We had 12 players on the pitch?
Manchester United versus Arsenal at Old Trafford this Sunday, kick off at 4
- Thread starter esmufc07
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
NaniNani.
It'll be like Liverpool...we'll hold out for about 70 mins but lose 2 or 3 nil. Webb will naturally gift you the crucial first goal in dodgy circumstances.
Given Arsenal's fragile midfield, there's no way we'll play three in the middle, I expect the exact same team that beat Tottenham.
It'll be like the 6-1 back in 2001, with Rooney scoring a hattrick. We'll be crushing you like a beetle. No arrogance.
..............de Gea..................
Smalling...Jones...Evans....Evra
Park..Anderson..Cleverly..Young
.......Welbeck...Rooney...........
I think Park will play as he almost always do well against big teams, and Nani's been a bit of wasteful in possession and his final balls were not so good in the last 2 games. Arsenal are still a very good team who play good football, so we have to be patient and not underestimate them. I wont be surprised if we only draw this game 0-0.
Smalling...Jones...Evans....Evra
Park..Anderson..Cleverly..Young
.......Welbeck...Rooney...........
I think Park will play as he almost always do well against big teams, and Nani's been a bit of wasteful in possession and his final balls were not so good in the last 2 games. Arsenal are still a very good team who play good football, so we have to be patient and not underestimate them. I wont be surprised if we only draw this game 0-0.
I'll go with one change since SAF always changes his team a bit from game to game. Carrick on, Cleverley off.
I think it might be:
- - - - - - De Gea - - - - - - -
- Smalling Jones Evans Evra -
Park Anderson Cleverley Nani
- - - Hernandez Rooney - - -
But he'll have a hard time dropping Welbeck so I'm not too sure.
I dont think Chicharito will play as he hasnt had enough playing minutes to play in a big game as this. But then again, Fergie likes to play players who he thinks suited to play against particular teams, so, he might play indeed. Plus, Welbeck should be pushed into the first team slowly.
It was a mistake when we went 442 against Arsenal last time, but considering we're at Old Trafford and Arsenal will likely be very weakened, I can see us playing it. Cleverley and Welbeck don't deserve to be dropped, their second half against Spurs was fantastic. But the likes of Giggs, Park, Carrick, and Hernández need to play. On principal it's hard to leave these players out, especially when most of them have had good games against Arsenal in the past.
Fergie doesn't like to play an unchanged side, but I can really see it happening in this match. Basically no one who started against Spurs deserves to be dropped and fitness won't be an issue at this stage.
However, I won't be surprised if the one change is Carrick in for Welbeck and we play 433. It's just the more tried and trusted system against Arsenal and we almost always beat them with it in recent history. Giggs & Park do deserves a shout at getting in, but they're only likely to come in, in favour of Cleverley/Anderson or Young.
If Welbeck doesn't start, I think Berbatov will be left out of a 'big game' yet again. That'll pose even more question marks. Maybe the freshness of Giggs, Park, Valencia, and Berbatov will come into play after the international games, due to them not being involved (Valencia may, but I'd doubt it).
Fergie doesn't like to play an unchanged side, but I can really see it happening in this match. Basically no one who started against Spurs deserves to be dropped and fitness won't be an issue at this stage.
However, I won't be surprised if the one change is Carrick in for Welbeck and we play 433. It's just the more tried and trusted system against Arsenal and we almost always beat them with it in recent history. Giggs & Park do deserves a shout at getting in, but they're only likely to come in, in favour of Cleverley/Anderson or Young.
If Welbeck doesn't start, I think Berbatov will be left out of a 'big game' yet again. That'll pose even more question marks. Maybe the freshness of Giggs, Park, Valencia, and Berbatov will come into play after the international games, due to them not being involved (Valencia may, but I'd doubt it).
Arsene Wenger says that Thomas Vermaelen is a doubt for Sunday.
Course he is
Which club is buying him?
A couple of our senior players also don't deserve to be dropped. It's not because they need to play, above mentioned senior player all did really well against Arsenal in the past. Especially Park.
I'm for a blend of experience and youth. Because our back four and goalie are still inexperienced, I'd leave out our Cleverley and Welbeck. However, I would let Welbeck and Cleverley start in the upcoming game against Arsenal. I think Welbeck and Cleverley will strive against Arsenal, a less physical and attacking oriented side, and will struggle against the likes of Stoke and Blackburn, sides that like to defend, be physical and park the bus in front of goal.
--------------------------David De Gea------------------------
---Smalling-----------Jones-----------Evans--------------Evra--
---Nani---------------Carrick--------Anderson------------Young--
--------------------------------------------Park----------------
--------------------------Rooney--------------------------------
---Smalling-----------Jones-----------Evans--------------Evra--
---Nani---------------Carrick--------Anderson------------Young--
--------------------------------------------Park----------------
--------------------------Rooney--------------------------------
I dont expect Arsenal to be as wasteful as Spurs were. We may well go for 4-3-3
de Gea
Smalling Jones Evans Evra
Carrick Anderson
Cleverley
Nani Rooney Young
Chamakh van Persie Walcott
Arshavin
Ramsey Rosicky
Sagna Vermaelen Djourou Jenkinson
Szczesny
Smalling Jones Evans Evra
Carrick Anderson
Cleverley
Nani Rooney Young
Chamakh van Persie Walcott
Arshavin
Ramsey Rosicky
Sagna Vermaelen Djourou Jenkinson
Szczesny
Expecting something like this. As previously mentioned by others, it might be harsh to leave out Welbeck but I'm sure he'd understand at a club like United. Giggs could well start over Cleverley and due to past performances Park has a shout at replacing Young. However, with Arsenal's injury and suspension worries Fergie might not do that. He'll probably see this as an opportunity to lay down a marker with a similar side that ended up crushing Spurs, another top four 'hopeful'. Fábio might replace one of our three Centrebacks to come in at Right Back, which I don't think anyone would be worried about. There's also the possibility of Hernández, but I reckon it's the bench for him again.
As for Arsenal, due to their lack of available midfield players, I wouldn't be surprised to see Arshavin in the hole with Ramsey and Rosicky slightly further back. Their front six still isn't that bad in an attacking sense, and with Djourou back the defence looks less shaky than it could have been (that's if Vermaelen is fit). I'm not sure if they'll even still have Bendtner but he wouldn't worry anyone. The main problem for Arsenal is making changes. If Arshavin has a poor game again and Arsenal need to score, their only chance is probably to gun it with a 442 (I don't recall them doing this for such a long time). But when their midfield is so depleted, why not drop Arshavin, throw in young Chamberlain on one wing, Walcott on the other, Ramsey and Rosicky in the middle with Chamakh and van Persie up top?
Fully expect us to take advantage of Arsenal's troubles in this match and run out comfortable winners like against Spurs. However, I wouldn't be surprised if we make it hard for ourselves and Arsenal nick a draw.
3-0. I think they'll crumble.
4-0
Welbeck, Rooney x2, Hernandez
Welbeck, Rooney x2, Hernandez
no way will this be a walkover for us.
The most important thing will be to stress to the players not to be overconfident and that Arsenal will be galvanised by the win over Udinese. Won't be easy.
this.
they still have players like van persie, walcott that can hurt us, can't take them for granted..
I don't think we'll batter them 3 or 4-0. They still have some decent players and the younger ones will be right up for it.
Hopefully our experience and home advantage will see us pick up the required 3 points.
Hopefully our experience and home advantage will see us pick up the required 3 points.
De gea
Fabio smalling jones evra
Young cleverly Anderson nani
Rooney wellbeck
Fabio smalling jones evra
Young cleverly Anderson nani
Rooney wellbeck
That's the team I want to start rather than the one I think will. Gonna be a battering for me.
Berba to start for me
They always bum us when it's this situation (us flying high, them struggling). We're going down on Sunday
He's not started a game yet and now Hernandez is fit I don't see why that would changoe for this, our biggest game so far.
Same team that beat Spurs please Fergie.
Park will start. 1-0, dirty game.
#AttackTheSpace and we'll be fine.
#AttackTheSpace and we'll be fine.
I think there'll be a bit of bus parking until we score - not a given this one
That's one headline that really doesn't go with the article at all.
God the Sun is a fecking rag
1-1
and I'm serious.
and I'm serious.
Can't believe Anderson is completely writing them off like that, the arrogance.
Nice to see the players and the manager aren't quite as cocky about this as most fans here on the Caf. Worst thing we could do is to underestimate Arsenal. Hopefully Fergie goes with the tried and tested 4-5-1 against them, instead of the 4-4-2 that hasn't quite worked against Arsenal in recent years.
4-0 and I'm serious. Top of the league this time tomorrow.
Does anyone else think the OP is about as funny as a kick in the balls?
2-1 United. Rooney to score.
2-1 United. Rooney to score.