[mufc1996]

Why would you have fletcher over Herrera?

If Herrera doesn't start against arsenal, I might cut me head off.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Why would you have fletcher over Herrera?

Goodness knows, Fletcher will get murdered.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Big difference losing 'only' 1-0 away to City with 10 men, a place where even with Fergie in charge we were shite, and then playing Arsenal who aren't very good.

Tbf, I dont think that 10 men argument is really valid, often when teams get back to 10 men, they really organised themselves defensively and park the bus, we were much more vulnerable before the red card, when City were just walking through us. And that match could easily go the other way, City could have had 3 pens, and de Gea saved us at times.

 

[mufc1996]

Goodness knows, Fletcher will get murdered.

Herrera HAS to start he just HAS to. It's absoultley done my head in, that he's played no football in the last three games.

 

[Sied]

Depending on how injuries come along, I expect to see something like this:

de Gea
Rafael Smalling McNair Shaw
Januzaj Herrera Fellaini Di Maria
Rooney
RVP
​

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Problem with these injuries and still some internationals to play is getting the time to work on the system with the available players. If he is leaving it last minute for Carrick it is a problem as well. All the change in lineups you wonder how easy it is to get yet another change of system, if he does, into the players.

 

[charlenefan]

Why would you have fletcher over Herrera?

Just basing it on LVG's recent team selections. My team would look very different

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Just basing it on LVG's recent team selections. My team would look very different

If he picks Fletcher he needs his head looking at.

 

[Whiteside1985]

I'd have allowed myself cautious optimism for this game, then heard that De Gea and Blind likely to be out.

 

[Red Dreams]

Blind being out is a killer..

Is De Gea realy out?

 

[2 man midfield]

It's going to be FCUM plus RvP at this rate.

 

[iBoss]

------------de Gea------------------
Rafael Smalling McNair Shaw-----
-------------Carrick-----------------
Januzaj-Herrera--Fellaini-di Maria
--------------Rooney-----------------

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Despite such a large number of injuries, we'll still able to put out a pretty strong team, which just goes to show how strong our squad is.

I do think everyone should leave the predictions until the internationals are done, though, as we could be cursing our players.

Smalling, Di Maria, Rooney and Fletcher will still possibly play between now and the Arsenal game.

 

[WR10]

DDG
Rafa Smalling Blackett Shaw
Carrick
Fellaini Di Maria
Mata
RVP Rooney​

I'd say that's arguably our best 11 possible without Rojo and a fully fit Falcao. Our left side of the field is very powerful, with Shaw, Di Maria and a free role Rooney terrorizing. On the Right we have Rafa providing the penetrating pace with Fellaini there to do the dirty work for Mata. In the middle we finally have Carrick back, who's simply the best passer in the league at this moment in time, his precise and penetrative supply to the front lines were sorely missed with Blind. A core of Smalling, Carrick and Blackett will hopefully be too big of a wall for Arsenal to get through. It's a very solid team, LVG will not have to do much to get them pumped up either. I'm looking forward to this game. I'm expecting some classic counter attack goals.

 

[Basa1987]

I think we should field a XI like this:

------------de Gea------------------
Rafael Smalling McNair Shaw-----
-------------Carrick-----------------
Herrera--Fellaini--di Maria
--------------Mata-----------------
--------------Rooney-----------------

Mata, IMO is better as a second striker rather than a classical No.10. Fellaini offers some physical presence and we can bring back ADM into his favoured/better position.

Of course, all this hinges on Carrick being fit and available. Else, Fletcher goes in there and the whole thing looks a lot more shaky.

 

[Shark]

Despite such a large number of injuries, we'll still able to put out a pretty strong team, which just goes to show how strong our squad is.

I do think everyone should leave the predictions until the internationals are done, though, as we could be cursing our players.

Smalling, Di Maria, Rooney and Fletcher will still possibly play between now and the Arsenal game.

It's strong on paper, but it's not really showing on the pitch aside from in very short bursts. In fact I can't remember the last game when we've played anywhere near our supposed strength.

 

[othersna]

Impossible to predict these when we have a new injury every 3 days! As our team stands right now and provided Carrick makes it I would field something like this.

DDG
Rafa Smalling Blackett Shaw
Carrick Herrera
Mata Rooney Di Maria
RVP
​

Except for the CB's this team still looks very strong on paper. McNair is an option for Blackett, Falcao will hopefully be an option for RvP, Fellaini for Carrick or Herrera and Januzaj should be fit, so there's a decent bench as well.

 

[Pexbo]

It's going to be:

DDG
Rafael - Smalling - Blackett - Shaw
Fletcher
Valencia - Fellaini - Di Maria
Rooney
Van Persie​

Hopefully Carrick instead of Fletcher though and Herrera instead of Fellaini or Valencia.... And Falcao instead of RVP

 

[ElectroManiac]

I was somehow confident that we were going to get a good result on this game, but now with Blind out, DDG and Carrick in doubt I kind lose my confident on this game. Hopefully Carrick can play. He with Herrera will be a good cm duo. Also hopefully Rafa can play as well because Valencia is just not good for RB. Though, Valencia could do a job on CM as he did on some games back.

Hopefully we play like this.

DDG
Rafael Smalling McNair Shaw
Carrick
Herrera_______Di Maria
Mata_____Rooney
RVP/Falcao
​

Would love to see Falcao but I don't think he will be ready. Would like to see Pereira get a chance on the Herrera position if we somehow manage to get a good lead. Januzaj can come and play on the Mata position after the 60 min.

 

[YzWayne]

Yet again, LVG will be able to say injuries has force him tinkering with the formations.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Are Rafael/Herrera fit to start?

 

[Fer]

If Di Maria was able to play as CM in a 2 men midfield, I would play like this:

De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - McNair - Shaw
Herrera - Di Maria
Mata - Rooney - Januzaj
Van Persie​

But I think Di Maria will play as a winger again instead of Mata/Januzaj in a 4141. Also Fellaini would play as CM with Herrera.

I hope we play with the 4312. We have Carrick, Di Maria, Herrera and Fellaini for 3 spots. Mata or Januzaj as No.10 and Rooney with RVP (Falcao if it's fit) as strikers.

 

[RedDevil@84]

If Rafael and Herrera are fit..

De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - McNair - Shaw
Carrick
Fellaini/Herrera - Di Maria
Mata
Rooney - RVP/Wilson

Will we get killed like this?

 

[Fer]

If Rafael and Herrera are fit..

De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - McNair - Shaw
Carrick
Fellaini/Herrera - Di Maria
Mata
Rooney - RVP/Wilson

Will we get killed like this?

We should play with that formation, but I think that Van Gaal will play with Di Maria as winger ina 4141. I like your formation but I will make one change. I would play with 1 striker and 2 players behind the main striker.

De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - McNair - Shaw
Herrera - Carrick - Di Maria
Mata - Rooney
Van Persie​

 

[RedDevil@84]

We should play with that formation, but I think that Van Gaal will play with Di Maria as winger ina 4141. I like your formation but I will make one change. I would play with 1 striker and 2 players behind the main striker.

De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - McNair - Shaw
Herrera - Carrick - Di Maria
Mata - Rooney
Van Persie​

Playing Di Maria on wings combined with RvP as lone striker would be a waste IMO.. Both are rendered ineffective,,
This season RvP looked good especially when Falcao was creating chances..

 

[Pexbo]

If Rafael and Herrera are fit..

De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - McNair - Shaw
Carrick
Fellaini/Herrera - Di Maria
Mata
Rooney - RVP/Wilson

Will we get killed like this?

We look very strong on the right but we're screwed if they attack us on the left wing!

 

[Fer]

Playing Di Maria on wings combined with RvP as lone striker would be a waste IMO.. Both are rendered ineffective,,
This season RvP looked good especially when Falcao was creating chances..

Di Maria would play with Carrick and Herrera in a midfield of 3. I just change Rooney behind the striker in order to create more opportunities and give more balance to the team when we are defending.

Like this:

De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - McNair - Shaw

Carrick
Herrera ------- Di Maria

Mata - Rooney

RVP​

 

[tombombadil]

LvG prefers to start with one left footed centerback partnering a right footed centerback. Is McNair left footed? I thought he was right footed?

If he stays true to those ideals, it is likely to be Blackett (who else is left footed?) partnering either Smalling or Carrick (if he is fit) or maybe even McNair.

 

[Devil may care]

A Fletcher/Fellaini/Rooney midfield trio looms over us like a dark cloud.

 

[chriswt]

Soon the only criteria for making the starting lineup will be being not-injured.

 

[Adcuth]

Di Maria would play with Carrick and Herrera in a midfield of 3. I just change Rooney behind the striker in order to create more opportunities and give more balance to the team when we are defending.

Like this:

De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - McNair - Shaw

Carrick
Herrera ------- Di Maria

Mata - Rooney

RVP​

This could be good, obviously change Carrick for Fletch/Fellaini now though.

 

[Chaky_Best]

Gonna be a headache to put a strong XI for this game tbh. We’ll lack defensive cohesion and only the protection from the top will give us a right balance, but I think that we’ll spend times chasing them rather that playing our game.


------------------------------------Lindegaard--------------------------------

Valencia-------------Smalling--------------Mc Nair/Blackett-----------Shaw

-------------------------------------Fletcher------------------------------------

Januzaj--------------Rooney-----------------Fellaini/Herrera---------Di Maria

-------------------------------------Van Persie----------------------------------

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

If I could hope De Gea,Rafael,Smalling Mcnair Shaw, Valencia Carrick, Herrera, Fellaini,Di maria, Falcao. Testing Fellaini as number 10 to help bully Arsenals defensive midfield and then Falcao to run behind Mertesacker.

 

[CM21]

If Januzaj and Di Maria start on the wings

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

If Januzaj and Di Maria start on the wings

... then our midfield will be overrun, I rate Januzaj, but not for this game;

Lindegaard
Rafael Smalling McNair Shaw
Herrera Carrick
Mata Fellaini ADM
Rooney
​

 

[DanNistelrooy]

Predi

... then our midfield will be overrun, I rate Januzaj, but not for this game;

Lindegaard
Rafael Smalling McNair Shaw
Herrera Carrick
Mata Fellaini ADM
Rooney
​

RVP and De Gea in for Herrera and Lindegaard and that is my prediction

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

Predi
RVP and De Gea in for Herrera and Lindegaard and that is my prediction

My post was what I wanted to see, not what I thought we would, however I believe DDG is out for the game..

 

[Flying_Heckfish]

Something like this then:

Lindegaard
Rafael McNair Blackett Shaw
Herrera Fellaini
Januzaj ADM Rooney
RvP

Not sure whether 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 diamond will be picked as the formation though.

 

[CM21]

... then our midfield will be overrun, I rate Januzaj, but not for this game;

Lindegaard
Rafael Smalling McNair Shaw
Herrera Carrick
Mata Fellaini ADM
Rooney
​

Aren't Rafael and Carrick injured?

 

[villain]

------------------De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - McNair/Blackett - Shaw
-----------------Carrick
-----------Herrera - Di Maria
------------------Mata
--------------Rooney - RVP

I like that team to be fair all things considered.