This is the thread for discussion on the Manchester United Starting XI, opinions, banter, general chat etc

Is O'Shea likely to get many games?
Who will start alongside Vidic now Ferdinand is injured?
Likely back four?
Attacking wise Macheda likely to play many this season?

I don't think O'Shea will play too many games. He is more of a squad player who can fill in anywhere (even goalie )

Jonny Evans will most probably partner Vidic in defence. He had a decent season last year.

The back four will definately be Vidic, Rio (Evans when Rio is injured) and Evra. Any one of Neville, Rafael, Brown or O'Shea will fill the RB role.

In my opinion, Macheda will play in the cup comps and come on as a sub in the latter stages of league and European games. Welbeck, Hernandez, Diouf and Owen are all in the same position so I can't see him playing too many games.

Re Sunday

"Anderson is making quite good progress, Rio is still well behind, (Owen) Hargreaves is still in the States, the two Da Silvas (Fabio and Rafael) had food poisoning in the week and are doubtful for Sunday so we are not in a great position. Carrick will be out for a couple of weeks," Ferguson said.

"Rooney and Owen definitely need to play 45 minutes on Sunday - and as we have had to do with the Community Shield for the last few years, we'll use it as a mechanism to get players further down the line in terms of fitness."

With all that maybe the (ex)Charadee Shield will tell us less than we hoped. O'Shea will probably play RB but that won't be any use as an indicator for the future if it is because Rafael is puking up.

Nevnevsen at RB, and O'Shea as DM

Pretty much the same again for United (4-3-3) according to the Racing Post "best XI":

van der Sar
Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Fletcher Scholes Giggs
Valencia Rooney Nani

Quite difficult to pick a "best" United side as Fergie tinkers so much, especially in midfield. An over-reliance on a fit and firing Wayne Rooney cost them the title last year IMO and I think the same could happen again this season. A few injuries floating around at the start so the first XI to be named may be quite different to Fergies' favoured line-up (if he has one). I don't see Smalling or Herndandez making too much of a dent on the first team, not yet anyway.

Another goal for Chicharito tonight vs Spain. These are the last opponents he's scored against:

Holland, 2 vs Gambia , Argentina, France, Chelsea, Spain

I reckon 25-30 starts and numerous cameos as sub

Any thoughts on Fergie rewarding Brown for retiring from England with a starting role?

Is that season long prediction or opening games? - I'd put money on that lineup never happening! They should stick to horses! Ferdinand is injured, Evra is not fit, giggs and scholes are not upto a full season. I don't hink Raf is nailed on either.

Newcastle game IMO

VDS
O'shea Evans Vidic Fabio
Fletcher Carrick Giggs
Valancia Rooney Nani*

* Might go with Park

Is he not playing. Looked on a couple of Man Utd forums which suggest he isn't in the starting line up?

Think Ferguson gave the poor lamb a long summer holiday because spending the summer going on strike and then exiting the world cup earlier even than England wasn't enough of a rest. Therefore he isn't fit enough yet.

Any news on Rooney, has he recovered from illness?

Trained hard this week according to Fergie.

The purple-faced one is hopeful of being able to field his strongest defence in Tuesday night's league clash with Aston Villa.

United's first choice back five were all missing in the FA Cup win over Southampton, but the boss hopes to be able to call upon his regulars for the clash at Old Trafford.

"Vidic should be alright. Rio [Ferdinand] started running on Thursday and hopefully will be okay by Tuesday," revealed the boss who rested goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar for the trip to St Mary's.

"Rafa should also be okay, he got the all-clear on Friday [after concussion at Blackpool] and Patrice Evra had a family bereavement so we left him out at Southampton.

"We should have our back four back against Villa."

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Featu ... eturn.aspx

I think Arsenal have lost their lucky tag. Today was the icing on the cake, Shirley?

Is it safe to assume Rafael has lost his 'first choice RB' status? (shame with his TFF price)

Too early to transfer that same status to O'Sheaky?

SAF says he will definitely rest Ryan Giggs this weekend; also note page two of that article regards competition for places in the midfield.

The purple-faced one will travel to Ewood Park on Saturday with an almost fully fit squad at his disposal.

The Reds need just one point to seal a record 19th English league title and the boss says there are “no new injuries” in the United camp.

He did concede, however, that he may rest Edwin van der Sar against Blackburn.

“Given the programme he’s been through in the last few weeks, this may be an opportunity to give him a break, they’ve all been important games.”

Javier Hernandez, on the other hand, is still fresh, despite speculation in the press recently that the Mexican striker was in danger of suffering fatigue. Hernandez barely got a rest last summer after featuring in the World Cup and then joining United’s pre-season tour shortly afterwards. This summer he also has international commitments, at the Gold Cup in the United States.

“There’s no suggestion that there’s any tiredness with Hernandez,” the manager said. “We’ll keep monitoring it. If we get the result tomorrow he’ll get his rest next Sunday. If we don’t then he’ll play next Sunday.

“There are opportunities to rest him in the early part of next season. We’ll give him a good rest after the Gold Cup.”

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Featu ... -news.aspx

Weakened team????

"Edwin van der Sar, Darren Fletcher, Patrice Evra, Paul Scholes, Anderson, Dimitar Berbatov will play," AF said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13469187.stm