[M Bison]

Romero
Young tuanzebe bailly shaw

TFM

Schweinsteiger pogba

Mata lingard

Rashford​

Would love to see these get a run out also.

 

[NYAS]

5pm kick off is a pain in the arse. Why so early?

I assume it's to allow people to be able to also watch the Champions League fixtures later that night.

 

[Offside]

Rashford, Bastian, Shaw and Lingard to start.

 

[starman]

5pm kick off is a pain in the arse. Why so early?

St Etienne is a small town, I went to a 8pm game during the Euros, and it was awful getting home (most people were travelled back to Lyon as they were based there). The numbers wont be the same travelling back with this game, but there was a two hour wait just to get into St Etienne station (lots of people were also getting crushed in the queue, policing was terrible) and, got back to Lyon about 3am. There no were late tram or bus service put on, so it meant a walk back to the hotel (there were only about 20 uber and taxi's between thousand of fans) got back to my hotel about 4am.

Whether that has any reasoning behind the time, i dont know, but yeah, 5pm is a good time if you are going to the game

 

[Jazz]

Let's get the good ole Jose bus-parking tactic and see this out. Should try for a 6-3-1 and watch their futile attempts to break us down.

Yep. Jose needs to bring his big red bus to France and park it on St Et's pitch

 

[CM]

5pm kick off is a pain in the arse. Why so early?

Not sure, though it's good in terms of giving us recovery time before the cup final.

 

[m1tch]

I'd just pick a hard to beat side with the big guns on the bench. I know we should be fine with our cup final 11 playing Wednesday then Sunday but this tie should be done and our players have played more recently than Southampton's.

De Gea
Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw
Carrick, Schweinsteiger
Lingard, Fellaini, Rashford
Rooney

 

[Antisocial]

Is it Bailly who's a booking away from a suspension in the next round, or am I making that up? If so, then I wouldn't risk him getting booked in this one - we'll need him when we inevitably draw Shakhtar away if we're in the next round a couple of days before we play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup.

 

[NYAS]

Is it Bailly who's a booking away from a suspension in the next round, or am I making that up? If so, then I wouldn't risk him getting booked in this one - we'll need him when we inevitably draw Shakhtar away if we're in the next round a couple of days before we play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup.

We'll somehow draw Shakhtar away in the first-leg and Roma away in the second-leg of the same round.

 

[NoPace]

I'd just pick a hard to beat side with the big guns on the bench. I know we should be fine with our cup final 11 playing Wednesday then Sunday but this tie should be done and our players have played more recently than Southampton's.

De Gea
Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw
Carrick, Schweinsteiger
Lingard, Fellaini, Rashford
Rooney

Agree with logic but for me that means Young defending well on the wing, Darmian at FB being solid one on one normally, and Rashford up front as a real threat on the break to end the tie with a single away goal. So likely Schweinsteiger starts on the bench. I'd get Lingard central to give us some mobility and someone who can turn centrally.

------Rashford------
Rooney---------Young
---Lingard-Fellaini---
---------Carrick--------
Shaw-----------Darmian
--Smalling-Bailly------

Should be a horrid game, ideally.

 

[TMDaines]

Christ, there's predicted lineups with two man midfields of Bastian and Carrick in the same side. Never again.

I'd go with:

Romero
Valencia - Bailly - Smalling - Shaw
Fellaini - Schweinsteiger - Pogba
Mata - Zlatan - Rashford

Bench of GK, Rojo, Darmain, Carrick, Lingard, Martial, Rooney

Leave De Gea, Jones and Mkhi home to allow them to get over niggles and illness, although it wouldn't surprise if Jones ends up being out for weeks and months once again.

I don't know what we'll actually see though.

 

[Gerald G]

De Gea
Valencia--Bailly--Rojo--Shaw
Schweinsteiger--Fellaini--Pogba
Mata--Ibrahimovic--Rashford​

 

[3KDré]

Ideally:

Romero
Tony-Smalling-Bailly-Shaw
Schweinsteiger-Fosu
Lingard-Mata-Mkhi
Rashford
​

Highly unlikely, and understandably so.

 

[Antisocial]

We'll somehow draw Shakhtar away in the first-leg and Roma away in the second-leg of the same round.

Sounds about right

 

[marukomu]

Another game where I have no idea who will play.

It's St. Etienne v. Manchester United.

 

[Red Dreams]

Only realised yesterday this was at 11.00 CT

 

[Giant Midget]

DDG

Darmian Bailly Rojo Shaw

Carrick Pogba

Mata Lingard Rashford

Ibra

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Just spent ages checking the positions of star constellations with my Astrolabe, throwing calendars in the bin and pulling my hair out! How can Thursday be the 22nd Feb if I know for certain that the EFL final is on the 26th Feb?

I even googled to check the final wasn't played on a Monday this year!

Once I realised that the EL game has been moved to early Wednesday 22nd (to stop a conflict with StE and OL playing home games on the same days) everything made sense.

@Lucky McLuckerson @Niall Can someone fix the OP?

 

[Pexbo]

Whilst I am all for us playing attractive, expansive and attacking football, I'll be more than happy if we set up to be defensively sound and try to pinch a goal in a counter attack.

We should be playing this one in 2nd gear with self-preservation in mind.

 

[Ballache]

Play the second team, rest Pogba, Zlatan and Valencia. Play defensive football and get the job done.

 

[Chaky_Best]

I'll be in the stadium (but with the Saint-Etienne fans...)

Just hope a good game from us, giving game time to one or two players before the Cup final this weekend. But playing wednesday 6pm and Sunday should be ok for lining up a good team

Be careful the first 30 mins when Sainté will try to push a lot.

Hope that our defense will be better than what we saw earlier.

----------------------------------Romero---------------------------------
Valencia------------------Bailly---------Smalling-------------------Rojo
---------------------------Carrick-------Pogba---------------------------
Mata---------------------------Mkhitaryan---------------------Rashford
------------------------------------Ibra-----------------------------------

2-1 Saint-Etienne as we'll still be sh*i away in Europe

 

[Relfy]

We're pretty much through so hopefully we can just play this one out. Hopefully Shaw gets a start here, and we give a few chance to play themselves into form. Would keep Rashford up top, and Young probably deserves another start here - we can save Valencia for the final. Maybe Mata in for Miki. Just get through to the next round without too much effort.

 

[Niall]

@Lucky McLuckerson @Niall Can someone fix the OP?

Done.

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Done.

Cheers! I'm all calmed down now!

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

Hoping for a bloody horrible game with no momentum or pace to it. I hope the referee lets nothing go and blows up for every niggly foul whilst inadequately adding the time back on. An absolutely torturous 0-0 draw would be lovely.

Partly because I won't get to see the first half anyway, and also so we're not knackered for the cup final, whilst Southampton haven't played since 11th Feb.

 

[Ballache]

I'm kinda hoping we lose 1-0 or 2-1 because I'm a bit superstitious and believe that a winning run has to end at some point and if it ends here then we can go on another one

 

[Havak]

Think we will see Zlatan and Pogba return purely because of who we're facing, but expect them to be subbed off when/if possible. Valencia may come back in, but Young was good so I'd be happy for him to play again and leave Tony out until the League Cup final.

I can see Romero getting a third start in a row until de Gea comes back into the side on Sunday. Smalling's played a lot of late and I was expecting to see Bailly + Rojo, but with Rooney not travelling and Carrick probably not starting, Jose will likely want his third choice Captain to play again. Fellaini, Shaw, and Schweinsteiger are the other players I think will get a game.

Will take any result that puts us through, avoid any injuries etc. Would of course rather win / avoid defeat but as long as we're through, all is good.

Romero
Young Smalling Rojo Shaw
Schweinsteiger
Fellaini Pogba
Mata Ibrahimovic Rashford
​

 

[Offside]

Play the second team, rest Pogba, Zlatan and Valencia. Play defensive football and get the job done.

Play attacking football, score and then the tie is over completely.

 

[Carlsen19]

Hope we see TFM and Bastian because I can't see where else they're going to get minutes from this season.

 

[Jacko21]

We have to manage the early minutes and the hostility within the stadium.

If they start on the front foot and steal themselves a goal, they'll believe anything is possible.

No dramas please. One goal on their patch and we're through.

I expect a strong side, with Mourinho resting three individuals once the tie is all but won.

 

[top1whoisman]

I'm kinda hoping we lose 1-0 or 2-1 because I'm a bit superstitious and believe that a winning run has to end at some point and if it ends here then we can go on another one

Our winning run is 4 matches, unbeaten one 6. Wouldn't personally even call them runs yet.

 

[CG1010]

I'm kinda hoping we lose 1-0 or 2-1 because I'm a bit superstitious and believe that a winning run has to end at some point and if it ends here then we can go on another one

Our unbeaten run already ended in the league cup. If that's what you are referring to. Our 'winning run' consists of only 4 games so we are good in that regard.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Why would anyone want Lingard to start. Some have even got Fellaini and Lingard in the same team.
Fred the Red's not busy, might be another option if we really are that desperate to lose.

 

[Ronaldo's Mum Eh?]

So happy this game is on at 12:00 PM EST.

Thought it was on at 3 PM and that meant it was on during class time, but now I can actually watch it! Let's kick on to the last 16 and then destroy Soton on sunday for our first major trophy under Mou!

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

Our winning run is 4 matches, unbeaten one 6. Wouldn't personally even call them runs yet.

Our unbeaten run already ended in the league cup. If that's what you are referring to. Our 'winning run' consists of only 4 games so we are good in that regard.

I have no idea what are you on about! That was a draw!!!! We all saw only one Hull goal....
On a serious note, I'd be happy with nice draw, and no injuries, and no cards.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

We'll somehow draw Shakhtar away in the first-leg and Roma away in the second-leg of the same round.

Roma. I hope not they are the best side on the planet.

 

[peridigm]

I'm kinda hoping we lose 1-0 or 2-1 because I'm a bit superstitious and believe that a winning run has to end at some point and if it ends here then we can go on another one

It already ended and a new run has begun unless you're one of those that is not recognizing the Hull penalty.

Romero
Valencia Bailly Rojo Blind
Carrick
Fellaini Pogba
Mata Rashford Lingard

Subs: Bastian, TFM, Mkhitaryan

 

[RedMaestro]

Is it Bailly who's a booking away from a suspension in the next round, or am I making that up? If so, then I wouldn't risk him getting booked in this one - we'll need him when we inevitably draw Shakhtar away if we're in the next round a couple of days before we play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup.

I think he's got 2 yellow cards.

 

[Grunge]

Whilst I am all for us playing attractive, expansive and attacking football, I'll be more than happy if we set up to be defensively sound and try to pinch a goal in a counter attack. We should be playing this one in 2nd gear with self-preservation in mind.

I'm thinking a nil-nil would work for me.

We're pretty much through so hopefully we can just play this one out. Hopefully Shaw gets a start here, and we give a few chance to play themselves into form. Would keep Rashford up top, and Young probably deserves another start here - we can save Valencia for the final. Maybe Mata in for Miki. Just get through to the next round without too much effort.

Hopefully Shaw plays but I think the above expectations for a conservative approach will restrict him to a defensive role within the strategy. Don't expect him to "bomb on"

 

[EvilIrwin]

Fellaini must come in for this game however the walking bog brush will give away free kicks and put the defence under pressure. Instead I would play him higher up but he won't be played there.
Mata I would expect to start with mkhitaryan on the bench, I would put young on the left too, his defensive duties will be invaluable here and giving Shaw support, assuming he plays.
Schweinsteigger should also come in since he missed the fa cup game, his european experience will be needed here.

St Etienne should be going all out for this as they have nothing to lose, hopefully leaving gaps for Utd to score atleast 1 goal to kill off the tie.