TFT Issue 229!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Otelul Galati vs Manchester United – under 3 goals at 4/5.
Today’s featured game is the UEFA Champions League game in Romania between Otelul Galati and Manchester United.
A lot of people are expecting a whitewash here and I don’t blame them – we do have the worst side in the group stages hosting one of the best and most experienced sides in the competition. If United show up then a 0-5 scoreline would not be unrealistic. However, I have my doubts with that occurring and I’ll explain why.
This is quite easily the biggest game in Otelul’s history; they’re going to be extremely motivated for it. Now, they’re not a particularly good side, even by Romanian standards, but what they do have is a good sense of belief and unity. Otelul Galati won the Romanian Liga by being a united force, taking their chances, and keeping sides out. Whereas I don’t see them being anywhere near as effective here, their style does naturally aid my bet.
What else? It’s freezing in Romania right now – it’s not easy to plunge into that kind of low temperature when all we’re getting in England right now is constant drizzle. United had a tough game at Liverpool at weekend and although Fergie rotated players, there could still be some tired legs out there – it’s no small trip to the south-eastern part of Europe.
The game is being played in Bucharest, not Galati, so this is effectively a neutral venue. However, Otelul at least know the venue fairly well, to their credit.
So why do I think United won’t run riot here? I truly hope they do, as an avid United fan, of course. However, United just aren’t playing that way in Europe anymore. United play a 4-5-1, contain sides, and score the odd goal and I don’t think Fergie disrespects Otelul enough to do otherwise here. Look at United’s away results in the UEFA Champions League over the last year or so:
SL Benfica 1 Manchester United 1
Schalke 04 0 Manchester United 2
Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Olympique de Marseille 0 Manchester United 0
Rangers 0 Manchester United 1
Bursaspor 0 Manchester United 3
Valencia CF 0 Manchester United 1
You can see very clearly indeed what Fergie prioritises when playing European football and he’s right to do that, usually – it’s got United to three out of the last four finals in this competition.
What else? United have been poor lately, not creating many chances for their past three games. They’ve been poor in their two UEFA Champions League games and with Rooney’s allegations almost certainly affecting his game, it’s hard to see United firing on all cylinders as he’s rather pivotal to the team. Additionally, I see Fergie fielding Young here, who just can’t hack it at this level right now. I don’t know what it is with him – maybe he’s just not good enough – but he’s looked like a fish out of water lately.
All in all, I’m just not convinced that United will hammer this one home. They have the potential but too many things concern me in relation to it occurring. I can see United monopolising possession but scoring the necessary goals is another matter entirely. For me, there could be value in going under 3 goals at 4/5.
Verdict: Under 3 goals at 4/5.
Team news
UEFA Champions League:
Otelul Galati – Chavez is absent.
Mancheste United – Ferdinand, Rafael da Silva, and Cleverley are absent.
Real Madrid – Albiol, Sahin, Diarra, and Carvalho are absent. Benzema returns.
Olympique Lyonnais – Lisandro, Pied, and Grenier are absent. Cris and Gourcuff return.
Manchester City – Aguero is a doubt.
Villarreal CF – Senna, Camunas, Ruben, and Nilmar are absent. Valero returns, as does Musacchio.
Internazionale – Coutinho, Forlan, Poli, Ranocchia, and Viviano are absent. Cesar, Chivu, and Sneijder return.
SSC Napoli – Britos and Pandev are absent.
Basel – Stocker, Yapi Yapo, Voser, and Andrist are absent.
SL Benfica – Amorim, Perez, and Capdevila are absent.
CSKA Moscow – Akinfeev, Honda, Necid, Schennikov, Gonzalez, Vasin, and Oliseh are absent.
Trabzonspor – Vittek, Henrique, Piotr Brozek, Ozbek, Sezer, Kivrak, Yilmaz, and Alanzinho are absent.
Dinamo Zagreb – Badelj and Kovacic are doubts.
Estonian Meistriliiga:
Levadia Tallinn – No absentees.
Flora Paide – Holst is absent.
Maag Tammeka Tartu – Roops is absent.
Flora Tallinn – No absentees.
Nomme Kalju – No absentees.
Viljandi – No absentees.