FA Cup Match Of The Season (Man U v Leeds U)

[Bully]

Yeah but Liverpool ain't no Man U

THat's true, In saying that I expect a win for Leeds.

i think it will be a draw and then i think man utd will win in the second leg

[fish]

The bookies (and punters) don't give Leeds much of a chance:

MANCHESTER UNITED WIN 11/50
DRAW 23/5
LEEDS UNITED WIN 10/1

[fish]

Here's a preview of the game. Lokks like Man U. are taking it seriously...

Veteran duo Gary Neville and Paul Scholes are expected to return as Manchester United face Roses rivals Leeds for the first time in six years.
Neville has now recovered from a groin injury and Scholes is also over a hip complaint, so Sir Alex Ferguson is set to pitch both men into a white-hot atmosphere.

Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown should continue in central defence, while Wayne Rooney will be looking to add to his 15-goal tally for the season.

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher will try to blank out the raucous atmosphere at Old Trafford, but accepts it will be impossible.

The historic rivalry between the clubs would ensure some intense banter anyway, but the fact that 9,000 Leeds supporters are making the trip across the Pennines for the third round tie will just increase the noise level even further.

As someone who has been involved in the biggest games in the most hostile environments, Fletcher is experienced enough not to let the chants affect him.

But he recognises they will be impossible to ignore.

"You do try and stay focused and treat it like any other game but the atmosphere brings it to a point where it can't happen,'' said Fletcher.

"You realise how much it means to the fans because of bragging rights and past rivalries.

"The atmosphere builds up around the ground and you just sense it is not a normal match - and cup tie atmospheres tend to lend themselves to a more frenetic pace at the best of times.''

Although he has been at United throughout his professional career, the fact Fletcher hails from Dalkeith gives him a certain detachment to what is a vicious rivalry.

When he headed south, the Scotland skipper knew Manchester City and Liverpool would generate intense passions. Now he knows Leeds is the equal, if not worse.

"When I first came down here I was a little bit surprised,'' he said.

"You hear about the rivalries with Liverpool and Manchester City but the Leeds one is just as big.

"The fans sing songs about it. Having played in a couple of the games I can testify as to how fierce it is.''

Leeds will be without suspended defender Leigh Bromby and on-loan Max Gradel.

Bromby sits out a one-game ban under the totting-up procedure and Leicester winger Gradel is cup-tied but otherwise manager Simon Grayson has a full-strength squad to choose from.

Grayson could recall Jason Crowe to fill in for Bromby or switch Bradley Johnson to right-back, with Jonny Howson returning to the starting line-up.

Jermaine Beckford has scored four goals in his last two matches to take his tally to 19 for the season and he is expected to partner Luciano Becchio up front.

Grayson is confident his players will begin the match believing that they can win.

Although they are League One's runaway leaders, the Whites will face their toughest test of the season when they take on the Premier League champions - a side they used to stand toe-to-toe with during their top-flight days.

Despite Leeds' relegation in 2004 and their subsequent drop into the third tier two years later, a bitter rivalry still exists between the clubs.

And Grayson - a lifelong Leeds fan - is confident his players can thrive on the occasion and possibly make a mockery of the 12/1 odds they have been priced at to win the game.

"We're in a decent run of form and we're very confident in what we can try and achieve,'' said Grayson, whose men have lost just once in the league this season and are unbeaten in 15 games.

"I feel we have got some talented players that can perform, certainly in the next level and hopefully the next level after that, but the proof will be in the pudding on Sunday. Hopefully we will be able to handle it.

"We're going into the game with a huge amount of confidence and belief. We're defending well and look like we're going to score at most times but this (Manchester United) is the best team in Europe.

"We want to go and enjoy and thrive on the experience and hopefully by the end of the game we'll have learned a great deal about ourselves. They will believe by the time the kick-off comes around that's for sure. The last thing I will tell them is good luck, and make sure you win the game.''

[Bully]

yeah, and setanta arent showing it here, because of the celtic vs rangers game on at the same time.

[Thiele]

ManU vs Leeds on here http://www.justin.tv/directory/sports#r=x444v7I

[Bully]

nah would still like to watch on TV. oh well the celtic v rangers game will be just as good!

[Pidge]

yeah, and setanta arent showing it here, because of the celtic vs rangers game on at the same time.

I'm pretty sure its on at 1am our time on delay on Setanta.

[Il Duce]

Yeah - Man utd V Leeds is on striaght after the Euro Disney derby

[Bully]

yeah, and setanta arent showing it here, because of the celtic vs rangers game on at the same time.

I'm pretty sure its on at 1am our time on delay on Setanta.

yep just looked you are correct. wont be getting much sleep tonight then seen as the arsenal game is on following it. knew there was a good reason to get setanta

[johntheclaret]

Not suprised to hear ferguson is taking this one seriously
Not a lot of love lost between these two and the backlash from the man u fans, if Man u lost fielding a weakened side, would be serious

[Il Duce]

well fergie may copp some shite a beckford goal after 19mins have given leeds the 1 - 0 win at old trafford.

[fuzz]

How sweet was tonight. Leeds 1, Man u 0. you Beauty!!!!!

[johntheclaret]

Well what can I say
Leeds were great today and put everything into it. Man U were poor and had enough chances to win it but then again Leeds could have added two more near the end

Good old fashioned cup tie with the tackles flying in and the ref played a cracker allowing the game to flow whenever he could. Hats off to Leeds and happy to hold my hand up and say how wrong I was in calling this one.

Well deserved win. The only down side for Leeds is that this was possibly Beckfords last game for them

[johntheclaret]

How sweet was tonight. Leeds 1, Man u 0. you Beauty!!!!!

I merged your topic with this one fuzz as there's no point having two topics on the same thing

[Pidge]

Kisnorbo is a superstar.. BOG imo..
Angerkren who is our reserve goalkeeper played amazingly well.
Beckford was awesome and proved everyone wrong as he generally struggles on the big stage.

WHAT A GAME!! WHAT A WIN!!

[Pidge]

We've got Spurs away next round.... Tough Gig.

[Bully]

this is all i have to say