The Manager's press conference today at 12:00 BST

You think so? I'm not sure van Gaal would chuck him in so quickly after not playing for 2 months. In a game this intense also.

I was about to change what I said actually- we could maybe play Herrera in a deep role with Di Maria and Fellaini and keep Mata, Young and Rooney thinking about it some more.
 
I think Young at LB with Januzaj on the wing might work, Januzaj gave Ivanovic a hard time last year.
 
Di maria up top for the counter? Mata Fellaini, Rooney, Herrera Young midfield? Then Shaw and McNair coming in? Maybe?
 
I was about to change what I said actually- we could maybe play Herrera in a deep role with Di Maria and Fellaini and keep Mata, Young and Rooney thinking about it some more.
That would be insanely open though... prefer the idea someone said in the other thread of putting Valencia as the RM and Rafael at RB, much more solid without sacrificing too much defensively.
 
That would be insanely open though... prefer the idea someone said in the other thread of putting Valencia as the RM and Rafael at RB, much more solid without sacrificing too much defensively.

That could work, I like that.
 
Di maria up top for the counter? Mata Fellaini, Rooney, Herrera Young midfield? Then Shaw and McNair coming in? Maybe?

Good grief, you have Rooney & Di Maria the wrong way round, haven't you watched any of our games this season? Rooney has to stay up top, with Di Maria in midfield.
 
Waiting to see what kind of injuries those are..

Yeah, I just hope they are back for Everton.. Writing off the Chelsea match would not be a disaster, and I still think we'll manage to scrape a draw.
 
That would be insanely open though... prefer the idea someone said in the other thread of putting Valencia as the RM and Rafael at RB, much more solid without sacrificing too much defensively.

Yep, also another option, either way it's going to be an unfamiliar line up. Having Jones and Rojo injured with Evans suspended and then Carrick and Blind as well is just terrible luck.
 
 
Good grief, you have Rooney & Di Maria the wrong way round, haven't you watched any of our games this season? Rooney has to stay up top, with Di Maria in midfield.

Good grief, Have you watched any of the games this season?

I know Rooney is better up top, but Rooney would be more disciplined hence I see Rooney being dropped back by LVG to compensate having no other midfielders.
 
Sticking Rooney in CM wont work. Sticking Fellaini in Cm wont work. He is only good for us higher up the pitch. Our recent upturn in form has been because we have played players in their correct position.

However we are short CMs and we have to stick somebody in their. I would probably try McNair as DM.
 
Good grief, Have you watched any of the games this season?

I know Rooney is better up top, but Rooney would be more disciplined hence I see Rooney being dropped back by LVG to compensate having no other midfielders.

Seriously?

Sticking Rooney in CM wont work. Sticking Fellaini in Cm wont work. He is only good for us higher up the pitch. Our recent upturn in form has been because we have played players in their correct position.

Exactly, so Di Maria in midfield where he plays well
 
Sticking Rooney in CM wont work. Sticking Fellaini in Cm wont work. He is only good for us higher up the pitch. Our recent upturn in form has been because we have played players in their correct position.

However we are short CMs and we have to stick somebody in their. I would probably try McNair as DM.
That would be disastrous.
 


 
Just caught the end of it on MUTV, was he asked about Giggs as assistant manager and was it relation to the Scholes comments from earlier?
 
Sticking Rooney in CM wont work. Sticking Fellaini in Cm wont work. He is only good for us higher up the pitch. Our recent upturn in form has been because we have played players in their correct position.

However we are short CMs and we have to stick somebody in their. I would probably try McNair as DM.

Who would play next to Smalling then? Blackett?
 
Sounds like a normal 4-3-3 then. Rooney DM, Mata still RW and Falcao/RvP upfront.
 
Falcao is 'fit', RvP is coming back from injury and hasn't played yet. Maybe with some proper supply from Di Maria & Mata, he can score us a few.
Shaw is in the same boat, and he will have to play, unless we go 3 at the back and use Young, Valencia as wing backs again.
 
From espnfc.com:

"Blind played on because he always wants to, but the tackle from [Vincent] Kompany was the reason," he said. "Jones injured himself in the second half. Rojo, he was complaining [of a knock] after the match, and Carrick was also off. We had a big hope that Blind and Jones could reach this game but they can't."


So Blind played on after Kompany's tackel, Jones was subbed cause of the injury in fact and Rojo had a knock.

Madness..

Fortunately it doesnt sound serious, concerning all.
 
Shaw is in the same boat, and he will have to play, unless we go 3 at the back and use Young, Valencia as wing backs again.
LVG said Shaw has been training for several weeks now and that RVP is has only come back this week.
 
 
Feck sake. What a disaster.

You have to laugh :lol:

Just saw the presser - absolute disaster. I have gone from being quietly confident about the Chelsea game to completely pessimistic.

I really dont want to see Rooney in midfield, moreso because it likely means Falcao starting up front.

At this point it makes you wonder if we shouldnt have kept Fletcher, Anderson or Cleverley around as a backup...

I wouldnt be surprised to see LVG throw a complete curveball and start someone like Timothy Fosu-Mensah. Not that I think it would be a good idea mind.


Remember that when we played Chelsea at OT, Fellaini was asked to do a job of manmarking Fabregas, which he did admirably (was arguably our MOTM that game) - I think we should use a similar ploy given the circumstances. Get Herrera and Fellaini right on top of Cesc/Matic, shut down their midfield.
 
Without Diego and probably Remy, our defence will cope. The midfield is a real pain though. Everyone who is fit will start basically. Either that or we'll play Fosu-Mensah!
 
"Jones injured himself". Sounds plausible.