PBP: FAC - Manchester United FC vs Tottenham Hotspur FC - Apr 21, 2018 [R]

My lineup for this one:

Dave
Valencia. Bailly. Smalling. AY
Herrera. Matic
Pogba
Sanchez. Lukaku. Martial

Based on what they've shown in recent games, Spurs I feel could be there for the taking. They'll obviously be up for this game but with the lineup above (even if the chance of it becoming reality are remote), we definitely matchup with them.
As mentioned elsewhere, I'd go with a man marking job on this one, with Herrera tasked to track Eriksen. You take him out and the creative impetus has to go either Dembele or Alli: both are capable but they're nothing like Eriksen.
It also means that Kane, as we saw vs City, could see his supply line cut, therefore forcing him to drop deeper to get the ball and thus less dangerous.
Defensively, the reason, beyond the obvious one why I want to see Martial and Sanchez both starting, is to have players who will be able to put pressure on and keep Davies and Trippier honest. Those 2 are a huge part of Spurs's attack if they're not kept in check.
Also our frontline has to be pretty aggressive itself, especially when it comes to Davinson Sanchez. The guy's got talent, strength and athleticism, but being a young and relatively inexperienced CB, he's still susceptible to making mistakes. Lukaku, more than anyone else, need to weigh in on him, harass him as much as he can and just make him work as hard as possible, with the hope he loses his concentration at some point and makes a mistake.
Valencia and AY vs Son, Alli or Lamela are the matchups that give me pause, but both guys have been rested so hopefully they'll be able to pull a solid game (as they did at home vs Pool for instance).
With Herrera and Matic covering him, I'd have Pogba in a free role supporting our frontline. If he plays with the same energy he did vs City in the second half, whoever would be in charge of him (probably Dier or Dembele) would have their hands full.
Not going to be easy by any means, but getting to the final aside, we need to get Tottenham some payback for the last time we met. Keeping a happy thought for this game and believe we'll get it done...

 

Sounds about right, Ashur, although I'd be tempted to go with Rashford over Martial. Anthony is a nonfactor when he's off the ball and against a club like Spurs that could be a problem. Maybe in the end Anthony gets the nod over Marcus on grounds of pure magic with the ball but if he's going to get the start in a massive match like this I hope he commits himself to a 100% effort instead of just waiting for the ball to reach his feet so that he can go 1v1 on the defender and then sulk for the next 10 minutes after he fails to make anything happen.

 

Mourinho has nothing to prove - Pochettino

www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/11337618/mauricio-pochettino-says-manchester-united-boss-jose-mourinho-has-nothing-to-prove

 

Looks like the team went straight to London after Bournemouth, instead of going all the back to Manchester and back south again.
They've been training in Fulham's training grounds for the past couple of days apparently.
Smart move really.

 

Any news on Whois missing?

 

Just Romero still. Him aside, Jose has a full squad to call upon.

 

Shaw over Young.

Martial over Lingard.

4-3-3

De Gea

Valencia
Bailly
Jones
Shaw

Matic
Herrera
Pogba

Sanchez
Lukaku
Martial

 

Zero chance Shaw starts over Young if Young is fit. I like your lineup but my guess is we'll see something like...

DDG

Valencia
Bailly
Smalling
Young

Matic
Herrera
Pogs

Sanchez
Lukaku
Lingard

 

I'd stick with Young, unless he's got a problem. Herrera may be needed to mark Eriksen out of the game.

We have every right to be pessimistic about our chances, but somehow I believe we're going to dig out the win.

 

What tomorrow's game means for both teams.

www.bbc.com/sport/football/43822967

 

Your lineup is what Mou would do.

 

Probably put Fellaini over Herrera

 

35k United fans expected today at Wembley. Looks like a beautiful, sunny day in London. Hopefully we'll be treated to a good game, with a positive result and a return trip to Wembley for the final.
Butterflies are starting...

 

Bailly is not even on the bench

 

Seriously?!

@MizzouMUFC you nailed the lineup lol.

 

Alexis still on the left fecks up that entire side. No width and Pogba no space cause Sanchez and Lingard always come inside.

 

If he didn't make the bench, then it probably means he's not fit. His absence is a bummer and Jones better step it up today. Big time.
Upfront, it was predictable he was going to go back to Sanchez and Lingard on the right. Was just hoping against hope he'd go a different route.
Just hoping we'll see Martial or Rashford early on the 2nd half, especially if things don't go as planned.
Playing in our black kits is a plus as well, I suppose.

 

So is Bailly hurt or is he the latest Jose casualty? He's one of our better players so it would make sense that Jose is benching him.

 

Starting to get worried about Bailly though.

 

If you're worried about his fitness and being injured relatively frequently, then yes that is a concern.
But there's no way for me he's been somehow dropped by Mourinho. So no, I'm not worried from that point of view...
The fact that he hasn't played at all in the past 2 games is a hint that something may be wrong with him physically.

 

Except for Vorm starting in goal, no surprises for Tottenham.

Vorm, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Son, Alli, Kane.

 

I've given up on Jose picking the right 11. At least he's smart enough to go 433. I guess our hope of a threat from both flanks is dead.

 

Lingard and Pogba goals. Lets go.