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Sunderland 1:1 Manchester United

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Sun, 24 August 2014 @ 4:00pm BST
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Discussion Live Updates 48 Your Lineup Prediction

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    I think we will play 4-2-3-1 for this game. Expecting Rafael to be back, and RVP on the bench...

    DDG
    Rafael - Jones - Smalling - Blockit
    Herrera - Fletcher
    Januzaj - Mata - Young
    Rooney

    If (big IF!) there will be any new signings, I don't see them starting or maybe not even be on the bench...
    RVP and Welbeck (if not injured) to come one.
    I`m predicting a draw with Rooney to score: 1-1...

    Hopefully we will get Benatia, Di Maria and Vidal a couple of days before the game... A man can dream
     
    I honestly think that we are going to loose this.

    There is no confidence at the club and we cant play any decent system due to injuries.
     
    DDG
    Jones - Evans - Blackett
    Rafael - Herrera - Fletcher - Young
    Mata
    Januzaj - Rooney
    ​
    Providing Rafa and Evans are ready.
     
    ----------------De Gea------------------
    Rafael-----Smalling-Evans-----Blackett--
    ------------Herrera----Fellaini-------------
    -Januzaj---------Rooney------------Nani-
    --------------------RvP---------------------
     
    It would be lovely if Pearson gets promoted, I think he's capable of doing a better job in the holding role than Fletcher. A 3-man midfield consisting of Pearson, Kagawa, Herrera isn't too shabby.
    GK: De gea.
    CB: Jones.
    CB: Smalling.
    CB: Blackett.
    RWB: Rafael.
    LWB: James.
    CM: Pearson.
    CM: Herrera.
    CM: Kagawa.
    FW: Januzaj.
    ST: Rooney.
    If I could have my way, this would be the line-up but I know it aint possible.
     
    Cooksen said:
    I honestly think that we are going to loose this.

    There is no confidence at the club and we cant play any decent system due to injuries.
    Click to expand...

    Loose it? What throw caution to the wind and not have any rigidity?

    Or lose it? As per Swansea.

    I never thought this game was going to be easy. But the pressure Is massively on now. Lose or draw this and we can already be 5 points off rivals!

    We have to make it through the next 2 games with wins, and then hope injured players are back, and we have new signings for the game 2 weeks after that.
     
    Need a win and proper performance to get some confidence back.

    First game of the league season. It's going to be great.
     
    Rooney - Januzaj
    Mata
    Herrara - Fletcher
    Young --------------------- Rafael
    Blackett - Smalling - Jones
    DDG
    ​
    Could easily switch to 4231 with the same players, Januzaj and Young flanking Mata, Raf and Blackett the FBs.

    Hopefully Rafael (or Valencia even) is back for this one - we really need proper wing-backs available.

    Give Januzaj a free reign up front.

    There's no real alternative to Fletcher in CM at the moment...
     
    I think we'll win this comfortably. Few players back in the team, a few lessons learned. Maybe LVG will see that, to every team in the country winning at old trafford completes their life, makes the front page of every paper and that games are going to be very tough there. But this game will suit the 3-5-2 very well. Hoping for an improved lineup but might not be possible

    Also, without RVP fully fit there's a chance he could use 4-3-3 with januzaj and whoever on the wing, probably nani (sigh) might be nice tho, mata herrera and x in CM, jones RB young LB..... ah f*ck it lets stick with 3-5-2
     
    Diadem [USER=63673]@t.banty[/USER] said:
    It would be lovely if Pearson gets promoted, I think he's capable of doing a better job in the holding role than Fletcher. A 3-man midfield consisting of Pearson, Kagawa, Herrera isn't too shabby.
    GK: De gea.
    CB: Jones.
    CB: Smalling.
    CB: Blackett.
    RWB: Rafael.
    LWB: James.
    CM: Pearson.
    CM: Herrera.
    CM: Kagawa.
    FW: Januzaj.
    ST: Rooney.
    If I could have my way, this would be the line-up but I know it aint possible.
    Click to expand...

    Probably not a good time to promote even more youngsters tbh
     
    Rowem said:
    Rooney - Januzaj
    Mata
    Herrara - Fletcher
    Young --------------------- Rafael
    Blackett - Smalling - Jones
    DDG
    ​
    Could easily switch to 4231 with the same players, Januzaj and Young flanking Mata, Raf and Blackett the FBs.

    Hopefully Rafael (or Valencia even) is back for this one - we really need proper wing-backs available.

    Give Januzaj a free reign up front.

    There's no real alternative to Fletcher in CM at the moment...
    Click to expand...

    That's the team I was thinking about. Adnan has to play in a free rol, not at wingback and I think Rafael it's gonna be great in that position, I hope he starts on Sunday
     
    Hopefully we stick with the 3-5-2/3-4-1-2/5-2-1-2 or whatever the hell people are calling it.

    ------------De Gea
    ---Jones--Smalling--Blackett
    Rafael----------------------James
    --------Fletcher--Hererra
    --------------Mata
    ---Nani/Januzaj----Rooney

    Not alot of experience on the left side but James deserves a chance, espically if Young is the only other player in his way, and I prefer a left footed player at LWB.

    Nani's not been great but he is still capable of a good dribble or something now and then. I think he'll offer more than Hernandez.
     
    Thinking van Gaal will stick with the 3-5-2

    De Gea

    Jones
    Smalling
    Evans (Blackett if Evans isn't fit)

    Rafael
    Fletcher
    Herrera
    Young
    Mata

    Rooney
    van Persie (Januzaj if RvP isn't fit)
     
    They play a 4-5-1 which would make it very difficult for us if we play 3-4-1-2 as our midfield would get shut down easy. Johnson will probably be a Big problem for our defence.

    4-5-1 would be the best option i think.

    ---------------De Gea-----------------
    Rafael - Smalling - Evans - Blackett
    ---Herrera - Fletcher - Kagawa-------
    Januzaj----------------------Welbeck
    ---------------Rooney----------------

    Hope alot of the injuries is over. Hard to predict result, could be anything these days really :)
     
    De Gea; Jones--Smalling--Blackett; Rafael/Valencia--Fletcher--Herrera--Young; Mata; Januzaj--Rooney

    Hoping at least Rafael or Valencia will be fit enough to start. Welbeck back from injury will be great news too.
    With the injuries though it's pretty hard to predict. If Valencia/Rafael don't make it then start James LWB and Young RWB. Must say I think James is lacking a bit but we don't have an option.
     
    Don't know what to expect, Poyet's Sunderland aren't a bad side, would love to see Powell given a chance. I'm sure we will win providing Nani, Hernandez and Fellaini are nowhere near the pitch.

    .........................DDG
    Rafael.......Jones........Blackett......James
    .................Powell........Herrera...............
    ...........Kagawa.................Januzaj........
    ...........................Mata
    ..........................Rooney

    Fletcher/Clevs for Powell obviously, but one can dream
     
    space said:
    Don't know what to expect, Poyet's Sunderland aren't a bad side, would love to see Powell given a chance. I'm sure we will win providing Nani, Hernandez and Fellaini are nowhere near the pitch.

    .........................DDG
    Rafael.......Jones........Blackett......James
    .................Powell........Herrera...............
    ...........Kagawa.................Januzaj........
    ...........................Mata
    ..........................Rooney

    Fletcher/Clevs for Powell obviously, but one can dream
    Click to expand...

    That is an awfully unbalanced team. We would lose by more than 2 goals
     
    santeria13 said:
    That is an awfully unbalanced team. We would lose by more than 2 goals
    Click to expand...
    Honestly can't see us doing much better with the predicted line up;

    ......................DDG
    Rafa.......Jones.....Smalling...James
    .............Clev/Fletch...Herrera
    Young............Mata...............Januzaj
    ...................Rooney

    I thought Blackett was our best player in the last match, and I thought Young looked like Young of last season again, I'd choose Shinji over him right now, at least the link up play between Kagawa, Mata and Januzaj against lower tier opposition was quite nice last season. Add Herrera to that and you never know, but seeing another 90 minutes of failing to create a chance is not something I can handle
     
    Not sure we're going to change from a 3-4-1-2 so quickly just because of one bad result. Fact is, we weren't good enough the other day against Swansea, but I expect Van Gaal to make a couple of changes.

    De Gea
    Jones - Smalling - Evans
    Rafael - Fletcher - Herrera - Young
    Mata
    Welbeck - Rooney

    ​
    Few changes if players are still injured.

    Januzaj for Welbeck

    Blackett for Evans
    ​

    ​
     
    I'm simultaneously excited and very scared for this next match

    Excited to see how we respond to our defeat and guessing which players we're gonna get before this next match.

    Scared at what's gonna happen if we lose

    Dangit I'm confused.
     
    space said:
    Honestly can't see us doing much better with the predicted line up;

    ......................DDG
    Rafa.......Jones.....Smalling...James
    .............Clev/Fletch...Herrera
    Young............Mata...............Januzaj
    ...................Rooney

    I thought Blackett was our best player in the last match, and I thought Young looked like Young of last season again, I'd choose Shinji over him right now, at least the link up play between Kagawa, Mata and Januzaj against lower tier opposition was quite nice last season. Add Herrera to that and you never know, but seeing another 90 minutes of failing to create a chance is not something I can handle
    Click to expand...

    The predicted line up is most probably a 3-5-2 rather than the one you mentioned, with young and hopefully rafael as our wing backs. I thought lingard was absolutely dreadful in the wing back role until he was taken off last game and I don't see him starting there again. The problem with the first line up you mentioned is that we would be playing with 3 (arguably 4 with powell) attacking midfielders and one proper midfielder(herrera) which would leave us horribly exposed at the back. Infact, although I disagree that the line up in the post above is the 'predicted' one, I think it would be a good option but I don't see lvg changing the system altogether after one loss. The only difference I'd make is to switch januzaj to the right and young to the left.

    Personally if I could pick a formation/team it would be the one below:

    --------------DDG---------

    Rafael---Jones---Smalling--Blackett(originally a LB)

    -----Januzaj--Fletcher---Herrera----

    --------------Kagawa---------
    -------Welbeck----Rooney


    Somewhat what Real play with Januzaj operating in the Di maria role in midfield. They both have very similair qualities and I can see him doing well there alongside 2 midfielders rather than playing a 2 man midfield. As for Kagawa, I would like to see him start ahead of mata the next game as mata was one of our more woeful players in the last couple of games and it would be nice to see shinji step up. In the few games he has played as a no10 he has impressed me. Mata in my opinion is more likely to pop up with a goal or an assist, but with that team we would have 3 or 4 players who are very capable of doing the samae thing. Thing is, imo he just doesn't contribute to the build up play as well as kagawa, even though he's not as productive. I can see us having a fair bit of pace and creativity (Something I think we lack)on the counter with herrera, januzaj and kagawa all linking up through the middle. Another option may be to switch kagawa with Januzaj and have Januzaj play behind the striker though in the team I mentioned Januzaj would also provide some width on the right. Welbeck also shines in his link up play and think he would thrive having those 3 behind him. If he is not fit then hernandez, who seems to have a good understanding with kagawa
     
    Last edited:
    ----------Hernandez----------
    Mata-------------------Januzaj
    -------Rooney--Herrera-------
    ------------Fellaini-------------
    --Blackett----------Smalling-
    ------------Jones--------------

    As options go id like to see Rooney drop deeper and sure up a 3 man midfield,with him bursting forward in patches.Much rather that than Fletch anchoring again,and i do think Cleverley would work well in a three,so theres that.
     
    herokiller84 said:
    ----------Hernandez----------
    Mata-------------------Januzaj
    -------Rooney--Herrera-------
    ------------Fellaini-------------
    --Blackett----------Smalling-
    ------------Jones--------------

    As options go id like to see Rooney drop deeper and sure up a 3 man midfield,with him bursting forward in patches.Much rather that than Fletch anchoring again,and i do think Cleverley would work well in a three,so theres that.
    Click to expand...

    I also think Rooney, kagawa or januzaj dropping back into a 3 man midfield would be a good option. There's a player missing in that team though. Also, how would that back 3 work unless you meant to put rafael on the right; then that would make sense
     
    santeria13 said:
    I also think Rooney, kagawa or januzaj dropping back into a 3 man midfield would be a good option. There's a player missing in that team though. Also, how would that back 3 work unless you meant to put rafael on the right; then that would make sense
    Click to expand...

    Aye i have no keeper in it.

    Smalling is no slouch,and with Herrea and/or Fellaini actually dropping back covering,id envisage many outlets up front either to Rooney centrally or the wings,Adnan or Mata,both of whom have great delivery and to float all over the front.

    it would get the best out of Hernadez id think,always poaching and on the shoulder /between the 2 centre backs,feeding of the boys behind him.
     
    Pretty confident we'll have wrapped up Rojo ahead of Sunday, so I'm going to go ahead and out him in my projected XI. I think we should continue with the 3-5-2 at least for the short-term seeing as we are deprived of good wingers - Januzaj aside - and despite the defence being pretty awful collectively against Swansea, they were individually good in patches. Personally I felt the midfield and wingbacks were more culpable for our loss even though the major errors for their goals came from CB's.

    de Gea
    Jones - Smalling - Blackett
    Rafael (if fit) - Fletcher - Herrera - Rojo
    Mata
    Januzaj - Rooney

    Subs: Lindegaard, M. Keane, Young, Cleverley, Kagawa, van Persie, Hernandez
    ​
    Admittedly, I don't know what Rojo is like as a wingback, but seeing as we might have just one conventional fullback/wingback available and Blackett has played every game in pre-season as well as the Swansea game as a left-sided CB then I'd use him there.

    The bench looks a lot stronger there and I simply wouldn't waste time with players who clearly don't have a future here like Fellaini and Nani. Particularly the former who shouldn't ever be used as a last resort to salvage a point or win. Frankly I thought that was pretty pathetic and I was surprised to see LvG deploy him as a target man.

    We are more or less resigned to using Fletcher and Herrera as central midfield partnership due to our limited options, so that those are almost default inclusions. Upfront, Hernandez is continually disappointing and is so poor at linking play, holding up the ball and his movement has regressed too, so I'd be incredibly surprised to see him start ahead of Januzaj even if he is more match fit.
     
    Pyro19 said:
    I'm simultaneously excited and very scared for this next match

    Excited to see how we respond to our defeat and guessing which players we're gonna get before this next match.

    Scared at what's gonna happen if we lose

    Dangit I'm confused.
    Click to expand...
    I think most of us could understand this feeling. So for me any point/s from this game will be most welcome and if we lose then no choice, (I am mentally prepared for it now)
     
    Any news on Welbeck's injury? The Swansea game shows how crucial he is for LvG's 3-5-2 or/and how little Hernández is suited to it. Sad to see how much Rooney and especially Mata struggle without Welbeck's movement around them. Other factors such as injuries to the back four and lack of good options in midfield also contributed to the weak performance off course, but our counter-attacking prowess is pretty much non-existant when Mata, Rooney and Hernández are our three upfront. If Welbeck's not ready for Sunderland, then I'd really like to see Januzaj pair with Rooney with Mata/Kagawa behind.
     
    Sandikan said:
    Loose it? What throw caution to the wind and not have any rigidity?

    Or lose it? As per Swansea.

    I never thought this game was going to be easy. But the pressure Is massively on now. Lose or draw this and we can already be 5 points off rivals!

    We have to make it through the next 2 games with wins, and then hope injured players are back, and we have new signings for the game 2 weeks after that.
    Click to expand...

    This x 10. Been keeping this away boiling my blood but can people PLEASE realise that the word lose has 1 'o' in it??! Does my head in!

    Anyway, regarding this game (desperately trying to look forward now after the massive kick in the balls that Saturday was) I do feel like perhaps we need to reserve the 3-5-2 when we are up against it with teams who have better quality players. For me right now that would be City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. I do believe our first XI is 5th in the league quality-wise so we should go out against teams below us and attack them. Strip out all the emotion of recent weeks, no signings etc. and tell me this XI isn't better than anything Sunderland can put out man-for-man:

    ---DDG---

    Rafael--Jones--Smalling--James

    Herrera---Mata---Cleverley (by default as Fletcher was woeful v Swansea)

    Januzaj---Rooney---Welbeck

    Pace and guile up front, good passers in the middle (and also Cleverley) and a decent back 4 (albeit with an unproven full back). This assumes no signings but does put our quality players in place they can hurt Sunderland. Put this team out, pass it well and we'd run out 3-0 winners IMO.
     
    I just hope we win, losing seems to completely throw me off for the whole week. It is tough to enjoy any other football after United lose and impossible to listen to podcasts etc. This forum could also do with a bit of positivity so just hope we can squeeze out a result irrespective of how we play
     
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Phil Jones image Phil Jones 49% of 727 votes

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Score Predictions

741,167,143
  • Man Utd win
  • Sunderland win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 27% Sunderland 1:2 Man Utd
  • 13% Sunderland 1:3 Man Utd
  • 12% Sunderland 0:2 Man Utd
  • 8% Sunderland 1:1 Man Utd
  • 7% Sunderland 0:3 Man Utd
  • 7% Sunderland 2:1 Man Utd
  • 5% Sunderland 0:1 Man Utd
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  • 3% Sunderland 1:0 Man Utd
  • 3% Sunderland 2:0 Man Utd
  • 2% Sunderland 0:5 Man Utd
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  • 2% Sunderland 5:0 Man Utd
  • 2% Sunderland 0:4 Man Utd
  • 1% Sunderland 3:1 Man Utd
  • 1% Sunderland 2:3 Man Utd
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  • 1% Sunderland 3:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 2:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 2:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 4:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 5:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 3:2 Man Utd
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Match Stats

  1. Sunderland
  2. Man Utd
Possession
45% 55%
Shots
11 10
Shots on Target
3 3
Corners
4 4
Fouls
10 15

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