UNITED Writers have say on Jose’s best line-up
UNITED supporters got the front six they wanted at Tottenham at the end of last month and then got a dosage of reality.
Spurs outplayed United so commandingly Jose Mourinho substituted Paul Pogba in the second half and it was a case of déja vu on Sunday. The exact same United XI lined up away from home at Newcastle, lost and Pogba was substituted with the Reds trailing again.
Suddenly there is an identity crisis at United. The 4-2-3-1 formation has become problematic, Chris Smalling still struggles to pass, Pogba is out of form, Nemanja Matic is struggling and Anthony Martial is playing on the right.
United’s shoddy shape is particularly troubling as they prepare for their most pivotal period of the campaign. Huddersfield in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday precedes Sevilla away in the Champions League on Wednesday week before the February 25 visit of Chelsea in the Premier League.
Chelsea have beaten United three times in the last four but the one failure remains the outstanding performance by Mourinho’s side. He benched the in-form Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, switched to 3-5-2 with Jesse Lingard up front and schooled Antonio Conte. United won 2-0 in what remains the Old Trafford highlight of Mourinho’s reign.
The FA Cup and Champions League represent United’s only chances of silverware this term and the upcoming ties intensify the need for Mourinho to settle on a more fluid formation. The best players do not always make for the best team and switching to 4-3-3 could withdraw Jesse Lingard or Anthony Martial from the XI.
Our writers have decided their best XI...
SAMUEL LUCKHURST City have proved that in an era where managers are choosing different teamsheets for different occasions the best way to assemble a fluid side is to have a settled XI.
United have arguably seven untouchables (when fit) in David de Gea, Eric Bailly, Antonio Valencia, Matic, Pogba, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku. How Mourinho complements them between now and May could be the difference between a successful and unsuccessful season. Luke Shaw has the pace and adventure to develop into a fine wing-back or winger. Ander Herrera’s form has plummeted this term but the best players do not always make for the best team. Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard would be aggrieved but Herrera could be the ideal supplement for Matic and Pogba against the elite. Sanchez is such a live wire he would be wasted on the wing and deserves a free role behind Lukaku. Samuel Luckhurst
CIARAN KELLY Personnel wise, there were few complaints when the team sheets dropped in at St James’ Park at around 1.17pm on Sunday.
Clearly, Jose Mourinho has made up his mind when it comes to his strongest line-up after fielding the same team for tough trips to the north-east and Wembley 11 days previously. And, yet, both times, United were well short.
Worryingly, too, there were few options on the bench to change the game when they went behind in both matches.
But this season is far from lost, in the cups at least, as we enter the business end of the campaign and there are a couple of things that could shake things up once Eric Bailly returns from injury.
Alexis Sanchez struck up a fearsome relationship with Antonio Di Natale while playing as a No.10 at Udinese and that role would give him even more freedom to do all that roaming he loves.
Ideally, it would be great to bring a defensive midfielder into the fold to give Paul Pogba the platform to really shine but that will have to wait until the summer when a consistent option becomes available.
CHARLOTTE DUNCKER If there’s any real debate to be had over United’s best XI the hardest decisions don’t come at the back. Performances so far this season have shown if Mourinho fielded a back four there’s not much debate to be had over the four best players to fit those positions. Valencia is arguably United’s only right-back option while Shaw’s shown in recent weeks why he should be given a solid run to make the left-back position his own before the end of the season.
United have missed Bailly while he’s been out injured and Jones is a far more solid option to accompany him at in the middle.
Recent performances show Mourinho needs to ditch the two man midfield and the way to get the best out of Pogba is to play in a 4-3-3.
Matic is the obvious answer to play alongside Pogba but the third option is a less than obvious pick.
This is where Mourinho needs to strengthen most in the summer but for now Herrera, despite a less than inspiring season, would have to go in that midfield three.
United’s attacking line poses the biggest problem with Sanchez and Martial both wanting that left hand role.
But Martial’s shown he shouldn’t be playing down the right and Sanchez’s versatility means he should start on the right with the option to float inside behind Lukaku.