Sir Alex Ferguson must do without injured quintet Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Jonny Evans, Michael Owen and Anderson for Manchester United’s match with Marseille at Stade Vélodrome tonight. The 69-year-old Scot is also without long-term injured pair Owen Hargreaves and Antonio Valencia for the Round of 16 Champions League tie with the French League 1 winners.
The rash of injuries, together with Marseille’s improving recent form, make for a challenging away tie. That United has scored just nine times in the club’s last eight Champions League matches away from Old Trafford is instructive of Ferguson’s seemingly negative approach to these games, although it’s an outlook that works: the Reds have won nine of the last 10 European games on the road.
Indeed, Ferguson is almost certain to retain the 4-5-1 shape the Scot adopted against non-League Crawley Town at the weekend, with either Wayne Rooney or Dimitar Berbatov spearheading United’s attack.
The match marks the first of four away trips in a row that are likely to define United’s season. Next weekend United go to Wigan Athletic, followed by trips to Anfield and Stamford Bridge in March.
“We have an important few weeks coming, there is no question about that,” said Ferguson.
“We are just starting four away games on the run, which is a great challenge for us. They are all fantastic matches but it is a time we should enjoy. They are big games and in that situation, the players don’t let us down often.”
Still, with the Champions League of primary focus Ferguson is confident that United can progress, despite the passionate atmosphere that awaits United in France.
“The Champions League this season is very open. There are a number of teams that can win it. The opportunity is there for anyone in the last 16,” added the Scot.
“But tomorrow [Wednesday] is when the competition really starts for us. They’re a very powerful team, very athletic, strong defenders.
“Marseille isn’t the easiest place to get a result. There is an atmosphere, an emotion at the Stade Vélodrome that is unique. I’ve often been to matches here and the fans have a genuine power over their players.”
With Ferdinand remaining on the sidelines and Evans suffering with an ankle problem, Chris Smalling is likely to partner Nemanja Vidic at the heart of United’s back-four. Rafael and Fabio da Silva will also be available despite coming off against Crawley last weekend.
The match will also reunite the Reds with Argentinian defender Gabriel Heinze who left Old Trafford in 2007 following a much-publicised fallout with Ferguson. Heinze joined Marseille two years ago following a spell at Real Madrid.
“It wasn’t easy at first with him being a former Paris Saint-Germain player. There is a big rivalry with Marseille,” said United’s French full-back Patrice Evra, who replaced Heinze at Old Trafford.
“I am happy to see him doing well and he will get a big ovation when he comes back to Old Trafford because he played so well for United.”
Meanwhile, Marseille could be without a trio of forwards, with Andre-Pierre Gignac out for a fortnight, and Loic Remy and Brandao facing late fitness tests. César Azpilicueta will miss the rest of the season with a ruptured knee ligament.
But Didier Deschamps side is in improving form, having begun the season in an inconsistent vein. Now three points adrift of surprise leaders Lille, L’OM has won five of its last six fixtures.
“I’ve watched some of their games this season and you can see they are a good team and they have a great manager in Didier Deschamps, who was my coach at Monaco,” said Evra.
“He is not afraid of any team and I know he will get his players motivated before the game so they play with no fear. It’s a dangerous game for us because we are favourites so in a way Marseille have nothing to lose.”
It was also the case in 1999 when the sides last met. United, then European Champions, lost 1-0 in France.
Opposition
Marseille – 433 – Mandanda; Kaboré, Diawara, Heinze, Taiwo; González, Cissé, Valbuena; Rémy, Brandão, André Ayew. Subs from: Jordan Ayew, Cheyrou, Andrade, Mango, N’Diaye, Fanni, Sabo, Lowinsky, Kaboré, Abriel, Moulet Abbes.
United
United – 451 – van der Sar; Rafael da Silva, Vidic, Smalling, Evra; Nani, Scholes, Fletcher, Carrick, Rooney; Berbatov. Subs from: Kuzszazk, Brown, Gibson, Bébé, Lindegaard, Fabio da Silva, O’Shea, Obertan, Hernández, Tunnicliffe, King.
Officials
Referee: Felix Brych (GER)
Assistant referees: Thorsten Schiffner (GER), Mark Borsch (GER)
Additional assistant referees: Peter Sippel (GER), Babak Rafati (GER)
Fourth official: Knut Kircher (GER)
Form
Marseille – WWDWWW
United – WWWLWW
I just want to see us play well… is that too much to ask?
I will be delighted if:
1) We don’t suffer any more injuries; and
2) We’re still in the tie at the end of the 90 mins tonight.
Not arsed about a performance tonight, either. We won’t win the Champions League. Let’s at least try not to fuck up winning the Premier League whilst we’re top of the table and in control of the destiny of the title.
Tonight’s confirmed line-up:
Van der Sar, O’Shea, Vidic, Smalling, Evra; Fletcher, Gibson, Carrick; Nani, Rooney, Berbatov
Bench: PIG, Rafael, Brown, Scholes, Obertan, Chicharito, Fabio
So much for a good performance, Alf, eh? It’s all about managing expectations these days.
Awa
Away from home, yes – that’s far too much
not to happy with the team but it can be done, i have faith in fergies know how
backed united 2-1 berbs to score last and inter 2-1 gomez to score last
I don’t know Sheeshy… I suppose that kind of line up was expected… with our injuries and our limitations… what else was there?
At home, Fergie may have started Scholes… and that’s probably the best defence we’ve got available… why O’Shea ahead of Brown though?
Is Fergie playing 4-4-2, or is he shunting Rooney out left?… Probably the latter… I suppose it depends how the game’s going…
Gibbo? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Gibson, Carrick in midfield, how can a club like united be forced to rely on such shite
I suspect Gibson’s going out left, since Ferg’s tried him out there a couple of times recently. TBF I think he was alright there in a recent match, I can’t remember which one now.
I suppose the good news is that this means Roo and Berba might be together up top? Anyway, come on the lads!
come on united.
united first , fun later
MANCHESTER IS MY HEAVEN- SIR MATT BUSBY
That midfield is bobbins. This is going to be painful to watch and I can seriously see us getting dicked tonight.
Gibson, Carrick, Fletcher
…
Is it 442 with Fletch on the right and Rooney & Berba up top, or Rooney sat in front of a diamond or summat
I’ve a gut feeling that Berbatov will have a big say tonight.
2 footed challenge from motherfucker heinz on nani in 1st 20 secs
unlucky there by nani
good lay off from berbs
Have finally lost faith in Taggart. Claims he wants a win tonight, but O’Shite and Gibson? Wtf? At least Berba and Shrek are on. Hrm. Hope I’m proven wrong but shitting myself now…
gibson needs to impose himself – a couple of hefty challenges will do the trick
faffing carrick
Nani, you big girl.
ooo… Fletcher didn’t quite get through that.
Nani’s got Heinze beat any time he wants… I can see Heinze either injuring Nani, or getting sent off, before the games done.
We are the better team by far…
So far…
playing some decent stuff thus far
Can’t see Rooney gettiing as much out of the other full back. But then, you can’t beat a bit of Fanni…..
Were doing all right considering
vidic passing awful
getting scrappy
The Arse up 1-0…
run fat boy run
come on reds
Well… so much for our spell of superiority.
Nani… ffs…
stop the faffing lads and get the ball into their area ffs
they are a bunch of dirty cunts tho these french cunts
why is shrek playing so far back?
The passing is poor, that’s why our away form is shit
Fletcher, Gibson & Carrick have very few ideas between ’em
They’re trying too many optimistic long balls that come to nothing
And there is little movement from those 3 cunts when we’re in possession
So, typical away performance
Because our midfield is so fuckin shit… it’s the only way he can get the fuckin ball… Berbatov is completely isolated again… and it’s the same fuckin story week after week… I’m getting well sick of this… open your fuckin eyes Ferguson… your team needs an upgrade.
scholes even now does more running than gibson and carrick combined
Our best player has been Smalling… ffs… how depressing is that?
Some cunt using a laser on Nani…
carrick cunt ball
Carrick should be hung, drawn and quartered the cunt is useless.
nani needs to change his studs ffs
3rd slip this half
Started well… finished poor.
Nani has tackled himself more times than Heinze has. Not a bad performance so far but some wasteful passing by Carrick in particular.
carrick needs to come off and made to sit on the bench wearing a hat with a propeller on it. cunt!!!
No balls in the midfield or from OShea.
Rafael and Scholes please.
wow
looks like gibson had a good half compared to carrick
marseille should be prised open and rammed
this fingering and pussyfooting is not working
berbs hasnt had much service and im sure he can penetrate if he had a decent ball thru to him
smalling is effective and in control when called upon
In some respects, we’ve played collectively a bit better than I expected.
OK, our midfield is shit, which is why we are under the cosh at times. You look at the slo-mo replays and see Marseille players waltzing past Carrick as if he isn’t there. He really is a complete waste of space. Fletcher hasn’t done a great deal. Gibson hasn’t put many tackles in put he has played a couple of blinding balls to Nani. Nani has been frustrating at times. He is either too selfish/blind to spot a pass but you just know he can put a decent ball in. Hit the ball first time FFS.
Defensively, however, we have looked fairly decent. Smalling has been immense, O’Shea has put in some really good blocks but his distribution of the ball is shit, Vidic has been Vidic and Evra has been OK.
Game has been shit as a spectacle. Looks like a 0-0 or a sneaky 1-0 to either side is in the offing.
SAFs 182nd european game apparently
come on reds
win it for the gaffer
dirty french fuck on vidic
Gibbo’s not done bad. And Smalling. Fletchers trying but Carrick is absolutely anonimous again, what a fuckin passenger he is. Service to Berby none existent, Nani flattering to decieve again. Amazed how negative and devoid of ideas Marseille are.
so fucking pedestrian by united
Even Berbatov has dropped back looking for the ball now.
Bring on Scholes.
Someone should get some dog shit and rub it in Carrick’s face.
scholes on for carrick
send sweet pea on for berbs i guess
hey dannii
where the fuck u been
cooking dinner for ur bender buddies again?
Three one legged grannies in wheel chairs would be more dynamic than fletch, gibbo and shit eater carrick
Why be cruel to dogs mate ?
sitting any further back and we’d be in the stands
come on u cunts
This pitch is a pudding… no excuse for this rubbish, but still…
thats right u fucks
invite them on to ur arses
ffs start playing u cunts
Taggart don’t give a fuck – only 30 mins until he can taste whiskey again. Giggs, Ferdinand, Scholes to be saved for the rent boys.
Im starting to worry now FFs you red nosed jock cunt get Scholsey on
Game’s opening up a bit now… good time to bring on Scholes.
someone shud smear that dog shit in heinz’s face too
What a shit midfield….. Fergie is deluded.
!ABSOLUTELY BOLLOCKLESS THIS MIDFIELD, TOTALLY BOLLOCKLESS” WHEN THE FUCK IS FUNGUS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? OR MORE TO THE POINT, WHEN IS FUNGUS GOING?
gET THE TITLE WON AND LEAVE. THANKS.
Don’t think he will – Wino deffo thinking about the BumBoys.
nani ffs
shooot urself
Which is the shittest midfield?
Kleberson, Miller and DjDj OR
Gibbo, Fletch and Carrick
That is some fucked up shit.
Scholesy on
scholes
come on
Have gibbo, fletch and Carrick got a bollock between them.
A bet Carrick is a virgin.
Finally that deluded geriatric cunt is bringing Scholsey on
That half bottle of Teacher’s he necked at half time is wearing off.
That negative prick squats to take a piss. What a fuckin charmed life that bollockless twat has lead. Bit part player at Spurs, bit part player at West Ham. I’ll bet Robbo Incey and Keano are squirming in their armcharis watching this useless passenger.
Christ this Superbock is going down a treat.
Don’t kiss your granny when she’s shaving!
Look at the difference… Scholes has probably had more successful touches and passes, in 6 minutes, than Fletcher/Gibson/Carrick, combined in 60… ridiculous.
sweet pea time
the difference is scholes wants the damn ball
those other cunts are afraid of it
Not only that… but our players actually look to give it to Scholes… trust him to do summat decent with it.
10m spunked up a wall for bebe and this is the shit we serve up in midfield.
To be fair though… I’m not sure why Ferguson chose Gibson to sub for Scholes… he was better by half, than Carrick.
Carrick was shockingly bad you’re right.
0-0 is not a good result… I’d rather a 1-1…
We could regret not scoring…
This is soooooooooooooooooooooo poor from United…
come on united score.
It’s almost sad.
those french cunts are dirty bastards
Another awful Nani performance. Dont you just know they’ll score here!
one of the dullest games ever
And why the fuck didn’t Ferguson get Scholes on earlier why does the fucker wait till its the last 15 minutes and hardly time to do anything.
Rubbish!… Total rubbish!
Smalling was MotM for me… what does that tell you?
Where is Ferguson fuckin ambition?… off sucking cock with our midfield… that’s where!
carrick should buy regaine from the chemist and rub it on his fanny to get some hair on it
not the worst result, but its dangerous, need to win at home.
i have to say i was wrong about smalling earlier this season
he was pretty superb and a fitting replacement for rio – still time for him to learn
carrick should be put down before the plane home
What Alf said – Fergie is simply fucking up and he has a dumb fatty in Phelan who just nods like the Churchill dog. Insipid.
hey mad red
shite match
still, a draw away isnt the worst result
the frog fuckers don’t look as though they will come to attack at OT in 3 weeks time
carrick and gibson are both radio controlled via mongs
our away form in europe has been good and home form so – so
in total contrast to the league form
Is that right? Go figure!
You’re kidding right?? He’s been fucked by most of the premiership midfield players!!
Lol – he is such a fanny
Smalling was immense. Gibson did ok, 0-0 is just about par all things considered. Some tough choices to be made for Saturday, formation and selection wise.
0-0. I’ll take that.
fanni
We were unable to pass the ball from defence, to midfield, to attack because of the uselessness of Carrick, Gibson and Fletcher on the ball
So the defenders were constantly hitting long balls to the forwards, down the line to nowhere, or back to the keeper. Smalling played 4 balls back to Van Der Sar during one passage of play.
The trio of cunts are fine without the ball – we are solid, strong, resolute
But they’ve no ideas and no movement when in possession
When Scholes came on we kept it for about a minute, and we got inbehind down the left with Evra
We also played more football further up the pitch
Without him on the pitch I can’t see how we’re gonna win a single game away from home from now ’til summer when we buy a midfielder who can play
tbf gibson had a better game than usual
maybe he is improving
Gibson was better than Carrick tonight. And even Fletcher. However, our front two of rooney and berbatov were by far worse than the rest of the team. They hardly broke sweat and when they had the ball their decision making was poor. At least Nani runs at the defenders and commits the opposition. I struggle to like the bulgarian and I believe his PL goal stats are misleading. It is the inthing here – where many like to go with the flow – to criticise our midfielders but even Scholes struggled to make a meaningful forward pass. Only Nani and Evra offered forward movements.
Carrick: “Our passing wasn’t great”.
OUR??? Fucksake he was easily our worst player and that’s in a team with O’Shite and Gibson!!!
He really was clueless with the ball. Such a thick, selfish bastard. How many times did he fuck up our attacks with his appalling decision-making? He seems to have forgotten when to run towards the box and when to hit the ball first time.
Carrick was the shittest player by a country mile.
fat rons nemesis saying the frogs can win at OT
that was brutal.. between carrick passing every way but foward osheas abiity fo fuck up every attackin option on the right(rafael would have had much more success there) and gibson being his usual invisable act. at least our home form will dig us out.
He was played in his best position and alongside better players. Tonight he made some brilliant passes to Nani, O’Shea twice that should have led to better. If he had Rafael instead of Oshea we would have been more dangerous on our right. We really should have played with only Rooney upfront for all the threat and movement offered up by Berbatov.
At one point Scholes had the ball, looked up, spread his hands and was wondering where the movement was going to come from. I have no idea why we still have to continue playing Michael Carrick.
shhhhhh sheesh
cal will get upset
Sheesh, be fair to Nani, he lost his footing twice in great positions but only after he had bamboozled the defender. However, sometimes do have a look in the box when Nani is haring in on goal. You will see the ‘strikers’ strolling into the box and making no movement whatsoever!
Ltel is still annoyed that Gibson chose the Republic so he can never be objective about the lad’s performances.
Cozz he cost £18 million fuckin quid? and no cunt else wanted him and he was Fergies choice, thats why he keeps getting games. At least he’s kind of admitted fucking up with paying 7 Million for Bebe off Youtube by not selecting him unless its a charity game against the local M.E. sufferers.
hes a cunt…. good enough to play for the mighty northern ireland, defo not good enough to be in a midfield challanging for league and european trophies, he is a birmingham player and scholes is still twice the player he is!
You’re talking about Nani dicking about with the ball in the first half when the simple and common sense thing to do was get the ball in the box. The number of times he ran blindly at 2 or 3 players when there was another player literally there next to his side completely unmarked was incredibly frustrating. He is such a selfish twat. I was screaming at the telly, he pissed me off so much.
We’d be so much more effective offensively if he knew when to make a pass.
maybe nani should just put longer studds on his boots.
Nani didn’t have his best game, but him and Rooney were the only players with an spark going forward.
0-0 is a solid result. I think its going to be like this for the next few weeks, 4-5-1 and hope that Rooney or Nani do something special.
Whenever we go 4-5-1 we rarely conceed, and if we do its only 1. Fergie shows European games more respect, in the PL we have gone 4-4-2 and that is when we have shipped goals.
I would accept 0-0 against Lpool and Chelsea, against Wigan we have to win. I would expect at least Rafael to come in for that one.
Will be interesting to see what happens to Scholes Saturday, we will miss him vs Lpool & Chelsea if he doesn’t start.
Draws will not do at this stage of the season. We must win every match including those at our rivals if we are to win the title.
Unfuckingbelievable… Gibson was only slightly better than Carrick who was complete gash… that is not any kind endorsement!
And between Carrick, Fletcher, and your beloved Gibson, they mangaed to get the ball to Berbatov maybe twice… what was he, or Rooney, or anyone else supposed to do with that kind of service?
You know what’s funny, is the many lengthy paragraphs you will write, trying trying to show how much you know about football and tactics… and then with one paragraph like the one above, you go and prove that you actually know fuck all.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
If we draw vs. Chelsea (A), Lpool (A), Arse (A) and win the other games we will win the league, as Arsenal are bound to drop silly points somewhere.
On the subject of Gibson & Carrick, I’m sorry to say that they will be staying. SAF clearly has enough faith in them, and that is why he continues to play them in the big games.
Further to that Hargreaves is off at the end of the season, and Scholes has one more year max. Fergie won’t want to destroy the dressing room balance, and with GN/VDS/TK all gone from this years squad then selling Gibson + Carrick will leave even more holes.
There are two games here, one stating what you would do, the other what SAF will actually do! Both are fun
We are basically Chelsea. Its as if Taggart is preparing the squad for the Primark brand of “football” that Moany serves up.
Gibson and Fletcher can both stay as useful squadies… Carling cup, early rounds of the FA cup, pointless rubbers in the Champs league… or in dire emergencies cause one of our fist teamers is crocked… but we need proper, top class, performers… to replace Scholes and Giggs, and shunt those two turnips above, to the bench.
Carrick can…
… fuck off…
to anywhere but where United play.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
I look at our other fixtures: Newcastle away, West Ham away..even Blackburn (where we drew last season). Those are not bankers for us.
Assuming their main players stay fit, I just don’t see Arsenal dropping as many points as everyone expects them to.
fabregas and walcott off injured tonight. a bit of a bonus
Yep there will be twists and turns for sure. We probably will drop other points, but so will Arsenal.
The formula for the rest of the seaosn won’t be pretty. Pack the midfield and hope Rooney or Nani nick one.
Stage 1. Win 19th title.
Stage 2. Jose dumps Fergies picture of Fletcher in the bin, puts feet up on desk.
Stage 3. Carrick, Fletch, Bebe, Obertan “on sale now”.
Stage 4. Uncle Malc sends Jose a £90 million war chest.
Stage 5. Kenny Dogleash contracts HIV.
Stage 5. Madrid accept £40 million for Ronny.
God i love Superbock.
The team played to plan, don’t push too much, keep from getting injured,don’t let them score,come away with a scoreless draw and then beat them at Old Trafford because this same team has to play against Chelsea Tuesday night.
These players will be rested for the away game against Wigan and SAF will put the same team out that played against Crawley for the Wigan game which will be your favorite players, Bebe, Obertan and the other misfits.
SAF is going to make the big mistake of looking past Wigan who are fighting relegation and concentrate on Chelsea and Liverpool. He will tell the media that because his players were tired from traveling, he had to make nine changes to the team for the Wigan game and that will be his excuse if United lose to Wigan. But the truth is, he will be resting 90% of the team that played against Marseille because he wants them fresh for the Chelsea game.
I don’t think he’s that stupid Herbs. In fact, if he’s anything like the genius he’s alleged to be, he’ll focus on the Wigan game. That’s the easier of the two to win, and Chelski are no threat to our title challenge.
Yes Han , boring game, they will try and win on away goals, need to take our chances.
lose against wigan and that will be potentially fatal
I will be worried if we even draw against Wigan, simply because we’ll only be 2 points ahead and then all of a sudden we’re under massive pressure against Chelsea and Liverpool.
Herbie, I think that you are spot on. Despite what most of you lot think a fairly comfortable draw with no goals conceeded was not a bad result for ANY United team. We all know that ALL of the starting midfield are shit but they did make it difficult for the French; unfortunately they also made it difficult for Nani, Berba & the Scouser. There was one massive bonus. The development of Smalling this season has been astonishing. He is not only a class defender, he is a class player. I am convinced that SAF was not willing to let any of us, or the media, second guess him about the starting line up; so he started with Gibson not Scholes.
Yes, and I just read Fergie’s comments and he is very happy with the result and the way the team played. He claims that it was always going to be difficult to win at Marseille. But he says that everytime United draw away from home against the bottom clubs! I.m sorry but I cannot accept that. United should be able to beat Wigan, Wolves, West Ham, Blackpool on any field anywhere in the world, even in a cow pasture without having to work hard to do so. Fergie is babying the team too much. He needs to jump all over these players and let them know that if they continue to play like non-leaguers, his going to put them all up for sale. My friend is telling me that he is not even going to watch the Wigan game because he does not want to have to throw his brand new TV out the window.
Sick
There is no way we’ll beat Chelski…
No way we’ll beat a “pumped” up Liverpool
We’ll also drop shit points away from home… why we are favs for the title is beyond me!
We lost 1-0 with Keane, Scholes, Giggs and Beckham in midfield. I know we packed the midfield but the 3 amigos got us a 0-0 draw. These are facts. I’m not impressed with them either but there we go.
Your point is what? So, with your fantastic knowledge of football strikers are not supposed to give the midfielders options? One of the main advantages of playing Rooney alone is that you know he will run the channels so that he can be hit early. Which was what Ronaldo gave us. Your beloved Scholes did not improve anything yesterday BECAUSE of the movement ahead of him. Yes, bollockless Carrick was happy to pass the ball sideways to him all the time but the wee man still could not thread anything forward. His most forward passes were to our LB Evra and Nani ahead.
As bad as Chelsea might be, they know that with Torres and Anelka they have outballs and so they use them often. We had only Nani in the first half – Gibson did find him with one peach of a pass from the edge of our box which he duly wasted. Rooney marooned on the left played with a frown and was deeply unhappy about it so he offered very little. It is SO EASY to blame the midfielders. ALL the time too. Anyway, Alf, am done arguing with you to be honest.
theyre a team of fucking six foot african lumps, itll be tough for scholes at ot, but without him we wont win, 1-1
You just made my point for me…
<b>
Anyway, Alf, am done arguing with you to be honest.</b>
How often have we heard that one before