What do you think is our best XI?

[Physiocrat]

Given we don't have any genuine wingers (Micky from all reports, I haven't seen much of him, is more of an attacking midfielder) we really need to give freedom to the full-backs to bomb on and provide width. I reckon the key to this is playing Blind as a DM who drops between the CBs in possession to allow both-full backs to bomb forward. So my line-up would be without possession:

----------------DDG----------
Valencia--Smalling-Bailly--Shaw
----------------Blind------------
----------Morgan---Pogba-------
--Micky--------------------Martial
----------------Ibra--------------

In possession:

----------------DDG------------------
----Smalling----Blind----Bailly
----------Morgan--Pogba------------
Valencia--------Ibra------Shaw
--------Micky------Martial-------------

433 without the ball, 3232 with it. Obviously it's more fluid than that but you get the idea

 

[ravi2]

...........................DDG.................................
Darmian(Fabinho?)....Smalling...Baily......Shaw..
..............Pogba...........Herrera.......................
Mickey................Rash...................Martial......
........................Zlatan..................................

Though in reality Wazza will play every game probably

I think sadly you are right

 

[Salus Populi Suprema Lex]

I wouldn't write Rooney off just yet. The past three years have been very difficult for everyone at the club, but let's see whether Mourinho can revitalise him. I'd give him the chance early in the season to start and to show whether he's still got it. My starting team right now would be :

--------------------DDG-------------------

----Valencia----Smalling-----Bailly----Shaw----

------------Pogba-----Schneiderlin/Carrick------

Mkhitarayan--------Rooney------------Martial

--------------------Zlatan------------------

The defence remains a concern

 

[Salfordlad70]

Just perfect. I'm all for Rash on the right side of the attack. We all know Rooney will start. I only hope that somehow Wayne can prove us wrong.

 

[RetroStu]

The defence is pretty much the same for everyone.

For the front six though, i'd like to try this -

..............Schneiderlin------------

-----'Rooney---------Pogba------

Mikhi..........Zlatan--------Martial

Its the only way i can see fitting Rooney, Pogba and Zlatan in the same team. People think Rooney will just end up being dropped after a few games but i highly doubt that. I just can't see another way of getting Rooney, Pogba and Zlatan in the same team.

If we could buy Matuidi and put him in Schneiderlins position, i actually think that team would be damn good.

 

[Fer]

Given we don't have any genuine wingers (Micky from all reports, I haven't seen much of him, is more of an attacking midfielder) we really need to give freedom to the full-backs to bomb on and provide width. I reckon the key to this is playing Blind as a DM who drops between the CBs in possession to allow both-full backs to bomb forward. So my line-up would be without possession:

----------------DDG----------
Valencia--Smalling-Bailly--Shaw
----------------Blind------------
----------Morgan---Pogba-------
--Micky--------------------Martial
----------------Ibra--------------

In possession:

----------------DDG------------------
----Smalling----Blind----Bailly
----------Morgan--Pogba------------
Valencia--------Ibra------Shaw
--------Micky------Martial-------------

433 without the ball, 3232 with it. Obviously it's more fluid than that but you get the idea

Interesting team.

I think Blind as CDM could do a great job. Also, Pogba would be more effective in a midfield of 3. Even players like Schneiderlin, Herrera, Martial, Memphis, Zlatan, etc would improve their game with a 433 formation.

 

[don't sign old players]

Mkhitaryan ahead of Lingard is unanimous then. I know which one I think has looked better in preseason. Carry on.

 

[stepic]

The defence is pretty much the same for everyone.

For the front six though, i'd like to try this -

..............Schneiderlin------------

-----'Rooney---------Pogba------

Mikhi..........Zlatan--------Martial

Its the only way i can see fitting Rooney, Pogba and Zlatan in the same team. People think Rooney will just end up being dropped after a few games but i highly doubt that. I just can't see another way of getting Rooney, Pogba and Zlatan in the same team.

If we could buy Matuidi and put him in Schneiderlins position, i actually think that team would be damn good.

Except Jose has clearly stated Rooney won't play that position. It won't happen

 

[DWelbz19]

Mkhitaryan ahead of Lingard is unanimous then. I know which one I think has looked better in preseason. Carry on.

Lingard definitely looks to have had a better start and will probably start the season ahead of him, but I'm sure Miki will be our starting RW over the course of the season.

 

[Turamb]

Would like to see:

---------------de Gea

Darmian - Smalling - Bailly - Shaw

----Miki - Schneiderlin - Pogba

-Rashford - Ibrahimovic - Martial


Probably wouldn't work in action, but looks fun in theory

 

[don't sign old players]

Lingard definitely looks to have had a better start and will probably start the season ahead of him, but I'm sure Miki will be our starting RW over the course of the season.

I think they link up quite well together actually, if space in the xi. would ever be made for both, though it's doubtful. I'm definitely a Lingard fan though. He appears to have settled into this team at this stage, as you said.

 

[buckooo1978]

Our Europa League side could actually be better balanced

--------------------------------------Romero---------------------------------------
Darmian-------------Jones------------------Rojo-----------------Blind
--------------------------TFM (6)------Herrera/Morgan(8)----------
Lingard--------------------------Mata--------------------------Memphis
----------------------------------Rashford-------------------------------------

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

Think we all like that, but reality is Rooney is going to be in there somewhere which fecks the whole thing up

Pogba is wasted in a midfield two. he's never thrived in that set up.

 

[Jippy]

So we're close to the season beginning. Pre-season come and gone. Shield on Sunday. Premier League begins soon.

What do you think is our best XI right now? Obviously this can change even weekly on the cafe, but I'm curious what people see as our best 11 right now. You can include Pogba in the XI.

Here is what I think is our best 11:

Martial-Ibra-Rashford
Pogba-Schneiderlin
Carrick
Shaw-Blind-Smalling-Valencia
DDG

A few notes:

- I think Rashford on the right is our best option providing Ibra stays injury free and plays up top. Rashford has the ability to penetrate himself and also make runs in behind. His pace is an asset and his link-up play is good.

-Pogba would be the furthest midfield forward. I think a 3 man midfield is our best bet. Pogba and Schnederlin's work-rate off the ball to protect Carrick(somewhat similar to Vidal/Marchisio protecting Pirlo in the 2011-2012 season at Juventus). Carrick as a holding midfielder, because he's our best passer imo.

-Blind still as a CB for now, because I think Bailly is a bit raw and I believe Jose sees Blind as a CB too.

-Valencia as our starting RB, because I think his attacking contribution is far better than Darmian's.

A bizarre superpower that we are all oddly jealous of.

 

[Raoul]

Our Europa League side could actually be better balanced

--------------------------------------Romero---------------------------------------
Darmian-------------Jones------------------Rojo-----------------Blind
--------------------------TFM (6)------Herrera/Morgan(8)----------
Lingard--------------------------Mata--------------------------Memphis
----------------------------------Rashford-------------------------------------

I don't think our Europa league side will be any different than our usual best 11. If we are going for every trophy we will approach Europe as we would the Prem and FA Cup.

 

[Tyrion]

Martial - Ibra - Mkhitaryan (I checked the spelling)
Pogba - Carrick/Herrera
Schneiderlin
Shaw - Baily - Smalling - Darmian
DDG​

I really don't like Valencia at right back. He doesn't really offer anything going forward. Plus I'd rather a dedicated right back play there.
Baily is picked ahead of Blind as Blind could come on in any position and do a good job while Baily's more physical approach might compliment Smalling pretty well at centre back.
Schneiderlin is picked at the base of midfield as I think Mourinho will want a dedicated holding midfielder better at defending than Carrick. I also don't think Carrick will play that much and in his place will be Herrera who will play further forward.

I think we're still pretty weak in defence and short one really good passer in midfield. I don't think Carrick is as good as some here think (at least not anymore).

 

[Galactico]

The BBC site has a great team builder for United and you can share once entered.

Here's mine:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37027787#manchester-united-2016-2add6255b1760499f9267c0d1e3bce4d

 

[Galactico]

 

[OldTrevil]

I don't think our Europa league side will be any different than our usual best 11. If we are going for every trophy we will approach Europe as we would the Prem and FA Cup.

No Mourinho will definitely change the team for Europa, given the Thursday night schedule and traveling to God knows what cold and snowy place in Eastern Europe. He is even keeping 3 more players in the squad for it. The team he plays for it will be interesting for sure.

 

[Raoul]

No Mourinho will definitely change the team for Europa, given the Thursday night schedule and traveling to God knows what cold and snowy place in Eastern Europe. He is even keeping 3 more players in the squad for it. The team he plays for it will be interesting for sure.

I'm sure he will rotate players but it won't be a completely different squad (ie. one squad for the league, another squad for Europe). It will be mainly the same players with a bit of rotation for rest).

 

[OldTrevil]

I'm sure he will rotate players but it won't be a completely different squad (ie. one squad for the league, another squad for Europe). It will be mainly the same players with a bit of rotation for rest).

Fair enough, we'll see how he goes about it. It will show how serious he takes the cup for sure.

 

[Android1974]

I'm sure he will rotate players but it won't be a completely different squad (ie. one squad for the league, another squad for Europe). It will be mainly the same players with a bit of rotation for rest).

Actually, no. This time Mourinho really means it, he's going to rotate almost completely. He has practically already promised the players left out that they will play in Europa League and the League Cup come September. Of course, some of the 1st 11 players who might have missed the last Premier League game through suspension, lesion or even tactical option, might get a start here, but he will surely take them out soon if those players are set to feature on the Sunday/Monday game.

 

[Raoul]

Actually, no. This time Mourinho really means it, he's going to rotate almost completely. He has practically already promised the players left out that they will play in Europa League and the League Cup come September. Of course, some of the 1st 11 players who might have missed the last Premier League game through suspension, lesion or even tactical option, might get a start here, but he will surely take them out soon if those players are set to feature on the Sunday/Monday game.

What he says and what he winds up doing will be two different things. He doesn't strike me as someone who will casually tolerate his team getting booted out of the Euros because his best players have to be saved for the likes of Watford and West Brom at the weekend. There will be core players who play almost every game as long as they are fit. Valencia, Martial, De Gea, and Pogba spring to mind.

 

[Devil may care]

 

[Android1974]

What he says and what he winds up doing will be two different things. He doesn't strike me as someone who will casually tolerate his team getting booted out of the Euros because his best players have to be saved for the likes of Watford and West Brom at the weekend. There will be core players who play almost every game as long as they are fit. Valencia, Martial, De Gea, and Pogba spring to mind.

For once, I think you're totally wrong. Mourinho must have a very fresh memory of his awful experiences with Chelsea against teams like those last season (no one knows by now how much he was traumatized by that), and he couldn't give a feck about Europa League group stages or even the League Cup, when he's trying to build the team who might save his managerial career.

There's one case where what you predict might happen: the team is not functioning right, for instance, just having lost against City at home or Watford away and Mourinho could feel tempted to push the 1st 11 players to correct their behavior and force them to play right away in the next game (being Europa or League Cup).

Come March it might be different, though, with the later stages of Europa League and the FA Cup, although that might depend on how well United's doing on the title fight front.

 

[Womp]

Think this would be our best as the ball winning ability and defensive capability TFM possesses and I believe Blind could also manage (due to his stint as a defender) would allow Pogba to burst forward and operate in that whole area. This would also allow Mkhitryan and Martial to roam, whilst not completely leaving that area open, due to Blind and TFM being able to fill in.

This could also work due to Blind being our best passer after Carrick imo, he can split open defences and play those killer passes from deep, whilst TFM is also very good at winning the ball back and driving forward, often dropping deeper than the other two (Pogba and Blind)

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

There's a lack of Lingard in these line-ups.

 

[surf]

Hope Mourinho is reading this thread beginning to end - the rationales as well as the line-ups.

 

[11101]

This but I'd have Schneiderlin instead of Carrick. Carrick should be a backup now with a season left, two at most, and Morgan will be a different player when he's not spending the whole game covering Carricks lack of mobility and Fellaini's rubbish positioning.

 

[OldTrevil]

There's a lack of Lingard in these line-ups.

I think most expect Mkhitaryan to eventually win his position in our settled side, but who knows Lingard may end up nailing down the spot. Certainly if he keeps playing to a high level and scoring, he will start more often than not.

 

[don't sign old players]

Europa league:

..........Romero........
Darmian. ...Jones....Tuanzebe...BJ..
....Mensah..... Schneiderlin.....
...................Mata......... ..
Mkhitaryan.... Rooney.... Memphis..

 

[Triple.Threat]

I would fancy this lineup.

 

[We need an rvn]

Pogba is wasted in a midfield two. he's never thrived in that set up.

That was partly my point. Mourinho has already stated Rooney is not a midfielder. Pogba didn't do well as a more holding midfielder for France but thrived as a no. 10 for Juventus.

If Rooney is out no. 10, that only leaves midfield for pogba.

Trust us to spend 90m on a player and play him out of best position

 

[VanHaal'sRedArmy]

I don't think our Europa league side will be any different than our usual best 11. If we are going for every trophy we will approach Europe as we would the Prem and FA Cup.

Could likely be our EFL (sponsor pending) Cup lineup though.

 

[buckooo1978]

I don't think our Europa league side will be any different than our usual best 11. If we are going for every trophy we will approach Europe as we would the Prem and FA Cup.

Thats a big if I think...

Priority has to be top 4 minimum in light of the stipulations of Adidas deal/other finances....

Who knows but I feel he will prioritise.... maybe bring in first teamers if we progress well

 

[buckooo1978]

I would fancy this lineup.

Me too.... only issue is that Schneiderlein played his best football as a box to box midfield player - ideally you want a better passer in here - Verrati next summer!

Valencia deserves to be in the team based on pre-season and his attacking play - when we've looked stagnant in attack he's put some quality into the box

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Pogba isnt a number 10 thats such a myth on here

 

[as-95]

This is my formation aswell. In a midfield two, Pogba would overburden his partner with defensive duties. His best position would be as the most advamced central midfielder.

Wings are perfect with Rashford subbing on for Mkhi or Zlatan and Rooney/Lingard extra cover.

Schneiderlin and Herrera would be good together under Mourinho and the defense is also perfect with Darmian rotating with Tony.

This is the most solid side and the quicker Jose relegates Rooney to the bench, the higher up the table we will end up.

 

[Borys]

I believe we'll play it safe at the beginning, with Carrick/Schneiderlin and Fellaini in the middle, Herrera as a back-up because he isn't strong enough and his positional sense isn't good enough for a 2 man midfield. Rooney will play behind Ibra, Martial and Lingard (who'll start season on the right) and Mkhitaryan as a sub.

Few games in the season (I'd bet 3) when Pogba gets his fitness level again, he'll be gradually replacing Rooney in the starting XI. Now this might take some time but I'd say by November Rooney will not be a starter. Not only we have better players than him in every possible position, but also he competes directly with two high-profile players just as big as him (when was the last time that happened?).

I'd give Blind a chance in holding role because he's our most consistent player, very intelligent, good passer and most importantly our only midfielder who doesn't panic under pressure like Schneiderlin and especially Carrick. Now that we have extremely athletic back four and Pogba in midfield, I wouldn't worry about Blind lack of psychical presence. So, my XI:

DDG
Valencia----Smalling----Bailly----Shaw
Blind
Herrera------Pogba
Mkhitaryan----Ibra----Martial​

 

[jojose]

----------------------------De Gea
Valencia--------Smalling--------Blind---------Shaw
------------------Herrera-------Schniderlin------------
---------------------------Pogba--------------------------------
Jesse--------------------------------------------Martial
----------------------------Zlatan

Would at present be my “strongest 11”. Morgan would be my 6. Herrera would be my 8 and Pogba can do what ever the feck he wants. Let him just go out and effect the game when we are in position. Obviously he’ll have a role when not in possession but I wouldn’t be onerous with that.

I think Smalling and Bailly both need Blind next to them. Together would equal the brain dead defending we’ve seen when smalling and jones are paired together.

Clearly Miki has been brought for a reason. Personally (sorry to throw a spanner in the works) but from what ive seen of him at United so far, he’s been underwhelming. Sure he looked decent against Wigan, but that tells me nothing. I am not doubting he isn’t a good player but I think Mourinho maybe under rated Jesse and his pace, work rate and ability to find himself in good positions might just see him start the season. Assuming the injury is just a knock? I also think Mata has done more than Miki.