PBP: EPL - Manchester United FC vs Leicester City FC - Aug 26, 2017 [R]

Discussion in 'Manchester United' started by Ruud v.Nistelrooy 10, Aug 21, 2017.

  1. Ruud v.Nistelrooy 10

    Staff Member

    Jamaica
    Jun 4, 2006
    Antilla
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Jamaica
    [​IMG]vs [​IMG]

    Competition: English Premier League
    Venue: Old Trafford
    Time: 17:30 (BST), 12:30 (EST)
    Channels: BT Sport 4K UHD(UK), BT Sport 1 (UK), MUTV(UK), Telemundo Deportes En Vivo(US), NBC Universo(US), NBC Sports Live(US), NBCSN(US), TSN 5(Canada), Flow Sports Premier(JA)

    Manchester United injuries: Rojo (knee)
    Leicester City injuries: Morgan (back), Huth (ankle), Drinkwater (thigh), Iborra (groin), Iheanacho (toe)

    Manchester United last 6: L-W-W
    Leicester City last 6: L-W

    Manchester United last league result: 0-4 away win at Swansea
    Leicester City last league result: 2-0 home win against Brighton

    Manchester United league standing: 1st
    Leicester City league standing: 9th

    Last League Encounter: 0-3 away win at Filbert Street (Feb 2017)

    Manchester United last starting XI (4-2-3-1):
    de Gea, Valencia(c), Bailly, Jones, Blind, Pogba, Matić, Rashford, Mkhitaryan, Mata, Lukaku

    Leicester City last starting XI (4-4-2):
    Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan(c), Maguire, Fuchs, Mahrez, Ndidi, James, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy

    =====================
    more clean sheets. more goals. MORE Martial. MORE Pogba.

    let's get it
     
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  2. johno

    johno Member+

    Jul 15, 2003
    in the wind
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Okazaki, Vardy and Mahrez will be the sternest test of our defenders to date. We **should** be able to control the game in midfield. If we don't, there will be chances on goal.
     
  3. Rooney20

    Rooney20 Member+

    Jan 8, 2007
    New York
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ander needs to start this game as part of a midfield 3.
     
  4. cr7torossi

    cr7torossi Member+

    May 10, 2007
    Leicester have started well with some reversion to tactics from 15-16.
     
  5. Ashur

    Ashur Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    May 31, 2015
    Riding off into the sunset
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My thoughts as well. I perfectly understand that Jose didn't change the setup for the Swansea game. But Leicester's quick counter attacking game means that Matic will need the support in midfield and this is a perfect time to bring him back and go with a 4-3-3.
    Upfront, would like to see Martial start and Rashford come off the bench, mix things up to see how both players handle it (and truthfully, Martial deserves it with some sharp displays himself).
    A strong test for sure, but one we definitely should get the measure of and one where the team continues it's winning start.
     
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  6. gatekeeper2

    gatekeeper2 Member+

    Jun 1, 2015
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Full agreement.
     
  7. Teso Dos Bichos

    Teso Dos Bichos Red Card

    Sep 2, 2004
    Purged by RvN
    Disagree. Leicester will simply attempt to bypass the midfield with long, direct balls to the likes of Vardy running into space on the transition. With Valencia providing all of the width down the right flank and Blind being generally shit we run the risk of Vardy isolating our central defenders.

    We need to stick to the game plan and hope Mata/Mkhitaryan show up during the first hour. Our attack should be good enough to put the game to bed and provide a buffer should any of their counterattacks be successful.
     
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  8. Ashur

    Ashur Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    May 31, 2015
    Riding off into the sunset
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Your first paragraph is exactly why I would go with a 3 men midfield. Matic in this case would be primarily expected to have a very defensive role, shielding the back and being used to counter Leicester's tactic of punting hopeful balls to Vardy. Herrera's primary function would also to dsrupt and harass Ndidi and James in midfield, thus freeing up Pogba to fully support the attacking trio upfront.
     
  9. Teso Dos Bichos

    Teso Dos Bichos Red Card

    Sep 2, 2004
    Purged by RvN
    We could play five in midfield and it would not stop Leicester's game plan.
     
  10. Ashur

    Ashur Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    May 31, 2015
    Riding off into the sunset
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Like last year I assume? 3 W, 0 L...
     
  11. Teso Dos Bichos

    Teso Dos Bichos Red Card

    Sep 2, 2004
    Purged by RvN
    Are you channeling gatekeeper2 with obtuse remarks?
     
  12. Ashur

    Ashur Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    May 31, 2015
    Riding off into the sunset
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm merely stating the facts. It's rich you talking about "obtuse remarks", with your next to last post... :whistling:
     
  13. Teso Dos Bichos

    Teso Dos Bichos Red Card

    Sep 2, 2004
    Purged by RvN
    You referenced a glorified pre-season friendly and completely disregarded the discussion about Leicester reverting back to their 15/16 tactics instead of their more open shambles of last season that got Ranieri sacked.
     
  14. Ashur

    Ashur Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    May 31, 2015
    Riding off into the sunset
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I did not disregard that point in the least. I've explained to you, how in my estimation those tactics can be countered, with our existing personel. Sticking to what we've gone with vs West Ham and Swansea perhaps is the answer, but based on what we've seen in those 2 games, I think this is a perfect game to bring Herrera back in midfield and give Martial a starting role upfront. Hence my XI would be as followed:

    Dave
    Valencia. Bailly. Jones. Darmian
    Herrera. Matic. Pogba
    Miki. Lukaku. Martial

    I'd definitely want to play Darmian ahead of Blind in this one: while Darmian is not much quicker than Blind, at least he probably would be much difficult for Albrighton to contend with down the right.
    Already explained how I would play Matic and Herrera for this one and I stick with that train of thought.
     
  15. Teso Dos Bichos

    Teso Dos Bichos Red Card

    Sep 2, 2004
    Purged by RvN
    You are neutering the major positive of this season, our attack, by removing a player to bolster a midfield that will be bypassed regardless. o_O
     
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  16. Ashur

    Ashur Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    May 31, 2015
    Riding off into the sunset
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #16 Ashur, Aug 22, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2017
    I'm basing my thoughts on how Leicester looked when they pushed Arsenal all the way at the Emirates. They did revert to Route 1 towards Vardy at times, which btw was the sensible thing to do against their slow backline I might add.
    But I also remember both Ndidi and James playing very well and having an intricate part to play in their offensive buildup at a times. And a guy like Herrera who has a knack for constant running, effort and harassing opponents seems like a good fit for me on the day.
    Perhaps opposition's legs tiring out late in games was a factor, but our attack looked it's most potent when we finished with a frontline of Miki, Martial and Lukaku on the pitch together. If Jose wants to stick with Rashford on the right, then so be it, but I just think Martial has earned an opportunity to start, based on his 2 effective sub appearances, where he's been way more clinical so far than Rashford...
     
  17. gatekeeper2

    gatekeeper2 Member+

    Jun 1, 2015
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Well put, Ashur.

    Facts seem to be irrelevant here to a plucky, dedicated band here.

    Yes, we're all aware of Jamie Vardy but Teso offers nothing other than negativity here -- "a midfield that will be bypassed regardless" -- that would, to the untrained eye, suggest that Leicester City go into this fixture as the favorite.

    Sure, we could go with clubfoot Fellaini in a 4231 to attempt to neutralize pace merchant Vardy but that would be criminally insane, to understate it. The way forward for United, as you rightly and clearly state, Ashur, is for us to be on the front foot early in the game rather than shit out pants because we're facing Jamie fukking Vardy. Our back line has to do its job, of course, but there's nothing in the recent record that suggests that Vardy will be too much for Bailly and Jones to handle. Our weakness on the back line is clearly at the fullback positions, not at CB. We have an outstanding holding mid in Matic -- notwithstanding the abuse he took here which has suddenly gone silent -- and pretty decent midfielders in Pogba and Herrera.

    The only serious question is whether to start Martial. A reasonable argument can be made for starting him or bringing him on late (why change what works?), but I lean toward the former as it's generally a good thing to reward players who perform. Press Leicester, knowing full well that they'll beall about countering with Vardy's pace. Step for step I'll put my bet on Bailly containing Vardy.

    As you rightly note, Ashur, Herrera's ability to harass will be an invaluable asset against Leicester City.
     
  18. b0sk1

    b0sk1 Member+

    Jan 28, 2011
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    How did Fellaini get brought into this?
     
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  19. JamesA

    JamesA Member+

    Dec 7, 2004
    Victoria
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Fellaini??

    Who the ******** suggested starting with Fellaini? Surely Herrera is ahead of him if we went with 3 in midfield?
     
  20. Red Jeph

    Red Jeph Member+

    Aug 26, 2006
    Chicago
    I don't think bypassing the midfield means what you think it means.
     
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  21. b0sk1

    b0sk1 Member+

    Jan 28, 2011
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    you probably have them on ignore
     
  22. JamesA

    JamesA Member+

    Dec 7, 2004
    Victoria
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Ah, I see.

    I don't think Teso is so crazy sounding myself. Leicester are back to playing direct and long. They will looking for balls over the top all day long and look to counter.

    It doesn't matter how many we play in mf if they just look to go over them.
     
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  23. johno

    johno Member+

    Jul 15, 2003
    in the wind
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Won the first two by eight. Don't change. Leicester can play counter for counter if they like but we've got the better attack.

    I'd say start the same as we have been playing. If we get a two goal lead after HT, consider bringing on a third midfielder to kill the game.
     
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  24. Ashur

    Ashur Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    May 31, 2015
    Riding off into the sunset
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #24 Ashur, Aug 22, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2017
    On the face of it and looking purely at the end results, there is a valid argument in putting out the team we've seen so far. Against WH especially, I thought our play was excellent almost from start to finish, with our pressure and dominance really growing as the game went along.
    Against Swansea, even if the win was ultimately as conclusive, I thought we huffed and puffed a lot more until the 80min or so when we really got away from them.
    It's on that basis and having seen how Leicester played when they went to Arsenal (have not seen their second game unfortunately), that I advocate a change in personel and formation. Playing in a 4-3-3 is certainly not more defensive, yet that shape, in my estimation, would have us better equipped to deal with Leicester's more dynamic midfield and their long ball tactics defensively. Offensively, I don't see how a front 4, for all intents and purposes, of Pogba supporting Miki, Lukaku and Martial/Rashford would be significantly weaker.
    Having said that, if Jose retains the exact same players and formation, I will nt be critical of it until I see how they perform that day as well.
     
  25. J'can

    J'can Member+

    Jul 3, 2007
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Agree up to the last bit. Same as before. Martial to fcuk em
     

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