[McGrathsipan]

I'm guessing his point is having CL football would accelerate the building of the solid core..

I understand his point. But I disagree with it. We haven't been a CL club for years now. Cant tumble in to it by some miracle and then use it as a selling point to potential players.

 

[SoCross]

I'm guessing his point is having CL football would accelerate the building of the solid core..

Si!

I understand his point. But I disagree with it. We haven't been a CL club for years now. Cant tumble in to it by some miracle and then use it as a selling point to potential players.

I see your perspective. Only hope the rest of the fanbase will be willing to endure the rebuilding process while the likes of City & Liverpool (and the European giants) snatch up the best young players around.

 

[prateik]

I understand his point. But I disagree with it. We haven't been a CL club for years now. Cant tumble in to it by some miracle and then use it as a selling point to potential players.

Not good enough to compete.. totally agree..

But we arent going to go from being outside the top 4 to challenging for the CL.
The first step of taking things step by step is going to be improving ourselves enough to separate us from the 3-6th pack and into the top 4 pack.. with some gap between us and 1-2 teams below us.

We arent that far off 4th.. There isnt a lot between 4-6th in the league.. Spurs aren't that far ahead either.. The top 2 are a big step up.

We played PSG and Barca last season.. A lot of players would like to compete against the best and not play in the europa league.

If we tumble into the top 4 and the CL allows us to sign a couple of players we want.. that could cement our place as a top 4 side and then we can look further forward.

 

[romufc]

Were not ready for the CL.
Cant see why there is so much Clamour for it until we vastly improve.

Get the foundation built and do it right.

That doesn't mean we can't be ready for it next season?

Anything can happen.. but for a manutd fan to be happy to be out of it shows the level of standards with fans have dropped too. Ready or not Champions League for Manutd should be a minimum requirement.

 

[Havak]

They've only conceded three goals in eight league games so far, but at least they look a little more suspect in the Europa League (conceded in all three more serious games - play-off tie and first matchday against Partizan albeit with a man sent off). So, I think we will do well to score twice realistically, especially with no Pogba in midfield and probably a half fit Rashford, combined with our terrible away form for close to eight months. Hopefully, we can get the win, but I expect it to be difficult when you factor in all of that. It's baby-steps at the moment, but getting that first away win in ages, despite it being against a perceived weaker team in a nothing competition would definitely be just that - the first step. We need to find it soon as the next three away games should be seen as extremely winnable and who knows how much our confidence will grow with a few good results and some more players back from injury after the international break?

As for the line-up, I'm glad Pogba has been left behind and Dalot has gone. I'd have rather Rashford was left back for the Newcastle game, but hopefully the medical team are playing it right. I'd like to see Tuanzebe, Fred, and Greenwood start:

Romero
Dalot Lindelof Maguire Tuanzebe
Fred Matic
Lingard Mata Chong
Greenwood​

I'd like to see something similar to this - I have a feeling Maguire starts as Ole will want to be more solid, while Tuanzebe impressed at Left Back so might be given another go there. We could also see three at the back used, but with no Young this seems a little less likely. Likelihood is Rashford starts over Chong or Lingard as well, but I'd hope not.

 

[Siorac]

Were not ready for the CL.
Cant see why there is so much Clamour for it until we vastly improve.

Get the foundation built and do it right.

Correct.

No it's not correct. It's a lot easier to build those foundations if we have CL football to offer - not to mention that it's financially beneficial, too, another thing which aids the rebuild.

The idea that we should stay out of the CL to "rebuild the foundations" is, well, stupid. There's literally no benefit to not being in the CL, only downsides.

 

[McGrathsipan]

That doesn't mean we can't be ready for it next season?

Anything can happen.. but for a manutd fan to be happy to be out of it shows the level of standards with fans have dropped too. Ready or not Champions League for Manutd should be a minimum requirement.

Im realisitc about where the team is.

A club this size should be in the CL - Should be at the top of the league challenging for major honours.
But right now we are a million miles off. I want United to be there, and to crystal clear I am not happy with the current plight - but at the same time I accept where we are. Its a complete rebuild.

 

[Jack-C20]

Sure it’s already been said but the kick off time in the op is wrong right? Actually in Amsterdam for this so it’ll be nice to see some Dutch fans about.

 

[romufc]

Im realisitc about where the team is.

A club this size should be in the CL - Should be at the top of the league challenging for major honours.
But right now we are a million miles off. I want United to be there, and to crystal clear I am not happy with the current plight - but at the same time I accept where we are. Its a complete rebuild.

It has been a rebuild for 6 years, when will people stop falling for this.

It does not need a 2 year rebuild to achieve top 4.

I agree to challenge for the title it will take longer because you have to catchup with the top 2 and that takes alot more than signings. Coaching and tactics have to be spot on.

But to challenge Spurs, Arsenal, and Chelsea you trying to say it needs a rebuild?

If we get top 4, we will get better players then when you are in the competition you always have a chance of winning it.

 

[dutchred]

Sure it’s already been said but the kick off time in the op is wrong right? Actually in Amsterdam for this so it’ll be nice to see some Dutch fans about.

Try and get to Leiden(20 by train from Amsterdam) and its on the wat to den Haag. It a holiday here today

 

[Jack-C20]

Try and get to Leiden(20 by train from Amsterdam) and its on the wat to den Haag. It a holiday here today

Sounds like my kind of place! I’m lucky that my girlfriend is up for watching it at all so might be pushing it if we have to go by train

 

[Tom Cato]

AZ Almaar is not a chump club. That being said we should be able to control this game like we have the last few matches we've played. Here's to hoping we can get some goals as well on top of the pitch control. Either way, GAMEDAYHYPE!

Lets be Manchester United fans today instead of opposing team fans (Looking at you you angry grumps)

 

[redshaw]

Sure it’s already been said but the kick off time in the op is wrong right? Actually in Amsterdam for this so it’ll be nice to see some Dutch fans about.

Yes the OP is wrong.

Kick-off time is 17:55 BST and 16:55 UTC, not 20:00 BST.

I even posted on the first page the correct times when the OP was empty as I think people will be caught out with the silly early kick-off. Worth putting the time in the thread title.

 

[Ekeke]

Could be a very interesting night with some AZ players being among the most in form young players in the netherlands this season.

 

[dutchred]

Could be a very interesting night with some AZ players being among the most in form young players in the netherlands this season.

Two players to watch out for are
Teun Koopmeiners an excellent defensive midfielder. I'd rather get him than Declan Rice
and
Calvin Stengs outstanding attacking midfielder ( who can also play wide)

 

[Stadjer]

Two players to watch out for are
Teun Koopmeiners an excellent defensive midfielder. I'd rather get him than Declan Rice
and
Calvin Stengs outstanding attacking midfielder ( who can also play wide)

Dont forget about Boadu.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Could definitely see this lot beating us to be honest. The key to beating United is to score more than one goal, and they seem a pretty confident young team playing at home - they'll fancy it.

 

[RedRonaldo]

Let’s fight for away draw!

1-1 hopefully. Going to be tough.

 

[Grande]

So many expecting /hoping Maguire will play. Is that realistic? I doubt they will have him play three matches in the same week.

It’s him or Lindelöf, that is, with the lack of backs and centrebacks travelling, it has to be Rojo on LB and either Victor or Harry to partner Axel. It’s a bit of a coin toss, but I’m guessing Maguire as Tuanzebe looks more comfortable on the right, as does Lindelöf.

 

[koop]

5-0 to us. Trust me.

 

[Cee90]

5-0 to us. Trust me.

Jeez.

Are you on the sativa or indica?

 

[Siorac]

Jeez.

Are you on the sativa or indica?

Maybe he's an AZ fan.

 

[Cee90]

Maybe he's an AZ fan.

Haha oh right, yeah he did say 5-0 and not 0-5 I guess.

However, my question still applies.

 

[Mickson]

It’s him or Lindelöf, that is, with the lack of backs and centrebacks travelling, it has to be Rojo on LB and either Victor or Harry to partner Axel. It’s a bit of a coin toss, but I’m guessing Maguire as Tuanzebe looks more comfortable on the right, as does Lindelöf.

Can also be Rojo in the center and Williams at LB, although I don't think Ole has the guts to do that.

 

[2 man midfield]

We’re one goal FC. If we can’t keep them out, we aren’t winning.

 

[kouroux]

Two players to watch out for are
Teun Koopmeiners an excellent defensive midfielder. I'd rather get him than Declan Rice
and
Calvin Stengs outstanding attacking midfielder ( who can also play wide)

Dont forget about Boadu.

They really sound like Master League default type of players

 

[TMDaines]

It's absurd that it feels as if any win would be massive, but we've not won away for over six months, nearly seven months, since That Night in Paris.

Please, boys, just win.

 

[André Dominguez]

Tricky game if you ask me. We are in a poor form and they are in a good form, and only lost one game in all official matches this season and managed to beat Feyenoord away by 3 goals a couple of weeks.

They usually play in a 4x3x3 (dutch cliché, isn't it?), but they are not focused on possession, but rather having a mix of cautious possession and trying to play deep passes.

They have some interesting players that I know from other clubs: Midtsjo was an industrial midfielder when he was an u23, a center midfielder more concerned on breaking the opposition lanes than the creative part, Stengs and Boadu are kids with a bright future ahead, Idrissi is a somewhat inconsistent winger, but on a goo day he's gonna give you trouble, Svensson is a player that I think he will someday hit a big club, and their center backs Vlaar and Wuytens are very experienced and have solid careers.

Due to suspension Svensson will be left out which might be good for us, because he does not make much assists, but carries the ball very efficiently causing the opposition to disrupt their shape.
Instead Sugawara will play, which is not so dynamic, but is a reliable player.

Clasie is still a very good passer, but Arne Slot might drop him in this game, a thing he had done in big games before.

 

[koop]

Jeez.

Are you on the sativa or indica?

Utd has led me to being on both.

 

[Bwuk]

I think we'll lose this the more I read about Alkmaar. They sound a good side in good form, we are hopeless.

 

[A-man]

It’s him or Lindelöf, that is, with the lack of backs and centrebacks travelling, it has to be Rojo on LB and either Victor or Harry to partner Axel. It’s a bit of a coin toss, but I’m guessing Maguire as Tuanzebe looks more comfortable on the right, as does Lindelöf.

Maybe you’re right. I just figured we have two CBs in Rojo and Tuanzebe who should be fully capable to play the central defence in this match. But maybe it is mainly a question about who will play fullbacks.

 

[Red00012]

Some miserable and thoroughly boring cnuts on the Caf at the moment. If literally all you can be is negative why post? At least don't make every single one so unashamedly shite. Things are far from rosy but just give it a rest. Please.

Best of luck enforcing that.
I don’t post as much on here as much as I used to, it’s just a ball of negativity.

 

[downunder red]

I think he will play close to his best side tonight and on Sunday. Due to it being Newcastle, I think it is a chance for two in a row. He'll go for it I'm sure.
Expect a lot of players he would normally rest.

 

[Vidyoyo]

Going for a 0-0 here.

 

[charlenefan]

Well they're 3rd in the Dutch league only 1 point off top spot. They've only lost once so far this season, winning 6 and drawing the other one. Basically they're in good form. No way are we winning this

 

[Inter Yer Nan]

Anyone know what channel it's on here in the US? Not sure why I'm even bothered to watch. Glutton for punishment I guess.

 

[izec]

Well they're 3rd in the Dutch league only 1 point off top spot. They've only lost once so far this season, winning 6 and drawing the other one. Basically they're in good form. No way are we winning this

Yeah, i think a draw or maybe a loss if they are fired up.

 

[RedTiger]

I've gone with:

Romero
Young
Maguire
Tuanzebe
Rojo
Pereira
Fred
Mctom
Greenwood
Rashford
James

 

[Shimo]

Anyone know what channel it's on here in the US? Not sure why I'm even bothered to watch. Glutton for punishment I guess.

@%@@$@# - Europa is only through Bleacher Report Live subscription until the Final in the US

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

Bloody hell, I was 4 second too late for line up
I hate when I have to work on the match day.
And it was my first 11/11 this season, I just know it. Right