[duffer]

Interesting to see a back 3/5. Gotta think it suits Shaw way more than it does James.

Most managers will be making tons of changes though these next few days.

 

[Hammondo]

Well the most important thing is Fred + mctominay with Bruno in front.

 

[Maureen-yo]

I've seen Telles outperform Shaw

Shaw is a good defensive full back but playing 5 at the back, having a more positive player in Telles would give more balance in a 3 5 2

Must have missed those games as Telles has been massively underwhelming and nowhere near outperforming Shaw.

 

[Garethw]

The tinker man strikes again.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

can we not microanalyse every kick and every decision?

The big picture is what matters. The festive schedule and January is manic. We need to use the squad. Shit as some of them are.

You new here or something?

Microanalysis, criticism, irrationality, blind loyalty, madness are the hallmarks of the matchday thread.
If you're looking for sense, you'll have to trawl through the posts with fine tooth comb

 

[Inigo Montoya]

The tinker man strikes again.

Ranieri back?

 

[dalriada]

Great to see McT back in but I am worried about Bailly. Which minute will he go down with a head injury?! Seriously though, this is going to be tough but they should be shitting it against us.

Close one niller to us.

Main worry I have with Bailly today is that Mike Dean is the ref.

 

[Judas]

We were always going to see plenty of changes over this period, unavoidable really. I hope it works out, a win today would be massive. We've got a great record on Boxing Day too (bound to lose now)

 

[Fooza]

He isn't tinkering then.

True I guess, but anything with James in is him tinkering when he has quality players on the bench. I just had a sudden epiphany that James may well be our new Lingard for many years to come.

Hold me...

 

[Superunknown]

I really don't know which United will show up and that's the biggest worry

Hopefully clinical fast United show up

This is the biggest problem. We are so unpredictable, which can be a good thing, but can also be very, very frustrating.

I think today is all about the finishing. I can see us creating chances, but we need to take them. That first 20 minutes vs. Everton was ridiculous. All of the play, all of the pressure, all of the chances, but we couldn't put them away. Hope we can do that today.

 

[Devil may care]

He's better on the left as was shown against Newcastle

I know, that's what I'm saying, if he's playing RWB it's harsh on him.

 

[Random Task]

You new here or something?

Microanalysis, criticism, irrationality, blind loyalty, madness are the hallmarks of the matchday thread.
If you're looking for sense, you'll have to trawl through the posts with fine tooth comb

My posts aren't that difficult to find.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

This is the biggest problem. We are so unpredictable, which can be a good thing, but can also be very, very frustrating.

I think today is all about the finishing. I can see us creating chances, but we need to take them. That first 20 minutes vs. Everton was ridiculous. All of the play, all of the pressure, all of the chances, but we couldn't put them away. Hope we can do that today.

Which also makes us incredibly watchable and not boring

 

[bsCallout]

I'm in agreement with others, not a great line up, really hope it isnt 352.

I hope it works because it looks too obvious of a poor decision.

 

[Okey]

Interesting line up, but Ole has earned the right to be trusted with it, at least in the short term. So let me sit back and watch and hope to be smiling at the end...

 

[The Red Thinker]

Expecting us to start cautiously and not pressing like crazy like we did against Leeds.

Why? because that drained the team. It was the most we’ve run all season. We will have to be smart with our energy output today.

Hope Ole and the conditioning coaches prove me wrong. The boys looked shattered after Leeds. Some even played against Everton if only for a little bit.

 

[Wilt]

Think we‘re going to get done today ...Vardy

 

[Inigo Montoya]

My posts aren't that difficult to find.

I had to engage a historian from the British Library and Imperial War Museum

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Expecting us to start cautiously and not pressing like crazy like we did against Leeds.

Why? because that drained the team. It was the most we’ve run all season. We will have to be smart with our energy output today.

Hope Ole and the conditioning coaches prove me wrong. The boys looked shattered after Leeds. Some even played against Everton if only for a little bit.

Fatigue? Already?

 

[Tibs]

Thought it was going to be a tough game, and after that line up, it just got tougher.

 

[Judas]

It isn't 3-5-2 according to Ole, didn't think it was.

 

[elmo]

I've seen Telles outperform Shaw

Shaw is a good defensive full back but playing 5 at the back, having a more positive player in Telles would give more balance in a 3 5 2

Apart from his willingness to cross at every opportunity available, Telles hasn't shown anything to deserve starting over Shaw yet.

He's a bang average defender and without Cavani providing an aerial threat in the box, Telles's supposed better attacking skills are non existent over Shaw.

 

[Damien]

For the bedwetters

 

[KennyBurner]

The scriptwriters need to tell the refs today that favoring United could boost league ratings with a Title challenge. Im sure nobody is interested in Leicester chasing the scouse.

 

[Cathy Ferguson]

A backup RB is becoming a pressing concern. If AWB were available then it would have been 442.

 

[The Urban Goose]

Think we‘re going to get done today ...Vardy

Think Vardy will get done today... Bailly.

 

[The Red Thinker]

Fatigue? Already?

I think so. We’ve been playing an abnormal number of games this season. Every week was CL week! We have not had a week yet without a midweek fixture in quite some time.

 

[Hellboy]

Apart from his willingness to cross at every opportunity available, Telles hasn't shown anything to deserve starting over Shaw yet.

He's a bang average defender and without Cavani providing an aerial threat in the box, Telles's supposed better attacking skills are non existent over Shaw.

That's very harsh

 

[GlasgowCeltic]

Feel like Scholes says “I’m not really sure” too often for someone literally paid to offer insight

 

[Heinzesight]

Main worry I have with Bailly today is that Mike Dean is the ref.

feck. Didn’t know he was reffing today.

 

[AndyMUFC]

Well I like the personnel from the Leeds game being back, Pogba, Greenwood etc can play on Tuesday against Wolves but unsure about changing formation again.

I guess we’ll see.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Think Vardy will get done today... Bailly.

The last time I saw Bailly up against Vardy live at OT, Bailly bullied the shit out of him

 

[Random Task]

I had to engage a historian from the British Library and Imperial War Museum

*Tut*

 

[The Red Thinker]

Think Vardy will get done today... Bailly.

Think Bailly will get done today... Injury.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

feck. Didn’t know he was reffing today.

Show ref!

 

[Tincanalley]

It's inhuman to have to play soccerfootball at this time of a Stephen's Day (Boxing Day for Brits). Imagine the ref's tummy. Mike Dean sprinting around, with the turkey churning in his innards as he lumbers along.

 

[arnie_ni]

It isn't 3-5-2 according to Ole, didn't think it was.

He just said bailly is cb? Unless your taking that to mean lindelof is rb?

I took it to me 3 5 2

 

[JustAGuest]

I think it is our usual shape with Lindelöf at RB. He has played there before.

 

[VivaRonaldo85]

Main worry I have with Bailly today is that Mike Dean is the ref.

Don’t we have a poor record with the celeb ref?

 

[One Night Only]

Scholes being savage to Savage