Barca v Man U, a.k.a. “The Big One” 1:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2

By: Kevin | April 22nd, 2008

You know why this man is smiling? Because he is thinking about getting in some Red Devil ass, that’s why. Because this is it. The real deal, and he is the most pivotal player on the pitch for so many reasons, but most importantly, because they can’t score if they don’t have the ball. If we are playing our possession game well, Yaya is a pivotal part, with his intelligent passes out of the back, deft footwork and physical presence.

Also, much Man U attacking comes up the middle, and Yaya is going to be even more important with El Capitan, Puyol, sitting out a red card that should have been rolled up into a tight little cylinder and shoved up Eric Abidal’s erratic ass.

Thankfully, we are at home, which should be worth something that will, hopefully, make up for the absence of our man. I’d be a lot more confident if Puyol were in the side tomorrow. But as it is, I’m still feeling pretty good.

The squad is Valdes, Milito, Thuram, Marquez, Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Eto’o, Pinto, Henry, Sylvinho, Messi, Deco, Dos Santos, Krkic, Abidal, Zambrotta.

Who is the name we are most excited to see on that list? You got it, folks….DECOOOOO! If he is back….I mean really and fully back, not the sullen, unshaven, card-nabbing cipher he has been this season, the Red Devils are in trouble. Because suddenly, Iniesta is freed up to become a real attacker, playing off Messi and Eto’o, taking great passes from Deco, who also tracks back on defense.

Which brings us to the question of the day: Do we play it safe and tight at home, or do we go for the jugular, counting on them being nervous on the road? You know what I say. Put the knife in, and let’s go down playing our best game. With that in mind, here’s my ideal starting XI:

Valdes, Milito, Thuram, Sylvinho, Abidal, Yaya, Deco, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Henry. My three second-half subs are: Marquez, Eto’o, and Krkic.

Put Henry in the middle of the damn pitch, where he belongs, and turn him loose. Man U remembers his killer days from Arsenal. They WILL be nervous. I’m moving Deco up, right behind Iniesta, Messi and Henry and pressing. Xavi and Yaya are very solid in the middle, and I like Thuram’s big-game experience. He’ll be able to call Abidal a dumbass en Francais, and calm him down.

Then leave the back line at home, give Valdes some puppy uppers, and stay away from Ronaldo’s flopping ass. If you have to foul him, make it a good one so that he at least earns the rolling around on the pitch that he’s going to be doing.

Now, for another reason Yaya is important: Frustrating Wayne Rooney and taking him out of his game. Rooney HATES big, physical defenders with great feet. He plays a physical, pugnacious game himself and likes being the only one to do so.

The way that the game is called will be critical. Distressingly, Yaya, Messi, Marquez and Milito are all a yellow card away from a suspension. You’d think that with such a match, the ref would just let them play. We’ll see.

The play of Messi, and the way that we start out, is going to be very important. Both Eto’o and Henry have had trouble finishing, but I would take Henry in the starting XI in a heartbeat. Rijkaard will probably play it safe, but to hell with him.

If we concede free kicks near our area, we are in trouble. Ball control will be critical, and Abidal is going to have to be ON.

Okay, enough of this. It’s go time.