Manchester United will be playing in Moscow a week tomorrow in the third European Cup final of the club’s history.
After securing a 17th league title on Sunday, our players will be eager to claim their place in the history books by adding a European Cup winner’s medal to their collection.
However, Sir Alex Ferguson has today admitted he is having some difficulty in deciding who should play in the final. With all our players now returned from injury, Fergie has to decide which players should make up his 18-man squad.
“I’m travelling to Moscow with 26 fit players, that’s unheard of in my time,” he said. “But it gives us an incredible chance. It makes it difficult for me. I think picking the team will be easier than picking the substitutes. I’m going to have to leave some fantastic players out of the squad completely next week, which I won’t enjoy doing, but something has to be done.”
Usual back five, Carrick-Hargreaves-Scholes? Carrick-Anderson-Scholes? Hargreaves-Anderson-Scholes? Then, Tevez-Rooney-Ronaldo? Giggs-Rooney-Ronaldo? Nani-Rooney-Ronaldo? Park-Rooney-Ronaldo?
Then who gets to make the bench?
Will Hargreaves take Brown’s place at right back, forcing him to the bench? Whilst O’Shea, Fletcher, Nani, Anderson, Saha, Park, Silvestre, Pique, as well as Kuszczak, are likely to be the players fighting it out for a spot. But who deserves it?
Will the likes of Fletcher and O’Shea get a place because of their connections with the club, sitting on the bench in the same way P Neville, Greening and Brown did in 1999?
Or do the young, new talents of Nani and Anderson deserve to be played on the biggest stage?
Louis Saha has barely played all season through injury, does he deserve to be on the bench? Or is it a case of it being common sense to have a striker available to come on, regardless of how little he’s played?
Which players would you like to see starting and on the bench for United against Chelsea?
"Answer To Fergie's Problem: Who Would You Pick?" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.
comments (9) write a comment »
write a new comment
5 months ago
Van Der Sar
Brown Rio Vidic Evra
Hargreaves
Scholes Giggs
Ronaldo
Rooney Tevez
On the bench: Kuszczak, Silvestre, Anderson, Fletcher, Nani
Anderson needs to play at some stage, especially if we need to up the pace a bit. Fletcher always impresses against Chelsea. I wouldnt start Nani and I d even be doubtful about him making the bench, id nearly have Saha there.
5 months ago
VDS
Brown Rio Vidic Evra
Ronaldo Park Scholes Giggs
Rooney Tevez
BENCH: Hargreaves, Carrick, Nani, Fletcher, O'Shea
Hargreaves in if thr s a lead; Nani in if its a stalemate; Carrick can b a regular sub for Park; O'Shea for boosting defence
from 5 months ago
What about Anderson, Homeboy?
5 months ago
Park and Scholes in the middle?! That would be absolute suicide! I think I've seen Park play in the middle maybe once in the 3 years he's been at United! I think he will play but almost certainly on the left.
As for Anderson, well he seems to find himself out of favour at the moment – well not so much out of favour but just being kept out of the side by the outstanding form of Carrick, and to a lesser extent Scholes.
However, I fell Tevez will be sacrificed for a third man in central midfield and this place will be between Hargreaves and Anderson. Although Fletcher wouldn’t be a bad shout either. Fergie really trusts him in the big games and if he had played more games recently he would have pushed really close.
My feeling for the eleven at the moment is:
VDS
Brown – Ferdinand – Vidic – Evra
Hargreaves – Carrick – Scholes
Ronaldo – Rooney – Park
Subs: Kuszczak, O’Shea, Silvestre, Anderson, Giggs, Tevez, Fletcher, Nani
It’s seven subs in the CL guys! And Saha will probably push hard for a place, depending on fitness.
5 months ago
vdS
Brown - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra
Ronaldo - Carrick - Hargreaves - Scholes - Anderson
Rooney
Bench: Kuszczak, Silvestre, Giggs, Tevez, Nani, Park, Fletcher
4 months ago
VDS
Borwn-Ferdinand-Vidic-Evra
Scholes-Carrick
Ander-son-son-son
Rooney-Tevezs-Ronaldo
Subs: Kuszack, Park, Giggs, Silvestre, Fletcher, Nani, Hargreaves
Back 4 and front 3 pick themselves. The only spot up for grabs is the third midfield place. Chelsea are different to Barcelona in that they are more physical in the centre. This should mean Anderson or Hargeaves over Park. I prefer Anderson but Fergie has gone away from him in recent months. O'Shea and Saha are unlucky to miss out on a place on the bench.
4 months ago
Van Der Sar
Brown ---- Rio ----- Vidic ----- Evra
Ronaldo ---- Carrick ---- Scholes ----- Park
Rooney ------- Tevez
Subs - Kuszczak, Giggs, Nani, Hargreaves, Silvestre, Fletcher, O'Shea
I think the game is gonna be won in the middle of the park where Carrick and Scholesy will excel. Park's tireless running and coverage is invaluable and Evra overlapping always poses a threat for a cross from the left. With Nani, Hargreaves, Fletcher and O'shea on the bench we have good coverage if the midfield tires. Anderson will be unlucky to miss out. Saha is got one foot out the door already.
4 months ago
4 3 3 4 4 2
VDS VDS
Brown Ferdinand(Capt) Vidic Evra Brown Ferdinand (Capt) Vidic Evra
Fletcher Carrick Scholes Park Carrick Scholes Ronaldo
Park Rooney Ronaldo Rooney Tevez
Subs: Kuszack , Silvestre, Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson, Giggs, Fletcher/Tevez
Park is the key man for me. In a middle three Fletcher always impresses in big games. If SAF wants 4 in the middle then he will go for Tevez to patner Rooney. Good luck to Manchester United !
3 months ago
van der sar
brown - ferdinand - vidic - evra
ronaldo - carrick - anderson - nani
rooney - tevez
if Manchester have enof money then buy pato or bojan :P
write a new comment