1.) 27 Aug 2014
Can't see RM selling Khedira now that Xabi Alonso is supposedly on his way to BM, would leave them with just 3 CM players (unless they get Vidal.?)

2.) 28 Aug 2014
It seems we are back in for Carvalho. Could we not play a diamond 442 with a defensive midfielder as opposed to three CBs? Di Maria LM, Herrera RM, Mata tip. Rooney and Van Persie strikers? We would need a good RB mind.

3.) 28 Aug 2014
Juice - Khedira is in the final year of his contract. If Real can't get him to sign a new contract one suspects they would rather sell him this window than risk him leaving for nothing in twelve months time.

I don't rate Khedira too highly myself and would rather we moved for somebody like Carvalho or De Jong if a deal for Vidal can't be agreed.

4.) 28 Aug 2014
Plus didn't he say he didn't want to leave, will try and fight for his place then leave on a free next year or whenever his contract is up

5.) 28 Aug 2014
Interesting point Syd but I think we are getting obsessed with formats. If we have a sitting midfielder then the full backs. Cam still bomb forward so we can still play 3 across the middle and 2 up front. However, I am struggling to see how ADM, Rooney, Mata, and RVP all play. We really don't want to go back to putting our 'best' players in the team in wrong positions.

I believe very soon we will have 1 up front. Our days of 442 were great but so many teams now play 5 in the middle we get swamped.

6.) 28 Aug 2014
AJH, Rafael wouldn't be good enough, too unreliable and injury prone.

According to Balague Di Maria was told beforehand that he will play LM in a 352.

That can of course change, but that is where he played for RM and Argentina.

So Di Maria wouldn't be in a "wrong position", neither would Rooney, RvP, Mata or Herrera.

7.) 28 Aug 2014
28 Aug 2014 11:40:15
Just wondering where that would leave Shaw, Sydney?

If Di Maria takes his place then I feel slightly sorry for the guy. I'm sure he came here thinking he'd be part of our best starting XI. I mean, we paid 30m for him, let Evra and Buttner go. He had no competition, on reportedly silly wages for a teenager and now he'd be on the bench? That wouldn't really help develop him.

8.) 28 Aug 2014
Ay3
Thats a very good point .

9.) 28 Aug 2014
Have we spent 90 mill on 2 players to play the same position?

10.) 28 Aug 2014
Ay3, LM is not LB/LWB/LW/LFW so it will not affect Shaw. It's where he plays for Argentina and where he played for RM. It's where Giggs/Anderson played in midfield when we played with three midfielders.

We may even change system, but as it stands it looks like he will play as a left-sided midfielder. let's be honest, he will play everywhere for MU. Probably play in different positions several times a game.

11.) 28 Aug 2014
Don't see that happening and don't see it working. It only works if the wide players do their share of defending, which is yet to happen. The 2 proper wing backs we have are Raphael and Shaw.

12.) 28 Aug 2014
Madrid and argentina played a back 4 .
Which let di maris play wide .
If shaw was the wing back and mata the 10 what role would di maria be asked to do as lcm.

13.) 28 Aug 2014
Jred, I am aware that Argentina and RM played with a back four. But he didn't play as a winger for either of them last season. He played as a left midfielder. Argentina played a front three of Aguero, Higuain & Messi, then a second row of Di Maria & Gago, then Mascherano sitting.

I am not saying he will play as a LM, but Balague has said that he was told beforehand that he will play there in a 352. I can see him being shifted all over the place, but he may start as a left midfield player against Burnley. It will be interesting, everyone is wondering where he fits in.

14.) 28 Aug 2014
Syd
But with a back 4 he had room to play wide.
he also plays a large amount of his football on the rhs cutting in on his left foot especially for argentina.
If you have a wingback like shaw providing width what role do you give bi maria .
Also we play with a 10 in mata so that would give us a midfield 2 of maria and 1 other .

15.) 28 Aug 2014
Jred, exactly what I thought when Balague Tweeted it. With a back four it works, with a back five we lose a midfielder so how does it work?

Argentina play Higuain & Aguero upfront with Messi behind. Di Maria LM, Gago RM and Mascherano sitting. 4312. Same applies to the slightly different 433.

I posted a formation on the teams page of what it could look like with Carvalho bought. Cannot imagine Vidal being happy to sit but he is the first choice by the looks of it.

16.) 28 Aug 2014
Syd
With the players he is buying I see us changing formation

17.) 28 Aug 2014
28 Aug 2014 15:52:45
By LM, you mean LCM? Then we'd have Di Maria LCM, Herrera RCM since we invested a large sum in both, and Mata in the hole? (assuming no further changes) that's kinda defensively frail imo. I agree with jred, I can see him changing formation, who knows. Di Maria has a great work rate so he will contribute to his defensive duties wherever he plays. I think 'RWB' would suit him but more of a free role higher up since he'd track back anyway, giving us fluidity on the right.

18.) 28 Aug 2014
Di Maria was told before he signed that he will be playing left midfield in a 352.

There has been no indication to this point that LvG is looking to change anything.

He may change things of course, but the evidence so far says otherwise.