[Alemar]

City team picks itself if all fit:

GK

Walker
Stones
Dias
Akanji

Rodri
Gundogan
KDB

B.Silva
Haaland
Grealish

So essentially 4 Man Utd players would have been starters there (Varane, Shaw, Casemiro, Rashford) with 1 more player somewhat comparable to what City has in respective position (Bruno).

 

[The Corinthian]

We're perfectly capable of beating them in a one off game in 90 mins. I'm quietly optimistic. Just need to keep it tight at the back and take our chances when it matters.

 

[Siorac]

So essentially 4 Man Utd players would have been starters there (Varane, Shaw, Casemiro, Rashford) with 1 more player somewhat comparable to what City has in respective position (Bruno).

The only one of those four United players who fits what Guardiola wants from his teams is Shaw.

Casemiro is defensively stronger than Rodri but a much worse passer.
Varane is not as comfortable on the ball as either Stones or Dias.
Rashford's technique is erratic, he's direct and not much of a passer. I don't think he's a worse player than Grealish in all circumstances but Grealish definitely fits Guardiola's City better.

 

[Manchester Dan]

So essentially 4 Man Utd players would have been starters there (Varane, Shaw, Casemiro, Rashford) with 1 more player somewhat comparable to what City has in respective position (Bruno).

Who would they start over? …

 

[Alemar]

Casemiro is defensively stronger than Rodri but a much worse passer.

Rodri has 11 goal contributions from 61 games, Casemiro has 13 goal contributions from 51 games - and we need to also consider difference in their strikers’ finishing capabilities.

 

[Alemar]

Who would they start over? …

Just because Varane is better than Stones, Shaw is better than Akanji, Casemiro is better than Rodri and Rashford is better than Grealish

 

[Siorac]

Rodri has 11 goal contributions from 61 games, Casemiro has 13 goal contributions from 51 games - and we need to also consider difference in their strikers’ finishing capabilities.

Goal contribution is way, way down the list of priorities for a defensive midfielder.

 

[Eplel]

Rodri has 11 goal contributions from 61 games, Casemiro has 13 goal contributions from 51 games - and we need to also consider difference in their strikers’ finishing capabilities.

Beyond that, it's a really moot point to say that Casemiro wouldn't start in City, because there's this one category that Rodri might be better at.

 

[Fortitude]

People keep saying 'strong at the back' and 'keep it tight' as if the absolute crux of this game isn't us losing midfield.

Our defence is proven; Rashford is proven; you'd surely back both when push comes to shove. Our midfield, however, we need to match Casemiro's bar and not leave him hanging.

Someone summon God Fred and that Bruno who has looked momentarily transcendental at points in the season, then we've got a game.

 

[Alfie092]

Park the bus, defend deep and hope Rashford can make miracles.

If we concede in the first 20 minutes it's over for us.

---------------------------------------------------De Gea-----------------------------------------------------
Wan Bissaka----------------------Varane--------Lindelof---------------------------------Shaw
-----------------------------------------Casemiro------Fred----------------------------------------------
Bruno-------------------------------------------Eriksen------------------------------------------Sancho
----------------------------------------------------Rashford----------------------------------------------------

Literally the team I want us to go with. Sancho and Bruno can swap wings if and when required. While Bruno can also tuck inside to help compact the midfield and give us more options centrally. Then like you said, we need Rashford of the start of the year to turn up in this game if we are to have any chance of winning.

Keeping the like of Martial, Garnacho and potentially even Antony (who may be back for the final) on the bench gives us some decent attacking options to bring on.

As mentioned, IF Antony is fit, then I may look to start him over Sancho due to Antony's tenacity and better defensive work-rate.

 

[Manchester Dan]

Just because Varane is better than Stones, Shaw is better than Akanji, Casemiro is better than Rodri and Rashford is better than Grealish

Football is a game of perspective, I suppose!

 

[bosnian_red]

The only one of those four United players who fits what Guardiola wants from his teams is Shaw.

Casemiro is defensively stronger than Rodri but a much worse passer.
Varane is not as comfortable on the ball as either Stones or Dias.
Rashford's technique is erratic, he's direct and not much of a passer. I don't think he's a worse player than Grealish in all circumstances but Grealish definitely fits Guardiola's City better.

Yeah it's also dependent on the teammates you have. Casemiro and Rodri are both world class, the 2 best on the world in their position. Rashford vs Grealish is entirely dependent on team. Last season, Rashford would have been far more useful for them. Now they have Haaland, so they don't need that guy to make those runs on behind and they would rather use Grealish or Sancho than Rashford.

Ignoring styles, systems, coaching etc, individual player quality I have it as:

• De Gea << Ederson
• Wan Bissaka/dalot = Walker
• Varane > Stones
• Martinez = Dias, but Martinez is out
• Shaw >> Ake
• Casemiro = Rodri
• Eriksen/Fred << Gundogan
• Bruno < De Bruyne
• Antony/Sancho << Mahrez
• Rashford = Grealish
• Martial <<< Haaland

Realistically if Pep could hand pick from both, he'd pick Martinez and Shaw and move Dias to RCB, and then the rest he'd probably keep as is.

 

[Litch]

Fake news
Old Trafford is bigger

Didnt say it wasnt....

 

[klsv]

People keep saying 'strong at the back' and 'keep it tight' as if the absolute crux of this game isn't us losing midfield.

Our defence is proven; Rashford is proven; you'd surely back both when push comes to shove. Our midfield, however, we need to match Casemiro's bar and not leave him hanging.

Someone summon God Fred and that Bruno who has looked momentarily transcendental at points in the season, then we've got a game.

Agreed! It's weird to suggest we should go with five at the back. I'm sure there have been matches this season where we changed to five at the back when defending a slim lead in the final minutes, but if we had any plans starting like that, I'm sure we had already experimented with it. Wrong time to start fiddling around with formations now.

 

[Alemar]

[*]Antony/Sancho << Mahrez
[*]Rashford = Grealish
[/LIST]

Rashford is > Grealish, whereas Antony is < Mahrez, not <<

 

[bosnian_red]

Rashford is > Grealish, whereas Antony is < Mahrez, not <<

I put 2 << for Antony based on now, not future. Think he has huge potential, and even though I don't find him particularly likeable as a player, think he has had a good 1st season when fit and can see him turning into a top player. But as of now, he's well behind Mahrez.

Rashford vs Grealish, it really is dependent on team needs. Grealish is elite at what he does. Rashford for United is >> than Grealish if he played for United, while Grealish alongside Haaland is >> than Rashford if he were to play for City alongside Haaland. Independent of that and just looking at them as individuals, I think they're both excellent players.

 

[OrcaFat]

I think this is playing right into City’s hands though. We aren’t going to play through City our best chance is on the break and in the wide areas on that big Wembley pitch

Playing Bruno and Sancho wide we’d be penned in with no out ball. Not to mention Rashford through the middle is more often than not shit in that position.

That team is quite similar to the line up when we beat City at OT. Martial was CF and Rash LW. I agree we need pace in wide areas but I think we will play Case, Fred and Eriksen in CM if all fit and Bruno RW but will play a kind of inside right and the breaks will probably switch from right to left. Or something totally different might happen.

 

[moses]

We're definitely winning this and it won't be anywhere near a big upset. You people are just awful.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

FA Cup Final on the line, I'm not counting on Fred.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Tweet

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[James35]

Martial injured, who’d have thought it…

 

[Raw]

Garnacho - Rashford - Sancho front 3? Or will we try with Bruno on the right and Sancho on the left?

No I am not entertaining the possibility of starting Wout.

 

[James35]

Rashford Sancho and Bruno with Eriksen, Fred and Casemiro. Garnacho off the bench.

Wout better not get anywhere near the team the giant donkey.

 

[Holocene]

Garnacho - Rashford - Sancho front 3? Or will we try with Bruno on the right and Sancho on the left?

No I am not entertaining the possibility of starting Wout.

I'd prefer Garnacho off the bench. Walker will contain him easily from the start.

 

[SAF is the GOAT]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Just terminate his contract already

 

[Hester_manc]

Weghorst, our goal-Jedi, it is.

 

[Oscar Bonavena]

F**king Martial. If ever there was a reminder why we need to get rid of this lad in the summer, it's this.

 

[Cee90]

Just start Garnacho ffs.

 

[CM]

That's irritating. I've got a bad feeling that might mean Weghorst starts

 

[Berbasbullet]

Just start Garnacho ffs.

Looks like we have to, but honestly wanted him from the 70th min like the OT game.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Honestly I'm glad he's injured because he offers very little nowadays. Rashford down the middle makes more sense for counter attacking anyway.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Garnacho - Rashford - Sancho front 3? Or will we try with Bruno on the right and Sancho on the left?

No I am not entertaining the possibility of starting Wout.

I think Antony is in with a chance of playing. I'm sure ETH said he was a possibility the other day.

Garnacho could still be a impact sub if Antony is back

 

[RoyH1]

Martial injured...again.
Some bodies are just not made for sustained physical activity at the elite level.

 

[Lee565]

If wout starts, I'll be honest I won't watch as there will be only one outcome and the football will be awful to watch. I would like to think ten hag has gotten over his man crush for wout

 

[KiD MoYeS]

No chance Wout starts.

 

[Todd]

De Gea

Shaw
Lindelof
Varane
AWB

Casemiro
Eriksen

Garnacho
Bruno
Sancho

Rashford

Give it our best. Playing with house money in this one.

 

[Utd heap]

If wout starts, I'll be honest I won't watch as there will be only one outcome and the football will be awful to watch. I would like to think ten hag has gotten over his man crush for wout

Get a grip lad

 

[Cathy Ferguson]

Bruno as a false no 9 and McTominay or Fred to add some bite in midfield is our best chance.

 

[moses]

Get a grip lad

Don't worry about him, he doesn't like much about United.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Avram won't get to see his favourite player in what will hopefully be his last game as owner. Good.