Man.United VS Aston Villa Carling Cup Final 28 Feb 10

[triniairman]

Carling Cup final preview
Petrov worry for Villa, United without Ferdinand and Anderson

Martin O'Neill is searching for his first major honour as Aston Villa manager as his side aim to stop Manchester United from retaining the Carling Cup at Wembley on Sunday.

United have never retained a cup competition and O'Neill will be hoping to draw inspiration from that statistic as he aims to win his third League Cup as a manager.

The former Celtic boss has pedigree in this competition, having lifted two trophies with Leicester and he is keen to earn Villa their first cup win since their League Cup triumph over Leeds in 1996.

"This is a fantastic challenge," O'Neill said.

"I am well aware of the history of this football club. Trying to restore it to its days of former glory seems a long way away, but why not try?

"It is nearly 25 years since they won the European Cup but that is the dream."

Domination
Before their 1996 victory, Villa last lifted a trophy with a 3-1 demolition of United in 1994, but since then United have dominated contests between the two sides, with Villa only winning twice against Sir Alex Ferguson's men in 37 attempts.

This season has seen a shift in power though as Villa beat United 1-0 at Old Trafford before holding the reigning Premier League champions to a 1-1 draw at home.

Ferguson fielded a youthful side for the first three rounds of the competition, but quickly changed his selection policy when facing Manchester City at the semi-final stage.

Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Darren Fletcher all featured in that tie and Ferguson looks set to continue with a more experienced side against Villa.

With Rooney missing out on last year's showpiece through illness, United's top scorer will be keen to make amends.

The former Everton trainee is being touted as a successor to Cristiano Ronaldo as PFA Player of the Year, and Villa will be have to be wary of the 27-goal striker adding to his tally on Sunday.


Aston Villa news
Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov is winning his battle to be fit after the Bulgarian resumed training after a virus forced him to miss the midweek FA Cup win over Crystal Palace.

Villa boss O'Neill appears to have no major fresh injury worries, and goalkeeper Brad Friedel, central defender James Collins and striker Emile Heskey will come into contention after being rested for the Palace match.

Reserve goalkeeper Brad Guzan has played in all of Villa's previous matches in the competition this season but has looked uncertain in recent games and O'Neill is likely to choose the experienced Friedel ahead of him.


Man Utd news
Holders United will be without centre-half Rio Ferdinand, who has suffered a recurrence of a back injury that has troubled him throughout the season.

Ferdinand withdrew from United's team for the home clash against West Ham in midweek and will also miss England's friendly with Egypt on Wednesday.

Ferguson will also be without Anderson after the midfielder suffered knee ligament damage in the 3-0 win against the Hammers. The Brazilian midfielder was taken off in the first half and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs will miss out on the chance to win his third League Cup winner's medal as he is still recovering from a broken arm and Nani is serving the last game of his three-match suspension.


Possible starting Xls:
Aston Villa: Friedel, Warnock, Collins, Dunne, Cuellar, Petrov, Milner, Downing, A.Young, Agbonlahor, Heskey.

Man Utd: Foster, Neville, Vidic, Brown, Evra, Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Valencia, Rooney.
http://www.skysports.com/football/match_preview/0,19764,11065_3242664,00.html

[Tallman]

Dwight Yorke previews Aston Villa versus Manchester United
By Dwight Yorke (guardian.co.uk)

Aston Villa

Strengths

Aston Villa do not have a talisman like Wayne Rooney but in Gabriel Agbonlahor, James Milner and Ashley Young they have three very good players who on their day can be a real handful. They have to be direct and confident in their play, show no fear in getting hold of the ball and driving at Manchester United's defence. If they do, then all three have the pace and skill to put United on the back foot and either have a shot on goal themselves or create a chance for someone else, such as Emile Heskey.

Weaknesses

There is not a lot of pace in the Villa defence and, if they get pulled out of position, they could end up leaving Brad Friedel – who I think has been one of the best goalkeepers in England over the past five years – badly exposed. United will look to pass the ball quickly in and around the Villa back four in order to open them up, so it is vital they keep their shape and keep close together. The midfield guys, like Stilian Petrov, have to help them out by dropping deep when United have the ball and cutting out the supply.

Manchester United

Strengths

Rooney. Simple as that. Without doubt he has proved he is the best player in the world over the past six to eight months and, if he plays at his best, United will almost certainly be too strong for Villa. You can see that he's playing with extreme confidence right now and understands the game better than ever. He is United's talisman and, if the team is struggling, he will go looking for the ball and make something happen. It's vital that Villa stop the supply to him and stop him getting possession in their final third.

Weaknesses

Losing Rio Ferdinand is a huge blow for United. He's had a difficult season in terms of injuries but is still an important player for the side. In his place Sir Alex Ferguson may select Wes Brown or Jonny Evans. They're both good players but both may be a little inexperienced in the really big games, especially Evans. He has shown great potential and is getting better but I'm sure Ferguson would like not to have played him as much as he has. Evans has also been off-form recently and Martin O'Neill will surely target him as a weakness in United's defence.

Prediction

I have got to sit on the fence because both sides mean so much to me. I do think it will be tight, though. United are in form but so too are Villa and they are a really well balanced side at the moment. Villa also showed in 1994 that they can beat United in these type of games [Villa beat United 3-1 in the League Cup final that year]. What is for sure is that this is a much more important game for Villa than it is for United. If United win, they won't have an open-top bus parade through Manchester whereas, if Villa win, that will happen in Birmingham."

Dwight Yorke is a studio expert for Sky Sports' live and high definition coverage of the Carling Cup final on Sunday – the first of nine live finals on Sky Sports this season. For further information on high definition or to upgrade to Sky+HD call: 08442 410 564

[D.H.W]

live feeds

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=66448&part=sports

[triniairman]

Man.U leading 2-1 with 4 minutes OT to go

[Kayus]

not ET, injury time. good win.

[Observer]

Congratulations to Man United and Alex Ferguson. Truly an amazing club, with a Legendary Manager.  

Have to give Jim he gymboots

[D.H.W]

 

[Small Magician aka Wazza]

Boom Bang

Get in!

[triniairman]

not ET, injury time. good win.

Thanks I fixed it. On another note Congratulations Manchester United on this victory!!!! Let's add this to our collection and go for the rest of trophies there is to get.

[Daft Trini]

WE WIN.... daiz de way of Real Champions.... 

[triniairman]

Yorke talking about the game right now with Jamie Redknapp
http://www.atdhe.net/14149/watch-aston-villa-vs-manchester-united

[sammy]

 

great victory. Rooney awesome with his heading ability although i thought he was a bit off today.
Too bad for Owen, i really wanted him to impress. Valencia should pull the trigger a bit more.

Hard luck villa........if it wasnt man utd, i woulda back allyuh.

[triniairman]

Let me be the first to say it, before the haters come on to point it out... Vidic should have been sent off, he was the last defender on that challenge for the penalty, it's a pity they needed him to be sent off to have a chance of winning THIS game. The ref got it wrong with that decision.

[D.H.W]

Ref was fraid to give a red so early in a final 

[Small Magician aka Wazza]

Let me be the first to say it, before the haters come on to point it out... Vidic should have been sent off, he was the last defender on that challenge for the penalty, it's a pity they needed him to be sent off to have a chance of winning THIS game. The ref got it wrong with that decision.

Nemanja Vidic on whether he should have been sent off: "I got in front of him, not behind and did a tackle. If I had been behind, then yes. He was a way from the goal. We'll see better on the video."

I agree with Vidic... It should have been a yellow card though.. and then he would have gotten a second yellow in the second half which would have made it red... but sometimes you get those decisions to favour you...normally we are treated unfairly by refs..was a nice change of luck today

[Deeks]

Congrats Manu. I did not see the game. But Wazza non-Manu fans will vehemently disagree with your take on Mnau not getting the breaks from the refs. But let's go Manu. Next, CL and EPL.

[Reaper2004]

Manchester United 2009-2010 Carling Cup Champions. Great game by Aston Villa keep your chin up boys you all will go far in your current form an with Friedel in goal you will do better. GLORY GLORY MANCHESTER UNITED!!!

[Dumplingdinho]

I am not a Man U fan but big side is big side...expect them to take the EPL as well.