Are United in danger of being too cocky again?
Who can forget the 22nd April 2012, the banner read “Why Always We? 20” as United went 4-2 up against Everton to all but guarantee moving five points ahead of Manchester City with three games left to play.
Only as we all know only too well, United didn’t beat Everton, didn’t take any points from City at the Etihad eight days later and didn’t win title number 20 at the end of the season.
After such a traumatic experience last season you could forgive Sir Alex for not taking any chances this time round despite a 15 point lead at the top of the table.
According to the Mirror though the United boss is set to play a weakened side for the upcoming league game against Sunderland.
The Mirror notes:
Sir Alex Ferguson is set to play two entirely different sides in the space of 48 hours to preserve Manchester United’s Double push.
United take on Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday, then face Chelsea in an FA Cup quarter-final replay at lunchtime on Easter Monday.
With a commanding 15-point lead in the title race, Ferguson is set to rest most of his key players for the trip to the Stadium of Light – and pay to fly some of them home privately from midweek internationals.
Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney are among those poised to miss the game against Sunderland.
The writer of the article Dave McDonnell is usually quite reliable when it comes to United news- he was one of the first to break the Robin Van Persie transfer story in the Summer.
Even if United lose at the Stadium of Light that still leaves a 12 point lead should City beat Newcastle at the Etihad. Then there’ll be the upcoming Manchester derby which potentially could see the difference down to nine points with seven games to go. With tricky away games at Stoke City, Arsenal, West Ham and West Brom plus a tough home game against Chelsea still left to play, is it really worth taking any sort of gamble when it comes to regaining the title from City?
Am I being too pessimistic? Can United afford to take risks at Sunderland? Is the FA Cup well worth the gamble?
Feel free to comment suggest or abuse below:
Read More: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-united-set-field-two-1784409
He will rotate his squad with only rafael evra and Carrick playing twice these are the line ups I expect:
Lindegaard
Rafael smalling Vidic evra
Valencia Anderson Carrick young
…………………kagawa….,……..
…………………rvp……..,,,,
And for Chelsea:
De gea
Rafael rio Evans evra
Nani cleverly Carrick welbeck
……………….Rooney…..
…………….chicha………
The official statement sounds like asking why the bathroom is soggy. The author deserves credit for ably analysing and synthesing how and when United would blow their hefty chances away of claiming the 20th title which now seems to be within grasp. Remember to remember that our dear Manager and Captain have both concurrently been preaching against complacency in the title run-in. However, signs and symptoms are rampant in our camp about the same. Complacency does not necessarily require only players to avoid before, during and after every game! Managers as well also get diseased with complacency as is the case with Sir Alex Ferguson in the latter stages of the campaign. This is so because he is wholesomely satisfied that the 15 can and will not be reduced to either 0 or -1. Football is a game of numbering and numerical advantage. The Manager may also wish to be reminded that Man City had been at the helm for the better part of the first round and The People’s Team came from atleast 7 points behind to be at the summit. Id est, Man City have lost 22 points with United 0 so far from then.
To be precise,it is extremely inimical to field a feeble team against a resilient Sunderland who are well known for being stuborn whenever they lake on the Red Devils.
If at all the Manager insists to rest key players on Saturday,let the following,in my opinion,feature at the Stadium of light;
1.De Gea
2.Rafael
3.Evra
5.Ferdinand
6.Evans- if fit
17.Nani- if fit
18.Young
22. Scholes
26.Kagawa
10.Rooney
14.CHICHARITO
Subs:
.Lindegard
.Vidic
.Smalling
.Giggs
.Welbeck
.Carrick
.RvP
.Cleverly
.Valencia
“HAD I KNOWN ALWAYS COMES LAST”
“Once bitten twice shy”
The Stadium of Light was a terrible place for us last week. We won there 1-0, but of course it was the scene of our most painful moment in recent years. I think that memory will serve us well and that is why I don’t think Ferguson will put a decent team. I hope we put a good team out, but a lot will depend on the International games.
Team for Sunderland:
……………De Gea……….
Rafeal…Smalling…Vidic…Buttner
………Cleverley…Anderson……..
…….Young….Welbeck….Giggs….
……………Hernandez………..
Team for Chelsea:
……………De Gea……….
Rafeal…Ferdinand…Evans…Evra
……….Carrick…Jones……..
…Valencia….Kagawa….Rooney..
…………Van Persie………..
I think Nani is only just coming back from his hamstring injury, so he might be on the bench for both matches. Valencia was terrible in the FA Cup game against Chelsea, but I am still giving him a start in the reply. If there is one player that has managed to give Ashley Cole a hard time then it is Valencia.
Up utd.man utd should not play sunderland without RVP because he needs more goals and should be sub in the 2nd half
If SAT takes such a gamble and United doesn’t win title 20, then he should quietly take a bow from Old Trafford.
ADMIN:
based on all these well explicated arguments by staunch United Fans,what’s the new take now by the Manager?