28 responses so far ↓

• Gunnar // Apr 21, 2008 at 22:55

  I personally disagree with you about the united lineup. I think Ferguson will go for a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation. I expect Rooney to start on the left like he did against Roma away and Ji Sung Park or hargreaves on the right. Ronaldo will then play up front. Carrick and Scholes will almost certainly be in the middle of the park with Anderson or Hargreaves depending on their fitness.

• Red Ranter // Apr 21, 2008 at 22:56

  Even Fergie doesn’t know his best XI to be honest. But I hope he doesn’t play Scholes. Anderson, Carrick and Hargreaves would be the best bet in a midfield three.

  The back four is as you said. And Ronaldo, Rooney and Park/Giggs/Nani (depending on Fergie’s mood) would play in a front three.

  Again I think Giggs played in the weekend and he may not have the legs like Scholes — I have a feeling he will go with Park because he did very well against Roma and is well rested.

• blaugranaboy // Apr 21, 2008 at 22:59

  he is gonna play similar like against roma in italy. pack the midfield to minimize space. i think ur line up could be spot on.

• Hilal // Apr 21, 2008 at 23:00

  I think you got it spot on Nick. Ferguson is too smart to fall for all the media hype writing us off and he will know how dangerous we can be if we are given space. I therefore believe, like you, that he will take a more conservative approach….your formation seems about right and I dont think Tevez will start either.

  Who do you think Frank will start? Apparently Henry has come down with a fever so he might not be able to start (could be a blessing in disguise). I think Bojan should start at the Nou Camp and Henry should start at old trafford. I also hope he does not start Deco who would definitely not be ready for this game. I think Xavi at home and Gudjohnson away. Also Sylvinho instead of Abidal, i reckon he’s earned it.

• layi // Apr 21, 2008 at 23:14

  anderson instead of scholes

  what about our own front three?
  bojan-eto’o-henry

• Pall // Apr 21, 2008 at 23:22

  I think as mentioned already a 4-3-3 formation with the defence as is, 3 man midfield of anderson, hargreaves and and park ji sung, ronaldo, tevez and rooney in a triangular shape up front rotating their positions and pulling wide to receive the ball from time to time and pull defenders out wide, and have 1 of them remain central(again rotating from time to time)
  Hopefully scholes and giggs will not start as they don’t have the legs where as anderson, hargreaves, tevez, rooney and park’s workrate will be essential to nullify barcelona’s attacks and produce quick counter attacks of their own.

• Hilal // Apr 21, 2008 at 23:24

  Layi i think u might have left somebody out of our front 3……….

• layi // Apr 21, 2008 at 23:36

  dont u like my formation????

  lol…i heard the odd player(henry) i s even injured….i pray so

• Caeron // Apr 21, 2008 at 23:38

  quite hard to think!! There’s so many, but I’d expect Fergie to keep Ronaldo on the wing - and Ji Sung should play.

  Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Anderson, Ji Sung Park, Tevez, Rooney

• blaugranafan // Apr 21, 2008 at 23:48

  Ronaldo played on the right against Blackburn on Saturday, and Giggs was on the left. But Ferguson does like to swap players, and Ronaldo can play on both wings. That’s where the danger will come from…keeping an eye on Cronaldo’s position. Scholes had a pretty bad game over the weekend. Anderson did not play. Tevez had the lone goal for ManUtd, and I think Ferguson will count on him again.

  Rooney should have been sent off vs. Blackburn. Disgusting tackle.

• Legend Stone // Apr 22, 2008 at 0:59

  This is how Man United will play: Ferguson will listen to what Cruyff said and keeping possession as key to beating Man U so he will try to field a pacy team which would eliminate this. He will start Rooney, Tevez (or maybe Scholes as deep lying playmaker), Ronaldo, Park, Hargreavess, Carick, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra and Wes Brown at right back. He will use Giggs (for experience), Nani (to introduce pace) and Neville (to give him his 100th cap in the UCL) as subs. Hargreaves will play a defensive role on the flank; Carrick will function as holding midfielder and Tevez (or Scholes as a deep lying playmaker) and Rooney will play second striker roles (Rooney may fall back in defense when necessary but Tevez will stay up for the counter) while Ronaldo will play a free role - switching flanks and running through the middle. Park will attack on the flank. Man U’s attacking players will not stick to a true formation but they will something like total football but they will definitely be relying on counter-attacking a lot.
  But we need to remember though that one can never truly say how Ferguson will play for he is a master tactician. He will come to the game with a number of options and may make his move depending on the dictates of the game. But he is worried though but he has faith in his players. For me Park is United’s surprise player for Barca.

• rysho // Apr 22, 2008 at 1:25

  It´s not that difficult.
  Brown Ferdinand Vidic Evra
  Park - Carrick Hargreaves Anderson- Ronaldo
  Rooney

• elli // Apr 22, 2008 at 1:27

  i think it will be the 4-5-1. the back four we all know, the midfield may be Anderson in the hole with Carrick and Scholes in front, pending a fit Heargreave he will play right, Rooney left to nullify Messi and ROnaldo up front. To be honest i hope he gives Scholes a rest, play Heargreaves in the hole and start Nani on the right. Giggs cant manage the pace. i have a slight belief a surprise man marker will be placed on Messi, may just be Tevez or Anderson.

• Stephanie // Apr 22, 2008 at 1:59

  I dont wanna be a pessimist but, I think they will defeat us this week.
  Man United 2-0 Barcelona
  Tevez and CR7(penalty)

• Tom F // Apr 22, 2008 at 3:12

  If I had my way the starting 11 on Wednesday night would look something like this:

  Rooney.

  Rooney.Rooney.Rooney.Rooney.

  Rooney.Rooney.Rooney.Rooney.

  Rooney.Rooney.

  However, you can’t always get what you want!

  So, Manchester United away in Europe has in recent years been a 4-5-1 to start with and Wayne Rooney has generally seen himself either as a lone forward or starting out wide, on the left. I think a game like this does give players in both camps the licence to be creative with a positive attitude to the game.

  I think our back 5 picks itself then a central midfield pairing of Carrick and either Scholes or Anderson, Hargreaves is likely to sit in front of our back four with Rooney as I mentioned out wide on the left. I cannot see Ronaldo playing as a lone striker so will opt for Tevez up front with Ronaldo on the right.

  I have probably got that fairly wrong, if there are any knocks from the weekend. Tevez playing 90 minutes and starting isn’t always going to happen. Park only played a few minutes the other day so he is a good bet to start out on the right if Ronaldo was playing up front… Giggs started against Blackburn, so will probably end up on the bench. Will SAF risk Scholes in the first leg.

  I keep asking myself so many questions and it must be a good problem to have so many decent players to choose from.

  i LOVE MUfc.

• amiaq_ferguson // Apr 22, 2008 at 4:34

  Man Utd will play Park- AML, Scholes-MC, Hargreaves-DMC, Carrick-MC, Ronaldo-AMR and Rooney as Lone Striker.

  In 2nd half, he will play Nani, Anderson and Tevez. So often in Man Utd recent games that they use this 3 players as sub. As result of this, Man Utd are able to play aggressive and pacy game throughout the match

• Varughese // Apr 22, 2008 at 4:41

  If brown plays, its essential thet Iniesta start in the front left. And would Messi start? He played well, but looked a bit tired by the end.

  http://www.allaboutfcbarcelona.com/2008/04/should-henry-start-against-manchester.html

• #12 // Apr 22, 2008 at 5:35

  Everyone is labeling the chelsea and liverpool a tactical showdown but I think this game will be as tactical if not more, I believe the key will be denfensive security as both teams are very evenly matched…my bet would be ManU right back wes brown, he’s their weak link, but no doubt fergie will crowd the midfield so that barca don’t develop their passing game, if only deco was 100%…

• senbonzakura // Apr 22, 2008 at 5:36

  Sir alex bottles it in europe, he’ll definitely go for a 4-5-1 and probably even put a man marker on Messi, either way we’ll give them a good kicking, 3-1 to us

• e10 // Apr 22, 2008 at 9:24

  now boys, sir alex aint stupid& i think we all know dat.
  1st half will be a defensive half for Man Utd and second half they will pull out there tricks and attacking style of play.
  Ronaldo will not perform as he usually doesnt against big european powerhouse teams. CHOKER!!!!!

• Varughese // Apr 22, 2008 at 10:28

  All depends on the first 15 minutes… I think we will be able to raid ManU defense in the first 15 minutes, if we can get a goal there then it will be easy. If we don’t then our players have a tendency to get frustrated and do all kind of nonsense

• Youssef Gazia // Apr 22, 2008 at 11:34

  ALL BARCA FANS, WATCH THIS:

  http://youtube.com/watch?v=EcrN4MoTEe0

• wrc // Apr 22, 2008 at 16:32

  Barcelona is in the midst of a physical and mental breakdown but are still capable of clobbering Manchester United if they catch them off guard. Forget that this is the Champions League semi-final, this is Barcelona’s last-ditch-attempt to rescue their troubled season and potentially prevent mass exodus from the Camp Nou this summer. This in mind they will be looking to exploit Rio Ferdinand’s occasionally loquacious back line. Also with Leo Messi, the beating heart of Barcelona, back in the squad anything is possible as he is a peculiar talent that is difficult to prepare for. This motivation to salvage the season and cross the finish line bloodied with the Champions League trophy in hand is , however, is extremely fragile and if Man U can rattle Barca’s defense with a goal they are sure to point fingers and self destruct.

  http://www.futink.com

• Joe Henry // Apr 22, 2008 at 17:39

  You guys are getting my hopes up. I didn’t want that. I actually feel like we might win.

• BARCA 4 LYF // Apr 22, 2008 at 17:44

  4-4-2 or 5-3-2! 4-4-2 :
  Defence: Valdes(GK), Zamb, Marquez, Milito and Abidal
  Midfield: Deco, Toure, Xavi and Iniesta
  Attack: Messi and Eto’o or…

  5-3-2:
  Defence: Valdes(GK), Zamb, Marquez, Milito, Thuram and Abidal
  Midfield: Deco, Xavi and Iniesta
  Attack: Messi and Eto’o

  In 5-3-2 I put Deco there because Yaya can rest his back!

• MoYa // Apr 22, 2008 at 18:02

  Fergie is gona play a 4-3-3

  Brown - Rio - Vidic - Evra

  Carrick/Scholes - Hargreaves - Anderson

  RONALDO - Rooney - Nani/Giggs/Park

• MoYa // Apr 22, 2008 at 18:07

  Just BTW Barca fans don’t know much about Anderson… He’s gonna make the difference.
  He’s always up for the occassion and has dominated some of the best players.
  I rate Xavi as one of the best centre midfielders, he would walk into any team.
  I’ve seen how Barca dominate midfields because of him.
  Fantastic player… But beware Anderson…

• whitedoghunch // Apr 22, 2008 at 22:25

  the world and also my manager Gordon Strachan love Ferdinand.
  I think he is a weak link.

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