03 Oct 2017 21:59:56
I know its a 12 days away but who would everybody kike to see play left back against Liverpool?
Salah is a big threat in behind.
If we play a flat 4 i would like to see young there.
Even if he does play 3 cbs i'd still like to see young as the left wingback.
Martial will be well rested with no intl football so i expect hin to be starting too.
I suppose that at this point all we can hope for is that all the players come back with a clean bill of health and not having played 180 mins and are knackered. Hopefully pogba will be the only player unavailable.
The opportunity to go 10 pints clear of them after 8 games is one i'm sure jose will want to take.


1.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 22:37:09
I can't see him playing Blind there with his pace. I think it will be a back four of Young Smalling Bailly Valencia. All four are pretty quick.

I think mourinho will play with them sat back. Playing a high line would be suicide.


2.) 04 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 23:25:26
Yeah, if Shaw isn't match fit, and Blind's lack of pace an issue, it really has to be Younf, doesn't it? I know Darmian can play there, and I like his wily, sometimes underhand Italian style of defending, but Young has rarely put a foot wrong since he came back, so he has to be the one.


3.) 04 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 23:34:57
On recent evidence it has to be young, but there is a chance he'll go Darmian for a more defensive setup, which I would hate by the way.

We can hurt their dodgy defence if we take it to them, I just hope we actually do that rather than revert to any negative tactics. For me the measure of a United side is how we set out at anfield and the etihad. Both games last season were slightly embarrassing so I hope we can apply our new found confidence this year.


4.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 09:19:15
I think quite differently, I feel with Salah you need a proper defender. Having someone who is quick such as Young isn't going to help much unless he is a savvy defender as well. Salah is quicker than Young too, so Young's recovery pace isn't going to be enough is Salah gets in behind him.

I've watched nearly every game over the last few years and I can't remember Blind ever really letting us down defensively, sure in his first year he was a little shakey at times. Particularly in midfield. But I've seen him play against Lukaku and keep him in his back pocket when everyone said he would be bullied by the Belgian. I've seen him up against players such as Walker or Sterling when the precieved idea was he would be done for pace and yet he snuffed them out completely.

Against Liverpool I feel we should go with either Blind or Darmian at LB. Someone who first and foremost knows how to defend properly. Blind would be my choice as I feel his passing from deep could set off quick counters against Liverpool who like to play a high line and don't have the best recovery pace. With players like Lukaku, Rashford and Martial we need players with the ability to play quick accurate passing over the top and in behind. Blind for me does this far better than Young or Darmian, and he is a better defender than Young.

For me Darmian is the guy you turn to purely for a defensive full back, Young is your quick offensive full back who can get in behind and get accurate crosses into the box and Blind is solid defensively with a great football brain and the technical ability to play passes out from the back.

For me Blind should probably be our first choice LB this season with Young and Darmian pitching in from time to time. Hopefully Shaw gets a chance to prove himself and he takes it. If not then we need to look for a new LB next summer.


5.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 10:30:00
Agree Shappy that Blind is a 'happy medium' between young and darmian in terms of attacking v defending, but that is pretty strong praise for Blind as a left back.

Don't get me wrong I've always liked him and for me he did a sterling job at centre half, but his performances at left back this season have been pretty ordinary. Still I'd agree with you he'd probably the sensible choice (I do not want to start Darmian) .
It's all relative though as LB is a real weakness of a positIon for us whoever plays.

What I do not want to see at anfield is our wide attackers playing as auxiliary full backs!
The most insurance I want to see is Herrera in as an extra midfielder, possibly in for Mata. Though a back three is also a distinct possibility from Jose for this game.


6.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 11:36:19
I disagree Shappy. I understand your arguments but Blind and Darmian offer very little from full back and I think both have been outshone by Young this season.

Young has a good football brain but he also more dynamic and mobile. I think he plays with well controlled aggression and offers us much more fluidity on the left than the other two.

On top of that he is the only player we have who can put in a decent cross and we have seen what a difference that makes.

Hopefully Jones will be fit because his pace and tackling will be useful to support Young against Mane.


7.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 11:42:14
Rave, I don't think I've over egged it by saying I can't remember Blind letting us down. I'm sure he has made mistakes in games as everyone does, but I can't remember any that have cost us points.

He is a solid steady eddy, like O'Shea before hand. Someone who doesn't let you down, but you know you could get a better player in that position. But until we sign a better left back I see Blind as the best person for that position within our squad.


8.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 13:08:17
Darmian will play in games like this as he's a defensive full back. Young will play in games like Palace as he's more attacking we won't be expecting to defend too much. I foresee Darmian in this game and a new player in the summer.


9.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 16:48:25
Young's crossing could be a deciding factor. Especially with big target men.


10.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 17:01:22
Nah Shappy, I'm not having that. I have no problem with Blind; like you say he is a consistantly solid and dependable player. Good to have in the squad but has nowhere near enough mobility which really restricts his influence from that position (bar a few wonder passes such as to Van Persie in the WC) .

In the few games this season where Young has played we have looked a lot better. I think he combines well with Rashford both going forward and defending.

I don't think we should go all out at Liverpool, my view is we would be better soaking up pressure then getting at them on the break. If we agree it would be foolish to leave Liverpool space in behind, I think Young is perfectly capable at keeping the team's shape and defending deep. In fact it seems to me he is more of a leader and organiser than Blind or Darmian plus he's definately better at breaking forward.


11.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 17:20:50
I'll bring my boots and take one for the team. A Mane style challenge, going for the ball of course.


12.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 17:40:53
Mancman, Young has made us look much better going forward. But that should be a given with him being an offensive player by nature. But his tendency to push forward leaves space in behind him. You have to consider that as yet we haven't played a top side, so he hasn't been tested defensively yet. Liverpool were the better team against City until the sending off. It will be a tough match, Mane and Salah as well as Coutinho. We will need to be tight defensively.
That's why for me, playing Blind who will tuck in on the left and provide an extra body in the box is vital. We cannot afford to have two adventurous full backs against Liverpool's attack. Bare in mind both Valencia and Young have spent most of their careers as wingers. To play both of them is to go into a match against one of the best attacks in the league with only two natural defenders. I don't think that will end well. Liverpool always up their game against us. For me we should go with a back four of Valencia, Bailly, Jones and Blind. Otherwise we would be playing into Liverpool's hands and expose our flanks.


13.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 19:20:15
Consider yourself told mancman. You will just have to wait for sat week to be proven right😁.


14.) 05 Oct 2017
05 Oct 2017 08:58:22
I don't think I've been told anything Ken. Shappy and I agree it would be better not to leave Liverpool space in behind on the flanks.

My solution to that is for the whole team to play deep and compact.

I just think because Young is more mobile and skilful than Blind he would be better when we do gain possession and can break on Liverpool. His combinations with Rashford on the left are a good attacking outlet. I also think Young has a good football brain and will be able to follow instructions if he is told to be sit more than usual.

I would actually rather play with Young at LB and Darmian at RB if you want one of the full backs to be more defensive. At least if Young gets forward he can put in a decent cross. Unlike Valencia where there is no point in him going forward anyway because nothing ever comes of it.