Here we go then, not some shield, but a right proper cup to start the new season. The game is on BT Sport 2. In the searing heat of the Philip II Arena in Skopje, Macedonia, Jose's team take on the Spanish giants. If we win the lads will be heroes, if we lose - then who wanted a tin-pot cup anyway.
Just dawned on me the change if kick off on Saturday. How very, very ****ing typical. The only surprise is that they didn't make us the Friday night game. ****s, absolute ****ing ****s. You can just hear the premier league and TV companies colluding together ; "So, United have the temerity to have a European game this week. In boiling hot Macedonia. How ****ing dare they. Can we make life as difficult as is earthly possible for them and their supporters, given they are torch bearers for the premier league in Europe? Friday night? Nah, that's taking the piss too much even for us, let's put them on Saturday lunch time. The bastards" Anyway, hopefully we come out unscathed and undehydrated with a win and a good kick start to the actual season.
JM dropping hints in pre-match pressers that we might go for Bale if he doesn't play in the Final (and they sign Mbappe). He seems to sense that the match will demonstrate RM's plans for the future
There's definitely something a foot. We'll see soon enough, eh? I'm sure the necessary people can have a chat tomorrow.
Isn't our first league game Sunday 4pm against West Ham? Saturday lunch isn't till Swansea the next weekend.
Don't forget if we win we would have to play in the FIFA Club World Cup so maybe not a bad result if we lose getting excuses in early
??? CWC is always contested by the CL winners. Doesn't matter what happens in the Super Cup, Real will be in the CWC.
Another angle on Jose's comments regarding Bale is that it does rather put pressure on Zidane to consider fielding a player who might not be match fit - if only to quell the rumour.
I'm certainly looking forward to Real's starting eleven now! So, we think this is will be a full first team run out? Might as well be. Assuming there are no injuries that I don't know about I'd like this team; De Gea Valencia Bailly Lindelof Shaw Matic Hererra Pogba Martial Lukaku Rashford Mhkitaryan will more than likely play ahead of Martial I reckon, maybe Darmian ahead of Shaw. We've a hell of a squad now, no real excuses can be made this season. Add Bale to it and we'd be flying.
Shaw is injured and Bailly and Jones are suspended. I'd imagine the back four will be Valencia, Smalling, Lindelof and Darmian. I think Martial will start, he shredded Carvajal pre-season.
Think LB is our weakest area, Shaw is unreliable and the rest are not conventional LB's. Martial pays the price for having nothing consistent behind/along side him.