[Billy Jim]

Team picks itself I think:

De Gea
Jones Smalling Rojo
Valencia Herrera Matic Young
Lingard
Lukaku Martial​

 

[adexkola]

Would play Lukaku and Rashford up front, Lingard behind them.

 

[Trizy]

Dreading this. Can't see us winning especially without Pogba.

I'd love to be proven wrong though.

 

[notcool]

When Wenger went to four at the back against us, Mourinho switched Martial out to the wing. So if it is three at the back I doubt it will be a pure 3-4-1-2/3-5-2.

 

[Infra-red]

Basically, it's going to be the Alamo.

(Expect maximum 25% possession and City to have 35+ shots at goal).

 

[AndyJ1985]

Think we'll get battered unfortunately. Especially without Pogba

 

[SuperiorXI]

Basically, it's going to be the Alamo.

(Expect maximum 25% possession and City to have 35+ shots at goal).

Hope not, we're at home.

 

[Ban]

Basically, it's going to be the Alamo.

(Expect maximum 25% possession and City to have 35+ shots at goal).

Yeah cause we're that bad, right?
I mean 35+? A bit of an exaggeration dont you think?

Think we'll get battered unfortunately. Especially without Pogba

We could lose of course but we won't be battered.

 

[Infra-red]

Hope not, we're at home.

Needless to say, Pogba is a massive, probably game-changing miss. Our most creative player and the only one who is really adept at playing the first ball out when we're looking to counter-attack. With him out, we will find it much harder to play on the break and will spend a lot of the game sitting deep while City lay siege to our goal.

It's not an impossible task by any means - we're a well-organised unit with the best shot stopper in the world between the posts - but we'll have to defend extremely well and look to capitalise from set pieces or force a defensive error in City's backline through sporadic pressing.

 

[Infra-red]

Yeah cause we're that bad, right?
I mean 35+? A bit of an exaggeration dont you think?

Arsenal had 33 at the weekend. 35 seems more than likely.

 

[Ban]

Arsenal had 33 at the weekend. 35 seems more than likely.

Nevertheless we're at home and in those 33 of Arsenal are all sorts of shots, not just dangerous ones.

So I dont think 35 is more than likely, especially at OT.
Best bet is a Spurs game, they'll try something over and over again, we'll stop them and be dangerous in attack, wear them down and score a goal or 2.
Just not a free flowing game, that's the last thing we want.
We should try to take the game to them and make them play an edgy, physical game with lots of contact.

 

[RedFish]

Needless to say, Pogba is a massive, probably game-changing miss. Our most creative player and the only one who is really adept at playing the first ball out when we're looking to counter-attack. With him out, we will find it much harder to play on the break and will spend a lot of the game sitting deep while City lay siege to our goal.

It's not an impossible task by any means - we're a well-organised unit with the best shot stopper in the world between the posts - but we'll have to defend extremely well and look to capitalise from set pieces or force a defensive error in City's backline through sporadic pressing.

Agree completely with this. Attack is the best form of defence? Regardless, no one in the team bar Matic earlier this season, has the ability to conduct the play like Pogba, executing the transition from defending.to attacking, so I fear we will be pegged by City, and with their quality the outcome will not be good.

It will be fascinating to see what Mou's tactics will be.

 

[Infra-red]

Nevertheless we're at home and in those 33 of Arsenal are all sorts of shots, not just dangerous ones.

So I dont think 35 is more than likely, especially at OT.
Best bet is a Spurs game, they'll try something over and over again, we'll stop them and be dangerous in attack, wear them down and score a goal or 2.
Just not a free flowing game, that's the last thing we want.
We should try to take the game to them and make them play an edgy, physical game with lots of contact.

I generally agree. I actually think we could possibly nick a draw. Chelsea got some joy at the Bridge breaking behind City's wingbacks, so I'm sure we'll try and replicate that. We look likely to go with a 3-4-1-2 system, so there should be lots of space out wide for Silva & De Bruyne to drift in to - we'll need to make sure we have someone closing down De Bruyne to prevent him whipping those balls in (he ran the game vs Chelsea from the wide-right position).

 

[Womp]

I can't shake the feeling we are going to get smacked. Pogba is a fecking huge loss for this game, probably the last person I'd want missing out on the game bar maybe De Gea.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

I'd go for the same team as against Arsenal with Herrera replacing Pogba.

Yep, this.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

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[bosnian_red]

Same lineup as against Arsenal with Herrera in for Pogba. Though we need everyone to be on form. It'll be tough, can see Mou putting Fellaini in there but I think he still wants the 3-4-1-2 so we'll see. Has to be Martial and lukaku in front of lingard, our attack hasn't looked as balanced and flowing as it has the last 2 games since Fergie was here IMO.

Ill be happy as long as we don't lose. Would hate them to be the ones to end our unbeaten run at OT since they were the last ones who beat us here.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Too bad they have Ederson in goal. He's much better than Claudio 'Save Nothing' Bravo.

Let's see him come for the high balls when Mou starts both Ibra and Lukaku

 

[Damien]

I'd go for the same team as against Arsenal with Herrera replacing Pogba.

Will be this with the only possible change in my mind being Fellaini in for Martial if Fellaini's fit.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

If anyone is going to beat City in the league, it has to be us.

 

[notcool]

I generally agree. I actually think we could possibly nick a draw. Chelsea got some joy at the Bridge breaking behind City's wingbacks, so I'm sure we'll try and replicate that. We look likely to go with a 3-4-1-2 system, so there should be lots of space out wide for Silva & De Bruyne to drift in to - we'll need to make sure we have someone closing down De Bruyne to prevent him whipping those balls in (he ran the game vs Chelsea from the wide-right position).

If they replicate the 3-3-1-3 which they used against Chelsea it will be pretty difficult to get someone to close down De Bruyne as they'll have an extra number in there.

 

[Macern]

So I'd go with:

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

I know it seems odd to leave Martial out but he really is wasted in games where we don't have much ball or territory. We saw that against Arsenal, where he was obviously in good form but just couldn't get into the game without more supply. Lingard and Rashford are both more useful out of possession, and both more likely to threaten on the counter-attack. They will both provide better out balls for Lukaku when he's trying to hold up/flick on clearances.

Ibra will feature but only off the bench. He simply hasn't played enough to start, and even though the goals aren't pouring in from Lukaku his performances have been good, including in the Arsenal game which is a decent blueprint for this one.

You might see Lingard drop in and play as more of a third midfielder. We should be looking to strangle the central areas because City are less dangerous down the wings than they are going through De Bruyne and Silva, especially as we will have lots of tall bodies in the box to defend crosses.

Spot on!

 

[Macern]

Team picks itself I think:

De Gea
Jones Smalling Rojo
Valencia Herrera Matic Young
Lingard
Lukaku Martial​

Rojo, who had a poor game against Arsenal, and Jones who hasn’t played for a while, both ahead of Lindelöf who has been excellent recently. Really?

 

[WR10]

Lets put it this way. If anyone is to beat this City team, it would be us. Fantastic defensive set up and lethal players up front - as seen against Arsenal. Will we do it? No. Pogba is so key to our transitional play and our general final third play that we will simply not be able to get them as effectively on the counter attack. If we were to win, it will be them having 35 shots and us sneaking one in off a set piece/corner winning 1-0, which I will take gladly.

 

[Android1974]

Just have the feeling the same midfield two (it's not even the same, it will be Fellaini or Herrera instead of Pogba) against Arsenal won't be enough. Or we go 4-3-3 or a true 3-5-2, both only possible if Fellaini recovers. But playing at home might give Mourinho a bit more courage.

 

[Android1974]

What about a 4-3-1-2, or a 4-4-2◊? It would allow us to keep the upfront shape, with Lingard behind both Martial and Lukaku, while featuring an extra central midfielder, providing Fellaini's fit. What would be its main problems, for instance, would it lack width?

 

[Sereques]

After Pogba's red card, I will be happy with a score draw here.

 

[Sereques]

Team picks itself I think:

De Gea
Jones Smalling Rojo
Valencia Herrera Matic Young
Lingard
Lukaku Martial​

Two CMs alone was not enough against Arsenal, one of the reasons we couldn't keep possession. We are always devoid of creativity without Pogba, I will prefer Mata instead of Lingard to start.

 

[Denis79]

Basically, it's going to be the Alamo.

(Expect maximum 25% possession and City to have 35+ shots at goal).

Doubt it at OT.

 

[RonW]

Rashford looks scary, his body position when he has the ball reminds me of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo during his days for us at United. There is no way Mou can drop Martial and Rashford for the game against City.

 

[Maradona10]

3We have to win, with pogba we might have, but without him, it seems difficult. Draw wont be end of the world but a defeat and the title will be done. They have problem with areal balls and set peices and we need to exploit that fully. Also they will play a very high defensive line so we need to counter that. I know Mou will find solutions, just hope tem can execute them.
Hope for a 3-1, lets see what we get.

 

[Santoryo]

Yeah cause we're that bad, right?
I mean 35+? A bit of an exaggeration dont you think?

We could lose of course but we won't be battered.

It's annoying reading nonsense like this on these boards. You'd think we're some second rate team to allow City to batter us at home with 75% possessions and 35 shots at goals.

For some reason because we let Arsenal away have all the ball and come to us after securing an early 2 goals lead has people perceptions all twisted up.

Some posts should simply be ban worthy.

 

[Devil may care]

Spot on. Though I feel we may see Fellaini instead of Lingard/ Martial.

They are quite vulnerable at set pieces and corners and Jose will definitely be looking to exploit that.

Will be this with the only possible change in my mind being Fellaini in for Martial if Fellaini's fit.

It would be a shame to see either Lingard or Martial dropped, both offer a lot more dynamism and ability to link up with Lukaku, it would be a waste to ditch that in favour of an extra tall player at set pieces.

 

[Roosney]

They've been a bit poor recently, late lucky wins against weaker opponents.
Too bad Pogba is out, but I think Herrera will get the job done.

 

[11101]

Last few games have been 3 at the back and it fits the currently available defenders best, plus two banks of 3 in the middle will help to stop City controlling.

De Gea
Lindelof - Smalling - Rojo
Valencia - Herrera - Matic - Young
Lingard
Lukaku - Martial

 

[Infra-red]

It's annoying reading nonsense like this on these boards. You'd think we're some second rate team to allow City to batter us at home with 75% possessions and 35 shots at goals.

For some reason because we let Arsenal away have all the ball and come to us after securing an early 2 goals lead has people perceptions all twisted up.

Some posts should simply be ban worthy.

You don't think we're going to score early vs City, then? That's a bit pessimistic, mate. To be honest, that sort of pessimism should simply be ban-worthy.

I think we'll press intensely for the opening 10-15 minutes and get an early goal.

 

[Infra-red]

If they replicate the 3-3-1-3 which they used against Chelsea it will be pretty difficult to get someone to close down De Bruyne as they'll have an extra number in there.

I agree it won't be easy - Guardiola's system seems to be all about getting those two players in to space. I suppose it's possible that we'll drop one of the front 3 in favour of another midfielder and get Fellaini/Herrera to close him down.

 

[Adisa]

Time for some players to stand up and be counted.
We are at home ffs.

 

[Adisa]

Feck City coming to our backyard and having 75%+ possession.

 

[Darkhorsez]

We are moving into the last 10 mins of the game now and still it’s 0-0! Mind you it hasn’t been your typical goalless game - plenty of action and chances but you can feel the tension with some silly mistakes creeping in. The crowd are whipped up more now as they Zlatan warms up and ready to come. Mou rolling his final dice now! What a shot from Zlatan outside the box - the keeper had no chance! The legend grows ....