[jojojo]

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Fortune? Goalkeepers are players too.

 

[Infra-red]

De Gea

Jones Carrick Evans

Valencia Herrera Fletcher Young

Mata

RvP Rooney​

 

[Nestori]

We are playing in the white kit. We haven't won any of our games wearing that this season!!

 

[vibe]

Fortune? Goalkeepers are players too.

Even the journos have started using this "luck" buzzword Insane.

If you hit the crossbar, it has nothing to do with luck. It's because your shot was off target. Hit it 7 times? Then your shot was off target 7 times.

If we're so lucky, why can't we field a consistent back 4?

 

[Annahnomoss]

I really hope we get to see a good performance here. We need to see build up confidence defensively and in terms of control.

 

[Aliten]

Knowing his ego/arrogance, I suspect he will keep playing 3-5-2 until he's successful with it.

Nurse...

 

[ottosec]

I want to see this, if possible.

 

[Bruno8]

With Fellaini out it will be good if LvG can give Perreira some few minutes to play

 

[Empire]

Fortune? Goalkeepers are players too.

It's ridiculous, Robben scores a wonder goal and it's incredible skill from an incredible player but the keeper makes a wonder save and it's luck, do people not think before they say things!

Plus we have been clinical up top, when you have an attack like ours it really doesn't take as many shots to score as our opposition probably need.

 

[Shark]

With Fellaini out it will be good if LvG can give Perreira some few minutes to play

What has lead you to that conclusion?

 

[tenpoless]

Fortune? Goalkeepers are players too.

Exactly.
Don't really understand why people consider having a good goal keeper a 'luck'.

 

[Cina]

Pretty worried about this one for some reason. Have a feeling the winning run will end today.

Hopefully not because on paper we should beat Villa easily.

 

[Browniee]

I want to see this, if possible.

This.
I doubt Falcao will start though. Wilson for me then another shit 15 minute cameo for Falcao

 

[Adam-Utd]

Fletcher to start instead of Herrera? Can't say I'm happy with that really but perhaps he is trying to use the whole squad through January.

 

[Bruno8]

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Steve Bates ‏@sbates_people 5m5 minutes ago
Breaking #mufc team: Am hearing (unconfirmed) Radamel Falcao starts in place of James Wilson and Darren Fletcher replaces Fellaini v #avfc

 

[Señor]

Fletcher ahead of Herrera is plain stupidity. Fletcher is incapable of playing against players that have been running around for 80 mins. Starting him would be a liability. I genuinely can't see why Herrera is behind all these players including Fletcher on LvG's pecking order.

 

[He Comes From Serbia]

Although I suppose all runs come to an end eventually, I don't see it being today, we've got some very tricky games coming up over the next couple of weeks though, thick and fast.

I soooo want to see Di Maria start. I'm not going to lie, I was pitching a tent when I saw he was in training again. I wonder if he'll get 60 mins like at the start of his time here, bring on Januzaj or someone to replace him. As usual, the team news is going to be fascinating.

 

[patch517]

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Steve Bates ‏@sbates_people 5m5 minutes ago
Breaking #mufc team: Am hearing (unconfirmed) Radamel Falcao starts in place of James Wilson and Darren Fletcher replaces Fellaini v #avfc

Excitement to dread.

 

[Red_Manc_M15]

Fletcher?!

 

[BW.k]

Forget Fletcher. Falcao

 

[Sweet Square]

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Steve Bates ‏@sbates_people 5m5 minutes ago
Breaking #mufc team: Am hearing (unconfirmed) Radamel Falcao starts in place of James Wilson and Darren Fletcher replaces Fellaini v #avfc

Wasn't Bates wrong last week ?

 

[Freak]

If Fletcher starts ahead of Herrera I'll cry. Please don't do it Louis.

 

[#07]

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Steve Bates ‏@sbates_people 5m5 minutes ago
Breaking #mufc team: Am hearing (unconfirmed) Radamel Falcao starts in place of James Wilson and Darren Fletcher replaces Fellaini v #avfc

Herrera behind Fletch in the pecking order? Bizarre.

 

[Adisa]

Says a lot that I would rather Tony in Central Midfield to Fletcher. I'm bricking it here.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

If Fletcher starts ahead of Herrera I'll cry. Please don't do it Louis.

He will end up coming on and changing the pace of the game again. Absolutely no pace in the side, in fact even less pace than normal.

 

[Anduin]

This is fecking ridiculous if true, how the hell can he stick to 3-5-2 and start Fletcher ahead of Herrera? I don't want to go too knee-jerk, but Bates has been spot on in recent weeks, so this is probably true. Insane, what's LVG's thinking behind this? Everyone can see a.) Fletch is not up to Premier League football any more, b.) we're crap through the middle with Carrick at CB and c.) 3-5-2 in general isn't working properly, despite us winning six in a row. How can you not pick Herrera, but play Fletcher?!

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Why are people moaning about Fletcher possibly starting? If he starts, I can imagine it's because he's taking up the holding role Fellaini played against Liverpool, with Rooney and Mata ahead of him. Herrera cannot play in the holding role.

 

[Sammyjunn]

The first United match I'll miss since 2012/2013..This will be weird.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I want to know who is leaking the teams to Steve Bates all the time?

 

[Anduin]

Why are people moaning about Fletcher possibly starting? If he starts, I can imagine it's because he's taking up the holding role Fellaini played against Liverpool, with Rooney and Mata ahead of him. Herrera cannot play in the holding role.

Well, because he's shit to be completely honest, that's why. Play Carrick in CM and a back four, there are enough defenders fit fot this, no excuses. LVG just wants to prove he can get away with 3-5-2, he's been doing stuff like that at every club he has been.
Did you see Liverpool cutting through our centre at will at times? Well, there you go...

 

[Empire]

Louis van Gaal is all about Balance, he probably feels Herrera has too much attacking instinct whereas Fletcher will look to support the defence much more and when needed support the attack.

Obviously Herrera is a superior 8 but at the same time in a diamond you can leave yourself exposed if you aren't careful, with Mata, Rooney, RVP and Falcao in attack Louis van Gaal probably wants a more pessimistic player in the middle, not somebody who'll want to join in on the attack.

I also think this is why we need Blind back because he should do the job required until the summer and our inevitable pursuit of Strootman.

 

[Drawfull]

If the front men are as everyone's guessing, I don't see a big problem playing Fletch. Notwithstanding current respective form he's more measured than Herrera, and as we have seen, if it ain't working Van Gaal is more than happy to change things up.

With regards to Fletch, was the outcome of his colitis ever made public? Did he just get better (I had it and got better), or has he got a colostomy bag (my brother had it and ended up with a bag). Thing is, I'm fine and back just as I was, but my brother is unable to put on weight and as a result lacks stamina and so on.

 

[Señor]

So according to Bates, it's

-----------De Gea----------
----Jones--Carrick--Evans-
Valencia--------------Young
-----Fletcher---Rooney-----
------------Mata------------
---------RvP----Falcao-----

That midfield is average as feck. Rooney is a striker not a central midfielder and Fletcher is not good enough anymore. And Mata, as much as I love him, is a passenger most of the time.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

I went with a 442 diamond, but if Fletcher is starting, I guess we'll continue with a 3142:

De Gea
Jones - Carrick - Evans
Fletcher
Valencia - Mata - Rooney - Young
Van Persie - Falcao​

 

[Catt]

Don't want to be negative regarding Fletcher, but he shouldn't have a place in the team no matter what.

 

[Adisa]

Why are people moaning about Fletcher possibly starting? If he starts, I can imagine it's because he's taking up the holding role Fellaini played against Liverpool, with Rooney and Mata ahead of him. Herrera cannot play in the holding role.

I think the fact he has repeatedly given the ball away in his short camoes throughout the season has people worried.

 

[Bruno8]

Fixtures are coming thick and fast now and it makes sense to rotate the team a bit

 

[Damien]

@Niall, reopen lineup predictions for five minutes please, thanks x

 

[Mister_Stubbs]

No offence but Darren Fletcher shouldn't be anywhere near this starting lineup. I'd much rather Ander Herrera, heck even give Ben Pearson a run out.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Well, because he's shit to be completely honest, that's why. Play Carrick in CM and a back four, there are enough defenders fit fot this, no excuses. LVG just wants to prove he can get away with 3-5-2, he's been doing stuff like that at every club he has been.
Did you see Liverpool cutting through our centre at will at times? Well, there you go...

I personally don't want Fletcher to start, but I'm not the manager, and neither are you, so I guess there's nothing we can do about it. If Fletcher starts, it's because Blind is injured, and Van Gaal feels Carrick is needed in our back three. Therefore, that only leaves Fletcher.

As for Van Gaal, he hasn't been always started 352. Recently, it was only after the Stoke game, where we played three at the back, because we had Southampton and Liverpool, and thankfully won those two games.