League Cup Round of 16

Manchester United 5:2 Leicester City

Old Trafford

Kick-off
Wed, 30 October 2024 @ 7:45pm GMT
Status

Finished

Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

  • #07 said:
    I may be attacked for this opinion but I don't think we've been that good, despite scoring 4 times.

    Honestly, this hasn't felt that different from Ten Hag ball. The main difference is we've been better at taking our chances.

    We have still played a lot of slow, sterile stuff. With Zirkzee being particularly guilty of taking several touches when two would be more than enough.

    For the most part, the lads have done well at winning turnovers in midfield and getting at Leicester. However, to put this into context, this is a Leicester side that has made six changes from the weekend. They came here expecting to get beaten and not putting their strongest XI out. It reminds me a lot of how we beat Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup last season, with people getting excited about a 'dominant' win against a team that chucked it.

    Our defending remains comically suspect, particularly on aerials. And I wince every time I see Lindelof or Dalot in duels. Very suspect.
    Click to expand...

    For me it's exactly the same as the how we played under ETH this season, with the difference being that one of the worldie attempts has gone in and we've done better with our chances.

    We've still looked very vulnerable, Leicester have had more of the ball than I'd like and if our finishing was as bad as it has been recently we'd be 0-2 down.
     
    DWelbz19 said:
    Well, duh. We’re 2 days post sacking the manager and are currently coached by his assistant.
    Click to expand...

    I take your point but I thought there might be more difference in opinion between Ruud and Ten Hag about how we should play. You never know from the outside about how much the team around the manager agrees with his way of doing things.

    For example, when Ole left Carrick changed our way of playing quite obviously. No we didn't shift to suddenly start playing like it was 2008 but you could see a difference.

    Based on that half Ruud was quite clearly in alignment with most of Ten Hag's ideas. Even the way Casemiro is pushing on from #8 is not that different from Ten Hag ball. He just more of a physical presence doing it than say Eriksen.
     
    RDCR07 said:
    Defensively we are suspect and we will continue to be but going forward, our pressing and attacking, there is more intent.
    Click to expand...

    The only difference between this half and our first half against West Ham is that we’ve scored from less clear chances. Long may it continue, but i don’t see why we’re pretending to see things that really aren’t there.
     
    So much of the game -- in life, actually -- is mental. I have no idea what went on under ETH but the players looked miserable under his tenure. It's only one game, and Ruud will only be at the helm for a very short period of time, but the players look happy to be on the pitch again.

    Just what did go on in training under ETH?
     
    The Hilton said:
    For me it's exactly the same as the how we played under ETH this season, with the difference being that one of the worldie attempts has gone in and we've done better with our chances.

    We've still looked very vulnerable, Leicester have had more of the ball than I'd like and if our finishing was as bad as it has been recently we'd be 0-2 down.
    Click to expand...

    Yeah. I expected something a little different if I'm honest. This is very much continuity Ten Hag, which is fine. However, I was expecting us to be a bit more solid and a bit more direct today.
     
    #07 said:
    I may be attacked for this opinion but I don't think we've been that good, despite scoring 4 times.

    Honestly, this hasn't felt that different from Ten Hag ball. The main difference is we've been better at taking our chances.

    We have still played a lot of slow, sterile stuff. With Zirkzee being particularly guilty of taking several touches when two would be more than enough.

    For the most part, the lads have done well at winning turnovers in midfield and getting at Leicester. However, to put this into context, this is a Leicester side that has made six changes from the weekend. They came here expecting to get beaten and not putting their strongest XI out. It reminds me a lot of how we beat Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup last season, with people getting excited about a 'dominant' win against a team that chucked it.

    Our defending remains comically suspect, particularly on aerials. And I wince every time I see Lindelof or Dalot in duels. Very suspect.
    Click to expand...
    Totally agree, Cooper is using this to rest players for the league campaign, this is a competition he knows he can't win, so why bother, EPL survival is far more important.

    Saying that, watching United score some goals is great, but that has to be tempered by the fact that there are still signs of the same old problems, but no manager is going to iron those out in two days.
     
    Here's hoping Casemiro can get his hat trick and Martinez finally gets to take one of these free kicks he's been stood over.
     
    The Hilton said:
    For me it's exactly the same as the how we played under ETH this season, with the difference being that one of the worldie attempts has gone in and we've done better with our chances.

    We've still looked very vulnerable, Leicester have had more of the ball than I'd like and if our finishing was as bad as it has been recently we'd be 0-2 down.
    Click to expand...
    It's very similar, bar energy levels though. The energy levels are miles apart
     
    Defensively, we’re still a bit shaky, but there’s a clear improvement in our finishing—evident from the four goals we’ve scored, and it could have been even more.

    In terms of overall play, it’s largely the same style we saw under Ten Hag, which isn’t surprising given Ruud has stuck with almost the same lineup and tactics, along with having very little time with the team to work on his own tactics.
     
    To be fair, both of their goals were jammy as heck. Then again, so was Bruno's. Chaos football forever!
     
    Matt Varnish said:
    Totally agree, Cooper is using this to rest players for the league campaign, this is a competition he knows he can't win, so why bother, EPL survival is far more important.

    Saying that, watching United score some goals is great, but that has to be tempered by the fact that there are still signs of the same old problems, but no manager is going to iron those out in two days.
    Click to expand...
    Absolutely agree, we look far better and free in attack, with the exception of Zirkzee who generally looks like a championship player, they must iron out the silly mistakes which allow goals to be scored far too easily against us, let’s hope for another dominant second half bit with a shit out in defence.
     
    #07 said:
    Yeah. I expected something a little different if I'm honest. This is very much continuity Ten Hag, which is fine. However, I was expecting us to be a bit more solid and a bit more direct today.
    Click to expand...
    I imagine he didn't want to rip up the playbook with a game so imminent.
     
    #07 said:
    Yeah. I expected something a little different if I'm honest. This is very much continuity Ten Hag, which is fine. However, I was expecting us to be a bit more solid and a bit more direct today.
    Click to expand...
    I've felt we've been extremely direct. Didn't expect us to be more solid necessarily. This to me feels like definitely different from standard ten hag games, but nothing complicated. Just look forward early, stretch the pitch and attack with pace. About it.
     
    #07 said:
    I may be attacked for this opinion but I don't think we've been that good, despite scoring 4 times.

    Honestly, this hasn't felt that different from Ten Hag ball. The main difference is we've been better at taking our chances.

    We have still played a lot of slow, sterile stuff. With Zirkzee being particularly guilty of taking several touches when two would be more than enough.

    For the most part, the lads have done well at winning turnovers in midfield and getting at Leicester. However, to put this into context, this is a Leicester side that has made six changes from the weekend. They came here expecting to get beaten and not putting their strongest XI out. It reminds me a lot of how we beat Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup last season, with people getting excited about a 'dominant' win against a team that chucked it.

    Our defending remains comically suspect, particularly on aerials. And I wince every time I see Lindelof or Dalot in duels. Very suspect.
    Click to expand...

    I agree. It’s a low intensity match against a second string Leicester side. This wouldn’t be the case in the prem against their regulars. I’ve enjoyed the goals!
     
    NotChatGPT said:
    The only difference between this half and our first half against West Ham is that we’ve scored from less clear chances. Long may it continue, but i don’t see why we’re pretending to see things that really aren’t there.
    Click to expand...
    There is a clear structure in terms of the players and where they supposed to be. Dalot isn’t cutting in much so there is more width. And our passing is much quicker. And our general quickness of play is very good. If you can’t see this and still are negative can’t help you.
     
    That’s fun. Loved the reaction of Ruud after the first goal, he is enjoying it. It changes from the hag.
     
    I don't see the same at all. We are outnumbering in midfield and clearly moving the ball better. Still obviously same players so still looks similar. But you can see how the overloads that eth was managing to make underloads are actually working.
     
    Alemar said:
    Hojlund and Evans for Zirkzee and Lindelof at half time, please
    Click to expand...
    Hojlund and Mazroui for Zirkzee and Dalot. Lindelof needs minutes. Evans needs a rest.

    I’m half minded to leave Zirkzee on for 60-70 mins, he needs to get his confidence up. There’s no way he’s actually this bad. This has been Bebe level. Hooking him at half time is only going to make it worse. Sometimes you’ve got to play a striker into confidence, especially a new and young one. I’m pretty sure that’s one area Ruud knows a lot about. Maybe he’ll have a word with him at half time, tell him to just breathe and relax, trust in his ability and concentrate. Literally everything from him so far has been half a yard too short, a touch too many etc etc.
    JJ12 said:
    Yeah can't believe ruud hasn't sorted that out in 2 days!
    Click to expand...
    Unforgivable.
     
    This is different. Casemiro and Ugarte playing together, and we are being very direct with the assurance we have those two behind.

    Simple, but effective.
     
    Entertaining game and I would see Casemiro get a hat trick, and there's not too many better opportunities for it.

    Hopefully Fernandes is given that goal and he can go on a bit of a run now.

    Bayindir not too impressive in the likes stuff he's had to do. Well particularly the corner.

    Heres to more goals in the second.
     
    Oranges038 said:
    It's only 7 points to 4th.

    You have to think about whether or not Utd can get 6 more points than all the teams above them. But also, it doesn't matter what they do if you can get the points on the board.

    29 games left, usually 70-75 points will get you top 4. So realistically Utd need 60-64 points from 29 games, that's about 20 wins.

    9 of those games are against the current top 5 + Spurs. Lets say you get 10-15 points out of 27 in those games.

    That leaves you needing about 50 points from the other 20 games, there's a lot of tricky home and away fixtures in there Newcastle, Forest, Wolves, Fulham, Bournemouth, Everton etc.
    Your then looking at having to win 14/15 out of 20 to make up those points.

    It's not impossible for Utd to get a good run going under a new manager and win 5-10 games in a row, before the new manager bounce wears off.
    Click to expand...
    Yeah I think we’ll see a big new manager effect too. The new manager effect usually lasts 6 games on average (I read a statistical paper on that once)

    Same happened under Ole.
     
    NotChatGPT said:
    The only difference between this half and our first half against West Ham is that we’ve scored from less clear chances. Long may it continue, but i don’t see why we’re pretending to see things that really aren’t there.
    Click to expand...

    Agree with this.
     
    We could slag this performance off as against a weak opponent, but those who do so should recall that Coventry had us by the balls and only went out due to a very close offside call.
     
    You must log in or register to reply here.
Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Provisional results
Casemiro image Casemiro 85% of 188 votes

Runners-up

Show more results

Player Ratings

Provisional results
6.2 Total Average Rating

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Compiled from 156 ratings.
Submit your ratings
View full results

Score Predictions

142,17,2
  • Man Utd win
  • Leicester win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 23% Man Utd 2:0 Leicester
  • 20% Man Utd 2:1 Leicester
  • 19% Man Utd 3:0 Leicester
  • 16% Man Utd 3:1 Leicester
  • 4% Man Utd 1:0 Leicester
  • 2% Man Utd 0:2 Leicester
  • 2% Man Utd 5:0 Leicester
  • 2% Man Utd 1:2 Leicester
  • 2% Man Utd 4:1 Leicester
  • 1% Man Utd 0:1 Leicester
  • 1% Man Utd 3:2 Leicester
  • 1% Man Utd 0:9 Leicester
  • 1% Man Utd 4:0 Leicester
  • 1% Man Utd 2:3 Leicester
  • 1% Man Utd 1:3 Leicester
  • 1% Man Utd 2:2 Leicester
  • 1% Man Utd 1:1 Leicester
  • 1% Man Utd 2:6 Leicester
Compiled from 161 predictions.
Show more results Score Predictions League Table

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes

Lineup Predictions League Table View your Lineup Prediction