[ivaldo]

Difficult side to play are StE. Could be a bit of a surprise in store.
On the other hand we could easily thump them. Depends which Verts side turns up I guess.

Way to get off that fence.

 

[lysglimt]

St.Etienne have a really small side - where the majority of their players are a lot smaller than 6 feet

So we would be stupid not to try to force a lot of set-pieces.

 

[NoPace]

Ruffier is their first choice keeper anyway. Must have been injured for the match against the Gym. Obviously nothing any too serious though.

Whoscored has him as the best keeper in Europe this year, I believe

 

[AXVnee7]

This is where we need to manage our team carefully to avoid burnout, but not disrupt our balance and attacking potency. We have a very strong squad so we should be able to cope barring injuries.

 

[Frank Grimes]

They've conceded only 5 goals in 6 group games in the Europa and not lost a game. This won't be easy. I'm with others that winning the Europa still represents our best chance of CL but will be very difficult.

How do you calculate that winning Europa is our best chance for CL? The bookies have us evens through the league and 4/1 for Europa.

 

[Gerald G]

They're a decent side. I'm not sure why a lot think it'll be so easy.

 

[Leftback99]

How do you calculate that winning Europa is our best chance for CL? The bookies have us evens through the league and 4/1 for Europa.

Just my opinion. I think we'll come up short in the league because the fixtures are against us. If we were to reach the semi finals of this it would be sandwiched between the Arsenal and Spurs away games in May (2 games I don't expect us to win even without Europe). Who knows maybe we'll achieve both, or neither.

 

[Jaybomb]

Why would you play Fellaini ahead of Mkhitaryan?

Rotation and Saint Etienne are a physical side with Perrin and Pogba at the back. Fellaini will break them down.

 

[LouisDanGaal]

They battered Lorient this weekend, which is about all I know about them, seem to be strong defensively but not get a lot of goals based on their stats. If they are going to be hard to break down I'd have exactly the same line up as today. Hopefully that means against Blackburn we can play a team along the lines of romero, darmian, rojo, jones, shaw, carrick, schweini, rooney lingard rashford and young. Our squad is actually pretty big I think the only area we struggle is cm with fixture congestion.

 

[sunama]

Just my opinion. I think we'll come up short in the league because the fixtures are against us. If we were to reach the semi finals of this it would be sandwiched between the Arsenal and Spurs away games in May (2 games I don't expect us to win even without Europe). Who knows maybe we'll achieve both, or neither.

My friend, I think you have misjudged just how difficult it is to win the EL. It is far easier to get top 4 (we are currently 2 points from 2nd place and are in the best form of any team in the league), than to try and win the EL, which is very very difficult to win.

 

[Longlivekeano]

Vs St Etienne

---------- De Gea---------

Valencia-Bailly-Jones-Blind

------Carrick--Herrera----

----Martial--Pogba---Mkhi-

----------Zlatan----------

Vs Blackburn

----------Romero--------

Young-Smalling- Rojo-Shaw

-----Herrera-Schwein-------

-Rashford--Mata------Mkhi-

------------Rooney---------

 

[khoazany]

I'm not suggesting we drop our focus on the EL, but we won't win it anyway. The PL is still more important.

 

[2 man midfield]

Even though we played Liverpool last season, it seems like a while since we've seen knockout European football. Can't wait.

 

[Chaky_Best]

We need to use the squad a little bit and start to manage it during the next 3 games before the final.

Every player needs to get at least a full game.

It's really important to close the tie during the first game.

We'll have issues going to Geoffroy Guichard (temperature will be freezing next week a bit like when we went to Hull few weeks ago)

On Thursday, we'll face a team who will seat deep and try to use the speed of Monnet Pacquet and Hamouma upfront to hurt us. They were very good against Lyon last week in the pressing and the way they chased the ball and I suspect Galtier to do the same at Old Trafford. I think that they'll try to have a good start of the game and then park the bus and try to frustrate us.

I've no doubt that if we manage to score one or two like we did against Watford, they won't come back at all. They're looking for a result at OT and then a miracle in France. So hopefully Ibra will score an early goal and that'll be all

----------------------------------De Gea-----------------------------------
Valencia---------------Bailly---------------Smalling-----------------Blind
------------------------Pogba--------------Herrera------------------------
Mata-----------------------------Rooney----------------------------Martial
-----------------------------------Ibra--------------------------------------

 

[Chaky_Best]

I'm not suggesting we drop our focus on the EL, but we won't win it anyway. The PL is still more important.

Last year Kiev went to final quite easily. If we have a bit of chance playing teams like Saint Etienne and co we can easily go to semis or final. It'll all depend of the opponents we'll get. We'll face issues if we have to play Spurs on Thursday and then City (or Chelsea) the weekend.

We don't have enough quality to play two big games on Thursday-Sunday basis, but we do have enough quality to play and win it if we're blessed and play smaller teams

 

[podurban2]

I'm not suggesting we drop our focus on the EL, but we won't win it anyway. The PL is still more important.

Why won't we win it?

 

[Scarecrow]

Whoscored has him as the best keeper in Europe this year, I believe

That's every year. They've got a bit of a hard-on for him over there. Likewise for that Perrin guy. They're always in and around the top ranked players in Europe and it's the only reason I know their names.

 

[Leftback99]

My friend, I think you have misjudged just how difficult it is to win the EL. It is far easier to get top 4 (we are currently 2 points from 2nd place and are in the best form of any team in the league), than to try and win the EL, which is very very difficult to win.

I don't doubt how difficult it is to win. Most likely we'll achieve neither. I think people are undestimating how poor we are in PL away games which will be our undoing for top 4 (with City, Spurs, Arsenal, Southampton to come).

 

[Infra-red]

This is where we need to manage our team carefully to avoid burnout, but not disrupt our balance and attacking potency. We have a very strong squad so we should be able to cope barring injuries.

Indeed. 4 games in 3 different competitions in a 10-day period. Something will have to give and presumably the EL and League Cup final will be prioritized over the FA Cup. The 4 players with the most miles on the clock this season (Pogba, Ibrahimovic, Valencia and Herrera) really shouldn't play vs Blackburn on Sunday.

 

[The Man Himself]

I don't doubt how difficult it is to win. Most likely we'll achieve neither. I think people are undestimating how poor we are in PL away games which will be our undoing for top 4 (with City, Spurs, Arsenal, Southampton to come).

Are we? We are 3rd in PL away table. Level on points with City who are 2nd and 3 points behind Chelsea who are first, having played a game more. Our GD is not great but our home one isn't either. I know we have tough away games remaining but as of now we are not 'poor' if compared with away records of all PL teams. It is home form, the draws, which have kept us down at 6th.

 

[jderbyshire]

I hope we finish 4th (Liverpool 5th) AND win the EL.

Just to piss them right off.

 

[The Man Himself]

I hope we finish 4th (Liverpool 5th) AND win the EL.

Just to piss them right off.

..with a margin of 1-2 points so that Klopp will moan about offside goal costing them 4th

 

[Annihilate Now!]

We should go full first team on Thursday, half a first team on Sunday, full reserve team next Wednesday and back to first team for the final.

 

[Android1974]

We need to use the squad a little bit and start to manage it during the next 3 games before the final.

Every player needs to get at least a full game.

It's really important to close the tie during the first game.

We'll have issues going to Geoffroy Guichard (temperature will be freezing next week a bit like when we went to Hull few weeks ago)

On Thursday, we'll face a team who will seat deep and try to use the speed of Monnet Pacquet and Hamouma upfront to hurt us. They were very good against Lyon last week in the pressing and the way they chased the ball and I suspect Galtier to do the same at Old Trafford. I think that they'll try to have a good start of the game and then park the bus and try to frustrate us.

I've no doubt that if we manage to score one or two like we did against Watford, they won't come back at all. They're looking for a result at OT and then a miracle in France. So hopefully Ibra will score an early goal and that'll be all

----------------------------------De Gea-----------------------------------
Valencia---------------Bailly---------------Smalling-----------------Blind
------------------------Pogba--------------Herrera------------------------
Mata-----------------------------Rooney----------------------------Martial
-----------------------------------Ibra--------------------------------------

Don't understand why you take Mkhitaryan, our #10, out of the team, since he's much the responsible for the surging of form lately. Resting him for Blackburn while keep every other first teamer?

 

[SammyUnited_83]

I will be interested to see the attendance on Thursday, would appear we are struggling to shift tickets.

 

[Chaky_Best]

Don't understand why you take Mkhitaryan, our #10, out of the team, since he's much the responsible for the surging of form lately. Resting him for Blackburn while keep every other first teamer?

I take him off because I think Jose will have to play Rooney in this position for this game. I just don't see Wayne be off this game

 

[KN5]

I take him off because I think Jose will have to play Rooney in this position for this game. I just don't see Wayne be off this game

Jose doesn't have to play Rooney at all, Mkhi is by far our most creative player, can dribble past players and make something out of nothing, we're not resting him in the EL just to play him vs Blackburn, if anything there's a bigger chance Mkhi plays both games. If Rooney comes into the lineup for anyone (doubt it), it'd be Martial.

 

[parisite]

Rotation and Saint Etienne are a physical side with Perrin and Pogba at the back. Fellaini will break them down.

St E isn't a game for Fellaini, they have a player who's a dab hand at getting opponents sent off.

 

[Lash]

I'd watch out for Hammouma from this side. We should be able to run them over in midfield, but they have pace up top which could be a worry. I anticipate a nervy 1-0. I hope it's a thumping as I'm going .

 

[Ecstatic]

Jorginho or Soderlund will play IMO

 

[Samid]

Jorginho or Soderlund will play IMO

Isn't he injured?

 

[Ramshock]

Be interesting this one - been a long while since we've played in a competition where penalties could possibly be awarded in our favour, potentially brings a new dimension to the game.

love it

 

[Santoryo]

..with a margin of 1-2 points so that Klopp will moan about offside goal costing them 4th

 

[pseudo_canadian]

Be interesting this one - been a long while since we've played in a competition where penalties could possibly be awarded in our favour, potentially brings a new dimension to the game.

 

[top1whoisman]

 

[top1whoisman]

Florentin Pogba is gearing up to meet his brother Paul for the first time in a competitive game when St-Étienne visit Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League round of 32. The 26-year-old defender spoke to UEFA.com.

On facing his brother in the UEFA Europa League ...

I predicted it! I was speaking to my brother during the draw and said: "Watch, we're going to get Manchester United." We were drawn first and they came out of the hat second. We had a laugh and said: "The day has come. We're going to face each other on the pitch, rather than on our neighbourhood mini-pitch." It's incredible, a one-off, so we're going to make the most of it.

When we play together on holiday, we're always on the same team. Now I will be playing against him and I'll be marking him. It will be weird but that's football. It's something for the whole family to enjoy because I don't know if it will happen again. My parents will have mixed feelings because whatever happens there will be one winner and one loser. However, there are two winners because this game will be an unforgettable occasion. Who will my twin brother Mathias support? He will support his brothers.

These two games will be emotional and I hope we'll take something positive from them. Even if United are a great club, anything is possible in football. The fact they're better than us on paper doesn't matter.

On growing up in the Parisian suburb of Roissy-en-Brie ...

We'd always meet up with friends after school and play on our local artificial pitch until we were 15 or 16. That's where we took our first steps in football. Paul enjoyed going in goal as a bit of joke. Otherwise, we always played outfield and we all liked scoring goals, copying the stars we watched on television. It was great.

We were separated in 2007 when my twin brother and I left for Spain to join Celta Vigo and my younger brother went to Le Havre. To reach the level we're at today, I think we had to do that. Now all three of us are professionals, so we have no regrets about that move. We only moved apart in terms of distance. Even if we don't call each other, we message each other every day.

On Paul Pogba's rise to stardom ...

I've known how good he is since he was very young, but for him to be in the first team at such a big club is amazing.

In terms of being the world's most expensive player, I think he has put that to one side because it's more an issue for the media. He is not letting it bother him. He's just playing his football, even though everything he does gets three or four times more attention, good or bad. He can handle all of that because of the mental strength he has had since his youth.

He is quite irritable though, he doesn't like to lose. His head starts buzzing when he loses. I learned to lose and I would say that you're not losing but learning. But for him, when he loses, he goes mad.

We'll always be behind him. He knows what it's like in our family. Whether he has a good game or a bad game, we'll always be there for him. He can win all the trophies in the world, he'll still be my little brother.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2438856.html

 

[top1whoisman]

Bailly and Herrera booking away from suspension in the 2nd leg.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Bailly and Herrera booking away from suspension in the 2nd leg.

I remember once when Jose was at Madrid, he purposefully got his players to get booked for a dead rubber 2nd leg, so they'd be clear for the next round. Then he got fined for it

Personally I think it was a smart tactic and it was harsh to fine him

 

[top1whoisman]

I remember once when Jose was at Madrid, he purposefully got his players to get booked for a dead rubber 2nd leg, so they'd be clear for the next round. Then he got fined for it

Personally I think it was a smart tactic and it was harsh to fine him

In that situation, it absolutely was. We probably won’t have that luxury late on Thursday though.

 

[Ecstatic]

Isn't he injured?

You're right. He is injured!