What we liked about pre-season was that Louis van Gaal was clearly trying to get a settled team together as early as possible.
With the two legged Champions League qualifier being played within the first few weeks of the season, the Manchester United boss attempted to bed in his new players quickly so that they would have a good run up to these massive games.
And they have all settled well.
Matteo Darmian and Memphis Depay look like nailed on starters for Tottenham.
The midfield is a little more tricky to predict and, for the first time in recent history, Manchester United have a problem of who to leave out of the engine room.
We feel that Michael Carrick’s displays in pre-season have made him a shoe-in for the first place in the midfield.
So it’s a straight fight between Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin for the second spot.
The Frenchman has a long career ahead of him and, when fit, the German surely has to start.
Angel di Maria was on the bench for the game against PSG but, even if he does stay at Manchester United, he may not have enough minutes under his belt to start the season.
One surprise change that we would make is to put Andreas Pereira in for Ashley Young.
Pereira simply offers more guile and quality than the Englishman.
With all this in mind, here is our strongest and most likely Manchester United XI to start against Tottenham – fitness permitting of course.
Manchester United fans: let’s have your elevens
Harv
Jul 31, 2015 at 11:00 pm
United will be playing 4-3-3, not 4-2-3-1. De Gea, Darmian Smalling Blind Shaw, Schneiderlin Carrick Young, Mata Roonster Memphis. Don’t be too concerned about the starting places of Schneiderlin, Young, Mata and Memphis because Van Gaal’s slightly altered version of Total Football has the defensive midfielder (Carrick) and the central striker (Roonster) staying in their positions at all times and the four other players will continually switch roles and positions during the match. This side will also be able to play 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 without any problems.
edi
Aug 1, 2015 at 11:25 pm
a 4-2-3-1 will be better de dea.,damien,jones,rojo,shaw,carrick,shniederlin,depay,matta,valenci,rooney
jmb53
Aug 2, 2015 at 3:12 am
Anyone putting Carrick and Schweinsteiger together in midfield …did not see the preseason tour!!! Carrick is 34 and Schweinsteiger plays like he is 50!