vs Competition: English Premier League Venue: Villa Park Time: 14:00 (BST), 09:00 (EST) Channels: MUTV(UK), USA(US), Telemundo Deportes en vivo(US), fuboTV(US), USA(US), fuboTV(Canada), Disney+ Caribbean(JA), ESPN Caribbean(JA), SuperSport Premier League ROA(Zambia), SuperSport Maximo 2(Zambia) Aston Villa injuries: Kamara (knee), Mings (knee), Philogene (knock) Manchester United injuries: Shaw (calf), Yoro (metatarsal), Malacia (knee), Mount (knock) Aston Villa last 6: W-W-W-W-D-W Manchester United last 6: W-W-D-D-L-D Aston Villa last result: 1-0 home win over Bayern (UCL) Manchester United last result: 3-3 away draw at FC Porto (UEL) Aston Villa league standing: 5th Manchester United league standing: 13th Last League Encounter: 1-2 away win at Villa Park (Feb 2024) Aston Villa last starting XI (4-2-3-1): Martínez(c), Carlos, Torres Konsa, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, Philogene, Rogers, Ramsey, Watkins Manchester United last starting XI (4-2-3-1): Onana, Dalot, De Ligt, Martínez, Mazraoui, Eriksen, Casemiro, Diallo, Rashford, Fernandes(c), Højlund ===================== set 7. go go
Tough to see us winning now. I feel like we need intl break to regroup a bit, but ten Hag in a bind to turn it around before. I think sit back and counter a la Ole. Best chance to win here. Needs results until he can properly rework/tweak things during break.
I have been a holdout for ETH and while the results this season were not good, the stats were showing strong signs that it was coming together and we would start getting wins once the finishing improved. However I'm seeing regression now to last seasons chaos and find myself moving in this direction. If it continues at Villa I think waiting until the Nov break could be too late. Maybe Ruud could find a way to improve the mood and motivate the players (especially on the need to press with intensity) and we see an improvement
I waffled a lot last year and was a fence sitter right through the final. It was frustrating but ultimately, I have him the benefit of the doubt over injuries, club structure, recruitment, etc.. After all, he did win 2 cups. I was hopeful back in August, even a little confident. But, my turning point started with Brighton, and was confirmed by the Spurs game. I have no hope left now he can turn this longer term.
Agreed - although I am a bit behind you in reaching that point. The part that I keep going back on (as posted in the ETH thread) is whether this is a player or coach issue. I would say coach, but we have now had a lot of coaches that all experienced these failures. I am getting tired of the patience comments from ETH - but in the summer I also felt that now that the structure was being fixed that this would be a fresh start, so 9 games in we haven't exactly given him time under that for things to bed in... Then I remember we have seen these exact issues ....
Erik is basically back where he was before the FA Cup Final - not expected to win and a defeat will likely doom him to the sack. So this is basically another cup final - with the only prize for a decent result / performance being that the noise may die down a little over the international break. I optimistically put down draw, mainly bc they have a few injuries following their CL game (Ramsey, Bailey and Onana) plus the weird thing of teams not used to CL football often having dips game after. Like I said - optimistically as for sure is probs more likely we will loose
even with that dilemma all roads lead back to ten Hag. last year there was some credibility to the injury situation and the not his squad argument. the squad is his now. he asked for control over transfers and has had enough support with incomings. more than any other manager actually. unfortunately we see the same results and patterns with most players fit and most of them are his so he can't even use last season as a leg to stand on. we'll see how much longer he gets. maybe INEOS is a lot more patient than we think
The Athletic podcast today suggested their sources indicate that his job is not under threat at this time
I honestly wouldn't be shocked too see us beat Villa then lose badly to Brentford badly post break. That's just seems such a character thing for us.
The team to try and save his bacon. Maguire / Evans presumably bc the oppo physical threat and @ their ground plus presumably means we will play lower in a mid-block. Which should mean the somewhat suicidal 4-2-4 ultra-high pressing structure will not be the goto … Your United squad for #AVLMUN 🫡#MUFC || #PL— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 6, 2024
Come on now Evans and Maguire starting clearly shows ETH wants his payout now. Rashford also still starting.., Still going with Eriksen? Why buy De Ligt and Ugarte and not play them?
i don't think so. objectively on merit Martínez and De Ligt should be dropped after that abhorrent display midweek. Martínez has started this season just like the last - rash, impetuous, easily sucked in and beaten. hard to explain why after season 1. i actually believe thefly's post to a degree that ten Hag is safe for now. INEOS did invest in his players despite only giving the 1 year extension. so i'd assume they'd give him half a chance at least. he can't complain about the squad or injuries this time round. i don't know how much UCL qualification factors into it, but i'll revise my earlier statement to his cup trick might save him but it must be the UEL to even have a chance
Is maybe a bit of a pattern we have seen before (with us all having had so much experience of swapping managers)- all managers when under intense pressure seem to revert back to something relatively safe. Dunno if I would trust my future to a CB pairing of Maguire and Evans though. Also Eriksen in midfield has shown last few games that he is one of the few players that can get us in the final third. However all the issues with mobility and defence are still there. Hard to see us winning the middle of the pitch with this lineup - puts a huge strain on Mainoo. Dalot at LB a weakness too, but eff all options there apart from Martinez. In fact given Martinez CB form so far then given our LB issues wouldn't be averse to seeing him there to play himself into some form. Especially if Dalot all at sea again. Only plus is that we finally have Rasmus back available as a starter. Can't say I am at all confident having seen the team.
Noticing Garnacho and Rashford are playing not as high and wide without the ball unlike before this. Obviously a change in tactics.
Bruno execution of passes off again a few times this game on simple chances to play people in that he usually makes. Has been off his usual standards too many times this season. Curse of the new contract.
4-5-1 without the ball. Seeing more from Garno when defending. Rashy a little more freedom, but also bigger threat.