Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. Manchester United

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Jones was excellent in midfield against Arsenal I thought, I've always liked him there and much prefer him to Cleverley

Looks a pretty good team, Kagawa behind Rooney could be brilliant
 
If Rafael is fit and Smalling is seen as our first choice right back then it's laughable.

Midfield is terrible but it does seem to be a nice front four. I'm still dreading this game. Hope I'm wrong.
 
Fingers crossed that we don't make a hash of this, and have to take the hard way to qualification!

Here's hoping game 6 is a dead rubber!
 
This is a great chance for Nani to make a case for himself and get back into the starting 11.
 
Shark22 said:
This is a great chance for Nani to make a case for himself and get back into the starting 11.
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I wouldn't count on it. Even if he does play people will moan that he's just so damn inconsistent when he plays 1 game per month.
 
nemanja15 said:
On the positive side - if that is the team - with Valencia, Nani, Kagawa and Rooney, we should certainly create some chances!
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Whilst with a cm pairing including Giggs will present just as many chances the other way.
 
Kag said:
If Rafael is fit and Smalling is seen as our first choice right back then it's laughable.
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It's a height issue. If you notice when RVP plays, he heads away lots of corners. If the side contains lots of tall players then I suspect Moyes would probably go with Rafael.
 
I'll wait for the official line-up. I'll wait by my bottle of scotch. There's no way I'm watching this one sober as a nun, I'll tell ye that. But for feck's sake, gimme that Brazilian lad at right back. And the greatest human ever. Gimme him too, eh?
 
In theory the idea of playing Smalling over Rafael if we're playing some big goon tall team makes sense.

But in reality does it actually come off? Might be wrong, but was it not him who let the Cardiff guy score last week? And he who let Kompany beat him for that 1-0 critical game 2 years back. And some others.
Is he as solid in the air as his height should make him?
 
Havak said:
My issue was not at all Jones > Cleverley, but why not both?
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At the moment I don't want Cleverley anywhere near the team. He needs to sort himself out fast, there's something not right with him.
It's not looking good when a 40 year old winger and a centre back get in the team before him.
 
For all those spouting re: Rafael/Smalling (as I did earlier!), maybe the former isn't fully fit yet. We know he's travelled but he may not quite be match ready in addition to all the other theories on here.
 
This sounds awful, but I hope Rafa is injured. And not a tactical choice.
 
nemanja15 said:
For all those spouting re: Rafael/Smalling (as I did earlier!), maybe the former isn't fully fit yet. We know he's travelled but he may not quite be match ready in addition to all the other theories on here.
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Then why travel?
Surely if your fit enough for the bench your fit enough to play.
 
The Arsenal game has totally changed people's perceptions of Jones in midfield. Before it was all negativity and now we're fist pumping. He was exceptional, but it was one game. I still don't think he can play in midfield for us beyond that sticking him to a man like glue role he does now and again.
 
CONFIRMED MUFC XI:

de Gea

Smalling
Ferdinand
Evans
Evra

Valencia
Jones
Giggs
Nani

Kagawa
Rooney

SUBS: Lindegaard, Buttner, Anderson, Cleverley, Young, Hernandez, Welbeck.
 
That can't be Ashley Young can it..

EDIT: ^^^That team looks much better, phew.
 
Confirmed:

United XI: de Gea, Smalling, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Jones, Giggs, Nani, Kagawa, Rooney
 
Fairly happy with that. Kagawa in the hole behind Rooney was what everyone wanted.
 
jakec said:
This sounds awful, but I hope Rafa is injured. And not a tactical choice.
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Yeah. Moyes is fecking retarded if he doesn't rate Rafael in all honesty. I don't think that's the case, and I don't think that's the actual lineup, but if it did come down to it, I'd rather keep Rafael at the club and find a different manager rather then get rid of Rafael and use Smalling there always, and keep Moyes.
I doubt any sane person would ever pick Smalling over Rafael though, so that problem probably won't come up.
 
Good lineup.

Only Smalling at RB looks out of place. I said the same in the home match v bayer but he actually had a good game.
 
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