Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed that Wayne Rooney will be played in a central role against Wolfsburg tonight, although hopefully, it isn’t as a lone striker. That formation did not work against Besiktas or Arsenal so the manager needs to change things around.
“He’s been playing more central and he’ll play centrally against Wolfsburg. But he’s a funny animal, he says he’s a good centre half. I wouldn’t bet against that,” Ferguson said. “He’s got great desire and he can’t put that down. It’s always there. There are some great footballers out there like Kaka, Ronaldo and Messi. They’re the three best players in the world and Wayne could easily get to that level with the right progress.”
After winning the title for the first time last season, Wolfsburg are currently sixth in their league, five points off leaders Hamburg. Ferguson has bigged up the chances of a German side, like Wolfsburg, winning the Champions League this season.
“Germany’s a great football nation,” he added. “It says a lot for Wolfsburg’s position and progress that they did win the league last year and they did it in a very positive way with the goalscoring form they showed. They beat Bayern Munich 5-1 with only four or five games remaining and they won their final game 4-0 – that’s emphatic. Countries like Germany are always producing clubs capable of winning the Champions League. Yes, the last few years it has been dominated by the English teams in the semi finals and finals but there is always the possibility that someone else can come in to win the Champions League. If you take the final between Porto and Monaco just a few years ago, it’s a case in point.”
Man Utd News 24/7
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=6640570&page=2
he will be a handful, heard they got some good strikers
Rooney to score first
looking at tonights game.this is what i feel and here is my view on the game
Man Utd.
In great form.rooney is on song and giggs,scholes and fletcher are in great form too but i dont think scholes will play.carrick or anderson may play and they are not in the best of form.Ben Foster has not convinced all of us with his performances and needs another clean sheet and a good performance.the defence looked good after having a shocker against city although dzeko and Grafite will give our defence a tough time.
Team
Foster
O Shea Evans Vidic evra
Valencia Fletcher Anderson Giggs
Berbatov Rooney
VFL Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg have got off to an average start but are picking the pace now after defeats to Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. Grafite and dzeko scored 54 goals between them last season and with talented players like misimovic and gentner Wolfsburg are more than capable of pulling an upset.
Team
Lenz
Schafer Madlung reither Barzagli
Gentner Misimovic Josue martins
Grafite Dzeko.
Prediction.It wont be an easy game at all and we will sneak this one
Man Utd 2 Wolfsburg 1
I dreamt that we won 2-0 and Rooney scored both of them
I hope he does not go with this damn 4 5 1, europe formation.
Thank god defensive winger 3 lungs is out with a virus.
hey mates! watch out for the wolfsburg keeper, diego benaglio, he’s amazing! maybe a keeper for utd in a few years..
swissdevil
think benaglio is injured.their skipper josue too is a doubt but may make it.
Sorry lads, off topic but funny
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5594808,00.html
p.s Rooney to score 2 tonight
We need a fully fit and sharp Ferdinand tonight. Otherwise Evans should play alongside Vida. Grafite and Dzeko are sure to cause havoc as they will seize the opportunity tonight`s match represent to prove their worth on the european stage.Never seen them play but judging by the stats they should be feared. They score many goals but also concede many. We can`t afford to pack the midfield with a 4-5-1 just to keep their attacking players under control.
We`ve got to exploit the weakness in their defensive ability with a 4-4-2.
I really don`t understand what Sir Alex means by ‘rooney will play more centrally tonight’…could anyone please shed some light ? Does it mean Rooney just behind Berba or Owen in a 4-5-1?
Foster
Oshea Rio Vida Evra
Valencia Fletch Ando Sir R
Rooney Berba
@KungFuKick
maybe he will stop running all ovger the pitch and dropping deep.Berba will play behind him and try to get those through balls.Wolfsburg are a good attacking side but are poor defensively.i think we will play a 4-4-2 but rooney will try and stay up front rather than move all over the pitch.
Why has O’Shea now first choice right back? I simply do not get it, he is a great lad but and a superb squad player but he isn’t a fullback, I know Wes isn’t a natural one either but the season before last he didn’t put a foot wrong.
@Stephen
The problem is brown is struggling with injury problems and o shea has done pretty well at Right back.Brown ahs to get fit soon and get a continued run of games.plus he hasnt looked assured against Arsenal when he played.my first choice RB is hargreaves but he isnt fit yet so no point talking about him.
@Long John O’Shea
Just read that quote on the Early Doors blog, what an absolute pisser! I cracked up laughing! I think the atmosphere within our squad must be sometihng quite special for the gaf to joke around with his players like that.
Looking forward to the game tonight – don’t really know much about ze germans, but by all accounts they play nice flowing attacking football and wont come to OT to get 11 men behind the ball at all times – the neutral and of course United fans are in for a treat.
Playing Hargo a right back would be somewhat of a waste mate, I like O’Shea but he simply isn’t a natural fullback and considering we have the twins, De Laet, Wes and even G Red it seems a choice out of loyalty from Fergie rather than for ability at playing that position.
jake clarke given 3 year ban and a fine
Dear God…Fergie please don’t play a 451 with Rooney upfront by himself. He needs to have another striker with him to be completely effective. Wolfsburg will play a 433 and have a good forward line. We can ‘t afford to sit back and win the battle in midfield…not at home. Lets give them a 442 and strike early and put them on the back foot.
Come on Fergie! 442 with Rooney and Berba upfront!
3 year ban and a fine, Bellamy gets a warning for slapping him in the face the same for G Red for celebrating a goal, fuck me what is this world coming to.
stephen
the problem is with rafael out we dont have a proper RB.o shea is versatile and brown is a CB who played at right back.Hargo was brilliant against Barca and is a class act.he can play anywhere on the field because fletcher can do the work in midfield.anyways the way o shea is playing i too dont think we need hargo at RB. o shea needs a bit of extra protection but is doing a good job.so i guess we have to stick with him.
AIG, good points pal but I can’t see SAF playing Hargo at right back, O’Shea has “done a job” at fullback but for me isn’t a natural, but love the lad.
Alex is god.
Why waste hargreaves at RB when we have the da silva twins?
Both of them have showed enough capability to fill that slot in ANY game needed, and if you are unsure on either of them, considering thier attacking capabilities and the problems we seem to be having on the wing, maybe old “3 Lungs” defensive winger seems a better option in front of them?
Personally, my first choice RB is one of the two/either of the 2 twins.
I think for all the games (If any) it would cause us to loose or draw, and i doubt it would happen more than once. It would be invaluable to the team to have these lads experienced at such a young age.
I would have no qualms about a formation of:
Rooney, Macheada/Owen/Berb
Nani/GIggles, Fletch/Hargreaves, Ando/Carrick, Park/Valencia
Silva/Evra, Evans/Rio, Vidic, Silva
Im not saying i would play all the youngsters, because its a risk they dont gel in such an important game, but i think if any player in that line up was in our regular team, with regular experience playing together with the others then they would be more than capable.
U dont raise WORLD class young tallent by keeping them on the bench. Evans is prime example of that. From no-one (Except to us Utd fans) to Barcelona bidding material in 1 season, because he was trusted and played.
stephen
to be fair i would ideally love to see the same back 4 as we normally play throughout the season.in case it is a big game and extra protection is needed SAF can play hargo at RM to help o shea and fletch can play in CDM position.my only worry is when it comes to big games SAF goes with 4-5-1 and it hasnt worked out so far.so we need 2 up front but hargo can do a job on the wing.he was brilliant in the CL final and the league game against the rent boys last year.
@Kev
agree with you but they still need experience.they are just 19 and i think they should be ready in another 2 years.we need to give them time.cant put them straight in a big game.Hargo,o shea and Brown have loads of experience but i am sure the Da Silva twins will rule the wing back position in the future.their talent is exceptional but they need to work out on their defensive game.but then again they are only 19 so they will learn
aig-Thanks.
I can see Rooney getting a couple of goals then!
As for the RB position, I believe that the presence of Rafael is much desired although JOS has been doing very well. Rafael will also reduce the burden on Valencia just like Evra does with Giggs/Nani on the other side of the pitch. In return this could help Valencia to develop into THE player he can become.
@ALex
I disagree,
Rule no1. Age is not a factor in determining ability!
If they are ready then they are ready, and personally I think they are ready.
Rafeal showed last season JUST how difficult he was to get past. The way he gets himself between player and ball is nothing short of phenominal, ive never seen another player do it better.
He might not have 100% possitioning, but he is more difficult to get past and get a cross in that any of our other options. Its not an overall game i agree and yes he is a little niave when it comes to marking, but I think given the clear strength he has in other areas we can afford to blood him in these types of games.
@KEV
ok mate.lets hope you are right.obviously i want the da silva twins to do very well but i dont want them to be burdened too much just now.experience does count in big games and they have to gain it.but you are right such games will be a step forward for them.then we can use them for the knockout stages.
@KungFuKick
Hope so.nani and valencia can learn a lot from giggs.Rooney will get chances if he stays up front rather than roaming all over the pitch.
Watch out for Dzeko tonight folks, hes a classy player with everything in his locker. A deal could be already done to bring him to Milan next summer but I wouldnt mind us sneaking in there and singing him.
I reckon 3-2 to us tonight. Come on you reds!!!
I think that SAF should buy Dzeko. For me he is better player than Berbatov, younger and stronger…
@ Alex.
Wow, ive never had that happen before?!?!?
You simply said “I hope you are right”.
Normally all you get is over opinionated wanna be fans who dont trust the players or the manager. And the fact that Neville is past his best and Brown is injured for life, Oshea is overrated, must mean we have to sign every right back in the world to stop anyone else from having them. lol
Im obviously not the manager (SAF In Discuise), but I feel if he has trust in these 2 young players then we should aswell.
Obvioulsy though SAF is going to know A LOT MORE about the opposition than me or you, and if he feels a player would be out of thier dept, then he wont play them. I dont think any fear he has with the twins is regarding ability though. I think they are ABLE to hold themselves in any game. However, as you quite rightly said, experience counts for a lot in Europe, but you have to start somewhere.
We dont have an easy group, but then when is it ever easy? Maybe an idea to play 1 of them in this game at home, to weigh up the opposition, before making a descision regarding the group as a whole.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-aLXCOpKtw
4-3 mate
jake clarke
AIG, I agree pal I do wish Fergie would stick to one system rather than keep changing it, in some way making changes for the team he is playing instead of just making them worry about us, 4-4-2 is Manchester United with wide players getting balls onto the box at high tempo, not 4-5-1 with Rooney being deployed as a left winger or a loan striker, but what the fuck do I know!
good convo guys! thats why I love this blog – articulate and well thought out opinions presented as excellent statements!
If SAF plays Rooney up front on his own tonight, the bee in my bonnet is going to go absolutely mental. Like you Kev, I would love to see the Da Silva twins get as much game time as possible… of course, good luck to Raf usurping Patrice, but we need those boys out there!
No matter who and where we play, we should play with two striker.
Let them worry about us. Attack is United’s way.
Muggaz, I hope he doesn’t regardless of who we play at home we should attack, plus for me Rooney isn’t a loan front man as he always wants to drop deep too much.
Playing a more conservative game in Europe has brought us success over the past two seasons, but I would love us to turn the tempo up and attack some of these sides, the Premiership is the quickest league in Europe and with the players we have we could destroy some of the foreign sides with our pace as they would not be able to cope with our natural game, but I am sure Fergie knows best but would love to see it happen.
Rafael is injured still I thought? I have no problem with O Shea at right back as he is probably our most match fit defender now. Wes may not be up to speed and we cannot chance that in Europe. Got to be 4-4-2. Regarding the Hargo discussion as much as I rate him at right back he is wasted there. Play him in his midfield enforcer role. Reckon we will see him on right of midfield alot though with Fletch starting in the centre the most of the time with either Paul, Ando or Carrick. Cannot wait for tonight. Off to get coach soon. Can’t believe people are saying buy Dzeko. We ain’t seen fuck all of him yet.
will be hard heard they got some good players there including martins
off topic, manutd.com, fergie saying how its so hard to leave evans out http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=6640550
i said it in another topic, last night i dreamt of SAF telling Rooney to score more than one today to get recognised as among the world’s best, like Ronaldo, Kaka and Messi. Lol…
OShea at RB is better defensively than Rafael. I dun know, but i think the twins are better playing as wingers.. how did they become fullbacks in the first place?
i really like da laet, his been soo good i wouldnt even mind if he was our rb for the rest of the season, his quality at defending and going foward.
cantona7, they are Brazilian mate it’s in their blood, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Maicon ect were/are also more like wingers!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpKGzr3QTw8
emily is singing about Rooney a year now
`
anyway 4 -5 1- formation works wonderfully if giggs is on the wing
nani ,on game, can cut the ball in and run at defenders and bring it into the centre same goes for park
valencia has all the power in the world to mow do most wingers marking him
but the cross in on these 3 is not ala beckham ronaldo or sir ryan giggs
so thats why it get frustrating
and if nani(for one) not been able to just cross in frustrates me
but it also frustrates rooney
but stick wayne up front
let giggs whip the ball into him and 4-5-1 works a treat
ghtt
we just cant do it with that formation.the same thing was tried against arsenal and fell flat.when you are at home why should we play a 4-5-1 in the first place.when a ball is crossed in the box we must have atleast 2 players in there so rooney and berba work perfect.against arsenal we were overrun in midfield so we should go with 4-4-2 so that we get more options.that formation has worked so far this seasona and slowly berba and rooney are getting better
With all due respect people, Dzeko is very different player to Berba, I hope Berba plays every game, he adds some magic to our play that makes us good to watch, I think he is so underrated by some our fans because he doesn’t run about like a headless chicken..
oh A.I.G.
im a 4-4-2 lover but i can see the merits of a 4-5-1 but dont get me wrong 4-4-2 all the way
even i would like to see rafael and fabio starting for united now. they can be stronger only if they start playing.
guys i would like to see macheda or welbeck start for us now. yeah macheda is inexperienced but he should start. its high time where we give these youngsters chance to play.
what about
||||||||foster|||||||||
oshea . rio . vidic . da silva
rooney scholes giggs welbeck
||||berbatov . Owen ||||||
and blitz this team
subs for second half kiko for welbeck to make it a 4-3-3
fletcher for giggs to rest the sir for the weekend
then oshea for brown to give him a run out
its a joke
but it could just help
United fans are always 4-4-2 merchants, I know I am, but I suppose in European or International football it seems somewhat archaic, teams these days like to to pack the midfield and and play a tall quick or tall powerful guy through the middle with two slight quick players drifting off him.
Games seem to be won and lost in the midfield and my concerns with us sticking to a 4-4-2 is that we could get outplayed there like against Barca in Rome, maybe when Hargreaves returns and we play Fletch and a fully fut Hargreaves they will go searching for the ball, but rather them than me becuase it could be a hard shift.
I think its time to give Micky Owen a start. Wolfsburg are as bad defensively, as they are good going forward, and a clinical forward like Owen can get in the early goals to ease the pressure, and can be brought off early if that happens. My formation would be:
Foster
O’Shea-Rio-Vidic-Evra
Nani-Fletcher-Anderson-Giggs
Rooney
Owen
Rooney in a free role behind Owen, would push their midfielders into their own half trying to keep tabs on him. Fletch and Anderson in midfield for ball retention. Giggsy on the left doing his magic, and I would prefer Nani over Valencia on the right, and I have a feeling Nani on the right may work better than Nani on the left.
Also, if it appears that the Wolfsburg threat is coming in more from the wings than centrally, we can always bring Giggs in to the centre along with Ando, pushing Nani to the left and Fletcher to the right.
@ GHTT
Hey Mate, there is a direct link to one of you and Emily’s videos on the clubs official website. http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={6DDFCB6E-3471-4E45-9385-F04D05F4A70D}&newsid=6637707
Thats so cool – ’14:56 United fans. They start ‘em young these days… (BH)’
Tony my mate, Berba is not a bad player, but Dzeko is better potencial, and will be better player on the end…
I hate 4-5-1 formation becuase i think everybody run, run, run and run, get tyred and do nothing. But in Europe you cant play same as in England, so if that is the reason why SAF plays 4-5-1 then ok.
Against Barcelona we didint have our day…and that is where i expect that manager get the ENERGY that we turn the game, that the “other” team get on the second half and get things better…but obviously we couldnt.
Barcelona is good, but i dont think we can t win them.
That game we neeeeeeded Ronaldo much then any time, and he do nothing…i hate that…
I hate with Berba, that he dont run like everybody. He think that it is wasted of time to run if he knows that he aint gonna get it… That is why i like Rooney and Giggs, these guys are f… machines…they don t care, just run and die trying
This article just amazingly describes the wonder that is Rooney:
http://www.runofplay.com/2009/09/28/for-an-anniversary/
Aaah nostalgia.
@fUnKy AlLiGuNkY mate can you describe how did you get to that page from the homepage? because the link you gave stuck at the landing page..
@ cantona7
sorry mate, I went to the ”Today at Old Trafford” feature.
Love the way you guys are finding it difficult to pick our first eleven. It shows the excellent depth of our squad, and also why Sir Alex is Sir. Missed rooney long range shots. United 4:1 w’burg
oh fUnKy AlLiGuNkY thanks mate, that link actually works. you just have to copy two lines, not just until pageid=
GHTT, that’s marvellous for you.
off topic : the FSW is over obsessed with SteveMe and Tranny performing in each and every match. seen him from the start of the season making such comments about the pair and has again said the same after yesterday’s loss.
it’s just ridiculous for a manager to single out 2 of your best players after every draw or loss. but who cares, lol
I wish i could the game so sad that i wont.But thanks to on KENYAN REDVILL i will be in touch with you all THANK YOU VERY MUCH MATE!!
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={6DDFCB6E-3471-4E45-9385-F04D05F4A70D}&newsid=6637707
fUnKy AlLiGuNkY
OH
MY
FUCKIN
BUSBY
`
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT LINK
I CANNOT BELIEVE IT
`
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE ON R.O.M. AGAIN
MY FUCKIN JASUS
I keep reading all of this about start the twins for the rest of the season, play de laet at rb. Are you guys serious? I am as down for a good discussion as the next guy but have you seen what Patrice has done this year? I mean damn! IMHO he is by far the best rb in the game now hands down. He seems faster, smarter and moore at home than last year. Who is playing better? Now not in the future. I love the twins potential (there current talents are nothing to sneeze at) and Richie seems to have a shitload of game but please don’t get into a grass is greener thing with Evra, enjoy him playing like this while it lasts.
@GHTT : Emily’s link on the United site. congrats mate
Sorry for that mistypings am still getting used to commenting with phone.
@ ghtt i told ya EMILLY IS A LEGEND !!!
Thank you everyone who has ever done anything tohelp emilys videos
nice one scott
Rooney Berbatov
Rip them to shreds. ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK.
guys can anybody provide a link for todays match?
where everyone is
p.i.g.
oshea vidic rio evra
valencia andrson carrick giggs
owen rooney
my daughter on manutd.com
Congrats GHTT! I can’t find the link though…
Team:
Foster-O’Shea,Rio,Vida,Evra-Valencia,Ando,Carrick,Giggs-Rooney,Owen
Sorry, Ben is on the beinch along with Berba,Fletch,Nani,Brown and Fabio.
dont click this link just copy and paste everything after this
`
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={6DDFCB6E-3471-4E45-9385-F04D05F4A70D}&newsid=6637707
Just saw it GHTT. Congrats! The most famous young United fan!
I forgot that Scholes is also on the bench.
guys any links please?
@Dakota : go and watch on Ten Sports mate but mute it if you don’t wanna listen to Carlton Palmer
@wazza
the bastard cable guy has taken off the channel and put some other thing..
those cable guys are twats. they always do it. better take a set top box.
should be about 4 nill..rooneys goal should of counted seeing as berbagod was clearly onside, maybe should of had a pen and carrick & valenica should of buryed there chances…berbatov = quality
@Dakota
try this link – http://atdhe.net/9518/watch-manchester-united-vs-wolfsburg