[Ixion]

This game is basically a must-win and we're at home next with a break after it, I expect a very strong line-up.

 

[TMDaines]

I think it could be a unchanged team. Perhaps Martial in for Lingard or Rashford, but otherwise the same.

 

[Damien]

So Ibra starting, Rooney probably bench because he picked up a knock and barely trained, no Mkhitaryan, no Shaw, Martial fit, and a stronger team in general. Lingard at the press conference so I usually assume those players start too. My guess:

De Gea
Darmian Smalling Bailly Blind
Fellaini Carrick
Lingard Mata Martial
Ibrahimovic
​

Rooney in for Mata if fit enough.

Yeah I'd go for that too. Maybe Fosu-Mensah in but he'll probably be on the bench. Could possibly see Rojo. Shame we're against City in the Cup as doubt he'll play there either.

 

[Havak]

Jones and Shaw definitely out, I think anyone else could make the squad.

Zlatan is apparently a sure starter, but the rest of the front four is up in the air. I can't decide which two from Lingard, Rashford, Mkhitaryan and Martial would start, or if he'd rather the latter two were used from the bench. Or, maybe he'd rather use Memphis/Young?

Central midfield is also up for debate, but I'd definitely like to see Carrick start. Ideally I'd want Valencia and Blind rested for Stoke.

 

[Carlsen19]

Really wanted to see Mkhitaryan back for this, oh well.

 

[Devil81]

I can only assume he want's Ibra to get scoring goals again, I see no other reason for him to start this one..

 

[Ban]

Martial (if he has recovered from concussion), needs to play as many games as possible.
He is in dreadful form.
The Watford game summarised his season so far. He was tackled hard. He fell down and never got up; like a boxer who had been knocked out cold. It was as if his mind wasn't in the game.

We need to break that cycle of him getting beaten up in every game and the more games he plays, the more quickly he can get some form.

Didn't he get a concussion?

Anyway I expect few changes. Maybe Carrick instead of Ander and Darmian instead of Valencia. Don't know. I'll put the same lineup with maybe Darmian at RB.
Or maybe Carrick will start instead of Ander and Martial instead of Lingard.

 

[rotherham_red]

Really wanted to see Mkhitaryan back for this, oh well.

Same. He tweeted today that he started training, so when he was pictured with Shaw on Friday it must have been fitness training without the ball. Hopefully he gets a chance off the bench against Stoke on Sunday.

 

[Sammyjunn]

I'll get very annoyed if we dont play with that energy and urgency like we did vs Leicester, if we revert back to that same slow paced, passive style of play like vs Feyenoord, Watford, the 4-1 will probably be a fluke.

 

[Devil may care]

Given what Jose said at the presser I am thinking we might see this.

 

[ShakeUnBake]

First thing that came to mind was that fish race from Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

First thing that came to mind was that fish race from Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

You just blew my mind.

 

[MounchesterUtd]

Romero
Darmian Smalling Blind Rojo
Herrera
Lingard Pogba
Mata Rooney Mkhitaryan

I'd keep the quartet of Herrera, Lingard, Pogba and Mata as there seems to be a lot of chemistry building between those four

I'd sub in Rashford and Zlatan around the 55-65 mark for Rooney and either Mata or Mkhi depending on how they play

Bailly to come in for Herrera, with Blind moving to DM to ice the game

 

[ChaddyP]

First team players that more than likely won't play in the international break should start.

Zlatan
Herrera
Mata?
Carrick
Lingard
Schneiderlin
Darmian ?

all fit this bill

Martial hasn't had much game time so he should start. That just leaves the back 4 who should be whoever is available and fit and not named Rojo.


De Gea
Darmian Bailly Smalling Blind
Carrick Schneiderlin
lingard Mata martial
Zlatan

Rooney /Memphis / fellaini subs

 

[Clas Sified]

Does anyone have any idea what Zorya are like? Play style, recent form, any danger men?

 

[Yagami]

I'm no fan of starting Rojo, but starting all 3 of Blind, Smalling and Bailly might be risky considering they're are only reliable CBs. Given the option, I'd only start two for tonight and give Rojo a run out.

 

[NYAS]

I'm no fan of starting Rojo, but starting all 3 of Blind, Smalling and Bailly might be risky considering they're are only reliable CBs. Given the option, I'd only start two for tonight and give Rojo a run out.

Exactly. I would actually go for Darmian at left-back, Rojo and Smalling in the centre and Fosu-Mensah at right-back. Or TFM in the centre with Smalling where I actually think he has performed better (compared to RB), with Rojo and Darmian left- and right-backs respectively.

 

[Maradona10]

Jose will want to win this. I think him saying Rooney cant afford a bad performance is just an indirect message to rooney. I do think Rooney's injury is so he doesnt want to play in this game so that he has a chance at playing in the league. He certainly wont want to be just a europa player and i think he is making shit up.
I just hope Mou plays ibra in both games and keep rooney on the bench for both just to show his squad status to him.

 

[Zippy20]

Does anyone have any idea what Zorya are like? Play style, recent form, any danger men?

I would say, they have played quite well of late and to me Vladyslav Kulach and Jaba Lipartia are the most dangerous players. I can't comment much on their play style, as i haven't watched them many times, but i would say, they are an aggressive side, that will try to hit you on the counter - they lack a top-class goalscorer though.

 

[DWelbz19]

Martial posted this very cheesy picture on Twitter, can we take it as proof he'll start?

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Chaky_Best]

Martial posted this very cheesy picture on Twitter, can we take it as proof he'll start?

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Picture or not, he needs to deliver quickly. We need him back at his best to improve our creativity, but the likes of Mkhitaryan or Lingard may be ahead of him in the big games

 

[.Rossi]

Going for an upset....

2-0 United

 

[Scholesy]

Hope to see Depay

 

[An Irish Red]

Hope to see Depay

If you're hoping to see him on the bench then I agree.

 

[Ixion]

Wasn't going to go to this but since we're likely to see a strong team just bought a couple of tickets, plenty left.

 

[Kant-ona]

Somehow I start to like this senseless thursday evening stuff. It's a competition, but a competition I don't really care about, so I can "enjoy" it in an relaxed mood.

 

[SwansonsTache]

Hope to see Depay

I see no point in this. So far it seems like he doesn't feature in Jose's plans, and there are plenty of guys who do who needs game time.

 

[MD7]

Hope to see Depay

Indeed, still better than whatever Martial has been showing us

 

[sunama]

Indeed, still better than whatever Martial has been showing us

This is true. Martial has been terrible.
However, we believe that Martial can be great for us, one day. Memphis has shown nothing since he arrived.
We know that Memphis can beat up weaker teams, but against EPL teams, Martial has shown for more.
It is possible that Martial was a one season wonder, but Memphis could not perform for even 1 season.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Team news
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has arrived at The Lowry Hotel with his players ahead of tonight’s Europa League tie against Zorya Luhansk.

Mourinho and his players checked in at the city centre hotel on Thursday afternoon, butDavid de Gea was not spotted emerging from the United team coach. M.E.N. photographers reported no sign of Memphis, either.

Read more

Confirmed United squad members:

Romero

Johnstone

Darmian

Fosu-Mensah

Smalling

Bailly

Rojo

Fellaini

Carrick

Schneiderlin

Mata

Lingard

Young

Rooney

Martial

Ibrahimovic

Rashford

Probables:

Blind

Pogba
Actually it appears Herrera is missing as well.

 

[MD7]

This is true. Martial has been terrible.
However, we believe that Martial can be great for us, one day. Memphis has shown nothing since he arrived.
We know that Memphis can beat up weaker teams, but against EPL teams, Martial has shown for more.
It is possible that Martial was a one season wonder, but Memphis could not perform for even 1 season.

That's true, and I do think Martial should get game time, put him on the right (I don't really like Lingard).
But apparently Memphis isn't even in the squad so if he's only going to play 50min in Capital One Cup games, he should leave in January.

 

[Cantonagotmehere]

Somehow I start to like this senseless thursday evening stuff. It's a competition, but a competition I don't really care about, so I can "enjoy" it in an relaxed mood.

I know exactly what you mean.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

Why is he carrying his own bags after a back problem? Typical poor decision making going forward from Wayne.

 

[notcool]

I'd like to see Fosu-Mensah start in defence alongside Smalling or Bailly to see if he can help play it out from the back. Then Carrick to see how he meshes with Pogba and Mata. Perhaps Pogba isn't in the squad though. Then Martial in for Rashford.

Romero
Valencia TFM Smalling Blind
Carrick
Mata Pogba
Lingard Ibra Martial

 

[villain]

-----------Romero
TFM - Bailly - Smalling - Rojo
Schneiderlin - Carrick - Fellaini
--Lingard - Ibra - Martial

Young, Rooney, Rojo to come on if we're winning comfortably.
Rooney, Rashford & Mata to come on if we're struggling.

Or he could play 4231 with Rooney on in place of Schneiderlin.

 

[peridigm]

-----------Romero
TFM - Bailly - Smalling - Rojo
Schneiderlin - Carrick - Fellaini
--Lingard - Ibra - Martial

Young, Rooney, Rojo to come on if we're winning comfortably.
Rooney, Rashford & Mata to come on if we're struggling.

Or he could play 4231 with Rooney on in place of Schneiderlin.

Rojo to replace Rojo? What sorcery you think Jose gonna do to make that happen?

 

[villain]

Rojo to replace Rojo? What sorcery you think Jose gonna do to make that happen?

I meant Darmian to replace Rojo, it's been a long day

 

[sunama]

But apparently Memphis isn't even in the squad so if he's only going to play 50min in Capital One Cup games, he should leave in January.

He should leave asap, but the problem is his wages. Nobody would be prepared to pay such high wages for a Championship quality player. And as a young player who feels that he has "made it", it is highly unlikely that he would willingly leave AND take a pay cut. I think we will have to run down his contract and he'll leave on a free.

It's funny because when he arrived, some people thought he was a player on the same level that Ronaldo was on, when he arrived as an 18 yr old, but now we are talking about getting rid of him for free. Personally, I'd loan him out, asap and hope he does something special to boost his value. Maybe this may attract buyers.

 

[sunama]

Why is he carrying his own bags after a back problem? Typical poor decision making going forward from Wayne.

I'm very suspicious of this back injury.
Personally, I think that he is not injured, but Jose is minimising the embarrassment associated with being dropped.

 

[BIGbadBOO4]

I know this may be a silly question but do bt sport show 1 free to air game every now and then? My dad had bt sport and just changed to sky so can't watch this anymore