Manchester United v Leeds Utd Match Thread

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Manchester United v Leeds Utd
Saturday 14th August @ 12:30pm | Old Trafford

Junior Firpo is a slight doubt for Saturday lunchtime's War of the Roses clash at Old Trafford. The 13m signing from Barcelona missed the games against Ajax and Villarreal with a slight knock. Hopefully he will be fit to occupy the left back role. Stuart Dallas stands by!

Club Captain Liam Cooper looks set to start at centre back alongside either Struijk or Koch. Llorente picked up an injury last month against Real Bettis. It is likely to keep the Spanish International sidelined for a few weeks. According to @LUFCfanzone "Diego has a leg muscle injury which will take 2-3 weeks to heal. It’s not major but he probably won’t be ready for the start of the PL season".

Jamie Shackleton too, is on the treatment table. A nasty clash of heads during the 4-0 Ajax defeat saw the 22yo substituted. Inspirational midfielder Kalvin Phillips is expected to start for the Whites following his England heroics earlier in the Summer!

It will be interesting to see which youngsters make the bench this season! Cresswell, Dramah, Summerville, Greenwood and of course Joe Gelhardt have all impressed lately but will it be enough? Exciting new signing Lewis Bate will also be looking for game time following his 1.2m transfer from Stamford Bridge!

Fernandes, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, and Victor Lindelof all returned to action against Everton last weekend and should start against Bielsa's side!

New signing Raphael Varane is only likely to make the bench after having to isolate following his move from Real Madrid. Jadon Sancho too is unlikely to start for the Reds! He only joined up with his team mates for the first time on Monday!

Dean Henderson and Jesse Lingard have both been ruled out with Covid related illnesses whilst Rashford and Telles are long term absentees. Cavani, Bailly and Diallo are all resting having taken part in the Olympics for their respective Countries!

 

Well first one so going for a very sensible 1-5 away win. I have used the octopus the 2 dogs and the huge brain inside my skull. Logic

 

Here we ****ing go!

I'd take a draw I just do not want to lose to these bastards

 

Going on our pre season I'd be a bit worried about this game. Lorente out again, new signing injured, when will it end. The team will be up for this and hopefully we can catch them off guard like we nearly did Liverpool last season.

 

Bollocks, iv'e got a ****ed hip on me kicking leg

 

When you face the likes of Man U it doesn’t matter what team they put out, the strength in depth compared to ourselves is immense. Several of our players will never have played in front of 70,000 fans before, I just hope they don’t freeze.

I’d take a drawer, maybe we can hit them cold starting, I think they’ll be up for this, I just hope we play decent promising football and if we can’t grab a point let’s not have a score line that knocks us for six

 

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Just noticed that Galatasary were playing St. Johnstone in Perth last night. Had I known, I could have driven up & made them feel at home by chucking some Molatov cocktails at them.

 

7.00 tonight

 

1st games are always tough to predict both teams will have people missing for whatever reasons.
Not playing the fitness card as both teams are professional enough and been around long enough to start the season at the right levels.
Llorente will defo not play and I very much doubt Junior will start.
I also have the feeling Koch may start over Phillips as we slowly get him back to speed.
Hope we have learned from last season's game. we have to start the game well.
Quiet the crowd from the off go.
Any points I'd be happy.

Best thing about Saturday though is
Premier League & Football's Back with crowds !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You're right! Mis-read it. Thought it was reporting a 1-1 score, but it's actually from the first leg of their Europa Cup tie.

C'mon St Johnstone!!!

 

On a serious note there will be a minutes silence at OT on Saturday to remember those we lost during the last 18 months

Manchester United

Phil Chisnall
Alex Dawson
Tommy Docherty
Tony Dunne
John Fitzpatrick
Albert Quixall
Maurice Setters
Nobby Stiles
Wilf Tranter

Leeds United

Mick Bates
Jack Charlton
Trevor Cherry
Terry Cooper
Peter Hampton
Norman Hunter
Peter Lorimer
Alejandro Sabella
Frank Worthington
Marius Zaliukas

 

Phillips in contention to play Sunday with Firpo and Shackleton fit. Llorente out for 1-2 more weeks. Starting 11 will be interesting. I think Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison and Bamford are all nailed on with the remaining places going between Phillips, Firpo, Dallas, Klich & Struijk. I think the best we can put out is Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Firpo, Phillips, Raphinha, Dallas, Rodrigo, Harrison and Bamford but I could see Koch starting in CDM where we’ve seen him all preseason which would mean Struijk in CB alongside Cooper. I could also see Dallas at LB instead of Firpo with Klich in the middle but I do think we’re a little more fragile with Klich in the middle over Dallas.

 

Then they'll take the knee and ruin it.

 

Was today murderball or was it yesterday. The boys looking tuned

 

I think Philips is nailed on to start in his usual position Dallas starts at LB with Firpo on the bench with Struijk. Starts for both Koch and Cooper

 

The team is almost at full strength so will pribably look like:

Meslier
Ayling Koch Cooper Dallas
Phillips
Raphinha Rodrigo Klich Harrison
Bamford

subs
Klaesson Firpo Roberts Costa Summerville Struijk Drameh

 

You need two more for the subs bench Doc....it's 9 this season.

 

I had my doubts about Firpo starting. It wasn't the niggle he's dealing with - it was the 70k crowd. Silly me has only realised that he played to bigger crowds than that, so my guess (& hope) is that he will start. So I'll go for....

Meslier
Ayling Koch Cooper Firpo
Phillips
Raphinha Rodrigo Dallas Harrison
Bamford

subs
Klaesson Cresswell Struijk Klich Shackleton Summerville Costa Roberts Geldhardt

 

9 subs is ****ing ridiculous