Europa League 2016-17

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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I don't follow ManU that closely, so maybe others can correct me - but I'm surprised not to see Carrick out here. I would have figured his experience, composure, and distribution would be invaluable against Celta's press. I mean, there's Bailly sitting on the ball and getting dispossessed. Will Fellaini and Pogba stay deep enough to act as an effective pivot today?
Pogba and Herrera are automatic selections in midfield and Fellaini is suspended for the next few Premier League games so there isn't any room for Carrick. He'll probably play (instead of Fellaini) against Arsenal this weekend.
 

67YAZ

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Pogba and Herrera are automatic selections in midfield and Fellaini is suspended for the next few Premier League games so there isn't any room for Carrick. He'll probably play (instead of Fellaini) against Arsenal this weekend.
Got it. It's too bad, though - the more disciplined and savvy pairing of Carrick & Herrera would open up acres of space for Pogba to run rampant in the gaps left by Celta's press.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Got it. It's too bad, though - the more disciplined and savvy pairing of Carrick & Herrera would open up acres of space for Pogba to run rampant in the gaps left by Celta's press.
Yeah, I'm a United hater to the bone but a big Carrick fan as well. He is an incredible player who has had a very underappreciated career.
 

67YAZ

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Yeah, I'm a United hater to the bone but a big Carrick fan as well. He is an incredible player who has had a very underappreciated career.
It's odd to say that a United player is under-appreciated. I'm pretty sure there are statues to kit managers outside Old Trafford. But Carrick never gotten his due.

As a Liverpool supporter, I don't quite know what to root for here. Ideally, I want to see them come through here, lose in the Europa final, and still finish 5th in EPL.
 

Zomp

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The game is opening up a bit now. I'd like to see Martial come on for Lingard and move Mikhi to the right.

Pogba has been exceptional today.
 

67YAZ

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Pogba has been exceptional today.
This really is Pogba's kind of match - fast paced with plenty of space in the midfield. Not that I have followed closely this year, but it's been interesting to see how Pogba and Mourinho have been adjusting to each other this season. Pogba was in a dream situation at Juventus where he had players like Pirlo, Vidal, Marchisio, and Khedira to stay disciplined while he ran rampant all over. Mourinho's has asked Pogba to be much more disciplined this year, and it seems like Pogba is growing into it.

And there's a fine, fine strike from Rashford. Unless Guidetti bullies Bailly off the ball again, I don't see how Celta create a goal today.
 

Zososoxfan

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Caught the last bit and have to say that Celta were terrible. Really labored to get the ball forward until United sat all the way back. But, some nice defending there at the end. Mou has to know to take off Tree there sitting on the yellow. Zidane took Casemiro off in similar circumstances in recent weeks. Nice win for UTD.
 

InstaFace

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Second legs of semis are today at 3pm ET. ManU at home defending a 1-0 lead vs Celta, Lyon at home attacking a 1-4 deficit vs Ajax.
 

Zososoxfan

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Welp, Celta should've won it there at the end, shame. Celta really filled their pants there. Why didn't the first guy shoot, I have no idea.
 

Zososoxfan

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After watching the replay, I think the ref actually got the decisions right. Valencia could've also received a yellow, but giving red to Bailly likely sufficient. MAN U going to have a real problem at CB without Bailly in the final. He's been very good for them recently.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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That is twice that United have been saved at the death against mediocre teams in this competition. Anderlecht guy had a free header with like a minute left as well.

I hope Ajax plays them off the park.
 

SocrManiac

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Apr 15, 2006
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I don't understand Romero starting over De Gea. I get that he's carried them in Europa, but isn't this as must win as you can imagine?
 

Zososoxfan

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I don't understand Romero starting over De Gea. I get that he's carried them in Europa, but isn't this as must win as you can imagine?
This is pretty SOP. It's how you keep two elite keepers happy for a season or two. Barca did this with Bravo and TS. It would be pretty harsh to Romero at this point to start De Gea. He's also really effin' good. Plus, you have to keep 'em sharp somehow.
 

Zososoxfan

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Bump for the Final, 2:45pm today. For some reason I thought it'd be on a weekend. Nope! A wednesday!
Yeah, that's whack. This should 100% be on a weekend. I think the EL is starting to get more appreciation, but having its final on a workday is a joke.

P(OG)ba!!!!!!!!!
Technically not an OG if the shot was on target prior to the deflection.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Yeah, that's whack. This should 100% be on a weekend. I think the EL is starting to get more appreciation, but having its final on a workday is a joke.
It wasn't that long ago that the Champions League final was on Wednesday. I took some crap from my boss for the 2.5 hour lunch I took in 2005 to see Liverpool win it.
 

Schnerres

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Apr 28, 2009
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This weekend is the cup finals weekend. Then it´s CL final weekend. I mean in theory you can play the Europa League ahead of the CL final (say one is Friday, the other Saturday) but what else can you do without a longer season (CL final June, 3rd).
 

Zososoxfan

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This weekend is the cup finals weekend. Then it´s CL final weekend. I mean in theory you can play the Europa League ahead of the CL final (say one is Friday, the other Saturday) but what else can you do without a longer season (CL final June, 3rd).
Play one on Saturday the other on Sunday, or play them on the same day at different times?