Why playing in a 4-4-1-1 when most of our players are better in another tactic? We cried for the 4-4-2 when we were sh** in 3-5-2 last year, but when you have such a strong midfield, why don't playing on our strength
Carrick à Better as a lone 6
Schneiderlin à Comfortable in a 2 man midfield, and also in a 3 man midfield being the dynamic one (8)
Schweinsteiger à Good enough to play in a midfield two, but not next to Carrick. Would be great next to Schneiderlin. I can also see him as Carrick’s replacement
Herrera à Proved that he was our better player last year in a 8 position, but he was terrific playing at 10 before
Fellaini à He’s far better in a 3 man midfield. At Everton or last year he proved he was very good behind the striker, not mobile enough to play in a 4-4-2
----------------------------------------Carrick/Schweini------------------------------------
----------------Schneiderlin/Fellaini-------------------------Herrera/Mata----------------
???????----------------------------------Rooney-------------------------------------Depay
It's been bothering me too. The only thing i could think of is that he doesn't believe there will be a significant change in terms of speeding up our build up play and creating more chances. In other words, he wasn't completely satisfied with the quality in the first team, so he decided to change the tactics a bit in order to have two or more options in each position. By doing that, he believes that the team will be able to get through a major injury crisis smoothly and not be left far behind in the title race. After all, he stated in his last interview that our bad start last season, when we faced an unbelievable injury crisis, was the main reason we never got a shot at the title.
As for the midfield he probably believes that Carrick and Schweini can only play as holding midfielders. He basically agrees with your opinion that Bastian can't play the #8 role next to Carrick. We can also presume that he thinks of Schneiderlin as a clear defensive midfielder but not as a ball carrier or a deep lying play-maker. We learned from last season that he doesn't trust Fellaini's abilities on the ball either and that he sees Mata as player who must get on the ball in the final third and not participate in the midfield battle (he played as a #10 only in the 3-5-2 and the diamond). So, in his eyes, the only proper ball carrier in the team, the player with the ability to connect the lines, is still Herrera.
Which means that we'll rely on the wings to get the ball forward a lot, like we did last season (the reason Young and Valencia gained a place in the starting xi). So, he may have decided to use a player close to Rooney in order to have more numbers in the box and stretch defenses instead of a third man in the midfield. I believe the interest in Pedro is also a move towards that direction.
His midfield partnerships are quite interesting too. Carrick, a holding midfielder, alongside a beast like defensive midfielder (Schneiderlin), so that we can make the most of Carrick's passing range and vision. And Schweinsteiger, who is more mobile and adventurous than Carrick, alongside Herrera who likes to move in more advanced positions and search for final passes on the edge of the box.
I'm not saying that i agree with his current choices, i'm just trying to understand the logic behing his tactical changes.
kinda lost control the other day. too many people criticising me instead of my posts.
