I’m surprised to see so many disregard winning this competition. As a fan I want trophies. I think we are on the cusp of a really good season. 2 trophies and 3rd place would be an incredible achievement, especially considering where we were a few months ago.
2nd string against Chelsea? Or do we risk more tiredness
- Thread starter Adam-Utd
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Lazy argument really. Keane, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Giggs etc never had to play in this situation with this sort of schedule - the boys are human after all and fatigue is a thing. That said, I think the fatigue element is a bit overstated to be honest.
Regarding the 3 months break, it's not so much of a factor when you consider the accumulation of games packed into a very short time period with very little mental or physical/muscle recovery time.
If you've played any kind of sport or participated in any kind of consistent physical exercise, if you have a cluster of games/sessions with insufficient recovery in between, what starts to matter most to your fitness to perform is your most recent recovery (as opposed to some long rest period you had before said cluster).
Play the full team....The Chelsea defense and defensive midfield is weak. Our forwards are on fire....let’s beat them early and rest key players...but let’s win first....
To bring in players from the bench when drawing or losing and still going out will affect morale and the rest of the season....
Momentum is key and we are winning or drawing and we need to maintain that.....
Wembley is something all of our best players have dreamed about....Bruno, Greenwood and a few others have never been there and the open space will suit our play more than Chelsea.....
To bring in players from the bench when drawing or losing and still going out will affect morale and the rest of the season....
Momentum is key and we are winning or drawing and we need to maintain that.....
Wembley is something all of our best players have dreamed about....Bruno, Greenwood and a few others have never been there and the open space will suit our play more than Chelsea.....
Especially now a final against Arsenal awaits. As good an opportunity as you're going to get.
a bit of rotation and a strong bench. Don't like this dismissive attitude towards the FA Cup.
It would be - but this is the point.
We are on a very fine balancing point right now, and we could end up with nothing. If we perform like we did against Palace and Southampton we will struggle to get over the line.
If we had enough space between matches then yes we can go for it in every competition. 2 days to recover and then play again is crazy.
2 trophies and 3rd would obviously be amazing but 1 FA Cup and 5th wouldn't be nearly as good. There are players who've looked sharp and fit enough to play - Lindelof, Williams, Matic, Rashford and Martial would all be ok I reckon. Maybe Pogba as well.
But Wan-Bissaka, Bruno and Greenwood urgently need a rest. It's probably already 2 or 3 games overdue and against Palace, it was painfully visible that those 3 just couldn't get their feet to keep up with their brains.
That increases the chance of injury and fatigue. 3 months of rest then straight into an intense schedule with no warm-up games is pretty bad for them.
The club needs the Champions League more than a cup. Financially and as a validation that we are going in the right direction.
I don’t think anyone is disregarding it, it’s just about prioritising our objectives.
No one is saying we don’t want to win 2 cups and finish 3rd, it’s whether the pursuit of one could have a negative impact on the achievement of the other.
The team has looked tired for the last 2 matches and this another, potentially 120 minute, match 3 days after the last before there’s another in 3 days time again before the final showdown with Leicester 4 days after that.
I think we should rotate and use the firepower as subs if the game is still winnable in the later stages.
Rest Greenwood. Put Bruno on the bench. I’m glad Matic got a bit of a break vs Palace, and Lingard to be fair did exactly what I want from a squad player of his level at a time like now-filled up some minutes on the pitch. I’d start Ighalo and Fred I think. Some said Fred can play left back? Not sure about that but could move TFM right then? And Scott in midfield with Matic and pogba
Ya I feel the same , we should be going for this . 3 games in the next week all important in their own right . Feck squad rotation I say until after Sunday
Then I'm glad you're not in charge.
Might need to take the semi-final seriously now. There is a good chance we can win it all even against an in-form gooner side.
Will be interesting to see what sort of lineup OGS comes up with. Whether or not we change formation too.
Will be interesting to see what sort of lineup OGS comes up with. Whether or not we change formation too.
I love the FA cup. Think its a major trophy even though I know lots dont. However because of the circumstances this year I think we need to make sure that the main priority is getting that Champions League spot. Hate that this is the case but just this time thats what i think we should do.
Do you think this is Fifa and that the players have unlimited stamina?
If Ole plays the first team and Bruno, Pogba and Martial get muscle injuries you'll be the first one saying "SACK OLE WHAT IS HE DOING OMG"
Full strength please, the league will take care of itself.
Agree totally. Arsenal are a poor side and we should beat them with our strongest team out. Chelsea will be thinking the same thing.
Bruno, AWB and Greenwood seems to be the players most in need of a rest. Matic only played 30 mins Thursday, so should be up for the game. Start Bruno, AWB and Greenwood on the bench, and make early subs if we are struggling.
Especially now we know who is in the final. I'd rest Mason and Bruno for James and Fred and go full strength with the others, as both looked tired this week and we need them to be back to thier best next week. They can always come on as impact players.
I am worried about the impact of extra time, hopefully we can avoid it this time.
It’s 3 games we’ve barely squad rotated since post covid pal
The Scousers are ahead on trophies and finally won the league. Only bloody Arsenal to beat should we reach the final...
I know people want to be pragmatic. Weigh this up, factor that in etc...but honestly, just go all guns blazing to win both the fecking trophies if you ask me.
Full strength tomorrow. WE GO FOR IT!
I know people want to be pragmatic. Weigh this up, factor that in etc...but honestly, just go all guns blazing to win both the fecking trophies if you ask me.
Full strength tomorrow. WE GO FOR IT!
Ole is in charge and he’s barely rotated since spurs
This is such a simplistic and uneducated point of view.
Ole has already retained or recruited players who have the mentality he seeks and sidelined those who don't. I'm sure every single player in the squad is desperate to play tomorrow and will tell Ole they are fit and ready. Also 3 months rest is irrelevant in terms of ensuring muscles recover and energy can be repleted during this unique schedule.
Fitness and recovery between games is not about 'mentality' or something you can order through Amazon. It's a zero sum game and takes as long as it takes. I'm very concerned that Maguire, AWB, Bruno, Pogba and Rashford (both just back from injury) are so fatigued, they will pull a muscle very soon if not rested.
There are 4 aspects that Ole and his coaches have to work out:
1. What team do we require (skill and fitness) to beat West Ham next Wednesday?
2. Which players are susceptible to muscle injuries because they are so fatigued?
3. What kind of team will Chelsea put out
4. How much energy and distance covered does our team require (by position) to compete with Chelsea over 90 minutes
Tomorrow's team selection is certainly Ole's toughest selection yet. It's a very complicated algorithm, and if he gets it wrong, we'll end up blowing off the FA Cup as well as guaranteed entry in Champions League. Luckily he has Phelen's vast experience to advise, I'd also give SAF a call if I were him too.
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That's why we're bottoming out fitness-wise now.Ole is in charge and he’s barely rotated since spurs
Exactly?!
We've played Monday, Thursday and now Sunday and then it'll be Wednesday again.
Playing the same team 4 times in 1 week is mental. Do you not think our performances have looked sluggish and tired in the last 2 matches? we couldn't even out possess palace until the 2nd goal went in and they dropped their heads.
For all this talk of having to just give up on games because our schedule is too busy, look at Arsenal’s recently. In 15 days, Arsenal played Wolves, Leicester, Spurs, Liverpool and City.
In 15 days, our schedule is only Soton, Palace, Chelsea, West Ham and Leicester in comparison.
Arsenal’s 4th game on day 12 in the last 15 days was beating Liverpool 2-1. We’ll only have West Ham on day 11 of this period.
Arsenal’s 5th game on day 15 was at Wembley beating City 2-0, despite City resting a lot of players in preparation. We’ll only be playing an out of form Leicester on day 15.
If our lads aren’t ready to get some big wins and get CL football and an FA Cup final, then they aren’t ready for this level. I suspect the players are ready though, it’s the supporters who clearly aren’t.
In 15 days, our schedule is only Soton, Palace, Chelsea, West Ham and Leicester in comparison.
Arsenal’s 4th game on day 12 in the last 15 days was beating Liverpool 2-1. We’ll only have West Ham on day 11 of this period.
Arsenal’s 5th game on day 15 was at Wembley beating City 2-0, despite City resting a lot of players in preparation. We’ll only be playing an out of form Leicester on day 15.
If our lads aren’t ready to get some big wins and get CL football and an FA Cup final, then they aren’t ready for this level. I suspect the players are ready though, it’s the supporters who clearly aren’t.
Get the job done early and sub them off . Wholesale changes and we’re back to early season form again.
We haven’t played the same 11 the last 3 games.
Have you actually watched up play in the last two games? We've looked exhausted. There is no energy in the team. We made Palace look half decent.
If Ole doesn't make at least 4 changes then he''s a fecking moron. An absolute simpleton.
Yes we have? the only changes he made last game was resting Matic and no Shaw due to injury. Literally every team has been the same, but we've made early subs.
You haven't answered my question, do you not think we've looked tired in the last 2 games?
If we have play the same team and get a tired performance against Chelsea and then drop points to West Ham don't complain!
It’s more than 2 games , Villa was slow , Norwich was slower they all can’t be blamed on fatigue.
Do some healthy rotation. It’s a semi final and suddenly United look like the strongest remaining team. I would play Bailly for Lindelöf and Fred for one of the midfielders. I would prefer to rest Pogba from start and play the diamond with Rashford and Ighalo up front. In that way we will still have a strong line up with quality on the bench, but I can’t see that happening with Ole’s fixation for 4-2-3-1.
Norwich was too many changes in the team, then Villa we just didn't start very well. Lost our rhythm. The last two games are absolutely fatigue you literally can't argue otherwise because it's obvious.
So we’ve kept the same team but yet you’ve named 2 changes .
Yes we look tired but why rotate And make major changes now it just renders the Last few weeks pointless.
We’re one game away from a cup final v Arsenal . We’ve 2 league games from top 4 . Feck bringing in Lingard and co to feck this whole thing up . We need to go back to winning trophies and tomorrow is Like a cup final seeing as Arsenal are waiting for the winner .
You're really making yourself sound very naive. Suggesting we should just play through fatigue because "it's like a cup final" and then assuming Arsenal is an easy game.
Never Said they’re not suffering from fatigue. But looking at the most fatigued I’d say Bruno (can’t be dropped ) Matic (rested v Palace ) Shaw (before he got injured, should be fine to play tomorrow ) Rashford ( in form , sub off tomorrow ) Wan Bissaka ( no right back option if Williams Is still out )
Who would you have preferred City or Arsenal ? 99.9% would say Arsenal
I like how Arsenal can beat Liverpool and City with only three days to turn the team around, even when City even specifically rested a load of players, and after playing Wolves, Leicester and Spurs in the prior 12 days...
...but Ole trying to beat Chelsea and then West fecking Ham in the same timespan is playing with fire.
No matter the team, it is a must to start Pogba and Bruno.