Dembele will do very well, he plays on the left.
Champions League QF: Manchester United v Barcelona - Build Up Thread
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He didn't say they weren't?
What? Why?
Messi was amazing against Betis, he has a habit of terrorising English teams as well feck sake. We have to stop the Argentinian midget someway somehow, but I'm not sure we can 
, brain farts from our back-line like what we saw against Wolves could lead to a cricket score vs Barca. Hope to knick a win at OT though and see where Camp Nou takes us.
, brain farts from our back-line like what we saw against Wolves could lead to a cricket score vs Barca. Hope to knick a win at OT though and see where Camp Nou takes us.Indeed, he, Arthur and obviously the other chap are my main concerns. However Dembele is meant to be missing both legs through injury
He can compete in the Paralympics?
Heh.
People say Messi is no longer what he used to be like that's supposed to mean anything. He's still comfortably the best footballer on the planet. He's just not as 'best' as he was at his absolute peak and the same can be said about Barca's attack. They're no longer great defensively and anyone can get a result if they are clinical and have some luck on the dayMessi was amazing against Betis, he has a habit of terrorising English teams as well feck sake. We have to stop the Argentinian midget someway somehow, but I'm not sure we can
The one positive is we won't have the ball much which seems to play to our strength. We looked clueless against Wolves and seemed to be much more comfortable counterattacking.
Yep, we do seem more comfortable without the ball looking to counter, however we have dispatched most teams bar Wolves that let us have the ball. I think its a case of too many players coming back from injury, nobody was physically ready for the hunger that wolves demonstrated.
Can we have Jose back just for these 2 matches?
Sure, but that's not An unsurmountable disadvantage. I wouldn't play Russian Roulette on these odds.
I wouldn't really play Russian Roulette either way.
Regarding injuries I think we make too much of it
PSG were not that disadvantaged in OT without some big players while we coped without Pogba in Paris
And Messi NEVER GETS injured anymore!
PSG were not that disadvantaged in OT without some big players while we coped without Pogba in Paris
And Messi NEVER GETS injured anymore!
No point in asking Pogba to defend, play him further forward.
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After the Betis game, the only question left is HOW will Man Utd stop Messi?
Oh yes, we won't have much of the ball so it'll suit us. Barcelona aren't used to having the ball at all so it won't be an issue right 
. Ter Stegen is a better passer than everyone in our team bar Pogba.
However, Suarez and Dembele have had their momentum disrupted with injuries. Maybe there is some metaphysical stuff going on and Messi will get injured by Phil Jones in the warm-up or something.
. Ter Stegen is a better passer than everyone in our team bar Pogba.However, Suarez and Dembele have had their momentum disrupted with injuries. Maybe there is some metaphysical stuff going on and Messi will get injured by Phil Jones in the warm-up or something.
I feel an arrow to the knee is now old enough to be reintroduced as a saying.
The Messi-Alba link is as important as Messi himself.
Looks like Suarez maybe out as well as Dembele. We see as Long as we've got our right heads on we should give them a run for there money? Same heads as wolves away and forget it.
Unfortunately it looks like Suarez will be back in two weeks nice and rested after missing the international break
Hopefully Demeble will miss at least the first leg. We need all the help we can get
The only chance I see is that Herrera will stay close to Messi the whole game. Messi often gets annoyed in case of permanent man-marking and fades out of the game. A lot of teams seem to have too much respect or ethics to do that but feck it.
I think only one of rashford or martial should start and that it should be down the left. Lukaku up top. Lingard right.
Football is unpredictable we should just enjoy it. Red card, penalty, injuries loads of things change games but nothing quite like goals. We score first we could have a great night.
No way did anybody think Chelsea Could go 2 down away at barca and down to 10, when barca were stronger than now, and turn it round.
Football is unpredictable we should just enjoy it. Red card, penalty, injuries loads of things change games but nothing quite like goals. We score first we could have a great night.
No way did anybody think Chelsea Could go 2 down away at barca and down to 10, when barca were stronger than now, and turn it round.
It's going to be very tempting to have extra pressure on Messi throughout the game(s) with man-marking and double-pressure, but we have to keep our shape as best as possible because if Messi draws players to him then it's lots of space for Suarez/Dembele, et al.
This is how I'd do it. Barcelona will play between the lines, as will Messi. Matic will more or less be useless in the deepest midfield role since he's not go the mobility to keep up with Messi. I'd go with Herrera on a man-marking job on Messi, following him. I'd play Fred in CM since we need some press resistant players on the field. Pogba and Fred both can turn and run with the ball out of danger if need be.
Lingard on the right. We need his workrate defensively to deal help Young in dealing with Alba's constant runs. Stop Alba and you somewhat limit Messi getting half-chances.
This is how I'd do it. Barcelona will play between the lines, as will Messi. Matic will more or less be useless in the deepest midfield role since he's not go the mobility to keep up with Messi. I'd go with Herrera on a man-marking job on Messi, following him. I'd play Fred in CM since we need some press resistant players on the field. Pogba and Fred both can turn and run with the ball out of danger if need be.
Lingard on the right. We need his workrate defensively to deal help Young in dealing with Alba's constant runs. Stop Alba and you somewhat limit Messi getting half-chances.
When one of my mates man marked me at 5aside it pissed me right off. Imagine Herrera doing that to you. Messi sending off due to frustration is guaranteed.
Won't work if Messi owns the ball, He can just go home.
The only positive of that Wolves disaster is we get the weekend off before the first leg.
Just have a go reds, that’s all I want. The key is to stop the away goal, do that and I fancy us but we need to see how we come back against Watford/ Wolves first.
Just have a go reds, that’s all I want. The key is to stop the away goal, do that and I fancy us but we need to see how we come back against Watford/ Wolves first.
If Messi is at his best, you can't stop him. We must remain switched on for every second of the match, keep our shape and hope that Messi doesn't have one of his great nights.
I think we should play 4312
DDG
Young Lindelof Smalling Shaw
McTominay Herrera Pogba
Lingard
Rashford Martial
Have Herrera and McTominay man mark Messi when he's in their zone, the other two midfielders should keep the shape in midfield when the third is marking Messi and is moving here and there.
Smalling to focus on Suarez as he's played against him before and knows what his dirty game is about.
Sit compact, break on the counter.
Best hope we have i reckon.
DDG
Young Lindelof Smalling Shaw
McTominay Herrera Pogba
Lingard
Rashford Martial
Have Herrera and McTominay man mark Messi when he's in their zone, the other two midfielders should keep the shape in midfield when the third is marking Messi and is moving here and there.
Smalling to focus on Suarez as he's played against him before and knows what his dirty game is about.
Sit compact, break on the counter.
Best hope we have i reckon.
Scottie McTommie to man mark Messi?
Hmm. I know he was good against PSG but...
Hmm. I know he was good against PSG but...
Anyone who can give me advice on tickets could you PM me?
Quite right. It's a knockout, it's a lottery and anything can happen. Can't wait for this one.
Man marking is a risky job. If the player has a bad day, you are done. It can work, but if it fails, we will get torn apart.
SER19 said: ↑
I think only one of rashford or martial should start and that it should be down the left. Lukaku up top. Lingard right.
Football is unpredictable we should just enjoy it. Red card, penalty, injuries loads of things change games but nothing quite like goals. We score first we could have a great night.
No way did anybody think Chelsea Could go 2 down away at barca and down to 10, when barca were stronger than now, and turn it round.
I think only one of rashford or martial should start and that it should be down the left. Lukaku up top. Lingard right.
Football is unpredictable we should just enjoy it. Red card, penalty, injuries loads of things change games but nothing quite like goals. We score first we could have a great night.
No way did anybody think Chelsea Could go 2 down away at barca and down to 10, when barca were stronger than now, and turn it round.
With Messi missing a fecking penalty haha, that was just Chelsea's year. Robben also missed an extra time penalty in the final, before the actual shoot-out.
I would put McT on Messi in a heartbeat. Been watching him defend and loving it. He's very physical and plucky and would drive Messi nuts. He might get a yellow out of it, but I suspect McT will force more yellows out of opponents than he receives if he keeps it up over the long haul.
Defence
Fred Herrera
Pogba
Lingard Rashford Martial
Fred Herrera
Pogba
Lingard Rashford Martial
They had name on trophy for sure. But with last minute winners v juventus young boys and psg. Maybe we do too