"If Eric Bailly is not playing the final, who plays the final? Smalling or Jones? It is these kind of questions that I have to answer." Jose
This basically means we will be fielding a back four of Valencia, Smalling, Blind and Darmian.
Jones played on Sunday so Smalling will probably get the nod. Blind is guaranteed to start considering Jose is choosing between Jones and Smalling for one CB spot. That means Darmian will play left back, this is something which I'm totally worried about. Darmian is a good defender but offers nothing going forward. Between Darmian being afraid to run behind the defence and Valencias zero end product or full back positions have become redundant attacking wise.
Surly a better idea would be to partner Smalling and Jones and have Blind play left back so he can whip it in with his left foot?
Back four v Ajax
posted on 22/5/17
comment by the black rooney - glory glory man united MUFC In decline since 1995! (U11383)
posted 2 minutes ago
Mata has to play for me, he's head and shoulders our best player when on form. He links everything together so well and we miss him when he doesn't play. Along with Herrera, first names on the team sheet for me
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I love Mata to bits, and I'd agree if I didn't think Ajax were going to come out of the blocks at 100mph and press and attack us with all that they have.
posted on 22/5/17
comment by Genius_AppleCart_Space_Dude_Featuring_Zorak (..We all got a Chicken-Duck-Woman thing, Waiting for us.) (U19099)
posted 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
Martial couldn't do damage against a under 8 side at the moment.
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He was our best player and assisted our only goal against Spurs
So pretty ridiculous thing to say in all honesty
posted on 22/5/17
comment by the black rooney - glory glory man united MUFC In decline since 1995! (U11383)
posted 55 minutes ago
Mata has to play for me, he's head and shoulders our best player when on form. He links everything together so well and we miss him when he doesn't play. Along with Herrera, first names on the team sheet for me
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Ajax play with a very high defensive line (normally)... best way to get at them is with pace
posted on 22/5/17
comment by Shugs (U14253)
posted 40 seconds ago
comment by the black rooney - glory glory man united MUFC In decline since 1995! (U11383)
posted 55 minutes ago
Mata has to play for me, he's head and shoulders our best player when on form. He links everything together so well and we miss him when he doesn't play. Along with Herrera, first names on the team sheet for me
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Ajax play with a very high defensive line (normally)... best way to get at them is with pace
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Still need players you can rely on to pick the right pass through the high lines, like Mata.
posted on 22/5/17
comment by Manc Python (U17527)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Genius_AppleCart_Space_Dude_Featuring_Zorak (..We all got a Chicken-Duck-Woman thing, Waiting for us.) (U19099)
posted 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
Martial couldn't do damage against a under 8 side at the moment.
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He was our best player and assisted our only goal against Spurs
So pretty ridiculous thing to say in all honesty
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Arguable he was our best player that day.Personally felt Axel was by some distance.
But my point is Martial doesn't deserve a start in the EL cup final.He's had a terribly underwhelming season,certain aspects of his all round game deserved to be questioned and other players who've offered more throughout EL deserve their spot.
For the time being Martial is a decent option off the bench.
posted on 22/5/17
comment by Shugs (U14253)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by the black rooney - glory glory man united MUFC In decline since 1995! (U11383)
posted 55 minutes ago
Mata has to play for me, he's head and shoulders our best player when on form. He links everything together so well and we miss him when he doesn't play. Along with Herrera, first names on the team sheet for me
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ajax play with a very high defensive line (normally)... best way to get at them is with pace
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Not only pace but players willing to make movements off the ball (Rashford,Lingard,Mkhitaryan) and others who can create such openings for those players (Mata,Herrera,Pogba).
posted on 22/5/17
I find it strange how Blind gets let off so easily. I like him, he's a cultured player that's easy on the eye but he's also not been that great at LB for a while and was shocking against Celta.
Darmian isn't great but he's more solid at LB.
Also, isn't Mike carrying a knock which is why Jones played yesterday. Think Jose is still deciding over who to play. Jones has been better this season but then Mike had a fairly good understanding with Blind last season.
posted on 22/5/17
It's gonna be interesting to see how Ajax's kids react to playing a big(ish) final. They could be full of confidence and play their free flowing game and be a real handful or they could quite easily let the nerves set in and be cautious as happens so often in finals.
posted on 22/5/17
But my point is Martial doesn't deserve a start in the EL cup final.He's had a terribly underwhelming season,certain aspects of his all round game deserved to be questioned and other players who've offered more throughout EL deserve their spot.
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By Martials standards then yes he has been poor. The talent is there for all to see though and he has performed in big games previously. I don't think the men management of him has been at all good either though.
Could say the same about lingard and how underwhelming he has been but then he doesn't exactly set high standards. He is a bog standard player that deserves to be nowhere near the starting 11 in a European final
posted on 22/5/17