The Mail Bag
Who has what it takes?
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I am thinking about the derby and wondering who has the much-needed fighting qualities.
Barring injury, I expect Howard, Neville, Heitinga, Senderos and Baines to be first on the team list. Fellaini, Pienaar and Cahill would also be certs but I am not too sure who should get the other four places. Donovan has probably done just enough to earn a place but who will get the other two positions?
Will it be Saha or Yakubu or both? Others that come into the frame are Anichebe, Vaughan, Bily and Osman. Of that last four I would not like to see Osman get the nod. He is a proven bottler against top four sides and we can't afford another of his vanishing tricks in this one.
Dick Fearon, Posted 02/02/2010 at 20:04:12
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Neville, Heitinga, Senderos, Baines
Donovan, Fellaini, Osman Cahill, Pienaar
Saha
At full health we would have Jags for Senderos and Arteta for Osman but I think this is our best squad at the moment.
- although I would prefer Distin to Senderos as a partner to Heitinga. I think we need at least one centre back with real pace otherwise we will be forced to play too deep.
I would like to see someone emerge to replace Phil Neville at right back, but this may need to wait until next season.
Even without Jageilka and Arteta this is a pretty decent outfit - and on the bench we will have to make choices from the Yak, Senderos, Bily, Coleman, Rodwell, Gosling, Vaughan and Anichebe. Not shabby at all.
Yobo, Hibbert, Arteta and Jagielka presumably not available.
COYB FTRS
I think Bily is in need of a rest and would be a great addition as sub.
The Coleman debate? He’s a sub, he can come on if need be but Neville is our leader and to me looks like he relishes these type of games.
I believe we should go into this with no fear, Birmingham are catchable but I doubt the others are unless we go for 3 points a game instead of settling for draws. Liverpool are dodgy all over the pitch and if we don't let them settle I can see us winning comfortably.
I agree about getting at their fullbacks, in Pienaar and Donovan we have threats down both sides, we just need Ossie (I'd prefer Arteta) to find them.
Osman’s useless in these games as we all know.
If Arteta’s not up to starting, I’d use Pienaar in the middle and give Bily a start on the left.
Neville
Heitinga
Senderos
Baines
Donovan
Osman
Fellaini
Pienaar
Cahill
Saha.
If the ladyboy is fit I would go with Distin over Senderos as he seems to lack pace and I seem to remember Torres giving him the runaround at the Arse a few times.
Bily, Arteta (hopefully), The Yak, Coleman, Vaughan, Big Vic all offer decent options from the bench.
Shite fans I know have said they’d take a draw. At Home???!!! — I think that says everything.
I’d honestly be a bit disappointed if we don’t beat them by more than one goal.
No matter who plays, every last one of them needs to put a shift in and don’t forget Cahill will be looking to score at his hunting ground; if we can control the midfield we can win the game.
On a slightly different subject, I work in London and we have a few cockney RS working here. Was getting some pre derby stick from one of them yesterday, when I asked him if he ever gets to the match he said no, he doesn’t go because he doesn’t like Scousers. What a prick!
Since he’s been back he’s being playing deep, on the wing and at some stages trying (and failing) to play football in midfield...
If he tries to play football he’ll look crap.
Yobo has returned injured... in fact, he went injured. Yakubu was shocking in the African Nations, criticised even in his own country for his lackadaisical displays, used as a late sub in the semi and an unused sub in the 3rd place playoff, he has done his 3 years here.
His career pattern is 3 years and move on, so get some dosh for him while we can and bring in a more livelier player in the summer who can compete with the supposed arrival of Beckford for the the centre forward spot as Saha is going to do a bunk and Victor and Vaughan are never going to offer much more than they have now.
We haven’t won at Anfield for 11 years! I have got a good feeling about this one though, it’s Moyesie's 600th game in charge and the lads will be well up for it. Felli to stop Gerrard, and the game is there for the taking.
Let's go there, and show what we are all about, and get the result that the fans have craved, for far too long.
Our record at Anfield as far as winning is concerned, is poor, so let's give Moyes his derby cv badge for a victory, on their patch, and enjoy a great weekend.
Personally, I think the African Cup of Nations came at a perfect time for us where he is concerned.
He has been getting some good competitive matches, better standard than reserves, and these would have served him and us better as we haven't had to use a below-par Yak for Prem matches.
I think it could be time to feed the Yak!
I doubt we’ll see him as he should be until next season, same with Mikky and Jags.
I thought our performance last week dropped largely because the partnership of Fellaini and Piennar was broken up. I’d definitely have Piennar alongside Fellaini.
As for the defensive line-up I’d have Senderous ahead of Distin as his positional sense is much better although I’d have to admit his fitness might be a cause for concern.
Coleman in for Neville may be worth a punt though I’d consider giving Coleman a chance on the flank in front of Neville. Would help with defensive duties but he has got pace which we lack and the ability to deliver quality into the box.
Full back! FULL BACK!!!
I don’t see Bily being scared by challenges. He lacks pace and urgency but he’s no shirker. What he is is a potential matchwinner and we are good enough to take the shote on. Selecting Osman strikes me as a ’safe’ selection. The sort that usually ends up playing against us in these big games.
I reckon we’ll outplay them, we’re a better 11, so a few guys with the cajones to have a shot on goal looks the order of the day for me.
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