RIO INJURED?
[b]Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that his reshuffled defence against Bolton was a pre-emptive experiment in case Rio Ferdinand misses Sunday's clash with Liverpool.

The England defender continues to carry a slight back injury and, with the Merseysiders' visit to Old Trafford looming large, Sir Alex opted to rest Patrice Evra and Wes Brown, fielding a defence of Owen Hargreaves, Nemanja Vidic, Gerard Pique and John O'Shea against Gary Megson's side.

"We made a lot of changes and I think that was necessary because, with Rio Ferdinand doubtful for Sunday, we had to find out about young Gerard Pique," Sir Alex told MUTV after the 2-0 win.

"We’ve got great confidence in the lad and he’s come through very well. That was important. We also wanted to rest Wes Brown in case Rio doesn’t make it, then we’ve got the alternative of playing Wes at centre-back – that’s a decision we’ll have to make.

"We tried Owen Hargreaves at right-back, and we can play John O’Shea there on Sunday and bring Patrice Evra in. It’s important to do these things tonight, simply because of Rio’s injury."[/b]

Gosh! I didn't know Rio was injured.Wondered why he wasn't on the pitch yesterday.

@Chacal
Y'know,the days of Henry,Pires,Reyes,Vieira,Ashley Cole,Bergkamp,Freddy,and co.At least then they were much better than now.I still wonder why Wenger just let his old players go so easily.But then,guess its his stingy genes at work.And you're right,he's just as entertaining as his boys.Those excuses are always brilliant! My 8-year old cousin could accurately predict the next one
@coded guy
There's no way in blue hell that Chelsea will let Arsenal get away with a win,not when the Blues are this close to the top themselves.They will be seriously looking to thrash,pummel and embarass the Gunners.Its going to be so much fun to watch,i tell you.
As for Liverpool,they ain't planning to show Arsenal any thing resembling mercy,nor giving them anything remotely close to a break.So 'em gaynners do have it tough on both ends.Poor kids

Ha Ha. My dear, i would've asked loyika but he's taken a blood oath never to communicate with moi in any way.The penalty for breaking the oath is a continuos downhill slide for Arsenal,and a plane crash for Wenger.And the dude loves his club too much to risk that
Arsenal's no longer on top because right now they don't deserve to be there.Simple truth.If they clean themselves up,they might end up second,but presently they are hopeless without hope
Mascherano and Torres will just eat them up in the UCL,the way things are going.

@Chacal
Absolutely delightful dearie . But its kind of sad though.They used to be a powerful club.And all of a sudden,all they are is very entertaining.Very shallow indeed. Abeg they should fire Wenger jo. He's killing them with his stingyness and weird tactics that don't work.

Awww. So much faith in a club that seems hell-bent on disappointing every single one of its fans.  My heart bleeds

RVP is close to a veggie on the pitch. Eduardo is staying out for the rest of 2008. Fabregas doesn't just seem to be in the mood these days . Bendtner's helpless without good support from the back,which is currently lacking. Adebayor's having his bad-luck-streak year. Gallas just keeps making new Hare Krishna -like hairstyles while remaining useless on the pitch. Clichy tries,but he can't do it alone. Walcott too.Who else? Every other person gets to the 18-yard box and has absolutely no idea what to do with the ball,so they keep passing it around.Maybe trying to entertain the opponent's keeper. Is this how they plan to win the EPL? Hmm. Me thinks,not this year people.
Oh,Arsene,whatever happened to you Perhaps you can no longer handle being tops in your old age

Wenger will forever remain stingy so Arsenal will forever remain entertaining and goal-lacking.Or at least till Wenger resigns or is fired

CAPTAIN RONALDO: AWESOME!

As entertaining and skillful as this quick passing thing is,its kind of becoming a disadvantage to Arsenal because they tend to overdo it.Instead of a player taking a shot at goal,he wants to make a quick pass   When they need to play long-range balls,especially when pressed for time,they want to make a quick pass   When a player is right there in the 18-yard box with an opportunity to score,he wants to make a quick pass   When a player is to be substituted,he wants to make a quick pass    Arsenal is always looking for the perfect goal.And it almost never comes.Yet they don't seem to realize that.
Other teams now realize that the quick-passing style is Arsenal's only style of play. So all a smart team has to do is give Arsenal absolutely zero space to do their quick passing.When Arsenal is given no chance to quick-pass,they become almost helpless.And that's not how a winning team should play.They should not limit themselves so much that they become predictable.
For Arsenal's game against Liverpool,all Liverpool have to do is crowd Arsenal in,give them no space whatsoever.And attack like crazy.Arsenal's defense always make mistakes when under serious pressure.Senderos can verify that   What i'm not sure of now is whether Liverpool can apply the sort of pressure they need to on Arsenal in order to crack 'em up and beat 'em.Because if they can't,Arsenal's going to win.
But my point is,i think Arsenal limit themselves with their quick passing,especially when they over-do it. And as everybody can testify,entertainment football doesn't always yield results.

nightrider:

Bgees, we know its harder than paper. but Strategy works.  How did Arsenal outplay milan.


Quick passing.

As entertaining and skillful as this quick passing thing is,its Arsenal's death.Because they over-do it.

I think there's a good chance the game will end in a draw.

@reds
Beating bolton tomorrow is gonna be tough because Bolton is also hungry for a win,even though its for all the wrong reasons . They've got Kevin Davies up front,a troublemaker.I hope Vidic and Rio do a good job of containing him.
Bolton losing Jaaskelainen is also a plus for us,considering that the dude is one of the best goalkeepers in the division.But then there's Ivan Campo and Kevin Nolan.I pray Wes isn't playing tomorrow,but if he is,Rio had better be on that pitch too.
Fergie too had better be done with the whole under-estimating thing.United always makes chances.Converting them is the issue,afterall we wouldn't want anybody to start trying to compare our misses to Arsenal's,lol.Though Arsenal's more hilarious because i can't imagine why anybody in their right minds right there in the 18-yard box with a clear goal-scoring opportunity would decide to make a pass to another guy in the same box.And that guy still decides to pass to yet another dude in the very same box.And so the passing continues till the chance is lost.As in,why they do that beats me And makes me laugh
Anyway,back on track.We can defeat Bolton,so long as the right players are on the pitch and they do their jobs properly.
@Novacaine
I've got these 3 sentences for you.I found that they describe you perfectly.
The trouble with you is that you lack the power of conversation,but not the power of speech.
You're a living proof of this statement,''Its not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them''.
You can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man i know.
So,go figure .*cough* If you can

O-kay.Fair game,but at least we won.I'm out.

Come on,we're not gonna play like this against Roma.Fergie should've learned his lesson today,he surely won't mess with the original squad come April 2nd.
As in,its still annoying me that Tevez,Nani,Rio were all absent.Anyway,we just barely got away with 3-points in and that's what counts i guess.I wonder how Arsenal's gonna fare today.

@nazzyon
I agree with you,afterall Chelsea's win today makes the title race hotter.But with this weird team Fergie put up today,let's just take our 1- 0 and get out of Pride Park.Its still 3-points,and that's good enough for me.

@nazzyon
Yeah,its his 31st goal of the season.

Ronaldo saves the day. Guess he is our Torres afterall,lol
But Fergie's choices today are quite messed up.What was the man thinking?
@nazzyon
No long-distance luck for Derby today.We're winning this.

I'm not watching,but my online commentator gives me the impression that Fergie may have mis-calculated this time
We ought to have scored a long time ago.

Fergie obviously doesn't think much of Derby.I hope that doesn't backfire,lol.Anyway,they know how important 3 points are today,so they had better win.

I did go overboard on bgees,didn't i? My bad Apologies. I really do like Liverpool,tho my first love is United Hope y'all are able to tighten up your team in time to teach Arsenal some good finishing tactics.
Cheerio

Well.Glad to see your beloved Razorr's back,and its obvious she and Cassiel aren't the same.
@loyika
Guess your 2 questions are no longer necessary Wonder what they would've been tho Anyway,its history now.As for hearing a peep out of you or not,whatever makes you sleep at night dearie.
@J-K
I agree.United-Barca will be something.I don't think Barca should be under-estimated the way some people seem to be doing,really.

ROMA - ONES TO WATCH

20 SIMONE PERROTTA
Position Midfielder Age 30 Nationality Italian
The Ashton-under-Lyne-born playmaker’s presence are integral to Luciano Spalletti’s style and tactics. His pinball-like box-to-box abilities make him a shoe-in for Roma’s most important games. Primarily an attacking midfielder linking the central players with the front men, he also assists in defence. The importance of his ability to break up play was felt acutely by the Italian side during last season’s 7-1 mauling at OT, which he missed due to suspension.

5 PHILIPPE MEXES
Position Defender Age 25 Nationality French
The linchpin of the back line, Mexes is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in Serie A. His biggest asset is his passion but it often gets him into trouble with referees. Mexes’ strength make him a tough and uncompromising, while his telepathic anticipation allows him to break up opposition attacks. If he lives up to his billing, the United strikers are in for a testing time.

30 MANCINI
Position Winger Age 27 Nationality Brazilian
Roma's equivalent of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mancini is, like the United winger, quick, skilful and with an eye for goal. Critics accuse him of inconsistency, but such is his influence that as long as he’s fit he should start. The Brazilian can operate on either flank as well as up front and, if he is in the right mood, is sure to cause problems. He scored against the Reds in the 1-1 Group F match in Rome this season.
14 LUDOVIC GIULY
Position Midfielder Age 31 Nationality French
Good friends with Patrice Evra from their time together at Monaco, when Giuly arrived at Stadio Olimpico from Barcelona it was widely believed he would play the role of winger. But in Perrotta’s absence due to injury during pre-season, the Frenchman adopted a more central role. When Perrotta recovered, Giuly reverted to his more customary role on the flank. A small and nimble player, he possesses exceptional pace that will test United's full-backs. He can also operate up front as an emergency striker when required.

10 FRANCESCO TOTTI
Position Forward Age 31 Nationality Italian
Talisman, captain and Roma fans' hero, Francesco Totti is widely regarded as one of the most talented players of recent years. A creative, deep-lying striker, Totti is dangerous from set-pieces, possesses the ability to unlock defences with an incisive pass, and is also a significant goalscoring threat. He is yet to register in four games against the Reds. But even after 15 years in the game, his appetite for goal shows no sign of waning. He ended last season as Serie A's top scorer with 26 goals and is a major threat.

Wow. Arsenal - Liverpool? This is going to be one heck of a jolly ride Can't wait to see Torres get Senderos running in circles,lol.
As for Roma,gonna be tough cos this time they sure will come prepared.But we will do the deed yet again.Sweet victory.

@loyika
Hey loyika,rough day?Its Cassiel,if you've got hypermetropia
Now kindly digest this little piece of my mind.
I came to NL in peace.I bothered nobody.I wasn't really posting till that fateful day you posted something that made me post a reply.Your memory can't be that short,i'm sure you'll remember.Then you made a lewd comment at me.Remember?That's what made me give you the dissing you asked for then.If you've been sensibly comprehending all my posts on the Sports forum,i only diss people who ask for it.I don't go to other fan threads raining unnecessary insults.I don't start fights.I gently stay with my fellow Reds discussing soccer.Until some vermin or Arrow comes in looking for trouble.And like a true fan,i rise to the occasion and defend my club.If a lot of ''choice'' words are dished out in the process,hey,its the world of soccer.Contact sport.Hard tackles,grave injuries.If you can't take it,leave it.Ain't my fault if some silly ninny that comes dissing my club,dissing me,and my fellow fans gets some serious ass-whooping.He asked for it.Other than that,i trouble no one So don't come in here telling me i am ''pushing it''.I told y'all a thousand times that i'm not Razorr.Yet i was still being called Razorr.I resented it and lashed out at whoever 'Razorred' me.My fault?I did give a warning And i see you've been fantasizing about Razorr's bra.I'm sure she'll be flattered to know that . I never asked anybody to compare me to Razorr.See me see sabi-sabi.I send una?And you're saying i should be happy You must be delusional or something to think i care.You wouldn't recognize class if it hit you in the face with a sledgehammer.
So if you like,warn me this once,or twice,or whatever number of times you please.Its a free world.My own policy is,live in peace with every soccer fan,joke around and have fun,but if anybody crosses the line he gets a bashing.I'm a girl doesn't give guys the right to take me for granted.I diss those who deserve it,i get dissed when they think i do too.So what's your problem here?If you take every little yab you get personally,you must have a lot of issues in your life.There's nothing personal here.That's the point of anonymity,gaynner.Or didn't anyone tell you?
Now if you can't be a sport,kindly get off my case

''Super blue'' and his bad belle sef.*hiss* Silly hill-billy