Play the kids for Europa [Poll added]

What strength team should we play in the final rounds of the Europa League?


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superdry

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Give Igahlo a start in every game and players who can supply him.
 

Mark Pawelek

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He who shall be Obeyed hath spoken:
"Now our focus is on the Europa League because this is a really good trophy and we want to win, ... I came to Manchester to win trophies. We need to play every game to win. If we go into the Europa League and win every game, we know we'll win the trophy. ... But we are not happy enough because we know this club and these players, they can bring much more for the club. I think we have qualities enough to fight for some titles - more than one title. I think we need to win some trophies and then we'll be really happy."​
- Bruno Fernandes
 

greendevil

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Some serious clickbait on the opening post! yeah lets not bother with the Europa League... Fool.
 

stevoc

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Havak

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I voted for the 'full strength semi finals' option, but it's tough between that and full strength from the quarters. Realistically, we should be able to beat our quarter final opponents without playing the first XI entirely. However, I'd be very tempted to just go at it. A trophy is a trophy and I don't think playing potentially three games during the off-season is going to be the difference between us finishing in the top four or not. I doubt we'll win the title.

Regardless, the aim is surely to buy 3-4 players good enough for the first XI and to challenge them for a place? If we do that, it'll help with the potential burnout when we can make changes and not be significantly weaker.
 

BiggusCrickus

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Foobtall is winning about Trophies. The kids can play against LASK thats a gimme after that the 1st team boys should go all out. Winning is a good habit and one our players need to get used to
 

Annihilate Now!

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Why is there not an option for "Use our full squad, playing first teamers with squad players and winning the bloody thing"
 

Get In Scholesy

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Quite honestly, I don't think we are in a position to pick and choose which competitions matter to us. This squad has not reached that specific level of success. It is important to instil the winning mentality in this group of players, maybe it will help us from bottling it when things matter more in the future.

Against LASK I agree it would not make much sense to play the XI that played nearly every minute post restart. Given that we have a 5-0 away lead we can give the fringe players and youth valuable game time. Moving forward we have to do what we have to do to win this Trophy. It would definitely cap off a long season on a very sweet note.
 

cosimas

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I can't believe this is even a debate.
Shall we tank a competition? Who the feck are we?
 

cosimas

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May as well replace that banner with "European Capital of Pussies" if we don't try and win this.
 

Mr. MUJAC

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So dad...when you played for United what did you win?

Nothing...but we finished third and I got a good rest between seasons....

The players will be desperate to win trophies...they always are.
 

AshRK

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How can one build a winning culture by just playing to lose. People keep on saying fatigue. They just have to play 3 games ffs (excluding the LASK game). I would rest the likes of Matic Bruno and Martial till semis but keep them in bench for Quaterfinals. Pogba Mctominay Fred would be decent against Copenhagen or Istanbul. Ighalo can play striker role in qf. But once we are in semis play full strength and play to win.
 

Fussball13251

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No... You will lose. I hate when people think kids are good enough. They will get ripped apart once they play any decent side. It's ok to play 1 or 2 sometimes, though. I regard Greenwood as a first team starter.
 
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Paul_Scholes18

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Does Lingard count as a kid? If so yes we should play him against Lask!
Greenwood and Williams can play too and gain some experience.
Then I guess we are out of kids that normally play.
 

Red Company

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Anyone who thinks we’ll rest our starters after LASK second leg is highly highly mistaken.

Even the players themselves will go on strike.

You think players like DDG, Pogba, Bruno, Matic who are older than the rest wouldn’t want to add a trophy to their collections just so they can get rest for next season?

Then come the youngsters lead by Rashford & Martial who also want to start accumulating their own personal trophy hauls.

We’ll be going for the trophy no doubt! Our bench will play a role but our starters will get priority until they can afford to be taken off/rested.
 

adexkola

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So dad...when you played for United what did you win?

Nothing...but we finished third and I got a good rest between seasons....

The players will be desperate to win trophies...they always are.
Got a good rest the season before to ensure we finished 3rd in the league the following season... had to pass up 2 trophies to accomplish this goal but you know, top 4, CL anthem!
 

jesperjaap

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I dont see playing weaker sides as not trying to win it anyway. The Europa League has been like that for years by premiership sides, especially in the league stages.

We have a 5-0 aggregate lead for our next tie, we should be playing several squad players and giving opportunities to a few youngsters too, we are hardly going to lose the tie.

We can then assess what to do moving forwards dependant on the draw.
 

MancunianAngels

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We've won 5 major European trophies in our history. We should have more.

We need to go all out for this now.

The other benefit is it gives Ole an early trophy win which could hopefully give him an early Fergie like confidence boost.
 

Withnail

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I dont see playing weaker sides as not trying to win it anyway. The Europa League has been like that for years by premiership sides, especially in the league stages.

We have a 5-0 aggregate lead for our next tie, we should be playing several squad players and giving opportunities to a few youngsters too, we are hardly going to lose the tie.

We can then assess what to do moving forwards dependant on the draw.
Well, exactly what strength of team we put out depends on who we get in the QFs.
 

Tony247

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Looking at chelsea players dropping out like fliea I am now bit skeptical about playing our tired lot again in EL. High risk of losing players for the start of next season.
 

Andycoleno9

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I absolutely don't understand fans of a football club who don't want to win trophies. We should play our best team and try to win it.
Yeah, the same. "Play kids in league cup", "rest players in fa cup", "play kids in EL".
But this is strangest situation ever. Despite season is over some still want to rest players in those 4 games left. To rest them for what? Next season?! Bloody hell.
 

FerociousCorgis

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Yeah, the same. "Play kids in league cup", "rest players in fa cup", "play kids in EL".
But this is strangest situation ever. Despite season is over some still want to rest players in those 4 games left. To rest them for what? Next season?! Bloody hell.
This take completely misses the fact that the next season starts much much sooner than normal, and coming off a very truncated schedule. It is more about making sure players get recharged before the next season starts soon as they clearly looked shot
 

Withnail

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Looking at chelsea players dropping out like fliea I am now bit skeptical about playing our tired lot again in EL. High risk of losing players for the start of next season.
We're going to play a second string against LASK.

There's no way any of the first team will be tired by 10th Aug. If anything they'll be a little rusty.
 

Andersons Dietician

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I would think now it’s all about rest and preparation for next season. If going full pelt at this in anyway or form risks being fully prepared for next season then who cares. It’s the European version of the Carling Cup or was it Jose that called it “The losers cup”
I’d rather have a fit properly prepared team for next season than guys who will be knackered or having injuries that could have been avoided.

I think Ole however will think chance of a trophy and it’ll validate his appointment so he’ll go at it full beans.
 

Withnail

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This take completely misses the fact that the next season starts much much sooner than normal, and coming off a very truncated schedule. It is more about making sure players get recharged before the next season starts soon as they clearly looked shot
They had 3 months off, then played slightly more than a quarter of a season, in a shorter time period granted.

They'll have had over two weeks between Leicester and the first proper Europa game.

Europa is only 3 games max and then it's 3 weeks, possibly 4, until the first PL game.

Once the PL starts it's a game a week for the first couple of months before Europe and the cups start.

We'll see how the season goes but I don't think this will really be that big of a deal.
 

wolvored

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After the LASK game play 7-8 of the first 11 and rotate second half. Semi and final play strongest team. Win this its an important trophy and guarantees seeded pot 1 in Champions League
 

jakrok

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Like Vida said in the previous article in United official website, how important is winning trophy to a team because winning it once makes you believe you can win it again. Trophy and record are important to our team, whatever is its youth, 1st 11 or second string. Just win it.
 

RiqCantona

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Definitely play the back-up players (and youth on the bench). Give extended rest to:
DDG, Maguire, AWB, Matic, Bruno, Rashford, and Martial. Rest Pogba till the semis as he had a long layoff last season, and maybe play him if we get there.

I believe they form the core, and deserve extra time to recover and get ready for next season.
The team I would play is:
Romero
TFM Bailly Lindelof Williams
Fred McT
Greenwood Mata Lingard
Ighalo​
I think this team can reach the semis quite easily.
 

prateik

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I wanted this till I realised there won't be 2 legs.. after the LASK game, we'll have, at most, 3 more games..

5 games in a short period is not something I would have wanted.. 3 games is a lot better.

go for it. why not.
 

roonster09

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If I'm not wrong this is the schedule from the end of league game to Europa finals. Then we will have 1 month break from the finals to first PL game.

Looks good schedule to rest and get proper fitness for next season.After the finals give them break for 2 weeks, then 2 weeks to get match fit.


26-07-2020
Leicester
27-07-2020​
Rest​
28-07-2020​
Rest​
29-07-2020​
Rest​
30-07-2020​
Rest​
31-07-2020​
Rest​
01-08-2020​
Rest​
02-08-2020​
Rest​
03-08-2020​
Rest​
04-08-2020​
Rest​
05-08-2020
LASK
06-08-2020​
Rest​
07-08-2020​
Rest​
08-08-2020​
Rest​
09-08-2020​
Rest​
10-08-2020
İstanbul Başakşehir/Copenhagen
11-08-2020​
Rest​
12-08-2020​
Rest​
13-08-2020​
Rest​
14-08-2020​
Rest​
15-08-2020​
Rest​
16-08-2020​
Rest​
17-08-2020
Semi Finals
18-08-2020​
Rest​
19-08-2020​
Rest​
20-08-2020​
Rest​
21-08-2020
Finals
 

jderbyshire

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If I'm not wrong this is the schedule from the end of league game to Europa finals. Then we will have 1 month break from the finals to first PL game.

Looks good schedule to rest and get proper fitness for next season.After the finals give them break for 2 weeks, then 2 weeks to get match fit.


26-07-2020
Leicester
27-07-2020​
Rest​
28-07-2020​
Rest​
29-07-2020​
Rest​
30-07-2020​
Rest​
31-07-2020​
Rest​
01-08-2020​
Rest​
02-08-2020​
Rest​
03-08-2020​
Rest​
04-08-2020​
Rest​
05-08-2020
LASK
06-08-2020​
Rest​
07-08-2020​
Rest​
08-08-2020​
Rest​
09-08-2020​
Rest​
10-08-2020
İstanbul Başakşehir/Copenhagen
11-08-2020​
Rest​
12-08-2020​
Rest​
13-08-2020​
Rest​
14-08-2020​
Rest​
15-08-2020​
Rest​
16-08-2020​
Rest​
17-08-2020
Semi Finals
18-08-2020​
Rest​
19-08-2020​
Rest​
20-08-2020​
Rest​
21-08-2020
Finals
This is why, they should play a second string/kids against LASK, then play full strength in the quarters/semis/final.

It's 3 games. It's a no brainer. Go and win the trophy ffs.
 

EwanI Ted

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If I'm not wrong this is the schedule from the end of league game to Europa finals. Then we will have 1 month break from the finals to first PL game.

Looks good schedule to rest and get proper fitness for next season.After the finals give them break for 2 weeks, then 2 weeks to get match fit.


26-07-2020
Leicester
27-07-2020​
Rest​
28-07-2020​
Rest​
29-07-2020​
Rest​
30-07-2020​
Rest​
31-07-2020​
Rest​
01-08-2020​
Rest​
02-08-2020​
Rest​
03-08-2020​
Rest​
04-08-2020​
Rest​
05-08-2020
LASK
06-08-2020​
Rest​
07-08-2020​
Rest​
08-08-2020​
Rest​
09-08-2020​
Rest​
10-08-2020
İstanbul Başakşehir/Copenhagen
11-08-2020​
Rest​
12-08-2020​
Rest​
13-08-2020​
Rest​
14-08-2020​
Rest​
15-08-2020​
Rest​
16-08-2020​
Rest​
17-08-2020
Semi Finals
18-08-2020​
Rest​
19-08-2020​
Rest​
20-08-2020​
Rest​
21-08-2020
Finals
No-one’s saying the schedule is impossible, but however you dice it, we’re still playing games while our rivals are on holiday. That puts us at a disadvantage going into next season in my view.
 

roonster09

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No-one’s saying the schedule is impossible, but however you dice it, we’re still playing games while our rivals are on holiday. That puts us at a disadvantage going into next season in my view.
Yes but season won't start same for all clubs. Apparently teams will get 1 month break, these games will be in same city, so no travelling too.

It won't be intense either, play kids vs LASK, rotate in QFs, if we are through play strong team in last 2 games. Take 2 weeks break and 2 weeks preparation for next season. They will be match fit and also get good rest in between.
 

Devil may care

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Weakened team for me as it would still have Romero, Williams, Fred, McTominay, Mata, James, Lingard and Igalho. We could pad out the back 4 with TFM, Dalot and an Academy CB.
 

RedSky

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No-one’s saying the schedule is impossible, but however you dice it, we’re still playing games while our rivals are on holiday. That puts us at a disadvantage going into next season in my view.
Disagree. I think the motivational boost for our young squad to pickup a trophy is essential to our long term productivity. Not only for our players but our our staff.

Go out and win the trophy, get our transfers in and then regroup for the start of next season.
 

Bilbo

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Its funny this forum. Lot of different opinions about how we should approach it, whether it will affect next season, who should play and when, does this trophy even matter etc etc

One thing is for certain though. If we don't win it this place will be a bloodbath for a week afterwards. Ole not good enough! Players not good enough! What hope in the CL if we cant win this! Must replace X and Y right now!

I think we have the best team left in the competition and it would be fantastic for this group to win a major trophy. Of course we are going all out to win it
 

Nou_Camp99

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I can't wait to check back at these comments on here when the players are tanking next season. It's not just 4 games. It's staying fit and training too.

And if we get to the final we will be playing our first PL game of the season against a team who will be on their 3rd game. Playing catch up fitness wise and points wise.

This is the the Europa League not the Champions League. We don't really need to win it now to achieve our aim for the season. I'd give 5 or 6 of the first team the summer off.

Liverpool are not happy about being made to play in the community shield and they don't have any European football. Let that sink in guys. They can see the bigger Picture.
 
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