Sir Alex Ferguson has today conceded that he will be unable to play his strongest team in our FA Cup semi-final against Everton tomorrow, particularly following the injury of Wayne Rooney.
Whilst of course the FA Cup semi-final is a massive game, with everything still to play for in the league and Champions League semis on the way, Ferguson has to have his priorities.
“When I pick my team on Sunday there will be critics voicing their concern about me not playing my strongest side,” Ferguson said. “We’ve got so many big games coming up, somewhere along the line I’ve got to make changes. There are some fans who’d like me to play my best team every game. That’s impossible.”
What’s he complaining about?
Everton – FA Cup semi
3 days
Portsmouth – League
3 days
Tottenham – League
4 days
Arsenal – Europe
3 days
Boro – League
3 days
Arsenal – Europe
5 days
City – League
3 days
Wigan – League
3 days
Arsenal – League
Which changes do you think Ferguson is likely to make then? I’d fancy Macheda starting up front alongside Tevez, Nani coming in for Park, and Anderson taking Paul Scholes’ midfield role. Defensively though, Ferguson would be mad to start playing around with that!
Man Utd News 24/7
Foster-Nev,Evans,Vida,Evra-Ronaldo,Fletch,Scholes,Nani-Tevez,Berba
Scott, I doubt Macheda will start. There will be few changes. i don’t think giggs will start again, so probably Park come in to LW. Scholes probably coming in for Anderson (i cant see anderson-scholes playing together), so scholes and carrick partnership, and Ronaldo RW. Rooney and Berbatov upfront, or maybe Tevez instead of Berbatov.
Only these minimum changes i think.
tell ya something Macheda starting up front alongside Tevez
and anderson maybe a twin or 2
its not the strongest team
but its a highly strong team
Hussain , isnt roonet injured
Hussain – Like I said, Rooney is out. To start Tevez and Berb would obviously be our strongest attack and I don’t think he’s going to do that.
The key is to keep the defence unchanged (although bringing in Foster wouldn’t be a bad move), allowing minor changes in midfield and attack. Saying that, the gaps we have between games for the rest of the season means that playing the strongest side shouldn’t be a concern.
that’s fair play to Fergie.
let’s practice with possible teams : ) but stop, it’s impossible)
i would love to see macheda, looks classy in the reserves,
foster rafa evans vida fabio ronnie ando carrick park tevez kiko, alot of people would disagree with this team maybe rightly, but in my opinion it would give players a rest before our next game. would be a fantastic opertunity for younger players and i still feel we would turn everton over with this team
this could also be a red hearing to send moyes off the trail, after moyes said riley is a united fan
As strange as it sounds,this might be the easiest game until the league mathematically ours.At the moment every League game is an FA cup final.Could Kiko start?I would still go with Tevez and Berba tomorrow,on Wednesday and next Saturday(unless Rooney is back at 100% by then).
FOSTER
FABIO
EVANS
RIO
RAFAEL
NANI
ANDERSON
FLETCHER
PARK
MACHEDA
TEVEZ
Remember, Everton also won’t have players like Arteta, Jo and maybe Saha. But they will have the foirst choice defence.
jo cup tied and saha injured (i presume)
I think it will be very similar to the final against Spurts… youth and experiance… with big guns on the bench if required.. .
Thats the way SAF is planning this im sure.
Big wide pitch, this is why he will play the Da Silva twins… pace that can get up and down… and will play lads who have lots of energy..
The only concern i have, is the pitch…. its a wank pitch anyway… but after being played on today… its gonna be even worse 2moz..
This is the FA… trying to pay off the debts on a wank stadium
Yup. Saha has a virus
oh won’t have mis-read apologies
costas think he may save berb for pompy, l’arse will probably rest players for dippers game so its must win wed
foster
rafael
rio
vida
evra
fletcher
anderson
ronaldo
nani
macheda
tevez
i’d be over the moon with that!
I would jamie… but i think he will rest the big guns, and put them on the bench… wouldnt suprise me if you have a bench of Vidic, Evra, Giggsy, Scholesy, Berba, Van Der Sar, Wazza ( if fit), CR7, Carrick…
He will have them on the bench as back up..
U might even see the likes of Gibson, or Rodrigo getting some involvement 2moz… like i say, he will treat it similar to the Carling Cup Final.
FailsworthDevil – would love to think rafael would start but think neville will and rafa will come off the bench at around 60 min
also think park will be rested and gibson will start! id prefer possebonto gibson because of his better ball retention
jamiemufc1974- thats not a weakened team jus macheda in stead of berba
Fuck No way i’m going to london now.
Foster – Neville Evans Vidic Rafael – Fletcher Scholes Anderson Park – Tevez Macheda
And the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo and Giggs coming on if necessary.
Macheda is GOD ?????????????????
you call yourself Macheda is GOD
yet when theres a chance of your “god” will start a semi final at wembley
you wanna turn your back on united
these understranight teams win doubles trebles or quintrples
Macheda is GOD ??? get a grip and start getting behind what ever team plays in red if vidic starts in goal and oshea is the lone striker
it makes no difference
We are Manchester United -Dimitar Berbatov April 2009
scot av ya seen the dippers reserve keeper been suspended for laughing thru the hillsborogh memorial service i hate dippers but thats bang out of order
vidic will get ya15 i agree with you 100%
laughing at a memorial service is shockin
If it meant going out against Everton to pick up 3 points against Portsmouth i’d take it right now. Hope we win both of course but the league has to be the priority !!!
tut- times are tough when it comes to money
but now i have to go out and buy a Renault Laguna
Thanks alot Cantona
You couldnt of just been in a snickers add
Foster
Rafael Vidic Evans Fabio
Park Anderson Fletcher Ronaldo
Tevez Macheda
Sir Alex knows that the quintuple is near impossible & the one cup to sacrifice is the FA Cup. But, even with a ‘weak’ team, we might still do it. Imagine 1-1 AET, it goes to a replay(?) and we win it 1-0 at Villa Park.
I don’t see as many changes Adopted Scouser.I think that when Fergie talks about a weakened team,he means leaving out people like Rio,Rooney,Carrick and Ronaldo.That’s his basis whenever he puts together his first XI.I don’t see all of them missing,but i do expect Neville,Fletch,Nani and Evans to get a run out.As far as the twins are concerned,it could be Rafael but i don’t see FAbio starting.Oh and SAF,please don’t partner Evans with Neville.
Bob Koh no replay.It’s penalties after that.Ryan Giggs had the pleasure of being the final player to score in a FA cup semi final replay.
That’s a very worrying fixture pile up if i may say.9 games in 27 days.Hopefully we will win both home matches and LIverpool will draw both of them.That should take the pressure of the MIddlesbrough tie sandwiched between the 2 Arsenal games.One thing is for sure.When this is all over,the players will need a looong rest.Potentially 67 games this season.
@ costas and what a goal, probably the best semi final reply ever…..
ghtt vidic in nets would be like the monk outa mean machine lol
personally, i’d like to see tosic. He did well when he came on against spurs but seen nothin of him since.
vidic will get ya15
thats a wonderful complinent for the monk to get id say
I think this will be our team tomorrow
Tomasz Kuszczak
Fabio Da Silva
Richard Eckersley
James Chester
John O’Shea (c)
Rodrigo Possebon
Darron Gibson
Zoran Tosic
Nani
Federico Macheda
Danny Welbeck
Its a pity we don’t have Dong anymore
Thats the strongest team I could come up with
@ gingerprince
haha ) spot on! ))
Mates, don’t misunderstand what SAF has said. Costas is right.
Don’t call it sacrifice because no one especially Fergie will sacrifice the FA Cup at this stage. He just wants to do things with common sense because we don’t have another option. And the players that will play at Wembley wil give their all no matter if this are first teamers or not quite.
I don’t mind if the team is not our strongest lineup. As long as they deliver the result, it’s the right choice. We are Manchester United!
Personally though, I’d love to see some of the younger players make the team. Would be great to see Tosic, Welbeck, Macheda and co. take part in the game.
is wayne injured lads or not? the rumours are persistent but not confirmed? fuckin metatarsal again! i dont know any other player that has had 3 of them! how unlucky! hope its not true, he seemed to run it off in the end on wednesday? having said that, if you go by what fergie’s said, playing a weakened team would inc not using wayne anyway! but can anyone see him not battering a hole in fergie’s hotel room door to persuade s.a.f to let him play! lol it is against everton fer fucks sake! lol
i honestly dont think he’ll tinker with the defence. evra, rio, vida, will all starti reckon, the only permutation being on the right. gaz might start and rafael with fresh legs with 20 to go maybe. or john oshea.
Not to dump on the lad, but I really hope Evra isn’t on the teamsheet. If Rafael is ready, then this is the perfect opportunity for him to get games, while Evra clearly needs a rest.
Stretford – Tosic on a programme to build him up. Had a good game for the reserves against Everton the other night.
A “weakened” United team is stronger than most first elevens. Think it will be a similar line up to Fulham game in the quarter final.
I can guarantee you Rooney will start tomorrow, if not, I will never write on this blog again!
I wouldnt mind playing John O Shea at left back its a gamble throwing Fabio in and Evra needs a rest…and we could certainly use O Sheas height against the likes of Cahill,Fellaini.
@ Halo
under this nickname at least ))
Kuszczak will never play again for United, my opinion. If anything, Foster would start. I would think our line up could be
Foster
Neville, Evans, Vidic, Evra
Park, Scholes, Anderson, Nani
Tevez, Berbatov
Rooney will play. I have read papers that he is going to be missing and it’s another ‘metartarsel’, but i doubt. He did get a knock, but he ended it fine.
SAF won’t go with Rio or Rooney or Fletcherinho – all of these guys have little niggles/knocks and the FACup is the most “expendable” of all remaining competitions. Giggs will get a breather. So, according to my count, that makes four changes in the ten outfield players.
He will start Berbatov to improve his fitness, and because he really needs to get the guy firing on all cylinders. I’m thinking that Evans will start in place of Rio; Tevez in place of Rooney; Scholes in place of Fletcherinho; and ThreeLungPark in place of Giggs. Perhaps he might Foster the start in place of EdwinVDS with Kuszcak on the bench.
And, I suppose that Nani might get in ahead of Ronaldo if he’s really intent on “protecting” his main-men. But if Nani does play, then he has to start on the right – he’s not good enough with his left leg to work on that side.
I don’t see Macheda, Rafael or Fabio getting on the field.
I want Wesley to return !
Foster
Rafael/Neville Evans Vida Fabio
Nani Fletcherinho Ando Park
Tevez Kiko/Welbeck (remember him???)
No matter what, Sir Alex will always put a team on the pitch that he thinks will win.
Tevez will start with Welbeck.i would rather have Fabio on the wings than Nani