Weekend Outlook (07 Mar 2009)

Fulham vs Manchester United

"...Given that we have a do-or-die game against Inter-Milan on the following Wednesday (and Liverpool the following Saturday), I don't see how we can afford to play our first team today...."

- JayWalk, 07 Mar 2009

We struggled against Newcastle and one starts to wonder if we are relying too much on Ronaldo.

We were lucky to have Rooney and Berbatov to pick up the slack but only just enough to scrape a 2-1 win and to go 7 points ahead with 1 game-in-hand.

After today's match, we will really have to crank up the game a notch as we host Inter Milan for the second leg of the ECL second round. Defence will have to be water tight for this one as a single goal by the Italians could see us out the ECL door. We must win Inter-Milan at Old Trafford. Draw will not be an option.

Following that we will be hosting Liverpool, another match which may just be the one to eliminate Liverpool from the title chase if they lose. We have the advantage here as we will be playing at home and Liverpool too will be facing a very tough match against Real Madrid who is a goal down from the previous leg.

JayWalk The Talk: Van dar Sar is definitely rested ahead of the ECL clash. Foster's good showing at the Carling Cup final should earn him another Cup slot in the starting lineup.

Hargreaves is still injured but recovering nicely in time for next season. Only question is would he be injured just as quickly again. Sounds to me like another white elephant who spends more time in the sick bay then on the field.

We are a bit short on defence as Neville, Rafael and Brown are all doubtful, leaving Ferdinand and Vidic to hold center while Evra takes a flank and O'Shea fall back to complete the back-4.

Kamara is the only absentee on the Fulham side and do keep an eye on Murphy who is probably the key to making or breaking ManUtd's chance of advancement. This old bird from Liverpool has always done well against ManUtd, his experience will certainly be useful to the Fulham team when they play against us.

However, if in the event we still beat them, then you can be sure that when we meet Fulham next week after Liverpool, we will beat them again.

JayWalk The Walk: ManUtd is giving 0.5-ball with decimal odds of 1.80 to beat it. Looks like the bookies are quite confident of ManUtd making through this round without even the need to replay the game.

Ex-Liverpool Mark Lawrenson from BBC predicts a 1-1 draw and I can see where he is coming from. Given that we have a do-or-die game against Inter-Milan on the following Wednesday (and Liverpool the following Saturday), I don't see how we can afford to play our first team today.

Granted that there are talks about chasing the Grand Slam of Trophies, it was never a firm objective. Just merely a nice-to-chase target and not a need-to-chase target. FA Cup, like Carling Cup wins us nothing perhaps except a nice kitty of prize money.

Still, I think we may just be able to scrape through. It would be pretty but I think we can get it done. We win by a one-goal margin.

1-0 perhaps.

Disclaimer: The above views are purely my own two-cents' worth. In other words, I cannot and will not guarantee that my predictions are accurate. If you want to bet on the game, do so at your own risk. Also, please bet responsibly and within your means regardless of how "sure thing" that game may appear to be. As the old saying goes, "The Ball Is Round". Good luck.