Manchester United 0:1 Real Sociedad

DRJosh · Sep 4, 2022

Real Sociedad aren't pushovers. I'd keep Martinez and have Maguire in for Varane. We don't have the depth that City have. Antony's pairing/chemistry with AWB is definitely worth testing.

We're going to be fairly static on the left with Shaw and Elanga (in terms of chance creation), so the goals have to come from the right

Trequarista10 · Sep 5, 2022

dbs235 said:
I don't think people are writing Sociedad off, it's more they don't care about the Europa league, or are happy to drop points in this game at least.

Exactly. The risk vs reward is heavily in favour of resting our first team.

Pros of resting team: First team fresh for league matches, and we have a tough battle to secure top 4. Playing 2 games a week every week WILL catch up with them. Backups get some minutes to build form and fitness, they will be needed in the first team when injuries hit. Backups or youngsters have an opportunity to develop, or even perform well enough to make a case for selection for the first team. Keeps squad happy. Maintains or increases market value of players we will sell sooner or later. Gives youngsters a taste of playing in Europe, and puts them in the shop with for a loan later on. Gives fringe players and youngsters and new signings an opportunity to play to the new managers desired tactics.

Cons of resting first team: we may drop points in the first of 6 games in a cup competition nobody cares about, when the two other opponents are weaker, and two out of the 4 teams qualify from the group.

Playing the first team would be silly. You could even guarantee me that if we play the second string we will lose, and I would still think the positives outweigh the negatives.

Walters_19_MuFc · Sep 5, 2022

Our second team, if you like, is still relatively strong.

TheNewEra · Sep 5, 2022

--------DDG (too early for Dubravka)
Dalot-Lindelof-Maguire-Shaw
---------Casemiro-Fred
--------------Eriksen
Antony-Ronaldo-Garnacho

Give some much needed rest and also give fitness to the players who don't have minutes.

The Corinthian · Sep 5, 2022

Dubravka

Shaw
Maguire
Lindelof
AWB

Fred
Casemiro
Donny

Martial
Ronaldo
Elanga

Sviken · Sep 5, 2022

Ronaldo and Casemiro should start here to get up to speed.

Gearbox Paddy · Sep 5, 2022

Maguire should never play for this club again.

To all the posters predicting he will start, do you remember the first 2 games of the season? Did you see his cameo today?

Marcelinho87 · Sep 5, 2022

Gearbox Paddy said:
Maguire should never play for this club again.

To all the posters predicting he will start, do you remember the first 2 games of the season? Did you see his cameo today?

Yeah his cameo was fine, people are over analysing and just scapegoating him.

Poor really.

TheNewEra · Sep 5, 2022

Gearbox Paddy said:
Maguire should never play for this club again.

To all the posters predicting he will start, do you remember the first 2 games of the season? Did you see his cameo today?

Yeah I did but give him time with a good midfield in front of him.

bond19821982 · Sep 5, 2022

Iqbal and Garnacho won't start. It's not a fecking minnow ffs. There will be lot of changes but it certainly won't be kids.

I do hope we take it seriously and get the win. This is still out best way to get CL next year.

Levi1 · Sep 5, 2022

Gearbox Paddy said:
Maguire should never play for this club again.

To all the posters predicting he will start, do you remember the first 2 games of the season? Did you see his cameo today?

Not for a looooong time. Unless we're two goals up with 10 minutes to go, for example...

He needs to get back to the drawing board.

RedRonaldo · Sep 5, 2022

Chance to give our other players some minutes.

We still need to win though, so maybe will need a good balance there:

DDG
Dalot Varane Lindelof Malacia
Casemiro Fred
Eriksen
Antony Ronaldo Garnancho

Sub: Bruno, Rashford, Sancho,VDB, Shaw, Maguire

Red the Bear · Sep 5, 2022

Getting this wrapped up as fast as possible will do us good.

We should absolutely try to win europa as its still a decent trophy which allows us a first seed place in the champions league so not bad, im sure Eric agrees.

Wing Attack Plan R · Sep 5, 2022

Damien said:
Full changes

Dubravka

AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
Casemiro Fred
Elanga van de Beek Martial*
Ronaldo

*if fit

That's a pretty good second XI. Think Ronaldo will be able to play two games a week? I would figure out a way to get Garnacho in the team, in on the wing, Martial up top, Ronaldo out.

Pronewbie · Sep 5, 2022

I see some posters wanting us to make the same mistake Ole made. Our 2nd team should be good enough for the group stages. We need to rotate our players otherwise they'll get burnt out by February. See Eriksen, Bruno etc.

I also want to see healthy competition in the team. I just hope the performances won't be too disjointed.

Pronewbie · Sep 5, 2022

Wing Attack Plan R said:
That's a pretty good second XI. Think Ronaldo will be able to play two games a week? I would figure out a way to get Garnacho in the team, in on the wing, Martial up top, Ronaldo out.

Yeah that's a good line-up. I'd put Ronaldo in to get him used to the system and build up his match-fitness. You can see that he's getting there. Don't think he deserves to start in the PL just yet after his shenanigans and how the team has performed without him.

Wing Attack Plan R · Sep 5, 2022

Pronewbie said:
Yeah that's a good line-up. I'd put Ronaldo in to get him used to the system and build up his match-fitness. You can see that he's getting there. Don't think he deserves to start in the PL just yet after his shenanigans and how the team has performed without him.

The back 4 don't understand the system either, not sure playing with those will help Ronaldo adapt.

Longlivekeano · Sep 5, 2022

Team 2
——————Dubravka——————

-AwB—Maguire—Lindelof-Shaw

————Casemiro—Fred————-

——————-vDB———-—————-

—Elanga——-Ronaldo—-Garnacho-

Desert Eagle · Sep 5, 2022

always_hoping said:
Isn't it great to be looking forward to the next United game again. Lads it looks like we have our likeable United back.

Yeah feels good to want games earlier rather than waiting the season to end

Isotope · Sep 5, 2022

GMoore23 said:
Heaton
Bissaka - Maguire - Lindelof - Fatboy Slim
Casemiro - Fred
VDB
Antony - Ronaldo - Elanga

like most others, i wanna see Garnacho.

ayushreddevil9 · Sep 5, 2022

Eriksen should be kept as far away as possible. He needs rest.

tenpoless · Sep 5, 2022

GMoore23 said:
Heaton
Bissaka - Maguire - Lindelof - Fatboy Slim
Casemiro - Fred
VDB
Antony - Ronaldo - Elanga

Right here, right now, right here, right now.
*Plays an animation of Shaw slowly crawling before turning into a running Roberto Carlos, his peak evolution*

Ayoba · Sep 5, 2022

Varane, Erikson, rashford should all be rested. I'm sure casemiro will play as it's a Spanish opposition.

AngeloHenriquez · Sep 5, 2022

Dont want to see DDG, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia, Eriksen, Mctom, Bruno, Rashford, Sancho. Id go with:

Dubravka
AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
Casemiro Fred
Antony VDB Garnacho
Ronaldo

Be nice to see Garnacho get some minutes and let him prove himself but cant see him starting over Elanga and I think a few of that same team will still play, it wont be a wholesale change as he will get questions of a PL and a Europa team etc

ManRed · Sep 5, 2022

The second team is quite decent and some of them really pushing for first team spots.

Dubravka
AWB - Lindelof - Maguire - Shaw
Casemiro
Fred - VDB
Antony - Ronaldo - Elanga

Without Casemiro, Antony and Dubravka this team 8/11 is pretty much Ole's team and will be interesting to see how they cope to Ten Hags tactics.

Lyng · Sep 5, 2022

Perfect chance to give the subs much needed playing time while resting the starting 11.

Dubravka
AWB - Lindelöf - Maguire - Williams
Casemiro - Fred
DvB
Antony - Ronaldo - Garnacho

Chaky_Best · Sep 5, 2022

-------------------------------------------Dubravka------------------------------------------
Wan Bissaka*---------------Lindelof------------Maguire-------------------Shaw
----------------------------------Casemiro---------Fred-----------------------------------
Antony----------------------------------Van de Beek*--------------------------Elanga
----------------------------------------------Ronaldo------------------------------------------

Rotation is needed, but to be hones bar two or three this could have easily been our starting XI.

Strelok · Sep 5, 2022

I'm a fan of a wholesale change too but imo that's simply not realistic. We're like 6 games into the season with basically a new back four, a new style so imo ETH would want our first XI to play together as much as possible to gel, to form a bond, to understand each other and also his style. Especially our back four. It's very important for our back four to keep playing together.

It's the first game of the group stage and Sociedad is a very decent team so my bet is the same lineup minus some of the players who have played all the minutes so far, who run a lot or have some fitness issue and thus would probably require a rest. Like Rashford, Bruno, Eriksen. Casemiro, Fred, Ronaldo would start in their place I think. He might try the new keeper too if he thinks the new keeper would potentially replace DDG.

Adam-Utd · Sep 5, 2022

I really can't see Ronaldo playing in the EL, even if he does need the fitness.

Let's see how humble he really is

groovyalbert · Sep 5, 2022

Dubravka

Dalot Varane Maguire Shaw

Casemiro Fred

Antony Bruno Elanga

Ronaldo

Actually really looking forward to this. Expecting a win and players in need of goals/form getting on the scoresheet.

Don't think we'll see a completely different XI. Whilst we're looking to instill a specific style of football, I think ETH will keep a core set of players in the starting lineup.

Faetheshire86 · Sep 5, 2022

Dubravka
Wan Bissaka Maguire Lindelof Shaw
Casemiro Fred
Antony Van de Beek Elanga
Ronaldo

Our second string, is still very strong. Our back 4 for the last few years, the Brazilian midfield, a Ballon d'or nominee and one of the greatest players ever.

I've put Antony in as I feel he might need minutes having not played much this season. Hopefully Martial can get some minutes too if he is fit.

Borys · Sep 5, 2022

AWB - Lindelof - Maguire - Shaw
Casemiro
van de Beek ------- Fred
Antony - Ronaldo - Elanga

The back 4 played together for a couple of seasons, they will be fine.
Let's play traditional 3 man midfield with Fred and van de Beek joining attack from as wide midfielders.
Real are no pushovers, but we should to play the same team against Crystal Palace so some key players need a rest.

Hernandez - BFA · Sep 5, 2022

Adam-Utd said:
I really can't see Ronaldo playing in the EL, even if he does need the fitness.

Let's see how humble he really is

He can improve his “European goal scoring record” with it.

Mike Smalling · Sep 5, 2022

We should be careful making too many changes, in my opinion. Let's not make it too disjointed and lose momentum, but still give a runout to some of the more important back-ups.

DDG
Dalot - Maguire - Martinez - Shaw
Casemiro - Fred
Antony - van de Beek - Elanga
Ronaldo

Would be great starting with a win, so we don't have to play too much of a catch-up game.

Sparky_Hughes · Sep 5, 2022

Samid said:
Ronaldo has a dental appointment on Thursday.

I heard he "left his kit on the plane," and is refusing to play in his pants and vest

It feels so good to actually be looking forward to our games again, and having some players I really love, like Martinez, Anthony and Eriksen

SER19 · Sep 5, 2022

Dubravka

Wan Bissaka
Lindelof
Maguire
Shaw

Fred
Casemiro
Van De Beek

Elanga
Ronaldo
Martial

Thats almost our first team last year, with Casemiro being an upgrade. Should be enough. Then get Antony some more minutes, with some good options to rest whoever is in contention for Sunday after 55 mins or so

Lu Tze · Sep 5, 2022

Think we will beat the minnows in the group home and away so I think a thorough rest is in order, dropping points to Real Sociedad won't be the end of the world. This team should be competitive. I think Iqbal/Antony could link up nicely. Just depends if ETH is wedded to 4-2-3-1.

---------------------Dubravka---------------------
-----AWB - Maguire - Lindelof - Shaw---
-----------Iqbal - Casemiro - Fred----------
Antony--------------------------------Garnacho
----------------------Ronaldo-------------------------

Bondi77 · Sep 5, 2022

Why is Dubravka favoured in front of Heaton when he has been here for less than a week?
Heaton has full preseason under his belt so that must count for something.

Vidyoyo · Sep 5, 2022

Rotating too many players is always a risk so I'd go with something like this. Garnacho, Iqbal, VdB etc should play in the easier fixtures.

De Gea
Dalot Lindelof Maguire Shaw
Fred McT
Bruno
Elanga Ronaldo Anthony

AngeloHenriquez · Sep 5, 2022

Really excited to see our other players get motivated and hopefully put in a performance here as they want to prove something

Europa League Group E

Manchester United 0:1 Real Sociedad

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