Manchester United 6:2 Leeds United

Sandikan · Dec 20, 2020

Buster15 said:
Goodness me. Manchester United fans still obsessing about José. It is in the past. Let it go.

In fairness we've had it rammed down our throat about how Tottenham are contenders and what Jose's done in half the time there as Solskjaer here.

Then a win will take us above them! Still - we need to win it first!

SirAnderson · Dec 20, 2020

TMDaines said:
Daniel James selection instead of Pogba or Greenwood feels like a manager trying to be too smart with the narrative. That backfired midweek. Let’s see.

It does doesn't it? Maybe since Dan was supposed to go to Leeds before it fell through it's some good omen :lol:

RashyForPM · Dec 20, 2020

I can sort of reason for the James selection. I suppose Leeds do play a very high line so the logic is that he can exploit that and get in behind. Thing is though, he has no end product, so what’s the point? Also, if Pogba was in for James, then I would be able to understand McFred to protect him, but with James, this is nothing more than cowardly. Couldn’t VdB be playing instead of McT, or Pogba given his good form and the fact that we have a relatively unimportant game midweek?

Poor team selection as everyone else has said. No two ways about it. Hope it’s enough to win though.

Blood Mage · Dec 20, 2020

James starting ffs I'd rather we gave Pellistri a chance

SER19 · Dec 20, 2020

cyberman said:
Our bench is ridculous. Our squad is surprisingly strong

Solskjaers done a fantastic job on this squad. Hopefully he can get it to see its potential

Rajma · Dec 20, 2020

Should have started with Cavani through the middle if he’s on the bench, even though James in theory may suit this game he’s been dire pretty much every time he stepped a foot on the pitch during the last year.

Rajma · Dec 20, 2020

Blood Mage said:
James starting ffs I'd rather we gave Pellistri a chance

Exactly.

Buster15 · Dec 20, 2020

Sparky Rhiwabon said:
Is Ole ever going to settle on a first choice XI and system? All successful teams seem to have those!

Bingo.

vanrooney · Dec 20, 2020

Castia said:
So what are Fred and McTominay gonna be knocking it about the park? they’re gonna sit deep and hoof it upfront to nobody.

fred is in fact soomeone who can press high up the pitch and intercept at crucial moments. could be something very handy against a team like leeds

NJM78 · Dec 20, 2020

SoCross said:
It’s incredible how some don’t seem to understand this.

Most of us understand rotation but why is Bruno hardly ever rested then? He is clearly our best player and Ole just can't win without him though, so seems willing to run him into the ground to keep his job.

Sassy Colin · Dec 20, 2020

Freak said:
Can we just win this without any drama please?

Buster15 · Dec 20, 2020

Sandikan said:
In fairness we've had it rammed down our throat about how Tottenham are contenders and what Jose's done in half the time there as Solskjaer here.

Then a win will take us above them! Still - we need to win it first!

In fairness, that is very fair.

GifLord · Dec 20, 2020

Sparky Rhiwabon said:
Is Ole ever going to settle on a first choice XI and system? All successful teams seem to have those!

We have 5 games in 12 days

Delano · Dec 20, 2020

cyberman said:
Our bench is ridculous. Our squad is surprisingly strong

We have a squad packed with talent. Probably the strongest squad we've had since the Fergie days.

Sandikan · Dec 20, 2020

Buster15 said:
In fairness, that is very fair.

Always be fair. That's my policy.

Except when discussing Liverpool - where the bile stops me

arnie_ni · Dec 20, 2020

Greenwood and dvb not even on the bench? Injuries or dropped?

Sandikan · Dec 20, 2020

Sparky Rhiwabon said:
Is Ole ever going to settle on a first choice XI and system? All successful teams seem to have those!

System you have a point - but first choice X1? In a packed schedule? In an already packed Covid year? No.

prateik · Dec 20, 2020

Sparky Rhiwabon said:
Is Ole ever going to settle on a first choice XI and system? All successful teams seem to have those!

Getting Pogba out and getting a RW in would probably help with that.

Too many fixtures.. dont rotate.. and people worry about players tiring out. Rotate and the lack of consistency is an issue.

We have Everton, Leicester, Wolves and Villa coming up with 3 days between games ..

There is no way we play with a consistent XI. There is no reason why we should.

stu_1992 · Dec 20, 2020

Seems a little defensive considering the opposition. However having said that it should be strong enough to beat this Leeds side as long as we're actually at our own game. Too often we are sloppy particularly at the start of games. I didn't see the James selection coming. Not sure what to make of that. A couple of his very few cameos recently have looked better than what we saw of him when he used to start all the time, but not quite sure he was ready to start here. Is it just because Leeds were interested in him? Doubtful right? But it's a weird coincidence.

Buster15 · Dec 20, 2020

Just watching the pre match. Why is Martial practicing keepy uppy..

arnie_ni · Dec 20, 2020

Why do Leeds have 9 subs vs our 7 according to the BBC?

prateik · Dec 20, 2020

arnie_ni said:
Greenwood and dvb not even on the bench? Injuries or dropped?

Both are on the bench.

Sandikan · Dec 20, 2020

arnie_ni said:
Greenwood and dvb not even on the bench? Injuries or dropped?

What you on about? Both are aren't they?

Zen86 · Dec 20, 2020

Eugh Dan James, odd choice.

Offside · Dec 20, 2020

arnie_ni said:
Greenwood and dvb not even on the bench? Injuries or dropped?

Both are on the bench?

DickDastardly · Dec 20, 2020

Oddly confindent about this game.

Even with Daniel James in the starting eleven. He might actually get us a penalty or two.

Sandikan · Dec 20, 2020

Dante said:
RTJ on the match preview

Roy the Joy?

Judas · Dec 20, 2020

James is an odd choice, going to get so much stick for that selection if we feck this up.

arnie_ni · Dec 20, 2020

Sandikan said:
What you on about? Both are aren't they?

Not according to the BBC, but then they only have us with 7 subs so that must be the difference

Manchester United v Leeds United - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55291044

SoCross · Dec 20, 2020

NJM78 said:
Most of us understand rotation but why is Bruno hardly ever rested then? He is clearly our best player and Ole just can't win without him though, so seems willing to run him into the ground to keep his job.

I am referring to the furore over the James inclusion. Ole has options, why run everyone into the ground when he can rotate? James for Greenwood makes sense in this game with the schedule.

Drawfull · Dec 20, 2020

sammsky1 said:
Why not? Seems obvious given we have to apply the forward press as well as hope to exploit Leeds high defensive line on counter attack. Also makes sense to keep Pogba and Cavani for last 30 mins

Regardless of any tactical merit, I just found it surprising that Ole's given him his first start in over two months. Hope he does well in any case.

OldTrevil · Dec 20, 2020

You can see the reasoning behind James inclusion provided Leeds leave as much space as usual, however on the ball we'll be limited. Let's see what happens

RedTiger · Dec 20, 2020

NJM78 said:
Most of us understand rotation but why is Bruno hardly ever rested then? He is clearly our best player and Ole just can't win without him though, so seems willing to run him into the ground to keep his job.

Bruno isn't playing the next game guaranteed.

Walters_19_MuFc · Dec 20, 2020

Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
There is more technical ability on the bench then there is on the pitch. Ridiculous really.

Technically ability counts for nothing if you haven't got the desire and work rate.

Camy89 · Dec 20, 2020

arnie_ni said:
Not according to the BBC, but then they only have us with 7 subs so that must be the difference

BBC having a mare.

Superunknown · Dec 20, 2020

This is one of those starting lineups that seems a bit weird to begin with, but will probably work out quite well during the actual game itself. Hoping that Dan James has a great game today. Maybe a bit of time out of the first 11 has done him a bit of good. All I want from him today is to make the right decisions when he has the ball and to keep stretching the play.

Bench looks good. Could come down to Cavani coming off the bench to nick a goal or two.

Sandikan · Dec 20, 2020

arnie_ni said:
Not according to the BBC, but then they only have us with 7 subs so that must be the difference

Manchester United v Leeds United - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55291044

Yep.
Amazingly for us come mid season - we've literally everyone fit.

BarJonesy obviously!
And I lose track if Rojo is still around or if we've shipped him off somewhere. Probably!

Dante · Dec 20, 2020

Sandikan said:
Roy the Joy?

Rap duo Run The Jewels.

pseudo_canadian · Dec 20, 2020

Does half of the Leeds squad have man buns? Gross.

Web of Bissaka · Dec 20, 2020

Sparky Rhiwabon said:
Is Ole ever going to settle on a first choice XI and system? All successful teams seem to have those!

This.
2 years and we are yet to settle on best 11 is interesting. It's like we just not interested in having one.

We already settled on a default system though. We won't always only play that #1 system because we are pragmatic in certain games normally the big league games and cup/european games.

EDIT: I agree with the recent rotations, but honestly even when we're on a run of games with good rest, do we even have a settled best 11 and a system? No and no.

FA Premier League

Manchester United 6:2 Leeds United

Old Trafford

Closed

aka sex on the beach

Full Member

New Member

2+2=united are rubbish

Full Member

Full Member

Full Member

Go on Didier

Full Member

New Member

Death or the gladioli!

Go on Didier

Better at GIFs than posts

Full Member

aka sex on the beach

Full Member

aka sex on the beach

Full Member

Full Member

Go on Didier

Full Member

Full Member

aka sex on the beach

Full Member

Euro 2016 sweepstake winner

New Member

aka sex on the beach

Open to offers

Full Member

Full Member

Full Member

Full Member

Half mast

Full Member

Love Island obsessive

Full Member

aka sex on the beach

Average bang

Full Member

Full Member

Man of the Match

Runners-up

Player Ratings

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Score Predictions

Detailed Results

Match Stats

Referee

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes