How do we accommodate...

Mata, Young, Januzaj, Kagawa, Rooney, Valencia, RvP, Welbeck, Pea....etc

I'd like to see

Carrick - Fletcher
Adnan - Rooney - Mata
Rvp

But I wonder if we'd be strong enough.

He also obviously doesn't like dropping Valencia

Jizjaz.....Mata.....Fatboy
............RvP

Or

Tony.......Mata.......Jizjaz
.............Fatboy

Fel/carrick

Val Mata. Adnan

Rooney
Rvp

Everybody else squad players, unless we sign another right sided midfielder to give Valencia competition.

Mata - Rooney - Januzaj/Kagawa
RVP

Pretty simple. Our wingers are useless, no point persisting with them.

Originally Posted by believe

Mata, Young, Januzaj, Kagawa, Rooney, Valencia, RvP, Welbeck, Pea....etc

I'd like to see

Carrick - Fletcher
Adnan - Rooney - Mata
Rvp

But I wonder if we'd be strong enough.

He also obviously doesn't like dropping Valencia

That would be my front six, a powerful midfielder to replace Fletcher (l like Fletch) and we'd be laughing.

Feels a bit Berbatov-ish, tbh. I wondered how they'd fit him in without £#%&!ing someone off and indeed Tevez was £#%&!ed off.

I dunno if Mata and two centre-forwards, plus Adnan, is workable. Ridiculously good attacking options now though ffs

Bunk beds

With everyone fit, the front four of Adnan, Rooney, Mata and Van Persie looks strongest. Defensive midfield could be an issue with no Carrick for a few weeks (fletcher/Jones, Fletcher/Fellaini, Fletcher/cleverley) but there should be enough goal threat to offset that issue.

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

Feels a bit Berbatov-ish, tbh. I wondered how they'd fit him in without £#%&!ing someone off and indeed Tevez was £#%&!ed off.

I dunno if Mata and two centre-forwards, plus Adnan, is workable. Ridiculously good attacking options now though ffs

Mata and Januzaj on the wings would leave the full backs exposed, neither are strong defensively. Januzaj will be rotated a lot more, his workload needs to be managed to avoid burnout.

The constant Rooney as a 10 question have to be resolved, bringing in Mata who is best in central attacking areas would allow Utd to move away from the Rooney dropping off and pinging every ball to the right wing style.

I still think Nani on his best form would have to be part of the equation but the chances of him getting the type of gametime he will need looks unlikely. A pity because he is the type of technical player that Mata could link well with.

Originally Posted by Mr Castro

With everyone fit, the front four of Adnan, Rooney, Mata and Van Persie looks strongest. Defensive midfield could be an issue with no Carrick for a few weeks (fletcher/Jones, Fletcher/Fellaini, Fletcher/cleverley) but there should be enough goal threat to offset that issue.

If they can get Fellaini to a psychologist to sort his confidence out I think he would make a decent defensive midfielder.

It's like fitting a square peg in a round hole. Makes you wonder if there is another big exit on the cards?

Originally Posted by fergieslovechild

If they can get Fellaini to a psychologist to sort his confidence out I think he would make a decent defensive midfielder.

Yes, for Everton.

Unless we buy somebody else, carrick is now early 30s and starting to pick up injuries I can't see who else would play as defensive midfielder.

Clevs?
Jones?
Fletch?

Actually think Adnans tracking back isn't bad.

Playing ahead of Evra it has to be at least average.

Originally Posted by fergieslovechild

Unless we buy somebody else, carrick is now early 30s and starting to pick up injuries I can't see who else would play as defensive midfielder.

Clevs?
Jones?
Fletch?

It is why Fellaini was such a poor signing. Utd needed pace and mobility in that role. It is also why Hargreaves and Fletcher(07-10) were very effective, not just sitting but pressing at speed, covering the gaps that an attacking team will invariably leave.

His passing is not up to standard either.

Originally Posted by Tiberian

It is why Fellaini was such a poor signing. Utd needed pace and mobility in that role. It is also why Hargreaves and Fletcher(07-10) were very effective, not just sitting but pressing at speed, covering the gaps that an attacking team will invariably leave.

His passing is not up to standard either.

I agree, but unless we sign somebody else and the club admit they made an expensive mistake I see no viable long term alternative.

Do you?

Van Persie

Januzaj Kagawa Mata

It's gonna get really complicated when Draxler and Fischer arrive in the summer.

Originally Posted by Tiberian

Mata and Januzaj on the wings would leave the full backs exposed, neither are strong defensively. Januzaj will be rotated a lot more, his workload needs to be managed to avoid burnout.

The constant Rooney as a 10 question have to be resolved, bringing in Mata who is best in central attacking areas would allow Utd to move away from the Rooney dropping off and pinging every ball to the right wing style.

I still think Nani on his best form would have to be part of the equation but the chances of him getting the type of gametime he will need looks unlikely. A pity because he is the type of technical player that Mata could link well with.

Yep. In the short term the most obvious solution is Rooney adapting and playing from wide again. Although he doesn't prefer it, I reckon accommodating a player like Mata could convince him to give it a go. Besides, there are big question marks over RvP's fitness from now on, so he may get plenty of football in that striker role. Where this all leaves Welbz's development is another issue

Originally Posted by believe

Mata, Young, Januzaj, Kagawa, Rooney, Valencia, RvP, Welbeck, Pea....etc

I'd like to see

Carrick - Fletcher
Adnan - Rooney - Mata
Rvp

But I wonder if we'd be strong enough.

He also obviously doesn't like dropping Valencia

You have forgotten the likes of nani and giggs too..

I think playing time for the likes of young/valencia/nani are going to be incredibly limited since we are out of both cup competitions and we have 16 must win matches in the premier league.

RVP, Rooney, mata, januzaj, kagawa, welbeck are going to get highest game time imo. RVP, mata and Rooney if fit will start every match meaning there is only 1 more attacking spot left. Even when Janners needs to be rested, he will be on bench, same with kagawa. And now that Fellaini is fit he will be either in the team or on the bench. With welbeck and Pea likely to be on the bench as well, there may not be space on the bench for any other winger to be on the bench.

7 spots on the bench : 1 GK, 2 DF, 2 CM, 2 ST/Wingers

Can't see how young/nani/valencia will get any meaningful game time tbh since they will struggle to even make the bench. I will not be surprised one or two of the above 3 to be sold if a good offer comes along.

Michael Owen on BT Sport said he has been told mata won't be the only signing this window. Mike Keegan from MEN says the same.

Valencia will start every game.

The manager is still Moyes ffs.