“Wes is fine. He is training hard and should be OK for the weekend,” Mike Phelan said today.
With John O’Shea and Gary Neville both picking up injuries at the weekend, who do you think should start against Tottenham on Saturday?
I would personally like to see Rafael starting. I really like the look of these da Silva boys and I think the more game time they get the better. That’s not to say I don’t value Wes Brown’s contribution, but it would probably be more beneficial to give Rafael more experience and ease Brown back in to the team. The last thing we need is more defensive errors brought about by less than fit players!
Man Utd News 24/7
Rafael. too early for Wes just yet, dont get me wrong, id love to see Wes back playing, but lets make sure he is 100% before we play him, thats the last thing we want. rushing him back and him getting injured only leaving Rafael again.
@mufc1religion: agree with you about brown we should not rush him back. I’d say start with rafael with brown coming in around the 60 min. Mark to just give him game time before he makes his full time return for united.
Rafael Da Silva
rafael should start every home game
Rafael.It’s early for Wes.But he will have to start against Arsenal or Boro because Rafa can’t play so many games in a week.You can’t say that it hasn’t been exciting at right back.A month ago these 2 were out of contention and O’Shea/Neville were fit.Now it’s the other way around.As Fergie said,he will keep anyone else from playing there to avoid the curse!
But O’Shea’s injury damages the left back position more.Hope Fabio is ok.
Manutd forever, ditto, lets get comfortably infront (lets hope 2-0) then give Rafael a rest and bring Wes on, we do need 2 rest Rafael as he is the only FULLY fit right back we have and give Wes some time on the pitch, although i suppose there is always Eckersley (who doesn’t look too bad from what iv seen of the young lad) if god forbid something does go wrong with Wes or Rafael.
Have to go with Rafael – he’s been class in many of the games he has played, which says a lot when taking his age (and nationality) into consideration. Brown had a stunning season last year, but he shouldnt be rushed into any games when we got a player like Rafael to cover the back.
@costas-to what extent has fabio been injured and how long will he be out?
Wes for me, only because its now essential to get him match time to ensure he’s fully fit and available for the CL games. Gamble worth taking.
looks like rio is ok
http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/18382/Fergie_Rio_just_swell.aspx
Already said above…Rafael to start, Wes to come on for the last 30mins (assuming that the game is going the right way), that makes sense I think.
Fergie will know what to do though, so whatever he does will no doubt prove to be the right move.
Manutd forever, honestly i don’t know.Whenever this boy gets injured, no one hears anything about it.I have been impressed with him on both occassions he has started but maybe he is not ready to last 90 minutes at this level.
About left back, I reckon we can have Evans try and give it a go. He has a nice left foot from what I can remember. Plus, he’s taller than Evra, a better tackler of the ball. But he lacks the pace, technical ability Pat has. Well it’s an option I guess. All we can hope for is that there won’t be anymore injuries! D:
I hope that Fergie is going to substitute the starting right back with the other one after the first half. That way they’ll both get some first team football and the probability that one of them picks another injury would be lower.
I think Rafael was the best of our 3 right backs last night, should defo be him that starts.
Rafael all the way…agree with most here…start with Rafael, bring Wes on towards the end.
Haven’t heard anything about Fabio, hope he is alright. He looked much more composed than Rafael. One thing about Rafael, he tends to stick too close to his attackers, allowing them to turn him. He’s got the pace, so he doesn’t need to cut out the passes like Rio the master.
Agreed with most but really want to see Wesley back. I miss those cruching tackles and as someone said before he gives Ronaldo a bit of protection up the wings.
Worst case scenario we can always play Eckersly, everytime I have seen him play he looks assured, can defend well and also get forward. Added to that he can play anywhere in the back four.
Wesley Brown – CL winner; EPL winner; crunching tackler. He’s been greatly missed. If he’s up to it, then he has to start and play 60 minutes.
Too early for Wes. Rafa should start. When Wes is 100% match fit, he should be our Right Back No1 no questions asked.
One thing worries me about Wes.Remember 03-04 when he came from injury to replace Rio?He was dreadful for 2 months because he lacked match practice.Granted,he is more mature now and right back is not as demanding,but we still need to be careful with him.If Arsenal play Nasri as a left winger,it might be a long night for Wes at this point.But with 1-2 games under his belt,he will be the Wes of last season.
I have noticed about Evra that 95% of the time his final balls are terrible.
He attacks a lot but he hardly delivers the final ball.
Rafael yesterday put in a few super crosses I think
Rafael definitely. Give us something going forward, but is also reasonably disciplined in defending. Too soon for Wes. Save him for the first leg of the semi-final.
tony-starks Evra is great going forward but in a certain manner.He has to get in the box and pass it across the goal.We have score goals at the Emirates and the Bridge using him like that.But his crosses are not always the best.But we have also scored goals against Chelsea and Arsenal from high Evra balls.I just hope he stays fit on the run in.Walcott will really test him.
“I have noticed about Evra that 95% of the time his final balls are terrible.”
exactly my thoughts )))
I think Wes should play on Saturday (fro match practice) and of course against Arsenal in the CL. I don’t think we should worry about the Wesley’s display in the game against Tottenham. We will survive ))
Wes should be matched carefully, but he should have a go at the weeked (30 mins), sit out the Arsenal-match, and play the following matches. We need him in shape for the run-in.
Given the need to have him fit and ready for some big upcoming games, I’d rather see Wes start on saturday and be replaced by Rafael when his fitness demands.
give Rafael the first 60-70 then ease Wes in…. (as long as all is going well)
Since some people asked,the official website reports that Fabio will start in the Reserves.So the boy is ok.After seeing him at the Semi final,i have a lot of faith in him.Apparently he can’t go on fo 90 minutes but he could cover for Evra in some games.
great news costas
yeah!
i’d put rafael in as he has played a few games recently and looks sharp, we don’t want any upsets now. my fav back 4 is still brown, ferd, vidic and evra tho.
Thanks for the news costas.
Playing against someone like Lennon at the weekend you cant bring in a player short of Match Fitness, I dont particularly rate him that highly but with his pace he could tear Brown to pieces. Rafael has to start the game!
I think best to start with Rafa and bring wes on for the end of the match to get him back up to speed, providing the result is a formality of course
Rafael has to start. He has the pace to match Lennon and I don’t like the idea of Wes having his first game back from a very long layoff against a winger that WILL have a major part to play. Ease Wes slowly back into the action if we go 1 or 2 goals up.
If we play like we did against Pompey and covert even 50% of the chances then we should be fine. Undoubtedly spuds are better then Pompey, but they will also play an open type game and their defense has never been great away from home.
We should be fine if we keep our head and our boys take their chances.
Looking forward to seeing Berbatov start to be honest. He owes the fans and club a huge game and I really can see him putting 2, or even 3 past the spuds.
COME ON UNITED !!!
If it was a choice between a match fit Wes Brown / Rafael id choose Wes anyday of the week but seeing as he hasnt played in months and has only just got back into training, id say Rafael needs to start this one.
Nice to see Brown back, he was class last season i think we’ve missed him.
Devilton: modric plays on the left & lennon right.lennon rarely interchanges with modric.so Evra has to keep lennon out.if huddlestone plays, he should be closed down quickly.his long range shots are terrific
I would say Wes, except that Modric and Lennon are like mosquitoes buzzing in your ear-fast and annoying. Having said that I say Rafael.
Will probably be Rafael but I really hope Wes stays fit for the run-in. He was one of our most reliable players last season. And he goes through left wingers for fun!
KMA Rafael
Tony – Not being awkward but Evra would be marking Lennon not Wes. We have seen what he can do to Evra in the carling cup.
Sorry Wazza I think you have already covered by above post!
i think we need wes for the cl we shudnt risk him
i’m not sure if Brown has been substituted at half time ?
http://www.justin.tv/vip_football_3
..and Fabio misses penalty. 2nd penalty missed in his manu career.
Has Redknapp ever played Lennon on the left cutting in.Think he may do on in this one to exploit weaknesses at right back. Fergie has a dilemma. Do you put someone tight on Lennon or Modric. I would look at Rafael for right back and give Anderson a man marking role on Modric. Every player needs to put in a shift in this game. No slacking, no not tracking back. Dont want to be a pessimist but something about this game I don’t fancy.
I honestly think Rafael should start this game AND wed’s against Arsenal. Nothing against Brown, I love his tackles, but a Champs league semi final is no time to be playing someone lacking match fitness.
And I am worried about Saturday also. A draw for us with a Pool win and we’re right back in squeeky bum time….
I would start the kid, but Wes needs at least some time on sat.
Oh, just bring the Wonder Brothers to the pitch… Give Pat a rest, and Brown comes at 60′.
Way to go, and it will be United 3×0. While Liverpool and Chelsea are held up.