Man Utd V Wigan - Saturday 12.45 spoilers and a mini otf meetup

retired_bball3378 · 10-05-2007, 11:12 AM

20 cans of stella are now in the back of my car

retired_gracie77 · 10-05-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nick OGS20:
i'm in the middle of a pretty heated debate on RedNews at the minute, pretty much arguing on my own that we need a defensive midfielder. my opponents all seem to think 'ah, it's wigan at home, we want goals ffs not another 1-0, play anderson or scholes'. they seem to think playing a defensive midfielder is some sort of overly negative tactic whereas packing the side with attack-minded players will guarantee goals. morons.

if we play Scholes and Anderson/Giggs, i can see Koumas having a field day and all the space in the world.

I've had to do the same on Maxxed.

People think Scholes can deal with Wigan's attackers. :eek:

retired_Rivkia147 · 10-05-2007, 05:50 PM

Shouldn't be much chance in us getting any kind of result for one reason or another, whatever team Utd put out. Especially after last week when outplayed a top 4 team again, and still couldn't finish the job when playing at home.

Rather ill timed weekend typhoon trying to stop me from getting to the pub for this, so I hope I don't suffer too much amongst all the Asian ManU contingent, or that Fergie/Quieroz gets too cocky with rotation and field the team that played against Coventry.

retired_cytaganas · 10-05-2007, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nathan mufc fan:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Nick OGS20:
i'm in the middle of a pretty heated debate on RedNews at the minute, pretty much arguing on my own that we need a defensive midfielder. my opponents all seem to think 'ah, it's wigan at home, we want goals ffs not another 1-0, play anderson or scholes'. they seem to think playing a defensive midfielder is some sort of overly negative tactic whereas packing the side with attack-minded players will guarantee goals. morons.

if we play Scholes and Anderson/Giggs, i can see Koumas having a field day and all the space in the world.

I've had to do the same on Maxxed.

People think Scholes can deal with Wigan's attackers. :eek: </BLOCKQUOTE>

He could injure them with his tackling ability?

retired_gitfresh · 10-05-2007, 06:40 PM

Quote:

People think Scholes can deal with Wigan's attackers. Eek

what attackers ? They're largely incompetent

retired_gitfresh · 10-05-2007, 06:40 PM

preview btw -

Quote:

LATICS ARE STILL KEEN TO BREAK THE 'BIG FOUR' CURSE

Wigan Athletic go into Saturday's game against Manchester United confident that they can finally overcome the 'curse of the top four'. Following last weeks inspired performance against Liverpool, when Latics were unluckily beaten 1-0, manager Chris Hutchings has sensed a change for the better on the training pitch.

Up until last week's game, it seemed that the team was already beaten before games against either Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal took place. Things are different these days and the team, which will be boosted by the return of some key players for the trip to Old Trafford to play the Salford based Premiership giants, is brimming with confidence.

With the return to the squad of Luis Antonio Valencia, Ryan Taylor and Denny Landzaat, Hutchings has a huge selection problem and one that will at least definitely bring some stability to the right side of midfield. Just who the gaffer picks for central midfield duties is also another conundrum with both Josip Skoko and Paul Scharner vying for a place in the starting line up.

The Blues have now got to try and get back to winning ways as a defeat will see them looking over their shoulders at the relegation trap door again and will take the shine off all the hard work done so far.

So, all in all, what follows is a probable starting line up...

Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Emmerson Boyce, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Ryan Taylor, Josip Skoko, Michael Brown, Jason Koumas, Marcus Bent, Antoine Sibierski. Possible subs, Mike Pollitt, Andreas Granqvist, Luis Antonio Valencia, Paul Scharner, Julius Aghahowa.

United, who currently occupy second place in the Premiership, two points behind leaders, Arsenal, have only won five of their eight Premiership games so far, and may be just ripe for the picking, given their lack of firepower in front of goal. That said, the Red Devils have won three and drawn one of their four home games so far, so it would be prudent for the Latics to bear that in mind.

Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, who is having his fair share of injury problems at the moment, will stick with Tomasz Kuczszak in goal as Edwin van der Sar is struggling with a toe injury and he may opt to play either Ryan Giggs or Brazilian midfielder Anderson in central midfield due to injuries to Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick.

United's line up for their 1-0 win over Roma in the Champions League a few days ago may not be too dissimilar (Carrick injury excepted), to the one that faces Latics...

Tomasz Kuczszak, John O'Shea, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Giggs/Anderson, Nani, Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney. Possible subs, Tom Heaton, Gerard Pique/Wes Brown, Anderson/Ryan Giggs, Louis Saha, Chris Eagles.

Prediction, Manchester United 1 Wigan Athletic 1

History of this fixture (Latics non league fixtures not included) ...

Lancashire 'Manx' Cup -- 31/07/1993 -- Springfield Park -- 0-2 -- 2,345
Official Opening of the JJB Stadium -- 04/08/1999 -- The JJB Stadium -- 0-2 -- 13,428
The Premiership -- 14/12/2005 -- Old Trafford -- 0-4 -- 67,793
League Cup, FINAL -- 26/02/2006 -- The Millennium Stadium -- 0-4 -- 66,866
The Premiership -- 05/03/2006 -- The JJB Stadium -- 1-2 -- 23,574 -- (Paul Scharner)
The Premiership -- 14/10/2006 -- The JJB Stadium -- 1-3 -- 20,631 -- (Leighton Baines)
The Premiership -- 26/12/2006 -- Old Trafford -- 1-3 -- 76,018 -- (Leighton Baines (pen))

Player links (in no particular order) ...

WIGAN COUNTY - John Cunningham, Thomas Fitzsimmons, David Fitzsimmons, Richard Smith, John Grundy (United were called Newton Heath in those days).

WIGAN BOROUGH - Frank Barson, Wilf Woodcock, William Dennis, Tom Harris, John Flanagan, Frank Hodges, Wilfred Lievesey, James McRae, Henry Morris.

WIGAN ATHLETIC - Charlie Spencer, Henry Williams, Johnny Ball, Harry Howcroft, Herbert Heywood, Allenby Chilton, Ted Buckle, Albert Kinsey, Dai Jones, John Pearson, Dave Gaskell, Sammy Lynn, Harry Sharratt, Benny Cairney, Alan Halsall, Albert Jackson, John Cooke, Roy Carroll, Frank Lord, Michael Clegg, Terry Cooke, Keith Gillespie, Scott McGarvey, Gary Worthington, Tommy Cavanagh, Alan McLoughlin, John McMahon, Pat McGibbon, Neil Bailey, Neil Mustoe, Mike Pollitt, Bobby Charlton, John Lowey, David Thompson, Gary Walsh, Steve Bruce, Neil Whitworth.

Did you know - that former Latics goalkeeper, Harry Sharratt, who represented England in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, played a few games in Manchester United's reserve team when they desperately needed back up players in the aftermath of the Munich air disaster?

http://www.yeoldetreeandcrown.34sp.c...way-061007.htm

runronnirun · 10-05-2007, 06:51 PM

Quote:

United, who currently occupy second place in the Premiership, two points behind leaders, Arsenal, have only won five of their eight Premiership games so far, and may be just ripe for the picking, given their lack of firepower in front of goal.

i love the optimism

retired_gitfresh · 10-05-2007, 06:53 PM

Something has got to give at some point against on of the big teams (and Chelsea) so fingers crossed he's right.

Was at OT on Tuesday myself and as a casual day tripper i reckon you are pretty close to clicking and raping someone