ManU build-up thread

[Craig_H]

No time like the present...

I'd go with

Pepe
Finnan (if fit)
Agger (if fit, otherwise sami)
Carra
Arbeloa (to deal with the portugese nancy)
Benayoun
SG
Masher (to look after shrek)
Riise (to help deal with the portugese nancy)
Babel
Torres

Subs:
Charlie
Sami (unless Agger's out, in which case it has to be Hobbs)
Alonso (if fit, otherwise Lucas)
Kewell
Crouch

[Red Chilli]

There's no doubt in my mind that Crouchie will start this match.

Pepe, Finnan, Carra, Agger, Arbeloa, Kewell, Gerrard, Mascherano, Benayoun, Crouch, Torres.

[Craig_H]

There's no doubt in my mind that Crouchie will start this match.

Pepe, Finnan, Carra, Agger, Arbeloa, Kewell, Gerrard, Mascherano, Benayoun, Crouch, Torres.

Is that what you think or what you'd pick?

I think Vidic and Ferdinand would outmuscle and outpace him with their eyes shut. Cant see him being too effective if picked. Much prefer the explosive pace of Torres and the power & pace of Babel, ruffle their feathers and not give them a second of peace.

[AFII]

----------------Reina
Arbeloa-----Carra----Hyypia----Aurelio
----------Masch-----Lucas----------
-----Benny-----Gerrard----Kewell----
----------------Torres--------------

Subs: Itandje, Hobbs, Babel, Kuyt, Riise.

[Craig_H]

For the record, i cant believe we'll play two 'attacking' wide players. One attacking and one defensive IMO.

Maybe i'd consider Aurelio at LM instead of Riise, purely for the quality of his delivery from set pieces. But then Riise's more of a goal threat. Horses for courses.

[Craig_H]

Can people please state whether their lineups are what THEY'D pick or what they think RAFA will choose?

Cheers.

Surprised at no Finnan in your 16 AFII...he was on the bench tonight and will surely be ok for sunday.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

The same back 4 and midfield tonight for me.

Torres plays obviously.

Who partners him is anyones guess.

I'd like to see Babel start up top with Torres, but I'd settle for Crouchie playing.

[Red Chilli]

Is that what you think or what you'd pick?

I think Vidic and Ferdinand would outmuscle and outpace him with their eyes shut. Cant see him being too effective if picked. Much prefer the explosive pace of Torres and the power & pace of Babel, ruffle their feathers and not give them a second of peace.

Babel is not technically good enough to play against Vidic and Ferdinand IMO.

Crouch offers a different threat, and is perfect to hold the ball up for Torres to run onto.
Power and pace are like meat and drink to Vidic and Ferdinand, they are all about power and pace. Crouch has a bit more subtlty to his play IMO.

[Craig_H]

Babel is not technically good enough to play against Vidic and Ferdinand IMO.

Crouch offers a different threat, and is perfect to hold the ball up for Torres to run onto.
Power and pace are like meat and drink to Vidic and Ferdinand, they are all about power and pace. Crouch has a bit more subtlty to his play IMO.

Hmm, disagree. They'll pick Crouch off easily, he wont threaten them at all IMO. Hope i'm wrong, but i feel Babel can match power and pace with them and they'd find it tough going.

[Red Chilli]

Hmm, disagree. They'll pick Crouch off easily, he wont threaten them at all IMO. Hope i'm wrong, but i feel Babel can match power and pace with them and they'd find it tough going.

We'll see, I think the fact that Crouch didn't play this evening will indicate that he starts on Sunday.

[captainfog]

I would pick

Reina
arbeloa carra Hypia Aurelio
gerrard alonso masher Kewell
torres babel

I think Rafa will pick

Reina
finnan carra hypia Arbeloa
gerrard momo masher riise
Kuyt Torres

[Red Chilli]

I would pick

Reina
arbeloa carra Hypia Aurelio
gerrard alonso masher Kewell
torres babel

I think Rafa will pick

Reina
finnan carra hypia Arbeloa
gerrard momo masher riise
Kuyt Torres

2 defensive midfielders.

[Craig_H]

We'll see, I think the fact that Crouch didn't play this evening will indicate that he starts on Sunday.

Possibly.

I worry that Kuyt's hard working performance might've put himself into sunday's starting XI...in which case, we may as well play with 10 men because ferdinand and vidic will have him for sunday lunch.

[Craig_H]

2 defensive midfielders.

Yeah, it's rafa's favourite

[captainfog]

Yeah, it's rafa's favourite

I bet he does it, he is generally cautious in this type of game.