Which left back is fit for next week?

[aristation]

I am hoping someone other than Garrido?

[Bingo Lewis]

I am hoping someone other than Garrido?

He had 1 lapse for their goal. Other than that he played really well.
Bridge should be back though.

[lets all have a disco]

If Bridge is fit,him.


If not, Spanish didnt do much wrong for me yesterday.

[13021J]

Garrido was the weak link in the side, doesn't offer much going forward and the oppo always target him on goal kicks and to find space. Nothing against the lad but I hope Bridge is back.

More interestingly should Bridge be no.1 choice LB next season? I think in an ideal world he would have somebody else challenging him.

[MaineRoadMemories]

Despite the great result yesterday when looking objectively at the passing and movement, a team like United and Arsenal will get alot of joy out of us down the right wing if we don't position ourselves better.

Birmingham had freedom to pass and move in the middle as Barry and de Jong dropped deep to cover the pass to a stiker. In itself this isn't a bad tactic and snuffs out the pass forward. The downside is that more space is afforded to their winger when the ball was moved out to the right wing.

The real issue we had was Garrido dropping too deep into the box and almost treading on Kompany's toes in the centre back position. This left our winger (Bellamy or Johnson) to defend on their own, we failed to double up allowing Birmingham to pass without pressure but they didn't have the ability or skill to pick out a cross on most occasions. Valencia and Nani will be different.

The right wing looks our weak spot when Garrido plays and I think its because he isn't confident enough in this own decision making. Quite often Bellamy, Kompany and Toure were telling him what to do rather than him just doing it.

Bringing Bridge back is a big ask though for his first game in months especially as he seems to be a player who takes about 5 or 6 games to get the rust off his legs.

Hopefully Barry will be given the mandate to double up on the right wing and become a second left back to whoever plays that position next Saturday.

[Dubciteh]

Despite the great result yesterday when looking objectively at the passing and movement, a team like U***d and Arsenal will get alot of joy out of us down the right wing if we don't position ourselves better.

Birmingham had freedom to pass and move in the middle as Barry and de Jong dropped deep to cover the pass to a stiker. In itself this isn't a bad tactic and snuffs out the pass forward. The downside is that more space is afforded to their winger when the ball was moved out to the right wing.

The real issue we had was Garrido dropping too deep into the box and almost treading on Kompany's toes in the centre back position. This left our winger (Bellamy or Johnson) to defend on their own, we failed to double up allowing Birmingham to pass without pressure but they didn't have the ability or skill to pick out a cross on most occasions. Valencia and Nani will be different.

The right wing looks our weak spot when Garrido plays and I think its because he isn't confident enough in this own decision making. Quite often Bellamy, Kompany and Toure were telling him what to do rather than him just doing it.

Bringing Bridge back is a big ask though for his first game in months especially as he seems to be a player who takes about 5 or 6 games to get the rust off his legs.

Hopefully Barry will be given the mandate to double up on the right wing and become a second left back to whoever plays that position next Saturday.

In fairness to garrido he done well in the carling cup against valencia and co, hes also one who has barely played so maybe he needs the rust off his legs too?

Imo garrido has got a raw deal from us, never lets us down and gives his all, i wouldnt be overly worried if he starts on sat.

[colonel_muck]

I am hoping someone other than Garrido?

He had 1 lapse for their goal. Other than that he played really well.
Bridge should be back though.

valencia will tear him apart

[Dubciteh]

I am hoping someone other than Garrido?

He had 1 lapse for their goal. Other than that he played really well.
Bridge should be back though.

valencia will tear him apart

he didnt in the league cup, i thought he did well against him in both legs....

[john@staustell]

If Bridge is fit,him.


If not, Spanish didnt do much wrong for me yesterday.

Apart from the goal. What´s a goal between friends?

[Nick]

Valencia tore gaz a new arsehole at old trafford and was swiftly replaced.

Whereas Bridge will be unfit and rusty, thats the one position im worried about. Plus the Veira situation. And toure is also our weak link at the moment. I know thats being very negative, but good teams must aim to always improve.


Im so pissed off that we had virtually our whole back 4 out for the cup semi final and may have them out on saturday too.

]I just wonder if the rags would have beaten us (again in 90 mins) if we had MICAH VINCE LESCOTT BRIDGE at the back.

[Vhero]

Barry could go LB but then that leaves a hole in the centre.. Its a toughie..

[ryanmjo]

I wouldn't be shocked if Zabaleta was put there.

[Vhero]

I wouldn't be shocked if Zabaleta was put there.

Lets hope not causes too many free kicks outside the box and they will make use of them..

[colonel_muck]

I am hoping someone other than Garrido?

He had 1 lapse for their goal. Other than that he played really well.
Bridge should be back though.

valencia will tear him apart

he didnt in the league cup, i thought he did well against him in both legs....

fair enough in the first leg, but not at old trafford he was absolutely clueless, i just feel valencia as a player has come on leaps and bounds since the semi and will be well ready to take on Garrido this time around.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I reckon Bridge was fit for yesterday but Mancini took the sensible decision to give him another full week's training and let Garrido play in a game where the oppos don't have an obvious right wing threat. Had it been a different team yesterday or THE key match of the run in maybe Bridge would have played.

[Lee_R]

I reckon Bridge was fit for yesterday but Mancini took the sensible decision to give him another full week's training and let Garrido play in a game where the oppos don't have an obvious right wing threat. Had it been a different team yesterday or THE key match of the run in maybe Bridge would have played.

Doh me!

Hope Bridge is fit.. Garrido is ok but we cant afford one silly mistake next week.

[simon12]

Evra!!!!!

[Colin the King]

Birmingham had freedom to pass and move in the middle as Barry and de Jong dropped deep to cover the pass to a stiker. In itself this isn't a bad tactic and snuffs out the pass forward. The downside is that more space is afforded to their winger when the ball was moved out to the right wing.

Good point mate.

What concerns me with that, with this Saturday in mind, is that so much of their play comes from the wide areas. Barry and de Jong dominating the central areas is a good tactic against, say, Chelsea, whose most lethal area is through the middle and the combination of Lampard/Anelka/Drogba (which is perhaps why we've beaten them twice and lost twice to the rags this season). Fletcher is hardworking but not exactly a visionary, Carrick is average, Scholes is on his last legs- so they've become heavily reliant on Valencia and Nani to carve out opportunities. Just look at the Semi second leg, nearly every attack consisted of the ball being lobbed out to the wing, and they had a lot of success with it.

Garrido is an honest pro and not a bad player, but both he and Sylvinho are seriously lacking pace and I'm worried about that. I think we'll win the midfield battle, and our forwards will cause a lot of problems, but our full backs against their wingers is, in fairness, a mismatch.