FA Premier League

Manchester United 2:1 Aston Villa

Old Trafford

Kick-off
Fri, 1 January 2021 @ 8:00pm GMT
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    Nicoseth said:
    Anyone know what's going on with Donny? Something seems seriously off there. Seems like Ole doesn't rate him. Would be a perfect game to start him tomorrow.
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    Just a strange signing for a not exactly small fee of 40m!

    Can only imagine he's insurance against Pogba going.
     
    Mcking said:
    Same reason Daniel James doesn't start many. There is nothing strange, he is just not good enough. It is blindingly obvious.
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    I disagree. I’ve liked what I’ve seen of Van De Beek when he plays as no10 in a 4-2-3-1.

    The problem is that’s Bruno’s position so most of his games have come either sho-horned in on the left or in 15min cameos.

    His intelligence and runs into the box are excellent.

    Still his role was to be an upgrade on Andreas Pereira or Lingard and offer backup to Pogba and Bruno and he does that.
     
    Ryan Bobson said:
    Villa was always a 6 point banker every season, I think they were always the most profitable team we faced in the top flight over the years
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    It was fine up to mid 90s for us, everyone remembers the Hansen game but we also got a couple of 0-0s up at Old Trafford around that time. Think from 1997 to about 2008 we had the grand total of about 3 draws from all the league games played (and many FA cup defeats). :wenger:

    Then we got the odd draw and win at Old Trafford under O'Neill before reverting to type last decade.
     
    Chance to go level on point at the top with Dippers.

    Go for it.
     
    Now this is a must win game. I hope Ole gets his team selection right. I suppose the defense picks itself but do we play Matic or McTominay? Grealish can create problems on our right side. We need to start on the front foot and score early. We miss too many chances.
     
    Even bigger significance for the Villa game now, it really is a must win to put down a big marker in the race.
     
    It's quite remarkable really, a team that was on the verge of relegation less than a year ago is now seemingly our toughest challenge so far into the season. Villa done incredibly well so far and it's going to be very tough but a win here could be massive.

    To be on the same points as the dippers in early January should that happen even a pessimistic sod like myself would have to agree Ole and the team has done surprisingly well so far. Still a long season ahead though, but it feels quite surreal to be where we are at for the moment and long may that continue.
     
    De Gea

    AWB Bailly Maguire Shaw

    James McT Fred Rashy

    Bruno

    Martial

    Villa like to commit a lot to attack especially in confident mood. They gave as good as they got at Stamford Bridge and I expect them to do the same at OT.

    Hence James and Martial get the nod.
     
    I don’t get all the ‘how can anyone suggest we rest Bruno or Rashford for this one? We can rest them in the cups’.

    Football and fitness doesn’t work like that. You can’t just ask players to postpone their fatigue until Colchester comes up in the fixture list. It’s not the name on the short that we need, we need the performance the players are capable of giving. If they aren’t in a condition to offer that performance, then we’d be better off resting one or both.

    I’d be looking at their fitness levels and looking to rest one or both. If we drop points then so be it, but we’re just as likely to drop points playing a version of them that can’t move. Yes, Bruno salvaged a statistical contribution with a long ball over the top yesterday which in itself didn’t lead to a goalscoring contribution - but to me; his performance was off and he could do with the break in particular. Rashford also had a poor game but he was at least sprightly, so I think resting him is less urgent.
     
    Sandikan said:
    Just a strange signing for a not exactly small fee of 40m!
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    Not really. Everyone was saying we had a quality first XI and no quality at all on the bench. Well, £40m is what it takes to get the kind of quality you need who can come off the bench for a Pogba or Bruno and not stink the place up by comparison.

    Now everyone seems surprised that with Bruno and Pogba both fit, he isn't playing much. You can't ask for a quality bench if you don't have the stomach to leave quality on the bench.
     
    Amarsdd said:
    I haven't seen Villa play much this season but you seem to have an excellent defensive record. Is it due to a defensive setup and great counter attacking to win games or general better control of games? And how do you see Villa lining up against us? I hope due to their confidence they come out to play rather than just sit back.
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    A lot of it is down to Ollie Watkin's impressive pressing from the front. We press much more as a team this season than last, I think we're the only team this season whose pressing numbers have actually gone up from last season. Last year we were too easy to play through as we had immobile strikers up front, and our fitness still wasn't up to scratch in the PL. Also Ezri Konsa has really come into his own this season as well as Targett becoming a wall defensively where he was suspect last year.
     
    Rozay said:
    I don’t get all the ‘how can anyone suggest we rest Bruno or Rashford for this one? We can rest them in the cups’.

    Football and fitness doesn’t work like that. You can’t just ask players to postpone their fatigue until Colchester comes up in the fixture list. It’s not the name on the short that we need, we need the performance the players are capable of giving. If they aren’t in a condition to offer that performance, then we’d be better off resting one or both.

    I’d be looking at their fitness levels and looking to rest one or both. If we drop points then so be it, but we’re just as likely to drop points playing a version of them that can’t move. Yes, Bruno salvaged a statistical contribution with a long ball over the top yesterday which in itself didn’t lead to a goalscoring contribution - but to me; his performance was off and he could do with the break in particular. Rashford also had a poor game but he was at least sprightly, so I think resting him is less urgent.
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    I just seem to be agreeing with you this evening but once again, this. I'd rest Bruno. Rashford looked knackered by the end of the Wolves match but played acceptably in a difficult game. Bruno seemed more fatigued in general.
     
    DDG
    Tuanzebe
    Bailly
    Maguire
    Shaw

    Fred
    McT
    Bruno

    Pogba
    Martial
    Rashford

    I’d play Pogba left attacking mid , Rashford and Martial as floating wide forwards
     
    Brightonian said:
    I just seem to be agreeing with you this evening but once again, this. I'd rest Bruno. Rashford looked knackered by the end of the Wolves match but played acceptably in a difficult game. Bruno seemed more fatigued in general.
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    It’s cos I spit that real!
     
    Brightonian said:
    Not really. Everyone was saying we had a quality first XI and no quality at all on the bench. Well, £40m is what it takes to get the kind of quality you need who can come off the bench for a Pogba or Bruno and not stink the place up by comparison.

    Now everyone seems surprised that with Bruno and Pogba both fit, he isn't playing much. You can't ask for a quality bench if you don't have the stomach to leave quality on the bench.
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    And in return - this!

    I’ve never gotten the complaints about VDBs playing time. He was never billed as being better than Pogba and Bruno - he was never expected to start weekly. The issue is at the back end of last season, the next stop was Lingard, this season, he can’t get a kick. That’s what we wanted, and what we got.
     
    Well this just took on a huge amount of added importance! Bruno and Rashford must play this as they'll have ample recovery before the next game. Rest them in the cup. A win here will be a massive boost to confidence for the squad.
     
    With pool drawing it’s not even that big of a deal now, win lose or draw 3 points behind liverpool at this stage we’d have snatched instantly at the start of the season.

    this will be a great game, they were very good against Chelsea and will be full of confidence.
     
    Must win.

    Liverpool have tough games after we visit them.
     
    De Geas
    AWB Bailly Maguire Shaw
    Fres
    Mct Pogba
    Bruno
    Rashford Martial
    ​
    Cant see us starting James again after his sh*tshow vs Leicster. Greenwood also out of form, and Cavani just played 90. Diamond could work here.
     
    Rozay said:
    I don’t get all the ‘how can anyone suggest we rest Bruno or Rashford for this one? We can rest them in the cups’.

    Football and fitness doesn’t work like that. You can’t just ask players to postpone their fatigue until Colchester comes up in the fixture list. It’s not the name on the short that we need, we need the performance the players are capable of giving. If they aren’t in a condition to offer that performance, then we’d be better off resting one or both.

    I’d be looking at their fitness levels and looking to rest one or both. If we drop points then so be it, but we’re just as likely to drop points playing a version of them that can’t move. Yes, Bruno salvaged a statistical contribution with a long ball over the top yesterday which in itself didn’t lead to a goalscoring contribution - but to me; his performance was off and he could do with the break in particular. Rashford also had a poor game but he was at least sprightly, so I think resting him is less urgent.
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    I'd take a chance that a front 6 of McTominay, Fred, Pogba, Van De Beek, Cavani and Martial would have us at the very least level with an hour gone and then throw them on if needs be to win us the game. We've seen the 2 both have a dramatic impact coming on as sub (leipzig and West ham) against tired legs and I think it would be no different here.
     
    Absolutely massive game. We need to win this one. To be level on top would invite the kind of pressure our players haven't seen before.
     
    Cutch said:
    I'd take a chance that a front 6 of McTominay, Fred, Pogba, Van De Beek, Cavani and Martial would have us at the very least level with an hour gone and then throw them on if needs be to win us the game. We've seen the 2 both have a dramatic impact coming on as sub (leipzig and West ham) against tired legs and I think it would be no different here.
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    Agreed. Although I’d be inclined to start Rashford perhaps. His running is crucial to stretch teams and I think he looked a but sharper than Bruno last time out. Stagger their rest if possible, although at the same time I’d have faith in your line up too.
     
    I don’t see how games at the tight end of the year can be high scoring as some posters predict. Don’t think we’ll see more than two goals in this game. I am going to go with another 1-0 win to us. It can easily end in a 0-0 or a 1-1 draw.
     
    Just keep doing what we're doing and we'll be fine. We played them at home last December and they got a draw. No doubt Ole will be looking to turn this home game into a win to continue our progress and improve on last season.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Eric Bailly image Eric Bailly 52% of 428 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

6.8 Total Average Rating

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Lowest Rated Player

Compiled from 395 ratings.
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Score Predictions

196,12,26
  • Man Utd win
  • Aston Villa win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 24% Man Utd 2:1 Aston Villa
  • 19% Man Utd 3:1 Aston Villa
  • 17% Man Utd 2:0 Aston Villa
  • 7% Man Utd 1:0 Aston Villa
  • 6% Man Utd 1:1 Aston Villa
  • 5% Man Utd 3:0 Aston Villa
  • 5% Man Utd 2:2 Aston Villa
  • 4% Man Utd 3:2 Aston Villa
  • 3% Man Utd 4:1 Aston Villa
  • 3% Man Utd 5:0 Aston Villa
  • 2% Man Utd 0:2 Aston Villa
  • 2% Man Utd 1:2 Aston Villa
  • 1% Man Utd 4:0 Aston Villa
  • 1% Man Utd 4:2 Aston Villa
  • 1% Man Utd 0:0 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 1:4 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 0:5 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 2:3 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 1:3 Aston Villa
Compiled from 234 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Man Utd
  2. Aston Villa
Possession
49% 51%
Shots
19 15
Shots on Target
9 5
Corners
5 10
Fouls
22 10

Referee

Michael Oliver

Man Utd Lineup

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