Fellaini is out of favour again then? Poor fella is an outside player of the year contender and he's still barely featuring in any of these XIs 
This is my team 15/16
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
I think that is the closest representation of our upcoming line up for next season. I love Gundogan but Veratti would be my #1 pick to partner Herrera in the CM.
Think it's safe to say mine's more realistic lol.
It certainly makes it harder, but if the centre back finds a pass to a midfielder, who is not being pressed, all that hard work is pointless. Pressing needs to be done as a unit. It's part of the reason why we've been so successful of late. I mean, Mata's not known for his great pressing, but because we've been so compact and high up the pitch, it hasn't really shown. Same thing would apply Bale, who isn't any worse at pressing and hard working than Ronaldo at Madrid.
Barca were unique, but what I'm trying to say is, you don't need three Usain Bolts to press effectively. It has to be intelligent and done as a unit, otherwise it definitely won't work.
Not sure if you've seen it, but there's a great analysis on pressing by Neville and Carragher.
Neither am I, but I think Van Gaal thinks that if he can have a striker that will score 25 plus goals, along with a CAM that will score 15+, we'll be a massive threat going forward. Too add to that a goalscoring winger too (Bale).
Well if rumours are to be believed, we could end up signing him in the Summer. Very much doubt Van Gaal and his staff would try and sign him if they didn't think he could do the job they're looking for.
You mean like the Thiago and Sneijder links?
Five and six new signings straight into the first team? Hope you guys can look forward to another 6-8 months of LvG trying to make it work, cause I can't.
I dont think we will be making 6 new signings to all go straight into the first team. Even if we did he has figured out a system that looks like it is working. It will be different this time around.
---------------De Gea---------------
Clyne---Smalling---Jones---Blind
---------------Carrick---------------
-------Herrera-------Fellaini-------
Mata---------------------------Bale
---------------Rooney---------------
Subs: Valdes, Shaw, Rojo, New CB, Gundogan, Di Maria, RVP
Clyne---Smalling---Jones---Blind
---------------Carrick---------------
-------Herrera-------Fellaini-------
Mata---------------------------Bale
---------------Rooney---------------
Subs: Valdes, Shaw, Rojo, New CB, Gundogan, Di Maria, RVP
-----------valdes---------
-----smalling--hummels----
Clyne--------------------shaw
------------Carrick------------
-----Herrera-----gundogan---------
Mata-------------------------di Maria
------------rooney--------------------
Keeper, jones, blind, Fellaini, januzaj, depay, RVP
Nailed it
-----smalling--hummels----
Clyne--------------------shaw
------------Carrick------------
-----Herrera-----gundogan---------
Mata-------------------------di Maria
------------rooney--------------------
Keeper, jones, blind, Fellaini, januzaj, depay, RVP
Nailed it
thats ok then. Consider yourself off the hook
Smalling and jones have proven that they cannot be relied upon at the same time to be 1st choice CB's for MUFC.
I agree. But a lot of the teams posted have done so.
Possibly, but it'd still take a while to integrate the players into the system, especially when you're changing half or almost half of the XI.
Whilst true on paper at least that's how I'd like to see us line up next season
We definitely need at least a CB, a RB, a GK since De Gea is looking very likely to leave and a CM to go straight into our first team and that's already 4 players. Then if you're looking to strengthen our attacking options, if Falcao's gone our only first team backup for Rooney is van Persie so we might also be in the market for a good young striker.
It's not a choice, those signings are essential to actually have a squad to play with going into next season. If we buy those essentials and add Depay, that's 6 first team quality signings.
Hummels (who I believe we have already signed) would compliment Smalling beautifully. Jones would make a great understudy, when he isn't injured that is.
Wilson's also a back-up for Rooney. That's three players for one position, more depth than any other position we'd have in the squad. Dave's still a United player for now.
---------------valdes----------------
---smalling--hummels--blind----
Clyne----------------------------bale
-------Herrera---schneiderlin-------
---------------Mata------------------
--------rooney-----Depay----------
Keeper, jones, shaw, Fellaini, januzaj, Wilson, RVP
Now the 5 makes sense- it was prep for nxt season
+ QuoteReply
---smalling--hummels--blind----
Clyne----------------------------bale
-------Herrera---schneiderlin-------
---------------Mata------------------
--------rooney-----Depay----------
Keeper, jones, shaw, Fellaini, januzaj, Wilson, RVP
Now the 5 makes sense- it was prep for nxt season
+ QuoteReply
Going into the new season we will have a 30 year old Rooney and a 32 year old van Persie. Don't you think it's time we start thinking about the future? Has Wilson shown enough for the club to put all faith in him succeeding those 2?
Well Rooney's our captain so he's going to start somewhere, and I'd most prefer it if he started up front. I think for next season alone, Van Persie is fine as second choice and Wilson as third.
Bale is terrible defensively .
Agree with this completely.
Nailed it
Oblak
Darmian Varane Laporte Shaw
Verratti
Pogba Gundogan
Bale Ings Depay
Manager: Benitez
What do I win.
Darmian Varane Laporte Shaw
Verratti
Pogba Gundogan
Bale Ings Depay
Manager: Benitez
What do I win.
---------------valdes----------------
--------smalling--hummels--------
Clyne--------------------------shaw
--------------Carrick----------------
-------Herrera-----gundogan------
Mata--------------------------depay
---------------rooney----------------
Keeper, jones, Rojo, blind, Fellaini, januzaj, Ings
Di Maria gone i'm afraid along with RVP,Evans and Falcao
--------smalling--hummels--------
Clyne--------------------------shaw
--------------Carrick----------------
-------Herrera-----gundogan------
Mata--------------------------depay
---------------rooney----------------
Keeper, jones, Rojo, blind, Fellaini, januzaj, Ings
Di Maria gone i'm afraid along with RVP,Evans and Falcao
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Valdes
Clyne----Smalling----Jones----Shaw
Carrick----Gundogan
Herrera
Mata------------------------Depay
Rooney
Clyne----Smalling----Jones----Shaw
Carrick----Gundogan
Herrera
Mata------------------------Depay
Rooney
Subs: Johnstone, Rojo, Blind, Fellaini, Pereira, Di Maria, Van Persie
No guarantee we will get these signings, but if we do, I think we might see something like this. We could get another centre back for Jones or a new back up keeper instead of Johnstone but don't really think we will be successful going for Hummels and unsure on potential 2nd choice keepers available.
Obviously players like Young, Valencia, Wilson and McNair can step into the subs bench as and when, while Januzaj will go on loan.
De Gea
Clyne Smalling Otamendi Shaw
Carrick
Herrera Strootman
Bale Rooney Nani
Clyne Smalling Otamendi Shaw
Carrick
Herrera Strootman
Bale Rooney Nani
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I've gone full muppet....think we could improve upon Clyne, Hummels and Rooney at 9
------------------De Gea----------------------
Clyne-----Smalling-------Hummels-----Shaw
------------------Pogba-----------------------
--------------Herrera----Gundogan-----------
Di Maria-----------Mata------------------Bale
---------------------Rooney------------------
Subs: Valdes, Jones, Blind, Carrick, Depay, Fellaini, RVP
rotation: Young, Valencia, Pereira, Rojo, Wilson, Lingard
in: Clyne, Hummels, Pogba, Gundogan, Bale, Depay
out: Hernandez, Nani, Januzaj (loan), Falcao, McNair and a raft of fringe players
------------------De Gea----------------------
Clyne-----Smalling-------Hummels-----Shaw
------------------Pogba-----------------------
--------------Herrera----Gundogan-----------
Di Maria-----------Mata------------------Bale
---------------------Rooney------------------
Subs: Valdes, Jones, Blind, Carrick, Depay, Fellaini, RVP
rotation: Young, Valencia, Pereira, Rojo, Wilson, Lingard
in: Clyne, Hummels, Pogba, Gundogan, Bale, Depay
out: Hernandez, Nani, Januzaj (loan), Falcao, McNair and a raft of fringe players
Interesting how most of the lineups are full of players we've been linked with when its quite likely we will pick up a player or two who we haven't been linked with.
I went back and matched them up, both our defensive choices are unlikely, Pogba for me and Bale for you are our muppetiest picks and Gundogan vs Schneiderlin I'd say is about even. I lose out on my Dybala pick as sadly Jackson Martinez is disturbingly more likely.
I did watch the pressing piece they did on us and the short distance between our back 4 and Rooney aids with the press for sure, but pressing is only one aspect. I think we've been able to carry Mata in the line-up as his role is wider so overall his weaknesses are covered easier, my feeling is LvG will not play him central again unless he brings in a destroyer type of CM as pressing isn't the only factor, I'm not a fan of Fellaini but his size and strength have been important in balancing the midfield, I don't see that being neglected completely in favour of smaller technical CM's..
The problem with it is that the role should also be about creative passing and being able to carry the ball at a defense, Rooney isn't that player, he's a goal scorer. I just think giving a up a midfield spot to Rooney and using a big target man is unappealing.
I would hope so and don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-Gundogan, far from it, I just don't think we'd buy him for the role you had him in.
You mean like the Thiago and Sneijder links?
The difference being those were potentially exciting signings, Clyne is an Ashley Young 2.0 signing.
I went back and matched them up, both our defensive choices are unlikely, Pogba for me and Bale for you are our muppetiest picks and Gundogan vs Schneiderlin I'd say is about even. I lose out on my Dybala pick as sadly Jackson Martinez is disturbingly more likely.
There's no way we're going to get two centre mids unless we get rid of a current one, in my opinion. We currently have Rooney, Mata, Herrera, Fellaini, Blind and Carrick who can play in midfield.
We've already discussed Mata. I agree that we'd need a solid box to box player to put him as a number 10, which is what Van Gaal has been talking about. If we do that, we can get way with putting a 'smaller technical' centre mid there as they'd be a balance created by the number 8.
Guess we'll have to see
As a number 8? That's the position he plays. No reason for Van Gaal to buy a specialist CDM at the moment, as we've got Carrick and Blind in that role. Of course Gundogan could fill in if both of them were injured, but Van Gaal has already said he wants a number 8 to bring balance. As good as anyway.
The difference being those were potentially exciting signings, Clyne is an Ashley Young 2.0 signing.
Whether they were potentially exiting signings or not, the point is that everyone thought they were going to sign and they didn't. Despite strong rumours, Clyne isn't a done deal so no one can say he's as good as done until it's officially confirmed.
I don't think Rooney or Mata should be considered for midfield at all, if anything we should be buying to avoid ever having to play them there.
This player would not be Gundogan though, he simply isn't in that mold that would allow that, it would need to be a Matic, Schneiderlin, Kondogbia type.
Not so much for Dortmund this season, again I don't know if you have watched them much this season but he's been playing deep and covering a lot less ground as he doesn't look able to, I also think there is the need for a DM right now, Blind isn't a fit for it in the PL and Carrick will be 34 and is clearly going to be dealing with injury issues at this stage, and we look half as good without him in that deeper role. Plus all of this looks like casting Herrera aside and Fellaini as well in order to play Gundogan and Mata, I don't see that as an upgrade at this point in time at all.
The point is he is very easy to get, he wants to leave and no one else bar maybe Liverpool will want him that offers a step up, plus he's English. Obviously nothing is signed and sealed but I am near certain we could come back here in 5 or 6 weeks time and see that this will be our first signing of the summer.
---------------De Gea---------------
Clyne---Smalling---Hummels---Shaw
--------------Schneiderlin--------------
-------Herrera-------Gundogan-------
Bale---------------------------Depay
---------------Rooney---------------
Hummels and Gundogan obviously would need to prove their fitness before signing. Don't think LvG is even looking at Schneiderlin, but that is a lineup i would to see.
Clyne---Smalling---Hummels---Shaw
--------------Schneiderlin--------------
-------Herrera-------Gundogan-------
Bale---------------------------Depay
---------------Rooney---------------
Hummels and Gundogan obviously would need to prove their fitness before signing. Don't think LvG is even looking at Schneiderlin, but that is a lineup i would to see.
Valdes
Clyne - Smalling - Rojo - Shaw
Carrick
Mata - Herrera - Gundogan - Depay
Rooney
Clyne - Smalling - Rojo - Shaw
Carrick
Mata - Herrera - Gundogan - Depay
Rooney
Half expectation, half hope.
That's an EPL winning team and squad with the potential for the UCL the following year. No reason why not challenging next year either.
£185m-£200m.
DDG
Clyne - Smalling - Hummels - Shaw
Carrick
Gundogan - Pogba
Di Maria - Rooney - Depay
Valdes, Rojo, Jones, Valencia, Blind, Herrera, Mata, Young, Fellaini, Wilson, Van PersieClyne - Smalling - Hummels - Shaw
Carrick
Gundogan - Pogba
Di Maria - Rooney - Depay
That's an EPL winning team and squad with the potential for the UCL the following year. No reason why not challenging next year either.
£185m-£200m.
The physically weakest CM I've ever seen.
Plan A
-----------------------DDG----------------------
Clyne---------Smalling-------Hummels--------Shaw
--------------------Schneiderlin----------------------
----------------Herrera---------Di Maria---------------
Nani-----------------------------------------------Depay
----------------------Rooney------------------------------
Plan B
----------------------DDG-----------------------
Clyne--------Smalling---------Hummels-------------Shaw
Di Maria---------Schneiderlin----Herrera/Carrick------Depay
------------------------Mata-------------------------------
-----------------------Rooney---------------------------------
-----------------------DDG----------------------
Clyne---------Smalling-------Hummels--------Shaw
--------------------Schneiderlin----------------------
----------------Herrera---------Di Maria---------------
Nani-----------------------------------------------Depay
----------------------Rooney------------------------------
Plan B
----------------------DDG-----------------------
Clyne--------Smalling---------Hummels-------------Shaw
Di Maria---------Schneiderlin----Herrera/Carrick------Depay
------------------------Mata-------------------------------
-----------------------Rooney---------------------------------
------------------Dave-------------------
Coleman---Smalling----Stones---Shaw
Herrera------Martinez------Isco
Di Maria------Rooney-------Ronaldo
Coleman---Smalling----Stones---Shaw
Herrera------Martinez------Isco
Di Maria------Rooney-------Ronaldo
Yes, we'd win a lot of matches playing with an extra player.
My team would be,
---------------De Gea----------
Clyne-- Smalling--Hummels-- Shaw
------Carrick----Schneiderlin-----
--Mata------Herrera-------Di Maria
------------ Rooney------------
or
4-3-3
---------------De Gea----------
Clyne-- Smalling--Hummels-- Shaw
--------Carrick/Schneiderlin-----
----Herrera----------------Di Maria---
Nani--------------------------Depay
--------------Rooney---------------
---------------De Gea----------
Clyne-- Smalling--Hummels-- Shaw
------Carrick----Schneiderlin-----
--Mata------Herrera-------Di Maria
------------ Rooney------------
or
4-3-3
---------------De Gea----------
Clyne-- Smalling--Hummels-- Shaw
--------Carrick/Schneiderlin-----
----Herrera----------------Di Maria---
Nani--------------------------Depay
--------------Rooney---------------
Agreed. Just like Falcao and Rojo this year. Ander just seemed to appear as a done deal from nowhere, also.
You probably don't, but this is what has happened this season, and where I personally feel Van Gaal will use them at some point next season, especially Rooney.
I think when Van Gaal said he wants a midfield to let the creative players have more freedom, people thought he wanted a out and out destroyer. I don't think this is the case, and the players you mentioned are too limited, in my opinion, to play as a number 8 for Van Gaal.
Strootman was very important to Van Gaal, not only because he was a solid box to box type, but because he was also good on the ball and kept things ticking over. Neither of the players you mentioned do this. Gundogan, on the other hand, does, and gives a lot defensively. Ftiness might not be what it was, but if he was to come, I can imagine a solid pre season would sort him out.
I mean, even you mentioned the number 8's Van Gaal has used, which is why you said Fellaini shouldn't play as an 8. Players like Seedorf, Sweinsteiger, Strootman, Xavi, etc. Ball players, who also give a lot defensively. Otherwise, if we want a destroyer, just put Fellaini as the 8.
Just have a look at the thread and look where people have put Gundogan, yet you decide you want to critique my team.
Dortmund play a 4231, right? Of course Gundogan will start deep, but doesn't he normally play the most advanced out of the two? That's how I see it and the heat maps I have looked at have backed me up.
I'm not casting away Fellaini and Herrera, I'm just going off what Van Gaal has said and that is that we need a midifelder to give us balance. Normally, to balance things out, you need something in the middle, hence why I think we'll buy an 8 to balance out our holding midfielder and our attacking midfielder.
That may very well be the case, but nothing is official yet.
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This won't be too far off
Valdes smalling hummels clyne shaw blind herrera schneiderlain memphis di maria rooney
Valdes smalling hummels clyne shaw blind herrera schneiderlain memphis di maria rooney