de Gea
Smalling Jones Evans Evra
Nani Cleverley Anderson Young
Rooney Welbeck
Mental.
Is that team really any better than our current strongest XI?
I think Fergie was
too good. To the extent that it actually hurt us as he papered over the cracks so much our owners didn't feel the need to invest in the squad.
Not far off, but where would that team finish this year with Liverpool and City's dominance. Probably 3rd or 4th.
Comparing the two teams:
de Gea
Smalling Jones Evans Evra
Nani Cleverley Anderson Young
Rooney Welbeck
Vs.
de Gea
Wan-Bissaka Lindelof Maguire Shaw
James McTominay Pogba Lingard
Martial Rashford
The back five
Pretty much on par, i'd say. Smalling, whilst a not a natural right back used to do a really good job, especially defensively. Jones and Evans provided a good balance, that we've been seeing from Lindelof and Maguire, and Evra got forward very well.
Midfield two
Anderson and Cleverley in that season before both got injured were absolutely bossing it. Both complimented each other well and moved the ball with speed and accuracy. Talent wise; however, McTominay and Pogba are probably better. They just need time and the players around them.
Wingers
Nani on his day was world class. Could go on the outside and inside. Very hard to mark and unpredictable. Would easily be our best winger today during that time. Young, whilst not great, had a great cross/shot from the left.
James, despite starting very well is not at the level of our wingers back then and we shouldn't expect him to be. Certainly going in the right direction, though. Unfortunately, after that, we really struggle for wingers, and it still leaves me baffled as to why we didn't sign at least one more winger.
Strikers
All I can say is Rooney. Got so much stick for years on here, but he's always been the person to keep our attack together. That season, according to
whoscored.com, he scored 27 goals and made 4 assists in the EPL.
Unfortunately, I can't see neither Martial or Rashford putting up those type of numbers. I mean, Welbeck that season got 9 goals and 4 assists, which is closer to the highest numbers
Martial or
Rashford have put up so far since they've been playing in the EPL.
I think this is the importance of us getting an attacker like Rooney who could potentially transform our whole attack. Along with a right winger, we've needed a top 10/second striker since Rooney went.
Players like Griezmann, Dybala, Son, Firmino are the type of players we could do with to help our young players and be that go to player.
Overall
Overall it's close, but the wingers and Rooney do it for me, which make a whole world of difference, especially when you struggle to break down defences like we do.
Going forward
de Gea
Wan-Bissaka Lindelof Maguire Shaw
Winger McTominay Pogba James
Second Striker
Martial