The Skipper

Had a brilliant game. When it comes to last ditch defending he's absolute quality.

We've won it before mate. 1998.

Absolutely brilliant today.

Glad you don't manage the team.

Go read the last few pages of the live match day thread.

Yeah but after that goal we woke up and had a lot more chances to tie up the game which wee unfortunately didn't take. We deserved to win IMO based on chances. After we went down to 10 men we couldn't continue to press as much as we did so it's understandable why we really set up shop then.

I don't care about the result to be honest. Today we showed that we can trade blows against the best club in Europe. We arguably had the better chances in the whole game. We went down to 10 men and they really struggled still. Proud of the lads really. Not our day today though. It'll be a great learning experience for them though. And those giving Lukaku so much slack should just shut the hell up to be honest. It really isn't that deep. This isn't the CL final.

We were down to 10 men mate.

Such a poor penalty though.

Meh.

We should be winning.

No true. I've heard plenty of our chants throughout the game.

Can anyone hear the JT chant?

It wasn't high press football against United though. We only really started high pressing when they came into our half.

Glad Luiz is playing. Knew Schurrle would start. Lampard and Ramires are starting AGAIN though? Hopefully he makes the right subs this time. Lukaku on for Torres later, maybe throw Mata on when the game opens up (who I think should've started especially because of Lahm). Decent XI though. We're not going to sit back too much.

I think we should start Mata at 10 if Lahm is the DM.

Confirmed?

Yeah but the quotes were out before that so I would still count Atsu as 1 of the potential 2. Re: MVG, Ajax made an offer but it's been rejected.

He's not officially signed till he passes his medicial. Gourlay's quotes were before his transfer so when he says 1 or 2 I'm pretty sure he's including Atsu in there.

It'll definitely be Atsu, and maybe, just maybe one more player.

Eto'o...

Schweinsteiger is not exactly like Pirlo and Carrick though as he's essentially like you said the link up player between defence and midfield. Pirlo and Carrick have a lot more freedom in the sense that they more oft than not switch from defence to attack straight away with a long direct ball. Of course Bastian has the capabilities to do such BUT he's not Bayern's main supply line IMO, he's the link to supply which is not exactly the same. Would make sense to start Oscar at 10 to harass that link a little bit but wouldn't be surprised if Mata started too, depending on the game plan Mourinho chooses. The former is more likely though knowing Jose. What would be interesting is if he started Oscar in the pivot to harass the two in midfield alongside someone like MVG or Ramires. I think that could be another tactical master stroke. Wouldn't be surprised to see Schurrle on the wings either to help disrupt Ribery/Alaba or Robben/Lahm. We will have to see though, plenty of options in the squad. Should be an interesting tactical game.

Hmm fair enough. We shall see tonight though!

Schweinsteiger and Martinez could make it.

Gonalons is such a player. Would love him. Don't see us signing a DM though.