FA Cup Semi-Final - Watford v Manchester United - Apr 14

last SG · 2007-04-14T02:05:18+00:00

but good la. ronaldo looks tired liao

zocoss SG

Semi-Final Saturday, 14 April 2007

VS

Watford v Manchester United

Ch 23 - 12:30 am - (Live) (Sun)

Watford: Lee, Mariappa, DeMerit, Shi ttu, Powell, Stewart, Mackay, Doyley, Chambers, Williams, Mahon, Smith, Francis, Bangura, Williamson, Cavalli, Priskin, Bouazza, Henderson, Kabba, Hoskins, King.

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Evra, Brown, Ferdinand, Heinze, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson, Rooney, Saha, Solskjaer, Smith, Dong, Craig Cathcart.

zocoss SG

AIDY'S LUNATIC MISSION

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd believes beating Manchester United in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final would be "up there with landing a man on the moon". Boothroyd's men are huge underdogs for the last-four tie at Villa Park, especially after United demolished Roma 7-1 on Tuesday night to move into the Champions League semi-finals. And the 36-year-old knows just how tough the task facing his side will be as they attempt to upset the odds and reach the FA Cup final.

"There have been shocks before and it would be a major shock beyond belief if we won - up there with a man landing on the moon," Boothroyd said. "But a man has done that, so anything is possible. "You hope fate and stats even themselves out, but the United players and squad are so good that fate doesn't hand out those days too often.

"We have to make sure that we're right and have a gameplan for containing and make sure when we get chances we take them. "If all our players are at 10 out of 10 on the day, then you never know."

Boothroyd was at Old Trafford on Tuesday night to watch Sir Alex Ferguson's team overwhelm the Serie A club. The Yorkshireman is realistic enough to be certain that a repeat performance from United would end the Hornets' hopes of reaching the final next month.

He continued: "If United play like they did against Roma, then we wouldn't have a chance. "There is no point in me saying they have flaws in their armoury because they haven't. "People might say United's result against Roma was a one-off, but they have had several one-offs this season. "They are a truly wonderful side and a credit to the manager."

lpx88 SG

I hope Man Utd wont disappoint us this time after losing to Pompey in the EPL.. Twisted Evil

red_amoeba SG

I think it will be a two goal margin win for Man U. Firstly, Villa Park is a lucky place for Man U, they always beat Aston Villa there.

Secondly, Watford is too weak to offer any resistance not especially when Man U is on a high after raping Roma a few days before. Moreover, this is neutral ground not Vicrage Road, there'll no home advantage for Watford.

sand king SG

Yes, we will triumph!

I think SAF is gona rest some players, he is defiantly going to play Richardson lol. Just hope no screwing ups.

omgukilledkenny SG

OH NO! not richardson again!! he's so unproductive

Spica SG

x2!

sand king SG

Yea I think should sell him and get someone better.

ryangian SG

most impt thing is that back 4 cannot have any more injuries Exclamation

any more = mati liao Rolling Eyes

imprezaWRXSTi22B SG

evra, heinze, ferdinand, brown, JOS

missing neville and vidic....

hope i wun be disgusted.... after the 7-1 high.... have to lower my expectations.

bobbyaw SG

richardson CMI lah! Laughing

the question: Will SAF unleash his darling Ro & Ro against Watford?

Still have to play EPL after FA cup, damn tiring!
Chelsea breathing down their neck!!!

zocoss SG

I belief Newcastle could do everyone a favour by taking 2 pts or 3 from chelsea when they meet on April 21... M Owen or ex-blues Duff and Parker could make our day by scoring against them... Laughing

imprezaWRXSTi22B SG

SAF value all 3 trophies...

he only bo chup the league cup.... then again when he gets into finals for league cup he will put 1st team....

so doubt he will rest them.... until they have a healthy lead

sand king SG

Blackburn should do that Mr. Green

Dead_Man_Inc SG

don't put richardson can already Laughing

omgukilledkenny SG

i wonder if fletch will be dropped for scholes.

fletch's display against roma was magnificent, the way he neutralised totti Very Happy

if he is dropped, i think its a 110% chance ferguson will buy hargreaves because he still dont trust his "fringe" players

4getmenot SG

i doubt richardson would get a start for this one after what he offered in his last, heck i'd prefer fletcher even to richardson anytime! Twisted Evil

imprezaWRXSTi22B SG

i'll take scholes anyday... and yes SAF will start scholes

omgukilledkenny SG

x2 Very Happy

zocoss SG

The Hornets head into the tie on the back of a 4-2 victory over Portsmouth, who had beaten United 2-1 at Fratton Park last weekend. The win kept Watford's slim hopes of Premiership survival alive, while the FA Cup has proved a positive distraction from their league travails.

Adrian Boothroyd's side have only accounted for one top-flight team en route to the semi-finals, with Anthony McNamee's goal taking care of West Ham United in the fourth round. McNamee will not be involved on Saturday as he is currently on loan at Crewe Alexandra, while Watford will also be without Ben Foster.

The England keeper is not allowed to play against his parent club, so Richard Lee will step in, having conceded six goals in two appearances against United already this season. Marlon King remains sidelined with a knee injury, with Tamas Priskin and Steve Kabba hoping to keep their places after starting against Pompey.

James Chambers expects to shake off a knock to play, while Lee Williamson, Will Hoskins and Gareth Williams are all cup-tied. United's biggest worry for the tie is Louis Saha, who will undergo a late fitness test on his nagging hamstring injury. Ferguson is keen to partner Saha and Alan Smith in attack, in order to give Wayne Rooney a break, but those plans are currently on hold.

If Saha is ruled out again, then Rooney may be pressed into playing, although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is another option to pair up with Smith. Paul Scholes is likely to return to the midfield after missing the Roma win through suspension and he may take Darren Fletcher's place in the centre.

Park Ji-sung is missing with a knee injury, so Ferguson is likely to deploy Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs in the wide positions. Captain Gary Neville is expected to return from an ankle injury against Sheffield United next week, but Nemanja Vidic and Mikael Silvestre are longer-term absentees.

Patrice Evra made a goalscoring appearance as a substitute against Roma in midweek and will hope to have pressed his claims for a starting role. Ferguson has won all seven of his previous FA Cup semi-finals with United, and four of those came at Villa Park.