Sir Alex Ferguson will rotate his squad for the Champions League tie with Bursaspor tonight. The United manager, without want-away striker Wayne Rooney through injury, is set to pick several younger players for the Turkish champions’ visit. United’s double-header with Bursaspor could seal qualification to the knock-out stages.
“They have lost their first two games and maybe that is their lack of experience,” said Ferguson.
“The Champions League is not easy. With our home record we hope we can put it to bed.
“There are opportunities for one or two of the younger players who need experience – but that is not to say we are taking it lightly.”
Rooney’s ankle injury, caused by a training ground challenge from Paul Scholes, is perhaps an ironic relief to all parties. After yesterday’s dramatic events in which the United manager laid-bare Rooney’s “adamant” desire to leave Old Trafford and “disrespect” for the club’s position, Ferguson could hardly pick the former Evertonian.
With Michael Owen also out for around 10 days with a minor groin problem, Ferguson is likely to start Javier Hernandez, Dimitar Berbatov and Nani in a three-man attack. The Mexican scored against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, while Berbatov has seven goals in all competitions this season.
However, it is almost two years since Berbatov last scored a Champions League goal, versus Celtic in October 2008.
Meanwhile, United will also be without Ryan Giggs, whose hamstring strain forced the winger off against West Brom, and Jonny Evans who is suffering form a hip complaint. Park Ji-Sung is unlikely to play after complaining of pain in his knee, while Bébé is also unavailable for selection.
With Paul Scholes also likely to rest ahead of United’s visit to Stoke City at the weekend, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Darron Gibson will compete for two places in central midfield.
Bursaspor arrives in good form domestically, topping the league in Turkey with 20 points from eight games, but having lost all six European ties in the club’s history to date. The team has already lost at home to Valencia and away to Rangers in this year’s Champions League.
However the first-time Turkish Champions should welcome back star winger Volkan Şen, who was dropped for the team’s match against Karabukspor at the weekend as punishment for travelling without the manager’s consent to see his girlfriend in the USA.
It’s an experience that manager Ertugrul Sağlam says creates some sympathy with Ferguson’s current drama over Rooney’s impending departure.
“These problems occur from time to time with players,” said Sağlam.
“I know what it is like to have player problems but Manchester United have the depth of quality in their squad to know that whoever they put in to replace Rooney is likely to be of a very high standard.
“United are going through a troubled time.
“There is no reason why we cannot return to Turkey with a surprise result.”
United’s record against Turkish opposition is mixed at best, with Ferguson’s side having won only four of its last 10 matches and lost three of the last five. United has won two and lost two of its five home games against Turkish opponents, including a surprise loss against Besiktas last season.
Despite two opening defeats, Bursaspor supporters are still hopeful the side can progress this season.
“Glasgow Rangers and Valencia have Champions League experience that Bursaspor don’t,” Bursaspor News editor Ercan Baştürk told United Rant.
“But when the quality of the current squads of the three teams are compered, I don’t think it will be a suprise if Bursaspor finish the group in second place.
“It’s not easy to beat United at Old Trafford of course but there are three results in football so why not? It would be great for Bursaspor to win at Old Trafford.”
Bursaspor, only the second Turkish side to win the SuperLig from outside Istanbul, took the title last season in dramatic fashion. It’s a victory that inspired the town of more than two million, says Baştürk.
And in Sağlam Bursaspor possesses the country’s outstanding young coach, with a brace of promising players now forcing their way into the full Turkish national set-up.
“Sercan Yıldırım and Volkan Şen are outshining youngsters, I think they will attract attention,” adds Baştürk.
“Ali Tandoğan, Federico Insua, Ozan İpek and Leonel Nunez may suprise rival fans.”
With United on the lookout for a new striker, it’s the visitors’ chance to impress.
Opposition
Bursaspor (4-4-1-1): Ivankov; Ali Tandogan, Omer, Öztürk, Vederson; Odabaşı, Svensson, Insúa, Ozan Ipek; Batalla; Turgay.
Subs from: Özkan, Aziz, Vederson, Erdoğan, Çimşir, Ozan Has, Kiriţă, Yıldırım, Şen, Albayrak, Demir, Steinert, Tandoğan, Bahadır, Keçeli, Ergić, Núñez, Stepanov, Ramazan Sal, Tekin.
United squad
Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Amos, Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, O’Shea, Rafael, Fabio, Brown, Anderson, Nani, Carrick, Gibson, Fletcher, Hernández, Berbatov, Macheda.
Officials
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Elenito Di Liberatore & Luca Maggiani
Fourth official: Emidio Morganti
Additional assistant referees: Daniele Orsata & Andrea De Marco
Form
United – DWWDWD
Bursaspor – WLWLDD
what’s happened to bebe?
I don’t know what happened to Bebe. So many things going on, nothing surprises me now. Also, whats happening with Obertan?
He’s not in our CL squad innit. Gotta wait ’til Jan.
Ignore this I’m talking shit.
I need a foreign stream because I can’t be arsed with the commentators banging on about Rooney for 90 minutes. It’ll do my fucking nut.
The team will be good enough to beat Bursapor 2-0.
at the time, i really start to miss diouf whos on loan at BB…
How is Diouf doing at Blackburn? He scored some goals in his early games, have not heard much about him recently.
Diouf has a lot of drive like Rooney, just needs more experience. Should be alright after a season with Blackburn. Has great potentual.
Expect a draw…but fear losing 2:1-3:2-4:3along those lines.
BEBE???
Well if Bebe is no good, 8 million is a hell of a lot of money to waste. What video I’ve seen of Bebe in Portugal, he is a good player, plays with a lot of spirit and drive like Tevez. To really get a good judgement of Bebe playing in the United team, he will have to start a game, not come on and play for 10 minutes. He can play right or left wing, very quick and slick.
i would love to see us give the turks a good stuffing if only to show shrek that he aint the dogs gonads he thinks he is
berba to score a hat trick and sweet pea to bang a couple would be a real 2 fingers to the ogre
Not trying to be a funny bastard, but there’s only really one ‘kid’ in that side; Rafael, and he’s 20.
surely our midfield isn’t so shite we need to play three in there against this lot at home ff this whole night is gonna be a car crash
this wil do for math thread
Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Smalling, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Nani, Macheda, Park.
nice one Tel, well we wanted Taggart’s no old foggie yoooooof policy so here it is.
should be easy enough.. better be i have 80 quid on united barca and shalke
What a shit side!
an aþtack and midfield consisting solely of nani
massiveling, LOL
is that russian?
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson on his 2,000th game as a manager in professional football:
“It feels like the 10,000th after this week!”
any lnks to game?
3 in the middle at home against them Bursaspor
get in nani… he is really stepping up
Now dont lose the lead… get another2
http://www.espa.tv/embed.php?channel=anton3&width=780&height=560
1953: SENDING OFF Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham)
1953: PENALTY TO INTER MILAN
empty seats at OT
ae noticed that too.
Lads look up for it, btw, Inter Milan 2-0 Tottenham (Eto’o)
spurs are three down and a man down in 13 minutes
Harry proving that he has what it takes on the big stage against quality foreign opposition
Give him the England job
he is so small time, the tax evading cunt
Great defending from Raf
another mile a minute rant match thread, albeit I’m not watching the game either
Raf has been sound since Fergie remembered him
itel
Sopcast 74750
http://atdhe.net/26111/watch-manchester-united-vs-bursaspor
This stream is working well.
spurs down 4:0
oof… that’s gotta hurt.
come on reds, finish this off
what’s everyone having for dinner tonight – just had lasagne for the first time in years, fucking delicious shit that is
It can get worse….we could draw against Bursa
duck in hoisin sauce for me. good shit
Not getting too settled – we can still collapse
Yeah… I should eat summat… fuck all in the house though.
fuck yeah, good call, I think they have that shit in ready meal now. hoisin sauce is quality.
Currywurst-Pomfrites——
ready meal the cunt, quick now you have 15 mins to get sommink
currywurst and fries – you nursing a hangover?
cheap grubby oven sausage an chips
Indian food from Sainsbury’s. Quite generous portions, too.
Hey Alfonso, have you read Rooney’s statement on the reasons why he is leaving?
Also, last I checked,United were up 1-0. Nani in the 7 minute.
gonna eat me some chicken, rice and peas…wit some grits
herbie….you wanna bum alf??
ffs
Microwavable chicken korma
Nice if you let it cool cos the sauce thickens
alf luvs herbie
xxx gayboys xxxx
gonna order some real food
Your bitch?
jalfrezi, bhunna, madras or korma (gay?)
dude, chicken korma – hope you dropped some tabasco to fire that shit up
ffs, Tel started the thread about an hour ago and we have been going hammer and tong since. alf has gone out to get some chips be he’ll be back in bit so you can share his savloy
Fraid not. And there was hardly any fucking chicken in it, just 3 big bits
Having a nice glass of bollock-cold cider now though
People are going to start talking Herbie.
I’m trying to get in shape
Herbie is a blogger…. get him in the forum..we need fresh flesh
fuck that reminds me I have a bottle of White Beer at the back the fridge …
Too late… it’s already started.
you fatter than Capt?
Big Mac, and Fries… x 12
FFs how low have Manchester United come when discussing food is more important that the football.
Dal and Saag paneer
Got ready made chapattis as well.
Tabasco is for Bloody Marys… for cookin, “Daves” is the business.
half time – so what you eating? Tel’s Duck and Hoisin sauce is tonight’s winner
What shape is that?
Pumkin shape?
Genius. That is deffo on par with Tel’s duck and hoisin. Gangsta.
How pathetic is Park..he always try’s to get by bigger men and fucks it up.
Nobody is fatter than Cap.
top draw solo goal from bale
surprised he has not been so crocked this season – he’s developing well
Robbo?
wasn’t Spud a bit of a fat cunt too
not fat just robust
Looking at our bench tonight, it’s amazing that people still don’t appreciate O’Shea. Sure he’s not a world-beater, but he’s ok, and he just takes up one seat on the bench and could do a job across the back line or even in midfield if someone is injured. That allows us to have four attacking options on the bench, it’s great.
Nahhh just a cunt
I’m 93 kilo’s..so I should talk.
rotund
Should stick Obertan on instead of Carrick as an attacking mid, I think he has promise there.
Rafael has matured!
But we are outplayed in midfield by the Turks.
believe me, today is not the time to sing OShea’s creditials. please stop this. not tonight.
robust = rolly polly
yeah stick Obi on..dont matter that hes injured.
anderson not bad tonight and evra seems to have some legs
FFs Dannii stop telling us about your girlfriends.
ffs Utd… get another goal
Fuck of a collision there.
what’s the score
my god its quiet at old trafford….
i do like a robust arse mind with a hint of a jiggle
don’t let us stop you on your treadmill
I scored this morning….
The score is, no Rooney, no Ronaldo, no excitement.
Coutinho is quality
Bring on Hernandez
good move unlucky mechaa
is this the first match thread where none of us are watching
are we all watching rafas new side thrash someone and play great football
touching up Knobby doesn’t count
Good touch from Anderson there.
I’m watching, but it’s not any good.
I’m half watching United, half watching Inter
Both games aren’t great now. Tottenham’s shitness made this a write off after 14 minutes
Yeah but touching Knobby is more exciting than watching Utd play this second half.
Obi on for Park… that can’t be a bad thing.
he is going to be a bit special ist he. has everything
treadmills for benders to self conscious to go for a run
Only know him from the World Cup, but he was fantastic I thought.
Evra has taking a kicking tonight.
If we cant get 2 against this dull team…then we do have a big problem, even Gill & SAF must see that…
fuck this im leaving!!
The way Nani has developed over the past 12 months really gives me hope; he’s gone from hopeless to our best player. Now think about that fact that in our senior squad, the following are all a good bit younger than Nani, more than a year younger and in some cases several years younger: Obertan, Hernandez, Anderson, Bebe, Macheda, Rafael, Fabio, Evans, Smalling.
I find that very fucking encouraging.
We have been soooooooo ordinary… down the wings, cross the ball, keeper catches, run back to defend, win back ball, down the wings, cross the ball, keeper catches, run back to defend… and so on…
yeah but remember what fergie said, its a good thing we’re not 2-0 up here or wed be fucked
ESPA stopped the translation…
Are we going to blow the lead?
Anderson beating the badge as he walks off in front of the Stretty
He was gonna quit in Jan FFS
what happened to don macabre
Obertan clearly has the skills and the x factor
Why dunt he play more often
Is he an arsehole in the dressing room or something. He is French
A jet engine fell on him.
makes paper planes and hates Utd…utter utter cunt
72000 at old trafford tonight.. looked a lot less to me
Some decent anti Glazer chanting happening… I guess that’s something.
Thought you´d left Tel mate
what Obertan has shown tonight puts some Utd players to shame.
changed my mind.. its a triumphant return to glory
Another class goal from Bale
Another great Bale goal… fuck I wish we had signed him.
Bale again… that’s 3
Hatrick
Fucking hell
4-3 Inter.
4-3 inter bale hat trick.. what a hat trick it is
1;0..ffs
yeah but what about tosic
Well that was dull… still… got the win though.
So why do I feel like I couldn’t care less.
booooooooooooooooooooooo
he’s the one who shouldve replaced giggsn:es a utd fan ffs
and ramsey, fuckin cunt nev
Hey Alfonzo, you see what I’m saying about Obertan and Bebe although Bebe did not play, he was on the sub bench.
Needs to start these players, not bring them on for 10 minutes. Maybe you can go over there and show Fergie how to motivate a team because I think he has lost his touch.
Need to go to Stoke and put a good 5 pass them.
Despite their result against the Gooners I was expecting us to do that against the Baggies. Here’s hoping.
fuck me butty has aged fast, bald cunt
I think United will just have to play this season out and just push for a top 4 finish. Right now its not only Chelsea that they have to worry about.
Elementry my dear Watson
Do you always state the obvious…. or are you Alf’s Alta Ego?