[drmuji]

De Gea
Dalot--Lindelof--Maguire--Williams
McTominay--Pogba
Greenwood--Pereira--James
Martial​

You are taking a piss!! right?

 

[Crimson King]

We went 19 games unbeaten before yesterday's encounter.

Losing a one-off cup game against a team who had 2 extra days rest (which is a lot this hectic period of quick-fire games) does not amount to seesawing.

True, admittedly I was being too harsh. But the intensity of our performances have certainly dropped somewhat since the Bournemouth game. Concentration levels started to drop a bit in that game too.

It's likely just fatigue setting in, and no doubt the extra rest really benefitted Chelsea, but it's not the first time we've been on an impressive run and then it's petered out under Ole.

Perhaps it's natural for any team, but I think the last few years have just made me wary of getting too excited.

 

[MikeKing]

Winning this by 2 GD minimum will put us into in a very good position for top 4, not only we can still be in top 4 with just a draw against Leicester, we can also still be in top 4 even if we lose by 1 GD to Leicester.

I was trying to not jinx it. I realise reverse psychology isn't my strong suit

 

[Tom Cato]

True, admittedly I was being too harsh. But the intensity of our performances have certainly dropped somewhat since the Bournemouth game. Concentration levels started to drop a bit in that game too.

It's likely just fatigue setting in, and no doubt the extra rest really benefitted Chelsea, but it's not the first time we've been on an impressive run and then it's petered out under Ole.

Perhaps it's natural for any team, but I think the last few years have just made me wary of getting too excited.

Runs like the one we were on are very, very rare, losses happen several times to every single team every season. The statistical probabiltiy of us beating Chelsea 4 times on the season is <1% as it has never happened before. Everyone are getting worked up over nothing.

 

[fps]

Oh this again? I’ve lost count of how many first tests there are still date.

Yes, that’s the joke!

 

[Bojan11]

Bring in Matic for McTominay from Palace. Dropping De Gea at this point of the season would be too controversial, and we don't want that. Fosu-Mensah offers more presence than Williams.

De Gea
AWB
Lindelof
Maguire
Fosu-Mensah
Matic
Pogba
Bruno
Greenwood
Rashford
Martial

Controversial? How? You haven’t been watching his performances. It would be controversial if he keep picking him and he keeps conceding easy goals.

 

[RedMilo]

DDG
Dalot
Shaw
Lindelof
Maguire
Fred
Pogba
Bruno
Greenwood
Mata
Martial

 

[theklr]

Runs like the one we were on are very, very rare, losses happen several times to every single team every season. The statistical probabiltiy of us beating Chelsea 4 times on the season is <1% as it has never happened before. Everyone are getting worked up over nothing.

That cant be right

 

[USREDEVIL]

How about we start this game with our boots on this time? If we get the first goal and keep Antonio quiet we should have a good game.

 

[RikRuud]

Full strength, No messing around. Lets smash these. We are tied with Leicester on points and goal difference with a game in hand.

 

[USREDEVIL]

That cant be right

Cato used a scientific calculator so i'm sure he's right.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Romero
Bissaka Lindelof Maguire Fosu
Matic Pogba
Greenwood Bruno Rashford
Martial
​

I doubt he’ll drop DeGea and honestly if Shaw was fit I’d play Fosu on the right and drop Bissaka for a game so one he gets a rest and hopefully sorts himself out.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Full strength, No messing around. Lets smash these. We are tied with Leicester on points and goal difference with a game in hand.

Fatigue meant fielding our best 11 won't be full strength.

Bench some of 'em and play the rest combined with our 2nd string players are likely more full strength.

Just for this game.

 

[Gator Nate]

DDG
Dalot - Lindelof - Maguire - TFM
Pogba - Matic
Greenwood - Bruno - Rashford
Martial

Subs: Fred - McTominay - Ighalo - Mata - Garner​

Pull Pogba and Bruno as soon as we're up 3-0, get Greenwood, Martial, and Rashford off by the hour mark.

 

[sewey89]

We’ve got 2 games left before 2 weeks rest ahead of the (potential) 3 Europa Games. Can we stop going on about fatigue..?

 

[sammsky1]

We’ve got 2 games left before 2 weeks rest ahead of the (potential) 3 Europa Games. Can we stop going on about fatigue..?

Can we all stop putting our head in the sand and proclaim that fatigue is something that can be overcome just by having the right attitude or ‘manning up’??

Fatigue is because of what you did in the past, and doesn’t get solved because you have rest in future.

No player will complain if selected, all are desperate to play. The problem is when they play, that will do so without being in a decent condition.

The issue will be in the short sprints that our players will lose because of tired muscles, and not having stamina after 60
minutes and the very high risk of cramp are serious muscle issues.

These issues have been visible in past 2 games and will be even more of a risk on Wednesday.

 

[sewey89]

Can we all stop putting our head in the sand and proclaim that fatigue is something that can be overcome just by having the right attitude or ‘manning up’??

Fatigue is because of what you did in the past, and doesn’t get solved because you have rest in future.

No player will complain if selected, all are desperate to play. The problem is when they play, that will do so without being in a decent condition.

The issue will be in the short sprints that our players will lose because of tired muscles, and not having stamina after 60
minutes and the very high risk of cramp are serious muscle issues.

These issues have been visible in past 2 games and will be even more of a risk on Wednesday.

I never ever said anything about manning up.

I do think that fatigue is something that is affecting every team but people on here appear to think it’ll only affect or is only affecting United.

West Ham played their biggest match of the season a couple of days before us, it’s not like they’ve had huge amounts of rest or have an infinitely bigger squad.

The truth is that the club has people working there who know more about physical and mental fatigue of the squad than we ever will, so we have to trust that it’s not going to be an issue.

 

[Mcking]

Controversial? How? You haven’t been watching his performances. It would be controversial if he keep picking him and he keeps conceding easy goals.

Maybe controversial is not the right word to use, but if De Gea is dropped for Romero, it would be huge in the media. Imagine if we somehow still manage to leak goals, the apologists would be out in full force, and I don't think that is what Ole would want.

The best case scenario would be De Gea seeing off the season quietly without anymore significant mistakes. That would allow for a much smoother transition going into a new season.

 

[croadyman]

2 games left so just play the strongest team, simple as that.

Can we trust De Gea in goal on Wednesday night though

 

[croadyman]

Dunno. Southampton, who had absolutely nothing to play for, were much tougher for us than Sheffield United, Brighton or Bournemouth who very much needed the points. So I don't think it's that simple.

As for not having a lot of pressure - surely you don't believe that? We are under a huge amount of pressure to qualify for the CL. Just two draws would do it doesn't mean we're not under pressure. CL qualification will go down to the final day where we play away to one of our direct rivals. How is that not a lot of pressure?

Difference between Southampton and the other two is that they have a coach who knew how to impose a pressing style on us that we just cannot seem to cope with

 

[Web of Bissaka]

I do think that fatigue is something that is affecting every team but people on here appear to think it’ll only affect or is only affecting United.

West Ham played their biggest match of the season a couple of days before us, it’s not like they’ve had huge amounts of rest or have an infinitely bigger squad.

West Ham played 7 games
Ours 9 games

 

[croadyman]

If Chelsea lose to Liverpool and we beat West ham. Chelsea MUST beat Wolves in the last round or they are out of the CL if leicester gets a point v us

Surely a draw is enough for Chelsea against Wolves in that scenario because that would have us on 66 pts, Chelsea on 64 pts & Leicester only 63 pts

 

[RikRuud]

Fatigue meant fielding our best 11 won't be full strength.

Bench some of 'em and play the rest combined with our 2nd string players are likely more full strength.

Just for this game.

I see what you're saying with regards to fatigue but here is a real possibility that qualification for CL will be decided on goal difference. Id rather put out a team that is going to get the most goals possible and put some distance between ourselves and Leicester in goal difference. That way if we were to lose to Leicester by a small margin on the last day playing a less established 11, we would still qualify.

 

[Ali Dia]

Please rotate Ole!

Romero
TFM
Maguire
Lindelöf
Shaw/Williams
Fred
McT
Pogba
Greenwood
James on the left.
Ighalo

Matić, Bruno, Martial and Rashford waiting in the wings


West Ham will sit back and park the bus. it’s a home match so I think we can get some freshness and hopefully still win with this lineup. I’m always torn between starting with the strongest players even if they are tired and getting the job done as quickly as possible or subbing them on if we are in trouble.

 

[Denis79]

Trying to imagine what it's like for fans of clubs who go into the last match knowing that if they win they might go down, but they might lose and still stay up, defendant on other results obviously, I honestly don't think my old ticker could take it

 

[Denis79]

Now that scenario....

A real boring 0-0 game.

 

[Adamsk7]

Must win. Best 11, no messing about. I don’t care if you’re knackered, give us everything you’ve got left in the tank and if after 50-60 minutes we have to drag you off the field then so be it. This is the culmination of the last 19 Unbeaten and the defining moment of our season. If you’ve been playing badly, play well. You’re at Manchester United and you should understand the standards that we expect and if you can’t handle that pressure then you can leave if we fail to qualify.

 

[Revan]

If Chelsea lose to Liverpool and we beat West ham. Chelsea MUST beat Wolves in the last round or they are out of the CL if leicester gets a point v us

Wrong. If Chelsea lose against Pool, and we draw with Leicester, then Chelsea needs only a point vs Wolves to qualify (regardless of what we do vs West Ham).

It is a pretty exciting scenario with so many combinations. Assuming that Chelsea gets 3 points in the next 2 matches, then they qualify. This then leaves:

United defeats West Ham by 3 goals, then United can afford to lose by 1 goal vs Leicester.
United defeats West Ham by 5 goals, then United can afford to lose by 2 goals vs Leicester.
United defeats West Ham 5-3, then United can afford to lose by 1 goal vs Leicester. But if it is a 1-0 defeat, then teams go in the playoff. If it is 2-1, 3-2 etc, then United qualifies.
United defeats West Ham 6-4 (ok, this is extremely unlikely), then United can afford to lose by any one goal margin, including 1-0.

Adding Chelsea in the combination it means:

Chelsea wins 3 points or more, they qualify regardless of what we and Leicester do (but we can finish 3rd if we get 4 points compared to them 3, or we get 6 points compared to them getting no more than 4 points). They finish third if they win 3 points and Leicester defeats us.

Chelsea wins 1 point on the next two matches, then for them to qualify one of the following needs to happen:
a) We defeat Leicester (it does not matter what we do against WHU) in which case we get 3rd and Chelsea 4th.
b) We don't defeat West Ham and we lose against Leicester.

And if Chelsea loses both matches, then for them to qualify one of the following must happen:
a) We defeat Leicester in which case we get 3rd and Chelsea get 4th.
b) We lose both matches, in which case Leicester gets 3rd and Chelsea gets 4th.

As a summarization, Chelsea is safe with 3 points in the next 2 matches. They can get away with one point, as long as we don't get more than 1 point, or we defeat Leicester. And they can get away with two losses, if we defeat Leicester.

United needs either a big win against WHU (and then not lose by more than 1 against Leicester), or two draws, or 1 draw against West Ham but Chelsea to lose both matches.

Leicester is in the worst position. They need at least 1 point on the next match, and that would be enough only if United loses against West Ham or/and Chelsea loses both matches. In which case, they can actually finish third.

So theoretically, any team can finish third, fourth and fifth. Chelsea is the only one who can ensure UCL football before the last match, us and Leicester are dependent on the next match.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

DDG
Bissaka - Lindelof - Maguire - Williams
Pogba - Scott
Greenwood - Bruno - Rashford
Martial

May be rest Bissaka for Mensah. Anyway, let's start strong and kill the game off asap then we can talk about rotating by resting players in 65th or 70th min.

I'll play Scott in this game, Soucek, Rice & Ogbonna are dangerous in the air. I'll keep watch Soucek, sometime he comes from deep to the box to score header like Fellaini.

 

[ruskyline]

DDG
Bissaka - Lindelof - Maguire - Williams
Pogba - Scott
Greenwood - Bruno - Rashford
Martial

May be rest Bissaka for Mensah. Anyway, let's start strong and kill the game off asap then we can talk about rotating by resting players in 65th or 70th min.

I'll play Scott in this game, Soucek, Rice & Ogbonna are dangerous in the air. I'll keep watch Soucek, sometime he comes from deep to the box to score header like Fellaini.

On paper this is the best lineup possible. But the reality is we need to see who's fit and who isn't. We need to win this game by scoring logs of goals. You can't do that if your team can't run.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

On paper this is the best lineup possible. But the reality is we need to see who's fit and who isn't. We need to win this game by scoring logs of goals. You can't do that if your team can't run.

It's only the case if we can't kill this game off like the Southampton game. But this is West Ham not Southampton. We had 4 from the XI only played 45 minute or less in FA cup.

 

[ruskyline]

It's only the case if we can't kill this game off like the Southampton game. But this is West Ham not Southampton. We had 4 from the XI only played 45 minute or less in FA cup.

West Ham is in a very bad shape. We need pacy players such as Martial, Rashford and Mason to play the full 90 min. The player I'm not 100% convinced who should play is Maguire. Not because he had a bad game or anything. He's been playing every single minute of the past few games and with that knock on his head, I'm not sure if it's a good idea for him to play.

 

[The_Midfielder]

They are coming on form .. but we need to beat them anyhow

 

[ruskyline]

They are coming on form .. but we need to beat them anyhow

We are by far a better team. I think this game will end with at least 60% possession and a 3-0 to us. I can see them getting sent off too.

 

[MichaelRed]

Not playing Matic would be a disaster. We need to dominate the midfield and just let Pogba & Bruno do their thing. 3 goal win here and Leicester would have to beat us by 2 clear goals to knock us out of top 4.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

West Ham is in a very bad shape. We need pacy players such as Martial, Rashford and Mason to play the full 90 min. The player I'm not 100% convinced who should play is Maguire. Not because he had a bad game or anything. He's been playing every single minute of the past few games and with that knock on his head, I'm not sure if it's a good idea for him to play.

Would be suicide not to play him when you consider him as the best one in the air. West Ham players are very threat in set pieces or even from crossing. They got bunch of tall players with aggression to win header, even on the bench they can bring Haller & Yarmolenko that also can punish us.

This is the issue, Maguire only the most reliable we got, got no choice but to stick with him until quarter final Europa League. He'll have 2 weeks off from next week anyway.

 

[Mr Smith]

On paper this is the best lineup possible. But the reality is we need to see who's fit and who isn't. We need to win this game by scoring logs of goals. You can't do that if your team can't run.

We really dont, we just need to win. Leicester are poor and missing a lot of important players, and a draw would be enough. If we can't get a point against this Leicester on the final day im not sure we deserve CL football.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

How good is Leicester in organized press?

 

[ruskyline]

How good is Leicester in organized press?

Really good, but they are missing some of their big players and I'm not sure if they have enough to really put up a good fight against us.

 

[utdalltheway]

You are taking a piss!! right?

He quite clearly is. He left Lingard out.