No.

what we currently set up is not working MU1982

We need a good defence and a striker making runs and players who can pick him up

and a midfielder who can run box to box ala Valencia

methinks this would work

I would have put RVP up top but I know the rooney lovein would be all over this so leave them both out

Moyes needs to drop one of Rooney or RvP, and play Mata centrally.

My team is how I'd go...


DDG

Rafael Jones smalling evra

Carrick Fellaini

Valencia Mata Nani

Rooney

I understand what you are trying to say with Valencia there but he simply wouldn't work. Just because he can run up and down a pitch doesn't mean he is capable of winning balls and working in tight spaces and providing the ball to others. He has no left foot whatsoever, working in the middle time on the ball is sparse, it's nothing like operating on the wings.

If you want to play that formation then Jones instead would work better, but you still have the problem of lack of width. Evra defensively is usless these days, he needs adequate protection, as does Rafael if you want to utilise his offensive play.

I get the formation, I just can't work out why you think a crap winger would be a great central midfielder. Djemba Djemba could run all day but wasn't worth a carrot.

Great midfields used to have a pivot and pacy players playing round them, you're suggesting planting two tree trunks on either flank and letting a headless chicken run up and down between them.

If we was to play a team to our strengths:

I'd personally put Rafael as RW as he's the only one that can genuinely cross

I'd put Hernandez up front but only behind a 3 of Januzaj, Mata and Kagawa who all look for the killer ball and would love his anticipation and movement in the box

I'd place Jones in DM sadly, because he's the only one who has the enegy, mobility and tackling ability in there.

I'd also place Valencia outside the stadium, permanently. He can polish the statues!

Valencia should have his contract terminated.

For you guys, I still think a 352 suits the players the best and gives the best (you could say only...)possibility of Rooney/RVP/Mata working.

De Gea

Jones Vidic Smalling

Rafael Evra
Carrick Fellaini

Mata

Rooney RVP

You'll rip us to shreds if we play that against you, Melts, not much tracking back from the mobile players, and glacier like movement from the midfield two <shudders>.

Of course, the alternative is to play a different system, in which case you'll still rip us to shreds.

I'd go:

--------------------DDG

Rafael---Smalling---Jones---Evra

----------Cleverley---Fellaini

-------Mata---Rooney---Kagawa

--------------Welbeck


Or alternatively:

-------------------DDG

Rafael---Smalling---Jones---Evra

-----------------Carrick
--------Cleverley---Fellaini

----Mata-----------------Welbeck

---------------Rooney


Or, being totally self-indulgent; an Ajax circa 1996 formation:

-------------------DDG

-----Smalling---Jones---Evans

-----------------Carrick
------Cleverley-------Fellaini
------------------Mata

Valencia-------------------Januzaj

---------------Rooney

Not sure Post, it would take a lot of getting used to, but at least it gives a firmer footing for your forward players. The big issue I see with you guys this year is the space between your lines which other teams can exploit.

I've got a feeling that the derby might go differently to how some suggest. Recently, it seems whoever is doing better in the league at the time loses it and it has always been a great leveller!

What would be our style of play with that team you've suggested OP?

One of the biggest problems we have is the lack of pace in the side when those who are considered our best players play which prevents us from playing at the kind of tempo United are renowned for and having good movement up front.

We lack pace in midfield, in the wide areas when Januzaj and Mata play and when RVP plays up front but unfortunately the players who do have pace, more so the wide players, don't possess an awful lot of quality on the ball apart from Nani.

Having Januzaj, Mata and Kagawa behind a striker sounds good in theory but I'd prefer at least one player in that 3 who is more dynamic.

Our massive problem is that we don't get behind their fullbacks any more. Innefectual passes are played out to Januzaj etc. on the flanks and they're always left having to beat their full back every time. Is it any wonder they have to slow the game down by coming inside/backwards? It isn't like anyone breaks out of midfield to support the wingers. Frustrating.

TRS that lack of pace is the reason for not having wingers but having Valencia a a basically ramires type workhorse

Our general style over the years has been wingers and pace and quick delivery to the strikers. We simply don't have the personnel for that now

having a slow mf has meant we always look over run as the wingers will always be caught out of position as no one moves up with them

with that set up the front three can stay up front and the have Valencia as someone who joins the two without carrick having to go up

or I am just desperate

nearly post - I give you ramires. headless but vital to how Chelsea play. does the donkey work so that the likes of hazard can stay up front and even lamps can play where he has done

I think the problem with the team you've given is that apart from Hernandez, there is little pace in the side and there wouldn't be much movement in behind or out wide and given that the supporting players aren't that quick and Hernandez isn't the best at holding up the ball and bringing others into play, I think we might struggle to sustain attacks with that line-up.

And besides, the players look like they're struggling to understand their roles in what is a formation they've been used to for quite sometime now, I doubt they'd understand what to do playing 4-3-2-1.

Hmm... I bet my future house valencia would have been a revelation in central midfield, like a very skillful ramires.

Should go all out to Sign Ricardo Rodriguez and Lars Bender for next season, two REALISTIC signings instead of the ones quoted as being interested in

redas - mate Valencia to my knowledge plays that role for his national team and did so for wigan too if I recall correctly

tbh park was a 10 for country and excelled and was like kagawa prior to joining united


TRS its the lack of pace that is the worry and hence that team mate. we have a great holding striker in RVP but he doesn't get the ball and tbh we wouldnt need one with kagawa andmata just behind they do that well. we simply need a n inzaghi type to put ball in net

Valencia in CM. I can see how that would work if Valencia had one single attribute of a CM player.

As he doesn't we can assume you are either high or just daft.

TRS its the lack of pace that is the worry and hence that team mate. we have a great holding striker in RVP but he doesn't get the ball and tbh we wouldnt need one with kagawa andmata just behind they do that well. we simply need a n inzaghi type to put ball in net

----------------------------------------

I just don't see it being a really effective way of playing. You're relying an awful lot on Hernandez to make it work which I don't think you should be doing. The number of times he's caught offside would be a problem considering Hernandez timing his runs right seems to be a big part of the way you want to play.

VC - except he ha played and played well in that role outside of UTD


TRS - I get you tbh, however I do think strikers by nature are offside a lot ie owen, yet heskey was fundamental to oweb in that he was the knock it down for owen to run onto

just look at how many times RVP was offside recently and all because he makes runs and isn't spotted quick enough. When he is its fantastic

scholes could pick hernandez and I believe kagawa and mata can too

I'd love to see Hernandez as a main striker option again. Him and Rooney worked well together in his debut season and lead to the league.

Hernandez would benefit more in my mind from creative attacking mids who can find him running in behind space and I also think he's better in the air than Wayne or robin.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
Valencia in CM. I can see how that would work if
Valencia had one single attribute of a CM player.
As he doesn't we can assume you are either high
or just daft.

***************
Some idiot did that with giggs for almost 10 yrs. And valencia has Played in central roles for wigan and country. But you think speaking without thinking gruffly makes you sound right.