Results - Week 2

    Injuries: Aduriz, Ansaldi, Nolito.

4-3-3

---------------Zoet---------------
Vrsaljko--Matip--Rudiger--Insua
-------Verratti---Herrera--------
--------------Thiago--------------
Ziyech-------Baston---------Elia

We want to dominate possession, we have a strong midfield trio who will be working as that triangle allowing the attackers to receive passes from Verratti as the DLP and Thiago in the pocket behind. We want to push onto them and control the game, they may look to defend deep like last week so we want to push onto them as much as possible. Defensively we need to watch for the counter attacks, they have a good striker who is able to hold up the ball and bring others into play, stick with Aboubakar and isolate him.

Subs: Weidenfeller, Bruma, Djourou, Manquillo, Palmer, Narsingh.

Narsingh on for Ziyech - 80th Minute.    

Injuries
WG Sabin Merino
GK Joe Wildsmith
CB Thiago Silva

-----------------------------Iraizoz-----------------------------
Lichtsteiner-------Pepe--------------Blind-------------Telles
------------------------------Lahm------------------------------
----------------Moutinho---------------Toure------------------
---------El Ghazi----------------------------Valbuena---------
-----------------------------Cavani-----------------------------

BENCH
Johnstone
Tuanzebe
Haps
Rudy
Andre
Zidane
Aboubakar


TACTICS (99 words)
We are expecting our opponents to play a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 depending on Thiago’s position. Either way, he is the main man who must be stopped. Lahm should protect the back four with Moutinho/Toure looking to press, not allowing Thiago or Verratti any time on the ball. El Ghazi have a go at their second choice LB Insua. Generally look to match them up but play more direct than they will be, getting forward quickly with Toure, Moutinho and Valbuena all capable of picking out a pass. Hold a flat back four with the pace in our defense to get back.

  Manchester United v Macclesfield Town

XI

Casillas
Maxwell Laporte Koscielny Evra
Kante Alonso
Robben Meyer Ben Arfa
Ibrahimovic

Subs
Valdes
Terry
Borthwick-Jackson
Brandt
Kalou
Vardy

Injuries
Aurier
Motta
Varela

Tactics
We shall play a high line, forcing Town to camp in their own half.

Let them keep the ball in their own half, press when they come into ours forcing his youngsters to make rash decisions under pressure.

Midfield two stay compact and close off the passing angles & intercepting ball, decreasing their chances of getting the ball forward.

We will look to play direct, Alonso get the balls to our wingers quickly or look for Ibra to hold the ball up and link up with attacking trio.

Don’t settle on ball keep it moving and create space for teammates.

Subs

70 Min if losing
Ben Arfa off Vardy on (4-4-2)

70 min if winning
Ibrahimovic off Vardy on (Same formation, play counter attack)

80 min
Ben Arfa off Brandt on (Fresh legs)  

-------------------------Donnarumma----------------------------
Hysaj-------------Tah------------Kimmich------------Willems
---------------------Dahoud-----Neves-----------------------
Sane-------------------------------------------------------Coman
--------------------Lukaku--------Dybala------------------------

Subs: Duarte, Samper, Marlon, Coric, Gabigol, Iheanacho

Similar to last week but Lukaku & Dybala taking a old school big & little striker partnership role upfront. Lukaku to hold up play & Dybala to act as the terrier. Allow Utd possession in areas that aren't threatening but block channels to Ibra, niggle him too. Ensure Robben is pushed onto his weaker foot as he's totally ineffective when done so. Target the right back position, both options for that position are injured and none of the replacements ever play there, Coman can have a field day there with his pace abuse.

70m: Replace Coman & Lukaku with Gabigol and Iheanacho as different attacking options