Gary Neville’s injury got fairly tedious for the fans last season. He was forever on the verge of a comeback, yet at the last minute, there’d always be another set back. He’d get an odd game for the Reserves here and there, then pick up another injury.
Neville finally returned to the first team in our quarter final victory against Roma, as we booked our place in the semi-final. With 10 minutes to go he came on for Anderson, and despite taking a while to even get a touch of the ball, he was cheered every time it was in his position from that moment until the final whistle.
However, with just five league games to go, including matches against Arsenal and Chelsea, there just wasn’t the time to fully reintegrate him back in to the team. Wes Brown had enjoyed the best season of his United career so far, so there was no way he’d be dropped at such a crucial time in the season to allow Neville’s return to fitness to be completed.
Not much has been made of the fact United had the strength to win both the Premiership and Champions League without their captain, but it certainly was an impressive feat, and says a lot about the leadership we have from our other players on the pitch.
Having proved that we’re good enough in both the league and Europe without him, there have been serious questions over whether he will win his first team place back. With Chelsea at the weekend, it seems as though further questions will be asked of his position at United.
“I have a decision to make on Sunday,” Ferguson admitted yesterday. “I need to work out whether I go with Evans’ ability but lack of experience or whether I opt for Wes Brown’s experience and Gary (Neville) at full-back. Gary was only playing his second competitive match last night but he did very well. That will bring him on if I decide to play him on Sunday but Evans was excellent as well.”
Evans came closest to scoring for United on Wednesday night, seeing his diving header come back off the woodwork in the 82nd minute, and also put in a competent performance in the centre of midfield. Neville looked better than he did against Pompey and Zenit, certainly adding something to our attack, but his crossing fell short of the mark.
Against Chelsea, Neville’s experience would be useful, however, his lack of match time could see us at a disadvantage. In contrast, Evans seems a bright enough prospect and would be eager for the chance to prove himself and get the job done, although his inexperience holds him back.
Assuming Wes is to the play in the centre, would you rather Neville or Evans to start at right back?
How about Hargreaves?
Why would you want to play Evans at right back when he’s a centre half?If you’re looking for the future then it’s the twins that need to be playing!!
Wes Brown at right back and Johnny Evans in centre.
To be fair, either a back line of Neville at right back, with Wes and Rio in the center (or Evens and Rio), or Wes at right back and Evens and Rio in the center would be ok by me, they all seem solid.
And just a thought on the game itself, in case we do happen to lose (I dont think we will, but we could), despite all the crap talk about falling 9 points behind if we lose (with a game in hand) and the season being over, if reverse the two results by beating the Rats and the Rentboys at Old Trafford, we’re back on a level playing pitch. Fair enough, we dropped two shocking points at home to Newcastle, but Chelsea dropped 2 bad points at home to Spurs themselves. The bottom line is that if we do happen to lose on Sunday, our league chase is far from over. We’ll settle back into last seasons form, and we’ll be ok.
18 titles??? Get in there, ya scouse bas*ard!!!!
Hargreaves at right back, Brown in the centre
Owen Hargreaves.
Though, I also reckon he’ll be needed in midfield the way it’s going.
If so, I’d say Evans at CB and Wes at RB.
Owen is a great choice at RB, as others have said we need him in midfield.
I think Wes plays on the right, Johnny in the center.
Gary looked very poor against villareal, maybe its time we stopped being sentimental.
i was ther on weds, nev was pure shite! he cant cross! u wudve thort with 18months out, he cud learn how to cross, take a trip to LA to speak and practise with his bum buddy, but no, same old! why did the crowd sing viva ronaldo for? absolute joke, i and a few around us cheered for anderson but sat down when ‘my dream’ ronaldo came on! fair enuf dont boo him, but sing viva ronaldo, id rather sing a villareal song! was a crap atmosphere altogether aswell, u wudve thort, 1st game back, champions of europe, crowd would be up for it, was like we were playing doncaster in the league cup!! rubbish!
Gary Neville. Evans is a center back.
Wesley at right back; Evans at centre back.
I’d also like to see the Hargreaves/Park/Fletcher midfield given another run-out – they were excellent against Villareal although, to be honest, they lacked guile but I am sure that having Nani, Ronaldo, and maybe Berbatov to supplement Tevez and TheBoyWonder will supply plenty of invention.
The match on Sunday is all about NOT LOSING. A draw would be OK, a loss would be terrible, and, of course, a win would be wonderful. So, I think that the team has to be set up to try to battle the RentBoyz in midfield, which is their strength. It will be a close, hard-fought game. I seem to remember that there were groans from the one-dimensional “strategists” when Phil Neville was brought into midfield for the game at Highbury in which TheLads broke the gooners’ win streak.
Sometimes you have to rearrange the deck chairs.
Keep Wes on the right and put Evans in the middle. Rio can help him out with Drogba, who I’m sure was doing cartwheels when Vidic got his red.
And agree with pretty much everything Denton said. Lets put our “Checking” line of Fletch, Hargo and Park with maybe Nani on the other wing. Then I’d go with Carlos and Wayne up front which leaves lots of attacking options on the bench. Bring on Ronaldo and possibly Berba around the 55th to take the game to the next level.
I remember Evans mentioning a few weeks back that he’s glad of playing along barbatov than against him……so i think he’s not afraid of drogba….he could handle drogba without ferdinand’s help……
drew vader agree pal.
As for guys writing off our nevo…just calm down…remember he’s probably been the most reliable consistent best right backs in world football for over a decade. 1st on team sheet for club and country when fit. And he will get better and for me will reclaim his place. Brown has played well. But no one can tell me if both were at their best..nevs wouldnt walk into the team over brown. Deffo he would be first choice as he has been for a decade..class
I don’t think many of us are writing Gary off, we are just aware that he has only started about 4 games in the last 18months.
I had to laugh when Nev went bursting down the wing, knocking the ball in towards the corner flag with his head only to smash the cross about a mile too high, bless him.
He’s a legend and he’ll be back at some point.
probs Wes at right back and Evans ant centre back.
sorry to say it but nevs (and giggs) looks completely done
Gary at RB, Wes in the centre..or Wes as RB and Evan in the centre…Gary at RB and Evans as CB…or Owen as RB and Wes as CB..maybe Owen as RB and Evans in the centre…plus the combinations including o’shea..they all make sense..atleast to a certain degree..gaffer knows best whatever he decides more concerned about who he plays upfront.. A thought (just a thought) it would be extremely harsh but would want to see united play 4-4-2 with tevez on the bench. 4-3-3 is too narrow and with Ronaldo back it doesn’t even make sense. Berba upfront with Rooney just behind left to what he likes best, alternately he could even be replaced by Tevez but ‘dropping’ Rooney first for whatever reason seems absurd.
@Kidmeister…lol, you’re joking right?? The twins against Chelsea??? They’ll get ripped to shreds, they’re soo attack minded that it leaves holes in their defending. As for Sunday, stick to Evra-Rio-Evans-Brown. Fergie PLEASE leave Hargreaves in the midfield, we’ll need his physical presence against Chelsea, he, Park and Fletcher will provide the hustler midfield we need against Chelsea.