EPL : Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic - 26 Dec

Dead_Man_Inc SG

Tuesday, 26 December 2006

vs

Manchester United v Wigan Athletic
Old Trafford

Live on ESPN, 11pm!

Wayne Rooney could return to the Manchester United starting line-up for the Boxing Day clash with Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford.

The England striker was left out of the first XI for Saturdays 3-0 win at Aston Villa after a family bereavement but Sir Alex Ferguson is also mindful of keeping his forwards fresh.

Michael Carrick (ankle) is out but he could return for the next game.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell has no fresh injury worries to contend with, but he is still without seven players.

Henri Camara, Andy Webster, Antonio Valencia, Paul Scharner, Steve McMillan and Ryan Taylor are injured, while Lee McCulloch is suspended.

Man Utd : Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Fletcher, Park, Saha, Giggs, Kuszczak, Brown, Rooney, O'Shea, Silvestre, Heinze, Solskjaer, Richardson.

Wigan : Kirkland, Jackson, Hall, Kilbane, Cywka, Johansson, Landzaat, Heskey, Boyce, Cotterill, Skoko, Baines, De Zeeuw, Wright, Todorov, Teale, Pollitt.

Dead_Man_Inc SG

I think Man Utd will be without Scholes and Vidic, suspended for having 5 yellow cards already, and without Carrick as well.

leo-kun SG

no worries everything is under control

dinky1409 SG

No Scholes no Vidic? That kind of sux.. Nevermind move Heinze inside and play Evra on the Left.. Midfield would be Ronaldo Giggs Park Fletcher..

Dead_Man_Inc SG

Hey people, remember to rate. Out of 10 Laughing

lpx88 SG

i gt really bad feeling bout this

4getmenot SG

c'mon devils!! we can lead by 4 points now!! Dun BLOW IT!!! Twisted Evil

lpx88 SG

Ronaldo is the farkin supersub!!!!!!!! Mr. Green

lpx88 SG

SOLSKJAER!!!!

lpx88 SG

Ronaldo will certainly be the man of the match despite playing only half the match Laughing

4getmenot SG

3-1 how sweet Very Happy

i think i will sleep well tonight

a-Lost-9uY SG

GJ manU..4pts clear nw

F.raon.I.R SG

well...honestly wigan play under par..probably their minds on XMAS?>...no desire or fighting spirit wat so ever in them...so manutd had a easy game despite missing giggs saha n co...
manU didn't play as well,or should i say they conserving their eneergy for the tight scheldule?well...most impt is !!!!!we got the 3 pts!!!!hooray!!!!

hail ronaldo

dinky1409 SG

See I always always say if you play passing and patient build up possession play, we will win games..

Van Der Sar : 7
Wes Brown : 7.5
Vidic : 8
Silvestre : 7
Evra : 7.5
Fletcher : 7
Scholes : 7
O Shea : 7
Park Ji Sung : 7.5
Solksjaer : 7.5
Rooney : 7
Ronaldo : 7.5
Heinze : 7
Richardson : 7

zocoss SG

RONALDO SENDS UNITED FOUR CLEAR

Cristiano Ronaldo made an instant impact from the bench to fire Manchester United four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

Despite second-placed Chelsea being held to a surprise 2-2 home draw by Reading in one of the early kick-offs, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson rested a number of big names in his side's 3-1 win over with Wigan.

One of those was Ronaldo but, after a goalless first half at Old Trafford, the wing wizard entered the fray.

Barely a minute later, a bullet header from Paul Scholes' corner gave United the lead.

And four minutes after that, the Portuguese was taking a penalty after Park Ji-Sung was clipped by Gary Teale. It was a poor effort and Chris Kirkland saved, but Ronaldo was on hand to net the rebound.

United went route one for their third, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer marking his first Premiership start for almost two months by flashing home Wayne Rooney's knockdown.

Leighton Baines scored a stoppage-time consolation from the spot after Mikael Silvestre felled David Wright.

iceFatboy SG

for those doubters of Carrick, now your real chance to see how "productive" OShea or Fletcher are.

In a barely recognisable team, MUFC struggles to find any real flow.
And with Rooney deciding not to score, it was proving harder and harder.
The pressure cooker was cranked, and with one swift stroke in 2nd half, Ronaldo finally eased all fears.

Given how Ronaldo has progressed, his diving and tricks are now cut to the minimum, it is good to see refs giving him due protection cause hey, he will be the #1 man in a red shirt that any opposing team will target.

without Ronaldo, counter-breaks are not effective. And balls seems to be all going either to Scholes or EdwinVS. Too predictable.

Fletcher was brought in to provide some width and some cutting edge passes but he failed. Park was full of energy, but given his match fitness, his link-up play often seems to cogulates at the six yard box, and often denies Rooney space..

We certainly need more brains in MF, carrick provided that. Hopefully with him back and a certain OwenH, we would be better.

Cause once the wings are clipped, MUFC seems to slutter.

4getmenot SG

i slept well last night.. so nice.. Very Happy

iceFatboy SG

I was scolded by my neighbours and my wife.
cause, when Cole "scored", I think I wake up my neighbourhood.
when MUFC scored, I woke up my neighbourhood the 2nd time...

iceFatboy SG

I think they are suspended for the next game, against Reading.
So strange, after Chelsea, they faced MUFC.

the last time,we met, we got a 0-0. Hopefully, we can beat them.

iceFatboy SG

ratings:-

GK
EVS -6.5. Managed to be at the right place at the right time.

Def
Evra - 6. Tend to waste alot of balls going forward.
MS - 6. Gave away penalty.
Vidic -7. Solid as a rock. Was named by commentators as Most Improved Player in EPL.
Brown - 6.5. A few decent crosses.

Heinze - 6.5. Always dependable.

MF

Flecther - 5. (for his standard,lousy game).
Oshea - 6. (unsure what his role was).
Scholes - 6. (asked to do too much, became predictable. Almost gifted opposing team with a backpass).
Park - 6. (given his match fitness, did okie, but seems to clog the middle).

Ronaldo - 8 (MOM).
Richardson - 5 (not enough time to make impact).

Rooney - 6. (he could have a hat-trick if not for his first touches).