vs Competition: UEFA Europa League Venue: Old Trafford Time: 20:00 (BST), 15:00 (EST) Channels: BT Sport Ultimate (UK), BT Sport 2(UK), MUTV(UK), B/R Live(US), Univisión(US), Galavisión(US), DAZN(Canada) Manchester United injuries: Bailly (knee), Shaw (hamstring), Pogba (ankle), James (knock), Martial (knock) FK Astana injuries: N/A Manchester United last 6: W-D-L-D-W FK Astana last 6: D-W-W-W-W-L Manchester United last league result: 1-0 home win over Leicester City FK Astana last league result: 0-2 away loss at BATE Borisov (UELQ) Manchester United league standing: 4th FK Astana league standing: 3rd Last Encounter: N/A Manchester United last starting XI (4-2-3-1): de Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Young(c), McTominay, Matić, James, Mata, Pereira, Rashford FK Astana last starting XI (4-2-3-1): Erić(c), Rukavina, Postnikov, Šimunović, Shomko, Maevski, Logvinenko, Tomasov, Sigujónsson, Rotariu, Murtazaev ===================== sorry, a bit late with this one i know. anyway, we're back in Europe. we need to win this again. boost our coefficient and get CL. the road to Gdańsk starts now. looking forward to the youngsters playing. let's get it
We have a paper-thin squad, but Ole must rotate or some players will break-down from accumulation given we are in 3 games every 7-9 days territory now. For example cant expect Young to play more than a game a week and McT probably needs a rest given the workload on his shoulders. Some players definitely need playing time - Tuanzebe, Dalot, Greenwood. Would like to see Garner get some minutes too given our exposure there. Gomes needs some minutes too. Will be a risk, but with a squad this light we must use what squad we have in the cups. Or we will have a bunch of gassed and semi-crocked players later in the season.
Using a cluster of U-23s together on the same part of the pitch would mean we get some of their existing interplay and understanding. I don't mind if we only start 3 or 4 (and bring others on later) as long as they are able to fight together as a group. Dan James is out with a knock, so I'd expect to see Chong or Angel playing out there. I'd be surprised if we risk starting Rashford anywhere on the pitch before Martial is fully back and firing.
.According to a United fan living in Kazakhstan, Astana is a pretty weak team (lower tier Championship level). They're also very defensive, particularly in away games, and tend to be pretty slow. I really hope that Ole goes all out with the youth on this one, with a team that will relentlessly go after them and bring high energy. The team I would hope to see for this one: ------------------------Romero -------Dalot---Tuanzebe---Jones---Rojo --------------------------Matic ------------------Lingard-----Fred ------------------------Gomes ---------------Greenwood---Chong Personally would have gone all in with the youth (Williams for Rojo at LB and Garner for Matic). Not sure Ole will be that bold. I'd also rather go with someone like AP in midfield instead of Lingard: better fit IMO against a team who will bunker and have to breakdown with creativity (also believe this is the type of position he would flourish in). Just let the kids go and fully express themselves and I expect them to rise up to the challenge. Ideally, they do enough to really give Ole something to think about regarding their more regular inclusion in the team going forward (ie in league games)
Don't have coverage for this game unfortunately. Think the focus has to be the league so I am indifferent as to results but looking for exposure for youth players so they can step in the squad which will be needed sooner than later. Interestingly I am excited for the game due to the youth factor
Much of the team picks itself. Obviously can't risk Rashford w/ DJ having picked up a knock along w/ AM9 still out thru injury. I'd say for sure the bolded names will start in those positions. -------------------Greenwood Gomes-----—-----Mata---------------Chong --------------Fred------------Matic Young------------------------------------------Dalot -----------Rojo----------------Tuanzebe ---------------------Romero Garner Andreas Ramazani Should all be on the bench but prolly not. In my mind, we should be starting Garner in this game and resting McTominay until we are sure about Pogba's fitness moving forward. I'd bet that Matic will get a walk slowly out. I’d love to see a kid on the bench at FB. I don’t want Rojo at LB, but honestly I just don’t want Jones on the pitch at all. Young can play.
4-2-3-1 is what will and what should happen, and Johno's team is more or less what I'm expecting. Mata might not play, it could be Gomes there and Chong out left. But I'd expect him to start out wide at this stage. I think Williams and Garner may get minutes if all goes well. I'm not a huge fan of Ramazani, I think he's too wasteful, tries to do it on his own when there are better options inside.
The provisional squad apparently looks like the following: Romero, Kovar, Grant, AY, Maguire, Rojo, Tuanzebe, Dalot, Jones, Mata, Fred, Garner, McTominay, Gomes, Matic, Rashford, Lingard, Greenwood, Chong. No AP if confirmed is certainly odd. Disappointed that Williams didn't make the cut.
I don't get that channel Ironically this is one of the few games in recent times that I would have loved to watch
I won't for the fact it is illegal. I know being a tough guy keyboard warrior is the thing but I'm a punk
I'm trying to be realistic and despite the fact that people dislike Andreas, right now, he's actually important to the team. The penalty against LC came because HE chased a lost cause, keeping the ball in play for Rashford. That effort from AP is typical of him and he does it a dozen times a game. He's the best presser we have not named Jesse. That may seem like a silly thing to prioritize, but we are among the best pressers in the league and our defensive stats are best or joint best in many areas. That's not a coincidence. All of that said. I think Andreas is ok in a 3 man midfield, but I don't think he'd be at his best in a double pivot. I think in a 3 man, with the right coaching, he can be an excellent resource due to his pressing, his running, shooting from distance and set pieces. He can also carry the ball. He's got to minimize mistakes in the middle 3rd but if he can do that and learn when to try things, he could be a very good hybrid 8. He's got the energy and movement to take up good positions and to help defensively and probably my favourite thing about him is if ANYONE from any team gets in the face of any player on our team he's the first player there to respond. He's little but he has the heart of a lion.
Welcome back. I like your lineup, I do not like the fact that Matic is going to play. If the attacking kids can put on a show and score a few the likes of Lingard will have competition and minutes will be competitive. I hope Ole rests players and plays the younger kids. It is a home game. Or he could look at it and say if I can get the next 12 points by playing the first including this game and qualify then I ll rest them and play the youngsters when they play away.
Yeah, I want Matic to be gone, but if he's at the club, he may as well remain fit. He should get PT to remain in shape and it might actually be helpful to have an experienced player out there with all the kids. That's kind of why I want Mata out there as well.
Your opening sentence - there are important players that need to rest and important players that need game time. AP needs game time so I would find a way to include him. Agreed on everything though except he should not be rested.
Ok, I see. If we were to play him in CM next to Fred, I think it would be a mistake, because against better teams, we can't play him there and we'd be taking away his biggest strength, his pressing. I'd be happy to give AP a half at RW or 10 and bring Mata on against slightly more tired legs and move a youngster out wide.
Quite a few press have gone with this as our predicted; ----------- Romero Dalot, Jones, Tuanzebe, Rojo --------- Garner, Fred ------------- Lingard Chong, Greenwood, Gomes