[mctrials23]

Playing Casemiro would be silly. Refs are reticent to give second yellows, they are more than happy to give the first one. They aren't going to consider whether that player gets a ban as a result of the one yellow.

 

[crossy1686]

We’ll drop points here and beat arsenal. It’s the United way.

 

[Real Name]

A semi final v Forest after Arsenal would be ideal to rest a few or at least have them on the bench

Yup. Not in the league game before Arsenal. Although Fred and Casemiro's card situation is a concern.

 

[Lyng]

We simply cannot risk Casemiro being out against Arsenal. We should be able to beat CP without him.

 

[moses]

We simply cannot risk Casemiro being out against Arsenal. We should be able to beat CP without him.

What if we don't win without him and lose to Arsenal away with a full strength side? We can't risk not beating Palace is my gut feeling.

 

[Utd heap]

I'd be amazed if we don't go full strength TBH.


Maybe Rashford off the bench if he's still carrying that knock from Saturday.

 

[suheilsworld]

We cannot risk Casemiro and hope McT and Fred do the job. Palace have too many dribblers in Olise, Zaha and Eze who will draw fouls and Casemiro might get sucked into one too many, regardless of how professional and experienced he is.

 

[Moston Red]

I hate this away fixture….CP fans are like a 12th man.

 

[fergiewherearethou]

I'd say go full strength now, get the 3 pts and worry about Arsenal starting tomorrow.

 

[Simbo]

We’ll drop points here and beat arsenal. It’s the United way.

This.

 

[Lyng]

What if we don't win without him and lose to Arsenal away with a full strength side? We, can't risk not beating Palace is my gut feeling.

I dont think they look that strong at the moment.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Too much obsession with the Arsenal game and resting players for it here. This won't be an easy game. Fail to win it and talk of being in a title race will look ridiculous.

Nevertheless, if we can save Martial for the Arsenal game it will better for him, and us. He's not fully fit, so, 15/20 minute sub appearance max. Foghorn Leghorn to make his debut.

 

[Sassy Colin]

We’ll drop points here and beat arsenal. It’s the United way.

Not anymore it isn't, it has been for the last 10 years, but things have changed under Ten Hag. We're no longer struggling to beat teams we shouldn't be struggling to beat.

 

[moses]

I dont think they look that strong at the moment.

No, so we need to get the points. We are on a great run but there was a big drop off v Charlton with a few changes in MF.

 

[Lyng]

No, so we need to get the points. We are on a great run but there was a big drop off v Charlton with a few changes in MF.

We still won that game comfortably. Simply resting one player shouldnt be enough for us to not be able to beat Crystal Palace, but not having Casemiro against Arsenal on the Emirates will almost certainly be an impossible task.

 

[Mr Smith]

Seems we're quite split on playing/resting Casemiro. Personally I would leave him out for this one, but have him on the bench to bring on if needed. I'd also rest Varane and save him for Arsenal. Otherwise go full strength.

 

[Wheato]

Hoping for a Weghorst start tonight

I think he might, Martial was not fit on Saturday. Ten Hag said that in the press conference that Martial begged him to play, but he had to take him off at half-time because he was not 100%.

I think that we will see something click in a big way tonight, because Ten Hag has not been able to implement his desired tactical plan for the team, because the main striker is missing. We might see the final piece of the jigsaw slot into place and watch them go.

 

[horsechoker]

Let's see Casemiro do this

 

[moses]

We still won that game comfortably. Simply resting one player shouldnt be enough for us to not be able to beat Crystal Palace, but not having Casemiro against Arsenal on the Emirates will almost certainly be an impossible task.

They're 12th in League One and we were visibly poor, especially in CM. We were nowhere near as comfortable for the first hour as we should have been.

Why are we assuming Casemiro can't avoid a booking? Also my main point is that even with Casemiro, a result at Arsenal is not guaranteed. So for me the real risk is not putting Palace to the sword.

 

[Shark]

What if we don't win without him and lose to Arsenal away with a full strength side? We, can't risk not beating Palace is my gut feeling.

Totally correct. Palace is the one we need to guarantee 3 points in.

 

[Rapsel]

Quick look at the table learns me you could be in second place sunday evening if Tottenham gets a result against City tomorrow.

 

[Lyng]

They're 12th in League One and we were visibly poor, especially in CM. We were nowfete near as comfortable for the first hour as we should have been.

Why are we assuming Casemiro can't avoid a booking? Also my main point is that even with Casemiro, a result at Arsenal is not guaranteed. So for me the real risk is not putting Palace to the sword.

We had more than one change in our line up in that game.

Having our strongest first 11 minus Casemiro should be no problem vs Crystal Palace. No Casemiro vs Arsenal is far more dangerous.

 

[SuperiorXI]

I hate this away fixture….CP fans are like a 12th man.

So is our away support. They'll be up for it.

 

[DRJosh]

Footballers are at their best when playing regularly. Chopping and changing doesn’t bode well for consistency if this is what we’re after. I think our players are fit enough barring the usual suspects like Martial etc

 

[FrankDrebin]

Think a defeat is on the cards tonight.

 

[moses]

We had more than one change in our line up in that game.

Having our strongest first 11 minus Casemiro should be no problem vs Crystal Palace. No Casemiro vs Arsenal is far more dangerous.

I'm not arguing that Palace are as good as Arsenal, but you only get 3 points for beating either of them.

I'd play him and tell him to keep it tidy, he can easily not get booked.

Points in the bag at Palace and go and deal with Arsenal with who is available then.

We will agree to disagree.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Feel like Casemiro will start, he's smart enough to avoid a booking. I hope Weghorst starts too, crazy we are where we are at the halfway point of the season without having a centre-forward to this point.

 

[NLunited]

Need to have either Eriksen or Casemiro on the team for bringing the ball out; I say rest Cas for Arsenal. Martial probably out, so let’s go with Weghorst or Rashford through the middle if fit.

DeGea

AWB M&M Malacia

McT Eriksen

Antony Bruno Rashford

Weghorst

 

[redcucumber]

Need to have either Eriksen or Casemiro on the team for bringing the ball out; I say rest Cas for Arsenal. Martial probably out, so let’s go with Weghorst or Rashford through the middle if fit.

DeGea

AWB M&M Malacia

McT Eriksen

Antony Bruno Rashford

Weghorst

No Shaw?!

 

[crossy1686]

Not anymore it isn't, it has been for the last 10 years, but things have changed under Ten Hag. We're no longer struggling to beat teams we shouldn't be struggling to beat.

In the last 10 years we would lose both, this is what's known as the Fergie special

 

[Real Name]

10th win in a row would be our longest winning streak in 14 years.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

I dont get this rest players, we need to keep the momentum going from City and before facing Arsenal, we have to go strongest possible team.
OK so Cas and Fred are one booking away from suspension , they know whats at stake.
Full team to start and when /if we get 2, 3 goals in front, then sub.
This game is no gimmie and not the game to be playing a weakened team.

 

[DJ_21]

We’ll drop points here and beat arsenal. It’s the United way.

Last season maybe. We’ve gone on a long enough run to say we’re completely changed this season.

 

[Shark]

10th win in a row would be our longest winning streak in 14 years.

Mad. Puts even more into perspective the job ETH is doing. Feels like over the past decade we've been breaking records for all the wrong reasons.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

I’d leave Casemiro in the bench tonight. Shouldn’t be bringing him on unless we absolutely have to. Simply can’t afford him picking up a booking and missing the Arsenal game.

 

[mu4c_20le]

Think a defeat is on the cards tonight.

Spurs put 4 past them in their own backyard.

Relax.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

Don't see why it has to be a "Weak" and a "Strong" side, I think different things are needed, Crystal Palace will be extremely physical and play deeper than Arsenal so with that in mind I'd go:

Vs Palace
Dalot Maguire Martinez Malacia
Mctominay Eriksen
Antony Bruno Garnacho
Weghorst

Vs Arsenal

DDG
AWB Varane Martinez Shaw
Casemiro Fred
Antony Bruno Rashford
Martial

 

[Sandikan]

Torn on resting Casemiro. Would be happy to see him in there of course.
Would probably bring Martinez and Antony back in either way.

Varane probably is best rested for the weekend though. Could be one for Maguire, as Palace will no doubt have a bit of aerial about them at times.

 

[sullydnl]

To me it comes down to what our priority is.

If our focus is top four then definitely play Casemiro. Because a win against Palace gives us just as many points as a win against Arsenal, while being more achievable. And maybe he won't get booked anyway.

But if we actually want to put ourselves in a realistic title race then beating Arsenal is pretty much essential. At which point I think you give it priority and rest Casemiro, knowing that even if you lose against Palace a win against Arsenal will still leave you in a better position than if you beat Palace but lost to Arsenal. Basically take the risk of going all-in on getting that Arsenal result first and foremost in the belief that a real title challenge simply won't happen without it.

Also, leaving Casemiro out so he doesn't get booked comes with the side benefit of then having a rested Casemiro. If he's going to need a break at some point over the coming weeks, it might as well be now.

 

[Member 125288]

I'm not arguing that Palace are as good as Arsenal, but you only get 3 points for beating either of them.

That's not technically true if you think United has a chance of winning the league though; if we're going to lose one of these games then the better 3 points to take are versus Arsenal, so that they also drop points. If we lose versus Palace and beat Arsenal we gain 3 points on them (albeit they still have their game in hand versus City to come), but if we beat palace and lose to Arsenal then the gap remains the same, plus whatever Arsenal get versus City in their game in hand (so potentially they extend their lead over us by 3 points).

Obviously the optimal solution is to win both games and gain 6 points on them (with an extra game played of course), and I think even with resting Casemiro we've got enough to beat Palace - we're the form team in the league and Palace have been poor, particularly at home.