01 Oct 2021 09:38:21
I think it's important we learn lessons from every game and a last minute winner, no matter how good they feel should not detract from what was a largely disjointed and disappointing performance.

There was a good thread further down the page about Cavani and the obvious impact he had on the team against Villarreal. He also won the late penalty against Villa.

His attitude and appetite for the game was exemplary. For the first time we put Villarreal under pressure and they started to make mistakes. The intensity of his pressing, his closing down, his running his movement it really unnerved the Villarreal defenders. It lifted the crowd, it lifted the players and we created more in the 15 minutes he was on the pitch than we had the entire game. Even Greenwood started to put early crosses into the box rather than passing inside or looking to create a shooting opportunity for himself.

I also thought Matic came on and made a huge difference. He instantly took command of the midfield and we started using the ball much better. He did the same against West Ham in the league and played an excellent ball to Lingard in the box who scored the winner with an equally brilliant strike.

If Ole can find a place for them both in the starting line up remains to be seen but he has stumbled upon a blueprint on how to change a game. What he can do is get them on the pitch a lot earlier.

Perhaps not surprisingly our three most influential players are the most experienced. If Ronaldo, Cavani and Matic were all 5 years younger we'd be serious challengers for all the top honours. Unfortunately there're not so If Ole can somehow manage their game time more effectively we'll have a better chance of winning more games, hopefully playing a better brand of football.

1.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 09:56:35
That’s the problem though, we don’t learn. We will do the exact same thing tomorrow as we did on Wednesday and in every other game.

2.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 10:43:36
Can he get all three in the team? Personally I think he can but it would mean a change of formation and where it would leave the likes of Rashford (when fit) Sancho and Greenwood who knows? Never mind Martial and Lingard!

4-4-2 diamond

De Gea

AWB, Lindelof, Varane, Telles
Matic
Mctominay Pogba
Bruno
Ronaldo Cavani

(Obviously Maguire and Shaw return when fit)

3.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 11:54:41
Good thoughts on Cavani, he should start as our CF, but that diamond MF won't work, too much ground to cover with Matic and Pogba in the diamond, since the opposing full backs will be marauding forward. There is no easy answer with this midfield.

4.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 11:58:16
Dlib. That would be worth a go for sure with the exception of AWB but we have nothing else so have to go with AWB.
Matic is a class player, I don’t go along with all the spouted nonsense he can’t play 90 mins or 2 games in a row, no he can’t if you expect him to be a headless chicken like Fred but with his brain and touch he don't need to do that
I also don’t go along with the fact that because Ronaldo 36/ 7 and Cavani 34 they are too old, they are probably 2 of the fittest players at the club, the days of being 30 plus and over the hill are long long gone, these are athletes they train right they eat right, etc.

5.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 12:01:46
This is probably the toughest choice in terms of personel Utd have faced for as long as I remember - Ronaldo or Cavani. In the past CR7 could have played further back (in the Fernandes role) or the wing, but those days are gone. He has to play up front, but Cavani has made a difference in that position every time I've seem him. The only way to accommodate both is to chuck one out on the wing, probably Cavani. Looks like that's where we end up chucking most players we try to fit into the starting XI.

6.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 12:07:49
Zidaniel - Pure fantasy football mate, Ole would never play that way anyway.

You could go 3-4-1-2 but again no easy solutions.

The truth is they are probably just too old to get them all into the team at the same time. Could Ronaldo move wide left? Probably not his wing days are long gone!

Best solution buy another midfield pivot!

7.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 12:31:57
Can’t buy now though Dlib and we never bought when we could so have to get best out what we got.

I don’t get where you come from with this too old malarkey, they are fitter then many in the team and the league come to that.

8.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 12:53:54
DLIB, nice team but not sure where the width comes from.

9.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 13:08:26
AJH, we don’t play with any width now, yes we have players supposedly out wide but they all come inside anyway, another reason it’s always so congested.

10.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 13:45:55
Pure speculation on my part just throwing out some suggestions for debate not that I ever think we’ll see it or even if it would work.

I think the solution will have to come in the transfer market. That being said Ole loves McFred so would a new player just end up on the bench anyway?!

Until then it’s Vibes Utd and Moment’s FC! Can Ole get us into a title race never mind actually finishing first playing that way it looks increasingly doubtful but time will tell!

11.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 14:01:46
Some of the team selection issues could be resolved shortly: pogba - doesn't need to fit if he isn't here, matic same (cant last past this season surely? ) Vdb must be sick of splinters and cavani last season? Add in martial and lingard and the fact that cr7 won't be here forever paints a different picture regarding mid/ forward part of the team over 12/ 18 months.
In the meantime would love the club to try a different formation, 4-4-2?

12.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 14:02:28
I think he doesn’t rate the alternatives, rightly or wrongly. Surely it Fuce wee to join we would see a chnage.

13.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 14:12:14
Agree with the diamond DLIB but not convinced Matic can play regularly enough in the DM position and neither Fred nor McTominay are good enough to do so. I'd also love Bruno back alongside Pogba and put Sancho behind the strikers. The formation would allow for many options in the midfield positions as well as in attack, but the DM is crucial to that system.

14.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 15:21:53
I also think Lingard needs a mention as well.
He dropped in to some great pockets of space and caused them all kind of problems when he came on.
Lingard is in the form of his life and i think needs more playing time.
Given everything he's been through and all his problems over the past 12-18 months he's really managed to turn his form around.

15.) 01 Oct 2021
01 Oct 2021 20:52:45
To get the best team out there and right balance with squad we have available then Pogba is nowhere near it .