Wolfsburg v Manchester United - 8/12/09 - 7.45pm (Match Thread)

Carroller16

v

Man Utd Squad

From: Tomasz Kuszczak, Ben Foster, Patrice Evra, Oliver Gill, Gabriel Obertan, Magnus Eikrem, Paul Scholes, Darron Gibson, Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick, Matty James, Darren Fletcher, Ji-sung Park, Anderson, Cameron Stewart, Nani, Oliver Norwood, Michael Owen, Danny Welbeck

I think United will go with

KUSZCZAK

FLETCHER CARRICK EVRA PARK

VALENCIA ANDERSON GIBSON OBERTAN WELBECK

OWEN

Mitch Connor

I agree with some of that team. Don't see Obertan and Welbeck starting though.

KUSZCZAK

FLETCHER CARRICK GILL EVRA

Valencia Anderson Gibson Scholes Park

OWEN

SlickRic

aw, i was hoping to see Dzeko/Grafite versus Evra.

just for the picture.

Ush1

Best backline ever.

Carroller16

Who else has a feeling we wont concede tonight

Mitch Connor

They'd be in his pocket

Gonna be interesting to see how we go tonight.

Our team is very hard to pick cause I have no idea who is going to play CB.

Gill is a CB (not a very good one, even for his age - the chelsea youths ripped him apart 12 months ago though he has improved since then) but I don't know if Fergie would risk him there on his debut, away in Europe. Fergie tends to blood defenders at full back where possible. Could see Fletcher or Gibson partner Carrick in defence (lol at these options....)

In midfield Valencia, Anderson and Park are certainties to start imo. If Gibson is not in defence he will be a starting CM then. Scholes would be my choice in midfield, but he played the full 90 vs West Ham and his legs aren't up to two succesive full 90's these days. We could simply need him to do it tonight and go with it. Norwood or James could be an option here though. both are promising central players, with James the more defensive of the two. Both are very good passers, both like a shot from range and Norwood is very talented an set pieces. Eikrem is another midfield option (reminds me of scholes in terms of passing and vision, and late development due to physical and breathing issues) but very much an attacking player, so don't see him being used in central midfield tonight.

RasTa

Ze German's are the favourites, United @ 12/5 anyone? same for the draw. Evens on the Germans.

Mitch Connor

RasTa wrote: »

Ze German's are the favourites, United @ 12/5 anyone? same for the draw. Evens on the Germans.

If Wolfsburg don't win tonight, they don't deserve to be in the CL, have to be clear favourites.

Hoping for a CSKA win tonight. They win and United top the group regardless of what happens in the United game. CSKA have a couple of players suspended due to 'technical problems' with doping tests done after their game vs United.

adox

Mitch Connor wrote: »

Hoping for a CSKA win tonight. They win and United top the group regardless of what happens in the United game.

That's surely not correct? If Wolfsburg win they go ahead of united on the head to head results?

jaykay74

Carroller16 wrote: »

Who else has a feeling we wont concede tonight

Not me, if they are up for it we will concede 2 or more.

jaykay74

adox wrote: »

That's surely not correct? If Wolfsburg win they go ahead of united on the head to head results?

3 way tie at the top so the results from bottom team match is taken out. Utd top of 3 way mini league

Cadzer

I remember reading an interview with Anderson a while back and he was asked what his fav position and im sure he said left back??? If he has played there before he could fill in and then Evra at CB ??

Mitch Connor

adox wrote: »

That's surely not correct? If Wolfsburg win they go ahead of united on the head to head results?

apparently not.

From what I have read, if Wolfsburg and CSKA both win, all 3 teams end on 10 points.

This creates a new mini league with results vs Besiktas done away with.

United would have 7 points, (win vs Wolfsburg, win and draw vs CSKA)
Wolfsburg would have 6 points (Win vs United, win vs CSKA)
CSKA would have 4 points. (Win vs Wolfsburg, draw vs United)

Apparently.

Seemingly the goals things would only be used to seperate 2 teams, so it wouldn't come in to play when 3 teams finish level on points.

Mitch Connor

Cadzer wrote: »

I remember reading an interview with Anderson a while back and he was asked what his fav position and im sure he said left back??? If he has played there before he could fill in and then Evra at CB ??

Evra vs Dzeko? erm.... no thanks.

IvySlayer

Hmmmm...

1-7-2 anyone? :pac:

Seriously though, real test for United.

Nemanja91

Mitch Connor wrote: »

Evra vs Dzeko? erm.... no thanks.

Evra is a ninja he can out jump anyone

Headshot

i heard 2 cska players have been suspended following a positive doping test after the Manchester United game

Mitch Connor

Mitch Connor wrote: »

If Wolfsburg don't win tonight, they don't deserve to be in the CL, have to be clear favourites.

Hoping for a CSKA win tonight. They win and United top the group regardless of what happens in the United game. CSKA have a couple of players suspended due to 'technical problems' with doping tests done after their game vs United.

Headshot wrote: »

i heard 2 cska players have been suspended following a positive doping test after the Manchester United game

Where'd you hear that? ya spammer! ;-D

Mitch Connor

United team named:

PIG, Evra, Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Gibson, Welbeck, Anderson, Nani, Owen

No idea really....

Sky say:

---

PIG

Park-Fletcher-Carrick-Evra

Nani-Gibson-Scholes-Welbeck

---

Anderson

---

Owen

Headshot

Mitch Connor wrote: »

Where'd you hear that? ya spammer! ;-D

cant get a break with you mitch can I :pac:

CR 7

so,
Cusack, park, gibson, carrick, evra, nani, scholes, carrick, anderson, owen, wellbeck. I await a large scoreline.

Too slow.....

flahavaj

Mitch Connor wrote: »

United team named:

PIG, Evra, Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Gibson, Welbeck, Anderson, Nani, Owen

Whos playing where in that team?

Looks like 1-9-1 to me.:pac:

Headshot

---

pig

---

park----fletch----carrick----evra
nani----scholes

---

gibson----welbeck

---

ando

---

---

owen

---

if we get a result in germany, it will be unreal

Headshot

subs

foster
valencia
obertan
Eikrem
james
gill
stewart


im shocked to see Nani playing btw

manutd

Headshot wrote: »

subs
im shocked to see Nani playing btw

Ya, Valencia should be playing before Nani, when was his last game.

Mitch Connor

The midfield looks fine,I think Park will be grand at RB. Fletcher and Carrick - who knows really. At least they know how to work together, and should have no problems communicating.

Big responsibility on the midfield, we need them to perform. Not just defensively, we need them to maintain an attacking threat so Nani and Welbeck on the wings really need to keep the Wolfsburg fullbacks pinned back.

Owen up top ain't a great one, the defenders will probably be all over him. Again, the midfield are really going to need to support him and get around him quickly.

kingofcastle

Agree with you Headshot- Anto Valencia should defo be playing right wing to give Park a helping hand. Nani should be flogged in Jan too IMHO

redout

Fergie justed asked on Sky about the shape of his team tonight:

"I have no idea" to laughter

LoL

Mitch Connor

Well, I'm delighted to see Nani get a game. Hasn't been seen in a month. Wonder how he will react. Probably not well after a month of no competitive games but oh well.

As for Valencia, meh - I'd have gone with him given the defensive mess we are in, but I'm happy for Nani to be given a go (would probably have gone with Nani over Welbeck to be honest)

eclectichoney

Love the way SAF said "Young David Gi - I mean Oliver Gill"

Tonight should be interesting at least!

flahavaj

kingofcastle wrote: »

Agree with you Headshot- Anto Valencia should defo be playing right wing to give Park a helping hand. Nani should be flogged in Jan too IMHO

Jesus thats a bit harsh. Selling him would be grand by me.:pac:

redout

Anyone here use Sky Player ?

I am trying to watch United on Sky through the tv and Juve v Bayern through Sky Player but its on the red button so need to find out if red button function is available through sky player if anyone knows ?

Thx

Dave!

Nani starting, we must really be desperate

SlickRic

this is as stern a test of a club's squad depth as you can get.

the whole defence and the reserves out; i struggle to remember anything like it.

most, if not all, questions about depth in the utd squad will be answered in these weeks.

UnitedIrishman

Will be something else if we get a point from this one.

So could someone tell me if this is wrong:
* United go through on top if they a) get a draw/win, b) CSKA beat Besiktas meaning all three teams are on 10 points and creating a head to head situation between all 3 - whereby we'd top it.

MementoMori

Dave! wrote: »

Nani starting, we must really be desperate

I wonder how much of this is putting him in the shop-window for European sides to get a look at him?

Should be intriguing to see how the U-12s defence gets on and the whole Dzeko sub-plot should be interesting. Odds on him getting a hat-trick in the ultimate come-and-get-me type deal?

Eire-Dearg

redout wrote: »

Anyone here use Sky Player ?

I am trying to watch United on Sky through the tv and Juve v Bayern through Sky Player but its on the red button so need to find out if red button function is available through sky player if anyone knows ?

Thx

Why not do the opposite?

redout

Eire-Dearg wrote: »

Why not do the opposite?

LoL

Was just thinking that myself.

MagicMarker

Headshot wrote: »

---

pig

---

park----fletch----carrick----evra
nani----scholes

---

gibson----welbeck

---

ando

---

---

owen

---

if we get a result in germany, it will be unreal

If this is correct I am very much looking forward to see how Nani fairs on the right, seeing as it's his position for Portugal.

I think there might be a few surprises tonight:)

CR 7

So then, nani and dzeko to get a hat trick each, then a complicated swap deal negotiated, which results in us getting dzeko and 40mill for nani? Hopefully not. But nani to get 3 anyway.

ntlbell

back four is awsome, bit small but awsome.

DenMan

Live on the tv3/3e player online.

http://www.tv3.ie/live.php?request=championsleague

CR 7

ntlbell wrote: »

back four is awsome, bit small but awsome.

Yeah, it's just like seeing two very good midfields.

Headshot

Evra is the captain

Mitch Connor

Evra captain

redout

Last game were United get to wear the FIFA Club World Cup winners badge.

eclectichoney

Evra captain. it. Gwan the Paddy.

ntlbell

the_pm_of_17 wrote: »

Yeah, it's just like seeing two very good midfields.

the distrubtuin from both sections should be very good.

they may get caught out in certain positional circumstances but think i think it looks very good.

Headshot

Mitch Connor wrote: »

Evra captain

where did you hear that ^^^

bloody spammer

revenge is mine ;-)

Mitch Connor

redout wrote: »

Last game were United get to wear the FIFA Club World Cup winners badge.

stupid looking badge

Le King

LOL @ The defence.