Alexis is a disruptor at United and it's going to be a while until the dust settles and we understand the true benefits of the lad. I'm not saying that he's not good - he's clearly going to be amazing for us. What I am talking about is the impact of his signing on the rest of the team. We haven't bought him on 1st July and got a full pre-season to bed him in - we need to work out what works as we go along.
It's clearly going to have a significant impact to the 'normal' first 11 starting. Alexis will take one of the front four berths but who will take the other two (assuming Lukaku has got the other locked down). This isn't just going to be 'who's the fastest', or 'who's got the best tricks', but more who has the best relationship with Pogba, Alexis and Lukaku.
We have Lingard, Rashford, Martial and Mata fighting over two spots - possibly one if as I hope we continue to put Pogba at the head of a midfield three. With Alexis instigating such a change I'm not sure we are supporters are going to be able to have much valid analysis for a while and will have to trust in Jose and what he sees on the training ground.
Of the four on first look I could see Mata struggling for game time but it may well go in completely the opposite direction. With Alexis having so much urgency and flair, who is able to make and receive pinpoint passes, you may well be looking for someone who will gel with this. Lingard, Rashford and Martial have often shown either an inability to look up or an inability to thread the pinpoint pass. Mata might well end up higher up the pecking order.
One thing for sure, not having to *always* rely on the these options from the start but more giving them rotation from the bench can only be a good thing for Man Utd and these players. Let them grow into form, rather than playing them anyway when they are not.