Europa League Group E

Manchester United 0:1 Real Sociedad

Old Trafford

Kick-off
Thu, 8 September 2022 @ 8:00pm BST
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    Real Sociedad aren't pushovers. I'd keep Martinez and have Maguire in for Varane. We don't have the depth that City have. Antony's pairing/chemistry with AWB is definitely worth testing.

    We're going to be fairly static on the left with Shaw and Elanga (in terms of chance creation), so the goals have to come from the right
     
    dbs235 said:
    I don't think people are writing Sociedad off, it's more they don't care about the Europa league, or are happy to drop points in this game at least.
    Click to expand...

    Exactly. The risk vs reward is heavily in favour of resting our first team.

    Pros of resting team: First team fresh for league matches, and we have a tough battle to secure top 4. Playing 2 games a week every week WILL catch up with them. Backups get some minutes to build form and fitness, they will be needed in the first team when injuries hit. Backups or youngsters have an opportunity to develop, or even perform well enough to make a case for selection for the first team. Keeps squad happy. Maintains or increases market value of players we will sell sooner or later. Gives youngsters a taste of playing in Europe, and puts them in the shop with for a loan later on. Gives fringe players and youngsters and new signings an opportunity to play to the new managers desired tactics.

    Cons of resting first team: we may drop points in the first of 6 games in a cup competition nobody cares about, when the two other opponents are weaker, and two out of the 4 teams qualify from the group.

    Playing the first team would be silly. You could even guarantee me that if we play the second string we will lose, and I would still think the positives outweigh the negatives.
     
    --------DDG (too early for Dubravka)
    Dalot-Lindelof-Maguire-Shaw
    ---------Casemiro-Fred
    --------------Eriksen
    Antony-Ronaldo-Garnacho

    Give some much needed rest and also give fitness to the players who don't have minutes.
     
    Dubravka

    Shaw
    Maguire
    Lindelof
    AWB

    Fred
    Casemiro
    Donny

    Martial
    Ronaldo
    Elanga
     
    Ronaldo and Casemiro should start here to get up to speed.
     
    Maguire should never play for this club again.

    To all the posters predicting he will start, do you remember the first 2 games of the season? Did you see his cameo today?
     
    Gearbox Paddy said:
    Maguire should never play for this club again.

    To all the posters predicting he will start, do you remember the first 2 games of the season? Did you see his cameo today?
    Click to expand...

    Yeah his cameo was fine, people are over analysing and just scapegoating him.

    Poor really.
     
    Gearbox Paddy said:
    Maguire should never play for this club again.

    To all the posters predicting he will start, do you remember the first 2 games of the season? Did you see his cameo today?
    Click to expand...

    Yeah I did but give him time with a good midfield in front of him.
     
    Iqbal and Garnacho won't start. It's not a fecking minnow ffs. There will be lot of changes but it certainly won't be kids.

    I do hope we take it seriously and get the win. This is still out best way to get CL next year.
     
    Gearbox Paddy said:
    Maguire should never play for this club again.

    To all the posters predicting he will start, do you remember the first 2 games of the season? Did you see his cameo today?
    Click to expand...
    Not for a looooong time. Unless we're two goals up with 10 minutes to go, for example...

    He needs to get back to the drawing board.
     
    Chance to give our other players some minutes.

    We still need to win though, so maybe will need a good balance there:

    DDG
    Dalot Varane Lindelof Malacia
    Casemiro Fred
    Eriksen
    Antony Ronaldo Garnancho

    Sub: Bruno, Rashford, Sancho,VDB, Shaw, Maguire​
     
    Getting this wrapped up as fast as possible will do us good.

    We should absolutely try to win europa as its still a decent trophy which allows us a first seed place in the champions league so not bad, im sure Eric agrees.
     
    Damien said:
    Full changes

    Dubravka

    AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
    Casemiro Fred
    Elanga van de Beek Martial*
    Ronaldo​

    *if fit
    Click to expand...
    That's a pretty good second XI. Think Ronaldo will be able to play two games a week? I would figure out a way to get Garnacho in the team, in on the wing, Martial up top, Ronaldo out.
     
    I see some posters wanting us to make the same mistake Ole made. Our 2nd team should be good enough for the group stages. We need to rotate our players otherwise they'll get burnt out by February. See Eriksen, Bruno etc.

    I also want to see healthy competition in the team. I just hope the performances won't be too disjointed.
     
    Wing Attack Plan R said:
    That's a pretty good second XI. Think Ronaldo will be able to play two games a week? I would figure out a way to get Garnacho in the team, in on the wing, Martial up top, Ronaldo out.
    Click to expand...
    Yeah that's a good line-up. I'd put Ronaldo in to get him used to the system and build up his match-fitness. You can see that he's getting there. Don't think he deserves to start in the PL just yet after his shenanigans and how the team has performed without him.
     
    Pronewbie said:
    Yeah that's a good line-up. I'd put Ronaldo in to get him used to the system and build up his match-fitness. You can see that he's getting there. Don't think he deserves to start in the PL just yet after his shenanigans and how the team has performed without him.
    Click to expand...
    The back 4 don't understand the system either, not sure playing with those will help Ronaldo adapt.
     
    Team 2
    ——————Dubravka——————

    -AwB—Maguire—Lindelof-Shaw

    ————Casemiro—Fred————-

    ——————-vDB———-—————-

    —Elanga——-Ronaldo—-Garnacho-
     
    Eriksen should be kept as far away as possible. He needs rest.
     
    GMoore23 said:
    Heaton
    Bissaka - Maguire - Lindelof - Fatboy Slim
    Casemiro - Fred
    VDB
    Antony - Ronaldo - Elanga
    Click to expand...
    Right here, right now, right here, right now.
    *Plays an animation of Shaw slowly crawling before turning into a running Roberto Carlos, his peak evolution*
     
    Varane, Erikson, rashford should all be rested. I'm sure casemiro will play as it's a Spanish opposition.
     
    Dont want to see DDG, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia, Eriksen, Mctom, Bruno, Rashford, Sancho. Id go with:

    Dubravka
    AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
    Casemiro Fred
    Antony VDB Garnacho
    Ronaldo

    Be nice to see Garnacho get some minutes and let him prove himself but cant see him starting over Elanga and I think a few of that same team will still play, it wont be a wholesale change as he will get questions of a PL and a Europa team etc
     
    The second team is quite decent and some of them really pushing for first team spots.

    Dubravka
    AWB - Lindelof - Maguire - Shaw
    Casemiro
    Fred - VDB
    Antony - Ronaldo - Elanga

    Without Casemiro, Antony and Dubravka this team 8/11 is pretty much Ole's team and will be interesting to see how they cope to Ten Hags tactics.
     
    Perfect chance to give the subs much needed playing time while resting the starting 11.

    Dubravka
    AWB - Lindelöf - Maguire - Williams
    Casemiro - Fred
    DvB
    Antony - Ronaldo - Garnacho​
     
    -------------------------------------------Dubravka------------------------------------------
    Wan Bissaka*---------------Lindelof------------Maguire-------------------Shaw
    ----------------------------------Casemiro---------Fred-----------------------------------
    Antony----------------------------------Van de Beek*--------------------------Elanga
    ----------------------------------------------Ronaldo------------------------------------------

    Rotation is needed, but to be hones bar two or three this could have easily been our starting XI.
     
    I'm a fan of a wholesale change too but imo that's simply not realistic. We're like 6 games into the season with basically a new back four, a new style so imo ETH would want our first XI to play together as much as possible to gel, to form a bond, to understand each other and also his style. Especially our back four. It's very important for our back four to keep playing together.

    It's the first game of the group stage and Sociedad is a very decent team so my bet is the same lineup minus some of the players who have played all the minutes so far, who run a lot or have some fitness issue and thus would probably require a rest. Like Rashford, Bruno, Eriksen. Casemiro, Fred, Ronaldo would start in their place I think. He might try the new keeper too if he thinks the new keeper would potentially replace DDG.
     
    I really can't see Ronaldo playing in the EL, even if he does need the fitness.

    Let's see how humble he really is
     
    Dubravka

    Dalot Varane Maguire Shaw

    Casemiro Fred

    Antony Bruno Elanga

    Ronaldo

    Actually really looking forward to this. Expecting a win and players in need of goals/form getting on the scoresheet.

    Don't think we'll see a completely different XI. Whilst we're looking to instill a specific style of football, I think ETH will keep a core set of players in the starting lineup.
     
    Dubravka
    Wan Bissaka Maguire Lindelof Shaw
    Casemiro Fred
    Antony Van de Beek Elanga
    Ronaldo
    ​

    Our second string, is still very strong. Our back 4 for the last few years, the Brazilian midfield, a Ballon d'or nominee and one of the greatest players ever.

    I've put Antony in as I feel he might need minutes having not played much this season. Hopefully Martial can get some minutes too if he is fit.
     
    AWB - Lindelof - Maguire - Shaw
    Casemiro
    van de Beek ------- Fred
    Antony - Ronaldo - Elanga
    ​
    The back 4 played together for a couple of seasons, they will be fine.
    Let's play traditional 3 man midfield with Fred and van de Beek joining attack from as wide midfielders.
    Real are no pushovers, but we should to play the same team against Crystal Palace so some key players need a rest.
     
    We should be careful making too many changes, in my opinion. Let's not make it too disjointed and lose momentum, but still give a runout to some of the more important back-ups.

    DDG
    Dalot - Maguire - Martinez - Shaw
    Casemiro - Fred
    Antony - van de Beek - Elanga
    Ronaldo

    Would be great starting with a win, so we don't have to play too much of a catch-up game.
     
    Samid said:
    Ronaldo has a dental appointment on Thursday.
    Click to expand...
    I heard he "left his kit on the plane," and is refusing to play in his pants and vest

    It feels so good to actually be looking forward to our games again, and having some players I really love, like Martinez, Anthony and Eriksen
     
    Dubravka

    Wan Bissaka
    Lindelof
    Maguire
    Shaw

    Fred
    Casemiro
    Van De Beek

    Elanga
    Ronaldo
    Martial

    Thats almost our first team last year, with Casemiro being an upgrade. Should be enough. Then get Antony some more minutes, with some good options to rest whoever is in contention for Sunday after 55 mins or so
     
    Think we will beat the minnows in the group home and away so I think a thorough rest is in order, dropping points to Real Sociedad won't be the end of the world. This team should be competitive. I think Iqbal/Antony could link up nicely. Just depends if ETH is wedded to 4-2-3-1.

    ---------------------Dubravka---------------------
    -----AWB - Maguire - Lindelof - Shaw---
    -----------Iqbal - Casemiro - Fred----------
    Antony--------------------------------Garnacho
    ----------------------Ronaldo-------------------------
     
    Last edited:
    Why is Dubravka favoured in front of Heaton when he has been here for less than a week?
    Heaton has full preseason under his belt so that must count for something.
     
    Rotating too many players is always a risk so I'd go with something like this. Garnacho, Iqbal, VdB etc should play in the easier fixtures.

    De Gea
    Dalot Lindelof Maguire Shaw
    Fred McT
    Bruno
    Elanga Ronaldo Anthony
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Lisandro Martinez image Lisandro Martinez 36% of 212 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

5.1 Total Average Rating

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Compiled from 216 ratings.
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Score Predictions

249,7,24
  • Man Utd win
  • Real Sociedad win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 30% Man Utd 2:0 Real Sociedad
  • 24% Man Utd 2:1 Real Sociedad
  • 12% Man Utd 3:0 Real Sociedad
  • 10% Man Utd 3:1 Real Sociedad
  • 8% Man Utd 1:0 Real Sociedad
  • 6% Man Utd 1:1 Real Sociedad
  • 3% Man Utd 4:0 Real Sociedad
  • 1% Man Utd 2:2 Real Sociedad
  • 1% Man Utd 3:2 Real Sociedad
  • 1% Man Utd 0:0 Real Sociedad
  • 1% Man Utd 1:2 Real Sociedad
  • 1% Man Utd 0:1 Real Sociedad
  • 1% Man Utd 4:1 Real Sociedad
  • 1% Man Utd 5:0 Real Sociedad
  • 0% Man Utd 0:2 Real Sociedad
  • 0% Man Utd 0:5 Real Sociedad
Compiled from 280 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Man Utd
  2. Real Sociedad
Possession
55% 45%
Shots
15 8
Shots on Target
3 3
Corners
5 3
Fouls
8 16

Referee

Marco Di Bello

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes

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