Match Day Thread Barca vs United - The battle of the bohemoths

Casemiro returns!

But so does Fred

Anyway, let's hope we tap up Frenkie good and proper.

I'm not expecting us to go through tbh, but if we do it'll be a bonus.

Way I see this tie it's a good test against one of the best sides in Europe, and gives another indicator of where we are atm in terms of our progress under Ten Hag

Kick off is at 5.45pm btw.

 

Good to have Casemiro and Varane back for this one, both of them much needed, but just as important, both of them are used to the stadium and the atmosphere, two key players who won't be fazed by the occasion. Nice not to get skinned and to have something to play for back at OT.

 

Oh good, Robbie Savage is 'pundit'.

Rapier.

 

Don't forget that Barca are 8 points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga...............

 

Barca have clearly increased the match official bribery budget for 2023

 

This is definitely the stage in the game they'll start throwing themselves all over the deck.

 

More than happy with that. Great intent, solid tactics and Rashford on fire. No injuries or suspensions so upwards and onwards - they will be ours for the taking at OT

 

Barcelona are dirty fouling ****s.

United were brilliant, we were at it from the start, put Barca under pressure and I don't think we looked 2nd best at all.

Having said that, Weghorst is a bag of ****e. And Wan Bissaka can tackle but he's mediocre in possession, even the simple passes.

And I'll repeat again - if Rashford aint scoring we don't have anyone else who is. Even though we have Bruno who should be. I'd include Sancho as well, but he's returned recently so give him some leeway.

 

We'll beat that lot at home, no bother.

Play like that again and we'll be fine.

 

I think mediocre is a big call ffs. He's way better than that, he's just not a modern attacking right back. I'd rather he be a good defender than a Trent la type.

Bear in mind also, our best centre half was suspended. Martinez back and Shaw to left back improves that defence immediately.

I do find it a bit odd Weghorst continues to get a full 90. He's nuisance, but he offers no actual goal threat of note.

 

I've never bedrudged AWB his attacking play, so it's not about him going forward or his final ball, not at all. I accept that's not his strength.

I'm talking about his possession in our own half. Even his short passes at the back, were given away. I'm talking 4 to 6 yard passes where he either tries to play through a Barca player (which is never going to happen) or he's trying to release Bruno with a simple passes but it gets easily cut out. The problem with that was it created unnecessary pressure at times bcos they kept getting possession back in our third.

 

They did that often anyway, one thing Barca do do well is very close control in tight spaces and pass it about in triangles.

They do that better than us, they're more comfortable in congested areas. I wouldn't single AWB out for giving the ball away myself, a few were at it. Malacia not great either, nor was Varane at times, or Shaw.

It had no end product anyway.
There were two different styles of football on display there, noticeably.

I prefer ours.

 

Bissakas play in the attacking half has improved beyond belief since Ten Hag took over. He used to fall over his own feet when trying to attack in any way but now he actually goes past people and gets crosses/passes in.
Still, like has been hinted he is not good enough yet to try taking people on in our half and should maybe just go back to basics there and clear the ball (at least for now).

 

The performance was better than the result. The referee clearly bottled a key decision when rashford went through on his own. A great match to watch. And honestly one I could never have imagined in August at the start of the season. Clear system, tactically aware manager and players and playing together as a team.

This team goes into any match expecting to win it.

 

I saw a live training session at the Barca training ground a few years back. To watch them doing the tight passing drills - on the move, is quite incredible

 

The fitness and injury resistance of your best players is phenomenal.

 

Our best player gets himself periodically suspended!

Nice little rest there.

The rest is all down to the manager managing.

 

All the stuff about playing extra games is nonsense anyway. The teams obviously super fit so that won't be an issue and none are injury prone either.

 

Mate, we've got a better squad is all.

Said it when I went to us v you at Old Trafford this season, your subs are ****e.

It comes with time, you've barely started tbf.

And yes, we're fitter, but that also comes with better management.

Prior to Erik, our coaching was ****e.

 

Well that was a ****e first half.

Rashford on the left with Weghorst up front just aint working.

What's disappointing is that Barca haven't been all that good either.