PBP: UCL - FC Barcelona vs Manchester United FC - Apr 16, 2019 [R]

I didn't believe we had much of a chance going to Paris but I was wrong. I don't believe we have much of a chance going to Barcelona.

May I be wrong again.

 

Traveling squad for Barcelona:
Manchester United squad travelling to Barcelona: David De Gea, Sergio Romero, Lee Grant, Diogo Dalot, Matteo Darmian, AY, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw, Fred, Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay, AP, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford
No youngsters on this squad, with both Matic and Sanchez returning. Shaw has traveled but I do not believe he's eligible for tomorrow's game.
The Boss is going to Barcelona as well.

 

No way matic plays. I think we’ll give it a real go here. I think we’ll be proud of the team after this tie. I do not think we’ll get lucky again and pull one out. I’m just hoping that I’m not pissed off after the game, from refereeing decisions or team play.

 

Matic and Sanchez will probably make the 18, but surely neither will start as they're short of match fitness. McTominay, who was rested over the weekend and Fred will partner Pogs in midfield. And we've got enough fit options upfront that Ole does not have to start Sanchez either (their form needs to pick up however).
Just hoping that Ole will forego the 3 at the back formation: might be tempting if Bailly was available but at this time, it would mean Jones or Rojo and that's a big no. Darmian might be an option, but he too is just returning from injury.
Looking forward to see what Ole has to say though.

 

You know, if you squint while using your phone, my avatar kinda looks like the gaffer giving the hairdryer.

@jeff070

 

Id rather see Darmian than Young in the 11. We can't afford to put him out there. He's been the worst player on the field his last 3 games he's played.

That said, he'll start and probably be captain.

 

I have no idea why people think a back 4 would be better than a back 3 against Barca. I get issues with personnel to an extent but the back 3 was definitely the right call for the first leg. The failure in execution was chiefly with Young, Rashford and Lukaku.

 

I have no real issues at all with playing a back 3 vs Barca. It did work in the first leg and playing Shaw there to look after Messi turned out to be a good idea from Ole and Phelan. Would have no problems at all playing in a back 3 tomorrow, but the issue is with the personnel available to us at the moment.
Would probably go with Darmian, complimenting Smalling and Lindelöf but he hasn't played in a very long time and is probably rusty. Jones is a push and you might as well flip a coin as to what to expect from him and Rojo is just a firm no (although he is more reliable at CB than he is at FB) .
Unless of course, Ole decides to stick Matic at CB, which is an outside possibility and could work but represents a risk as well. And that's the issue we have both at CB and WB, if we decide to play 5 at the back: injuries and suspensions leave us short on bodies and left having to pick risky options. Which vs Barca, we could end up paying a steep price for.

 

This is a reality.

Yes, we made one mistake and conceded a goal.

But we also limited Barcelona to very few chances. That was a pretty solid defensive display even with Ashley Young doing his best men's league impersonation.

 

The only serious question for me is whether Lingard starts over the out-of-form Rashford. I don't see that happening. With Shaw out through suspension and Rojo a complete mess, it has to be Darmian on the left.

Lukaku could start on the right or up top. Go with up top, with Rashy on the right

Assuming Ander is not fully fit.

I just hope Martial gives a shit. The more talented Berbatov was famously known to be languid, but at least he never indifferent to what was happening on the pitch.


De Gea
Dalot Smalling Lindelof Darmian
Fred McTominary Pogba
Rashford Lukaku Martial

 

I guarantee Rojo starts at LCB in a 3.

 

If so, I'm not watching the game. Dead serious.

 

It's got to be a back 3. Barca are a different beast at home and will be pushing for an early goal to finish us off. Best to try and weather the storm and nick a goal on the break or get one by pressing their backline like against PSG.

 

All I want is a positive showing and something to be proud of.

Everything else is a bonus at this stage.

If we go into the half up by a goal, who knows what happens.

 

Settled on a team and would go with something like this:
----------------Dave
--Darmian Smalling Lindelöf
Dalot Fred McTominay Pogba AY
---------Rashford-- Lukaku
Eventhough it probably will not be as successful as last week's game, would stick with the 3 at the back formation for us. Darmian is a gamble as stated, but the guy can do a job defending. Solid guy to play behind Dalot on the right side, which is where Dalot must play (for his crossing). AY can play at LWB. Lindelöf gets the Shaw job from the first leg of tracking and keeping an eye on Messi.
We've got options on the bench, both defensively and in attack if necessary that can be called upon depending on how things shape out. It's a longshot obviously, but we've got nothing to lose and on the day, who knows what can happen?
After being roasted at home in the group stage by Juve, we went over there and beat them. After being roasted in the first leg at home vs PSG, we went over there and beat them. Why not make it a 3rd time at the Camp Nou tomorrow, as bonkers as it may sound?

 

Lukaku cannot start.
Neither can Martial. We don't have 25 minutes to waste before he finally wakes up and gets off his heels.

Young
Lindelof
Smalling
Jones
Darmian

Fred
Mctominay
Pogba

Rashford
Lingard

 

He would not be my first choice either but no one else up front right is in form or fit. Martial and Lingard have been poor for quite some time now and Sanchez is just coming back from injury.
The logic for going with Lukaku is that hopefully he can have one of those days where he actually can be a nuisance to Barca's backline, playing off Rashford whose own workrate and running can open things up for Lukaku. He's got to work his butt off himself though and be ready to capitalize on any opportunity that comes his way.
Also, he's the one guy we have up front who could do something from Dalot's crosses from the right. Even if he's not as good as he should be from headers, he's arguably the best we've got there.

 

I agree with your reasoning, but I think we need the goal threat of Lukaku. He's our only 'fox in the box' type striker - and on a day where we really need a goal or two that's all important.

 

Wait...Lukaku and Martial cant start because of poor form but Jesse, who has been FAR worse than both lately, should? I don't get it.

I agree with the lineup you mention but I would start Martial ahead of Jesse. We're clearly going to sit back and counter again, we need players up front with pace that can drive at defenders and beat someone 1v1. Thats only Martial and Rashford in our team.

 

We need a fast start and Martial just doesnt seem to be able to at the moment.

 

I'd rather wait 20 minutes for Martial to get going than deal with 90 of Jesse's bad touches, being 2nd to every ball, and generally doing nothing.

Even in form, Jesse isn't built for this type of game. He's best when his movement can open up space for other attackers and he's also a decent finisher. But against Barca were not going to have the ball very much so when we counter their will already be space there. We need players that can do something with it at their feet, who can transition quickly, and who can finish.

 

In form, Lingard's press and movement upfront would be ideal for this type of game. Under normal circumstances, he'd be a shoo in to start: unfortunately, his recent form does put him out of contention to start, as far as I'm concerned.
Maybe he can bring something off the bench, if needed, like Martial. But I'm going with Lukaku, hoping he could have a repeat of the PSG game, where he was excellent in harassing, capitalizing on mistakes from PSG's defense and made the very best of scraps on the day.