Comments on: Portsmouth Preview: Time To Live Dangerously?

By: Gabriel

Gabriel — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:04:36 +0000

OTRed, hargo is just coming off the back of an injury and might not be match-fit, while Ando just came bk from an exhausting schedule of matches in the sweltering heat of China, yet you want to throw them straight into the team in a very important game? Needless to say, they haven’t played with the team in pre-season or rather since May, yet you think they’ll be a better pick than scholes and fletch?

By: OTRed

OTRed — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:38:14 +0000

ANDERSON AND HARGREAVES WILL BE AVAILABLE, i repeat, ANDERSON AND HARGREAVES will be available, so stop leaving them out already…I predict and hope for:

Tevez Rooney

Hargreaves Scholes Fletcher/Possebon Anderson

Evra Vidic Ferdinand Brown

VDS

By: Gabriel

Gabriel — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:11:38 +0000

Formation for Portsmouth game is simple, 4-3-3. We have no fit, available wingers at the moment (and NO, fletcher is not a winger), so we should play a narrow 4-3-3 with Evra and Brown (I know) bombarding up and down the wings for width.

VDS
Brown Rio Vida Evra
Fletch Scholes
Possebon
Tevez Rooney
Campbell

With Fletch, Rio and Vida playing deep, Evra and Brown will be free to maurade up and down the wings. I put Possebon higher up than scholes because Scholes usually likes to drop deep and dictate play, plus he is more experienced and will display more game-concentration that will help in breaking up portsmouth midfield play. As per Rooney and Tev, they can both play free SS roles there and leave Campbell to push the portsmouth defence deep, hence creating space for both of them and Possebon.

Seriously, we are looking very good for tomorrow, I reckon we can put two goals past them, and more importantly, not concede any.

By: Drew Vader

Drew Vader — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:58:56 +0000

I like that formation also, but it would just need wes and evra to bomb on the flanks at every opportunity just to give us some width. Rooney/Carlos/Frazier aren’t wingers, neither is Fletch really, so that could be too jam tight in the middle.

But agree that our chances improve with Possebon in the middle. Lets throw him in and see how he does. (Sorry John!)

By: Kings

Kings — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:56:14 +0000

Yeah give Possebon a run out, he looks a big lad and I reckon he could handle himself in the centre of midfield, coupled with his excellent distribution.

By: denton davey

denton davey — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:15:17 +0000

I like Tom F’s suggested team:

EVDS

BROWN FEDINAND VIDA EVRA

SCHOLES

FLETCHER RODRIGO

ROONEY TEVEZ

CAMPBELL

Keep the first-choice defence. In attack, I want to see Campbell given another chance since he did very well against N’castle and, as Scott wrote, was very unlucky to have his powerful header smash Shay Given in the face. He constantly pressured their defenders and also made a very, very good shot on the turn that Given had to save at full-stretch. In midfield, I agree that Possebon seems like the real deal – just like Michael Carrick, he’s so calm, cool, and collected on the ball; Rodrigo looks like a veteran and it needs to be seen how he can do against top-flight opposition. This is a fixture in which UTD usually have difficulty so I am hoping that the worm turns and that tomorrow the possession-dominance and several chances will be converted into goals.

By: azza

azza — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:06:58 +0000

andy shud b rested up and ready!! and hargo luks like he is fit agen, he shud put rafael on the right wing with wesly at right back, fletcher will get eaten by big popa bouba, so i fear for his health, at least rafa has the pace to get away from him!

By: Deering Tornados

Deering Tornados — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:43:32 +0000

o’shea is terrible no matter where he plays. i’d rather play the game with 10 players than have him in the team.
i admire his attitude, but fact is, he’s shit.

fletcher used to be in the same bracket, but has improved whereas o’shea hasn’t.

can only really play neville if victory is highly likely or assured – brown is the obvious starter.

i agree entirely with Francenal – Tevez is gonna be an incredible boost over what we saw against newcastle – He’ll be our best attacking player this season.

By: united4life

united4life — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:05:52 +0000

Theres news that Hardo and Anderson may make the squad for Pompey…which would be great news.

Van Der Sar

Neville- Ferdinanad- Vidic- Evra

Fletcher- Anderson- Scholes

Tevez- Campbell- Rooney

4-4-3 I know, but liek you said; It’s time to take a risk or two!

By: Viper KGB

Viper KGB — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:17:17 +0000

I dont think Gary is ready yet to be thrown back in. Wes had a great game midweek for England and has been quality lately so why drop him? I agree that Rodrigo should be given his chance, he is a great passer of the ball and is probably the best man to replace Carrick if Hargo is not fit.