Look at it like this. A point tonight means we can still win the group. 3 games to go, 2 of which are at home. You would expect is to win both which would put us through. The Wolfsburg game will decide the group winner. A loss tonight makes the above far less likely.
If Wolfsburg wins their 2 matches then we will need to beat them and win the other 2 matches to come first. But that may mean also that we wouldn't need to win all our matches to qualify in 2nd place.
If it plays out as we suspect, that last game against Wolfsburg could decide whether we finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Hope that Mata, Carrick, Schneiderlin and Herrera all start against City.
That's what I am predicting. Wolfsburg to win both theirs and get 12 while we get to 10. The last game decides it.
Daley Blind had more touches (47/40) and played more passes (36/27) than Wayne Rooney. Blind came on in the 63rd minute. Fcks sake
Fair bit of over reaction in this thread fuelled (and bizarrely believed) by a couple of non-United fans. It wasn't a great performance, it was a performance that suggested we were happy with a point. Going to Russia and winning is not easy. How many games do the Russian teams lose at home in the CL? Martial gave away a silly penalty which made it an even more difficult task. He then scored a cracking goal. We can add heading to the list of things he's potentially awesome at. Herrera is a superb player. I really do hope LVG can see that as the lad has to start every big game. It's not the hardest group but it's certainly not the easiest. CSKA are top of the Russian league, so far undefeated. PSV have lost 1 league game this season, undefeated at home. Wolfsburg are no mugs, they finished 2nd in the league last season, we finished 4th! It's a group we should get out of but anyone who thought we'd walk it is deluded or has forgotten where United are in their current cycle. Win our two remaining home games and it's sorted. It shows the shift between the two clubs when a draw away to Kiev is considered a great performance and result for Chelsea whereas a draw away to CSKA is considered a poor performance and result for United. Who would have thunk it at the end of last season.
I'd have happily taken a draw before the start of the game, I'm not at all sure what people are expecting to be honest. Since when did these games away in Russia become easy and that we should win? That has never been the case and seeing as English football is currently across the board utterly awful in Europe this is a result. To paraphrase Sven in reverse; first half not so good, second half good. I actually thought we were ok though and by the end probably should have sneaked it. Obvious changes for Sunday are Mata and Darmian will be back and it's clear Blind should be left back ahead of Rojo. Other than that I would keep it as it is, including Rooney being in the side. I don't see dropping the captain for the seasons biggest game as the way to go really. It would have a negative effect on the side.
seem the manager has the balls to bench some players were under preforming .. but that rule don't apply on Rooney Rooney is old now, he need to adjust his style , he can't run everywhere like before , and he sure shouldn't play twice a week, at his age he will need more resting time, and with his form on pitch, he should never start let alone play at every match !!! AVG had a reputation to have big balls to punish big players who are not doing well, so far that role apply only on people like Jones, Rojo, Depay but never Rooney
That really baffles me. How can rooney be untouchable? Maybe lvg just likes playing with 10 men. He will probably start the same team that played against everton against city, probably dropping schweinstergger for carrick. I still think one of schweinstergger or herrera should start in central midfield. A central midfield pairing of carrick and schneiderlin is always too defensive and going to pin us back. If lvg must start rooney, then play him as the no 10, let martial strike and play herrera in central midfield with either schneiderlin or carrick. And after the 1st 45 mins if rooney is still **** then take him off. This is just a makeshift formation to accommodate the untouchable captain. In reality we all know the best way we can play is have mata/herrera play behind martial. It's a shame we have no right winger so I guess mata will have to play there. Rooney should start on the bench, Memphis on the left. Lvg has started benching Memphis because he is inconsistent, but to be honest he still offers a lot more than rooney.
Didn't mourinho drop casillas? Be sincere, do u think we look more dangerous with martial on the wing or in the middle? He's been pushed to the wing just to make way for rooney and Herrera to play together. If u ask me ill rather accept herrera be benched than let martial play on the left against city. The one that deserves benching is rooney but we all know that's not gonna happen. Lvg need to fake rooney's injury before he can drop him.
This is where you're contradicting yourself. What exactly has Depay done to deserve being in ahead of Rooney bar be totally ineffective and borderline useless for the last half dozen games or so? What exactly is he offering? If you'd said Young then fair enough. Interested in your answer.
that !! i prefer herrera as no.10 tbh, Rooney have no place, Depay had some good moments.. Rooney had none or so little so far, he need to be benched only problem is he is the fkn captain, do LVG want to upset the captain? is tricky as LVG may lose the dressing room as it happened in chelsea when JT was dropped .. but that is Manager duty if he can't try to convince Rooney, then he is not that good manager , you expect someone with his experience to deal with that issue better. atm Rooney is untouchable and is costing us and sending unfair treatment message to the rest of the team
Depay had some good moments .. yes he over run some balls but at least had offered us something at times and as little they were, Rooney had offered far less. I expect Depay to improve but not Rooney
