United (A) - Sat 14th Jan, 12:30 | Pre-Match Thread

[Brightwell Bros.]

I like Pep when he's at his bravest which on current form is a front three of Foden, Haaland and Mahrez with Bernie and Kev in the middle. I'd also settle for a slightly mad 4-2-3-1 where Kev drops to the bench, but ultimately you've got to imagine United would love to see that.

 

[eastmanc]

Hope Pep doesn't go too cautious and play Gundo in with Rodders?

Shaw has been their best player this season and hope Mahrez has Walker making decoy runs on the overlap.

Much as he has been poor, I think he may still go with Cancelo over Ake at left-back?

Gives Rashford and Anthony something to think about going the other way, an easier pass in to midfield, rather than Ake, who will usually always pass wide of himself and jam in the left winger, so the ball invariably gets played back to the centre-backs?

Would also like to see Haaland dropping deeper, rather than letting Varane and Martinez try to isolate him and take it in turns to play right up against him.

We need Kev, Phil and Bernie to bring their A game, and then I feel we will have too much.

Whoever scores first is likely win it.

Rather City start quickly with intense pressing and quick passing, a bit like the first derby at the Etihad.

 

[mosssideblue]

IMO There’s a distinct possibility that this could be grim.

We’ve got a great record at the swamp in recent years but iirc we’ve scored only 5 goals in our last 7 away games and 3 of them were against Leeds.

We really need to get our act together and take the rest of the season by the scruff of the neck and I hope we do that in fine style tomorrow.
For the first time in a long time I’m not particularly confident about beating them and the celebration will be all the more enthusiastic if we get a result.

There's also a distinct possibility we could batter them. If Pep has them fired up, I believe we will

 

[jaiguruKun]

Akanji at right back against rashford is an absolute suicide mission.

Why do you say that? I've been impressed with Akanji as a one-on-one defender and he has decent pace.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Yes two awful games. I've got a bad feeling about this game, too many players off form, looking half hearted, sulking something's not right in the camp at the moment.

Very strange disconnect going on for me in recent weeks?

Pep outing Phillips was a bizarre one from him and then we have Gundo giving an insight in to the vibe in the dressing room.

I don't recall us sharing too much in public like that during Pep's tenure?

An overriding sense the players want to see something change?

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Likely to get the Mendy verdict later today, no doubt?

 

[Gumzy97]

Hope Pep doesn't go too cautious and play Gundo in with Rodders?

Shaw has been their best player this season and hope Mahrez has Walker making decoy runs on the overlap.

Much as he has been poor, I think he may still go with Cancelo over Ake at left-back?

Gives Rashford and Anthony something to think about going the other way, an easier pass in to midfield, rather than Ake, who will usually always pass wide of himself and jam in the left winger, so the ball invariably gets played back to the centre-backs?

Would also like to see Haaland dropping deeper, rather than letting Varane and Martinez try to isolate him and take it in turns to play right up against him.

We need Kev, Phil and Bernie to bring their A game, and then I feel we will have too much.

Whoever scores first is likely win it.

Casemiro has been up there as well for their best player this season, can't afford a slow midfield with him in there.

 

[IronsideKozuch]

It's time the real City showed up and stayed for the remainder of the season and Pep stopped fucking about with his harebrained ideas.

"time the real City showed up"; "Pep stopped fucking about his harebrained ideas" only shows how harebrained is Your mind. Competing on all fronts, you obviously needs to rotate, its not only about performance stictly, but also about chemistry within dressing room, to allow many players to be involved, refresh. Sometimes they wont show up, but in the bigger picture their even forced involvement is at the greatest need.

Its also mind blowing to call for stopping experiments. Football at highest level is incredibly competitive these days, if You think, as You wrote, that one should not make changes in a way you play and you will simply dominates year after year, sums up your line of thinking preety well.

My recommendation for You is to support some Fifa teams, there you have a chance for such consistency.

And over years actually, only Pep has reached such level of consistency, many others had great success, but usually in a very short term perspective (i.e. Tuchel, Heynckes, even Klopp has noticeable breaks).

 

[Gumzy97]

I'm a little worried that Peps lost a few in the locker room, his comments about attitude and body language is probably trying to get a reaction from them but it's not happened. Some of the players could be annoyed with where they've been playing this season position wise

 

[paulchapo]

Likely to get the Mendy verdict later today, no doubt?

That must be the longest trial in history.