Mata absolutly has to play.
Europa League Final
Ajax 0:2 Manchester United
Friends Arena, Stockholm
- Kick-off
- Wed, 24 May 2017 @ 7:45pm BST
- Status
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Closed
Discussion Your Lineup Prediction
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- Status
If Pogba plays well, we win, I think that's what it boils down to.Amsterdam is one big party at the moment, there are thousands of people watching the match at Museumplein and so many people in pubs. The meltdown would be horrendous if they lost.Excited and nervous. Our whole season comes down to these 90mins.
Checking out Ajax quite a bit today. And I hope I don't regret this, but all of the focus seems to be on how good the attack is. But the defence is glossed over. In fact many feel they simply cannot defend. We can't sit back against these guys, we must go out on the front foot and attack. Break their spirit. Take control of the game and these young guys will feel nauseous at the experienced talent of Pogba, Herrera and Valencia staring back at them.
Since Mata returned we've been mostly playing make-shift teams and given up on the league. They're not ideal games to judge. And Lingard has the fewest goals and assists out of himself, Mata, Martial, Rashford and Mkhitaryan. The League Cup final is the only big game this season he has really influenced. Scoring in two finals has created this myth he does well in big games, we've had tons of big games this season...
You realize Carrick offers more creativity than Fellaini and Herrera right? If you want good football, surely Fellaini drops to the bench as an option for later in the game.
But comforted by Chris Smalling looking the wrong way.
It is BT sport, but its free to air, Ch 59 in the U.K.
I don't think Carrick offers more creativity than Herrera. He does give us a better shot of playing possession football in the middle of the park, whereas Fellaini may represent a better chance of beating Ajax's press. I'd rather Fellaini start this game.
Lingard plays well but the problem with him is that he can't score. If Mata is fit, he has to play. Agree about Smalling but like I said, I'm more concerned about the risk of Jones getting a 'stupid' injury during the game.
What has Romero done to make you feel this way? I'm very pleased with his performances this season. Sure, there are no guarantees and he could make mistakes, but so could anyone. He's got a lot of experience from his national team as well. I have complete trust in him today.
The only thing that worries me is if Ajax scores the first goal and the players get nervous and make a lot of easy mistakes.
He was excellent vs Chelsea too. I just feel He's the more reliable of the bunch. You closes down very well. He gets behind defenders and he's got great movement, that's a quality almost all our forwards lack. Also, he's better defensively.
We always create a decent amount of chances and the most important thing is scoring so Rashford has to play well. We've got a defence that can keep a clean sheet so if we take our chances we should be able to score 2-3 goals without being too offensive.
He's been great this season tbf but He's not De gea.Not sure if already mentioned, but the game is on BT Sport Freeview channel 548 for Virgin Media customers
Nah. Nothing to lose back then, considering we had recently won the CL and were basically top of the world.It's just hit me in the last few hours that we're in a European final and I'm starting to really brick it. This is a huge night for us.
I'm always pessimistic ahead of big games. It really could go either way, we haven't had an easy ride at any stage of this competition so why would we breeze through the final?!
I expect Ajax to have a real go at us, their youth and inexperience may actually help them play with no fear. Not having Bailly is a big loss for us. I just hope our attacking players finally get their act together and produce.
Come on lads!!!!
They have a really talented goalkeeper.It's just hit me in the last few hours that we're in a European final and I'm starting to really brick it. This is a huge night for us.
I'm always pessimistic ahead of big games. It really could go either way, we haven't had an easy ride at any stage of this competition so why would we breeze through the final?!
I expect Ajax to have a real go at us, their youth and inexperience may actually help them play with no fear. Not having Bailly is a big loss for us. I just hope our attacking players finally get their act together and produce.
Come on lads!!!!
I'll tell you the fans here are having a great time. Expect the United end to be loud as feck tonightmy team
----------------DDG--------
Valencia--Smalling--Jones---Darmian
---------------Blind----------------
-------Herrera----Pogba--------
Mkhitaryan----------------Martial
---------------Rashford------------2 hours on formations and 3 hours on the match.
Waiting...
Wouldn't mind seeing that, but I'd put Blind in for Jones, Fellaini in for Blind, and Lingard/Mata in for Martial.
Hell just can't wait. My heart will bear the 90 minutes of the match with difficulty.
Can't this match be played earlier for me to have some relief ?
5 hours till Griezmann.
So even if our lads produce the goods going forward, the keeper will have the game of his life.
Nothing new there I guess...Alright, it's the D day. Despite the tragedy, the team has to perform, it's going to be very challenging mentally. It's still an European final!
Fellaini is an accident waiting to happen. We can't risk one of Mr Elbow's meltdowns tonight. Martial's pace and ability to play as a striker will help in quick counters and in scoring goals. In a final its good to play with 11 players on the pitch so Lingard will have to sit on that one
Blind at CM is a risk, though. If we're going to put someone slow and immobile there, may as well opt for Carrick. Best bet is probably Herrera and Fellaini operating deep, Pogba moving forward. Fellaini has had a decent season I think. Generally been there when it's counted, despite his tendency to commit stupid/brainless fouls.Starting to get really nervous now. Really, really hope we can win it!
He has not done much since his return from injury so I'm not really convinced. I know the games he played were dead rubbers but you still expect more from him to warrant a place in the final.
He's far less risky then playing him in defense. Jones and Smalling may not be WC but they are proper CBs. Blind in CM will act as a poor man Carrick with a bit of more pace.
The guy knows Ajax inside out. We should allow him to orchestrate the midfield. With Herrera to help him out and with Jones and Smalling covering his arse we will be safe. I cant see Blind doing a Fellaini and provide Ajax with a penalty. Although to be fair, everything is possible in football
We're playing Ajax not Stoke so lets play some proper football. A solid defense, a midfield who can pass the ball and quick/technically gifted players who can take Ajax on the counter.I've gone with:
Romero
Valencia---Smalling---Blind---Darmian
Herrera---Pogba
Fellaini
Mata------------------Lingard
RashfordThis place will be mental one way or the other in 5 hours time. Can't fecking wait for it to start now. Been too long since we played a European final.
That's good then! It'll play right into the hands of our incredible free-scoring attack! :P
I'm pretty sure that Mkhi will start. Rest of the lineup looks spot on. I'd be surprised if anyone gets less than 9/11 in the line up prediction today.
why would you want to play with 9 players?
He did. And we lost 2 of them.- Status
Man of the Match
Runners-up
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25%
Paul Pogba
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15%
Ander Herrera
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10%
Matteo Darmian
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4%
Daley Blind
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4%
Antonio Valencia
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1%
Chris Smalling
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1%
Sergio Romero
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1%
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
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1%
Juan Mata
Player Ratings
Total Average Rating
Highest Rated Player
Lowest Rated Player
Compiled from 757 ratings.
Score Predictions
531,61,38
- Man Utd win
- Ajax win
- Draw
Detailed Results
- 33% Ajax 1:2 Man Utd
- 16% Ajax 0:2 Man Utd
- 13% Ajax 1:3 Man Utd
- 11% Ajax 0:1 Man Utd
- 5% Ajax 2:1 Man Utd
- 5% Ajax 0:3 Man Utd
- 4% Ajax 1:1 Man Utd
- 3% Ajax 2:3 Man Utd
- 2% Ajax 0:5 Man Utd
- 2% Ajax 0:0 Man Utd
- 1% Ajax 2:0 Man Utd
- 1% Ajax 1:4 Man Utd
- 1% Ajax 3:1 Man Utd
- 1% Ajax 1:0 Man Utd
- 1% Ajax 2:2 Man Utd
- 1% Ajax 3:0 Man Utd
- 0% Ajax 5:0 Man Utd
- 0% Ajax 3:4 Man Utd
- 0% Ajax 2:4 Man Utd
- 0% Ajax 3:2 Man Utd
- 0% Ajax 4:1 Man Utd
- 0% Ajax 0:4 Man Utd
- 0% Ajax 1:5 Man Utd
Match Stats
- Ajax
- Man Utd
- Possession
- 69% 31%
- Shots
- 17 7
- Shots on Target
- 3 4
- Corners
- 5 2
- Fouls
- 15 17
Referee
Damir Skomina
Man Utd Lineup
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replaced by Wayne Rooney
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replaced by Jesse Lingard
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replaced by Anthony Martial
