The more you think about it the more it seems to make sense. Although LvG’s 3-5-2 formation of choice isn’t particularly prevalent in world football right now, it’s worked brilliantly for Holland and could be equally effective for Manchester United.
Because, although Manchester United are famous for playing with conventional wingers, the plain fact is that they don’t have any great ones right now.
Nani and Ashley Young are pony. Kagawa can’t really play there and Antonio Valencia’s effectiveness in beating a man has waned considerably over the last few years. This leaves the brilliant Adnan Januzaj – who doesn’t have the pace to be an old-fashioned winger – as United’s great wide hope.
But with a 3-5-2 Manchester United can use all of their top central players and still get width from their marauding full backs. With 3 centre backs in the team the shackles will be off for players like Luke Shaw, Patrice Evra and Rafael next season – a trio who seem like tailor-made wing backs.
READ ALSO: UNITED’S NEW LINE UP?
Antonio Valencia will also be more effective as a wing back as he has such a great engine.
News late last night suggested that Manchester United will attempt to snare another pacey wing back who has been playing for Holland at The World Cup.
The Daily Mail says:
Manchester United have made an enquiry for Feyenoord right back Daryl Janmaat.
The Holland defender has been attracting interest from Napoli, Spurs, Arsenal and Leicester.
The 24-year-old has one year left on his contract but has already told the club he is leaving this summer, with team-mates Stefan de Vrij and Bruno Martins Indi also expected to depart.
We have to say that Janmaat hasn’t been one of the Holland players who has most impressed us in Brazil. We think that Blind and Martins Indi have been much better performers.
Regular readers will also know that we are massive fans of Manchester United defender Rafael da Silva. With him and Antonio Valencia at wing back (and Phil Jones also able to do a great job there in emergency) we feel that United already have enough cover on the right.
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But let’s see the lad in action. Manchester United fans: keen?
Spanish Red
Jun 28, 2014 at 9:59 am
You are right about Valencia. Since recovering from his broken leg he has lost a yard of pace and a bucket of confidence. He now doesn’t have the desire to tackle and he can’t beat a player.
The other two you mention are potentially OK. At the moment they are both reckless headless chickens, running around seemingly aimlessly, prone to injury, prone to injuring someone, prone to giving away free-kicks and penalties and prone to getting sent off, although Jones has done remarkably well in avoiding this fate. Jones needs to settle in one position, (centre back), so he can concentrate on that role and calm down. Rafael needs to either calm down or go. He isn’t brilliant defensively, although he is a lot better than Evra, and he needs to be more aware of the positions of other players.
If United sign Janmaat then I can’t see Rafael getting in the team.
PRINCE SAMSON EKPETI
Jun 28, 2014 at 12:03 pm
U9TED
It is not don but hope 2 get somtin out we need som 1 wich cn repesent Giggs & 3/2 CB Marco Reus/robben
aloysious kukumba
Jun 28, 2014 at 2:31 pm
specify that formation of 3-5-2 just with examples of player expected to be at united next season.
Ojerinde seun
Jun 28, 2014 at 3:14 pm
Letz wait til agaust