v. Kick-off: 19:45 BST (2:45PM EST) Venue: Volkswagen Arena Last Meeting: Man Utd 2 Wolfsburg 1 Ref: Milorad Mazic Live: FS1, MUTV online, youtube, Fox Soccer 2 Go, BT Sports, beIN Sports (in some countries) Wolfsburg Doubtful Gustavo, Rodriguez, Knoche Injured none(?) Suspended None Form (all comps) LLWWDL Leading scorers (UCL all games) Schurrle (2) Manchester United Doubtful none Injured Schneiderlin, Rooney, Rojo, Jones,Herrera, Valencia and Shaw Suspended None Traveling Team: David De Gea, Sergio Romero; Paddy McNair, Chris Smalling, Guillermo Varela, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Daley Blind, Matteo Darmian; Bastian Schweinsteiger, Michael Carrick, Sean Goss, Nick Powell, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, Andreas Pereira, Juan Mata; Memphis Depay, Marouane Fellaini, Anthony Martial. Form (all comps) WWWDDD Leading scorers (UCL all games) Rooney (4) How we advance: Match PSV's result vs CSKA Win
This is my lineup for the game: De Gea Varela (LVG McNair) Smalling Blind Darmian Carrick Schweini Lingard Mata Depay Martial Subs: Romero, Young, Fellaini, Pereira, McNair, Powell, Jackson.
The team I would go with is the same we saw this past weekend, with the exception of Lingard starting for Mata on the right and Depay playing on the left. Fellaini had a good game Saturday and on this form deserves to keep his place over Mata who simply was not good enough. Because of Schneid's injury, Carrick obviously gets the start as well. DDG McNair Smalling Blind Darmian Carrick Schweinsteiger Lingard Fellaini Depay Martial Been advocating for Depay to play as our 9 with Martial flanking him, but figured that since this is not a league game, he could be more effective in his usual LW spot. If for some reason, he's not up to it, Martial and him could always switch positions (if necessary)
From everything I have seen the past few months....I would be beyond surprised if we come away with a victory. Let's be honest, most fans have lost belief...and I'm not sure the players ever had it. If\when we are in the Europa league at the end of the game...we are unlikely to get passed the first game, so it shouldn't hinder the leagues slow climb too much. Hopefully, everyone else will continue to fck it up, so we can hang onto fourth by the skin of our teeth...and maybe someone else will be available at the end of the season. Nothing will change while he continues to say\believe most things are going to plan in his press conferences.
The vast majority have lost belief. Look on any Man Utd forum. Look at the video reaction of match going fans......almost nobody think we'll pull it off tomorrow. Infact, a lot now think we are incapable of putting the ball in the net at all.
Win, lose or draw, I'd hope at least that the team plays along the same lines we saw this past weekend and possibly improve upon that performance. If they go out having given their best (or close to it) for this game, I can accept that. It's them just "laying down" that I would have major issues with. Despite how short on quality players we are upfront, we've shown this past weekend that we can be more open than we've been in recent games: it's up to Van Gaal and the players to sustain that level, as to raise everyone's confidence level going forward.
Given the weird nature of football these days and with LVG defensive style, we are probably better off needing to do the business away than at home. So I think we will win (glass half full style) Provided of course that Bas Dost stays away from Blind ...
I am more confident in CSKA putting us through tomorrow than us getting the result we need on our own.
What does bring me hope is the fact that we will not be easy to score upon (shouldn't be at least). If everything goes according to plan on that front, Smalls will have Bas Dost or Lord Bendtner in his pocket, leaving someone else to beat us potentially. I expect a big performance from Schweinsteiger, where he along with Carrick will keep the game under control from midfield. If anyone can will us to victory on the day, it could be Schweini: he's probably looking at a 3 game suspension upon his return so there's no reason for him to leave anything on the pitch. The one and big question mark resides in our attack: who knows what direction Van Gaal will go into but we have to hope that someone, anyone in that front 4 can step it up big time tomorrow. If it can happen and someone can finish, we have a chance. Van Gaal is not wrong when he claims that this is the biggest game of his United tenure so far: it's do or die tomorrow and fingers crossed, the game will be up to the occasion and be a European night to remember...
What has to transpire for United to make it thru: The 0-0 draw at home to PSV leaves United in second place in Group B, just a point above PSV in third and facing a trip to first-place Wolfsburg in the final game. A win against the German side would see United finish top of the group but if PSV win at home to bottom side CSKA Moscow, a defeat or draw for United in Wolfsburg would see them drop out of the Champions League and into the Europa League. If PSV draw against CSKA then a draw would send United through, but they could not afford to lose in that situation as PSV would then progress due to a superior head-to-head record.
At least Van Gaal knows this is the most important game of his United career: let's hope it will be reflected on the pitch... http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...gest-so-far-as-Manchester-United-manager.aspx
rumours Rooney was left out of squad because of a high blood alcohol content after a blood test. just rumours though, probably not true
Yup, Red Issue has been standing by that report since the weekend. That there is an ankle injury but there was multiple instances of blood alcohol. I can't imagine it being true - as unyielding LVG has been in picking him, it does seem like even he would blow his top. DDG Varela Blind Smalling Darmian Basti Carrick Lingard Fellaini Memphis Martial Is the starting lineup being reported by Bild.
DDG Varela Blind Smalling Darmian Basti Mata Lingard Fellaini Memphis Martial... Fellaini in midfield ahead of Carrick?