Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is not expected to feature after suffering a knee injury before the Europa League loss to FC Midtjylland.
He became the 14th player on United’s injury list, which includes captain Wayne Rooney,
Shrewsbury’s former Manchester United midfielder Larnell Cole returns to the squad after three games out with a groin injury.
Manager Micky Mellon also confirmed defender Jack Grimmer will be fit.
Editor’s Note: The Louis Van Gaal Job-O-Meter has certainly swung back the other way as of late, with defeats to Sunderland in the Premier League and Midtjylland in the Europa League we are seemingly back at the “One more defeat and it’s the sack” stage, will Shrewsbury be able to put the final nail in Van Gaal’s employment coffin.
It hasn’t been a good week for United with the two aforementioned defeats and injuries to both Wayne Rooney and David De Gea adding to Van Gaal’s selection woes. De Gea will only be out for a few more days but with Rooney set to be out for 6 weeks, it all but ends their chances of a Top 4 place come the end of the season.
With 14 players out for Tonight’s clash, it’s going to be a makeshift side that again goes out for United but they still should have enough top class personnel out their on the pitch it’s just that they all seem to be underperforming
Their performance on Thursday against the Danish Champions was underwhelming to say the lost and certainly drew the ire of the travelling fans who would have had to of forked out up to £71 to watch United lose. Although the tickets will be cheaper tonight they certainly can’t have a repeat of that performance.
Some United fans have almost got to the point of celebrating any defeat as it means Van Gaal is one step closer to the exit door. A dichotomy for them tonight perhaps, potential silverware of the Manager getting the sack. Some fans may chose the latter after some of the performances they have witnessed as of late.
In the previous round, United did show glimpses of how they can play with a classy win over Championship side Derby County. It could have been a potential banana skin but they overcame that challenge with ease.
Tonight they go up against a Shrewsbury side who beat Sheffield Wednesday at home in the previous round in dramatic circumstances, a 97th Minute winner was rewarded with this home tie in front of the TV Cameras. What price would you get on another upset tonight?
Shrewsbury have nothing to lose and the pressure is certainly not on them tonight, can they continue this Cup fairytale but taking a major Premier League scalp. They’ll have to get United’s faces and try to unsettle an already nervy team if they have any chance of progressing further.
Shrewsbury are currently battling to stay up in League One with the club taking the last relegation place of 21st in the table, so Tonight will be a welcome break from the bid to beat the drop at the end of the season.
Unfortunately for them and maybe some United fans I think their Cup run comes to and end Tonight and Louis Van Gaal will keep his job for at least another week. United may have to put out a depleted side but they should have just enough to overcome this challenge. They can’t lose three games in a row, can they?
