Old Trafford is buzzing once again, quick passes, blistering counter attacks and United were back to steamrolling teams. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been a blessing to Manchester United. Ever since his first match against Cardiff, he has made them tick. He didn’t tweak the team too much, played the players in the right place, took the shackles off of Paul Pogba and it just perfect.
Up till now, the baby-faced assassin has favoured a 4-3-3, to begin with. Rashford flanked by Martial and Lingard on either side forms the front line. Pogba plays as the left of the three but drifts into the no10 position, constantly picking out defence-splitting passes or given an opportunity a shot on goal too. Harerra and Matic complete the midfield.
Matic sits deep and provides cover if they lose the ball while Harerra is responsible for winning the ball back high up the field and supplying the ball to either of the front four. Lindelof has been virtually undroppable, partnering with either Smalling or Jones at the heart of the defence. Baily’s drop in form has seen barely any minutes in the new regime. Shaw has made the right-back position his own bombing up and down the left flank. His performances have seen him being touted for the Manchester United player of the season award among the fans.
On the right, Ashley Young is the first choice, although he isn’t among the best in the league he does put in a shift when needed and has become a decent right-back in the absence of Valencia. Diogo Dalot is the one knocking on the first team door as recent performances have gotten the fans excited about seeing him play week in and week out for the Red Devils. His performance against PSG in the comeback win in the UCL really highlighted the potential this young man has. Coming on for the injured Baily, he tore through PSG playing as a wing back. Whipping in crosses and being a hassle for the PSG backline.
In goal, it is the ever-present David de Gea. One of the best in the world, he has won countless matches all by himself and he’s one of the first names on the team sheets. That being said, this is how Manchester United should look to line up for next season if they truly are to be considered in the title picture.
David de Gea. There is no doubt who will be the man between the sticks at Old Trafford. One of the world’s best. He is said to be in talks over signing a new bumper contract that will make him the club’s highest paid player. The only man to have won the club’s Player of the Year trophy on 4 occasions as well as pulling off blinders of saves like it’s just a Tuesday, DDG is the man who we will stick with, in goal.
Luke Shaw. Manchester United should stick to their current player. Shaw has been great this season. Going forward, exceptional although he does get caught out of position once in a while, Shaw is still fabulous. At 23 he still has a lot to learn but with 38 appearances in all competitions, it shows that Solskjaer has a lot of faith in him. A consistent run of games has seen him grow in confidence and he has surely made this position his own.
Toby Alderweireld. This season Tottenham decided to activate a one-year extension to his contract which also activated a £25 million pound release clause. At 29, he is at the peak of his powers and would be the perfect partner for Lindelof at the heart of the defence. One of the best defenders in the league since his arrival, it may be the right time for him to make a step up in his career. Averaging 2 tackles and interceptions combined with a massive 5.2 clearances per game he brings much needed European pedigree to the team. With his experience, he could be the right guy to replace either Jones or Smalling and could help Baily get back to his best. Much needed signing
Victor Lindelof. In spite of having a rough start to his career at Manchester United, he is now living up to the faith they placed on him with a huge investment to bring him. Comfortable on the ball, strong in the air and he has really grown into his role at the club. A mainstay of Solsjkaer’s defence and with performances like these he surely is going to be a nailed-on starter in next season’s lineup.
Diogo Dalot. It has to be him. As great a servant to the club Ashley Young has been to the club, it is time he steps aside and let the next generation of players take the club forward. Dalot is one of the most exciting young players at Manchester United, who already breathing down Young’s neck looking for a shot a regular first-team action. The Portuguese, calm on the ball, great going forward would add to the excitement surrounding the side at the moment. Linking up with the likes of Lingard, Rashford and Pogba would be something their fans would dream of.
Bruno Fernandes. I could have gone with either Andreas Parerra or Fred, the former having a spectacular season while the other is still doing his best in the little minutes that he gets. The thing with both of them is that they’re more defensive in nature. It’ll be their instinct to stay back rather than get forward and try to create or score. If United really are to compete for the title, they need someone to partner up with Pogba and take the burden of creating off of him a bit.
Ander Herrera. What a player indeed. Manchester United have to do all they can to keep him at the club. A real unsung hero who does the dirty work stays away from the spotlight and just gets on with it. He sits back, gets the ball to Pogba and allows him to drive forward and do what he does best without having to worry about what’s going on behind him.
Love how Ander Herrera went over to Alexis at full time. He mentioned post match how impressed he was with how hard Alexis Sanchez worked when he came on. Alexis is having a hard time and Ander Herrera being a leader and motivating him is brilliant. Has to be our next captain!48.9K12:50 AM – Feb 19, 201913.1K people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy
Ever since Solskjaer’s come he has featured in all but one of the matches showing how highly he regarded by the gaffer.His presence in the team also has coincided with Pogba’s upturn in form, coincidence, I think not! A Captain who doesn’t needs the armband to marshall his men. He needs to be there to rally the team into a new era. For his leadership and importance to the side, he would be this team’s captain.View image on Twitter
Paul Pogba is the first player to be directly in 20 goals for Man United in the Premier League and Champions League this season:
11 goals
9 assists
Another pinpoint ball today. 3,5085:36 PM – Feb 3, 20191,236 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy
Paul Pogba. He is the man. Plain and simple, Pogba is the heartbeat of the side. He is the one this team is built around. He makes them tick and United is a different beast when he’s firing on all cylinders. The shackles seem to be off and he’s enjoying his football again. Scoring, creating and just bossing it all over the field. He has been the main man in the new regime and I see no reason why that will change.
United have been linked with Bruno Fernandes and I think he’d be the perfect partner to Pogba in the middle of the park. Currently, Pogba is the only players who would be counted as “creative” among the midfielders. If teams mark him out of games, United struggle to create chances as there is no one who has the ability to make those incisive, defence-splitting passes.
Bruno is just the guy for the job. 20 goals and 11 assists this season shows that he is ready to move up a notch and compete among the very best in the world. He and Pogba together will give opposing teams a lot to think about.
Martial. Just like many others in the side, he has benefitted a lot under Ole. He lacked confidence under Mourinho, constantly had to track back and against the big teams ended up playing almost as a wingback and not a winger.
Now, he has much more clarity as to what his role in the team is, he doesn’t get shuffled around and has made the left wing position his own. He scores, he can dribble and has an eye for spotting the runs of his teammates, he has been phenomenal for United this season and hence he keeps his place in the team.
ST: Marcus Rashford. 3 years ago Rashford broke onto the scene and was touted to Manchester United’s leading man for years to come. Solsjkaer’s appointment made this prophecy come true.
Rashford has overtaken Lukaku in the pecking order and is now the first choice striker. Boy, has he taken this opportunity with both hands. He’s running at defenders, fearlessly trying new things, drifting wide, cutting in, basically doing it all. His pace and skill on the ball make it much easier for him to interchange positions with his teammates, creating space for others and showing the world that he has arrived and is here to stay.
Jadon Sancho. Sancho has had quite a year. From deciding to leave Manchester City and going abroad, to currently having the most assists among anyone from the top five leagues. He has exploded in Dortmund since shifting there. He has become a first-team regular, displacing Pulisic from the team.
United has had an issue on the right wing since quite a while. Mata is just too slow to play on the wing while Lingard is better suited to playing closer to the middle of the field. Rashford and Martial have also been tasked with filling in there. Sancho would definitely solve all these issues.
His directness of play, raw speed and impeccable ability on the ball is the reason United seem ready to go all out to sign him. Given his age, he could be a top player for the next decade to come. His call up to the national team also shows how much faith everyone has in him. He could just be the final piece of the puzzle for Manchester United to get back to their glory days