Comments on: The Final Countdown http://www.thedevilinme.co.uk/2008/05/15/the-final-countdown/ because they make us suffer ((c) the Crinkleys) - also found at www.soccernet.com Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:07:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: The Grimace http://www.thedevilinme.co.uk/2008/05/15/the-final-countdown/#comment-126 The Grimace Sun, 18 May 2008 19:43:22 +0000 http://www.thedevilinme.co.uk/2008/05/15/the-final-countdown/#comment-126 IMHO SAF will play 4-4-2. Chelsea are not an intrinsically attacking team, so why invite them to do so? I reckon you play 4-5-1 when you know the opposition will go for you - as inevitably happens in Euro away games and in some home games where the opposition needs a win - as in the Arsenal Cup Tie. But this is the European Cup Final and this is Manchester United, so we attack, OK? So we start with Tevez. I reckon too that SAF will be looking to outwit Average, and that he will seek to spring a surprise. I wouldn't be surprised if the surprise is that Ronaldo starts on the left. Two reasons. Firstly, Average won't be expecting it and secondly the disgusting Cole plays him better than most full backs. So who covers the right flank then? A combination of Rooney and Hargreaves, is the answer, interchanging so as to confuse the opposition. So here is the team: VDS, Wes, Rio, Vida, Evra (obviously). Midfield is Hargreaves, Carrick, Scholesey and Ronaldo. Tevez and the Roonster up front. And the bench: Kuszcak of course. Saha in case we're desperate for a late goal, and provided he hasn't injured himself getting changed. Anderson in case Scholesey is fading. Giggsy because there are several jobs he can do competently if need be. Then it gets difficult, because we may need a full back or centre back or midfielder if someone gets crocked. One half-forgotten man can fill any of these positions. Step forward Mikael Silvestre. Two to go, from Park, Nani, Fletcher O'Pie and, I suggest, Pique. I guess Park will be one of them, as SAF likes him, though personally I wouldn't take him to Moscow and save on the plane ticket. The last one must be an attacker, because we are Manchester United. So it's Nani. IMHO SAF will play 4-4-2. Chelsea are not an intrinsically attacking team, so why invite them to do so? I reckon you play 4-5-1 when you know the opposition will go for you - as inevitably happens in Euro away games and in some home games where the opposition needs a win - as in the Arsenal Cup Tie. But this is the European Cup Final and this is Manchester United, so we attack, OK? So we start with Tevez.

I reckon too that SAF will be looking to outwit Average, and that he will seek to spring a surprise. I wouldn’t be surprised if the surprise is that Ronaldo starts on the left. Two reasons. Firstly, Average won’t be expecting it and secondly the disgusting Cole plays him better than most full backs. So who covers the right flank then? A combination of Rooney and Hargreaves, is the answer, interchanging so as to confuse the opposition.

So here is the team: VDS, Wes, Rio, Vida, Evra (obviously). Midfield is Hargreaves, Carrick, Scholesey and Ronaldo. Tevez and the Roonster up front.

And the bench: Kuszcak of course. Saha in case we’re desperate for a late goal, and provided he hasn’t injured himself getting changed. Anderson in case Scholesey is fading. Giggsy because there are several jobs he can do competently if need be. Then it gets difficult, because we may need a full back or centre back or midfielder if someone gets crocked. One half-forgotten man can fill any of these positions. Step forward Mikael Silvestre.

Two to go, from Park, Nani, Fletcher O’Pie and, I suggest, Pique. I guess Park will be one of them, as SAF likes him, though personally I wouldn’t take him to Moscow and save on the plane ticket. The last one must be an attacker, because we are Manchester United. So it’s Nani.

]]> By: Mark http://www.thedevilinme.co.uk/2008/05/15/the-final-countdown/#comment-125 Mark Sat, 17 May 2008 06:12:44 +0000 http://www.thedevilinme.co.uk/2008/05/15/the-final-countdown/#comment-125 Well yes, Ronaldo picked a good week to open his big gob didn't he. If he wins the final he will be forgiven. This sort of thing has happened before and the press are making more of a meal of than they should because there is not much copy to be had on the FA Cup Final. Okay then we go with Giggs over Anderson, on this I think I agree, Park, Anderson and Nani is a good bench, I have also read today that Saha is in contention as well. Now if he does something... I think I would start with Tevez over Carrick though, surely Scholes and Giggs and Rooney leaves us enough good passers on the pitch. Tevez is one of the few grizzlers we've got and I think we'll need him and his habit of scoring important goals. Well yes, Ronaldo picked a good week to open his big gob didn’t he. If he wins the final he will be forgiven. This sort of thing has happened before and the press are making more of a meal of than they should because there is not much copy to be had on the FA Cup Final.

Okay then we go with Giggs over Anderson, on this I think I agree, Park, Anderson and Nani is a good bench, I have also read today that Saha is in contention as well. Now if he does something…

I think I would start with Tevez over Carrick though, surely Scholes and Giggs and Rooney leaves us enough good passers on the pitch. Tevez is one of the few grizzlers we’ve got and I think we’ll need him and his habit of scoring important goals.

]]> By: Jono http://www.thedevilinme.co.uk/2008/05/15/the-final-countdown/#comment-122 Jono Fri, 16 May 2008 13:39:52 +0000 http://www.thedevilinme.co.uk/2008/05/15/the-final-countdown/#comment-122 OK, easy bit first: VDS - yes Wes/Rio/Vidic/Evra - yes Ronaldo - yes (last game before Real buy him for £100mn??????) Rooney - yes That's 7 definites. So do we go 4-4-2 and have Tevez up there alongside Rooney? Or your 4-2-3-1 otherwise known as 4-5-1? Either way there are 4 places up for grabs and we have Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, Anderson, Hargreaves, Tevez, Park, Nani, O'Shea and Fletcher to fill them. I would go for a 4-5-1 with both wingers supporting Rooney so that means that Giggs should start (not Park) so he and Ronnie can swap wings if Ronnie fails to prosper against Cashley (which has happened before) That leaves 3 more. Carrick merits a place, Hargreaves merits a place, Scholes has been promised a place. Er, that's it. So Anderson ends up on the bench and so does Tevez, with Nani and the others. Who's this Mark Payne bloke? Another Fledgling? OK, easy bit first:
VDS - yes
Wes/Rio/Vidic/Evra - yes
Ronaldo - yes (last game before Real buy him for £100mn??????)
Rooney - yes
That’s 7 definites.

So do we go 4-4-2 and have Tevez up there alongside Rooney?

Or your 4-2-3-1 otherwise known as 4-5-1?

Either way there are 4 places up for grabs and we have Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, Anderson, Hargreaves, Tevez, Park, Nani, O’Shea and Fletcher to fill them.

I would go for a 4-5-1 with both wingers supporting Rooney so that means that Giggs should start (not Park) so he and Ronnie can swap wings if Ronnie fails to prosper against Cashley (which has happened before)

That leaves 3 more. Carrick merits a place, Hargreaves merits a place, Scholes has been promised a place. Er, that’s it.

So Anderson ends up on the bench and so does Tevez, with Nani and the others.

Who’s this Mark Payne bloke? Another Fledgling?

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