yup. pretty much agree that we need rooney further up the pitch. even in the expense of rvp or falcao now as rooney is in a very good form in front of goal at this moment.
10
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 37
- Goals
- 14
- Assists
- 6
- Yellow cards
- 4
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Excited about his form. Hope he does the business against Arsenal. Will be a huge letdown if he doesn't.
His movement for that goal is so good. Starts off waiting for Lallana to stand it up to the far post but ends up completely un-marked for a tap-in at the near post. An under-rated aspect of his game which is wasted now he keeps playing so deep.
Really hard to argue that the diamond with Mata at the tip and Rooney and Falcao up front isn't the formation that best suits everyone at the moment, no?
Well yes, except that Di Maria was so much better in the diamond, and a 433 pushes either Rooney or Falcao out wide. The diamond is basically the same thing but with Di Maria pushed back into midfield where he is most comfortable, and Rooney and Falcao both able to play central.
EDIT: Feck, misread Januzaj as Falcao. I guess I'd just rather have the latter in this game, keep Januzaj as back-up for either Mata or Di Maria.
You didn't misread it. I edited it. And I've edited it again since!
My midfield three would be Carrick (fingers crossed) Hererra and Fellaini.
You monster.
Mata out wide? Even worse, surely?
This is what I mean about the diamond. Everyone is in their best position, and all the best players are involved. Ok, Januzaj misses out, but as 'the youngster' that's only natural if our senior forwards are all fit.
I just don't like Hererra and Di Maria together in central midfield. I know I'm in a minority on this but I just think they're both too loose with their passing. They're really creative so good to have one of them in there but both of them is too much of a risk. For me anyway.
LVG seems to agree with you anyway.
RVP's form is also improving with each game though, so it would still be hard to leave him out. I hope to see both starting up top on Saturday evening myself.
I would rather have this team
---------------------Carrick--------------------
------Herrera-----------------Di Maria------
Januzaj------------Rooney-------------- ????
I think they'd be fine in a 4-5-1 together. Problem before and why we were so open IMO was because we had 3 strikers in front of them, way too attacking. Having 2 wide players who will help out defensively would just make it all look better and more balanced. Herrera has a really good passing percentage so far, second only to blind I think, so I don't think hes too loose with passing necessarily. Just sometimes tries to force things in the attacking 3rd.
I still want to see something like this once this season:
Carrick
Valencia Herrera di Maria Mata
Rooney
Valencia Herrera di Maria Mata
Rooney
Or put blind in for carrick, Rooney left and Falcao up top. Think it'd be fairly balanced and have plenty of creativity. People dislike Valencia but he helps make the right flank more solid and would make it more balanced with the others being more attack minded.
Absolutely. I would lean towards
Fellaini----Carrick----Herrera
----Rooney----Di Maria
--------RvP/Falcao
or
-------Carrick
Fellaini-------Herrera
------Di Maria
---Rooney---RvP/Falcao
Yep. Ancelotti called him one of the most 'intelligent' strikers in the world, and he makes some really clever runs to create space for himself or others. But they don't look good in highlight reels, so it's not something he ever gets much praise for (although I bet his managers notice it).
Once again Ancelotti is right, his runs are generally excellent, perfect timing, perfect angle. I can't understand why he is not playing upfront alone, in a position he wants to play.
Definitely, especially with RVP not being in great form it would also inject a bit more pace and movement in the final third which is something we are crying out for and we could bring Herrera into the midfield alongside Fellaini.
Would love him to play up front tomorrow but I just can't see anything than a lone RvP starting up top - which disappoints me, as he has done nothing to justify starting, let alone playing up top on his own.
Van Gaal simply must start playing Rooney in position. We've got one of the most powerful, prolific strikers in PL history stuck in CM, it's ridiculous.
Think he's the key tomorrow. If he has a good game, we'll win.
Time to drop RVP imo.
Which obviously leads us on to Rooney playing closer to goal and Mata playing closer to the striker.
Surely that is our best option? Only (possibly major) problem could be that with Shaw possibly out we would need better cover on that left side.
Carrick
Herrera - Fellaini - Di Maria
Mata
Rooney
That midfield is easily strong enough to not worry about it being over powered with Carrick holding and Fellaini bullying. There's more than enough technical ability to compensate for Fellaini too. Di Maria back central with permission to roam and Carrick, Herrera, Di Maria and Mata all competent passers of the ball. Herrera - Fellaini - Di Maria
Mata
Rooney
Which obviously leads us on to Rooney playing closer to goal and Mata playing closer to the striker.
Surely that is our best option? Only (possibly major) problem could be that with Shaw possibly out we would need better cover on that left side.
I like that formation. Against Arsenal specifically though, I would have a target man like RvP given Arsenal's lack of physicality.
There's no formation that's worth playing RVP over Rooney for at the moment. Rooney is the man in much better form.
Rooney is just as physical as van Persie, anyway. The latter has the height advantage of course, but it's not like he ever exerts his physique in any way Rooney doesn't. I don't know why we're expecting anything other than van Persie upfront and Rooney in central midfield, though. 
I like it. That is what I would go with.
Thinking about it more, it' a good team but probably not for Arsenal, they'll have Welbeck wide left forward and Alexis wide right.
With a newly reinvigorated Master Wayne at the helm, I say go for it!
Arsenal 1:2 Man Utd
An accomplished, controlled performance in central midfield, and then a top quality strikers finish to seal the three points. Still got it.
Two goals mid week and crucial goal today.I will say what every other united fan wants to say but is too scared "please dont get injured wayne"
Captain.
Great finish and played a big role in the second half. Held on well to the ball in the second half when we needed to hold on.
Superb finish and with his left fot as well.
Another very good performance in a big game.
He just *is* an outstanding footballer. That this isn't more widely recognised is an utter travesty.
I don't think he played well but I've no idea what the manger asked him to do so it's hard to tell. Another big match moment for him though.
Don't think he realised that we conceded.
What a fecking performance.
He's just a great footballer, but I think he'd be more effective up front.
RVP didn't do him any favours.
RVP didn't do him any favours.
That was a captains performance, and what a beautiful finish.
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