DJBOB

Incredible backheel by Ollie

1 minute ago, ozvilla28 said:

So why not play Tim there as the Defence midfielder if where getting exposed.

Don't think Unai trusts Tim unless we're going to be 2-0 or 3-0 up.

Youri's not the most athletic but he's got multiple jobs than just being a CDM.

Tim's been....very unadventurous progressing the ball whereas Youri has shown the progression several times in this match so far.

Nothing we can do about it, but Konsa's not got the pace to be RB. Either that or he's maybe 75% fitness because he's getting turned left and right.

Holding on for dear life - should have at least 2 goals more for us but probably 3 for Lille.

Difference at GK and ST keeping us ahead.

A really high press here - similar to our press vs Brighton at home. The diamond press to force that pass wide to the fullback.

Desperately need to get the second here

Warning signs just all over the pitch. So much space in between our lines right now.

Just now, 479Villan said:

We're back online in America, CBS put another quarter in the machine.

Spoke too soon. Looks like we're going to need more than a quarter.

Great back pick from Rogers there to free up Ollie.

Another big show of faith in Unai on Morgan Rogers. Morgan is going to have to work his socks off covering the dangerous right side of Zhegrova and Santos

The best of a bad bunch especially for the integrations.

It was a hopeless exercise migrating to it. If we would have used it from day 1, it would have been much easier - but that's the same about every company I've worked at.

39 minutes ago, DakotaVilla said:

Totally agree re his past pens but If you look at Ollie’s self development you can be damn sure that he’s been working on his penalties and is probably itching for a chance to get them back. Will be interesting to see what happens if we get a pen in the next two league games whilst Luiz is suspended.

Would assume it goes back to Ollie. I’m sure they’ve been practicing pens for these knockout rounds anyway. 

2 minutes ago, DakotaVilla said:

And that’s without pens. If he had pens he’d be well clear ahead as the best forward player in the league this year. 

But maybe for the best for the team and his confidence that he's not on permanent penalty duty!

United have deceptively difficult fixtures.

Burnley and Sheffield are both terrible but have picked up lots of draws recently as they desperately try to accumulate points. Palace might not have anything to play for, but as shown against City, are the exact type of team that can punish you on the counter.

Newcastle are always a threat and that might be a basketball game with the way they both play. A trip away to Brighton won't be easy (they have a big home/away split - are much better at home). And of course Arsenal.

I wouldn't sell Ollie for anything this summer and we have no incentive to do so for a few reasons.

• 5 year contract signed in 2023 - unless he makes a stink, have no reason to move - and doesn't seem to be the type to do so unless player and club found a way
• A scarcity in the CF position - very few true CF positions out there that can do it all back to goal, linking play, getting in behind, and scoring. These are the only players at that level with Ollie for me
  • Kane
  • Haaland - weaker link up play and back to goal
  • Benzema - older
  • Lewandowski - older
  • Osimhein
  • Then a giant cliff to the next set of players
• Unreal fitness

This set of combinations has always made him hard to replace but now that he's being played as an out and out striker instead of a quasi left forward for most of his career, you're really seeing the counting stats pile up.

Dicey for a little bit good overall. Need the prem side to take care of business on Thursday and put us on a good trajectory. 
 
I forget @omariqy scenarios this falls under but I think if we and Liverpool take care of business, it remains in our hands. 

**** hell Phil. Relax.

Just now, duke313 said:

I think it will be incredibly difficult for Arsenal to qualify if the lose this. They ain’t winning in Munich.

Both Arsenal and City just lack any great 1v1 attackers.

You see how City and Bayern are just having players go at their defenders and then the City and Arsenal players are always slowing everything down.

I'm always fascinated watching Arsenal/City play in the UCL these past few seasons.

In the prem, let's face it - they're going to be significantly better than almost every club in the league bar maybe each other and Liverpool.

But in the UCL, they look distinctly mortal since the opposing teams will usually have a Vini or a Sane that are just devastating their lumbering CB's as FB. This is not too dissimilar to what we did with Bailey on Gvardiol.

It's interesting between City/Arsenal and Madrid/City.

The latter have Vini, Rodrygo, Sane, Gnabry, and Musiala - all ball carriers that can devastate a team solo. Meanwhile City and Arsenal start Grealish/Foden/Silva/Martinelli/Saka. All good players in their own right, but none of them pacey ball carriers. Or if they are - they're actively instructed not to go for it and instead consistently play in these wide flank positions.

A contrast in styles - great for consistent league play - but not so much for tournament 'magic' moments.

Looks like these teams are lacking character.

39 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

They look to me more like they play a 3 with Lewis playing alongside rodri 

Against teams they dominate - they like to do so but he went with the boring control lineup.

Gvardiol, Dias, Stones, Akanji and Rodri.

4 CB's and a CDM. Steve Bruce would be proud.

I'd be very surprised to see Rico Lewis out on the pitch to face Vinicius. Akanji seems like a better bet.

Lille, I would say, will probably end up being the strongest side we face in this cup.

David, after a relatively slow start (7G+2A), is picking up steam in in 2024 (16G+3A) though 3G/3A were playing a much lower tier side in a cup match.

Chevalier is a very highly rated keeper.

Zhegrova will give Digne or Moreno a run for their money. Tiago Santos overlaps very well with him so our left side are going to have to be up for it. 

I think Unai will go with a slightly more conservative lineup and go in expecting a cagey match on both legs. The problem is the CM area. He needs McGinn in the center but also needs someone more defensively adept playing LM as well. I'm not sure if this will be during the home tie or the away tie but it wouldn't surprise me for Unai to play Moreno ahead of Digne. This is essentially how he ended the City match and mentioned that the last 30 minutes of the City match was for some 'practice'

Emi

Konsa Diego Pau Digne

Bailey McGinn Luiz Moreno

Tielemans Watkins