Key occasions
6 min De Ligt spreads properly to Dalot, who dips inside and shoots, instantly at Lukic. I sort these phrases advisedly, however United have began pretty effectively.
5 min Mazraoui sends a decent-looking move down the road, so Bassey ragdolls Hojlund – for the primary time this afternoon – and clears.
4 min “Solely seven subs on the bench?” says Andrew Goudie of United. “Saves them a bit of money, I suppose.”
Possibly the shortage of wins is a ruse to save lots of on bonuses. Intelligent, intelligent.
3 min United move properly out of defence, simply, then Ugarte hangs on too lengthy and wins a free-kick, simply. Fulham want to win the ball excessive up the pitch, which could simply go away house in behind.
2 min Wherein regard an issue Amorim has is barely Bruno can move by midfield, which is why he’s deeper, besides additionally solely Bruno can rating and create, which is why he’s missed additional ahead.
1 min As anticipated, it’s Mazraoui on the proper and Dalot on the left with Bruno within the midfield and Eriken as one of many 10s.
1 min United decide to assault the Stretford Finish first half, unusual, then Fulham kick off.
After all, these sides met within the final eight the season earlier than final. United received a riotous encounter 3-1.
Brighton have received 2-1 at Newcastle. That’s implausible work from Fabian Hurzeler’s boys.
Our groups are tunnelled … and right here they arrive!
Electronic mail! “It’s written within the stars that Fulham will win,” reckons Richard Hirst. “This uncommon optimism is not only as a result of it’s my birthday however as a result of Preston are nonetheless within the Cup, Fulham having misplaced 16-15 on penalties to Preston within the Carabao, and what could possibly be extra Fulhamish than to beat Man Utd then lose once more to Preston.”
Hilariously, United have crushed Fulham twice this season. However I’d count on them to set about this with far better aggression than in both league match.
Wayne Rooney, sacked from Plymouth once they have been backside of the Championship, thinks United have been laborious to look at below Amorim. I do know!
Public service announcement: the best and soundest band of the final 40 years are again! And the way we’d like them!
We’re now watching an interview with Harrance Maguire; I hope you didn’t miss his ear-cup into knee-slide after scoring towards Ipswich. Anticipate to see him piercing his ears and sporting a sleeve subsequent.
On BBC they’ve been extolling Sander Berge, who’s turning out to be a wonderful signing. He’s received nice physicality, within the deal with however greater than that on the ball, and is a intelligent, economical passer. Working within the house United must assault from, he’ll be a key determine immediately nevertheless the sport shakes out.
Oh man, how United might use Daniel Welbeck, most likely the participant whose profession suffered most for Alex Ferguson’s retirement. He’s simply scored a jazzer to present Brighton the lead at Newcastle with six minutes of additional time remaining; that’s two extra objectives since Tuesday than Hojlund has since mid-December.
Andreas Pereira, the pre-season Messi, will probably be buzzing for this one. He received possibilities at United and wasn’t fairly ok to take them, however has come on loads since then, a confirmed and established Premier League participant. I discussed earlier that United lack physicality at wing-back, which they do, and so they additionally lack tempo within the centre of defence – of the three males stationed there, solely Leny Yoro can run. As such, I’d count on him to try to put his entrance males in races with them each time doable.
I very a lot loved this.
One thing to look out for: United received within the final spherical with a set-piece and scored from three in midweek. It’s clear that they’ve been engaged on them in coaching, in Mathijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire have two males who go ahead for them seeking to rating, and Bruno’s supply, iffy at greatest for nearly all of his 5 years at Previous Trafford, has been sensational.
Marco Silva says the Cup is essential for Fulham. From the beginning he’s taken each opponent critically and desires to win and attain the final eight.
Amorim tells BBC that Garnacho “had a problem final recreation”, so that they’ve determined to make use of Eriksen with him left on the bench. He was proud of 20 minutes towards Everton and says his staff performed effectively towards Ipswich with 11 then suffered along with 10. All in all, he thinks United are enhancing.
So the place is the sport? United will look to play into their two 10s – they’ve little menace out large – with Fernandes additionally there to affix in. Little doubt they’ll need Hojlund to dart in behind, down the edges of the centre-backs, however whether or not or not he does, he can can say?
As for Fulham, they might have modified formation for different causes, however they’re now a lot better-equipped to use the house behind the wing-backs. Particularly, Traore has legsand energy on Dalot, whereas Lukic and Bergew will fancy themselves too bodily for Eriksen and Zirkzee.
Fulham, in the meantime, can have restored gamers who have been rested for this match. With their Premier League standing safe, they’ve no cause to not go all-out for the Cup, and given the groups left, they’ve an honest likelihood of creating one thing occur. Bassey is precisely the form of centre-back Hojlund can spend a complete match fruitless preventing; Robinson is a one-man left-flank; and Iwobi has glorious ball-carrying capabilities.
Amorim has little in the way in which of choices. He’ll be devo’d about Dorgu, banned for the primary of three video games – already, his new signing had made a distinction, giving United width, steadiness and physicality, doing the proper issues and constructing a promising partnership with Bruno Fernandes. Mazraoui, although a stunning footballer, gives little attacking menace from wing-back, likewise Diogo Dalot on the opposite aspect, whereas there might scarcely be much less tempo behind the nominal centre-forward, Rasmus Hojlund, each Eriksen and Joshua Zirzkee wanting like they run in a wind-tunnel.
However earlier than that, although, we’re into further time at SJP.
Imma write these down, then we’l surprise what they may imply in just a little extra element.
Marco Silva, in the meantime, leaves out Jorge Cuenca, Issa Diop and Ryan Sessengon – who scored within the midweek win at Wolves – with Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi coming in. Meaning a change of form from 3-4-2-1 to 4-2-3-1.
Ruben Amorim makes two modifications to the aspect that sneaked by Ipswich in midweek: Alejandro Garnacho, who stomped down the tunnel after being sacrificed following Patrick Dorgu’s pink card, is on the bench having purchased the squad tea by the use of apology; the 2 are changed by Noussair Mazraoui and Christian Eriksen.
Groups!
Manchester United (3-4-3): Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot Fernandes, Ugarte, Mazraoui; Eriksen, Zirkzee; Hojlund. Subs: Graczyk, Murdock, Heaven, Lindelof, Casemiro, Garnacho, Obi.
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Traore, Pereira, Iwobi; Muniz. Subs: Benda, Cuenca, Diop, Sessegnon, Reed, Cairney, Smith Rowe, Willian, Jimenez.
Referee: Stuart Atwell (Nuneaton)
Additionally occurring…
Earlier than we get going with our recreation, it’s 10 v 10 at St James’, it’s 1-1 with 4 minutes injury-time to play … and there’s been a growth!
Preamble
We reside in age of extremes, and even because the world order is bulldozed by artless dunces, there stays little as excessive than soccer. Dealing virtually uniquely in polarised feelings – love and hate, buzzing and gutted, livid and sanguine – by no means has it mirrored our world extra.
As such, it’s unsurprising that, as we ponder an interesting cup-tie, all of the fuss is in regards to the wealthy people noisily failing, imposing unwarranted struggling on all related to it bar these whose fault it’s . Handed a brand new contract to a failing supervisor? Hearth some employees. Bussed a dizzying sum of cash shopping for him but extra substandard gamers? Improve ticket costs. Spend over £20m firing him just a few months later, as everybody else knew you’d? Serve employees gruel for dinner.
Actually, although, we needs to be speaking about Fulham. After returning to the Premier League in 2022, they completed tenth then thirteenth and now, with 10 video games left of their third season again, they sit comfortably in ninth. The work of Marco Silva and his gamers – set towards the backdrop of an expensively prolonged floor – could also be understated, however it’s not much less sensible for that.
After all, our world being our world and our soccer being our soccer, not all the pieces is right – Fulham tickets are as disgracefully priced as anybody’s – however they continue to be an instance of a uncommon and underrated ability: competence. A degree that, ought to their gamers hit it immediately, would give them a good chance of progressing to the final eight of a contest they’ve by no means received. That is going to be good.
Kick-off: 4.30pm GMT
