Vs City (H) LC Semi 06/01/21 19:45 KO

[kstandhand]

Let me Jinx this one again...won't be long & OGS will be #KstandhandOut

[Deez]

I'd play Bruno in this and rest him v Watford. Full strength side and keep the momentum going.

[Stretty]

As nice as the LC would be to win I would still prioritise the league over this.

Rest Bruno play VDB

[alt]

I can see him going full strength, but we really need to be resting the likes of Bruno, Bailly and Rashford.

[Rustin Cohle]

Two teams that are in form, should be a good game.

Weirdly, given that we had an excellent record against the big sides last season, our record against the 'big 6' this season has been shit. If we can rectify that with wins here and at Anfield it'd be huge, and even though this isn't a PL game, it'd give us a big boost in the league going forward I reckon.

[Rustin Cohle]

Jan 6, 2021 10:54:24 GMT alt said:

I can see him going full strength, but we really need to be resting the likes of Bruno, Bailly and Rashford.

Can do that at the weekend vs. Watford. It'd be nice to do so in one other game, as the scouse's key players won't play again before we play them (their only game beforehand is in the FA Cup whereas we have this, the FA Cup, and then Burnley), but not sure it's possible as a semi final vs. City is a huge game and the Burnley game needs to be a win for momentum.

[Bestie]

Ole needs to get us through a semi-final. Full strength team, win, get to the weekend.

[oscared]

We seem to be thriving on these games coming thick and fast, not too bothered about this comp but want to beat Citeh, us to win 1-0

[Rustin Cohle]

Main thing that struck me here was Shaw is over half way to a testimonial! Time bloody flies.

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/managing-egos-improving-fitness-and-a-better-shape-behind-manchester-united-resurgence-nhrjkb8kj

Managing egos, improving fitness and a better shape behind Manchester United resurgence - Tony Cascarino

SPOILER: Click to show

The boat that rocked
Dealing with high-profile players who are off-form is a delicate balance and I think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has got it just right at Manchester United. It is easy to keep selecting talented players who are not quite doing it — you don’t want to rock the boat and you are hoping that things will somehow change. But the Norwegian has shown that he is strong enough to switch things around yet at the same time not alienate those who are left out.

Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial have each been omitted from the Premier League starting line-up twice in the past month and, crucially, each has come back into the team and played really well. Pogba had to watch Scott McTominay and Fred thriving in midfield from the bench, while Martial had the worry of Edinson Cavani laying a strong claim to the striker’s position, but the French pair put aside any feeling of injustice to give their all when they returned.

Let’s get physical
I felt a lack of fitness was a huge issue at times for United earlier in the season but a number of players are now in a much better condition physically, especially in defence. That applies to Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire and particularly to Luke Shaw, who has endured plenty of fitness problems during his six years at Old Trafford.

In recent games he has been able to get forward from left back to help his forwards but also to retreat quickly when necessary. Eric Bailly, the centre back, has been plagued by injury but he is fit again and has just started three consecutive league games for United for the first time in more than three years. The team in general look fresher and energised. When I played against United I used to say you need your tin hat, and that is certainly the case for their opponents now.

Shape of the future
Not only are United’s back four looking in better shape physically, they are also defending in a much better shape. Too often earlier in the season they were taking up the wrong positions: sometimes they were stretched too far apart and on other occasions they were bunched too close together. The coaches seem to have drilled them into a more cohesive unit. Wan-Bissaka was often pushing too close to his team-mate in the centre, leaving acres of space for opponents in his full-back position, and I remember Shaw practically being on top of the centre half when United conceded a goal on his side of the pitch. The pair must continue to get the balance right against a Manchester City team who are adept at exploiting any gaps. Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden gave Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell and César Azpilicueta a tough time at the weekend.

Young and old
Another way Solskjaer has impressed me this season is with his judicious use of the younger players in his squad. You have to be careful with youngsters who are still to establish themselves in the team: it’s important not to leave them out in the cold for too long so that they get disheartened but at the same time you want to avoid over-exposing them by picking them too often. The manager has given just the right amount of playing time, for example, to Daniel James and Axel Tuanzebe — James has performed better after a difficult period — while becoming a bit more reliant on experience. The signing of Cavani, 34 next month, fits in with that philosophy.

[oscared]

Just seen this on the Manchester Evening news site, how does he do it? (Jones)

"Cavani, 33, is suspended for the Old Trafford tie on Wednesday night and Phil Jones, who has not played in almost a year, is the only first-team squad member out injured."

[bushy1987]

Full strength no pissing about, also we will see if ole bottles in and goes five at the back, back 4 strongest team possible and then rest them all at weekend

[kstandhand]

As nice as it would be to play well & trash em,I'd take anything tonight to get a result.

Henderson,DVB must start.

[Stew]

No resting anyone. You can be sure Pep won’t. Ole has to get over his semi final hump.

2-1 Utd. Let’s get a bloody trophy in at the end of the year. Been far too long.

[Stretty]

Jan 6, 2021 11:46:46 GMT oscared said:

Just seen this on the Manchester Evening news site, how does he do it? (Jones)

"Cavani, 33, is suspended for the Old Trafford tie on Wednesday night and Phil Jones, who has not played in almost a year, is the only first-team squad member out injured."

god knows


he should have been out the door years ago

[bushy1987]

Jan 6, 2021 12:46:07 GMT Stew said:

No resting anyone. You can be sure Pep won’t. Ole has to get over his semi final hump.

2-1 Utd. Let’s get a bloody trophy in at the end of the year. Been far too long.

Will city still be missing a few players tonight? The 1s who failee the covid test