Rio Ferdinand was subbed off in the closing stages of our victory over Arsenal last night and there will be obvious changes made to the team in order to keep our players fresh for the second leg. RoM contributing writer, Joe Davies, reflects on this.
Rio Ferdinand is a major doubt for the weekend after potentially breaking a rib in last night’s 1-0 first leg victory against Arsenal. Rio was unintentionally clattered by Edwin van der Sar as the United keeper came to collect a second half free kick.
Sir Alex has admitted “He’s got a crack right on the ribs, it’s just precautionary and, obviously, we hope it’s nothing broken because if you get a rib injury then he’d be out for two or three weeks. We will have to wait and see, and we just have to wait on the results.”
The first XI may also see change with a return for Wes Brown. Tipped to make an appearance from the bench at the weekend, Wes has recently completed an hour of football for the reserves against Preston North End and 45mins against Newcastle Reserves.
Fergie however is not happy with the lunchtime kickoff, suggesting “I will bring some freshness into the team. The defence will be the same, apart from Rio, but the midfield and forwards could change completely.” Arsenal on the other hand could indeed play their entire reserve team, with 4th spot pretty well cemented and their only chance of clinching the league title is if they win every game, United don’t pick up a single point in 5 games and Liverpool scrape 3 point from 4 games!
It is feasible that Sir Alex therefore may keep things tight at the back but include a bit of youth in the middle and final thirds of the park. Hypothetically, if none of the starting XI from midfield or attack were to start I’d personally like to see Berbatov and Macheda start up front together.
Fingers crossed for Rio.
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I think that SAF made mention of Park,Scholes,Gibbo,Nani,Welbeck and Macheda.We certainly can’t play with these 6 in midfield and attack on Saturday.It’s suicide.I hate what they have done with our fixtures and it’s fixing to get worse when we play Man City,Wigan and Arsenal but these players have to gut it out.
Play your best team in every game from now on in, we really can’t afford to drop points.
F A B I O PLEASE
To be fair, in 2007 the team looked really empty at Goodison Park.We needed a rush of adrenaline in the second half.Last year Chelsea were also better than us.Let’s be honest.These games sandwiched between the Ch.League semis are always tough.That doesn’t mean we have to change half the team.3 changes should be ok.Berba,Park and Giggs starting instead of Tev,Ronaldo and Ando.Barcelona are in the same position we are and they play Real Madrid in the weekend.They won’t change their team too much.At the same time, i hope Newcastle get something at Anfield.If they don’t,they are as good as gone i feel.
I can´t really understand why SAF is complaining about the lunchtime kick-off, would he have preferred Sunday with the 2nd leg being on Tuesday?
Not too woried about the selection we have got the squad to deal with middlesborough.
@costas – Ihope the tooners get a result at Anfield too, firstly that would smash the dippers hopes and secondly it would be a shame to see Newcastle go down…
thecount – On the contrary, I would just love to see that cunt shearer and his toon go down.
@the Count: He is complaining because i think he would have prefered a later Saturday kick off.But it’s no use complaining now.These fixtures have been announced for a month and the club have shut there mouths this whole time.Just like they did with the LIverpool game last month.And just like they will do when we will play Arsenal 60 hours after the trip to Wigan.I hate it when the club is so passive.
@ King Eric – fair enough LOL!
King Eric i would love to see Shearer fail but not Toon.I enjoy the games at St James’ Park.Let’s hope they will do what Leeds did at Highbury in 03.Desperate times bring these kind of performances out of teams.
Question at Scott: why don´t you enable avatars on RoM ? you could use Gravatar.com…
@king Eric – Even I don’t like Alan Shearer. But I don’t want the toon to go down because of Alan Smith and Nicky Butt.
Fuck Shearer I want the Geordies to go down, they are a falacy of a club the best best fans in the world bollocks, they are whining, whingeing, self-pitying, self-indulgent and deluded wankers, this loyal fanbase that had crowds of 20,000 when they were relagated in the 90′s, I hope they go down with that dirty twat at the helm.
Rant over.
atleast one of Rooney or Ron should start on sat.boro will be lifted by the absence of United’s big players.
regarding Boro – remember Fulham, and how all of us here agreed that the team and the formation SAF put out showed complacency and lack of attacking intent. The same applies here – changes need to be made yes, but not too much tinkering please SAF! I’d probably play Foster, Rafael, Fabio (Evra), Vidic, Evans, Park, Nani, Carrick (Fletcher), Giggs (Scholes), Berbatov, Tevez.
Even, I would like to see Newcastle stay up! Enjoy watching the games at St. James’s!
i’d like to see fabio and rafael play along with evans. i think that we could go with scholes in midfield along with fletcher and have giggs play behind berbatov or rooney and obviously park will play. nani is due a big game for us and it’s time he started to deliver on the talent and potential we all know he has in ambundance.
this is a key weekend for us, so a win at boro will put pressure on the dippers when they face newcastle. a draw for newcastle is possible but unlikely, but they are desparate for points and viduka should be playing which will give them some power up front and cause liverpool problems.
i think as long as we prepare properly for the 2nd leg at arsenals ground we can win at their place. i think when we play them we have to match their intensity and fight for the right to control the midfield. as long as we keep cecs and RVP quiet we can win the match.
It seems to me that L’poo won’t drop any more points – that means the maximum they can reach is, I believe, 86. UTD currently have 77 points and 5 games to play – do the math.
I will be surprised if Tevez plays on Saturday; I will be more surprised if Rooney and Ronaldo don’t play alongside Berbatov. In midfield, Scholes will play alongside Giggs and one of Fletcher and/or Carrick.
But just keep in mind that so far I’ve not got the starting team-sheet correct once !
Still no news on Rio.This is killing me!
rio is missing 2-3 weeks according to the coach
That’s what he said last night Hussain.But this would be official if Rio suffered a break.We don’t know if he has any broken ribs.Today he would have his test results back. By the way, Arsenal are not doing too good themselves.Silvestre and Eduardo suffered groin injuries,Clichy is out of the second leg and they won’t know about Van Persie until next Tuesday.
Once again I don’t hear Rafa complaining about us having to play Wednesday evening-Saturday lunchtime, not for the first time, just get’s swept under the carpet, along with the real facts.
Mates, we have to play a much changed team against Boro and we have to win the game. If it is a draw it won’t be a disaster. but i think SAF will pick the team in order to obtain the best result and it’s a win.
So don’t be angry with the team selection. We should beat Boro with not quite optimal squad players. this are Gibson, Macheda, Wellbeck, maybe Nani. Scholes, Berba, Еумуя should play. Rooney can be on the bench but i don’t remember when he didn’t play against Boro away. Last season we played them also at the end of the campaign under the snow and he played important role in 2-2 draw.
corea: “SAF will pick the team in order to obtain the best result and it’s a win.”
To me, it would make more sense to have a go at them from the outset, get a couple of goals, and then worry about conserving energy of Rooney and Ronaldo.
@ denton davey
yeah. it’s a bliss and you can not just plan this things. there are always risks.
experience to deal with it.
i remember wathing MuTv during the 06-07 season. We’ve had some shaky moments and commentators were saying exact the same thing. Why not ensure that we score some goals and then change then make substitution.
i hope SAF will pick the right and balanced team but there is always a chance of failing.
but i believe in players no matter who will play on Saturday. it’s a matter of right balance. SAF has enough
I know “historically” we have struggled against Boro but although they are fighting for survival they are a very different side to previous seasons. They are nothing short of diabolical. Don’t want to appear “cocky” or “arrogant” or even “tempt fate” but I think we may hammer the cunts on Saturday. Got to be positive.
Ps – I am sure Sir Alex will rest a couple of “first teamers” but we need the strongest team possible to ensure the above happens. No slip ups from here on in.
United reserves 1-0 up . A Lee Martin penalty.
“Don’t want to appear “cocky” or “arrogant” or even “tempt fate” but I think we may hammer the cunts on Saturday. Got to be positive.”
exactly my thoughts
Which ever team Fergie Picks i will agree with! Only a fool would argue with the big man!
In SAF We Trust.
My team is tomorrow is; Forster, Evra (Fabio limped off in the reserves game yesterday), Evans, Vidic, Wes Brown. Nani, Gibson, Scholes, Park. Macheda and Wellback.
I reaaly believe these guys will win it and play great football.
final score
2-0
Nani 24. min and Wellback 83. min
My Team for tomorrow is
Foster
Evra – Evans – Vidic – Brown
Nani – Scholes – Carrick – Park
Tevez – Berbatov
Subs – Rooney – Ronaldo – Giggs – Anderson – Macheda
I think Tevez deserves another start! Its unfair to judge him this season as he hasnt been getting consistant games! Berbatov gets my vote as he will be fresh and he needs a performance to get some of the fans off his back!
Just because boro are in the position they are in we cant take this result for granted! There are going to be some supprises from now to the end of the season!!! Just hope that Newcastle can Supprise the Kop and make Benitez eat his words! Would love a Benitez Keegan rant this saturday!! He would look great with them headphones!!! hahaahaha
United to win comfortably Newcastle beats the dippers. Premier league over by Sunday.