valencia - rooney - herrera
-----------fellaini-----------
?
edit - actually forget it, that would have us playing with 12 men
-----------fellaini-----------
?
edit - actually forget it, that would have us playing with 12 men
Carrick, Blind, Jones, Rojo all out for the Chelsea game - What now?!
- Thread starter Annihilate Now!
- Start date
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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.
So one of McNair or Blackett have to play, presumably McNair, that's going to be a real test for him.
Valencia - Smalling - McNair - Shaw
Not exactly bursting with confidence now.
Valencia - Smalling - McNair - Shaw
Not exactly bursting with confidence now.
I thought that Di Maria played very successfully in Cm last season?
He has to, that's what these pre-match Pressers are for
Kind of a clever psychological move announcing that our team will be weaker.
All back to the Bye Bye Top 4 thread. 
This may well be a good thing. We should now be more compact and focused in defence. We had idiotic moments in our impressive previous wins. They didn't cost us the games but against Chelsea, they may well do.
See this is why all those "do we really need to buy any new players?" type threads are so stupid and short sighted. We get 2 or 3 injuries to 'powerhouse' players like Jones and Rojo and half the forum is contemplating suicide.
Jesus fecking christ, just saw the news.
We had such good luck with injuries these past few weeks and now it's all caught up on us for the most difficult game of the season.
We had such good luck with injuries these past few weeks and now it's all caught up on us for the most difficult game of the season.
Life is hard and then you're injured.
I like
The fundamental problem is BOTH Carrick and Blind being out.
Whatever Shaw cost I don't care, we should assume Blind is LB and get cover for Carrick. Then we would be comfortable. Need another physical B2B though as cover is thin there.
I'm not too fussed about the CBs. Sure, I would love Hummels, but resorting to Blackett/McNair isn't the end of the world. It's unfortunate that it's in such a big game, but that's the whole point of having them around.
I just don't see Louis telling Di Maria's he's useless except coming off the bench even in a game we can afford to lose, which this is.
That said, I still like the XI I quoted from another poster above. It's probably the best XI under the circumstances for this fixture. However, Louis thinks ahead and he may be thinking it's time to give ADM a full 90 to see what he can do, and there has to be a way to play all three of Juan, Ashley and Angel.
Considering the fact, and it really is a fact, that we can afford to lose this game, Louis may go with this:
De Gea
Valencia Smalling McNair Shaw
Fellaini Herrera
Mata Di Maria Young
Rooney
The main objection is losing afroman up top, but the Big Fella has more than enough engine to get into back post positions during good spells of possession.
It's not ideal, but Valencia is going to need help with Hazard anyway. And I just can't see Di Maria not getting the start given the circumstances.
Have we though? RVP has been out, Shaw, Rojo, Jones..
Similar to what I was thinking. Keep Rooney up top & drop Fellaini to help shield the back four. Possible to switch ADM & Mata, although they could interchange from current positions anyway, but that would leave Valencia on an island. Possible to omit one of them to get more balance this way:
Rooney
Mata (or ADM)
Young Fellaini Herrera Valencia
Shaw McNair Smalling Rafael
Mata (or ADM)
Young Fellaini Herrera Valencia
Shaw McNair Smalling Rafael
Considering it's Chelsea, I'd rather start ADM over Mata, despite form. Based on the available players, I don't think we'll have much of the ball so I think ADM offers more on the counter.
We expected Carrick to be out or limited, but of the other 3, Jones hurts the most (oddly enough), as he could've slotted in as a DM and kept Fellaini higher up the pitch. Any chance McNair slots in as a DM with Blackett to partner Smalling?
I'm toying with the idea of having McNair play defensive mid but this game could be too big to take that risk. Ideally I'd play Herrera in there instead of Rooney because he's got more awareness and dependability to his game.
If we're feeling a little adventurous:
deGea
Valencia Smalling McNair Shaw
Herrera
Mata diMaria Fellaini Young
Rooney
This way you only have one major change where a youth player has to come in and add quality into the attack with Di Maria.
If we're feeling a little adventurous:
deGea
Valencia Smalling McNair Shaw
Herrera
Mata diMaria Fellaini Young
Rooney
We once beat Arsenal convincingly with 7 defenders on the pitch. Anything is possible.
It can't be worse than eviscerating the entire team and how it has been going about games.
Lets be realistic
No Carrick, Blind or even Jones for the deep midfield role and Fellaini too important further forward. I don't suppose Scholes has been keeping himself fit has he???
Yes , Mourinho isn't buying it. Have you seen his press conference? Starts at 09:02
Still, he give us more chance than we do :P
Compared to what it's been like, it's been fine. First team has pretty much been fit for a long time, we weren't getting many injuries during games and barely any during training.
Worst think we can do is play a back 5. Our defenders have always looked shaky and unsure of themselves when we've done this and we'd be making a shitty situation even worse. Either McNair or Blackett with Smalling, not both.
We all should pray tonight that Blind can play tommorow. If we can get Blind, we'll be okay and still have a good chance at this. If Blind can't go, I'd imagine Rooney will go to midfield, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Di Maria gets the start ahead of Falcao and RVP.
We all should pray tonight that Blind can play tommorow. If we can get Blind, we'll be okay and still have a good chance at this. If Blind can't go, I'd imagine Rooney will go to midfield, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Di Maria gets the start ahead of Falcao and RVP.
Is Fosu-Mensah ready yet? ...
I like your optimism but the personnel there is obviously the concern. Feck, actually feel deflated about the game now after the high of City.
Mind games. He knows we are significantly weaker now
Okay lol, you can never tell around here...
Getsme is the biggest Evans fan here. He thinks Evans is God.
He did. Your point?
Don't see any use for it if any. We already know that all the pressure is on Chelsea even before this announcement, so I don't see how more mind games would have any effect if the bulk of the pressure load is on them after the QPR result.
This is just pure fecking bullshit.
Well he could say some are doubtful or pull a Fergie and say all fine...
Rooney will play midfield which is the correct thing to do. Fellaini can't play there as he's proved many times. Rooney hasn't been fantastic up front either, despite what Neville will have you believe.
What an amazing thread - almost everyone running round screaming "the sky is falling, the sky is falling". If all LvG's work this season hasn't prepared the squad for this sort of eventuality, then maybe he's not quite as good as I've been giving him credit for. RvP and/or Falcao are perfectly capable of keeping the opposing CBs honest (which has been Rooney's main focus in the last few games), Rooney can do a very passable Carrick imitation, and McNair ... ok, I admit I'm a little worried about McNair (and even more so if it turns out to be Blackett). What I'm really worried about though is injuries during the match - at this point we've used up most of our depth - the bench should be interesting. If we don't pick up any more injuries, I'm not looking for a lot of drop off from the last few games.
I'm not too sure about Shaw starting even if he's fit.
Wouldn't surprise me at all if Young drops back to LB and Di Maria starts wide left.
Wouldn't surprise me at all if Young drops back to LB and Di Maria starts wide left.
De Gea
Valencia - Smalling - Blackett - Young
Rooney
Herrera - Fellaini
Mata--------------------Di Maria
Falcao
Valencia - Smalling - Blackett - Young
Rooney
Herrera - Fellaini
Mata--------------------Di Maria
Falcao
Whatever line up we play, I just pray we don't do the 3-5-2 nonsense!
Bizarre. Shaw is a much better full back than Young and, at present, Young is much better in the left wing role than Di Maria. You would markedly weaken the team in two critical positions.
Nasty position to be in. I think Herrera and Fellaini have to play deeper with Rooney just in front and go back to 4411. Fortunately I don't think Chelsea will be too attacking and won't be desperate to expose any frailties so we might get away with it to an extent. RVP or Falcao up top though? Its a difficult one.
Shaw hasn't played in ages though. Besides, that's what I think LVG will go with not what I want.
I'm already crying at the thought of rvp or falcao leading the line up top and rooney in midfield.
This is a fecking disaster. I think we could've dealt with losing Carrick, Jones and even Rojo. But losing Blind has just completely screwed up our plans. It means we have no cover at either LB or DMC and need a complete revamp of the system.
feck you Kompany, you bald-headed, gargantunan oafish cretin.
feck you Kompany, you bald-headed, gargantunan oafish cretin.
Oh for feck sake. We are fecked. I would much rather see us go for the win than go back to a back 3 again.
Think he's give a youth player a go in the team/squad so we don't sacrifice Rooney/Herrera/Fellani?
Think he's give a youth player a go in the team/squad so we don't sacrifice Rooney/Herrera/Fellani?