That would also work. But we all know Rooney, if he's not getting the ball he will come back to the midfield to get it. He is not one to stay at the shoulder of a center back.
This I can agree with. But I believe Mata playing behind 2 strikers ( Rooney + Wilson/RVP/Falcao) can work in a 4-4-2 diamond. I accept your point about the FB playing as wing backs but then we've traditionally always played with FBs playing on the overlap - just look at Evra and Rafael. The problem atm is Valencia playing RB is poor defensively and Shaw offers us fck all going forward (cul-de-sac king). We should be playing Rafael at RB at the very least. We are also missing Carrick massively. It's no coincidence our form this season marries his return. When Carrick comes back I wouldn't mind seeing Blind at LB tbh. And whatever else happens Herrera HAS to start games.
Yes Herrera has to start games. I just think we don't have the right players to play 4-4-2 diamond. We need a very solid no nonsense and creative holding midfielder for that and that person is not Blind. He is a good player no doubt but he he can't be at his best with that formation. Also we don't have full backs that are good going forward, we do miss evra as shaw looks clueless going forward. Valencia also looks clueless going forward. Therefore 4-4-2 diamond is not the way to go since our width would be dead, and then di Maria not playing to his potential. Also the full backs are over worked with this formation and can easily be shut down. Remember what scolari tried to do with Chelsea? Maybe when we get alves or better full backs that are good at going forward and defending , and when we get a better holding midfielder. But until then, the best way to at least bring out the best in these players is playing with real wide men in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Di Maria on the right, young on the left.
What worries me with us playing 4-2-3-1 is the CF gets isolated. It's not always been our best formation tbh, ends up turning into a 4-5-1 and becomes pedestrian. And under LVG who makes us pedestrian anyway, that would concern me. We do need a DM / box to box MF. Blind can be inconsistent. Solid one minute, position ally naive the next. If Nani isn't coming back I really think we should offer him as part of a deal for Carvalho. Moyes wanted him but his sacking scuppered that purchase imo.
Our formation has always been 4-4-2 holding, not diamond. That formation is based mainly on wing play and then we had a scholes in the midfield who could telegram passes to strikers at will and can also pop up in the box to score. But we don't have scholes anymore and our midfielders are afraid of risk hence sideway passes. Only di Maria tries forward passes even though most of them are terrible. I think 4-2-3-1 would still do us better than 4-4-2 diamond. We would be dangerous going forward and also have enough bodies in midfield while on the back foot. Chelsea's streght comes from the threats of hazard and willian on the flanks. Di Maria should be our hazard cutting in from the right, not being a striker or central midfielder. If we had a box to box midfielder like pogba or toure then maybe 4-4-2 diamond would work.
It's not always been 4-4-2. In his later years fergie played 4-3-3 often enough (and 4-2-3-1) and that invariably ended up as 4-5-1. It may suit other teams (4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3) and in Europe I understand its effectiveness, BUT I prefer United playing 4-4-2. I think 4-2-3-1 should be tried but don't expect creative expansive football at United using it. I agree about your point about Scholes etc in a 4-4-2 but disagree about the sideways passing being about a lack of confidence. Read Herrera's interview in the Telegraph. The sideways passing IS a conscious tactical decision by LVG. Players like Mata, Herrera and even Blind are more than capable of playing forward but are being told not to. They don't lack confidence, but this tactic is causing them to lose confidence bcos I don't think they get it, truly believe in it, or understand each other's positional play or role in it. If LVG actually played to the players' strengths 4-4-2 diamond would work in 90% of our games.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...om-the-off-but-this-is-Manchester-United.html Read this if you got time @lostboi
Thanks mate, I've read it. I think van gaal needs to take it easy on his philosophy and tweak the team to their strenght. Maybe we don't have the players to play his way, then he should make the best use of what he has.
Team news is out... Looks like a strong squad but 3-5-2 . well I've always known he would revert back to 3-5-2 sooner or later. Let's hope the lads bring their A game, but don't expect to see the best of angel di Maria.
He changes the CB's again FFS. He really is a complete fckwit at times. Carrick on the bench is a real plus
Suppose he could have started over Falcao but then that leaves Rooney up top on his own. Rooney likes to drop deep regardless of his starting position so we would have been left with nobody in the box. I would rather Blind and Herrera start in midfield ahead of Mata and we all know Rooney starts regardless. Not really all that crazy tbh.
The positive thing I see about this line up is Ashely young. Yes Ashely young. Di maria will interchange with Rooney in the hole and as a striker. Go reds. The negative thing is Evans being one of the back 3. We know this formation allows the center backs to become playmakers and we all know how terrible Evans is with the ball.
Depends on the formation tbh. Looks like young will play higher up whoch means Rojo as left back and Evans as centre back.
It will be 3-5-2 mate. I'd have Mata in there behind the front two. Almost as a 3-2-3-2. But tbf there's enough attacking flair in that starting 11 so let's see.
