FA Cup 5th Round *Spoilers*

Ripper

Ripper

Ripper

Soldato
Joined
25 Jan 2003
Posts
11,571
Location
Newark, Notts
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Bristol Rovers v Southampton, R5, 12:30 (BBC 1)
Cardiff v Wolverhampton, R5, 15:00
Chelsea v Huddersfield, R5, 15:00
Coventry v West Brom, R5, 15:00
Liverpool v Barnsley, R5, 15:00
Man Utd v Arsenal, R5, 17:15 (BBC 1)

Sunday, 17 February 2008
Preston v Portsmouth, R5, 16:00 (Sky Sports)
Sheff Utd v Middlesbrough, R5, 14:00 (BBC 1)

Surprisingly low number of premier league teams still in the competition (6/16).

Champions League next week so that might come into managers thoughts when selecting lineups tomorrow. United's back 5, as expected, should be:

VdS
Brown - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra

You'd assume Hargreaves will play in the Lyon game Wednesday so that might lead to him being on the bench tomorrow. I fancy Scholes to play Wednesday too so I can see tomorrows midfield/attack being:

Ronaldo - Carrick - Anderson - Nani
Tevez - Rooney

However Fergie might see this as an opportunity to give Fletcher a game, lets hope not though.

Arsenal have a few players out apparantly, most notably Clichy and Sagna are doubts, but they have Eboue and Toure back who can fill in where needed.

Hopefully it won't be a let down.
 
Well Carrick and Anderson works, so I wouldn't be against that. It's about time Hargreaves started more than 1 game in a row though. As long as Anderson plays I'll be happy, I expect Rooney to have a blinder too.

We need a real return to form, I think Spurs knocked the confidence which seemed apparent at Man City (which then really won't have helped).

And if we start launching the long ball in the air again I'm going to scream, someone needs to tell Ferguson that it doesn't (and never will) work.
 
Robson must be gutted he got kicked out before the game with Boro. I expect Boro to progress in their current decent run of form.
 
Breaking news. As of this minute Louis Saha is fit and ready.

Still a good 28 hours until the game though.
 
Ripper said:
Breaking news. As of this minute Louis Saha is fit and ready.

Still a good 28 hours until the game though.
Click to expand...

/Checks calendar for it not being April 1st

I expect a draw tomorrow and for us to hammer them at the Emirates
 
Loki said:
/Checks calendar for it not being April 1st

I expect a draw tomorrow and for us to hammer them at the Emirates
Click to expand...

Hammered? At aground where we have ony lost once, and outplayed the otherside in that game?

Isuspect you win 3/4-0 tomorrow as its the least important trophy left, and several players shall be rested.
 
I completely forgot Arsenal's African lads were back. That definitely helps considering our injury list.

Crocked, uncertain, or just plain out:
Almunia
Sagna
Clichy
Senderos
Djourou
Rosicky
Diaby
Denilson
Walcott
van Persie

Five first teamers, and almost a full team in itself! The biggest worry for me is Clichy. I think Traore has potential, but I don't think he'll be able to contain Ronaldo by himself. Eboue could end up playing right back for the game too, and with the injuries and Wenger apparently planning on resting maybe one or two players (Adebayor?), I honestly have no idea what the starting eleven will be overall.
 
Really can't see Arsenal getting anything from tomorrows game with so many injuries and an away tie to A.C. Milan midweek. No idea if SAF will rest any players but Wenger almost has to.
 
I don't expect a team of second-stringers, but I wouldn't be suprised to see maybe Ade or Hleb start on the bench. Then again, our squad is so limited at the moment we really don't have the players available to rotate!
 
Tombles said:
Really can't see Arsenal getting anything from tomorrows game with so many injuries and an away tie to A.C. Milan midweek. No idea if SAF will rest any players but Wenger almost has to.
Click to expand...

I can't see us getting anything. I couldn't see City even coming close to us last Sunday, or Spurs the week before. Both times we've been embarassed and now we're playing a proper team :(.
 
NokkonWud said:
I can't see us getting anything. I couldn't see City even coming close to us last Sunday, or Spurs the week before. Both times we've been embarassed and now we're playing a proper team :(.
Click to expand...

If we had our first team out then maybe but with the likes of Hoyte and Traore as full backs then :o

On top of that i could see Ade possiby being rested and Bendtner up front on his own with Eduardo going left midfield to make a 4-5-1, possibly Flamini rested too and Gilberto playing instead.
 
It really depends on which Man Utd turn up, when we are playing full of confidence I believe we can beat anyone (in the world) with our pace, skill, defence and forward play, but we look like a shell of the team we were a couple of months ago. :(.
 
Hmm just heard Adebayor and Flamini are fresh injury doubts and we only have 14 people to travel, those 2 included along with Senderos and Clichy who is also doubts. Doesn't change much to my original predicted lineup but not good to hear we have that many injuries.
 
Last edited:
Arsenal are going to get hammered as much as it pains me to say. Wenger looks like he's simply sacrificing this one, I suppose he has no choice.
 
I didn't realise Arsenal's injury list was so long either. It's a good thing the ACoN finished when it did.

I predict a draw tomorrow, a second-string Arsenal team against a United one with confidence at a low.
 
I reckon Man U will raise their game and win comfortably. They underestimated Man City and were punished, can't see them doing the same to Arsenal.
 
I hope it's not a let down at all - this is $15.99 on pay-per-view over here :( (yes yes could watch it online for free but its not as good as on a 65" HD TV!!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom