Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. Manchester United

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Valencia destroyed their left back in the first game.....

I hope he is on form tonight
 
2 Man Midfield said:
I know everyone's hoping to see Kagawa behind Rooney, but I can see Hernandez starting up front and Rooney being given the task of playing behind him and helping out what is sure to be a weak midfield.
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I hope not. Hernandez was so isolated on Sunday. No supply from either wing and Rooney wasn't close enough to him to bridge the gap between him and our static and deep midfield.


I'm seeing a lot of sources suggesting a 3 man midfield of Jones, Cleverley and Giggs with Giggs the furthest forward of the three behind Rooney. Which leaves Shinji out wide left. I'll be very disappointed if that's the case.

I really do believe Kagawa has earnt the opportunity to play in that role. I'd rather he was played there even if it meant having to play Young on the left.
 
Pexbo said:
I hope not. Hernandez was so isolated on Sunday. No supply from either wing and Rooney wasn't close enough to him to bridge the gap between him and our static and deep midfield.


I'm seeing a lot of sources suggesting a 3 man midfield of Jones, Cleverley and Giggs with Giggs the furthest forward of the three behind Rooney. Which leaves Shinji out wide left. I'll be very disappointed if that's the case.

I really do believe Kagawa has earnt the opportunity to play in that role. I'd rather he was played there even if it meant having to play Young on the left.
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Same. He's average but at least we retain the width. Kagawa on the wing doesn't work for me at all.
 
2 Man Midfield said:
Same. He's average but at least we retain the width. Kagawa on the wing doesn't work for me at all.
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I can remember him playing on the left for Japan before it was confirmed he'd signed for us. I forget who it was against, but he cut in from the left and scored an absolute belter. Also, he looked like a top class player there all game. I've seen him play there a few other times too and he certainly never looks as uncomfortable as he does when he plays out wide for us.

It's all very strange IMO, it's hard to beleive he's struggling as much as he is. He's clearly a class player.
 
I'm hoping for something along the likes of:

--------------------DDG

Rafael------Evans------Smalling-----Evra
------------Giggs-------Jones
--Valencia-------Kagawa---------Nani
------------------Rooney

Didn't Moyes prefer Smalling in the home leg due to his height? I hope Rafael gets a start out. At least with a midfield of Fellaini and Jones, there's no need for too much added height and worry about Kagawa not helping out enough.

Shit, cant remember but I think Fellaini is suspended right? Probably Giggs or Cleverley then.
 
Shark22 said:
I can remember him playing on the left for Japan before it was confirmed he'd signed for us. I forget who it was against, but he cut in from the left and scored an absolute belter. Also, he looked like a top class player there all game. I've seen him play there a few other times too and he certainly never looks as uncomfortable as he does when he plays out wide for us.

It's all very strange IMO, it's hard to beleive he's struggling as much as he is. He's clearly a class player.
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It is not very strange, the reasons are posted every week in the Kagawa thread.
 
Shark22 said:
I can remember him playing on the left for Japan before it was confirmed he'd signed for us. I forget who it was against, but he cut in from the left and scored an absolute belter. Also, he looked like a top class player there all game. I've seen him play there a few other times too and he certainly never looks as uncomfortable as he does when he plays out wide for us.

It's all very strange IMO, it's hard to beleive he's struggling as much as he is. He's clearly a class player.
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I just don't think he suits our style. He's not the type to get to the byline and cross, take a man on etc. So he's completely unsuited to 442. He needs things to go through him, as they did at Dortmund. Which is why he improves when we play him inside, however as you say he has performed well on the left internationally. Yet Japan still don't play with a rigid style like we do. We seem to be lacking fluidity which can't have helped him. I think he would do much better in our 2007-09 team.
 
Ish84045 said:
I'm hoping for something along the likes of:

--------------------DDG

Rafael------Evans------Smalling-----Evra
------------Giggs-------Jones
--Valencia-------Kagawa---------Nani
------------------Rooney

Didn't Moyes prefer Smalling in the home leg due to his height? I hope Rafael gets a start out. At least with a midfield of Fellaini and Jones, there's no need for too much added height and worry about Kagawa not helping out enough.

Shit, cant remember but I think Fellaini is suspended right? Probably Giggs or Cleverley then.
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I sincerely hope he throws that notion out the window sooner rather than later - it's painfully obvious that the potential gain doesn't weigh up for what we lose in offensive terms, not to say in terms of general cohesion. Smalling is no fullback, period. I've defended Moyes pretty much to the hilt so far - but if he actually picks Smalling over Rafael for tactical reasons (rather than the latter not being fully match fit), he's just plain wrong, there ain't no two ways about it as far as I'm concerned.
 
Chesterlestreet said:
I sincerely hope he throws that notion out the window sooner rather than later - it's painfully obvious that the potential gain doesn't weigh up for what we lose in offensive terms, not to say in terms of general cohesion. Smalling is no fullback, period. I've defended Moyes pretty much to the hilt so far - but if he actually picks Smalling over Rafael for tactical reasons (rather than the latter not being fully match fit), he's just plain wrong, there ain't no two ways about it as far as I'm concerned.
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Pretty much how I feel about it.

We shouldn't be setting up "to stop" the opposition that often anyway. Now and then, especially in huge European aways, it's understandable etc. But Rafael should be first choice RB, bar none. So unless it's due to injury or rest, he should play.
 
As for the height thing - Rafael's fantastic in the air anyway so I don't have a problem with him playing against a taller side. Same goes for Evra, come to think of it, both are gifted in the air despite their relatively smallish stature.
 
nemanja15 said:
As for the height thing - Rafael's fantastic in the air anyway so I don't have a problem with him playing against a taller side. Same goes for Evra, come to think of it, both are gifted in the air despite their relatively smallish stature.
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They've both got a great leap but it's no secret that they can be positionally a bit lax when caught on the counter or tracking runs at set pieces. That's not from the same file as the myth that Rafael is "rash" and "can't defend" either. He gets caught out occasionally but as has been said above, the +&- of Rafael Vs Smalling at right back are weighed greatly in Rafa's favour.
 
Ish84045 said:
Pretty much how I feel about it.

We shouldn't be setting up "to stop" the opposition that often anyway. Now and then, especially in huge European aways, it's understandable etc. But Rafael should be first choice RB, bar none. So unless it's due to injury or rest, he should play.
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He is first choice, but he is injured so he isn't playing.
 
Bestie07 said:
Have they really won their last 8 group games at home? I'd gladly take a draw if this is the case.
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Actually 10 games

Leverkusen's last home defeat in a CL group stage was against us.........i think it's time for that again :)

2002-2003
1-2 Manchester United
2-1 Maccabi Haifa
2-0 Olympiakos Piraus

Edit: They've lost all group games at home in the 2nd group stage in that season (Barca, Inter Milan and Newcastle)

2004-2005
3-0 Real Madrid
3-1 AS Roma
3-0 Dynamo Kiev

2011-2012
2-0 Genk
2-1 Valencia
2-1 Chelsea

This season
2-1 Real Sociedad
4-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
 
Not sure who's available but I'd hope for something like this
Assuming the twins are out
DDG
Tony-Vida-Smalling-Evra
Nani-Rooney-Jones-Adnan
-----play-a-maker----
RVP/Welbeck
 
A front of the below, will lead to victory.

Nani - Kagawa - Rooney

----- Chicharito -----

Will it happen?
 
Sadly, I am half expecting us to have our asses handed to us.
 
If true, that line-up might be capable of creating some chances.
 
I'm not a big fan of Jones in midfield but god I can't handle another game of Cleverley hiding.
 
Shark22 said:
Although I think it's best he's getting valuable experience, playing him at right back is still an awful waste. He looks lost there.
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He defends fine, usually, but it has a massive effect on our attacking play. We really do miss Rafael.
 
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