SIR Alex Ferguson is facing up to the biggest selection headache of his managerial career as he attempts to pick a squad for Manchester United's Champions League final against Chelsea.
The United boss has no injury or suspension worries ahead of the Moscow clash a week on Wednesday and is delighted to have 26 players to choose from.
But with Ferguson able to name only seven substitutes for the match, he must tell eight of his stars they will play no part in the club's biggest game for nine years.
"I'm going to have to leave some fantastic players out of the squad completely next week, which I won't enjoy doing," he said.
"But, on the other hand, it's a fantastic position for us to be in, having 26 fit players."
Here M.E.N. Sport's Jon Smith picks his squad:
STARTING XI: Van der Sar; Brown, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand; Carrick, Scholes, Park, Ronaldo; Tevez, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Silvestre, O'Shea, Hargreaves, Nani, Giggs, Saha
Ferguson is unlikely to change the line-up that beat Wigan to clinch the Premier League title with Park holding onto his place because of his work rate and threat from Chelsea's strong midfield.
Giggs is unlucky to miss out after his crucial goal on Sunday but will expect to play a part at some point.
O'Shea is added to the bench for extra defensive cover with Nani providing a threat if United are chasing the game.
Anderson, followed by Darren Fletcher, are the most unfortunate to miss the cut while the final has come too quickly for Gary Neville.
Who would you pick? Have your say.
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i dont think he should leave anderson out
Considering Carrick and Park have been pretty poor in their last few games I would swap Hargreaves for Carrick and Nani for Park - Carrick and Scholes in CM is very weak so we need more strength in there otherwise Chelsea will run straight through us.
Ya right! Leave Anderson out?! I say he leave Saha out, if needed Ronny can become a striker. Fergie's been saying all season what a big game player Anderson is. Even though I think Nani provides more attacking threat. Andy'll play
It's hard to see Saha gaining a place on the bench over others that have contributed a lot more this season but it makes sense to have that extra striker as an option if needed. Anderson has gone off the boil ever since they started that chant, he's not played much and I wonder how he's performing in training. That said, unless he's burnt himself out (how??) I think he has to be in the squad as he's mertied it opn his performances. I agree I'd start Hargreaves, but maybe in RM on the left of Carrick and Scholes in the centre. The back 5 pick themselves. Front 3 Roo, Ronnie and Tevez. Nani and Anderson to come on later to blitz the geriatric Chelsea legs.
The best way to defeat chelsea is to put them on the back foot by attacking them and occupying there midfielders, all they have is a long ball to dogbreath to hold up, hopefully he will be injured.
Sorry no selection headaches for me, no need for tinkering seasons finished pick the strongest squad....this isn't wigan this the CL Final against a powerful chelsea outfit. VDS/WB/RF/Vidic/Evra stronest and best back four in europe...MF OH/anderson/Scholes/ and a front 3 of CR/Rooney/Tevez with Kitkat/piquet/sylvestre/oshea/giggs/saha/nani?
I can see anderson scoring the winner!
there is no way Anderson should not play or be in the 18, he has played almost all the crucial champs games bar semis and whats the point of havin Oshea and Silvestre all in 18 and also have Hargo there, Hargo can play RB &CM ,Sheasy can play both left and right backs so count out Silvestre
Swap Anderson for Nani I reckon, Anderson is a powerful player, and we need that, as Chelsea are a powerful midfield.
Nani should have lost playing privileges with his petulance against Neill anyway, not the butt, the drama after that I mean.
Scholes & Carrick are nailed on in central midfield. How anyone can say Carrick has been poor these last few games is totally beyond me. He’s been the most consistent midfielder all season and certainly more consistent than Anderson who has faded quite badly and that’s why Fergie hasn’t picked him recently and is unlikely to as a starter in the final – his time will obviously come. He should be pretty regular next season. I think Scholes may well retire, same applies to Giggs.
Hargreaves should play to protect the back four and bulk out the middle but it’s a toss up between Park & Nani. My guess would be Park as he adds so much more defensively and makes up a proper 4 in midfield. However, the option of Anderson, Nani, and Giggs& Saha on the bench is very reassuring.
I agree with that selection Dave Boy with Scholesy coming scoring the winner.
If we play 4-3-3 then the back 4 and keeper pick themselves. The front three pick themselves. The midfield will be Scholes and Carrick plus one of Fletcher, Hargreaves or Park. My choice would be Fletcher as he's the best passer of the three. If we take the game to Chelsea and get a lead they'll have to come out of their shell and we can pick them off on the break.
Do you think Carrick played well against Barca, Chelsea or Wigan Gerry?
Gerry,I have already given up defending the obvious.At least the manager does have the same view that Carrick has been our best midfield player bar Ronaldo.Hence he plays almost every games since the turn of the year.
For the CL, it will be very tricky as i want the holy trinity to start with Saha as cover on the bench.However this means there is only 3 places left in midfield.I ll go for Carrick and Scholes in the center and OH on the right. The players who might come into consideration are only 3 (Park,Anderson and Nani).I am not sure about Park as Chelsea is a very powerful team and will brush him off the ball easily which is why Tevez/Anderson will start.
the one i would def pick is Anderson !!!
u cannot leave him out
he is very good , leave out Saha
I say:
Usual back 5
Carrick,Hargreaves and Scholes midfield
Rooney,Tevez,Ronaldo.
Thhis team could rotate from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 pretty easily with Hargreaves goin wide right and Ronaldo on the left.
Bench: TK,JOS,Anderson,Giggs,Nani,Park,Saha
chelsea will surely play 5 in the mid to control the game.they got extra value in ballack and essien all back to their best.so united should stand strong in the mid to protest the back 4.So hargreases should start no matter what and hargreaves should provide some good crosses.what's about Anderson??he didnt play any of the last games.
van der sar,ferdinand,vidic,evra brown,hargreaves,rooney,ronaldo should be in the starting 11 and 3 places left for 6 players like scholes,carrick,tevez,park,anderson fletcher
kuzack sylvestre/oshea nani/giggs and saha should surely be on the bench
united will win the champions league
Chris - Carrick's crazy handball against Chlsea is something he'll have to live with as it cost us the game, but not the title thank Christ. apart from that he did OK in that game. I'll put my head on the chopping block here and say, yes, he was as good as any of our midielders against Barca and certainly against Wigan - just my opinion though I accept a lot on here see things fifferently.
IMHO Carrick & Scholes are our best CM without question at this moment in time.
Interesting Gerry, the handball was one of those things but my concern is that Carrick does look somewhat one dimensional against the bigger teams and got turned very easily by Chelsea and Barca. IMHO we have to get some strength into the middle of the park or Chelsea could quite easily over power us.
Hopefully SAF will remember the FA Cup Final from last year where our slow, slow passing played right into Chavski's hands. By all means be cautious but let's now try to play the classic "Milan style" or Droggie could provid much less shot-shy than Etooo! Usual Back 5 VDS/Wes/Rio/Vida/Patplus the usual Front 3 of Ron/Roon/Carlito. The midfield three will be crucial and will depend where Essien plays. If he's playing at RB then Scholes/Carrick/Anderson but if Essien is in CM then Scholes/Owen/Anderson. Owen and Anderson will have the pace and strength to combat his runs just like they did with Stevie-Me at Anfield. Whatever happens Anderson and Owen must feature. If Saha is fit then by all means put him on the bench with Nani. Leave Giggs on there until the 90th or 120th minute!! Let's go for it and shut those arrogant Blues up for good and let them cry on their sunbeds over the summer. Especially Obi Wan Mikel!!
OK look at it this way the chavs will have essien/obe/ballack/lumpard and poss cole which is a very strong MF we need to match that somewhere to start with sooo we will need the likes of OH and anderson with either scholes or carrick as they will provide the strength and will run allday plus anderson he has played well in the matches against the top PL sides, forget europe this is a PL game, and the MF is defo where it will be won or lost this is the crucial area which will need to be right. He will probably ask wazzer to do a MF job also on the left leaving tevez and CR up front.
Fergie needs to be ruthless...not sentimental!
If Nani is available he should be on the bench, my strongest side is:
VanDerSar Brown-Ferdinand-Vidic-Evra Hargreaves-Carrick-Anderson-Ronaldo Rooney-Tevez
Subs: Kuszak, Scholes, Silvestre, Saha, Giggs, Pique, Park
That's my squad.... Fergie will start Scholes which is not all bad unless he starts tackling. Also he will probably find some way to use Fletcher and weaken the side all around due to his weakness and lack of speed/quickness in any direction. My only concern with Anderson is his excitement and enthusiasm which could be exposed by the opposition trying to rev him up, past that his strength and commitment is outstanding.
Fergie's(old softtycore) sentiment may costs us as it has before, particularly in Euro. I am afraid this game will go to the wire if we play our best/strongest team. I see intensity the entire game.
Otherwise I predict an uphill battle if sentiment takes over.
Go Red Devils!!!!
i think Sir Alex Fergusion has really done a lot for the man u squad and will alway be remembered @ all traford even after he goes..
Defence and front three picks itself. I am almost certain that Fergie will start with Carrick, Scholes and Hargreaves in midfield.
The problem is who to leave in the stands? Saha may steal an undeserved spot on the bench to give us an extra attacking option in case needed. Giggs, Anderson, Nani, Park, KitKat and JOS would get the other places for me. Very harsh on Fletch mind.
There
I think a 4-5-1 or a 4-3-3 formation. usual back four. rooney on the left with carrick (to deal with essien), then scholes in a CDM role, then Hargreaves partnered up with Ronaldo on the right. tevez to play striker but will have Ronnie and Rooney supporting him.
On the bench: Kuszack, Anderson (no way is he getting left out of this), Giggs (for a 90th minute cameo), O'shea, Silvestre, Saha and Park/nani.
Not too sure on Park or nani. Park would get brushed off the ball easiliy by them. nani isn't very effective at times... and I don't see any winger going off until the end for giggs.