Newcastle’s Best Hope Is In Weakened United Team
Sunday will see a truly bizarre sight. If tradition is followed, Hull will come out onto the field and form a guard of honour for Manchester United.
Milking the applause, in amongst, will be Zoran Tosic, Corry Evans and Lee Martin.
However, I’m frankly amazed at the backlash Fergie is getting this week for suggesting he’d field a “squad” team against Hull.
Away.
Against opposition who are scrapping for their very lives on the last day of the season, when United have nothing to play for and a Champions league final three days later.
Newcastle United are furious. They need Hull to drop points on Sunday to aid their quest for safety. They quite rightly want to see United’s strongest team against Hull. What of the integrity of competition, they wail!
But stop for a moment. Put yourself in the sparkly boots of Cristiano Ronaldo. How do you approach the game? Are you really going to go out there and give it your all knowing that George Boateng is going to kick you six foot into the air the first time you get anywhere near the football? Fancy a 50-50 with Ian Ashbee? Of course not. You’ll hide, wrap yourself in cotton wool and count down the minutes until the final whistle.
But Darron Gibson is possibly one massive performance away from a place on the bench. Corry Evans and Danny Drinkwater have names to make. Lee Martin is in the last chance saloon and United and will be putting himself into the shop window. Zoran Tosic needs to prove that he exists, and wasn’t just brought over to cuddle the real Serbian talent, the Kaka-esque Adem Ljajić.
These players will be out there, playing Hull with true passion, desire, and most importantly, a reason to go out there and win.
The only thing Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo would be aiming for on Sunday would be the hot tub after the final whistle. So let them stay all day. Geordies, your best hope is for United to field their second string, because their effort will be first rate.
Ben Johnston can also be read on www.inbehind.com
Topics: English Premier League, Hull City, Newcastle United
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Zoran has been showing big progress in the reserves. Next season he’ll break through. He just needed time to adjust! Still more excited about Ljajic though. He’s going to be an incredible player.
May 21st, 2009 @ 18:01I just think that Fergie will be disrespecting teams who are fighting for survival by fielding a squad side. Having said that, the 17 year old Kiko Macheda did more than most to crush Liverpool’s hopes of a Premier League title this season. Might be worthwhile to see the likes of Adem Ljajic and Zoran Tosic though. Wondering if they could match the youthful impact of these teenage sensation. You could be right, the first team players will not have desire to play their best with the Champ League final so near. The reserves could be Toon Army’s best bet. For me, they are going down.
May 21st, 2009 @ 19:54You are right, perhaps a reserve team full of hungry young players would provide a sterner test to Hull than a first team squad with one eye on the Champs League prize. Lest, we forget, a particular teenage sensation did play a big part in this season’s Premier League title win.
May 21st, 2009 @ 19:59The result in Hull (whatever the outcome) will be of no relevance to Newcastle as they will crumble to another defeat at Villa Park. Their relegation will be as a result of their shortcomings over the 38 games played this season and not beause of 1 single match in Hull.
May 21st, 2009 @ 20:20