We all moaned when we drew United away from home, but the fact is that we might as well lose to them at the quarters stage, than in the final, as we did last season.
There were chances for us to win the final last season and with Ferguson likely to pick a weakened team tonight, ahead of a visit to West Ham at the weekend, then I’ll wager that we’ll have chances to win this one as well.
Harry had mentioned that he too will be switching his team around, but the difference is that our squad isn’t so vast that we can totally change our lineup. Jenas will come in for example, but with Palacios and Huddlestone as our only other central midfielders, one of them will have to play.
Kranjcar is cup tied, so that means either Bale on the left, or perhaps Lennon, with Bentley on the right. It sounds like Hutton will play rather than Corluka, with Dawson and Bassong in the centre and Assou Ekotto/Bale/Naughton on the left.
Up front we will see Robbie Keane start, but there’s really not much point in giving Pavlyuchenko a run out when he’s so intent on leaving. I’d like to see Keane start with Defoe and let our most in-form striker loose on United’s makeshift defence.
I think it will be a tough game, but we’ve got more motivation to win this trophy and I’m backing us to reach the semi-finals.
