[Lucky McLuckerson]

...........

VS............

Date - Thursday, November 28 2019
Kickoff Time - 1550 Hrs GMT
Venue - Astana Arena, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

Europa League form guide

Manchester United: WDWW

Astana: LLLL


Previous Meetings In All Competitions

Manchester United 1— 0 FC Astana


All-Time Record

Manchester United wins: 1
Astana wins:
Draws:


Pre-Match Pressers

Ole Gunnar Solskjær



Roman Hryhorchuk

N/A


Team News

Manchester United

Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba, Diogo Dalot, Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matić ruled out. Luke Shaw doubtful.

Astana

Firmin Ndombe Mubele ruled out.


Know the opposition

Astana Football Club (Kazakh: Astana Fýtbol Klýby) is a professional football club based in Nur-Sultan. They play in the Kazakhstan Premier League, the highest level of Kazakh football, and are members of the Astana Presidential Club, an association of the main sports teams in Astana supported by the Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna.

The club was founded on 27 December 2008, as football clubs from Almaty Megasport and Alma-Ata announced they would merge to found a new organisation. The club was named "FC Lokomotiv Astana" as the National Railway Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy became a general sponsor, and Vakhid Masudov became the first head coach in the club's history.

The short history of the club already boasts five league titles, three Kazakhstan Cups and three Kazakhstan Super Cups. The club's strongest rivalry is with Kairat, among fans their matches are known as the Two Capitals Derby. The club's home ground is the Astana Arena (Kazakh: Астана Арена).


Referee

Donatas Rumsas​

 

[roonster09]

We should send reserves for this game, along with reserves manager.

 

[Vidyoyo]

We should send reserves for this game, along with reserves manager.

This one writes itself...

 

[SER19]

Romero
Tuanzebe
Jones
Rojo
Young

Garner
Fred
Mata

Lingard
Greenwood
Gomes

0-1

 

[Damien]

Romero (though with Grant on the bench against Sheffield United it might be him instead)

Young
Tuanzebe
Jones
Shaw

Garner
Matic
Mata

Chong
Greenwood
Gomes

 

[Samid]

Romero
Tuanzebe
Jones
Rojo
Young

Garner
Fred
Mata

Lingard
Greenwood
Gomes

0-1

Never thought I would say this but we can't risk Fred in such a nothing game. Matic in for him, otherwise I agree. Chong will also be in contention.

 

[Denis' cuff]

Romero (though with Grant on the bench against Sheffield United it might be him instead)

Young
Tuanzebe
Jones
Shaw

Garner
Matic
Mata

Chong
Greenwood
Gomes

Yes, like that one. Think Romero will play and probably spent time in preparation rather than bench warming yesterday.

 

[The Man Himself]

Apart from playing mostly reserves, we shouldn't even have most of planned first XI vs Villa travelling for this. From yesterday's starting XI, only Lindelof, Pereira (lol) and Jones (lolol) should travel and Lindelof just to be on bench. Rest 8, including Fred and Williams should stay back.

 

[King Andow]

--------------Romero
Laird-Tuanzebe-Jones-Young
---------Garner-Levitt
--------------Gomes
Greenwood------Chong
-----------Ramazani

No reason to not give a chance to the kids.

Update: Grant, Laird, Tuanzebe, Mengi, Shaw, Garner, Levitt, Gomes, Chong, Ramazani, Greenwood

 

[FootballHQ]

How long is the flight again, 7 hours?

 

[TMDaines]

Should treat this as the freeroll it is. Give many of the young players a real opportunity, with the safety net of the senior team getting the job done against Alkmaar at home.

I'd keep key players who are playing 90 most weeks back: DDG, Maguire, AWB, Fred, James, Rashford

 

[zenith]

None of our precious first teamers should be playing this game.

Hopefully the likes of Jones, mata, lingard, matic can get some game time and manage to keep themselves fit for good forbid when they are needed.

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

Send the U23’s to play this game.

It’s a meaningless match on the other side of Europe. Stupidity beyond belief if Ole takes his strongest, best team with him.

 

[Offside]

It’s a meaningless match on the other side of Europe.

Further east than Iran.

 

[OleTheGreat]

None of our precious first teamers should be playing this game.

Hopefully the likes of Jones, mata, lingard, matic can get some game time and manage to keep themselves fit for good forbid when they are needed.

Precious? What Precious? Saw what happened to them in the Sheffield game after an international game. It got so cagey! I still think we should play a decent side against Astana. We're still struggling to get results in away fixtures but since we have already qualified, maybe try Greenwood upfront, Gomes in midfield with Garner and Tuanxebe in defense.

P.S: I have no idea if Gomes is fit, so can somebody let me know.

 

[Bwuk]

Send the reserves. Zero point in any first team players playing.

Romero
Laird - Jones - Axel - Young
Garner - Matic - Levitt
Chong - Greenwood - Gomes​

 

[Chaky_Best]

Send our reserve team and the not match fit players. Couldn't care less with this game.

Romero

Dalot
Jones
Tuanzebe
Shaw

Matic
Garner

Gomes
Lingard
Mata

Greenwood

 

[Adam-Utd]

Precious? What Precious? Saw what happened to them in the Sheffield game after an international game. It got so cagey! I still think we should play a decent side against Astana. We're still struggling to get results in away fixtures but since we have already qualified, maybe try Greenwood upfront, Gomes in midfield with Garner and Tuanxebe in defense.

P.S: I have no idea if Gomes is fit, so can somebody let me know.

We've already qualified.

Literally no reason to send our squad half way around the world to play a meaningless match, then have to play again 48 hours later. It would be very foolish.

Send the bench players filled in with the reserves, they should be more than good enough to beat Astana.

Yes Gomes is fit.

 

[OleTheGreat]

We've already qualified.

Literally no reason to send our squad half way around the world to play a meaningless match, then have to play again 48 hours later. It would be very foolish.

Send the bench players filled in with the reserves, they should be more than good enough to beat Astana.

Yes Gomes is fit.

No you don't understand what i mean. These players don't actually know the hardship of playing at the highest level yet. What I mean is for them to travel that far and train even if they are not actually on the pitch. These players have their lives pretty easy compared to the yesteryears when we would actually play with players outside their comfort zones and they would still come out with a victory. I don't think even our first team is actually a top team, it looks very very shaky and only hard work and repeated care in training can help us gain something out of the games this season.

 

[Adcuth]

Levitt should deffo be given a chance

 

[khoazany]

Romero
Laird - Tuanzebe - Jones - Young
Garner - Levitt
Lingard - Gomes - Chong
Greenwood

 

[Adam-Utd]

No you don't understand what i mean. These players don't actually know the hardship of playing at the highest level yet. What I mean is for them to travel that far and train even if they are not actually on the pitch. These players have their lives pretty easy compared to the yesteryears when we would actually play with players outside their comfort zones and they would still come out with a victory. I don't think even our first team is actually a top team, it looks very very shaky and only hard work and repeated care in training can help us gain something out of the games this season.

These players also play WAY more games in a season, at a much higher speed. You can't compare it to the 60/70/80's.

Over playing them and travelling will not help improve the way we play. We'd be better off having a week of rest in the first team so that we could actually play fresh. Stick to the formation that works also. The 3-4-3 doesn't suit us.

 

[Sassy Colin]

3.50 kickoff, on a work day?

Nonsense

 

[GDaly95]

Romero

Laird
Jones
Tuanzebe
Young

Garner
Levitt

Dalot
Gomes
Chong

Greenwood

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

-------------------------------------Romero--------------------------------------------
Young-----------Tuanzebe----------------Maguire-------------------Williams
----------------------Pereira----------------------Fred-----------------------------------
------------------------------------Lingard------------------------------------------------
Greenwood----------------Martial--------------------------------James

SUBS - Garner (Pereira), Fosu-Mensah (Young), Chong (James)


FC Astana 1 - 1 Man United
Greenwood

 

[OleTheGreat]

These players also play WAY more games in a season, at a much higher speed. You can't compare it to the 60/70/80's.

Over playing them and travelling will not help improve the way we play. We'd be better off having a week of rest in the first team so that we could actually play fresh. Stick to the formation that works also. The 3-4-3 doesn't suit us.

Only playing together constantly can improve this team is what i mean

 

[Mark Pawelek]

Never thought I would say this but we can't risk Fred in such a nothing game. Matic in for him, otherwise I agree. Chong will also be in contention.

It's not a nothing game. Essential for United to win to top the group. Must stop AZ Alkmaar from winning the group, so United get an easier knockout phase tie.

I agree Fred should not be risked. Play a midfield of Gardner, Levitt, with Gomes as AM. The same as worked for the U23s and JPT.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Only playing together constantly can improve this team is what i mean

We've played the same team together for the last few weeks. Only injuries has changed that.

We ARE starting to play more as a team, we've scored 3 goals in our last few matches which is a big difference compared to earlier in the season.

Our silly 3-4-3 formation, Jones being poor and Pereira having a stinker in midfield was what cost us mainly.

 

[FrankDrebin]

Europa League form guide

Astana: LLLL
----------------------------------------

Until we come to town.

 

[OleTheGreat]

We've played the same team together for the last few weeks. Only injuries has changed that.

We ARE starting to play more as a team, we've scored 3 goals in our last few matches which is a big difference compared to earlier in the season.

Our silly 3-4-3 formation, Jones being poor and Pereira having a stinker in midfield was what cost us mainly.

True.. Perriera was awful! Period.

 

[charlenefan]

Team should be...

---------------Romero---------------
Laird--Tuanzebe--Jones--Shaw
-------Garner-------Levitt-------
Chong------Mata-------Gomes
------------Greenwood------------

Subs: Grant, Young, Matic, Andreas, Lingard, Feck, Knows,

 

[peridigm]

I'm normally not one for wanting us to send a significantly depleted squad on the road for a match like this but we need 1 pt from 2 matches to qualify. Given the travel, and our lack of fit midfielders, Ole may not have much choice than to roll out one of the predictions seen above. It would be nice to win the group but probably not critical. Where it gets tricky is if we lose and Belgrade manage to get 3 pts away at Alkmaar. We then go into the last match against Alkmaar where any two of the 3 can qualify.

 

[Paolo Di Canio]

Give Bailey and Shaw minutes here if hes been training

 

[prateik]

Bring out the kids..

 

[Redplane]

Should just start only 9 players. That's about the effort we get from 11 so why risk injuries.

 

[predator]

I've just checked the weather on thursday in Astana and it says it will be -11°C

 

[always_hoping]

The 11 starting players and 3 subs to be brought on v Aston Villa next Sunday must be left in Manchester. Fill the plane fringe players this a totally meaningless match.

 

[FrankDrebin]

Be funny if Gomes doesn't feature.

 

[always_hoping]

I'm normally not one for wanting us to send a significantly depleted squad on the road for a match like this but we need 1 pt from 2 matches to qualify. Given the travel, and our lack of fit midfielders, Ole may not have much choice than to roll out one of the predictions seen above. It would be nice to win the group but probably not critical. Where it gets tricky is if we lose and Belgrade manage to get 3 pts away at Alkmaar. We then go into the last match against Alkmaar where any two of the 3 can qualify.

United are already through to the knock out stages

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Should actually leave the likes of Rashford, Martial, Maguire and AWB in England.