Nani

i am one of those that suggested a free role, only because the more you watch him the more you see how much more he can be come. he has finally calmed down and does the right things i.e. crosses when he should shoots when there is room and no better option. even his corners we getting attacked well by evans and welbeck yesterday.

quick look at our line up by any other team will have nani as the first name they want. to me he is talentwise the best player on our team to place him on the left wing (his weakest position) is a bit of a waste.

Crossing on the run is possibly the weakest part of Nani's game and that's pretty much the only thing Nani loses by playing on the left rather than the right.

For me based on the way United play and Nani's talents, he should be more effective on the left side than on the right (linking up with Rooney and Welbeck who both drift left, cutting in on to his stronger foot to shoot dribble or play quick one-twos)

I agree with Batmanu that Nani is the best winger in the world (In a 4-4-2 system), a pleasure to watch.

Nani, in the middle, two strikers and two wingers will make the midfield too weak in the middle.

a bit of a soft centre.

Sorry so you guys are suggesting we play a 4-4-1-1? Nani behind Rooney?

Yes Arab Manc, I am

Or maybe even a 4-2-3-1

But I thought we've discovered Rooney can't play up front on his own? He usually shines with a partner next to him ala Welbeck or chicha? He's been getting goals lately with Welbeck or chicha next to him.

The only way to incorporate Nani into a central position and still have some bite in the midfield would see Rooney playing furthest forward. That for me is a bad idea for 2 reasons.

1. Rooney is the heartbeat of the team and is slowly growing into the role that Scholes played in his prime. When Rooney plays well the team play well and to move him out of his preferred position into the striker role where he has a history of getting frustrated just seems silly to me.

2. We have a very promising forward in Welbeck who is coming along nicely. If we put Nani in the middle then Welbeck must be sacrificed with Young/Valencia benefiting from his spot. Now for me he has the ability to become a better player than both Young and Valencia and to stunt his progress would be unwise.

The only time Nani should start in behind a striker is if Rooney is for some reason unavailable.

Arab Manc....

Yes you're right, however, I feel him and Nani have created a brilliant partnership and could help Rooney in being up top. In the Champs Lge final, there was no link between defence and attack and so Rooney and Chicha were rendered obsolete and I feel that Nani could possibly excel there like someone previously mentioned Di Maria did for Real.

Worth a shot at least

Yeah I guess it is about the 4-2-3-1, didn't we try that in the knockout stages with Basle at OT and it didnt work out at all? We ended up 3-3 and what a horrible match that was, I think 4-4-2 is what our squad is used to now. Although the 4-4-1-1 was good for us in europe last year with Hernandez up front and Rooney in the role you suggest Nani should take now. Of course this didnt work in the CL final, but it done good in previous rounds.

yep, have posted this idea in the past, but in my mind a midfield of young, Jones, nani and valencia would be really something..