Comeback

It’s been a long time since we have had some activity here on this blog. The last time an article was written here, Chelsea were top of the table. That long! Now, with the hope that Chelsea continue the slump and That Night In Moscow doesn't, we restart on the eve of our trip to Marseille, the first leg of this UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie.

Today, I’ll be previewing the game, among other stuff, with our regulars here, Ikam and Kunal (jusrooit).

Rajesh: Hello Ikam, Hello Kunal!

With United and Arsenal ahead of the 3^rd placed team, City, by 8 and 4 points respectively (with one game in hand each), it’s effectively a two-horse race now. Arsenal have relatively easier fixtures, but the experience our players have in actually ‘knowing how to win titles’ makes me feel confident that we’ll have No. 19, come May. Do you think the league fixture at the Emirates will decide the winner? And do you think Chelsea, City or Spurs can still spring a surprise?

Kunal: I see Chelsea concentrating on Champions league now, Spurs are doing pathetically away. It wouldn't surprise me if Liverpool finishes 4th. Emirates has recently been a favourite for united, we win that fixture and I see 19.

Ikampreet: I think City are done for this season. They had their chance at OT and they blew it. They will be fighting for the 2 remaining CL places amongst the 3 of them. More than the Emirates, I feel it'll be the upcoming fixtures at Stamford Bridge and Anfield that'll decide the title. Liverpool are on the rise and Chelsea are formidable opponents any day. We will need 1 win out of those 2 to win the title. And these fixtures come in the middle of 2 CL knockout legs, so these would be ones to make our season. We could render the Emirates game irrelevant if we get good results there. Though, if Arsenal continue their sizzling form, we would be in for a thriller in London.

Kunal: All is true, but Arsenal is known for blowing up things when it’s looking good for them. On the other hand United are known to rise up towards the end of season. 19!

Ikampreet: Yes. Arsenal are known for that but we are banking more on that rather than our form. Because our form scares me, we can do anything any day and are not dependable. Our season was blown in a matter of 7 days last year against Munich and Chelsea and I don't rule something like that out this season. I am a pessimist.

Kunal: Those 7 days started with Bayern and then Rooney’s injury happened. He has never got back since then.

Rajesh: Surprised to see both of you talk about Liverpool when the theme is about the League title. I can already see tabloids go on and on about how next season will be Liverpool’s. A good spanking is what I expect at Anfield. Kunal, you make an interesting point. “Arsenal is known for blowing up things when it’s looking good for them”. They are now in with a real chance in all four competitions. I was actually excited when I read that we’ll be facing them in the next round of the FA cup tie (that is, if they beat Leyton Orient) because it gives us a chance to deliver a psychological blow. If you remember, the 4-0 drubbing in the same competition in 2008 led to a string of poor results and they were out of the title race by March. Are you excited that we have drawn them or would you have preferred a weaker team?

Ikampreet: I love the fact that we have drawn them and that is in no small part due to the fact that it takes place in Manchester. It makes for a very exciting tie. I don't think it would be a psychological blow unless we completely blank them like in 2008. It would another to look forward to and I don't link it to the title race and neither, I expect, would Arsene Wenger. Or SAF.

Kunal: I will prefer Leyton. Not because they are an easy team but because they will overcome Arsenal to play us. On a serious note, with Chelsea, Spurs, Pool already out, I would prefer playing Arsenal at this stage especially at OT. Wenger can again blame the pitch.

Rajesh: Haha! For all their good football, Arsenal have usually come a cropper against the top teams. What did you make of their result against Barcelona? What made the difference that night?

Ikampreet: This season, they comprehensively beat Chelsea at home, took a draw at pool away, beat City and lost to Spurs. I would say that is a good record. It will be the performance against the other teams that will determine who wins, since the difference between the top 5-6 and others has decreased.

Kunal: All the post match reports say Wenger was superb with the strategy. I differ; they were a disaster in the first half. So up the line, time and again Barca was slipping through the defense, just could convert only 1. The match could have been over at half time. First 10 minutes, they didn't let Barca pass but you can't play with that energy throughout, Barca did pass and did get the better of them. I guess Kieta was a wrong move, made them more defensive and Arsenal got lucky on the breaks. I don't intend to undermine Arsenal here, but they didn't play like a team worthy of beating Barca. Song should have been shown a second yellow; Messi's goal was not offside. As they say - Shit Happens!

Ikampreet: Against Barcelona, Arsenal decided to beat Barca at their own game but with a few changes. They held a high line and pressed a lot. It was risky and had Barca taken their chances, it could have been all over. Arsenal's change was to move the ball quickly to the front 3 rather than patient build-up Barca-style. Yeah, and Keita was a defensive move at the same time as Wenger took off Song. Wilshere and Fabregas were brilliant. Fabregas for that brilliant chip for RVP's attempt early in the game and his through ball for Nasri during the build up for the second goal.

Kunal: Wilshere, just 18, has the right attitude, played brilliantly that night, bright prospect for England.

Rajesh: Yes, I thought the Villa substitution turned suicidal. He was the only forward player showing some urgency. Barca never looked liked scoring after he left the pitch. But, Barca didn’t deserve to win it either for their performance in the second half. Completely agree about Wilshere. Not sure about Fabregas though. Wilshere was ready to take on Xavi and that augurs well for Arsenal since mental fragility has been the usual complaint against this team. Fabregas and Messi were good, but far from their best.

Ikampreet: Messi, I thought was the best player for Barca that night.

Kunal: Fab lost the ball at quite a few occasions with that in mind he didn't create enough for his stature.

Rajesh: Fabregas, Wilshere and Nasri. What a midfield! And that brings us to the topic we can discuss all night. The central midfield at United! Fletcher and Carrick have not been up to their best and Scholes is probably in his last season, we are desperate for a new signing. But, I would still want Fergie to persist with Anderson, Gibson and Cleverley for another season before making any big money signings. Do you think they are good enough to do the job? If not, who do u fancy joining us this summer?

Kunal: When was the last time we saw a through ball from midfield and a goal? I think our strikers badly miss supply from midfield; our play always comes from the wings. Fletcher and Carrick are the hard working souls but not good enough to break down defenses. Somehow I don't see a United player in Gibson, he can't pass the ball, good only with his shots. Anderson has shown a recent spark, does good running with the ball, but that final ball is often missing. With Scholes gone I think we need someone who can control the game, and I don't see that in Fletch, Carrick, Ando or Gibson. I would love to see someone like Modric or Sneijder play behind Rooney & Berba.

Ikampreet: You know I am not a fan of some of the names you mentioned there. I feel that Scholes can be played only in a 3 man midfield to cover for him in terms of running or against teams who lack pace. Since we have been moving more and more towards playing 2 strikers, it is getting harder to see Scholes get many games other than as a substitute. Fletcher has been full of energy as always but has not had a good touch since eternity. Carrick, who for some time seemed to have found his form of old, has quite regrettably returned to his error prone self and can't be depended on for creative purposes. I won't even speak about Gibson. No, I will. He has never seemed nearly good enough to be a United player. No vision or creativity. Neither the legs to offset the lack of those qualities. We need a new midfield maestro. I would go for even Charlie Adam.

Kunal: Charlie Adams, Rodwell are realistically possible considering Modric, Sneider would be over priced.

Rajesh: To be fair to Carrick, his role has been to protect the two central defenders all of this season. He has hardly ventured into the final third. I think he is a victim of the new system Fergie is playing where the two wingers cut in (instead of running till the byline and cross like in usual 4-4-2s) and the fullbacks overlap. That still doesn’t explain is erratic passing though.

Ikampreet: I can't be fair to Carrick. He still has to pass well wherever he plays. He doesn't do that. And a bit of forward passing never hurt anyone except when Carrick does it.

Rajesh: Anyway he is automatic choice for tonight's game with Fletcher and Scholes in midfield. We are seriously hurt in the left wing with Park, Giggs & Valencia all out injured. It was a wonderful opportunity for Obertan to do well against Crawley Town and grab that vacant spot. Both Obertan and Bebe were poor, so Fergie might be forced to play something like a 4-4-2 tonight. Do u think we have a different option?

Kunal: 4-4-2 in an away match in Champions league? I don't think so. Rooney playing on the left, Fletch making daring runs.

Ikampreet: I bet on a 4-4-2 since Fergie has shown an inclination to start with Rooney and Berba.

Kunal: Who do you expect to play on the left?

Rajesh: Fletcher. Not like the usual winger though. He played in that position last season at the San Siro versus Milan in the first leg.

Ikampreet: Rooney on the left would not be conducive for anything other than a 0-0. And I don't have much confidence on the defence to keep a clean sheet. Outscore them, I say.

Rajesh: I’ll go for the same defence as in the City game. O’Shea, Smalling, Vidic and Evra

Kunal: I haven't seen Marseille play much, other than Fifa 11. And there it’s always Gignac who scores, good he is injured tonight!

Ikampreet: I saw them play against Pool and Chelsea and they have a very good player in Velbuena. Small, quick and deceptive. Gignac is their main striker but is injured. So are 2 more of their strikers. They will have a make shift front line. They try to move the ball quickly from back to front and like the game to be open. Not the best passers and lose possession a lot.

Rajesh: "Like the game to be open"! Good! Let’s hope we are not too defensive tonight. Our usual trend is to control possession and silence the crowd in the first half and go for the kill in the second. Given Marseille's injury problems, I am hoping for a 1 nil in our favour. What do you think should be our approach tonight?

Kunal: Given our injury problems I think we should be cautious, especially with attack coming from only 1 wing. Evra has a big job to today. 1-0 in our favour.

Ikampreet: Possession has been our downfall many a time. We start knocking the ball around and forget to create anything. Go into a kind of stupor. We have needed to inject a bit of pace into the game some times this season and that has not happened. The opposition can sting exactly during these times. Besides, our set piece delivery and defending has been atrocious and I fear the corners more than anything. 1-1.

Rajesh: Quite strangely, unlike in the league, we have done well in away games in Europe. We won all our away games at the group stage. In fact, we had as many wins in three Champions League group stage away matches as we’ve had in four times as many away matches in the Premier League. Let’s hope for a repeat tonight! Come on, you Reds!

Thanks Ikam and Kunal for your thoughts. Looking forward to doing this more often.