EL: GNK Dinamo Zagreb 0-2 West Ham Utd (16/09/21)

[sendô]

This 17:45 kick off malarkey is arse. There's no way I can get home from work in time to watch this, so I will be forced (forced!) to go down the pub.

[larryberyl]

Top 10 in the league and win the europa would do me !

areola
johnson zouma ogbonna cresswell
fredericks rice soucek fornals
vlasic
antonio

subs fabianski coufal diop dawson noble kral bowen yarmolenko lanzini

hopefully a few subs on if we can around 60 mins

60 mins noble and kral on for rice and soucek
75 mins yarmolenko on for fornals

take a draw now hoping for a 1-0 to the cockney boys, antonio making up for saturday

no idea which way this will go or the team moyes will pick

[west ham15]

I'm a tad surprised to have received a text from the club, telling me I could now buy a ticket for Thursday's match.

A bit late perhaps?

Was because the points went to 0 in the end. Now sold out by the looks of it

Should be at least 1.2k of us out there

[Alf Garnett's (Ex) Missus]

This 17:45 kick off malarkey is arse. There's no way I can get home from work in time to watch this, so I will be forced (forced!) to go down the pub.

Gotta love working from home!

[S-H]

This 17:45 kick off malarkey is arse. There's no way I can get home from work in time to watch this, so I will be forced (forced!) to go down the pub.

Life just isn't fair sometimes, is it.

[Billydinho]

Working on a project that starts at 5.30am Sunday to Thursday so I'll be clocking off at 3pm on Thursday and off Friday.

Sorry Sendo.

[arlhe]

Was because the points went to 0 in the end. Now sold out by the looks of it

Should be at least 1.2k of us out there

The club has just sent me another text saying they have a further allocation and STHs can still buy tickets. I assume Zagreb have release another block for our use?

[Hammer in Hornchurch]

I got another text this morning (11:46) saying there is an additional allocation of tickets, available until 5pm today, to season tickets holders.
Just passing on.
Possibly too late to book travel arrangements now ?

[Knighter10WHU]

Another 700 available today so could potentially be up to 1.9k over there.

I suspect too late for many now, flights are one thing but testing would be a struggle now, you'd have to go for the expensive on-site testing options.

[Wilko1304]

We’re a bit leggy and need to use our squad. I think Lanzini is a must, he keeps the ball and is probably our best footballer under pressure in difficult positions.

Id quite like to see Antonio, Vlasic and Yarmolenko as a front three. I’m not against a more defensive setup either, it’s an away game and our first in Europe.

Masuaku and Fredericks as wing backs give a lot of pace and can carry the ball. Lanzini and Kral might be a risk in the middle, so id play one of Rice/Soucek in a pair with Lanzini or a three and have Kral or Nobes.

[sutts07]

This 17:45 kick off malarkey is arse. There's no way I can get home from work in time to watch this, so I will be forced (forced!) to go down the pub.

I'll be leaving work early to do the same (currently working from home, but that is not the point!)

[HoustonHammer24]

I’m amending my original team to include Cresswell, since I think set pieces will be key in this one. His delivery will be crucial to taking advantage of any corners or free kicks we get. Get some of our bigger players in there as well and see what happens.

For Zagreb:
—————————Areola———————————
————Diop——Zouma——Cresswell————
Fredericks——————————Johnson (Mas if fit)
——————Soucek———Kral————————
Yarmo—————Antonio—————Vlasic

For United:
————————Fabianski—————————
——Dawson——Ogbonna——Cresswell——
Coufal—————————————Johnson (Mas if fit)
———————Rice———Noble———————
—Benrahma——Bowen——Fornals—

Although I couldn’t find out how to fit Lanzini into all of this, I’m sure Moyes could. Maybe in for Noble or Kral in one of the lineups, but that leaves us more defensively susceptible. Only Cresswell playing both games, but he doesn’t have Internationals to deal with so I think he can handle it.

[Ironing Board]

If Areola shines he should definitely get the gloves for Man Utd.

[Bubbles Fortuna]

I'd start Kral to give him a game to judge his fitness with a view to a midfield diamond against Man Utd. Also bringing in our other three signings as I expect them all to play the next two, with Antonio out of Man Utd I'd protect Bowen against Zagreb and have him drop to the bench.

Zagreb:

Areola
Fredericks Zouma Diop Johnson
Kral Rice
Benrahma Vlasic Fornals
Antonio

Man Utd

Areola
Coufal Zouma Ogbonna Cresswell
Rice
Kral Soucek
Fornals
Bowen Vlasic

Their wingers just want to cut inside anyway so I wouldn't be too concerned with width, their central midfield area is their weakness so 4 players in there will cause them problems, Bowen and Vlasic are both quick and full of running as well as functional when it comes to creating and finishing.

[Puff Daddy]

The only way Moyes can avoid injuries and burn to key players is to make wholesale changes for this competition. We can do this without significantly weakening the team. This is what other teams will do and that way we keep our first eleven fresh. From late January onwards, fixture congestionon eases and this competition become a a two leg knock out and we should be able to field the normal Saturday eleven. For this reason, I would go:

Areola, Fredericks, Zouma, Diop, Johnson, Noble, Kral, Masuaku, Antonio, Yarmolenko, Vlasic

[Bubbles Fortuna]

The only way Moyes can avoid injuries and burn to key players is to make wholesale changes for this competition. We can do this without significantly weakening the team. This is what other teams will do and that way we keep our first eleven fresh. From late January onwards, fixture congestionon eases and this competition become a a two leg knock out and we should be able to field the normal Saturday eleven. For this reason, I would go:

Areola, Fredericks, Zouma, Diop, Johnson, Noble, Kral, Masuaku, Antonio, Yarmolenko, Vlasic

Without significantly weakening the team:

Areola - Should be first choice in the league
Fredericks - Drop Off
Zouma - Should be starting most games
Diop - Drop off from Ogbonna
Johnson - Out of position, doesn't offer much in attack
Noble - I love him, but huge drop from Rice
Kral - Bit of an Unknown, but the realistically nothing on Soucek
Antonio - Will be starting every week in the league surely?
Yarmolenko - Massive drop off from any of the top 4
Vlasic - Rotational with any of the front 4

That team might scrape third, but in doing so we'd royally p*** off Coufal, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Fornals and Bowen who all earned our place in this competition and deserve to take part.

[Puff Daddy]

Without significantly weakening the team:

Areola - Should be first choice in the league
Fredericks - Drop Off
Zouma - Should be starting most games
Diop - Drop off from Ogbonna
Johnson - Out of position, doesn't offer much in attack
Noble - I love him, but huge drop from Rice
Kral - Bit of an Unknown, but the realistically nothing on Soucek
Antonio - Will be starting every week in the league surely?
Yarmolenko - Massive drop off from any of the top 4
Vlasic - Rotational with any of the front 4

That team might scrape third, but in doing so we'd royally p*** off Coufal, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Fornals and Bowen who all earned our place in this competition and deserve to take part.

I understand what you're saying, but for the moment, many of these players are close to exhaustion, following the Euro's and Moyes faces a dilemma. Does he risk flogging them to death, or does he manage his squad ? Coufal, Oggy, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Fornals and Bowen are all mature enough not to take umbrage at being sidelined in order to play every Sunday for the next few months ?

[prophet:marginal]

If Areola shines he should definitely get the gloves for Man Utd.

Areola is perhaps our cup keeper this season.

Perhaps also a cup winner.

[Ironing Board]

Areola is perhaps our cup keeper this season.

Perhaps also a cup winner.

Let’s hope so!

[Bubbles Fortuna]

I understand what you're saying, but for the moment, many of these players are close to exhaustion, following the Euro's and Moyes faces a dilemma. Does he risk flogging them to death, or does he manage his squad ? Coufal, Oggy, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Fornals and Bowen are all mature enough not to take umbrage at being sidelined in order to play every Sunday for the next few months ?

Fornals, Coufal, Soucek and Rice have all said in interviews how excited they are to play in Europe. If we 'rest' them all we won't have Europe to worry about after Christmas.

It's 4 games into the season, they have no excuse to be 'tired.'

I'd expect 8 of Man Utd's team tonight to be playing us on Sunday.

De Gea, Shaw, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Pogba, Fernandes, Sancho, Ronaldo.