WestHam/ManUnited

Bottom vs Top of the PL. However, this is the Carling Cup which will mean plenty of changes to the United side that thrashed Blackburn 7-1 at the weekend. It also doesn’t mean the obvious and going for 5 United players – they only had 2 of the top 5 against Wolves and 3 against Scunthorpe.

There have been 22 goals scored in United’s last five CC matches (4.4 per game)– including 12 this season. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a lot of goals tonight! Both of United’s CC matches this season were on Picklive and there is the United 3-0 win against West Ham to look at to give some indication who to pick in the BG.

The standout player for West Ham has to be captain Scott Parker – arguably there isn’t a team in the PL more reliant on a single player. So what are his picklive numbers like? This season he has appeared just the three times on the game but top scored with 78pts at Stoke (including a goal), 74pts at Old Trafford (6th highest score and top scorer for West Ham) and 54pts against Newcastle (2nd highest scorer for West Ham). Mark Noble should be considered on his recent form with a 68 in their 3-0 defeat Liverpool and 62 at Old Trafford – despite yellow cards in both matches! Not sure really who else to consider from West Ham, Upson could be quite busy and has a 65 (vs Liverpool) and a 51 (vs Stoke) or Gabbidon 58 and 67 in the same matches. If you think there will be goals with West Ham scoring a couple it may be worth giving Piquionne a go – I won’t be though….

So what team will Fergie pick for tonight? I’m not too sure, but you should go with the two central midfielders – they always seem to do well for United. Gibson will probably start and he has done alright on Picklive with 76 at Scunthorpe (4th highest overall/ 2nd highest United scorer), 64 against Wolves (5th highest overall / 2nd highest United scorer) and an impressive 102pts against Rangers – only bettered by Fletcher’s 109. I guess Anderson will play alongside him, his record on the game isn’t very impressive with a high of 65 against Scunthorpe. However if he plays like he did against Blackburn at the weekend I can imagine him getting close to 100!

Park has done well in the two CC matches with goals in both – 71 vs Wolves and 72 vs Scunthorpe, he may be rested though and would probably need a goal again to see him score more than 70 again. I suspect Hernandez should start and if he does, I am sure he will score so it may be worth giving him a go, however his only score on Picklive above 35 was when he scored twice at Stoke and got 70pts to his name. Wes Brown would be a more reliable pick if he starts – scoring 61 against Wolves and 65 against Scunthorpe – also an impressive 79 in the home draw against Rangers.

I would recommend going with one or two West Ham players. For me it has to be Scott Parker and Mark Noble but if you think United will dominate more, then Upson/Gabbidon could do quite well. For my United players it will be the central midfielder partnership (Gibson/Anderson?) and Wes Brown. I may be tempted by Park or Hernandez.

·      West Ham have won eight and lost only once in their last nine at home in the CC.

·      This will be only their 2nd meeting in the CC – United won 1-0 at OT in 1985-86

·      United have won the last five against West Ham without conceding.

·      United have kept only one clean sheet in their last eight CC away matches.

Not sure this will be as good as last night!

Simon G (grunny27)