15 Oct 2020 08:46:16
So its Newcastle at the wkend.
Should be 3 points. They are badly needed.
Few big calls for ole.
Does he persisted with pogba and continue not to play vdb.
Does he stick with maguire?
Does he change to 3 at the back?
Does he start telles?
What happens with shaw. ?
Ddg?
I can see a 352 shape being played.
Its so hard to know. 10% of the season gone and its hard to know what our personelle and shape will be.

1.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 08:57:45
Well for a good sane person.
Donny for Pogba is an obvious one tho depends if Bruno is out, could be Donny and Pogba, either way Donny should be 1st choice.
Stick maguire in a bin somewhere ideally however we have no quality at CB to replace so the ineptitude of the club to see us severely lacking here will carry on biting us.
3 at the back vs Newcastle seems a tad embarrassing tbh but needs must amd our defence needs protection but where is the sacrifice coming from?
Telles in, Shaw LCB if 3 at the back though Shaw another calamity waiting to happen.
I've said for about a year, Deano in DDG out.
And for your earlier point, should be 3 points, I see a hard game and could go either way, we need Bruno simply put.

2.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 09:05:35
I agree with the above, though i'm not sure Ole has the guts to drop certain players even when they clearly need it. He said after the Spurs debacle that things would change, either mentality, tactics or formation. let's see if he backs that statement up. As for the game itself i'm not sure we can call any game a should win and 3 points, not the way we are currently playing and with morale through the floor.

Im hoping for a performance and 3 points, but its more hope than expectation. Hope the lads bounce back!

3.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 09:07:00
Pogba has had two games for France so should be a little sharper, he was clearly lacking in match fitness before the break. It would be nice to see a back three with all of DvdB, Bruno and Pogba in midfield. With five defensive players, there shouldn't be the need for holding midfielders. Then have Greenwood and Rashford up front.

4.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 10:17:23
Ken

I think we will go 5.3.2 in effect, it was what won us points last season. We are away from home and it covers our defensive holes better. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Rashford and Greenwood split wider to work with two full backs and the three central midfield stay compact centrally. Given AWB lack of attacking prowess I suspect we may be more dangerous down our left with Telles making his debut and interacting with Rashford. The space created will allow Greenwood to score.

I think we will win by one goal, perhaps 2.1. It is a must win now.

5.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 10:23:44
He will go 4-2-3-1 with AWB, Bailly, Maguire and Telles. Pogba and Matic, then Bruno with Greenwood and Rashford on the wing and Martial up front.

6.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 10:42:14
Grimslives, Martial is suspended.

It's tough to know what Ole will do this weekend as we have been so bad he could have a case for dropping almost anyone. I think he will go 5 at the back and I feel Van De Beek starts.

De Gea, AWB, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Telles, VDB, Pogba, Bruno, Rashford and Greenwood.

7.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 10:50:05
My feelings are that a 3412 shape is best suited to us, even more so for this game with Martial and Cavani unavailable.

As for the two big questions, Pogba and Maguire. Both need to be dropped. Pogba because he has been awful and needs a kick up the backside and Donny deserves a start. Maguire because his head is still in Greece and he needs taking out the firing line. His performances for England probably highlight that it is an issue within himself rather than a tactical issue with how United are set up currently.

While I think the Shaw/ Telles question is solved by switching to 3 at the back, Shaw's best performances has come at LCB, while it might be sensible to introduce Telles to the EPL with a little less defensive responsibility while he finds his feet. I remember Evra struggling to adapt initially.

For me its vital that Bruno returns to the starting line up, the rumours of a falling out will only deepen if he doesn't start.

8.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 10:56:58
Brighton got a good win playing a back 3 at newcastle but we need to remember decent teams have played a back 4 at st james and pinned them back for huge chunks of games . They are often very defensive and dour and don't press much .

I'd play a back 4 there dangerman is maximin and the player I'd least want to have space . Wan bissakas strength is his tackling not his attacking and keeping maximin quiet would go a huge way to keeping newcastle at bay .

I'd also play Maguire his form hasn't been good but I don't see too many ways newcastle cause us problems but Carroll bossing a cb in the air in one way, his goals record is dreadful nowadays but put yourself in Bruce's shoes and if Maguire wasnt playing its something youd look at, even if it's just a way to get Wilson into the action in the box .

I like pogba but van de beek was brought to bring competition for places and pogba hasn't done enough to keep his place .

I think newcastle will allow us lots of possession as they will drop off to defend .

9.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 11:03:49
The people advocating a 3 at the back system are ignoring the elephant in the room which is the right wing back spot.

Also Weve just seen with england who played 3 at the back you essentially end up with 8 defensive players on the pitch.

10.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 11:21:54
Whenever we play 5 at the back, our attack looks toothless.

Pogba was top class for France but him not putting effort for our club is really infuriating.

Also, let's see if Pellistri makes the squad.
Both Cavani and Martial will be available next week against PSG.

11.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 11:43:19
DSG

I mentioned the AWB situation. Mentioned it a few times in recent weeks and months. We paid £50m for someone who can’t attack in the modern football way, shipped Dalot out who can. If he plays AWB at RWB it’s defensive. Maybe play AWB as one of the three and Williams as RWB.

I see AWB has removed the England flag from his profile and can play for another country, will we lose him to the African Nations cup?

12.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 12:06:49
Brandon williams is hardly a huge attacking threat, just as impotent attacking force as AWB.

Surely we have to stick with 4 at the back, if Maguire can't play in a back 4 then he shouldn't be at the club.

All the top dominant ball playing teams play 4 at the back; Bayern, PSG, Barca, Real, City Liverpool etc.

13.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 12:33:43
DSG, the three at the back system isn't perfect, no system is. While the shape is only a basic shape and the tactics define it more than the starting positions of the players.

When we play with Matic at CDM he often drops back between the CB's effectively making a back three, while our full backs are expected to push forward. However, Matic is another slow and immobile player, along side Maguire and Lindelof that is asking for trouble.

I feel the 3412 shape best suits the players we have. It allows us to have extra cover and pace in the central defensive areas, limiting the treat of counter attacks. It negates the need for a true DM of which we only have Matic who is on his last legs. It opens up the possibility at least of playing Pogba, Bruno and Donny for some games. It doesn't rely on having a wide forward/ winger of which we only really have James and Pellistri in our squad, every other player who plays wide for us is either a No.10 or a striker pushed wide.

As you say the elephant in the room is AWB a young British player the club have just spent 50m on. Telles is the ideal LWB, while Williams could easily do the job at RWB. As could TFM, Dalot and Laird. So we have plenty who could play RWB. But that doesn't solve what to do with AWB.

This is the issue we have without a clear plan or vision we have an mismatched squad that lacks players for certain roles, has excess players for others and several players who suit opposing styles of play.

However, a 3412 shape does get most of our best players on the pitch at the same time, playing in a role that mostly suits their skillset, while also mitigating many of our weaknesses/ deficiencies within our squad.

AWB may be a casualty of that. However, he did spend most of his youth career playing as a winger, he is quick and can beat a man, his final ball is erratic (sometimes its actually quite good), and he is still young 22 with less than three full seasons at professional level. While I feel his end product is often made to look worst than it is due to constant comparisons with Trent Alexander-Arnold. In theory, at least, a RWB position should be ideal for a player who started out as a winger but who's best attributes come in defence.

14.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 12:42:50
Redman.
I tend to disagree on that point awb can attack. its been coached out of him.

15.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 12:51:50
Also I think Newcastle can be a dangerous side, Calum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin, Ryan Fraser and Miguel Almiron offer a dangerous front four, while Lewis and Yedlin are good offensive fullbacks, Lascelles and Schar are solid CB's, the Longstaff brothers in midfield offer hard work and commitment. While Dubravka is one of the best goalkeepers outside of the top six clubs.

Certainly not an easy side to beat. We have a better squad, but then if the best squad never lost then Liverpool and City wouldn't lose any games in a season. Watford beat Liverpool last season and still got relegated. You can't be dismissive of teams in this league, anyone can really beat anyone.

16.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 13:12:19
Ken

To a point I would agree. I watched Brandon Williams in one of the first games get forward one on one with their fullback, even with the advantage, having done the hard work, yet came back, across and passed back or inside. It was almost like you can’t score by getting to the byline, you might lose it, so retain possession by passing it inside to try and get through centrally, even if it is packed.

17.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 13:49:58
I firmly believe that part of the problem over the last few years has been the players belief that we just have to turn up to win, yet they don't seem to put in the hard work to earn that win.
I wasn't a big fan of signing Cavani but if he comes in with the attitude of working his nuts off to win every game then we have a better.

18.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 13:51:05
Whatever Solkjaer does he can be certain to balls it up. Of course he will play 4231. Of course he will play Pogba. James will come in for Martial. He will probably pick Shaw and Maguire. We might win but it will be unconvincing with no clear style of play. we will all be back here after the game complaining about all the same things. next week this will be repeated and the week after, and the week after that. Believe it or not i am usually a positive, optimistic person but manchester united over the last 8 years has killed all the joy.

19.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 14:22:39
Newcastles line up can be hard to predict, players that do well against us like the longstaff s are firmly behind shelvey and hayden in selection for most games .

Dubravka has been injured all season, yedlin rarely gets a game now and I believe lascelles, maximim and Matty longstaff have knocks and are fitness doubts .

So far ryan fraser will only play if replacement for maximim and almiron is in and out of the team . They have looked to carrol or Joelinton to support Wilson quite often, and used Hendricks as a right sideish player .

They do have players where they could field a team that looks okay on paper but they rarely select it and are often more defensive at home than away .

20.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 15:37:51
Shappy, I find it amazing that players at this level are so inconsistent with their ball play. Midfielders who can't pass it 10 meters and wide players who can't cross. These guys should be practicing these things for hours on end every day until they can do it right just about every time. Even if they don't do it voluntarily the coaches should be forcing them.

AWB a 50 MILLION POUNDS full back who has an erratic final ball. He is 22 and can't get up and down the pitch. What a joke!

21.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 16:11:32
MancMan, they are humans not robots. Many things affect their ability to perform and the level of that performance.

For most jobs there is a general rule where they suggest it takes 10 years of working everyday on your job for you to master it.

Which would suggest most players in their teens and early 20 are going to be a far way, for the most part, from mastering their job.

AWB has less than 3 full seasons of play at the professional level. He played in two different positions during his youth. He is more than capable of getting up and down the pitch. He is strong and quick and excellent in 1 Vs 1 situations.
What he lacks is consistency in his final ball, and defensive positioning. Both will improve with training and practice. Things that come with time. The lad is 22 he isn't expected to be the finished article yet.

22.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 20:32:39
Shappy

10 years of working at your job to master it. So the few months at Cardiff and 23 months at United is a bit short of being master at the job, another very good reason from your own mouth why Ole shouldn’t be there. Don’t give me it was only a general rule that doesn’t apply to Norwegian legendary players who manage United.

As to AWB, we have hardly seen improvement under this coaching have we? Would you not have expected to see improvement rather than the decline we have seen under Ole?

23.) 15 Oct 2020
15 Oct 2020 23:04:20
Shappy, do you think AWB believes he is an erratic crosser and do you think he stays behind after training for two hours every day working on his crossing?

Many athletes are like robotics because they practice so much.

24.) 16 Oct 2020
16 Oct 2020 13:26:50
MancMan, I don't know to be honest. Although I would find it strange if AWB was unaware of his performances and on what he needs to improve. Players do spend hours and hours on the training ground and with performance analysts.

As for players being like robots. David Beckham was probably the best crosser of a ball I have seen. He did you to spend hours after training practicing his delivery. And yet he still over the course of his career ended with a crossing success average of around 30%. Meaning that even the best crosser of the ball failed around 70% of the time.

Football is a team sport, and your performance also to a certain extent depends on that of your teammates. Was Beckham's crosses crap 70% of the time, or did players not make good runs, or mistimed them, or maybe opposition defenders just defended them well. Lots of variables and the reason why human error will always play a big role in sporting results.