I get that it is a tough call. We won’t be able to over commit Walker because of Rashford’s threat and some creativity from LB would be great, but Cancelo was such a liability in midweek it just feels like too big a risk.Think about it logically we need to create going forward so he has to play also with laporte left side centre back akanji right with walker right back we could make it a back 3 when we are defending.
Great post - couldn’t agree more.It's such a shame Stones is not fit for this, his calmness on the ball would've been so helpful in dealing with United's press. That's why I think Laporte has to start and I'm guessing Akanji will be alongside him as he's our only available right footed centre half.
Normally I would say Walker is nailed on to start to deal with Rashford but if he's the full-back dropping in to the back three whilst we're in possession, then that leaves Cancelo as our best option for the inverted full-back role on the other side and given his lack of form it seems unlikely he'll start. It also seems harsh to leave Ake out as he's been really good this season. However, if we play Ake at left-back then Lewis is more likely to play at right-back as he's more comfortable moving in to midfield but then you lose Walker's pace. It's a difficult decision for Pep to make but I think those are the only two full-back combinations we can play.
Midfield is slightly easier. Surely it will be Rodri, De Bruyne and Bernardo. The only way Gundogan plays is if we drop KDB which is never going to happen in a game of this magnitude, we drop Bernardo which would be suicide as we need his energy and ball retention in midfield or we play Bernardo on the right wing which is possible but seems pointless given Mahrez's current form.
The forward line is more difficult. Haaland obviously starts but I'm not sure who plays either side of him, I guess it depends on how we approach the game. I get that we've gone ultra conservative this season with our wingers taking less risks because Pep is worried about our vulnerability now we have one less man in midfield but what is the point in having the best striker in the world and then having our two other forwards constantly passing backwards, it just seems so counter productive. I think Pep just needs to accept that we're not going to have quite as much control with Haaland in the team and just embrace it and let the opposition worry about us rather than trying to eliminate any possible chance of conceding a goal because it's stifling our attacking play in my opinion. If he's more worried about United's threats than imposing our own game then I think he'll go cautious and pick Grealish. Personally I would go with Mahrez & Foden and give them more licence to run at their full-back as we know they're both capable of beating them. I feel like the team needs to rediscover the joy we played with in previous seasons and even earlier this season, hopefully this game is the perfect catalyst.
That performance sniffed of someone who knew they wouldn’t start at weekend for me; may be wrong and we’ll see when the team sheet is released; however, what he did against the right channel in the 6-3, regardless of form, he plays, he dragged their back line all over, they didn’t have a scooby to combat it and it afforded Thor more space than a partially sighted person parking a Winnebago; not advocating the attitude, and certainly see why he may be benched (if not predetermined), but as a manc lad, knowing the importance to the fan base, the natural enthusiasm and levels would increase in such games; this being said, I see Mahrez and Bernie on the flanks, with Rodders, KDB and Gundogan centralTotally agree with this. Foden however depends where he is played. He was great against Chelsea in the middle but has seemed out of it out wide. Can’t see Pep playing him in the middle for this game though
Walker has to play in a flat back four, no inverted fullbacks, no Lewis, his time will come.It's such a shame Stones is not fit for this, his calmness on the ball would've been so helpful in dealing with United's press. That's why I think Laporte has to start and I'm guessing Akanji will be alongside him as he's our only available right footed centre half.
Normally I would say Walker is nailed on to start to deal with Rashford but if he's the full-back dropping in to the back three whilst we're in possession, then that leaves Cancelo as our best option for the inverted full-back role on the other side and given his lack of form it seems unlikely he'll start. It also seems harsh to leave Ake out as he's been really good this season. However, if we play Ake at left-back then Lewis is more likely to play at right-back as he's more comfortable moving in to midfield but then you lose Walker's pace. It's a difficult decision for Pep to make but I think those are the only two full-back combinations we can play.
Midfield is slightly easier. Surely it will be Rodri, De Bruyne and Bernardo. The only way Gundogan plays is if we drop KDB which is never going to happen in a game of this magnitude, we drop Bernardo which would be suicide as we need his energy and ball retention in midfield or we play Bernardo on the right wing which is possible but seems pointless given Mahrez's current form.
The forward line is more difficult. Haaland obviously starts but I'm not sure who plays either side of him, I guess it depends on how we approach the game. I get that we've gone ultra conservative this season with our wingers taking less risks because Pep is worried about our vulnerability now we have one less man in midfield but what is the point in having the best striker in the world and then having our two other forwards constantly passing backwards, it just seems so counter productive. I think Pep just needs to accept that we're not going to have quite as much control with Haaland in the team and just embrace it and let the opposition worry about us rather than trying to eliminate any possible chance of conceding a goal because it's stifling our attacking play in my opinion. If he's more worried about United's threats than imposing our own game then I think he'll go cautious and pick Grealish. Personally I would go with Mahrez & Foden and give them more licence to run at their full-back as we know they're both capable of beating them. I feel like the team needs to rediscover the joy we played with in previous seasons and even earlier this season, hopefully this game is the perfect catalyst.