Over Lingard is obvious. Over Mata? Not so much.
That last attacking spot is still up for grabs as Herrera, Pogba and Fellaini are all definitely starting. If Martial makes it in that front three, our options on the bench will be very uninspiring.
Ajax - Man Utd | EL Final Build-up Thread
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
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That last attacking spot is still up for grabs as Herrera, Pogba and Fellaini are all definitely starting. If Martial makes it in that front three, our options on the bench will be very uninspiring.
Carrick has to play for me.
Same back 5, but:
Martial - Rashford - Mkhi
Pogba - Carrick - Herrera
Ajax results this season in Europe.
2016–17 Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round
Greece PAOK 1–1, 2–1 20.6
Play-off Round
Russia FC Rostov 1–1, 1–4
2016–17 Europa League Group stage
Greece Panathinaikos F.C. 2–1, 2–0
Belgium Standard Liege 1–0, 1–1
Spain Celta de Vigo 2–2, 3–2
Round of 32
Poland Legia Warszawa 0–0, 1–0
Round of 16
Denmark FC København 1–2, 2–0
Quarterfinals
Germany FC Schalke 04 2–0, 2–3
Semifinals
France Olympique Lyonnais 4–1, 1–3
2016–17 Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round
Play-off Round
2016–17 Europa League Group stage
Round of 32
Round of 16
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
--------------DDG---------
------Valencia Bailly----
-----Herrera Carrick----
------------Pogba------------
Mkhitaryan------Martial
-----------Rashford-----------
------Valencia Bailly----
-----Herrera Carrick----
------------Pogba------------
Mkhitaryan------Martial
-----------Rashford-----------
Our form going into this does not look good. I'm predicting another loss on Wednesday and a bore draw on Saturday.
Complacency looks to be setting in and Jose is allowing it to happen.
Complacency looks to be setting in and Jose is allowing it to happen.
I'm 99% sure Lingard will be starting the final. It's obvious Jose rates him and we will need good balance in that game since they are an attacking team. I think starting Martial will be too risky.
Fellaini instead of Carrick I reckon.
Where are the rest?
We looked like a different team when we pushed up and attacked today(obviously). As Mourinho said earlier in the season, we don't have the type of players to play on the counter with success. We have very possession orientated players, even his own signings are suited for a possession based team so i don't really understand why we have changed up our style to such a negative one.
We have to go toe to toe with Ajax from minute 1. There's nothing that their nimble players will love more than passing it around our final third and finding the gaps between our impotent defence. Hoping that Mkhi and Lingard will be dropped for Martial and Mata, we need the extra possibility of goals.
We have to go toe to toe with Ajax from minute 1. There's nothing that their nimble players will love more than passing it around our final third and finding the gaps between our impotent defence. Hoping that Mkhi and Lingard will be dropped for Martial and Mata, we need the extra possibility of goals.
Not exactly been rolling teams over. I have to take crumbs of comfort where I can.Ajax results this season in Europe.
2016–17 Champions League 3rd Qualifying RoundGreece PAOK 1–1, 2–1 20.6
Play-off RoundRussia FC Rostov 1–1, 1–4
2016–17 Europa League Group stage
Greece Panathinaikos F.C. 2–1, 2–0
Belgium Standard Liege 1–0, 1–1
Spain Celta de Vigo 2–2, 3–2
Round of 32Poland Legia Warszawa 0–0, 1–0
Round of 16Denmark FC København 1–2, 2–0
QuarterfinalsGermany FC Schalke 04 2–0, 2–3
SemifinalsFrance Olympique Lyonnais 4–1, 1–3
I reckon most of the hated ones will play. Fellaini, Lingard and Darmian. Probably not Rooney though.
We are going in to this with hardly any momentum, Ajax are coming off the back of narrowingly missing out on the league title and will want to finish the season on a high.. we on the other hand are putting in half hearted performances because the manager himself admits that the league isn't his priority. We've seen it before, once a team starts to switch off it can be hard to turn it back on. We need to be careful.
Martial has to start on the left for me.
He has played himself into the team with his performances against Arsenal and Spurs
He has played himself into the team with his performances against Arsenal and Spurs
I'd be happy if we played that team, but I have this nagging feeling that Lingard will start ahead of Martial.
No, Jose is telling the squad to mentally prepare for the final and not risk injuries in pointless fixtures against Spurs.
He will maticulously prepare for the final make no mistake about it.
People lose their shit when we lose dead rubbers I just dot get it.
They're pretty shit aren't they? I know it's a final and previous results are irrelevant, but there is no excuse for us not to win that final.Ajax results this season in Europe.
2016–17 Champions League 3rd Qualifying RoundGreece PAOK 1–1, 2–1 20.6
Play-off RoundRussia FC Rostov 1–1, 1–4
2016–17 Europa League Group stage
Greece Panathinaikos F.C. 2–1, 2–0
Belgium Standard Liege 1–0, 1–1
Spain Celta de Vigo 2–2, 3–2
Round of 32Poland Legia Warszawa 0–0, 1–0
Round of 16Denmark FC København 1–2, 2–0
QuarterfinalsGermany FC Schalke 04 2–0, 2–3
SemifinalsFrance Olympique Lyonnais 4–1, 1–3
The worst beating was by Rostov. But that was 9 months ago. They are a young team and their best results were the home wins V Schalke and Lyon. No offensive to our Danish and Polish friends but they struggled to beat two very ordinary teams in round 32 and 16.
It just isn't right, Mourinho could put 6 players from the academy in and still have a team that is much more mature and fifteen times as expensive. He could rest any player. It's a bit like Goliath telling david he has broken a nail. But Ajax has ten days without a game and a lot of players two weeks, that's a bit too long for an optimal preparation. Players need matches and want rythm.
That won't be easy either, awareness is not his strenght and the style Ajax plays requires that.
Jose has a point to prove. He had one to prove against Chelsea and he did. Him and the players will do their homework for the final. Make no mistake about it.
This wasn't a dead rubber. We still had a (mathematical) chance of making top 4 before kickoff. And beyond that, the players have a duty to perform for the fans.
Momentum is actually a thing in football. Once a team gets used to losing and conceding goals, it becomes harder for the team to rally and get a result when things go against them in games.
Honestly, my biggest nightmare is that Ajax open the scoring come the final. I don't trust the players to find it within themselves to go on and win if that happens.
Can't imagine Jones and Smalling playing together at our most important game this season.
Very good point, also the pressure on the manager and the players it could easily affect us plus we have Smalling and Jones at the back.
4231
433
If we see Lingard, Smalling or Rooney in the lineup we may aswell give the trophy to Ajax.
Romero
Valencia Jones Blind Darmian
Fellaini Pogba
Mata Mkhitaryan Martial
Rashford
Valencia Jones Blind Darmian
Fellaini Pogba
Mata Mkhitaryan Martial
Rashford
433
Romero
Valencia Jones Blind Darmian
Herrera
Fellaini Pogba
Mkhitaryan Rashford Martial
Romero, Darmian, Fellaini, Rashford and Martial have all played their way into the starting 11 over the past few games.Valencia Jones Blind Darmian
Herrera
Fellaini Pogba
Mkhitaryan Rashford Martial
If we see Lingard, Smalling or Rooney in the lineup we may aswell give the trophy to Ajax.
I think we will see
-------------------Romero
Valencia----Jones------Blind-----Darmian
-------------Herrera----Pogba
-Mkhi-----------Fellaini---------Martial
-----------------Rashford
-------------------Romero
Valencia----Jones------Blind-----Darmian
-------------Herrera----Pogba
-Mkhi-----------Fellaini---------Martial
-----------------Rashford
Ajax don't keep the ball well in Europe so I'm expecting plenty of possession on the night
A fit Mata would be perfect, someone who can drift into the box
A fit Mata would be perfect, someone who can drift into the box
I'd personally start with Pogba, Carrick and Herrera in midfield, I think the experience of Carrick could be huge in a game like this. Added to that Fellaini is a liability at times, I'd hate it if he was targetted by their players in an attempt to get him sent off.
Yeah that's the line up I think everyone wants to see but Jose will be ultra cautious for that game and will try not to concede over everything else so that could well mean Fellaini starting ahead of Carrick or Herrera and Lingard ahead of Martial.
I don't think Smalling deserves to be anywhere near the starting line up for the final and I'd prefer Jones and Blind but Smalling might get the nod over his height
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Mkhytaryan? Again?
Your argument might make some sense if price tags of players decided cup finals alone - they don't. I'm not sure what you're thinking to say United could play inexperienced academy players who have never even played for the first team against an Ajax team that has had all season together. It's just plain wrong and totally skewed.
I'm not sure what your agenda is to be honest but your posting is all over the place. A little like your assessment of Pogba who I can assure you will have plenty of the ball on the night.
I agree.
I actually think Mourinho might play him. It looks like he's trying to get him match sharp again and he had a cheeky word with him when he came off today.
How would you line up?
Absolutely shitting myself already.
This Ajax side can and will score goals. I just hope we can find scoring boots like we did for the EFL cup final.
Ibra
This Ajax side can and will score goals. I just hope we can find scoring boots like we did for the EFL cup final.
Ibra
I don't remember Martial playing that well apart from today. Even today he was only the best from a bad bunch. Either are people seeing different things or his standards have dropped significantly. Mourinho played Lingard in a crucial EL game over him on thursday and today he plays him in a meaningless game. Doesn't that tell you something? He has to be performing in every game until then to even have a remote chance of starting. He won't even be playing all the games though so it will be a long shot to see him start.
Agree about the others though. Like I said before, the most hated ones, Fellaini, Darmian and Lingard will likely be starting. And that shows the state of our squad.
Not a chance.
Jose is totally focused on the final and so will his side.
He gets some stick on here but he's no mug when it comes to cup finals and analysing opponents in a one off encounter.
The Dutch football season is over, they've got a full week and a half to rest and prepare.
We needed to win today, win against Southampton away, win at home to Palace AND hope that Liverpool drop points at home to Middlesborough and that Arsenal drop points too.
That "mathematical" long shot was as long as it gets.
I'd play Mata on the right with Rashford and Martial up top.
Mkhi as a 10 with Pogba and Herrera sitting.
Ajax games are end to end, they leave gaps when they go forward so we need Pogba to play the quick transitions which he'll be able to do if he's that little bit deeper.
That's me though. Jose will probably start Fellaini to sit in front of our Bailly-less back 4 and drop Martial altogether.
It's a two edged sword, they'll lack match rhythm.
Fellaini for more of a goalthreat, Carrick for more control of the game. Depends what we need the most.
None of our other defenders deserve a spot. I'd make a deal where they let Bailly play and we'll only play with 9 men
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