Hello
I for one believe that Shinji shouldn't be written off as a failure just yet.
He has shown in glimpses that he has the technical ability and quality to play as a number 10. Ofcourse Rooney/RVP will not be displaced from the starting line up (and on current form rightly so) but I would like us to try something like....
...........Rooney...RVP........
................Kagawa............
.... ...Carrick......Cleverly
..................Jones.................
Evra....Vidic....Smalling..Raf
..................DDG................
This formation has probably surfaced on ja606 previously as a 4-3-3 or something to that but effect but I am growing exasperated at seeing Valenica's name on the team sheet over Adnan and Nani to a lesser extent.
Valencia has become hesitant, predictable and cumbersome on the ball. He slows our play no end. People argue that he affords us defensive stability but Nani can also track back.
Jones is a big game player. He bossed the midfield in the first half against arsenul and was a key player against Madrid last year. I don't wish to tempt fate but we have a ready made midfield destroyer right there.
Against arsenul it was evident that Moyes was happy to give them the bulk of possession but the few times we did create chances we created some interesting 'triangles' particularly on the left with Evra, Kagawa and Rooney coming to mind (as per Sociedad). Kagawa is instinctively a number 10 and he is inclined to drift into the middle of the park. And why not when our wingplay has been poor for the best part of 18 months? Evra/RB can provide the width that we need (Arsenul had no natural width apart from Sagna), and this victory will bring back some of that Old Trafford fear factor. Against teams that park the bus we need to be able to stretch teams and get behind defences- Kagawa is made for this. His passing and close proximity control is second to none at Utd and with Rooneys work rate and RVP clever diagonal runs we have the fire power to devastate any defence. RVP/Rooney and Kagawa can play together to form a more than useful front 3. Kagawa is used to pressing high up the pitch from his Dortmund days and this is something Rooney and RVP were both doing on Sunday- Rooney in particular defended from the front and Kagawa is able to do the same.
This is turning into an essay. For champs league/big league games a midfield diamond could work. We could easily drop one of Carrick/Clevs for Adnan should we play lesser quality opposition and revert to a 4-2-2-2.
The Kagawa Konundrum
posted on 11/11/13
As long as Kagawa is kept to the left then I don't really see much of a future which is sad because he has the ability to be incredibly effective for a top team through the middle.
For a long time I've not been particularity happy with our play and yesterday although the result was great it again showed how we have become a teams who priority against the big teams is to contain. Of course that's fine and yesterday worked and got us the result.
Maybe I just sound spoilt after so many years of exciting winning football but I do believe we should be up there with the best taking games to opponents, making them think about how to contain us. Rooney's performance in a way perfectly illustrates what we have now become, although he is an attacker it was his work rate and determination that were highlighted most, in terms of actual attacking play during open play he offered very little.
For me looking at the best teams over the past few years (most notably Bayern, Barca and Dortmund) there is a balance of hard work and pressing with great attacking football which we seem to lack.
I like the look of the OPs line up, maybe it could work, I would probably swap Carrick and Jones, allowing Carrick to act as a screen to the defence and giving Jones more license to move as he has the energy.
posted on 11/11/13
Don't see Kagawa fitting into our best 11, ever!
posted on 11/11/13
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - Class of '92 v Les Infantes '13 (U2958)
posted 59 minutes ago
The thing is, Rooney spent a good deal of time on the left, yesterday... Yet Kagawa was still ineffective.
If we are gonna get any joy out of the guy, it has to be at the expense of Rooney or RVP. Packing the centre will not help him, as we don't have the players to play tica taka
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I'm not suggesting we try and play tika/taka. Its just an alternative, though I can see your point.
Its Veron all over again. World class talent. Needs to be the fulcrum of the team but is having to squeeze in wherever and whenever.
As a side note, I can't recall Valencia doing a single positive thing yesterday. Truly awful performance.
posted on 11/11/13
yeah valencias crossing was embarrassing, it was equally as bad as smallings, cant really blame smalling though as hes a centre back - even though he should be able to cross a ball seeing as hes a professional footballer but still.
i can cross a ball and i have to pay to play football winds me up so much.
posted on 11/11/13
Valencia needs to be dropped asap. Nani and Zaha should be fighting for that spot.
posted on 11/11/13
same Nani who was boo'd off against Stoke.... Imagine him rolling around crying against Arsenal, could have been dangerous.
Not saying Valencia is any better, the memory's seem a bit short.
posted on 11/11/13
Nani is no better than Valencia. Has much more skill but no brain so renders it pointless.
He's mr inconsistent.
Less said about Mr Young the better.
All 3 look really really really ordinary / poor players. Very lucky to still be United players.
posted on 11/11/13
comment by Stretford_Ender85 (U10955)
posted 1 minute ago
Nani is no better than Valencia. Has much more skill but no brain so renders it pointless.
He's mr inconsistent.
Less said about Mr Young the better.
All 3 look really really really ordinary / poor players. Very lucky to still be United players.
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I disagree, at least nani can cross a ball. He only has himself to blame with the play acting stuff but he's wayyyyyyyyy better than Valencia offensively.
he always gets unfairly dropped for weeks on end and then when he comes back people expect wonders whereas Valencia can just play continuously sheet and be confident he's going to start the next game.
posted on 11/11/13
how can you say that he was unfairly dropped after the Stoke game?
Moyes has given him a good run, and he did ok... not the amazing form some people suggest, but he was looking good.... But the Stoke shambles has rightly bought him some time on the bench.
posted on 11/11/13
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - Class of '92 v Les Infantes '13 (U2958)
posted 3 minutes ago
how can you say that he was unfairly dropped after the Stoke game?
Moyes has given him a good run, and he did ok... not the amazing form some people suggest, but he was looking good.... But the Stoke shambles has rightly bought him some time on the bench.
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I said he only has himself to blame after the play acting.
I am including last year in this too...
Although this season he has been good, not amazing as you say but good, gaining confidence.
I just hope he gets another chance and doesn't feck it though.