That flick by Rashford earned a blue parachute.

Thank goodness for the 2 penalties. We need these 3 points.

If any of you live in cstat and saw that commercial break right after the penalty call, I'm assuming your blood pressure rose as high as mine

Griffle said:

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That flick by Rashford earned a blue parachute.

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That was a thing of beauty.

wtf... jones bleeding like all over and the ref wouldn't stop play. what happened to all the protect the players after knocking heads?

Returned from severe weather coverage just in time to see WH miss on two huge scoring chances then y'all pull ahead through the second penalty. Commercial break was really oddly timed.

My god this team has been playing like hot garbage. I don't see any reasonable way we finish 4th if this keeps up.

I only got to watch the last 20 minutes due to a storm knocking out power and screwing up my DVR record setting. At least I got to see DDG make that world class save.

First, its still a win. We still have Chelsea. Chelsea has us, Pool and LC (all away). Tottenham has City. Arsenal has Watford, Wolves and LC all away where they have been dog ***** Yes we also have City but its at home and the other 3 are Everton and 2 bottom feeders to close. Its not all doom and gloom. I think the loss at Wolves last week lost the margin of error. It probably takes 12 points and those 12 are there.

Second, this team misses Matic and Hererra in a bad way as that combination frees up Pogba. Its no surprise that he's not played as well without them. For all the angst with Matic, he stabilizes the back 4 and lets Herrera roam and if needed man mark and it lets Pogba roam and play higher.

As well as Fred and McTominay have played recently, I don't know how much the team really misses Matic and Herrera...especially Matic as he hasn't been anything better than OK for quite some time. You could make a strong argument that the miss an in form Herrera but the gap isn't that great if McTominay plays well and Fred cuts out the 2-3 mindless moments he can have in a game...which he has done.

And yeah the teams around us have tough games but given how we've played against great teams (PSG and Barca) and half decent teams (West Ham and Watford) at home, it's hard to have much faith in the home games against Chelsea and City. I mean we were 2nd best by far in all 4 of those home games and managed to win 2 of them by luck. If we put in a good performance and win one or both of those games, it would be contrary to the last month's worth of results. Of course it's possible but I think at this point it would be an unexpected surprise.

So...who are you guys rooting for in this Liverpool v Chelsea match? This is like Sophie's Choice.

Liverpool. Everyone around us needs to drop points.

How could you ever root for the scousers?!

I'm pragmatic. And I want to finish top 4. Chelsea dropping points is how that happens.

ryan_m said:

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How could you ever root for the scousers?!

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Every Liverpool fan will be rooting for Tottenham and United when y'all face city. I hope you lose miserably in all the other games but I hope y'all surprise everyone in a couple weeks.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

I'd thank you but we'll just lose to them in 2 weeks.

I'm counting on y'all to take points off of City though.

Wouldn't that be the ultimate torn ending for us: we beat City to essentially claim 4th, but this also gives Liverpool the title.

Yes, that would just be awful.

Damn guys. I wouldn't know y'all had a game today, in 3 hours no less, had I used this board for all my info.

There are about 5 people who post regularly here. And you think that 3 hours before a game, on a Tuesday, we're gonna post about what exactly? God this is why I hate the scousers..

I have class to teach at 2:00. I'm avoiding this board so as not to see a spoiler from a scouser out trolling.

This is why you hate us?

The Guardian MBM is always a good read

Quote:

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Preamble
For Manchester United fans, the last few months have been the most uplifting since Alex Ferguson retired and winter came. A low bar, admittedly, but nonetheless: where once there was Jos, now there is hop.

But is there really? If you think this has a happy ending, then you haven't been paying attention. Never before has there been a season which, at this late stage, retains the capacity for such multifarious awfulness verily, the night is dark and full of terrors. And, at the end of it, Manchester City might win a domestic treble, something Manchester United have never managed; or they might win the actual treble something Manchester United have managed; or they might win absolutely everything.

Alternatively, Liverpool might win their first league in 29 years, perhaps thanks to a helping hand from United; or Liverpool might win their first league in 29 years, perhaps thanks to a helping hand from United, then add to it a sixth European Cup; or Liverpool might share every trophy with City, a sweep culminating in a European Cup final that, for United fans, will forever be known as the Battle of the *******s.

And yet, the question begs: do United even want to win tonight? A silly question, you might think, but stick with me. What happens if their reward for so doing is a pumping from Liverpool, who then go on to reclaim Ol Big Ears? Or what happens if they somehow sneak by Liverpool as well, only to be brutally murdered by quadruple-chasing City in the final, their very own red wedding. Some old wounds never truly heal, and bleed again at the slightest word.
Of course, these are all worstest case scenarios. More likely, United subside gently this evening and then hope that Ronaldo and Messi can, between them, limit the season to a straight, upstanding worst. The Nou Camp pitch is wide, and it's hard to see how United can cover all of it, at the same time as keeping Messi, Suarez and Dembele quiet, at the same time as finding a goal or two for themselves.

But, at 1-0, they're not entirely out of things - leave one wolf alive, and the sheep are never safe. The thing is, that though Barca are good, they're not that good - the same issues that make them unreliable insurance also render them slightly vulnerable Their defence is far from the tightest, their midfield is slow, and in Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford, United have players able to trouble any team on a good day. Today will need to be their best day. Dracarys!

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Quote:

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The Nou Camp pitch is wide, and it's hard to see how United can cover all of it

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What crap. The Guardian writer might at least bother to look at the dimensions. The Nou Camp pitch is actually slightly narrower than OT.

Well, OGS isn't playing it safe. He went 4-3-3 with a what will likely be a high press with Lingard. At least hes not parking the bus.

DDG; Jones, Smalling, Lindelf, Young; Fred, McTominay, Pogba; Martial, Lingard, Rashford

Reserves: Romero, Dalot, Mata, Lukaku, AP, Matic, Alexis

This at least won't be boring.

ryan_m said:

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There are about 5 people who post regularly here. And you think that 3 hours before a game, on a Tuesday, we're gonna post about what exactly? God this is why I hate the scousers..

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This is why I like making fun of y'all. United fans are a bunch of mental midgets hahaha.

Every other team's fans post a couple hours before announcing lineups, predictions, players they want to see, etc...even on a Tuesday.

You guys on the other hand have lost your mojo. I was just poking fun at that.

mathguy86 said:

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Well, OGS isn't playing it safe. He went 4-3-3 with a what will likely be a high press with Lingard. At least hes not parking the bus.

DDG; Jones, Smalling, Lindelf, Young; Fred, McTominay, Pogba; Martial, Lingard, Rashford

Reserves: Romero, Dalot, Mata, Lukaku, AP, Matic, Alexis

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. That's good news for us bystanders. I'm hoping for a great game so good luck.

Well crap... reddit soccer got shut down again.

Anyone want to help me with a link? The shadier the better.

mathguy86 said:

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Well, OGS isn't playing it safe. He went 4-3-3 with a what will likely be a high press with Lingard. At least hes not parking the bus.

DDG; Jones, Smalling, Lindelf, Young; Fred, McTominay, Pogba; Martial, Lingard, Rashford

Reserves: Romero, Dalot, Mata, Lukaku, AP, Matic, Alexis

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Yup. So far, seem to be aggressive and gong after it.

PK for that? Seriously?

Ugh.

No Penalty!

Hoorah for VAR!

This is actually good for Barca. They will feel wronged and wake up. Obviously a goal would have been better, but Man U will have to weather a storm.