Wednesday 19th March
Old Trafford
7.45 K/o
Old Trafford
7.45 K/o
Manchester United v Olympiakos
- Thread starter Orton
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I'd like to see him drop people after that display against Liverpool. I'd leave out Carrick and one of Rooney or RVP.
De Gea
Rafael--Rio--Jones--Evra
Cleverley--Fellaini
Januzaj--Kagawa--Welbeck
van Persie
De Gea
Rafael--Rio--Jones--Evra
Cleverley--Fellaini
Januzaj--Kagawa--Welbeck
van Persie
None of those feckers, bar 2 or 3, deserve to start if you ask me.
For the sake of being serious, I suppose you have one of Van Persie or Rooney up top, but I'm deadly serious about the rest of it.
De Gea
Rafael --- Smalling (if fit) --- Rio ---- Buttner
Cleverley --- Fletcher
Welbeck --- Kagawa --- Giggs
Hernandez.
Rafael --- Smalling (if fit) --- Rio ---- Buttner
Cleverley --- Fletcher
Welbeck --- Kagawa --- Giggs
Hernandez.
For the sake of being serious, I suppose you have one of Van Persie or Rooney up top, but I'm deadly serious about the rest of it.
I forgot about Fletcher. He's disappeared lately; hope he's not suffered a setback. Would be a nice option to have the way Carrick's been playing lately.
Most the first team ought to be dropped, disgraceful displays from them.
-----------------De Gea--------
Rafael---Smalling---Jones---Evra
------------Giggs---Fletcher------
---Januzaj----Kagawa------Welbeck
-------------Hernandez--------------
-----------------De Gea--------
Rafael---Smalling---Jones---Evra
------------Giggs---Fletcher------
---Januzaj----Kagawa------Welbeck
-------------Hernandez--------------
Hernandez couldn't get on the bench today, so maybe he is thinking of something different for Wednesday. Chances are though he's just pushed him even further down the pecking order.
Couple of years ago, he'd have started and done well v Liverpool
Don't agree. Was much more positive about this one, than yesterday.
Even with a 2-0 deficit to make up.
I have a niggling (albeit hopeful) suspicion that losing here will seal Moyes' fate. This is the last competition we can technically compete for, go out and our season has officially ended up nothing with play for. The axe should be swung then.
I agree with those that say hes been disappointing in many ways, but the season is nearly over and any time i try recall a game where we looked some way creative or like we were about to turn a corner, kagawa was playing. He is absolute, nailed on 100% essential. If he doesnt start this game then my own patience with moyes will show its first big cracks.
De Gea
Rafael
Smalling
Jones
Evra
Carrick
Fellaini
Young
Kagawa
Welbeck
Rooney.
Kagawa and welbeck must start.
Yesterday was shit. a new low, but 4th was gone anyway. This is literally the last game of the season that means anything beyond pride. If we pull it off it would be amazing, who knows how far we could go if we did.
Im going for an ambitious 4-1, though realistically it will probably be 2-1 to us.
De Gea
Rafael
Smalling
Jones
Evra
Carrick
Fellaini
Young
Kagawa
Welbeck
Rooney.
Kagawa and welbeck must start.
Yesterday was shit. a new low, but 4th was gone anyway. This is literally the last game of the season that means anything beyond pride. If we pull it off it would be amazing, who knows how far we could go if we did.
Im going for an ambitious 4-1, though realistically it will probably be 2-1 to us.
Big game. Getting past Olympiacos would be a big boost for Moyes, while another loss would be a further nail in his coffin.
I predict neither will happen. We'll have an unconvincing win that won't be enough to take us into the next round. Moyes will say we were unlucky (while also admitting it still isn't good enough). He'll say we deserved the win and we could have scored more. He'll also point to Mata's absence for the two legs as an important factor.
In terms of selction, I can't see him dropping either Rooney or RvP if they're fit. At least one of Valencia and Young will start, inevitably. Midfield will be interesting, not sure who he will/should pick there.
It really shouldn't be impossible for us to get past Olympiacos here but it's hard to be too optimistic atm.
I predict neither will happen. We'll have an unconvincing win that won't be enough to take us into the next round. Moyes will say we were unlucky (while also admitting it still isn't good enough). He'll say we deserved the win and we could have scored more. He'll also point to Mata's absence for the two legs as an important factor.
In terms of selction, I can't see him dropping either Rooney or RvP if they're fit. At least one of Valencia and Young will start, inevitably. Midfield will be interesting, not sure who he will/should pick there.
It really shouldn't be impossible for us to get past Olympiacos here but it's hard to be too optimistic atm.
I agree with that idea, although I want to make some changes:
De Gea
Smalling --- Ferdinand --- Jones --- Evra
Fellaini --- Fletcher
Young --- Kagawa --- Giggs
Welbeck
Rafael has to be dropped for this match. Fellaini and Jones deserve the extra start, they worked their socks off against Pool. Evra is there because Buttner is crapper than him(and that's tough).
Injured on Mexico duty.
As long as I didn't jinx him by buying his little model in the club shop!
a shame nani doesnt have a couple of reserve games under his belt.
I'm probably one of the few who still thinks he can come good, and be a real threat.
Compared to Janujaz, Kagawa and Mata looking lost out wide, or Valencia and Young looking really predictable, he's got the best parts of all their games, and pace on top.
I've always liked Olympiakos' crest... no idea why.
agreed. i fear he'll be sold this summer though
it has a bit of a 'gay' feel about it....
not that there is anything wrong with that, of course....
I'm very disappointed I can't go to this one - the last Champions League night at Old Trafford is something I hope all that do go do their best to savour and make as memorable as possible in the stands (certainly as we know a memorable performance on the pitch is too much to ask). I hope the supporters can bring the atmosphere at the end of the Liverpool game to this one, and go out in style.
As for the team... feck knows really. So many under-performing players that I'd like to drop, whilst others like Giggs, Fletcher and Kagawa don't seem to be involved at all recently. Ideally I'd want:
I fear we'll see the return of Young and Valencia in the actual line-up on Wednesday, but tbh I doubt it'd make much difference at this stage.
As I said before, the important thing for us as supporters is to savour the occasion - we have a proud history in the competition and should go out with our heads held high.
As for the team... feck knows really. So many under-performing players that I'd like to drop, whilst others like Giggs, Fletcher and Kagawa don't seem to be involved at all recently. Ideally I'd want:
De Gea
Rafael Jones Vidic Evra
Fletcher Fellaini Cleverley
Kagawa Rooney
RVP
Vidic can't play against West Ham so we may as well save our other options at centre-back by playing him here (might be his last OT appearance all things considered); the midfield is the usual disaster area but I think Carrick needs to sit out a game for his own sake (though obviously if something is wrong with Fletcher - explaining his recent absence - then we don't have a choice in that area); maybe Welbeck should start over RVP? Is Giggs retired already? Can Kagawa be let back into OT?Rafael Jones Vidic Evra
Fletcher Fellaini Cleverley
Kagawa Rooney
RVP
I fear we'll see the return of Young and Valencia in the actual line-up on Wednesday, but tbh I doubt it'd make much difference at this stage.
As I said before, the important thing for us as supporters is to savour the occasion - we have a proud history in the competition and should go out with our heads held high.
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It's a noble sentiment, but it's kind of tough to go out with your helds held high when you're going out to Olympiakos...
True enough, but if the supporters can produce THAT atmosphere whilst 3-0 down to fecking Liverpool then anything is possible
Let's just please start Kagawa this time. Would also start Giggs as it's games like this where he has one of his wonder performances where he's closing down players and ghosting past defenders at will.
-------------De Gea---------
Rafael---Jones---Vidic---Evra
--------Fletcher---Carrick----
Welbeck---Kagawa---Giggs--
------------Rooney------------
-------------De Gea---------
Rafael---Jones---Vidic---Evra
--------Fletcher---Carrick----
Welbeck---Kagawa---Giggs--
------------Rooney------------
Line-ups are irrelevant at this point. Regardless of who plays it's just a different brand of abject, disappointing, clueless shit. I have no faith we can turn it around which is a bit sad. I used to feel nothing was impossible, and I can only imagine the players are feeling a similar lack of belief.
If I could be certain that losing would mean the sack for Moyes, then I'd be willing for us to be thrashed 0-5. Given that I doubt it, I'd prefer 5-0 please.
Meh. Just put all of our tallest players on and play like Stoke, it can't get any more disappointing.
mostly... I actually subtly think such an aerially dominant lineup could kinda work on set-pieces....
De Gea
Smalling Jones Vidic Evans
Carrick Rooney
Valencia Fellaini Januzaj
Welbeck
I'm joking, Smalling Jones Vidic Evans
Carrick Rooney
Valencia Fellaini Januzaj
Welbeck
mostly... I actually subtly think such an aerially dominant lineup could kinda work on set-pieces....
No doubt another dramatic change in the way we "play"
Moyes really needs to start sticking to a system that works with a core of players.
Moyes really needs to start sticking to a system that works with a core of players.
My exact sentiment.
At least if we go for pretty a much a fully changed line-up/fringe players - Moyes can select the "passionate" option and tell them to "Prove a Point"
We ain't winning this. This team is dead.
He needs to develop some sort of system first.
At this point, I would genuinely be slightly relieved if I saw Fellaini line-up behind a striker ... as it would actually show evidence of some sort of tactic/system.
----------De Gea-------------
Rafael-Smalling-Jones--Evra
-------Fellaini-Cleverley------
-Young----Kagawa--Welbeck
------------Rooney-----------
Unlikely i know, but i'd like to see this team.
Rafael-Smalling-Jones--Evra
-------Fellaini-Cleverley------
-Young----Kagawa--Welbeck
------------Rooney-----------
Unlikely i know, but i'd like to see this team.
Agreed.
This is what worries me most about Moyes. He has been here almost a season and is yet to show a rigid style of play he wants to stick with. I think the fans would be far more acceptant of our current problems if this was the case and would be quite keen for it to play out when he can bring in personnel to fit his style and vision.
The way it's going for us this season, we'll get to 3-0, the concede a late goal.
Don't be silly... we'll get to 2-0 and then play for extra time.
We've done it before this season in a two-legged cup affair.
Why, he was our best performer yesterday? (which is not saying much, but yeah.). He's one of the only players who looks like they're arsed.
----------------------DDG
Rafael-------Smalling----Evans/Jones----Evra
------------Fletcher---Giggs
Januzaj----------Kagawa------------Welbeck
--------------------Rooney
* feck, might as well go for it with that midfield, but it's never going to happen.
I want to be optimistic, but I just can't see us not conceding and winning 3 or 4-0. We can't score a goal to save our lives at home, and we're a joke at the back. I think we're going out.
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We could always go to an offensive 4-3-3.
De Gea
Rafael Jones Smalling Evra
Fellaini
Rooney--Kagawa
Mata-------------------Januzaj
Welbeck
The only reason I suggest this is because the only thing I think could radically change our season is a complete change in system. I'd be interested to see if the team could produce results, at least.Rafael Jones Smalling Evra
Fellaini
Rooney--Kagawa
Mata-------------------Januzaj
Welbeck
Valencia will start i believe as i think Moyes will appreciate his directness and defensive potential, i also wouldn't be surprised to see Kagawa on the left or Danny in the No 10 role.
Besides matters of personnel has Moyes learnt from the Sunderland match in so far as the team's approach being sufficiently uninhibited.
Besides matters of personnel has Moyes learnt from the Sunderland match in so far as the team's approach being sufficiently uninhibited.
Mata can't play this one.
Good point, in that case shift Januzaj out right, Welbeck left, RVP up front(not that he deserves to play for a second).
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