Reds set to ring changes

December 02, 2008

Carlos Tevez

SIR Alex Ferguson is expected to make wholesale changes as United look to book a Carling Cup semi-final berth at the expense of Blackburn at Old Trafford.

Carlos Tevez may be among the star names that do take part after sitting out Sunday's Manchester derby triumph at Eastlands.

Cristiano Ronaldo is suspended but he would not have played anyway, while Ben Foster is likely to be handed the goalkeeping slot.

Defender Martin Olsson comes back into contention for Blackburn.

Olsson sat out Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Portsmouth through suspension following his dismissal at Spurs the previous week.

Keith Andrews is ineligible, whilst Vince Grella (calf), David Dunn (Achilles) and Steven Reid (knee) remain sidelined through injury.

Manchester United (from): Foster, Kuszczak, Rafael, Evans, Cleverley, Neville, Chester, Vidic, O'Shea, Nani, Park, Fletcher, Anderson, Possebon, Gibson, Giggs, Tevez, Welbeck, Manucho.

Blackburn Rovers (from): Robinson, Brown, Simpson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Emerton, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Mokoena, Olsson, Tugay, Treacy, Pedersen, Roberts, Derbyshire, Villanueva, Santa Cruz, Fowler, McCarthy.

Which team would you send out? Have your say.

Click here for all the latest odds on the game with Betfred.

Submit Comments | Comments (27) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Gerry, Glastonbury (02/12/2008 at 10:16)

Blackburn will put out a strong side so we need to do likewise or else we could very well get dumped and we have a great opportunity to win this cup.

the artist formerly known as Saha Rocks, pundit land (02/12/2008 at 11:04)

My team would be:

Foster; Rafael, Neville, Evans, O'Shea; Gibson, Fletcher, Anderson, Nani; Tevez, Giggs.
SUBS: Kuszczak, Vidic, Park, Possebon, Welbeck, Manucho, Cleverley

Enterprise (02/12/2008 at 11:11)

Giggs will play for Blackburn against United's ten men.

Dan (02/12/2008 at 11:18)

Rafael played full 90 min on sunday, i know he is young but still we need to make sure that he does not get burnt out . Fergie is using him brilliantly. He has played him in games so far which have not been over agressive like Allborg away, city etc. I am sure he will continue to develop.

TAKIN , strasbourg france (02/12/2008 at 11:21)

its important to play rio or vidic coz its the only competition blackburn can win this year so they will be strong...
foster vidic evans rafael oshea anderson possebon fletcher nani tevez wellbeck
kuzack neville evra carrick gibson park manoucho

Solskjaer20Legend, Epsomville (02/12/2008 at 12:08)

Tevez the £30million-man may get a run out if he's lucky!!

Hopefully Neville will get a game and O'shea and Rafael will get rested for Sunderland!!

Manucho and Welbeck to play a decent portion of the game too.

Angry Bogan, Oz (02/12/2008 at 12:57)

Since when did the league cup become so important? The younger players should be given field time to prove themselves - especially if Blackburn put out a strong team. Possebon, Manucho, etc need this to progress, otherwise how can they break into the top team? Hey Takin, why do put out a team of players how aren't even in the announced squad?
My team: Foster, Rafael, Evans, Chester, Gibson, Fletcher, Anderson, Possebon, Tevez, Welbeck, Manucho (60m sub for Welbeck).
Giggs showed he can't match the pace; O'Shea is Mr. reliable rather then inspirational. Give the 'kids' a chance.

Eric7, Salford (02/12/2008 at 13:31)

Foster Rafael Vidic Evans Oshea, Park Rodrigo Anderson Nani, Tevez Welbeck

Col, Ontario., Canada (02/12/2008 at 13:37)

Nani left wing with Anderson and Possebon in the middle. Tevez and Wellbeck up front with Nev and JOS on the corners. Gibson could start on the right but I'm not sure who will partner Evans.

Haakon (02/12/2008 at 13:56)

This match is only as important as the matching our squad players (mind you, Park and Fletcher aren't among those anymore).

My guess at the lineup; Foster - Neville Evans Chester (or Vida) O'shea - Nani Anderson Possebon (or Gibson) Giggs - Tevez Manucho (or Welbeck)

TBH - I can see that team beating Blackburn.

belfastboy, pickering, canada (02/12/2008 at 15:30)

I am not sure why we dont see winning the carling cup as important? I mean when was the last time we on it, 1 0 against forest in 1995?

I would play a pretty strong team that certainly wouldnt include gary N, he needs to play his career out in the reserves

my team would have evans, the brazilian kids and vidic at the back, fletch, nani, park and giggs in the middle with rooney and tevez up front

rooney particularly needs to get sharp and tevez needs to get his confidence back

remember Its sunderland next in the EPL, likely 3 points wrapped up without a sweat on the weekend

Cyprus Red, Cyprus (02/12/2008 at 16:02)

Enterprise is presumably a City fan. Why else would he insult Giggs one of the best players ever to wear the United shirt. If he isn't then he should never class himself as a United fan because is isn't.

Django, Hampshire (02/12/2008 at 16:03)

Belfastboy's memory isn't what it was. Rooney's first trophy with United was the Carling Cup. He scored twice against Wigan in the final not long ago.

belfastboy, pickering, canada (02/12/2008 at 16:32)

ok I didnt say my memory was perfect, I forgot that we humiliated wigan 4 0 in a game that should have seen RVN come on as sub, almost as bad as not playing Bryan robson in what would have been his record breaking FA cup=final against chelsea

still feel we need to get a strong team out and get to the final, but I do agree with playing some of the young kids

Enterprise (02/12/2008 at 16:43)

Cyprus Red,

No-one denies that Ryan Giggs was a good player once. That was some years ago, however. Now he is so poor, in fact dire is the appropriate word. He must know this, losing the ball at every opportunity. How can anyone have respect for him continuing to draw a large pay packet and keeping younger talent out of the team? The honourable thing would have been to quit after receiving his cup winners medal.

Pepe (02/12/2008 at 18:34)

I saw Blackburn in the relegation zone ,i think they need to get out of the carling cup because they don't want more games in their calendar. Also their next game is home to Liverpool on Saturday. Ince will be very stupid playing Santa Cruz or McCarthy against us. I think it will be bench vs. bench.

Pepe (02/12/2008 at 19:15)

When Paul Scholes will be back?

bobbyc, Manchester (02/12/2008 at 20:55)

Whatever team is fielded I dont think any player selected will think United have a small club mentality ,like the rich ,but small club across
at Eastlands.
Robinho must be thinking "what have I done"
getting involved with these losers?

Alias Smith, over the moon (02/12/2008 at 22:25)

Didn't Ince put out a second-string side in the previous round (v Boro?)? There's no reason to believe that he will play a full-strength side tomorrow and SAF should use the reserves/kids, although he will as usual mix them with a couple of steady-hand first-teamers. I would play;

Foster, Rafael, Evans, Vidic, O'Shea, Nani, Anderson, Possebon, Gibson, Tevez, Welbeck.

It looks like it's us or Spurs for the cup and I would fancy that Harry will play his strongest team no matter who he comes up against so you've got to make Spurs favourite.

keithmat (02/12/2008 at 23:02)

Should be a mix of experience and youth but there are several playes with experience needing a game so playing Tevez, Anderson, and Nani at least makes sense with an experience centre back alongside Evans - strong down the middle should win it against Blackburn who likely will not field the first squad, staying in the Premier league is worth 20m so that should be much more important for them.

Lets loan some players to Keane and Ince and Hughes and Bruce after Xmas try and keep all the United managers in the Premier League.

david the red, toronto (03/12/2008 at 05:15)

Over the moon, your comments are not over the moon, well said.

Gerry, Glastonbury (03/12/2008 at 08:36)

Alias me old mucker. I saw Watford recently and they played some very decent football that night, not great at the back but very capable of scoring themselves.
This is a very tricky game for Spurs and it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if they get knocked out.
That would put three Championship sides in the last four. I think Ince would be bananas to ignore that and play a weakened side. For them it's the best opportunity they'll have of winning a trophy this season.

chris, oxford (03/12/2008 at 09:30)

I like that line up Alias, not sure what kind of team Blackburn are going to put out but should think that our boys will give them a game.

bobbydazzler (03/12/2008 at 11:19)

going through will put even more pressure on our league campaign . we already have a backlog of 2 games to rearrange should we get to the final. this would then mean from feb onwards when the cl kicks off again we have to fit in 3 extra games.

Alias Smith, over the moon (03/12/2008 at 12:41)

Gerry, you must have caught Watford on a good day, they have been in turmoil this season. I think Harry will see this competition as SPURS' best chance for silverware, he will put out a strong side and they are flying - they will swat The Hornets.

chris, the papers think that Ince will put out a strong side (well, strong for Blackburn). Could make for a very interesting game if so - a big test for our youngsters.

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