United (H) - Sun 15th Dec, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[Tricky_Trev]

What the fuck.is the defense going to be with no akanji, ake ,stones or Lewis?

Unfortunately, something like Walker - Pusey - Dias - Gvardiol

 

[SWPISHOME]

Unfortunately, something like Walker - Pusey - Dias - Gvardiol

I've a feeling he'll play Bernardo as an inverted left back.

Fuck knows.

 

[Ric]

I’m still clinging to some probably misguided notion that Akanji could yet make it tomorrow. From quotes I’ve seen from Pep’s press conference, I’m not sure if he definitively ruled him out? He spoke of his injury problems, and there was a vague quote along the lines of “we’ll see who is available” which made me think the door might not be completely shut on some. Probably wrong, in which case I think we’re more likely to see a back three than either Simpson-Pusey or Bernardo/Nunes shoe horned into a conventional back four.

 

[Petethemancinleeds]

Has anyone else just had a text from the club saying get there early, bring your boots but dont tell James Mcatee your in the starting eleven and 62 yrs old.

 

[Blu3m00n91]

Just watched Pep’s embargoed section of the press conference. I love him. I’m looking forward to tomorrow I think we are going to turn up and put in a proper performance.


Or maybe it’s the beer talking but fuck it come on blue boys slap the rags

 

[citeh94]

Can feel a big win coming dunno why but got the same feeling before derby last year and before the Madrid 4-0. We’ve got to win and Pep knows that, most important thing is getting behind the boys, need our support. Anyone know if 1894 lads have anything planned?

 

[David White]

Grealish in the middle. He normally turns up against these and if he’s more central with Doku playing off him on the left we’ll really benefit from his engine in the middle. If kovacic can also play we can leave Gundo out and we’ll be infinitely more mobile with a couple that can carry the ball forward. If Kev is fit he has to start and if Foden is fit I’d drop him in behind Haaland.

Christ knows what he’ll do at the back but with Rico suspended and Ake and Stones still out Walker is nailed on to start.

We won’t really play with a back 4 as one usually steps into midfield, so I’d be tempted to play a 3 and have the extra body in midfield to hopefully make us less easy to run through and with it actually being a midfielder we’re less likely to get caught in possession.

Ortega
Walker Dias Gvardiol
Kovacic
Bernardo Kev Grealish Doku
Foden
Haaland

Ortega comes back in because I do think he’s a better shot stopper and he’s definitely better 1 on 1 than Ederson.

Grealish in more of a free role, like against forest and Haaland coming deep to receive the ball which should allow him to release Doku and bring Foden into the game with a little more grass in front of him to play into.

They want us to play how we have been doing, slow, compact high up the pitch and pedestrian in midfield. If we do that we’ll be on the end of another 4 nil because whilst they’re utter shite, they’ll knock it over the top and lord fish finger of Stretford and that spotty twat they have up front alongside basin head will not believe their luck.

Listen to me, Pep and we’ll shit em.

 

[nellyonthewing]

Bullshit

W13 D 7 L8 against the worse Rag side in 40 years.

 

[Blu1]

Regardless of result pep needs to hear the blues sing his name tomorrow

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Unfortunately, something like Walker - Pusey - Dias - Gvardiol

I went to Brighton away and.i thought Pusey was very good. Comfortable on the ball, relaxed under pressure and excellent distribution playing out from defence.