Right now there are not many teams who could argue they are better than Barcelona.
Barcelona vs Manchester United | Build-up Thread
- Thread starter Samid
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Another way of putting that is when they have run into a decent side from outside Spain they have struggled. If they are top of La Liga they are decent and may well win the tie but they are not the Barca of 10 years ago the same way we are not the united of 10-12 years ago. We have every chance in this tie, our biggest worry is fitness and energy levels due to a ridiculous schedule.
I watched a good chunck vs Sevilla this weekend. Barca completely suffocated them, I was impressed. Sevilla was ‘t able to produce a single counter in the time I watched. Their midfield should run rings around ours on paper at least. I think we will need to rely on our back 4 fighting spirit most of all. The only good news I see is that Barca are pretty inept in attack. If Lewandowski has a bad game then we will survive.
Their control over the game was second to none. I’m not sure our intensity will get them nervous in ball possession.
It would be foolish to underestimate the Spanish league leaders, on top of that they recently outclassed real madrid who are still the current European champions.
Go full strength both ties.
I don't even care for europa but it would be embarrassing not to put up a fight against these lot.
I don't even care for europa but it would be embarrassing not to put up a fight against these lot.
Ten Hag even goes full strength vs Reading in the cup, I don‘t think there is any doubt that he will do the same vs the mighty Barca
That's a good thing.
Not underestimating them, but I think we are an incredibly fit team under ETH. Where we still need to improve is passing, too many misplaced passes mean we struggle to retain the control and pressure to dominate games. I expect Barca to be superior in that regard which might decide the tie. They might go up a level for this fixture but the intensity week in/out of the PL v La Liga isn't comparable in my opinion.
Outside the CL they have been super-impressive.
Even within the CL they played very well one game each vs Bayern and Inter - they lost both though. They sometimes concede a lot of silly counter attacking chances, so at least there's that.
If Casemiro and Martial start, there's a solid chance, otherwise they're clear favourites.
Even within the CL they played very well one game each vs Bayern and Inter - they lost both though. They sometimes concede a lot of silly counter attacking chances, so at least there's that.
If Casemiro and Martial start, there's a solid chance, otherwise they're clear favourites.
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Tony Martial is the next Phil Jones. Waste of space.
Also without Martinez as he is suspended. Gearing up for a drubbing.
And without the new midfield signing.
Couldn’t care less about this tie now, not worth the stress. We shouldn’t run the players we have in thin areas into the ground.
Sabitzer is available against Barca?
I imagine we'll play Bruno on the right vs Barca, especially with Antony being out.
De Gea
Dalot - Varane - Shaw - Malacia
Casemiro
Sabitzer - Fred
Bruno - Rashford - Sancho
Dalot - Varane - Shaw - Malacia
Casemiro
Sabitzer - Fred
Bruno - Rashford - Sancho
Any reason for Malacia over Shaw?
Looking forward to this game. Will show how far we’ve come. Barca like to keep the ball so will be interesting what tactics we use.
Apparently not, got yellows for Bayern from what I read?
Feck, no Antony is a big loss
Wonder what we do instead? Surely can't be putting Rashford on the right again.
Hag will set us up well, no need to fear this game. We just have to bring it.
My guess is Sancho, Rashford and Bruno front 3 with Sabitzer, fred and Casemiro in midfield.
There are worse teams to get eliminated by.
He's suspended for the first leg
They're in fantastic form and they basically never concede goals, and we won't be able to field our best eleven. I fear we'll be soundly beaten over two legs.
It's probably not the worst thing in the world to be knocked out of EL so we can put all of our focus on getting top 4 and hopefully winning at least one of the domestic cups. Top 4 and one trophy would be a pretty great first season for ETH, all things considered.
It's probably not the worst thing in the world to be knocked out of EL so we can put all of our focus on getting top 4 and hopefully winning at least one of the domestic cups. Top 4 and one trophy would be a pretty great first season for ETH, all things considered.
Sabitzer is suspended from Bayern yellows
Ffs
Yeah we need a rest badly or I can see us starting to drop far too many points in this top 4 race and really let Spurs & Newcastle get away
I would gladly take an honourable defeat and no injuries tbh. We can do without the Europa League distraction. Would be nice to win, but feels very tough with all the injuries and the fixture congestion. Focus on league Cup final and FA Cup, and doing as well as possible in the league.
Needless game to get booked in to by the sounds of things,FFS they had already qualified for last 16Ffs
Fred generally plays well with casemiro with him anyway tbf.
Rashford on left, Sancho on right, Wout up front. Unless he's cup tied or something?
Not ideal but it might be the all set have, unless you start Pellestri on the right. Seems like a big jump though.
Just put in an organized setup like the first half against City and we should be fine. They don't create a lot and especially if we don't give them easy openings like we did against Leeds. Casemiro back should help massively
Garnacho left, Sancho Right, Rashford middle.
Injuries are beginning to mount up, which was always going to happen at some stage. But it will limit my expectations for the tie.
Probably makes more sense actually. Try and be compact with Cas and Fred in the middle, then look to use pace on the break. Seems very unlikely we'll dominate possession.
I was just a bit worried it might be asking a bit much of Garnacho to start this game, which is why I went for Wout. Would also offer an out ball, but his lack of mobility would only hinder us.
Suspended: Martínez, Sabitzer
Injured : Antony, Mctominay, De Beek, Martial, Eriksen
Starting team (if no more injuries before the 1st leg)
De Gea
Wan Bissaka or Dalot, Varane, Maguire or Lindelof, Shaw
Fred Casemiro
Bruno
Rashford, Garnacho or Sancho
Weghorst
Subs: Heaton, Garnacho or Sancho, Wan Bissaka or Dalot, Maguire or Lindelof, Pellistri, Malacia, Elanga, Iqbal,Mainoo
Injured : Antony, Mctominay, De Beek, Martial, Eriksen
Starting team (if no more injuries before the 1st leg)
De Gea
Wan Bissaka or Dalot, Varane, Maguire or Lindelof, Shaw
Fred Casemiro
Bruno
Rashford, Garnacho or Sancho
Weghorst
Subs: Heaton, Garnacho or Sancho, Wan Bissaka or Dalot, Maguire or Lindelof, Pellistri, Malacia, Elanga, Iqbal,Mainoo
If we get a draw away we might go to the next round.
I don't see it.
They are flying and we are weak in alot of areas
I don't see it.
They are flying and we are weak in alot of areas
I'll be attending the 2nd leg in Old Trafford. My main hope is for the tie to be still alive for that match.
Yeah got no depth on the bench
Let's hope for better showing than in 2019 there