MNF

[Mattyc55]

It was a great discussion, and Carragher was backing up what I've said in the Pellegrini and Dzeko / Negredo threads. 442 against elite European teams will get you found out as you'll get outnumbered in midfield.

Neville made some great points in his analysis, that we should stick to out preferred shape, and the United "didn't do too badly playing that shape for 15 years."

What Neville forgot to mention was just how badly United got outclassed by Barcelona in 2 European finals by blindly sticking to that system.

Personally I think we have got so many goals in us at home that I think we should stick to 442 at home to Barca. There is always the threat we will get outclassed like when Bayern came to the Etihad. But if we are to stand any chance of getting through, we have to have a couple of goals lead going in to the second leg.

In the Nou Camp though, I think if we stick to 442 it is suicide. I think they will completely outnumber us in midfield and they could end up with 75% of the ball, making it a near impossible task to stop them from scoring.

Everyone has their opinion, but I stand by mine that we look brilliant playing 442 in England, we look like we'll score goals for fun. But against the top teams in Europe, we'll get found out playing that way, particularly away from home.

Good assessment of things. I'd like to think he would put Milner in the middle with Ferna/Yaya if he does go 4-5-1 at the Nou Camp, but I reckon he will go with Garcia and just leave Sergio up front - even though Negredo/Dzeko would probably play the lone striker role better.

 

[hgblue]

It was a great discussion, and Carragher was backing up what I've said in the Pellegrini and Dzeko / Negredo threads. 442 against elite European teams will get you found out as you'll get outnumbered in midfield.

Neville made some great points in his analysis, that we should stick to out preferred shape, and the United "didn't do too badly playing that shape for 15 years."

What Neville forgot to mention was just how badly United got outclassed by Barcelona in 2 European finals by blindly sticking to that system.

Personally I think we have got so many goals in us at home that I think we should stick to 442 at home to Barca. There is always the threat we will get outclassed like when Bayern came to the Etihad. But if we are to stand any chance of getting through, we have to have a couple of goals lead going in to the second leg.

In the Nou Camp though, I think if we stick to 442 it is suicide. I think they will completely outnumber us in midfield and they could end up with 75% of the ball, making it a near impossible task to stop them from scoring.

Everyone has their opinion, but I stand by mine that we look brilliant playing 442 in England, we look like we'll score goals for fun. But against the top teams in Europe, we'll get found out playing that way, particularly away from home.

It would take some bottle to go 442 at home against Barca after what happened against Munich.

 

[moomba]

I'm more in the Carragher camp on this one, although I would have been in that camp for Newcastle, Swansea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs and we havent done too badly.

I think MP will play both up front in the home leg, and Garcia in the midfield instead of Negredo away.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

It was a great discussion, and Carragher was backing up what I've said in the Pellegrini and Dzeko / Negredo threads. 442 against elite European teams will get you found out as you'll get outnumbered in midfield.

Neville made some great points in his analysis, that we should stick to out preferred shape, and the United "didn't do too badly playing that shape for 15 years."

What Neville forgot to mention was just how badly United got outclassed by Barcelona in 2 European finals by blindly sticking to that system.

Personally I think we have got so many goals in us at home that I think we should stick to 442 at home to Barca. There is always the threat we will get outclassed like when Bayern came to the Etihad. But if we are to stand any chance of getting through, we have to have a couple of goals lead going in to the second leg.

In the Nou Camp though, I think if we stick to 442 it is suicide. I think they will completely outnumber us in midfield and they could end up with 75% of the ball, making it a near impossible task to stop them from scoring.

Everyone has their opinion, but I stand by mine that we look brilliant playing 442 in England, we look like we'll score goals for fun. But against the top teams in Europe, we'll get found out playing that way, particularly away from home.

Not necessarily the system though. A lot depends on the personnel within the system and how well they play it.
Our problem is that our defence is not stepping up quickly to cut out space once the midfield has been breached.
We cannot sit off against the best teams. Sort this and god we will be some team.

 

[silvasleftleg]

It was a great discussion, and Carragher was backing up what I've said in the Pellegrini and Dzeko / Negredo threads. 442 against elite European teams will get you found out as you'll get outnumbered in midfield.

Neville made some great points in his analysis, that we should stick to out preferred shape, and the United "didn't do too badly playing that shape for 15 years."

What Neville forgot to mention was just how badly United got outclassed by Barcelona in 2 European finals by blindly sticking to that system.

Personally I think we have got so many goals in us at home that I think we should stick to 442 at home to Barca. There is always the threat we will get outclassed like when Bayern came to the Etihad. But if we are to stand any chance of getting through, we have to have a couple of goals lead going in to the second leg.

In the Nou Camp though, I think if we stick to 442 it is suicide. I think they will completely outnumber us in midfield and they could end up with 75% of the ball, making it a near impossible task to stop them from scoring.

Everyone has their opinion, but I stand by mine that we look brilliant playing 442 in England, we look like we'll score goals for fun. But against the top teams in Europe, we'll get found out playing that way, particularly away from home.

It would take some bottle to go 442 at home against Barca after what happened against Munich.

4-4-2. High line. High pressure. Offside trap = Success.

 

[r.soleofsalford]

Should we start a Gary Neville fan club ?

i`ll get the petrol and matches

 

[Shaelumstash]

It was a great discussion, and Carragher was backing up what I've said in the Pellegrini and Dzeko / Negredo threads. 442 against elite European teams will get you found out as you'll get outnumbered in midfield.

Neville made some great points in his analysis, that we should stick to out preferred shape, and the United "didn't do too badly playing that shape for 15 years."

What Neville forgot to mention was just how badly United got outclassed by Barcelona in 2 European finals by blindly sticking to that system.

Personally I think we have got so many goals in us at home that I think we should stick to 442 at home to Barca. There is always the threat we will get outclassed like when Bayern came to the Etihad. But if we are to stand any chance of getting through, we have to have a couple of goals lead going in to the second leg.

In the Nou Camp though, I think if we stick to 442 it is suicide. I think they will completely outnumber us in midfield and they could end up with 75% of the ball, making it a near impossible task to stop them from scoring.

Everyone has their opinion, but I stand by mine that we look brilliant playing 442 in England, we look like we'll score goals for fun. But against the top teams in Europe, we'll get found out playing that way, particularly away from home.

It would take some bottle to go 442 at home against Barca after what happened against Munich.

I agree mate! Before the Bayern game I couldn't believe we were lining up as 442. After 10 minutes I could not believe he didn't change it straight away as we were getting mullered. He changed it on 75 minutes and we played far better.

He changed to 4231 in the away leg, and away to Chelsea and we looked much more comfortable (in comparison to the home leg vs Bayern).

It may be risky to go 442 at home to Barca, but I think our only realistic chance of getting through is by imposing ourselves at home and scoring 2 or 3 goals. I think 442 at home probably gives us the best chance to do that. I would certainly understand us going 4231 though, and wouldn't complain.

I stand by it though that going 442 away at Barca would be naive and I think we'd get outclassed.

 

[Project]

The other problem is both Nasri and Milner are out for the first leg. We might be forced into a 442 by default. Unless he puts Garcia in there as well, with Navas and Silva on the flanks.

 

[SuperSilva]

The other problem is both Nasri and Milner are out for the first leg. We might be forced into a 442 by default. Unless he puts Garcia in there as well, with Navas and Silva on the flanks.

Wait what the hell have I missed... Milner is out of the first leg? Too many yellows, a red .. when the f*** did all this happen?

 

[Chippy_boy]

My plan would to be to try to win maybe 4-1 or something like that at home, and then to avoid a big loss away.

So all guns blazing 4-4-2 at home, and 4-5-1 away. 4-4-2 at home carries risk obviously as per the Bayern game, but I don't think Barcas midfield are anything like as mobile as Bayern, and the rewards of a good home win are worth the risk IMHO.

We'd be mad to go 4-4-2 away, unless we have lost the home game and are trying to rescue something.