Following reports in yesterdays paper hinting that Zoran Tosic might feature for United tonight, Mike Phelan has more or less confirmed that to be the case.
With the games becoming more and more important, tonight’s League Cup semi-final is a good chance to throw him in to the mix, knowing that hopefully we can afford or below par performance from him and still go on to win.
Phelan says Tosic has fitted in well with the squad and has the belief to make the grade.
“The boy is exciting at times and he has also been doing a very good job in training,” said Phelan. “He has impressed us. He has come in at a stage of the season where everything is going well for us. So it is a nice time to bed down into the dressing room and take everything in. Zoran has shown he is capable of blending in. He has done it nice and quietly. Now it is a case of giving him a chance for everyone else to see what we have seen. It is an opportunity tonight. We are not frightened of making these decisions and giving people a chance. Any player who comes to Old Trafford believes he is capable of playing in the first team. We are not worried about him playing his part and I think the fans will be excited about seeing him. I don’t think they will be disappointed. But it is going to be a little while before we see the best of Zoran. Everything takes time.”
Phelan isn’t sure whether it will be a starting role or from the bench but certainly seems to imply we will be getting to see our new signing in action tonight.
“He is a new player,” Phelan continued. “We realise from experience when Vida came over it took a while to understand the way we play and how we train here with all the effort they have to put in. Zoran has had ten days to have a look at it. At some point you have to see him. We want to see what he can do in a match situation. Whether it that is as a starter or coming on as a sub against Derby we have not decided yet. He needs time like anyone does when they come here. But he has been good. He has trained every day. It is a case of introducing him into it gradually and slowly. But we have the chance here for him to see what it is all about and be part of it.”
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If we take a 3-0 lead,the bring him and Fabio on.Even though it will pile up our fixture list even more,i want us to advance tonight.For me the most possible line up is :Kuszczak-Rafa,Evans,Neville(or Vida),OShea-Nani,Anderson,Scholes,Giggs-Tevez,Welbeck
I wanna see him start. Maybe Vidic can help him out on the field
go the general 4-4-2.
defence as you would expect but with rafael starting.
midfield have nani – possebon – anderson – tosic
then tevez and welbeck.
we could even do a 4-3-3
with anderson – possebon – carrick/fletcher/giggs
and up front nani – tevez – tosic.
oh if only. tevez really needs to play well, we need him to get the goals to see us through.
I think those are realistic line ups fella’s!
I am hoping that Fabio starts on the left. It may be a tough game to get started in when returning from injury but it’d be good to watch!
My XI would be:
==========TK
RDS===NV======JE====FDS
=====RP=======DG=======
ZT====================JSP
========CT
============DW
I assume Welbeck is no longer injured, and if that’s not correct I’d have CR up front with Tevez. Was thinking that if Fabio did play it may be worth having Neville playing RB to start with, for his experience alone.
Should be good though, as it’s a must win game!
If he plays ill be relieved we are buying players that can give us a game sraight off . I appreciate Phelans ” it takes time to settle in ” But this Comp is an ideal showcase .
I would start with both Tevez and Berbatov uptop tonight – get them playing together to get some form of understanding seeing as Rooney is going to be out of action for the next few weeks.
And not least because I feel tonight will be a stern test as Derby are going to defend as if their lives depended on it and we’ve not exactly been in free scroring mode recently (except against the ‘lesser teams’ such as Chelsea!).
Hopefully we can get the game won and then bring on the likes of Welbeck for a decent run out.
Although the Carling Cup we could be going to Wembley if we win tonight. I’m not expecting a great match – I’m sure Derby will come and sit.
We need a side which will get a result (2-0 please!) – it is only then we should through Fabio and Tosic into the mix.
My line-up:
Kuzak
Rafeal – Neville – Evans – O’shea
Park – Anderson – Possebon OR Gibson – Nani
Welbeck – Tevez
Bench: Scholes, Tosic, Fletcher, Fabio, Vidic, Giggs, (Keeper)
* I mean throw
YOU ARE IN FOR A SHOCK BECAUSE FERGIE KNOWS DERBY WILL BE COMING TO DEFEND THEIR ONE-GOAL LEAD WHILE WE HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN THAT. DO YOU GUYS ACTUALLY THINK THAT INEXPERIENCED LINE-UP CAN BREAK DOWN A DERBY TEAM WHEN THEY WANT TO LOCK SHOP KNOWING THAT A DRAW IN TEH GAME PUTS THEM INTO THE FINAL. I DO NOT THINK SO AND I WILL NOT DECEIVE MYSELF. SAF WILL MIX THINGS NICELY SUCH THAT THE TEAM WILL BE WELL BALANCED AND SOMEONE EXPERIENCED ENOUGH WILL CONTROL THINGS FROM THE MIDDLE. I WILL SAY NO TO POSSEBON AND GIBSON TO FACE THESE GUYS FROM PRIDE PARK.
whats the deal with Foster….. I would always pick him over Kuszczak
“Now it is a case of giving him a chance for everyone else to see what we have seen” : very promising – I have no doubts that at Carrington they know their business much better than we do.
Hopefully Possebin will also be given the chance to carry on the good work he was doing when he was brutally interrupted against Middlesborough. Still not sure about Gibson, though … still no convincing display so far …
Would also appreciate a view of Tosic, so we can have more insight into how long we must suffer with Nani’s lack of vision and team-play …
Personally i dont care what team starts, Derby put in the an excellent performance last time and will have to better that this time which i just dont see happening. I just hope that Foster starts, Tevez doesnt wander aimlessly around in deep positions and not give any goal threat whatsoever, and we get to see Tosic. Hopefully he is the heir to the left wing position and we will get a chance to see that tonight.
See you there tonight.
If we get an early goal I can see an avalanche – otherwise it may be difficult if they get camped in and comfortable.
As an aside, I’m disappointed that Derby lost to QPR at the weekend. I’m following the unofficial World Club Championship and as Derby were the first team to beat us after we won the World Club Championship, just like Scotland claimed after beating England after the 66 World Cup, they were the holders until the QPR game. Now we can’t get it back tonight.
I’m now having to follow the results of QPR to keep a track of it. It’s going to be difficult to get it back now it’s in the Championship.
I reckon we’ll get at least 30 minutes out of Tosic tonight. He’ll be playing mostly on adrenalin towards the end of that, admittedly, but it’s a good opportunity for him to reach Point Zero, from which he can start building match fitness/sharpness.
Other than that, I have no qualms with who starts. Possibly Foster over PIG, but everyone else can make a case for themselves. I’d like to see Fabio play from start to finish, but realistically I can see him only going 70 minutes max if he *does* start.
I know we ve got injuries..players look at a tad jaded, playing relentless games every 2 or 3 days. But today is no time to play the kids…we need a strong and balanced side. The performance against derby was the worst for a long long time and they will be up for it. And if we start chances like we have been doing and longer the game goes on..the more confidence they’ll have and will be byoued by a rear guard show.
A final and a trophy and more silverware is at stake…so weve gotta take em early and hit them hard…then if things look comfortable…we can out in tosic, wellbeck etc.
Just got a feeling tonights not gonna be as comfortable as many think…+ we ve given em the biggest away day allocation ever..12.000.
Going to the game…so c’mon lads..lets put in a thorough professional performance and cap a marvellous few days for us
PLEASE SELL NANI. HE IS NOT GOOD, HE IS SHIT.
well it’stime to bring on Tosic…. We ar 3 zip up and coasting at half time give the lad a run out see if he fits staight in
Zoran didn’t play last night.i was hoping he played….
Nani has a lot of talent, give the boy some time. He is always a threat going forward, great pace, strong physically-but he does need to off load his passes a little earlier.