Manchester United vs Wolfsburg CL Match Thread

Nalz

Didn't see any match thread for this, so I'll get the ball rolling.

Manager Quotes

Sir Alex Ferguson, United manager
The two Wolfsburg [strikers] scored 71 goals between them last season which is incredible, so we're looking forward to the game. I believe that if the home record is good it gives you a good chance to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League. And over the years our home record has been pretty good. We won our first match away from home which is a very big bonus to us. Germany is a good football nation. It says a lot for Wolfsburg's ambition: the progress they made last year, they did it in a very positive way. Sides from countries like Germany are always capable of winning the Champions League. The last few years it has been dominated by English teams, but there's always the possibility of someone coming in.

Armin Veh, Wolfsburg coach
Despite the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tévez, United are still strong. When you take a look at the table you see that they haven't lost in six matches so I see no significant changes – Manchester United have the same quality. This is a special game. United have played in more than 150 Champions League matches, while for us it's just our second game, but we're not going to sit back. I can't say if the lads will be inspired or scared of playing their first match at Old Trafford, but we'll still play our game, otherwise it'll be tough for us. But if you talking about the atmosphere, nothing beats the Bundesliga where crowds are enormous. There is a chance that Obafemi Martins will be brought into action and we'll play with three strikers, but of course it's not easy for him to win the competition with two strikers like Grafite and Edin Džeko.

Weekend results
26/09/09 Stoke City FC 0-2 United
(Berbatov 62, O'Shea 77)
• The win at Stoke was United's seventh in a row in all competitions. United have won 14 and lost just one of their last 16 Premier League games.

• United have scored 16 goals in their last five league matches. Of the 17 league goals they have scored this season 13 have come in the second half.

26/09/09 Wolfsburg 4-2 Hannover 96
(Misimović 8, Gentner 45, Hasebe 48, Džeko 62; Balitsch 28, Madlung 50og)
• It was Wolfsburg's fourth loss in six matches, their worst sequence since November/December 2007.

• Wolfsburg are yet to draw this season. After ten competitive games, they have won six and lost four, three of those defeats coming in the Bundesliga.

• Zvjezdan Misimović scored his fifth league goal of the season against Hannover, making him joint top scorer in the Bundesliga.

Team news

• United
Out: Owen Hargreaves (knee), Rafael (shoulder), Gabriel Obertan (calf), Edwin van der Sar (broken finger)
Doubtful: Ji-Sung Park (illness)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

• Wolfsburg
Out: none
Doubtful: Josué (knee)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

me-skywalker

Anderson and Owen - 2nil

A7X

me-skywalker wrote: »

Anderson and Owen - 2nil

with any luck

Headshot

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foster

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oshea---Rio----vidic---evra
valencia---ando----fletch----nani

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berba

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Rooney

Would rather have giggs instead of nani but we need giggs for the sunderland game

_blank_

Trilla wrote: »

26/09/09 Wolfsburg 4-2 Hannover 96
(Misimović 8, Gentner 45, Hasebe 48, Džeko 62; Balitsch 28, Madlung 50og)
• It was Wolfsburg's fourth loss in six matches, their worst sequence since November/December 2007.

killwill

Wolsburg are not the eam they were last year, lost two of their best players and their manager I think. Out of their first 7 games they won 4 and lost 3. I am going for a comfortable 2-0 United if not 3-0. Looking forward to seeing Owen play in the CL and hope he gets a run tonight and scores.

Nalz

Des wrote: »

taken from uefa.com

_blank_

Trilla wrote: »

taken from uefa.com

You should be fact-checking these things before blindly copying and pasting tbh

Crow71

Is grafite still with wolfsburg?

Headshot

Crow71 wrote: »

Is grafite still with wolfsburg?

yes iirc scored a hat-trick last Cl match

Nalz

Des wrote: »

You should be fact-checking these things before blindly copying and pasting tbh

I'm sorry I annoyed you, it won't happen again tbh. I usually don't start these threads

Nalz

Des wrote: »

You should be fact-checking these things before blindly copying and pasting tbh

More accurate facts on Wolfsburg team and latest fixtures/results here

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team?id=138&cc=3888

DubDani

killwill wrote: »

Wolsburg are not the eam they were last year, lost two of their best players and their manager I think. Out of their first 7 games they won 4 and lost 3. I am going for a comfortable 2-0 United if not 3-0. Looking forward to seeing Owen play in the CL and hope he gets a run tonight and scores.

Who would that be? They haven't lost a single player of their first 11 of last season. Only the coach has moved on. They had not the best start of the season, but said that they lost against some of the bigger teams (Leverkusen (2.), Hamburg (1.) and Bayern (6.) and not against bottom of the half teams.

It seems their attackers have found their form, and they will be the biggest threat to ManU. But their defense on the other hand can be a bit shakey.

ShooterSF

Can't wait. Should be a good game. A home win tonight would leave us expecting to qualify out of the group with ease. We should (SHOULD) beat the other 2 at home. That would give us 12 points and nearly certain of progressing.

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Foster(I look forward to being able to type VDS soon)----
J.O.S

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Rio

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Vidic

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Evra

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Fletcher

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Ando

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Valencia

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Giggs

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Rooney

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Berbs

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With Giggs taking stints out left and Rooney moving inside.

_blank_

Trilla wrote: »

More accurate facts on Wolfsburg team and latest fixtures/results here

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team?id=138&cc=3888

Thanks, I'm reading that now.

Srsly I am.

Nalz

DubDani wrote: »

to ManU.

I should get over this I know, big time....but I hate it when Manchester United are referred to as ManU. Annoys the poo poo out of me

Des wrote: »

Thanks, I'm reading that now.

Srsly I am.

Coolbeans

alibabba

Zvjezdan Misimović to score 2 maybe a hat trick

And ManU to score only 2

Nalz

alibabba wrote: »

Zvjezdan Misimović to score 2 maybe a hat trick

And ManU to score only 2

www.paddypower.com, go make your fortunes...

jacool

both teams will score tonight (1/1 money bet)
I actually think we could see a five goal thriller.
As I don't like Manchester United (better give them their full title, as I don't want to upset anyone !) I think they will defeat Verein für Leibesübungen Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH (don't want to upset the Germans either!) 3-2.
Rooney for at least won, and Grafite to score one in reply.

Gone Drinking

Grafite to play well and papers to link United to buying him.

but on a serious note, Rooney to score first and United to win 2-1!

2-0 Manchester United, W.Rooney to score one.

I think our superior Champions League experience will help us win this game.

_blank_

I'm going for a 1-0 snoozeathon.

Vidic to score.

That_Guy

Headshot wrote: »

yes iirc scored a hat-trick last Cl match

Decent goals too. He'll cause United a lot of problems tonight. I can see Wolfsburg having a lone striker up front and I'd choose him over Martins tbh.

Frisbee

3-1 United

SlickRic

3-2 for me too.

berbatov to score a couple.

unfortunately.

Nalz

2-0

Rooney and Anderson

JPA

Owen starts.

Headshot

JPA wrote: »

Owen starts.

very interesting

Nalz

jacool wrote: »

both teams will score tonight (1/1 money bet)
I actually think we could see a five goal thriller.
As I don't like Manchester United (better give them their full title, as I don't want to upset anyone !) I think they will defeat Verein für Leibesübungen Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH (don't want to upset the Germans either!) 3-2.
Rooney for at least won, and Grafite to score one in reply.

lol nice post, thanks from Mr Alan too!

JPA wrote: »

Owen starts.

link?

Daysha

Henry Winter just confirmed it on his Twitter.

JPA

Trilla wrote: »

lol nice post, thanks from Mr Alan too!


link?

SSN or http://live.skysports.com/ScoreCentre/football.html

look at the scrolly bit.

Nalz

Daysha wrote: »

Henry Winter just confirmed it on his Twitter.

cool thanks
http://twitter.com/henrywinter

Spud83

foster dropped

PIG
O'Shea
Vidic
Rio
Evra
Valencia
Carrick
Anderson
Giggs
Rooney
Owen

Mr.Nice Guy

Foster getting dropped is an odd one.

Headshot

not the pig

dear god

Spud83

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Foster getting dropped is an odd one.

Strange to keep him in for the Stoke game and then take him out for this one. Wonder what the reasoning is behind it. Couldn't need a rest, he had a week break between City and Stoke.

Daysha

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

PIG
O'Shea
Vidic
Rio
Evra
Valencia
Carrick
Anderson
Giggs
Rooney
Owen

Like that team tbh. Good balance to it.

ScholesyIsGod

Good to see Owen and Carrick getting some game time, Kusczack starting is a strange one though i would have preferred Foster in goal.

I think we'll win it 3-1.

Headshot

ScholesyIsGod wrote: »

Good to see Owen and Carrick getting some game time, Kusczack starting is a strange one though i would have preferred Foster in goal.

I think we'll win it 3-1.

nooooo

grames_bond

fletch not playing?! and pig in goal.....ill be honest this worries me slightly!

SlickRic

Headshot wrote: »

nooooo

i wouldn't worry too much about Carrick in a home European game against Wolfsburg.

although i understand you not being too enamoured with him right now.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Headshot wrote: »

nooooo

The only way he'll get some form back is by playing games.

ScholesyIsGod

Headshot wrote: »

nooooo

He hasn't had any form recently but getting some games is the only way he'll find any.

Carroller16

This is Kuszczak's last chance to stake a claim in goal for united i reckon. He needs to grab it with both hands./<shameless pun>

United 3-1 Wolfsburg

rooney, owen, valencia

Spud83

Not too worried about Carrick and happy enough with the team once Anderson is the middle and Giggs is on the left.

Eire-Dearg

Why "PIG" ?

Headshot

Eire-Dearg wrote: »

Why "PIG" ?

because he can fly

Iago

Eire-Dearg wrote: »

Why "PIG" ?

Pole in Goal

or

Polish international Keeper

much easier to say and type

MagicMarker

Great to see Owen & Rooney starting.

Headshot

MagicMarker wrote: »

Great to see Owen & Rooney starting.

idk am i mistake but isnt it there first competitive start together (bar england)

NightStrike

Yeah probably so, I don't even think they played pre-season together did they? Certainly didn't in Asia, maybe in that Valencia game though. Big night for Owen.