FA Cup Semi-Final ~ Manchester United vs Man City - Apr 16

• zocoss

  14 Mar 11, 00:45

  ENGLISH FA CUP 2011

   

   

   

   

          VS         

   

  Manchester United vs Manchester City  

  Saturday, 16 April 2011

  Time: 12:15am  -  (Live)

  Mio Channel 115

  FA Cup Semi-Final

    

   

   

   

  Manchester United :  

  Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, O'Shea, Fabio, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Berbatov, Valencia, Park, Anderson, Giggs, Scholes, Hernandez, Obertan, Bebe.

  OUT: 

  Suspended : Evans, Rooney.

  Out Injured : Lindegaard, Fletcher, Hargreaves.

• zocoss

  14 Mar 11, 00:54

  

  UP FOR GRABS ... the FA Cup

  Wembley set for Manchester derby

   

  MANCHESTER CITY could face neighbours Manchester United in a Wembley showdown.

  United booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals by dumping out Arsenal and their reward is a date with either City or Championship side Reading.

  In the other semi, which will also be staged at the national stadium, Bolton will face Stoke.

  The games are scheduled to take place on April 16 and 17.

• zocoss

  14 Mar 11, 11:35

  MANCHESTER DERBY IN FA CUP SEMI-FINALS

  

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  Manchester United face an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City as their bid for a treble continues.

  United, who beat Arsenal 2-0 in their quarter-final on Saturday, were drawn against fierce rivals City or Reading before Roberto Mancini's men edged to a 1-0 victory over the last remaining Championship team in the competition.

  The other semi-final will be between Bolton and Stoke, who beat West Ham 2-1.

  United are still battling on three fronts as they sit top of the Barclays Premier League and welcome Marseille to Old Trafford on Tuesday for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

  City have not won the FA Cup since 1969 and boss Roberto Mancini is under pressure to deliver silverware, having spent heavily in the pursuit of success.

  Bolton's FA Cup drought stretches back even further, to 1958, while Stoke have never reached the final.

  Both semi-finals will take place at Wembley on the weekend of April 16-17.

   

• zocoss

  14 Mar 11, 11:36

  

  RICH REWARD ... David Silva hails Micah Richards for setting up dream semi-final

  Micah: We want revenge on Roo

  MICAH RICHARDS is out for FA Cup revenge on Wayne Rooney. The Manchester City defender, who hit the winner against Reading, cannot wait to face United in a Wembley semi next month.

  .

  He is still smarting from Roo's amazing Premier League clincher last month and said: "We're looking to gain revenge for Wayne Rooney's overhead kick.

  "It's going to be a great game and we'll all be looking forward to it.

  "We didn't play well and we struggled to break them down.

  "But we showed great resilience to get through and that's all that matters."

  Fellow City defender Vincent Kompany admitted City are buzzing after reaching the last four for the first time since 1981.

  And the Belgian star, 24, said: "I'll let you guess how much it means - and how much the next opponents mean to us.

  "We're happy to play them - there is no easy way to get to the final.

  "We're looking forward to it and there will be no complaints from us."

  United defender Rio Ferdinand, who missed the 2-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday through injury, tweeted: "Let's av iiit with 'em."

  Stoke play Bolton in the other semi-final - also at Wembley - after beating West Ham 2-1 yesterday with goals from Robert Huth and Danny Higginbotham.

  Former Sunderland defender Higginbotham said: "Stoke is a great club and it's come on leaps and bounds in the last few years."

• Rock^Star

  14 Mar 11, 11:58

  this micah richards is improving huh. He, a defender is running at other defenders lol. Looking more like a winger cutting in these days. And he is strong on the ball, not easily outmuscled.

• zocoss

  15 Mar 11, 18:06

  Manchester City's Europa League exploits to determine Wembley derby date with United
  

  

  Heated: the Manchester derby is set for Wembley

   

   

   

   

  Manchester City's Europa League commitments will determine whether their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United can be staged on Saturday, April 16.

   

  The FA are waiting for the outcome of City's second leg with Dynamo Kiev before announcing when they intend to stage the Wembley tie.

   

  Should City get past Kiev, the second leg of their quarter-final would be played on the Thursday before semi-final weekend, meaning the FA would have no alternative but to give the Sunday slot to the United game.

   

• iceFatboy

  17 Mar 11, 12:22

  Originally posted by Rock^Star:

  this micah richards is improving huh. He, a defender is running at other defenders lol. Looking more like a winger cutting in these days. And he is strong on the ball, not easily outmuscled.

  when he first burst on the scene, a lot of promise, fast, strong, and hard tackle, he is the next big defender aka des walker. but then, nothing.. I still think he is a raw diamond, but he needs master craftman to bring his quality out.

• Rock^Star

  17 Mar 11, 12:40

  I think this micah richards will do much better than des walker lol. Quite surprised at how strong he holds onto the ball while running at good speed.

• tripsky

  18 Mar 11, 00:14

  des walker...  that's old school haha... anyway after the surprise win in the previous round we must now die die win the fa cup~

• zocoss

  20 Mar 11, 02:00

  City getting knok out of the Europa is bad news for United cos they were supposed to play on April 14 had they make it and this match Apr 17...  But now they will be well rested for 1 week while United may have a CL match in mid week... This is bad...

• Keii

  12 Apr 11, 18:21

  Not sure if it's any consolation, but Tevez is out injured from the Liverpool match yesterday. 

• Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1)

  12 Apr 11, 18:23

  rooney suspension

   

  tevez out

   

   

• Rock^Star

  12 Apr 11, 19:28

  The utd strikeforce is missing hehe.

• zocoss

  14 Apr 11, 00:10

  The thing I feel could go wrong for United is...  Tiredness...

  Although there will be some changes but, some like Vidic, Evra, Nani, Valencia and Hernandez may still play. Cos apart from them, who could come in? And how about Rio? I know Smalling is proving to be a good stand in but, this is a big occasion match and he might make mistakes like he did against Chelsea (penalty).

  United's players have been going on for like every 3, 4 day a game, it will eventually take its toll on the few who keeps playing... Anyone notice how tired Rooney was toward the last 10 mins that he didn't even try to dribble, he just stand there and waited for a chelsea player to approach him... lol.

  And 3 lungs Park can't play every 3, 4 days too if we are expecting him to perform at a high level in every match...

  Against City, United may need 5 in midfield to combat their very strong midfielders...

  James Milner, Nigel De Jong, Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry, David Silva...

  There is also another Adam Johnson to deal will...

   

   

• Rock^Star

  14 Apr 11, 12:05

  Originally posted by zocoss:

  The thing I feel could go wrong for United is...  Tiredness...

  Although there will be some changes but, some like Vidic, Evra, Nani, Valencia and Hernandez may still play. Cos apart from them, who could come in? And how about Rio? I know Smalling is proving to be a good stand in but, this is a big occasion match and he might make mistakes like he did against Chelsea (penalty).

  United's players have been going on for like every 3, 4 day a game, it will eventually take its toll on the few who keeps playing... Anyone notice how tired Rooney was toward the last 10 mins that he didn't even try to dribble, he just stand there and waited for a chelsea player to approach him... lol.

  And 3 lungs Park can't play every 3, 4 days too if we are expecting him to perform at a high level in every match...

  Against City, United may need 5 in midfield to combat their very strong midfielders...

  James Milner, Nigel De Jong, Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry, David Silva...

  There is also another Adam Johnson to deal will...

   

   

  Actually rooney that one....he's just jesting around. He didn't look tired at all. It's just a way to wind your opponents up.

• zocoss

  14 Apr 11, 21:27

  Tevez blow gives Mancini 'big problem'

  April 14, 2011

  By ESPNsoccernet staff
  

  

  GettyImagesCarlos Tevez leaves the pitch at Anfield after sustaining an injury

   

   

   

  Roberto Mancini has revealed Carlos Tevez could be out for up to four weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury during Monday's 3-0 defeat at Liverpool.

  The news means Manchester City will be without their captain for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.

  Mancini had initially said he expected Tevez to be out for a fortnight after he was substituted in the first half at Anfield, but it now appears likely the forward will struggle to return before City's penultimate Premier League game against Stoke on May 14.

  "Tevez is not available for Saturday," Mancini said. "I think he will recover in three or four weeks. It is a big problem but we can't take any risks. We have six games left and hopefully we can get Carlos back for the last two or three games."

  Mancini is now encouraging Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko to seize the opportunity.

  Balotelli has shown signs of his quality since his summer move from Inter and has scored ten goals in all competitions, but he has also attracted criticism for his work-rate and off-field behaviour. Dzeko, meanwhile, has not yet scored a Premier League goal, although he has scored once in the FA Cup against Notts County and twice in the Europa League against Aris Salonika.

  "I still have to decide what to do [in the semi-final], but both players know this is an important chance for them," Mancini said. "Every player knows this is an important moment for the club. If we win, we can go to a final, so every player will give 100%."

  In defence, City will at least be boosted by the return of Micah Richards, who was back in training on Wednesday after suffering a hamstring injury last month.

  "Micah Richards is available," Mancini said. "He trained two days ago and again yesterday. He will be okay."

• zocoss

  16 Apr 11, 22:42

  

  On the mend: Midfielder Fletcher is making good progress and could be back in action in a couple of weeks

   

   

  Ferguson revealed Scotland international Darren Fletcher is still a couple of weeks away from a return after being laid low by a chronic virus that has kept him out since the defeat at Liverpool on March 6.
  

  'Darren Fletcher is back in training now,' said Ferguson. 'He is not doing a lot but he has put the weight back on, which is good. He is a couple of weeks away.'

  Ferguson otherwise has a clean bill of health for one of the most significant derby clashes in recent memory, with midfielder Anderson pushing for a start after coming through a midweek reserve-team outing.

  'He is much better now,' said Ferguson. 'We thought the Chelsea game would be too much for him because we knew what the pace was likely to be.

  'The semi should be a very exciting game. It is a derby match in London, which is unusual in itself.

• Rock^Star

  16 Apr 11, 22:46

  my wish for anderson for the run-in: his shooting to improve! It's not good if a midfielder does not score at least a few goals per season.

• Rooney9

  16 Apr 11, 23:04

  

  Sir Alex Ferguson is in a relaxed mood ahead of the FA Cup semi-final with City, putting total faith in his players.

  The boss has a real selection headache as he ponders his line-up for the Wembley encounter but feels blessed to have so many top-class talents jostling for places.

  However, he is not stressing about the fact that any bid for trophies at this stage of the season is always on a knife-edge.

  "You can worry about a lot of things," said the boss. "I worry about my team I'm going to pick. I hope I pick the right team.

  "I've got a group of players who are confident going into games. Their attitude is great and I couldn't ask for a better situation than I've got at the moment.

  "The players are on form, the squad has got stronger with players back now and the bench reflected that on Tuesday night.

  "I would say I'm lucky I've got the bunch of players I've got. It doesn't matter which game I'm going in to, I would believe in these players.

  "The momentum is fantastic at this time of the season - to have it now is very good."

  City will be highly motivated for the latest instalment of the Manchester derby as they seek to end their painful 35-year trophy drought. Yet Sir Alex refuses to accept that City's increased financial clout makes the fixture any more intense.

  "City will always be our rivals because they're our local rivals," he stated. "No doubt about that.

  "It's a derby game and, in this city, it's always been a derby game - that's never changed.

  "Everybody wants to win the derby game."

• gunner77

  16 Apr 11, 23:52

  STARTING 11

  VDS

  O SHEA

  FERDIDAND

  VIDIC

  EVRA

  PARK

  CARRICK

  SCHOLES

  VALENCIA

  NANI

  BERBATOV

• Rooney9

  16 Apr 11, 23:58

  wah surprised that ferdinand is playing. looks like fergie is fielding a full team, unlike 2 seasons ago, when fergie fielded reserves against everton in the semis and lost out on penalties.

• Rooney9

  17 Apr 11, 00:33

  insult to injury Berbatov. he got nice touches, but his finishing sucks.

  he should have scored when chances presented to him, but both times, he squander the chances when it was easier to score. I can do better than him if I play

• Rooney9

  17 Apr 11, 00:34

  if Rooney or little Pea played, they would have scored

• funniegal

  17 Apr 11, 01:04

  wa..beva..miss chance...and..last touch....near goal post liao still wan to have a good touch..in the end out of goal..should just hit it towards net like nobody business ma. HEHE

• Rooney9

  17 Apr 11, 01:29

  defensive kamikaze by united first by VDS and then carrick

  what a stupid way to concede a goal