27 Aug 2015 22:06:24
Against Swansea I think we should be playing with Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin and Herrera in a midfield 3. Herrera the most advanced. Swansea are a very good side and Schweinsteiger and Herrera are so good at keeping the ball.
I also think either Young or Valencia should be playing RW. This is to help Darmain with the threat of Montero who is a very quick player and let's face it, as good as Mata is, he is very slow 😂

But with LvG you never know.

What do you guys think?


1.) 27 Aug 2015
27 Aug 2015 22:20:03
I think Carrick has to be 1st choice in any midfield formation


2.) 27 Aug 2015
27 Aug 2015 22:46:57
Mata comes inside which drags the fullback and possibly a wingback backwards. It's the same reason memphis who seems to be predominantly right footed plays on the left. Ronaldo/ Bale, Ribery / Robben, even neymar and Messi (yes I know I'm not putting them in the same bracket) all play opposite sides to there best natural foot. It's later in the game if winning that you might revert to having naturally sided players such as young coming on to the right side yesterday for mata creating more width into the corners when counter attacking to push the other teams back. When you play alternate footed wingers that naturally come inside your are pinning the opposition defence and pushing them back including any protective midfielders. It's one of the reasons why teams are appearing to "park the bus", it's because they are being forces too.


3.) 27 Aug 2015
27 Aug 2015 22:49:41
Definitely not Valencia on the right wing and Herrera is not good at keeping the ball, the rest I agree with.

I am really looking forward to seeing Darmian challenged by montero, he's one of the best left wingers in the league and we are yet to see Darmian put a foot wrong.


4.) 27 Aug 2015
27 Aug 2015 22:59:55
Yes Dale I agree. I would like to have Young or Valencia out there even if Swansea had Razor Ruddock on the wing, but with the flying machine it will be very important.


5.) 27 Aug 2015
27 Aug 2015 23:17:03
I've been saying we need a RW than a CF (if only one player is to be brought in). Our attack is lopsided. Mata needs to be more central, or play Herrera in a more advanced role with a speedy RW. With the players we have in midfield, its very difficult for Van Gaal to play both Herrera and Mata but I guess that will sort itself out over the season with the huge number of games to play for.


6.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 05:42:49
Why pep. He is not add good as BS in any way shape or form and I'm pretty sure that anybody who knows anything about football would agree. Carrick has beena fantastic player and will make a big contribution this season but to say he should be first choice of our midfield options is laughable. We can't live in the past. I'm wrote sure BS will start most of the big games when fit and available this season. MS plays a different role and if we play a midfield 3 herrera or fellaini will be the one to compliment bs and ms. Carrick will share the holding role with BS but will become the 1st choice and rightly so


7.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 07:16:53
I think it's very premature to write off Carrick as a first team starter Ken. I don't think it is 'laughable' of Pep to suggest Carrick should start and I would be very surprised if he doesn't start the game against Swansea.

I am a fan of Bastian and as he gets fitter and adapts his game to the EPL he will be very valuable to us. I don't think Bastian should start every big game (unless he is literally on fire) as that is often when Carrick comes to the fore. Carrick knows this league very well and he knows the oppositions players very well and could contribute immensely during the bigger fixtures.

Let's not get carried away with Bastian, he has done well so far but he hasn't exactly bossed games the way Carrick done for us last season. Having said that as the season progresses and Bastian gets fitter I fully expect him to control many games and swagger around the midfield.


8.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 08:37:55
Did you read what I wrote maze? I did not write off Carrick as a starter and said he will make a great contribution but he is not in the same class as BS.
BS is one of only 2 genuine world class players in our squad and the other is sat in the stands at the moment and rightly so IMO.
Carrick may well start on Sunday and I don't have any great objection to that but as the season goes on BS will start the big ones because he is the best player and will be the most influential going forward.
So to suggest that no matter what carrick should be 1st choice in our midfield is laughable.


9.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 08:49:18
I think Fellaini will start. It will be a tough game and we have struggled against them for some reason the past couple of seasons and their set up gives us issues.


10.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 08:52:24
Dale I think you are spot on. I don't see the same potential in Adnan as so many others do. Ïve watched him closely over the past 2 yeasts and I just don't see anything special. Mata must keep his place beast I think he is playing well he has a creative spark and if herrera plays in his best position Which is as a box to box midfielder ahead of a 6 then he links well with mata.
Herrera is not a no 10 and never plays as a no 10 is not his best position. He started so poorly on wed it was embarrassing for him but did get better. I would prefer if we played with a 6 bs / mc and 2 box to box with any 2 from fellaini herrera and morgan


11.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 08:57:11
I think you are letting player reputation run the rule over your decsion here Ken but time will tell I guess.


12.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 09:34:26
Scneiderlin and Carrick are better at keeping the ball than Hererra, i think Ander would benefit our team more but Schmidfield and Carrick keep the ball better.


13.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 09:47:39
do you think we signed BS as back up to carrick?
I don't think anyone would dispute BS is a world class player and we don't have many of those


14.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 10:19:25
Threat of montero? What threat? Ivanovic is just a makeshift RB. Callum Mcmanaman proved my point.