We could be in for a good hiding tonight. I said several weeks back that there will be plenty of ups and downs to come, including another "Arsenal" type result. Just watch the media launch into us/Cortese/Pochettino/SFC and give it the big doom and gloom if we do get a hammering.
Ferguson has said he doesn't want to comment about other teams' Chairmen, but he understands that Cortese is a piece of work. Nice non-comment.
Good team but Ramirez next to fox? Either put Davis in for gaston or stick some else wide left to balance the team for me. I'd have the same defence, cork and Morgan, then puncheon and Ramirez out wide, lambert in the hole and Jay rod leading the line
-----------------------Boruc---------------------- Clyne---------Yoshi----------Jos---------Shaw -----------Spider----Davis------Cork--------------- Puncheon---------Lambert------------Gaston-------
I'd be tempted to start with Ramirez on the bench. He was a real handful against a tiring Chelsea, got a lot of space to himself, and I think he'd be most effective in a similar role against United.
Pretty sure Ramirez will start. Based on very little experience admittedly, but I think Poch goes for the opposition. Can't see him trying to get to half time at 0-0 and then going for it in the second half. Guardiola said that Mauricio's sides come for you.
We've got a lot of big teams coming up so maybe this one will set the tone for how Mauricio will approach them. Whatever happens, I am glad to get pretty much all of the (traditional) big guns apart from Tottenham out of the way before the run in. If we can keep the points ticking over then I think we will be in a really strong position. You never know, we might even get a bit further up the league, maybe I just lack ambition. I think I'd take 17th now though...sorry.
I think we will finish 13-16th, but would accept 17th now because I think next season will be massive for us.
No way that Ramirez should be out on the left, Stats prove that he is 3 times more effective with shots on goal,assists, passing and goals when he is played in the middle. He is too easy to isolate out on the wing. Lee has been very unlucky and has never had a run in the team.
--------------Boruc Clyne-Yoshida-Hoovield-Shaw ------Cork---Schneiderlin----- -Puncheon----------------De Ridder---- -------------Ramirez----------------- -------------Lambert----------------- wingers deeper making it 4-4-1-1 rather than 4-2-3-1 De Ridder in. Don't risk starting Lallana.
Guly got a knock in Barcelona and will be out for a couple of weeks...is this the start of more openness about injuries?
I'm praying Lallana can start, or we are going to have to play JRod out of position on the left which never goes very well, or start De Ridder. My thoughts are that we are better off starting Lallana and bringing him off for De Ridder when he gets tired. If Steve is to have any impact at all it will be against tired legs, no point doing it the other way around.
