So, another must win game so soon into the season. Is this the match that Jose finally bows to pressure and leaves Rooney out? Will it have the desired effect? Will Carrick, Herrera and Schneiderlin go back to the bench to accommodate Fellaini? Of course they will. After our superb performance on Wednesday in the league cup we must surely kick on and hammer the Tigers of Leicester. Or is that Hull? Interesting fact TBC.
If Fellaini starts then I will have to question whether Jose has indeed flipped. It's professional suicide.
I think he will though, sadly. I'm hoping/expecting that this is the game Mourinho finally sets out his stall so to speak. He gave Rooney 90 mins on Wednesday, perfect excuse to 'rest' him there. I hope he goes for a 3 man midfield really with Herrera, Pogba and Carrick or Schneiderlin but if he does change like for like then get Mata in Rooney's position but at least **** Fellaini off to put Herrera or Schneiderlin alongside him.
I hope that Fellani doesn't try putting his big mop in Huth's fist again ...... Dirty fookin bastard he is
Now we're talking - no excuses with that line-up. Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho: "Rashford plays, and Lingard plays. I knew the question would be Rooney, but the question should be Lingard and Rashford. Two young England players in the starting line-up. They are quick, the game is going to be intense and fast, the way they play they stretch the game. When our main striker is Zlatan we need fast people surrounding him. "The last thing I want to do is to hurt players or create negative situations for them. In a normal football country with normal media, I would say there are 23 players with plenty of chances to play. Fresh people, we have another match on Thursday. If Rooney doesn't play today he plays the next one. It is a normal decision."
No Fellaini That was the one I was worried about. Truth is though, that this ine up should have been bedded in against weaker opposition first. So don't expect a quick fix. And don't ask for changes if it doesnt click straight away today.
I think that whatever the result, this has to be the first-choice team with plenty of scope to play with the midfield options. Hope he gives this line-up a good run of PL matches
Well almost. I think Shaw should be left back and I wouldn't have Lingard as first choice personally. We can all be happy though that the two players we think shouldn't play aren't.
We definitely need a run of games with this midfield, regardless of result today. Build for the long term.
Speed has been what has been lacking and what everyone had been calling for. Good to see Jose is acknowledging that.
Mata has a better football brain than Rooney in that position, speed is less important. Our captain is good .........
He's swapped like for like players and the lack of pace up front remains, sorry. At least changing Fellaini for Herrera should quicken the ball out of midfield.
No, I'm pointing out that Mata doesn't have any more pace than Rooney. Herrera is far quicker of feet and thought than Fellaini could ever be though. Rooney wouldn't have scored that on that current form of course.