[AgentP]

I don't think Carrick will replace Pogba in the line up. We'll need players with more energy for this game. My line up would be

De Gea
Valencia Bailly Blind Shaw
Herrera Fellaini
Mkhi Lingard Martial
Rashford

​

 

[Ban]

No chance we'll play with midfield 2 in this one. Fellaini, Carrick and Herrera probably and every one of them will have to put an extra effort to replace Pogba's contribution.

 

[AXVnee7]

The silver lining is that they're just as depleted as we are. Still KDB, Aguero and Sane are dangerous.

 

[whatwha]

I would've lived in a hotel If I had to travel a lot and it cost me one weeks' wages.

Why? Staying in a hotel is a pain in the arse compared to having your own place.

 

[charlenefan]

Why has this game been scheduled for a Thursday night when the rest of the league has played last night and today?

 

[Mihai]

Why? Staying in a hotel is a pain in the arse compared to having your own place.

Probably because the only time I stayed in a hotel for longer than a couple of days was when in holidays

 

[top1whoisman]

Why has this game been scheduled for a Thursday night when the rest of the league has played last night and today?

Probably for TV, but it was either 2 days between Sun-Wed or 2 days between Thu-Sun for both teams, so doesn't really matter. At least both teams are fresher for a big game.

 

[jymufc20]

Why has this game been scheduled for a Thursday night when the rest of the league has played last night and today?

So sky can show all the eventual top fours games in the week.

 

[VanGaalEra]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Grunge]

Well this will be a huge test of Mourinho's nous.

He has proved to be a master manager / manipulator of his squad identifying the weaknesses of his opposition and exposing those weaknesses week-in & week-out. All the while getting results with an ever-depleted squad of player of his own. Were it not for the shear wastefulness of our forwards for most of our home games this would be a far less important game ... or would it? Scoring even a few more h=goals at home this season and this game might be for a spot at the top of the table ... hmmm

So regardless of importance the question is "can Mou shuffle his remaining squad players" and come up with a strategy that snuffs out Citeh's attack AND can exploit their creaky defence?"

Perhaps his biggest challenge yet and given Livershite's most recent loss, a draw might be more than enough with but a few games (in hand) to play.

David de Gea

Antonio Valencia
Eric Bailly
Daley Blind
Luke Shaw

Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Ander Herrera
Marouane Fellaini
Jesse Lingard


Marcus Rashford
Anthony Martial

Options: Lingard, Carrick, Rooney, Fosu-Mensa, Darmian

Might just be enough!

 

[whatwha]

Probably because the only time I stayed in a hotel for longer than a couple of days was when in holidays

Opinions differ of course. I prefer AirBnB/renting an apartment when on holiday.

 

[prtk0811]

This is the hardest game on paper we've had, and at a point where our squad is at it's weakest.

It applies to them as well.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

With Pogba out, I guess we'll see the midfield three of Carrick, Herrera and Fellaini that we saw under Van Gaal, which worked really well and had a really good balance, if i'm being honest.

Fellaini as the most advanced centre midfielder, with Herrera sitting a bit deeper and Carrick holding.

 

[Android1974]

Is Guardiola playing some mind games? The whole season he played extra-width on the field, with wingers really pushed up the field and line, in his 4-1-4-1, is he going to play narrow now? And would that disturb our possible 3 at the back?

 

[Android1974]

Can anyone remember when we last played a midfield three of Carrick, Fellaini and Hererra? Have we ever?

If they all play at their best that's actually a decent midfield trio.

I think it was just the Everton at home game, and Pogba was introduced at half-time, so…

 

[Android1974]

Since Pogba is out, it'll be 4-3-3 for sure now.

De Gea
Valencia - Bailly - Blind - Darmian
Carrick
Herrera - Fellaini
Lingard - Rashford - Martial​

It's possible, but why are you ruling out 3 at the back?

 

[Android1974]

Have I missed something, is Mhki injured? Barely anyone seems to be naming them in their team now. I know he has gone off the boil a bit in the league but he would still be very useful if we are setting up to play on the counter again. A difficult choice between him and Lingard for me. Lingard links up with Rashford well but Mhki still has that bit extra that could get us over the line. He also tracks back and makes decent tackles a lot more efficiently than Lingard.

Of course, I have him as a definite starter, having rested against Burnley. It's true he's playing better in Europa League games, though, and was dropped for some reason for Lingard against the Chelsea important game, and we might see a similar template tomorrow.

 

[Android1974]

Confirmed United squad members (MEN):

David de Gea
Sergio Romero
Joel Pereira

Antonio Valencia
Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Matteo Darmian
Eric Bailly
Axel Tuanzebe
Daley Blind
Luke Shaw

Marouane Fellaini
Michael Carrick
Ander Herrera

Ashley Young
Jesse Lingard
Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Marcus Rashford
Anthony Martial
Wayne Rooney

Nothing surprising really.

The only surprise is people still considering Young a winger, really.

 

[Android1974]

I just had an idea that will scare the s… out of you: what if Burnley was Mourinho experimenting Fellaini as center-back? He did say we played with 3 center-backs that game…

 

[Android1974]

Following what he said in the press conference, supposing Silva's injured and Touré's tired, any chance Guardiola could go for this?

Fernandinho
Sterling–de Bruyne–Sané
Agüero–Jesus​

 

[Jaap]

Nailed on: de Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Herrera, IMO.

Blind, Shaw, Darmian, Young; Fellaini, Carrick, Lingard, Martial & Rashford fighting for the remaining seven spots up for grabs.

I'd play:

De Gea
Valencia - Bailly - Blind - Shaw
Carrick - Herrera
Mkhitaryan - Fellaini - Martial
Rashford

Torn between Fellaini & Lingard, to be honest.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a similar outlet v Chelsea away in the FA Cup à la 5-3-2.

 

[Liver_bird]

Could really do with City doing us a favour here. Mind you we'll let Deeney and Ighalo think their Yorke and Cole reincarnated.

 

[Hellboy]

DDG

Valencia
Bailly
Blind
Young

Carrick
Fellaini
Herrera

Rashford
Martial
Mkhitaryan

1-2 for us hopefully

 

[Android1974]

Wouldn't be surprised to see a similar outlet v Chelsea away in the FA Cup à la 5-3-2.

It was more of a 4-4-2, really.

 

[sunama]

Why? Staying in a hotel is a pain in the arse compared to having your own place.

Indeed. I love home comforts. My house may not be as neat and tidy as a serviced hotel room, but a hotel room doesn't give me the comfort and feeling of being relaxed.

 

[CaptainBirdseye]

Thought there was a chance the Pogba 'injury' was mind games, but it seems Mourinho mentioned it a couple more times after the embargo started. fecks sake...

 

[top1whoisman]

Thought there was a chance the Pogba 'injury' was mind games, but it seems Mourinho mentioned it a couple more times after the embargo started. fecks sake...

Do you have the embargoed clip or quotes?

 

[EyeInTheSky]

I'd rather Rooney start the match than come on late in the game. Cant remember when Rooney coming off the bench didnt include utter disappointment.

But utter relief for the bench

 

[CaptainBirdseye]

Do you have the embargoed clip or quotes?

“I think maybe opponents look at us with different eyes, because we don’t have Zlatan [Ibrahimovic], Paul [Pogba], Marcos [Rojo], Juan [Mata], Jones and Smalling.

“Maybe they look at us with different eyes, but I think they’re not stupid, they’re not naive and they know that we’re going to give them a fight.

From the Mirror.

Seems unlikely for him to namedrop him in that sort of scenario. Plus no Pogba in the usual squad list of players arriving at the Lowry

 

[top1whoisman]

“I think maybe opponents look at us with different eyes, because we don’t have Zlatan [Ibrahimovic], Paul [Pogba], Marcos [Rojo], Juan [Mata], Jones and Smalling.

“Maybe they look at us with different eyes, but I think they’re not stupid, they’re not naive and they know that we’re going to give them a fight.

From the Mirror.

Seems unlikely for him to namedrop him in that sort of scenario. Plus no Pogba in the usual squad list of players arriving at the Lowry

Cheers. No I know he's out, just wondering whether there was more specifics discussed in the embargoed part.

 

[Womp]

No Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Ibra, Mata or Pogba. Available players fatigued due to alternate options being unavailable. If we win this game Jose really is a fecking genius and one of the best managers to ever grace the game. I was confident but without Pogba it's going to be difficult.

 

[CaptainBirdseye]

Cheers. No I know he's out, just wondering whether there was more specifics discussed in the embargoed part.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/chris-smalling-phil-jones-anger-10300613

dunno why I didn't just post the link to begin with! mostly a bit more slagging off of cautiousness from Jones and Smalling. not much else

 

[Jonno]

NOt sure what game you were watching tbh.

They were better in the first half, but really Zlatan should have leveled it with he chance he had at the end of it.

In the second half we were the better team. We should've had a penalty as well and Bravo should've been sent off.

What game were you watching? We were completely out classed, out thought and out played, it was embarrassing. We did have a very brief moment where zlatan missed a chance but that wouldn't have changed how well they played in that first half. Second half we were much better but it was too late.

 

[PoTMS]

Difficult to get anything out of this to be honest with the players we've got available. City should win this one but the United team put out may actually surprise us. Again, quietly optimistic, as I was against Chelsea.

 

[Adebesi]

Think Pogba missing is a disaster for us tomorrow. He's our best player and one of our leaders. With both Pogba and Zlatan missing I think we will struggle. Hope I'm wrong.

I think will be ok. Zlatan although he's been great will not be a miss for us in the these type of games where we play with quick players on the counter and when it comes to Pogba other than the Chelsea game just gone he hasn't been very good for us against the big teams. Don't get me wrong i'd rather have Pogba than not have him but I think we will be going back to basics tomorrow with a solid defence and pacey players going forward and Pogba falls somewhere in between those sort of players so he won't be missed as much as he might be in other games IMO.

Fingers crossed it's another tactical masterclass from Mourinho.

It's about leaders tho. Without Pogba or Ibra we lack leaders on the pitch, a problem we had last year. The team is more confident now so hopefully it won't be an issue, but if things aren't going according to plan those two would be the guys you'd want in there sorting it out.

Mourinho might think Rooney will be useful for that. I suspect he won't tho. The squad looks mentally tougher than it was in previous seasons.

 

[Mike09]

I was so confident until I read the news that Pogba is injured. When we lost Zlatan, at least both Martial and Rashford did perform well recently but losing both Pogba and Rojo are definitely big loss. No one in the available squad can come close to replace them.

Still thinking we should go for 352 in this game to beat City De Bruyne and Silva in midfield.

DDG
Darmian Bailly Blind
Valencia Herrera Carrick Mkhy Young
Rashford and Martial

 

[Womp]

Think we'll go with

DDG
Darmian Bailly Blind
Valencia Herrera Carrick Fellaini Young
Rashford Lingard

 

[Android1974]

No Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Ibra, Mata or Pogba. Available players fatigued due to alternate options being unavailable. If we win this game Jose really is a fecking genius and one of the best managers to ever grace the game. I was confident but without Pogba it's going to be difficult.

Actually, except Bailly and Blind, who have to play no matter what, we can present a relatively fresh (4 days rest) team, with none of the other players having played both last two games (just perhaps Lingard, if he starts, but he only lasted ±60' in all the four games in a row he played).

 

[Android1974]

Think we'll go with

DDG
Darmian Bailly Blind
Valencia Herrera Carrick Fellaini Young
Rashford Lingard

Could be, but I feel the center-backs would be arranged like this: Bailly–Blind–Darmian.

 

[Lawman]

Actually, except Bailly and Blind, who have to play no matter what, we can present a relatively fresh (4 days rest) team, with none of the other players having played both last two games (just perhaps Lingard, if he starts, but he only lasted ±60' in all the four games in a row he played).

Chelsea game aside I think he got withdrawn more for performance than showing to tire.