Manchester United vs. Athletic Bilbao

Kraftwerker · Mar 7, 2012

Apart from being in such a shite competition, I love having a game to look forward to on a Thursday evening - the night I start celebrating my weekend every week.

Pogue Mahone · Mar 7, 2012

Kraftwerker said:
Apart from being in such a shite competition, I love having a game to look forward to on a Thursday evening - the night I start celebrating my weekend every week.

I like it too. Play 7-a-side on Wednesday nights so having a game of football to watch on the Thursday means something to look forward to every day after Tuesday. Shortens the week nicely.

Sojiro · Mar 8, 2012

Sean_RedDevil said:
Bilbao are 5th in the La Liga but it's very tight there (They're only 10 points away from the relegation zone) and i've seen only a few games of Bilbao in the Europa League this season therefore i can't say much about Bilbao's quality.

But i'm looking forward to see players like Javi Martinez, Llorente, Herrera or Muniain.

Muniain looks to be the dangerman from the few games I've watched. He has a habit of popping up in the right place and the amount of times our FB's have lost a man at the back post it could be trouble. Same with Susaeta on the right wing whos scored a few goals in the last couple games.

Llorente can be a handful but I do feel confident with Rio-Evans in the middle especially on their current form. Carrick is a must play, his positioning is vital for the middle.

charleysurf · Mar 8, 2012

Pogue Mahone said:
I like it too. Play 7-a-side on Wednesday nights so having a game of football to watch on the Thursday means something to look forward to every day after Tuesday. Shortens the week nicely.

UEFA have got a great new slogan for the Europa League right there.

Sean_RedDevil · Mar 8, 2012

Zen · Mar 8, 2012

Is this game sold out? I should probably Twitter for a last minute ticket, shouldn't be too hard for Europa game, hopefully, feel like randomly going.

FCBarca · Mar 8, 2012

Looking forward to this, probably heading to an English pub to catch it tonight..7,000 traveling Basque fans?...Wow

IanDangerously · Mar 8, 2012

Zen said:
Is this game sold out? I should probably Twitter for a last minute ticket, shouldn't be too hard for Europa game, hopefully, feel like randomly going.

Nope, plenty of tickets still available now on Manutd.com

Athletic Club have moaned to United about being referred to as "Athletic Club Bilbao" on the website when there's actually no Bilbao in their name. Fair play I suppose but why does it say it on the badge then?

iSparky · Mar 8, 2012

Manchester United 4-0 Athletic Bilbao

You heard it first here

FortBoyard · Mar 8, 2012

I'm going tonight! Buzzing.

Sassy Colin · Mar 8, 2012

Kraftwerker said:
Apart from being in such a shite competition, I love having a game to look forward to on a Thursday evening - the night I start celebrating my weekend every week.

I think its awfully civilised sitting at home with a small beer watching football, rather than going down the pub with the rabble.

Pexbo · Mar 8, 2012

Colin129 said:
I think its awfully civilised sitting at home with a small beer watching football, rather than going down the pub with the rabble.

I'd just as well sit at home on my own watching a game than go to the pub. Shit view usually and surrounded by a bunch of clueless, know it all tossers? No thanks.

Aside from actually being there I'd rather have a few mates round and watch it at home.

Sw33t · Mar 8, 2012

Any chance of a Cleverley-Scholes midfield?

prateik · Mar 8, 2012

Scholes wont be playing.

Plan M · Mar 8, 2012

I can't wait for this game, really excited.

I hope Giggsy and Scholes are definitely rested for it. Can't wait to see Clevz back, hopefully he won't get injured for the 300th time this season too.

Wumminator · Mar 8, 2012

There's millions of Bilbao fans around town!

Sassy Colin · Mar 8, 2012

Pexbo said:
I'd just as well sit at home on my own watching a game than go to the pub. Shit view usually and surrounded by a bunch of clueless, know it all tossers? No thanks.

Aside from actually being there I'd rather have a few mates round and watch it at home.

This is exactly what I did for the CL final in '99, best night of my life, I've never cheered so loud.

Sw33t · Mar 8, 2012

prateik said:
Scholes wont be playing.

Aww bummer. Well, Cleverley to start and play the full 90 then!

charleysurf · Mar 8, 2012

Almost certainly the team will be as half arsed as they usually have been in Europe this season and will struggle.

kps88 · Mar 8, 2012

This is going to be hard as feck. Really hope Fergie and the players fancy a fight and our fans don't let the Bilbao lot out sing them all game.

prateik · Mar 8, 2012

Different reasons for being half arsed in the CL group stages and in the Europa League, but I can see that happening.

and thats why there wont be much point over analyzing the result/performance tonight... unless we thrash them.

Ramshock · Mar 8, 2012

To be honest Id rather have a guaranteed 6 points against WBA and Wolves than worry about this tie but I am intrigued by them and interested to see how Martinez does.

charleysurf · Mar 8, 2012

6/1 odds on an Athletic win tonight, and 2/1 for them to go through this round.

Pogue Mahone · Mar 8, 2012

charleysurf said:
Almost certainly the team will be as half arsed as they usually have been in Europe this season and will struggle.

The team hasn't been half arsed at all. What it has been is under-strength.

I'd say our CL group campaign was characterised more by recklessness than anything else. Defenders bombing forward, midfielders getting caught up the pitch. Basically the impulsivity of youth. That and some unfortunate errors from a young keeper finding his feet at the club.

Assuming Fergie goes with a strong/experienced team I see no reason why we won't give a good account of ourselves. We're a better team than Bilbao. We just have to prove it.

Maajid · Mar 8, 2012

Does anyone remember how many Real Madrid fans travelled to Manchester in '03? I need a ballpark figure.

Sean_RedDevil · Mar 8, 2012

IanDangerously said:
Athletic Club have moaned to United about being referred to as "Athletic Club Bilbao" on the website when there's actually no Bilbao in their name. Fair play I suppose but why does it say it on the badge then?

Yep that's very wierd.

Sw33t said:
Aww bummer. Well, Cleverley to start and play the full 90 then!

He isn't in the squad.

Red Pavan · Mar 8, 2012

Sw33t said:
Any chance of a Cleverley-Scholes midfield?

Or Anderson - Cleverly ?

Pexbo · Mar 8, 2012

Red Pavan said:
Or Anderson - Cleverly ?

This I would LOVE, but I have a horrible feeling Park will be in the middle as he's our only real "defensive midfielder" with Fletch out and Carrick rested.

If I had to pick the team tonight I would say (not our strongest and with things taken into consideration):

DDG

Rafael - Evans - Smalling - Fabio

Nani - Cleverley - Anderson - Park

Berbatov - Hernandez

I'd fancy that team to be too much for them, however I can see Ferguson playing Jones to match them a bit physically and continue bringing him on, possibly for Anderson who may get only 30 minutes or so for his fitness. Nani needs a game like this to find that hot streak we know is in him.

Pogue Mahone · Mar 8, 2012

According to the official website, it's a game too soon for Cleverley to feature.

Carrick and Anderson it is. Worked a treat at times last season. I just hope Anderson can recapture some of that form.

Might be Carrick and Giggs, mind you. I doubt it's a coincidence that Giggs didn't start against Spurs.

Pexbo · Mar 8, 2012

Pogue Mahone said:
According to the official website, it's a game too soon for Cleverley to feature.

Carrick and Anderson it is. Worked a treat at times last season. I just hope Anderson can recapture some of that form.

Might be Carrick and Giggs, mind you. I doubt it's a coincidence that Giggs didn't start against Spurs.

You think we're going to start taking it a bit more seriously now? If we are seeing Carrick do you think it's possible Rooney could use it as another game under his belt following a short lay off?

EDIT - Maybe look to put this tie to bed in this game and rest a few players ahead of an away game against Wolves next week?

prateik · Mar 8, 2012

Think Giggs didnt start because Scholes was starting.
I hope we keep Carrick wrapped up. Anderson-Jones-Giggs can play in midfield if needed.

holdsteady · Mar 8, 2012

I've got a bad feeling about this tie.

Will Absolute · Mar 8, 2012

charleysurf said:
UEFA have got a great new slogan for the Europa League right there.

Pogue Mahone · Mar 8, 2012

Pexbo said:
You think we're going to start taking it a bit more seriously now? If we are seeing Carrick do you think it's possible Rooney could use it as another game under his belt following a short lay off?

EDIT - Maybe look to put this tie to bed in this game and rest a few players ahead of an away game against Wolves next week?

I think Fergie's going to start his strongest team in every Europa game from now on. Partly because we don't have any really tough league games, partly because he's still annoyed about the second string letting him down in the CL group games but mainly because I think he's actually quite keen to win a trophy he's never won before.

Could be wrong, though. I just get the impression he's taking it quite seriously.

Amar__ · Mar 8, 2012

If Anderson and Cleverley are fit to start the game, I would try 433/451 tonight, with Rooney as a lone striker. It's maybe good game to try it, and finally to see if Rooney can play it anymore or not.
I'm sure midfield trio of Anderson-Carrick-Cleverley is great for that. That means Nani and Young could play more more offensive. I watched Portugal couple of times and I think Nani regulary plays better for Portugal in 433 than he does it in 442 for us.
That even mean we could play Welbeck on left, I enjoyed watching him as a left "striker"(or winger) last year at Sunderland, I think he played his best football on that position.

But those are just wishes, since Cleverley and Anderson, or one of them isn't ready to play from start tonight.

I'm expecting something like this:

------------ De Gea -------------
Rafael -- Smalling -- Evans -- Evra
-------- Carrick --- Giggs* -------- * Anderson if fit
Nani -------- Rooney ------ Young
----------- Hernandez -----------

We could rest Welbeck for this one.
Bring Berba, park and fabio later.

gooDevil · Mar 8, 2012

Hmm, at this point I'll have to go with:

Rafael Evans Jones Fabio
Anderson Giggs
Nani Berbatov Park
Chicharito

bench: Smalling, Carrick, Rooney, Evra, Welbeck, Young, Amos

Part of me thinks Park will start in midfield, and SAF will want to give Ando a few more sub appearances before giving him a start. But we're so low on wingers as well, if Park is in midfield then Giggs is likely to have to play on the wing, so you might as well put Giggs in midfield instead.

gooDevil · Mar 8, 2012

Pogue Mahone said:
I think Fergie's going to start his strongest team in every Europa game from now on. Partly because we don't have any really tough league games, partly because he's still annoyed about the second string letting him down in the CL group games but mainly because I think he's actually quite keen to win a trophy he's never won before.

Could be wrong, though. I just get the impression he's taking it quite seriously.

Do you think he'll play Rio and Scholes? I expect at least those 2 to be rested for the league, which has to be 100 times more important to SAF than this tie.

Pogue Mahone · Mar 8, 2012

gooDevil said:
Do you think he'll play Rio and Scholes? I expect at least those 2 to be rested for the league, which has to be 100 times more important to SAF than this tie.

I seriously doubt he'll start Scholes, after starting him at the weekend.

I think there's every chance he'll start Rio, especially when you bear in mind his comments after the Ajax game (I think?) when he blamed himself for picking an inexperienced back four.

Pexbo · Mar 8, 2012

Amar__ said:
If Anderson and Cleverley are fit to start the game, I would try 433/451 tonight, with Rooney as a lone striker. It's maybe good game to try it, and finally to see if Rooney can play it anymore or not.

Eh?

Who is doubting whether he can play that role? Of course he can, it's just we found a partnership in Welbeck and Rooney and as a team that blend works better as we get more from Rooney than just goals.

The only reason we'd need to play Rooney in that role is if we were short of Strikers and heavy in midfield and we all know that isn't going to be the case.

Burrow · Mar 8, 2012

I expect Rio to play today, mostly due to Fergies comments about an inexperienced back four vs Ajax. I hope to see Fabio though, so something like

Smalling - Rio - Evans - Fabio

Park - Carrick - Anderson - Young

Rooney - Welbeck

would probably have a good balance between youth and experience all over, and will allow us to give some gametime to a few players who might need it. Even toss Rafael in at right back, with Smalling and Rio in central defense. As long as we dont see Jones as a central defender, I'll have no complaints either way.

Manchester United vs. Athletic Bilbao

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