Manchester United 2:1 West Ham United

nick2004 · Sep 23, 2014

4-1 for us.

-------------DDG
Rafael-Smalling-Rojo-Shaw
-------------Blind-------------
---Herrera-----------Di Maria--
-------------Mata-------------
-------Falcao----------Rooney

Blodssvik · Sep 23, 2014

Nice to have a saturday game again. Being hungover and watching United lately is not a good combination.

Highfather_24 · Sep 23, 2014

---------DDG
Rafael-Smalling-Rojo-Shaw
---------Blind
---Herrera---Di Maria
---------Mata
-----Falcao---Rooney[C]

Smalling and Rojo are very good aerially and will help us deal with West Ham's aerial ability and long balls.Blind can cover the back four,with Rafael and Shaw bombing forward on occassions.And the great thing about them is they have great energy to come back and deal with the defensive part as well.They should be our first choice fullbacks.

Herrera & Di Maria as shuttlers.No explanation required.Our best performers last week in their preffered position.

I would put Rooney and Falcao up top with Mata as AM.

I know Mata might lose the ball in physical duels,but I have faith in his ball retention abilities.I think we missed it last week.

RVP needs to drop out simply because I think Falcao out performed him last week.He can come on as an impact sub if required.

Sassy Colin · Sep 23, 2014

feck, I'm going to miss watching this. Is this a commentary match on the Radio?

Adcuth · Sep 23, 2014

Anyone think this would work with Rooney pushing into an advanced role when attacking. Give the wing backs less need to roam to far forward, we leave far too much space behind them which cost us last weekend.

Crustanoid · Sep 23, 2014

I would be tempted to add another midfielder in the centre of the park. Fletcher is probably the only option until Carrick comes back. Blind would be protected more to create from deep with Herrera and Di Maria having added protection to go forward. Fletcher and Blind could cover the fullbacks when necessary too.

This means definitely dropping two of Falcao / RVP / Mata / Rooney, although Rooney is undroppable and Mata would unfortunately drop out.

Some thing like

..................DDG.......
Rafael...Smalling...Rojo...Shaw
..................Blind...............
.....Herrera..Fletcher..Di Maria
..............Rooney / Mata......
..............Falcao/RVP.........

Speak · Sep 23, 2014

Adcuth said:
Anyone think this would work with Rooney pushing into an advanced role when attacking. Give the wing backs less need to roam to far forward, we leave far too much space behind them which cost us last weekend.

I'd swap Rooney and Di maria.
He can't do either role as well as Di Maria, but Di Maria's ability to run through the centre, and generally do everything better means he should be as involved as possible.

We seriously need a winger or two.

With that in mind, in terms of transfers - I'd let Falcao or van Persie (most likely) go, bring in at least one centre back, at least one winger, and a more solid holding midfielder.
Let a few go, and aim for that to all be done by January 2016, and we're sorted for a very solid 4-3-3, possibly looking to bring in a younger striker shortly after.

Paul_Scholes18 · Sep 23, 2014

Adcuth said:
Anyone think this would work with Rooney pushing into an advanced role when attacking. Give the wing backs less need to roam to far forward, we leave far too much space behind them which cost us last weekend.

I would go with this team too for this game. Against tougher team we could put Carrick in the midfield and maybe have Valencia for Januzaj for defensive stability. This line up seem far best for our squad.

RuudTom83 · Sep 23, 2014

A few thoughts...pleased this match is on Saturday!

Di Maria has changed the attacking play so much that LVG can realistically sacrifice an attacker.

Also after the shambles last week i would shake it up a bit and play Januzaj or Fletch. Playing with 3 centre forwards against Leicester was a bit overkill in hindsight.

Plus Mata will have been told exactly what he was doing wrong so a full week in training should see him return to the first team.

Kaos · Sep 23, 2014

No more Rooney in no.10, drop RVP, stick with the diamond, and start Luke Shaw.

Besides that I'm not bothered.

Fedy · Sep 23, 2014

News: Kouyaté is out of the pitch for 6 weeks due leg injury.

SammyUnited_83 · Sep 23, 2014

Nervous, excited, anxious - just about sums it up for me! Birthday weekend and last 2 years have been a home game, last 2 years we have lost

I genuinely don't know what to expect, I thought West Ham looked quite solid at the back and lively upfront.

I can't imagine we will be set up as attacking, which is a shame because I think if LvG had been a little bit more on the ball, he would have tightened it up at 3-1.

I expect a very tough game, and can see us going behind, with us (hopefully) going onto win.

I think there will be a couple of surprises, RvP I think might miss out and it genuinely wouldn't surprise me if he brought in Janko for Rafa (who seems to be the one taking the brunt) and possibly Pereira / Fletcher.

Wouldn't shock me too much to see something similar to:

De Gea

Janko Rojo Smalling Shaw

Blind

Herrera Pereira / Fletcher

Rooney Di Maria

Falcao

SiRed · Sep 23, 2014

Im thinking maybe Januzaj might get a start this weekend! He looks void of any confidence at the moment.

DDG
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw
Blind
Herrera Di Maria
Mata
Januzaj Falcao

Rory 7 · Sep 23, 2014

SiRed said:
Im thinking maybe Januzaj might get a start this weekend! He looks void of any confidence at the moment.

DDG
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw
Blind
Herrera Di Maria
Mata
Januzaj Falcao

So why would you start him? We need to win!

Devil77 · Sep 23, 2014

SiRed said:
Im thinking maybe Januzaj might get a start this weekend! He looks void of any confidence at the moment.

DDG
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw
Blind
Herrera Di Maria
Mata
Januzaj Falcao

We need a win. No time for being nice to Januzaj (who has been awful lately).

Idxomer · Sep 23, 2014

Need 4 strong defenders at the back who don't get bullied or intimidated easily, again I believe Rafael will be dropped in this game in favor of Valencia because of this point and for once playing him will be the right decision. Herrera should give Blind more help in the midfield or van Gaal could just add another midfielder. The team don't need Rooney deep with his atrocious 1st touch because losing the ball there is much more different and dangerous than losing it at the front like we've seen on Sunday, even Falcao's interceptions were more intelligent and effective when he dropped in the midfield couple of times.

P.S: I watched Ferdinand on Saturday and saw people here claiming that he's shit and slow and should've retired, I don't totally disagree but one thing I noticed he still had which is his calmness and giving the right pass from the back even when his team was behind, we totally lack that and there's not one defender we have in our squad who's able to do this job which hurts us endlessly.

J-Stander · Sep 23, 2014

Looking forward to seeing Shaw, hopefully he puts in a good performance and cements his position for the rest of the season. I've never seen Rojo at CB but he'll definitely have a tough game up against two physical strikers in Sakho and Valencia. We know they're going to press us as they did with Liverpool and we've been terrible at dealing with that so far. Calm heads are needed from now on or we will get severely over-run.

Bwuk · Sep 23, 2014

Anything less than a win and serious questions have to be asked. We've had a worse start than we had under Moyes ffs. Diamond midfield again, and Mata at #10 please.

Dave
Rafael - Smalling - Rojo - Shaw
Blind
Herrera - Di Maria
Mata
Falcao - RvP

kundalini · Sep 23, 2014

SammyUnited_83 said:
it genuinely wouldn't surprise me if he brought in Janko for Rafa (who seems to be the one taking the brunt) and possibly Pereira / Fletcher.

I think it would come as a surprise to anyone who watched Janko's 45 mins against MK Dons in the League Cup. Janko may well become a good player in a few years time but his performance in Milton Keynes was nervous and way below the standard you'd expect of a United squad player. The fact that Janko did not feature in the official squad photo (Blackett, Wilson, Lingard and Pereira did) gives an indication of where he stands. If Rafael is to be dropped then Valencia will play. I can't see Fletcher or Pereira starting either.

I would imagine the formation will be the same but the players will be under instruction to pay attention to the balance of the team, so we don't gift the opposition 2 v 1 situations. The fullbacks are unlikely to attack with reckless abandon.

dannyrhinos89 · Sep 23, 2014

SiRed said:
Im thinking maybe Januzaj might get a start this weekend! He looks void of any confidence at the moment.

DDG
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw
Blind
Herrera Di Maria
Mata
Januzaj Falcao

He needs to go out on loan somewhere preferably to a top European league, chances here are limited now. He burst onto the scene and has done literally nothing since. Why we gave him 11 shirt god only knows.

That would be my team but with Rooney over januzaj

OoopsMisclick · Sep 23, 2014

dannyrhinos89 said:
He needs to go out on loan somewhere preferably to a top European league, chances here are limited now. He burst onto the scene and has done literally nothing since. Why we gave him 11 shirt god only knows.

That would be my team but with Rooney over januzaj

Shirt sales

Glanville95 · Sep 23, 2014

I'd make just a few alterations to the team that started against Leicester, but I think that is all that is needed to make a distinct difference. For a starter, I would continue with the 4-4-2 diamond, as it is the most suitable system for our personnel, but it's probably not ideal for a tricky away fixture against a good opponent.

On the topic of our personnel, Rojo was hugely disappointing and constantly out of position at left back, but I think (hope) we will see a big contrast between his performance at full back and at centre back. He's far more adept at the latter, so I hope we see Rojo at centre back and Shaw at left back. Kind of enforced team selection either way!

The final change, would see Mata behind the front two displacing Rooney in that position and at the expense of van Persie's starting position. Accommodating all three of van Persie, Rooney and Falcao significantly hinders the team on the whole and unbalances the side. No more than two of those three should start at any time. Even if West Ham are a very physical and athletic side, I expect us to perform better with Mata and Rooney even if he does neglect the defensive side of things and struggles with physicality and intensity.

We are the home side and shouldn't cater to opposition like West Ham. The initiative and impetus should be with us and it's difficult to remedy the defensive situation when we have Carrick injured and Fletcher looking poorer and out of his depth with each passing game and a lot stems from the lack of leadership and organisation as a defensive unit.

XI:

de Gea
Rafael - Smalling - Rojo - Shaw
Blind
Herrera - di Maria
Mata
Falcao - Rooney

Subs: Lindegaard, Fletcher, Valencia, Pereira, Januzaj, van Persie, Wilson

I'm pretty sure we will concede given West Ham's form and attacking prowess and physicality, but I don't see a better alternative to that team considering our plethora of injuries.

4-2.

YouOnlyLiveTwice · Sep 23, 2014

Glanville95 said:
I'd make just a few alterations to the team that started against Leicester, but I think that is all that is needed to make a distinct difference. For a starter, I would continue with the 4-4-2 diamond, as it is the most suitable system for our personnel, but it's probably not ideal for a tricky away fixture against a good opponent.

On the topic of our personnel, Rojo was hugely disappointing and constantly out of position at left back, but I think (hope) we will see a big contrast between his performance at full back and at centre back. He's far more adept at the latter, so I hope we see Rojo at centre back and Shaw at left back. Kind of enforced team selection either way!

The final change, would see Mata behind the front two displacing Rooney in that position and at the expense of van Persie's starting position. Accommodating all three of van Persie, Rooney and Falcao significantly hinders the team on the whole and unbalances the side. No more than two of those three should start at any time. Even if West Ham are a very physical and athletic side, I expect us to perform better with Mata and Rooney even if he does neglect the defensive side of things and struggles with physicality and intensity.

We are the home side and shouldn't cater to opposition like West Ham. The initiative and impetus should be with us and it's difficult to remedy the defensive situation when we have Carrick injured and Fletcher looking poorer and out of his depth with each passing game and a lot stems from the lack of leadership and organisation as a defensive unit.

XI:

de Gea
Rafael - Smalling - Rojo - Shaw
Blind
Herrera - di Maria
Mata
Falcao - Rooney

Subs: Lindegaard, Fletcher, Valencia, Pereira, Januzaj, van Persie, Wilson

I'm pretty sure we will concede given West Ham's form and attacking prowess and physicality, but I don't see a better alternative to that team considering our plethora of injuries.

4-2.

This.

Smalling and Rojo is very good headers, will help alot against West Ham hoofball. I think Shaw will give us stability on the left side, being the better defender than attacker, and certainly an improvement from Rojo. Falcao and Rooney seems like a good partnership, Rooney being the more link-up striker while Falcao is the poacher.

We will win this i have no doubt, just so painful that we have to wait such a long time. 3-1.

JustAFan · Sep 23, 2014

Until we start showing we have turned the corner I am going to just assume the collapse will continue, Manchester United 3 West Ham 4

goin4glory · Sep 23, 2014

Dazzmondo said:
Early Predicted Lineup:

______________________________________________________________________________

1. De Gea

2. Rafael 12. Smalling 5. Rojo 3. Shaw

17. Blind
21. Herrera 7. Di Maria
8. Mata

9. Falcao 10. Rooney

_______________________________________________________________________________

Bench: 13. Lindegaard, 25. Valencia, 16. Carrick, 24. Fletcher, 44. Pereira, 11. Januzaj, 20. Van Persie

Agree with this RVP needs to be dropped.

Offside · Sep 23, 2014

Smithy89 · Sep 23, 2014

Offside said:
5-1.

We're at home not west ham.

GapMinder · Sep 23, 2014

4-1

Not counting last week after they lost control, I went for the avarages after the 'new start':
- They scored a goal per 20 minutes. I see no reason why this time it would be different. So that makes 4 goals for United.
- They had 2 goals against them in 150 min so I went for 1 for West Ham.
West Ham is better then QPR but Man Utd is getting better also.

Thoughts on my line-up prediction:
- Defence not much choice with 4 defenders.
- LVG will not take Rooney from his position after 1 game.
- He will also not change his tactics every week so the formation will have 2 strikers. Falcao and Van Persie are his best options for that if Rooney is in his new position.

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw
Blind
Herrera Di Maria
Rooney
Falcao Van Persie

Shark · Sep 23, 2014

We'll win this at home, but I'm not even going to think about turning points. One game at a time from now on.

SalfordRed1960 · Sep 23, 2014

It will be like the Villa-Arsenal game, people will think the hammers are on a roll and United out of sorts, but reality will kick in. Early pressure from those happy clappy fellas and then a bit of magic and all falls into place.

Ramshock · Sep 23, 2014

What I would do if I was Louis

Start Shaw...fecking finally
Play 2 out of RVP Rooney and Falcao
Start Mata
Stand on the sideline and scream at Rojo and Rafael the whole game
Dont sit on my arse and be passionate
Get the lads to play as a fecking team and stop chasing cricket scores

Offside · Sep 23, 2014

Shaw must start? With Rojo as a CB?

J-Stander · Sep 23, 2014

Kouyate is injured for them which is good for us, he was very good against Liverpool.

Ramshock · Sep 23, 2014

Offside said:
Shaw must start? With Rojo as a CB?

Rojo is a CB too. Why do people not know this?

gasmanc · Sep 23, 2014

Think we will see what most everyone else is thinking.

---------------------------DDG

Rafael--------Smalling------------Rojo----------Shaw

---------------------------Blind

-------Herrera-------------------------------ADM

--------------------------Rooney

------------------RVP--------------Falcao

Was talking today to a United fan and he felt he would like to see Rooney further back and we can all agree that Rojo last week had a mare and Blind was pushed slightly from the game with a man to man job from Nugent.
We saw how Lambert dealt with Gerrard in the Villa game and fat Sam just followed suit the following week, we can expect to see another pressing job on Blind from West Ham.
Rojo was a worry at FB and I know he is actually a CB but I would be shit scared to see him in there to be honest.

---------------------------DDG

Rafael--------Smalling-------------Blind ------------Shaw

-------------------------Rooney

-------Herrera-------------------------------ADM

---------------------------Mata

-----------------RVP--------------Falcao

Would I be more worried looking at that than seeing a very shaky Rojo sat in the center of defense ? I just am not sure, we lacked leadership at the back at the weekend so if Rooney is to be our captain it's not a bad spot to have him.

Ananke · Sep 23, 2014

Did anyone watch the Rooney interview before the match on Sunday?

Overall, it was a good interview. But one thing made me worry. He said, when questioned on 'you must feel a lot of the pressure has lifted after that first win', something along the lines of: "Yes, definitely. The whole team is a lot more relaxed/calm in training now".

Now you can take that as a positive or negative, but at the time I felt it was negative. That pressure was needed, it's still needed. A 4-0 win to QPR after 3 awful results should not have you relaxed, you should be feeling that pressure up until the end of the season. We're a long way from the top of that table with the easier games we've had (Swansea, Burnley, Sunderland, Leicester, QPR). You should feel that fire right under your ass.

Loublaze · Sep 23, 2014

Ramshock said:
Rojo is a CB too. Why do people not know this?

Indeed. He's actually a CB who was converted to a LB at international level

caisenma · Sep 24, 2014

A guy who has not got a single start this season but scored a hattrick last match in the under 21 side is labelled as "awful" among other things. Some of you are absolutely bonkers and devoid of common sense.

Razzler777 · Sep 24, 2014

Expect we'll go with this line up and stick with the diamond.

DDG

Rafael
Smalling
Rojo
Shaw

Blind
Herrara
ADM
Mata

Rooney
RVP

Although last weeks capitulation was embarrassing, I wasn't too disappointed with the performance, apart from the obvious defensive flaws.

Without blaming the ref, Clattenburg's decisions did affect the outcome.

For the moment our best form of defence seems to be in attack. Think we'll see another entertaining game with goals at both ends, United to win by 2.

iAm20Legend · Sep 24, 2014

The weekend can't come quickly enough, the only way to fix the disappointment of last weekend (to some extent) is a win. And a clean sheet.
:nervous:

FA Premier League

Manchester United 2:1 West Ham United

Old Trafford

Closed

New Member

Full Member

Full Member

Death or the gladioli!

New Member

New Member

Step up to my misogyny soapbox

Full Member

Full Member

Full Member

New Member

Full Member

New Member

Full Member

Full Member

Full Member

Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016

Full Member

Full Member

OMG socks and sandals lol!

New Member

Full Member

Full Member

The Adebayo Akinfenwa of football photoshoppers

New Member

Euro 2016 sweepstake winner

Full Member

Full Member

@NotShark

Full Member

CAF Pilib De Brún Translator

Euro 2016 sweepstake winner

Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016

CAF Pilib De Brún Translator

Banned

Full Member

ATLien

I ♥ Adnan

New Member

Full Member

Man of the Match

Runners-up

Player Ratings

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Score Predictions

Detailed Results

Match Stats

Referee

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes