Would absolutely love to see this team:
de Gea
Shaw Rojo Jones Rafael
Welbeck Herrera
Mata
Rooney-----------Di Maria
RVP
Subs: Amos, Januzaj, Smalling, Carrick, Powell/Pereira, Wilson, Evans. - lets look to the future
Playing this team has many benefits IMO:
1) Defence looks more solid, with 4 at the back we would hopefully be able to start off some kind of rhythm as to our starting 4 every game. - Something which we lacked last year and seem to be finding trouble with this season, too. Rojo and Jones would be solid enough, and with Shaw and Rafael playing as attacking full-backs instead of wing-backs it gives us that extra defensive cover, also.
2) Welbeck is happy - or so I hope. Playing Danny in a Box-to-Box kind of roll has a couple of benefits - he is fast so definitely has the legs for it, he is great at holding up play, good on the ball, good at winning the ball back and is a determined individual too. His passing could do with some work, but the combined benefits of keeping him happy in a roll that he could grow into under LVG and keeping Fletch & Cleverley our of our team - who at the moment are playing terribly, it would be well worth it.
3) We have pace - Both Danny and di Maria possess great acceleration and overall speed. We have been moaning about how immobile and slow we look in our build-up play. However, with this formation we would see pace coming from both the midfield and attack due to Welbeck and di Maria respectively. Not only would this make teams more scared of us again, but it would also contribute to the defensive side of our game, too, as both players are hard workers who can win the ball back and keep up with an opponent on the counter.
4) The team is fairly young - only Rooney and Rvp are over 26 years old and therefore we can grow as a unit as opposed to placing older players such as Young, Valencia and Fletcher in our team. Wilson on the bench will eventually replace RVP come 2016 or so, while Januzaj should be competing with Rooney for his spot in the above lineup already IMO.
Misc benefits) - 4 english players for those of you who like that, de Gea more comfortable having a settled back 4 in front of him, plays to our players strengths, attacking lineup and formation, frees up more space for Wilson to take over from RVP as our starting striker (as Rooney, Rvp & Welbeck already in team - therefore moving him up pecking order), van Gaal and players already very familiar with 4-3-3, meaning an improvement in results would be likely.
----
Weaknesses) -
Such an attacking lineup poses defensive vulnerabilities but as stated above, team is full of hard workers a couple of which who are lightning quick, too. - This is bolded because our team already has defensive vulnerabilities, and admittedly, this is a concern. I do, however, believe LVG could work something out.
Rooney is out wide which we all know, isn't perhaps the best of ideas. However we have Januzaj if his form starts to dip, or we could always put him up top and sub Rvp for Januzaj too. Essentially we have options - which is imperative.
Welbeck would also take time to accustom himself into a CM Box-to-Box roll, but with Fletch and Cleverley playing so badly at the mo, I doubt he would be much worse.
Some of you, I completely understand will think the idea of Welbz in CM is ludicrous, but weirder things have happened and I reckon it would be a pleasant surprise if utilised.
Edit: just realised Shaw is still injured - think of this for the long-term.
Phil Jones
David de Gea
Tyler Blackett
Anderson
Antonio Valencia
Ashley Young
replaced by Anderson
replaced by Adnan Januzaj
replaced by Danny Welbeck
