Berbatov is out but Richardson should be okay. Of the new boys, Frimpong is the most likely to start although I fancy we'll also see Emanuelson - the question is whether to risk him from the outset or bring him on later? I was going to say 'later, when the opposition tire' but that doesn't hold with United so I'd give him the first hour. The starting line-up I'd go for is : ..................Schwarzer........ ..Riether..Hughes..Hangeland..Richardson.. .............Frimpong...Sidwell... ...Dejagah.....Ruiz.....Emanuelson.. .................Hugo......
Swap Richardson for Riise and Dejagah for Duff. Jol won't want to deviate from a winning team that much.
I would say Richardson if fit, Duff for Emanuelson and Kara for Frimpong. I'd be surprised if we rushed Emanuelson into the line up and I wouldn't give Frimpong a debut from the start against United. I would expect to see Emanuelson, Petric and Frimpong from the bench.
.................Schwarzer........ ..Riether..Hughes..Hangeland..Richardson.. ...........Frimpong...Sidwell... ...Ruiz........Kara.........Duff.. .................Hugo...... That would be my suggestion. Solid midfield with Sidwell and Frimpong while Ruiz, Kara and Duff do the link up front.
Sidwell (hamstring) as well a Berbatov OUT. I can see Bandit's point, but I'll stick with my starting XI with Kara instead of Sidders.
I'm not sure Jol will want to play Duff twice in a week, so I'll go with what C58 said. Perhaps with Kaca instead of Urby.
A fairly subdued Jol covers the transfers and his thoughts about tomorrow's game in his internal video. Manolev and Enoh haven't got work permits yet but Urby may (or may not) start. A wee bit surprisingly no mention of Dench. [video=youtube;GJ4sMQ1T4Tk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GJ4sMQ1T4Tk[/video]
.................Schwarzer........ ..Riether..Hughes..Hangeland..Riise...... ...Davies.......Frimpong...........Duff.... ...............Emanuelson............ ...........Ruiz..........Petric.......... Reason I'd have Davies and Duff covering the full backs run is they are better defenders than Dejagah and Kacaniklic. Give Frimpong a chance to show his energy and tackling, and then bring Baird or Karagounis on when he tires. Like to see Emanuelson play from the start, unknown factor, and may suprise ManU.
You'd start Davies? You're a braver man than me Super Bri, I'd give him 10-15 minutes at the end at best, the bloke hasn't had a run of games in years. I love him as much as the next guy but I can't see him making an impact this side of March, say. Although of course I'd love to be proven wrong!
That would be my feelings exactly. Would love to see him but don't think he can start yet. Think will be Kara instead of Davies.
Also, I think you'd have to have a heart of stone to drop Hugo, he had his best game midweek, and you never know, he might gash Rooney up again! Disclaimer: I don't condone the injury of any player, manager, backroom staff, ballboy, referee, steward or anyone else in the world that ever existed.
I can't see Davies starting a game yet. Like Kara, he will need time to gain match fitness having not played a game in a while.
Blimey that's one from the off side SuperBri. Would be great to see Digger but in the same way Bidley argues for Hugo, I'd argue for Dejagah. As I said in the 'West Ham' thread he's still a tad raw but he is improving with each game, especially defensively. Most of me hopes you're right though.
I just haven't seen any defensive qualities from either Dejagah or Kacaniklic, which I think makes us weaker, when we need to defend better against United. Davies has played right back and would let Riether get forward with cover. Baird could play there instead of Davies but at Old Trafford he was given the run-around. One thing I think we need to do is get free-kicks in and around their box, at Old Trafford we got none. So it depends on who the Ref is today, the crowd need to put pressure on him to give those kicks. Against a team like United it goes without saying we have to take the few chances we get.
Mr Friend !! He ref'd our League match at Old Trafford (lost 3-2 and you know who's last game). He does like his yellow cards.
Starting XI: Schwarzer; Riether, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise; Dejagah, Baird, Karagounis, Duff; Ruiz, Rodallega. Subs: Etheridge, Petric, Frimpong, Emanuelson, Davies, Kacaniklic, Hughes. No new guys in the starting lineup, Senderos keeps his place.
well done guys good game, if it wasnt for our keeper and RVP off the line we could have got spanked today but that was probably our best defensive performance off the season. all the best for the last 13 games
Thanks Dave. Great performance. Shaky for a few moments but dominated second half. We could have won it but can't afford to give Rooney this space. The positive of the last two games is that we finally are finding a way to play. Ruiz and Berbatov are too much in the same team. Slowing the game down. In any case we have nothing to be scared of if we play as we played today. Come on you Whites.
A couple of thoughts: - Berbatov and Ruiz try to play the same role. We have to bite the bullet and drop one of them. - I think the Riise fallout was vastly exaggerated; JAR is still our first choice LB. - Urby looked very good, distributing the ball well. I think he could prove to be a very astute signing. - Hugo tries hard, but got manhandled by Evans today (not sure how no fouls were called against Evans, but whatever). We have to play the ball effectively on the floor for Hugo to be a target man for us. - What is it about me and German Fulham right backs? Riether has been my favourite player all year; he handled Nani very well today. - If we play like that against other teams, we are going to pick up some very good results. But does our system cry out for one centre forward such as Darren Bent?
