[Android1974]

If Mourinho forces Pogba to start in a midfield two and he sticks up the place…

 

[sincher]

Source?

Read it somewhere yesterday on Twitter but can't find it today. Most team news reports today seem to show him ready so that's good. Whether or not he will play is a different matter.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Possible line-up. I'm still unsure whether Alexis can play good, contribute and make his trademark unlocking passes from the right wing though. If he'll play narrow and move too much centrally again, Valencia will be more isolated with Correa. Scott will help him of course. With Fella starting, we'll be more dangerous early on unsettling their defense while having the three CMs we'll be stronger defensively. So, it's not a bad line-up and formation.

Edit: Prefer to have another attacker, but Fella's role is attacking and effective enough.

 

[JohnZSmith27]

Nerves are only kicking in now. I was on a high from Saturday up to this point.

 

[prateik]

It's time for a Lukaku hattrick..

 

[Zebs]

Leaving work in 5 minutes to make the journey.

 

[sincher]

Hoping for:

--------------------------------------DDG----------------------------------------
Valencia-------------Bailly--------------------Smalling-------------------Young
----------------------Pogba---------------Matic---------------------------------
Mata--------------------------Sanchez-------------------------------Rashford
-------------------------------Lukaku--------------------------------------------

I guess there are 3/4 positions in doubt - Bailly/Lindelof, Mata/Lingard, Pogba/McTominay and maybe Rashford/Martial.

 

[Android1974]

For the Brighton game, I'd start exactly the same players (assuming that they do well against Sevilla).
We need have consistency going into these final games.
I don't see any desperation to rotate the players so much, from game to game, with only 2 months of the season left.

That would be 3 starts in a week when most of these players (Valencia, Smalling, Young, Matić, McTominay, Sánchez and Lukaku) already have 6 games in a row! Even so, it might be possible, because international break is coming just after the FA Cup game…

 

[sincher]

If we did play the above team, I would absolutely play Lingard and Martial vs Brighton, at very least. Would expect a few changes.

 

[Android1974]

Hoping for:

--------------------------------------DDG----------------------------------------
Valencia-------------Bailly--------------------Smalling-------------------Young
----------------------Pogba---------------Matic---------------------------------
Mata--------------------------Sanchez-------------------------------Rashford
-------------------------------Lukaku--------------------------------------------

I guess there are 3/4 positions in doubt - Bailly/Lindelof, Mata/Lingard, Pogba/McTominay and maybe Rashford/Martial.

Agreed. My guesses in bold.

 

[sunama]

Still maintain we should have shown more ambition in Seville.
A lot is riding on the first goal imo.
And there lies the problem.
We could fall into the trap of being too worried about conceding first.

I said that at the time: but Sevilla, at home are nigh on unbeatable. Expecting to beat them in their backyard would be very very difficult and I think Jose's target of 0-0, was a good plan.
I an quite happy to draw with them in Spain, with a very good chance of beating them at OT. For a team to get a draw at OT, they need to be very very lucky and their GK almost certainly needs to put in a MOTM performance.

 

[Android1974]

If we did play the above team, I would absolutely play Lingard and Martial vs Brighton, at very least. Would expect a few changes.

It is relatively easy to make some changes without dropping the quality drastically, for instance, the ones you said plus Shaw (for Young), Pogba or Fellaini (for McTominay).

 

[Android1974]

I said that at the time: but Sevilla, at home are nigh on unbeatable. Expecting to beat them in their backyard would be very very difficult and I think Jose's target of 0-0, was a good plan.
I an quite happy to draw with them in Spain, with a very good chance of beating them at OT. For a team to get a draw at OT, they need to be very very lucky and their GK almost certainly needs to put in a MOTM performance.

They were unbeatable, but they have been having nightmares at home lately, Atlético trashed them and Valencia also.

 

[Nickosaur]

I'll be missing the game unfortunately.

Think it will be more comfortable than people think.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Eibar put 5 past these a few weeks ago, and they just got beat 2-0 by Valencia.

We’ve got no excuse not going through.

 

[Kag]

So play Pogba as a wide left forward who isn't fit (or a forward) in place of a forward on the back of 2 goals against Liverpool?

sure. Wanna play Valencia wide right forward and perhaps play Ashley young as a 10? seeing as we're jus chucking players anywhere like

What planet are you living on?

I'd go for a McTominay, Matic, Pogba three man midfield and play a front three of Mata, Lukaku and Sanchez wide left.

What is difficult to understand about that? It's only an opinion.

 

[Bwuk]

Absolutely buzzing for this.

I've missed the big European games, winning the Europa League was great but nothing compares to Champions League knock out football.

 

[Brightonian]

I'd be tempted to leave Sanchez out. I know he'll get there for us and the best way to make that happen is to keep playing him, but that doesn't mean he has to start every game. Then you can do this:

DDG
Valencia Bailly Smalling Young
McTominay Matic
Mata Pogba Rashford
Lukaku​

Everyone in a suitable position, no-one jostling for the same spaces, Pogba optimised, good defensive/offensive balance. And Sanchez, Martial and Lingard all available off the bench, which is just scary.

 

[Jig1234]

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This is one of the reasons I've always thought 0-0 away from home is an overrated result. Rather lose the first leg 2-1 or get a score draw. Unless we go 2-0 up early, it's going to be nervy night.

 

[bosnian_red]

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I feel like that's not true

 

[Member 90887]

This is one of the reasons I've always thought 0-0 away from home is an overrated result. Rather lose the first leg 2-1 or get a score draw. Unless we go 2-0 up early, it's going to be nervy night.

How is losing the first lef 2-1 better than 0-0, you're not the first one i heard say that. it's basic mathematics.

Edit: Please don't answer with away goals count double.

 

[Greck]

This is one of the reasons I've always thought 0-0 away from home is an overrated result. Rather lose the first leg 2-1 or get a score draw. Unless we go 2-0 up early, it's going to be nervy night.

Come on. There isn't a scoreline that can see you overcome a 2-1 deficit that won't get you through a goalless first leg draw.

 

[Android1974]

I'd be tempted to leave Sanchez out. I know he'll get there for us and the best way to make that happen is to keep playing him, but that doesn't mean he has to start every game. Then you can do this:

DDG
Valencia Bailly Smalling Young
McTominay Matic
Mata Pogba Rashford
Lukaku​

Everyone in a suitable position, no-one jostling for the same spaces, Pogba optimised, good defensive/offensive balance. And Sanchez, Martial and Lingard all available off the bench, which is just scary.

How can you call that Pogba position suitable, if he only played there for United once, Liverpool away last season, and he was s…?

 

[Mihai]

Leaving work in 5 minutes to make the journey.

Lucky you

I can only wish you see live one of the most convincing United wins ever

 

[bosnian_red]

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This is one of the reasons I've always thought 0-0 away from home is an overrated result. Rather lose the first leg 2-1 or get a score draw. Unless we go 2-0 up early, it's going to be nervy night.

I feel like that's not true

Just checked. It's not true. It's the opposite. 70% of sides who draw the away leg 0-0 go through in the home leg.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

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I think they still have that De Gea's save shocking horror.

 

[pocco]

If Pogba undeservingly starts, then it's probably a 4-3-3 without Mata, so who's going to close the rightwing where Correa operates? Remember he gave Valencia an headache in the away game.

McTominay and Valencia probably. With help from the RW.

 

[Catt]

Feeling so tense about this one and I can only imagine this being scoreless at half time

 

[bosnian_red]

Not worried at all about this tbh. They arent very good, they have like 1 player who would get in our lineup (and that cause of injuries), we're at Old Trafford and in great form... it'd basically be a huge shock if we lost. Always possible, but not too worried.

Same lineup as against Liverpool is what we should do IMO. Just go more on the front foot. Think it'll be comfortable.

 

[Android1974]

McTominay and Valencia probably. With help from the RW.

I would me more assured if Bailly started.

 

[Android1974]

Not worried at all about this tbh. They arent very good, they have like 1 player who would get in our lineup (and that cause of injuries), we're at Old Trafford and in great form... it'd basically be a huge shock if we lost. Always possible, but not too worried.

Same lineup as against Liverpool is what we should do IMO. Just go more on the front foot. Think it'll be comfortable.

 

[Giggs86]

This is one of the reasons I've always thought 0-0 away from home is an overrated result. Rather lose the first leg 2-1 or get a score draw. Unless we go 2-0 up early, it's going to be nervy night.

Not this again...

 

[Pace Abuser]

Go regularly but never been to a ucl knockout game.
Incredibly tense about this. Kinda wish I stayed home.

Yeah, I'm one of "those" fans. I can't deal with a loss and the thought of sitting through one (as knockout looms) with no distractions is making me anxious.

 

[Jaxa]

Saving Bailly as a precaution for more important games coming?

He was slightly injured after last game mate, rather than make it worse over 1 big game granted i think it's sensible to put his fitness first, saying that if he's fully fit then of course I want him to start, he's our best CB by a mile.

 

[Random Task]

Not worried at all about this tbh. They arent very good, they have like 1 player who would get in our lineup (and that cause of injuries), we're at Old Trafford and in great form... it'd basically be a huge shock if we lost. Always possible, but not too worried.

Same lineup as against Liverpool is what we should do IMO. Just go more on the front foot. Think it'll be comfortable.

Yeah feel the same way, although I fancy Jose to swap out Mctominay for Pogba. Unfortunate for the young lad but his time will come again.

The performance against Liverpool was our best sinse the turn of the year, really hoping we kick on from it and end the season on a high. Maybe even close the gap on City a little.

 

[groovyalbert]

Excited for this. Nice early goal to settle the nerves would be great, though I'd back us to comeback from a goal down provided we don't concede too late.

Almost guaranteed a big team in the quarters if we make it through, I've missed those games so much!

 

[Android1974]

He was slightly injured after last game mate, rather than make it worse over 1 big game granted i think it's sensible to put his fitness first, saying that if he's fully fit then of course I want him to start, he's our best CB by a mile.

Mourinho's known for asking players to play through injury. Although he might think it isn't needed this time.

 

[el3mel]

This is one of the reasons I've always thought 0-0 away from home is an overrated result. Rather lose the first leg 2-1 or get a score draw. Unless we go 2-0 up early, it's going to be nervy night.

Considering both will need to score a goal and conceding a goal at home will see them going out I hardly see any difference.

 

[VP89]

Got a feeling Lukaku will do the business CSKA style.

 

[Pace Abuser]

Considering both will need to score a goal and conceding a goal at home will see them going out I hardly see any difference.

This difference is a 0-0 would see them go through rather than extra time and penalties.

So don't see how 2-1 is better than 0-0 away from home.