please log in to view this image Wednesday 19th October 8.15pm Premier League Old Trafford Richarlison joins Kulusevski and Tanganga on the treatment table. Emerson is still suspended. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Doherty, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Perisic; Richarlison, Kane, Son. Subs: Forster, Spence, Sanchez, Lenglet, Sessegnon, Bissouma, Skipp, Gil, Moura. League form: DWWLWW. Man Utd: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Fred, Casemiro; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho; Ronaldo. Subs: Heaton, Lindelof, Malacia, Iqbal, Mainoo, Rashford, Garnacho, Elanga, Pellistri. League form: WWWLWD. Ref: Simon Hooper. VAR: Michael ****ing Oliver. TV: Amazon Prime, which explains the slightly odd kick-off time. How would you like to line up for this one?
Would like to see 3-5-2 for this, with Bissouma playing. Was so good for Brighton and showed signs v Everton that he was getting back to that form.. Possibly Skipp to rest Bentacur?
No 343 and no Sessegnon and I’ll be happy. So expecting 343 with Sessegnon to start and probably Lucas RW
A "zero sum" game on the "season compass" , and after the spineless performance in the NLD, IMHO this one will speak volumes about the PL campaign this season. Anything akin to the NLD and Spurs are looking at best at finishing in 4th place. Dunno anything about Man Utd this season (have not watched their games) , so other than a CR7 < standard > fronting up against Spurs, I cannot say anything other than the strongest possible starting XI needs to be fielded.
Richy is out for 2 weeks, according to his tweet. Like others I’d prefer 352, I don’t think 343 works nearly as well without Kulu or a similar profile at RW. Though I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lucas on the right, or Perisic LW with Son shifting over. 343 might not be a bad shout for this game though. I don’t think United have truly clicked as a possession team yet, though they’ve shown flashes, so they’re probably more dangerous on the counter. If we can force them into holding the ball and making mistakes then that is good for us. Either way, interesting to see how we line up for this one. Lucas will be rusty and Perisic just played Saturday. Questions to be answered on the pitch about either approach.
If we start 352 he will ...which would also put another CM on the docket for January, as playing 352 on the reg leaves us with four first team CMs for three positions, which is basically asking for Harvey White to get a run of games in March
Sarr? Alfie Devine could even get minutes from the bench. Rumours about him being loaned to Sunderland, though. Not sure they make sense.
In recent times, one or other of the teams hasn’t turned up for this game. Based on last season, it must be Utd’s turn this time
As long as we tell Romero to not do anything that might piss Rapenaldo off to the point he thinks "Right, y'buggers..." , as happened last season
No Richarlison or Kulusevski because of them, but why Tanganga, Sanchez and Lenglet? Gives Conte cover across all three centre-half positions, I guess. I'd have preferred Sarr or White in there, though. More likelihood of it being necessary.
Pape Matar Sarr is fit, Harvey White was an unused sub against Stevenage in the Perfect Pizza Shield, and Alfie Devine wasn't in the squad for the U21 game with Wolves on Saturday I do think that a CM is in the offing in January if we stick to 352 going forward, especially if at least one of Sarr, White or Devine get a loan It's also worth noting the lack of a forward option on the bench, because in a 352 Lucas and Bryan are not options to play up top in the way that Richarlison or (at a push) Deki are
It's highly unlikely he'd give anything more than cameos to players as inexperienced as Sarr or White in a fixture of this size and at a stadium where our record is frankly abysmal.
