Man Utd vs Wolves Build Up and Matchday Thread

[Tony Towner]

So with less than 48 hours between games and Nuno's comments re players beings tired, then what's it going to be? With the injuires i just don't think we have the depth to rotate too much.
I'll guess 4 changes:
------------Patricio---------
------Kilman----Coady---Saiss---
Semedo---Otasowie---Neves---RAN
------------------Vitinha--------‐-
--------Podence-------Neto

 

[Tredman]

Rui
Hoever - Coady - Saiss
Semedo - Neves - Otasowie - RAN
Traore - Corbeanu - Neto​

I think Nuno might treat this in a similar manner to Liverpool last year.

 

[Carrotdude]

I think Hoever, RAN and Vitinha will/should play. Probably Otasawie too. Don’t think we can afford to go without Neto at the moment.

 

[sycophantia]

Yeah, one day off and a few injuries....I like 4 at the back but Utd will attack far more than Spurs and I'm assuming Marcal will be out so 3 at the back for me. But who? Kilman didn't look comfortable there but he hasn't really let us down before. Tempted with Hoever but its a big ask. See a few have dropped Silva, is that because of potential tiredness or cos he missed a few chances last night? Thought Traore played well first half but faded second, maybe due to the knock he has so I'm leaving him on the bench. Also think its too much to ask Moutinho to play 2 games in 3 days.

,..............................................Rui
Semedo.......Hoever/Max.....Coady.....Saiss.........RAN
....................... Otasowie..................Neves
........................................Podence
..............................Silva....................Neto

 

[prawnking]

Difficult one this. I'm gonna persist with 4 at the back if Boly can't start. Don't want to shoehorn Kilman in there or play Hoever blind.

Gonna presume no Marcal and keep Moutinho to the bench. Traore plays if we play 4-2-3-1

If Boly is fit:

Rui

Boly Coady Saiss

Semedo Otasowie Neves RAN

Podence Silva Neto​

If no Boly:

Rui

Semedo Coady Saiss RAN

Otasowie Neves

Traore Podence Neto

Silva​

 

[The Bear]

Where has this "Kilman didn't look comfortable or wasn't playing great" opinion come from? He did nothing wrong IMO and looked very composed in a 3.

My team would be:

.......................Rui

Hoever - Coady - Saiss - RAN

......... Otasawie - Neves

......Traore - Vitinha - Neto

..................... Silva

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Kilman was awful vs Burnley. Playing on the wrong side though.

 

[The Bear]

Can't say I noticed much as everyone was awful.

 

[prawnking]

Where has this "Kilman didn't look comfortable or wasn't playing great" opinion come from? He did nothing wrong IMO and looked very composed in a 3.

My team would be:

.......................Rui

Hoever - Coady - Saiss - RAN

......... Otasawie - Neves

......Traore - Vitinha - Neto

..................... Silva

Not sure I'd be tinkering with dropping Semedo after an OK game to put a kid who's barely played for us in. Similarly, not sure we've seen quite enough of Vitinha to be starting him unless it's to cover injuries or tiredness. I'd like to see Nuno give him more meaningful minutes first

 

[The Bear]

It was purely for fitness/recovery as he's played every minute recently, and is in a more demanding role than someone like Coady.

I don't think Vitinha will replace Podence either, but I'd like to see him given a go at some point. This quick 48 hour turnaround was just the most obvious one to think it might happen.

 

[prawnking]

Fair enough. Be interesting how much Nuno feels he has to shake things up for that reason

 

[YoungWolf]

Yeah don’t want to see Kilman on the right again. Just like I wouldn’t want to see Saiss there again.

think if Boly isn’t fit we need to stay back four. Hoever right back and RAN left back for me, so just flip the side we have the more advanced full back.

if we have issues in midfield I’d put Saiss in there just as an emergency, not sure it would be fair to just throw Otasowie in at Old Trafford personally.

so maybe

Patricio
Hoever Coady Kilman Ait-Nouri
Neves/Otasowie Saiss
Traore Vitinha Podence
Silva

I’ve left Neto out just because I think you could rest any of those three and he is the youngest. I know he’s been the best but he has already played more minutes than everyone this season, so I’m a little worried about burnout with him.

it all depends on which players are struggling tbf. Going to be a really patched up team so I have no expectations whatsoever

 

[prawnking]

I did think we were looking at one point from these two games anyway, and with Man U having more than an extra day's recovery and being almost guaranteed a penalty at some point we may well have to suck it up and look to get 3 points on Saturday

 

[YoungWolf]

It’s so tough. I’m actually angry at this being the second year in a row they’ve done this, it’s absolutely ridiculous.

We were magnificent last year at Anfield in similar circumstances so hopefully we can produce something, but I have no expectations as its

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Yeah, bit of a free swing for me now we got something last night.

We should have an attacking mentality though. They pretty much always score because of the individual quality they have, but they're still a mess of a team managed by someone who wouldn't get a job above mid-table Championship under the normal run of things. Defensively they are rank. Get at them.

 

[sycophantia]

Some interesting line ups being mooted, shows the the difference in our squad this season, plus of course the injuries.
Like YW I was considering leaving Neto out, mainly due to the immense amount of work he gets through...usually at full chat, but he is probably our most important player atm.

 

[jd1981]

It’s borderline scandalous not the fact we’ve got a 48 hour turnaround but the fact our opponent has been given more rest time, seriously damages the integrity of the fixture. Media and broadcasters will pass it off as blame your club for voting for the tv deals. But it’s just bollocks last night should have been played on Boxing Day night.
Players would have got home about 2230 last night and will probably be back on the coach late afternoon today. Just no rest physically or mentally.

 

[YoungWolf]

That said, they will have their own problems. Just seen Lindelof is a doubt after coming off injured at Leicester with a back injury. That would mean Bailly probably has to play a third game in less than a week which he will struggle with. Tuanzebe is solid but third choice RB less than ideal for them.

that extra 90 minutes they had mid week against Everton helps us slightly, but not much I guess.

 

[jd1981]

That said, they will have their own problems. Just seen Lindelof is a doubt after coming off injured at Leicester with a back injury. That would mean Bailly probably has to play a third game in less than a week which he will struggle with. Tuanzebe is solid but third choice RB less than ideal for them.

that extra 90 minutes they had mid week against Everton helps us slightly, but not much I guess.

That’s the only saving grace is they’ve played 3 games in 6 days. Often the second games in Xmas week are generally flat games.

 

[Tony Towner]

It’s so tough. I’m actually angry at this being the second year in a row they’ve done this, it’s absolutely ridiculous.

We were magnificent last year at Anfield in similar circumstances so hopefully we can produce something, but I have no expectations as its

My own maths, so the odd one may be wrong.
Hours between kick offs
99 Fulham
96 Newcastle
79.5 Man U
75.5 Liverpool
75 Southampton
72.5 Arsenal
72 Sheffield United
70.75 Spurs
54 Leeds, Burnley
51.75 Brighton, West Ham
50.5 Villa
49.5 WBA
48.75 Wolves
48 Palace, Chelsea, Man C, Everton

Biggest delta between opponents rest
Man U over Wolves 30.75 hours
Fulham over Spurs 28.25 (but Spurs still have nearly 3 days between games)
Southampton over West Ham 23.25

It's not the rest which is the big disadvantage, it's the disparity between the 2 teams