For the first time in a couple of years Manchester United are beginning to look as if they are approaching a ‘best XI’.
In the modern era, where there is so much football played, the squad is more important than ever.
But, with everyone fit, Louis van Gaal would probably have less trouble picking his strongest eleven for a really big game than ever before.
Luke Shaw would be in the eleven if fit but the length of his expected absence means we can take him out of the equation right now.
The strongest back 5 has to be De Gea, Rojo, Smalling, Jones and Darmian. Blind is unfortunate not to make the team but his lack of natural defensive ability gives Jones the edge.
In the engine room the squad looks very healthy because it has three top players for two positions. Any two from Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin and Carrick would suffice.
But, on current form, we think that the Frenchman and the German are the strongest pair.
The only other decision to make is which players he goes with up top. Martial and Rooney are dead certs.
Then it’s just a question of who you pick out of Herrera, Mata, Memphis and Young.
This is where it gets contentious. We like Juan Mata and his stats have always been good at Manchester United.
But we think that, by the end of the season, the strongest side with the best balance will include Herrera and Memphis – with the Spaniard in the hole and Memphis on the right flank.
The Dutchman has come in for criticism after a patchy start to his Manchester United career. Many United fans would probably pick Mata on the right instead of the mercurial Memphis.
But we think that, ulitmately, Depay’s power, pace and technique will provide compelling evidence that he offers better balance to the team overall. United need his dynamism.
And, after Anthony Martial’s excellent performance on the left flank against Everton, we think that United’s most threatening attack would see Martial and Memphis either side of Rooney, with Herrera making the plays.
So here is Manchester United’s strongest XI according to soccersweep.
United fans: Discuss
gaz
Oct 24, 2015 at 1:46 am
it does look good but perhaps mata should be on the right ?
Essigreb
Oct 24, 2015 at 9:28 am
I would use Valencia on the right. Then you have the pace around Rooney, which Scholes et al says he needs. I would also use Carrick ahead of Schweinsteiger. Other than that, it looks good.
Fabian
Oct 24, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Comment: mata on the bench is not accepted. Cus the team need creativity up front.
M.h.s
Oct 24, 2015 at 3:08 pm
Mata on bench thats not good right now mata is one of our key players
ssebiranda
Oct 24, 2015 at 3:36 pm
Comment:this is the poorest thought out line up I have ever seen. how dare u talk of balance with depay? not creative and defensively poor. how dare u exclude mata the most on form perhaps most talented player in the squad. thank God u are not the coach coz LVG already knows depay is not worthy a start lest he improves. mind u, mata has been rested in two matches coz he has to be fresh if Utd is to have a thing from the derby. next time think.
olamilekan
Oct 24, 2015 at 4:11 pm
Good line up but use Valencia in right
Ahmed
Oct 24, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Comment It’s a very big mistake to remove Juan Mata in United Starting, because Mata is very far better than Memphis. Except if United does not like him, or a selfish interest of the Manager.
Ahmed
Oct 24, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Comment: I don’t there is a sense in dropping Juan Mata in United starting. Mata is very far better than Memphis Depay, is United Manager trying to bench Mata as he did to Rafael? wrong! such thing cannot happen this time around.
Ahmed
Oct 24, 2015 at 4:55 pm
Comment: I don’t think there is a sense in dropping Juan Mata in United starting. Mata is very far better than Memphis Depay, is United Manager trying to bench Mata as he did to Rafael? wrong! such thing cannot happen this time around.
Affi
Oct 24, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Memphis should never start any of man utd games again this season he is not good enough to be a man utd, we lost some games bcos of him this season.
steve
Oct 24, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Comment: with out Mata, manu is no where
paulo
Oct 24, 2015 at 10:21 pm
Comment:I think Valencia has de pace and physical strong than Damien.Than Rooney to play 10 while martial plays top 9.
Ahmey
Oct 24, 2015 at 11:00 pm
Comment:mata is the main man in the forwad attack in united nd shld nt be withdrawn under any circumcissnt.
Stpure
Oct 24, 2015 at 11:03 pm
Comment:the fact is that depay on that right is okay if he gets 2 improve bt certainly give our man mata hs credit due.using marshall on depays wing is nt 2 good might be good now bt u are trying 2 change the guys position it might cause the guy 2 struggle like wayne did converting marshal isnt good.we need top9 thats what He is he should go and score s0me goal.and depay u had better improve it is football nt child game i bliv in him.and no1 seems 2 be talking bout valencia nah that guy at hs age stil gv hs best he needs m0re time up front atleast 30mins every match.my young should also be allowed 2 c0mpete with depay on the flank while r0oney and marshall up fr0nt thats a great 11
Andrew Mogere
Oct 24, 2015 at 11:06 pm
Without The one Mata, there is no creativity. How dare are you replacing Mata with Mephis, the guy who has wasted most of our games. Next time think before…. Mata is undroppable in a game like this. Thanks you are not LVG…..
omotoso blessing
Oct 24, 2015 at 11:17 pm
Comment: no mata and herrera man u is no where
fantahun
Oct 25, 2015 at 2:04 am
Comment: where is mata; z only creative player depay is out of z game i think he is uneccessary man
Tamirat sisay
Oct 25, 2015 at 8:47 am
What about herrera.i think it is better if depay drop with herrera and rooney lead the forward
slan
Oct 27, 2015 at 11:25 pm
Mata for Rooney
Martial on top
Mata Centre
Herrera Right