Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. Manchester United

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Ryan's Beard said:
We need to at least try that properly. We're not playing at all well at the moment. I'm not sure a CL game is a good place to test things out but to be honest we can't do much worse than trying new things.
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It's not a new thing. Rooney is a striker and Kagawa's best position is as No.10
Rooney or Kagawa as CM would be a new thing.

-------------Rooney
Welbeck-----Kagawa-----Nani

Sam is out for Leverkusen.
Welbeck can help Evra to stop Son.
Nani against left-back Can (He is actually a CM....Boenisch is injured) could be a key for us too.
 
I had it in my head this was on tonight.

Kagawa behind Rooney is what we all want to see. It's just a shame that the time it might actually happen it is unlikely to have any sort of midfield behind it.

With that said though, I wouldn't be surprised if it's Welbeck leading the line and Rooney behind him with Kagawa on the left.



If it is Kagawa in the middle, I expect it will be Young and Valencia on either side rather than Nani or Welbeck.
 
What I am hoping to see:

---------------De Gea-----------

Rafael------Vidic----Evans--------Evra

--------Anderson--Cleverley----------

Valencia------Kagawa-------Nani

-----------Rooney--------------

Praying that Rafael is nearly back, its painful watching us attack down the right without him. I think it will help Valencia if he's back.

Hopefully Vidic is back but if not Rio played well against Cardiff. I think that front 4 has great potential, would not mind seeing Januzaj in there but I think games like this are maybe a bit too soon for him.


What I am expecting:

---------------De Gea-----------

Smalling------Rio----Evans--------Evra

--------Giggs--Cleverley----------

Valencia------Rooney-------Welbeck

------------Hernandez--------------

We can't miss the same chances that we did in Sociedad. I am normally confident before matches but I think we will struggle and end up needing a result in the final match against Shakhtar
 
De Gea
Rafael--Smalling--Evans--Evra
Giggs-Jones
Nani--Kagawa--Welbeck
Rooney

Subs: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Buttner, Valencia, Cleverley, Young, Hernandez
 
Has there really been no new posts in this thread for 36 minutes or is my laptop chimping out?
 
like this team


---------------De Gea-----------

Rafael------Vidic----Evans--------Evra

--------Anderson--Fellaini----------

Valencia------Kagawa-------Nani

-----------Rooney--------------

You'd think Fellaini could maybe play disciplined and try not to rack up lots of silly niggly fouls
 
buckooo1978 said:
like this team


---------------De Gea-----------

Rafael------Vidic----Evans--------Evra

--------Anderson--Fellaini----------

Valencia------Kagawa-------Nani

-----------Rooney--------------

You'd think Fellaini could maybe play disciplined and try not to rack up lots of silly niggly fouls
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I bet you £1000 he doesn't even foul anyone tomorrow night.
 
Dreading the team selection tomorrow, to be honest.

If Vidic is out then Rio will most likely play, making for another deep back line. Giggs in midfield slows down the centre further. Can't see Kagawa starting, which means Rooney in the hole and I imagine one of Welbeck or Hernandez up top. I wouldn't be surprised to see Young start on the left either.

As far as I'm concerned Van Persie, Vidic and Carrick are our best/most important players and we miss them hugely, particularly with our dreadful tactics. Let's hope I'm in for a surprise.

I'd like to see:

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Evans Evra
Jones Cleverley
Nani Kagawa Welbeck
Rooney

Rio, Giggs and Valencia will all find their way in there, I suspect.
 
Really hope we'll see Fabio at right back. Jones injured, Rio played at the weekend and Vidic is out meaning Smalling in the middle. Maybe Moyes' hand will be forced. I know it's away in Europe and will never happen but I defy you to tell me we wouldn't play better football. This could be sexy...

----------De Gea-----------
Fabio-Evans-Smalling-Evra
-----Cleverley--Ando-------
Nani------Kagawa---Januzaj
-----------Rooney------------

But I expect us to see:

------------De Gea------------
Fabio---Smalling-Evans-Evra
---------Cleverley-Ando-------
Valencia----Rooney----Kag/Giggs
--------------Hernandez--------

Can't see Januzaj playing after Cardiff but still It's just a thought.

EDIT: Nevermind, just seen the news about Rafael. Great news!
 
the onus is on Leverkusen to attack us....

if we sit back and try and defend I think we'll lose with the lack of protection in midfield

I think we have to go there with an attacking approach

Based on Moyes so far though I doubt we will
 
We better have a 3 man midfield for this, it will be very tough considering our main one's are out injured or whatever (as in just Carrick injured I guess).
​
Rooney​
Nani Kagawa Valencia​
Giggs Jones​
Evra Evans Smalling Rafael​
De Gea​
​
That looks like a great lineup to me, good, potentially excellent wingers, Kagawa behind Rooney is also a potentially great pairing. Jones doing the leg work in midfield, Giggs offering creativity, and then a decent defensive pairing with our best fullbacks. I just really hope Rafael is back fit for this. The sooner he's back, the better. All things considered, this is by far the best lineup we can put out when Vidic, Carrick and RVP are out injured. Maybe you can try and fit Januzaj in for one of the wingers, but if they play like they're capable of, then it's as good as we have right now (a little worrying, but that's another topic).​
Plenty of experience in the team as well, and it is a very well balanced team IMO.
 
buckooo1978 said:
the onus is on Leverkusen to attack us....

if we sit back and try and defend I think we'll lose with the lack of protection in midfield

I think we have to go there with an attacking approach

Based on Moyes so far though I doubt we will
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Why? Leverkusen comfortably won their head2head with Donezk, so even if Shakhtar wins against RSSS a draw will keep Leverkusen ahead of them. Then on the last matchday United will be forced to get a win (or draw at the very least) against Donezk and Leverkusen will safely qualify if they mirror the result of Donezk.
 
If Rafael and Jones are fit........

Starting XI:-------De Gea
Rafael---Ferdinand----------Evans------Evra
---------Cleverley----------Jones
Nani--------------Kagawa-----------Welbeck
-------------------Rooney

Bench: Lindegaard, Fabio, Smalling, Anderson, Giggs, Januzaj, Hernandez
 
I know I get stick for backing him a lot but I think this is a chance to play Anderson. I don't think he will be involved on Sunday with Fellaini back in the side. I think, well I hope we go three in the middle which gives Anderson a chance of playing. So I would like to see him and it's the type of game in my opinion (not the stage but the game) that he could have a positive impact.
 
Moyes likes having plenty of tall players in his team. Tall players who are fit will start. Short players will be on the bench.

Tall player team: De Gea, Smalling, Evra, Rio, Evans, Jones (if fit), Cleverley, Giggs, Valencia, Welbeck, Rooney

Short player bench: Lindegaard (not very short), Rafael, Anderson, Kagawa, Nani, Januzaj, Hernandez

I can just about imagine Moyes selecting short Kagawa (due to his experience of playing German opponents) instead of not very tall Cleverley, with Giggs used deeper, or if tall Jones isn't fit enough to start.
 
Comes to something when we're praying Jones is fit so he can play in midfield.
 
With RvP staying in Manchester I really hope we play Kagawa behind Rooney. I think he will shine, and also add a much needed extra body in midfield (he won't play as high as a second striker). I hope Moyes doesn't opt for Rooney and Welbeck up top and two in midfield because it'll leave us short if they play three in midfield. I'd like to see Welbeck play on the left though and Nani on the right. And Fabio if Rafael isn't fully fit (I know it won't happen but I still want it too).
 
Carl said:
Comes to something when we're praying Jones is fit so he can play in midfield.
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He's improved there though tbf. If you told me two seasons ago that I'd be praying for Jones to start in CM I'd have laughed at you.
 
Eric'sCollar said:
I know I get stick for backing him a lot but I think this is a chance to play Anderson. I don't think he will be involved on Sunday with Fellaini back in the side. I think, well I hope we go three in the middle which gives Anderson a chance of playing. So I would like to see him and it's the type of game in my opinion (not the stage but the game) that he could have a positive impact.
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I think you're right mate.I am wondering if whether I would prefer him to Fellaini on Sunday regardless.We are desperately in need of something.He must be fit, and with things clearly not working in that department what is there to lose? ....Ando is a goal machine at WHL worth remembering! :smirk:
 
I expect us to start like this:

De Gea​
Smalling - Ferdinand - Evans - Evra​
Cleverley - Giggs​
Valencia - Rooney - Welbeck​
Hernandez​


... which will be utterly depressing to watch. We can hope for set-pieces though :(
 
We'll do very well to win this... a dull 0-0 would probably piss a lot of people off, but I'd take it right now.
 
I'd happily take a draw. Even a defeat wouldn't be complete disaster. The Shaktar game is very well placed for us in between two easy fixtures. If we aren't capable of winning that we have no business being the the next round anyway.
 
kps88 said:
I'd happily take a draw. Even a defeat wouldn't be complete disaster. The Shaktar game is very well placed for us in between two easy fixtures. If we aren't capable of winning that we have no business being the the next round anyway.
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A defeat wouldn't be a disaster......unbelievable that a Manchester United fan can say that :wenger:

If we lose tonight.....and Shakhtar Donetsk wins tonight then a scoring draw would be good enough for Shakhtar Donetsk at Old Trafford........then we can say "Hello Europa League"

And if we lose tonight and win against Shakhtar Donetsk (and of course Leverkusen wins against Real Sociedad) then our Last 16 round opponent will be Barca, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Athletico Madrid or maybe even Dortmund.

I'm only happy with a win tonight!!!!
 
Sad that Vidic is still out.. Hopefully Rafael is fit, but we're probably looking at Ferdinand playing again. He can do it though, so I'm not too worried about the same back four that played in Cardiff despite a 2-2 draw. Rafael might sit out this game regardless of fitness, as Smalling was chosen for his height in the previous game against Bayer anyway.

Midfield is looking like Cleverley with either Jones, Giggs, or Anderson - with hopefully Kagawa or Giggs behind Rooney. Can see Hernandez starting, but as I've said already, not sure this is the right game for that. Wings will be Valencia and either Young/Welbeck, but might be interesting to see Nani or Januzaj on the left.
 
Hopefully Rafael and Phil are ready. If so I'd go:

DDG​
Rafael - Rio (Smalling) - Evans - Evra​
Jones - Giggs​
Nani - Kagawa - Welbeck​
Rooney​
​
Give Shinji a go in the middle, let Hernandez come off the bench to grab a goal in the second half.​
 
I know everyone's hoping to see Kagawa behind Rooney, but I can see Hernandez starting up front and Rooney being given the task of playing behind him and helping out what is sure to be a weak midfield.
 
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