Manchester United thread

[A Bit High]

Reckon your harsh on De Gea, thought he looked solid even at corners.

He came for one highball and got an average punch to it but that showed me he was still confident enough to at least attack it even given the flack he has got.

Thought he was as good as he has been for a while to be honest.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Good win by the lads

 

[Hawthorn United]

Nice bit of breathing space.

Onward to Madrid. Will be an interesting game. Their style may suit us. Get them on the break.

 

[pantskyle]

**** I love Manchester United.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Nice bit of breathing space.
.

12 points ?

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

**** I love Manchester United.

Join the club

 

[beev]

Scholes doesn't make the squad for Madrid. Young is back.

Squad: De Gea, Lindegaard; Büttner, Evans, Evra, Ferdinand, Jones, Rafael, Smalling, Vidic; Anderson, Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs, Nani, Valencia, Young; Hernandez, Kagawa, Rooney, van Persie, Welbeck

 

[Stratton_Gun]

Scholes doesn't make the squad for Madrid. Young is back.

Squad: De Gea, Lindegaard; Büttner, Evans, Evra, Ferdinand, Jones, Rafael, Smalling, Vidic; Anderson, Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs, Nani, Valencia, Young; Hernandez, Kagawa, Rooney, van Persie, Welbeck

Madrids squad?
I reckon we'll go

De Gea
Rafa Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Carrick Anderson
Nani Rooney Kagawa
RVP

If we play Rio and Vidic we can't play a high line or they will go through us like hot knife through butter

 

[Cristiano Ronaldo]

Final lineup(s) for me:
4-2-3-1
de Gea
Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra
Carrick, Cleverley
Valencia, Rooney, Young
RVP

de Gea - Definite starter.
Rafael - Need the pace for Ronaldo and provides it better than Smalling and Jones in that position. Deserves his place after this season's performances.
Ferdinand - Should be picked, sat out on Monday morning.
Vidic - Captain, definite starter.
Evra - Picks himself.
Carrick - Definite starter and provides organisation to the team.
Cleverley - Like Rafael, deserves a place for his performances and a slightly better option than Anderson because i think he tracks back quicker and is more fitter.
Valencia - Form not great but our most disciplined winger who we need on the park to contain Ronaldo.
Rooney - Definite starter.
Young - Ended up choosing a traditional winger and not experimenting with Kagawa in this position. Hard to choose between him and Nani but Young has done well in the big matches against Chelsea and City this season. Also needs to contain di Maria.
RVP - Definite starter.

4-3-3
deGea
Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra
Jones/Anderson, Carrick, Cleverley
Valencia, RVP, Rooney

Jones - Provides more defensive qualities and would be good on the right of the 3-man midfield for more containment of Ronaldo.
Anderson - Provides both defence and attack and wouldn't be fussed seeing him either. Maybe sub him after 75' for Jones or vice versa?
Valencia - Again, most disciplined winger and his strength and hold-up play will be useful.
Rooney - Link up with the midfield when we have possession and then drift inwards. Interchange with RVP on the wing on occasions.

Personally, i like the 4-3-3 because i feel it gives us more control. Playing 4-2-3-1, they have 3-4 players in midfield and attack who are better players than ours and we will get severely over-run IMO. Sacrificing an attacking player for more midfield cover might not be a bad idea, especially playing away. If we are to get a draw or a win, my most influential player would have to be one of the extra men in midfield or Rooney to have a blinder. Prediction: 2-1 Real Madrid.

 

[Cristiano Ronaldo]

Madrid squad:
Diego Lopez, Adam, Jesus; Varane, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Albiol, Coentrao, Arbeloa, Carvalho; Alonso, Di Maria, Khedira, Essien, Kaka, Modric, Özil and Callejon; Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Higuain.

 

[A Bit High]

Jones may be picked in a shut down role as he did on Fellaini.

De Gea
Rafael Vidic Rio Evra
Carrick Jones
Valencia Rooney Kagawa/Nani
RVP

We might congest the midfield and try and strangle them and hit them on a fast counter.

 

[Hawthorn United]

Yeah that's the way I'd think we play especially away. Madrid prefer to play on the break so let them make the plays and not let them use Ronaldo's pace on the break.

 

[beev]

Madrids squad?
I reckon we'll go

De Gea
Rafa Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Carrick Anderson
Nani Rooney Kagawa
RVP

If we play Rio and Vidic we can't play a high line or they will go through us like hot knife through butter

I'm sure you understood what I meant.

I think Valencia will start over Nani because he tracks back more often and that will help Rafael against Ronaldo. Ozil tends to drift towards the left to link up with Ronaldo as well.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Not surprised Scholes missed out.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

I'm sure you understood what I meant.

I think Valencia will start over Nani because he tracks back more often and that will help Rafael against Ronaldo. Ozil tends to drift towards the left to link up with Ronaldo as well.

Huh?

Anyway I reckon if Valencia was to play we wouldn't have played him against Everton for the full 90. Plus Nani is in much better form. If we are playing for the draw though, he might just start.
Also despite Vidic being a gun vs Everton he wouldn't have played 2 games in 4 days since he came back from injury so I wouldn't be suprised if Evans started before him. Rio should play as he missed Everton. Would Rio and Vidic be too slow?

 

[A Bit High]

Me thinks Jones will get a job on Alonso.

Rooney could play wide left and Cleverley or Anderson in middle

DG
Raf Vid Rio Ev
Jones Carrick
Val Clev/Ando Rooney
RVP

 

[Hawthorn United]

Think Jones might get a similar job to the one against Tottenham on Bale, and help with limiting Ronaldos game.

 

[beev]

Happy with the result. I haven't seen the last 15 minutes as I had to leave for work.

If only RVP had got some more on that volley.

Well played DDG and Welbeck. Statement games. There were better signs from Kagawa but he was too slow with his decision making.

 

[SuperCats9]

Very good result, 2nd leg will be very interesting, i don't think being at home gives us that big of an advantage, Real Madrid still favourites in my opinion, easily capable of scoring a few goals at OT. Just hope we turn it on and have a special performance, would be awesome to knock Madrid out of the CL.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

Very good result, 2nd leg will be very interesting, i don't think being at home gives us that big of an advantage, Real Madrid still favourites in my opinion, easily capable of scoring a few goals at OT. Just hope we turn it on and have a special performance, would be awesome to knock Madrid out of the CL.

Yep imo they are still clear favourites

 

[Stratton_Gun]

On to Reading on Tuesday morning I think it is.
I really hope Chicha gets a start and I think he will because he's missed out on the last 2. Also reckon Lindgaard, Vidic, Nani, Cleverley, Buttner and Young will get a run. No excuses. Have RVP and/or Rooney on the bench for some insurance. When you don't get beaten vs Real Madrid at the SB, there are no excuses to lose to Reading on the next run. Maybe Rafa can have a rest as well but not sure who else would play RB if him and Jones aren't playing

Today was good but although they dominated we had the better chances. For the last few weeks, RVP's form has not been up to the very high standards he has set and that was shown in that miss today. Also for the life of me I don't know why Giggs didn't take the shot first time. Also Evans I think it was took a rushed header in the 2nd half when he could hve controlled/volleyed it.

 

[A Bit High]

Given our record at OT we are favourites against Real Madrid.

Does it mean a win, nothing is guaranteed.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

So when is the 2nd Real Madrid match ?

 

[Hawthorn United]

March 5th.

3 weeks time

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

March 5th.

3 weeks time

Thanks