Our strongest XI

..DDG

AWB Maguire - Shaw Williams

Bruno - McTominay - Fred - Pogba

..............Martial - Rashford
Subs
James
Lindelof
Tuanzebe
Garner
Gomes
Chong
Romero
 
I posted this in the Ole thread but I think that we still don't have a clear idea of our best 11 despite people saying injuries have prevented us (in some respects they have, in others no).

There are too many places in this team that aren't nailed down in terms of starters to say that we've been unable to field a consistent quality 11 and I've seen worse injury periods at United by far. Rashford and Martial have undeniably been the biggest misses and that has been a factor but I really think Pogba brings as many problems as he solves in a midfield two. For a good 4 or 5 positions you can take one player out of this team and the replacement can perform at the same consistency (good/average to poor). I don't see an established 11 that would definitely play if everyone was fit and would add another ten points to the league table, although hopefully the Bruno transfer helps with this.

The number 10 position (in theory) should be greatly improved. The midfield is anyone's guess but Fred plus 1 is probably the most popular. In a 3-5-2 I'd go with this (but i'm somewhat sceptical);

DDG
AWB
Maguire
Lindelof
Shaw
Williams

Fred
Matic
Bruno or Pogba

Martial
Rashford

The RW spot is no longer a big problem in this system, and Pogba/Bruno should add more creativity. It doesn't look super exciting though as most of that team is pure function over attacking intent. I guess we'll see if Pogba and Bruno can play in the same team effectively.
 
Right now

de Gea
Wan-Bissaka Maguire Lindelof
Dalot Fred Matic Williams
Fernandes
Greenwood Martial
​
With everyone fit

de Gea
Wan-Bissaka Lindelof Maguire Williams
Fred
Fernandes Pogba
Greenwood Martial Rashford
​
Next Season (if we are going to challenge for the title)

de Gea
Wan-Bissaka New CB Maguire New LB
New CM Fred
New RW Fernandes Rashford
New CF
​
5 new starters still needed (assuming Pogba leaves)
 
De Gea- AWB, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw- Pogba, Fred, Bruno - new Rw, Martial, Rashford. And for me, it looks great.

How things are going on so far it will be next season:
Henderson- AWB( Laird), Tuanzebe( Jones), Maguire( Smalling) Williams( Shaw) -McT( Garner), Bruno( Lingard), Longstaff( Rice)- James, Greenwood( King), Rashford( Gomes).

De gea- to Juve
Martial- to Bayern
Pogba- to Real
Lindelof- to Barca
Fred- to Inter
 
Our strongest XI isnt that bad actually imo

something like:
.............................................De Gea.........................................
AWB............Lindeloff..............................Maguire..........Shaw
...........................................Mctominy......................................
........................Fernandes.......................Pogba......................
......James..........................Rashford........................Martial...

But our back ups look frankly awful compared to a lot of the other top clubs:

...........................................Romero.........................................
..............Jones...................Bailly............Tuanzebe................
Dalot..................Fred...................Periera....................Williams
..............Mata....................Greenwood...........Lingaard...........
 
Romero
AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
Bruno Matic Fred Pogba
Rashford Martial
 
sun_tzu said:
Our strongest XI isnt that bad actually imo

something like:
.............................................De Gea.........................................
AWB............Lindeloff..............................Maguire..........Shaw
...........................................Mctominy......................................
........................Fernandes.......................Pogba......................
......James..........................Rashford........................Martial...

But our back ups look frankly awful compared to a lot of the other top clubs:

...........................................Romero.........................................
..............Jones...................Bailly............Tuanzebe................
Dalot..................Fred...................Periera....................Williams
..............Mata....................Greenwood...........Lingaard...........
Click to expand...

Still won't battle for the title with that team with Shaw, Scott, Martial, Victor,James and AWB. Definitely get top four though.

If we replaced James, Martial and Scott might have a chance.
 
I absolutely hate a 5-3-2 formation. And don't kid yourself. It is a 5-3-2 NOT a 3-5-2. The formation is way too defensive and our FB's don't offer the proper play in attack to make it work. The only way it is a 3-5-2 and not a 5-3-2 is if we play with one centre half and 2 FB's and that would be suicide. All this 5-3-2 crap is just Ole trying to get 2 strikers on the pitch. Well if that's the case, then why not play a 4-4-2? I'm not asking for a 4-4-2 against every team, but definitely against most of the teams in the league. Our biggest problem against the crap teams is we can't break them down despits having 70% possession. If we went to a 4-4-2 we would have less possession which would open up space to counter attack. Either way, assuming everyone is fit and without counting on Pogba, this is our best formation

-----------------------------------------De Gea----------------------------------------
AWB--------------Lindeloff------------------Maguire--------------Shaw
------------------------McTominay---------Fred-------------------------------
James----------------------------Bruno-------------------------Rashford
-------------------------------------Martial---------------------------------------

I know that many are calling for Williams over Shaw, but I just don't like a right footed player at LB. It worked with Irwin, but for the most part a right footer should be at RB, overlapping his winger and whipping in crosses. With that being said, if we insist on playing a 5-3-2 and with the players we have available, I would line up like so:

---------------------------------------------De Gea--------------------------------------------
Williams------AWB-------------Maguire----------Lindeloff----------Shaw
--------------------------Fred---------------------Matic---------------------------------
--------------------------------------Bruno-------------------------------------------
--------------------James---------------------Martial-------------------------------
 
Rozay said:
6th.
Click to expand...
:lol:

You're not wrong.

I think with a different manager that line-up could potentially crack the top four, depending on the quality of that X player new-signing, but no chance with the current managers at the wheel.
 
Irwin99 said:
I posted this in the Ole thread but I think that we still don't have a clear idea of our best 11 despite people saying injuries have prevented us (in some respects they have, in others no).
Click to expand...

Yeah you're going to have to explain that one
 
4-3-3

.....................DDG

Bissaka - Tuanzebe - Maguire - Williams

........................Matic

.......Fernandes ....... Pogba

....James - Martial - Rashford
 
charlenefan said:
Yeah you're going to have to explain that one
Click to expand...

I just did. Read below:

For a good 4 or 5 positions you can take one player out of this team and the replacement can perform at the same consistency (good/average to poor). I don't see an established 11 that would definitely play if everyone was fit and would add another ten points to the league table, although hopefully now the Bruno transfer helps with one of those positions.

People now argue (with some good reason) that Matic complements the team better than McTominay, others that Fred and Mctominay are a better midfield than McT and Pogba, and so on. Can you really name a first choice midfield that you'd say for certain are the best combination. Injuries to Mctominay and Matic have not been as significant as some make out because there simply isn't the quality there that will make a massive difference.

People said we had our best team available at the start of the season and guess what, we got 5 points from 4 games with Pogba, Martial and Rashford on the pitch. Our strongest 11 in terms of quality and balance is still a mystery at this point IMO. Injuries don't detract from the fact that we probably don't know our best team still.
 
Irwin99 said:
I just did. Read below:

For a good 4 or 5 positions you can take one player out of this team and the replacement can perform at the same consistency (good/average to poor). I don't see an established 11 that would definitely play if everyone was fit and would add another ten points to the league table, although hopefully now the Bruno transfer helps with one of those positions.

People now argue (with some good reason) that Matic complements the team better than McTominay, others that Fred and Mctominay are a better midfield than McT and Pogba, and so on. Can you really name a first choice midfield that you'd say for certain are the best combination. Injuries to Mctominay and Matic have not been as significant as some make out because there simply isn't the quality there that will make a massive difference.

People said we had our best team available at the start of the season and guess what, we got 5 points from 4 games with Pogba, Martial and Rashford on the pitch. Our strongest 11 in terms of quality and balance is still a mystery at this point IMO. Injuries don't detract from the fact that we probably don't know our best team still.
Click to expand...

Not sure who these people are that you keep referring to but we've got 90 minutes out of our strongest XI once this season

You also seem to use the fact that others have stepped up as a criticism which is just mental. I guess you'd of preferred the likes of Matic to have stayed shite?
 
With everyone fit what would stop us playing the 3241 formation man city use with mahrez and sterling as their wide men rather than actual fullbacks and playing de bruyne and Silva behind aguero.

I would say we would have harder working players using such a formation and a better back 3. We could use James on the right and rashford on the left wing and pogba and Fernandes as the attacking midfielders with mctominay and fred sitting behind them and martial up top.
 
DDG

AWB - - - - MAGUIRE - - - - - AXEL - - - - WILLIAMS

FRED - - - - - - SCOTT

JAMES - - - - - - - - - - BRUNO - - - - - - - - MARTIAL

IGHALO ​
 
—Awb——Lindelof——-Maguire——-Williams

——————-————-Matic————————

————-———-Bruno——Fred——————-

——Greenwood— -Ighalo——Martial———
 
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With everyone healthy, I think it might be:

Rashford--------Martial---------------------
-----------------------------Bruno-----------------
Williams----Pogba---Fred------James
---------Lindelof-Maguire--AWB----------

We'd have wide players eager to get forward, 3 proper defenders and Fred to give Pogba the support needed to play him in a 2 man midfield. If the game is going poorly or we need a goal you just shift James to LW and Bruno tucked in on the right and we're playing a 4-4-2.

I could be talked into starting Shaw in the back 3 over AWB.
 
NoPace said:
With everyone healthy, I think it might be:

Rashford--------Martial---------------------
-----------------------------Bruno-----------------
Williams----Pogba---Fred------James
---------Lindelof-Maguire--AWB----------

We'd have wide players eager to get forward, 3 proper defenders and Fred to give Pogba the support needed to play him in a 2 man midfield. If the game is going poorly or we need a goal you just shift James to LW and Bruno tucked in on the right and we're playing a 4-4-2.

I could be talked into starting Shaw in the back 3 over AWB.
Click to expand...
Why on earth would that happen?
 
Harry Harries said:
Why on earth would that happen?
Click to expand...

Shaw's done well at LCB I think (particularly against Salah). I think the actual solution is playing Wan-Bissaka an hour and then throwing Shaw in and just switching Lindelof from LCB to RCB, since Wan-Bissaka has done well but then looked noticeably gassed near the end of games.

Also, while we all like the idea of Wan-Bissaka playing in a back 3 because he's a great tackler and poor going forward, we have little evidence it will actually work.
 
DDG

AWB - - - - MAGUIRE - - - - - LINDELOF - - - - WILLIAMS

- - - - - - - - - SCOTT- - - - - - - -

--------FRED - - - - - - POGBA----

- - - - - - - - - - BRUNO - - - - - - - -

---------IGHALO ----GREENWOOD---------

James and martial as backup until Rashford is back​
 
Ddg
Awb - Bailly - Maguire - Williams

Pogba - McT

Bruno

Rashford - Ighalo - Martial

Subs
Romero
James
Greenwood
Tuanzebe
Matic
Fred
Shaw
 
arthurka said:
Ddg
Awb - Bailly - Maguire - Williams

Pogba - McT

Bruno

Rashford - Ighalo - Martial

Subs
Romero
James
Greenwood
Tuanzebe
Matic
Fred
Shaw
Click to expand...

This for next season?
Ighalo? Rashford on the right? Bailey? whats the reasoning behind these choices if you don’t mind me asking? When has Rashford ever looked good on the right side?
 
Renegade said:
This for next season?
Ighalo? Rashford on the right? Bailey? whats the reasoning behind these choices if you don’t mind me asking? When has Rashford ever looked good on the right side?
Click to expand...
We won't sign anyone this summer so just preparing for what it's to come. Anyone but Lindelöf will do in defense.
 
This is my strongest 11 once Pogba is back imo. Where there's player 1/player 2 this is my first choice/rotation. Rashford gone for a while. Leaving out players I would now be looking to get rid of (Martial/Shaw/Lingard) and those that are absolute backups or down the pecking order (Matic/Lindelof/Pereira/Jones/Bailly)



Greenwood slightly dropped. Both strikers running channels to support Williams and James/Dalot up the pitch. Pogba & Fernandes to get forward with runs. Outer centre backs encouraged to come forward and wide.

Edit: oh shii Smalling somehow got in there. Well pretend it was possible to have brought him back from Roma! As I rate Smalling better than Maguire for agility and aggression. Otherwise it's Lindelof in his place.
 
Last edited:
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I’d stick with the 3-4-1-2 but play AWB in Cb with Maguire and Lindelöf so we can have a better attacking RWB in Dalot

DDG
AWB HM VL
DD Fred NM BW
BF
AM MG
 
3 out of our best 11 are out injured.

DDG
Wall Lind Mag Will
Fred
McT Pogba
Bruno
Martial Rashford
​
RW issue is a meme at this point... funny how many years we've wasted not getting one.
 
—————-————de Gea—————————-
Bissaka——Lindelof—Maguire—Williams
——————————-Fred——————————
————-McTominay——-Pogba——————
——————————Bruno—————————-
—————Greenwood—-Rashford—————
 
Next season we should be aiming for:
De Gea
AWB Maguire *New CB* *New LB*
McTominay Fred Bruno
*New RF* *New Striker* Rashford

4 decent new signings and that should be a good team. I assume Pogba will be off to help fund this.
 
-----------------------De Gea-----------------

AWB--------New CB-------Maguire------Williams

------------------- New DM --------------------------

----------Fred/McTominay-------------Fernandes

New RW---------------New CF-----------------Rashford

Hopefully next season, and assuming Pogba goes. 4 new players in.
 
If we do only have Matic, Fred, and Fernandes as the midfield 3 against Chelsea I would think it's good enough.
 
Bestietom said:
-----------------------De Gea-----------------

AWB--------New CB-------Maguire------Williams

------------------- New DM --------------------------

----------Fred/McTominay-------------Fernandes

New RW---------------New CF-----------------Rashford

Hopefully next season, and assuming Pogba goes. 4 new players in.
Click to expand...

If Pogba was to go, we’d need another creative midfielder in. Especially if Fernandes was to get injured.

Other than that, I agree with the other 4 additions that you have highlighted above.
 
Sparky Rhiwabon said:
Next season we should be aiming for:
De Gea
AWB Maguire *New CB* *New LB*
McTominay Fred Bruno
*New RF* *New Striker* Rashford

4 decent new signings and that should be a good team. I assume Pogba will be off to help fund this.
Click to expand...
That's not 4 new signings, because once Pogba leaves we will need a new midfielder, it doesn't have to directly replace him, but we need depth.

Our transfer priority should be this imo

1. New striker
2. New right forward
3. New deep lying playmaker
4. New left back
5. New centreback

Realistically under Ed would make about 3 signings. So I don't think we will sign a new left back or centreback. We would have to do with Shaw/Williams and Lindelof/Tuanzebe for a while at least.
 
Everyone fit
DDG
AWB Lindelof Maguire Williams
McTominay
Bruno Pogba
Greenwood Martial Rashford

2nd 11
Romero
Dalot Tuanzebe bailly Shaw
Fred Matic
Mata Periera James
Lingard

For a top 4 Squad
Bold 1st 11 Need upgrading
bold 2nd 11 not good enough
 
If everyone was fit I’d probably go with:

De Gea

AWB
Maguire
Jones
Shaw

McT
Fred
Pogba

Bruno

Martial
Rashford

Essentially, that’s playing Bruno as a false 9, with Rashford and Martial splitting left and right to provide width. It’s not ideal but I don’t currently think we have a RW who I’d consider worth a starting role.
 
I just wish players would pass and move. I wish our fullbacks would overlap like real fullbacks.

Watching Spurs v City and it’s like a different game. We are the only team in the league that plays in this slow, static way. I just don’t understand it
 
If everyone is fit, the back four picks itself - AWB, Lindelof, Maguire and Shaw.

Midfield, one of Fred and McTominay, alongside Pogba and Bruno. May leave us open defensively but we desperately need some creativity and guile. A midfield of McTominay and Fred is too functional for my liking, feel like they both do the same job essentially.

Up top - Rashford, Martial and Greenwood. Our biggest goal threats and the best attackers to utilise the ability of Bruno and Pogba in midfield.

Still feel like we're 4 players away, and I mean 4 top, top players. Another CB, another CM, RW and a top CF. This is assuming Pogba doesn't leave either. I have no idea who those 4 players should be, however.

In midfield, maybe Zakaria? RW would obviously be Sancho in an ideal world. CF and CB are the two positions where I don't really know. Summer is so important for us. At times this season you really feel like with some of our performances we're nearly there, just a few missing links. The real question now is can we go and get them.
 
I'd like to see the 4-4-2 diamond and Rashford with Ighalo/Martial on top. Ighalo mixing with Rash would be this classical mix of styles of strikers, as I feel that he might be even more efficient than Tony is. I'd just cut out the wingers - team is too unbalanced.

Defence would be the usual one - Shaw, Maguire, Lindelöf and AWB. But midfield would have McTominay as DM, Pogba and Fred CM and Bruno AM. I feel that the midfield wouldn't be unbalanced as McTom and Fred are energetic, Pogba and Bruno would add creativity and create chances for strikers. They can swap positions easily if needed and both are superb long range shooters, too.

3-5-2 would be another option, but Shaw's attacking mentality is abysmal and I don't know whether Bailly or Tuanzebe would be a good addition in the 3. Midfield would sit out one of the creative ones or using a 3-5-1-1, then Pogba and Bruno can swap places between AM and CM.
 
—————————DDG——————————
Dalot——Lindelof——Varane——Telles
Sancho—Bruno—Mct—Pogba—Elanga
————————Ronaldo—————————

I'm afraid rashford and shaw should be moved on, they're a road-end once the ball gets to them. Maguire is too expensive to move on though.
 
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