The Manchester United Thread

Yep, perfect game all in all in the build up to our final. Never really pushed by St. Etienne, been a breeze.

Suggestions Mourinho just took Mkhi off as a precaution after that little tuggle with Malcuit (in a way, it'd make sense; scored the 100% killing goal, not near as physically equipped as Ibra or Pogba to fend off nitty gritty, the manner in which he plays invites big tackles & hits, etc... hope it's the case, slim chance, but a chance).

Be interesting to hear from Mourinho post match.
Yep good nights work very professional performance away from home. Bring on Sunday and the Saints :)
 
United cut to 3/1 favourites to win the Europa League, Roma second favourites at 7/1, Spurs 10/1 (although will be cut to around 6's should they turn over Gent)
 
Mourinho said Carrick and Mky will miss the final as things stand but not 100% sure atm. Carrick with tight calf and Mky with tight hamstring. Which doesn't sound bad tbh.
 
U23s lost 0-2 to Porto in the quarterfinals of the International Cup. Tuanzebe, CBJ, Gribbin all played well. God knows why Poole started in DM after been injured for so long and with better options available. Demi Mitchell's conversion to LB continued and had a solid game. Impressed with the u18s that featured Warren, Oconner, Bohui the latter 2 making there debuts. CM was non existent and couldn't get a foot hold in the game.
 
Just listening to Mourinho interview on MUTV about Schweinstiger being a replacement for Carrick. Maybe we will line up like this on Sunday

DDG
Valencia-Bailly-Smalling-Blind
Schweinstiger
Herrera-Pogba
Mata-Zlatan-Martial

Think could be some mind games with injuries though :)
 
Kante is the best in the world at what he does, Pogba is one of the best in the world at what he does, but what Pogba brings is what we we've been crying out for; creativity, flair, and one of the most important things, probably something we haven't properly had since an in-prime Scholes, a runner from midfield, someone who can chip in with a double figure return each season.

Kante at this stage would be more of a want than a need.

Ander Herrera does a pretty similar job for us, not quite to the freakish levels of Kante, but to a high level.


Interesting little article came out 5 hours ago that's relevant to the above:



N'Golo Kante rightfully earns a ton of plaudits for his boundlessly energetic displays week in and week out which contributed heavily to Leicester City's historic Premier League title victory and will likely be a vital component of Chelsea's probable title triumph, this term.
However, one Premier League star who, despite his abundance of talent, has slipped under the radar when it comes to the middle of the park graft, is Manchester United's Ander Herrera.
The Basque midfielder endured a stop start beginning to his Old Trafford career, never being entirely trusted by Louis Van Gaal after his £29.9m move from Athletic Club. However, when presented with a regular run of first team football, Herrera proved to be the spark United had missed in midfield for so long, combining craft with guile and the odd bit of shithousery for good measure.


Under Jose Mourinho's stewardship. Herrera has been dropped back into a deep lying playmaker role, substituting goals and assists for industry and interceptions. And even though the Spaniard doesn't generate the same headlines as Kante, his stats from this season are comparable and, in some cases, even better than the French midfield machine's.
Sky Sports have shared a comparison of the pair's performances for the current campaign which prove just how vital Herrera is to Mourinho's gameplan at Old Trafford.

View attachment 104003


As you can see from the table above, Herrera is currently outperforming Kante in amount of blocks, interceptions and duels won on the ground and in the air. The former Real Sociedad man also bests Kante when it comes to passes, making more in both halves of the pitch, while covering only marginally less ground, despite the fact he's played four less games than the former Leicester City man in the league, this season.
Herrera has made a total of 1,028 passes in the attacking half this term, one of only four players in the English top flight to breach the four figures mark in 2016/17.
 
Usually the player who does the conference plays. Saving him for Sunday :)

If Martial hasnt picked up some kind of knock before the game then I really dont understand what Jose is playing at. He said point blank in the press conference that anybody who sits with him in the PC is starting. Then puts him on the bench and doesnt bring him on. Given the recent press around him and Martial, I really hope it is a knock seeing as hes blatantly gone back on his word.
 
Interesting little article came out 5 hours ago that's relevant to the above:



N'Golo Kante rightfully earns a ton of plaudits for his boundlessly energetic displays week in and week out which contributed heavily to Leicester City's historic Premier League title victory and will likely be a vital component of Chelsea's probable title triumph, this term.
However, one Premier League star who, despite his abundance of talent, has slipped under the radar when it comes to the middle of the park graft, is Manchester United's Ander Herrera.
The Basque midfielder endured a stop start beginning to his Old Trafford career, never being entirely trusted by Louis Van Gaal after his £29.9m move from Athletic Club. However, when presented with a regular run of first team football, Herrera proved to be the spark United had missed in midfield for so long, combining craft with guile and the odd bit of shithousery for good measure.


Under Jose Mourinho's stewardship. Herrera has been dropped back into a deep lying playmaker role, substituting goals and assists for industry and interceptions. And even though the Spaniard doesn't generate the same headlines as Kante, his stats from this season are comparable and, in some cases, even better than the French midfield machine's.
Sky Sports have shared a comparison of the pair's performances for the current campaign which prove just how vital Herrera is to Mourinho's gameplan at Old Trafford.

View attachment 1104953


As you can see from the table above, Herrera is currently outperforming Kante in amount of blocks, interceptions and duels won on the ground and in the air. The former Real Sociedad man also bests Kante when it comes to passes, making more in both halves of the pitch, while covering only marginally less ground, despite the fact he's played four less games than the former Leicester City man in the league, this season.
Herrera has made a total of 1,028 passes in the attacking half this term, one of only four players in the English top flight to breach the four figures mark in 2016/17.

And somebody here not long ago said Herrera wasnt "elite" and Lallana is better. I cried................laughing.
 
If Martial hasnt picked up some kind of knock before the game then I really dont understand what Jose is playing at. He said point blank in the press conference that anybody who sits with him in the PC is starting. Then puts him on the bench and doesnt bring him on. Given the recent press around him and Martial, I really hope it is a knock seeing as hes blatantly gone back on his word.
Confirmed on MUTV he got kicked in the warm up and Mourinho didn't want to risk him.
 
I was surprised the lineup was as strong as it was tonight given the 3-0 lead and the final on Sunday. I was expecting Rashford to lead the line like at Blackburn (and scoring) with Martial on the left (pre injury) and Lingard/Young on the right. Schweinsteiger with Fellaini and one of Mata/Mikhitaryan in the 10. Darmian RB. Cant complain about fixture pileups then start Ibra, Pogba, Mata, Mkhitaryan and arguably our best CB pairing in Smalling and Bailly. You would expect every one of them starting Sunday (except Mkhitaryan now) so why play all of them in what was basically a nothing game being 3-0 up? They played well first game and could have had a couple but was anyone really expecting them to get 3 or 4? Mkhitaryan injured, Pogba and Ibra playing 90 and Mata playing over an hour. Really dont understand selections sometimes. Watch us get twatted Sunday and Jose moans about playing in the Europa.
 
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