West Bromwich Albion vs. Manchester United

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Honestly, I agree he should drop RvP. But instead of going 4-2-3-1 and brining in Kagawa, I think he'll go for 4-4-1-1 with Mata playing behind Rooney, Young and Valencia out wide and Fellaini and Carrick in the middle. Even more conservative.

People are far too hung up on formations. You've basically described two identical teams, there. One with Kagawa (in place of either Young or Valencia) and one without. The difference is minimal, especially considering Kagawa's mediocre performances in the league.

Mata at 10, Rooney up top and Januzaj playing in wide midfield would be a quality attacking line-up. I'd quite like the remaining attacking midfield position to to go to Kagawa but it won't be the end of the world if someone else gets the nod ahead of him.
 
You've basically described two identical teams, there. One with Kagawa (in place of either Young or Valencia) and one without. .

There really is a world of difference between 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2. The formation implies not just the starting position, but the style of play and approach to the game. Clearly a very fluid team may look like use formations at different times, but no-one could call us fluid at the moment. Our play vs Palace and our play vs Fulham couldn't be a better example of the difference between the two.
 
The date/kick-off this game isn't likely to help help Kagaa's case, not with Japan hosting the Kiwis today. If he had some recent form behind him or his standing was high then maybe the manager takes a risk, Shinji can lay claim to neither unfortunately.
 
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-----------------------David de Gea-----------------------


--Rafael----------Vidic---------P.Jones-------------Evra---


-------------------Carrick-----Fellaini---------------------


------------------------J.Mata---------------------------


-----Rooney------------R.Van Persie-------------A.Januzaj-
 
As several have gone with, I think it has to be:

-----------------------DDG---------------------
Rafael----------Vidic-------Evans---------Evra
----------------Carrick------Fellaini------------
---Januzaj----------Rooney-----------Mata---
-----------------------RVP----------------------

We have to continue with it and find a way for our best players to start clicking and show that they can work together. With this system you have Kagawa, Welbeck and Nani when fit who can all slot into that supporting 3 behind the front man. You also have Hernandez who should be good enough to replace RVP and get goals in certain games. As has been noted this season we are being forced to play the likes of Rooney and RVP in every game in order to try and turn things around, in a normal season Hernandez and Kagawa would probably get around 15 starts each mixed in with some decent minutes as substitutes/impact players, it would allow us to rest RVP in particular at different stages. I really hope we can keep both of them as they will be important members of the squad and surely get more games going forward.

On paper that 11 should be good enough to at least be pushing for a top 4 spot, for the rest of the season get them playing as much football together at possible in the hope that it starts to click and allows us to go into next season with a bit of momentum behind us after strengthening a couple of positions. A supporting cast that includes Hernandez, Welbeck, Kagawa, Cleverley, Young, Nani, Valencia, Smalling, Jones etc is also pretty strong on paper and gives us options both in terms of personnel and formations.
 
------------------DDG
Rafael----Smalling---Evans---Evra
-----------Carrick---Fellaini
--Mata--------Kagawa-----Januzaj
----------------Rooney
Definitely this, although Vidic will probably start instead of Evans, not sure how he's doing with the injury he had. Rvp apparently ill so that gives us an excuse to drop him even if he might be back for the weekend.
The 3 behind Rooney constantly changing around so nobody is fixed in one place, Nani to come on for one of them.
 
Definitely this, although Vidic will probably start instead of Evans, not sure how he's doing with the injury he had. Rvp apparently ill so that gives us an excuse to drop him even if he might be back for the weekend.
The 3 behind Rooney constantly changing around so nobody is fixed in one place, Nani to come on for one of them.
That would be :drool:

Win or lose, at least there wouldn't (or shouldn't) be dour, long ball, static, slow motion (zombie) football!

That's what we'd all like to see, more then anything and even if results were this shocking, a lot more would still have patience with Moyes if we were heading in a clear direction.
 
This length of time between games is a killer. Anyone who doesn't want us in Europe next season should think about this.
 
Don't care when, but i'm hoping to see this before the end of the season.

-----------De Gea-----------
Rafael--Smalling-Jones---Evra
--------Carrick-Fellaini-------
Nani--------Mata------Januzaj
---------RvP/Rooney
 
That would be :drool:

Win or lose, at least there wouldn't (or shouldn't) be dour, long ball, static, slow motion (zombie) football!

That's what we'd all like to see, more then anything and even if results were this shocking, a lot more would still have patience with Moyes if we were heading in a clear direction.
Yeah pretty much. It's too late at his stage because moyes would need to do it consistently until the end of the season, and more even to get some faith that we're progressing, but at least it'd be a start. If he did it from the start here is no way results would be this bad, and we'd be watching better football with a better idea of how we're going to go forward.
 
I'm actually really looking forward to this game now, the weekend off gave me a chance to get over the numb apathy that descended after the Olympiacos game. How the players respond is the most interesting aspect, a repeat of the previous performance would pretty much confirm that Moyes has lost the dressing room.
 
I'm actually really looking forward to this game now, the weekend off gave me a chance to get over the numb apathy that descended after the Olympiacos game. How the players respond is the most interesting aspect, a repeat of the previous performance would pretty much confirm that Moyes has lost the dressing room.
Yeah pretty much. It's going to be 10 days between the 2 United games, I just miss seeing us play that I've gone back to having hope we can put in a good performance, ignoring who the manager is really. Just so long as the hope isn't gone 1 hour before kick off then we'll be fine I think.
 
------------------DDG
Rafael----Smalling---Evans---Evra
-----------Carrick---Fellaini
--Mata--------Kagawa-----Januzaj
----------------Rooney

Good team.

But Kagawa is returning from Japan - good excuse for Moyes to keep him out of the team...or perhaps to play him and Kagawa has a shit game because of the travel?
 
There really is a world of difference between 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2. The formation implies not just the starting position, but the style of play and approach to the game.

The formation doesnt determine the style of play. Its merely a representation of positions on the pitch that teams start out with.
 
The formation doesnt determine the style of play. Its merely a representation of positions on the pitch that teams start out with.

Perhaps, but in a 4-2-3-1, one would expect the "3" to interchange and have flexibility. When Moyes selects Young and Valencia as wingers, would you really compare them to the likes (taking Real as an example) of Ronaldo, Isco, Di Maria, Bale?
 
For me the difference is less about interchanging than width. In 4-2-3-1 you play narrower, giving people more options for short passing and making it easier to hold onto the ball. Whereas in 4-4-2 you look to use the full width of the pitch to exploit the available space.
 
They've won 4 games all season. 1 away from home - against us. Before a ball is even kicked in this we've already embarrassed ourselves against them this season.
 
De Gea

Rafael - Smalling - Vidic - Evra

Fellaini - Carrick

Mata - Rooney - Januzaj

Van Persie


Lindegaard - Evans - Jones - Cleverley - Young - Giggs - Welbeck

Valencia, Hernandez and Kagawa all travelled long distances so I expect them to be rested.
 
Fitness and injuries permitting, the strongest possible eleven please Gollum. With no game for 8 days after with one or two also not playing since the league game against Palace, there is absolutely no reason to protect Adnan or dick about with Mata.

What I expect will happen - The team will be perfect, they'll win comfortably at 2-0 and David will ruin it against the dippers by picking the XI which he loves in big games but always fails.


 
What I expect will happen - The team will be perfect, they'll win comfortably at 2-0 and David will ruin it against the dippers by picking the XI which he loves in big games but always fails.

:lol:

If Young, Valencia and Cleverley don't start tomorrow, you know what that probably means :(
 
It feels like ages the last game in the PL. I have absolutely no idea how to feel about this one, even the most promising starting lineup will not give me much confidence.
 
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