Tricky to pick the line up for today. Clearly we dont want to go full strength, but we dont want to draw either. The Swiss champions dont look like hard opposition. They did compete in the champions league last year and took two wins. One at home to CFR Cluj (no idea) and a more impressive away win at Roma. Clearly not united quality but can assume victory if we put out a poor side Injuries Javier Hernandez Wayne Rooney Chris Smalling Johhny Evans Nemanja Vidic Rafael da Silva Tom Cleverly Two clear issues there in defence and in Attack. I think at home and with Rio and Jones around we should be OK at the back, but who will score goals is an issue. Berbatov and Owen were poor at stoke, but they are part of a small list of options with Only Them, Welbeck and Macheda. Who would you pick? Id go for Owen and Welbeck, but it seems fergie has opted for 4-5-1 at home. :/
I'd mix it up a bit and go with Mecheda and welbeck from the start with Owen coming of the bench. Berba shouldn't even get a shirt this week after his Stoke performance.
The line up is out. 01 De Gea 03 Evra 04 Jones 05 Ferdinand 20 Fabio 08 Anderson 11 Giggs 16 Carrick 18 Young 25 Valencia 19 Welbeck Substitutes 34 Lindegaard, 13 Park Ji-Sung, 17 Nani, 24 Fletcher, 07 Owen, 09 Berbatov, 32 Diouf
Could be 433 with Young and Valencia on the wings, or possibly 442 with Young supporting Welbeck in attack. After all, Young can also play as an SS, and given how well Rooney and Welbeck linked up Young and Welbeck should do a job. And Berb, Nani, Owen and Diouf are all there to come off the bench if needed. Be interesting to see what shape we end up playing. Hope we don't lose any defenders tho - not a single defender on the bench!
Goals and chances should be easier to come especially if we play 4-4-2. This isn't Stoke away, and no offence to Basel, I don't think they will be nearly as compact and competant in defence.
great finish by welbeck no rooney, no hernandez..berba still doesnt start. i hope he takes this as a polite warning and ****s off.
not in any important games he doesnt imo. he's flattered to deceive in nearly all big games he's played for us. play him in the cup games, but he just doesnt suit us
As long as he's happy to be a squad player that's fine with me. Sooner him that Chamakh, Carroll or Kalou
Amazing - Rooney and Hernandez out injured, Owen and Berbatov should slot in but are left on the bench in favour of Welbeck and look who scores... Ferguson - master tactician.
