Team v Man Utd

[Wazza]

Gallas up against Valencia, for me is a no go.

Is he not injured?

 

[Riandor]

I could see an argument for playing Lloris here in this one (aside form the fact he is quality).

Lloris has played at OT against Man United in the CL and was marvelous, he will know what to expect and whilst there will be pressure, i would expect him to relish it. Plus Man United are not a pack the box/barge the keeper type team and the sweeper-keeper could thus work well.

I would not be surprised either way.

 

[RJ1882]

I had posted in above response that I want Lennon to play as he gets the better of Evra on most occassions.
Team picks itselft based on injuries.
When when we have Kaboul, Benny, Parker & Adebayor available team selection will get much more difficult.

 

[cozzo]

Can't believe people are picking Lloris ahead of Friedel. Area you completely forgetting that he practically kept us in the game last weekend and got us a point against Norwich?

So going by that logic and friedel's appearance record, Lloris may never play for us??

 

[stevenqoz]

Would like to see 451​

Lloris
Walker Gallas Caulker Verthongen
Sandro Hudd
Lennon Dembele Bale
Defoe

It will probably be 451​

Freidel
Walker Gallas Caulker Verthongen
Sandro Dembele
Lennon Dempsey Bale
Defoe​

 

[Outnumbered]

Is he not injured?

Not that am aware of

 

[stevenurse]

valencia apparently left OT on crutches and a protective boot at the weekend so maybe he has a knock. then again Nani always scores against us, as does Rooney so we are already fucked

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

Can't believe people are picking Lloris ahead of Friedel. Area you completely forgetting that he practically kept us in the game last weekend and got us a point against Norwich?

Prevention is better than the cure

 

[KingKay]

So going by that logic and friedel's appearance record, Lloris may never play for us??

What a strange question, he's 41 and got till then end of the season left on his contract, so unless he's invented a recipe for eternal youth or has some dirt on Daniel Levy then the answer is no. However he's arguably in some of the best form of his career and has been a big part in helping us pick up points so far this season. Why drop a player who's playing well? The logic is pretty obvious.

 

[Donki]

Noo it's happening!! I am startin to believe we can get something out of this game. I always do but promised myself this season being a transitional one I would not get my hopes up.

I'm starting to think that with the pace we have up front we will cause Evans (who I do rate quite highly, but isn't the quickest and is prone to the odd rash challenge) and Rio who again isn't the fastest. Their central midfield apart from Denielson is pretty slow so fuck it yes I think we can get sumthing here..... Donki sets himself up for a fall!

 

[KingKay]

Which part do you disagree with Mr Pink?

 

[nicdic]

What a strange question, he's 41 and got till then end of the season left on his contract, so unless he's invented a recipe for eternal youth or has some dirt on Daniel Levy then the answer is no. However he's arguably in some of the best form of his career and has been a big part in helping us pick up points so far this season. Why drop a player who's playing well? The logic is pretty obvious.

He's also been at least marginally at fault for nearly all of our goals conceded this season. His hesitancy to come off his line costs us regularly, and the saves against QPR that were "worldies" were routine, both were right at him. Ironically the one time I can recall him coming off his line for something allowed Reading to score. No idea why he stepped off his line then.

 

[Mr Pink]

What a strange question, he's 41 and got till then end of the season left on his contract, so unless he's invented a recipe for eternal youth or has some dirt on Daniel Levy then the answer is no. However he's arguably in some of the best form of his career and has been a big part in helping us pick up points so far this season. Why drop a player who's playing well? The logic is pretty obvious.

I really don't get this. The form of his life? He's made a a few decent saves but staying rooted to his line has continually invited pressure on us as well, and in some of these instances he's made a couple of good saves as a consequence. The save he made the other day from the Clint Hill header - I would expect any keeper in the Prem to save that. It was just a routine decent save, a good reflex. Yet some are drooling over it.

Its almost like people, namely the media, are giving him more credit for making decent saves than they would with others because he's the oldest keeper in the League, its akin to the attitude of positive discrimination IMO.

There is no way I would describe him in the form of his life.

Lloris is the better keeper, and should be in the side very soon.

 

[Mr Pink]

Which part do you disagree with Mr Pink?

Give me a chance to answer

I've answered - see above.

 

[idontgetit]

Dembele caused them a nightmare in the game before he signed for us. More of that please

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

I personally think the generally concensus on here that Friedel be mercilessly dropped is quite sad.

It will happen. The guy is old and he knows and respects that he may be replaced. He's comfortable knowing he may have to end his run of games and that he may be relegated to 2nd fiddle. He knows he was signed as a stop gap until we could sign a long term no.1

Just to throw this one out there - Friedel has kept us in the game in his last few appearances making absolutely worldy saves against QPR allowing us room to come back and win and against Norwich keeping us in the game.
Yes he may have hesitated a tad for the goals, but the saves he made made up for that. The guy has played 308 consecutive games and rarely if ever looks less than consistent. Most opposition fans will tell you they hate playing against him.

Call it sentimental, call it logical, but why drop him for United?
I can think of reasons not to.
1) We're massive underdogs. Drop him and still lose? He loses his tremendous record for nothing.
2) He's playing well, prob our only consistent player this season.
3) Setting an example - AVB CLEARLY believes if some one is performing they dont get dropped.
4) If Loris were to play and we got absolutely battered - how would he cope?

I appreciate Loris is most likely a better keeper, but lets be fair. A good manager needs to make sure he manages his players fairly.

 

[Mr Pink]

I expect the line up will be the same one as the second half against QPR, really hope Lloris is given a start though.

 

[talkshowhost86]

The only two decisions to make are in goal, and who will play behind Defoe/top of the midfield three.

Personally I'd play Lloris assuming that he has now had time to train with the defence, but I suspect AVB will stick with Friedel.

As for the other decision, I'm torn between Sigurdsson and Dempsey to play that advanced midfield role. Sigurdsson hasn't had the best of seasons but I think he's a better fit to that position than Dempsey. I think Dempsey will get the nod though.

For what it's worth I think this game will show us the weaknesses that having Defoe upfront on his own brings. We are unlikely to control possession and if he can't keep the ball when he gets it we'll be under a lot of pressure. Hope I'm wrong though.

 

[KingKay]

I really don't get this. The form of his life? He's made a a few decent saves but staying rooted to his line has continually invited pressure on us as well, and in some of these instances he's made a couple of good saves as a consequence. The save he made the other day from the Clint Hill header - I would expect any keeper in the Prem to save that. It was just a routine decent save, a good reflex. Yet some are drooling over it.

Its almost like people, namely the media, are giving him more credit for making decent saves than they would with others because he's the oldest keeper in the League, its akin to the attitude of positive discrimination IMO.

There is no way I would describe him in the form of his life.

Lloris is the better keeper, and should be in the side very soon.

I agree Lloris should be introduced in to the first team over the course of the season , but Old Trafford isn't the place to do it. We need an experienced head at the back to organise the back four and prevent any silly mistakes that United / Fergie / the Referee are masters of taking advantage of. At no point have i said that Friedel should play every game, but when we have an inform goalkeeper with a wealth of experience, i think we'd be crazy not to use that to our advantage in a game that historically, we spectacularly implode.

In response to the staying on his line accusations; i can see your point especially playing the high line with the fullbacks pushing up. From what i've heard one of Lloris' main attributes is rushing out to collect / intercept through balls so this will obviously work well as we implement AVB's system and style of play over time.

I would still argue that Friedel is one of the best keepers in the league at the moment in terms of consistency. You only need to look at the mistakes other keepers have made so far this season.

 

[mpickard2087]

I agree Lloris should be introduced in to the first team over the course of the season , but Old Trafford isn't the place to do it. We need an experienced head at the back to organise the back four and prevent any silly mistakes that United / Fergie / the Referee are masters of taking advantage of. At no point have i said that Friedel should play every game, but when we have an inform goalkeeper with a wealth of experience, i think we'd be crazy not to use that to our advantage in a game that historically, we spectacularly implode.

In response to the staying on his line accusations; i can see your point especially playing the high line with the fullbacks pushing up. From what i've heard one of Lloris' main attributes is rushing out to collect / intercept through balls so this will obviously work well as we implement AVB's system and style of play over time.

I would still argue that Friedel is one of the best keepers in the league at the moment in terms of consistency. You only need to look at the mistakes other keepers have made so far this season.

This is a guy with several seasons first team footy including European campaigns, not to mention the approaching 50 caps for France and being their captain. To make him out to be some rookie who needs careful blooding into the team is just wrong.