Europa League Round of 32 2nd Leg

AS Saint-Etienne 0:1 Manchester United

Stade Geoffroy-Guichard

Kick-off
Wed, 22 February 2017 @ 5:00pm GMT
Status

Closed

Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

  • Status
    Not open for further replies.
    Havak said:
    Hard to see what Jose is doing here. If the game were on Thursday, I think we'd see more of the first XI rested, but since it's Wednesday and the final is on Sunday, he must feel as though he can play most of his best side in both fixtures.

    20 man squad as follows: De Gea, O'Hara, Romero; Bailly, Blind, Fosu-Mensah, Rojo, Smalling, Valencia, Young; Carrick, Fellaini, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Pogba, Lingard, Schweinsteiger; Ibrahimovic, Martial, Rashford. Means one outfield player will miss out, along with O'Hara. It's actually difficult to decide who that'd be as Young was good against Blackburn and may force another start.
    Click to expand...
    Keeping in mind it's being played on Wednesday "afternoon" I'd field the strongest team possible! Not a great lover of resting too many players (bring it on "give youth a chance" boo boys). I think match-day rhythm is far more important to the modern day "fragile" footballer millionaire than conserving energy levels at this stage anyway.

    Hopefully I'm right because Southampton haven't played competitively for about 10 days (to date), in which time we've managed some squad-bonding, morale-boosting wins! Topped off hopefully today with a full strength resounding win in a hostile environment. Herrera being banned (he needs a rest anyway) is enforced but other than that I expect to see pretty much the starting team for Sunday minus Ander and Carrick (I'm pretty sure that I'm smelling Schweiny today). Bringing on the likes of Fellaini, Young and Rashford as subs to stop fatigue and avoid needless injuries as soon as we are breathing clean air!

    Onwards and upwards!
     
    Last edited:
    SqueakyWeasel said:
    Keeping in mind it's being played on Wednesday "afternoon" I'd field the strongest team possible! Not a great lover of resting too many players (bring it on "give youth a chance" boo boys). I think match-day rhythm is far more important to the modern day "fragile" footballer millionaire than conserving energy levels at this stage anyway.
    Click to expand...

    You have to find a balance between the two. Look at what happened to Spurs at the end of last season. That was undeniably because a number of their key players weren't rested often enough throughout the season and clearly burned out towards the end.

    We're lucky that we have a strong squad though, and can rotate in a number of positions without exactly weakening the side. Ibra, Pogba and Herrera all definitely have to be in a team if it's going to be our 'strongest side', but beyond that there's a lot of flexibility. Any of the CBs seem like good options. Mata or Mkhi, Martial or Rashford, Blind or Darmian, Lingard and Rooney. All of them have had strong games over the last few months and merit game time.

    The only person we really have to worry about is Ibrahimovic. He's scoring all our goals, and he's old. But he's also experienced and intelligent and proactive. Between him and Mourinho, I trust them to make sure he doesn't burn out. Other than that, enough rotation to keep everyone else going will happen naturally because of the aforementioned competition in the squad.
     
    Brightonian said:
    You have to find a balance between the two. Look at what happened to Spurs at the end of last season. That was undeniably because a number of their key players weren't rested often enough throughout the season and clearly burned out towards the end.

    We're lucky that we have a strong squad though, and can rotate in a number of positions without exactly weakening the side. Ibra, Pogba and Herrera all definitely have to be in a team if it's going to be our 'strongest side', but beyond that there's a lot of flexibility. Any of the CBs seem like good options. Mata or Mkhi, Martial or Rashford, Blind or Darmian, Lingard and Rooney. All of them have had strong games over the last few months and merit game time.

    The only person we really have to worry about is Ibrahimovic. He's scoring all our goals, and he's old. But he's also experienced and intelligent and proactive. Between him and Mourinho, I trust them to make sure he doesn't burn out. Other than that, enough rotation to keep everyone else going will happen naturally because of the aforementioned competition in the squad.
    Click to expand...
    Totally agree!

    Look back to the treble year. The squad depth won us everything in 1999 but so did a good balance of match rhythm for the "perceived" first team. It was, as will probably prove to be the same this time round, injuries and suspension enforced most minor rotation over and above thinking that players needed a breather.

    When I said "Not a great lover of resting too many players" in my original post I meant "wholesale" rotation for the sake of it. One or two players ducking and diving into the match day squad to freshen up legs or keep benched players match fit is fine, changing 8 outfield players and losing our whole "identity" is another thing altogether.
     
    Is Darmian not part of the travelling squad?
     
    Shaw is rightly fourth choice left back at the moment. He's got time to turn it around, but I've been massively disappointed with him this season.
     
    TMDaines said:
    Shaw is rightly fourth choice left back at the moment. He's got time to turn it around, but I've been massively disappointed with him this season.
    Click to expand...
    But... but... but... He didn't get a 20 consecutive games run to prove his worth :nono:
     
    He'll be lucky to ever get two games unless he can fulfil the basic concept of supporting the left-sided forward players. Lad looks completely clueless at the moment.
     
    I don't know how anyone can be massively disappointed in him when the only games he underperformed in were City (which everyone did) and, to a lesser extent, Watford. He's barely got a game since.
     
    How can people after Mkhitaryan and Martial continue to say a player is 'done' when they are currently not playing?

    Jose wants Shaw to step it up, if he has the right character and drive he will and he'll get back into the starting 11.
     
    A little bit earlier on a Wednesday to a Sunday next game, is a decent turn around period, but I'd still be wary of playing everyone.
    It's not often you have a 3-0 lead from a first leg, so this might be the last time this season we can tweak things around with low risk.

    If he does insist on playing the full team, I hope he then takes people off if we do have a comfortable lead by half time/60mins etc.

    If we're say 4/5 goals up, and Ibra is still on the pitch until the end it'll be madness.
     
    GrandJury said:
    How can people after Mkhitaryan and Martial continue to say a player is 'done' when they are currently not playing?

    Jose wants Shaw to step it up, if he has the right character and drive he will and he'll get back into the starting 11.
    Click to expand...

    Because people are knee jerk idiots.
    You see it when a big team lose a game as well, they've suddenly been "found out".

    Shaw's certainly in a difficult place at the moment, when Blind, Rojo and even Darmian are keeping you out, you have issues, but he can certainly come back from it. Might have to be next season though.
     
    Regarding Shaw, I think people forget that Mourinho is working with him on a daily basis and watches him train. There is obviously an issue there at the moment and they will be coaching both the physical and mental aspects of his game. I appreciate that people think highly of Shaw and have a lot of faith in his potential but if there is an actual issue there or he's simply not performing well enough in training yet then it really isn't a good idea to play him in matches.

    Personally I think there might be a bit of a mental issue. It could be something as simple as him not being willing to fully commit to a challenge or shying away from driving through a few opponents. If he's struggling to do things like this then it's understandable that he can't be fully trusted to perform his role on the field. I wouldn't be surprised if he's working with a psychologist to help him get over it either.
     
    TMDaines said:
    He'll be lucky to ever get two games unless he can fulfil the basic concept of supporting the left-sided forward players. Lad looks completely clueless at the moment.
    Click to expand...
    I think he is a decent player. I wonder if he has problems with his attitude/training/fitness? Also that appaling injury will take a while to overcome.
     
    This will be a difficult game but I think we'll scrape through. I can see a 2-0 or 2-1 loss.
     
    I hope we don't go over the top with the immensely frustrating possession passing game. I mean where the only objective is to keep possession by endless 10 yard passes forward, sideways and backwards without looking to create any attacking danger. My impression is that when we do that, sooner or later we cock up in a dangereous area. Kind of stuff you do when your 3 nil up with 15 minutes left.

    I think we'll need to maintain some threat on their defence just to ease the pressure on ours. Perfect day for ruthless counter-attacks.
     
    Mark_GrumpyLion said:
    Only just now seeing this is today. Why are all the Euro League games today, does anyone know?
    Click to expand...
    We're playing today because Lyon are also at home tomorrow and Lyon & St. Etienne fans apparently don't get on well. As St. Etienne have the lower UEFA ranking, their game was moved.

    No idea why the Fenerbahce and Schalke games are today too.
     
    Damien said:
    We're playing today because Lyon are also at home tomorrow and Lyon & St. Etienne fans apparently don't get on well. As St. Etienne have the lower UEFA ranking, their game was moved.

    No idea why the Fenerbahce and Schalke games are today too.
    Click to expand...

    Fenerbahce is because Besiktas are playing at home tomorrow as well, don't know about Schalke.
     
    Damien said:
    We're playing today because Lyon are also at home tomorrow and Lyon & St. Etienne fans apparently don't get on well. As St. Etienne have the lower UEFA ranking, their game was moved.

    No idea why the Fenerbahce and Schalke games are today too.
    Click to expand...

    Besiktas play tomorrow as well, so the same thing regarding Fener. Or what @Impulse said.
     
    Doubts:

    — Valencia, Fosu-Mensah or Young?
    — Carrick or Schweinsteiger?
    — (Right-wing): Mata, Lingard, Rashford…?
     
    Damien said:
    We're playing today because Lyon are also at home tomorrow and Lyon & St. Etienne fans apparently don't get on well. As St. Etienne have the lower UEFA ranking, their game was moved.

    No idea why the Fenerbahce and Schalke games are today too.
    Click to expand...

    That's not what RAWK said. They said its a fix and corrupt UEFA are trying to help us for the Final at the weekend. They also said that they probably rearranged the Fener and Shalke games to make it look less suspicious.


    I'm not even joking.
     
    Android1974 said:
    Doubts:

    — Valencia, Fosu-Mensah or Young?
    — Carrick or Schweinsteiger?
    — (Right-wing): Mata, Lingard, Rashford…?
    Click to expand...

    These are the 3 I'm not sure about as well, I have a nasty feeling that it might not be Carrick or Schweini and instead we'll see Pogba saddled with Fellaini. I reckon Young might start given how much Jose seemed enamored with his performance vs Blackburn.
     
    Devil may care said:
    These are the 3 I'm not sure about as well, I have a nasty feeling that it might not be Carrick or Schweini and instead we'll see Pogba saddled with Fellaini. I reckon Young might start given how much Jose seemed enamored with his performance vs Blackburn.
    Click to expand...
    I would actually prefer Mourinho stuck with the now favorite 4-2-3-1, instead of pragmatically reverting to the 4-3-3, but with so much to lose and so little to gain, he'll be pragmatic, much like the League Cup Hull away game, and go for slowing things down and counterattack.
     
    Android1974 said:
    I would actually prefer Mourinho stuck with the now favorite 4-2-3-1, instead of pragmatically reverting to the 4-3-3, but with so much to lose and so little to gain, he'll be pragmatic, much like the League Cup Hull away game, and go for slowing things down and counterattack.
    Click to expand...

    So you're thinking Carrick/Pogba/Fellaini in a 3 man midfield?
     
    Make no mistakes this is going to be a tough game, its a very hostile environment and the first leg result flattered us.
    Just hope we don't sit back and try to defend- or lose an early goal like Fenherbace away OR else it could be a nervous evening.

    For the record i wouldnt play Ibra unless we really have to. I just have a feeling he may get wound up and get a red as these fans hate him.
    I wouldnt ever play Darmian again and he is so so poor. If we get anything above 50p for him in the Summer it would be good business.

    my team

    Romero
    valencia bailly smalling blind
    carrick pogba fellaini
    young rashford martial

    subs- mata, ibra,miki,schwein,o hara,rojo, lingard

    Martial needs to turn up tonight, we can hurt them on the break with Martial and Rashford's pace.
     
    Devil may care said:
    So you're thinking Carrick/Pogba/Fellaini in a 3 man midfield?
    Click to expand...
    Yeah, but I feel Schweinsteiger has a chance. Carrick already played three 90' games in six days this season, but I wonder if Mourinho thinks he can neglect the physical aspect of his performance in a slowed down game.
     
    yamo123x said:
    my team

    Romero
    valencia bailly smalling blind
    carrick pogba fellaini
    young rashford martial

    subs- mata, ibra,miki,schwein,o hara,rojo, lingard
    Click to expand...
    Not to be picky with your fine prediction, but Pogba wouldn't play centrally in a 4-3-3, Carrick would.
     
    Android1974 said:
    Yeah, but I feel Schweinsteiger has a chance. Carrick already played three 90' games in six days this season, but I wonder if Mourinho thinks he can neglect the physical aspect of his performance in a slowed down game.
    Click to expand...

    I'd like to see Schweinsteiger play mainly to try and gauge him against better opposition than Wigan, just in case we need to use him more often in the home stretch, but Carrick hasn't played a lot lately so I could see Jose feeling that he can do 2 games in a row as I doubt he'll play in the EFL cup final.
     
    Devil may care said:
    I'd like to see Schweinsteiger play mainly to try and gauge him against better opposition than Wigan, just in case we need to use him more often in the home stretch, but Carrick hasn't played a lot lately so I could see Jose feeling that he can do 2 games in a row as I doubt he'll play in the EFL cup final.
    Click to expand...
    Mourinho might feel more secure to try Schweinsteiger as #8, because as #6 his lack of rhythm could prove costly.

    Actually, Mourinho might be tempted to revert to a more defensive 4-3-3 in the final, and Carrick should get ahead of Fellaini there, although he deals terribly with the probable pressing Southampton will apply.
     
    Android1974 said:
    Mourinho might feel more secure to try Schweinsteiger as #8, because as #6 his lack of rhythm could prove costly.

    Actually, Mourinho might be tempted to revert to a more defensive 4-3-3 in the final, and Carrick should get ahead of Fellaini there, although he deals terribly with the probable pressing Southampton will apply.
    Click to expand...

    Hmmmm, Carrick/Pogba/Schweini as the 3 man midfield tonight would be interesting to see.

    Jose has talked a lot about needing to play a certain way at United and understanding this, if he goes into our first cup final under him against an average side like Southampton, with a negative selection I don't think it will be well recieved, we've hit form again with Pogba a bit deeper and Mkhitaryan as the #10, I hope he sticks with that on Sunday.
     
    ========Zlatan========
    Rashford===========Young

    =====Pogba==Fellaini=====
    ========Carrick========

    Rojo=Smalling=Bailly=Valencia

    =======Romero========
     
    Status
    Not open for further replies.
Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Paul Pogba image Paul Pogba 46% of 580 votes

Runners-up

Show more results

Player Ratings

6.3 Total Average Rating

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Compiled from 363 ratings.
Submit your ratings
View full results

Score Predictions

214,62,203
  • Man Utd win
  • St. Etienne win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 34% St. Etienne 1:1 Man Utd
  • 21% St. Etienne 1:2 Man Utd
  • 9% St. Etienne 0:2 Man Utd
  • 8% St. Etienne 0:1 Man Utd
  • 7% St. Etienne 2:1 Man Utd
  • 5% St. Etienne 0:0 Man Utd
  • 3% St. Etienne 2:2 Man Utd
  • 3% St. Etienne 1:0 Man Utd
  • 2% St. Etienne 0:3 Man Utd
  • 2% St. Etienne 1:3 Man Utd
  • 1% St. Etienne 2:0 Man Utd
  • 1% St. Etienne 0:5 Man Utd
  • 1% St. Etienne 0:4 Man Utd
  • 0% St. Etienne 3:1 Man Utd
  • 0% St. Etienne 4:0 Man Utd
  • 0% St. Etienne 2:3 Man Utd
  • 0% St. Etienne 3:0 Man Utd
  • 0% St. Etienne 4:5 Man Utd
  • 0% St. Etienne 5:0 Man Utd
Compiled from 479 predictions.
Show more results Score Predictions League Table

Match Stats

  1. St. Etienne
  2. Man Utd
Possession
54% 46%
Shots
15 8
Shots on Target
3 3
Corners
4 5
Fouls
10 19

Referee

Deniz Aytekin

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes

Lineup Predictions League Table View your Lineup Prediction