Man Utd (a)

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Not seen a thread yet for the Man Utd game.

Any thoughts on our team to start? (I assume most would want/expect the same team from the Sheff Utd game).

So hard to predict games against Man Utd. They can turn up and grind results out one week and then look like a pub team the week after. I don't even want to know what the odds are of them getting a dodgy Bruno Fernandes penalty.

[GetIntoEm]

same team, Koleosho on bench instead of benson

[Burnley1989]

draws aren't good enough at the minute, a win would be huge for confidence going into the last 3, I would probably start believing it was possible which wont be good for my health.

I expect it will be the same side and I'm going for a 2v1 with Foster scoring both

[Rileybobs]

draws aren't good enough at the minute, a win would be huge for confidence going into the last 3, I would probably start believing it was possible which wont be good for my health.

I expect it will be the same side and I'm going for a 2v1 with Foster scoring both

Not sure about that. I would expect a win and a draw from our next three games would leave us in with a chance on the final day.

[ecc]

Problem is Forest must surely beat the Blunts. Which means we need at least four points from three prior to the last day.

[sykeclaret]

Luton win 2 or 3 games and it wont matter what we do. Everyone is mentioning Forest when no-one his discussed Luton, it's 2 from 3, Burnley, Luton and Forest

[martin_p]

Problem is Forest must surely beat the Blunts. Which means we need at least four points from three prior to the last day.

And we need to get three points more than Luton to have it in our own hands in the last day. Unfortunately they have four winnable games left.

[Rileybobs]

Luton win 2 or 3 games and it wont matter what we do. Everyone is mentioning Forest when no-one his discussed Luton, it's 2 from 3, Burnley, Luton and Forest

Only because we have absolutely no control over Luton, whereas we face Forest on the last day of the season so only have to gain a point more than them between now and then to leave it in our hands to finish above them. In terms of Luton, if for example we managed to pick up 4 points in the next 3 games, Luton would need 6 points from the next 3 (quite unlikely) to not leave us in with a chance on the final day.

[Poulton-le-Claret]

same team, Koleosho on bench instead of benson

It would be brilliant if Koleosho could be involved.

[ClaretTony]

same team, Koleosho on bench instead of benson

Koleosho not available according to Kompany

[4:20]

Given how down in the dumps this season has been for the most part, it's almost unbelievable that with four games to go we're going into a game with a realistic chance of keeping it close and continuing the fight to stay up. I would've bitten your hand off a few months back if offered this scenario. All I can hope for is that Kompany gets it spot on tomorrow, likewise the players, whatever the lineup. Well up for it.

[Anonymous Claret]

Only because we have absolutely no control over Luton, whereas we face Forest on the last day of the season so only have to gain a point more than them between now and then to leave it in our hands to finish above them. In terms of Luton, if for example we managed to pick up 4 points in the next 3 games, Luton would need 6 points from the next 3 (quite unlikely) to not leave us in with a chance on the final day.

On paper I think Luton have the easiest fixtures by far. Wolves and West Ham away along with Everton and Fulham at home who will probably all be safe and have nothing to play for.

It doesn't necessarily mean that Luton will stay up but I would rather have their fixtures than ours or Forest's

[Rileybobs]

On paper I think Luton have the easiest fixtures by far. Wolves and West Ham away along with Everton and Fulham at home who will probably all be safe and have nothing to play for.

It doesn't necessarily mean that Luton will stay up but I would rather have their fixtures than ours or Forest's

As would I, but Luton have picked up just 5 points in their last 10 games, we've picked up 10. They've picked up 4 points in their last 6, we've picked up 9.

[Tricky Trevor]

I can't wait to hear how Forests appeal goes, have I missed it?, after their SM rant about Attwell.

[Anonymous Claret]

As would I, but Luton have picked up just 5 points in their last 10 games, we've picked up 10. They've picked up 4 points in their last 6, we've picked up 9.

Yes, that's the positive point. Let's hope our good form continues and Luton continue to struggle.

[equinox]

Beat United and we'll stay up, well that should be Vinny's narrative all week to the players.

Over to you Vincent can you get them set up and have the game plan when it really, really matters, you've certainly had enough undeserved chances the last few months.

I'm not into comparing past and present managers but Sean Dyche was good at this sort of sh!t, still is actually.

[Carlos the Great]

We really need a win ..,and then the pressure is really on Forest ,,,that goal difference would be cruel if we got relegated on that

[jlup1980]

We can only control our games, but we can put pressure on the rest. Without being flippant, I think everyone thought we'd gone long ago. From a media perspective it's been a shoot out between Luton, Forest and Everton. However, one club has pulled clear and we've closed the gap. Suddenly we're back in with a chance and we've got nothing to lose as we're back from the dead!! Beat United tomorrow, which is possible, and it will have a massive impact on the rest.

[alwaysaclaret]

We really need a win ..,and then the pressure is really on Forest ,,,that goal difference would be cruel if we got relegated on that

The good thing about this is city are 8 shy of arsenal and it may well come down to that for them, so they'll no doubt be looking to put a few past forest, so coupled with a 2 goal victory for us at utd brings us a bit closer, I know, but we can only hope.

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Koleosho not available according to Kompany

Yes just seen on the team news, not great. I also didn't realise they confirmed Beyer and AAD will definitely not be available this season.

They must be absolutely gutted that they have had no impact in their first PL season.

[alwaysaclaret]

Yes just seen on the team news, not great. I also didn't realise they confirmed Beyer and AAD will definitely not be available this season.

They must be absolutely gutted that they have had no impact in their first PL season.

I'm not convinced these 2 are solely down to injury, don't think either were reported to have serious season ending injuries, but have missed most of the season. However I'm happy to see the current defence improve and grow together, just hope we can keep them all whatever league next season.

[wbfc]

if Forest win and we lose that is that ....we are right on the edge

[ClaretTony]

I'm not convinced these 2 are solely down to injury, don't think either were reported to have serious season ending injuries, but have missed most of the season. However I'm happy to see the current defence improve and grow together, just hope we can keep them all whatever league next season.

We saw Beyer go down at Villa but for some time we were told he was progressing well and on one occasion that he was close to a return. I can only assume that he's suffered a further injury since or he's had further issues with the original injury. Al-Dakhil is different, we saw him score at the Etihad and, other than being in the away end at Liverpool, we haven't seen him since.

[Poulton-le-Claret]

I'm not convinced these 2 are solely down to injury, don't think either were reported to have serious season ending injuries, but have missed most of the season. However I'm happy to see the current defence improve and grow together, just hope we can keep them all whatever league next season.

Yep, without wanting to restart the debate around releasing details around injuries again, I really don't know what to make about their continued absence. As Tony alludes to, their situation is a bit of a mystery.

I hope they will be at the club next season.

[bfcjg]

All our remaining games are must wins, surely the players don't need motivating for this one especially, get momentum today and if results go our way we have a real chance of taking it to the last game.

[FCBurnley]

This season has been a nightmare. Can’t see it turning into the sweetest of dreams

[Newcastleclaret93]

Feeling really positive today. Have a feeling we can cause an upset here.

Foster to grab the winner

[expoultryboy]

Fofana ???

[ksrclaret]

It's always a good idea to change a winning team.

It's always an even better idea to bring in a bobbins centre forward like Fofana.

[FCBurnley]

Vitinho at lb wtf

[ClaretAL]

IMG_1337.jpeg (244.32 KiB) Viewed 5060 times

[ksrclaret]

It's also highly likely that Fofana's inclusion will mean that Foster has to play on the right wing again lol.

[Woody9229]

Fofana back? Why? Vitinho left back! Why o why? Overthinking things yet again Vincent. Don’t Bellamy of Jackson ever say anything? Makes no footballing sense and hasn’t worked before!!

[expoultryboy]

Why change what's been getting us points ?

[Poulton-le-Claret]

I really don't understand this line up but hope it works!

[HahaYeah]

Team

49 Muric
20 Assignon
2 O'Shea
33 Esteve
22 Vitinho
17 Foster
16 Berge
24 Cullen
34 Bruun Larsen
47 Odobert
23 Fofana

Substitutes

1 Trafford
3 Taylor
7 Gudmundsson
8 Brownhill
9 Rodríguez
10 Manuel
18 Ekdal
25 Amdouni
31 Trésor

[daveisaclaret]

Was thinking during the win at Sheffield United that we should replace the left back with a striker and shift half the team around to accommodate.

[whiffa]

Cannot understand dropping Taylor, can only assume he has a knock or something and isn'y fully 100%

[LincsWoldsClaret]

VK usually corrects his selection mistakes at half time - you’d think he’d learn

[bfcjg]

FFS why does he chop and change so much.

[expoultryboy]

I can only think he wants to expose their slowness in the middle at the back .

[thelifeofbrian]

Lets change a winning team and play players out of position, sound like a tactical master class from VK, he really is learning on the job

[bfcjg]

I can only think he wants to expose their slowness in the middle at the back .

I think the only slowness in Vincent's brain.

[aggi]

Vitinho and Assignon down the right together look our strongest pairing there. Taylor is our best left back by default (with none of the other options anywhere near) and even more so when we have Assignon pushing right up on the opposite side. Foster has looked far better leading the line through the middle.

This one change will negate all three of those positives.

[Taffy on the wing]

Get a tenner on Manure getting a penalty maybe two.

[MDWat]

Hope the selection makes us all look a bit silly on this thread but can’t fathom why he’s made the change he has. Bizarre.

[claretspice]

Assuming its not enforced, it seems an odd change. But it's looked quite likely in recent weeks that Taylor is managing an injury.

[Woody9229]

I think the only slowness in Vincent's brain.

This!
I just don’t get his thinking at all.

[Clive 1960]

Again Taylor makes way for a utility man at left back but don't worry he can always change it at h.t and bring Taylor on again like he's done before , got to feel sorry for Vitinho just hope he as a decent game..

[Woody9229]

Charlie wasn’t great last week but off form and injured and he is still a far better left back than Vitinho is!!