With Di Maria’s transfer almost official, we would surely have a lot of permutations and combinations as to how Manchester United would line up in the coming weeks. There are a good bunch of attack minded players who occupy similar positions on the pitch. And with United looking rather poor in defence in comparison to what they boast in attack, it becomes altogether important to have a control on the game and have the ability to score goals as well as hold possession. This comes with strong balance and it can be achieved using certain tactics and players. Here is a balanced lineup of players which include new signings Angel di Maria and Marcos Rojo.
Ofcourse this is predicting that van Gaal will change his formation to the normal 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 diamond to fit in Angel Di Maria.
GK: David De Gea
There’s no doubt about the Spaniard occupying the starting position for the Red Devils. He’s been a top performer.
RB: Rafael
He may have been inconsistent over the last season but he offers a lot of attacking threat and he’s decent while defending. He’s an agile and energetic player down the flanks.
CB: Jonny Evans / Phil Jones
Unless Man Utd get another centre back, Evans is likely to be their first choice centre back. He’s injury prone but has been better than Smalling over the seasons. His defensive colleague Phil Jones can also be a possibility but so far he has failed to impress Louis van Gaal.
CB: Marcos Rojo
Rojo is a good versatile defender. He’s had a great World Cup as a left back and has experience playing as a central defender at club level. He’d definitely make the cut ahead of Chris Smalling.
LB: Luke Shaw
Shaw is United’s costliest defender and a good one as well. Seen as a special prospect, Shaw is a very good attacking left back. His defensive abilities aren’t bad as he is decent and would improve with age and experience. If LVG gives him the confidence that he had last season and starts him at his usual left back position, then Shaw would be the man to watch.
CDM: Phil Jones / Fletcher
As of now, United lack the physical and all action defensive midfielder shielding the back four. Phil Jones has played this position before and would rather fit in better than the struggling Fellaini. Fletcher would be an option as well until the Michael Carrick returns from his long term injury.
CM: Ander Herrera
New man Herrera would slot next to Jones and do the spreading up of play. He has a good range of passing and a player who would provide space to the flair players with his passes. Herrera has so far been impressive in United colors and there are a lot expected out of him.
RM: Angel Di Maria
He’s naturally a wide attacking midfielder who’d fit in beautifully anywhere wide. He is good through the centre as well as with either foot(preferred being left). Di Maria is expected to provide the required flair and energy to the team, which has been playing way off their usual standards.
CAM: Juan Mata
Mata’s best position is behind the striker and a playmaker role. This is the position where he found his best form in a Chelsea shirt bagging 20 goals and 35 assists in all competitions in 2012-13 seasons.
LM: Antonio Valencia / Januzaj
He has pace, control and directness to his attack that gives balance to the team. His work rate is good provided the manager instructs on work rate. He’s a great crosser as well. A classic winger is important to the team and Valencia is one of the better direct wingers in the league. Valencia would be equally managed by youth prospect Januzaj who has the potential to reach great heights under LVG.
ST: Robin van Persie/ Wayne Rooney
It is either van Persie or Wayne Rooney but the Dutchman has to be the first choice because he’s a better number 9. Rooney is versatile but his best position is that of a striker. Playing him behind van Persie allows the team to have a goal threat and a very hardworking player, but Manchester United barely get any control in the advanced midfield areas as the play becomes too predictable and slow with Rooney in attacking midfield. His movement doesn’t complement the style of a CAM. Rooney is a class addition as a striker and should be used that way by rotating him and van Persie.
However, the Manchester United captain cannot afforded to be benched and it is likely that LVG will use both Rooney and RVP with the former being used on the left side of the attacking three. If the manager wants to put Rooney and van Persie together in the team, they would have to be a flat 4-4-2 with Di Maria and Valencia being the wingers. Mata can be used but he barely closes down opponents and struggles to maintain a wide position.
On other hand, if van Gaal does stick to his 3-5-2 formation, things can be very difficult to predict. The forward line will obviously feature Rooney and RVP. In midfield if the likes of Rojo/Shaw and Valencia/ Rafael are used as wing backs, then it would be Herrera, Mata and Di Maria to feature in the role behind the strikers. Jones would probably feature in the back three along with Evans, Smalling and probably Rojo.
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