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[cruzFOX]

There will be many battles across the pitch and all of our guys have to be on it until Fergie time is over!

Kasper vs De gea. Both can produce moments of breath taking saves and also moments of pure calamity.

At the moment I'll give Kasper a break since he's only had one nightmare so far while de gea could crack at any moment.

Our attack has to be on point in this game. Our movement and passing has to be efficient and direct no faffing around.

We need N'didi the destroyer at his utmost best and hamza too putting out fires. Our backline needs protection but when those attacks come make those blocks like Morgan does put bodies on the line and make smart clearances so we can spring a counter attack from. Tielemans and Praet will need to be grafting extra hard while putting through pin point defence splitting passes to Vardy and Nachos. Have Perez and Grey on standby to run for the final 30 min when United have no legs left. Barnes for gods sake has to take his chances when they come in this game this is a must we cannot afford to waste any against this kind of opposition. Lets bring back the ol foxes turbo charged counter attacks again starting with Evans making a lovely cross field pass over slab-head & co. right to Vardy's feet. If Albrighton is playing he can get some crosses in down the wing when we counter. Young Thomas will have hopefully learnt a few lessons so he should be pretty sharp for this game. If we adopt the under dog mentality we can definitely win this game if all else fails than don't lose and keep it level. Fingers crossed chelski lose to wolves. COYF 

[st albans fox]

3 hours ago, Vindaloo FOX said:

First goal will be massive 

 

If you United score our heads will drop.

 

Go out positive and get that first goal please. 

 

Put them under pressure not ourselves.

But this is the conundrum....

 

 we did that on Sunday 

 

Both managers have difficult decisions to make re this game. I’m sure the pragmatic approach will see a stale first half ....... 

[Pliskin]

United may look dead on their feet, but this is a one hit game. I think Olly will send them out firing, he will say that they can win the game in the first 30 minutes. We will probably have to weather a storm initially, and I can't see us doing it, not with the back four we have at the moment. It Sunday is not the day we will throw away the CL, losing to Norwich and drawing with Watford and Brighton was. I think United will end up getting a few early goals and kill the game by half time. I really, really, really hope we can, but I can't see it, United are far too strong, and will get by on their talent. We are not even in a dip, we are on our arses, and unfortunately we have no fight in us. We are there for the taking for any team with some grit in them. 

[RowlattsFox]

I've been critical of 2 defensive midfielders many times but for me, I'd play Hamza and Ndidi for this. Both are good at it getting in the way, getting a toe the ball, protect the back 4 by making the middle crowded and frustrate Fernandes. Also with instructions to stop the wide players cutting in on their favoured foot.

 

Kasper 

 

Justin

Morgan 

Evans

Thomas

 

Ndidi

Choudhury

Tielemans

 

Perez

Vardy

Barnes

 

Defence doesn't give me lots of confidence but we have no choice. There is enough on the counter to cause them problems. 

 

Final days are crazy, it's going to take one hell of a performance. Annoying that we are in this position but we are. 

[copunk]

Whilst I agree it may be a smart move sticking Wilf as CB, I fear the way he tackles will concede us a penalty, he likes to come from behind and win the ball in quite a few of his tackles and doing so in our area could cause huge trouble with the way these lot can win a penalty

[Danny Clender]

Properly exciting to be going into the last game of the season competing with Manchester United and Chelsea for a chance to finish 3rd, 4th or 5th.

I like the cup final appeal of this, so for me I hope the system, formation and tactics aren't overly thought out, just get the players mentally ready for it and hope for the best.

 

 

Schmeichel

Justin Evans Morgan Thomas

Tielemans Ndidi Praet

Iheanacho Vardy Barnes 

 

If every player delivers an outstanding performance, there's every chance that team can win.

Midfield has to deliver a performance of a lifetime to help the defence out and provide the forward line.

Praet hasn't been looking so great recently, if he's not ready for a blistering game, then Choudhury could come in. 

 

I see this as a crucial game for Vardy and he's somehow got to summon the spirit of the 2014 5-3 victory. I can't see him waiting for the ball getting him anywhere, reckon he needs to buzz around everywhere, drop deeper and pick the ball up and use it like he did against Sheff U, that's why Iheanacho could replace Perez. 

Could be a bit of a surprise for United. 

 

We saw in the West Ham game, if Pogba and Fernandes misfire, teams have a chance. 

 

 

 

 

[escape2victory]

Their main threats at the moment and Greenwood and Fernandes. I’d play Hamza alongside N’Didi to basically follow Fernandes everywhere, not let him get his head up and play. Also start Albrighton, if fit, on the left, to help Thomas at left back and double up to stop Greenwood. Also the big game experience of Albrighton might help.

 

Their weakness is defence, left back in particular if Williams plays. I’d start Gray, as think he might get at the full back more than Perez. Of course, as the game develops make positive changes with Barnes, Perez and Iheanacho to try and win it 2nd half.

 

                          Schmeichel 
 

Justin          Evans       Morgan     Thomas

 

Gray            Ndidi        Choudhury   Albrighton

                          Tielemans
 

                               Vardy 

[volpeazzurro]

13 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

I've been critical of 2 defensive midfielders many times but for me, I'd play Hamza and Ndidi for this. Both are good at it getting in the way, getting a toe the ball, protect the back 4 by making the middle crowded and frustrate Fernandes. Also with instructions to stop the wide players cutting in on their favoured foot.

 

Kasper 

 

Justin

Morgan 

Evans

Thomas

 

Ndidi

Choudhury

Tielemans

 

Perez

Vardy

Barnes

 

Defence doesn't give me lots of confidence but we have no choice. There is enough on the counter to cause them problems. 

 

Final days are crazy, it's going to take one hell of a performance. Annoying that we are in this position but we are. 

United's defence isn't great but they'll bully and nullify Perez all day, I'd make Iheanacho the one difference to your team.

[volpeazzurro]

12 minutes ago, copunk said:

Whilst I agree it may be a smart move sticking Wilf as CB, I fear the way he tackles will concede us a penalty, he likes to come from behind and win the ball in quite a few of his tackles and doing so in our area could cause huge trouble with the way these lot can win a penalty

I agree, a bit of overthinking by some here I fear. He's no centre half and you'd nullify your best midfielder and create even more pressure on an entirely makeshift defence. To ask such a player to suddenly excel in an untried specialist position is a recipe for disaster and the stuff of computer games and a vivid imagination. 

 

[mozartfox]

18 minutes ago, copunk said:

Whilst I agree it may be a smart move sticking Wilf as CB, I fear the way he tackles will concede us a penalty, he likes to come from behind and win the ball in quite a few of his tackles and doing so in our area could cause huge trouble with the way these lot can win a penalty

Better to have Wilf there as opposed to watching Wes being slaughtered by mobility and pace. We are not playing Burnley of Sheffield United.  The ball will be on the floor. Playing Wes in this game will place even more pressure on Evans.  BR needs to be brave to give us any chance or else 0-3 coming in.  

[Reg Vardy]

Kasper

justin, Wes Evans Thomas

Barnes N’didi Tielemans Albrighton 

Vardy, Perez/ Nacho

[hejammy]

I'm so nervous for this game right now on Sunday I'm going to be sh%tting bricks! 

 

I can see it going 1 of 2 ways. Either we get demolished or we sneak a 1-0. 

 

Vards needs to treat this as his most important game ever and go all out. I actually think if he plays well, the team plays well and we win. If he doesn't play well then we lose. 

[AmyLGK]

I want nothing more than for the pre-Christmas leicester to come out and win...but we've seen it so many times this year, we don't win "big" games, our mentality has changed and there is no belief, we're now lacking the skill and tactics to win this game. I can't get my hopes up something will change...this team have broken my heart one too many times this year and I can't get sucked in again...

 

(...I'll get totally sucked in again...)

 

Also...at the start of the season, I told my husband I didn't care what happened this season as long as we finished above utd...i flipping hate utd 🤬

[StanSP]

I've not only resigned myself to Europa League but I've also resigned myself as to how it happens. Basically for a dodgy call to screw us over late in the game. 

[mod hero]

Looking at these lineups and a lot have Thomas at Left back.

 

surely this game is too big for him? Up against Greenwood I think he’s gonna really struggle. 

[MonmoreStef]

I can take us getting beat but I really think I’ll be struggling to accept another one of these dodgy VAR decisions going against us.  Some soft penalty given against us or a blatant one not given our way would kill my love of the game. I can almost see it now.  A big handball claim for us at one end with a brief one angle replay waved away whilst thirty seconds later VAR spend four mins looking into a ball to hand handball up the other end before awarding rat features a penalty.

[Poiseuille]

I really do not see Brendan playing Wes at the back in a 2 with Evans. He’s not good enough on the ball, football is different now to a few years ago. I’m not the biggest fan of ‘playing out from the back’ but that’s what it is now.

If Wes plays, which he probably has to, it’ll likely be in the middle of a 3 so the ball is distributed more to the wide CBs to play from IMO. 

[Happy Fox]

We cannot be worried defensively, doesn’t matter if we concede a goal we have to win the game, the onus should be on our attacking players, and being ruthless in front of their goal.

 

Rodgers need to ram that down their throats.

[Matt]

Well, well, well, looks like favours have been done and somehow we’re still in a position to make top 4 going into the last game but it’s no good other teams simply doing us favours when we don’t do anything for ourselves. Let’s change this.

 

It really does show just how poor the league is this season that given our form since Christmas we’ve only just dropped out the top 4 and are still in with a chance of finishing top 4.
 

You could argue it’s simply more competitive (not a bad thing) but I think it’s fair to say quality is lacking in the league big time.

 

Anyway, please can we just be more attack minded, we’re not going to win this game by sitting off, playing tippy tappy keep ball with possession for possession sake playing infront of our own penalty area rarely venturing over the half way line.

 

Be abit (alot in our case) more positive in and out of possession like West Ham were last night, have some pride in their/our own performance for a change.

 

Do NOT be scared like we have in most of our games against the ‘bigger’ clubs this season or pretty much any club since December.

 

Edited 23 July 2020 by Matt

[Bert]

I wonder if we might go like this 

 

Kasper 

 

Justin 

Morgan

Evans 

 

Hamza

N’Didi

Tielemans

Thomas

 

Perez

Vardy

Barnes 

 

Either way, not scared of them on the basis of their last two performances. We can beat them. Ignore the scoreline from the Tottenham game, we have been the better side in our last two games we have played. We have a very good record at home. Let’s be positive, go for the win. We can’t rely on getting a draw in the hope Chelsea lose. 

[Ricey]

It was interesting watching West Ham last night. They had Rice (no relation) follow Fernandes around when he was in the final third. If he dropped deep or out wide to collect the ball Rice let him go, knowing that he's of no danger there, but the minute he stepped into that final Rice was on him. He didn't press aggressively, just stopped Fernandes playing the ball into a dangerous areas. If Fernandes tried a one-two then Rice would follow him, rather than the ball.

 

A lot of people on here suggesting we should do the same with Choudhury, but I don't think Rodgers trusts him. I'm not sure I do either. He's too laid back and often seems to really struggle to concentrate in matches. It's more likely we'll have Praet in there doing this sort of job.

[StanSP]

16 minutes ago, mod hero said:

Looking at these lineups and a lot have Thomas at Left back.

 

surely this game is too big for him? Up against Greenwood I think he’s gonna really struggle. 

Who do you play instead? 

[Ricey]

7 minutes ago, Matt said:

Well, well, well, looks like favours have been done and somehow we’re still in a position to make top 4 going into the last game.

 

It really does show just how poor the league is this season that given our form since Christmas we’ve only just dropped out the top 4 and are still in with a chance of finishing top 4.
 

You could argue it’s simply more competitive (not a bad thing) but I think it’s fair to say quality is lacking in the league big time.

 

Anyway, please can we just be more attack minded, we’re not going to win this game by sitting off, playing tippy tappy keep ball with possession for possession sake playing infront of our own penalty area rarely venturing over the half way line.

 

Be abit (alot in our case) more positive in and out of possession like West Ham were last night, have some pride in their/our own performance for a change.

 

Do NOT be scared like we have in most of our games against the ‘bigger’ clubs this season or pretty much any club since December.

 

It's a fine balance though. Being attack minded means sitting higher up the pitch, which will be suicidal with our back line and their front line, as it was against Tottenham.

 

We can still be positive in our play, but we have to make sure that back line doesn't creep up the pitch.

[mod hero]

Just now, StanSP said:

Who do you play instead? 

I’d move Justin to left back and play perhaps Hamza on the right. I just feel the stakes are too high to play the kid in this.

 

He will be a fantastic player for us in years to come and has a cracking left foot already. He played well against Sheff Utd but wasn’t tested really. Spurs closed him down very quickly and he got caught for a couple of the goals.

 

Like I say, he won’t have faces anyone like Greenwood before and he is on fire for Utd at the minute.

[Haywood_6]

12 minutes ago, Matt said:

Well, well, well, looks like favours have been done and somehow we’re still in a position to make top 4 going into the last game but it’s no good other teams simply doing us favours when we don’t do anything for ourselves. Let’s change this.

 

It really does show just how poor the league is this season that given our form since Christmas we’ve only just dropped out the top 4 and are still in with a chance of finishing top 4.
 

You could argue it’s simply more competitive (not a bad thing) but I think it’s fair to say quality is lacking in the league big time.

 

Anyway, please can we just be more attack minded, we’re not going to win this game by sitting off, playing tippy tappy keep ball with possession for possession sake playing infront of our own penalty area rarely venturing over the half way line.

 

Be abit (alot in our case) more positive in and out of possession like West Ham were last night, have some pride in their/our own performance for a change.

 

Do NOT be scared like we have in most of our games against the ‘bigger’ clubs this season or pretty much any club since December.

 

Come on you Fearful  Fearless FOXES!