Carling Cup Preview: United v Derby

Carling Cup Semi-Finals
Pride Park Stadium
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
KO : 19:45 GMT (2:45 EST)

Recent Results – United

January 4 – United 3 – Southampton 0 @ St. Mary’s Stadium

December 29 – United 1 – Boro 0 @ Old Trafford

December 26 – United 1 – Stoke 0 @ Britannia Stadium

December 21 – United 1 – LDU Quito 0 @ FIFA Club World Cup

December 18 – United 5 – Gamba Osaka 3 @ FIFA Club World Cup

Recent Results – Derby

January 3 – Derby 4 – Forest Green Rovers 3 @ The New Lawn

December 28 – Ipswich Town 1 – Derby 0 @ Pride Park

December 26 – Preston North End 2 – Derby 0 @ Deepdale

December 20 – Derby 1 – Watford 0 @ Pride Park

December 15 – Charlton 2 – Derby 2 @ The Valley

Points To Ponder Prior to Semi-Formulaic Derby Beating
With a looming Blue giant waiting at the weekend, Fergie will look to play a weakened squad in the first leg on Wednesday. In a post-match interview on Sunday, the manager stated, “It’ll be virtually the same squad [that travelled to Southampton]. I might leave out one or two, but it’ll be more or less the same group of players.”

That said, our defense is a tad shaky heading into this one. Rio is still injured and probably won’t figure. Evra is suspended, and Vidic has played virtually every minute of every game lately. It remains to be seen whether or not Gary Neville is fit enough to handle playing two full matches in four days. Therefore, expect to see a fair amount of youth in our back four come Wednesday afternoon.

Once again, no one has any idea as to whether or not Fabio da Silva is still alive. Tonight’s reserve match against Blackburn (where the youngster may have figured) has been postponed, so it remains to be seen when Rafael’s twin will ever return to full action.

Fabio da Silva: Still Alive? No One Can Really Say For Certain

I always liked having the two Neville’s in the squad, and I am equally excited to see the Brazilian brothers starting on opposite sides of the pitch one day. That said it isn’t unreasonable to hope to see two da Silva’s in the squad list for tomorrow.

What’s to be made of the Tevez saga? Tevez was back in training on Monday and should be in the squad list against Derby. However, it is a safe bet that Fergie won’t be too pleased to pick up his daily paper and notice the size 82 font headline: “Tevez Ready to Quit United.” My gut says Tevez still starts, but Welbeck/Manucho/Rooney/Giggs could all figure prominently if the big boss is still purple with rage come match time

Will the new boy feature? You couldn’t ask for a better fixture to get new signing Zoran Tosic some Manchester United match experience. Derby recently parted ties with Manager Paul Jewell and are currently five points off relegation with a goal differential of -9. With Fergie trying to rest players for Chelsea, why not give the Serbian a run out (if only for a few minutes) just to let me lose my shit when I see him on the same pitch as Manucho? Is that too much to ask?

Predicted Starting Lineup: Polish Failbot, Rafael, Neville, Evans, O’Shea, Gibson, Ando, Scholes, Nani, Welbeck, Tevez.
Predicted Bench: Foster, Rooney, Manucho, Possebon, Fletcher, Vidic, Tosic

Final Prediction: This one will be closer than expected, but United could lose 3-0 away and still progress easily with the home leg still to come. That said, I’m expecting 2-0 United with (ahem) Anderson to FINALLY, ONCE AND FOR ALL get his name on the score sheet. Manucho adds another and I pass out with glee.

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Category: Manchester United