“I wouldn’t have thought I was settled at right back for good,” he said. “With Gary being out I was the main contender for that position. Now Gary’s back, the gaffer can easily change it. If Vida or Rio are out, then he can put me at centre back.”

“Against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final it was a really tight game and the gaffer put me there hoping I could use a bit of my experience. It turned out well and we got the result we needed.”

“Last season for me it was great,” he added. “Obviously it was disappointing that Gary got injured, which meant I got the place at right back.”

“But it was a great season, the team the whole way through the season was flowing and we always thought we were in contention to win trophies. In the last two months it went very well for us, we got the luck at times and we ended up with the Double so it was a great feeling to be involved in what was a great achievement.”

With the accomplishments from last season, Wes Brown would have certainly earned a starting position on any other club team, but with Gary Neville back the question is “Should Wes Brown be in the starting line up?”

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“I have got a decision to make about centre-back, whether I go with Evans and his ability but lack of experience or whether I opt for Wes Brown’s experience,“Ferguson told reporters.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United shouldn’t have this problem! United has enough money and resources to not have to sacrifice “experience” for “ability” or vice versa!

But “NO”, you let 7 players go this summer: Mikael Silvestre, Lee Martin, Chris Eagles, Gerard Pique, Danny Simpson, Fraizer Campbell, and Louis Saha.
But only picked up 2 players, David Petrucci and Dimitar Berbatov!

Ok so maybe they weren’t all starters but they gave United depth!

Sir Alex stated earlier this year that he wasn’t going to buy more than one player because he felt they won the Premier League and Champions League last year. What Sir Alex doesn’t seem to understand is that every other team is getting better (cough cough Chelsea)!

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Come on United, get rid of these charity cases: Neville, Giggs, Saha, and Silvestre have played their fare share of games and their best years are behind them! They are all 30+ and accident prone. Either ask them to step down or sell them off to the Bolton’s and Bordeaux’s.  Manchester United are the Premier League and European Champions, and should be looking for the highest level talent in the world. Gary Neville can no longer keep up with the pace of the game. Giggs can’t make his memorable runs. While Saha and Silvestre have 2 or 3 good seasons left in them, Saha has suffered every injury known to man and Silvestre should not settle for 2nd string.

Sir Alex, sign someone already!!

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It was August of last year that Chelsea was rejected by Sevilla not once, not twice, but three times to acquire Alves. Daniel Alves was furious Sevilla would not release him and had rejected Chelsea’s offers because Alves had stated he wanted to play for a “European Giant”

I think the very offensive right-back would be a wonderful addition to the Red Devils. He will be very expensive but he could be worth every penny. If United want a replacement for Gary Neville There is no one better ,at this time, then Daniel Alves.

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Both Rooney and Ronaldo on the bench to start.
Ferdinand passed the fitness test and he started alongside Brown, Pique, and Silvestre. Sir Alex went with a Carrick as a defensive mid Anderson and Hargreaves in the center. Park on the right and Giggs on the Left
17 year old Danny Welbeck was called up to the first team.

In the first 10 minutes United had 5 good chances to score. First Hargreaves centered the ball for Tevez in the 3rd minute but its deflected for a corner kick. Then Giggs finds Park making the run behind the Roma defense but Park puts it too wide looking for the far post. Then Park finds Tevez with a center inside the 18, but Tevez heads it wide. Then in the 10th minute Giggs connects with Owen Hargreaves, Owen was through on a 1v1 but couldn’t finish as Doni blocked to much of the angle.

United with another great chance in the 16th Owen Hargreaves sends a ball into Giggs who takes a shot  at point blank but Doni dives the right way.

Giggs delivers a great ball to Owen Hargreaves right in front of goal but was immediately rushed by Casseti and Juan. Owen couldn’t get the shot off

Hargreaves again with a ball that makes it all the across the middle, That time for Anderson who connects wonderfully but is denied by Doni. Great shot by Anderson and I’m glad to see he’s keeping the ball down when he shoots

A very greedy and selfish play by Tevez in the 27th minute. There was a counter attack from United which Tevez started, by playing Ryan Giggs to the left, Giggs carried and megged a player before passing it to Anderson who had a light touch for Tevez and immediately took off for the give and go. At this point Giggs had continued his run up the left completely unmarked and Anderson was making the right run. Tevez held WAY to long, and im not sure his last touch was intended as a pass, it looked like wanted to go solo, but Anderson who was offside ran to the ball and was called for it.

In the 30th minute Roma were awarded a PK after Mancini shook Brown and made Brown commit to slide tackling. The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. 
De Rossi stepped up and with the pressure of an entire country (Roma was the only Italian club left), He couldn’t convert.
United got very lucky.

Again Tevez decided to play himself instead of giving the ball to Park, who would’ve been clean through.
Tevez ran straight into the opposition. His teammates must have been furious.

In the 34th minute United came close to conceding a goal but a bad first touch by De Rossi give United a chance to clear.

Ferdinand was limping around the whole match. Makes you wonder if he will be fit for the weekend.

A good counter from United as Anderson carried the ball a good 30 yards before passing off to Giggs on the left side, Giggs got past his defender but delivered a poor ball.

2nd half

No changes for United, Ferdinand was back on the pitch.

Roma kept taking shots from outside the 18, Van der Sar had some trouble holding on to the ball but none that would cost United a goal.

Silvestre in great form as he deflected a very dangerous shot taken by Roma. And Van der Sar also doing his part as he gets to a very difficult ball taken by Juan from the corner, and this time he holds on to it

And at the other end again Tevez has another greedy moment, he took one to many touches once again. Tevez did not lift his head to look for other teammates on too many occasions. Tevez wanted to do everything on his own.

Ronaldo and Rooney were warming up
Ronaldo is 9 away from breaking Dennis Law’s record of 45 goals in one season. V.Nistelrooy has come the closest to breaking the record with 44 goals in one season.

Bad ball by Anderson in the 62nd minute, he tried for the switch but he had his left defender making the run, why make soccer difficult? Play it simple.

Man Utd have played with composure and confidence. United were knocking the ball back in forth with no worries

Carlos finally gets his goal in the 70th minute, Hargreaves provided the perfect ball for a diving header,
Maybe now he’ll play with his teammates. And as he celebrated he lifted his shirt to reveal “Feliz Cumple Ariel” or Happy Birthday Ariel
That explains a lot, he was determined to score for “Ariel”

73rd minute Perrota takes his frustration on Park, as he deliberately kicked him. It was a late and cowardly tackle and he still gets upset over getting it called against him. Telling park to “get up”

Rooney on for Giggs in the 74th minute, and O’Shea for Carrick.
I found it very interesting Ferdinand was left on.

Gary Neville’s long awaited return would come in the 81st minute and Anderson  was the player to come off. Neville has not played a match in over a year with the 1st team.

Gary Neville was immediately given the captains armband.

Park was fed a lovely ball by Wayne Rooney in the 88th, No offside call but Park cant convert its out for a corner kick.

And that was the final whistle.

United through to the Semi-Final against Barcelona.

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There has been plenty of good news and bad news for both Manchester United and Roma.

First, Roma’s bad news and United‘s good news. Roma will have to do without their leading scorer and team captain, Francesco Totti once again. While United’s offense is unstoppable at the moment, With Ronaldo on the verge of breaking goal scoring records, Rooney back in scoring form, Nani set to return and that’s not mentioning Anderson, Scholes, Tevez or Giggs. The Roma defense will have their work cut out for them at Old Trafford. Oh, and Roma will most likely start their horrendous keeper Doni.

Now for United’s bad news and Roma’s good. United will have to do without Serbian international  Nemanja Vidic and possibly English captain Rio Ferdinand. Vidic still out from United’s first leg which took place in Roma. Ferdinand, who more recently injured his foot will have to pass a fitness test set to take place Wednesday morning to compete. United do have options like John O’Shea, Gerard Pique, Owen Hargreaves (who did play right back a couple weeks ago) even Mikael Silvestre and Gary Neville. While Roma’s defense has been boosted by Brazilian center defender Juan.

With at least one English team already guaranteed to be in the final, Manchester United have what it takes to make it two in the Champions League Final.

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Should Gary Neville and Silvestre be considered for such a match? Both are just coming back from very serious injuries and Roma’s offense are very quick.

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