Manchester United V Fulham (3.00pm - Setanta Sports 1)

MagicMarker

Manchester United will be looking to take their frustration regarding Wayne Rooney's suspension out on Fulham.

The Red Devils know they will be without their in-form frontman after the Football Association upheld his two-match ban for swearing into a television camera.

Sir Alex Ferguson will have plenty of other options available to him, though, and will be hoping to cement United's standing at the top of the Premier League table.

With other results having played into their hands last weekend, the Red Devils have opened up a seven-point lead at the summit.

They have, however, found the going tough in recent meetings with Fulham, winning only one of their last four fixtures.

United have also kept just two clean sheets in their last nine Premier League matches, suggesting there is hope for the Cottagers at Old Trafford.
Ferguson's men have taken 49 points from a possible 51 in their last 17 top flight games on home soil, though, so remain a formidable proposition.

Fulham will be determined to dent United's title tilt this weekend, as they attempt to preserve their placing inside the top half of the division.

The Cottagers have suffered only two defeats in their last 11 games, helping to edge them clear of the relegation dogfight.

In Mark Hughes they have a manager who will know all about Ferguson from his days working under the legendary United boss during his playing days.

He has secured two victories over his former mentor since turning to coaching, but has also suffered six defeats.

Hughes will also be aware that no opposition player has found the target during the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League fixture at Old Trafford this season.

Team news

Manchester United boss Ferguson has revealed that John O'Shea and Wes Brown will be ready for a first-team recall on Saturday following recent knocks.

Anderson is also back in contention after coming through a reserve run-out unscathed.

Rafael's knee problem, picked up against Chelsea on Wednesday, is not as bad as first feared, but he will still be missing this weekend.

Owen Hargreaves (shoulder) and Anders Lindegaard (knee) also miss out, while Darren Fletcher is yet to shake off an illness and remains a doubt.

Damien Duff is struggling with an Achilles problem and may be forced to sit out Fulham's trip to Old Trafford.

Northern Ireland centre-back Aaron Hughes is expected to be involved after showing no ill-effects from a heavy blow to the head against Blackpool last weekend.

Striker Bobby Zamora has recovered from a bout of illness and is expected to figure after netting twice against Blackpool last weekend, but Diomansy Kamara (back) and Philippe Senderos (calf) remain sidelined.

Possible starting XIs
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Nani, Berbatov, Hernandez.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Hangeland, Hughes, Salcido, Dempsey, Murphy, Etuhu, Duff, Dembele, Zamora.

What I'd like to see...

VDS
O'Shea Ferdinand Vidic Fabio
Valencia Carrick Anderson Nani
Berbatov Hernandez

abouttobebanned

This on setanta ireland?

MagicMarker

Nope (see thread title;))

Peyton Manning

Will be interesting to keep an eye on Fergie in the stands come 4:15 and see if he's paying any attention to how his horse is doing in the Grand National!

wheres me jumpa

Great to have O'Shea back, could see his physicality being employed on Tuesday night if he comes through today ok. Big day for Berba. He must be gutted to have sat out so many games after easily his best season at OT. Need a big performance from him today in this potential banana skin before Tuesday night.

Id love to see us put this game to bed early but even more so this season, we never do it the easy way and I wouldnt be surprised if we get a nervy 90 minutes at OT.

jaykay74

Worried about the team Alex will put out. Think he will try to rest a lot of players for Tuesday and take Fulham lightly. Don't want to see Gibson start.

I want to relax watching it for once. 2 early goals please for Utd. Enough heart attacks the last few weeks.

ShamoBuc

Utd should win this one but Fulham are well capable of getting a draw. As always with utd games recently there will be ups and downs a plenty

Cantona's Collars

Possible starting XIs
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Nani, Berbatov, Hernandez.

That starting XI would do me,but I can see some surprises.Maybe Owen to get a start?

Johner

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/9451989.stm

No Fergie today, he's running in the national.

Holloway providing commentary.

Blatter

Won't be an easy game, especially with the expected changes and how well Fulham are performing. Although they have an awful away record.

I still expect us to grind out a reasonably comfortable win.

Vic Vinegar

I agree with MagicMarker's team and formation, but i think Carrick will make way for Scholes and Smalling will play instead of Ferdinand, we need those two fresh for Tuesday.

Nailz

If Berbatov starts today I think he'll rip shït up.

Mushy

Nailz wrote: »

If Berbatov starts today I think he'll rip shït up.

Of course he will...I took him out of the FF team.

ShooterSF

No way United will make this easy for fans. The team is in full heart attack inducing mode and will stay there until the end of the season.

PHB

I'd really like Anderson to come on and get some game time under his belt.

flahavaj

I feel like this is a huge banana skin, Dembele and Zamora are back in tandem for Fulham and they're a dangerous pair.

Can see the likes of Gibson and Owen playing here and Utd slipping up unexpectedly.

gosplan

Can see a Utd slip up here. (so probably best to put your money on united win to nil )

If they do have one of their bad starts, Fulham aren't the type of team to concede 4 in the second half.

flahavaj

Kuszczak

Brown
Smalling
Vidic
Evra

Valencia
Gibson
Scholes
Nani

Berbatov
Hernandez

Rumoured team, not official yet.

lordgoat

Nah this is it flah:

Kuszczak; O'Shea, Smalling, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Scholes, Anderson, Gibson, Nani; Berbatov


subs: VDS, Brown, Owen, Park, Hernandez, Carrick, Fabio

S.M.B.

*likes*

flahavaj

Cheers boss. Would have preferred a 4-4-2 myself.

I am never too confident when Danny f*cking Murphy is in the opposition 11 and Zamora tore us a new one last year as well. Got a bad feeeling lads.

u140acro3xs7dm

lordgoat wrote: »

Nah this is it flah:

Kuszczak; O'Shea, Smalling, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Scholes, Anderson, Gibson, Nani; Berbatov


subs: VDS, Brown, Owen, Park, Hernandez, Carrick, Fabio

I would have preferred brown or fabio for Evra and Owen for Gibson. I think Ando will have a bit of a free role today.

Blatter

A bit strange only playing one striker.

I'd expect Ando to play an advanced role.

u140acro3xs7dm

Johner wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/9451989.stm

No Fergie today, he's running in the national.

Holloway providing commentary.

Absolute legend

Blatter

Lads Anderson to score 1st @20/1 is fantastic value as it looks as if he will play behind Berbatov and he scored 2 great goals for the reserves the other night.

He's 7/1 anytime goalscorer too.

superfrank

Kakuta Starts for Fulham...Hopefully does chelsea a favour

lordgoat

Charlee Odd Pound wrote: »

I would have preferred brown or fabio for Evra and Owen for Gibson. I think Ando will have a bit of a free role today.

Nope don't want Brown anywhere near the team tbh, annoyed he's even on the bench. I just really don't rate him as anywhere close to good enough.

I'd still have evra in there for experience which is what i'm hoping will see us over the line.

I expect the team to line up with

Scholes and Gibson deep, and Ando in front driving forward, laying the ball off to the wings and getting into the box.

Def worth a shout for a goal.

flahavaj

lordgoat wrote: »

Nope don't want Brown anywhere near the team tbh, annoyed he's even on the bench. I just really don't rate him as anywhere close to good enough.

I'd still have evra in there for experience which is what i'm hoping will see us over the line.

I expect the team to line up with

Scholes and Gibson deep, and Ando in front driving forward, laying the ball off to the wings and getting into the box.

Def worth a shout for a goal.

I would rather Anderson's energy hassling players a bit deeper and Gibson playing the advanced role, at least he might get an aul shot in.

S.M.B.

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

Lads Anderson to score 1st @20/1 is fantastic value as it looks as if he will play behind Berbatov and he scored 2 great goals for the reserves the other night.

He's 7/1 anytime goalscorer too.

Got him for anytime scorer at 15/2.

u140acro3xs7dm

lordgoat wrote: »

Nope don't want Brown anywhere near the team tbh, annoyed he's even on the bench. I just really don't rate him as anywhere close to good enough.

I'd still have evra in there for experience which is what i'm hoping will see us over the line.

I expect the team to line up with

Scholes and Gibson deep, and Ando in front driving forward, laying the ball off to the wings and getting into the box.

Def worth a shout for a goal.

I just think Evra is in need of a rest. Not a big fan of Brown either but this is a good game to rest Evra.

adox

Decent looking team. Would have liked to see Carrick keep his place to continue his momentum.

Nani and Berba to be the difference. Ando to hopefully have brought his shooting boots with him from mid week.

Cypher_sounds

Duff out for Fulham? Big loss for them, i can see us getting a good win today, fulham a decent side though.

ShooterSF

Don't knew how well Berbs will link up with Valencias pacey play..

Headshot

****ing glazers ****** are there

Nemanja91

Beautiful play.

Cypher_sounds

Wonderful goal lads

Peyton Manning

Delicious goal!

flahavaj

Poor start. Today will show what Carrick brings to the team in terms of protecting the back four I think.

adox

On Nani you sexy beast.

MagicMarker

Sweet goal!

ShooterSF

Get fuc.. oh might be kids looking at this.. Wonderful goal chaps.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Lovely play.

Mushy

God damn it I should have known removing Berba from FF would cost me....least Nani got the assist.

osullic

nice but offside

RandolphEsq

Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssss! Berbatov. Great build up play from Nani.

Fuhrer

Brilliant

flahavaj

flahavaj wrote: »

Poor start. Today will show what Carrick brings to the team in terms of protecting the back four I think.

LOL.

My form continues.

Professey Chin

Tasty!

JerryHandbag

Great goal, brilliant by Nani. After a pretty poor opening 10 mins tbh

jaykay74

People still deny Nani should even be young player of the year

Yet another assist.

Fuhrer

osullic wrote: »

nice but offside

If it wasnt a goal it would have been a penalty