Champions League Group B

VfL Wolfsburg 3:2 Manchester United

Volkswagen Arena

Kick-off
Tue, 8 December 2015 @ 7:45pm GMT
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    unitedbhoy said:
    I'm not sure. That just isn't Wolfsburg's natural game. They tend to pretty much play every match with the same attitude, to try to win.

    I think it may be pretty open tbh.
    Click to expand...
    I'm with you that Wolfsburg is not used to park the bus, and they will want to win the group but at the same time, they won't take the risk of being too exposed, lose and go down to Europa League. Therefore I'm not convinced they'll press as high as they usually try to do, they'll deliberately try to sit a bit deeper to hit you on the counter and by dead ball situations.

    steeeb said:
    To be fair, the way Bayern are playing there isn't tooooo different to how we do. The difference is the number of players in the box when they attack compared to us. We need to use just one holding midfielder or at least give one of them license to go forward and also make sure we have the forwards/wide players all getting into the box.
    Click to expand...
    No disrespect but IMO Bayern usually play much faster and much more fluid than you which is a crucial difference. You're players may prove me wrong tonight though.
     
    sunama said:
    Logically I do agree with you.
    But I also know that when LVG needs a win - he gets it.
    It's almost as if we can dominate and win any game we please, but LVG sometimes just doesn't feel like winning...so decides to play safe, for a 0-0 draw.
    This is definitely a winnable game.
    Click to expand...

    In recent weeks we've had two (three?) opportunities to go top of the league, we had the chance to top our CL group and secure qualification, and we were knocked out of the COC at home to Middlesborough.

    Not sure that statement holds much water.
     
    TooBias said:
    In recent weeks we've had two (three?) opportunities to go top of the league, we had the chance to top our CL group and secure qualification, and we were knocked out of the COC at home to Middlesborough.

    Not sure that statement holds much water.
    Click to expand...
    Define "need a win".

    Do we "need" a win to go top of the table? Do we "need" a win to qualify for the CL knockout stage with a game to spare?

    I would argue neither of those are really "need" situations, more "would be nice" situations.

    The Capital One Cup had a bit more urgency and represented a real chance of silverware - that was more disappointing. But it was still only the Capital One Cup. Its not the CL.

    Tonight if we dont win we maybe get knocked out of the CL. Certainly a bigger game, with more urgency, than those other examples.
     
    I think Young will probably start over McNair in this one.

    de Gea
    Darmian Smalling Blind Young
    Carrick Schweinsteiger
    Lingard Mata Memphis
    Martial
    ---
    Romero; McNair, Borthwick-Jackson; Goss, Powell, Pereira; Fellaini​

    I hope LvG manages to convince the players that PSV have already won, although I think we almost need to win this game anyway. It'd be slightly annoying to scrape through in second with a draw and face Bayern in the next round for example.

    Sadly, I don't think it's going to go our way tonight. Expect Fellaini upfront in the last 20 minutes and we won't create enough unless Lingard/Memphis have good nights.
     
    Havak said:
    I think Young will probably start over McNair in this one.

    de Gea
    Darmian Smalling Blind Young
    Carrick Schweinsteiger
    Lingard Mata Memphis
    Martial
    ---
    Romero; McNair, Borthwick-Jackson; Goss, Powell, Pereira; Fellaini​

    I hope LvG manages to convince the players that PSV have already won, although I think we almost need to win this game anyway. It'd be slightly annoying to scrape through in second with a draw and face Bayern in the next round for example.

    Sadly, I don't think it's going to go our way tonight. Expect Fellaini upfront in the last 20 minutes and we won't create enough unless Lingard/Memphis have good nights.
    Click to expand...
    That lineup will have to do the business and I doubt our bench will have Wolfsburg shaking in their boots.
     
    Generally Van Gal has been able to get wins when we have needed them most, particularly last year. Im a bit worried about all of the injuries tbh, but we've only got ourselves to blame for getting into this position.
     
    Havak said:
    I think Young will probably start over McNair in this one.

    de Gea
    Darmian Smalling Blind Young
    Carrick Schweinsteiger
    Lingard Mata Memphis
    Martial
    ---
    Romero; McNair, Borthwick-Jackson; Goss, Powell, Pereira; Fellaini​

    I hope LvG manages to convince the players that PSV have already won, although I think we almost need to win this game anyway. It'd be slightly annoying to scrape through in second with a draw and face Bayern in the next round for example.

    Sadly, I don't think it's going to go our way tonight. Expect Fellaini upfront in the last 20 minutes and we won't create enough unless Lingard/Memphis have good nights.
    Click to expand...

    I'd go with this as well. Doesn't even look that bad in paper. I hope Memphis shows up. Would be a huge boost
     
    -----------------De Gea
    Darmian-Smalling-Blind-Young
    ------------Carrick-BFS
    Lingard--------Mata------Memphis
    ----------------Martial
     
    Adebesi said:
    Define "need a win".

    Do we "need" a win to go top of the table? Do we "need" a win to qualify for the CL knockout stage with a game to spare?

    I would argue neither of those are really "need" situations, more "would be nice" situations.

    The Capital One Cup had a bit more urgency and represented a real chance of silverware - that was more disappointing. But it was still only the Capital One Cup. Its not the CL.

    Tonight if we dont win we maybe get knocked out of the CL. Certainly a bigger game, with more urgency, than those other examples.
    Click to expand...

    Well, he 'needs' to win every game, so filtering out decisive games is quite hard, but I can't think of many games where LVG has produced when he's really needed to.

    I suppose you could count the three game salvo at the end of last season that helped secure top 4, but by the same measure we also went on a terrible run after that period and missed out on an attainable 3rd place spot. Not to mention, I don't think we should have even been in the 'fight' for top 4, considering how poor the teams below us were.

    I'd say the PSV game and COC game were certainly must-wins.

    For a club like Manchester United, any games that propel us to the top of the league are must-wins, in my opinion.
     
    Aparantly the lineup has leaked, and if that one is true, i probably wont watch it. Working this evening, but i can go home and watch if i want to.
    Maybe i'll pick money over United for the first time in a while.
     
    amolbhatia50k said:
    I agree with that 11 barring Mcnair. He was terrible at right back in the last game. Those front 4 are the most likely to do damage.
    Click to expand...

    Perhaps that same back four could also be:

    Blind McNair Smalling Darmian
    ​
    McNair looks immeasurably more comfortable in the middle, Blind is more than capable at left back, and Darmian is much better on the right. I think it suits the four of them much better than the back four we fielded against West Ham, with 3 out of 4 of them in unnatural positions.

    I'm eager to see more of McNair. Just not at right back.
     
    Tasberry said:
    Aparantly the lineup has leaked, and if that one is true, i probably wont watch it. Working this evening, but i can go home and watch if i want to.
    Maybe i'll pick money over United for the first time in a while.
    Click to expand...

    well what is the leaked possible line up then?
     
    TooBias said:
    Well, he 'needs' to win every game, so filtering out decisive games is quite hard, but I can't think of many games where LVG has produced when he's really needed to.

    I suppose you could count the three game salvo at the end of last season that helped secure top 4, but by the same measure we also went on a terrible run after that period and missed out on an attainable 3rd place spot. Not to mention, I don't think we should have even been in the 'fight' for top 4, considering how poor the teams below us were.

    I'd say the PSV game and COC game were certainly must-wins.

    For a club like Manchester United, any games that propel us to the top of the league are must-wins, in my opinion.
    Click to expand...
    I guess we just define it differently. I dont see how the PSV game can be "must win", given that we didnt win it, and if we win tonight, we go through.

    If you start calling games like that must win, it dilutes the meaning of the word. Tonight is a must win: if we dont win, we are out.

    A "6 pointer" against a title rival in the final weeks of the season is a must win, if the winner of that game will pull away and in all likelihood win the league as a result. Or if, in losing, you are no longer in the running for the league.

    I prefer to use it sparingly, so when I do it has more meaning. But yeah, as you said, every game is important and we want to win every game.

    Going back to the original point, I dont know if Van Gaal is any better in these high urgency games, we certainly had (have?) a good record against bigger teams so I will draw some comfort from that and live in hope.
     
    I am seeing a few formations with Mata as the #10 in this thread. Has it happened this season? I seem to remember him playing there once but I am not sure.
     
    I went with;

    DDG

    Varela
    Blind
    Smalling
    Darmian

    Carrick
    Schweinsteiger
    Fellaini

    Lingard
    Memphis
    Martial
     
    RustyS said:
    I am seeing a few formations with Mata as the #10 in this thread. Has it happened this season? I seem to remember him playing there once but I am not sure.
    Click to expand...
    He played there for a while in October but was generally poor.
     
    I think we'll go out of the CL tonight. It's a no brainer for them, just have to defend and we could not score lately so...
     
    Tasberry said:
    Aparantly the lineup has leaked, and if that one is true, i probably wont watch it. Working this evening, but i can go home and watch if i want to.
    Maybe i'll pick money over United for the first time in a while.
    Click to expand...
    Why would you post this without actually showing the line up ?

    I heard fellaini and varela are both starting though, via twitter. Probs BS.
     
    Question234 said:
    Why would you post this without actually showing the line up ?

    I heard fellaini and varela are both starting though, via twitter. Probs BS.
    Click to expand...

    To not give too much info to others trying to get a decent result in the lineup prediction ;)
     
    Question234 said:
    Why would you post this without actually showing the line up ?

    I heard fellaini and varela are both starting though, via twitter. Probs BS.
    Click to expand...
    It's the same lineup I went with

    DDG
    Darmian
    Smalling
    Blind
    Varela
    Carrick
    Bastian
    Fellaini
    Martial
    Lingard
    Depay
     
    Mata hasn't been great but he is probably the best finisher we have right now. Considering how poor our finishing has been, I'd think twice before dropping the guy who is most likely to finish one of our chances.
     
    Mata being benched is fine as long as he's given mor then 10 fecking mins to save a game.
     
    unchanged_lineup said:
    Not really any big surprises there. I suppose we could have Paddy in and perhaps Pereira instead of Fellaini. Feels like a bit of a bare bones team at the minute.
    Click to expand...
    Think Paddy will have the game off as he had a bit of a mare against West Ham, if Varela doesn't perform he'll probably be back for next match.
     
    Law of average, Martial is due a goal and we're due a win. Solid logic says we win! :lol:
     
    CSKA need to go for the win to go to Europa League. They beat PSV at home, maybe they can do it away as well?

    It would be surprising if we can do this on our own. Then again no one saw that 5-0 away in Germany coming 2 years back vs Leverkusen..
     
    If CSKA beat PSV they are in the Europa League. So they have something to play for.

    Will be interesting watching a van Gaal United that simply has to win, will there be more urgency?
    I doubt we'll stray from the philosophy for at least the first 70 mins.

    I've watched Wolfsburg quite a bit, and we simply should win this game. There is no pace upfront, no real alternative to the big target men. Smalling should be comfortable against them.
    With Memphis' impressive cameo against West Ham and Rooney's absence, I have faith we'll pull this off tonight. Memphis and Martial work well together. Hopefully PSV feck it up also, as I'm fond of Wolfsburg and want them to progress.
     
    drdoityourself said:
    If CSKA beat PSV they are in the Europa League. So they have something to play for.

    Will be interesting watching a van Gaal United that simply has to win, will there be more urgency?
    I doubt we'll stray from the philosophy for at least the first 70 mins.

    I've watched Wolfsburg quite a bit, and we simply should win this game. There is no pace upfront, no real alternative to the big target men. Smalling should be comfortable against them.
    With Memphis' impressive cameo against West Ham and Rooney's absence, I have faith we'll pull this off tonight. Memphis and Martial work well together. Hopefully PSV feck it up also, as I'm fond of Wolfsburg and want them to progress.
    Click to expand...

    Schürrle has plenty of pace and Kruse is a pretty good alternative to Dost, no?

    They could try something like this:

    ------------Benaglio
    Träsch-Dante-Naldo-Rodriguez
    --------Arnold--Gustavo (is he fit again?)
    Vieirinha----------------Draxler
    -----------Kruse-Schürrle

    A decent amount of pace and skill upfront.
     
    do.ob said:
    Schürrle has plenty of pace and Kruse is a pretty good alternative to Dost, no?
    Click to expand...

    I've always felt that Bendtner and Dost were battling for the spot up top with Schurrle and Kruse behind or on the wing. Probably I'm just being complacent because I think Smalling will dominate anyone they'd throw at him.
     
    do.ob said:
    Schürrle has plenty of pace and Kruse is a pretty good alternative to Dost, no?

    They could try something like this:

    ------------Benaglio
    Träsch-Dante-Naldo-Rodriguez
    --------Arnold--Gustavo (is he fit again?)
    Vieirinha----------------Draxler
    -----------Kruse-Schürrle

    A decent amount of pace and skill upfront.
    Click to expand...
    That's pretty much how they started against Dortmund on Saturday, I kinda like the idea behind it and could see Heckning try it again. But they looked stronger in the second half after the switch to a 433 with Kruse in midfield and Dost upfront.
     
    Balu said:
    That's pretty much how they started against Dortmund on Saturday, I kinda like the idea behind it and could see Heckning try it again. But they looked stronger in the second half after the switch to a 433 with Kruse in midfield and Dost upfront.
    Click to expand...

    Wolfsburg's build up was pretty fecked up by Dortmund's high intensity pressing, so getting more bodies in center and taking off Guilavogui for a player with better skills on the ball might have been a reaction to that. But afaik United don't press like that, so things will be a lot different.


    I think part of the change in rythm/control also came with Gündogan's injury, because with Hummels and Weigl already missing that was a very big blow to Dortmund's build up, but that's probably something for the Buli thread.
     
    do.ob said:
    Wolfsburg's build up was pretty fecked up by Dortmund's high intensity pressing, so getting more bodies in center and taking off Guilavogui for a player with better skills on the ball might have been a reaction to that. But afaik United don't press like that, so things will be a lot different.


    I think part of the change in rythm/control also came with Gündogan's injury, because with Hummels and Weigl already missing that was a very big blow to Dortmund's build up, but that's probably something for the Buli thread.
    Click to expand...
    Agree with all of that. I've argued from the start of the season, that I could see Kruse in a false 9ish role with Schürrle and Draxler playing off him as their best line-up and was surprised how rarely Hecking tried it so far. I'd love to see him use it today.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

David de Gea image David de Gea 43% of 702 votes

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Score Predictions

357,164,222
  • Man Utd win
  • Wolfsburg win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 19% Wolfsburg 0:1 Man Utd
  • 18% Wolfsburg 0:0 Man Utd
  • 14% Wolfsburg 1:2 Man Utd
  • 12% Wolfsburg 1:1 Man Utd
  • 9% Wolfsburg 2:0 Man Utd
  • 8% Wolfsburg 0:2 Man Utd
  • 6% Wolfsburg 1:0 Man Utd
  • 5% Wolfsburg 2:1 Man Utd
  • 3% Wolfsburg 1:3 Man Utd
  • 1% Wolfsburg 0:3 Man Utd
  • 1% Wolfsburg 0:5 Man Utd
  • 1% Wolfsburg 3:1 Man Utd
  • 1% Wolfsburg 3:0 Man Utd
  • 1% Wolfsburg 2:3 Man Utd
  • 0% Wolfsburg 1:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Wolfsburg 0:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Wolfsburg 2:2 Man Utd
  • 0% Wolfsburg 4:1 Man Utd
  • 0% Wolfsburg 5:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Wolfsburg 5:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Wolfsburg 4:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Wolfsburg 2:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Wolfsburg 3:2 Man Utd
Compiled from 743 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Wolfsburg
  2. Man Utd
Possession
45% 55%
Shots
10 18
Shots on Target
6 6
Corners
6 5
Fouls
8 13

Referee

Milorad Mazic

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes

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