What would Fergie’s and Wenger’s starting lineups be like tomorrow morning?

(Picture: AFP)

SIR ALEX Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are set to renew their long-standing rivalry tomorrow morning (Singapore time) as Manchester United face Arsenal in the first-leg Champions League semi-final at Old Trafford.

The two managers have fought epic managerial battles since the Frenchman took charge of the London club in 1996, with sly jabs thrown in either direction from time to time.

And given the recent circumstances, it would be interesting to see how both managers will select their starting lineups.

For United, the spotlight will fall squarely on its front-line. United’s Wayne Rooney and company had to rely on the introduction of Carlos Tevez against Spurs to spark a stirring second-half comeback. The 4-2-4 formation – with Rooney, Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov and Cristiano Ronaldo – tore into the Lilywhites’ defence and put five past a hapless Heurelho Gomes, who had been outstanding in the first half.

United certainly need to score goals, given that they are again faced with the unfamiliar situation of playing at home in the first-leg, but Fergie will surely remember how Arsenal dominated the midfield in their 2-1 victory over the Red Devils earlier this season, and scheme to prevent a similar situation.

For Arsenal, changes are afoot, with Andrei Arshavin cup-tied and Robin van Persie and Eduardo doubtful due to injury. Wenger has been quoted as saying that he is considering moving Samir Nasri – the star of the Gunners’ 2-1 victory over United last November – to a central holding midfield position or the left flank to plug the gap left by Arshavin’s absence.

If you were Ferguson or Wenger, how would you select the players for your starting lineup, and what formation would you use?

Question of the Weekend (Who is the bigger flop?)

THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEKEND: Robbie Keane at Liverpool or Dimitar Berbatov at Manchester United, who is the bigger flop of the two and why?

Is Berbatov really worth £30.75m?

HE TOOK the run-up in his usual languid style and hit it weakly down the middle, as Tim Howard’s flailing legs managed to block Dimitar Berbatov’s first penalty kick.

In the end, that – along with Rio Ferdinand’s saved spot-kick – proved decisive as Everton marched derservedly into the FA Cup final.

While much have been (and can be) said about Alex Ferguson’s decision to field a much-weakened team, the spotlight now falls squarely on the Bulgarian, who moved to Manchester United early this season in a controversial £30.75m transfer deadline deal.

Berbatov arrived at Old Trafford with much fanfare, as a deadly striker whose silky skills made him such a hit with Tottenham Hotspur. The 28-year-old was supposed to add a different dimension to United’s attack, a touch of class to complement the hardworking Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.

Brilliance he has shown, but in sporadic bursts in a season where United are chasing every available title on offer. Indeed, 13 goals in 37 games is hardly a hallmark of a player who costs that much, especially when you compare that with his 27 goals last season with Spurs.

Say what you want about the goalscoring opportunities being shared about a posse of United players, but when a player is brought in, he is generally supposed to improve the team. In Berbatov’s case, his hold-up play and vision is supposed to boost United’s strike force.

But take a look at the statistics – United have scored 10 lesser goals in the Premiership at this stage of the competition this season as compared to last, with Berbatov playing 27 of these games.

Is Berbatov really worth £30.75m?

Is United’s unpredictability harming them instead?

IT SUDDENLY struck me as I was watching the Porto-United game early this morning, and trying to look at the game from a tactical point of view.

Is it me or is United’s front-line resembling more and more like a disorganised volleyball formation? Let me explain.

You know how volleyball player rotate positions clockwise after gaining a serve? Well, watching United these days is something like that, only that it is not as systematic as volleyball.

It used to be just Cristiano Ronaldo switching flanks with Ryan Giggs/Park Ji-Sung/Nani, but these days you would see CR7 as the targetman, while Dimitar Berbatov in a deeper playmaking midfield position, while Rooney literally has a free role on the field.

Sure, this free-flowing, fast-switching strategy is cool and could theoretically confuse opposing defenders into conceding more spaces and opportunities than more traditional rigid formations, but is this laissez faire form of attacking football confusing United players as well?

How can United beat Porto at home tomorrow morning?

LIVERPOOL almost did it this morning, the question now is – can United muster one of their legendary comebacks against Porto tomorrow morning?

While the task that lies ahead of United does not seem as insurmountable as Liverpool’s – who had to win by at least three goals; or two goals, provided Liverpool scored four or more.

In contrast, United are going into the second leg level at 2-2, but the thing is: Porto have not lost to British opposition in the competition in 21 games. That is a record stretching back in 1967!

So if you were Sir Alex Ferguson, how would you line up your team tomorrow night to ensure United’s passage through to the next round?

Do bear in mind these facts:

– Rio Ferdinand is back in contention after injury, but could be rusty.
– Darren Fletcher has been ruled out by injury
– Anderson and Dimitar Berbatov are available
– Frederico Macheda scored two goals in two games, both coming on as late substitutes
– Cristiano Ronaldo has been lacklustre at best, although occasional flashes of brilliance saw him scoring goals against Aston Villa
– Gary Neville’s age and lack of pace was cruelly exposed by Hulk in the first leg

Injuries to cost United titles?

ANDERSON and Rafael limped off after Manchester United’s Carling Cup win over Derby this morning, joining the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves on the treatment table, among others.

This may prove crucial in the coming months, especially since they are still in contention for the Premier League title, FA Cup, Carling Cup and the Champions League title, especially since they are only starting to kick into gear right now.

THE POSTMAN LIM SAY HENG says: This does not bode well for United, who are already suffering from Cristiano Ronaldo’s indifferent form and Dimitar Berbatov’s occasional flashes of brilliance.

United fans would pray that the Bulgarian and Carlos Tevez do not injure themselves before Wayne Rooney returns, or before Ronaldo finds his spark again. Otherwise, they may find Liverpool pipping them to the title come May.

Terry-able against United

MANCHESTER United consigned Chelsea to their heaviest defeat at Old Trafford last night with a 3-0 victory over the Blues, with goals coming from Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.

THE POSTMAN LIM SAY HENG says: What was more worrying was how Chelsea conceded the goals, even with their first-choice central defensive pairing of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho back. All three goals, plus the disallowed header by Cristiano Ronaldo came from crosses from the flanks.

By most accounts, Terry and Carvalho would have eaten up these crosses easily, especially the England captain, whose superb aerial ability is reknown. So what happened last night?

Who can replace Ronaldo?

A REAL Madrid director has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo will don the famous white jersey come next season, but the club are not able to announce the signing due to some clauses, according to a Soccernet report.

Director Pedro Trapote was quote in newspaper El Mundo as saying: “If you are asking me what we are going to do now then I would tell you that we have already signed the best player for the summer…It is Cristiano, there is no other. It is better that we do not say anything at the moment though.”

THE POSTMAN LIM SAY HENG says: For goodness sake, let him go already. He may be the best player in the Premiership, in Europe, or even in the world, but there will always be another great player.

The real (no pun intended) question is: How would the makeup of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team change with the eventual departure of Ronaldo?

Question of the Weekend (Carlos Tevez’s playing future)

Hi all,

The Postman’s Question of the Weekend: Does Carlos Tevez have a future at Manchester United?