So we have Bayern

Moyes will most definitely try to park the bus and they will feck us up. They come up against teams that try to do that 90% of the time in the BL and they always get away with wins in those games. Plus we are shit at doing so and our counter football is non excisting.
 
I see nothing other than a trouncing for us here.

I don't even really want to watch it, but I will inevitably put myself through it. Least optimistic I have been about us getting a result in about 25 years.
 
We don't have the players to press high up the pitch, we're going to have to park the bus.

We dont have the players to do that neither. Our defence is fecked up. If we really try to get away with ANYTHING we will have to press and run our souls out for 90 mins. Of course, that's not going to happen.
 
We dont have the players to do that neither. Our defence is fecked up. If we really try to get away with ANYTHING we will have to press and run our souls out for 90 mins. Of course, that's not going to happen.

What XI would you pick that could play an intense pressing game against Bayern?
 
What XI would you pick that could play an intense pressing game against Bayern?

I'm not going to post shitty line-ups in here. Any XI that Moyes puts out on the field can do that with the right training regime and tactical approach. That Moyes isnt able to implement that into our team is his fault.
An intense pressing game will be the only way to hurt them. To sit deep and let them attack us is the worst we can do. We will get trashed. Add to that that our counter attacking football has gone to shit for a few years now so we won't even get any chances if we try that.
 
What XI would you pick that could play an intense pressing game against Bayern?

Rooney, Valencia, Welbeck, Kagawa,Rafael, Jones, maybe Cleverley. The rest don't do pressing, at all.
 
Mainz doesn't have anything close to your player material and they managed to put a lot of pressure on us early on while being very solid in defense. So it should be possible... then again, Tuchel is a great coach and tactician... well...
 
I'm not going to post shitty line-ups in here. Any XI that Moyes puts out on the field can do that with the right training regime and tactical approach. That Moyes isnt able to implement that into our team is his fault.
An intense pressing game will be the only way to hurt them. To sit deep and let them attack us is the worst we can do. We will get trashed. Add to that that our counter attacking football has gone to shit for a few years now so we won't even get any chances if we try that.

Players like Carrick or Fellaini are not capable of playing in such a way. Nor Giggs. Cleverley might run around a lot, but he wouldn't offer anything else. It is impossible for us to pick a midfield capable of playing that way. Jones might have the energy for it but he's not a CM and we don't have any other fit CBs. High-pressing also requires a high defensive line. We have Rio Ferdinand.

It's easy to just say "Moyes should have played a high-pressing game". After we lose, you can say that you knew we should have done so. But in reality it's not an option that is available to him (even if he were capable enough to get us playing in such a way, which he probably isn't either).
 
Players like Carrick or Fellaini are not capable of playing in such a way. Nor Giggs. Cleverley might run around a lot, but he wouldn't offer anything else. It is impossible for us to pick a midfield capable of playing that way. Jones might have the energy for it but he's not a CM and we don't have any other fit CBs. High-pressing also requires a high defensive line. We have Rio Ferdinand.

It's easy to just say "Moyes should have played a high-pressing game". After we lose, you can say that you knew we should have done so. But in reality it's not an option that is available to him (even if he were capable enough to get us playing in such a way, which he probably isn't either).

Fellaini has a huge dynamo at least that's what Moyes said about him so for him, in theory it shouldn't be a problem to play a pressing game once in a season. Same goes for Carrick tbh, we also have Fletch who I believe could do that. You are right about the high defensive line. What's the status of Evans and Smalling btw? A CB pairing of one of those two and Jones could do that job. When we have to field Rio again we are fecked anyway. Problem is I just know we will get beaten comfortably when we sit deep. Why not go out by at least trying to have a go at those feckers.
 
Fellaini has a huge dynamo at least that's what Moyes said about him so for him, in theory it shouldn't be a problem to play a pressing game once in a season. Same goes for Carrick tbh, we also have Fletch who I believe could do that. You are right about the high defensive line. What's the status of Evans and Smalling btw? A CB pairing of one of those two and Jones could do that job. When we have to field Rio again we are fecked anyway. Problem is I just know we will get beaten comfortably when we sit deep. Why not go out by at least trying to have a go at those feckers.

If I were Moyes, I would locate the ideal XI for an insane pressing game against Bayern. All the 10 outfield players should be fully geared towards the Bayern game, so no way anyone of them would play for even 1 second in the league game right before the arrival of Bayern at OT. The only way I can see United giving bayern any kind of game. Whether there are 10 such players at United's disposal (or even 7 or 6) I am not in a position to know.
 
If I were Moyes, I would locate the ideal XI for an insane pressing game against Bayern. All the 10 outfield players should be fully geared towards the Bayern game, so no way anyone of them would play for even 1 second in the league game right before the arrival of Bayern at OT. The only way I can see United giving bayern any kind of game. Whether there are 10 such players at United's disposal (or even 7 or 6) I am not in a position to know.

I'm still tryin to gain support for the leakin of LSD gas into the Bayern changing room...
 
I've never been so certain that we will lose a football match.
 
If we drop points against Villa and that plane with a new banner indeed flies over the Old Trafford, I am hoping to see Giggs in the dugout for the Bayern game.

Indeed. Make no mistake the boost in morale would be tremendous and it would increase our chances tenfold. We'd still lose to Bayern no doubt but at least we'd be playing with no fear and hope for a brighter future and after could enjoy the remaining league games where the players could just go out and play attacking football.
 
I've never been so certain that we will lose a football match.

Me neither. Well, since Tuesday I'd say. Losing to City was probably 90% certain, losing to Bayern is a 100% formality under Moyes. Wouldn't be surprised to see odds as long as 8/1 for us to win at Old Trafford which is unheard of. Haven't seen the latest odds but would imagine Bayern are probably 1/10 to qualify.
 
If I were Moyes, I would locate the ideal XI for an insane pressing game against Bayern. All the 10 outfield players should be fully geared towards the Bayern game, so no way anyone of them would play for even 1 second in the league game right before the arrival of Bayern at OT. The only way I can see United giving bayern any kind of game. Whether there are 10 such players at United's disposal (or even 7 or 6) I am not in a position to know.

Pressing ain't only about energy. You have to do it as a team and very good coordinated. Else the other team even has an advantage as they just play around you.

You cannot implement it successfully from one to the other day...
 
Pressing ain't only about energy. You have to do it as a team and very good coordinated. Else the other team even has an advantage as they just play around you.

You cannot implement it successfully from one to the other day...

I totally agree with all that. United have to try and do it as best they possibly can, is all I am saying.
 
Sad thing is, anything less than a total demolition and Moyes will call it a good effort, trying hard, well deserved lost, etc.

Kinda like Clough when he first met Leeds, probably Moyes will have his own redwine and invited Pep for a consolation drink while licking his balls
 
Sad thing is, anything less than a total demolition and Moyes will call it a good effort, trying hard, well deserved lost, etc.

Kinda like Clough when he first met Leeds, probably Moyes will have his own redwine and invited Pep for a consolation drink while licking his balls

He'll probably go up to the Directors private drinkin den & have a swally with Fergie instead...
 
We dont have the players to do that neither. Our defence is fecked up. If we really try to get away with ANYTHING we will have to press and run our souls out for 90 mins. Of course, that's not going to happen.

Pressing is not always about running (as someone stated)

You need better coordination, who's marking whom, who should cover who, etc. It's much more complicated than simply sticking 10 man to man mark another 10 man. Doing so to a Tactic freak like Pep would be too obvious, and he simply needs to assign one or two iregular runner or free roamers and our whole formation rigidness will collapse and gaps opening up like a man with porous lepers.

Technically you can do that with a well trained 10 really focus and highly defensive players on the pitch, but even when the likes of Young/Valencia/Nani/Carrick are assigned to man mark a player all day, they won't be succesful in marking a pure out and out attacking player, not to mention of Bayern's calibre
 
Pressing ain't only about energy. You have to do it as a team and very good coordinated. Else the other team even has an advantage as they just play around you.

You cannot implement it successfully from one to the other day...
exactly... the pressure must be completely cohesive, and mastering this type of pressure is extremely difficult against a guardiola led team.
 
Pressing is not always about running (as someone stated)

You need better coordination, who's marking whom, who should cover who, etc. It's much more complicated than simply sticking 10 man to man mark another 10 man. Doing so to a Tactic freak like Pep would be too obvious, and he simply needs to assign one or two iregular runner or free roamers and our whole formation rigidness will collapse and gaps opening up like a man with porous lepers.

Technically you can do that with a well trained 10 really focus and highly defensive players on the pitch, but even when the likes of Young/Valencia/Nani/Carrick are assigned to man mark a player all day, they won't be succesful in marking a pure out and out attacking player, not to mention of Bayern's calibre

The man that would try to man mark Müller would have a nightmare... ;)
And Thiago or Ribery would be able to do it technically - Robben with his speed.

The formation of Tuesday was interesting in the first half. The German equivalent to zonalmarking interpreted it that they played with three false nines with Müller, Robben and Götze that partly each played playmaker (Ribery and Manzukic came in at minute 54 for Robben and Müller) - and it was the fullback in Alaba and Rafinha that gave width. The three played very fluidly - interchanging between each other, changing positions - all dropping back into midfield - Müller sometimes a little further up. But in the box both - Müller and Götze - played strikers. Could be that they play something similar on Tuesday. The question is just which formation Guardiola will take. If he fields Ribery, Müller, Robben and Götze it maybe gets a little too offensive - then only one of Thiago/Kroos and Rafinha will play.
 
The man that would try to man mark Müller would have a nightmare... ;)
And Thiago or Ribery would be able to do it technically - Robben with his speed.

The formation of Tuesday was interesting in the first half. The German equivalent to zonalmarking interpreted it that they played with three false nines with Müller, Robben and Götze that partly each played playmaker (Ribery and Manzukic came in at minute 54 for Robben and Müller) - and it was the fullback in Alaba and Rafinha that gave width. The three played very fluidly - interchanging between each other, changing positions - all dropping back into midfield - Müller sometimes a little further up. But in the box both - Müller and Götze - played strikers. Could be that they play something similar on Tuesday. The question is just which formation Guardiola will take. If he fields Ribery, Müller, Robben and Götze it maybe gets a little too offensive - then only one of Thiago/Kroos and Rafinha will play.

Feck it, not fecking reading that.

On 1st of Aprill I'll be called Davidoff and wore a counterfeit Munich Jersey and probably chanting "Deutchland uber alles" and pretend that I'm German for a day...
 
This might not be the right thread for this. But supposing they beat us in the CL, move on and win it for a 2nd consecutive season, are they the best club side ever with this current squad? They've appeared in many finals, won the treble last year, already guaranteed themselves the league for a second year in a row, and are still in with a shout for the DFB Pokal. Thoughts?

Would two consecutive trebles be enough to say that?
 
This might not be the right thread for this. But supposing they beat us in the CL, move on and win it for a 2nd consecutive season, are they the best club side ever with this current squad? They've appeared in many finals, won the treble last year, already guaranteed themselves the league for a second year in a row, and are still in with a shout for the DFB Pokal. Thoughts?

Would two consecutive trebles be enough to say that?

They would join the ranks of greatest teams of all time if they haven't done so already, possibly even without another treble. I don't care about "best side ever". Who wants to compare Hungary 1954 to Ajax, to Milan or to Barca 2009. Silly, really.
 
We're probably going to lose like every other team in the world would. Hope it's not too painful but as we saw with the Barca games a few years ago, it can be very painful
 
They would join the ranks of greatest teams of all time if they haven't done so already, possibly even without another treble. I don't care about "best side ever". Who wants to compare Hungary 1954 to Ajax, to Milan or to Barca 2009. Silly, really.

That is it. Especially as it is not over. You just know the beginning - that was when van Gaal came in and the team changed in 2009/10. Right now even is a transition year. But they do not stand anymore in the shadows of older Bayern generations.

But somehow you see that all of this teams have a strong backbone of homegrown players. That is something I like as it gives the clubs identity. It helps a lot for the integration of other players into the club and surrounding.
 
Maybe interesting...

Starting Eleven today against Hoffenheim

starting XI:
Starke
Rafinha, van Buyten, Dante, Contento
Schweinsteiger
Shaqiri, Thiago, Götze, Ribéry
Pizarro

substitutes: Neuer - Martínez, Mandzukić, Robben, Lahm, Müller, Alaba

Not even in the squad: Kroos, Boateng

Guardiola is giving some rests...

You will not see many players of that starting eleven start Tuesday...
 
Well, that backfired. Thiago out for the rest of the season. Götze subbed out after half 1 for rotation (Pep) resp. for being utterly useless (me). Final result: 3:3 after a very strange game, because Pizarro was on fire - on a good day that fella is world class, and because Modeste had to go out shortly after his 1-0. Had he been able to stay on, it might well have been first season defeat for the champions.

Hoffe, a team battling relegation, wildly attacked Bayern in their own half, sometimes with 6-7 men, and it caused them trouble.
The red ball machine could only in one situation really make use of that and break free to score.

On a first glimpse, Hoffe looks like United 2014's smaller brother: The second best attack in the league with Modeste, Volland, Firmino, Salihovic, and a sub-par defense. (Under Gisdol, they have something like 75 goals scored, 75 goals received :D)
 
Hoffe, a team battling relegation, wildly attacked Bayern in their own half, sometimes with 6-7 men, and it caused them trouble.
:lol:. They are 9th, 12 point clear of relegation, 6 points behind 7th, so arguably still with a small chance to qualify for Europe. Wasn't really surprising that a hungover lackluster team with a makeshift defense will struggle in defense against Gung-Ho Hoffenheim.