Manchester United (A) 2:00pm Sunday, 4th February 2024
It's the Moyes derby.
Old Trafford is traditionally not a good hunting ground for us. The last time we won there in the league was in 2007. Coincidently, that was also the last time we did the league double over them. Unfortunately Moyes has never won there in the league as a visiting manager (lost 12 and drawn 4). Here's hoping that 17 is his lucky number.
Hopefully Aguerd will be back.
We've gone through another transfer window without bringing in a replacement striker. I didn't think Bowen had a good game yesterday. We need to get him back to his favoured position.
Coufal is available so Moyes will have to choose between him and Ben Johnson. I thought Johnson has done okay although his crossing into the box needs a lot of work.
My bigger concern is the form and fitness of Zouma. I think he had his worst game ever in a West Ham shirt yesterday against Bournemouth. He was more at fault than KP for their goal. He constantly gave away the ball and under hit passes. He just doesn't look 100% to me.
Benrahma is still suspended so we won't have to worry about his frame of mind after we (seemingly) botched his move to Lyon.
I think Moyes will go with:
Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson, Philips, Soucek, Alvarez, Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Bowen
The good news is that ManU has one of the worst records in the league for goals conceded so we must put pressure on Onana. I'm going to go for another draw 2-2.
Old Trafford is traditionally not a good hunting ground for us. The last time we won there in the league was in 2007. Coincidently, that was also the last time we did the league double over them. Unfortunately Moyes has never won there in the league as a visiting manager (lost 12 and drawn 4). Here's hoping that 17 is his lucky number.
Hopefully Aguerd will be back.
We've gone through another transfer window without bringing in a replacement striker. I didn't think Bowen had a good game yesterday. We need to get him back to his favoured position.
Coufal is available so Moyes will have to choose between him and Ben Johnson. I thought Johnson has done okay although his crossing into the box needs a lot of work.
My bigger concern is the form and fitness of Zouma. I think he had his worst game ever in a West Ham shirt yesterday against Bournemouth. He was more at fault than KP for their goal. He constantly gave away the ball and under hit passes. He just doesn't look 100% to me.
Benrahma is still suspended so we won't have to worry about his frame of mind after we (seemingly) botched his move to Lyon.
I think Moyes will go with:
Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson, Philips, Soucek, Alvarez, Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Bowen
The good news is that ManU has one of the worst records in the league for goals conceded so we must put pressure on Onana. I'm going to go for another draw 2-2.
Comments
I'm confused about the whole situation
Coufal - Mavropanos - Zouma - Emerson
Phillips - Alvarez - Ward-Prowse
Kudus - Bowen - Cornet
Is all we can really go with now?
Or maybe:
Areola
Mavropanos - Zouma - Ogbonna
Johnson - Phillips - Alvarez - Ward-Prowse - Emerson
Kudus
Bowen
That being said, if it wasn't 3 days between games this might be the sort of fixture that would suit him most; I suspect we'll be under siege for most of it. For this reason I also think it's very unlikely we'll drop Soucek.
I think it will, like last night, be a case of trying to shoe-horn in Moyes's preferred players into whatever formation he thinks will work best; I'd be surprised, given the continued absenses of Paqueta and Antonio, if all 4 of Alvarez, Phillips, Soucek and JWP don't start. Johnson will be dropped back to the bench to provide cover for them imo.
Areola
Coufal Mavropanos Aguerd Emerson
and then in some sort of formation:
Kudus Bowen Alvarez Phillips Soucek JWP
Fabianski, Aguerd (?), Ogbonna, Coufal, Cresswell, Cornet, Antonio (?), Ings, Mubama
"Michail Antonio is coming on a bit more. He’s running on the grass now. He’s not worked with or trained with the team but he’s training outside. I couldn’t give a projected return date at this moment though."
https://www.whufc.com/news/talking-points-moyes-manchester-united-erik-ten-hag-and-transfer-window
Starting Phiilips was a mistake, he hadn't started since September and hadn't budged from the bench since November. He needs time to settle in and shake off the rust
Martial, Malacia and Mount all out
Lindelof back in training, Wan-Bissaka training by Ten Hag doesn't think he'll be ready for Sunday
Amrabat back from ACON
Best guess
Onana
Dalot Varane Martinez Shaw
Mainoo Casemiro
Garnacho Feranades Rashford
Hajlund
https://www.whufc.com/news/training-gallery-irons-prepare-old-trafford-trip
Areola
Coufal - Zouma - Aguerd - Emerson
Soucek - Alvarez - Ward-Prowse
Kudus - Bowen - Johnson
Either that or a back 3 with Johnson as a RCB.
Areola
Johnson - Zouma - Aguerd
Coufal - Soucek - Alvarez - JWP - Emerson
Kudus - Bowen