Also, a game everyone has struggled with this season. Sheffield have only allowed 9 goals on the season, 2nd best after Leicester.The type of game we've struggled with this season. A positive result here could be huge.
I think the pessimism here is a little bit exaggerated. Sure, we have lost way stupider games, but FFS it's Sheffield United... Like - seriously.We'd have to massively ride our luck to come away with 3 points.
Amazing how much Matic's stock has fallen. Deservedly, might I add.Regardless of what team we can put out, I'd have to expect that if we're going to win here it will be in a very tight 0-1 or 1-2 victory. A draw seems the most likely result IMO.
We'll have to assess everything again in about 10 days after the internationals and hope that McTominay's injury isn't as bad as feared. It's very possible we could be going into this game with no Dalot, Shaw, Tuanzebe, McTominay, Pogba, or Matic which makes our midfield options very weak. We'd probably play three at the back in that case, which might not be a bad idea in the first place to match their three.
de Gea
Lindelof Maguire Rojo
Wan-Bissaka Andreas Fred Williams
James Martial Rashford
---
Romero; Jones, Young; Garner, Mata, Lingard; Greenwood
Is actually something I'd quite like to see us go with, though I doubt Ole would start Young over Williams still. Also I'd quite like to see Garner trusted for the game, but I could see Fred + Andreas and maybe Mata/Lingard added for a bit more support dropping back from no.10 into midfield before that. Hopefully, Scott is fit, but it could be Matic if he's ready too.
Chelsea unstable? They won the last 6!Agree with this lineup. Hoping McT injury won't keep him down for this game and Ole won't bring fecking Young in over Williams. Stupid high challenge aside, that he was very lucky to not get a red card for, kid Williams had a great game against Brighton and needs to play.
Massive game for us. We NEED to win it. Absolutely have to. This and the next one with struggling Tottenham will set the tone for the season for us. With City struggling to break away, Arsenal and Tottenham at their worst, and Chelsea still unstable, we still have a tiny chance but we HAVE to win the next two matches
Suspect we’ll see Young starting over Williams.Only question will Ole play Williams away, or go for the experience of Young in a tricky fixture? Williams has looked much better, but Ole may not make him first choice quite that quickly.
I think it will be that sort of season while things settle down, “3 steps forward, 2 back” with lots of ups and downs.Why are so many people pessimistic about our chances? It's Sheffield, not Barcelona. And without Dean Henderson too.
Why not just play Martial at left back too? feck itIf we’re without McTominay, then I’d rather play Williams or AWB in the midfield than try to rejig the formation or move too many other players around.
Are you for real?If we’re without McTominay, then I’d rather play Williams or AWB in the midfield than try to rejig the formation or move too many other players around.
Without McTominay in the middle, a Fred & Pereira* (Lingard,Mata) midfield will get utterly dominated without the ball. We need to replace McTominay's physical presence.If we’re without McTominay, then I’d rather play Williams or AWB in the midfield than try to rejig the formation or move too many other players around.
Why not just play Martial at left back too? feck it
because a) they cannot defend b) we have more capable full backs availableAre you for real?
Might as well play James at RB
Jones could do a job too. I don’t think we have a readymade replacement for McTominay in our squad. We either move a more attacking midfielder back or defender forward into the midfield. Our other available midfielders just aren’t capable of putting a disciplined defensive shift and would leave us very open.Without McTominay in the middle, a Fred & Pereira* (Lingard,Mata) midfield will get utterly dominated without the ball. We need to replace McTominay's physical presence.
This 11 achieves this.
During the match, can play:
de GeaOr:
AWB-Lindelof-Maguire-Young
Jones - Fred
Pereira
James - Martial - Rashford
de GeaOr if you want to match up with Sheff Utd's 352:
AWB-Lindelof-Maguire-Young
Jones
Pereira - Fred
James - Martial - Rashford
de Gea
AWB-Maguire-Lindelof
Jones
James - Pereira - Fred - Young
Martial - Rashford
Not following the league this season?Providing the front three of choice are available can see a comfortable 0-2 or 0-3 win.
It's the way they play that has people a bit concerned. Norwich, Partizan and Brighton played right into our hands by going gung ho and leaving themselves wide open to our counter attacks. Sheffield will sit back and make life difficult for us, which is precisely the kind of style of football we have struggled against in recent years.Why are so many people pessimistic about our chances? It's Sheffield, not Barcelona. And without Dean Henderson too.
And yet they lost both games they played with us...Chelsea unstable? They won the last 6!
Now, why would they ever do such obviously stupid and suicidal thing? Because they play at home they are obligated to be suicidal? Does Chris Wilder have no clue and can't even figure out what is obvious to all of us – that United is clinical in quick counter-attacks and struggles against a packed defense? Why would they ever open up the game when we have Martial, Rashford, James and crappy midfield? Obviously, they have much better chances sitting back and destroying us in midfield. So - why would they not use such obvious advantage? There is no honor in attacking stupidly and losing foolishly. They will surely expose our weaknesses and won't act suicidal.Sheff U have been great this season and I really like the way they play, but at home they'll give it a go and leave spaces more than they would away from home. That should help us out on the counter. Especially as there CBs push into the box quite often, which against James and Rashford on the wings could be suicidal.
That, plus I really hope nobody else gets injured during the international break It's bad enough we lost McT. Imagine if Rashford or James or somebody else gets injured.I'm just annoyed our momentum gets checked by another damn annoying international break for two weeks. I wish this game was happening in a few days.
They are incredibly hard to break down and have only conceded 9 goals in the EPL in 12 matches. I saw them vs Liverpool when Liverpool got that incredibly lucky penalty in in 95th minute and they hardly created a decent chance all game.Why are so many people pessimistic about our chances? It's Sheffield, not Barcelona. And without Dean Henderson too.
Sheffield United have gone 60 games without losing by more than one goal. If we did that, especially in our current Jekyll and Hyde form, that'd be quite the result. They've been great this season. Full value for their league position. Only lost to 'Pool by a keeper howler. Came back from 2 down to draw at the Bridge. Dominated Spurs to the point of embarrassment. Swatted aside Everton away. Can't praise Wilder enough so far. Ole will need some special wheeling to get through this one. Should be a good game...Providing the front three of choice are available can see a comfortable 0-2 or 0-3 win.
I hope our players dont see it the same as you. Sheffield are 5th for a reason and the top six teams have struggled against them. They seem to be this year's Wolves. Our players are going to have to be up for it and Ole's tactics have to be spot on to counter Sheffields overlapping center backsI think the pessimism here is a little bit exaggerated. Sure, we have lost way stupider games, but FFS it's Sheffield United... Like - seriously.
This game is entirely ours to win or lose and we can do both ourselves, easily. Sheffield doesn't matter that much.
I do hope we have McT or Pogba in form, however. We need at least one of them in the midfield. It looks like McT is very unlikely to come back sooner than in 4 weeks https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/11/manc...eks-suspected-ankle-ligament-damage-11078880/
Most of the squad hasn't gone for international games so Ole has a lot of time to planThis is a good test at a good time. It's the perfect game to see if we've turned a corner.
You are replacing McTominay, with a slow turning cruiseliner?Without McTominay in the middle, a Fred & Pereira* (Lingard,Mata) midfield will get utterly dominated without the ball. We need to replace McTominay's physical presence.
This 11 achieves this.
During the match, can play:
de GeaOr:
AWB-Lindelof-Maguire-Young
Jones - Fred
Pereira
James - Martial - Rashford
de GeaOr if you want to match up with Sheff Utd's 352:
AWB-Lindelof-Maguire-Young
Jones
Pereira - Fred
James - Martial - Rashford
de Gea
AWB-Maguire-Lindelof
Jones
James - Pereira - Fred - Young
Martial - Rashford
Sheffield are going to be extremely compact. They have allowed a grand total of 4 goals at home this season. They don't score a lot of goals, but their defense is harder to score on than both Liverpool and Manchester City right now.I hope our players dont see it the same as you. Sheffield are 5th for a reason and the top six teams have struggled against them. They seem to be this year's Wolves. Our players are going to have to be up for it and Ole's tactics have to be spot on to counter Sheffields overlapping center backs
Andre Marriner