I'm all for having Hargreaves on the right. He can cut in and help out in midfield, and give Ronnie more freedom on the other side. It would mean our formation can change between 442 and 433 freely.

If we go 433/451, then I wouldn't want Hargreaves on the right as itd be too defensive so I'd want Park there, and either Hargreaves or Anderson joining Scholes and Carrick in centre midfield.

Sultan

--------------VDS-------------------
Brown-----Rio-----Vidic-----Evra-----
-------------Carrick-----------------
---Fletch/Hargreaves---Scholes-------
---Ronaldo--------------Nani/park----
------------Rooney------------------

Giggs, Tevez, Anderson, O'shea, Pig...

I have this feeling Fletcher will be the surprise starter. Nani could be a luxury worth having seeing midfield is well covered. I would love Anderson to be playing in the middle from the start just to wind up Ballack, but Scholes' experience wins out. If Fletch is not starting then he could completely miss out from the squad, with Saha taking the last subs spot.

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

Agreed

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

The idea isn't bad at all. I just feel tough we can't risk to play 4-4-2 against Chelsea.

Mozza

We always play 442 at home to Chelsea recently, the key is the player to pick up Makalele, it'll be Tevez as it was against Barca

friendlytramp

This wold allow us to drop back into a 451 when defending if Rooney /Tev drop back to the flank, and also sipn on to a 433 if necessary...hmmm

Sam#1

Total nonsense.

Giggsy PO

I pretty much agree with the original post.

Carric, Scholes AND Hargreaves are definitely starters for me in midfield

Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez upfront

+ many great options from the bench if needed for various situations (Fletcher, Giggs, Anderson, Nani, Oshea, Saha...)

Chorley1974

I just posted this line up in the Anderson thread.

skillz

What he said...

(but maybe Tevez to start in place of Nani/Park)

jasonrh

Yep, it makes us very very versatile depending on how the game is going without even having to put a sub on.

The Ronaldo/Cole thing is another big advantage.

Once I stumbled into this as a starting XI, I just could not find any disadvantages...

Bilbo

Ronaldo should be switched to the left side as often as possible.

REd FUn DevIl

When we try to play the same way they do we always ends drawing or losing.

We have to play our way and put them under pressure. Two strikers put pressure to their defence and that's when you get the best of Ronaldo. If you play 3 upfront then they put Ashley and a defensive midfielder covering Ronaldo and we end losing all our creation.

REd FUn DevIl

That's a good choice for us, remember Grant doesnt trust their RB options and he always put Essien on there.

Just put Park on the right or Hargo. Let's put Tevez and Rooney upfront and let's put their defence under pressure.

Park and Hargo defend as good as they attack and that's the good thing of having them as attacking options.

Mozza

Ronaldo should play on the left and push up on Essien, even at right back he's their game changer, this contest Ronaldo can win

FlawlessThaw

I agree with Jason's point on Hargreaves being on the right. Would love to see him play there with Ronaldo on the left attacking Essien at every opportunity. Can easily convert it 4-3-3 if needs be.

Also Hargreaves can play some of his lovely low crosses which hopefully Tevez, Rooney or Ronaldo can pounce on.

cloud218

Then our Left would be flawed too. Evra isn't the best defender, and Park being on the left helped a lot when it came to defending. The right side, Brown is now comfortable enough to handle on his own most of the time, while Ronaldo is off to do this stuff.

Gazza

As far as I can see there is only one place up for grabs in the United XI. The player who gets it will determine how we set up.

Defence is settled, Scholes, Carrick and Hargreaves will all play, and Rooney and Ronaldo will be up front. But there's 1 position left which could be filled by Giggs, Tevez or Park, depending on how Fergie wants to play it.

Giggs hasn't started much lately, including the 2 Barca games and the Wigan game, which suggests he is no longer first choice for the big games. I don't think he'll play from the start.

Tevez's presence can turn a defensive looking team into an attacking one, but rarely starts in big games. I think Fergie might want him as an impact substitute, again.

Park is the middle ground, he's played a lot lately, and often in the same team as Tevez. I can't see Hargreaves not playing, so Park may have to make do a with a place on the bench. Fergie seems to rate him for big games and especially in Europe where he's done well in the past for PSV.

It's basically that one spot in the line up that no one can really predict. Anderson would probably have been in the running as well had his fitness and form not tailed off a bit - he hasn't played in a while and I suspect a place on the bench is the best he can hope for.

It's a shame in a way that so many good players may not play or even make the bench - we essentially have Hargreaves, Anderson, Fletcher, Giggs, Park and Tevez all fit and going for a couple of places. At least we can't blame anything on a shallow squad.

Ekeke

Hargreaves would do a good job on the right I'm sure. But he has been prone to a few miscalculations and miscontrols in the final third which could cost us. Still, he'd be great at nullifying a flank of Chelsea's attack. If Chelsea are going to get anything from the flanks it'll be through the Coles on the left, so it'd be in our best interests to play Hargreaves there.

Having said that, Grant could play Cole on the right and the combination with Essien (should he play at right back) could be just as devestating.

Offensively however, Hargreaves wouldnt be near as effective on the left. If Cole and Essien line up on the right, I hope Anderson is picked on the left instead with Ronaldo on the right.

Truth is though, we'll more than likely play 4-5-1.

You forgot Nani.

Ecroyd

i think this is how it will start, i would prefer 442 but fergie isnt going to risk this one,

if were winning with 20min left giggs will come on probably with tevez,

tevez will come on anyway i think

Sultan

If Ronaldo, and Hargreaves both play on the right it would mean an overcrowded right side, especially if Brown gets a chance to overlap. They would be attacking Ashley Cole, not Essien.

Sultan