Can The Reds avoid a repeat of Rome?
There are easier tasks than this. Finding a way to beat one of the best teams ever to walk onto a football pitch is not easy but Sir Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United team must find a way of doing that if they are to lift the European Cup at Wembley.
These are my propositions providing everyone is fit and available.
First things first, United win the defensive battle. If Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are fit then that will be a huge boost. United have only conceded four goals all competition, half than Barca, so there’s already reason to be in confident mood.
But here’s the conundrum: How do you stifle that Barcelona midfield but attack them at the same time.
The best way to get at Barcelona is down the wings with pace, so I would definitely start Antonio Valencia on the right. His pace, crossing, dribbling ability, defensive work and finishing would cause any team problems.
On the left I’d have Park Ji Sung, purely for his tenacity and longevity. He can harry and hassle that Barcelona midfield all night long while others take advantage of the space that it creates. Park did this supremely well in the first leg against Chelsea and it proved vital.
The dilemma left is who and how many you play in central midfield to stem that unbelievably strong Barca midfield as well as having enough players to go forward and create chances for yourself.
One way to go about it would be to sacrifice a central midfielder and play Rooney off Hernandez with Giggs and Carrick in the middle. This may be a risky strategy against a team with Barcelona’s prowess in midfield but it would give United more attacking options, something which Arsenal suffered badly from when they played Barcelona in the Nou Camp.
In that game, Robin Van Persie was completely stranded up front and had very little support from the Arsenal midfield, thus allowing Barcelona to take control and continue to attack wave after wave. With Rooney playing behind Hernandez, you would not have the same problem because Rooney would act as the linkup man between the midfield and attack.
The problem this leaves, though, is the vulnerability of the midfield. When you have the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta up against you, you need all the midfielders you can get. However, Arsenal used a similar lineup to this at the Emirates and it paid off as they won the game 2-1, albeit courtesy of some wayward Barcelona finishing.
If you were to play this team then the key would be to score first and take a lead into the second half where you can then use your replacements to hold onto that lead.
My bench would be: Kuszack, O’Shea, Smalling, Fletcher, Scholes, Anderson, Berbatov. If United were leading on the hour mark then I would bring Fletcher on for Hernandez and play a five-man midfield with Rooney up top on his own. I’d also be inclined to bring the anergy of Anderson on for Giggs.
Or you can pack the midfield and sit back…
I think this strategy would prove successful in preventing Barcelona’s making forward progress. The energy and tenacity of Fletcher, Anderson and Park would stifle that midfield but the problem you have is who would support Rooney up front.
If you were to do this then I’d also consider to perhaps start Nani ahead of Park, purely for his attacking outlet and ability to create something out of nothing. But his lack of defensive qualities would count against him.
This choice of lineup would force you to flood the bench with attacking options, the likes of Berbatov and Hernandez would have to be there.
My choice…
My starting XI would be somewhere in the middle, you need the energy in the midfield but you can’t afford not to have an attacking outlet. The other key decision is who to start at right back; John O’Shea or Rafael Da Silva. I’d edge towards O’Shea, purely for his experience.
I also feel that Giggs has to start. He maybe getting on a bit but a man with two Champions League’s winners medals cannot be left out. He was the star of the show against Chelsea and the United midfield can look lost without him. I’d start him behind Rooney so he can play the free role, linking up between the striker and midfield.
Bench: Kuzsack, Smalling, Fabio, Anderson, Scholes, Nani, Hernandez.
Having conceded four less goals than Barcelona in the competition and gone unbeaten so far, there are plenty of encouraging signs for United fans as we look ahead to a European Cup final against the mighty Barcelona at Wembley. And it does not get better than that.
Shut up Steven or simply fuck off, you want a reply? zzzzzzzzzzz …there.
Shut up Steven or simply f*ck off, you want a reply? zzzzzzzzzzz …there.
Remember to give your comments….after reading this post….See guys…there is a tactic to beat barcelona..barca makes their opponents to sit in their own half including forwards and make them run for the ball.also they play with high defensive line and they mostly play with 2-3-4-1 formation piqve puyol alves busque abid mes xavi inie pedo villa so only they r easily passing the so fluid and can also press the opponents so easily with 7 players and immediately dispossess the opponents and even great teams are looking soo small before them…the only way to play them which most teams not doing is to press their midfielders and defenders…and barca doesn’t know to defend….their philosophy of defending is to hold the ball,pass it and attack…even in knock out stages with high aggregate scores they will only attack,because with their formation and tactics they can’t defend…so united have to play with 3-1-3-3 formation evns ferd vidic carrick rafel flet evr/and valencia roon park so if we play with this formation we can easily press their mid/defenders and interpt their passing….it also makes them to play with their back towards goal so we can easily nullify their attack…this barca team has many flaws…since they play with a style which no teams are accustomed to,and also oppo managers not using brave tactics….this barca team looks best of all time.. Remember to give your comments…
Pretty much no flaws. Typical English arrogant attitude towards foreign teams who can play football at much higher level than them. ‘Yeah but they can’t defend they say”.
Remember to give your comments….after reading this post….See guys…there is a tactic to beat barcelona..barca makes their opponents to sit in their own half including forwards and make them run for the ball.also they play with high defensive line and they mostly play with 2-3-4-1 formation piqve puyol alves busque abid mes xavi inie pedo villa so only they r easily passing the so fluid and can also press the opponents so easily with 7 players and immediately dispossess the opponents and even great teams are looking soo small before them…the only way to play them which most teams not doing is to press their midfielders and defenders…and barca doesn’t know to defend….their philosophy of defending is to hold the ball,pass it and attack…even in knock out stages with high aggregate scores they will only attack,because with their formation and tactics they can’t defend…so united have to play with 3-1-3-3 formation evns ferd vidic carrick rafel flet evr/and valencia roon park so if we play with this formation we can easily press their mid/defenders and interpt their passing….it also makes them to play with their back towards goal so we can easily nullify their attack…this barca team has many flaws…since they play with a style which no teams are accustomed to,and also oppo managers not using brave tactics….this barca team looks best of all time.. Remember to give your comments…
the key would be to not let them score in the first half. my team would be
————vds————–
fabio—-rio—vidic—–evra
—-fletcher—carrick——-
valencia—rooney—-anderson
———-berbatov———–
this way we can defend in numbers and counter attack with pace.
Berbatov is a must. Barca is like Arsenal – and we all saw what Arsenal did with the possession that United surrendered automatically by starting Chicharito instead of Berbatov. Berbatov is the genius who can undo Barca – and they will not even see it coming!
To Steven R- On Fletcher against Spain: different team, different coach. He is key. Ask the Barca coach. Google Pep’s comments on Fletcher and missing the final in Moscow. For all your football knowledge I am suprised you don’t see the importance of fletcher in big games. Look at the stats. We rarely loss games when he’s on the field. Especially big ones. He only scores big goals too. Which you need in a final.
I hope Carrick doesn’t play. It would be disastrous. Playing him will be the downfall. The way Barca pressurize , he wouldn’t handle. He plays well against Chelsea because they don’t put pressure on him. I know that. People can’t see that. I hope he plays on Sunday against Chelsea though 🙂
We are the underdogs, no doubt. This year’s team has been basic, hard working and highly spirited. Quite frankly we have over achieved. I just hope we show up and make it a contest in the final. That’s all I ask. Pulling off a win would be a miracle, but hey, you never. We would have to play a perfect game.
Fletcher will be against an even better midfield since Xavi wasn’t playing for Spain. He is an honest player – no more. No chance of getting close to Barca trio. Big games were mostly against Arsenal. This is Barca who had 73% possession against them.
I’d love to see Nani against their choice of left back (If they have one fit)
Would be embarrassing. Abidal is top class and would make mince meat of him. Shows your lack of knowledge that you can’t even name him and do not know him but pass judgement.
@ Steven R
Good pint mate. Thanks for sharing your opinion. But how can you compare United to Scotland? How can you compare United vs Barca to Scotland vs Spain? It’s show your lack of football understanding, innit?
No because Spain play very similar to Barca and have best midfielders in world. Barca will have most possession against United and reduce them to looking like Scotland. I’m not comparing United to Scotland. I’m putting Fletcher in a context against top class team. In that match he didn’t make a tackle, he was chasing shadows all night. He is a honest grafter – that’s all. And if you think you will disrupt Barca possession you are deluded. How may defensive stiflers do you think Barca face each week? Routinely overcome them. Xavi and Iniesta will go down as best CM’s of their kind in history.
I know how Spain plays and how Barca plays. Do you know how United plays? Why do you think Barca will make United look like Scotland? Because Fletcher didn’t make a tackle? It’s not one man game, mate. It’s team sport. Scotland Fletcher and United Fletcher are different. Giggs never qualified world cup with Welsh. But he has won every possible trophys with United.
@ Steven R
the best 3 man midfield of all time.
LMFAO. You must be kidding, right? Xavi & Inesta are good players. But not the best ones. For Busquets, he isn’t even football player. May be he is the best actor of all time. He should have won Oscar nomination for his action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8w47iFQ96Y
Well they are regarded as potentially the best team ever. Xavi and Iniesta are regarded as best Cms in the world and have been for quite some time. They form the nucleus of CL, World and European winning teams. Busquets is a terrific holding player. Whether he acts or not has nothing to do with ability. Very strong evidence for the case and most intelligent, knowledgeable football minds would agree. It might help if you watched them week in week out in La Liga as opposed to your heros Flecther and Carrick in PL. But what do they say: Honey was not meant to be tasted by donkeys.
LOL. Little while ago all 3 of them was the best midfielders of all time and now only 2 of them the best for quite some time, huh? Which makes you to change your mind withing an hour, mate? I already agreed Xavi and Inesta are good players. Bur I can’t agree with you for Busquets. No matter how hard you try. For me he is a only cheating bastard. Forever.
You would probably choose Frank ‘ I got a good shot but no idea how to play cm’ Lampard and Steven’ I too have a good shot and can hit many hollywood passes that often concede possession. I have no idea how to play cm either” Gerrard.
This are your heros who have been spectacular on the international stage outclassing Spanish, Dutch and German midfielders on the International stage for years. Sarcasm. I know your type. You love all things PL. Incredibly overhyped players. They lack continuity in possession, ability to play simple, positional play, touch and associative play, ability to control game, general understanding of cm position. They are basic attacking midfielders. Xavi and Inietsa are regonised as not only good, but as exceptional players who will go down as true legends. You only watch PL and CL so passing comment of things you don’t know about is unwise and shows you up. I bet you love David’ I scored a goal against Greece” Beckham as well.