Comments on: Manchester United 1-0 (3-0) Roma – Hargo / Tevez / Rio kings of Old Trafford

By: colver

colver — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:08:36 +0000

Weird to see Silvestre playing. Roma are strong on the wings and I’d hate to see a short of match practice Silvestre get a run around. But assuming Ferdinand is indeed fully fit he should settle the defence enough to ensure we do not concede more than a goal.

With Tevez up front it is going to be 4-5-0 which should be interesting. I would feel more comfortable if we had Ronaldo or Rooney because I do not see goals coming from anywhere else and a goal cushion would be nice.

I would prefer we started with Rooney and/or Ronaldo, scored a goal and then sat back in the knowledge that three goals would be an almost impossible proposition for Roma.

By: Ibo Birg

Ibo Birg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:55:29 +0000

From UEFA MatchCentre:
Starters: VDS,Hargreaves,Ferdinand, Brown, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Pique, Silvestre, Tevez

Bench: Kuszczak, Neville, Ronaldo, Rooney, Scholes, O’Shea, Welbeck

By: Lee

Lee — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:41:51 +0000

I hear that Gerard Pique is likely to get a rare start. Big stage for him and I’m wondering, as I haven’t seen him play for United myself – what do the Manyoo fans make of him? I’ve seen him in Spain when he was younger but not much since he left. Rumour in Spain that Barcelona are considering trying to re-sign him.

Be interesting to see how he performs tonight anyway.

By: Graham Fisher

Graham Fisher — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:41:53 +0000

For a neutral the only way the game could be interesting is if Roma score early. Not saying I want them to, Ahmed, honest

The game could be pretty boring and I’m sure that’s just how Fergie would like it.

By: michael

michael — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:30:55 +0000

Yeah, wouldn’t be at all suprised to see Rooney up there. What is it now, 4 in 5 he’s played? More?

Roma have almost no hope, really. They’ll need to come out all guns blazing and we’ll hit them on the counter repeatedly. And then we’ll start attacking as a form of defence, but attempting to not expose ourselves defensively. We’re very, very good at this. Fully expect United 2-4 Roma 1. They might sneak a second late on.

By: Ahmed Bilal

Ahmed Bilal — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:01:53 +0000

Rooney to get on the scoresheet again…

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:49:49 +0000

The long and short of it is that Roma need 3 goals unless they are really aiming for penalties. One goal to us makes no difference. The game should be a cracker because they have to leave gaps at the back and Rooney and Ronaldo are at their most impressive with a bit of space to run into. I assume at least one of them will start. I expect a fast game with some long balls on the counter attack. I hope that means Nani, Anderson, Rooney and Ronaldo play. I can’t see Giggs and Scholes keeping up the pace! I’d like to see Pique and Brown in the middle and Neville come back if he can cope with 90 mins. I would put Hargreaves in front of the back 2, Anderson & Carrick in MF, Nani and Ronaldo out wide, and Rooney up front. I hope we can get 2 goals up by half time then the second half will be at a slow pace with the game won. The worst thing is that we come in at half time 1-0 down. That could lead to panic!

By: thokozani

thokozani — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:37:27 +0000

Roma cannot overturn this.the aggregate is too big for them, especially that it is Man U.

By: Frankie

Frankie — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:53:42 +0000

Fine margins separate teams at this level of competition. The injuries at the heart of United’s defence may be a cause for concern, judging by the dishevelled display by the back four against Middlesborough in the last game.

The critical thing is for United to score. If United score one, Roma will have to score 3 times to go through. Very few teams (in any competition) have come to Old Trafford in the last 20 years and scored 3 times (from memory, I can think of Real Madrid and Chelsea doing it a couple of times each, Barcelona once, and not too many others). So the odds are if United score; they’re through.

SAF must field his strongest available side against Roma. Let Sunday’s fixture against Arsenal take care of itself. Complacency would be United’s most dangerous opponent.

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:49:05 +0000

Ronaldo is really performing well. Ronaldo really stole the show in the match between Man Untd. and Roma.