Welcome to … Moss Lane! Not quite, although Sir Alex Ferguson is seemingly taking Manchester United’s trip to face Galatasaray in Turkey about as seriously as an under-21 fixture in Altrincham. The Scot’s party of 21 players departed Manchester on Monday morning containing no fewer than seven men yet to make an appearance in European football. With United comfortably qualified for the knockout stages, Ferguson is bent on resting his first team ahead of key domestic fixtures to come.
Ferguson’s selection threatens to turn a frequently hostile atmosphere, and sometimes antagonistic match, into the dead rubber it has become for the visitors. Yet, with three teams locked together in Group H, there is nothing lifeless about the occasion for Galatasaray, for who victory would be a major stepping stone out of the group and into the round of 16.
Meanwhile, Sir Alex’ selection is unlikely to go down well in Braga, who did not benefit from such generosity of United’s spirit over the recent double-header, although the Reds’ defending almost made up for it. But if the Scot’s men are to get anything out of the 3300 mile round trip, they will do so without Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David De Gea and Robin van Persie.
Indeed, it is out with the old and in with the inexperienced, as Nick Powell, Larnell Cole, Davide Petrucci, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Joshua King and Marnick Vermijl come into the squad. Two, Tom Thorpe and Sam Johnstone, are yet to make their club debuts in any competition.
“We don’t consider the young players a gamble,” said Ferguson in defence of his squad selection.
“What we do consider is our reputation and we have to be fair to the other teams in the group. When we discussed the team for tomorrow we had to give serious consideration to how the media and the public would react, so we had to think hard about the team we picked. It will be a good occasion to see our young players introduce themselves to the public and the media. Our aim is to win.”
“It’s a big day for Phil Jones,” said Sir Alex.
“He’s been out all season but he’s done enough training now to make sure his fitness is okay. I’m looking forward to bringing him back. Phil’s had different types of injuries. He had concussion, he had a rib injury, but he’s young so he’s still to develop physically in terms of his body. He’s only 20 years of age so there’s plenty of time for him.”
“Shinji Kagawa’s progress has been quite slow. He’s not started any outside work and we’re looking at another four weeks away, which is disappointing.”
Still, while United may be without a rash of keys players the home support is likely to keep the atmosphere hot. It will be a severe test of United’s inexperienced squad.
The old Ali Sami Yen is no longer in use, although Gala’s sparkling new Türk Telekom Arena will play host to more than 50,00 spectators. The plush surroundings have seemingly had no ill-effect on the local’s capacity to generate noise. Cimbom’s fans were recorded at more than 130 decibels last season – about the same as a jet at 100 feet.
However, Fatih Terim’s side has taken just a point from two Group H home fixtures to date and has not won at home in Europe
in five matches, since beating Panathinaikos in the Europa League in December 2009. Gala lost 3-1 to Karabükspor at the weekend.
Still, with a youthful opponent in town, Terim is well aware of the opportunity for progression this season in a match the 59-year-old coach is billing as key to Gala’s season.
“I don’t understand why the media are focusing on Manchester United’s Istanbul squad,” said the former international striker.
“We shouldn’t dwell too much on it because it’s still Man Utd who you’re facing in the end. It’s clear that this match is one of the most important games in Galatasaray’s history. Hopefully, tomorrow we’ll see a historic night at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi. I am sure that the fans will be putting a lot of effort into their preparations for the game and will support us until the final whistle.”
That whistle is unlikely to bring the drama of United’s first encounter with Galatasaray in the Turkish capital – a night on which Ferguson’s side was knocked out of Europe and Eric Cantona saw red. Yet, with a full-house and electric atmosphere, it is likely to be another unforgettable experience – at least for those youngsters taking part.
Match Details
Galatasaray AŞ v Manchester United – Champions League, Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi – Tuesday 20 November 2012, 7.45pm
Possible teams
Galatasaray (4-4-2): Muslera; Eboué, Nounkeu, Cris, Balta; Altıntop, İnan, Melo, Çolak; Elmander, Bulut. Subs from: Ceylan, Zan, Nounkeu, Sarıoğlu, Riera, Yılmaz, Kurtuluş, Baytar, Amrabat, Baroš, Yıldırım.
United (4-2-2-2): Lindegaard; Vermijl, Jones, Wootton, Buttner; Cleverley, Carrick, Fletcher, Anderson; Hernandez, Welbeck. Subs from: Johnstone, Thorpe, Rafael, Petrucci, Cole, King, Macheda, Tunnicliffe, Powell, Young.
Officials (All ESP)
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo
Assistant referees: Roberto Alonso, Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez
Additional assistant referees: César Muñiz, Carlos Del Cerro Grande
Fourth official: Roberto Díaz Pérez del Palomar
Form
Galatasaray: DWWWDL
United: WWLWWW
Head to Head
Last 10: Galatasaray 0, United 2, Draw 3
Overall: Galatasaray 0, United 2, Draw 3
Prediction
1-1
itll be young and welbeck flanking hernandez with carrick at centre half
I don’t know what the team will be, but I doubt it’ll be that. Probably Fletch, Ando, and Cleverly in the middle. I’d like to see Powell start. I didn’t realise we are guaranteed top of the group as well as qualification, we should have a laugh here. I wouldn’t be surprised if the young lads actually play much better than the senior squad have been.
We’ll be getting beat but it doesn’t matter. Much prefer to let the youngsters have a chance than some shit fusion of the players who have been playing shite.
Oh and dear Ferguson, if you wanted to play Giggs in central midfield this would have been an acceptable time…
Looking forward to this, as long as fergie gives the young uns a go. My favourite games this year have been the league cup where some fresh faces had a go.
Give Powell a fair run.
Meaningless game in terms of standings. Give the young ones a go!
If Powell doesn’t start, expect Alf to rain down his old man mutterings with much gusto…
He’d be right too, if this game isn’t the perfect opportunity for ALL the young players to feature then what is?
Powell hat-trick; Galatasaray 2 Man Utd 7
tbf powell probably wont get off the bench, hes got two years of pointless loans to look forward to and then a successful club and international career once weve sold him because he questioned why hes not playing, obviously fans will call him a disloyal cunt for questioning taggart also
LKHF
faffing
This game worries me, dead-rubber though it is in its own right, it could still have an impact on the team if we lose badly, one defeat is a blip, 2 in a row could very quickly turn into a slump if the players’ heads drop.
Taggart should start by putting the LEAST experienced names on the sheet and working up from there.
This.
we’ll lose this but play well
looks a fairly decent team mixing youth with a little bit of experience
should have played this midfield on saturday instead of fannying around the way SAF did
reckon if we make it 25 posts on this game, it will be a miracle
carrick captain
a new low
evening unc
how’s aunty?
Ah, 90 mins of Welbeck magic.. ffs.
These cunts are tackling like maniacs… there will either be a broken leg or a sending off.
I have high hopes for young Powell.
that clunge game looks good
3 goals already
We are dire from set pieces.
Class run from Welbeck
Not bad, not great…
Decent half
Holding our own, in control for the most part
according to talksport were being outplayed jones has been terrible and shouldve gave away a pen
and welbeck has been outstanding
Jones did foul that cunt who ran from the half way line, aye, should have been a pen
Jones stuck with him all the way trying to muscle him off it, and in the end just threw him to the ground
Powell has looked pretty good. Depressing that a strikers and CMs can cross better than our wingers right now. Might be good to drop Valencia for a few games, both for his own form, and so that the team learns not to rely on him so much. Team is more balanced without him.
Few players looking a bit rusty, understandably, and we look really narrow at times. Apart from that not too bad all up.
We’ve got feck all going forward though…
Fletch just got bullied.
Juve beating the Renties… that’s cheered me up.
Fucking awful corners by Ando.
Ridiculous, small time outfit… they’ll lie down every chance now… I fuckin hope we win this game.
More great subs by Ferguson…
thursday nights looking busy for the rent boys
Juventus 3-0 Chelsea
Italians well worth a 3-0 win
Powell should be in the first team from now on
Powell looked good but he and the other CMs didn’t look much better than the rest (other than Giggs) and there were 4 of them.
I hate how good Vidal is. 9 goals already this season and he only cost £11m.
Yeah Powell will be a big players, lets just hope we can get the real talent around him. Put him in with RVP, Rooney, Nani and Kagawa and you’ll see a real talent!
Rent Boys were a bit unlucky in first half as they had great chances to score but didn’t take them. Juventus had quite a few chances and could have scored five or even six goals by the end of the game.
Europa league for City and Chelsea would be fitting.
Btw we wouldn’t have lost tonight had the ref had the balls to end off a couple of the galatasaray players. They looked determined to cripple as many united players as possible. Melo, in particular, was a prick.
Ref was a bit too weak for my liking.
Edit – Andy Mitten @AndyMitten Turkish journo being smart to SAF. “You were disappointed in ’93 and again now. Anything changed in 19 yrs?” SAF:”Yes, we’ve won it twice.”
Haha, it was their cup final, they were loving it. Overall United seemed content with a draw. Fergie’s post match comments made out as though we drew.
Their fans are fucking class though. That was a proper atmosphere – far better than anything in England.
Is that for real? hilarious!!
Those who watched the match, give us your ratings, from 0-10, on the young boys?