Manchester United preview

Last updated : 25 October 2005 By Bm91
The Bees will make the long trip north with 4,000 other Barnet fans looking for a giant killing triumph like no other! The Bees will have to improve on there 4-0 defeat to bottom side Mansfield Town with a disgraceful performance. Will the Bees be able to raise there game against Manchester United? Of course! Manchester United are in decline at the moment after a very disappointing 1-1 draw with Tottenham the Carling Cup provides a winnable trophy for the Red Devils. But United will field mostly youngsters apart from first teamers; Tim Howard, John O'Shea, Saha,Fletcher and the return to football for Wes Brown. Every Barnet fan and the gloryhunting so called Barnet fans are excited about this game but you wouldn't expect anyone from the United camp to be excited but a United legend is Pat Crerand who thinks it will be a very exciting match. He told the Manchester United Official Site: "There are a lot of talented young players at the club," says Pat with authority.

"If they play, many United fans will know about them because they'll have seen the reserve games on MUTV.

"They'll have seen players such as Gerard Pique, Giuseppe Rossi and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. It was a pity that Ebanks-Blake was out for 4-5 months after he broke his leg. He and Rossi have created an understanding over the last 18 months."

As for the opposition, Crerand believes the Old Trafford stage will inspire rather than intimidate Barnet.

"Wednesday will be a great payday for Barnet but I think for the smaller clubs, the dream they have is to go out and play at a big ground," says Pat.

"If you can ask anyone in the lower leagues, the team they want to draw in the two cup competitions is Manchester United. Exeter brought 8,000-10,000 people to Old Trafford last year. They got a result and had a great time as well.

"Barnet won’t need any motivation. To motivate a player, just let him run onto Old Trafford."
United are beatable or drawable as Exeter showed last season with a wonderful performance against Man United by the Grecians. Exeter brought about 12,000 fans and the crowd was up to capascity. Tomorrow there will be only 45,000 in Old Trafford. Heres a match report from when Exeter City drew with Man United at Old Trafford:
With a nickname like the Grecians, Exeter's classical performance left Manchester United faces as red as their famous shirts in the third round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford.

United must now travel to St James Park for an unwanted replay the week after next and the FA Cup holders must raise their game considerably if they are to progress.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson picked a team which looked weak even compared to his usual Carling Cup line-up.

And while United were dreadful, take nothing away from the side lying forth in the Nationwide Conference.

Roared on by their 9,000 following, Exeter even had chances to win and there was no greater compliment to the Devon side than Ferguson's decision to throw on Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alan Smith in a desperate last throw of the dice.

Former Old Trafford youngster Andy Taylor almost put his heroes to the sword on the half hour.

United's Spanish youngster Gerard Pique's poor defensive header across his box set up Taylor to fire in a superb 20-yard shot which was brilliantly saved by diving goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Although that was Exeter's best effort, the Grecians also had a number of half chances.

Taylor fired one free-kick from the edge of the United box into the side netting, while the industrious Dean Moxey shot narrowly wide from 10 yards after Marcus Martin's pass caused havoc in the home penalty area.

Skipper Sean Devine's 25-yard drive in the 50th minute was deflected narrowly over his own bar by Wes Brown.

United had their chances and were denied on several occasions by the brilliance of Exeter goalkeeper Paul Jones and the magnificent defenders around him.

The Red Devils had a series of half chances earlier on, but it was not until midway through the first half that Jones had to make the first of a series of super saves.

Unsighted by players from both sides, the Exeter goalkeeper hurled himself across his line to touch away Chris Eagles' in-swinging free kick from 25 yards out on the left.

David Bellion headed another Eagles cross straight at Jones soon after, while United's best chance of the first half came three minutes before the interval.

Bellion curled in a free-kick from 25 yards which Jones again tipped away. The ball fell to Phil Neville whose cross from the right was headed narrowly over the bar by Eagles.

Former Manchester City defender Scott Hiley thwarted the old foe four minutes after the break.

A tremendous right-foot shot from impressive United youngster David Jones from the edge of the Exeter penalty area was superbly cleared off the line by Hiley.

Ferguson was forced to bring on Scholes and Ronaldo after 63 minutes and United began to look more of a threat.

Kieran Richardson twice fluffed close-range efforts and Ferguson played his last card in the 76th minute when Alan Smith replaced the ineffectual Bellion.

Within a minute, Smith was in the thick of the action, heading Neville's long pass into the path of Ronaldo on the right.

The Portuguese youngster produced a ferocious shot from 25 yards which was magnificently turned away by the acrobatic Jones.

Smith fired narrowly wide from close range soon after, while Scholes was inches short of the target two minutes into injury time following a good move involving Smith and Richardson.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Dean Moxey (Exeter) Gave the United defence problems with his quick thought and hard work. He almost caused an even bigger shock with one first half shot which went narrowly wide.
^^ from Exeter Mad
If we could put in a performance even near to that I will be proud of them. There isn't much left to say but............
COME ON YOU VIOLET AND BLACK BEES!!!!
and try and have a good nights sleep don't like to excitment takeover.
If you can't get to sleep heres five ways to prepare for the game although it is a bit out of date:
1. Check out the Bees history from 1882 to now. At Tony Rayner who did the Beesmad history section's fantastic website at www.historybarnetfc.co.uk. And when your finished with that check the Bees complete Carling Cup and all cup appearances since 1925/1926 at http://www.barnet-mad.co.uk/footydb/loadcphs.asp.


2. Take a tour of Old Trafford without leaving your seat just go to http://www.manutd.com/oldTrafford/virtualReality.sps?iType=800&icustompageid=1027. Broardband is recommended.


3. Go to the fans forum which takes place tomorrow at the Durham Suite from 7pm till 10. The event is sold out but Beesmad has two tickets to give away to claim them email fromageroi@hotmail.com

4. Get some Novelty gear from www.funfolly.com or go to shop.barnetfc.com for the new Violet and Black shirt just for the game for £50 or if your skint a black or amber air horn.


5. Plan your trip. whether your going by Coach (www.bfcsa.net), Train (thetrainline.com), Car (www.aa.com), Or even flying there (www.bmibaby.com). Don't worry if you still don't have a ticket you can still get them from the club shop (check the official website for info) and if you can't get the club shop I hear Steve has a few tickets for the game that you will be able to buy on the coach*
* Not 100% sure.


Enjoy the game and COME ON YOU VIOLET AND BLACK BEES!


And one more thing!!
Check out the Manchester United song book at the bellow link.


Team News:
Barnet
There will not be many changes for the Bees side that lost 4-0 to Mansfield at the weekend but Bees fans pray that Anthony Charles be dropped for Adam Gross. Simon King who picked up his 5th yellow card of the season will miss the Rushden game and not the United game. Ross Flitney looks like he will retake his place in goal.


Barnet: Tynan, Hendon, King,Gross, Yakubu, Bailey, Soares, Sinclair, Graham, Soares, Grazioli

Manchester United: Howard, Bardsley, O’Shea, Brown, Eckersley, Pique, Ebanks-Blake, Fletcher, Martin, Saha, Rossi


Betting:
Manchester United 1/10
Draw 6/1
Barnet 14/1
From Ladbrokes


Prediction: I would never make a prediction for the game like this...........