[gooDevil]

F¥¢king Villa, we need to hammer Newcastle to make up for it.

Our win streak was definitely papering over some cracks, but again injury is crippling us taking Herrera, Blind and Fellaini (yes I'm praising Fellaini) away from our midfield, with di Maria not fit enough to start.

We need a run of fitness, we need a first XI to get used to each other.

Falcao, van Persie and Rooney up front.

Di Maria, Herrera and Blind in midfield.

Shaw, Rojo or Smalling, Jones, Rafael.

And most importantly the continued health of De Gea, our best player so far by a good bit.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Whats the news on Herrera and Fellaini?

 

[Browniee]

Whats the news on Herrera and Fellaini?

They both have icky tummys. Bless

 

[Galactic]

F¥¢king Villa, we need to hammer Newcastle to make up for it.

Our win streak was definitely papering over some cracks, but again injury is crippling us taking Herrera, Blind and Fellaini (yes I'm praising Fellaini) away from our midfield, with di Maria not fit enough to start.

We need a run of fitness, we need a first XI to get used to each other.

Falcao, van Persie and Rooney up front.

Di Maria, Herrera and Blind in midfield.

Shaw, Rojo or Smalling, Jones, Rafael.

And most importantly the continued health of De Gea, our best player so far by a good bit.

Carrick might still be useful to us.

 

[minoo-utd]

I hope LVG's main philosophy is not 3-5-2 sh!t.

 

[Chaky_Best]

We'll probably rest some players for this one because we're going to Spurs 48h later. "Thanks to injuries" we can rest some of them and use our squad. Nod oubt the toughest game will be the one against Spurs, so I see some changes

I presume we'll play 3-5-2 against Spurs, so we'll rest Valencia and Young, and playing a 4-4-2 against the Magpies

--------------------------------De Gea---------------------------------
Rafael-----------------Jones----------Evans---------------------Shaw
--------------------------------Fletcher---------------------------------
Januzaj---------------Herrera---------Mata------------------Di Maria
---------------------------------Falcao---------------------------------

 

[RedDevil@84]

We'll probably rest some players for this one because we're going to Spurs 48h later. "Thanks to injuries" we can rest some of them and use our squad. Nod oubt the toughest game will be the one against Spurs, so I see some changes

I presume we'll play 3-5-2 against Spurs, so we'll rest Valencia and Young, and playing a 4-4-2 against the Magpies

--------------------------------De Gea---------------------------------
Rafael-----------------Jones----------Evans---------------------Shaw
--------------------------------Fletcher---------------------------------
Januzaj---------------Herrera---------Mata------------------Di Maria
---------------------------------Falcao---------------------------------

What?? Rooney does not need rest. He will not be given one..

 

[RedDevil@84]

They both have icky tummys. Bless

Hope it is not a long time icky stomach.. This season even a small knock in training becomes a full fledged 3-4 weeks off..

 

[Chaky_Best]

What?? Rooney does not need rest. He will not be given one..

I would like him to play because we need him, but can he play against a shit team and 48 laters against one of the best team of the moment in England ?

 

[tombombadil]

Well, are the fullbacks going to be fit for this game? Shaw and Rafael? I believe they've both hardly got any game time with either the seniors nor the reserves, so I wonder if they will be back in time.

The reason why LvG is playing with a 3-5-2 in the first place is because we don't have any fit fullbacks at all currently so it all hinges on them right now. If they come back, we'll be switching back to 4 defenders at the back. Else, it's going to be more of the same 3-5-2.

 

[Donut]

Please LVG :

- no 3-5-2
- Di Maria in midfield

There's about 2% of this happening

 

[FacerTheRed]

LVG needs to drop 3-5-2, that formation just leaks so much and most of the time DDG has to step up and pull off a wonder save. His steam of good form will decay if the defense carries on like this. Diamond formation is best suited for United, i know united got spanked by Leicester because united were exposed on the counter when using this formation, but attacking wise united are at their best.

 

[BootsyCollins]

Wants to see :
-----------------DeGea------------
Rafael----Jones--Evans----Young
--------------Carrick--------------
-------Herrera----Di Maria-------
------------Rooney---------------
------Falcao--Van Persie--------


I am not sure if Herrera is fit or not, if not Fellaini can take his place in midfield.

 

[distancerunner]

I am not sure if Herrera is fit or not

I'm not sure Herrera will play again

 

[Chaky_Best]

I'm not sure Herrera will play again

Why ?

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Herrera has a knock, Rooney does not need rest, Carrick has started 7 games of which we've won 6 and drawn one, do not want to see Evans or Fletcher starting, full backs back please although Shaw not ready yet but Young is OK , scrap the 3-5-2 when we can play fullbacks, Blind won't be back until mid-January, Falcao 90 minutes under his belt - onwards we go and thrash Newcastle, who were poor even when they beat Chelsea for most of the match

 

[Mark_GrumpyLion]

We should start with Evans left back in the dressing room!

 

[Jammydodger7]

Herrara was meant to start vs Villa but felt unwell before the game so I'd expect him back for the Newcastle game!

 

[distancerunner]

Why ?

why do you think???????????/

 

[hellboy76]

....................DDG.....................
RAFA....JONES.......ROJO......YOUNG
.................CARRICK.................
........HERRERA.....DI MARIA.........
...................MATA.....................
.........ROONEY......FALCAO............

 

[Chaky_Best]

why do you think???????????/

Because of match fixing with Zaragossa of course !

I thought it was because LVG doesnt like him

 

[kundalini]

We play 3pm on friday then midday on Sunday so virtually no time for players to recover. We have to take risks against Newcastle in terms of selection so we can put out a reasonably strong team against Spurs. If we are in trouble then use our subs for the last 30 mins against Newcastle.

I'd rest RVP, Rooney and Carrick, using them from the bench if necessary. Start Falcao against Newcastle and try to provide him with decent supply. Januzaj and Herrera to create. Not sure about Wilson.

The number of players who start both the Newcastle and Spurs game should be kept to the absolute minimum. Ideally just De Gea but probably a few others will have to do so.

Even so, neither Fletcher nor Evans should feature given their recent form.

 

[distancerunner]

Even so, neither Fletcher nor Evans should feature given their recent form.

agree
cant take risks I'd rather have tired players who know their job than bunch of clueless reserves

 

[be-gaun]

Herrera mata dimaria Carrick in da diamond with 4 defenders

 

[MUFCgal]

---------------De Gea-----------------
Rafael-----Jones-----Rojo--------Young
----------------Carrick----------------
--------Herrera--------Di Maria---------
-----------------Mata-----------------
-----------Rooney----Falcao-----------

Please LVG.

 

[Nick 0208 Ldn]

Well, are the fullbacks going to be fit for this game? Shaw and Rafael? I believe they've both hardly got any game time with either the seniors nor the reserves, so I wonder if they will be back in time.

The reason why LvG is playing with a 3-5-2 in the first place is because we don't have any fit fullbacks at all currently so it all hinges on them right now. If they come back, we'll be switching back to 4 defenders at the back. Else, it's going to be more of the same 3-5-2.

I don't know about Shaw's current state of readiness, however by LVG's own admissions Rafael has simply been overlooked in favour of Valencia for at least two matches now. Fitness has not been a prohibitive factor in that quarter for some weeks.

 

[KieranMUFC]

---------------De Gea-----------------
Rafael-----Jones-----Rojo--------Young
----------------Carrick----------------
--------Herrera--------Di Maria---------
-----------------Mata-----------------
-----------Rooney----Falcao-----------

Please LVG.

No RVP? We can only dream!

Nah, to be fair Robin has did okay recently but i'm so curious to see what we can play like without him from the start! That teams looks like it has so much movement in it, 5 of the front 6 players there will literally burry it against you if you aint careful.

 

[Skåre Willoch]

---------------De Gea-----------------
Rafael-----Jones-----Rojo--------Young
----------------Carrick----------------
--------Herrera--------Di Maria---------
-----------------Mata-----------------
-----------Rooney----Falcao-----------

Please LVG.

This looks good on paper, but Mata and Herrera will never (maybe they will once, but not right now) start together. It will make our midfield very unbalanced. Both of them need a physical presence by their side. If you start Herrera and Mata, you need to start Fellaini (or Blind when fit).

I think this is our best lineup right now.

Dave
Raf - Jones - Rojo - Young
Carrick
Herrera - ADM
Rooney
Falcao - RVP


Or this, a 4-2-3-1, but narrow. No wingers, but Herrera/Mata and ADM will drift wide when needed.

Dave
Raf - Jones - Rojo - Young
Carrick - Blind
ADM - Rooney - Herrera/Mata
Falcao/RVP

 

[Sied]

At this stage I would go with:

de Gea
Rafael Jones Rojo Young
Carrick
Herrera di Maria
Rooney
RVP Falcao​

I'm not sure LVG will want to play Jones and Rojo, so perhaps we'll see Evans instead of Rojo. Also perhaps Valencia or Fellaini for Herrera for that extra steal in the middle (plus Herrera seemingly can't buy a start at the minute).

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[He Comes From Serbia]

Is Shaw back for this one? Hoping LVG has been saving Rafael to unleash them both in a back 4. One can only hope.

Still trying to figure out why RVP was subbed last time, it has to be him and Falcao starting. Hopefully one of either Herrera or Fellaini is back. I think Young has to give way, and rest Valencia, both good options from the bench. I think Fletcher is done at this level (this is the point where he starts again and plays a blinder).

De Gea
Rafael Jones Rojo Shaw
Carrick
Fellaini Di Maria
Rooney
RVP Falcao​

I think Liverpool and City have easier runs over the festive period, we could find top 4 not so nailed on, and City and Chelsea pulling away even further if we don't win every single game.

Edited - just seen the tweet above, nice

 

[sunama]

Nah, to be fair Robin has did okay recently but i'm so curious to see what we can play like without him from the start! That teams looks like it has so much movement in it, 5 of the front 6 players there will literally burry it against you if you aint careful.

But as we saw against Villa, when we had Rooney, Falcao, Di Maria, Carrick, Young, all playing against 10 men, we couldnt score.
So, don't assume that "big names" will perform.
It's dangerous to assume that because you have big names on the pitch, that its an automatic win.
Newcastle can definitely beat us, if we are not careful.

 

[gooDevil]

Carrick might still be useful to us.

I'm a huge Carrick fan, I agree he is a crucial squad member, the 12th man for me. But for that formation and style I think Blind fits better.

 

[marky]

-----------De Gea-----------
-Rafael-Jones-Rojo-Shaw-
------------Carrick---------
---Herrera------Di Maria---
-----------Rooney----------
------Falcao---Wilson-----

Save RvP for the Tottenham game, maybe a run at the end of the game if necessary. Fletcher or Fellaini can give Carrick some rest at the end of the game and Jaunzaj can be subbed for Di Maria, so he too will stay sharp for Tottenham.

 

[FacerTheRed]

-----------De Gea-----------
-Rafael-Jones-Rojo-Shaw-
------------Carrick---------
---Herrera------Di Maria---
-----------Rooney----------
------Falcao---Wilson-----

Save RvP for the Tottenham game, maybe a run at the end of the game if necessary. Fletcher or Fellaini can give Carrick some rest at the end of the game and Jaunzaj can be subbed for Di Maria, so he too will stay sharp for Tottenham.

Nice line-up, but i doubt Shaw will go straight into the team considering Young is on form.

 

[marky]

Nice line-up, but i doubt Shaw will go straight into the team considering Young is on form.

That will be harsh yes, but the sooner we will settle with a back four, the better.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Only from the MEN

But IF TRUE....that would mean only Blind would be still out (and he's apparently fit for the Stoke match)

 

[Red_4evra]

Wants to see :
-----------------DeGea------------
Rafael----Jones--Evans----Young
--------------Carrick--------------
-------Herrera----Di Maria-------
------------Rooney---------------
------Falcao--Van Persie--------


I am not sure if Herrera is fit or not, if not Fellaini can take his place in midfield.

Young can't play fullback in a 4, until Shaw's fit it'll be a back 3 with Young as a wingback.

 

[Varun]

Reports says that he'll be back at 28th december, so I doubt it. Not the worst position to have an injury atm though..It's worse with the midfield if we still have Herrera(injury), Blind(injury) and Fellaini(ill) out...Van Gaal hasn't updated us on this yet. Good thing is that Di Maria is fully fit again, we really need him. Hopefully Rojo will be ready too, so he can take Evans place. Carrick needs to play CM and not CB. So if it turns out that Fella, Herrera and Blind is still out, I'd like to see Pereira together with Carrick and Di Maria instead of Fletcher, who really struggled against Villas midfield. At top I'd like to see Rooney behind RvP and Falcao, because Newcastle has a pretty strong team which doesn't suit Mata well. Wilson, Mata and Januzaj as our jokers to put on if we need goals.

I asked because I expect the 3-5-2 to go on till we have him back as the left back.

But yeah, would like to see Carrick back at CM but cant see it unless Rojo/Smalling are back.

Think we'l see another 3-5-2. Hopefully Herrera's fine to start though I dont think him as the holding mid would be a great idea anyways.

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

Take RVP out of the team, move Rooney up to partner Falcao and put Mata into Rooney's position. Playing Tottenham on the 28th, so RVP needs rest imo.