Play the kids for Europa [Poll added]

What strength team should we play in the final rounds of the Europa League?


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Rightnr

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Play a mixed team. Rest Bruno, Rashford and Maguire at least until the semis. Although I'd love to beat Inter.
 

RyRy11

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Liverpool, Spurs, and Leicester will get almost two months off, their season is over. Arsenal get just one week less than that, due to the FA Cup.

Chelsea will probably get 5 weeks off, assuming Bayern finish the job. So it only affects us, City and Wolves - and City are in the champions league, which is a way more important competition and worth gambling fitness for.
Even if we get to the final we will still have 3 weeks off. It just means we wont have a normal pre season of 5 or 6 games.
 

Devil81

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Play the kids for as long as we can risk it.

We can definitely do it in the next game against LASK.

We can probably do it in the first leg of the next round dependant on who we get.

After that we'll need a full strength XI or at least close to it.

I want to win this.
All rounds are straight knockout, no two legged ties.
 

EwanI Ted

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Even if we get to the final we will still have 3 weeks off. It just means we wont have a normal pre season of 5 or 6 games.
If we start without a preseason then our opponents will have a pretty big fitness advantage against us in our first few games.
 

Drz

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Yes, good post. Garner and Levitt too?
Sure, but you can't play just the kids the experience gap versus the opposition may just prove too much. Ideally you want them surrounded by experience so their confidence doesn't drop because of one bad decision. Rotate the four kids, particularly because they play in positions where we are likely to recruit or where we can improve. Can easily see us starting a game with Levitt and Mejbri, then bring in Garner and Levitt in their stead.
I'd also like to see us try a 3 at the back formation where AWB is the right sided centre-back, which would allow Levitt to play as a right wing-back. (Suppose Dalot or B Williams would be left wing back).

Ole will have to produce a delicate balancing act of assessing the fringe players and still remaining competitive... Another test :)
 

EwanI Ted

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Play a mixed team. Rest Bruno, Rashford and Maguire at least until the semis. Although I'd love to beat Inter.
Resting them only to bring them back in the semis isn’t that useful, they won’t have match fitness after three weeks without games. if we want them playing at a decent level for the semis, they need some minutes before then.
 

Lee565

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Considering the size of our squad and that opposition we in europa league is not that strong outside of 1 or 2 other teams left in the competition I think we would have enough to progress through to the final whilst also rotating the squad and not having to rely solely on the same starting 11.
 

Revan

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Voted for full strength all the way but not counting there the match vs LASK for obvious reasons. They won’t win 6-0 at Old Trafford even if we play our U-18. In fact, that would be a good match to try Garner and Laird.
 

alexthelion

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People talking about "winning a trophy". Didn't do Mourinho any good did it? His time here is still remembered as an utter failure by most. Small time trophies like the Europa League is irrelevant whilst we are good enough to get in CL.
Not only does winning it get pot 1 in CL but it will instill confidence in the players. There is nothing better than winning a trophy.

We have no reason at all not to go for it after LASK. Anyone saying otherwise, well...
 

NotoriousISSY

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We'd be mad to pass up on trying to win it with a maximum of 3 games to play.

I think it would do Maguire and Bruno some good to pick up some silverware to (hopefully) build on.

Also Pot 1 would be great.
 

Lee565

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Why the hate for Conte? He’s done a lot of good things for us the past year. Not sure why any fan would hate him.
This, god bless conte, who else out there was going to take lukaku of our hands for any where near the price we over paid for him and also take on sanchez with a decent chance of getting inter to take him of our fans on a permanent deal with how he has performed for them since the restart.
 

SirAF

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Trophies are what football is all about. Win the fecking thing.
 

stu_1992

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Absolutely go and win it. I voted for the option to have full strength in the semi and final, but honestly I believe it should be something at least approaching a full team in the quarters too. We should definitely only play a reserve type team against LASK though. No point in doing anything else with the margin we have over them. This is United, we should always be trying to win trophies. Even if they aren't the most glamorous, its all a part of harvesting a winning culture. Could be quite important for certain members of the squad who have never won anything before.
 

saivet

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I think we should heavily rotate, not that bothered about the EL given we have qualified for the CL and I think resting players for the upcoming season will be important. Given we're in the CL, we're going to be playing our first team in the league and in Europe each week, so big rotation will be limited to the League Cup and FA Cup.

I would go as far as saying I think we should let some first team players go on holiday and not come to Germany, especially someone like Matic.
 

ZIDANE

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After the first match we should absolutely try to win but happy for more rotation and subs with Romero, Fred, McT, Ighalo etc. It’s still a trophy and test for a young team.

Assuming we have a good transfer window and increase depth whilst removing deadwood.
 

Shiva87

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I think people are mixing up rotation and the need to win it. We should 100% go out to win this, but we should not need to go full tilt. The LASK game and the quarter with a rotated squad. Depending on semi opponents, we may need a bit more of the first team, and then go full tilt for the final.

Players who are key can sub in and out before for small periods, to keep match fit. this is not about not wanting to win it in my mind, but more about fielding a good enough team to win without overextending the players.
 

11101

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Use these as pre season games if possible. We should play the full strength team only where it wont impact on their recovery for the new season. With all due respect to it, the EL is not where we need to be focusing.
 

Walters_19_MuFc

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We've got into the top four, but it'd be nice if we could win silverware this season. I'm hoping Ole picks the team he feels can get the job done.
 

Davs

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I think we should look to give our main XI a well deserved break for now.

If we do end up in the semi's / final then we should revert back to our strongest team as it would be a good confidence boost to land a bit of silverware.
 

DSG

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I think we need to rotate the squad in the first few matches... the Lask match and the first one off. Play Romero all the way. First 11 in the semis and final if we make it there.
 

padr81

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They have plenty of rest incoming, its important for Ole to get the first trophy in the bag. You guys need to go at it full hog.
 

Lay

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No wtf. Let’s win the damn thing. Another trophy to add to our collection.
 

Jibbs

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Is this a joke... these are professionals we are talking about who earn millions every year. They need to be fit and ready to play. Europa is a big trophy and every trophy counts. United should play the knockouts with their full strength.
 

Rajma

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I ask myself the question, do I want Bruno, Rashford or Martial to receive a long term injury before going into the next season because of this? That’s not a trade-off I would be willing to take, personally.
 

Random Task

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Rest the entire starting eleven for the second leg against LASK, then go with a relatively full-strength side for the remainder of the competition, rotating as necessary.
 

Onerealunited

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The premier league starts mid September. We have overused our best eleven players. We need them rested for the next season. We should send the best 11 (the ones that started today) out on holiday now so they can get relaxed for next season. Then we should promote some young players and play all EL games with reserves and youth. Our reserves should still be able to fight for the title (maybe not against inter) but this way we give them a chance to grow and get some first team football on high level and of course we make sure that our best eleven get the needed rest. This would also be a last last chance for some of the fridge payers to show themselves before the transfer season
 

Solius

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I think definitely for the first few stages. We have 5 away goals against LASK. I’d play entirely youth. Would Henderson be allowed to play?
 

Bojan11

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I think definitely for the first few stages. We have 5 away goals against LASK. I’d play entirely youth. Would Henderson be allowed to play?
Don’t think so.

Sane can’t play for Bayern.
 

pascell

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Surprised people don't want to win the competition, it'd be the cherry on top of a brilliant 2nd half of the season.

The first XI I'd imagine will be rested vs LASK anyway, so why not play a strong XI there on?

We want to ingrain a winning and champion mentality into this squad, this will help achieve that.
 
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