Europa League Match Day 8

FCSB 0:2 Manchester United

The National Arena

Kick-off
Thu, 30 January 2025 @ 8:00pm GMT
Status

Finished

Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

  • Red Star One said:
    Until your post I was sure we’re playing some Swiss fodders :lol: since when and why Steaua uses this abbreviation?
    Click to expand...
    I'm never sure why some don't just do a quick Google search to see who our foreign opponents are if they've never heard of them - I'd have thought it's of interest to see who, and where, we're playing.

    The reason they changed their name to FCSB seems to be due to lengthy political arguments for years over the fact they were originally connected to the army for many years and then, when they weren't, there were arguments over the rights of the name.

    There's another team called Steaua Bucharest - that also seem to claim to be the continuation of the old team - who are military owned. They started in 4th tier in 2017 and have got up to the 2nd division so far.
     
    Onana
    MazroauiLisandroShaw
    AmadEriksenMainooBruno
    HojlundZirkzeeGarnacho

    Obviously. Control starts with defensive stability.
     
    leeroyTX said:
    I disagree to an extent. I think any hope of qualifying for Europe through the league is completely gone and the focus should be on this tournament. I wouldn't risk a chance at moving out of the top 8 and the possibility remains that we can finish as high as 2nd. That means a better draw as they use a seeding process. I think he can rotate to an extent but I'd be going for the win here and worry about Sunday on Sunday.
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    I absolutely agree
     
    Bertie Wooster said:
    I'm never sure why some don't just do a quick Google search to see who our foreign opponents are if they've never heard of them - I'd have thought it's of interest to see who, and where, we're playing.

    The reason they changed their name to FCSB seems to be due to lengthy political arguments for years over the fact they were originally connected to the army for many years and then, when they weren't, there were arguments over the rights of the name.

    There's another team called Steaua Bucharest - that also seem to claim to be the continuation of the old team - who are military owned. They started in 4th tier in 2017 and have got up to the 2nd division so far.
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    excuse my ignorance and thanks for the explanation, nothing to be proud of but I really don't follow much of us playing in the cups until the late stages, it's been quite a few years I decided suffering watching us in the league is quite enough. call it a bit of a trauma
     
    Red Star One said:
    excuse my ignorance and thanks for the explanation, nothing to be proud of but I really don't follow much of us playing in the cups until the late stages, it's been quite a few years I decided suffering watching us in the league is quite enough. call it a bit of a trauma
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    Yeah, I can certainly empathise with that. :lol:

    There's plenty of spells over the recent years where I've had to cut back how much I invest in things like reading about United on here, and in the media, etc, day in day out - just to try and limit the suffering!

    But when it comes to following the matches themselves, I'm still as up for the cups every bit as much as the league (more so in fact, as we actually have a chance of winning those competitions!)
     
    Red in STL said:
    Avoiding the play play offs is what matters most of all
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    Absolutely. Much needed training without a play off games.

    If a play off round Tottenham away is sandwiched in between the two legs.
    giggslover said:
    Looking at this squad, should we have kept McTominay?

    Then again, selling him is probably why we just got under the PSR cap.
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    Hands was tied on that transfer and clearly Ten Hag didn't want to sell him, having the similar situation with Garnacho now.
     
    Bertie Wooster said:
    I'm never sure why some don't just do a quick Google search to see who our foreign opponents are if they've never heard of them - I'd have thought it's of interest to see who, and where, we're playing.

    The reason they changed their name to FCSB seems to be due to lengthy political arguments for years over the fact they were originally connected to the army for many years and then, when they weren't, there were arguments over the rights of the name.

    There's another team called Steaua Bucharest - that also seem to claim to be the continuation of the old team - who are military owned. They started in 4th tier in 2017 and have got up to the 2nd division so far.
    Click to expand...
    From what I understand, the military always owned the branding, not uncommon in communist countries, and demanded more money for Steau to use it. They said no and changed their name to FCSB instead, but is essentially still the club we all know. The military now have their own team using the Steau branding, but is unable to be promoted from the second division due to laws that I’m not familiar with.

    Should be a fun game, at the national stadium, 50k people. I’m not sure what state the support of this new version of the team is, whether they kept all their ultra support etc
     
    appleman said:
    Onana
    MazroauiLisandroShaw
    AmadEriksenMainooBruno
    HojlundZirkzeeGarnacho

    Obviously. Control starts with defensive stability.
    Click to expand...
    Too many things wrong with this team…….

    Shaw - Enough said
    Bruno - At wingback? Really
    Eriksen/Mainoo - The most un athletic midfield ever possibly
     
    Ollie Derbyshire said:
    Too many things wrong with this team…….

    Shaw - Enough said
    Bruno - At wingback? Really
    Eriksen/Mainoo - The most un athletic midfield ever possibly
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    But only possibly.

    But true. Just saw Shaw on the predict your lineup list, so thought why not. I think I'd only play Bruno up front somewhere, but in theory his continued running, workrate, passing, but inconsistent small space skills kind of make me curious about him as leftsided midfielder/wingback. Use those long balls, run a lot but it being more okay to not have the greatest sense of positioning? Occasionally joining up front to shoot and do 1-2s, triangles, but being less of a centered playmaker? He'd never accept it but could it work you think?

    Probably not, but I kind of want to try it in video games.

    Plus it's way too late to win this prediction competition :lol: so I'll have some fun when I hop by.
     
    Bertie Wooster said:
    I'm never sure why some don't just do a quick Google search to see who our foreign opponents are if they've never heard of them - I'd have thought it's of interest to see who, and where, we're playing.

    The reason they changed their name to FCSB seems to be due to lengthy political arguments for years over the fact they were originally connected to the army for many years and then, when they weren't, there were arguments over the rights of the name.

    There's another team called Steaua Bucharest - that also seem to claim to be the continuation of the old team - who are military owned. They started in 4th tier in 2017 and have got up to the 2nd division so far.
    Click to expand...
    I tend to look at this sort of thing when we are due to play them... we play Arsenal in a few months but I won't know who is injured or banned if I look now...
     
    appleman said:
    Onana
    MazroauiLisandroShaw
    AmadEriksenMainooBruno
    HojlundZirkzeeGarnacho

    Obviously. Control starts with defensive stability.
    Click to expand...
    I keep saying I want to see Hojilund and Zirkzee starting together. I think Joshua is capable of linking play and might even pass to Rasmus actually near the opponent's goal rather than just hammer the ball up to him from 50 yards away while he has two CBs up his arse...

    It won't happen though
     
    mitchmouse said:
    I keep saying I want to see Hojilund and Zirkzee starting together. I think Joshua is capable of linking play and might even pass to Rasmus actually near the opponent's goal rather than just hammer the ball up to him from 50 yards away while he has two CBs up his arse...

    It won't happen though
    Click to expand...
    Me too, but think we'd only see that with Zirkzee as a kind of 10 and Hojlund as deep striker. I hope to see it reversed (or beside each other... but Amorim) sometime. Maybe I like false/interplay/playmaking (false?) strikers too much, but Hojlund overlapping Zirkzee sounds more dynamic and dangerous to me than both kind of ending up where they started.
     
    Manchester United XI vs FCSB: Bayindir; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Dalot, Collyer, Mainoo, Malacia; Eriksen, Fernandes (c), Hojlund

    Mazraoui back to RCB and Dalot at RWB to prepare for Dorgu :+1:
     
    Plenty of creativity in there but no one that can take on a defender.
     
    Not the selection I was hoping to see. Didn't want to see Malacia and Eriksen starting, or Amad and Ugarte being rested for our mid season, mid table league game on Sunday.

    And all the pace for any counter attacks is going to have to come from Hojlund, with no Amad or Garnacho in the starting XI.

    Not being someone obsessed solely with the PL and CL - and loving us actually winning trophies - I'm not as fond of Amorim's choices so far to rotate for cup games and prioritise (while still mostly losing) the league games.
     
    Bertie Wooster said:
    Not the selection I was hoping to see. Didn't want to see Malacia and Eriksen starting, or Amad and Ugarte being rested for our mid season, mid table league game on Sunday.

    Not being someone obsessed solely with the PL and CL - and loving us actually winning trophies - I'm not as fond of Amorim's rotation for cup games and prioritising the league so far.
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    With you on that mate. Thought he would go all out for this. Palace on Sunday is almost meaningless.
     
    Gosh, how we’ve fallen. A completely uninspiring United XI.
     
    Bertie Wooster said:
    Not the selection I was hoping to see. Didn't want to see Malacia and Eriksen starting, or Amad and Ugarte being rested for our mid season, mid table league game on Sunday.

    And all the pace for any counter attacks is going to have to come from Hojlund, with no Amad or Garnacho in the starting XI.

    Not being someone obsessed solely with the PL and CL - and loving us actually winning trophies - I'm not as fond of Amorim's choices so far to rotate for cup games and prioritise (while still mostly losing) the league games.
    Click to expand...
    I don’t think it’s that. We need points in the league and we’re already through in the Europa league. We have enough out there to beat a Romanian team. In the knock outs he’ll go full strength again.
     
    Bruno and Eriksen the 10s, or maybe Mainoo as the 10? Non existent ball carrying in that team though. Hopefully Hojlund can do something as it's a side where his runs in behind is the only hope to actually get a chance I think?
     
    George The Best said:
    With you on that mate. Thought he would go all out for this. Palace on Sunday is almost meaningless.
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    I disagree. We need to move up in the table. It’s only January. We’re already through in the Europa so let’s give others a chance and not risk injuries. In the knock outs we’ll go full strength again as this is the best route back into the CL.
     
    Amorim promised rotation, and here it is. I think there's enough quality here (either starting or on the bench) to get a result. I think it's important that Amad and Ugarte can get some rest - there's (fingers crossed) a good deal more of the Europa League to play this season.
     
    I like that we have both Bruno and Eriksen as the two players behind the top striker. They are our two most creative players, and in that position Eriksen`s lack of speed does not matter so much.
     
    Makes sense to rest a few and those coming in need the minutes and game time to improve.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Provisional results
Kobbie Mainoo image Kobbie Mainoo 63% of 120 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

Provisional results
6.2 Total Average Rating

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Compiled from 113 ratings.
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Score Predictions

115,11,17
  • Man Utd win
  • FCSB win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 29% FCSB 1:2 Man Utd
  • 27% FCSB 0:2 Man Utd
  • 9% FCSB 1:1 Man Utd
  • 8% FCSB 1:3 Man Utd
  • 8% FCSB 0:3 Man Utd
  • 5% FCSB 0:1 Man Utd
  • 3% FCSB 2:1 Man Utd
  • 2% FCSB 2:0 Man Utd
  • 2% FCSB 2:2 Man Utd
  • 1% FCSB 2:3 Man Utd
  • 1% FCSB 1:0 Man Utd
  • 1% FCSB 0:0 Man Utd
  • 1% FCSB 3:0 Man Utd
  • 1% FCSB 3:1 Man Utd
  • 1% FCSB 1:4 Man Utd
  • 1% FCSB 3:7 Man Utd
  • 1% FCSB 0:4 Man Utd
Compiled from 143 predictions.
Show more results Score Predictions League Table

Match Stats

  1. FCSB
  2. Man Utd
Overall possession
30.5% 69.5%
Shots
8 21
Shots on target
3 7
Total touches in the box
11 36
Goalkeeper saves
5 3
Fouls
14 10
Corners
3 6

Referee

Harm Osmers

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes

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