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I know what you mean, but "Barcelona's Rafael Marquez, although the latter soon moved on to the New York Red Bulls." suggests he wasn't at Barca for very long, whereas in fact he had a long and successful career there:

I worry about his quicksilver movement against Pique and Puyol, its the one weakness they have....

chicharito will annoy puyol

Anyone who thinks that Rooney will be the main source of danger against Barca is delusional. Chicharito has not only performed better this season, especially given how long he's played, but his ability to score a goal whether Man Utd win or lose is vital.

Just can't see past a Barcelona win.

However much I hate United I'll always support the domestic teams, but even wearing my most optimistic of British Propaganda tinted lenses you just can't see it.

Javier Hernandez has been a revelation, I admit that I'd heard nothing about him until that game against France in the World Cup.

As much as I hate Fergie's mind-games and moanings, you can't fault the signings he has made, as far as his greatest signing ever, surely Cantona for £1.2million would have to be considered for that?

Hernandez has had a great 1st season, hopefully he will continue to learn and won't suffer from the dreaded 'second season syndrome' where defenders work him out, and the player thinks he's made it.

One note of caution for Saturday's game - the likely money is on Utd playing their usual away-day formation of 4-5-1 which has served them very well this season in the ECL and they haven't conceded a single goal - Hernandez (with the exception of Valencia away where he came on as sub) has not scored or excelled as the lone striker in any of these games, indeed Chelsea away he has rather innocuous and was replaced after 65 mins.

Maybe SAF will opt to put him on after an hour and test out Pique & Puyol with his speed, as none of the Barca defenders have what you'd call electric pace.

Chicharito to make puyol think about retirement

This is the United team which will start:

-------------------Van Der Sar------------------

-----O'Shea-----Vidic-----Ferdinand-----Evra----

-----Valencia-----Carrick-----Fletcher----Giggs---

----Park----

----Rooney----

With Hernandez coming on if United are losing, if not, Nani and Scholes.

@guyastral

I don't see how you can make that statement with any conviction. Firstly Chicharito has had few problems settling into the pace of the English game, his language skills have also helped him settle in and I expect him to help out De Gea next season as well but I digress.

Secondly, having observed him for a season, he seems like a very loyal, level-headed character. As long as we are in the hunt for trophies and he is scoring goals, I see him in our colours for years to come.

@mediaman

Are you reading the same write ups as me? Pretty much everything I've read gives Utd. no chance, so not sure what "British Propaganda' has to do with it

he is not SAF best value signing, Schmiechel and Solskjaer would have something to say about that, But he could certainly turn into one of the best buys SAF has ever made, Barca should fear him on Saturday, i think utd will win as they will want to erase the memory of that fateful night two years ago.

He's an OK player. Not great. He just looks good in a good team like United who like to get it in the box and he snaps up rebounds and headers etc.

Sir Alex Ferguson needs to play a 4-4-1-1 with our best defenders, Valencia, Giggs, Park, and Carrick and then Rooney as the transition between Chicharito and the rest of the midfield. This is the best team against FC Barcelona.

....By our best defenders I meant..Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, and Fabio.

Cantona as Ferguson's best signing?

Surely Schmeichel at £500k, or even Solskjaer for a paltry £1.5m.

However you view it, Hernandez has the potential to be one of his best. Much will depend on how he can build on his debut season, however...

Absolute quality player. So much more effective than Berbatov. Reminds me of Michael Owen before he turned into a washed-up has been at Newcastle. Non-stop movement, great finishing and a desire to work hard for the team. He's the perfect foil for someone like Rooney, who likes to drift back and pick up the ball from deep.

United have to go with him and Rooney as that's their best attacking policy. It is what has served them so well the last 3 or 4 months. If they play 5 in midfield, yes they might constrict more space, but they won't be as potent going forward. The problem for United is somone like Nani, who although has plenty going forward is not very disciplined so won't be of much use against Barcelona, so they don't really have much choice. 4-4-2 and look to counter, hope Barca waste chances.

My beloved Reds will need to play at their peak on Saturday to beat our friends of Barca. We will need most of all,pace,especially in our back four. And ball retention will be paramount. Give the ball away to Baca and it may be a while before you get it back.
On both these counts,O'Shea fails the test.
I have never seen a player with so many games under his belt..give the ball so much to the opposition.And his speed (?)off the mark will see Xavi and co have a field day. Sorry,but Raph or Fabio has to play right back.Their attacking instincts,in tandem with Tony V will worry the left side of their defence.
VDS-RDS/FDS-RF-NV-PE--TV-JSP-MC-RG--WR--JH.
Love United...Hate Glazer.

@19: Agreed, on all counts. That's the team without a doubt. Barca are probably still favourites, but if our guys play like they played against Chelsea, particularly in that lightning first half, we'll give them a hell of a run for their money.

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

I completely agree with 1878onwards, that is the team that should take to the pitch. It will be tough, but we have a chance, we just have to take our chances when they come. It might have been a completely different game in 2009 if Park had scored with his early chance. let's not rue that kind of miss again.

Why I think we can win.

Firstly, let me say how much I admire this current Barcelona side, and particularly the worlds 3 best players right now, namely Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. Having been to the Camp Nou and felt the aura that surrounds the place if we have to loose to a club, even if we have to get taught a football lesson, there is no shame in loosing to this team.

Having said that, I dont believe that will happen. I have placed my money on a 3-1 united victory.

This United is far greater than the sum of its individual parts, perhaps as much as any of the top sides in recent memory they have forged a team that is balanced sweetly and on their day can beat anyone. They are incredibly solid at the back, a record of not having conceded an away goal in Europe for well over a year speaks for itself. They have the greatest manager alive, one who has made mistakes in the past, and at times has got tactics wrong in big games, but importantly, he rarely makes the same mistake twice.

Most importantly, the team I hope and believe he will pick on Sat almost picks itself. The only doubt I have is who will start at right back. This will be one of the most important decisions, I would love to see Fabio get the nod, but would be nervy about his naivety and rashness in the tackle at times. He could however, announce himself to the world in this game. I think Fergie might play it safe in his mind and go with O'Shea (please no) or even Fletcher - a big game player who might just be tasked with attempting to stop Messi.

Other than that, I think he will use the midfield of Park, Carrick, Giggs and Valencia. Rooney will play as a deep lying forward and Hernandez up top.

This I believe gives us almost perfect balance between compact defensive lines that aim to reduce the time and space and stop the golden trio from dominating the game. Barca's weakness is at the back, stopping them dominating also involves putting pressure on Pique as he brings the ball from defence and looks for one of the three to pass too. Hernandez is brilliant at this - he never stops harrying and closing down.

Leaving Valencia out wide is the perfect out ball from defence. Giggs, Park, Rooney and Carrick have the long range passing ability and speed of thought to spot the gaps they will leave at the back and I place Hernandez as one of the best in the world at splitting defenders and spotting any lapses in positioning, he also has blistering pace that can punish Barca if the play too high a line. We need the precision, pace and guile of our classic counter-attacking game to be at its best.

Overall, we are obviously underdogs. The media love this Barca team and praise them highly with good reason, with equal measure, they scorn the current United side unfairly. I think the football world is in for a shock this Sat.

If i'm wrong however, I will happily stand and applaud as they collect the trophy.

Come on Boys. Believe!

I want 2c nani in d startin line up cos he has al it teks 2 decide games n he has shown it dis season.if u look intently u find dt he his d best option up front.he did it against bayern last season alhto we lost,bt dis tym am sure we can win.
United 4 lyf.

Line Up:- GK: Van Der Sar, DEF: Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, MID: Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, ATT: Giggs, Rooney

4.4.1.1. Formation, probably turn into 4.5.1. when defending and 4.3.3. on the counter attack with Giggs supporting Rooney. Rooney best upfront to try and knick ball of Barca defence, as all their attacks start from the defence. Park would stop Alves overlapping and support Fletcher in hounding Xavi and Iniesta off the ball. Carrick recieve ball from defence and supply attack. Valencia great at supporting defence, which is why I think Fabio should play as he would be protected against Pedro but he is also great going forward too.

Possibly Fletcher on right to replace Valencia in line up, which would allow Hernandez to start up front with Rooney dropping into deep to crowd midfield.

He hasn't played for much of the second half of the season, but I think Manchester Uniteds best chance in this game depends on whether Fletcher is fit and ready to be in the starting line-up. I know alot of people don't rate him, and he's not exactly Keano, but I think he does his job well and he as well as Hargreaves was the missing link in 09 champs league final and Fergie highly rates him. C'mon UNITED!!!!

we need not fear barca, respect, yes, fear no, they will be as scared of rooney and chicarito, as we are of villa and messi, get park to terrorise messi, no need to tackle just steer him to vidic or ferdinand, let the full backs do there jobs and hit them hard and fast on the break, with valencia, giggs, rooney and chico, box to box in 10 seconds without the long ball, why need football be perfect when it can be so simple. the team of the 90's was so effective due to its pace, you attack, lose the ball, bish bash bosh they were in your 18 yard box, simlples !

I worry about all this talk of 4-5-1, flood the midfield, stop them playing, etc. I think Utd are at their best when they take the game to the opposition, and I think that would work against Barca.

True they may spend more time without the ball, and might look to counter, but Chicarito and Rooney for 90mins or a significant part of the game is more potent than stifling Barca and going for 1-0. I hope they go for it.

It's more likely that Fergie will go will with a more cautious line-up at least for the first half, seeing how it was that early few minutes that lost the final last time.

Bring Hernandez on at half-time/60+minute markwhen Puyol/Pique are slightly tired and see how things go.

I'd love for him to start, but I'm not sure 4-4-2 vs Barca is a good idea.

@ Downwithstevenage

You've got to be kidding me - do you not know anything about football

IT WILL MORE LIKELY BE

VAN DER SAR

RAFAEL FERDINAND (HE IS THE RIGHT SIDED CB) VIDIC EVRA



VALENCIA CARRICK GIGGS NANI/PARK



CHICHARITO

ROONEY

i give all my sorpt to barca to win manu

Chicharito is quick and direct. Piquet, Pujol, Alves, Abidal and Co will be thoroughly tested by the Mexican and his fellow Red Devils.

Nice and interesting blog Phil.


Dr. Cajetan Coelho

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