[Gentleman Jim]

Midgetland are not too bad a team. If this goes wrong LVG will have reached new lows of misjudgment.
Having said that perhaps we should wait for the presser to see how much the squad selection was imposed on him?

 

[CM]

Think this could be the line-up, then:

De Gea
Love Smalling McNair Blind
Carrick Schneiderlin
Lingard Mata Memphis
Martial
​

Chance for Memphis to step-up.

Imagine if we had Blind and Love playing centre back. Blind Love. Get it? Blind Lo... oh forget it.

That's the line-up I've gone with too, though it wouldn't surprise me if Martial stayed on the left and Memphis goes up top.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

after Sunderland, I just cant get excited for this game.

 

[CM]

BBC and Sky are both reporting Rooney has been left out with no mention of an injury, looks like he's just being rested.

 

[ottosec]

Is Rooney rested for... Shrewsbury?

 

[ZupZup]

Like I said before... I was told yesterday that Rooney was injured and would be out for 3+ weeks...

Now this morning comes and I hear he hasn't travelled to Denmark. Seems too much of a coincidence for me.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

Like I said before... I was told yesterday that Rooney was injured and would be out for 3+ weeks...

Now this morning comes and I hear he hasn't travelled to Denmark. Seems too much of a coincidence for me.

It's not really a coincidence? It's just that you heard right and he's injured?

 

[ZupZup]

It's not really a coincidence? It's just that you heard right and he's injured?

I mean it would be a bit of a coincidence were it not an injury!

That someone would incorrectly tell me he had an injury... and it just happened to coincide with us resting Rooney... especially when we know LVG is not really one to rest his captain.

 

[DWelbz19]

Maybe Keane upfront? Andreas through the middle? Bah, I'm dreaming too much, and I don't think van Gaal wants to move Mata from the middle after some strong performances. I'd imagine Lingard LW and Memphis RW.

 

[sammsky1]

I hope this journey midtjylland is a thoroughly embarrassing for all involved at the club.

It's the last piece of stimulus available to inspire a final run into end of season and a place in the top 4.

Else we can look forward do many more trips to footballs hinterland.

 

[Adisa]

Could be egg on face if this backfires.

 

[kps88]

Can only assume he's injured. I think LVG's general shitness has overshadowed just how many injuries we've had this season.

 

[thejtrain]

Can anyone quote me if they know how to watch this in USA.

Is it on fox sports or ESPN or am I gonna have to find a dodgy stream at work...

Lucky you

 

[westlife4ever]

Ddg, McNair, smalling, Carrick, blind, Morgan, Herrera, Pereira, lingard, Memphis, martial

Like the idea of that back line. Too risky to start Love/Riley in a cold wet Thursday night (weather forecast says -1 to 0 degree) to make their European debut.

Also because the best quality of Midtjelland seems to be there set pieces, I think we need to have more heights in the team. I'd prefer Keane to start too.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

I hope Midtjylland are crap.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Gerald G]

Can only assume he's injured. I think LVG's general shitness has overshadowed just how many injuries we've had this season.

I agree. LVG has been absolutely rotten but we have had terrible injuries.

De Gea
Love--McNair--Smalling--Blind
Carrick--Schneiderlin
Pereira--Herrera--Memphis
Martial
---
subs: Romero; Riley, Poole; Weir, Lingard, Mata; Keane

​

 

[pauldyson1uk]

FFS with the players we have fit, I see a massive banana skin here.

 

[Turnip]

Considering he admitted we need to win this to be in the CL next season, seems insane to be playing it this risky unless necessary. Surely he should be using the better players available here and resting them against Shrewsbury? I mean compared to getting into the CL surely no one cares about the FA cup.

I don't think LvG is completely insane, so can only assume Rooney isn't going because he's injured.

We're gonna lose, aren't we?

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Serious question..

Why aren't we taking the Europa League seriously? Surely it's now our best shot at CL qualification? It's really confusing me.

why ? who said we are not ?
The squad picked is decided by the many injuries we have.

 

[Havak]

Must be an injury for Borthwick-Jackson & Fellaini, and it obviously is for Rooney. Very young squad, I expect LvG to play something like this from the start:

de Gea
Love Smalling McNair Blind
Carrick Schneiderlin
Pereira Herrera Memphis
Martial
---
Romero; Riley, Poole; Weir, Mata; Lingard, Keane​

Keane will definitely get a sub appearance at least, not sure who else (depends if we're winning).

 

[Adcuth]

 

[BerbaDean]

I read something the other day about Fellarny being in a nightclub at 4am with his brother, getting abused by some football fans, do you think he is being punished? That's why he's not been in the last two squads? Not that I'm complaining

Anyway I would like us to line up with the strongest available team, get a good result hopefully more than 2 away goals to take back with us to Old Trafford.

DDG

Love
Smalling
Carrick
Blind

Schneiderlin
Herrera

Lingard
Mata
Martial

Keane

 

[Sid234]

Riley at LB and Love at RB.. Should be a fun game!

 

[FC Ronaldo]

That's a wide pitch if CBJ is playing at left back from Manchester.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

CBJ is injured and not in the squad.

 

[Summit]

Like I said before... I was told yesterday that Rooney was injured and would be out for 3+ weeks...

Now this morning comes and I hear he hasn't travelled to Denmark. Seems too much of a coincidence for me.

Looks like your source was correct.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[3KDré]

Perfect opportunity for Memphis I think. That being said he played well against Brugge and then was wank straight after.

 

[Summit]

Perfect opportunity for Keane I think.

Fixed.

 

[stevoc]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

I know we're having bad luck with injuries to fullbacks but even so it was foolish to go into the season with only two recognized fullbacks, and bordering on incompetent that we didn't sign any in January after Shaw, Valencia and Young suffered fairly long term injuries and it became clear Darmian is made of rice paper.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

I know we're having bad luck with injuries to fullbacks but even so it was foolish to go into the season with only two recognized fullbacks, and bordering on incompetent that we didn't sign any in January after Shaw, Valencia and Young suffered fairly long term injuries and it became clear Darmian is made of rice paper.

I missed that, why are CBJ and Varela absent?

 

[Gerald G]

I missed that, why are CBJ and Varela absent?

Varela is injured. Nothing has been said about CBJ at the moment.

 

[Zoo]

CBJ has been rested.

 

[BootsyCollins]

With the traveling troop i would like to see :

--------------DDG-------------
Love--Smalling--Carrick--Blind
------Morgan----Herrera-------
Lindgard----Mata-----Memphis
-------------Martial-----------

Keane, Pereira and McNair as subs

 

[Devil may care]

I don't think Memphis has done enough with the cameos to warrant a start, especially when Pereira has had far fewer chances.

 

[Mibabalou]

I would really like to keep the smalling - blind partnership but I think it's risky starting two very young fullbacks in a game like this. The midgetland players are going to be very up for this one.

----------------- Martial
Memphis ---- Mata ---- Lingard
-------- Carrick - Morgan
Blind - McNair - Smalling - Love
---------------- Ddg

 

[peridigm]

CBJ has been rested.

That makes absolutely no fecking sense. I can see resting a player if we're playing a top side in 3-4 days but our next match is Monday against Shrewsbury. LVG must think he has a better chance at the FA Cup than the Europa League. Realistically, we won't win either one and he is just stretching the length of time until he sacked.

 

[khoazany]

--------------DDG-------------
McNair----Smalling----Blind----Riley
------Morgan----Carrick-------
Pereira----Mata-----Martial
-------------Keane-----------

 

[peridigm]

Disclaimer: What I think we'll see.

--------------DDG-------------
Love--Smalling--Carrick--Blind
------Morgan----Herrera-------
Lindgard----Mata-----Martial
-------------Keane-----------

Depay, Pereira and McNair as subs

 

[Pexbo]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

While the fullback position is beyond ridiculously unlucky, I have absolutely no doubt that this reliance on youth was not only expected by our coaching staff this season, but also the biggest reason why Van Gaal is still with us.

I think the board look at the list of youngsters Van Gaal is bringing through and genuinely believe that if they can be allowed to grow together over then next 2 or 3 years, they can create a special side.

Martial, Memphis, McNair, CBJ, Lingard, Peirera, Shaw and maybe one or two others can make up the core of a squad that could be here for years. I don't expect them all to be world beaters, maybe only Martial and Shaw but if the others can reach the levels of Brown, O'Shea or Fletcher before them our squad will be in great shape. It's that sort of stability that we are right to be promoting and is probably why Van Gaal is still our Manager and Mourinho is not.