[ArjenIsM3]

He will have a week off after the game. He's not injured. We wont beat Southampton with the team you suggested.

Just like Herrera and Mata weren't injured.

 

[Class of 63]

Feck the PSG game. Rest everyone for it and play the kids - we’re not scoring 2 goals and keeping a clean sheet there.

League is far more important.

What and risk getting humiliated, great idea

 

[SER19]

With spurs v arsenal result being win win for us we have to win here. (I say that as I think if arsenal beat spurs they made implode further)

 

[Bola]

What is the point in benching Pogba? He is banned for a PSG game and will have a rest then.

It wasn't to rest him, but to instead give the Midfield 3 v PSG a rehersal (as per my post). That game will be the most difficult of the season and is rather give them a chance to operate as a unit in an easier game, than throw them into the cauldron in Paris

Appreciate it's a risk, but it's balanced given the quality of the current Saints team and what should be our inherent desire to win every trophy that we are still capable of winning

 

[Bola]

I wouldn't trust a midfield of Fred, Periera and McTomminay to beat Southend. Choosing them against Southampton despite having Pogba available would be mental. We cant afford to drop points due to silly risks

But are you happy to reduce our chances of beating PSG away? Big ask to throw those 3 together and expect to overcome a 2 goal deficit away

We still have at reasonable chance of getting through and this is the weakest knockout stages of the Champs League for a while. I'd rather not be Liverpool and actually try and win the competitions we are in

 

[Mihai]

I think it will be the same team with Marcus in for Diogo.

 

[Damien]

Why does the score predictor only go up to 5?

I'd like to improve our GD and predict 6:0

@mods

It originally went up to 10 but too many people abused it and had weird, unrealistic scores like 8-4 so it was changed to 5 max. Not like we've scored more than 5 goals in a game in years anyway.

 

[SteveW]

But are you happy to reduce our chances of beating PSG away? Big ask to throw those 3 together and expect to overcome a 2 goal deficit away

We still have at reasonable chance of getting through and this is the weakest knockout stages of the Champs League for a while. I'd rather not be Liverpool and actually try and win the competitions we are in

I think we're fecked unless somebody comes back from injury.

Not worth risking an important result over. Hook Pogba after an hour if its wrapped up.

 

[Alemar]

It wasn't to rest him, but to instead give the Midfield 3 v PSG a rehersal (as per my post). That game will be the most difficult of the season and is rather give them a chance to operate as a unit in an easier game, than throw them into the cauldron in Paris

Appreciate it's a risk, but it's balanced given the quality of the current Saints team and what should be our inherent desire to win every trophy that we are still capable of winning

Only a miracle will help us against PSG. You can’t rehearse a miracle, so better to play Pogba where he is eligible and take points that are due

 

[Bastian]

We dropped points at home to Burnley, we've got Arsenal ahead of us in the league and Chelsea with a game in hand and people want to rest our best performer?

I don't want to field a weakened side against PSG, I want us to go for it, but we've got to select a strong side for every single Premier League match.

 

[SteveW]

We dropped points at home to Burnley, we've got Arsenal ahead of us in the league and Chelsea with a game in hand and people want to rest our best performer?

I don't want to field a weakened side against PSG, I want us to go for it, but we've got to select a strong side for every single Premier League match.

Exactly. We're in an absolute dog fight for top 4. Cant afford any slip ups

 

[Jeffthered]

If we dont win this one I might doubt Ole.

Big, huge test.

You're not serious are you?

 

[Jeffthered]

We don't have the luxury of just bringing players in, who we can rely upon. Many of our players are quite temperamental in terms of form and performance (McTominay, Perreira, Lukaku, Sanchez... even some of the more established players...). We need to match Arsenal, and they are winning matches quite easily it seems.. they have two very good goalscorers.

I say we pick the strongest team. yes, we go to PSG and do what we can, but I am less convinced we can turn over a 2-0 deficit there. We may score, but I feel they may score, so we may just have to accept things as they are. Right now, three points on Saturday (in my opinion) is more important than getting draw, or scoring yet losing in Paris.

 

[Mcking]

We will be up against a side that is fighting relegation and will be definitely up for it. A match sandwiched between an away game and a big away UCL tie where he has to overturn a 2-goal deficit with another big away game at the weekend.
Add in the injury crisis, and I think this Southampton match will be the second real test of Ole's credentials after the first PSG game. He had it too easy against Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.

 

[Mcking]

I wouldn't trust a midfield of Fred, Periera and McTomminay to beat Southend. Choosing them against Southampton despite having Pogba available would be mental. We cant afford to drop points due to silly risks

We will have to trust them against PSG though.

 

[SteveW]

We will have to trust them against PSG though.

Not by choice. No point in fcking up a league game as well just for the sake of it.

 

[Momochiru]

Here is my team for the next two games. The priority should be winning against Soton and having best 11 against Arsenal:

vs Soton - strong team, without risking injured players

de Gea
Dalot Smalling Lindelof Young
Fred McTominay Pogba
Pereira Lukaku Sanchez

Subs - Rashford, Bailly/Rojo and one of the youngsters to come as subs

------

vs PSG - strong enough team to avoid humiliation and give some game time to fringe players

Romero
Dalot Smalling Bailly Shaw
Pereira Fred McTominay
Gomes/Chong Lukaku Sanchez

Subs - Rashford, Jones/Rojo and one of the youngsters to come as subs

Couple other points:
* Rashford should get no more than 15-20 minute per game in order to manage his recovery and get him at 100% for Arsenal
* Shaw should be rested against Soton in order to avoid yellow, so he can be available for Arsenal

 

[Sandikan]

But are you happy to reduce our chances of beating PSG away? Big ask to throw those 3 together and expect to overcome a 2 goal deficit away

We still have at reasonable chance of getting through and this is the weakest knockout stages of the Champs League for a while. I'd rather not be Liverpool and actually try and win the competitions we are in

Reasonable? We have a massive uphill battle

 

[Bola]

Reasonable? We have a massive uphill battle

If you.have a defeatist attitude

 

[Sandikan]

If you.have a defeatist attitude

You don't think a 2-0 deficit away to a current European power, without half of our team and no Pogba isn't an uphill battle?

 

[Bola]

You don't think a 2-0 deficit away to a current European power, without half of our team and no Pogba isn't an uphill battle?

It's difficult. But more like Agincourt.

You post seems to suggest that we don't even have a chance, strange, almost like Liverpool or a Spurs mentality

 

[Sandikan]

It's difficult. But more like Agincourt.

You post seems to suggest that we don't even have a chance, strange, almost like Liverpool or a Spurs mentality

When I say "Massive uphill battle", I mean...massive uphill battle.

Liverpool's "mentality" looks alright at the moment, aren't they top of the league?

 

[Bola]

When I say "Massive uphill battle", I mean...massive uphill battle.

Liverpool's "mentality" looks alright at the moment, aren't they top of the league?

For now, trophy cabinet is very light over the last few years

Seems you still don't think we have a reasonable chance.

 

[Sandikan]

For now, trophy cabinet is very light over the last few years

Seems you still don't think we have a reasonable chance.

We don't.

If we get through to the next round, I will personally clean your shoes.

 

[Minimalist]

For now, trophy cabinet is very light over the last few years

Seems you still don't think we have a reasonable chance.

It's a game of football - anything can happen. But back in the land of what's likely though, it's like we have a 1 in 10 chance of turning this tie around. Not impossible but it would be an unbelievable result.

 

[SapperBRed75]

As strong a line up as possible to beat Arsenal has got to be the next objective. Nothing to lose in Paris (other than key players to injury), and we’re more than capable of beating Southampton at home this weekend based on the performance last night at Palace. Loving how Ole and the staff are energising the squad at the moment - brilliant stuff.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Hopefully Martial is back, we need an in form Martial ready for Arsenal.

 

[OldPop]

I prefer to wait for @Catt to tell us about her feelings before I dare believe anything about the match.

 

[OldPop]

First real test. Season 1, Episode 16.

That was damn fun!

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

It originally went up to 10 but too many people abused it and had weird, unrealistic scores like 8-4 so it was changed to 5 max. Not like we've scored more than 5 goals in a game in years anyway.

Can I get a bonus if it ends up 6:0 then?

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Why do professional pundits keep factoring in the part of the season before Ole took over, or results over the last few seasons when assessing current form?

This was how a Guardian football expert summed up his "things to watch out for this weekend" in relation to our upcoming home game against Southampton:

"…Solskjær’s amazing unbeaten league run has to end at some point, so while victory for Saints would admittedly register as a shock, it would be far from a seismic one."

Whole thing here:

Spoiler

3) Saints to surprise Solskjær?
"Southampton should have beaten Manchester United at St Mary’s in December. They were two up by the 20-minute mark, coasting, but then suffered some rank bad luck, United summoning up some resistance and showing a little backbone, an extremely rare occurrence during that grim period when José was preoccupied with his endgame. What were the chances? United are a totally different proposition now under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, but Southampton’s recent record at Old Trafford is better than many might think. A goalless draw last season, victories in 2015 and 2016, just the one loss since 2013. United are under strength, and Solskjær’s amazing unbeaten league run has to end at some point, so while victory for Saints would admittedly register as a shock, it would be far from a seismic one."

 

[roonster09]

If we dont win this one I might doubt Ole.

Big, huge test.

Wonder what kind of test is this. I mean we had test for Ole, test for his tactics, test for his tactics that worked against Chelsea and whether the same would work against Liverpool (yeah his new tactics).

Maybe this is test for Ole to see how he sets up team after giving debut to 17 year old Garner.

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Wonder what kind of test is this. I mean we had test for Ole, test for his tactics, test for his tactics that worked against Chelsea and whether the same would work against Liverpool (yeah his new tactics).

Maybe this is test for Ole to see how he sets up team after giving debut to 17 year old Garner.

Think @Samid sums it up best:

First real test. Season 1, Episode 16.

 

[Ban]

I prefer to wait for @Catt to tell us about her feelings before I dare believe anything about the match.

I'm nervous as fek, can't wait for his judgment.

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

I'm nervous as fek, can't wait for his judgment.

Norway!

 

[Chaky_Best]

Need to win this game of course, but absolutely need to keep the momentum before Arsenal next Sunday. We will have 3 or 4 capital games until the end of the year (Arsenal away, Chelsea and City home and the two games at Wolves)



Arsenal will hopefully lose points at Spurs this weekend, meaning that we could be in good position next week.



We have 7/8 injured, but we are able to beat Soton anyway. Rest one or two in order to have fresh legs against Paris, but most important is Arsenal.



De Gea



Dalot

Smalling

Bailly

Shaw



Mc Tominay

Fred

Pogba



Pereira

Lukaku

Sanchez

 

[Ban]

Norway!

Her?

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Her?

… and she's surprisingly upbeat too, other than that first post on each MDT before KO – which has become a sort of lucky ritual that no-one wants to break.

Was RedKatie before the name change

 

[Ban]

… and she's surprisingly upbeat too, other than that first post on each MDT before KO – which has become a sort of lucky ritual that no-one wants to break.

Was RedKatie before the name change

Didnt know that. Make sense though, cat and all.

 

[Catt]

I prefer to wait for @Catt to tell us about her feelings before I dare believe anything about the match.

Boom! I'm happy to share with you that I think we'll win.