[hellhunter]

Onana
Yoro De Ligt Martinez
Mazraoui Fernandes Ugarte Dorgu
Amad Garnacho
Zirkzee
​

It just looks better already doesn't it with a left footer incoming.

He'll need a work permit and it'd be Dalot on the right

 

[Overhaul FC]

He'll need a work permit and it'd be Dalot on the right

Dorgu isn't likely to play this game but I like the way it looks, I think he'll come in and Mazraoui will balance it on the other side. Can't see Amorim playing Dalot and Dorgu as first choice.

I think Dorgu's tendencies show that he will be utilised to get high and cross, also to get shots in. Mazraoui would complement that nicely as a lopsided formation where he tucks in and covers to make a back 4 when needed.

 

[sepulturite]

"very very likely" is a stretch, we would be very unlucky to be pushed out of top 8, even losing this game.

Yeh as I said that's not true. Somebody posted the scenarios earlier in the thread, and if we lose it is very likely we drop out of top 8.

 

[Marwood]

Start Eriksen and Mainoo somewhere. Rest Amad. Zirkzee in for Hojlund.

 

[Red in STL]

Start Eriksen and Mainoo somewhere. Rest Amad. Zirkzee in for Hojlund.

I would start Hojlund, he's crap in the PL but his record in Europe is reasonable

 

[Dudu]

Where we finish in the top 8 does have an impact, looking at the Wikipedia page.

For the playoff round, it’s split so that the top half (9-16) players the bottom half (17-24) but it’s not absolutely guaranteed who each plays.
The team in 9th plays either 23 or 24, and 10 plays the other, determined by a draw.
11/12 play 21/22
13/14 play 19/20
15/16 play 17/18.

Once that round is done, we have to see who remaining plays whom from the top 8.

The top 2 teams each play a winner of the 15/16 vs 17/18 games.
The teams in 3rd and 4th each play a winner from the 13/14 and 19/20 games
The teams in 5th and 6th each play a winner of the 11/12 and 21/22 games
The teams in 7th and 8th each play a winner of the 9/10 and 23/24 games.

The first and second teams are kept opposite side of the draw to each other, likewise 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 respectively.

First and second can’t meet until the final therefore, and 1/2 can’t play 3/4 until the semi final.

So where in the top 8 you finish is significant. Though there are still too many moving parts to say what the best spot is.

The TLDR is
The top 2 can’t meet until the final
The top 4 can’t meet until the semis.
Finishing top 4 means the highest seed you can face in the last 16 is the 13th team.

Also in the last 16 the seeded team (top 8) plays at home second). In the QF/SF there’s a draw to determine this

Cheers for the explanation! Seems like aiming for at least top 4 could provide a more favorable path.

 

[Dans]

Altay
Yoro De Ligt Martinez
Dalot Collyer Eriksen Malacia
Garnacho Bruno
Zirkzee​

Rotate it up a bit. Pretty sure a draw guarantees us top 8 but obviously need to just think about winning and getting to 3 wins in a row to feel better about ourselves

We just need to think about winning? We need to think about trying not lose whilst playing like dogshite.

 

[Tincanalley]

I could have my facts wrong, but winning the EL is our only realistic passport to the CL next season and with CL qualification comes many good things, whereas not qualifying for the CL would be further humiliation. Not hyperbole.

We have no realistic shot at top 5 in the PL. we should be able to scrape 8th place but at this point whether it’s 7th or 10th is hardly relevant compared to the one competition left where glorious triumph means re-entry into the CL club.

Play the strongest XI possible.

Agreed. Among the good things; PSR headroom and money to afford a couple of key upgrades on players

 

[sleepehead]

I would start Hojlund, he's crap in the PL but his record in Europe is reasonable

Honestly agree, I think if he's doing so well in Europe let him ride that hot hand until it cools off. Let him be the main ST for Europa at least it'll give him confidence and something to focus on. He would at least know when he'd be guaranteed to play

 

[suheilsworld]

Will be interesting to see the squad that travels for this one. We should have that news today, right?

 

[suheilsworld]

Some training videos just released. If rashford is there, he would’ve hit the hardest I’m assuming

https://www.manutd.com/en/videos/de...ren-fletcher-run-the-gauntlet-before-training

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

Will be interesting to see the squad that travels for this one. We should have that news today, right?

I’d imagine so.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

Some training videos just released. If rashford is there, he would’ve hit the hardest I’m assuming

https://www.manutd.com/en/videos/de...ren-fletcher-run-the-gauntlet-before-training

Rashford was the one on the right being pushed by De Ligt to get involved

 

[always_hoping]

TRAVELLING SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Andre Onana.

Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro.

Midfielders: Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte.

Forwards: Amad, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

A point will be enough to secure top 8 and avoid that unnecessary play off game in February. Just hope for a professional display with no injuries/suspensions.

Bayindir

Yoro - De Ligt - Martinez

Mazraoui - Collyer - Mainoo - Dalot

B.Fernandes - Garnacho

Zirkzee
​

subs: Onana, Heaton, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Casemiro, Ugarte, Eriksen, Amad, Hojlund

score prediction: FCSB 0-2 Manchester United

 

[Red in STL]

A point will be enough to secure top 8 and avoid that unnecessary play off game in February. Just hope for a professional display with no injuries/suspensions.

Bayindir

Yoro - De Ligt - Martinez

Mazraoui - Collyer - Mainoo - Dalot

B.Fernandes - Garnacho

Zirkzee
​

subs: Onana, Heaton, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Casemiro, Ugarte, Eriksen, Amad, Hojlund

score prediction: FCSB 0-2 Manchester United

A point should be enough but it's not 100%, we'd be seriously stupid to think that way

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

A point should be enough but it's not 100%, we'd be seriously stupid to think that way

It is 100% enough to get a top 8 finish - look at the table. I agree that it’s not the mindset to have going into the game - I never said it should be in my initial post. The point I made was - “A point will be enough to secure top 8 and avoid that unnecessary play off game in February” .

 

[leeroyTX]

Trying to get some consistency going in the league is more important. Palace at home is a decent chance to win back to back league games for the first time this season.

Rest players and try to squeak a draw here with a view to being fresh for Palace.

I disagree to an extent. I think any hope of qualifying for Europe through the league is completely gone and the focus should be on this tournament. I wouldn't risk a chance at moving out of the top 8 and the possibility remains that we can finish as high as 2nd. That means a better draw as they use a seeding process. I think he can rotate to an extent but I'd be going for the win here and worry about Sunday on Sunday.

 

[Bertie Wooster]

A point should be enough but it's not 100%, we'd be seriously stupid to think that way

It is 100% enough to get a top 8 finish - look at the table. I agree that it’s not the mindset to have going into the game - I never said it should be in my initial post. The point I made was - “A point will be enough to secure top 8 and avoid that unnecessary play off game in February” .

Red in STL is correct. A pointshould be enough to qualify, but it isnt 100% - and RedDevilRoshi needs to look at the table again and do the maths again.

A draw moves us to 16 points, with a GD of +5. Wins for Lyon, Tottenham and Anderlecht would move them above us to 17 points. Wins for Galatasary and Bodo / Glimt would move them to 16 points, level with us, and it would go off GD with then currently +4 and +3.

So all results going against us could still see us knocked out with a draw - though we'd be unlucky. Similarly, we could still sneak through even with a defeat - but we'd have to be very lucky with all the other results.

A draw should be enough, but not guaranteed. A win guarantees it, and also the higher we finish in the top 8 should be an advantage in regards to who we play in the next rounds.

 

[Red in STL]

It is 100% enough to get a top 8 finish - look at the table. I agree that it’s not the mindset to have going into the game - I never said it should be in my initial post. The point I made was - “A point will be enough to secure top 8 and avoid that unnecessary play off game in February” .

Check your math, a draw gives United 16 points, the 9th and10th position teams can also reach 16 points, a draw gives us a GD of 5, a 2-0 win for both puts them above us, of course some of the other results can make that moot but it is not 100% certain

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

What I would play:

Bayindir
Mazraoui De Ligt Martinez
Amad Collyer Bruno Malacia
Eriksen Mainoo
Hojlund

 

[Red in STL]

Red in STL is correct. A pointshould be enough to qualify, but it isnt 100% - and RedDevilRoshi needs to look at the table again and do the maths again.

A draw moves us to 16 points, with a GD of +5. Wins for Lyon, Tottenham and Anderlecht would move them above us to 17 points. Wins for Galatasary and Bodo / Glimt would move them to 16 points, level with us, and it would go off GD with then currently +4 and +3.

So all results going against us could still see us knocked out with a draw - though we'd be unlucky. Similarly, we could still sneak through even with a defeat - but we'd have to be very lucky with all the other results.

A draw should be enough, but not guaranteed. A win guarantees it, and also the higher we finish in the top 8 should be an advantage in regards to who we play in the next rounds.

You beat me to it

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

I hold my hands up and happy to admit I got it wrong there @Red in STL .

 

[Bertie Wooster]

Looking at the possible opponents should we finish outside the top 8 tomorrow night - we'd finish somewhere between 9th-12th, and so would play a team finishing 20th-24th.

You'd think they wouldn't be great quality teams that low down in the EL - but as it stands, the teams around there are the likes of Roma, Ferencvaros, Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Porto.

Apart from Ferencvaros, I'd have hoped for easier opponents for the equivalent of a last 32 tie. It could end up being numerous other clubs of course - some looking easier on paper - but the potential tricky opponents is just another reason why we really need to get the job done tomorrow. It's not just to have a bonus break and to avoid the top 8 teams in the last 16, it's also that there's the potential for some difficult opponents in those play offs.

 

[Red in STL]

I hold my hands up and happy to admit I got it wrong there @Red in STL .

Fair play, there's hope for you yet

 

[Red in STL]

Looking at the possible opponents should we finish outside the top 8 tomorrow night - we'd finish somewhere between 9th-12th, and so would play a team finishing 20th-24th.

You'd think they wouldn't be great quality teams that low down in the EL - but as it stands, the teams around there are the likes of Roma, Ferencvaros, Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Porto.

Apart from Ferencvaros, I'd have hoped for easier opponents for the equivalent of a last 32 tie. It could end up being numerous other clubs of course - some looking easier on paper - but the potential tricky opponents is just another reason why we really need to get the job done tomorrow. It's not just to have a bonus break and to avoid the top 8 teams in the last 16, it's also that there's the potential for some difficult opponents in those play offs.

Avoiding the play play offs is what matters most of all

 

[Nep77]

Altay
Deligt Maguire Yoro
Maz Collyer Eriksen Malacia
Mainoo Zirkzee Garnacho

 

[Longlivekeano]

————————bayindir————-

——-Dalot—-Maguire—-Yoro—-

-Maz—-Collyer—-Casemiro—-Garna-

——-——mainoo——-zirkzee————

———————chido-martin—————

Subs: amad, Bruno, hojlund, de light, ugarte (last 20mins)

 

[Olecurls99]

Bayindir
Dalot
Mazraoui
Yoro
De Ligt
Martinez
Ugarte
Bruno
Mainoo
Eriksen
Garnacho

 

[sepulturite]

————————bayindir————-

——-Dalot—-Maguire—-Yoro—-

-Maz—-Collyer—-Casemiro—-Garna-

——-——mainoo——-zirkzee————

———————chido-martin—————

Subs: amad, Bruno, hojlund, de light, ugarte (last 20mins)

Yeh, that's not happening. We'll be playing our strongest team and rightly so. Need to avoid those two extra knock out games.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Would like to see Eriksen in there tonight. Think he's very useful in Europe.

 

[Red Royal]

Hope we go with our strongest team on paper, similar to Sunday. We can then hopefully scrape the result needed to avoid 2 extra games that this squad doesn't need and frankly, watching us at the moment isn't enjoyable.

 

[Hester_manc]

........................Onana...................

........Yoro.......Maguire....Martinez..........

Dalot.............................................Malacia
..............Collyer.....Bruno....................
............Amad................Garnacho..........
.....................Højlund...........................

It ends 1-1

 

[giggslover]

round of 16 would start on march 6th with second legs march 13th.

if we drop out wed face a play off on 13th feb and 20th feb, which would be before tottenham away, and then before everton away. we cant really afford to drop into play off

This.

Best scenario is us win and Spurs lose and go to knockout phase. We play them the weekend between the playoff dates, so it would be good if we're rested while they have to play the Thursday before.

Shudder to think about scenario where we lose and they win....

 

[djembatheking]

I hope we play our strongest team so we can get this done tonight. FCSB need a result too and it could quite easily turn into a tricky tie. There is no sense in resting players if we end up getting beat and having to play two extra games.

 

[giggslover]

TRAVELLING SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Andre Onana.

Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro.

Midfielders: Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte.

Forwards: Amad, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee

Looking at this squad, should we have kept McTominay?

Then again, selling him is probably why we just got under the PSR cap.

 

[ThanksBoss26]

Really don’t fancy those extra 2 games so I hope we get enough of a result for top 8.

I think he’ll go

Bayindir

Yoro
De Ligt
Martinez

Mazraoui
Ugarte
Mainoo
Dalot

Amad
Fernandes

Zirkzee

Wouldn’t be surprised if Maguire and Garnacho were in that line up for Yoro and Mainoo though.

 

[mitchmouse]

Start Eriksen and Mainoo somewhere. Rest Amad. Zirkzee in for Hojlund.

zirkzee was worse than Hojilund at Fulham... I'd love to see Garno play through the middle

 

[mitchmouse]

Didn't realise until last week that this lot are actually Steaua Bucharest... had hoped they were minnows

 

[ThanksBoss26]

Didn't realise until last week that this lot are actually Steaua Bucharest... had hoped they were minnows

I didn’t realise until I looked it up either