Lineups in Intra-squad Friendly after Cancellation of Stoke Match

[hmchan]

We were due to face Stoke City in a practice match at Carrington training ground yesterday, but the friendly was cancelled at the last minute after Potters' manager Michael O'Neill was tested positive for COVID-19. We swiftly organized for another intra-squad friendly and the lineups were as follow, were they indicative? It was also worth to mention we named the same lineups in an earlier intra-squad friendly on Saturday at Old Trafford.

Team A (Home kit): Romero; Dalot, Maguire, Tuanzebe, Williams; Matic, Pogba; Greenwood, Lingard, Rashford; Ighalo
Team B (Away kit): de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, ?, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Mata, Fernandes, James; Martial

 

[Tarrou]

I don't think they are indicative of a starting 11 for Spurs. Definite starters on both sides there.

Shame we don't get to watch these matches.

 

[VeevaVee]

Doesn’t look indicative of anything from the lineups. Probably good no one gets to see how we set up on the pitch because it’s gonna be very tough to plan for with the returnees.

 

[flash F.C.]

any video of the game?

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

I don't think they are indicative of a starting 11 for Spurs. Definite starters on both sides there.

Shame we don't get to watch these matches.

I'm not sure what's stopping them from putting it on MUTV and charging a subscription like they do with preseason friendlies. I thought the Americans were good at this.

 

[stu_1992]

Don't think those teams suggest anything to be honest. Certainly not under normal circumstances as there are clear starters on both sides. Now could these be teams we see due to the amount of games to played? It's possible I guess.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

They look like they have tried to balance them as much as possible to ensure everyone is happy. No point having best 11 vs 2nd string and them getting beat 5 0 is it?

Hope we do get to play at least one other team before Spurs.

 

[VP89]

Team B looks stronger

 

[Rood]

I assume Jones must be the missing player

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Team A (Home kit): Romero; Dalot, Maguire, Tuanzebe, Williams; Matic, Pogba; Greenwood, Lingard, Rashford; Ighalo
Team B (Away kit): de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, ?, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Mata, Fernandes, James; Martial

Let's see..

Ole surely knows the importance of consistent CB partnership, while he has no problems switching players for all the positions except CBs and GK.

Both team A and B formation is 4231.

VS Spurs?

De Gea
1Bissaka -- Tuanzebe -- Maguire -- Shaw
??? -- ???
James -- Fernandes -- Rashford
Martial
​

Difficult to tell who'll play the two CMs. Possibly McTominay and Fred but that'll take guts for Ole to drop Pogba.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

I assume Jones must be the missing player

who

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

The only thing I see the lineup indicate is Ole still intends to play Pogba in a pivot

 

[Don Juan Matus]

I assume Jones must be the missing player

Bailly?

 

[Adam-Utd]

It's just a fair mix up of 22 players.

 

[Dante]

We were due to face Stoke City in a practice match at Carrington training ground yesterday, but the friendly was cancelled at the last minute after Potters' manager Michael O'Neill was tested positive for COVID-19. We swiftly organized for another intra-squad friendly and the lineups were as follow, were they indicative? It was also worth to mention we named the same lineups in an earlier intra-squad friendly on Saturday at Old Trafford.

Team A (Home kit): Romero; Dalot, Maguire, Tuanzebe, Williams; Matic, Pogba; Greenwood, Lingard, Rashford; Ighalo
Team B (Away kit): de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, ?, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Mata, Fernandes, James; Martial

If Pogba is being selected in the same team as Matic, Greenwood, Lingard and Rashford, that can only mean he's being trained to play in a midfield 2. It'll likely be his position for the rest of the season.

What's interesting is that each defensive unit and attacking unit is a mix of first XI and second XI. If the same is true for the two midfield units, it'll mean that Matic is being regarded as second XI material. So the spot next to Pogba will be decided between McTominay and Fred.

I guess that a lot of people already suspected as much. But this possibly adds a bit more weight to the argument.

 

[flappyjay]

They look like they have tried to balance them as much as possible to ensure everyone is happy. No point having best 11 vs 2nd string and them getting beat 5 0 is it?

Hope we do get to play at least one other team before Spurs.

The disappointment for Ole probably is that maybe he wanted to play his strongest 11 against stoke to see how Bruno and Pogba will play together.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

The disappointment for Ole probably is that maybe he wanted to play his strongest 11 against stoke to see how Bruno and Pogba will play together.

Don't think Pogba and Bruno will have any issues as they are both quality footballers. My biggest concern is who the 3rd player in the middle will be and how he will cope with two very attack minded mids to cover. Pogba for all his strengths with the ball has been known to let players run off him quite a lot.

 

[11101]

Team A (Home kit): Romero; Dalot, Maguire, Tuanzebe, Williams; Matic, Pogba; Greenwood, Lingard, Rashford; Ighalo
Team B (Away kit): de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, ?, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Mata, Fernandes, James; Martial

We still have 9 days until Spurs so this will mostly be about match fitness, but there are definitely groups being played there.

The bolded back 5 is clear, Maguire is trusted to slot back in quickly.
Matic and Pogba are practicing as a midfield two, and McTominay and Fred doing the same, knowing Pogba has the talent to swap in for Mata without much practice.

I also think it looks like we are going for a powerful, direct front 6 in Team A whilst Team B is more technical. Team A are going against our starting defence, which will replicate Spurs to some extent.

If you ignore the most talented players who can fit anywhere (Maguire, Pogba, Rashford), there is definitely a first team feel about Team B.

 

[limerickcitykid]

We were due to face Stoke City in a practice match at Carrington training ground yesterday, but the friendly was cancelled at the last minute after Potters' manager Michael O'Neill was tested positive for COVID-19. We swiftly organized for another intra-squad friendly and the lineups were as follow, were they indicative? It was also worth to mention we named the same lineups in an earlier intra-squad friendly on Saturday at Old Trafford.

Team A (Home kit): Romero; Dalot, Maguire, Tuanzebe, Williams; Matic, Pogba; Greenwood, Lingard, Rashford; Ighalo
Team B (Away kit): de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, ?, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Mata, Fernandes, James; Martial

Last time TFM was on the home team and Axel away team.

 

[hmchan]

There are plenty of ways looking into this. While I don't want to be speculative and these lineups may mean nothing at all, I doubt it's just a random mixup of the 22 players, especially when we play 2 games in identical lineups. My best guess is that Team A was the original starting XI to be played against Stoke, as some members from Team B (including Lindelof, Martial, James, Shaw and Mata) were arriving late only after the game was cancelled.

Imo Team B should be close to what we'll be playing for the rest of the season. Pogba and Rashford were excluded probably due to their injuries before the pandemic, and hence were put in Team A to regain match fitness. The only unexplainable pick was Maguire. It's also interesting to see 4-2-3-1 being used consistently. Would it be deployed against Tottenham? Or it's just a formation to fit it as many players as possible?

 

[Remember the geese]

Aside from Maguire, that could very well be the team that starts against Spurs. Due to their lack of football and recent return to fitness, it's probably not inconceivable that Pogba and Rashford start on the bench. Interestingly, despite Team B looking the stronger and closer to what we'll see, Team A won the match. Guess it shows the importance of Maguire, Pogba and Rashford. Matic and Greenwood too perhaps.

 

[Pavl3n]

We still have 9 days until Spurs so this will mostly be about match fitness, but there are definitely groups being played there.

The bolded back 5 is clear, Maguire is trusted to slot back in quickly.
Matic and Pogba are practicing as a midfield two, and McTominay and Fred doing the same, knowing Pogba has the talent to swap in for Mata without much practice.

I also think it looks like we are going for a powerful, direct front 6 in Team A whilst Team B is more technical. Team A are going against our starting defence, which will replicate Spurs to some extent.

If you ignore the most talented players who can fit anywhere (Maguire, Pogba, Rashford), there is definitely a first team feel about Team B.

It's intresting discecting what the coaching staff havein mind when building the two teams.

I think team A has weaker options in attack - Lingard, Ighalo, Greenwood, compared to Martial, Bruno and to some extent James. I guess Team A going against our regular back line is a test for them to step up their game. I see both fullbacks in "A" are attacking and Pogba also likes to venture forward. I'm guessing the As are asked to commit more bodies forward, which should present a test for B's back line, which is the starting line up, bar Maguire. Also B might be tasked to play on the counter.
But yeah, B looks more like the first team, especially if you bring Maguire and replace Mata.

I would've liked to see Bruno played with Rashford and Pogba with Martial. Maybe in future friendly or intra-squad game teams would be rotated.

 

[Nickelodeon]

We were due to face Stoke City in a practice match at Carrington training ground yesterday, but the friendly was cancelled at the last minute after Potters' manager Michael O'Neill was tested positive for COVID-19. We swiftly organized for another intra-squad friendly and the lineups were as follow, were they indicative? It was also worth to mention we named the same lineups in an earlier intra-squad friendly on Saturday at Old Trafford.

Team A (Home kit): Romero; Dalot, Maguire, Tuanzebe, Williams; Matic, Pogba; Greenwood, Lingard, Rashford; Ighalo
Team B (Away kit): de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, ?, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Mata, Fernandes, James; Martial

Is Bailly still injured? Didn't he recover and have a couple of decent performances? Or did he utilize the Covid break to injure himself again?

 

[Craig Ward]

Let's see..

Ole surely knows the importance of consistent CB partnership, while he has no problems switching players for all the positions except CBs and GK.

Both team A and B formation is 4231.

VS Spurs?

De Gea
1Bissaka -- Tuanzebe -- Maguire -- Shaw
??? -- ???
James -- Fernandes -- Rashford
Martial
​

Difficult to tell who'll play the two CMs. Possibly McTominay and Fred but that'll take guts for Ole to drop Pogba.

Drop Pogba? Because he's been so valuable this year?

Pogba deserves to be nowhere near consideration for a starting spot until he's earned it. Right now he is behind Matic, McTom, Fred and Fernandes for a starting spot.

If Pogba walks back into our starting 11 thats cowardice from Ole and a kick in the teeth from those that have performed for him this year. Fred has been very good and doesnt deserve to be dropped for Pogba at this point.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Drop Pogba? Because he's been so valuable this year?

Pogba deserves to be nowhere near consideration for a starting spot until he's earned it. Right now he is behind Matic, McTom, Fred and Fernandes for a starting spot.

If Pogba walks back into our starting 11 thats cowardice from Ole and a kick in the teeth from those that have performed for him this year. Fred has been very good and doesnt deserve to be dropped for Pogba at this point.

Take your bias somewhere else ffs

Being injured doesn't mean he doesn't deserve to play. He's now fully fit and ready for selection, Ole will decide the best player for the team at that point.

Nothing about squad selection is cowardly at all.

 

[Highfather_24]

Didnt an article recently said Paul Pogba was utilised as the number #10 in this training match? Looking at the team A lineup, seems weird.

 

[Pavl3n]

Didnt an article recently said Paul Pogba was utilised as the number #10 in this training match? Looking at the team A lineup, seems weird.

I doubt that's the case.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Didnt an article recently said Paul Pogba was utilised as the number #10 in this training match? Looking at the team A lineup, seems weird.

Nope, he played in a 2 with Matic and Lingard ahead. The attack was Lingard/Rashford/Greenwood/Ighalo

 

[VP89]

Will this be shown on MUTV as a full 90 min match?

 

[ivaldo]

Drop Pogba? Because he's been so valuable this year?

Pogba deserves to be nowhere near consideration for a starting spot until he's earned it. Right now he is behind Matic, McTom, Fred and Fernandes for a starting spot.

If Pogba walks back into our starting 11 thats cowardice from Ole and a kick in the teeth from those that have performed for him this year. Fred has been very good and doesnt deserve to be dropped for Pogba at this point.

Nothing to do with cowardice at all. His job is to get the best results out of this team. Petty principles should never get in the way of that. If Ole thinks his best team includes Pogba, then he plays Pogba.

 

[Bondi77]

Gomes cannot even get a start in the 22.

 

[Utdstar01]

Pretty sure team A won. saw on Matic's insta.

 

[Rozay]

I'm not sure what's stopping them from putting it on MUTV and charging a subscription like they do with preseason friendlies. I thought the Americans were good at this.

Do you think it is good practice for teams to have their training televised? It’s a ludicrous idea, training is supposed to be a private matter for a reason.

We’ve never cared about who lines up with who in a training game either, or what the score was.

 

[TwoSheds]

Looks like Pogba playing deeper? Could indicate he and Fernandes will both start with Fernandes further forward?

 

[Uniquim]

In response to those of you talking about whether lineups were indicative of the starting line-ups v Spurs, the Athletic wrote this about the game:

"The teams were picked to provide equal opponents in regard to physical levels, rather than for any tactical reasons."

Also said we are trying to set up a game with West Bromwich.
"A friendly with West Bromwich Albion is in the works, and likely this week. Another game could be arranged no later probably than Tuesday, June 16. What is clear is that United will not be travelling to play."

I assume Jones must be the missing player

Also from the article: "Phil Jones was absent through a minor injury."

 

[Andycoleno9]

I assume Jones must be the missing player

. How the feck he is injured again? How? When? How??

 

[Lennon7]

The second team looks more familiar with starters and Pogba / Rashford both coming back from injury. Only odd ones are Mata and Maguire for me otherwise I’d say the second team is our starting XI

 

[Adam-Utd]

Looks like Pogba playing deeper? Could indicate he and Fernandes will both start with Fernandes further forward?

Yes i'd expect a 4-2-3-1 with Pogba deeper.

 

[AshRK]

. How the feck he is injured again? How? When? How??

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

The guy is a joke.

 

[tidraKS]

Aside from Maguire, that could very well be the team that starts against Spurs. Due to their lack of football and recent return to fitness, it's probably not inconceivable that Pogba and Rashford start on the bench. Interestingly, despite Team B looking the stronger and closer to what we'll see, Team A won the match. Guess it shows the importance of Maguire, Pogba and Rashford. Matic and Greenwood too perhaps.

What was the score? Any info on goalscorers?