Capital One Cup - Fourth Round 30/31 October *** Spoilers ***

Cosimo

Cosimo

Cosimo

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Tuesday 30

Leeds v Southhampton, 19:45
Reading v Arsenal, 19:45, Sky Sports 2
Sunderland v Middlesboro. 19:45
Swindon v Villa, 19:45, Radio 5 live
Wigan v Bradford, 19:45​

Wednesday 31

Chelsea v Manchester Utd, 19:45, Sky Sports 1 and Radio 5 live
Norwich v Tottenham, 19:45
Liverpool v Swansea, 20:00​
 
I think if we play a strong defence on Wednesday we'll go through as our squad is much stronger than Chelsea's, given the injuries in defence though Fergie may not want to risk Evans and Smalling may still not be ready in which case it'll depend on how strong an attack Chelsea put out. Hope to see us play...

-------------Lindegaard-------------
Rafael---Smalling---Evans---Buttner
--------------Fletcher--------------
--------Powell-------Anderson--------
Nani---------Hernandez---------Welbeck

Subs: De Gea, Wootton, Scholes, Giggs, Cleverley, Young, Rooney
 
We'll get beaten by leeds. We'll put Boruc in goal, he'll be rubbish (again) and get subbed causing a fight between him and our manager, it'll be hilarious but depressing.

Then we'll give Cork a start to get match fit and he'll go off injured again :(
 
Tom84 said:
I think if we play a strong defence on Wednesday we'll go through as our squad is much stronger than Chelsea's, given the injuries in defence though Fergie may not want to risk Evans and Smalling may still not be ready in which case it'll depend on how strong an attack Chelsea put out. Hope to see us play...

-------------Lindegaard-------------
Rafael---Smalling---Evans---Buttner
--------------Fletcher--------------
--------Powell-------Anderson--------
Nani---------Hernandez---------Welbeck

Subs: De Gea, Wootton, Scholes, Giggs, Cleverley, Young, Rooney
Click to expand...

Not sure how SAF can "risk" Evans in a non crucial match with Wooton on the bench. Smalling needs games after coming back from injury, just a "pity" Rafael has to play (or maybe Valencia as RB?) as no other real options for that spot in the squad.
 
With City already out beating Chelsea would give the club a great chance of winning a trophy so I disagree that this is a 'non crucial' match (it was also purely wishful thinking on my part that Smalling could be involved, chances are he wont be)
 
Tom84 said:
With City already out beating Chelsea would give the club a great chance of winning a trophy so I disagree that this is a 'non crucial' match (it was also purely wishful thinking on my part that Smalling could be involved, chances are he wont be)
Click to expand...

Whether Utd win the league cup (and there is still a long way to go b4 the final at any rate) or not will not make any difference whether this season is seen as a successful one or not - whatever puff pieces are written on ManUtd.com or said by SAF to the press.

Bigger fishes to fry and all that.

I thought Smalling was ready to come back to, so Im disappointed he is still out. With that in mind its even more crazy to risk Evans and Rio but I guess one HAS to be used (unless its Carrick and Wooton at the back which I just cant see happening)
 
pingwing said:
We'll get beaten by leeds. We'll put Boruc in goal, he'll be rubbish (again) and get subbed causing a fight between him and our manager, it'll be hilarious but depressing.

Then we'll give Cork a start to get match fit and he'll go off injured again :(
Click to expand...

With our recent performances I'd be surprised even if we mustered up a goal.
 
FrankJH said:
Whether Utd win the league cup (and there is still a long way to go b4 the final at any rate) or not will not make any difference whether this season is seen as a successful one or not - whatever puff pieces are written on ManUtd.com or said by SAF to the press.

Bigger fishes to fry and all that.
Click to expand...

Personally I dont care what the media or anyone else perceives a good season for Man Utd be, it's a Cup Final, it's at Wembley, it's a chance to get a trophy in and give the whole club a lift going into the second half of the season and if we can knock out Chelsea it'll give us a great chance of winning it that alone to me makes it worth risking one of Evans or Ferdinand
 
Given how poor Evans consistently is, its more of a risk to not play him. He would defiantly be fit for Arsenal then.
Would love to see Smalling get some playing time if possible!
 
CliffyG said:
Strong team please Wenger!
Click to expand...

Won't it be less embarrasing to lose if we put out a weak team ;)

Seriously though I hope for Wenger weak team, as in, all of Wengers less favoured players, Arshavin, Eisfeld, Jenks.... I think I'd try Coquelin or Yennaris at left back, both are actually fit enough to play more than 12 minutes which makes them better than. Meh, I mostly just want to see Eisfeld get a chance, he looked really incredibly promising in preseason, good movement, good thinking, good decision making. Considering Gervinho is injured though and Giroud will start the next bigger game, I can see Chamakh getting started.... which could make anything Gnabry/Arshavin/Eisfeld do offensively, well, nothing on the end of it.

Although Chamakh could probably be effective you get to a stage that you know even if you somehow scored 10, the manager still wouldn't give you more than 3 minutes in the prem league in a dead game so why bother trying hard. If he does play I expect no confidence, no form, no fitness and no motivation... not a particularly good combo :p
 
Tom84 said:
Personally I dont care what the media or anyone else perceives a good season for Man Utd be, it's a Cup Final, it's at Wembley, it's a chance to get a trophy in and give the whole club a lift going into the second half of the season and if we can knock out Chelsea it'll give us a great chance of winning it that alone to me makes it worth risking one of Evans or Ferdinand
Click to expand...

IF the team gets there - who ever Utd get in the interim prior to that Wembley date (and what teams we are playing in different competitions around that meeting) are all determining factors as well

Its not like this is the Semi (which is of course 2 legs isnt it?)

With Utd 's current injury situation at the back, I just think its pretty risky and not worth it. Blooding at the very least Wooton a little more, makes perfect sense.

Always thought this competition (for the likes of the Utd's , Chelsea's , Arsenal's etc) should be capped to U21's or something (or < x amount of EPL starts) up to a certain point in the competition each season so that the youngsters really get a chance to play tv games and get used to the crowds etc

johnyccc said:
Given how poor Evans consistently is, its more of a risk to not play him. He would defiantly be fit for Arsenal then!
Click to expand...

Unless he gets injured of course!

(Its one of those things if he gets injured in an EPL/ CL match, but I always think its daft playing someone you dont currently have backup for in the competition which is least important)

Imagine HAVING to play Wooton and Carrick vs Arsenal for example.......Thats a disaster waiting to happen (as if Utd's defence isnt already)
 
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My team:

----------------Mannone
Yennaris---Djourou---Koscielny---Miquel
-----Gnarby----Frimpong----Coquelin
----Walcott----Chamakh----Arshavin

Not sure if Frimpong is up to starting a game though, may be better to pick Eisfeld and give Coquelin a holding role. Unlikely Walcott will start as well I think.... I gave starts to him, Kos, and Arshavin because they haven't got much of a look-in this season, for one reason or another.

Worth noting that the U21 team tonight against Blackburn was massively weakened compared to normal, so the likes of Miquel and Eisfeld are almost certain to be involved in some shape or form tomorrow. LB will be an interesting choice, Miquel's best position is arguably at CB but there are some people who think he could provide an alternative to Santos in the first team, on account of the fact that he knows how to defend and there's a better than 50:50 chance he might actually be within 20 yards of the rest of the backline when the opposition are attacking.
 
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Tom84 said:
-------------Lindegaard-------------
Rafael---Smalling---Wootton---Buttner
--------------Fletcher--------------
--------Powell-------Anderson--------
Nani---------Hernandez---------Welbeck

Subs: De Gea, Evans, Scholes, Cleverley, Young, RVP, Rooney
Click to expand...

nice team, but I'd probably go with these two changes like this.

I don't believe Giggs has a place in the United team any longer, no legs, horrendously mistake prone, better options in the centre of midfield in Cleverley, Anderson, Fletcher, Carrick, Powell and Scholes who should all be chosen ahead of him. Experience is one thing, experience without the reactions and ability gets you nowhere.

Genuinely want to see Powell given more time on the field with the Seniors. He's a brilliant prospect and has tons of potential.

I'd love to be able to see something like this tried, ton's of creativity and youth/energy to supply RVP. never happen obviously, but just as an experiment. I think Cleverley has shown he has the crossing ability and with Rafael flanking him with pace would be interesting.

-------------De Gea-------------
Rafael---Smalling---Evans---Buttner
--------------Anderson--------------
--------Powell-------Kagawa--------
Cleverely---------RVP---------Rooney
 
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