FC Porto vs Man Utd – Let’s Talk

So we know that Chelsea will face Barcelona in the first Champions League Semi-Final. Now we need to know who the other teams to go through will be. We don’t really care about what happens at the Emirates, we have more than enough on our plate here, so we’ll obviously deal exclusively with the match in Portugal.

Taylor had the rather neat idea of me and him throwing questions back at each other and answering them. We’ve done just that and after reading these, we welcome you to throw your own questions out, or answer some of these if you wish. Read on, and enjoy..

# 1. What formation/lineup would YOU like to see United run out tomorrow? What formation/lineup do you actually see them using?

Wayne: I want to see them go out with a really attacking mindset from the start, all energy, all movement, all speed and power. For this I think that 4-3-3 should be employed. 4 defenders, who should be easy enough to pick. 3 midfielders, perhaps Scholes, Park and Fletcher and then Tevez, Ron and Rooney. Of course, if needs be, Ron can drop back into midfield and it’ll become a straightforward 4-4-2. The reason I think that this should be used is because we can’t let Porto settle into their own game at home. If the players rattle a few cages from the start and show that they mean business, Porto might get a little nervous. But if we start as slowly as we did last Tuesday Porto will really fancy their chances. I think that SAF will employ a 4-4-2 with perhaps Carrick instead of Scholes but to be honest, it’s hard to know. he might well play Roo on the wing and have Berba up front. I simply couldn’t pick what I think he’ll choose.

Taylor: Part of me wants to take it to an extreme, and really try to shake some things up. I like the idea of going with a very aggressive 4-4-2. A back four of Evra, Vidic, Rio, and Fabio would actually be okay with me. The midfield is definitely where we’ve been struggling lately, and I just don’t think that you can run any combo of Scholes/Carrick/Fletcher and expect a solid result. That said I would be fine with Slave, Carrick, Park/Giggs, and Rooney in the Gerrard role. Tevez and Berba up top.

However, as Berba may not be healthy, and Fergie can’t really risk a whole lot in this one, my guess is that we’ll see a back four of Evra, Vidic, Rio, and O’Shea, a midfield of Slave and Park with Carrick and Fletcher in the middle, and Rooney and Tevez up top.

# 2. What do you think we need to do against Porto this week that we didn’t do last week? That being, where do you think we need to improve?

Taylor: To be honest (and I’m sure that this will go over well with our Portuguese readers) but I don’t think that the issues we had in our 2-2 draw last week were specific to the Porto team we faced. To be sure, they have some solid talent and could quite easily dash our European hopes, but that’s not what worries me heading into this match.

The Liverpool thumping aside, United have been the victims of their own demise lately. In the Fulham match, a foolish Paul Scholes handball and lackadaisical defending cost United three points. Against Villa, Evra watched Agbonlahor head in the first goal whilst Jonny Evans and Evra let Gareth Barry melt them like butter for the second. In the Porto match, crucial misplays from Evans, Slave, and Neville led to United conceding.

United have most certainly lacked the defensive sharpness from earlier in the season, and that is an issue that must be fixed if United hope to get a result in the Dragao on Wednesday. Having Rio fit will go a long way toward resolving that situation, but I think a second solution can be found in the midfield. Recently, we have struggled to maintain possession in the middle and attacking thirds. As I said before, I don’t think a pairing of Fletcher/Carrick is the optimal answer to this dilemma. Inserting a crafty playmaker like Giggs or Anderson could rectify the issue. Regardless, a solid midfield performance and a dearth of foolish mistakes will go a long way toward United getting the result.

Wayne: Yeah, I have to agree. Porto are a good enough side but we’ve faced better this season, and done better against those better sides. I think that Porto caught United off guard in those early stages of the first leg, Untied started sluggishly and were caught out by Cristian Rodriguez’ early goal. I think we’ve had the same problem over most of the last couple of poor performances. We’re needing someone to anchor the midfield. Porto, Liverpool, Villa and Fulham to a lesser extent exploited the fact that there were huge gas in front of our defence. Carrick is not a defensive midfielder and neither are Scholes or Anderson. Fletch is a tidy and busy player but doesn’t seem to have the discipline to stay behind the midfield at all times. When you see how Essien completely marked Gerrard out of their game last week, you see how effective someone in that position can be. Hargo is out at the moment so we don’t have anyone suited for that position.

But also, having Rio and Vidic back together at the back should provide a big boost for the players. Jonny Evans is a good young player but you can’t expect a 21 year old to be able to play mistake-free throughout a whole season. It will be intriguing to see if the confidence of having the centre-back pairing sorted will flow through the team, if it does we could be in for something good.

# 3. Given his run of form (a brilliant finish and then a semi-intentional deflection), will Macheda factor in the match?

Wayne: In a way I hope he doesn’t. The reason I say this is because we only bring him on when we desperately need a goal. I’m hoping that it doesn’t get to that stage tomorrow night and that hopefully we’ll have it semi-wrapped up before the final 15 minutes, which is when he tends to come on. Of course, if he comes on and wins it 1-0 for us I’ll still be delighted, but the fact is that it hasn’t been because of a lack of goals that we’ve needed him, we’ve needed him to score because of a leakage of poor goals that we shouldn’t concede. So, with Rio and Vidic back together hopefully, and I mean hopefully, we don’t need the little Italian stallion this time.

Taylor: Well said. I suppose it would be interesting to see him given the start, but there’s no way that happens with Rooney, Tevez, and a (supposedly) fit Berba in front of him. I could see him coming on with 15-20 left if United are only one up and looking to press the advantage. But I suppose you’re right… I doubt he gets on the pitch…

# 4. Porto’s coach Jesualdo Ferreira has been given a touchline ban for the match, do you think that this will have much if any effect on his team?

Taylor: I don’t really know a whole lot about this situation, nor do I know a lot about the type of manager he is. Any time a team is without a manager (especially in a situation like this), it definitely puts them at a disadvantage. However, I have to believe that Porto won’t be too shaken by his absence. Unless, as you’ve been saying, United score early. If United were to score early, thereby not allowing Porto to settle, then I guarantee Ferreira will be kicking himself for “making a gesture at the referee.”

Wayne: Yeah, I agree entirely. I, like you, am fairly unaware about Ferreira as a manager, but he’s top of the Bwin Liga and brought his side to OT and scored twice so he’s no fool. If United score early he’ll certainly kick himself but I guess we’ll have to wait until after the match to see the true effects.

# 5. What type of alcohol will you be arming yourself with prior to kickoff… and what is the necessary quantity to cover all possible bases?

Wayne: Well, I’m not exactly minted at the moment, being a student and all but I think I’ll be divulging in my classic tipple, six-pack of beer. It’s enough that it won’t get me drunk and angry but also enough to make me remarkably happy if we win, even happier than I’d be when sober. So I’m going with a six-pack. But of course, any suggestions are welcome!

Taylor: I’m going to mix it up a bit and go with a combination of Guinness and Bud Light (classy, I know)… as always, Jameson’s will be waiting in it’s “do not break unless in case of emergency” position…

# 6. Okay, so the big question. How do you think the match will end up? Will we do it or will Porto hold out?

Taylor: My heart says United can shape up and get the result. My head says that it’s going to take a monumental effort to pull us out of this funk. Rio and Berba (if both fully fit) could provide just such an injection of life and (ironically for Dimitar) energy. I think if United get on them early, victory Fergie walks out of the Dragao with a one or two nil victory. If we take a while to adjust and once again struggle in the middle… well… let’s just say a six pack won’t heal all wounds… regardless, I’m going with United to snake it 2-1.

Wayne: Yeah, same here mate. Head and heart are arguing with regards to this. Heart wants to think that we’ll go out and absolutely ramshackle them and shut the Dragao up. But the head knows that it will take a huge effort. If we get all the big boys firing (I’m talking to you Ron and Berba) then we have a great chance. I didn’t mention Roo because I know he’s gonna give 100% anyway.

I gotta stick with your prediction, 2-1 to United.

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Category: Champions League