13 Feb 2023 07:11:49
The games against Barcelona will be our biggest test under EtH so far, they are in fantastic form in La Liga, top of the table, 11 points clear, winning 18, drawing 2 and only losing 1 of their 21 league games so far. They haven't lost a game domestically since the 16th of October. They've lost once at the Nou Camp this season (to Bayern Munich) .

They are in great form, playing well, and are confident. They have only two players (Dembele and Busquets) out for the game injured and no players suspended.

We on the other hand have several key players either injured (Eriksen, Antony, Martial, McTominay and Donny) or players suspended (Martinez and Sabitzer) .

If we can come away from Camp Nou with a score draw then that would be a great result given the circumstances.

This game looks like the biggest test so far, I'm confident EtH will have a plan, and the players will give their all. Which is all we can really ask for.

1.) 13 Feb 2023
13 Feb 2023 08:03:03
Personally I think the biggest test was getting back on track after Brentford. Ten hag showed he has the balls to be United manager and somehow dragged a spirit out of them.

Barca games will be tough, with the players missing and the schedule I’m not sure we get through but a score draw or a goal in it coming back to OT and you never know.

2.) 13 Feb 2023
13 Feb 2023 08:28:50
Manky game to be missing so many key players.
Martinez will be the biggest miss. It will be interesting to see if Shaw plays beside varane I think it likely.
Casimero and Fred seem the likely midfield pair.
I hope Antony will be back.
Looking forward to the test it will a tough test for sure.

3.) 13 Feb 2023
13 Feb 2023 08:38:11
Shappy, you lost me at Donny being a key player . :P.

4.) 13 Feb 2023
13 Feb 2023 09:09:01
Ken, I'm fairly sure it will be Shaw alongside Varane, with Casemiro and Fred in midfield as we literally have no one else, other than Zidane Iqbal and Kobbie Mainoo.
I'd hope we play AWB for that extra defensive security and I'm not sure Dalot is completely back up to speed yet. Antony being fit would be a massive bonus, loads of people complaining about him but like with many things you often don't appreciate what you have until it's gone.

mbd, under normal circumstances Donny isn't a key player, but when we have Eriksen, McTominay, and Sabitzer out from our midfield leaving only Casemiro and Fred as experienced players fit to start then Donny missing becomes a bigger issue. I don't know if you've ever been in the Nou Camp? It's a massive stage and one that could easily be overwhelming for a young player like Zidane Iqbal or Mainoo if they are needed.

Imagine if Casemiro picks up an injury in training and one of them have to start?

5.) 13 Feb 2023
13 Feb 2023 09:49:59
Shappy,

Why is Sabitzer not able to play on Thursday? Did he pick up an injury yesterday?

6.) 13 Feb 2023
13 Feb 2023 15:01:26
Donny isn't a key player in any instance.

7.) 13 Feb 2023
13 Feb 2023 15:20:21
Sabitzer is suspended.

8.) 13 Feb 2023
13 Feb 2023 15:52:12
Mbd - really…. He listed McTominay before Donny haha ??.

9.) 13 Feb 2023
13 Feb 2023 16:12:22
G2S, Sabitzer picked up a third yellow card in Bayern's final UCL game which means he gets a one match ban. That ban does translate to the EL even if he changes clubs. So he's out unfortunately.

Which is a shame as I was hoping to see a Casemiro/ Sabitzer partnership. Now the first chance we'll get to see that is the League cup final versus Newcastle.

10.) 13 Feb 2023
13 Feb 2023 18:20:04
That is a shame, although fortunately Fred does look good next to Casemiro at least. The 2 games against Barcelona will be tough, if we go out with a fight then it wouldn’t be the end of the world at all for me, the number of games and small squad has a chance of derailing the season.