Jose must already be giddy thinking about the smug shade he's going to cast Woodward's way in the post-match press conference when he talks about whichever hopelessly miscast midfielder ends up struggling at RB today (McT maybe?).
If Darmian is actually out of this one, the straightforward choice at RB would be Lindelof. Even if that messes up the likely original plan of keeping Bailly and Lindelof partnered up. Smalling can play in the middle with Bailly. Even Jones would be a more sensible choice at RB, when push comes to shove.
Given his role to stay up front, think it is possible Lukaku may start - as he doesn't have to run around as much as other players (so lack of pre-season less of an issue). Plus he is pretty vital to Mou 'system'. ------------------- Lukaku Sanchez ------------------------------ Mata ------------ Mc T ---------- Fred ---------------------- AP Shaw ---- Bailly ---- Lindelof ---- Valencia --------------------- DDG
If this were SAF, he would keep our usual formation and throw in someone like Jones at RB. Better to have one weak spot than compromise the entire squad. But this is Jose, so he'll change the formation around completely and when we drop points he'll bitch about being forced to play that way because he doesn't have a fit RB.
some journalists are reporting that pogba will start. i would like this diamond but jose will probably go 4-3-3. -------rashford - lukaku --------------sanchez -----pogba - pereira - fred young - lindelof - bailly - darmian where did you see that?
Bailly used to play RB didn’t he? Also Darmian is NOT confirmed out. He was just not seen by MENS cameras.
🗣 "Paul Pogba? My perception, he arrived on Monday, happy, proud, with a desire to work. He worked amazingly well Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday."- José Mourinho. pic.twitter.com/hOJ96QFfAo— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) August 10, 2018
Glorious. From. Every. Angle 😍#MUFC pic.twitter.com/9DxhBJKUzh— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 10, 2018
Not messing around right off the bat with not just playing Pogs, but making him captain. The team is as good as can expected with the players absent and should be more than good enough to get the measure of Leicester.
Leicester City starting XI: Schmeichel, Pereira, Maguire, Morgan, Chilwell, Gray, Amartey, Silva, Ndidi, Maddison, Iheanacho. #MUFCvLCFC 🔴🔵— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) August 10, 2018
Love that he has started Pogs and made him captain, feels like he is saying 'you are world champion, this is your team - show us what you can do'
It's Manchester United: the media will always have a narrative or another to exploit. But it's great to see our world champion starting and leading the boys out on opening day. Him, with Fred and AP could be some midfield. Hoping we get a glimpse of that today as well.
Were you the one that said that you wanted to see that midfield trio? then we had a debate on the defensive cover.
Is nice to finally have three proper CMs comfortable on the ball and with passing ability on the field at long last. Pogs, AP & Fred won't have played much with each other though, but all seem intelligent players and as long as one sits (AP?) and once goes proper box-to-box on defence (Fred?) then should be OK.
Correct. It was more about the shortcomings of Matic but I said that AP as a DLP would add more to the team than Matic as a CDM against most teams.