Think we would benefit majorly by mainly playing a settled side. I know it has been very difficult considering we have had a few injuries so the need to chop and change has been present, but with a fully fit squad to choose from, what would be your strongest eleven currently?
I wouldn't say there is a stand out formation that we absolutely MUST play either. You would normally associate United with a 4-4-2 or one of its variants, and I would say that a 4-1-2-1-2 diamond formation suits us best currently. I think other than Di Maria and Januzaj, our wide options aren't the greatest. Will be interesting to see if Nani can rebuild himself at Sporting and play himself back into contention at Utd.
Would definitely ditch the 3-4-1-2, looked far too complex and alien to our players and would be my least favourite system going forward.
We have the players for 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 but what suits us most atm is a 4-1-2-1-2 diamond. I like how it has given us much more control in midfield, and our attacking play is starting to resemble something that we want to see. It is quite a flexible formation, the forwards can run the channels, the central midfielders can push wide or get forward knowing they have a holding midfielder sitting. With Di Maria, we also have a player who can come from central positions and go wide either side, a valuable tactic which makes him much harder to mark imo. I actually prefer him centrally to out wide.
De Gea
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw
Blind
Herrera Di Maria
Fellaini
Rooney Falcao
That would be a side that I'd be tempted to experiment with for a while. We have a nice mix of flair and solidity and with that formation, it has the flexibility to change into a flat 4-4-2 with wingers, a 4-3-1-2, a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3.
I wouldn't normally have a strongest eleven with Fellaini in it, but you can't argue he hasn't looked very much improved in the last two games. He offers something different to what we have, a physical nuisance and he has been looking good playing further forward rather than a restricted defensive midfielder. I'd reward him and give him a run in the side for a bit to see if he can continue. If not, you have the likes of Mata and Januzaj vying for that position.
Wouldn't mind seeing that side play against City if I'm honest. I'd take a draw but with our attacking options, we can go into the game thinking that we have the players capable of getting a victory? Why not? I do think they will be a harder test than Chelsea however and City are still the team to beat for me. Chelsea are playing to their maximum potential IMO and City are yet to hit their best.
So with everything considered and our current form taken into question, what formation and eleven players would you like to see us play for the next few weeks?
I think a settled side will help us look much better defensively and once we can master that part of our game, we can start to pick up more wins and claim one of those Champions league spots. Its way too premature to be thinking about the league title this season.
Current Strongest Eleven.
posted on 27/10/14
...............................DDG
Rafael............Jones.........Smalling........Rojo
...........................Carrick
...................Herrera...............Blind
..............Rooney.....................Di Maria
.............................Falcao
Valdes *
Evans
Shaw
Valencia
Mata
Januzaj
RvP
This team wouldn't ship stupid goals, I'm convinced.
With Di Maria and Rooney interchanging and Falcao banging them in, goals wouldn't be a problem.
And that is the strongest midfield we've had since the Carrick, Hargreaves and Scholes days.
Last but not least, what a bench! Finally a bench filled with quality.
posted on 27/10/14
I am a bed wetting cretin when it comes to trying to outguess how the manager is going to set up, I usually don't bother, and won't again, unless someone wants some comedy value,
........................
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 4 days ago
DDG
Raf Jones Rojo Shaw
Carrick Blind
Valencia Herrera ADM
Falcao
6 right out of 11
posted on 27/10/14
Think a Rooney in the Ronaldo era would have been fine as an inside forward but his game has changed dramatically since then.
-----------------------------
My concern in there is no way to play rooney centrally, behind a striker, without reverting back to a 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2... A formation that I don't think we have the wingers or midfielders to really get us back to the top table.
If we were to add someone like Vidal and Reus... We could probably play that system again and compete for the PL and CL.
posted on 27/10/14
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 3 minutes ago
I am a bed wetting cretin when it comes to trying to outguess how the manager is going to set up, I usually don't bother, and won't again, unless someone wants some comedy value,
........................
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 4 days ago
DDG
Raf Jones Rojo Shaw
Carrick Blind
Valencia Herrera ADM
Falcao
6 right out of 11
----------------------------------------------------------------------
would've been 8 from 11 if Jones hadn't injured himself and Falcao in training............apparently.
posted on 27/10/14
Read it and weep, VC.... 2 out, and only due to injuries... I am LvG!
--------------------------
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - twice the posts in half the time (U2958)
posted 4 days ago
If Herrera/Carrick are still not fit, i;d play the below... If one is fit, swap for Mata.
---------------DDG-------------------
Rafael, Jones, Smalling, Shaw
---------------Blind------------------
---------Mata, Fellaini-------------
---Januzaj, Falcao, Di Maria---
posted on 27/10/14
Busby. Quite like the look of your eleven too.
Nice direct element to it with width and a solid base.
Long term, I think LvG will have us playing this formation.
posted on 27/10/14
Ji
posted on 27/10/14
---------------DDG-------------------
Rafael, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw
-----------Herrera, Blind-----------
---Adnan, Rooney, Angel-------
-------------, Falcao------------------
biggest point of debate is dropping rvp and mata. Drop Rvp cos he is lazy and as shown lil interest in forming a partnership up front.Mata is no where near as good as rooney in general play or end product.
posted on 27/10/14
Not sure exactly what our strongest starting 11 is these things change from game to game depending on the opposition and whether it'sa home or away game. Against City at the week-end i'd like to see us line up as follows:-
.................De Gea...............
..Rafael...Smalling..Rojo...Shaw..
..........Herrera.......Blind.........
.................Fellaini................
.........Rooney.........Di Maria.....
...................Falcao..............
SUBS:- Lindegaard / RVP / Mata / Valencia / Blackett / Carrick / Januzaj
I believe that team can realistically win the game. Not saying they will win it but there's more than enough talent in there to worry City and ultimately get the victory. Pretty strong bench as well.
posted on 27/10/14
DDg
Rafael smalling rojo shaw
Herrera blind carrick
Rooney falcao do Maria