Man U

No Room for Mata: Manchester United’s Best XI to avert a crisis at Southampton?

By soccersweep

Posted on Sep 16, 2015

Draw?

Such are the fine margins between success and failure that Manchester United are now only one defeat from what some will call a crisis.

Because, having succumbed to PSV and Swansea in the last three games, another defeat against Ronald Koeman’s Southampton will leave much of the media pushing the red button.

In truth Manchester United are probably still progressing.

But Louis van Gaal’s obsession with control isn’t yielding the results he would like.

He said after the PSV game:

“We have dominated every game we have played this season. In every game we have been the better team, had most of the chances and now we have lost. A very bad start, it was not necessary.”

But, under Sir Alex, Manchester United regularly ceded the lion’s share of possession but still took the points because they enjoyed the decisive moments of the game. Indeed, allowing the opponent to have the ball would often draw them out for United to hit them on the counter.

Time will tell whether Louis’s philosophy will eventually pay dividends for Manchester United.

But this isn’t the ideal game to go into after a big defeat.

What is for sure is that Louis needs to have his big guns – Carrick and Schweinsteiger – back in the midfield together. They will control the tempo and give Manchester United a solid platform to attack.

In front of them we are giving Herrera the nod at number ten. He was quiet against PSV but we think his best position is behind the striker.

The good news is that Wayne Rooney is likely to recover in time for the game and this means that we may see Martial and Memphis on the wings – where we think they will be most potent right now.

Their pace can be crucial in getting behind the defence and offering Wayne Rooney some decent service.

So here is our best XI for the tricky away encounter at Southampton on Sunday at 16:00 local time.

Manchester United fans: Let’s have your elevens