[TwoSheds]

Maguire and Lindelof excellent so far.

Apart from the whole backpass to Aguero malarkey from Lindelof of course...

 

[SirAnderson]

Its SOOO obvious to me that Greenwood will NOT score a goal, and Martial STOP having a quiet game and bag the winner!!
Its also SOOOO obvious that Aguero will score a hattrick and will put us out of our misery, that so certain. Just watch.

 

[Farfetched]

Unbelievable how the city player didn't get booked for taking out Lingard just before the goal. That's an instant booking for us.

That because the ‘Pep’ coached ‘legal’ illegal play has been okayed by Refs and under no circumstances will it ever warrant a card because it’s Pep!

 

[Jonno]

All in all, a good half. We’re ironically crying out for a world class number 10 to link it all together, we come out of defence well. Williams, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, they all spring out well with the ball, but Martial hides behind his marker, can’t hold the ball up, Mason has largely worked hard but been anonymous, and Lingard tries to link it up but has a terrible touch and no turn of pace.

 

[Man-United]

Bar the mistake in the last minute, Lindelof was the best player on the pitch. Excellent in every aspect.

 

[Suedesi]

1-0 up away at City and there’s so much room for improvement. Lingard and Fred delivering 3/10 performances right now. My God, I can’t wait to see Bruno on the ball in the positions Lingard has been: so, so wasteful. Fred’s biggest improvement has been in games where we need him to combative, but he’s second best to everything right now.

Impossible to give Greenwood a score as he’s been utterly anonymous. Nothing good from him and he’s just not been in the game. Ole will have a dilemma as to when to sub him. He’ll want him to be on in case he gets a chance late on, but we’re playing with ten men currently.

Fred has been good, what match are you watching?

 

[Ranchero]

Agree although Lingard won the freekick for the goal. So that should count as one assist for him .
Shaw has not been that bad.

Lindelöf was fine before his stupid pass in the end.

Shaw not bad? Are you mistaking him for Williams

 

[Rampant-red]

1-0 up away at City and there’s so much room for improvement. Lingard and Fred delivering 3/10 performances right now. My God, I can’t wait to see Bruno on the ball in the positions Lingard has been: so, so wasteful. Fred’s biggest improvement has been in games where we need him to combative, but he’s second best to everything right now.

Impossible to give Greenwood a score as he’s been utterly anonymous. Nothing good from him and he’s just not been in the game. Ole will have a dilemma as to when to sub him. He’ll want him to be on in case he gets a chance late on, but we’re playing with ten men currently.

Fred has been great

 

[Gasolin]

City never defends deep, they're wide open if we manage to beat the first line of press. And, he was excellent at the Etihad in the league. These are the matches he should be playing.

We had the same issue at OT in the first game (second game against them) mate.
The game changed at OT when Pep decided to adapt to us. Ole adapted again, so right now, James I don't think is the answer.

Also, for what it's worth, at Etihad in the league, James played on the right and we defended without pressing, etc... but recently, due to the lack of creativity in the midfield, we are in the process of pushing our full backs up and James then had to go left or get out of the team because on the right, he behaves like a pure winger and is blocking the channel for AWB to move up, or he's crowding the area, making this move inefficient.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

Bruno will surely start vs Wolves

No chance. When do new signings ever start when they first arrive? If anything, he comes off the bench...

 

[RedNed77]

Go 2 up and I can see City crumbling. Next goal absolutely massive.

I think the opposite. It’ll be like poking the tiger. I’d like to see us get a second as late as possible, with a third to follow in injury time if they’re chasing it. Just need to keep it tight for the first 30 mins.

 

[red_de_pologne]

Still have very little hope of keeping a clean sheet but let's believe. Would be nice to have Bruno for this game to change Lingard

 

[Ranchero]

Matic playing like a total hero.

 

[Buster15]

Typical Martial really. Might do something in the second which will shut people up but his overall contribution during 90 minutes really has to be improved.

Can you imagine if Roy Keane was the captain. He needs a kick up the backside.

 

[Suedesi]

Var the mistake in the last minute, Lindelof was the best player on the pitch. Excellent in every aspect.

Except that weak pass to De Gea that nearly got intercepted?

 

[RedIan]

Not sure how we are winning that game but ill take it. We rode our luck for 20 minutes. Degea kept us in it. Matic has been our best player, not just the goal but one of only a few showing composure and class. Lingards screwed up attack after attack. He needs shopping out. Still in the tie but not overly confident we will create many chances and i fear city will create many.

 

[marktan]

Does this go to penalties at 3-3 or do away goals count?

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

It is amazing what a good signing does to a group. Shame it hasnt rubbed off on Lingard and Martial who have been diabolical.

Not sure it is the Bruno effect. Maguire gained confidence from his goal last game. Matic has been playing well recently and grows into it playing more. Fred has been good for a long time.

The guys who has struggled has not really improved in this game. Apart from De Gea who is finally looking good again!

 

[Man-United]

Except that weak pass to De Gea that nearly got intercepted?

You now said that twice. I pointed it out already in the post.

 

[Jonno]

Guy on radio reckons James should come on for martial since martial has been so lazy compared to every teammate.

He just doesn’t do enough as the main striker in these circumstances. It’s a lot of jogging, very poor hold up play and only really seems interested when we have the ball on the ground.

 

[diarm]

Matic playing like a total hero.

He's been immense. Felt like himself, Maguire and Williams against City on their own for periods in that half.

 

[Jonno]

Does this go to penalties at 3-3 or do away goals count?

No away goals, any draw goes to pens

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

The iceman is shit.

Sorry but he is.

I could understand having him over Smalling if he was this passing virtuoso but he isn't. not even close. He has 1 god pass every 2 games.

 

[SER19]

He just doesn’t do enough as the main striker in these circumstances. It’s a lot of jogging, very poor hold up play and only really seems interested when we have the ball on the ground.

Simply not enough on nights like these where every bloody inch counts

 

[Ranchero]

I think the opposite. It’ll be like poking the tiger. I’d like to see us get a second as late as possible, with a third to follow in injury time if they’re chasing it. Just need to keep it tight for the first 30 mins.

I think City are playing at their best and we know how to beat them at their best. And that is not to keep it tight and hit em on the break. Why Lingard is no threat. Imagine if we had our best players available?

 

[Berbasbullet]

Its SOOO obvious to me that Greenwood will NOT score a goal, and Martial STOP having a quiet game and bag the winner!!
Its also SOOOO obvious that Aguero will score a hattrick and will put us out of our misery, that so certain. Just watch.

Uh huh...

 

[Man-United]

The iceman is shit.

Sorry but he is.

I could understand having him over Smalling if he was this passing virtuoso but he isn't. not even close. He has 1 god pass every 2 games.

What a fecking joke. He's been class this first half apart from that last minute.

 

[ChaddyP]

Thoughts so far (half -time)

• Greenwood, has he been playing?
• Mason, great so far

Two outstanding points here. Profound

 

[SadlerMUFC]

James is tired + he's not good when the opposition defends deep minding his pace. Greenwood only needs a chance. And then, we can put James, I think City would then be forced to play a bit more.

Bring in James for Lingard and put Martial in the #10. It's not like Martial is going to make a run behind defenders so might as well put him in a place where he can get the ball...

 

[Oldham]

Is VAR in this game?

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Bravo gaff incoming hopefully. Has the feeling it could happen.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

• Greenwood, has he been playing?
• Mason, great so far

It's like Andy Goram all over again

 

[BarstoolProphet]

We won the last two halves 1-0 against City. Shows everyone how far we have come

 

[Superden]

City are bottlers. And have such a soft underbelly. They just can handle the physical stuff. Our 94 team would have annihilated them.

 

[Irwin99]

Our midfield was getting swamped in the first 20 mins but has recovered really well. Lingard has been pretty awful and Martial none existent . To be fair so has greenwood.

 

[Ranchero]

Simply not enough on nights like these where every bloody inch counts

Even when the ball gets to him, Martial doesnt do enough. Lukaku knows that position and at least showed effort in closing down.
Martial is sub Lukaku. And Ole and his team need to give him a rocket.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

No away goals, any draw goes to pens

Just dreading penalties a bit knowing how shit we can be at them. Although I know Sterling likes to miss them too and Jesus missed one last week if he comes on in the second half.

I guess we did already beat Rochdale on penalties this season so maybe we are better at them under Ole. James, Greenwood, Mata, Pereira and Fred scored then. So that could be a plus since we might have 3-4 of them on the pitch at the end of this game.

 

[Ranchero]

Our midfield was getting swamped in the first 20 mins but has recovered really well. Lingard has been pretty awful and Martial none existent . To be fair so has greenwood.

But Greenwood is Young

 

[Rampant-red]

That because the ‘Pep’ coached ‘legal’ illegal play has been okayed by Refs and under no circumstances will it ever warrant a card because it’s Pep!

That's the spirit keep it positive

 

[Gasolin]

Bring in James for Lingard and put Martial in the #10. It's not like Martial is going to make a run behind defenders so might as well put him in a place where he can get the ball...

That I can agree, Martial is being mostly used as a false 9 in most games anyway and James on the left gives us the ability to play on his right foot to try to score so why not? But ideally, we need a second goal to force City to play into that plan.