Great points there Juhniallio. The team was set up incorrect and that was my fear when I saw the lineup. I think that if United had taken the game to them in the first half then there could have been goals. I cant complain with the result. A 1.1 sets the game up nicely for the return leg. I just think Giggs at 34 has really not performed at all this season. Nani put in a good 25 minutes last night along with Tevez. It changed the game in Uniteds favour. The goal Lyon got was really a wonderful goal. Hard to defend against the quality shown by Benzema.
Vidic was the one at fault for their goal, not Ferdinand, as the panel loved to point out. Vidic is the man who is usually up the forwardâs hole. He backed off and dropped deep giving Benzema the time to gather, turn and shoot.
Giggs is a horrible case. A United legend, he showed last night a couple of times that he still has the skill to produce some magic but overall we need a higher work rate from our winger. Ferguson will persevere with him til he breaks Charltonâs record.
Should still progress though.
Big game today. You know Keegan and his team will be up for this game. I tend to notice when teams are going through bad spells they tend to get results against United. See Bolton and City. Anyway I think that Ferguson should play the following team.
Van Der Sar
OâShea
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra
Ronaldo
Carrick
Anderson
Nani
Tevez
Rooney
The bench can be Kuzcsak, Brown, Scholes, Fletcher, Saha.
I think that with Newcastles weakness at the back Rooney has to try and get in between the two centre backs like the Arsenal game last weekend. Ronaldo has to perform again today as he has been quiet over the last 3 games and needs probbably a goal to start another goal scoring run. Hope Nani can get some good crosses in from the wings. I would be confident of victory providing United score early.
I wasnt too far out with my team selection. Thought Fergie would leave Brown out after giving out yesterday. Also Fletcher starting on the basis of last week against Arsenal.
Full Team
GK: Van Der Sar
RB: Brown
CB: Ferdinand
CB: Vidic
LB: Evra
RM: Ronaldo
CM: Carrick
CM: Fletcher
LM: Nani
CF: Tevez
CF: Rooney
Subs: Tomaz, OâShea, Scholes, Anderson, Saha
Whatâs Keeganâs record with Newcastle so far?
Think they drew in the league at home to Bolton and Middlesboroâ but have lost all their other games which were an FA Cup tie at Arsenal, league games at Arsenal and Villa and now this game at home tonight. I make it:
P/W/D/L
6/0/2/4
[quote=âBandageâ]Think they drew in the league at home to Bolton and Middlesboroâ but have lost all their other games which were an FA Cup tie at Arsenal, league games at Arsenal and Villa and now this game at home tonight. I make it:
P/W/D/L
6/0/2/4[/quote]
But didnât Clarkeycat tell us he was a good appointment?
What a really good performance tonight from Man United. The quality of Rooney and Ronaldo were too much for Newcastle to handle. Newcastle started the game well but once Rooney scored the opener I knew there was going to be goals in this game. Carricks pass for the 2nd goal was superb. Thats why I would play him ahead of Hargreaves any day. The third was woeful defending by Beye and Ronaldo did well to take it around Harper and tucked it away easily.
The Newcastle goal just came after Vidic being subbed and Uniteds defence couldnt deal with [SIZE=2]Faye[/SIZE]. Rooney and Saha finished well for the 4th and 5th. A great day overall for United. Its back in our own hands again which is all I wanted.
I only saw a little bit of this as I was watching the rugby but just before half time the Manchester United supporters were singing âKeegan For Englandâ. 'Twas pretty funny.
United always seem to do up well in Newcastle after European Away games. A certain 6.2 game 5 years ago comes to mind.
The Liverpool Reserves beat United Reserves 2.0 tonight. Harry Kewell and Xabi Alonso the goal scorers. Gary Neville played 60 minutes in the game so hopefully he can return for the first team soon.
The game tomorrow is a strange one. Away to Fulham who are in dire form should be an easy 3 points. These games are the hardest as last year proved with Ronaldo bailing out the team. Team news is that Giggs will miss the game with a calf strain and Nemanja Vidic is available after he was taken off last week as a precaution. Again the big question is who will start in the centre of midfield. Im going to say Anderson and Scholes this week. I would prefer Carrick though to Scholes. Cant say enough about how good a player Carrick is.
GK: Van Der Sar
RB: OâShea
CB: Ferdinand
CB: Brown
LB: Evra
RM: Park
CM: Scholes
CM: Hargreaves
LM: Nani
CF: Tevez
CF: Saha
Subs: Tomaz, Pique, Anderson, Ronaldo, Rooney
A team picked with Lyon in mind. Can see Ronaldo and Rooney coming on when we losing. Ferguson should have played them and then take them off if the game is won. 
What do I know? Great win. Fulham had a few chances but were poor enough and I cant see them staying up. United won with ease. An easy match before the big one on Tuesday night. Only Arsenal getting a late equaliser ruined the day but only 1 behind now. I am confident that United can win it. Chelsea are also there too so I wouldnt write them off to win the league either.
Good performance first half (Nani, Park, Scholes and Tevez particularly). Poor second half but we were obviously thinking about Tuesday. Comfortable throughout even if Fulham should have got one. Nice free from Hargreaves and some super showboating from Nani in the first half. A couple of lovely moves too but we just didnât care thaty much second half.
Bad
-Saha still looks very poor and uninterested sometimes.
-Noticed the difference not having Vidic made. Brown and Rio just arenât as comfortable.
Good
-No hassle and an easy victory before Tuesday.
-Aston Villa. A pity they drew in the end but we defo would have taken 1-1 at the start. A bad patch for Arsenal could get a lot worse on Tuesday.
I think if Saha had took the chance in the first five minutes then he would have played better. There was a spell that Fulham had United pegged back in our own half but they kept hitting shots wide. Ferguson was right not to play Vidic after the calf injury he suffered last week. The run in is interesting. The next league game is Derby Away and then 3 home games againt Bolton, Liverpool and Aston Villa. If United can get 12 points here then I think it will be tough for Arsenal or Chelsea to respond. Arsenal dont have a good enough squad. Chelsea do and that could be vital.
Toadyâs Arsenal result will keep them doubting themselves for now. Theyâll be a little more anxious and fearful in their next few games. Chelsea are solid as fuck but there has to be some truth in the rumoured unhappiness there. Like you say, a good run now would be fantastic for turning the screw on them both.
Nice to have good competition in the squad now, around the midfield especially.
It worked today. Scholes starting to look a lot better. Was getting forward a bit more and was winning the midfield battle with Bullard the whole match. It certainly will be a good battle between the 3 teams. Arsenal play Wigan away next Sunday in the league. United and Chelsea have cup duties so its a chance for Arsenal to extend the lead to 4.
Man United are shit!
You are wrong there Ben. They are the best team in the world eveeeeeeeeeer.