Manchester United (A) Pre Match (Tues 11 May 2021 18:00) BT Sport

[Foxxed]

Warms the cockles of my heart, does this thread. Thrown away we have, the strutting arrogance. And back is the irrational doom and gloom: a fond hallmark of my years supporting the club. A half-joking four goalkeeper suggestion reared its head a few pages back. Fans are gleefully subbing our creative midfield for our non-creative midfield. Sixteen pages of dread and dejection. Hope is lost. Everything is bad. Suffering does not end. Flee all those who set foot. I've missed this, the true underbelly of our support. Welcome back. Welcome back. I've missed you.

[deanolegend1989]

9 hours ago, Sooper Steve's shin said:

I think this probably gets our best available XI on the pitch, but it’s effectively a diamond - have we played this successfully before? It l’d a big ask to change the formation at this stage and with very little time to have worked on it since the last game. 

We’ve done it once and we hammered Villa 4-1 in December 2019. Not quite sure why we never went back as it got Nacho and Vards firing and we caused all kinds of problems!

For me if we can’t get the 433 system, the next best is 4312. This 5 atb has never and will never be good because we always struggle when we start bad in it.

 

How I see the 5 atb system is that it makes our games predictable. We either get the goal and crush or the opposition pins us in and makes it food and drink for us to nullify us.

If Rodgers should ever use the 5 atb system it should be if we are 1/2-0 up because we are good at controlling and nullifying when it’s all going well. However starting it ever is a crime and is the main reason we look clueless in an attacking sense most of the time!

 

9 hours ago, Dahnsouff said:

Fair enough, and why not. Don’t quite agree it’s the more familiar formation anymore, but would still be interesting.

As it’s a flat 4, not Fuchs at LB for a bit of experience?

Nearly every ambitious and good team play 4 at the back. No one really in the Prem plays 5 atb except Wolves I think and they are poor and dull. What 5 atb does is cover for limitations, so for Wolves Coady is better in a 5 and they have lost Jiminez and Jota so know they don’t have the quality to control games at the front and middle. We do and have proved it in nearly every game we’ve played when we play 4 atb and a strong middle.

In fact I can barely remember losing a game if we have a back 4 when we also have a strong midfield of Ndidi Youri and/or Madders/Praet.

I think Praet has fallen out with Rodgers because he’s by far the best player we have in the middle aside from the obvious 2. A middle 3 of those with Madders getting more forward would work a treat.

It would also get Castange comfortable bombing down the RW and have more control in the middle with the extra body, which will relieve the pressure on our 2 CBs.

Our biggest issue is because we have 5atb and don’t know whether to drop deep or go high and especially without Evans , will struggle to defend and keep a tight shape for 90 mins, the best way to counter this is press higher and cause mistakes to kill opponents attacks sooner.

Weve gone into a habit and rut of allowing pressure on us and being camped in. We need to press higher and attack the game, support our front men and don’t give them time on the ball.

Setting up 5atb is telling our players to sit deeper naturally and then our midfield drop deeper naturally and start picking it up near the half way line and this allows teams to press and compress the game.

This is NOT the type of games that Youri can dictate because we are getting him in non dangerous areas. This is also not the type of game Madders wants, he wants to be picking it up in the final 3rd where he’s best. This is also terrible for Vards because he’s then got to break 2 banks of 4 with us picking it up so deep there’s no space what so ever, we are so easy to defend against.

Whilst the easy option is to slam Vardy or Madders for being poor etc etc, the bigger picture is the set up and that’s why the blame is firmly at Rodgers door and why he MUST change and see the rut he’s got into with his 1 dimensional tactics.

[Brooksy]

15 minutes ago, Unabomber said:

Shoretire never heard of him. Sounds like a garage. 

My mates the ref tonight

[StriderHiryu]

23 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

If this is true, Shoretire winner in the last minute

 

 

Even if Man U are playing a "B" team or reserves, those players will be fresh and full of energy, and relatively stress free. Many of them may even see it as an opportunity to break into the first team / cup final squad proper. So far from an easy match.

 

It all comes down to mentality. We've beaten plenty of the big teams already this season, including Man United in a high stakes game. We need our players to run up tomorrow and be right at it.

[SuperMike]

I wonder who will take their obligatory penalty? At least we wont get to see the odious RFC do his stupid hop, skip and jump run-up. 

[gerblod]

4 hours ago, volpeazzurro said:

Yes, a lot of truth in all that, particularly how the use of substitutes is viewed ie game changers or cogs in a machine. Twice now I haven't worked out why you'd possibly want to keep both Maddison and Perez on at the same time if you're going to try and win a game. Agreed that the former hasn't been playing well and needs minutes but if he's spent, he spent and not contributing. 

Maddison appears to be in the same boat as Vardy - mental reactions and body not quite yet in sync. He looks dispirited - but with Vardy is persistence personified. Madders is a class act - difficult to dispossess, makes space for himself, is elusive and can be very, very accurate.

Apart from that, I've been wracking my brians wondering how Rodgers can combat this 'out to lunch' mentality. I saw the defence fold without Evans - it's obvious a leader is needed in defence, but I can only think of Fuchs or Morgan and I'm not sure what Morgan's status is - but either would be a calming presence. I wonder if Evans will appear tomorrow. Mendy is a combative figure - I've never seen him 'fold' under pressure. I'd be inclined to stick him on with Wilf and Tielemans - and tell him to shadow Fernandes.

I'd also like Under to start against Slabhead. But, who could be benched?

Honestly, this is all immaterial - I don't expect Rodgers to spring any surprises so he'll be hoping rather than planning. Him and his team anyway.

[filbertway]

21 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

Even if Man U are playing a "B" team or reserves, those players will be fresh and full of energy, and relatively stress free. Many of them may even see it as an opportunity to break into the first team / cup final squad proper. So far from an easy match.

 

It all comes down to mentality. We've beaten plenty of the big teams already this season, including Man United in a high stakes game. We need our players to run up tomorrow and be right at it.

You do agree that if we're at it and get it right mentally and tactically we should beat that team 9 times out of 10 though? 

[Corky]

I'm not surprised they are making huge changes. We've been in this position twice in the past two seasons (West Ham last, Crystal Palace this) and we made 9 and 7 changes respectively.

 

You can't expect the same players to play 3 times in 5 days.

[lgfualol]

1 hour ago, moore_94 said:

If this is true, Shoretire winner in the last minute

 

 

Christ cant wait for these lot to somehow pull of a world class team performance.

[sacreblueits442]

2 hours ago, Finnegan said:

 

Problem we'll have is breaking them down. There's no incentive for them to try and win it. That team might be impotent going forward but it won't even try and that midfield will run all day to try and keep us out. 

....I think they will just get into our face!!!

We are so vulnerable at the moment, sitting off us would be an option that they could take, but it won't happen.

[gerblod]

3 hours ago, fuchsntf said:

I am being hard here...Fuchs is the romantic choice...Thomas,Soyuncu,Fofana, Amartey are now the better choices..!

Elsewhere I mentioned Fuchs being selected - because it's apparent that there needs to be someone on that pitch who's not gone chicken-headed at some point in the last few games.

[justfoxes]

1 hour ago, Buce said:

 

Rodgers should be telling them that they are playing for their places at Wembley.

 

Give 100% or you're out.

Just hoping they don’t do the opposite & pull out of challenging for the ball scared to get injured, United can be a Jekyll & Hyde team like Leicester so hoping our best performers show up for This game and the other 3 to follow?

 

Saturday Is a one off game that could boost our lads performances the chance of winning an FA Cup for our great Club for the first time let’s hope they give everything and play their Hearts out in Vichais memory & give Top something to smile about as well as finishing in our highest position since winning the EPL Title Play your Hearts out for the Fans & Owners of our Amazing Football club last 4 games Lads play your hearts out go to win every game !!

 

[StriderHiryu]

44 minutes ago, filbertway said:

You do agree that if we're at it and get it right mentally and tactically we should beat that team 9 times out of 10 though? 

Yep absolutely, though to be honest I'm not optimistic. Still trying to bleach my eyes out after watching the last game!

[filbertway]

Just now, StriderHiryu said:

Yep absolutely, though to be honest I'm not optimistic. Still trying to bleach my eyes out after watching the last game!

I believe in this team so much, I don't know if it's misplaced faith. I'm convinced they're being held back by the set up. We wouldn't keep having such strong second halves if the players were the issue.

 

I'm hoping Rodgers loosens the reigns and lets the boys give it a real good go in the final 4 games.

[Jimbo]

1 hour ago, st albans fox said:

Please retract this post - i'm sure i've seen him come on in a champions league game at OT last autumn.  highly rated 

Football manager wonderkid

[Jimbo]

1 hour ago, Buce said:

 

Rodgers should be telling them that they are playing for their places at Wembley.

 

Give 100% or you're out.

Shouldn't really be needing to tell them that  

[moore_94]

 

[lcfcfoz]

2 hours ago, moore_94 said:

If this is true, Shoretire winner in the last minute

 

 

Shoretire starting for under 23s tonight, boo

[fuchsntf]

1 hour ago, filbertway said:

I believe in this team so much, I don't know if it's misplaced faith. I'm convinced they're being held back by the set up. We wouldn't keep having such strong second halves if the players were the issue.

 

I'm hoping Rodgers loosens the reigns and lets the boys give it a real good go in the final 4 games.

Sorry..Bit at this Level ist für players who give the tact..The manager does much of the tweeking, Bit it aint a managers tactics,

that sees your team playing slow ball or being passive..

Rodgers even Puel, mentions(ed) regulär we are too passive, & Not quick enough in moving & releasing the ball forward...

its become our Joke word, but Rodgers again has used often the Lack of "Intensity" & commitment, when defending areas across the field,

und showing more intent from middle of the park..we have created, though Not converted,

showing the last quarter of the Field our movement is more than ok...

He said against W.ham then again against Newcastle,that poor Defensive positioning , Bad mistakes

failing to hold our Shape Made us vulnerable to the counter, when losing the the ball and we are committing a Leicester upon ourselves...

[fuchsntf]

1 hour ago, gerblod said:

Elsewhere I mentioned Fuchs being selected - because it's apparent that there needs to be someone on that pitch who's not gone chicken-headed at some point in the last few games.

No guarrantee that Fuchs, wont be caught out roosting when he should be pecking....

[Finn Claw II]

Just play 4 at the back please 

[Fox seen in Norwich]

Man Utd must prefer to lose so they give Liverpool less chance of CL next season 🤞🏻
 

No Evans is a blow. Step forward Danny A 😱

[sdb]

45 minutes ago, lcfcfoz said:

Shoretire starting for under 23s tonight, boo

That's killed my optimism rather quickly. Felt nice to be positive about lcfc for 20 secs back there.

[st albans fox]

3 hours ago, SuperMike said:

I wonder who will take their obligatory penalty? At least we wont get to see the odious RFC do his stupid hop, skip and jump run-up. 

He will be on the bench - they can bring him on when it’s awarded!

[A View From Le2]

Tough game, tough couple of weeks. It wouldn't be Leicester if it was boring though! I've written a few thoughts on where we are. 

 

https://aviewfromle2.wixsite.com/website/post/brendan-s-toughest-test