PBP: EFLC - Manchester United FC vs Derby County FC - Sep 25, 2018 [R]

The team I'd hope to see here:

Romero
Dalot. Bailly. Jones. AY
Herrera. AP. McTominay
Mata. Lukaku. Martial

Pretty straightforward IMO. Lukaku could do with a game off, but perhaps this is the type of game that could help him get back on the right track (being the flat track bully he tends to be). No choice really though with Rashford still suspended as well.
Bailly and Jones in central defense could be an adventure all by itself but hoping we would see the best of them. As mentioned, Dalot is the one we need to keep an eye on: this game should provide the test he did not get defensively vs YB (and hopefully on the road to more starts in the league).
There might be an issue with cohesion in the early going, but will be looking to AP in particular to have a good game and get the midfield (and the team as a whole) going as quickly as possible. A returning Matic might get the start and if that's the case, it better be at McTominay's expense...

 

Play Sanchez at forward. Like the lineup otherwise. If take off Martial early and start him the next game as well.

 

Lukaku shouldn't be playing. Other then that, I like it.

 

Does Rashford's red card ban apply to league cup appearances too?

 

Other than AP not even making the bench, the team is fine, I suppose. Curious to see how they'll line up though...

 

Should be a 4231.

 

Why the hell is AP not getting these minutes?

 

I actually hope he's picked up some kind of knock or is sick, because if he was kept out of the team just because (of McTominay as the case may be), it's enough for one's head to explode.
Because as previously mentioned, this is the scenario I feared for him if McTominay was not sent out on loan for this season. 7 CMs is one too many for this squad and AP was always going to be one of the sacrificial lambs...

 

The resolution of the video feed on ESPN+ on my iphone is absolutely insane. I've never seen anything like it on a live broadcast.

Mata makes it 1-0.

 

Lovely goal, but very soft defending by Derby.

 

Nicely done by De Romero.

 

phil jones is a disaster.

 

Jonesy already looking very shaky in the early going. Let's hope he can shake the cobwebs off sharpish.

 

Pretty decent start of the game so far, if we're being honest. Martial has been excellent so far. Making a case for a start vs WH.

 

What a miss by Lukaku. Not a sitter, but that has to go down as a big chance missed.

 

you have to bury that. he wasn't even close to hitting the target. i'm slowly losing faith in lukaku.

 

It got blocked...

 

Derby has come out to play, not showing much fear or parking the bus on us.

Martial having so much joy so far. Lukaku mistimes his jump. That's 2 good chances he arguably could have buried.

 

Concerns about Lukaku's finishing are not unwarranted.

 

credit to martial: he's been electric so far.

 

Good to see the real Bailly again (so far at least).

 

Indeed. When he's up for it the man is a revelation. He's the kind of athlete you could imagine being excellent any sport except perhaps Sumo wrestling. Thankfully, he chose football.