[HerbT]

Says the City fan who registered and posts on RedCafe - the leading Manchester United forum.

I post here because, in all truth, it’s a very good forum.

My ‘tongue in cheek’ comment was made because you’d slipped (deliberately, I’d presumed?) into pure fantasy.

I’ll take your reply as being ‘tongue in cheek‘ likewise.

PS. Can I take it from your moniker that you’re an enthusiastic allotment grower?

 

[HerbT]

I'm struggling to see past a 4-0 win for United. Ronaldo with all four.

Anything’s possible but I think it highly unlikely that you’ll score 4.

Unless you’re losing 0-3 at HT, in which case it will be a banker for sure.

 

[Swarup]

Paul Hirst in the Times is reporting that this game will likely be pivotal in determining if Solskjaer keeps his job.

It has been muted as such from last week itself, that 3 games for Ole to save his job. Spurs, Atalanta and City.

 

[Swarup]

DDG
Bailly__Maguire__Shaw
AWB__Fred__Matic__Telles
Bruno
Cavani__Ronaldo
​

I don't see any other choice personally

Shaw is not a central defender. In a 5 man defence you need your 3 as proper Central Defenders and no nonsense cds.

And form wise he has been poor and all over the place - his decline this year is almost same as his progress last year.. Sad.

 

[Berbasbullet]

Shaw is not a central defender. In a 5 man defence you need your 3 as proper Central Defenders and no nonsense cds.

And form wise he has been poor and all over the place - his decline this year is almost same as his progress last year.. Sad.

Shaw has played LCB often in a back 5

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

Shaw is not a central defender. In a 5 man defence you need your 3 as proper Central Defenders and no nonsense cds.

And form wise he has been poor and all over the place - his decline this year is almost same as his progress last year.. Sad.

Not only has Shaw played LCB before but I think Maguire next to him and his drop in form is definitely affecting Shaw

 

[Adam-Utd]

Shaw is not a central defender. In a 5 man defence you need your 3 as proper Central Defenders and no nonsense cds.

And form wise he has been poor and all over the place - his decline this year is almost same as his progress last year.. Sad.

He's played the LCB roll in a back 3 plenty of times, especially when we had Young as a LWB.

The issue for me is Telles hasn't been great and having Walker overlap him will be a killer.

I don't think sitting back against City is a smart plan either. Gift them possession and they'll pull us all over the place.

We need to be aggressive. give them a tough match but also not go gungho and leave giant spaces.

 

[GregM40]

None of which have been against a United with a defence like headless chickens

it’s not exactly a new squad is it? We were organised against Spurs we can do the same tomorrow

 

[Chairman Steve]

Didn’t realise this match was Saturday lunchtime. Well at least theres the potential to have the whole weekend ruined super early

Haven‘t we been famously bad at Saturday lunchtime games in the post-Ferguson era? I swear I read a stat saying something to that degree last year.

 

[RUCK4444]

Was thinking, would anybody consider a midfield three in this one to help gain some control of the game?

I was thinking putting Bruno as like a false 9 up with Ronnie. With a flatter 3 in midfield behind them, could even get Donny on the pitch in that formation.

Something like...

-----------------------------Ronaldo
----------------------Bruno-----------------------
Shaw----Fred-----Scott-----DVB----AWB
----------Maguire--Lindelof--Bailly
-------------------------De Gea

With the fullbacks getting forward for the width obviously. Yeah it's defensive but it will be anyway, I think the extra midfielder against these could help a lot. Still then have good options from the bench like Cavani and Rashford etc.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

Didn’t realise this match was Saturday lunchtime. Well at least theres the potential to have the whole weekend ruined super early

Haven‘t we been famously bad at Saturday lunchtime games in the post-Ferguson era? I swear I read a stat saying something to that degree last year.

There’s potential to have it ruined completely or momentarily. If we get battered and Ole keeps his job then it’s fecked, however if we get battered and he gets sacked that will instantly erase a lot of the pain of the result.

 

[McGrathsipan]

it’s not exactly a new squad is it? We were organised against Spurs we can do the same tomorrow

God bless your optimism but I dont share it.

 

[Micky Targaryen]

I’m expecting a win tomorrow based on absolutely no tangibles and statistics other than Ole is one lucky bastard. Glory to United.

 

[Siorac]

Well that’s what you’re very good at and you’ve done it to us so many times under Ole that I can’t fathom as to why there are any concerns amongst your fraternity.
In my recent experience, from a City supporting perspective, it feels like Ole has Pep sussed so I‘ve got plenty of hope but very little confidence.

We have a good record at the Etihad, certainly. But at Old Trafford we've had one win, one draw, and three defeats against City during Ole's tenure. This includes League Cup games, of course, but both teams fielded pretty much their strongest line-ups in those so they should count.

My point is we have plenty of reasons to worry. Also, our form at Old Trafford is shocking in general, Ole has a 50% win rate at home which is dreadful.

 

[westmeath]

Lindelof is doubtful. We are one injured defender away from the return of the mighty Phil Jones

 

[The_Midfielder]

Rashford is playing this I feel..
Long balls to him is our only outlet going forward and hoping he produces magic against Cancelo

 

[Sassy Colin]

With Lindelof most likely out, start Shaw on the left of a back 3 and play Telles.

 

[USREDEVIL]

With Lindelof most likely out, start Shaw on the left of a back 3 and play Telles.

Yep. Might be a good thing Lindelof is out.

 

[Swiss_Red89]

I think it will be:

-------------DDG------------------
AWB--Bailly-Maguire-Shaw
------------McFred---------
-----------Bruno----------------
-----Cavani--Ronaldo----Rashford

 

[RedBanker]

Hoping for a win since it's the last game for the manager. Probably will be a draw.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Shaw is not a central defender. In a 5 man defence you need your 3 as proper Central Defenders and no nonsense cds.

And form wise he has been poor and all over the place - his decline this year is almost same as his progress last year.. Sad.

In 19/20, Shaw played as CB when we switched to 5 man defense mate. Even last season vs psg, he played there too.

 

[Giggsy13]

It’s trending towards Ole starting an unfit Lindelof over Bailly tomorrow. You know how ole creates a sense of accountability in the squad and rewards good performances.

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

Hoping for a win since it's the last game for the manager. Probably will be a draw.

Ole will be here next year

 

[USREDEVIL]

It’s trending towards Ole starting an unfit Lindelof over Bailly tomorrow. You know how ole creates a sense of accountability in the squad and rewards good performances.

Not even finished my morning coffee but i lol'd

 

[GregM40]

We have a good record at the Etihad, certainly. But at Old Trafford we've had one win, one draw, and three defeats against City during Ole's tenure. This includes League Cup games, of course, but both teams fielded pretty much their strongest line-ups in those so they should count

The semi final at OT included Jones, Williams and Pereira in the starting line up. I do admit we have been poor at OT against City in recent years though.

 

[RedBanker]

Ole will be here next year

No.

 

[Siorac]

The semi final at OT included Jones, Williams and Pereira in the starting line up. I do admit we have been poor at OT against City in recent years though.

This was our starting line-up for last season's semi-final at Old Trafford:

Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Pogba, Fernandes, Martial, Rashford.

Replace Martial with Ronaldo and that XI could feasibly start tomorrow if Pogba weren't suspended. And we were quite shit in the league game at Old Trafford, too, though at least City weren't much better either.

 

[tomaldinho1]

This was our starting line-up for last season's semi-final at Old Trafford:

Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Pogba, Fernandes, Martial, Rashford.

Replace Martial with Ronaldo and that XI could feasibly start tomorrow if Pogba weren't suspended. And we were quite shit in the league game at Old Trafford, too, though at least City weren't much better either.

That was the one time in the league where Pep actually changed strategy for us, assuming because we took 6 points off them the season before, from memory he started both Fernandinho and Rodri and they sat in, double pivot versus double pivot. Horrible watch.

 

[Deery]

Really have no idea what kind of team Ole will put out but think Donny might feature.

DeGea

Wan Bissaka Bailly Maguire Shaw

Donny McTominay Fred

Bruno

Ronaldo Cavani​

 

[Kaos]

Ole will be here next year

I will riot

 

[Robindinho]

Ole will be here next year

Please no.

Spoiler

 

[Castia]

This will be another beat down just like the Liverpool game

City probably wont score 5 but they will control the game and win with relative ease.

 

[Red Dreams]

We are really in trouble if we don't beat Stockport.

 

[dal]

Think he’ll go with a diamond type formation but with Liverpool in his head we may go ultra defensive for this one.

Would love for us to go four at the back with this front 6 in a diamond type formation with Sancho and VDB either side of Mctominay. However no doubt Ole will-go for 5 at the back.

VDB, Sancho, Bruno, Ronaldo, Mctominay, Greenwood

 

[Bebestation]

I will riot

Should be already according to some fans tbh.

 

[Ludens the Red]

There are 30 points available in the league up to the end of the calendar year. I think we should be able to get 24 of them. Three points on Saturday would be an amazing start.

Been posting whilst on the special cigs again?

 

[BusbyMalone]

Back to a 4231, we'll beat them 3-1. Ronaldo and Rashford with the goals.

 

[TMDaines]

Far less liquidity in the West Ham-Liverpool market, but West Ham are currently smaller underdogs in the betting exchanges to beat Liverpool at home than United to beat City.

 

[groovyalbert]

They're due a performance against us

 

[Offside]

They're due a performance against us

Have smashed us in the league cup a couple of times to be fair.