Match Day Thread Atalanta v Manchester United

Champions league group stage match four.

Very able opponents last time so will need to be on our toes.

I'd like us to persist with a 3/5 defence, but would wonder if Sancho couldn't be right wing back, with AWB moving inside to replace Lindelof?

Just my idea though, I would be amazed if Solskjaer was thinking the same!

Also, DVDB instead of Fred or McTom this evening?

 

He’ll have to think about Saturday.

In terms of importance that dwarfs this match but he wants a result here. Minimum a draw otherwise the narrative will be as expected how he cannot maintain any form of consistency and how it typifies the yo-yo nature of his reign.

I can imagine him keeping the more solid system. 5 at the back, possibly telles instead of shaw, Greenwood at the top instead of Cavani. I can’t see DVDB coming in for either McFred which is a shame because Ole doesn’t trust him. Possibly matic coming in for Fred.

A draw (not a given) will suit us nicely.

 

Yeah, draw will be fine.

Pogba can also play as he's not suspended but it for Saturday so I expect he'll appear.

 

Interesting that Ole seemingly 'doesn't trust' van de Beek when he's never really given him the opportunity to prove himself.

He just hasn't.

An opportunity would be giving him five games on the bounce and seeing how he does, not five minutes here and there.

 

I also think that tonight will be a good opportunity to give sancho a run too. He could be fearing for his future should we go down the 3-5-2 route on a permanent basis.

 

Ronaldo and Cavani won't go on forever, time is well on his side.

He could also lay right wing back, with AWB covering behind, in some games.

I don't see why not myself.

 

Sure. But I think Ole could have stumbled on the best way to accommodate CR while he is here. A solid defence of 5 and a two pronged attack instead of a lonely No9. A 3-5-2 which Ferguson never liked but needs must.

As CR cannot and shouldn’t play all the games, we should train to 2 systems. When he doesn’t play or against the less strong sides we could go for a 4-2-3-1 with Sancho and Rashford in the wings and Cavani or Greenwood at the top.

 

The 3 games since the loss to Livpl will be all that's on Ole's mind.

He'll set up on a "playing not to lose" basis. Let's hope Atalanta don't score.

 

Against the less fancied sides, if we do concede in the first half we've got the whole of the second half to change things. We'll throw everything into the attack and very often the momentum takes us to a win. What we've been poor in doing is to protect a lead especially over a long period or to play a cautious game. We've been useless at playing for a draw.

 

I don't recall us having to protect a lead much in away games over the past couple of years. We tend to concede first more often than not and then coming back to draw or win.

Agree we're useless at playing for a draw. It's why I don't think we should be today. Go out there and smash them. But if we lose then Ole comes under pressure and won't want to risk it so it'll be about keeping a clean sheet and little else.

 

Chief says that Sancho has time on his side. I don’t buy that at all as I’m certain that is not what Sancho is thinking. He’sa proven player, why would he be okay with simply sitting on the bench collecting dust? But more importantly, why are we spending so much on players and destroying their morale because we simply don’t have a plan on how we would use them.

Next transfer window should be used to release players than thinking of buying even more.

 

Team News

1
D De Gea
29
A Wan-Bissaka
3
E Bailly
19
R Varane
5
H Maguire (c)
23
L Shaw
18
B Fernandes
39
S McTominay
6
P Pogba
10
M Rashford
7
C Ronaldo

3-5-2

 

That's a good team tbf. I'm happy with that.

Good midfield.

It's a 3-5-2 which could transition into a 3-4-3 easily if Bruno pushes up

 

As expected he kept the weekend system . Pogba of course especially as he forcibly absent on Saturday. Rashford in for Cavani makes sense as we wouldn’t expect the latter to start so soon.

 

Lol as I said, I hope they don't score.

We always concede first and often early. Need to score now. Not just one, but a couple imo.

 

Can't fault our pace or attacking play tbf. Nowt wrong there.

But the high back line looks a liability. It's just the defence.

 

Steve Macmanaman egging Atalanta to score another. Why do they let scouse bitters commentate our games.

 

We have to close them down. It's just far too easy for them to knock the ball around and then we end up camped in our own box.

The longer this half has gone on, the more we're unravelling. FFS!

 

Seriously, take off Pogba and bring on VDB.

 

And again

Get him off ffs.