We should encourage everyone (bar the jinx man) to start a #nojinx thread whenever they see a news headline
If Rooney is injured what are people's thoughts on the forward and the AM? I think it will be Kagawa playing behind Chico with Welbeck on the left. But how about Januzaj behind Welbeck? With Kagawa on the left and Nani on the right (provided Nani plays against the Toons) or Valencia (hate him but he's match fit and tracks back). The pace through the middle and the wings would trouble the Bayern defense and midfield.
Not a bad shout, but I don't think Rooney's injured. Meth was quoting twitter so I'm sure it was fake. The big question is, do we setup the same way we did Tuesday, or do we come out and attack as Martinez, Schweinstiger(sp?) are suspended and Thiago is injured. Surely that will encourage us to come and actually play. If we come out to defend, I'd line up the exact same way we did at OT. If we're going to attack, I'd have Rooney, Welbeck, and Valencia as an attacking 4, with Januzaj or Nani coming on in the second half for Valencia to run at tired legs. I'd also play Rafael.
Yeh Manobear agree. It's getting that balance between being solid defensively, while also looking for that away goal. I think Bayern will want to attack and score. The longer we keep it 0-0 the more nervous they will get. On the other hand, whatever happens, we need to score first. So we need that pace to hit them on the counter with players who can pass. I'm almost thinking, fck it just go with Nani/Januzaj and go for it (Valencia might stop us from scoring).
Nani hasn't played in ages, so I don't think he has the match fitness to really impact the game. Januzaj might be out of his depth. Valencia will work hard enough that he'll start to wear people down, so maybe at around 70 minutes depending on the score, bring Nani on to provide a better goal threat. I fear of we go only to either sneak a goal or just damage mitigation we'll lose embarrassingly. If we go for it we might have a chance to win or at least make a game of it.
I know Rooney's a fatty, but surely he doesn't count as 2? Wonder if Moyes will be tempted to push Fellaini forwards into the AM spot to give us more bodies in midfield? With Thiago, Martinez and Pigsupervisor out, flooding the midfield might stop Bayern playing. Could be Carrick and Fletcher / Jones in CM with Fellaini in front and Rooney, Welbeck and Valencia / Januzaj as a front three. Not very adventurous, but could give us the best chance of keeping a clean sheet and getting a goal to progress.
imo if you try flood the midfield you'll get done down the flanks and they'll get behind you and pass through you. I reckon the best chance you have is repeating the OT performance but also I think you nee bayern to perform the same again, the were not great at OT especially in the final 3rd though the bodies back contributed to that. They are good enough to pass through a packed United midfield and they'll cut you up if you leave space behind the back 4. united just do not possess a full press squad, that was apparent in the first game, you couldn't win the ball or even get close enough to them. Like Spuds at Anfield, they tried a pressing game without the right players to pull it off and got picked apart, cept ye dropped back to close up the space, Spurs didn't, plus you got better defenders.
Valencias defensive contribution is less than both kagawa and nani. His attacking threat is less than De gea's. How does he get a game? Its just carrying dead weight everytime. Sad thing is we literally replace ****e with ****e. Valencia out, young in. Wtf logic is that? Nani should have been getting game time recently for these games. Last time v bayern he was brilliant and tore them apart at old Trafford in 2010.... Just after returning from injury as well. 2 of nani, Welbeck and januzaj with the other coming on. Bayern were scared of welbeck but both januzaj and nani are capable of the same job but better. They wouldnt have missed.
Not if we have Valencia and Welbeck covering the fullbacks - both of those will work hard and get back. Basically we'd just defend in depth, same as the first leg, look to counter when we can, and hope Welbeck doesn't miss this time... Not without Schweinsteiger, Martinez and Thiago they aren't. That's like Barca without Iniesta, Xavi and Fabregas. They'll be able to pick a pass and thread balls through, but without those three there won't be enough in CM to keep the passing going through an entire move.
United's problem is they don't have players who can combine defensive ability with good passing. Fletcher, Fellaini, Valencia are all **** at passing. Carrick used to have both aspects to his game, and although his passing is decent, sadly defensively he's a rabbit caught in headlights these days. That leaves Jones - been excellent as DM for us this season, and although able to start off attacks with professional 5-10 yard passes, he's not going to be making any incisive through balls or sweeping balls behind their full backs. This is our problem. If we had anyone who could convert defence into attack I know we'd do this Bayern side.
Its a myth so they wont. Welbeck was told to not track back as tracking back woyld have made him completely ineffective while Valencias defensive contributions might surprise you. Hes also likely to cost you a goal in his defensive duties. With their midfield out we need to have some attacking threat. Pace, skills, ability. We need that because bayern dont like it. Valencia wont offer that. He offers very little except a potential mistake and a red card. Personally I would play januzaj on the right.
