Manchester United (H) pre match, 16 Oct, 3pm

[Stadt]

Just now, filbertway said:

If we do play that, we need to be more direct with our passing. When our wing backs push up, our back 3 spreads across the pitch and as soon as we play a loose pass, the other team then has huge gaps to attack into. The back 5 basically needs to stay as a back 5, I'd be tempted to go 5 2 3/3 4 3 and just leave 3 pacey players at the top end of the pitch ready to be released when we win the ball back.

 

It doesn't matter what formation we play if we continue to keep trying to pass our way out of trouble while confidence is so low. Set up to hit them on the counter and have their defenders running back towards their own goal, we know Maguire can rival Vestergaard for turn of pace.

 

That being said, I'm sure we'll continue to play the same way, if Ole has any sense he'll have his team press us from the front and just wait for us to gift them goals. Our ace in the hole is that Ole is not a very good manager.

523 asks too much of our midfielders, they have to shuttle wide and we get exposed centrally - even with Ndidi in the side. Without him we'd be get totally overran.

 

Agree we need to be more vertical with our passing, Iheanacho helps here because he can drop deep and is able to hold the ball up to bypass the midfield. Soumare should add the legs in an attacking sense to offer support and hopefully run beyond the strikers. I think this is a huge problem when we have Maddison, Tielemans and Perez in the same team, they're all slow and can't really stretch a team with the runs they make.

[ARM1968]

Currently we are Dead in the Water. Got to get back to the promised land. 
 

This is a huge test for BR - does he have the minerals or is he the Kings new clothes?

 

I hope he has because I genuinely fear what would come next. As I’ve always said, he is a good manager, but he needs to prove he is a great manager. 
 

Maybe he’s just trolling everyone and getting our dip/crash in form out of the way early 🤣

[sacreblueits442]

20 minutes ago, filbertway said:

if Ole has any sense he'll have his team press us from the front and just wait for us to gift them goals. Our ace in the hole is that Ole is not a very good manager.

.. .you do not need to be a top manager in order to know how best to play our team!!!

   We cannot  break down a deep block, and struggle when pressed.

  We will have to dictate how this game plays out and with Barnes and Vardy on the pitch we can play on the counter.

Playing a 5-4-1 with our Wing Backs not pushing forward and covering the CBs will be our best option. So long as we keep a solid shape and more importantly are disciplined on the day we can more than come away with a result.

[TJB-fox]

1 hour ago, weller54 said:

Ranieri has just been appointed Manager at a PL club...had lots of mileage left in him.

Ok let’s get him back then, stick him on a 5 year deal 

[Hollyfox]

Once upon a time 

We beat a pretty good Chelsea 2-0 at home and Junior Lewis was playing in midfield. 

 

Anything is possible 🙏🤞😄

[cruzFOX]

If our players can't be motivated to play in this game I don't know what will. MASSIVE! Olly will be wary of what we can do don't think he will take it for granted thinking easy 3 points.  let the mind games begin

[shailen]

Simple game plan for this one at least. Sit deep and look to counter. Let's at least make them play well if they're going to win and not gift them any easy goals. 

[deep blue]

On 05/10/2021 at 11:35, Stadt said:

I hate it when we play 352 but they struggled with it last time. Iheanacho has to start alongside Vardy, in possession Castagne & Pereira obviously push up which should offer the front 2 enough support, Soumare adds physicality which will help combat their size.

 

 

                           Vardy   Iheanacho

 

             Soumare       Choudhury        Tielemans

                           

     Castagne  Cags Vestergaard  Amartey  Pereira 

                             

                                Schmeichel

 

 

Lookman and Barnes to come on for Choudhury & Vestergaard if we we smell blood or need to chase the game.

With 3 genuine midfielders I don't see the need for 3 CBs. Surely better to dispense with one of Vestergaard or Amartey and add Lookman up front - have a bigger attacking presence.

[fuchsntf]

We should Stop playing 2nd best..Not Shifting in our pants every week, & Rodgers telling us every Team is good...

& Ffs Play in Blue..!!!

[robbieLOVESthealmightylcfc]

                         Kasper

 

Ricardo Evans Soyuncu Castange

 

Lookman Tielemans Soumare Barnes/marc

     

 

                      Kelechi Vardy

[sacreblueits442]

20 minutes ago, robbieLOVESthealmightylcfc said:

                         Kasper

 

Ricardo Evans Soyuncu Castange

 

Lookman Tielemans Soumare Barnes/marc

     

 

                      Kelechi Vardy

...far too much quality in the United midfield to only play Youri and Soumare!!!

  Youri lacks pace and Soumare still getting the feel of the Premier League. 

  We are going to be overran in the middle and we can't be looking to press them  as the game would be too open. 

  I am sure Rodgers would be happy for us to stifle the game and keep us in contention for the last 20 minutes. I would surmise he would be looking to start with Albrighton on the right bringing Lookman on off the bench.

Edited 7 October 2021 by sacreblueits442

[robbieLOVESthealmightylcfc]

You'd drop one of the top 2 in when out of possession.  I think the loss of not having one of kel or vardy on is worse than not having a 3rd natural midfielder (hamza or mendy) on the pitch. It's not ideal though admittedly 

[oxtonfox]

On 05/10/2021 at 12:05, ARM1968 said:

Currently we are Dead in the Water. Got to get back to the promised land. 
 

This is a huge test for BR - does he have the minerals or is he the Kings new clothes?

 

I hope he has because I genuinely fear what would come next. As I’ve always said, he is a good manager, but he needs to prove he is a great manager. 
 

Maybe he’s just trolling everyone and getting our dip/crash in form out of the way early 🤣

like the High Flying Birds reference. To be honest we could win this but only if they are as crap as we have been and that’s saying a lot. 

[moore_94]

Looks like Man Utd will be missing both Maguire and Varane for this

[foxfanazer]

Varane and slabhead both out for the game against us apparently.  Now if we could just refrain from letting in 5 at the other end we might have a chance

[Deeg67]

I think a 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond and Lookman sitting in the #10 role could be fun.  Not that I expect to see it. especially for this opponent.

[Guest Lako42]

I predict we concede at least 5 here. 

 

I'm becoming more positive. 

[StanSP]

Phil Jones goal incoming. 

[Angus Scott]

I'm afraid I can't be positive about this. We are playing so poorly at the moment, I can only see a defeat. In fact, I think we will lose the next 3 home games & just hope we can get something from Brentford & Leeds. Sorry to be so negative but after the weekend of November 20th, I expect us to be in the bottom 4. 

 

Hopefully I am hopelessly wrong

[Finnegan]

21 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Phil Jones goal incoming. 

 

Which end? 

[StanSP]

Just now, Finnegan said:

 

Which end? 

Both. 

 

The only downside is that we'll have Vestergaard doing the same thing for us... 

[Finnegan]

Just now, StanSP said:

Both. 

 

The only downside is that we'll have Vestergaard doing the same thing for us... 

 

I'd almost take that if he showed some threat at one end or the other. 

 

For all his height he's looked bollocks attacking a ball so far. Had a couple of golden opportunities and got nowhere close. 

[Foxin_Mad]

Easy away win, lump on. Probably some clown like Lingard will score and a peno for Fenandez after Söyüncü commits a foul. Then more dubious defending from Jaws. 

[Stadt]

12 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

I'd almost take that if he showed some threat at one end or the other. 

 

For all his height he's looked bollocks attacking a ball so far. Had a couple of golden opportunities and got nowhere close. 

I was idly browsing FBref the other day and stumbled across this bloke. Probably wouldn't have costed much more than Vestergaard (admittedly he's 21 and we were in the market for an experienced defender). The last centreback we signed from Freiburg has proven to be a mixed bag though  

 

 

[Finnegan]

33 minutes ago, Stadt said:

I was idly browsing FBref the other day and stumbled across this bloke. Probably wouldn't have costed much more than Vestergaard (admittedly he's 21 and we were in the market for an experienced defender). The last centreback we signed from Freiburg has proven to be a mixed bag though  

 

 

 

Destined for Bayern.