[Havak]

No Fellaini, Shaw, Mkhitaryan, Carrick, Bailly, or Jones if reports are true.

The only real surprise there to me is no Mkhitaryan despite his poor form. He got a sub appearance recently and with no Fellaini, you'd expect him to still sneak into the squad. Odds are Fellaini is left out due to contract negotiations, but I'd rather he was in the XI to be honest. This is the kind of game I'd like him to be involved in, he's professional enough to at least come on and make a difference. It's most likely that due to it being his last big contract, he wants to be hitting in excess of £150k a week while he has a chance to haggle for it at a major team. However, I think if he decides to leave he will get significantly less than that anyway. I'm not sure he'd get into a top four side in any of the major leagues, so he might as well just sign what is offered here whilst playing at one of the best sides in Europe and for a manager that obviously trusts and likes him.

We're a little bit light in central defence and central midfield, but I still think we play either three at the back or a more traditional midfield three in the upcoming games bar CSKA. I just can't decide which, but Jose usually matches three at the back if the opposition plays it (did against Spurs, Chelsea, and CSKA this season).

Pretty sure de Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Young, Matic, Pogba, Rashford, and Lukaku all start. Then it's one from Lindelof/Herrera, and one from Lingard/Mata/Martial for the other starting positions.

 

[Android1974]

No Fellaini, Shaw, Mkhitaryan, Carrick, Bailly, or Jones if reports are true.

The only real surprise there to me is no Mkhitaryan despite his poor form. He got a sub appearance recently and with no Fellaini, you'd expect him to still sneak into the squad. Odds are Fellaini is left out due to contract negotiations, but I'd rather he was in the XI to be honest.

Really? I prefer to suspect he's injured, he did got a knock on his knee last game and wasn't on the training pictures.

 

[Havak]

Really? I prefer to suspect he's injured, he did got a knock on his knee last game and wasn't on the training pictures.

Not seeing anything about an injury anywhere? Only definite injuries are the obvious ones, Bailly, Jones, and Carrick. I did miss the Brighton game though.

 

[Android1974]

Not seeing anything about an injury anywhere? Only definite injuries are the obvious ones, Bailly, Jones, and Carrick. I did miss the Brighton game though.

What's the interest for Mourinho of revealing an injury before the game? I might be wrong, though.

 

[Antisocial]

Chelsea just three points behind us, with two easy home games and then a meeting with Moyes in their next three games; Arsenal 4 points behind with easy games around our meeting with them, and Spurs 5 points behind with quite good fixtures as well - the pressure is really on us tonight in the top 4 race.

 

[BluesJr]

Glad Fellaini won’t be involved. I’d rather not see that game from us, looking forward to him hopefully leaving.

 

[pascell]

Not seeing anything about an injury anywhere? Only definite injuries are the obvious ones, Bailly, Jones, and Carrick. I did miss the Brighton game though.

He was hobbling quite badly after taking a hit on the knee but I thought that was vs Basel when he came on, I could be wrong though.

Edit: he came on vs Brighton so could have been that game he got the knock.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Got a feeling we'll have a good game.

So do I. We should expect a tough game and I'm sure we'll make it hard for Watford(doing a Moyes here)

 

[ManUnitedCanuck]

A big game as far as the season goes and trying to stay near the top. An early goal will do us a world of good to put them under some pressure and us not have to chase the game in the second half.

Need a big performance from the lads!

Come on United!!!

 

[sammsky1]

Not sure why so many are so apprehensive about this game .... its Watford! They may have reinvented themselves and be going through their own nirvana, but its still game Manchester United has to be confident about winning.

I'd personally rest Lukaku as he needs refocusing right now: Let Rashford play at no 9, flanked by Martial and Mhki. And play a thuggish 3 man midfield instructed the press the hell out of them on the half way line.

Sometimes, you can give too much respect to the opposition. We have better players and a more experienced manager. Set the team up the right way and tell them they must win.

 

[crossy1686]

Anyone else concerned that this game is going to be more difficult that the arsenal one at the weekend?

The next three matches are a real test of our ambitions for the season. Is 5 points from the next three a good return?

 

[whatwha]

Anyone else concerned that this game is going to be more difficult that the arsenal one at the weekend?

The next three matches are a real test of our ambitions for the season. Is 5 points from the next three a good return?

5 points would be good IMO. Can't expect more than a draw at best against City. And going away to a top team with Jose, can't expect more than a draw against Arsenal either. And I'll be happy to see us beat Watford tonight, given our away form. So 5 points is pretty good.

 

[TMDaines]

Anyone else concerned that this game is going to be more difficult that the arsenal one at the weekend?

The next three matches are a real test of our ambitions for the season. Is 5 points from the next three a good return?

Both are going to be tough, but Arsenal have dealt with us very well in recent years and have an incredible home record currently, so no.

 

[Shark]

We we lose both matches, which is actually a possibility I can see Jose out posts cropping up. Even if we draw against Watford ave lose to Arse it’s going to get heated.

 

[Pexbo]

Glad Fellaini won’t be involved. I’d rather not see that game from us, looking forward to him hopefully leaving.

We've seen better football with Fellaini in the side that Herrera this season.

 

[jderbyshire]

Watford are quite good. Honestly I'd be incredibly surprised if we started the match with 10 players.

Dammit.

Let's try that again...

De Gea
Lindelof Smalling Rojo
Valencia Pogba Matic Young
Lingard
Lukaku Rashford​

 

[westmeath]

Dammit.

Let's try that again...

De Gea
Lindelof Smalling Rojo
Valencia Pogba Matic Young
Lingard
Lukaku Rashford​

I'd prefer to go with just 10 than start Lingard

 

[Jeffthered]

Can't call this. Need some attacking leadership and inspiration and, aside from Pogba (!!) I am not sure where this is coming from.

Watford will be absolutely flying, so unless the players are on it (and fancy it...) then this could be a difficult evening.

I see a draw coming.... a bore draw of course...

 

[redIndianDevil]

We really cannot afford to lose points here with Chelsea breathing down our neck especially with the Arsenal and City games coming up. Hoping for a pressure free 0-2 victory.

 

[Jacko21]

When I think of United playing in London, all I picture is us turning up late, conceding an early goal and being on the ropes with a home crowd that so desperately wants to see us get put to the sword.

I just hope we don't look all at sea tonight and exert some control, because it's in these types of games that we look at our most fragile.

Concede first and I'd not bet on us turning it around.

 

[Hugh Jass]

This place will be in lockdown come 10 o clock.

 

[Jacko21]

Not sure why so many are so apprehensive about this game .... its Watford! They may have reinvented themselves and be going through their own nirvana, but its still game Manchester United has to be confident about winning.

I'd personally rest Lukaku as he needs refocusing right now: Let Rashford play at no 9, flanked by Martial and Mhki. And play a thuggish 3 man midfield instructed the press the hell out of them on the half way line.

Sometimes, you can give too much respect to the opposition. We have better players and a more experienced manager. Set the team up the right way and tell them they must win.

People are understandably apprehensive. Watford are difficult to contain and we, as a team, haven't looked convincing since the 30th of September. And it's in games like tonight that you need total conviction.

It's fair to say that if United play really well tonight and keep a clean sheet, it'd come as a surprise to most. Sadly.

We're just very jaded at the moment. And I don't expect that to change unless we beat City on the 10th or they themselves give us some encouragement in the title race.

 

[Ali Dia]

I actually don't see us winning this. Mad isn't it?

We have more often than not been horrible away from home in the games we should be winning, why would this be any different? Watford will really be going for this and I can see us conceding if they put us under enough pressure. Our attack has looked quite sluggish for quite a while now too and they'll need to get 2 goals to give us any chance of getting 3 points.

I hope we wallop them and play great football for the rest of the season but I just don't see it. It's either the manager or the mix of players we have here now or both but something is still not quite right with us. We aren't very far away but I'm thinking it's another fight for top 4 season and cup runs once the dust settles after xmas.... we should be doing better than that really. if we signed more proper united standard players over the last 5 years then maybe the managers job wouldn't be so difficult. On the other hand this has been one of the most backed managers in the game, he's supposedly a genius and he has a squad full of massively well paid international players... hard to know!

I'll be watching tonight as always but I won't be too surprised if we get beaten or snatch a lucky draw. These players need to shake themselves up. They are playing for Manchester United!!!

 

[Godfather]

Martial and/or Rashford need to step it up bigtime. Can't afford another shite game from them like on the weekend.

 

[Random Task]

It's going to be a battle tonight, much like the Brighton game at the weekend. Watford are hard to beat on home soil and I expect them to raise their game further still for our visit tonight.

This is a must win game with the Arsenal and City games following up, so we need to pull out all the stops. Go for it Jose.

 

[dichinero]

Not sure why so many are so apprehensive about this game .... its Watford! They may have reinvented themselves and be going through their own nirvana, but its still game Manchester United has to be confident about winning.

I'd personally rest Lukaku as he needs refocusing right now: Let Rashford play at no 9, flanked by Martial and Mhki. And play a thuggish 3 man midfield instructed the press the hell out of them on the half way line.

Sometimes, you can give too much respect to the opposition. We have better players and a more experienced manager. Set the team up the right way and tell them they must win.

The concern isn't unfounded. We got thumped 3 - 1 last season despite being the bigger team. Now they're in better form and under a better manager too.

 

[el3mel]

So I guess Herrera would start this with Matic and Pogba. I can't see Mata starting this at all.

 

[Offside]

Funny how it is such a difficult game yet Man City still won here 6-0. I’d take 1-0.

 

[whatwha]

It's going to be a battle tonight, much like the Brighton game at the weekend. Watford are hard to beat on home soil and I expect them to raise their game further still for our visit tonight.

This is a must win game with the Arsenal and City games following up, so we need to pull out all the stops. Go for it Jose.

Watford have a better away record than home record this season.

 

[Red_toad]

Glad Fellaini won’t be involved. I’d rather not see that game from us, looking forward to him hopefully leaving.

Do you ever do any cheerful posts? Negativity never helped anyone you know....

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Funny how it is such a difficult game yet Man City still won here 6-0. I’d take 1-0.

Watford’s results have been unusual. They were excellent against Chelsea and lost 4-2 or something?

Obviously being thumped 6-0 suggests they can be a bag of shit too.

 

[BootsyCollins]

Must win game (as every game is if we want the title)

Think we will see :
-----------------DeGea--------------
-------Smalling--Victor--Rojo------
Valencia----------------------Young
-----------------Matic---------------
-------Herrera--------Pogba--------
-------Rashford-------Lukaku------

 

[freeurmind]

Expecting to lose tbh. Hope to be pleasantly surprised.

 

[prtk0811]

I kind of think darmian could be involved today at left wingback as I doubt young can play 3 games a week as a attacking wingback.

 

[Android1974]

So I guess Herrera would start this with Matic and Pogba. I can't see Mata starting this at all.

In 4-3-3 or 3-5-2?

 

[Kapardin]

We need to find a way to overcome our #10 weakness. Way I see it, the problems are similar to last season - we still struggle to score goals consistently. A bit of an improvement this season with those 4-0s and 4-1s, but the old problem still comes back.

Lukaku needs to score. So important for him to get his form back, he's gone way longer than expected with this drought. If only we can resolve our goal-scoring form, I see us pushing even City to the limit.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Can see us drawing both this and the Arsenal game.

 

[Random Task]

We need to find a way to overcome our #10 weakness. Way I see it, the problems are similar to last season - we still struggle to score goals consistently. A bit of an improvement this season with those 4-0s and 4-1s, but the old problem still comes back.

Lukaku needs to score. So important for him to get his form back, he's gone way longer than expected with this drought. If only we can resolve our goal-scoring form, I see us pushing even City to the limit.

I think Ibra could slot in at number 10 with ease, his skillset is designed for the role. Lukaku isn't getting the service at present simply because all of our advanced playmakers are out of form. Give him the service he requires and the goals will flow once again.

 

[Android1974]

Can see us drawing both this and the Arsenal game.

Curiously enough, that would be +2 points than last season.

 

[el3mel]

In 4-3-3 or 3-5-2?

Predicted 4-3-3.

David
Valencia - Smalling - Rojo - Young
Matic
Herrera - Pogba
Lingard - Lukaku - Rashford.​