[Keano!]

Uniteds first encounter with one of the newly promoted sides...​

Notes​

• Wayne Rooney is United's top scorer with 3 goals in 3 games
• United will be without Possebon (Leg), Foster (Ankle),
  Carrick (Ankle), Scholes (Knee), while Hargreaves and Neville are
  doubts for the tie
• West Brom have taken 10 points from a possible 21 so far this season
• United have taken 11 points from a possible 18 so far this season

Form

Manchester United are on the back of 2 premier
league wins after beating Bolton and Blackburn in succession. They have only
won 3 games so far this season, along with loosing at Anfield. In Europe, they are
striding nicely with a draw at home to Villareal and a comfortable away win
against Aalborg BK

West Bromwich Albion have made a good start to their leage campaign
after beating West Ham, Middlesbrough and Fulham. Before the season started,
they were tipped as the favourites of the newly promoted sides to stay up



Previous Two Results

At Old Trafford ('05/'06) - Manchester United 3-0 West Bromwich Albion
At The Hawthorns ('05/'06) - West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Manchester United



Key Players

Manchester United - Wayne Rooney is on red hot form of late netting three
times in his last 3 games and a stunning performance for England recently.
Rooney will be looking to net his 1st goal against West Brom after three
meetings with no goals from the Englishman

West Bromwich Albion - Roman Bednar is joint top scorer at The
Hawthorns and is West Brom's most potent weapon by th elooks of things
as they face up to the Champions. Bednar netted 13 times for them last
season as they won promotion to the Premier League



Keano's Line-Up

------------------------------------Van Der Sar-------------------------------------
-
-
---Rafael-----------Ferdinand-----------------Vidic-----------------Evra---
-
-
-----------Ronaldo-----------Anderson---------------Park------
-
-
---------------------Rooney----------------------Tevez----------------------------
-
----------------------------------Berbatov--------------------------------


Keano's Verdict

4-0 Home Win





Discuss...






IM GOING TOO!!!






.

 

[Jazz 16]

Cant wait for this game. Ill be at OT myself so Im looking forward to it a lot.
Could be a pasting as well me thinks.

 

[ManUtd19]

I like that lineup. A lot. So much I wanna touch it..

 

[manc in oz]

I like that lineup. A lot. So much I wanna touch it..

Hands off.

 

[manc in oz]

I think this could be the first game we give somebody a good hiding. So long as we don't pick up anymore injuries during the international break.

 

[Red Devil]

My only worry is that SAF rings the changes and it backfires. WBA are playing well at present, got it tidy at the back, and enjoying their game. We have struggled with their tactics in the past.

 

[Lucky7]

------------------------------------Van Der Sar-------------------------------------
-
-
---Brown-----------Ferdinand-----------------Vidic-----------------Evra---
-
-
-----------Ronaldo-----------Anderson---------------Nani------
-
-
---------------------Rooney----------------------Tevez----------------------------
-
----------------------------------Berbatov-------------------------------------------


My Prediction:
3-0 to United
Berba
Ronny
Wazza

 

[jerrakos]

My line-up would be similar to the Blackburn game:

VDS
Brown - Vidic - Rio - Evra
Ronaldo - Anderson - Hargreaves (if fit) - Nani
Rooney - Berbatov

The Rooney-Berbatov partnership is starting to form.
Hopefully, this game will be a convincing win, at home.

 

[Wazza1989]

we're in good form and in progress. if our players don't come back injured from the internationals, well we'll have no problems.I agree with Keano's line up, but i would sincerely prefer to se tevez more often.He's such a great talent and it would be a shame to waste it. Even though WBA are playing well lately, it's all gonna end at Old Trafford. My prediction...is a 2-0 maybe 3-0, but if we go higher we will also receive...this is my gues and hunch...hope i'm right...with the winning part

 

[-zuco-]

On the back of a convincing win at Ewood Park; we have got to carry he momentum
on with a home win against a West Brom side that have done quite well so far under
Tony Mowbray.

We're starting to click now with players getting fitter and the squad coming together
and producing some good football. Ronaldo will be 90 minutes fitter and Berbatov will
be in good spirits after an impressive performance against Blackburn yesterday.

I honestly thought we'd be lacking in the midfield with Scholes and (especially)
Carrick missing through injury, but with Anderson showing his maturity yesterday
with a dominating performance in midfield, things are looking good.

-----------------------------Van Der Sar

---------------Rafael/Neville - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra

------------Ronaldo - Anderson - Scholes/Fletcher - Nani

---------------------------Rooney - Berbatov

I'd like to see Neville get some game time against supposedly lesser opposition
and continue his strides towards full fitness. But if he's injured still, Rafael should start.
Brown played very well yesterday and I think Fergie will probably keep him
in the team, but I'd rather keep him for stronger opposition and give Nev or Rafael
a chance against a smaller team. The rest of the back four picks itself.

Anderson should keep his place in midfield with Scholes partnering him if fit, otherwise
Fletcher will keep his place and he'll have another opportunity to impress after a
relatively poor game against Blackburn.

Nani makes up the four man midfield with a slot on the left wing. He's been very
inconsistent so far this season, but he desperately needs game time if he's to find
form.

Berbatov and Rooney are my front pairing after they both gave brilliant performances
at Ewood Park. I expect Rooney to score again because he always scores in bursts,
while it would also be nice to see berbatov break his premiership duck in front of a
home crowd. Tevez will come on as a late sub.

 

[christianoharleiro]

Blade, scholes is injured until mid december

CH's Line-Up

------------------------------------Van Der Sar-------------------------------------
-
-
---Rafael-----------Ferdinand-----------------Vidic-----------------Evra---
-
-
------Ronaldo--------Hargreaves--------Anderson------------Nani------
-
-
-------------------------Rooney-------------Berbatov-----------------------


CH's Verdict

3-1 Home Win - WB to score first. Berbatov, Anderson, Nani

pains me to leave tevez out, but I'm backing Berbatov to score in this game and Rooneys in good form - he doesn't deserve to be dropped. But then again, Tevez didn't deserve to be dropped for any of the previous few games.

 

[robWBA]

Hey, should be 3 points to you if we're being realistic. But backed with the support shown this season and playing well and looking extremely solid at the back, I think we could possibly cause some kind of mild upset. 1 point here is 1 massive bonus point.

 

[Jazz 16]

Hey, should be 3 points to you if we're being realistic. But backed with the support shown this season and playing well and looking extremely solid at the back, I think we could possibly cause some kind of mild upset. 1 point here is 1 massive bonus point.

Well you never know to be honest. I was actually at the game, the last time we
played you. The 1-1 draw game when your keeper got injured and Giggsy
scored the free. Kuzzie then came on and performed heroics. Im convinced thats
why Fergie ended up buying him off you's.

Im very confident for this game though. We are just starting to click into gear,
with Berbatov and Rooney looking good, and Ronaldo is ready to have a great
game sooner rather than later.

 

[reddwarf]

This is the battle of 8th v 9th but I don't think this will be a close encounter.

I have been surprised at how well West Brom have started. Hull have taken the headlines but West Brom have done brilliantly to move into the top half of the table.

However, we are very difficult to beat at home and as long as we field a strong team I can not see anything but a comfortable victory for United.

 

[Keano!]

Home advatage here tips the scale all in our favour TBH..

And after the away win at Rovers, confidence will be sky high. For me, it will either
be a scrappy 1/2 nil win or a hiding....Wonder willl Kusie play against his old
side?? ...lol

Rooney will score too IMO...he's hitting that form of old, and bioy is it brilliant!

 

[jamesfox123]

1st time to OT!!

Hey guys, im heading up to old trafford for the first time for the west brom game and i can't wait!! im sitting in w3102. obviously far back and high up but its the stretford end nevertheless!! how is the atmosphere up there? any good?

 

[piazza]

-----------------Van Der Sar
Rafael-------Rio-------Vidic-------------Evra
------------Anderson-----Hargreaves
Park------------------------------------Ronaldo
-------------Rooney
-------------------Berbatov

 

[TheManc]

My team:

------------------------------VDS--------------------------------

--Neville-----------Rio--------------Vidic------------Evra---

--Ronaldo--------Fletcher-------Anderson-------Giggs--

----------------------Rooney------Tevez------------------

Subs:
PIG
Rafael
Brown
Carrick
Hargreaves
Nani
Berbatov

I think Carrick should be fit then, so if we're up by a few goals then give him, Hargreaves and Rafael some time on the pitch.

 

[United_OG]

On the back of a convincing win at Ewood Park; we have got to carry he momentum
on with a home win against a West Brom side that have done quite well so far under
Tony Mowbray.

We're starting to click now with players getting fitter and the squad coming together
and producing some good football. Ronaldo will be 90 minutes fitter and Berbatov will
be in good spirits after an impressive performance against Blackburn yesterday.

I honestly thought we'd be lacking in the midfield with Scholes and (especially)
Carrick missing through injury, but with Anderson showing his maturity yesterday
with a dominating performance in midfield, things are looking good.

-----------------------------Van Der Sar

---------------Rafael/Neville - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra

------------Ronaldo - Anderson - Scholes/Fletcher - Nani

---------------------------Rooney - Berbatov

I'd like to see Neville get some game time against supposedly lesser opposition
and continue his strides towards full fitness. But if he's injured still, Rafael should start.
Brown played very well yesterday and I think Fergie will probably keep him
in the team, but I'd rather keep him for stronger opposition and give Nev or Rafael
a chance against a smaller team. The rest of the back four picks itself.

Anderson should keep his place in midfield with Scholes partnering him if fit, otherwise
Fletcher will keep his place and he'll have another opportunity to impress after a
relatively poor game against Blackburn.

Nani makes up the four man midfield with a slot on the left wing. He's been very
inconsistent so far this season, but he desperately needs game time if he's to find
form.

Berbatov and Rooney are my front pairing after they both gave brilliant performances
at Ewood Park. I expect Rooney to score again because he always scores in bursts,
while it would also be nice to see berbatov break his premiership duck in front of a
home crowd. Tevez will come on as a late sub.

Great post

Only thing i would say is that i think brown needs to keep playing matches, so for me its either, rafael for experience...but will he get outpowered? or brown over neville because he scored in our last game and looked good.

I also agree about nani, i think some are being a little bit too harsh on the kid but some of his critics are deserved too but i still think he needs game and has talent so play him.

Will tevez start is my only question? he deserves one sooner rather than later but with rooney and berbatov looking good, will he? and Ronny could benefit from his time with carlos quieroz and the portugal team after his injury layoff, provided he gets games and continues to get fitter and stronger...and does not get reinjured!

pz

 

[Jazz 16]

I guess a lot will depend on how they come back from international duty.
A lot of these players have 2 games in 5 days so some niggles/strains/injuries
are bound to happen. fingers crossed they dont though.
And also take into account the travelling, jet lag in some cases and fatigue this will cause.

Blade makes a good point about Rafael. Id love to see this kid start against
West Brom or at least come on as sub if the game is safe.

I agree with OG that Nani is getting criticised a lot (mainly by me lol) but he does
need games to get going properly and West Brom would be a perfect game for
him to play in. We wont need Park for his defensive abilities. we play Nani and try
to get to WBA from the start.

Im really hoping Hargreaves is back also but if Berbatov scores his first Prem goal
at OT while Im there, I think Ill have an aneurysm.