Neil Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 Yep, probably the most important decision for Guardiola, that, as the rest of the team pretty much picks itself. I assume he'll be given game time in the remaining La Liga games and if he's deemed ready to face Man Utd then that's a blow to Man Utd. Abidal is one of the most improved players in La Liga in the past 12 months IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 Not sure if Abidal can get back up to speed quickly enough to make it at LB. But if Puyol is allowed to move back to CB with Pique then that's a massive boost for them. Huge. If Mascherano is playing CB Man United have a huge chance, the thought of him against the movement of Hernandez is hilarious. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Manchester United have home advantage too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Swift Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Barca have no suspended players and no injured players. They will also have la liga wrapped up pretty soon giving them a chance to rest some players. Their midfield is far superior and man utd's worse than it was in '09. Man Utd haven't got a chance. 3-1 Barca. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segun Oluwaniyi Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 I don't think anything Manchester United can put in the centre of midfield will be able to cause Barca any trouble. They are extremely average in this area of their team (maybe fourth or fifth best in England), and they don't really have much steel in addition to the rather pedestrian nature of them going forward. It speaks volumes about their management (and the dysfunction of Arsenal/Chelsea) that they lead Premiership with no dynamic play in this region. Unfortunately, they are going against the best midfield configuration in the world and will be flogged publicly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Swift Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Fergie or not, Man Utd won't be able to nullify Barca because they just don't have the players capable of doing it. There also isn't a 'book' on barca ie. A way you play to beat them. There is the ultra defensive tactic that Chelsea, inter, man utd and real have used in the CL but that's been for two-legged semis and again, Man Utd don't have the players capable of doing this. I could see them play like they do against arsenal but they would get caned doing so. They just can't afford to give barca that much time and space in their own half. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Personally I think we are a better team than 2009, and ManU a worse one. But anything can happen in a one off game, and I presume they will have the crowd advantage. Also, every time we are crowned favorites in a final we seem to lose it. Still burning from that 0-4 thumping in Athens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Fergie will try his best to come up with some devious plan, but at the end of the day Barca are a way, way better team and will run out winners by a couple of goals at least. I reckon Man Utd could well be beaten by Chelsea at the weekend and be down on confidence (as much as they ever get). They're just too average to win the Champions League and the Premiership, if either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gash Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 VdS O'Shea-Ferdinand-Vidic-Evra Valencia-Fletcher-Carrick-Park-Rooney Hernandez Would be my guess and that midfield should get absolutely torn apart by Barcelona. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 If either side wins this by more than one goal, I'd be very surprised. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Dunno if anyone cares but 4 of the 5 Brazilian teams left in it crashed out of the Libertadores last night. Bit of a shock. Santos must really fancy their chances now to win it especially if Estudiantes go out tonight. Bonkers considering the comparative budgets of the Brazilian team opposed to others in SA. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Dunno if anyone cares but 4 of the 5 Brazilian teams left in it crashed out of the Libertadores last night. Bit of a shock. Santos must really fancy their chances now to win it especially if Estudiantes go out tonight. Bonkers considering the comparative budgets of the Brazilian team opposed to others in SA. Aye, crazy results. I would like Penarol to go all the way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kingdawson Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 VdS O'Shea-Ferdinand-Vidic-Evra Valencia-Fletcher-Carrick-Park-Rooney Hernandez Would be my guess and that midfield should get absolutely torn apart by Barcelona. I'd play Nani ahead of Hernandez. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gash Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 VdS O'Shea-Ferdinand-Vidic-Evra Valencia-Fletcher-Carrick-Park-Rooney Hernandez Would be my guess and that midfield should get absolutely torn apart by Barcelona. I'd play Nani ahead of Hernandez. That's not what i'd go for it's what i think Fergie will go for, they're all workers. Nani will be saved for the last 20 mins i reckon to try and get something from the game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Nani can do damage, he's actually the lone ManU player that I fear the most (and Rooney if he regained early 2010 form). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kingdawson Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Nani can do damage, he's actually the lone ManU player that I fear the most (and Rooney if he regained early 2010 form). United have a chance if they play 4-1-4-1 --------------------Carrick--------------------- Valencia-----Park---------Fletcher-----Nani ----------------------Rooney------------------- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinmk Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Is Giggs out for the champions league final? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gash Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Nani can do damage, he's actually the lone ManU player that I fear the most (and Rooney if he regained early 2010 form). Aye Nani is their best player but i see Manure playing a similar way that we had to against you and Nani just won't be up for that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 kd has it spot on like Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froggy Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 I don't think Nani will start. I see it more as: Valencia Carrick Giggs Park Rooney Hernandez Wouldn't be surprised if he drops Park for Anderson. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kingdawson Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 I don't think Nani will start. I see it more as: Valencia Carrick Giggs Park Rooney Hernandez Wouldn't be surprised if he drops Park for Anderson. Giggs ahead of fletcher? against Barca? 3-0 Barca i say. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froggy Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 I don't think Nani will start. I see it more as: Valencia Carrick Giggs Park Rooney Hernandez Wouldn't be surprised if he drops Park for Anderson. Giggs ahead of fletcher? against Barca? 3-0 Barca i say. All depends on Fletchers fitness. If he's fully fit he'll start of course, but he's been out for two months with a virus and I don't think he'll start against Chelsea or Blackburn. Gives him one/two games to get match fit for Barcelona. EDIT: Should Fletcher be fit though I don't think it will be Giggs who makes way anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElDiablo Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Park Fletcher Giggs Valencia Nani Rooney Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinmk Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Giggs will start without a doubt I reckon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBG Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 When will Steve Mclaren get his natural accent back? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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