[Sassy Colin]

Merson's prediction:

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United (Wednesday, 7.45pm)
United have got a lot of injures, Palace had a great result at Leicester... I'm going for Palace in this one! All of a sudden, I think United will be four points behind the top four.

I want to go for United, but they've got too many injuries to too many key players. They've come at the wrong time for United.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (10/1 with Sky Bet)

Suddenly he likes us?

 

[Member 90887]

I reckon Matic and Rashford will be fine.

Lingard and Herrera need at least 3 weeks for their hammy's to recover.

Matic and Mata's chances will depend on the tour of injury.

Martial will hopefully make it given that he was touch-and-go for today.

The front 3 will be Martial, Rashford and Lukaku/Sanchez.

The midfield will be Pogba, McTominay and *someone". Probably Pereira if Matic is out, but I'd like to see Fred.

Ole already said yesterday, in the pre-match interview that Matic will be a few weeks.

He said in the post-match interview that he would be extremely suprised if Rash is available for Palace.

 

[ManUnitedCanuck]

This is going to be difficult, and we’ll need players to step up! The 3 points in this one are vital, so have to go for it and get some goal scoring out of the likes of Pogba, Sanchez and Lukaku.

Come on United!!!

 

[Scarecrow]

-------------------DDG------------------
Young---Chris--Victor---Shaw
--------------McTominay-----------
---------Fred------------Pogba------
-----------------Pereira----------------
---------Lukaku---------Alexis-----

Romero, Jones, Dalot, Martial / Garner, Chong, Gomes, Bailly

Or Pogba <-> Pereira.

 

[Sylar]

Its going to be a tough game due to the injuries and having to move things around (and lack of prep time). We have 2 days including today to work on things (palace have the extra day and are at home).

Would be happy scraping through a win.

 

[Canagel]

we just have to get the win.

 

[Shark]

I’d happily take a scrappy, backs to the wall 0-1 win. We really can’t afford to drop any more points against this kind of opposition. Losing would be brutal, after getting through that Liverpool debacle.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

It's going to be a tough game with the injuries we've got and Palace are coming off a very good performance and will definitely be up for it with it being a home game for them as well. Hopefully we find a way to get three points.

 

[Morpheus 7]

If Fred doesn't play this game there is serious issues going on behind the scenes. It's all about the three points at this stage.

 

[Irwin99]

Need big performances from Sanchez and Lukaku if we're going to get anything from this one. I'm pretty confident in our defence now but we need our big signings to step up with Rashford, Martial and Lingard all out.

 

[RedDevil-85]

Our away form under Solskjaer is great but im worried for this one with all the injuries.
Sanches and Lukaku must step up here if we are to win.

Woodward must regret not backing Solskjaer in January,hope our season doesnt fall apart now because of these injuries.

 

[Fingeredmouse]

Our away form under Solskjaer is great but im worried for this one with all the injuries.
Sanches and Lukaku must step up here if we are to win.

Woodward must regret not backing Solskjaer in January,hope our season doesnt fall apart now because of these injuries.

True, but it is particularly unfortunate.

 

[Handré1990]

Is there no possibility of Martial v Palace?

 

[cyberman]

Palace at 18th in the home form table.
What Palace are posters seeing here? What am I missing?

 

[peridigm]

Atkinson is in charge of this one. I don't know what to think of that.

 

[Bola]

None of the 'Dubai 4' are in the u-23 game tonight. Greenwood may still but injured, but I think there is a very good chance Gomes and Chong will be in the match day squad.

Possibly Garner too, with the Matic and Herrera injuries

 

[SAFMUTD]

Win no matter the style, I'm really nervous about this one. Palace played great against the top 6, are a very physical side and I have no trust in McTominnay or Pereira in dealing with the midfield, this game we need Pogba raising to his very best and control the midfield.

 

[Kidders]

With 4 fit CB's I'd consider a back 3 with wing backs, Lukaku & Sanchez will lead the attack with McTomminay anchoring the midfield with Pogba and Fred/Periera making up the midfield.

.......................................DDG......................................
...................Bailley.........Smalling.........Linderlof...............
Dalot...........................McTomminay......................Young
...............Periera/Fred...........................Pogba...............
..........................Lukaku...........Sanchez........................

Romero,Jones,Shaw,Periera/Fred,Chong,Gomez, Greenwood.

 

[Tomuś]

Games (and scenarios) like this is exactly why I feared selling Fellaini in the winter. Guess we had to do it because otherwise it's borderline madness.

 

[Samid]

What about Young on the wing for old times' sake?

DDG
Double D - Smalling - Lindelof - Shaw
Pereira - McTominay - Pogba - Young
Lukaku - Alexis​

 

[SSSSnake]

It’s like playing with 10 men with Sanchez. Can we at least put one of the kids out instead!?

 

[Cathy Ferguson]

Palace at 18th in the home form table.
What Palace are posters seeing here? What am I missing?

Zaha is in great form and we will miss 5/6 regular starters in MF and attack. It will be very tough to get a win.

 

[cyberman]

Zaha is in great form and we will miss 5/6 regular starters in MF and attack. It will be very tough to get a win.

The team we put out will be miles better than 99 percent of the sides that Palace have dropped points to that sees them lay 18th in the home league table.
It's an unnecessary, collective movement of bowels that happens here from time to time.

 

[Cathy Ferguson]

The team we put out will be miles better than 99 percent of the sides that Palace have dropped points to that sees them lay 18th in the home league table.
It's an unnecessary, collective movement of bowels that happens here from time to time.

I do not agree. They are no push overs and beat City away.

 

[Hughie77]

Tough game this, injuries aside still think we can put a decent enough 11 out to get result.

 

[cyberman]

I do not agree. They are no push overs and beat City away.

They're extremely easy to push over at home. They are a counter attacking side who are clueless on the ball and are denied space to operate in.

 

[Jericholyte2]

Have a feeling we'll line up something like:

DDG

Dalot Smalling Lindelof Shaw

McTominey Fred Pogba

Young Lukaku Sanchez

 

[Devil may care]

None of Rashford, Lingard or Martial should be risked, we pay Lukaku and Sanchez a fortune, they are seasoned Internationals and experienced PL players, time for them to step up and produce for us this season.

 

[MikeKing]

Get an early goal against these and we will be fine.

 

[Shipperley]

Palace at 18th in the home form table.
What Palace are posters seeing here? What am I missing?

We are at our best on the counter which is why we do much better against the good sides and away from home. With PVA, Wilf, Townsend, Schlupp and Bats in the team we are pretty rapid so I am sure Ole will be wary of overcommitting and it'll be a cagey game.

I think Utd will scrape a win, but you'll know you've been in a match that's for sure. Just a shame AWB won't be fit or I'd fancy us to get something.

 

[cyberman]

We are at our best on the counter which is why we do much better against the good sides and away from home. With PVA, Wilf, Townsend, Schlupp and Bats in the team we are pretty rapid so I am sure Ole will be wary of overcommitting and it'll be a cagey game.

I think Utd will scrape a win, but you'll know you've been in a match that's for sure. Just a shame AWB won't be fit or I'd fancy us to get something.

But you're also vulnerable to the counter attack yourselves which is shown by the fact very goal at your ground is scored this way!

I see us playing a back 3 with two wingbacks, McTominay and Pereira in the middle with Pogba behind Lukaku and Sanchez. It still gives us pace and width out wide with two striking threats, Pogba allowed another free role with the extra body provided by the CB as protection against the counter.
It's basically all we can do and is still a top side.

 

[Shipperley]

They're extremely easy to push over at home. They are a counter attacking side who are clueless on the ball and are denied space to operate in.

Although this is also wrong, we have battered some teams at home and had 30+ shots, but no decent striker until now. We could easily be ten to twelve points better off than we are even without a striker as well.

 

[cyberman]

Although this is also wrong, we have battered some teams at home and had 30+ shots, but no decent striker until now. We could easily be ten to twelve points better off than we are even without a striker as well.

Yeah but getting caught while pressing forward is being punished by the counter attack? Not scoring with 30 shots doesn't mean you have to concede.

 

[Josh 76]

After the game on Sunday, Ole said he was considering putting Bailey on for Lingard and playing 3 at the back, but decided against it as Sanchez would be more of a goal threat.
So don't be surprised if he plays something like this against palace;

Degea
Bailey lindeloff. Smalling
Young. Mctomminy Shaw
Pogba. Pereira
Sanchez
Lukuka

 

[Shipperley]

Yeah but getting caught while pressing forward is being punished by the counter attack? Not scoring with 30 shots doesn't mean you have to concede.

No of course, if we were a perfect football team we'd be top of the League. So would you. But to say we are clueless on the ball isn't correct, we play some really good stuff at times which has been let down by the lack of a decent forward (and Wayne Hennessey in goal, who has thankfully been replaced with a big upgrade).

 

[Minimalist]

Fergie won titles without a midfield. Ole can at least win a match without half a squad.

In all seriousness, I feel positive despite the injuries.

 

[Bwuk]

Can see us going 3 at the back due to injuries. Not ideal but unless we decide to give Fred a game I can’t see what else we can do?

De Gea
Bailly - Smalling - Lindelof
Dalot - Andreas - McTominay - Shaw
Pogba
Lukaku - Sanchez​

 

[FootballHQ]

The team we put out will be miles better than 99 percent of the sides that Palace have dropped points to that sees them lay 18th in the home league table.
It's an unnecessary, collective movement of bowels that happens here from time to time.

Spurs put out a similar weakened team in Fa cup and were comfortably beaten.

Very tricky game for Man. United with all that's happened in last 48 hours. Historically they do usually win at Selhurst but only by a goal.

Edit: In league v top teams they've drawn 2-2 with Arsenal and lost 0-1 at home to Spurs and Chelsea. Liverpool at start of season should've been 0-1 but Mane scored in 93rd minute.

I'd be amazed if this wasn't an incredibly tight game with a one goal winning margin.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

De Gea
Young Bailly Lindelof Shaw
McTominay
Fred Pogba
Pereira Lukaku Sanchez​

 

[Frank Grimes]

De Gea
Dalot Smalling Lindelof Shaw
McTominay
Fred/Pereira Pogba
Young Lukaku Sanchez