What is this witchcraft? Not sure I approve...
Also, I think I preferred the 'diamond with Fellaini in the middle of it' suggestion you made elsewhere. First one I've seen for weeks that actually made anywhere near as much sense as, or more than, the straightforward Carrick-Herrera-Di Maria-Mata diamond.
-RVP hasn't really done enough to earn his spot - better to just push Rooney high up the pitch where he's played so well for England.
-Also, as you said, it keeps Mata nice and high up the pitch and close to the striker, where he is actually dangerous rather than just a very technically-gifted water-carrier.
-Lets us put the trio of Herrera, Fellaini and Di Maria in midfield to run the legs off anything Arsenal can put out, and
still have room for Carrick to shield what is no doubt going to be a shaky back line.
-It also keeps Fellaini free from the responsibility of being an actual midfielder (in which role he is, let's face it, only a 4/10) and lets him focus on 1. Disrupting Arsenal's rhythm (7/10), 2. Shoring up our aerial defending from set pieces (7/10), 3. Providing an aerial threat for our
own set pieces and long balls (9/10) and of course 4. Unsubtly breaking Sanchez' nose with an elbow if he's looking too dangerous (10/10).
-Lastly, having Fellaini in that free role makes the formation very easily customisable during the game. Need more width? Sub him off for Januzaj. More goal-threat? Sub him off for RVP or Wilson. More defensive stability? Nope, sorry, everyone who can do that is crocked. The point stands, though.
For the benefit of anyone who didn't see Pex's formation which I'm referring to, it looked something like this:
DDG
Valencia Smalling Blackett Shaw
Carrick
Herrera Fellaini Di Maria
Mata
Rooney