That midfield would get twatted if it was Pogba and Dybala!
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
So I think our strongest team is;
If we sign Dybala and Fernandes then it'll be;
DDG
AWB Maguire Lindelof Shaw
McTominay Matic Pogba
Greenwood Rashford Martial
AWB Maguire Lindelof Shaw
McTominay Matic Pogba
Greenwood Rashford Martial
If we sign Dybala and Fernandes then it'll be;
DDG
AWB Maguire Lindelof Shaw
McTominay
Fernandes Pogba
Dybala
Rashford Martial
AWB Maguire Lindelof Shaw
McTominay
Fernandes Pogba
Dybala
Rashford Martial
You do realize that with AWB and Maguire our defense just improved 50%. Against most teams there will be no reason to play 2 DMs.
Dave
AWB
Lindelof
Maguire
Shaw
Matic
McTominay
Pogba
Lingard
Martial
Rashford
I think this is what it would be off current players. Hoping we can get in Dybala and Bruno so we can bin off Lingard and have someone of extra quality in the middle. Matic really needs upgrading and I think though not McT's ideal position currently he'll be starting as DM in the latter stages of the season out of necessity and I think Martial likely loses his place too.
AWB
Lindelof
Maguire
Shaw
Matic
McTominay
Pogba
Lingard
Martial
Rashford
I think this is what it would be off current players. Hoping we can get in Dybala and Bruno so we can bin off Lingard and have someone of extra quality in the middle. Matic really needs upgrading and I think though not McT's ideal position currently he'll be starting as DM in the latter stages of the season out of necessity and I think Martial likely loses his place too.
I do like our additions so far. James could be a major weapon off of the bench and/or in open games. AWB is a quality RB and it means no more Young so that's like two new players. Maguirre immediately improves us and gives us a dominating central defender.
Will be interesting to see what Ole has planned if we do end up with Dybala and Bruno. I’d imagine we switch to a diamond and play Rashford & Martial up top.
If we sign Dybala:
DDG
AWB Maguire Lindelof Shaw
McTominay Matic
Pogba
Dybala Rashford Martial
AWB Maguire Lindelof Shaw
McTominay Matic
Pogba
Dybala Rashford Martial
4231 based on pre season
DDG
AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
McTominay Pogba
Greenwood Dybala James
Martial/Rashford
OR
False 9 formation/diamond
DDG
AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
McTominay Fred Pogba
———-Dybala————
Rashford/Greenwood - Martial
DDG
AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
McTominay Pogba
Greenwood Dybala James
Martial/Rashford
OR
False 9 formation/diamond
DDG
AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
McTominay Fred Pogba
———-Dybala————
Rashford/Greenwood - Martial
I do love Juan Mata, and he loves United... but I don't like the 4312 we play to fit him into the lineup. 2 strikers with Martial doesn't flow well. When the midfielders get the ball, Martial doesn't make diagonal runs to open the field with width... Notice how the attack stalls and we go backwards when Andres got the ball today because Martial would stand waiting on the ball instead of making a run to stretch the defense and make them move and react to movement. It's not really Mata's fault... i fault Martial and felt Greenwood would've done better. That formation just didn't flow... AND Fred and Matic don't look the part of a dependable holding mid.
Playing out of the back, remember City had a tough time adapting to Pep's system... and passing it around in our own box with Fred is a recipe for disaster. We have talent... and will need to work some things out early. I'm hoping Greenwood and Gomes find the pitch more often than not. AND I'd like a surprise push for a true and proper top class holding mid to compliment Pogba and Mctominay in the midfield.
Playing out of the back, remember City had a tough time adapting to Pep's system... and passing it around in our own box with Fred is a recipe for disaster. We have talent... and will need to work some things out early. I'm hoping Greenwood and Gomes find the pitch more often than not. AND I'd like a surprise push for a true and proper top class holding mid to compliment Pogba and Mctominay in the midfield.
..............De Gea
AWB.....Lindelöf...Maguire.....Shaw
.........McT.................Pogba
.............B.Fernandes
James......................Rashford
............Martial/Dybala
AWB.....Lindelöf...Maguire.....Shaw
.........McT.................Pogba
.............B.Fernandes
James......................Rashford
............Martial/Dybala
De Gea
Bissaka
Maguire
Lindelof
Shaw
McTominay
Pogba
Greenwood
Dybala
Rashford
Martial
Bissaka
Maguire
Lindelof
Shaw
McTominay
Pogba
Greenwood
Dybala
Rashford
Martial
That is it
De Gea
Bissaka
Lindelof
Maguire
Shaw
Pogba
McTominey
Matic
Lingard
Rashford
Martial
Ole playing safe and not trying to lose.
Bissaka
Lindelof
Maguire
Shaw
Pogba
McTominey
Matic
Lingard
Rashford
Martial
Ole playing safe and not trying to lose.
DDG
AWB
Lindelof
Maguire
Shaw
Matic (ugh)
Pogba
Lingard (ugh)
James
Martial
Rashford
Matic and Lingard need to be replaced badly, James has a lot to prove but hopefully he works out. Greenwood is far to young to be a starter in any position not because hes not good enough but he has to be protected. I reckon he will start in the EL and cup ties.
AWB
Lindelof
Maguire
Shaw
Matic (ugh)
Pogba
Lingard (ugh)
James
Martial
Rashford
Matic and Lingard need to be replaced badly, James has a lot to prove but hopefully he works out. Greenwood is far to young to be a starter in any position not because hes not good enough but he has to be protected. I reckon he will start in the EL and cup ties.
Assuming no more signings, I expect to see us lined up like this against Chelsea:
-------------------De Gea---------------
AWB-----Lindeloff------Maguire---Shaw
---------McTominay-----Pogba----------
James------------Lingard-----Martial/Rashford
----------------Martial/Rashford-------------
Not sure who will lead the line. I can see them taking turns through out the match. I also won't be surprised to see Matic start ahead of McTominay, I just hope he doesn't...
-------------------De Gea---------------
AWB-----Lindeloff------Maguire---Shaw
---------McTominay-----Pogba----------
James------------Lingard-----Martial/Rashford
----------------Martial/Rashford-------------
Not sure who will lead the line. I can see them taking turns through out the match. I also won't be surprised to see Matic start ahead of McTominay, I just hope he doesn't...
Think this is spot on - hopefully Dybala comes in to replace Lingard but tbf he played well yesterday and Ole said he's been very good in training since his holiday bollocking.
"If" we sign Dybala and Fernandes then I expect to see Dybala on the right and Fernandes in the #10
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If you start with who got the most mins on tour, then adjust for injuries, and Maguire arriving, you get:
De Gea 255 mins
Wan-Bissaka 318
Shaw 293
Lindelof 295
Maguire
McTominay 313
Pogba 227 (Matic has more mins (306) but has benefitted from Pogba missing the last match)
Lingard 282
James 282
Rashford 336
Martial 336
Subs based on pre-season mins: Romero 195, Young 222, CB ? Tuanzebe 198 got most as CB apart from Lindelof but Rojo got more if LB mins included, Matic 306, Pereira 258, Mata 258, Greenwood 204
Players that got limited mins on tour: Smalling 135, Jones 183, Dalot 195, Chong 150, Gomes 145, Joel Pereira 90, Bailly injured 85, Fred arrived late due to wedding 132, Garner 19
We have used 4-2-3-1 for each match during pre-season, so I assume that will be our preferred formation for the early part of the season.
If you were selecting on form, rather than mins, then I think Greenwood would be a starter instead of James, while Chong and Gomes might make the bench.
De Gea 255 mins
Wan-Bissaka 318
Shaw 293
Lindelof 295
Maguire
McTominay 313
Pogba 227 (Matic has more mins (306) but has benefitted from Pogba missing the last match)
Lingard 282
James 282
Rashford 336
Martial 336
Subs based on pre-season mins: Romero 195, Young 222, CB ? Tuanzebe 198 got most as CB apart from Lindelof but Rojo got more if LB mins included, Matic 306, Pereira 258, Mata 258, Greenwood 204
Players that got limited mins on tour: Smalling 135, Jones 183, Dalot 195, Chong 150, Gomes 145, Joel Pereira 90, Bailly injured 85, Fred arrived late due to wedding 132, Garner 19
We have used 4-2-3-1 for each match during pre-season, so I assume that will be our preferred formation for the early part of the season.
If you were selecting on form, rather than mins, then I think Greenwood would be a starter instead of James, while Chong and Gomes might make the bench.
Last edited:
De Gea
AWB, Tuanzebe, Maguire, Shaw
McTominay, Matic
Greenwood, Pogba, Rashford
Martial
AWB, Tuanzebe, Maguire, Shaw
McTominay, Matic
Greenwood, Pogba, Rashford
Martial
Looks like our current first choice 11 alright. If Dybala comes in he tales Lingard's place and that's that.
Interesting graph .. not surprised that Man City are where they are. Actually thought we would be much further to the left - so quite pleased.
Think it's more critical to replace Matic than Lingard the way it looks now. Either someone steps up or we buy someone.
It's great to finally have a nailed on first back 5. We've fixed 2 problem areas and are likely to try and fix another couple before the window ends.
De Gea
AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
McTominay Pogba
Dybala Fernandes Martial
Rashford
Romero, Smalling, Dalot, Matic, Mata, James, Lingard
De Gea
AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
McTominay Pogba
Dybala Fernandes Martial
Rashford
Romero, Smalling, Dalot, Matic, Mata, James, Lingard
Anyone know how many minutes Harry had with the Foxes this preseason?
45 against Scunthorpe
45 against Cheltenham
62 against Cambridge
90 against Stoke
242 total
(from Leicester's website https://www.lcfc.com/matches/results )
That team is pretty much what I would go for and doesn't look too bad but I agree with you that I would actually prefer Greenwood instead of James.
My real hope is that by Christmas, Tuanzebe is partnering Maguire in what I hope will be a rock-solid defence.
Pressing is difficult to measure. Usually it’s PPDA, but it has flaws. City have so much procession that their defensive line is naturally very high: “their territory” is bigger. This affects PPDA. Spurs have a high defensive line because they press very high, i.e. they leave their territory and “invade” the opponent. Liverpool is good at timing of pressing, therefore have a higher success rate.
City’s stat nevertheless is phenomenal. Our stat doesn’t indicate anything: we just have better players and considered as a favorite in most of our games.
With current squad (starting against Chelsea):
De Gea
Bissaka Lindeløf Maguire Shaw
McTominey Pogba
James Lingard Martial
Rashford
De Gea
Bissaka Lindeløf Maguire Shaw
McTominey Pogba
James Lingard Martial
Rashford
This chart reminds me that Huddersfield not spending some money on a decent 10 and a winger and finding a talented loanee like Mount or Foden by guaranteeing their club 25 prem starts or whatever was completely insane.
Flip Martial and Rashford and I think we'll probably sign someone to play in Lingard or James's spot but otherwise I agree.
Flip Martial and Rashford, all right, but Im almost certain Lingard will start.
I have a weird hope that we're going to sign a #10 or RW, even though Mata coming back implies we're going to wait a year and go hard for Sancho (though I doubt that works).
If Martial, Rashford, Greenwood, Gomes and James are attackers set to be here long-term that's 3 forwards fast over long distances who can all play wide, a jitterbug winger in James and a tiny #10 with good mobility who might end up at LW because he's so small. That leaves room for another creative talent. Someone like Havertz would be ideal but a player like that isn't coming here until we improve.
I wonder if there's a CM we could bring in who would spell Pogba and Mctominay but also be a real option as a #10. A Goretzka type would be that sort of guy. Bentancur and Van De Beek would be up to it but we're not getting either of them. Still, an athletic #8 like those guys might be our best way of improving the XI and providing cover for our midfielders (since Matic and Fred have looked worse than expected this preseason and expectations were low). It's a shame Pereira looks like a lower mid-table quality player since a midfielder of his style and versatility and strengths but with a bit more quality could easily get 45 starts here this year.
With the terrible transfer window we have had that leaves us with a worse midfield than last season and the same poor options on both wings.
------------------ddg
------Awb---lindelof--maguire
Dalot-------mctominay------shaw
----------lingard---------pogba
------------lukaku---rashford
------------------ddg
------Awb---lindelof--maguire
Dalot-------mctominay------shaw
----------lingard---------pogba
------------lukaku---rashford
Saw this on City forum and it was kinda scary to look at, do Leicester have a better starting eleven than us?
De Gea
Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw
McTominay, Matic, Pogba
Lingard, Rashford, Martial
Schmeichel
Ricardo, Evans, Dunk, Chilwell
Tielemans, Ndidi, Maddison
Barnes, Vardy, Gray
I think it's so worrying that it could actually be argues that they do..
De Gea
Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw
McTominay, Matic, Pogba
Lingard, Rashford, Martial
Schmeichel
Ricardo, Evans, Dunk, Chilwell
Tielemans, Ndidi, Maddison
Barnes, Vardy, Gray
I think it's so worrying that it could actually be argues that they do..
De Gea
Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw
Mctominay, Fred
Lingard, Pogba, Martial
Rashford
Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw
Mctominay, Fred
Lingard, Pogba, Martial
Rashford
Just the midfield and nothing else. Vardy is no more prolific than Rashford as @roonster09 pointed out, save the penalties. Their other options are inferior
So, I guess Jlings is a first choice, United midfielder!
That's the measure of "One of the biggest and richest clubs in the world"
Could be a long season
That's the measure of "One of the biggest and richest clubs in the world"
Could be a long season