Iranian Messi
He plays nothing like Messi, closer to Zlatan in terms of play - at least a younger version
When did playing style stop people from naming every other talented footballer the Insert_Country_Here Messi?
Europa League Round of 16 1st Leg
FC Rostov 1:1 Manchester United
Olimp-2 Stadium
- Kick-off
- Thu, 9 March 2017 @ 6:00pm GMT
- Status
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Closed
Discussion Your Lineup Prediction
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- Status
Based on Mourinho's comments on the pitch.
DDG
Valencia
Jones
Rojo
Blind
Herrera
Pogba
Mata
Lingard
Fellaini
IbraLast edited:
Nice, we can sneak an extra player on no probs. Mata is only small.Got a terrible feeling about this. 2-0 defeat and one terrible injury looms.
Mkhitaryan did score a lovely goal on a shit pitch earlier in this competition at leastTweet
— Twitter API (@user) dateI'd rather not play Mkhi on this pitch.
That is fecking terrible. We'd be lucky to get out of this without an injury.Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) dateI wouldn't risk Henrikh whatsoever, here. We're gonna need him badly in the FA Cup and the next few league games.
Play a big, physical side (I wouldn't be against Fellaini actually) and aim for a 0-1 win or a draw at worst. I still think we're gonna lose by a narrow margin.Would be very happy with a draw.This has long been a source of contention for me, standard of pitches - UEFA doesn't seem to be interested in this at all
Yeah until I saw the pitch I would have disagreed but looking at that photo above I wouldnt be adverse to that.
We just need to get through this game with minimal injuries and still be in the game for the second leg. A Mourinho bus-park special please.
oops. Meant to take Carrick out.Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) dateTweet
— Twitter API (@user) dateLong balls and get a draw.An absolute pig of a game. We're facing a physical, ultra-aggressive team (8 red cards this season), on a terrible pitch, following a 2200 mile journey to southern Russia. On top of that they've lost 1 of their last 37 home games and have beaten Bayern and Ajax on this ground (scoring 7 goals in the process). They'll sit deep in their 5-3-2 system, win every header, hack us to bits and break at speed.
It won't be pretty, hopefully the players are up for a battle.Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) dateI posted this in the pre-match thread. But just to get an idea of the quality of the pitch. Rostov against Sparta Prague in Feb 16.
Mourinho said that he "protected" Valencia because of the pitch against Zorya. Surely the same will apply against Rostov?Jose Mourinho says Man Utd's Europa League match against FC Rostov should be cancelled due to dangerous pitch
Jose Mourinho wants Manchester United’s Europa League tie against FC Rostov tomorrow to be postponed after condemning the state of the pitch at the Olimp-2 Stadium.
The United manager has questioned how the first leg of their last-16 tie can go ahead after likening the playing surface to the shambolic pitch at the Bird’s Nest in Beijing last summer that forced the cancellation of their pre-season tour game against Manchester City.
Mourinho raised his fears about exposing his players to a heightened risk of injury to a Uefa official, only to be told that his squad are insured “so if something happens, no problem.” To postpone the match, United – who are due to train on the pitch today - would have to make a formal request to Uefa by Thursday afternoon.
“It’s still hard for me to believe we are going to play tomorrow,” Mourinho said, before his players were due to train. “I know we have to, but it is hard for me to believe we are going to play tomorrow in that field - if you can call it a field.”
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is available again after a hamstring injury, but Mourinho said he did not know whether he was prepared to risk the Armenia forward and claimed the pitch had thrown his selection plans into turmoil.
“I don’t know what team to play, really,” he said. “I don't know if Henrikh Mkhitaryan is going to play. I don't know. I have now a lot to think because I was expecting something more playable. It is very similar pitch in the summer in China when we and Manchester City decided not to play, but it looks like we have to play.
“I didn't have any contact with anyone until now [about the pitch]. I just had a quick contact with one gentleman from Uefa when I was looking at the pitch and when I told him about my concerns, the gentleman told me the players are insured, so if something happens, no problem.
“I was analysing these very good opponents that we didn't speak about yet. In their previous matches against Bayern Munich, Ajax, Atletico Madrid, in all these matches it looked for me a very playable pitch and I was very surprised with what I found here today.”
This is not the first time this season Mourinho has had concerns about the state of the playing surface. Aside from the China debacle, when United’s International Champions Cup game against City was cancelled after the pitch was deemed a safety risk, United’s Europa League group game away to Zorya Luhansk in December was also briefly under threat because of a frozen playing surface in Odessa. Hot air had to be pumped on to the pitch in order to make it playable and Mourinho was also unhappy about the state of the pitch in St Etienne for the away leg of United’s last-32 tie.
Uefa confirmed on Tuesday night that Rostov had agreed not to train on the pitch on Wednesday in order to protect the surface from “unnecessary damage”.
Ivan Daniliants, the Rostov coach, had already issued a warning that United may be in for a shock with the pitch. “The pitch is the same for everyone but it will still be a problem,” said Daniliants. “In the final of the League Cup [at Wembley], Man United played on an ideal lawn – it was like a carpet. When they arrive here, they will be surprised.”
A score draw would be very nice.The cheek on Mou though
Just get on with it.
Or Valencia. Or Carrick.
In theory this is where having a pragmatist like Mourinho in charge will help, I presume he will be more willing to adapt his tactics to suit the circumstances than those two teams, I think we'll be ready for them.i reckon we will see something defensive like this, cannot see mikhi carrick valencia jones starting. Rashford Mata Martial needed for Chelsea but on bench if needed. not confident about this one. Just need an away goal really.
romero
valencia
blind
smalling
rojo
fellaini
pogba
herrera
lingard
zlatan
young
Rui Faria here, possibly providing evidence for #mufc's appeal for the game to be postponedTweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Rostov manager Ivan Daniliants holding his press conference. Says pitch same for both teams but 'our rivals are not used to it.’Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Daniliants says pitch was worse in last round against Sparta Prague and there were 'no incidents'. Says decision to play is UEFA's.Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) dateAll the United supporters will be getting free blankets!
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/776577/Rostov-Blankets-Manchester-United-Fans-Europa-LeagueRussia has just finished a winter break right? So the pitch has been idle for a while. So if the game was postponed wouldnt it in all probability get worse, after they have played a few league games on it?
I think we’d be talking about moving the match to another stadium.
Ah that makes sense.
So what is the precedent here, would it be a single game played on a neutral ground, in place of the second leg game? If we could wrangle that it would be great.
Don’t know. Although the Zorya away match was played on a neutral ground, as well, no? For different reasons, but still. Guess the game is on for tomorrow, just got to hope for no injuries and a decent result. Kind of like against Zorya.Is anyone else not seeing the tweets?Since the quality of the pitch is awful, wouldn't it be better if Mourinho's tactics would be playing on counter-attacks? Isn't it easier? Trying to play a creative, attractive and offensive football is not so easy on a pitch like this, especially if you're not used to it. Sure you can play "direct" but isn't that what Rostov wants? Why not allow them to attack and have a strong defence?
No, expert, but what are your thoughts? Or would it be to risky to let them have most of the possession?
Maybe you could try to "refresh" the page?
Having held a pitch inspection, UEFA has confirmed Rostov v #MUFC will go ahead. "Deemed playable" despite not being in "perfect condition"Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Do you have ad-blocker active?If the game goes ahead I think we'll struggle like feck to get anything from the game.
Edit: just seen tweet above confirming the game will go ahead- Status
Man of the Match
Runners-up
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23%
Marouane Fellaini
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19%
Marcos Rojo
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7%
Ander Herrera
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3%
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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2%
Sergio Romero
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1%
Daley Blind
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1%
Antonio Valencia
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1%
Ashley Young
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1%
Chris Smalling
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1%
Phil Jones
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1%
Paul Pogba
Player Ratings
Total Average Rating
Highest Rated Player
Lowest Rated Player
Compiled from 357 ratings.
Score Predictions
260,70,160
- Man Utd win
- Rostov win
- Draw
Detailed Results
- 24% Rostov 1:1 Man Utd
- 17% Rostov 0:1 Man Utd
- 16% Rostov 0:2 Man Utd
- 12% Rostov 1:2 Man Utd
- 8% Rostov 0:0 Man Utd
- 5% Rostov 2:1 Man Utd
- 4% Rostov 1:0 Man Utd
- 3% Rostov 1:3 Man Utd
- 3% Rostov 2:0 Man Utd
- 2% Rostov 0:5 Man Utd
- 2% Rostov 5:0 Man Utd
- 2% Rostov 0:3 Man Utd
- 1% Rostov 0:4 Man Utd
- 1% Rostov 3:1 Man Utd
- 0% Rostov 2:2 Man Utd
- 0% Rostov 1:4 Man Utd
- 0% Rostov 2:3 Man Utd
- 0% Rostov 3:0 Man Utd
- 0% Rostov 4:0 Man Utd
- 0% Rostov 4:5 Man Utd
Match Stats
- Rostov
- Man Utd
- Possession
- 49% 51%
- Shots
- 9 9
- Shots on Target
- 5 2
- Corners
- 2 4
- Fouls
- 18 19
Referee
Felix Zwayer
Man Utd Lineup
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replaced by Antonio Valencia
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replaced by Michael Carrick
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replaced by Anthony Martial
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