Who will be our regular starters?

[Connolly]

I, like many others, couldn't resist a bit of FM muppetry when I saw the signing of Lindelof. Very easy to automatically pin him down as a starter - considering his current/potential pedigree and the fee paid. Knowing Jose, and anticipating the English media, it's easy to see why Mourinho would have reservations in starting him. Lindelof is a young lad and I honesty, has looked way off where he would need to be in pre season. Mourinho knows that starting him could potentially lead to a media backlash and an automatic depletion of confidence - coupled with potential homesickness etc.

However, considering the recent suspension of Jones - who I figured was nailed on to start against West Ham, he has less options. If I was to guess a Back 4 for the opener, it would be as follows:

Valencia Bailly Blind Darmian

 

[Natener]

Bit worrying we just spent around 25 million on a central defender & most think don't have him as starting. Not saying your wrong though.

Says more of the market actually. For reference, Michael Keane went for a similar fee and I won't consider him a 'regular starter' for us if we signed him instead.

 

[Grande]

A big Jones fan I see

Given pre-season, I don't think it's daft assuming Jones is a somewhat ahead when it comes to partnering Bailly atm.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Given pre-season, I don't think it's daft assuming Jones is a somewhat ahead when it comes to partnering Bailly atm.

Apparently Jones started all but one game when he was available last season (the one being during Xmas rotation). Appears that Jose is a fan.

 

[Macern]

A big Jones fan I see

Well he's our 2nd best centre back right now isn't he? Lindelöf may obviously replace him sooner or later

 

[Grande]

Apparently Jones started all but one game when he was available last season (the one being during Xmas rotation). Appears that Jose is a fan.

Apparently, José's new nickname for Jones is 'The Most Available Duncan Edwards'.

 

[Nytram Shakes]

I dont think Hererra is nailed on tbh.
I think he'll get dropped for Mikhitariyan semi often to play 4231.
I think he'll start most of the big games i guess though.

i'm with you, i think people are overestimating the amount we are going to play 433, i think we will play a lot of 4231 and 5321. Plus don't underestimate how much Mourinho rates Fellaini.

 

[Kidders]

Well he's our 2nd best centre back right now isn't he? Lindelöf may obviously replace him sooner or later

Not knocking it, it's just that you are probably in the minority, when discussing CB's none of them showed consistant form last season, even Bailly faded towards the end of the season.
Jones at his best is a very good player, but we only get glimpses I'm afraid.

 

[Kidders]

Given pre-season, I don't think it's daft assuming Jones is a somewhat ahead when it comes to partnering Bailly atm.

I think the CB pre-season partnership pairings were more to do with the fact that Jose knew Bailly & Jones were both banned for the Super Cup, therefore the concentration was getting game time with a Lindelöf/Smalling partnership ?

 

[POF]

Apparently Jones started all but one game when he was available last season (the one being during Xmas rotation). Appears that Jose is a fan.

He didn't start him in the Europa League final - the most important game of the season.

 

[Santoryo]

Start every game they are fit:
De Gea
Bailly
Valencia
Matic
Pogba
Herrera
Lukaku

Start most games:
Lindelof
Rojo
Darmian
Mata
Miki
Rashford
Martial

Based on this pre season so far I think Lingard is trusted by Mou and would probably start most games. You should put him in your "Start most games" list.

 

[Dave46]

I am not confident with our wingers. They just all seem like attackers turned into wingers. We need a proper pacey winger that hugs the touchline.

Go back 20 years for that.

 

[keener]

I agree with much of your opinions on the staple 6 or 7 players. DDG, Valencia, Bailly, Herrera, Pogba, Lukaku. I'd add Mkhitaryan to that list and maybe even Rashford if he gets a good start.

I think Jones will nail down the other CB spot if healthy and Blind the LB unless we go get Rose.

Very regulars will be Lingard, Matic, Mata and Martial. Lindelof will certainly get a shot as will Darmian who seemed to answer the bell last season. Carrick, Rojo, Smalling and Fellaini may be down the list and not get great runs until rotation happens ahead of a champions league game or in cup play. Either way, we have a very strong core of players to chose every game.

Ideally, I'd like to see the following group become our goto lineup:

DDG
Valencia Bailly Jones Shaw (Rose Type)
Herrera
Mata Pogba Mkhitarian Rashford
Lukaku

Subs: Martial, Lingard, Matic

I wouldn't mind Herrera getting a run at the more holding mid spot and let him decide when to come up and help... But with him and Pogba and Mkhit in the midfield 3, that may be a bit TOO attacking for Jose and most likely will have Matic in for Mkhitaryan or Mata.

 

[bosnian_red]

De Gea
Valencia Bailly ??? ???
??? ??? Pogba
Mkhitaryan Lukaku ???
​

Midfield the question is just will it be both herrera and matic, or will one of those 2 miss out with Mkhitaryan coming in the middle now and then, so you could say they are regular starters, just not an absolute guarantee to start when fit. The rest are automatic starters when fit and the only ones who are in that boat IMO.

 

[Android1974]

Except for a few dead certain starters (De Gea, Valencia, Pogba, for sure), I'm not expecting players to be so overwhelming they'll start every game.

 

[Eire Red United]

Does anyone think we'll play a two man midfield much this season, with Pogba and Matic/Herrera? Rather than the 433?

 

[Eire Red United]

Except for a few dead certain starters (De Gea, Valencia, Pogba, for sure), I'm not expecting players to be so overwhelming they'll start every game.

Probably add Matic and Bailly to that. As well as Lukaku unless he hits poor form.

 

[Sagittarius13]

De Gea
Valencia Lindelof Smalling . Blind
Herrera . Matic . Pogba
Mkhitaryan . Lukaku . Lingard

 

[Mr Smith]

De Gea
Valencia Lindelof Smalling . Blind
Herrera . Matic . Pogba
Mkhitaryan . Lukaku . Lingard

I think Mourinho is more aware of Lingard's limitations than many think, and won't actually start that many games. He started against Madrid because not many of our players can play that wing-back role, and he may start some big games for defensive reasons, but I can't see him frequently playing week to week.

 

[Rob Bowman]

I can't see past these seven starting for sure...


----------------DDG---------------
Valencia--Bailly---?????----?????
---------------Matic---------------
-------Herrera-----Pogba--------
?????-------Lukaku------??????

Now Miki, Rashford and Martial and even Mata should get time at the two wings. Sadly Fellaini will get time. And we can hope Jones, Rojo or Lindelof settle as the other CB. Lastly we pray Shaw steps up. The truth is we are much closer than we were two years ago but sadly we are still a bit away.

 

[serxyo]

De Gea, Bailly, Darmian, Matic, Pogba, Lukaku

 

[Lentwood]

If i were picking the XI I would be happy that we could win a title with the following - assuming 4-2-3-1 for now

GK - DDG
RB - Valencia
LB
CB - Bailly
CB - Rojo/Smalling/Jones
DM - Matic
DM - Herrera
CM - Pogba
AMR -
AML -
ST - Lukaku

I think Shaw, Mhiki, Martial and Rashford all have potential to fill some of those gaps but none have shown it consistently enough for me to be confident. Therefore those would be the positions I still feel we need to improve in

 

[Oneunited26]

Based on this pre season so far I think Lingard is trusted by Mou and would probably start most games. You should put him in your "Start most games" list.

If that's the case, only thing we challenging in the league is hoping to finish 4th

I can't see past these seven starting for sure...


----------------DDG---------------
Valencia--Bailly---?????----?????
---------------Matic---------------
-------Herrera-----Pogba--------
?????-------Lukaku------??????

Now Miki, Rashford and Martial and even Mata should get time at the two wings. Sadly Fellaini will get time. And we can hope Jones, Rojo or Lindelof settle as the other CB. Lastly we pray Shaw steps up. The truth is we are much closer than we were two years ago but sadly we are still a bit away.

This is the heart of the problem, we have signed managers and got current managers that don't seem to understand the problems or even want to entertain why we continue to underwhelm since fergie retired, rams a lingard down our throats to prove some weird point that does not benefit us what so ever. Fellaini gets games, lingard gets games, not just games but a big part of the teams plans these are like big SAM kind of decisions, yet assists and goals scored are lower than Valencia's goalscoring record who is a RB now. Not signing top class wingers to improve our cutting edge but chase unicorns for a player inter don't want to sell, seem to think clean sheets are more important than scoring goals by sacrificing our cutting edge. Not getting more out of a luke shaw and martial, maybe they can do something. If shaw can't, maybe signing a LB who can. For me we just going into another season with a very negative manager that has not gone all out to make sure we have the players who can hurt sides, and players we do have he is using inferior players. Now if lingard does start which he will, its just going to be the same problems on why we struggled to hurt sides last season, fullbacks not attacking, and wingers like lingard who are has effective has cutting a tree down with a spoon.

 

[Noc-Z]

Obviously we have some positions where we aren't quite sure our best options and other areas where we have multiple options of similar quality so who do you lot think are our nailed on starters in Premier League games?

IMO - De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Matic, Herrera, Pogba, Lukaku

Think it's most likely to come down to form and availability for second center back position though suspect Lindelof will have bought with the idea that's his position this year and if not then Rojo when he's back. Left back looks a mess really depends on if Shaw shows up this season I guess.

Think the LW and RW positions will perhaps be the most rotated.

No regular start for Herrera. He's nowhere near good enough. Agree with the other 6. The fact we can't pick any nailed on wingers is poor. Actually we don't really have any wingers. Mata on the right? He's not a winger. Rashford on the left? Not a winger. Martial? Not a winger. So no nailed on starters on the wings I'm afraid.

 

[FéNaSeleção]

It's not a proper use of time to argue about who the 'regular' starters will be as there are always injuries, midweek domestic and european cup matches, and normal fluctuation in a given player's quality.
That said, the core will have to be something like this. I'd like to see more Mkhitarian, but him or Mata should be the rotation we see deployed on the right.
On the left, allow Rashford and Martial to cycle. Eventually we will see one player establish himself more than the other. My big concern is who's taking over for Lukaku when he gets injured or we have multiple matches a week? If Zlatan could come back it'd be a blessing.

----------------DDG---------------
Valencia--Bailly---?????----?????
---------------Matic---------------
-------??????-----Pogba--------
?????-------Lukaku------??????