Man U

Graphic: A United XI with all 5 Gaalacticos to save Mata’s career at Manchester United

United XI JPG

Some team

It’s what they call ‘a nice problem to have’. After looking limp and miles of the pace in the opening fixtures, that old maestro Louis van Gaal has transformed the squad into one which looks genuinely scary again.

Some Manchester United fans think that another midfielder and defender were desperately needed – and the team is certainly still a work in progress. But the idea that van Gaal has signed players in a scattergun manner is surely insulting to one of the best coaches in the world.

He knows exactly what his best team is already. And we think that football is all about attack. Certainly Manchester United’s football philosophy is built on it. So expect excitement and goals from this fantastic new side.

But the question remains, how will LvG squeeze everyone in? Many believe that Mata will have to make way. And we think that this could well be the case. But there is a way of fitting him in too.

LvG may well revert to a 4-3-3 at times this season. But he’s not the sort of guy who gives up on a system after a few bad games. So we think that the 3-5-2 will remain for some time yet.

Angel Di Maria made his debut as a more central midfielder and will play more games there. But Louis van Gaal described him as a winger of the highest level in the summer and we believe that he needs to be deployed out wide where his pace and crossing ability can be exploited. Look at the way he tore Germany apart from the wide areas last week. Manchester United’s strikers desperately need the sort of service that he can provide from wide.

And much of his great work in that game came down the right flank. So we are going to pop him out there as a right wingback in the 3-5-2. Some think that this will be a waste of his talents as he will have to track back instead of doing the damage up top.

But when the 3-5-2 starts working properly the wide men will be pushed much further up the park than we have seen so far – this season it’s looked more like a 5-3-2 with Young and Valencia essentially playing in defence.

But when the back 3 sorts itself out then Shaw and Di Maria can spend more time in the opposition half than their own. And Di Maria has a fantastic engine so he’s actually well-suited to the role.

CLICK FOR DEVASTATING DI MARIA ON THE RIGHT

With RvP and Falcao getting the nod up top you might think that it’s an either or situation with Mata and Rooney. In the biggest games this may be the case. But against the likes of QPR at home why not have Blind anchoring the midfield with Rooney AND Mata ahead of him? In this formation Ander Herrera sits out – but he is still finding fitness and form anyway.

So it doesn’t have to be a question of Mata OR Rooney. In our formation it’s a question of whether you would prefer to have Herrera or Mata playing.

So here it is. Click the graphic below for a full size pic. One of the most attacking formations that you will see. Manchester United fans, let’s have your thoughts. Can this work?

Manchester United (3-5-2) De Gea, Rojo, Smalling, Jones – Shaw, Mata, Blind, Rooney, Di Maria – RvP, Falcao

United XI JPG

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. mosky 09033849580

    Sep 9, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    It won’t work let’s go with 4 4 2 with di maria and januzaj on the wings Rooney and falcao strikers Herrera and blind midfilders Rafael Jones rojo and Shaw.mata and v.persie can come off the bench ..

    • redbob18

      Sep 9, 2014 at 7:40 pm

      I like this team we need to use width Januzaj and Shaw,on the left. Then Falcao , Rooney , RVP , Mata all fighting for two positions. (And they all should keeping an eye on JAMES WILSON)

    • Ian

      Sep 9, 2014 at 7:41 pm

      I agree 100%. Could possibly sacrifice a defender and have 3-4-3 since it’s only QPR at home (famous last words!)

  2. Peter Amallam

    Sep 9, 2014 at 6:47 pm

    That would never work in any case and the players would have time to rest

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Soccersweep is a site dedicated to the beautiful game. We may not always be right, but we aim to offer integrity and insight, reflecting on the modern game in all its glory, greed and grandeur.

92 Languages!

Contact

Copyright © 2016 Soccersweep. Soccersweep is based in Clapham South, London, UK.

To Top