[bosnian_red]

If you're on the bench then you're fit to play. Why no AWB and Greenwood?

Wan Bissaka had an interrupted pre season with some questionable decision making to go to Dubai during the break and ignore recommendations from the club over locations. Greenwood in the news, is a kid, he's quality but he shouldn't be an automatic starter, and for his development, he can't be untouchable. Makes sense to bench him.

The problem is no depth meaning we resort to Fosu Mensah and James...

 

[Hoof the ball]

James played very well for Wales. Not exactly mental to start him.

Against a Palace side notorious for piling men behind the ball? It's tactically mental. There's no space for him to run into, which is about his main, and only strength.

 

[RedCoffee]

Good news is it looks like everyone is fit.

I can see WB, VB and GW coming on second half after a poor first half performance and destroying them.

 

[iluvoursolskjær]

Greenwood needed rest during internationals according to Ole so it's more likely to be related to tiredness than any sort of punishment.

 

[dev1l]

 

[Sassy Colin]

Is Williams simply a lb cover or injured? He could have started over tfm.

Hold on, where is Williams?

 

[Tony247]

If AWB can make bench then why can't he start? Is he being punished?

 

[Berbaclass]

A treadmill. Its still different of course but enough to keep you fit. Listen, if you wanted to stay fit in lockdown especially with the resources that he has he’d have stayed fit.

Not the same. I'm quoting what the actual Tottenham head physio said regarding individual training at home...

 

[Idxomer]

This lineup reminds me when he tried to be cute with his selection against Spurs post lockdown. Hopefully, it doesn't backfire again.

 

[Beans]

And he got punished by England. I don't see any reason for us to punish him ourselves as well.

Perhaps that wasn't enough punishment for the management team's taste. Perhaps he'll start the next 3 and it's about rest.

 

[vanderpants]

Groundhog day, different season same shit seriously though today will be a tough game , i will take a 1 nil now

 

[BR7]

Either ole is sending the glazers a message or he’s just an incompetent berk who should never have had been offered the job. We have witnessed this kind of tinkering and which always fails. I’d have anyone but Daniel James. Still can’t dribble past a mannequin let alone players with some pace. No more daniel James in league matches. He’s a bench warmer and should start away games against port vale in the cup ..... end of. He is sh1te and I don’t care if this offends welsh Utd fans. We can’t keep on having players who are average being lauded as starting prem players for us because of national affiliation. Even AWBs firs time touch’s improved more than James.

 

[Tincanalley]

He also had the incident with the helium. Pretty sure that can damage your lungs too so he’s probably had a dressing down/reminder about making mature decisions

Incident with helium? Must have missed that. Can you elaborate, GB, please?

 

[matys]

Ole sending a message to the board in my opinion.

It could backfire if James starts this season as previous one

 

[Sassy Colin]

Fair enough, we should be beating Palace at home if we have any aspirations for the season.

 

[NJM78]

We may win but that team just shows how weak our squad is for a so called top club.

Only good sign is the likes of Lingard not in 18, if that's not a statement of not being needed, I don't know what is.

I'm hoping for miracles in the remainder of window.

 

[Berbaclass]

No he wouldn't, they have Zaha and have brought in a better player in Eze

Zaha is playing up front with Ayew in a 4-4-2. He's better than Schlupp.

 

[stu_1992]

Surprises here being Fosu Mensah at right back. Wan Bissaka on the bench. That had to be fitness related. Same for James ahead of Greenwood. I suppose both could be discipline, but unlikely? Not sure. Those are illogical otherwise. No sign of Matic so perhaps injured. Otherwise he'd certainly be ahead of McTominay or on the bench. Van de Beek on the bench as expected too. De Gea keeping his place over Henderson is the last interesting thing to note.

Overall not a great team. Certainly on the right of that's where James plays. It should be enough to beat Palace but stranger things have happened.

Also it feels weird to be writing a post about the first game back already.

 

[Dec9003]

This lineup is basically why everyone is worried about our depth, isn’t it? Beyond our starting eleven we lack quality, and even our best lineup has question marks. With over teams starting well we can’t afford any slip-up, hopefully we do enough to have a decent start.

 

[Tony247]

James to be MotM calling it now.

You meant Mad of the Match, right?

 

[cptkeane1993]

James been good for Wales. Greenwood is being learnt a lesson. AWB went to Dubai and is rightfully dropped.

Glad the manager is strong and strict.

Donny will come on and get his debut.

Exactly

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

He did but he's bringing good form/confidence into the game.

Hope so, but he never looks confident on the right to me. Not really fish in a pond there. Maybe this game will be the beggining of Daniel James, best ManUtd right winger ever.

 

[Adamsk7]

Line up is fine - AWB went to Dubai so had to isolate for 14 days, Greenwood probably needs taking down a peg, Matic got injured .... my one criticism is I just don’t think James can cut it.

No Pereira, Lingard, Jones etc in the whole squad so that’s a good sign I guess!

 

[arnie_ni]

James... ugh

 

[Cassidy]

Very obvious. AWB, Greenwood have not trained enough due to quarantine

 

[bdspeedy]

We may lose a game or two but I'll love watching Ole send a message to our carnival barker owners.

 

[Zoo]

 

[Cassidy]

Zaha is playing up front with Ayew in a 4-4-2. He's better than Schlupp.

Debatable

 

[Berbaclass]

Absolutely fair. No issues with the side aside from maybe Donny over Scott.

 

[Berbaclass]

Debatable

It's absolutely not though

 

[mu4c_20le]

We may lose a game or two but I'll love watching Ole send a message to our carnival barker owners.

He's nobody's yes man

 

[Real Madras]

My thinking is ole is trying to show the board we need more players by playing James at RW. I can see it being tough for us today

 

[drdoityourself]

I didn't think Pogba would make it and always thought Greenwood would be on the bench.

It's a good team considering a troubled off season. Palace have one fit centre half and we have vdB and Greenwood to come on. I'm expecting a relatively straight forward win.

 

[iluvoursolskjær]

This thread is gonna be mental today

 

[Berbaclass]

My thinking is ole is trying to show the board we need more players by playing James at RW. I can see it being tough for us today

And if he plays well?

 

[ivaldo]

Dropped in to see the hysteria. Didn't disappoint.

 

[DarkLord]

Annoyed I forgot to submit my predicted line-up for this match, anyway just get the 3 points, don't care how we win. Historically, we have an amazing record in opening games. Even under Moyes, we beat Swansea 4-1. Hope this record continues.

 

[AgentSquirrel]

The reaction to James is so over the top

 

[RUCK4444]

Why would AWB and Matic only return to training Monday?? We’re they injured?

 

[Leftback99]

Not exactly a surprise but De Gea starting has gone under the radar. His until a mistake?