What the team could have looked like...

How team could look like in 2018/19 season

4-2-3-1

De Gea
Meunier Bailly Rojo Ghoulam/Rose
Matic Pogba
Pulisic Griezmann Rashford
Lukaku

Bench - Ozil, Martial, Valencia, Jones, Mctominny, Romero, Pereira

3-5-2

De Gea
Bailly Jones Rojo
Meunier Ozil Matic Pogba Ghoulam/Rose
Lukaku Griezmann

Bench - Martial, Valencia, Romero, Pereira, Mctominny, Pulisic, Lindelof

B XI teams

4-2-3-1

Romero
Valencia Lindelof Smalling Michelle
Mctominny Pereira
Pulisic Barlow Rashford
Martial


3-5-2

Romero
Lindelof Smalling Tuanzebe
Valencia Pulisic Mctominny Pereira Michelle
Rashford Martial










​
 
haram said:
We were doing ok until Pogba and Fellaini both got injured. Griezmann & Perisic would be massive upgrades on Mkhi and Young, and I think that's what Mourinho really wanted. I agree you don't have to keep spending to be a good team. I think we are one already, we just have injuries atm. 4 points from spurs, chelsea and liverpool is not bad or anything suprising.
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I agree, I dont buy into the argument that City is going to run away with the title. They will drop points and hopefully this spell of games wont keep us from taking advantage.
 
What’s everyone’s obsession with the 352? It’s rubbish. And we don’t have the players for it.
 
bosnian_red said:
He's made his name in a counter attacking set up, I agree, but the striker in front of him was always one who supported for him pretty much. Griezmann the main guy, and then Torres or whoever else used to help him a lot in terms of link up play and keeping defenders occupied. Morata would've been perfect to partner Griezmann with. Lukaku? Not the type, since he's best when he's the main guy to get goals. Ibra would've done well with Griezmann as well, as he obviously has excellent hold up and link up play and likes dropping deep so Griezmann could make the runs in behind.

Also Atletico have always had a counter attacking set up. United in these big away games haven't even had that. We just tried to turn the game into a grind and barely had a plan when we had the ball.
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The not having a clue when we have the ball comes down to the players though. There is no way Mourinho has said not to attack, just that he wants us to be defensively solid first. We lack players that are comfortable playing on the counter though which leads to the panic we see.

Griezmann is comfortable on the ball and wouldn't panic when being heavily pressed. He'd be perfect in the Mkhi role in the 352 as he is probably more defensively sound, can link play perfectly well and adds a consistent goal threat which Mkhi doesn't.
 
Jaybomb said:
What’s everyone’s obsession with the 352? It’s rubbish. And we don’t have the players for it.
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Mourinho said he wanted Perisic so he could play 352. He also signed Lindelof.
 
haram said:
-------Rashford---Lukaku
-----------Griezmann-----
Perisic--Pogba--Matic-Valencia

Then a three at the back + De Gea. Swap Martial in for Rashford if you like. I think Jose signed Lindelof to play in a back 3.

:(

I think this is what Mourinho wanted. There is so much power, pace and attacking threat in there. I wonder if he goes into next summer looking for something similar?
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so we where going to spend £85 million on Griezmann, 90 million on Lukaku, 50 million on Perisic and 40 million on Matic....... at a combined total of £275 million pounds.......

what are you talking about this is fantasy!!!
 
Like @Nytram Shakes points out, I'm not sure we could have afforded Griezmann, Lukaku and the others in one transfer window. Not that Lukaku would be in any "what if" team of mine.
 
Nytram Shakes said:
so we where going to spend £85 million on Griezmann, 90 million on Lukaku, 50 million on Perisic and 40 million on Matic....... at a combined total of £275 million pounds.......

what are you talking about this is fantasy!!!
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I'm just going off the players Mourinho targeted.
 
Buy 10 superstars and you can still lose the title to a team that has better team cohesion. That is the problem with buying names for the sake of the name.
 
Epicurean said:
Buy 10 superstars and you can still lose the title to a team that has better team cohesion. That is the problem with buying names for the sake of the name.
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i don't think its even that, where buying players and they are coming and not performing as well as we've seen they can.

The attack we put out on sunday is capable of attacking in a far more cohesive way then we saw on sunday and many other times over the past year or so.
 
Devil may care said:
Doesn't really excite me, it's a blunt object team still reliant on Pogba as the only creative passer, the Griezmann role with two strikers who's game is simply to run in behind, with a 3rd player who's strength is also running in behind isn't a good fit IMO, it needs a #10 who's game is more like Eriksen or indeed the Caf's current fav freebie, Ozil.
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I think Erikson would be perfect for this current Utd side. Great set pieces, can unlock any defence and offers enough defensive input to make him a realistic Mourinho number 10.

In the easier games he could play in a 3 with Pogba and Matic and in tighter games he could play from the right behind Lukaku.

Only trouble is why would he leave Spurs for Utd and it’s dealing with Daniel Levy again!!
 
Epicurean said:
Buy 10 superstars and you can still lose the title to a team that has better team cohesion. That is the problem with buying names for the sake of the name.
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No one is doubting that. Fact is Perisic and Lindelof aren't superstars. We needed a striker or two after Rooney, RVP & Ibra. Investment in CM was long needed, Van Gaal messed it up.
 
haram said:
No one is doubting that. Fact is Perisic and Lindelof aren't superstars. We needed a striker or two after Rooney, RVP & Ibra. Investment in CM was long needed, Van Gaal messed it up.
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Pretty much this, Matic and Perisic had a mixed reception on here. That is because they are functional players. Lukaku can also be seen as that, nothing fancy but very effective.

We have a promising future if the board does things right. Bailly, Pogba, Rashford, Martial, Lukaku are all young and going to be in their prime in 3-5 years
 
haram said:
-------Rashford---Lukaku
-----------Griezmann-----
Perisic--Pogba--Matic-Valencia

Then a three at the back + De Gea. Swap Martial in for Rashford if you like. I think Jose signed Lindelof to play in a back 3.

:(

I think this is what Mourinho wanted. There is so much power, pace and attacking threat in there. I wonder if he goes into next summer looking for something similar?
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...and with the Pogba injury we're still no better off.....
 
Home&Away said:
I don't think Ozil will work tbh. I like him & like him as a player but the 352 in my eyes works by having a false number 9 & a false CB.

One CB that joins the defense to make it three. And one CAM/SS that joins the strikers to make it 3 up top
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Just for clarification - what the feck is a false centre back?
 
haram said:
Fellaini got injured as well. We would still have Griezmann and Perisic in the team, assuming they were fit.
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Agree that Fellaini injury was critical too. Griezmann appears to have superior shooting techniques than our present forwards but with the major hole left in the attacking midfield area I'm not sure we would get the best out of him lately. I don't disagree with you wholeheartedly, but I'm not convinced that you have a winning structure in place. I don't know that Perisic can defend all that well. I'm not sure that we have enough mobility in midfield to dictate the course of play against quality opposition, but your forward line looks alright I guess.
 
don't sign old players said:
Agree that Fellaini injury was critical too. Griezmann appears to have superior shooting techniques than our present forwards but with the major hole left in the attacking midfield area I'm not sure we would get the best out of him lately. I don't disagree with you wholeheartedly, but I'm not convinced that you have a winning structure in place. I don't know that Perisic can defend all that well. I'm not sure that we have enough mobility in midfield to dictate the course of play against quality opposition, but your forward line looks alright I guess.
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Yeah, I guess we will never really know. Hopefully we get some sort of wingback and creativity in the summer though.
 
Sometimes players aren't available. We should have moved for alternatives sooner (if needed).
 
Womp said:
Just for clarification - what the feck is a false centre back?
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Someone who only joins the CB's when needed & the most attacking of then the back 3 including first to defend, first to pass. It allows the back 2 to spread the back 3 wider across the pitch alongside the wingbacks to make a back 5.

Right now we have a very static defensive back 3 which is a rubbish tactic.

Either a) you go with 2 defenders who are able to play through the channels and one tough guy in the middle bit like Dier who actually gets forward quite alot. Or you can have a sweeper like David Luiz who stays back whilst the 2 ball playing CB's get forward.

Best thing for us would be to let blind join the midfield from CB, have him guarding and guarded himself by the 2 stationary stalwart defenders since he can distribute the ball well.

A false 9 is neither here nor there. Pretty much the same but in front of defence rather than behind a wider front 2.
 
haram said:
Mourinho said he wanted Perisic so he could play 352. He also signed Lindelof.
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Don't believe he did, he didn't specifically name anyone as far as i know. But if he was thinking that then it would completely contradict the interview he gave earlier in the summer when he said 352 ''is far from being our system'' and he only wanted it as an option to use against other teams who use 3 at the back formations.



And that seems to line up with what he has done this year, we have used it 4 times and it's been against Spurs, Chelsea and CSKA who all play with 3 at the back. The only exception was Swansea.
 
stevoc said:
Don't believe he did, he didn't specifically name anyone as far as i know. But if he was thinking that then it would completely contradict the interview he gave earlier in the summer when he said 352 ''is far from being our system'' and he would only wanted it as an option to use against other teams who use 3 at the back formations.



And that seems to line up with what he has done this year, we have used it 4 times and it's been against Spurs, Chelsea and CSKA who all play with 3 at the back. The only exception was Swansea.
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He didn't specifically name Perisic, but it was obvious that's who it was. I agree that he might have mainly wanted to use it to counter other teams who use 3 at the back.
 
haram said:
He didn't specifically name Perisic, but it was obvious that's who it was. I agree that he might have only wanted to use it to counter other teams who use 3 at the back.
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Maybe you could be right mate. But i still find it hard to believe that Mourinho would have spent all summer chasing a winger to play him as a wingback. With the resources at his disposal he would have just signed a player who has been playing as a left wingback and was accustomed to the position.
 
stevoc said:
Maybe you could be right mate. But i still find it hard to believe that Mourinho would have spent all summer chasing a winger to play him as a wingback. With the resources at his disposal he would have just signed a player who has been playing as a left wingback and was accustomed to the position.
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He would have used Perisic as a regular winger as well.
 
haram said:
He would have used Perisic as a regular winger as well.
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Well yeah of course, but what i mean is not signing Perisic isn't stopping him using 352 in certain games. I don't know if he was thinking of playing Perisic as a wingback but if i had to bet i would say he wasn't.

Could he play there yeah possibly but it would have been a bit of a risk to spend a lot of money on a player like Perisic and ask him to play in a position that to my knowledge he has never played before. He could turn out to be a very poor wingback, it would have made more sense to sign Perisic and/or a top left back who could easily slot in at wingback.

With how he's using Martial and Rashford and rotating them on the left but barely playing either on the right it seems more likely he wanted Perisic to play on the right wing.
 
Home&Away said:
Someone who only joins the CB's when needed & the most attacking of then the back 3 including first to defend, first to pass. It allows the back 2 to spread the back 3 wider across the pitch alongside the wingbacks to make a back 5.

Right now we have a very static defensive back 3 which is a rubbish tactic.

Either a) you go with 2 defenders who are able to play through the channels and one tough guy in the middle bit like Dier who actually gets forward quite alot. Or you can have a sweeper like David Luiz who stays back whilst the 2 ball playing CB's get forward.

Best thing for us would be to let blind join the midfield from CB, have him guarding and guarded himself by the 2 stationary stalwart defenders since he can distribute the ball well.

A false 9 is neither here nor there. Pretty much the same but in front of defence rather than behind a wider front 2.
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So essentially what Jose bought Lindelof in for? Bit difficult when he is struggling as badly as he is though.
 
deafepl said:
How team could look like in 2018/19 season

4-2-3-1

De Gea
Meunier Bailly Rojo Ghoulam/Rose
Matic Pogba
Pulisic Griezmann Rashford
Lukaku

Bench - Ozil, Martial, Valencia, Jones, Mctominny, Romero, Pereira

3-5-2

De Gea
Bailly Jones Rojo
Meunier Ozil Matic Pogba Ghoulam/Rose
Lukaku Griezmann

Bench - Martial, Valencia, Romero, Pereira, Mctominny, Pulisic, Lindelof

B XI teams

4-2-3-1

Romero
Valencia Lindelof Smalling Michelle
Mctominny Pereira
Pulisic Barlow Rashford
Martial


3-5-2

Romero
Lindelof Smalling Tuanzebe
Valencia Pulisic Mctominny Pereira Michelle
Rashford Martial










​
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That would be so tasty, don't see it happening though. This summer has made it obvious we have a budget. Griezmann and Pulisic alone would probably exceed that budget already. Let alone the extra 70m or so we'd be looking at for two top class fullbacks.
 
stevoc said:
Well yeah of course, but what i mean is not signing Perisic isn't stopping him using 352 in certain games. I don't know if he was thinking of playing Perisic as a wingback but if i had to bet i would say he wasn't.

Could he play there yeah possibly but it would have been a bit of a risk to spend a lot of money on a player like Perisic and ask him to play in a position that to my knowledge he has never played before. He could turn out to be a very poor wingback, it would have made more sense to sign Perisic and/or a top left back who could easily slot in at wingback.

With how he's using Martial and Rashford and rotating them on the left but barely playing either on the right it seems more likely he wanted Perisic to play on the right wing.
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Well who was the player he wanted for the 352 then...

It was Perisic. That's who the talk was about.
 
haram said:
No one is doubting that. Fact is Perisic and Lindelof aren't superstars. We needed a striker or two after Rooney, RVP & Ibra. Investment in CM was long needed, Van Gaal messed it up.
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Last time I checked Mourinho is United's manager for a second season now.

He is responsible for making this squad tic. Just like Pep, both managers inherited a squad with problems. The difference is that Pep made it work and Jose not (yet).

Bit low to blame Van Gaal for Mourinho's team. Ferguson left behind arguably the weakest squad, by that logic Moyes should be left of the hook.
 
haram said:
-------Rashford---Lukaku
-----------Griezmann-----
Perisic--Pogba--Matic-Valencia

Then a three at the back + De Gea. Swap Martial in for Rashford if you like. I think Jose signed Lindelof to play in a back 3.

:(

I think this is what Mourinho wanted. There is so much power, pace and attacking threat in there. I wonder if he goes into next summer looking for something similar?
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Not a balanced attacking side. Too many runners with not enough creativity. It'd again be pogba or nothing to create which is our exect problem now.
 
Varun said:
Not a balanced attacking side. Too many runners with not enough creativity. It'd again be pogba or nothing to create which is our exect problem now.
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I can see that arguement. Perhaps Ozil instead of Griezmann. Or push Griezmann up top.
 
haram said:
So like Griezmann and Lindelof potentially?
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We need a Lindelof like player but not Lindelof as he can't defend. I don't care if it's a back four or three a CB that can't header the ball or position himself properly can't make the starting lineup. Aymeric Laporte is the ball playing CB we should have got. Watching Laporte ping passes around almost makes you weep when compared with the ball skills of our CBs.
 
Epicurean said:
Last time I checked Mourinho is United's manager for a second season now.

He is responsible for making this squad tic. Just like Pep, both managers inherited a squad with problems. The difference is that Pep made it work and Jose not (yet).

Bit low to blame Van Gaal for Mourinho's team. Ferguson left behind arguably the weakest squad, by that logic Moyes should be left of the hook.
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We've been through this on another thread. Pep inherited possibly the best three players in the league at the time in Silva, Aguero and De Bruyne

Pep also inherited a team of established Internationals and PL winners - the likes of Kompany, Yaya and Zaba where on the decline but great to have around plus solid first team regulars like Otamendi, Fernandinho and Sterling where already in place.

We arguably had only one or two players good enough to win a title, one of whom was the keeper

Anyway - on the theme of the thread I would say keeping Di Maria for Jose would have seen a massively improvement in us now with him behind Lukaku
 
haram said:
-------Rashford---Lukaku
-----------Griezmann-----
Perisic--Pogba--Matic-Valencia

Then a three at the back + De Gea. Swap Martial in for Rashford if you like. I think Jose signed Lindelof to play in a back 3.

:(

I think this is what Mourinho wanted. There is so much power, pace and attacking threat in there. I wonder if he goes into next summer looking for something similar?
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This team lacks a bit of defensive nuance, if I am being honest, and in no way can I see jose put a team like this. I think most people have covered the redundancy of having Antoine along with 2 poachers. Pogba can be the creative impetus needed in a mid 3. I would probably think Jose would want a proper B2B.

Lukaku Antoine
Perisic B2B Matic Pogba Valencia
Back3
DDG

Knowing Jose, this looks far more like a jose team with decent height and defensive stability.
 
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