United begin their Carabao Cup journey early this season due to being shite last seaosn. Finishing 15th meant that we will have to play the 2nd Round of this competition for the first time since Louis van Gaal's first campaign at the club back in 14/15.
That didn't go too well as we were humiliated by another lower league opposition as MK Dons wiped the floor with us in a 4-0 hammering.
Let's hope something like that isn't on the cards on tonight.
While it's not ideal to be playing at such a stage in this tournament, many have started to look at it as a positive as it will give the manager more of a chance to rotate his squad and give minutes to those who haven't had many thus far.
I do expect a rotated lineup but tbh, with Amorim, you never fucking know 👀.
Before I get into the predicted lineup and preview proper, I just want to say that I don't know much about Grimsby other than the fact that they wear a kit like Newcastle and that if they don't beat us, they should sack their manager 🤣.
It's a win-win situation for them because if they lose, it is to Man Utd and they are a League Two side. Should they get a surprising win (although will it be surprising?), they've just defeated Man Utd even if it's one as bad as this. That could do them the world of good.
Predicted Lineup
As you can see, it is quite rotated.
In goal, Onana comes in for Bayindir. And those chances of Grimsby beating us have just increased further 😭. I think it's about time we see the usual no 1 again. I wouldn't put it past Amorim though, if he did keep Bayindir or maybe even used Heaton just to further imply to Onana that he wants him gone.
Yoro is the only one of the defense that remains as Maguire and Heaven come in for De Ligt and Shaw. I do think at some point the manager will substitute Yoro for De Ligt to keep them two fresh.
A debut for Leon at LWB. Let's see what the lad can do. These are the type of games where you give these youngsters a chance. On the right, I think it will be Dalot who at the moment, isn't in everyone's good books. The manager could use Amad as that is more attacking and he also only played 52 minutes but for some reason, I think he'll opt for his fellow Portuguese.
The midfield should see the pairing that could be better balanced than Casemiro and Bruno as Ugarte and a player who could be on the move in Mainoo comes into the side. If Amorim doesn't start the youngster here...
A front line that will feature Sesko as striker to make his first start for the club ahead of Zirkzee and Mount. Tbh, I really don't know who will play in those two no 10 positions. I'm hopeful that Zirkzee will be back as he has been on the bench these first two games but Amorim can use a whole host of players as his attacking midfielders: Mount, Zirkzee, Mbeumo, Cunha, Amad, perhaps Mainoo or Bruno which many consider will be the captain's best position.
Approach
Honestly, more of what we saw against Arsenal.
Actually, you know what, let's just firstly,
WIN THE FUCKING GAME!
I'm all for playing like prime Barca but good Lord do we need to win. Score some goals as well would be nice but to not be ridiculed for going out of the Carabao Cup 2nd Round to a League Two side will be nice.
We've had enough shite as United fans over the last year in particular. We don't need this as well.
With all that aside, how we played against Arsenal was perfect. Do the same here and I doubt that Grimsby will manage to keep us at bay. I know that that predicted lineup is rotated but no matter who the manager selects, they should be good enough to beat this opponent. If not, then serious questions need to be asked of our squad.
Defense is an area where I feel most comfortable, whoever is part of that back three.
The midfield of Ugarte and Mainoo also gives me more confidence compared to Casemiro and Bruno. They are more balanced. Ugarte does the running around and breaking up of the play while Mainoo gets on the ball and dictates the play. We know how good he is at driving forward and against an opponent that will probably sit deep and look to hit on the break, we will need someone with his quick feet and creativity in tight spaces.
Mainoo gives us an extra attacker due to his attributes.
I would also like to see the wing-backs get forward a lot and for God sakes can some PLEASE PUT A CROSS IN!
We have a massive striker up front who will win so many headers so just put it in the box. It seems to me that we are still a side incapable of playing with a striker. We have no understanding of how they move and where they're going to be. There's no relationship and connection there and this isn't to do with the fact that Sesko is new as this is a problem we've had for a while.
When Maguire was thrown on late in the draw at Fulham, that's when crosses started to come into the box. Only then did the rest of the team realize that we have a tall player who is good in the air.
Goals and chance creation have still been a problem at this early stage of the season. While there were good opportunities for Cunha in particular last time out, there weren't too many in both games against Arsenal and Fulham. We also failed to take those chances anyway so it made no matter.
Perhaps if we had a striker things would've been different. This isn't to discredit Cunha but he isn't as clinical a finisher as most no 9s. I would like to see those same chances being created for Sesko. All strikers over the past few years have been in graveyard shifts which is what the Slivenian has been subject to in his two cameo appearances.
Prediction
3-0. To United. Just wanted to make sure you weren't confused 😅.
I expect to see good football and goals. I don't want to see the midfield being played through, stupid costly mistakes and lack of chances. If that does happen, then what have we actually improved?
I do believe that this game will be a good opportunity for Amorim and the rest of the team. We don't actually want to be playing this match but it can be a positive. A lot of players will get game time and we can see whether the manager was justified in leaving them out or not.
This is a lose-lose situation for us because if we do happen to beat them comfortably, everyone will say 'it's only Grimsby.' If we lose, well, humiliation until the end of days.
The Carabao Cup also provides Amorim with an opportunity to lift silverware which will do him and all of us, a world of good. The manager needs this game to go well more than anyone else.
How you feeling ahead of United's 2nd Round clash at Grimsby?