Ajax - Man Utd | EL Final Build-up Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
I'm actually really looking forward to this game and supremely confident that we'll do the business.

The main players will all have had a decent rest and should be firing ready to go. Add in the fact that they know what prize is at stake here and I really can't see us making a mess of it.

I think I'd personally go with

Romero
Valencia Jones Blind Darmian
Herrera Pogba
Mhki Mata Martial
Rashford

I expect to see

Romero
Valencia Jones Blind Darmian
Herrera
Fellani Pogba
Mhki Rashford Lingard
 
Von Mistelroum said:
Smalling, Jones, Darmian.....
Click to expand...

I would only expect one of Jones or Smalling to start to partner Blind, unless Jose plans to play Blind at LB. Darmian has been OK this season, some good performances but equally some bad performances. However defensively as a unit we are very effective.
 
Players I'd go with

------------Romero--------------
Valencia---Axel--Jones-----Blind
-------------Herrera-------------
---------Fellaini---Pogba--------
Mkhitaryan----Rashford-----Lingard
 
The red panther said:
Players I'd go with

------------Romero--------------
Valencia---Axel--Jones-----Blind
-------------Herrera-------------
---------Fellaini---Pogba--------
Mkhitaryan----Rashford-----Lingard
Click to expand...

Suprised to see you'd pick Axel in this
 
P-Nut0712 said:
Suprised to see you'd pick Axel in this
Click to expand...

I rate Axel higher than either one of Smalling/Jones

I prefer Blind on the leftback over Darmian aswell

But I don't think Mourinho will play like that, he'll go for one of Smalling or Jones next to Blind and he will play Darmian on leftback. Obvioulsy I disagree with those choices.
 
The red panther said:
I rate Axel higher than either one of Smalling/Jones

I prefer Blind on the leftback over Darmian aswell

But I don't think Mourinho will play like that, he'll go for one of Smalling or Jones next to Blind and he will play Darmian on leftback. Obvioulsy I disagree with those choices.
Click to expand...

Yeah I guessed that would be your reasoning just suprised by it that's all.

Personally I rate Jones definitely as higher (think when fit he's a good cb) and I'd go with Smalling over Axel purely due to experience which could be key on a night like this.

Going forward I'd sell Smalling and promote Axel up a rank but for a one off final my preference would be Jones > Smalling > Axel
 
P-Nut0712 said:
Yeah I guessed that would be your reasoning just suprised by it that's all.

Personally I rate Jones definitely as higher (think when fit he's a good cb) and I'd go with Smalling over Axel purely due to experience which could be key on a night like this.

Going forward I'd sell Smalling and promote Axel up a rank but for a one off final my preference would be Jones > Smalling > Axel
Click to expand...

I have more faith in Axel's quaity than in Smalling's experience, if he is not good enough to be in the team next year he should not be counted on for our most important game of the year.

Also Ajax will be playing with a 17 year old CB, so experience isn't everything at this stage.
 
The red panther said:
I have more faith in Axel's quaity than in Smalling's experience, if he is not good enough to be in the team next year he should not be counted on for our most important game of the year.

Also Ajax will be playing with a 17 year old CB, so experience isn't everything at this stage.
Click to expand...

Well put. Axel is ready he already looks a player and knows his role and has the attributes to fulfill it well
 
Zlatan will provide an added motivation for the players.

Need no nonsense stuff from the team.
 
The red panther said:
I have more faith in Axel's quaity than in Smalling's experience, if he is not good enough to be in the team next year he should not be counted on for our most important game of the year.

Also Ajax will be playing with a 17 year old CB, so experience isn't everything at this stage.
Click to expand...

Just because they aren't good enough going forward doesn't mean they aren't good enough at this moment. Anyways it's a moot point for me as I'd go for Jones :lol:
 
The red panther said:
I have more faith in Axel's quaity than in Smalling's experience, if he is not good enough to be in the team next year he should not be counted on for our most important game of the year.

Also Ajax will be playing with a 17 year old CB, so experience isn't everything at this stage.
Click to expand...

We have not seen anything from Axel yet that shows he is better than Smalling.
 
VP89 said:
No it doesn't. At all.
Click to expand...

Smalling is a player prone to mistakes, hasn't played a goodgame all season whilst Axel might be unproven but from the little I have seen hasn't put a foot wrong so far, versus Arsenal he was even credited to be the best player on the pitch for us. Mourinho will not pick him I know that but I really think he would play a better than Smalling at this moment.
 
The red panther said:
Smalling is a player prone to mistakes, hasn't played a goodgame all season
Click to expand...

Every defender is prone to mistakes - and the bold bit is a gross exaggeration. There have been plenty games where Smalling has performed just fine at CB, and no don't ask me to name them because this debate isn't worth the trouble.

The red panther said:
whilst Axel might be unproven but from the little I have seen hasn't put a foot wrong so far. versus Arsenal he was even credited to be the best player on the pitch for us. Mourinho will not pick him I know that but I really think he would play a better than Smalling at this moment.
Click to expand...

Not might. He is unproven. He was out too far his position a couple of times versus Sanchez but was otherwise good. He hasn't even been tested in the CB role in the league yet since he as a RB against Arsenal.
 
VP89 said:
Every defender is prone to mistakes - and the bold bit is a gross exaggeration. There have been plenty games where Smalling has performed just fine at CB, and no don't ask me to name them because this debate isn't worth the trouble.



Not might. He is unproven. He was out too far his position a couple of times versus Sanchez but was otherwise good. He hasn't even been tested in the CB role in the league yet since he as a RB against Arsenal.
Click to expand...

None of it is worth the trouble, I'd prefer Axel to play but he won't, end of story.

I also don't rate either of Smalling or Jones, the fact atleast one of them will be on the field for our most import game of the season is fecked up
 
Looking forward to seeing Marcus Rashford up against Davinson Sanchez, a lot could depend on who get's the upper hand on the night. We all know about Marcus and what i've seen of him and heard from other fan's in Holland, Sanchez is already one of the most talented defenders in the league at the age of 20, although he will be 21 next month. Bayern & Barca have been keeping tabs on him this season and no doubt i can see the big clubs over here taking an interest too.
 
pauldyson1uk said:
posted on the Manchester Evening news United page , I kid you not.

I wouidn't like to see him playing the final,what of Rashford if Zlatan plays? Zlatan scores after 8 or 9 chances and i dont see those chances coming in the final

YES IT CONFIRMED AND Z FIT 2 PLAY FINAL SO THEIR Z HOPE

Wouldn't be surprised if he starts the game, mastermind tactician Jose Mourinho
Click to expand...

I think someone has watched too many movies :lol:
 
The red panther said:
None of it is worth the trouble, I'd prefer Axel to play but he won't, end of story.

I also don't rate either of Smalling or Jones, the fact atleast one of them will be on the field for our most import game of the season is fecked up
Click to expand...

As an Ajax fan I hope Axel will play as well.

It's very different for a youngster at United to play a game that matters than it is for Ajax.

At Ajax we dont shy away from playing youngster in important matches and moments. At United youngster are momentarily only played f.e. in Axels situation when the league has been forsaken.

To put him on in a game like a EuroLeague final that makes or breaks the season is not something to do lightly.
 
Heista said:
As an Ajax fan I hope Axel will play as well.

It's very different for a youngster at United to play a game that matters than it is for Ajax.

At Ajax we dont shy away from playing youngster in important matches and moments. At United youngster are momentarily only played f.e. in Axels situation when the league has been forsaken.

To put him on in a game like a EuroLeague final that makes or breaks the season is not something to do lightly.
Click to expand...

And yet none of them come close to Rashford. That's the only youngster of ours that you need to be worried about.
 
AXVnee7 said:
And yet none of them come close to Rashford. That's the only youngster of ours that you need to be worried about.
Click to expand...

Rashford is a great talent.
Is this his first important game as a starter?
No.
So am I discussing him or his talent?
No.
I am only joining the discussion whether Axel should start.

To reply to you: Rashford is not the only player for us to worry about. I hope we worry about every player United starts.
Not worrying at all about anybody playing would be a mistake.
 
Heista said:
Rashford is a great talent.
Is this his first important game as a starter?
No.
So am I discussing him or his talent?
No.
I am only joining the discussion whether Axel should start.

To reply to you: Rashford is not the only player for us to worry about. I hope we worry about every player United starts.
Not worrying at all about anybody playing would be a mistake.
Click to expand...

None of your players (or a small fraction at that) will be playing their first game in the final. United like Ajax don't shy away from playing youngsters in important games, only Mourinho does. Having said that it's been a turbulent season for him so we'll see his policy on youth better next year. Either way you won't be fielding a team of XI newbies, likewise Rashford is a youngster and we may also have some involvement from Martial too.
 
I'll be in a Budapest while this is happening. Best place to watch this according to any Hungarian caftards?
 
The red panther said:
None of it is worth the trouble, I'd prefer Axel to play but he won't, end of story.

I also don't rate either of Smalling or Jones, the fact atleast one of them will be on the field for our most import game of the season is fecked up
Click to expand...

So playing Smalling or Jones, both of whom have played CL, EL, FA Cup, League Cup, and PL matches and done well against the best teams in high pressure matches, is fecked up. But throwing in an untested and unproven 19-year-old is just hunky-dory in your eyes.
 
If we play with the desire and intensity we had against Chelsea we will win. With so much on the line I think we surely must. Our whole season rides on this.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.