The Curious Case Of Having No Fit Defenders…

By: Wayne Farry | February 23rd, 2009

So here we are, on the eve of the big Champions League game against Inter Milan and the identity of the man to partner Rio at the back against the Italian giants is no clearer. It was enough of a mystery a while ago when all we knew was that Vidic wouldn’t be playing. But whereas back then we thought that it might be Jonny Evans, John O’Shea or Wes Brown who’d partner Mr. Ferdinand, it looks increasingly likely that it’ll be none of those men. Wes Brown is out for sure, and it’s looking like O’Shea and Evans have got knackered legs too, which sucks ass, really!

So if those guys are out, and they probably are, who is going to play alongside Rio Ferdinand at the San Siro on Tuesday night? There’s no obvious choice, Christ, there isn’t even a hint of who could play there. There has been talk that Fabio could make his United debut, but c’mon! Talk about throwing the little guy in at the deep end!! He could prove me wrong if he plays, and I really hope he does prove me wrong. If he’s as good as people are saying he is (better than Rafael) than he might actually be able to cope with the cauldron that is the San Siro.

Then of course there’s another young lad. Sir Alex brought Richard Eckersley to Italy but that’s probably a precautionary measure on his part. Sir Alex obviously thinks highly of the guy, otherwise he wouldn’t have brought him. But he’s one for the future and I really don’t think he’d flourish in this situation so early in his career.

But what if there are no defenders available to play at centre back? Who’ll fill in? You’d want experience for sure, but Giggs and Scholes don’t seem like stand-in centre backs to me. So who’s our most defensive-minded midfielder? Owen Hargreaves! But that’s right, he’s injured for the rest of the season. So maybe Michael Carrick? Me and a friend discussed this the other day and it seems like the logical choice. He’s a top quality player, is good defensively and more than anything, needs must!

I think I’d go for Carrick if all other avenues were closed, but what do you guys think? Should he play Fabio? Or perhaps the incredible risk of Eckersley?

What do you think?

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Category: Champions League, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Team News

Tags: Champions League, Fabio da Silva, Inter Milan, Jonny Evans, Jose Mourinho, Manchester United, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Sir Alex Ferguson, Team News

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• Johonna |  February 23rd, 2009 at 12:57 pm

  
  
  

  So, did we scrap the collaborative thing then?

  Posted from United States

  

• Wayne Farry |  February 23rd, 2009 at 1:13 pm

  
  
  

  Did you not get my email Johonna? I sent it earlier today with preview questions. Sorry for not sending it earlier.

  Posted from United States

  

• Johonna |  February 23rd, 2009 at 1:23 pm

  
  
  

  Dont know, I am at work. I will go through it this evening.

  Better late than never!

  Posted from United States

  

• Wayne Farry |  February 23rd, 2009 at 1:37 pm

  
  
  

  Yeah, you’re right. Hopefully you’ll like the questions! Talk to you later.

  Posted from United States

  

• Mat |  February 23rd, 2009 at 2:56 pm

  
  
  

  Carrick would be a good choice..I’ve seen him play pretty good at defense.
  I’d be happy to see

  OShea/RB Carrick Rio Evra
  Scholes
  Ronaldo Giggs
  Tevez
  Rooney Berbabtov

  with Rooney tracking back to help out the RB, even ifits not OShea… does anyone know what’s Neville’s prb?

  Posted from United States

  

• Wayne Farry |  February 23rd, 2009 at 3:02 pm

  
  
  

  I think Park will instead of Tevez, Mat. He always plays these big matches. I think Fergie trusts him far more in terms of tracking back and putting his shift in. I definitely expect him to start.

  Posted from United States

  

• Mat |  February 23rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm

  
  
  

  oh ya … I forgot Park.. ….thought I was missing something …

  Posted from United States

  

• Kevin |  February 23rd, 2009 at 4:32 pm

  
  
  

  It’s amazing what a couple of weeks will do. I fully believe we’ll be playing ultra defensive and hoping for a 0-0 or down 1-0 going home. Not only would making this Fabio’s first senior game unfair, he would have to do it at other than his natural position which is left back.

  Posted from United States

  

• Dave |  February 23rd, 2009 at 6:33 pm

  
  
  

  You boys are going to lose!

  Posted from United States

  

• Wayne Farry |  February 23rd, 2009 at 6:38 pm

  
  
  

  I appreciate the constructive comment Dave! And you’re wrong!

  Posted from United States

  

• matt |  February 23rd, 2009 at 6:50 pm

  
  
  

  if fabio was better than rafael wouldnt he of featured more than him? it’s got to be carrick, i trust him way more than fletcher that far back. my hope is

  fabio-rio-carrick-evra
  fletcher-scholes
  ronaldo-giggs
  rooney-berba

  jisung threelung will probably be in there somewhere for a good part of the match i just dont know for who, where etc. bigtime counter game coming tommorow i think fellas, which makes me wonder if it’s going to be a stalemate cause i don’t think inter is going to come forward like crazy. pretty nervous but i think we can come up big.

  Posted from United States

  

• Wayne Farry |  February 23rd, 2009 at 7:16 pm

  
  
  

  Does anyone else see a rearguard action the likes of which we saw at Camp Nou last season? Obviously, Inter aren’t even close to Barca but the way peeps are talking it seems that many would be happy with a 0-0.

  By the way Matt, Fabio’s been injured almost the entire time he’s been at United. He’s far higher rated in Brazil than Rafael. He’s the captain of the Brazil youth team (U19?) and as far as I’ve heard the Brazilian media were surprised with how much we praised Rafael.

  Posted from United States

  

• matt |  February 23rd, 2009 at 7:26 pm

  
  
  

  dude if he really is better than O M G. haha really though, that’s incredible.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ramzi |  February 24th, 2009 at 1:46 am

  
  
  

  Very interesting game…

  - If Fabio is more a left back, then even if he is better than Rafael, he will not be able to compete with Evra. Its easier to compete on Man Utd right back spot than on the left.

  - Call me crazy, but if I was Sir Alex I may play Fabio as a left back, and Evra as a left wing for this game. When the team is under pressure, Evra can bounce back to play as a left back and Fabio help in the center beside the two selected CBs.

  I think with a fragile structure in CB (Ferdinand plus a draw winner), Evra will feel insecure to make his forward runs anyway, and that will harm the fluidity of the team offense. So better to put Evra on the left midfield. Not a weird position for him, he was originally a wing.

  May be we will see a 4-3-2-1, with Scholes-Giggs-Fletcher parking a bus in front of the defense. leaving the offense job for Ronaldo-Rooney-Berba, or Ronaldo-Rooney-Tevez keeping in mind that Tevez work rate may help putting Inter Milan under more pressure while building up their offense move, which will go in the favor of Man UTd defense. Beside, Tevez may have a point to prove against Inter;)

  Posted from Germany

  

• alessio |  February 24th, 2009 at 2:04 am

  
  
  

  All the best from the Juve Offside.

  Posted from Spain

  

• Zaheer |  February 24th, 2009 at 3:32 am

  
  
  

  I think if O’shea and Evans both cannot make it make Evra play in the middle alongside Rio .. put Fabio at left.. and Fletcher at RB.
  Park and Rooney will be playing along the wings to fall back and help RB & LB… with Ronaldo up front and Berba just behind him. Scholes & Carrick in the middle.

  Posted from United States

  

• Mat |  February 24th, 2009 at 4:29 am

  
  
  

  I haven’t seen Fabio at all to comment about him.. but Inter has Maicon on their right wing, which is pretty darn dangerous if you’ve seen him.. I highly doubt that Fergie will even try anyone except Evra there since those crosses coming in to Ibra and Adriano have to be minimized .. and he would need help at that too.. maybe Park on the left wing too.. I don’t know whether Fabio being from Brazil and having seen /played against (in training) Maicon would help us or harm …and also his inexperience
  And did anyone see Evans’ injury in the Blackburn game?? if not, they might be mind games for all we know

  Football …bloody hell!

  Posted from United States

  

• Taylor Rockwell |  February 24th, 2009 at 6:13 am

  
  
  

  HEAD GAMES! ALL OF THIS! I mean, perhaps it isn’t and we’ll actually see Carrick in the defense… but doesn’t it seem more likely that this is the best way for Fergie to try to throw Jose off of his game? If I were the opposing manager and ALL of the pre-match talk was regarding the opponents “injury crisis”, I would feel pretty confident… and plan to thrash them…

  I would bet you see a back four of O’Shea, Evans, Rio, and Evra. Fabio may figure at some point. HEAD GAMES!

  Posted from United States

  

• Mat |  February 24th, 2009 at 6:24 am

  
  
  

  unfortunately Jose would know that as well

  Posted from United States

  

• Taylor |  February 24th, 2009 at 6:53 am

  
  
  

  I know… but it appears the media wouldn’t, and I don’t fully believe that Adriano even knows where he is… so I could fully expect him to go out expecting to find Fabio, and end up with Evans or O’Shea… not much better, but still…

  Posted from United States

  

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