I'm almost certain that we actually played 352 in that game. Evra, Carrick and Fletcher as 3 CBs, Nani and Park as wing backs, the same midfield three and Welbeck partnering Owen upfront. We then tried the same formation against Fulham and got destroyed.
Amazing
Interestingly, we also had CSKA in that group.
I think Shurrle has struggled since he went there but the other 2 are a threat, have to fancy us for this one though. Hopefully we win this and beat Arsenal on Sunday, great way to go into another tedious International break.Draxler and Kruse the ones to look out for? Schurrle?
It will be on FS1 in the states. They always show Man United.Which channel in the US/Caribbean is this on?
You're probably right. I mean, there's no doubt that we could go and win the remaining games if we didn't win on Wednesday night and still potentially even win the group, but it'd feel like a huge task and so much pressure would be on us in Moscow.Is it too early to say that this is a must-win game? Moscow is never an easy place to go to and if we don't pick up 3 points in this game, we might not even make it out of the group.
Can't disagree with any of that. A few additions:I follow Wolfsburg a bit, here's what I know of some of their players, I must add that I haven't watched them this season:
Benaglio - Good goalkeeper. Has been there for a long time.
Träsch - Don't know much about him. I thought Jung was better but Träsch is the one playing at the moment. Anyway, I don't think he's very good.
Naldo - One of the absolute best centre backs in Bundesliga. God knows why he doesn't play for his national team.
Dante - Is declining. Don't know any more about him than the average caftard I guess. Maybe Knoche will play?
Rodriguez - One of the best left backs in the world. Extremly good in defense and on the ball. Not the quickest but he's quality. Arguably their best player.
Caligiuri - Good player. Right footed, can play on both wings. Quick and good on the ball. Nothing extreme.
Luiz Gustavo - Reminds me of Makélélé. One of the best defensive midfielders in the world, especially when it comes to defending. As you can guess, he's very defensive. Has been brilliant for Brazil, especially in the world cup as some of you remember, but hasn't played for them recently due to Dunga being an idiot.
Draxler - Huge talent. Just turned 22 and has 15 caps for Germany. Very good on his day. Tall, very technical and two footed. Can play in any of the three positions behind the striker.
Schürrle - We all know him. Don't think he has been very good for Wolfsburg though.
Dost - Came out of "nowhere" last season and scored 16 goals in 17+4 games. 5 in 6+1 this season. 196cm/6ft5 is his height, and he's extremly lethal in the box.
Kruse - Don't know much about him. They bought him from Mönchengladbach in the summer. He can play as a striker, second striker or attacking midfielder. Two footed and good on the ball.
Wolfsburg is currently 4th, which is around where they belong, although I think they'll bypass Schalke and finish 3rd behind Dortmund and Bayern. They lost their main man in De Bruyne, but still have a very good team. We're definitely better than them though and I expect a nice win.
We're not playing them tonight mate, we are playing them in two days. Hope you haven't booked a day off.You're probably right. I mean, there's no doubt that we could go and win the remaining games if we didn't win tonight and still potentially even win the group, but it'd feel like a huge task and so much pressure would be on us in Moscow.
On the flipside, win tonight and I reckon we'll go undefeated for the remainder of the Group Stage. It's a good job our slip up was in an away game as you'd expect us to break down all of these sides at Old Trafford. Win the home matches and draw both away should see us out, but we'll probably have to win at Moscow or Wolfsburg to top the group now.
de Gea
Valencia Smalling Blind Darmian
Schneiderlin Schweinsteiger
Mata Rooney Memphis
Martial
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Romero; Jones; Carrick, Herrera, Fellaini, Young, Pereira
Wouldn't mind seeing Wilson on the bench, but it's hard to leave out any of the 18 above. Those are pretty much our only fit first-team players + Pereira who deserves to be in the squad. Would also love a Herrera start here to show we want to be on the front foot even more, but I expect a slightly cautious start.
Subs will probably be Herrera, Fellaini, and Young if we're desperate for a goal. Otherwise, maybe Carrick for Schweinsteiger in the last half an hour and Jones to get a bit more match fitness. Pereira if we're cruising, Young/Herrera if it's still a bit tight.
I do think we'll win this 2-0 with a controlled performance, much like the Sunderland games but with Wolfsburg creating a few good chances.
Haha yeah I know it's Wednesday, no idea why I said tonight! Must just be so used to posting my thoughts the day of..We're not playing them tonight mate, we are playing them in two days. Hope you haven't booked a day off.
Aren't they 3rd or 4th, but miles behind Bayern?They arent exactly lighting up the Bundesliga are they but will certainly be a test.
1 loss from the opening 7 games, and that was against Bayern.Aren't they 3rd or 4th, but miles behind Bayern?
nice oneGM v Volskwagen, the final battle.
Winner gets to cheat some more.
That does not really matter. But Hecking's teams always were trouble for Bayern - even the small Nuremberg during van Gaal's time in Munich. Van Gaal's last match for Bayern was a 1:1 draw in Nuremberg.Aren't they 3rd or 4th, but miles behind Bayern?
A few remarks from my end (I have relatives who support Wolfsburg and therefore are forced follow them a bit):Can't disagree with any of that. A few additions:
Vierinha is the first choice rightback, not Jung. Träsch just starts because Vierinha has been injured, which is a huge problem for Wolfsburg. Vierinha has been fantastic in my opinion, and is arguably their best right winger at the same time, often filled in in attack because they don't have too much depth in the forward positions. He started training again recently but I doubt he'll be back for the game against United. Most likely, he'll return after the international break.
Knoche is injured and out a few weeks with a torn ligament in his ankle. Naldo and Dante should definitely start at centerback.
Gustavo wasn't in the squad on the weekend, not sure why. Read some rumours that he has again problems with his knee. It's not sure if he'll be back for the game in Manchester.
I expect Arnold to start next to Guilavogui in midfield (if Gustavo doesn't start). They've played some crazy attacking formations with Kruse and Draxler as attacking midfielders in a 433 and only one defensive midfielder behind them in recent weeks, but I can't see that as an option against United.
You made it to the mains, congrats .A few remarks from my end
Thanks to kind mods I did.You made it to the mains, congrats .
Awesome primer. What are their tactics/style?I follow Wolfsburg a bit, here's what I know of some of their players, I must add that I haven't watched them this season:
Benaglio - Good goalkeeper. Has been there for a long time.
Träsch - Don't know much about him. I thought Jung was better but Träsch is the one playing at the moment. Anyway, I don't think he's very good.
Naldo - One of the absolute best centre backs in Bundesliga. God knows why he doesn't play for his national team.
Dante - Is declining. Don't know any more about him than the average caftard I guess. Maybe Knoche will play?
Rodriguez - One of the best left backs in the world. Extremly good in defense and on the ball. Not the quickest but he's quality. Arguably their best player.
Caligiuri - Good player. Right footed, can play on both wings. Quick and good on the ball. Nothing extreme.
Luiz Gustavo - Reminds me of Makélélé. One of the best defensive midfielders in the world, especially when it comes to defending. As you can guess, he's very defensive. Has been brilliant for Brazil, especially in the world cup as some of you remember, but hasn't played for them recently due to Dunga being an idiot.
Draxler - Huge talent. Just turned 22 and has 15 caps for Germany. Very good on his day. Tall, very technical and two footed. Can play in any of the three positions behind the striker.
Schürrle - We all know him. Don't think he has been very good for Wolfsburg though.
Dost - Came out of "nowhere" last season and scored 16 goals in 17+4 games. 5 in 6+1 this season. 196cm/6ft5 is his height, and he's extremly lethal in the box.
Kruse - Don't know much about him. They bought him from Mönchengladbach in the summer. He can play as a striker, second striker or attacking midfielder. Two footed and good on the ball.
Wolfsburg is currently 4th, which is around where they belong, although I think they'll bypass Schalke and finish 3rd behind Dortmund and Bayern. They lost their main man in De Bruyne, but still have a very good team. We're definitely better than them though and I expect a nice win.
It's too early. We'll have 4 games left. If we can get 10 points total from the next 5 games (3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) we'll probably go through, just in 2nd place.Is it too early to say that this is a must-win game? Moscow is never an easy place to go to and if we don't pick up 3 points in this game, we might not even make it out of the group.
Viktor Kassai