MEN writer Dominic Booth gives his predicted team for the OT clash, and there’s little there for me to disagree with:
——————Romero
Dalot—Tuanzebe—Rojo—Young
————McT————Fred
——Mata——Gomes——Chong
—————-Greenwood
Astana will defend with eleven men and work hard without the ball. We’re going to need patience, to match their work rate off the ball, and to show good discipline in possession. Mata, Gomes and Greenwood all have very good movement and don’t like to give the ball away.
McT we have to keep fit and healthy - he’s become a very important player for us given our (lack of) options in midfield - but I don’t see too many other options for us there, and Fred needs a proper run out.
Pogba, Lingard and Shaw don’t look like they’ll be ready, and we have to give each of them a chance to be fit for West Ham.
I’d love to see Garner too, but I think it might be a spot on the bench for him and Brandon Williams.
Team for Astana
posted on 17/9/19
How about Dalot at LB and Jones at RB. I agree Young shouldn't play twice a week, and the other option is Dalot at RB and Rojo on the left, with Jones at CB. I reckon that back 4 with Axel can handle a Ropey fixture or a Cup fixture, and we need to keep the subs sharp, as we'll get our regular mid-season injury crises. Ole was smart to keep Jones and Rojo, as they are versatile. Dependable, maybe not so. I'm excited to see Mason as the main man tomorrow night. Ole -make that happen! Do we go for the whole enchilada again, or bow out early to avoid the tight fixtures?
posted on 17/9/19
Do we go for the whole enchilada again, or bow out early to avoid the tight fixtures?
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It's probably our best chance of getting back into the Champions League next season so we should be taking it seriously.
posted on 17/9/19
I think it’d be a waste, BK. He could develop into a good attacking full back, but I don’t think he’s got much potential as a forward as he’s a limited player by comparison.
I think people have a tendency to overstate the qualities of attacking full backs, and are too quick to call for them to be played further forward. Generally they are just miles off the quality of actual forwards, which is why most of them end up as full backs in the first place.
posted on 17/9/19
comment by Mason The King Greenwood (U10026)
posted 1 hour, 22 minutes ago
I think it’d be a waste, BK. He could develop into a good attacking full back, but I don’t think he’s got much potential as a forward as he’s a limited player by comparison.
I think people have a tendency to overstate the qualities of attacking full backs, and are too quick to call for them to be played further forward. Generally they are just miles off the quality of actual forwards, which is why most of them end up as full backs in the first place.
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I really don't know how you've come to the conclusion he's 'limited' Darren. He goes past players in much the same way you'd see a wide attacker doing. You don't see many full backs - attacking ones or otherwise - jink past players with quick feet, step overs and drops of the shoulder like he does. He's also got end product with his crossing.
He's basically a lot better on the ball than your average attacking fullback who likes to make adventurous runs. He's also not going to be our long term RB due to AWB.
I guess we'll see.
posted on 18/9/19
Because compared with top attackers he doesn’t have the technical, tactical or physical attributes to make a top forward. Thus far in his United career he’s put in a few dangerous balls and made a few dangerous runs. I’m not seeing anything that screams this is a potentially top forward. I’m not even convinced he’s going to be a top fullback based on what we’ve seen thus far, but he’s gpt more chance of doing it in that position than further forward, even if it’s not with us.
posted on 18/9/19
Technical? Which ones is he lacking? He has excellent ball control and skill. He also strikes the ball really well.
Tactical? How do you know? He’s played LB, RB, RW and as a wing back for us. He’s 19/20 years old. Far too early to say he doesn’t have the tactical nous to play a different role and such a claim doesn’t seem to stack up with the evidence he’s shown. In interviews he comes across as bright and considered. Seems a smart lad. I’d doubt he struggles tactically.
And physically? He’s got great balance and acceleration and is deceptively fast. He’s certainly not slower or weaker than the majority of wide attackers. I know such stats can be a little misleading due to the nature of them, but regularly comes near the top of the speed tests at the club.
I just don’t think you have any grounds with which to be so certain. Even last season, when we didn’t have a recognised RB, Ole deployed him further forward, and he looked better there. Granted, it’s a small sample size of games, but early indications are that the coaching staff like him there. Ole has referenced it himself, too.
posted on 18/9/19
I don’t think he’s a great passer or dribbler. Playing different full back positions isn’t the same as playing different forward roles. And I don’t think he’d got the pace and physicality to dominate a full back like a top forward can. I don’t think you have any grounds to make the claim he’s got much potential as a forward. I’m really not seeing what you’re seeing, he’s not shown much at all at this club.
posted on 18/9/19
He played RW a couple of times last season and was very comfortable there. He's very young and I'd say that's where he'll end up. Can't see any basis in your comments that he's limited just yet
posted on 18/9/19
Explain how he’s not limited. He didn’t offer anything in attack other than the odd dangerous cross (that nobody got on the end of). We’ve become so bad - and lacked any sort of threat on the right - that apparently that’s good enough to show potential in that position for us nowadays.
posted on 19/9/19
Mata and Lingard confirmed as starting on united fb page