I can't think off too much Evans did wrong on Saturday TBH. He was being pulled all over the place but that's not his fault. He along with Vidic is currently our best partnership at the back by a distance. I see him and Smalling being the future but Evans ability on the ball put him a clear distance above Smalling atm.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Manchester United
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I can't think off too much Evans did wrong on Saturday TBH. He was being pulled all over the place but that's not his fault. He along with Vidic is currently our best partnership at the back by a distance. I see him and Smalling being the future but Evans ability on the ball put him a clear distance above Smalling atm.
Yeah and the other thing is he can only inprove by getting experiences of these games like rio got. The trump card for rio and vidic atm seems to be more experience than ability, particularly in rios case, personally I'd rather see Evans be allowed to get that experience because I think with that and his current ability he'd be a better player than rio currently is. Rio has a big role to play still but we need to give Evans tough games whilst he's fit and not in bad form.
Leaving Rooney out completely because you don't want his effectiveness watered down by being out of position is like taking your trunks off as they go see through when wet!
were you honestly impressed with Smalling at right back away at City!?
My word
Bit worried about Fellainis mobility in this one (also worried about Sandikans beach activities but hey ho) they have a very mobile front four and perhaps Cleverley or Jones might be best suited.
Valencia --- Carrick----Clev/Jones--- Wellbeck
Would be a good result to get away from this with a draw, these two Shakhtar ties are huge fixtures for us.
Valencia --- Carrick----Clev/Jones--- Wellbeck
Would be a good result to get away from this with a draw, these two Shakhtar ties are huge fixtures for us.
Think Cleverley needs a game and should play. Likewise Nani, Valencia.
I'd like to see us go with a three of Carrick, Fellaini and Cleverley. With the way our midfield has been being overrun and our fragility with players running a our defence we need a little more cover.
Carrick can sweep up in front of the defence, Fellaini be a general destroyer and get up and down the pitch and Cleverley to keep things ticking over.
This would mean sacrificing Rooney to the wing though, but still think he'd perform well enough there.
Would certainly give us that bit more movement having Cleverley involved, I would be worried to see just Carrick and Fellaini. Perhaps a system of 4-3-3 would suit, I am inclined to think Moyes will pack the middle as he has done previously but that's left us exposed down the flanks.
Pretty nervous about this as I think a good result could make us in the group tomorrow.
If we play 433 I can't understand why Kagawa couldn't play centrally, a 433 doesn't need 3 players all defending, Kagawa will work up and down like clev would and would keep possession but should carry a greater threat. But then if we were going to do that could also ask Rooney to drop back a little unless he had an issue with that.
Reckon one of Valencia and Welbeck will play, if so would have Nani on the other flank if fit, don't want to go to defensive, especially if we only play one of RVP/Rooney.
Reckon one of Valencia and Welbeck will play, if so would have Nani on the other flank if fit, don't want to go to defensive, especially if we only play one of RVP/Rooney.
DDG
Rafael Evans Vidic Evra
Carrick Fellaini
Nani Rooney Welbeck
RVP
Most important thing here is attitude. It was shocking against West Brom, and was the reason we lost against a team that, with all due respect, hardly put in a world-beating showing themselves. I hope Moyes ripped seven shades of shit out of the players after that match and we see a much more focussed, committed performance tomorrow.
A line up of:
DDG
Rafael-Vidic-Evans-Evra
Carrick-Fellaini-Cleverley
Nani-RVP-Rooney
This lineup is more than adequate. Rafael and Evra can provide width as well as Rooney and Nani. The front three can interchange well enough and all three can perform defensively. IMO this is something close to our best team.
That lineup would scare the shit out of me, their front four are all quick agile and skilful, I feel that would be a bit much for Carrick and Fellaini only.
This has more mobility although Valencia in for Nani would be more Moyes if you ask me. That back four has to be set in stone for the most part, Smalling has been excellent but I feel the distribution and speed of Evans vital. If Rio starts I am going to put my head down Colins toilet.
Valencia has been relatively poor and Nani has performed well. Nani's defensive work is underrated and he offers a lot more creativity and goal threat than Tony.
I just hope we don't put Welbeck out wide, he isn't as good as other options there.
I just hope we don't put Welbeck out wide, he isn't as good as other options there.
We might just see both Wellbeck and Valencia from a safety point of view, Nanis performance on Saturday makes it pretty tough to leave him out and for me he plays but will Moyesy pick him is a different matter.
Me and my dad were talking about Moyes handling of the squad earlier. We don't think he's quite sure how to handle the squad and feels obliged to make changes. I think for a few games he should pick a fairly steady and consistent team and allow the team to get some cohesion.
I think it'd be a mistake to bring in either Valencia or Welbeck. Nani has performed better than both of them in fewer appearances. Nani is also a confidence player and we always see the best of him when he has a run in the team.
I agree Nani should be given the right wing, he was our outstanding player on Saturday and I can't think of a better wing performance in a damn good while.
Moyes needs to start picking a solid back four backed up by a solid midfield and the front will take care of itself. Play it into form and then start to rotate, would be nice to hit form in time for Arsenal but more importantly get some consistency, back to basics and build from the back.
We will be fine I am sure.
Travelling squad if you haven't seen it already:
de Gea, Lindegaard, Johnstone
Rafael, Evra, Jones, Evans, Smalling, Vidic, Buttner
Giggs, Carrick, Nani, Young, Cleverley, Valencia, Kagawa, Fellaini
Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck, van Persie
de Gea, Lindegaard, Johnstone
Rafael, Evra, Jones, Evans, Smalling, Vidic, Buttner
Giggs, Carrick, Nani, Young, Cleverley, Valencia, Kagawa, Fellaini
Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck, van Persie
That's the way Liverpool have gone, wouldn't mind us trying it but can't see Moyes doing something so drastic.
Valencia could play that RWB role as well
Terrible waste, having 3 centre-halves on. Our best back four with Carrick and Fellaini in front of them is a better platform.
De Gea
Rafael--Smalling--Vidic--Evra
Carrick--Fellaini
Valencia--Rooney--Welbeck
van Persie
Subs: Lindegaard Jones, Evans, Cleverley, Young/Kagawa, Nani, Hernandez
Rafael--Smalling--Vidic--Evra
Carrick--Fellaini
Valencia--Rooney--Welbeck
van Persie
Subs: Lindegaard Jones, Evans, Cleverley, Young/Kagawa, Nani, Hernandez
What is it a waste of?
The way I see it the wings are arguably our weakest position right now.
I'm not advocating we go for this at all, but that's more down to it being a strange tactic that the players wouldn't be used to, rather than it being a waste of the players in the squad.
were you honestly impressed with Smalling at right back away at City!?
My word
No i wasn't really, he isnt a right back though, Rafael would have done a much better job on Nasri. But the two other games I was impressed.
Its a preference of style and who best suits Vidic, Vidic for me plays his best football at LCB, so does Evans. Its where they look most natural. Smalling obviously plays RCB.
I agree that we need to start finding some consistency with our starting 11, however I am not sure Moyes fancies dropping some of the bigger name, for example Rio, who is having a tough time at the moment and age seems to be riddling its way through his game.
The trouble is with Rio his legs have gone which means he doesnt put enough pressure on and we become to passive when we are defending. Look at City the other week against us, Kompany was leading by example and shutting us out any time the ball was played into our strikers. We need that bite in defence.
To be fair only Rafael and Vidic apply this kind of pressure and unless we do it as a unit we become easy to attack against. Evra is also facing a battle against time and with Buttner the only other left back Moyes seems to want to play we have a problem here also. Would love to see the twins with their tenacious tendencies given a go on either flank with smalling and Vidic in between we would suddenly appear a lot sharper.
Moyes now needs to establish who he sees as his best 2 centre backs for now and the future and start sticking with them. There appears to be a spot up for grabs and jones, smalling and evans all need a chance to prove their worth instead of playing them out of position on the right because that alone causes problems throughout our play.
It's funny. I always try to give coaches and managers the benefit of the doubt when it comes to knowing about opposing teams/players. I mean, they're paid an absolute fecking fortune to do their job, so the least they can do is spend a few hours each week week doing some homework on their next opponents. If you don't have time to watch all their games this season, at least get someone else to do it for you and write up some clip notes. feck it, how long would it take to go to the website of a reputable paper and read the match reports?
Anyway, check this out. From the manager of tonight's opposition:
Good man yourself. That's the kind of forensic analysis that earns you the kind of money about which us mortals can merely dream...
Anyway, check this out. From the manager of tonight's opposition:
Good man yourself. That's the kind of forensic analysis that earns you the kind of money about which us mortals can merely dream...
Does anybody else think that Cleverly merits a start over Carrick if we end up going for a midfield two? he's looked sharp and needs games.
Not playing Carrick would be so silly it's borderline lunacy.
Agree that Cleverley is due a game.
Agree that Cleverley is due a game.
What channel is this on? Sky Sports?
Shite ee vee.
In a midfield 3 Cleverley should start. In a two he'll always be battling Fellaini for a start next to Carrick.
Fecking hell, Zaha is probably fecking his daughter but I guess Fabio is fecking his wife. I really don't understand why Fabio cannot have a place even in bench with Moyes as manager.
Buttner over Fabio does seems a bit bizarre.
Also I'd rather see Zaha in the squad than Young anywhere near it.
I don't think Moyes wants a right footed player playing LB. If that is the case he should be challenging his brother for a RB slot. But with Jones, Smalling and Valencia in the travellimg squad it would be over kill having 3/4 RB options.
Even in a 3 Rooney or Kagawa would merit a place at the head of it over Cleverley, and I think the solidity of Fellaini-Carrick against Leverkusen will mean they get the starts too.
Change Young for Zaha and Buttner for Fabio, as other have said, strange choices, don't follow the logic.
Not in midfield. You lose too much of Rooneys attacking threat when he moves back and Kagawa isn't a midfielder, he's far too lightweight.
They can both play in the front 3 but both would be wasted in the midfield 3.
He's the manager of the team in real life, you're the fan speculating on 99% of football in general.
Thanks for that brand new information.... I'd hope you remind everyone of this also.
I know this sounds crazy, but he's human, and we do make mistakes, it could well be that a lot of other Managers agree with me.... but either way it wouldn't add/detract to my opinion.
You used to be a sensible poster, but I've seen multiple times recently where you just make yourself look like Male Genitalia ....
Whatever, it would still be nice to understand the rationale, or should we just blindly accept everything & have no opinion?
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