Manchester United vs. Liverpool
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
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The bit about Mata is absolute bollocks. He's been given as much freedom as possible. Doesnt even go out wide much except to track his runner while defending.
Welbeck has shown what he is capable of in big games. Look at Madrid away.
I wish it was Sunday already.
I think your hunch is pretty spot on.
Welbeck should play against Liverpool - we can not have 2-3 players against this Liverpool-side that doesn't track back 100%
Welbeck is probably our best attacking player when it comes to winning the ball back - and he will be needed in this game
Yep, definitely.
I'd be confident with any of our strikers against Liverpool's mediocre defence. How our midfield lines up is more concerning.
Rooney can work with van Persie, I just don't think Rooney knows how to do AM role, so Rooney as CAM basically he ends up playing a second striker, then going back when losing the ball, so hence van Persies comments.
Would have to do a 4-2-2-2 to accomodate both, or a 4-1-2-1-2 but I don't really know personally, Welbeck drifts wide it's why Rooney can play with him.
How many does Moyes play in the Midfield, 3? 4? 2 DMs is up for debate, I'm not really sure
Liverpool are beatable, easily, all team have a weakness, Liverpool is obviously defensively.
My worry for Man Utd is they don't do well when they are pressured, and Liverpools Midfield is much stronger than Man Utds, Mata doesn't track back, Januzaj and Kagawa don't put in the tackles, so relying on Carrick and Fellaini is a tough one.
I personally think might have to look at Fletcher, and Carrick in the midfield, Fellaini in the AM who will drop back, with Rooney Mata Januzaj operating as forwards but dropping back... need discipline in that game, and they have so many threats it's a game where you really have to respect the opponent but put in key tackles, Mata I feel will get a goal in this game.
Would have to do a 4-2-2-2 to accomodate both, or a 4-1-2-1-2 but I don't really know personally, Welbeck drifts wide it's why Rooney can play with him.
How many does Moyes play in the Midfield, 3? 4? 2 DMs is up for debate, I'm not really sure
Liverpool are beatable, easily, all team have a weakness, Liverpool is obviously defensively.
My worry for Man Utd is they don't do well when they are pressured, and Liverpools Midfield is much stronger than Man Utds, Mata doesn't track back, Januzaj and Kagawa don't put in the tackles, so relying on Carrick and Fellaini is a tough one.
I personally think might have to look at Fletcher, and Carrick in the midfield, Fellaini in the AM who will drop back, with Rooney Mata Januzaj operating as forwards but dropping back... need discipline in that game, and they have so many threats it's a game where you really have to respect the opponent but put in key tackles, Mata I feel will get a goal in this game.
We've won the last 6 in a row vs Liverpool at Old Trafford, and Moyes can call on arguably a better first XI than Fergie could at any point during his final 3 seasons as manager. However given the respective form of the 2 sides, a draw vs Liverpool would not be a terrible result. I'm expecting:
---------De Gea
Rafael Smalling Jones Evra
------Fellaini Carrick
----Mata Rooney Welbeck
-----------RvP
---------De Gea
Rafael Smalling Jones Evra
------Fellaini Carrick
----Mata Rooney Welbeck
-----------RvP
That looks fairly promising, but I don't think Rooney operates well behind RVP, if both are up top in defined roles like LS & RS I think it works better, because Rooney doesn't really play a CAM role, he will go in the box where he should be outside the box, and RVP being up there to make runs above him.
I think what if Rooney pushed forward as a RS, with RvP a LS, with Mata drifting inside to fill the #10 role, Rafael overlapping in that RW role something along those lines, Fellaini can win key battles on set-pieces, I really think it's going to be a set piece that will decide it for us.
To be honest, I don't think I've ever been so pessimistic in the build up to a United game as I am for Sunday's match. In the past, no matter who we've been playing, I've always believed that we've been capable of getting a victory but this one feels different. Liverpool are always tricky opposition but they have been so much better than us this season and I'm genuinely worried we could be on the end of a thumping here.
A comprehensive 3-1 win for Liverpool me thinks. I really hope I'm wrong though as a victory for us could be vital in the race for fourth place. If we lose then we'll certainly be out of it, if we aren't already.
A comprehensive 3-1 win for Liverpool me thinks. I really hope I'm wrong though as a victory for us could be vital in the race for fourth place. If we lose then we'll certainly be out of it, if we aren't already.
Regardless of performance?
Don't get me wrong, my preferred team has RVP starting, but if someone is in a bad run of form, starting them often means more likely than not, you'll be playing with 10 men from kick off.
Don't forget it's at Old Trafford, the first goal is everything in this clash, the players know they HAVE to perform, this is top four they are fighting for, Liverpool the title, it's going to be one of those games, make or break, the players know it.
Rooney, Fellaini, Mata, van Persie, all 4 players who can win games one way or another, be it by sheer brilliance, or muscle, it's confidence, Jones and Smalling against Suarez and Sturridge.. that could decide the game.
It's not an impossible feat, Moyes may throw a wild card, start Januzaj in CAM, say "Januzaj, Touré is known to be error prone, I want you to run at him as much as possible today, make him make a decision", there is weakness in that Liverpool side, I'd be exploiting Touré all day if I was the players, if a team has a weakness you exploit it.
Equally Rodgers can just pack the midfield, rely on brilliance of Suarez to win them the game, Manchester United won't won the midfield battle, the midfield isn't good enough, so it's stick or twist, being a manager at Manchester United you have to make some tough choices, it's not about picking big names, it's about selecting the right squad for the job.
Yeah, I get where you're coming from and I'm not saying we don't have a chance but I just can't see us getting a decent result from the game. I agree that the first goal is vital as our record this season when we take the lead in games has been pretty good. If we manage to get an early goal, it could be a really entertaining match.
I hope Moyes doesn't go with either Ferdinand or Vidic for this one. The Smalling-Jones CB partnership looked very good at West Brom and I fear the latter pair's lack of pace would get exploited by Suarez and Sturridge rather easily. I know experience can be useful in these derby games but its as you say, we have to pick the correct team for this game.
Phil Jones and Smalling are good at defending crosses, but with players running at them I'm not so sure, there was a moment in that game at west-brom where Jones and Smalling both got tracked to one player, Jones also goes to ground sliding a lot in the box, against Suarez he could give away a penalty, he has to get the tackles spot on.
I think Jones and Smalling are too honest as defenders too, the english mentality, Vidic would have a chunk of the opponents shirt keeping them as close quarters, Jones and Smalling wouldn't do that, it's a very risky decision playing too naive defenders in a key clash, I think Evans and Smalling may work a little better in this one, I think we may even see Jones in CDM.
Isn't Evans injured for this game? Or is that him back in training now? If he is fit then yeah, I'd probably start him ahead of one of them. I just assumed he'd still be out.
If Jones were to play in CDM, do you think he'd be told to basically man-mark Suarez for the full 90 mins like he did with Gareth Bale last season when we played Spurs at White Hart Lane? Even though we ended up drawing the game, Jones did a pretty good job in that particular role as Bale was really ineffective throughout the match.
I'm not sure regarding evans fitness, but Jones I feel might have to do a role like that, there is no real CDM in the team, Fellaini gives a lot more going forward so it's one where the squad needs to make that decision
Evans is injured
Ideal scenario.
RVP will start this match.
First time this season I am actually confident we will get a result in a big game as well.
First time this season I am actually confident we will get a result in a big game as well.
Smalling is magnificent one on one, that's his best asset. Very hard to beat.
RVP must start. Welbeck can come on later.
Im strangely confident about this one. a month ago i would expect spanking but Pool seems to lost bit of its bite and we have looked solid in the last two league games.
It depends on the lineup we put out. If we play the team we played last week, I'd be confident of a good result. If we resort to Valencia and Young out wide for their defensive work, we'l put on a poor display again. The result might still come but we'll need to get lucky.
Come on Moyes, no more of this 1 step forward 2 steps back regression please. He MUST know by now who his best team is, its obvious to every man and his dog in the world right now. No more of this Young/Valencia nonsense please 
Same team as last week for me, Evans back in if hes fit would be the only change Id make if I had to make one. I can see Vidic starting alongside Smalling though.
If Nanners is fit
Nani - Mata - Rooney
------- RvP --------
If not
Rooney - Mata - Kagawa
-------- RvP --------
Nani - Mata - Rooney
------- RvP --------
If not
Rooney - Mata - Kagawa
-------- RvP --------
Aye, only 15 goals in the last 4 league games. Toothless
That's not be being cocky by the way, just pointing out your flawing logic.
You'd play Nani in this huge match after he's been out for so long ? I can't believe you're serious or you really rate him highly.
Nani 
Aye, only 15 goals in the last 4 league games. Toothless
That's not be being cocky by the way, just pointing out your flawing logic.
ok, Im depressed now. Happy?
Nani with one leg would still be a better option than Valencia
I'm not a fan of Valencia but it's simply ridiculous to play Nani ahead of him considering how long Nani's been sidelined for.
Yeah Valencia shouldn't play, but again we have Kagawa, Mata, Januzaj and Welbeck who can, there's absolute no reason to rush Nani into this.
---------------DDG
Rafael---Jones---Smalling---Evra
--------Carrick---Fellaini
Mata--------Kagawa-------Januzaj
-----------Rooney/RvP
Please make it happen Moyes.
Rafael---Jones---Smalling---Evra
--------Carrick---Fellaini
Mata--------Kagawa-------Januzaj
-----------Rooney/RvP
Please make it happen Moyes.
All day I've heard nothing but how good the practice was today so can't wait for Sunday.. Two convincing wins could still turn the season around..
I do not believe Moyes will drop Van Persie for Welbeck, but such a decision reminds me of last season draw with Real Madrid when Ferguson dropped Rooney. I do not believe their will be a right or wrong decision in this scenario, as both players are capable of influencing the type of football we play in a positive way. Even though the Rooney/Persie partnership is not the best, the individual quality of both players are hard to overlook.
However, I do believe that Welbeck will have a bigger influence and not have one of those "Van Persie moment" if chosen to occupy the striking role because he has shown more composure this season in front of goal. He would also allow dynamic movement between his strike partner, better pressing game and counter attack via his pace amongst other things.
Preferred team:
----------------De Gea--------------
Rafael---Smailling--Jones----Evra
-----------Carrick---Fellaini--------
------Mata---Rooney---Kagawa/Nani----
----------------Welbeck------------
Or
-------------De Gea-----------
Rafael--Smailling--Jones---Evra
---------------Carrick--------------
----------Fellaini---Rooney------
Mata----Van Persie-----Welbeck
However, I do believe that Welbeck will have a bigger influence and not have one of those "Van Persie moment" if chosen to occupy the striking role because he has shown more composure this season in front of goal. He would also allow dynamic movement between his strike partner, better pressing game and counter attack via his pace amongst other things.
Preferred team:
----------------De Gea--------------
Rafael---Smailling--Jones----Evra
-----------Carrick---Fellaini--------
------Mata---Rooney---Kagawa/Nani----
----------------Welbeck------------
Or
-------------De Gea-----------
Rafael--Smailling--Jones---Evra
---------------Carrick--------------
----------Fellaini---Rooney------
Mata----Van Persie-----Welbeck
Valencia wouldn't be the only competition for Nani though or have you forgotten we have other players as well ?
There is no good reason to play Nani or Kagawa ahead of Januzaj or Welbeck. Nani has been out for months and Kagawa is not suited to a high intensity game like this. Can see Young or Valencia getting the nod since they are fit and Moyes likes them.
--------DDG--------
Raf---Jones---Smalling--Evra
--------Carrick--------
young----------Fellaini
--------Mata--------
----RVP-----Rooney--
Raf---Jones---Smalling--Evra
--------Carrick--------
young----------Fellaini
--------Mata--------
----RVP-----Rooney--
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