Dugout Discussion

Rashford benched as Solskjaer makes six changes to the United XI

Gameweek 26 kicks off at 12:30 GMT as Fulham entertain Manchester United at Craven Cottage.

The headline team news concerns the benching of Marcus Rashford, who fails to start a Manchester United league match for the first time since Gameweek 13.

Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial and Juan Mata are recalled up front as Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard make way, while Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Diogo Dalot replace Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof and Ashley Young at the back.

The United boss said of his team selection:

There’s a couple of niggles. Rashy got a dead leg against Leicester that he struggled with all week so we don’t want to risk him. Victor’s out, there’s not really a concern, I think he’ll be OK for Tuesday.

The visitors are still unbeaten under Solskjaer and have won all four of their away Premier League fixtures since the Norwegian took charge, keeping clean sheets in each of their last three matches on the road.

Despite their excellent defensive record on their travels since Solskjaer took the reigns, only two clubs have allowed more shots on target than United in their last four away days.

Pogba has only blanked in one of eight Premier League matches under the interim head coach.

Rashford had scored in every away league fixture since Solskjaer took over coming into this weekend.

Claudio Ranieri has made two changes to his side and has switched from a wing-back system to a back four.

Andre Schurrle and Luciano Vietto replace Cyrus Christie and Tom Cairney  in the hosts’ starting XI.

Ranieri had appeared to steady the ship at Fulham after his appointment but the Cottagers have conceded more goals and big chances in 2019 than any other side in the division.

The Cottagers are the only Premier League club without a clean sheet his calendar year.

Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Rico, Odoi, Le Marchand, Ream, Bryan, Seri, Chambers, Schürrle, Babel, Vietto, Mitrovic.

Manchester United XI (4-3-3): De Gea, Dalot, Jones, Smalling, Shaw, Herrera, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lukaku, Martial.

1,618 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I think Martial just earned a start against PSG.

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      what about Kaku ?

    2. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Doesn't matter, PSG are roasting them either way

    3. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Fair play to you GB, calling the United changes.

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        It's just the way Solskjaer thinks. He wants to win everything. Surprised Herrera stayed on so long tbh.

        1. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          He’s a warrior though that boy, will play through brick walls for United. Underrated I think.

    4. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Can’t play vs his parents club.

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Future parent club you mean

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Nah, his parents are PSG fans....

          1. Pras (FPL)
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Hahaha

    5. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Lingard, Rashford and Martial id guess.

      1. Pishpott
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Martial Rashford deffo, possibly Lukaku on the right.

        1. Pras (FPL)
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Jlingz on right - same as Spurs/Ars basically

          1. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Could be Lingz as a false 9 with Rash on the right. That worked well against Arsenal.

      2. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yep! 🙂

  2. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Assist this season :
    Jones 1
    Jorginho aka Italian Henderson 0

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Alexis maradona Sanchez 1 goal
      Mytip 1 goal

  3. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Those with AWB and Digne - who have you played and benched?

    1. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      and binned?

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Played both and now even got Bennett coming on.

      Solid gold.

    3. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Played AWB, Digne coming on for Rashy

    4. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Played Digne but AWB coming on anyway since Rashford didn't play (or TAA for that matter)

  4. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Eddie Howe doesn't believe in buses

  5. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Ville Ronka did Pogba > Siggy last week

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      For a hit, I think

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Siggy hatty incoming....

    3. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      DGW's can be utterly deadly. I did Sterling in for Hazard.

  6. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Pva masterclass needed ..

    1. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Praying for a double digit haul.

  7. Murder On Zidanesfloor
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Which budget defender up to 4.6m is best to bring in for Kiko? currently considering Schar, Lascelles, Bamba and ecuele manga

    1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      also Jonny

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Look at Clyne if he can be benched. Cook is another Bournemouth option but unlikely to get attacking returns.

      Next week is ok then they have a horror run. They’ll come into their own from 30 on with good games in blanks 31/3. A decent long term investment and you don’t really want to swap budget defenders.

  8. Rash
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Leeds upto dirty tricks again?

  9. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    https://i.imgur.com/Cz2EfmR.png

    Just in case you hadn't clocked it.

    Schmeichel and Periera is tempting for the run in (Ederson + Digne)

  10. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Cmon Captain Salah!

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      This

    2. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      This

  11. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bit gutted that Batshuayi is on the bench. Thought he would've started this one.

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Tbf that was at best 50:50. Roy is very conservative in bringing in new players. Guaita had to wait an age.

      Also Benteke Zaha Bat and Townsend is almost 4:2:4 - not his style at all really. He’ll get game time but starts will depend on how Benteke goes in the short term anyway.

  12. TAT
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Laporte and Puncheon on for Rash and Auba. Wonder how massive the red arrow will be this GW…

    1. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Even bigger after Lacazette's haul

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Wouldn't mind a Lacazette haul!

  13. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Put Bednarek in front of Digne on my bench. Have a feeling I am going to regret that

  14. Champ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I wonder how Fergie and Pogba would have got on...? Probably wouldn't have signed him so a bit academic really

    1. BIGREDDOG
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      They had a bad relationship he sold him to Juventus

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Is this a joke? SAF was manager when Pogba was sold to Juve. SAF wanted to ease Pogba into the first team slowly, despite his talent. Mina "twa t" Raiola convinced him that was too slow and that he deserved a first team wage quicker, so he ended up leaving.

  15. mo 10 years on FFS? Join my…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    afternoon all. where are people watching the 3pm games nowadays. firstrow and reddit down for me 🙁

  16. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Salah, my capitan. Score a hatty or more 🙂

  17. Sedemuda
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    3.5k already brought Aguero in since the deadline for a blank GW.

  18. JJO
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    TAA will surely be subbed on
    To get some get time before CL game
    Or fully protected and saved for that next game ?

  19. elchilangles
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    the soccer streams sub-reddit has been deleted! Any ideas where else to find the matches online????

    1. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah. Search for a certain bald streamer on twitter.

  20. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Which?

    A) button to boruc, play with 11
    B) sane out, play with 10
    C) lovren to periera, play with 10

  21. Says
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I love that Kyle Martino's hair has its own twitter account https://twitter.com/kylemartinohair