Team for the big one

[Kladze]

I'll eat my titfer if Ade actually starts the game.

[cdncityfan]

LIke the basic teams put out there, although I would definately put Sylvinho ahead of Garrido, mostly for his experience. That he was part of Barcelona's Champions League winning team against the rags doesn't hurt either.

[zuricity]

--------------------SHAY
MICAH---NEDUM-------VINNY---GAZ
SWP--IRELAND--NIGE--BAZZA--BELLERS
------------------TEVEZ

TAYLOR, SLY, BOYATa, ROBINHO, ZABBA, ADE, BENJANI.

If Toure is back then stick him in with Vinny, and Ned to the bench.

I like that mid field five. We need speed against their old men. We need players needing to
prove something . Ireland , Sweep and Barry need to show Mancini they are up
for the fight ( I'm sure they can, but they have been lacklustre most of the season so far
so i think they will have their own personal desire to do really well tomorrow).

I think Robbi wii still be here and be on the bench and the bench is the right place for Ade right
now.

I wouldn't even think about Toure. We've got adequate coverage with Boyata as he proved last week ( he also doesn't 'flap').

[AlpsMaster]

Mancini likes the cautious approach and imo will be looking to keep it tight for the first half and trying to hit them on the counter attack.He needs to try for as much control in the middle of the park but at the swamp I expect we will have 2 front men to contend with, probably Shrek and Owen. At least 2 holding midfield players and the big question of whether Ade will start. He just might with Tevez and SWP with Bellers getting back a lot.

Who knows , let's just sit back and enjoy.

Cant happen, I only enjoy them when weve won and its over

Me too - even against Scunny yesterday and Weds will be 1000x worse for the nerves.

[gillie]

I wont try to guess our line up,but one thing's for sure the first 20 minutes or so will be breakneck pace so we have to stand firm against thier initial onslaught.We do that and we can win comfortably imo.

[Original Dub]

I wont try to guess our line up,but one thing's for sure the first 20 minutes or so will be breakneck pace so we have to stand firm against thier initial onslaught.We do that and we can win comfortably imo.

You're probably right mate, but I'd like to think we set our stall up either to get an early goal or really be able to hit them on the break. It's tough to hit them on the break with so many defensive minded players and although I'd like to see Ireland start and try nick an early goal before worrying about an onslaught, I've a feeling we'll be lined up exactly the same as last time :(

[Bianchi on Ice]

Given

Ned
Micah
Komps
Garrido

SWP
Zabba
Nige
Barry
Bells

Ireland

Tevez

yeh theres 12 players there but dont you think those cunts are going to try and cheat as well?

[SORTED]

We need to be rock solid for this one, especially down the flanks.

I'd go for:

Given

Richards Toure Kompany Barry
SWP De Jong Zabaleta Bellamy
Tevez

but we'll probably see:

Given

Richards Toure Kompany Garrido
SWP De Jong Barry Bellamy
Tevez

[gillie]

We need to be rock solid for this one, especially down the flanks.

I'd go for:

Given

Richards Toure Kompany Barry
SWP De Jong Zabaleta Bellamy
Tevez

but we'll probably see:

Given

Richards Toure Kompany Garrido
SWP De Jong Barry Bellamy
Tevez

We are giving them a chance then Sorted only playing with ten men lol.

[MaineRoadMemories]

I've got a weird feeling we'll be playing with 10 men from early on.

Naa, Robinho will be on the bench for this one :-O

[gillie]

I've got a weird feeling we'll be playing with 10 men from early on.

Naa, Robinho will be on the bench for this one :-O

Oh how times change in the world of us fickle football fans lol.

[StrikeAnywhere]

Definately think we have to play 3 in the centre of midfield. We need to win that battle and playing De Jong/Barry/Ireland will go a long way in doing that.

The rest of the team sorts themselves on form and experience. I'd have Niko (Petrov) on the bench and bring him on around 25 to go to torment them if we are up or even earlier if we are struggling.

My preferred lineup:

---------------------Given----------------------
Ned-----Richards-------Vinnie-------Garrido
-------------De Jong------Barry----------------
SWP--------------Superman------------Bellers
----------------------Tev------------------------

Bench - Taylor, Boyata, Zabaleta, Sylvinho, Petrov, Robinho, Benjani

If Ade and/or Toure are back and ready take out Boyata and Benjani.

4-2-3-1 should be the perfect formation. Barry and Dejong as Holding mids with Barry to push on if needed with Barry covering for Gaz if Valencia decides to continue having special games against us. I've left Richards in central defence as I think he has the speed and power to man mark Rooney which I'm not sure Ned will be up to with coming back from injury.

I'm just gutted I will be missing the game as am having surgery my shoulder that morning.

[gillie]

Definately think we have to play 3 in the centre of midfield. We need to win that battle and playing De Jong/Barry/Ireland will go a long way in doing that.

The rest of the team sorts themselves on form and experience. I'd have Niko (Petrov) on the bench and bring him on around 25 to go to torment them if we are up or even earlier if we are struggling.

My preferred lineup:

---------------------Given----------------------
Ned-----Richards-------Vinnie-------Garrido
-------------De Jong------Barry----------------
SWP--------------Superman------------Bellers
----------------------Tev------------------------

Bench - Taylor, Boyata, Zabaleta, Sylvinho, Petrov, Robinho, Benjani

If Ade and/or Toure are back and ready take out Boyata and Benjani.

4-2-3-1 should be the perfect formation. Barry and Dejong as Holding mids with Barry to push on if needed with Barry covering for Gaz if Valencia decides to continue having special games against us. I've left Richards in central defence as I think he has the speed and power to man mark Rooney which I'm not sure Ned will be up to with coming back from injury.

I'm just gutted I will be missing the game as am having surgery my shoulder that morning.

I hope the boys do it for you mate that way your pain will dissapear.Good luck with the operation.

[ant london]

I see wellbeck has joined preston on loan, so taggart will be without the services of one of his fledglings for the 2nd leg....

I hope someone pulls him up about his commitment to playing his kids... old senile alcoholic twat.

haha

id would even consider barry at left back for this. garrido still worries the fuck out of me.

why?????????????

I am starting to think that Mr Lewis should post something re The Spaniard into the Man Crush thread! haha

for what it's worth...Garrido hasn't worried me once since he came into the team (well no more than any of the other defenders have!!)

[john@staustell]

I can't see Bobby repeating the mistake of starting with 442, we have to put five in the middle to match them. Wouldn't put it past him to make Tevez one of those though, and stick Ade up top.

Toure has re-appeared since I started this thread apparently. It worries that he hasn't trained the new systems at all, but I guess another possibility is that he comes in and Komps goes into the middle with DeJong and Barry.

I believe he started Richards at RB in the first leg for a reason, and I think it pretty much worked out. So cant see him coming back to CB for this one.

Would love it if Bridge came straight back in. Sorry Bingo I cant see Spanish Gaz as anything other than emergency stopgap. And I mean emergency.

Rather Mancini than me, but at least he has more to choose from this week.

[Bingo Lewis]

I see wellbeck has joined preston on loan, so taggart will be without the services of one of his fledglings for the 2nd leg....

I hope someone pulls him up about his commitment to playing his kids... old senile alcoholic twat.

haha

id would even consider barry at left back for this. garrido still worries the fuck out of me.

why?????????????

I am starting to think that Mr Lewis should post something re The Spaniard into the Man Crush thread! haha

for what it's worth...Garrido hasn't worried me once since he came into the team (well no more than any of the other defenders have!!)

Well this is exactly my point. Everyone is slating Gaz, but he's not put a foot wrong, and Bridge wouldn't do any better. I could understand if people are saying buy a new player, I'd agree with that, but Gaz is the best we've got. end of.

[Bojinov's left foot]

Given
Richards Onuoha Kompany Barry
SWP Zabaleta De Jong Bellamy
Ireland
Tevez


I'd play Barry at left back, not the quickest but should make up for this with positional sense, experience and winning mentality.

Onuoha has more experience than Boyata and for that reason he makes my team. Boyata has played well but this is a huge match and experience counts.

Ireland to play linking midfield and attack. With a hard working midfield it could lack a little creativity. However with the pace of SWP and Bellamy to go with the imagination of Ireland this team IMO can support Tevez at pace to cause problems and take us to Wembley.

Having a reserve bench that includes Petrov, ideally Adebayor (if fit enough) and Robinho does provide attacking options added to Toure (if fit enough), Boyata and Garrido with Taylor for defence we would have options to change focus if needed.

[s1ty m]

Would love it if Bridge came straight back in. Sorry Bingo I cant see Spanish Gaz as anything other than emergency stopgap. And I mean emergency.

garrido will get done at every far post cross in his vicinity. it's his biggest weakness. bridge is no saint at those situations, but is a way better player in every facet of the game. free-kicks excepted!

[Kiss_The_Goat]

-------------------------------Given

Onuoha------------Micah----------Kompany-------Garrido

SWP---------------De Jong--------Barry------------Petrov

----------------------------Tevez

----------------------------Bellamy

Bench: Taylor, Zabaleta, Boyata, Ireland, Robinho, Benjani, Whoverelseisfitorbackornotfuckingtraumatisedoroutonloan

Solid....... Solid as a rock (but a bit quicker on the counter-attack.) And... everyone playing in their natural positions - yes please!

I think he'll go with a more defence minded left midfielder like we did at home, so I expect he'll go with Zab on the left again or Bridge at left back and Garrido left mid.

Maybe this:

-------------------------------Given

Zab------------Micah----------Kompany-------Bridge

SWP---------------De Jong--------Barry-------Garrido

Tevez-------------------Bellamy

[sandman]

---------------GVN--------------
MIC------TOU-----NED-----GAZ
----------------VIN--------------
--------DJG----------BAZ-------
PET-------------------------BEL
---------------TEV--------------

Djg on Rooney for all 97 mins!!