Iwan (@IwanLehnert):

I could waffle on about how abject parts of Wednesday’s display were, but to be honest, a prominent United fan named Paul on Twitter (@thisistheone99) summed it up so effectively that I don’t need to: “Fulham away Saturday! Less said about that shambles tonight the better.”

Tidy.

Besides, we WON. So I’d rather break the habit of a lifetime and not criticise the poor blighters to death. Although I’m inclined to blame the Bugs Bunny pj’s.

There’s barely any way that Fulham will be as abject tomorrow as they were last weekend. Just isn’t going to happen. They bucked their ideas up quite nicely on Wednesday against West Ham, so they’ll at least go into the game in a better mood than they might have done had a few days ago. The loan signing of Urby Emmanuelson from AC Milan could reinvigorate a team who’ve had an utterly unremarkable season so far. Honestly, I doubt that’ll be enough.

The main thing for us tomorrow is that shiny opportunity to go ten points clear. With that in mind, I expect us to win regardless of the performance. Fulham haven’t been remarkable at home this season at all, and even if we don’t hit our peak then the mere opportunity to take a lead that large, even if it only last 20 hours or so is one that we can’t afford to miss. To be honest, I don’t think we will.

Prediction: 1-3 to ourselves. Welbeck to not score, because he probably won’t (reverse prediction there, y’see?), Rooney to continue his recent goal splurge.

Hopes: No repeat of that awful little 4-3-3 we saw on Wednesday. Trust our wingers for the first half. If it doesn’t work, hook ‘em off and put Kagawa through the middle with someone who can tackle behind him. Preferably Jones. Man, Phil Jones. That boy can just do it all, can’t he?

Brett:* ** *** ****

*If the following sounds familiar to last week’s Fulham prediction, it’s cus it is. It’s Groundhog Day and there are strict laws you have to adhere to. Don’t be surprised to find the appropriate blogging authorities battering your front door down in the early hours of tomorrow Mr. Lehnert. 

**Iwan and me will be touring our Cannon and Ball tribute act at the back end of 2013. Rock on Bifurcated!

***I know Berba is injured.

**** I may or may not be smuggling through a point about repetition. I repeat, I may or may not be smuggling through a point about repetition.

If how much Fergie cares about a particular competition is reflected in the teams he picks, then you’d be forgiven for thinking, in spite of the endless views to the contrary, that he actually wouldn’t mind winning the Prem this year. My heart does often sink a little when some of the team sheets are released, but that’s not the case in the Prem this year. I’m sure Fergie genuinely believes the teams he puts out in any game are good enough to win them (without endorsing all of them) – whether they actually are, is another matter. One thing is for sure, you can’t always put out your strongest team. Why am I still talking?

In sharp contrast to what I’ve just said, the fact we haven’t got a midweek game, should guarantee us putting out a better team that you might expect, were we to be playing Real, for example. I’m still talking!

I do love Berba and am looking forward to seeing him get a good ovation from our fans. There’s a script somewhere with him scoring the winner, but when he’s trying really hard to make a point, he often doesn’t   or in this case, more   I like Fulham, Martin Jol and Brian Ruiz are definitely amongst my favourite things in the Prem and I think we can look forward to them giving us a good game. I’m going to shut up soon.

Rooney needs minutes, so will I’m sure feature, possibly in behind Danny? Fingers crossed (though either RVP or Chicha are always more than welcome). What a lovely collection of strikers we’ve got. Always nice to remind yourself of that from time to time. A little more choke and I think Tony’s engine will start – hopefully he’ll play.

*Yuck* (I apologise for almost making some serious points there, normal nonsense will resume next week.)

Prediction: 3 – 4 (to us)

Goals: Danny! Danny! Danny! Danny! What?

Oh, look our film saying goodbye to Berba … how did that get there?

Iwan (@IwanLehnert):

At the risk of alienating the gentleman below me, I don’t miss Dimitar Berbatov. He’s far better off playing for a club where he has the freedom to play how he wants than at United where he needed to be a bigger, better and more consistent player than I think he could ever realistically be. Besides, it’s hard to miss him too much when you consider how wonderful his replacement’s been this season. Speaking of which, it’s an afternoon where we could probably do with giving the Dutchman another rest, or at least not start him if we can avoid it. By the time the Champions League starts back up, Welbeck and Hernandez will find starts harder to come by because of the players ahead of them, so this is definitely an occasion for them to pique the manager’s interest.

Considering that we’ll be turning out at Craven Cottage come next Saturday afternoon (at exactly the same time, oddly enough. COINCIDENCE? YES.), and with Southampton to come before that, it’s time to give the likes of Nani, Anderson and Rooney some game time. The squad needs to be sharp, not just our regular starters,  and we’re nearing the stage of the season where the games don’t stop.

Well, they do…..in that bleak, barren period known as summer, but you know what I mean.

As I’ve said before, FA Cup progress cannot come at the expense of the other competitions that we’re still trying to win but a home tie against anyone is a good chance to progress in a competition that we should’ve won a lot more recently than 9 years ago.

Prediction:  3-1.

Goals: Hopefully, one for Welbeck. It’s been far too long, and he was great last weekend.

Brett:

If how much Fergie cares about a particular competition is reflected in the teams he picks, then you’d be forgiven for thinking, in spite of the endless views to the contrary, that he actually wouldn’t mind winning the F.A cup this year. My heart does often sink a little when some of the team sheets are released in the English cup competitions, but that’s not the case in the FA Cup this year. I’m sure Fergie genuinely believes the teams he puts out in any game are good enough to win them (without endorsing all of them) – whether they actually are, is another matter. One thing is for sure, you can’t always put out your strongest team. Why am I still talking?

In sharp contrast to what I’ve just said, the fact “we’re ONLY playing Southampton on Wednesday”, should guarantee us putting out a better team that you might expect, were we to be playing someone “bigger”. I’m still talking!

I do love Berba and am looking forward to seeing him get a good ovation on his return. There’s a script somewhere with him scoring the winner, but when he’s trying really hard to make a point, he often doesn’t or in this case, more I like Fulham, Martin Jol and Brian Ruiz are definitely amongst my favourite things in the Prem and I think we can look forward to them giving us a good game. I’m going to shut up soon.

Rooney needs minutes, so will I’m sure feature, possibly in behind Danny? Fingers crossed (though either RVP or Chicha are always more than welcome). What a lovely collection of strikers we’ve got. Always nice to remind yourself of that from time to time. A little more choke and I think Tony’s engine will start – hopefully he’ll play.

*Yuck* (I apologise for almost making some serious points there, normal nonsense will resume next week.)

Prediction: 4 – 3

Goals: Danny! Danny! Danny! Danny! What?

Oh, look our film saying goodbye to Berba … how did that get there?

]]> http://bifurcated.co.uk/manchester-united-chitty-chatty/pregame/fac-united-vs-fulham/feed 0 http://bifurcated.co.uk/manchester-united-chitty-chatty/pregame/fac-united-vs-west-ham http://bifurcated.co.uk/manchester-united-chitty-chatty/pregame/fac-united-vs-west-ham#comments Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:55:51 +0000 http://bifurcated.co.uk/?p=8687

It’s near impossible to talk about this game without mentioning THAT goal. But I’m not going to mention THAT goal – it’s in the past, THAT goal is. We have to move on from THAT goal, or we will be forever talking about THAT goal and not talking about things that aren’t THAT goal. THAT doesn’t count, does it?!

I do hope that Joe Cole can do nothing all game, apart from inappropriately showboat and *wheeze* – apart from set up the goals, which granted is good in and of itself – and get lauded as some kind of celestial being from the pantheon of West Ham legends. I really enjoy it when the Telly people tell us how to think and manipulate their own narrative (that’s a crowbarred plug for a forthcoming post, if it wasn’t obvious). *retracts claws* Apparently, Allardyce is going to tinkle with the system. Well, if you sprinkle while you tinkle, be a sweet and wipe the team sheet.

For us Rooney’s back which is nice. The Curious Case of Wayne Rooney: A career in reverse. Shows glimpses of talent. Loses hair. Has breakthrough year scoring goals. Becomes amazing player. Joins team he supported as a bot, Everton, before retiring. IT IS NICE THOUGH! Also, Nani and TV might get a run out.

I’m really excited about this game. I’m watching it with Rob, my Liverpool supporting best friend, so will no doubt have some crap jokes at our expense to share. I bet you can’t wait.

If the potential of seeing Berba in the Sash at Old Trafford in the next round isn’t incentive enough, then I don’t know what is.

"Hurry up!"

Prediction: 4 – 2

Goals: Joe Cole o.g, Rooney 2, TV.

 Penalty, Sccchhhmenalty. We’d obviously slipped two-bob in the ref’s pocket whilst holding his family hostage in the car park out the back etc etc etc … Nothing more boring than a penalty debate, when done so unimagintively.

Rooney scores again. United win again.

Man of the Match:  Martin Jol