Aston Villa vs. Manchester United

If we for some reason play a three-man midfield against Aston Villa, I think it'll likely be Scholes to start over Anderson and play more of an unbalanced 'diamond' like this:

de Gea
Rafael Ferdinand Evans Evra
Carrick Scholes
Cleverley
Valencia Rooney
van Persie​

Not Young's biggest fan and he's been average since coming back (probably to be expected) but I can see him starting and Rooney being the one to drop into midfield again. It's just my expectation of the way we'll play against the smaller teams, trusting Rooney to drop back.. Although we're seemingly do that against the better teams now as well with Rooney being more reliable in that role (I just think we can't keep doing that, but we'll see).

Valencia obviously doesn't suit this role as much, but his pace and direct play will always help and gives us a different approach from whatever position.
 
De Gea
Rafael Rio Evans Evra
Anderson Carrick Cleverley
-------Rooney
Valencia--RVP------------

Yes it looks lopsided, but formations rarely end up being as symmetrical on the pitch as they are on paper. We usually mostly attack down one wing, and Young is hardly going to provide that wing, so just leave him out. Evra, Cleverley and occasionally Rooney will provide more than enough width against Villa. The combination of Carrick's composure, Cleverley's tempo and guile and Anderson's drive and creativity will be worth it.

Cleverley-Carrick vs Arsenal was good, but it was crying out for a bit of Anderson spark. And Anderson vs Braga never really had a chance to play well, starting alongside Giggs and Rooney in midfield.

Agreed!

We need to just fecking play this sometime and see how it works.
 
Smalling, Scholes and Hernandez to start please.

Add Anderson, Cleverley, Rafael and Nani

sprinkle stardust on top.
 
I reckon it'll go the other way. Maybe a tight 1-0 or 2-1. I can't see them getting anything, but they got a great result last weekend and this really isn't the ideal time to play them.
 
I reckon it'll go the other way. Maybe a tight 1-0 or 2-1. I can't see them getting anything, but they got a great result last weekend and this really isn't the ideal time to play them.

Disagree

Don't know why, but I predict a cricket score.

Me too, think it will be a dicking this week for Villa
 
I'd like to see


----------------------------------DDG----------------------------
Rafael-----------Ferdinand-----------Evans------------Evra
--------------------------------Carrick---------------------------
---------------Valencia---------------------Anderson---------
--------------------------------Rooney--------------------------
-------------------Hernandez----------RvP--------------------


but ain't gonna happen
 
I'd like to see


----------------------------------DDG----------------------------
Rafael-----------Ferdinand-----------Evans------------Evra
--------------------------------Carrick---------------------------
---------------Valencia---------------------Anderson---------
--------------------------------Rooney--------------------------
-------------------Hernandez----------RvP--------------------


but ain't gonna happen
Too narrow for me

Manchester United without wingers for me just doesn't work
 
I'd like to see


----------------------------------DDG----------------------------
Rafael-----------Ferdinand-----------Evans------------Evra
--------------------------------Carrick---------------------------
---------------Valencia---------------------Anderson---------
--------------------------------Rooney--------------------------
-------------------Hernandez----------RvP--------------------


I think that we might actually see something like that. I can see SAF starting Jav, Rooney and RVP anyway.
 
If Evans was fit I'd play 343

Ddg
Ferdinand Smalling Evans
Valencia carrick Cleverley evra
Hernandez Rooney rvp
 
If Evans was fit I'd play 343

Ddg
Ferdinand Smalling Evans
Valencia carrick Cleverley evra
Hernandez Rooney rvp

We'd be mental to suddenly start deploying this tactic, unless there has been some serious training involved. Not least because it increases your chances of an injury to an already thin area at the same time as spreading it even thinner.
 
1-6 to United.

There will be carnage.
 
Agreed!

We need to just fecking play this sometime and see how it works.

Exactly! I'd almost be happy to see us play it and it be a complete disaster if it would let me stop banging on about it! But personally I can't see how it won't work, it's so bloody obvious.
 
Would like to see

De Gea

Rafael
Rio
Evans/Smalling
Evra

Valencia
Carrick
Cleverley/Ando
Young

Rooney
Rvp
 
Do not bench RvP for the love of God, he only played 30(?) mins against Braga?