Manchester United injury update | Chris Smalling still out for Manchester City
by Gene Um on Jan 6, 2012 7:00 PM GMT
in Manchester United: Team News
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson held his weekly press conference today and during it, he revealed that there isn't much change on the injury front. The good part of this is that no new injuries were picked up during Wednesday's defeat at Newcastle United. The bad part of this is that the likes of Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Fabio, Michael Owen, Tom Cleverley, and other players who may been anticipated to be returning soon are not ready to yet. Here the main highlights of Fergie's quotes in regards to his side's injury situation:
"We don’t have any changes. Fortunately we had no injuries on Wednesday so we’ll have the same squad for Sunday. There's no progress really to report. Chris Smalling is the one I’d love to get back but he’s got a really bad bout of tonsillitis. We expect to have him training by Monday. Jonny Evans has still got his calf injury. But there are enough experienced players in the squad to cope with a really difficult tie on Sunday."
Source: ManUtd.com
Once again, that leaves United a bit light in terms of their selection options in defense and midfield for their upcoming FA Cup tie against Manchester City. In defense, that leaves only Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jones, Patrice Evra, and Rafael as natural defenders -- although winger Antonio Valencia is an option to fill-in at right-back as is midfield Michael Carrick at center-back. Ferdinand is a constant fitness concern so there questions whether he is able to play and second match in a five-day span after featuring against Newcastle.
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Lineups
F***. I was hoping Cleverley and Smalling would be fit by Sunday’s match.
How do you suppose our lineups will look? I’d say (4-4-2):
Lindegaard; Rafael – Ferdinand – Jones – Evra; Valencia – Carrick – Anderson – Nani; Rooney – Welbeck
lineup
Lindegaard, Rafael, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Park, Nani, Rooney, Chicharito
I think Park will end up playing the same role he did against Barcelona in the CL final and harass David Silva.
another thing I was thinking is that Rooney could play CM and have Welbeck and Chicharito up front. Rooney is defensive and offensive and he never quits. could be huge.
Twitter: @DevilsLegend10
Reasonable
Rooney in CM may actually be a pretty nice idea.
As much as I’m a fan of Park, he usually doesn’t perform very well when he’s called up to play a second match in a single week. Still, I could see him playing on the left wing – to mark Silva – and being subbed for Nani in the second half.
If Park is match fit, then this lineup is possible (and it looks pretty good):
Lindegaard; Rafael – Ferdinand – Jones – Evra; Valencia – Carrick – Rooney – Park; Welbeck – Hernandez
Question is, will Fergie be willing to play Rooney in CM? I mean, there’s always Anderson, Gibson (I’m guessing he’s fit?), Giggs, and Park to partner Carrick (though I’d be more comfortable with Rooney than the others).
I wouldn't mind seeing Rooney in a box-to-box role
This is a situational wish because of our lack of midfield options. It’s reasonable to question whether Fergie will use Giggsy and Rio again after playing on Wednesday…. so perhaps Rooney does play there. Berba, Welbeck, and Chicharito are 3 very good options up top.
Editor-in-Chief for The Busby Babe | SB Nation Soccer Contributor
http://twitter.com/#!/GeneUmTBB
Park's work-rate definitely helps his full-back double on tricky attackers....
but against Barca, his main task was tracking Dani Alves.
Editor-in-Chief for The Busby Babe | SB Nation Soccer Contributor
http://twitter.com/#!/GeneUmTBB
your guess is as good as any
sounds reasonable
Editor-in-Chief for The Busby Babe | SB Nation Soccer Contributor
http://twitter.com/#!/GeneUmTBB
Johnny Evans
i have a feeling we’ll get a surprise and see Johnny Evans suited for the game. just a feeling, i could be wrong.
Twitter: @DevilsLegend10
Fergie did say this....
“Jonny Evans has still got his calf injury.”
But who knows with the way the club reveals (or conceals really) injury information, it wouldn’t be shocking if you were right. I mean, where the hell did Ando come from last week? He was supposed to be out until February!
Editor-in-Chief for The Busby Babe | SB Nation Soccer Contributor
http://twitter.com/#!/GeneUmTBB
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