if you want to be able to lift the biggest trophy in Europe you have to be able to prove you don't rely on individuals, but can work as a team whoever you put out. Yes they'd miss Vidic, but if they really want a trip to Moscow 50 years on from Munich, then they'll do it whoever is out there. With so many different attacking options I'm sure Rooney can be covered a bit more easier.

Well not relying on individuals has always been our strength (unlike teams like Liverpool :P ) but imo Vidic and Rooney are our two most important players (yes even more so than Ronaldo) Look at our record when Rooney has played compared to when he hasn't! And I really don't consider our cover players like Brown and O'Shea to be up to the standard of our first choice players. Saying that though a fresh Scholes, Evra, Tevez and Ronaldo to an extent is a good sign at the same time.

 

I'm not sure what I'm more nervous about.. this match or managing to finish my essay before it :(

The teams for tonight:

 

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Evra, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Brown, Ronaldo, Park, Carrick, Nani, Scholes, Tevez.

 

Subs: Kuszczak, Anderson, Giggs, O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre, Welbeck.

 

 

 

Barcelona: Valdes, Milito, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Eto'o, Zambrotta, Messi, Deco, Abidal, Toure.

 

Subs: Pinto, Gudjohnsen, Henry, Edmilson, Sylvinho, Thuram, Bojan.

 

 

This fan on BBC Sport summed it up - "I am genuinely petrified....Some days you're the pigeon, others the statue..."

You kept a clean sheet without Vidic last week..

 

We had about 38% possesion too. The whole set-up at the back was completely offkey and the only reason we DID concede none was because Van Der Sar had a blinder.

Barca will definitely fancy their chances with no Rooney and Vidic, definitely a huge blow for Man Utd. More worrying for Man Utd fans is Wes Brown is playing centre back.

 

Barca's bench looks tons better than Man Utd's too... looks like the neutrals will in for a (hopefully) very interesting game at least.

Barca will definitely fancy their chances with no Rooney and Vidic, definitely a huge blow for Man Utd. More worrying for Man Utd fans is Wes Brown is playing centre back.

 

Barca's bench looks tons better than Man Utd's too... looks like the neutrals will in for a (hopefully) very interesting game at least.

 

I agree, and thats my total fear LOL Hopefully though if we come out like we did against Roma last year, with that positive mindset that united can have in big games, then we can hopefully do it at OT :D

The whole idea of Wes Brown still starting is ridiculous. He's proved time and again that he can not perform in big games at all and John O'Shea would be a more viable option. If he starts at Centre Back with Hargreaves at Right Back then that eases the blow somewhat as he does play more naturally at Centre Back.

 

Owen Hargreaves is another concern for us at right back. Again he's not natural there and takes far too many touches for a player playing in defence. He's too stuck into his defencive midfield role it would seem..

This fan on BBC Sport summed it up - "I am genuinely petrified....Some days you're the pigeon, others the statue..."

 

:heehee:

 

I've never heard that one before.

Looking at Man United's XI it is starting to look like my Quarter Final prediction of a Chelsea - Barcelona ECL final may come true......

Paul Scholes = brilliant goal, against the run of play in 14th minute.

Absolutley beautiful goal from Scholes

Very good goal by Scholes - totally against the run of play too.

 

Is a really open game, not liking the jeers from the Man Utd fans whenever Barcelona get posession in the Man Utd half though. Could still go either way get - Barcelona look very dangerous at times, especially when Messi or Eto'o gets of the ball, and so do Man Utd.

This is going so slow, this last 13 minutes is gonna go even slower :P

WOOOOHOOOOO

MANCHESTER UNITED!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear GOD i was in agony then :lol:

 

:w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t:

 

Follow, follow, follow, BECAUSE UNITED ARE GOIN' TO MOSCOW. :D

 

What id give to go to Moscow. ANYTHING :(

all the Wes Brown haters want to change their thoughts of him playing at CB now ;)

 

English final :wub:

 

all we need now is Liverpool :funky:

MAN UNITED-LIVERPOOL FINAL 08 IS RIGHTTT

 

Absolute miracle that we got through with that starting 11. Evra, Tevez and Carrick won the game for us tonight, so instrumental throughout.

 

Nice to see Scholesy will finally get his Champions League Final game aswell after the fiasco in 99.

all the Wes Brown haters want to change their thoughts of him playing at CB now ;)

 

Wes Brown SHOULD play Centre Back it's his natural position. I've had my criticisms of him in the past but he really did perform tonight and did what was neccessary. I'd still be able to watch slightly more comfortably with Vid at the back though...

all the Wes Brown haters want to change their thoughts of him playing at CB now ;)

 

English final :wub:

 

all we need now is Liverpool :funky:

 

I did think Wes Brown was really good today. Definitely looks more assured at CB than RB, only problem is he'll never be a 1st choice at CB for Man Utd. :lol:

 

The incentive is there now for both Liverpool and Chelsea now, is too close a game.

Tonight, Barcelona played the better football and had more possession but they never got in behind United. Congratulations to United, who won it by virtue of having a brilliant defence & a wonderful goal by Paul Scholes.

 

I look forward to an historic all English final in Moscow in May.

 

Whoever, makes the final, I hope it is a celebration of Premiership football, but I worry (like Alan Green, Alan Hansen, Andy Gray & others) about the cocktail of two rival English teams abroad in Russia without our policing, especially if Liverpool are Manchester United's opponents.