13 Mar 2017 08:50:50
Thinking of pulling the boots on one last time.
13 Mar 2017 09:21:19
Remember the name Noucamp!
Surprised Mourinho hasn't considering he was a striker himself lol.
13 Mar 2017 09:21:57
I'm thinking maybe Fellaini will start upfront.
13 Mar 2017 10:03:20
If he does, Beast, and he has a mare, this site will go into meltdown. I think it's a good option, tho. Get in their faces and make it uncomfortable for them. Probably get sent off before halftime, though :)
13 Mar 2017 10:06:36
I'm hoping it's a stunt tonight is already hard enough without a proper striker I fear we could be in serious trouble.
13 Mar 2017 11:16:08
Stevie - When I told the Mrs my theory about why Fellaini should start up top tonight she said exactly the same as you mate. I think those CB's could do with being roughed up a bit (especially Luiz), could create a bit more space for our quicker players to operate and to feed off of the mayhem he should create, second balls etc.
Whatever happens I hope we don't turn up hoping to simply contain them, we need to go for the jugular. After all Jose talked us up saying we are Man Utd and it is our cup etc, so I hope he and the players turn up looking to win, not to simply cling on and sneak it.
13 Mar 2017 12:36:02
It may have fallen perfectly for Jose. He'd want to go into tonight's game keeping it very tight, with more defence than attack. What better way to do that than having Fellaini up top as our first line of defence? Plus it's forced on him so no one can really come out and slate him for it. It could work in our favour too, as we haven't exactly been banging the goals in of late, so won't be missing a huge amount. I think it could be a battle and if it is I think we may come out on top.
Could be totally wrong of course :-)
13 Mar 2017 12:53:59
There has been an illness going around the squad, so I'm not suprised a couple of them are ill.
That being said I think a certain amount of this is Jose playing the game. He has said he will go with his strongest possible side, well no one can slate him if several players miss out due to "injury/ illness".
Jose knows he has to rotate his squad, and the FA cup looks the toughest cup to win with City, Spurs and Arsenal already through, to win it we will have to beat Chelsea and two of the above three. Beating three of the teams above us to win the cup is a tough ask. I think losing tonight could be a blessing in disguise.
We are on the longest unbeaten run of any team in the top five leagues, and yet we are still in 6th place. Top four is still possible but every week the teams above keep picking up points the harder it gets. The Europa league looks the best bet to getting into next seasons UCL. With the game against Rostov finely balanced the game on Thursday has to be the priority.
But publically Jose can't say that, so the "injuries" are the ideal solution to get around naming our strongest line up. Don't be suprised if we have a fully fit team for Thursday.
13 Mar 2017 14:23:04
Jose has said that he considers euro cup more important than the fa cup and that will be reflected in his team selection as thursday is more important.
might just be toying with the media though.
13 Mar 2017 14:32:57
Good posts Brendon/ Shappy - Jose is nothing if not pragmatic. He has the perfect excuse to park the bus and with our perceived injury crisis and congested fixture list we kind of get a free hit tonight probably playing the type of football Jose in renowned for (especially in the big games) .
Expectations have been lowered and a defensive master class with the hope of pinching a goal from a set piece is on the cards. I don't think Jose would like anything more and this kind of performance might just help to ignite that siege mentality he loves but like you've quite rightly pointed out if it doesn't work what else could he have been expected to do?
13 Mar 2017 18:26:11
Stevie are they the thigh length velevt boots that go so fetchingly with your basque?
13 Mar 2017 18:52:01
I had to get up off the sofa and look out my window there, Tony, just to check you weren't standing outside.