Monday April 8th
Barclays Premier League
Old Trafford
Kick Off: 20:00 England Time
Manchester United vs. Manchester City
- Thread starter Ludens the Red
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Monday April 8th
Barclays Premier League
Old Trafford
Kick Off: 20:00 England Time
----------De Gea---------
Rafael-Ferdinand-Vidic-Evra
Someone-Carrick-Someone-Kagawa
-------Rooney--RvP--------
Rafael-Ferdinand-Vidic-Evra
Someone-Carrick-Someone-Kagawa
-------Rooney--RvP--------
It's got to that point hasn't it. I seriously think we should just start playing defenders in midfield. We've had no problem playing midfielders in defence, however daft so why not go the other way. It worked against Arsenal in the Cup that one time.
Huge game this. Hopefully Rooney and Rafael are back for this and those are just the sort of players we need for this type of game with their passion and aggression. Win this and it's title all wrapped up. Even a draw wouldn't be bad.
-------------DDG--------------
Rafael----Rio------Vidic--------Evra
------------Carrick------
------Kagawa----Cleverley-------
Welbeck-----Van Persie-----Rooney
Rafael----Rio------Vidic--------Evra
------------Carrick------
------Kagawa----Cleverley-------
Welbeck-----Van Persie-----Rooney
Not losing this would be a win.
------------------DDG------------------
Rafael-------Rio-------Vidic------Evra
Welbeck--Carrick--Cleverley---Kagawa
-------------Rooney--RVP--------------
Something like that. Think we'll actually be really up for it after the crap display today.
Rafael-------Rio-------Vidic------Evra
Welbeck--Carrick--Cleverley---Kagawa
-------------Rooney--RVP--------------
Something like that. Think we'll actually be really up for it after the crap display today.
A win would definitely be preferable but yes a draw and being 15 clear with 7 to go wouldn't be too bad either.
Jones has definitely put himself in the frame to be a "someone".
If we win this, we'll win the City+20 points league
Bit of a dead-rubber this, but would still like the win.
DDG
Rafael-Vidic-Rio-Evra
Carrick-Cleverley
Welbeck-Rooney-Kagawa
RVP
Rafael-Vidic-Rio-Evra
Carrick-Cleverley
Welbeck-Rooney-Kagawa
RVP
Not looking forwards to this at all. We look so out of shape atm it's not even funny. Would be more than satisfied with a draw.
Yep. Got a feeling City will win it. All irrelevant though.
Well it's all about the league now then. I don't think we'll take the league easy - these players wanted to win more than the league this season, so the only way they can sooth the loss of exiting cups galore is to absolutely shit on the league. Get the points record, and just go all out.
Strongest team out for this. A win here should finish the league once and for all.
De Gea
Rafael*
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra
Valencia
Carrick
Cleverley
Kagawa
Rooney
Van Persie
FINISH THEM!
Strongest team out for this. A win here should finish the league once and for all.
De Gea
Rafael*
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra
Valencia
Carrick
Cleverley
Kagawa
Rooney
Van Persie
FINISH THEM!
Cue uninspired and needlessly defensive display with Jones in midfield who will be 'triffic' with his running around whilst also providing us with a midfield that plays 2m infront of our back four and gives out strikers no supply.
Might not even bother watching it if we set up in the uninspired way I expect us to. We should be looking to show everyone we are the best team in the country not that we are able to not be beaten by the second best team.
Might not even bother watching it if we set up in the uninspired way I expect us to. We should be looking to show everyone we are the best team in the country not that we are able to not be beaten by the second best team.
Jones was one of our best players, not his fault if we played defensively.
But thats the thing, it is. Not directly ofcourse. I'm sure he doesnt plan to make us sit deeper but it naturally happens when you have two defensive midfielders on, everyone tries to come closer to the ball because they cant rely on the passing as much which means the game gets squeezed and puts us on the backfoot too much. It also means that we don't launch counters as quickly because neither of our midfielders are confident with quickly launching the ball out wide or through the middle because they don't trust their passing enough so we become dull and predictable trying to rely on sideways passing before eventually getting it into a crossing position.
Feel Valencia has earnt his place after putting in a good shift today and vs Sunderland. Would like Giggs on the left too.
No tickets and a series of uninspiring performances recently are leading me to not be as interested as I should be in this game.
Hopefully the players can take inspiration from a potential 18 point gap which effectively guarantees the title, not that it isn't that way now.
Hopefully the players can take inspiration from a potential 18 point gap which effectively guarantees the title, not that it isn't that way now.
Is this a WUM ?
Clearly. Valencia had a decent game today, not spectacular but did well in defence and when moved back to the wing. Why wouldn't that constitute earning a place vs City? Nani was woeful, let's be right, and I'm his biggest fan.
Valencia wasn't much better offensively, he was actually horrendous, a shadow of the player he was last year. So if these kind of performances against the worst team in the league and an average player like Bertrand are worthy of a place in the starting line up, then it is very bad news for United.
Worst team in the league? We played Reading in the last round, this round was against Chelsea; the team that's knocked us out of both domestic cups. Valencia wasn't horrendous at all going forward. What did Nani do up against Bertrand? Our option on the right vs City is him or Nani and he wins hands down based on today's performances.
Are you including Carrick when you say "neither". He's probably been our best passer of the ball over the last few months.
But, yes, Jones naturally slows down and condenses play by always looking to play it tight.
I was talking about Sunderland. And I'm not defending Nani, he was as bad or worse. But it doesn't explain Valencia's woeful form. Against City, I'd rather play Kagawa & Young who in 5 minutes put more dangerous crosses than Valencia all match.
win or lose I love you MUFC. The city is ours
We will lose the match, one way or another. It is simply impossible for this team to do things the easy way. Then we'll have a pretty nice looking 12 point lead with 7 matches to go. Until you see that 2 are against Arsenal and Chelsea.
And somehow, in a manner only befitting of United, we'll manage to turn a 15 point lead into squeaky bum time.
And somehow, in a manner only befitting of United, we'll manage to turn a 15 point lead into squeaky bum time.
I don't like people saying it's all done and dusted. it's like they're trying to invite a ridiculous end to the season.
But we'd have to lose to City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Stoke and West Ham, City would have to win all 5 of their equivalents.
And we'd still be level, with crap Villa, and on the beach Swansea7West Brom left!
De Gea
Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Carrick Jones
Welbeck Rooney Kagawa
Van Persie
If Rafael is injured, then Valencia will probably go to right back. Nani might go in for Welbeck, might not. Doubt Cleverley will play after today. Carrick and Jones should be solid enough, and we have to hope Rooney and RVP are up for it and play well. Would be a great time for Van Persie to end his goal drought. Hopefully we get a good performance, not the shite we have seen since we got knocked out of the Champions league.
Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Carrick Jones
Welbeck Rooney Kagawa
Van Persie
If Rafael is injured, then Valencia will probably go to right back. Nani might go in for Welbeck, might not. Doubt Cleverley will play after today. Carrick and Jones should be solid enough, and we have to hope Rooney and RVP are up for it and play well. Would be a great time for Van Persie to end his goal drought. Hopefully we get a good performance, not the shite we have seen since we got knocked out of the Champions league.
De Gea
Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Anderson Carrick Cleverley
Rooney RvP Kagawa
Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Anderson Carrick Cleverley
Rooney RvP Kagawa
This is what I'd like to see but I'm 99% sure we won't line up anything like it. Wing play just doesn't seem fruitful atm. That said its unlikely Nani would have another game as shocking as today again so maybe he'd be in with a shout.
Play like we did today and expect another 6-1. Title so close and all but feck it! I want them sucking our collective dick by the end of it
De Gea
Rafael Ferdiand Vidic Evra
Carrick Cleverley
Nani Rooney Kagawa
Van Persie
Rafael Ferdiand Vidic Evra
Carrick Cleverley
Nani Rooney Kagawa
Van Persie
With Rooney and Kagawa both interchanging.
Best 11. Kill them.
Jaysus, we weren't that bad today.
I see a draw next Monday, anyway. Be a boring game, like the rest of our remaining fixtures unfortunately.
------------De Gea---------
Rafa---Vidic-----Ferdinand--Evra
--------------Jones----------------
-----------Carrick--cleverly--------
----------------Kagawa------------
--------Rooney-------someone who can score a tap in.
Rafa---Vidic-----Ferdinand--Evra
--------------Jones----------------
-----------Carrick--cleverly--------
----------------Kagawa------------
--------Rooney-------someone who can score a tap in.
I really hope we don't see the diamond. This isn't the game for experimental formations and tactics.
Didn't we target Clichy down the right wing last time we played them? Very much doubt we'll see the diamond.
Yes, but it wasn't because Clichy is shit. It's because their LB was getting no help from whoever was on their left hand side. I think it was Nasri.
Just don't go negative thinking a draw is good enough. We have a 15 point cushion, lets be positive and try to win the title in style.
As long as we don't lose that should be enough
De Gea
Valencia
Rio
Vidic
Evra
Carrick
Jones
Cleverley
Young
RVP
Kagawa
De Gea
Valencia
Rio
Vidic
Evra
Carrick
Jones
Cleverley
Young
RVP
Kagawa