Does Ronaldo start against Liverpool?

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Deery

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He was absolutely brilliant yesterday and obviously scored a hat trick, but is it crazy to think we could rest him for Tuesday and maybe bring him on as a second half sub.

We all know Liverpool’s pressing game is immense and it’ll be all hands on deck, (although Rashford isn’t showing much in that regard)and it’ll be two games in 3 days for Ronaldo or do we just play our best player and give up something in defence to add to attack?
 
As much as I love Ronaldo, he could be benched, but it would be odd to bench a player who has just scored three goals and is in good form.

Elanga up front with Sancho and Lingard on the wings seems possible, though.
 
I think regardless of whether tactically it makes sense to change things up, he will start. It's difficult enough to drop a player who just scored a hat trick let alone when that player is Ronaldo.
 
Deery said:
We all know Liverpool’s pressing game is immense and it’ll be all hands on deck, (although Rashford isn’t showing much in that regard)and it’ll be two games in 3 days for Ronaldo or do we just play our best player and give up something in defence to add to attack?
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This wouldn’t even be in question if he were clearly our best player.

Short answer… Who cares.
 
MvG said:
This wouldn’t even be in question if he were clearly our best player.

Short answer… Who cares.
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Any Manchester United fan would care, strange dig at Ronaldo. Even his biggest fans would realise 90 minutes against Pool after a match on Saturday could scupper any 4th place hopes.
 
Deery said:
Any Manchester United fan would care, strange dig at Ronaldo. Even his biggest fans would realise 90 minutes against Pool after a match on Saturday could scupper any 4th place hopes.
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No, it’s just obvious that any player who can’t keep his level twice a week cannot possibly be considered a team’s best player.

And we are getting battered whether he plays or not. So again. Who cares.
 
MvG said:
No, it’s just obvious that any player who can’t keep his level twice a week cannot possibly be considered a team’s best player.

And we are getting battered whether he plays or not. So again. Who cares.
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He’s 37 genius, being our best player doesn’t negate from the simple fact of the aging process.
 
I'd try keep it tight and park the bus for a draw without Ronaldo. If we're still within 1 goal with 20-30 minutes to go then I'd bring him on & hope for the best. We need to keep him fresh for the Arsenal vs Ronaldo & De Gea game Saturday afternoon.
 
MvG said:
No, it’s just obvious that any player who can’t keep his level twice a week cannot possibly be considered a team’s best player.

And we are getting battered whether he plays or not. So again. Who cares.
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Sorry…..who do we have that keeps their level twice a week?
 
Spaghetti said:
No way we get anything out of Tuesday. I’d rest him for the Arsenal game.
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That’s a very good point too, he may be more beneficial to us rested for Arsenal, than playing against Pool..
 
I have concerns about him going into next season but given I'd sit back in this game would it make a big difference to play anyone else? He doesn't have to press tons but just pressurize their midfield and defence a little when they start to attack us.
 
I wouldn't, just park the bus against Liverpool trying to go for a draw, we are expected to loss this one anyway.

I'd rather keep Ronaldo fresh to fight against Arsenal in another 3 days after Liverpool game.
 
I’d rest him against Liverpool and keep him fresh for Arsenal. Play Bruno as a false 9, with Rashford left and Elanga right and aim to hit on the counter. Only problem is I’m not sure who we can sensibly play in midfield, so might have to be 3 at the back.
 
Not for me no, on the bench if we are still in the game last 20 and need a goal, throw him on if not leave him be. Get another body in defense, bruno as false 9 and 2 of rashford, sancho or elanga either side. I would be tempted with rashford for his pace and willingness to run in behind its one place you can hurt this Liverpool side.
 
Arsenal is a far more important game , rest him

he’ll may get pneumonia up top Tuesday night
 
Absolutely not. This game is irrelevant. But the game after that against Arsenal is extremely important. We will need him in top shape for that.
 
He legs can’t handle 2 games a week, he will most likely have an ineffective game if we force to play him and we will also ruin him for the Arsenal game too.
 
Telsim said:
Absolutely not. This game is irrelevant. But the game after that against Arsenal is extremely important. We will need him in top shape for that.
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Irrelevant as in we’re going to lose anyway? I hope we can snatch a draw with or without Ronaldo
 
duffer said:
I can't believe some of the posts in this thread.
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I know right! Its Liverpool away and it’s a nothing game! SMH!

What happened to abit of pride of not getting spanked 5-0 away to our biggest rival. Title challlenge or no title challenge you play your best and you play to get a result.
 
He’s not the attacker that needs to be benched.
 
We have played the whole season to the plan of getting Ronaldo to score goals for us. Our main tactic is to get the ball to Ronaldo so he can score.

To bench him now is shooting ourselves in the foot - even if it's not the best tactic to get the best out of all the team.
 
DRJosh said:
Irrelevant as in we’re going to lose anyway? I hope we can snatch a draw with or without Ronaldo
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Yes. We are not getting anything out of this. It's a nothing game. Playing him would have been fine if we didn't have an all-important game 4 days later. But we do and we will need him in top shape for that. Now is the time to be pragmatic and realistic. "Playing our best" isn't going to cut it here.
 
I understand the sentiment but it’s not like we even have any other viable options so he has to start.
 
If other options were available, I wouldn't even entertain benching him because even with him, we'll likely lose but he gives us a slight hope of snatching a result.
Without him, a defeat is 10000% guaranteed
 
He starts and we lose and is bench and we lose. Our back up is horrendous. For me Lingard has to start, it's not an question about Ronaldo as he is our only natural forward. 37 or not, this is what he gets paid to do, big moments.
 
No you need pace to counter quickly and take advantage of their high line.

Because we are a disneyland club he will start though, particularly having scored a hat-trick (against the bottom side in the PL)
 
He can also challenge VVD in the air and let Sancho/Rashford run in behind. We will not bench Ronaldo
 
He starts- we lose
He doesn’t start- we lose
The problem is that there is no one to replace him with,it would have been a game for Cavani but he has gone awol so he starts for me
This Team is built for Ronaldo so he has to play
Only 6 games left and this ridiculous situation can be redressed
 
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