04 Dec 2017 09:13:02
Lukaku. Martial lingard and Rashford have to be the 4 we play up top against city.
The last 3 games teams have all set up to counter against city which has caused them problems.
And if we can make use of the height we have at set pieces which again is something city have struggled with
There are defiantly weaknesses to city I just hope we are up for it and the crowd can inject some atmosphere.
04 Dec 2017 09:41:58
City have been going through a not so good patch, it’s hard to call it a rough patch as they have carried on winning. But their win over Feyenoord was laboured, they followed that up late goals required to beat Huddersfield, Southampton and West Ham 2-1. So now could be a good time to play them.
I’m expecting a Jose special, it won’t be pretty to watch. I’m thinking Inter vs Barcelona in the UCL Semi kind of game.
We will sit deep and tight, then look to hit them on the counter or at a set piece. I doubt we will have 4 offensive players on the pitch, certainly not to start with. I see us setting up 3511 type formation. With our best fit defenders on ( Jones and Bailly if possible), with Pogba suspended I expect we’ll see Matic, Herrera and Fellaini on. Mourinho trusts Fellaini in the big games and I can see Herrera being put on De Bruyne marking duty again. I expect we could see Lingard playing just off of Lukaku, his work rate and form make him the obvious choice. If we can win against them it will close the gap between us and hopefully sow a seed of doubt in their players minds before the tough winter schedule, it could be a turning point in the title race. Or alternatively we could lose which will almost certainly mean City will win the title. No pressure.
04 Dec 2017 10:20:07
Bolger - I just can't see Jose starting Martial, Lingard, Rashford and Lukaku!
Pogba is a massive loss. He's the only player in our squad that's irreplaceable (with the possible exception of Matic)!
We have nobody else like him and we'll have to change our game plan.
His transitions between defence and attack and his powerful running from deep has been brilliant this year. We didn't really see that last season but now we're just starting to see the player we all expected!
Matic compliments him brilliantly I'm not sure there's a better midfield pairing in Europe right now!
Without Pogba I can't see anything else than park the bus, hope to somehow get a goal and win 1-0!
I think their maybe a bad result away from a wobble! The cold weather has set in and their form has predictably dropped but at the moment their still finding a way to win. Their possession just wears teams down.
My fear is we won't be able to counter effectively without Pogba and we'll just be forced into defending our own penalty box.
Call me anti football and defeatist if you want but maybe it's a time to roll out the dogs of war, get Ibra and Fellaini on, go direct, play over their high press, try and win the second balls and knock downs, play in their half and put crosses in the box?
It won't be pretty but if Ibra, Fellaini and Lukaku can hold the ball up with players like Herrera and Matic swarming around them in midfield, get Martial running at them in the final third it might just give them a challenge they haven't encountered yet.
Turn the game into a war or attrition, make it physical and uncomfortable for them. This is not a game for the purists or pretty, attractive football. It's about winning by any means necessary and dragging ourselves back into the title race.
Let's get Old Trafford rocking and remind them that despite all their champagne football Manchester is red and we won't go away without a fight!
If ever there was an occasion for a Jose war cry and tactical mater class then surely it has arrived!
04 Dec 2017 11:03:46
Brilliant danny!
Thats a pre match team talk if i ever heard one.
Get at them and make it ugly, but ugly on our terms.
04 Dec 2017 11:18:17
corrrr Danny that was a rousing post as I have ever seen one! Jose should get you in the changing room for the pre match talk.
Pogba's injury is the worst possible case but if there is a manager that can provide a tactical masterclass then jose is the one. He has instilled a stubborn and strong mentality in our team and I expect us to be physical and explosive on the break. The crowd have a huge part to play. I am buzzing.
04 Dec 2017 12:27:59
I love these big games!
That Arsenal result has really wetted the appetite. I really didn't expect us to win and to do it playing some brilliant counter attacking football felt so good. Somebody has already said it but it reminded me of the Newcastle game in 1996 when we won with a Schmeichel goalkeeping masterclass and a break away goal by Eric to plunge a dagger straight through their hearts or the FA Cup Semi in 1999 when despite having only 10 men and Arsenal missing a penalty in the last minute Giggs scored the best goal in FA Cup history, it felt like a real throwback moment!
Somehow I can just feel the excitement and rivalry returning!
If we can just manage to win on Sunday then despite all their lauded football and record breaking winning streak that big bad Red Devil will still be sat right on their shoulder!
04 Dec 2017 13:09:48
ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘
I know people want hood loomi g footvall etc etc bht this weekend is all about WINNING!
By hook or by crook this is a game to win no matter how its done!
GGMU.
04 Dec 2017 13:33:19
Great if we win with aggressive and beautiful football but I’d take a boring win just as good.
As ivy mentioned winning is important but even better with beautiful football.
Been lucky to predict a 3-1 win against Arsenal and win some good bets 🤣🤣. I am willing to part with half of winning Just so we win City. Better if we beat them and I win bets too 🤣🤣🤣. Can’t wait for this weekend.
04 Dec 2017 21:24:17
Agree we should keep it tight and hope for the best.
Don't agree that people keep going about city's dodgy defence. They've spent £120m on 3 fullbacks. £40m on a goalkeeper. And they have two very good centre backs. They've conceded 10 and we've conceded 9. So not a lot between us.
But it is in game control and midfield and attack where they're head and shoulders above us.
04 Dec 2017 22:07:54
City have been really poor last 3 games. We have been good against better opposition if pogba had been playing i'd say we would habe been favourites but without pogba we will probably only win but a 2 goal margin.
05 Dec 2017 08:15:01
Haha love it ken 😂.