UEFA Champions League group standings matchday 3 2011/12 #mufc

After matchday 3 and 4 here are the UEFA Champions League 2011/12 group standings for all 8 groups.

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Manchester United travel to Romania; How will they line up? #mufc

Seeing as though it seems like forever since I've been to a United match I thought I'd post some gifs that make me smile.   I couldn't get a Liverpool ticket and I won't be travelling to Romania unfortunately so I haven't seen the pride of all Europe play since the Norwich game.  Oh well, at least I have the derby to look forward to this coming Saturday.

I simply cannot wait for this match,  United will be up for this no doubt but unfortunately we need to win the Romanian away match against Otelul Galati.  Now this in itself doesn't pose a major problem, however we always play under par after a mid-week Champions League away match.  Therefore it seems likely to me that Fergie will try to rest players when we go to Romania.  We do need to win the UEFA match because of a lack of points acquired in the first Two matches.

I am expecting Vidic to get some minutes as he has travelled with the squad but I'm not sure he will start,  I expect to see Anderson as he didn't play against Liverpool and probably Rooney to start (with a view to coming off early).  I am hoping we will play 4-4-2 but 4-3-3 is a distinct possibility. Injuries have their part to play in deciding the lineup, as ever.  Tom Cleverley is still injured, Vidic has just recovered from a calf injury and so has travelled with the squad. Darron Gibson is injured and so is Bebe although I have my doubts as to whether these injuries would have affected Sir Alex's squad selection this time out.

The 23 players travelling to Romania are:


Goal Keepers:             De Gea, Lindegaard, Amos
Defenders:                  Evra, Jones, Evans, Smalling, Vidic, Fabio
Midfielders:                Anderson, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Nani, Young, Fletcher, Valencia
Attackers:                  Owen, Berbatov, Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck, Diouf

In view of this fact we may possibly see a starting lineup similar to this:

It's possible that Valencia will start instead of Nani on the right wing leaving Nani or Park available to play on the left.  I am sure if we had won our first Two group games that Nani Young Anderson and Rooney would all have been rested.

However we may elect to play a 4-3-3 system which could end up something like this:

I think if we can wrap this one up early enough then we may see Owen, Berbatov or even Mame Biram Diouf getting a run out.

I am getting excited now, I have just booked 12 places on the coach to the Everton game!  I think it's gonna be a great day out.  Now I'm just wondering if I can afford that Aldershot trip in the meantime!

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Injury claims yet another victim as Manchester United struggle to cope. #mufc

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Injuries, injuries, injuries. That's all I keep hearing from the United press releases!  A hamstring injury for Wayne Rooney, a groin injury for Chris Smalling. Rafael has been trying to recover from a shoulder injury for weeks now.

Nemanja Vidic too has been injured, a calf muscle strain this time.  Chicharito suffered a blow to the leg and it looked as though he hit his head too in the same incident on Saturday at Stoke City.  This following a comeback after sustaining a head injury in a training ground accident at the start of the campaign.  Also injured: Jonny Evans, Darron Gibson,  Tom Cleverley ( foot ligament damage ), Michael Carrick ( Achilles' tendon injury ) and let's not forget Bebe who had to return from his loan deal in Turkey after sustaining an Anterior cruciate ligament injury.

I don't mean to be a pessamist and I think we shall still have enough to beat FC Basle tomorrow night.  As usual I'm sure Fergies' boys will do what's needed and I will be singing my heart out from the Stretty as we try to will the ball into the net!

24/09/2011 20:31, Report by Steve Bartram

Rooney blow 'not serious'

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted the hamstring injury which kept Wayne Rooney out of Saturday's draw at Stoke isn't serious, but was reluctant to pencil in a return date for the striker.
Rooney was among three players who suffered injuries in training on Friday, while the Reds' plans were further dented when Javier Hernandez sustained a dead leg after just three minutes at the Britannia Stadium.
"Jonny Evans got an ankle injury in training yesterday," Sir Alex told MUTV. "We had a nightmare of a training session - Evans, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney all got injured. Jonny thought he'd be okay but in the warm-up it was no use. With Chicharito in your team he gives you that penetration and speed, that was a loss."


"It's difficult to say [how long Rooney will be out for]. It's not a serious hamstring injury but I don't think he'll be available for next week. I think he'll be out for more than a week."

 Rooney, Carrick, Evans and Hernandez join a lengthy injury list which already includes Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling, Rafael, Tom Cleverley and Darron Gibson, although Rio Ferdinand and Danny Welbeck both returned to Premier League action against Stoke.
"We are Manchester United and we don’t like to make excuses but it is difficult to come to a place like Stoke without those types of players," admitted Patrice Evra. "We have many players who are not here tonight."

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United trade squad recovery for a point in Europe. #mufc

Manchester United travelled to Europe looking for a bigger return but after rotating and resting, managed to gain just 1 point.  The reds looked a little staid in their output, Carrick and Fletcher not linking play well.  The defence of United was solid and as is common over the last few seasons in Europe and never really looked too flustered.  Benfica pressed hard for most of the game and broke through with a top quality strike after some lovely footwork from their forward man.

Well I watched the game at home and it was a bit rubbish to be honest, we didn't look like scoring and Wazza looked a bit frustrated at times.  I can understand why as the midfield I felt, wasn't composed or positive enough.  Too many balls were hoofed up to an isolated Wayne Rooney.  Park and Valencia really couldn't get forward in wide areas as the midfield couldn't find them in space. There weren't many overlapping runs from our full-backs either. The result was less than 5 crosses into danger areas.  This may not have been so bad but our short passing and movement in the centre of the pitch was lacking.

Anyway it didn't depress me as much as writing all that!  On the plus, Rooney grafted hard as ever whilst Lindegaard was solid showing excellent distribution. Jones, Smalling and Evans were also reliable at the back even though Evans was turned for the Benfica goal.


After the first round of games here are the group standings.

UEFA Champions League 2011/12 group stage standings.

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UEFA Champions League fixtures list 2011/12 #MUFC

The fixtures list has been released for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League 2011/12.  First stop Benfica on 14th September.

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UEFA Champions League group draw. #mufc

Today the draw was held for the 2011/12 UCL Champions league. The games are sheduled as follows:

Matchday 1: 13/14 September 2011
Matchday 2: 27/28 September 2011
Matchday 3: 18/19 October 2011
Matchday 4: 1/2 November 2011
Matchday 5: 22/23 November 2011
Matchday 6: 6/7 December 2011

Here are the 8 groups consisting of four teams each.

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