Manchester United

By: Oli | October 26th, 2009

Sunday was the first time I wrote that name, since the day of the draw. Like Robins, I’ve been scared of what would happen to the players concentration if we took our eye off the ball. It happened on Saturday, and maybe on Tuesday. But it can’t happen tommorow. No-way.

These games do come around from time to time, so long as you earn them. We’ve done a lot of good hard work in the League Cup this season, far too much to give it up without a fight. Therefore, I can only see Mark Robins, famous for scoring ‘the goal the saved Fergie’s job’, playing the strongest team available to him.

Unfortunately, that isn’t our best team. Dickinson and Shotton have both been a revalation in defence. They are also both cup tied. Joining them is Andy Gray and Nathan Doyle. They can be replaced (Macken), but there’s no first team full backs. So, Kozluk gets to face the likes of Giggs and Nani. Worrying.

My choice of a team would be:

———————Steele———————–

Kozluk——Foster—–Moore——-Hassell

Hammill—-Colace—–Hallfredsson—-Anderson

—————Hume—–Macken————–

No doubt some of you will disagree with some of that, and I’m sure some will want to start Bogdanovic instead of Hume. But, think about it. This isn’t another chamionship team, this is Manchester United. They deal with players who do what Boggy does, but better, every week. Also, the Malteser has a bad record at starting, against an excellent record off the bench. Also, think about where a goal comes from. We might break them down in open play, but that can’t be relyed upon. In our over turnings of Chelsea and Liverpool, two of our three goals were headers. Hume takes a corner as well as most people in the world. He’s up there with Giggs. For that reason, no metter how badly he does in open play, there is always that set-peice element.

Predicting a game like this is ridiculously difficult. I’m not even going to try. But, you may remember that before the Chelsea game, there was a general feeling that if anyone did it, it would be Odejayi. Anyone got a ‘feeling’ for this game? I think I’d go with Hallfredsson. Throughout his career the Icelander has only really takn one go at a truely world class club. Some of you may already have seen the result. And yes, that is Buffon.

For me, it really is impossible that we can hope or expect to win this. All we want is a good game against a good United side (Do you have any idea who Fergie’ll start?). In some ways these games are great for the ’smaller’ team, because we have nothing to lose.