SailorXY:

gaddamit... guys badt gaan, no respect

Jonny Evans

There are more than a few Manchester United players who seem uncomfortable under Louis van Gaal this season, but none more so than Jonny Evans. Once United's Mr Polyfilla, filling in when and where required, Evans has transformed into a calamity defender.

All season the Northern Irishman's defending has looked uneasy. Whilst Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett have at least embraced their surprise inclusion in the first team, Evans seems cautious and nervous as if he was also making his first forays onto such a stage. Evans is now 27.

His performance against Burnley on Wednesday was the nadir. Evans was outclassed by Danny Ings, Ashley Barnes and Michael Kightly. He lost possession 16 times, typically through hitting the ball long during the first half, and was at the heart of the panic in United's own area. It was painful to watch - those 'Good Evans' headlines can be resigned to be bin.

Evans has three months to save his Old Trafford career, given the likelihood of expensive summer recruits into United's defence. On this evidence, he might as well start looking for houses in Sunderland. As Wes Brown, John O'Shea, Frazier Campbell, Kieran Richardson and Phil Bardsley can testify, that's the well-trodden step down the ladder.

SailorXY:
^
for me, if LvG is using the diamond, Januzaj has no place unless as a no. 10. I think the 4-1-4-1 will serve us better for away fixtures, while we can use the 4-4-2 diamond or 4-3-3 @ home.

in the long run however, I'll like to see LvG settle on the 4-3-3 formation cuz it will guarantee good width as long we he sign another combatant in midfield.

Carrick, Evans, Falcao & Valencia/Young can go @ the end of this season. Wilson can also go on loan for a year.

We can try to get Reus, Pogba & a CB with Nani & Henriquez/Hernandez recalled.

MrTA:


You do know that from all you wrote there the only thing likely to happen is Falcao not staying permanetly?

elampiro:
In my opinion, if we were to seek balance in midfield without playing Rooney there, I think Valencia would do on the right side of the diamond. Valencia would offer defensive work, cover well for the right back defender as well as carry the ball forward between the lines. Valencia shortcoming in contrast to Rooney, is his inability to contest for aerial balls in the middle of the park and make clearances from crosses into our box. Judging from the Cambridge match, Rooney is likely to get far more crosses into the opposition box.

Di Maria should be made to play on the left side of the diamond with Young as his deputy. Di Maria was the reason our diamond was so dangerous early in the season. If we have Valencia at the opposite side, we will most likely have adequate protection in the midfield, and Rooney would usually drop deep from the hole if he played there. So there should be less for Di Maria to battle in midfield. Januzaj has had enough playing time this season. Now we are into the run in where even relegation haunted teams can spring surprises.

DDG
McNair/Jones/Rafael-- Jones/Smalling----Rojo--Shaw
--------------------Blind/Carrick
--Val/Fellaini------------------Di Maria/Young/Januzaj
--------------------Rooney/Mata
---------RVP------------------------Rooney/Falcao

If Rooney is to play an advanced role in the midfield, he should be on the side Di Maria appears on the above formation. With Valencia or Fellaini providing coverage in midfield, Rooney will have license to go into the opposition box as he did previously when he paired Fellaini. Although one can not forget that Fellaini too can be a burden with his sluggish game.

MrTA:


You do know that from all you wrote there the only thing likely to happen is Falcao not staying permanetly?

tess1:
Man Utd XI vs. Preston: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw; Blind, Herrera, Rooney; Fellaini; Di Maria, Falcao

subs: Valdes, Evans, McNair, Januzaj, Mata, Young, Wilson

tess1:
Man Utd XI vs. Preston: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw; Blind, Herrera, Rooney; Fellaini; Di Maria, Falcao

subs: Valdes, Evans, McNair, Januzaj, Mata, Young, Wilson

coogar:


the quality of this line-up depends on where rooney starts. if he's further upfield in the attack then it's a brilliant line-up. if he's going to play next to blind then one should expect another laboured performance from us.

can't van gaal rest rooney?

coogar:


the quality of this line-up depends on where rooney starts. if he's further upfield in the attack then it's a brilliant line-up. if he's going to play next to blind then one should expect another laboured performance from us.

can't van gaal rest rooney?

coogar:


the quality of this line-up depends on where rooney starts. if he's further upfield in the attack then it's a brilliant line-up. if he's going to play next to blind then one should expect another laboured performance from us.

can't van gaal rest rooney?

SailorXY:

good question. it looks like di Maria is about to resume his no. 9 duties tho smh

Leyqute:

No. El Kapitaine must play

Caveatemptor:

We should be able to defeat Preston,no matter who plays where.
We are United for Godssakes and we are playing League one opponents here.
If we lose this one,then the wheels could start to come off a bit.
Got my fingers crossed and I am expecting a victory.

coogar:


i doubt it.....

i think the line up would be.....

----------------DDG---------------
-valencia--smalling--rojo--shaw-
------------daley blind------------
-------fellaini-----di maria--------
-------------herrera---------------
--------rooney-----falcao---------

you can swap herrera for fellaini or di maria for fellaini. however, that should be strategy to get the best output from the team.



mata, januzaj should be using this kinda games to get game time.



this is a cup tie.....
away from home in a very hostile ground. it's a potential banana skin. i fear games like this much more than facing chelsea or PSG. where was bradford when they killed chelsea? are bradford a premier league side?

tess1:


If that's how they're going to play, it'll be very interesting to see how they all perform because this is no playing out of position.

coogar:
liverpool vs blackburn
bradford vs reading
preston/man utd vs arsenal
aston villa vs west brom.

we should beat arsenal at OT!

Caveatemptor:


Lets get past Preston first.
One game at a time oooo.

coogar:


mrTA, are you the same mrTA on FIFA15?

coogar:


this game is scary.....
preston have scored 29 goals this season fr set plays. smalling better be on his A-game.

MaziOmenuko:


That explains the presence of Davies of former Bolton in their team. Dude is a legend in aerial battles.

MrTA:

Unfortunately not. I'm the Olodo Tinho7 on FIfa