Real Sociedad 0:4 Manchester United

always_hoping · Feb 16, 2021

Bertie Wooster said:
We need to start winning trophies with this group of players, and with Ole as manager. It's clearly going to be City's title again, and so we really should be trying to win the EL or the FA Cup this season. Once we're capable of winning those types of trophies, then we can start realistically thinking of future league / CL success.

Thats the way it worked under Ferguson.

Won the FA Cup 1990, Cup winners cup 91 and league Cup 92 before the league was won in 93. And again when he rebuilt the team by winning the league cup 2006 and FA Cup 2004 before regaining both the Premier league and Champions league 2007, 2008.

Klopp on the other hand his first trophy with Liverpool was the Champions league followed by the Premier league.

Schmeichel's Cartwheel · Feb 16, 2021

One thing is guaranteed, Ole will have us sitting back & we will have less than 40% possession.

always_hoping · Feb 16, 2021

Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
One thing is guaranteed, Ole will have us sitting back & we will have less than 40% possession.

Sociedad are possession based side so won't be a surprise if they have higher possession percentage than United.

Possession stats don't tell the full story. Arguably Uniteds best performance and result in the Champions league group this season was away to PSG where United had under 39% possession.

Worst result and performance away Basaksehir United had 68% possession.

Annihilate Now! · Feb 16, 2021

DomesticTadpole said:
Mata has not been seen for ages, some have said they haven't even noticed him in training.

And it you swipe right you will see the rarely spotted Spanish Mata in his natural habit. Rumour has they currently enjoying an extended period of hibernation in these harsh winter months.

Water Melon · Feb 17, 2021

I doubt we will win the FA cup with City and Chelsea still being in it. Will be surprised if we get past Leicester. EL is the only cup that we may win this season imo. It also guarantees a CL spot. Go for it. If Real Sociedad manage to knock us out, Ole's seat will be under a real threat.

DomesticTadpole · Feb 17, 2021

Annihilate Now! said:
And it you swipe right you will see the rarely spotted Spanish Mata in his natural habit. Rumour has they currently enjoying an extended period of hibernation in these harsh winter months.

Adam-Utd · Feb 17, 2021

Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
One thing is guaranteed, Ole will have us sitting back & we will have less than 40% possession.

always_hoping said:
Sociedad are possession based side so won't be a surprise if they have higher possession percentage than United.

Possession stats don't tell the full story. Arguably Uniteds best performance and result in the Champions league group this season was away to PSG where United had under 39% possession.

Worst result and performance away Basaksehir United had 68% possession.

If anything that'll probably help us.

Defensively we are better when pushed back a bit and offensively we play so much better into space and counter attacking.

pauldyson1uk · Feb 17, 2021

Nicoseth said:
The slump is real. 1-1.

an away score draw, I will take that

Bwuk · Feb 17, 2021

Looking forward to seeing Januzaj.

red_de_pologne · Feb 17, 2021

Unleash Diallo

UnitedSofa · Feb 17, 2021

Amad and Shoretire have travelled with the squad.

No Idea For Nickname · Feb 17, 2021

Paul Pogba is still unavailable due to injury, while it was confirmed in the pre-match press conference that Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani are also ruled out.
January signing Amad has been named in the travelling squad and it will be interesting to see how the Ivorian might be involved. He has impressed in first-team training and also throughout his two appearances with the club's Under-23s.

Meanwhile, Academy youngster Shola Shoretire will continue his education by travelling with the senior squad for this European away fixture. The 17-year-old forward, who has been with United since the age of nine, signed his first professional contract with the club earlier this month.

No Idea For Nickname · Feb 17, 2021

TRAVELLING SQUAD

De Gea, Henderson, Grant; Bailly, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Telles, Tuanzebe, Wan-Bissaka, Williams; Amad, Fernandes, Fred, James, Mata, Matic, McTominay, Shoretire; Greenwood, Martial, Rashford.

There is Mata, happy now?

Dudu · Feb 17, 2021

Still no Pogba.
Cavani and VDB injured and not travelling.
McSauce and Martial are both doubts.

Fecking hell.

Adam-Utd · Feb 17, 2021

Could be a struggle that, wonder if we might even go to a back 3 depending on injuries.

AngeloHenriquez · Feb 17, 2021

Can see a few changes here like Hendo, Williams, Mata, & Maybe Amad starting, especially if VDB, Cavani, Mctom & Martial are out.

Something like this:

Henderson
Williams Bailly Tuanzabe Telles
Fred Matic
Amad Mata Rashford
Greenwood

But I know Maguire will start, AWB needs a rest and I'd prefer to see Shaw start but he started last game

Judas · Feb 17, 2021

Hope we see Amad and Shoretire, because why not.

Think it's going to be a very tough game for us in our current form.

UnofficialDevil · Feb 17, 2021

So a lot of people suggesting we should play a weak team and concentrate on the league.
I wonder if Sociedad fans are suggesting the same thing I mean they are 5th and we are second, they have a stronger excuse to do so but I am sure they won't.

bosnian_red · Feb 17, 2021

Ole probably will rotate quite a bit, not sure how real Cavani being injured is. Shame about VdB though.

Henderson
Wan Bissaka Bailly Maguire Telles
Fred Matic
Mata Bruno Rashford
Greenwood

Rozay · Feb 17, 2021

I’s probably start Williams here as Wan-Bissaka is forced to play every game due to no real competition. That said, if we start Williams and Axel together, we’ll be out by the end of the first leg. Hopefully only one starts, and whoever that is, starts at RB.

McGrathsipan · Feb 17, 2021

Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
One thing is guaranteed, Ole will have us sitting back & we will have less than 40% possession.

Yeah and Martial will start and offer nothing up front.
Maguire will make a mistake.
We will concede first - probably within the first 5 mins.
Rashford will run down blind alleys alot.
Fred will run about alot and generally not impact the game.
Shaw will play well.
No subs until its too late

Inigo Montoya · Feb 17, 2021

Dudu said:
Still no Pogba.
Cavani and VDB injured and not travelling.
McSauce and Martial are both doubts.

Fecking hell.

All going a bit shit, isn’t it?
Martial no great loss but going in with a forward line of Greenwood and Rashford alone is a bit thin!

always_hoping · Feb 17, 2021

bosnian_red said:
Ole probably will rotate quite a bit, not sure how real Cavani being injured is. Shame about VdB though.

Henderson
Wan Bissaka Bailly Maguire Telles
Fred Matic
Mata Bruno Rashford
Greenwood

Ole rarely bluffs about injuries. 2nd or 3rd muscle injury for Cavani since he arrived? It was known before he signed that in the last 2 years for PSG he picked up a lot of injuries.

I'd reckon that will be the starting 11 tomorrow. Hopefully McTominay, De Beek, Cavani are all fit to feature against Newcastle

Chaky_Best · Feb 17, 2021

---------------------------------------Henderson----------------------------------------
Tuanzebe-----------------Bailly-------------Maguire---------------------Telles
--------------------------------Fred---------------Matic---------------------------------
Diallo----------------------------------Mata------------------------------------James
--------------------------------------Greenwood-------------------------------------------

jderbyshire · Feb 17, 2021

I wonder if Ole will be tempted to stick with Lindelof-Maguire for this one because we might be playing on the break, sitting deep. He may want to make sure Bailly's completely ready and fresh for Newcastle.

Maybe we might see something like this:

Henderson
Williams Lindelof Maguire Telles
Matic Fred
Mata Bruno Rashford
Greenwood

Either way, you just know this match is gonna be absolute Nytol.

mav_9me · Feb 17, 2021

Hopefully Amad gets some game time, and hopefully its not 5-10mins at the end.

Bertie Wooster · Feb 17, 2021

Managing a season at a club like United involves balancing squad rotation without throwing games and ending the season trophy less.

We've got a tough away game at Sociedad, following by an easier looking game at home to Newcastle. I really don't get the arguments for resting players for the tougher game, just because it's 'only the cup'.

Yes, there's a second leg to try and 'recover any damage', but there's 15 league matches left to recover from any dropped points in league games. And you can afford to draw / lose more games going for a top 4 place than you can in knockout cup matches.

We've got to pick a strong line up tomorrow. Those injuries are a blow - but a huge part of season management at United is trying to achieve your league objectives while delivering cup trophies. Our league aim this year is top 4, and we're on course for that. And we need to be taking the knock out cup ties serious at this stage to finally deliver that first trophy.

Sparky_Hughes · Feb 17, 2021

Rozay said:
I’s probably start Williams here as Wan-Bissaka is forced to play every game due to no real competition. That said, if we start Williams and Axel together, we’ll be out by the end of the first leg. Hopefully only one starts, and whoever that is, starts at RB.

We would be out by the end of the first half!

Wing Attack Plan R · Feb 17, 2021

Rest as many as we can. Martial and Mata will probably do well against Sociedad, the pace will be slower for one. I hope Diallo gets a start, I'm ready to believe.

-----------------Henderson-------------------
Williams-----Tuanzebe----Maguire-----Telles
Diallo--------Mata--------Fred--------James
----------Greenwood------Martial------------

Devil may care · Feb 17, 2021

Given Ole's injury news maybe we'll see the return of Mata and a Diallo debut, can't risk Bruno picking up a knock.

Rozay · Feb 17, 2021

With Cavani injured we need to be protective with Martial ahead of the weekend if we can.

Bertie Wooster · Feb 17, 2021

Devil may care said:
Given Ole's injury news maybe we'll see the return of Mata and a Diallo debut, can't risk Bruno picking up a knock.

If we pick teams based on not being able to risk Bruno picking up an injury, then we'd never select him - as he's just as likely to pick up an injury in a league game as he is the cup.

The reason why we need him is because he makes a huge difference to the team - so we need him for difficult and important matches. This is a difficult and important match. So I really hope he starts tomorrow.

Foxbatt · Feb 17, 2021

Yes we should try and win this. If we win the EL we have won a trophy and if can maintain top 4 it's an extremely good result

How good are Sociedad? Isn't that where Phil Neville and Moysie got sacked?

United58 · Feb 17, 2021

Devil may care said:
Given Ole's injury news maybe we'll see the return of Mata and a Diallo debut, can't risk Bruno picking up a knock.

Telles injured?

Gerald G · Feb 17, 2021

Henderson
AWB--Bailly--Maguire--Telles
Matic--Fred
Greenwood--Bruno--Rashford
Martial

Subs: De Gea; Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Shaw; McTominay, Mata, Shoretire; James, Diallo

If Martial isn't fit then start Mata and put Greenwood up top.

Devil may care · Feb 17, 2021

Bertie Wooster said:
If we pick teams based on not being able to risk Bruno picking up an injury, then we'd never select him - as he's just as likely to pick up an injury in a league game as he is the cup.

The reason why we need him is because he makes a huge difference to the team - so we need him for difficult and important matches. This is a difficult and important match. So I really hope he starts tomorrow.

The reason I think we can't on this occasion specifically is Cavani is injured and if we don't have either of them for the PL then our attack has no leadership, and while there's a degree of importance to this game I think finishing top 4 in the PL is priority and that's no longer a forgone conclusion.

United58 said:
Telles injured?

No, I just think Ole will start with Shaw as he's such an integral part of how we play.

Nicoseth · Feb 17, 2021

With Pogba, Donny out and Scotty a doubt, I think Bruno will definitely start. If he gets injured we are truly screwed.

Crustanoid · Feb 17, 2021

Nicoseth said:
With Pogba, Donny out and Scotty a doubt, I think Bruno will definitely start. If he gets injured we are truly screwed.

Ffs he should be nowhere near this game. I’d rather play Mata

Nicoseth · Feb 17, 2021

Crustanoid said:
Ffs he should be nowhere near this game. I’d rather play Mata

Agree, mate. But a midfield of Matic, Fred and Mata will get destroyed by Sociedad. Not sure Ole has a choice.

Jaxa · Feb 17, 2021

I don't care about any other positions other than I hope it's either Bailly playing alongside Maguire or Bailly alongside Lindelof , not the chuckle brothers playing together, actually i would be very happy to never see those two play together ever again

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