i also miss Owen Hargreaves..

The one i miss the most is the best centreback in the world, Rio Ferdinand.

I’ve been observing for quite sometime, our fans want SAF to buy some players.. Some of our fans are busy discussing the names.. For me, what our team has now is enough. Our team right now is the most beautiful team in the world, we have the perfect balance. The evergreen veterans, world class players, and immensely talented young players. From all over the world, with British players as the core. If Fergie buys some more, it’s a plus for me. Gary Neville, Wes Brown and Rafael Da Silva is enough for me, but if we get Maicon, i would gladly accept it.

What I find interesting in the comments in this thread is the assumption that SAF is going to stay wedded to a 4-4-2. I’m not convinced by that assumption – mainly because neither Rooney nor Berbatov has been comfortable (or convincing) playing in that system. Both of them would do best in a 4-3-3 or even a 4-5-1 with a fast predator up-front. Obviously, Little Mikey’s health/conditioning isn’t up that challenge but David Villa – or someone who is “fast as a wet fart” – would be astonishing in that role.

The 4-4-2′s wingers – Nani and Valencia – have yet to prove that keeping the two of them on the pitch at the same time is worth the “cost” of having just two central midfielders, only one of whom has specific defensive role.

It will be more-than-a-little-interesting to see how SAF sets up his stall on Sunday, against the RentBoyz. My guess is that he will play Carrick in the “Hargreaves role”, as a deep-lying midfield anchor, with Giggs/Anderson and Fletcherinho on either side of him. Up-front, I think he will play a “three” of Rooney and Berbatov with Valencia/Nani on the right (to keep Ca$hley Hole in check) while Evra will be given the job of providing width on the left, pinning back the RentBoyz’ right back.

The game on Sunday at Stamford Bridge is now “the biggest match of the year” – to date. It’s a match that the RentBoyz NEED to win; on the other hand, UTD only NEED to not lose. A draw in London would be an excellent, early-season result – a victory would be a spectacular bonus.