Manchester United have added quality to their attack and to their midfield, with some big-money purchases in the previous transfer window. The quality in the revamped side is immense, though it will take time for all of the players to play in tandem. United’s performances have veered from exceptional to poor over the last eight matches, and it is largely to do with team selection and the team formation.
The 3-5-2 formation is ill-suited to the Premier League, as that centralizes play and most Premier League teams use the space on the flanks to create attacks, which are left unguarded in such a formation. None of United’s players can consistently put in shifts of measured attack and defence on the flanks to enable the 3-5-2 formation to work successfully. The 4-1-3-2 or the 4-4-2 diamond formations give United more freedom to use their players to their potential. With this formation, FootballFriendsonline.com looks at the best possible United line-up.
Goalkeeper:
David de Gea:
He has been on an upward spiral since his arrival in 2011. Lampooned for his poor goalkeeping on his baptism by fire in the Premier League, he has since shrugged off criticism to become one of the top goalkeepers in the League and has also pushed himself in the reckoning for a starting berth in the Spanish line-up. The Spaniard has saved United on a number of occasions in recent times, and has manned the box. He has enhanced his reputation over the last two years, and he is now a fan favourite.
Defence:
Rafael:
He is United’s first-choice right-back, and is well-suited to the Premier League, as he charges up and down the flanks, mixing attack with defensive tendencies and delivers good crosses into the opposition box. He is a good passer and can get the ball away from dangerous areas, meriting his selection. He has been consistent in recent times, though he falls prey to mistakes and moments of aggression to stop the opposition from scoring.
Phil Jones:
Sir Alex Ferguson claimed that he could go on to be the greatest player that the club has ever seen. Injuries have curtailed him from living up to that potential, but he could be a future leader of United’s defence, as he possesses the right mix of aggression and strength to stop opposition attacks from hurting his team through accurate interceptions and tackles. Unfortunately, he has a tendency of getting injured when he is at the top of his game.
Jonny Evans:
He has been one of the mainstays of United’s defence and could form a good centre-back partnership with Phil Jones. Both players have not played with each other too much, due to their injury-prone nature. Evans has been consistent and effective, without being flashy, which is what United need in a bid to keep the opposition at bay. He has been chosen over Chris Smalling, due to his effectiveness when he is on the pitch, unlike Smalling, who has been inconsistent in his displays.
Marcos Rojo:
One of two defenders who came into the club at the beginning of the season, he is still adapting to life at United. The solidity and vision for which he was purchased by Louis van Gaal has been seen in a few moves that he has made in the few games that he has played. He is better utilized at centre-back, but Jonny Evans is better than the choice at left-back, Luke Shaw, as of now, which pushes Rojo to plug the left-back post.
Midfield:
Daley Blind:
Blind was bought as he was versatile enough to play at the centre or on the left of defence or in midfield. He has been used as the screen ahead of the defence as of now, and he took time to adapt, as his performance against Leicester was not his best, but he has improved since then, even scoring a goal in his last game, and could become an important cog in the team. He has vision and could control the game in the centre of midfield with his skill, and if he keeps improving, he could be a United captain one day.
Michael Carrick:
The English man has not played a minute of United’s campaign yet, but he has been missed so far. He is a ball-playing midfielder, who can pass the ball around and control the pace of United’s play. His incisiveness in terms of his passing has created chances for United to capitalize over the past few seasons, and with the current talent at United’s disposal, he could have more assists to his name than earlier.
Ander Herrera:
United had been targeting him since David Moyes was in charge, but they were able to get him to the team only in the previous transfer window. He is adapting to life at United as a box-to-box midfielder, but he will need to assert himself in games more. He has got goals to his name, and his energy and pace will aid him in pushing opposition teams to defend against attacks, as he copes with the physical nature of the league.
Angel di Maria:
The most expensive purchase by an English team till date; he was available only as he was displaced by the arrivals of James and Toni Kroos at Real Madrid. He has set the Premier League on fire since his debut, as he dances all around the opposition third, orchestrating attack after attack. He is living up to his billing and is slowly becoming the mainstay of United, as there has been a drop in the tempo of United’s play when he has not been on the pitch.
Forwards:
Wayne Rooney:
Rooney has been the outlet of United’s attacks and is the engine of the team, putting in tireless shifts energetically. He is involved in every attack, and is the captain and the face of the team. With the talent that has been added to the team, he has been stellar in getting United back to where they belong. Ever the team-player, he makes tackles, selflessly passes the ball and unleashes ferocious shots, all with immense skill; though he is subject to bouts of passionate insanity, as he gives his one-hundred percent every time he is on the pitch.
Radamel Falcao:
The Colombian, also known as ‘El Tigre’ signed a loan deal with United, when other teams were chasing him for his signature. He knows that he has to remain injury-free to stay at United, and he has envisioned a future for himself at United. He has done well, running all over, fighting to get possession, in short, strong displays, all of which have pushed Robin van Persie out of this line-up, as van Persie depends more on his skills and has been inconsistent this season.
