Fantastic outcome there, now onto Europe up against the Ukranian champions, Shakhtar. I have a pretty bad feeling about this game, it's definitely not to be taken lightly even though we have United afterwards, then again in three days.

I say to field a similar lineup to the Spuds game, with Terry back in. I wouldn't mind seeing Moses or even Sturridge in there somewhere. I'd pick Ramires in the pivot as he was excellent there again.

Thoughts?

Edited October 20, 201213 yr by Teritus

Can we have a game where we don't get people saying " I have a bad feeling about this one" or "I can't see us winning this one" jeez have a little faith people.

Anyway about the game.

I would pick Lamps for this one, give one of the others a rest for the United game. I believe Lamps can do the job for us, after all it's not like he is finished or anything.

Let's go Danny boy!

I'm glad I'm not the manager for this game. It is a massive game in terms of qualifying but we have united a few days after. I think we should go with a full strength team which once again means no frank and terry in for luiz or cahill I'm not bothered either way.

Can we have a game where we don't get people saying " I have a bad feeling about this one" or "I can't see us winning this one" jeez have a little faith people.

Well if people have being saying it every match and we've won most of them, what's the problem? It's clearly working.

Well if people have being saying it every match and we've won most of them, what's the problem? It's clearly working.

It's just annoying, and don't give me that superstitious crap. We are winning because we are playing well, not because somebody says we are going to lose

You're probably right. Touch wood.

From WAGNH:

On November 23, 2011, Shakhtar Donetsk lost to FC Porto in a game that saw them surprisingly eliminated from the Champions League. Since that game, they've been in better form than any other team on the planet. For those of you that didn't pay close attention, that's 30 wins, two draws, and zero losses since the game against Porto. The first of those two draws happened to come in the club's first game after their three month winter break. The second draw came against Juventus in Italy. Between those two draws, Shakhtar ran off a run of 25 consecutive wins, an absolutely incredible feat.

No resting people for me, although I wouldn't be surprised to see Lamps included in the lineup.

Edited October 20, 201213 yr by ace

I reckon it will be Terry for Cahill but otherwise the same team.

We're good enough to beat these.

Even if Robbie rests a couple for Man u, with what we have in reserve i don't see it as a bad thing.

Terry for Luiz

Ryan for Ash

Moses for Mata or Hazard

Sturridge for Torres

I don't see any of those changes weakening the team sufficiently to bring about a bad result for us, and why not use the squad?

Alan

Terry will most likely play this one, maybe we will see Lampard and Sturridge.

No player looked tired today as I recall, and the good thing is we played early Saturday and the Man Utd game is at Sunday.

Edited October 20, 201213 yr by eldakar

You're probably right. Touch wood.

You`ve got wood?

Damned right we shouldn't take this one lightly.

I'm not exactly familiar with the Ukrainian Premier League but having just checked, I now know that Shaktar are currently on top of that league with 100% record (played 12, won 12), and have scored 38 conceding only 6 goals in those 12 games.

Shakhtar usually dominate the Ukrainian Premier League (which is generally of quite a low standard beyond Dynamo Kiev, Metallist Kharkiv and Dnipro), so no surprise there. They will be dangerous opponents, especially at home. If we can pull this out, I would feel ever more optimistic about our chances of beating an unbalanced Man U side.

Full strength side for the next 2 games required. Don't underestimate Shaktar. But due to fixture congestion I would not be surprised to see the likes of Moses, Azpi, Studge and Lamps against Man U league cup game tho.

To be fair Moses doesn't earn to start another CL game in a row. He was below par against Nordsjaelland.

We can't rest anyone in this game. It is the ManU game we can rest players in. This is far more important. Isn't it League Cup? It is ManU but...

They will do anything to beat us so a tough game and in cold Ukraine.

Don't want to underestimate them, as an away trip to UKraine will never be easy. But at the same time, we should be able to afford to rest a few players.

I'd go for:

Cech

Bertrand

Terry

Cahill

Azpilicueta

Lampard

Ramires

Mata

Oscar

Hazard

Sturridge

Must get AT LEAST a point here, because surely Juve will get 6 out of their double header with Nordsjaelland, so we're going to need at least 4 points our of ours with Shakhtar, don't want to be having to risk going to Turin needing a win to just qualify. I might get shot down for this but I say this is more important than the United game, they are a top side & we MUST get something out of this game to give us the best chance to quality before the last day - United are 4 behind us, and I think their midfield & defense is relatively poor & we'll be able to outscore them anyway.

-------------------Cech----------------------

Ivanovic---Terry----Cahill-------Cole---

--------------Mikel-----Lampard------------

Mata-------------Oscar-----------Hazard

-------------------Torres--------------------

Maybe Sturridge if Robbie wants Torres is tired & wants him for United.

Really hopeful that Studge will get a start. Please no SFL and zombie Obi combo. Ramires has to start. Maybe Romeu- Ramires can be given a go. People banging on about the "calming influence" of Mikel and yet those 20 mins we were under the cosh,Mikel seemed the player most at sea. Cahill and Luiz will be starting for Man u so maybe stick with them as well. Maybe Marin at some point as well.

Can we have a game where we don't get people saying " I have a bad feeling about this one" or "I can't see us winning this one" jeez have a little faith people.Why....If that is what some feel then its as bona fida a comment as any....I know we need to be supportive but we are aware we wont beat everyone the whole of the season...This is a dodgy game for us being man u are straight afterwards..I feel a draw in this one..Hope im wrong

Anyway about the game.

I would pick Lamps for this one, give one of the others a rest for the United game. I believe Lamps can do the job for us, after all it's not like he is finished or anything.

Cech, Dave, Terry, Cahill, Bertrand, Lampard, Ramires, Mata, Hazard, Oscar, Sturridge.

Cech, Dave, Terry, Cahill, Bertrand, Lampard, Ramires, Mata, Hazard, Oscar, Sturridge.

Cole and Mikel are a must for me against Shakhtar. Clearly they are no pushovers.

Cech

Bertrand

Terry

Cahill

Ivan

Mikel

Ramires

Mata

Hazard

Sturridge

Torres

Glad I read the title of this thread, for some reason I thought it was going to be an early kick off.

Donetsk are a good team and should not be taken lightly. They will be difficult to defeat in their own back-yard. The trip to the Ukraine will bw a tough test. We need to put out a strong team against them.

------------------------------------------------------Cech-------------------------------------------

ivanovic----------------------------Luiz-----------------------Terry------------------------Cole

---------------------------------------------Mikel-----------------Ramires------------------------

Sturridge-----------------------------------------Mata-----------------------------------Hazard

------------------------------------------------------Torres------------------------------------------