A lot has changed within the past 6 months. They're high on confidence and their midfield is far superior. I expect a really tight game on Sunday.
Manchester United vs. Arsenal
- Thread starter Damien
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A lot has changed within the past 6 months. They're high on confidence and their midfield is far superior. I expect a really tight game on Sunday.
------------Goalie
-----------Defence
Valencia Fellaini Kagawa Janujaz
-----------Rooney
------------- RVP
-----------Defence
Valencia Fellaini Kagawa Janujaz
-----------Rooney
------------- RVP
--------------------de gea---------------------
rafael-------rio----------------vidic--------evra
valencia-----carrick----------cleverley----januzaj
-------------rooney--------van persie----------
hope rafael and carrick are back for this game. if not we'll have smalling at RB and the midfield is not the same without carrick.
might be worries about rio at CB but evans is still a doubt and we could use rio's experience here. he might have a shocking start to the season but hopefully his form is back. we all know rio-vidic at their best can only bring us success.
rooney will have to drop back and help the midfield when we are not holding the ball here.
rafael-------rio----------------vidic--------evra
valencia-----carrick----------cleverley----januzaj
-------------rooney--------van persie----------
hope rafael and carrick are back for this game. if not we'll have smalling at RB and the midfield is not the same without carrick.
might be worries about rio at CB but evans is still a doubt and we could use rio's experience here. he might have a shocking start to the season but hopefully his form is back. we all know rio-vidic at their best can only bring us success.
rooney will have to drop back and help the midfield when we are not holding the ball here.
--------------de gea---------------
rafael----evans/rio------vidic----evra
--------------jones-----------------
--------cleverley----carrick---------
---rooney---------------januzaj-----
----------------rvp--------------------
Will evans, rafael, carrick and cleverley be fit for this one?
I am really encouraged by Valencia's form recently, but as having jones in a 3 man midfield seems important, I can't find a spot for him.
rafael----evans/rio------vidic----evra
--------------jones-----------------
--------cleverley----carrick---------
---rooney---------------januzaj-----
----------------rvp--------------------
Will evans, rafael, carrick and cleverley be fit for this one?
I am really encouraged by Valencia's form recently, but as having jones in a 3 man midfield seems important, I can't find a spot for him.
Huge game for our title aspirations. We have to win this one.
Not confident about this one. Especially if Rafael isn't back. Smalling and Jones constantly giving the ball away in our own half doesn't help. I really hope neither play at RB. Big game or not, I'd rather give Fabio a chance there, or play it safe with Valencia, who we know can do well there.
We need a lift. Beating the top of league would do it.
We need a lift. Beating the top of league would do it.
Have a feeling we will win it.
De Gea
Rafael - Vidic - Evans - Evra
Carrick/Jones - Cleverley
Nani - Rooney - Januzaj
RVP
Rooney needs to drop deep a lot to support the CM. I'm quite confident, Arsenal have been excellent so far, but still we've been on the up too. First goal will be crucial IMO, get it and we can counter as we always do. We need to be a bit more clinical though, we can't afford to miss easy chances like last night against a top team.
Ya know what, I think i'd prefer Januzaj on the right.He is very capable, and play Kagawa left.If things don't work then put Kagawa behind Robin and and Wayne on the left cutting in.I am sure Kagawa will start this game
A tight game, yes. Randall was responding to Rob's claim that Arsenal should tear us apart.
Flood the midfield and hit us on the break, that will be United's best bet. I think we will be confident and will come out to play, hopefully we don't get ahead of ourselves and over-commit like we did against Dortmund though.
That's how we've played you guys for the past few seasons. Fergie figured out Arsenal a long time ago and used the same tactics against you ever since. Oh to have Park back
Dortmund were sneaky, I must say. Lulled you lot into overconfidence and bam! Counter attack.----------DDG
-- Rafael Evans Jones Evra
---- Carrick Cleverley
--- Nani - Rooney - Januzaj
----------RVP
Hope we play this. Feeling we'll win it.
-- Rafael Evans Jones Evra
---- Carrick Cleverley
--- Nani - Rooney - Januzaj
----------RVP
Hope we play this. Feeling we'll win it.
That's how we've played you guys for the past few seasons. Fergie figured out Arsenal a long time ago and used the same tactics against you ever since. Oh to have Park back
SAF knew how to play us that's for sure. Though Wenger was stubborn and didn't change (or adapt) or style of play. Thankfully we are a different team now and are more direct, and counter a bit more.
I have to disagree on BVB lulling us, we had the momentum and went for the kill. Unfortunately they capitalized on the break, but that's how it goes... We were a bit naive I feel, probably thinking they could take anyone after the good run of form at the start of the season.
Usually I'm always confident ahead of an Arsenal match.
This time they're the favorites in my view. A win and we're back in the running, but a loss and we're done in the title race. So our stake in this is much higher, and Arsenal has looked a level or two above us this season. They will come to OT and have a real go, trusting their chances.
We need to step it up big time if we're to have a chance. That means no Smalling at RB, no Fellaini and no Young - plus a big match from the likes of Evans, Cleverley, RvP, Rooney and Januzaj. All in all a bit too much to hope for I guess.
This time they're the favorites in my view. A win and we're back in the running, but a loss and we're done in the title race. So our stake in this is much higher, and Arsenal has looked a level or two above us this season. They will come to OT and have a real go, trusting their chances.
We need to step it up big time if we're to have a chance. That means no Smalling at RB, no Fellaini and no Young - plus a big match from the likes of Evans, Cleverley, RvP, Rooney and Januzaj. All in all a bit too much to hope for I guess.
Arsenal to win 3-1
Their midfield (incl wingers) are way too strong for us. Our strikers will be starved off service. We'll play ping pong in the box for a while and concede.
Their midfield (incl wingers) are way too strong for us. Our strikers will be starved off service. We'll play ping pong in the box for a while and concede.
United 3-0.
Bunch of whiny gits you all are.
Bunch of whiny gits you all are.
United 3-0.
Bunch of whiny gits you all are.
Good lad heapy. State of the post above yours
Think we will win this. 3-1.
We will win this one 3-1. I don't usually ever predict the scores for United but I see it.
Arsenal fans seem quite nervous about this. They probably know that despite our poor start, if we show up, we'll beat them. Assuming they don't have an injury tonight to *cough, cough*Giroud or the two centre backs...
It'll be someting like that. Really hope Rafael is fit. And Nani tends to do well against the Gooners. Need mobility in the middle, unlike Liverpool where Gerrard and Lucas looked like oil tankers & Henderson who's just "Dirk Kuyt without goals." So Jones and Cleverley in there with Rooney dropping back onto Arteta. Counter them, quicker tempo and hit them on the flanks.
Lets shut a few people up and win this.
It'll be someting like that. Really hope Rafael is fit. And Nani tends to do well against the Gooners. Need mobility in the middle, unlike Liverpool where Gerrard and Lucas looked like oil tankers & Henderson who's just "Dirk Kuyt without goals." So Jones and Cleverley in there with Rooney dropping back onto Arteta. Counter them, quicker tempo and hit them on the flanks.
Lets shut a few people up and win this.
I think we'll win this 2-1.
Biggest game of the season so far. I cant wait, theres so much riding on this game in my opinion. Its a huge day for Moyes and potentially will give us the best idea of the type of season we might have from here; if we fail to show up again against a big team and lose or lumber to a 0-0 we can focus puerly on just being as competitive as possible and forget about the league i think. If we put out a confident looking line up and win well or play well and get a decent result it will be confirmation to me that the last few weeks have shown a big step in a positive direction. For arsenal its a huge game to determine how far they have actually come. all too often in recent times we brushed them aside, they have talked the talked in years gone by but rarely looked like troubling us.
Im confident, big game at old trafford, confidence probably higher than it was in the other big games this season, knowing defeat puts us 11 points behind. Surely the players we have will rise to the occasion. Id go:
De Gea
Rafael
Vidic
Evans
Evra
Carrick
Fellaini
Januzaj
Valencia
Rooney
Van Persie
Januzaj in front of the middle two, rooney slightly to the left and they can swap about. it would give us enough bodies in midfield which is really the only area i think we have to be concerned about. going forward valencia getting at gibbs, januzaj, rooney and van persie should be more than enough. Fellaini making a nuisance of himself amongst their more delicate midfield, no arsenal team since 2004 has been up for anything physical.
2-0 Rooney, van Persie
Im confident, big game at old trafford, confidence probably higher than it was in the other big games this season, knowing defeat puts us 11 points behind. Surely the players we have will rise to the occasion. Id go:
De Gea
Rafael
Vidic
Evans
Evra
Carrick
Fellaini
Januzaj
Valencia
Rooney
Van Persie
Januzaj in front of the middle two, rooney slightly to the left and they can swap about. it would give us enough bodies in midfield which is really the only area i think we have to be concerned about. going forward valencia getting at gibbs, januzaj, rooney and van persie should be more than enough. Fellaini making a nuisance of himself amongst their more delicate midfield, no arsenal team since 2004 has been up for anything physical.
2-0 Rooney, van Persie
De Gea
Rafael
Evans
Vidic
Evra
Carrick
Cleverley
Nani
Rooney
Januzaj
Van Persie
Hard-fought 3-2-win.
Rafael
Evans
Vidic
Evra
Carrick
Cleverley
Nani
Rooney
Januzaj
Van Persie
Hard-fought 3-2-win.
We have to play Jones along with Carrick and Cleverley in the midfield. This will ensure that Arsenal don't completely dominate us.
Rooney RVP and Januzaj/Valencia, will really have to show up to get us the win.
This is a big game. Will give the team and the fans a lift.
Rooney RVP and Januzaj/Valencia, will really have to show up to get us the win.
This is a big game. Will give the team and the fans a lift.
Is Carrick definitely out of this? If he plays, i'd back us to win. If we're relying on Fellaini to protect the back 4, we'l struggle.
Not really relishing this one and Arsenal will probably head in as favourites for the first time in a long time. Still, if we are set up well tactically I will feel quietly confident. In recent years, when we have played Arsenal we have had to nullify them to some extent (Rooney on Arteta last season) and this applies to Sunday - although that might sound negative.
It's hard to pick a weakness in Arsenal's game after that performance against Liverpool, but there's been a slight trend in Arsenal's recent games that I really hope we can take advantage of. Against Dortmund, Palace and Chelsea the lack of an outlet and penetration really shone through. Of course, they beat Palace but for large parts of the game they struggled to create clear-cut chances because of that. If we can also try to isolate Giroud and the service into him, I will feel a lot more confident.
With that in mind, I really hope we are compact in midfield and defence and play with pace on the counter, but at the same time not defending really deep and giving the initiative to Arsenal. I assume Arsenal will play Rosicky, Cazorla and Ozil behind Giroud and although Sagna got an assist against Liverpool I don't see anything to fear with their width provided by the fullbacks, although Gibbs is a very good player. We will probably have to have Rooney dropping very deep when defending and onto Arteta again, otherwise they will easily monopolise possession and we'll struggle to get a foothold in the game.
So, with that in mind. I'd opt for something like:
It's hard to pick a weakness in Arsenal's game after that performance against Liverpool, but there's been a slight trend in Arsenal's recent games that I really hope we can take advantage of. Against Dortmund, Palace and Chelsea the lack of an outlet and penetration really shone through. Of course, they beat Palace but for large parts of the game they struggled to create clear-cut chances because of that. If we can also try to isolate Giroud and the service into him, I will feel a lot more confident.
With that in mind, I really hope we are compact in midfield and defence and play with pace on the counter, but at the same time not defending really deep and giving the initiative to Arsenal. I assume Arsenal will play Rosicky, Cazorla and Ozil behind Giroud and although Sagna got an assist against Liverpool I don't see anything to fear with their width provided by the fullbacks, although Gibbs is a very good player. We will probably have to have Rooney dropping very deep when defending and onto Arteta again, otherwise they will easily monopolise possession and we'll struggle to get a foothold in the game.
So, with that in mind. I'd opt for something like:
de Gea
Fabio - Jones - Vidic - Evra
Valencia - Carrick - Cleverley - Januzaj
Rooney
van Persie
Subs: Lindegaard, Smalling, Fellaini, Nani, Kagawa, Welbeck, Hernandez
This is assuming that Carrick, Cleverley and Welbeck return and Rafael and Evans are still out; courtesy of Physioroom.
In defence, I would much rather see us play a natural fullback at RB, although I don't think Fabio will start. As we saw against Sociedad, even though Smalling found himself as an outlet, he doesn't have the attacking ability to create chances or really be useful going forward. I'd much rather we opt for Jones than Ferdinand, neither are great on the ball, but we are less inclined to squander possession easily with Jones over Rio.
I really hope Carrick returns, at least that would give us the platform to build attacks or counter from deep, as opposed to lumping in forward with Jones in midfield, or Fellaini dawdling on the ball for too long. We probably will be forced to defend deep for large spells on Sunday and Carrick and Cleverley are the most well balanced and suitable pair for this kind of game. Januzaj to start after his rest midweek and Valencia to just get the nod over Nani, although I really hope he doesn't constantly drift inwards like yesterday.
And then Rooney, almost as an offensive midfielder, opposed to playing as a striker like he has the whole season. He was tactically excellent at Old Trafford against Arsenal last season, so we'll need a performance like that again. And RvP of course against his old team.
This will be a shock to Arsenal's system. Their first difficult match of the season.
United 5-0 Arsenal
United 5-0 Arsenal
De Gea
Rafael
Jones
Vidic
Evra
Carrick
Cleverley
Januzaj
Kagawa
Welbeck
Rooney
In all likelihood Moyes will start RVP however i think this is a game where he ought to choose either one or the other.
Rafael
Jones
Vidic
Evra
Carrick
Cleverley
Januzaj
Kagawa
Welbeck
Rooney
In all likelihood Moyes will start RVP however i think this is a game where he ought to choose either one or the other.
So the likes of Dortmund, Tottenham and Liverpool were not considered 'difficult matches' for Arsenal? And also Chelsea, although to a lesser extent with it being in the League Cup.
RvP with a hattrick, pretty please.
Swap Valencia with Nanners, and Rooney with RvP and we're going to win
We'll fecking destroy them. 12-1 to United and I'll be pissed that we conceded one late. 'Kin DeGea.
The way things are going this season, we just cannot seem to give a performance which makes a real statement like City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have done. Our overall game has been poor and we easily get out passed and out muscled in key areas of the pitch. We are beginning to get a decent run of results but the opposition has been poor in general. Now we are up against the best team in the league so I really don't expect us to go out there and kill them like people are suggesting. In all likelihood it will be a draw which wont be a great result for us. Or one of us might nick it, likely them. Given how things have gone this season, I cannot see a swashbuckling victory for us on Sunday.
Matches like this is where you miss the characters like OShea, Fletcher or Park. Limited, but will give everything, know how to win and always hungry to prove themselves. Something our team hasn't shown much of. Its almost like they know they're allowed to have a rough patch since we have a new manager.
4-3 to the Arse. I'm loving the optimism here, but our defense hasn't been up to par recently, and our midfield...
Yeah.
Yeah.
Do people really think Moyes will start Januzaj in the biggest game of our season so far? I suspect not really, more of an impact sub he will be
You Arsenal supporters...
The fact he didn't feature last night makes me think he will. He's also probably our best option at left wing now.
They had Spurs when Spurs were trying to gel about 5 new players into their team. Most teams would have beaten them that day. Liverpool they had at home, I'd expect them to win that. And Dortmund they lost to even though Dortmund were missing both their best player and manager.
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