[Wing Attack Plan R]

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.

That lineup is a suicide pact. James shouldn't be anywhere near the first team, and Ighalo as a starter, not to mention Fred in anywhere?


-------------------------DeGea----------------------
AWB-------Lindelof----Maguire---Shaw
Matic--------------Bruno-------------Pogba
Greenwood------Martial--------Rashford

Shift them around to be a 4-2-3-1 or whatever. Front 3 switching positions, Matic sitting deep. etc.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

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.

Then I don't fancy our chances against them with our growing fatigued best 11 if we gassed them all out in this West Ham game, let alone if decide to field our weaker 2nd string players against Leicester.

Their defense is affected hugely but our attacking players are also mostly off their paces in recent games (Bruno and Greenwood the most affected by fatigue seemingly in the past 2-3 games, Martial and Rashford lacks sharpness vs Chelsea).

Vardy is still fit and a huge threat to our growing tired defense.

Think it's best if Bruno, Greenwood and AWB sit on the bench as emergency subs if necessary for this game vs WH. It's Moyes and West Ham, Pogba is enough to provide creativity. Would also give chances and more match sharpness to TFM and Williams. Shaw must play next game. De Gea is also a concern.

 

[Tony247]

IMO our rebuild will be truly complete only when united fans will stop wetting their pants against bottom 10 teams, let aside teams closer to relegation zone towards the end of season.

Till then nail biting time.

 

[ruskyline]

Then I don't fancy our chances against them with our growing fatigued best 11 if we gassed them all out in this West Ham game, let alone if decide to field our weaker 2nd string players against Leicester.

Their defense is affected hugely but our attacking players are also mostly off their paces in recent games (Bruno and Greenwood the most affected by fatigue seemingly in the past 2-3 games, Martial and Rashford lacks sharpness vs Chelsea).

Vardy is still fit and a huge threat to our growing tired defense.

Think it's best if Bruno, Greenwood and AWB sit on the bench as emergency subs if necessary for this game vs WH. It's Moyes and West Ham, Pogba is enough to provide creativity. Would also give chances and more match sharpness to TFM and Williams. Shaw must play next game. De Gea is also a concern.

Resting some key players or bringing them out early is a good idea. Ideally we'd like to go into the 2nd half with a 2 or 3 goal difference (which isn't too unrealistic against them).

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Resting some key players or bringing them out early is a good idea. Ideally we'd like to go into the 2nd half with a 2 or 3 goal difference (which isn't too unrealistic against them).

Doesn't seem to work with Bruno, Greenwood and AWB.

I wonder if Bruno's body is still not fully adapted to the league and especially more so the new environment and climate.

He and MG + AWB are the three most affected by fatigue.
Saying this because Martial and Rashford seems to still be okay even though they tend to continue playing more minutes because they are used to this (= playing many games in short amount of time late season) by now. The other players eg. CBs and CMs make more sense and are not affected much by fatigue.

Greenwood also make sense, since youth level is totally different thing in comparison and his body is still growing. He also gained more weight and muscles during the break, definitely will have effects on his body and fatigue resistant.
Bissaka as FB also make sense, up and down the field every game, definitely will take its toll.

 

[Thiagoal]

......................De Gea..................
TFM........Victor......Maguire.....Williams
................McT..........Fred..................
.......................Pogba.......................
Greenwood...............................Rashford
.......................Martial................................

Keep Bruno fresh for the foxes

 

[Web of Bissaka]

......................De Gea..................
TFM........Victor......Maguire.....Williams
................McT..........Fred..................
.......................Pogba.......................
Greenwood...............................Rashford
.......................Martial................................

Keep Bruno fresh for the foxes

Good line-up.

I expect physical battles in midfield and our defenses from West Ham's energy brutes. McT and Fred definitely are important here and hopefully Matic will sit this one out.

Maybe swap Greenwood with Ighalo at CF, Martial LW and Rashford RW.

 

[Bobcat]

......................De Gea..................
TFM........Victor......Maguire.....Williams
................McT..........Fred..................
.......................Pogba.......................
Greenwood...............................Rashford
.......................Martial................................

Keep Bruno fresh for the foxes

This is good IMO.

 

[Squeaky Bumtime]

......................De Gea..................
TFM........Victor......Maguire.....Williams
................McT..........Fred..................
.......................Pogba.......................
Greenwood...............................Rashford
.......................Martial................................

Keep Bruno fresh for the foxes

Nice looking lineup. I'd put Romero in goal but I doubt Ole will go with that and in any case you dont change a keeper 2 games before the end of campaign. That lineup has more than enough quality to hurt them and Bruno can step in later in the game if need be. Better than starting with clearly exhausted Bruno.

 

[youngrell]

Is Bruno is exhausted? He was the only one to come out of Sunday with some credit for me.

Some of his passes have been a bit sloppy of late but he’s still getting around the pitch well. Think he’ll be fine for another 2 games before a small break.

 

[buckooo1978]

if we win this 3 nil then CL is guaranteed I think.

We aren't going to lose 3 nil to a Leicester side in their current form.

Seems to be a lot of negativity going into the West Ham game. Ole needs to lift these players and if they aren't flying into West Ham on Wednesday there's something seriously wrong with our mentality

Team picks itself - My only concerns are LB as Shaw might be fit and Matic played 90 on Sunday. I wonder if a fresh Scott might be a better option

think we will win 3 nil

 

[theklr]

if we win this 3 nil then CL is guaranteed I think.

We aren't going to lose 3 nil to a Leicester side in their current form.

Seems to be a lot of negativity going into the West Ham game. Ole needs to lift these players and if they aren't flying into West Ham on Wednesday there's something seriously wrong with our mentality

Team picks itself - My only concerns are LB as Shaw might be fit and Matic played 90 on Sunday. I wonder if a fresh Scott might be a better option

think we will win 3 nil

If we win 3-0 over West Ham Leicester needs to beat us 2-0, because every goal for them is minus a goal for us as well.

 

[Micky Targaryen]

Leicester drew the previous game....

....looks like we're gonna lose 1-0 to West Ham!

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Fatigue may well be setting in but its two more games. Adrenaline should get us through them.
Then if we get top 4 come Sunday give the main lads 5 weeks off. To hell with the Europa League. Why risk injury and further burnout if we have already qualified for the CL. It would just be crazy. Obviously if we don't get top 4 that has to change.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

If we win 3-0 over West Ham Leicester needs to beat us 2-0, because every goal for them is minus a goal for us as well.

Amazing how many people on social media I have seen put something similar.

It's not difficult maths is it? Hahahahahahaha.

 

[Lentwood]

I read a few articles by sports scientists online earlier that suggested footballers need a minimum of 72hrs to recover after a game, with it taking roughly 96hrs for sprint performance to return to 'peak'

That in mind and given how absolutely gassed we looked against Chelsea, I would take a scrappy, horrible 1-0 win right now. I have a feeling it's going to become a dogfight these last two games.

 

[Siorac]

Leicester drew the previous game....

In the one I watched, they got spanked 3-0.

 

[dwd]

Leicester drew the previous game....

....looks like we're gonna lose 1-0 to West Ham!

They lost the previous game

 

[theklr]

Amazing how many people on social media I have seen put something similar.

It's not difficult maths is it? Hahahahahahaha.

I'm not sure what you mean is correct here?

 

[groovyalbert]

Any word on Shaw? We drop off so much without him.

 

[Devil81]

West Ham are all but safe but need a point to make it mathematical so I don't expect a walk over.

In terms of team I'd like Wan Bassaka rested as well as maybe Rashford. Both looked shattered on Sunday.

Fernandes is too important to rest for me, I'd have him on and if we get a good lead he's straight off regardless of what minute it is.

De Gea needs dropping, if he starts it's a joke and sets a bad example to the squad, he's used up his nine lives and cost us a cup final against a, bang average Arsenal. Romero for me now.

 

[Man-United]

I read a few articles by sports scientists online earlier that suggested footballers need a minimum of 72hrs to recover after a game, with it taking roughly 96hrs for sprint performance to return to 'peak'

If correct then Bruno must sit out this. We can avoid a loss here without him but can't afford a loss on sunday and by then we need him to perform. I would rest AWB as well as a fresh Fosu is better than a tired AWB.

Can't see us win by 3 goals or more regardless.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Fatigue may well be setting in but its two more games. Adrenaline should get us through them.
Then if we get top 4 come Sunday give the main lads 5 weeks off. To hell with the Europa League. Why risk injury and further burnout if we have already qualified for the CL. It would just be crazy. Obviously if we don't get top 4 that has to change.

Disagree, Ole desperately needs a trophy and if he wins the Europa that would be massive for him and this young team.

 

[buckooo1978]

If we win 3-0 over West Ham Leicester needs to beat us 2-0, because every goal for them is minus a goal for us as well.

ah yes - we'd better score 5 then

 

[Havak]

Fatigue may well be setting in but its two more games. Adrenaline should get us through them.
Then if we get top 4 come Sunday give the main lads 5 weeks off. To hell with the Europa League. Why risk injury and further burnout if we have already qualified for the CL. It would just be crazy. Obviously if we don't get top 4 that has to change.

Nah, go for the Europa League. It's realistically 3 more matches. Won't make a huge deal of difference.

Our first Europa League game technically isn't until August 10th. We play LASK on August 5th, but we can play an entirely rotated XI as we are 5-0 up, so it doesn't really count.

The Premier League season ends on July 26th. That is a full two weeks between season's end and Europa League start (which is again only three matches to win it). We could send most of the squad who won't face LASK on holiday for a week once the Premier League season is over. They could return to training on something like August 3rd to help the second-string prepare for LASK. (Starting line-up eg. Romero, Dalot, Bailly, Jones/Tuanzebe, Fosu-Mensah, McTominay, Fred, Lingard, Mata, Ighalo, James with youth on the bench such as Chong, Garner, Laird, Mengi).

When it's as little as three matches with two weeks in-between, you have to go for it. It's still a trophy. Winning breeds winning etc. I imagine if Poch would have won any trophy at Spurs earlier on, they'd have managed to get over the line for another one shortly after. It's a mental thing sometimes.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

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.

Where do you get the idea that they're in 'very bad shape?'

They have good enough players not to be where they are but that's been down to poor appointments over the last few years. Granted Anderson and Haller aren't fit but there's enough there to trouble us.Antonio in particular is brimming with confidence and his pace is always a threat no matter who they play. Soucek is also very handy, Yarmolenko likes scoring against big teams too. Moyes has got them well organised of late;back to his dour days with Everton

Be on our game, on the front foot with no risk taking and leaving one on one at the back.

 

[Havak]

Where do you get the idea that they're in 'very bad shape?'

They have good enough players not to be where they are but that's been down to poor appointments over the last few years. Granted Anderson and Haller aren't fit but there's enough there to trouble us.Antonio in particular is brimming with confidence and his pace is always a threat no matter who they play. Soucek is also very handy, Yarmolenko likes scoring against big teams too. Moyes has got them well organised of late;back to his dour days with Everton

Be on our game, on the front foot with no risk taking and leaving one on one at the back.

Agreed. Their last five results are respectable, to say the least:

West Ham 3-2 Chelsea
Newcastle 2-2 West Ham
West Ham 0-1 Burnley
Norwich 0-4 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Watford

One defeat in five against a Burnley side that can knock off a one-nil against most sides in England. Scored 12 goals, conceded 6. Even prior to this form when they were losing games in succession, it was only 1-0 or 2-0 defeats to the likes of Arsenal, Wolves and Spurs. Hardly bad shape, you'd expect them to lose those games and they haven't lost a game by more than two goals since January. We will do incredibly well to get this 3-0 victory that a lot of fans are hoping for / even predicting.

Difficult match this but I expect us to come out victorious. Something along the lines of 3-1 in the end. They may lose a bit of focus as I expect that they are 100% confirmed safe after tonight's results for Villa/Watford.

Edit: Our form just for comparison so our fans don't lose their sh*t and run scared of the mighty Hammers:

Brighton 0-3 Man Utd
Man Utd 5-2 Bournemouth
Aston Villa 0-3 Man Utd
Man Utd 2-2 Southampton
Crystal Palace 0-2 Man Utd

We're still in excellent form and should win the game. Average scoring 3 per game and conceding less than 1. 3-1 is the par result.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Agreed. Their last five results are respectable, to say the least:

West Ham 3-2 Chelsea
Newcastle 2-2 West Ham
West Ham 0-1 Burnley
Norwich 0-4 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Watford

One defeat in five against a Burnley side that can knock off a one-nil against most sides in England. Scored 12 goals, conceded 6. Even prior to this form when they were losing games in succession, it was only 1-0 or 2-0 defeats to the likes of Arsenal, Wolves and Spurs. Hardly bad shape, you'd expect them to lose those games and they haven't lost a game by more than two goals since January. We will do incredibly well to get this 3-0 victory that a lot of fans are hoping for / even predicting.

Difficult match this but I expect us to come out victorious. Something along the lines of 3-1 in the end.

The one thing is that they're safe. But so were Southampton and they tried their hardest, not helped by terrible defending.

Moyes isn't as organised as Big Ralph so I can see a win but as you say not huge margins. Main thing; put 3 points between us and Leicester. Forget the Liverpool- Chelsea game

 

[Black Adder]

The one thing is that they're safe. But so were Southampton and they tried their hardest, not helped by terrible defending.

Moyes isn't as organised as Big Ralph so I can see a win but as you say not huge margins. Main thing; put 3 points between us and Leicester. Forget the Liverpool- Chelsea game

This is something that worries me a bit. They can play without pressure knowing there's nothing to lose for them.

But if we put our maximum effort we should win, and that's all that matters. Take 3 points and go into last match with clear advantage over Leicester in term of points.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Disagree, Ole desperately needs a trophy and if he wins the Europa that would be massive for him and this young team.

Yeah and then we go into another full season without a proper break where the scousers have had 5 weeks off and you lot will be losing your minds when we are 30pts behind again.

If we finish top 4.....the Europa League just becomes a distraction for me and needless risk. Our lads will benefit more from a break before another gruelling season. Plays the ressies.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

If our goalkeeper/defence can avoid a clown show then hopefully this should be a smooth enough evening... though with the form Antonio is in, who knows. I think i'll go with a 2-0 win. No way the football gods would allow for Sundays game to be anything but winner (or drawer) takes all.

 

[VP89]

If our goalkeeper/defence can avoid a clown show then hopefully this should be a smooth enough evening... though with the form Antonio is in, who knows. I think i'll go with a 2-0 win. No way the football gods would allow for Sundays game to be anything but winner (or drawer) takes all.

If we win 2-0, that means Leicester have to beat us by 2 goals or more to finish top 4, right? So really we should be coasting for the Leicester game if we get a good lead vs West Ham.

 

[nyanza]

If we win 2-0, that means Leicester have to beat us by 2 goals or more to finish top 4, right? So really we should be coasting for the Leicester game if we get a good lead vs West Ham.

No, we'd need 3-0 (or anything by 3 goals) for that or they'd be in front on equal gd and more goals scored if they win by 1 goal in the last day.

 

[VP89]

No, we'd need 3-0 for that or they'd be in front on equal gd and more goals scored if they win by 1 goal in the last day.

Might be missing something obvious but we are both on 28 points goal difference?

So if we win 2-0 vs West Ham, Leicester will need to beat us by 2 or more goals to close the GD and go over us..

Oh no wait, I think I get what you mean now

 

[nyanza]

Might be missing something obvious but we are both on 28 points goal difference?

So if we win 2-0 vs West Ham, Leicester will need to beat us by 2 or more goals to close the GD and go over us..

If they win 1-0, their goal difference increases by 1 but ours decreases as well by 1.

 

[VP89]

If they win 1-0, their goal difference increases by 1 but ours decreases as well by 1.

Indeed, I was a bit too simplistic in my approach there!

 

[lenny_1248]

7-1 win.

 

[pratyush_utd]

Is there any chance to relegate West Ham?

Edit :

Just checked, not possible unless Aston Villa wins both of their game and overcome 10 GD. Shame would have loved for West Ham to go down

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Yeah and then we go into another full season without a proper break where the scousers have had 5 weeks off and you lot will be losing your minds when we are 30pts behind again.

If we finish top 4.....the Europa League just becomes a distraction for me and needless risk. Our lads will benefit more from a break before another gruelling season. Plays the ressies.

Treat them as as you would pre season then. Rotate the squad. It's going to be around 4/5 games to win the thing. Give it a shot, why not?

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Treat them as as you would pre season then. Rotate the squad. It's going to be around 4/5 games to win the thing. Give it a shot, why not?

I think that's what we will be doing.

Because two seasons will have been stuck together without a proper break and a football season is gruelling. You only have to look at us in the last few games, the gas is running out of us. Add another 55-60 game season on after the EL and we will run out of gas way before next May/June.

I think players like Bruno, Martial, Rashford n Pogba should be given the EL off if we make top 4 come Sunday. Maybe give them a run out bu I certainly wouldn't be playing them in every game 90 mins after the LASK game. Yes a trophy is a nice but in the grand scheme of things nobody cares about it who is in the CL anyway. It's the second rate European competition. If we need to win it to qualify for the CL then fair enough. If we don't I think it's a huge risk on our players looking ahead to next season.