Manchester United are far from the finished article but they do appear to be going in the right direction. While you certainly wouldn’t call them a ‘settled’ side right now – injuries plus summer ins and outs created much turbulence – there are certain players who are cementing a place in Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United.
And while we certainly wouldn’t call him undroppable Daley Blind is one of those players who has done his prospects at Manchester United no harm at all with his early displays for the club.
So it will be really interesting to see how LvG uses his squad when Michael Carrick returns from injury. He’s one of these players who takes time to recover his form and, at 33, this should be a particularly relevant aspect.
But he’s the sort of technically gifted and understated player that LvG must love and he may feel optimistic about getting a regular place back in the side.
So will Louis accommodate both, change formation or play either/or?
It’s virtually impossible to second guess the Manchester United manager. But after so many forced changes we think that LvG will attempt to steady the ship and add momentum by sticking with the midfield diamond.
For West Brom Blind should start and Carrick will come on to replace him to get some game time at the base of the midfield. But, against Chelsea, we feel that both could be used. In the face of a strong Chelsea side with a dominant midfield, LvG will play both, with Ander Herrera missing out even if he has recovered from injury.
Angel di Maria could easily play on the right of the diamond with Blind on the left in a slightly more cautious formation. This would leave Carrick to resume duties in front of the defence.
The boss could also leave Di Maria on the left and put Carrick in Herrera’s position. But we feel that Blind may be better deployed a bit further forward as he’s fitter at this point, more able to get up and down, and can offer great service into the forwards with that wand of a left foot.
So here’s how things could look when Carrick gets back up to full speed. Manchester United fans: will LvG change formation or drop Blind to accommodate Carrick?
Imran
Oct 8, 2014 at 11:41 pm
With our back four looking volatile, clueless and at times “all at sea” there’s little argument that Carrick would be the better option to provide them some shield. I think it would be honest of me to say that we have missed Carrick big time. Yes, it would be sad to see Blind relegated to the bench, because i really enjoy the attributes and freshness he has contributed to the team. However, it’s not about personal choices here. Instead it’s about what is good for the team.
Imran
Oct 8, 2014 at 11:44 pm
Things not looking promising for Mata though. He can’t get into anyone’s starting line-up. I think he is a world class player, someone we should use and definitely keep!
rocha
Oct 9, 2014 at 6:09 am
what about herera better to remove rvp and use 4-5-1 de gea shaw,rojo, jones,rafel,carrik,blind,di maria,herera,roony,falcao
du gee
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:26 am
well said bro its abt ty LVG drops RVP and let de promising ones ve thier playing tym until he fights bak
Dejinix
Oct 9, 2014 at 6:16 am
This formation is so so terrible.. Definitely without fluidity and without a playmaker.. Chelsea, Arsenal, man city, Liverpool will always have a playmaker in their team to add that special flavour link between the midfield to the strikers.. Carrick, terrible with his pace and with Daley blind not strong enough to hold possession so I would prefer Herrera any day anytime with either of the two(blind or carrick)
Hugo Hemingway
Oct 9, 2014 at 7:16 am
Agree with the above, think Angel di Maria at the tip of the diamond with Herrera and Blind wide each side and Carrick in behind for Chelsea (after he gets some minutes vs West Brom.
Makes for a better team imo vs Chelsea (as Rooney will still be banned), with RvP and Falcao up top (unless LvG wants to use Mata instead of RvP somehow), but with Mata ‘s work rate / tracking back not being quite so good I think he should lose out.
Personally cant see Utd not conceeding vs Chelsea what ever defence Utd put out, so I would actually be tempted with Jones and McNair (at least they can talk to each other fluidly) especially with Carrick and Blind as a shield this makes more sense than the slightly more experienced Rojo going in there.
Its all about what happens at the other end, and if Utd can find a bit of fluidity upfront (esp between RvP and Falcao) we might not do so badly – at least performance wise.
Stevetony
Oct 9, 2014 at 8:48 am
Both will start,it’s very important to future them together
Obi
Oct 9, 2014 at 8:53 am
Ruud Gullit was ryt with RVG he is imposing dutch style of play in united, but in england the defence is considered first then the midfield, that is why morinho succeeds instanta in the Epl, if we had a die hard solid defence we wld hv won d matches we lost cos, whn a little team finds it difficults to attack, they resort to defence and whn u score them first u break their spirit the more, they become confused, thereby loosin the balls to the opponents often, and u become dreadfull whn your team is hard to break especially your defence.
Obi
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:09 am
Do i make sense?
Olayinka
Oct 9, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Wel said but anyhow carrick, blind & harera must play especialy against chelsea
Chris
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:21 am
What makes everybody think Carrick will walk straight back into the team? Carrick was absolutely gash last season and its no coincidence that our midfield is looking more mobile and dynamic since he and Fletcher have been out of the side.
Don’t fix what’s not broke and carry on as we are.
Naod
Oct 10, 2014 at 5:33 am
Well Said
jay
Oct 9, 2014 at 2:45 pm
why would you leave out herrera? for me hes been our best player so far. contributing massively in attack and defense. di maria to play no 10 for the chelsea game. would probably keep a midfield of carrick herrera and blind for the city game as well, with dimaria somewhere further forward
Bagio
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:11 pm
How can people not see that Rooney has no spot on this team?! Carrick and blind Herrera Behind falcao and van persie
Naod
Oct 10, 2014 at 5:32 am
Really? RVP has been poor this season, nd Rooney has been magnificent. How on earth one could drop Rooney, the captain of the team? i suggest as painful as it is to seem Mata being droped, from what i hve seen fron the Everton game, i prefer Rooney in the number 10 position.
Bagio
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:13 pm
Bench Rooney pleaseeeee
Naod
Oct 10, 2014 at 5:28 am
Any formation that does not include Herera in UTD squad is weak. The above formation is as weakest as it can be. Playing with out a play maker, playing Blind is a position that doesn’t suit him. i like Carrick so much nd i accept he’s been the most underrated player in the utd squad, but he’s days are gone and to pick him instead of Herera, i think thats the formation that Morinho would pick for utd against his team.