SIR Alex Ferguson has three major selection dilemmas as Manchester United look to cement an unprecdented fourth domestic Double in the FA Cup Final with Chelsea at Wembley.
With Gary Neville (ankle) out, both full-back berths are up for grabs. Wes Brown is favoured to edge out John O'Shea for Neville's right-sided berth, while Patrice Evra is tipped to start on the left in place of Gabriel Heinze.
Ferguson's other choice centres around his tactical formation. Alan Smith will start if the United boss wants a target man up front, while Darren Fletcher will find favour if he wishes to flood the midfield. Louis Saha (hamstring) misses out on a fourth final.
Evra, meanwhile, has revealed how anger at missing out on a World Cup call-up last summer provided him the spur to make it at United this season.
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“I remember speaking to Nemanja Vidic one day towards the end of the season and agreeing how hard and difficult it was in England,” said the 25-year-old.
“Then I missed out on going to the World Cup, which made me really angry.
“I know I am a good player, but I needed to prove it. As soon as I got back for pre-season training I began to work harder in the gym than I had ever done.
“I worked hard in South Africa as well and managed to retain my concentration throughout the season.”
His relaxed and friendly manner is certainly in sharp contrast to his feelings following a debut against Manchester City which went about as poorly as it is possible to imagine.
“It was a bad day,” he said.
Change
“It was the first time in my life I had played a game at 12 o’clock for a start.
“I came down to the breakfast room at 9am and everyone was eating pasta. I wanted to do the same but afterwards I went back to my room and was physically sick.
“Then, when the game started I got kicked in the head and had to go off at half-time. We lost as well and everyone said ’welcome to England’.
“Thankfully, things have changed a lot for me since then.
“I understand English football a lot more, I am fit and, over the last six months, I have been extremely happy.”
Apart from deciding whether Evra or Heinze should play at left-back, Ferguson’s other major selection posers are at right-back, where Wes Brown is expected to edge out John O’Shea, and in the tactical formation of his team, which will determine whether Darren Fletcher or Alan Smith are handed starts.
Jose Mourinho is sweating on the fitness of left-back Ashley Cole (ankle), midfielder Mikel John Obi (hamstring) and winger Arjen Robben (knee) ahead the game.
The Chelsea coach is already without striker Andriy Shevchenko, midfielder Michael Ballack and defender Ricardo Carvalho for the showpiece final against Manchester United.
Young Israeli striker Ben Sahar could be included among the substitutes.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Cudicini, Geremi, Ferreira, A Cole, Terry, Boulahrouz, Diarra, Makelele, Obi, Lampard, Essien, Kalou, Wright-Phillips, Bridge, Robben, Drogba, Sahar.
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Heinze, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Richardson, Eagles, Rooney, Smith, Solskjaer.
Key opponent: Didier Drogba - Forward has been Chelsea's battering ram all season
Prediction: United 2 Chelsea 1 - It should be close, but United have more refinement and pace going forward and that could prove the difference. Chelsea will miss Essien's drive in midfield.
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 19 and replies | View All
Alias Smith, over the moon (18/05/2007 at 14:19)
george (18/05/2007 at 14:39)
red john (18/05/2007 at 14:43)
Steve, Glossop (18/05/2007 at 14:54)
ted knott, droylsden (18/05/2007 at 14:57)
george (18/05/2007 at 15:02)
VDS..BROWN RIO VIDIC EVRA
CARRICK SCHOLES FLETCHER
GIGGS ROONEY RONALDO.
Subs bench..KUSCZAK EAGLES HEINZE JOS SOLKSJAER.
Eagles and JOS to come on for tired legs and Solksjaer with 15 seconds left.
chris, oxford (18/05/2007 at 15:02)
Rick, Telford (18/05/2007 at 15:06)
I think Fergie will go for Brown and Heinze in defence, and Flecther in midfield intead of Smith up front.
Not sure if there'll four goals in the game though like you say.
The game might be a tad fractious, with many interruptions as Chelski like to break up play as often as possible. They like it when they can deny a side like United (or Arsenal) any rhythm at all.
Their other "trick" is obviously to try and create free-kicks (and corners) for themselves so that they're able to "bomb" the area from these set-pieces at every opportunity. Heinze's aerial and body strength will be vital, as will Brown's.
Fergie will also need to put an extra man in midfield to thwart Mikel and to pick up Lampard; who'll probaly play at the tip of a diamond for them as Ballack's not there.
Which all means Rooney will have to play alone up front in a 4-3-3 for United. Not sure if he's always been succesful in that role, and I hope he doesn't get too wound up by Makelele, who is a crafty-so-so who plays the innocent all the time.
Steve Bennet is renowned for splashing "yellows" early on, and, although he's far from Fergie's favourite ref, maybe that's what he'll need to do tomorrow to ensure that United players - like Ronaldo and Giggs - can flourish.
I'm sure we can all remember how many times Lauren (and Vieira) fouled Ronny in the 2005 Final! How either stayed on the field that day I, (and probably Fergie), would still like to know.
I think refs are scared to book players in an FA Cup Final - never mind send them off - because of the occasion.
Remember also Jeff Winter's leniency with Denis Wise the year before for Millwall? Again, also, mainly against Ronny.
Southern Red (18/05/2007 at 15:09)
As I said on another post, I expect Rio and Vidic will struggle to play the whole 90. No one knows what the pitch will play like and Giggs and Scholes may tire. So we need to keep some versatility & quality in reserve to cover those final 20 mins.
Kevin, Tralee, Eire (18/05/2007 at 15:28)
Red Family Man (18/05/2007 at 15:37)
What a great statement of intent that would be, put pressure on them from the off and see how they react. They won't be happy that our (mainly) second string stopped them scoring at Stamford Bridge.
This game shouldn't be that much different, stop the supply to Drogba, keep Lumpard busy and on the back foot in midfield, and let our creative players loose at their back four, which is their undoubted weakness without Carvalho. Let them worry about us for a change.
Then once we are 2 or 3 up, bring on Fletch and go to 4-5-1.
See? Easy!
charbel (18/05/2007 at 17:02)
Hally, Sunderland (18/05/2007 at 17:02)
Barry Lee, USA (18/05/2007 at 17:53)
COLIN, CANADA, Canada (18/05/2007 at 19:47)
Southern Red (18/05/2007 at 19:52)
But think how much better it will be tomorrow evening when I can hear them all suffering and moaning about lost titles, lost cups as well as lost dogs.
Rick (19/05/2007 at 04:40)
If we start 4-5-1, I'd play the 1st leg Roma side, basically. Smith upfront harrying their defenders and messing up their build up (he does this better than Rooney and we missed this against Milan) with Rooney, Giggs and Ronaldo in support and Carrick and Fletch holding the midfield.
Drop Scholes? Big decision, I know. But we need Smith harrying upfront, we need Carrick and Fletch winning the ball and we need Rooney's, Giggs' and Ronaldo's pace and mobility. Plus, this gives Fergie some cards to play in terms of subs. Imagine sending on Scholes and Solskjaer as impact subs - that would scare the hell out of Chelsea!
But Scholes is basically untouchable in Fergie's eyes (and he deserves to be after all he's done), so Smith or Fletch will be sacrificed. We will definitely miss Smith's and Fletch's harrying, so Scholes will need to be at his very best to justify his selection.
Whatever team Fergie picks, lets all hope they go out there and play like the champions they are.
Joe, Malta (19/05/2007 at 07:08)
Matsiko, Kampala, Uganda - Africa. (19/05/2007 at 07:59)
Having said that, i have a feeling the ref will spoil the occasion.