Manchester United 1 - 2 Swansea City Old Trafford Manchester Referee: Mike Dean Sunday the 5th of January 2014, 4.30pm kick off. Goal scorers Routledge '12 Hernandez '16 Bony '90 Injuries Definitely out Man Utd; Robin Van Persie Swansea; Nathan Dyer, Michu, Michel Vorm and Pablo Hernandez Possibly out Man Utd; Wayne Rooney, Nani, Rafael and Phil Jones Swansea; Leon Britton lineups; Swansea ---------------------Tremmel------------------ ---------------Chico--------Amat-------------- Tiendalli---------------------------------Taylor -------------------------Britton----------------- ------------De Guzman------------------------ Pozuelo-----------Shelvey-----------Routledge --------------------Bony------------------------ Bench; Cornell, Ash, Rangel, B. Davies, Canas, Donnelly, Vazquez. Manchester Utd --------------------Lindegaard------------------- Smalling--- Ferdinand --- Evans--------Buttner --------------------------------------------------- --------------Fletcher --- Cleverley------------- Valencia ------------------------------------Kagawa -------------------Wellbeck -------------------- ------------------Hernandez ------------------- Bench; De Gea, Fabio, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Zaha and Januzaj. Key Battles; Danny Wellbeck vs Chico Could have easily picked either of the full-backs vs raw pace on the wing but have settled on Chico's tussle with Wellbeck. Hernandez is a goal scorer but he needs supply. Wellbeck is under rated IMO and has the tools to open us up. We know Chico is capable of shackling him but he hasn't had a great season thus far. If we are to win we need him (and the rest of the defence) to perform tomorrow...there are goals in us. Ashley Williams; "It's an important game as we haven't won in so long, but going to Old Trafford is a special occasion for any footballer," he said. "We will try and enjoy it and we will try and put a few things right. I think they are a top-class side, there are no worries about United as far as I am concerned." Under pressure United boss David Moyes ahead of the game; "If you are a club like Manchester United, you want to be involved in all competitions. For this club not to have won the FA Cup for 10 years is a bit of surprise. It's something we will try to do and we will do everything we possibly can to try to get through on Sunday." Match Preview "Following a defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League on New Year’s Day, Manchester United will look to restart their season as they entertain Swansea in the FA Cup on Sunday. The 2-1 loss at home to Tim Sherwood’s side brought an end to something of a renaissance for beleaguered boss David Moyes, as United had won each of the previous six games in all competitions. News of Wayne Rooney struggling with a groin problem adds to their woes, although Danny Welbeck is in fine form, having scored five goals in six games. Eleven points off the pace in the Premier League, Moyes may well be looking to the domestic cups as their best chance of delivering silverware this season. Swansea, meanwhile, are without a win in seven and have never beaten their opponents away from home. Although with United losing three of their last five home games, Old Trafford is perhaps not quite the fortress it once was, and visiting fans will be hoping that Wilfried Bony, who scored twice against Manchester City on Wednesday, can help fire them to a surprise victory." - The Independent * PAST THREE MEETINGS: Swansea 1 (Bony) Manchester United 4 (van Persie 2, Welbeck 2), Premier League, August 2013 Manchester United 2 (Hernandez, Ferdinand) Swansea 1 (Michu), Premier League, May 2013 Swansea 1 (Michu) Manchester United 1 (Evra), Premier League, December 2012 * STATS: This will be the sides’ first ever meeting in the FA Cup. Swansea have not beaten Manchester United since a 2-1 win in Division Two in 1935. Manchester United have won the FA Cup a record 11 times. * ODDS: Manchester United to win: 1.4 or 2/5 in old money Swansea to win: 7 or 6/1 Draw: 3.9 or just shy of 3/1 TV: Live on BT Sport 1 at 4.15pm, highlights ITV 10.45pm
We wont have a better chance of winning at man utd than this......No Rooney, No RVP, No Sir Alex... That Should be a bit of a leveler...
Well they're under strength but that's still a very good team we're playing. I think Hernandez will grasp this opportunity with both hands provided he gets service. Probably lose this one imo, but it's the Cup so you never know.
Could be a tough one to pick. I agree that we have a better chance to sneak a win than we have in previous games. However, I think ML will have one eye on the PL fixture and may start with Vasquez instead of Bony, which won't help us. I hope he goes with Bony as I'm keen to see how the performance against MC effects his confidence. I'm expecting him to kick on big time. As for the rest of the team, I believe we have enough depth to switch a few players without messing things up.
I can see why he'd do that but for me Jack PA's argument re:Bony applies to the whole team. If it were me in charge I'd go all out to win this one as it could hugely boost the team's confidence with no midweek games this week to follow....by all means play a reserve team in the next round though. Can see however that 1 more injury to a first XI player could really harm us so would understand if Laudrup opts not to take the risk.
But even their understrength side is still way better than our strongest. Remember how on the opening day of the season that everyone was "we'll never have a better chance" and then we got demolished
True, but that was mainly due to the clinical finishing of Van Persie was it not? Against the run of play if memory serves me correct....and they haven't played well by their high standards since. Obviously whichever XI they put out they will be stronger on paper than us and firm favourites. I just feel that if we put out our strongest XI and play well we have a chance. Certainly better than 6/1, more like 3/1 for me. Saying that, I really enjoy the FA cup and it still excites me, but this is the first year that I couldn't care less if we go out with a whimper....just feel that some of our boys need a confidence boost and this tie could provide it.
Why not play a full strength team? We are back to one game a week for now and surely players don't need resting for that? United are depleted (as are we) so we have a decent chance if we go for it. They are fragile because of recent results and a win would send our confidence soaring. Also they have a league cup game shortly, so they'll also have that on their mind. Bony has struck some good form and the last thing a striker needs when he finds it is to be pulled. He wants to cash in whilst he's feeling good and he MUST start. By all means take him off if the game is obviously won, or lost but give him his chance.
Play to win , why play a weakened side if we don't need to ,the team needs to start with a consistency of personnel ,there's a week's break between now and the next fixture Use this opportunity to try some new ideas I say
My sentiments exactly. there is no reason to play a weakened side ATM and the FA cup is our best chance for a trophy, If wigan can do it then why not us .
Despite the loss last week against City, there was continued improvement in our adjustments to playing wih Bony and in Bony himself. We should keep that momentum going, keep focus and take another step forward. We play them again next week, so why not go into their house and play them as hard as we can as a prep for next week. The only places we can rotate with the current fitness situation is in full back and center back. Would rather not rotate this week. Would like to see Lamah and Pozuello start. Our midfield has to be Canas, JDG and JJ - we have nobody else. Bony or Vazquez up front - Bony has to be given the chance to build upon last week. We are not going to give Zabret his first team debut at Old Trafford .... would we? Actually the only surprise we might see is Edwards playing on return from St. Johnstone, may not start but could be on the bench.
consistency is our problem and laudrup should keep playing the same team for more games than he has done. Bony needs to play or any confidence he has gained will be lost and that goes for all the players that play one game and not play the next. Playing and doing well breeds confidence and playing the same players (if fit) also breeds confidence, so Our best players must play so we can gain some consistency in the team...
Today could be seen as a sneak peak for the PL game so it would make sense to give the first team a runout, they can learn things for the game follows.
Tremmel, Tiendalli, Amat, Chico Flores, Taylor, Britton (capt), de Guzman, Shelvey, Pozuelo, Routledge, Bony. V strong side. SUBS: Cornell, Davies, Williams, Rangel, Canas, Donnelly, Vazquez.
