PBP: UEL - FC Midtjylland vs Manchester United FC - Feb 18, 2016 [R]

minor note, Jakob Paulsen of Midtjylland is suspended.

 

We will lose.

 

Rooney was not on the plane.

Love, Poole, Riley and Weir travel.

Edit:

De Gea, Romero, Love, McNair, Smalling, Blind, Poole, Riley, Carrick, Herrera, Schneiderlin, Lingard, Pereira, Weir, Mata, Memphis, Martial, Keane.

 

A lot of ye will get your wish with no Rooney in the team.

 

Midtjylland has not played a competitive game since mid December. Play the kids and mix in one or two vets and be done with it.

 

Have you watched us play?

 

Yes which is why I say play the kids at least they will play with some passion or urgency.

 

No Borthwick Jackson in the lineup.

Regan Poole has been highly touted played in the lower league with Newport, he is used to the scrappy football.

My lineup:

De Gea

McNair
Smalling
Blind
Poole

Carrick
Herrera

Martial
Depay
Pereira

Keane

Having Carrick there provides experience and get the ball out to our play makers and wingers, and most importantly have Herrera involved to push forward.

Jackson is not in the squad, he is rested, I'd personally put Regan Poole, but most likely LVG will play Love at right back, McNair Smalling and Blind at left back.

I think it is time for Pereira to play and Depay. Will Keane needs to also get time, I'd give him the start because of his form.

 

I think Martial needs to start upfront. Let Lingard start and put Keane on the bench.

 

Maybe a Lingard Depay Pereira then Martial up top.

 

This should be quite comical.

 

Given the reports that Rooney is crocked for a while we need to stop dicking around, pick a starting attack and roll with it.

 

Serious for once. I like it @Teso Dos Bichos

 

Do we make the obvious move and shift Martial up front with Depay on the left. Or are we too short of dribblers to put Martial up front and instead have Keane or Depay step in as our lone striker? Decisions, decisions....

 

I'd say through in Keane as a starter, keep the shape. We need a viable flank threat. As long as the ball is in the box, we are good. I am sure Keane has a better touch than Rooney and mobility which will only help the team.

Time for the kids to step up.

 

I'd much rather keep Martial where he's been playing out on the left and have either Depay or Keane play uptop at the center forward position.
Martial, more than any player on the squad, has shown that he's able to make things happen from a wide position and take players on, all the while, he's still scoring. Depay is not an upgrade over him in that capacity, not to mention, this is the perfect time to judge if Depay is indeed fit for a more central role.
Keane has been showing great form with the U21s since he returned to the club and he should be getting more of an opportunity if Depay is not up to the task.

 

Memphis can make tons and tons of things happen on the left. It's his natural position and he's extremely dynamic there. Martial is a born striker. He's 10 times better up front and has been playing out of position all year to accommodate old man Rooney. If LVG still doesn't play Martial up front and Memphis on the wing now, I'm going to start breaking things.

 

Have you been watching United this season?

 

I second what Jeff said. Memphis made tons and tons of nothing happen on the left. He's attempted to cut inside and shoot...right into a defender. ..repeat 5 times per game.

 

Because Depay produces practically squat from the left, that's the reason I'd prefer keeping Martial there and play Depay centrally, uptop just as he was vs Watford and see how that goes.
Martial at least provides some much needed creativity that we're desperately been lacking on the flanks and he still puts himself in a position to score as well.
At worst, if Depay proves to be a bust as a center forward, he can always be moved out wide or we can turn it over to Keane and hopefully, he can be a temporary solution.

 

Would like to see Adnan next game where he isn't cup tied.

 

Unfortunately, Januzaj is one of the 13 players who are currently not available. He probably will be out for another couple of weeks actually. When he comes back, he definitely should get a closer look.

 

Give Keane a chance, both in the EL and FAC - if Rooney is out for a month or two then we need a few warm striking options. If he does well then start him against Arsenal, if he doesnt then at least he has had some games and can play a role from the bench.

Would also start Depay at LW for similar reasons.

Martial should be on the bench and only brought on if needed - as we will now be relying on him even more for the rest of the season and cant risk an injury in a dodgy away leg on a crappy pitch (reason BoJack etc not taken).

 

Januzaj is out with a bruised ego.