Maex wrote:cgf wrote:Maex wrote:Did already someone who watch the Spanish league told the United fans, that Herrera's best position is the OM (just were normally Mata, Kagawa, Rooney plays)?
Atm they still lack one good DM, which is not Khedira. He likes bombing forward and would need someone who could cover the holes he opens.
Best Options would be to play a 4-3-3, benching one of Rooney/VanPersie and play a midfield which looks like:
---Mata---Herrera---
----------DM----------
De Jong or Blind would just not be the level which you need to actually compete on a high level.
Additionally, the also need at least one CB to be in the equation. At the moment the structure of the squad is just to poor that van Gaal could really compete.
They need at least 2-3 more players after di Maria to do a turn around. And all of them should fit from the first moment. That will be fun to watch as a neutral fan.
Herrera will be fine as the passer who's a little deeper than Mata and links that front three to the rest of the side. With di Maria playing a more vertical role next to him they really just need someone to replace Carrick's aging legs when needed and their midfield will be fine enough for the EPL.
That defense is still hideous though, and there's little quality depth anywhere but up front, and a number of spots could be upgraded, but if they can bring in a top notch CB next window and pick up a great utility player like Blind, who can keep Shaw honest on the left, while also giving them legit deoth in the middle, in the interim United should be back in the CL places by next season at the latest. Though finding a long term replacement for Carrick will be important to.
van Persie --- Rooney
Mata
di Maria -- Herrera/Blind
Carrick/???
would look pretty good if that back 4 could be sorted out.
I just do not think that this is anything close to stable. With Mata, van Persie, Rooney, di Maria, and Herrera, you have four players on the pitch which are all not known for playing really good defense.
I really do think that most people do misinterpret what kind of player Herrera is. Last season he played only two times in a role which might be interpreted as a central midfielder. This was in the position I penciled before. Otherwise he did always play as a pure 10, very similar to Kagawa and Mata.
The diamond is a interesting option, where actually Herrera could find a nice position. But first, he never played in a diamond and second, I do not think that van Gaal will play the diamond here.
The top of the Premier League is just do strong that I would see this team making the Top 4. Chelsea and City are clearly ahead, and I do think that the same is true for Arsenal, Liverpool and even Tottenham. Some of the teams might have the lesser individuals, but United teams structure is just really bad.
Mata's defending is fine for the ten and there's no getting around Rooney and rvp's laziness other than clever rotation. Those are issues united have to work within just because of the mess SAF left and how much messier his successor made it. But this particular issue should not bury them.
I get your point but Herrera is still very much a young lump of clay that lvg has to shape, so him not having played a position much before doesn't preclude that from being the best way to mold him into an important player. Is it ideal? Lol no, but it's where they're at and the most reasonable way to proceed from here. This isn't insanity either as top clubs do this all of the time, otherwise jojic and miki wouldn't be Dortmund's starting 8s this year. A creative coach sometimes has to mold young players into roles they haven't played before to make full use of them at a big club and turning Herrera into a more Xavi like passing 8 is one such example. With the hard running Di Maria at the other 8 spot and a quality holder like carrick or schneiderlin (say next window?) this seems the best way to give united a platform for success in the EPL...if they fix that defense...
If I were a united fan I'd be praying that Benatia and Bayern end up way off on wages, have him partnering one of the current crop of cbs and van gaal may not have to rely on the 3 man back line to save his defense. Or to pay up for mussachio now that levy's cheaped the real price tag out of his club.
Rooney --- RvP
Mata
di Maria -- Herrera
Carrick
Shaw - Benatia/Mussachio - whomever - Rafael
de Gea
is a first 11 that van gaal should be able to beat out Liverpool and Tottenham for 4th with if the depth holds up and they settle. They'll be in a three way battle for that final spot behind Chelsea, Citeh and arsenal, but that team should be able to take that race.
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