Selections like these always bring up the debate on whether it shows a lack of respect to the opposition. Alex Ferguson did play a lot of the young lads, but I think if any manager has the right to make that decision then it’s him.

This is because they have been so successful over the years and with their record we can’t doubt that he sets out to win every competition they play in.

I think playing a team such as Everton, who are a strong side physically and have some good players, that maybe with hindsight he should have picked a stronger team as they are now out of the competition.

However, over the 90 minutes and extra time I thought that United were the stronger team and were quite unlucky to lose the game. I really don’t think Ferguson was showing a lack of respect, it was just a time in the season when he thought it was ok to give some of his bigger names – who have been playing a lot – a rest, and it backfired.

Had they won on penalties I don’t think there would be such media hype about him playing so many young players, but because they lost it has all been dramatized. If they now go on to win the Premier League and the Champions League I don’t think many people who follow the club will mind.

Personally, if I was one of the big-name players he left out I would have been disappointed. Especially as it was a big game at Wembley, the semi-finals and the chance to win the Cup.

But I would also understand that with the amount of fixtures and the number of competitions that United are in, they are playing big games every week. When you play for big clubs like United then most of the players realize they won’t be able to play in every single game.
Danny Murphy / Eurosport

Bookmark This Post

Ok, Its time for me to mention the Quintuple. I haven’t wanted to mention it mainly because … it’s a QUINTUPLE!

Two weeks ago United had just tied Inter and had the Carling Cup final that Sunday. As buzz about the  Quintuple began, Sir Alex said he would field the team that got him to the Carling Cup final, which included the likes of Welbeck, Gibson, and Foster. Then Sir Alex made it clear that his priority was the Champions League.

At that point the Quintuple still remained an illusive, unattainable accomplishment. It didn’t help that United would field a group of inexperienced second team players for a final, but much to my surprise the youngsters pulled it off.

United then thrashed Fulham at Craven Cottage 4-0 to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup.

On Wednesday United outplayed Inter and got a much deserved win over the Italian side sending them through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Now, I believe, Its safe to realistically mention the Quintuple! An accomplishment like this would immortalize this generation of players!

The Premier League is United’s, having climbed to 7 points ahead of the competition and a game in hand. This weekend will definitely be a crucial one as United take on Liverpool and Chelsea take on Manchester City.

And in both the FA Cup and Champions League, there isn’t a team left with the pace, depth, and attacking power to beat Manchester United

Bookmark This Post

Therefore Fulham will come out with everything they have and without any real injuries, are likely to field the same team that lost at home to Hull during the week.

While United on the other hand have to concentrate on next weeks match against Inter in the Champions League, a tournament which Sir Alex considers a priority. Therefore United will likely field a makeshift lineup with the likes of Evans, Gibson and Carling Cup hero Ben Foster all expected to start.

We will see if United’s unprecedented Quintuple dreams are still alive after Saturdays FA Cup match.

Bookmark This Post

Alex Ferguson opted to make seven changes to the starting XI that beat West Ham last weekend, with Ben Foster and Gibson among those drafted in to win rare starts.

But United’s strength in depth is second to none and even a side missing the likes of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Carrick and Nemanja Vidic were capable of bossing the opening stages.

Stephen Bywater was Derby’s busiest player early on and the keeper was called into action on two occasions as United sprayed the ball around confidently and carved out a number of chances.

The first fell to Darren Fletcher, the Scotsman nearly rounding off a fluid passing move involving Rafael Da Silva, Ryan Giggs and Ronaldo with a crisp drive which Bywater was forced to deal with.

The keeper again denied United soon after, this time pulling off a brilliant reaction save to deny Ji-Sung Park from close range.

There were brief moments of encouragement for the hosts however, Paul Green seeing an instinctive first-time volley on 21 minutes whistle over the bar before Rob Hulse charged into the box, only to blot his copybook with a hopeful dive.

But the Premier League side looked comfortable and when the opener arrived, it came as no surprise.

The manner of the strike was equally unsurprising, given that Nani cut in from the left wing to fire an unstoppable drive past the keeper – a thrilling sight already witnessed on numerous occasions since the Portuguese arrived in Manchester and one likely to be repeated again.

The visitors thought they had doubled their lead on 37 minutes through Ronaldo, only to be denied by a late linesman’s flag. The Ballon d’Or winner had nearly finished his celebrations by the time the referee’s whistle blew to indicate he had been offside as Giggs flicked through.

Ferguson raged at the decision on the touchline but his mood was softened just before the half-time break when Gibson pounced on a blocked Ronaldo free-kick to fire home first-time from the edge of the box.

Ronaldo found the back of the net again three minutes into the second half and this time there was no disputing its validity; the forward reached a corner ahead of Addison to direct a typically powerful header past Bywater.

A fourth very nearly followed, but Bywater was again on hand to deny first Ronaldo and then Fletcher with an impressive double save.

Against the run of play, Addison then headed past Foster in the 57th minute to give the home crowd hope of witnessing an improbable comeback.

The goal sparked Derby into life and at 1-3 down, the next goal was always going to be crucial.

Gary Teale in particular did his best to ensure it went Derby’s way, and he became the focal point for most of the hosts’ attacking play. Only a super save by Foster denied the Scot with a well-struck effort from distance, a goal that would have made for an interesting final 13 minutes.

But it was United who were to have the final say on proceedings, Welbeck opening up his body to sidefoot home with a crisp first time effort on 81 minutes and maintain United hopes of a clean sweep of this season’s trophies.
Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Bookmark This Post

Nike will be using modern high-tech materials and not heavy cotton,  with a white V-shape on a red shirt instead of the red V-on-white shirt.

Bookmark This Post

Dimitar Berbatov’s first-half strike against his former club settled the tie in United’s favour at Old Trafford after a Tom Huddlestone own goal had cancelled out Roman Pavlyuchenko’s early opener.
But Ferguson’s team didn’t emerge unscathed.

“Cristiano Ronaldo had a stomach bug and it showed because he was nowhere near the player we know he can be,” said the United manager.
“Fabio da Silva picked up a calf injury and Danny Welbeck has injured his knee. The full-back positions are causing us a bit of concern at the moment.”

United have already won the Club World Cup this season, are on top of the Premier League, in the last 16 of the Champions League and have an English League Cup final date with Spurs in March.

“We gave Spurs a start, but we recovered well. We played some good stuff and their keeper made some great saves, but Paul Scholes got us back into the game with his deflected goal,” said Ferguson.
“It was a great strike from a fantastic cross by Michael Carrick. It’s a dangerous game when you are only winning 2-1, but we were always comfortable.”

Ferguson, who dismissed claims that he had attempted to forego a replay for this tie as ‘absolutely scandalous,’ insisted that neither he nor United had any intention of calling for the game to be settled on the day.
He said: “There was never any issue of me not wanting a replay and I said that on Friday. How can you deny the likes of Torquay or Southend the chance of a big gate against one of the big clubs? It’s scandalous.”

Scholes, whose deflected shot opened the scoring, admits he is not certain whether the goal will be marked down as his first of the season.
He said: “If it was on target, then it’s my goal. If it wasn’t, then I won’t claim it.
“If it takes so long to score a goal, it isn’t great. We are in January now, the second half of the season, so you want to be scoring a lot sooner than that.”

Bookmark This Post

In the 16th minute, Nani forced Davis into a fine save when the Southampton goalkeeper had to dive low to his right to deny the United striker.
Davis again kept Southampton on level terms two minutes later when he tipped a shot from Anderson over the crossbar.

But the goal United had been threatening finally arrived in the 20th minute through Welbeck.
Nani’s corner was headed against the crossbar by John O’Shea and Welbeck had the simple task of nodding home the rebound from point blank range.

Moments later a brilliant ball from O’Shea almost put Berbatov through for a second goal but his shot was deflected wide.

Southampton’s plight worsened in the 37th minute when Paterson was sent off.
The Southampton player, who had already been warned about a number of heavy challenges, was dismissed for violent conduct after a lunge on United defender Nemanja Vidic.

Moments later, Rudi Skacel was booked for a foul on Nani and Riley felt the full fury of the disenchanted home fans. The yellow card count increased in the 40th minute when O’Shea was booked after a foul on Davis.

Southampton’s cause was well and truly lost three minutes after the restart though when Riley awarded United a penalty for handball against David McGoldrick.
Oliver Lancashire brought down Welbeck on the edge of the penalty area and when Nani tried to get the ball over the defensive wall, Riley adjudged that McGoldrick had blocked its path with his arm.
The decision clearly a poor one as TV replays showed the ball hitting McGoldrick’s head as he turned away.
Nani took full advantage though when he converted the spot-kick – sending Davis the wrong way.

Davis then denied Welbeck a second goal when he tipped his shot over the crossbar in the 49th minute.
United’s dominance was such that they replaced Giggs and Carrick with Gibson and Rodrigo Possebon in the 55th minute.

In the 62nd minute, Welbeck made way for Wayne Rooney as United looked to set the seal a comfortable afternoon with a third goal.

More Football News from TEAMtalk

Bookmark This Post