If Jones is fit, I'd like to see him start with Smalling, and on-going when fit for the rest of the season (form permitting). Other than that, couldn't really care less about this line-up business. Just bring back a victory. It's almost nailed on to be a dour game anyway.
Olympiakos vs. Manchester United
- Thread starter Damien
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- Status
De Gea
Buttner Rio Vidic Smalling
Young Giggsy Cleverley Valencia
Welbeck Chicha
Sorted.
Buttner Rio Vidic Smalling
Young Giggsy Cleverley Valencia
Welbeck Chicha
Sorted.
Needs more Lindegaard.
Team selection takes into account Rafael, Evans and Jones are still out injured:
Can't see us losing, especially with them missing some of their best players. I'll go with a conservative score draw or 1-0 victory.
De Gea
Smalling Vidic Rio Evra
Carrick Fletcher
Januzaj Rooney Kagawa
RVP
________________________________________
I don't think there is a massive need for wholesale changes, we don't play for over a week after this game, I've tried replacing like for like. I think bringing in Fletcher for Fellaini is nearly a like for like, both have a lot of energy and can put a tackle in. Kagawa is a great option to have to replace Mata, he may have struggled this season, but his quality is still there.Smalling Vidic Rio Evra
Carrick Fletcher
Januzaj Rooney Kagawa
RVP
________________________________________
Can't see us losing, especially with them missing some of their best players. I'll go with a conservative score draw or 1-0 victory.
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I hope Jones can make it in time, and I dare say that Valencia might be more appropriate for this game than Kagawa.
I don't think we should at all.
Smalling and Valencia down the right hand side doesn't exactly strike much fear into a side. They're two very one dimensional players, Smalling is not a RB, he's a CB, so he doesn't have the ability on the ball you need from a RB. Valencia is a one footed/minded RW whose sole purpose in a game/life is to get to the byline and smash the ball hard into the oppositions LB.
Having those two will be too easy for a team to defend against. As soon as you stick a Januzaj/Kagawa (more likely Januzaj as Kagawa would play from the left) you get a different option. You still have the Smalling option of straight down the line, with a cross at the end, but you also add the cleverness of the other player. This will cause the opposition to be more weary of the right side, with a player able to come inside and shoot, pick a pass, play with both feet etc.
Smalling and Valencia is not my cup of tea at all.
Valencia and/or Young are guaranteed to start as Kagawa will probably lack the sharpness required to play at this level and Moyes will want 'discipline' in a European away game, even if it is against Olympiakos. Fellaini is fresh back from injury, so I'd expect Fletcher to be used for his defensive prowess and work rate in midfield, along with experience in big European games. Ferdinand is next to be dropped to the bench if any of Rafael, Jones or Evans are fit.
I agree with everyone saying that we should stick to the same tactics from the Palace game (look through my posts and you'll see that I've said it numerous times myself). Our front four should be Rooney, Mata, Januzaj, van Persie starting every game possible, while if one of those cannot play for whatever reason, Kagawa is the first to come in rather than Valencia/Young (who should be used as subs during games to change it up, but this is should be our plan B, not A). However, I will sympathise with Moyes and don't think it is the worst move to be a bit cautious away in Europe, as long as he's still positive enough to at least set the team out to score a goal or two. We're almost guaranteed to see this, though:
Bench will include the likes of Ferdinand, Fellaini, Kagawa, Januzaj, Hernandez... so it'll be a strong bench to try and nab a goal if we don't get one with the starting line up. Quite fancy another 0-2 win here.
I agree with everyone saying that we should stick to the same tactics from the Palace game (look through my posts and you'll see that I've said it numerous times myself). Our front four should be Rooney, Mata, Januzaj, van Persie starting every game possible, while if one of those cannot play for whatever reason, Kagawa is the first to come in rather than Valencia/Young (who should be used as subs during games to change it up, but this is should be our plan B, not A). However, I will sympathise with Moyes and don't think it is the worst move to be a bit cautious away in Europe, as long as he's still positive enough to at least set the team out to score a goal or two. We're almost guaranteed to see this, though:
de Gea
Rafael Smalling Vidic Evra
Fletcher Carrick
Valencia Rooney Young
van Persie
Rafael Smalling Vidic Evra
Fletcher Carrick
Valencia Rooney Young
van Persie
Bench will include the likes of Ferdinand, Fellaini, Kagawa, Januzaj, Hernandez... so it'll be a strong bench to try and nab a goal if we don't get one with the starting line up. Quite fancy another 0-2 win here.
When wasthe last time Kagawa played any football, five weeks maybe six? Like as not he'll be just starting to get up to speed at the 50 minute mark, only to be hauled off on the hour mark.
If Moyes had such plans wouldn't logic dictate that you bring him on a substitute against Palace.
If Moyes had such plans wouldn't logic dictate that you bring him on a substitute against Palace.
Fellaini was out for a lot longer, sat on the bench for 90 minutes v Arsenal, then played 87 minutes v Palace. It's not weird to see a player start a game without game time for weeks prior.
Is it good practice though? Whether it is done or not is rather beside the point.
I think Moyes trusts Valencia more than he does Kagawa so i expect to see him in the XI as a result, for me the greater unknown is whether he opts for Januzaj or Young.
I suppose it comes down to the individual if it's good or not. Some players are able to not kick a ball for weeks, then come into the side and play at a high level. Whereas you get a Rooney, who won't be able to run for the first 3-4 matches after some time out.
In Kagawa's case I'd say it's less of a risk than Fellaini's, seeing as Fellaini was playing CM and Kagawa will be LW. However I do agree that Moyes doesn't rate Kagawa and would rather play Valencia/Young over him.
If we line up with Valencia and Young then it will be like taking one step forward and then getting run over by a bus.
Rafael and Welbeck trained this morning, Jones and Evans did not.
Please, no.
----------------------------------De Gea-----------------------------
-----Rafael-----------Smalling------------Vidic------------Buttner--
-----Valencia---------Carrick--------Fletcher--------------A.Young--
------------------------------Kagawa------------------------------------
--------------------------Rooney---------------------------------------
-----Rafael-----------Smalling------------Vidic------------Buttner--
-----Valencia---------Carrick--------Fletcher--------------A.Young--
------------------------------Kagawa------------------------------------
--------------------------Rooney---------------------------------------
That will never stay 4231 you just know it will end up like this..
de Gea
Rafael --Smalling -Vidic---- Evra
Valencia --Fletcher- Carrick --Young
Rooney
van Persie
Rafael --Smalling -Vidic---- Evra
Valencia --Fletcher- Carrick --Young
Rooney
van Persie
Kagawa has played well in europe this year. Dare I say it I wonder if moyes would like to put him in the European shop window... but I doubt he would do that at Expense of best team.
What should be:
-------------ddg----------
Raf---small-vid--evra
------carrick-fellaini----
Jan-----rooney---kagawa
--------------rvp--------------
What will be is probably valencia instead of januzaj.
It would be nice if moyes could keep style and shape was used against palace and have kagawa as like for like replacement of mata, however, I think with it being a european away match we may be set up more for counter attack which is where valencia will replace januzaj and more use be made of wings.
Hope im wrong
What should be:
-------------ddg----------
Raf---small-vid--evra
------carrick-fellaini----
Jan-----rooney---kagawa
--------------rvp--------------
What will be is probably valencia instead of januzaj.
It would be nice if moyes could keep style and shape was used against palace and have kagawa as like for like replacement of mata, however, I think with it being a european away match we may be set up more for counter attack which is where valencia will replace januzaj and more use be made of wings.
Hope im wrong
Exactly, it's what Moyes will likely do in an away game though. I don't think it's exactly terrible though.. The work rate could be needed at least in the early stages of the game.
De Gea
Smalling
Vidic
Evans/Ferdinand/Jones
Evra
Carrick
Fellaini
Valencia
Rooney
Welbeck
van Persie
2-2. I think we'll be seeing a team really high on confidence, they are coasting through their league and will se this a s a huge chance to beat one of the big european teams when it really counts.
Smalling
Vidic
Evans/Ferdinand/Jones
Evra
Carrick
Fellaini
Valencia
Rooney
Welbeck
van Persie
2-2. I think we'll be seeing a team really high on confidence, they are coasting through their league and will se this a s a huge chance to beat one of the big european teams when it really counts.
Yup, same here. Just want to see Kagawa get a chance in a game like this, in this formation.
It'll be interesting here to see how Moyes deals with Euro football at knockout stage. An away goal is more crucial than usual for us. We've been so nervous holding on to narrow leads at home this season, we just don't want to be in a situation where it's one-nil with 10 minutes to go. That would be torture. Porto all over again.
But if they come at us (which we must assume they will) Moyes may be tempted to play it safe. Which for me would be a mistake. 3-3 is infinitely better than 0-0.
Better for us but better for them, why would they be so careless of the away goal(s)?
Like it has been pointed before, some consistency in central midfield would be a refreshing change. Fellaini is here and we need to give him a chance to build a fruitful partnership with Carrick.
Choice XI -
De Gea
Rafael Smalling Vidic Evra
Carrick Fellaini
Januzaj Rooney Kagawa
Van Persie
A comfortable 2-0 win for us.
Choice XI -
De Gea
Rafael Smalling Vidic Evra
Carrick Fellaini
Januzaj Rooney Kagawa
Van Persie
I can see this being a drab 0-0 or 1-1 draw. I think the home game is where we should be winning this tie though with the form at OT this season it'd be a lot easier on the heart if they can bring back a comfortable lead.
I just don't like the idea of now having to play two different styles in the different tournaments, especially when our PL team is likely to be significantly stronger than our CL team. I think Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young are guaranteed 4 more CL starts (as I expect us to get through this).
I just don't like the idea of now having to play two different styles in the different tournaments, especially when our PL team is likely to be significantly stronger than our CL team. I think Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young are guaranteed 4 more CL starts (as I expect us to get through this).
I see us doing a Leverkusen, going with 3 or 4 - nil
Young has made 1 CL start. Why is he now guaranteed to start every CL match?
I'm hoping for the same team as against Palace but with Rafael in for Rio (Smalling to centre back) and obviously Mata out for Kagawa.
However I think Valencia will 100% start this one
However I think Valencia will 100% start this one
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I reckon we'll carry on this 'protection' for Adnan by only playing once a week. Young seems to play when Januzaj doesn't.
Our next game after this one is the 8th of March though. Plenty of rest for Adnan after this.
I reckon a 2-0 or 3-0 win, wrap it up over there.
Kagawa surely will play. He's performed well in the champions league and hasn't played a game since forever
Don't get me wrong, I hope he plays in every game possible. He's the most positive winger we have, even when he isn't producing. I just think Young and Valencia will get most of the game time in the CL with Januzaj being used in the PL. It probably won't be that clear cut in reality.
wonder if Roy Carroll will get the nod for them?
de Gea
Rafael Vidic Evans Evra
Carrick Cleverley
Valencia Rooney Kagawa
van Persie
Rafael Vidic Evans Evra
Carrick Cleverley
Valencia Rooney Kagawa
van Persie
If we are going to play the same way we did at Palace, i doubt we'll see Young and Valencia tomorrow. Shinji to come in for Mata and the rest of the front 3 stay the same. Pls don't change it Moyes
I've been mostly ok with you winning this one, but it's becoming increasingly apparent that Moyes isn't going anywhere and I don't like the thought of you progressing in this tournament - even if you will get slaughtered by Bayern/Barca.
Tame 2-0 victory to Olympiakos please.
Tame 2-0 victory to Olympiakos please.
Play the long game here. 5-0 to United tomorrow makes people think they've been excellent in Europe.
They'll go out eventually. I'm hoping for a semi-final for United - boosts English coefficients and Moyes stays.
I'd basically go for this, except Fellaini for Cleverley. Play like we did against Palace except switch the flanks. Kagawa in for Mata, playing the same role except nominally starting on left rather than the right. Valencia playing wide on the right to stretch play like Januzaj did from the left on Saturday
I think Sky are reporting that Evans and Jones didn't train this morning, or travel. So I think it'll be this line-up but with Smalling for Evans.
I want immediate satisfaction.
There are many silver linings to a utd win here though.
De Gea
Rafael--Smalling--Vidic--Evra
Carrick--Cleverley
Valencia--Rooney--Januzaj/Kagawa
van Persie
Rafael--Smalling--Vidic--Evra
Carrick--Cleverley
Valencia--Rooney--Januzaj/Kagawa
van Persie
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