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Match Day Thread Manchester United v Roma 1st Leg

Discussion in 'Manchester United' started by glazerfodder, Apr 29, 2021.

  1. Chief

    Chief Northern Simpleton
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    I do agree, and Declan Rice would be a great signing in that respect, but feel we should develop McTominay into that position.

    If we bought Rice, or another DCM, it's McTominay who would have to miss out.
     
    #21
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  2. Chief

    Chief Northern Simpleton
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    The prophet of doom speaks!
     
    #22
  3. Treble

    Treble Keyser Söze

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    I think that's a good point and a bit of a dilemma bcos when McT is not playing we really are exposed.

    The last few mins are a great example of Fred's limits. He's non-existent, we concede 2 and all he can do is foul and get himself booked. Happens far too often with him.

    It's those games when Pogba doesn't play we need someone beside McT. Perhaps Soucek would be the better option to replace Fred?
     
    #23
  4. Chief

    Chief Northern Simpleton
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    That's a beautiful goal.

    That man is such a brilliant centre forward.
     
    #24
  5. Treble

    Treble Keyser Söze

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    Love Cavani coming in to back up Greenwood. He's just such a top player to have.
     
    #25
  6. Christiansmith

    Christiansmith Well-Known Member

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    I didn’t expect to beat Roma. All the motivation was with them. A loss but ultimately comfortable passage to the final. Only winning the damn thing will mean anything.
     
    #26
  7. Treble

    Treble Keyser Söze

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    If you can't be motivated for a European semi final then there is a problem.

    I don't buy that btw. We lost because we were **** in midfield defensively. It was our own fault.
     
    #27
  8. Christiansmith

    Christiansmith Well-Known Member

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    of course it was our fault. Tonight confirmed why VDB doesn’t play in our best formations. His passing was very loose and his defensive play not as good as McTominay.

    We would have wanted a win but at 6-2 anything but a 4 goal against tonight gets us through. Ole was right to change things a little bit. Of course this was still a strong side but the loss is really not a big deal.
     
    #28
  9. Diego

    Diego Lone Ranger

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    First 20mins set the tone for that game and it all started with a man i have down as player of the season, Luke Shaw. He was absolutely ****e at every thing he did, pass, attack or defend.
    The only good points from tonight were de Gea looking like he had gone back 4 or 5 years and keeping us in the game. and Cavani's movement.
    A few others were decent but not great.
     
    #29
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  10. Christiansmith

    Christiansmith Well-Known Member

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    I can see us going through the motions, struggling with changed sides till the end of the season. This is being realistic rather than overly pessimistic. We may get the odd win to hold on to our CL place but really no cigar.

    That run of 5 matches in 12 days or 4 matches in 8 will be a ****ing killer. How do people expect players to be at their optimum when there will only be 40 hours between matches. I know it cannot be avoided but this is plain ****ing ridiculous.
     
    #30

  11. Treble

    Treble Keyser Söze

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    I know it's no big deal. But there was no reason not to expect to win.

    As long as we win the Europa League it's fine but winning breeds confidence and we go into that final full of confidence. It's important we don't become inconsistent in these coming games leading up to the final.
     
    #31
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  12. Christiansmith

    Christiansmith Well-Known Member

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    The business end of the season.

    1. We need to step over the line afa a CL place is concerned and 2. Get ready and fit (I.e minimise injuries) for the Europa final. Ole and his team would never get a better opportunity to get that “no trophy for 4 years” monkey off their backs.

    The number of matches to be played in such a short period is unheard of and physically impossible to be all played by any player. Ole also doesn’t want to risk any injuries before a major final. Completely unrealistic now to expect to win all 5 games. As the Roma match has shown , even modest changes makes this team vulnerable. Ole will need to identify which matches to try to win and which to give up in order to rest his key players. Personally:

    Villa: strong side.
    Leicester: Reserves (Maguire, Shaw Fernandes Pogba Rashford Cavani Greenwood and other key players all rested).
    RS: Strong (They need a ****ing win so even a draw would be great <ok> ;) )
    Fulham: Reserves.
    Wolves: Reserves

    The last 2 matches should allow our key players to be rested before the final.
     
    #32
  13. glazerfodder

    glazerfodder Well-Known Member

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    It's a difficult one for Ole in the sense that there is a slender chance that going all out for the EL might cost us a top four finish if those around us finish strongly. To pin our hopes of CL footie next season on a win in the final is long odds, my preference would be to focus on consolidating a top four PL finish. Imagine the **** storm if we lost the EL final and came fifth in the PL because we were 'resting' key players.................
     
    #33
  14. Treble

    Treble Keyser Söze

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    Fulham will be relegated by then and have nothing to play for. Wolves in midtable should also be on their holidays. We aim to win every game but those last two games shouldn't matter as we will have secured Top 3 at least by then.

    That allows a lot of our key players to be rested for the Europy final.
     
    #34
  15. Christiansmith

    Christiansmith Well-Known Member

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    We would need shooting if we miss out on CL now. The most anyone currently outside CL places can achieve is 70 (West Ham). The ideal solution (easier said than done) is to get 3 points against Villa to get 70 pts. And we can then look calmly at all the remaining matches. We should only put the strongest team against the RS and play reserves or under 23 in all the rest to prepare properly for the EL final.

    One thing is certain. The next three matches are so close together 4/5 days that it is impossible for Ole to play any player in all three. He could mix and match and make 5 or 6 changes each time but that would be a recipe for disaster against 2 top teams. Most sensible thing is to openly give up the Tuesday Leicester match.
     
    #35
  16. Chief

    Chief Northern Simpleton
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    Not sure about give up but yeah, all out for win tomorrow and Thursday.

    Can take it easier Tuesday but still play to not lose as the bare minimum. There's no game next weekend either so there's a rest of sorts after all this.

    We need to secure 2nd and win EL, it then can't be argued that genuine progress is being made.

    Three way title race next season then IMHO.
     
    #36
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  17. Solid_Air 2

    Solid_Air 2 Well-Known Member

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    Have to say i wish the Leics game had been moved back to the Thursday and we got the Tuesday as presumably a large percentage of your first 11 will miss that one .
     
    #37
  18. Christiansmith

    Christiansmith Well-Known Member

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    Would be surprising if Ole didn’t rest all his first team against Leicester. Would also teach these ****ing administrators a lesson.
     
    #38
  19. Solid_Air 2

    Solid_Air 2 Well-Known Member

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    from your pov it just makes sense in every way . tbh it is probably a good thing for you we didn't get the Tuesday slot as that may have led to some conflict between logic and emotion in your selections .
     
    #39
  20. Treble

    Treble Keyser Söze

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    There's more to this than just what our fixtures look like. When you take the Liverpool game out, our run in is no different to Villareal.

    After Liverpool we have almost 2 weeks before the final. In that time we play Fulham and Wolves.

    And consider this, Villareal have some tough games, trying to push for Top 4.... with Real Madrid 3 days before the final, the day we're playing Wolves.
     
    #40

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