With Nani hitting great form, Antonio Valencia, who had been voted by the fans as our best player in November and December, was pretty much forced out of the starting team. It was apparent Nani played better on the right wing, which understandably better suited his right-footed ability. Valencia, who was last seen touching the ball with his left foot approximately three years ago, also needs a spot down the right wing.
So Nani got the spot on the right, whilst Park played on the left at the Emirates, when a defensive left winger was needed, and Giggsy played down the left against City, where creativity was key.
How quickly things change.
Nani was given a straight red card against Aston Villa and Ryan Giggs broke his arm after Steve Sidwell jumped in to him.
Our Portuguese winger will now miss our away match at Everton, home match against West Ham and the League Cup final. Giggsy is set to miss the same as well as at least one of our matches against Milan.
From being spoilt for choice we now have limited options with important games on the horizon. Will we see more of the 4-3-3 but with a similar line-up to last season, with Rooney on the left, to compensate? I hope not.
Man Utd News 24/7
Park on the left,
Valencia on the right,
Carrick, Fletcher & Scholes in the middle
Rooney up front
It has worked for us for the past few games, let’s not change too much. If need more firepower, Berbatov or Owen on for Scholes or Carrick, whoever is having a poorer game
I’m no medical expert but what’s stopping Giggsy playing with a cast on his arm? Or is that not allowed anymore?
Exactly what i said yesterday. Things can change really fast. Possibly playing fletcher on the right like he did against Spurs may not be a bad idea. Rooney has to stay up front. Milan and everton are big games and Berbatov is anonymous in such games and owen wont be given a start.SAF will go with a 4-5-1 in both the games against Milan and Everton. Another option is play Fabio on the left and Evra on the wing against West Ham,cant do that against Milan and Everton due to his inexperience.
I don’t think this will cost us much as the next three games are quite manageable. Only Everton away can be a bit of a tricky one but with Valencia and Park we should manage it.
@AIG
Against Milan we can play Nani. He is available for CL games.
In Park and Valencia we have two capable wingers for the BPL, so don’t think we need to worry too much.
Milan arent doing well at the moment but i repeat people are underestimating them big time.They are more than capable of knocking us out. It wont be as easy a some fans feel.
@The Real AB
The problem starts after that mate. 3 games in 8 days. Everton, West ham and then carling cup final. given Valencias inability to play on the left, one of valencia or Park will possibly have to start all the 4 games starting from the Milan one.Thats 4 games in 11 days.
Milan are there for the taking using the 4-5-1 formation with Park on the left to cover Becks. The squad is big enough to cope in the league, using Berbatov at home in a 4-4-2 and sticking with a 4-5-1 at Everton. Chelsea are really wobbling now, the 4 in a row is there for the taking.
we still have obertan. he should play on our left with valencia on é right for our BPL games.
@AIG
You are right mate. Most probably one of them will have to play all four games but given that both have had plenty of rest I don’t think that should be a problem and if required we have the option of playing Obertan/Fletcher on the left/right wing respectively.
So a problem but one which we should be able to handle.
@The Real AB
The advantage is that both of them have good fitness levels, so they are more than capable of playing all the 4 games at a good level without tiredness affecting their performance.I have said before i am not too sure about whether Obertan can make it at United.I know its too early to judge him but i am not too sure about him.
SAF has experienced this before though, so he will handle it and ensure that it dosent affect us.
Some of you seem to have forgotten about Obertan, I believe he is fit, thsi leaves us with plenty of options for wingers over the few games.
Milan we will have Ferdinand and Nani available.
for the rest we need to change between Valencia, Park, Obertan, plus additonal options of fletcher(used to play on the wing) and Fabio(played on the wing in his earlier days),
Plus the likes of Gibson and Anderson to help out for the West Ham and Cup Final.
Yes two important games of Milan and Everton but also players to allow recovery time are in and about the squad.
I think this is though a time for Obertan to show what qualities he has after being left in the cold as he can also play on the left and right.
@AIG
Even I don’t Obertan too much, but if required he can do a decent job against WHU.
Thanks for correcting me, “Both have good fitness levels and both have had decent amount of rest”, which means both will be raring to go and the good thing for us is they both will be playing for their places in the starting 11 so that should bring out the best of them.
Excuse my stupidity, but why is Nani out for 3 games after one red card?
straight reds always carry a 3 game ban
two yellows equalling a red is a one match ban
@ real ab, you make good points.
I’d go for park on the left and nani on the right for milan, and in the remaining pl games valencia can cover for nani on the right and park can cover for giggs on the left. Obertan can always be used as a substitute to save legs, or we can bring on a striker and switch rooney to the wing like we did when berba came on at villa. I think we’ve got the cover on the wings but more importantly we have the desire in the team. I think we’ll pull it off.
http://newsarse.com/2010/02/12/real-madrid-to-offer-record-85-million-for-man-utd-striker-own-goal/
lol. still laughing. great article
@Paul Parker
Thank You mate.
Switching Rooney to the wings is an option but we should not do it unless it’s the last resort.
Will we maybe see obertan in the squad again?Hopefully would like to see him get a bit more football
West Ham at home should NOT be a problem. Park is more than capable. Why play Fletch on the right when we have Valencia? The Carling cup IS important but no way near as much as the league. So in theory they will miss Everton away. We can cope.
The West Ham game or maybe even the Carling Cup final might be the ideal time to bring Obertan back to the fold. I hope Giggsy can play with a cast or something like that. What can I say about this season? One stroke of bad luck after another. Pray to God that Park and Valencia don’t get injured next.
aig:
where you from? in india?
@rooneyisgod
yes.I stay in Bombay Why?
anyone know how Tosic is doing out on loan?
I really hope Nani and Valencia start against Milan.I see them capable of starting regularly.
I predict he will play the same team as the Arsenal match when we play Milan, plus Rio for Brown…
No chance will Rooney be on the left. He tends to drift to the left but he won’t be restricted to that position. Away to Everton we could play Valencia on the right and Park on the left. The reason for Park is purely to provide cover for Evra against Landon Donovan. Not that Donovan is a superstar or anything but he has made a big impact at Everton, hence they’re climbing up the table.
4-4-2 against West Ham at home. Valencia and maybe Obertan. Just to give him a game. Rooney and Berbatov. Maybe Owen and Berbatov. Owen hasn’t scored for a while but he has been playing well and has good link up with whoever he plays with.
Milan games. Nani and Valencia could rip the piss out of them bigtime. I’ve seen some Milan games on ESPN and they aren’t even good enough to challenge Serie A. Becks has made a difference to then because he is a great player. It’s Beckhan, not Ronaldinho or Pati, that is the most dangerous. But we shouldn’t concentrate on stopping them. We should attack both games. Nani, Valencia, Rooney, Fletcher, Evra are just going to be too much for them and I really think we can make a statement at the San Siro.
This is the time where fergie gives chance to obertan.i think against milan park and Nani will play(even though i am not a big fan of park but he does well in big games).In pl and final Valencia and obertan can start.oberton should be given chance.Hope for the best in the coming 2 weeks.
In the league we should be fine, we won’t play 4-3-3 apart from maybe Everton, depends if they play 4-5-1 (is what they did against Chelsea?).
Away in Milan will be different though, that game will all be about possession and I think we’ll play a carbon copy of last season in the San Siro when we outplayed Inter, 4-3-3. This will see the same lineup as the Arsenal game with Rio added, maybe Vidic, and Tony V in place of Nani.
If Fergie’s feeling adventurous he may play Berba and switch Rooney left in place of Park. I think we’d be more likely to get a goal this way as Beckham is going to be of little help to a RB trying to handle Rooney. Don’t want us to play too negative as that will only encourage them.
Sorry totally forgot about Nani, he’ll be available against Milan, so he’ll likely go with him and not Tony V
“Tony V” I like that. Sounds like some old 50s crooner.
its a good chance for anderson to get back in the team, but obertan could get a run vs west ham and park playing vs milan and everton would not be such a big drop off in talent.
I think valencia and park on the wings is a good combonation add the fact you look at the type of games we have coming up valencia and park are made for these games so not so bad until nani returns
At least we still have Obertan. And now, in the time we need the “All New Ryan Giggs” he’s gone on loan to Koln. Talk about frustration!!!
Tony V is a hell of a nick name. I like that, sounds like the sidekick for Stallone Cobra!
How does that old expression go…
“Too many good wingers spoil the broth.”
Hi,
I may have missed something but why is Obertan being left out so much?
Is it due to the game we lost 3 nothing to Fulham? Or what happened?
You guys have to “think outside the box”.
I’ve seen no one mention the left-footed Anderson in any of the posts.
No one has suggested that Fabio/Rafael can be played on the wing with Wesley Brown being right back because Rio can play against Milan.
And if Vidic can play again (?) then the back four could be Evans, Rio, Vidic, Wesley Brown/Red Nev so that Patrice Evra could play on the left side
For the last five/six/seven years, SAF has played a squad game with a core of starters and a bunch of interchangeable parts. A while back he bragged that no one can guess his starting line-up AND THAT”S A FACT. (Indeed, I would suggest a new ROM “game” for Scott – some sort of “guess the line-up” for all EPL matches.)
There are usually about four/five changes for every match and I don’t think that the injury to Giggs and the Nani-suspension will do much to change that. The OldFootieKnight will just arrange (and rearrange) his assets but that competition for places isn’t a bad thing – is it ?
denton – Hi mate. I HAD been thinking Anderson but his recent dropping from the squad may be a problem. Would like to see the kid back in the fold.
As for Obertan I was one of those hyping him up …………………………………………………………………………………….However, having seen him in the games he featured he looked absolutely piss weak. Can not tackle for toffee. Hell even his shots are piss weak. Hope I am wrong and in time he does a Nani. Everton away is not made for him though.
Wow. Now all the fans are supporting Park whereas in the past, all seems to think he is not up to standard. lol
A week ago, i was feeling excited and confident about the challenges ahead but now it is a big blow with both Nani and Giggs out. Nani i think will be on form as he has clear up the red card with fergie but i do fear for Giggs as his injury will keep him out of training and it might take some more trainings to keep him fit. This might take some times and i hope both of them come back to boast us in the bid for the titles.
On the subject of the Milan away game,I think that Milan are a Jekyl & Hide side at the moment – Leonardo has them playing 4-3-3 to accomodate Ronaldinho but the older Milan players don’t look happy with it. He insists on using Boriello as his main striker but the guy looks vastly inexperienced at the top level to me – United should handle him easily.
David Beckham has been taking the brunt of criticism for Milan’s defeat at Inter which is nonsense since he and Seedorf are the only Milan players who played well that night – He’s trying to fit into that 4-3-3 but it just doesn’t suit him – the problem is compounded by the right back behind him who is trying to overlap but is making a pig’s ear of it!
They look very beatable to me and United ought to do well in this fixture – even without Giggs. The only player who worries me is Inzaghi – injuries notwithstanding he is a real fox and could score against anyone, anytime!
Put Evra upto LM and slot Fabio in behind him. Evra has enough pace to cover if necessary and has a decent cross to boot. It would be terror on the wings.
@eddieTheRed
agree with you on Milan’s assesment but their defence is pretty good with Nesta back tonight against Udinese and Thiago Silva is a good centre back. Ambrosini is doing well in midfield and you can be sure Gatusso will be up for it. Him vs fletch will be an intresting battle but he dosent have the legs anymore so i expect fletch to come on top there.
Borriello is better than Huntelaar and pato is injured and unlikely to play which is a major advantage for us.Ronaldoinho vs rafael will be an intresting one but. On a stage like this experience does count and rafael dosent have that.
haha Scott, I love the snipe at Valencia’s one footedness. It drives me crazy every game. He always misses shooting and passing opportunities because he can’t use his left. How the hell can that be? I’ve pondered this on many a posts but to this day he has yet to improve. I don’t think he ever will. His head won’t let him do it at this point.
I think we may play a single striker against Milan. They have an incredibly strong midfield(Like we Do) I think Seedorff can really boss things around and if Ronaldinho is in the mood to play he can really work it. Rooney does well on his own. With the form he’s in he essentially is two players up front.
I do think our pace will be a problem for Milan. That is why i’d like to see Nani and Park. Nani’s been great lately as everyone has mentioned. Park would provide the engine needed to get under the skin of AC’s players who don’t have the pace. Carrick Scholes Fletcher in mid. Carrick is great right now. Fletcher is consisttent and Scholes is Scholes. Valencia can come on as a sub maybe but I think his lack of creativity(as a result of not having a left foot) is sometimes detrimental to the flow of our attack.
Also, Obertan. I was never impressed with him(as mentioned on other posts) He clearly is a temporary replacement for missing wingers. He may have an opportunity to play in the next couple games..but as mentioned by King Eric he is way too weak right now to play. He’ll get muscled off the ball against bigger opponents. I think Park is in the mood to play good football right now. I’d definitely like to see him get a few games in
Not first hand opinion but, from people watching the reserves, Obertan has been a mixed bag at best. Can have bit of magic but, lots of poor decision making and still lacking defensive discipline. Park may not have his bag of tricks but, right now we need solid performance and that’s exactly what we’ll get with him. Intelligent, experience play.
Another person that people tend to forget is Anderson – he is able to be deployed in a left wing role (Denton mentioned the option) . Again over Obertan – he is more experienced and does have defensive discipline.
Rooney is also an option with Berbatov and Owen/Diouf as a strike pair on the left. Thought have to think Park is more than capable of not having to resort to Rooney on the left.
We did seem to have a plethora of options earlier – especially when Obertan was being touted as the next coming and Tosic never getting a chance. Still, we’ve got plenty of cover for either wing right now even w/ Giggs/Nani out.
@ AIG
I agree with you that Milan certainly has experienced players all over the park but what little I’ve seen of them this season suggests a team in transition – I wonder if Leonardo might change the formation against United?
Milan look like a dyed-in-the-wool 4-4-2 team trying to play a 4-3-3 formation and they don’t look at all happy with it. As good as the individual Milan players are, I wonder if this alien formation may leave them a little vulnerable to a team of United’s class?
I genuinely sense an opportunity to do something special here and knock them out before they have a chance to regroup for the 2nd leg!
Kel @ 17:31: “i do fear for Giggs as his injury will keep him out of training and it might take some more trainings to keep him fit.”
I doubt that – just lots of time on the exercise bike to keep up his cardio-vascular fitness. He won’t “lose it” by being on the sidelines and, indeed, the rest might make him more hungry and rested, too.
@eddieTheRed
Just watching Milan in action. SAF is at the San Siro too.
I think they will play a 4-5-1 with pato up front. He was on the bench today but due to mancini’s injury has come on after just 12 minutes. Nesta is back too and starting tonight. We are favourites, no doubt but i feel Milan have more out and out world class players in their starting 11 as far as the offensive front goes.Will be a cracking game though.
RedDevilledEgg @ 19:09: “They have an incredibly strong midfield(Like we Do) I think Seedorff can really boss things around and if Ronaldinho is in the mood to play he can really work it.”
That was true three/four/five years ago BUT now Pirlo, Seedorf, Gattuso, Ambrosini, and even Ronaldinho are on the down-side of their illustrious careers.
IF – as I suspect – SAF goes to the SanSIro looking for a draw then he’ll no doubt pick from Fletcherinho, Park, Valencia and Nani – maybe even Anderson, too – to pressure these guys which would give Scholes and Carrick plenty of time to show us their stuff. I don’t see SAF going with a 4-4-2 so I would imagine that WayneRooney will be alone in front and Dimmy will be on the bench – as he so often is in big games.
However, I wouldn’t be altogether surprised to see him deploy a front 3 of WayneRooney on the left, Nani on the right with Berbatov given the responsibility of playing further forward, both centrally AND forward – for a change. For those who care about such things, the formation would then be 4-2-1-2-1 with Fletcherinho as the defensive “1″ and Dimmy as the attacking “1″.
What we’ve seen for the past couple/three years is that SAF likes to “tinker” and to set up his resources in a way that maximizes their talents in a given situation. In reality, when everyone is fit and match-ready, he’s only really committed to VDS, Evra, RIo, VIdic, Fletcherinho and Rooney. For the others, it’s mix-and-match. That’s why some sort of season-long ROM contest – “What’s the starting line-up ?” – would be great fun for those of us with too much time on our hands.
@ AIG
Can’t wait to see it – United to prevail over 2 legs!
@eddieTheRed
Me too. Milan 2-0 up against Udinese after 40 mins. Huntelaar and Pato with the goals.
Think the 2nd leg being at Old Trafford could be a decisive factor in our favour if we can get the right result at the San Siro
@ AIG
I’m watchin’ it – they’re trying to make a liar out of me! Still, I think Udinese are playing at about the same level as Portsmouth. The thing about players like Pato and even Huntelarr is that they’re great one game, rubbish the next – at least I hope they are!
@ AIG
Re: Udinese goal – the defending player Gattuso didn’t pick up the attacker and gave him a free header – a pointer for tuesday perhaps?
@eddieTheRed
Huntelaar has been crap since coming.Has missed some sitetrs but pato is the next star in world football. World class player and just 20. he will be the danger man,capable of making some clever runs that can cause our defence problems.
Saw the goal. Poor marking. Udinese are a decent side though. Heard Sanchez is linked again with United. decent player but dont think we need another winger.
@ AIG,
It’ll be interesting to see if Milan try to push on and get another or will they try to kill the game dead with a view to keeping their energy in reserve for Tuesday? It would suit United if Udinese step it up and give them a real game – I’d rather we face a tired Milan on Tuesday than a fresh Milan!
@ AIG
I fancy Valencia on the right for Tuesday with Nani on the left – pace being the key to opening them up. I think SAF will start with Nani on the right and Park on the left – with the emphasis on Park’s workrate.
@eddieTheRed
Think Milan will get try and get another one and make the points safe. They are 9 points behind Inter with todays game in hand so they still have a little chance in the league.Udinese are a decent side as i said and have given top teams a run for their money so they will go for it and test Milan
Also with Dida as your keeper the opposition always has hope and 1 goal margin is never enough
@eddieTheRed
Nani and Park will start.SAF should continue with the same change he has made that has worked for us in a 4-5-1. Scholes is playing in a more advanced role and Carrick is playing in the deep role scholes used to before the new year with Fletch playing more as a box to box midfielder.
Milan giving the ball away too many times. They will be punished if they do that against us.
Whatever about Milan’s attack, the defense is not so great – udinese have had lots of good chances – Can Udinese rescue it for a draw?
@eddieTheRed
So Milan hold on. Unconvincing though.Definitely a shaky defence and we are more than capable of punishing them. Anyways good talking to you and Good Night
@ AIG
So long – good chat!
Park will win it for us. The little fella has heart and an engine that puts Tevez to shame.
Make no mistake this battle will be won on the wings. Whoever dominates the flanks will get the win.
Not being cocky or arrogant but I really am expecting a hammering of Milan over 2 legs. We will be too quick for them if we play our usual fast paced game. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if the tie is dead after the San Siro. You can talk teams like Udinese up but in reality they are pretty poor. Although Leonardo has experienced European competition as a player he is a novice in terms of setting up a team for a two legged affair with a team of United’s quality. Not being disrespectful to Milan or underestimating them but United will be too strong for the. The likes of Pirlo and Gattuso will not live with the energy of Fletch .
aig alex is god – well beckham was never right footed and he did not do to bad, yes valencia should work on his ;eft but he is by trade a RW and and he needs time. Add the fact valencia is our best goalscoring winger I only wish he would cut inside more and shoot like the moder winger does.
sorry my mistake beckham was never left footed typed it in wrong my bad
@aig: i’m from india too! knew this guy who blogged a lot abt manutd. just got curious if it could be you
just a thought but how about the new diouf on the wing? he’s pretty quick, got skill.. why not stick him on the left or right and have him cut in. Could work. o_O
@rooneyisgod
thats great. where do you stay?.ROM is the only united blog i visit and comment on. I love interacting with United fans and this is the best site IMO.
united0708, you’re out of your mind. Diouf is not that quick or particularly skillful, nor does he have the tactical or positional know-how to play on the wing. He’s an out-and-out striker, let him do what he is good at.
Fred – Disagree mate. Diouf is incredibly quick.
still got obertan and nani can play in the game against ac milan