[Invictus]

They haven't played for a week, why do they need a breather? We've got West Ham at home next Saturday so it's not like we need to rest them for anything. That doesn't make any sense, being worried about a player getting injured and not being able to play them so the solution is not playing them.

Van Gaal won't start Wayne on the bench anyway but it's always wise to keep your regular starters fresh by not fielding them as starters against lesser opposition. Rooney hasn't had an extended breather since the pres-season started. Fergie did it all the time, why risk someone like Rooney who is dead certain to get injured atleast once per season against a physical pressing team like Leicester ? But thanks for taking it out of context.

 

[Highfather_24]

@vi1lain ,I agree Falcao may start today,if he has impressed in training then why not?I would love to see Falcao start today and grab a goal or two

@jesperjaap ,yes RVP was not great I agree,but he did well.Dropping him is harsh,but keeping in mind the quality we have now,its a luxury we can afford.Correct me if I'm wrong here but RVP always needed a run of games to get going didnt he?

 

[Virror]

Mata has eight goals and four assists in 19 PL matches - didn't realise that until i saw this stat, so i'd keep him in the no. 10 role. I'd bench Rooney, but that won't happen of course!
I really hope we go 4 at the back to allow AdM more freedom to wreak havok!

Rooney has 3 points in 4 games, there is no reason to drop him.

 

[SirAF]

It would be lunacy, and hugely unfair, to drop Mata right now. Can't see it.

I'm in agreement that Falcao will start on the bench and get a good 30 minutes seond half at least.

Adnan to freshen things up later as well. We don't want another promising yougster eyeing the exit door because he's not getting enough playing time.

I agree. Although I'm not worried about Januzaj, he'll get his chances, and at any rate he's just signed a long term contract.

 

[Highfather_24]

Its a similarity him, guardiola and Mourinho have. I read in his last year pep worked upto 12-13 hours a day to study opponents, Mourinho had AVB as his opposition scout and was always gave him a lot of importance. LVg seems to spend a lot of time on this too. Rene did it for fergie in his later years(I remember van persie lauding rene for this) and carlos queroz did it when we won the champions league too..

His attention to detail is truly brilliant.It just shows why he has been so succesfull over the year.He is a winner through and through.I just love him

 

[Pexbo]

It's always wise to keep your regular starters fresh by not fielding them as starters against lesser opposition. Fergie did it all the time, why risk someone like Rooney who is dead certain to get injured atleast once per season against a physical pressing team like Leicester ? But thanks for taking it out of context.

Absolute nonsense. It's the middle of September and we've got 1 game a week until Christmas with an international break in 3 weeks. The last thing anyone needs is "resting", they need game after game and the rhythm that brings. This is a group of players that got used to playing 1 game ever 3 or 4 days. One game a week will be fraustrating to them as it is let alone resting them and making it a fortnight between matches when they haven't even played 5 games this season.

 

[Irrational.]

I am not too worried.If there is anyone who is adept at handling youth players its LVG.

Januzaj will get his chances whether it is from the start or from the bench,he just has to take them.

Van Gaal is the kind of man who is not afraid to drop the likes of RVP or Mata for Januzaj.Juve and Fiorentina can feck off.

Good point. I think most likely it will be Mata that pays the price for Adnan's inclusion.

I'd love to see a 4-4-2 today, something along the lines of:

DDG

Rafa, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw,

Adnan, Herrera, Blind, Angel,

Rooney, Falcao

It would be the first time in a long time we would look devastating down the flanks, and playing the Manchester United way.

 

[Highfather_24]

I partly agree with @Pexbo on this one.Look at Chelsea and Mourinho.They have a main starting 11 and a group of maybe 15 core players who get the most amount of games.They dont need much rest or rotation,they have that fixed spine of that team.

I dont know how it works,but maybe this is the reason they dont have much injuries.The players are sharp and fit.Although it could also be the other way around.

Regardless,we just have 1 game per week now,and I want us to have a core starting 11,and a short squad with fit,flexible and sharp players.That builds continuity,momentum and confidence.

After all that is said and done,lets thrash Leicester today

 

[Pexbo]

Good point. I think most likely it will be Mata that pays the price for Adnan's inclusion.

Until Mata's contribution drops I see no reason whatsoever to drop him. His link up between midfield and attack and goals/assists have been brilliant so far.

 

[vidal7]

Tweet

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[Highfather_24]

Good point. I think most likely it will be Mata that pays the price for Adnan's inclusion.

I'd love to see a 4-4-2 today, something along the lines of:

DDG

Rafa, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw,

Adnan, Herrera, Blind, Angel,

Rooney, Falcao

It would be the first time in a long time we would look devastating down the flanks, and playing the Manchester United way.

Would love to see something like this.Although it seems unlikely.Tired of watching Young and Valencia drilling hopeless crosses into the box
Adnan and Angel would bring that spark,that creativity,that magic to get you off your seat we so desperately needed in the flanks

Although it will be harsh to drop Mata,I just love the guy.Also his goalscoring and assisting record speaks for itself,and the team plays well around him.His touch and buildup play is very vital for us imo.

 

[Invictus]

Absolute nonsense. It's the middle of September and we've got 1 game a week until Christmas with an international break in 3 weeks. The last thing anyone needs is "resting", they need game after game and the rhythm that brings. This is a group of players that got used to playing 1 game ever 3 or 4 days. One game a week will be fraustrating to them as it is let alone resting them and making it a fortnight between matches when they haven't even played 5 games this season.

Piss talk right here.

We still have a massive squad with a variety of attacking targets. Sooner or later the shuffling will start. It's not about it being frustrating to certain players. It's about getting everyone up to speed. Mata and Rooney have had the entire pre-season and have started every single league match till now to pretty much get into their groove. The latter also went out on international duty so is well ahead of schedule compared to Januzaj or Falcao. It's a team game, a squad game where depth counts heavily. Or would you rather the likes of Januzaj gain no significant match sharpness ? What if the starters are out for extended periods ? We rely on rusty benchwarmers that only made a few sub appearances here and there ? Contingency planning isn't a forte I gather..

 

[SonnyTheHaloPro]

Van Persie Lol? What is so funny?

Also about rooney do you really think LVG made him captain and will not drop his at this stage due to some kind of peer pressure?

I put lol because some people obviously didn't look at his overall performance last week.

And I dunno about peer pressure, I just think he wanted to make someone who has been here a long time captain, that player just happened to be Rooney unfortunately.

 

[SonnyTheHaloPro]

It would be lunacy, and hugely unfair, to drop Mata right now. Can't see it.

I'm in agreement that Falcao will start on the bench and get a good 30 minutes seond half at least.

Adnan to freshen things up later as well. We don't want another promising yougster eyeing the exit door because he's not getting enough playing time.

Adnan is on a 5 year contract, he can eye the exit door all he wants because he isn't going anywhere.

 

[Barca84]

I agree. Although I'm not worried about Januzaj, he'll get his chances, and at any rate he's just signed a long term contract.

Adnan is on a 5 year contract, he can eye the exit door all he wants because he isn't going anywhere.

Absolutely agree but contracts do mean feck all these days. I'm not worried just saying it will be good man management to not have him sat on the bench too much, keep him keen and involved, and those in front of him on their toes.

Great to have the luxury of these problems after recent travails.

 

[Randall Flagg]

Van Gaal won't start Wayne on the bench anyway but it's always wise to keep your regular starters fresh by not fielding them as starters against lesser opposition. Rooney hasn't had an extended breather since the pres-season started. Fergie did it all the time, why risk someone like Rooney who is dead certain to get injured atleast once per season against a physical pressing team like Leicester ? But thanks for taking it out of context.

No European games? It would be ridiculous to rest players at this stage

Besides fergie rarely rested played for league games, unless it was around Xmas time. He was always more likely to change it for European games.

 

[CG1010]

After LVG's comments, I am convinced that we will stick to the diamond. My final prediction:
-------------DDG------------
-Rafael---Smalling-Rojo--Shaw
-----------Blind---------------
---Herrera-------Di Maria----
-----------Mata---------------
----Falcao-------Rooney-----

 

[Mr Anderson]

Just woke up, clear blue skies, sun's out and bright.

It's gonna be a great day, I can just feel it.

Anyone else reckon Falcao will start ahead of RVP?

A lot reckon it is a possibility. Depends how sharp Falcao is after another weeks worth of training. As it is away though, reckon Falcao will be eased in.

 

[Randall Flagg]

I put lol because some people obviously didn't look at his overall performance last week.

And I dunno about peer pressure, I just think he wanted to make someone who has been here a long time captain, that player just happened to be Rooney unfortunately.

Why unfortunately?

Do you not think LVG rates rooney?

 

[Pexbo]

Piss talk right here.

We still have a massive squad with a variety of attacking targets. Sooner or later the shuffling will start. It's not about it being frustrating to certain players. It's about getting everyone up to speed. Mata and Rooney have had the entire pre-season and have started every single league match till now to pretty much get into their groove. The latter also went out on international duty so is well ahead of schedule compared to Januzaj or Falcao. It's a team game, a squad game where depth counts heavily. Or would you rather the likes of Januzaj gain no significant match sharpness ? What if the starters are out for extended periods ? We rely on rusty benchwarmers that only made a few sub appearances here and there ? Contingency planning isn't a forte I gather..

We're in one competition until the FA Cup finally comes around and then we're in a maximum two. Which means at most there is maximum of 44 games played this season, we're not going to rely on a squad this season.

The most important thing right now is to find our best XI and get them firing on all cylinders and address injury issues as they come. Fringe and backup players get minutes through substitute appearances and, in the case of Adnan, U21 games. Resting players right now is mental, get ahead against Leicester and have the game won before you think about "resting players".

 

[Browniee]

it's getting really unbelievable with people wanting to drop Mata, he's been on form our best player over the last 10-12 games. Mata should be dropped for no one

 

[off the bar]

Piss talk right here.

We still have a massive squad with a variety of attacking targets. Sooner or later the shuffling will start. It's not about it being frustrating to certain players. It's about getting everyone up to speed. Mata and Rooney have had the entire pre-season and have started every single league match till now to pretty much get into their groove. The latter also went out on international duty so is well ahead of schedule compared to Januzaj or Falcao. It's a team game, a squad game where depth counts heavily. Or would you rather the likes of Januzaj gain no significant match sharpness ? What if the starters are out for extended periods ? We rely on rusty benchwarmers that only made a few sub appearances here and there ? Contingency planning isn't a forte I gather..

I can see no logical reason for shuffling the deck so early in the season mate. We need to kick off with our best 11, get the game won and 3 points oin the bag as soon as possible then think about giving game time to other players.

Contingency planning will be in the training regimen to keep them as fit and as sharp as possible, naturally match fitness can only come with playing but if a player is deemed not good enough to start week in week out we can only assume they'll be ready to perform to the required standard when needed

 

[Eric'sCollar]

it's getting really unbelievable with people wanting to drop Mata, he's been on form our best player over the last 10-12 games. Mata should be dropped for no one

I agree and this comes in the week I got him on my shirt but I think the debate is more that he could likely be dropped, not should be dropped. On form and ability, there is no way that he should be left out.

 

[Orton]

If we had Welbeck i'd be more confident.

 

[Browniee]

If we had Welbeck i'd be more confident.

Of squandering chances?

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

If we had Welbeck i'd be more confident.

 

[Randall Flagg]

If we had Welbeck i'd be more confident.

Is nobody getting sick of this yet?

 

[Idxomer]

Van Persie isn't getting dropped today.

 

[Orton]

Same team as last week I reckon. Is Smalling fit? Maybe him instead of Blackett.

 

[villain]

Is nobody getting sick of this yet?

It's been tiresome ever since we sold him.

 

[Browniee]

Is nobody getting sick of this yet?

Extremely

 

[dannyrhinos89]

Can't wait again

I'm back to feeling excited over United games.

Will be a lot tougher than some think though unlike QPR, Leicester aren't pushovers.

Hope we stick with the 442 diamond though.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Can't wait again

I'm back to feeling excited over United games.

Will be a lot tougher than some think though unlike QPR, Leicester aren't pushovers.

Hope we stick with the 442 diamond though.

I am also excited again, last season it got to the stage where I was almost dreading games, now I am looking forward to them again

 

[Oop North]

it's getting really unbelievable with people wanting to drop Mata, he's been on form our best player over the last 10-12 games. Mata should be dropped for no one

Agreed. He keeps chipping in with goals, which is nice, but more importantly he seems to find space in and around the box quite frequently. Smart player.

 

[Drifter]

Sterner test today i feel . 1-2

 

[redwar]

Leicester won't be easy to win. They know hou to take results. It's the team that gathered over 100 points last year.

Some interesting stats.

LEICESTER SHOTS PER GAME: 11.2
ULLOA 'S SHOTS PER GAME: 1.8
ULLOA 'S GOALS PER GAME: 0.75 (3/4)
ULLOA 'S GOAL PER SHOT PER GAME: 0.75/1.8 = 0.41 GOALS PER SHOT

Which in the end means, give Ulloa time on the ball and you 're done. He is on form. The guy nees 3-4 shots to score a goal.
It's time for Rojo or Smalling to step up and give him a hard day at the office.

 

[He Comes From Serbia]

Repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat

 

[sharpiesdance]

It seems to be taking forever to get to 1.30...

 

[Shaw Thing]

When do the line ups get released

 

[Richter]

When do the line ups get released

45 mins before match