Not even close.....
Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur | Europa League final build-up thread (May 21st)
- Thread starter rio's upper lip
- Start date
-
Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) discuss United's fantastic win away against Athletic Club in the semi-final of the Europa League.
They also pick out the positives of United's 4-3 loss away at Brentford, and Nik reviews a day out at Old Trafford watching Manchester United Women qualify for the Champions League.
Not even close.....
There's definitely some hope - if we start the right team we can, while not match them, at least stand up to them physically, and we have players who can hurt them. Personally I think Amad starting instead of Garnacho is so important it could decide the match.
Our biggest issue is van de Ven, he's so important to the way they play, with his blistering speed and ability to recover, so we need players who can keep the ball under his challenges. The other thing is finishing, in our most recent 2 matches against them we've had, and wasted, more big chances than they've created at all.
It's not just the attacking side though - against an aggressive press, Casemiro/Ugarte risks a lot of turnovers close to goal. Bruno can also get caught but is much more likely to quickly pick a pass. Unless Amorim wants the attacks' to be started by Yoro driving out with the ball or the GK trying to smash it 50+ yards for Dorgu or Garnacho to chase, then the side needs someone who can take the ball under pressure...
This is the team for me - hopefully Dalot will get himself fit too.
You can’t play against a PL TEAM without legs in midfield ! Bruno&case will get overun ! We Need ugarte here and Bruno as a 10 that will drop deep to help on the build up !
Casemiro's experience in European Finals will be huge, also Mount as he's won one against Premier League opposition.
Last edited:
I agree about Amad. I love the way they’re taking their time with him and easing him back gently. There must have been a temptation to start him last night.
I agree that our ability to convert the chances we create has been shocking. At least now we’re creating those chances. Amad is a goal threat so there’s lots more to feel positive about there.
I get the qualities Van de Ven possesses. We definitely lack pace up top to expose their high line, but their defence is porous and all season long, other teams have found a way to unlock them. They have key players missing and others only just back from lengthy spells out.
I feel really positive. I think we’ll beat them.
If people are so terrified of Spurs, what's the point of wanting us in the CL? You'll be hiding under your bed every match day.
It’s the recent record making people nervous
The thought of losing to fecking Ange ball 4 times in one season with the final one losing a cup final and knocking us out of the CL is stomach turning.
Please beat these bastards.
Please beat these bastards.
Those previous matches mean bugger all. One was under Ten Hag, there was mad league cup game which we were the better side in then crumbled randomly and gifted them the win. To be honest don't remember the league match we lost to them under Amorim but it was what 1-0? People just love to panic. Would I prefer to be playing some little European team? Yes it suits us better, but honestly the fear of Spurs is quite over the top.
There's pressure on both teams because of the CL incentive and the narratives from all angles with Ange's 2nd year trophy statement, Utd trying to turn around out worst ever PL season, etc... but I think Spurs will be feeling more pressure to actually win something for once.
This my feeling too. In theory, I'd love to, but I don't see how he can play those 2 in midfield at the start.
I think De Ligt is a bit more mobile but Maguire a bit better aerially, think you’re right and the former would suit more against Spurs.
The league one I think was when Bruno was sent off (the one where the VAR official was a hysterical moron).
We were being dominated though, Spurs were much better, but we did hit the post.
I’ve never been one who thinks subs have to start because they scored great goals. I think with Mount we should view yesterday as hope for next season. If he gets into a flow he’ll be like a new signing.
Next season we'll hopefully have addressed a couple of our glaring deficiencies, like the physical capability throughout the squad and our ability to score goals. That isn't now though, and we're up against a Spurs team who's greatest strengths are our greatest weaknesses.
Do you think he has the balls to leave Ugarte out? It's so much easier to take off a defensive player and bring on an attacker than to start with all the attackers, go down and have no real ideas.
I worry because Casemiro and Ugarte hasn't really worked against a high pressing team and we could be down 2-0 by half time and repeat the Newcastle performance..
If we lose 4 times in one season to "lads it's Spurs" and "mate mate this is what I do mate" of all sides, then frankly we have no business being in the CL next season.
The problem with Spurs is they are the exact profile that we struggle against...really athletic with pace on the counter. Every time we play them our midfield gets wrecked and turns the ball over nonstop and they get chances off that. While Casemiro has been better as of late, he's still a target to press in midfield.
Since Amorim isnt the type to change formation and pack the midfield, we have to drop Bruno into midfield and play someone like Mount that will drop into midfield and cover. Bruno isnt exactly press resistant, but rather than get caught on the ball he'll play thos blind flicks around the corner which dont hurt us that bad if they dont come off.
Since Amorim isnt the type to change formation and pack the midfield, we have to drop Bruno into midfield and play someone like Mount that will drop into midfield and cover. Bruno isnt exactly press resistant, but rather than get caught on the ball he'll play thos blind flicks around the corner which dont hurt us that bad if they dont come off.
Yeah they killed us that day but I attribute that to EtHs high risk tactics .
Was that an ETH one? So hard to remember.
Yeah. Onana at the start of the season said “we’re gonna take so many risks as a team” and he really wasn’t kidding. EtH’s plan was pretty insane.Was that an ETH one? So hard to remember.
Isn’t football just a funny thing.
So many Arsenal fans came to me today hoping we beat spurs in the final to the extent this will actually save their season if we win.
So many Arsenal fans came to me today hoping we beat spurs in the final to the extent this will actually save their season if we win.
The last time we won the EL final was under Jose. Jose is Portuguese. Amorim is Portuguese. It's on.
The last time spurs won the uefa cup was under an australian so now what?
Coincidence
Wonder if Spurs will be cautious in their upcoming league games, especially with their two centre backs. They’re probably the two players most vital for them actually.
Different competition.
To the people whole are saying if we lose to Tottenham we have no chance in the champions league. To a certain extent that’s true, however we are in dire need of money, and recruitment, getting into the champions league would be huge for us to get there. I am nervous. I’m not sure how it’ll go.
I thought they could only win trophies when there was a 1 in the year?
I dont think i'm that pushed about the champions league qualification to be honest. I want to win a cup.
We'll make up the numbers and be also rans in the champions league next season and thats a best case scenario. Winning cup finals is just kind of great. And losing one to Spurs would be bloody miserable.
I know theres the finances but that feels like a means to an end, winning a cup feels like an end.
We'll make up the numbers and be also rans in the champions league next season and thats a best case scenario. Winning cup finals is just kind of great. And losing one to Spurs would be bloody miserable.
I know theres the finances but that feels like a means to an end, winning a cup feels like an end.
It's not that they're good, it's that they are the supreme bottlers. We could never again utter those famous words, 'lads, it's Spurs'
Also Spurs are better than some of the teams who progressed in the CL, so not sure it's even true anyway.
Yeah thats always the strangest argument, that we’d never win the champions league so why would we want to be there? Money and prestige and attracting the best players is motive enough. The rebuild project will be quicker if we succeed at winning this trophy.
Why couldn’t this final be on the Saturday? Wednesday is shit.
It’s ok May 21 2008 was also on a Wednesday was also vs an EPL team. I’ll take the same result
Him and Amad dramatically changed the game though. We were terribly until they came on. It’s not about the goals, it’s about how much better we were with them on the pitch.
We need to try to get both ready to start.
pretty huge game for the trajectory of next season. Lose and have to appeal to signings that amorim is gonna turn things around immensely next season, and pretty much immediately since there wont be any european footy. Win and at least can point to that as progress and then obviously can dangle the champions league carrot to signings. I mean obviously a must win game, even bigger than last time we were in the europa final.
Easy win if Onana keeps his cool.
The people who say that are correct, we have no chance in the CL because we won't be in it if we lose to Spurs!