Saturday, May 17, 2008

Champions League Finals - Moscow

OK, so this is the first post.

I am finding myself knowing more about this team then most commentators, and i keep finding myself predicting the team and where players will play much better then them, so i will use my powers for good rather then let it sit in my head.

personally i am not in the art of predicting a scoreline, nor a victory or defeat. i don't think the nature of soccer lends itself to these predictions. i can say that i hope we will, god knows we deserve more then 2 european crowns.

So team selection:
There are only 8 players that are sure to start:
Van Der Sar (gk)
Brown (rb) Vidic + Ferdinand (cb) Evra (lb)
Scholes (if SAF keeps his words to start scholes after his goal took us through against Barca)
Rooney and Ronaldo (winger or cf for both)

There are 2 types of formations Sir Alex has been using of late:
4-5-1 (that he has been using in europe)
4-4-2

4-5-1
This formation is a more cautious formation. and it has worked well for us away in europe.

Against a familiar foe in Chelsea in neutral territory it is hardly the scenario of away in europe. i expect us to utilise this formation either to close out the game or if SAF (sir alex ferguson) feels extra cautious maybe even to start the game.

the team should look like this:
van der sar (gk)
brown (rb) vidic + ferdinand (cb) evra (lb)
hargraves (dm)
carrick + scholes (cm)
park (rw) rooney (lw)
ronaldo (st)

i think i'd put my money on park at this time, because he has been getting so much gametime of late. SAF loves his little korean energizer bunny.

if this is the formation, expect to see anderson (maybe this is the game to get his maiden goal!) and tevez to be introduced at 60 mins for some fireworks! and of course giggsy to come on at some stage. which means nani might have to miss out, damn we have a good squad.

of course the other option is to play carrick at DM and anderson and scholes to start CMs. atm i like hargraves a lot, and carrick is better attacking then defending, although i haven't seen hargraves in the middle of the park for sometime now. he has been played at RB alot, with vidic's injury and rotations.

anyway, moving onto 4-4-2
this is our standard formation, and i would expect us to start the game like this. esp considering english opposition

van der sar (gk)
brown (rb) vidic + ferdinand (cb) evra (lb)
ronaldo (rw) scholes + carrick (cm) nani (lw)
rooney + tevez (cf)

i think if we played this formation and this line up it would be our best and most offensive line up. it would be throwing caution to the wind and letting those guys go.

personally i would rather see anderson and hargraves roam the midfield rather then scholes and carrick, but i think scholes will play as SAF promised, there has clearly been a division in the CMs where anderson works well with hargraves and scholes works well with carrick. any other combo of those four in a 4-4-2 seems to not work. it's strange.

If this formation was played, giggsy and anderson will come on at some stage, and possibly hargraves.

on the bench
we have some pretty amazing players that will be on the bench who will most likely not play but may make an impact depending on how things unfold.

Saha: i don't even know if he is fit or not, but i saw him able to walk up to collect his winners medal last weekend so i can only assume he is fit. He will be a great plan B for us if we have to go chasing the game. Gives us someone to play to, as we have all short forwards.

Oshea: i can see him coming on if we get an injury at the back. Although i'd rather see shuffling so that we can bring on hargraves, but who knows.

Fletcher: great hustler, i can see him being brought on if we need to close out the game. so a duo of hargraves and fletcher as DMs would make it hard for any team to penetrate.

Lastly
I hope SAF goes out with an attacking 4-4-2 and play like manchester play. Moreover, i hope avrim go out and play attacking football, not that crap jose played in last year's FA cup.

expect ronaldo to be physically beaten badly

hopefully we take it home this year, i'll be watching at 4am in the morning.

Feedback is appreciated. Glory Glory Man United!

NB: hope football manager ppl don't sue me. i am afterall advertising their product!
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Edit: under the advisement of one, Kian C. Lim, i have decided to restate my general thoughts regarding bloggers, that it is a self indulgent exercise. This is not intended to be directed at anyone. I have now come to the dark side anyway, so there is no hope for me. FEEL FREE TO COMMENT AND ABUSE!!!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow meatball ur passion is ridiculous. Starting a blog abt man u. U should get sammy to start an arsenal one.
Peace out

paul

Anonymous said...

woah...someone's in love with man utd...

it's ok, i share the same passion for one c.ronaldo. he's so hot right now.

Anonymous said...

anonymous above is i.

Chen2 said...

i would gladly read an arsenal blog if sammy started one.

ppl say that c.ronaldo misfires when it comes to big games. i really hope he doesn't!

they will be marking him hard! so i expect someone else to shine with the space ronaldo creates, comeon rooney!

Anonymous said...

interesting thoughts chen...i agree with your proposed strategies...
i hope they play Nani tho - he's my favourite player- not only cos he looks like nigga dave, but cos he gives me much amusement. http://youtube.com/watch?v=USe9-0h8RlY

Anonymous said...

wait ignore the above youtube link.
this one is the good one:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0XpEoCvW2Wo

NANI!