My team for Fiorentina Wednesday

My Starting XI for the second leg
By Daniel Gregory 09/03/08

I think we would all agree that we need to go at Fiorentina and cause them a lot more problems at the back than in the shambolic first leg.

We didn't get any sort of attacking rythym in the game in Florence and if we are to have any chance of progressing to the Quarter finals, we will need to show a lot more ambition.

If it wasnt for Tim Howard we would be out of the competition now, he had an inspired night between the sticks in what could only be described as nightmare conditions for keepers.

I would play the following side for Wednesday, barring injuries obviously:

Howard

Neville Yobo Jagielka Lescott

Pienaar Cahill Osman Arteta

Johnson Yakubu

I would be tempted to throw Manuel Fernandes and Victor Anichebe in from the start for Pienaar/Osman and Johnson, but Johnson has been playing well from the bench and deserves his place. And Osman has been Mr Consistent for us this season and should start ahead of Manny, although I firmly believe we should keep hold of him and will eventually see the best of him.

No matter what side Moyes puts out Wednesday it will be a very difficult job scoring two against an Italian side, especially without conceding a goal on the counter attack while we are going forward. Fiorentina showed they have players with quality in Montolivo, Osvaldo, Santana, Vieri and the young striker Pazzini, and we will need to make sure we don't go gung-ho at the Italians as they will simply soak up the pressure and hit us on the counter, game over.

I am optimistic that we can make a tie of it, but to go through would represent Moyes' finest night since he joined us over six years ago, and that would be some feet.