It'll probably be Maz, De Ligt and Yoro as the back three then with Dalot and Dorgu at wing back. Not a disaster that and we also have Casemiro to partner Bruno in midfield. It could be worse I suppose!
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 14 seconds ago
It'll probably be Maz, De Ligt and Yoro as the back three then with Dalot and Dorgu at wing back. Not a disaster that and we also have Casemiro to partner Bruno in midfield. It could be worse I suppose!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Casemiro will be a disaster. Legs well and truly gone and mentally feels like he's checked now too despite a few chest thumps.
If they are up for it and play with lots of energy it might well be over before the 2nd leg. Not that I think we can win the thing anyway so it's fairly irrelevant. Our small hopes of winning this competition went when we lost Amad.
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 15 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 14 seconds ago
It'll probably be Maz, De Ligt and Yoro as the back three then with Dalot and Dorgu at wing back. Not a disaster that and we also have Casemiro to partner Bruno in midfield. It could be worse I suppose!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Casemiro will be a disaster. Legs well and truly gone and mentally feels like he's checked now too despite a few chest thumps.
If they are up for it and play with lots of energy it might well be over before the 2nd leg. Not that I think we can win the thing anyway so it's fairly irrelevant. Our small hopes of winning this competition went when we lost Amad.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Collyer's supposedly back and if you played him alongside Casemrio to be his legs, with Bruno just in front, I reckon it'd be fine. I don't think Casemiro would want to go out a loser.
It's a setback but Sociedad probably won't play with the intensity of a PL team so Casemiro may be more effective (and has looked reasonable in recent appearances). As Diafol said, we also have Collyer back. I kind of prefer a defence with Yoro and Mazraoui in the wide positions.
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong?
Do we even have a strong 11? What do you actually mean by that statement?
Strangely, I’m feeling pretty damn positive about this one right now. Almost euphorically optimistic, actually.
Although I have been doing a lot of paint-stripping this morning, so I’m probably off my titts.
comment by RRRU-ben a-moo-REENG (U17054)
posted 8 minutes ago
Strangely, I’m feeling pretty damn positive about this one right now. Almost euphorically optimistic, actually.
Although I have been doing a lot of paint-stripping this morning, so I’m probably off my titts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That will definitely do it
In all seriousness I think we will get beat comfortably tomorrow night. 2-0 or maybe 3-1. Season can't end quick enough.
Just hope we manage to keep it competitive for the second leg so I haven’t wasted even more money on tickets.
Season is going be completely over on March 13th which is utter madness
---------------
That's the spirit, mate
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin (U2958)
posted 1 minute ago
Season is going be completely over on March 13th which is utter madness
---------------
That's the spirit, mate
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Realism is painful.
Ruben's rallying cry to the players:
"People are looking at this Europa League as the unique competition that we can win. Also the connection with winning Europa League with [qualifying for the] #UCL.
"But to tell you the truth, I think we have bigger things to think. I know it's strange to say that, but it's something that we are trying to build here, that is going to be more important than winning a Cup in this moment"
I bet the players are well pumped for this.
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 38 minutes ago
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong?
Do we even have a strong 11? What do you actually mean by that statement?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Onana
Mazraoui
De Ligt
Yoro
Dalot
Casemiro (Collyer)
Bruno
Dorgu
Zirkzee
Garnacho
Hojlund
I'm saying it's fairly strong relative to the best XI we could put out if all players were available. Basically, Diallo and Ugarte are the only two who would definitely displace players from the likely starting line-up. Casemiro is a downgrade when it comes to mobility but an upgrade in terms of goals, switches of play and headers in both boxes. Amad is obviously a massive loss. But the Europa League isn't the pinnacle of European football and we were among the highest scorers in the group phase (and Hojlund is one of the top scorers in the tournament).
Real Sociedad had a worse group phase than us, and aren't doing amazingly in their domestic league. Of course there's every possibility that we'll crash out in this round. I'm not naively bullish. I just think you're in danger of wаnking yourself into a spiral of doom.
Five of the teams we've played in the tournament are still in the competition and another two only went out because they faced our past opponents. If we play sensibly I think we have every chance in the competition.
comment by RRRU-ben a-moo-REENG (U17054)
posted 44 minutes ago
Strangely, I’m feeling pretty damn positive about this one right now. Almost euphorically optimistic, actually.
Although I have been doing a lot of paint-stripping this morning, so I’m probably off my titts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hurry up and get it stripped so you can apply a fresh coat, then sit back and watch it dry Thursday night
Maguire isn't a huge loss but Ugarte is.
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 38 minutes ago
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong?
Do we even have a strong 11? What do you actually mean by that statement?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Onana
Mazraoui
De Ligt
Yoro
Dalot
Casemiro (Collyer)
Bruno
Dorgu
Zirkzee
Garnacho
Hojlund
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd pair Collyer with Casemiro in midfield and push Bruno forward (RF) and Garnacho LF. I've we've got any spare bibs or cones then we could stack them on top of one another to cobble together a CF.
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 8 minutes ago
Maguire isn't a huge loss but Ugarte is.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Never been a huge Maguire fan myself either but since he signed for us standards have got that bad that he isn't close to being our worst player anymore.
We will miss his aerial threat for sure. Scored two big goals for us recently and looks more likely to score than Hojlund that's for sure.
Ugarte is the bigger loss I agree but both are far from ideal.
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 21 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 38 minutes ago
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong?
Do we even have a strong 11? What do you actually mean by that statement?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Onana
Mazraoui
De Ligt
Yoro
Dalot
Casemiro (Collyer)
Bruno
Dorgu
Zirkzee
Garnacho
Hojlund
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd pair Collyer with Casemiro in midfield and push Bruno forward (RF) and Garnacho LF. I've we've got any spare bibs or cones then we could stack them on top of one another to cobble together a CF.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We've got Obi. We've surely registered him for the competition. Oh...
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 18 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 21 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 38 minutes ago
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong?
Do we even have a strong 11? What do you actually mean by that statement?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Onana
Mazraoui
De Ligt
Yoro
Dalot
Casemiro (Collyer)
Bruno
Dorgu
Zirkzee
Garnacho
Hojlund
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd pair Collyer with Casemiro in midfield and push Bruno forward (RF) and Garnacho LF. I've we've got any spare bibs or cones then we could stack them on top of one another to cobble together a CF.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We've got Obi. We've surely registered him for the competition. Oh...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Isn't he young enough to play without registration anyway?
That's how Rashford got his first start?
"We will miss his aerial threat for sure. Scored two big goals for us recently and looks more likely to score than Hojlund that's for sure."
We've definitely improved our attacking set pieces, even before we started scoring from them recently, we were looking more dangerous.
Isn't he young enough to play without registration anyway?
-----------------------------------------------
Several articles published this week confirmed that Obi-Martin is not eligible to play in the Europa League, as he did need to be included in the updated squad submitted at the start of the year.
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 18 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 21 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 38 minutes ago
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong?
Do we even have a strong 11? What do you actually mean by that statement?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Onana
Mazraoui
De Ligt
Yoro
Dalot
Casemiro (Collyer)
Bruno
Dorgu
Zirkzee
Garnacho
Hojlund
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd pair Collyer with Casemiro in midfield and push Bruno forward (RF) and Garnacho LF. I've we've got any spare bibs or cones then we could stack them on top of one another to cobble together a CF.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We've got Obi. We've surely registered him for the competition. Oh...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Isn't he young enough to play without registration anyway?
That's how Rashford got his first start?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No.... Obi needed to be registered and wasn't. He isn't going to be involved sadly.
Don't see him starting against Arsenal either tbh. Putting him up against Saliba and Gabriel wouldn't be fair on the lad at this stage.
We will miss his aerial threat for sure. Scored two big goals for us recently and looks more likely to score than Hojlund that's for sure.
------------------------------------------------------
Hopefully Hojlund's record of doing far better in European competition than the PL (in both of his seasons at the club) is extended. He has more goals in the Europa League (five) than Maguire has in all competitions (three).
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 15 minutes ago
Isn't he young enough to play without registration anyway?
-----------------------------------------------
Several articles published this week confirmed that Obi-Martin is not eligible to play in the Europa League, as he did need to be included in the updated squad submitted at the start of the year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting, I always thought players under 21 weren't registered anyway. Maybe there was a rule change.
Sign in if you want to comment
Maguire and Ugarte both Out
Page 1 of 2
posted on 5/3/25
It'll probably be Maz, De Ligt and Yoro as the back three then with Dalot and Dorgu at wing back. Not a disaster that and we also have Casemiro to partner Bruno in midfield. It could be worse I suppose!
posted on 5/3/25
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 14 seconds ago
It'll probably be Maz, De Ligt and Yoro as the back three then with Dalot and Dorgu at wing back. Not a disaster that and we also have Casemiro to partner Bruno in midfield. It could be worse I suppose!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Casemiro will be a disaster. Legs well and truly gone and mentally feels like he's checked now too despite a few chest thumps.
If they are up for it and play with lots of energy it might well be over before the 2nd leg. Not that I think we can win the thing anyway so it's fairly irrelevant. Our small hopes of winning this competition went when we lost Amad.
posted on 5/3/25
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 15 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 14 seconds ago
It'll probably be Maz, De Ligt and Yoro as the back three then with Dalot and Dorgu at wing back. Not a disaster that and we also have Casemiro to partner Bruno in midfield. It could be worse I suppose!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Casemiro will be a disaster. Legs well and truly gone and mentally feels like he's checked now too despite a few chest thumps.
If they are up for it and play with lots of energy it might well be over before the 2nd leg. Not that I think we can win the thing anyway so it's fairly irrelevant. Our small hopes of winning this competition went when we lost Amad.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Collyer's supposedly back and if you played him alongside Casemrio to be his legs, with Bruno just in front, I reckon it'd be fine. I don't think Casemiro would want to go out a loser.
posted on 5/3/25
It's a setback but Sociedad probably won't play with the intensity of a PL team so Casemiro may be more effective (and has looked reasonable in recent appearances). As Diafol said, we also have Collyer back. I kind of prefer a defence with Yoro and Mazraoui in the wide positions.
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
posted on 5/3/25
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong?
Do we even have a strong 11? What do you actually mean by that statement?
posted on 5/3/25
Strangely, I’m feeling pretty damn positive about this one right now. Almost euphorically optimistic, actually.
Although I have been doing a lot of paint-stripping this morning, so I’m probably off my titts.
posted on 5/3/25
comment by RRRU-ben a-moo-REENG (U17054)
posted 8 minutes ago
Strangely, I’m feeling pretty damn positive about this one right now. Almost euphorically optimistic, actually.
Although I have been doing a lot of paint-stripping this morning, so I’m probably off my titts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That will definitely do it
In all seriousness I think we will get beat comfortably tomorrow night. 2-0 or maybe 3-1. Season can't end quick enough.
posted on 5/3/25
Just hope we manage to keep it competitive for the second leg so I haven’t wasted even more money on tickets.
posted on 5/3/25
Season is going be completely over on March 13th which is utter madness
---------------
That's the spirit, mate
posted on 5/3/25
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin (U2958)
posted 1 minute ago
Season is going be completely over on March 13th which is utter madness
---------------
That's the spirit, mate
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Realism is painful.
posted on 5/3/25
Ruben's rallying cry to the players:
"People are looking at this Europa League as the unique competition that we can win. Also the connection with winning Europa League with [qualifying for the] #UCL.
"But to tell you the truth, I think we have bigger things to think. I know it's strange to say that, but it's something that we are trying to build here, that is going to be more important than winning a Cup in this moment"
I bet the players are well pumped for this.
posted on 5/3/25
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 38 minutes ago
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong?
Do we even have a strong 11? What do you actually mean by that statement?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Onana
Mazraoui
De Ligt
Yoro
Dalot
Casemiro (Collyer)
Bruno
Dorgu
Zirkzee
Garnacho
Hojlund
I'm saying it's fairly strong relative to the best XI we could put out if all players were available. Basically, Diallo and Ugarte are the only two who would definitely displace players from the likely starting line-up. Casemiro is a downgrade when it comes to mobility but an upgrade in terms of goals, switches of play and headers in both boxes. Amad is obviously a massive loss. But the Europa League isn't the pinnacle of European football and we were among the highest scorers in the group phase (and Hojlund is one of the top scorers in the tournament).
Real Sociedad had a worse group phase than us, and aren't doing amazingly in their domestic league. Of course there's every possibility that we'll crash out in this round. I'm not naively bullish. I just think you're in danger of wаnking yourself into a spiral of doom.
posted on 5/3/25
Five of the teams we've played in the tournament are still in the competition and another two only went out because they faced our past opponents. If we play sensibly I think we have every chance in the competition.
posted on 5/3/25
comment by RRRU-ben a-moo-REENG (U17054)
posted 44 minutes ago
Strangely, I’m feeling pretty damn positive about this one right now. Almost euphorically optimistic, actually.
Although I have been doing a lot of paint-stripping this morning, so I’m probably off my titts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hurry up and get it stripped so you can apply a fresh coat, then sit back and watch it dry Thursday night
posted on 5/3/25
Maguire isn't a huge loss but Ugarte is.
posted on 5/3/25
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 38 minutes ago
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong?
Do we even have a strong 11? What do you actually mean by that statement?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Onana
Mazraoui
De Ligt
Yoro
Dalot
Casemiro (Collyer)
Bruno
Dorgu
Zirkzee
Garnacho
Hojlund
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd pair Collyer with Casemiro in midfield and push Bruno forward (RF) and Garnacho LF. I've we've got any spare bibs or cones then we could stack them on top of one another to cobble together a CF.
posted on 5/3/25
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 8 minutes ago
Maguire isn't a huge loss but Ugarte is.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Never been a huge Maguire fan myself either but since he signed for us standards have got that bad that he isn't close to being our worst player anymore.
We will miss his aerial threat for sure. Scored two big goals for us recently and looks more likely to score than Hojlund that's for sure.
Ugarte is the bigger loss I agree but both are far from ideal.
posted on 5/3/25
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 21 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 38 minutes ago
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong?
Do we even have a strong 11? What do you actually mean by that statement?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Onana
Mazraoui
De Ligt
Yoro
Dalot
Casemiro (Collyer)
Bruno
Dorgu
Zirkzee
Garnacho
Hojlund
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd pair Collyer with Casemiro in midfield and push Bruno forward (RF) and Garnacho LF. I've we've got any spare bibs or cones then we could stack them on top of one another to cobble together a CF.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We've got Obi. We've surely registered him for the competition. Oh...
posted on 5/3/25
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 18 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 21 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 38 minutes ago
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong?
Do we even have a strong 11? What do you actually mean by that statement?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Onana
Mazraoui
De Ligt
Yoro
Dalot
Casemiro (Collyer)
Bruno
Dorgu
Zirkzee
Garnacho
Hojlund
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd pair Collyer with Casemiro in midfield and push Bruno forward (RF) and Garnacho LF. I've we've got any spare bibs or cones then we could stack them on top of one another to cobble together a CF.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We've got Obi. We've surely registered him for the competition. Oh...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Isn't he young enough to play without registration anyway?
That's how Rashford got his first start?
posted on 5/3/25
"We will miss his aerial threat for sure. Scored two big goals for us recently and looks more likely to score than Hojlund that's for sure."
We've definitely improved our attacking set pieces, even before we started scoring from them recently, we were looking more dangerous.
posted on 5/3/25
Isn't he young enough to play without registration anyway?
-----------------------------------------------
Several articles published this week confirmed that Obi-Martin is not eligible to play in the Europa League, as he did need to be included in the updated squad submitted at the start of the year.
posted on 5/3/25
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 18 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 21 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 38 minutes ago
First XI should be fairly strong. The bench will be very inexperienced. But feel free to grieve about a humiliating defeat in advance, OP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong?
Do we even have a strong 11? What do you actually mean by that statement?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Onana
Mazraoui
De Ligt
Yoro
Dalot
Casemiro (Collyer)
Bruno
Dorgu
Zirkzee
Garnacho
Hojlund
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd pair Collyer with Casemiro in midfield and push Bruno forward (RF) and Garnacho LF. I've we've got any spare bibs or cones then we could stack them on top of one another to cobble together a CF.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We've got Obi. We've surely registered him for the competition. Oh...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Isn't he young enough to play without registration anyway?
That's how Rashford got his first start?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No.... Obi needed to be registered and wasn't. He isn't going to be involved sadly.
Don't see him starting against Arsenal either tbh. Putting him up against Saliba and Gabriel wouldn't be fair on the lad at this stage.
posted on 5/3/25
We will miss his aerial threat for sure. Scored two big goals for us recently and looks more likely to score than Hojlund that's for sure.
------------------------------------------------------
Hopefully Hojlund's record of doing far better in European competition than the PL (in both of his seasons at the club) is extended. He has more goals in the Europa League (five) than Maguire has in all competitions (three).
posted on 5/3/25
Unleash the academy!!!
posted on 5/3/25
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 15 minutes ago
Isn't he young enough to play without registration anyway?
-----------------------------------------------
Several articles published this week confirmed that Obi-Martin is not eligible to play in the Europa League, as he did need to be included in the updated squad submitted at the start of the year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting, I always thought players under 21 weren't registered anyway. Maybe there was a rule change.
Page 1 of 2