[ayushreddevil9]

A smash and grab opportunity, but Citeh must be feared and respected.

As if we have a choice

 

[Flying_Heckfish]

Need to score at least 2-3 goals. Can't see us keeping Haaland quiet he's a machine.

Definitely need 2. Even a 2-0 lead would be tense.

Can't see us making it there, but it's a free hit in terms of our season.

 

[ForeverRed1]

Got to really go for the three points. Get at them. They don’t like it when teams get at them.

 

[peridigm]

Fecking ages away. When do teams report for the WC? We'll have like 4-5 weeks of football right?
I hate that we always seem to play a huge match right after international breaks. The FA are a bunch of twats.

 

[Mr PG]

Absolutely hate playing Pep this one can be fun. Would take a draw obviously, especially that Martial and Rashford are out.

Think we will need one more midfielder. Sacrifice Ronaldo for Casemiro.

Nah. ETH says he considers liverpool the best footballing side yet he started Eriksen and Bruno in that fixture tells you he won’t change against City.

 

[Strelok]

Crucial that Ronaldo starts and is instructed to stay around the penalty box. Not sure if Martial or Rashford can start after not playing for almost 3 weeks before the City game.

Yeah sure we'll pin them down to their half and create load of chances for Ronaldo to tap in. They're so shite that we'll be able to play with 10 men, no pressing and still easily smash them.

 

[little.triangles]

We need a pragmatic but energetic approach - more the showing against Liverpool than Arsenal. Close them down in midfield and defense and let Rashford and Antony play on the shoulder as wide forwards to keep their full backs honest.

Who plays no.9 is the big problem. Martial won' start even if he is fit. A false 9 may work but I don't think it can be Bruno who can't shield the ball. Who can in this current squad? Nobody.

So Ronaldo will start. Keep your expectations low. We are not only a work in progress, but we don't even have a striker.

 

[RC89]

It's a tough game to ask Martial to come in and start but I think it's crucial Rashford be played on the left ahead of Sancho in this game. Ronaldo really should not start this game up front, leaving us with Martial.

 

[croadyman]

City are not top of the league, they aren't as dominant as everyone seems to imagine.

There are flashes in games of what United could be under Ten Hag, the goal against Arsenal, the first goal last night.
We will have more possession than we have had in recent times at the Etihad, just hope that Rashford is back as his pace will be needed.

Yeah we won't suffer the recent possession hammering of recent seasons,Christian is first time we have had a quality midfielder on the ball there since Carrick.

 

[croadyman]

I think the key for us is to get through the international break unscathed. An injury to Varane, Martinez or Eriksen and I worry about how we get through the game. It feels like our typical luck going into a game like this the last few years we seem to be missing our most important players. Hopefully that isn’t the case this time.

As other posters have called out, city looking more vulnerable this season so there will be moments in the game for us and we just need to be clinical.

I would go into the game pretty confident we can compete if our back four are available and most importantly for us if Martial is fit along with Rashford to prey on those vulnerabilities at the back with city. We need Martial to look after the ball when it gets up to the half way line and we can build up. I fear with Ronaldo or to slightly lesser extent Rashford up front we get suffocated as they can’t hold it up good enough and ultimately crack under the pressure.

Yeah this will be Martinez,Eriksen,Antony & Malacia's first international break,just hope they can get through it unscathed. I also worry whenever Rafa goes away with France because it generally results in him limping off.

 

[Raven]

Perhaps Martial will be fit for this, it would be a huge bonus if he was, give their centre backs something to think about.

 

[ilrm]

Yeah sure we'll pin them down to their half and create load of chances for Ronaldo to tap in. They're so shite that we'll be able to play with 10 men, no pressing and still easily smash them.

That’s the spirit!

 

[CarbonStoolBites]

Haaland will score a hatrick. 1-4 City, it is what it is.

 

[Red00012]

A little hamstring knock for Haaland on international duty and I think we’ll beat them

 

[Bebestation]

We need Rashford for these games.

With the way City are playing passes for Haaland we need to take our counterattacking chances.

 

[cyberman]

Gotta isolate Haaland with Martinez and Varane. They play a lot worse with basically 10 men. Casemiro in on KDB as well

 

[Nero]

1-0 United. Haaland to be invisible.

 

[mu4c_20le]

A little hamstring knock for Haaland on international duty and I think we’ll beat them

Where's tonya harding when you need her?! No seriously, I'd rather beat them at their best, so no excuses like Liverpool.

Martinez handled him before.

 

[izak]

Surely this is a game for the more experience Casemiro isn't it? For me i think if we can stay compact in this game we'll get a result. A 4-4-2 diamond should help us with more bodies in the middle of the park then hit them hard on the break...

--------------------------DDG-------------------------------

Dalot-------Varane-----Martinez------ Malacia

-------------------------Casemiro------------------------

Mctomiany---------- ----------Eriksen

---------------------------Bruno----------------------------


-------------------Antony-Rashford-----------------

Subs: Ronaldo, Sancho, Fred, Shaw, Elenga.

2-1 United!!

 

[Irwin99]

McTominay to emulate Roy Keane?

"I waited long enough. I hit him hard, the ball was there (I think) ...take that you rapscallion Norwegian knave . And tell Pep I have some strong words for him too". McTominay is shown a yellow card for catching Haaland's toe in a late challenge. United win 2-0 in a feisty encounter.

 

[Mr PG]

Rashford will be on the left, Sancho no.9 and Antony on the right

 

[Wing Attack Plan R]

Absolutely hate playing Pep this one can be fun. Would take a draw obviously, especially that Martial and Rashford are out.

Think we will need one more midfielder. Sacrifice Ronaldo for Casemiro.

Sacrifice Ronaldo for a packet of crisps, at this point, and we'd be better off, but agree with you that Ronaldo should be nowhere near the starting XI.

This is the first time in a long while that I feel we can compete head to head with them. We've done them with worse teams but I was surprised when it happened. This time, I feel we can earn a point if not take all 3 without being wanted for robbery.

 

[ClosetDevil]

Likely we lose this 0-3.

 

[Rozay]

Martial straight back in the team for me.

I’d start Martial middle, Rashford left and Sancho right. If we can get that team on the pitch I think we’ll go there and do them.

 

[NLunited]

All well and good beating Liverpool and Arsenal but this will be Erik's first real test.

Every game in the PL is a real test.

 

[SAF is the GOAT]

I really hope that Marcus and Tony will be ready by then from their injuries

 

[Marcus]

Well. Going against the league leaders. If we are honest, this isn't one of those games we are expected to win with ETH not having enough time for his style to be fully integrated into the subconsciousness of his players. But let's hope for a rousing energetic performance and get a game raising result which will realistically have to be against all expectations.

 

[flameinthesun]

Ronaldo should not start. The key to us beating Arsenal and Pool has been Rashford's runs in behind, so he needs to either start on the left if Martial is fit or up top if Martial is not fit. Either way we need his pace even if it is only to put doubt in the minds of city. As others have said I fear for us if we lose any of our back 4 and Eriksen. I also would fear for us if we are forced to start Ronaldo.

 

[2 man midfield]

Ronaldo should not start. The key to us beating Arsenal and Pool has been Rashford's runs in behind, so he needs to either start on the left if Martial is fit or up top if Martial is not fit. Either way we need his pace even if it is only to put doubt in the minds of city. As others have said I fear for us if we lose any of our back 4 and Eriksen. I also would fear for us if we are forced to start Ronaldo.

Yep, nothing wrong with playing on the counter here. We’ve seen countless times that it’s the only way to beat them, so why not?

 

[UnofficialDevil]

October? Feck off.

fecking massive gap

 

[little.triangles]

Martial straight back in the team for me.

I’d start Martial middle, Rashford left and Sancho right. If we can get that team on the pitch I think we’ll go there and do them.

No way Martial starts. His last appearance was against Liverpool, a full 40 days before the City fixture. It's quite unfortunate.

The best approach would be Sancho-Rashford-Antony. Or Elanga-Sancho-Antony if Rashford is not fit. But Sancho playing false 9 has not been properly tried and would be a risky choice in a big game.

 

[MonkeysMagic]

We have to play a faultless defensive game (slightly more optimistic given our current back 4) and try to keep the game 0-0 until 65-70 min. Then hopefully take our chance at the other end as there is no other way for us the beat these lot playing any other way. In time, with hopefully ETH methodology and personnel set in, we could see us try to play possession, creative football but perhaps not this season!

 

[Josh 76]

Ronaldo should not start. The key to us beating Arsenal and Pool has been Rashford's runs in behind, so he needs to either start on the left if Martial is fit or up top if Martial is not fit. Either way we need his pace even if it is only to put doubt in the minds of city. As others have said I fear for us if we lose any of our back 4 and Eriksen. I also would fear for us if we are forced to start Ronaldo.

Not even the hardcore Ronaldo fans would think it would be a good idea to start him against City.

 

[croadyman]

Martial straight back in the team for me.

I’d start Martial middle, Rashford left and Sancho right. If we can get that team on the pitch I think we’ll go there and do them.

Yeah if only he could stay fit there is potential to see his best season here since the early days

 

[croadyman]

Well. Going against the league leaders. If we are honest, this isn't one of those games we are expected to win with ETH not having enough time for his style to be fully integrated into the subconsciousness of his players. But let's hope for a rousing energetic performance and get a game raising result which will realistically have to be against all expectations.

Yeah annoyingly players will be off on international duty tomorrow and probably not back until a few days before City

 

[Tincanalley]

For the first time in ages, I’m looking forward to this fixture. I really think Utd have a chance! City are always slow after the international break and with Utd having less players on International duty, this could be a big advantage.

I was thinking that. Greater risk of knocks etc, too. It’s a good time to play them. The ETH dressing room will be super motivated. Win, lose or draw I think all will be up for it. Rashford and Eriksen to strike in a nerve shattering 2-1.

 

[croadyman]

I was thinking that. Greater risk of knocks etc, too. It’s a good time to play them. The ETH dressing room will be super motivated. Win, lose or draw I think all will be up for it. Rashford and Eriksen to strike in a nerve shattering 2-1.

Eriksen will land a free kick at some point,no better place for it to happen than right here.

 

[Tony247]

We are going to win this.

 

[allen7]

Feels like a 0-1 win for us and I wish that to be true. Varane header on 89th minute, maybe?

And i wouldn’t take much even if we lose by 2 or 3 goals since they are in a nice form plus they have haaland.

 

[jesperjaap]

Two ways to beat them, you either get right at them as Liverpool and Chelsea have....but we dont have the players or style of play to do that well enough.....or you hit them on the break with pace, Madrid did it at times and we ave done it in the past.

I do think with a more physical approach in the box now with Haaland and the likely ease of them getting through our midfield and around the sides, it could be a long afternoon and we will need a lot of luck.

Its a strange one as even with our improvements so far this season, its still a game we could lose by four or five goals, yet there is also a possibility of us having a result like the Arsenal game.

I dont go into the game confidently, but I am looking forward to it, mainly as a show of where we actually may be at the moment performancewise