Your preferred formation.

[Mister_Stubbs]

Its a new season with a new manager and some star players to add to the talented player we already have. Question is how does Jose fit them all in to a system that's going to win us football matches?

Jose has typically used the 4-2-3-1 system at both Chelsea and at Madrid in the past and thus far in pre season and yesterday against Leicester opted for that formation. I don't have a problem with that but for me yesterday highlighted the decline Wayne Rooney is going through and for me should be replaced by either Juan Mata or Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

I am a big fan of the 4-3-3 formation, especially for the bigger games. It is all but certain Paul Pogba is joining so pairing him in the middle with the likes of Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick and Morgan Schneiderlin could see us dominate any midfield battle.

Putting yourself in Jose's shoes, what formation do you go with this Sunday vs Bournemouth and the rest of the season or does it depend on who the opposition is and which players are available?

 

[Grylte]

"You are preferred formation?"

Sorry, don't understand the question.

 

[TsuWave]

i am the preferred formation?

 

[2 man midfield]

Am I? Well shit.

 

[Electriceye]

No I'm not.

 

[ChaddyP]

If we are playing with Rooney, it will be 4231. Pogba will just play our dynamic box 2 box midfielder that will probably find him self making runs into the attacking 18 regularly and not hold position like a normal 6. If this is the case then I'm happy with 4231. Just not happy with the choice of #10

 

[Mister_Stubbs]

My bad, how do I change the title?

 

[Devil may care]

We are about to sign Pogba for a world record fee, clearly we are building this new side around him and thus should play the formation he shines in, which is 4-3-3. This formation would also protect Carrick better so we can get more out of him and also benefits Herrera. On top of that it's the system that suits Ibra who likes to drop in so it's better to have some space for him that isn't there with a 4-32-3-1 as the #10 occupy's it.

 

[nick2004]

I am?

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Unfortunately I'm not in charge and it will never happen, but I'd drop Rooney first and foremost. Then play...

Martial - Ibrahimovic - Mkhitaryan as my front 3, Pogba in an attacking free role just behind them, and then Schneiderlin and Herrera (or Matuidi if we can still afford him) as my energetic midfield 2.

I've got a feeling Mkhitaryan is going to have similar problems to Kagawa adjusting to the PL though

 

[Donut]

We are about to sign Pogba for a world record fee, clearly we are building this new side around him and thus should play the formation he shines in, which is 4-3-3. This formation would also protect Carrick better so we can get more out of him and also benefits Herrera. On top of that it's the system that suits Ibra who likes to drop in so it's better to have some space for him that isn't there with a 4-32-3-1 as the #10 occupy's it.

But it's also a system where there is no role for Rooney.

We'll stick with 4-2-3-1, as long as Rooney does the bare minimum for Jose not needing to drop him.

 

[Devil may care]

But it's also a system where there is no role for Rooney.

We'll stick with 4-2-3-1, as long as Rooney does the bare minimum for Jose not needing to drop him.

To paraphrase Yoda, this is why we will fail.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

I'd prefer 433, but it's unlikely to change as its been 4231 all preseason. But unlike under Van Gaal, it doesn't look like we will be bound by the formation. So far, we looke very fluid with lots of freedom. I think the formation will look like an amalgamation for 443, 4231 and 442 as players roam and drop in. Especially with Pogba, who tends to play with a lot of freedom due to his attacking threat.

Getting Pogba to fit will be a task, and I think it can be solid if he's next to Schneiderin, so long as Schneiderlin can reach his Southampton form, and play a more assertive and aggressive game than last season.

 

[davidmichael]

My preferred formation and starting 11 would be,

De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Pogba, Mhkitarayan, Ibrahamovic, Martial in a 4-3-3 which for me has a bit of absolutely everything.

You've got two full backs that love to attack but are solid defensively alongside and out and out centre back paired with a forward thinking ball player who can initiate us going forward from defence.

You've got a ball winner in midfield who's great defensively alongside a deep lying playmaker who can dictate the pace and who's covered by the ball winner and will be his legs, then you've got the midfield dynamo who dominates the game and plays furthest forward of the three.

You've got two pacey inside forwards who've got plenty of trickery and guile as well as being creative either side of a complete forward who's only weakness is a lack of pace but who can drop deeper allowing the inside forwards or midfield dynamo to bomb forward past him.

I think we'd still be a genuine ball playing centre back like Varane, a genuine attacking but defensively solid right back like Fabinho and a like for like replacement for Carrick (as I think this is his last season) if one can be found away from being the standout dominant force domestically again but I'm not expecting it to all happen in the first season.

I just don't see a place for Rooney in our best line up (and I'm a Rooney fan) as including him will mean not getting the best from the midfield trio I named or the front trio I named as every one of that six are best in a 4-3-3, for me the whole team is a million times more important than shoehorning Rooney into the team simply because he's captain and it's Rooney.

 

[Hellboy]

YOUR !

4-3-3

DDG

Valencia
Bailly
Smalling
Shaw

Carrick
Herrera
Pogba

Mkhitaryan
Ibra
Martial

 

[BarstoolProphet]

DDG

Tony V
Bailly
Smalling
Shaw

Schneiderlin
Pogba
Mkhikkiikiikki

Rashford
Martial
Zlatan

 

[Oneunited26]

I would rather pogba played closer to zlaten in a 433/4231, where pogba is closer to the final third where he can truly cause the damage, especially in the big games the starting 11 I feel should pick itself without rooney, rooney starting is us playing with 10 men. Pogba becomes the most expensive player in the world, lets get the most out of this player, and drop rooney who is past it. Pogba would be devastating played behind zlaten, and it gives us the platform to dominate games with that midfield with height and strength.

DDG

Valencia smalling bailly shaw

carrick Schneiderlin

Mhkitarayan Pogba Martial

Zlaten

If we looked at that spine, DDG, smalling bailly carrick Schneiderlin pogba zlaten there is the height and strength about that spine, which would be a classic mourinho spine

 

[Jackylad]

Yaw

4-3-3

DDG

Tony V
Bailly
Smalling
Shaw

Pogbarr
Herrera
Schniederlin

Micky
Martial
Zlatan

 

[Minkaro]

De Gea
Valencia Bailly Smalling Shaw
Schneiderlin Pogba Carrick
Mkhitaryan Ibrahimovic Martial
​

Pogba pushing forwards from the midfield three.

 

[United22]

------------De Gea------------
Valencia-Bailly---Smalling--Shaw
--------------Carrick----------------
-------Schneiderlin--Pogba----------
Mkhi-------------------------Martial
--------------Zlatan---------------

 

[Crashoutcassius]

De Gea
Valencia Jones Smalling Shaw
Carrick
Pogba Herrera
Mkhitaryan Martial
Ibrahimovic


Think we'd all like something like this, but reality will be the below, with rooney looking leggy (with some good games), pogba being stunted in the CM and the likes or mata and depay not getting a look in. That will probably last a few months before we shuffle to something that will work better

De Gea
Valencia Bailly Smalling Shaw
Carrick Pogba
Mkhitaryan Rooney Martial
Ibrahimovic

 

[hungrywing]

To be or not to be.

 

[The Stain]

On paper we're playing 4-2-3-1 but i've noticed Carrick dropping to sit in front of defence at times, Rooney dropping into central midfield and obviously Zlatan gonna Zlatan. Front 4 has the freedom to move around in attack but reverts to a more rigid formation when defending. Mou's got this.

 

[steeeb]

You're all wrong as he'll pick Rooney

 

[Trigg]

- De Gea -
- Valencia - Smalling - Bailly - Shaw
- Carrick -
- Herrera - Pogba -
- Mkhitaryan - Zlatan - Martial -
​

Schneiderlin could come in for Carrick or Herrera quite easily for me and hopefully capture his form that made us buy him. Rashford for Zlatan too, I like Rashford's pace and I'll think he'll get the nod over Zlatan in certain games when pace/counter attaching is needed.

If we have to play Rooney which seems to be the case at the moment then he'd come in for Herrera.

 

[Earthquake]

Earthquake formation is best formation.

 

[Bwuk]

De Gea
Valencia - Bailly - Blind - Shaw
Carrick
Schneiderlin - Pogba
Mkhitaryan - Ibrahimovic - Martial​

 

[Ballache]

DDG
Valencia-Smalling-Bailly-Shaw
------------Carrick--------------
Herrera/Schneiderlin--Pogba--
Mikhtaryan-----------Martial
-----------Zlatan--------------

 

[villain]

4-3-3

DDG
Valencia - Smalling - Bailly - Shaw
Herrera - Carrick - Pogba
Miki - Zlatan - Martial


Darmian, Jones, Schneiderlin, Rashford, Lingard, Depay & Rooney all backups who can come in to their respective positions easily.

 

[Kostur]

Ah, so flattering, nobody ever called me a 'preferred formation'.

 

[hungrywing]

Wherefore art though, Rooney.

 

[Earthquake]

Not sure it'd work in England, but I'd love to see a 4-3-1-2.

De Gea
Valencia - Bailly - Smalling- Shaw

Schneiderlin - Carrick - Pogba
Mkhitaryan
Ibrahimovic - Martial​

 

[Striker10]

4231 when defending morphing into a 442 or 4 4 1 1 when we're attacking. With our players I think that offers us good stability and with more freedom, I think we'd do well. I'm not a 4-3-3 person as it asks to much of the full backs to be great defensively and attacking. I'd rather full backs offer support but a winger should have more quality to make a difference in the final third.

 

[Nytram Shakes]

i'd like to us play 433

 

[devil in me]

YOUR !

4-3-3

DDG

Valencia
Bailly
Smalling
Shaw

Carrick
Herrera
Pogba

Mkhitaryan
Ibra
Martial

This. Replacing Herrera with Schniederlin for the harder games.

 

[Chip]

Much obliged!
Sorry, couldn't help myself.

 

[paulscholes18]

4-3-3
DDG
Valencia Smalling Bailly Shaw
BFS*
Morgan Pogba
Mkhitaryan Zlatan Martial

*Carrick as Bastian is not wanted my Jose

 

[hungrywing]

Well at least now everyone knows Chip's last name.

 

[Varun]

My bad, how do I change the title?

Thread tools - > Edit title.

 

[don't sign old players]

..........De Gea......
Valencia.....Smalling.. Blind... Shaw.
.........Carrick... Schneiderlin....
...............Pogba.........
Lingard.....................Martial...
..............Zlatan.......