Europa League Final

Ajax 0:2 Manchester United

Friends Arena, Stockholm

Kick-off
Wed, 24 May 2017 @ 7:45pm BST
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    We have played two CL finals after that. Just because we lost those games doesn't make them any less important.

    It sort of does for me. We were 2nd best team in Europe at that time and those finals confirmed that. We were stable under Fergie, winning those finals would have been iceing on the cake. Winning this final looks like a neccessity. If you know the MoSCoW acronym..Moscow was Should have for me, two Barca finals Could have, this final is a Must have.
     
    In terms of importance this up with there with any Champions final now, winning this could be the cross road we need. It give Mourinho the pull to get us back where we belong.

    If we lose then were back to the drawing board.

    Lets hope they do Manchester proud and dedicate it to our cities fighting spirit!
     
    There is a poll here in Iceland who will win this and with over 2000 votes already the results are a bit well underwhelming for us ... Ajax win 48,5% - UTD win 51,5%

    I can understand this a bit as we have been piss poor lately and there is a lot hanging on this game. But Jose normally wins these, he has made a career of winning finals so I am pretty confident.
    That said everyone love a David and Goliath story and this could be another one of those.
     


    Live training session for those interested, Mitchell and McTominay are still with the first team :D Fellaini is back too. The lads just held a minutes silence for the victims last night:

    e75imroa68zy.png
     
    Last edited:
    According to my armchair expect logic Pogba is clearly limping in the video. He 100 % won't play for us on Thursday :(
     
    Information about Fellaini and Jones training apart just messed up my prediction.
     
    Well, it's only 24 hours until the game starts and TBF I am really nervous for this. The lads know it's the most important game of the season and after this game we'll know how to afford next season. Hope we'll play a serious game tomorrow and we'll win this.

    I am going for a 2-0 win with the below line up:

    --------------Romero--------------
    Valencia--Smalling--Blind--Darmian
    ------Herrera-------Pogba---------
    Mhkitaryan-----Mata---------Lingard
    -------------Rashford--------------
     
    I really hope we go into this with the fire and passion we showed against Chelsea.

    This team/squad are so much better than they're showing consistently, if they can't get up for this final them I really worry.

    I have faith though that we will be ready.
     
    Well, it's only 24 hours until the game starts and TBF I am really nervous for this. The lads know it's the most important game of the season and after this game we'll know how to afford next season. Hope we'll play a serious game tomorrow and we'll win this.

    I am going for a 2-0 win with the below line up:

    --------------Romero--------------
    Valencia--Smalling--Blind--Darmian
    ------Herrera-------Pogba---------
    Mhkitaryan-----Mata---------Lingard
    -------------Rashford--------------
    With that lineup, I'm pretty sure it would be Mkhitaryan as #10 and Mata on the right.
     
    Is the europa league cup on top of E.T's head at the top of this page ?

    I'm viewing on mobile so it might not look the same for desktop users.

    :lol: Excellent

    The answer is no as this full image proves but it really does look like his head!

    match_title_el_bg.jpg
     
    Well, it's only 24 hours until the game starts and TBF I am really nervous for this. The lads know it's the most important game of the season and after this game we'll know how to afford next season. Hope we'll play a serious game tomorrow and we'll win this.

    I am going for a 2-0 win with the below line up:

    --------------Romero--------------
    Valencia--Smalling--Blind--Darmian
    ------Herrera-------Pogba---------
    Mhkitaryan-----Mata---------Lingard
    -------------Rashford--------------

    Think that'll be it. Hopefully we'll go 2-0 up and bring Carrick on to settle things down.
     
    I just realized the match is tomorrow, kept thinking it's on Thursday. Bricking it now.
     
    I just realized the match is tomorrow, kept thinking it's on Thursday. Bricking it now.
    Should be on Thursday with a 20:05 ko like the rest of the competition. That would be more convenient for me actually, very selfish.
     
    For me the biggest question is whether we go with Carrick or Fellaini.

    Think we'll line-up thus:
    --------Romero
    Tony-Jones-Blind-Darmian
    ------Fellaini--Herrera
    -----------Pogba
    Mata------------Jesse
    ------Rashford

    Mkhi has been very good and very poor this season. Mata is a lot more consistent and I think Mkhi more than others has suffered from not having Zlatan as the focal point of attack. Jesse is more disciplined and in better form than Martial. Carrick might be a better option than Fellaini, as he's one of the few players we have who is composed in possession and Ajax have energy and like to press high.

    The defense is shaky, especially at left back. But I still expect a highly motivated and confident performance from us.
     
    - Romero -

    - Valencia - Jones - Blind - Darmian -

    - Carrick -
    - Herrera - Pogba -

    - Mkhitaryan - Martial -
    - Rashford -
    I suspect Carrick to lose out to Fellaini and Martial to lose out to Lingard but this is what I'd like to see. That being said, I don't give feck as long as we win. Huge game.​
     
    For me the biggest question is whether we go with Carrick or Fellaini.

    Think we'll line-up thus:
    --------Romero
    Tony-Jones-Blind-Darmian
    ------Fellaini--Herrera
    -----------Pogba
    Mata------------Jesse
    ------Rashford

    Mkhi has been very good and very poor this season. Mata is a lot more consistent and I think Mkhi more than others has suffered from not having Zlatan as the focal point of attack. Jesse is more disciplined and in better form than Martial. Carrick might be a better option than Fellaini, as he's one of the few players we have who is composed in possession and Ajax have energy and like to press high.

    The defense is shaky, especially at left back. But I still expect a highly motivated and confident performance from us.

    I'll go with Fellaini. His physicality will be needed to bully Ajax young players I believe. Carrick will be too slow to cope with their pressure and his performance has dropped recently.

    Also Mikhi has great numbers in Europe while Mata is still discovering his form after the injury. I'll go with Mikhi, too.

    My concern is who will start beside Blind, Jones-Blind pairing wasn't tested before and Smalling is terrible and didn't earn me or - I think - Jose any trust.
     
    Based on the training session looks like this is the team that's starting which is a bit surprising actually. Perhaps suggests we might be playing a little more open than I expected.

    Romero

    Valencia Smalling Blind Darmian

    Herrera Pogba

    Mkhitaryan Mata Lingard

    Rashford​
     
    I'll go with Fellaini. His physicality will be needed to bully Ajax young players I belie Carrick will be too slow to cope with their pressure and his performance has dropped recently.

    Also Mikhi has great numbers in Europe while Mata is still discovering his form after the injury. I'll go with Mikhi, too.

    My concern is who will start beside Blind, Jones-Blind pairing wasn't tested before and Smalling is terrible and didn't earn me or - I think - Jose any trust.
    This is Europe, you can't do any bullying. All he will do is get an early yellow and be a liability all game. Keep him on the bench for this 1, throw him on if we need to protect a lead or chase it.
     
    This is Europe, you can't do any bullying. All he will do is get an early yellow and be a liability all game. Keep him on the bench for this 1, throw him on if we need to protect a lead or chase it.

    Ajax players are young and will be pressing heavily, playing a 35 years old midfielder against them will make him an easy target for them to press. He won't have any time for passing or controlling the tempo when they're pressing high on him. It'll be a suicide.

    Fellaini is the better choice since we're most properly not going to be the team dominating the field and having the highest possession, Fellaini's physicality and headers will be of use.
     
    Ajax players are young and will be pressing heavily, playing a 35 years old midfielder against them will make him an easy target for them to press. He won't have any time for passing or controlling the tempo when they're pressing high on him. It'll be a suicide.

    Fellaini is the better choice since we're most properly not going to be the team dominating the field and having the highest possession, Fellaini's physicality and headers will be of use.

    I think Carrick in midfield would mean we are able to slot into a back 3/5 when we need to. Whereas with Fellaini we have one less player who is decent on the ball against high pressing opposition. I'd also think having Carrick there would be better for that makeshift defence, offering more composure through-out.
     
    I think Carrick in midfield would mean we are able to slot into a back 3/5 when we need to. Whereas with Fellaini we have one less player who is decent on the ball against high pressing opposition. I'd also think having Carrick there would be better for that makeshift defence, offering more composure through-out.

    I think Fellaini will be of much aerial and defensive support to Blind than Carrick tbf. This comes from my assumption that we're not going to be the team with the highest possession in the game with their hard press, so Carrick's passing ability won't needed much from the start.

    He'll be needed when we're winning and need to introduce a sub to decrease the tempo of the game.
     
    I think Fellaini will be of much aerial and defensive support to Blind than Carrick tbf. This comes from my assumption that we're not going to be the team with the highest possession in the game with their hard press, so Carrick's passing ability won't needed much from the start.

    He'll be needed when we're winning and need to introduce a sub to decrease the tempo of the game.
    They don't hit long balls. No need for Fellaini in this game.
     
    Genuinely can't read this match thread, start getting nervy sweaty palms! So much riding on this game
     
    Well that goes same for Carrick, with their high pressing and most probably getting more possession.
    Which is why we probably won't play either of them.

    Pogba Herrera with Mata/Mkhi/Lingard behind Rashford.

    Can see Martial being kept as a super sub.
     
    Which is why we probably won't play either of them.

    Pogba Herrera with Mata/Mkhi/Lingard behind Rashford.

    Can see Martial being kept as a super sub.

    That will suit both of us then and end this argument in the perfect way :lol::lol:
     
    Can't wait for this although i have a big problem. My missus is pregnant with my third child and she is due anytime and is starting to get the pains now.

    I just hope she doesn't drop tomorrow evening as i wouldn't want to miss the birth of my child.
     
    Our central defence without Bailly or Rojo against a good attacking team makes me feel queasy.
     
    Biggest game since Fergie retired, must win at all costs.

    Not sure who I'd start between Jones and Smalling and whether to include either Fellaini or Carrick. Wouldn't trust Fellaini in a final due to his occasional moments of madness.
     
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Post-match discussion

Player Ratings

7.4 Total Average Rating

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Compiled from 757 ratings.

Score Predictions

531,61,38
  • Man Utd win
  • Ajax win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 33% Ajax 1:2 Man Utd
  • 16% Ajax 0:2 Man Utd
  • 13% Ajax 1:3 Man Utd
  • 11% Ajax 0:1 Man Utd
  • 5% Ajax 2:1 Man Utd
  • 5% Ajax 0:3 Man Utd
  • 4% Ajax 1:1 Man Utd
  • 3% Ajax 2:3 Man Utd
  • 2% Ajax 0:5 Man Utd
  • 2% Ajax 0:0 Man Utd
  • 1% Ajax 2:0 Man Utd
  • 1% Ajax 1:4 Man Utd
  • 1% Ajax 3:1 Man Utd
  • 1% Ajax 1:0 Man Utd
  • 1% Ajax 2:2 Man Utd
  • 1% Ajax 3:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Ajax 5:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Ajax 3:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Ajax 2:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Ajax 3:2 Man Utd
  • 0% Ajax 4:1 Man Utd
  • 0% Ajax 0:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Ajax 1:5 Man Utd
Compiled from 630 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Ajax
  2. Man Utd
Possession
69% 31%
Shots
17 7
Shots on Target
3 4
Corners
5 2
Fouls
15 17

Referee

Damir Skomina