Manchester United 2:1 Aston Villa

Mr Smith · Dec 31, 2020

MacabbiUnited said:
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.

Agree this is probably the most likely, though I actually didn't think Greenwood did that badly, he could still start. We do need to stop Grealish though, so I think McFredinay is a must for this game.

Longlivekeano · Dec 31, 2020

————————-DdG————————

-AwB——-Bailey——Maguire—Shaw-

——————-Fred——McTominay——

————-VdBeek—————-Mata———

——————Rashford——Cavani——-

prediction: 3-0 VdB, Cavani, Mata

Shane88 · Dec 31, 2020

Winning this would send a big message.

Galactic · Dec 31, 2020

I hope this is not postponed. The lads must have been a bit pumped up from the dippers draw.

Gator Nate · Dec 31, 2020

Samid said:
Ole's first test of the year

sillwuka said:
De Gea
AWB - Bailly - Maguire - Shaw
Scott - Fred
Greenwood - Bruno - Rashford
Martial

This is my guess, though I can see James in for Rashford for the first 45' or so.

Pace Abuser said:
Villa are not going to sit back. They're actually going to try and impose themselves. Chelsea couldn't take advantage of it and Liverpool didn't see it coming.

I think we'll be better prepared and countering suits us too. We'll win.

Agreed, and Ole does his homework on the opposition.

morbidsaint said:
Hope Bailly starts again. Btw, wonder if Ole has had a few talks with Bailly over his typical moronic challenges. I can't remember seeing any of these challenges lately. He has just been really solid all around. Man, hope i'm on to something. Bailly at his best is a really good CB.

Excellent observation. I've seen him go in for exactly one stupid challenge. I figure he has a good two games left in him before he checks back into the medical ward for nine months, but maybe this time is different.

Galactic · Dec 31, 2020

Mr Smith said:
Agree this is probably the most likely, though I actually didn't think Greenwood did that badly, he could still start. We do need to stop Grealish though, so I think McFredinay is a must for this game.

I think Ole will use James if he thinks we need to open up the opponents more. Running like headless chicken down the left or right to pull some defenders with him.

Mr Smith · Dec 31, 2020

Galactic said:
I think Ole will use James if he thinks we need to open up the opponents more. Running like headless chicken down the left or right to pull some defenders with him.

Please no. Let him run around like a headless chicken against Watford in the cup. Villa is not the game for him.

bosnian_red · Dec 31, 2020

De Gea
Wan Bissaka Bailly Maguire Shaw
Pogba Fred
Mata Van de Beek Martial
Cavani

Bruno and Rashford need a bit of a rest at least before City.

zenith · Dec 31, 2020

bosnian_red said:
Bruno and Rashford need a bit of a rest at least before City.

Don't really care about the city game. The cup means very little compared to what we can potentially get here. The villa and pool games are of great value.

Let's go in with our strongest 11 and I hope we have a front 3 of Cavani, martial and rashford (RW), mainly because it'll make the right side less toothless and will probably be better for handling Grealish.

pratyush_utd · Dec 31, 2020

We need to win this now that Liverpool have drawn. It will be good test of character for this team as last season whenever we had chance to take advantage of Chelsea slipping, we used to squander it. Play the best team possible

Chicharo · Dec 31, 2020

I posted a pretty bold prediction that James could start in order to help AWB. I know what most of us think about him, but we'll need to take care of Grealish as best as we can. As for the midfield I have no doubts Fred and McT will start especially after being rested in the previous game, so maybe they'll be the ones to help him, plus Bailly. I really don't have a clue, but I just know I haven't felt this way in years.
All in all we mustn't waste chances as we often do

M Bison · Dec 31, 2020

Devil may care said:
The team picks itself for this one bar RW, Ole will be terrified of Grealish so I wouldn't be surprised to see Dan James inclusion just to double up with AWB on him.

I think you might be right with this one, and the logic of James to help with Grealish makes sense.

M Bison · Dec 31, 2020

Chicharo said:
I posted a pretty bold prediction that James could start in order to help AWB. I know what most of us think about him, but we'll need to take care of Grealish as best as we can. As for the midfield I have no doubts Fred and McT will start especially after being rested in the previous game, so maybe they'll be the ones to help him, plus Bailly. I really don't have a clue, but I just know I haven't felt this way in years.
All in all we mustn't waste chances as we often do

Just quoted on a similar line up prediction re James which I tend to agree with and think it makes sense.

ghaliboy · Dec 31, 2020

Feel like this one was the one we get boned in. We scraped the cheap win in the game against Wolves we probably should have drew. Technically 6 points from both of these two fixtures against Wolves and Villa is a fecking huge achievement given how many times we've dropped stupid points over the last few years from these type of one two punch style fixtures.

M Bison · Dec 31, 2020

FootballHQ said:
Just think in last season's home game v us you were starting Brandon Williams (who El Ghazi even back then was destroying before he went off injured after 15 minutes), Andeas Pereira, Mata and Dan James. And Lingard was your last 15 minute "supersub."

Can you start them all again please?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50534315

Shows how much can change in 13 months sometimes.

Shows how much miles better you are in final third now as I think you'll start Martial to try to drag our CBs out of position and McTominay and Fred obviously starting so McGinn and Luiz got to be ready for that.

I can't see why you'd rest Bruno for this. Friday evening to Wednesday is a decent gap to rest and then FA cup might be postponed so you get another 11 day break to Liverpool.

Would get a massive boost seeing him as a sub. Cavani is more obvious one to take out given his age. Can see James starting ahead of Greenwood aswell.

Would be more than happy with a point just like v Chelsea. Hopefully Barkley has been found in whatever dark room he's squatting in as he'll be a good one to throw on in last 30 minutes and give you something else to think about.

The team isn’t wildly dissimilar to this now. Main difference is no Perreira and we’ve got Bruno instead

Sandikan · Dec 31, 2020

Rado_N said:
Is this another Amazon Prime game?

Wonder how they rate their second game week this year.
Not getting boxing day like last year, and having two games covided off and a dull 0-0 Liverpool game!
Not to mention that the 4x6pm kick offs were fairly uninteresting games.

Sandikan · Dec 31, 2020

M Bison said:
The team isn’t wildly dissimilar to this now. Main difference is no Perreira and we’ve got Bruno instead

How is it not when he's pointed out we had Williams, Mata and Perreira starting? None are even near it this season.
Plus Dan James was being played way too often instead of occasional run outs like this season.

Adam-Utd · Dec 31, 2020

Chicharo said:
I posted a pretty bold prediction that James could start in order to help AWB. I know what most of us think about him, but we'll need to take care of Grealish as best as we can. As for the midfield I have no doubts Fred and McT will start especially after being rested in the previous game, so maybe they'll be the ones to help him, plus Bailly. I really don't have a clue, but I just know I haven't felt this way in years.
All in all we mustn't waste chances as we often do

They have Matt targett at LB and play el Ghazi ar LW. Why exactly does AWB need help with that?

El Ghazi has been very good lately but he’s not Ronaldinho.

we are at home and will be on the front foot, it’ll be Greenwood or Mata.

BusbyMalone · Dec 31, 2020

10-0 to go top, yeah?

BusbyMalone · Dec 31, 2020

bosnian_red said:
De Gea
Wan Bissaka Bailly Maguire Shaw
Pogba Fred
Mata Van de Beek Martial
Cavani

Bruno and Rashford need a bit of a rest at least before City.

We can't rest him in this game, that's the thing. Villa are playing really well and this is going to be another tough match. If we're serious about where we are going this season, I don't think you can rest him for any Premier League match, to be honest. I mean in terms of him not starting. He could always come off if we're winning comfortably.

The cup games are where he'll be getting his rest.

lenny_1248 · Dec 31, 2020

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.

Agreed.

I'd start De Gea, Tuanzebe, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw, McT, Fred, Pogba, VdB, Greenwood, Martial.
Of course Villa is looking very impressive, but still it should be good enough to at least hold to a draw at half-time. Then, you can bring Bruno and Marcus. They need a rest.
Cavani can't play every 3 days and AWB is looking awful.

And camon, the attacking four of Pogba, VdB, Mason and Tony should be good enough to cause Villa some problems. Here's hoping we won't need Bruno and Marcus to beat them.

groovyalbert · Dec 31, 2020

Need Bruno for this. He can have a week off after this game if needed

Kag · Dec 31, 2020

I’d keep Cavani in for this. I think he’s a run in the team away from really starting to motor.

FrankDrebin · Dec 31, 2020

Any news on Cavani's likely ban ?

dal · Dec 31, 2020

——————-De Gea
AWB--Bailly--Maguire--Shaw
————McTominay--Fred
Greenwood--VDB--Pogba
——————Martial

Bruno has looked tired, I really would prefer Bruno and Rashford to play however I actually think in this game all things considered, Bruno, Rashford and Cavani could win this for us as subs against tired legs.

M Bison · Dec 31, 2020

Adam-Utd said:
They have Matt targett at LB and play el Ghazi ar LW. Why exactly does AWB need help with that?

El Ghazi has been very good lately but he’s not Ronaldinho.

we are at home and will be on the front foot, it’ll be Greenwood or Mata.

I thought Grealish played on the left?

M Bison · Dec 31, 2020

Sandikan said:
How is it not when he's pointed out we had Williams, Mata and Perreira starting? None are even near it this season.
Plus Dan James was being played way too often instead of occasional run outs like this season.

Ok mate, if you say so, not a biggie or worth a debate on.

Paranoid Android · Dec 31, 2020

De Gea
Wan-Bissaka Bailly Maguire Shaw
Fred McTominay
Rashford Bruno Martial
Cavani

Adam-Utd · Dec 31, 2020

M Bison said:
I thought Grealish played on the left?

Not recently, since Barkleys injury he has been playing as a 10 with traore and el ghazi as the wingers.

they could go with a 433 and play him on the left but they’ve been great recently, I don’t see why they would change.

FootballHQ · Dec 31, 2020

M Bison said:
The team isn’t wildly dissimilar to this now. Main difference is no Perreira and we’ve got Bruno instead

Look at your sub options though. If James starts probably have Cavani and Greenwood to come on for last 20 minutes (I know Greenwood came on last year but at the time he hadn't scored many in premier league).

Sandikan · Dec 31, 2020

FootballHQ said:
Look at your sub options though. If James starts probably have Cavani and Greenwood to come on for last 20 minutes (I know Greenwood came on last year but at the time he hadn't scored many in premier league).

It is fairly massively clear we have far better options this year.
Probably why we're looking strong in second despite a mad start.
When last year it took a near miraculous run of form to scrape 4th late on.

Inigo Montoya · Dec 31, 2020

We win more games with Bruno and Matic.

So despite his age and lack of pace, Matic is still our best DM by a mile.Depends how attacking Ole goes. I think with Liverpool dropping points, there really isn’t a choice here.

Inigo Montoya · Dec 31, 2020

Sandikan said:
It is fairly massively clear we have far better options this year.
Probably why we're looking strong in second despite a mad start.
When last year it took a near miraculous run of form to scrape 4th late on.

Miraculous, no. Great run of fixtures that were all winnable.

Ironically when we did falter against top 5 opponents it was against Chelsea in the cup

Adam-Utd · Dec 31, 2020

Inigo Montoya said:
We win more games with Bruno and Matic.

So despite his age and lack of pace, Matic is still our best DM by a mile.Depends how attacking Ole goes. I think with Liverpool dropping points, there really isn’t a choice here.

It’ll be Scott and Fred. Ole has rotated them each game to keep them fresh for the matches he feels is more beneficial.

mcginn is a Dynamo like Fred and matic would struggle with his speed and energy.

hubbuh · Dec 31, 2020

I would absolutely start Bruno and use the proceeding cup games as an opportunity to rest him (as well as Rashford, and potentially Maguire). It would be great if we could be 2 up after 60 odd minutes to hook him, though. Bruno getting burnt out would effectively be the end of our season, such is his importance to our success as a team. Let's blow 'em away!!

Ajr · Dec 31, 2020

Oles second real test

sammsky1 · Dec 31, 2020

How have Villa been able to transform themselves from last season? Looks like an astonishing turnaround.
How do they play? Will they attack us, or park the bus?
Do we have a way to deal with Grealish? Tough gig for Shaw/Fred.

sammsky1 · Dec 31, 2020

Inigo Montoya said:
We win more games with Bruno and Matic.

So despite his age and lack of pace, Matic is still our best DM by a mile.Depends how attacking Ole goes. I think with Liverpool dropping points, there really isn’t a choice here.

I agree Ole has found a way to really utilise Matic and he has been very good for past 12 months.

Feels like Matic should only be used once every 3 games to ensure he is fresh and used against specific teams. Reminds me how SAF used players like Giggs and Scholes when they were older.

Tony247 · Dec 31, 2020

M Bison said:
I think you might be right with this one, and the logic of James to help with Grealish makes sense.

Grealish is a very good dribbler. James is equally bad defender or man-marker. Ineffective strategy.

I was in fact thinking, what if Williams play in front of AWB and shut the right side completely.

Still ill · Dec 31, 2020

Tony247 said:
Grealish is a very good dribbler. James is equally bad defender or man-marker. Ineffective strategy.

I was in fact thinking, what if Williams play in front of AWB and shut the right side completely.

Seriously? This is a United side looking to mount a title challenge for the first time since Fergie, at home to Villa. Let's be a bit more front foot about it. Let's concentrate on giving Villa something to think about, eh?

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