Bored today, so I've drawn-up the look of the squad I'd like to take into next season; nothing particularly insightful, but still boredom temporarily defeated. The best we've played recently was in the basic 4-3-3 formation, so I've stacked the squad up like that, with starters, back-ups and loan players that we could potentially callback when the inevitable injury crisis happens:
Key:
(Player) = Might leave against United's wishes/might allow the player to go if a decent offer came in.
<Player> = Loan-out (with contract extension if necessary).
Players not listed at all would leave (assuming I've not simpy forgotten someone).
(De Gea)/*New Signing*
Valdes
<Johnstone>
--------------------------------*New Signing*--------Smalling----------*New Signing*---------Shaw
---------------------------------Valencia---------------Jones--------------Rojo------------------ -Blind
---------------------------------(Rafael)---------------<McNair>---------<Thorpe>--------------<Blackett>
Carrick
*New Signing*
*New Signing*?
Herrera----------------Di Maria
Pereira----------------Fellaini
Mata----------------------------------Young
Januzaj----------------------------------Memphis
(Lingard)---------------------------------(Nani)
Rooney
(Chicharito)/*New Signing*
(RVP)/*New Signing*
<Wilson>
The priority has to be to find a back-up to Carrick (possibly two, since we're so in need in that vital position). After that then it's right-back that we have to act on; I'd keep Rafael but it looks like he's off, and regardless we can't trust him to stay fit, so a first-choice starter needs to be sourced. Centre-back I'd like someone of the Vidic variety (in regard to toughness) to hopefully make us a bit more solid, closer to what Chelsea have shown this season. Thorpe looks to be off, but I like him so would keep him around for another season or two.
I think Chicharito has a role to play with us still - his speed and work-rate should be useful in the formation, which largely is about opening space for others to attack; the issue is if he's committed to the club, which I doubt at this stage. Letting either him or RVP go might make sense depending on offers and how they themselves feel about things, but they'd have to be replaced, so I'd be very reluctant to let both go - there don't seem to be many strikers available worth the effort this summer, but I'd say we still need a minimum of three to make the single striker formation work over a full season with European games of some sort.
Of course a lot of players can cover more than one position, but I'd then be looking at: i. a new Carrick, ii. a young Carrick, and iii. a right-back as definites; with potentially iv. a goalkeeper if/when DDG confirms he's off, v. a striker to replace Chicharito, vi. a striker to replace RVP.
Should be easy enough
