08 Sep 2016 18:22:56
Hi, read a lot, post a little. It's time we saw Rashford get a start. How about Martial left, Zlatan, Rashford Right and Either Mata or Rooney behind Zlatan? Pogba and Carrick in midfield and normal back four?

{Ed004's Note - What about Mkhitarian?}

1.) 08 Sep 2016
08 Sep 2016 18:42:12
Isn't Mkhitaryan injured? If not then the fact he has only played 30 minutes over three games suggest throwing him in on Saturday might be unfair.

I think we should start Lingard if fit. His work rate and pace will be vital.

2.) 08 Sep 2016
08 Sep 2016 19:48:11
Just shows the good problems we have Shappy. can't fit in Zlatan, Rash, Lingard and Martial as well as 3 midfielders. Just put Bailly at the back and everyone else upfront.

3.) 08 Sep 2016
08 Sep 2016 20:13:23
whats peoples thoughts on mata.

4.) 08 Sep 2016
08 Sep 2016 20:38:45
Incredibly disappointed with him last season jred but just like everyone else this season he has pulled up the proverbial socks he has been very impressive so far imo.

5.) 08 Sep 2016
08 Sep 2016 20:45:45
I like Mata but I would prefer Miki or Rashford to take his place. Surplus to requirements IMO.

6.) 08 Sep 2016
08 Sep 2016 20:51:55
How about miki, rash, martial, Zlatan as a front 4?

7.) 08 Sep 2016
08 Sep 2016 21:27:59
I like Mata, a very classy footballer and seems to be a great man too. But I think he is similar to Berbatov, a luxury player with great ability but lacks the work rate to be first choice in those tight games.

We will have to match City's work rate on Saturday, imo Mata would be a passenger for 60-70 minutes of the game only really being of use when on the ball himself.

Can we afford to carry a player in that game? Probably not. So I feel we need someone who can match the work rate of the city team.

That's why I feel Lingard could be key.

8.) 08 Sep 2016
08 Sep 2016 23:27:42
Where would people play Lingard if he did play? We have a wealth of talent for the wings but no one seems wholly satisfied with who we play at 10. I think I'd give him the central role, I think his movement and work rate would create space for Zlatan and with Rashford/ Martial/ Micky either side, we have 3 players who will be comfortable interchanging and overlapping. It might not work, but neither Rooney or Mata have done much to impress me there this season and there wouldn't be harm in trying.

9.) 09 Sep 2016
09 Sep 2016 00:22:14
I can't see Jose making many changes. Rashford in for Martial maybe.

10.) 09 Sep 2016
09 Sep 2016 10:24:17
I wouldn't play Lingard.
He doesn't have any influence on games and there are far better options than him.
(please don't mention the FA Cup Final goal. it could of been anyone)

11.) 09 Sep 2016
09 Sep 2016 11:32:34
Simmo I suggest you watch the work Lingard does off the ball.

The game on Saturday will be very tight, and won or lost by narrow margins.

City will deploy a high press, as is Pep philosophy. They will charge us down high up the pitch and try and win possession back early. It is likely that they will have far more of the ball than we will. Therefore it makes sense that we have players who can get through and will do a lot of work without the ball.

Mata is a luxury we can't afford in this game, he is a near total passenger without the ball. Effectively we would be playing large parts of the game with 10 men if Mata is on the pitch.

Mkhitaryan is injured, even if he is fit enough to play he won't be match sharp. He has only played 30 minutes of football this season for us and 20 minutes for his national team.

That leaves us three options for the right hand side, Young who doesn't appear to be part of Jose's plans at all, amd even then is better form the left. Which leaves us with Rashford or Lingard.

Although Rashford started out as a winger, nearly all his football with the senior team has come as a striker, he certainly hasn't been tested out wide at this level. He would offer more pace and a more direct option, but his lack of experience and his lack of defensive knowhow at this level would make it close to suicidal to chuck him in against probably our toughest rival.

Lingard was one of our better players last season and until his injury seemed like Mourinho's first choice on the right hand side. He gets through loads of off the ball work which allows players like Zlatan to focus more on offensive tasks. He also has a habit of coming up with important goals like the FA cup final. I think I read a stat somewhere where it said that he had the highest percentage of his goals being winning goals last season or something like that anyway.

He may not be the big name, of a flashy foreign player, but I honestly believe in the context of this game he is probably the best option we have available.

12.) 09 Sep 2016
09 Sep 2016 15:29:16
Shappy - Miki is fit and I would have him or Mata over Lingard any day of the week. I would even take Rashford over Lingard on the right.
I didn't say he doesn't work hard off the ball, he always gives 100% but he has no influence on games.

13.) 09 Sep 2016
09 Sep 2016 15:47:38
Simmo by the same thought process then I'm assuming you didn't rate Makelele due to him having no influence on a game?

Its an 11 a side game, and there will be 11 different roles for each team at any one time during a match.

Lingards hard work off the ball draws defenders away from the middle of the pitch which opens up space for either a midfielder of a striker to expoilt. Replace him with Mata then there is a good chance that instead of putting in the hard yards and making an off the ball run to open up space for a team mate Mata would be standing innthe inside channel waiting for the ball allowing the opposition full back to tuck in and compress the space making it less likely we will score.

Being the man who gets the goal or the assit is great, but that player wouldn't nessisarily been able tool without the work of the other players.

But you seem to have an agenda against Lingard so I guess what I just said will mean little to your opinion of "anyone ahead of Lingard".