I'll be making the journey down for this one, and i really quite fancy our chnces of a point at least. Don't know why but I've got a good feeling about this one. When we turn up, we show that we are a top team, an one to give even the best a run for their money as we howed against Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and maybe even tottenham. Hopefully Johnny Evans will be playing too, he is just awful, and I fancy any of our forwards against him Evans played vs Basel, they lost Evans played vs Crystal Palace, they lost Evans played against Man City, cough 1-6 Evans will play against Fulham, they will lose!! COYW
He played against QPR and they won! Irrelevant of that I have a good feeling too of actually getting all 3 points! But in football feelings do not count... COYW
Will Jol stick with the same team and use the same tactics, or because it's United will he be more cautious and revert to a more holding game in the first half, and try to up the pace in the second ? Need to have all the players on top form and hope the ref is not overawed by the occasion. Unlike the Bolton game we won't get the amount of chances, so stating the obvious, have to score at least 2 from the chances we get. United have let in very few goals away from home. I'd go 4-4-3 with Stockdale Kelly Senderos Hangeland Riise Baird Etuhu Murphy Briggs Dembele Dempsey Ruiz United have a lot of pace and the defense needs to double up but the 3 (Amigos) up front can cause their back 4 problems.
If it ain't broke... keep the same line up as the Bolton game, if Danny Murphy is fit. If not, then either bring in Sidwell or Davies if they are back to full fitness (any news on that? I'm assuming they're both still out) or move Bairdinho to midfield and play Kelly at right back. Judging from the comments on here about AJ vs Bolton, it would be harsh to drop him, and all of the three Amigos will do better for having a striker stretching the defence ahead of them.
Yes, same lineup versus Man U. Have Etuhu stay in front of the back four to deny Rooney. If AJ gets overpowered, swap him out for BZ in the second half.
Actually, I can't see much wrong with 12 v 11. It's just a home advantage, a bit like away teams rarely getting penalties at Old Trafford! I agree that this match is winnable, but if offered a draw will do. Consider our second half performane against City. MJ is getting back to almost having a full squad, so if we're not ahead in the second half, he's got the chance to change it around. C O Y W
If we had lost against Bolton, the naysayers would be saying this was a must win (makes a change from saying 'nay' I suppose). As it is, let's be realistic. These are the games that we aren't expected to get anything from. We do get results against the big boys surprisingly often, but not expecting it takes the pressure off. Let's give them a right good go, and anything we get out of this game (Chelsea too for that matter) is a bonus, a Christmas Box if you like. So, no pressure, but every opportunity to give the big boys a bloodied nose (metaphorical, we're not going all Stoke City here) if we play up to our potential.
I hope he stays consistent with the team. This is the perfect stage for Dembele, Ruiz and Dempsey to make a huge impact. They are big game players along with Murphy and they will love getting in amongst the £100k a week boys. Come on Big Mart, set us up for 3 points and attack them.
I can't really see a case for changing the starting line up from Saturday. If Ruiz hadn't scored one and made the other against Bolton there might be an argument for bringing Duff back because Evra was apparently terrible against QPR. I think Dembele could be a big player for us tomorrow as United are potentially vulnerable without Vidic and Fletcher. Dempsey v Smalling could be an interesting match up down our left/their right. We'll definitely create chances - whether we get anything out of the game will depend on whether we can take them as United are always likely to score. Lets hope Demps has packed his shooting boots for the occasion as I still struggle to see where else our goals are going to come from.
Agreed with the Captain, no pressure so shutting them out would be futile. We should play Ruiz, Dembele and Dempsey and go balls-out. If we lose trying to beat them it'll be much more palatable than losing by the odd goal because we tried parking the bus.
It will be a good atmosphere at The Cottage, and they haven't exactly got a good recent record here, which they'll want to correct. I agree that it is better to go for the win than park-the-bus, but we'll still have to contain them - so it's 2-1 (and hopefully not 0-3 for our rashness). Now that we have broken our "away" form weakness, I see that failure to achieve back-to-back wins is becoming the new millstone. However, being the optimist, I cannot think of anyone else (apart from our neighbours) that it would be good break the new hoodoo against. Highlight for tomorrow? Fergie tapping his watch when 2 minutes go up for time added on at the end of the match. C O Y W
I'm with you DR. Only wee doubt is Jol's comment after the Swansea game that Bobby "doesn't do sub". Maybe he will elect to play them the other way round. Understand Murphy is okay (Sidwell and Davies are definitely out of the reckoning). Also agree with others that we shouldn't show ManU overdue respect but get out there and play our own game. If we start upbeat and play on top of Evans and Ferdinand and (especialy) that goalkeeper, we have a real chance.
I don't think i've seen a more fragile Man United team since the last time we stuffed them 3-0 with their make-shift back line. I'm really optimistic about this one but I think we need Murphy to play. He always seems to up his game against United and with our strong forward line and their dodgy back line I think there could be a few goals in it for us.
Goalkeeper is the weakness. Smalling may also be suspect. Strength will be Rooney and Hernandez. Think Dempsey/Dembele could do the united back line and with the dodgy keeper we have a chance. Worry is their front two picking us off when they feel like it - they are more mobile than our defence and we have a good, but inexperienced keeper. Any points at all are a bonus - if we play like the first half against Odense or Bolton we have a chance, I feel. If we start the game like we played in the second half against both those teams, we're doomed.
I don't agree that de Gea is their weakness. He got some criticism at the start of the season, but he's also made several excellent saves. My feeling is that United are getting stronger, although that isn't to say that we can't do something against them tonight. I hope they put their recovery on hold for one more match so we can roll them over. As several of us have said, I'm hoping for a good result, but certainly not expecting one. What we want is a good, confidence-building performance and any points will be a very happy bonus.
Not much to add, hoping for 3 points but given 1 point I would take it. Generally have not been impressed this season with utd and this is a time that we can beat them. Rooney is in good form. Personally I think Jol needs to show character and keep the same starting 11 despite BZ being fit. Their defense is relatively slow and AJ will give us an advantage. Smalling is fast but Evans is slow and Ferdinand not what was used to be although is coming back to form.
