[Offsideagain]

I wonder if Villa will send a strong team? Personally, at this stage of the teams development and the crazy fixture list, it wouldn’t bother me if we took an early exit from this cup.

 

[DJ_21]

Agree with all of this. Why rest players when we only have one more game after this before the World Cup break? Let the national teams rest them if they think they need it. I want to win this trophy.

Exactly mate. Our best chance of winning a trophy this season. Winning this will set us up nicely for next season and give the players hunger and desire to win the bigger prizes.

 

[Satissh12]

Looks like this match is not available on TV or any other digital platform in India. Shame!

 

[Havak]

Lots of valid opinions, I can see both sides but I think I'm leaning more toward fielding a strong side and going for the trophy as there are more pros than cons for me. Definitely change a few players up regardless, but that's more in the case of Maguire for Lindelof, Malacia for Shaw, etc

It's a valid argument that some players might be tired, but I can't help but think "so what?" A significant amount of our players who go to the World Cup are going to play 3-4 games at best and then what? Get a winter break... Might as well push them harder now to get them fitter. What's the harm in 2 more games now where 50% of the outfield players can be substituted anyway? It's pretty clear that if you want to play for Ten Hag, you will be playing almost every game and giving 100%. The game is in the best place it's been for rotation with 5 subs.

Arsenal, Chelsea, and Spurs are all eliminated already... Could end up being a slap to the face if we draw Man City next round but still, I'd rather we go for it tonight. I would prefer if we evaluate this competition round by round, rather than as a whole. This round comes at an OK time IMO and a good test against a side we just lost to. We can give minutes to Maguire, Garnacho, Malacia, and probably Fred, McTominay, and van de Beek at some stage as well (if not start some of them). Hoping Martial gets on again too!

I will hate it if we lose this game, I'd rather our players go out there and right a wrong!

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

It's always worth checking the amount of posts and length of time on the site when you see a post like that.

Many 'old-timers' seem to enjoy posting similar, without a wink or smiley emoji, and then when anyone 'takes the bait' with a serious response they get laughed at for falling for it.

Unfortunately there‘s no “the post was garbage, some United fans need a slap and my reply is sarcasm” emoji.

(and “old timer” means been on the Caf for a few years I’m assuming? Im not old )

 

[Bertie Wooster]

Unfortunately there‘s no “the post was garbage, some United fans need a slap and my reply is sarcasm” emoji.

(and “old timer” means been on the Caf for a few years I’m assuming? Im not old )

Yep.

As mentioned in the paragraph above it, 'old timer' as in 'the amount of posts and length of time on the site'.

 

[Remember the geese]

Only just realised that Dalot is suspended for the weekend due to picking up his 5th yellow. Odd rule because Cancelo was allowed to serve his suspension last night for his straight red against Fulham last weekend.

 

[George The Best]

I wonder if Villa will send a strong team? Personally, at this stage of the teams development and the crazy fixture list, it wouldn’t bother me if we took an early exit from this cup.

Emery has indicated he’s going strong. Think he feels he could win this cup.

 

[Havak]

Only just realised that Dalot is suspended for the weekend due to picking up his 5th yellow. Odd rule because Cancelo was allowed to serve his suspension last night for his straight red against Fulham last weekend.

Yeah, cumulative yellows are competition-specific, but red cards are across all three.

 

[TMDaines]

I'm shuddering at the sight of some of these 'kids and second string' line ups. They're as good as handing the game to Villa.

If we'd got a favourable draw - which we hardly ever do - then we could maybe get away with playing a starting XI that features players that have barely played all season - for a very good reason in most cases!

But this is a game we need to treat with respect if we're to win. And it's as good as throwing the match - and one of our best chances of a trophy if we took it serious - if we omit all the key starters, and bring in all the players we wouldn't want starting a league game, the Barcelona matches, or any other game we're taking seriously.

I'm hoping we go quite strong. Only resting / rotating a small number - not the whole team just because 'it's the domestic cup and it's become fashionable to do so'. And, given the calibre of opponent, only giving playing time to youngsters who are deemed current first team squad material - which is only really Garnacho, and, at a pinch, Elanga. But definitely not starting both together in attack as if it's an U21 or EFL Trophy game.

You have more energy to argue this than I do, Bertie. Well said.

Just be glad we have a manager who wouldn’t have got where he has in his career, if he had the defeatist and unambitious attitude that pervades here.

 

[Remember the geese]

Yeah, cumulative yellows are competition-specific, but red cards are across all three.

Not that it mattered to City, but it's an unusual advantage to have. I'd want that rule changing, but that's just me

 

[Havak]

Not that it mattered to City, but it's an unusual advantage to have. I'd want that rule changing, but that's just me

My guess is that players were abusing the old way - getting a yellow at the end of a game in the league when the league cup game was next (which they probably would be rested for) thus removing the worry of being suspended for a league game.

 

[Remember the geese]

My guess is that players were abusing the old way - getting a yellow at the end of a game in the league when the league cup game was next (which they probably would be rested for) thus removing the worry of being suspended for a league game.

I can definitely see the dilemma. Maybe making red cards in the Premier League competition specific would be something worth looking at.

 

[Bertie Wooster]

You have more energy to argue this than I do, Bertie. Well said.

Just be glad we have a manager who wouldn’t have got where he has in his career, if he had the defeatist and unambitious attitude that pervades here.

Thanks.

 

[McGrathsipan]

obvs dont want to lose at home to Villa but the schedule post world cup is mental.

 

[GledTheRed]

Play the kids, let Dracula and his boys take the W.

 

[always_hoping]

So it looks like Dalot will start tonight and AWB on Sunday v Fulham.

 

[roseguy64]

So it looks like Dalot will start tonight and AWB on Sunday v Fulham.

Where you seeing that?

 

[Gandalf]

Where you seeing that?

Well it is a logical assumption as Dalot is suspended for the weekend. No need to rest him tonight and AWB is the most logical replacement for him on Sunday even if it is just to put him in the shop window in hopes of moving him in January so we can get Frimpong or whoever.

 

[AjaxCunian]

Dubravka, Martial, Bruno, DvB starting.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Dubravka, Martial, Bruno, DvB starting.

Noice

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Dubravka, Martial, Bruno, DvB starting.

Bruno wide or VdB deep?

 

[Raven]

You have more energy to argue this than I do, Bertie. Well said.

Just be glad we have a manager who wouldn’t have got where he has in his career, if he had the defeatist and unambitious attitude that pervades here.

It's about being realistic. Our players were very leggy against villa on the weekend and we have a far more important match coming up this coming weekend, it's time to make use of our squad.

 

[Raven]

Dubravka, Martial, Bruno, DvB starting.

Where's this coming from?

 

[horsechoker]

Weekend killed my excitement. Barely arsed this is on tonight

 

[saivet]

Bruno wide or VdB deep?

I think Bruno wide, been reported that Antony and Sancho will miss today.

 

[saivet]

Where's this coming from?

The United Stand from what I've seen

 

[USREDEVIL]

Good ebening everybody.

 

[Escobar]

Play the kids ffs

 

[DJ_21]

Hoping martial is fit enough to start this one. Can’t play VDB again surely. Must be someone in the youth who can come up and do a better job. Gonna have to change formation if we haven’t enough wingers. Unless he goes Elanga and rashford wing with Ronaldo/martial up top.

 

[DJ_21]

Play the kids ffs

Won’t happen. Ten Hag is all about trophy’s!

 

[phelans shorts]

Play the kids ffs

Win trophies ffs

 

[Raven]

The United Stand from what I've seen

Fair enough, I'm a bit concerned a Bruno's starting again, he must be knackered.

 

[Carlsen19]

Dubravka, Martial, Bruno, DvB starting.

Got to be last chance saloon for DvB surely.

 

[theatreofdreams777]

We can easily win this game and the Fulham one at the weekend. I don’t get why some people want to just prioritise the Fulham game. We need to win trophies, that will help In developing the team and giving them hunger for more. That creates a winning mentality. Why do people want us to just roll over and hand city another trophy? We can beat anyone when we’re at our best and we’ve already shown that. This is probably looking at the best chance of getting a trophy this season since we’ve been screwed over in Europe. We can win this and still comfortably finish top 4.

I mostly agree with this but I really believe we'll win both Europa League & League Cup this season just like we did 6 years ago.

I get 16-17 season vibes from this year. It was Mourinho's first season and we were playing very good football but couldn't capitalise/convert the chances we created (especially Ibra) and had so many draws instead of wins. We had started the season in Europa League. It felt like we were on the right path etc. So many similarities between these two seasons.

Moreover, if I remember right, just like it happened yesterday, the other big teams were eliminated early in League Cup and in 3rd or 4th round of the tournament we had defeated City at Old Trafford in 16-17. And then went on to win the thing against Southampton.

So, dont worry & mark my words; we're winning not just the League Cup but also Europa League this year

 

[Escobar]

Win trophies ffs

This trophy wont mean much. We used to field the reserves in the past

 

[the_cliff]

Fair enough, I'm a bit concerned a Bruno's starting again, he must be knackered.

He hasn't played since last Thursday !!

 

[phelans shorts]

This trophy wont mean much. We used to field the reserves in the past

Winning it in 2006 is routinely referred to by all of those involved as the major foundation upon which the next dominant squad was built from as it gave them the knowhow to win the big one and desire to chase more.

But sure Escobar off the internet says it doesn’t matter

 

[Raven]

He hasn't played since last Thursday !!

Oops, totally forgot about that.

 

[Marcelinho87]

A trophy which we should be targeting, never has a trophy win set a bad precedent... Routinely missing out on them though, has.