[GrandJury]

How many teams have come to Old Trafford and scored more than 1 goal against us this season?

They'll have to play on the forward foot and it'll play into our hands.

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

I think Fellaini will start because of his work rate and general energy. Almost certain to play with three midfielders and I think Carrick will be on the bench.

 

[MadMike]

So the only difference in what we expect to see is I think he'll go with Mata and you think Miki. I wouldnt be at all surprised if you were right, but with a match under his belt and with Miki having been pretty poor of late I reckon Mata will get the nod.

Mata just got back from injury and played a full game (well, 85') against Arsenal. Mkhi's played in all our EL games and has been much better there than in the League. Also he was taken off at 60' in the Emirates, presumably to be ready for this one.

I just don't see it happening.

 

[top1whoisman]

Mata just got back from injury and played a full game (well, 85') against Arsenal. Mkhi's player all our EL game been much better in there than in the League. Also he was taken off at 60' in the Emirates, presumably to be ready for this one.

I just don't see it happening.

Also judging from some of Mata's own comments, he's far from perfectly fit.

 

[jungledrums]

I think Fellaini will start because of his work rate and general energy. Almost certain to play with three midfielders and I think Carrick will be on the bench.

Yeah, it would appear that basically 8 of the 11 are certain. Keeper is tough to pick, then picking 2 of Lingard, Martial, Mkhitaryan or Mata is also tough. Smart money has Lingard and Mkhi starting I suppose.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Going to be nervy. If we can get an early goal, that will settle a few nerves. But if it is 1-1 with twenty minutes left, that will be a long twenty minutes because all they need is a second goal to go through.

 

[peridigm]

I don't think Mata will start. He will likely be rested for Spurs and brought on only if we're behind.

 

[top1whoisman]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

Yeah, it would appear that basically 8 of the 11 are certain. Keeper is tough to pick, then picking 2 of Lingard, Martial, Mkhitaryan or Mata is also tough. Smart money has Lingard and Mkhi starting I suppose.

I'd rule Mata out due to lack of match fitness. I'd rule Jones/Smalling out for the same reason. Martial unlikely to start as Mourinho doesn't really trust him. Barring any surprises, I think this is most likely:

-----------Romero
Valencia--Bailly--Blind--Darmian
---Fellaini--Herrera--Pogba
Mkhitaryan-Rashford-Lingard

 

[Adebesi]

Mata just got back from injury and played a full game (well, 85') against Arsenal. Mkhi's played in all our EL games and has been much better there than in the League. Also he was taken off at 60' in the Emirates, presumably to be ready for this one.

I just don't see it happening.

Yeah you are probably right.

 

[top1whoisman]

I'd rule Mata out due to lack of match fitness. I'd rule Jones/Smalling out for the same reason. Martial unlikely to start as Mourinho doesn't really trust him. Barring any surprises, I think this is most likely:

-----------Romero
Valencia--Bailly--Blind--Darmian
---Fellaini--Herrera--Pogba
Mkhitaryan-Rashford-Lingard

Would be really surprised if that's not our starting XI.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Jose is cautious, Carrick can't play 3 games in 1 week so will use the squad. We know he likes Fellaini for whatever reasons, so he will start.

Romero,Valencia,Bailly,Blind,Darmian,Pogba,Herrera,Fellaini,Lingard,Rashford,Mkhi

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

Would be really surprised if that's not our starting XI.

The only way I can see that not being the starting XI is if Jose decides to drop Fellaini for an attacker. Would have to be Mata.

 

[top1whoisman]

The only way I can see that not being the starting XI is if Jose decides to drop Fellaini for an attacker. Would have to be Mata.

I think Darmian and Lingard are the only ones I'm not 100% sure of starting. Could see Martial and Jones/Smalling coming in, but I really think the lineup you posted is the one. Celta couldn't cope with the physicality of Pogba-Fellaini, so I wouldn't change that.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Is Rashford fit for this, Pysio Room says he has a knee injury?

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/players/4425/marcus_rashford_injury.html

 

[Adebesi]

I just feel there is a bit of a depressing mood around the club at the moment. I think a lot of fans are feeling pretty flat after the Swansea and Arsenal games in particular. There is a definite snobbery around the EL, you can see it at every level, from the fans arguing about whether winning it is better than coming second in the league in another thread, right up to Mourinho with a face like a slapped arse in the press conference doing very little to hide the fact that this is a consolation prize and a route into the CL. The season could end on a high but the mood has been more influenced by how disjointed our performances have been, and the seed of worry that has planted in many of us that we could still end up with nothing. If we go through tonight in an edgy game we will be a step closer but it isnt going to fundamentally change that - especially with a trip to Spurs, where we will field a weakened team and probably end up with yet another fairly underwhelming performance and result.

So I really, really hope we turn it on tonight and do more than the minimum required to go through. We need a lift, dammit. We need belief that we can score goals going into the final, that we might even score some in the league. Sure, it might be practically meaningless now in terms of CL qualification, but we still have games to play and we still want to be entertained.

I just think stumbling through in a similar manner to the last round will put unnecessary pressure on us, make the final seem more 50/50 than it really should. Whereas if we turn up and put in a really good attacking performance that is actually reflected in the scoreline we will all feel a bit more excited and upbeat going into the final.

I dont want to accept that just because we have been incapable of scoring goals this season that we are incapable of scoring goals. But that is a bit how I am feeling, at least. In the score prediction game I went with 0-0 because that is just how I feel going into our games at the moment and I dont want the season to fizzle out with me feeling that way, including potentially going into an EL Final.

So please Mourinho. I know getting to the final is the most important thing and you want to kill their fluency and stop them from playing and yadda yadda yadda. But we are a better team that them, with better players all over the pitch, and we have an advantage in the scoreline and we are playing at home. So let's not worry about them attacking us, let's take the game to them and score a shit load of goals, because it will make all the difference to the mood around here. We need it.

 

[wolvored]

1-1 them to score first and we get a free kick fellaini heads in with 10 mins to go.
Hopefully we win comfortably but we haven't scored from open play in the last 3 games now

 

[Offside]

For once a draw at home will be fine. But we really should be winning.

 

[jderbyshire]

Same line-up as the 1st leg, I reckon...

Romero
Valencia Bailly Blind Darmian
Herrera Pogba
Lingard Fellaini Mkhitaryan
Rashford
​

I do wonder if Jose will play De Gea, though...

 

[Adebesi]

Same line-up as the 1st leg, I reckon...

Romero
Valencia Bailly Blind Darmian
Herrera Pogba
Lingard Fellaini Mkhitaryan
Rashford
​

I do wonder if Jose will play De Gea, though...

He definitely should play De Gea. Especially if we have any designs on keeping him here next season. Its our biggest game of the season and he is our number one keeper, he should play.

But its not the end of the world if he doesnt because Romero has been very good, and if De Gea has already decided he is off I can definitely see the logic in giving Romero the glory.

 

[peridigm]

For once a draw at home will be fine. But we really should be winning.

Can't take that chance of getting late into the match and conceding a late goal. Would be a disaster. Exactly the reason I think we gave up on the league too soon.

 

[whatwha]

Is Rashford fit for this, Pysio Room says he has a knee injury?

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/players/4425/marcus_rashford_injury.html

He did point to his knee when he came off at Celta Vigo last week but I don't think it was anything serious.

 

[Zebs]

How many teams have come to Old Trafford and scored more than 1 goal against us this season?

They'll have to play on the forward foot and it'll play into our hands.

Just the one! In fact we've only conceded more than one on six occasions all season. We just need to score tonight and we'll win, confident of that.

 

[NYAS]

Just shared the elevator with Silvino Louro. What a man, the guy can't stop singing.

 

[Fracture90]

Romero
Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Darmian
Fellaini, Herrera, Pogba
Lingard, Rashford, Mikhi

2:0 UTD

 

[Red4Life_#7]

Same line-up as the 1st leg, I reckon...

Romero
Valencia Bailly Blind Darmian
Herrera Pogba
Lingard Fellaini Mkhitaryan
Rashford
​

I do wonder if Jose will play De Gea, though...

In the 1st league I put him in. I got everything right but the GK... this time I'm thinking Romero, but I think he should go with De Gea to prepare Romero that any of them could be chosen for the final.

Romero has be very good bar a few suspect moments, but De Gea is a lot better and with such an important set of games, you go with your best team. Plus we want him to stay next season.

 

[Needham]

This is going to be the nerviest performance since Moyes interview for his next job.

 

[mitchmouse]

Same line-up as the 1st leg, I reckon...

Romero
Valencia Bailly Blind Darmian
Herrera Pogba
Lingard Fellaini Mkhitaryan
Rashford
​

I do wonder if Jose will play De Gea, though...

i doubt it - real won't want him injured

 

[mitchmouse]

Really looking forward to this - hopefully not too much. Shouldn't be in doubt but I am nervous. Oh, and it's not a given that we'll beat Ajax even f we do get through

 

[Infra-red]

1-1 them to score first and we get a free kick fellaini heads in with 10 mins to go.
Hopefully we win comfortably but we haven't scored from open play in the last 3 games now

Longer than that I'm afraid. We've now gone 7 hours without a goal from open play (Rooney's goal vs Burnley was the last one).

Anyone who thought that injury to Ibra was going to be a 'blessing in disguise' must now be feeling rather stupid.

 

[top1whoisman]

Can't take that chance of getting late into the match and conceding a late goal. Would be a disaster. Exactly the reason I think we gave up on the league too soon.

He said that a draw is fine. Which it is. If we draw the match, they can't score a late winner.

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

Just shared the elevator with Silvino Louro. What a man, the guy can't stop singing.

Did you stop him from singing and asked him a question or two? Like who will play tonight? Or you kept it for yourself so you can have 11/11 in the line up prediction!

 

[peridigm]

He said that a draw is fine. Which it is. If we draw the match, they can't score a late winner.

Right. My point being if we're in the late stages of the match already at 1-1 and they score, it will be a disaster as we then have to score again which has been difficult for us to say the least.
I'm confident we'll win though.

 

[Red_Beans]

Sigh.

On what grounds will Celta win 2-1 at Old Trafford???!!!

There is no shred of evidence that they can pull that off! Absolutely None.

Even when we struggled at home, we never lost (except against City and Celta is no City at all).

We have played six at home and won all six in the EL. We have an away goal so they will play open football against us at Old Trafford. We like that.

We clearly have a stronger squad, a more experienced manager, and we are desperate. The bookmakers have us odds on to win. The pundits have us odds on to win. Even Celta de Vigo fans have us odds on to win.

So, how in the world will they come to Old Trafford and beat us 2-1???

Yes, football is crazy and anything can happen but if they pull it off, it will be one of those rare occurrences like Barca over turning a 4-0 deficit against PSG or Leicester City winning the premier league kind of stuff. These illustrations are not far from reality in this scenario because we are talking about Celta de Vigo here not Real Madrid or even Arsenal.

I think we really need to calm down, have some faith, give the team super support and enjoy the game.

3-1 United.

I admire how positive you are. However this is a cup game, and cup games are not always won by the better team. Im getting progressively more nervous as kick off approaches

 

[daveoliver91]

The point is that they have nothing to lose. They know the tie is 80/20 for us and they will play with nothing to fear. They've been able to beat teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona in the past. However, it is true they are not displaying their best image in this last year, but they have a good squad and despite we have an advantage, it won't be easy at all. I hope our defenders will be totally focused and we'll create enough chances to see an entertaining game and with lots of goals.

We just need to score an early goal as soon as we can to ease the nerves and make sure they don't surprise us.

Hope we'll be up for the game and the fans will support our team, cause we really need them tonight.

Going for a nervy win 2-1 with Mata and Rashford to score.

 

[jymufc20]

I wonder who starts in goal ? .....

 

[shield]

With Mata available we can put up a nice attacking side and finish the tie in the first half itself. We have Rashford, Lingard, Mata, Mkhi, Pogba, Herrera and Martial. Looks good enough to blow these away.

Knowing Mourinho however, he would try to be "tactical" and do something like have Herrera man mark the great Aspas and then play three at back with our wingers marking their full backs.

 

[Paolo Di Canio]

I wonder who starts in goal ? .....

Has to be big Serge

 

[ZAGREB RED]

I wonder who starts in goal ? .....

I am guessing Romero, I did ponder it when doing my lineup prediction on here, but he started in the first leg so I went with him. Still not 100% sure though.

 

[ghagua]

Come and get some of this Celta.

 

[SteveTheRed]

The type of game Mourinho is made for, score a goal and shut up shop. If we can't get a goal in the first 60 minutes, it will be backs to the walls.