[parisite]

Mata has to start, he brings maturity and intelligence to our play in the final third and is one our most reliable goalscorers. You never what you're going to get from Mkhi, Martial & Rashford right now.

Is Mata even fit? I thought he was out for the rest of the season.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

Is Mata even fit? I thought he was out for the rest of the season.

He was on the bench vs Swansea man.

 

[WhoDaGOAT]

Playing Tuanzebe would be madness. Totally not ready for such a game.

I'd rather die a mad man.

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

----------Romero
Valencia--Darmian--Blind--Young
-------Pogba--Herrera
--Mata--Mkhitaryan--Martial
---------Rashford

 

[Blind]

I've always thought Darmian is more suited to centre back than full back so I've got no problems with him starting. I would be a lot more concerned about Carrick and Fellaini starting together when Carrick's played far too much football recently and they get jogged past with ease at the best of times.

 

[whatwha]

----------Romero
Valencia--Darmian--Blind--Young
-------Carrick--Herrera
---Mata--Mkhitaryan--Martial
---------Rashford

Swap Carrick with Pogba and that might be the best team we can put out.

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

Swap Carrick with Pogba and that might be the best team we can put out.

Yeah, done. Herrera/Pogba makes more sense, but with a temporary/fragile backline, wouldn't surprise me to see Carrick playing to offer protection.

I'm also sort of expecting Fellaini to play.

 

[endless_wheelies]

Carrick usually does a decent job when called upon at centre back so considering how deep we'll likely sit he and Blind should be able to do a good job, Darmian offering a bit of cover by playing a narrow left back role.

If we stay solid then we have the quality with Mkhitaryan and Pogba to release Rashford/Martial et al on the break and hurt them a few times. They're a very astute Spanish side but show me the top quality difference makers they possess that we don't, Leicester showed that La Liga really isn't as unbelievable as the traditional English big guns insist on making them look year after year and if we're serious about being in the Champions League next season then Celta are not a side to fear.

Romero
Valencia - Carrick - Blind - Darmian
Herrera - Fellaini
Mkhitaryan - Pogba - Martial
Rashford

2-1 United.

 

[DatGuyRich]

Romero

Valencia, Carrick, Blind, Darmian, Young

Fellaini, Herrera, Pogba

Mkhitaryan Rashford

 

[efraim]

Romero
Valencia Darmian Blind Young
Fellaini Herrera Pogba
Mkhitaryan Rashford Martial

Subs: Mata, Carrick and Tuanzebe. Bring Tuanzebe on for a forward or midfielder to pack our defense and protect our lead (if we manage to get that).

 

[Android1974]

Their most dangerous man plays on the rightwing, so you have to decide if you trust Young to face him.

 

[Android1974]

Carrick usually does a decent job when called upon at centre back so considering how deep we'll likely sit he and Blind should be able to do a good job, Darmian offering a bit of cover by playing a narrow left back role.

If we stay solid then we have the quality with Mkhitaryan and Pogba to release Rashford/Martial et al on the break and hurt them a few times. They're a very astute Spanish side but show me the top quality difference makers they possess that we don't, Leicester showed that La Liga really isn't as unbelievable as the traditional English big guns insist on making them look year after year and if we're serious about being in the Champions League next season then Celta are not a side to fear.

Romero
Valencia - Carrick - Blind - Darmian
Herrera - Fellaini
Mkhitaryan - Pogba - Martial
Rashford

2-1 United.

Those players would align in a 4-3-3, not a 4-2-3-1 since Pogba hasn't played in #10 in a while.

 

[Android1974]

Romero

Valencia, Carrick, Blind, Darmian, Young

Fellaini, Herrera, Pogba

Mkhitaryan Rashford

Celta plays 4-3-3, what's the use of that 5-3-2? That would be a shameful formation, even with all our injuries.

 

[Android1974]

Mata has to start, he brings maturity and intelligence to our play in the final third and is one our most reliable goalscorers. You never what you're going to get from Mkhi, Martial & Rashford right now.

He was out for so long, probably couldn't even train, are we going to start him? If this was a home game, it would make a lot more sense.

 

[Sereques]

No Rooney = Result

This.....

 

[RedPed]

Anderlecht were the ones lucky in the first leg, where we should have buried the tie, really. We completely dominated them away, with a midfield two of Carrick and Pogba, mind you, and I'm expecting something similar to happen Thursday, although probably without Carrick.

How many times has that happened this season though, where we have dominated teams, created a hatful of chances and not got the rewards from it. Our luck could run out sooner or later if we don't start finishing teams off. I'm hoping it doesn't happen on Thursday.

 

[DatGuyRich]

Celta plays 4-3-3, what's the use of that 5-3-2? That would be a shameful formation, even with all our injuries.

Sooooo?

They have had the chance to rest half their starting XI.

I am fully expecting Mou to park the bus here.

 

[Jacko21]

Their most dangerous man plays on the rightwing, so you have to decide if you trust Young to face him.

Mourinho trusts him, that's good enough for me.

 

[Sandikan]

Really interesting team selection ahead.

Noone seems to have a clue how close Smalling or Jones are. They could be back next game, or out for the season.
Bailly surely can't be in after the way he limped off, but Pogba hopefully more of a chance.

Fellaini is certain to come in, but aside from that who knows!

 

[Hugh Jass]

4-3-3 for me. Keep it tight and frustrate them.

Probably delusional but would love to kill the tie on Thursday.

 

[Android1974]

Sooooo?

They have had the chance to rest half their starting XI.

I am fully expecting Mou to park the bus here.

We don't need that formation to effectively park the bus, like we've seen from the City game.

 

[Android1974]

4-3-3 for me. Keep it tight and frustrate them.

Probably delusional but would love to kill the tie on Thursday.

To kill the tie we have to create chances, and not just sit back, like we did in the City game. A balanced formation should do it.

 

[Android1974]

Would love if Mourinho pulled some tactical stuff to frustrate them like we did Anderlecht away. They'll surely run their socks of, and we'll keep tight but he have to be dangerous, to counterattack quickly and exchange the ball wisely. I have the impression their fullbacks play very high in the pitch, so maybe we could try to almost a diamond with Mkhitaryan at the tip and Martial and Rashford running between their fullbacks and centerbacks.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Reckon Bailly will give it a go unlike the other two softies.

 

[horsechoker]

Reckon Bailly will give it a go unlike the other two softies.

Bailly is the type who would play through the pain and get himself injured. I love the guy but at the same time I don't want to see him worsen any injuries.

 

[Toad]

Any La Liga experts in here?

Should we be weary of any other player than Aspas and Orellana?

What is Sisto like, another Traore?

 

[horsechoker]

Any La Liga experts in here?

Should we be weary of any other player than Aspas and Orellana?

What is Sisto like, another Traore?

Sisto scored against us last year for FC Midtjylland

 

[Prodigy24]

Any La Liga experts in here?

Should we be weary of any other player than Aspas and Orellana?

What is Sisto like, another Traore?

Sisto tore us apart with Midtjylland last season, and has been very good in Celta, so he's another one.

 

[Lawman]

Not sure why but I fear for us on Thursday.

 

[Zoo]

He was out for so long, probably couldn't even train, are we going to start him? If this was a home game, it would make a lot more sense.

Play him for 60 minutes then. Go for the away goal and positive result to take into the second leg.

 

[Android1974]

Play him for 60 minutes then. Go for the away goal and positive result to take into the second leg.

But since when is Mata an adequate player for chasing the ball and quick counterattack play?

 

[red_john]

If we had a full fit and fresh squad this would be a comfortable win. However....

 

[Android1974]

If we had a full fit and fresh squad this would be a comfortable win. However....

We won't be fresh, but I'm not expecting nothing similar to the Swansea game. We have 4 days and a half rest, not just 2 and a half. Our midfield will be very fresh, for instance.

 

[DocRockter]

Some height would be ideal against them spec. in set-pieces so Fellaini and Pogba(obviously) will come in handy.

 

[soapythecat]

Any team, as long as Rooney is nowhere near it. Offers nothing but an extra man advantage to the other team.
Celta will push for a 0-0 and fancy their chances at OT - why wouldn't they given our recent home form. Onus is on us to win the tie in Spain, which we can easily do.

 

[Android1974]

Celta will push for a 0-0 and fancy their chances at OT - why wouldn't they given our recent home form. Onus is on us to win the tie in Spain, which we can easily do.

Don't think they will, they're much more rested. I think they're going to up the tempo and make us sweat, with a very intensive game.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Not sure why but I fear for us on Thursday.

Because we're playing a Spanish team away from home with an injury ravaged squad. Every reason to be concerned really.

 

[Schmiznurf]

Team News

Manchester United

Some players might be fit.

 

[minoo-utd]

We need Bailly. And hope Mata plays.

 

[Ramshock]

They lost 3-0 at home to Bilbao