After a weekend of heartbreak and agony, United now turn to the rigours of the Carling Cup as they take on Barnsley tonight. The competition has always been a platform for the young players and the pattern is set to continue tonight with the likes of Macheda, Welbeck, the Da Silva twins and Darren Gibson getting a likely run-out . However, most significantly, Gabriel Obertan makes his United debut tonight after making a successful return from a spinal injury that had kept him out ever since his transfer from Bordeaux in the summer. Obertan, it should be noted, has already played three games for the reserves and has impressed with his pace and skill. Some people have gone so far as to compare him to one Thierry Henry but let’s just reserve our judgment for now.
Along with the young players, a few experienced hands are also expected to play and Wes Brown is one of them. Wes, who came on for Rio Ferdinand at Moscow in the last Champions League game, is still fighting for a place in the first team line-up and will be looking for a good performance. Amid reports in the press about Sir Alex’ patience with Rio thinning out, Wes’ performance will be that much under more scrutiny. Wes will also need to fulfill the task of guiding the youngsters in what can be a potential banana-skin fixture (given the fact that Barnsley have a habit of shocking the big boys of English football, case in point being their victories over Liverpool and Chelsea over recent years) and he has already started in that direction by underlining the fact that this could be a very difficult fixture.
“When you play at Old Trafford it is never easy. However if you can get over the fear factor, the way we play, it can be very enjoyable. Then you go away to small ground, a tight area and it is a completely different game. They get stuck in, they are rattling and it can throw you. I think our young lads know what they are up against and those with experience will help. We certainly don’t want any mishaps and I am sure we will be ready for the challenge.”
For those who love trivia, Barnsley is currently managed by former Red Mark Robins, who according to legend saved Fergie’s job in 1990 when he scored the winner against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. Hope he does Fergie another favour tonight.
I would love to see the likes of Tosic, Eikrem and King get a run out today. Tosic has been amazingly under-used this term which is very unfair on a lad who has been doing consistently well for his country. Either play him or sell him. Macheda is another one who has hardly had a look-in despite rising sensationally to stardom last season. I hope both get a chance to prove themselves and surely hope that they come out with flying colours.
